Want to send nudes? This Android phone won’t let you

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Yeah, you read that right. There’s a phone that wouldn’t let you send nudes, so you won’t regret it down the road. The Tone e20, a phone only available in Japan, uses AI to prevent you from taking naked selfies.

This budget Android phone comes with a 6.26-inch display, a Mediatek Helio P22 chipset and 4GB RAM paired with 64GB storage. It has three cameras on the rear — a 13MP lens, a 12MP sensor and a 2MP lens. On the front, it has an 8MP selfie camera.

Image credit: Tone

But the highlight of this phone is its AI software that can detect when you’re taking nude photos. The software will block the photo from being saved to your gallery when it detects nudity, so you can’t take nude selfies or nude photos of others.

The feature is apparently aimed to prevent Japan’s youngsters from making mistakes. This phone can also be connected to another phone so when the Tone e20 is used to take nude photos, the owner of the other phone will be alerted. In short, this would be great for parents who are worried about their children’s social activity.

The Tone e20 is priced at ¥19,800 (about RM750), but since it’s only available in Japan, Malaysian parents will have to think of better ways to prevent their kids from sending nudes.

android
Tone
Tone e20


Top 3 Apps that saves your Android smartphone’s battery

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You wake up early in the morning seeing your smartphone’s battery charged at 100% and started texting your pals. Five hours later, that percentage or graphical bar is probably at 40-50%, and you have to hunt for a power plug or charge the phone with your power bank, while leaving that ugly cable stick out of your pockets, isn’t that annoying? Here are some apps that could help save some precious smartphone battery and they are one of the best that I’ve tried.

Battery Optimizer丨Save Battery

Battery Optimizer is an application by Intel and McAfee to bring All-in-one battery energy boosting and power management tool for
Android smartphone
 and tables. The application aims to conserve battery life, provide real-time power usage information, alerts users when the battery is low or time to charge the battery, extends call time, and helps to manage different way to encounter battery wasting situations with ease.

Download the application
here
.

Greenify

After 6 months or 1 year of usage do you feel your
Android phone
 become slower that eventually leads to terrible battery drain? With Greenify, your device can run almost as smooth and lastingly as it did the first day you own the device. Greenify will help users identify and put the misbehaving apps into hibernation when you are not using them, this will put them to a halt from making your device lagging and sucking the battery.

Download the application
here
.

DU Battery Saver

DU Battery saver claims they are the world’s leading battery saver and most importantly the app is free. It features pre-set battery power management modes, one-touch controls and healthy charge stage features and solver battery problems. The fun part of this application is the apps able to give you fast charge and when your battery reaches 80% and it will become a normal charge to prevent damaging your battery.

Download the application
here
.


Top 3 Reasons that the Apple Watch doesn’t save the problem of smartwatches

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Apple’s special September event ended with a short concert, and that’s pretty much the same like last year’s iPhone 5s event as well. This year, everyone around me have been expecting something great from Apple especially in the smart wearables sector, it has so many rumored leaks, from a fitness band like form factor to an iOS inspired interface squarish watch design, which simply makes everyone hope that Apple’s smartwatch is going to be something that will once again revolutionize the smartwatch industry, but what we have for yesterday is this:

Calling it the Apple Watch is a pretty straightforward name, it’s Apple’s own watch after all, and yet people are calling it the iWatch. First of all, I like the Apple Watch design, it doesn’t look cheaply made at all and has delivered some of the most impressive materials onboard which not many of its competition can do so, the hardware itself is certainly precisely made and the company has certainly paid enough attention to the details. The Apple Watch will have everything it needs to be a smartwatch – it has a fitness tracker, runs third party apps, receives notifications and – probably integrating one of the most interesting feature on it – Apple Pay, that lets you make payments using the built-in NFC.

Should I be excited? Yes I should be, but I really don’t know how to cheer for it (apart from the fact that I was pissed off by the stupid live stream source), the Apple Watch simply doesn’t solve the woes of a smartwatch, and here are the Top 5 reasons:

It doesn’t operate standalone

I owned the second generation
Sony
 SmartWatch and during that time, I thought it was one of the best smartwatch that I’ve ever owned, it needs to pair to the phone via Bluetooth in order to work and access most of its features, but after some time, I got fed up returned to my faithful and beautiful rounded TITUS watch. Here’s the thing, a watch will always be a watch, it shows you the time, buzzes when it has an alarm set, needs to be water resistant, and at least have a stopwatch feature, what’s the point if your smartphone battery is dead and these features just can’t be accessed?

As a tech journalist, I keep switching my phones and when that happens, I want a smartwatch that can function normally as a watch with some built-in simple and smart apps to go along, because some devices might not be compatible with the smartwatch that I’m wearing. Not only just that, I’ll also need the smartwatch to be able to standalone and track my calories when I’m doing workouts, because I’m so not going to have a phone shaking in my pockets while I run on a treadmill. Having a smartwatch paired to a phone is relatively important and necessary, but if the Apple Watch relies on the iPhone to get most of its features accessed and work, it really feels stupid to wear one when your phone is out of battery.

It doesn’t support cross platform

We all know this is going to happen, the Apple Watch is only supported on iPhones, Apple expects you the user to buy an Apple device every year and continue using the Apple Watch, while this makes sense for Apple, it doesn’t for a user like me. A perfect smartwatch is something that can simply pair to any smartphone operating system with the necessary companion app. You can argue that there are apps on the Apple Watch that requires an iPhone to work, but why should that matter? Let’s get back to the basics of a normal watch, when you buy one, you are probably going to wear it for years until it spoils; put that thought back onto a smartwatch, you will want it to be able to last you through a few devices that you change, given that the current trend is that we tend to switch our smartphones faster than a watch, it is necessary that any company produce a smartwatch that can support other platforms.

Till then, Pebble is the only smartwatch that supports the two most popular smartphone operating system – Android and iOS, whereas the Apple Watch doesn’t.

Battery life is still a problem

I owned a Pebble Steel and have reviewed a
Samsung
 Gear 2, both have great battery life that will be able to last me a week before needing a charge, despite being great, it just isn’t satisfying enough and have a battery life like a real watch. In Apple’s keynote, the Apple Watch is expected to have an all-day battery life, so we are going to assume that the watch is going to last you for a day or two before it needs a charge. While we still can’t proof that the watch’s battery life is bad, Apple can’t simply make a revolutionary battery life out of its first watch. The company’s iPad has a solid 10 hour battery life for every models, the MacBooks get battery improvement with every hardware refresh, but why can’t they make a smartwatch with an amazing battery life? I can do with a month battery life or just give me solar charging so I won’t need to charge the watch again.

The Apple Watch isn’t perfect and it’s Apple’s first attempt at launching a new product category without Steve Jobs onboard, though I have to applaud them for crafting a product that’s beautiful and expensive materials with the finest touch to detail, the user interface is probably the most beautiful and intuitive one on a smartwatch. Sadly, it isn’t revolutionary or magical at all and it isn’t going to change the smart wearables industry like what the original iPhone did back in 2007. For such an immature product category, I would rather have Apple stay put and not even mention about the watch, because by releasing the smartwatch, it actually shows that Apple have been stressed out by competition out there, if you are going to create a revolutionary product, you simply have to see what your competitors have up on their sleeves.

As Steve Jobs have quoted Picasso – good artists copy, great artists steal, so Apple, you are a pretty bad artist out there now and lastly, I can buy another smartphone at the price of $349.We miss you, Steve.


Smartphones under RM1,000: Our top four picks for 2020!

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By now, we’ve seen a slew of top-tier smartphones hit the shelves – think the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S20, OPPO Find X2, OnePlus 8 and more; but what about the more affordable entries that, although don’t pack as much as their flagship counterparts, still offer value for your money.

Well, here’s a list of the best smartphones that cost below RM1,000 that we think are worthy pickups this year.

1. realme 6

This is one of the more impressive devices of the year so far – mainly due to its upper-midrange specs and budget price point. Starting at just RM999, the
realme
 6 packs a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display that pushes a high refresh rate of 90Hz. This is the kind of feature you see on flagships, not a budget entry such as this.

Powering the device and allowing the phone to run at high refresh rates is a MediaTek
Helio
 G90T gaming chipset – it’s powerful enough to run every mainstream mobile game at a consistent 60FPS, and allow for everyday scrolling at 90FPS. There’s a noticeable added smoothness when scrolling on a higher refresh rate display, and that makes a world of difference.

It’s also got an impressive 64MP quad-camera setup too, but this phone is really all about performance, and that’s why it has a 30W fast charging capability to compensate. Get the
Realme
 6 here:
Lazada

2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S

This phone epitomizes an all-rounder smartphone – for just RM799 for the 4GB+64GB model and RM899 for the 6GB+128GB variant, this is the kind of value for money people have been after for a long time.

For starters, it’s got a massive 6.67-inch FHD+ display that’s made with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and is T
ÜV
Rheinland
 certified (low blue light) – this is the kind of thing you’d find on phones triple its price, so that’s saying something.

It’s also got a very capable Snapdragon 720G chipset that’ll run most mainstream mobile games with minimal stutters. We’d advice you to go for the 6GB+128GB variant because not only do you still keep within the RM1,000 budget, its higher RAM and storage will future-proof you a little more.

It’s also got a massive 5,020mAh battery as well as a reliable set of cameras (48MP+8MP+5MP+2MP) which’ll give you great day time shots and decent night time photos. Get the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S here:
Lazada

3. vivo Y19

The vivo Y19 may have come out late last year, but it’s still one of the best
value
 buys around – what vivo excels in even in the budget segment is the
plethora
 of selfie modes that give your shots
flavour
. There’s AI Face Beauty, Pose Master, AI Makeup and more.

The main camera module doesn’t slouch either – it packs a 16MP main lens, an 8MP
superwide
 angle lens, and a 2MP macro lens. With this setup, you’ll get great images too despite not having a high-res shooter.

It’s got a
Mediatek

Helio
 P70 chipset alongside 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, so the vivo Y19 can perform day-to-day tasks
with no problem too. Pair that with its massive 5,000mAh battery and you’ll have a reliable daily driver that takes awesome photos too. You can get the vivo Y19 here:
Lazada

4. OPPO A91

This one looks as good as it performs – the OPPO A91 is the most premium-looking
device
 on the list and it comes in Unicorn White and Lightning Black. Despite a plastic back panel, it shimmers pretty under light and feels sturdy in the hands. It’s also a very thin device measuring at just 7.9mm – great for those who have tight pants.

It also has a quick and
reliable
in-screen fingerprint reader that’ll allow you to unlock your phone in within a second. It’s FHD+ display is also great for media
consumption
, plus its 48MP quad-camera setup offers great high dynamic range as well.

The OPPO A91 also supports fast charging of up to 20W which will power its 4,025mAh battery in about an hour.  Get the OPPO A91 here:
Lazada
 /
OPPO Store

48MP camera
64MP camera
90Hz
best smartphone under RM1000
budget smartphone
mediatek helio G90T
mediatek helio p70
oppo a91
realme 6
smartphones
snapdragon 720G
vivo Y19
xiaomi redmi note 9s


Top 5 Awesome Features of the Samsung Galaxy A54

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If you have always wanted to own a trendy looking smartphone with practical features, then look no further than the Samsung Galaxy A54, because it isn’t just one trendy looking phone with a smashing set of color options, but it also comes with so many practical features that you won’t find on similar priced phones, so here’s five Awesome features that will make you want to own one.

IP67 Water and Dust Resistance

Did you just repair your smartphone for an expensive cost just because you spilled your drink on your phone?

The Galaxy A54 saves you that worry because just like more expensive flagship phones, it features a solid aluminum body that’s IP67 water and dust resistant, which lets you submerge the phone in fresh water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes and prevents dust from going into its internals, so you don’t need to worry about taking it to the pool for shooting your next Awesome Tiktok video, or wash your phone anytime you want to keep it clean.

50-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization

Blurry shots and shaky videos are a thing of the past with the Galaxy A54, as it features an optically stabilized 50-megapixel main camera that also supports 4K 30 fps video image stabilization, this means you can take brighter and clearer low light photos and your ultra-clear 4K videos won’t look as shaky when you are doing vlogging on your road trips, it is also assisted by a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera.

Use the front camera more? The 32-megapixel front camera takes up to 4K 30 fps video resolution so you will never need to compromise details on your videos, such video resolution isn’t necessarily supported on similar priced phones.

2-Day Battery Life and Fast Charging to keep you going

It sucks to charge your phone every day or run out of battery half way when you need it the most, the Galaxy A54 doesn’t just come with a large 5,000mAh battery, but it also has a power efficient Samsung Exynos 1380 chipset that performs snappily in everyday tasks and gaming, hence it is able to offer up to two days of regular use when connected to 5G networks, and even when you push it real hard, it gets fully charged in a jiffy with 25W fast charging.

4-Year Android OS Upgrades and 5-Year Security Updates

The Galaxy A54 doesn’t get obsolete after a year like the rest because of the lack of OS upgrades, Samsung promises up to 4 years of major Android OS upgrades and thereafter, you still get one more year of security updates to keep your phone secure from hacks and malicious apps.

As they always say, don’t just stay awesome for the moment, stay awesome ‘four’-ever.

Awesome Value and Colors

The Galaxy A54 retails for RM1,899 and comes with a 2-year warranty, it is available in four color options of Awesome Violet, Awesome Lime, Awesome Graphite and Awesome White, it also has 256GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 1TB with a MicroSD card, that’s one value you won’t find on many upper mid-range phones in the market.

The Galaxy A54 can now be purchased at
 Samsung Online Store
, official stores on
Lazada
 and
Shopee
.

galaxy 54 malaysia
galaxy a54
galaxy a54 5g
galaxy a54 malaysia price


Top 5 Cafés With Funny Wireless Passwords

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As Malaysians, we should be really proud of one thing that most of our neighboring countries do not have – Free WiFi Internet access in every cafe, while most cafe owner knows having a wireless Internet connection in their place is an important asset, customers like you and me do like to stay put in our seats as long as our laptop batteries could last us, due to this owners do get frustrated and has even limit the number of power sockets to juice our laptops. However that’s not the main point, I’ve recently started realizing that some cafes do indeed have a sense of humor by setting annoying wireless passwords that will either drive us mad or laugh, and here are 5 places that serves great coffee with humorous wireless Internet passwords.

Tittle Tattle Houzz

Tittle Tattle Houzz is a whimsical chill out spot for family and friends, it’s a rough a 15 minutes trip from my home in Ipoh. On first impressions, it is unbelievable yet proud to know that my hometown has such a fancy place. During my first visit there, I asked for the wireless password and there goes an old lady telling me confidently :”IKEA”, I sighed and I told her that I know your furniture are mostly from IKEA but please allow me to access your hotspot. She repeated:”IKEA”, I was dumbstruck.

Rekindle Café

Rekindle is a cafe that I have been visiting the most for the past two months, the cafe based in SS2 Petaling Jaya, if you’ve been there you know why I’m there as well – Yes, Girls AND Coffee. After making my order over the counter I asked that sweet Barista for Internet access and guess what – it’s “No WiFi Here”, as I was about to fume she quickly said it with a smile – the password is “NoWiFiHere”. #facepalm

Huff N Puff

Huff N Puff is both a cafe and a vape store that locates right next to my college service department in Jaya One, it is my favorite visiting spot when I’m in college. Now what’s really peculiar about this place is that the have this daily routine of changing their WiFi password. One day I visited the place with my friend and he ask for its WiFi password, the staff hastily replied him “WiFi Down Sorry” and he was left disappointed, I chuckled and said: “Dude, that’s the WiFi password”, you can guess what happened next.

Flingstones Café

A couple of weeks back, Me and Warren visited this lovely new cafe just around the busy roads of SS15 Subang, we ordered our coffee and started up our laptops to start working, naturally asking for the Barista for Internet access, the answer we got was “Order One More Drink”, Warren wasn’t surprised and calmly told me that’s literally the password, I thought, that’s a better password better than “No WiFi Here” or “WiFi Down Sorry”, period.

MorningWood Café

Google it up and you might find yourselves landed with interesting search results, Morningwood is indeed a cafe in Malaysia, which took over Flat White Cafe in SS15 Subang Jaya, founded by a few local YouTube sensations and film makers. If you know what Morningwood is, their WiFi password is an even more interesting one – “Long Black”, literally long and black, you can either think of it as the drink menu or something that’s even more interesting.
Have more funny passwords that you’ve encountered in Cafe Hopping? Share with us in the comments down below.


Top 5 camera features of the Galaxy S23 Ultra other flagships don’t have

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While we have already seen many impressive smartphone cameras for the year already, the Galaxy S23 Ultra remains one of our top choices as it features a versatile quad camera system that lets you shoot in different focal lengths, not to mention its new 200MP camera that allows you to crop into photos to reframe your shot in the most creative way possible.

Despite not having any camera brand collaborations and custom ISP, the Galaxy S23 Ultra still has several camera features that its competition doesn’t offer which makes it a better device, and here are five of them.

Single Take

This is a long-time Samsung exclusive feature that has been available since the Galaxy S20 series, it is the most useful feature that takes multiple shots of your moving subjects using all four cameras on the back with just a press of the shutter button, you will then be presented a series of intelligently chosen photos and short videos with applicable filters ready to share with your friends or to social media.

8K 30 FPS Videos

Although you might consider it an overkill, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the only flagship smartphone that captures 8K videos at 30 FPS (frames per second), not only you get to see extremely sharp details in your videos with smoother motion than before, but you can also take advantage of it to down sample to 4K resolution or reframe your videos without losing detail, this is a thing that mirrorless cameras can’t achieve and makes it one killer video recorder.

360 Audio Recording

Want to get your audiences immersed in the videos you take on the Galaxy S23 Ultra? Take it to the next-level with 360 Audio Recording, which all you need is to put on a pair of Bluetooth headphones and enable the option in the camera app, your audiences will hear audio as if they are with you at the scene, which is great for travel and concerts.

Expert RAW

Expert RAW isn’t just a feature that takes RAW uncompressed images, but rather it is an even more advanced Pro mode where it allows you to fine tune your shot the way you want it, as well as a new powerful Astrophotography feature with a sky guide that utilizes the phone’s GPS to identify zodiacs on the milky way, complete with a multi-exposure feature to capture the perfect starry night.

Director’s View

Being your own host and videographer used to be challenging, but that’s no longer the case with the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s camera, because Director’s View is an extremely powerful camera mode that activates all cameras on the phone to capture both front and rear camera footage on the fly, you can also see live views of the wide, ultrawide and telephoto lens while recording, and simply tap into it if you feel that’s the scene you want to capture.

All of these camera features make the Galaxy S23 Ultra a great content creation smartphone, which very few flagship smartphones can come close, click
here
 to purchase your Galaxy S23 Ultra.

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galaxy s23 ultra camera
nightography
samsung


Top 5 EPIC Smartphones for Gaming in 2019

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Mobile gaming has become the de-facto time-killer activity for many; and we can see why – mobile games are easy to get into, many great titles are free to play, and they generally have the same substance a PC or console game offer.

If you’re looking to get into mobile games and are looking for a device that can handle newer titles, here are 2019’s best smartphones for gaming.

ASUS ROG Phone II

We’ll start with the cream of the crop – the ASUS ROG Phone II is arguably the most powerful phone of 2019.

It’s powered by a Snapdragon 855+ along with a whopping 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. This alone will give you a stutter-free gaming experience regardless of what game you play. Plus, the addition of Air Triggers will give you the upper hand in shooters. It’s also got a very capable cooling system that’ll let you game for hours without feeling the heat.

It doesn’t end there, the phone also sports a gorgeous 6.59-inch AMOLED 10-bit HDR display panel that pushes 120Hz refresh rate – that means you can play compatible games at 120 FPS! The phone is priced from RM3,499 which is relatively affordable given the hardware it packs.

vivo NEX 3 5G

We may be talking about 2019 now, t
his phone is already talking about 2020 and beyond
– the vivo NEX 3 5G is one of the first smartphones available in the country to support 5G connectivity. The new network standard will roll out to the masses next year, and the NEX 3 5G is one of the best phones to make use of the faster connectivity speeds.

This phone is the Chinese brand’s flagship device and it also comes with a Snapdragon 855+ but it only gets 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. Despite this, it still handles graphically intensive games like a champ.

It also has a massive 6.9-inch Waterfall FullView Display that has edges that curve almost 90-degrees towards the sides. Whip this bad boy out during a gaming session with the gang and you’ll be the envy of your friends. The phone is priced at RM3,899, it’s one of the first 5G-ready devices available in the country.

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro

We’re now pivoting to something a little more budget-friendly. Priced at RM1,599, it costs half of what the other two does but with its Snapdragon 855 chipset, you will still be kicking butt when it comes to gaming.

The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro comes with 6GB LPDDR4 RAM and up to 128GB of UFS2.1 internal storage, so not only will gaming be smooth, but regular web browsing and content consumption too. It comes with a reasonably-sized 6.39-inch AMOLED display that pushes 1080p resolution along with a triple 48MP camera setup. This is the all-rounder gaming smartphone to go for if you have a smaller budget.

OnePlus 7T Pro

Image credit: OnePlus

With a Snapdragon 855+ in its chassis, the OnePlus 7T Pro games like a champ. It supports 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, meaning you won’t have any problems with stuttering at all.

What’s also impressive about this smartphone is its massive 6.67-inch 1440p FluidDisplay screen that pushes a 90Hz refresh rate. With this display, you can play games that support 90 FPS like Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition, Vainglory, Oceanhorn and more.

The phone is also equipped with an improved haptic engine that provides a more natural tactile feedback while gaming. You can get the phone from RM3,399.

realme 5 Pro

If you’re really tight on budget then the Realme 5 Pro provides enough power at a low cost. Despite being a photography-centric device, the phone’s Snapdragon 712 chipset still lets you game on high graphics at a steady frame rate – albeit with occasional stutters in games like Asphalt 9.

It also comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage, which is ample for gaming and web browsing. What the Realme 5 Pro lacks are gaming features like low-latency touch, special cooling systems or customizable triggers; but it makes up for it with a good 6.3-inch 1080p display and a 4,035mAh battery that’ll let you game for hours.

Priced at just RM1,099, it is the cheapest model in the list, but it doesn’t slack when it comes to performance and reliability.

Our pick

This is our list of five devices that we think give you bang for your buck when it comes to mobile gaming. But if you could only go for one, we say get the ASUS ROG Phone II – sure, it’s the best of the lot so it’s the easy pick, but hear us out.

Besides it’s outrageous hardware, the phone also packs a 120Hz display, a 6,000mAh battery, shoulder triggers and an impressive cooling system. Even if you’re not a hardcore mobile gamer, we say the ROG Phone II is worth investing your money in – its hardware will last you for years, the 120Hz display will eventually become a standard, and it will run any game you throw at it. Going with the ROG Phone II is a no-brainer.

Ammo for your guns

So now that you’ve picked your smartphone, you’re going to need the best mobile data you can get so your gaming sessions won’t be interrupted. Sure, you can just use a WiFi connection, but the best gaming moments happen when you’re huddled around your buds,
pwning
noobs; or staging an EPIK comeback from near defeat – these exhilarating moments can happen anywhere, anytime.

To prepare for that, you’ll need YES 4G’s EPIK pre-paid data package. With this, you get unlimited 4G data from only RM1 per day. YES 4G has a reputation for offering reliable internet with good nationwide coverage, so you know you can get steady internet regardless of where you are. If you’re ready to switch to YES 4G, visit their website
here
.

This article is sponsored by Yes 4G

data
gaming
gaming smartphones
OnePlus 7T Pro
Realme 5 Pro
rog phone 2
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
yes 4g


Top 5 Father’s Day tech gifts for dads going back to work

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If your dad (or one that you know) is heading back to work during this
Recovery MCO
 period, we think an upgrade to his gadget gear would help boost his
productivity; so, for this Father’s Day, why not get him one of these really cool tech gifts to show your appreciation!

Jabra Elite Active 75t

Chatty colleagues and loud typers are what our dads have to go back to when they rejoin the office environment;
to remedy this, a good pair of earbuds are needed. In comes the
Jabra Elite Active 75t
, which is one of the best premium wireless
earbuds
 money can buy at.

The earbuds come with noise isolation technology that is achievable thanks to its well-thought-out fit. With that, your dad can continue to listen to his
favourite
 tunes uninterrupted, while working. Should your dad need to hear what’s going on around him however,
HearThrough
 lets allows the wearer to hear his surroundings clearly even with the earbuds on, and with a song playing.

It also has a classy look that fits in with every business setting. On top of that, the Elite Active 75t also boasts impressive battery life too – Jabra claims that you can get up to 7.5 hours of music and talk-time on a single charge – long enough to last your dad an entire work day!

You can get the Jabra Elite Active 75t for RM999 on
 Lazada,
 and you can bet dad’s going to enjoy his new pair of earbuds; but you’re not missing out on getting a new gadget – from now until June 21, every purchase also gets you a pair of
Jabra Elite 45e
 wireless neckband earbuds for free!

FitBit
 Versa 2

A smartwatch is very much an extension of your smartphone today – the former offers easy access to your device for reading notifications, keep track of time, play music, and track your fitness activities. But not every smartwatch is worthy of being your smartphone’s sidekick – the
FitBit
 Versa 2
 however, is the exception.

It’s got a gorgeous 300×300 pixel AMOLED display, encased in a sturdy
aluminium
 frame.  The screen is also made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for better protection. Your dad can also choose from a list of watch faces to match his style.

In terms of features, the
Versa 2
 offers a host of fitness-centric tracking features such as SmartTrack for automatic exercise recognition, workout intensity map, heart rate zones, floors climbed, over 20 exercise modes and more.

Other lifestyle features include all-day activity tracking, sleep tracking, heart rate monitor, guided breathing sessions and more. Your dad can also connect it to a wireless headphone, play music access apps and more while he’s rushing from one meeting to another. To top it off, the Versa 2 can last over 6 days on a single charge.

The
FitBit
 Versa 2 will be available at a
discounted
 price of RM898 which is RM100 less than its
retail
 price – but be quick as the promo ends this June 21.

Samsung Galaxy S20

If your dad already has a pair of earbuds and a smartwatch, maybe you can complete his tech setup by upgrading his smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S20 (RM3,299) is a good pick because from now until June 30, you’ll be able to get a
RM300
 rebate when you purchase a Galaxy S20 smartphone, plus a free microSD card worth RM139 to boot.

As with any Samsung Galaxy flagship, the Galaxy S20 packs a stunning 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel that’ll even make looking at spreadsheets interesting. It pushes a resolution of 1440p and has HDR10+ support to display a wider gamut of
colours
 – useful for dads in the creative field.

The Galaxy S20 also has a great set of cameras – it packs a 12MP main lens, a 64MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultrawide shooter.

Also, the phone comes equipped with Knox security that helps protect the phone at the chip level – simply tap on the Samsung Knox icon and the phone switches modes which allows your dad to browse personal content, all of which are encrypted.

To top it off, the
Galaxy S20
 is powered by a capable
Exynos
 990 chipset, 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. It also boasts a 4,000mAh battery with support of up to 25W of fast charging or up to 15W of wireless charging.

ASUS
ExpertBook
 B9

Are your dad’s anger tantrums seemingly aimed at his unresponsive laptop most of the time? If yes, then perhaps it’s time to get him a new one.

One of the best laptops that you can now is the
ASUS
ExpertBook
 B9
 – as its name suggests, it’s a light and compact device that’s made for the business expert. The laptop only weighs 870 grams and has a thickness of just 14.9mm. This makes it great for dads that are always on the go.

Image credit: ASUS

You get a 14-inch display that fits in a 13-inch body – this is made achievable thanks to the screen’s
NanoEdge
 bezels that essentially maximize screen real estate. The chassis of the laptop is made of magnesium-lithium alloy for premium toughness.

The
ExpertBook
 B9
 also has top-tier hardware to match its classy looks – it can be fitted with up to an Intel Core i7-10510U CPU with up to 16GB RAM and up to two sticks of 1TB M.2 SSD for storage.

Image credit: ASUS

The laptop is priced from RM6,299 and is available for
pre-order
 now – it’s expected to ship at the end of the month; so sure, you won’t be able to get the laptop in time for Father’s Day, but it’s well worth the wait for flagship laptop that’ll stick with your dad for years to come.

Zendure
Supertank

Powerbank

Image credit: Zendure

This is probably the biggest
powerbank
 you’ll ever see – the
Zendure

Supertank
 can charge whatever device your dad may have on him.

True to its name, the
Supertank
 packs a whopping 27,000mAh battery and offers up to 100W via PD. Meaning your dad can even charge his laptop via a USB Type-C cable.
Zendure
 also claims that it can power your phone up to 10 times too.

It also has four USB ports, two of which are Type C; then there’s X-Charge mode that limits the output making it suitable to charge wearables.

Sure, it’s a hefty device weighing at 500g, but for how many devices and how many times it can charge, the
Zendure

Supertank
 is a useful gadget to have in anyone’s haul for maximum productivity. You can get the
powerbank
 from their website
here
 for $191.99 (RM821).

asus expertbook b9
Father's Day
Fitbit Versa 2
jabra acive 75t
samsung galaxy s20
tech gifts
Zendure Supertank Powerbank


Top 5 features of the 2020 Proton X70 CKD that makes you want one

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The Malaysia automotive scene has gotten really exciting since the introduction of the Proton X70 last year, the C-segment family SUV comes with an unbeatable value of performance and features that undercuts many other of its competitors with a starting price of RM99,800 when it was introduced last year.

Come 2020, despite the Covid-19 outbreak, Proton continues to stand strong as a national auto carmaker with the support of Geely, it has introduced the all new 2020 Proton X70 with over RM10,000 value worth of new accessories and tech with a lower price tag, it is proudly assembled locally in Proton’s new extended RM1.2 billion plant in Tanjung Malim.

Still hesitating to own a new 2020 Proton X70? Here are the top 5 features that will make your purchase an absolute no-brainer.

Volvo/Geely developed 7-Speed Wet Dual Clutch Transmission

I have driven the Proton X70 last year when I was about to purchase a car last year, which ultimately I went for a Hyundai Tucson due to the better transmission. Proton has swapped the original Geely DSI based 6-speed automatic transmission for a 7-speed Wet Dual Clutch Transmission that’s being jointly developed by Volvo and Geely, which has been tested up to Volvo’s reliability standards that is set to last up to 350,000KM.

This would mean smoother gear shifts, better fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, which also allows Proton to tune the X70’s 1.8L TGDi engine to produce up to 300Nm of maximum torque, a 20Nm increase from last year’s X70, ATF fluid maintenance is also said to be lower than the 6-speed gearbox.

Last but not least, this electronic gear shift is something really cool that you only get on premium marques.

Front Ventilated Seats

One of the reasons you will hate having a leather upholstery in your car is no thanks to our Malaysian weather, which gets your butt scalped if you have parked your car under the sun. The new 2020 Proton X70 features front ventilated seats, which is extremely useful as you can cool up your seats as you drive along, offering great comfort when driving in the extreme hot Malaysian weather.

Improved Safety Features – TPMS, IHBC, 360 Camera and Parking Sensors

While the original Proton X70 already came with a pretty sufficient Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), the 2020 Proton X70 adds on more features such as a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Intelligent High Beam control that automatically switches between high and low beams when there are oncoming vehicles, and a 360-degree camera that helps you park the car in challenging spaces.

Power Tailgate with Foot Sensor

One of the things I don’t like about last year’s Proton X70 is the height of the tailgate, as it could be rather uncomfortable if you want to access the car’s boot space with your hands full.

The 2020 Proton X70 finally adds in the convenience of a power tailgate with a foot sensor, which will definitely help ease your shopping chores when you don’t have someone helping you with the bags.

Attractive Ownership Package

Proton isn’t stopping at just making the 2020 X70 a great SUV, but it is making a great one to own with an attractive ownership package, including a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, a 5-year data package of 1GB/month powered by Celcom 4G, 5 times free labour schedule service, low interest rates from 2.32% per annum and a premium insurance coverage.

The first 3000 customers to have successfully booked their 2020 Proton X70 will receive extra freebies such as an additional 4GB/month data for the next 5 years and accessories package worth up to RM2000.

The 2020 Proton X70 is now available for booking with the following prices:

X70 2WD Standard – RM94,800
 X70 2WD Executive – RM106,800
 X70 2WD Premium – RM119,800
 X70 2WD Premium X – RM122,800

2020 proton x70
geely
proton cars
proton x70
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volvo


Top 5 free beautify app for smartphone selfies

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Everyone wants to look good in photos; some more than others. But unlike some lucky photogenic people, some of us don’t look that great in photos and would need the help external help to look better. With the widespread use of smartphones and social media, there are now many different apps available to both Android and iOS users, which can make us look fatter, thinner, slimmer, have better skin and much more. Here are 5 different free beautify apps for your smartphone selfies that does that job pretty decently.

#1: Photo Wonder by Baidu HK |
iOS
 |
Android

This app offers many different editing tools that does not only lets you edit how you look, but allows you to create collages, add stickers, and even features different fun scenes for you to play around with. Forgot your makeup? No problem! You can add lip gloss, blusher, eyeliner and even change your eye color as if you’re wearing colored contact lens. It is fun to play around with, however, since it will take up a lot of your time, you probably might not want to be doing this if you’re rushing.

#2: CreamCam by LoftLab LCC |
iOS
 |
Android

If you’re the type who only want nice smooth skin without much hassle, then you might want to check out this beautifying app. It does nothing else other than give you smooth skin although I think it blurs everything too much. All you need to do is just adjust the slider to how much smoothing effect you want, then just save it or share it on your social media accounts.

#3: Spring by Sundaybugs |
iOS
 |
Android

This beautifying app allows you to look as slim as you want to the point of distortion, so don’t go overboard. What is really great about this app is that it allows you to make yourself look slimmer and taller without distorting the background too much. You just need to align some bars on the proper spots such as your shoulder, waist and knee according to the tutorial, and then just adjust the slider to however skinny/tall you want to be. However, the beautifying app for face doesn’t do much other than make your head smaller; yup, your head. I am not sure why would anyone do that, but I found it hilarious to move my head up and down, or smaller and bigger. I tried going for the “chibi” aka bobble-head style but I couldn’t make my head big enough.

#4: BeautyCam by Meitu |
iOS
 |
Android

Well, the beautify app must be really popular in China since this is another popular app also by a famous Chinese company. Among all the apps tested here, this is the most moderate although this app tends to make me look as white as a ghost. Maybe some people are obsessed with being super fair, but I find it a little scary. You can use this to make you look taller though, not exactly slimmer but I suppose after “pulling” the photo to make you look taller, the rest tends to follow suit. Another thing that I find interesting is the “Brighten Eye” effect. Basically it just makes whatever light that is reflected on your iris, brighter. Does it make me look “fresher”?

#5: YouCam Perfect by Cyberlink |
iOS
 |
Android

Out of all the beautify apps, I think this is an all-rounder that gives you loads of tools and options. In fact, there are so many tools that I can even give myself a double eyelid and a contoured nose (most Asians understand this problem) although I did look totally weird with double eyelid added on. Basically, for facial editing, you can do so many things that you might not look like you anymore. There is also a pretty decent “stretch” tool to make you look slimmer and taller without too much distortion. Another favorite tool in YouCam Perfect is the additional stickers, frames, scenes and magic wand tool to add cute effects. Since I have a Galaxy Note5 to play around with, I used the S Pen to scribble some love notes just for fun.

Need makeup? Then you would need to download an additional app called the YouCam Makeup, which is also available for
iOS
and
Android
 devices. However, be prepared to look really scary although it is great for laughs. Please don’t scream at this photo I made using YouCam Makeup. This is to say, if you do edit your photos, you really should not go overboard or else no one will ever recognize you in person anymore.

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Top 5 Reasons I would consider iOS over Android devices

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Our
iPhone 6
 review is out and while we are still working hard to compare with some other Android devices that we have right here, there are already Android fan boys complaining that we are biased towards the product itself. Of course, you have your choice to hate the iPhone just because of the hype that the phone is creating, and probably you are thinking why your faithful Android device can’t be as successful like the iPhone. Of course, the
iPhone 6
 still isn’t a perfect device as it still has some limitations and restrictions that you and me don’t like, there are reasons why the latest iPhone is still one of the most preferred device by users and I’m going to tell you the Top 5 reasons that I prefer iOS over Android devices, iPhone haters we advise you to either take it or leave it.

Reason No. 1: A better and more complete ecosystem than any Android devices

You can say that I’m an Apple fanboy or whatever, but I owned a number of Apple devices which includes an
iPad
, iMac, Apple TV and Airport Express. In addition, I’ve about two speaker docks at home that will work with iOS devices. With the introduction of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, my life couldn’t have been better with my Apple devices especially with Handoff and Continuity, I can make a phone call from my
iPad
 using my iPhone’s network when I’m connected to the same WiFi network at home or office, I can edit my documents on my iMac and continue working on my
iPad
 after that and I like to pop into Apple resellers all the time to check out what speakers I can have for my iOS devices.

Android devices are saturated in the market and I can’t really find a brand that has such complete ecosystem, every time I switch to different Android devices, I have to invest into a different ecosystem and they aren’t consistent at all.

Reason No. 2: iOS is still the most reliable operating system

Granted, Android has gotten better over the years and you get different skins with every different OEM. The iPhone 6’s larger 4.7-inch display was a great addition for iOS, many years people have always wanted to see iOS on a bigger smartphone display because most have already experienced that on an
iPad
. The iPhone 6 performs brilliantly in terms of everyday performance, iOS is extremely smooth and snappy despite being powered by a dual-core A8 processor and 1GB of RAM, even games like Asphalt 8 runs more beautifully than its Android version thanks to the Metal framework. Therefore, this is a great example of a well optimized operating system and hardware.

Reason No. 3: The fruit logo is the reason

Let’s talk about cars, when you are considering a 1.6 liter Japanese and German made vehicles, they typically carry different brand values as you can either get the best features or performance on either one of them. The Apple logo carries that value from pricing, user experience to after sales service, which you can rarely find on most Android phone makers, as most of them tend to have different methodology in customer sales and support, however for Apple, the experience is consistent across the globe.

Reason No. 4: No nonsense camera

We have Microsoft’s
Lumia
 PureView cameras and you can have a wide-selfie mode on some devices, but seriously why do you really need that when you simply want to take a picture that looks good? The iPhone 6’s camera takes awesome pictures during our reviews, it has even almost replaced my own camera in events as the software is convenient and fast, you don’t even need to think about setting ISOs and shutter speeds to make pictures look good. If you want extra stuffs, the App Store has a plethora of photography apps which you can use it to enhance them.

Reason No. 5: Consistent OS Updates

Unless you are using a Google Play Edition,
Motorola
 or Nexus device, you’ll only get updates to the latest Android OS as soon as Google releases it. In contrast, every supported iOS device gets its update the same day it is announced and you don’t really get it in batches like Android devices, you get the similar user experience across all devices, some features might be missing on older devices but it feels complete nevertheless. On some Andorid devices, you might get the latest Android update on your smartphone, but you probably won’t get the same software skin as the latest device from the manufacturer, there’s also no guarantee of future updates from some manufacturers as well.

There you go, the points have clearly stated why I have praised the
iPhone 6
 in my reviews back then, it isn’t a perfect device, but it has less things that I need to worry than I have on an Android device. Share with us your reasons for preferring iOS over Android. Android fans, I’m going to be fair to you so do stay tuned for my next piece on why I prefer Android over iOS.


Top 5 Reasons Not to Consider buying a Chinese Branded Android Smartphone

327

Chinese smartphones are no doubt powerful and crazily cheap compared to big named smartphones out there, they even have better build quality and market to consumers on the branded components that is being used on the phone. And again, there’s just one keyword being used by Chinese smartphone manufacturers – Cheap. We hereby nail down the top 5 reasons not to consider buying a Chinese branded
Android smartphone
.

1. Poor OS Support

It runs on the latest version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, ohhhh! Will it get its upgrade to KitKat or future OS versions? The answer is always uncertain as phone dealers tend to push Chinese branded smartphones to consumers due to higher sales margin and low cost. In fact, these cheap smartphones might not even see day light for the latest OS updates, even if it does get to see Android 4.4 KitKat this point of time, there’s no guarantee that the phones will get to have OS updates in the next two years.

2. Poor User Experience

Let’s face it, Chinese smartphones have their user experience very much ripped off from many other branded smartphone makers (*cough Apple *cough), we are not saying it’s good over here but you really get frustrated after using the ripped off experience after for sometime. In addition, some of these rip offs may not translate to practical usage for the user, which totally defeats the purpose of buying the product. An example would be buying a nice pair of shoes and you’re able to walk with it but slips on wet floor. Established branded smartphones have really come a long way in perfecting their user experience from research and they always provide a much more polished user experience than Chinese branded smartphones.

3. Questionable After Sales Service

Chinese smartphone makers are still relatively new in the market here, and when their phones are already priced that cheap, after sales service is where most of them tend to compromise – by setting up limited number of service centres and drop off points in the country, hiring staffs that do not handle their customers well. If there should be one day that a major smartphone issue occur, we really can’t imagine how well they are able to handle it.

4. Poor Sales Channel

Low price, low margin and high costs, that’s what we always hear from many Chinese smartphone makers that tends to sell limited amount of stock for very high demand smartphones. We certainly understand that due to logistics and manufacturing demand issues, stock levels are always limited on their side. Therefore, most of them tend to resort to sell their products online rather than store retailers. By resorting to this way of selling their products, Chinese smartphone manufacturers could really save a bunch of costs, but at the end of the day, it pisses off customers that wanted to buy they products so badly and the number of scalpers increases as well. Chinese smartphone manufacturers are always using innovative ways of marketing their products rather than conventional marketing, however customers really don’t mind having a better product purchasing experience by paying slightly more.

5. Uninspired Product Design

We are not trying to be racist over here, but ask yourselves, have you ever seen any Chinese branded smartphones with a unique piece of design? Of course, they may have the same amazing build quality as opposed to branded flagships, Chinese branded smartphones are sadly again – rip offs in product design. With rip offs, the product design and user experience of the phone don’t go well together, which will cause confusion and frustration, thus it is a loss for the consumers who have paid for it despite having purchased at a cheap price. Furthermore, there could be some design flaws which is being inherited from the ripped off design, and it doesn’t make sense to possess that if you already know it exist.

Be a Smart Consumer

Lastly, we simply want consumers to be smarter when choosing their smartphone, Chinese branded smartphones are really great at times and makes you wonder why you should pay more to get a branded name on your smartphone when it works really well. However, you should always be a smart consumer to consider the top 5 reasons that we’ve mentioned above to ensure you haven’t been cheated into buying a cheaply built
Android smartphone
.


Top 5 Reasons to consider the Xiaomi Mi 4i when it arrives on May 21

320

A couple of weeks back, I’ve shared my views on why
 Xiaomi’s Mi 4i isn’t truly a global phone
, the phone will be launched in Malaysia on May 21 which we shall expect Xiaomi to offer some similar sales strategy similar to its previous product releases. The Mi 4i isn’t perfect, of course, but it isn’t totally bad and it is still one decent smartphone to own if you aren’t complaining too much, the Mi 4i is set to retail at RM769.

Full HD Display
 and Great Cameras

At this price range, it is difficult to resist on the Mi 4i’s Full HD (1920×1080) display and a great camera setup – 13-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front. No doubt I’m still maintaining my say about Xiaomi’s decision to downgrade the camera from the original Mi 4, the Mi 4i’s cameras have the best in class sensors, coupled with Xiaomi’s superb MIUI camera algorithm that delivers great picture quality, this could be your best travelling point and shoot if you don’t want to lug around a heavy camera. What really excites me personally is the company’s Sunlight Display feature and we shall find out if the Mi 4i’s display is truly readable under direct sunlight.

3,120mAh battery, really huge battery.

Xiaomi hasn’t been stingy at all in offering huge battery capacities on their phones and the Mi 4i should be able to offer great battery life out of it’s 3,120mAh juice, the phone has a 2nd generation Snapdragon 615 Octa-Core CPU that has 4 performance cores and 4 efficient cores on it, coupled with MIUI’s power saving feature we could expect the device to offer a great one full day of heavy usage or probably more if you are a power conservative user.

Fastest and Widest Connectivity Standards

This is probably Xiaomi has called the Mi 4i a global phone (a world phone sounds better though), because the phone supports a wide range of FDD-LTE and TD-LTE bands, which will mean if you travel to places like China or the US, you will be able to enjoy LTE connectivity on their networks. In addition, the Mi 4i comes packed with WiFi 802.11ac dual band, Bluetooth 4.1 and
Dual SIM4G
 LTE standby, there’s no other smartphones that can offer such connectivity features below RM800.

Android Lollipop

I really have to commend Xiaomi on this as they have truly gone all way out as the first Chinese phone maker to deliver Google’s latest operating system on their new smartphone. The Mi 4i will apparently still come with MIUI v6 running on top of Android 5.0 Lollipop, the operating system will allow the Mi 4i to take advantage of its 64-bit processor for improved performance and introduces significant power saving features. Again, no other Chinese phone makers and most big names out there are still not able to deliver Android Lollipop to their mid-range devices.

Great Aesthetics

The
Xiaomi Mi 4
was an incredible smartphone with superb aesthetics and slim screen bezels, the Mi 4i continues to deliver that great design from the company, although it no longer comes with that steel frame that CEO Lei Jun once emphasized back then, the phone still features a futuristic and attractive unibody design that most mid-range phones do not offer. With that slim screen bezel and that dense screen to body ratio, the Mi 4i’s 5-inch display could mean easy one handed operation for huge hands.

Things to look out…

Hard to resist all the goodies the Mi 4i has to offer? We look forward to it as well and can’t wait to receive our review unit from Xiaomi. The Mi 4i however, has things that users should be looking out – 16GB of non-expandable memory and only 2GB of RAM, which either one of them could be a problem in the long term as you won’t get to install a lot of apps and most importantly, MIUI v6 takes up a huge chunk of RAM in our past experience, let’s hope Android Lollipop resolves this and we shall be updating you soon.


Top 5 Snapdragon 615 powered smartphones with our quick verdict

345

We have reached eight months of Year 2015 and we know how the smartphone trend is going on and the silicon technology gets more advanced efficient. One of the more popular smartphone System-on-Chip (SoC) in the market, is none other than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 615 64-bit Octa-Core processor, and we have seen this chip being featured on too many smartphones. There’s actually a lot to love about this particular Qualcomm SoC, its power efficiency, decent smartphone performance and finally, it doesn’t heat up terribly even on super thin smartphones, so if you don’t need to have a powerful Exynos 7 or Snapdragon 800 series processor on your phone, here is our verdict on these Snapdragon 615 powered smartphones.

Oppo R7 and R7 Plus (RM1599-RM1799)

Oppo has been an active user of the MSM8939 chipset, the company’s latest R7 and R7 Plus smartphones continue to use Qualcomm’s trusty chip which was once used on the super slim 4.85mm Oppo R5 and our recently reviewed R1x smartphone. In particular, the Oppo R7 Plus is the highest specced Snapdragon 615 smartphone that we have ever seen as it comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in flash storage while supporting Micro SD expansion, the phone has a great 13-megapixel f/2.0
Sony
manufactured main camera and a 8-megapixel front camera, the best part of this device is its huge 4100mAh battery that could probably last you up to two days if you aren’t the heavy type of user. The Oppo R7 and R7 Plus comes preloaded with ColorOS 2.1.1 based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box.

Our take:
 The Oppo R7 and R7 Plus may be a costly phone to afford, but you can’t deny this is a really beautiful smartphone that comes with a killer smartphone camera and something that power users are quenching for – battery life and storage.

Xiaomi Mi 4i (RM749)

The Mi 4i is the most affordable Snapdragon 615 device in this list, retailing at a mere RM749, this phone has a lot of perks when compared to its competition, which includes a beautiful 5-inch Full HD display with Sunlight Display technology that produces great visibility under sunlight, dual SIM 4G standby, a 13-megapixel f/2.0 camera and 5-megapixel f/1.8 front camera, and a 3000mAh battery under the hood. Moreover, the Mi 4i comes with an exclusively made second generation Snapdragon 615 processor, both its big.LITTLE cores are using high performance Cortex-A53 cores albeit clocked at 1.7GHz and 1.0GHz respectively.

Our take:
The Mi 4i has the perfect form factor and build quality that most smartphone users will be looking forward to, however Xiaomi’s MIUI software reliability remains questionable and its mere 16GB storage may not be able to fulfill the storage demanding users.

Samsung Galaxy
 A7 (RM1499-RM1599)

Samsung
 has been rather silent with the A7 in its local launch, while the phone was still being shown on the ground, it is also one of the most earliest Snapdragon 615 powered smartphones this year and drew a lot of attention then. Based on our last impressions, the Galaxy A7 maintains the very same old beautiful metal design language found on the
Galaxy Note 4
, its 5.5-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display is simply top notch with an extremely slim bezel, making it one hand usability really comfortable despite not being able to reach most parts of the screen estate, if you love Samsung’s camera software features you may want to take note that it comes with a 13-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front wide angle cameras, the phone comes with a rather reasonable 2600mAh battery that should last for one full working day.

Our take:
 Samsung’s
Galaxy A7
 is a beautiful and fully featured smartphone, however its current asking price tag at RM1499 makes the phone really expensive while its features have pretty much been shadowed by competition as the months passed, but still, Samsung is a manufacturer that has been really consistent on software updates so you might want to consider them as well.

HTC Desire 826 (RM1100-RM1200)

The Desire 826 is a mid-range device worth mentioning as one of our favorite Snapdragon 615 device. First, the phone has a pretty unique design language which was first featured on the
Desire EYE
, users are encouraged to check out the phone’s camera software which offers the EYE experience, in which you are able to do some great customizations and gimmicks to your pictures. The phone comes with a 13-megapixel main camera and Ultrapixel front camera that takes brilliant selfies under low light, this is also the only Snapdragon 615 powered device in this list to offer front facing BoomSound stereo speakers, which is perfect for music lovers.

Our take:
HTC’s Desire 826 is one of the well balanced smartphones of all its competition, its price tag of RM1200 isn’t too much to ask for given the phone’s reliable HTC Sense software experience and great camera features, however its plasticky build quality might set you thinking on whether it is worth paying for that price tag.

vivo x5max (RM1699-RM1799)

vivo smartphones have always been under rated as a Chinese smartphone, the x5Max that we have reviewed back then was a pretty decent device, we don’t like its iOS rip off software experience, however we never had any reliability issues with the phone, its 13-megapixel f/2.0 main camera is a solid performer in low light and its Hi-Fi sound chip is what makes the phone really stands out in the competition, and before we forget to mention, the phone is also very slim at 5.5mm yet it still features dual SIM 4G standby and Micro SD storage expansion on top of its 16GB built-in storage.

Our take:
The x5max is a generous slim smartphone that is almost flawless in terms of hardware offering, however its software experience can get really annoying in the long term if you are looking to have a pure Android phone experience. In addition, its RM1799 price tag isn’t what we love.


Top 5 VR games to play with friends on the PICO 4

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The PICO 4 is one of the best VR headsets that you can buy in Malaysia, and with the upcoming festive holidays, you might be thinking of getting one to either entertain yourselves or friends visiting your home, not to mention that the PICO Store has received a significant update with more games than before and has a lot of great deals going on, which is why we have listed our Top 5 VR games that you can play with friends on the PICO 4.

Watch the video

All-in-One Summer Sports VR

Don’t want to feel the heat but want to do water sports and more? All-in-One Summer Sports VR will get you moving and sweating even if you are playing the game in an air-conditioned room, spin hard with your hands when cycling up the hill, brave the waters on the jet-skiing game with your movements, show off your reflexes with the fishing game, there’s just so much to do in one game that can get you immersed for an hour, not to mention that you can challenge your friends with its Multiplayer feature.

Fruit Ninja 2 VR

If you have been slashing fruits to kill time on your smartphone, it’s time to take it to the next level on the PICO 4, as Fruit Ninja 2 VR offers you a whole new experience of slashing fruits and more in an open world game play, you get to explore new places, complete missions and even upgrade your weapons to become the ultimate fruit slashing ninja.

Best of all, Fruit Ninja 2 VR lets you challenge with players globally and you can even slash fruits together with your friends to find out who’s the better fruit slasher.

Clash of Chefs

Worried of making a mess in your kitchen but love making food? Try Clash of Chefs, a competitive cooking game that’s going to put your reflexes to the test as you race with time to make food for your diners, the game can be played in 80 single player levels, where food combinations will get more complex along with more impatient diners, or if you are up for the challenge, simply play with real opponents in real time and you get to show who’s the real chef in a virtual kitchen.

Wands Alliances

Bored of guns and knives in competitive shooting games? Wands Alliances gets you into a wizarding war in the streets of Victorian London, where you will use your wand and cast spells to destroy opponents together with your team-mates, or achieve a team objective together to win the game, what a way to experience the magical world.

ChessVR

Fancy a game of chess? ChessVR will let you experience Chess in different room environments, where you get to rack up your brains on you next move with over 7 million global players, you can also opt to challenge your friends with the multiplayer mode.

Get the PICO 4 in Malaysia

PICO Store Sunway Pyramid

The PICO 4 VR headset can be purchased from our e-store
Good Deals by KLGG
 from RM1,699, or you can visit the PICO Flagship Concept Store located at Sunway Pyramid to experience the VR headset.

pico
pico 4


Top of the line Zenfone 3 Deluxe will run on Snapdragon 821

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Barely 24 hours after Qualcomm announced that the Snapdragon 821 is a thing, we now know which device will have the honour of being the first one to utilise Qualcomm’s latest chip. The answer? ASUS’s Zenfone 3 Deluxe.

At the Zenfone 3’s Taiwan and Hong Kong launch event, it is confirmed that the top end model of the Zenfone 3 Deluxe will come with the Snapdragon 821. Besides the new chip, this particular Zenfone 3 Deluxe model will also sport 6GB of DDR4 RAM, 256GB of UFS 2.0 internal storage, an Adreno 530 GPU, dual-SIM support, Cat 13 LTE radio and Quick Charge 3.0. This particular model has a retail price of TWD 24,990 (RM 3,088).

The Zenfone 3 Deluxe will also feature two other configurations, but both of them will continue to utilise the Snapdragon 820. The 4GB RAM – 32GB Storage configuration will has an asking price of TWD 15,990 (RM 1,975) while the 6GB RAM – 64GB Storage configuration goes for TWD 17,990 (RM 2,222). All three phones in the Zenfone 3 Deluxe series are Google Daydream-ready.

Source:
Engadget

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Top reasons to get the Roidmi EVE Plus robot vacuum this Black Friday

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Saving up to get a new robot vacuum this Black Friday? Look no further, the Roidmi Eve Plus is the ultimate robot vacuum that you will want to own and best of all, it is going off at an even greater deal this Black Friday, and here are the top reasons that will make you want one.

Small on size, big on cleaning

Have a small studio or big living room? The Roidmi EVE Plus will fit into any corner of your room with a compact dimension of 355x355x98mm with the dust collector station measuring 358x300x174mm, the dust collector station charges and automatically empties the robot vacuum’s bin and sterilizes harmful bacteria, the dust bag stores up to 3L of dust.

The Roidmi EVE Plus reaches every corner of your house while avoiding obstacles intelligently all thanks to a next generation LDS super sensing radar sensor, it also crosses thresholds such as cables on the floor of up to 2cm, which you no longer need to think about clearing up the floor and worrying that it will get stuck without supervision.

With a high-performance digital motor and 2700Pa of suction power, the Roidmi EVE Plus operates at minimal noise levels to keep the floor spotless while being able to suck in large pieces of food crumbles without issues, it also mops the floor with a 250ml water tank so you are assured of a dust-free and clean floor every time you set it to work.

Smart cleaning management at your hands

The Roidmi EVE Plus is ready to clean every area and room of your home, all thanks to a smart mapping feature that allows it to intelligently recognize the room or floor the moment you set it on the floor.

Furthermore, users are able to set cleaning patterns, suction power, and mopping water levels from their smartphones wherever they are with an internet connection, the EVE Plus also integrates with Amazon Alexa so you only need your voice to have it start cleaning.

Large 5200mAh battery and auto-resume cleaning

With a 5200mAh battery, theRoidmi EVE Plus cleans your home for as long as 250 minutes and can finish cleaning
250㎡
 spaces on a single charge.

Don’t worry if you have a living space that’s larger than that because the Roidmi EVE Plus automatically returns to the charging station if it runs low on battery and resumes cleaning automatically once it has sufficient battery power, no house is too big for the Roidmi EVE Plus.

RM400 off the Roidmi EVE Plus on Black Friday

For a limited time on November 26
th
, customers interested in the Roidmi EVE Plus can save up to RM400 when they make their purchase on that day, so make sure you take this opportunity to get this feature-rich robot vacuum for your home.

Click
here
 to purchase the Roidmi EVE Plus.

Read our review of the Roidmi EVE Plus
here
.

This article is sponsored by Roidmi

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Torchlight developers unveils new game for PC and consoles

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 As a fan of both Torchlight games by developer Runic Games, I am actually quite excited to learn that they will be launching a new game called Hob for both PC and consoles. Hob is a game that does not have any text or dialogue, making it quite unique in a sense, and possibly eerily quiet.

The setting of Hob will be in a world that is beautiful and dangerous, with buzzing life above and machinery below. As a player, you are to join other players in discovering this world, and use your skills to transform the nature of the world itself. The gameplay we are expecting involved multi-layered puzzles with controller gameplay and stunning visuals.

So far, looking at the visuals and concept art released by Runic Games, we can see that the art style is cell-shaded with cute yet quirky characters and life forms. There is really nothing much said yet about the actual mechanics of the game, so for now we can only speculate.

Here is the teaser video launched on the Hob website at
hobgame.com
. Hopefully we can see gameplay videos soon so we can actually gauge what exactly is Hob all about. Runic Games will be launching its game during PAX Prime, which runs from August 28-31, so until then, enjoy whatever they have released for now.

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μTorrent to offer Ad-Free version of its client, costs USD 4.95 per year

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It seems that μTorrent is now giving its users the option to use its client without being bombarded by ads. How? Well, you’re going to have to pay for it.

If you want to stop seeing ads while you are busy downloading software or media of dubious legality, you can now upgrade your current copy of μTorrent to an Ad-Free version. This version of μTorrent costs USD 4.95 per year.

Payment for this “upgrade” can be done via credit card or Paypal. Upon confirmation of payment, you can then download the Ad-Free client via a “Bundle Installer” link, or you could just download the file and update your existing client from there.

Seeing as pirates are known for their aversion to paying for software, it remains to be seen if μTorrent’s Ad-Free would gain any sort of traction among its user base. If users have no intention of paying for a torrent client, and they have no love for ads either, they could always just move to another torrent client altogether.

Source :
μTorrent

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Toshiba announces M550L Quantom Dot 4K TV, up to 65-inches from RM2,599

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Toshiba Malaysia has announced the availability of thew new M550L Quantum Dot 4K TV, which promises a premium entertainment experience without breaking the bank, the M550L is powered by Google TV and offers features such as Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, making it one of the few TVs to offer such features in the same price range.

The M550L combines the precise color mapping and various color corrections kills of the REGZA Engine 4K Pro with Quantum Dot Technology to offer lifelike vivid colors, it has full array local dimming and ultimate motion technology to deliver accurate contrast and smooth motion in movies respectively, it also supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR standards.

In terms of sound, the M550L also has one of the most powerful speaker system in its class, though Toshiba didn’t specify the number of satellite speakers the TV has, it has a Power Bass Woofer and combined with its REGZA Power Audio Pro technology, it could deliver up to 49W, which is double the power of most TVs of the same price range.

The Toshiba M550L Quantum Dot 4K TV is currently available for purchase in Malaysia, it is priced at RM2,599 for the 50-inch model, RM3,199 for the 55-inch model, and RM4,399 for the 65-inch model, visit
here
 to learn more.

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Toshiba Encore Mini takes on cheap Android tablets with its $119 price tag

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Still complaining devices that run full blown Windows expensive? Then take a look at the Toshiba Encore Mini, a 7-inch
tablet
 that comes with pretty humble specifications. Yes, it runs full blown Windows 8.1, and you get a 7-inch 1024×600 touch display, Intel Atom Z3735G processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB built-in storage with MicroSDXC expansion up to 128GB and 2MP/0.3MP cameras, all of these things comes in a super affordable $119 price tag.

As you can see the form factor isn’t the most sexiest out there and this is apparently targeted at entry-level Android devices, the familiar capacitive touch Windows logo is also missing here so you’ll need to use the charms menu in Windows to get to the Start screen. If you think that’s all with the
tablet
, Toshiba is throwing in one year of free 1TB OneDrive cloud storage and
Office 365
subscription, that could temporary solve your storage woes, we think.

Source:
Engadget


Toshiba, Fujitsu and Vaio may be merging their PC divisions

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It seems that 3 of Japan’s biggest PC manufacturers may be in the process of consolidating their PC divisions thanks to slowing sales of PCs in their home market.

Toshiba, Fujitsu and Vaio are considering integrating their personal computer operations and are expected to hatch a basic agreement as early as this month. Should the companies agree to the terms, this combined company is expected to launch by April 2016.

Should this merger of sorts be successful, it would create a top player controlling just over 30% of the Japanese market. In comparison, the currently top-ranked computer manufacturer in Japan is NEC Lenovo Japan Group, which holds a 26.3% share of the market.

While this move is still being discussed by the companies, it is expected that the Vaio, which was spun off by Sony in 2014, would likely be the surviving company.Toshiba and Fujitsu would most likely be making investments to the company as well as transferring their operations to the combined entity. Staff from all three companies are expected to be carried over to the new combined entity. The leading plan of this merger is to thoroughly integrate domestic and overseas operations, from research and development to production and sales.

Source :
Nikkei Asian Review

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Toshiba introduces two new notebooks to their Ultra Mobile range

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Toshiba has announced the Portege X30 and Tecra X40 to the market which brings elegantly engineered laptops that proved premium, powerful and secure experiences for professionals, complete with a sleek and light-weight design. The notebooks come after the recently launched hybrid 2-in-1 Portege X20W and come with Windows 10 Pro coupled with a magnesium chassis and hybrid cooling technology, powered by Intel’s 7th gen processors.

Tecra X40

Both notebooks have built-in shock absorption and a unique honeycomb reinforcement of higher durability and come with Anti-Glare screens, optional In-Cell Touch Technology, giving more ways to interact with the screen. It also comes with a backlit keyboard and keycaps that have been enlarged slightly for a more comfortable use. Toshiba also understands the importance of security and have added both biometric and optional facial authentication technologies with a fingerprint sensor built directly into the touchpad. To add on, Toshiba has added in their own BIOS which can remove the risk of third party interference that could leave the device vulnerable to attacks.

Portege X30

With fast PCIe SSD and DDR4 memory, it supports broadband speed up to 33 percent quicker than its DDR3 predecessor and both notebooks will offer a premium audio experience thanks to Karman Kardon stereo speakers and DTS Sound software. To ensure that work can be done anywhere, both come with advanced connectivity capabilities that include compatibility with a range of dongles for different uses and it is also designed to be used with a Thunderbolt 3 Dock that can provide power, data transfers and host a range of display ports as well as modern ports to give more flexibility. This includes two USB-C ports, full-size USB3.0 port, HDMI port and a microSD slot.

Portege X30 Side

Both the Portege X30 and Tecra X40 will come with standard 3-year International Limited Warranty and will be available across Asia from July 2017. For more inquiries, visit your local enterprise consultants or email
[email protected]
. For more information on these notebooks and other Toshiba products, visit their official website
here
.


Toshiba to cut 6,800 jobs due to accounting scandal

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In July of this year, Japanese electronics maker Toshiba was
hit with an accounting scandal
 where the company was found guilty of “overstating profits” for the past six years. This has resulted in
then president Hisao Tanaka and his two predecessors
 resigning from the company. The story doesn’t end there as now, the troubled Japanese company has said that it will report a record USD 4.5 billion annual loss and cut 6,800 jobs in its workforce as part of the restructuring effort.

The restructuring process will see Toshiba sell off its TV and washing machine manufacturing plant in Indonesia to a Hong Kong-based TV maker called Skyworth for a reported 3bn yen. The 6,800 job cuts will affect the company’s Lifestyle division, essentially its consumer electronics businesss. Alongside the job cuts, a number of jobs would also be lost by offering early retirement to those employed in Japan. Toshiba has said that these cuts would be made by March 2016.

Of course, this isn’t the full scale of Toshiba’s troubles as the company has yet to take into account the impact of the 2011 tsunami which struck the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which is operated by them and is currently undergoing decommissioning with Hitachi and other companies.

Source :
BBC

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Toshiba TV makes a comeback with the new C350 & V35 series

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It’s been years, but
Toshiba
 has returned to the market with 7 new TV models from its C350 series and V35 series.

These models are all equipped with REGZE Engine, an advanced technology that offers immersive viewing experience. The C350 series uses REGZE Engine 4K while the V35 series uses REGZA Engine High Grade.

The largest TV in the Toshiba C350 series is the 75-inch model

The C350 series consists of 5 models from 43 inches to 75 inches. These TVs are equipped with LCD panels that pushes Ultra HD 4K resolution and includes HDR support. In addition to that, all these models have built-in Colour Re-master technology which enhances the colours for a more natural yet vibrant experience.

Apart from that, Toshiba also added DTS Virtual X and Dolby Audio for better audio quality. You can even control the TV using your voice — just use the mic button on your remote control whenever you want to speak.

Toshiba V35 series is the way to go if you’re looking for Smart TVs below RM2,000

There are also two new models from the V35 series. The 32-inch model pushes HD resolution while the 43-inch model pushes 1080p resolution and is equipped with DTS Studio Sound technology.

Nevertheless, both are
 Android TVs
 and has a built-in Chromecast for easy screen sharing between different devices.

The C350 series starts at RM1,899 whereas the V35 series starts at RM1,199.

toshiba


Toshiba Z770 and M550 4K Android TVs launched: Priced from RM2,999

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Toshiba has just launched their newest lineup of 4K Android TVs in the form of the Z770 and M550; this comes on the back of the brand’s reemergence in the local scene with the introduction of the
C350 and V35
 a month ago.

The Z770 is the brand’s flagship product and it comes in a large 65-inch panel size, while the M550 sites in price range below and comes in three variants – 50-, 55-, and 65-inches.

The former combines features such as the REGZA Engine 4K PRO software, Quantum Dot Color, AI Essential PQ, and AI Picture Optimizer to offer you the best picture quality possible.

Illuminating the panel is Full Array Dimming backlighting that allows for impressive contrast and dynamic range output. For gaming, there’s also support for up to 120Hz refresh rate, making it a great option for your PlayStation 5. There’s also support for AMD FreeSync Premium to reduce screen-tearing.

In terms of audio, you get a 30W Quad Passive REGZA bass woofer, along with two 25W@ Clear Direct Two-way Speakers. These speakers are front firing, which makes the auditory experience more immersive.

Moving on, the M550 is no slouch either – it comes with the REGZA Engine 4K along with Toshiba’s Ultra Essential PQ technology that gives users what brand claims as “theatre-level” experience even at home.

For audio, you get Dolby Vision-Atmos that works alongside the REGZA Power Audio Pro software to enhance the TV’s 25W Power Bass Woofer, and dual speakers.

Both models come with Android out of the box, which means you get access to the Google Play Store and Google Voice Assistant as well.

The Toshiba Z770 is priced at RM6,999; while the M550 is priced from RM2,999, RM3,999 for the 55-inch model, and RM4,999 for the 65-inch variant.

There’s no word on when they will be available to purchase just yet, but you can follow their Facebook page
here

for more updates.


Touch ‘n Go and Shell begin RFID refuelling pilot – participants get RM20 cashback

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Touch ‘n Go eWallet and Shell have collaborated to bring the country’s first RFID refueling project, which will see selected users participate in a month-long pilot program to test out the new feature.

These users can try out the feature by first downloading an update for their TnG eWallet app, which will allow them to pay for their petrol using their RFID tags at these selected Shell stations:

Bandar Sri Menjalara

Mint Hotel

NKVE Damansara

Taman Connaught

Taman Tun Dr Ismail

To perform RFID refuelling, the user must first choose the bay number on the app, and key in the amount of petrol they need. Them the user must drive to the selected bay and wait for an LED sign to turn green.

Not all bays at these selected stations are RFID-activated, and therefore won’t have these LED signs.

The best part is, users participating in the pilot program will get up to RM20 cashback after performing two transactions of at least RM10 each.

The idea here is to allow users to perform all transactions first before needing to step out of the vehicle to fill their tanks – a feature similar to Petronas’
Setel
; the advantage RFID has over Setel is that the technology can be implemented in other petrol stations too in due time, while Setel will likely remain a feature that’s exclusive to Petronas.

The pilot program starts tomorrow and will end this August 12 – you can visit Shell’s website
here
 to register or to lean more.

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Touch ‘n Go eWallet launches Money-back Guarantee Policy to secure digital transactions

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Touch ‘n Go eWallet has announced a new policy called the Money-back Guarantee Policy that promises security and convenience to their eWallet app.

It’s undeniable that while there are many e-wallet users out there, there are also many who are still skeptical of e-wallet and digital lifestyle. In a study done by Nielsen Malaysia, 38% Malaysians are afraid of missing transactions while another 30% are afraid of their e-wallets being used for purchases if their phones get stolen.

However, the Money-back Guarantee Policy is a solution to these concerns. With this policy, Touch ‘n Go eWallet users can make a report if they’ve detected any unauthorised transactions and request for compensations via the eWallet app or through its
website
.

This policy will only be activated for users who have verified their eWallet accounts through the account Verification process. Once activated, there will be a protection shield icon visible on users edit profile button and users will be able to report unauthorised transactions via the Money-back guarantee feature. Users will then have to fill in a form, provide evidence — receipts and documentation, and eWallet will then investigate said report. Users also don’t have to worry about delayed compensations as the reimbursements will be completed within five working days.

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Use your Touch ‘n Go eWallet at any 7-Eleven outlet in Malaysia to get up to RM7 cashback

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Both Touch ’n Go eWallet and 7-Eleven share one similarity — convenience. The two companies announced their collaboration today, enabling the usage of Touch ’n Go eWallet at every 7-Eleven outlet in Malaysia.

To continue promoting a cashless society, Touch ’n Go eWallet can now be used to purchase any products in 7-Eleven, and users can also purchase reload pins for their eWallet at the 7-Eleven outlets. Users just need to let the cashier scan their codes to complete the payment.

If you still haven’t register for Touch ’n Go eWallet, you can enjoy RM8 cash back with the reload PIN:
TNGJG7N1
. Furthermore, Touch ’n Go eWallet and 7-Eleven are also offering two deals for existing and new users.

From November 1 to November 7, Touch ’n Go eWallet users will get a one-time RM7 cashback when they spend RM11 and above in a single receipt. From November 8 to the end of this year, users who spend at least RM20 in a single receipt will get RM4 cashback, but each user will only get two times cashback throughout out the whole campaign period.

Just two days back, Touch ’n Go has also announced a partnership with Lazada to allow users to use the eWallet to make payment for their Lazada shopping.

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Touch n’ Go eWallet collaborates with Tealive to bring exclusive discounts and promotions

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Tealive and Touch ’n Go eWallet has just announced a partnership that will greatly benefit both bubble tea lovers and also Touch ’n Go eWallet users, including a Raya Campaign that will let users enjoy their Tealive drinks at a lower price.

With the year-long partnership, Touch n ’n Go eWallet users will be able to get discounts and promotions when they purchase selected Tealive drinks. CEO of Tealive Brian Loo also hoped that with eWallet, Tealive lovers can purchase their drinks in a more convenient and faster way, as he noticed many individuals in China has already started to incorporate cashless payment methods in their lifestyles.

That aside, both parties has decided to launch a Raya Campaign that starts from May 5 to June 15 in which users will be able to purchase their Tealive drinks at RM2.50 each. Of course, it is only applicable when users are paying with their eWallets.

In addition, to celebrate the partnership, Touch ’n Go eWallet users will be able to purchase Tealive drinks for RM1 at the Tealive truck located outside Parklife Restaurant in Bangsar South. The promotion is only for the first 500 customers starting from 12:30pm today.

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Touch ‘n Go eWallet introduces new Premium tier account upgrade: Allows for up to RM20,000 wallet size

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Touch ‘n Go eWallet has today introduced a Premium account tier for verified users of their digital wallet and payment app.

The benefits for moving up a class include a new eWallet size of RM20,000 and an annual transaction limit of RM300,000; this is way more than the than Lite users get, which are a RM200 wallet size and an annual transaction limit of RM59,999.

To upgrade your account, you can either make an investment in
GO+
 or purchase a Carinsure product via the app itself.

This is a great addition for anyone who’s looking to make the TnG eWallet app your go-to payment, investment, and digital wallet platform. Visit their website
here

to learn more about the new Premium tier.

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Touch ‘n Go eWallet partners with Visa to offer debit card tied to the digital wallet

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Touch ‘n Go (TnG) eWallet has announced a partnership with Visa to develop a prepaid card solution that’s tied to the digital wallet.

Both parties aim to leverage on the wide adoption of contactless card and digital wallet payment methods in Malaysia, and the Touch ‘n Go Visa prepaid card allows users to do both.

The TnG Visa card allows users to purchase from Visa’s 70-million wide merchant base across the globe, on top of TnG’s existing QR merchants.

Alternatively, the product also offers users a cash-out option at any Visa-enabled ATM.

The TnG Visa Prepaid card is expected to be available to the masses sometime in 2022, but no clear date has been disclosed yet. You can visit Touch ‘n Go eWallet’s Facebook page
here

for more updates.

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Touch ‘n Go introduces QR code payment for taxi rides

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Touch ‘n Go have just announced a new partnership with taxi service EzCab and Public Cab which enables passengers to pay for rides via QR codes through the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app.

In the past, taxi drivers have problems with not having enough money changes for their customers but by introducing the new cashless payment method, taxi drivers don’t need to worry about this problem anymore and it is also much more convenient for both parties. It is reported that a total of 4,000 taxis have already been registered and equipped with the QR payment method and they are expecting to increase this number to 10,000 taxis by the end of this year.

To make a payment, enter the Touch ‘n Go app and use the Scan feature to scan the QR code of the taxi, enter the total fare including the toll fee, followed by your secret 6 digit pin number to complete the transaction. There will be a notification for each transaction, and both driver and passenger can track their payment history from the app.

“Making registered taxis in Malaysia QR enabled will modernise taxi drivers and allow them to offer a convenient and safe payment option for commuters. I urge taxi drivers nationwide to adopt this cashless payment channel moving forward,” said Transport Minister, Anthony Loke.

TNG Digital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Syahrunizam Samsudin hopes Touch ‘n Go could reach their ultimate goal which is to convert all 67,000 registered taxis nationwide to accept QR payments by end of 2019.

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Touch ‘n Go introduces VISA prepaid card

8.6K

Touch ‘n Go has officially unveiled its VISA prepaid card, which features a unique artwork from Damien Wong, a talented artist from United Voice who was diagnosed with autism at a young age, the proceeds of the company’s purchase go directly to Damien, though the amount wasn’t shared to the media.

The Touch ‘n Go VISA prepaid card is the first numberless card in Malaysia, though it will still have an expiry date on it, this is one of the security measures implemented by the company which prevents misuse if the card is accidentally dropped, the card can be used at merchants without DuitNow QR and Touch ‘n Go eWallet, while money can be withdrawn at any ATM machines with the VISA logo and payments can be made at 80 million VISA merchants worldwide.

Users will have full control of the card via the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app, such as changing the PIN, blocking the card and setting payment limits, it can also be reloaded through the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app with online banking, credit and debit cards, customers can view the card number on the Touch ‘n Go app and use it for online purchases.

Unfortunately, this prepaid card doesn’t replace your existing Touch ‘n Go card for public transport and toll payments, as it is a totally separate payment card that’s used for retail purchases, Touch ‘n Go officials explained that due to technical limitations of creating the card, there is no way to integrate both the Touch ‘n Go and VISA NFC chip into one card, which the latter is being used for paywave and there will be a conflict if two different contact chips are being used.

Customers interested in applying the Touch ‘n Go VISA prepaid card can do so over the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app, which you will need to pay a RM5 delivery fee, you will also be charged RM8 annually for the usage of the card, while domestic ATM withdrawal costs RM1.40 and cross-border ATM withdrawal costs Rm15.


Touch ‘n Go is opening up pilot testing for RFID toll payments to everyone

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Touch ‘n Go have open up pilot testing for their new RFID method of paying tolls around Klang Valley. The new system is in collaboration with the Touch ‘n Go app which you will need to have as your RFID tag will be connected to the app.

To register as a tester, head over to their Registration Page and fill in a simple form, the company will contact you for further details. It is recommended, if you are a frequent toll user, to signup for this as the FAQ has stated that they will be stopping the sale of SmartTags effective immediately. The FAQ also states that they will be starting the pilot testing on 3rd September 2018 and it will be free 15 minutes install as long as you have signup to be a tester. This toll payment system is not new, as countries like Taiwan and South Korea for a while now as well as countries in Europe and America continent. Currently, RFID toll lanes have been set up on major highways like:

1. Kuala Lumpur – Karak Expressway (KLK)
 2. Damansara – Puchong Expressway (LDP)
 3. Kemuning – Shah Alam Highway (LKSA)
 4. Cheras – Kajang Highway (GRANDSAGA)
 5. Lebuhraya Grand Sepadu (GRANDSEPADU)
 6. Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS)
 7. Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK)
 8. Maju Expressway (MEX)
 9. Duta – Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE)
 10. Stormwater Management And Road Tunnel (SMART)
 11. New Pantai Expressway (NPE)
 12. Besraya Expressway (BESRAYA)
 13. Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (SPRINT)
 14. Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR)
 15. Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH)
 16. Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE)

If you are planning to be a pilot tester, it is recommended that you read the
FAQ
 to get a better understanding of the technology as well as the process of getting an RFID tag installed in your car.

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Touch ‘n Go launches GO+: A low-risk investment product for eWallet users

3K

Touch ‘n Go has launched their GO+ money market investment product which lets Touch ‘n Go
eWallet
 users invest their existing digital cash and obtain returns.

TnG claims that the investment is low-risk, and all you need to get started is a low initial deposit of RM10. You can fund your GO+ account by either transferring your TnG eWallet cash over, or use online bank transfers.

Once funded, you’ll start investing in capital market products, including money market unit trust funds. TnG claims that you’ll see daily returns credited to your account.

Besides that, you can also choose to cash out on your GO+ account and have your money transferred to a bank of your choice; alternatively, you can top-up your TnG
eWallet
 account using your GO+ funds should you run while paying for goods.

The TnG
eWallet
 is the first
eWallet
 provider to operate as a
Recognised
 Market Operator (RMO) approved by the Securities Commission (SC).

GO+ is anchored on Principal e-Cash Fund, a money market fund managed by Malaysian-based Principal Asset Management
Berhad
. Visit Touch ‘n Go’s website
here
 to learn more about GO+.

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Touch N Go launches new customer experience centre in Bangsar South

1.6K

As the leader in electronic payment systems in Malaysia, Touch ‘n Go has opened up a new “Customer Experience Centre” (CEC) in Bangsar South today, where customers can visit to experience the convenience and future of cashless transactions, and a service centre for Touch ‘n Go products. The launch event today is also joined by partners Grab and Lazada, where both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Touch ‘n Go in promoting cashless payments.

Grab, Malaysia’s ride hailing service, will promote urban mobility and public transportation by offering promo codes and end to end travel convenience to transit users, Touch N Go will offer Grab rides up to RM10 per ride for customers getting their services at the Bangsar South service center. On the other hand, collaboration with Lazada will embark Touch N Go’s first online marketplace in providing another distribution channel for customers to purchase Touch ‘n Go products. Both services will be made available on 2nd May 2017.

Furthermore, the Touch ‘n Go CEC has also introduced Immediate Refund (IR) services on penalty cases and termination of Touch ‘n Go card for any amount below RM100, the CEC will also have vending machines and a cafe that accepts payment using Touch ‘n Go card, and CIMB Bank customers can also perform cash withdrawals and deposit with the provided ATM machines. The operation hours for the Touch ‘n Go Bangsar South CEC will be 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, 8am to 1pm on Saturday, while it is closed on Sunday and public holidays.

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Touch ‘n Go officially launches RFID for highways; support for fuelling, parking and drive-thru coming soon

451

Touch ‘n Go officially launched RFID technology after a successful 18-month pilot program that involved 22 highways.

Using TNG RFID Tag, it’ll accelerate the government’s goal to enhance the highway experience via multi-lane free flow. Basically, the tag is attached to your windscreen/headlamp and scanned with an overhead scanner when you drive pass tolls. As the tag is linked to your Touch ‘n Go eWallet account, there’s no need for you to worry about reloading at physical locations; just make sure your TNG account has funds and the auto-reload feature is activated.

To celebrate the launch, TNG will also be offering a promotion that lets 40 winners walk away with RM2,500 Touch ‘n Go eWallet credit. Five winners will be selected weekly from February 15 to April 15; you just have to get your RFID fitted to your car.

Apart from using your RFID Tag for tolls, Touch ‘n Go is also planning on adding RFID support for parking, fuelling and drive-thrus. Touch ‘n Go CEO Syahrunizam Samsudin said that  parking with RFID will be available in Q3 2020, fuelling with RFID in Q4 2020 and drive-thru with RFID in Q1 2021.

The TNG RFID is available for purchase at RM35 — four times cheaper than a SmartTAG. You also won’t have to worry about batteries or tag thefts as it uses radio frequency for detection and it breaks on removal. You can get it from February 15 onwards at any fitment centers nationwide.

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