41% of Grab drivers are ready to serve from the new e-hailing regulations on 12 October 2019

Just a heads-up, the e-hailing regulations in Malaysia will take effect starting from 12 October 2019 onwards. What this means is that ordering a ride might take longer than usual, and Grab Malaysia has released a statement so this is what they have to say.

According to Grab Malaysia, 41% of Grab drivers have already passed the PSV license and that's quite a lot than expected. To add on, 7% more have passed the exam and are waiting for their PSV license, while 17% have completed their PSV training and currently waiting for the exam. There are also 13% more Grab drivers in the process of completing the training.

Despite the positive outlook, 22% of Grab drivers have dropped out of the regulatory process. In other words, it may take longer than 6 minutes to call a ride after 12 October especially during peak hours and rainy days. The company also mentioned it's best to book your ride earlier and if possible, during non-peak hours (7 AM - 9 AM and 5 PM - 8 PM).

Grab has been and will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Transport, JPJ, APAD and PUSPAKOM to help as many driver-partners as possible, especially the many driver-partners who depend on ride-hailing for their families’ livelihood. For more information on the e-hailing regulations in Malaysia, you can read the full statement here.


Apple M1X-powered MacBook Pros to feature new 1080p webcam

Rumours of new MacBook Pro laptops from Apple appeared as early as February this year. Many of them are about the alleged Apple M1X chip. But a new rumour that popped up proves that the new models will have more than just a new chip.

According to @dylandkt, the new MacBook Pro models that are launching later this year would get a new 1080p webcam. On top of that, the new Apple M1X chip is accompanied by a new signal chip that should improve image quality. In other words, the new laptops could be good for video meetings or even streaming if you want to.

I know a lot people are referencing Linus's video (which is a great video by the way) but it's good to note that the upcoming MacBook Pro will actually be getting an updated improved 1080p webcam for the next model and so will the entire Mac lineup.

The leaker also claimed that Apple is aiming to upgrade its entire Mac lineup. As part of that, the new Apple iMacs launched a few weeks back already feature the new 1080p camera. The upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops, as well as Mac Mini, should also be getting this upgrade.

Since many have to attend video meetings these days, webcams have definitely seen a resurgence in importance. However, is it really something you regularly use? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for further MacBook Pro updates.


Sony Predictive Hybrid Autofocus feature was seen in the latest Sony Xperia X teaser video

Recently Sony released an unlisted official video of the latest Sony Xperia X, praising its 23MP rear camera with Predictive Hybrid Autofocus. Both the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance will feature that very camera when they are released. The new Sony Xperia line starts from the Xperia X, Xperia X Performance and Xperia XA but will soon be available in the US in June. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet though.

With the phones new Predictive Hybrid Autofocus feature, the camera can effectively focus on the subject at all times by locking the focal point, and ultimately reducing blurs even while the subject is moving or jumping around. This is a pretty neat feature for those who often find it hard to capture a moving subject. Stay with us for more latest updates in regards to Sony's new smartphones on Technave.com.


Sony QX Lens camera case let's you use QX lens with Xperia Z1 Ultra

Sony's Cybershot DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 wireless lens can improve photography immensely for almost any tablet or smartphone, provided the clip of the frame can fit. Since the clip can only reach 5-inches, this means a lot of larger phablets and tablets won't be able to clip the lens on, and this includes the Sony Xperia Z Ultra phablet. For this reason, Sony have created a QX lens camera case allowing you to clip on either the DSC-QX10 or the DSC-QX100. At first the Sony QX Lens case will only be available in Hong Kong, but it should eventually reach Malaysia. The QX Lens case will be priced at 238 Hong Kong dollars (RM100) which doesn't sound too bad at all. [Source]


Sony RX10 III superzoom camera introduced with 24-600mm lens from $1500 (RM5895)

While the Sony 4K Spreader handycam line-up got updated in Malaysia today, it looks like Sony has also updated something else with the introduction of the Sony RX10 III. Featuring a built-in Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 24-600mm (f/2.4-4) fixed lens (the RX10 II had a 24-200mm lens), this superzoom camera also offers a 20.1MP 1-inch type stacked sensor, ISO 64-12800 and a Bionz X processor.

Other features include 4K video recording and slow motion videos at 240fps, 480 fps and 960fps along with a 14-fps burst mode. It also comes with built-in optical image stabilization. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details but US and Canadian users can get it in May 2016 from $1500 (RM5895) to $2000 (RM7860).


Sony RX10 officially announced with 20.2MP sensor and 24-200mm constant f/2.8 lens

Sony has officially announced the Cyber-shot RX10 aimed squarely at the entry-level DSLR market with a fairly attractive price of $1300 (RM4109). While this often means cut-back components, the RX10 offers the same 20.2MP 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor as the RX100MII and adds on a 24-200mm Zeiss lenns with constant f/2.8 aperture. Other notable tech specs include a BIONZ X processor along with built-in WiFi, an OLED electronic view finder and tiltable 3-inch 1.23M-dot White Magic LCD. While it is somewhat limited with contrast-detect AF it still offers unlimited numbers of consecutive frames at 10 frames per second with continuous autofocus and three-axis image stabilization. The build is definitely high-end though featuring a tough dust and moisture resistant magnesium alloy body. No specific Malaysia release dates but we'll keep you updated as to any new developments.


Sony RX1R II with 42.2MP and 35mm sensor to go on sale in Malaysia soon for RM14999

Sony Malaysia's acclaimed Cyber-shot series is back with a brand new RX compact camera  - the RX1R II (model DSC-RX1RM2). It will be released in Malaysia on 25 February onwards with a price tag of RM14999 (with GST), customers can also make a pre-order starting from 25 January – 21 February via Sony Stores, Sony Centres, authorised Sony dealer outlets, and www.sony.com.my.

A camera designed for professional use, the RX1R II delivers a higher picture quality than its predecessors thanks to the new 42.4 MP sensor and ZEISS Sonnar T 35mm F2 lens. ISO sensitivity is incredible, as with the powerful BIONZ X processing engine it can achieve up to 50 – 102400 (from 100 – 25600) with wide dynamic range. Additionally, the mode's wide dynamic range can be maximized with its uncompressed 14-bit RAW image capture while also supporting other existing compressed format; and rest assured, it performs 3.5x faster than the original RX1R.

What's more, the AF response speed has a 30% improvement. This is because of the Fast Hybrid AF capabilities that features 399 focal-plane phase-detection AF points that cover about 45% of the picture's area. Motion capture is hardly a problem, it can achieve up to 5fps continuous shooting with AF tracking. Other than that, there are other focusing improvements as well in the multiple AF area settings – Wide, Centre and Flexible Spot, along with Eye AF and lock-on AF.

Lastly, the RX1R II is the world’s first optical variable low pass filter, which can be set to “off”, “standard”, or “high” based on the user's preference. This allows photographers to manually adjust the balance of image resolution and presence of moiré or colour artifacts to match the subject. The purpose of this feature is to let them to achieve the desired image quality and resolution based on the presence of moiré-inducing high spatial frequency objects in the scene.

For more information about the tech specs and features of the Sony RX1R II model, visit their website to check it out.


Sony Release Cyber-shot RX100 II and RX1R Premium Compact Cameras

If you have the money for it, then you can get a really good premium compact camera without ever having to drop into the higher-end performance range with interchangable lens. Sony's take on this type of compact camera now includes the newly released Cyber-shot Sony RX100 II and Cyber-shot RX1R. Sporting a larger 20.9 CMOS sensor, the RX100 II's very good low light performance and features include the following:

The other recently revealed premium compact camera is the Sony RX1R which drops the optical low pass filter it had in previous versions but retains the same price. According to Sony they also optimized the processor so that it would maintain image sharpness. Tech specs for the RX1R include:

While the RX1R retains the same price as its RX1 predecessor, the RX100 II will cost a bit more by about RM300 than the RX100. Both the RX100 II and RX1R being available in July 2013. For more information on the RX100 II go here, or if you need details on the RX1R go here.


Sony Releases the Xperia L

Following the release of their flagship Sony Xperia Z, Sony has released the Xperia L. This mid-range smartphone was designed as the upgrade for the Xperia U and while it features many of the same tech specs it comes with a larger screen along with a better camera. Tech specs for the Sony Xperia L include:

While the Sony Xperia L was made to replace the Xperia U, it features the same camera sensor as the Sony Xperia Z and looks like a cross between the Xperia Z, Xperia S and Xperia arc. A dedicated camera button makes it stand out from the crowd along with the now standard strip of LED lights. The smartphone sports a metal frame with matte plastic back cover and comes in white, black and red. Unfortunately, pricing details for Malaysia were not made available at the time but in the UK it is priced at £239 (RM1128). For a more detailed spec sheet you can check out the Mobile Mega Mall specs here.[source lowyat.net]


Sony SLT-A35 vs Sony SLT-A55 vs Sony SLT-A33 Malaysia Features Comparison

Sony SLT-A35 vs Sony SLT-A55 vs Sony SLT-A33, Features Comparison:


Sony SRS-NB10 Neckband Speaker release: coming to Malaysia next year for RM599

Today, Sony is excited to announce a brand new wireless neckband speaker. Called the SRS-NB10 Neckband Speaker, it seems that the company developed this for staying at home purposes. Let's read below on what it can do.

For starters, this wireless neckband was designed to rest on your shoulders and allows you to do conference calls or listen to any entertainment source all day. A pair of full-range speaker units are placed upwards to you so that the sound is optimised. Combining this with a Precise Voice Pickup Technology, the two-directional microphones will use advanced audio signal processing to minimise the feedback and echo. In other words, people on the other side won't be distracted by your surrounding sounds.

At the tip of the wireless neckband, you can also easily control the microphone with a simple click of the MIC Mute button. Of course, you can control the volume, play and pause too. According to Sony, it can last up to 20 hours of battery life and it's compatible with USB Type C. A quick 10-minute charge can give another hour of battery life as well.

If you use multiple devices, you can use the Multipoint Connection and pair up to two devices simultaneously such as your laptop and smartphone and switch in between them. Sony also integrated an IPX4 splash-proof rating on the wearable, so that you don't have to worry about water damage.

Sony said that the SRS-NB10 Neckband Speaker costs RM599 but it won't be available in the Malaysian market anytime soon. We will have to wait for a few more months from January 2022 onwards. To learn more about this wearable, you can visit the official webpage here. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Sony SRS-NS7 release: X-Balanced Speaker Unit, Passive radiator, and 360 Spatial Sound for RM1249

Update: Sony Malaysia has confirmed that the price for the SRS-NS7 is RM1249. Also, the wireless transmitter is available separately for RM269.

Looking for a surround sound experience? For more personal use, a headphone is what you'd pick. If it's a living room, you'll usually get at least a soundbar or Hi-Fi set. But what if you can get a speaker that stays on you? Say hi to the Sony SRS-NS7.

Sony unveiled the SRS-NS7 yesterday for those who want to enjoy an immersive personal cinema sound experience. This wireless neckband speaker features an X-Balanced speaker unit, which consists of up-firing speakers and passive radiators. They combine to deliver rich audio with clear bass, all on a flexible neckband that's comfortable and can easily stay on.

In terms of features, the Sony SRS-NS7 has 360 Spatial Sound and Dolby Atmos support for a personalised surround sound experience. It also comes with a wireless transmitter that can be connected to a TV, allowing you to enjoy movies and games at night without disturbing anyone. It even has IPX4 water resistance, supports mobile devices, hands-free calling, and more.

The SRS-NS7 is expected to retail for around USD 299.99 (RM1255). It was spotted on Sony Malaysia too, so we know that it'll launch here eventually. But would you be interested in getting one? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates about this.


Apple M2 Extreme chip expected to feature 48 CPU cores and 128 GPU cores

When Apple launched the Mac Studio, some might have thought that the M1 Ultra would be the most powerful variant of Apple Silicon. But Apple has more up its sleeve, and the Apple M2 series chips could come with something even more powerful. Sources claim that it would be called the Apple M2 Extreme.

According to Mark Gurman (via GSMArena), the Apple M2 Extreme chip will be more powerful than the Apple M1 Ultra chip. It's expected to come with 48 CPU cores, compared to the latter's 24 CPU cores. Moreover, there will be two variants of this chip. One will come with 96 GPU cores and another with 128 GPU cores. Allegedly, the M2 Extreme will use the CPU and GPU cores from either the Apple A15 or A16 chipset.

The M1 Ultra is actually two connected M1 Max chips

As a reminder, the Apple M1 Ultra is in reality two M1 Max chips combined into one super chip. This process is possible through a design called UltraFusion, which uses an interposer to connect the multiple chips. Considering the specs, the M2 Extreme could be a mega chip that combines four M2 Max chips. Currently, this chip is expected to show up in this year's new Mac Pro.

In other words, expect this to be equipped on a high-performance PC that's going to be pricey. Does your work require you to use a Mac with such specs? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news about this.


Sony SRS-RA3000 and SRS-RA5000 announced, expected to launch in February 2021

When it comes to audio the trendiest product these days would be TWS earbuds. But if it's for a living room, there's nothing quite like a surround speaker to really give you that atmosphere, so how about two? Specifically, the Sony SRS-RA3000 and SRS-RA5000.

The SRS-RA3000 is the smaller of the two and comes with two 17mm tweeters, an 80mm full-range speaker, and two passive radiators. Despite its size, it has 20W in power and should be quite loud. Then there's the larger SRS-RA5000, which comes with three upfiring 46mm speakers, three more 46mm speakers around the middle, and a large 70mm subwoofer. If you want power, this model has it in spades.

In terms of features, both models support 3D Reality Audio technology to analyse the location of objects in your surroundings. Using that data and the Immersive Audio Enhancement algorithm, these speakers can optimally fill up your room with sound. Besides that, these speakers are compatible with Spotify Connect, Chromecast, and Google Assistant.

We are not sure what the prices for the speakers are but expect them to be revealed at CES 2021 next week. Sony Malaysia did tell us that they will be coming to Malaysia in February 2021. With that said, would you be interested in getting one of these? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates on this.


Sony SRS-XB13 speaker released: 16-hour battery life and IP67 available from August 2021 onwards

Sony Malaysia has officially unveiled the SRS-XB13 will be available in Malaysia starting from August 2021. While there is no information on the local pricing, we do know that it will be available in 6 striking colours including black, blue, taupe, coral pink, powder blue, as well as lemon yellow.

As for the features, the SRS-XB13 comes with a durable multiway strap that can be used to attach the speaker onto your backpack or even your wrist. Furthermore, it is rated IP67 water and dust resistance, which means it can withstand water splashes when you’re listening to music by the pool.

Also, when fully charged, the speakers are able to last up to 16-hours which is more than enough to party all night long. With all that said, would you be interested in getting the SRS-XB13 as soon as it is available in August 2021? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Sony SRS-XB3 and XB2 Portable Wireless Speakers in Malaysia now for RM499 & RM339

Sony has brought in two wireless speakers lineup - the SRS-XB3 and SRS-XB2 Portable Wireless Speakers that is dedicated to delivering deep bass sounds at outdoors and on the move. Weighing just 930g, it's small enough to carry around and with a battery life of 24 hours of continuous wireless use, it's currently RM339 (XB2) & RM499 (XB3) at Sony Stores (The Curve & KLCC), selected Sony Centres and www.sony.com.my.

The XB2, the smaller brother of the XB3 is a palm-sized design weighing just 480g but encompasses a newly developed 42mm gauge full range speaker unit. Its extra strong magnets deliver a pure bass sound and the lightweight diaphragm improves sound pressure levels. The XB2 also houses Sony’s DSP and passive radiator which can deliver higher acoustic pressure and punchier bass notes than ever heard in a compact size.

The XB3, on the other hand, provides a 'punchier' bass for its small size. These include a newly developed 48mm large full range speaker unit, Sony’s unique DSP which dynamically applies the optimal compression process to suit each level of a track, a large capacity battery to achieve stable, significant output power and dual passive radiators to augment the bass ranges.

Both wireless speakers have multiple usage options, for example, the two speakers can use 'Speaker Add' function for even more powerful sound; Double mode will play music back through two speakers simultaneously and Stereo mode will play the music in stereo.

In addition, they are also water resistant and a four hours recharge of the battery provides approximately 12 hours of continuous wireless use, the devices can be connected to your smartphone or music device to the speaker via NFC one-touch Bluetooth.

For more information on the products, visit either one of the links below to get started.


Sony Shows Off 4K Cameras

At the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) show 2013, Sony recently showed off a number of 4K cameras that are not only targeting the industrial users but also showed off a number of models that may be for the consumer level. While Sony have already announced pricing for their 4K TVs, the new prototype 4K cameras, lenses and technology signal the coming of 4K media into the mainstream. In actuality 4K cameras are already in use, just not available to the public currently. These include Sony's CineAlta 4K cameras with a number of studios already working on theatrical release of their 4K projects. According to Sony, movie theaters should not be a problem for 4K media as there are currently 13500 Sony 4K projectors already around the world.

The prototypes shown here and at NAB show 2013 have a more compact chassis with one of them having an almost DSLR-like body but since they are still prototypes it may take some time until they arrive in the hands of the general public. Gearing up for that day Sony have adopted the XAVC format for 4K video recording with the XAVC S expansion format targeting the consumer market. More affordable 4K displays have also been announced.[Source]


Sony Shows-off 5000 mAh CP-F5 Portable Mobile Charger

Sony has recently revealed their new CP-F5 USB Portable Charger for the masses. While it retains the same ultra-slim 9.4mm aluminum body as the CP-F1L, Sony have increased the battery size by up to 40% for 5000 mAh worth of charge on the move. Since most smartphones have batteries up to 2500 mAh this means that you have enough to charge your smartphone twice or charge two smartphones on a single charge from the CP-F5. Tech specs for the CP-F5 include:

Designed for simplicity, the CP-F5 allows easy connection via it's AC Adaptor or USB port and it even has an LED indicator showing how much charge you have left. The CP-F5 can be found in Black, Blue, Gold, Pink, Red and Silver colours and will be available in Malaysia from August 2013.


Sony SmartBand 2 SWR12 review - Your lightweight life-logging companion

The Sony SmartBand 2 SWR12 is a fitness tracker and a successor to the predecessor as the name suggest, it’s compatible with both Android and iOS (8.2 above via Apple Health app) and finally has a heart rate tracker too. Price tag is currently RM599, you can change the straps to blue or pink colour but that will cost your RM129. So how does it fare as a fitness tracker? Read below to find out.

Design wise, the Smartband 2 is just like any other smartbands. The band is made of silicone and super lightweight, but at least the core unit is detachable from it which is good. This is because is makes charging easier through the charging port, and you can also wash the band if you want to. Wearing it feels secure, but I had a hard time wearing it because of its unusual clip, taking it off wasn’t easy as well. There’s also a tiny button on the band and core unit, it’s for you to turn on obviously and along on the core unit there are three LED lights to highlight the energy level.

As I said, this thing is as light as a feather (ok, maybe not but you get the idea). The core unit measures 40.7 x 15.3 x 9.5 mm only so you better not get too careless misplacing it after detaching it from the band.

In terms of feature functions, both the Smartband 2 and Sony Smartwatch 3 SWR50 share a lot of similarities. Like the Smartwatch 3, the Smartband 2 also needs at least two apps which are Sony Connect (essential) and the Smartband app. However, Lifelog is actually recommended too but only if you really want to see how your day is spent with the Android smartphone, same goes to Google Fit. It’s actually a bit hassle to install both two (or three) though, so it would be nice if they have one app for the device.

A glance at the Smartband 2 would normally leave a curious impression of what it can do. Well, it can do many things. First, the most basic thing it can do is like any other fitness tracking smartband, it collects your steps taken, calories burned and heart pulse rate. The data then will be sent to your paired smartphone for analysis and records, oh speaking of data transfer, your Smartband 2 will vibrate if it’s out of range from the smartphone. But don’t worry if that happens, once you pair them up again, the data will still be saved and be recorded.

The Lifelog app is compatible with both Smartband 2 and Smartwatch 3

The core unit also serves the use as a gentle "nudger", and what I mean from that is if your smartphone has any notification, alarm, and messages, the core unit will vibrate softly on your wrist to alert you. If you don’t wish to receive nudges during your sleep time, it can be customized from your smartphone by adjusting the sleep mode. It can also help you find your smartphone (your smartphone can find your band too) if you happen to misplace it, another cool thing is controlling your smartphone’s music from the smartband by tapping on the band’s top surface, but I don’t really find it that responsive from time to time.

The Smartband 2 battery can last for about 4-5 days on average usage, but like any devices, constant usage will surely drain the core unit pretty fast and this can last the user for one and a half days (estimated). The user can activate stamina mode if they wish the smartband to stay alive for a little bit longer, but I think this isn’t really necessary mostly because of its super fast charging speed. A drained battery smartband charging to the max only takes 30 minutes, if only all smartphones were like that haha.

Now overall, the Sony Smartband 2 is indeed a helpful “nudger” when it comes to reminding you on various tasks. But I just wish maybe it can be more interactive as you need to rely on your smartphone a lot, nudging is cute and all, but perhaps we could use some visual as well.

Garmin Vivosmart band displaying the steps taken today

Take an example like my Garmin Vivosmart band in the image above, it displays all the information I need to know, it tells me the time, date, goal steps to take today, calories, incoming messages, music player, the distance I took in KM, and even nudges me to move if I sit down for an hour, I can do all these without relying much on my smartphone. So I think maybe if Sony could incorporate this for their next smartband product, only then they can get the people's attention better.

Now I’m not saying it’s an inferior product (my Garmin Vivosmart band doesn’t have a heart pulse rate sensor lol), the Sony Smartband 2 is still a good smartband for exercising and monitoring your overall lifestyle. Sony fans certainly won’t mind having this if they can't afford the Sony Smartwatch 3 (since both are similar), the Garmin Vivosmart is more expensive too, and what’s more, Sony users have the option to change their bands to other colours like blue or pink as mentioned earlier (my band is not changeable either haha). But then again...comparing with other changeable straps with the likes of Huawei Watch, users can change it to a golden colour option for the same price. So this all comes down to your budget and preferences, if you don't mind having a silicon band then go for it. Did I also mention that it charges with lightning speed in just under 30 minutes? Yes, yes I did.

So do you have one or are you planning to get it? What do you think of it? Thanks for reading, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

*TechNave.com would like to thank Sony for providing us with the Sony Smartband 2 SWR 12 for this review. It allowed us to do a more in-depth review and highlight more features.


Sony SmartBand 2 and SmartWatch 3 also announced for Malaysia

Asides from the recent announcement from Sony Mobile Malaysia about the Sony Xperia Z5 Dual, Xperia Z5 Compact and Xperia Z5 Premium Dual, they also announced 2 new devices to their smart wearable range with the Sony SmartBand 2 and SmartWatch 3. Featuring an advanced heart rate sensor, the 2 new devices offer improved lifelogging, intelligent notifications and more stylish options to choose from.

The Sony SmartBand 2 is fully compatible with both Android and iOS devices and provides fitness tracking, smartphone notifications via RGB LEDs and allows easy control of your music. Featuring a battery life of up to 2 days the SmartBand 2 comes in a variety of strap colours (white, black, indigo and pink), is IP68 certified water resistant and is available at all authorized sellers and Sony Stores for RM599.

The Sony SmartWatch 3 on the other hand is the Android Wear smartwatch of the duo which enables voice commands and interaction via a new 1.6-inch 320x320 TFT LCD Transflective display. Available in Classic for RM1099 and Stainless Steel for RM1399, with extra colour straps for RM199 at all Sony Stores as well as selected Sony Centres the Sony SmartWatch 3 is IP68 waterproof and charges via a microUSB port. With 4GB of internal storage the SmartWatch 3 offers standalone music playback and GPS positioning allowing you to leave the smartphone at home while you go for a jog.


Sony SmartBand Talk SWR30 hands-on video

At RM579, the Sony SmartBand Talk SWR30 is one of the more affordable smartbands with semi-smartwatch like features that you can buy here in Malaysia. While it is still a fitness tracker, the ARM Cortex-M4 processor tech specs and 1.4-inch e-inch display with 288 x 128 pixel resolution sets it apart from your usual fitness tracker. Granted, you can also take calls from it, add on other apps and it works with other smartphones asides from Sony smartphones. Check out our hands-on video with the Sony Smartband Talk SWR30 below for a closer look at this smartband with an e-ink display:


Sony SmartBand Talk SWR30 unboxing video

While the smartband and smartwatch seems to have fizzled out a little, the devices coming out are starting to offer some real value. This includes the Sony SmartBand Talk SWR-30 which was recently announced for Malaysia at RM579. A step up than the usual fitness tracker Sony SmartBand, the SmartBand Talk SWR30 packs in a 1.4-inch e-ink display with 288 x 128 pixel resolution. You can also talk directly to it, issuing voice commands, making and answering calls and so forth, and it is also IP68 certified water resistant. We did an unboxing video to see what else you get in the box which you can see below:


Sony SmartBand Talk announced with e-ink display

Sony recently announced their SmartBand Talk wearable device. A step up from the SmartBand, the SmartBand Talk features an energy efficient 1.4-inch e-ink display with a 288 x 128 pixel resolution. Other tech specs include an ARM Cortex-M4 processor, The SmartBand Talk comes in two sizes and both are IP68 certifief to be waterproof up to 1.5m. The wearable allows you to take and answer calls directly through the smartband and while it does take notifications from your smartphone it can also track your fitness and other health statistics. According to Sony, the SmartBand Talk should last 2-3 days on a single charge and connects via both NFC and Bluetooth. No details yet on Malaysia release dates or pricing but it should be available this year from around 159 euros (RM653).

The Sony SmartBand Talk highlights video


Apple M3 chips expected to have more CPU and GPU cores than predecessor

Back in March, it was rumoured that Apple would be launching new Apple M3-powered PCs by this year. The iMac is likely to get the upgrade first, followed by the MacBook Air at a later date. Now, we also have some information on one of the M3 chip's configuration.

According to Mark Gurman, there's at least one Apple M3-based Mac PC with a 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 36GB of memory. It's suggested that this is the Apple M3 Pro, which would mean a slight but likely notable upgrade over its predecessor.

The chip mentioned by Gurman could be an upgrade to the 10-core CPU + 16-core GPU variant here

For your info, the 14-inch MacBook Pro launched in January 2023 featuring a base variant Apple M2 Pro chip with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU. Based on the specs, the M3 Pro model Gurman mentioned could be a direct successor. This M3 Pro chip was also tested in a "high-end MacBook Pro with the upcoming macOS 14.0", so we won't be surprised if this is the next-generation 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Besides the M2 Pro, Gurman speculates that the M3 Max could have a 14-core CPU and 40-core GPU, while the M3 Ultra would have a 28-core CPU and 80-core GPU. These high core counts would be possible because the chips are manufactured on a 3nm process. Also, the first M3-based Mac PCs are expected to arrive either at the end of 2023 or early 2024.

Overall, we can expect the Apple M3 chips to deliver a noticeable jump in performance over the Apple M2. But how big of an improvement remains to be seen. We'll keep an eye out for more updates, so make sure you stay tuned to TechNave!


Sony SmartEyeglass smartglasses revealed

After seeing a whole lot of other smartglasses, we're quite interested to see what another big brand company would come up with asides from Google which is what Sony has done with it's SmartEyeglass concept. Still very much in the prototype stage, the concept consists of a pair of glasses attached by wire to a handheld computer which also houses the controls. Rather than have a tiny crystal display like Google Glass, the SmartEyeglass uses a Binocular see-through eyewear display so you have a more comfortable Augmented Reality feel to it.

Tech specs and features for the concept include an embedded camera, accelerometer, gyro, compass, brightness sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth and a microphone but the glasses still run apps off of your smartphone. Sony are currently working on an SDK for it and don't seem to be coming out with a consumer version any time soon. Likewise, there was no Malaysia pricing details either. However, you can check out the demo video below:


Sony SmartWatch 2 Malaysia release date in October with SBH52 Smart Bluetooth Handset

While the Sony SmartWatch 2 got announced in June 2013 it was originally scheduled to reach Malaysia in September 2013. Sony Mobile Malaysia recently changed this to October but gave a more definite date range this time around. This time, they say that the Sony SmartWatch 2 will be available in Malaysia from 15 October 2013 to 20 October 2013. While this solves the issue of a Malaysia release date, it doesn't answer the question about pricing, but we should find out about that soon. In addition to this information, Sony Mobile Malaysia also said that the SBH52 Smart Bluetooth Handset would also be coming along with the Sony SmartWatch 2. Released together with the SmartWatch 2 in tandem with the Sony Xperia Z Ultra the Handset is priced at RM480 but will likely be available with the Sony SmartWatch 2 next month. For a refresher, just check out the two devices in the videos below:


Sony SmartWatch 2 Officially Confirmed

Along with the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Sony also released their latest version of their smartwatch, the Sony SmartWatch 2. Partially made as a companion accessory to the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, the SmartWatch 2 has a number of features which include:

Like other smartwatches, the SmartWatch 2 notifies you of what is going on with your smartphone, including SMS, missed calls, MMS and emails. Thanks to a more open API you can also download apps for Facebook and Twitter so you can receive notifications for these platforms. One interesting app was Viewfinder which acts as a remote camera shutter button so you can mount your smartphone and take pictures from afar.

The SmartWatch 2 will work with smartphones that use Android 4.0 and later but these smartphones should also support Bluetooth 3.0 and NFC as well. Its a bit of a shame that you have to charge through the micro USB cable but at least it looks good. Do note that while the SmartWatch 2 is splash-proof, it isn't waterproof. Sony doesn't recommend you bring it with you bathing, into the shower or swimming. For more technical details, go to the Sony SmartWatch 2 site or check out the video below:


Sony Smartband, Xperia Z1 Compact and Xperia T2 Ultra confirmed coming to Malaysia

While the Sony Smartband, Xperia Z1 Compact and Xperia T2 Ultra have all been officially confirmed it wasn't confirmed that Malaysia would be getting these devices at the time. However, some Pre-registration forms have opened up for the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact and the Sony Xperia T2 Ultra. Pre-registering for either of the devices will let you get a notification from Sony Malaysia regarding when these devices would be available in Malaysia confirming we'll eventually see them here. Incidentally, the product page for the Sony Smartband is also available at the Sony Malaysia site which means we could soon see the Sony Smartband here in Malaysia as well, but there isn't any pre-registration for the Smartband yet. Also, no news yet on pricing or Malaysia release dates but with the pre-registration already up, we're expecting these devices to arrive in Malaysia soon.


Sony Smartwatch 2 release date now 9 September 2013

When it was first announced in June, the Sony SmartWatch 2 was estimated to arrive in September but according to UK retailer Clove, Sony supposedly said it would be released on 15 July 2013, but with the date now passed Clove have come back and received news from Sony that the new release date would 9 September 2013. Apparently Clove has already put out orders (or pre-orders in this case) for the smartwatch but will keep the money and ship out the SmartWatch when it arrives.

The Sony SmartWatch 2 offers a number of very interesting features, not least of which include Bluetooth and NFC connectivity but also IP57 certification so you can dunk it in 1 meter of water and still have it working. The smartwatch allows you to check smartphone notifications, ignore or answer calls and do a whole bunch of other stuff the 200 or so apps for the smartwatch can do. According to Clove the Sony Smartwatch 2 is priced at £120 including tax (RM578).


Sony Smartwatch 3 SWR50 review - A stylish daily life companion device

The Sony Smartwatch 3 SWR50 is Sony’s latest wearable and it currently costs RM1099 (black) and RM1399 for the metallic link version. It’s also their first wearable to feature Android Wear as opposed to their predecessors using Sony’s own platform, this actually makes a big difference because it has brought a ton of new features. But is it any better? Read below to find out.

Alright, so design wise the Smartwatch 3’s screen is rectangular (or square? nah...definitely rectangular) which honestly kind of makes it look dorky (aren’t all techies? lol). At the bottom back of the core unit lies a USB charger port and honestly it is a bit of a hassle to charge it, but that can be easily solved by detaching the device from the silicone band, which can make your life easier for charging.

I also have to admit that while wearing the Smartwatch 3, it made me feel cool because of its sleek black premium look; and it’s not even the Silver Metal version which I’m sure I’d look even more fantastic with. The band clip lock is really secure and you could hardly shake it off even if you want it to. Although you can adjust the band’s clip lock according to your wrist size, I couldn’t really find the perfect fit for my wrist; it was either too tight or a bit loose and not to mention, it feels a bit bulky when I wore it, and icky when I’m sweating. Of course, this does not apply to everyone. So I guess it’s just me and my unfit wrist or something.

Tech specs wise, if you think this little fellow doesn’t have much you’re mistaken. The core unit sports:-

First off, there’s a home button on the right side of the core unit's screen; pressing it will unlock/lock the screen and it will also always bring you back to the home screen. You don’t need to press the home button all the time if you want to know the time, the sensor is sensitive enough for it to light up itself if you hold up your wrist to your face. I must also mention that the screen lock mode is definitely way too fast, this is both a good and a bad thing. Good because it saves your battery, bad because if you happen to be multitasking then it’s a hassle to switch it on again. Another minor inconvenience is there’s no back button, because to go back to where you previously stopped you have to go all the way back to the home page.

Anyway, from the home page, you can either swipe up, down or left for settings and notifications. You can do all sorts of things with it, setting up notes, reminders, timer and alarm, sending and replying emails or messages via voice recognition (quite accurate, but you still need your smartphone to talk for an incoming call), and even navigate with a built-in GPS (good to know and record your location, especially for cyclists).

The Find my phone feature is very useful

If you’re bored of your watch face (which is the wallpaper equivalent of Windows for those who are not familiar), you can change it by either press hold the home screen or swiping down to find it then a bunch of watch face options are available to you and some of them look pretty cool. Theater mode is also found by swiping down, which I think is nice if you do not wish to be disturbed while watching a movie. Another favourite feature is “Find my phone” which is found by swiping left until the end and scrolling down.

Ah, also after you’ve paired your Smartwatch 3 with your preferred smart device. Notifications will turn up at your Smartwatch 3, for example, YouTube or even games. This also means that you don’t really need to carry your smartphone around with you all the time. Speaking of that, you can actually just leave it in your locker or home when you go exercise. Separating both devices will lost the synchronization for sure, but once you pair them up again the collected data from your exercises will be instantly recorded into the smartphone. However, you must download apps for that to work which I find it annoying because you actually have to download at least two apps which are Android Wear and Lifelog. Another additional app is Google Fit.

Android Wear is the app that lets you pair up with the Smartwatch 3, but it doesn’t really do much except for changing the watch face (which you can do in the Smartwatch 3 anyway) so that’s kind of a waste of space if you ask me. Lifelog on the other hand, is an app that keeps your daily record of what you do - sleep, steps, games you played and even listening to music. Strangely enough, a heart rate sensor is nowhere to be found in the app or Smartwatch 3...not sure if they actually forgot to add that feature in. Opening an app on the smartphone from your Smartwatch 3 is smooth as butter, I didn’t sense any "lagness" at all as it only takes about a second for the response time.

Songs can be transferred into the Smartwatch 3

Now, not all the features inside the Smartwatch 3 is good though. There are two problems that I would like to address - the Google Play Music and the Voice Recognition, I’ll start with the Google Play Music controller first. While it may seem like a nifty feature to have, it’s not. First and foremost, no song title or artist is displayed when the song is playing except from the Home page (really?). I have to go to the browse section way back in the controller if I want to find a song to listen, same goes to when I’ve transferred the songs into it via bluetooth. You also need an extra audio device to pair up with the Smartwatch 3 if you plan to leave your smartphone out, so if this is the case then I think I’m better off with just carrying my smartphone with a pair of ear pods that gives me easier music selection without the Smartwatch 3.

As for the Voice Recognition, this is a minor one. I mentioned earlier, the voice recognition is good and precise. Especially if you’re curious of looking for something in Google Search, you can use your Smartwatch 3 and command it on the go...although the results do come out on it; you still have to go to your smartphone to check the page. Sure, if you’re lazy to type that’s quite convenient. But I still don’t see the point since the Google app has voice recognition too.

Moving on, for a core unit that runs on 512MB RAM the programs running in it are actually quite commendable. Battery wise though, doesn’t really last for 2 days according to Sony even on average usage. It drains speedily if your GPS mode is switched on, but least it only takes around 30 minutes to an hour to fully charge up which isn’t long.

Overall, the Sony Smartwatch 3 SWR50 is pretty cool watch to have and a huge improvement from its predecessors. Sony fans who are still using the Smartwatch 2 should totally upgrade themselves for this one mainly because of the GPS feature (useful for joggers), a sustainable battery life with fast charging, and it also makes you stand out like a stylish fitness enthusiast especially with the silver metal version (expensive though). If you're thinking of changing the band strap, there's a sport lime and pink strap version for RM199 which I think most females would find attractive.

Having the Smartwatch 3 allows you to walk around your house or office without needing to bring your smartphone all the time, so this is another bonus point. Aside from tracking your fitness, it also records your daily activities in Lifelog and it's quite intriguing to see how do you spend your day. However, I hope they can do something about Google Play Music that I've talked about with an update in the future.

So what do you think of the Smartwatch 3? Do you like it? We hope this review has given you some insights and thanks for reading!

*TechNave.com would like to thank Sony Mobile Malaysia for providing us with the Sony Smartwatch 3 SWR50 for this review. It allowed us to do a more in-depth review and highlight more features.


Sony Smartwatch 3 is first Android Wear smartwatch from Sony

Sony has announced their first Android Wear smartwatch with the Sony SmartWatch 3. Designed to work with Sony's Lifelog app it can track fitness statistics, get notifications, answer calls and pairs with smartphones via Bluetooth. Tech specs include a 1.6-inch transfelctive display for good visibility in bright sunlight at 320 x 320 pixel resolutions. Other tech specs include 4GB of storage, a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB of RAM and a 420mAh battery. It comes in black and lime green with the cost being around 230 euros (RM945). As expected, there are no specific Malaysia release dates or pricing details available yet but it should be coming to Malaysia soon.


Sony Tablet P Review: Android tablet has a clamshell design with dual 5.5in touchscreens

The Sony Tablet P is the second tablet Sony is planning to release in 2011. The Sony Tablet P has a build unlike any other tablet we have seen. Since it has such a unique build, we are going to classify it as a “small tablet”, but it does not really fit any classification. Our Sony Tablet P review will consist of reviewing the hardware, software, display, build and media of this android tablet.

This time it is a smart palmtop with dual 5.5 inches capacitive screens with touch facility. User can fold it as per their comfort and convert it into a large display as the two screens can be combined completely which gives a better experience of web browsing and gaming. With an amazing display size of 1024 x 480 px digital video chatting makes it a king size experience.

You can spice up your music with multi format video and music player with stereo speakers which gives you a live entertainment session. Enhanced Audio Streaming makes Sony Tablet P a certified play station phone which will give gaming new heights and hence it will no more be a child’s play.

When it comes to capturing a photograph of your loved ones, Tablet Sony Tablet P provides a fantastic image and video resolution of 2592 x 1944 with digital zoom. With its front and rear camera you can capture your own stylish images along with your friends and family. The enhanced multi format video player with video streaming is an exceptional feature of the product.

Although there are no figures that have been revealed regarding the memory (internal or external) that Sony Tablet P can support but if we see the past history of Sony Phones one can expect for a better memory support.

Till now Sony has always lead the market in terms of Camera and Music quality. Since Sony Tablet P is a certified play station and provides a better gaming and web browsing experience, there is no doubt that Sony should have kept good battery backup. Till now there is no firm information about the battery life time, but will soon be revealed as the Tablet flatters in the market and people start experiencing it.

The new set of audio accessories including the headsets and the speakers makes the audio quality of the Tablet quite captivating.

If we talk about the connectivity capabilities of the tablet, Sony Tablet P can support Bluetooth, WI-Fi (DLNA), Micro USB 2.0 port and Infra red. The new NVIDIA Tegra 2 Processor would quite effectively support GPS (with A-GPS support) along with 3G and 4G.

This time the mob might a bit disappointed since Sony Tablet P does not support SMS or MMS. But one can send e-mails using this tablet; even can get the instant messenger Google Talk.

Sony Tablet P being a tablet will give an immense pleasure and experience of Web Browsing. It can support HTML and XHTML browser. Apart from this checking e-mails would be a great experience when the e-mail would be selected on the bottom screen and the contents of the same can be seen on the top screen.

Sony Tablet P has also included the cloud based services to enjoy the anywhere anytime access facility of any application.

The play station certified Android v3.0 (Honeycomb) and Java software based Sony Tablet P can support various games.

Navigation through one to another application would also be easy since the screen is quite large and visibility is much better. Other than this the fine touch screen will give a smooth feel as well.

Sony is well known for its performance and while introducing Tablet P, Sony must have taken it into consideration. No doubt that its phones are quite delicate and need more care than any other available phones but still the phones are very good in terms of performance.

Overall there is still a lot of stuff we don’t know about the Tablet P, which leaves us concerned. Once we receive more details on the hardware, software and media on the Sony Tablet P, we can give you a more accurate review.


Sony Tablet S 3G Review

Sony recently released the names to two new android tablets that will hit the market in 2011. They are named the Sony Tablet S 3G and Sony Tablet P. In this post we are going to review what we know about the Sony Tablet S 3G , and how it compares to other tablets on the current market. We are going to talk about the hardware, software, build, display and media capabilities of the Sony Tablet S 3G .

Sony is sporting a very unorthodox tablet build with both the S 3G  and P tablets. The Tablet S 3G  is a 10 inch tablet. We are guessing the dimensions are somewhere around 7x10x.75. The Sony Tablet S 3G  has a back inclines the tablet slightly when sitting on a level surface. We do like this feature as it makes it easier to see texts and images on this tablet when you are sitting down. The overall build of the tablet looks good. Sony does not put out cheaply made products and we don’t expect this tablet to be any different. One thing that does concern us about the build of this tablet is the port availability. Hopefully Sony did put USB and HDMI ports in this android tablet.

The Sony Tablet S 3G  has a 9.4 inch screen. The pixel density on this screen is 1280×800. This is right on par with the best tablets on the current market. With this resolution you will have no problems at all making out small texts or very detailed images which is very fortunate. The next thing we are going to discuss is viewing angles. This is very important aspect of the Sony Tablet S 3G  because of its inclined back. We are hoping the screen will be bright and high quality enough to take full advantage of its inclined back.

The Sony Tablet S 3G  packs a 1 Ghz Tegra 2 processor, which is the standard processor for higher end tablets on the market today. Unfortunately, it only has 512 MB of RAM, which may cause a little lag when navigating about the tablet or running multiple applications. The long term storage capacity on the Sony Tablet S 3G  is 32 GB. We love the fact that Sony has given us that much storage capacity to play with. One nice hardware feature Sony has built in to the Tablet S 3G  is the ability to use it for a remote control for any Sony device with the use of integrated infrared signals. This tablet has WiFi capabilities along with the 3G/4G availability.

The Sony Tablet S 3G  runs Android 3.0 Honeycomb. We are thrilled Sony decided to run the Android 3.0 operating system. An interesting thing about the Sony Tablet S 3G  is the capability to play Play Station Suite games. This tablet utilizes the “swift” web browser. We aren’t thrilled with the “swift” web browser, but it should get the job done.

The Sony Tablet S 3G  has both rear-facing and front-facing cameras but their Mega-Pixels have not be specified. We expect the video playback on this tablet to be excellent with the combination of the display and the Android 3.0 OS. Not much has been said yet on the external speakers or video recording capabilities.

Overall we think the Sony Tablet S 3G  should be an excellent addition to the tablet market. One thing we are concerned about is the low amount of RAM. Hopefully Sony designed the tablet around this weakness. There are a lot of positives about the Tablet S 3G , and the number one being the build. We think this tablet will fit very comfortably in your hands, and the outer covering looks very sleek and professional. The release date has not been announced, but once we know we will let you know.


Sony Teaches Ladies Photography at Alpha Girlfriend Workshop

Sony Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. organised an Alpha Girlfriends Workshop exclusively for female participants at beginner level. Total of 38 participants attended the workshop.

The Alpha Girlfriends Workshop main goal is to gather ladies photographer to learn about the art of photography and improve their skills in portraiture and food styling. Participants get to hands-on several activities together with Sony Professional Photographer, Mr. Wong Mun Hoo.

There's also a sharing session taken by professional Alpha photographers specialinzing from various fileds, such as Mr. Shaiful Baker and Mr. Michael Chee. Check out this video below to get a feel of the event.


Apple Mac Pro can be pre-ordered on 10th December for ~RM24971

Apple announced last month that the new Mac Pro would be coming soon and now we have a date. According to Engadget, the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR will be available starting 10th December 2019. Prices for both have been confirmed to start from 5999 USD (~RM24971) and 4999 USD (~RM20808).

In terms of tech specs, the Mac Pro is expected to come with an octa-core Intel Xeon CPU, 32GB of RAM, an AMD Radeon Pro 580X GPU, and 256 GB of SSD storage. Of course, there are higher-end configurations available for customers to choose from but expect to pay even more for those. You can visit the Mac Pro's product page to find out more about that.

As for the Pro Display XDR, it is a high-end professional monitor with 6016x3384 resolution and 10-bit colour. If that's not enough, customers can also go for the more expensive variant at 5999 USD (~RM24971) that features nano-texture glass instead. In addition, there's an optional stand that costs 999 USD (~RM4158).

Any of you professionals looking to get these products when it comes to Malaysia, or do you find them too expensive? Do let us know your thoughts on our Facebook page. For more news like this, make sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Sony Teases Togari Reveal on 9 July 2013

Sony's upcoming 6.44-inch phablet codenamed Togari will likely be revealed in a press event in Paris on 4 July 2013. The press invite teases the thin and slim phablet by showing a side view of it in an extra long invite. The Sony Togari phablet will likely be called the Sony Xperia Z Ultra and have the following impressive tech specs:

On top of all that, the phablet can supposedly be used with a pencil as its stylus.


Sony Underwater Apps lets you play with some Xperias in the wet

Sony started the whole water-proof smartphone trend with their Xperia Z smartphone, but truth be told, you can't really do much except take videos and pictures underwater. Well, now you can do something else as Sony release their new Underwater Apps for the Sony Xperia Z and Xperia Z1 smartphones, and even then, they must be from the US region. Most of the apps don't do much except to showcase your waterproof smartphone but the Goldie, Photo Lab, Plantimal, Sink Sunk, Rainy-oke and Tiny Umbrella do let you show it off a bit more. The only functional app to us would be the Sink Sunk app for those of you who'd like to play a game while scuba diving. As it is, Sony has opened it up to developers so we might see some useful underwater apps in the near future. No news when non-US Xperia Z and Xperia Z1 smartphones may get access but we'll let you know as soon as we find out.

Goldie lets you keep an interactive pet goldfish that gasps for air when it isn't in the water.

Photo Lab lets you develop photos darkroom style

Plantimal is another interactive pet, this time with an underwater plant + animal creature that sprouts when you water it.

Sink Sunk let's you play with your submarine underwater

Get water-proof lyrics with Rainy-oke

See how much rain you can stop with this Tiny Umbrella


Sony Unveils Digital Camera SLT-A35 in Malaysia

Sony has announced the SLT-A35, the latest addition to its innovative range of fixed-mirror DSLRs. The A35 replaces the A33 and features a new 16.2MP EXMOR APS-C CMOS sensor. The chip has been redesigned to improve power consumption, promising improved battery and thermal performance. The A35 can shoot 1080i60 video and shoot 7 frames per second at 8.4MP (a 1.4x crop from the middle of the sensor that Sony is calling Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting). The camera also gains 'Picture Effects' processing filters that will be offered to existing A33 and A55 owners in a forthcoming firmware update.

Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting, which magnifies a central portion of the image area giving an efficient 1.4x magnification, while shooting at up to 7 fps on the SONY α35 camera. There’s also a rapid up to5.5 fps drive mode that offers full-resolution continuous shooting with tracking AF.

The Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with a resolution of 16.2 megapixels, delivers amazingly detailed, low-noise still and HD video images. Sony SLT-A35 DSLR Camera’s powerful BIONZ processor optimizes image data to assure flawless images, reproducing rich and natural colors. A maximum sensitivity of ISO 12800 and extension to ISO 25600 makes it possible to capture some good natural still photos and HD video in dim light.

Advanced Quick AF Live View continuously displays a real-time output from the main image sensor during still or Full HD video shooting. Light is partially directed from the translucent mirror to an AF sensor to permit non-stop precision TTL phase-detection on Sony SLT-A35 DSLRCamera.

The high-resolution Tru-Finder display offers a precision alternative to framing shots on the camera’s LCD. You can enjoy a superbly detailed view on the high-quality 3-inch Xtra Fine LCD display, shooting stills or AVCHD video. Sony’s TruBlack technology assures high-contrast images with rich, deep.

SONY α35 DSLR Camera offers a new creative Picture Effect setting in-built, which lets you to add extra impact to photos or Full HD video during shooting, don’t worry for editing images later. You can preview the effects in the camera itself. The innovative palette of artistic treatments includes Retro Photo, High-key, Toy Camera and Posterization.

With a single color highlighted against the rest of the image in monochrome, it’s also easy to produce dramatic Partial Color effects. With the SONY α35 DSLR camera this tougher process on editing software became automatic and quick.

Sony SLT-A35 Interchangeable Lens Camera Battery Life & Compatible Accessories:

When using the rear LCD panel, you can take approximately 440 still shots in one time cattery charge. This is a 30 percent increment over its previous versions.

The SONY α35 camera is compatible with the full range of 32 A-mount interchangeable lenses that includes 6 Carl Zeiss lenses, and the flashes, carrying cases, LCD monitors and more alpha range of accessories.

A firmware update will be rolled out for existing SONY α33 and α55 cameras from June 20th of 2011, which adds:


Sony WF-1000XM3 noise cancelling wireless earphones available in August 2019 for RM949

Sony has unveiled the Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless noise cancelling earphones in Malaysia, starting from the price of RM949. The aforementioned wireless earphones will be available for purchase by August 2019, on their official website as well as all Sony Experience Stores nationwide.

The new earphones by Sony offer a truly wireless listening experience thanks to a newly developed Bluetooth chip, which allows for simultaneous Bluetooth transmission between the two earbuds. Not only that, thanks to the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1e, as well as the Dual Noise Sensor Technology. The product is able to create an inverted sound wave that cancels out noise more efficiently while using less power in the process, giving you the ability to focus more on the music you are listening to.

The HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1e, which is embedded in the earphones is able to produce stunning audio for up to 24 hours with noise cancellation turned on. In addition to that, it is also optimised for Google Assistant as well. Do you think these wireless noise cancelling earphones would be perfect for athletes? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Sony WF-1000XM4 Malaysia pre-order: Improved noise cancellation, Hi-res audio, and more for RM1099

It's really not a big surprise by now, but Sony was gearing up to launch the WF-1000XM4. The new model was first leaked in February before finally being released earlier today. As expected, it will bring improvements in certain areas.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 has even better noise cancellation capabilities than its predecessors. This is thanks to a new Integrated Processor V1 and two high-performance noise sensor microphones. Moreover, the new model comes with specially-designed 6mm drivers that can output a frequency range from 20Hz to up to 40kHz at high quality.

The new model has a new design that's expected to deliver a more ergonomic fit. It even has new Noise Isolation Earbud Tips that are comfortable and helps with noise isolation. On top of that, the new model comes with plenty of features like Fast Pair, Adaptive Sound Control, Beamforming, LDAC support, and IPX4 water resistance.

In terms of battery life, the WF-1000XM4 has Bluetooth 5.2 for greater power efficiency. In fact, you can enjoy up to 8-hours of music playback with active noise cancelling enabled. With the charging case, you get another 16 hours of battery life for a total of 24 hours. If your battery is low but you need to head out, a 5-minute charge is enough to give you 60 minutes of playback time.

Sony is retailing the WF-1000XM4 for RM1099 and pre-orders in Malaysia starts from today till 15 July 2021. If you're interested, do check out the official product page. Having said that, what do you think of the new model? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Sony WF-1000XM4 promo video leaked, shows new Sony V1 processor

In the last two weeks or so, we've seen a few leaks showing the actual design of the Sony WF-1000XM4. The new model is probably coming soon, maybe within the next few weeks. In fact, there's solid evidence that we could see the new model by next week - a new promo video.

The source is from Reddit user u/Low-Ratio3193, who leaked a video that showcases the Sony WF-1000XM4. In the video, you can clearly see a few highlights for the new model, such as the Sony V1 integrated processor. This is accompanied by new driver units, which should deliver improved audio performance. It also has a dual-mic system that's used for noise reduction.

Besides the enhanced hardware, Sony's latest TWS earbuds also come with a few features. They include Speak-to-Chat, adaptive sound control, beamforming, and more. The WF-1000XM4 also comes with IPX4 water resistance, 8 hours of battery life (per bud), and an additional 16 hours of battery with the charging case.

The new promo video should mean that Sony is getting ready to launch it soon. In that case, we can expect an official announcement within the next week or so. With that said, what are your thoughts on the new model so far? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates on it.


Sony WF-1000XM4 review - Almost the best NC TWS, just needs a bit more polishing

Nearly every time Sony comes out with their 1000XM series, they offer one of the best Noise Cancellation TWS performances around. Coming out this year for 2021 is the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Sony have continued to add in the improvements like Speak-to-Chat, a V1 processor, quad microphones, automatic wind noise cancelling and more. Are they enough to retain the top position for TWS audio devices or did they add on too much? Let’s find out in our review of the Sony WF-1000XM4 below.

Starting off from design, the earpieces look a bit thicker than before with a slightly slanted surface for the touch controls. There seem to be copper trimmed vents on the sides and piping on the top with an IR sensor for each earpiece on the underside. Unlike most TWS, the WF-1000XM4 uses PU or Polyurathene foam eartips with extra S and L eartips inside the box.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 is more compact this time around

Here's what you get in the environmentally-friendly all cardboard box of the Sony WF-1000XM4

While it looks good, the matte surface of the earpieces are unfortunately dust magnets. The polyurethane (PU) foam material used for the eartips may have been for a tighter, more comfortable fit, but they made my ears itch and chafe a bit after a while. Compared to its predecessors, the case is smaller, more compact and portable and most importantly, able to power up wirelessly via Qi compatible wireless chargers.

Coming from a Sony WF-XB700 user, I have to admit I had rather high expectations for the Sony WF-1000XM4. Thankfully, in terms of audio quality alone, it did not disappoint. In fact, it built on the bass of the WF-XB700 and added a bit more depth in the trebles, allowing the audio quality to actually increase.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 now uses PU foam eartips for better passive noise cancelling

While the matte surface of the Sony WF-1000XM4 looks good, it's a bit of a dust magnet

Controls are all through touch on the Sony WF-1000XM4

While you get all this without setting up the Headphones Connect app, sound quality actually improves significantly after you've done so. In addition, features like Speak-to-Chat, Automatic Wind Noise Cancelling, DSEE Extreme and more only get turned on once you've set up the WF-1000XM4 on the Headphones Connect app.

Trying it out on my usual songs, Whitney Houston’s voice sounded more full and clear on I Will Always Love You, while all the instruments in Metal Gear Saga came out clear enough to be picked out individually. Orchestra pieces like the theme from The Dark Knight Rises are a pleasure to listen to with the WF-1000XM4. Connectivity was stable and strong at any range, even behind and beyond multiple walls and doors.

Most of the extra features like Noise Cancelling and DSEE Extreme for the Sony WF-1000XM4 have to be set in the app

Noise cancelling works well, almost putting you inside a virtual bubble of semi silence. So if you’re in a room full of people talking, all the voices become slight murmurs in the background. You can still hear them if they’re right next to you though, just not as loud as you’d normally be able to. Touch controls were quite fast and responsive, so you don’t have to tap too hard. Automatic Wind Noise cancelling was also great as well.

The WF-1000XM4 utilizes 4 mics (2 on each earpiece) and some form of AI driven ambient noise cancelling, which does work to a certain extent. Mic recording was clear and definitely better than your average TWS device or general earpiece. They weren’t on the same level as say a more dedicated piece of equipment like my RODE lavalier, but it was very close to it, which is certainly impressive.

Call quality is crystal clear for the most part, even if you’re in a relatively noisy environment. Game Performance was satisfactory with a very slight lag which is almost unnoticeable unless you listen closely for it. Going on to the other features, Google Assistant hears me clearly whenever I want, but now I just want to turn it off cause it comes up all the time (lol). Fortunately you can do this quite easily from the app.

Speak-to-Chat stops playback and noise cancelling automatically whenever you speak just as advertised. It only reacts to your voice, not others so there’s no risk of any accidental activation… from other people. However, if you’re the sort of person to sing or hum along out loud, you can definitely expect it to activate (lol). It also activates when you sneeze or clear your throat but not when you cough. No worries, it should stop by itself after 15 seconds.

Pairing was super simple, just take out the earpieces and you’ll get prompted to connect. I would have liked it more if the seamless multiple device connectivity from the WH-1000XM4 somehow made it to the WF-1000XM4 too but perhaps this is only what you get for the extra RM500 or so. Or maybe it could get added in the next updates (hint2)? You can pair it to multiple devices with no problems but to switch between devices you’ll have to tap Connect on the app each and every time.

Battery life is quite long, much longer than the WF-XB700, which takes me at least 1 week of intermittent listening and online meetings before needing a charge. Getting back up to 100% with the usual USB Type C cable only takes less than an hour thanks to the fast charging feature. Wireless charging took a while longer. Battery life does get impacted if you activate more features though, so do keep that in mind.

The case of the Sony WF-1000XM4 is more compact and portable than before

While the Sony WF-1000XM4 case can be charged via the USB Type C port, you can also charge it wirelessly with compatible Qi wireless chargers

All the voltage settings of the Sony WF-1000XM4 case

Moving on to DSEE Extreme and 360 Reality Audio, while I did hear some slight improvements with my older audio files, these days it’s easier to just stream from Spotify where audio quality is already quite high. Unfortunately, Spotify is not listed as compatible for 360 Reality Audio which is still only workable with deezer, nugs.net and tidal.

There’s a free trial included for 360 Reality Audio, but I’ve said this before, it only seems to add a bit more to the surround sound or spatial audio experience. Perhaps I don’t have the right ears to fully appreciate it, so if you do, then maybe this might be a more deciding factor if you plan to buy the WF-1000XM4.

A secure fit as usual for the Sony WF-1000XM4

Overall, the Sony WF-1000XM4 maintains its NC or Noise Cancelling audio excellence, with more than enough awesome audio performance and features to retain its throne as the NC TWS king. However, minor nitpicks like a rather unpolished Speak-to-Chat feature and the lack of seamless multi-device connectivity does hamper it somewhat. Both of these could probably be fixed with updates, something that Sony has been known to do before this.

The PU foam eartips are unfortunately a love-it or hate-it addition for me, as different people have different skin reactions, but it is good to see that Sony are actively trying to improve their TWS audio devices. The WF-1000XM4 is priced a bit high at RM1099 though, as other contenders like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are also available for around RM799 and below.

So, would you be interested in buying the Sony WF-1000XM4 TWS or have you already bought it? Let us know how you felt about it in our app or discuss in our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com.

Here are the tech specs and features for the Sony WF-1000XM4

Pros: Best-in-Class NC, sensitive touch controls and superb audio, Speak-to-Chat

Cons: No seamless multi-device switch, PU earbuds make my ears itch

Summary: Still the Best ANC TWS around but needs a bit more polishing


Sony WF-1000XM4 spotted online with a new look and smaller size

Do you still remember the Sony WF-1000XM3? Yes, that was from two years ago and it seems that a successor is in the works. Promptly called the WF-1000XM4, there is a new leaked image of the wireless earbud and it may be released this year.

In terms of design, the WF-1000XM4 looks a bit different thanks to that new golden circular cylinder on the exterior design. If we had to guess, that could be the mic for a better noise cancellation feature via software control. Compared with the WF-1000XM3, the WF-1000XM4 looks more rounded and compact as well but we won't know until we try it.

The WF-1000XM3 itself is already a solid wireless earbud with excellent active noise cancellation so we can't imagine how good the WF-1000XM4 will be. Better battery life, sound quality and Bluetooth connectivity should be expected as well. For reference, the WF-1000XM3 costs RM949.

We might have to wait a little longer on the official WF-1000XM4 announcement by Sony. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Sony WF-1000XM4 will come with improved ANC and longer battery life for ~RM1410

The launch of Sony's next true wireless stereo earbuds is probably just around the corner. Images of the Sony WF-1000XM4 were spotted last week, showing a brand new design. Now, sources have also leaked some details about the new model.

According to WinFuture, the WF-1000XM4 will come with a new Sony V1 chip, which promises an improved active noise-cancelling (ANC) performance. On top of that, the new model will support LDAC, a codec for streaming high-res audio via Bluetooth. If that's not enough for you, it even comes IPX4-certified. This means that it'll be safe from rain and water splashes.

Speaking of the features, the WF-1000XM4's ANC can now be enabled for up to 24 hours. Since the earbuds have a rated battery life of up to 8 hours, it means that the charging case can provide up to an additional 16 hours of music playback with ANC enabled. Allegedly, if you charge the battery with the earbuds in the case, it could even last up to 36. However, we're not sure if this is with ANC enabled.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 is expected to retail in Europe for 280 Euros (~RM1410), which would make it much more expensive than its predecessor (now RM849). Of course, that's due to the European pricing and maybe the enhancements. But would you be willing to pay for the upgrades? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for further updates.


Sony WF-1000XM5 expected to deliver improved audio via new drivers

If you want good TWS earphones, the Sony WF-1000 series is definitely among the best. The company has gradually improved subsequent models in the last few years, with sources claiming that the Sony WF-1000XM5 could deliver a notable upgrade this year.

According to WinFuture, the Sony WF-1000XM5 will pack new 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X 8.4mm drivers that could deliver better sound quality and "richer vocals". In comparison, last year's Sony WF-1000XM4 sport 6mm drivers. Of course, the 8.4mm drivers could result in higher power consumption. But the charging case will feature a 500mAh battery, which will keep the WF-1000XM5 running for up to 24 hours (same maximum limit as its predecessor).

Sony fans can also expect some new features to go with old ones. This includes the two proprietary onboard processors, dual feedback microphones, bone conduction sensors, and Precise Voice Pickup technology. HiRes Audio, DSEE Extreme, and multi-connection via Bluetooth 5.3 are also supported. Despite the larger drivers, the WF-1000XM5 will also allegedly have a more compact design.

Overall, the Sony WF-1000XM5 should be a worthy upgrade for those using an older model. And if you've been on the fence with TWS earphones, this could be the one for you. What do you think? Let us know if you'd get these earphones on our Facebook page!


Apple Mac Studio & Studio Display Malaysia release: M1 Ultra chipset & 5k resolution, starting price from RM6999

As the theme of the Apple Event suggests, the new Mac Studio and Studio Display are indeed on "peek" performance. Among the new products unveiled today, these two new Mac devices are the most overpowered ones and here's what you need to know.

Introducing the Mac Studio, this is Apple's latest compact PC that features the newest M1 Ultra processor. This 5nm SoC is the last one of the M1 lineup, featuring up to 20-core CPU and up to 64-core GPU. It also has up to 128GB of unified memory and up to 8TB SSD of storage which is kind of bonkers.

On top of that, Apple claims that the Mac Studio can perform up to 800GB/s memory bandwidth and up to 7.4GB/s storage performance. How this was achieved is by utilising UltraFusion which sorts of mash-up two M1 Max processors together but behaves as a single unit. This allows the M1 Ultra to have 14 billion transistors in total.

The Mac Studio also sports a wide range of ports including 4x Thunderbolt ports, an Ethernet, USB A, HDMI and a pro audio jack at the back. Meanwhile, there is a pair of Thunderbolt USB C ports and an SDXC port upfront. Apple said that the Mac Studio can hook up to 4 Mac Studio Displays and a 4K TV at the same time, as well as using 1000kW/h less energy than a high-end PC desktop

Finally, there's the newest Studio Display that measures 27-inches and supports 5K resolution. Intending to make it a powerhouse studio for the professionals, the display has 1 billion colours, 600 nits of brightness and P3 wide colour support. Professionals may also take advantage of the 12MP ultrawide front camera with Centre Stage, a first for the Mac lineup, 6-speakers sound system with Spatial Audio support.

For the price in the Malaysian market, it is as expensive as you guess which you can view below:

At the end of the presentation, Apple did also tease the Mac Pro but that's a story for another day. So what do you think of the new Mac Studio and Studio Display? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Sony WF-1000XM5’s leaks show a more compact earbuds design and a bigger case battery

Sony is touted to launch the successor to the popular WF-1000XM4 later this year, though we may not have to wait long to see its design. Shared by The Walkman Blog, alleged leaks of the WF-1000XM5 show a more compact and refined design compared to the predecessor.

The true wireless earbuds received certification from FCC recently and based on the images, the earbuds are smaller than its predecessor. Moreover, the earbuds also utilise two pins for charging instead of the three pins used in the WF-1000XM4.

Speaking of charging, the earbuds’ case also looks smaller than the predecessor. Despite that, it actually features a larger battery at 5V 230mAh compared to the 5V 140mAh of the WF-1000XM4.

Of course, do take this with a grain of salt as nothing is confirmed as of yet. Well, do stay tuned to TechNave for the latest development on this and for other trending tech news.


Sony WF-C700N release: ANC, 5mm drivers and 15 hours battery life at RM549

Sony Malaysia today announced the Sony WF-C700N, its latest Truly Wireless Earbuds (TWS) with comfortable, stable fit and immersive sound. Featuring a small and lightweight design, read on to find out more about the earbuds.

Packing Sony’s original 5mm driver unit, you can expect the WF-C700N to produce powerful bass and clear vocals despite its size. It also supports Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) and has customisable EQ with the Sony Headphones Connect app.

The TWS also has Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Mode. For the latter, the feedforward mics capture more of the ambient sound around you, so you can enjoy a natural listening experience while staying connected to your environment.

There’s also Adaptive Sound Control which adjusts ambient sound settings depending on where you are and what you are doing and where you’re at. The WF-C700N also sports Wind Noise Reduction Structure which delivers your voice clearly, even on a windy day for better call quality.

In terms of battery life, Sony is claiming up to 15 hours with the case and ANC turned off. Other notable specs include IPX4 water resistance, Multipoint connection and colour options of black, white, lavender and sage green.

In Malaysia, the WF-C700N is priced at RM549 and will be available for purchase starting this month. You'll also get RM50 Touch 'n Go e-Wallet credit with each purchase, though terms and conditions do apply. Find out more here.

Besides that, Sony Malaysia also announced that its popular WH-1000XM5 headphones are now available in Midnight Blue. For more trending tech news and releases such as this, make sure to stay tuned to TechNave.


Sony WF-H800 review - Premium TWS headset with DSEE HX audio upscaling

What feature would you want in a true wireless stereo headset asides from Active Noise Cancellation? This seems to be the question that Sony was thinking about when they came out with the Sony WF-H800 h.ear in 3 as it comes with DSEE HX audio upscaling, NFC, infrared sensors and a built-in Google Assistant feature that reads out your notifications. Is it enough to justify the below RM1K price tag Sony is asking for it? Read on in our review of the Sony WF-H800.

In terms of design, the Sony WF-H800 retains that same round shape as the Sony WF-XB700 but makes it a bit thinner so it isn’t as bulky. The overall design may look a bit unwieldy but twist the earpieces in and they slip into the grooves of your inner ear for an almost natural fit. Our head-banging attempts did not manage to dislodge them so you can easily bring them jogging or for a workout.

They pack in infra-red sensors to detect if they're in your ears or not

The button is still easy to access but can now be customized

They fit nicely and once twisted in, won't easily come out

Like the WF-XB700, the WF-H800 retains the previous physical buttons on each earpiece and like before, both are easy to access and press. Unlike the previous WF-XB700 the WF-H800 has infrared sensors on the inside to detect whether or not you have the earpieces stuck into your ears. Removing them from your ears will cause them to automatically stop your music, potentially saving energy in the long run.

Placing them in the charging case recharges them, and you can recharge them in the case in 2.5 hours via the USB Type C port. While the rounded almost suede type grey case does look and feel premium, there’s only one way you can set them down. Battery life is awesome, but while it’s 8hr + 8hr, it’s been 2 weeks since we last charged them and they’re still at 100%.

The charging case automatically charges and now has NFC

While you can connect them manually, the user manual and even box encourage you to connect using the Sony Headphones Connect app which you can do via the QR code, NFC or Bluetooth. This allows you to customize the audio equalizer and what each of the 2 buttons do and you can set the DSEE HX or the 360 Reality audio. Like previous Sony TWS, bluetooth connectivity is quite good even at the maximum 10m range and works through walls or doors with not much issue.

Sound quality is good and clear for all types of music and audio, except for gaming, which still suffers from the usual lag of most bluetooth headsets. Does Sony’s DSEE HX upscaling audio feature work? I probably don’t have the ears for it, but when it is activated to me there is a slight difference in my usual music. Tones are crisper, drums sound clearer and the audio feels like there’s a bit more depth or space to it but there is a price to pay for it.

You can customize settings in the Sony Headphones Connect app

According to Sony, you have to not only turn on the DSEE HX option in the Sony Headphones app but you also have to set the sound quality mode to Priority on Sound Quality (by default it is set on Priority on Stable Connection). This results in occasional skips in the Bluetooth connectivity and music on the outer range of the 10m distance or behind walls but if you’re listening right in the same room or in front of your smartphone, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Does 360 Reality Audio work? Yes. But you’ll have to let it analyze your ear shape (you have to let it take pictures of your ears) and it only works for certain apps (Deezer, Tidal, nugs.net). Testing it out, it certainly adds a bit more depth to the feeling of space generated by the earpieces. However, since they only work for those 3 apps, it’s a bit crippled if you don’t actually use said apps. In the future, I hope it comes to movie streaming apps too (at least Netflix) but only time will tell.

It's awesome when Google Assistant reads your WhatsApp notifications

Surprisingly, the WF-H800 doesn’t work well with Zoom but it seems to work fine for calls and other online meeting apps like Webex. They also work for iOS smoothly for the most part with some issues connecting at first. I also experienced a brief burst of disconnection or pure static, but this was probably just a one off thing as I didn’t experience it again throughout testing.

Overall, the Sony WF-H800 offers a few more features for the more discerning Sony TWS user. The ability to read out your notifications (even WhatsApp!) and answer them via the Google Assistant is particularly useful for those people who don’t get distracted by such things when driving while the other features like DSEE HX and 360 Reality Audio are only applicable for people with better ears than average or those who use the aforementioned music streaming apps. NFC is nice but since you're only going to use it once, it doesn't add much.

Is it worth the RM849 price Sony is asking for it? Only if you use those features above. If not, then I have to say I’m a bit more inclined to get the Sony WF-XB700 we previously reviewed but this is just my personal preference. If you’re just looking for an upper end Sony TWS to match your workout clothes then do take a good look at the Sony WF-H800 though. They’re still very good, long lasting TWS earpieces for the discerning audiophile. Or you can try out the more sports oriented Sony WF-SP800N, which is also priced at RM849 (stay tuned, the review is coming soon at TechNave.com).

Here are the Sony WF-H800 features and tech specs:

Pros: Supports DSEE HX, NFC, 360 Reality Audio with great sound, long lasting battery life and stable bluetooth range and audio quality. Customizable.

Cons: A bit pricey and most features only support certain types of apps or users. No ANC.

Summary: Still very good premium Sony TWS headset for the more discerning Sony audiophile.


Sony WF-SP700N Wireless noise cancelling earphones Unboxing and First Impressions

The Sony WF-SP700N Wireless noise cancelling earphones is the first if it's kind to be truly wireless as well as also feature a noise cancellation. Priced at RM709, it is marketed towards sports and workout enthusiasts with the arc supporters included with the earphones which prevents the earphones from falling out of your ear. Not only that, the earphones boasts up to 9 hours total in battery life. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for our review for the Sony WF-SP700N earphones.


Sony WF-SP800N Malaysia released for the sports enthusiasts at RM849

Back in May, we reported that Sony Malaysia would be launching the WF-SP800N wireless sport headphones and they are finally here. If you have been waiting to get your hands on these, you purchase them at RM849 on their online store, Lazada or official Sony Stores in KLCC, The Curve and authorized dealers.

To briefly recap on the features, the WF-SP800N wireless sport headphones are IP55 water and dust resistant and last up to 18 hours of music playback. You can also turn on noise cancellation and it only takes 10 minutes of charging to play your song lists to an hour. As Sony's trademark, EXTRA BASS is integrated within and you can also switch on 360 Reality Audio mode for an immersive listening experience on either Android or iOS.

Moreover, the headphones also have Smart Listening which utilizes the Adaptive Sound Control depending on your surrounding. Voice assistant is available and you can also control the songs or incoming calls by touching the headphones' cup area. The WF-SP800N will stop playing if you take either one of them out from your ear.

If you want to learn more, you can visit their official website here to check it out. Stay tuned for more trending gadget news at TechNave.com.


Sony WF-SP800N earphones will launch in July 2020, provides up to 26 hours of battery life

True wireless stereo (TWS) earphones are becoming a dime and a dozen these days, but Sony remains a leading brand in this area. The company's next offering is the new WF-SP800N, which is a model that's catered to people with an active lifestyle. Sony is expected to launch it in Malaysia sometime in July 2020.

The WF-SP800N sports earphones come with rather impressive features and specs. It has active noise cancelling to ensure that you can zone out while you exercise and Adaptive Sound Control, which will adjust the ambient sound according to your environment. It also has Sony's EXTRA BASS technology to deliver punchy bass, as well as other features like 360 Reality Audio, Adaptive Sound Control, gesture controls, and more.

It's got great endurance as well, with a battery life rated at a total of 18 hours when you include the charging case (9+9 hours) or 26 hours if you turn off the active noise cancelling. On top of that, a 10-minute charge is enough to get 60 minutes of music playback. Its arc supporter and 3D curved design also ensure good fit and comfort, while its IP55 rating keeps it safe from water splashes, sweat and dust.

Sony has yet to reveal the price for the WF-SP800N, but expect it to be around the RM700-800 range, based on the pricing for the WF-SP700N (RM749 at launch). With that said, would you be interested in getting this a pair of these earphones? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Sony WF-SP800N review - For the sports buff who wants EXTRA BASS & noise-cancelling

Are you the type of person who worries about dropping your wireless earphones during workouts? If the answer is ‘yes’ then continue reading this review about the Sony WF-SP800N. The Sony WF-SP800N launched a few months ago for the price tag of RM849 and it is specially made for sports buffs. So what is the difference between this and other true wireless earphones? Let’s check it out!

Right out of the box, the charging case is quite big when compared with other TWS charging cases, same goes for the earbuds. You may think that they are too bulky but the battery life makes it all worth it. Also, the earbuds come with arc supporters to fit your ears securely, even during your tough workouts. The box also comes with two sizes for the arc supporters and four sizes of long hybrid silicone rubber earbuds.

Comparing the sizes between the Apple AirPods (left) and Sony WF-SP800N (right)

May look bulky but it fits your ears securely

The earbuds come with four colour variants which are white, black, blue, and orange. I personally like the orange because it stands out and is eye-catching. Compared to other earphones and earbuds, the Sony WF-SP800N’s colour (orange) is stylish and unique, and I can easily spot them in my handbag.

You might be wondering how the digital noise cancellation works on these earbuds. Well, there’s a feature called the Adaptive Sound Control that automatically detects and adjusts the ambient sound and noise-cancelling. You can change the noise-cancelling setting in Sony’s Headphone Connect app for when you are standing still, walking, running, and even waiting. It will automatically detect your movement, so you don’t need to keep unlocking your phone to set the mode again and again.

I’ve been testing the earbuds for two weeks now and the noise-cancelling feature really amazed me, especially when I go workout or jog in the park. Moreover, the EXTRA BASS sound gives me deep and punchy sound which motivates me to work out harder. Even if I'm not playing any music, the earbuds can still detect my gesture and allow me to hear the ambient sound around me. You can also adjust or set up the equaliser in the app.

On the other hand, the 360 Reality Audio is a new music experience for me. What it does is it can make you feel as if you are at a concert, studio, or event. You can also clearly hear certain instruments, vocal, bass, and more individually. To set up this feature, go to the app settings and it will analyse your ear shape and optimise accordingly. But at the moment, this feature only works with Deezer, nugs.net, and TIDAL. It doesn’t support Spotify and Apple Music, but you can try to search for 360 Reality Audio on YouTube here to experience it for yourself. There’s also a trial voucher inside the box that lets you try it.

360 Reality Audio free trial voucher comes within the box (I used the code already HAHAHA)

In terms of sound quality, these earbuds can give you the best music experience no matter what genre you are listening to. From white noise to acoustic, pop or EDM, they are all quite crisp and clear in detail as expected of Sony. Moreover, the songs have more 'OOMPH' if you turn on the EXTRA BASS feature via the Headphones Connect app. I personally liked to play EDM on these earbuds, such as Animals by Martin Garrix and other similar songs.

For the battery life, the earbuds can last for up to 9 hours and the charging case can provide another 9 hours with quick charging (watt unspecified). If you turn off the noise-cancelling, the earbuds can even last longer for up to 13 hours and the same goes to the charging case, for a total of up to 26 hours! All you need to do is charge the earbuds for 10 minutes and you'll get enough battery to last for another 60 minutes in music playback with noise-cancelling.

This charging case does not support wireless charging but there is a USB-C port at the bottom of the case

Furthermore, these earbuds support Bluetooth 5.0 and the connectivity range is strong, even if I go to another room away from my phone. Voice assistants are also supported, including Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri. But for some reason, Siri cannot be found in the settings. You can also directly wash it underwater because the earbuds are IP55 rated. Friendly reminder, the charging case is not water-resistant so do not wash them with soap, please.

In my opinion, the price of RM849 makes these earbuds quite pricey for me but it is worth it. These earbuds are perfect for me because they are wireless, support noise-cancellation and don’t fall off easily when I workout. If you are not the sporty type of person, you can consider other affordable options like the Sony WF-XB700, which is priced at RM549.

If you wish to buy the Sony WF-SP800N, you may visit their official website or the offline retail stores. What do you think after reading the review? Will you get the Sony WF-SP800N? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to stay tuned for more tech reviews on TechNave.com.

Pros: Secure fit for working out, IP55 water-resistant rating, up to 18 hours of battery life (earbuds + charging case with noise-cancellation), lightweight and EXTRA BASS

Cons: 360 Reality Audio only supports certain apps, it is also pricey and Siri is not found in the Headphones Connect app

Conclusion: It’s perfect for those who work out a lot and enjoy music with EXTRA BASS