Over $1 billion spent on shopping from mobile devices on Black Friday

306

Online shopping is becoming increasingly convenient over the years. As lazy as it may sound, shoppers can shop from their mobile devices without having to get out of bed if possible. You probably took advantage of some sort of deal last Friday while shopping. Black Friday sales are well known for crazy deals and price slashes from retailers and various stores, not to mention causing excessively crowded stores and possible stampedes in the US. This year, Adobe has reported a record $1.2 billion (RM5.35 billion) spent via mobile shopping alone on Black Friday.

According to a report by Adobe, the $1.2 billion figure was the first day in retail history in terms of mobile revenue. Over $5 billion (RM22.3 billion) was reportedly spent over the course of Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, with Black Friday accounting for a staggering $3.34 billion (RM14.89 billion). Majority of the website visits on Black Friday are from mobile devices at 55 percent (45 percent from smartphones and 10 percent from tablets), and mobile devices account for 36 percent of the overall sales.

The report has also listed down the top five selling electronic products on Black Friday – iPads, Samsung’s 4K TV’s, the Macbook Air, LG TV’s and the Xbox. DJI Phantom Drones managed to take a place over the top five list of toys sold on Black Friday. We’re expecting Cyber Monday to bring out such staggering figures as well before the reports come out. What do you think?

Source:
Adobe
  Image Source: The Telegraph

black
day
device
friday
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sales
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Over 61% of Malaysian Instagram influencers faked followers and engagements

338

HypeAuditior, an AI-powered Instagram and YouTube analytics tool, has conducted a research that reveals more than half of Malaysia’s influencers purchase ingenuine followers and engagements on Instagram as a means to attract brand sponsors.

Paying social media platforms to increase following and engagements is a common practice by businesses and influencers to reach out to a wider audience, however HypeAuditor claims that these influencers have used artificial means to do that, such as using services to purchase a bulk of followers and comments on specific postings, moreover these purchased followers mostly consist bots, fake and stolen accounts.

This fraudulent act causes brands to lose their returns of investments and reach for compensating the influencer to promote their business, HypeAuditor points out almost 10% of mega influencers and celebrities artificially inflate their numbers, while the most fraud-free influencer group range within 1K-5K followers.

Artificially inflating followers on Instagram is strictly prohibited by Instagram and can eventually lead to account closure if you breach the terms, influencers and content creators who post their work on Instagram should refrain from using such services but rather, utilize Instagram’s official business or creator account to genuinely boost their reach.

For more information, you can read up on HypeAuditor’s report in the source link.

digital marketing
facebook
hypeauditor
instagram


Over half a million users downloaded malware from Google Play

376

Due to Google’s less strict regulations and security, it has caused more than half a million of Android users to download a malware into their smartphones through Google Play.

The malware is disguised in the form of driving game applications, which 2 out of 13 are actually trending, causing more users to be exposed to the malware. It was first found to be a malware by Lukas Stefanko, a malware researcher. The 13 games are all developed by the same individual from Istanbul.

Image credit: Lukas Stefanko

How the malware works is that once users open the installed games, the games crashes and its icon disappears. Meanwhile, TechCrunch explained that the data acquired in users’ smartphones will be downloaded to another domain which is registered to an app developer in Istanbul. The malware is also persistent as it launches whenever the smartphone is restarted and gains full access to the network traffic, thus it will be able to steal personal information from the users.

Google did remove the following applications soon after but it is a strong evidence of how Google’s security is still not good enough to protect its users. On the other hand, many have compared Google Play to Apple’s App Store, which is more secure and strict in allowing apps in the App Store, so it’ll serve as a lesson that being more secure and having less apps might not be that bad after all.

Games app
Google Play
malware


Overwatch Anniversary event leak shows new skins and a 22 May launch date

332

Overwatch is turning two years next week and just like last year’s anniversary celebration, there will be another one this year and it should come with a range of new skins and possibly a new game mode as well.

A video showing the anniversary announcement was uploaded on Reddit but was immediately removed. However, fans of the game were quick enough to rip the video and distributed it all over the Internet. The video shows Junkrat and Roadhog dancing as their skins change which we assume would be the upcoming skins that will be released during the event. One of the skins that we have never seen before is a Junkrat pirate skin which comes with an eye patch and a peg metal hook leg, the video also mentions that previous items and events will make a come back as well

When Overwatch celebrated their first anniversary, they added new maps and 11 legendary skins which cost slightly higher than regular legendary skins. Players were not happy with the pricing but Jeff Kaplan, Game Director of Overwatch has mentioned that they are listening closely to players, so there might be a change this time around. The event is said to start on 22 May but no other details were mentioned.

anniversary
event
maps
overwatch
skins


Overwatch Beta Test Weekend November 20-23

327

Ever since the first announcement of Overwatch’s closed beta, Blizzard has promised Test Weekends open to larger beta tester groups. The company has been very fond of the process of beta testing games before releasing them to the greater public. Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm had fairly long beta phases which helped shame these games’ user experiences and Overwatch seems to be following a similar path, but the developers have stated that they don’t want to use the closed beta as a promotional device.

Blizzard officially announced the very first Test Weekend on which they will allow more players to temporarily login to the Overwatch servers and during the extended weekend of November 20 till November 23. The greater number of users will get given beta access to help stress test the servers. Notifications of these invites will be sent out on the 19th, giving new players a chance to download and install the game so that they can start playing as soon as Blizzard give the go ahead.

During BlizzCon, the Overwatch developers stated that there will most likely only be one of these Test Weekends in 2015, with the second one happening early 2016. This Test Weekend will be the best test that the company ever do to test how their servers will function under heavier loads, and it will also allow them to get feedback from a higher variety of computer setups so that they will be able to monitor if Overwatch runs acceptably on some older computer hardware/software.

For more information on the Test Weekend, you can check it out at Blizzard official blog.

SOURCE:
Battlenet

betatest
blizzard
overwatch
overwatchbeta
pcgaming
testweekend
tracer


Who else can speak Singlish? The new Overwatch hero, Echo

272

Do you know the term ‘Shiok’? If you do, chances are you are someone who understands Singlish. But, here’s the main point: the latest hero in Overwatch can speak Singlish, as discovered by gamer Caldoran.

While Caldoran was playing Echo in Overwatch public test realm servers, the hero said, “Shiok!” when he was spamming Blinks (a skill). He then took it to Twitter and asked the lead writer Michael Chu and the development team to confirm, in which Chu confirmed in Singlish, “Confirm plus chop.”

In video form, for those who’d like to hear it! 😁🇸🇬
https://t.co/pLhhPrrMzc

pic.twitter.com/5fJMftkzAC

— Caldoran (@Caldoran)
March 20, 2020

It’s only logical since Echo was developed by the Singaporean scientist, Dr Mina Liao. Overwatch Game Director Jeff Kaplan also confirmed that information in the a developer update, in addition to sharing some of Echo’s backstory and abilities.

There’s no doubt that many Singaporean Overwatch players will be anticipating for the developers to release Echo so that they can hear more Singlish.

echo
overwatch
Singlish


Overwatch is not free to play, also available for consoles

284

One of the most important things that’s happening in this quarter will be the upcoming game from Blizzard – Overwatch. That being said, the latest announcement about Overwatch is possibly the most unexpected news yet.

There will be three versions of Overwatch made available, and these are done in the traditional Blizzard manner. Firstly, there is the regular version of Overwatch which includes all 21 heroes and access to all the maps. This is will be the price at USD 39.99 (approx. RM175) on the PC version (Standard). Alternatively, there is the Overwatch Origins Editions; which bundles extra for both Overwatch and Blizzard’s other games like Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, World of Warcraft, and Diablo III. Interestingly, this is available for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox Buyers for USD 59.99 (approx. RM265).

If you have more money to spend, you might be interested to purchase the collector edition which will give you a 12-inch statue of Soldier: 76, Overwatch visual sourcebook, Overwatch Soundtrack, and what you will get from Origin Editions too. But, it will cost about USD 129.99 (approx. RM570), which is slightly more than a game from Blizzard. Well, Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void Collector’s Edition is only going for USD 79.99 (approx. RM350).

Overwatch will be available at some point in the spring of 2016.

SOURCE:
Battlenet

blizzard
blizzardgames
consolegaming
gaming
overwatch
overwatchbundles
pcgaming
ps4
xboxone


Overwatch newest event leaked, set to release tomorrow

320

Recent footage has been leaked on Overwatch’s new event called “Insurrection”. In the new event, it looks like it will be sending players back to the days where Overwatch was still a team and the Blackwatch agents were also in operation. This new event was leaked on the Playstation channel recently displaying how the event will workout and a sneak peak at all the new skins and sprays that will becoming with this event.

“Insurrection” looks to be a PvE game mode where you and 4 other teammates will be play in the past, seeing as Tracer, Reinhardt and Torbjorn look significantly younger in the trailer. The game mode seems to look like a Horde Mode, which is seen in the likes of Gears of War’s Horde Mode and Team Fortress  Mann Vs Machine. This is not the first time overwatch has release a PvE game mode, as last Halloween, Blizzard release Junkenstein’s Revenge where players would have to defend their castle from the hordes of zombie like Omnics that Junkrat/Junkenstein would send at you in addition of a Pumpkin Headed Reaper, A Witch Mercy and Junkenstein’s monster/Roadhog. In the case of this event, we will be seeing McCree and Genji’s Blackwatch skins along side what looks to be Overwatch issued uniform for Tracer, Reinhardt and Torbjorn.

The event is set to start on the 11th of April and will end on the 1st of May (US times, one day after for us). Lets hope this would shine more light on the past of the Overwatch universe which information we only know from the comics and all the cinematic trailers of characters they have released up till now. If Blizzard is following their norm when it comes to taking out big updates, this new update should be available to be pre-loaded just before the event starts.

Source:
Engadget
, Image Source:
Playstationlifestyle

arcade
blizzard
event
gamemode
new skin
overwatch
uprising


Overwatch receives its second free weekend

299

By all accounts, Overwatch is a pretty good game that you really should try out. If you’ve yet to be convinced, why not try the game out next weekend as Overwatch will be getting its second free weekend.

Starting at 3am on the 19th of November local time, Overwatch will be available for everyone to download and play. Unlike the last free weekend which was limited to the PlayStation 4, this free weekend will be available for PC, Xbox One and PS4 gamers. Simply download the game via your platform’s respective online client (Battle.Net for PC, Xbox Live for Xbox One, PlayStation Store for PS4), and you’ll be good to go.

During the free weekend, you’ll be able to access all characters, all game modes, and gain levels like a regular player would. Progress will be carried over if you decide to buy the game during or after the free weekend period. If you’ve been on the fence on Overwatch for a while now, next weekend is the best time to try out the game for yourself.

Source:
Overwatch

blizzard
freeweekend
overwatch
pc
playstation4
xboxone


Overwatch tests role queue feature – something players have been asking for three years

341

It’s about three years late, Blizzard, but we appreciate this. Overwatch is subject to role queue (finally) and is currently being tested out on the PTR server.

So how it works is that players can choose a role they want to play and they will be queued in a classic 2-2-2 system, two tanks, two DPS, and two supports. This will be implemented in Casual and Competitive modes – so the only way to opt of the queue would be in Arcade.

Image credit: Blizzard

On ranked, each player is required to complete five placement matches for each role – which will grant theme separate MMRs for each one.

It all sounds great on paper, but in lower MMRs (like myself), you can expect long waiting times when you queue for DPS – because everyone plays DPS, EVERYONE. Blizzard plans to enforce balance by introducing better incentives like free loot boxes and such for lesser-played roles.

This could potentially revitalize the game, and perhaps bring back old players to give Overwatch another shot. Role queue will be available this September in Season 18 of Competitive play.

blizzard
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Overwatch welcomes Christmas with the Winter Wonderland update

299

With Christmas just a week away, Overwatch is getting into the Christmas spirit with the Winter Wonderland update, bringing with it new game modes, new cosmetic items, and a huge overhaul to Symmetra.

Much like the Olympics and Halloween events, players who level up in Overwatch will be able to get a Christmas-themed Loot Box that may or may not net you a Christmas-themed skin on taunt. On top of that, Overwatch’s Brawl mode will be hosting the Mei’s Snowball Offensive mode, a 6v6 Mei-only mode that resembles a traditional snowball fight. These themed specials will be available until the 2nd of January. Past that, you’ll have to wait for Christmas 2017 before the event gets revived.

As for updates that will be sticking around post 2nd of January, the long awaited Symmetra redesign has finally arrived, giving the Support character new abilities as well as a new Ultimate skill for use. Sombra will also be receiving a new “Boop” unlockable voice line with the update. Rounding up the update are a bunch of bug fixes, all of which can be found
here
.

Source:
Overwatch

blizzard
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Overwatch will celebrate Chinese New Year with new skins

380

Overwatch has been highly proactive when it comes to celebrating various holidays thus far. This continues with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations as Blizzard has revealed that the game will be celebrate Chinese New Year via an in-game event beginning on the 24th of January.

blizzard
chinesenewyear
event
overwatch


Overwatch will have a new support hero soon in the form of Baptiste

350

The hype is real fellow Overwatch fans! Blizzard has revealed a new hero set to make its way into the game’s roster soon, and it’s been what fans have been asking for.

Overwatch released an Origin Story video on YouTube of the new character Baptiste. He’s a support hero that is capable of healing and dealing reliable damage.

Based on the video, we can see that Baptiste is a combat medic from Haiti who fights for the good guys. It also appears that he’ll be wielding a grenade launcher of sorts, while a Dragon Ball Saiyan-like visor on his eye suggest he’s tech-reliant.

He’s the newest support hero to be introduced since Brigitte, who’s introduction was met with backlash. Brigitte, during the initial patches of her release, was deemed too overpowered (infinite healing, anyone?) and her abilities played her right into the infamous GOATS composition.

Image credit: Overwatch

She would also become a mainstay in competitive matches because of her effectiveness, but recent reworks and nerfs have made her less of an ideal pick. Here’s to hoping that Baptiste could be the support character to bring balance to today’s Overwatch meta.

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character
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Overwatch's second close beta to launch on February 9th

274

Gamers take note, Blizzard will be launching Overwatch’s second closed beta next week.

Scheduled to return on the 9th of February (10th of February for Malaysia), the second closed beta test will feature multiple improvements as well as a new progression system, new maps and a new game mode.

Those of you who’ve been in the first closed beta will have guarenteed access during the second closed beta; those who were not chosen for the first beta, you may or may not receive an invite to the second beta.

On the server side of things, Overwatch servers for the Americas and Europe regions will go online on the 9th of February. For those who frequent the Asia servers, you will have to wait a little longer as the servers will only go online on the 16th of February.

Interested? You can opt in for the Beta
here
. If you aren’t able to enter the Beta this round, Blizzard does have a history of sending out beta invites in waves, so you might be able to get access to it then.

Overwatch is currently scheduled to launch sometime in the first half of 2016.

Source :
Blizzard

blizzard
closedbeta
overwatch


Owl Story Powerbank Review by Mooda: A cute portable battery charger with decent performance

315

Instead of being a ‘wall hugger’, most of us are sure to have our own
portable battery chargers
 to juice up our smartphones and tablets to avoid our devices knocking off in the middle of the day. As time moves on, you simply want a portable charger that looks good and suit your personality, therefore you tend to get bored of those square and boxy glossy plastic looking power banks and even aluminum ones. Introducing a very uniquely designed power bank from our e-commerce friend Mooda Asia, crafted in a beautiful owl shape with a great solid material onboard.

Owl Story Powerbank Review by Mooda Video Review

It’s Cute and Packs Decent Charging Performance

Simply name the best powerbank in the streets, anybody will tell you a famous Chinese brand that sells its powerbanks at an extremely dirt cheap price, however they won’t tell you that is the most beautiful piece of hardware. The Owl Story powerbank here has an extremely cute owl shape design, it also looks like a beautiful stone if you lay it next to one until you find out its two USB charging ports underneath. Best of all, it feels really good on hand and portable enough for you to carry around in your pockets.

Despite having an elegant rough
surface
, it picks up dirt and scratches easily so you may want to store it in a pouch to avoid any damages to its exterior.

The device isn’t any crappy powerbank that you find in flea markets, it has a battery capacity of 7800mAh and uses
Samsung
battery cells, so you can be assured that this isn’t one of those powerbanks that can easily explode.

Similar to most powerbanks in the market, there’s a tiny button that allows you to check the battery capacity with 4 LED indicators, however it’s glow is so faint that makes it a challenge to view it outdoors.

We used the powerbank to charge our Xiaomi Mi 4 with its 3080mAh battery fully depleted, the Owl Story powerbank takes 70 minutes to charge the phone up to 50% battery level and 140 minutes to complete a full charge with the phone switched off, this is tested over a 1A current output as detected by our charging testing device.

Verdict

The Owl Story Powerbank by Mooda is a reliable and cute charging device that you will never forget to store it in your bags, it has a lightweight design and solid build material that sets itself apart from its competition. Mooda Asia does have a variety of design and capacity of its powerbanks over at
www.mooda.asia
, the company is doing a promotion at this point of time so you might want to check them out. Our review unit here retails at USD$20 at this time of writing.

The Good:

+ Cute and attractive design

+ Decent charging performance

+ 2 USB ports for simultaneous charging

+ Lightweight

The Not So Good:

– Faint LED indicators

–
Surface
 gets scratch and dirt easily

– Short USB cable in the package

We rate the Owl Story Power Bank at 4 out of 5 stars. Head on to
http://www.mooda.asia/collections/powerbank
 to check out more product offerings from Mooda Asia.


Own a Samsung energy saving air conditioner without the hassle

4.2K

Shopping for an energy saving air conditioner is no easy task, especially when you need to consider things such as installation and regular maintenance, but that hassle doesn’t need to be part of the purchasing experience when you shop for an energy saving Samsung air conditioner, and here’s all you need to know about it.

Hassle-free installation and maintenance by experienced technicians

Buying a few air conditioners for your home? There’s no need to worry about installation issues and costs, as Samsung offers installation services when you purchase any energy saving air conditioners, you will also be serviced by Samsung certified and trained installers, who knows the best of how Samsung air conditioners can be installed in your home for the best cooling performance.

Worry-free ownership with 3-year extended warranty

No more worries of any unexpected breakdowns even after a year, because Samsung energy efficient air conditioners can be extended with up to 3 years warranty*, this is an unrivalled warranty period in the industry for air conditioners.

In addition, a 24/7 premium customer service toll-free hotline is readily available should you encounter any issues with your Samsung air conditioner, offering a total peace of mind when you purchase a Samsung air conditioner.

*Terms and conditions apply.

Flexible subscription plans of up to 3 years

Owning an air conditioner is a financial toll on everyone, which is why Samsung offers a really easy ownership experience with its flexible subscription plans from 1 to 3 years, this is essentially a 0% instalment plans that comes with installation services and quarterly maintenance service for your Samsung air conditioner, so just simply choose the subscription period that fits your lifestyle and needs.

To learn more about Samsung’s energy saving air conditioners and how you can own one, click
here
.

Check out the
terms & conditions here
.

samsung
samsung air conditioner
samsung windfree
samsung windfree premium plus


Own a Samsung Room Air Conditioner from RM88/month

2.1K

It’s time to purchase a new air conditioner for your home to escape from the hot Malaysian weather, and what better way to start with a brand new Samsung room air conditioner, as Samsung Malaysia is having a limited time promotion where you can enjoy regular services and maintenance from experienced technicians, 3 years of extended warranty* and access to 24/7 premium customer service for all models.

* Terms and conditions apply.

Here’s all you need to know about Samsung’s range of air-conditioners.

Samsung WindFree
TM
 Models

The crème de la crème of room air conditioners, the Samsung WindFree
TM
 models –
WindFree
TM
 Premium Plus
and
WindFree
TM
 Deluxe
 come with Samsung’s exclusive WindFree
TM
 Cooling technology that cools your room silently by dispersing air on over 23,000 micro air holes, this not only offers an all-round cooling in your room but also eliminate painful chills when you have it turned on all night in your sleep, it also reduces energy consumption up to 77% compared to Fast Cooling*.

*Tested on the AR07T9170HA3 model, based on the power consumption of Fast Cooling mode vs. WindFree™ Cooling mode.

The WindFree
TM
 air conditioners are also Samsung SmartThings enabled, which means you get to cool down your home and room remotely over your smartphone, using the SmartThings App* or by using your preferred smart voice assistant*. Furthermore, these air conditioners can clean itself with a three-step process that dries the Heat Exchanger and removes moisture to prevent build-up of bacteria and odors.

*Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.

Samsung S-Essential

The
S-Essential
 air conditioners are designed with reliability in mind, offering a 2-Way Auto Swing function that cools down every corner of your room, a HD filter that captures dust and allergens to provide clean fresh air in your room, and a DuraFin+ heat exchanger that’s made of corrosion free materials that offers superior cooling performance over years of ownership.

Exclusive Maintenance Subscription Package like no others

Subscription Plan

Bundles

Services

1 Year

·         1 x Installation
·         4 x Service & Maintenance (quarterly basis)

·         1 Year Basic Warranty

2 Year

·         1 x Installation
·         8 x Service & Maintenance (quarterly basis)

·         1 Year Basic Warranty + 1 Year Extended Warranty

3 Year

·         1 x Installation
·         12 x Service & Maintenance (quarterly basis)

·         1 Year Basic Warranty + 2 Years Extended Warranty

To find out more about the offers, head over to:
https://shop.samsung.com/my/aircondition-easyinstallmentplan
.

Check out the
terms & conditions here
.

s-essential
samsung
samsung air conditioners
samsung malaysia
windfree


Own the PS4 Pro 1TB for less than RM1500 with extended warranty

362

Thinking to pair a new PS4 Pro up to your gorgeous 4K TV? This is the perfect moment to own one as Tech-Mall (LazMall certified seller) is offering for
RM1,433
 at Lazada, that’s the lowest price that we have tracked across other online stores.

On top of Sony SEA’s 1-Year warranty, you get to enjoy an extended 3 months warranty when you register your unit, making this a really good deal.

The PS4 Pro is the ultimate gaming console for your living room, it supports native 4K HDR output and you will be able to enjoy those stunning effects with games such as Monster Hunter: World, God of War, Shadow of The Tomb Raider and many more, it also serves as a proper Bluray player if you ever need one.

Use the extra savings to purchase an extra DualShock Controller for
RM184
, or expand your PS4 Pro’s storage with a Seagate 2TB Game Drive for
RM369
, you are all set for a new PS4 Pro.

deals
lazada
lazmall
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Own your gaming rivals with the MSI Alpha 15 AMD Advantage Edition

2.2K

Your gaming skills should never be limited by your system’s performance, and to be ahead of your rivals, there’s no better time to look into the latest MSI Alpha 15, a feature packed AMD Advantage laptop that offers the performance you need with an exceptional value.

With a concise and sleek all-black metal chassis design, the MSI Alpha 15 can be your productivity machine by day and a full fledge battle station by night, it is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H mobile processor and Radeon RX 6600M mobile graphics, a combo that offers the best-in-class performance be it conquering your complex creative workflow or playing graphics demanding games.

All thanks to exclusive AMD technologies such as SmartShift and Smart Access Memory, the Alpha 15 understands when it needs to boost performance to deliver the performance you need, while providing a more efficient data transfer path between the AMD Ryzen 7 5700H mobile processor and Radeon RX6600M mobile graphics, which enhances performance and enables a new level of realism with support for features such as DirectX 12 Raytracking and Variable Rate Shading.

The MSI Alpha 15 offers the most responsive gaming experience with a 144Hz refresh rate display, while you can extend up to two 4K displays with its HDMI 2.0 and USB-C connectivity to enhance productivity and gameplay, the laptop is Hi-Res audio certified and supports up to 24-bit/192KHz playback on headphones, it also comes with two powerful speakers that get you into your game and movies.

Keeping the MSI Alpha 15 running at peak performance is made possible with Cooler Boost 5, an exclusive MSI cooling technology that comprise two fans and six heat pipes that cools down the internals effortlessly for hours of gaming, this new cooling technology features a redesigned heat pipe and uses MSI’s exclusive thermal grease to dissipate heat efficiently when the system is on full load.

Sick of inconsistent ping response times and lag in streaming? The MSI Alpha 15 eliminates that by offering Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit LAN connectivity, giving you a choice of superior network connectivity to stay ahead of your rivals in game, it also comes with a built-in high quality 720p HD webcam so you can stream anytime, anywhere without spending time to connect an external webcam.

Ready to gain the advantage in games? The MSI Alpha 15 AMD Advantage Edition can be yours at an exceptional value of RM5,399, visit
here
 to learn more and purchase.

amd
amd advantage
msi alpha 15
radeon rx6600m
ryzen 7 5700h


OxygenOS 3.5.5 arrives to OnePlus 2 with VoLTE support and App Lock

314

We only have a week before 2016 comes to a close, and there seems to be no sign of OnePlus officially rolling out Android Nougat software updates for its eligible devices, with the exception of the Open Beta program for the OnePlus 3. OnePlus has shipped out another software update for the OnePlus 2, and unfortunately, it still remains Marshmallow.

Introducing OxygenOS version 3.5.5, an OTA incremental update to OnePlus’ flagship from last year. The software update brings a whole bunch of improvements and some new features to 2015’s “Flagship Killer” smartphone. They include:

Enabled VoLTE functionality for select carriers

Added App Lock

Added Battery Saving Mode ( Settings > Battery > More )

Added Gaming Mode ( Settings > Developer Options )

Added Additional Options for the Alert Slider.

Redesign of the Volume Adjustment Bar

Shelf Optimizations

Updated OxygenOS UI

Updated Interface and UI of the Clock app

Updated Android Security Patch Level to 1/12/16

Increased System Stability

General Bug Fixes

OnePlus has stated that the Calculator, Clock and Messages app will be replaced by OnePlus stock apps if they haven’t been updated when applying the OTA software update. Users can however re-download those apps from the Google Play Store, but that will mean that they will have two similar apps running side by side. OnePlus has also warned that updating to OxygenOS 3.5.5 will cause many phone settings to be reset to default, such as ringtones, accent colors and so on, so do keep that in mind.

Only a handful of OnePlus 2 users will be receiving the OTA update, and the software will get a broader rollout over the next few days. What do you think?

Source:
OnePlus

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OxygenOS 5.0.1 update brings Adaptive Mode and aptX support to OnePlus 3 and 3T

514

OxygenOS 5.0.1 is currently being rolled out to OnePlus 3 and 3T devices which will bring about new features, bug fixes and overall system-wide improvements. The update will also bring about the latest December Android Security patch.

In the update, the company has included an Adaptive Mode feature for screen calibration to lessen the strain on the eyes. There is also a WiFI hotspot device manager to make it easier to manage connected devices and support for the aptX audio technology. A Reddit user has also indicated that there is a push notification that informs you to “Disable Harmful App” which is referring to the FactoryMode app if it is installed. This app was used as a backdoor for easy root access and OnePlus is worried that this is a potential security threat.

Just like all updates, this will be pushed out to users over the next few weeks, so don’t forget to check your phone regularly for updates. OnePlus Co-Founder Carl Pei has also indicated that the Face Unlock feature on the 5T could come to the OnePlus 3 and 3T in future updates.

3
3t
5
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OxygenOS 9.0.0 and Android 9 Pie is official for OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T

375

OnePlus released the OnePlus 6T two months back, and yesterday they announced that the Android 9 Pie and OxygenOS 9.0.0 is now out for the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T.

The new update was announced in the OnePlus’s forum by one of the employees, and was only officially out after feedbacks and improvements from beta testing. With the new Android Pie OTA update, the two models will be getting an updated system which includes a brand new UI, new navigation gestures for the OnePlus 5T, new Android security patch and other new features and system improvements that were not stated in the forum.

Besides that, the update will come with a new Gaming mode 3.0 that offers text notification mode and notification for third party calls for better gaming experience. There will also be an adjustable Do Not Disturb mode so users can customise it to their preferences and not to mention, the OnePlus 5 and One Plus 5T will be getting an integrated Google Lens mode so it’s easier for smartphone owners to access information through the smartphones’ cameras.

According to the OnePlus employee, the OTA update is a stage-by-stage rollout so not all users will get it immediately. If you are a OnePlus 5 or OnePlus 5T user and you’ve received the update, congratulations. But if you’ve yet to get the update, do be patient since it’s rolling out within a few days.

That aside, the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T users are also anticipating for the new software update, but an official date has yet to be confirmed.

Android 9.0
android pie
oneplus
oneplus 5
oneplus 5t
oxygenos


OxygenOS latest beta build brings Project Treble and interface improvements to the OnePlus 5 and 5T

342

Even with the successful response and release of the OnePlus 6, the company is still making strides to its previous flagship phones making them better with each software update. In the most recent OxygenOS Beta update, it is going to get a whole lot better in terms of look and functionality.

The new beta build has introduced Project Treble to the OnePlus 5 and 5T. This integration allows for faster software updates as it speeds up the process of getting the latest updates to users as fast as possible. Manufacturers will not need to make changes to the main Android framework as Google has taken the initiative to separate the framework from the codes implemented by the manufacturer. Project Treble have already been adopted by companies like Samsung, LG, Huawei and now we can add OnePlus to the list.

On the other hand, the new beta build will bring changes to the OxygenOS interface by adding support for accent colours, alongside improvements to the launcher, phone and weather app.

interface
new
oneplus
project
treble
update


P1 rebrands itself as webe; launches its own community website

401

After being dormant for far too long, Packet One is back and they’re entering the telco market with a brand new name: Webe. This rebranding is the result of P1 being acquired by TM back in 2014. The company has also signed a roaming partnership with Celcom earlier this year.

So what makes Webe different from the other telcos in the market? According to webe CEO CC Puan, the answer is the community. During the official launch of Webe, Puan emphasises the fact that Webe aims to build a community around their telco plans. One of the ways they are aiming to do this is through the power of crowdsoucing. Taking a page out of crowdsourcing services such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo, Webe has launched a crowdbacking website called
webe Community
. Unlike Kickstarter-like crowdfunding services, projects on the webe Community have all been fully funded and are just awaiting the input from the community members in order to be greenlit. Upon being greenlit, the people in charge of the project would be provided with the funds necessary to kickstart said project.

For now, there are seven projects that are currently available on the webe Community page, ranging from artistic projects to humanitarian aid. Webe has said that the website would soon be open to those interested in getting their projects greenlit.

As for the actual telco plans from Webe, the company has yet to reveal their plans just yet. Puan has said that webe’s services are currently in the final stages of user testing and is scheduled to go live during the middle of the year. For those who are currently utilising P1 services, Puan has said that existing P1 customers will be able to continue using its service until webe goes into commercial use.

While webe is still keeping mum on their telco plans, rumours have been swirling on the internet that the company intends to launch a postpaid plan that offers customers with 20GB of data for only RM 8 per month. Of course, where or not the rumours would turn out to be true remains to be seen. Should the rumours turn out to be true though, we can imagine that the other major telco players in Malaysia must be shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

p1
telco
tm
webe
webeawesome


Huawei P30 Lite specs leaked – features surprisingly big display

511

It has been confirmed that the Huawei P30 series of phones will be released this March 26 in Paris. But according to GizmoChina, the low-end version of the P30 – the P30 Lite – could be launched sooner than the intended.

Leaks have surfaced of the phone’s apparent appearance on TENAA, China’s electronics certification body, showing images of the supposed confirmation of the P30 Lite.

Image credit: GizmoChina

The leaks show the specifications of the phone – the most eye-catching details include a 6.15-inch display, which is significantly more sizable than the P20 Lite’s 5.84-inch screen.

According to GizmoChina, the P30 Lite sports a slim form-factor measuring 152.9 x 72.7 x 7.4 mm. The phone is also expected to be powered by a small 3,240mAh battery.

huawei
leak
p30
p30lite


Palm is back with a ‘companion phone’ that costs $349

339

While we have all know that Palm would definitely be making a come back just like how BlackBerry and Nokia did and moved to the Android route, the company is taking things a little differently and not what we quite expected it to be, it has launched a pretty interesting device that’s simply called the Palm Phone.

Rather than a standard smartphone, the Palm Phone is designed and intended to be a companion device to your bigger smartphone, it sports a 3.3-inch display and measures 62 grams, which perfectly fits into any palm size just like its name (pun intended). The phone runs on Android 8.1 and is powered by a Snapdragon 435 processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB of storage, it has a 800mAh battery which Palm claims to last a full day when fully charged via its USB-C port, there’s also a 8MP selfie camera and surprisingly, IP68 water and dust resistance.

As a companion phone to your bigger smartphone, the Palm Phone has embedded connected SIM, just like how the LTE variant of the Apple Watch functions, it stays connected to your main phone over your cellular network, which in this case US carrier Verizon holds the exclusivity for it.

While the designers have explained that the product is meant to ‘create a new category’, this isn’t the first companion phone that we have seen. A few years ago, HTC unveiled the HTC Mini+ as a smaller phone to complement its larger HTC One Max, which at that time was a huge phablet, which users are able to make calls and receive notifications via  Bluetooth, though the HTC Mini+ didn’t quite lived up to its expectations and can’t do a lot of things like the Palm Phone.

By all means, this is an interesting device for those who doesn’t always want to carry their main smartphone all the time, such as hitting the gym or going for a hike where accidents tend to happen.

The Palm Phone is manufactured by TCL, who also manufactures other handsets such as BlackBerry and Alcatel, the phone is exclusively sold on Verizon at $349, which you might probably be off buying a cheap entry-level device, not unless you appreciate the connectivity to your main smartphone.

android
palm
palm phone
verizon


Palmer Luckey will consider Oculus support on Mac if Apple 'releases a good computer'

698

During the recent Xbox Press Event, Shacknews managed to speak to Oculus’s founder Palmer Luckey and asked him if there would ever be Mac support for the Rift headset. Palmer’s reply? They would do it if they ever release a good computer.

“It just boils down to the fact that Apple doesn’t prioritize high-end GPUs. You can buy a USD 6,000 Mac Pro with top of the line AMD FirePro D700, and it still doesn’t match our recommended specs,” says Luckey. “So if they prioritize higher-end GPUs like they used to for a while back in the day, we’d love to support Mac. But right now, there’s just not a single machine out there that supports it. Even if we can support on the software side, there’s just no audience that could run the vast majority of software on it.”

Blunt though the statement may be, Luckey does have a point in that VR does require a near top-of-the-line GPU for it to run smoothly. That said, Oculus’s direct competitors, the Vive,
has promised that it will support both Mac and Linux
. Needless to say, it’ll be interesting to see if Luckey’s decision to focus only on the PC would work out for Oculus in the long run.

Source:
Shacknews

apple
mac
oculusrift
palmerluckey
vr


Panama-based law firm hit with the biggest data leak in the past few years

255

Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm, has been the subject of a major data leak that dwarfs even the Wikileaks case.

The news of the data leak first broke over the weekend as various news websites over the internet began publishing their findings. News sources such as
The Guardian
 and the
BBC
 have begun publishing some of their findings over what is now called ‘the Panama Papers’.

So what exactly are the Panama Papers? It is a collection of 11 million documents that are 2.7TB large in total. Those documents show how individuals and organizations, and sometimes even governments, attempt to evade taxation by ‘investing’ in shell companies.

The leak of these documents began last year when an anonymous source contacted the
Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ)
 and submitted encrypted internal documents from Mossack Fonseca. With 2.7TB of data to sif through, SZ decided to cooperate with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in order to speed up the work. Thus far, a total of 400 journalists from 100 media organizations in over 80 countries have worked on the Panama Papers.

Information from the Panama Papers have implicated a huge number of people, ranging from celebrities to politicians, a list of which can be found
here
.

Do keep in mind that the Panama Papers are huge and only a small portion of the Papers have been published so far. Do expect more information surrounding the Papers to be published over the next few weeks.

Source:
Süddeutsche Zeitung
,
The Guardian
,
BBC
,
ICIJ

dataleak
panamapapers
politics


Panasonic Toughbook CF-MX4 and CF54 and Toughpad FZ-X1 enters the Malaysian market

355

While most rugged laptops are heavy and bulky, Panasonic’s new Toughbooks has given us a change of perspective of how modern rugged laptops can be, the Toughbook CF-54 and CF-MX4 aren’t just rugged but both are comparatively light to an Ultrabook, all thanks to its magnesium alloy material and efficient components under the hood.

The Toughbook CF-MX4 is a 12-inch business rugged laptop designed in a 2-in-1 form factor, which will give users the flexibility to switch their computing mode in
tablet

or notebook mode and allow field workers to be able to use computers in space challenging situations. In terms of hardware, the MX4 has a 5th generation Intel Core i5-5300U processor, a single RAM slot that supports up to 8GB of RAM,
128GB Solid State Drive
, a 12.1-inch Full HD IPS 10-point touch display, and two batteries – a removable 4-cell battery and an internal (hot swap) 2-cell battery that delivers a total 13 hours of usage.

The CF54 may look like any semi-rugged Toughbooks you’ve seen out there, but you will be surprised once you pick it up from the table as it is one super lightweight device at 1.99kg and that’s even lighter than a standard 14-inch laptop. This machine has the same Core i5-5300U processor, supports up to 16GB of RAM with two RAM slots, a 14-inch TFT display with 1366×768 resolution, and has an 11-hour battery life with its 6-cell battery.

Last but not the least, the Toughpad FZ-X1 is an extremely durable rugged smartphone that is able to sustain the toughest drop tests and challenging operating temperatures despite of its ancient looking wallpaper you see on picture. The FZ-X1 isn’t going to pack any
Snapdragon
810

processors of course, instead it comes with a really old but still capable Snapdragon APQ8064T 1.7GHz Quad-Core processor mated to 2GB of RAM, it has a 5-inch HD 720p display with glove and rain modes, 32GB of built-in eMMC storage with MicroSD expansion, an 8-megapixel main camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera, a huge 6200mAh battery that delivers up to 14 hours of continuous data access and can be fully charged within 3 hours when fully drained. Fortunately, wireless communications are still pretty modern with Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11ac, NFC, and LTE support.

Panasonic Business’s goal in introducing these devices is to allow its customers to be able to work on mission critical tasks with assurance, all thanks to the all new 5th Generation Intel Core processors and support from Microsoft, the new Toughbooks are now the most sophisticated rugged systems enterprises are able to buy, both the CF-MX4 and CF-54 comes preloaded with either
Windows
7

Professional or
Windows
8
.
1
Pro

and can be upgraded to Windows 10 for free, the Toughpad FZ-X1 runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box and there is a Windows Embedded model available for purchase.

The new Toughbooks and Toughpad FZ-X1 are now available in Malaysia and can be purchased directly with Panasonic Systems Solutions Asia Pacific at the following Recommended Retail Price (RRP) excluding GST with a three-year warranty:

Toughbook CF-MX4: USD 2349.00 (RM9670)
Toughbook CF54: USD 1949.00 (RM8023)
Toughpad FZ-X1: USD 1499.00 (RM6170)

cf54
cfmx4
fzx1
malaysia
panasonic
price
toughbook
toughpad


Panasonic's Lumix GF9 takes 4K videos and selfies for less than RM2,400

657

Smartphone makers aren’t the only ones aggressively promoting selfie cameras, as we get to see Panasonic’s latest Lumix GF9 compact interchangeable lens camera being unveiled here today, the camera features a 16-megapixel Micro 4/3 sensor that is capable of taking 4K videos, while featuring a complete set of features for those who loves taking selfies all the time.

The camera’s build quality is a rather solid one just like the previous GF8, featuring an all metal build and leather skin on the front. When it comes to its imaging features, selfie lovers will get to enjoy a new 4K Photo feature, with three types of burst modes, users can capture every moment in a staggering 30 fps at an 8-megapixel resolution, hence you won’t miss out any funny reactions when you look at the camera. On top of that, the GF9 also features beautifying features such as Soft Skin, Defocusing and Slimming which beautifies your facial features, users can also post process their photos directly on the camera with Aesthetic Retouch, while navigation is rather user friendly with its touch enabled 3-inch display.

One of the most interesting hardware feature on the GF9 would be its secondary shutter button for the convenience of taking front facing photos, it is particularly convenient when taking group pictures as the user may either use side of their hands to hold the camera. The GF9 also has built-in WiFi for easily transferring pictures to your smartphone using the Panasonic Imaging app, and it also supports charging via its MicroUSB port so you won’t need to hunt for an AC wall socket all the time. For the more advanced selfie folks, the GF9 can shoot amd develop RAW images in both sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces.

The Panasonic Lumix GF9 is available in colours of Silver, Black, Orange or Pink, the camera comes with a 12-32mm kit lens and will retail at RM2,399.

gf9
lumix
panasonic


Pandelela Rinong celebrates Christmas with HUAWEI Watch GT

345

Malaysian national diver and two-time Olympic medalist, Pandelela Rinong, is celebrating this Christmas with HUAWEI Watch GT by starting a campaign called #WishTheBestWithTheBest. The campaign aims to inspire more people to celebrate this festive season differently and share their stories regardless of where they are and what they are facing in lives.

“While most people go back home to celebrate the festive season with family and friends, some may celebrate it differently, like me! I spend most of my times at training and may not have many off days for Christmas, but I will definitely make the most out of it with my training partners and people around me,” said Pandelela Rinong.

The HUAWEI Watch GT is slim, beautiful and strong as it is resilient to accidents because of its ceramic bezel design, stainless steel shell and DLC coating. Measuring in at a mere 10.6 mm and featuring a double crown 1.39″ 454 x 454 AMOLED screen, it’s remarkably vibrant and slim. It’s exceptionally durable when it comes to training while keeping athletes in styles. Users do not need to worry about damaging the watch but exercise with a peace of mind.

Other than that, the HUAWEI Watch GT comes with a battery life that could lasts for two weeks which is much longer than any other wearables in the market and help athletes keep up with their performance wherever they go. HUAWEI does this by introducing the double chipset architecture, prolonging the battery life of the watch.

The HUAWEI Watch GT also features the HUAWEI TruSeen 3.0 heartrate monitoring technology, providing a more efficient and accurate real-time personal measurement of your heart rate by using a self-learning algorithm and innovative sensors. It comes with an intelligent scientific coaching programme that help users to stay fit by enrolling in the watch’s advanced running courses. In addition, it also provides guidance training and giving time-movement effect feedback.

The HUAWEI Watch GT is now available at RM999 (classic edition) and RM899 (sport edition), and it can be purchased at all Huawei Experience Stores. For more information, visit HUAWEI’s official website
here
 or HUAWEI’s official Facebook account
here
.

huawei
HUAWEI WATCH GT


PaperChase AR – the app that combines comic and AR technology to encourage recycling

736

One of the difficulties in creating awareness is getting your audience to remember the message you’re trying to convey. In an exhibition called MeshMinds 2.0, illustrator Alfonsus Wong and immersive technologist Alan Ng use AR and comic strips to bring awareness towards responsible consumption and production.

Both individuals worked together for their project called PaperChase AR, an app that offers AR experience to entertain and educate the audience. The interactive app revolves around recycling while telling a story about a trash-eating monster, and the whole project was created with the iPad Pro, iMac, Procreate and ARKit.

The idea first came about when Wong wanted to throw away a coffee cup in a recycling bin but couldn’t spot one. Inspired by a Pokémon game that required players to search around the mall for stickers to win Pokémon cards, Wong decided to incorporate the same element into PaperChase AR.

According to Ng, Wong was so into the game that he remembered every spot he went to find for those stickers. “So, what if we turn it into a similar game? We make finding the recycling bin a part of this invested game that you’ll have to play.”

The general idea is that, the recycling bins will provide the app users with different pieces of the comic – drawn by Wong – which helps participants remember the locations of each recycling bin.

The project took both of them four to five months, where all the artworks were drawn by Wong using the iPad Pro and iMac. What started as a single-sheet of artwork became a multi-layered comic, that comes with a map at the back of each strip. The map then allow users to find the next piece of the story. Wong also revealed that the iPad Pro made a huge difference in terms of his workflow. “I had so many weddings to attend last year, and I was able to work on a train. It’s like, woah. Felt like a boss.”

According to Wong, 80-85% of his artwork was created on Procreate on the iPad Pro, while the rest was done using Photoshop. When the artwork is completed, Ng then proceeds to build the AR experience from scratch. It wasn’t the first time Ng has worked on AR/VR projects; he’s been at it for the past few years, and he also contributed in the first MeshMinds exhibition. “It’s a new medium that’s very interesting to explore – it merges tech and design – and becomes a very thin line,” said Ng.

PaperChase AR is actually a unique experience for Wong as he mostly does digital drawings without incorporating AR. As for upcoming projects, Ng mentioned of a project that highlights mental health issues through the use of virtual reality. For more details on Ng’s upcoming project, visit
VERE.360
 and for those interested in Wong’s artworks, you can find them
here
.

app store
apple
imac
ipad pro
Meshminds
PaperChase AR
Procreate
Swyft


Partnership between Maxis and Gamuda Land offers 2 years free internet to residents

502

Maxis and Gamuda Land had a signing ceremony to commemorate the partnership between the renowned property developer and the major communications and internet service provider.

Understanding the importance of internet and connectivity, Gamuda Land believes that it has become a necessity when it comes to the current generation, which is why they’ve decided to partner with Maxis to provide high speed fibre broadband services to residents of the twentyfive.7 project which is located at Kota Kemuning. The network infrastructure will be deployed in the twentyfive.7 to built Maxis own fibre network.

The signing of the agreement between Maxis CEO, Robert Nason and Gamuda Land CEO, Ngan Chee Meng indicates that 279 units of landed homes in Phase 1A & 1B and 596 units of Amber Residence will have a customised MaxisONE Home fibre plan with up to 300mbps. Residents will get 4G network coverage with iFlix access at home and in their smartphones limitlessly, in addition to unlimited free domestic calls and a free DECT phone.

In addition to that, the Quayside Mall that is expected around 2020 will also have high speed coverage to allow users to stay connected and enhance their shopping experiences. The shopping mall is said to have facilities such as MBO Cinema, Jaya Grocer and also many F&B stores such as Starbucks, Subway and McDonalds.

fibre internet
Gamuda Land
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Passionate Mi Fan sets up dream Xiaomi Store in Johor

3.5K

A new Xiaomi Store might seem pretty common these days, but it isn’t every day that you see a Xiaomi Store operated by a passionate Xiaomi Fan turned entrepreneur. Errick Lim, the owner of Xiaome Kluang Technology, has recently realized his dream of setting up his very first Xiaomi Shop-in-Shop Store in Kluang, Johor, after 7 years of hard work.

While Errick’s Xiaomi Shop-in-Shop might not be too different from other Xiaomi Stores in terms of products offering, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise on Xiaomi’s AIoT and smartphone products, along with properly trained passionate staffs, any customer who walks into the store will be educated and guided on their purchase, while being offered the best after-sales service available.

Errick’s unwavering passion for Xiaomi is ignited by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun’s famous quote of ‘Always believe something wonderful is about to happen, where he started the business with a big focus on Xiaomi’s value for money smartphones, notably the Redmi Note 3 back then, he gained fame and reputation by doing regular Facebook Live streams and has gathered a huge customer base in Malaysia and Singapore.

“I want to focus on building my business foundation and continue to supply Xiaomi products to everyone in this community, to help them start a smart living with better technology,” Errick shares. Errick aims to continue sustaining his business by building a solid foundation, and hopes to expand the store eventually. He has plans to expand the business channels into Tiktok and Youtube as he sees more customers switching their social channels.

If you happen to make a trip to Johor, make sure to drop by the Xiaomi SiS Store in Kluang at B-3-BWH, Jalan Sentol Haji Manan, 86000 Kluang, Johor to grab some Xiaomi goodies, or make an appointment directly with Errick at +6016-7244570 and say KLGG sent you.

xiaome kluang
xiaomi malaysia
xiaomi store malaysia


Password-free logins to Android apps may arrive by the end of 2016

294

Back at last year’s Google I/O, the company mentioned that they are working on a method that would eliminate the need for passwords entirely. Said password-free system, called Project Abacus, may soon become a reality as Google will be making the system available to developers by the end of the year.

According to Google, Project Abacus will work via biometrics. The system will run in the background and monitor a combination of signals such as typing patterns, walking patterns, current location, and more. These signals will build up a “Trust Score” that is calculating using all the signals above as well as speed and voice patterns, facial recognition, and many other factors.

Key to this entire system is “Trust API,” a system that will be tested out in “several very large financial institutions” according to Google. If the test is successful, Google states that this API will be made available to every Android developer around the world by the end of the year.

While the system itself sounds interesting, there is no doubt that the way Project Abacus would make some uncomfortable. With the way Project Abacus works, we expect many to be very skeptical about the safety of using such a system.

Source:
TechCrunch

google
password
projectabacus


Patent filed by Motorola reveals design for the rumoured RAZR 2019 foldable phone

398

Flip phones were a trend back in the days and now Motorola is reported to have plans on bringing the trend back. The company is rumoured to bring back the Motorola RAZR design, but this rumoured phone does not have an official name yet.

The Motorala phone that is expected to be released this year is referred to as Motorola RAZR 2019 foldable phone for now, and this phone sports a clamshell design like the RAZR V3 back in 2004. Besides that, the patent that was filed by Motorola and granted by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) also revealed that the phone will have a rather large chin that is expected to be housing the speaker and the microphone.

Image credit: 91mobiles

The RAZR 2019 will have a hinge at the centre so it can be folded like old flip phones and it will also have a secondary display and a back camera on its upper half while its lower half houses a fingerprint scanner.

Image credit: 91mobiles

On its front, the RAZR 2019 will have a rather tall display from top to bottom as it loses the old school physical keyboard. It will also come with a notch that is slightly similar to the iPhone X’s notch, but it seems like the design does not show a front camera on the notch as expected.

Besides that, the RAZR 2019 is said to come in a limited supply of 200,000 units. Motorola seems to be collaborating with the telco carrier Verizon, so while it’s going to available in US, its global availability is unknown. We’re expecting to see the RAZR 2019 in February with a hefty price tag around $1,500.

Foldable phone
motorola
RAZR 2019


Patent for motorized laptop hinge that aligns with user’s face granted to Google

359

Google has been granted a patent that could possibly add some ease when handling a laptop. The patent comes in a form of a motorized hinge that would automatically open the laptop with just a single touch, something that could be implemented first in Google’s Chromebooks or Pixelbooks.

The tech behind it is actually pretty simple, there is a touch-sensitive section on the laptop’s lid and tapping on it will activate ambient light sensors and other cameras and lift the lid up. From there, different sensors will identify and track the user’s face to lift the hinge up to the best viewing angle based on the user. However, there is not enough information other than the basics mechanics, what if a user moves their head when the lid is open or when they move the laptop around. In addition to that, there is no solid confirmation from Google if this patent will actually be used for any future devices.

Patents are a tricky thing and most of them, although approved, might not actually see the light of day, whether this will be incorporated into the Pixelbook 2 is still unsure but that would be the best device to show this new feature when it comes out.

google
hinge
laptop
motorized
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Patent reveals that the Apple Pencil made be tweaked to make it usable on a Mac

337

Last year, Apple announced that it will be releasing its own stylus called the Apple Pencil. Today, a patent has been made public, and this patent shows that Apple may have some interesting plans laid out for its stylus.

First filed back in 2014, patent 9,400,570 shows that Apple has been granted a patent for a stylus that comes with “force sensors” located on both ends of the devices. Said stylus also comes with an “inertial sensor,” allowing it to switch between several different modes. Said modes are the most interesting part, as the patent reveals that the stylus is able to not only interface with Mac trackpads, it can also be used as a joystick for gaming or music creation. Some of the examples given includes using the stylus as a “sword, wand or hammer” for video games, and as a “drum stick, xylophone mallet, a gong beater, a conductor’s baton, or other musical instruments” for musc creation.

While the patent doesn’t mean that the current Apple Pencil will be able to do all those and more in its current iteration, it is possible that future Apple Pencils may be advanced enough to do all that and more. Whatever the case, it is interesting to see what Apple intends to do with stylus other than being a alternative way to move a cursor around.

Source:
Mashable

apple
patent
pencil
stylus


Patent shows Xiaomi’s foldable phone with triple camera on its rear but no front camera

299

A recent patent from Xiaomi reveals how they envision their foldable smartphone to be, and from what we’ve seen from the patent, Xiaomi’s foldable phone is likely to come with triple camera on its rear.

A few months back, Xiaomi President Lin Bin appeared in a video holding a foldable smartphone that folds vertically on both sides, just like the design shown in the patent. In addition, both the video and the patent share something in common — the lack of front camera. It could be possible that Xiaomi will use a pop-up selfie camera, but that’s just our guess.

#Xiaomi

#MiFold
 Xiaomi’s first foldable smartphone also could feature a triple camera. According to patent 6272290-0001 from EUIPO.
pic.twitter.com/DvaYXf30Tx

— Xiaomishka (@xiaomishka)
August 13, 2019

Xiaomi’s triple rear camera will cause a slight bump at the back, though that’s not something that bothers everyone. Like its previous video, the patent shows the phone with two hinges and if the patent is legit, you’ll be sporting a USB-C port at its bottom.

Everyone wants to produce their own foldable phone, but if these foldable phones are priced like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, there’s no doubt that these phones won’t appeal to the majority of the current smartphone consumers.

Foldable phone
xiaomi


Patent trolls successfully sues Apple for USD626 million

449

It is no surprise that Apple is a frequent target for patent trolls. What is a surprise is that one patent troll has successfully sued Apple and they’ve managed to force the Cupertino-based company to pay them USD625.6 million for infringing four patents.

The patent troll in question is VirnetX, a company that has attack various other tech companies such as Microsoft and Cisco. The company has also sued Apple before back in 2010, with the initial lawsuit focusing on the alleged use of virtual private network (VPN) patents in FaceTime video chats. For that case, VirnetX did manage to win the initial court case and would have won USD368 million in damages as well as a running royalty of nearly one percent of iPhone and iPad revenue. Unfortunately for them, both the damages and royalty were overtuned on appeal.

In their current case against Apple, VirnetX accused Apple for infringing
on

four

seperate

patents
 by way of FaceTime and iMessage,
which the jury for this case found that Apple is guilty of
. As such, the jury held that Apple should pay USD334.9 million for the security patent infringement. Apple was further ordered to pay an additional USD290.7 million for infringing other disputed patents.

Needless to say, Apple isn’t thrilled about this judgement and will be appealing this decision soon.

Source :
Engadget
,
Ars Technica
,
Reuters

apple
lawsuit
patenttroll
virnetx


Patent trolls target Xiaomi

275

Patent trolls, the tech industry’s persona non grata, have set their sights on Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi.

Blue Spike LLC, a “suspected” patent troll in the US, has recently filed a case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Xiaomi.

The patent which Blue Spike claims that Xiaomi has infringed is US patent 8,930,719 B2, titled as “Data Protection Method and Device”. According to Blue Spike, Xiaomi has infringed this patent due to its Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) software, systems and technology.

The smartphones which are involved in this particular case includes the Xiaomi Mi 4 and all its variants, the Redmi series and the Redmi Note series. Furthermore, Blue Spike has also listed the Xiaomi Mi 5 and the Mi 5 Plus in the suit, phones that have yet to be announced officially.

A quick Google search for Blue Spike has revealed that the company has filed patent infringement suits against 45 different companies within a span of 15 days, making it almost certain that this is indeed the work of a patent troll. Regardless, it remains to be seen if Xiaomi would settle this out of court or would fight said trolls.

The suit is available
here
 for those interested.

SOURCE:
phoneArena

bluespike
mi5
mi5plus
patenttroll
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Patents leaked of Sony Playstation 5’s new controller, showing subtle but important changes

398

We’ve seen rumored patents of the upcoming Sony PlayStation 5 already and although it looks like a spaceship, it appears that the accompanying
Dualshock
 5 controller will have a more grounded aesthetic.

A patent for the device had appeared online showing a very familiar look to the controller – in fact, it has very little changes to set it apart from the
Dualshock
 4. For one, the grips are now thicker – almost Xbox-esque.

Image credit: The Next Web

Over on the bottom of the controller appears to be some kind of port – existing reports also couldn’t make out what they are.

What remains seemingly unchanged is the familiar
Dualshock
 layout, while the touchpad, speaker and PlayStation logo are left unchanged too.

Despite an overall similar look outside, the hardware inside will be quite different this time around. Sony mentioned in their blog previously that the new controllers will ditch the old rumble tech, that makes the controller vibrate, for what they call ‘haptic vibrations’ which offer a wider range of feedback depending on the type of game you play.

You can also expect a change to the shoulder buttons – new ‘adaptive triggers’, which will be incorporated into the L2 and R2 buttons will provide a tactile response to the players which are programmable by the developers to simulate certain sensations – like feeling the tension and resistance when pulling a bow, or accelerating a vehicle.

So far, we’re glad to see that the changes happening to the PS5 will be very much gaming-centric, and not so much media consumption. The device will be announced late 2020 so we’ve got a year left before we pivot into the new console cycle.

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Patriot Viper RGB 16GB DDR4-3000MHz RAM Review: 5-Zone RGB and Superb Performance

647

For today’s PC builders, there’s simply no reason to go for a nice XMP capable RAM kit as they do take performance to the next level, let alone the gimmicky things that manufacturers have been introducing to spice up your system. While we haven’t been actively reviewing PC components on our site, Patriot has kindly sent their popular Viper RGB DDR4 RAM for our review, the sticks that we receive are 16GB memory kits and supports XMP speeds of 3000MHz at an impressive 15-17-17-35 timing, it also happens to support the most motherboard RGB lighting system, with ASRock’s Polychrome Sync as the most recent addition.

The packaging of the Viper RGB RAM looks pretty attractive, as it shows a shiny Viper Gaming branding on the top left, you will also notice a sticker on the top right to assure you that it supports RGB lighting systems from major motherboard manufacturers.

Contents of the box include a pair of Viper Gaming stickers, which the company probably expect you to stick on your PC monitor or case like Apple stickers, then there’s a installation card that tells you how to install the memory sticks, and a disclaimer to tell you that you shouldn’t have Viper’s RGB software installed should you decide to use your motherboard’s RGB software.

And finally, here’s the pair of the Viper RGB RAM with 8GB of memory on each of them, aggressive white heatshields with a cut out of the Viper’s eyes that glows when turned on, the RAM sticks have 5-zones of RGB lighting that you toy around with.

System Configuration

CPU:
 Intel Core i7-7700K

Motherboard:
 Gigabyte Z170X-Ultra Gaming

GPU:
 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition

SSD:
 Kingston UV400 120GB

HDD:
 Seagate FireCuda 2TB

PSU:
 Aerocool KCAS-800W

Case:
 Cooler Master Test Bench V1.0

Patriot Viper RGB Memory Software

Since our motherboard doesn’t come with any built-in RGB software, we downloaded Patriot’s Viper RGB software and it works flawlessly on our system. On the application, you can save up to 5 profiles of lighting effects, choose from 8 different lighting effects and set how fast you want them to be. Overall, I like the ‘Viper’ effect the most as it looks really cool with the Viper’s eyes glowing static in a few seconds, then lighting up the rest of the lighting zones after that.

Performance and Synthetic Benchmarks

In our tests, we use AIDA64 Extreme Edition to find out the transfer speeds and latency, and 7-Zip to find out how fast these sticks are when it comes to managing file compression tasks.

The Viper RGB RAM performed significantly better when we activated the XMP profile at 3000MHz, though timings are slightly up from its original 2133MHz frequency, we are seeing a significantly shorter latency. In real world situations, we realized that our games load up at least 2-3 seconds faster when XMP is enabled.

Without changing the XMP timings and Vcore, I was able to push the memory frequency up to 3200MHz effortlessly, we see close to 10% of performance improvements and manage to hit an incredibly low 46.0ns latency.

Things begin to get challenging when we tried to bump the RAM’s frequency up to 3466MHz, where it requires some tweaking to the timings and voltage, we also tried increasing the Vcore of our IMC for better stability. Finally, I ended up at 3466MHz at CL17-19-19-40 with a DRAM Vcore of 1.365V and an IMC Vcore of 1.32V, any further overclocking of the RAM results in system instability and slower performance.

Verdict

Patriot’s Viper RGB RAM stays true to the brand’s message of offering the most extreme performance to your PC, we are particularly impressed with the performance bump it offers with so little tweaking effort, not to forget the great customizability of the 5-zone RGB lighting and support for major motherboard RGB lighting systems. The Viper Gaming RGB 16GB 3000MHz kit retails at RM859, it is available in black or white heatshields, with the black heatshield model supporting XMP speeds of up to 4133MHz.

The Good

Reasonably priced

Short latency in XMP mode

5-zone RGB lighting system

The Not so Good

No 32GB kit

No 4133MHz for white heatshield model

ddr4
patriot
rgb
viper gaming
viper rgb ram


PAVOCOMMS launches Mcalls Y33 Plan, offers 5GB of data for RM30/month (Updated)

454

PAVOCOMMS, the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that runs the service
speakOUT
 has unveiled its new service Mcalls today and introduced the Y33 Plan, this is a prepaid service that offers 5GB of 4G LTE data, free 33 minutes of nationwide calls and 33 local SMS for RM30 per month. The service will have a 1-year validity upon activation, once the monthly package expires, customers will need to pay for calls and SMS on a pay as you use basis. Like speakOUT, Mcalls leverages on Digi’s 4G network to provide its data services, but apart from just being a MVNO, PAVOCOMMS has intended Mcalls to be a rewards
and digital wallet
 platform for the consumer, which makes the service different from the rest of the players.

Mcalls’ value added features can be experienced within the MMSpot app, available as a free download for iOS and Android devices, subscribers can use the app not only just to manage their account,
but also to pay utility bills, purchase products from over 1,200 business alliance partners and gain reward points as they make purchases over the platform, which eventually you can use the points to redeem air time and reward categories of recreation, entertainment, dining, travel, fashion and transportation.
 but also to be able to utilize the reward points earned to redeem products and services from over 1,200 business alliance partners. A recent consumer behavour survey by Nielsen reveals that 44% Malaysians are more likely to use mobile-only solutions if the service provider offers relevant lifetime rewards, which is why PAVOCOMMS has intended Mcalls to be the most rewarding mobile platform.

PAVOCOMMS has also kickstarted the launch of Mcalls with its first digital lifestyle store, which is located at Sunway Pyramid (LG.2, Orange Atrium, next to Harvey Norman), the store will allow customers to experience an immersive retail experience with Augmented Reality (AR) while being able to perform account related services. PAVOCOMMS has also intend to expand services to other countries such as China, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, while it is also ambitious to acquire over 300,000 subscribers this year. If you would like to check them out, do visit their roadshow that is happening right now over at Sunway Pyramid starting 13th July until the weekend.

For more information on Mcalls, head on over to https://mcalls.asia

UPDATE: This article has been updated to reflect that Mcalls doesn’t provide a digital wallet service.

cheapest data service
cheapest telco data
digi
mcalls
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pavocomms
speakout
telco


Pay Day Sale: HONOR offers RM200 vouchers off selected products

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This month’s HONOR Pay Day sale focuses on some of the most popular HONOR products including the HONOR Watch Magic, the HONOR Magic Earbuds and more.

Get vouchers up to RM200 off during the Pay Day Sale

From November 20 to November 27, HONOR is offering vouchers up to RM200 off. For example, you can use the RM200 voucher on the Watch Magic2 bundle that is originally priced at RM798. You can also purchase the HONOR MagicBook 14 16GB + 512GB variant at RM2,799. Plus, HONOR will give you freebies such as the HONOR Bluetooth mouse, HONOR backpack and the HONOR Scale 2.

HONOR 9X Pro gets a RM100 discount

Those looking forward to getting a new phone can also enjoy a RM100 voucher on the
HONOR 9X Pro
 or HONOR 9X Lite. There’s also a lucky draw that features the HONOR Band 4 and HONOR Band 3 — each user will have 3 chances to participate in the lucky draw.

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

hihonor
honor
HONOR 9X Pro
honor magicbook


Pay later for your favorite tech gadgets with IOUpay

3.1K

Hey KLGG fans and deal hunters, we are super excited to announce that we have partnered with myIOU to offer Buy Now, Pay Later services on Good Deals by KLGG, which you can choose to make monthly 0% instalment on purchases from RM100 onwards for up to 6 months, using either your debit or credit card, and here are all the facts you need to know.

How is IOUpay different from credit card instalment?

via GIPHY

It’s similar and better in some ways. Unlike typical credit card installment facilities, IOUpay doesn’t charge any upfront processing fees and lock your card’s credit limit, instead you will have a separate credit limit of up to RM10,000 from IOUpay, which is great for those who doesn’t have a high limit credit card and wants flexibility in managing their cash flow.

Debit card instalment? How is that possible?

via GIPHY

IOUpay charges the monthly instalment to your debit card like a typical merchant transaction, hence it doesn’t require your debit card to have a minimum balance in order to use the service but rather, you need to ensure that you have sufficient balance in your debit card for the service to deduct the monthly instalment amount.

How do I sign up and use IOUpay on Good Deals by KLGG?

Download the myIOU app from the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
, sign up for a new account and complete the e-KYC verification process, and you should be all set in a few minutes.

Shop your favorite gadgets from our collection, and choose pay with IOUpay payment method at the checkout page, you will then be brought to the IOUpay payment gateway.

Scan the QR code with the myIOU app and choose the installment period you want

Sit back and enjoy while we confirm and ship your gadgets!

Spend and win big prizes with IOUpay

For a limited time from 15 July – 31 July 2021, IOUpay is rewarding you when you sign up, refer a friend and make a purchase with IOUpay, you stand a chance to win an iPad Air, Fitbit Sense and a Panasonic 2-in-1 Stick Vacuum. On top of that, we at KLGadgetGuy are offering a RM30 voucher when you spend a minimum RM500 on Good Deals by KLGG, simply enter the code
IOU30
, and make your payments using IOUpay.

Don’t wait, go shop for your favorite gadgets on
Good Deals by KLGG
 now!

good deals by klgg
ioupay


Pay for your online shopping on Lazada with the Touch n’ Go eWallet

465

Touch ’n Go eWallet has collaborated with e-commerce platform Lazada to offer cashless shopping experience even when you’re doing it online.

The new partnership allows Touch ’n Go eWallet users to shop on Lazada and make payment with the Touch ’n Go eWallet. In addition, Lazada is offering various promotions and cashbacks as the year-end sales season are approaching.

To celebrate the beginning of the partnership, Touch ’n Go is also giving RM5 discount to every user who spend at least RM50 using their Touch ’n Go eWallet from October 29 to October 31. The voucher is redeemable via the Lazada app when you click on “Collectible Payment Voucher”. The RM5 voucher is also limited to the first 3,000 transactions only, so you should hurry if you want the RM5 voucher.

To use Touch ’n Go eWallet to pay for your Lazada shopping spree, just make sure you click on the “Touch ’n Go eWallet” when you’re selecting payment method. Once you’ve done so, you’ll be redirected to Touch n’ Go’s website to authorise your payment.

Both Touch ’n Go eWallet and Lazada app can be downloaded from the App Store and the Play Store.

ewallet
lazada
online shopping
Touch 'n Go eWallet


PayPal refused to refund a troll's USD50,000 donation to Twitch streamers

333

Many of you who follow Twitch streamers would be aware that some streamers rely on the charity of their viewers to make a living. Donations to streamers are pretty common nowadays and is usually their main source of income. That said, trolls doing massive donations and then pulling said donations back via chargebacks or disputing said transaction with either the bank or the website used to complete said transaction isn’t exactly new either. So it is rather pleasing to hear that such a troll was denied a refund by PayPal, forcing him to commit to his USD 50,000 donation.

First reported in a
reddit
 thread, a Twitch member named iNexus_Ninja has been going around donating huge sums of cash to various streamers on Twitch. Some of the streamers that were on the receiving end of said donation includes NoSleepTV, Sodapoppin, LegendaryLea, and Dizzykitten, and the amount that each of these streamers received range in the thousands of dollars.

Of course, these donations were meant to be a mean-spirited joke. According to a YouTube video created by LiveStreamFails, it seems that iNexus_Ninja planned to cancel all transactions through PayPal after a month, meaning that all donations that were done by him would be deemed void. Unfortunately for Ninja, PayPal denied him the refund, which means that USD 50,000 donation ain’t going back to him.

To make the schadenfreude even sweeter, reddit dug through iNexus_Ninja’s Twitter account to discover that all donations were done via his parents’ credit card, and we can safely assume that Ninja’s parents aren’t going to be happy about his shenanigans. In short, a Twitch troll loses USD 50,000 in cash and will possibly be schooled by his parents, and the would-be victims will get to enjoy the money he so ‘generously’ donated.

Source:
Motherboard
,
reddit

paypal
troll
twitch


Paypal to stop crowdfunding protection in June

514

If you’re one of the few who relies on Paypal to pledge for crowdfunding projects, we have some bad news for you. Starting on the 25th of June,
Paypal
 will be discontinuing the Purchase Protection coverage for all crowdfunding projects.

Currently, those who pledge to failed crowdfunding projects are able to dispute the charge, giving them a chance to recoup their money in the event of a crowdfunding project going south. Come the 25th of June, all those who pledge to crowdfunding projects will no longer be able to do that, meaning that should the project fail, those who backed it through Paypal will not be able to dispute the charges, and as such, will not be able to gain a single cent back. It’s interesting to note though that this change would not affect Kickstarter as payments made to that website was never protected by Paypal.

With the history that surrounds crowdfunding projects, it isn’t exactly surprising as to why Paypal has decided to pull its Purchase Protection coverage from all crowdfunding platforms. While Paypal themselves have yet to issue a statement as to why they’ve decided to stop protecting transactions to crowdfunding platforms, its probably safe to say that the company isn’t interested in dealing with all the complications that a crowdfunding project may have.

Source:
The Verge

crowdfunding
paypal


PC and Mac will support PlayStation 4 Remote Play soon

288

Normally, system software updates aren’t exactly the most exciting thing. However, Sony’s next software update for its PlayStation 4, version 3.50 (codenamed MUSASHI) has some very interesting features.

In a post made on the PlayStation Blog, Sony states that version 3.50 of the PlayStation software would support Remote Play on both the Windows PC and Mac. While this feature will not be enabled during the version 3.50’s Beta test that begin tomorrow, Sony has said that the feature would be available soon.

Aside from Remote Play, PS4 software version 3.50 will come with social features that many have requested since the console was first released. Sony will be bringing back the friend online notification option for the PlayStation 4. If you would like to play with your friends, Sony has made it easier as the new software would allow you to schedule gameplay sessions with your friends on the system. It will also have a Play Together feature that allows all members of a Party to see what each person is playing, allowing them to join a friend’s game almost instantly. Feeling antisocial? You can now set your profile to appear offline, allowing you to play your game in peace.

Lastly, you’ll be able to stream your games to Dailymotion once the update goes live. Much like other streaming services, Sony will also support archiving live broadcasts on Dailymotion.

Source:
PlayStation Blog

mac
pc
playstation4
remoteplay
softwareupdate
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windows


PC Building Simulator lets you try your hand at building a PC but in a virtual world

354

The simulator genre hasn’t quite taken off into mainstream notoriety, but it’s hard to deny that with the few good simulator games that are out there, they do come with their own set of loyal followers.

Image credit: PC Building Simulator

Take Euro Truck Simulator – it averages upwards of 15,000 players per month, it has its own dedicated modding community and its reviews on Steam are overwhelmingly positive. Looking elsewhere, Farming Simulator 2019 will apparently get its own e-sports league (don’t ask us how that’ll work)!

With so many simulator games out there, could we possibly get another game to peak our interests? Well, we reckon PC Building Simulator just might. Think about it, a game for PC gamers about building their very own gaming PCs, but virtually. What’s not to like?

The game left early access and is now available on Steam as a full product. Its premise reminds us of Car Mechanic Simulator – your job is to expand your enterprise by building and fixing rigs. Besides that, the mechanics of the game are similar to its car-fixing counterpart too – you pick and purchase parts for your order, assemble them and hope they work.

The game is made by indie developers The Irregular Corporation and Claudiu Kiss, but don’t let the fact that it’s made by a small team fool you – the game boasts a list of big-name partners in the component-making industry such as AMD, Cooler Master, Nvidia, Razer and Zotac just to name a few. This means that each virtual PC component in the game mimics its real-life counterparts.

Image credit: PC Building Simulator

The game seems like a great tool for novice PC builders to learn more about the process, while veteran builders can use the game to tinker around with different components, and perhaps translate them into real-life builds.

PC Building Simulator is now available on Steam for RM35.10.

gaming
pc
simulator
steam


Pebble expected to layoff 25% of its staff

254

Despite being one of the first companies to bring the concept of the smartwatch to the general public, Pebble isn’t immune to a lack of funds. Such is the case for them as Pebble is announcing that they will be laying off 25% of its staff.

According to Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky, the company’s need to layoff roughly 40 employees was due to a chilly fundraising encironment in Silicon Valley. “We’ve definitely been careful this year as we plan our products. We got this money, but money is pretty tight these days,” says Migicovsky. “We want to be careful. Pebble is in this for the long haul. We have a vision where wearables will take us in five to 10 years, and this is setting us up for success,” adds Migicovsky.

For the next Pebble product, Migicovsky has said that the company intends to focus on the health and fitness aspects of the wearables. He also announced that Pebble products will began selling in India via Amazon next month.

Pebble’s layoff occured at a time where the wearable technology market is undergoing some instabilities. For example, Fit has seen its stock fall dramatically in recent months. Just recently, Apple has dropped the price of the Apple Watch to USD 299, a traditional sign of underperforming sales. Only time will tell if Pebble is able to continue normal operations without needing further cuts.

Source:
Tech Insider

pebble
smartwatch


Pebble integrates Amazon Alexa into the Core

305

Remember the Pebble Core? The tiny little device that Pebble is launching in their
latest Kickstarter
 just got a whole lot more interesting as Pebble announced late last week that they will be integrating Amazon Alexa into the device.

By integrating Amazon Alexa to the Pebble Core, the Pebble Core will now have the honour of being the first ‘fully-independant, 3G-connected wearable device’ to receive Amazon voice functionality. With Amazon Alexa available on the Pebble Core, the Core will now feature voice-related features such as the ability to play music from Amazon Prime Music and iHeartRadio, read news headlines from sites such as USA Today, review your Pebble Health Summary, and even tell jokes.

Of course, seeing as the Pebble Core is stated to be an ‘infinitely hackable device’, Amazon Alexa will be freely available to those who wish to develop for the Core, meaning that this voice-activated feature will probably be even more versatile after launch.

“The integration of Amazon Alexa into Pebble Core is exciting to see. By making Alexa Voice Services available for free to device makers and developers, we knew there would be no limit to the innovative uses,” says Steve Rabuchin, Vice President of Amazon Alexa.

As of the time of writing, Pebble’s latest Kickstarter has received over USD 10 million in funding with 24 days to go before the crowdfunding period ends.

Source:
Kickstarter
,
Pebble Blog

amazonalexa
core
kickstarter
pebble


Pebble launches new Kickstarter campaign for three products

412

Pebble has returned to Kickstarter, and this time, their latest Kickstarter project will help fund not one, not two, but three different products, two of which are updates to their previous watches, while the third is an all-new product from the company.

Before we get into the new product though, let’s talk about the watches. Called Pebble 2 and Time 2 respectively, both these watches are updates for the pre-existing Pebble and Time watches from the company. As usual, both the Pebble 2 and Time 2 will come with all the features that came with the original iteration of the devices, but this time, it’ll also feature a heart rate mointor as well as an updated suit of Health tools. As always, the watches will be compatible with Android and iOS.

Moving on, we have Pebble’s latest device. Called the Pebble Core, this ultra-compact and ultra-lightweight device is made to “free you from armbands, hip pouches, and other hassles of exercising with your phone, while keeping you connected and in control.” There will be two versions of the device: Pebble Core for Hackers and Pebble Core for Runners. Pebble Core for Runners is sort of a pseudo-iPod Shuffle that comes with 3G connectivity, allowing you to stream music from Spotify as well as sync GPS data with apps like Runkeeper, Strava and Under Armour Record.

As for Pebble Core for Hackers, the company is touting the device as a hackable computer on your keychain. The device is pretty much an unlocked Android 5.0 computer that comes with GPS tracking, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G connectivity, voice interface, and thanks to the open nature of the device, many other third-party features.

Right now, the Pebble Kickstarter has already achieved its goal of USD 1 million. At the time of writing, the Kickstarter has managed to raise USD 5.9 million with 35 days left to go. Early bird special pledge levels for the Pebble Core and Pebble 2 are still available, but the Early Bird Time 2 pledge level has been completely taken. Judging by Pebble’s history, this Kickstarter is one you can trust to deliver, and as such, if you’re looking to get a relatively affordable smartwatch, or even a tiny fitness/programmable device, this Kickstarter should be one that interests you.

kickstarter
pebble
pebble2
pebblecore
time2


Pebble now supports Dominos pizza delivery tracking in the U.S

298

Dominos is very much the pizza delivery expert in every part of the world the brand existed and I dare say they are one of the most innovative companies that came up with their G.P.S (Great Pizza Service) tracker here in Malaysia when I first ordered from them. Now, when everyone is wearing a smart wearable on their wrist, the company think its time to bring that convenience to the Pebble smart watch, though this is only available in the U.S.

The Dominos app is available for download on both iOS and Android’s Pebble app store and it requires Domino’s main app installed on the phone. With Dominos on your Pebble smart watch you never have to stick on to your computer’s display or keep whipping out your phone to check on the order status. So, delivery services in Malaysia, when’s your turn?

Source:
Pebble


Pebble publishes health tracking algorithms; introduces Happiness App

381

Just a week after announcing that they will be implementing Amazon Alexa into the Core, Pebble has revealed that they will be publishing their health tracking algorithms to the public, as well as launch a new mood monitoring app.

First off, the health tracking algorithm. Pebble has announced that they will be publishing the Pebble Health’s activity tracking algorithms to the public. Pebble’s decision to make its health tracking algorithm open source wpi;d [rpvode greater visibility into how these algorithms work, allowing healthcare researchers and developers to expand upon Pebble’s offerings, validate the company’s output and recommend improvements to Pebble Health as a whole.

As for mood, Pebble will be introducing an experimental Happiness App that leverages the Pebble to check in on your mood throughout the day. If you currently own a Pebble product, you can download the app
here
. Once installed, the app would track your mood, energy and stress levels throughout the day in a weekly cycle, much like the Pebble’s preexisting health monitoring features.

Further noting the importance of health, Pebble has also stated that they would be collaborating with Mobilize Center at Stanford University. The aim of this collaboration is to develop an app that encourages people to be more active throughout the day.

Source:
Kickstarter

health
mood
pebble


Pebble's answer to a round smartwatch is called the Time Round

350

When smart watch these days are beginning to look like our common watches and adapting the beautiful round timeless form factor, Pebble just won’t stay out of the fun and have introduced its new round form factor smart watch, called the Pebble Time Round.

The Time Round features an extremely slim form factor when compared to its other models, featuring a beautiful steel frame around that looks very premium judging from pictures. Fortunately, Pebble has kept the charging connector of the Time Round similar to the original Time so you won’t need to keep different set of cables if you are buying one. The Time Round also features quick charge feature which will give the watch a day of usage with just 15 minutes of charge, it will also come preloaded with the retro style looking Pebble OS 3.0.

The new Pebble TIme Round is available in 14mm and 20mm straps with many beautiful color options available to choose, it is priced similarly to the more premium Pebble TIme Steel at $249.99, Pebble will ship the Time Round in 6-8 weeks upon placing an order with free shipping worldwide, head on to getpebble.com to place an order.

kickstarter
pebble
round
time


Pelé files USD30 million lawsuit against Samsung

316

Samsung has yet another lawsuit on their hands, but this time, it has nothing to do with tech patents. According to Reuters, Brazillian football legend Pelé is suing Samsung for USD30 million.

In a complaint filed this month the federal court of Chicago, Pelé claims that Samsung has improperly used a look-alike in an advertisement that ran in the New York Times without permission. Orginally, both parties were in discussion over using Pelé’s image to promote the Korean company’s new line of UHD televisions, but negotiations fell apart in 2013.

The complaint states that while the ad does not mention Pelé, the portrait-sized image of a man “very closesly resembles” the footballer, and a small photo of a soccer player making a “modified bicycle or scissors-kick, perfected and famously used by Pelé.” The complaint further states that Pelé relies on endorsements for much of his income, and the ad would hurt the value of his endorsement rights and confuse consumers into believing he endorses Samsung products.

Originally filed by Pele IP Ownership LLC on the 16th of March, Pelé’s lawyer, Federick Sperling, stated that the lawsuit aims to “obtain fair compensation for the unauthorized use of Pelé’s identity, and to prevent future unauthorized uses.”

Samsung has yet to comment on this matter.

Source:
Reuters

lawsuit
pel
samsung