CES 2018: World’s first ready-to-produce In-Display Fingerprint Scanning smartphone revealed by vivo

Today at CES 2018, vivo has finally showcased the world’s first ready-to-produce ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanning smartphone. If you are already aware, so far, no smartphone brand has achieved this yet and this makes vivo the first to do so. In other words, vivo has deliberately solved the industry's challenge of providing a better and convenient security authentication experience for future smartphones.

Even with the introduction of face recognition security, most users still prefer using the fingerprint recognition as it's the standard biometric security for smartphones. As the industry steadily moves into a new era of full-screen displays, vivo can now take advantage of it with the in-display fingerprint technology, without sacrificing the user experience.

“With our efforts in extensive consumer research and long-term R&D investment, vivo is well positioned to pioneer the development of fingerprint scanning technology. We first presented a prototype of our fingerprint scanning solution at MWC Shanghai 2017 based on an ultrasonic sensor, and have remained committed to realizing our vision for future smartphones,” said Alex Feng, Senior Vice President of vivo.

“Today’s showcase of a ready-to-produce in-display fingerprint scanning smartphone featuring an optical fingerprint sensor is a big leap forward in bringing consumers this long-awaited, futuristic mobile experience. We are very excited to make it available to consumers soon.” he concluded.

Supported by global partner Synaptics, the technology supports various usage scenarios beyond unlocking the smartphone - from performing an unlocking to mobile payment and other operations. When fingerprint recognition is not required, the fingerprint user interface will be invisible and will not disrupt the overall visual experience.

Currently, the in-display fingerprint scanner is already in mass production and the availability will be announced in early 2018. Stay tuned for more CES 2018 news at TechNave.com.


CES 2021 dates officially announced, will be digital-only event

Global pandemic woes aren't going away anytime soon and many events are still expected to stay offline. That's the same for next year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021, which is now confirmed to be a digital-only event. Event organiser Consumer Technology Association (CTA) made the announcement yesterday.

According to the announcement, CES 2021 will be an all-digital event to be held from 11 to 14 January 2021. This is because the COVID-19 pandemic is still a major concern in the US, which means it's not feasible to host a live event in Las Vegas as usual. Anyway, CES 2021 will start with a media exclusive day on 11 January, so you can expect some big brands to do their major reveals on that day.

In terms of the event theme, CES 2021 will likely focus a lot on 5G. Verizon CEO will give the opening keynote for the event, talking about 5G as the framework for the 21st century. Besides that, you'll be able to watch other keynotes, product showcases, and live demos. Overall, it'll be interesting to see how CTA structures CES 2021.

With that said, what would you like to see most at next year's CES? Is there a particular product you are looking forward to? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates on CES 2021.


CES 2022: 4 new Alienware laptops unveiled at the annual tech show

Last week was an exciting week for tech, as many new products were revealed at CES 2022. Among the company attending the event is Dell, which owns Alienware. Alienware not only unveiled the Concept Nyx last week but also introduced some new gaming laptops. Let's take a look at the 4 new laptops that were revealed.

Alienware has been around for years and is well-known for its powerful laptops. However, its models were often bulky machines that were not portable. Well, the new Alienware x14 is a rather slim gaming laptop that's more portable. It sports a new patent-pending hinge design, which makes it possible for Alienware to pack more things under the chassis.

Specifically, it has the Alienware Cryo-Tech cooling technology and a large battery, capable of over 11 hours of HD video playback. Moreover, this battery is considered to have the largest capacity for a 14-inch gaming laptop. As for the CPU and GPU, the Alienware x14 comes with a 12th Gen Intel Core H-series CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU.

Next are the Alienware x15 R2 and Alienware x17 R2. These two are refreshed models of the Alienware x15/x16 R1 that was launched last year. While the 2021 models featured 11th Gen Intel Core H CPUs, this year they're being upgraded to 12th Gen Intel Core H CPUs. The RAM has also been upgraded from DDR4 (3200MHz) to DDR5 (6400MHz), making it a much more powerful gaming laptop.

Moving on, we have the Alienware m17 R5. The latest Alienware M-series gaming laptop features AMD's new Ryzen 6000 series CPUs and AMD Radeon RX GPUs. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium, AMD SmartShift MAX, and AMD Smart Access Memory. On top of that, this new model has the Alienware Cryo-tech cooling technology, which comes with a vapour chamber cooler for the GPU area.

Last but not least is the Alienware m15 R7, the new 17-inch model for the M-series. It comes with either 12th Gen Intel Core H or AMD Ryzen CPUs, as well as Nvidia's GeForce RTX 30-series GPUs. Moreover, it should have a 17-inch display that supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. For interested buyers, you could even get this laptop with Cherry MX mechanical switches for the keyboard.

Well, that's all the new laptops from Alienware this time. The company has announced that the price and availability for these new models would be revealed soon, so stay tuned to TechNave for further updates.


CES 2022 ASUS: 3 ZenBook OLED laptops with 100% DCI-P3 gamut showcased

Yesterday, most of the laptops revealed at CES 2022 were of the gaming variety. These laptops tend to have a particular design, including a black chassis and flashy lights. But if you want something more elegant, check out the new ASUS ZenBook OLED laptops.

The first of the bunch is the ZenBook 17 Fold OLED, ASUS' latest star product for its ZenBook series. This laptop can be considered a foldable device or the world's first foldable laptop, as it comes with a foldable OLED screen. It comes with a large 17.3-inch 2.5K touchscreen OLED panel (4:3 aspect ratio) that can fold in the middle, forming two smaller 12.5-inch 1920x1280 screens (3:2 aspect ratio). This display comes with a 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, Dolby Vision HDR support, and is PANTONE Validated.

With the full-size detachable ASUS ErgoSense Bluetooth keyboard and touchpad, you can use the ZenBook 17 Fold OLED as a laptop PC and tablet. It also has a set of powerful Harman Kardon-certified speakers so you can enjoy movies and videos. In terms of specs, this model packs the new 12th Gen Intel Core i7 U-series CPUs and Intel Iris Xe graphics.

Next is the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition, a special-edition laptop with a space-themed design. It has a 14-inch 2.8K OLED display, as well as a 3.5-inch OLED companion display on the laptop lid that can show customised messages and animations. The main display supports a refresh rate of 90Hz and a colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3. It's also DisplayHDR True Black 500 and TUV Rheinland-certified.

As for its specs and features, this laptop comes with a 12th Gen Intel Core i9 H-Series CPU, 32GB of RAM, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. It also has a PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD and supports WiFi-6 (Intel WiFi 6E). As a bonus, this laptop is compliant with the US Space Systems Command Standard SMC-S-016A testing protocols, so it's tough enough to handle space travel (just in case lol).

The third model is the ZenBook 14 OLED, a sleek laptop that's designed to be ultra-portable. It comes with a new lid design, elegant Aqua Celadon and Ponder Blue colours. This is a more powerful version of the Zenbook 14X OLED that was launched in Malaysia last month. Anyway, it packs a 14-inch 2.8K OLED display that supports a refresh rate of 90Hz and a colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3.

As for the specs, this model uses Intel's new 12th Gen Intel Core i9 H-Series CPU, up to 16GB of RAM, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. It also has an ultrafast PCIe 4.0 SSD, a 75 Wh battery, and Intel WiFi 6E. Like the other two models above, the ZenBook 14 OLED comes with Harman Kardon-certified speakers and supports Dolby Atmos.

The price and availability of these laptops are currently unknown, though we expect them to be announced in Malaysia eventually. If they do, which model is the one you'd be interested in? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more CES 2022 news.


CES 2022 ASUS: new TUF Gaming F15, F17 and Dash F15 announced with 12th Gen Intel Core processors

Aside from the ASUS ROG gaming laptop beasts (this and that), ASUS also announced this year's TUF gaming laptop lineups - particularly the TUF Gaming F15, F17 and the Dash F15. Just like the new products this year, both are equipped with the latest hardware as well so let's check out what ASUS is offering.

For starters, the TUF Gaming F15 and F17 laptops feature the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU with 140 W max TGP. A new MUX Switch is added to the lineup as well to adjust the GPU's frames and gamers can still use the Armoury Crate to reduce latency and improve performance. Visually, all the new 2022 TUF laptops are equipped with up to FHD at 300Hz for the fastest FPS gameplay or QHD at 165Hz.

On the other hand, there's also a new TUF Dash F15 that is updated and upgraded with the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU with MUX Switch. Accompanied by a brand new DDR5 memory running at 4800 MHz and dual PCIe 4.0-capable SSD slots, it's capable of running up to 165Hz refresh rate in QHD as well as 100% DCI-P3 for colour accuracy for content creation. Other than that, the TUF Dash F15 supports Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C power delivery up to 100W.

The TUF Gaming lineup should make its way to the Malaysian market this year but there's no word on when yet. Until then, do stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


CES 2022 Acer: New Predator Orion 5000 and Predator Orion 3000 desktop PCs with high-end gaming performance

Another day of CES 2022, another day full of new reveals. A bunch of new laptops were unveiled in the last few days, but laptops aren't the only thing that companies have up their sleeves. Acer also has a few new gaming desktop PCs to add to its Predator Orion series.

The company has announced a new Predator Orion 5000 desktop gaming PC, packed with the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU. On top of that, it has up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM (4000MHz), an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, and a large 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD. It also has ARGB-infused Predator FrostBlade 2.0 fans and a 240mm liquid-cooling system to keep its powerful hardware cool.

Another model that was unveiled was the Predator Orion 3000. Unlike the full-tower Predator Orion 5000, this one is a mid-tower sized gaming PC. It also comes with a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM (3200MHz) but has a slightly less powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU and a larger 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD. There's also a 6TB SATA3 HDD for you to store all your media files.

Acer is retailing the Predator Orion 5000 and Predator Orion 3000 for USD2599 (~RM10892) and USD1999 (~RM8378), respectively. Both models will launch in China in January 2022, so availability here could be a few months after that.


7-inch Huawei MediaPad X1 tablet announced, thinnest and lightest yet

Huawei continue to wow us with their MWC 2014 offerings, this time unveiling the Huawai MediaPad X1. Featuring an aluminum frame, ultra-thin bezels, a Full HD 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution 7-inch IPS display and phone capabilities the tablet is awesome in terms of tech specs. Other awesome tech specs include 239g worth of weight, 7.18mm thinness, 13MP rear camera with Sony Exmor R sensor and a 5000 mAh battery. Huawei's own 1.6GHz quadcore HiSilicon Kirin 910 powers the tablet offering LTE Cat4 connectivity.

These features put it on par with most smartphones but it can also last up to 5 days of continuous use with an additional 5MP front camera for selfies. The only thing missing is an LED flash and the fact that it starts out with just Android 4.2. It should be available in China first with a Malaysia release date expected afterwards in April 2014. No Malaysia pricing details yet but we expect the price to be as premium as the tech specs.


CES 2022 Acer: Predator X32, Predator X32 FP, and Predator CG48 gaming monitors unveiled

Earlier today, Acer showcased a bunch of new products at CES 2022. Among them are some Predator-branded gaming devices, including the Predator Orion 3000 and Predator Orion 5000 gaming desktops. But if a new rig is not what you need, how about some high-end Acer Predator monitors?

At CES 2022, Acer also unveiled the Predator X32 and Predator X32 FP gaming monitors. Both are 32-inch 4K displays that use IPS panels with 576 local-dimming zones made out of mini LEDs. On top of that, they boast VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certifications, a colour accuracy of Delta E<2, and 99% of AdobeRGB colour gamut.

Besides that, they are also high refresh rate monitors. The Predator X32 has a refresh rate of 160Hz, while the Predator X32 FP supports 165Hz when overclocked. Other features include Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate, ultra-low latency, Nvidia Reflex, and more. As for ports, the Predator X32 FP has an HDMI 2.1 port, so you can use it with not just PCs but also consoles. There's also a USB Type-C port that supports 90W power delivery.

If 32-inch is not enough for you, there's also the Predator CG48 gaming monitor. This one can be considered a TV, as it is a 48-inch OLED screen that supports 4K. It also has a max refresh rate of 138Hz, 0.1ms response time, 135000:1 contrast ratio, and 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. For features, it has AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Variable Refresh Rate, an HDMI 2.1 port, and more.

The Predator X32, X32 FP, and CG48 are priced at USD1999 (~RM8386), USD1799 (~RM7547), and USD2499 (~RM10483), respectively. Which one would you get if you're looking to truly enhance your quality of life as a gamer? Drop us a comment on Facebook, and stay tuned to TechNave for more CES 2022 news.


CES 2022 Dell: new XPS 13 Plus with 12th Gen Intel Core processor and a 4K video conferencing monitor

It's now Dell's turn to shine at CES. The brand has announced a new gorgeous-looking XPS laptop and a 4K video conferencing monitor. Now, let's read on to find out what they bring to the table!

Starting from the XPS 13 Plus, it merges beautiful design and powerful technologies into one. The laptop now features a new sleek keyboard, function row, touchpad and palm rest that are minimalistic and modern. Media and function keys are no longer attached to the keyboard, as they now have their own capacitive touch space. Furthermore, the traditional trackpad has also been replaced by a seamless glass touchpad that provides haptic responses to the touch.

Tech specs-wise, Dell XPS 13 Plus features a 12th Gen Intel Core 28W processor, up to 4K+ resolution OLED display, and Express Charge 2.0 that gets the laptop to about 80% battery life in less than an hour. It also comes with an improved quad-speaker system, with two up-firing speakers hidden underneath the keyboard and two down-firing speakers on the base, resulting in incredible sound for music, movies and conferencing. The laptop will be available in two colours - Platinum and Graphite.

Next, we have the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K Video Conferencing Monitor. It packs groundbreaking IPS Black technology and VESA DisplayHDR 400 that let you view content in greater detail with 4K resolution. It also has the UltraSharp Webcam, echo cancelling dual-array microphones and 14W speakers to provide the best collaboration and visual experience possible. Lastly, it brings a sophisticated design with a platinum silver finish that complements both home and office spaces.

If you're interested, both products are expected to debut in March 2022 in Malaysia. What do you think about these new Dell products? Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more CES coverage.


CES 2022 Lenovo: New wide array of gaming monitors and gaming mice for gamers

The Lenovo Legion brand is getting more recognition over the years with the gaming laptops, but the company has finally come up with the Legion gaming monitors and mice. Without further ado, let's check them out.

Starting with the monitors, Lenovo is introducing the Legion Y25-30, G27qe-20 and G24qe-20. The big boy here is the Y25-30 with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 99% sRGB colour gamut with Delta E<2 colour accuracy on the 24.5-inch Full HD In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel. Certified by VESA DisplayHDR 400, this monitor has a smart variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, AMD FreeSync Premium, 0.5ms moving picture response time, 1ms extreme response time as well as 2x integrated 3W speakers.

As for the other two gaming monitors, G27qe-20 and G24qe-20, they are both entry-level devices certified by Eyesafe. The refresh rate isn't too bad with up to 100Hz refresh rate for the price with up to 110Hz overclocked refresh rate on both monitors. It also has a 1mMPRT response time for social players and young professionals alike while balancing their at-home learning, working, (and when there’s spare time) gaming needs too.

Moving to the gaming mouse, Lenovo is introducing an ultra-lightweight Legion M600s wireless gaming mouse weighing less than 75g with an ergonomic design for better gripping. This mouse can be used wirelessly for a lossless sub 1ms via 2.4GHz connection, via Bluetooth, or wired USB-C cable, and can be used for both left and right-handed gamers. Other notable features include 19,000 DPI, 70 hours of battery life, which can last up to 80 million clicks via an optical microswitch.

Last but not least, the Legion M300s RBG gaming mouse is a budget-friendly version weighing 61g. It offers 8000 DPI and comes with an ultra-soft cable for minimal drag and mechanical micro-switch buttons for up to 10 million clicks that’s fast for gaming and typing. For the pricing and availability, you can check out the details below:

As for whether these products will make it to Malaysia, we will have to wait and see if Lenovo Malaysia plans to do anything about it. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


CES 2022: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 and ThinkPad Z series laptops revealed

When it comes to laptops, Lenovo is well-known for its business models. The ThinkPad family has reliable laptops that are often used by corporate folks, and it's just grown bigger at CES 2022. Let's take a look at what the new ThinkPad X1 and Think Z models offer.

As you may know, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 series consists of premium models that are designed for professionals. There are three new models this time - the X1 Carbon 10th Gen, X1 Yoga 7th Gen, and X1 Nano 2nd Gen. They're powered by the 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs with Intel vPro support, up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. These laptops also have up to 2TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

Lenovo also ensured that these models come with good displays. The X1 Carbon 10th Gen and X1 Carbon 7th gen both come with a 14-inch OLED display, while the X1 Nano 2nd Gen uses a 13-inch display. Moreover, all three models come with an FHD+IR MIPI Computer Vision web-cam, TrackPoint button, Thunderbolt 4 ports, WiFi 6 support, and more.

As for the Lenovo ThinkPad Z family, there are two models this time - ThinkPad Z13 and ThinkPad Z16. Both are powered by the latest AMD Ryzen PRO 6000 mobile CPUs, up to 32GB of RAM, and integrated AMD Radeon graphics. For the ThinkPad Z16, users can buy a variant with the AMD Radeon RX 6500M GPU. The ThinkPad Z16 is also the larger model with a 16-inch display, compared to the ThinkPad Z13's 13.3-inch.

If you're interested in the new ThinkPad laptops, check out the official announcements linked above. Lenovo also announced other products during its CES 2022 keynote, so stay tuned to TechNave for our updates on that.


CES 2022 Lenovo: World’s first 16" laptop series with a WQHD+ up to 240Hz, starting from ~RM4759

As expected, Lenovo is ready to unleash a new batch of 2022 Legion gaming laptops. There are a total of four models announced - the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro, Legion 5 Pro, Legion 5i and Legion 5. We reviewed one of these bad boys before last year and it was a powerful beast. So what can we expect this year? Check them out below.

In case you didn't know, the Legion 5 series is known for having a 16-inch display. With this in mind, the Legion 5 Pro series is the world’s first 16-inch laptop series with a WQHD+ up to 240Hz adaptive refresh rate. It also supports a 100% sRGB colour gamut, up to 3ms response time, up to VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, up to 500 nits of brightness, Dolby Vision and NVIDIA G-SYNC.

Furthermore, you can get either up to the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor or next-gen AMD Ryzen processors accompanied by the latest GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPU. The memory are high-end with expanded bandwidth from 4800Mhz DDR5 memory and up to 1TB PCle SSD (Gen4) storage.

As for the non-pro series, the Legion 5i laptop with up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor and the Legion 5 with next-gen AMD Ryzen processors are equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU. Lenovo said that the cooling system on these two laptops is thermally more efficient and quieter – offering a 40% more powerful fan with a larger exhaust fan area that’s 45% larger than its previous generation.

Also not to forget, they feature up to 15-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS 16:9 display with up to a 165Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB colour gamut at 300 nits bright, and full-spectrum visuals with Dolby Vision. Consumer gamers with Lenovo PCs, including the Lenovo Legion 5i and Lenovo Legion 5 laptop, can get up to three months free of Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, including EA Play. Hopefully, we can see this feature in Malaysia too.

We expect these Legion gaming laptops to make their way into the Malaysian market this year. So sit tight and relax, and wait for the official announcement by Lenovo Malaysia only at TechNave.com.


CES 2022 MSI: Goes Meta with their 12th Gen Intel Core Gamerverse laptops

This CES 2022 MSI announced their new Gamerverse laptop line-ups designed for the Metaverse. Powered by the latest 12th Gen Intel Core processors and up to NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3080 Ti graphics, MSI also announced several key technologies being used in their Gamerverse devices which includes their Phase-Change Liquid Metal Pad for up to 10% better performance and cooling and various laptops.

These laptops include the flagship gaming MSI Stealth GS77/66 for gamers who need something bigger and more comfortable with a 50% larger trackpad and larger keycaps. The GS77/66 also utilize the  aforementioned NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti gpu. No exact Malaysia release dates and pricing details yet but MSI have said that the GS66 will be available in Malaysia by late January 2022.

The MSI Raider GE series will also feature the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i9 processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU but also includes MSI OverBoost tech which delivers 220 watts in total. The MSI Vector GP76/66 will also feature MSI’s OverBoost tech for up to 210W performance. Quite obviously, these are meant more for those focused on performance and less about budget.

For those looking for both budget and performance MSI has the Crosshair GL Series with a more striking design and multi-coloured keycaps. Of course, the CrossHair 15/17 also offer 12th Gen Intel Core Processors along with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 - 3070 Ti gpus. For those looking for more of a black and red armour design scheme there’s the Pulse GL77/66.

For the content creators, MSI announced their MSI Creator Z17 and Z16P featuring 16:10 ratio displays with MSI True Pixel tech for 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and a less than 2 delta-E color accuracy. The Creator Z17 in particular also comes with a full-size UHS express card reader and supports pen-touch while the Creator Z16P will use MSI’s Vapor Chamber Cooler for better cooling.

You can also check out the MSIology Gamerverse video for yourself below or you can check out their site for more details and as always stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest in tech news.


CES 2022 ROG: ROG Zephyrus G14, G15, M16 & Duo 16 announced with upgraded CPUs & GPUs

Today, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced a bunch of gaming products. Under the theme CES 2022 ROG: The Rise of Gamers, ROG presents a wide array of new operating systems, brand-new CPUs from Intel and AMD, AMD GPUs and NVIDIA as well. In this news article, we will be taking a look at the ROG Zephyrus G14 and Zephyrus Duo 16.

Starting with the Zephyrus G14, this gaming laptop returns with new improvements for 2022. Coming with Windows 11 onboard, an AMD Ryzen 9 Series processor and AMD Radeon RX 6000S Series mobile GPUs, you can also find a MUX Switch for adjusting performance and framerates. To keep the machine cool, ROG Intelligent Cooling with liquid metal and a custom vapour chamber is installed within. The RAM type is DDR5 and has 1TB PCIe SSD of storage.

Available Eclipse Gray or Moonlight White, the AniMe Matrix display is also back with 14,969 precision CNC milled holes with 1,449 mini LEDs, which makes it more LEDs than the predecessor last year. Moreover, the G14 is also one of the first ROG laptops to feature ROG’s brand-new Nebula display that offers a 16:10 aspect ratio, 120 Hz at QHD with 500 nits of peak brightness, 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, and a 3ms response time — with Dolby Vision, Adaptive-Sync, and Pantone validation.

Other notable features include the Dolby Atmos, a 3D mic array with two-way AI Noise Cancelation, and WiFi 6E. On the other hand, the ROG Zephyrus G15 and M16 have also been refreshed with similar tech specs such as the latest hardware from AMD and NVIDIA, DDR5 RAM, and WiFi 6E.

As for the 2022 ROG Zephyrus Duo 16, this creator laptop is back with an improved ScreenPad Plus thanks to a new four-directional hinge that closes the gap between the two displays. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU at 165 W with Dynamic Boost, an upgraded Liquid Metal Conductonaut Extreme is installed to decrease CPU temperatures by 15° C.

Similar to other new Zephyrus models, the Zephyrus Duo 16 also supports ROG Nebula HDR which is a stronger version with 512 mini LED dimming zones reaching 1100 nits of peak brightness. Other boasting qualities include the QHD resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio and a 165Hz refresh rate. Users may use the new Dual-Spec panel to switch between 4K 120Hz and Full HD 240Hz depending on the activity.

Of course, ROG didn't forget the NumberPad technology the trackpad, a keyboard with 1.7 mm of travel and per-key RGB, six speakers with Dual Force-Cancelling Woofers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and two-way AI Noise Cancelation to round out ROG’s flagship for 2022.

At some point, ASUS Malaysia may import the new Zephyrus models here but it would probably take a while (or a few months). Until then, we just have to sit back and wait for the official announcement. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


CES 2022 ROG: Strix SCAR and Strix G returns with new colours, upgraded CPUs & GPUs

Continuing the barrage of new ROG products, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) also introduced a brand new ROG Strix SCAR gaming laptop for hardcore gamers. Now powered by new tech specs, the Strix SCAR is available in not only one, not two, but three models based on display size. Read on below to find out more.

As expected, the 2022 ROG Strix SCAR is packed with up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU at 150 W with Dynamic Boost. A MUX Switch is also onboard to ensure top-tier GPU performance, alongside PCIe 4.0 x4 storage and DDR5 4800 MHz RAM. Hardcore gamers can also expect a high-refresh display, and ROG Intelligent Cooling with Liquid Metal Conductonaut Extreme.

As aforementioned, there are three variants based on display size. The Strix SCAR is available in 15-inch and 17-inch models, with the 15-inch offering three IPS-level display choices: QHD 240Hz, Full HD 300Hz, and QHD 165Hz. The 17-inch SCAR offers QHD 240Hz or Full HD 360Hz. All models support Dolby Vision HDR, Adaptive-Sync and 3ms response time for the best visual experience possible.

On top of that, the new ROG Strix G15 and G17 are powered by up to an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU at 150 W with Dynamic Boost. The G15 offers Full HD 300Hz and QHD 165Hz display options, while the G17 offers Full HD 360Hz and QHD 240Hz. Similarly, all Strix G models support Dolby Vision with 3ms response times and Adaptive-Sync. The Strix G also comes in Eclipse Gray as well as two neon colour choices, Volt Green and Electro Punk, which will stand out from the crowd.

Last but not least, all Strix models are equipped with a quad-speaker design and Dolby Atmos spatial sound. The hardcore gamers can also rely on the two-way AI Noise Cancelation to filter out background noise. In addition, Strix models come with a 90 Wh battery, plus 100W USB Type-C charging, WiFi 6E and 2.5G LAN.

The Strix brand is quite popular in Malaysia so we can't wait to check these new babies out. Until then, sit tight and wait for the official announcement by ASUS Malaysia only at TechNave.com.


CES 2022 Razer: new Blade 14, 15 & 17 equipped with AMD Ryzen 6000 series & 12th Gen Intel processors

When it comes to Razer, the brand is known for manufacturing gaming laptops and other quirky stuff. At CES 2022, the company just announced a brand new Blade 14, Blade 15 and Blade 17 with all-new hardware. Let's see what they got.

Powered by both AMD and Intel, the Blade 14 returns with the next generation of AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processors, with up to Ryzen 9 6900HX processor as the highest end. Both the Blade 15 and Blade 17 come equipped with the newest 12th Gen Intel Core H-Series Processors, up to an Intel Core i9-12900H with a new 14-core count clocking in at 5.0GHz.

The Blade 14 now comes improved with 16GB of DDR5 RAM alongside a newly implemented MUX Switch to utilise GPU on the 14-inch display. Speaking of displays, the Blade 15 offers a Full HD 360Hz and QHD 240Hz configurations, as well as an all-new UHD 144Hz configuration. Then for the Blade 17, it's said to cater to professional creators and gamers who are looking for the ultimate desktop replacement.

The Blade 14, 15, and 17 ship with Windows 11 pre-installed, with all its gaming benefits including DirectStorage, Xbox GameBar and Xbox Game Pass. The sides of each Razer Blade are lined with a variety of inputs, ranging from USB-C to HDMI 2.1 to a high-speed UHS-II SD card reader. Of course, the keyboards have Razer Chroma RGB and the laptops' sound systems are THX Spatial Audio certified.

As for the price and availability, they are not official in Malaysia yet but below are the price tags for the USA and European markets:

To learn more about the all-new Razer Blades, you can go to razer.com/gaming-laptops to check them out. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


CES 2022: Samsung FreeStyle is a projector, speaker, and ambient light in a portable package

If you want to watch a video when you're out, chances are you'd use your phone or laptop. But what if you wanted to enjoy it on a larger screen? In that case, you'd need something like a projector, and the Samsung FreeStyle unveiled at CES 2022 could be a suitable choice.

According to Samsung, the FreeStyle is a portable screen and entertainment device in one. It can project a screen of up to 100 inches in size, deliver good audio with deep bass thanks to its dual passive radiator, and is pretty small for a projector. With one of these, you can enjoy movies and mobile games anywhere you like with a big screen.

You can also use it with external batteries for the outdoors

The FreeStyle is compatible with mirror casting from Android and iOS, allowing you to stream the files or apps from your phone (like Netflix). It also has built-in streaming services. In terms of features, the projector has full auto keystone and auto levelling features, so it can automatically adjust its screen to any surface. Moreover, it supports external batteries with USB-PD and 50W/20V output or more. In other words, you could even use it during an outdoor camping trip. Speaking of that, you can also use it as an ambient light source or music player for such trips. Pretty neat, right?

Samsung will launch the FreeStyle in the US first, but we hope that it will be available in Malaysia eventually. Would you buy one if it comes here? Drop us a comment on Facebook, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news from CES 2022.


7-inch Samsung SM-T2558 tablet with phone capabilities appears on Tenaa

A fairly interesting Samsung device has appeared on China's Tenaa in the form of the SM-T2558. At first glance, it looks like a really large phablet, but it actually has a 7-inch screen. Weighing in at 245g and measuring 191.24 x 99.7 x 8.95mm, the device also has a camera with LED flash and looks to be able to make voice calls. Tech specs and features on the SM-T2558 include a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, microSD support, a 7-inch display with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and Android 4.3. It will also support TD-LTE and TD-SCDMA connectivity, so it can go mobile if you need it to. In terms of design, it doesn't look like standard Samsung tablets as it has narrower bezels but it could be a smartphone tablet or tablet with phone capabilities like the ASUS FonePad 7. No news on pricing or Malaysia release dates but we're certain that quite a few people would be interested in it here in Malaysia. [Source]


CES 2022: Samsung reveal new Flex S and G panels for foldable devices

When it comes to foldable devices, two main designs are popular. The first is the small tablet that folds inwards or outwards, while the other is the clamshell design. Of course, other designs like the tri-fold are being considered, and Samsung took the opportunity to show them off at CES 2022.

According to Sammobile, Samsung showcased two new types of foldable panels. The first one is the Flex S, which is a panel that folds in an S shape (hence the name). This type of tri-fold device isn't new, as TCL had a proof-of-concept back in 2020. Anyway, Samsung had two prototypes at the event. One unfolds into a large tablet, while the other one is a smaller smartphone-sized device.

The other panel type also folds twice, though it folds inwards into a 'G' shape so it's given the name Flex G. As you can see in the video above, the screen is divided into three parts, with the two sides folding inwards. This type of device has better protection against scratches and impacts, as it's not exposed when folded.

Of course, these are only prototypes, so don't expect an official product anytime soon. Having said that, do you like these two form factors or is there a design that you think is better? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave more CES 2022 coverage.


CES 2022 making a Las Vegas comeback as hybrid event

Since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, many events around the world had to be cancelled or switched to an online format. It was the same for CES 2021, which was held entirely online. However, there are plans to change that for next year.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 will be a mix of in-person and digital. It will be held from 5 to 8 January 2022 in Las Vegas, while media will get access to the event from 3 to 4 January 2022.

CTA claims that around 1000 companies have already pledged to showcase their technologies on-sit. This includes big companies like AMD, Dell, Intel, Panasonic, and more. For those who can't attend the event in person, CES 2022 will also have its exhibitions, conferences, keynotes, and product announcements streamed live.

Of course, there's a chance that things could change in the months to come. Regardless, we will be ready to catch the big news that will appear in CES 2022, so stay tuned to TechNave for that!


CES Acer 2022: new gaming laptops with 12th Gen Intel Core & AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processors

In the gaming spectrum of CES 2022, Acer is also introducing new gaming laptops for gamers. The company is kicking off the new year with new models of the Predator Triton 500 SE, Predator Helios 300 and Acer Nitro 5 featuring the 12th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs, while the Acer Nitro 5 also includes AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processor. Let's read more about it.

Starting with the juggernaut of the trio, the Predator Triton 500 SE (PT516-52s) is a “special edition” laptop for gaming and work. The aforementioned CPU and GPU are accompanied by 32GB of 5200 MHz LPDDR5 memory and up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 storage. The AeroBlade 3D fans technology is now at the 5th Gen with 89 metal blades each.

As for the 16-inch display, it features WQXGA (2560x1600), 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, topped off with support from the frame-syncing power of NVIDIA G-SYNC technology. Content creators will appreciate 500 nits of brightness, 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, and a productivity-boosting 16:10 aspect ratio—plus an SD 7.0 card reader for offloading content.

Next, the Predator Helios 300 (PH315-55) is equipped with up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU, 32 GB of DDR5-4800 MHz memory and up to 2 TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD RAID 0 storage. The laptop design is revamped with a cleaner chassis and features a 15.6-inch QHD IPS display with a 165 Hz refresh rate. A 17.3-inch model (PH317-56) with an IPS panel (QHD 165 Hz or FHD 165 Hz / 144 Hz) is also available.

Last but not least, the Nitro 5 is back but with the latest specs up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7 (AN515-58) and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU. There is a massive memory as well with a pair of M.2 SSD slots (PCIe Gen 4) and up to 32 GB of DDR4 3200 RAM, combined with a QHD 165 Hz panel that has a 3ms response time. Another option (AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processor, AN515-46) would be an HD 144Hz panel or a 165Hz QHD Panel, both taking advantage of AMD FreeSync technology.

For pricing and availability, there is no news so far for the Malaysian market. However, these gaming Acer laptops will first arrive in the USA, Europe and China this year. Exact specifications, prices, and availability for these new products may vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in Malaysia, stay tuned for the official news only at TechNave.com.


#CES2019 ASUS has announced several new additions to their existing laptop line-ups such as the Studio Book, ChromeBook and more during CES 2019

During CES 2019 hosted in Las Vegas, ASUS has announced the launch of a few productivity focused laptops such as the ASUS StudioBook S, Chromebook Series, as well as the VivoBook 14, 15 and 17.

Starting off the with ASUS StudioBook S, it comes equipped with a 17-inch display with a screen resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, either an Intel Xeon E-2176M or Intel Core i7-8750H processor, up to 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia Quadro P3200 workstation graphics card. Complete with the NanoEdge display design, this productivity based laptop is great for those who constantly juggle between demanding applications such as video editing, audio engineering, and 3D rendering software on the go.

Next, on the list, the latest VivoBook 14, 15 and 17 features an extremely thin bezel on the side of the display thanks to the NanoEdge design as well as up to an i7-8565 processor, up to an Nvidia GeForce MX130 graphic card and up to 16GB of RAM. In terms of thermal management, the Ergolift technology uses the hinge of the laptop to lift itself up, allowing it to not only improves cool the laptop from underneath but also makes typing more comfortable. The VivoBook will come in Transparent Silver, Slate Grey, Peacock Blue and Coral Crush for the VivoBook 14 and 15 while the VivoBook 17 will only come in Transparent Silver.

Last, but not least, the Chromebook series received several new additions such as the Chromebook C434, Chromebook C204, Chromebook Flip C214, Chromebook C403 and the Chromebook Tablet CT100. Mostly geared towards the educational sector, the laptops mentioned comes fitted with up to an i7-8500Y, up to 8GB of RAM and it features the Chrome Operating System by Google.

However, do take note that most of the laptops mentioned above do not have a Malaysian release date as well as pricing for now. That being said, the products should be available probably by February onwards. You can check out more information regarding the laptops mentioned above on ASUS' Official website and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


#CES2019 ASUS has announced the ROG Mothership as well as their new line-up of TUF and Zephyrus series gaming laptop

ASUS has recently announced the launch of several gamer-centric laptops such as the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S, new TUF Gaming series lineup as well as the desktop-replacement gaming laptop called the ASUS ROG Mothership during CES 2019 held in Las Vegas.

Starting off the with ROG Mothership, the laptop is marketed as a desktop-replacement which is equipped with one of the highest tech specs possible such as an 8th generation Intel Core i9 processor, 17.3-inch FHD 144hz display with G-Sync capabilities as well as an Nvidia Geforce RTX 2080 graphics card with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM

The uniqueness that the ROG Mothership brings to the table is the rather interesting design of having all the components installed behind the screen instead of under the keyboard. Not only that but the keyboard is also detachable, allowing it to function even when not directly attached to the display via wireless or wired.

Moving on to the next product, ASUS has also introduced the TUF FX505DY and FX705DY to the ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop line-up. These laptops come equipped with the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H as well as the AMD Radeon FX560X graphics for a durable, long-lasting and capable laptop.

Not only that but the display that the FX505X comes equipped with is fitted with a 120hz refresh rate panel which is great for e-sports oriented games such as CS:GO and PUBG which benefits from the high refresh rate.

For immersive games such as the Farcry series, Bioshock series and more. The display also comes equipped with the AMD Freesync which reduces screen tearing when framerates dips below 60FPS.

Lastly, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701, the newest addition to the Zephyrus line-up is the world’s first ultraslim gaming laptop that features the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics card and an 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor. All the components come fitted in a slim and premium feeling chassis as well. As for the display size, the laptop has a 17.3-inch FHD 144hz display with G-Sync capabilities. For more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com as we provide updates such as the local pricing and when it will be available in Malaysia.


#CES2019 - Acer integrated an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU inside Predator Triton 900 and more

During the first day of CES 2019, Acer has released three new laptops which are the all-new Swift 7, a new convertible Predator Triton 900 as well as its first Chromebook 315 Powered by Versatile AMD A-Series Processors with Radeon Graphics. As usual, prices are announced in USD and Europe pricing, so we will get to that later at the end of the post.

Continuing on the Swift series, the Swift 7 has a new premium chassis with ultra-narrow bezels on its 14-inch Full HD 1920x1080 touch display, allowing it to achieve a 92% screen-to-body ratio. It's also quite lightweight which makes it compactable, weighing at just 890 grams only and powered by the latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8500Y processor, with up to 512GB of fast PCIe SSD storage, up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and with 10 hours of battery life.

Predator Triton 900 (left) and 500 (right)

Next, the Predator Triton 500 is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070/2060 GPU! The 15.6-inch Full HD gaming notebook has also slimmed down and weighs 2.1kg. Able to standby up to 8 hours of battery life, it sports up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, NVMe PCIe RAID 0 SSDs, and up to 32GB DDR4 memory. It can be upgraded to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPUs which can be overclocked for some VR-Ready games. As most gaming laptops do, there is a 144Hz refresh rate in overdrive at 3ms, NVIDIA G-Sync technology.

Meanwhile, its other brother, the Triton 900 is also available with similar specs, just bigger with a 17-inch 4K IPS display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU and NVIDIA G-SYNC. Last but not least, the Acer Chromebook 315 is powered by 7th Gen AMD A-Series processors with Radeon graphics, either with the AMD A6-9220C APU or A4-9120C APU in system-on-chip design. The 15.6-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080 display can last up to 10 hours on average usage.

Below are the prices and links for each model. We think there's a good chance that Acer will bring them to Malaysia so stay tuned for that at TechNave.com.


#CES2019 - Alienware partners with Riot Games, new Training Facility with Team Liquid, and several gaming laptops starting from RM7999

With CES 2019 still going on, Dell and Alienware took the stage and announced a couple of things. Ranging from its XPS, Inspiron series to eSports partnerships, there is a bunch of big announcements for both professionals and gamers around, as well as a piece of special news for Malaysian gamers so sit back, read on, and check out what these two big companies have for 2019 in the gaming segment.

Starting with the gaming news, Alienware has unveiled a new "Legend" design on its new Alienware Area-51m laptop, simply called as the Alienware Legend, the reimagined laptop sports a 9th Gen 8-core desktop processors, 64GB2 of memory, 2.5Gbps Ethernet technology, upgradeable graphics and desktop processors, and 17-inch narrow-bezel display with 144Hz. The Area-51m also has cutting-edge thermal and cooling technology, 50% more performance and 32% less volume than its predecessor.

As for the new lineup of RTX 20 series GPUs notebooks, Alienware also introduced their thinnest and lightest gaming notebook yet. Simply dubbed as the m17 and m15, they weigh 2.63kg and 2.16kg respectively featuring 8th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors featuring dynamic CPU overclocking, Cryo-Tech Cooling technology and the said NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series GPUs. On the other hand, Dell is also releasing their own G series gaming laptops, called as the G5 15 and G5 17 with an 8th Gen Intel CFL-H quad- and hex core processors and the latest NVIDIA graphics, with G-SYNC display panels able to go up to 144Hz refresh rate. On top of that, the new G series laptops are pre-installed with Alienware Command Center and 4-zone RGB keyboard with customisable backlighting for the first time. There's also a Dell G5 15 Special Edition alpine white, with a clear panel on the bottom of the system to show off the blue fans of the cooling system.

Moving on to the eSports compartment, Alienware and Team Liquid have announced their collaboration on the first Alienware Training Facility opening in March 2018. This 10,000 square foot facility studio building is located in Los Angeles and it's designed for Team Liquid pro-gamers to have access to the top gaming gears and a work-life balance.

To add on to that, Riot Games has also joined Alienware to demonstrate their expertise in hardware and technology services, particularly in League of Legends (LoL) as the top eSports game and Alienware will be the Official Competition PC and display partner for the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), as well as in four major international competitions: the Mid-Season Invitational, North America vs. Europe Rift Rivals, the All-Star Event, and the pinnacle of esports competitions, the League of Legends World Championship.

Now that we have got that out of the way, Malaysian gamers would be surprised to know that the Alienware m15 is already available in Bolehland for RM7999 through Dell and authorised partners. However, for the m17, Area-51m and the Dell G Series, they will only be available at the end of February 2019. The m15 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series GPU will be announced at a later date.

For more Dell and Alienware happenings in CES 2019, check out their newsroom over here and stay tuned for more CES 2019 news!


#CES2019 DJI unveils the Smart Remote Controller which is equipped with a built-in display

DJI has recently unveiled the Smart Remote Controller which has a built-in display directly installed onto the device itself. The controller is also optimized for DJI drones allowing the user to fly various drones that are manufactured by DJI.

The ultra-bright 5.5-inch display lets the user quickly fly the drone as it does not require a connection to a mobile phone. Once the video shoot is done, the videos and images can be sent over to a mobile phone through a customizable Android dashboard which can then be live-streamed or shared to various supported social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WeChat and more.

In terms of the pricing, the Smart Remote Controller is now available for the price of 649USD(~RM2654). For more information regarding the DJI Smart Remote Controller, check out DJI official website and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


#CES2019 - Intel to release new multiple technologies for 2019

Gregory Bryant, Intel senior vice president in the Client Computing Group, displays a “Lakefield” reference board during Intel Corporation’s news event at CES 2019 on Jan. 7, 2019, in Las Vegas. Lakefield features a hybrid CPU architecture with Intel’s Foveros 3D packaging technology. Intel displays how its technology is the foundation for the world’s most important innovations and advances at CES 2019 from Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas

Intel is one of the big boys when it comes to the annual CES conference. During the event, the company made several announcements from PCs to new devices on artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and autonomous driving (AD). The Intel conference was presented by Gregory Bryant, senior vice president, Client Computing Group; Navin Shenoy, executive vice president, Data Center Group; and Professor Amnon Shashua, president and CEO of Mobileye, an Intel company.

One of the newest products is the 10nm PC processor, code-named "Ice Lake" will be bringing a new level of integration with Intel's new Sunny Cove microarchitecture. This sets a new stage for AI usage and improves graphics performance with Intel Gen 11 graphics for better gaming and content creation. Then there's also Project Athena, a new class of laptops that are designed to enable 5G and AI. They are expected to be available in the second half of 2019.

Moving on to the CPU architecture scene, there is a new client platform called "Lakefield" and it features the first iteration of its Foveros 3D packaging technology. Basically, what it does is combining different pieces of IP that might have previously been discrete into a single product with a smaller motherboard footprint, which allows OEMs more flexibility for thin and light form factor design. Lakefield is expected to be in production this year. On top of that, new additions will be integrated into the 9th Gen Intel Core processors for a wide range of desktop products and it's said to be available this month.

Speaking of processors, Intel also developed a new Intel Nervana Neural Network Processor for Inference or NNP-I. It's meant to take on high workload demands and interestingly, Facebook is also one of Intel's development partners on the NNP-I.  There is a lot more going down at CES 2019 so if you want to know more about it, you can go over to their newsroom over here and stay tuned for more CES 2019 news at TechNave.com.


#CES2019 - LG shows off flexible OLED displays, a beer maker, an exoskeleton suit and more

Over at LG Electronics show in CES 2019, the South Korean giant tech company has showcased several products but here's the kicker - most of these products aren't exactly for commercial sales but rather futuristic concepts with the theme AI for an Even Better Life. Let's check out what they have in stored for us below!

Kicking off the event, Dr I.P. Park, the CTO of LG delivered a keynote titled AI for an Even Better Life. With this, LG is clearly navigating towards AI and highlighting several topics, such as an advanced AI version of ThinQ brand, flexible OLED screens at the LG OLED Falls exhibition hall, its first 8K OLED TV powered by its own intelligent AI processors, as well as its home appliances like the HomeBrew that allows the user to AUTOMATE THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF BREWING BEER from fermentation to cleaning.

Speaking of home appliances, the LG Signature line features new additions of premium dryers, wine cellars and bottom-freezer refrigerators, with a collaborative effort with British installation artist Jason Bruges. There's also a LG CLOi robot for commercial applications and a CLOi SuitBot that supports the wearer's waist to reduce the risk of injury and fatigue when performing physically demanding tasks such as lifting and lowering heavy packages. This is an exoskeleton coming to life!

There are a lot more news from LG so if you want to know more, you can check out their newsroom over here and stay tuned for more CES 2019 news at TechNave.com.


7-inch display Samsung Galaxy W phone tablet officially announced for SKT

After our earlier reports on the 7-inch phone tablet from Samsung, the company has finally made it official by announcing the Samsung Galaxy W for SK Telecom in South Korea. The phone tablet or phablet is the first 7-inch smartphone device from a major brand to hit the market. Offering thinner bezels and the same artificial leather backside as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the phablet provides a 7-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. Other tech specs include a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB storage with microSD support, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 4G LTE-A, 3200 mAh battery and Android 4.3. The new Galaxy W weighs in at 245g, which is about 46g heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 and comes in black, red and white. No news when it may come to Malaysia or for how much but it is currently priced at 499400 won (RM1573).


#CES2019 - New AMD Ryzen, Athlon, and A-Series Processors for gaming and Chromebook laptops

Today, the annual CES 2019 has kicked off once again and AMD is one of the first to announce their new product lineup from the notebook segment - the 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen 3000 Series Mobile Processors, AMD Athlon 300 Series Mobile Processors with "Zen" technology, and a 7th Gen AMD A-Series processors. On top of that gamers, creators and enthusiasts will be able to install Radeon Software Adrenalin software to bring the latest GPU features and game optimizations to all systems powered by AMD Ryzen Processors with Radeon Graphics.

The new AMD Ryzen 3000 Series Mobile Processors are built on a 12nm manufacturing technology. With this, it's able to take on features like Wake on Voice, Modern Standby and certainly on gaming as well as 4K HDR video streaming. They also claimed that the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U can edit a media content up to 29% faster than the Intel Core i7-8550U, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U can load websites up to 14% faster than the Intel Core i5-8250U. These new notebooks will be coming through Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Huawei, Lenovo, and Samsung this year and consumers should be able to purchase the first 2nd Gen Ryzen mobile powered notebooks. However, it's unlikely Malaysia is part of the first wave.

Onto the graphics software, AMD plans to provide regular Radeon Software Adrenalin updates for all Ryzen Processors with Radeon Vega graphics via AMD.com, enabling frequent support for new games, new features, improved performance and more robust stability in the first quarter of 2019. AMD is also offering “Zen”3 -based Athlon Mobile Processors bringing consumers more choice, enabling mobile computing to meet nearly any budget, slated to be available from global OEMs in early 2019

Moving on, the 7th Gen AMD A-Series processors are designed for everyday-productivity such as surfing the web seamlessly with multiple tabs and web gaming. From their test lab - it can provide up to 23% faster web browsing and up to 24% faster web application performance, up to 3.2X faster email performance and up to 74% higher office application productivity, and up to 42% faster photo editing performance and up to 43% faster web gaming experiences than the Intel Pentium N4200 and Celeron N3350, respectively. It will be starting with the Acer Chromebook 315 and HP Chromebook 14, as well as other unannounced some AMD powered Chromebooks in 2019.

For more information, you can visit www.amd.com/en/events/ces to learn more about the new product lineup. Stay tuned for more CES 2019 news at TechNave.com.


#CES2019 - Samsung investing in AI, IoT and 5G for its Connected Living vision

HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics gives his opening remarks, welcoming guests to Samsung Electronics’ CES 2019 Press Conference

In another episode of CES 2019, Samsung Electronics has announced on their new vision - Connected Living. With its new theme, the company will be investing a lot on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G technologies for its future AI-powered robotics platforms, which can be used to manage activities of daily living.

To start off, Bixby, the company's AI assistant for mobile, will be infused into its 2019 QLED and premium TVs, and smart appliances like refrigerators, washers, as well as air conditioners, mobile devices, AI speakers, as well as expanding to a new Digital Cockpit and robotics platforms. This also includes Uber, Ticketmaster, iHeartRadio, Google and others to join the ecosystem in the future. In relation to that, Samsung is also committed to ensuring the algorithms it builds are inclusive, the protection of user information and privacy are top priorities.

On the other hand, Samsung is bringing its Bixby AI capabilities to driving. Known as the Digital Cockpit 2019, it offers users an enhanced connected car experience focused on connectivity, personalization, and safety. One example is drivers can check how much gas they have before going on a long road trip or set the car temperature before heading out for the day, as well as enjoy personalized screens on the rear seats and connect to In-vehicle Samsung DeX to get work done on-the-go and many more.

In terms of products, Samsung also unveiled multiple lineups. This includes:

Phew, that's a lot of stuff. For more Samsung CES 2019 news, you can check out at their newsroom right over here.


#CES2019 - Samsung showcasing futuristic modular Micro LED technology

With the new Samsung monitors announced for CES 2019, the Korean giant tech company has introduced another display called the Micro LED display. It features a new 75-inch display and it is sticking on a massive 219-inch The Wall. According to Samsung, it is the "next screen revolution with intelligent, customizable displays that excel in every performance category."

Actually, this is not really a new product as the company did something similar at last year's CES, introducing a 146-inch Micro LED display by unveiling The Wall. So this time around, the 75-inch model is a home-friendly product with 4K Micro LED technology. The Micro LED display has a self-emissive technology and modular capabilities, this means the millions of RGB (red, green, blue) microscopic LED chips are able to emit their own light to produce and adjust the correct colour balance on the screen.

The Micro LED's modular nature also offers flexibility in screen size that allows users to customize it to fit any room or space. With this, the user can take advantage to expand any size they desire, even at an irregular 9x3, 1x7 or 5x1 screen sizes. Moreover, no matter what size the display is in - the Micro LED technology can optimize the content, scaling itself to increase the resolution with more modules while keeping the pixel density constant.

Just so you know, the Micro LED product is not ready for commercial sale yet. But if you want to read more, you can check out the newsroom right over here and stay tuned for more CES 2019 news at TechNave.com.


#CES2019 - Want a concert at home? Sony's 360 Reality Audio can help with that

Ever wanted to go to a concert to experience the embrace of your favourite songs but not wanting to deal with the crowd? I totally feel you. Sony has presented an alternative for us with their 360 Reality Audio over at CES 2019.

So what exactly is 360 Reality Audio? It is a new innovation by Sony where they use their very own object-based spatial audio technology to provide a listening experience just like being at a concert. Still confused? To put it simply, it is a way for music creators to create music that comes from many angles around the listener.

Artists map sounds such as vocals, chorus, instruments and more in their preferred angles and distance away from the listener with Sony’s Reality Audio Musical Ecosystem. Even music that has already been released can be converted into a 360 Reality Audio format which Sony plans to release soon for music distribution. Instead of the usual MP3 and MP4 formats, the 360 Reality Audio will be using the MPEG-H 3D audio.

Now, the question is, can my regular music players play this music? Sony is currently working on seeking potential devices to support their latest audio format with more emphasis on headphones and wireless speakers. There’s no need for special types of headphones to be created for 360 Reality Audio or even a special device.

However, Sony is currently creating an app which allows users to take a photo of their ears with their smartphones so that the app can analyze the user’s ears to create the best possible listening experience for them which honestly sounds kind of bizarre. As for wireless speakers, speakers that project sound in all directions can easily reproduce a 360 Reality Audio experience. So far, participating music distributors for the 360 Reality Audio include Deezer, nugs.net, Qobuz, and TIDAL by selecting “360 Reality Audio content” on the apps. Despite not needing special hardware to experience the 360 Reality Audio, Sony will be showcasing a prototype speaker system which does deliver a 360 Reality Audio experience. Alongside that, Sony also has also showcased a multi-speaker system consisting of 13 speakers and a demo of the MDR-Z7M2 headphones.

Besides that, Sony also unveiled a bunch of other interesting innovations over at CES 2019 as well. The first being the new BRAVIA MASTER Series’ lineup which are Sony’s first 8K LCD TVs which can convert images and video into 8K resolution and has 4 speakers on the top and bottom of the TV to complement the immersive 8K resolution. In addition, a brand new 4K TV was also introduced which features a slim design that is half the thickness of its predecessors.

Cameras were also part of the spotlight for Sony at CES 2019 with their brand now α9 and α7 series full-frame mirrorless cameras. Playstation got some love as well with Sony’s “Community of Interest” where visitors were able to try out PS4 and VR titles such as Astro Bot: Rescue Mission and Gran Tourismo Sport. In addition, Sony’s robot, “aibo”, will be making an appearance at the booth as well.

Sony never ceases to amaze me with their innovations. However, the 360 Reality Audio kind of concept is something that is sort of done with some music, especially on headphones. However, I can’t really comment on it or compare the two before I try out the 360 Reality Audio myself. What do you think? Is it a gimmick? For more news on the latest innovations at CES 2019, make sure you check out TechNave.com!


CESA confirm cancellation of Tokyo Game Show 2020, event to be held online instead

It was an inevitable outcome, but another gaming event has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA), the main organiser for the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2020, has announced that the physical event will be cancelled. Like many of such events this year, the organisers will be converting it to an online event.

TGS is an annual games exhibition held in Tokyo and is one of the most anticipated ones in the calendar year, especially for fans of Japanese games and developers. It was supposed to run from 24 to 27 September 2020 at the Makuhari Messe, but concerns of the virus outbreak mean that letting the event run as planned is a bad idea. The announcement doesn't mention when and how the online event will be held but did say that there will be an official statement in late May.

Honestly, this may not make a difference for people who can't attend TGS physically, as their source of TGS news has always been media outlets and online streams. However, streams online happen if the developer or publisher is hosting one, plus it's quite different from attending a gaming exhibition in person. Also, indie developers may not get much exposure for their games with the new online format, which would be quite a shame.

Regardless, this cancellation is par for the course and something that all of us already expected. Still, it would be great to see highly anticipated games being showcased as planned. Having said that, which upcoming game do you hope to see for TGS 2020? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


CGM Game Jam 2013 held successfully by Exabytes Network with MDec

Exabytes Network Sdn Bhd recently announced that they have held the CGM Game Jam 2013 successfully with the help of the Multimedia Development Corporation. The competition covers international level game prototyping development with involvement from 34 local game developers and university college students. The competition was held during a 36-hour marathon from 14 December 2013 to 15 December 2013 on site at Exabytes Setiawalk, Puchong. This year's CGM Game Jam 2013 happened in Malaysia, Japan and Thailand with the main prize winners getting return tickets to Japan for a tour of Japanese game development companies inclusive of accomadation and board. Other prizes included 5000 cash credits of mobile network advertisement for future game application promotion through tapsmart. The Malaysian winners of the competition were Digital Ark, a year-old local startup company consisting of Shah-Arif, Muhammad Aliff and Shah-Qays. The winners and organizers had this to say about the competition:

“We are so happy to have won CGM Game Jam 2013 in Malaysia, and Exabytes did an amazing job organizing the rare sort of event which brings together so many great game developers, mentors and all levels of gaming enthusiasts like us. It was a privilege to speak with the professionals who shared how to capitalize our ideas for future commercial purposes.” Shah-Arif, Digital Ark Team Leader“Games have been a cultural mainstay throughout the computing history. Parallel to the increasingly significant commercial trend in games developments, CGM Game Jam also inspire Malaysia’s PC gaming sector to explore the opportunities in the gamification market. Exabytes is very proud to host CGM Game Jam 2013 and recognize the winning team’s outstanding achievements as well as participants who have participated in the competition. Many of which have presented truly groundbreaking ideas that showcased the potential and strength of the local game development community.” Chan Kee Siak, Exabytes CEO"... ‘gamification’ is about applying game-design principles into non-game situations. In fact, this gamification method is gaining tractions within the local business circle as a way to creatively more effectively engage their employees, customers and stakeholders. The potential power of such games-based applications and ventures is indeed magnified by the convergence shifts corresponded with the arrival of Generation Y and the overcrowding of the digital space – that makes it harder for companies to stand out from the market competition and forces them to apply gaming creativity for more effective interactions.” Badlisham Ghazali, CEO of MDeC

(from left to right) Muhammad Aliff, Digital Ark, Chan Kee Siak, CEO and Founder of Exabytes Networks Sdn Bhd (Panel Judge), Shah-Qays, Digital Ark, Dr. Ganesan Velayathan, CEO and Founder of Fun & Cool Ventures Pte. Ltd. (Panel Judge), Siow Aik Wee, Senior Executive, Industry & Business Development, Creative Media, Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), (Panel Judge), Shah-Arif, team lead of Digital Ark


CIMB Clicks Malaysia suddenly and officially introduces Captcha, better go change your password

Amidst reports of CIMB Clicks accounts being hacked, emptied and so forth on Social Media, CIMB Malaysia have come out with an official statement confirming that they have officially introduced a Captcha function at login along with longer passwords for more security. The statement says “... CIMBClicks system remains secure and all customers' transactions continue to be protected” so take a deep breath and calm down.

Some users on social media have said that their logins did not require any Captcha, indicating that those who do require a Captcha could have been compromised, but bear in mind that this has not been officially confirmed just yet. Social media continues to buzz with more and more horror stories, including those where their accounts have been transferred out via PayPal, but we'd strongly recommend that you take all of these with a truckload of salt.

For now, CIMB Malaysia sites could be somewhat slow, probably due to all the CIMB users logging in, but if you can, we'd recommend that you go change your password to a longer version. The CIMB statement says that you can now use passwords with up to 20 characters. We'll update you as more info and official statements roll in, so stay tuned to TechNave.com


CIMB Clicks users must update to the latest version before 8 October to continue using the app

CIMB Bank has reminded its customers to update the CIMB Clicks mobile app to the latest version to continue using it smoothly and with uninterrupted services. Announced on its official website, CIMB said that users must update the mobile app before 8 October 2022.

CIMB said that this is in line with its continuous effort to ensure security as the latest version of the CIMB Clicks app has enhanced features to safeguard users’ mobile banking experience. Hence, to enjoy uninterrupted services, users must update the app to version 6.1.97 (iOS) or version 4.1.97 (Android) before the aforementioned date.

For the iOS version of the app, users can update via the Apple App Store, while for the app’s Android counterpart, it can be updated via the Google Play Store or HUAWEI AppGallery for users of HUAWEI devices. If you want to check your CIMB Clicks app’s current version, you can do so by following these steps:

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


CIMB & Maybank will soon move SecureTAC approvals from SMSes to their apps

In the near future, CIMB and Maybank will be moving their SecureTAC approval to their respective apps. This is part of the banks' to further safeguard your money from scam SMSes and is also, in line with the Bank Negara Malaysia.

For CIMB users, the bank will move SecureTAC approval to CIMB Clicks App or CIMB OCTO App. So starting from 20 May 2023, all CIMB Clicks transactions including FPX transfers will be included. Activating SecureTAC on the apps is fairly straightforward, as you just have to follow the steps below.

As for Maybank users, Secure2u will exclusively be on the MAE app to replace MSOS codes for Maybank Credit and Debit cards. It will take immediate effect from 1 July 2023 where all online card spending will require Secure2u approvals. You may follow the steps in the images above.

As a friendly reminder, banks will never ever ask for your TAC or any other special code from a random casual phone number. Stay safe and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


CIMB: Starting 5 December, web transactions of over RM100 will require SecureTAC via CIMB Click app

CIMB Bank Bhd and CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd (CIMB) have recently announced several new security measures for the CIMB Clicks and CIMB OCTO apps. Aimed at combating fraud and strengthening their digital banking platforms' security, these measures include compulsory SecureTAC authorisation via the CIMB Clicks App for transactions over RM100.

In a statement yesterday, CIMB said that the mandatory SecureTAC authorisation for web transactions of RM100 and above will be implemented beginning Monday (5 December 2022). As reported by Bernama, among the transactions affected by this new measure are non-favourite fund transfers, bill payments and prepaid top-ups.

In line with the directive from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) earlier this year, CIMB has also announced that customers won’t be able to receive SMS TACs for the aforementioned transactions. Hence, CIMB customers are urged to install the CIMB Click Apps from official app stores and turn on notifications in settings to receive SecureTAC.

CIMB further announced that it is intending to extend SecureTAC authentication to include any transactions valued below RM100 as well as non-monetary transactions by the first half of 2023. Besides that, customers will also have to go through a mandatory customer call verification process for first-time app logins.

Accordingly, from 26 December 2022 onwards, new users or existing users who are logging in to the CIMB Clicks and CIMB OCTO apps on a new device would undergo a call verification process. This is to ensure that the account holder themselves initiates any first-time login attempt or device change.

CIMB stressed that it is upgrading its fraud management system on an ongoing basis to better identify indicators of potential fraud and scams. This includes constant fine-tuning of fraud detection rules and utilising machine learning to continuously enhance predictive capabilities to safeguard customers from fraudulent activities.

So, what do you guys think of these new measures by CIMB? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


11street gets a rebrand, now known as PrestoMall

Today, there's a new change to 11street. It has been announced that the e-commerce platform will be now known as PrestoMall. The rebranded company will still be the same online marketplace for Malaysians, but more than that to cater to users' entertainment, payment, credit, travel and "makan" needs.

By utilizing on Presto's ecosystem, a Malaysian home-grown digital service Super App, PrestoMall also acts as an e-wallet system for users to make payments via PrestoPay for both online and offline retail purchases, as well as a platform to help retailers, retailers, business owners and sellers boost their brand presence and reach out to consumers. Consumers will also be rewarded with cashback for buying a wide range of products on discount, deals, vouchers and services.

Sellers, vendors and even advertisers from 11street will still exist within PrestoMall, which are given a full suite of digital marketing and services tools to help their businesses and enhance the user experience, such as presented with offers that match their interests. Through the words of Mr Cheong Chia Chou, CEO of PrestoMall, he emphasized that PrestoMall is like "a mega-mall that exists virtually in a cloud, where shoppers find their favourite stores and products as well as services such as bill payments, reloads and ticketing under one virtual roof."

To commemorate this rebranding, consumers can look forward to exclusive deals being offered at the promotion page here. If you already have the 11street app, you can simply update (or download) it from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. You can also find out more information at www.PrestoMall.com.


7 "lackluster" features on the iPhone 14 series that are actually improvements

The iPhone 14 series is definitely the talk of the day. With the usual jokes and memes, criticisms and excitement going around, there's still no doubt that the iPhone is one of the most popular devices to get in Malaysia. While it doesn't seem there are many changes from the iPhone 13 series, we beg to differ.

If you missed watching the livestream and just want a summary, we've got you covered. Without further ado, here are the 7 new features of the iPhone 14 series that seem lackluster, but are secretly great improvements (technically speaking).

Generally, most consumers often go for the bigger phones because "bigger is better" (although that's not always the case). True to the previous reports, Apple did get rid of the mini lineup and replaced it with the iPhone 14 Plus. It has the exact same size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max at 6.7-inches.

Don't need to go for the pro variants just for the biggest size anymore

With this, we think most casual consumers would opt for the plus variant without sacrificing too much cash. However, the minus would be losing out on a few features such as the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, higher nit brightness and the Dynamic Island function. Oh well, at least it still has the Super Retina XDR display, Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10.

After all these years, Apple finally got rid of the notch but only on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. While most Android phones have used the pill-shaped cutout before, Apple put a spin on it and introduced Dynamic Island. Arguably, this is probably the most innovative thing that Apple has done over the years.

Because Apple still relies on the FaceID sensor, it's not that simple to go for the under-display route as the technology is not perfect yet. Anyway, the cool thing about Dynamic Island is that the notification animation will play around and interact with the pill-shaped cutout. For example, a phone call will enlarge the cutout with an animated calling notification. This goes the same for connecting AirPods, alarms and many many more.

We knew this would happen one day but not this soon. Apple surprised us by confirming that all the iPhone 14 series models will go pure eSIM. However, this is only for the US market as the first wave so we don't have to worry about that (yet).

Here's what the eSIM feature can also do

Although we have eSIM services here in Malaysia, we think that not many iPhone users are ready for the transition just yet. Granted, we will all have to adapt and embrace future iPhone models and go fully eSIM at one point or another, so why not now?

No thanks to the global chip shortage, Apple's supply chain has also been affected. This has forced the company to rely back on the A15 Bionic chipset for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, but with a twist. This is a slightly upgraded A15 Bionic with a 5-core GPU instead of the original 4-core.

Going from 4-core to 5-core may seem like it doesn't make that much difference. But remember, a small bump in numbers still contributes greatly to the computational performance. This should enhance the camera performance, battery thermal efficiency, mobile games and Augmented Reality apps but we can't say how much just yet.

Meanwhile, the new A16 Bionic chipset is only exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple said the A16 Bionic's 6-core CPU is 40% faster than its competitors without mentioning the name. In any case, it was quite a burn (lol).

Another upgrade that many people may not understand is the new 48MP primary camera. These days, most Android phones have already reached 108MP so what's the hype? Well, the thing is even with 12MP, Apple iPhones can already take some amazing photos (as seen in our reviews here and here). Now imagine how far the iPhone 14 series camera performance can go with 48MP.

Not only did the primary camera on the pro variants get a massive pixel boost (4x resolution), but the sensors are now bigger, allowing it to capture more light. There's also a new Photonic Engine processor that refines the computational photographic capabilities further. On paper, this all sounds great but we can't wait to test it out with our own hands.

For the first time, satellite connection is now on the iPhone 14 series. If you're in an area that doesn't have telecommunication coverage, you can use any variant of the iPhone 14 to send an SOS emergency message via satellite contact. You can also use it to share locations with family members through the Find My app. That said, this feature is only for the US and Canadian markets for now.

I wonder when we can have this in Malaysia

A useful feature that we hope you will never use

On the other hand, the iPhone 14 series can also detect if you happen to get into a car crash or accident. If you don't respond for a few minutes after experiencing it, your iPhone will trigger the Emergency SOS function and call the nearest emergency services and call your emergency contacts.

Last but not least, the Always-On Display (AOD) is a feature that is only available on the pro variants, not the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. We decided to put it as an honourable mention because it's something that Android phones have had for years.

That said, AOD is often one of the culprits that drastically siphons the phone's battery life. So how would it be any different on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max? Well, the OLED displays are utilising LTPO technology that can dim the entire lock screen automatically, allowing it to utilize minimal power. The ProMotion function can also help to preserve the battery life down to 1Hz when not in use.

The widgets on the lock screen are coming soon on iOS 16 next week

So that's pretty much it. But what do you think of the new features that we just mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


CIMB launches CIMB OCTO App, now available to download as early release

Today, CIMB Bank Berhad and CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad introduced the early release of the CIMB OCTO App. Although it's still in the early stages, CIMB customers can now start using it and provide their feedback before the app’s full release.

Like other similar banking apps, CIMB said the OCTO app makes it easier, faster, and even more secure for customers to manage their finances, with simpler search and navigation tools, enhanced security, personalised banking services and an intuitive design. The app is expected to be released with its full suite of features and solutions by the first half of 2023.

But what of CIMB Clicks? Well, CIMB Clicks will continue to be available concurrently to complement CIMB OCTO, ensuring that customers will have the option and flexibility of accessing banking services as required on either digital platform. CIMB OCTO is supported by iOS 12.5 and Android 9 and above and can be downloaded soon on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and the Huawei App Gallery from today (18th) onwards.

To find the app, you will have to type CIMB OCTO MY to correctly download the app. Also, Apple Pay will be supported by CIMB in the second half of 2023. For more information, please visit the official CIMB OCTO App to check it out. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


CIMB to fully migrate from SMS OTP to SecureTAC by the first half of 2023

Following the directive by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to move away from OTP to more secure authentication, CIMB Group has announced that it will cease the use of OTP by the first half of 2023. Instead, the bank will only use its SecureTAC for customers’ online banking authentication moving forward.

As reported by Bernama, CIMB Group stressed that security has “always been the group’s highest priority”. Hence, CIMB Bank Bhd and CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd are now firmly on track to implement enhanced security measures against scams highlighted by BNM.

Its group chief executive officer, Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad in a statement today further elaborated that the bank already has “strong existing controls with multiple layers of security in place”. Moreover, he iterated that CIMB is supportive of BNM’s five additional security measures and is committed to ensuring that the security measures are continually enhanced to protect its customers.

Besides that, CIMB is also accelerating measures to limit customers to one secure mobile device for the authentication of online banking transactions with a targeted rollout by end-October 2022. In line with the single secure mobile device restriction, CIMB will also introduce an added control measure in the form of a customer verification callback process for all new online banking registration and new secure device activation to protect customers against financial scams,

CIMB is also set to introduce progressively a cooling-off period as an additional safeguard for first-time enrolment of online banking or secure devices. Abdul Rahman also called for customers who suspect their banking details have been compromised or that a suspicious transaction has taken place can immediately contact the CIMB contact centre to suspend their account immediately.

A self-serve feature on CIMB’s digital banking platform is also touted for introduction in the first half of 2022. Through the feature, customers can temporarily suspend their accounts on their own.

So, what do you guys think of these security measures introduced by CIMB? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


CMCO extended by 4 weeks and will now end on 9 June 2020

In the wee hours of this Sunday morning, it was announced that Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin would be making another announcement. As many have predicted, he has declared an extension to the conditional movement control order (CMCO) to be extended to 9 June 2020.

This 4-week extension is the longest one we've experienced so far since our government first implemented the MCO on 18 March 2020. In this time, Malaysians are required to continue adhering to all standard operating procedures (SOPs) that were given when the CMCO was declared. These new SOPs allow certain businesses and industries to resume operations.

During his speech, the Prime Minister mentioned the decision for the extension was due to Malaysians wanting the government to continue the measures to curb the COVID-19 outbreak. It's also decided after consulting with the Ministry of Health. Since the change to CMCO, an estimated 6.64 million employees have returned to their workplaces, with this number expected to go up in the weeks to come.

Although the restrictions may feel stifling for some, many can go back to work now, which should provide a semblance of normalcy. But having said that, what are your thoughts on the latest extension to the CMCO? Is there a better solution for our country? Let us know what you think and stay tuned to TechNave.com for further updates.


CNN Plus to shut down after less than a month of operation due to low numbers

CNN Plus, a streaming service that was launched on 29 March 2022 will shut down operation in less than a month after its release due to poor reception. In fact, the service had less than 10,000 subscribers during its initial two weeks period which is way below its target.

CNN announced the decision on its website yesterday, making CNN Plus one of the worst and short lived streaming services in recent memory. Even the infamous Quibi lasted longer!

Owned and operated by Warner Bros Discovery, the CNN Plus streaming service will officially shut down on 30 April 2022. Essentially an extension of the 24-hours news network, hundreds of millions of US Dollars were spent launching CNN Plus.

The subscription cost for the service is only USD2.99 or ~RM12.90 monthly as an intro price, but that didn’t help with gaining subscribers. With numbers being low, Warner Bros Discovery decided to pull the plug on it.

What do you guys think of the shutting down of CNN Plus in less than a month? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest tech news such as this.


CO-Founder and President of Xiaomi confirmed Mi 10 series is coming in next year !

Xiaomi has been a hit of the town with the first 108MP Penta camera smartphone that will be launching today. But it seems like the company is planning for more as the co-founder and president Lin Bin confirmed the next flagship Mi 10 series is coming!

According to Lin Bin's Weibo account, he mentioned in a comment that the upcoming Mi 10 pro will be the successor to the Mi 9 Pro while the Xiaomi Mi 9 was removed from the company’s official website. This indicates that we will be seeing the Mi 10 series soon.

As for the tech spec, we may expect a Snapdragon 865 SoC chipsets along with a 108MP main camera which comes with a MIUI 11 OS based on Android 10 out of the box. Also, the certification shows that the model numbers M2001J1E and M2001J1C are likely to come with a 66W fast charging technology which we assumed it to be the coming Mi 10 series that usually arrives at the beginning of the year.Either way, there’s no official confirmation on the tech specs and also launching dates, so do take this with a pinched of salt. But are you excited to hold on to it? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more updates on TechNave.com!


COMPUTEX will be rescheduled to September due to COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it seems that COMPUTEX 2020 will be rescheduled from 2 June 2020 to 28 and 30 September 2020 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2. Other than that, there will be the COMPUTEX online exhibition will be going on from 2 June until 6 June 2020 where keen purchasers can participate in online procurement meetings.

With all that said, would you be keen on visiting COMPUTEX 2020 which will now take place at the end of September? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


COVID-19 just postponed No Time To Die back to November 2020 release

So this just happened, the COVID-19 virus has not only pushed events back to a later date but even movie releases as well. The latest one is 007's No Time To Die, which has been announced by MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli that the movie will definitely be postponed until November 2020.

Announced on the official James Bond 007 Facebook page, the following official date for the U.K. and U.S. will fall on 12 November and 25 November respectively. With this, it will definitely affect the Malaysia release date which was scheduled in early April 2020. GSC, TGV and MBO Malaysia have yet to make a statement about when the movie will be released so we will just have to wait for the official announcement.

If you're wondering what is the relation between a movie release and COVID-19, that's because big blockbusters like this would usually have a tour on the film's first launch for promotion and spreading awareness on different countries. Hence, this makes sense of why it has been delayed. Besides No Time To Die, we could very well see other upcoming blockbuster movies such as Black Widow, Fast and Furious 9 to be postponed as well.

It's sad that we have to wait a few more months before watching No Time To Die. But oh well, prevention is better than cure. Stay tuned for more entertainment news at TechNave.com.


COVID-19 testing locations will be available on Apple Maps soon

In an effort to battle COVID-19, Apple have been testing a new way for everyone - particularly the hospitals, healthcare support and businesses that are still open - to have access to COVID-19 testing locations on their Apple Maps app. In other words, the app will be able to help those who want to do a health screen test at the nearest location possible so it should prove to be convenient.

According to the Apple Maps website, a red medical glyph icon will appear on the Apple Maps which means it's a testing location. Users can find out more information about the place, such as the name, who is the healthcare provider, contact (phone number and website), even the type of testing location like if it's a hospital or a lab and whether there's a nearby parking lot. To add on, the testing location will also ask the user if an appointment needs to be scheduled or if there's any referral.

For healthcare providers and other businesses to use this testing location feature, they will have to submit their information to Apple for review purposes. All they need to do is just go to the website here and download the template then follow the instructions. This is quite convenient indeed, however, Apple Maps is not widely used in Malaysia as the location tends to be inaccurate (speaking from experience).

We think Google Maps should also try doing this for the sake of the community in these hard times. But anyway, we hope everyone is doing alright in your homes. Stay home, stay safe, and stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.


COVID-19 tracking system by Google and Apple coming to Android devices via Google Play

Global infection rates of the COVID-19 virus continue to rise and this has caused companies to look for ways to help track them. Google has even partnered up with Apple to create a COVID-19 contact tracing system, which will be updated to Android devices running at least Android 6.0.

What this system does is that it allows the devices of users who are near to join a 'network'. Phones will then keep data for up to 14 days, data that the health authorities will have access to. Should users be diagnosed COVID-19 positive, they can then report it through an app to alert people in the network and health departments. Essentially, it's a kind of digital surveillance system.

According to The Verge, Google has announced that the update will be done through Google Play Services, so Android users will have to update that to get the system. This is the fastest way to push out certain updates, as it will not be affected by delays often attributed to manufacturers. However, the fact that it goes through Google Play Services does mean that Huawei's devices will not be able to get the updates. For that, Google will publish a framework that other companies can use to replicate the system.

If you're curious about how this system works, you can check out the documents published by Apple and Google. But with that said, what do you think about the system, do you find it a privacy concern? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


CTA President cancels CES 2021 convention and going all-digital

Yup, that's right. The Consumer Electronics Show or better known as CES will be going all-digital in 2021 and that means the entire tech media and community can hop in to join the event simultaneously. As announced by Consumer Technology Association (CTA) President and CEO, Gary Shapiro, this is obviously due to the concerns of the pandemic and preventing another COVID-19 spread just to be safe.

That said, all the exhibitions, smartphone and laptop brands, as well as other media leaders, will be hosting their content through a livestream. But it won't be just another livestream as usual, according to Gary, the "CES 2021 will be a new immersive experience". While we have no clue what that means, but he went on to say that it would be a "personalized experience" from the safety of your home or office.

The CES 2021 will launch on the first week of January 2021 so if you've always wanted to check it out, this is the chance for you. Or you can just simply wait for our news then as we will also be covering it as per tradition. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.