Google’s introduces Pixel Slate, their first official Chrome OS tablet

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Tomorrow will be the day we officially see the new Pixel devices from Google. It might not be a surprise anymore seeing as most of the devices that were to be unveiled tomorrow has already been seen out in the wild. But it looks like there will be one more product that will make an appearance tomorrow.

Google will also introduce the Google Pixel Slate tablet that will run on Chrome OS. Other than that, it will also feature a detachable keyboard accessor and an active stylus. This will be Google’s first and official Chrome OS tablet and it will come with a new User Interface design. The device will come with a 3:2 aspect ratio display and it might support a SIM card seeing as there looks to be antenna bands on the back of the device. The power button is located at the top and on one side, there is a USB Type-C port which is probably used for data transfers and charging the device. The keyboard attachment comes with circular keys and there looks to be a dedicated key to launch Google Assistant.

Not much is known about the internals, but we are expected to know more when the tablet is launch along side the new Pixel phones, Chromecast and the PixelStand.

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Google’s new search feature will allow you to compare devices

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It looks like Google is adding a new feature to their Google Search engine which will allow you to compare two different devices against each other in a clean and easy to read format.

Just like how we used to search for comparison by entering, for example, “iPhone 8 vs Samsung S8” which will either display the details of one of the phones or show up sites that have already compared the phone. Google is taking this matter into their own hands by simply displaying the details side by side and even show the reviews that the devices have and the price with where to get them. If you press on the blue arrow, it will show an even deeper breakdown of the specs by category of Screen Side, Processor and more.

Google has not made an official announcement about this feature or when it will come to everyone, but based on track records, we should expect it to roll out to the world region by region.

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Google’s new smartphone in the Pixel 3 series has a headphone jack

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Apparently Google is not done with this year after the Google Pixel 3 series as there are rumours that the third addition to the series is in progress and people are calling it “Sargo” and also the Pixel 3 Lite.

As hinted by the term “Lite”, the smartphone will be less impressive compared to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, as it will come with a 5.56-inch FHD display with LCD screen instead of OLED screen. However, Google is bringing back the headphone jack on this smartphone, a delightful feature for users who are looking forward towards a Google smartphone that they can plug earphones into. There will also be a fingerprint sensor on its back just like the other smartphones in the series though it will be slightly thicker in terms of size.

Image credit: Rozetked

Now the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL has dual front cameras with 8MP each and 12.2MP rear camera, but the Pixel 3 Lite or “Sargo” has a single 8MP front camera and a 12MP rear camera. The smartphone is also powered by a lower-end processor which is the Snapdragon 670 processor, but it has the similar 4GB RAM though its internal storage of 32GB is less compared to the other two that comes with either 64GB or 128GB storage. Lastly, the battery of the “Sargo” is similar with Pixel 3 where it comes with a 2915mAh battery which might support Quick Charging 4+.

As these information are just rumours and leaks, it is unsure when or if the phone will be launched. However, if the “Sargo” will be launched, it will serve as a budget smartphone in the Pixel 3 series, allowing users to experience most of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL features without having to spend so much. The price of this smartphone is expected to cost around $400 to $500 and if it launches, it’s expected to be launched in early 2019.

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Google’s new WearOS will help extend smartwatches’ battery life

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Google is bringing the new WearOS update to their users, and many users are looking forward to the update as it will be able to extend the battery life of their smartwatches.

Google introduced it as System Version: H Update and although we are unsure what the letter “H” stands for, this update focuses on 4 aspects. The first update is an update to the Battery Saver Mode which made the headlines because it can extend the battery life of smartwatches. The Battery Saver Mode can be turned on once the smartwatch’s battery falls below 10%, whereby only the time will be displayed when it’s low in battery so that users can still have the traditional function of a watch even when it’s running low.

The next update is called the “Improved Off Body Efficiency” which is also aimed towards battery conservation. When user’s smartwatch remains inactive for 30 minutes, it will actually go into a deep sleep mode so that less battery will be used, resulting in longer lasting battery. Then there is also the “Two Step Power Off” which allows smartwatch users to turn off their watch in just two steps. According to a Google employee, you only need to long press on the power button until the power off screen appears, then you are given two options to either shut down your smartwatch or restart it.

Last but not least, there’s “Smart App Resume” for all the smartwatch apps now, which allows users to resume their apps from where they left off previously, so that they will not have to relaunch the app and redo whatever they were doing on their smartwatches. The WearOS is already rolling out, but it was reminded that it will be rolling over the coming months so not all WearOS users will get an immediate update as it is also determined by the watch manufacturers.

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Google’s next update will block autoplay videos with sounds

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The new update from Google would be able to prevent your speakers from the sound blaring that comes from autoplay videos, because they’re blocking it. Google Chrome’s version 66 will include changes to the autoplay system, which means the browser will only play them automatically if the sound isn’t playing by default.

Though this version was slated to be released during the Chrome 64 version, which was planned to permanently mute certain websites that abuse autoplay videos, it was then delayed to Chrome 66 instead. But it’s worth noting that they’re now appearing in the beta channels of Chrome ahead of the public release next month.

It may be a minor update but we bet it’s going to be helpful for a lot of users.

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Google's Nexus branding officially dead

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Many of us are expecting Google to put the Nexus name to rest as the company unveiled their first ever Pixel handset lineup late last night, but we were not entirely certain of Google’s future plans for Nexus. However, a report has confirmed that Google will not be releasing anymore Nexus products or Nexus branded devices for that matter, in the future.

Google’s Nexus products of the past were arguably impressive, seeing great improvement every refresh. Comprising of mostly tablets and smartphones, the Nexus lineup was speculated to end with the Nexus 6P and 5X since rumors regarding the new Pixel phones started to emerge. According to Android Police, Google has confirmed to them at yesterday’s Pixel event that the company won’t be pursuing the Nexus branding anymore. Google is said to not have future plans to make new Nexus products, hence it’s safe to say that the company’s upcoming products will mostly go under the wing of Pixel.

Although it’s merely a branding switch up, the brand new Pixel and Pixel XL handsets will be carrying on the legacy of what Google built upon the Nexus since 2010. Having said that, the Pixel phone does seem very promising, based on Google’s presentation yesterday. The Pixel’s camera happened to score the highest ever on DxOMark, rated higher than the likes of the iPhone 7 and Galaxy Note 7. The Pixel is also the first device to have Google Assistsant officially integrated into its software. This shows the amount of effort that Google puts into their software and hardware. What do you think?

Source:
Android Police

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Google’s Project Stream allows you to stream games in Chrome

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Live streaming is perhaps a new format of consuming media, and it has grown over the years that there are even a few Malaysians that are now part of the Twitch Partner program. Google has mentioned that they are releasing a streaming platform that will be called Yeti and it looks like the service is now officially available.

With the launch, Google has changed the name of the platform to Project Stream and it will allow you to stream games through the Chrome browser. One of the first games that will be supported by this platform is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey which will launch this week. Users that have signed up for the beta and gets accepted will be able to play the latest Assassin’s Creed game but they are looking for users that have internet speeds of 25mbps and above.

The platform is obviously still in beta as it allows for one game to be streamed on its platform. They might be late to join the live streaming craze but perhaps the company will offer a better platform for streamers where they can be properly rewarded for their creativity.

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Google’s search suggestions will soon include thumbnail images

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Who would have thought that we won’t actually survive without a search engine in this day and age? Most of us do realize how important Google Search can be in our daily lives. While Google has already aced the search engine criteria, the company plans to enhance the experience even further in its search suggestions.

According to a source who reached out to the folks at Android Police, Google is currently testing thumbnail images within the search suggestions on the Google search engine on Android. As seen in the image provided above, typing out a name would bring out suggestions alongside images beside them.

This new feature which has not been rolled out will bring more life to the already comprehensive Google search engine. Search suggestions with thumbnail images will undoubtedly compel the common folk to use Google’s search engine tool more frequently than ever. The feature will also ease up the search process as well.

Android Police’s source happens to be using a beta version of Google Search on a Pixel XL. It is likely that Google is still in the preliminary stages of testing out this feature, but we hope to see it soon on our devices. Thoughts?

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Google's Self Driving Car gets into its first accident

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Google’s own self driving car has hit a new “milestone” today as a
DMV report
 shows that said self driving car has gotten into a minor accident while it was operated by the AI.

According to the report, the Google Lexus-model autonomous vehicle (Google AV) “made contact” with the side of the bus as the car was reentering the center of the lane. The report further states that the Google AV was operating in
autonomous mode
 and travelling at less than 2 MPH, and the bus wasa travelling at 15 MPH.

This isn’t the first time Google’s self-driving-cars have been involved in an accident. Indeed, these cars were involved in over a dozen fender benders over the years. The main difference however, is that previous accidents were caused by a human driver. This particular accident occured when the car was driven in “autonomous mode”, or in layman’s term, being driven by the AI.

Suffice to say, the biggest problem that self driving cars will be facing in the future would be unpredictable human behaviours. Seeing as self driving cars won’t be made available for the foreseeable future, Google still has time to work out a solution to counter this issue.

Source:
TechCrunch

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Google’s self-driving car is cute and interesting

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Google has been really active in its self-driving car project recently, and these cars will drive people around without a steering wheel, pedals or brakes. The company has already shown off this concept on Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The picture above is Google’s own concept self-driving car that fits two people, you just need to sit in, tell the computer where to go and it will just drive you there without you stepping on pedals or turning your steering wheels.

Google says the program is currently a prototype phase and the company has plans to build around 100 early versions of the vehicles for testing this summer. These cars are a reminiscent of a Fiat 500 mixed with Playmobil toys. Of course, there’s still a manual override mode in the car in
case
 things go really wrong with it. The prototype cars were made using common car parts which includes heavy use of foam and an electric motor.

We can’t imagine if these cars will make its debut here in Malaysia, even if it does, the car won’t love the roads in Malaysia with lots of potholes and fierce drivers.


Google's to rename upcoming Nexus smartphones as Pixel and Pixel XL

321

It seems that the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P will be the last of the Nexus line of smartphones from Google as the company looks to retire the Nexus name. Come the next batch of smartphones from Google, these devices will be going under the names Pixel and Pixel XL.

The Pixel name has been used by Google before of course, what with the Pxel C tablet and the now retired Chromebook Pixel. The first two devices that will be sporting the Pixel and Pixel XL name will be HTC’s 5″ smartphone codenamed Sailfish, and the 5.5″ smartphone codenamed Marlin.

Rumours are going on that the renamed Pixel and Pixel XL will comes with some new features that will be built over the vanilla Android experience that is offered by the Nexus series. Only time will tell if this move by Google is just a simple rebranding exercise, or something more.

Source:
Android Authority

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Google’s updated Assistant SDK will allow for thrid-party Assistant enabled smart speakers

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Google has announced new updates coming to the Google Assistant SDK which will allow developers to create their own third-party Assistant devices. This will allow for Google Assistant smart speakers to be released by developers other than Google, which will allow more people to access the capabilities of Google Home.

The first major change that is coming is support for third-party Actions which is similar to what Amazon Skills. Developers can now create Actions for their own hardware or software, which is one of the biggest selling points for Alexa. Currently, Google’s Actions was not available to developers, with this we might see more advanced capabilities on Google Assistant. Next, is the support for more languages with the new SDK, Assistant will support languages like English for Australia, Canada, UK and US, French for Canada and France, German and Japanese. Lastly, Google will allow more customizability with settings, allowing users to set language, location and even personalized results, offering better support for location-based queries.

The new version of Google Assistant SDK is currently available now, and for those of you that work closely with SDKs should check it out
here
. Perhaps we will see a Malaysian developed Google Assistant device in the near future?

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GoPro announces the Hero LCD+ with a built-in touch display

263

GoPro has announced its latest entry-level
action camera
 that comes with a
touch LCD display
, the Hero LCD+ will capture 1080p60 videos and 8-megapixel stills, while its touch display will allow easy shot framing, settings control panel and access to an all new in-camera video trimming feature, making it one of the most fully featured entry level action camera in the market.

The great thing this time is that the company has built the LCD display directly into the camera’s waterproof casing, the
HeroLCD+
 is rugged and waterproof up to 40m, which means you will be able to see your live video recording footage while diving under the sea, there’s no mention of whether the
touch digitizer
 will work under water but we assume not, the
Hero LCD+
 also sports Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity which can be used to control the device and transfer footages to your smartphone using the GoPro app.

The Hero LCD+ will retail at $299.99 in the US begin 6 June while international availability will begin 12 July, the inclusion of a built-in touch LCD is certainly a breakthrough for action cameras as touch displays have started becoming common even on professional DSLR camera, its time that GoPro had done something right like this.


GoPro Channel now on PlayStation

306

If you’re one of those who love watching reality shows and real-life action-packed videos, then you can now get your fix with GoPro’s new channel on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 systems. This GoPro Channel allows you to stream GoPro content on demand, browse GoPro cameras and accessories and more – provided you are a PS4 or PS3 user.

“We want GoPro content and programming to be easily accessible on every platform where our millions of fans spend time,” said Jon Cohen, GoPro’s director, distribution. “There’s a sweet-spot of overlap between PlayStation’s super-engaged audience and the GoPro audience and we’re excited to welcome PlayStation to GoPro’s expanding OTT family.”

Key Features of the GoPro Channel app for PS4 and PS3 systems include:

Activities: Access all the videos related to your favorite activities such as ski, surf and flight

Enhanced Search: Search for videos and playlists and watch videos without leaving the search experience

Playlist Browsing: Navigate to your favorite videos within playlists

Product Discovery: Watch product videos and learn more about GoPro cameras and accessories

The GoPro Channel app on PS4 and PS3 systems launches in conjunction with an exclusive GoPro video, The 66th Parallel – Discovering Iceland with Ben Brown. The video will be available on PS4 and PS3 only, until
December 29
. After that, check it out on all GoPro platforms.

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GoPro cuts more jobs and shutters entertainment divison

284

Pebble isn’t the only company that’s facing problems right now as action camera maker GoPro has been suffering on the profits department as well. Unlike Pebble, GoPro has resorted to layoffs and the discontinuation of its entertainment division to keep itself afloat.

For the layoffs part, GoPro is expected to undergo a restructuring move that would see 200 employees being laid off. In addition to that, GoPro will also be cancelling some yet-to-be-filled job openings. Current GoPro Company President Tony Bates will also be leaving the company by the end of the year, although it is unclear if his departure has anything to do with GoPro’s performance in the market. This move is expected to lead to a reduction in force of approximately 15 percent for GoPro.

The layoffs, coupled with the closure of GoPro’s entertainment division and facilities reduction is expected to reduce the company’s operating expense to USD735. GoPro believes that this figure will allow GoPro to return to profitability on an adjusted basis in 2017.

Source:
GoPro

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GoPro Hero 10 Black: Image and specs leaked

624

GoPro releases a new model each year and this year, it’s the GoPro Hero 10 Black. However, leaks have surfaced online revealing the specifications and images of the device ahead of the launch.

Based on the images shown by
WinFuture
, the GoPro Hero 10 Black will not differ much in terms of design. The only difference is we noticed is the GoPro branding which is in blue instead or white as seen on the Hero 9 Black and
Hero 8 Black
.

The GoPro Hero 10 Black may look the same, but it’s more powerful than before

Image credit: @rquandt

Despite the same design, the newer GoPro action camera will have a performance boost, featuring support for 5.3K/60fps videos and 120fps for 4K videos. The camera will also come with better software stabilisation for HyperSmooth 4.0 and TimeWarp 3.0.

Image-wise, GoPro bumped up the image sensor from 20MP to 23MP, but that’s all the changes that were mentioned so far. We still get the same camera housing that can protect the device underwater up to 10 meters, in addition to same touch screen navigation and voice control. GoPro hasn’t revealed the launch date of the Hero 10 Black yet, but it should be happening by early October.

GoPro Hero 10 Black


GoPro Hero 10 Black announced with new GP2 processor and 5.3K 60fps video

748

The new
 Hero 10 Black
 has been
revealed
; it comes with a new processor, higher resolution videos and stills, better stabilisation and it also automatically uploads footages to the cloud when charging.

The GP1 processor that has been used in GoPro’s Hero lineup since 2017 is now replaced with the more powerful GP2 processor, promising faster performance.

According to
The Verge’s review
, the new Hero 10 Black can capture photos and also save recorded videos faster than before.

Image credit: Gadgets NDTV

Now, GoPro users can also shoot 5.3K videos at 60fps, or 4K videos at 120fps with the Hero 10.

The Hero 10 is also capable of grabbing 19.6MP photos from a 5.3K video and has a similar 23.6MP sensor, but GoPro says that it’s better than Hero9 due to the new processor.

Users can also shoot slo-mo at 240fps at a higher 2.7k resolution — the Hero 9 limits it at 1080p.

GoPro’s upgraded HyperSmooth 4.0 comes with three options: boost, standard or off. The first of the three provides the best stabilisation but will also crop your image.

Users can also live-stream in 1080p with HyperSmooth 4.0 which has an increased horizon levelling from 27º to 45º.

Hero 10 Black – what did not change?

Design-wise, the Hero 10 Black is almost twinning with its predecessor, though you’ll notice the usual silver branding is now blue in colour.

The camera is 71mm wide and 55mm tall, and you’re still getting a front LCD screen, a shutter button at the top, and a mode button on its side.

You’ll still get the same 1,720mAh battery and it’s still waterproof up to 10m.

While the GoPro Hero 10 Black isn’t locally available yet, it retails at $349.99 on its global store — we’re expecting it to be priced around RM2,300 when it launches in Malaysia.

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Hero 10 Black


GoPro launches the HERO8 Black with HyperSmooth 2.0 and TimeWarp 2.0

521

GoPro just launched the newest addition to its HERO series, the GoPro HERO8 Black that features various upgrades including HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilisation and TimeWarp 2.0.

The new HERO8 Black is 14% lighter than its predecessor yet comes with built-in mounting and still remains waterproof up to 33ft. Now, the HERO8 Black has improved HDR for photography, supports LiveBurst and also has a better audio compared to the HERO7 Black. It also has customisable on-screen shortcuts, setting presets, custom presets and also supports 1080p live streaming.

Similar to the HERO7 Black, the new GoPro device can record 4K videos up to 60fps and also support Night Lapse Video. Its HyperSmooth 2.0 is now supported on all resolutions, offering improved stability during recordings. Furthermore, the TimeWarp 2.0 now adjust according to the user’s speed and can be slowed down just by tapping on the touchscreen.

Apart from that, GoPro also has new expansion mods for add-on features. There’s a Media Mod that comes with a shotgun mic, a Display Mod with a flip-up LCD viewfinder and also a Light Mod for better lighting.

According to FunSportz, the local distributor for GoPro in Malaysia, the pre-orders for the new GoPro HERO8 Black will be coming soon, starting at the price of RM1,879 from October 10 to October 20 at GoPro Concept Stores.

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GoPro introduces the HERO6 Black with improved image quality and advance stabilization

289

GoPro has just unveiled the new HERO6 Black, the most powerful and convenient that the company has produced. The cam will be using the custom-designed GP1 processor which will allow it to shoot videos in 4K60 frames and 1080p240 frames and will feature the most advanced video stabilization achieved by the company.

Other than the impressive shooting specs, it will also come with an all-new Touch Zoom feature, support for 5GHz WiFi for faster picture and video offload, waterproof up to 30 feet, improved dynamic range and low-light performance and will be compatible with Karma and existing GoPro mounts. The GP1 chip advances the abilities of the cam in computer vision and machine learning, allowing the HERO6 to analyze visual scenes and sensor data for improved automated QuikStories.

The GoPro HERO6 Black is now available on GoPro.com and select retailers worldwide with a price tag of $499.99 (RM2113.71)

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GoPro recalls 2,500 units of Karma drones

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This is probably the reason why you shouldn’t name your product Karma. Although action cam expert company GoPro didn’t do any wrong in the past, or its past life for that matter, it appears that its newly launched Karma drone has been causing some issues, leading to a recall. The GoPro Karma, impressive in its own stride, is what GoPro diehards have been waiting for after so long, but this recall comes as unfortunate news.

According to a press release by the American company, it has discovered that “in a very small number of cases”, the GoPro Karma units happen to lose power in the midst of operation. This means that while flying and operating your Karma drone, its battery could just die off in mid air flight, resulting in several possibilities of danger. In a worst case scenario, the Karma drone might end up crash landing on someone’s head, causing injuries. Thankfully, according to GoPro, no injuries and property damage have been reported thus far.

The recall and refund involves approximately 2,500 units of Karma drone units that were purchased since October 23 last month. Karma drone users can return their units directly to GoPro or to the place of purchase and obtain a full refund. GoPro has stated that there won’t be replacement units for the time being, and that the company will only resume Karma shipments after the issue is resolved. GoPro CEO Nicholas Woodman has assured consumers that the issue is currently being investigated and has apologized for inconvenience.

The recall page for the GoPro Karma can be accessed at
here
, where full details and instructions regarding the recall and refund are available.

Source:
GoPro

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GoPro sets new benchmark on video stabilization with the HERO 7 Black

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GoPro is still very much the champ when it comes to action cameras, and the HERO 7 Black might just be the best action camera that you will want to invest for your next adventure.

Although the HERO 7 Black looks just the same like its predecessor, it now sports a gimbal-like stabilization feature called ‘HyperSmooth’, which enables the user to capture professional looking videos without the need for a gimbal, GoPro says that it will work underwater, in high shock and wind situations, which most gimbals will not be able to handle. Also, the HERO 7 Black will still be able to go underwater up to 10m.

The sample video above shows just how smooth and shake-free the video is when doing fast action sports such as biking, surfing and running, very impressive indeed.

On top of that, the HERO 7 Black now supports live streaming to Facebook, Twitch, YouTube and other platforms, a new portrait mode now supports vertical-capture for sharing to Instagram Stories and Snapchat, audio is also improved with increased dynamic range and a new microphone membrane that reduces unwanted vibrations during mounted situations.

Furthermore, GoPro has introduced the 4K HERO 7 Silver and 1080p HERO 7 White action cameras with up to 10m waterproof, they also feature improved video stabilization than their predecessors.

The GoPro HERO 7 family will be shipping internationally on 27th September, prices of the cameras remain unchanged from the previous generation’s launch price. The HERO 7 Black retails at $399 (RM1,650), while the Silver and White retails at $299 (RM1,236) and $199 (RM823) respectively.

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GoPro to layoff 7% of staff due to underperformance

253

GoPro has truly seen better days as the company has reported that it expect sales from the holiday quarter to be “lower than anticipated”.

In a press release issued by the company
, GoPro revealed that the company expects a a fourth quarter revenue of approximately USD 435 million, which is lower than anticipated due to slower than expected sales. Factors such as the multiple price cuts on the Hero4 camera as well as the USD 30-35 million charge for excess inventory and order commitments also affected the company’s fourth quarter revenue.

With the company in decline, GoPro has announced that it will be layoff 7% of its 1,500 people strong workforce. This move is expected to cost the company roughly USD 5 -10 million, with a significant chunk of the money going to severance pay.

Reaction to both GoPro underperforming as well as the staff layoff hasn’t exactly been encouraging as the company’s stock dropped to USD 10.87 per share after the announcement, which is an all-time low for GoPro.

Whatever the case, it seems that GoPro will have a rough year ahead of them.

Source :
GoPro
,
TechCrunch

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GoPro to release their first drone called "Karma"

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From the makers of compact, high quality action cameras comes…a drone?

That’s right, GoPro is about to take its first step into the drone market by way of something called “Karma”.

Rumours surrounding GoPro’s own drone can be heard way back in 2014 as the company has expressed interest in building their own drone. It was then
officially announced at Code Conference this year
 that GoPro is working on its own quadcopter.

After months of secrecy, GoPro has saw it fit to reveal the Karma to the world.

While not much is known about the drone right now, test footage was made available to the public through the Karma trailer that was released by GoPro earlier today.

According to GoPro, they are currently aiming to release Karma during the first half of 2016. With CES just being a month away, we suspect the drone will be showcased in Las Vegas , with more information such as the pricing and availability to be announced then.

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GoPro unveils its new line up of HERO4 action cameras

283

We recently found out a leak of
GoPro’s upcoming budget camera
, and it has finally come to light. In fact, GoPro has announced three new devices which now you’ll be able to buy one depending on your budget.

The new budget GoPro is not called the 2014 Edition, but simply called the HERO, it records Full HD video at 30 fps and 720p video at 60 fps while offering what an
action camera
 should have – rugged and waterproof design, this entry level GoPro will cost a mere $129 (approx. RM400 after taxes), anyone should be able to own a GoPro now.

There’s also a mid-range model called the HERO4 Silver that comes with a built-in touch display, it shoots 2.7K resolution videos at 30 fps, Full HD at 60fps and 720p at 120fps, it can even take magazine quality photo with its 12
Megapixel camera
, the HERO4 Silver will also have 50% faster WiFi connectivity and improved power management compared to previous models. The HERO4 Silver will retail at $399 (approx. RM1,300 after taxes), around the same price with the current HERO3+.

The flagship HERO4 Black will have similar features to the HERO4 Silver, except that it will be able to shoot 4K footage at 30fps and being able to extract 8.3 megapixel video stills as photos while recording, frame rates on other resolutions are also higher and you’ll be able to create burst shots as fast as 30 photos per second with its 12
Megapixel camera
. The HERO4 Black will retail at $499 (approx. RM1,600 after taxes).

The new GoPro HERO4 line ups will be available on October 5, expect a local launch after a few weeks.


GoPro unveils the Hero5 action cameras and Karma quadcopter; both available next month

320

Today, GoPro has released details about three of the company’s latest products. The first two are part of the Hero line of action cameras, while the other is the long teased Karma drone.

For the Hero action cameras, GoPro will be releasing the Hero5 Black and the Hero5 Black Session on the 2nd of October. For the Hero5 Black, this particular action camera will sport a 2″ touch display, a 12MP camera with RAW support, as well as a built-in GPS. Electronic image stabilization will also be present in the Hero5 Black, and the action camera will also be able to shoot 4K videos at 30 FPS, as well as 1080p videos at 120 FPS.

For those who want something a little cheaper, there is the Hero5 Black Session that is capable of recording 4K videos at 30FPS, as well as producing 10MP pictures. Both cameras are waterproofed right-out-the-box and will support voice commands in seven different languages. Furthermore, the cameras are now cloud-connected, allowing users to auto-upoad photos and videos to an account while their camera is charging. The Hero5 Black will retail for USD399, while the Hero5 Black Session will go for USD299. GoPro will also be offering a GoPro Plus cloud subscription service for USD5 per month.

Next up, we have the long awaited Karma drone. Originally scheduled to launch in the first half of the year, GoPro’s Karma is a sleek, compact and foldable quadcopter that is designed to fit into most backpacks. The drone itself comes with a 3-axis stabilizer that can be slid out from the drone and attached to an included handheld “Karma Grip,” allowing you to record smooth shots on the ground. The Karma is controlled by a controller with a built-in touchscreen. The Karma drone will be available by itself for USD799. GoPro will also be selling the Karma as well as the Hero5 series as a bundle, with the Hero5 Black bundle costing USD1,099, while the Hero5 Black Session bundle will cost USD999.

Source:
Enga
dget

drone
gopro
hero5black
hero5blacksession
karma
quadcopter


GoPro’s announces its small cube Hero 4 Session camera and new accessories

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GoPro has been a household name for its action cameras, while we haven’t been seeing much new design in this hardware category, the company has announced its smallest high performance Hero 4 Session action camera, a simple cube like device that only has one button to rule everything.

The Hero 4 Session weighs a mere 74g, its 8-megapixel camera will take up to 1440p videos at 30 fps while it features an advanced ISO sensitivity of up to ISO1600 for low light action videography. The Hero 4 Session comes with a non-removable 1030mAh battery this time and GoPro rates a maximum 2 hour battery life when recording on 1080p30, which is fine however a deal breaker for those who uses action cameras for hours.

In addition, GoPro has also announced new range of accessories for all GoPro cameras:

The Strap
 ($59.99) — Delivers nearly limitless mounting possibilities without limiting your range of motion, whether wrapped on your hand, wrist, or leg.

The Jam
 ($69.99)– For the musician in your life, The Jam mounts your GoPro to just about anything on stage, whether it’s a guitar headstock, drum hoop, keyboard, brass instrument, or a mic
stand
. Highly adjustable, the Jam can score any angle you want.

Casey
 ($49.99) — GoPro’s first travel and storage solution to keep all your gear protected. Casey features a water-resistant, semi-rigid shell to protect against light rain and snow, while a padded interior with removable dividers protects your arsenal of camera(s) and accessories. It will fit inside your backpack, but is large enough to carry everything you need to capture your adventure.

If you are looking for better wind reduction in audio recording, GoPro is also selling the new WindSlayer at $19.99, a foam windscreen that aims to reduce wind noise when performing high speed activities such as surfing and biking, the accessory however, is only available for Hero 4, Hero 3+ and Hero 3 users.

The Hero 4 Session and new accessories will be widely available on July 12th, the camera’s suggested retail price would be $399.99.

accessories
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windslayer


GoPro's Karma drone now available in the U.S.; international availability expected in Spring

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GoPro’s Karma drone did not have the smooth launch that the company expected. Not long after the drone was available for purchase, users begin reporting that the Karma has a nasty tendency to lose power while in mid-flight. Things got so bad that
GoPro was forced to issue a recall
 for the drone in early November. Now, three months after the Karma was recalled, GoPro is feeling confident about the Karma as the drones have returned to the market, albeit in a limited form.

Starting from today, those living in the U.S. can now purchase the Karma drone either through the
GoPro website
, or at select U.S. retailers like Best Buy and Amazon. For those living outside of the States, you’re going to have to wait a while as GoPro will only be servicing U.S.-based orders for now. GoPro has stated the Karma will be available to international customers by Spring at the earliest, so anyone here who’s thinking about getting the Karma are going to have to be patient.

As for pricing, GoPro did not offer any discounts to the Karma, so the drones will have the same pre-recall prices. The basic Karma drone with no camera will cost you USD799, while the Karma drone with a Hero 5 Black will cost you USD1,099. Additionally, GoPro will also be offering a version of Karma without a stabilizer for USD599.

Source:
The Verge

gopro
karma
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recall
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unitedstates


GoQii Band Unboxing by Emmanuel of GeekCeption

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We’ve partnered with GeekCeption, an all new YouTube channel that started just like us, this techy individual may not be from Malaysia however he is actually pursuing his studies in Malaysia, therefore he’s helping us to review the GoQii Band. GoQii is a US-based company that just started selling its only fitness band here exclusively over at Lazada Malaysia, the GoQii Band is a fitness tracker that is comes with a OLED display that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.o LE, it tracks your workouts and sleeping activities and will support all three major mobile platforms – iOS 7, Windows Phone 8 and Android 4.3. What’s so unique about the GoQii Band is that you do not need to rely on its app to track your fitness activities, it also support most popular third party apps such as Runtastic, Edmondo, Nike+ and etc.

In addition, purchasing a GoQii Band means you also get access to GoQii’s list of professional certified coaches, which will guide you on your fitness activities remotely and we are not entirely sure if that service is available, the more you work out with the band you also earn Karma points, which can be converted into donations to be donated to GoQii’s donor partners. While Emmanuel from Geekception has unboxed the device, stay tuned to his full review coming right up.


Got an old Beetle? Volkswagen could help to electrify it

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If you happen to own the old retro Volkswagen Beetle, you’ll happy to know that Volkswagen hasn’t given up on it yet, as it is partnering with a German firm called eClassics to convert the beloved bug into an electric car.

By all means, this conversion is only offered at the marque’s homeland at this point of time and there’s no indication if this will be rolled out to the rest of the world. With this partnership, Volkswagen is providing an existing powertrain based on its E-Up! electric city car for the conversion, while at the same time it is already working on an electric conversion solution for vintage microbuses.

With the electric motors and batteries in place, the Beetle will gain about 80hp and sprint to 80km/h in around 8 seconds with an estimated range of 200km per charge, that’s some good numbers if you are thinking to drive the bug for some quick grocery shopping in town, and imagine that silence when driving the classic.

No price has been mentioned for the conversion, but it probably won’t be cheap as well considering the fact that you are basically replacing almost everything under the hood for the sake of keeping that classic car chassis.

Volkswagen is set to reveal more details at the Frankfurt Motor Show coming next week, and let’s hope this cool conversion project can reach other parts of the world.

beetle
volkswagen
vw beetle electric


The Malaysian government plans to reduce toll charges during off-peak hours soon

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In the then opposition party’s manifesto during the 14th General Elections, Pakatan Harapan (PH) listed the abolishment of toll fares around the country. It has been almost a year since PH’s historic win in the elections, finally it seems that their promise to abolish toll fares are finally being realized.

Reports have surfaced claiming that the Government are in talks with Gamuda Berhad – who operate a number of the country’s highways – to reach an agreement to revise concession charges on four major highways. These highways are Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (SPRINT), Lebuhraya Shah Alam (KESAS) and SMART Tunnel.

Image credit: PMO

The catch, however, is that concessions won’t
entirely
 be redacted – instead, the Government intends to implement a “congestion charge” that only takes effect during peak hours within a six-hour period. During peaks hours, concession charges will remain. Although no word on what the exact timings are, we can assume they’re a combined time frame of 6am-9am and 6pm-9pm.

During “off-peak hours” tolls will be completely free. According to the statement, off-peak hours take place from11pm-5am. Any time in between, concessions will cost 30% less than their full price.

According to the PMO’s statement, this is part of an initial move to implement a nation-wide abolishment of toll fares. All revenue collected from the “congestion charges” will go into the maintenance and operation of these highways.

If you’re still bummed about the RM0.10 petrol price hike, then this news should cheer you up. We know it cheered us up!

abolish
fares
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toll


Government will upgrade Streamyx services to Unifi by March 2019

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The Government of Malaysia has recently announced that all Streamyx users will be upgraded to Unifi through Telekom Malaysia (TM) by March 2019.

According to Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister, Eddin Syazlee Shith, the services will be upgraded in stages, provided that the users are in areas with access to Unifi.

“If the users are out of range or have no Unifi access, then the alternative is that their Streamyx speed will be upgraded to 8 Mbps or they will receive 4G LTE access. All of these upgrades will be free of charge without any additional cost,“ he said during Question Time in Dewan Negara.

This was brought up when he was responding to a question from Senator Ismail Ibrahim who wanted to know the measures taken by the government to tackle Streamyx disturbances and offset its high cost compared to the data subscription capacity for rural users.

“These measures were part of the government efforts to offset the relatively high cost of Streamyx services at the moment while, at the same time, the higher capacity with Unifi was being offered at a lower cost,” he added. For the time being, there’s still no information if the Government would come up with a lower rate for Streamyx. Till then, we shall wait for further announcement given by the Government.

streamyx
unifi


GPU Turbo update has arrived on the Huawei nova 3i

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The GPU Turbo update has now arrived on the Huawei nova 3i phone. The update is said to boost the performance for graphics-intensive apps as well as improve the battery life.

The nova 3i is one of the best entry-level phones that the company has produced and it comes with features that are catered to the Instagram age as well as the younger audience. The phone comes with the Kirin 710 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. On the back houses a 16MP+2MP sensors and the front spots a 24MP+2MP sensor. The phone comes with AI features like scene recognition and system optimizations thanks to EMUI.

The company has claimed that the GPU Turbo update will bring 60% improved performance and 30% reduction in battery consumption. If you are an owner of the nova 3i, you can check for new update in your settings menu.

3i
gpu
huawei
nova
turbo
update


Grab and Hotlink prepares the Pokemobile in anticipation of the launch of Pokémon Go

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With Pokémon Go expected to be launched in Malaysia sometime Soon™, Grab and Hotlink have teamed up to provide aspiring Pokémon Masters a service that may ease the whole catch ’em all process. The service in question? The PokeMobile.

Available on the first two days of the official launch of Pokémon Go in Malaysia, Grab and Hotlink will be deploying four Nissan Almeras with Pokémon-themed livery as the PokeMobile. Operating within the Klang Valley area, these PokeMobile will provide free rides to customers to the nearest Pokéstop. Drivers of the PokeMobile will be provided with an iPad that runs Pokémon Go, allowing them to monitor the locations of Pokéstops. These cars are also outfitted with USB charging ports, allowing players to recharge their devices while riding to the next location.

Besides free rides to Pokéstops, Hotlink customers will also receive USD100 worth of Pokecoins for free if they manage to catch a PokeMobile. For those who aren’t lucky enough to spot one of these cars, Hotlink will be offering a 10-percent discount on all Pokecoin purchases for its customers until the end of the year. This offer will also be extended to other in-app purchases made from Google Play games such as Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Sage, and many more. Unfortunately, it appears that this offer will not be available to iOS users.

android
grab
hotlink
pokemobile
pokemongo


Grab enters partnership with Citi; Citibank credit card holders will be able to pay for rides with credit card points

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Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing platform Grab has just entered a partnership with Citi. The result of that partnership would see Citibank credit cards holders being able to pay for their Grab rides with Citibank credit card points.

Currently available in Singapore and the Philippines, with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to be included shortly, the initial phase of Grab and Citi’s partnership will allow Citibank credit card holders to receive a discounted first ride, so long as they add said credit card to GrabPay. On the other end of things, Grab customers who sign up for a Citibank credit card will receive USD50 worth of free rides.

“We are thrilled to partner with Citi to extend its best-in-class loyalty capabilities to make it easier to serve and reward our customers in the region,” says Joel Yarbrough, Head of Payments and Commerce Product for Grab. “We have seen that the rapid adoption of mobile and other digital channels has truly transformed how and where people bank and we are delighted to partner with Grab. By integrating our services into key applications such as Grab we also will drive growth in our cards business via new acquisitions and increased customer loyalty,” says Anand Selva, Head of Asia Pacific Consumer Banking for Citi.

citibank
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Grab expands its service to four additional cities

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Ridesharing service Grab is expanding once again as the service will be made available to an additional four cities situated in both East Malaysia and Peninsular Malaysia.

Starting from today, GrabCar will now be available in Ipoh, Kuantan, Kuching and Seremban. Grab also mentions that the GrabCar service is available in the districts of Nilai and Port Dickson as well, so those living in the are will have access to the service if they want to.

In order to celebrate GrabCar’s expansion into these four cities, the service will be launching an exclusive promotion in the cities mentioned above. From the 15th to 31st of March, GrabCar customers can use the promo code HIGRAB5 to enjoy RM5 discount for their next 10 rides.

“Since the introduction of GrabCar in Klang Valley as a complementary service to taxis, the service has quickly risen to be one of the preferred alternative mode of transporation,” says Sean Goh, Country Head of Grab Malaysia. “As a Malaysian homegrown company, we understand local nuances and consumer needs, therefore we are able to work alongside the government to address the transport issues in the country.”

expansion
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GrabFood will deliver durians to your door step – RM20/kg Musang King promo also available this weekend

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‘Tis
 the season of the durian, and that means the whole of Malaysia goes banana for the King of Fruits. If you’re a fan yourself, you should know that GrabFood will be delivering golden
deliciousness
 right to your doorstep.

To sweeten the deal, you can get RM20/kg
Musang
 King deals courtesy of Durian SS2 this 26 July to 28 July. Customers must use
GrabPay
 to purchase the durians. Each user is limited to only 3KGs as well as one transaction only.

But if you miss out, you can also enjoy a RM20/300g promo when you use the GRABDURIAN promo code. Participating outlets include Durian SS2, Sungai Ruan Durian and Tony Durian USJ 4. This promo is valid with a minimum spend of RM40.

If you miss out on the deals, fret not, you can still have your durians delivered to your door step – the service is available from July 29 to August 31. The list of participating outlets are here.

Visit Grab’s website for the complete terms and conditions for the deals.

durian
food delivery service
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musang king


Grab has officially launched their GrabPay system in Malaysia

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Grab Malaysia has officially launched their GrabPay mobile Wallet. This new system will allow users to use the wallet for services like the Grab app and pay for their bills in stores and restaurants. They have also announced that they are partnering up with local businesses like Maybank, KLIA Express and merchants like Tealive.

Unlike the previous version of GrabPay that only allowed the use of debit and credit cards, the new update will allow users to top-up money to pay for Grab services like GrabFood and rides. Other than that you can also pay merchants using the system if they have a GrabPay QR code in their establishments. Users can also transfer money to another user via the app.

Starting today, GrabPay will be accepted in more than 500 F&B merchants eight cities, Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Melaka, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Kuantan. Users that use the GrabPay app to pay for their bills will also redeem GrabRewards points which previously was only earnable when you pay for rides.

You can start using the GrabPay service right now from the Grab app. Launch up the Grab app and select the ‘G’ icon on the top right, register your details, snap a photo of your IC and you will be all set to venture into the world of cashless payment.

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Grab introduces Grab Daily Insurance (GDI) to driver-partners for as low as RM1/day

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The new e-hailing regulations have made it compulsory for Grab driver-partners to follow certain procedures; one of it is the purchase of an e-hailing insurance/takaful. In relation to that, Grab has introduced its own insurance plan called Grab Daily Insurance (GDI) to lessen driver-partners’ burden.

Compared to the usual insurance plan, GDI is more flexible and affordable as it offers daily coverage instead of requiring users to pay an upfront amount for the whole year. Furthermore, this daily insurance/takaful coverage will only be activated when Grab driver-partners go online.

This is cost-saving for Grab driver-partners who are not working every day of the week. They could work three days a week and only pay for three-days insurance fees, meaning on days they’re offline and not working, their driver-partners’ Credit Wallet will not be deducted.

According to Grab, “Daily rates range between RM1 to RM2, depending on driver-partners’ Motor Insurance/Takaful provider as approved by Bank Negara Malaysia.” Moreover, there are 14 insurers and takaful operators that are involved in this insurance plan. All Grab driver-partners just need to opt-in to DGI within the app and if their Motor Insurance/Takaful provider is in the Grab’s list, then they’ll be eligible for GDI.

Visit Grab’s
website
 for more information.

GDI
grab
Grab Daily Insurance


Grab introduces GrabPay Credits as an alternative payment option

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Don’t have a debit or credit card on hand to use Grab? Not to worry as the ride-sharing service has introduced a prepaid system that would allow you to store credits in your account and use them at a later date.

The system is called GrabPay Credits and it allows users to top up their Grab account with credits that can be spend on rides. GrabPay Credits can be acquired through numerous methods such as online bank transfers, credit/debit cards and e-Wallets, MOL points and convenience stores. For the convenience store option, GrabPay Credits can currently be acquired through 7-Eleven stores and Petronas’ Kedai Mesra stores.

In order to top up your Grab account, all you need to do is to navigate to the “Top-up Credits” section located on the GrabPay menu. On the “Credits” page, select the top-up value and the preferred payment method. Follow the instructions for the respective payment method selected and once the trasnaction is completed, a pop-up screen will appear with details of the transaction. Your Credits screen will shown the updated balance, and you can start taking Grab rides without having to worry about credit cards.

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Grab introduces its on-demand delivery service called GrabExpress

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Grab is definitely the leading e-hailing service in Malaysia right now, and with its services such as GrabFood and GrabPay, the number of the app’s users only continue increasing. However, Grab doesn’t stop there as the company continues to expand by introducing GrabExpress, an on-demand delivery service.

This service that was in beta stage in 2018 is now officially available in Klang Valley area in addition to the previous selected areas such as Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur City Centre and KL Sentral.

GrabExpress allows users to deliver various kind of items such as documents, parcels, gifts to other individuals that are in the covered areas so you won’t have to worry anymore if you’ve forgotten your items at home or you’re rushing to deliver an item yet don’t have the time for it.

Malaysia is also not the only country that supports GrabExpress because this service is also available in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines. That aside, GrabExpress also offers insurance coverage up to RM500 so you can rest assure to let the app handle your documents and parcels.

With the launch of the service, Grab now offers RM5 off for one delivery for every first time user with the promo code ‘GRABEXPRESS’ and this is limited to the first 1000 redemptions.

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GrabExpress


Grab is buying over operations in Southeast Asia from Uber

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Grab is becoming a whole lot bigger thanks to a deal between the two biggest ride-sharing companies, Grab and Uber in Southeast Asia. Uber has agreed to sell its SEA business to Grab which will put them at the top alongside Indonesia’s GoJek which is backed by Alphabet Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd.

However, Uber pulling out of SEA is not as bad as it sounds, as the US ride-sharing company will still have a 30 percent share in the agreement based on a statement from a source that wants to remain anonymous. When asked about it, the two ride-sharing companies declined to comment on the deal and will probably make an announcement at a later time. Uber has been going through some tough times, with the recent regulatory crackdown in Europe and a scandal that drove co-founder Travis Kalanick out as CEO of Uber in June.

SoftBank which is on the board of directors of Uber has mentioned that they want to focus on US, Europe and Australia as they found there is lack of profits in Asia. Uber’s current CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, has said in a conference back in November that Asia will not be profitable for them anytime soon due to how heavily Uber is subsidizing rides here.

We will report back with more information when Uber and Grab makes this deal public. As of now, the Uber app is still operational in Malaysia, but we might see it leave our app stores when the deal is finalized.

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Grab is working on a cashless digital wallet service

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With Android Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay being rolled out to various countries around the world, it seems that cashless transaction is about to be the norm soon. One such company believes so, and they have announced their intentions to start such a service itself. The company in question? The Singaporean ridesharing service known as Grab.

First teased during the beginning of the year, Grab’s cashless digital wallet service, ‘GrabPay,’ will allow users to pay for items outside of its service using its payment system. Grab is currently eyeing Indonesia as its first market, and is looking to roll out the service to users before the end of the year. To help with the rollout of GrabPay, Grab has partnered up with Lippo, a billion dollar Indonesian retail conglomerate. Should Grab’s experiment with GrabPay turns out to be successful, the company plans to roll the service out to other SEA countries as well, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

“The potential of developing a mobile payments platform in Southeast Asia is limited. The majority in Southeast Asia are unbanked but are armed with mobile phones. We need to find a cashless solution that helps them manage their money and mobile wallets if one way forward,” says Anthony Tan, CEO of Grab.

Source:
TechCrunch

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Grab officially launches GrabRewards program

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Grab has officially launched their rewards program, rewarding all new members and old members alike. GrabRewards is the region’s first-ever ride-hailing passenger loyalty programme offering a rewarding Grab ride experience for its passengers. Some of you might have already know about this reward program that was introduced back in December 2016, where a selected group of members were giving the opportunity to pilot test this new feature. The more frequent a passenger rides with Grab the more points they will accumulate, using the points they earn to redeem discounted rides from Grab to exclusive promotions from Rewards Partners.

Users will be placed in tiers based on the points they accumulated where RM1 spent is equaling to 1 point, based on the total spent in the last six months, users will be either placed in Sliver, Gold or Platinum, with new passengers starting at the Member tier. Grab is also pushing all rides to be cashless by rewarding passengers that use GrabPay, which is Grab’s cashless payment method, 10 times more points and 5 times more for cash payment, supporting the conversion of a cashless economy for Southeast Asia.

GrabRewards Partners such as Tesco, Happy Fresh, myBurgerLab, Forever 21, Flower Chimp, Zalora and dahmakan have also come on board by offering exclusive deals to all passengers, in addition to that passengers can redeem RM5, RM10 and RM15 off rides where the redemption value is up to 8.8% from the total spent on Grab. You can check your status of your tier in the app by opening the menu on the top left and selecting Rewards Member.

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Grab officially rolls out “GrabClub” for more savings on Grab ride and GrabFood

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Grab has officially launched GrabClub where Grab users are able to save more when they use the app for both rides and food delivery services.

GrabClub is a monthly subscription plan that gives you more savings on your Grab rides and GrabFood orders. This plan is easy to sign up via the Grab app and payable using GrabPay Credits only. With this monthly subscription you could save 55% on your Grab rides and GrabFood orders, you could also choose the Grab-It-All Pass which costs only RM50 a month.

You can sign up for GrabClub when you open the app and click on the “Your Profile” icon on the top left, then click on “GrabClub” on the menu, select the Grab-It-All Pass “View Plan” button, the next page will outline the rewards you are getting when you purchase this plan, next, click on “Get This Plan” button, make payment for the plan using your GrabPay credits and finally, access your rewards in the My Rewards tab under GrabRewards.

For more information, visit
https://www.grab.com/my/blog/grabclub-grab-it-all/

grab
GrabClub


Grab launches PayLater in Malaysia, a convenient service that combines your Grab transactions into a single monthly bill

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Grab’s new postpaid service called PayLater has just launched and it can be used for Grab rides, GrabFood orders and also GrabExpress deliveries.

PayLater is a service already introduced in Singapore a few months ago, but not in Malaysia — well, not until today. Just like how postpaid plans work, you get to spend on Grab services for the first month and pay the total amount of transactions on the next month. In addition, there will be no extra charges — unless you fail to pay your Grab bill on time — so you can conveniently pay for all the services you’ve used in a single bill each month.

Currently, Grab only offers PayLater to eligible users and this depends on several factors including your GrabRewards tier, the number of rides taken and the duration of your Grab membership. If you’re eligible for PayLater, you’ll be able to activate it by going to the Payment tab at the bottom navigation bar. Just tap on “Try PayLater Now” and then tap on “Activate PayLater” and you’re good to go.

Grab also stated that the billing period starts from the beginning of each month to the end of each month no matter when you activate the feature. Once the bill is sent to you on every 1st of the month, you’ll have seven days to pay it or you’ll be charged with a penalty fee for late payment.

In addition, each Grab user is given their own PayLater Available Amount and this cannot be changed. So, while some may get RM200 as their pre-approved monthly PayLater amount, others might get more or less. I’m guessing Grab analyses the average amount each user spends monthly and offers them a unique pre-approved monthly PayLater amount based on that.

grab
PayLater


Grab has quietly invested in oBike’s bicycle-sharing service

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The famous ride-sharing company, Grab, has quietly backed oBike recently as part of their Series B round that was announced back in August based on a source that told TechCrunch about the deal. However, Grab’s name as not announced publicly by oBike as its investors and a Grab spokesperson declined to comment on this business deal.

oBike is similar to Grab in a way as oBike offers a bicycle-sharing service to the city folks to get around the city in the cheapest way possible. In
recent news
, MBPJ has been rounding up these bikes because they have been left around without being placed in proper area obstruction roads and walkways. We do not know what are the terms and conditions of the deal between these two companies but we do hope that Grab might help pull on some strings to get this bicycle sharing service the boost it needs.

It does make sense why this two businesses would want to join hands in business, seeing as they are both ride-sharing businesses, but oBikes, as we know, will still be operating as normal and you can still download the oBike app from the Play Store and App Store on your respective devices to give this service a try.

grab
investment
obike


Grab Redkey F10 Cordless Foldable Vacuum Cleaner at RM100 off this 10.10 sales festival

579

Looking to replace your old vacuum cleaner and go cordless? Look no further on the

Redkey Official Shopee Store
, where you can grab the
Redkey F10 cordless foldable vacuum cleaner
at an amazing value.

The Redkey F10 cordless vacuum cleaner features a
90-degree foldable design
 that’s unlike any others, it enables the user to reach the bottom of the sofas or beds without bending down, combined with
140AW suction power
 made possible by the 400W brushless digital motor and up to 5 suction power adjustment levels, Redkey F10 works on both hard surfaces and carpets, which makes cleaning your home effortless.

Low battery anxiety will be a thing of the past as the Redkey F10 uses a
removable battery with up to 60 minutes of cleaning time
 (automatic mode), which unlike most cordless vacuums in the market, users can purchase additional spare batteries to swap if they need to clean their home for extended periods, eliminating the need to wait for it to get fully charged whenever it runs low on battery.

What’s more, Redkey F10 also has a
dust refraction lamp
 that lets users easily detect dust on the floor, a
smart dust sensor
 that automatically adjusts the suction power, a
three-layer HEPA filter
 that filters 0.3 microns of bacteria and viruses up to 99.9%, and a detachable 0.6L large dust cup that let users empty with just a press of a button.

The Redkey F10 comes with two cleaning heads and one additional HEPA filter in the box.

For a limited time from
October 1-12
, Redkey F10 can be purchase at the
Redkey Official Shopee Store
 for a promotion price of
RM679 (U/P: RM779)
, and get a
free Xiaomi Smart Portable Organic Perfume Repellent worth RM119
, which is a combined savings of RM219. First come, first served. Don’t miss this 10.10 promotion offer!

The Redkey F10 comes with a 1-year local warranty and is distributed by Comsat Distributions Sdn. Bhd.

redkey
redkey f10
vacuum cleaner


Grab runs pilot for Ride Cover – an insurance program for GrabRide services

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Grab Malaysia is currently running a pilot programme for their new Ride Cover insurance offering – upon ordering a ride, you can choose to pay an additional RM0.35 to opt for the insurance, which is provided by Chubb.

Since it’s provided by Chubb, you can expect the same mechanics as when you book a bus ride on Easybook.com. With this, you’re entitled to up to RM100,000 personal accident coverage and “100%” No Delay guarantee – if your order is 15 minutes late, you get a RM5 Grab Ride voucher.

Image credit: Grab Malaysia

The exact details are this – you get RM2,000 on top of the base coverage; while a maximum of RM100,000 will be awarded for death or permanent disability.

Image credit: Grab Malaysia

The insurance is only eligible for GrabRide services only – not for GrabBike, GrabShare, or GrabRent. Considering Malaysia has reportedly the third highest death rates from road accidents – it would be wise to opt in for this programme to at least protect yourself financially.

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ehailing
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Grab the PICO 4 VR headset at RM100 off this 11.11

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Missed out on the PICO 4’s preorder deal back then? Mark your dates on 11.11, as PICO Malaysia is once again offering the PICO 4 VR headset at RM100 off its usual retail price, which the 128GB storage variant will go off at RM1,599 and the 256GB at RM1,899 for just one day.

In addition to the savings, customers will be given free access to 6 Games Bundle worth more than RM500, this is in addition to the 4 Games Starter Gift Pack that was given back in the preorder, which makes this one great deal not to be missed.

Powered by the Snapdragon XR2 processor, the PICO 4 VR headset is the direct competition to the Meta Quest 2, it features a lightweight and ergonomic design all thanks to the use of a pancake lens that pushes 4K+ resolution from both lenses that can refresh up to 90Hz, a 16MP RGB camera resides at the front for users to see through their surroundings while wearing the headset, the VR headset comes with a pair of 6DoF HyperSense controllers and a large 5300mAh battery.

For those who prefers a more affordable VR headset, PICO will also be doing a flash sale on the PICO Neo 3 Link at a special price of RM999 during 11.11, which is down from its usual RM1,599 price tag.

The PICO 4 and PICO Neo 3 Link can be purchased at official PICO online stores at Lazada,
Shopee
 and TikTok Shop.

pico
pico 4
pico malaysia
pico neo 3 link


Grab to implement facial recognition verification system this July, requiring riders to take selfies of themselves

269

To boost safety measures for both rider and driver, Grab will soon require riders to take selfies as a form of verification if they want to continue using the ride-hailing app.

Grab says that they are implementing this new facial-recognition verification system is a one-time process and the riders’ pictures will not be shared with the drivers, but will instead be kept private. This new system is put in place in accordance to requirements set by the Transport Ministry.

The implementation of the system will happen on July 12, and will be pushed to riders in stages. Once prompted, you will have to snap a selfie of yourself and you should be good to go.

facial recognition
grab


Grab users can now pick their own Astro Radio brands to listen to during rides

384

Grab itself has expanded greatly over the years, with more offers, rewards and even improvements in terms of its services and app experience. Even so, the company doesn’t stop as from today onwards, Grab users are allowed to pick their own radio brand.

Collaboration with Astro Radio, Grab users can now choose the radio brand that they want to listen to when they’re in the car, and they’ll be given a total of ten brands to be exact. These brands are HITZ, MIX, LITE, MY, MELODY, GOXUAN, ERA, SINAR, ZAYAN and RAAGA.

However, this new experience is not available to all Grab cars yet, and the vehicles with this new service can be identified through car wraps and in-car hangers. For now, Klang Valley seems to be the only area that includes this entertainment experience.

Users will also be notified if they’re taking a Grab car that supports the new experience by Astro Radio. They can choose to listen to any of the brands via the Grab app as they make their bookings and there will be no extra charges.

astro
Astro Radio
grab


Grab your free DLC on Dying Light by #DrinkForDlc

293

Techland had a little fun at Bungie’s expense, when the Destiny developer rolled out a promotional partnership with Red Bull that offered exclusive DLC to players who purchased, and doubtless drank, specially marked cans of the stuff and they didn’t bring it up because Destiny isn’t on PC, but Dying Light is. That’s the moment when Techland announced its “Real King of Hydration” campaign and it’s one of the best gaming campaign ever.

Techland had a little fun at Bungie’s expense yesterday, after the Destiny developer rolled out a promotional partnership with Red Bull that offered exclusive DLC to players who purchased, and presumably drank, specially marked cans of the stuff. We didn’t bring it up here because Destiny isn’t on PC, but Dying Light is, so when Techland launched its “Real King of Hydration” campaign, we figured it was worth a mention.

You require to hashtag “DrinkForDlc” and there are multiple stretch goals, beginning with 50% XP boost to player agility for 24 hours on June 28 and running through four separate pieces of new DLC that will be released free when the various tiers are hit. There isn’t any footage or news about the DLC, but what has been confirmed was that pictures of pets’ drinking water will count toward the final total. Besides that you can redeem a weapon docket from Techland as promised, on the DrinkForDLC image: TH1RST-1S-R34L and you can redeem it at
dockets
.
dyinglightgame
.
com
.

So folks, remember to #DrinkForDlc to get free DLC from the Dying Light team!

bungei
destiny
drinkfordlc
dying
hydration
king
light
of
real
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th1rst1s34l


Grab your free games now from GOG

256

Remember the nostalgia kung-fu RTS game you play during 2001? You will not believe this, GOG is giving away Battle Realms for free and this can be a best way for you to start your day.

You are able to claim this gift by visit
GOG’s
home page before June 11, 12:59PM BST (June 12, 06:59AM Malaysia Time), scroll down past the Bundles and Highlights sections, and click on the free gift banner. After some period of time, you will be emailed confirmation that Battle Realms has been added by your account.

Besides that, you can visit GOG to check out more bundle and discount from this year’s Summer Sale. So, please don’t miss out this chance to get more good deals from GOG’s. Meanwhile, if you purchase any games or bundles will receive bonus free copies of SimCity 2000, STALKER: Clear Sky and Xenonauts.

The Summers sales will come to end at June 21, 2015.


GrabBike Beta is now opening applications for partner riders – pilot programme to start January 2020

323

Grab is currently opening public registrations to be part of their fleet of
GrabBike
 riders.
GrabBike
, like Indonesia’s
Gojek
 , is a motorcycle e-haling service.

The new service is still in its beta stage and it will run a six-month pilot
programme
 starting January next year. The application slots are only open to those residing in the
Klang
 Valley and will be able to take on both
GrabBike
 as well as
GrabFood
 orders.

Like signing up to be a
GrabCar
 partner, there are certain criteria that need to be met – two of which includes owning a motorcycle that is no older than 5 years; and the applicant must have an official bike license. Registrations close this December 2. For customers, this is exciting news as we’ll have a new mode and possibly cheaper mode of ride-sharing next year.

e-hailing
Gojek
grabbike
grabcar


GrabBike is the new bike e-hailing service in town – available in KL only

895

Dego
 Ride became the country’s first bike e-hailing service after launching one New Year’s Day – not to be undone by however, is the Grab, the region’s number-one ridesharing service provider as they launch their own GrabBike – aptly named too.

The service is currently available around KL’s Golden Triangle and beyond – KLCC, Bukit Bintang,
Pudu
 and Chow Kit. This is a more interesting
proposition
 compared to
Dego
 Ride’s Putrajaya and Shah
Alam
 coverage areas.

With Grab, you can expect more riders already, but it comes at a cost – for rides below 3KM are priced at RM3.70 with an additional RM0.30 service
chathed
.
Dego
 Ride offers a flat RM3 for the first 3KM.

However, for every subsequent
kilometre
, Grab charges RM0.60 for a maximum of 5KM, and RM1 for additional kilometers travelled after.
Dego
 Ride charges RM1 after the first 3KM.
 Plus,
GrabBike also offers female passengers to request for female riders only too.

It’s likely that both services will expand their coverage areas to the rest of the
Klang
 Valley, more riders will be needed to achieve that.
Dego
 Ride has gone on to say that they’re also looking to hire more female riders to add to their repertoire; it’s an interesting time for us city folks this year.

Dego Ride
ehailing
grab
grab bike


GrabCar Elektrik launches in Indonesia – providing electric vehicle public transport services

438

I swear, our geographical neighbours get the coolest things before we do – Grab has just announced, in collaboration with Hyundai, GrabCar Elektrik that will begin operations in Indonesia first.

GrabCar Elektrik is your regular e-hailing service, but electric vehicles (EV) instead. Hyundai’s role in here is providing 50 of their Ioniq EV cars to be used in the pilot service – which will take place around Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Motorcycles are also not left out on the fun – for this, Astra Honda Motor and Gesits will provide the two-wheeled EVs for the initiative.

By the end of the year, it is reported that Grab aims to deploy 500 cars in the country – and to allow that, the Indonesian government is preparing industrial guidelines for the widespread adoption of EV public transportation.

This leaves us the questions of when and how EV e-hailing services will be implemented here in Malaysia. In the Klang Valley still, last-mile coverage is still an issue for many commuters – and e-hailing services have become the go-to option to get people to places. An armada of EV vehicles from Grab would do us and the environment a world of good, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

e-hailing
electric vehicles
grab
grabcar
grabcar elektrik
public transport


GrabFood to continue operations during restrictive movement period says Grab

683

As the nation observing the movement control order from the Malaysian Prime Minister starting midnight, many may have enough food at home thanks to people clearing store shelves from panic buying.

Well, Grab has taken to social media to ensure that its services, including
GrabFood
 and
GrabMart
 will still continue to operate as usual.

There’s no specific direction to close eateries around the country,
soyou
 should still be able to get your grub from your
favourite
 places via
GrabFood
, if the restaurant doesn’t voluntarily close, of course.

It is also worth noting that Grab essentially operates on partner riders and drivers – and it is still up to these individuals if they want to continue working during this period.

The movement control order is in no way a country-wide lockdown, so people are still free to carry out their day as usual, and as long as the necessary safety measures are taken by all parties, then all will be fine. Kudos to Grab for their efforts, because if anything, this provides the ease of mind many need at the moment when it comes to food.

covid 19
delivery
grab
GrabFood
panic buy
quarantine
restrictive movement order
virus


GrabPay Card is Asia’s first numberless payment card and it’s now launched in Singapore – Malaysia to get it soon

1.2K

GrabPay Card has been launched – Asia’s first numberless payment card that’ll work with your Grab rewards ecosystem.

Developed and launched in partnership with Mastercard, the card is available in Singapore now, and will make its appearance in the Philippines early next year, while a roll-out to other ASEAN countries to follow closely.

The card bears no numbers to boost security and it can be used at all Grab vendors worldwide. But to get the physical card, you’ll need to apply for the digital version first via the Grab app; applicants will receive their cards in batches.

Image credit: Grab Singapore

You can use your Grab app to check your transaction history with your card as well as collect your rewards too. Plus, the feature works with your Samsung Pay wallet too.

In concurrence with the launch, Grab will also be revamping the GrabPay interface to improve functionality and design. Given how important Grab has become to many Malaysian’s daily shopping, we reckon this will be a welcome addition to the super-app.

ehailing
grab
grabpay card
shopping


Earn GrabRewards points when you send e-Duit Raya via GrabPay

343

In conjunction of the upcoming festive season,
Grab
 brought back e-Duit Raya, allowing their users to send money to their loved ones while also earning some GrabReward Points.

Sending
duit raya
 and
angpows
 online used to be “for the fun of it”, but the current situation has increased its practicality. Using GrabPay, each user’s first three GrabPay e-Duit Raya will earn them 50 GrabReward Points each, but it’s only limited to one transaction per day. This will only be applicable from May 24 to June 6.

If you’re feeling generous, you can also donate up to RM25 to multiple charities and NGOs via the GrabRewards catalog. Apart from that, shopping for clothes, cooking essentials and raya cookies can all be completed by using Grab.

To send your friends and family some e-Duit raya, just click on the Transfer tab, select the recipient’s name and enter the amount you want to send along with a Raya greeting!

e-Duit Raya
grab
grabpay
grabrewards


GrabShare is now available in Malaysia

270

Ride-sharing service Grab is introducing yet another type of service in Malaysia as the company has announced that its carpooling service, GrabShare, is now available locally.

Unlike the standard Grab experience, GrabShare pairs two different passenger bookings with similar trip routes within a single trip. The pairing system is done via Grab’s own matching algorithm that calcuates and determines a match by factoring the closest available drivers, travel time, overlap of trip routers, detour distance and current traffic conditions.

One two passengers are paired, the GrabShare driver would proceed to pick them up from their designated locations. The driver would then drop both passengers off at their location which is along the same route. Grab has also made sure that passengers will only experience a maximum of two stops before reaching their destination, ensuring that the passengers will be able to reach their destination as soon as possible.

Passengers who opt to use GrabShare will be able to enjoy fares that are up to 30 percent cheaper than the GrabCar Economy fares. On the other hand, GrabShare drivers that complete two different passenger bookings in one ride will receive higher combined fares with every GrabShare trip.

grab
grabshare
malaysia
ridesharing
service


GrabSupermarket: Delivery-only supermarket free of delivery fees

696

Grab now offers
GrabSupermarket
, its latest service that offers next-day delivery for groceries with zero delivery fees.

GrabSupermarket now available across Klang Valley

The new service is piloted in Petaling Jaya for three weeks before its official launch today — GrabSupermarket is now available across Klang Valley. Not only does it create more income opportunities for drivers, it also keeps customers safe by reducing the need for them to visit physical stores.

Zero delivery fees + 24-hour delivery

Customers only need to pay for the price of the groceries as there is no delivery fees and deliveries will be made within 24 hours. For Grab Platinum customers, you’ll also get 5% off your grocery shopping when you use GrabPay Credits or the MayBank Grab MasterCard Platinum Credit Card.

To test out the new service, just search for ‘Supermarket’ after you’ve select ‘Mart’ and GrabSupermarket will show if it’s available in your area; you can also select your delivery time and date. As of now, there are already over 2,500 products that can be purchased including poultry, fresh vegetables, snacks, beauty and health products and even household products.

grab
GrabSupermarket


Gran Turismo Sport trailer released; to be released on November 15th

301

It seems that we need not have to wait to hear more about Gran Turismo Sport as Polyphony Digital has just released a trailer for the newest entry into the world’s best-selling racing game franchise.

Scheduled to launch in America and Japan on the 15th of November, Gran Turismo Sport will be the first game in the franchise to debut on the PlayStation 4. The trailer does show off some features that will be available in the game besides the racing. For one, Gran Turismo Sport will come with plenty of photo locations, and you’re now able to stage multiple cars in those settings, allowing you to make the perfect car magazine cover. There will also be a livery editor which allows you to customize your cars. Gran Turismo Sport will also be PlayStation VR compatible, which means that it is likely that this game will receive a bundle with Sony’s own VR headset.

As always, Gran Turismo Sport will come with a Limited Edition. Priced at USD 69.99 (RM 285), the Limited Edition will come in a Steelbook case and will feature ‘more than USD 130 in content’. Said content includes a GT Sport Starter Pack that comes with eight cars, a pack of livery stickers, a bundle of 30 Gran Turismo Sport-themed PS4 avatars, and an in-game racing helmet. Pre-orders for the game are now open with additional bonuses available if you decide to pre-order it.

Source:
Polygon

granturismo
playstation4
playstationvr
sony


Grand Opening of Vivo Concept Store offers free gifts and promotions this 30 December 2018

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This coming 30 December 2019, you won’t want to miss out on the Grand Opening of the new Vivo Concept Store, as there’ll be lots of prize to win home and on-going promotions that will be carried out on that day. So if you’re planning to get yourself a new Vivo smartphone, this is definitely the right time for you to drop by into the new Vivo Concept Store to get your hands on your desired device.

If you purchase the Vivo V11 or V11i on the day of the grand opening, you will get a Free Canon printer (Only limited for the first hundred customers), Body fat scale, Bluetooth headphones, 1 year screen protection, Vivo ambassador’s Luhan’s postcards, and Vivo membership. Whereas if you purchase Vivo NEX, you will get a Free luggage, Bluetooth headphones, 1 year screen protection, Vivo ambassador’s Luhan’s postcards, and Vivo membership. For purchase of the Vivo Y81 or Y91i, you will get Free earphones, Vivo mascot speaker, 1 year screen protection, Vivo ambassador’s Luhan’s postcards and Vivo membership.

Other than great deals and promotions, there’ll also be lucky draw for customers to win some prizes home, which will be happening at 2pm and 8pm. The lucky draw prizes includes gifts such as Swarovski necklace, mountain bike, FIFA backpack, and Vivo’s ambassador Luhan’s postcards. Customers are able to take part of the lucky draw when they walk in to the store with no purchases required, but for customers who walks in and purchase a smartphone, they will get an extra chance to participate in the lucky draw. The lucky draw is limited to the first 200 walk in customers only.

To thank their customers, Vivo is also offering discount up to 50% for all accessories at the new Vivo Concept Store on the grand opening day itself. Customers are also able to enjoy 0% interest for installment plan when they purchase with a designated bank.

To top it all off, you’ll stand a chance to enjoy some thank you gifts once you like and share the Grand Opening post by Vivo Malaysia or even this article on your Facebook. The gifts are available for the first 200 customers who share the Grand Opening post from Vivo and it will be a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, please visit Vivo Malaysia
Facebook
 for the latest updates.

Vico concept store
vivo
vivo malaysia


Grand Theft Auto 6 could feature three major cities – Los Santos, Vice City and Liberty City

1.5K

Grand Theft Auto, the game almost everyone grew up playing (queue GTA San Andreas nostalgia); its latest iteration, GTA V is the best selling of the franchise’s long history, but as the new console cycle beckons, folks are inevitable setting their sights on GTA VI.

Image credit: GTA Inside

Rumours at the moment are scarce but the most prominent however, would be that GTA VI could feature multiple cities! We’re not talking about the smaller metropolitan cities; we’re talking about three ‘main’ cities from previous titles – Los Santos (from GTA San Andreas and GTA V); GTA Vice City and GTA Liberty City.

A netizen came across a former Rockstar Games employee’s review on Glassdoor – a job ad site where employees, current and old, can leave anonymous reviews of the company – that hinted at the three cities being in GTA VI.

Image credit: Tech Spot

A typical review on Glassdoor entails an ‘Advice to Management’ section where employees can write down suggestions for improvement. People generally write in paragraphs or in point form – but this anonymous reviewer listed a bunch of his opinions, all with each letter of the first word capitalized – and the code reads “GTA6 LS VC LC” – pretty sneaky.

If other rumours are anything to go by, the game should see the light of day come 2022 and according to Tech Spot, could be set in the ’80s.

cities
gaming
grand theft auto
gta
rockstar games
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Grand Theft Auto V (PC) : Why you need to pre-load it now

255

Grand Theft Auto V on the PC is about to be released this coming April 14th, and you’re going to be want to
pre-load it on Steam
 right now. Here are 5 reasons why you need to be part of this — in my personal opinion — breakthrough in PC gaming.

1. First Person

The first person perspective is something new to the GTA franchise and it definitely adds a lot of immersion to the game. And really, what’s better than ramming through a police barricade in a tank in first person. This feature is limited the PS4, XBOne and PC.

With the amount of things you’re allowed to do in GTA which are and not limited to: stealing a car, stealing a jet, stealing a helicopter, stealing a tank, stealing a jet ski, or surfing the web on your mobile phone, buying property and taking pictures for your imaginary Instagram account; the first person perspective really reels you in and adds a very dynamic aspect to the game. All that’s missing in my current arsenal is an Oculus Rift to complete the experience.

2. GTA Online Supporting 30 Players

Can you imagine 30 people on their BMX bikes just wrecking chaos across the city of Los Santos? Especially with the hilarious ragdoll physics which has been a thing since GTA III, playing this game can range from being super competitive to absolutely hilarious. There are a myriad of game types and different lobby sizes from 4-man heists to crazy 30-man races. If you’re sick of playing by the rules, why not go Hang Out and do absolutely nothing but chill? Or bazooka the place to bits, it’s all up to you actually. You can form Crews with other online players that allow you to collaborate on crimes as well as increase your Reputation with some significant boost.

In fact, you can do so many activities from Races to Sports, buying Properties and Cashing in your haul so you won’t get jumped by other players and robbed, like you usually do to just about any NPC that walks your way when playing Single Player.

3. Heists

GTA’s latest DLC is the Heist update which is a brand new 4-player cooperative experience for GTA Online. This gives players a chance to team up with a crew and do multi-part heists, raids and robberies. Heists span numerous missions and feature a new brand of gameplay as well as a chance to purchase new vehicles like the Hydra. You plan through a heist from the beginning of the day and even choose the cut of the total payout. There is also a chance to complete Elite Challenges for extra cash. In Heists, there are also Adversary, Freemode and Daily Objectives.

Heists is one of the reasons why I am getting GTA V actually, apart from the single player story line, you get to play GTA in Payday-esque style which is honestly super complex and very well done, taking into account how big and how complex GTA V is.

4. Massive Open World

Apart from playing the story-line of this game, you can do a lot of things on this massive map from terrain that ranges from desserts to cityscapes and lush grassy planes. This game is literally massive, from the car models to the number of guns you have in the game and the number of things you can do. You could go sightseeing and take selfies around the places, you could even go hunting or how about going to the movies? Seriously there are so many things you can do.

There’s some family fun with a day of golf.

If that’s not your cup of tea, how about tennis?

If you’ve finally gone through the list and decided that none of these are for you, there’s definitely yoga then.

Well, you could join
Kwebbelkop
 for a some biking.

Go get it!

Is RM149.90 worth it? Considering the replayability and scale of this game, I would say RM149.90 is more worth it than most other games out there, for RM149.90 you get to live as the man you can only dream to be; you get out of jail after being arrested with no other repercussions other than having your inventory emptied and some cash taken — or recovering from being shot in the head multiple times without having any other side effect to your health or your ability to still move your fingers.

If you’ve gotten it, see you in Grand Theft Auto V (PC) on April 14th.
Add me up
 on Steam!


Gresso Azimuth A1: A luxury dual-SIM phone

396

Our title didn’t mention the word “smartphone”. Yes, finally there’s a luxury dual SIM phone (a.k.a “dumbphone”) for the rich to spend their money on – introducing the Gresso Azimuth A1.

The Gresso Azimuth A1 runs on a super duper outdated specs sheet, which we think even the Nokia Asha series beats it every way. And one thing that surprised us, it runs on Nokia’s S40 platform according to the specs sheet. The Azimuth A1 has a 1.3MP main camera, Bluetooth 2.0 and only supports GSM 900/1800 networks on both SIM cards. Talktime is awesome at 20 hours with a Nokia BL-4U 1110mAh battery. Probably the most expensive part of this dumb phone is its titanium grade 5 chassis, tempered mineral front panel and steel keypad.

Seriously, the Azimuth A1 looks like a rip off from
Sony
 Ericsson’s K810i and we seriously can’t imagine using such specifications in today’s world, buying a 24k gold plated iPhone 5s is even more worthwhile. Of course, this will suit those rich guys who have cash and using a RM99 monochrome smartphone.

The Gresso Azimuth A1 will be limited to 999 units and sells at $2000 with free worldwide shipping. Even if you have unlimited cash on hand, we suggest that you skip this. Period.

Source:
Gresso

Via:
Pocket-lint


GRETEL launches the GT6000 smartphone with a monster 6,000 mAh battery

336

GRETEL has just announced the GT6000 that offers a large 6,000 mAh battery, roughly two times more battery than some flagships out there. The phone is also equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS screen along with MediaTek’s MT6737 Quad-Core and 2GB worth of RAM, there is a 13MP dual camera on the rear and a 5MP camera on the front.

The phone will also come with a mechanical home button at the bottom of the screen which doubles as a fingerprint scanner. The second camera on the rear is used to give the bokeh effect, giving different depth and focus to the pictures and has a dual LED flash. There is also a front flashlight that can be utilized when needed to get that perfect selfie and to have a more clear video call. The phone will come with Android 7.0 and a custom UI that GRETEL has developed to simplify navigation and improve visuals, it will also come with some basics that are seen in smartphones such as WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and support for both 4G and 3G networks.

The GRETEL GT6000 is available from online retailers such as Amazon in Europe and North America starting from 125 EUR/ 109.99 USD (RM400 – RM650). For more information on the phone visit GRETEL’s official website
here
.

android
battery
budget
gretel
gt6000


GRIP – Fight Among Other Futuristic Car

339

A fans of Rollcage series game? Some from the dev team from Rollcage are starting a new Kickstarter project that will release a new game: Grip. The game features a futuristic combat racer inspired the predecessor Rollcage. The team didn’t legally call it Rollcage 3 because under some circumstance, but on the Kickstarter page does show some similarities clear.

A fans of Rollcage series game? Some from the dev team from Rollcage are starting a new Kickstarter project that will release a new game: Grip. The game features a futuristic combat racer inspired the predecessor Rollcage. The team didn’t legally call it Rollcage 3 because under some circumstance, but on the Kickstarter page does show some similarities clear.

The team sets the funding goal at USD 500,000 together with an Ultimate Grip goal will be unlocked when USD 640,000. For those that interested in this game, you can check it out over
here
at Kickstarter page.


Group calls now available on Facebook Messenger

350

Facebook has been looking for ways to earn more bucks and dominate the platform for communications, by providing every service they can within their own means. A couple of years back, Facebook has made it compulsory to install their Messenger app to be able to chat with your Facebook friends on your smartphone. Before that, users can chat with each other through the Facebook app itself, before the eventual separation.

Fast forward to the present, Facebook has now added a feature into Messenger, which allows users to initiate group calls. However, the feature still falls short compared to apps such as Skype and Google Hangouts, as the group calls are only limited to voice calls. Unlike Skype and Hangouts, Messenger does not have group video calling features available just yet. But knowing Facebook, we’ll probably be seeing that in the near future.

Facebook has begun rolling out the update worldwide, so do check the App Store or Play Store if you haven’t had that feature in your Facebook Messenger app. Group calls can include up to 50 people, which is probably more than enough for the average Joe. It won’t be soon before long, when Messenger is capable of making group video calls. Till then, stay tuned!

Source:
Facebook

app
calls
facebook
google
group
hangouts
messenger
skype


GSC Cinemas App is now available for Windows Phone

277

Still complaining that there’s no movie booking app in your Windows Phone? GSC Cinemas, Malaysia’s largest cinema chain has turned the switch on its brand new GSC Cinema booking app on the Windows Phone store, users who are using devices running Windows Phone 8/8.1 can now download the app and start booking tickets away. The app is unfortunately not available on the PC/Windows RT Windows Store if you are thinking of universal app support.

First look at the GSC Cinema app shows us a pretty elegant looking user interface, you can check out the latest movies, select your cinema, book your tickets and pay using your credit card or Maybank2U account. The overall feel of the app feels extremely elegant and you will definitely enjoy the smoothness that you can’t find on the company’s Android app. Best of all, you can check out show times even faster with the apps speech feature, in which you can just say for instance “Annabelle at Mid Valley on Friday”, pretty cool feature if you are just lazy to scroll through a list of cinemas and showtimes.

Head on over
here
 to download the GSC Cinema app on your Windows Phone.