Valorant has been officially launched and it's free-to-play on PC

Valorant, a free-to-play first-person shooter, has been officially launched today exclusively on the PC. To those who are not familiar with the game, it is developed by Riot Games and it features gameplay mechanics similar to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch.

Those who are interested in trying out the new game can head over to Riot Games’ official website to download it. Don’t fret if you feel that your computer is not up to par as the system requirements in order to run Valorant is quite low.

Would you be interested in trying out Valorant? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Valve: Steam to end support for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 next year

If you’re still running Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 on your PC for some reason, then we’ve got some bad news should you also play games on Steam. This is because Valve has made a surprise announcement saying that the aforementioned Microsoft OS will no longer be supported by Steam.

Posted on the Steam Support website, the Valve video game digital distribution service asserted that support for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 will officially end on 1 January 2024. After the date, the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of Windows.

Steam elaborated that in order to continue running Steam and any games or other products purchased through the platform, users must update to a more recent version of Windows.

The post further elaborated that the change is necessary because the core features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older versions of Windows. In addition, future versions of Steam will require Windows features and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above.

Steam also encouraged Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 to update their Microsoft OS sooner and not wait until 2024. This is because their OS are susceptible to new malware and other exploits which will not be patched.

So, what do you guys think of this change by Steam? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this.


Valve announces Counter-Strike 2, the free replacement to CS:GO with overhauled systems and gameplay

Valve has announced Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), the replacement for the popular first-person shooter title Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO). Available in a limited test starting today, CS2 is expected to be officially released as early as June 2023.

On its official website, CS2 was described as the most significant “technical leap forward in Counter-Strike’s history”, with gamers promised years of updates and new features. Moreover, CS2 was also touted as an “overhaul” to every system, piece of content and “every part of the C-S experience”.

The game itself will be based on Valve’s Source 2 engine and includes some welcomed updates to the game’s mechanics. These include improved smoke grenades and the move to “sub-tick” gameplay.

Find out more regarding the upcoming CS:GO replacement here. For the latest development on this and other trending tech news, make sure to stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this.


Valve employees confirm that the company is planning to make a next-gen Steam Deck

The Valve Steam Deck has been touted as being the product to change the way we see handheld gaming consoles and indeed, it has been immensely popular since launch. In fact, the console is so popular that Valve has alluded that it will be making a next-gen version of the Steam Deck in the future.

Recently, the Steam Deck has been made officially available in Asia for the first time, specifically in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. During an interview regarding the move to enter Asia, several Valve developers were invited to talk with Weekly Famitsu Magazine and they touched upon plans for the next-gen of the handheld.

Valve Product Designer Greg Coomer confirmed that “unless something major changes”, there will in fact be a next-gen Steam Deck in the future. Moreover, he elaborated that the theme, size and shape will change and that it may even “become a streaming machine”.

Coomer further asserted that the Steam Deck is an extension of Valve’s core Steam platform and that it is another PC in another form. Steam has many other uses besides this handheld device, such as on TV or on the desktop and Valve aims to continue to work to satisfy its customers as much as possible.

So, what do you guys think regarding the future of the Steam Deck? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news!


Valve has been working on a new project since 2018, could be a new Half-Life game

For Valve, Half-Life seemed to be a series that would no longer be revisited before they announced Half-Life: Alyx as a VR game in 2016. But now there's a possibility that a full-length non-VR Half-Life game may be in development if rumours are true.

According to PC Gamer, Geoff Keighley's new interactive storybook is now on Steam (for RM23.50). It's sort of a behind-the-scenes documentary and it mentions that staff members in Valve are keen on a new Half-Life game that's not made for VR. Instead, they want it to be accessible "across all traditional gaming platforms", suggesting that the goal is to target both PCs and consoles. Keighley also revealed that a small team at Valve have started work on a new secret project in 2018, though whether this is for the Half-Life series is unconfirmed.

More importantly, Valve may not want to invest in developing another Half-Life game. And even if it does, it may not be the Half-Life 3 sequels that fans have been wanting for years. On the flip side, if Valve does go ahead with the development of a new Half-Life title, we can probably expect it to be a full-length game.

Mind you, this is just speculation and we have no idea what Valve's 'secret project' could be. But having said that, what kind of new game are you hoping to see from Valve? Do share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Valve officially confirms no new Left 4 Dead 3 is in the works

Previously, we read some rumours that Left 4 Dead 3 was in the works and that certainly pique a lot of interest. Every gamer knows the Left 4 Dead series is one of the best horror FPS games in the market so to hear news about that brought some hope. Unfortunately, it seems that Left 4 Dead 3 is probably never gonna happen as confirmed by Valve.

According to Valve, they told IGN that they did some exploring on the franchise in some "next-gen opportunities a few years ago", but at the moment, they are not working on any Left 4 Dead projects now and this has been going on for many years. To back up Valve's statement, Alvin Wang Graylin, HTC Vive China president, tweeted an apology on misleading fans on putting L4D3 in his 2020 VR Trends, as he did that as his own "personal speculation" (#smh) and not an official game title like Half-Life Alyx.

FYI, the #L4D3 mention is only a personal speculation, and all predictions are my own, and not official view of @HTC.

So there you have it, all your dreams of Left 4 Dead 3 can be put to rest into the same bin like Half-Life 3. That said, a fan took this matter to his own hand and made a new unofficial Left 4 Dead 2 sequel campaign called "Chernobyl Chapter One". Fans of the franchise can download the game for free and you can find out how to on our news coverage right here.

Stay tuned for more gaming news at TechNave.com.


Valve unveiled a new Steam Deck handheld gaming console and here's everything you need to know

Today, Valve made a surprise announcement on a new handheld gaming console that we never saw it coming. Dubbed as the Steam Deck, it's a portable gaming console just like the Nintendo Switch but filled with video games that are available on Steam. The starting price is $399 (~RM1676) and it's scheduled to ship by the end of the year.

So what do we know about the Steam Deck? Thankfully, IGN did an interview with Valve so here we go. The gaming console features a quad-core AMD, Zen 2 CPU with eight threads and eight CUs of RDNA2 GPU which is the latest architecture, that should be good enough playing most graphics-intensive games on Steam. To add on, there is 16GB of RAM and there are three storage variants - 64GB, 256GB and 512GB models.

With three storage variants, Valve informed the media that the higher the storage variant is, the faster the reading and writing speed will be. The display measures 7-inches and will support 720p only, but it's noted that you can sync up to a TV or monitor with a deck that's a separated accessory. In terms of battery life, it can go for 2-8 hours depending on the type of games you play.

Other noteworthy features of the Steam Deck has is a built-in mic for multiplayer, WiFi-only connection, auto-brightness sensor, and you can pretty much use any gaming peripherals and controllers as long as it supports it (even AirPods can work). Even though it runs on SteamOS, you can do almost anything as you do on a PC, such as mod support, login into your Epic Games account and others.

For reference, the 64GB model is priced at $399 (~RM1676) as aforementioned. As for the 256GB and 512GB models, they are priced at $529 (~RM2221) and $649 (~RM2725) respectively. What do you think of the Steam Deck? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Valve updates the Steam Mobile App with new design and features, now available for beta testing

Valve today announced that it is updating the Steam Mobile App to add new features, which include QR code sign-in, smarter notifications, an improved Library and multi-account support. Rebuilt on a new framework and a modernised design, the Steam Mobile App is now in beta and users can join the beta programme to test it.

In a blog post today, Valve said that the new mobile app still retains features that are available on the current iteration of the Steam Mobile app. Among others, these include browsing the Steam store, getting Steam Guard codes and confirming trades.

According to The Verge which got its hands on the beta app, the Steam Mobile app’s new design does look much more modern than what it currently is. There are also neat refinements such as a navigation bar at the bottom of the app.

If you’re interested in beta testing the Steam Mobile App either on iOS or Android, do sign up via Valve’s official website here. For iOS users, do note that there are a limited number of slots available due to Apple’s TestFlight restrictions.

So, what do you guys think of the redesigned Steam Mobile App? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


Valve will launch Steam Deck on 25 Feb 2022, global availability still unknown

Last year, Valve announced that it would release the Steam Deck in February 2022. The company wanted to ship the first batch of its handheld console last year, but supply issues slowed things down. Now, Valve has confirmed the actual release date.

In an official announcement, Valve said that those who reserved the Steam Deck would get their chance to buy the console starting 25 February 2022. You will have 72 hours upon receiving an order email to make your official purchase. On 28 February, Valve will start shipping the consoles to those who've made a purchase.

Steam Deck launches on February 25th, 2022! https://t.co/6WKynbibkv pic.twitter.com/Un54Jwdq1H

The company also mentioned that order emails will be sent every week, so those who missed the first one can make their purchases later. Mind you, the Steam Deck is currently available only in the US, Canada, European Union, and the UK. The company has never mentioned any possible global launch dates, so you'll have to import one if you want it.

With that said, are any of you planning to get the Steam Deck? What's the first game you want to play on it? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news about it.


Vanced app for YouTube Android is shutting down because of Google

If you are an avid YouTube binge-watcher, you may be disappointed to hear the news of Vanced YouTube app will be shutting down very soon. The discontinuation is due to a legal notice by Google and with this, download links will be removed as well on Android.

For the uninitiated, Vanced is a third-party app on Android that allows users to block every video advertisement on YouTube without having a Premium membership. Vanced also offers a black theme skin and other customisations that aren't in the official YouTube Android app.

To those who still have Vanced on their Android phone, they would still be able to use it until the app becomes outdated in two years or so. This was confirmed in Vanced's Twitter account, as well as saying they were asked to remove all references to YouTube including changing the logo and removing links related to YouTube.

Vanced has been discontinued. In the coming days, the download links on the website will be taken down. We know this is not something you wanted to hear but it's something we need to do. Thank you all for supporting us over the years.

Just last year, Google also demanded two popular Discord music bots, Rythm and Groovy to shut down. This was before test ad-supported YouTube integration in Discord came. Currently, Discord users on these two Discord music bots are avoiding ads on the service.

We understand that ads on YouTube are super annoying, but signing up for YouTube Premium is quite worth it. Not only does it allow you to skip ads but as well as save downloads to watch videos offline, access YouTube Music that includes artists' latest tracks, and switch out of the app to do something else without interrupting the video.

Obviously, signing up for the YouTube Premium family plan is the way to go as on average, each member just has to pay up around RM5. It may look like we are advocating the service but we're not (really), just merely offering an alternative. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Apple iPad 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

Here comes head-to-head comparison of the two new Samsung Tabs and the Apple iPad 2 on some of their most important features.

Features and specifications are subject to change without prior notification.


Vanish mode is now available on Facebook Messenger and Instagram to start a secret chatroom

Today, you can now send secret messages to your friends and family on your Facebook Messenger and Instagram. The vanish mode is a chatroom that you don't need to delete the messages and it will automatically disappear in a short time by itself. In the secret chatroom, you still can send a message as per normal such as texts, photos, voice messages, emoji, gif, and stickers.

To activate the vanish mode on Instagram, all you need to do is just swipe up in your DM and you may start the conversation. As for Facebook, you need to click on the setting in Messenger and select 'go-to secret conversation'. Then you can set a timer to decide when the chat going to vanish. Please take note, the chat can only stay up to 1 day then after that it will disappear by itself.

Swipe up to activate vanish mode on Instagram

This feature is kinda similar to Snapchat, as the chat will disappear after exiting the chatroom unless you set it to 24 hours to keep the chat or save the conversation. If you screenshot the conversation in the chatroom, the other parties will get a notification to alert them.

Since this feature is still rolling out, some of you might need to wait some time to try out the feature. What do you think of this new feature? Let us know in the comments below, be sure to stay tuned for more tech news on TechNave.com.


Verified Twitter accounts need to pay $8 per month, said Elon Musk

Soon after Elon Musk took over Twitter, reports said that those with a verified account would have to pay a monthly fee. The figure wasn't finalized yet but it's official now, $8 (~RM37) per month will be charged to Twitter users.

For those who don't use Twitter, the blue tick signifies a verified account belonging to a well-known public figure(s), brands, outlets and others. While forcing official accounts to pay seems counterintuitive that would make it harder for people to identify reliable sources. Musk even went on to criticize the current Twitter as a "lords & peasants system".

You will also get:- Priority in replies, mentions & search, which is essential to defeat spam/scam- Ability to post long video & audio- Half as many ads

At the same time, there are also benefits to introducing a monthly fee. Twitter hasn't been earning profit for years, as well as Musk wants to reduce Twitter's reliance on advertising. According to Musk, he also added:

Speaking of advertising, several major brands have temporarily paused their ads on Twitter just to see the new policies and changes by Musk. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Vertu announces the new Constellation

If you have a lot of money, and you want to stand out in the crowd – the new offering from Vertu may be up your alley. The new Constellation is the company’s “Luxury Performance Smartphone”, and it comes with a respectable specs list to boot.

Underneath the leather-covered exterior lies a 5.5-inch QHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, 12-megapixel camera sensor, a 3220 mAh battery, USB Type-C port, stereo speakers, wireless charging and a fingerprint sensor. As it is a Vertu, there are bespoke designs throughout the phone. This includes a polished sapphire display, lether covering and a special button with a ruby mounted on it that connects users to a 24-hour concierge service that can help you with just about anything.

Like anything expensive, if you need to ask for the price, you may not be in the right price brackewt for the device. You can "register your interest" in the Constellation Collection over on Vertu's site to find out how much will this phone is going to set you back once it is out in mid-February. Stay tuned to TechNave for more news on the Vertu Constellation.


ViVo X5 Max appears at 4.75mm thin, is now world's thinnest smartphone

The title of world's thinnest smartphone seems to be highly coveted these days as barely a week after the 4.85mm thin OPPO R5 got announced, another super thin smartphone has come along to take it's place. This smartphone is the Vivo X5 Max, featuring a 4.75mm thin body, again with a thicker, protruding camera. The full measurements for the X5 Max include 153.9 x 78 x 4.75mm and rather generic looks but tech specs and features are midrange to high-end. These include a 1.7GHz octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 5.5-inch full HD display, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, support for 4G LTE connectivity and Android 4.4.4 KitKat. The Vivo X5 Max has yet to be officially announced but has been seen at China's TENAA. No Malaysia release dates or pricing yet, but with Vivo Malaysia already here, we wouldn't be surprised to see it soon.[Source]


Vibing out at Good Vibes Festival 2019 with acts like Joji, Jai Wolf and more thanks to U Mobile

Good Vibes Festival, which is potentially the biggest music festival of the year took place on 20 and 21 July 2019 staring acts from popular artists such as Joji, Jai Wolf, Yuna, San Holo, and many more. Booths were scattered all around the festival grounds with brands such as, but not limited to U Mobile, Netflix and H&M. Speaking of U Mobile, they have been one of Good Vibes's sponsors for 3 consecutive years since 2017!

U Mobile had express queues for attendees who are under U Mobile’s services. With fun, interactive and unique booths waiting for them such as a Basketball Shootout mini-game, photo booths and a giant 90's style boombox serving Boba Tea with access to an aerial view of the red and blue stage.

90's boom box booth with an elevated platform

Unlimited Passion Boba inside the boom box

Unfortunately, I did not bring any periscope camera-equipped smartphones such as the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom or the Huawei P30 Pro as they come out clear and crispy when it comes to taking photos and videos during the concerts. Did you make it to Good Vibes Festival 2019? Share your experiences with us on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vice President of Naughty Dog says we will get to play The Last of Us 2 soon

Some gamers might be really disappointed when they hear the news of Sony pushing back the launch of The Last of Us 2 indefinitely. As a game that was supposed to launch in February, it has been delayed once until 29th May. However, Sony made the latest announcement to further delay the launch as they are facing logistical issues due to the pandemic. Few days ago, the Vice President of Naughty Dog, developer of the game, posted a tweet saying they are working hard with Sony to launch the game as soon as possible.

The Vice President, Neil Druckmann, has shared a fanmade trailer of the game on Twitter, with the caption praising the trailer and promised to get the fans the game as soon as possible. The development process of The Last of Us 2 is pretty much done, and now they're fixing some final bugs. However, Naughty Dog has also mentioned the launch of the game is beyond their control due to logistics even it's fully developed.

This fan trailer is so damn good, had to come back to twitter to share. (We’re still working hard with Sony to get you the game as soon as possible.) Now returning to my social media cleanse. https://t.co/ppnGvT7tES

Other than The Last of Us 2, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake was also delayed as the studio hoped to polish up the game to be on par with fans’ expectations. However, the game has been launched a few days ago proving the pandemic couldn’t stop the launch of a highly-anticipated video game. We hope Sony and Naughty Dog will soon announce a date for The Last of Us 2 too.

Let us know what you think about the indefinite delay of The Last of Us 2 on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more exciting gaming news.


Video leaks revealed voicemail support is returning to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

If you have been following @evleaks, you would have noticed that he has been posting most of his leaks on Patreon. Well, his latest Patreon post includes a few Samsung Galaxy Watch3 highlight snippets and we have to say, the design isn't very drastic from the predecessor. However, there are a few new features so here's what we know so far.

According to his Twitter posts, the Galaxy Watch3 could be featuring the returning voicemail support and battery power saver. As the short videos are in collaboration with AT&T, a telco from the US, this could mean that our local telcos would have to work with Samsung to integrate voicemail support. If you recall, the voicemail existed from the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic variant but it wasn't a perfect feature back then so hopefully, the feature is improved on the upcoming Galaxy Watch3.

As for the battery power saver, this one is pretty straight forward as the feature helps the Galaxy Watch3 to preserve power up to 6 days and 25 minutes. On top of that, there are also other functions mentioned on @evleaks Twitter posts. These include how to reset the watch, customizing the home screen, and detaching the wrist band. Pretty basic stuff.

The Galaxy Watch3 will be unveiled alongside the Galaxy Note20 series tomorrow (5 August 2020) at 10PM, Malaysia time on Samsung Malaysia's official website here. You can get yourself registered here to get the latest announcement here first-hand or just wait for our official news coverage at TechNave.com. Stay tuned!


Video of Microsoft Surface Duo's 'peek' feature leaked

When Microsoft released the preview SDK for the dual-screen Surface Duo in January, it more or less signalled that we'll be seeing the device sometime in 2020. At least very least, news of device being spotted live indicated that developers have begun testing it. In fact, a video supposedly demo-ing a feature called 'Peek' was recently revealed in a tweet by h0x0d.

As the name implies, the idea behind Peek is to allow the user to be able to quickly check notifications, without having to unfold or open the Surface Duo completely. This is relevant because Microsoft's upcoming dual-screen doesn't have an additional screen on the back for notifications, like the one you see on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Moto Razr foldable.

From what we know of it so far, the Microsoft Surface Duo is a device we would love to have. Although its size makes it a bit silly to use as a phone without a headset, the device would be excellent for multitasking, productivity, and even gaming.

With that said, what are your thoughts on dual-screen devices? Let us know what you think on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Video of the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 leaked confirming 5500mAh Battery and 6.9-inch display

Based on a video posted by Slashleaks on their Youtube Channel, the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 does indeed come with a large 6.9-inch display as well as an equally large 5500mAh non-removable battery. The design of the phone features a minimalistic front display which houses the speaker grill, front facing selfie camera and proximity sensor at the top and a chin with no home button at the bottom. At the rear of the device you can see the dual 12MP+5MP camera for this variant as well as a fingerprint sensor towards the middle.

In terms of tech specs however, the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will be running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset, either 3GB RAM + 32GB internal memory, 4GB RAM + 64GB internal memory, or 6GB RAM + 128GB of internal memory. There is also a Pro variant of the Mi Max 3 which will house a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset, 20MP + 8MP dual camera, 16MP front facing selfie camera, and it is powered by the large 5500mAh non-removable battery mentioned earlier. Take every bit of information with a grain of salt and for more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Video regarding the iPhone 12 Pro chassis spotted. LiDAR and flat sides confirmed?

Based on a video posted by @EverythingApplePro, it seems that the chassis of the iPhone 12 Pro may have been leaked showcasing flat sides, as well as placement for the LiDAR sensor. While not much is known in regards to the exact tech specs for the aforementioned smartphone, the video did show that the Pro variant of the iPhone 12 will come equipped with a camera setup in the rear.

Unfortunately, other than what was shown, our source did not mention anything regarding the tech specs and pricing of the new series for now. Do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Apple has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

Here it is! Official iPhone 12 Pro chassis leak. Confirms mostly same camera with new LiDAR placement, flat sides, magnet cutouts & smart connector-like 5G antenna? This seems to confirm the 6.1 Pro model will get LiDAR too. October can't come soon enough. pic.twitter.com/YifSX7SWxh

What are your thoughts on the leaked chassis of the iPhone 12 Pro? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Apple iPad 3 Rumours in Malaysia

Apple iPad 3 Rumours in Malaysia - With 3D Display or Borderless Display?!

This is the rumours page. The actual info for The New iPad aka iPad 3 is released and the price in Malaysia & specifications is as per following link. Please click to view The New iPad details.

The iPad 2 is out, and the rumour factory's already moved on: it's predicting iPad 3 specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from potential sources.

The iPad 3 specs include a dual-core processor:It's possible that the iPad 3 will have a brand spanking new processor, Apple's A6, but if the rumoured release date is correct then time is awfully tight: we'd certainly expect to see an A5, not an A6, in the iPhone 5 when it turns up this summer.Apple may well surprise us, of course, but we'd expect to see the same processor and graphics as the iPad 2 in the iPad 3: an A5 processor with PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics. This one comes down to the iPad 3 release date: if it's 2011, expect an A5. If it's 2012, expect a faster A6.

The iPad 3 display:A retina display was widely predicted for the iPad 2, but of course the current iPad doesn't have a double-resolution display: for now, that's something you'll only get in the iPhone 4. Could a Retina Display be one of the features Apple didn't quite get into the iPad 2? Could be! It's the very first thing on our iPad 3 wish list.Rumours of an HD screen on the iPad 3 gathered pace on when Digitimes reported that Apple is asking panel makers to provide screens that are capable of displaying higher image quality than the iPad 2. We reported that the iPad 3 could launch with a Samsung-made AMOLED screen, following rumours that Apple has been in talks on the matter with Samsung execs.

The iPad 3 hardware could include an NFC chip:Apple's very interested in Near Field Communications, and one particularly tasty rumour at Cult of Mac suggests that the iPhone 5 will use NFC to take over nearby Macs, enabling you to use your data and settings with a flick of the wrist. Since the iPad 3 will follow the iPhone 5, if NFC's in one it'll probably be in the other too.The iPad 3 specifications will include more storage:The iPad 2 has the familiar 16/32/64GB storage options, but as flash storage comes down in price a 128GB option for the iPad 3 isn't impossible - although that might depend on the current horrible situation in Asia, where the tsunami has caused chaos in parts of the electronics industry.The iPad 3 features could include a Thunderbolt port:Two generations of USB-free iPads suggest that Apple just isn't interested in adding one, but the new Thunderbolt port found in the 2011 MacBook Pro could be another story: it's a combined accessory/display connector with astonishingly fast performance.The iPad 3 specs might include an SD card slot:This was widely predicted for iPad 2 and, like the retina display, didn't materialise. One for version 3, perhaps? Using a separate adapter to read camera cards is rather inelegant and clunky.The iPad 3 specification should include a better camera:The rear-facing camera on the iPad 2 isn't brilliant: an iPhone 4 camera and flash would do nicely.The iPad 3 could feature a carbon fibre case:Apple has hired a carbon fibre expert, senior composites engineer Kevin Kenney, fuelling speculation that the next iPad could be encased in the lightweight material.

iPad 3 Malaysia release date: This is the biggest rumour after all: an iPad 3 mere months after the iPad 2. Rumuors say that the iPad 2 was a bit of a rush job, and "the third generation iPad is the one to make a song and dance about."  Respected Apple watcher John Gruber added fuel to that particular fire by strongly hinting that the iPad 3 release date will be in September 2011. If Gruber is right about this and the iPad 3 features in an Apple autumn line-up, then it looks like Apple is going to start offering a new iPad every six months.

However, with the past Apple products released dates, Apple will release their great product once in every year. Thus, we foresee that the iPad 3 will only release on mid of next year (2012). Apple certainly will need to clear out all the iPad 1 and iPad 2 stock first. iPad 3 price in Malaysia might be higher than the iPad 2:The iPad 2 didn't herald a price hike, but if the iPad 3's coming soon we don't think a massive iPad 2 price cut is very likely - which suggests that if the iPad 3 does appear then, it might be more of an iPad Pro - with a price to match.


Video renders of 6.5-inch budget iPhone leaked showcasing designs similar to the iPhone X

Images courtesy of @Onleaks and mysmartprice.com

The leaked images and a video of the 6.5-inch iPhones courtesy of @Onleaks and mysmartprice.com showcased that the iPhone 6.5-inch variant looks really similar to the iPhone X. Based on reports, the 6.5-inch budget oriented iPhone might be equipped with an OLED display panel instead along with a notch similar to the iPhone X as well as a thin bezels on the side.

According to mysmartprice.com, the 6.5-inch iPhone’s physical dimensions measure in at 157.5×77.4×7.7mm and the device will not be coming with a fingerprint sensor. Instead, the device will rely solely on it’s Face ID to authenticate the owner and unlock the device. Other than that, the device will also be running on a dual camera configuration although it is best to note that the exact specs of the 6.5-inch iPhone is not known, yet. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for future updates on when the 6.5-inch iPhone will be coming to Malaysia as well as the official price for the local market.

Video showcasing renders of the 6.5-inch iPhone


Video reveals a Smartwatch Bluetooth connection isn't as secure as you thought

According to anti-Virus company Bit defender, the data transferred between an Android wearable and a smartphone is not secure. Wearables like smartwatches use a Bluetooth connection to send and receive information from the paired smartphones. While this connection is secure to some extent, it can easily be intercepted by hackers who would like to take a peek at the user's conversations. Bluetooth is usually considered secure because it can be accessed only from a short distance, about 10 meters or less. This restricts hackers from attacking a live connection from a long distance. Bluetooth also has its own six digit encryption system to keep hackers at bay. However, Bit defender reports that this six digit passcode is easily crackable by a computer program since there are only 1 million possible combinations. Once this encryption is cracked, hackers can get hold of all the information communicated from the smartwatch to the paired smartphone. Bit defender has also demonstrated a proof of concept video which is shown below. In the video, the company successfully brute-forced the six digit encryption between the Android based LG G Watch and the Nexus 4 smartphone running the developer preview version of Android L.


Video shows Sony may be coming out with an awesome AR (Augmented Reality) DepthSense phone soon?

It seems like it isn't just Samsung who came out with concept innovation videos recently as Sony have also come out with their “Life with DepthSense” video as well. Showcasing awesome Augmented Reality or AR with depth, the video highlights how it might be used in communication, selfies, gaming and shopping.

Currently, most AR are limited to a single surface, but with DepthSense, more layers or dimensions of depth are brought into play. This would mean even more interactivity, especially with gaming or detection of depth to make measurements as the DepthSense video seems to indicate.

Unfortunately, there aren't that many clues as to when we might see it being implemented (so yeah, no Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet). The only hints about time seem to indicate that you can see DepthSense AR according to time which in the video seems to show that the child drawing Happy Birthday messages for her dad in 2015 may not be there anymore (sad).

We assume that DepthSense enabled devices could be coming soon to MWC 2019 as rumours about the Sony Xperia XZ4 have been going around recently. What do you think? Would you want to draw poignant messages in the air to your loved ones or play interactive AR games with your friends using a Sony Xperia? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Vietnamese man built a wall using more than 2000 iPhones worth ~RM45821

It seems that a man in Vietnam recently built a wall using more than 2000 iPhones consisting of mostly iPhone 6, 7 as well as 7 Plus. Based on the source, the total cost to build the wall is somewhere around 250 million VND (~RM45821).

As for the dimensions, the wall is about 20 meters long and 1.2 meters which is quite large when you think about it. With all that said, what are your thoughts on the wall made out of more than 2000 iPhones? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


ViewQwest Freedom 100 introduced with 100Mbps from RM118 + 3-month free subscription

Today, it seems that we have a new competitor offering new high-speed broadband (HSBB) network. Officially introduced as ViewQwest (yes, that's how they spell it), the company is offering a new 100Mbps plan from only RM118 with a 3-month free subscription as an introductory offer.

With the #BetterBroadband mission, one of the packages the company offers is the ViewQwest Freedom 100. It comes with a free Static IP address and proprietary ViewQwest services, including latency-based routing and the promise to not engage or enforce a Fair Usage Policy, such as having bandwidth caps, or strict data traffic management policies.

On top of that, the plan also comes bundled with free advanced network hardware such as the ASUS RT-AC1200G+ and the ASUS Lyra Trio Dual-Band Mesh. Should you choose the first bundle option, you will be paying an average monthly subscription fee of RM123 for 24-months and RM118 for 36-months. As for the latter, the average monthly subscription fee of RM140 (24-months) or RM137 (36-months).

ViewQwest plans to release its 300, 500, and 800Mbps offerings in the future within Klang Valley and Johor Bahru and onwards across the entire HSBB coverage area. Expansions to other cities and areas are planned across 2019/20.

To learn more about ViewQwest, you may visit the official website right here. Stay tuned for more local tech deals at TechNave.com.


ViewQwest launched Malaysia's first 1Gbps business broadband plan with a special RM338/month promo price

It's been almost three years since we last heard of ViewQwest but the company is back again with a new 1Gbps and 800Mbps business broadband plan. Its starting price is RM338 per month for 2 years but you can also get the same price on the 1Gbps version as a promotional price.

By introducing Malaysia's first 1Gbps business broadband plan, customers can sign up for the 1Gbps plan for only RM338 monthly for the first 12 months of a 36-month contract from now until 31 May 2022. Meanwhile, for a 24-month contract, customers can get the 1Gbps plan for RM348 monthly for the first 12 months, with the remaining duration charged at RM388 monthly.

On the other hand, new subscribers to ViewQwest’s business broadband plans will receive a Wi-Fi 6 certified router mesh system – for 1Gbps, 800Mbps, 500Mbps and 300Mbps plan only. If the subscribers want, they can also add Static IP to their plan for just RM10 monthly to enable remote access, less downtime, and usage of an FTP server.

ViewQwest’s new 1Gbps and 800Mbps plans are currently available at key commercial and business hubs across the Klang Valley and also in Johor Bahru, including Bangsar South, Mid Valley City, Aurora Place, Eco Ardence, KL Sentral and Imazium Tower. For more details on the plans offered and the specific areas covered, you can visit the official website here.

Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


ViewSonic Malaysia introduces new SuperClear IPS Monitors with a starting price of RM499

Mr Chaw Foo Hong (middle), Country Manager of ViewSonic Malaysia; and other two executives showcasing the VX76 model (left), XG2703-GS model (middle), and VP2468 model (right)

Long gone are the days of boxy and bulky monitors, nowadays monitors are getting sleeker and high-tech in this modern era, ViewSonic Corp., a global provider of visual solution products is no exception as the company has unveiled its latest additions of high-quality monitors, the monitors include VA19 series, VX76 series, VX3209-2K QHD monitor, XG2703-GS for the gamers, and VP2468 for professionals.

"We are excited to introduce our latest range of SuperClear IPS monitors, each engineered to cater to the different needs and requirements of individuals," said Mr Chaw Foo Hong, Country Manager of ViewSonic Malaysia. "Be it for home entertainment, office work or even professional photography masterpieces, we have the ideal monitors to deliver the best viewing experience for users." he added.

For the casual users, these narrow 6.4mm frame SuperClear IPS monitors deliver sharp colour representation with a modern, minimalistic and frameless design.

On the other hand, these monitors boast 6.6mm* ultra slim design with frameless bezels, perfect for tech-savvy individuals and minimalists who likes stylish and modern design with the chrome-like triangle stand for saving space.

For those who want an even bigger display, this monitor offers 2560 x 1440 WQHD resolution, its thickness is only 8.9mm slim and comes with a unique white T stand and white bezel for the discerning ones.

The hook behind is for hanging the gaming headphones

Next up, ViewSonic's gaming monitor is the first in the series to include NVIDIA's G-Sync** technology can synchronise the frame rate output between the graphics card and monitor. Featuring NVIDIA's Ultra-Low Motion Blur (ULMB), it smoothens movement and sharp edges, decreasing motion blur and minimizing ghosting.

In addition, the 165Hz***refresh rate, 4ms response time, SuperClear IPS-type panel and 2560 x 1440 WQHD resolution is perfect for gamers who are looking for enhanced colour accuracy, high-graphic details and fluid gameplay. Dual integrated speakers are also integrated, along with adaptive contrast control, dark boost and customizable "game mode" settings.

Last but not least, this monitor also has SuperClear IPS display, designed mainly for professional photographers, graphic artists, as well as content and development designers. Aside from being calibrated to a Deal E<2 value for superior accuracy of all the included colour spaces, including sRGB, EBU, SMPTE-C, REC709 and DICOM-SIM, perhaps the most impressive feature is having an automatic pivot system, where the screen image will switch accordingly when positioned vertically.

What's more, all of the monitors are integrated with ViewSonic's ViewMode, Flicker-Free and Blue Light Filter as well, to help eliminate eye strain for maximum viewing comfort in the long run.

All models are now available at major IT retail outlets and ViewSonic Authorised Store in Lazada and 11street. For more information about ViewSonice, kindly visit their website to check it out.*6.6mm thinness is the measurement of its thinnest area only, other area of the VX76 series may be thicker than 6.6mm**NVIDIA G-Sync Technology with DisplayPort 1.2a connection port***165Hz with DisplayPort 1.2a connection port


ViewSonic launches two new lamp-free projectors for corporate office and classroom

ViewSonic has launched two new projectors that suit the scenes in either corporate office or classroom. The LS500WHE and LS550WHE are the latest 3rd Generation LED projectors that arrived with high brightness at 3,000 ANSI Lumens and an energy-efficient design.

The projectors are free from the lamp, mercury, and maintenance, which the company advertises as 'three Frees'. Compared to conventional lamp-based projectors, lamp-free projectors reduce power usage by about 50%. Furthermore, lamp replacement is not necessary due to the 30,000-hour lifetime. Meanwhile, the LED light source is mercury-free, which reduces the disposal of dangerous compounds that damage the environment and persons. Since it mentioned that lamp replacement is not necessary, it refers to maintenance-free as well.

Besides that, the projectors offer the anti-dust IP5X as a cutting-edge sealed optical engine that eliminates dust and maintains the highest image quality. The LS500WHE also provides a 360-degree tilt angle projection to support creative applications such as ceiling and floor projections. On the other hand, the LS550WHE is a short-throw projector with a 0.49 short-throw lens that is ideal for a smaller space that features a horizontal and Vertical Keystone correction along with four corner adjustments to eliminate crooked or distorted images.

If you're interested, the ViewSonic LS500WHE retails for RM3,599, and the LS550WHE gets a RM3,999 price tag. For those in the education industry, you may check out this website to know more about the promos for your hybrid classroom solution. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech product launches.


ViewSonic unveils the X10-4K in Malaysia from RM5999

ViewSonic officially unveiled their new Lamp Free Theatre Projector called the ViewSonic X10-4K which will be retailing for RM5999, and it can be purchased via ViewSonic Lazada Flagship Store. The projector is most suited as part of a portable home entertainment system which can be easily moved from room to room, due to the fact that it is rather lightweight.

To go into more detail, the X10-4K is a 4K UHD Short Throw Lamp Free Smart Theatre project which comes equipped with a pair of Harmon-Kardon speakers which negate the need for a separate audio system. In terms of the exact resolution, the projector is able to display exactly 3840 x 2160 with support for HDR10 content that are much more detailed in terms of contrast and colour.

The projector comes with various connectivity options such as HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2, USB 3.0 Type-A, Type-C, Audio I/O as well as an RJ45 port. Would you be interested in getting the X10-4K by ViewSonic? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Virtual Reality Workshop happening this Saturday (22/7/17) with free entry for everyone

Do you like VR and filming documentary? Here’s some good news for you, coming this Saturday (22/7/17) at the Content Malaysia Pitching Centre (CMPC), there will be a special workshop called Crossing Borders and it’s free for everyone who’s interested.

The workshop will explore what is being hailed as the new mass media of our times. VR experts Lionel Chok (Creative Technologist, iMMERSIVELY, Singapore/Malaysia); Cornel Hillmann (CG artist/VR developer/Entrepreneur; CGARTIST, Singapore); Bryan Seah (Head of Original Content, Southeast Asia; Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, Singapore) will be present to give tips on various topics, such as the process of 360 productions, the gear and software required, how can this technology be applied and how to create an immersive storytelling through VR.

Attendees will also be given insights into exciting new VR projects, VR trends, the success and drawbacks of VR, how can filmmakers use their creativity with VR and much more.

The workshop will start at 10am until 6pm. For full details and to book your slot for this exciting interactive workshop, please log on to this website here and have fun at the weekends!


Virtual Reality creating LucidCam camera needs your help (money)

As the title mentioned, LucidVR is looking for more funds to complete its fund goal and production. In case you never heard of such product, it started from California and it is said to create virtual reality content, LucidCam, on an affordable consumer level.

The function of the product is what the name implies, it's equipped with a stereoscopic 3D camera with two 180 degree wide angle lenses. Each eye lense are displayed in full HD 1080p resolution when a video or picture is captured, and it's compatible with Google Cardboard and other VR headsets. Battery wise, LucidVR claimed it can record an hour worth of footage per charge.

If the fund campaign reaches the goal, the masterminds behind it will support livestreaming via HDMI-out in it. It's currently at $76000 from $100000 and there are 43 days remaining. An early bird LucidCam model is currently available for a $299 pledge and the shipping would probably start next year July 2016.

To know more about LucidVR, visit this YouTube channel.


Visionox gives first access to Huawei for their under-screen camera displays

Earlier, we've heard the news that Visionox, a Chinese screen manufacturer, is ready to mass-produce displays that allow under-screen cameras to function. Now, it has been reported that the company will give Huawei first access to the screens, as Huawei is eyeing to monopolize the under-display camera technology.

Other than that, it is also rumoured that Huawei will debut the highly anticipated technology with their HONOR Magic series. It is understandable that the company will test the new technology with the sub-brand first before putting it into their flagships.

However, a Chinese media portal Sohu.com broke the news saying that Visionox's displays are actually not ready yet. It is stated that the solution which has a special pixel arrangement will reduce the transparency between the main and auxiliary screen for a smoother transition. Therefore, take the rumour with a pinch of salt as Huawei has also responded by saying that they were unaware of this whole thing.

Let us know what you think about this news on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more viral smartphone news.


Visionox is ready to mass produce displays that allow under-screen cameras

We hear about the smartphone brands a lot, but not so much the other vendors that supply them. Well, some of these vendors have big roles and Visionox is one when it comes to OLED displays. The Chinese manufacturer has completed development for a type of display that will allow under-display cameras and may look to enter mass production soon.

While the concept isn't new, manufacturers have been working on key technological barriers before it could become a reality. Specifically, when you put an 'opening' under the display to allow a camera to capture, the image may not come out right due to light diffraction from the additional sheet of glass before the camera lens. According to ITHome (via GSMArena), Visionox solved the problem by using materials that allow higher transparency.

If this is true, it would be the first time that a company has announced a display that's ready for the mass production stage. Of course, software support will also play a big part in making under-display cameras possible. Visionox claimed that it has created a software algorithm that can adjust brightness, colour, and viewing angle, as well as remove glare for photos taken by an under-display camera.

To keep a long story short, many new technologies make under-display cameras possible. Hopefully, this means that we'll start to smartphones using such technologies by 2021, if not this year. With that said, are you excited to see new devices with under-display cameras? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Visionox rumoured to have started shipping transparent OLED panels, phones with under-display cameras could come soon

Last month, it was reported that Visionox has begun mass-producing displays that can turn transparent. With this, smartphone manufacturers could start creating devices with under-display cameras. Allegedly, phones bearing this type of display could be coming soon.

According to Gizmochina, Visionox has already shipped over 3.5 billion yuan (~RM2.14 billion) worth of OLED displays to Huawei and Xiaomi since 2H 2019. It's uncertain if this includes the new displays, but the company has started to ship these displays to manufacturers in China and globally. If that is true, then phones that come with under-display cameras could very well launch within 2020.

Left: Normal mode; right: transparency activated for under-display camera

From what we know, Visionox is also working on flexible displays and showcased this in November last year. Since the company has been shipping to both Huawei and Xiaomi, this could explain why Xiaomi's patent for a foldable device is similar to the Huawei Mate X. It's also rumoured that Huawei could be making a clamshell-style foldable and it could be using Visionox's display.

Of course, do note that most of what's written in this article is speculative, so take it with a grain of salt. With that said, are you excited for under-display cameras? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Visionox showcased a rollable display and regular looking foldable smartphone

If you’ve not noticed, this is the age of foldable smartphones. Many tech manufacturers are coming strong with screens that can be folded in different creative ways. During the recent First World Conference on Display Industry in China, Visionox showcased two innovative AMOLED displays which both can be folded clamshell-style and rolled respectively.

First, let’s talk about the rollable display. It is said that the display design will greatly reduce the area taken by the display, even less than foldable smartphones. The Visionox rollable display can also be rolled up to a dynamic curl radius of 7mm. It features an on-cell touch display integration technology and self-lamination as well. However, the display shown at the conference was just a raw display instead of being installed on a smartphone. The technology might still need some time to be fully developed.

Viosionox's foldable clamshell smartphone

For the foldable clamshell screen, it is worth mentioning as it looks different from the one on Motorola Razr 2019. The foldable smartphone showcased at the event features a 6.47-inch flexible AMOLED display with on-cell technology. The screen has been installed on a regular looking Android smartphone which its design doesn’t need to be tweaked to be adapted to the screen. Visionox has also mentioned that there won’t be a crease at the center when the final product comes out.

If you guys didn’t know, Visionox is also the company that supplies the screen panel to Xiaomi for their Mi Mix Alpha device. The display manufacturer has been taking on challenges to manufacture screen panels that look futuristic.

Let us know what you think about these innovative displays from Visionox on our Facebook page! For more tech news, stay tuned on TechNave.com


Visionox will be using transparent OLED panel for the under-screen camera solution

Earlier, we have heard the news saying that Huawei is getting the first access to Visionox's under-screen camera display. Other than that, it is also rumoured that the smartphone manufacturer will be using the panels for the next HONOR Magic series. Now, it is reported that the Visionox's under-screen camera display is ready to enter mass production, so is the upcoming HONOR Magic really going to use it?

We have talked about the challenges faced by under-screen camera technology. It is said that the screen is one of the largest obstructions as it doesn't allow the camera to take pictures with proper quality. However, it looks like Visionox has finally figured out a solution by using the transparent OLED panels. The company mentioned that it has achieved a good result in balancing the display quality and photographic performance.

Some smartphone brands have showcased their devices with the under-screen camera technology but none of them have made it into the market. It was also predicted that 2020 is not the year for us to get the much-anticipated technology. Therefore, we shouldn't keep our hopes high although the panels are ready to be mass produced.

Let us know what you think about the news on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more exciting tech news.


Vivo 12 Pro to be announced in the first half of 2019

Nipun Marya, Vivo India’s Director Brand Strategy, confirmed that the Vivo V12 Pro is expected to be out in the first half of 2019. What we can expect the Vivo V12 Pro to have is an UD fingerprint reader as the V11 Pro had the same feature and may be priced under Rs. 30000 (~RM1790). We’re also guessing that the V12 Pro might join in on the O cutout display bandwagon. However, that is all we can guess that the device will feature as no other tech specs for the device has been revealed.

The company usually follows a trend of releasing two of the V series smartphones every year so we can expect another V series smartphone in the second half of the year as well.  What do you think this smartphone might feature? For more news on 2019 upcoming smartphones, make sure to add TechNave.com to your RSS feeds!


Vivo 9.9 Super Deals at Lazada Malaysia begins on 6 September 2018 with 5% discount!

Just as vivo Malaysia's 9.9 Super Deals on Shopee Malaysia platform, the company is also having the same promotion over at their online store in Lazada Malaysia. This will start on 6 September until 9 September 2018 and you may use the promo code VIVO5PRNTOFF.

The promo code will grant the buyer a 5% discount with a minimum spending of RM500. It's also applicable to all vivo accessories and selected vivo phone models such as the vivo V5s, Y69, Y65, V7 and the V7+.. As mentioned, the promotion will only start on 6 September 2018 so make sure you bookmark their online store here as I'm quite sure stocks are limited.

Meanwhile, vivo Malaysia is also preparing to reveal the vivo V11. So far, we know that it's featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE processor, 6GB of RAM, 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Halo FullView display, two brand new Fusion Colours and more. Stay tuned for more vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo APEX 2019 5G and more coming to MWC Shanghai 2019?

Vivo recently sent out a teaser image about their upcoming developments for MWC Shanghai 2019 and it’s mostly about 5G. Considering that their previously revealed portless, buttonless Vivo APEX 2019 was their only 5G offering and since it was revealed back in January, we expect that there should be more than just that. Just for a refresher on the tech specs, the Vivo APEX 2019 featured a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage with new MagPort tech.

Reaching out to Vivo Malaysia, they’ve said they’ll be able to tell us more tomorrow but perhaps we may see a line-up of more consumer-level Vivo devices, perhaps from the NEX or maybe even the midranger series. Or maybe the Vivo APEX 2019 is going fully consumer mass production (meaning they’d put a price tag on it)?

No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet but which would you rather see? More 5G Vivo midrangers or a Vivo APEX 2019 you can actually buy? Let us know in our Facebook Page and stay tuned to TechNave.com

Here's the complete 5G teaser image from Vivo


Vivo APEX 2019 is coming to Malaysia with Snapdragon 855, no selfie camera, no ports and a full screen fingerprint reader

Vivo has always been innovative when it comes to smartphones. By innovative I mean they have created a smartphone that features absolutely no ports, no selfie camera, no buttons and a fingerprint reader that can be used on the whole screen which is the vivo APEX 2019. Did I mention that this device is coming to Malaysia? The local media here in Malaysia has just received invitations to check out this interesting concept phone next week.

The vivo APEX 2019 is a smartphone that is basically one slab of glass which makes this device pretty interesting. Want to charge your phone? You’re not going to find a USB-C port or even a micro USB. Instead, what you’re going to find on the back of the device is a magnetic conductive charger. Buttons are replaced with touch or capacitive areas which works kind of like the button found on the iPhone 7 and above. Oh here's something even better - the phone doesn't even have camera bumps.

No speaker grills or mics can be seen on the device either which is pretty baffling to me. The speakers are placed behind the display itself which vibrates the screen. Speaking of displays, the entire display is actually a giant fingerprint reader. You can place your finger on any part of the screen and it unlocks your phone unlike how most devices require you to place your finger specifically on one part of the phone. Now comes an important question: How on earth do I slot in my SIM card? My guess is that the device probably utilizes eSIMs but who knows.

The vivo APEX 2019 comes with pretty impressive tech specs. Powered by the Snapdragon 855, this device comes with a huge 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Also, the promo mentions that the device may be released with 5G so that's something to look forward to as well.  However, do note that the tech specs may be different when the device is introduced in Malaysia. Just so you know, the vivo APEX 2019 was launched in China on the 24th of January. Other than that, no other tech specs or features is known about the device but we’ll be sure to update you when we find out on TechNave.com. Do you think this phone is interesting?


Vivo APEX concept smartphone unveiled in China, revealing multi-function display, a hidden selfie camera and more

So in case you've been under the rock, vivo recently showed off its new APEX concept phone at the MWC 2018 event and now it has made its way to China. Although it's not really on commercial sale yet as suggested by many websites, we got some details on the specifications and here's what we know.

First off, the most obvious one is the full frontal 5.99-inch OLED display and it covers up to 91%. The display is also using COF technology, integrated with ambient and proximity sensors, as well as functioning as a loudspeaker and earpiece for calling. Of course, the first under-display fingerprint sensor is present at the bottom of the display and it supports multi-fingerprint recognition, vivo is dubbing this as the Half-Screen Fingerprint Scanning Technology.

They managed to relocate the front camera to the top by having it to pop up when needed, it takes less than a second for the hidden selfie camera to come out of its body, which is measured 7.8mm thick. Speaking of the camera, the main camera on the back features a Super HDR function which is said to produce a high-quality photo with a dynamic range of up to 14 EV.

Moreover, vivo did not forget about the HiFi audio experience. They also integrated a System in Package (SIP) technology, which comprises three amplifiers and a DAC. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 is on board as well, and there are several features on the phone such as multi-frame compositing and smart optimization, along with ultra-dynamic, multi-frame preferences, character optimizations, natural tones, and advanced A.I. algorithm which produce fine texture by combining different footage with variant exposure in order to reduce ‘dragging’ in the photo taken.

That's all we got about the APEX concept smartphone, we will have to wait and give them more time to polish it so stay tuned for more vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo AR Glass, iQOO 5G and Super FlashCharge 120W appears at MWC Shanghai 2019

Today marks the first day of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2019 and under the theme of "Intelligent Connectivity", Vivo was quick to showcase several innovations that they have in store for us. Most of the features were already speculated a few days ago and all of them are true, such as the new 120W Super FlashCharge technology, AR Glass, and its first commercial 5G smartphone.

Speaking of the 5G smartphone, it was announced that their first ever commercial 5G smartphone will officially be available from the third quarter of 2019. Known as the Vivo iQOO 5G, it features a wide range of 5G applications including 5G Cloud Game, 5G Screen Mirroring and 5G EasyShare and many more smart life scenarios. With the help of 5G enabled services, Vivo said that consumers no need to download additional apps.

How does that work, though? Well say for the 5G Cloud Game, it doesn't really run the app on the smartphone itself but on the cloud with the help of 5G connectivity. So through the 5G Cloud Game, the video and audio are streamed in real-time! This also applies to the 5G Screen Mirroring and 5G EasyShare.

We also wrote about the Super FlashCharge before, which has a ground-breaking 120W (20V/6A)charging speed and the first in the industry to do so. To ensure the smartphone doesn't burst into flames, it has a new charge pump technology with a customized Type-C data cable which takes only 5 minutes to charge a 4000mAh battery from 0% to 50%. For a full recharge, it takes only 13 minutes.

Finally, Vivo also showcased the rumoured AR Glass and it will play a new role in augmented reality in the 5G era. These glasses feature dual-screen display and 6DoF technology, which relies heavily on a 5G smartphone. The user can run a wide range of apps like a mobile office, AR games, 3D HD video, facial and object recognition as well.

“Vivo’s mission has always been to develop innovative products to deliver the ultimate user experience, with smart devices and smart services as the core of our business”, says Spark Ni, Senior Vice President of Vivo. “We hope through the introduction of new strategy and innovation we can truly make a big impact in improving people's quality of life and society as a whole.”

Stay tuned for more vivo news at MWC Shanghai 2019 as we are currently hanging out there.


Vivo Apex 2019 due to release on 24 January 2019 in China

Vivo recently posted an image on their Weibo account stating that the new device, called the Vivo Apex will be released on the 24 January 2019. The device will feature a “Waterdrop” design which has rounded edges all around the smartphone, presumably making it better to grip as well as improve the aesthetics of it as well.

While we don’t know much about the confirmed tech specs, Vivo will definitely release more information about the smartphone by the date previously mentioned as well. There is also no information on whether the Vivo Apex 2019 will be coming to Malaysia as well as the official price of it. For more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo Apex spotted on FIFA 2018 World Cup advert + Planned to start production of the Apex mid-2018

The ultra thin bezel Vivo APEX has been spotted in a FIFA 2018 World Cup advertisement, showcasing that the device does indeed have more than 90% screen-to-body ratio as well as an in-display fingerprint scanner which covers a much larger area compared to previous Vivo phones. The device does not have a display notch which usually houses the camera, but instead the camera slides out from behind the display whenever it is needed.

Vivo will be holding an event in Shanghai, China on 12 June 2018 in which they might introduce the market ready Vivo Apex. The smartphone manufacturer mentioned that they plan to start mass production of the Apex somewhere around mid-2018, do take this information with a grain of salt as there is no official confirmation on this statement yet. Other than that, there is no news in terms of tech specs, release date in Malaysia as well as pricing for the device, stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.


Vivo Malaysia rewarding fans this month on a special VFans Sale with 1-Year Extended Warranty, RM899 Y17, accessories 50% off and more

How was your Vivo purchase during the 7.7 Orange Madness Campaign on Shopee? Well, Vivo Malaysia is not stopping there and they are rewarding fans more with a special VFans Sale reward month. This means it has already started since the first day until the end of the month!

According to the company, the special sales include a 1-Year Extended Warranty, a RM899 Y17 promo sale, 50% off selected Vivo accessories, an online contest and free cleaning service for Vivo smartphones every weekend this month. The 1-Year Extended Warranty is applicable to any Vivo V series and this includes the latest V15Pro which features an Ultra FullView display and a pop-up 32MP front camera.

In addition to the 50% discount price on certain Vivo accessories, the free disinfecting cleaning service is held at selected Vivo concept stores only. You may check out the official list below:

That's all, folks. Another time to get some Vivo products if that's what you're looking for. Stay tuned for more local tech deals at TechNave.com.


Vivo Malaysia teases new S series design, showing a triple rear camera

Yesterday, we talked about Vivo Malaysia planning to bring in a new S series smartphone but didn't say much about the phone itself. We speculated that it could be the Vivo S1 Pro and today, we got a first look on the rear design.

According to the rendered image, the new S series will come with a Triple Rear camera with AI capabilities that are similar to the V15 and Y17 series. If we had to guess, the new smartphone will probably have a Super Wide-Angle lens, a depth sensor or a telephoto lens on the camera module. It should be noted that the rear design has no fingerprint sensor, so it's likely that an in-display fingerprint sensor will be integrated.

The two colour models that you are seeing are called Diamond Black and Skyline Blue, which sure looks great. But until then, we shall see them in person to be the judge of that. Stay tuned for more Vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo Malaysia to release V5s Matte Black edition on 17 June 2017

We have already told you about the vivo V5Plus Matte Black edition, now the V5s Matte Black edition will be coming as well on 17 June 2017 for the same price of RM1299. Although it’s marketed as the #PerfectSelfie smartphone, the V5s also features a HiFi audio chipset which is great not only for the selfie lovers, but the music lovers as well.

With an AK4376 chipset built inside the V5s, the phone is able to deliver good sound clarity and quality. So for a smartphone with a compact DAC with a headphone amplifier, it offers respectable performance that most smartphones don't have. Aside from that, the V5s retains most of the tech-specs as the V5 such as the Sony 20MP IMX376 front camera, updated Selfie Softlight technology, Mediatek MT6750 processor, and has a memory upgrade of 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM capacity (including an expandable memory up to 256GB).

Also just a reminder, the trading / rebate promotion is still on-going until the end of June, where customers can visit any vivo concept store in Malaysia and trade-in their old smartphone or cellphone (like dumbphones or feature phones) and get a rebate of RM100 when purchasing the V5Plus, V5 or Y66 (while stocks last).

Stay tuned for more vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo Malaysia will introduce a new S smartphone series in soon

Today, Vivo Malaysia has just released a new teaser on its Facebook page. The new cover image reads "Something 1s coming soon" and quite obviously, the company will be introducing a new S smartphone series to Malaysia which referenced to the S1 series that was introduced in China.

The new teaser is very vague, but with the hashtag #UnlockYourStyle on the teaser poster, we can be certain that a new in-display fingerprint sensor will be on board. Also in relation to the S1 series, there are two variants of them which are the S1 and S1 Pro. The difference between the S1 and S1 Pro is that the latter has an in-display fingerprint sensor and we are guessing that vivo is probably bringing in the S1 Pro and might have a different set of tech specs compared to the one launched in China.

We will be keeping an eye on this so stay tuned for more Vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo NEX 2 hands-on pictures leaked showcasing secondary screen in the rear

Image courtesy of ithome.com and weibo.com

Hands-on pictures of the Vivo NEX 2 has been leaked, courtesy of ithome.com. The leak showcases the rear 5.5-inch secondary screen of the device. The phone will not come equipped with a front-facing selfie camera and instead uses the secondary screen as a viewfinder while taking selfies.

The Lunar Ring, which is the circular cutout at the rear houses the camera sensors of the device and it also doubles as a display scale to adjust the beauty effect as well as the 3D beauty. There is also an earpiece located in the rear which means that either side of the phone could be used for calls.

Both reddish/purple and blue side by side

Based on Chinese tech blogger ophone8, the NEX 2 will house a 3.5mm jack on the top of the phone as well as a USB Type-C at the bottom. In terms of colours, the NEX 2 is expected to ship in both red and blue at launch. Other than that, there is no official statement regarding the tech specs, pricing as well as when it will be available in Malaysia. For more update like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo NEX 3 5G could be unveiled in Malaysia this October 2019

A little birdy told us that there is a huge possibility that we could be seeing the Vivo NEX 3 5G in Malaysia, somewhere around October 2019. While not much is known in regards to the exact tech specs of the device, it was previously reported that the aforementioned smartphone will sport a “Waterfall screen design”.

In addition to that, the smartphone could come equipped with an in-display selfie camera as well as an in-display fingerprint sensor. But that’s not all, Vivo could also be planning to replace all physical buttons with capacitive sensors instead, which gives the device a more seamless look.

With that all being said, there is no official news in regards to the Malaysia release date and official local pricing for now. What do you think of the Vivo NEX 3 5G? Let us know on our Facebook page, and for more updates like this stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display Malaysia Release Date & Price

Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display Malaysia Release Date (Expecting early 2013) & Price (about RM1550 to RM2570). Launching Event Happened on 23rd October 2012:-

The Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display was officially revealed in an event on 23rd October 2012.

The Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display Malaysia release date will be coming soon (expecting early 2013) and the iPad 4 with Retina Display Malaysia price ranges should be around lowers RM1550 to highest RM2570. See the photo below for the US price ranges.

Please click here for more Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display (WiFi) and Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display (WiFi + Cellular) specifications.

Please click here for more Apple iPad Mini (WiFi) and Apple iPad Mini (WiFi + Cellular) specifications.


Vivo NEX 3 5G teaser video released confirming a wide pop-up cam, circular triple cam, and may use 120W fast charge

As Vivo continues to hype up the Vivo NEX 3 5G smartphone, someone managed to upload a teaser video showing us the device in full flesh, as well as new tech specs and features from other sources. Let's take a look at how the NEX 3 5G matches the previous rumours.

Just as the previous design sketch suggests, the NEX 3 5G does indeed feature a Waterfall display as well as confirming the pop-up front camera. Although it was only for a second, the pop-up front camera is wider than its predecessor and it could mean that Vivo has integrated two cameras or either that, the other camera is just a depth sensor. Meanwhile, the triple rear camera will be a circular design with the LED flash below it.

The Waterfall display sure looks different from the usual dual-curved edge display

In terms of tech specs, one of the new information was that instead of having a 44W fast charging technology, the NEX 3 5G will use a 120W SuperFlash Charge for the 6400mAh battery. Back then in the MWC Shanghai 2019, Vivo demonstrated that the technology can fully charge a 4000mAh battery within 13 minutes. So imagine the speed on this one!

Other confirmed specs include a Snapdragon 855+ chipset, a 64MP main sensor on the triple rear camera and the display has a ridiculous 99.6% screen-to-body ratio. In addition, it seems that Vivo is still keeping the 3.5mm headphone jack around and combining with the HiFi audio system, fans will be happy about it.

The Vivo NEX 3 5G is set to launch in September but the exact date is still unknown. Nonetheless, we will be keeping an eye on this one so stay tuned for the official news only at TechNave.com.


Vivo NEX 3 5G will have a Snapdragon 855+ chipset, 64MP main camera and launching in September

We have talked about the Vivo NEX 3 before about its new Waterfall and 5G capability, now the company is coming out with even more information as well as rumours. According to Vivo Product Manager, Li Xiang (Lance, again), the new device will be launched in China during September.

Again, the announcement was made on Weibo saying “Here it comes! #5G Vivo NEX 3 releasing in September!” without any specific date, but there are some interesting details on that can be found there. According to the text, the NEX 3 will have a 99.6% screen-to-body ratio thanks to the Waterfall display design. We can also confirm that it will carry a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset and a 64MP main sensor as one of the triple rear camera module.

With the given screen-to-body ratio, it's safe to say that there won't be any front camera notch nor cutout, so that means that the NEX 3 should have a pop-up camera but rumours say otherwise as it could have an in-display camera feature. Besides that, it's also said that there will be a 44W fast charging support and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Are you looking forward to the NEX 3? There is still some time left for the launch so stay tuned for more Vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo NEX 3 could come with up to 99.6% screen-to-body ratio

Based on a statement by Vivo’s product manager on Weibo, the Vivo NEX 3 could come with a screen-to-body ratio of up to 99.6%. This could mean that the front of the aforementionedd could come with an under-display fingerprint sensor, under-display camera module and no notch of any form.

The product manager mentioned that they’re no device from other manufacturers that could compete with the Vivo NEX 3 for at least half a year. Other than that, the smartphone is expected to come with several different breakthroughs in performance, AI, photography, flagship features and more.

In terms of the tech specs, the Vivo NEX 3 comes equipped with Qualcomm's top of the line Snapdragon 855+, up to 12GB of RAM, and a 6.89-inch display with 99.6% screen-to-body ratio. As for the camera, it comes with a 64MP + 13MP + 13MP triple rear camera setup and an under-display camera sensor.

What do you think about the Vivo NEX 3 so far? Let us know on our Facebook page, and for more updates like this stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo NEX 5G prototype powered by Snapdragon 855 was displayed during a media conference

A prototype of the vivo NEX 5G was on display during a Xinhua News Agency media conference in China. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset alongside the X50 LTE modem to utilise it's 5G capabilities.

Vivo had confirmed that they were finished with the development of the vivo NEX 5G edition last August which is basically a slightly upgraded version of the original vivo NEX smartphone with tweaks to its architecture, motherboard stacking, RG and antenna design, as well as battery optimization to make it 5G ready.

This isn’t the first time vivo has showcased their 5G smartphone. They’ve done so before over at the 2018 China Mobile Global Partner Conference recently. Vivo is one of the earliest OEM’s to develop 5G in China. Personally, I don’t see Malaysia utilizing 5G technology any time soon but it is pretty awesome to see the growth in technology. What about you? For more news on technological advancements around the world, make sure to hit up TechNave.com!


Vivo NEX Dual Display edition has been announced starting from ~RM3033

Vivo has recently announced the launch of the Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition in Shanghai, China for the price of RMB4998(~RM3033). The device is the first of it’s kind to come equipped with both a 6.39-inch display in the front as well as a 5.49-inch secondary display in the rear which can easily be accessed with a simple 3-finger swipe.

Tech spec wise, the Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, 10GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 12MP Dual pixel sensor, Low-light capable sensor, TOF 3D Sensor in the rear, no front-facing selfie camera, and it is powered by a 3500mAh non-removable battery.

The device also comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor as well as dual-screen multitasking which allows the phone to have two separate applications running on the front and well as the rear screen. In terms of the colour options, the Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition will come in Star Purple and Ice blue. As of now, there is no news on when it will be available in Malaysia as well as the price of it. So stay tuned to TechNave.com as we provide more updates on the matter.


Vivo NEX could be available in Malaysia end of july featuring the Ultra FullView Display and pop-up front camera

Based on a report by ITHome.com, we can expect the Vivo NEX to launch globally in 5 different markets including Malaysia, India, Russia, Hong Kong China and Taiwan by the end of July 2018. However, there is no other information regarding the exact launch date, whether the official price of the Vivo NEX, or whether both the Vivo NEX A and Vivo NEX S will be available in Malaysia.

In terms of tech specs, the Vivo NEX A is running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset and 6GB + 128GB memory capacity. As for the NEX S, this variant is running Snapdragon 845 chipset and 8GB + 128GB or an 8GB + 256GB model. Both variant is equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor, a pop-up 12MP front camera and 4000mAh battery and a 6.59-inch notch-free Ultra FullView Display with a 91.24% screen-to-body ratio.

Not only that, the Vivo NEX variants also features an In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology which allows the device to scan fingerprints through the display itself and also a nano-precision laser engraving that provides the phone with dynamic color diffraction units onto the back cover making it aethetically pleasing to the eye. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Vivo Nex 3 received SIRIM certification, coming to Malaysia soon!

Today, we just got the news that the Vivo Nex 3 which was launched last week in Shanghai just got certified by SIRIM on 25 September. With this said, the phone may be coming into Malaysia real soon. So let’s head into the recap for tech specs. There are two variants for this device which comprise of the 5G and 4G models, but it is speculated that only the 4G model will be coming in as 5G network is still not available locally. However, both 4G and 5G models are have similar tech specs.

As for the in-body build, it may equipped with the Snapdragon 855 chipset which comes with the option of an 8GB or 12GB RAM and 256GB UFS storage. Besides, it also supports global frequency bands and NFC.

The device also comes with a 4500mAh battery with a Super FlashCharge 44W, C-DRX power-saving technology, and also a Vapor Chamber Cooling System that is inserted to keep the battery cool at all times.

In terms of camera, the device sports a 64MP main camera, 13MP wide camera and a 13MP telephoto triple rear camera setup whereas the 16MP Elevating Front Camera sensor. It is having an all-new 6.89-inch POLED Waterfall Fullview HDR10 Display.

In addition, the dual-curved borderless design does not have any physical buttons as it uses an X-axis Haptic Vibration motor for the Touch Sense feature. There is also an in-display fingerprint scanner and an AK4377A independent audio chip for the ultimate HiFi experience.

We have not received any official information on the Malaysia pricing yet and if Vivo Malaysia is following the pattern of the previous Vivo S1, the Nex 3 might be coming in within two weeks! Till then, will you be getting the device? Stay tuned for more updates on Technave.com!


Vivo S1 (6GB +128GB) price tag teased to be RM1X99 only

So here's another one that jumped on the gun, our local distributor, DirectD, has leaked the price tag for the upcoming Vivo S1 just a few minutes ago (well, sort of). According to their Facebook post, the Vivo S1 will be priced at RM1X99 and although there's no release date yet, we speculate it could be sooner than later since it has passed SIRIM.

On top of that, they also have confirmed the variant which is the 6GB + 128GB model and relying on the news from India just yesterday, the S1 is likely to come with a MediaTek Helio P65 chipset, a 6.39-inch FHD AMOLED display with an in-display fingerprint sensor, 4500mAh battery with fast charging, a triple rear camera 16MP + 8MP (ultra wide-angle) + 2MP (depth sensor) setup, 32MP front camera and more.

We think there's a good chance that the S1 could cost RM1199 only since the India equivalent is 20,000 Rupee (~RM1197). BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK? Will it be that affordable? Let's discuss and stay tuned for official Vivo news at TechNave.com


Vivo S1 hands-on experience, lucky draws, freebies and more at Vivo Superday Roadshow Event

As many of you should already know, the Vivo S1 is already officially launched in every Vivo concept store and authorized dealer, same goes to its online store portal (Vivo, Lazada, Shopee and Presto Mall) in Malaysia. Currently slated for RM1099, Vivo Malaysia will be hosting a Superday Roadshow Event to commemorate the new S series launch.

The Superday Roadshow Event will fall on 3 August 2019 at Central i-City, Shah Alam where the public can drop by to check out the new S1 but that's not the only thing happening there. There will be some special freebies and lucky draw for the fans, also a performance to be held there which is probably Priscilla Abby who is the new ambassador for the S1, but there would probably be other local artists as well. The freebies are worth RM99 and available for all S1 buyers.

To recap, the S1 comes with an In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology on the 6.59-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with a 32MP AI Selfie Camera on the notch on top, a 4500mAh big battery with Dual-Engine Fast Charging, an AI Triple 16MP (Sony IMX499 sensor) + 8MP (120° ultrawide lens) + 2MP (depth sensor) Rear Camera and a stylish design with a choice of Diamond Black and Skyline Blue colours, and many more. You can check out more details from our coverage right here.

Anyone of you tried the Vivo S1 yet? If not, here's your chance to have a first hands-on experience at the Superday Roadshow Event. Stay tuned for more Vivo news at TechNave.com.


Vivo S1 officially launches in Indonesia with Helio P65 chipset and in-display fingerprint reader priced at ~RM1062

The vivo S1 is now officially out in Indonesia but it is definitely not the same variant as the S1 released in China. The smartphone comes with a few differences from its brethren in China, swapping the pop up selfie camera for a waterdrop notch, the Helio P70 chipset for the Helio P65 and the rear mounted fingerprint reader for an in-display fingerprint scanner.

The device is set to ship out on the 23rd of July and it comes in 2 colours which are Cosmic Green and Skyline Blue. The vivo S1 has also been announced to hit Malaysia soon but not much details about the device has been revealed here except for the design which looks exactly the same as the one launched in Indonesia. Since both countries are in the same region, it’s safe to say that the vivo S1 launched in Indonesia will be the one coming to Malaysia.

The vivo S1 features tech specs that include a 6.39 inch FHD+ AMOLED display, the screen touch ID (aka the in-display fingerprint reader), the MediaTek Helio P65 chipset, 4GB RAM +128GB of internal storage, 4500mAh battery capacity, a micro USD port, dual SIM support and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Camera-wise, the device comes with a 32MP selfie camera and a triple rear camera setup with 16MP + 8MP (ultrawide) + 2MP (depth) sensors.

Yesterday, local distributor DirectD had hinted the price of the vivo S1 in Malaysia at RM1X99. Over in Indonesia, the device is priced at 3599000 Rupiah (~RM1062). If that’s the case, it is likely that the price of the device in Malaysia may be at RM1099. What do you think? Keep up with the latest vivo S1 updates in Malaysia on TechNave.com!


Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display Malaysia Review

Well, the first and most obvious highlight on the new iPad 4 is the Retina Display. It's the one element that never failed to impress us no matter what application was running on the screen. It's clear, it's bright, it's crisp; essentially it properly expands the smartphone experience onto a larger tablet and takes us into a new generation of displays.

We're also fans of the design of the new iPad - and yes, we know it's the same as before. We're not happy about the fact it's heavier than the iPad 2, but the build quality is something most other manufacturers long for, and are constantly trying to ape.

And then there's the user interface - another element that polarises opinion. We appreciate the power that can be had from widgets, there's something about the simplicity of the iOS UI that we just love - and simplicity counts for a huge amount in the burgeoning tablet market. Sure, it's ageing, but it works better on a tablet than on a smartphone.

For all its power, there are still some elements of the new iPad 4 that could be improved in our opinion. The first is the fact the device will still heat up under medium-term use (depending on the apps you're running), which could really disconcert some users; despite the fact it didn't seem to have a huge impact on battery life. However, this is much less of a worry compared to the older version, with the heat not reaching the same worrying levels as before.

Then there's the things that make it feel like a second class citizen to the iPhone 5: no location-based fun in the Reminders and no HDR mode on the camera either. And there's the issue of storage too: we suggest you steer clear of the 16GB model if you're going to be using a lot of apps or downloading HD films, as you'll find the space is used up pretty darn quick and you'll have to start deciding between different types of content.

For the price, you would expect the iPad to be nigh-on perfect; and although it's a mighty fine piece of kit, there are some niggles that are tricky to overlook. The SmartCover is fine in terms of protection, but we couldn't help but feel it just doesn't offer enough protection out and about. However, with the new SmartCase, that issue has been solved, although it's freakin' expensive to buy. It does save the aluminium though, so that's worth thinking about.

The new iPad with Retina Display is the best large tablet going with better battery life and performance than both the iPad 3 and the other large tablet competition. It also boasts the best build quality and the most comprehensive selection of truly tablet-oriented apps.Then of course there’s the new connector which while troublesome in the short term is ultimately a step forward, at least compared to the previous Apple connector – we’d still prefer a standard connection like microUSB if possible.All this said, there’s not enough here to justify an upgrade from an iPad 3, especially given this new model isn’t thinner or lighter. As such unless you’re particularly determined to wholesale make the switch to Lightning connector equipped Apple products, we’d suggest waiting to see what the iPad 5 has to offer.

[Source: techradar.com & trustedreviews.com]

Apple iPad 4 with Retina Display Malaysia Specifications and Price:

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Vivo S1 receives SIRIM certification, packs a new MediaTek Helio P65 chipset and more

Today, we just got some news that the Vivo S1 smartphone, the one that Vivo Malaysia has been hyping about for a few days in a row, just got certified from SIRIM and with this, it's very likely the smartphone will be released within this month soon. And on top of that, we also got some juicy news on the tech specs.

Thanks to the source from India, the S1 will also be released in that country and it appears to feature mid-range tech specs. It has a MediaTek Helio P65 chipset, with either a 4GB or 6GB of RAM, 128GB storage, an in-display fingerprint sensor on the 6.39-inch FHD AMOLED display, as well as the 32MP front camera on the top notch, whereas the triple rear camera is a 16MP + 8MP (ultra wide-angle) + 2MP (depth sensor) combo, and finally, a 4500mAh battery with dual-engine fast charging technology.

According to the retail box, the Vivo S1 is priced at 20,000 Rupee (~RM 1197) and it's expected to launch in early August for the India market. Also, we also learn that S1 international model is completely different from the one in China, which has the same name. Why did they decide to do this is confusing, but that's what it is.

So what do you think of the phone? Let's discuss and stay tuned for more Vivo news at TechNave.com.