Covering your MacBook webcam may completely damage your display, Apple warns

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So
 you know how Apple MacBooks are expensive ,right
? Yeah, well you can totally wreck the display just by putting on a cover on the webcam – and the issue has been acknowledged by Apple too.

Perhaps this is a common enough problem that Apple had to publish a
notice
 to advice users against using a webcam cover. The problem seems to stem from a particular kind of cover that has a slight bulge – the kind that has a sliding mechanism to let it open and close.

A
Reddit
 user shared his experience with a particular brand of cover that is exactly like this and that caused his display to crack at the top, forming a line of dead pixels down the middle of the monitor. The problem is down to there not being enough clearance
between
 the webcam and keyboard to allow for a camera cover of the sort; it still baffles us as to how a MacBook display can be.

Image credit: Amazon

On their support page, Apple reminds users that the camera is only in use when the green light indicator next to the webcam is turned on. Apple also reassures that the camera is engineered in a way that it cannot be activated without the light coming on.

But if you absolutely must use a webcam cover, the company says to use something with the thickness of a printer paper, which is around 0.1mm. You also shouldn’t use a cover that leaves an adhesive residue, and should you use something thick, always remove it before closing the laptop’s lid.

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Future MacBooks may come with durable glass keyboards

884

A
patent
 recently applied by Apple revealed the company’s plan to introduce glass keyboards – transparent keycaps for their
MacBook
 keyboards by using glass.

Apple believes that the balance between aesthetics and functionality is
hard to achieve
. “Some aesthetically pleasing materials may not be sufficiently durable to include in a device housing or other components, and other aesthetically pleasing materials can interfere with the advanced functionality of the electronic device.”

Transparent keyboard with glass keycaps

Therefore, Apple wants to use glass as the top external surface which can be more durable as they are less scratch-resistant. Apple also said that these keycaps will be advantageous in situations where the keys are backlit or side-lit due to their transparent or translucent nature, leading to a more pleasing appearance.

Glass keyboards: Is it a feasible idea?

Gizmodo
 also suggested three different kinds of glass that Apple may use — annealed glass, tempered glass, and laminated glass. However, all three are not indestructible and still stand a chance to cut the user’s fingers when broken. But then again, Apple’s main objective is to create transparent keycaps which can be done with materials other than glass. Other options like acrylics or resin may sound safer as compared to the usage of glass; we won’t want to watch our fingers bleed all over the keyboard if there’s a mishap.

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machines launches first Apple Premium Partner Store in South East Asia at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

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machines has launched the first Apple Premium Partner Store in South East Asia at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the store features a huge retail space spanning over 2,360 square feet, which Apple fans will have the chance to explore the products they love and seek support from Apple trained staff on the spot.

To mark the grand opening of the new Apple Premium Partner concept at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, machines will also be offering a range of promotions from 20th to 23rd October, in the new retail space spanning 2,360 square feet.

First 100 customers each day will get 1 Machines Premium Bottle with purchase of any Apple Device+Apple accessories.

First 100 customers each day will get RM50 Apple Accessories Voucher with purchase of any Apple device

Small and Medium Business owners are entitled to get RM100 Machines Gift Voucher for next purchase under Small and Medium Business Offer.

On top of that, in partnership with Maybank, CompAsia, PanzerGlass and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur Mall, each of them will have a special giveaway waiting for you. Great deals such as:

Purchase of any Apple devices via Apple Pay with a Maybank Card and get 10% OFF Apple original accessories voucher*.

Get RM50 Apple Accessories voucher from CompAsia when you trade in your pre-loved device at machines Pavilion KL*.

Get a free gift from PanzerGlass worth up to RM79 when you purchase the PanzerGlass iPhone 14 accessories Bundle*.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur members are entitled for a RM50 voucher off AirPods 2nd Gen / AirPods 3rd Gen and enjoy special price for USB-C Charge Cable at RM89 (SRP: RM99)*.

For more information on promotions and activities going on the store, check out the link
here
.

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Machines is offering device protection plans for Malaysians

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Machines Sdn Bhd has officially launched a device protection plan called Machines Protection Plan, which gives owners protection from accidental damage such as cracked screens and water damage for as low as 42 cents per day.

The reason for this is due to a survey that Otterbox did in 2015 which shows that 29% of Malaysians accidentally damage their phones within the first three months of purchasing the phone. A follow-up study was also conducted that shows 75% of Malaysian smartphone users have damaged their devices almost 3 times in the past 5 years. Machines have appointed Aon Insurance Brokers as its insurance broker who will offer this device protection plan. In general, Machines is trying to offer a peace of mind to users and give them reassurance that their devices are always protected by the plan.

The Machines Protection Plan will offer customers one screen replacement or one full device replacement during the two year coverage period. It will cost RM299 to RM899 depending on the device model and the plan can be obtained at Machines Stores when purchasing a new device.

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Machines is offering huge discounts on Apple products this December 12

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Machines may have missed the massive 11.11 sale event, but it isn’t ending the year without a huge sale on the December 12th, as the company will be offering a plethora of older generation Apple products on sale at its online store, hence if you have been looking forward to purchase a MacBook, Apple Watch, iPhone and iPad, this is your chance.

The discounts are actually pretty attractive, for instance the Apple Watch Series 2 38mm model will retail at RM999, the 12-inch MacBook with a Core m5 processor and 512GB of storage can be own for as low as RM3,999, last year’s iPad Pro are on great discounts once again, and the iMac 27″ with Retina 5K can be owned for RM3,000 off its original price. Machines hasn’t mentioned the condition of these devices and we can safely assume that they are unopened clearance models, which comes with a standard 1-year warranty from Apple Malaysia. The iPhone 6 32GB is also offered at RM1,499, and some Apple Watch bands are going on sale as well.

As for this deal, I would definitely recommend getting the MacBook 12-inch, iPad Pro 9.7 32GB WiFi+Cellular, and Apple Watch Series 2, as these products are sold at prices that you don’t usually get even at the company’s warehouse clearance, there’s also no need to queue up for these deals, as all you need to do is to head on to Machines website on that day.

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The Machines warehouse clearance is back on July 27th

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If you have been eyeing to get that iPhone, MacBook or accessories for your Apple products you weren’t able to purchase just because it is too expensive, Machines, the local premium reseller for Apple products is having its annual warehouse clearance sale on July 27-30, and as usual, the first day will be opened exclusively to Machines+ members only, where you will get to grab your hands on those cheap clearance Apple products. The event will be held at Level 4 of Avenue K, a shopping mall located across the road of KLCC.

 The Machines warehouse clearance event has been famous for having extremely affordable deals on Apple products, especially when it comes to Mac products, prices can go as cheap as 80% from its original retail price, but do take note of the product’s warranty period as they might not be covered under Apple’s warranty. Apart from that, if you are looking for things such as speaker docks, the event has some pretty interesting products to offer at times, for instance I managed to grab myself a Philips Fidelio AS810 bluetooth speaker that costs RM199 instead of its original price at RM799, though it was merely missing its remote control.

As of now, Machines hasn’t teased on what products will go on clearance but if you think there’s something that you want to buy, mark your calendars and head on to the Machines warehouse clearance event, just be ready to brace the crowd.

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Machines’ Warehouse Clearance is back with attractive products and prices

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Its back again, Machines is once again having their warehouse clearance sale at Level P2 in JayaOne. You will be able to get products like the iPhone X for only RM4,507 and Goodmans Heritage DAB Bluetooth speakers for only RM399.

They are also offering accessories like a silicone case for the iPad Pro and Apple Watch straps for cheap prices. However, just like all warehouse clearance, the stocks are very limited so you will have to get there early to get the product that you want. If you are a machines member, you can head over to the shop tomorrow (28 June) for a preview of the products. For the general public, you will be able to purchase the products from 29 June to 30 June from 10 AM until 6 PM. Check out some of the products that are part of the clearance sale below:

So put on your most comfortable shoes and make sure your credit cards are not maxed out, because the products they are offering look very tempting especially with those kinds of prices.

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Machines Warehouse Clearance Sale is back again with more discounted goods

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For all you Apple junkies out there, get your wallets ready and your portable tents packed because the Machines Warehouse Clearance sale is back.

Happening at JayaOne from 27 from 29 June from 10am to 6pm, you’ll be able to find a host of older Apple devices on the cheap (by Apple’s standards). You can look forward to trading blows for items like an ex-demo iPhone 7 Plus (RM1,469), iPad Pro 11-inch (RM2,449), Apple Watch (RM1,299), MacBook Pro 13.3-inch (RM6,999) and more.

You’ll also be able to find accessories like cases, watch straps, charging cables and more. Machines+ members get to preview the items early on 27 June, while the public gets a whiff from 28 to 29 June.

As usual, the items are sold “as is” and are non-refundable, non-exchangeable and non-returnable. All items do not come with warranty and ex-demo units are limited to one unit per customer only. So pump some iron before you go, or you’ll be trampled by a herd of sheep. Visit their
website
 to find out more.

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MacOS Big Sur brings huge updates and is now available to download

427

The latest macOS update is here;
MacOS Big Sur
 works best with the
new M1 chip
 that is available on the recently launched MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini.

Refreshed design, better controls

One of the first thing you’ll notice when your Mac is updated to Big Sur is the refreshed design that is more consistent to match those of the iPad and iPhone. In addition to that, Apple added more improved widgets and quick access to controls in its Control Center.

Faster Safari

Another huge update is to Safari, Apple’s own web browser. Safari is now faster — 1.5x faster and twice more responsive if you’re using it on the new Macs. YouTube and Netflix now supports 4K HDR, and the tabs have also been redesigned. If you hover over your tabs, Safari will finally let you preview pages.

Privacy tools

In addition to that, Safari also gets a new Privacy Report so you can detect trackers that are trying to get your data. There’s also a tool to monitor your passwords in case any of them has been hacked.

Cooler Messages

Those who uses Messages on their Mac will also get to pin conversations to the top of their list — like the iPhone that runs on iOS 14. You can also create your own Memoji on Mac, enjoy various effects that can be added to your messages and view all your group messages in a more organised way.

MacOS Big Sur compatibility

The Macs that support the latest macOS update includes the 2015 MacBook, the 2013 MacBook Air, the 2013 MacBook Pro and
more
.

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macOS Catalina is official, killing iTunes once and for all while introducing Sidecar

444

Apple has released macOS 10.15 Catalina today, marking the end of iTunes and the beginning of new features like separate app for Apple Music, Podcasts and Apple TV, and also Sidecar.

In addition, Mac users will also get to enjoy iPad apps on their Macs as the new Mac Catalyst allows developers to create Mac app from iPad apps so these apps can run smoothly between the two platforms.

With macOS Catalina, Apple users will also be able to access to Apple Arcade on their Macs, in addition to finding new improvements in Safari, Reminders, Notes and Photos. Mac users will also get Screen Time — a feature well-received by iOS users.

What really caught my attention is Sidecar. Sidecar is the new feature that lets Mac users use their iPads as a second display. What’s even better is that the Apple Pencil can be used when it comes to third-party Mac apps, including Final Cut Pro, Maya and Photoshop. Users’ iPad can be connected to Mac via a cable or wirelessly.

To update your Mac, just go to System Preferences, click on Software Update and install the new software or get it from the
App Store
.

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macOS High Sierra is “fully baked”

461

Apple has unveiled their annual refresh of the macOS for this year at its WWDC 2017 event held in San Jose, California. The macOS, previously known as Mac OS X has gone through a series of names, but this reiteration is probably the most “interesting” yet, as the name actually sounds more half baked than “fully baked”. Behold, macOS High Sierra.

By the sound of it, macOS High Sierra is probably macOS Sierra on steroids, and that is probably the case since Apple has brought some new features to its Mac operating system and its apps. First off, Apple will be using its own file system known as the Apple File System (AFS) to replace the conventional Hierarchical File System (HFS). In doing so, Apple claims to bring faster performance in a more secure operating system.

The Safari browser app gets a security boost with some handy features. Instead of having to manually stop autoplay videos on certain sites, Safari now has an autoplay blocker which allows users to browse the web with a peace of mind. This means that you won’t have to deal with annoying random autoplay videos opening visiting a website. On top of that, Safari will also be able to detect ad trackers and block them from tracking users.

The Mail app also sees a good downsizing as it is now claimed to occupy 35 percent less storage space on macOS. The app now supports full screen split view for the Compose window. The Photos app is now more feature filled than ever with added editing tools, giving an Adobe Photoshop-like feel. The app is also integrated with pro apps such as Photoshop when it comes to photo management.

With the introduction of macOS High Sierra, Apple has also announced VR support on macOS for the first time ever via Metal 2. The new version of Metal now brings Apple into the VR world, benefiting both consumers and developers.

What do you think of macOS High Sierra so far? Stay tuned for more updates from WWDC 2017!

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2017
ad
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wwdc


macOS Mojave brings dark mode, an organized desktop and new Mac Apps

350

Even though iOS 12 was the highlight of the WWDC 2018 event, Apple isn’t forgetting about macOS users and has announced it’s next desktop operating system, macOS Mojave brings a lot of features to the table that is very inspired from iOS, and Apple’s Craig Federighi quoted that the new update introduces powerful features for a wide range of Mac users, from consumers to pros.

For starters, a dark mode is finally made available to change the bright color scheme of macOS to a darkened color scheme, this will be applied to all default Mac apps such as Mail, Safari, Messages, Maps, Calendars and Photos. The darkened color scheme allows users to focus on the content, especially when working in dark lighting environments, which helps ease the eyes and has been available on mobile devices. macOS Mojave also brings a new Dynamic Desktop, which automatically changes the desktop picture to match the time of the day.

macOS Mojave also aims to solve the woes of a messy desktop, with the Stacks feature the desktop is now able to intelligently sort file types and stack them into one single icon, it works similarly to the Photos app on iOS, which you can also quickly skim through the files similarly. The Finder has also been updated with an improved Preview Pane, it shows all of a file’s metadata to ease managing media assets, quick actions let you do things like password-protect PDFs and run custom Automator actions on files, while Quick Look provides a full-size preview of a file that allows users to rotate and crop images, mark up PDFs and trim video and audio clips without opening the app.

Apple has brought apps from iOS to macOS Mojave, including News, Stocks, Voice Memos and Home, the app’s configurations and features are synced with their iOS counterparts over iCloud. These apps are brought over using iOS frameworks adapted to macOS, developers will be able to take advantage of the framework starting in late 2019 to have their apps on iOS to be ported over to macOS, which will definitely increase the number of apps on macOS.

Also, Group FaceTime is also integrated into the current FaceTime app that supports up to 32 participants in a single session. The Mac App Store has also been updated with the same experience as iOS, which features rich editorial content to discover the right Mac app, while tabs such as Create, Work, Play and Develop helps users to find the app for specific purpose. Other new features on macOS Mojave includes new on-screen screenshots controls and new video recording capabilities, Continuity Camera that shows documents or pictures taken with their iOS devices instantly on their Mac, and integrated markup tools into Finder, Quick Look and Screenshots.

macOS Mojave will be available as a public beta in late June, it will be available as a free software update for Macs introduced in mid-2012 or later, and 2010/2012 Mac Pro models with recommended Metal-capable graphics.

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macOS Mojave is now officially available for download

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Its that time of the year again for Apple users, shortly after iOS 12 was released, Apple has finally made macOS Mojave available for download starting today for Macs introduced mid-2012, 2010 and 2012 Mac Pro models with recommended Metal-capable graphics cards.

macOS Mojave is the largest OS update that Apple has ever introduced in years and introduces a significant improvement in user experience. Apps from iOS such as Stocks, Voice Memos and Home have been ported over to the desktop operating system, and the newly redesigned Mac App Store now has the same experience you have on iOS devices with rich editorial content and recommendations.

Productivity workflow has also been enhanced in macOS Mojave, things such as Stacks keeps your desktop icons clean with neat groups based on the file types, the new Finder features a new gallery view that lets you preview at files visually and quick actions that lets you do things such as create and password-protect PDFs, and taking Screenshots is now even better with new video recording capabilities, which is accessible by pressing the shift-command-5 key combo.

Continuity with iOS devices have also been improved, as macOS Mojave will now be able to extract images and documents taken with the iPhone’s camera, the feature is supported on the “Import From” feature on Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Notes, Mail and other supported apps.

Other features of macOS Mojave includes app permission controls, a new Intelligent Tracking Prevention in Safari the helps prevent unauthorized social media “Like” and “Share” buttons tracking, while Siri now has improved knowledge of food, celebrities and motorsports.

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macOS Monterey beta hints at higher-res displays for the new MacBook Pro

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In the seventh macOS Monterey beta for developers,
MacRumors
 discovered new display resolutions that could belong to the upcoming MacBook Pros.

New MacBook Pro models will also come with higher pixel density

Steve Moser
 from MacRumors found two new resolutions — “3456 x 2234 Retina” and “3024 x 1964 Retina”. These resolutions do not fit any of the previous MacBooks, hence it is believed that they belong to the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

If this information is accurate, the new MacBook Pro models will come with higher screen resolution and pixel density.

Apart from that, Apple is expected to make a comeback with the MagSafe laptop chargers and users may even get more ports, like an HDMI port and/or an SD card slot.

We are expecting the new MacBook Pro to be announced sometime in October, but we don’t have an exact date yet.

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MacOS Sierra is now live

341

After nearly three months in Beta, macOS Sierra has gone live and is now available for download by anyone that owns a Mac.

First debuting back at WWDC, Mac users were able to download the Beta version of Apple’s latest OS for the Mac since July. However, for those of you who prefer to wait for complete version, you’ll be able to download the OS right now via the App Store on Mac. MacOS Sierra brings with it Apple’s own virtual assistant, Siri, to your Mac, alongside other features like a universal clipboard, revamped Messages, a storage optimization tool, picture-in-picture view and many others. If you have an Apple Watch, you’ll also be able to unlock your macOS Sierrra with it.

While macOS Sierra has been rolled out to the public, do note that the update is only available for certain Mac models. Macs that were purchased prior to 2009 will not be able to receive the update, and even then, some Macs may not be able to support some of the features that are introduced with Sierra. Do consult this
webpage
 to find out if Sierra will be supported on your Mac.

Source:
Apple

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macOS Sierra public beta now available for download

324

Excited about Apple’s upcoming macOS Sierra? You can actually try it out today as Apple has released the public beta for the operating system.

Available for download
here
, the macOS Sierra comes with features such as picture-in-picture mode for iTunes and Safari, a universal clipboard for macOS and iOS, an improved messaging app, a redesigned iTunes and, of course, Siri implementation.

Seeing as macOS Sierra is still in beta, do note that glitches, bugs and errors are the norm. So if you’re new to betas in general, do remember to backup all important data before you install the operating system. If by some chance you’re one of the few that has managed to gain access to the developer beta for watchOS 3. you’ll be able to unlock your Mac with the Apple Watch.

Source:
Engadget

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Apple plans to redesign Macs and Apple Watch in 2021

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Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the Apple Watch and Macs will come with a new design and are likely to launch in the second half of 2021.

Macs and Apple Watch to sport new form factors and designs

As reported by
9to5mac
, Kuo said next year’s Apple Watch models will have “innovative health management functions and improved form factor design”. This also applies to the Macs as the recently ones that are powered by Apple’s own M1 chip has been well-received – the Macs are expected to come with an “industrial design”.

AirPods 3 will be delayed

Apart from the redesigns of the Macs and Apple Watch, the AirPods 3 that are supposedly launching in the first half of 2021 may be delayed to sometime from April to June instead. The AirPods 3 is expected to come with a smaller battery through the use of a soft board material.

iPad mini will arrive on time

However, there should be no delay for the iPad mini that will be supporting 5G connectivity and featuring a LED display. It will launch in March 2021 as usual.

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Mad Catz Releases R.A.T PROX Gaming Mouse

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Mad Catz announced today the shipping of the R.A.T PROX, the next generation of adjustable PC gaming mice compatible with Windows 10. It designed to be the world’s most advanced gaming mouse, the R.A.T PROX durable magnesium alloy chassis anchors a high performance gaming mouse that combines groundbreaking features, patent-pending technology and a level of customization never before seen.

Conceived as a wholly unique and future-proof gaming mouse, gamers can upgrade and customize key components of their R.A.T PROX, thanks to the Modular Sensor Units (MSU) with offers a choice of optical and laser sensors, each with built-in memory profiles, the R.A.T PROX allows gamers to hot-swap the Modular Sensor Units to suit their individual style of play or when new sensor technologies become available.

The R.A.T PROX innovative Scroll Wheel system allows gamers to adjust the click force of the wheel, swap out the wheel itself and even utilize a new analogue strafe feature, giving gamers analog control over the horizontal movement on the scroll wheel for the first time. Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz claim the mouse is designed to suits their individual style of play, the R.A.T PROX represents the next generation of gaming mice.

The R.A.T PROX tournament grade gaming mouse pricing and availability haven’t been announced at the moment, stay tuned for further updates.

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Mad Catz Releases The R.A.T PRO S Tournament Grade Gaming Mouse

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Mad Catz interactive announced today the R.A.T PRO S, a Windows 10 compatible high-performance gaming mouse designed for tournament play. The R.A.T PRO S striking visual design takes its inspiration from the critically acclaimed R.A.T PROX that used by tournament level gamers have played an integral role in the creation of the R.A.T PROs informing the key features and components essential for competitive play.

The mouse designed for speed and agility with a high-performance 5000 DPI Pixart PMW3310 infrared optical sensor powers this lightweight mouse (77 grams) that glides effortlessly atop PTFE feet. In addition, the mouse has an onboard memory that allow users to store three custom profiles that make this an ideal mouse for eSport tournaments.

The R.A.T PRO S also features adjustable Precision Aim, temporarily slowing the speed of the mouse to aid with aiming. For the first time, the R.A.T PRO S now allows gamers to set their own custom DPI for the button, enabling more accurate customization than ever before. Besides that, the R.A.T PRO S adjustable Palm Rest is modeled on the flagship R.A.T PROX, and can be used to not only adjust the length of the mouse.

The R.A.T PRO S tournament grade gaming mouse pricing and availability haven’t been announced at the moment, stay tuned for further updates.

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MAE by Maybank2U: New mobile banking app with new money-saving features

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Maybank has today announced a new dedicated app for its
MAE digital wallet
, which used to only be accessible via the M2U MY app.

Aptly dubbed MAE by Maybank2u, the app is mainly focused on helping you keep tabs on your expenses via your MAE e-wallet; but you can also choose to link your savings account to the app as well. On top of that, it also packs the same features as the M2U MY app; meaning it will eventually replace the latter, but both apps will co-exist for now.

One of the main offerings of the MAE app is that it allows you to track your expenses through an intuitive, and
colourful
 menu of charts and numbers – your expenditures are
categorised
 accordingly such as F&B, Transportation, Services and more.

You can view a summary from each month and have detailed descriptions of each purchase. Speaking of purchase, the app now offers a bunch of promos and vouchers for food, hotel bookings, theme park tickets, and a lot more.

There’s also a new Makan Mana feature that presents you with Wheel Of Fortune-type wheel but it’s populated with eateries near you.

But if you’re the thrifty sort,
Tabung
 lets you create a digital piggy bank of sorts, letting you allocated a set amount of funds to – say – purchase the brand-new PlayStation 5 by January 2021. The app then calculates how much you need to put in weekly or monthly. A neat feature for
Tabung
 is that you can invite friends and family to save in the same account as well – useful for saving for vacations and more.

To help with efforts in putting aside money are the Boosters – it turns micro-spending into money that go into your savings portfolio; there are three types of Boosters – Spare Change rounds up your expenses and puts the rounded off amount into your
Tabung
; San & Save that turns savings from promos into credit; and lastly Guilty Pleasure, which lets you set a spending limit in any category, and deposits any amount spent over the threshold into your
Tabung
.

As mentioned before, the MAE app will eventually replace M2U MY, therefore the same features on the latter are available here too. Simply tap on the ‘Maybank2U’ tab and you’ll be able to perform actions like transfer funds, pay bills, service loans, and more.

New and existing Maybank customers can use the app – simply head to the
Google Play Store
 or
Apple App Store
to download the app. Visit their website
here
 to learn more about MAE by Maybank2U

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MagDart: This is realme’s version of MagSafe technology

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You’ve heard of MagSafe, Apple’s wireless/magnetic technology; but have you heard of MagDart? It’s basically realme’s version of
MagSafe
.

For those unfamiliar with
MagSafe
, this technology uses magnets to align your iPhone to the wireless charger for accurate, fast charging. Your iPhone 12 has a few magnets around its charging coil, and these magnets allows it to snap onto MagSafe accessories conveniently.

MagDart will debut via two different wireless chargers

Back to realme; the company is planning on developing two different versions of wireless chargers with their MagDart technology. One’s a slim, round wireless charger with 15W fast charging, while the other will be a bulky, square wireless charger that supposedly offers even higher charging speed.

If realme is set on introducing their own MagDart technology, we can also rest assured that there will be new realme phones to support this feature. This could also mean that realme will be making MagDart-compatible accessories in the future.

Source

MagDart
MagSafe
Realme


The Magic Keyboard will make your iPad Pro weigh as heavy as a laptop

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The iPad Pro is a powerful device but because of how well its accessories go with it which is why if you have the iPad Pro, you’re probably thinking of getting the Magic Keyboard too. Well, you’re going to think twice now because that keyboard is 710g — on its own.

Now, 710g for a case is pretty heavy, if you add the iPad Pro into the equation, the whole package will weigh about 1.36kg — this is on par with some of the notebooks you’ll find in the market. This is discovered by a user in MacRumors’ forum, who pointed out that he will be returning the keyboard due to its weight. If we compare this to the Smart Folio Keyboard that weighs 407g, the new Magic Keyboard is almost twice its weight.

We’re talking about the 12.9-inch keyboard, so you can expect the 11-inch one to be slightly lighter. Even so, a keyboard this heavy defeats one of the reasons to get an iPad Pro — portability. If your iPad Pro is going to weigh as much as your laptop or even more, you might as well just carry your laptop around and let’s admit it, the iPad Pro still can’t completely replace a computer and all its functionalities.

The thing is, Apple doesn’t include the weight of their keyboards on their site so there’s no way others could’ve known unless someone puts it up on the internet. Is this Apple’s intention from the start, or is it something they’ve overlooked? Either way, some may not purchase the Magic Keyboard now that they know how heavy it could be.

On the other hand, the Magic Keyboard does triumph over the Smart Folio Keyboard as it comes with smooth angle adjustability and has a trackpad. If you don’t mind the weight or your iPad is always kept in one place, then the Magic Keyboard is still a good accessory to get.

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Magic UI 2.1 and EMUI 9.1 are now available for HONOR devices like the HONOR View20 and HONOR 9 Lite

386

HUAWEI has been consistently reassuring it’s users for the past few weeks, ensuring that they’ll still get updates on their phones. To further solidify that statement, HONOR’s Magic UI 2.1 and HUAWEI’s EMUI 9.1 are finally available to some of their phones.

The HONOR View20 will now be receiving the Magic UI 2.1 update while the HONOR 9 Lite will be getting EMUI 9.1 that is already rolling out. In the near future, devices like HONOR 7X, HONOR View10, HONOR 8 Lite and more will also be receiving the update.

In the new OS, there will be several performance upgrades including a reduction in power consumption by up to 10% — extending battery life. In addition, GPU Turbo 3.0 is now compatible with 25 mobile games and there’s a new EROFS (Extend Read-Only file system) that enhances the read write performance of flash memory.

For more information, visit HONOR’s official site or its Facebook page.

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HONOR 20 Lite
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Magic UI 2.1


MagSafe Battery Pack charges the iPhone 12 wirelessly; priced at RM479

1.2K

Apple recently launched the new
MagSafe Battery Pack
 that works with all the iPhone 12 models. As suggested by its name, it uses magnet to attach itself securely to the iPhone to offer wireless charging.

The MagSafe Battery Pack only works with the latest iPhone 12 models

The MagSafe technology was first seen on older MacBooks before Apple discontinued it. However, the company re-introduced it when they launch the iPhone 12 series. With MagSafe, iPhone 12 users can magnetically attach wireless chargers, battery packs, or even MagSafe-supported wallets to the back of their phones.

Although it has been announced on the website, the MagSafe Battery Pack is still unavailable for purchase yet. Despite that, the description revealed that the battery pack can be charged with
MacBook
 chargers that are 27W or higher, or even the lightning cable for up to 15W wireless charging.

If you’re getting it, be prepared for slow wireless charging

According to
The Verge
, the battery pack only charges up to 5W — that’s a really slow speed as compared to the 20W fast charging that the iPhone 12 support when charged with a Lightning cable.

Source

apple
iPhone 12
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MagSafe Battery Pack


Major Apple App Store update will see introduction of subscription business model

562

Apple’s WWDC event is scheduled for next week, but that hasn’t stopped Apple from revealing some major details about the upcoming updates for the company’s App Store. While some of the new improvements are made to improve the app review experience and discovery process, one of the major changes that will be introduced in the upcoming App Store update would be the inclusion of a subscription-based business model.

In an interview conducted by The Verge, Phil Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, mentions that the introduction of a subscription model would alter the company’s revenue-sharing model for apps. Right now, revenue-sharing between developers and Apple stands at a 70/30 split. With the introduction of the subscription model, Apple is introducing a new revenue-split for developers who are able to maintain a subscription to their app for longer than a year. Should the app manage to maintain a subscriber base for more than a year, the revenue split would change from 70/30 to 85/15, removing 15% of Apple’s cut and giving it to the developers instead.

As for how the App Store subscription model will work, LoopInsight reports that developers will be able to choose one of over 200 subscription price points. Developers would further be able to create region-specific prices to make subscriptions even more flexible. Subscription prices can be raised, but customers will be notified about the raise and they can opt to continue on with their subscription or terminate it on the spot. Furthermore, developers are allowed to keep current subscription at one price, while charging new subscribers with a different price. On the consumer side of things, customers will be able to upgrade, downgrade or even side grade subscriptions should the option be available.

Search ads will also be implemented in the upcoming App Store update as well. Up until now, Apple has not allowed developers to pay for ad space on the App Store. With the update, Apple will be implementing a system that would see them auction off ad space to developers. There will be no minimums and exclusives in the auction system, which will allow smaller developers to bid for ad space as well. Most importantly, Apple will only be accepting ads from developers in the App Store, meaning no third party ads will be display. As for the consumers, Apple will not be tracking users and will not be sharing data about users ad clicks with developers. Apple has also stated that it would not be serving ads to people 13 years or under, assuming the device is able to determine the age of its user.

Subscriptions and ads aside, the app review process will be tuned so that the turnaround time has been dropped. According to Schiller, the new app review process will see half of the apps submitted to Apple being reviewed with the first 24 hours and 90% of apps reviewed within two days.

Source:
The Verge
,
LoopInsight

ads
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Major data breach detected on multiple e-mail services

324

Now would be a good time for you to change your e-mail passwords as a security expert has told Reuters that hundreds of millions of hacked user names and passwords for e-mail accounts and other websites are being traded in Russia’s criminal underworld.

According to Alex Holden, founder and Chief Information Security Officer of Hold Security, researchers at his company has discovered that roughly 272.3 million accounts were stolen from e-mail services Mail.ru, Google’s GMail, Yahoo Mail and Microsoft’s Outlook.

The latest discovery in the major hack came after Hold Security researchers found a young Russian hacker bragging in an online forum about his deeds and was planning to give away a far larger number of stolen credentials that ended up totalling 1.17 billion records. Out of that 1.17 billion, Holden estimates that the cache of stolen accounts contains nearly 57 million Mail.ru accountsm tens of millions of credentials for Gmail, Microsoft and Yahoo, as well as hundreds of thousands of accounts at German and Chinese e-mail providers.

So far, Mail.ru has been notified of the break-in and will be warning users who might have been affected once they’re done checking if any of the stolen credentials are still active. Microsoft has also commented on the hack, stating that such an event was an unfortunate reality. Yahoo and Google have yet to comment on the matter.

Source:
Reuters

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Major Pokémon Go update that introduces Generation II Pokémon may be coming this week

328

Haven’t launched your Pokémon Go app in a while? You might have a reason to do so soon as it appears that Niantic may be rolling out a major update for Pokémon Go during the weekend.

If
this reddit thread
 is to be believed, Niantic will be pushing out an update on this Thursday that would introduce the Generation II (Gold, Silver, Crystal) Pokémon into the game. Data for 100 new Pokémon was found when dataminers digged through the game’s files during the update that brought Ditto into the game, so it is highly likely that the next update will see these Pokémon be capturable in-game.

The next update will also introduce a new partnership event between Pokémon Go and Starbucks in the United States. Much like Pokémon Go’s partnership with McDonalds Japan, Starbucks outlets in the States will be converted into PokéStops or Gyms during the event’s duration. An internal memo has also leaked online, revealing that the coffee chain will also be serving a special Pokémon Go Frappuccino.

While it is unlikely that the local Starbucks chains will be involved in the Pokémon Go tie-up, the introduction of Gen II Pokémons means that some of the highly-demanded systems (trading, breeding etc.) may be coming to the game very soon. At the very least, the introduction of an additional 100 Pokémon will be a good enough reason to boot up the Pokémon Go app once again.

Source:
Reddit

pokemongo
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Make a date with Giada at Retail World Asia 2015 Singapore

317

Giada, the Chinese company famous for manufacturing reliable Mini PCs for consumer and enterprise users will be present at the upcoming Retail World Asia 2015 happening in Singapore from 22 April-23 April 2015, the company will be showcasing its high performance i-Box and server products.

One of the highlight products Giada will be bringing to the table would be their latest 2-bay GT200 micro server that adopts the high-performance Intel Celeron 1037U CPU, the 4-bay version GT400 is utilized as a private cloud data center, print server, web server and ERP server by supporting file sharing, encryption and backups, fully fulfills the demand of the small and medium enterprise.

The F300 fanless PC
that we previously reviewed will also be available on the show floor and the company will be showing their powerful digital signage management PC G320 that will support up to 6 screens. There’s one hero product for home users as well, the D2309U mini PC that comes with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX950 GPU will also be previewed at the event.

If you’re interested, do head on to booth S11 in Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Center from April 22 to 23rd to catch a glimpse of the company’s products, want to know how the F300 looks like? Watch our review video down below.


Make cashless payments conveniently with DuitNow QR on MBSB Bank’s M JOURNEY mobile app

13.7K

Are you still fumbling cash in your wallet to pay for goods, and dread going to your nearby ATM because of long queues? It’s about time to start a cashless journey with MBSB Bank, the M JOURNEY mobile app has been updated with DuitNow QR, a universal QR code payment network that is widely accepted by merchants in Malaysia, and you don’t even need to own an expensive smartphone to get started.

With DuitNow QR, there’s no need to worry about installing multiple e-wallet apps on your smartphone, because the M JOURNEY mobile app automatically recognizes the merchant that you are about to make payment, which all you need to do is to look out for the familiar DuitNow QR code at the cashier, launch the M JOURNEY mobile app, select DuitNow QR, enter the amount to pay and boom! You have successfully paid for your goods and services, no need to worry about accidentally leaving your wallet at home.

What about receiving money? No problem, simply tap on the Receive tab on the M JOURNEY mobile app and have your payee scan your DuitNow QR code, or save your unique DuitNow QR code and share it to your friends and family over messaging apps, there’s no need to remember your bank account number and fumble with complex verification processes.

So, why start your cashless journey and save with MBSB Bank?

Well, unlike other banks, opening a savings account online to getting your debit card with MBSB Bank is an effortless process, there’s no need to visit branches and everything can be done entirely online with the M JOURNEY mobile app.

Also, there are times that you may still want to have some cash on hand, which is why MBSB Bank understands the convenience and lets you withdraw cash at other local banks’ ATMs without imposing RM1 Interbank Cash Withdrawal fee.

With such convenience and DuitNow QR, you no longer have to worry about long queues at ATMs, as you can make payments with just your smartphone and withdraw cash at any available ATMs in Malaysia, there’s no other banks that offers such a seamless personal banking experience.

To learn more how you can start your financial journey with MBSB Bank, visit MBSB Bank’s website at
www.mbsbbank.com
 or social media pages on
Facebook
 and
Instagram
.

0 withdrawal fees
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Make your Valentines Day a Geeky one with these gadgets

264

Valentines Day can be really frustrating when you can only think of roses and chocolates, which can also be too mainstream. If you happen to have a geeky Valentines partner or want to be different, Transcend has a gift guide on how you could make your Valentines Day a meaningful one, be it for him, her or both of you, these gadgets can be more useful than roses and chocolates. Here goes:

For her: JetDrive Go 300R – No More Insufficient Storage While Capturing Memorable Moments

The JetDrive™ Go 300 Lightning/USB 3.1 flash comes available with capacity of up to 128GB and packed features such as quick and easy file transfer, one-touch backup via the JetDrive Go App, sharing those captured moments with friends and loved ones can now be done with ease. What’s best is that photo snapping and video recording session will no longer be interrupted by the distressing ‘Not Enough Storage’ warning message, as you can now save the photos, videos and audio recordings directly to the the JetDrive™ Go 300 Lightning/USB 3.1 flash drive instead of your internal storage.

If recording videos and snapping pictures of every special moment is part of her daily routine with her iPhone, the JetDrive™ Go 300 Lightning/USB 3.1 flash drive is definitely the ideal gift for her – pair a Rose Gold JetDrive™ Go 300 Lightning/USB 3.1 flash drive with the usual bouquet of flowers, chocolates to add some techie flavor to her gift.

For him: Smart Card Reader RDC2 and RDA2 – Bridging The Gap For Cross-Platform Data Transfer

Both the Smart Card Reader RDC2 and RDA2 are Transcend’s on-the-go smart reader that is specially designed to make data transfer with SD / microSD memory cards easier for Android devices with USB type-C connector and iOS devices with Lightning connector. The RDC2 and RDA2 too, comes with Transcend’s own proprietary app (Transcend Elite App for RDC2 and Smart Reader App for RDA2) which allows you to explore files on the memory card, perform data backup and even encrypt the data for that extra layer of security with ease.

Owning multiple devices is a pretty common thing among the guys nowadays, but sharing and transferring data between different platforms and devices can sometimes be tedious, especially when it involves large sized files and memory cards.  Why not make things easier for him with the Smart Card Reader RDC2 and RDA2?

For both: DrivePro 520 – Capture Every Moment Of Your Road Trips Without A Miss

When it comes to the choice of dashcam for your road trips, the Transcend DrivePro 520 is definitely the ideal dashcam for such occasion. Packed with features such as 130° wide viewing angle, a large ƒ/1.8 aperture, and 6 glass lenses front camera that enables Full HD 1080P (30fps) crystal-clear video recording, and a 180° angle-wide rotatable rear camera that is equipped with four Infrared LEDs that allows you to record sharp in-car videos at night or in low-light conditions, the Transcend DrivePro 520 allows you to record both scenes inside the vehicle as well as on the road without a miss.

What’s more, the DrivePro 520 is equipped with a GPS receiver that logs the coordinate, date and time into the recorded videos and you can stream, download and share videos on your iOS and Android devices via the DrivePro New App as a record for incident reporting in case of emergency.

If you’re looking for a good reason to get dashcam as a gift for your road trips, look no further as the Transcend DrivePro 520 is without a doubt, the ideal dashcam that is packed with all the features that is practical and convenient for your road trip needs.

jetstore
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MakeApp can remove makeup from your face to make your selfies look bad

1.5K

Those of you, for whatever reason need to send a bad selfie, should be happy to know that there is now an app that will make it easier to get a bad selfie shot even if you have makeup on. The app is called MakeApp which works as a marquee feature that removes the makeup on your face.

The app uses neural networks to apply effects which they claim does it more accurately than competing services, which services provide a feature like this is still unknown at the moment but it uses similar methods like what the Prisma app uses to transform your pictures into works of art. As you can see from the images, the app seems to work pretty well except for the fact that it makes your skin pale and does a good job removing lipstick even if the gloss is still there. However, users are complaining about the app giving the selfie blotchy skin to which the app’s creator said that it’s not great and its something they are hoping to fix.

They made the app without the intention of it being a misogynistic product, but rather to show off the augmented reality capabilities that the company is capable of achieving. The free app is available for both
 iOS
 and
Android
 if you want to mess around with it.

android
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MakerBot will be outsourcing manufacturing of its 3D printers to China

359

It seems that MakerBot’s 3D printers will no longer be made in America as the company is looking to outsource the manufacturing of its 3D printers, as well as other products, to a contract manufacturer with facilities in China.

MakerBot’s decision to outsource manufacturing to contract manufacturer Jabil is yet another blow to the company. Previously, the company has had to lay off 20 percent or more of its staff in 2015. With manufacturing being outsourced to China, MakerBot is expected to layoff a number of its staff from its Industry City complex in Brooklyn, New York. Meanwhile, MakerBot’s headquarters, as well as its design, engineering, logistics and repairs team would remain in Brooklyn.

“It’s a specific, painful decision in the sense that we’re going to have to let some people go, but it’s captured over a much broader strategic decision, which is a very important one and a very positive one for MakerBot in the long term,” says MakerBot’s CEO Jonathan Jaglom.

Source:
The Verge

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Malaysia Airlines is changing the way we fly through digital initiatives

376

Malaysian Airlines is on a path to digitization today as they revealed three new digital initiatives, MHguardian, MHfeedback and a Facebook Messenger BOT called MHchat, designed to enhance its passengers travel experience.

The MHguardian app will enable parents or guardians the ability to track minors that are travelling alone via Malaysia Airlines. This app is the winner of Malaysia Airlines’ 2017 Hackathon and is targeted to launch by the third quarter of 2018. The app will also be extended to support unaccompanied elderly passengers and those that require special assistance.

Next is MHfeedback, another app that allows customers to immediately share their feedback anonymously on their experience when flying with Malaysia Airlines. Passengers can enter their feedback, rate the airline’s services or upload a photo of areas that require attention. Thanks to the power of AI, all images and comments will be analysed and directed to the responsible service unit

Lastly is MHchat, an interactive Facebook Messenger BOT that will give all passengers the ability to make bookings, payments and retrieve their flight itinerary directly from the Facebook Messenger app. Again, thanks to the power of AI, it will give passengers the impression that they are talking to a real customer service agent.

This makes Malaysia Airlines the first airline in Asia to allow users to book flights and make payments directly on Facebook Messenger. The next time you are flying with our national airlines, don’t forget to try out these features to makes your flight smoother.

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Malaysia wants to fine Grab for RM86 million for violating competition law

392

Grab was recently accused of violating competition law by implementing restrictive clauses on its driver, causing Malaysia’s competition regulator to propose a fine of more than RM86 million on the company.

In addition to the proposed anti-monopoly fine, the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) also set a daily RM15,000 penalty — unless Grab address the issues. 30 working days were given to the ride-hailing firm to provide their written representations and Grab has since released a statement that the written representations will be submitted by 27 November 2019.

Grab insists that they have been abiding the Competition Act 2010. “Whilst our legal counsels are now studying the Proposed Decision, we believe that it is common practice for businesses to decide upon the availability and type of third-party advertising on their respective platforms, tailored according to consumers’ needs and feedback.”

This isn’t the first time Grab has been penalised; it was previously fined by antitrust watchdogs in Singapore and Philippines.

grab
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Malaysia will host the inaugural Asean E-Sports Games

267

The ASEAN E-Sports scene has taken a huge step forward as Electronic Sports of Malaysia (ESM) has announced that the inaugural Asean Games for E-Sports 2016 (AGES 2016) will be held in Malaysia from the 18th to the 20th of March.

In an event at the Ministry of Youth & Sports Putrajaya earlier today, Yang Berhormat Datuk M.Saravanan, Deputy Minister of Youth & Sports Malaysia, launched the official logo for AGES 2016. During the event, the offcial organizer for AGES 2016, Platinum Eden Sdn Bhd, handed over the RM 1,000,000 prize money mock cheque to ESM, the highest ever pool prize money offered at any e-sports competition in the region so far.

The one million ringgit prize money will be splitted between 3 games : Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA 2), FIFA 16, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).

Besides the gaming event, AGES 2016 will also organize and outdoor carnival at the vanue that will feature many exciting booths, pocket-events and activities for the young and old.

For those looking to participate in the event, tickets will be made available for purchase after the Chinese New Year holidays
here
.

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Malaysian launch of the Mi 6 confirmed by Xiaomi

308

Malaysia isn’t always the first to be in the pipeline for new gadgets in the tech world. The perfect example when it comes to smartphones will be Apple’s annual refresh of the iPhone, with Malaysia excluded from the list of forefront countries getting the new iPhone. The same goes for Xiaomi’s smartphones, but as the saying goes, “better late than never”. The Mi 6 is finally arriving to local shores.

Xiaomi has more or less confirmed the coming of the Mi 6, with a somewhat obvious teaser on their Facebook and Twitter accounts, with an image of a Snapdragon chipset – “8_5”. The caption asks fans to fill in the blank in the comments section.

It is rather obvious that the processor in question is the Snapdragon 835, and only one Mi handset carries the top notch SoC, the Mi 6. The Snapdragon 835 in the Mi 6 has 6GB of RAM, along with 64GB or 128GB of storage. We will most likely be getting the higher end variant, or even both.

Other specs include the 5.15-inch Full HD display, and the dual camera setup of 12MP rear sensors, an 8MP selfie camera and a 3,350mAh battery. A possible deal breaker is that the Mi 6 does not have a headphone jack, which means everything will have to go through the USB Type-C port.

That’s all we know for now of the the Malaysian Mi 6 launch. The exact launch date, pricing and availability have yet to be revealed. Will you be getting one yourself?

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HUAWEI officially announced the Malaysian pricing of the Mate 30 series and Watch GT 2

406

HUAWEI just launched the Mate 30 series in Munich, Germany on September 19 and now the Chinese manufacturer is bringing the device to Malaysia.

The HUAWEI Mate 30 comes with a 6.62-inch OLED screen while the Mate 30 Pro sports a 6.53-inch OLED display. With a halo ring design, the back of the phones feature a ring camera module that houses a triple camera setup for the Mate 30 and a quad camera setup for the Mate 30 Pro.

The HUAWEI Mate 30 series is powered by a Kirin 990 chipset and comes with 8GB RAM. The Mate 30 has a 128GB storage whereas the Mate 30 Pro has a 256GB storage. Both devices also ship with EMUI 10 which includes AI Gestures Control, AI Rotation, AI Private View and Multi-Screen Collaboration.

Battery wise, the Mate 30 comes with a 4,200mAh battery while the Mate 30 Pro comes with an even larger 4,500mAh battery. The greater news is that both these phones are integrated with 40W SuperCharge and 27W Wireless SuperCharge, the fastest wireless charging technology created by HUAWEI so far.

The Mate 30 with a triple camera setup consists of a 40MP SuperSensing camera, a 16MP ultra wide camera, an 8 MP telephoto sensor while its front holds a 24MP front camera. On the other hand, the Mate 30 Pro has two 40MP cameras, an 8MP telephoto lens, a 3D depth sensor and a 32MP front camera.

The HUAWEI Mate 30 series is available in Space Silver and Black. The Mate 30 is priced at RM2,799 and the Mate 30 Pro is priced at RM3,899. HUAWEI has organised an Exclusive Ownership Campaign where eligible users will be able to get the new Mate 30 series from today till October 22 either online on HUAWEI and senQ stores or offline at retail outlets such as senQ, Harvey Norman and Courts. The phones will also be available for purchase soon at telco partners such as Digi, Maxis, U Mobile and Celcom.

In addition, HUAWEI also launched the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 that is powered by HUAWEI’s own Kirin A1 chip that offers up to two weeks of usage. It comes with a 3D glass screen with an AMOLED panel and is 5ATM water-resistant.

It features 15 types of workout modes, tracks your steps and sleep stages, and also monitor your heart rate. With a huge storage, users can store up to 500 mp3 songs in the watch.

The HUAWEI Watch GT 2 46mm costs RM799 for its Matte Black model and RM899 for its Pebble Brown model, while the 42mm variant costs RM799 for the Lake Cyan model and RM899 for the Refined Gold model.

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Malaysian schools will soon allow gadgets in classrooms for learning

322

As the saying goes, learning has no boundaries, which is why the Malaysian Ministry of Education has announced that students will soon be allowed to bring electronic devices to school for learning, as the ministry is working on guidelines for them to be used in classrooms, mobile phones will not be allowed as it would distract students from their studies. Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid told The Star that phones were more distracting compared to devices that uses merely WiFi, and they could access more things as well, hence we can safely assume that the approved devices are mostly likely going to be tablets or notebooks.

Digital learning isn’t something new in the Malaysian education scene, as we have seen efforts from Yes 4G implementing the 1BestariNet learning platform that allows students and teachers to perform learning activities. Last year, teachers have been
handed with tablets
 to encourage e-learning and engagements between students. Allowing students to bring their own gadgets to school is definitely something new this round, as they would no longer need to carry heavy stacks of books in their bag, parents’ groups has also responded positively to this announcement. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education will be looking into broadband speeds in schools located at rural and remote areas.

There’s a lot of hard work that the Ministry of Education would need to do as this policy goes official, such as subsides for the devices and ensuring every student will be able to own a device of their own. As for Madhzir’s statement of mobile phones being more capable than WiFi only devices, that will really depend on how the device’s software is being limited to students for learning purposes only.

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Malaysian shared on Facebook, scammers pretending to be TNB officers

393

Scammers are everywhere and in most cases, it comes in the form of calls by random strangers with information about you. Recently, a user by the name of “EeQuin Chow” has posted a story about her experience with call scammers on Facebook and has warned others that it could be a new tactic used by scammers to target innocent citizens.

EeQuin start off her post by mentioning her brother was called by a man who said that he works for Tenaga Nasional Berhad (BHD). Thinking that the call was legit, her brother was told that the address of their family business has not been paying their bills for 3 months which has accumulated to a sum of more than RM9,000 in debt. After that, the man had also mentioned that TNB would be sending their staffs over to their shop to cut off their electricity. Because EeQuin and her family runs a 24 hour business, they could not afford to have an electricity cut as it would disrupt their business.

After her brother has informed her about the incident, EeQuin was not convinced as she knows that she pays her bills every month. Convinced that it could be a scam, she immediately rushed home and went online to check her electricity bill statement. Unsurprisingly, all of the bills are up to date and has already been paid fully. But just to make sure, she has even made a call to TNB to confirm her bill statements, and was told that they do not have any outstanding bills, in which she then informs TNB about the incident.

After confirming that it is a scam call, EeQuin informed her brother and they decided to give the man a call back to see what more he has under his sleeves. According to EeQuin, the man offered a deal with her brother by offering a discount of RM6,000 to which they would only need to pay an amount of RM3,000 to clear off their “debts”, and insist on paying it through an account that is not directed to TNB.

EeQuin ends her post by sharing her thoughts on the situation and techniques on how others could detect a scammer. In this case, fellow Malaysians are encouraged to get their bills in check and always stay calm when receiving scam calls.

malaysian
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Malaysians are celebrating Ramadan on social media according to Facebook study

381

Social media is key in celebrating
Ramadan
 this year according to Facebook – during a media conference earlier today, Country Director of Facebook Malaysia Nicole Tan laid out the statistics of Facebook usage during this festive period, and how it affects local businesses.

With the MCO now extended until the May 12,
Ramadan
 celebrations – one of the biggest aspects to celebrating the occasion is shopping, buying new clothes, groceries for breaking fast, and more. Facebook says that Ramadan observers plan their purchases three weeks in advance, with 93% of respondents sharing their purchasing plans with family and friends over social media.

With online shopping now the de facto mode of spending, during the festive period, Malaysians want the best deals available – the Shocking/Flash/limited time deals that knock off a chunk of the
retial
 price. According to Facebook, 45% of respondents actually take their shopping onto the social media platform, choosing to get their bargains from local businesses there. This statistic shows the importance of a social media presence for local businesses.

Another interesting statistic shows how much Malaysians are attached to their
smartphones
 and their social media, even while consuming content from a different medium, like TVs. A massive 82% of
respondents
 use chatting apps and surf their social media while watching TV during Ramadan – further adding to the point of the importance of an online presence for local businesses.

On top of that, during this Ramadan, it was found that Malaysians are looking for health–centric products and services during this period.

To add to this, Facebook also recently announced that they will allow businesses to charge users for access to their events with Live videos – this is another avenue for budding content creators to earn a buck when they’re online, perhaps performing, or holding classes.

The message here is that social media, especially one as large as Facebook, has become a platform for Malaysians to connect with their peers, and to celebrate an age-old festivity during a time of lockdown; as people adopt modern-day tech to adapt to current situations, businesses should do the same as well.

facebook
facebook study
hari raya
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Snap study says Malaysians are among the friendliest and have more best & close friends

286

Snapchat just held its first event in Malaysia, and it’s a rather informative one. The multimedia messaging platform — the originator of the Stories feature, might I add — shares a study that revolves around the friendship, claiming that Malaysians are one of the friendliest individuals and have more close friends compared to other regions.

The Snap study discusses a few aspects that affects how individuals perceive and act around friendship. For example, people in India, the Middle East and SouthEast Asia have more best friends compared to individuals in Australia, Europe and the United States.

As for us Malaysians, it was discovered that we have more best and close friends compared to global average. Despite that, the study reveals that Malaysians are also the ones who most likely want to widen their social network.

Not only do Malaysians want to increase their social network, 27% of them are also proven to seek for a diversified social circle. According to Dr Nur Hafeeza Ahmad Pazil — a sociologist at USM Penang, this is because “Malaysia is a multicultural society, and we live alongside people from many different backgrounds.”

While it seems like Malaysians are all about making more friends, the study found Gen Z to be more selective when it comes to letting people into their circle of close friends. Gen Z prefers to be closer to a small group friends while Gen Y loves sharing on a public platform; UK friendship expert, Kate Leaver states that Gen Z is more cautious due to Gen Y’s high presence on social media — exposing the risks and dangers of it, which is why they’re more cautious when it comes to sharing their life publicly on Facebook.

The study also discusses the relationship between different communication platforms and the level of intimacy in relationships. Those on Snapchat tend to have smaller networks with deeper relationships than the ones who are more attached to Facebook and Instagram.

Moreover, study shows Malaysians are more appreciative of honesty in their friendships, especially when it comes to feelings. On the other hand, individuals from abroad would prioritise the amount of time spent together. Digital communication is also relatively important as majority of Malaysians believe videos and photos helps in self-expression, and even emojis can provide more clarity in conversations.

In conclusion, friendship is vital especially since Malaysians are proven to be happier after interaction with our friends — both in real life and online. Psychologist Wolfgang Kruger said, “People who have very few or zero friends tend to suffer from anxiety and depression and are sick more often.” He also mentioned that life span for those who have less friends decreases by 20%.

Well, guess it’s time for all of us to strengthen our friendships.

snapchat


Malaysians can now donate to National Kidney Foundation via GrabRewards

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Grab Malaysia and National Kidney Foundation (NKF) of Malaysia has recently announced a fundraising partnership to purchase a dialysis machine for the underprivileged kidney failure patients.

Starting from today until 31 December 2018, Grab users in Malaysia can log onto the Grab app, visit their GrabRewards catalogue and convert their points into donations. For every 700 GrabReward points, it can be converted and is equivalent to a total of RM5 which could be donated to NKF.

“Every year, NKF needs to raise RM24.9 million to subsidise the dialysis treatments cost
 for 1,600 who seek dialysis treatment at our 28 dialysis centres nationwide. In Malaysia,
 7,000 new patients are diagnosed with kidney failure annually. The majority of NKF’s
 patients are financially-challenged elderly individuals aged between 50-65 years old who
 cannot afford the higher cost at private medical facilities,” said Chua Hong Wee, Chief
 Executive Officer of NKF.

“We sincerely appreciate the support that Grab provides to NKF by launching this
 fundraising campaign which eventually contributes to the addition of a dialysis machine
 to one of our 28 dialysis centres. Each dialysis machine runs between seven to ten
 years with maintenance and every year at least twenty dialysis machines will be
 replaced. We need the donations for dialysis machines to keep the treatments going for
 our dialysis patients. With that, we are very fortunate to have linked together with Grab”,
 he added.

Iris Chang, Country Marketing Head of Grab Malaysia have mentioned that she is delighted that Grab are able to work with NKF Malaysia to help them with their cause. She also added that, as a Malaysian homegrown brand, the company is consistently identifying ways to give back to the community especially to those in need. “We have worked with various organisations in the past to do our bit for the community. With the season of giving upon us, we are humbled to be able to be a conduit to also encourage our fellow Grab users to also join in and give back,” said Chang.

For those who are interested in contributing towards NKF’s cause in helping Malaysians who cannot access dialysis treatments can find out more through the NKF website at http://nkf.org.my or call 03-7954 9048.

grab malaysia
National Kidney Foundation
NKF
NKF Malaysia


This is how Malaysians have been moving about during the MCO

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In trying times like this, everyone should pitch in to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Two of the biggest tech companies — Apple and Google — have recently offered a helping hand by sharing their mobility reports to help public health officials and local governments understand the movements in the communities.

These two mobility reports are slightly different, with Google’s report focusing on movement in places while Apple focuses on foot, car and public transit traffic. If there’s a region with insufficient/insignificant levels of data, both Google and Apple will omit data of the said region.

According to Google’s
report
, there has been a huge decrease in mobility at transit stations and also retail and recreation areas — both over 80% when compared to baseline. In conjunction with that, mobility in residential areas has increased by 31% from March 15 onwards.

As for Apple’s mobility trends
report
, both Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur’s rate of foot and car traffic have decreased — but the rate is more significant in the city instead of the country. It’s safe to assume that KL is the most affected city, as there are no data for the other states in Malaysia.

Good to know that Malaysians — at least the majority of us — are obediently staying at home. Meanwhile, if you’re someone who wants to get out of the house “for fun”, I’d suggest against that because the restrictions for the third phase MCO should be tighter, meaning the police will be less lenient and more thorough in verifying your purposes of getting out of the house.

apple
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Malaysians will soon be able to lodge police reports via social media

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Unfortunate incidents can happen anywhere and anytime, and to think about getting yourselves to the nearest police station to make a report and require to wait for long queues, that could be a torture to our patience. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan has told Parliament today that Malaysians can soon lodge a police report via their smartphones and computers, a system is reportedly in development to enable reports to be made as easy as updating one’s status on social media, this is rather similar to what we have reported last week, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has partnered with Facebook on implementing the
National Urgent Response
 (NUR) system to combat child disapperance and kidnapping issues.

The system is expected to link to PDRM’s system and there has been no mention of which social media will be supported, as the police and Attorney-General’s Chambers are still in disccusion to iron out legal issues before the system goes live, Nur Jazlan mentioned that the key challenge on this would be verifying the identity of the complainant, which they will need to ensure a digital signature is legally accepted. In the past two years, an app called MyDistress was developed in collaboration with PDRM to allow users to send a red alert to the police whenever they are troubled, the app is now reportedly defunct.

SOURCE:
New Straits Time

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Malaysia’s 5G to have at least 100Mbps speed at cell edge, pledges DNB

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Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the government-owned entity that owns exclusive rights to build the 5G network infrastructure in Malaysia, has told The Star in an interview its pledges its 5G network to offer at least 100Mbps of speed at cell edge, as compared to 18Mbps on current networks.

While this means that users can expect usable internet speeds while connected on weak 5G coverage areas, DNB has said that it would still depend on the operators if they would want to offer that bandwidth, as they can potentially throttle the speed to differentiate their product and service offerings, even as to save operating expenditure.

As for this, DNB has been in talks with MCMC on this issue to mandate those who wants to tap into their 5G network to agree to ‘a complete pass-through of the speed’, as failing to hit that minimum speed threshold will result them in a fine by MCMC just like any other telcos.

Malaysia’s 5G network is expected to rollout by December this year, with the shutting down of 3G networks already in progress, DNB aims to have 500 sites deployed across Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur. You can read more about the interview with Ralph Marshall, CEO of DNB,
here
.

DNB
malaysia 5g


Over 29,000 malicious Android apps still active on Google Play Store

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There are currently 29,000 malicious Android apps floating about in the Google Play Store, waiting to pounce on anyone naive enough to download them.

Harmful apps remain popular

Upstream is the security firm that identified the
list
 of shady programs; they reported that the apps are still active during Q1 of 2020. According to Tech Radar, the investigation finds that 90% of the ten top-ranking malicious apps are still active, and available to download on Google Play Store.

Image credit: Android Pit

The report suggests that hackers constantly find ways to circumvent Google’s vetting system to get their apps listed on the app store.

Developers taking advantage of COVID-19

Upstream’s
 Geoffrey Cleaves says that the rise of
malicious
 Android apps can be attributed to the pandemic, which has relegated much of the world’s population to staying at home. Since the global lockdown, Cleave noticed a sharp increase in ‘leisure apps’ which is what he categorizes apps like games, social, audio and news media consumption programs.

These leisure apps trick users into subscribing for premium services – a popular example of such an app is
Snaptube
. The software is used to download videos off the internet, and it has been installed more than 40 million times across the globe. It’s reported that Secure-D,
Upstream’s
 anti-fraud platform, had
blocked
 32 million shady transactions related to
Snaptube
 in 2020 alone.

Protect yourself at all times

So, before you download anything on the Google Play Store, or anything off the internet for that matter, remember to practice due
diligence
 and Google the heck out of it first before pressing that ‘Download’ button.

android
apps
google
google play store
malicous apps


Malicious MP4 video will crash your iOS device if you view it through Safari

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iOS device owners may want to be cautious as to what link they click on as there is a malicious MP4 video floating on the internet that will crash your iOS device if you view it through Safari.

First spotted by the users at
reddit
, this particular 5-second MP4 video is known to cause a memory leak which would result in a frozen iOS device. This problem occurs on all iOS devices of any version, affecting iPhones, iPads and iPods with versions of iOS as old as iOS 5. The video above, made by
EverythingApplePro
, showcases what will happen when you view the video.

Thankfully, this video doesn’t seem to do more than just freeze your devices, so you don’t have to worry about backdoors or malicious code installed into your iOS devices just yet. All you really need to do to regain control of your iOS device is to do a hard reset. Once done, the device can be used as per normal.

That being said, it is wise to avoid clicking on links sent by people you don’t know. The malicious video is currently hosted on places like vk.com and testtrial.site90.net, so if you’ve received a link that comes from these sites, it would be a good idea to ignore it.

apple
crash
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Malware causes power outage in Ukraine

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At least three regional power authorities in Ukraine were infected with a highly destructive malware which resulted in a power failure that affected thousands of homes in the Ivano-Frankivsk region last week.

According to Ukraine news sources
,
the power outage that occured on December 23rd
 was the result of a malware that disconnected electrical substations. Samples of the code in question were obtained by researchers from the iSIGHT Partners security firm on Monday.

Today, researchers from antivirus provider ESET confirmed that the malware that affected the Ukrainian power authorities is “BlackEnergy”, a malware that was traditional used to conduct espionage on targets in news organizations, power companies, and other industrial groups. Researchers found that this malware, which was originally detected in 2007, has recently been update to include a component called KillDisk. This component allows “BlackEnergy” to destroy critical parts of a computer hard drive and comes with functions that are capable of sabotaging industrial control systems. It also comes with a backdoored secure shell utility (SSH) that gives attackers permanent access to infected computers.

iSIGHT credits the creation of “BlackEnergy” to a group dubbed
the Sandworm gang
, a group that allegedly has links to the Russia. That said, there is no proof available that directly links the group to the Kremlin.

Source :
Ars Technica
,
Reuters
,
TSN

blackenergy
cybersecurity
malware
sandwormgang
ukraine


Malwarebytes Premium 4.0 Review – As capable as anything else, for less

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There’s a new version of the ever-popular Malwarebytes antivirus software – its newest iteration, version 4.0, streamlines the process of identifying, scanning, and removing malware from your system.

It does this in a few ways – the first of which is with a UI overhaul – the homepage is kept simple with only three tabs showing you your detection history, a convenient scan button, and a quick-access tab to enable/disable real-time protection settings.

The notifications tab that pops up when an action is completed is given a cleaner look, grabbing your attention every time something happens. If you’ve been a Malwarebytes user before, you’d be fine with this; otherwise, you may find this obtrusive. I welcome the bigger and brighter notification pop-ups because I want to see what the program has been up to and what it has done.

In terms of performance, Malwarebytes claims that the program now uses half your CPU resources compared to its previous iteration. At idle, the program barely uses anything; while performing a scan, you can expect up to 70% of your CPU to be utilized, but it fluctuates.

A fresh scan could take around a few minutes – but I did test this on my work laptop with not many programmes installed. So, even if it does take up three quarters of your CPU recourses, but because scanning is so fast, you won’t really notice a dip in your PC performance. This is also part of the reason why you should scan your PC frequently.

In version 4.0, Malwarebytes uses the new Katana Engine – and it’s supposed to slice and dice scan speeds and file sizes too. Other features include ‘zero-detection’ tech to detect emerging threats and automatic threat definitions.

For the most part, Katana Engine does what is advertised – scanning time has been determined to be speedy. Another thing advertised is a smaller installation footprint – Malwarebytes claim that only 80MB is used; but realistically, once installed it uses up 210MB of disc space; that’s still pretty lightweight and is a fraction of what some antivirus software would take up.

We carried out further testing using what we think are realistic scenarios, like visiting dodgy websites, clicking on ambiguous links, and downloading torrents.

Throughout our tests, Malwarebytes had reliably nullified potential threats – we managed to get pop-ups notifying us of maladverts and trojan-riddled sites being blocked on our system. You get a pretty nifty notification at the bottom right of your screen that gives you the option of going into the exclusion management page and allow websites you trust. Iffy video game cracks were snubbed out upon completing the torrent download.

However, false positives are still a thing as with most antivirus software – it’s weird that the program flags our Microsoft Office group policy registry keys as potentially unwanted programs. There’s a quick tutorial from Malwarebytes to fix the issue however, so it’s not a big deal.

Verdict

After using it for a little over a month, it has kept my system squeaky clean – it’s unobtrusive and lightweight too. The program has been regarded as a supplementary antivirus software that you add on top of your Avasts, Kasperskys and Trend Micros; but Malwarebytes can hold its own as your system’s only barrier against malware with a competent engine and a vast vocabulary of malware.

Priced at RM165 per year for one PC, it’s pretty affordable too – you can visit Malwarebyte’s website
here
 to make your purchase.

anti virus
avast
kaspersky
malwarebytes
trend micro


Man gets addicted to Fallout 4, sues Bethesda

321

For all its flaws, Fallout 4 is an addictive game. So addictive in fact, that one gamer is suing Bethesda because of it.

A Siberian gamer is suing the game company responsible for Fallout 4 as he claims an addiction to the role-playing game messed with his real life. Based on what the 28-year-old is claiming, Fallout 4 caused him to lose his wife and his job after spending three weeks playing Fallout 4 while skipping work, forgetting to sleep or eat, and ignoring his friends.

According to Russian news outlet RT
, the lawfirm representing the gamer says that the lawsuit is a test case for the Russian legal system and they want to “see how far we can go regarding the case”.

The gamer in question is suing Bethesda Game Studios and the Russian localization firm for around USD 7,000, claiming emotional distress.

This woulld not be the first time a game developer was sued for making a game too addictive.
Back in 2010
, a Hawaiian gamer attemped to sue NCSoft as he claims the developers failed to warn him of the addictive nature of the MMO called Lineage II. Unfortunately for him, the case was eventually dismissed with prejudice.

Source :
VentureBeat

bethesda
fallout4
lawsuit
russia


Man suffers burns from Samsung Galaxy S7 explosion in Canada

289

We are back at it again, with a report of yet another explosion incident involving a smartphone, following many other similar reports like an everlasting show of fireworks. The unfortunate death and fire incidents surrounding the Galaxy Note 7 led to a chain reaction of countless reports of different handsets allegedly exploding, causing nearly every case of an explosion to be reported to the media. This time round, a Canadian man has reported his Galaxy S7 combusting, injuring himself in the process.

According to Canadian local paper Winnipeg Sun, 34 year old Amarjit Mann claims his 6 month old Galaxy S7 to have fired up in his hands before exploding in the end. The handset, which was purchased new for $1,000 (RM3,279.82) was in Mann’s pocket before he started feeling a certain “warmness”, leading to him taking the phone out to inspect. It is when he took the S7 out and it is said to “explode right away”.

Mann claims that there was a little steam from the S7 that hit his hand, and then a sound of an explosion like fire crackers. According to him, the handset at one point was stuck to his hand before he managed to throw it out of his car window. As a result, Mann suffered second and third degree burns to his hands, which will take 8 to 9 days to heal up, however he was fortunate not to suffer any injuries to his face, in which would turn out worse if the explosion happened while receiving a phone call.

Mann plans to file a lawsuit against Samsung, including a claim for his lost wages since he is a mechanic. Samsung, which was hit badly by the Galaxy Note 7 issue, would probably investigate this case thoroughly before proceeding with any action. What do you think?

Source:
Winnipeg Sun

7
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explosion
fire
galaxy
incident
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Many Android’s anti-malware apps are found to be unreliable and inefficient

367

With the various cases of Google Play being infiltrated by apps that have malware and adware, it is only logical that some Android users will look for security measures by downloading anti-malware apps. However, findings have now proven that many of the so-called anti-malware apps, are actually just unreliable and does not necessarily protect your phones.

In an AV-Comparatives’ 2019 test, the researchers downloaded 250 anti-malware security apps and tested them out, only to find that 80 apps could detect over 30% of malicious apps while the rest either detected less than 30% of the malware, are ineffective or have been removed from Google Play Store.

The way the researchers did the test was by downloading the malicious sample from Chrome browser and installing it before testing out the anti-malware apps. In the process, 250 anti-malware apps were tested against 2,000 malicious APKs and 100 clean APKs.

To learn more about the test results and the apps that were tested, visit
AV-Comparatives
.

android
anti-malware
Google Play


Mara Digital (aka Low Yat 2) Review: Safe and Simple but limited

1.6K

Some weeks back, the Malaysian Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob pulled the curtains off the newest IT spot in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city, it is located at the Medan Mara building along Jalan Raja Laut, for the locals, it is actually just behind the huge Sogo shopping complex. The set up of the new tech shopping spot was unfortunately a politicised one, which is kind of sad for the local tech community. Therefore, I decide to head to the mall and find out if it could get as bad that I could have imagined.

Entering the Car Park

Medan Mara isn’t exactly a new building as it already has a hotel and learning institution, hence the parking lot was kind of cramped and I had to head down to the third level of the basement to park my car. As you can see in the picture, I wasn’t quite fond of the type of parking spot I’ve gotten – an electrical platform that feels extremely small even for my mid-size sedan. Fortunately, the parking lot is well lit and I am happy about it.

Exploring Mara Digital

My early impressions of Mara Digital is that it is a mall by itself judging by reports, there were food outlets on the ground floor such as Subway, Dr Cafe and McDonalds, the concourse area has been dominated by Intel’s signage and a few phone telco kiosks were at the spot as well.

I then see the banner of the new so called tech spot located on the third floor of the building, if you aren’t particular enough, you would’ve thought that the entire mall was an exciting new tech shopping spot. Of course, I was a little dissapointed.

As I make my way up to the third floor, I was prepared to be bullied by people there as I do not see any other races than Malays, but I was wrong and some stall owners even smiled at me as I passed by them, and I know this place is safe and isn’t what most people would have thought to be.

The Third Floor

Mara Digital has obviously been renovated thoroughly to make way for the tech shopping spot, there were kiosks selling notebooks and smartphones, and I was relieved to see that there were some concept stores. Acer, Lenovo and HP were the early tenants there while Samsung and Oppo stores will be opening soon.

The entire floor space was bright and cheerful, while there are still empty kiosks there, it isn’t messy like the current IT malls I have seen, dealers and customers were chatting about tech products happily and thankfully, there was no ‘robotic’ salesperson saying words like ‘Yes sir’, ‘Screen protector, power bank’, ‘promo promo’ as I passed by kiosks and shops.

Image Credit: The Malay Mail Online

Sadly, I didn’t see the phone pictured above otherwise I would have done a first impressions of it. 🙂

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Mario Kart Tour is coming to Android and iOS devices on September 25

339

Nintendo has finally released an official date to bring Mario Kart Tour to iOS and Android devices — September 25.

Nintendo already made its plan clear to bring the game to iOS and Android devices about a year and a half ago and once it’s launched, it will be free to try. However, 9to5mac mentioned that it will be similar to Super Mario Run whereby players will need in-app purchases after a certain level to continue playing.

Mario Kart Tour was originally set to launch by March this year, but it has obviously passed its expected launch date. Nevertheless, Mario fans can begin pre-ordering the free app on both Play Store and App Store.

If you remember, iOS 13 will also come with support for Xbox One S and PS4 controllers, so once your iPhones are updated with the latest software and you have the controllers, Mario Kart Tour could be more fun to play.

android
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Mario Kart Tour
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Mario Kart Tour players can finally sabotage others in the upcoming multiplayer mode

344

Mario Kart Tour was finally available on iOS and Android last year, but now it’s finally getting multiplayer mode.

While the game is a free-to-play title, it has a built-in subscription that offers and extra 200cc racing mode, special Gold Challenges and also the opportunity to get Gold Gifts. It’s priced at $4.99/month — similar to the price of the Apple Arcade subscription. That is one of the reasons the game became less interesting to some who were looking forward to it.

Image credit: Mario Kart Tour

With the multiplayer mode though, the game might just get back the players who left. Multiplayer games always attract more players as they allow you to compete with your friends — it’s always fun to sabotage your friends in games.

According to the tweet posted by Mario Kart Tour’s official account, you can play against seven players at once. You can compete against other players online, players near you or even your in-game friends.

If your interest in Mario Kart Tour is restored, you can get it on App Store or Play Store.

android
app store
ios
Mario Kart Tour
multiplayer
play store


MariSilicon X: OPPO unveils their first imaging chip

784

The OPPO INNO Day 2021 just closed, with the reveal of the
Find N
 – their first foldable smartphone. During the event, they also announced a retractable phone camera and the
OPPO Air Glass
, but one reveal that went a little under the radar was the MariSilicon X, which promises to be one of the best imaging chips available.

The MariSilicon X chip uses a state-of-the-art neural processing unit (NPU), image signal processing (ISP), and multi-tier memory components built on 6mm process technology to give users the best performance and power on their device. Therefore, you can get real-time RAW image processing to capture 4K AI Night Video with a live preview.

In terms of the features of this chip, it supports a 20-bit 120db dynamic range, better noise reduction, better color reproduction, HDR, improved detail, dynamic range, and more, thanks to their NPU. Their NPU also packs a lot of power and OPPO says that it can do 18 trillion operations per second (TOPS), and work efficiently due to the built-in dedicated memory.

The chip also will be using their own ISP, so you’ll get the full use of OPPO’s RGBW sensor to give the best photo and video quality possible. OPPO also claims that this chip will be more power-efficient than the Snapdragon 888 chip, as this chip powered the OPPO Find X3 Pro and used1,693mW of power to run two fps, while their MariSilicon X chip only uses 797mW, to run 40fps.

Although we did not get to see this chip in action, it is still intriguing to know its specifications and how we can expect the next generation of OPPO’s phones to perform. Meanwhile, the MariSilicon X chip is to be commercially available with the Find X Series in Q1 of 2022, so stay tuned for that.

Source –
OPPO

4k video
chip
MariSilicon
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photo


Mark your calendars! The Xiaomi Mi 6 will be unveiled on April 19!

245

This might explain Xiaomi’s absence at the recent MWC 2017 at Barcelona. It looks like the company has been busy gearing up for the launch of its next flagship, the Mi 6. Xiaomi launched the Mi 5 approximately a year ago, and it is due for a refresh even if you take into account the half step up Mi 5s by the Chinese manufacturer.

Between the Mi 5 and the Mi 6, Xiaomi has launched a bunch of noteworthy handsets as well, the most significant one being the concept Mi MIX phablet, featuring a near bezel-less 6.4-inch display as part of its high end spec sheet. Rumors regarding the upcoming Mi 6 so far have caused rather mixed feelings. For instance, a 5.15-inch 1080p display which will pale in comparison when you pit it up against 2017 flagships. The Plus variant of the Mi 6 is slated to have a 5.7-inch screen with the same resolution. Underneath the hood, the Mi 6 is tipped to be powered by a Snapdragon 821 processor with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB/128GB storage variants. The Plus model will only be offered with 6GB of RAM and in 64GB or 128GB storage.

The camera department is where you’ll see a slightly more significant difference between both models. The Mi 6 is rumored to sport a 19MP camera while its larger sibling will feature a dual 12MP rear camera setup. The selfie shooter for both the Mi 6 and the Mi 6 Plus will be the same 8MP ultrapixel sensor. As for battery, rumors suggest that the Mi 6 will pack a 3,200mAh battery and the Mi 6 Plus a 4,500mAh battery.

We’re only a week away from the launch event of the Xiaomi Mi 6 to be held at Beijing. Will the Mi 6 series turn out as rumored?

Source:
Xiaomi

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Mark Zuckerberg: 99 percent of news on Facebook are true

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Since the US presidential election, its outcome had millions questioning whether the news and the media have been twisted to spin our perception on both the presidential candidates. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has poured out its thoughts regarding both the social networking platform and the recent election. According to Zuckerberg, it turns out that only 1 percent of all news on Facebook is fake.

In Zuckerberg’s status on Facebook, he mentioned that many people are wondering whether fake news contributed to the outcome of the US presidential election, and that Facebook’s responsibility is to prevent the spread of fake news. Zuckerberg claims that 99 percent of what we see on Facebook isn’t fake, and that the 1 percent of fake news and hoaxes aren’t limited to just politics, hence he came with a conclusion that it is unlikely that fake news and hoaxes changed the result of the election.

Zuckerberg further said in the lengthy post that Facebook is committed to providing accurate news and that it has launched features that allow the community to flag such news and hoaxes on the social networking platform. He also claimed that he and his team have played a role in convincing 2 million people to vote in the presidential election. In the same post, Zuckerberg admits that identifying the “truth” is complicated, but has also said that the folks at Facebook will continue the effort to eliminate and debunk fake news and hoaxes.

Source:
Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)

election
facebook
fake
hoax
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