The iPhone 8 is confirmed to have a full screen design and Face Unlock feature

284

Apple is expected to unveil the next iPhone in two months time, as we simply assume the final product name to be the iPhone 8 for now, two iOS developers Steve Throughton-Smith and Guillherme Rambo have happened to find out more design details of the next iPhone by extracting the official Apple HomePod firmware. The Apple HomePod is the company’s answer to Google Home and Amazon Echo, which is a smart speaker that has Siri interacting with your voice commands, hence getting such information from the HomePod’s firmware seem possible as it would have certain codes to work with Apple’s future devices.

Me too. New bezel-less form factor as well
pic.twitter.com/Y0RrSOk2OO

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside)
July 31, 2017

The firmware reveals a line of codes related to Face Detection, while in the other screenshot it reveals a line saying “biometric ID enabled, but neither touchID nor pearlID is enabled’, stating the possibility of the omission of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, hence leading to the assumption of a bezel-less form factor similar to the Galaxy S8, hardware such as the front camera, ambient sensors and face recognition infrared sensor will reside on a centre bezel on the top.

It would look interesting on how Apple would do away with physical authentication hardware on the iPhone 8, since things such as Apple Pay depend on Touch ID for authorizing transactions, it would be really cool if Apple had implemented Touch ID right under its display like how Vivo has demonstrated back in MWC Shanghai, a technology which is technically owned by Qualcomm. As for now, all we can do is to wait for more renders as the time draws closer to the phone’s release.

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iPhone 8 to retain Lightning port, with a USB Type-C charging adapter

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The iPhone 8 is probably the next big phone that all eyes will be on across the world when it launches later this year. Leaked renders and rumors so far have been a mess, but we do have a general idea that the iPhone 8 will feature a near bezel-less front, like how Samsung and LG implemented on the Galaxy S8 and G6 respectively. A new report states that the iPhone 8 will retain the same Lightning port like its predecessors, with faster charging.

Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis stated in a research note, claiming that the iPhone 8 will come with a Lightning to USB Type-C cable, which differs from the standard charging cable for Apple devices, iPhone 5 onward. It will also come with with a 10W charging adapter, said to integrate a USB-C Power Delivery chip. The research also predicts the chip to be the same one in the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro.

The 10W adapter doubles the power of the current iPhone adapter, which is 5W. The standard adapter for iPad’s feature 12W power for charging, but these adapters have a male USB-A from Lightning instead. It is likely that the iPhone 8 will feature some form of fast charging if Apple goes ahead with USB Type-C power.

The iPhone 8 is also rumored to be compatible with wireless charging, which means that it will feature a glass build instead of aluminium. Thoughts?

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iPhone 8 sales under par compared to iPhone 7

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Could it be the price or just the lack of hype? The iPhone 8 series by Apple was announced at its annual keynote a month ago, consisting of the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus. The handsets have gone on sale in select regions, also now available for pre-orders in Malaysian stores. A report by Reuters show the lesser demand for the iPhone 8 than the iPhone 7 had when it launched last year.

The statistics are obtained by US stores and carriers, with one of them reporting 900,000 lesser iPhone 8 units sold compared to the iPhone 7 last year. An analyst suggests that one of the reasons of the decline in demand could be due to the fact that the upgrades from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8 aren’t significant enough, which is true given that most of them are incremental upgrades.

The analyst also stated that the general feedback from stores indicated that customers preferred to wait for the iPhone X to either obtain it or compare it with the iPhone 8 series. The decline in iPhone 8 sales as compared with the iPhone 7 shouldn’t be surprising at all, with worldwide underwhelming store launches of the former handset, while fans look forward to the iPhone X.

What do you think? Will you be waiting for the iPhone X or are you getting the iPhone 8 instead?

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The iPhone 8 series has a better display, processor, plus wireless charging

342

The iPhone has reached yet another round of reiteration, but Apple has surprisingly skipped the “s” name like it has been doing for the past couple of years. Instead of the iPhone 7s, Apple has launched the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, the direct successor(s) to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus launched last year.

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus still retains the same old design of Apple’s iPhones since the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. It has ditched the “s” variant this time round, but like the past iPhones, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are none other than standard and incremental upgrades over their predecessors.

Design however, has been switched up from the aging aluminium chassis. The iPhone 8 series now sports a glass back design to bring in wireless charging support. Long rumored to be in the iPhone, Apple has finally brought in the technology with the iPhone 8 series. Surprisingly, the wireless charging tech is Qi charging standard instead of an exclusive Apple proprietary technology. This means that the iPhone 8 will be able to charge via current Qi standard wireless chargers.

On the display front, the iPhone 8 now features a more true to life and accurate True Tone display. The new display will be able to produce more accurate screen colors according to the ambient light of its surroundings. Underneath the hood we see an upgrade in the iPhone’s processor as usual. The iPhone 8 is powered by a brand new A11 Bionic chipset. It features cores which are up to 70 percent faster than the older A10 chip. Apple now has its own GPU that will consume only 50 percent power than that with the A10 processor, also 30 percent faster.

The iPhone 8 too features a slightly improved 12MP camera, featuring a larger image sensor. The Plus variant boasts new cameras on its dual rear camera setup as well. The upgrade comes with a bunch of new and nifty features on the iPhone 8 Plus’ camera app, which allows users to tweak the lighting in Portrait mode. The camera now supports 1080p slow mo video in 240 fps, and 4K video in a more impressive 60 fps, which Apple claims to be the best quality video capture ever on a smartphone.

Apple has finally hopped onto the Augmented Reality bandwagon, a technology which has been experimented for quite some time in the industry. The iPhone 8 series will be the first iPhone to support AR technology, which will work via its camera, new accelerometer and gyroscope.

The iPhone 8 will begin at $699 while its larger sibling the iPhone 8 Plus will be available starting at $799. Both prices are for the 64GB storage variants with prices for the 256GB models in tow. Both phones will be available for pre-order at selected regions on the 15th of September.

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The iPhone 8 will be available in a new “Blush Gold” color

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Apple has made the Rose Gold color popular, while it has also led the fame of the glossy Jet Black color. It has hard to doubt that the company’s iPhone’s are the greatest trendsetters in the smartphone industry, though the handsets are often seemingly left behind in terms of features such as water and dust resistance, and high resolution screens, along with Apple’s own way of handling its iOS software. A well known tipster, Ben Geskin has posted renders of the new color of the upcoming iPhone 8.

According to Geskin, there will be a new gold variant which differs slightly from the Gold and Rose Gold variants of Apple’s iPhones. The rendered iPhone 8 in the image above is said to be of “Blush Gold”, claimed to be the internal name in Foxconn, and will be available in 64GB and 128GB storage options.

The Blush Gold color seems like Rose Gold with a yellow tint, and we are not too sure that we will be fans of this new color if Geskin’s claims are true. This also brings another question of whether or not the Blush Gold color option will replace any of the current color options available with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Perhaps Apple will do away with either gold color option or maybe even the Jet Black color to welcome Blush Gold. We’re guessing that Apple’s doing the former.

What do you think of this Blush Gold iPhone? Will Apple launch this new color option or will it stick with the old ones?

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iPhone 8 and X will support 7.5W wireless charging in the new iOS 11.2 update

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For the first time, Apple has included wireless charging into their new generation of iPhones, and because they are using Qi standards rather than their own proprietary technology, it makes it compatible with any wireless charger that supports the standard. However, it is limited to 5W which is the slowest wireless charging speed.

The good news is Apple is working on iOS 11.2 update which will bump up the wireless charging support to 7.5W as mentioned by MacRumors. Currently, if you are using an iPhone 8 or X, you will realize that wireless charging is the same speed as using the charger that comes with the device. With the new update, it will give you a 43 percent faster-charging speed according to MacRumors who tested the beta version of iOS 11.2. You can already buy Qi wireless chargers that will support 7.5W from Apple or even third-party sellers and some of them are even offering 10W and 15W chargers already.

For those of you that prefer the wired method and own one of the latest iPads, you can use the charger that comes with it to charge your iPhone much faster than the charger that comes with the phone.

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iPhone app dubbed “Seymour” is an upcoming fitness app in iOS 14

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Rumour has it Apple will be launching a new app codenamed “Seymour” and it’ll consist of fitness videos of many sorts to guide Apple users to a healthy lifestyle.

This isn’t surprising at all since Apple already has its Health app and Apple Watch that has many features to monitor one’s health. However, this will more useful than just tracking your steps or heart rate — it’ll offer you different forms of exercises to try out.

According to CNBC’s source, this app is an idea by Jay Blank, a fitness instructor and author. It will be launched in iOS 14 and will be accessible through iPhones and also Apple Watches. This app is also reported to be free, unlike many other apps that will require a subscription price when it comes to workout guides.

On a side note, recent reports also hint towards the Apple Watch Series 6 getting a built-in blood oxygen level monitor. This will allow the watch to notify users when their blood oxygen levels are irregular so that they can identify illnesses like sleep apnea and asthma.

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Your iPhone camera can be degraded by high-power motorcycle engines, Apple confirms

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A new Apple
support page
 recently warned users that certain
iPhones
 will face degradation in the camera system when exposed to high-amplitude vibrations.

Certain iPhones come with optical image stabilisation and closed-loop autofocus; the former reduces image motion while the latter compensates for gravity and vibration effects. The combination of these two results in sharp images in which the subjects are always in focus.

However, high-amplitude vibrations can affect your iPhone in the long term. For example, high-power motorcycle engines generates strong vibrations and are transmitted through the chassis and handlebars. So if you attach your iPhone at these areas, it will be damaged and you’ll get worse image quality when shooting photos and videos.

Here’s how you can protect your iPhone camera

Apple suggest to use vehicles with small-volume or electric engines, but you can also get a vibration dampening mount. We’ve recently stumbled upon
QuadLock
, a company that sells all kinds of smartphone mounts for bicycles, motorcycles, cars and even running. You can purchase the motorcycle mount with QuadLock’s vibration dampener that’ll cost you an additional $19.95.

Apart from that, you can also avoid frequent usage for prolonged periods if you want to delay or prevent the degradation of the camera system.

The iPhones that have OIS are the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s Plus and every iPhone that comes after. The closed-loop AF is only available on iPhone XS and models newer than that, including the latest iPhone SE.

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Get an iPhone for as low as RM999 during Machines 12.12 Sale

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It’s December 12 today, meaning that there’ll be a lot of things on sale in conjunction with the 12.12 sale, including your favourite Apple products.

Machines is currently having their online-only 12.12 Sale that will last till December 15, where you can get cheaper iPhones and MacBook when you purchase them online. Have you been eyeing the iPhone XR? It has gone from RM4,299 to RM3,079! Want the bigger iPhone XS Max? The 512GB variant that is usually priced at RM6,499 is now RM4,299.

Other than iPhones, Machines also offers the MacBook and MacBook Air at reduced prices. The 13-inch MacBook Air can be purchased at RM4,999 (originally RM6,099) while the 12-inch MacBook with Retina display is now available at RM3,999 (originally RM5,902).

There are also many other Apple products that are discounted right now, including the iPod touch, the 9.7-inch iPad, Apple Watch and more. All these items will come with a one-year warranty and will be delivered from December 19 onwards.


iPhone users may be able to edit their iMessages in the future

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iPhone users will be glad to know that the tech giant will be introducing the ability to edit your iMessages in the future.

Apple has filed a patent with the US Patent Trademark Office to improve iMessage experience. From the looks of it, iPhone users will be able long-press on their messages to edit their typos as the edit function will be alongside the copy, delete and more function.

However, similar to Telegram, edited messages will be known by the receiver. The will be an edit history so if you’ve misspelled something and your friends still want to know what you wrote previously, they can.

There’s no telling when this function will come as it’s just a patent for now, but iPhone users will be waiting for this.

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Don’t open a blank e-mail on your iPhone’s Mail app

336

Hey, remember those iPhone 11 privacy and security ads that you’d see on TV, where they put it side by side with a regular phone and basically say the iPhone has better security? Yeah, that’s coming back to bite them.

Reports have surfaced of an e-mail exploit that can be found in the Apple Mail app, that lets hackers gain access to your phone after sending you a bogus e-mail, and then steal personal data and documents from your phone. The scary thing is, the exploit has been around at least since January 2018, meaning it affects every iPhone to come out since then.

The flaw was discovered by mobile security forensics firm ZecOps, who came across the vulnerability when one of their big-shot, a person who owns a ‘Fortune 500 North America’ company apparently, fell victim to the attack.

They say that all the hackers need to do is send you an e-mail that appears to be blank – once you open said e-mail, your phone will crash momentarily, which opens up a window of opportunity for hackers to steal from whatever the Mail app has access to – photos, contacts, you name it.

According to a report by Reuters, Apple has acknowledged the existence of the vulnerability and says that the company had developed a fix for the issue, and it should be rolling out to millions of users soon.

The issue is that the exploit has been around since early 2018, and the report says that Apple have just only been aware of the issue;
so
 it begs the question as to how many people have fallen prey to hackers already.
So
 folks, don’t open a blank e-mail from your Mail app until a new update rolls out – actually, don’t open a blank e-mail at all, at anytime.

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The next iPhone may arrive as soon as March with the A13 chip

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The latest reports suggest the iPhone SE 2 to be arriving sometime in March as its production will be happening in February. This iPhone will have a few features that are found in iPhone 8 but come with the latest A13 chip and replace the Touch ID with Face ID.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, the upcoming iPhone will be a low-cost iPhone — analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously

predicted it to be around $399. If true, then the iPhone SE 2 will be cheaper than the iPhone XR that was launched two years back.

If we look at earlier renders, the new iPhone will look very similar to the iPhone 8, but that will contradict the predictions that point towards no Touch ID. It could also be possible for this iPhone to take the iPhone 8’s form factor but instead of the thick bezels, it gets a fuller display with a fairly wide notch like the latter iPhones.

However, there’s no solid information regarding its potential of 5G connectivity at the time of writing. There were rumors that say Apple iPhones in 2020 will come with 5G connectivity, but that could be referring to its standard iPhone models that are released around September. In addition, integrating 5G technology into the iPhone SE 2 (or as some calls it, the iPhone 9) could mean higher cost.

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iPhone SE 2 will arrive in 2020 and be priced below RM2,000, comes with the same CPU as the iPhone 11

325

Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said the iPhone SE 2’s expected 2020 launch would boost Apple’s sales – this time, he’s doubling down by giving us the price of the phone along with a few key specs we can expect to see in the iPhone SE 2.

Touted to arrive Q1 of 2020, the upcoming affordable iPhone is expected to be priced from $399 (RM1,668), and will sport the latest A13 CPU that’s paired with 3GB RAM and up to 128GB storage. Your colour options include Space Gray, Silver and Red. Plus, there will apparently be no 3D touch.

According to Kuo, the form factor of the new device could be reminiscent of the iPhone 8, meaning we’re back to notchless displays. With its affordable pricing and powerful chipset, this could be a fantastic upgrade for those who’ve been using an iPhone 6 and older, or a great first iPhone for those looking to join the Apple ecosystem.

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iPhone SE: Old and new collide at a very affordable price

2K

The 2020
 iPhone SE
 is finally here and this time, it’s an iPhone that will not burn a hole in your pocket. Despite the all-too-familiar design, the iPhone SE will come with some of the latest specs Apple has to offer.

The iPhone SE isn’t huge like its latest flagship siblings; instead, it features a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, durable glass and aluminium back design and brings back Touch ID — something we have been missing since the iPhone X. As rumours have suggested, the new iPhone will be available in three colours: black, white and (PRODUCT) RED.

Image credit: Apple

Even though the design is inspired from the older iPhone 8, the phone now has better specs and features, including the newest A13 Bionic chip seen in the iPhone 11 lineup, camera features like the next-generation Smart HDR and QuickTake and also portrait mode with its single-rear camera using machine learning and something Apple calls “monocular depth estimation”.

If you’ve been following the news on this phone, then its single rear lens will come as no surprise. It will, however, offer cinematic video stabilisation on both front and rear cameras, in addition to 4K video support. You can also wirelessly charge the iPhone SE or use an 18W fast-charge adapter if you want to maximise its charging speed.

View this post on Instagram

A First Look at iPhone SE Portrait mode images, using Portrait Lighting effects. An effect for every mood. #ShotoniPhone by Jason N. @jason_nocito_studio with #iPhoneSE Music: “Closer To You” by @amoamomusic

A post shared by
 apple
 (@apple) on
Apr 15, 2020 at 8:13am PDT

The iPhone SE will be available in three variants — 64GB, 128GB and 256GB storage. Starting at the price of RM1,999, it can be purchased at Apple Authorised Resellers and select carriers, and if you choose to purchase it online, Apple will offer a no-contact home delivery that is free of charge.

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iPhone SE 3 to launch in 2022 with A15 Bionic chip and 5G support

674

Before the launch of the iPhone 14 next year, Apple is expected to release the new iPhone SE 3 in April 2022.

Macotakara
 and Nikkei Asia reported that the iPhone SE 3 will not be getting a major design overhaul; the small iPhone will retain its 4.7-inch Retina HD display and Home button/Touch ID.

iPhone SE 3 is small but powerful

However, it will be equipped with the A15 Bionic chip that’s currently powering the iPhone 13 lineup, plus it’ll also be the first in the iPhone SE lineup to support 5G.

With the added 5G support, the iPhone SE 3 will be the most affordable 5G iPhone one can get.

There’s no information on other specs, but we’re not expecting an additional rear lens on the iPhone SE 3.

Apple usually don’t change the prices of their phones, so if we refer to the previous
iPhone SE
, the upcoming one should be priced from RM1,999.

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The new iPhone SE’s battery life isn’t one of its strengths

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The iPhone SE doesn’t have a hefty battery, but because it’s using the A13 Bionic chip and comes in a small form factor, many expected the phone to have long battery life. However, Mark Spoonauer from
Tom’s Guide
 found it to be disappointing.

Priced at RM1,999, the new iPhone SE’s battery size is definitely smaller than the average smartphone in the market, but there’s also a significant gap between the new iPhone and the flagship ones. It makes sense for the other iPhones to last longer than the iPhone SE since they have bigger batteries, but they also come with bigger displays and will consume more power. If we put the iPhone SE up against the iPhone 11 Pro that comes with a 3,046mAh battery, the iPhone 11 Pro can last a little over an hour longer than the new iPhone.

Spoonauer also tested out the Samsung Galaxy S20 with a 4,000mAh battery. The device was tested over 5G and still managed to last 13 minutes longer than the iPhone SE. It’s not to say that the iPhone SE’s battery is bad, but it’s just not up to expectations.

Just recently it was reported that the iPhone SE can’t expand notifications via Haptic Touch when user’s at the lock screen or notification center. The unimpressive battery life just adds to its list of drawbacks.

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iPhone SE officially in Malaysia from May 11 onwards

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Just two weeks after the announcement of the
iPhone SE
, Apple has announced its local availability in Malaysia — set on May 11.

iPhone SE Specs

The iPhone SE is the successor to the
previous generation
 that was launched in 2016. It has the same processor as the
iPhone 11
 models so in terms of CPU performance, it can perform up to 2.4x faster. You’ll also be getting faster Wi-Fi speeds, an IP67 rating and dual-SIM support.

The iPhone SE will be bigger than the previous model, sporting a 4.7-inch Retina HD display. It’ll feature the same 12MP wide lens as seen on the flagship iPhones last year and also has Portrait Lighting and Smart HDR. You’ll also get 18W fast charging and some of the familiar features like its home button and Touch ID. It will be available in three configurations — 64GB, 128GB and 256GB.

What the iPhone SE lacks

What the iPhone SE doesn’t have is Face ID, it loses the 3D Touch that was last seen on the
iPhone 8
 and it doesn’t even support Haptic Touch on the lock screen. It also lacks the other lenses like the ultra-wide camera and the telephoto lens in
iPhone 11 Pro Max
. You’ll also be missing out on the newer, updated design since the iPhone SE looks exactly like the iPhone 8 on the front.

Pricing and Availability

The iPhone SE comes in three colours and starts at RM1,999. It will be available on Apple’s
official site
 and the
Apple Store
 app from May 11, but you can also get it from Apple Authorised Resellers and select carriers.

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iPhone SE teardown reveals many similar components with the iPhone 8

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The iPhone SE is Apple’s latest device and since it has been compared to the iPhone 8 countless times, technical training specialist Ao Technology uploaded a teardown video of the iPhone SE.

Comparing it to the iPhone 8, the two iPhones are almost completely similar when it comes to their components — even when the components are swapped between their bodies, most of it worked. The only parts that didn’t work are its rear camera and battery because the connector on the iPhone SE is slightly larger.

Of course, the iPhone SE also has a better A13 Bionic chipset that is faster than the A11 Bionic chipset in the iPhone 8, in addition to 3GB RAM, better Wi-Fi and also LTE connectivity. Other minor differences include the relocation of the Apple logo and the removal of the word “iPhone” at its back to match the newer iPhones.

The iPhone SE will probably be Apple’s best iPhone of the year since it’s a budget flagship that offers powerful performance. Priced at RM1,999, the iPhone SE is a strong contender in the midrange market.

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iPhone SE/5SE will most likely not feature 3D touch

280

The alleged iPhone SE/5 SE (we’ll call it iPhone SE for now), which is rumored to be the successor for the iPhone 5S, will most likely not have 3D touch embedded, according to some renders by French site
Nowhere Else
.

Since the iPhone SE will not be Apple’s flagship, it seems reasonable for the Cupertino company to omit that feature when the handset launches in Apple’s next event. The iPhone SE will also be featuring 4-inch screen, which is a rarity among smartphones these days, if not none. Apart from that, the iPhone SE will largely emulate the design elements of its predecessor, other than a different button placement and a display somewhat like that of the iPhone 6S.

We are most likely seeing a reappearance of some old and new specs together in this handset. The 4-inch screen might turn out to be a flop based on today’s standards, and the fact that Apple’s has finally bumped up the screen sizes of the iPhones a couple of years back but we’ll see how it turns out at Apple’s event this March.

Source:
9to5Mac

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Riot looters can’t use or sell stolen iPhones because of security system

391

The demonstrations and riots that broke out in America in light of George Floyd’s death had bred city-wide looting and vandalism across several areas in the country.

Bad loot

It’s hard to believe that the looting had anything to with standing up to racism – if anything, it’s crime; and as they old adage goes, “Crime does not pay” – the saying rang true for looters who stole a bunch iPhones from an Apple store in Walnut Street, PA.

Nah son I swear to god I’d be heated 😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/RoFxHV1lLm

— josh (apex male) (@onlyfanobtainer)
May 31, 2020

The devices taken from the store were demo units and cannot be re-sold, pawned, or used – an image surfaced on Twitter, presumably posted by one of the looters, showing an iPhone 11 being bricked by a security software. The software also doesn’t let anyone reset the device to factory settings.

Thieves being traced

A message prompt notifies the looter that the phone is being traced and it should be returned to the store immediately. Reports also say that the phone cannot be turned off, therefore it’ll run out of power eventually, stopping anyone from using the phone. So yes, people essentially just stole a bunch of expensive bricks made of glass and
aluminium
.

On a lighter note, a Malaysian decided to weigh in on what would happen if the incident happened here in Malaysia:

Kalau kat Malaysia dah lama dah,

“iPhone 11 Pro Max full MY set RM1500. Reason nak jual sebab terlalu besar bagi saya”.

— Amier Adzha (@AmierAdzha)
June 2, 2020

With that said, racism and crime have no place in society and cannot be tolerated. We hope those affected by the passing of George Floyd can soon find peace.

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iPhone tops AnTuTU’s top 10 smartphone list in October

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AnTuTu has always been one of the go to apps when it comes to comparing the raw speed and processing power of smartphones. Benchmarks don’t mean everything, but sometimes it just feels good if your phone’s benchmark scores beats another. AnTuTu has released its top 10 smartphones for October, and it looks like Apple has taken back its crown.

Based on the list, the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 8 clinch first and second places respectively. Both phones run on Apple’s latest A11 bionic chip underneath the hood, giving them a significant lead over the rest of the list dominated by Android smartphones. Both the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus scored above 210,000 points.

Coming in third is the OnePlus 5, which is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor alongside 8GB of RAM. The newly announced Nubia Z17s tails closely behind, sporting the same processor with the same amount of RAM as well, following by the slightly older Nubia Z17, also with the same mentioned specs.

The Huawei Mate 10 also makes this list, coming in at 6th place. Huawei’s own HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset proves to be a powerhouse, making the Mate 10 the only non-Snapdragon powered Android smartphone on this list. The 7th to 10th places are occupied by the HTC U11, Xiaomi Mi MIX 2, Galaxy Note 8 and the Mi 6 respectively.

Once the iPhone X is added into the equation, it will likely sit within the top 3, as it also sports Apple’s A11 bionic chip. Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 840, 845 and 855 processors will likely pack more power, and will feature in next year’s Android flagships.

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iPhone users are now able to create in-app “Selfie Stickers” on WeChat

307

Wechat or 微信 (Weixin) has announced that they are launching a new feature in-app called “Selfie stickers”.

Stickers have always been apart of how WeChat users use to communicate with their friends and family as it does not require much typing, but it conveys their message clearly. Very much like its name, the feature allow users to take pictures or videos of themselves and turn it into a sticker in app. They could also swap out the background, speed up the video and add text into the selfie, which could be saved into user’s sticker collection after they’re done.

In order to use this feature, users would need to update their WeChat to the latest WeChat 6.7.4. Once updated, just open a chat, tap the smiley face next to the text entry field, and then tap the clearly marked “add sticker” button.

For now, the selfie sticker feature is only available on iOS devices. There’s no information of when it will come to Android devices, but it should be available soon.

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iPhone X Impressions After 24 hours with Camera Samples

397

The iPhone X is an overpriced smartphone, it costs more than an average Malaysian’s monthly salary and you can already purchase a MacBook Pro for the 256GB model. Granted, many people can argue that Android flagships like the Galaxy Note 8, Google Pixel 2 XL and more can already offer what the iPhone X is capable of, so what does the iPhone X have over its competition if that’s the case? Here’s my impressions after using the iPhone X for the past 24 hours.

Merely looking the iPhone X at your computer screen isn’t going to tell you how beautiful the phone is, it is a totally different perception once you hold the iPhone X, the glass back is the same material the iPhone 8 uses, which is the strongest glass that Apple has ever sourced. What’s different is the frame, instead of aluminium it uses a shiny stainless steel material that resembles the iPhone 3GS’ finishing, the power button has also gotten bigger, and there’s a new way to turn off the phone by holding it together with the volume down button.

Aesthetically, the iPhone X is a very manageable device with a 5.8-inch display, all thanks to the extremely slim bezels that gives it a great 81.49% body to screen ratio, the phone actually makes the iPhone 8 Plus a gigantic device when you put them side by side, it also gives users that wants a larger screen size than the standard 4.7-inches a great option apart from the iPhone 8 Plus. While most people find the notch an annoying design for the sensors, I absolutely find no issues with it and have gotten used to pulling down the Control Center and Notifications Screen from the top right and top left side respectively.

Due to the dedicated set of sensors on the notch, the experience of using facial recognition to unlock the iPhone X is a great experience, I have not missed the absence of a fingerprint scanner, as it would work properly in low light conditions with a comfortable distance, and if you are afraid of people directing the phone to your face just to gain access, you can simply re-enable the passcode by holding down the Power and Volume Down button. Furthermore, content on your incoming notifications will not show if someone tries to access your device, which is a pretty good privacy mechanism.

As the iPhone X lacks a physical home button, there is a new learning curve for every current and new iPhone users, Apple has been kind enough to include a simple guide on getting back to them home screen, switching between apps and killing apps in the setup, and all of these is achieved with the white bar located at the bottom of the screen. Coming from an Android device, I find it to be really easy after a while of getting used to, you can also now double tap on the screen to unlock if you prefer, and I loved that app switching is so much easier than previous iPhones by doing a simple swipe at the bottom.

[sciba leftsrc=”https://klgadgetguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/iphoneximpressions-011.jpg” leftlabel=”Optimized App for iPhone X” rightsrc=”https://klgadgetguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/iphoneximpressions-012.jpg” rightlabel=”App not Optimized for iPhone X” mode=”horizontal” width=”720″]

Popular apps such as Facebook and Instagram has been updated to fit the iPhone X’s display, apps that hasn’t been optimized will appear like what you see on the image above, with two thick black bars at the top and bottom. Once optimized, you will also realize a change in the keyboard interface, which the switch language and dictation button are given dedicated locations at the bottom left and right.

The iPhone X comes with an upgraded camera system, the dual 12-megapixel cameras now features an aperture range of f/1.8-f/2.4 and are both optical stabilized, like the iPhone 8, it also comes with a Quad LED True Tone flash which balances exposure when used in low light.

[fshow url=https://flic.kr/s/aHsm8nVw2g]

[fshow url=https://flic.kr/s/aHsmaa4ahv]

In contrast to the iPhone 8 Plus, the iPhone X’s secondary telephoto lens has a larger aperture that results in better low light photos, noise levels are also significantly lesser with more details preserved as well, which you can check out in the gallery slideshow above. In addition, I’m glad that Apple has also taken advantage of the sensors to enable Portrait Lighting for selfies, which I find it to work as great as the main camera.

The iPhone X is finally an exciting phone, in fact it is the one that has really got me like the iPhone again since the iPhone 4, despite of that I still have to say that this is a pretty expensive device to pay for, considering there are so many alternatives that can perform on par or better than the iPhone X in the Android camp, that is if you can live without Face ID and Animojis. However, if you have the cash to splurge on an iPhone X, by all means, go ahead. We’ll have more details on our thoughts about the iPhone X in the final review, so stay tuned for that.

The iPhone X retails at RM5,149 for the 64GB model and RM5,899 for the 256GB model, if you intend to get it from telcos,
do check out our comparison piece
.

apple
apple malaysia
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iphone x camera samples
iphone x malaysia
iphone x review


The iPhone X packs a smaller battery than the Galaxy S8

335

Apple doesn’t typically compare numbers and specs with other smartphones in the competition, hence the company does not officially reveal details such as the amount of RAM underneath the hood of its iPhones or their battery sizes. However, a TENAA check finally shows us some interesting numbers of the recently launched iPhone X.

Chinese regulator TENAA has revealed that the iPhone X sports the same amount of RAM as the less revolutionary iPhone 8 Plus – 3GB. While the iPhone X is the first handset by Apple that has a near bezel-less display on the front, its battery is still smaller in general like other Apple iPhones, especially when compared to Android flagships.

According to TENAA, the iPhone X packs a 2,716mAh battery, which is nearly 30 percent smaller than that of the Samsung Galaxy S8. One thing to note is that the iPhone X’s battery is only a tad larger than the one in the iPhone 8 Plus (2,675mAh).

The above details tell us that the iPhone X will likely have the same performance as the iPhone 8 Plus with the same processor and same amount of RAM. Apart from Face ID and a near bezel-less display, it looks like there isn’t much else that significantly separates the iPhone X from the iPhone 8 Plus.

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iPhone X set for Malaysian debut on November 24

445

The iPhone 8 series by Apple might not have gotten the reception that the company has expected, but it does not come as a surprise since it has a greater phone in store for its fans, aka the iPhone X. After being released in selected regions like the US and Singapore, the iPhone X finally has a release date for Malaysia.

Just to recap, the iPhone X is the most revolutionary Apple iPhone yet, and is also the most significant change the iPhone has gotten since the iPhone 5S to the iPhone 6. Apple has done away with the fingerprint sensor on the iPhone X to make way for Face ID, Apple’s facial recognition technology which is claimed to be more secure. The handset also sports a bezel-less display on the front with a camera cut out at the top center. The dual rear camera setup is in vertical orientation and has just recently been rated the best smartphone cam on DxOMark.

The pricing for the iPhone X has been revealed earlier, with the 64GB model at RM 5,149 and the 256GB at RM 5,899. The handset will go in sale beginning November 24, which is less than 3 weeks away. While the money you’re paying can get you a pretty good laptop, we’re pretty sure most people will be getting the iPhone X for themselves.

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iPhone X slow in sales, might get a price slash

291

It turns out that isn’t all rainbows and unicorns for Apple as recent reports indicate that the iPhone X sales have been under performing in Q4 2017. The iPhone X have definitely received a better welcome by fans as compared to the iPhone 8 series, but is also priced significantly higher. Sources also point to a possible price cut for Apple’s flagship.

Apple recently made the headlines after admitting to slowing down the iPhone 6’s performance with a software update for the phone to age better over time. This plus news that the iPhone X isn’t doing as well as it should be is definitely a hard hit for Apple to handle. JL Warren Capital predicted that Apple will only ship a total of 30 million units this quarter (Q4 2017) after having order reduced by 40 percent. The forecast for Q1 2018 sales will be even lesser at 25 million units.

The drop in figures definitely leads to speculation that Apple will be forced to give the iPhone X a price cut. The phone begins at RM 5,149 in Malaysia, making it one of the most expensive main stream flagships to be sold, being priced in the same range as Apple’s base model Macbooks. Will you be looking forward to an iPhone X price drop in the near future?

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The iPhone X will cost you RM5149 in Malaysia

297

If you are looking forward to the iPhone X, the good news is Apple has just unveiled the official pricing so that you can start saving up for it when it goes official, the bad news is you are going to pay a lot for it. The iPhone X is offered in both 64GB and 256GB storage models for the price of RM5149 and RM5899 respectively, that’s an insanely high price tag for a smartphone and you can already purchase a proper MacBook Pro for that price, though the Apple A11 Bionic chip might have performance on par with Intel’s Core i5 processor, the iPhone X certainly won’t be as capable as a MacBook Pro apart from being able to make phone calls and sending texts.

With that said, the iPhone X is still currently unavailable for purchase as the phone will only be made available in the US starting November, we should expect the iPhone X to be available a month later, which is a great timing for the holidays. If you are prepared to spend that much of cash for a smartphone, the iPhone X has some features to look forward to, such as the all new 5.8″ Super Retina HD display, Face ID unlock, and the Apple A11 Bionic chip that performs really fast in apps and games. If you are not looking forward to all of that, you might want to go for the cheaper iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, though they’d still probably cost you a month of your payroll, it still makes sense to pay that price for a flagship smartphone if you don’t want Android smartphones.

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iPhone Xs and Xs Max is available for pre-order in Malaysia from RM 4,999

268

Apple is finally introducing iPhone Xs and Xs Max in Malaysia, and for the first time ever Apple is allowing consumers to pre-order the iPhones on their website.

Image credit : Apple

While both the iPhones have Super Retina HD display, the iPhone Xs comes with a 5.8-inch OLED display, whereas the iPhone Xs Max comes with a 6.5-inch OLED display. Both smartphones have fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and has IP68 rating which means that it is water resistant to a depth of 2 metres, an hour more than the iPhone X, and can last up to 30 minutes. A noticeable new feature is that the smartphones now support dual SIM, whereby one is a nano-SIM slot and the other is a eSIM slot.

The iPhone Xs and Xs Max runs on iOS 12 and are powered by A12 Bionic chip with second generation Neural Engine that has eight cores, which results in better performance with less power consumption. The GPU uses four cores and the graphics performance surpasses the A11 Bionic chip up to 50%. Both models has built-in lithium-ion battery and supports both wireless charging and fast charging. The battery life is said to be 30 minutes longer for the iPhone Xs and 90 minutes longer for the iPhone Xs Max. There are three variants of internal storage which are 64GB, 256GB and 512 GB.

Image credit : Apple

In terms of camera, both models have dual 12MP sensor that has OIS, in which the wide-angle lens has f/1.8 aperture whereas the telephoto lens has f/2.4 a aperture that allows 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. The portrait mode now has Depth Control which allows you to control the clarity of your image’s background. The camera also supports 4K video at 24, 30 or 60 fps whereas the slow-motion video supports 1080p at 120 or 240 fps. The front camera of the iPhone Xs and Xs Max is known as the TrueDepth Camera, and it is a 7MP camera with f/2.2 aperture. Similar to the rear camera, it has portrait mode with Depth Control. In addition, the TrueDepth Camera has Animoji and Memoji

and is equipped with auto image stabilisation.

The pre-order starts at 3:01 p.m on 19 October and here are the prices of the iPhones.

iPhone Xs, 64GB : RM 4,999

iPhone Xs, 256GB : RM 5,699

iPhone Xs, 512GB : RM 6,649

iPhone Xs Max, 64GB : RM 5,399

iPhone Xs Max, 256GB : RM 6,099

iPhone Xs Max, 512GB : RM 7,049

A12 Bionic Chip
apple
iphone
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Apple to rename iOS to iPhoneOS: Real or a joke?

1.1K

Apple’s iOS 14 is about to debut but ahead of its launch, recent reports are suggesting that Apple will be changing its name from iOS to iPhoneOS.

It’s a joke…right?

Leaked iPhone OS promo video
pic.twitter.com/nE870mLKTo

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach)
June 21, 2020

A “leaked” video on reddit posted by a user under the handle
notpwign
 showed a very Apple-style video and in that video, iOS will be rebranded to iPhoneOS and there will be nothing new except for a wallpaper.
Max Weinbach
 from XDA Developers also shared this video on his Twitter, but leaker Ben Geskin’s
reply
 indicated that it’s a joke. In addition, the wallpaper that appeared in the video is actually a photo uploaded by Rodio Kutsaev on
Unsplash
, a photo sharing platform.

iPhone OS.

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser)
June 18, 2020

Jon Prosser
 from Front Page Tech tweeted “iPhone OS” two days ago with no further elaborations. There’s a possibility that Apple will change the name, especially since
iPadOS
 was introduced last year, so iOS is covering a smaller range of devices now.

iPhoneOS is not new

Apple started with the name iPhoneOS way back but changed it to iOS in June 2010. Now that the different products have their own software version (watchOS, tvOS, iPadOS), perhaps changing
iOS to iPhoneOS
 is reasonable.

What to expect from iOS/iPhoneOS 14

It’s just a matter of hours before we can confirm the new updates in iOS/iPhoneOS 14, but reports up till the time of writing have suggested new wallpaper options, widget supports on the home screen, new app switcher layout and a new fitness app.

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New leaks reveal the upcoming iPhone 12 Pro to come with ProMotion display

545

The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are now reported to come with a ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate, similar to the new iPad Pro.

It’s about time too; many flagship Android devices this year have started
upgrading their displays
 to have higher refresh rates. Previous reports suggested that the iPhone 12 Pro will be bigger this year by featuring a 6.1-inch display while the iPhone 12 Pro Max will have a 6.7-inch screen, so these displays will come equipped with ProMotion technology.

On the other hand, the iPhone 12 will still be stuck with a 60Hz display. Just like how the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 misses out on some features their siblings have, the iPhone 12 will also be missing out on a
LiDAR Scanner
.

There are also several new leaks regarding the new iPhones. There might be two iPhone 12 models — one at 5.4 inches and the other at 6.1 inches. These iPhones will also be featuring OLED screens and might omit 5G connectivity. As for the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, these phones are expected to come with smaller notches, bigger batteries and better cameras.

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Five iPhones to release in 2020; 2021 iPhones will have no charging port

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We’ve heard news suggesting the 2020 iPhones will come with 5G support, but that’s not all; Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed four iPhones will be revealed in 2020 — all equipped with OLED screens.

Surprisingly, the four iPhones doesn’t include the rumored iPhone SE 2 that will be released in the first half of 2020, meaning that Apple will be revealing five iPhones next year. This iPhone will be a 4.7-inch model, followed by a 5.4-inch model, two 6.1-inch models and a 6.7-inch model. According to Kuo, the form factor of the three OLED models will resemble the iPhone 4’s design.

Image credit: TF International Securities

Apart from that, Kuo also predicted that there will be a successor to the iPhone SE 2 in 2021, dubbed the iPhone SE 2 Plus. This iPhone will not feature Face ID, but will get a side Touch ID placed on the power button. The SE 2 Plus will also be larger, getting a screen size of either 5.5-inches or 6.1-inches.

In 2021, Kuo also foresee that Apple will kill off the port of the highest-end iPhone. Assuming this is the iPhone 13 Pro Max, this device will neither have a USB-C or a Lightning port. The phone will depend entirely on wireless charging, so Apple will probably include a wireless charger in the box.

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iPhones are selling well in China again: What does this mean for Malaysia?

423

With the China-US trade war seemingly dying down a bit, things are starting to look up for all parties involved. One entity affected by the dispute is Apple – amidst the political and financial unrest between the two nations – folks over in China showed solidarity against the Trump Administration by simply not buying iPhones and other Apple products – which are arguably on of Americas biggest consumer goods exports.

But now, it looks like iPhones are back on the shopping list for the Chinese as reported by CNN – Apple supposedly shipped around 3.2 million iPhones to China last year, and demands for the smartphone had risen to 18% in December 2019 from the year before; this number supposedly exceeds event the projections of Wall Street.

This is relevant to us in that it’s a sign of a resurfacing balance in the tech market – although the trade war is far from over, at least the people have shown demand for items made in either countries – allowing companies to continue shipping out new products. Considering how the Malaysian tech consumption rely on imports from China and the US, this means nothing but good for us consumers.

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iPhones that can’t update to iOS 11 will not be able to play Pokemon Go

273

Looks like older iPhone users will have to upgrade their phone if they still want to be the very best. Niantic has recently announced that they will be ending support for all Apple devices that can’t upgrade to iOS 11. This would mean that any Apple device purchased in 2012 or earlier will not be able to support the game anymore

Niantic has explained that due to the changes that they are applying to the game, the older iOS will not be able to keep up with the demands of the game hence, after February 28, users will not be able to access their account. This is due to the change in the AR feature of Pokemon Go, as they have fully embraced the ARKit that Apple has released to developers, improving AR features and capabilities in developers’ applications. Pokemon Go has gone through some big improvements in gameplay and visuals as Pokemon now have fixed position and scales in size depending on the distance. There are also special weather effects, improved gym battles and rumours indicate that PVP is finally in development.

If you are worried about losing your progress when you switch over to a new phone, worry not, as long as you sign in with the same Google account that you did in the old phone, you will get to continue your progress without losing anything.

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iPhones may need to include removable batteries, according to leaked EU documents

369

Most phones now come with non-removable batteries but there have been leaked documents recently that revealed that the European Commission might try to bring back removable batteries.

These leaked documents are private, so it hasn’t been fully confirmed that EU will indeed proceed with the plan, but rumour has it the proposal will be revealed next month. Previously, EU has also proposed to standardise charging ports in mobile device which could help reduce electronic waste.

Apple was against the ruling as it would mean discarding all the Lightning devices, and we think Apple will reject the new proposal too since it’ll affect the phone’s design. Currently, the batteries are glued into the chassis, resulting in a smaller form factor that could help brands produce slimmer phones.

While removable batteries will make it easier for users to change new batteries when there are issues, it also make it easier for them to attempt to repair the phones themselves, leading to unnecessary damages.

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iPhones’ unlimited original-quality storage on Google Photos is a bug, confirms Google

546

When Google released the Pixel 4 phones, the company also mentioned that users will no longer get free unlimited original-quality photos when they back them up on Google Photos. Soon after, new iPhones users found that they’re capable of getting free unlimited original-quality pictures on Google Photos when they purchase the newer iPhones.

What caused all of this? The answer is simple — iPhone’s HEIC file format. iPhones that run on iOS 11 have actually started shooting pictures in HEIC file format instead of JPEG and since the HEIC file format is smaller and more efficient, Google Photos will not compress the images.

Is this a mistake? Yes, Google has confirmed that it’s a bug and the company will be “fixing” the situation. The reason why Google doesn’t just compress the images in HEIC format is because these images will end up having a larger file size.

Google can either choose to bring the feature to other compatible Android iPhones, or block iPhones from being able to have unlimited storage at original quality. We know which option we hope Google will take, but that seems highly unlikely.

Ahh, and we thought Google is being nice to iPhone users.

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iPro LIVEPAD 8.9: Hands-on with this little beast

321

The LIVEPAD 8.9 by iPro has just been released into competitive mobile market, with an Intel-powered device which is guaranteed to knock your socks off. The LIVEPAD 8.9 comes with an Intel Atom Z3735F Quad-core processor running
Windows8.1
. It has 2GB of RAM at 1333MHz and comes with 16GB of storage (There is an expandable card slot for a microSD up to 128GB as well). We also have word that this
tablet
 will come in 32GB and 64GB configuration later this year — with the 32GB coming as early as end of March. The 8.9-inch screen comes with a very generous 1920 by 1200 HD display and packs a 8000mAh battery pack, promising all-day entertainment and productivity. Kudos to LIVEPAD for including stereo speakers.

“We are proud to present our very first 8.9-inch
tablet
 based on Intel and hope that our customers will be blown away by the full
Windows 8.1
 PC experience in its slim streamlined form factor. It was a joy to work with Intel and Microsoft to bring thistablet to market. We intend to aim high and are confident of introducing newer and greater products for both inside and outside of Malaysia”

— Daniel Chia, Head of Sales & Marketing iPro Mobile (M) Sdn Bhd.

The first 500 owners (250 from LowYat Plaza and 250 from
this link
) will receive a free keyboard and pouch worth RM199. Each unit will retail at RM799 for the 16GB model.

The LIVEPAD 8.9 feels extremely solid and feels nice in the hands. It has a very sleek profile and performs pretty well for what it is. The Atom processor has no problem handling
Windows 8.1
. Multiple Google Chrome tabs run well with the
tablet
 as well as casual games from the Windows App Store. The stereo speakers feel week in a noisy environment but I’m sure they’re sufficiently loud when you’re just chilling on your couch or watching videos in bed. The LIVEPAD 8.9 also sports a micro HDMI port as well as a micro USB port. If you would like to use a mouse with the LIVEPAD 8.9, you would need to get an usb-OTG adapter. I am still unsure who this product is targeted towards, but it is a very reasonable device for the price it is asking for. The bluetooth keyboard and
case
 included make a very nice combination very light word processing as well as some browsing and YouTubing. The keyboard is a bit fidgety however, sometimes not pairing properly with the device, but that may only be a problem with the unit we had. The screen looks slightly washed out but the clarity and pixel density is just insane. I find that a device this thin being able to deliver the full blown Windows 8.1 experience without heating up to fry eggs impressive.

Hopefully, we would be able to get our hands on a review unit to really drive it in all kinds of ways we can think of and take it on the road.


iQOO 11 is the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phone to launch in Malaysia at RM3,299

6.9K

iQOO, a gaming brand of vivo, has officially made its presence in Malaysia today with the iQOO 11 smartphone, which is also the very first Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 smartphone to be commercially available.

Despite being a gaming phone, the iQOO 11 looks more of a premium and elegant smartphone all thanks to the crossover with BMW M Motorsport, where it features a white color faux leather back with BMW M Motorsport’s signature three stripes.

Sporting a 6.67-inch QHD AMOLED display that refreshes at 144Hz, the iQOO 11 comes with 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage, a 5000mAh battery that supports 120W fast charging and USB PD support, the phone ships with Android 13 with FunTouch OS out of the box.

Aside from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the phone is equipped with a dedicated vivo V2 ISP that assists the triple camera system, it comprises of a 50MP main lens with OIS, 12MP telephoto that does up to 2x optical zoom and an 8MP ultrawide lens, making it the best camera system that you can find on a gaming phone, as most gaming phones wouldn’t feature a telephoto lens.

On top of that, the iQOO 11’s main camera supports up to 8K video recording at 30fps, while the telephoto and ultrawide lens are limited to just 1080p at 30fps.

As for selfies, the iQOO 11 services mobile gamers with a 16MP shooter.

The iQOO 11 is currently available for purchase at RM3,299, customers can purchase the phone at iQOO Malaysia’s
Lazada
 and
Shopee
 official store.

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The iQOO 3 is a 5G gaming phone with Monster Touch Buttons

426

Just like what many other brands have been doing recently due to the coronavirus outbreak, vivo’s iQOO has announced the iQOO 3 via its livestream event today.

The iQOO 3 is no doubt a powerful phone; it has a Snapdragon 856 chipset that supports 5G connectivity and features up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. With the flagship chipset and an LPDDR5 RAM, the iQOO 3 also gets faster performance and better power consumption. For gamers, the iQOO 3 also has two pressure-sensitive touch buttons on its side frames for the better gaming experience.

There’s also nothing to worry about when it comes to its battery life. The iQOO 3 houses a 4,440mAh battery and supports one of the fastest charging speeds at 55W. This will allow the phone to charge up to 50% in just 15 minutes.

Moving on to its cameras, this device has a 16MP selfie camera and a 48MP main camera on its read. Its quad-camera setup also consists of a 13MP telephoto lens, a 13MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP depth sensor.

There will be three colour options: Tornado Black, Quantum Silver and Volcano Orange. The 8/128GB variant costs ₹36,990, the 8/256GB variant costs ₹39,990 and the 5G version that has 12/256GB is priced at ₹44,990.

55W Super FlashCharge
5g
iQOO 3
lpddr5
Monster Touch buttons
vivo


iQOO Neo 3 5G confirmed to sport a buttery smooth 144Hz display

390

If you think a 120Hz refresh rate is impressive and the best you can find in a smartphone’s display, well, you’re wrong. Vivo’s sub-brand iQOO plans to launch the Neo 3 5G with a 144Hz refresh rate on April 23.

To be fair, the iQOO Neo 3 5G will not be the first to sport a 144Hz refresh rate — Nubia has already released its Red Magic 5G last month that

boasts a 144Hz display. However, this is a leap for iQOO as its previous phones had always been using 60Hz display.

The Neo 3 5G will still be using an LCD panel despite upgrading its refresh rate. The display is expected to support FHD+ resolution and feature a punch-hole for its camera. Just like many of the flagships we’ve seen this year, the Neo 3 5G should be powered by the Snapdragon 865 processor and come with UFS 3.1 storage.

You should also expect this phone to house a 48MP quad-camera setup, in addition to a 4,500mAh battery that supports 44W fast charging. The battery isn’t the biggest or fastest out there, but it should suffice for gamers.

144Hz refresh rate
iQOO
Neo 3 5G


iQOO Neo5S, iQOO Neo5 SE launched: comes with a Snapdragon 888, 4,500 mAh battery and more

621

Earlier this week, vivo’s subsidiary,
iQOO
, had launched their latest smartphones – the Neo5S and Neo5 SE. These phones pack a lot of great specs for under RM2000, like the Snapdragon 888 SoC, 50MP main camera, and 4,500 mAh battery. So let’s see what else these phones have in store.

The iQOO Neo5S and 5 SE have very similar designs with each other, with a smooth matte texture, curved sides, and a triple camera system on the back panel. In terms of their form factor, the Neo 5S measures 8.39mm thin and weighs 197 grams, and the Neo5 SE measures 8.53mm thin and weighs 189 grams.

The triple camera system on the iQOO Neo5S, gives you a 48MP main shooter, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens, while on the Neo5 SE you have a 50MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide lens, and 2MP macro lens. While on the front, both phones use a 16MP selfie camera.

iQOO Neo5 SE includes a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD display that pushes a 144Hz refresh rate and has a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. While the Neo5S has a 6.62-inch FHD+ AMOLED display that has a 120Hz refresh rate.

As for the internal specifications of the phones, the iQOO Neo5S uses a Snapdragon 888 5G SoC and comes with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage, while the Neo5 SE has a Snapdragon 870 SoC and comes with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, both of which are powered by 4,500 mAh battery that supports 55W fast charging.

Currently, the
iQOO Neo5 SE

is priced at CNY 2,199 (roughly RM1,453) for the 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage variant, CNY 2,399 (roughly RM1,585) for the 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage option, and CNY2,599 (roughly RM1,718) for the 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage variant.

Meanwhile, the
iQOO Neo5S
 starts at CNY 2,699 (roughly RM1,783) for the base model that gives you 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, CNY 2,899 (roughly RM1,916) for the 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage option, and CNY3,199 (roughly RM2,114) for the 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage variant.

iQOO
iQOO Neo5 SE
iQOO Neo5S
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iQOO Z7 is now available in a cool Supernova Orange color

7.4K

If you have always wanted a phone that makes a great fashion statement while capable of good gaming performance, the iQOO Z7 might just interest you with a new limited edition Supernova Orange color.

Retailing at the same price as the regular color variants at RM1,499, the iQOO Z7 Supernova Orange is a very capable mid-range smartphone and is the only one that offers superfast 120W vivo FlashCharge within the same price range, it features a 6.64-inch IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 782G chipset paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, dual-stereo speakers, and a 5000mAh battery that easily offers a full heavy day of gaming.

The iQOO Z7’s dual camera array houses a 64-megapixel main camera with OIS and is assisted by a secondary 2-megapixel depth camera, the front camera is a 16-megapixel camera. In other features, the iQOO Z7 has great wireless connectivity as it supports 5G, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, it ships with Funtouch OS 13 running on top of Android 13.

The phone will be available for purchase on
Lazada
 and
Shopee
 starting 25th August 2023 onwards, customers can also get hands on with the device during the iQOO Experience Day on September 2 2023, which will be hosted at the vivo Concept Store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, customers can also stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RM15,000 that day which includes the iQOO Z7, TNG Cash, TWS and AIOT products.

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iQOO Z7 officially launches in Malaysia

6.3K

After launching the flagship iQOO 11 earlier this year, vivo’s sub brand iQOO has launched the iQOO Z7 series mid-range gaming phones today, comprising the iQOO Z7 and Z7x, they offer great performance and large batteries for under RM1,500.

The iQOO Z7 is powered by a Snapdragon 782G processor paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage, it has a 6.64-inch FHD+ IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Compared to the Snapdragon 778G, the Snapdragon 782G chipset delivers up to 10% faster CPU performance and 13% faster GPU performance, while it has a Super Conducting Liquid Cooling Vapour Chamber to ensure a consistent gaming performance in long durations.

Being a gaming phone, the iQOO Z7 still features a pretty decent 64MP main camera with OIS, assisted by a secondary 2MP depth camera for portraits, the main camera is capable of taking 4K videos, which makes it one of the few phones to do that within the same price range.

The iQOO Z7 is juiced by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 120W vivo FlashCharge, which iQOO claims that can be charged from 1% to 50% in just 9 minutes.

On the other hand, the iQOO Z7x is powered by a Snapdragon 695 chipset paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage, while it features the same display size and refresh rate as the Z7, it features a larger 6,000mAh battery with support for 80W vivo FlashCharge, a 50MP main camera without OIS and is assisted by a 2MP depth camera.

In terms of pricing, the iQOO Z7 retails at RM1,499 for the 12GB+256GB storage variant and RM1,299 for the 8GB+128GB storage variant, while the iQOO Z7x retails at RM1,099 for the 8GB+256GB storage variant and RM999 for the 8GB+128GB storage variant.

From 10th to 18 April 2023, customers can purchase the iQOO Z7 series at an early bird price, where the iQOO Z7 will retail for RM1,399 for the 12GB+256GB variant and RM1,249 for the 8GB+128GB storage variant, the iQOO Z7x will then retail for RM999 for the 8GB+256GB storage variant and RM939 for the 8GB+128GB storage variant.

On top of that, iQOO Z7 customers are entitled to a 1-year extended warranty, 1-year screen crack warranty and free gifts worth RM248. including a RM50 iQOO Student Discount programme voucher, iQOO backpack and a Marshall Key Holder.

The iQOO Z7 series can be purchased at vivo E-Store, Shopee, Lazada and authorized dealers nationwide.

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iQOO Z7 series: monstrous fast charging speed with great value

10K

After introducing the market’s first Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powered gaming phone with much success, iQOO has continued to introduce the iQOO Z7 series gaming phones in Malaysia, not only these phones pack impressive features and performance that meets the demands of mobile gamers, they don’t cost gamers a leg and arm to own one, and here’s why they could be the hottest budget gaming phone series in town.

First phone to be powered by Snapdragon 782G

The iQOO Z7 is the first phone in the segment to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G chipset, which succeeds the popular Snapdragon 778G that has delivered excellent gaming performance and power efficiency on mid-range phones, this new chipset features up to 10% of CPU and GPU performance improvement over its predecessor.

Based on our tests, the iQOO Z7 has no issues running Genshin Impact at 60 FPS on the default graphics setting, all thanks to the large Super Conducting Liquid Cooling Vapor Chamber, the phone doesn’t throttle performance after gaming for long hours and remains cool to use, this ensures a great gaming experience which is hard to come by on similar priced smartphones.

Furthermore, the Snapdragon 782G brings WiFi 6E connectivity to the iQOO Z7, which for the first time ever on a mid-range phone, gamers can enjoy faster download speeds and better connection reliability when connected to a WiFi 6E router, which enhances online gameplay.

Fast and Responsive 120Hz IPS displays

The iQOO Z7 series feature fast and responsive 6.64-inch 120Hz displays, which isn’t just essential for a buttery smooth user experience, it also offers a fast 1200Hz polling rate that gamers will find it absolutely responsive when performing gestures in games, it also has low blue light that protects your vision.

Flagship Grade Camera with OIS

Gaming phones don’t deserve bad cameras, that’s why the iQOO Z7 is equipped with a 64-megapixel main camera with Optical Image Stabilization, this allows you to snap away photos confidently even if you have shaky hands.

With AI camera features, the iQOO Z7’s camera takes clear and detailed shots with the Super Night Algorithm 4.0, while you can capture fast moving subjects with the Pro Sports mode, and impress your friends by taking a clear shot of the moon with the Super Moon mode.

On top of that, the iQOO Z7’s main camera is capable of taking 4K videos at 30 FPS, which isn’t usually available on similar priced mid-range phones, you no longer need to embarrass yourself when you want to record a vlog or short video on a gaming phone.

Large Battery and Super Fast Charging Speeds

The iQOO Z7 series are packed with large battery capacities to last you multiple gaming sessions, the iQOO Z7 has a 5,000mAh battery with support for 120W vivo FlashCharge, while the iQOO Z7x has a whooping 6,000mAh battery with support for 80W vivo FlashCharge, these phones will never let you stay offline for long even if you run low on battery.

An irresistible value for everyone

For its great features and performance, the iQOO Z7 series retail at an attractive early bird price with the available storage variants below when you preorder them between 10 to 18 April 2023:

iQOO Z7

8GB+128GB – RM1,249 (U/P: RM1,299)

12GB+256GB – RM1,399 (U/P: RM1,499)

iQOO Z7x

8GB+128GB – RM939 (U/P: RM999)

8GB+256GB – RM999 (U/P: RM1,099)

The iQOO Z7 series can be preordered at
vivo E-Store
 and official stores on
Lazada
 and
Shopee
, click
here
 to learn how you can purchase one.

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iQOO’s first smartphone comes with a Snapdragon 855 chipset, 12GB RAM and 44W charging

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Vivo’s sub-brand iQOO was reported to debut with a foldable smartphone, but a recent video posted by the company on Weibo proved otherwise as the model held onto a smartphone that doesn’t look at all foldable.

This could mean that instead of foldable smartphones, iQOO is actually planning on selling premium flagship smartphones. This is also more believable because iQOO also posted a picture with several details that indicates the smartphone’s specifications.

iQOO’s first smartphone will be featuring a sixth-generation fingerprint sensor and it will cover the entire bottom area of the panel instead of just a specific location like the current phones with in-display fingerprint sensor. The poster also mentioned 4D and though it is unsure what it’s describing, one of the post’s comment suggested that the phone can come with 4D shock for gaming purposes, like HONOR’s 4D Smart Shock.

Under the hood, the premium phone will be powered by a Snapdragon 855 processor and holds 12GB RAM with 256GB storage. While the camera specs aren’t revealed, the camera is said to support Super HDR. That aside, the iQOO phone will come with three cameras on its rear. The phone is also expected to come with 4000mAh battery that charges via USB-C and supports 44W charging.

We’ll have to wait to get more information on this phone, but it’ll be exciting to anticipate what iQOO has to share with us.

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iRobot’s Roomba robot vacuums may have arms in the future

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Roomba is one of the most popular robot vacuum but in about five years’ time, you might be seeing a slightly enhanced version of it — a Roomba with arms.

iRobot, creator of Roomba, revealed its plan to sell Roomba with arms in the future to take on other cleaning tasks like washing the dishes, doing the laundry or serving food. Though it will take some time before the product is ready for the market, the company is already developing a prototype version in its lab.

iRobot has had experience in robotic-arm technology; in fact, they developed the technology for its military unit but deemed it irrelevant for mainstream use back then. Now, robots have the ability to map a home’s layout, it has opened up the possibility for household robots to have arms to perform various tasks.

Well, it’ll take at least another five years before we can get robots to do all most of our house chores but even when they finally can, you can bet that they’ll take a toll on your bank accounts.

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Is a 4-inch iPhone around the corner?

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Since Apple decided to join its competitors by selling devices larger than 4-inches, there have been a lot of rumors saying that the Cupertino Company hasn’t totally given up on the smaller form-factor. The new 4-inch iPhones have been “imminent” quite a few times already, but none of those things actually managed to pan out. And once again, another rumor about the next small Apple smartphone is here and apparently Apple will be releasing an iPhone 6c in 2016, but now a new report seems to contradict that.

First off, it says that there will be a new 4″ iPhone, yes, but it will be based on the iPhone 5s (pictured above) and not the 5c. The design of this new device should thus be extremely close to that of the iPhone 5s while featuring some updated internals. The expectation on the 4-inch iPhone will be an A8 chipset in there, along with an improved FaceTime HD camera with f/2.2 aperture, and support for both 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1.

However, there will be a possibility that one thing which will be missing from this smaller form factor; the 3D touch, which will remain exclusive to the bigger iPhones. As always, take a pinch of salt about all these rumors and wait for the official news from Apple instead.

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Is HTC making the same mistake as it has four years back?

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HTC is a smartphone company that has touched me ever since my first encounter with the O2 XDA II and I eventually owned my very first HTC device six years back – the HTC Diamond, and thats when I begin to start loving Windows Mobile, HTC’s TouchFLO 3D changed my perspective of the slow, sluggish and uninspiring Microsoft smartphone operating system. Fast forward to a few years later, HTC launched its first ever Android device and started evolving TouchFLO 3D to HTC Sense, which changed most parts of the future of Android and have most of its features copied to other Android smartphones. Until four years back, the company started to flopped terribly in its finances and its smartphones were challenged by Samsung, the tech journalism world thought that the company would be at the end of the road, and who would’ve known that the company would spring back to life with the introduction of the all new HTC One, the most beautiful smartphone ever made with a full metal body, a design language that almost every smartphone company has started to embrace and emphasising on every of their flagship models.

Unfortunately as of today, we are again seeing the HTC as it was four years ago, so what happened back then?

The flagship model back then was the HTC Sensation, it was the first Qualcomm dual-core smartphone and while it made quite a headline, the company continues to embrace the mid-entry level market, releasing phone models such as the Desire S, Incredible S and Rhyme, three models with a similar spec sheet with different design, the company can be seen as trying to be the Nokia of Androids, but these additional devices were unfortunately short-lived and the flagship Sensation didn’t get the attention it deserves to, the company then decided to partner with Beats Audio and integrate its sound technology onto its phones, which leads to the slow death of the original Sensation while having one additional big screen Sensation XE device to cater for the phablet market.

Now in year 2015, we are seeing HTC at the edge of crisis once again, its shares plummeted and the One M9 isn’t doing as well as its predecessor and the most terrible mistake once again happened, HTC starts releasing a plethora of models for its new flagship HTC One models, lets name them – M9, M9+, E9, E9+, A9, and now the M9e in other markets, so we literally have five extra flagships for the year, which means we are looking at a frequency of one new flagship device in two months, we haven’t even started counting the number of Desire smartphones, we are having way much more devices from the Taiwanese firm than last year, coming from a consumer standpoint, I really have no idea on which flagship I would want from HTC if I were to purchase one, because they all feel too similar to me and I don’t even know if every one of them will be supported by future software updates, and this is why the company is now repeating the same mistake again as it did four years ago, they simply do not want to learn.

While I’m in no position in commenting HTC’s marketing strategy, I do somehow perceive that the company is once again trying to learn what consumers want at the end of the day and they are not acting fast enough to the competitive market. With the recent announcement of the One A9 and the message of ‘Be Brilliant’,  I believe the company is starting to make a come back by emphasizing User Experience > Specs, which is what they have always been proud about, lets hope that HTC could release a true hero device just like how the original HTC One did, a device with a perfect marriage of hardware design and software.

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Is it worth getting the new iPhone SE?

687

Apple’s new
iPhone SE
 is out in Malaysia and so far, it has caught the attention of many for one reason – its value. This year’s iPhone SE is arguably one of the most affordable iPhones Apple has offered over the years since its predecessor launched in 2016. Despite using the same chassis as the iPhone 8, you’ll realize that this budget flagship has a lot to offer under the hood compared to other phones in the same range. If you’re contemplating whether to purchase this phone, here are our thoughts on why the iPhone SE is a great choice in 2020.

Design

Image credit: Apple

Yes, the iPhone SE has a design that we’re all too familiar with, but there’s nothing wrong with revisiting an older aesthetic if it comes with some crowd-favorite features. When the iPhone X was launched without the home button and Touch ID, many found the change hard to grasp, so the iPhone SE is a great device for those who wish to reunite with these popular features.

The small form factor of the iPhone SE will also appeal to you if you’re not one of those “bigger is always better” kind of people. Manufacturers seem to have forgotten that not everyone wants a bigger phone – all we see these days are phones that are about 5.8-inches in size and above. The iPhone SE will still fit better in your hand because of how small it is, regardless of how “ergonomic” bigger phones are today.

A great start to Apple’s ecosystem

I’ll admit it; I’m a former Android user who made the switch and never looked back. If you want to try out Apple’s ecosystem, the iPhone SE is the best device to get you started. Of course, you’ll need other Apple products to fully experience the ecosystem’s interoperability, but the iPhone SE itself will already let you enjoy features like iCloud, iMessage and FaceTime. After getting an iPhone SE, you can opt for an
Apple Watch
 or
MacBook
 next and you’ll realize how connected and seamless it is to perform tasks on different Apple products at once.

Longer software updates

Image credit: Apple

Another reason why the iPhone SE is a good pick is that Apple offers software updates longer down the line than any Android manufacturer. You’re guaranteed to get five years of iOS updates with the iPhone SE, unlike Android phones that usually stop getting updates after two to three years. Look at the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus; both devices can be updated to iOS 13 to get the latest features like Dark Mode, Shortcuts and new video editing tools.

Budget flagship, premium features

Image credit: Apple

The iPhone SE may be a budget option, but Apple made sure all the essential premium features remain. You’ll be getting the same A13 Bionic chip and 12MP wide lens seen in the iPhone 11 last year. The iPhone SE also supports wireless charging, 18W fast charging and an IP67 water rating. You’ll be missing out on the extra lenses and a bigger battery, but Apple is still including newer camera features – Smart HDR and portrait mode – and better connectivity with the iPhone SE.

Outperforming midrange Android devices

Despite using a flagship processor, the iPhone SE has a midrange price tag. That itself already makes the iPhone SE more powerful than most midrange phones. Although many of the midrange Android phones have more camera lenses and bigger batteries, they don’t have as many software updates as iOS devices. This means that the iPhone SE is a better phone in the long run – suitable for those who prioritize longevity instead of new designs/features.

Getting the iPhone SE for less than what it costs, but with more benefits

The iPhone SE starts at RM1,999, but that’s for the 64GB storage variant. If we look at the top-spec model, the iPhone SE will set you back RM2,699. Now, there aren’t many of us who can afford to purchase a phone at this price without thinking twice – whether it’s RM1,999 or RM2,699, it’s still a lot of money. So, here’s our advice: get the iPhone SE with Digi’s PhoneFreedom 365.

1. Saving money

What’s great about PhoneFreedom 365 is that you can get the iPhone SE immediately without having to pay its full price in one shot. We’re sure many will agree that paying a smaller amount every month will be less painful on your bank account. There’s also a 0% interest rate and a RM0 upfront payment fee (based on customer eligibility) so you can slowly pay for your iPhone SE over a 24-month period instead of saving up for the next few months and purchasing the iPhone SE later than everyone else.

Monthly Phone Price (PhoneFreedom 365)

Digi Postpaid 80*

Digi Postpaid 120

Digi Postpaid 160

Digi Postpaid 190

64GB (RRP: RM1,999)

RM68

RM63

RM58

RM53

128GB (RRP: RM2,199)

RM75

RM70

RM65

RM60

256GB (RRP: RM2699)

RM94

RM89

RM84

RM79

Purchasing the iPhone SE via PhoneFreedom 365 also means that you’ll get the phone bundled with a postpaid plan of your choice. With PhoneFreedom 365, here’s how much you’ll have to pay for the iPhone SE if you subscribe to Digi’s Postpaid 80*:

      64GB: RM68 x 24 months = RM1,632

      128GB: RM75 x 24 months = RM1,800

      256GB: RM94 x 24 months = RM2,256

You’ll also need to factor in the price of the postpaid plans – Digi Postpaid 80* (RM90), Digi Postpaid 120 (RM120), Digi Postpaid 160 (RM160) and Digi Postpaid 190(RM190) – but when you purchase both phone and mobile plan together, you’re in fact getting more than what you’re paying for. Your iPhone SE will be cheaper because it’s subsidized by Digi and you’ll be getting double internet quota from your postpaid plan. For example, this is how much you’re paying for a 64GB iPhone SE with Digi Postpaid 120, with and without PhoneFreedom 365:

     With PhoneFreedom 365: iPhone SE (RM1,512) + (RM120 x 24 months) = RM4,392

     Without PhoneFreedom 365: iPhone SE (RM1,999) + (RM120 x 24 months) = RM4,879

Note that with PhoneFreedom 365, you’re not only paying less for the phone but also getting more internet data.

2. Additional perks

Speaking of more internet data, Digi’s PhoneFreedom 365 will double the amount of internet no matter which postpaid plan you go for. Your usual Digi Postpaid 120 might offer you 50GB/month, but with PhoneFreedom 365, you’re getting 100GB instead with the same mobile plan. It’s obvious how reliant we are on the internet these days, so getting more internet quota will be useful – imagine watching YouTube videos or playing games without worrying about using up your data.

If you use roaming a lot, then you’ll be glad to know that purchasing the iPhone SE with Digi Postpaid 120, 160 or 190 will also get you free roaming and IDD to 10 countries. This will definitely help you save cost on spending for roaming add-ons that can easily cost you RM50 for seven days of 6GB internet or RM56/day for unlimited internet.

3. Phone protection

We always have one worry when we get our new phones – the fear of dropping the phone and looking at a cracked screen until it’s fixed. Well, you can subscribe for Digi Shield at RM29/month or for free if you’re using Digi Postpaid 160/190. Say your iPhone SE had an accidental or liquid damage, you’ll be entitled to a free repair or even a new replacement if it’s beyond repair – this still applies even if you’re overseas. On the other hand, you’ll have to pay RM39/month for Digi Shield if you’re not a PhoneFreedom 365 customer.

4. Easier phone upgrade

As mentioned, the iPhone SE is a great option if you want a smartphone that can last, but with PhoneFreedom 365, you can always upgrade to another phone if you’re getting bored of your current phone. After the 18
th
 month, you can swap your phone for free and enjoy the newest phones on the market. You just have to renew your contract with Digi for another 24 months which is less tedious than selling your old phone for a lower value to get a new one.

5. Everything can be done online

The times have changed; we’re becoming more active in the online world and the reason is that it’s equally convenient. PhoneFreedom 365 is now available to register and apply online for all existing Digi, port-in and new customers. You won’t need to step out of your house to get the new iPhone SE – everything can be accessed online. For port-in customers, your new SIM card will also be delivered by Digi first before your new phone is delivered. From registration to payment and delivery, everything can be completed online.

6. Sharing is caring

Image credit: Apple

Monthly Phone Price (PhoneFreedom 365 Family Plan)

Digi Postpaid 80*

Digi Postpaid 120

Digi Postpaid 160

Digi Postpaid 190

64GB (RRP: RM1,999)

N/A

RM81

RM81

RM81

128GB (RRP: RM2,199)

N/A

RM89

RM89

RM89

When we talk about PhoneFreedom 365, we’re not only talking about its value to one person. You can also get the new iPhone SE for your family members with Digi Postpaid Family. By paying RM38/month for a supplementary line, another individual can enjoy the same benefits offered by your postpaid plan. Let’s say you’re subscribed to Digi Postpaid 190, you’re paying RM190 every month for your own line and RM38 for your supplementary line, but both lines will be sharing similar perks – unlimited calls and the same amount of internet data (only principal lines will get 2X internet data).

Where to get the iPhone SE

The iPhone SE is available for pre-order starting today. You can check out Digi’s
official site
 or visit the nearest store for more information, or just click
here
 to pre-order!

This article is sponsored by Digi.

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The Huawei Mate 30 series is ever popular in China, but what about in Malaysia?

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In its native China, the Huawei Mate 30 series devices have sold like hotcakes – one million sold in three hours, to be specific. With Huawei being on US’ entity list, questions were raised as to how Huawei’s smartphone would continue to entice buyers.

Coming back home to Malaysia, Huawei says that local folks have redeemed 70% of the vouchers for the Huawei Mate 30 series from the Huawei Member Centre, signifying that despite its brand’s unforeseen shortcomings, Malaysians still want their Huawei smartphones.

The Chinese company reckons the reason for that is due to what the Mate 30 flagships offer – besides powerful hardware like the Kirin 990 chipset that’s paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage, the Mate 30 Pro offers a
SuperSensing
 Cine Camera setup with a 40MP main shooter. It’s capable of a ridiculously high ISO of 51200, can record 4K HDR+ Cinematic Time-lapse videos, have real-time video bokeh, and slow down shots up to 7680fps.

Besides photography, a smartphone needs to prove its weight in gold by actually being smart; and the Huawei Mate 30 series phones do that. Artificial intelligence features like Interactive AI Gesture Control, AI Private View and AI Auto Rotate take advantage of some pretty advanced tech to make phone fit seamlessly into your daily routines.

Speaking of daily routines, productivity is crucial in getting stuff done. For that, the Huawei Mate 30 series come with the latest EMUI 10 OS that packs the multi-screen collaboration feature that allows you to sync up your smartphone to your Huawei MateBook, allowing you to access your smartphone from your laptop.

Plus, with support for 27W wireless charging, both Mate 30 devices can be juiced up quickly without worrying about the clutter of cables.

Still, a smartphone is only as good as its software – without Google Mobile Services (GMS), Huawei won’t be able to have the Google Play Store as well as Google apps installed on the Mate 30 devices. To remedy this, the company’s own Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) takes fills the void offering a host of familiar apps via its own Huawei App Gallery.

Apps like
Fave
, Maybank, Grab,
TikTok
 are among 27 integrated apps to have collectively driven the number of daily activities on the App Gallery to 1.5 million to date. Since January until October of 2019, there has been 100 million total app downloads, while 200,000 new users have signed up for the Huawei App Gallery after since October – this is taking into account that the trade ban was imposed earlier in May. If anything, it seems like customers are unfazed by the ban and are continuing to enjoy their Huawei products.

But if you’re insistent on getting GMS onto your Huawei smartphones, maybe there’s a tutorial on YouTube that could help you out.

But to sweeten to the deal for anyone thinking of getting a Mate 30 device, an after-sale service was offered which included screen protection and extended warranties for their new smartphones. You’ll also be glad to know that this offer is still available, plus a
SuperCharge
 wireless car charger added on.

And should customers decide to buy a Huawei Mate 30, major
telcos
 such as Celcom, Digi and Maxis all offer the smartphone as part of their data plan packages. Not only that, all three brands offer the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro at more affordable rates than other flagships.

Again, when taking into account the whole trade ban kerfuffle, these
telcos
 still chose to include the Mate 30 devices in their repertoire of offerings. Meaning these companies have recognized a public demand for Huawei’s smartphones.

At the end of the day, Huawei’s Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro flagships are impressive devices – they pack some of the best hardware money can buy. Huawei have taken a heavy blow from the trade ban, but beaten the count with continuously growing software developments and offerings. If anything, things are looking up for the brand.

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Is the new Lenovo Miix 700 a Surface killer?

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Everyone is talking about it; how Lenovo’s latest offering is going to kill the Surface 3. But really, is the new Lenovo Miix 700 a Surface killer? Well, looking at the design itself, it is no secret that the Miix 700 is inspired by Microsoft Surface 3. Apparently, even a Lenovo rep has acknowledged so. Let’s take a look at how much is the Miix 700 similiar to the Surface 3.

For one, the most obvious part is the kick-stand. The Miix 700 sports a kickstand that is able to be adjusted to a multiple heights to almost around 160 degrees, just like the Surface 3. However, compared to the Surface 3, the hinge on the Miix 700 is exposed and is using the same type of “watchband” hinges like on the Yoga Pro 3.

The feature that everyone seems to be oogling most is the keyboard cover of the Miix 700. Admit it, the keyboard cover on the Surface really could use some improvement. So what Lenovo did was great. The keyboard of the Miix 700 snaps onto the
tablet
with a strong magnet and is a sturdy keyboard, just like how you would find on many laptops. It folds up slightly into the screen of the
tablet
 to give the keys a bit of angle, and probably to stabilise its keyboard.

On the inside, the Lenovo Miix 700 features an Intel Core M7 processor, which is from the latest family of Intel Skylake processors, and can go up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD should you need that extra speed and space. The screen is 12-inch with 2160×1440 pixels and only weighs about 771g.

The Miix 700 comes with 5MP front and rear cameras, however, you have the choice to plug an Intel RealSense 3D camera, which allows you to log into your Windows 10
tablet
 using your face. So far, none of the Surface tablets are able to do that, but then we have to see what Microsoft will surprise us with in its next Surface refresh, rumoured to hit in a few months time.

Source:
Engadget

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Is Touch ID finally coming back to iPhones?

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On-screen fingerprint sensors have always been a common feature seen on Android smartphone brands such as Samsung, Huawei, and Oppo for many years. Apple, however, is doing the opposite as they removed the Touch ID
–
 starting from their iPhone X series by introducing the Face ID as the only means of a biometric login.

This action has of course sparked some debate among Apple users as the Face ID might not be the most convenient way to unlock our phones now, especially during the pandemic.

If you can relate, this is good news for you as reports are claiming that Apple has plans on including an on-screen fingerprint technology for the iPhone 14 which is set to release sometime in 2023.

Other than the on-screen Touch ID,
previous reports
 have also stated that the device will be displaying the small notch seen on current iPhones; meanwhile the Pro variant will sport a punch-hole cutout
–
yet another feature we’ve seen on Android phones already.

Apple sometimes take existing technologies and add their own spin on it, making them fit the ecosystem better. It’ll be interesting to see how the company plans on reinventing these features.

Source

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