foodpanda will start delivering food 24 hours a day starting May 2018

775

foodpanda celebrated their six birthday yesterday which was filled with food and drinks from foodpanda restaurant partners. During the event, they told their six-year story from the time they started in 2012 up until now and how they changed the way food is being consumed in Malaysia.

foodpanda has already expanded to many states in Malaysia with the latest being Johor Bahru, and this year they will be expanding across Malaysia. Other than that, they also announced that they will be launching 24 hours delivery service this May which had already started in Singapore last year. This is also to satisfy the late night cravings of users from their favourite restaurants.

The foodpanda app can be downloaded for free from the Play Store or App Store depending on your device.

24
delivery
foodpanda
hours


Footage of the Nintendo Switch's UI was filmed on a stolen unit

440

Remember
 the video that showed off the UI of the Nintendo Switch. Apparently, the console unit that the footage was recorded on wasn’t acquired through an honest accident, as Nintendo has issued a statement saying that the particular Switch unit has been stolen.

In a statement forwarded to IGN, Nintendo states that the Switch console in question is a part of a small number of units that have been stolen by employees of a U.S. redistributor. These units would then wind up at a retailer, after which a customer could acquire it as per normal. Nintendo has since stated that the people responsible for stealing the small batch of Switch consoles have since been “identified, terminated from their place of employment and are under investigation by local law enforcement authorities on criminal charges.”

As for that particular Nintendo Switch unit, NeoGAF user hiphoptherobot has since returned the console to Nintendo.

Source:
Polygon

console
nintendo
switch
theft


Ford made a noise-cancelling kennel called “Quiet Kennel” for man’s best friend

294

Ford has recently announced that the company has took the initiative to apply automotive tech to non-automotive applications by unveiling a prototype of a new “Quiet Kennel”, a kennel made for dogs and their ultra-sensitive hearing can be safe and feel at ease when there’s presence of fireworks or thunders.

It is known that nearly half of the dogs in the United Kingdom show signs of fear upon hearing the sounds of fireworks or thunder which is difficult to muffle even inside a home. Ford saw this as an opportunity to use the Edge SUVs noise-cancelling tech to solve an everyday issue which affects both pets and their owners.

The noise cancelling kennel works just like the technology counteracts engine or transmission sounds using opposing sound waves, when the kennel detects the sound that’s coming from fireworks or thunders, it will begin to cancel out the sound. To make this possible, high-density cork is the key material in this product, as it’s able to significantly reduce sounds until its nearly undetectable.

According to Ford, the Quiet Kennel is “just a prototype for now” and is suggesting that the company may bring it into production in the future, however there are no indication of when that will happen.

ford
Quiet Kennel


Forerunner 745: Garmin releases advanced GPS smartwatch for RM2,499

399

Garmin’s latest smartwatch is now in Malaysia; the Forerunner 745 is priced at RM2,499 and offers up to 16 hours of battery life when GPS is constantly turned on.

Fitness features

The
Forerunner 745
 comes with advanced fitness features including VO2 max for running and cycling, advanced running dynamics, muscle oxygen, on-screen workouts and daily workout suggestions. There are also features like Track Run, Improved Recovery Time and Smart Trainer Support that isn’t found on the
Forerunner 945
 that costs RM2,999.

Various sensors

With a Pulse Ox sensor, Body Battery monitor and stress tracking, the Forerunner 745 makes an idea health accessory that helps you analyse your body condition to make necessary adjustments. As a smartwatch, you’ll also get notifications, music controls, alarm clocks and more.

Forerunner 745 sports similar features as previous models

Similar to the
Forerunner 245
 and the Forerunner 945, the new Garmin watch has a 5ATM water rating and a 1.2-inch transflective MIP display. It has a battery life of up to 7 days on smartwatch mode, 16 hours on GPS mode and 6 hours on GPS mode with music on.

The Garmin Forerunner 745 can be purchased at all Garmin Brand Stores, AECO Online Shop, Lazada, Shopee and all its authorised retailers.

Forerunner 745
garmin


Former CEO of Mozilla is creating a web browser that blocks ads and replace it with his own

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Brendan Eich, creator of JavaScript and one of the founders of Mozilla, is hard at work creating a new browser. This new browser, called Brave, aims to remove advertising from the internet through a rather unorthodox means.

According to Eich, advertising is intrusive and slows down the internet to boot, causing users to turn to ad blocking software to eliminate them altogether. Eich’s solution to this problem? Create a new web browser that blocks all adverts by default, and the replace those adverts with new ones.

Before we get into the replacing ads part, let’s focus on the adblocking part. Eich has stated that Brave’s in-built ad-blocking software would benefits the user by way of increased privacy and speed. Due to the way ads function on the internet these days, Brave’s ad-blocking software would “preserve data sovereignty and anonymity” and would allow users to surface the web two to four times faster.

Now for the replacing ads part. Eich says that he aims to buid a better ad model for publishers as well as users through Brave. The browser will detect where adverts should go and fill them with new programmatic advertising. The theory is that by doing so, Brave can offer a better deal to publishers by cutting out the middle man. Publishers who use this system stands to gain 55% of revenues, 15% of it will go to Brave, 15% will go to the partner that supplies the ads, while the remaining 10-15% surprisingly, goes to the user. Brave will also allow users to make micro-payments to publishers they like, which would cause the browser to automatically block all adverts on the websites they choose to pay for.

Brave is currently scheduled for a public launch later this year and will be available on Windows, OS X, Android and iOS.

Source:
Business Insider

brave
brendaneich
browser


Former Foxconn manager indicted for allegedly stealing 5,700 iPhones

258

An opportunistic senior manager that used to work for Foxconn has landed himself in hot water as it appears that said manager has allegedly stolen 5,700 iPhones while he was working at the company.

Asia One
 is reporting that the Taiwanese manager responsible for the theft, named Tsai, had instructed eight employees at Foxconn’s factory in Shenzen to smuggle out thousands of iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s. Him and his accomplices would then sell said phones, netting them nearly TWD50 million (roughly RM6.9 million) in the process.

Foxconn would eventually discover the theft after conducting an internal audit and the case was reported to the Taiwanese authorities soon after. Tsai was arrested and questioned earlier this year, but was bailed soon after. Now, Tsai will be trialled at court with the charges being breach of trust. Should he be found guilty, he would face a potential 10-year jail sentence.

Source:
Asia One
,
Business Insider

apple
china
crime
foxconn
iphone5
iphone5s
shenzen


Former Intel CEO Andrew Grove passes away

251

Andrew S. Grove, Intel’s former CEO and Chairman has passed away today at the age of 79.

Being the company founders’ first hire, Grove has been instrumental in Intel’s success today. Back then, Intel pioneered Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) chips. However, Intel would soon have to change markets as the Japanese were ‘dumping’ memory chips at below-cost prices in the 1970s. With Intel unable to compete with the Japanese in the memory chip sector, Grove suggested that the company move out of the DRAM business and focus on the at the time fledging microprocessor business.

When Intel was placed under Grove’s control, the company would enjoy enormous success as the company’s 386 and Pentium processors would, in Intel’s own words, “helped usher in the PC era.” The company itself would also have its yearly revenues swell from USD 1.9 billion to USD 26 billion.

Not everything was smooth sailing with Grove however as the man would become entangled with AMD CEO Jerry Sanders over the rights to the x86 architecture. The Pentium chips also came under the spotlight as a math professor found that there is a flaw in said chips, which lead to Intel having to recall the flawed chips and Grove having to apologize publically after dismissing the flaw in the first place.

Despite the man’s flaws, there is no denying that Grove has made tremendous contributions to the industry. Grove will forever be remembered thanks to his role in the rise of personal computing.

Source:
VentureBeat
,
Intel

andrewgrove
intel


Fortnite is coming to iOS and Android, invite event coming up

344

The ever-popular PUBG rival, Fortnite has grown in popularity since its release last year, it has reached 20 million players and is the most streamed game on Twitch beating even its rival. Thanks to its success, Epic Games has announced that they will be bringing Fortnite to iOS with the first Invite Event opening on Monday (Tuesday for Malaysia).

The best part, it will not be a lite edition of the PC version and it will support the same 100-players Battle Royal that is also on PC. They go on to add that cross-play will be enabled for mobile and PC players and PC players will be able to play with Mac and PS4 players. That comes as a surprise as Sony has adamantly stated that they will not allow cross-play due to “security reasons”. To finish off, the company has also mentioned that there will be Cross Progression which will allow you to access one account across PC, Mac, PS4 and iOS.

If this business model works out, we will probably see a lot more games that will adopt cross-play and even cross progression, as it is quite a success when Sony implemented that system between the PS4 and PSVita.

beta
event
fortnite
invite
ios
port


Fortnite is now available for all Android devices

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Not too long ago, Fortnite debuted exclusively on the Galaxy Note 9 to demonstrate the phone’s gaming power, however you now no longer need to own a Note 9 in order to play Fortnite, as developer Epic Games has announced that the game is officially available to everyone with a compatible phone.

If you can’t find it on Google Play, don’t fret as the game requires a separate installer which you will have to download separately from Epic Game’s
website
. Like PUBG Mobile, Fortnite is still very much in its beta phase so do expect some issues when you game on it. Epic Games has also posted a compatibility list over
here
, which lists mostly high end flagship Androids as its recommended device, if you have an older Android device it would need to have at least 3GB of RAM and be using an Adreno 530, Mali-G71 MP20 or G72 MP12 GPU, it also recommends that your device run at least Android 8.0 for optimal performance.

Epic Games has certainly kept its promise well back when it released Fortnite exclusively on the Galaxy Note 9, and the best thing about Fortnite would be cross platform compatibility, where you can have your game profile synced to other platforms.

fortnite
fortnite android


Fortnite on the Nintendo Switch will allow cross-play with all platforms expect PS4

365

Yesterday Epic Games announced that Fortnite will be coming to the Nintendo Switch as we assume, a free game. Now, there is more news about the game as it has been confirmed that the Switch version will support cross-play with Xbox One, iOS and PC, but not PS4.

This will probably not come as a surprise, as we have heard previously that Microsoft has been trying to get through to Sony to allow cross-play between the platforms. However, Sony has been adamant and believes that allowing this might raise some security issues like vulnerabilities on their platform. Gamers raged at this stating that Sony, as a massive company, is still worried about security issues when they could easily change the platform and fix this issues. Some gaming communities and Xbox One owners have even gone as far as stating that Sony intention of disabling cross-play is so they can kill off the Xbox One console, as cross-play might provide a boost the Xbox One desperately needs.

As a matter of fact, cross-play between both the consoles is already available. Case in point, Fortnite once allowed PS4 and Xbox One players to play together, stating it was an “accident”, but if you are as suspicious as I am, you would think that it was a message from Epic Games to Sony.

cross
fortnite
nintendo
play
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support
switch


Fortnite player got a massive donation of $75,000 while live streaming

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Gaming and live streaming are pretty common these days. Some do it for fame, some do it to show off their skills, some do it to educate others, and there are a small percentage of people who’s doing it for extra income.

Its very common for video game streamers to go live and use donation system for viewers to send in “gifts” and money as a way to show appreciation towards the streamer for what they do.

Most donations come in small amount, ranging from $1-$10 or more.

Not too long ago, a Fortnite player named “Exotic Chaotic” was live streaming on Twitch, when suddenly he made a stunning discovery.

“Wait, this can’t be real” he said.

As he looked into his screen monitor, it shows that another streamer has donated a total of $75,000 (RM307,275.00) to his profile.

Not believing on what he’s seeing, he frantically logs into his PayPal account to confirm if its legitimate or not, and sure enough, it was true.

It was then revealed that the donation was made by a fellow streamer by the name of “KingMascot”.

Both streamers are friends and KingMascot happen to know that Exotic Chaotic was in a bad place financially.

According to Exotic Chaotic, “I do not have a very high income. My girlfriend has worked full-time to support my career as a ‘Fortnite’ streamer, so I owe it to her and my four year old son to protect and grow this money for their futures.”

Some may wonder, what about KingMascot? What does he do for a living to be able to donate such big amount of money.

Apparently, KingMascot is “an early investor in Bitcoin and now trade stocks”, hence why he got the money to spare.

With that said, here’s the full video on Exotic Chaotic’s reaction when he saw the donation:

fortnite


Fortnite skins are a status symbol – default skin players are bullied says report

837

No video game gathers player bases of two generations quite like Fortnite – meaning you get really young kids on the hit battle royale shooter too.

One problem with the game, and any free-to-play multiplayer game is the microtransaction system. You get the game for free, but you spend on in-game items – and in Fortnite’s case, you spend on their highly-sought after premium skins. As it turns out, kids and microtransactions are a bad mix.

You don’t need the skins sure, meaning your character remains a “default” as they say in Fortnite. It doesn’t matter as long as you have the skills to pay the bills. But according to a report by Business Insider, a study has shown that school in kids in the UK take their in-game skins very seriously – they’ve turned it into a denominator for a sort of modern caste system.

The study interviewed children who’ve told them that being a “default” gets you bullied and be branded as “poor” or “trash” – children can be awful sometimes. Bullying is of course, not something to joke about.

Remember back when gamers were only judged based on skill – at least skill can be sharpened with practice. Many positive gaming communities exist now to help each other thrive in a game.

But unfortunately, monetization systems like the kind in Fortnite can breed a toxic pool of snarky children – and that’s bad. Sure, they’ll probably grow out of it when they grow up, but no kid should have to be called trash just because they don’t have an intangible virtual item that actually costs real money.

On that note, let’s put an end to senseless bullying – online or offline; and hope for a more wholesome gaming community across all genres.

fortnite
fortnite skin
gaming
pc
ps4
xbox


The Fossil Q Control is built for the active

396

When Fossil jumped into the smartwatch space, it still maintained all the style and class it could on its range of Android smartwatches, also retaining the same prestige from its traditional time pieces. Now Fossil has launched another smart wearable, but with a very simple design and built for sporty people.

The Fossil Control is the latest addition to the company’s current line of smartwatches. It features a 45mm case with a circular touch display without the infamous flat tire design. What makes it different from the other Fossil smartwatches is that it sports a heart rate sensor, which will come in handy for workout and sports activities, for more accurate measurements.

As it is meant for sports, the Fossil Control is also swim proof unlike the rest, up to 50 meters of water resistance. With the extra heart rate sensor, Fossil still promises a day’s battery life for the Fossil Control. It sports a physical button on the right side of the case, but also comes with a virtual touch bezel which will make it easier to scroll on the Android Wear 2.0 interface.

The Fossil Q Control has gone on sale in the US with a price tag of $275 (RM 1,149.56). The smartwatch should make its way to Malaysian shore by early 2018.

android wear
fitness
fossil
q control
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sports
swim
water resistant


Four models of the Nokia 2 was spotted on FCC

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There have been four different FCC listings that reveal the Nokia 2 model numbers, these include the TA-1007, TA-1029, TA-1023, and TA-1035. Not much else is known about this phone except that it will be a very budget phone that will be even less powerful than the Nokia 3.

Based on rumours, the phone is said to come with a Snapdragon processor which is assumed to be the Snapdragon 210, 1GB or 2GB of RAM and a 2800mAh battery which should give this phone a significant amount of battery life. Other than that, it is expected to come with a 5-inch display with a resolution of 720p or lower, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera and will be running on near stock Android which is a good choice seeing the response of the Nokia 3, 5, and 6. If the phone releases at the end of the year, there is a very high possibility that it will be shipped with Android 8.0 or will be upgradeable to the latest Android.

Nokia 8 Concept Render

In the case of the Nokia 8, the high-end smart phone is scheduled to be released on August 16 based on rumours and leaks previously.

2
8
android
global
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Four new FreeSync monitors added to the family

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It has been a while FreeSync monitor has been announced, and there are two more additional FreeSync monitors is coming soon – AOC G2460PF/G2770PF and
Samsung

U24E590D/U28E590D. The technology is by AMD effort to clout industry standards by using DisplayPort with Adaptive-Sync to deliver dynamic refresh rates, which works with AMD Radeon graphics users to minimally reduce input latency and reduce or fully eliminate stuttering during gaming and video playback.

AOC released a pair of high refresh-rate gaming monitors, which offer Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolutions and are based on TN-film panels. The G2460PF and G2770PF will remain 144 Hz, and response-time of 1ms despite the monitor is using a TN panel which often have high-latency. Both of the monitors have display inputs include – DisplayPort 1.2a (used for FreeSync), dual-link DVI, and D-Sub (VGA).

Meanwhile,
Samsung
 also introduces two new FreeSync monitor – U24E590D and U28E590D that is the first
Samsung
 UHD monitors with AMD’s FreeSync technology. These monitors offer UHD display (3840 x 2160) resolutions and are based on the LED panel. There will be two HDMI port which is version 2.0 and 1.4a and one DisplayPort, but FreeSync will be working on HDMI 2.0 only. However, the 28” will be getting 1ms response time only, the 24” will be getting 4ms and this is a surprisingly weird thing to have.

The AOC G2460PF will be estimated the price around USD 350 (approx. RM 1,312.00), G2770PF is priced around USD 450 (approx. 1,687.00) and the date of availability isn’t confirmed yet. The
Samsung
 U24E590D is priced at USD 399.99 (approx. RM 1,499.55) and will be available from July 26, 2015. However, the U28E590D is priced at USD 599.99 (approx. RM 2,250.00) and available right away.

aoc
availability
freesync
g2460pf
g2770pf
price
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u28e590d


Fourth beta build for Samsung Galaxy S7 on the rollout

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Since Samsung opened up its Galaxy Beta Program last month for Galaxy S7 users, it has pushed out three beta software updates, and with an official release expected real soon, Samsung has rolled out the fourth beta update for the Galaxy S7 series. This update is probably the final beta build before Samsung goes public with Android Nougat software.

This new build is known as ZLPH, and it does not come with any known additions or major improvements. Instead, the ZLPH build removes the Samsung Notes app which was added from earlier beta builds. The software update, which carries a weight of 280.68 MB according to screenshots by the folks at Android Central, only had Samsung mentioning bug fixes and stability improvements.

This software update pretty much seems like a “clean up” build, to make sure that almost everything is up and running without hiccups, ensuring the software’s stability for an official public release soon. It is too late to opt in for Samsung’s Galaxy Beta Program as Samsung has closed the registration. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t take long before Samsung releases its official Nougat based software for the Galaxy S7 series. Are you part of the Galaxy Beta Program? Let us know at the comments section below!

Source:
Android Central

android
beta
build
edge
galaxy
nougat
program
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Foxconn and Sharp is expected finalize takeover deal on the 31st of March

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After a long pause, Foxconn and Sharp is expected to finalize the takeover deal this week as sources that are familiar with the talks say that both companies are expected to sign the deal this Thursday.

Speaking to Reuters, the two sources revealed that board meetings will be held on Wednesday to approve the deal and would officially be signed the following day. Foxconn’s takeover of Sharp was supposed to occur last month, but revelations of undisclosed liabilities at Sharp made them put the takeover on hold to reevaluate their original 489 billion yen offer. According to the sources, Foxconn would be slashing 100 billion yen from its offer in light of said liabilities.

If Foxconn and Sharp manage to close the deal on Thursday, the takeover would be the largest acquisition by a foreign company in Japan’s technology sector. Foxconn’s acquisition of Sharp would boost Foxconn’s position as Apple’s main contract manufacturer. It would also provide Sharp with funds to start mass-producing OLED screens by 2018.

Source:
Reuters

business
foxconn
sharp
takeover


Foxconn replaces its human workforce with robots

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It seems that Foxconn is embracing automation is a big way as the
South China Morning Post
 is reporting that the factory has replaced roughly 60,000 of its workers with robots.

According to the article, Foxconn has spent a total of 4 billion Yuan on artificial intelligence last year. This investment in robotics and A.I. have led to Foxconn slashing their workforce from 110,000 to 50,000. While the implementation of automation has resulted in a huge slashing of the workforce, Foxconn has stated that the robots will only be doing repetitive tasks previously done by employees, enabling their employees to focus on other higher value-added elements in the manufacturing process such as R&D, process control and quality control.

Foxconn isn’t alone in investing in robotics, as the reports state that 34 other companies have been investing in automation as well. An additional 600 major companies in the Jiangsu province of Kunshan are reportedly exploring this particular option as well.

It’ll be interesting to see how Foxconn’s implementation of automation would affect the manufacturing costs of electronics of course. Aside from that, this move would have a direct impact to the employement rate of the area.

Source:
South China Morning Post
,
BBC

automation
foxconn
robots


Fractal Design R5 Review – Beautiful and Silent

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Fractal Design has been one of the pioneers of sleek cases in the industry and the Fractal Design Define R5 is definitely up in the widely popular Define Series. It’s well packed with enthusiast and flexibility features all served in a silent case with powerful and expandable range of air/liquid cooling support.

Having reviewed a few cases in 2015, we couldn’t help but miss giving our take on the Define R5 which was definitely the much needed revision in the line up. It comes in 3 colors, in which each comes with or without a window. Here with us we have the Black Windowed version.

Specifications and Accessories

CASE TYPE:

Mid-Tower

MATERIAL:

Steel & Plastic

WEIGHT:

11.2 kg

SLOTS:

7

DRIVE BAYS:

2x External 5.25″
8x Internal 2.5/3.5″
2x Internal 2.5″

MOTHERBOARD
FORM FACTORS:

ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX

DIMENSIONS:

232 x 462 x 531mm

FRONT DOOR/COVER:

YES

FRONT FANS:

2x 120/140 mm fans (included is 1 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fan, 1000 RPM speed)

REAR FANS:

1x 120/140 mm fans (included is 1 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fan, 1000 RPM speed)

TOP FANS:

3x 120/140 mm fan (not included)

BOTTOM FANS:

2x 120/140 mm fan (not included)

SIDE FANS:

1x 120/140 mm fan (not included)

I/O:

2x USB 3.0
2x USB 2.0
1x Headphone
1x Microphone

FAN/LED Controller:

Integrated fan controller for up to 3 fans

Compatibility:

CPU Cooler: 180 mm
GPU: 310 mm (with front HDD cage), 440 mm (with front fan)
PSU: 190/170 mm with a bottom 120/140mm fan installed, up to 300mm can be used

The casing comes shipped in your average cardboard box with details and features on the sides and back. As you dig further, you’re greeted with styrofoam spaces which secure the casing in its position and protects it from damage during shipping. Nothing special here in terms of the unboxing experience.

Screws are well provided with a few cable ties, which would be enough in cable managing a single build. The thing that caught my eye is the plastic tip that helps with the application of the motherboard’s spacers; it is made out of plastic, which is clearly not as good as a one made out of metal. Also included is the manual to guide you through the entire assembly or re-assembly process.

Exterior

It’s not a surprise that Fractal Design has been giving updates to their Define line up on a regular basis. This was most probably their 5th generation chassis, giving it a pretty obvious change in this latest iteration than ones before it. The chassis seemed to have expanded and the front door definitely has that nice metal finishing on it. The surface has been given changes over those of the previous generations.

The front of the Define R5 has become pretty square-ish, with sharper corners and the soft curves kept to a minimum. The Fractal Design logo cannot be seen on the exterior of the casing but as you open the door, the logo can be seen on the air vent. The door was rather sturdy although it was made of plastic. The door swings left by default but Fractal Design allows you to switch it to swing right by reassembling the two screws to the opposite side. The sound-dampening materials is a nice significant touch to other casings we have reviewed in 2015, with an air vent frame in the front allowing for front intake fans.

From this design, it’s obvious how much space you could have for your imagination to go wild in it. There are no holes for routing liquid cooling tubes through the back but judging by how much radiator clearance it has, I wouldn’t think that would be necessary.

The side panels are really solid, not being a surprise to why this chassis is really silent. The window is fairly limited to a certain region so you won’t be able to show off your enormous reservoirs if you’re into liquid cooling.

At the top area of the front side, you could see the Power and a tiny Reset button. There are also two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports and the normal audio ports. Being part of the chassis frame, the entire top panel is made out of metal, while the three solid panels are out of plastic. Remove one or more of these plastic covers if you need an air vent for a liquid-cooling setup or fans there. However, doing so will greatly reduce the R5’s noise isolating capabilities and allow dust to enter.

Interior

In order to enter interior of this chasis, you’ll need to remove the thumbscrews holding the panel. Sound-dampening material can be seen on the inner side of the side panel beside the window.

The interior layout seems a little cliche at first but there’s visually no plastic seen within, being a good thing these days. Flip the enclosure around and you’ll see the big hole for the motherboard’s CPU area which is sufficient for proper CPU fan installation for most motherboard sizes. There’s also an L-shaped trenched along the motherboard location.

The Velcro straps that hold the cables in place – also being on Phanteks casings, is seen to have the Fractal Design logo. It’s slightly shorter in length but it’s sufficient to hold cables in place when tested with our non-modular PSU. There’s also two 2.5″ SSD/HDD trays that is held by thumbscrews to allow for better modularity in case you might need the extra space to manage more cables. Sufficient space is given so mounting cables onto these drives wouldn’t be a problem as well.

Over at the front of the casing are two 5.25″ drive bays, which are seen to be quite a lot. Like the past Define enclosures, it’s held together with thumbscrews which could be removed easily. Underneath are two hard-drive cages with sufficient room for eight drives overall which is plenty. Fractal Design allows the ability to remove the drive at the top or rotate it 90-degrees facing your hardware. While there is little reason to do so, it is nice to have the option, again adding to the flexibility of the case.

If you’re into liquid cooling, you could remove everything, giving you enough room for mounting even a 280 mm radiator on the floor. You may leave the 5.25″ drive bays and the bigger hard-drive tray in place or go for nothing but hard drives by removing the ODD cage completely. Remove everything and there is also enough room for a thin 420 mm radiator in the ceiling or a thick 360 radiator at the front which is sufficient for liquid cooling whatever you throw in this casing.

A 140 mm fan is spotted in the rear with the seven motherboard expansion slots below it, each protected by its own white cover, held in place by a thumbscrew each. The PSU at the bottom will rest on four foam tips, which should be enough to kill any vibrations it may pass onto the frame.

The cables for the operation of the Define R5 are sleeved black and of the standard defaults you’d expect, not having any issues while connecting these to a modern motherboard. The chassis comes standard with both USB 2.0 and 3.0, with no need for a USB 3.0 adapter.

Installation and Cable Management

For our test installation, we had the following hardware fitted into the casing.

AMD FX 9590

Kingston HyperX Fury 16GB 1866MHz RAM (8GB x 2)

ASUS CROSSHAIR V FORMULA-Z ATX-Sized Motherboard

Old HD 5850 Reference

WD Blue 500GB

Cougar 650W +80 Silver PSU Non-Modular PSU

ID Cooling Frostflow 120L AIO Liquid Cooler

We did the usual motherboard installation procedures and it went fairly well with tons of space to work with. The good old HD 5850 Reference card wasn’t too long to touch any of the hard-drive at its level so I wouldn’t think you should run into any issues, even when you have gigantic cards like the R9 295X2 as the HDD cages are removable. For the AIO radiator, I’ve chosen to install it at the back with the rest of the sound-dampening covers installed to test how silent it was.

Installing the 2.5″ drives was fairly standard in installation but an interesting thing here when installing the 3.5″ drives are the anti-vibration rings when screwing the drives in. It definitely helps in isolating the sound and vibrations you should have from the hard drives even further.

We didn’t have any optical drives installed but removing the front bay panels should be fairly easy thanks to its (un)locking mechanism but it also seems easy to break if you’re slightly rough. Nothing so special in the installation of the PSU as well.

Cable management was done with the velcro straps provided and it looks pretty well even with our messy non-modular PSU. We were able to route everything properly with some space to store unused cables as well. The cable management space of about an inch is plenty for almost any cable management situation you may encounter.

With the window panel closed, it looks really good. The window is just sufficient for you to have a look at your internals without having to look at your HDD cage but I think a slightly wider window would have been appropriate.

definer5review
fractaldesign
fractaldesigndefiner5
fractaldesigndefiner5review
fractaldesignreview


Free 20,000mAh powerbanks courtesy of Xiaomi for the media outside Istana Negara today

408

While our politicians are sorting themselves out for the betterment of our beloved nation, the media have been hard at work too, camping out at Istana Negara to report on the latest developments to come out of the palace.

In recognition of their efforts, they’ve even been treated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to a meals from our favourite burger joint McDonald’s; meanwhile, Nestle’s Milo also camped alongside the crowd, serving up cold chocolate beverages to quench the parched throats of these reporters.

Since we’re a tech media outlet, this write-up needs a tech element, and this comes by way of Xiaomi – they’ve sent out a team to provide those out on the field with a Xiaomi powerbank. Not just any powerbank – but one of their 20,000mAh Redmi 18W packs that could essentially power each reporters’ devices for the entire day.

Call it a PR stunt – but we can’t deny that we need every little good in this world right now what with COVID-19, and our disheveled political climate; so we say kudos to Xiaomi for taking it upon themselves to help our fellow media friends out on the field!

000mah
20
agung
bersatu
istana negara
milo
pkr
redmi powerbank
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xiaomi


Free access to online multiplayer on PS4 this weekend

388

You know how online multiplayer on the PlayStation 4 requires a mandatory PlayStation Plus subscription? Well, for this weekend, and this weekend only, Sony is feeling generous and has decided to give everyone free access to online multiplayer.

This offer is seemingly tied with the release of the Battle Of Jakku DLC for Star Wars : Battlefront. That said, access to online multiplayer isn’t limited to Battlefront, it will be available to any game in the PlayStation 4 library, assuming that you’ve already owned the game.

Sony will be giving access to the online multiplayer beginning on Friday, December 11th at 12:01 AM Pacific time through Sunday, December 13th at 11:59 Pacific time. Converted to Malaysia time, access will be available starting on 4:01 PM on Friday until 3:59 PM on Monday. Once the period ends, online multiplayer will be locked and a PlayStation Plus subscription is need to access it again.

Source :
PlayStation Blog

free
playstation
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starwarsbattlefront


Free AirPods for college students and teachers in Malaysia when you buy a Mac or iPad

2.3K

Students and teachers in Malaysia that’s looking to purchase a new Mac or iPad are in luck, as you will be entitled to receive a free AirPods 2nd Generation when you check out at the Apple Education Store when you purchase a qualifying Mac or iPad.

Such initiative is a first for Apple in Malaysia and it requires students, teachers and staffs of a higher education institution to be verified with UNiDAYS to enjoy this benefit.

Why would you click on No, thanks?

This offer is valid from 6th January 2022 till 7th March 2022, where each qualified customer is eligible to purchase one discounted AirPods per eligible Mac or iPad, you will not be eligible for this offer with a second device purchase.

Customers can opt for the AirPods 3rd Generation or AirPods Pro for RM240 and RM510 respectively, which is a very generous discount from its original retail price. Surprisingly, the AirPods Max and Beats products are not included in this offer, while the former is understandable as a more premium product, the latter should be offered for more choices.

Be sure to check out
Apple’s Education Store
 for this offer and make sure you are registered UNiDAYS to be eligible for this offer. Meanwhile, check out our AirPods 3 review here.

airpods
airpods 3
apple
education store


Free gifts await when you pre-order a Vivo V15 Pro at a Senheng or senQ outlet

621

Vivo had just unveiled the Vivo V15 Pro in Malaysia yesterday, and the mid-ranged device is available for pre-order from today until March 1.

If you’re planning to get a Vivo V15 Pro, Senheng and senQ will sweeten the deal if you pre-order the phone at any of their stores nationwide. There will be free gifts up for grabs worth up to RM530 for early birds – these gifts include a 10,000mAh powerbank, a V15 Pro giftbox and six months extra screen crack warranty.

Besides that, when you pre-order at Senheng and senQ, you get an extra one-year warranty for your phone as well as up to 24-months of 0% installment plans.

This promo is available now until March 3.

From February 28 until March 3, senQ are having roadshows at the Queensbay Mall, Penang and VivaCity Megamall in Sarawak. Here, the first 50 customers to purchase the Vivo V15 Pro will receive a free DJI Drone, while the following 100 customers will get a free luggage.

If you’re looking for a Vivo V11 instead, purchase one at the roadshow and you will items such as a 32GB microSD card and a 5,000mAh powerbank for free.

gifts
launch
roadshow
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senq
v15pro
vivo


Get free Internet for up to three months with unifi’s “Pay Nothing” campaign

296

The latest “Pay Nothing” campaign by unifi is offering monthly fee waiver for both new and existing Home and Business subscribers. This campaign will last for three months from October 1 to December 31 this year.

New customers will only need to subscribe to unifi Home or unifi Biz to enjoy the free Internet, while existing customers will need to renew their contracts via myunifi app or Self-Care.

In addition, those who subscribe within October and November will also stand a chance to win additional 12 months free Internet. One winner is selected each day for the two months period and daily winner will be announced every Tuesday from October 15 onwards.

On a side note, unifi also launched the unifi Business Club (uBC) in Seberang Perai, offering solutions to issues that has been faced by business customers. One of the few solutions is unifi’s integrated Digital Marketing Solution that helps uBC members to start online marketing for their businesses and also increase their digital presence. Members can also get financial assistance such as online loan applications and faster approvals.

pay nothing
uBC
unifi


Free Office 365 Personal subscriptions to end with Windows 10 shipped PCs

246

You should be very lucky if you have got a Windows 8.1 notebook recently that comes with free 1 year
Office
365

Personal subscription, because  this offer is about to end with new PCs that come preloaded with Windows 10. As far as we know in our local market, entry level Windows 8.1 tablets are still having this offer and you should probably grab the opportunity to buy one if you need a portable working device.

Office
365

Personal is a pretty decent service from Microsoft, first of all you get to enjoy the full suite of Microsoft Office applications on your PC and one mobile device, 1TB of OneDrive storage that is technically impossible to fill it up and get free updates from the company. What’s going to happen with new PCs right now is that Microsoft will offer an Office Universal app for both PCs and mobile devices, in which you will be able to view Office documents for free but if you were to get editing features, you would have to pay up for Microsoft’s
Office
365

subscription, otherwise you can simply just purchase a single PC version that you will not need to pay every month, despite being more expensive.

Now then, if you’ve ever thought of owning a free 1-year
Office 365

Personal subscription, you’d best better act fast on buying your new device, otherwise you can still purchase Microsoft’s Surface 3
tablet
, which will still offer a free
Office
365

Personal subscription despite being shipped with Windows 10.

microsoft
office
personal
surface


Free Windows 10 upgrades will end after July 29

354

Remember how Microsoft said that Windows 10 will be available as a free upgrade for a year? Well, that one year period is almost up as Microsoft has stated that after July 29th, you’re going to need to pay for your Windows 10 upgrade.

Once the 29th of July is over, you’re going to need to pay USD 119 to either get Windows 10 on a new device, or purchase a full version of Windows 10 Home. If you’re still on a fence, you have roughly three more months to upgrade before having to pay for it. For those who’ve already upgrade to Windows 10, Microsoft has stated that they will be releasing the Windows 10 Anniversary update during the Summer for free.

Overall, the free Windows 10 upgrade scheme has been a huge success for Microsoft. Roughly 300 million devices around the world are currently running Windows 10. Other notable stats includes Cortana having answered 6 billion questions since her debut on Windows 10, and the Edge browser having a recorded 63 billion minutes of use in March itself.

Source:
Microsoft

microsoft
upgrade
windows10


FreeBuds Studio: HUAWEI’s first flagship headphones with ANC

410

Alongside the HUAWEI Mate 40 series, HUAWEI also unveiled its first flagship over-ear headphones, the FreeBuds Studio.

Intelligent Dynamic ANC

The HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio offers up to 24 hours of battery life and has what HUAWEI calls Intelligent Dynamic ANC. This allows the headphones to automatically adjust the noise cancellation mode in different scenarios for optimal results. There’s also the Awareness Mode to let in ambient sound and a Voice Mode that enhances human voices while minimising environmental noise.

8 microphones, dual-antenna design and dual-device connection

Speaking of which, HUAWEI also boasted eight microphones in the FreeBuds Studio. Six of them are used for call noise cancellation — four outward-facing mics pick up human voices while the two inward-facing mics collect the voice in ear. The headphones also feature a dual-antenna design for wider signal coverage and dual-device connection that can lets it connect to two devices simultaneously.

Quick charge + Smart Controls

Like many devices in the market, HUAWEI made sure to include Quick Charge support on the FreeBuds Studio. It can fully charge in 60 minutes, but just 10 minutes of quick charge will offer eight hours of music playback without ANC. The headphones also have smart controls — the right earned has a responsive area that lets you control music and volume by swiping, double tapping and more.

FreeBuds Studio price and availability

The
HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio
 is available at RM1,199 and can be purchased from October 30 onwards at all HUAWEI Experience Stores or online on HUAWEI Store.

Freebuds Studio
huawei


FreeYond enters the Malaysian market with two affordable smartphones

8.5K

Malaysians can soon look forward to a new smartphone brand. FreeYond, a Shenzhen based consumer electronics company has decided to enter the nation with two new attractive and affordable smartphones.

FreeYond isn’t a newbie in the smartphone scene, as the company has long established its presence in Africa and Latin America markets, while smartphones is one of the company’s main product portfolio, the company also sells wearables that incorporates Tech 4.0 such as AI, Brain Computer Interface, EMG, Cloud Computing and etc.

The two phones that will launch in Malaysia are the FreeYond F9 and M5.

The FreeYond F9 is an entry-level device that sports a large 6.52-inch HD+ IPS display and powered by the Unisoc SC9863A chipset.

Available in storage configurations of 2GB RAM+64GB Storage and 3GB RAM+128GB Storage, it has a dual camera setup that comprises a 13MP main and 2MP macro lens, while selfies are taken care of by a 8MP camera, a 5000mAh battery resides in the phone and supports 10W charging.

Due to the phone’s entry hardware, it ships with Android 12 Go that comes with lightweight app versions of Google’s apps, while we can also safely assume that you will get monthly security updates for several years.

On the other hand, the FreeYond M5 features a 6.52-inch HD+ 90Hz display, it is powered by a more powerful Unisoc T606 octa-core chip paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB of expandable storage.

In terms of cameras, you get a reasonable triple camera setup that comprises a 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro lens.

A 5000mAh battery powers the phone and supports 18W fast charging, which is certainly more attractive than the F9 but still isn’t on par with what the competition is offering.

The FreeYond M5 ships with Android 12 and should receive its Android 13 upgrade at a later time.

The FreeYond F9 and M5 are set to officially launch in Malaysia on 21 March 2023, so stay tuned for more details.

freeyond f9
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FreeYond officially enters Malaysia with two smartphones and wearables

7.6K

FreeYond, a young Shenzhen based startup tech company, has officially entered the Malaysia today as its first global market outside its homeland, starting off with two entry-level smartphones and wearables, the company aims to make an impression with these value for money products.

Retailing at RM699, the FreeYond M5 sports a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS display that refreshes at 90Hz, while powered by a decent Unisoc T606 chipset paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage, it happens to be one of the few phones within the same class to feature a triple camera system that comprises a 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro camera, while selfies are taken care by a front facing 8MP camera, a 5000mAh battery powers the phone with support for 18W fast charging.

For budget phone hunters, the FreeYond F9 is an Android 12 Go device that comes in two storage configurations of 2GB RAM+64GB storage and 3GB RAM+128GB storage, it is powered by a more entry Unisoc SC9863A chipset but features the same screen size as the M5, though it only refreshes at the standard 60Hz.

Unlike other similar priced phones, the FreeYond F9 comes with a dual camera setup that comprises a 13MP main and 2MP macro camera, selfies are managed by a 8MP front camera, a 5000mAh battery powers the phone but supports a slower 10W power output.

The FreeYond F9 starts at RM399 for the base storage model, the 3GB RAM+128GB storage model will cost RM499.

In terms of wearables, the company brought in the FreeYond Pods 1, which is a pair of RM99 wireless earbuds that sports features such as Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, 12mm drivers, environmental noise cancelling and up to 30 hours of total listening time.

The FreeYond S1 smartwatch is also introduced alongside which features a 1.36″ HD AMOLED display with fitness tracking features, no pricing and availability has been announced.

FreeYond products can now be purchased at its official Shopee store
here
.

For more info, do follow the company’s official Facebook page
here
.

freeyond
freeyond f9
freeyond m5


French consumer group sues Steam for right to resell games

6.4K

For the most part, most Steam users don’t really give much thought to the fact that you can’t resell games purchased through Valve’s digital storefront. Well, that may change in France as a French consumer group, UFC-Que Choisir, has brought a lawsuit against Valve, saying that Steam and its terms of service infringe on a number of European legal rights which include the right to legally resell purchased software.

UFC-Que Choisir, the federal union of consumers, argues that Valve must provide the capability for Steam users to resell their legally purchased digital games whenever they want. The group further argues that the difference between being able to resell a physical game disc and not being able to resell a digitally purchased game is “incomprehensible… No court decision prohibits the resale on the second-hand market games bought online, and the European Court has even explicitly stated that it’s possible to resell software which, let’s remember, is an integral part of the video game.”

The statement above is referring to

the European Court of Justice’s 2012 decision
 that focused on the resale of downloadable enterprise software licensed from Oracle. The court ruled that “it makes no difference whether the copy of the computer program was made available by means of a download from the rightholder’s website or by means of a material medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD”.

Valve’s right to restrict the ability for users to resell their games are only just a tip of the iceberg of UFC-Que Choisir as the group claims that Valve’s right to reuse any user-created content on Steam at will “denies….respect for the users’/creators’ rights of intellectual property”. The group also wants Valve to accept some liability if and when users’ personal data is compromised from Valve’s servers, citing
Valve’s statement that 77,000 Steam accounts are compromised every month
.
 The group also wants Valve to allow Steam users to refund remaining money out of their Steam Wallets when users close their accounts and disputes the use of Luxembourg law for any European complaints against the company.

This isn’t the first time Valve has been brought to court in European as a similar lawsuit was filed in Germany in 2014. Unfortunately,

the Regional Court of Berlin ruled in favour of Valve
.

However, even if UFC-Que Choisir successfully wins the case, do not expect this ruling to be applied anywhere else but in France. The US courts have
decided that
 software is licensed and not purchased, meaning that the doctrine of first sale does not apply to digital games.

As for Malaysia, no known ruling exists for the resale of digital goods, so its still new territory in the country.

Source :
Ars Technica

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French government mulling over law that would make strong encryption illegal

291

In a move that seems more like a kneejerk reaction, the French government is currently considering a
legislative provision
 that would make strong encryption illegal.

This anti-encryption provision bill that covers would force tech companies to configure their systems so that police and intelligence agencies could have access to their data whenever they require it. The provision is largely seen as a response to the Paris terrorist attacks that happened during 2015.

While the move may seem to have some merit, keep in mind that the terrorists that were responsible for the Paris attacks communicated through unencrypted text messages and phone calls.

Ever since the attacks in Paris, the French government has been
criticised
 by its citizens due to the two month state of emergency period that was declared by President François Hollande, which has led to raids and hate crimes against the country’s Muslim population.

Technologist and open-Internet advocates has decried the French government’s attempts to impose limitations on encryption, stating that a strong encryption which even tech companies themselves cannot break is a crucial part of online privacy and security.

This encryption, which is part of the “Digital Republic” bill introduced by eighteen politicans from France’s conservative Republican Party, will be examined and debated this week alongside 400 other amendments that include net neutrality and online publication of scientific research.

Source :
The Daily Dot

encryption
france
legislature
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Front Facing Speakers: Why not?

284

Stereo speakers are amazing. We use stereo speakers everywhere: Our televisions have stereo speakers, our Hi-Fi systems have stereo configurations as a basic, our computers use stereo speakers and even our laptops have stereo speakers. So, why can’t our phones or tablets have them to? If they can cram one loud speaker into the phone, I’m pretty sure that two in stereo configuration should be no problem. We’ve seen companies like HTC, ASUS and even
Sony
 taking the dive into the front facing speaker game, and they made their stereo. I have to say that I find it an absolute pleasure to watch those hyperlinked videos friends have sent to you on your phone, you end up watching it on your screen just out of pure convenience — this is only a problem with WhatsApp, Telegram lets you open the link on your desktop. Sure, you might have an insanely loud speaker on your phone, but if they’re not facing the front you won’t get the full volume or clarity of it, especially when you have to do the cup thing with your hands. It’s a big joke, and you look stupid doing it.

Well, you could buy this stupid looking thing to amplify the sound… But, why not just buy a dock then?

Smartphones are supposed to be created with the user in mind, if I were to design my own phone that required a user to do an extra action just to get the full benefit of something I have designed — like making a cup with your hand and turning it into a mini opera chamber around the loudspeaker — I would call that a bad design. That’s like saying “Well, I could’ve made the speakers face you, but let’s just put it on the back because you’re gonna have to work for that extra clarity”. Actually, I understand why you would want to have the loudspeaker on the back. It is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye and when you put your phone in your pocket, you usually put your screen facing your thigh (or your butt cheeks). But, how often do you even hear your phone ring? When it’s in your pocket you would rely more on the vibration, especially when walking around a busy shopping mall.

Here’s another point I would like to bring up, if you were to place your phone on the table, maximum loudness is achieved if you face the speakers up into the air. Doing this with a phone that’s loudspeaker is on the back will prove folly because now your screen is covered (Boo hoo Lollipop’s Ambiet Display) and your Notification LED is now facing the table. Why not put them on the front (or I guess on the bottom would be reasonable), so that you can see the screen and the notification LED as well as get the most out of your phone’s loudspeaker. This is highly opinionated though, I do not want to go back to not having front facing speakers when I’m watching YouTube videos while I’m doing business in the toilet. Front facing stereo speaker works out extremely well when you are showing a video to some friends and everyone is crowding around you. Heck, even this old ass phone has stereo speakers.

The
Motorola
 E398, with stereo speakers.

So, what are the phones you can look at that have front facing stereo speakers? Well majority
HTC
 phones come with front facing BoomSound speakers.
Sony
 phones come with very sleek looking stereo speakers on the front, and some are flushed against the edge of the
case
 and look really nice, like the
Sony Xperia Z3v
 — only for
Verizon
 users — and even hides the notification LED in the top speaker grille.
Motorola
 created the
Nexus 6
 with the notification LED inside the top speaker grille as well. Heck, even
Acer’s
 new Liquid series has front facing speakers now.

Motorola
 Nexus 6 with well placed Notification LED

Notable current tablets with front facing speakers are the
Nvidia Shield Tablet
 and the
HTC Nexus 9
. The upcoming ones include the
ASUS Fonepad 7 FE375CL
,
Sony’s Xperia Z4 Tablet
, and
Lenovo’s Tab 2 A8
. Hold on to your hats, I’m really excited to get my hands on an
ASUS Fonepad
 7 FE375CL when it comes out.

I’m pretty sure any phone or tablet with a pair of stereo speakers would have a superior user experience to any phone that doesn’t have one. I tried shifting from my HTC One (M8) to a
Samsung Galaxy
 A5 for impressions purposes but I still love the BoomSound speakers. A bunch of
MWC15
 releases had some amazing tech behind their devices but I still wonder why
Samsung
and Lenovo just bump their smartphones into the stereo speaker game. Stereo speakers in portrait mode doesn’t count, this point is self explanatory.


FrostFlow 240G All-in-One Liquid VGA Cooler introduced by ID-Cooling

288

ID-Cooling, cooling solutions provider, introduces the all new FrostFlow 240G all-in-one liquid cooling solution for graphics cards, serving as a variant of the company’s FrostFlow 240L CPU-only and FrostFlow 240 Hunter Duet cooling solutions.

It features the VGA cooling component of the Hunter Duet, with a universal design for a variety of performance high-end GPUs from AMD and Nvidia. Partial cooler shroud with a 92mm fan is suspended along the main block, providing air-cooling to the VRM and memory.

A 27 mm thick, 240 mm x 120 mm radiator cools the heat released from the main block, with two 84 CFM 120mm spinners in charge of ventilating the radiator well. It is able to handle thermal loads of up to 300W, supporting several popular AMD and Nvidia GPUs such as the R9 390(X) and GTX 980Ti. Pricing and availability is yet to be announced.

SOURCE:
TechPowerUp

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Fruit Ninja arriving to VR headsets

320

Remember Fruit Ninja? One of the most popular games from the Google Play Store, former known as the Android Market, a couple of years ago. The fruit slicing game was famous back in the years where Temple Run was still the in-thing. Guess what? Halfbrick Studios, the guys who made Fruit Ninja, will be bringing the game over to VR headsets soon.

Halfbrick Studios has announced that the once popular Fruit Ninja will go VR, and the game will be compatible with major existing VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift, Playstation VR, HTC Vive, with the addition of Google Daydream VR. Fruit Ninja VR’s product mananger, Adam Wood stated that they wanted to bring the immersive VR experience to a simple game such as Fruit Ninja.

The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive versions of Fruit Ninja VR is set to roll out later this month, with the Playstation VR and Google Daydream VR versions yet to have their release time frames announced. The regular Fruit Ninja app now boasts more than 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store, and Halfbrick Studios are planning to bring back the glory days of fruit slicing. Let us know your thoughts at the comments section below!

Source:
Tech Times

fruit
halfbrick
ninja
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FSP announces Hydro G Series 80 Plus Gold Power Supply

274

FSP proudly announces their latest PSU today, featuring the Hydro G 80 Plus Gold Power Supply. The new PSU is redesigned to maximize cooling efficiency with enhanced features such as smart fan, internal component arrangement for increased airflow, enhanced heat dissipation and efficient energy conversion. You’ve got to give a thumbs up to FSP to have thought of one thing that no companies have ever done before – changeable logos that allow DIY enthusiasts to match the logo with the rest of the hardware.

The Hydro G PSU is equipped with a smart 135mm FDB (fluid dynamic bearing) fan and automatically spins when it is over 30% load, and stops when it is lower than 20% load. In addition, the internal server grade copper pipes connecting the motherboard and daughterboard increase the conversion efficiency and power draw more than 90% efficient power supply, leading to less superfluous heat.

There will be 3 different models available; 650W, 750W and 850W. FSP has made a pretty elegant looking power supply and we hope that they will be priced below the price point of USD 60 (approx RM 220.00) which makes it one of the most affordable, fully modular power supply in the market.


FSP releases a power supply unit with liquid cooling

346

FSP has unveiled a new power supply device targeted at industrial and gaming fields that has a unique twist which comes in the form of a liquid cooled PSU.

The Hydro PTM+ is a patented liquid cooled PSU created together with Bitspower, who creates liquid cooling solutions for PCs to meet the highest security and safety standards. Certified with a 80 Plus Platinum, it also comes with LED lighting to match your LED based setups and can give you an output of 1200W to 1400W with the liquid cooling enabled. The power supply is also efficient, with sensors build-in, if the PSU detects that the load is below 50% it will deliver 600W without the use of a fan for cooling, giving you a silent working environment.

For more on this liquid cooled power supply and other IoT products that FSP is offering, visit them at Computex 2017 that will go on from May 30 to June 3 as they will be setting up two booths at the 4th floor booth number L0508a, and in Meeting Room 505 on the 5th floor in Nangang Exhibition Hall. For more information on the Hydro PTM+ and other FSP products visit their official website
here
.

computex2017
fsp
power
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supply


FSP unveils HYPER series power supply

817

FSP, an experienced power supply manufacturer unveils the HYPER power supply. It has been redesigned to maximize connector flexibility and overall efficiency, while featuring quiet and durable cooling. The HYPER also achieves greater output than in its 500W, 600W, and 700W capacities.

The power supply features a 120mm fan, which can be adjusted dynamically with system load, which at 20% system load, its noise output measures less than 18 decibels. It has an optimized selection of cables from its single 12-volt rail design. The 550mm 24 pin and 600mm 4+4pin cables supply power to the motherboard and CPU. Besides that, it has four 500mm long PCIe 6+2 pins (two on the 500W) to power GPU cards.

For Hyper M models, FSP included a lot of pre-sleeved cables, although some of you may prefer to remove unneeded connectors for extra space or airflow purposes. It offers a modular cable arrangement for more advanced builders as well. HYPER and HYPER M power supply are designed for the mainstream market, the HYPER series pairs high performance and long life at an affordable price.

fsp
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Fugu = Luggage Suitcase?

347

Question of the day:
 How many luggages or how big of a luggage would you bring on a month-long holiday? What if it was only a week-long? How about a business trip? Backpacking? It’s pretty obvious that our answer here would depend on the length of the trip and often times, we would find ourselves lugging around more than necessary luggages or trying to squish all our purchases from a little shopping spree when packing to return home.

However, with THIS luggage suitcase, all of that will forever be left in the past! Enter the Fugu Luggage
case
 – Inspired by the puffer fish (fugu in Japanese), this luggage suitcase is able to expand its size thanks to its built-in electric pump which makes it a unique one-of-a-kind suitcase that effortlessly transforms from maximum carry-on size to maximum check-in size. The frequent traveller will be flailing in joy as the Fugu Luggage also comes equipped with foldable and removable shelves and a laptop case. The Fugu shelves enable travelers to leave their clothes in the suitcase as it doubles up as a storage unit, thus, eliminating the need to unpack and repack.

Due to its non-conventional height and width, the Fugu Luggage can also triple up as a
portable table
! Talk about functionality. Size and dimensions when in compact and expanded mode are also FAA-compliant.

The Fugu Luggage is designed to be compact and able to withstand high external force acting on it thanks to it being built on the “same material as surf boards”, said Isaac Atlas – Inventor, Founder & Industrial Designer of Fugu Luggage. It also comes with an attractive array of colors to choose from.

This is a Kickstarter funded project, hence, there is approximately a month to go as of the date of this write-up for it be funded although it has already reached its $50, 000
target
. The Fugu luggage suitcase should retail at $4oo when it goes official. For now, do check out the video below to see this little fish luggage in action!

Source(s):
Fugu Luggage
,
Kickstarter


Fujiaire introduces their WiFi-enabled air conditioner exclusively on 11street

1.1K

We all have entered the technological age and with more of us joining this new age, the demand for smarter tools and appliances have gone up. Fujiaire understands that and has released an air conditioner that can be controlled using your smartphone. Partnering with 11street, they have launched the Fujiaire  Shibui Skin Series, the first WiFI enabled air con with six wallpaper sticker designs exclusively on 11street. Together with the AC Freedom Control app, the company has brought an age old appliance to the 21st Century.

Chujin Yoon, Chief Operating Officer has mentioned that e-commerce has become a tool that has integrated its self into our daily lives, and people that have used the buying platform that mentioned that it is capable of saving time and brings greater convenience to everyone that has tried it. Tan Poh Ai, Chief Executive Officer of Fujiaire added that 65% of baby boomers will be willing to pay an additional 20% to fit their homes with smart appliance and Millennials are easily intrigued with new technology, especially if it can bring convenience with just a tap of the finger.

The Fujiaire Shibui Designer Collection features six different wallpaper skins, KIDS, MARB, PLAY, SKYX, STON, and UNIQ. Each print will be sold separately to set the mood or fit the environment of the room the air conditioner is placed in. A nicely designed LED display will give you information on temperature and connection status and there is a Vitamin C filter helps keep the room moist and a super-ioniser cleaning system helps to remove dust and germs.

For those of you that want higher cooling capacity and save energy at the same time, Fujiaire is also offering the Diamond Shibui Series with a five-star energy rating that can give savings up to 50% each month based on an eight-hour usage per day.

The Fujiaire Shibui Skin Series will retail between RM1,170 and RM2,574 and the Shibui Diamon Series will retail between RM1,350 and RM2,925, all Fujiaire air conditioners purchased from 11street will come with three years warranty. For more information on these products, visit the 11street store page
here
.

11street
air con
air conditioner
diamond
fujiaire
phone
series
shibui
skin
smart


Fujifilm goes retro with the X-A3 mirrorless camera

301

Fujifilm’s is keeping the retro feel alive as the company’s latest mirrorless camera, the X-A3, sports a design that is a throwback to days of old.

As the name implies, the X-A3 is the successor to the X-A2. This camera sports a retro design that comes in three colour variations, allowing you to choose the right colour that matches your style.

Despite its looks, the X-A3 is a camera that is targeted towards the selfie lovers. Sporting a newly-developed 24MP sensor, the X-A3 comes with Fujifilm’s proprietary colour reproduction technology for advanced portraiture. The camera also comes with a 3″ LCD touchscreen that is capable of tilting 180 degrees. Selfies can be taken using the command dial on the back of the camera, giving the selfier taker a firmer grip on the camera.

To assist with the selfie taking, the X-A3 comes with a new self-timer function, Smile Detection, Buddy Timer and Group Timer, causing the camera to be triggered automatically when the subject smiles or when two or more people come into the frame. The X-A3 comes with built-in Wi-Fi capabilitiy to connect the Instax SHARE printer for instant printing. The Wi-Fi capability also allows you to transfer photos to your mobile device or enable remote-shooting.

The FujiFilm X-A3 will be available in silver, brown or pink colours and will retail for RM2,888. The camera comes bundled with a CX16-50mm lens.

camera
fujifilm
mirrorless
selfie
xa3


Fujifilm is releasing a new Instax camera that shoots video called the Square SQ20

527

Fujifilm is always the first brand in mind when it comes to instax cameras. Their instax cameras have definitely made a great leap since the first release of instax series product line in 1998. Now with Fujifilm’s Instax Square SQ20 (SQ20), you can have the first instax camera that shoots video!

SQ20 is not only stylish, but with the new design around the lens, the camera is easier to hold. With two different colors, Matte Black and Beige, the SQ20 is the third addition to the instax square cameras. The SQ20 produces square format film (62mm x 62mm) instead of the usual wide (62mm x 99mm) or portrait format (62mm x 46mm) film that we were once used to.

As mentioned before, SQ20 has a video shooting function called “Motion Mode”. This allows you to shoot up to 15 seconds of video. Of course, we know it’s not possible for you to print out a video. This mode is made for you to print the best moment of a moving subject, which was a challenge for previous instax cameras.

Besides that, the SQ20 comes with a “Time Shift Collage” that can capture 4 images simultaneously with a time difference. What it basically means is that a single press of the shutter button will capture 4 different shots. Feeling typical? Add in the new filter “Sequence” and give your image a dynamic finish.

You’ll also be pleased to know that the SQ20 has a 4.0 x digital zoom before shooting, which is a first for all instax cameras. In addition, you get to take photos by looking at the LCD monitor and pick your best shots before printing. As the instax camera stores up to 50 past prints, it’s easy to reprint your photos.

The SQ20 is scheduled to be released from 20th October onwards, so don’t miss out if you have a thing for instax cameras!

camera
fujifilm
instax
sq20


Fujifilm launches the instax SQUARE SQ10 hybrid and mini 9 instant camera

287

Fujifilm’s instant cameras are still pretty good when it comes to instant photo prints, and the company has introduced its first hybrid camera called the instax SQUARE SQ10. As the name already suggests, this is a pretty cute looking squarish compact instant camera that takes pictures with the new square format film.

How is it a hybrid camera? The SQ10 is equipped with a digital image sensor and image processing technology integrated with the existing instax system, which brightens up photos in low light conditions and enables users to take close up shots from a distance of up to 10cm, along with other features such as automatic exposure control, human detection and auto-focus. In addition, the SQ10 features two shutter buttons on the left and right, offering easy operation with either hands.

What’s interesting here is that the SQ10 has a pretty huge 3-inch monitor built-in, apart from serving as the live view and allowing users to configure the camera’s settings, users can edit photos with filters and choose the photos that they want to print, which the latter helps save prints from accidental shots. The SQ10 uses a MicroSD card for storage, and its removable battery can also be charged using a MicroUSB cable.

In conjunction with the launch, Fujifilm has also introduced the instax mini 9 camera, which features a selfie mirror on the front as a guide for framing selfies and a brightness adjustment dial for picture adjustment. The instax mini 9 also has five trendy colors to choose from, which includes Flamingo Pink, Lime Green, Cobalt Blue, Smoky White and Ice Blue.

Fujifilm will begin selling the instax SQUARE SQ10 and instax mini 9 at the Avenue K Japan Festival, and Wonder Photo Shop located at Sunway Pyramid and The Isetan Store Lot 10 starting today. The SQ10 and mini 9 will retail at RM1,328 and RM348 respectively, customers who purchase the cameras at the said locations enjoy freebies worth up to RM164. Otherwise, these instant cameras will be available nationwide after 21 May 2017.

camera
fujifilm Malaysia
instant cameras
instax mini 9
instax mini 9 Malaysia
instax mini 9 price Malaysia
instax sq 10 Malaysia
instax sq10 price malaysia
photography


Fujifilm launches the X70 and the X Pro 2 to cater for amateur and semi-pro photographers

312

If you’re into photography, whether as an amateur or a professional, you should check out the latest cameras launched by Fujifilm today. We saw the Fujifilm X70, a premium compact digitial camera; the Fujifilm X-Pro2, a premium interchangeable lens camera; and a new lens, the Fujinon XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.

The Fujifilm X70 features a new Fujinon 18.5mm f2.8 lens, which is suitable for a variety of shots. It sports an APS-C sized X-Trans CMOS II sensor and EXR Processor II image processing engine. It combines simple manual operation with great image quality, more so with it being the first X-Series to offer a touchscreen display that rotates 180-degrees to capture at any angle.

With its 18.5mm f2.8 lens, it has a wider angle even in a smaller, thinner body. This optical design is based on the X100T, however, the X70 has a single focal length lens that distributes light evenly across frames in order to produce better images in high resolution evenly. The body of the Fujifilm X70 only weighs 340g, featuring milled aluminum dials and rings. You can change apertures easily in 1/3 or 1 stop increments using the aperture rings, and focusing ring also doubles up as a control ring for easy and quick access. Accessories are also important when choosing a camera and the Fujifilm X70 has that covered with accessories such as a half leather case, lens hood, optical viewfinder and wide conversion lens.

As for the Fujifilm X-Pro2, this new model boasts a Hybrid Viewfinder that enables you to switch instantly between optical and electronic finders. In addition, it sports an updated image sensor and processor to dramatically improve image quality. This mirrorless camera is the only interchangeable lens camera in the world that features a Hybrid Viewfinder system, which allows you to view the subject in a natural way, while the electronic viewfinder to preview settings on the spot before hitting the shutter button.

The X-Pro2 features a newly developed 24.3MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor, which reduces moire and false colors without the need for an optical low-pass filter, thanks to its unique random color filter array. This increases the resolution so images delivered have a perceived resolution far grater than the actual number of pixels used. To produce even better images, the X-Pro2 has a new high-performance X Processor Pro image processing engine, which boasts 4 the processing speed of conventional image processing engines to increase all response times even with the increased resolution. It delivers faster autofocus, lower noise, and tonal and color reproduction that surpasses the previous EXR Processor II.

This camera also sports a faster mechanical shutter with a top speed of 1/8000 seconds, on top of its flash sync up to 1/250 seconds. It is also quieter and vibrates less compared to conventional camera models as its key controls and parts have been optimized. With a chassis made from four pieces of magnesium alloy and sealed in a total of 61 points on each section, ths Fujifilm X-Pro2 is dust-proof, splash-proof and capable of operating in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celcius. Accessories-wise, the X-Pro2 has a decent lineup ranging from hand grip to leather casing.

Lenses are important as well, and Fujifilm knows that as they launched a super telephoto lens – the Fujifilm XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. This lens covers a 35mm focal length equivalent of 152-609mm, with high performance optical construction of 21 elements in 14 groups includes five ED lenses and one Super ED lens to help reduce chromatic aberration that often occurs in telephoto lenses. The lens has been designed for handheld shooting with a 5.0-stop image stabilization system and weighs less than 1.4kg.

This super telephoto lens is also both weather and dust resistant and can operate in temperatures as low as -10°C, so it is suitable for use in a wide range of outdoor shooting conditions. A fluorine coating has also been applied to the front lens element to repel water and dirt, further improving the toughness of the lens.

The prices of the cameras and lens launched today is as follows:

Fujifilm X70 : RM 3,388

Fujifilm X-Pro2 : RM 8,188

Fujifilm XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR : RM 8,998

digitalcamera
fujifilm
hybridviewfinder
malaysiaprice
telephoto
x70
xf100400mm
xpro2


Fujifilm software allows you to convert your camera into a webcam

420

Unsurprisingly, there are now high demands of webcams due to the pandemic causing most to stay at home. There are a few alternatives to getting a webcam; for example, you can use a Fujifilm camera.

Instead of searching high and low to purchase a webcam, you can now use your existing Fujifilm camera as your webcam. Fujifilm released software for Windows computers two days ago which will allow users to turn their digital cameras into webcams. You’re not only saving yourself some cash but also getting higher quality videos with features like Fujifilm’s Film Simulation modes.

However, not all
Fujifilm
 cameras are compatible with the software. These are the ones that can be converted into a webcam:

GFX 100

GFX 50S

GFX 50R

X-H1

X-Pro2

X-Pro3

X-T2

X-T3

X-T4

You will also need a USB cable to connect your camera to the computer. Fujifilm
recommends
 adjusting your AF/MF setting to Pre-AF and turning on face detection. You should set your exposure to full auto and select AF-S as your focus mode.

But if you don’t own a Fujifilm camera, you can also turn your
iPhone into a webcam
.

camera
digital webcam
fujifilm
Fujifilm software
webcam


Fujifilm’s Instax Mini LiPlay lets you record audio up to 10 seconds, priced at $160

1K

One of the popular products manufactured by Fujifilm is its series of Instax cameras where you instantly get to shoot a picture and have it printed out for you on the spot via the camera itself. Fujifilm just launched the new Instax Mini LiPlay, and it comes with an LCD screen instead of a viewfinder like the classic Instax cameras.

The LiPlay is more like hybrid camera — a combination of a digital camera and an analog instant film camera. It comes with a 2.7-inch LCD screen and a 1/5-inch CMOS sensor, in addition to a mic button placed at the front. There’s also a selfie mirror placed on top of its lens.

The mic button is why the Mini LiPlay stands out. This Instax camera is capable of recording audio up to 10 seconds and convert it into a QR code that is placed at the corner of your Instax photo. Once scanned, your phone will play the audio so you can hear what you and your friends were shouting/laughing about during that 10-second period.

There is also a microSD slot in the Mini LiPlay, in which you can use it to upload your pictures to your computer. Alternately, users can transfer pictures to their phones through the Mini LiPlay app. Moreover, users can use the app to print out photos from their phones, so it also functions as a photo printer.

Image credit: The Verge

The Mini LiPlay also supports Bluetooth, letting users control the camera remotely. It charges via Micro USB, and a single charge allows up to 100 prints. The Mini Liplay will go on sale from June 14 onwards for the price of $160, though it’s local pricing is not announced yet.

fujifilm
instax
Mini LiPlay


Fujitsu LIFEBOOK: New lightweight laptops powered by 11th Gen Intel Core vPro CPUs

848

Fujitsu introduced new lightweight laptops in the LIFEBOOK U9, U7 and E5 series — each laptop is equipped with 11th generation Intel Core i7 vPro CPUs and has several other upgrades.

Fujitsu LIFEBOOK U9311 – one of the lightest laptops ever

All these laptops are lightweight, but the Fujitsu
LIFEBOOK U9311
 weighs the lightest at 756g. This laptop comes with an anti-glare 13.3-inch FHD display, but users can also opt for a touchscreen display. It features 7.2mm bezels and has a shutter-protected HD IR camera that support Windows Hello. Memory-wise, the LIFEBOOK U9311 supports up to 32GB of LPDDR4x-4266 RAM and 512GB Intel PCIe 3.0 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD paired with 32GB Intel Optane memory H10 storage. Apart from being powered by up to Intel Core i7-1185G7 chip, this laptop has an Intel Iris Xe GPU.

Fujitsu strengthens security on LIFEBOOK U7 models

As for the LIFEBOOK U7 laptop models, they are also smaller and thinner than their predecessors — just like the LIFEBOOK U9311, each of them can be powered by up to Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor, but the
LIFEBOOK U7511
 is available with up to 64GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD storage. Apart from that, you can also opt for the integrated fingerprint sensor, PalmSecure palm vein sensor and Smartcard reader for additional security.

For more information, check out Fujitsu’s
official site
.

fujitsu
LIFEBOOK


The full image of the new Nokia 8 has been leaked confirming the Carl Zeiss dual-camera setup

317

We knew that Nokia 8 is going to be released and we wrote an article on the slight specs that we manage to dig out which you can read
here
. Now, we have probably the biggest leak on the new flagship phone from Nokia with detailed images of the back and front of the phone.

On the back, there is a verticle dual-camera setup with the ZEISS text, indicating that it is a Carl Zeiss camera. Below it is what looks to be a laser focus module and below that, is the LED flash. On the front of the phone, it gives a Nokia 6 vibe with a front facing camera next to the speaker grill and a fingerprint scanner in between the back and recent apps button. As usual, Nokia will retain the full aluminium body design which we assume will be also made from a brick of aluminium, similar to their other phones. However, it is reported that this leak shows the model number to be TA-1002 which previous reports mentioned that it will be TA-1004. Could this mean that the latter model number corresponds to another phone from Nokia? Or could this just be a mix up in the leak reports?

A quick recap, the phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It is also expected to launch end of the month with a price tag of 598 Euros.

8
835
android
flagship
nokia
snapdragon


Full Report: Samsung GALAXY Note 4, GALAXY Note Edge, Gear S and Gear VR Unveiled

275

The
GALAXY Note 4
 has finally been unveiled, which features a metal frame and a much refined S-Pen, measuring a thickness of 8.5mm and has a 2.5D glass that is able to accept two times more the pressure of its predecessor, the all new
GALAXY Note 4
features a Quad HD Super AMOLED display, 16 Megapixel Smart O.I.S camera with a 3.7 Megapixel front facing that is able to take selfies in a 90 degree wide angle, the camera also features a wide selfie mode which will allow to take panaromic ‘we-fies’ in a wide 120 degree. Specs of the device aren’t being revealed in the announcement but according to The Verge, it has either a quad-core or octa-core processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

The Note 4 features a faster charging speed which the company claims it is able to charge up to 50% in 30 minutes when the battery is fully depleted.

Three improved
microphones
 are also onboard which means you’ll be able to record clearer conversations, perfect for meetings and conference calls.

You can even change the back covers to Swarovski designed back covers for the
GALAXY Note 4
, and it isn’t going to be cheap though.

Mont Blanc, manufacturer of luxury pens are manufacturing writing accessories for the
GALAXY Note 4
 with its digital writing tip and technology.

The
GALAXY
 Note Edge has the exact same hardware internals as the
GALAXY Note 4
, except that it as a curved display that shows notifications and information while allowing you to access shortcuts from it.

The
Gear S
 is a 3G Capable smartwatch that can substitute your smartphone with loads of great apps, it features a 2” curvedSuper AMOLED display and its huge enough to fill in a full size QWERTY keyboard to type on, you will also be able to use the watch standalone by pairing one time to the GALAXY Note 4 or other compatible
Samsung GALAXY
 devices.

And finally, there’s the
Gear VR
 that lets you slot in the the GALAXY Note 4 to do mobile virtual reality on games, movies and 3D content, this product is co-developed with Oculus, the company responsible for manufacturing the Oculus Rift and it has been claimed that the Gear VR’s performance is so much better with very much reduced motion blur thanks to the
Super AMOLED
display that is able to switch off pixels instantly as it detects motion.

Availability of all these new products are expected to ship on October 2014, we’ll be also expecting a local launch soon and we will be there to do our hands on. Till then, stay tuned for more IFA stuffs coming right up!


Full specs of the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Lite and OnePlus 8 Pro leaked

363

The OnePlus 8 series will be released within this year, but we still can’t confirm the exact date yet. However, the online store Giztop somehow managed to get the specs of all three models, so here are the full specs of each of them.

OnePlus 8

Starting with the vanilla version of the series, the OnePlus 8 will be sporting a 6.55-inch 90Hz AMOLED punch-hole display that will come with an in-display fingerprint scanner. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 865 5G chipset and come in three RAM configuration — 6GB, 8GB and 12GB. It will also be coupled with either 128GB or 256GB storage.

The OnePlus 8 will also feature a 32MP camera on the front while housing a 48MP main camera paired with a 16MP ultra-wide lens and 2MP depth sensor on the back. The primary lens will supposedly use a Sony IMX686 sensor with f/1.7.

The phone will also come with a 4,000mAh battery that supports OnePlus’ Warp 30T Fast Charge.

OnePlus 8 Lite

Image credit: OnLeaks x 91Mobiles

The OnePlus 8 Lite is slightly smaller than its siblings, but its 6.40inch AMOLED punch hole display will still support 90Hz refresh rate and the phone will also get an in-display fingerprint sensor. It’s not surprising that the phone will not be powered by the Snapdragon 865 chipset; Giztop’s specs sheet revealed that it’ll be using a Mediatek Dimensity 1000 chipset instead.

Unlike the OnePlus 8, this lite version will only come with one 8GB RAM option that can either be coupled with 128GB or 256GB storage. Surprisingly, it’ll get a 4,000mAh battery with the same fast charging as the OnePlus 8.

Here’s where it gets a little less believable; the OnePlus 8 Lite will feature a 48MP camera, a 12MP telephoto lens and a 16MP ultrawide-angle lens, while the OnePlus 8 misses out on a telephoto lens and gets a 2MP depth sensor. This is highly unlikely, so you might want to take this with a grain of salt. On the front, the phone will house a 16MP selfie camera.

OnePlus 8 Pro

Image credit: 91mobiles & OnLeaks

Last but not least, the OnePlus 8 Pro will have a similar 6.5-inch AMOLED display with the OnePlus, but it’ll feature a 120Hz refresh rate and have a dual-punch hole screen. It also mirrors the OnePlus 8 In terms of RAM, storage and processor.

But here’s the upgrades; the pro model is said to come with a 60MP sensor paired with a 16MP ultrawide lens and a 13MP telephoto lens that support 10x hybrid zoom. It’ll also come with a 32MP selfie camera and a TOF camera on the front.

OnePlus also bumped up the battery capacity by a slight margin; the OnePlus 8 Pro will come with 4,500mAh battery that supports 50W Super Warp Charge.

According to the site, the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Lite and OnePlus 8 Pro will cost $549, $499 and $799 respectively. All three phones will be shipped with OxygenOS 10 based on Android 10.

oneplus
OnePlus 8
OnePlus 8 Lite
OnePlus 8 Pro


Further leaks show the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 with iris scanner

310

The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is slated to launch less than a week from now on the 25th of October. By now, pretty much everything about the phablet is out of the bag, but there seems to be more where that came from. With the Galaxy Note 7 marked as dead last week, the phablet crown is now up for grabs and it looks like the Mi Note 2 has a lot of potential of edging past the rest of the competition when it’s unveiled.

For as many times now, we all do know that the Mi Note 2 is rumored to sport a QHD 5.7-inch display with 3D Touch technology. Underneath the hood, the phablet is said to be powered by the newer Snapdragon 821 SoC with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and storage options of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. Apart from that, the phone is tipped to feature a under glass ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, and a 4,100 mAh battery, but there’s more.

Chinese site Weibo has reportedly leaked some presentation slides said to be for the Xiaomi event next week. Apart from the earlier mentioned specs, another series of slides explain iris scanning technology. This tells us that there is a high possibility whereby the Mi Note 2 will be packing an iris scanning, like featured on the Note 7. If it turns out to be true, the Mi Note 2 might turn out just as feature packed as the Note 7, minus the stylus and water resistance.

While iris scanning is an innovative and a more secure technology, it has proved to be slightly less practical than a fingerprint sensor. Most users would rather utilize the fingerprint sensor instead of the iris scanner. Which one do you prefer?

Source:
Weibo

2
4gb
6gb
821
camera
curved
display
dual
edge
iris
mi
note
ram
scanner
snapdragon
xiaomi


Future AirPods to come with health monitoring features

366

In the next one or two years, Apple might be releasing a new version of AirPods which will come with ambient light sensors (ALS) to function as a health monitoring tool.

DigiTimes
 reports that the tech giant has asked ASE Technology to “apply its SESUB (semiconductor embedded in substrate)-based SIP packaging technology to next-generation TWS (true wireless stereo) earphones to be rolled out by Apple.” What this means is the sensor will be able to measure your heart rate, step counts and even blood oxygen levels.

Image credit: Apple

However, reports are suggesting that there will be a change in design; the current
AirPods
 and
AirPods Pro
 design are unlikely to fit well with the ALS.
MacRumors
 suggested that the
Powerbeats Pro
 will more likely be the device to go with due to its over-ear design.

One thing’s for sure; AirPods with health monitoring features will surely grab the attention of many, but it will also be pricier than usual.

airpods
airpods pro
apple
health monitoring
heart rate
Powerbeats Pro
steps count


Future BlackBerry-branded phones will be created by TCL

404

It appears that the BlackBerry brand won’t be going out of the smartphone market anytime soon as BlackBerry will be licensing both the BlackBerry name and software to TLC.

BlackBerry and TCL has since issued a press release stating that both parties have reached a “long-term” deal over the BlackBerry brand. This deal will see TCL design, manufacturer, sell and provide customer support for BlackBerry-branded devices going forward. Meanwhile, BlackBerry themselves will continue to control ande develop its security and software solutions, serve its customers and maintain the trusted BlackBerry security software that the company is know for.

“At TCL Communications, we are committed to creating the best portfolio solutions while ensuring the quality support to consumers and enterprise users who trust the integrity of the BlackBerry device and the brand’s security leadership, coupled with the Android platform,” says Nicolas Zibell, CEO of TCL Communications.

BlackBerry’s decision to license its brand to TCL comes as no surprise, seeing as both parties have worked together on the BlackBerry DTEK50 and the DTEK60 smartphones. Here’s to hoping that future TCL-created BlackBerry phones are more than just Alcatel reskins.

blackberry
licensing
phones
software
tcl


Future Chromebooks will support Android apps

303

Not too long ago during CES 2017, three major Chromebooks were announced. Samsung unveiled the Chromebook Plus and the Chromebook Pro, whereas ASUS took the wraps off its Chromebook Flip C302CA. They all have one key new feature in common, which is the support for Android apps. Like the Chromebook Pixel that was launched back in 2015, these three mentioned Chromebooks will enables users to download apps from the Google Play Store to be used, hence the Android apps support.

According to the Chrome OS website, under the support segment, Google has stated that all Chromebooks launched in 2017 will be able to run Android apps out of the box, which is pretty much expected. This is definitely a wise move considering the fact that Google has a huge gargantuan landscape of various Android apps. The other good thing is not all existing Chromebook users will be missing out on this new feature.

Google has also provided a list of existing Chromebooks that will have Android apps support as well, and has made it easier for users to install Android apps on their respective devices by providing a step by step process for users. With that, a number of current Chromebooks and the future ones won’t be limited to just Chrome apps, with the expansion to support Android apps. By the time you realize, all Chromebooks will eventually support Android apps. But do note that not all Chromebooks will have the Android apps support, as Google continues to evaluate device by device.

Source:
Chromium OS

android
apps
asus
flip
google
in
play
samsung
store
support


Future Motion drops case against Changzhou for hoverboard patent infringement

388

Remember that incident where a booth at CES got shut down due to alleged patent infringement?
 Recent development over that issue has turned extremely shady as reports are stating that the company responsible for the raid has since dropped its case against the company that was infringing on their patents.

Future Motion Inc, the company that makes the OneWheel, initially sued Changzhou First International Trade Co. due to alleged patent infringement over the Trotter, an almost identical one-wheeled hoverboard. This, of course, led to the raid that occurred at CES. Due to the raid, Changzhou quickly hired an American law firm to fight these claims.

The argument made by Changzhou is that Future Motion can’t claim a monopoly on one-wheeled board-based electric vehicles. They’vve also claimed that the OneWheel should have never received a patent in the first place as Future Motion was busy marketing the device before going to the office. Jeffrey Black, the lawyer representing Changzhou, claimed that Future Motion kept this information from the judge and claims that Future Motion’s lawsuit is just a method to raise money from investor. Future Motion has denied this allegation of course.

Changzhou is now seeking USD 100,000 to cover damages related to the raid. In addition, the company wants Future Motion to pay for its considerable legal fees. The demands have led to Future Motion retracting their case as the legal fees for this case may potentially break the USD 1 million mark. Though the case has been dismissed, the possibility remains that Future Motion could sue Changzhou sometime in the future.

Source :
Bloomberg

chagzhoufirstinternationaltrade
futuremotion
lawsuit
onewheel
patent
trotter


Future Samsung products might be built using an in-house developed magnesium alloy

595

Samsung has created their own magnesium alloy called Metal 12, this new alloy will be used to make durable and lightweight electronics like smartphones, laptops and wearables. Metal 12 comprises of a combination of magnesium and aluminium to form the alloy which is currently being used in new Samsung laptops.

To give you an understanding of how Metal 12 will make devices lighter, the 13.3-inch Samsung Notebook 9 weighs just 995g while the 15.6-inch model comes in at 1.2kg. Based on these weights, it could significantly reduce the weight of future phones and other devices that the company produces. Recently, reports indicate that they have filed for a trademark on Metal 12 which could indicate that they will start using this alloy in future Galaxy S and Note phones. It is still unsure if the upcoming Galaxy S9 phone will be built using this alloy but we do know that Samsung will be maintaining the glass back design as it can support wireless charging.

Back when the Galaxy S7 was about to be released, rumours said that the phone will come with a magnesium alloy chassis, but it was not present on the phone. The trademark that they filed for Metal 12 could be a strong indicator that they intend to start using it more widespread in their devices.

alloy
metal 12
samsung
trademark


Future Whatsapp update will allow you to play Youtube videos without leaving the app

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There is a new feature that is coming to Whatsapp in the next update that will allow you to watch YouTube videos within the app without launching the YouTube app on the phone. Previously there is no option to even view or preview the video without getting directed to the video streaming app.

According to WABetaInfo, it is a hidden feature in the latest version of Whatsapp and will be officially unlocked when it is ready. When the update rolls out, you will be able to view YouTube videos in picture-in-picture mode from Whatsapp it self. You will be able to drag the video window around, resize it using the pinch gesture or view it in full-screen mode. The down side is that this feature will only be coming to the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. There is no news on if it’s coming to Android, but the reason why it will be coming out for the mentioned phone is that they have bigger screens that would make this feature more practical to exist on these phones.

For the mentioned iPhone users, don’t skip on that next Whatsapp update or you might not be able to access this feature, which I truly wish was on my Android phone.

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