Touch ‘n Go eWallet introduces street parking payment feature with up to RM3 cashback

531

It may be nearing the end of 2019, but Touch ’n Go hasn’t stopped offering better features and upgrades for its users just yet. The eWallet company is now introducing a street parking payment feature in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bahru, Subang Jaya, Kuala Langat, and Putrajaya.

Using the new in-app feature, Touch ’n Go eWallet users can enjoy up to RM3 cashback when they pay for their street parking — limited to five cashbacks per user per calendar month. This promotion will last until December 31, 2019.
So technically, it’s just this month.

Apart from that, Touch ’n Go eWallet is also organizing a lucky draw campaign that is happening from now until December 22. Users may stand a chance to win two TGV Premiere Tickets that is inclusive of one popcorn combo at TGV Cinemas when they use the in-app street parking feature at least twice in a week. There will be 20 winners selected weekly, in which the announcement will be made via the official website and/or social media.

The introduction of street parking payment is a convenient way of helping drivers to save time. They no longer need to look for physical machines to pay for their parking or purchase different sets of parking coupons based on different areas.

It’s easy too; just click on the Parking icon in your Touch ’n Go eWallet app, select the right location and input your vehicle number. The parking fares will also be shown to you so you’re well informed of how much you’ll need to pay.

Touch 'n Go eWallet


Touch n’ Go to end 10% surcharge at all car parks soon

314

Good news thrifty drivers! Touch n’ Go will cease the imposing of the 10% surcharge found at contracted parking facilities.

We’ve spoken before about why Malaysians pay these surcharges – you can read about that in our article
here
. In that article, we pointed out that the 10% surcharge is not collected by Touch n’ Go, but rather the third-party vendors who run the parking facilities. The surcharge goes into maintaining the
TnG
 facilities; note that in many cases, these vendors have to take care of existing ticketing machines alongside the
TnG
 facilities.

These vendors work with
TnG
 under contractual basis – and
according to a report by The Star,
TnG
 has said that the removal of this surcharge will be done gradually. Future contracts as well as renewals will not include a surcharge obligation.

The report also touched on the RM0.50
surcharge
 when topping up your
TnG
 cards – Deputy of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong
Chien
 Jen said that locations such as Watsons, Tesco,
Guardian,
 KK Mart and Caring Pharmacy offer surcharge-free top-ups.

But we’ve also highlighted in our article the RM0.50 surcharge is imposed at some places because the top up service is offered by third-party vendors. Any surcharge collected does not go into Touch n’ Go’s wallets.

Regardless, we say kudos to
TnG
 for taking these measures to make city commuting a little more affordable and convenient for everyone.

parking
surcharge
touch n go


PayDirect lets you deduct toll fares from TNG eWallet instead of physical card

1.2K

Touch ’n Go and TNG Digital just collaborated to bring more benefits to toll users with the launch of PayDirect, a toll payment method that is already available in a few highways in Klang Valley.

With PayDirect, users can use their physical card to tap the TnG reader and also through SmartTag but have the toll amount deducted from their Touch ’n Go eWallet instead of their physical cards. Only when their eWallets have insufficient funds will the toll fee be deducted from the physical cards.

With this feature, Touch ’n Go users can just reload their eWallets online and skip reloading their TnG cards in kiosks, petrol stations and ATM machines, which will sometime require them to be stuck in a long queue. In addition, they can also skip the RM0.50 reload fee.

Image credit: Touch ‘n Go

To start off the launch of PayDirect, eWallet users can also get 10x 20% rebates on their toll payments when their physical TnG card is added to their eWallet. This offer has actually started from February 21 and will end by June 30 this year.

There are several highways that are already PayDirect-enabled, including DUKE highway, MEX highway and LDP highway. There will be more highways in the future supporting PayDirect, such as NPE highway, KESAS highway and NPE highway.

ewallet
pay direct
touch n go


Toyota invests in Uber; will explore ridesharing collaboration

332

Uber has gotten a very big ally in its ride-sharing business as reports are coming in that Japanese auto-manufacturer Toyota has invested in the company quite recently.

According to the press release issued by Toyota, the company has recently entered a memorandum of understanding with Uber to explore collaborations in ride-sharing. No specifics were mentioned about the nature of these collaborations, but Toyota did mention that it would start with trials.

On Uber’s side, the ridesharing company has stated that Toyota’s investment would allow the company to expand its vehicle financing efforts. Other than that though, both companies are currently keeping mum on their collaboration projects.

“We’re excited that Toyota, the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, is making a strategic investment in Uber as part of a broader global partnership. Toyota vehicles are among the most popular cars on the Uber platform worldwide and we look forward to collaborating with Toyota in multiple ways going forward,” says Emil Michael, Chief Business Officer for Uber.

“Ridesharing has huge potential in terms of shaping the future of mobility. Through this collaboration with Uber, we would like to explore new ways of delivering secure, convenient and attractive mobility services to customers,” says Shigeki Tomoyama, Senior Managing Officer of Toyota Motor Corporation and President of the Connect Company.

Source:
TechCrunch
,
Toyota

collaboration
investment
toyota
uber


Toyota Malaysia has announced their new brand direction and upcoming activities

487

UMW Toyota Motor today announced that they are carrying out a new brand direction and commitment in response to changing landscape surrounding its business and customers. At the same time, the company is refreshing their “All About the Drive” branding platform.

The platform is led by two promises, the first is to “excite the daily drivers” and the second is to deliver “prominence” through their services products and association with the brand. Other than that, they are also putting a focus on their new message, creatives and outreach to the younger generation via digital communication. Coming with their “All About the Drive” campaign, Toyota will be bringing back the Vios Challenge in Malaysia for the second season, and a new Promotional Class race will see celebrities like Janna Nick, Diana Danielle, Shawn Lee and Syukri Yahaya taking part in Season 2 again.

Other new and exciting things will be coming from Toyota, as they also have many other activities for the entire family as well.

activities
brand
direction
toyota


Toyota might include Android Auto in their future cars

298

Android Auto has been the infotainment unit that everyone has grown to love. Some vehicle manufacturers are even incorporating Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay as a two-in-one system, making it easy for everyone. However, cheaper cars come equipped with just a simple radio/CD player, forcing users to change the head unit to an Android Auto unit, but Toyota is changing all that.

It would appear that the Japanese company and Google are working together to bring Android Auto to all Toyota cars. Prior to this, the company did not allow Android Auto to be equipped in their car but it seems both companies have come to an agreement. The main reason why Toyota did not want Android Auto in their cars is due to the amount of vehicle and personal data that the company collects. Back in January, the company has already green light Apple CarPlay in their Avalon, Corolla Hatchback and RAV4, but there was a bigger demand for Android Auto.

Bloomberg which first got the info, is still unsure which of the car models will be getting Android Auto. However, an official announcement on the agreement could be made in October.

android
auto
cars
toyota


TP-Link adds three new budget Neffos phones to the market with the C9, C9A and C7A

351

Other than releasing their flagship phone, TP-Link also unveiled cheaper alternatives to the X9 with the C9, C9A and the C7A phones, effectively covering the different price groups and ranges of phones.

Neffos C9 and C9A

The Neffos C9 and C9A combines advance Softlight camera system with a FullView display for great media consumption and great gaming experience. It comes with advance rear cameras for taking beautiful pictures or selfies, thanks to the C9’s 8MP Softlight Camera on the front and the 5MP camera on the C9A for better night selfie shots. It has an 84-degree wider field of view so you can include your friends and family in the selfie shot and 10-levels of beautification. On the rear, is a 13MP camera comes with low-aperture alongside phase-detection auto-focus for better and faster focus and a blue-glass filter that cuts off infrared light.

Both the phones come with FullView displays that keep you immersed in the content that you are consuming, thanks to the 18:9 aspect ratio and HD+ resolution. The C9 comes with a 5.99-inch screen while the C9A comes with a 5.45-inch display. Both are made using in-cell technology alongside a contrast ratio of 1000:1 and 400 nits of brightness. To improve the experience of unlocking the phone, the company has incorporated water- and oil-resistant fingerprint readers, making sure you can get into the phone no matter the situation. There is also the face unlock feature using the front camera for added convenience.

Specs wise, the C9 comes with a MediaTek MT6739WW quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, powered by a rather large 3840mAh battery. The C9A, on the other hand, comes with the same specs as the A9 except for the smaller 3020mAh battery powering the device. Both the phones will come in two colours of Cloudy Gray and Moonlight Silver, the Neffos C9A is available now and will retail for RM429  while the Neffos C9 will go for RM479 and will be available by the end of August 2018.

Neffos C7A

The Neffos C7A comes with a larger HD display that is great for consuming media and playing games which is supported by its processor that offers great performance while keeping the price low.

The phone comes equipped with a MediaTek MT6737 processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, yet it is still able to run Android 8.1 smoothly alongside the latest Android security patches without any problems. The phone has also undergone rigorous testing by TP-Link’s in-house WiFi lab for optimal performance while using wireless technology. The 5-inch HD screen is using an IPS panel that provides a bright and colourful experience perfect for immersion when watching a movie, reading, or playing games.

On the back of the phone sits an 8MP f/2.2 sensor with fast auto-focus and LED flash so you will be able to capture moments fast while the front comes with a 2MP f/2.2 lens for improved low light shots. The C7A comes in a Gray colour and will be available for purchase by the end of August 2018 for a price of RM359.

c7a
c9
c9a
neffos


TP-Link Archer AX90 vs Deco X90: Which one should you go for?

5.9K

The TP-Link Archer AX90 and Deco X90 are exceptionally powerful and competitively priced tri-band WiFi 6 routers that’s set to upgrade your home Internet experience; however, one can be hesitant on which one to go for since both are AX6600 routers that can handle many connected clients and deliver excellent coverage through your home; therefore, we have decided to come up with this guide to help you make the right purchase.

What’s the biggest difference between the two?

Firstly, these two routers have very different form factors, the Archer AX90 has a pretty large form factor with eight fixed high-performance antennas, while the Deco X90 uses built-in antennas that saves a lot of space.

Despite being a larger device, the Archer X90 offers more RJ45 ports for connecting wired networking devices and USB ports for connecting external storage to share across your network, which makes it a better choice if you still have devices that require wired connection.

The Deco X90 on the other hand is a mesh WiFi router designed for homes that prioritizes on wireless availability and connectivity, it is particularly useful if you need to expand your wireless network to certain parts of your home where typical wireless connections could not reach, which routers like the Archer AX90 may have trouble broadcasting the signal if you house have many bedrooms and thick walls that blocks wireless signal.

Wait, isn’t the Archer AX90 capable of creating a mesh WiFi too?

In short – Yes. However, you lose some capabilities when using OneMesh such as 802.11r Fast roaming, Ethernet backhaul and Guest WiFi, hence even if you managed to get another OneMesh router to expand your network, you may not be able to fully utilize features of the second unit as the main OneMesh router serves as the central management device that syncs all network parameters to other OneMesh devices.

More information of these two mesh technologies can be read
here
.

Which one should you go for?

Both the Archer AX90 and Deco X90 are excellent products which can provide decent WiFi coverage on most home sizes, so the question remains whether you require to use additional ports and advanced networking features such as hosting a network storage that’s available on the Archer AX90, or make WiFi coverage a priority at your home with the Deco X90.

The cost of both routers are vastly different, the Archer AX90 retails at RM699 while the Deco X90 two pack unit retails at RM1469, hence unless you are already facing some WiFi coverage issues at your home, the Archer AX90 is a great choice to experience super fast WiFi 6 speeds for less, but otherwise the Deco X90 is a good one-time investment that you no longer need to worry about WiFi dead spots around your house.

Watch our review of the Archer AX90 and find out how well the Deco mesh system works for us.

archer ax90
deco
deco x90
mesh wifi router
onemesh
tplink


How to up your WFH internet game with a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router

1.3K

Does this work from home situation sound familiar to you? More devices are now connected to that old router you have – so that means slower internet for everybody. To fix this, everyone huddles near where the connection is the strongest; and with all that racket, it creates an environment that’s less than ideal for productivity.

If this perfectly described your WFH experience, then I’m glad to report that there’s a catch-all solution to your dilemma –
the TP-Link Deco X90
 is a mesh Wi-Fi system that not only covers every corner of your house with stable internet, but delivers higher bandwidth to everybody at home as well.

Easy to set up

The Deco X90 router comes in packs of two, and all you need to do is power up your first node, plug it into your modem, and download the TP-Link Deco App on your phone, then simply follow the setup instructions there. You can also watch the video below for a more in-depth setup guide:

Because there are essentially only two nodes to pair, the setup process is ridiculously simple – you can have your internet up and running, just in time for that Zoom call your boss insisted on having at 10am on a Monday.

Impressive internet range and speed

The router supports Wi-Fi 6 and Tri-Band connectivity meaning compatible devices will be able to make use of all that sweet internet speed (up to 6,600Mbps), anywhere in the house – you get two 5GHz bands (4,804Mb/s and 1,201 Mb/s) for high-speed internet, and one 2.4GHz band (574Mb/s) for long range connections.

To eliminate dead zones, all you need is to place one of the two nodes wherever you think has the weakest signal. it covers a wide area of up to 6,000sqft, or a four to 6-bedroom house – providing you steady internet in places like on the second floor of your two-story house, the kitchen that’s separated by a thick wall, or the bathroom – for whatever reasons you need a connection there for.

Who is the Deco X90 mesh router for?

The family of gazillions

It’s likely each member of the family has at least two to three devices connected to the router at any given time, each requiring different bandwidth allocations to work properly – the Deco X90 mesh system can handle up to 200 devices without incurring any loss in performance.

This is achieved with the help of features like 4×4 MU-MIMO tech for your high-bandwidth applications like video calls and online gaming; and OFDMA which is great for low-bandwidth applications like regular web browsing, or syncing up your
smart home devices
.

The WFH nomad

We get that you’re tired of looking at the same four walls every day, and sometimes you just want to complete that work report admiring your plants at the balcony – there’s true seamless roaming, which means your devices will be able to instantaneously connect to a nearby Deco node regardless of where you move within the house, ensuring you never go offline.

Plus, with AI-Driven Mesh tech, the device learns your home’s layouts, and your usage patterns to basically provide the most ideal network environment it can as you switch from one area in the house to the next.

The safety-conscious

The Deco X90 is equipped with TP-Link’s HomeShield suite of protection features that includes network and IOT protection, parental controls, and reports to keep you up to date with your internet’s health.

The system blocks out malicious threat with a firewall, deny access to harmful websites, and prevents intrusion. On top of that, parental control lets you filter content, limit internet past a certain time of the day, and more.

How do I get it?

So, there you have it, with just two nodes, your home is covered head-to-toe with high-speed internet – everyone gets the bandwidth they need, so You can finally hunker down in your room or on your porch, and get work done in peace.

The Deco X90 mesh router is priced at RM1,499 and can be purchased via TP-Link’s official
Lazada
 store. You can visit the brand’s website here to learn more.

This article is sponsored by TP-Link

deco
deco x90
deco x90 mesh router
tp-link
WiFi 6


TP-Link enters the smartphone market with the new Neffos C5 and C5L

376

Known for its wide selection of networking products, TP-Link is finally entering the mobile space with the introduction of two new models, the Neffos C5 and C5L are two value for money smartphones that is targeted at users who wants a stylish smartphone without breaking the bank.

The Neffos C5 has a LG G3 inspired design and sports a 5-inch HD IPS display, powered by a Mediatek MT6735 Quad-Core SoC with 2GB of RAM, the phone has 16GB of internal storage with support for MicroSD expansion up to 32GB, there’s also an 8-megapixel camera that should work well for the average users and a 5-megapixel wide angle front camera.

On the other hand, the Neffos C5L is a smaller smartphone that sports a 4.5-inch display however with a rather dated FWVGA resolution, thankfully its entry level performance is managed by a Snapdragon 210 chip with 1GB of RAM, there’s 8GB of built-in storage with MicroSD expansion and it comes with a pretty decent 5-megapixel main and 2-megapixel front cameras, TP-Link has been rather proud of its smartphone’s cameras.

Both the Neffos C5 and C5L are 4G LTE capable smartphones and comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop preloaded, don’t expect these devices to be upgraded to Android M or N anytime soon since they are meant for users who isn’t particular about getting the latest software on their devices. The Neffos C5 and C5L will be available exclusively on Lazada Malaysia on 12 April 2016 at the price of RM539 and RM359 respectively, the first 99 customers to place orders will be entitled to receive a powerbank from TP-Link.

There’s of course one more thing, TP-Link has teased us with the Neffos C5 Max, which we assume to be the larger brother of the C5 with slightly better specs.

c5
c5l
neffos
neffosc5
neffosmy
tplink


TP-Link introduces the Neffos X9, comes with a 5.99-inch FullView display priced under RM800

390

TP-Link as just introduced a new entry for its Neffos smartphone, the Neffos X9 comes with an advanced dual-camera system on the back and a beautiful Full-View Display on the front, wrapped up in a polycarbonate body with a premium metallic look and feel.

The phone comes with a 13MP+5MP sensor that can produce good portrait photos with sharp subjects and a nice bokeh effect. It also comes with phase-detection auto-focus that offers a more accurate focusing and the F/2.0 aperture allows for greater depth of field shots. Not forgetting the 8MP sensor on the front that features a wider field of view for group selfies. It also comes with an image enhancing algorithms from ArcSoft and AI Beautification.

The phone is equipped with a larger 5.99-inch HD+ FullView display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, manufactured using in-cell technology to deliver a sharper and more vivid image. The X9 was made with people who use their phones before bed, users can turn on Night Display mode which will intelligently dim the brightness depending on the lighting condition. This reduces eye strain by minimizing blue-light emission by up to 89 percent.

Other than that, it comes with an octa-core processor, 3GB RAM with 32GB of internal storage or a 4GB RAM variant with 64GB of internal storage. For security, the phone comes with a fingerprint scanner that can lock the phone in a fraction of a second and Face Unlock which can identify the user using 100 different facial points for higher accuracy.

The Neffos X9 comes in two colours of Space Black and Moonlight Silver, the 3GB RAM 32GB storage variant will retail for RM599 and the 4GB Ram and 64GB storage variant retails for RM799.

neffos
phone
tp-link
x9


TP-Link launches the Neffos C5 Plus with Android Go, priced around RM249

699

Neffos’ founding company, TP-Link, has been known for its home Wi-Fi devices that are widely used in Malaysia and now Neffos is trying to bring another smartphone into the industry by introducing the Neffos C5 Plus, the successor to the popular Neffos C5A.

While the C5 Plus sports some similarities with the C5A, the new phone also has several upgrades worth noticing. The C5 Plus comes with a bigger display thanks to its 5.34-inch screen, though its design remains traditional and the chin is still thick and obvious. It supports dual SIM cards and has a slot for microSD card, in addition to having more colour options than the C5A.

The C5 Plus houses the same MediaTek MT6580M processor as the C5A, but while the C5A only comes with a single option for its RAM and storage, the C5 Plus has either 512MB/1GB RAM with 8/16GB storage. The new phone also ships with Android Go 8.1 that is said to be able to open apps 15% faster than non-Go edition phones, which is why it is chosen to match the modest hardware and limited storage space. However, those who are looking to expand its storage can expand it up to 64GB via microSD card.

Another unchanged factor of the C5 Plus is its cameras whereby the front camera remains at 2MP and the rear camera remains at 5MP. The battery is also slightly lower than the C5A at 2,200mAh that charges via Micro USB but because it’s using a lightweight Android Operating System and comes with a power-saving mode, users don’t have to worry about their batteries running out too quickly.

The C5 Plus is also claimed to be very durable in terms of its design as it is able to support 100,000 times volume key press, 500 times torsion shock and 16,000 times 10cm drop. Unfortunately, the C5 Plus only supports 3G connectivity at its best, so you will not be getting LTE or 4G from this phone.

You can get the C5 Plus in stores for RM249 in which the phone comes in Blue, Red, Grey and Gold. For more information, visit www.neffos.my.

Android Go
C5 Plus
neffos
tp-link


TP-Link launches the Neffos C5 Max smartphone

454

Two months ago, TP-Link made its entry to the smartphone market under the brand Neffos and introduced two new entry-level smartphones, the company finally unveiled the Neffos C5 Max today, which is the highlight model of the C5 smartphone series. While the phone may look the same like its other sibilings, it comes with a beefier MediaTek MT6753 Quad-Core processor paired to 2GB of RAM, the phone also has a bigger 5.5-inch IPS display with a Full HD resolution, a 13-megapixel f/2.0 main and 5-megapixel front cameras, battery capacity is also bigger at 3045mAh.

In conjunction with the launch, TP-Link has also partnered with 11street to sell the Neffos C5 Max exclusively in a 3-month long campaign beginning today. Retailing at RM699, the first 50 customers to purchase the phone will be eligible to receive a free Groovi Ripple Bluetooth speaker worth RM159, this promotion is valid till 10 July while stocks last, a pretty good buy and great effort by TP-Link. Head on over
here
 to purchase the Neffos C5 Max.

11street
c5max
neffos
tplink


TP-Link Neffos X1 Lite Review: Mid-Range Features, Entry-Level Price

401

There’s a reason why I would always suggest friends to add extra cash to go for a mid-range smartphone if they could, I’m not saying that entry-level smartphones suck, but they just don’t last as you want them to, there have been numerous times where I get to hear from friends where their phones are stuck at the operating system it is shipped with, battery life that doesn’t last, and an unreliable software experience after a month of usage. While I never had a good impression of TP-Link smartphones, given the fact that they make more impressive networking products than smartphones, the Neffos X1 Lite that arrived at our office three weeks ago has definitely surprised me as a RM499 entry-level device.

Neffos X1 Lite Video Review

Design and Hardware

The Neffos X1 Lite was announced two months back as an entry-level model of the X1 series smartphones, if you happen to have any chance to come across one, it is basically a smaller sibling of the higher end X1 Max with very much the same design language. For starters, the Neffos X1 Lite has an aluminium build which is great, it feels compact due to its 5-inch display, and the sides are slightly tapered to offer a good grip on hand. If I had to commend one thing that TP-Link has brought to the X1 Lite, that would be the rear fingerprint scanner, it is extremely fast and reliable, it beats many entry-level Android devices I have ever tested, and I like that it doesn’t introduce an unnecessary camera bump like some others.

Many people I have shown the Neffos X1 Lite are impressed with the display, though some have suggested that the form factor could afford a slightly larger display with reduced bezels, it is great for people who can’t handle large displays. With a 720p resolution, you won’t be able to see the pixels even when viewed closely, color saturation and contrast is great with good viewing angles, and more impressively, it is very responsive and precise to my input and gestures, which makes texting and taking long notes a pleasure on the device.

Like most entry-level devices, it is easy to assume that the Neffos X1 Lite comes with a Mediatek processor that is inefficient, it however uses the decent MT6750, the very same chip that powers the Vivo V5s I reviewed some time back, it is an octa-core processor with eight Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.5GHz, an impressive processor I have experienced with decent graphics performance. Where TP-Link managed to lower down costs is giving the device 2GB RAM and 16GB of built-in storage, and a 2,550mAh battery size that doesn’t sound too impressive but will be sufficient to power the hardware, the Neffos X1 Lite’s storage is expandable using the second SIM tray and there is no support for quick charging.

Software and User Experience

The Neffos X1 Lite ships with Android 7.0 with its proprietary launcher, which is simply called NFUI. Like other Chinese launchers, it isn’t uniquely different at all apart from cosmetics, you get an iOS style paginated navigation on your home screen to access your apps with no app drawer, there are useful gestures that help doing certain tasks easier, and the ability to change the soft navigation keys.

Although the user experience isn’t as sophisticated as Xiaomi’s MIUI or Huawei’s EMUI, I’m happy to report that TP-Link hasn’t preinstalled any bloatware and kept most of the UI elements close to Android. Things such as the notifications shade remains as one with toggles, the phone’s settings page remains a close resemblance to what you see on stock Android. To get an app drawer, all you need to do is to download a third party launcher from Google Play.

I am satisfied with the phone’s overall performance during the review period, there were no annoying signs of it slowing down, app force closes and restarts. The phone’s hardware also managed to keep up with the Facebook app, which have been known to crash on most entry-level smartphones due to its nature of memory hogging, I’m not suggesting that it is a lag-free experience, but rather it is good enough to not make you hate the device.

On the other hand, I also want to note on the phone’s great GPS performance, it locks on to satellites as soon as I fire up Waze and Google Maps, and it is darn precise in detecting my location, such as making a U-Turn on a road, navigating in the city with high rise buildings around, the navigation indicator has never gone wrong in detecting that I’m on the opposite lane or a road I wasn’t on, this is really great for those working on ridesharing services or who depends on their phone’s GPS to get around the city, and what’s even more impressive is that the phone’s temperature remains comfortably warm to hold.

Camera

[fshow url=https://flic.kr/s/aHskpjNhH6]

Entry-level smartphones come with either a bad camera hardware or software, the Neffos X1 Lite features a 13-megapixel main camera that comes with a dual tone LED flash and phase detection auto focus. As a simple road trip and social media camera, I would give it a pass, as it could really take some impressively detailed images under ideal lighting conditions, if you look at the sample images above, the one that was taken at a night market really surprised me with well controlled noise levels and good color saturation. As for selfies, the 5-megapixel camera would do just fine if you want your facial features to be beautified a little, and thankfully it doesn’t overdo it to make faces look like they were made out of porcelain.

The camera software is a straightforward one, TP-Link happen to issue a software update during the review period to include a Pro mode, which gives you a good amount of control over your photos if you ever need it, though it doesn’t let you do a live preview of your photo, you do get a great ISO range of up to ISO 3000 and a slow shutter speed of up to 1/4 seconds. Otherwise, the camera software really isn’t the most interesting one as compared to other Android smartphones, and you shouldn’t expect too much on that.

Battery Life and Network Performance

Throughout my two week review period, the Neffos X1 Lite was able to last a full working day in most cases, I use it for web and social media browsing, some lightweight GPS navigation and music streaming, I managed to achieve a maximum 2 hours screen on time before giving it a charge, which is reasonable for its small battery size but could be better if TP-Link managed to fit in a slightly larger battery.

In terms of connectivity, the Neffos X1 Lite supports connecting to 5GHz network and creating a hotspot with that network band, this is a unique feature for its class and one that you won’t even find it on higher end smartphones, it doesn’t support 802.11ac speeds, but you are still going to get a more reliable WiFi performance than phones that only support the 2.4GHz band. As for cellular network performance, the phone handles 4G data networks reliably and has great voice call quality, both SIM slots support connecting to 4G networks, with the standby SIM staying connected to 3G when the main SIM is being used for data.

Verdict

The Neffos X1 Lite is the phone that get the essentials done, apart from the smaller screen size and storage, there isn’t anything that I’m truly unsatisfied with, it has reliable software and performance, a camera that I could really use for Facebook and Instagram uploads, all of this for the price of RM499 and a 2-year warranty makes it really attractive in the entry-level category and one phone that you won’t hate.

The Good

Affordable with 2-years hardware warranty

Great entry-level smartphone performance

Fast fingerprint scanner

Decent camera performance

GPS performance

5GHz WiFi

The Not so Good

Small battery size

Software lacks uniqueness

neffos x1 lite
neffos x1 lite review
neffos x1 lite review malaysia
tplink


TP-LINK Unveils C3200 AC3200 Wireless Tri-Band Gigabit Routers

375

TP-Link released the availability of its Archer C3200 AC3200 Tri-Band Gigabit Routers that utilize Tri-Band technology. This new router can operate at a combined speed of up to 3.2 Gbps, with two 5GHz bands that are able to reach up to 1300 Mbps each and one 2.4 GHz band that reaches up to
600
Mbps
. It has a revolutionary Tri-Band technology, the Archer C3200 Wireless Tri-Band Gigabit Routers that allows more devices by offering a second 5 GHz network.

For smart homes with many connected devices, this router is the ideal solution to let everyone load, stream and game at the same time without compromising the home network’s overall performance. To make this happen, Acer leverage one powerful 1 GHz dual-core processor emitting fast, stable and responsive performance for all tasks and three small processors exclusively handle the Wi-Fi tasks over the three Wi-Fi bands to optimize the Wi-Fi performance of the router.

Archer C3200 Wireless Tri-Band Gigabit Routers include four gigabit Ethernet ports to enable super-fast connection with more wired devices. Furthermore, there are two USB ports (1xUSB 3.0 and 1xUSB 2.0 port) to share printers, files and media within a network. Besides that, the routers are equipped with six high-performance external antennas, Archer C3200 Wireless Tri-Band Gigabit Routers that can increase the Wi-Fi coverage throughout a large home.

Surprisingly, the routers will utilize beamforming technology in order to easily pinpoint wireless devices to form stronger and reliable connections. With the help of Smart connects, all your devices can run faster by assigning them to the best available channel to balance network demand. Moreover, TP-Link includes an intuitive GUI and Tether App for easy installation with network management.

The Archer C3200 Wireless Tri-Band Gigabit Routers are available now and priced at USD 259.99 (approx. RM 1070). Featuring a 2-year limited warranty and 24/7 tech support.

networking
router
tplink
wireless


TP-Link unveils the new Neffos X1 and X1 Max

323

TP-Link is back with a new pair of smartphones under the Neffos brand as the company launch the X1 and X1 Max in Malaysia.

Both the X1 and X1 Max features a metallic body exterior and a dual-curved back that tapers towards the sides. The camera on both smartphones are identical as well as both phones comes with a 13MP rear camera with a f/2.0 lens and Sony’s IMX258 sensor with backside illumination and a 5P lens system. For the front, both smartphones have a 5MP camera with a Real-time Beautify mode.

Performance is where the X1 and X1 Max differs, while both phones are powered by MediaTek’s Helio P10 octa-core processor, the X1 sports up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. On the other side, the X1 Max is capable of supporting up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Both models are able to support microSD cards which can boost its internal storage to 128GB.

The difference between the X1 and X1 Max can be found in its battery capacity and screen size. The X1 sports a 5″ HD IPS display with a 2,250mAh battery, while the X1 Max comes with a 5.5″ Full HD IPS display with a 3,000mAh battery. The X1 will have a starting price of RM769 for the 2GB RAM – 16GB ROM variant, while the X1 Max will start at RM999 for the 3GB RAM – 32GB ROM variant.

neffos
smartphone
tplink
x1
x1max


Transcend brings new range of USB Type-C storage products to Malaysia

301

As USB Type-C devices have gotten more common these days, Transcend has finally brought in a new range of USB Type-C storage products to the Malaysian market, these products include card readers, flash drives and a portable hard drive. The USB Type-C connector has recently became common in many notebooks and smartphones, which is why you should probably keep an eye on the company’s offering if you are thinking to purchase devices with the new USB connector.

JetFlash 850S and JetFlash 890S USB Flash Drives: Superspeed, Lightweight Design and Dual Connector Model

Equipped with the latest USB 3.1 Type-C connector with USB OTG (On-The-Go) technology, Transcend’s JetFlash 850S flash drive delivers transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s. The JetDrive 850S also features an ergonomic curved grip and a lightweight design. In addition, Transcend’s JetFlash 890S is an OTG flash drive featuring dual connectors – a reversible USB Type-C connector and a standard USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-A connector – that is designed to transfer and back up files between the latest USB Type-C port equipped devices. Both USB flash drives use innovative COB (Chip on Board) technology and are assembled with a metallic casing, providing great dust and splash resistance.

Transcend’s JetFlash 850S and 890S is available in storage capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

StoreJet 25MC Hard Drive: Military-Grade Shock Resistance

The StoreJet 25MC hard drive comes with a reversible USB Type-C cable for next generation Type-C devices. The three-stage shock protection system meets U.S. military drop-test standards and offers superior protection for data stored on the StoreJet 25MC. By using the SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, the StoreJet 25MC allows users to enjoy ultra-fast file transfer rates.

The StoreJet 25MC is available in 1TB and has a three-year limited warranty.

RDC8K and RDC2K Card Readers: Compact Multifunctional Card Reader and OTG Smart Reader

For new computer platforms with a USB Type-C port, Transcend’s 4-slot RDC8K card reader can support a wide variety of flash cards, including SD cards, microSD cards, CF cards, and Memory Stick (MS) flash cards. Equipped with a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, the RDC8K is an ideal choice for fast and efficient data transfer from a flash card to a laptop with USB Type-C ports. On the other hand, Transcend’s RDC2K smart reader is an OTG card reader specifically designed for USB Type-C equipped Android smartphones and tablets. In addition to an SD card slot and a microSD card slot, the RDC2K has also a standard USB Type-A port that allows users to connect accessories such as USB flash drives, keyboards, or mice to their Android devices.

These great card readers have a three-year limited warranty.

Transcend’s new USB Type-C products are currently available for purchase from most IT retail stores with the following Suggested Retail Price (SRP):

JetFlash 850S TS16GJF850S / TS32GJF850S / TS64GJF850S : MYR$75 / $105 / $165 (including GST)

JetFlash 890S TS16GJF890S / TS32GJF890S / TS64GJF890S : MYR$79 / $109 / $169 (including GST)

StoreJet 25MC TS1TSJ25MC : MYR$339

RDC8K Card Reader TS-RDC8K : MYR$109

RDC2K Smart Reader TS-RDC2K : MYR$99

jetflash
jf850s
jf890s
rdc2k
rdc8k
sj25mc
transcend
usbc


Transcend introduces two new storage devices

342

Looking for a new NAS or a new portable hard drive for yourself? You might be interested to know that Transcend has just announced two new storage devices today: the StoreJet 25MC portable hard drive, and the StoreJet Cloud 110.

For the portable hard drive side of things, the StoreJet 25MC is hard drive that is built with a 3-stage shock protection system, allowing the portable hard drive to survive U.S. military drop-test standards. The portable hard drive itself features the latest USB Type-C connector which is paired with the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, allowing you transfer files quickly. For those who do not have devices with USB 3.0 ports, the StoreJet 25MC comes with USB 2.0 ports as well.

If Network-Attached Storages are more your thing, the StoreJet Cloud 110 will be right up your alley. Sporting a dual core ARM Cortex-A7 processor and a Gigabit network that offers up to 110MB/s transfer speed, the StoreJet Cloud 110 is a high-speed NAS that is can be set up within minutes. Using the NAS is easy as well as the intuitive StoreJet Cloud App lets you navigate it easily.

nas
portableharddrive
storage
storejet25mc
storejetcloud110
transcend


Transparent Razer Phone 2 to hit the markets

400

A day ago, Razer announced its second ever smartphone, the Razer Phone 2, hoping to further attract avid mobile gamers and geeks alike with some notable improvements over its previous iteration. We now have news that the Razer Phone 2 will come in another color option on top of the two we’ve known.

The Razer Phone 2 now sports a full glass back instead of aluminium, which still exists in the frame of the phone. This means that the phone is now capable of wireless charging. Currently offered in Satin Black and Mirror Black versions, the new Razer smartphone is said to soon be available in a transparent version, although no date or time frame has been confirmed.

With the likes of HTC and Xiaomi having launched transparent editions of their existing smartphones, it will be interesting to see Razer do the same as well, coupled with the fact that the company boasts some other hardware eye candy such as the Razer Blade. Not to forget, the Razer Phone 2 now features a backlit RGB logo on the back, which combined with the transparent design will be eye catching altogether.

The Razer Phone 2 comes with other worthy upgrades, including Razer’s signature Vapor Chamber cooling system, flagship internals, an improved camera package and IP67 rated water and dust resistance.

gaming
razer
razer phone 2
transparent


Travis will help you break communication barriers when you travel

302

When travelling to another country, the major issue that we face is the language barrier which can make getting around tedious. Introducing Travis, a device that is small enough to fit into your pocket and can allow you to talk to anyone that you meet during your travels. This remote control looking device can translate 80 languages in real time when it is online as well as access 20 more common languages in offline mode, making travelling to areas with poor network connection easier.

Travis comes with a touchscreen display, quad-core processor, built-in Bluetooth, WiFi capabilities and a slot for a SIM card. The developers claim that the battery life is 6 hours in online mode, 12 hours in offline mode and will last up to a week when in standby mode. There is not much details on how the AI system works but its developers mention that it was built by integrating the “best apps for each language” into the device and selects the best app for each conversation.

This is not the first device on the market that translates language in real-time as others can be seen in action such as the Ili which does not need any form of internet connection to function. Travis has currently passed its funding goal on IndieGoGo and will start shipping in July with a pre-order price of $139 and a retail price of $199 at launch.

Source:
Mashable

travis


Trend Micro Maximum Security 2015 promises maximum security with minimal effort

261

As privacy issues and malicious software are starting to attack computers and the Internet of Things, users are getting concerned if they should even trust storing files on the cloud or having too much information exposed on social media. Therefore, here comes a solution from
Trend Micro
 that aims to resolve these security woes, Trend Micro’s Maximum 2015 Cloud Edition will ensure maximum security and ultimate privacy protection in your computing devices.

According to a research from
Trend Micro
, there are almost 60 percent out of 600 respondents in Malaysia not protected on their mobile devices and personal computers and that puts them a the risk of falling victim to cybercrime especially when there are now 3.5 new cyber threats every second.

Trend Micro
 Maximum Security 2015 has introduced a whole new minimal user interface that will make consumers feel at ease on using the software while ensuring their data and information are kept safe.

Trend Micro
 Maximum Security 2015 Cloud Edition features a password manager which will encrypt all online passwords and enable customers to easily log into website without the fear of password theft, the security software has also expanded its social network Privacy Scanner to scan LinkedIn, which has recently became one of the most targeted sites despite being a professional social network.

Maximum Security 2015 and Internet Security 2015 is now available at all leading IT retailers and Trend Micro with the following retail price depending on the number of devices:-

– Maximum Security 2015 1 Year 1 Device – RM89

– Maximum Security 2015 1 Year 3 Devices – RM139

– Internet Security 2015 1 Year 1 Devce bundled with Mobile Security 1 Year 1 Device – RM69

– Internet Security 2015 – 1 Year 3 Devices – RM99

In addition, Trend Micro is also giving away a RM30 AEON shopping voucher should you opt to purchase Trend Micro Maximum Security 2015 1 Year 3 Device license.


Trend Micro predicts 2016

283

Cybersecurity is an ever changing landscape and Trend Micro knows that. In 2016, Trend Micro believes that the threats will evolve to rely more on mastering the psychology behind each scheme rather than mastering the technical aspects of the operation.

The first prediction that Trend Micro made is that online extortion will continue to grow in 2016. Cyber extortion is nothing new as consumers have been battling it in the form of fake antiviruses, Trojans, and the crypto-ransomware of today. For 2016, Trend Micro believes that there will be an increase in these threats in an attempt to extort money from users. Besides data, other things that users find valuable that are online could become targets as well. One of the examples given was the hacking of the infidelity website Ashley Madison, where the reputation of the users may be compromised.

For the second prediction, Trend Micro believes that enterprises and other large organizations will face their own reputation risks due to data breaches. The hacking incidents that affected Sony and the Hacking Team are examples of what might happen to other companies. Trend Micro suggests that hacktivists respond to incentives as well as anyone. Instead of merely defacing websites and/or carrying out denial-of-service (DOS) attacks, skilled hacktivists may be capable of much more severe damage like stealing a company’s most valued secrets and leaking them to the public. According to Trend Micro, these attacks that are carried out by hacktivists may differ from attacks committed by cybercriminals or even nation states, and need to be treated accordingly.

The last prediction made by Trend Micro is the most unnerving as the company predicts that attacks on consumer-grade smart devices will prove fatal, either directly or otherwise. As more and more devices and items are being connected to the internet, the security shortcomings become more apparent and problematic. Vulnerabilities are already known to exist in devices ranging from baby monitors, to cars, to gasoline pumps, and said vulnerabilities are rarely, if ever, fixed. This lack of urgency is expected to end in injuries – or worse, fatalities – to users due to the failure of smart devices.

cybersecurity
trendmicro


The trial version of ColorOS 7 is now available for OPPO Reno and Reno 10x Zoom

538

OPPO has launched its ColorOS 7 in India yesterday and it has a bunch of new features that may appeal to OPPO users.

ColorOS 7 will be getting a new user interface that allows user to customise their icons and get access to Dark Mode. In addition to that, OPPO is introducing new wallpapers that changes when the time changes and manually changes with a swipe.

ColorOS 7 will also be including new interactions, such as a weather-adaptive alarm that is suppose to adjust alarm sound based on the weather, a new haptic design and new animations. To improve the audio experience, OPPO also partnered with Epic Sound to improve the sound system and bring in new sound effects for ringtones, notifications and more.

Furthermore, OPPO also improved its camera software with ColorOS 7. It consists of the AI Beautification 2.0 that analyses lighting and environment to match user skin tone, and also Ultra Night Mode for lowlight photography with less noise and greater clarity.

The trial version plan is already made available for the OPPO Reno and OPPO Reno 10x Zoom. According to OPPO, the Reno2, F11 series and F11 Pro Marvel’s Avengers Limited Edition will be getting the trial version next month. Other OPPO phones will get ColorOS 7 in 2020. However, OPPO did note that the trial version is for limited users only and will not be available in certain regions.

ColorOS 7
oppo
OPPO Reno


Trim and share your moments using new GoPro app feature

312

If you own a GoPro, it is inevitable that you would want to share your moments to your family and friends, or those in your circles. With GoPro’s latest new feature, you can create and share short videos capture on your GoPro minutes after it happens. You can create short video clips directly on the camera or using your mobile device, then just by using the Trim function, choose 5-, 15-, or 30-second clips from your recorded content. So instead of sharing the entire video, you can choose what to share.

Before this new feature came about, you were required to download your entire footage on your computer, find your favourite moment and then edit the clip. export then only do you upload it. However, with the new Trim and Share feature, you can select that climactic moment on your mobile device and upload it to Instagram while you are on the chairlift headed back to the top, on the beach between sets, or sitting on the tailgate in between laps.

You can share your trimmed videos on the fly on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and more. On-Camera Trimming is compatible with the HERO4 Black with LCD Touch BacPac, Hero4 Silver, and
Hero
+
LCD
.

and
gopro
hero4
share
sharing
trim
trimming
videos


Tronsmart Apollo Air and Apollo Air+ Review: Awesome ANC and audio quality

3.8K

There are so many wireless earbuds out there, but if you’re aiming for a pair that offers decent quality at an affordable price, Tronsmart’s new
Apollo Air
 and
Apollo Air+
 are two products that you may want to consider.

Design – the Apollo Air and Apollo Air+ are basically twins

As they’re both in the same series, they sport a similar design that is almost indistinguishable. One way to tell them apart is by opening the case to see the model name; another way is to check the top of the cases — the
Apollo Air
 has a shiny Tronsmart branding while the Apollo Air+ doesn’t.

However, you won’t be able to differentiate the earbuds if you place them altogether. They have the exact design — medium-length stems, silicone in-ear buds and a shiny finish. The default size fit snugly in my ears and I could wear them for hours without discomfort, but Tronsmart also included other sizes in the boxes to cater for different users.

Unlike most earbuds out there, the Apollo Air and Apollo Air+ both starts their pairing process once their cases are opened — the usual method will require you to remove the earbuds from the case. Pairing is straightforward, but you may need time to get used to the controls.

Controls -– it’s a complete set

Image credit: Tronsmart

You can control music playback, activate voice assistant, switch between audio modes and manage calls using the earbuds. This is done by either tapping, holding or tapping and holding. The good news is, you can always refer to the Tronsmart app when you forget the controls.

Using the app, you can also change each command’s function so it’s more familiar to you. The app also has an equaliser tab for you to switch between audio profiles and if you’re on the home page, you get to check the battery life of each earbuds and switch between ANC and Ambient modes using your phone.

One advantage the
Apollo Air+
 has over its sibling is in-ear detection, but this may not be important to some users.

Noise cancellation – “Huh? What did you say?”

I’m almost always “deaf” to others when I’m wearing these earbuds. The Apollo Air and Apollo Air+ have great noise cancellation; couple that with their in-ear design, external noises are reduced greatly once I switch on the ANC mode.

Audio quality – up to standard

These are also earbuds you’d want to consider for good sound quality. The audio is slightly stronger in bass, has good mids and bright highs. They can be improved in terms of details, but overall, the audio quality is balanced and has good volume range.

Mic quality – “Can you speak louder?”

In terms of their mic quality, both products feature six mics and a cVc 8.0 technology. Even though calls are clear in terms of noise isolation, the mic volume is lower than expected. Friends are always telling me that I need to speak up which only happens when I’m using the earbuds.

Battery life – just right

Both earbuds last five hours on a single charge and 20 hours with their cases; however, the Apollo Air+ has an additional feature — wireless charging. For a full charge, you’ll need to wait for two and a half hours. They also come with an IP45 rating, so water splashes or sweat is fine.

Verdict

The Apollo Air costs RM299 whereas the Apollo Air+ costs RM100 more. With decent audio quality, extensive controls and long-lasting battery lives, they’re great alternatives to premium earbuds with ANC like the Jabra Elite 85t or the AirPods Pro.

Purchase the Apollo Air
here
 and the Apollo Air+
here
 and get RM20 off with the referral code “APOLLO20” at checkout.

The Good

Long-lasting battery life

Good audio quality

Comfortable to be worn

Extensive controls

The Not So Good

Soft mic volume

No fast charging

Apollo Air
tronsmart
wireless earbuds


Tronsmart arrives in Malaysia with a range of mobile charging products

307

Tronsmart has officially entered Malaysia and they are bringing along a whole lot of goodies for the Malaysian market. Today they introduced a series of very interesting mobile charging products with the aim to provide a more convenient lifestyle to mobile users by providing the highest quality and feature-rich products with VoltiQ which can intelligently determine the best power output for your device so you won’t have to figure which type of port to use when charging your devices.

U5TF Titan Plus 90W Multi-Port Desktop Charger

The first of the devices introduced is the U5TF Titan Plus desktop charger which features 90W of total output and five USB-A charging ports that supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 as well as Huawei’s FCP fast charging technology. In addition to that, it also has VoltiQ technology and supports a maximum 2.4A charging output for non-Quick Charge devices and multi-level protection to ensure the safety of your devices.

The U5TF Titan Plus Desktop Charger will be available on December 25 with a price tag of RM209.

Tronsmart Brio 20,100mAh PD Power Bank

The Tronsmart Brio features two USB Type-A Ports with VoltiQ technology and a USB Type-C that supports Power Delivery 2.0 protocol which offers up to 30W of output to supported devices like the MacBook iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, Nintendo Switch and more.

With the ability to charge up to three devices at the same time at a maximum output of 54W, it is a power bank that unrivalled to the rest of the power banks out there. The Brio will be released in Malaysian in January 2018 with a retail price of RM329

AirAmp Dual Coil Wireless Charger

The AirAmp is an exciting device that comes with an ergonomic design and fast charging capability as it supports a wide range of devices from Samsung phones to the current iPhone devices. It offers faster-charging speeds compared to other wireless chargers but will not damage or overheat your device, thanks to its rear cooling vents that offers optimal performance and stability.

It also takes the additional step by providing protection like over-charging protection, over-voltage protection, over-current protection and short-circuits protection. The AirAmp wireless charger is available now with a price of RM199.

W2DT 48W USB Wall Charger

Tronsmart claims this is the most powerful wall charger which features USB Power Delivery with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and VoltiQ technology and comes with multiple connectors like Type-C and MicroUSB ports. The Type-C port offers 30W of power which will charge up your devices faster and it can also charge your MacBook, Chromebooks and iPad Pro.

Alongside Quick Charge 3.0 and VoltiQ USB ports, it can determine the power level required for charging connected devices like the Quick Charge supports Galaxy Note 8 and non-Quick Charge device like the iPhones. The W2DT USB wall charger will be available in January 2018 for a price of RM179.

All these products can be purchased from Tronsmart’s Official Online Stores on
Lazada
,
11street
,
Lelong
 and
Shopee
. For those of you that can’t wait to get it now can get these products from most major IT store and consumer electronic retailers listed below:

Flash Gadgets (Foto Flash)

iGadgets

ALL IT Hypermarket

Mac Studio

My Chameleon

Telstar

Sun Global Concept Store

airamp
bank
brio
charger
plus
power
titan
tronsmart
usb
w2dt
wall


Tronsmart Force Pro Review: The Swiss Army knife of speakers

3.1K

If there was ever a Bluetooth speaker that’s made like a Swiss Army knife, the
Tronsmart Force Pro
 would be it – this multifaceted speaker impressed me with its range of features that go beyond just blasting tunes.

For RM459 however, is the speaker worth the dent in your bank account? Read on to find out what I think!

Design

The Force Pro doesn’t boast much aesthetically – it sports a simple all-black exterior, along with a rugged bumper on the front and back. The finish for the rest of the speaker is a soft rubbery texture that unfortunately picks up dust and dirt too easily – but it’s nothing a quick wipe down with a damp cloth can’t fix.

The speaker weighs about 1.34 KG making it quite a hefty device – you pair that with its rather chonky 240mm x 110mm x 70mm size, the Force Pro isn’t the most comfortable portable speaker to carry around in your backpack.

What you get in return with all that girth is sturdy build quality – the speaker is IPX7 waterproof-certified so you can take it for a dive.

Features

At the top of the device you’ll find set of buttons for volume control, change modes, audio playback, power, and broadcast mode which we’ll get into a bit later.

Just in front of these controls are the speaker’s ports which includes an aux-in, TF/microSD card slot, USB-A, and a USB-C port for charging – and here lies one of the reasons that make this speaker a multifaceted device.

Each mode works as intended, and although you’ll mostly be connecting to the speaker via Bluetooth, or using an aux-in cord, the other input comes in handy should you need them.

Going back to the aforementioned broadcast mode – it’s a neat feature that lets you sync audio output with over 100 other Tronsmart speakers – letting you fill up more of the space with music. Getting it to work is a simple as tapping on the broadcast button once on the host device, and twice on the other device.

Audio performance

The Force Pro comes with four front-facing speakers – two for mid and low frequencies, and two for highs. At the back, you have your sub-woofer.

Together, these speakers offer loud volume and bass-heavy audio, which is great for hip hop, or dance music. Unfortunately, the overall balance is found wanting – with mids often being drowned out by the low and high frequencies.

This makes the audio presentation a little muddy – meaning it won’t perform well for songs that demand crisp sounds like rock, synth pop, and the sort.

Battery performance

The speaker is powered by a massive 10,000mAh battery and Tronsmart claims it can last up to 15 hours of playtime if you ste your volume at 50%. I never really go above 40% because of how loud the speaker gets, and I was able to get more than 15 hours of playtime, and still have enough gas left in the tank.

This is a good thing, because the device can double as a power bank as well. This is where the whole Swiss army knife analogy makes the most sense I suppose.

Verdict

For RM459, the Tronsmart Force Pro is a great party speaker thanks to its loud, bassy audio output, long battery life, and waterproof rating. With plenty of output modes, a powerbank feature, and syncing ability, I think you’re getting your money’s worth with this one.

You can purchase the device at
Good Deals By KLGG
 and receive
 RM10
 off the product, plus
free shipping
 on your first order. To sweeten the deal, enter the code
FORCE30
 to get another
RM30
 off the device!

Need a pair of earbuds too? Check out our review of the Tronsmart Apollo Air series
here
!

Good

Sturdy build

Plenty of connectivity modes and features

Loud and bassy audio performance

Long battery life

Not So Good

Mids are muffled

Heavy for a portable device

Bland design

tronsmart
tronsmart force pro


Tronsmart Onyx Ace Review: Acing the test

594

Wireless earbuds are a dime a dozen nowadays, and some try to satisfy a growing demand for
affordable
 quality earbuds. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a pair that meet that description; but the
Tronsmart Onyx Ace
 has enough in the bag to properly fill that gap.

With a price tag of RM299, it’s indeed affordable when compared to
the best earbuds around, which includes the one that started the whole
‘sorry, can’t hear you. I have
AirPods
 in’
 fad, the Apple AirPods.

Design

The
Tronsmart
 Onyx Ace doesn’t scream premium at first glance – you get an unassuming white charging case that ships in a generic white box. But it has chrome accents where the LED indicators are placed to give it a bit of flavour, but it’s nothing fancy.

The earbuds themselves sport a semi-in-ear design with no swappable silicon
eargels
; for me, the Onyx Ace fits well for the most part, bar some twisting and turning needed for the right earbud to stay in. Once it is, it stays snug in your ear making it suitable for workout sessions too.

Durability and pairing

What also makes it good for exercising is its IPX5 sweat and waterproof rating.
Tronsmart
 also claims that the Onyx Ace is capable of withstanding rain and splashes, so that’s a plus. However, it’s important to note that the charging case is not waterproof.

Setting up the device is as easy as pairing it on your smartphone or laptop. After the initial pairing, the earbuds
turn
 right on and connect as soon as you remove them from the charging case.

Audio quality

Jumping straight into audio quality, it’s got impressive punchy bass for a pair of wireless earbuds, but it teeters on the
boomy
 side occasionally. Also impressive is the depth when listening to instrumental tunes. Unfortunately, the highs are more
blanketed
 than I would’ve liked, so vocals may be drowned out the
mids
 and lows.

Allowing all this is the Qualcomm
aptX
 tech that gets you high quality audio without adding to the latency. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any – this is, of course,
noticeable
 when watching videos, which can be an issue for some people.

Smartphone app

Tronsmart
 doesn’t have a dedicated equalizer app for the Onyx Ace, but anything you can download off the App Store or Google Play Store will work. The earbuds
doesn’t
 have an ambient sound mode either, but the deisgn offers some hear-through which should let you pick up enough of your surroundings in a busy urban setting. You can also use
either
 side of the earbuds on its own, which is useful in case you really need to hear what’s around you.

Call quality

The Onyx Ace excels when it comes to calls with crisp audio and a clear mic. The environmental noise cancellation kicks in and you’ll be able to hear very clearly without having to
amp
 up the volume.

Touch functions

You can simply double tap either side to answer and reject calls, or do the same to play and pause tracks. To access your voice assistant, simply triple tap either side to activate it. To adjust the volume, single tap the left bud to decrease the level, and the right to increase the volume.

Perhaps the biggest and only issue I have with the Onyx Ace is that the single tap functionality is too sensitive; should you hold onto the detection zones while putting on or adjusting them, your earbuds will go into a volume change frenzy. So, you have to be careful to grab them buds by the stem only, which proved to be a tough ask for someone with sausage for fingers, such as myself.

Battery life

In terms of battery life, you get the standard 5 hours of listening time, or up to 24 hours with the charging case. Charging the earbuds take a little over an hour with the charging case; and it takes the same amount of time to power the case itself. The best part about the Onyx Ace is that it charges via a USB Type-C cable which is a much-appreciated addition by Tronsmart. There’s also no wireless charging, but that’s a cost-saving measure and doesn’t hinder in the experience of using the earbuds.

Verdict

At the time of writing, you can get the Tronsmart Onyx Ace for just RM169 via their official
Shopee
and
Lazada
 pages; that’s a whopping 43% off a pair of earbuds that is already affordable to begin with. The Onyx Ace has impressed me with its no-frill approach – it gets the basics spot on and for what it’s going for now, I’d say it’s an absolute bargain.

The Good

Good bass and depth

Great call quality

Sweat- and splash-resistant

Easy pairing and connecting

Decent battery life

The Not So Good

Highs are blanketed

Single tap volume function too sensitive

Boring design

apple airpods
earbuds
Onyx Ace
tronsmart
tronsmart malaysia
Tronsmart Onyx Ace
tronsmart onyx ace price
wireless earbuds


Tronsmart signs Luis Suárez as ambassador to take the brand ahead

748

As FIFA 2018 is about to kick off, Tronsmart has managed to grab the attention by introducing FC Barcelona striker Luiz Suárez as it’s ambassador for its line of power and audio products, which helps elevate the brand’s status to the next level in the international market. Suárez has been deemed the “perfect fit” for the company due to shared values and motivation, his dedication and perseverance in the football league has led to the start of this partnership, which translates Tronsmart’s equal effort in producing high quality  technology products.

With this ambassadorship, Suárez is endorsing the new WP01 Airamp Powerbank, which comprises of both wired and wireless charging in a compact form factor. As Tronsmart puts it, this is the perfect powerbank for those who are always on the move like the football star, as you don’t need to worry about having tangling cables with fast wireless charging, the WP01 Airamp will also support fast 5V3A input and output via it’s USB-C port. In time to come, customers can expect limited Suárez edition Tronsmart products to be on sale in the market.

“Mr. Suárez is an international icon that has won fans all around the world. He is an extraordinary football player & a wonderful family man. I am looking forward to watching Mr. Suárez compete this year and will be rooting for him!” says Mr eric, Chairman of Tronsmart.

Tronsmart has
launched
 a variety of mobile lifestyle products here last year, to know more about their powerbanks and audio products, head on over to www.tronsmart.com or their online store at
11street
 and
Shopee
.

fifa 2018
luiz suarez
tronsmart


Truecaller may come preinstalled on certain Android phones in the future

3.4K

Truecaller can be extremely useful when it comes to identifying unknown callers, though that convenience comes at the price of having ads everytime it identifies a phone call, unless you pay for their premium subscription plan, the company has announced that it has worked with leading smartphone brands in Malaysia to preinstall the app.

While Truecaller hasn’t specifically mentioned which phone brand it has worked with, we can assume the usual suspects such as Samsung, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi, which four of these brands dominate the top charts here when it comes to smartphone market share.

It isn’t surprising to see Truecaller identifying Malaysia as one of its key markets to expand its presence, as the app is one of the most used apps among Malaysian users and has an active user growth of 42.5% last year. According to Truecaller, over 8 million spam calls were received by Malaysian monthly, which is staggering and we definitely aren’t surprised by that claim.

Apart from Malaysia, Truecaller is also working with smartphone makers to have its app installed in India and Latin America, this move is set to cover over 100 million new smartphones over the next two years, it’s good to know that customers will not be forced to activate the app, and we assume that it can also be uninstalled from the phone if you don’t want it.

Source:
TrueCaller (PR Newswire)

spam calls
truecaller


Trump criticises Apple over refusal to unlock Pensacola gunman’s iPhones

249

President Donald Trump has hopped on board with the FBI, pushing Apple to help the FBI unlock a gunman’s iPhones.

The FBI recently requested help from Apple to unlock two iPhones that belonged to a criminal responsible for the Pensacola Naval Air Station shooting, but Attorney General William Barr said that Apple “has not provided substantive assistance”. Soon enough, Apple released its own statement stating that Barr’s claims were false and that they had been quick to respond to each request made by the FBI.

Here’s Apple’s statement on the The Pensacola Shooter’s iPhones.
https://t.co/AZJaOXGqEa

pic.twitter.com/kikToxz7I2

— John Paczkowski (@JohnPaczkowski)
January 14, 2020

President Trump then got involved in the situation by posting a tweet that asks Apple to “step up to the plate”, claiming that the U.S. government has been aiding the tech giant when it comes to trade.

“We have always maintained there is no such thing as a backdoor just for the good guys”, said Apple in its statement. The tech giant refuses to give in and unlock the iPhones as this will weaken encryptions and can be exploited by those with ill-intentions. This is also not the first time Apple had to stand up for themselves and go against the government’s request.

apple
Donald Trump
iPhones


TSMC completes the 5nm design infrastructure that can be used in 2020 iPhones

272

Apple’s chipmaker TSMC recently announced that it has managed to complete its 5nm design infrastructure which will enable future devices to come with 5nm chipsets.

According to Digitimes, the 5nm process supply better performance and power optimisation, and it can deliver 1.8x logic density and 15% speed gain when compared to the 7nm chips. “TSMC’s 5-nanometer technology offers our customers the industry’s most advanced logic process to address the exponentially growing demand for computing power driven by AI and 5G,” said Cliff Hou, VP of R&D and technology development at TSMC.

Apple has always been relying on TSMC as its suppler for A-series chips and according to 9to5mac, the company is going to for an even smaller size of 3nm for 2022 production.

While we cannot be sure that TSMC will be able to successfully complete the 3nm technology, we at least know that the 2020 iPhones will probably come with a 5nm chipset that will be able to support 5G network.

5nm chipset
apple
iPhones
tsmc


Tumblr bans adult content and many of the users aren’t happy

458

Earlier this week Tumblr finally made an announcement that they will be banning adult content in the platform due to issues like child pornography that recently caused the app to be removed from App Store. According to the CEO Jeff D’Onofrio, the company is “no longer allowing adult content, including explicit sexual content and nudity (with some exceptions)” which means Tumblr will no longer permit NSFW content.

The ban is in accordance to Tumblr’s goal to be a safe place for its users to express themselves, and to feel the sense of belonging in a community, which is why Tumblr updated their Community Guidelines to ensure that the community and the company can move forward towards the right direction and prevent users from misusing the platform. The new policy begins on 17 December, and the company is using AI to help them identify adult content and filter them. Besides that, existing users with adult content will also be guided on how to proceed after the implementation of the policy so they will not have to worry that their accounts might be deleted as the accounts will just be set to private so that the content cannot be reblogged or shared.

As mentioned, there will be some exceptions that will be permitted such as content relevant to breastfeeding, childbirth or surgical operations that are gender-related. Written content and nudity that has news value or art value will also be allowed in Tumblr, so basically only adult content such as pornography and sex-related photos and videos are restricted.

The decision to ban adult content did receive many complaints which resulted in a petition at
Change.org
 that has over a quarter of a million people signing to fight against Tumblr’s decision. The petition was started by an NSFW adult artist names S.S that believes the decision made by Tumblr will affect other people like him who rely on the site to earn their incomes and also restricts those who actually use the platform to view said content. Many believe that this is the beginning of the end for Tumblr, as it used to be a platform of freedom of expression which allowed many to express themselves in terms of their gender identities, and with the current change, it’ll just drive away the artists and the fans, which will cause a drastic change in the Tumblr community and decreasing its user base.

adult content
tumblr


Tumblr has recently disappeared from App Store and stopped functioning properly for iOS users

333

One well-known social media app, Tumblr is now removed from Apple’s App Store and the reason of removal is yet to be known.

PiunikaWeb first discovered that Tumblr will not appear if Safe Mode is enabled but after awhile, it has completely disappeared from App Store. Users also reported that they are unable to use the features in the app, and some tried to reinstall it only to realise that the app has disappeared. Despite that, there are others who revealed that the app can be re-downloaded in the purchase page.

Tumblr first confirmed the disappearance on 16 November and has then provided several updates, stating that they’re in progress of resolving the issues and will ensure the full functionality of the app soon. While they did not disclose the issue that has caused them to be removed from App Store, many speculations point towards inappropriate content which is against App Store’s regulations. This is because Tumblr has many adult content that can be NSFW and rather inappropriate especially for younger audience.

Up till today, the Tumblr app has yet to be seen in the App Store, but hopefully Tumblr and Apple will find a solution and bring it back to iOS users soon.

app store
tumblr


Tumblr is back on Apple’s App store following adult content ban

392

Not too long ago, Tumblr was taken down from the Apple App store due to child pornography issue but Tumblr has made a comeback and has restored its place in the Apple App store after they’ve announced the banning of adult content on its platform two weeks ago.

“And while Tumblr hasn’t openly admitted that the Apple ban was the inciting incident for announcing the ban on NSFW content, the timing of the events would seem to imply that either Tumblr itself or its corporate owners were at least somewhat concerned about the loss of those millions of iOS users,” via The Verge.

Tumblr’s ban won’t be enacted until 17 December 2018, which means Tumblr users are still able to surf the site with adult content before they proceed with its content purge.

tumblr


Tumblr removed from Apple App Store over child pornography issues

724

Just recently, Tumblr was taken down from Apple’s App Store by sudden and left both Apple and Tumblr users confused as there was no explanation from both Apple or Tumblr on why the app was taken down from the Apple App Store.

After much investigation, the reason has finally been revealed and it was reported that the reason why Tumblr was removed from the Apple App Store was due to the discovery of child sexual abuse content that has been found on the platform during a routine audit.

According to The Verge, Apple requires iOS apps to have content filters to prevent the distribution of child pornography. “We’re committed to helping build a safe online environment for all users, and we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to media featuring child sexual exploitation and abuse. We immediately removed this content,” Tumblr’s statement read.

While Tumblr is working on solving the issue, Tumblr has yet to give any information or statement on when the app will be restored back into the App store.

Apple App Store
iOS App
tumblr
Tumblr iOS app


Tumblr replies are back in action

466

If you happen to be a teenage hipster, and you use Tumblr, this might just be good news for you. Tumblr is now bringing back replies, after it was gone for a while. For those of you who have no idea what Tumblr is, Tumblr is a micro-blogging and social networking site. Why micro-blogging? Tumblr is a more image-centric social site, hence blogging is sort of comes secondary to the site.

According to Tumblr, the return of replies comes with some new features, claiming them to be better than ever, and also it comes tweakable for security and privacy purposes:

You can reply to a post multiple times.

You can reply to your own post.

You can reply to reblogs, not just original posts.

You’ve got three levels of who can and can’t reply to your posts.

You can see all of a post’s replies in one place, thanks to our redesigned notes.

You can write longer replies, since the limit has increased from 250 to 475 characters.

On top of those features, users get to decide who replies to their blog posts (or micro-blog posts). To do that, you have to head into the Tumblr app and tap on the account icon, advance to “Settings” and then “Replies”. For the web version, the “Replies” tab is available on the left when you go into blog settings. For stalker prevention, users also have the option to block a particular user from replying to your original posts. However, they’d still be able to reply if your post is being reblogged by another user. For further info, you can visit Tumblr’s dedicated page to explaining the “how-to’s
here
.

Source:
Tumblr

blog
networking
post
replies
social
tumblr


Tune Protect Sports+ gives you sports insurance from RM 5

906

Tune Protect has introduced a new protection plan in Malaysia and it caters to extreme sports, known as Sports+. Malaysia is the first country Tune Protect decided to launch the Sports+ which includes sports like paragliding, snowboarding and even bungee jumping.

The on-demand protection plan allows its customers to get protection with just a few clicks on the site, whereby it can cost from RM 5 to RM 350. The coverage can last from 1 day to 1 year, which is very versatile for customers especially those who only do extreme sports once in awhile or when they’re travelling overseas.

The protection plan also comes in two options; one covering up to RM 33,500 and the other covering up to RM 56,000. It includes accidental deaths, permanent disablement, medical expenses and also sports equipment damage.

In terms of eligibility, customers have to be aged between 18 to 65 years old and be a Malaysian. However, the plan is also available for non-Malaysians who are PR or those under the Malaysia My Second Home program, and it’s made for those who are not professional athletes.

Tune Protect aims to provide affordable and extensive coverage for sports hence the introduction of Sports+, which will soon be made available in Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. Tune Protect also plans on releasing their own application around early next year to provide more convenience to their customers.

Sports+ is now available on Tune Protect’s website, and the first 200 customers to join the plan will be able to get 25% cash back with the code TPSPORTS18 that will be expiring on 31 December 2018.

sports
Tune Protect


Tune Talk introduces Madness Plan that offers free data for its users

1.4K

Having more data is always good, and even more so when it is free. Tune Talk has just introduced a new promotion dubbed as “Tune Talk Madness Top Up promotion” where you get free data everytime you top up your Tune Talk prepaid. All you need to do is top up RM10 and above, and at each step-up, you will enjoy some freebies. On top of all the free data you will get, Tune Talk has also increased the amount of BIG Points given whenever you top up. With these BIG Points, you can redeem more goodies such as AirAsia flight tickets, concert or movie tickets, devices and more.

In addition to this promotion, Tune Talk has a mobile app where you can check your data usage and balance, top up, send free SMS, and track your transactions and BIG points earned. Now, Tune Talk has included some new widgets and more freebies will be coming your way soon. You can download the app via
Google Play Store
 or on
Apple App Store
.

madnessplan
prepaidplan
promotion
telco
tunetalk
tunetalkprices


Tune Talk launches Indonesian-centric prepaid plan

291

Tune Talk has launched a new prepaid plan that is tailor-made for Indonesians living and working in Malaysia. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the Tune Talk Bisa Pak.

So what does the Tune Talk Bisa Pak offer? For starters, users will be able to enjoy an IDD rate of 6 cents per 30 seconds, which is the cheapest call rate to Indonesia by any local telco provider. Besides cheap calls to Indonesia, Bisa Pak users will also receive 500MB of free basic internet per month, 20 minutes of free IDD calls to Indonesia and a rate of 5 cents per SMS. One important thing to note is that users will need to use the budget prefix in order to receive the special budget call rates.

Topping up the Bisa Pak will also net users with various rewards as well. By topping up various amounts to your Bisa Pak, users will be able to receive additional internet, talk time, and even plane tickets to Indonesia as well as an insurance coverage of up to RM100,000.

bisapak
prepaid
telco
tunetalk


Tune Talk Malaysia is giving away the vivo V15 Pro to 10 lucky individuals this month

317

If you’re still mesmerised by the vivo V15 Pro and haven’t gotten yourself one, your chance is here. Vivo Malaysia has partnered with Tune Talk to organise a contest that will let you walk away with a new vivo V15 Pro.

From June 10 to June 30, Tune Talk Malaysia will be giving away 10 vivo V15 Pro. Contestants just need to follow Tune Talk’s Facebook account, share a post by Tune Talk that is pinned to the top of their page, tag 10 of their Facebook friends and make sure to include the hashtag #TuneTalkTurns10. Contestants’ accounts are also required to be set to public.

The vivo V15 Pro is vivo’s latest smartphone with a 32MP elevating front camera, in addition to a triple camera setup that includes a 48MP main camera. Moreover, it comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner and has a 6.39-inch Super AMOLED display with vivid colours and amazing brightness.

Winners will be selected randomly by Tune Talk, so participate now before it’s too late and stand a chance to win a new phone!

Tune Talk
V15 Pro
vivo


Tune Talk offers free 36GB data for purchase of any vivo smartphones

292

If you’re looking forward to purchasing vivo’s V15 and V15 Pro, you’re in luck because Tune Talk is offering 36GB worth of data to those who purchase any vivo smartphones.

Although this offer is only limited to vivo concept stores in Klang Valley, you’ll be given 36GB data for one year if you choose to purchase vivo smartphones at these stores. That’ll definitely help you save up on spending extra cash to buy data.

Currently, the hottest vivo smartphones are the newly launched V15 and V15 Pro. Both models sports a 32MP elevating front camera and a triple rear camera setup. In addition, both phones sport 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, and ship with Funtouch OS 9 based on Android 9 Pie.

The V15 sells at RM1,399 while the V15 Pro sells at RM1,799. The latter also comes with a 48MP main camera and a better processor. If you’ve already decided to get a vivo smartphone, might as well do it in Klang Valley and get 36GB data for free from Tune Talk.


Tune Talk Value Pack offers unlimited data with just RM1

388

To celebrate a new year, Tune Talk has decided to introduced the newly revamp Tune Talk prepaid pack, in which Tune Talk users will be able to enjoy unlimited data by paying just RM1.

This new prepaid pack is made to accommodate the different groups of users in the market, ensuring that every income segment of the market can afford the plans offered.

To ensure that the Tune Talk Value Pack can actually fit every individual out there, Tune Talk has decided to offer daily, weekly, monthly and yearly plans. Both existing subscribers and new users can subscribe to this new prepaid pack, in which existing subscribers are encouraged to make the switch before 28 February whereas new users will automatically be on the new prepaid pack if they register from today onwards.

Image credit: Tune Talk

First and foremost, Tune Talk is offering daily unlimited passes for RM1 each, and users are provided with three options; Chat, Social and Music. Depending what kind of apps users’ are constantly using, they can choose to purchase these unlimited passes to enjoy unlimited data for RM1. For example, if you’re constantly scrolling on your social media, you can get the Social Daily Unlimited Pass. Just key in the right keyword (
CHAT
/
SOCIAL
/
MUSIC
)when you’re purchasing the pass.

If you are a person who use a bit of everything, then you can opt to get the Daily Plan for RM1 a day with the keyword
D300
. You’ll be getting unlimited calls to Tune Talk numbers and also 300MB data with this RM1 plan.

Image credit: Tune Talk

Looking for something more than one day and less than a month? There’s also the Weekly plan. The Weekly Plan will cost you RM10 and last you 7 days, and you’ll be getting unlimited calls to Tune Talk numbers and 2GB data for your Internet usage. The keyword for this plan is
W2
.

Image credit: Tune Talk

Tune Talk also offers several Monthly Plan for their users, in which there’s three different plans. The first plan costs RM10/month, and users get unlimited chat, free calls to Tune Talk numbers and 1GB data. The second plan costs RM28/month, and users get unlimited data when it comes to chat and social apps such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, in addition to free calls to Tune Talk numbers and 6GB data. The third plan costs RM48/month, and users get unlimited data for chat, social and music apps with an extra 10GB data for other apps that require data. Users will also get free calls to all network instead of just Tune Talk numbers. The keywords for these three plans are
M1
,
M6
 and
M10
.

If you’re looking for an even longer duration plan, look no further because Tune Talk Value Pack even includes a Yearly Plan with the keyword
Y120
. This plan costs RM200/360 days and users will get 120GB data and unlimited calls to Tune Talk numbers. The data will be divided equally by months, so users will get 10GB data/month, just like the RM48 monthly plan.

You can now subscribe to the new Tune Talk Value Pack by USSD, SMS or Tune Talk app. For the SMS method, just SMS the keyword to 2222 and for the USSD method, dial *111#.

If you’re not a Tune Talker, you can switch to Tune Talk with your existing mobile number, get a new SIM or visit myNEWS.com outlet nationwide to get a Tune Talk SIM and register yourself through the Tune Talk mobile app.

For more information, feel free to visit
www.tunetalk.com/my/en/coolplan/data/sureone
.

Tune Talk
Tune Talk Value Pack
unlimited data


Turn your car into a smart car with one small device – Vinli

352

Vinli can turn your car into a smart car by installing this small device into your car’s data port, located under your dashboard usually. The company started in 2014 in Dallas, Texas and start the R&D process in Dialexa Lab. Since then they have started the project Vinli and slowly bringing the device into live after a few months developing Vinli.

Vinli will be the ultimate driving companion because it has Bluetooth and 4G LTE capabilities to bring your car alive by connecting to a new world of possibilities. Despite that you are also able to download apps, stream entertainment and connect with the world easily, which indirectly turn your car into a rolling WiFi hotspot with average speeds of 30MB.

With Vinli, you can achieve a lot of possibilities from fuel efficiency, maintenance diagnostic, save on car insurance, connect to home, monitor teen driving, preventative maintenance and travel management. This tiny device offers real-time accident detection services which will alert the police at the moment of your collision, and let your loved ones know of the situation.

In my opinion, this piece of tech is superb and features a lot of good stuff with the USD 99 (approx. RM370) price point, I would like to try it out if the network support Malaysia Telco. If you would like to purchase this device you can get over
here
.

availability
car
device
maintenance
of
price
smart
track
vinli


Turn your photos and videos into works of art with Olli

321

Have you ever picked up a brush to start painting and after hours of work you realised that your painting is not up to your standards? Now you can keep your tools away because Tinrocket has release Olli which is a new camera filter app that turns videos and pictures into hand-drawn artworks, although there are many apps out there that can mimic this effect but what this app can do is actually show you the preview of the image or video before taking it.

Olli also comes with other filters such as the Salt filter which turns pictures and videos into what looks like an animated comic. Olli works well with pictures that have obvious lines as the app focuses on lines to illustrate the hand drawn like feel, images such as faces might not come out well where else other everyday objects seem to look much more better and really look like it was drawn out.

The only issue with this app is that it comes with a price tag, unlike the other photo and video apps that are free with this similar filter, Tinrocket also sells filter packs on top of the seven filters that comes with the app. Olli is priced at $2.99 and is only available on iOS.

Source:
The Verge

olli


Tweets can now be double the length at 280 characters

338

Gone are those days where your rants on Twitter had to be cut short due to its 140 character limit for tweets. Well there’s still a character limit but it has now doubled in length. Twitter has officially rolled out this update to its platform, allowing users to tweet up to 280 characters instead.

The newly introduced 280 character limit comes after extensive research on Twitter’s. According to the social media company, 9 percent of English language tweets hit the 140 character limit previously, which resulted in users abandoning the tweets which were meant to be posted. That figure has drastically been reduced to 1 percent upon the implementation of the new character limit.

Twitter previously tested the 280 character limit before finally rolling it out for good. One thing to note though is that tweeting in Japanese, Korean and Chinese will still be limited to 140 characters as there weren’t issues for those said languages.

This effort definitely contributes to Twitter’s attempts to popularize its platform further among competitors such as Facebook and Instagram. Are you an active user of Twitter?

280
character
limit
tweet
twitter
update


Twitch begins suing viewerbot sellers

391

Twitch is about to go to court as the video content streaming service is suing seven of the most active sellers of online viewbot services in a bid to stop popularity boosting.

The reason for Twitch’s actions is simple. Online viewbot services, as the name implies, artificially inflates a user acccount’s followers, which causes said account to appear much more popular than they are. Seeing as Twitch does sign on popular channels to be an official partner, which allows the user to earn money based on viewership, there are people out there who would exploit the system in order to either get signed on as an official partner, or to boost their income.

So far, Twitch has been monitoring and banning users who are suspected to have used any online viewerbot services. Now though, Twitch is going after the services itself and is targeting
seven individuals
 and their services. While Twitch is taking a proactive approach to stamp out viewerbots, the site admits that the only way that view inflation will stop is that users themselves stop utilising viewerbot services.

Source:
Twitch Blog

lawsuit
twitch
viewerbot


Twitch begins testing out HTML5 video player

418

The slow and eventual march towards irrelevance continues for Flash as Twitch has begun testing its own HTML5 video player in a closed beta.

Starting from today, anyone that has a Turbo subscription will be able to join the closed beta. All you need to do is to toggle HTML5 on Twitch’s own player. Some of the benefits that HTML5 has over Flash includes faster load times, less CPU load, and consistent frame rates. Should the HTML5 player gives you grief, you can always toggle back to the current Flash player.

Twitch has explicitly stated that the HTML5 players is still strictly in beta, so glitches and bugs are to be expected. For those who aren’t selected for the beta test, Twitch is currently aiming to roll out the HTML5 player this summer. With Twitch dumping Flash within the next three months, Flash looks to be on its last leg.

Source:
Twitch Blog
,
Engadget

flash
html5
streaming
twitch


Twitch implements 'Cheer' emotes; allows viewers to tip streamers

451

Besides the standard ad revenue and subscription numbers, one of the main ways that Twitch streamers rely on for their income is through the generosity of their viewers via donations and tips. Up until now, donations and tips for viewers are usually done outside of Twitch, but Twitch has decided to embrace the concept donations, and they are implementing special emotes to facilitate them.

These new emotes are called ‘Cheers,’ and in order to use them, one must first acquire Twitch’s own currency called ‘Bits.’ Once the viewer has acquired some ‘Bits,’ they can start using Cheer emotes in the chat channel. There are five tiers of Cheers, each of them requiring a specific amount of Bits to use. The lowest tier Cheer, Cheer1, costs 1 Bit to use and will net the streamer 1.4 cents. The highest tier Cheer, Cheer10000, costs 10,000 Bits to use and is equivalent to a USD 140 donation.

Currently, the Cheer system is under a limited beta test where only 30 or so big-name streamers are participating. However, if everything goes well during the beta, you can expect to see the Cheer function to go live within the year.

Source:
Engadget

cheer
donations
tips
twitch


Twitch introduces its very own game called Twitch Sings, a free interactive karaoke game made for streaming

446

Popular streaming website Twitch has been the go-to for video game streamers for many years now, although it’s still a strong favourite, the company isn’t resting on its laurels when it comes to offerings – they’ve recently launched their first ever game Twitch Sings.

The free karaoke game is made to be streamed on Twitch and allows users to broadcast a karaoke session with whereby other streamers and users can join in for a duet. The audience can also join in by giving digital ovations and cheers as a sign of affirmation to the virtuoso streamers.

Image credit: The Verge

To add to the interactivity of the game, the audience can also vote for what songs they want in the queue. Plus, the audience can also provide challenges to the streamers by removing the lyrics. Twitch claims that there are “thousands” of licenced tracks that users can choose from.

Of course, if you choose not to appear on camera, you can always use an avatar in place of yourself. The game is available for windows at
sings.twitch.tv
 and is completely free.

free game
game
karaoke
live
streaming
twitch


Twitch launches "Stream First" initiative

261

It seems that Twitch is attempting to branch out from being just a mere video games streaming website as they have announced that they will be launching the Stream First initiative.

So what exactly is the Stream First initiative? This initiative, according to Twitch, is focused on making sure Twitch broadcasting is built into a game’s design process from the outset rather than shoehorned in later in development. What Twitch is hoping to achieve with Stream First is that future games under this initiative would include some degree of audience participation. To get an idea as to what Twitch hopes to achieve with Stream First,
Choice Chamber
 is a good example as to what Twitch hopes games created under this initiative would be.

Currently, Twitch has announced that three games are being developed under the Stream First initiative at Game Developers Conference. These are Superfight, Wastelanders and Streamline. Details on all three games are rather scarce at the moment, but all of them would allow Twitch viewers to affect the game via the broadcaster’s chat channel.

Source:
Twitch
,
Kotaku

choicechamer
gdc
streamfirst
streamline
superfight
twitch
wastelanders