Tag Archives: Lenovo

Business, Contributed

How IT Leaders Can Give Employees The ‘Magic Touch’ with Tech

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Most employees have had moments when workplace technology lets them down, and they wish they were someone with the ‘magic touch’ to make tech work and fix any problem. But what if IT departments had a helping hand that could give everyone the ‘magic touch’?

Ironically, many of the apps that are meant to make life simpler for employees are doing the exact opposite. In Malaysia, the digital skills gap among employees presents a significant challenge. A survey revealed that 74.5% of respondents identified a substantial gap between entry-level and advanced digital skills required in the workplace. This puts a burden on IT administrators to simplify the digital landscape wherever possible, removing hurdles and supporting employees in their day-to-day work.

Delivering the Magic Touch

For system administrators and people who are naturally ‘good with tech’, the ‘magic touch’ often comes from years of experience, technical qualifications and a willingness to try everything until something works. But can the digital workplace be delivered in a way which makes all employees feel like they have that ‘magic touch’ too?

AI-powered workplace solutions offer ways to make employees feel less frustrated with their technology while delivering a more personalized service. Harnessing AI ensures that IT teams are not overwhelmed with demands from colleagues. For the end user, generative AI chatbots let them make device decisions using plain language, with AI-infused device intelligence able to predict and fix software issues before they cause major problems, making managing and using their workplace IT feel effortless.

Harnessing the Power of AI

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The power of AI can help smooth over the sometimes counterintuitive processes that seasoned IT professionals are so accustomed to. At Lenovo, we have first-hand experience of these tools’ power as we use them ourselves. For example, our Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition that is operating on Windows 11 Pro. Seize the moment with the security to thrive anywhere and the performance to meet your boldest goals. Windows 11 Pro devices are easy to use and manage, with AI-enhanced efficiency and compatibility with existing technology including mission-critical apps and hardware. Devices with AI-guided knowledge bases can deliver ‘self-help’ and ‘self-heal’ solutions, regardless of whether employees are working at 10 am or 2 am. It is a bit like having your very own IT manager available on-call 24/7. For hybrid workforces, this powerful, instant support can be a game-changer, meaning that minor IT problems never progress to the point where they stop people working.

For service desk workers, AI can also bring powerful analytics, increasing the number of issues that can be solved pre-emptively, remotely and without the need for a ticket to be raised. This simplifies the day-to-day work of IT service desk teams, with an easy-to-use ‘single pane of glass’ portal delivering actionable insights in an easy-to-understand fashion.

Generative AI-powered platforms also anticipate the management of critical tasks to keep environments secure, while persona-based configuration means IT leaders can rapidly tailor suites of apps and services for different types of users. IT teams can ensure their colleagues get to work faster with the right tools at their fingertips, offering seamless and personalized digital experiences, removing hassle on both sides and freeing up IT teams to work on projects that will drive improvements and efficiencies across the workplace. In fact, 83% of CIOs expect AI to drive productivity gains within the next one to two years, further highlighting the transformative potential of AI in optimizing workflows and enhancing productivity.

Solving Problems Before They Happen

AI is also being used to predict common problems before they happen. This means devices are configured and patched so that employees always have the most up-to-date, secure and stable version of the software they need. IT managers can be freed from chasing seemingly endless day-to-day IT issues, and focus on transforming the way their businesses use technology. Managers are provided with proactive device insights and AI-driven predictive analytics which help keep devices running at peak performance, while they focus on the bigger picture and employees have a device that ‘just works’.

A Smarter Workplace

The workplace has changed beyond recognition in recent years, and today’s hybrid employees are switching between dozens of apps and learning new skills. Choosing the right managed service, such as Lenovo’s Digital Workplace Solutions, provides an AI-powered helping hand to both frontline employees and the IT managers helping to oversee their devices. For employees, this means personalized services and IT problems that are solved first time, making them feel like they have that ‘magic touch’ with their work PC. For IT departments, this spells a shift away from reacting to problems to anticipating them, and the freedom to focus on transforming the business through new technologies such as AI. Most importantly, more people benefit from the ‘magic touch’ and minimize downtime because of common IT issues.

Reviews, Writer's Choice

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (2024) Review -Making Dual Screen Laptops Viable

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Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i 13’ (2024, Gen 9 – 13IMU9) is a great dual OLED touch screen OLED laptop for entertainment, productivity and light content creation. With a unique design that is practical and sleek, this is a great laptop opens different possibilities you can’t get from traditional work laptops.

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8.0/10

PROSCONS
✅Dual Screen Design
✅2.8K OLED Touch Displays
✅Pre-bundled Accessories
✅Great Audio
✅Sleek, near premium and light design
✅Great performance for most general tasks		❌7 Hour battery life
❌Apps open under the keyboard
❌Pricing
❌Unusual form factor might not be for everyone
❌Minimal port options

Specifications

The Yoga Book 9i (2024) comes with a Core Ultra CPU, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage space. Base model have 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

LENOVO YOGA BOOK 9i (2024)As tested
Processor (clock)Intel Core Ultra 7 155U Processor (E-cores up to 3.80 GHz P-cores up to 4.80 GHz)
GPUIntegrated Graphics
Display2x 13.3″ 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 500, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 60Hz, Narrow Bezel, Glass
Memory32GB LPDDR5X-7467MHz (Soldered)
Storage1TB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 TLC
NetworkingWi-Fi 6E 2×2 AX & Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
Ports3x USB C/Thunderbolt 4
Battery4 Cell Li-Polymer 80Wh with up to 7 hours of battery  
65W Type-C power adapter
Dimensions299.1mm x 203.6mm x 15.95mm
1.34kg
Miscellaneous5MP RGB+IR with Dual Array Microphone
Quad 2W speakers, Dolby Atmos

Design and Build Quality

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The Yoga Book 9i (2024) comes in a beautiful “Tidal Teal” using a rounded all aluminium sturdy chassis. Paired with a remarkably study 360 degree hinge and speaker system, this laptop just feels premium.

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It is also this hinge that allows the Yoga Book 9i (2024) to shows off the stunning dual OLED 2.8k Touch Displays in multiple configurations to suit your needs.

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With the purchase of Yoga Book 9i (2024), the laptop comes pre-bundled with a bunch of essential accessories. In the box, you will find a mouse, magnetic keyboard, stylus pen, and folio case/stand that shares the same colour, aesthetic and build quality as the laptop. The magnetic keyboard snap on to the bottom screen and can be used on the top or bottom part for different effects. One allows the use of a digital touchpad, another gives you a mini display.

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The keyboard is designed to be stored in the folio case which also comes with a pen loop for the stylus pen. This makes for carrying around the extras a bit easier and less bulky overall. The only main concern at the moment is the availability of spare keyboards and folio stand which are pretty integral to the Yoga Book 9i (2024) and how it is used. Purchasing extras or replacements may be difficult as they not available on the Lenovo’s retail website.

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One big letdown for build quality is a small plastic power button that has seemingly recessed into the frame. The power button felt mushy with no spring back or tactility and was difficult to press. This, however, could just be an issue with our specific review unit.

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Performance

Sporting an Intel Ultra7 155U processor with integrated graphics, the Yoga Book 9i (2024) is more than powerful enough for any general productivity, entertainment, presentations, and light content creation uses. So, for any multitaskers and split screen power users, you will enjoy the productivity boost this laptop can provide.

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The only big issue we can see overall is the lack of battery life in our benchmark testing. We were only able to achieved four and a half hours for watching movies via a streaming platform.

Daily Usage

The Yoga Book 9i (2024) checks many boxes as a daily laptop but with some caveats. From a hardware perspective, the laptop is more than powerful enough for general productivity or entertainment use. I would go as far as saying it excels for watching movies in particular. This is due in part to the Dolby Atmos speaker in the hinge. Hands down one of the best speakers in laptops we have heard for its form factor.

Coming to the obvious highlight of the Yoga Book 9i (2024), the dual screens for working. As someone who is used to working with two or more screens at a time, this laptop is a game changer. No longer does one have to lug a second screen around or faff about setting it up. The only caveat is that you now need to bring a keyboard, mouse, and stand which is luckily quite slim. The peripherals overall will add roughly 0.5kg to carry weight. The laptop alone is 1.3kg.

I will say that I was skeptical at first about the stand holding up the two screens. Luckily I was proven wrong. The stand is both easy and fast to setup and securely holds the Yoga Book 9i. Even with its higher center of gravity in top and bottom folio mode it never felt like it will fall.

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One interesting use case was using the Yoga Book 9i (2024) as a form of a portable Dungeon Master (DM) screen for Dungeons & Dragons (DnD). Having one screen for referencing monsters and the other for note taking proved to be invaluable. This is an obvious use case for the Yoga Book 9i, but the tent mode proved even more useful.

Tent mode allowed DM able to show images of monsters and settings to the players or show initiative orders to the players while the DM notes from the players. This allow us to save space on the table while provide information that the people at the table need.

Now to the issues which plagued us during our time with the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2024). The software that is supposed to help you use the computers two screens together needs improvement. The UI has glitched from time to time were the digital keyboard or touchpad starts to become unresponsive or loses it backgrounds.

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There is also the issue of apps launching underneath the digital or mechanical keyboard in clamshell normal laptop mode.

Speaking of the digital keyboard, it basically sucks. It is usable but is uncomfortable to use long term and not the most responsive. It is quite difficult to get use to typing quickly on the digital keyboard, and mostly it is for the best to resort to using the include magnetic keyboard that Lenovo provided.

Another quirk is when windows apps are seeking permissions, the digital touchpad will disappear.

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The biggest gripe though would be that the battery life is on the lower side with roughly getting about 5 – 7 hours before needing to recharge in a normal day to day usage. 

Final Thoughts

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (2024) is a great buy that we can recommend for those who are always in need of a dual screen laptop on the go for general productivity, entertainment, small presentations, and light content creation. The only thing we can say is that if you are not willing to carry around the extra peripherals and accessories, need something for video editing or heavy tasks, gaming, or on a budget, you might want to look elsewhere.

Business, Contributed

Why Your Business Needs An Effective Sustainability Strategy

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This article is contributed by Varinderjit Singh, General Manager, Lenovo Malaysia

It’s vital that we look after the planet for future generations, but that’s not the only reason to implement a sustainability strategy within your organisation. Cutting emissions, embracing the circular economy, and helping to keep already efficient devices running for longer makes sense from a financial point of view as well, and can even help your organisation attract the best employees.

Of course, putting people and the planet first should top your considerations, and an effective sustainability strategy can help limit our impact on climate change, reducing waste, conserving resources, and protecting delicate ecosystems.

How legislation is helping to drive change

Legislation around ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and sustainability is beginning to shape industries in Malaysia, with governments adopting increasingly rigorous targets.

According to Deloitte[1], the transition to a lower carbon and more sustainable society is reshaping the economy, creating new opportunities, and altering the cost of doing business. The implications are stark, the organisation explains. “Failing to become more sustainable will make companies vulnerable to the loss of revenue and reputation, as well as to litigation and regulatory penalties.”

It’s clear that simply ignoring sustainability is not an option for organisations in the long run, but there are also opportunities and benefits for businesses that implement a sustainability strategy sooner rather than later.

An effective sustainability strategy could also help you be more cost-effective

For starters, there’s potential to be more cost-effective. Scalable “as-a-service” solutions such as Lenovo TruScale can help your business simplify the procurement, deployment and management of reliable IT equipment, taking a flexible and cost-efficient approach to new levels of demand.

Lenovo Why Your Biz Byline

Embracing the latest energy-efficient devices can help your business manage CO2 emissions and power consumption, potentially saving on operating costs, while also helping you to tackle challenges such as growing your business, simplifying security, and general maintenance. An example is Lenovo’s ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 operating on Windows 11 Pro. Seize the moment with the security to thrive anywhere and the performance to meet your boldest goals. Windows 11 Pro devices are easy to use and manage, with AI-enhanced efficiency and compatibility with existing technology including mission-critical apps and hardware.

There’s also scope to offset emissions when you do purchase new IT equipment, thanks to solutions such as Lenovo’s CO2 Offset Services. This service estimates the carbon emissions across the average lifecycle of the device from manufacturing to shipping, typical use, and end-of-life, and supports a variety of climate action projects.

Just because you buy new devices doesn’t necessarily mean your old equipment will end up in landfill. We do everything we can at Lenovo to ensure older devices get a second lease of life, and our Asset Recovery Service (ARS) is designed to maximise the reuse, recycling, and/or environmental disposal of replaced and end-of-life products, parts, and waste. And with Lenovo’s recently launched Certified Refurbished PCs, you have the option to buy quality refurbished IT equipment and support the circular economy.

Keep older energy-efficient technology running for longer

Naturally, there are plenty of organisations that don’t need to overhaul their tech stack. If your equipment is already energy efficient and performs well, your tech provider can also help you to keep your devices running for longer, doing your bit when it comes to reducing waste and conserving resources.

Solutions such as Lenovo Premier Support Plus come with Accidental Damage Protection (ADP)[2] as standard, which can make a big difference when it comes to device longevity and saving money. Compared to the cost of most common repairs or system replacements, for example, you could save between 50%-93%[3] with ADP, which could be the difference between keeping an old laptop for another couple of years or having to replace it immediately.

Attracting top talent

Social and regulatory requirements aside, embracing sustainability can also enhance your company’s reputation. This can play a key role in helping you to attract and retain the best talent.

According to a survey from IBM[4], 71% of employees and employment seekers say that environmentally sustainable companies are more attractive employers. More than two-thirds of the full potential workforce[5] are more likely to apply for and accept jobs with environmentally and socially responsible organisations, and nearly half surveyed would accept a lower salary to work for such organisations.

The potential to grow your business

An effective sustainability strategy isn’t just appealing to potential employees – it’s becoming increasingly important to society at large. Consumers also care about sustainability, and your strategy could be the difference between customers picking your business or opting for a competitor.

Deloitte explains[6] that a third (34%) of consumers stated their trust in brands would be improved if the brand was recognised as an ethical/sustainable provider by an independent third party. A similar proportion (32%) claimed that their trust in brands would be improved if the company had a transparent, accountable, and socially and environmentally responsible supply chain.

All of these factors add weight to the already critical importance of a sustainability strategy, not only because it makes sense to limit our impact on the planet, but because it also makes justifiable business sense.

It’s inevitable that you’ll need to embrace sustainability at some point if you want your business to thrive in the long term, so why not look at ways you can get ahead of your competition as part of the journey?

[1] Deloitte – Sustainability Regulation Outlook 2024

[2] Dependent on market, parts, and hardware availability.

[3] Based on Lenovo internal data from NA, EMEA, and AP regions and cost of system board, LCD, and hard drive repairs on ThinkPad from April 2022 to April 2023.

[4] IBM – Sustainability at a turning point

[5] Full potential workforce refers to survey respondents who are employed full-time or part-time, unemployed but currently seeking employment, or a full-time student or apprentice.

[6] Deloitte – The Sustainable Consumer, 2023

Gaming, News

Lenovo Announces New Monitors and Accessories for the Legion Ecosystem

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Lenovo‘s Legion ecosystem is growing with the introduction of two new gaming monitors and a range of accessories designed to enhance the experience of the company’s first gaming handheld – the Legion Go.

Lenovo Legion Accessories Announcement 2024

Lenovo Legion R27qc-30 and R32qc-30 Monitors: Immersive Gaming Displays

The Lenovo Legion R27qc-30 and R32qc-30 monitors offer gamers an immersive visual experience. These curved displays feature a 1500R curvature, providing a more enveloping viewing angle. The 27-inch R27qc-30 boasts a QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution, while the 31.5-inch R32qc-30 offers a higher resolution of 4K (3840 x 2160). Both monitors support a fast refresh rate of 180Hz, ensuring smooth and responsive visuals, even during intense gaming sessions.  

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14 Legion R32qc 30 Bottom Ports
Legion Go Case 2
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08 Legion R32qc 30 Rear Facing Right Normal Position
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The Legion R27qc-30 and R32qc-30 feature a VA panel, known for its high contrast ratio and deep blacks. The R27qc-30 covers 120% of the sRGB colour gamut, while the R32qc-30 covers 112% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, delivering accurate and vibrant colours. Both monitors offer wide viewing angles, allowing you to enjoy the visuals from various positions.

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04 Legion R27qc 30 Front Normal Position
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Legion Go Accessories: Enhancing Your Gaming Experience

To complement the Legion Go, Lenovo has introduced a range of accessories designed to enhance your gaming experience. The Lenovo Legion Go USB-C Dock provides essential connectivity options, including USB-C Power, RJ45, USB-A ports, and HDMI 2.0. This allows you to connect various peripherals and expand your gaming setup.  

Lenovo Legion Go USB C Dock 05

The Lenovo Legion Go Charging Connector offers a convenient way to charge both detachable TrueStrike controllers simultaneously. This eliminates the hassle of charging each controller individually, ensuring you’re always ready to game.

Legion Go Case final

The Lenovo Legion Go Carry Case provides protection for your Legion Go while on the go. Its hard shell design safeguards the device, and the internal zip pocket allows you to store additional accessories.  

Legion Go Joystick Pro (24)

Lastly, Lenovo is also introducing a mini Bluetooth Keyboard that complements the Legion Go experience. The keyboard has a 75% layout and weighs in at a super light 180g with a thickness of only 5.6mm. It has multidevice connectivity supporting smart switching between up to three devices with multi-device and supports Microsoft Windows, Android, and iPadOS.

Legion Ultimate Support: Elevate Your Gaming Experience

For gamers seeking the ultimate support, Lenovo offers Legion Ultimate Support. This premium service provides 24/7/365 access to expert gaming technicians who can assist with troubleshooting, optimizations, and other technical needs.  

Pricing and Availability

Pricing and availability details announced are listed below.

  • Lenovo Legion R27qc-30 Monitor: Expected to be available starting in October 2024 for an estimated price of €259 (approximately RM1,285).
  • Lenovo Legion R32qc-30 Monitor: Expected to be available starting in October 2024 for an estimated price of €349 (approximately RM1,730).
  • Lenovo Legion Go USB-C Dock: Expected to be available starting in June 2024 for an estimated price of €64.99 (approximately RM322).
  • Lenovo Legion Go Charging Connector: Expected to be available starting in October 2024 for an estimated price of €59.99 (approximately RM297).
  • Lenovo Legion Go Carry Case: Expected to be available starting in January 2025 for an estimated price of €29.99 (approximately RM148).
  • Lenovo Legion Go Joystick and Joystick Caps: Expected to be available starting in October 2024 for an estimated price of €9.99 (approximately RM49).
  • Lenovo Multi-Device Bluetooth Mini Keyboard: Expected to be available starting in November 2024 for an estimated price of €39.99 (approximately RM198).

More details regarding the local Malaysian pricing and availability of the Lenovo Legion R27qc-30, R32qc-30 monitors, and accessories will be announced at a later date.

Computers

Lenovo YOGA Portal Packs Performance with A Small Footprint

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Lenovo has unveiled a compelling challenger to the Apple Mac Studio: the Yoga Portal. This high-performance mini PC boasts impressive desktop-grade components packed into a surprisingly small form factor, making it ideal for content creators, professionals, and gamers who value power without sacrificing space.

Lenovo Yoga Portal (2)

Mighty Specs in a Tiny Footprint

The Yoga Portal defies expectations by fitting powerful hardware into a compact design measuring just 19.5 x 19.1 x 10.8 cm and weighing 3.5 kg. Don’t be fooled by its size; the Yoga Portal packs a serious punch when it comes to performance.

Under the hood, the Yoga Portal features a desktop-class Intel Core i7-14700 processor, boasting 20 cores and 28 threads. This powerhouse CPU should pack enough performance for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and high-end gaming. The 5.4 GHz single-core boost clock promises smooth performance even under heavy workloads.

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Complementing the processor is a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, a significant upgrade compared to the ThinkCentre Neo Ultra’s integrated graphics. This discrete GPU delivers exceptional graphics capabilities, allowing you to tackle demanding creative tasks and enjoy smooth gameplay at high resolutions.

Designed for Expansion and Upgradability

The Yoga Portal comes standard with 32GB of DDR5 memory, offering excellent multitasking capabilities and seamless application switching. Additionally, the memory is user-upgradeable, allowing you to further enhance performance as your needs evolve.

Storage is handled by a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, providing ample space for your files and applications. Similar to the memory, the SSD is also user-upgradeable, allowing you to expand storage capacity for larger projects and extensive media libraries. The Yoga Portal even offers a dedicated M.2 slot for adding an independent NPU card, potentially boosting AI performance for specific applications.

Lenovo Yoga Portal (1)

Comprehensive Connectivity

Despite its small size, the Yoga Portal comes with a comprehensive selection of ports to connect all your peripherals. The front panel features a 3.5mm headphone jack, two USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports, and a USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port for versatile connectivity.

The rear panel provides even more options, including two additional USB-A ports (one USB 10Gbps and one USB 3.2 Gen 1), an HDMI 1.4 TMDS port, an HDMI 2.1a FRL port, and four DisplayPort 1.4a ports. This extensive array of ports ensures compatibility with various displays, external storage solutions, and other peripherals. Additionally, the Yoga Portal comes equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 port for reliable wired network connectivity.

Lenovo Yoga Portal (1)

Pricing & Availability

The Lenovo Yoga Portal is currently available for pre-order in China, with a starting price of ¥17,999 (approximately USD $2,480). For Malaysian consumers, the converted price translates to roughly RM11,140, though official Malaysian pricing and availability haven’t been confirmed yet.

Business, Contributed

Cloud, Connectivity, AI, Security: What SMBs Need From Technology

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Small and medium businesses are different from their larger competitors because the chief strategist in many SMBs is often still the owner or the founder.

The challenge for SMB owners is therefore often to understand the technological trends that might apply to their business. This can be complicated, in part because the rate of change in technology is high.

Yet many of these technology areas, such as access to mobile devices and the growth of cloud services, have special relevance to SMBs. Integrating technology should therefore be a central part of any SMB strategy, rather than an option, even for very small companies. The technology is needed to meet customer demands for better experiences, to ensure that businesses and customers can transact quickly, and because being online makes it easier and faster for SMBs to open up new global markets.

Employees of SMBs have similar expectations and the same driven goals of the business owners. They believe that having the right technology improves their productivity, helps drive business growth and increases flexibility in a hybrid working world.

At the center of how SMBs can leverage technology are four trends around mobility, AI-enabled services, and cloud automation, all under a security umbrella.

Taking teams to the next level of productivity, flexibility and customer satisfaction will require businesses to find a balance between implementing emerging technology and training employees to use this technology to provide personalized experiences for customers.

How do each of these technologies support and influence SMBs?

Lenovo Byline Pic 1

Connectivity

Slow and unstable connectivity is a major obstacle for a distributed workforce that relies on device technology to collaborate and to provide value to customers. Even as 5G continues to be rolled out around the world, WiFi 6E is already offering advanced connectivity in many countries. SMBs can make their investments in WiFi 6E and 5G today, to take advantage of higher-bandwidth, ultra-low-latency connectivity, and high-speed connectivity to the cloud. It’s worth noting that 5G deployments are accelerating around the world, and WiFi 7 is already on the horizon. SMBs should at least understand where these might fit into their existing and future strategies.

Device speed and functionality will continue to match this high-speed connectivity, and users will continue to seek out ever more productive designs that match lifestyle, work style, and mobility. An example of a device that is made for such high-speed connectivity is the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 operating on Windows 11 Pro. Simplify your workday and improve productivity with Windows 11 Pro With AI-powered experiences, intelligent workflows, and unmatched personalization, you can do it all on your Windows 11 Pro device. From features to get organized in a snap to fast performance and smart videoconferencing, Windows 11 Pro devices help you improve productivity anywhere. It has a built-in secondary screen offering alternative and distinct functions. Such an innovative device requires high-speed connectivity so that employees will be “always available” and “often on”, working flexibly to accommodate their personal lives.

Cloud automation

Cloud automation, and cloud applications, are an easy entry point for many SMBs that are looking to speed up or otherwise improve their business processes. As data, apps and workloads continue to expand into the cloud, SMBs will be able to automate simpler tasks, programs and customer services.  Efficient automation of data analytics, customer feedback and trends or smarter scheduling can free up more time for teams to focus on creative growth engines.

The cloud also allows more SMBs to consider Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) options. While often being more cost-effective, hybrid cloud solutions will be more future-proof and allow for greater scalability through flexibility. IDC has predicted that the growth of cloud services among APAC SMBs, for example, will continue through to 2025.

AI services and products

AI services are increasingly playing a role in helping businesses address common challenges such as staffing, security monitoring, financial management, and tailoring services to customer needs.

Some SMBs are now incorporating AI chatbots to provide round-the-clock resources for employees, adding convenience for those seeking answers to common questions about employee benefits, scheduling, insurance, vacation availability and sick time.

Companies that adapt smartly to incorporate AI-enabled services and products have a competitive advantage. AI and machine learning can provide real-time targeted data analysis, allowing employees to do creative and social media tasks that AI simply cannot credibly do. This, in turn, frees up time for innovation, and product and service development – investments that can be made without sacrificing current revenue and cash flow.

Securing the IT ecosystem

Across all these technologies sits security, from the devices all the way through to cloud access. Remote and hybrid work styles have already changed the nature of security risks, with many organizations, including SMBs, now allowing employees to have flexibility in where they work and use their own devices. As more services move to the cloud, access security risks also increase, and while cloud service providers can provide secure access inside their data centres, access between a business’s devices and the cloud can still attract cyber security risks. Threats are very real and lack of adequate protection can have devastating effects, but best practices and solutions exist to mitigate those threats.

SMBs must strategically implement the appropriate infrastructure, cloud automation and AI tools that will help their business scale. Businesses of all sizes demand client and data centre infrastructure that enables growth rather than restricts it. As technology rapidly evolves, businesses need the ability to integrate new technologies and workloads efficiently and seamlessly, often within resource, budget and capital boundaries.

For SMBs, this sometimes represents new challenges, but they can leverage the experience and investment made by larger companies, peers, partners and competitors, and with the right business and technology strategies in place, they will have the advantage of being more dynamic and responsive to growth opportunities.

Business, Computers, News

AMD Has Announced the Ryzen AI 300 Series Laptop Processors and It’s Pushing Real Hard

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AMD‘s Ryzen laptop chips are getting supercharged with AI performance this year. The new laptop SoCs are not just getting powered up, they’ll be getting a new naming convention too. The new “Ryzen AI” chips are focused on bringing the same performance we’re seeing with ARM’s x64-based chips to its own x86-based chipsets. In fact, if AMD’s own claims are to be believed, it would seem that it’s already well on the way to blowing its competition out of the water.

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Source: AMD

Leveraging Zen 5 with AMD’s XDNA2 Architecture

Ryzen AI processors are the first with the company’s new Zen 5 architecture. The new architecture leverages a 4nm fabrication process that allows it to increase performance and efficiency. The Zen 5 architecture also allows for increased branch prediction and accuracy as well as higher throughputs. The architecture is also designed from the ground up for parallelism.

Ryzen AI Brief 1

Ryzen AI Brief 1

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Source: AMD

The main difference between the Ryzen AI 300 series processors and the mainstream Ryzen 9000 is AMD’s own XDNA2 architecture. This architecture complements the performance of the Zen 5 based SoC with a new NPU. This NPU is capable of achieving an AI performance of 50 TOPS. This outperforms Microsoft’s minimum requirement of 40 TOPS for Copilot+ PCs. XDNA2 NPUs also combine the benefits of both 8-bit and 16-bit performance bringing both performance and accuracy to the platform without quantization.

The new Ryzen AI 300 series processors are equipped with 12 high-performance CPU cores with 24 threads and 50% more on-chip L3 cache memory over Zen 4 processors for thin and light laptops. AMD emphasizes that the NPU performance will be crucial to achieving power efficiency on laptops with AI performance. These NPUs can even be leveraged to drive better gaming performance. It’s also worth noting that these Ryzen AI 300 series processors also come with RDNA 3.5 GPUs in the Radeon 800M graphics.

Ryzen AI Brief 3
Source: AMD

New Naming, Better Value and New Laptops

Together with the new architecture, AMD is also streamlining the nomenclature of its Ryzen AI processors. Ryzen AI processors will now feature the Line (ie. Ryzen AI 9 or Ryzen AI 5) followed by the SKU and then the model. So, a high-performance Ryzen AI 9 processor would be labelled as Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Where the line is denoted by “Ryzen AI 9”, the “HX” denotes the high-performance SKU and the model is denoted by the “370”. Also notable is the reduction in numbers for the nomenclature from 4 digits to 3.

Ryzen AI 9 Radeon Badge
Source: AMD

Well, aside from the shiny new name and architecture, the latest AMD Ryzen AI 300 series comes with a whole value set. The processors are undoubtedly part of the AI revolution that is happening when it comes to mobile compute. The AI platform shit will deliver immense value when it comes to performance and power efficiency with laptops. We can expect to see laptops running the Ryzen AI 300 series processors having longer battery life with higher performance thanks to the XDNA2 NPUs that come in the SoC.

We can expect to see laptops with Ryzen AI 300 series processors hit the market in the coming months. Partners like ASUS, MSI, Acer, HP and Lenovo already throwing their backing with laptops in the works. In fact, ASUS has already mentioned a yet-to-be-announced stable of laptops including the ROG Zephyrus G16, ProArt P16 and PX13, Zenbook S 16, ASUS Vivobook S 14, S 15 and S 16, and TUF Gaming A14 and A16. MSI has also already announced the Stealth A16 AI+, Summit A16 AI+, Prestige A16 AI+ and Creator A16 AI+.

SKUs and Availability

Ryzen AI Brief 2
Source: AMD

For now, AMD has announced 2 SKUs of the new Ryzen AI 300 series processors. We can expect to see laptops with these processors hit shelves as early as July 2024. SKU Specifications are as follows:

ModelCores / ThreadsBoost[i] / Base FrequencyTotal CacheGraphics ModelcTDPNPU
AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 37012 / 245.1 GHz / 2.0 GHz36MBAMD Radeon™ 890M Graphics15-54WYes
(50 TOPs)
AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 36510 / 205.0 GHz / 2.0GHz34MBAMD Radeon™ 880M Graphics15-54WYes
(50 TOPs)

[i] Max boost for AMD Ryzen processors is the maximum frequency achievable by a single core on the processor running a bursty single-threaded workload. Max boost will vary based on several factors, including, but not limited to: thermal paste; system cooling; motherboard design and BIOS; the latest AMD chipset driver; and the latest OS updates. GD-150

Business

Lenovo Deploys an AI Engine Streamlines Sustainable IT Solutions for Businesses with LISSA

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Lenovo is solidifying its position as a trusted partner in sustainable IT solutions with the launch of the Lenovo Intelligent Sustainability Solutions Advisor (LISSA). This AI-powered tool empowers businesses to make data-driven IT decisions that minimize their environmental footprint.

LISSA KA

LISSA acts as a one-stop shop for businesses seeking to make informed and environmentally conscious IT choices. According to Lenovo, here’s how LISSA empowers users:

  • Actionable Sustainability Insights: Gain a clear understanding of your estimated emissions impact across the entire IT lifecycle, from hardware acquisition to disposal. This includes factors like material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and product use.
  • Customized Solutions: Develop tailored plans that align with your specific sustainability goals. LISSA considers your industry, business size, and existing IT infrastructure to recommend the most impactful solutions.
  • AI-Powered Recommendations with Transparency: Leverage the power of Generative AI to explore the environmental impact of various Lenovo sustainability solutions. This includes options like TruScale Device as a Service (DaaS), Asset Recovery programs, and energy-efficient packaging choices. LISSA provides clear data on the estimated carbon emissions associated with each option, ensuring transparency in your decision-making process.

LISSA goes beyond simple data analysis. It simulates various IT solution pathways, identifying potential opportunities to reduce emissions and support your organization’s decarbonization goals in the digital workplace. This aligns perfectly with a recent survey where 87% of executives believe AI can play a crucial role in combating climate change by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

“Sustainability isn’t just a trend; it’s a core business principle,” emphasizes Claudia Contreras, Executive Director of Global Sustainability Services for Lenovo. “LISSA equips customers with the data and AI-powered recommendations they need to make informed IT purchasing decisions with environmental impact in mind.”

Screenshot 2024 05 27 at 14 22 43 LISSA Infographic customer facing ww en.pdf

Lenovo remains committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and LISSA is a key tool in empowering its customers to join them on this journey.

Contreras acknowledges that “there’s no one-size-fits-all approach” to sustainability. LISSA caters to this by providing each customer with a personalized sustainability journey. Businesses of all sizes can leverage LISSA’s data-driven insights and AI-powered recommendations to optimize their IT investments while prioritizing environmental responsibility. This empowers them to not only compare IT solutions in real-time but also design solutions that align with both budgetary and sustainability goals.

With tools like LISSA, Lenovo is taking a proactive approach to building a more sustainable future for the IT industry and beyond.

Business

Lenovo & Austral Techsmith Join Forces to Revolutionize Smart Cities in Malaysia

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Lenovo and Austral Techsmith, a leading provider of 5G smart pole technology, have announced a strategic partnership to empower Malaysian cities with next-generation video analytics capabilities. This collaboration integrates Lenovo’s ThinkEdge AI solution with Austral Techsmith’s 5G smart poles, marking a significant leap forward in smart city development.

Enhancing Smart Cities with Video Analytics with Lenovo’s ThinkEdge

Austral Techsmith’s 5G smart poles will now incorporate the robust ThinkEdge technology, equipping city authorities with unparalleled AI-powered video analytics. Designed for intelligent edge computing, the ThinkEdge SE50 is powered by the Intel® Core™ i7 vPro® processor, making it the ideal choice for advanced video analytics. This powerful combination delivers cutting-edge features and exceptional data processing performance.

Lenovo ThinkEdge SE50 Austral Technologies 1

Varinderjit Singh, Lenovo Malaysia’s General Manager, said, “We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with Austral Techsmith, as mobility is an essential part of the smart city blueprint for Malaysia. Together, we look forward to paving the way towards smarter and safer cities, by harnessing the power of AI video analytics.”

As Malaysia progresses towards a smarter and more connected future, video analytics technology plays a crucial role in addressing urban challenges. This solution analyzes vast amounts of video footage with precision, enabling efficient searches and the development of intelligent transportation systems for safer and more streamlined traffic management.

Real-Time Traffic Management: Reducing Congestion and Boosting Efficiency

Urbanization often leads to increased traffic congestion. The ThinkEdge SE50, equipped with mounting kits for lamp posts, facilitates traffic monitoring at congestion hotspots. This data allows for dynamic adjustments to traffic light control systems, ultimately reducing accidents and traffic jams.

Furthermore, the ThinkEdge SE50 boasts flexible IO ports, including four NICs on embedded compute nodes, for enhanced connectivity. This translates to superior real-time data collection, empowering informed decision-making and automation to streamline traffic flow and improve urban mobility.

Enhanced Safety Measures: Prompt Intervention and Evidence Collection

Engineered for minimal latency, the ThinkEdge SE50 brings increased processing power, storage, and networking capabilities directly to where data is generated. The system can detect dangerous situations in real-time, including unauthorized vehicles, wrong-way driving, erratic behavior, and accidents. This enables prompt intervention, accident prevention, and efficient evidence collection, fostering safer city environments.

Lenovo ThinkEdge SE50 1

“Austral Techsmith has been a key player in Malaysia’s ambitious 5G infrastructure expansion since 2022,” said Azfar Zubri, The Chief Executive Officer of Austral Techsmith. “Through our innovative ELAB solutions and comprehensive engineering services, we’ve significantly contributed to the nationwide telecommunications infrastructure. Our partnerships with Lenovo’s ThinkEdge devices integrated into our 5G smart pole solutions represent an instrumental collaboration in propelling the country’s 5G capabilities forward.”

Aligned with its commitment to social impact through innovation, Lenovo offers Austral Techsmith and its customers an attractive Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) option for ThinkEdge. This solution eliminates upfront costs, making cutting-edge technology more accessible and cost-effective for city councils and organizations looking to implement AI video analytics.

Lenovo works together with Austral Techsmith to innovate when it comes to smart cities and also video analytics thanks to the powerful Lenovo ThinkEdge SE50. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI powered solutions from Lenovo. To further explore the company’s offerings, visit the Lenovo ThinkEdge website or contact the Lenovo Malaysia Marketing Team Representative, Nicole Lim at hlim4@lenovo.com

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Empowering Schools for The Digital Age

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In recent years, rapid technological advancement and shifting societal needs have evolved the educational landscape significantly.  Technology now plays an integral part in revolutionising traditional learning methods, offering new avenues to enhance teaching and learning modes.

Lenovo EdVision Photo 1

Schools must comprehend and effectively utilise technology to fully harness its benefits. In line with this, Malaysia’s Ministry of Education (MoE) has introduced the Digital Education Policy, which aims to seamlessly integrate digital technology into the learning environment, cultivating a generation of digital-savvy students and educators.

However, the key to effective technology-based learning and teaching lies in schools’ adept approach to integrating technology with the right strategies. It’s not just about adding new gadgets or software in classrooms; rather, it’s about thoughtful planning and implementation to ensure technology enhances educational outcomes.

What Does Digital Strategy for Schools Mean?

A digital strategy for schools encompasses a holistic plan that outlines how technology will be leveraged to elevate and transform various aspects of the educational process. It involves strategically integrating digital tools, resources, and technologies into the education ecosystem to refine teaching methods, enrich student learning experiences, streamline administrative processes, and foster a future-ready learning environment.

Central to this approach is identifying specific goals and objectives of the institution, understanding the needs of educators and students, and aligning technology initiatives to address them effectively.

Preparing Schools for a Comprehensive Digital Strategy

As we embrace a new era in education, preparing schools for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow has become a paramount priority. Key components of a digital strategy for schools include:

Lenovo EdVision Pic 2

Infrastructure and Technology Integration

A robust IT infrastructure stands as the cornerstone of any successful digital strategy within educational institutions. It requires essential hardware such as computers, tablets, and interactive displays, alongside establishing a secure, high-speed network, to effectively support digital initiatives in schools. Investing in technology can be costly; however, teaming up with technology vendors like Lenovo, who provide device seeding for cutting-edge products like the Lenovo K14 G2 Intel-powered by the Intel® Core™ i7 U Series processor (13th Gen), can help.

Technology integration must also go beyond device presence, strategically including digital tools across classrooms and administrative functions. From interactive whiteboards to educational software, schools should purposefully integrate technology to improve teaching methods and student learning.

Digital Literacy Development for Educators

For digital strategies to be successful, educators must be empowered with the necessary skills and knowledge to utilize technology in classrooms effectively. Digital literacy development initiatives are essential in providing teachers with the confidence and expertise to integrate digital tools into their teaching methodologies.

As a trusted partner in the transformation journey, Lenovo has established the Lenovo EdVision Community program in Malaysia to hone technological literacy and digital skills among students while providing resources and support for teachers to prepare them for a more digital educational landscape. Our program offers IT-enablement product training and webinars for teachers, along with easy-to-use total education solutions encompassing hardware, software, and services to ensure a seamless education experience. Malaysian teachers can register on the Edvision Community website to be part of the community for free.

When teachers are well-prepared, they can craft engaging, and dynamic learning experiences tailored to meet the needs of 21st-century learners.

Collaboration and Communication

Digital strategies should prioritize seamless communication and collaboration among students, teachers, parents, and school staff. Technology tools like virtual classrooms and parent-teacher communication platforms facilitate real-time communication and promote engagement.

Furthermore, strategies should extend collaboration beyond schools by leveraging technology to connect with experts and resources globally.

By adopting these digital strategies, schools can equip students with the essential skills and competencies needed to excel in a technology-driven society.