Astro offering SMEs an all-new BIZfibre package plan with a WiFi 6 router, plus one FREE mesh WiFi unit

Today, Astro has launched the all-new BIZfibre as a next-gen broadband service with a WiFi-6-certified router for SMEs. Powered by Astro Fibre, it was designed to complement its commercial TV Packs, offering live sports, the biggest TV shows, blockbuster movies and breaking news from a starting price of RM239.

According to Euan Smith, Astro’s Group Chief Executive Officer – Designate said that BIZfibre offer SMEs a one-stop connectivity and entertainment solutions with world-class WiFi, plus engaging content that is 100% legal. In conjunction with the launch of BIZfibre, Astro is also offering a VIP Pack with 59 channels and a VIP Plus Pack with 70 channels.

The VIP Pack comes with all VIP sports passes such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and other exciting live sports. Customers can show five different sports content concurrently at only RM1,959 per month. The VIP Plus Pack includes a VIP Sports Pass and the Rugby Pass with 8 different screens of sports concurrently, which comes with a choice of broadband speeds of either 500Mbps or 800Mbps for free* for up to 24 months. The free broadband for up to 24 months comes bundled with the new VIP commercial TV subscription.

BIZfibre is also available as a standalone product, delivering unlimited fixed internet with speeds of 500Mbps to 800Mbps at RM239 and RM299 per month respectively. It also comes with the latest WiFi 6 router, plus one FREE mesh WiFi unit to overcome weak and limited coverage, internet dead spots and inconsistent speeds. Customers can add on Mesh WiFi subscriptions for as little as RM10 per month.

For more information, you may visit business.astro.com.my to sign up or contact our Customer Service at 03-9544 7566 for more enquiries.

*Free broadband up to 24 months is bundled with the new VIP commercial TV subscription. T&C apply.


Astro offering complimentary viewing for kids, news and BollyONE channels from 1-14 June 2021

As you should know, MCO 3.0 will begin tomorrow (1 June) but luckily for Astro users, Astro just announced that some selected channels will be free for the children. News and BollyONE channels will also be free for viewing until 14 June 2021.

Starting at 12:01 AM on Tuesday, 1 June 2021 till 11:59 PM on Monday, 14 June 2021, all Astro customers can stay at home and stay safe with complimentary viewing. Shows like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon are included, as well as several news channels like Astro Awani, BBC, Channel News Asia and many more. You may refer to the table below for your reference.

Aside from watching on your TV, you can also stream all your favourite shows anytime, anywhere with Astro GO. Download Astro GO app via the App Store or Google Play. Alternatively, users can also access Astro GO at astrogo.com.my. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Astro offers all customers free movie channels from 18 until 31 March 2020

Due to the Movement Restriction Order, Astro has officially announced that they will be offering free movie channels for all Astro customers from 18 until 31 March 2020 at 11:59PM. All these movie channels will also be available for viewing on the Astro Go app which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store.

However, if you’re not keen on downloading the app mentioned, you can still watch via Astro GO’s official website. Furthermore, NJOI customers would be able to enjoy two extra channels being KIX and Nat Geo WILD as well until the aforementioned date.

With all that said, would you be interested in watching any of the channels listed below? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Astro praises court's declaration that sale of illegal TV Boxes is punishable by law

To fight privacy, the Intellectual Property High Court in Kuala Lumpur declared that the sale, offer for sale, distribution and/or supply of TV Boxes or illicit streaming devices (“ISDs”) that can provide unauthorised access to copyrighted works, is considered as copyright infringement under the Copyright Act 1987. With that said, suppliers and sellers that provide TV boxes with illegal access to content protected by their copyright work owners are punishable by law.

The action was brought by the service provider of Astro, Measat Broadcast Networks Sdn. Bhd., against a seller of ISDs (illicit streaming devices) preloaded with applications which act as gateways to websites or content servers streaming pirated content. Besides Astro, spokespersons from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) and more have also voiced out by expressing their support to the High Court’s judgement.

It is claimed that the estimated loss to the industry and Malaysian economy due to piracy is over RM3 billion annually with RM500 million in taxes and thousands of jobs at risk. Our government has been working hard on curbing digital piracy with several campaigns. Earlier, FINAS has worked with iQiyi and announced a campaign that tackles issues such as content theft by giving out attractive prizes.

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


Astro revised its Astro Fibre plans with a new standalone package starting from RM99 per month

It wasn't that long ago when Astro introduced a set of new Astro Fibre broadband bundles. However, the company has a change of mind and decided to release Astro Fibre as a standalone package for those who don't want Astro TV content.

Like before, the broadband plans are the same but the prices are lower since there's a bundle-less option. To refresh your memory, you can either opt for the Astro Fibre 50Mbps, 100Mbps, 500Mbps, and the 800Mbps as well. The following prices for each package are RM99/month, RM129/month, RM189/month, and RM249/month.

All the packages will come with a WiFi 6 router, as well as a free Mesh WiFi but only starting from the 100Mbps package. The free Mesh WiFi will only be free for 24 months, though, and it will add on RM10/month as an add-on subscription plan. Speaking of that, each Astro Fibre package has a 24-month contract.

To learn more about Astro Fibre, you may visit their official web portal right over here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Astro revises its bill payment due date to 25 days instead of 30 days

If you’re an Astro subscriber, do note that you will be subjected to a new bill payment due date soon, which is 5 days shorter than what it was before. Previously, the bill payment due date is 30 days after a customer’s billing date, but starting 1 October 2022, it will be revised to 25 days.

According to Astro's official website, the company said that this change is made to “allow customers to enjoy uninterrupted viewing when they make payments before the next bill is generated for the following month”. Astro also urges its customers to check their latest monthly bill statement for more info regarding the new change.

Of course, this change will most likely only affect those that pay their Astro bills manually as they need to be aware of the changed bill payment due date. For those that have set up auto-debit for their Astro bills, it should be deducted automatically from your respective cards as per usual.

Besides that, the Astro official website further asserted that should subscribers fail to pay their bills before the revised due dates, their Astro account will be suspended. Moreover, if you wish to reconnect your subscription, there will be a charge of RM21.20 (inclusive of 6 per cent SST) upon reconnection.

So, what do you guys think about this change by Astro? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


Astro's Big Stage season 2 coming soon with Vivo Malaysia as official sponsor

If you're a fan of Astro's Big Stage TV show, you'd be glad to know that there will be a season two happening and Vivo Malaysia was revealed to be the official sponsor. Moreover, the company's official brand ambassador, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza will be the main judge alongside two Indonesian singers, Judika and Cakra Khan.

For those who don't know, the Big Stage TV show is a reality-themed singing competition looking for the next superstar in the music industry. Aside from opening it to Malaysia, the show is an open competition for international competitors from Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and South Korea as well. In this second season, there will be 12 participants competing with each other for eight weeks in hopes to win the grand prize of RM100,000. Second and third place winners will receive RM50,000 and RM25,000 in cash respectively while fourth and fifth place winners will receive RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively.

Fans can catch Big Stage 2019 exclusively on Astro Ria (104) and Ria HD (123) channels, or even online through Astro Go or www.bigstage.gempak.com where the latter will broadcast it live at 8.50PM from 18 August 2019. The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) Auditorium will also broadcast the shot live for 8 weeks every Sunday, 9:00 am from the same said-date.

For more information, you can head over to www.gempak.com and www.facebook.com/VivoMalaysia to check it out.


Astro’s Go Shop offers e-Cash solutions on delivery. 10% discount offers from now till 31 March 2018

Astro’s very own online retail store Go Shop has partnered with Digi’s e-Cash solution vcash to provide customers with an e-COD (e-cash on delivery) option that provides customers with cashless payment methods for their sweet convenience when shopping on Go Shop’s TV, online and mobile platforms.

All you have to do is download the vcash app from Google Play or the Apple Store and deposit some money into your e-wallet via online banking platforms, JomPay or authorised vcash stores and voilah, easy shopping right on your fingertips.

Once a product is delivered to your home, just proceed to scan the delivery company’s unique vcash QR code and the payment will be made to the respective retailer. It’s just that easy! On top of that, to support the launch of e-COD, Go Shop will be offering a 10 per cent discount range of special promotions on selected purchases for customers who download and use the vcash app from now till 31 March 2018.”

For a seamless roll out of Go Shop’s ambition to offer cashless transactions, Go Shop’s e-COD will be launched in phases. The initial phase will commence in Klang Valley in November 2017 followed by a nationwide roll out in March 2018. Need more info? Head on over to Go Shop, here, or vcash, here.


6 cool Google Maps features that you probably didn't know

By now, you would have noticed that the Google Maps app has a new app look and if you've been living under the rock, that signifies the company's 15th anniversary since the app's debut. Besides Waze, Google Maps is one of Malaysian's most-used apps especially in Kuala Lumpur (even for locals) to get around the city and apparently, the company quietly rolled out some new features.

Available on Android and Apple smartphones (yes, even iOS users use this over Apple Maps which works terribly in Malaysia), there are five new features to check out - Explore, Commute, Saved, Contribute and Updates. These are already available on the menu so let's check out what can you do with these.

Right at the start, you will be greeted with the familiar Google Maps layout but with a twist. You will also see the "Explore nearby" at the bottom with various options such as spots to eat, attractions and so on. There are also information and reviews about that certain place that caught your attention, so this is pretty great especially if you're a tourist.

Speaking of tourists, another great feature is Commute which is the next tab. If you're nearby a train station or any public transit, this feature will help you calculate the best route for your journey. Like Explore, you will be given with a few options and monitor traffic jams in real-time. Alternatively, you can also plan your own journey with it and see which route is the best.

According to sources, Google Maps will integrate a new function that lets us see "crowdedness predictions" on any public transit stations. To contribute this function, Google Map users are able to mark if the transport is cold or warm or letting us know accessible entrances, seating, assistance, security and more.

Coming to the third feature, this is a neat feature for tourists (again) for saving their favourite, starred and places they want to go. The Saved tab is also synced with Google Calendar so if you have a reservation, it will appear there as well. Pretty straight forward and self-explanatory.

This one has been around for quite a while now so it's not that new, but previously users could only do this on the web browser and not the app until the update. Every Google Map user can contribute to the places they have visited by taking photos, reviews and rating. You can even level up your ranking if you contribute a lot and have followers.

Finally, Updates lets you know new lists of "Top spots" to go to in wherever you are. The lists are quite endless as it is generated almost daily by local experts and you can even get in touch with the businesses by tapping the "Message" button on their Google listing. This will certainly save you all the time and trouble to travel knowing what you need is there.

Another feature that's not so new, but with the new Google Maps makeover, users might have a hard time finding back the "download offline map" again due to the new user interface. To save a specific map, you will have to enter the place's name on the search bar, tap on the place to access the details, tap on the "..." icon on the top right and "download offline map".

Overall, Google Maps seems pretty tourist-focused which is good as I recall having to use the web browser to do my vacation planning. Google will continue to update the app, of course, and they said that a new Live View feature will be implemented in the future which allows us to "see directions placed in the real world as well as a small mini-map at the bottom of your screen"!

Mary's favourite @GoogleMaps feature is 'Live View' With Live View you are able to see directions placed in the real world as well as a small mini map at the bottom of your screen Watch the video below to learn how to use it pic.twitter.com/0l47Ki4v5l

That's all about Google Maps, which one of these features is your favourite? Stay tuned for more cool tech news at TechNave.com.


Astro's largest Experience Store launched in IOI City Mall

During the weekend, Astro celebrated and launched the grand opening of its largest Astro Experience Store, located in IOI City Mall, Putrajaya. The new store offers customers an experience of discovering Astro’s latest range of products and services.

The Astro Experience Store is located on the third floor of IOI City Mall and provides shoppers to test the full suite of Astro products and experience for the home, and on the go. In addition, customers can also enquire about new promotions, and services, upgrade their pack or Astro Box and so much more.

At the launch, there are also two other ongoing campaigns including WiFi Kencang + Movies Pack which offers customers RM29 savings when they subscribe to the WiFi Kencang at 50Mbps with Movies Pack. As for exclusive deals, customers can enjoy discounts up to 6 months when they purchase in-store for selected Astro packs.

The grand opening day had local artists Jaclyn Victor and Datuk Syafinaz coming over to perform, a meet & greet with the cast from Projek: High Council and many more fun activities. Customers were entitled to purchase a 4K TV or Lenovo laptop at only RM1 when they signed up or upgraded for some of Astro's services. In addition, Astro customers can also show their My Astro app to win exclusive gifts in-store.

For more information, go to www.astro.com.my. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Astro set to add more international streaming services to its platform

Astro Malaysia Holding Bhd today announced that it will further invest in global streaming services on its platform as well as provide more local content via Astro Originals. Moreover, the company is building its growing online presence and continuing to look for opportunities to strengthen its digital, broadband and commerce businesses.

According to Bernama, Astro is aiming to become an “incredibly effective machine” that offers the best content via the right products and platforms that resonate with customers. Its chief operating officer (COO) and chief executive officer (CEO) for TV, Eun Smith said that the company will leverage digital, data and technology to reimagine its business models. Furthermore, Astro will continue to invest in transformation plans, particularly in content, broadband, streaming, customer experience, data, addressable advertising and technology infrastructure to simplify the processes.

Smith further elaborated that Malaysia is transitioning to over-the-top (OTT) services in a streaming world with consumers looking for convenient ways to fulfil their entertainment needs, hence the popularity of streaming platforms. However, the Astro COO said that the saturation of OTT services meant that the space is getting more fragmented and expensive.

Therefore, Astro welcomes the partnership with global OTT players such as Netflix, Disney+ Hoststar, iQIYI, TVBAnywhere+ and HBO GO as customers are now not willing to pay for multiple streaming services individually. Accordingly, Astro aims to aggregate more global streaming services to its platform, with the addition of BeIN Sports Content, BBC iPlayer and Zee 5 coming soon.

Besides that, Smith also announced that Astro is continuously innovating and launching new products and services that are exciting for customers and relevant to today’s needs. These include the connected Ultra and Ulti Boxes so that customers enjoy a seamless and uninterrupted viewing experience no matter rain or shine. At present, the company has over 600,000 installations of the connected Ultra and Ulti boxes, with access to over 90,000 titles on demand.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by Astro’s COO? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


Astro to provide free preview of all its Movies & Korean channels for CNY 2022

Today, Astro just announced that all the subscribers will have a free preview of all its movies and Korean channels on TV and Astro Go. The company just recently won a couple of awards at the Putra Brand Awards 2021 so as a gesture of goodwill, the free viewing will begin on 29 January until 6 February 2022.

In case you're wondering which channel is eligible, here's the list containing all the channels:

*Free preview of HBO HD (Ch411), HBO Family (Ch414), HBO Hits (Ch415), Cinemax HD (Ch412) and Hits Movies HD (Ch401) is only available on TV and Astro GO channels, and will not be available on demand

Additionally, customers can also stream various Korean variety shows and drama series on Astro GO exclusive channel, K-PLUS HD. Go Shop customers will also get to enjoy a RM10 discount for purchases RM100 and above with a promo code: PUTRATQ10. This is eligible from 24 January to 6 February.

That's all, folks. Hope you all have a wondering movie spree in this coming Chinese New Year holidays. Stay safe and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Astro users can enjoy free shipping and books discount of up to 80% from BookXcess

For about 3 weeks and counting of MCO, gamers and movie fans have been getting a lot of freebies (thank you, y'all). While there is also free e-books stuff, but they aren't promoted as much as the other two. With this, Astro have announced that they are partnering up with BookXcess for the book worms this MCO.

According to Astro, book worms will get to access BookXcess's library with a discount of up to 80%. Just use the promo code ‘BXASTRO’ upon checkout to get free shipping with a minimum spend of RM60, and you will get your favourite books delivered to your doorstep! From the list, many popular books are on a crazy discount too such as Crazy Rich Asians (RM19.90), Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food (RM19.90), and many more.

Not only Malaysia is getting some sweet discounts, but even other countries like our neighbour, Singapore. You can head over to their official website and get it started on your book collection. Stay at home, stay safe, and stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.


Astro will change all their HD channels numbers on 1 April

Update - Astro have also extended their complimentary viewing!

Nope, this is not an April's Fool joke. Astro will be reorganizing the numbers on their channel on 1 April 2020. According to their PR statement, this is to provide their Astro customers with a better viewing experience including Astro GO and NJOI (really?). Anyway, since there are more than 100 HD channels, the company will move them to higher positions.

To find all your preferred HD/SD channels on Astro, all you have to do is add 20. For instance, HBO HD is on Channel 411, so just add 20 (411+20) and you will find it on Channel 431. Do the same for like say, Astro RIA HD on Channel 104 and you will find it on Channel 124 (104+20). If doing mathematical counts in your head is too much work, you can also message the company at +603 9543 3838. Start with a "Hi" and follow the menu to choose "New Channel Numbers". You can also login to their website here to find out, as well as access to the full new number list of Channel 100 on your Astro Box.

Wait, there's more. Astro will also extend their complimentary viewing period since the MCO was extended. From news channels to movies, NJOI customers and 22 channels including selected video-on-demand shows via Astro GO, this offer will end on 11.59PM, Tuesday, 14 April 2020.   On the other hand, Sports pack customers can continue to enjoy complimentary viewing to all channels (except Astro First and Best) on Astro and Astro GO until 11:59PM on Thursday, 30 April 2020. For more information, you can view astrogo.com.my.

That's all, folks. So keep calm, binge on, and stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.


Astro will release a new Ultra Box remote control with an additional Netflix button

Back at the end of June, Astro made a surprise announcement of a new partnership with Netflix. Many wondered when will the popular movie-tv/streaming app will make its app to Astro, but it may be quite soon. In fact, Astro just told us that they have released a new remote control for the Ultra box with a dedicated Netflix button.

According to Astro, the new remote control is more or less the same as the previous model. It has all the existing features but with the aforementioned Netflix button which users can jump straight to the Netflix homepage after pushing it. You can also see three more buttons nearby which as apps, movies and sports. For those using the current version of the Ultra Box remote, customers can still access Netflix and future apps via the Astro homepage.

With the new Ultra Box remote control, we think it's a good signal that Netflix is coming real soon but Astro is still tightlipped about it. The company is still citing "coming months", though, so it may take a while. To learn more about Netflix on Astro, you can visit the official webpage here and get yourself registered if interested.

The dedicated Netflix button has been a staple in many remote controls over the years so it only makes sense. Are you excited about having it on Astro? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Asus Chromebox 4 features 10th Gen Intel processors & support three 4K displays at the same time, starting price at ~RM1182

ASUS have revealed a brand new Chromebox 4 which is a small form-factor PC running Google Chrome OS. The design of the device kinda looks like the previous model - Chromebox 3, it has the same size of 5.85 x 5.85 x 1.58-inch. The company has upgraded the device to the 10th Gen Intel processors by comparing with the Chromebox 3 powered by an 8th Gen Intel processors.

On top of that, the device includes an Intel Celeron 5205U or the Intel Core processors. According to the sources, there are three variants on the processors which are an i3-10110U, an i5-10210U, or an i7-10510U variant. The new Chromebox 4 also sports 4GB or 8GB of RAM (DDR4-SO-DIMM) and goes up to 256 internal storage (M.2 SATA SSD).

The ASUS Chromebox 4 comes with a 65W power adapter and a new VESA mount

Lastly, it also features an HDMI 2.0, USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A which can support up to three 4K displays at the same time. The starting price of the device is $289 (~RM1182) and available in North American from December onward. For more tech news, be sure to stay tuned on TechNave.com.


Asus FonePad 7 officially announced

While it was leaked complete with tech specs, the Asus FonePad 7 finally gets the official announcement. Going for more or less the same look and feel of tablet with phone capabilities, the FonePad 7 takes up where the original Asus FonePad left off. Featuring a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2560 with tech specs that include a 7-inch 1280 x 800 pixel screen, a 5MP rear camera, 8GB/16GB/32GB storage, 1.2MP front camera, 10.5mm thinness, weighs 340g and has a 10-hour battery, the FonePad 7 ups the internals somewhat by offering the better screen. Hopefully the revamp won't see too much of an increase in price as the original FonePad was rather well known for it's budget capabilities. Unfortunately, there isn't any news yet on pricing for the Asus FonePad 7 and no Malaysia release dates too. Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted as to any new developments.


Asus FonePad HD 7, MeMo Pad HD 8 and MeMo Pad HD 10 Tech Specs surface

Recently, tech specs for the upcoming Asus FonePad HD 7, MeMo Pad HD 8 and MeMo Pad HD 10 have come to light. The tablets offer what could be the next generation line-up of Asus tablets with the emphasis on the HD for all the devices. This means that all of the devices listed will have a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Other tech specs for the Asus FonePad HD 7, MeMo Pad HD 8 and MeMo Pad HD 10 include:

Apart from the above tech specs, every other tech spec for the Asus FonePad HD 7 is identical with the previous Asus FonePad while tech specs regarding the MeMo Pad HD 8 just aren't available at the moment. All three tablets are expected to be unveiled at the IFA 2013 in September but no details on pricing or availability in Malaysia just yet. Check out the full leaked listing below:


Asus Fonepad Note FHD6 officially announced

Asus also had quite a few announcements to make with the official announcement of the Asus Fonepad Note FHD6. The Asus Fone pad Note FHD6 also known as FonePad Note 6 and it goes down a number from the standard 7-inches and offers a 6-inch tablet phone. For some reason or another Asus don't want to call the Note 6 a phablet but that is pretty much what it is, complete with built-in stylus. It features a dual-core Intel Atom Z2580 (brand new). Tech specs for the FonePad Note 6 include a 6-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel screen, 2GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera, 16GB/32GB storage, Android 4.2.2 and packs a 3200 mAh battery. Despite it's smaller size measures 10.3mm thin (making it quite thick actually) and weighs in at 210g (which is a bit less than the larger phablets). Quite obviously, the Asus FonePad Note 6 aims for the performance phablet market. Unfortunately, there isn't any news yet on pricing and no Malaysia release dates too. Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted as to any new developments.


6-inch ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser ZE601KL coming to Malaysia soon?

While it was announced earlier with the other ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser devices, the 6-inch display ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser ZE601KL has yet to make an official appearance in Malaysia. Well, it looks like the roll-out has begun with the ZE601KL now available in India for 17999 INR (RM1131). Notable tech specs and features asides from the 6-inch FHD display is that it will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 processor and either 2GB RAM with 16GB storage or 3GB RAM with 32GB storage along with a 13MP rear camera with laser autofocus and a 5MP front camera.

Quite obviously these tech specs mark the ZE601KL as the more premium device in the ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser range. No specific Malaysia release dates yet, but we expect it to come soon. If you can't wait, the 3GB RAM with 32GB storage version is currently available (unofficially of course) for RM1799, which you can check via our ZE601KL tech specs link.


Asus MemoPad 8, FHD 10 and FonePad Note 6 Malaysia pricing leaked

The Asus MemoPad FHD 10 and Asus MemoPad 8 are priced at RM1199 and RM649

While the Asus MemoPad 8, MemoPad FHD 10 and FonePad Note 6 were all recently announced they still haven't got their offical Malaysia launching yet, the good folks at Lowyat.net got an interesting leaked image showing off pricing and confirming tech specs. Reconfirming most of what has already been reported on, the Asus MemoPad 8 will have an 8-inch screen, a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 5MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera, come in black or white and be priced at RM649. The Asus MemoPad FHD 10 on the other hand will have a 10.1-inch screen, a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 5MP rear camera, a 1.2MP front camera, come in blue and white and be priced at RM1199.

The Asus FonePad Note 6 looks to offer the best of a phablet form factor at a really attractive price point of just RM1399

The Asus FonePad Note 6 will have a 6-inch screen, a 2GHz dual-core Intel processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 8MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera, come in blue and white and be priced at RM1399. Out of the three devices, the FonePad Note 6 looks to be the most interesting as it also has stylus support and for the price of just RM1399 offers some very powerful hardware and tech specs. While there isn't any specific Malaysia release dates all of these devices should reach Malaysian shores in December 2013 which could be just next week, stay tuned and we'll keep you posted.[Source]


Asus PadFone mini 4.3 officially announced, 4.3-inch display + Dual-SIM

Asus has officially announced the PadFone Mini 4.3 as part of their range of smartphone in a tablet combo range. Previous PadFones had 10.1-inch tablets but perhaps due to the smaller nature of the PadFone Mini 4.3, the tablet that it comes with now has a 7-inch display. Other tech specs and features include a 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 4.3-inch display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution, 16GB storage + microSD, 8MP rear camera + 16fps burst mode + f/2.0 aperture, Dual-SIM support and a 1500 mAh battery. The tablet part offers a 7-inch display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution and an extra 2200 mAh battery which even lets you recharge the smartphone using the tablet battery. The combo runs on Android 4.3 and will be priced at NTD11900 (RM1298). No exact Malaysia release dates or pricing details were available but we expect the Asus PadFone Mini 4.3 to make it's Malaysian debut soon hopefully at a similar price. For now, check out the video below:


Asus Padfone mini images get leaked early

The upcoming Asus Padfone mini with it's 4.3-inch compact screen and 7-inch tablet combo has recently been leaked by evleaks. The more compact version of the smartphone from Asus that can be turned into a tablet is rumoured to be unveiled a couple of days more on 11 December 2013 so you won't have to wait too long for it to show up officially. No details for other tech specs and features or Malaysia pricing or release dates were available but stay tuned and we'll keep you posted.[Source]


Asus Transformer Book Trio dual-boot Android and Windows 8 hybrid tablet announced

This isn't the first time we've seen the Asus Transformer Book Trio as this unique 2-for-1 dual-boot deal showed up earlier in June packing a bit less power. This IFA 2013 release offers the same tablet plus desktop capable keyboard dock, but at rather newer and higher-end tech specs which include:

As before, the keyboard dock can be hooked up to an external display and function like a portable desktop but is still tied to the internal battery which offers 5 hours worth of use. The tablet will give you 13 hours on Android though. Unfortunately, no news on release dates for Malaysia or pricing but this will probably be headed for the premium crowd due to the 2-for-1 deal it provides.


Asus Transformer TF101 Review

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 is a 10.1in. tablet running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). It comes with a keyboard into which the tablet docks in landscape mode. The idea is that you can use it for ultra-mobile tablet-style computing when travelling light, adding the keyboard when need to do some real work.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer - Memory & Performance:

The ASUS 16GB Eee Pad Transformer Tablet features a 10.1" LED backlight, capacitive display with 10 finger multi-touch support, WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution and viewing angles up to 178°. There's 16GB of storage capacity and a 1GB DDR2 memory. It runs an Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system and is powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, which provides ultra-fast web browsing, quicker response time and more efficient multi-tasking performance.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer - Connectivity:

ASUS equipped the Transformer with WLAN 802.11 b/g/n wireless connectivity and Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR. It features a mini HDMI port for viewing stored and Internet content on an HDTV in full 1080p HD with a 5.1 ch surround sound system. There are also front and rear facing cameras that can shoot and record HD video, which makes the mini HDMI output especially useful for viewing your recorded HD video on an HDTV. Plus, the Transformer has expandable storage via the micro SD card reader and 1-year free trial of unlimited ASUS WebStorage.

When you're on-the-go, you'll appreciate the SRS Sound technology, 2-in-1 audio jack and durable IPS scratch resistant panel. The built-in SRS Sound technology provides a dynamic 3D stereo audio experience, with maximum bass response and a wide sound field from the stereo speakers integrated into the tablet. The 2-in-1 audio jack utilizes a single jack as a headphone output and microphone input. There is also a digital array mic integrated into the tablet. The IPS panel protects the brilliant 10.1" display with a durable and scratch-resistant glass enclosure, which can endure the rigors of daily commuting and ultra-mobility.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer - Other Features:

The portability of the Transformer is enhanced by its 0.5" thickness and 1.5 lb weight. It also features a unique textured back pattern that increases grip and provides comfortable holding from any position. As you turn the Transformer in your hand, the G-sensor automatically changes the screen from portrait to landscape mode. The Transformer also includes a gyroscope, light sensor, E-compass and GPS sensor. The Li-polymer battery lasts nearly ten hours and the ASUS Waveshare User Interface facilitates quick access to the tablet's software suite for easier on-the-move computing. Plus, if you choose to purchase the optional ASUS Transformer Keyboard Docking Station, the battery life will be extended to 16 hours and you'll have the ability to swiftly transform your tablet into a full-on notebook with full QWERTY keyboard and touchpad.

Powerful Entertainment On-the-Go:Powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, the Transformer affords ultra-fast web browsing, quicker response time and efficient multi-tasking performance. It features 16GB of storage, 1GB DDR2 memory, Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR and WLAN 802.11 b/g/n wireless connectivity @ 2.4GHz Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS with ASUS Waveshare Interface:Google's Android Honeycomb is specially designed and optimized for tablets, and enables a full web experience for on-the-go web browsing, communicating and casual computing. It supports Adobe Flash 10.2 and the ever expanding Android Market. The convenient ASUS Launcher allows users to easily launch software, manage content and access online services and connect devices with a few simple taps. The ASUS Waveshare Interface hosts a variety of unique applications such as MyNet, MyLibrary and MyCloud IPS Panel:The Transformer features an IPS Panel made from durable and scratch-resistant glass. It's viewable at angles up to 178° and produces a crisp, accurate color range. The 10.1" display features an LED backlight capacitive touch screen with 10 finger multi-touch support and WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution. HDMI Output:Sporting a HDMI 1.3a port, the Transformer can connect to an HDTV and 5.1 surround sound system, which allows you to share your stored / Internet content with friends and family - delivering an enhanced multimedia experience Ultra-Thin Style:The super slim and lightweight Transformer is 0.5" thick and weighs only 1.5 lb. It's designed to be held comfortably from any position and the unique textured pattern offers better grip Front & Rear Cameras:A 5.0 Megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.2 Megapixel front-facing camera can both shoot and record HD video, which can be played back in stunning 1080p full HD SRS Sound Technology:Built-in SRS Sound technology provides a dynamic 3D stereo audio experience, with maximum bass response and a wide sound field from the two discrete stereo speakers housed within the tablet Polaris Office 3.0:Preloaded on the Transformer, Polaris Office 3.0 enables users to edit various types of office documents including documents (.doc), spreadsheets (.xls) and presentation (.ppt) files, making the Transformer very attractive for professional use Optional Keyboard Docking Station:Sold separately, the Transformer Keyboard Docking Station facilitates the attachment of a full QWERTY keyboard to the tablet via a docking port. The keyboard is equipped with a touchpad, 3.5mm audio jack, two USB ports as well as a built-in SD Card reader for easy file sharing and storage expandability. The docking station also extends the Transformer's 9.5 hours of battery life up to 16 hours and provides unique Android Function keys, turning your Transformer tablet into a full-fledged notebook.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer is an impressive marriage of tablet and keyboard. The design is generally good, although the system's top-heaviness in clamshell mode is a worry. Professional-level Android applications are still thin on the ground, which limits the Eee Pad Transformer's appeal to businesses. Having said that, the bundled Polaris Office does a reasonable job of knocking out simple office documents. The range of Android apps optimised for Android 3.0 is also currently small.


Asus Transformer Trio 3-in-1 tablet soon in Malaysia from RM3799

Announced earlier in 2013, the Asus Transformer Book Trio has made it's way to Malaysia with a retail price starting from RM3799. The hybrid touchscreen tablet detaches from the keyboard dock for better portability or reattaches to become a notebook computer, but the keyboard dock actually hides another computer which can be hooked up to another monitor and used like a desktop. Tech specs for the tablet part of the Transformer Book Trio includes an 11.6-inch screen powered by an Intel Atom Z2560 processor and running Android. The keyboard dock on the other hand uses an Intel Core processor (either Core i5 or Core i7) along with Windows 8. The version running an Intel Core i5 processor is being priced at RM3799 while the Intel Core i7 version is going for RM4099 which is still quite a good price considering that you're actually getting 2 computers for the price of one. Check out the video below or go to the Asus website for more information.


Asus ZenFone 4 variants prices leaked starting from RM990

We are all happy to know that Asus has recently acquired South Korean superstar Gong Yoo as their latest brand amabassador for the Asus ZenFone 4 lineup in the Asian region. Now there’s more reason to be hyped as some of the phone prices may have been leaked.

As mentioned in our previous rumour, the Asus ZenFone 4 is expected to be released along with 4 different variants, making it a 5 phone variant total.

According to a Chinese website, these prices are said to be from 6990NTD (RM990), 9990NTD (RM1420), 13990NTD (RM1190) and lastly, 18990NTD (RM2699).

It wasn’t mentioned for which variant the prices will be associated with, but from here we can roughly estimate the range of pricing when it does finally comes out.

Asus CEO Shen ZhenLai has mentioned that the Asus ZenFone 4 will be matching the previous Asus ZenFone 3 concept of ‘Premium Luxury’ and ‘Ultimate Luxury’ but with much more improvements.

With the hype that has been put into the Asus ZenFone 4, one can hardly keep their excitements locked in. Make sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com for any Malaysian releases and official pricings in the future.


Asus ZenFone 6 renders leaked showcasing a rear camera that doubles as a selfie camera

A render of the Asus ZenFone 6 has been leaked courtesy of slashleaks.com, which showcases the smartphone that has a rather special camera in the rear. The aforementioned camera is designed in a way that that lets it flip to the front in order to take a selfie, instead of having the traditional notch at the top of the display.

Slashleaks also stated that the device is expected to come with the high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, 48MP + 12MP dual rear camera, up to 12GB of RAM, 512GB of internal storage and it is powered by 5000mAh non-removable battery. Do take every bit of information with a grain of salt, as there was no statement made by Asus regarding the phone. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Asus Zenfone 5 deemed the best Mid-range camera phone by DxOMark

Based on the scores on DxOMark, the Asus Zenfone 5 scored 90 marks which is about the same as the Google Pixel making it an excellent choice for those who are looking to own a mid-range segment camera phone. The Asus Zenfone 5 houses a 12MP main camera which feature a Dual-Pixel autofocus along with a secondary super wide-angle-lens 8MP secondary camera.

According to DxOMark, the Asus Zenfone 5 has a great dynamic range in bright light, accurate white balance as well as fast and accurate autofocus. On the flipside, however, the device do show occasional luminance noise under blue skies as well as some ghosting artefacts on moving subjects on high contrast shots. To give a little insight on the tech specs of the Asus Zenfone 5, the device is running on as Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, either 4GB/6GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, camera setup mentioned, and lastly, the device is powered by a 5000mAh non-removable battery. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com

Asus Zenfone 5 light level of 5 Lux test


Asus Zenfone 6 with Flip Camera officially unveiled in Valencia starting from the price of ~RM2328

The Asus Zenfone 6 starting from the price of 499Euros(~RM2328) has been officially unveiled in Valencia Spain, and it comes with various interesting features such as a rear camera that flips up into a front-facing selfie camera, 5000mAh non-removable battery with Quick Charge 4.0, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset.

The device will be available in 3 different storage configuration including 6GB RAM + 68GB ROM, 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM and 8GB + 256GB ROM for the price of 499Euros(~RM2328), 559Euros(~RM2607) and 599Euros(~RM2794) respectively. It is also available in Midnight Black and Twilight Silver colour scheme.

The phone comes equipped with the Flip Camera feature, which utilizes the 48MP + 13MP rear camera setup to double as a front-facing camera with a press of a button. By doing so, the Zenfone 6 is technically the first smartphone in the world to come with 4K 60FPS and EIS capabilities. ASUS also assured us that the Flip Camera is compatible with various social media applications such as Instagram, Snapchat, and more. By doing so, the device comes with a 92% screen-to-body ratio with absolutely zero notches at the front.

There was also another feature called the Smart Key, which is mounted on the side of the device which can be used to activate Google Assistant or even be rebounded to perform other functions that were determined by the user.

In terms of the tech specs, the Zenfone 6 comes with the top of the line Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage, 48MP + 13MP Flip camera, 6.4-inch FHD+ screen with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and it is powered by a large 5000mAh non-removable battery with Quick Charge 4.0 capabilities. As of now, there is no mention on when the device will officially be available in Malaysia as well as the expected price. For more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


6-inch Fullview + 20MP front camera OPPO A75 and A75s midrangers launched in Taiwan from about RM1497

OPPO officially launched their OPPO A75 and A75s midranger smartphones for Taiwan recently for 10990 NTD (~RM1497) for the A75 and 11990 NTD (~RM1634) for the A75s. Both have 6-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2160 pixel) displays and MediaTek Helio P23 processors with 4GB of RAM but the A75 has 32GB of storage while the A75s has 64GB.

Both sport a 20MP front camera and 16MP rear camera along with a 3200 mAh battery. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet but they might come to Malaysia in black and gold. Stay tuned to TechNave.com and we'll keep you updated.


Asus Zenfone Zoom First Impression Hands-on video!

Let's take a look at the ASUS ZenFone Zoom, a smartphone that packs in a 13 megapixel Panasonic sensor with a variable f/2.7-4.8, 28-84mm (3x optical zoom). It's best external feature is the dedicated shutter button and video recording button. It is also by far the most premium looking design compared to ASUS previous model with a price tag of RM2099. ASUS also claims that it is the thinnest cameraphone at 12mm thickness, do check out the tech specs and video below for more details!


Asus officially teases ZenFone 4 variants

Tech giants Asus has released a series of images on their website, teasing the  upcoming ZenFone 4 variants.

No official specs or designs have been revealed by these images but they do confirm that the ZenFone 4 will probably and most likely will have a dual camera setup.

The teasers can't be timely enough as multiple ZenFone 4 variants have been certified by the NCC just this week. The devices are reported to be the standard ZenFone 4, ZenFone 4 Selfie, ZenFone 4 Pro and ZenFone 4 Max.

Out of these, we have already seen the ZenFone 4 Max and ZenFone 4V so which ZenFone 4 phone will Asus decide to throw on us next? Stay tune to TechNave.com to find out.


Asus release Computex 2013 Teaser Video I

With Computex 2013 just around the corner next month, Asus are starting up the pre-hype engine by releasing appropriately named "We Transform" teaser trailers for the event. In what will be the first of five teaser videos for the Computex 2013, Asus show off what they've been working on, including the Asus Taichi, the Fonepad and the various Transformer Hybrid Laptops, Desktops and Tablets. People who have been keeping current and up to date with the Asus lineup can look and say "aha! I know what that is!". However, it wouldn't be a teaser unless there was at least one mystery device which is what Asus show around 30 seconds in with a silhouette of a tablet and what appears to be a stylus being removed from the tablet. It seems a bit too early for an Asus Google Nexus 7 II so we're guessing that it could be that aforementioned 8.1-inch Windows 8 tablet Asus may be working on. It could also be an antenna (A WiMax Tablet? A TV antenna? etc.). Your guess is as good as ours, so what do you think Asus is teasing? Hopefully, Asus will drop more clues in the next 4 teaser trailers to come.


Asus reveal MeMo Pad 8 and MeMo Pad 10 tablets

Asus are really gunning for the tablet market with 2 new releases consisting of the Asus MeMo Pad 8 and the Asus MeMo Pad 10. The MeMo Pad 8 has tech specs which include a 1.6Ghz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB storage, an 8-inch IPS screen with 1280 x 800 pixel resolutions, a 5MP rear camera, a 1.2MP front camera and a 3950 mAh battery. Weighing in at 350g the MeMo Pad 8 can last up to 9 hours worth of 720p HD video playback on normal settings and offers a rounded slate look with narrow bezels. The MeMo Pad 10 features the exact same specs except that it weighs 522g, has a smaller 2MP rear camera, 16GB of storage and a 5070 mAh battery, allowing it to run for 9.5 hours on the same 720p HD video playback. Both use Android 4.2 and are aimed at the budget crowd.  Unfortunately, no Malaysia release dates were available at the time and there wasn't any exact pricing news either.


Asus teases dual-boot tablet and 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch devices for CES 2014

Following their motto "In Search of Incredible" Asus are releasing teaser videos of upcoming devices to be revealed at CES 2014. With CES 2014 just around the corner on 6 January 2014, Asus have released two teaser videos hinting at a dual-boot Android and Windows tablet along with devices with 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch screens. The first teaser video shows off the Statue of Liberty holding up a tablet flashing green and blue, which in terms of OS, probably mean Android green and Windows blue. The second teaser video shows variously coloured and numbered balls falling down from the sky in Taipei, with closeups on balls with the number 4, 5 and 6. While Asus could be gunning for a 6-inch tablet, it seems more likely that the 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch devices would be smartphones, possibly following the Asus Fonepad or Padfone. Check out the teaser trailers for yourself below:

The first Statue of Liberty dual-boot tablet teaser trailer

The second dropping numbers in Taipei teaser trailer


Asus to unveil new ZenFone models a day before CES 2015

ASUS has scheduled a press event on 5 January 2015, exactly a day before CES 2015. In the event, called "Experience 2omorrow", the company is expected to release a number of new ZenFone smartphones, including a 5.5-inch model. The entire event will be streamed live on the ASUS website. Most of the ZenFone models to be released next year are said to run on Intel's chipsets, just like current generation devices. There are also rumors that some may be powered by Mediatek processors. ASUS ZenFone smartphones are well-known for their decent specifications at an affordable price tag and the newer models are expected to retail under RM1100. The ZenFone smartphones running Intel chips are said to come with 4G LTE support and will be priced around $300 (RM1050). On the other hand, the Mediatek powered ZenPhones will be cheaper, around $150 (RM525) and will be limited to local Chinese markets. ASUS aims to launch the ZenFone lineup in 20 countries instead of the present 14 by next year. The company also plans to double its total units sold - from 8 million in 2014 to 16 million in 2015. The three main ZenFone models, the ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6 were launched in Malaysia early this year and we expect these new models to come around the same time next year, perhaps in March or April 2015.


At least 2 other brands will be powered by Huawei's HarmonyOS 2.0

The HarmonyOS 2.0 presents an alternative to Google's system and is expected to launch soon. Most would think that only Huawei will be using the OS, but that doesn't seem to be the case. In fact, sources claim that a few companies are interested.

According to Gizchina, at least three smartphone brands (including Huawei) are planning to use HarmonyOS 2.0. This was announced during the recent Huawei Harmony OS Connect Partner Summit. where it was revealed that two 'major' brands will be "powered by HarmonyOS". However, the brands' names weren't revealed.

In our opinion, the two brands are probably other brands from China. As you recall, HarmonyOS can work with multiple types of devices like smartwatches, smart TVs, and IoT devices. With that in mind, one of the brands could be Xiaomi, as it has a variety of different smart products. The other brand could be Huawei's former sister company Honor, which also has different products like smartwatches and laptops.

Of course, our guesses might be way off the mark, so please take them with a grain of salt. But with that said, what other brand would benefit from an OS ecosystem like HarmonyOS 2.0? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for further updates on this.


At least 6 devices with 125W fast charging to come in 2022

If fast charging speed is important to you, 2022 will be a good year to upgrade your phone. The upcoming Xiaomi 12 series will come with 120W fast charging, but it's not the only brand with such high speeds. There will be three brands with 125W fast charging.

According to a rumour, at least six devices with 125W fast charging in 2022. These include the realme GT 2 Pro, OPPO Find X4, OPPO Find X4 Pro, OnePlus 10 Pro, OPPO Reno 8 Pro, and the OPPO N series. For your information, these companies are all under BBK Electronics, so it's not surprising to see that they all share a lot of technology and features.

Besides the above, the tipster claimed that the Honor 60 Pro will also have a fast charging speed of 120W. This device is also expected to come with the Snapdragon 870 chipset. The Honor 60 will also come with the Snapdragon 870 chipset, while the Honor 60 SE will be equipped with the Dimensity 920 chipset.

From what we can tell, 2022 will be a year filled with smartphones that have 120/125W fast charging. What other tech spec or feature would these brands push next year? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Audi R8 Sports cars spotted at the Mi Store grand opening at the D'pulze mall Cyberjaya

Apparently there were a bunch of Audi R8 Sports cars were spotted at the Xiaomi Mi Store grand opening in D’Pulze Cyberjaya today 29 September 2018. The cars had the Xiaomi and Pocophone F1 branding which symbolizes the raw speed and capabilities of device which is equipped with top of the line Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset.

Not only that, the grand opening of the Mi Store also had several offers and special deals for their products such as Mi Band 2, earphones, Powerbanks, Bags and even the Xiaomi Mi Max 2. There's even lucky draws, special prizes and vouchers worth up to RM20000 as well. Here’s the complete list of the offers during the grand opening.

Tech spec wise, the Pocophone F1 is running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6GB RAM, up to 128GB of internal storage, 12MP + 5MP rear camera, 20MP front facing selfie camera, 6.18-inch display with Full screen resolution and it is powered by a 4000mAh non-removable battery. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Audio-Technica's new noise-cancelling wireless earbuds could be a best AirPods Pro alternative

If you’ve searched online to help yourself for getting a new pair of good headphones, you must have come across the brand Audio-Technica. The Japanese company has always been a favourite among the audiophiles as it has been producing top-notch audio products for the market. This time, the brand has finally launched its first true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds at CES 2020 and it looks amazing!

The ANC300TW has a premium looking with the brand’s famous triangular logo on each of the earbuds. It also comes with a charging case that carries an additional 13.5 hours of charge, while the earbuds can last up to 4.5 hours on a single charge with noise-cancelling function turned on.

As for the audio, Audio-Technica adapts its ‘Quietpoint’ hybrid technology to the earbuds by placing two microphones on each of them. The microphones are said to be working with a high-precision digital processor to analyze and reduce ambient noise picked up from the environment.

Other than that, the true wireless earbuds also feature 5.8mm diamond-like carbon-coated drivers with Qualcomm Clear Voice Capture technology for the best listening experience. The active noise-cancelling microphones have been placed on the sound conduit as well to allow high-frequency sonics to be transmitted without loss.

Last but not least, the ANC300TW is IPX2-certified that comes with water-resistant ability. It supports Bluetooth 5 wireless technology as well to allow you to pair up with multiple devices at the same time and is compatible with high-resolution aptX audio codec.

This Audio-Technica true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds will be launching in May 2020 and it's priced at 249 USD (~RM1021.27). Let us know your opinion on this new audio product by the brand on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates from CES 2020.


6-inch dual rear camera Wiko View2 Pro now selling for RM999 + freebies on 11street

Today, 11street has announced a new partnership with Wiko, a French mobile company that has been around in Malaysia for quite some time. They came to Malaysia just two years ago and well known for their reputation for selling quality budget phones. So to celebrate the occasion, customers can pre-order the newly launched Wiko View2 Pro starting today until 11 June 2018 for just RM999.

Besides the RM999 value, those who pre-order at 11street will also receive a gift box worth RM318, which contains a WiShake (Wiko headphone), a 15000mAh power bank and an OTG pen drive. Available in Gold and Black (or Anthracite), the design has a very tiny notch for the 16MP front camera and the back carries a dual rear camera setup of 16MP each. These are pretty big sensors, as the processor is an entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor clocking in at 1.8GHz with 4GB of RAM.

Below is the official specification set for the View2 Pro

First debut in late February 2018, the 19:9 aspect ratio phone features a Big Pixel Technology and big aperture of f/1.75, allowing users to take photos in low light environments. According to Wiko, the enables the image to be enhanced with 4x the photosensitivity for brighter quality. Besides that, it runs on pure stock Android and you can pay with your smartphone via NFC.

If you like to get one, you can visit www.11street.my today to pre-order it for RM999 + freebies. Stay tuned for more 11street and Wiko news at TechNave.com.


August 2020 smartphone launch compilation: 12 new mobile phones from Entry-level to Flagship!

With the month of September, we once again look back for an overview of the devices that were launched in August 2020. There weren't as many smartphones this time, but it was a month packed with some major releases. So what were the smartphones that were launched in August 2020? Check out the list below!

An affordable mid-range with a large battery to last you through the day.

Not the best mid-range chipset, but it comes with plenty of features and TWS earphones.

A great mid-range with vanilla Android that's never coming to Malaysia...

The big launch of the month, with the Ultra model being the best choice.

A special edition to celebrate Xiaomi's 10th anniversary, it comes with fantastic tech specs.

As one of the few phones running the new Dimensity 1000+ chipset, expect it to deliver relatively good performance for a mid-range device.

An affordable flagship that has a 50MP Samsung GN1 gimbal sensor, good stuff!

Finally, OnePlus returns to more affordable price ranges.

Decent entry-level model, but nothing spectacular by any means.

If battery life is your number one criterion, then you'll definitely love the 10000mAh on this bad boy.

You can expect the Sony cameras on this phone to be good, but we're not sure if it'll launch here.

The flip camera is back and this time it's a triple camera setup!

It turned out to be a quieter August, but we still saw the launch of over 12 devices in August 2020. With that said, which model is your favourite for the month? Let us know down in the comments below and remember to stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest news on smartphones!


Auros presents a thin yet beefy gaming laptop – the X7 DT

The brand Auros is starting to pick up steam in Malaysia recently. Their combination of thin body and big performance is a reason that the uptake of the brand is starting to increase in Malaysia. Their latest release at the recently concluded Computex is a great posterboy for that philosophy. Introducing the Auros X7 DT.

What makes this model stand above the rest? Well, firstly it comes with an overclockable K-series Intel Core i7 processor. Plus, it features a desktop-grade NVIDIA GTX 980 GPU, so you can have some serious gaming sessions with the Auros – provided that you are plugged to the wall. The 17 inch Full HD display also helps in this matter.

It also has USB type-C connectors, up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, and for storage it can have multiple storage options -  it have have a 2.5 inch HDD/SSD or up to three M.2 SSD slots for solid state storage.

Auros managed to cram all of the specs above into something that is only 25.4mm thick and weighs 2.3kg in total. It is not the lightest gaming laptop around, but it is light enough that you would not feel the pain carrying it around all day.


Australian escaped death when his smartphone stopped an oncoming arrow

Yesterday, an Australian man was shot with an arrow as he was taking a picture of a man armed with a bow and an arrow outside his home. Fortunately for him, the arrow that was launched at him ended up hitting the smartphone that he was holding up, absorbing the majority of the impact and saving his life.

The assailant, that was carrying the weapon was eventually caught by the authorities and charged accordingly. As far as we know, there were no official reports on the exact phone he was holding up. Could the smartphone held up by the man, be the successor of the legendary Nokia 3310? Jokes aside, we’re relieved that the victim was not heavily injured during the whole ordeal. For more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Authorized Malaysia Apple resellers put up Apple Watch Series 6 & Watch SE pre-order date

It's almost close to a month since Apple unveiled the new Apple Watch Series 6 and Watch SE globally. We already know the price tag (RM1749 and RM1199 respectively), but they didn't disclose the pre-order nor availability date yet until today. Well, kind of, as it was revealed on the Apple Store in Lazada instead of the Apple Malaysia website.

According to the online store, the pre-order for the Watch Series 6 and SE will be on 15 October at 9AM. We went to the Apple Malaysia website just to double-check but there's no announcement yet. However, the other authorized reseller, Machines also just put up the same pre-order date for the two watches and looking at the upcoming second Apple Event timeline, we think this pre-order should be legit.

Back to the Lazada platform, it seems that they have prepared a wide variety of models. There are the GPS and GPS + Cellular for both 40mm and 44mm size variants, so are the new blue and red straps. That said, the new braided and stretchable Solo Loop band aren't anywhere to be seen. Guess they will be exclusive on the Apple Malaysia website instead.

To refresh your memory, the Watch Series 6 features a new S6 chip, watchOS 7 and a ton of returning features as well. The Blood Oxygen sensor was also highlighted during the first Apple Event last month, which the Watch SE lacks as well as using an S5 chipset instead (you can read the full details here). Are you going to get one? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Automotive workshops, tyre workshops, spare parts centers as well as car assembly plants are allowed to operate during the MCO period!

Vehicle workshops were allowed to operate twice a week during phase 2 of the movement control order (MCO) depending on local council’s approval. Yesterday, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) has clarified that vehicle workshops and car parts centers are allowed to fully operate during phase 3 of the MCO period.

The ministry said those providing after-sales services were among those given exemptions to open. After-sales services include car assembly plants, operations of maintenance and service of vehicles within the country, tyre workshops for vehicles, logistics services such as transportation of automotive parts and components as well as vehicle spare parts center and stockists supporting.

Tyre workshops are allowed to operate during the MCO period

However, spare parts centers and car assembly plants can only conduct distribution to service centers upon approval from Miti. According to the frequently-asked-question (FAQ) sheet, other than the aforementioned after-sales services are strictly prohibited from operating during the MCO period. This includes all authorized dealer service centers, manufacturers’s service centers as well as independent workshops.With that said, if you have a breakdown, you will be able to get your vehicles to the workshops during this MCO period. But do remember to practice social distancing and keep your hygiene well taken care of at all times. Stay tuned for more local news updates on TechNave.com!


Avoid getting scammed by using the Semak Mule mobile app

It seems that an app called Semak Mule was recently unveiled thanks to an initiative by PDRM, which allows users to check whether the owner of the bank account or phone number was recently involved in a crime. By using this app, the public can keep themselves informed on whether they are dealing with a scammer, as well as increase their trust when it comes to online transactions.

If you’re not keen on checking on the app, there’s also the website where you can check for suspicious bank account and phone number so that you can keep yourselves safe. The app, which is currently available for free on the Google Play store, has already been installed more than 100000 times with an average rating of 4.5 stars, which suggests that the app is doing quite well in helping people stay informed.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on the Semak Mule app? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Award winning Ruark Audio brand is coming into Malaysia soon with HiFi speakers' prices starting from RM2099

Today, we had the opportunity to check out some Ruark Audio products and we delighted to report to you that they are officially launching in Malaysia! A brief introductory lesson for those who don't know about this brand, they are a reputable family-owned British audio brand that is known among the audiophile community and have won several awards for its HiFi audio quality.

Without beating around the bush too much, VSTECS Astar was also announced as the official and sole distributor for the Malaysian market. During the launch, they announced five Ruark Audio products - R7, R5, R3, MR1 and MRX - starting from RM2099 and going up to as high as RM15,999. Yes, they are expensive but these are HiFi audio stuff that truly delivers and you may purchase them (except the R3) at the end of August 2020.

The R7 retailing at RM15,999. That's a really big boi

All the Ruark Audio products design mentioned here look quite similar, that's the RotoDial on top

Yes, you can still pop in your favourite CD into it

The buttons and volume control all-in-one for simplicity

Now that we got that out of the way, we can now talk about the Ruark Audio products. All the aforementioned products' sound drivers are equipped with Class A-B amplifiers instead of Class D which are normally seen on other audio products here in Malaysia, the designs are also carefully crafted to balance the sound synergy. As the saying goes, bigger is better and this is the case with the R7 (the sound is just on another level!) which can fit into a living room perfectly thanks to the radiogram design. However, that doesn't mean the other products aren't good enough as it solely depends on the area.

All the HiFi products can be connected to Bluetooth aptX and WiFi streaming, as well as featuring a slot-loading CD play for the audiophiles. Aside from allowing you to connect to your Spotify playlist, you can also connect them to TIDAL, Amazon Music and Deezer, or even some radio stations. There is also a Ruark RotoDial controller for the user to control from a distance.

(L-R) Kenny Low, Business Development Manager, VSTECS Astar Sdn Bhd; Soong Jan Hsung, Chief Executive Officer, VSTECS Group; and Andrew Ching, Senior Product Manager, VSTECS Astar Sdn Bhd

These products will be put up for sale soon at Lazada and Shopee, as well as Atlas Sound and Vision (Gardens Mall), Mac Studio (BB Plaza KL and Bangsar Shopping Centre), and Flash Gadgets (Sunway Pyramid). To learn more about the products, you may visit their official website here and until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Awesome deals from PokeMobile and Hotlink Goodies for Pokémon GO fans

Maxis Hotlink and Grab Malaysia most recent launch, the PokeMobiles. Gave some sweet opportunity for some fans that were lucky enough to grab the limited edition PokeMobiles to hunt Pokémons.

Pokémon GO players were able to book a free ride to the nearest PokeStop by selecting the PokeMobile button on their GrabApp. Goodie bag, refreshments, and Hotlink PokeChargers were provided for their phones and also not to mention a Hotlink Fast 4G widescreen monitor.

Extra advantage was also given to Hotlink customers in the form of free USD 100 worth of PokeCoins via Hotlink Cash Online. There's also another 10% discount for every purchase via Hotlink Cash Online. Hotlink and Grab Malaysia are definitely getting into the current trend brought such awesome benefits to their customers, so don't missed out if you're a Hotlink and Grab user.


Axiata, Celcom and Boost contribute RM150 million to help micro-SMEs during this pandemic

Today, the Malaysian government has announced the movement control order will be extended until 14 April 2020. It is not surprising at all as cases in our country have been increasing these few days. Therefore, it is better to stay home for a few more weeks to halt the spread. However, this may not be good news for some of the non-essential businesses especially micro-SMEs. Luckily, Axiata is here to save the day with its subsidiaries Celcom and Boost, as they’re contributing a RM150 million cash fund to support small businesses that are facing difficulties.

With the initial contribution of RM20 million from the government of Malaysia through the Ministry of Finance, Axiata started the campaign named COVID-19 Assistance Program to give immediate financial assistance to micro-SMEs. It is expected that micro-SMEs, which make up more than 50% of SMEs in Malaysia and fall mostly within the B40 segment of society, will face difficulties as business operations have been stopped during this time.

In the range of RM1,000 to RM10,000 with favourable terms, Axiata will offer shariah-compliant micro-financing through its subsidiary Axiata Digital platform, Aspirasi. The campaign is also said to benefit an estimate of 150,000 micro-SMEs within Boost, Aspirasi, and Celcom ecosystem. Other than that, Axiata’s COVID-19 Assistance Program will also come bundled with micro-insurance coverage under Aspirasi to protect merchants with emergency income, accidental death, and COVID-19 assistance.

The process to apply for the fund is pretty simple as it only undergoes a quick 3-minute of your time. Just head to Aspirasi’s website to fill out required details and wait for the approval. If approved, the fund will be made available in 48 hours from your bank account. During times like this, it is good to see big companies like Axiata, Celcom and Boost are taking initiatives to help our other small businesses.

Let us know what you think about the COVID-19 Assistance Program on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more viral news.


Axiata and Celcom remind Malaysians about Merdeka and Unity with Getaran Pertama

With 31 of August 2019 coming up on Saturday, Axiata Group Berhad and Celcom Axiata Berhad showcased a short film on unity in Malaysia called ‘Getaran Pertama’ about the first choir to sing ‘Negaraku’. Based on true events in 1957, the film utilizes holographic technology and will be available for viewing from 12.00am on 28 August 2019 at the Celcom site with outreach activities showcasing the film with choir performances happening on 30 August 2019 from 6.00pm to 7.00pm.

The short film follows Tan Sri Ahmad Merican, Radio Malaya Music Supervisor, and Tony Fonseka, a music teacher and conductor to create the aforementioned first ‘Negaraku’ choir. Here’s what they had to say about it:

“Malaysia has come a long way to stake her place in the region as a country of talents, capacity, creativity and industry, standing shoulder-to-shoulder today with some of the world’s most productive, visionary and stable nations. As Malaysians, we are grateful that throughout our history, we have remained a harmonious and united nation celebrating the diversity of our cultures, religions, race and creed.

Axiata too can be considered a young company, having just celebrated our 10-year anniversary. We have grown from strength-to-strength as an iconic Malaysian company proudly flying our flag across ASEAN and South Asia, delivering strong performance and contributing responsibly to our operations and people.

The Celcom and Axiata film on the first Merdeka choir of 1957 has meaningfully captured an important though lesser known historical milestone of our nation and we are very proud to be able to share this with all Malaysians.” Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Axiata Group Berhad

“Celcom’s journey started as the first mobile technology provider in 1988, and today we have the largest network nationwide with the widest LTE coverage in the country. We continuously strive to ensure an inclusive connectivity for all Malaysians, without boundaries; right from the highest peak of Mount Kinabalu, to deep in the forest of Maliau Basin.

We have since been riding along Malaysia’s aspiration of uniting the nation through technology and digital innovation. Through the years, Celcom has played an integral and fundamental role in advancing our societies. And the core of our success has always been the diversity and dynamism of our people.

Diversity is also what made unique as a country, and through this film, we combine technology and history, to reiterate that our one dream for a nation with perfect harmony can be achieved despite our differences”, Idham Nawawi, Chief Executive Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad.


6 more Huawei smartphones added to Android Q list

The US government's ban on Huawei which forced Google to sever ties with Huawei have left many smartphone owners worried. Initially, Google had removed Huawei devices from their Android Q list but we’re beginning to see some Huawei devices making a comeback onto said list.

Huawei’s Spanish division announced that 6 more Huawei devices would be eligible for the Android Q OS. The list includes the Huawei Mate 10, Huawei Mate 10 Pro, Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design, Huawei Mate 20 Lite, Huawei Mate 20 RS Porsche Design and the Huawei Mate 20 X.

Prior to this, the Huawei P30 series and the Mate 20 Pro had also been reinstated into the Android Q program. Also, their sub-brand, HONOR, will be seeing the HONOR 20 series on the list as well. Will this news make you want to keep your Huawei devices? Keep up with the latest Huawei news and updates on TechNave.com!


Axiata and Telenor back in discussion for a new merging company - Celcom Digi Berhad

Two years ago, there were talks about Celcom and Digi's parent companies - Axiata and Telenor respectively about merging together but the plan failed through. Today, the two parties are back at discussions and a newly merged company will be created as Celcom Digi Berhad.

The merging of these two telco companies goals is the create a leading telecommunication service provider in terms of research and innovation to facilitate a digital platform economy within the nation. According to the official statement, both parties will have equal ownership of 33.1% of each of the merged company. Celcom Digi will be listed on Bursa Malaysia as well.

Both parties have agreed to nominate Dato’ Izzaddin Idris as Chair, Jørgen C. Arentz Rostrup as Deputy Chair, Idham Nawawi as CEO and Albern Murty as deputy CEO of the merged company which will be named Celcom Digi Berhad. The finalized agreements will be scheduled to be completed within the second quarter of 2021.

Although both parties have expressed interest in merging together, the transaction will be subject to approval by Digi Board and Celcom shareholder, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary terms and conditions. In other words, there is no 100% that these discussions will pull through but this is the farthest they have gone so far. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Axiata and Telenor to name their merged telco as ‘Celcom Digi Bhd’, will hold 33.1% ownership each

Axiata Group Bhd and Digi.Com Bhd in a joint statement today welcomed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)’s decision to approve their proposed merger company. Lauding the potential of the merger in driving digitalisation in Malaysia, both companies also revealed that the new company name would be ‘Celcom Digi Bhd’.

As reported by Bernama, both parties also said that the merger will provide better network quality and coverage in our country. This is because the new entity will invest in network expansion to support the growing demand for data and digitalisation.

In order to keep Malaysia at the forefront of the global digital revolution, the merger company has also proposed to invest up to RM250 million over five years to build a world-class innovation centre in Kuala Lumpur. This centre will help advance extensive research and development leveraging 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology.

Celcom Digi Bhd will also be well-placed to drive 5G solutions as well as catalyse new growth opportunities for large enterprises and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Both companies also claimed that the merger will be able to attract global digital giants in support of the JENDELA and MyDigital aspirations in our country.

While the proposed merger has been approved by MCMC, its completion is still subject to the approval from the Securities Commission, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, Axiata and Digi shareholders, and fulfilment of other customary terms and conditions. Should it be completed, Axiata (Celcom's parent company) and Telenor (Digi's parent company) will hold 33.1% ownership each and will list Celcom Digi Bhd on Bursa Malaysia.

So, what do you guys think of the latest saga of the proposed merger of two of Malaysia’s biggest telco companies? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news.


Ayam Brand previews Virtual Reality Racing-To-Space Campaign to raise awareness on sustainability

Herve Simon (left), Group Marketing Director, Ayam Brand and Ms Denise Westerhout (right), Lead for Sustainable Markets Programme, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

So here's something you don't read everyday, our local Ayam Brand has launched its first local campaign - Racing-To-Space Campaign, in Malaysia with its own camera rig casing for high-altitude virtual reality footage. The camera is specifically designed to withstand high-altitude, low-pressure, very low temperature conditions just to record some footage from high above of up to 29,000m. With that height, it's able to see Malaysia, Singapore and even Indonesia.

But why? Well, apparently the campaign was part of regional contest aimed at increasing environmental awareness and educating on more sustainable choices, which starts today until 1 December as part of its 125th anniversary celebration of We Care, We Are Family.

At the same time, the same campaign is also held in numerous countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, China, Japan and France, starting from 20 November 2017 to 1 December 2017. That being said, Malaysian participants stand a chance to win more than 1000 prizes including 5 VR googles, with a total value of RM53,000.

To register, you can go to www.ayambrand.com.my/racing-to-space and you are required to watch two short video footage from the balloons to find the answers to; which balloon FIRST reached an altitude of 12,000 meters, which balloon went the highest, one question about Ayam Brand, and lastly, to craft a short slogan on the brand as a tie-breaker.

For more information, you can check out the contest at their official website www.ayambrand.com.my, official Facebook page here, or www.ayambrand.com.my/racing-to-space.


B40 students can apply for a free mobile device under PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia from mid-April

Communications and Multimedia Minister, Tan Sri Annuar Musa has today announced that applications for the PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia programme will be opened in mid-April. A package specifically crafted for tertiary-level education students from the B40 group, PerantiSiswa offers free mobile devices and internet access for their studies.

Announced during the tabling of Budget 2022 last October, the initiative would benefit around 400000 Malaysian students from either the public or private institutes of higher learning (IPT). Furthermore, the initiative was introduced to help students attend online learning activities, surf the Internet for research purposes and even send messages to stay connected with their families and friends.

According to a report by national news agency Bernama, Annuar said that to be eligible for PerantiSiswa, students must come from families whose parents earn less than RM4850 a month. He was quoted of saying the above during his speech in the Dewan Rakyat earlier today.

The devices are expected to be distributed to students starting from the first week of June 2022. During his speech, the Communications Minister also said that the mobile devices will entail at least 4GB of RAM and a 10.1-inch display.

So, what do you guys think of this initiative by the federal government? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest trending tech news!


BAE to represent Malaysia in the upcoming Asia Predator League 2020 Grand Finals

Battle Arena Elites recently emerged victorious during the Asia Pacific Predator League 2020 which was held at Battle Arena, Jaya Shopping Centre on 8 December 2019 with an amazing 100-point lead over the first runner-up. The champions, well as the first runner-up, brought home RM10000 and RM5000 in cash prize and Predator accessories respectively.

With all that said, Battle Arena Elites will represent Malaysia alongside Flower Gaming in the Asia Pacific Predator League 2020 Grand finals in the Philippines next year. Malaysia will have to go against champions from 16 other countries, in order to win their share of the prize pool worth USD400000.

On another note, Acer Malaysia also announced that they will be having special offers for various gaming products on Shopee from now until 12 December 2019. Not only that, but there they will also be offering the Acer Nitro 5 which is equipped with the Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics card for only RM2999 on 12 December 2019 at 12AM to 2AM.

With all that said, what do you think of Battle Arena Elite’s performance during the finals? Also, will you be keen on getting any Acer products during the sale on Shopee? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


BBK Electronics - owner of OnePlus, OPPO and Vivo - launches new brand calledimoo

One of the main investors in Chinese phone makers OnePlus, Vivo and Oppo, BBK Electronics Corporation, has just launched a new brand in China called imoo and it will be reportedly producing the world's “first educational smartphone”.

Pictures of the imoo device has surfaced online, and it looks pretty good. The device is born from the accumulated knowledge from the company’s last two ventures. We may see some educational features incorporated into the device, but at this point of time we do not know what it is.

Do stay tuned to TechNave as we bring more news on imoo and their educational smartphone soon.


BBK Vivo X3 now World's thinnest phone... for now

While other smartphone makers are chasing the highest megapixels for their cameras or pixel per inch pixel density for their screens, others are trying to make the record for the World's thinnest phone. This includes the BBK Vivo X3 which is now currently the thinnest phone in the world. Taking over from the previous champion the Huawei Ascend P6 with 6mm, it should be available within August. No news yet if it will only be available in China or how much it might cost but it sits on a very shaky throne as others, like the 5.6mm Umeox X5 are coming out soon as well. For now, take a look at all the comparison photos and see if you want the world's current thinnest phone.


BENQ launches the W11000 4K projector with THX certification

For home theatre goers, the options for projectors with good images quality may not come hand in hand with great sound. Which is why BENQ’s latest projector launch is a news to be celebrated, as the new W11000 from BENQ comes with both 4K technology as well as THX certification for great sounding movie in the home theatre.

Fully meeting Consumer Technology Association’s (CTA) requirements for 4K UHD with true 8.3-millionpixel resolution, W11000’s THX certification ensures cinematic performance to replicate the precise experience of attending a commercial digital cinema. The W11000 produces 3840 x 2160 distinct pixels for true 8.3-millionpixel 4K UHD resolution. Single-DMD DLP technology ensures absolute image integrity and colour accuracy without artifacts that can be introduced by panel alignment issues, especially critical at 4K with much finer pixels than 1080p.

It also offers supreme overall image performance and THX Mode, pre-calibrated by THX engineers for the most accurate out-of-box picture quality possible to deliver authentic cinematic content as filmmakers originally intended.

For those who would like to integrate this beautiful looking, and great video performer in their home theatre system, the BENQ W11000 is now available for sale and it comes complete out of the box to give users the ultimate video experience possible.


BLACKPINK is coming back to Malaysia for a second performance!

You can’t help but feel bad for the diehard BLACKPINK fans who not only missed out on the initial tickets sales but also charged 16 times more for concert tickets from 3rd party sellers. Due to the overwhelming support from Malaysian fans, BLACKPINK has agreed to perform once again in Malaysia on the 23rd of February 2019.

To show their appreciation of the fans in this country, tickets for the “In You Area” concert will be discounted by 10%. You’ll be able to pick up your tickets on the YG Entertainment official store on Shopee and you’ll only be limited to 2 tickets per transaction. You can check out the prices of the tickets as well as when to get them in the image below. Will you be going to the concert? If you want to know more amazing offers, make sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com!


BLACKPINK latest song ‘Lovesick Girls’ released in PUBG MOBILE

Since 24 September, PUBG MOBILE has unveiled multiple contents in collaboration with BLACKPINK for the fans enjoyment. Besides that, there have also included BLACKPINK’s new song ‘Lovesick Girls’ from The Album, instead of ‘How You Like That’ when you logging into the game.

From 2 October until 8 October, both PUBG MOBILE players and Blinks (BLACKPINK fans) will spot an airdrop plane painted in pink and see the BLACKPINK logo on it. As for the airdrop, it will feature colour themes and The Album icon, while releasing pink smoke on the battlefield. On top of that, players will see the special collaboration billboards in the New Erangel map.

For more details about the collaboration, you may visit the PUBG MOBILE official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram account. To know more about tech news, be sure to stay tuned on TechNave.com.


118 mobile apps now banned in India, including PUBG Mobile and a Malay Social Dating App

A few weeks ago, we reported that the India Government was looking into banning several mobile apps from China due to security reasons. They have already banned TikTok in their country and now with the latest update - a total of 118 mobile apps are blocked.

According to an official press release by the Ministry of Electronics and IT on the ban, the ban is due to the "information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order". With this, they decided to invoke the ban under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read. On top of that, they also said that they received many complaints from various sources about how the mobile apps misused, steal and transmit their data outside of India without their permission.

Government Blocks 118 Mobile Apps Which are Prejudicial to Sovereignty and Integrity of India, Defence of India, Security of State and Public Order.Press Release issued by @GoI_MeitY regarding blocking of 118 mobile apps https://t.co/VyahsHR5f0

Among the 118 mobile apps, the most notable ones include WeChat, PUBG Mobile, Alipay, Taobao, Arena of Valor, and many more. Interestingly, we also spotted "Malay Social Dating App to Date & Meet Singles" on the list and wondered if it has anything to do with our country (lol). Anyway, if you want to check out the full list, you can head over here.

The pressure between TikTok and the US Government is still ongoing. At the moment, Microsoft is keen on acquiring the company and WeChat's days are numbered thanks to President Trump's executive order ban. We will continue to keep an eye on this so stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


6 people lost nearly RM300k to scammers through a mobile app

The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department reveals a new scam tactic

Scammers are always looking for new ways to cheat honest citizens, which is why we have to remain alert to them at this crucial time. Unfortunately, six people had the misfortune to run afoul of the latest trick by a scam syndicate recently and lost a combined total of RM295350. The method used to trick the victims was a mobile application created by the syndicate.

According to The Malay Mail (via Bernama), the scam was first exposed by the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department. It was revealed that the six victims (ages between 24 to 59) were contacted by the syndicate from 7 to 11 April 2020. Four of the victims were from Kuala Lumpur, while the other two were from Penang and Sarawak.

Syndicate members will start by calling you and claiming to be from the police force. Next, a link (www.negarabank.com.my/nbm.apk) to an app is sent through WhatsApp. This is a type of phishing app, which will record a victim's personal and banking information once the information is keyed into the app. As soon as that happens, the syndicate will transfer the victim's money away and even ask for the authorisation code (TAC) to complete the transaction.

You'll find that a lot of scams in Malaysia start with a phone call. But the police, court and Bank Negara will never contact you via phone call, so when you get a suspicious call it's best to just cut it (read more tips here). If you have encountered other forms of scams, please help share them on our Facebook page to spread the awareness. For more news, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


BLU launches smartphone range in Malaysia with Lazada + hands-on and tech specs

BLU Products from America recently launched their affordable range of smartphones here in Malaysia with Lazada, offering 10 smartphones including the BLU Pure XR (RM1799), BLU Diamond M (RM299) and BLU vivo 5 mini (RM299). Exclusively available on Lazada for a month, the official distributor for BLU smartphones is Hot Gadgets Sdn Bhd who also handles AKG, JBL, Harmon Kardon, Mark Levinson, Revel and E-Blue. All BLU phones will come with 1-to-1 replacement warranty for a year.

Check here for event highlights and the deals for the BLU smartphones in Malaysia and on Lazada

Hot Gadgets, BLU Products and Lazada showing off the BLU smartphones

Here are the BLU smartphones tech specs, prices, features and some hands-on pics:

Here's the BLU Vivo 5 mini in aluminum metal body

Going for a metal body with the BLU Grand M

Here's the big battery BLU Energy Diamond

Heading into the premium range with the BLU Vivo 5R

The BLU Vivo 6 is for when you don't need the fastest processor

While the BLU Pure XR is for when you need that faster processor

It has been a while since we last saw a 3G only smartphone with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage but some Malaysians might actually like some of these BLU smartphones, especially the bigger battery models. Are you one of those Malaysians? Let us know at our TechNave.com Facebook page and we might give one BLU smartphone away.


BMW CE 04 will be launching in Malaysia in March, targeted around RM60,000

Today, BMW Motorrad Malaysia announced a couple of new electric vehicles. Among them, the new BMW CE 04 is perhaps the most eye-catching one as it's the company's first local electric scooter.

Coming in Light White, the new BMW CE 04 presents a futuristic design with tyres measured at 120/70 R15 67H for the front and 160/60 R15 56H for the rear. The LED lighting units have been implemented for the headlamp in both high beam and low beam, the rear light, as well as the turn indicators. Additionally, the Adaptive Headlight Pro can even include special light functions, such as “Welcome” and “Good Bye”.

In terms of power, the BMW CE 04’s motor generates a maximum output of 31 kW (42PS) and 62 Nm of torque, allowing for stop-and-go acceleration from 0 to 50 km/h in just 2.6 seconds. The top speed for the New BMW CE 04 is set at 120 km/h and as for battery cell capacity, it features an ample 60.6 Ah (8.9 kWh), providing a maximum range of 130 kilometres.

The lithium-ion battery is charged using the integrated charging device, which can be done at any regular household power socket, wallbox or public charging station. When completely flat, fully charging the battery to maximum capacity takes 4 hours and 20 minutes, assuming the standard output of 2.3 kW. With quick charging, assuming an output of up to 6.9 kW, this can be reduced to 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Riders can also choose four riding modes: “ECO”, “Rain” and “Road”, as well as the “Dynamic” riding mode that is available as an ex-works option. For safety, the latest generation of BMW Motorrad Integral ABS Pro is featured and the electric scooter comes with a 10.25-inch TFT colour display with Integrated Map Navigation. Riders may use the BMW Motorrad Connected App for monitoring vehicle status, statistics and navigation.

The BMW CE 04 is not available in Malaysia yet but will be launching soon in March 2023. There's no official price tag either, but BMW Mottrad Malaysia said it should be at the RM60K price range and no B license is needed to ride it. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


BMW announces Mini Augmented Vision Goggles for driving

The 2015 Auto Shanghai Exhibition offers a glimpse to the new and promising developments in the future of automobile technology. One of the stand-outs is BMW's Mini with the Mini Augmented Vision Goggles meant for its Mini series. The goggles combine navigational and safety information during drives such as curb distance/view for parking, destination point selection, incoming messages from your smartphone, mileage, points of interest, road arrows, speed limits and x-ray sight of the car, in a see-through format so that no obstruction is caused to the actual driving sight. BMW Mini is seen to be moving along the direction that is inevitable - the need to evolve beyond cars by offering futuristic technology to enhance driving experience, performance and pleasure. No word on its actual availability and pricing to the mass market yet though.


BMW’s Panoramic Vision turns your windshield into a digital dashboard

BMW recently showed off their new Panoramic Vision feature which turns your windshield into a Heads-up-display digital dashboard. Fully customizable and within your view, this display is located at the bottom of your windshield and shows off colourful dashboard features like a clock, speedometer and even the song being played.

While there’s no Malaysia release dates for the Panoramic Vision, BMW did say that it would be implemented in NEUE KLASSE models from 2025. We could also see the colour changing technology previously announced at CES 2023 for these BMW cars.

As usual for such news, there’s also no mention of how much this might cost, but we expect that this could come for other such Electric Vehicles, especially if it saves space and energy. What do you think? Would you like to have your dashboard built into your car’s windshield? As long as it doesn’t come with Ads, we think that’s great. Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com