Tag Archives: ThinkPad

Computers, News

Lenovo’s ThinkPad & ThinkBook Laptops Get Infused with AI Technology

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Lenovo is showing off its latest line up of laptops at MWC 2024! The new laptops come equipped with Intel’s latest generation Core Ultra processors which not only promise top notch performance but also long battery life. The newly refreshed Lenovo ThinkPad T Series, the Think Pad X12 and the ThinkBook 14 are bringing more than just a hardware refresh this year. Together with an updated CPUs, it’s going to be coming with a whole slew of AI-powered features that will utilise the dedicated NPU in Intel’s new Core Ultra processors.

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Lenovo ThinkPad T Series

The ThinkPad T series will be coming with new entries into the ThinkPad T14, T14s and T16 lineups. These laptops are built for business users who are looking for reliable, durable devices with some of the latest features for enhanced productivity. The new updates come with a Communications Bar which houses a 5-megapixel webcam and microphones. These laptops also adopt a simple one-handed lip for easy opening and closing of the device. The laptops will also make things a little more accessible with tactile markings making it easier for the visually impaired to navigate the keyboard. These markings were first introduced with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2-in-1 Gen 9 and the X1 Carbon Gen 12.

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Repairability and sustainability have become core tenets of Lenovo’s product lineup. The new ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 and T16 Gen 3 have been designed to be repair-friendly. Lenovo did this with insights from iFixit Solutions team. These laptops feature a battery without cable connectors, a fully socketed DIMM design and replaceable SSD and WWAN cards. The laptops also have visual indicators to ease the repair process.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 & ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4

The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 is designed to be a sleek productivity partner for life on the move. With a durable 3:2 display, powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra U series processors and an integrated AI engine, it effortlessly adapts to your needs. With up to 32GB Dual Channel LPDDR5x memory, multitasking becomes a breeze. The detachable folio keyboard, three-button TrackPad, and optional magnetic pen enhance versatility for professionals on the go. It comes with a 5-megapixel camera with an Infrared sensor that allows you to sign in to Windows with Windows Hello and an 8MP World-facing camera so you can capture and scan documents. It also comes with CAT16 4G WWAN support.

Lenovo’s ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 redefines portable computing with its sleek design and intelligent features. The innovative drop hinge design, measuring just 16.85mm in thickness and weighing 1.64kg, sets a new standard for portability. The 14-inch display, with a four-side narrow bezel, achieves an impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio, delivering an immersive visual experience. Enhancements like a 1.5mm key travel on the keyboard and a glass-like Mylar touchpad contribute to comfortable and precise user interaction. The Magnetic Slim Pen adds a touch of convenience, while security features like the Match-on-Chip fingerprint reader and optional Infrared camera ensure data safety. Intelligent computing is at the forefront with features like Smart Power for balanced performance and Smart Meeting for improved conferencing. Lenovo’s commitment to sustainability is evident through the use of recycled aluminium and Post Consumer Content plastic materials. The ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 seamlessly blends powerful performance with a thoughtful and eco-friendly design.

AI-Imbued for Maximum Battery Life and Productivity

Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and equipped with Windows 11, these laptops create an advanced AI ecosystem. They prioritize security, energy efficiency, and immersive user experiences, seamlessly integrating with a variety of software applications leveraging dedicated AI acceleration support. Notable features include Copilot in Windows and a physical Copilot key, optimizing daily tasks for unparalleled ease and speed.

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This marks a significant step in the AI PC revolution, showcasing Lenovo’s commitment to delivering tailored AI solutions. The laptops redefine personalized PC experiences, elevating collaboration, customer interactions, and data analysis. With AI-enabled software tools, these ThinkPad and ThinkBook laptops set a new standard, enhancing creativity and efficiency across diverse workflows. Lenovo’s innovation reflects a transformative approach, ushering in a new era of intelligent and engaging computing solutions.

Pricing & Availability

The new slate of Lenovo laptops will be available starting from March 2024. The ThinkPad T14 will also be available with AMD’s Ryzen 8040 series processors with Ryzen AI.

ModelAvailabilityStarting Price (USD$)Starting Price (RM)*
ThinkPad T14 i Gen 5Starting April 2024$1,199RM5,727.51
ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 AMDStarting May 2024$949RM4,533.28
ThinkPad T14s Gen 5Starting April 2024$1,399RM6,683.13
ThinkPad T16 Gen 3Starting April 2024$1,219RM5,823.25
ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2Starting April 2024$1,399RM6,683.13
ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4Starting March 2024$1,169RM5,584.40
*Pricing in Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is estimated based on conversion rates on XE.com on 26 February 2024 [USD$1 : RM4.7771]
Business, Contributed

Increase Productivity for Production and Manufacturing Processes

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

Production and manufacturing processes are becoming more complex and demanding as customers expect higher quality, lower cost, and faster delivery of products. To meet these challenges, manufacturers need to leverage the power of advanced technologies, such as high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), and spatial computing. In this article, we will explore how a workstation can increase productivity for production and manufacturing processes by using spatial computing solutions, data science and client AI solutions, NVIDIA Omniverse, and remote workstation solutions. Examples of noteworthy workstation options include the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 G2, Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower and the Lenovo ThinkStation P620 Tower operating on Windows 11 Pro. Use Windows 11 Pro for Workstations to blaze through workloads with lag-free multitasking across your most demanding applications.

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Spatial Computing Solutions

Spatial computing is a technology that can digitize the spatial relationships between machines, people, objects, and environments, and enable and optimize their operations and interactions. Spatial computing can help manufacturers with product design, quality control, safety, and efficiency. For example, spatial computing can enable digital twins, which are virtual replicas of physical assets or processes that can be used for simulation, testing, and optimization. Spatial computing can also facilitate augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications, which can enhance the visualization and collaboration of design and engineering teams, as well as provide immersive training and guidance for workers. A workstation that can handle spatial computing tasks should have a powerful GPU, a large memory, and a high-resolution display. A possible choice is the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Mobile Workstation, which has an NVIDIA® RTX 5000 Ada graphics card, an Intel® Core™ i9-13950HX processor, and up to 192GB of memory.

Data Science and Client AI Solutions

Data science and client AI solutions can help manufacturers analyze and utilize the vast amounts of data generated by production and manufacturing processes, such as sensor data, quality data, customer data, and market data. Data science and client AI solutions can help manufacturers with demand forecasting, inventory management, process optimization, anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and customer satisfaction. For example, data science and client AI solutions can help manufacturers create and fine-tune foundation models, which are large and versatile AI models that can perform multiple tasks, such as natural language processing, computer vision, speech recognition, and more. Data science and client AI solutions can also help manufacturers interact with and explore data through conversational interfaces, visualizations, and summarizations. A workstation that can handle data science and client AI tasks should have a fast and reliable processor, a large and expandable memory, and a flexible and scalable storage system. A possible choice is the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower Workstation, which has a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processor, up to 128GB of memory, and up to 32TB of storage.

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NVIDIA Omniverse

NVIDIA Omniverse is a platform that enables the creation and operation of complex, AI-enabled virtual environments, or digital twins, for factory and warehouse design. These virtual replicas facilitate real-time collaboration among teams and are the key to unleashing operational efficiencies with predictive analysis and process automation. NVIDIA Omniverse allows manufacturers to import and export data from various sources, such as CAD tools, simulation software, and IoT devices, and create realistic and interactive simulations of production and manufacturing scenarios. NVIDIA Omniverse also supports ray tracing, physics, and sound rendering, which can enhance the quality and realism of the virtual environments. A workstation that can handle NVIDIA Omniverse tasks should have a powerful graphics card, a high-performance CPU, and a large memory. A possible choice is the Lenovo ThinkStation P620 Tower Workstation, which has up to 64 cores CPU, a 10Gb Ethernet port, and plenty of storage capabilities.

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Remote Workstation Solutions

Remote workstation solutions can help manufacturers access their physical workstations from virtually anywhere with rich graphics acceleration via leading remote visualization tools. Remote workstation solutions can help manufacturers with remote design, engineering, and collaboration, as well as reduce the cost and maintenance of physical workstations. Remote workstation solutions can also provide security and compliance features, such as encryption, authentication, and auditing. A workstation that can handle remote workstation tasks should have a low-latency frame encode, accelerated desktop capture, headless graphics support, and leading pro-ISV certifications, like the majority of the Workstations from Lenovo. The Lenovo remote TGX solution is the best way to connect to your Workstation cluster from anywhere in the world.

Wrap up

A workstation can increase productivity for production and manufacturing processes by using various technologies, such as spatial computing, data science and client AI, NVIDIA Omniverse, and remote workstation solutions. These technologies can help manufacturers improve their design, engineering, simulation, production, and collaboration workflows, as well as reduce their costs, risks, and environmental impact. A workstation that can support these technologies should have a combination of hardware and software features, such as a powerful GPU, a fast CPU, large memory, flexible storage, and a reliable network. Lenovo offers a range of workstation solutions that can meet the needs of different production and manufacturing scenarios, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Intel (16″) Mobile Workstation, the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower Workstation, the Lenovo ThinkStation P620 Tower Workstation, and the TGX Remote Workstation.

Business, Contributed

Adopting New (Virtual and Augmented) Realities for Manufacturing

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

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The manufacturing industry is shifting from hands-on to virtual with AR & VR, to increase efficiency, enhance employee training & cut costs.

As augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies expand beyond the gaming world, they are seeing increased awareness and adoption across a variety of industries – particularly manufacturing. In an era dominated by data and one that is constantly shifting to adapt to the needs of the new workforce, emerging technologies have the opportunity to completely disrupt the manufacturing industry as we know it.

AR/VR enables a new generation of workers to be smarter, faster, and more capable by connecting people and computers in real-time, hands-free scenarios. This new wave of immersive computing enables workers to access technical knowledge and data on the go, interact with 3D models to collaborate and innovate with peers and dive into digital experiences that enhance engagement and learning. By empowering employees to do more, AR/VR technologies allow enterprises to solve problems in unexpected and inventive ways.

Lenovo’s ThinkReality solutions are making it easier than ever to build, deploy and manage enterprise AR/VR solutions. ThinkReality is a scalable cloud and device-agnostic software platform supported by Lenovo’s expert consulting, deployment and support services. As the global manufacturing industry prepares to adjust to new challenges and opportunities, ThinkReality is ready to support it.

In addition, the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 operating on Windows 11 Pro is an excellent choice for businesses and employee training. Use Windows 11 Pro for Workstations to blaze through workloads with lag-free multitasking across your most demanding applications.

Manufacturing’s New Reality

The manufacturing industry now has approximately 2.72 million workers in Malaysia, accounting for about 18.1% of the workforce, and continuing to grow. With a transitioning workforce, globally, the manufacturing industry is forecasting a deficit of 7.9 million workers by 2030, resulting in an unrealized economic output of $607.1 billion (RM 2.8 trillion) if current initiatives remain unchanged.

According to Korn Ferry’s Future of Work study, “Developing countries with strong manufacturing centres may begin to struggle due to significant talent shortages – by 2030, Brazil could suffer manufacturing worker deficits of 1.7 million and Indonesia could see worker shortages reach 1.6 million. The United States already struggles with shortfalls in highly skilled manufacturing talent and this deficit is expected to increase over the next decade, reaching a 2030 shortfall of 383,000 such workers, equivalent to more than 10% of the highly skilled workforce.”

As a result, the manufacturing industry, which has traditionally been slow to evolve, is moving at rapid speeds towards AR/VR integration to help solve for the skilled workforce gap. IDC forecasts worldwide spending on AR/VR will reach $160 billion (RM 759.7 billion) this year, up significantly from the $16.8 billion (RM 78.8 billion) forecast for 2019, with the five-year compound annual growth rate for AR/VR spending reaching 78.3%.

The uptick in AR/VR enterprise growth will be a direct result of manufacturing’s growth, where companies are using technology to boost productivity, increase security and ensure accuracy in the industry.

Hands-on Training

According to Deloitte, the number of new jobs in manufacturing is expected to accelerate and grow by 1.96 million workers by 2028. This job surge calls for the industry to keep up with the demand for new talent and to quickly adapt and integrate new technologies—to boost both revenue and employee productivity.

Technicians need to quickly adapt to this environment and determine efficiencies across their entire operations. One such way is by enabling new technologies that enhance employee training.

In most manufacturing environments, hands-on training is difficult because shutting down equipment or a production line to brief new employees is unrealistic. Additionally, there are certain pieces of equipment that might be too expensive to purchase just to dedicate solely to training new hires.

However, with VR, on-the-field training is possible, as new employees can be placed in a virtual environment that mimics the work they would be doing on the ground. Allowing employees to learn through real-life experiences leads to increased knowledge retention and gives them the ability to practice complex scenarios they would normally not have access to in traditional training environments. The technology also allows employees to absorb the information through real-time application, save time in traditional forms of training and equip them with the expertise they need to fill the industry skills gap. Companies also benefit because virtual training prevents disruption in normal operations.

Safety & Maintenance

Being able to train employees from a distance boosts learning, saves employers money long-term and, most importantly, provides a safer environment. While company manuals and training courses exist, there needs to be other resources employees can take advantage of to effectively prepare for the variety of high-risk situations they might face over their careers. With AR technology, employees are able to experience potentially dangerous scenarios repeatedly, helping to avoid injury and equipment damage.

As an example, aerospace manufacturers are using AR technology to increase efficiency and improve quality control at their installation and inspection facilities. Employees use augmented reality glasses to see digital mockups over images of real systems to identify faulty parts which helps ensure safety and speeds up the maintenance process. AR helps ensure accuracy while also speeding up the process of daily inspections.

Worker Productivity & Business Efficiency

The result of a more experiential onboarding and training process is employees who are more prepared for their daily tasks, which leads to increased productivity. Beyond training, AR/VR solutions help businesses work smarter and more efficiently. For example, manufacturing company leaders can use VR to reskill their employees to learn new skills, or alternatively, AR solutions can give engineers access to interactive 3D renderings to more quickly assemble a specific component.

Additionally, over the years these technologies have evolved to help businesses be even more efficient. For example, to adapt to the increasingly mobile and technologically-driven workforce, these solutions now come in the form of hands-free head-worn devices that can be used to deploy both simple and complex AR solutions for enterprises – reducing error rates, improving time to build a system and minimizing costs.

Looking Ahead

ThinkReality is conceived for today’s world and the future. The Lenovo ThinkReality platform provides a proven, scalable, and streamlined path from proof of concept to productivity for enterprise AR/VR applications. The platform is a complete solution that lets you focus on problem-solving by working across diverse hardware and software. Build, deploy, and manage applications and content on a global scale, with global support.

While AR/VR technologies are still facing integration roadblocks in the industry, they hold a substantial role in propelling the manufacturing industry forward in the coming years. Ensuring employees are properly trained, productive and safe is just the starting point for the future of AR/VR in the manufacturing industry. As we look ahead, enterprises will continue to see the value of AR/VR in enhancing operations. By building in smarter technologies into the enterprise ecosystem, businesses will transform the manufacturing industry as we see it today.

Computers, Contributed

New Life: Replacement Doesn’t Have To Be The End

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

For years, consumer electronics have been viewed as replaceable rather than repairable. Quickly consumed and then easily considered disposable, devices are often discarded, sometimes well before what could be considered a standard end-of-life period.

While recycling has long been the go-to method for minimizing waste in various other sectors, it isn’t as widely embraced in technology. According to a report from Statista, more than 53 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated globally in 2019, up from 33 million in 2010. Only 17.4% of which was documented to be collected and properly recycled.

While efforts to improve recycling rates of e-waste should undoubtedly continue, as someone who has dedicated their life to innovation, the question I pose is, how can we extend the useful life of devices until they truly are ready to be recycled? To answer that question, we must first examine what drives people to dispose of their devices.

Our replacement ecosystem

Today, the lifecycle of devices is largely influenced by technology and user preferences. As new versions of products that meet new needs are introduced, there is a natural desire to replace what is owned with the new. This replacement ecosystem can in turn generate waste. As an example, consider the main motivation someone has for buying a new smartphone or laptop.

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Often, such an action is taken when the battery life deteriorates. Years ago, when PCs had batteries designed to be easily removed and replaced, the user could just pull it off and attach a new one. Now, it’s not that simple, largely due to user preferences that have shaped our technological landscape.

As devices have become exceptionally sleek to meet the needs and wants of consumers, they’ve become less easy to repair in the process. So, when a user’s experience with the device is negatively impacted by poor battery performance, the easiest available choice seems to be to replace the device with another, with many opting for something new.

In this lifecycle, an expectation to constantly produce is placed on manufacturers, leaving the user to desire what’s new rather than attempt to enjoy a long-term experience with the product.

Though many people choose to replace their old devices with something new, it isn’t inevitable that devices be scrapped once their initial useful life appears to be over. As we’ve become used to an ecosystem that’s less accommodating of device reparability over the past decade, I revisit the question I initially posed, how can we extend the useful life of devices?

The Cynic’s Response

When I’ve discussed the aforementioned question in forums, I’ve occasionally been met with cynicism.

The cynicism is underpinned by the belief that products are designed to be replaced after several years since they regenerate sales. Looking at how device usability can be extended isn’t seen as being commercially viable in this particular instance.

While I acknowledge there are always people who will want the latest devices, I want to put forward the idea that the “old device” has the potential to still be phenomenal. It has a lot of value in its ability to be reused either by family members or others in the community, for example.

A great example of a device is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon operating on Windows 11 Pro. Boost employee productivity with modern Windows 11 Pro devices for business. Focus, create, and collaborate with ease from any location with natural workflows and intelligent experiences.

Getting to circular

It’s obvious to me that people want to feel good about what they do. When given the choice, many people would prefer to purchase a sustainable alternative to be more eco-friendly.

The question, at least in my mind, is, to what extent are people willing to be inconvenienced for more sustainable features? Whether it’s a marginally higher price point, time spent waiting for a repair or embracing modularity instead of buying the hottest new device, there’s a lot to unpack. The question alone encapsulates a guiding mission for device manufacturers to do everything possible to make it easier for consumers to make sustainable choices. 

To act on this, I think we need to design in-feature capabilities that will make it easier to improve reusability and extend usability in general. This is why we’re designing our products to be more durable, where, as an example, we’re embedding longer lifespan batteries into our products. We must, however, ensure the user experience isn’t being compromised in the process.

Then, there’s the aspect of reparability. At its best, I think of reparability as Lenovo’s partnership with Kramden Institute, an organization that refurbishes machines and gives them to families who don’t have computers, extending the life of valuable technology and closing the digital divide. 

We’ve also made it easier for our customers to get more long-term use of their products through three-year standard warranties and five years of replacement parts for many of our products. By offering advanced support services, products can be quickly repaired to minimize interruption and hassle. For those who want to repair their own devices, we offer service and maintenance manuals, as well as part removal and replacement videos.

These are, of course, in addition to recycling the device and leveraging recycled materials in the manufacturing of products. As stated in our recent ESG report, this has been a key focus at Lenovo, where we’ve greatly increased the integration of new recycled materials (e.g. magnesium, aluminium and ocean-bound plastics).

Now, Lenovo manufactures 248 products that use closed-loop recycled plastic (an increase from 103 in 2021). As part of our product recycling approach, Lenovo offers product take-back programs and an Asset Recovery Services program that provides companies with a sustainable disposition strategy that will help mitigate the environmental and data security risks associated with end-of-life device disposal.

Ultimately, at Lenovo, we are working to increase the number of products, components, and materials that are reused, repaired, and recycled. In doing this, we extract the greatest amount of value from products while they’re in use. Keeping products in use for longer, recycling materials, and reusing products in new ways are the staples of transitioning from a replacement ecosystem to a circular one.

From an engineering standpoint, balancing the need to increase the deployment of more eco-friendly resources with the ability to engineer efficiency in manufacturing is how we will win on the road to doing better.

While I don’t see us moving back to the thick, heavy design that characterized yesterday’s devices, there’s definitely an opportunity where we can replicate the reusable functionalities while also having minimal impact on design. I’m excited to see how we can go a lot further with this than where we are today.

Business, Computers, Contributed

Where Next for Product Development In A Hybrid World?

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This article is contributed by Jerry Paradise, Vice President of Global Commercial & Product Management at Lenovo IDG

In product and device design there are inflection points that really lend themselves to new and innovative thinking. Some of these points involve disruption – the sudden move to working from home because of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world is the obvious example. Others are longer-term, with some being the consequence of that initial disruptive event – the new thinking around hybrid working for example. 

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Right now, there have never been so many areas in which to innovate, because there are so many new problems and opportunities. The past 2 years have certainly sharpened the focus across many industries on how to solve problems with technology and while the shift towards cloud-based collaboration and productivity was already underway, the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation initiatives across so many functions.

The focus of much of this innovation is on hybrid working. Technology and devices, supported by connectivity and software, remain the foundation for what this will look like and will shape design and engineering for some time.

What is necessary for hybrid workstyles?

It starts with defining what technology-for-hybrid means. At its most fundamental, for the end-user, it means technology that supports being able to move back and forth readily between home – and “everywhere”. For businesses and IT departments, it means offering the flexibility of roaming workspaces, while maintaining maximum levels of productivity and security.

On the surface, it may all sound familiar, but there’s an underlying fundamental change. Pre-Covid, for most this meant office-based with occasional “after-hours” at home, with some remote working at a customer, perhaps via an airport. We went from one tethered environment, for power and connectivity, to another. 

Now we’re seeking to create new experiences that are shared by people who no longer sit next to each other in the same space. We need high-speed wireless connectivity, always-on always connected, and using high-bandwidth applications that include voice and video nearly every hour of the working day, we need collaborative hardware and software that’s up to the job. 

In the new hybrid working models, we have been starting to see the next generation of devices designed specifically for this new world.

A great example is artificial intelligence (AI) will start to work out whether or not to close down a side conversation because it’s not front-and-centre to the meeting for security reasons, or that in fact it should be part of the conversation because that person is an integral part of the discussion. Context will play its part, and technology will slowly take that into account.

From webcams to security

Previously, companies were suspicious of webcams, and our Customer Advisory Councils made it clear that a physical shutter was needed to guarantee that even if a camera was hacked remotely, the criminal could not see anything. 

That design thinking started when hybrid working wasn’t even a concept. Now we’re looking at accommodating hybrid workspaces around new experiences that will demand cameras and microphones as essential to improve the efficiency and the comfort of meetings and be smarter as a result. That’s an interesting evolution that requires new thinking, and it demands new designs and innovation that we are actively working on.

Corporate security is also inverted. We previously had corporate networks where 80% or 90% of people were inside the firewall. If you entered your company’s building with your security tag, you were inside the VPN and were deemed safe to access the network.

Now, 80-90% of employees are outside the building at least some of the time and are outside the firewalled network. Often using their own devices on vulnerable home networks or remote hotspots without suitable VPN protection. For a company like Lenovo, I believe the responsibility lies with us, to put the security wrapper around the devices in this hybrid world, coordinating with the hardware layer and the operating system.

A great example is the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s i Gen 4 operating on Windows 11. Shield valuable data and enable secure hybrid work with the latest advanced security that businesses say results in 2.8X fewer instances of identity theft.[1]

Security fundamentals are too numerous to go into detail here, maybe for another time! But we’re taking a view of the multi-layer approach to security that says we’re going to do everything in our power to make the hardware design as secure as possible from supply chain integrity to endpoint protection for the end user. 

And much more

Other design factors also come into play.

As we’re more mobile and more remote, we need longer battery life. Even if we’re based at home, we still don’t want to have to be tethered to the power outlet in the wall. So that means application management, chip management, and power and heat management.

How can the device balance the resources that create heat, with those to keep it cool, all of which use up battery power – and still retain everything the user demands for instant use?

The answers include ultra-high-performance software and hardware tuning according to the different tasks and needs, and using AI to manage high power consumption of technologies such as displays, 4G LTE and 5G (which is high).

Above all else the challenge we relish is that it’s our job to ensure that, when users open the lid of their laptops, the devices are ready to do useful work, on-demand, secure, fully connected, using applications that are only going to get more sophisticated, in more ways than we have ever done before. 

Welcome to the hybrid future – and the devices we will use in it.

[1] Windows 11 Survey Report. Techaisle, February 2022. Windows 11 results are in comparison with Windows 10 devices

Business, Contributed

Tech Solutions Executives Must Consider Levelling Up Their Team

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

Today, integrating forward-thinking technology is not an option, but a key business strategy that touches nearly every part of a growing business. Not only do customers expect customized on-demand services, but employees do too.

According to recent research, nearly half (48.6%) of workers think using the right tech increases their productivity, and 35.8% say being equipped with appropriate technology helps make their job more flexible. Businesses small and large that want to take team creativity and productivity to the next level must leverage technology that can drive faster results and adapt to new trends in the market. It is imperative that enterprises harness modern technology such as mobile apps, AI-enabled services, and cloud automation as tools for their teams to help simplify or automate time-consuming day-to-day activities so they can focus on more challenging work.

Taking your team to the next level in our increasingly digitally driven world will require businesses to find a balance between implementing emerging tech for tasks that can be automated, and training their employees on how to provide personalized experiences for their clientele.

Here are the top three emerging technologies all business owners should have on their radar to scale their business efficiently.

Hi-speed Network Infrastructure

Slow and unstable connectivity is a major obstacle for a distributed workforce that is reliant on their PCs’ efficient technology to lead collaborative brainstorms, listen and engage during monthly planning meetings, and/or connect with team members during 1:1 meetings. Wifi 6E offers an advanced band connection needed for optimized work-from-home, online learning, live streaming, and faster speed for all your connected devices.  Emerging technologies like Wifi 6E will be instrumental in delivering high bandwidth, ultra-low latency connectivity and power to devices all over the world and will expand the landscape of solutions for businesses that want to grow.

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While devices must be faster and more functional, it is imperative that design and engineering teams also offer new possibilities of thinner and more flexible designs for employees on the go. For example, global PC manufacturers are designing unique laptops with extended battery life that allows you to work through the day uninterrupted—even with versatile usage modes on the go. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon operating on Windows 11 Pro is a great laptop for employees, especially in the hybrid working world. Windows 11 is the most secure Windows ever. Businesses report a 58% drop in security incidents with Windows 11 Pro devices.1 Forward-thinking technology equipped with always-on always-connected capability will be key for business continuity.

Cloud Automation

Cloud automation is an easy entry point for many businesses that are looking to expedite their processes through tech-enabled automation. As data, apps and workloads shift to the cloud, it can improve day-to-day operations and workflow, helping small-to-medium business (SMB) owners in particular automate tasks such as scheduling appointments, content marketing management and tracking business expenses in one place. By freeing up some time with the help of automation solutions, leaders can help their team build skills to become more productive through various training programs or employee enrichment opportunities.  These are a few examples of how digital transformation can be harnessed to enable businesses of all sizes to achieve efficiency, productivity and smart collaboration.

By automating certain tasks, business owners will provide employees with more time to deliver thoughtful and creative work. However, the prospect of automation can create uncertainty, both regarding job security and changes to day-to-day tasks. To reduce these fears, it is essential to communicate with employees throughout the entire process. The main message to reinforce is, “Automation technology is being used to support staff, not replace their roles.” Through open communication and continuous learning, employees will be given plenty of enrichment opportunities and stay loyal and engaged in their work and their companies long-term success.

AI-Enabled Services and Products

AI-enabled services are now in our homes, cars and personal computing technology, and they can also play a role in helping businesses address common challenges such as staffing, security monitoring, finance management, personalization of services, and more.

Some workplaces have incorporated AI chatbots to provide employees with resources around the clock, adding convenience for those seeking answers to common questions about employee benefits, scheduling, insurance, vacation availability and sick time. In turn, by allowing some HR processes to be accomplished without human intervention, chatbots offer a better allocation of HR staff members’ time toward addressing more complex employee concerns.

In fact, companies that smartly adapt to incorporating AI-enabled services and products have a competitive advantage. AI and machine learning can enable targeted data analysis, so employees can do creative and social tasks that AI simply cannot. Not only can companies save money by using AI to do repetitive work, but teams are able to focus their skills on more innovative assignments and, therefore, be more productive.

Uplevel your business by being adaptable and strategic

To take your team and company to the next level, businesses must strategically implement the proper infrastructure, cloud automation and AI tools that will help their business scale. Today, businesses of all sizes require client and data center 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 restrictions. The best way to ensure your plan is suited for growth is to routinely check in with your team, evaluate your structure and ensure it is adaptable for the unforeseeable obstacles that come with running a successful business.

Computers, News

Lenovo’s Sustainable ThinkPad Z Series with AMD Ryzen PRO-6000 Series Now Available in Malaysia

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Lenovo is bringing their new sustainable ThinkPad Z series to Malaysia. The new lineup marries performance, sustainability and cutting-edge design into a sleek form factor. The new laptop takes on a new, more contemporary design philosophy which uses sustainably sourced and recycled materials and provides a premium experience overall.

1. ThinkPad Z13

Powerful Performance with AMD Advantage

The new ThinkPad Z lineup comes in two sizes: the compact and portable ThinkPad Z13 and the powerful ThinkPad Z16. The Z13 is built for portability while the Z16 packs a power-packed combination of AMD’s Ryzen PRO-6000 processors and the AMD Radeon 6500M graphics card. The ThinkPad Z13 also comes with AMD’s Ryzen PRO-6000 processors with an added option for the Ryzen 7 PRO 6860Z – a processor designed exclusively for the ThinkPad Z13. The processor is developed collaboratively between AMD and Lenovo to be optimised specifically for the ThinkPad Z13. These processors are also the first commercially available with Microsoft’s Pluton security processor for an added layer of security and hardening for Windows 11 PCs.

2. ThinkPad Z13

The ThinkPad Z16 is an AMD Advantage laptop with performance that is bound to benefit from the Ryzen and Radeon combination. With AMD’s Smart Shift technology, the CPU and GPU are able to dynamically adapt to shifting workloads. Their algorithms allow them to adapt to and prioritize workloads so that video editing, graphical editing and even gaming are seamless and smooth with AMD’s Infinity Control Fabric. This allows the processor to prioritise memory and processing power to ensure optimal performance.

Designed for Sustainability & Functionality

The ThinkPad Z series is designed to be minimal and sleek but stays true to the ThinkPad ethos. It keeps functionality and productivity front and centre. The signature TrackPoint makes a comeback in the ThinkPad Z series with thoughtful updates. You’ll be able to double tap the TrackPoint to launch a new Communications Quick Menu to access common settings for the camera and microphone. It also comes with added customizability. The Haptic ForcePad is also the largest on a ThinkPad so far. The ThinkPad Z16 comes with a 120mm wide Haptic ForcePad which provides added durability and functionality.

6. Recycled Materials Packaging

The ThinkPad Z series also has the slimmest bezels in the ThinkPad series. The Z13 comes with a 91.6% screen-to-body ratio while the Z16 comes with an impressive 92.3% screen-to-body ratio. The slim bezels provide an even more immersive viewing experience from their 16:10, QHD+ displays. The Z13 comes with a 13.3-inch 2.8K display while the Z16 comes with a 16-inch 4K display. Both have options for OLED panels. The displays support Dolby Vision and emit lower levels of blue light.

In addition to this, the laptops are made of 75% post-consumer recycled aluminium and come in packaging that is made of 100% bamboo and sugar cane. There is also an option for PET leather. This makes them one of the more sustainable laptops available right now.

Pricing & Availability

The Lenovo ThinkPad Z series is now available in Malaysia. The ThinkPad Z13 is priced from MYR6,879.13 while the ThinkPad Z16 is priced from MYR7,879.55.

Official Specifications

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Business, Computers, News

[MWC 2022] The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s – Snapdragon Inside

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The idea of Microsoft’s Windows running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform is not a new concept. In fact, it has been something that Qualcomm and Microsoft have been working on for years. Some products even rolled out of the factories that marries the power of Qualcomm’s potent system on a chip (SoC) with Microsoft’s best-selling interface. One of the products is Malaysian made, we reviewed it and quite liked it.

Unfortunately, the idea of running a full-fledged Windows operating system (OS) on a Qualcomm chip is not as simple as shoehorning a Qualcomm chip on any random Windows laptop chassis, nor is it as simple as installing Windows on a Qualcomm device. The problem is with the conflict in architecture in both the software and chip. Qualcomm’s mobile first approach ensures that it adapts to Android’s Linux based architecture and optimises its operations based on a regular smartphone interaction pattern. Windows, on the other hand, is optimises itself on different work processes and priorities that Intel and AMD’s chips are designed for. They are just different kind of processes and priorities, fundamentally.

There is a new workaround though. Welcome to Windows 11, an open door to whole new possibilities. The platform is designed to be more mobile than ever. It is designed with a touch experience in mind, a sort of tablet experience. While it is still based on Windows 10, it is a lot more tablet friendly than before. It just feels like something you can put on a slim tablet with no cooling fans powered by an SoC. With Apple’s move to push their M1 SoCs, it also only makes sense that Microsoft makes that option available.

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Source: Lenovo

Enter the ThinkPad X13s, the first of many, we hope. This is not Lenovo’s first Qualcomm based device. It is also not Lenovo’s first Windows 11 device. It is their first though, that marries the two together.

You will not find any intake or exhaust ports on the 13.3-inch ThinkPad X13s. It is a little odd for a PC not to have ventilation ports. That is also the beauty of relying on Qualcomm’s latest generation Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 compute platform. The SoC is even powerful enough and optimised enough to run Windows 11 Pro. Keeping Windows 11 running on the WUXGA 16:10 aspect ratio display is up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.

Thanks to the integrated modem on the SoC, the ThinkPad X13s is even ready with a 5G capable SIM tray. Together with WiFi 6E, the ThinkPad X13s can be connected to the web anywhere, anytime. It is always connected, always on.

Of course, the other benefit of using SoCs in devices is the way it sips battery juice. Lenovo quotes up to 28 hours in battery life with continuous usage. If you keep it on standby, it is ready to get going for days.

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Source: Lenovo

For security, the device comes with a 5-megapixel webcam with Infrared camera (optional) for Windows Hello facial recognition. You can make it work like your smartphone. Yes, you can use the webcam for video calls as well, quite obviously.

Because the requirements of housing an SoC like the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 Compute platform is so minimal, Lenovo could squeeze everything down on the ThinkPad X13s. It is thinner, and lighter than most professional grade laptops thanks to the SoC. But that is not just the contributing factor to the ThinkPad X13s’ thinness and lightness. Before we forget, Lenovo’s ThinkPads must be built like tanks too.

To keep build quality high but super lightweight and thin is a challenge. There is also the demand of making things more sustainable. Lenovo achieved those on the ThinkPad X13s using 90% recycled magnesium for its chassis. Inside, 97% of the plastics on the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) cover and battery tray is made from PCC (Precipitate Calcium Carbonate) plastics. PCC plastics, in our research, is a type of plastic made using more sustainable materials. Calcium Carbonate is an artificial powder type filler used in plastic manufacturing to replace crude oil as a material to manufacture plastic parts. It is cheaper, and a lot more sustainable.

To ensure that the device gets to you in one piece are carton boxes and bumpers that are also recyclable. Even the production method is designed to keep energy consumption as low as possible. They used low-temperature solder methods that reduces carbon emissions by up to 35% over regular solders.

01 Thinkpad X13s Eagle Hero Front Facing JD
Source: Lenovo
16 ThinkPad X13s Eagle Hero Front Facing
Source: Lenovo
15 ThinkPad X13s Eagle Hero Left Side Screen Open
Source: Lenovo
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Source: Lenovo
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Source: Lenovo
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Source: Lenovo
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Source: Lenovo
10 ThinkPad X13s Eagle Hero A Cover
Source: Lenovo
09 ThinkPad X13s Eagle Hero Keyboard
Source: Lenovo
08 Thinkpad X13s Eagle Hero Birdeye D Cover
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Source: Lenovo
06 Thinkpad X13s Hero Showcase The 5G Entennas
Source: Lenovo
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Source: Lenovo
05 Thinkpad X13s Hero Power
Source: Lenovo
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Source: Lenovo
04 Thinkpad X13s Hero Slim Fan Less Design
Source: Lenovo
04 ThinkPad X13s Eagle Hero Rear Facing Left
Source: Lenovo
03 ThinkPad X13s Eagle Hero Front Facing Left
Source: Lenovo
03 Thinkpad X13s Dolby Audio logo
Source: Lenovo
02 ThinkPad X13s Eagle Hero Front Facing Right
Source: Lenovo
02 Thinkpad X13s Camera E Shutter
Source: Lenovo
01 Thinkpad X13s Hero Thin Body Design
Source: Lenovo

The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s will be available in select markets on the 22nd of May 2022 onward. Like most ThinkPad devices, there are no other colour option safe for black. It will set you back EU€ 1,399 onward (MYR 6,508*), which is still quite premium in our eyes. There are no mentions on the local (Malaysia) availability and official pricing for the laptop for now. For more information on the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s, you can visit their website.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of EU€ 1 = MYR 4.65 as of 03/03/2022 on xe.com

Business, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

[MWC2021] Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 is the Stealth Powerhouse for You!

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Working on-the-go comes with a lot of compromises. When you are on the move, you want a companion that is fuss-free, easy to work with, reliable, and most importantly light and compact. The trade-off to that is always power.

You see this in modern laptops made for the working professionals. When you get super lightweight, super compact laptops, they usually do not come with a discrete GPU. That also means that if you need your PC to do more than just word processing, or browsing the web, or even create presentations, you are going to have to compromise a little bit.

It is 2021 though. In that sense, we should not have to compromise that much when it comes to portability and power, especially if your work relies on that kind of power. Of course, you want something industrial, durable and reliable too in your work notebook PC. The one name you can associate with all the things mentioned above in a professional notebook is Lenovo’s ThinkPad.

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Source: Lenovo

Specifically, we are looking at the most powerful ThinkPad in their line-up; we are looking at Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme. In its Gen 4 clad, it is the most powerful Lenovo ThinkPad ever; or at least it can be.

Within the very familiar all-metal body of the ThinkPad lives an Intel Core i9-H series 11th Generation processor (up to). The most powerful mobile processor that Intel has to offer is accompanied by a very powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (up to) for good measure. With up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz, the new ThinkPad X1 Extreme is an extremely powerful machine that can chew up 3D rendering work, eat video workflow for lunch, and drink photo editing work for tea-time without breaking a sweat, especially with Lenovo’s reworked and patented cooling technology.

You can pair the powerful internals to a 4K+ (up to) 16-inch display to ensure that you get every detail exactly right. You see more too with a unique 16:10 display ratio. With 10-bit colours, HDR 400 and up to 600nit in brightness, you will get every colour for your projects right too. If you are working with a lot of Audio, the Dolby Atmos certified speakers should do that job for you.

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Source: Lenovo

While a lot laptops stop at 720p video webcam, the Lenovo ThinkPad goes beyond that to make this your ultimate work laptop anywhere you may be working from. It packs a Full HD 1080p webcam as standard with a physical shutter. For added security with Windows Hello, you can spec it with a Full HD 1080p Infrared Hybrid webcam. Of course, the ThinkPad also comes with the a fingerprint reader as standard.

The familiar all-metal chassis is even more durable than ever too. It is MIL-STD 810H certified, which also means that it can withstand more than just the regular bumps and nicks. You can be sure that it will survive a drop from your desks too, just in case you are that clumsy that day. The build standard is not really to allow you to be clumsy and rough with the laptop though, it is just to ensure that you do not lose your important work data in case the inevitable happens.

Everything above might make the laptop sound like a chunky block of aluminium slab that you would dread to carry in your backpack. That is not the case though. It only weighs 1.82kg; and at 17.7mm, it is not exactly thick either. It might come with a chunky power brick though to ensure that the powerful processors get enough power.

  • ThinkPadX1ExG4 1
    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo
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    Source: Lenovo

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 is expected to be available in select markets from August 2021 onward. Prices for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 starts at EUR€ 2,099 (MYR10,431*). There is no word on availability and official pricing of the device in Malaysia just yet. They did say that the availability and pricing for Malaysia will be announced soon though, so watch this space.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of EUR€ 1 = MYR 4.97

Computers, News

Lenovo ThinkPad Laptops 2020 Upgrade – Better Working Experience

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Lenovo has always been about giving customers the best value. Giving customers a wide variety of options to choose from to fulfill their needs. This time around, Lenovo has given the ThinkPad Laptops new upgrades to give you better productivity. 

The updated ThinkPad features a new modern standby mode where the laptops operates like a smartphone. In standby mode, the system goes into low power and remains connected at all times to keep the laptop in sync with whatever that is going on in the background. This makes it really convenient if you have to work away from your laptop and coming back to it at a later time. 

Source: Lenovo

To further complement the innovation of productivity, users can quickly resume where they left off by using a Wake on Voice command. Instead of using precious time to physically wake up the laptop. You can now just use your voice to wake up the laptop while you work on something else. There is also now a unified communications function keys to enable users to instantaneously answer or decline calls. 

The next upgrade is WiFi 6 connectivity. Even though WiFi 6 is not readily available yet, but this is a good future proofing measure done by Lenovo to keep in times of what’s to come in the near future. WiFi 6 not only gives better connectivity speed but also has better security. Do keep in mind that this is a two-way hardware upgrade, so you will need to have a WiFi router that also supports WiFi 6 connectivity to optimise its performance. 

There will also be a more premium UHD, OLED, and Dolby Vision options to deliver the best visuals. Not to miss out, the audio department gets Dolby Audio Speakers treatment on the ThinkPad T and X series. The ThinkPad L series will only feature an enhanced audio experience from Dolby Audio. 

Source: Lenovo

Lenovo has not forgotten about security upgrades as well, so you can enjoy all the conveniences without having to worry about any security breaches. With Lenovo’s own security solution, ThinkShield. The laptop would come with an optional PrivacyGuard ePrivacy display and PrivacyAlert on models that have an IR camera. This PrivacyGuard ePrivacy display with PrivacyAlert helps protect users from prying eyes of over the shoulder glances. So that anything on your screen is for your eyes only.  

All these goodies can be found with a new processor from both the blue and the red team. In the blue team, we have the latest 10th Generation Intel Core vPro processor and in the red team, we will find the AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 Mobile processor. All of these options will be available in the ThinkPad T Series and the smaller more portable X Series. Specifically the T14, T14s, T15, X13, and X13 Yoga. 

The L Series did not get the same display upgrades as the T and X Series. The L Series has gotten a redesign instead. It is now thinner and lighter across the board! It also comes with Windows 10 Pro and a conveniently placed fingerprint sensor for security and convenience. 

The new upgrades will be available from Q2 2020 with an expected pricing from USD 647 all the way to USD 1,099. If you would like more details, do refer to the list below. 

ThinkPad T Series
T14 – USD 849 (MYR 3,568)
T14s – USD 1,029 (MYR 4,325) 
T15 – USD 1,079 (MYR 4,535)

ThinkPad X Series
X13 – USD 849 (MYR 3,568)
X13 Yoga – USD 1,099 (MYR 4,619)

ThinkPad L Series
L13 – USD 679 (MYR 2,854)
L13 Yoga – USD 799 (MYR 3,358)
L14 – USD 649 (MYR 2,728)
L15 – USD 649 (MYR 2,728)