Trade in your old phone now for RM100 off on the Samsung Galaxy A51 or A30s

If you are looking for a new phone, then here's some news for you. Samsung Malaysia is running a trade-in promo for the Galaxy A51 and A30s smartphone from now till 31 March 2020. All you need to do is bring your old phone to a participating store near you to get it evaluated. If you're eligible, you will get an RM100 discount for the Galaxy A51 or A30s.

The Galaxy A51 is a decent mid-ranger that comes with an Exynos 9611 chipset, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage, while the A30s is a much more modest entry-level device with an Exynos 7904 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of internal storage. In addition, both devices come with sizable battery capacities of 4000 mAh and good rear camera setups, features that any smartphone user would appreciate.

These two devices are definitely great bang-for-buck and an additional RM100 off is always nice to have. But having said that, are the Galaxy A51 and A30s the kind of devices you are interested in? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news and promo announcements.


Trade in your old phones with Maxis for a brand new Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus!

Have you been thinking of getting the Apple iPhone 6s or the iPhone 6s Plus, but your current smartphone is still in good condition? Well, you're in luck today. Maxis is offering a Trade Up program that allows you to trade your current device and save big on both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus!

The steps are simple, as you only need to bring any old and working phones that are in good condition (damaged, dented or scratches don't count). Go to the nearest Maxis store and get it validated and after that, you will walk away with a brand new iPhone! Of course, since this is part of the Zerolution program, you only need to pay RM35 monthly.

For more information about the trade, visit Maxis's Zerolution page to check it out.


Trade-in your old smartphone and get the HONOR 9X at RM357 off

HONOR has recently announced that you could trade in your old HONOR smartphone for up to RM357 off a brand new HONOR 9X smartphone. The trade-in programme will start from 29 November 2019 until 5 January 2020 next year, which is ample time for whoever’s keen on getting a Christmas gift for their loved ones.

But that’s not all, you can also get extra goodies if you purchase the smartphone from either their official website, Lazada, Shopee or even at various HONOR Experience Stores nationwide. These goodies include products such as the HONOR Sport Pro Headphone, HONOR Band 5 Sport, as well as a gift box.

Head over to either HONOR’s official website, Lazada or Shopee if you want to find out more information on how to get the aforementioned goodies as well as the trade-in programme. Would you be interested in getting the HONOR 9X smartphone? Let us know on our Facebook page, and for more updates like this stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Apple discusses how mobile apps like Facebook enable other companies to track you

Businesses are always in competition with each other, sometimes in healthy ways and sometimes not. Recently, Apple decided to take the other approach by taking digs at Facebook. This could be seen in a recently released company document discussing data privacy.

According to Wccftech, Apple released a privacy document named "A Day in the Life of Your Data" recently. It mentions how third-party companies could track your data through different apps and websites. The document even has screenshots of Facebook's mobile app as an example, which is a not so subtle dig at the company's data practices.

Anyway, the document talks about how mobile apps have an average of six different trackers. These trackers are embedded in the SDKs and APIs by companies like Facebook so that third-parties can collect and link data that you share on the platform. Your data can then be monetised in various ways.

Many of you already know the basics in such modern practices, but the document is a good way for you to understand how it works. Once you've read the article, do let us know what you think in the comments below! Also, stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news and articles like this.


Trade-in your smartphone for a Huawei Flagship device with their Trade-Up Campaign for as low as RM499 + free 32GB MicroSD

Huawei Malaysia's Trade-Up Campaign just made it a lot easier for you to purchase the new Huawei Mate 9, P9, P9 Plus or the MediaPad M3. Valid up until 31 January 2016, you can now trade-in your smartphone for an RM100 to RM1600 discount. Just bring in your working smartphone (must be one of those listed below) to an authorized Huawei dealer to be assessed based on your old device's condition and specifications.  Huawei will also throw in a free 32GB microSD card!

Those who purchase Huawei flagship devices will also get the following after-sales services:

Here's the list of accepted smartphones and tablets for the Huawei Malaysia Trade-Up campaign:


Trade your old Galaxy Note for a new Galaxy S23 series model with up to RM1000 rebate

If you are still thinking of getting the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, well, now it's a great time to get your hands on Samsung's latest flagship. According to Samsung Malaysia, you can trade up your old Galaxy Note model with up to RM1000 rebate.

It's now ongoing on Samsung Malaysia's official online store until 30 June 2023, but only a handful of selected models are eligible for the trade-up. For starters, the Galaxy S23 (256GB) and Galaxy S23+ (512GB) have a rebate of RM300 and RM500 respectively. Then for the Galaxy S23 Ultra 512GB and 1TB models, customers can trade up and get RM500 and RM1000 rebates respectively.

On top of that, you can also get a free pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds Live after trading in, as well as savings with RM600 instant rebate and 3x Reward points. The free Galaxy Buds Live promo is also valid until the end of June 2023, while stocks last with terms and conditions applied.


Trade your smartphone for a Samsung Galaxy S8 | S8+ and save up to RM2600

Have you always wanted a Samsung Galaxy S8 | S8+ but just couldn't afford it? Well, we have good news for you. All Senheng and senQ outlets nationwide are now having a campaign called Samsung Galaxy S8|S8+ Trade up Program and it allows you to trade in your old smartphones at a subsidised trade-up price.

However, there is a catch here. There are only a few selected smartphones that can be traded in for the Galaxy S8 | S8+, namely the Apple iPhone series, some old Samsung models, as well as the Huawei Mate and P series. Every customer is only entitled to one (1) time of this trade-up program when they trade in one (1) unit that is still in good working condition which includes an undamaged body or screen, IMEI certified (visit our tutorial here on how to do so) and others. Below is the list of selected smartphones for the trade up.

This is applicable to everyone in Malaysia (even foreigners residing here) but they must be at least 18 years old. Also apparently, Samsung employees, or anyone affiliated (related companies, distributors, retailers, advertising and campaign agencies) are not allowed (sigh).

The campaign will end on 31 August 2017. To learn more about the terms and condition, be sure to visit their website here.


Traffic enforcement can still verify your vehicle and identification numbers with MCOPS

Just last Friday, the Malaysian Government launched and implemented Digital Motor Vehicle License (e-LKM) and Digital Private Malaysian Driving License (e-LLM) via the MyJPJ app and JPJ Public Portal platform. Many Malaysians had since then voiced their opinions on the app, as well as some jokes about having a flat battery on the phone if the police asked for a digital license.

While it's funny from a meme's perspective, the Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department (JSPT) had already got that covered. You see, the JSPT is provided with Mobile Compound Online Payment System (MCOPS) equipment that already can check your vehicle and identification number. With that, the enforcement can still be done through their own JPJ mySikap or QR code scanner.

In case you were out of the loop, the initiative was announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke in an effort to alleviate the inconvenience of the people while dealing at the JPJ counters. The implementation focus for Phase 1 will be on private vehicles only starting 10 February 2023, then followed by other vehicle categories in the near future.

You can visit the MyJPJ app at your Apple App, the Google Play Store or the Huawei AppGallery here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Transcend ESD400 portable solid state drive now available in 1TB storage capacity

Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend) has introduced a new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive (SSD) - the ESD400. Measuring just 92 x 62 x 10.5mm and weighing a mere 56g, it's designed to be extra durable and compact, it's best suited for consumers demanding massive storage space and high-speed data transfer.  Featuring vast storage capacities ranging from 128GB to 1TB, it's equipped with a next-generation SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connection interface that provides 10x the bandwidth of USB 2.0. It boasts blazing fast read and write speeds of up to 410MB and 380MB per second, fast enough to transfer a full 4.7GB DVD movie in just 13 seconds. In addition, it can also withstand 5x greater shock or vibration than conventional portable hard disk drives.

For added value, the ESD400 includes a free download of the exclusive Transcend Elite data management tool that helps you manage data and increase productivity. This allows users to do incremental backups, secure confidential information and others. Moreover, the One Touch auto-backup button instantly backup and synchronize data with your notebook or desktop PC.

There are four different prices based on the storage base - 128GB (RM329), 256GB (RM549), 512GB (RM1049) and 1TB (RM2159), you can either get it from Amble Action Sdn Bhd (+603-7968-6899) or Alphamatic Systems Sdh Bhd (+603-80603836).


Transcend MTS800 hard disk with high-speed storage for RM1999 in Malaysia

Transcend Information Inc. (Transcend) has finally brought the 1 Terabyte M.2 Solid State Drive (MTS800) into Malaysia, it features high-quality MLC NAND flash to maintain its excellent stability, and is exclusively built with protective technologies, such as Global Wear-levelling, Advanced Garbage Collection, and Device Sleep mode for ultra-thin computing devices, such as Ultrabook, tablet computers and laptops. The price tag is RM1999 (inclusive of GST), and can be purchased at www.ambleaction.com.my/new/ and www.alphamatic.com.my/.

The MTS800 is capable of delivering reading/writing performance up to 560MB/s and 460MB/s respectively, thanks to its next-generation SATA III 6GB/s interface. Not only that, it also has an Error Correction Code (ECC) that can detect and correct potential transfer errors, a Sleep Mode to help save power consumption, a S.M.A.R.T. function to efficiently monitor SSD health conditions, and other standard mechanisms such as Intelligent Block Management and Wear-levelling algorithm to protect data integrity and prolong SSD lifespan. Besides that, an SSD Intel Smart Response Technology inside the MTS800 allows the hard disk to have more storage capacity to process and store other programs and files to improve the efficiency.

There are also two other Transcend hard disk, MTS400 and MTS 600 M.2 SSD in 32GB – 512GB format. To learn more about the products, check either one of the links below.

Official Transcend Website Official Transcend MTS800 page


Transcend Wi-Fi Memory Card

Transcend has released a new Wi-Fi SD memory card that allows for wireless transfer of images from your SDHC-compatible digital camera. Trancend's memory card works in either a direct share mode to a mobile device or in Internet mode using a free app for iOS or Android devices.

This new Wi-Fi SD memory card that instantly adds wireless capability to an SDHC-compatible digital camera. With the Wi-Fi SD card and the exclusive Wi-Fi SD App, users can take advantage of the high resolution of their digital camera and the versatility of their smartphone or tablet to easily share beautifully shot photos to the world as soon as they are taken.The Wi-Fi SD card operates in two modes: Direct Share or Internet Mode. Ideal for use on outdoor photo shoots and vacations, Direct Share Mode is automatically activated as soon as the camera is powered on, allowing peer-to-peer connections between camera and mobile device in any location. Thanks to the convenient Wi-Fi SD App, users can quickly switch to Internet Mode, which allows the Wi-Fi SD card to connect to a nearby Internet hotspot or even use the personal hotspot feature of smartphones and tablets. When connected via Internet Mode, users can browse and download photos from the Wi-Fi SD card and instantly email to friends or upload to their social network profile.Developed specifically for iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPod touch) and Android devices, the free-to-download Wi-Fi SD App automatically organizes Wi-Fi SD card data into intuitive categories. The convenient, easy-to-use design of the App allows users to effortlessly browse photos, watch videos, download content, and share via Facebook or email. Besides smartphones and tablets, Wi-Fi-enabled desktop computers and notebooks can access media with a similarly user-friendly interface by using a web browser.Featuring the SDHC Class 10 speed rating, Transcend Wi-Fi SD cards provide higher transfer speeds and greater stability than currently available Class 6 cards. Combining excellent performance with a generous 16GB (approx. RM214 / US$69) or 32GB (approx. RM307 / US$99) capacity, each Wi-Fi SD card provides plenty of space and support for extremely high-resolution digital masterpieces.


Transcend debuts SSD220S Solid-State Drive to Malaysia market for RM299 onwards

Today, ￼Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend) is proud to announce the Transcend SSD220S, this solid-state drive is for system builders looking to speed-up their system boot-up times and application start-up. At an attractive price point of RM299 (240GB version) or RM569 (480GB version), the 6.8mm in height and 58g device offers an uncompromising performance by leveraging multiple layers of technology to deliver faster transfer speeds, higher durability, and lower power consumption.

The SSD220S's transfer speed can go up to 550MB/s thanks to its DDR3 DRAM cache with 4K random read and write performance up to 330MB/s, at its peak speed, it can perform at 550MB/s read and 450MB/s write via advanced firmware algorithms, high-quality flash chips and SLC caching technology. It's guaranteed to have a long operating life span with the inbuilt RAID engine and low-density parity check coding to keep data secure; while internal wear-levelling technology ensures data integrity during transmission, improving and prolonging lifespan.

What's more, you can monitor and maintain your Transcend SSD and keep it running in top condition with the advanced SSD Scope software application available for free download. The SSD Scope allows you to check and get informed how your SSD220S solid-state drive is doing by providing health status information via S.M.A.R.T. technology, enable TRIM command to maintain optimal write speeds and update the SSD firmware via a single click.

Besides that, it also features multiple built-in technologies for maximumreliability including

To read more about the Transcend SSD220S, visit www.my.transcend-info.com/Products/No-735. You can also visit www.ambleaction.com.my/new/# or www.alphamatic.com.my to purchase.


Transcend introduces High Storage and Ultra-fast SDXC Memory cards

Transcend has recently introduced it's 128GB 600x and 64GB 300x SDXC UHS-I cards providing ultra high-speed performance with larger storage space. Designed for faster file transfers of larger than average files the memory cards are perfect for 1080p video recording or RAW still images. Both use the exFAT file system allowing support of files larger than 4GB. The cards are fully compatible with USB 3.0 card readers, allowing 1GB transfers in just 12 seconds. In addition to this, the cards come with photo recovery software and offer a lifetime warranty. The 128GB 600x SDXC UHS-I card is priced at US$279 (RM916) while the 64GB 300x SDXC UHS-I card is priced at US$109 (RM358).


Transcend introduces USB Type-C product line-up for the latest mobile devices & computers

As of 23 August 2016, Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend) is proud to launch its comprehensive USB Type-CTM product line-up, such as USB flash drives, external hard drives, and card readers. These devices enable easy and efficient file transfer between the latest USB Type-C mobile devices and computers, below are details of the products:

Equipped with the latest USB 3.1 Type-C connector with USB OTG (On-The-Go) technology, Transcend’s JetFlash 850S flash drive delivers transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s. The JetDrive 850S also features an ergonomic curved grip and a lightweight design. In addition, Transcend’s JetFlash 890S is an OTG flash drive featuring dual connectors - a reversible USB Type-C connector and a standard USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-A connector - that is designed to transfer and back up files between the latest USB Type-C port equipped devices. Both USB flash drives use innovative COB (Chip on Board) technology and are assembled with a metallic casing, providing great dust and splash resistance.

The JetFlash 850S and JetFlash 890S USB flash drives are offered in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities and backed by Transcend's Limited Lifetime Warranty.

The StoreJet 25MC hard drive comes with a reversible USB Type-C cable for next generation Type-C devices. The three-stage shock protection system meets U.S. military drop-test standards and offers superior protection for data stored on the StoreJet 25MC. By using the SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, the StoreJet 25MC allows users to enjoy ultra-fast file transfer rates. The external hard drive is available in 1TB capacity and backed by a Three-year Limited Warranty.

As for the Transcend's 4-slot RDC8K card reader, it can support a wide variety of flash cards, including SD cards, microSD cards, CF cards, and Memory Stick (MS) flash cards. Equipped with a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, the RDC8K is an ideal choice for fast and efficient data transfer from a flash card to a laptop with USB Type-C ports.

On the other hand, Transcend's RDC2K smart reader is an OTG card reader specifically designed for USB Type-C equipped Android smartphones and tablets. In addition to an SD card slot and a microSD card slot, the RDC2K has also a standard USB Type-A port that allows users to connect accessories such as USB flash drives, keyboards, or mice to their Android devices. The card readers are both backed by a Three-year Limited Warranty.

Lastly, Transcend Elite is a proprietary application available on both Mac OS X and Windows to optimize data management. Users can download the software from Transcend’s website for free, or the app from Google Play for Android devices. Transcend Elite's useful features include: backup and restore, data encryption, bookmark sync, and cloud backup.


Apple dominates the high-end smartphone market in China despite lower overall sales

The mobile phone market last year saw a significant decrease in sales due to the global recession as well as supply chain issues in China. However, despite the shortcomings, a report by Canalys showed that Apple still dominated the Chinese smartphone market, especially in the high-end segment.

As reported by IT Home, Apple shipped 16.4 million units of the iPhone 14 series in Q4 last year, ranking first in the high-end segment. This is despite Apple recording a 24 per cent decrease year-on-year.

In fact, in the overall smartphone sales in China, Apple placed third behind vivo and HONOR which placed first and second respectively. Speaking of which, Apple (4 per cent) and HONOR (30 per cent) are the only smartphone manufacturers in China that recorded annual growth last year.

China has one of the most competitive smartphone markets in the world with many manufacturers aiming to sell their devices there. Well, that is to be expected for the country with the largest smartphone market in the world due to its size and population.

So, what do you guys think of Apple dominating the high-end smartphone market in China? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


Transcend launches Lightning product line-up for the latest iOS devices

Leading manufacturer of storage and multimedia products, Transcend Information, Inc. is proud to introduce its complete Lightning product line-up specifically designed for Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and iPod series. The new RDA2W Smart Reader and JetDrive Go flash drives are now equipped with a Lightning connector, providing convenience to users who want to manage their data between Apple products.

There are three products overall, and these three Transcend products have a two-year Limited Warranty. All three have also gone through an approval process to be Apple MFi (Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad) certified.

Below are details of the products and which Apple products are compatible:

The RDA2W features card slots for both SD and microSD cards, as well as a Smart Reader app that offers useful data backups, card formatting, file encryption, file compression and decompression, direct saving of audio recordings to memory cards, and easy access to cloud storage.

For more information, click either of the links below to check it out.

*“Made for iPod,” “Made for iPhone,” and “Made for iPad” mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod, iPhone, or iPad, respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this accessory with iPod, iPhone, or iPad may affect wireless performance.


Transferring your WhatsApp chat history from iOS to Android will be easier and coming soon

When it comes to moving chats between iOS and Android, it is definitely a hassle and most users would just give up just to start anew. However, that may change soon as Google is preparing a new feature on Data Restore Tool to make the transfer easier.

Android users may be familiar with the Data Restore Tool but not many would use it (because casuals). According to sources, the app's upcoming version update will be available on the Google Play Store quite soon in the near future. So if you're planning to move from iOS to Android, it is good timing to transfer all your WhatsApp chat history and media files.

WhatsApp is developing a feature to migrate your chats between different platforms.This video shows how chats are migrated from iOS. It's needed a cable: are new tools for PC coming or what?It'll be available for beta testers in a future update. Follow @WABetaInfo for more pic.twitter.com/Bu6xGxkpWE

On the other hand, the WhatsApp team is also developing the tool to help transfer the data between iOS and Android. WABetaInfo released a sneak peek of the beta of how it would look like, showing the function interface and apparently, a cable is needed for this. Until Whatsapp launches the feature, only then the Data Restore Tool can work seamlessly.

That's all, folks. Until WhatsApp releases the feature, we will announce it here at TechNave.com. Stay safe and stay healthy!


Transition to Apple M1 chip could net Apple around RM10.2 billion in savings

If you thought that performance was the main reason for Apple's transition to ARM-based M1 chips, you'd be wrong. Besides providing better performance and battery efficiency, there's another key benefit that Apple would gain from the transition - major cost savings.

According to 9to5Mac, Sumit Gupta (IBM AI strategy lead) claimed that the switch to the Apple M1 chip will help Apple save up to USD 2.5 billion (~RM10.2 billion) in this year alone. This is huge if you consider that the new MacBooks were launched recently. Of course, this number is based on a few different estimated numbers and may not be accurate.

On that topic, Gupta's numbers are based on an estimation of MacBook volume sold and cost. Essentially, the Apple M1 chip is believed to be less costly to produce, which directly contributes to massive savings for the company. But note that these estimates are not likely to be very accurate, so please take it with a grain of salt.

If Apple is really saving this much, it would be great if the company would consider passing down more savings to us consumers. Having said that, do you think these estimates are accurate? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Transport Minister: All p-hailing drivers, riders must obtain vocational license and contribute to Socso

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has announced that all p-hailing drivers and riders will be required to contribute to the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) under the Social Security Organisation (Socso). Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Wee asserted that the contributions will be made as a pre-condition for them to obtain a vocational license, which itself will be made mandatory.

According to Bernama, the Transport Minister said that the government is committed to ensuring p-hailing workers have a social security net system, saying that if an accident occurs, Socso can provide protection and help. He then revealed that the government will make it a condition for all p-hailing companies to impose a Socso contribution of RM13.10 per month on each driver and p-hailing worker.

That amounts to a total of RM157.20 per year. Wee said that 80 per cent of this is covered by the government and the rest by p-hailing workers.

The requirement of Socso contribution and a vocational license is part of the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2022 and two other bills that are meant to give the Transport Ministry power to regulate p-hailing in the country. The other bills are the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (Amendment) Bill 2022 and the Land Public Transport (Amendment) Bill 2022, both of which have been approved by the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

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


Transport Minister: E-hailing operators that overcharge passengers will have their licences revoked

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has warned e-hailing companies that their licences will be revoked or suspended if they violate the allowed surcharge amount. Currently, the amount is set at 200 percent of the base fare.

Moreover, Wee also warned e-hailing companies to not continue pressing the government with various demands and requests. If the matter continues, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) will be forced to take action by regulating the e-hailing industry, though he hoped for the matter to be resolved harmoniously as MOT has no intention of disturbing the gig economy.

As reported by national news agency Bernama, MOT has instructed the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to investigate whether e-hailing operators have violated the surcharge rate which had been agreed on since 2019. The Transport Minister stressed that while e-hailing companies are given the flexibility to impose surcharges based on demands and dynamic pricing, the fare must not be more than 200 percent of the base fare.

Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya yesterday, Wee also criticised e-hailing operators for giving excuses that don’t make any sense for the spike in fares. Among the reasons given by e-hailing companies were the recent RM10,000 EPF special withdrawal scheme and the lack of drivers.

The Transport Minister also labelled e-hailing operators’ allegations that MOT didn’t help the industry as ‘very disappointing’. Wee then reminded the companies on how the government has made it easier for them to recruit employees, though he stressed that abolishing the passenger service vehicle (PSV) licensing requirement is strictly out of the question.

He also urged the public who were charged four times higher than the normal fare to lodge an official report. MOT would not hesitate to take action against e-hailing companies if the reports were proved to be true.

What do you guys think of the statement by the Transport Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


Transport Ministry to look into Grab Malaysia’s new fare structure

Yesterday, we reported that Grab Malaysia is implementing a new fare structure during peak hours in Klang valley which would make it more expensive when the ride is stuck in traffic. Now, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) has responded to the price adjustments and announced that it would be looking into the matter.

According to Malay Mail, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook asserted that he has instructed the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to speak with Grab Malaysia regarding the new fare structure. He further revealed that MOT has yet to receive any information on the fare restructure and that the change was a commercial decision by Grab Malaysia.

Today, Grab Malaysia in a statement iterated that the change in the fare and incentives structure is meant to better compensate driver-partners and improve rides supply. Furthermore, the company clarified that the ride fares remain largely unchanged with some minor increase and decrease across rides throughout the day.

Grab Malaysia stressed that the fares have been revised so that they are based more on the time taken to complete the ride and less on the distance of the ride. Thus, this would provide fairer compensation to its driver-partners which takes the current context into consideration.

So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news locally and from abroad!


Travel Warning: US Ants like to Eat Smartphone Guts!

For those of you traveling overseas to the US, watch out, a species of ants native to the US are destroying electronic devices such as smartphones because they like to eat their insides. These ants are called Rasberry crazy ants and apart from wiping out other ants they like to eat electrical components, especially those inside smartphones and tablets. Small enough to fit into most smartphones or tablets (either through the ports or the jacks), these ants make things worse by releasing pheromones that attract other Rasberry crazy ants when they die. So if they make it inside your smartphone, start nibbling and get electrocuted, they'll just attract more of their smartphone guts gobbling pals. The ants have been seen across Texas and Florida. They are also immune to pesticides and travel well. Last year, they were held responsible for $146.5 million in damages to electronic devices in Texas alone. People have had smartphones die on them and upon taking them apart discovering clumps of dead Rasberry ants. We just hope that Malaysians travelling abroad don't bring any back with them, so do watch out if your smartphone or tablet gets covered in sugar or spills as even the highest dust and water proof rating may not save them from these ants.


TravelCard packs a 1300 mAh powerbank into your wallet

Despite all the advancements in technology, our one main stumbling block in the mobile device industry remains the battery. So far, the only solution is to carry around an external battery or powerbank, but it also means one other thing to bring about or forget to bring with you. Go Design aims to change that by offering the TravelCard, which is an 1300 mAh credit-card sized powerbank that should be able to take very little space while offering at least a charge up to the halfway point. Measurements for the Go Design TravelCard have it at 4.77mm thin and 56.7g. It is made from aircraft grade aluminum so it is both tough and lightweight and also comes with a built-in cable. Available in black, silver and white, the TravelCard is still a Kickstarter crowd-funded project with another 23 days to go, but it has already achieved it's goal. This also means that you can get the TravelCard for as low as just $40 (RM131) with the powerbank shipping in May 2014.


Treasure Hunt event by Microsoft Malaysia using Surface Pro 4 and Lumia 950

Group picture with all 5 teams together after lunch at Tujo Bar-serrie & Grill

Microsoft Malaysia held a Windows 10 Treasure Hunt activity yesterday in effort to show more innovative key features of the two Windows 10 devices – the Surface Pro 4 and Lumia 950. Five teams were taught how to use Windows Hello, Edge annotation, superior camera optics, and multitasking functions to finish their respective challenges. Each team had to complete six challenges at six stations, with the help of the Microsoft Senior Leadership Team (SLT) - Michal Golebiewski (Chief Marketing & Operations Officer) and Bruce Howe (General Manager of Consumer Channel Group).

Participants attending the Windows 10 Treasure Hunt briefing at Coffee Planet

Every station had a challenge that requires the team to use either the Surface Pro 4 or Lumia 950, the devices have help each team to complete the tasks by using their key features such as multitasking between snap assist function, taking a hidden message picture in low light condition, using a biometric security feature (Windows Hello), utilizing the digital pen and sharing the answers via e-mail, and especially learning to use the Continuum; which replicates real-life working scenarios with tight deadlines by having to proofread a PowerPoint presentation with the use of the Lumia 950.

Team Orange at Avenue K attempting the multitasking challenge

Team Grey at Aseana Cafe attempting the annotation challenge

Team Green at the Microsoft Authorized Reseller Store attempting the last minute challenge

Team Blue at Avenue K attempting the Windows Hello challenge

Team Red with the floating Master Yoda attempting the test of wits challenge

Team Grey winning the Windows 10 Media Treasure Hunt with Michal Golebiewski (2nd from L)

Vernon Chan winning the social media popularity contest with Bruce Howe (R) presenting the Lumia 950 to him, and Andres Sirel (L) looking on

The Surface Pro 4 and Lumia 950 are currently available in Lazada and authorised retail stores for RM3999 and RM2699 respectively. To learn more about the products, visit their official website to check it out.

Technave would also like to take this opportunity to thank Microsoft Malaysia for the fun event and learning how useful the Windows 10 key features are. #Win10TreasureHunt #DoGreatThingsMY


Trend Micro Malaysia releases Online Privacy tips and fixes for the family

In light of the recent news about Harith Iskandar and his baby pictures appearing in a porn strewn web site, Trend Micro Malaysia have released a short list on tips and fixes to protect you and your family online. Recognising that everyone who uses the Internet will be exposed to such dangers, it becomes very important that we also take steps to protect ourselves instead of blindly exposing ourselves to high-profile hacks or identity theft or worse. Check out the steps below and what Trend Micro Malaysia have to say about it all:

“The power of social media encompasses communications, connections, and how we gather news, stories, and other pieces of information. However, as we all know, social media is not without risks. With the whole world as your potential audience, anybody can see what you’re doing, what you’re up to, and even know your whereabouts¹. The Internet is inherently public, but that doesn’t mean you should give up your rights to privacy and security. Whether we like it or not, everyone who uses the Internet will constantly be exposed to online dangers. With the many high-profile hacks taking center stage in recent years, it is even more important today to be aware of what you put out there, and to start developing safe and secure online habits when it comes to protecting your social media and how to stay safe online.” Goh Chee Hoh, Managing Director for Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, Trend Micro.


Apple downgraded the SSD speeds of the M2-powered 512GB MacBook Pro and 256GB Mac Mini

When Apple refreshed the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13 with the M2 SoC last year, it was met with controversy after the SSD speeds of the base variants were found to be much slower than the M1 equivalents. Well, the tech giant has been found doing the same thing again, this time with the recently released M2 Mac Mini and M2 MacBook Pro models.

As reported by MacRumors, the base M2 Mac Mini with 256GB storage has slower read and write speeds compared to its predecessor. A teardown by YouTuber Brandon Geekabit revealed that it only featured a single 256GB storage chip, compared to the two 128GB chips of the M1 Mac Mini.

Like the base model M2 MacBook Air, a single storage chip means slower read and write speeds as multiple NAND chips allow for faster speeds. Accordingly, the base model M2 MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch also have the same issue as its 512GB storage has a reduction in NAND chips compared to the predecessor.

Both the M2 Mac Mini and M2 MacBook Pro models deliver faster read and write speeds when the storage option is upgraded. So, if you’re looking to buy any of the new M2 models by Apple, do take this into consideration.

What do you guys think about Apple downgrading the SSD speeds of the base models? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news such as this.


Trend Micro Maximum Security 2015 Cloud Edition security solution now available

(from left to right): Daniel Tan, Product Manager, Trend Micro next to the Captain Cloud mascot, Adel Ang, Senior Manager of Consumer Business, South East Asia, Trend Micro,  Ngang Lay Pheng, General Manager of M-Link System Malaysia Sdn.Bhd., Terrence Tang, Senior Director of Consumer Business, Asia Pacific, Trend Micro and Cedric Lim, Consumer Sales Manager, Trend Micro Malaysia at the launch event.

Trend Micro recently launched their Maximum Security 2015 Cloud Edition security solution for cyber threats covering PC, Mac, Android and iOS users. The solution aims to protect users across social media, websites, emails and instant messaging with smart protection and identification of cyber threats. It even offers protection from phishing scam emails and even comes with a password manager and secure password generator. Social media networks covered by the solution includes Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter. The Trend Micro Maximum Security 2015 solution will be going for RM89 for 1 year for 1 device and RM139 for 1 year for 3 devices. For their Trend Micro Internet Security 2015, users can get 1 year for 1 device at RM69 along with Trend Micro Internet Security 2015 for 1 year and 3 devices at RM99. In addition, users who buy these products from the launch date till December 2014 will also get a free RM30 AEON shopping voucher. Here's what they had to say about it:

“Consumers today are very reliant on their devices, with an average Malaysian owning four digital devices each². Yet, they often forget that having more devices also increases their exposure to cyber attacks. We are concerned about the safety of their digital lives as our survey indicated that only half of the respondents have installed security or antivirus apps or software on both their mobile devices and personal computers,” said Terrence Tang, Senior Director of Consumer Business, Asia Pacific, Trend Micro.

“To users, securing all of their personal devices can be a huge challenge especially when devices today usually run on various operating systems. With this in mind, Trend Micro has expanded the Maximum Security 2015 Cloud Edition to offer a complete set of features to protect users from privacy and security breaches across multiple devices and on different platforms including PC, Mac, Android and iOS. Users can now have a peace of mind knowing that they can surf the Internet freely and enjoy their digital lives fully on any device all the time and regardless of where they are at,” said Andrew Tan, Product Marketing Manager for Consumer Business, Southeast Asia, Trend Micro.


Trend Micro offers free solutions for Shellshock vulnerability

The recent discovery of the Shellshock vulnerability has made things very scary for practically everyone on the Internet, including mobile users. Since the Shellshock vulnerability allows an attacker to run any commands on an affected system, hackers could use Bash a core program to steal user data with ease. Already, a malware exploiting the Shellshock vulnerability called ELF_BASHLITE.A was spotted by Trend Micro. In response to this, Trend Micro are now offering free solutions for the Shellshock vulnerability but these are just for MacOSX and Linux servers for now. Android device users should pay attention and install any relevant updates to remain protected. For more information, check out the full infographic below:


Trend Micro predicts future cybersecurity trends for 2016

Trend Micro Incorporated, is a global leader in security software of 26 years of experience providing smart protection for consumers, businesses and governments. On 16 December 2016, Mr. Law Chee Wan, Manager Technical Sales, Trend Micro Malaysia assisted by Jean Lim, Director of Channel Management and Marketing, Trend Micro Malaysia had given a talk on their prediction of potential future threats and how we can prevent it together.

Mr. Law Chee Wan giving a presentation to the media

2015 has been a rollercoaster ride for organizations and individuals alike in the world of security, there are cyber threats we face from time to time and any slip ups can lead us into grave situations. 2016 won’t be any different, in fact, cyber extortionists (hackers) have begun improvising a new tactic to con people online by using psychological methods.

Psychological attacks online are much scarier than the usual technical aspects that most of us know, by simply taking advantage of the human emotion of fear and security it can prove to be effective and dangerous. Reputation is everything, and it can ruin anyone’s image down to the ground while the hackers get away by extorting your money. Security vendors, law enforcements and would-be victims will need to work together hand in hand to counter these evolving threats.

Throughout the years, scams have taken many forms such as fake antivirus programs, police Trojans, forward chain emails, and even fake online users. Their objective remains the same:- “We have your data/You’re our lucky winner, we are denying access to it, give us money or else.” and so on. It is estimated that these cyber extortionists earn millions of dollars from those poor victims, because this is essentially a “risk-free” activity for many cybercrime groups. Take the case of Ashley Madison for example, who had face threats over an “alleged” membership in a dating site. This can happen to anyone.

Sometimes it’s not defacing websites and/or carrying out denial-of-service (DoS), or even the money they want, hacktivists would breach into corporate security line and expose their innermost secrets. One fine example is Sony on their huge email leaks about movie productions, which has led to many backfash on actors and actresses, and producers a few months ago. This kind of cyber attack is something new, just because it didn’t happen to us doesn’t mean it won’t. We must be fully prepared for any kind of threats, as more and more devices, items and services are being connected to the Internet.

That being said, shipments are expected to grow at 67% annually for the next 5 years. As these people are relying on devices as part of their daily lives, the need for better security is becoming apparent and problematic. Let's take PCs for example, where software vendors regularly release patches from time to time claiming threats are in the machines when there are none at all. Even baby monitors, cars, gasoline pumps are included now, these toxic combination of day-to-day importance and lack of security may cause injuries – or worse, fatalities – to users due to the failure of smart devices.

Trend Micro is committed to protect users from upcoming and evolving hacktivists that employ new tactics, however user awareness, partnerships, law enforcements and any organizations must work together as well to avoid such matter. Only then, successful results can happen in the form of swift legislation, takedowns, arrests, and convictions.

To find out more about these threats and their possible future implications in the full report “2016 Trend Micro Security Predictions: The Fine Line.”


Trend Micro predicts more targeted attacks coming in 2015 for Malaysia

Hackers and cybercriminals around the world have been quite busy in 2014, even here in Malaysia. We've seen quite a few defaced Malaysian government websites and other targeted attacks both for malicious intent as well as to steal data. According to a new report from Trend Micro tabled by Victor Lo, Regional Consulting Director, SEA Region, Trend Micro, this will continue in 2015 as they predit even more targeted attack campaigns particularly for retail and financial institutions. The Trend Micro report titled "Trend Micro Security Predictions for 2015 and Beyond: The Invisible Becomes Visible" includes the following highlights:

Victor Lo, Regional Consulting Director, SEA Region, Trend Micro tabling the report

While new methods of payment such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet are spreading, cybercriminals are increasing both in number as well as attacks. We've already seen local banks like Maybank and CIMB exploited and even iOS device users are not safe as more and more viruses and malware designed for iOS are cropping up. For the full details on the report and some information to help protect yourself for 2015 do check out the full report from Trend Micro.


Triple rear camera and more revealed on upcoming Lenovo smartphones?

Last month, the Lenovo Legion Phone dual was launched, and a few days ago, the company teased that 3 smartphones are going to launch soon. Today, there are 3 new teaser images shared on their Weibo page which revealed some parts of the design of these upcoming smartphones.

From the first teaser image, we know that it sports a triple rear camera with an LED flash on the top right corner and an audio jack port at the top. As for the second teaser image, the device features a punch-hole display which sits on the top left corner, and also the company teased that it may come with a bigger screen.

For the last teaser image, there is a side button mounted on the left frame. We believe it might be a custom key that can be used for an AI assistant or to quick launch an app.

Well, this is just a teaser and we think there are more coming soon, so just relax and wait for it. Do you want Lenovo Malaysia to bring it to the Malaysian market when it is launched? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to stay tuned for tech news on TechNave.com.


Truecaller working with WhatsApp to tackle scam calls and messages

From time to time, we would get scam messages and calls on our phones. While you could always install the Truecaller app, it doesn't work for WhatsApp which scammers tend to use nowadays. However, that could change in the future.

Truecaller will be collaborating with WhatsApp as well as other messaging apps to check for potential spam calls. The company said its caller identification service will be made available in May this month, and it's currently in beta. According to Truecaller Chief Executive Alan Mamedi, telemarketing and scam calls have risen in many countries like India.

WhatsApp scam calls in Malaysia are also, unfortunately, common. At the moment, all we can do is just ignore the message and calls, and blacklist them. Truecaller intends to use spam detection technology and take action on suspicious accounts. Users may block and report them as well.

Also, we would like to remind everyone that no official company or organisation will contact you via WhatsApp with a casual phone number unless stated otherwise on their official platform. On top of that, no official authority will ever want to know what is your OTP so never give it out. Be vigilant, stay safe, and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Trump Administration may have forgotten about trying to ban TikTok after two months

By now, you should know that Donald Trump lost his election campaign and Joe Biden will be the new US President. Trump's defeat also got us thinking about two things - will the ban be lifted on Huawei and how is the TikTok negotiation thing going on?

There's no word about Huawei yet, but we do have some news about TikTok. If you haven't been following the news, Trump initially banned TikTok due to "security reasons" and accused them of being spies to the Chinese government. Supposedly, the deadline to meet is this week from the company's announcement of introducing TikTok Global, which includes Walmart and Oracle as partners as a solution to finalize the agreement, but Trump's administration has been quite quiet about it for 2 months.

Besides from being silent, no feedback was given as well for TikTok's proposal on data privacy and security framework. With this, the company is taking the matter into their own hands by requesting a petition in court to defend their rights. They also stated that they are willing to work with Trump's administration to resolve the issue as soon as possible but it seems that the latter has forgotten all about it.

It will be also interesting to see if US President Biden will lift the ban on Huawei. We just have to wait and see. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Trump can use Facebook and Instagram soon as Meta U-turns like Twitter

After being suspended for 2 years, Meta has decided that Donald Trump can use Facebook and Instagram once more in the next few weeks. This comes after he was not only suspended from Facebook and Instagram but also supposedly banned for life from Twitter back in 2021.

For those who don’t remember, the bans came after he announced fake news that led to the storming of the White House and US Capitol by his supporters. After the bans, he subsequently created his own social media platform called TRUTH Social. But… Twitter has already lifted the ban, so he can start tweeting any time he wants (provided he has no legal obligations to post first on TRUTH Social).

Now, he’s running for the US presidency once more and Meta says it’s only fair that US citizens “should be able to hear what their politicians are saying”. Seems like these still are “interesting times” that we live in but what do you think? Was this the right call? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Trump is planning to launch his own social media platform soon called TRUTH Social

If you follow politics in the US, you would know that former President Trump was banned from using both Facebook and Twitter forever. As a bummer as it may for him, that's not stopping Trump from creating his own social media platform called TRUTH Social.

In an interview with Fox News, his goal of creating a new social media platform is to fight back again "the Big Tech companies of Silicon Valley, which have used their unilateral power to silence opposing voices in America". Previously in early this month, Trump sued Twitter to get his account back on the basis of violating the First Amendment rights but there seems to be no progress.

Trump's supporters also believe that Facebook, Twitter and Google are biased and breaking their First Amendment rights. Back in 2018, they actually did sue the three companies but the court tossed out the case a couple of times. Whether if they were right or not, there was no evidence of conservative bias according to the New York University research team.

Trump plans to launch his TRUTH Social beta version in November but only a few guests will be invited. It is expected to roll out across the USA in the first quarter of 2022.


Trump released executive orders to ban TikTok & WeChat, but what could this mean for other China apps?

Tension for TikTok is rising as US President Donald Trump has just issued an executive order to ban the app in 45 days. It's not just TikTok though, as WeChat just got pulled into the situation as well for the same days given for the ban. That said, WeChat belongs to Tencent Holdings Ltd in China, so does this mean that the ban could extend to PUBG Mobile and other video game companies (partially) owned by them?

Before we answer the question, let's take a look at President Trump's executive order. According to the official statement, it reads that both TikTok and WeChat's data collection (which includes location data, browsing and search histories) "allow the Chinese Communist Party to access to Americans' personal and proprietary information". It also further states the data collection could "potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage".

MORE: @realDonaldTrump has also signed a similar order banning transactions with WeChat. pic.twitter.com/Y4nVlCVBke

On top of that, the executive order also prohibits "any transaction by a United States person or within the United States" on the two apps within the period. But what about Microsoft's acquisition on TikTok? Won't that be undone from the executive order? Well, as for the transaction ban in TikTok's case, the statement is pointing towards ByteDance Ltd. only (who owns TikTok) so the process is still on-going. At the moment, both Microsoft and TikTok have not commented further on their negotiation.

Despite the surprise move on the WeChat ban, users of other Tencent related apps and video games don't need to worry about the transaction ban, as it is only solely related to WeChat and not PUBG Mobile, League of Legends (Riot Games) and Fortnite (Epic Games) for now. However, the transaction ban could mean that both TikTok and WeChat be removed on the Apple App and Google Play Store.

list of game and tech companies Tencent has stake in:Riot Games (100%)Epic Games (40%)SupercellActivision BlizzardBlueholeUbisoftRedditDiscordHuyaDouyuGrinding Gear GamesFrontier DevelopmentsParadox InteractiveFuncomSharkmobFatsharkKakao https://t.co/njItJiBTy4

Should the US follow the India Government's footsteps and take an extra step, it could potentially affect the video game market severely since Tencent is related to various video game companies around the world. The India Government have already banned TikTok and other Chinese mobile apps (including Xiaomi, WeChat and others) for "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India". On the other hand, Australia might also ban WeChat but have not taken any action at the moment.

While we think that it's unlikely for TikTok to be banned entirely, this is kind of worrisome because whatever decision will be made in the future could have a domino effect on other countries and anything related to China. It will take a long time for the "cold war" between the US and China to cool down so we will be monitoring this closely. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Apple event for 22 October confirmed, Apple iPads and more coming soon?

Apple has recently sent out invites for an event on 22 October 2013, confirming earlier reports of such an event. With an invite titled "We still have a lot to cover.", Apple are likely to reveal the Apple iPad 5, iPad mini 2 and Apple TV along with new MacBook Pro models. So far, quite a lot of leaked images and rumours point towards a slimmer and thinner Apple iPad 5 that uses the same narrow bezel design as the Apple iPad mini, while the iPad mini 2 will likely offer a Retina screen. The tech specs and features for these tablets are also expected to change with Apple's 64-bit A7 chip and Touch ID fingerprint scanner expected to be put into the iPad 5 along with a 2K Retina display. Apart from the expected Retina display, the iPad mini 2 will also likely get a new processor in the form of the Apple A6 processor. While these seem like the most likely Apple products to be revealed, we could also see the Apple iWatch revealed so stay tuned and we'll keep you posted. No details on Malaysia release dates or pricing just yet though.


Trump's new executive order could prevent social media companies from censoring content

Some of us thought of it as just another spat between political figure and private companies. But it looks like the small spat between US President Donald Trump and social media companies has blown out of proportion. Yup, Trump has signed an executive order that is aimed at social media companies like Twitter and Facebook.

For those who are wondering what this means, this executive order aims to prevent online censorship, a reaction to Trump's tweet being called out. Long story short, Trump claimed mailed-in voting ballots would lead to voter fraud but Twitter decided to add a fact-check disclaimer to it. Of course, this move will have to go through the US Congress before it's passed and legal experts don't see that happening.

The original Tweet and fact-check disclaimer

But what does this mean for us, you ask? While happenings in the USA are normally not a concern for us, the fact that the targets are social media means that it could affect content that is being posted on those sites. If fake news is not being censored, that could potentially affect a lot more people than just US citizens. According to the LA Times, Twitter's CEO Jack Dorsey defended the company's decision to censor Trump's posts and will continue to point out any fake news.

With how reliant we are on the internet for news these days, widely used social media platforms need to take up the role of dealing with fake news. But with that said, what are your thoughts on this? Would this affect us Malaysians and the world at large? Share your thoughts on this with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news.


Trump's new social media platform begins gradual rollout

Be it Facebook or Twitter, most people use some form of social media these days. Unfortunately, Donald Trump isn't banned from both of these platforms, so he decided to make a new one. First announced last year, the so-called TRUTH Social is now ready to roll out.

According to The Malay Mail, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) have begun a gradual rollout for TRUTH Social. The app will be made available on the Apple App Store this week. Currently, the company's plan is for the app to be "fully operational - at least within the United States" by the end of March 2022. This suggests that the company does plan to release the app in other countries.

This platform will likely become a mouthpiece for Trump and his supporters. But beyond that, not many people are familiar with what else the platform can or intends to achieve. At the moment, one of the things that are being planned is NFTs. Specifically, Trump and his wife plan to put up 10000 NFTs on sale.

Trump had about 89 million followers on Twitter before he was banned, so the NFT will probably be sold out soon. Besides that, what else do you think TRUTH Social has up its sleeve? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more interesting tech news.


Trump wants ByteDance to drop rights to TikTok or sell it, Microsoft is interested

It seems that TikTok's USA woes are not about to end yet. The app was built by Chinese company ByteDance and the US government doesn't like that, citing it as a national security risk. US President Donald Trump said that the app may be banned, but is also considering alternatives for it.

While its emphasis on short videos makes it different, TikTok is very popular in the US and is a strong competitor to other US-based social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. This may be why Microsoft is now in talks with ByteDance about acquiring the social media platform, according to TechCrunch (via Bloomberg).

Is it national security concerns or does the US want to maintain its social media dominance? We can't say for sure but it's clear that Trump prefers a US company to have control over TikTok. ByteDance has also been trying to reassure people that its data aren't stored on servers in China and even appointed American businessman Kevin Mayer as CEO of TikTok and COO at ByteDance to run global operations.

For us not in the US, it can seem rather strange to see a country making so much fuss about an app. But TikTok does store a lot of data and things like privacy are a concern for them. With that said, would Microsoft buying over make it better? Tell us what you think about the topic on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Try to win a Perodua Axia Special Edition by subscribing to Celcom FIRST Gold or Platinum plan!

Starting from 15 April 2016 until 15 July 2016, new subscribers for the Celcom FIRST Gold and FIRST Platinum plan can stand a chance to bring home a brand new Perodua Axia Special Edition as well as other daily prizes. This campaign is only open to new Malaysian Celcom customers and unfortunately, existing Celcom subscribers will not be able to participate in this giveaway.

For those who are currently subscribing to another mobile operator, you can MNP over to Celcom and subscribe to either their FIRST Gold or the FIRST Platinum plan to participate. The winner of this giveaway will be picked randomly every 14 days. Chosen customers will receive a personalized call from Celcom informing them of their chance to win, but they are required to answer a set of questions correctly first before will be announced as the winner. For more information about this promotion, head over to their giveaway page.


Trying out the vivo V7 + Face Beauty 7.0 and Portrait mode, camera samples included!

After yesterday's test with the vivo V7 + front and rear cameras, today we'll be checking out the selfie functions of the 24MP front camera, namely their Face Beauty 7.0 and Portrait mode. Our tests revealed natural beautifying effects with a sharper chin, smoother face and brighter skin while the portrait mode offers plenty of filters as well along with an easy to use self-timer. Check out the camera samples for yourself below:

Here's the original shot without any Face Beauty 7.0

Keeps everything else looking natural, including the faded shirt, detailed hair and earring

If you're feeling a need for some nostalgia

The vivo V7 + is set for release in Malaysia on 26 September 2017 and we'll be there to check it out first hand. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for all the tech news and reviews.


Tune Talk Value Pack offers unlimited internet data for RM1

Telco deals are getting really competitive nowadays, and it's not from Maxis, Digi, Celcom or U Mobile, but Tune Talk as they will be offering a new Tune Talk Value Pack that features unlimited data for just RM1. Sure bo? #SureOne, just read below for more details.

According to Ameen Amaendran, CEO of Tune Talk, he said that the RM1 unlimited data is split into three categories - Chatting, Social, and Music. The Chatting includes WhatsApp, WeChat, imo and Viber; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for Social; and in the Music side - KKBox, Hungama, JOOX and Raku. There's also a time limit as well, as it will only last for 24 hours upon purchasing the plan.

On top of that, existing subscribers can also switch to the new Value Pack plan via Tune Talk app or SMS before 28 February 2019, whereas for new subscribers who register it today from 17 January onwards, they will automatically be on the new prepaid pack. Customers can also choose four types of plans - Daily, Weekly, Monthly or Yearly from as low as RM1 as well. That's pretty dope.

For more information, you can head over the Tune Talk Value Pack page right here. Stay tuned for more Tune Talk news at TechNave.com.


Tune Talk to launch 4G LTE next week, existing users will have to shift to a new SIM

Tune Talk has just announced that it will be offering 4G LTE services sometime this week. The carrier already offers a number of affordable Internet plans. In fact, just last week, the carrier announced that it would revamp its existing internet plans to make it more affordable and enticing. This is quite the opposite of what mainstream carriers are doing, i.e. increasing the internet rates. The carrier currently uses Celcom's 2G and 3G network bands to operate in the country. But from next week, it will offer 4G LTE internet too. Since this is an upgraded network frequency, users will have to swap their existing 3G SIM cards for a new 4G compatible one. The telco has not yet announced whether it would charge customers for the swap, but for now, you can win a free 4G enabled SIM card if you retweet their status. Tune Talk has not revealed the new pricing for the 4G data plans but it's existing ones are quite affordable. You get 5GB data for RM68 and 3GB data for RM52.


Tune Talk users are receiving Bitcoins notification scams from the app

Today, several Tune Talk users received a weird notification from the app itself. If you don't use Tune Talk, the message is notifying users that they have won double bitcoins which would raise some red flags. This has led to many users to tag the company as a possible hack in the official app.

According to The Star newspaper, Tune Talk has already been notified of the scam and the app may have been compromised. The company also said that there's a dedicated team investigating the bitcoin notification as we speak and will update their users as soon as possible.

In the app, the notification is telling the user that he or she has won a contest and will double the number of bitcoins. It also asked the user to "click this notification and follow the instructions" to receive double Bitcoins even though there was no link to be seen. However, it did ask the users to send them to an ewallet with randomized letters.

The Bitcoin scam is already trending on Twitter, warning Tune Talk and each other of the potential hack. Furthermore, there was no contest held by Tune Talk recently and no relation between the company and Bitcoin as well. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to smell that this is obviously a scam.

We will be updating this page again when Tune Talk gives an official statement. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


TuneTalk Offers BlackBerry Q5 on no contract

TuneTalk is now offering the BlackBerry Q5 with 3 months free data and calls with no contract. The catch is that you're practically paying for the BlackBerry Q5 at the standard retail price of RM1299. However, if you decide to buy the Q5 from TuneTalk you get free delivery, a free Tune Talk SIM pack with 1GB of data and 60 minutes free talk time for 3 months, which explains the aforementioned 3 months worth of free data and calls. Switch over from another telco and TuneTalk will up the time from 3 months to 5 months. After this time period (of 3 or 5 months) you can continue with the TuneTalk Cun plan for RM38 a month and 1GB of data with 60 minutes free talk time, or you can switch back to any other telco.

Other freebies include a 3 months Skype voucher and an RM50 KFC voucher. For more information about this BlackBerry Q5 deal check out the TuneTalk site but if you're looking for more TuneTalk telco deals click here.


TuneTalk Offers BlackBerry Z10 for RM999 and TT Points

While you can get the BlackBerry Z10 on contract with practically every telco in Malaysia, TuneTalk is one of the few to offer it at a subsidized price under a prepaid plan. To get the BlackBerry Z10 under TuneTalk you can do the following:

Using any of the methods above you can get the BlackBerry Z10 with a free TuneTalk SIM and free Cun Plan for one month worth RM38. See the Cun Plan details as below:

For more TuneTalk telco plans click here and if you need more information regarding this deal go to the TuneTalk site.


Apple expands its Self Service Repair programme to M1 Mac desktops and the Studio Display

Apple officially launched its Self Service Repair programme in April this year and expanded it gradually throughout 2022. Now, the company has announced further expansion, with the programme now available for M1-powered Mac desktops as well as the Studio Display.

As reported by Six Colors, the tech giant is now offering parts, tools and repair manuals for the M1-powered iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Studio in the US starting today. Moreover, on the official Apple website, the repair manuals for the Mac desktops with Apple silicon and the Studio Display are now available.

Besides that, the tech giant also announced earlier this month that the Self Service Repair programme is now available in Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweeden and the United Kingdom. However, in the aforementioned regions outside of the US, the programme is only available for the iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone SE third-generation, M1 MacBook Air and M1 MacBook Pro series.

As of the time of writing, the programme is not available in Malaysia with Apple yet to reveal plans to expand the programme to our country. So, what do you guys think of Apple’s Self Service Repair? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest in consumer technology news!


TuneTalk introduces prepaid plan that is valid for a year

If you are getting tired topping up your prepaid service every week due to the validity period, TuneTalk is here to the rescue. They have just introduced a new prepaid plan that is valid for a year! Better yet, it comes with 36GB of data, or around 3GB a month.

You do have to pay an upfront of RM 288 but you validity period is for a year, and your data is only about RM8 per GB. Plus there is no restriction on the data usage as there is no set quota per month.

At the same time TuneTalk is also promoting their top up freebies. With every RM50 or more top up, users will get an extra 2GB of data that is valid for 15 days. So if you are sick of having to reload every week just to keep your line active, why not check this promo out? Stay tuned to TechNave for more information on TuneTalk.


TuneTalk offers 1-year prepaid validity for just RM10

TuneTalk have upped the 1-year validity game in Malaysia by offering 1 year active validty for a TuneTalk prepaid number for just RM10. This could make it an excellent choice for GSM-based alarm systems, your kids GPS watches or even a backup number if you ever end up losing your main phone and number somehow. To activate it, you'll need a TuneTalk SIM with RM15 minimum balance but for more details check out the TuneTalk site.


Turn virtually any surface into a touchscreen with the Lenovo Smart Cast

With the hopes of looking past its Superfish blunder, Lenovo seems to be focusing on its rather well-received mobile arm. Just a couple of days ahead of COMPUTEX 2015, the company has announced a new smartphone that is called the Lenovo Smart Cast at the Lenovo Tech World Conference. As its name suggests, the Smart Cast has a focus-free laser projector that allows any surface to be turned into a “touchscreen”. The focus-free laser allows the Smart Cast to project an image onto any surface, regardless of depth, angle or even if the image is on a different plane. This translates into the ability to project not only a touchscreen, but presentations, movies and even games. As of the time of writing, there are no tech specs or other features much less any Malaysia release dates or pricing details, but stay tuned as it could come up again soon.


Turn your USB Type-C equipped smartphone into a 3D camera with the Eye-Plug

None of the cameras on modern smartphone takes 3D images. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that capability, where you can capture a moment in glorious 3D? Now you can. The Eye-Plug was recently announced in Computex, and it can shoot 3D images with your smartphone, by just plugging it into the USB Type-C port.

According to the manufacturer, it can turn any compatible phone into a 3D camera, much like those devices that have a dual-camera setup. Thanks to the reversible nature of the USB Type-C port, the camera module can face either way for photos and selfies.

While the device is still in the prototype stage, the manufacturer expects it to retail at only USD 35 (˜RM 145) so anyone can theoretically take 3D photos for 3D viewing later on.


Turn your Xiaomi Mi 10 into a gaming beast with this new Black Shark gamepad

Have you ever wished that you will be having that d-pad on your smartphone while gaming, so you wouldn’t have to struggle with the touch screen anymore? However, adding buttons from a gaming controller to a smartphone will also look ridiculous, as smartphones are supposed to be convenient. Lucky for Xiaomi Mi 10 users, the company has announced a new Bluetooth Black Shark gamepad that is specially made for the series.

The Black Shark gamepad for Xiaomi Mi 10 features two separate pieces that can be attached to the top and bottom of a Xiaomi Mi 10 smartphone. Its design has also followed the colours of Black Shark’s brand which are black and green, giving off a futuristic vibe. Other than that, they are made small and lightweight as well, with just 40 grams you can get your game on anywhere.

Furthermore, the controller features Bluetooth connectivity that can exclusively connect via a supplementing application. For longevity, it comes with a battery that can last about 40 more hours with just one single full charge. If you guys want to make your Xiaomi Mi 10 device into a gaming beast, this is the right accessory for you and it will start selling tomorrow for 299 Yuan (~RM181)!

Let us know what you think about the Black Shark gamepad for Xiaomi Mi 10 on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more cool tech news.


Turn your iPhone to the ultimate photojournalist tool with the Helium Core

Made out of aluminium, the Helium Core by Heliumcine will turn your iPhone 6 or 6S into the ultimate photojournalistic tool that you can carry around. Thanks to the multiple mounting points and lens mount, your iPhone can be a professional reporting tool, for only USD 93 (~RM363).

Using durable 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum with an anodized finish, the Helium Core gives you the ultimate flexibility. Why? There are mounting ports for just about everything on the surface around the case. Attach lenses, flash, and any other accessories you can think of. The attachment point are also compatible to tripod mounts (37mm thread) – so you can mount it on any professional tripod you have on hand.

One feature of the case is that even when attached, the ports of the phone can still be accessed, so that you can connect your charging cable to the phone without taking it off. The Helium Core comes in two sizes for either the iPhone 6/6s or the 6/6s Plus. The case is currently on Kickstarter so head there to pledge for the Helium Core.


Turns out Youtube isn't going to delete your account after all

Youtube recently clarified on Twitter, stating that the new Terms of Service does not mean that Youtube will terminate your account if you are not commercially viable. Instead, the new Terms of Service meant that they will discontinue certain Youtube service that are either outdated or not frequently used.

With that said, these “new” terms of service aren’t exactly new in the first place. If you were to look up the terms of service on Youtube back in 2014, it clearly states in 11.4.B that “YouTube may terminate its legal agreement with you if the provision of the Service to you by YouTube is, in YouTube's opinion, no longer commercially viable”.

The section of our Terms that you're referring to is *not* about terminating an account if it’s not making enough money – it's about discontinuing certain YouTube features or parts of the service, e.g. removing outdated/low usage features. This does not impact anyone in new ways!

With that said, everyone who thinks that Youtube might end up deleting their account should take a chill pill. What do you think of Youtube’s clarification on the matter? Let us know on our Facebook page, and for more updates like this stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Turns out that Fortnite Mobile isn’t just for Samsung Galaxy Note 9, but is still exclusive to Samsung flagships

Initially, rumours mentioned that Fortnite Mobile was so late to the party because it would be exclusively for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, but now the beta is out and owners of Samsung Galaxy flagships including the S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, S9, S9+, Note 8, Note 9, Tab S3 and Tab S4 can install it. It is still semi-exclusive in that you can only download the installer app from the Samsung Galaxy Apps for now, but Note 9 users will also get 15000 V-Bucks, a special Galaxy skin and access to more in-game content.

No news when this exclusivity will end but when it does, the Fortnite site mentions a whole bunch of other Android phones like the ASUS ROG Phone, ASUS ZenFone 5Z, Huawei Mate 10, Huawei Mate 10 Pro, Huawei Nova 3, Huawei P20, Huawei P20 Pro and more. You can sign up at the site to get an email invite, but the FAQ makes it clear that you’ll only play with other mobile players and no, you can’t use Bluetooth controllers… yet. The game is still a beta mind you, so there’s bound to be some bugs left.


Turns out that it is the Huawei Nova 2 Lite that is coming to Malaysia, maybe for below RM1K?

It turns out that the next Huawei Nova smartphone coming to Malaysia won't be the higher-end Huawei Nova 2S, but on the lower-end of the spectrum as invites have gone out for the unveiling of the Huawei Nova 2 Lite. Featuring 5.99-inch HD+ (1440 x 720 pixel resolution) fullview display and a decidedly entry-level to midrange octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor with 3GB of RAM and a generous 32GB of storage, other expected tech specs are a 13MP + 2MP dual rear camera combo with an 8MP front camera along with Face Unlock and a fingerprint sensor.

We're expecting another disruptive price tag like the RM1299 price of the Huawei Nova 2i, perhaps even below RM1000? How about RM599? How much would you pay for the Huawei Nova 2 Lite? We'll find out more come 15 March 2018 so stay tuned to TechNave.com


Turns out the OPPO F11 Pro is more than just a selfie phone

The OPPO F11 Pro is just less than a week away from launching in Malaysia and since it was already revealed in India, there's almost nothing that we don't know about the elevating 16MP front camera smartphone. Well, maybe except for the fact that it has this feature called Hyper Boost.

As the name suggests, Hyper Boost is a feature designed to upgrade the overall user experience as well as gaming. This feature was not mentioned much during the unveil in India, but according to OPPO Malaysia, over 11 mobile games are optimized to sync with Hyper Boost and we are betting that PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends are part of it. Hopefully, other games like Asphalt 9: Legends, Arena of Valor and perhaps Rules of Survival are included as well. Besides optimizing the system and games, Hyper Boost will also include boosting apps so that the unused apps in the background won't take so much memory.

To recap, the F11 Pro sports a MediaTek P70 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB ROM, VOOC Flash Charging 3.0 technology for the 4000mAh battery, a 48MP + 5MP dual rear camera and more. Stay tuned for our official coverage next week only at TechNave.com.


Apple expands its Self Service Repair programme to MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

Apple launched a Self Service Repair programme back in April that covers a majority of its iPhone lineup. Now, the tech giant has announced an expansion to the programme to include its laptop lineup, namely the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

In a press release today, Apple says that starting today (23 August 2022), MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by the M1-family SoC can obtain repair manuals and genuine Apple parts and tools through the Apple Self Service Repair Store in the United States. Moreover, over a dozen different repair types are offered for each model, such as the top case with battery, trackpad and display.

According to the statement, more parts will also be offered for MacBook models in the future too. The company stressed that the Self Service Repair is part of its efforts to further expand access to repairs. However, Apple advises the vast majority of customers who do not have experience repairing electronic devices to visit a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts rather than doing it themselves.

Do note that for now, it’s only available in the United States, but Apple does reiterate that the programme will expand to additional countries later this year, starting with Europe. As of right now, it is unclear whether the programme will ever be expanded to Malaysia before the end of 2022.

So, what do you guys think of the expansion of the Apple Self Service Repair programme? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news!


Turns out the small Xiaomi Mi Mix is not real

A few days ago we shared news on an alleged new product that set to be released by Xiaomi. The smaller sized Xiaomi Mi Mix could have been a darling to tech enthusiasts as it is smaller but still features the interesting edge-to-edge screen – but alas, it is not meant to be.

Xiaomi's marketing director, Zang Zhiyuan, said on Weibo that "there's no such product as Xiaomi Mi Mix Nano". The post in question seems to have been deleted in the meantime, so it's unclear exactly what's going on Xiaomi’s side. Of course this can be interpreted as there is no such product exists, or there is no product exists that using the name, which then can be read as “something is coming in the pipeline”

Whatever the case is, we know that the Mi Mix is something that everyone would like to try at least once, and perhaps own it for themselves. What do you think. Stay tuned to techNave for more Xiaomi news.


Turns out there was another unannounced Huawei phone - the Mate 30E Pro

As per tradition, Huawei would unveil four Mate models which were the Mate 40, Mate 40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro+ and the Porsche Design Mate 40 Pro RS last night. However, there are reports of a hidden fifth member - the Mate 30E Pro and it seems to be exclusive to the China market.

So what's the difference between the Mate 30E Pro and the Mate 30 Pro? Well for starters, the former is using the Kirin 990E and it's an improved chipset of the Kirin 990. Sources say that these two are quite similar, just that the Kirin 990E's pair of Cortex-A76 cores are boosted up to 2.36Ghz (from 2.09GHz) and another four Cortex-A55s are clocked at 1.95GHz (from 1.86GHz). Despite that, the GPU gets a slight downgrade with an MP14 (previously MP16). Nonetheless, the Kirin 990E's SoC architecture is in 7nm+ process.

On the other hand, the Mate 30E Pro is running on EMUI 11 based on Android 10 out of the box. It looks like the phone is following the Mate 40 series as it will have an orange and green vegan leather back cover while retaining the black, space silver, cosmic purple and emerald green. So what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Twitch Watch Parties beta will launch in the US in April, global release to follow eventually

Do you know what's one of the worse things about being stuck at home? Not getting to hang out with your friends. With the movement control order (MCO) in Malaysia likely to be extended today, people appreciate any opportunity to hang out. A while back Netflix launched Netflix Party, which is a way we could watch shows virtually. Now, Twitch has something similar in Twitch Watch Parties.

For those who are unaware, Twitch is now a company under Amazon. The company has taken advantage of this by integrating Amazon Prime Video into the Twitch streaming platform. Specifically, Twitch Watch Parties will allow you to stream Amazon Prime Video movies directly through Twitch. Using this method, you can gather with a bunch of like-minded people to watch movies and just 'hang out'.

There are a few things to note about Watch Parties. First, you'll need to have an Amazon Prime membership to be able to stream the movies. Secondly, the feature works on desktop only via a web browser, at least for now. Finally, it's in beta testing at the moment and only a select group of people will be able to try it out. The list of content that can be streamed has also been revealed by Twitch.

Twitch is rolling out Watch Parties beta to creators in the USA this April 2020 but has confirmed that the feature will be available in other countries later. Fellow Malaysians, do you have an Amazon Prime subscription and does this feature appeal to you? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Twitch streamer discovered a huge indent on his head for wearing his headphones too long

A few days ago, Curtoss, a Twitch streamer got himself the surprise of his life - discovering an indent on the top of his head while shaving his hair in front of his fans. The head shaving was a charity for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, but both he and his viewers were shocked to see the effect of prolonged headset usage.

In case you can't watch the short clip below, Curtoss said “Dude, I have an indent like right here, this is where my headphones go!” Obviously, the clip went viral and it turns out that there are other gamers who share the same fate with their own indented skulls.

welcome to the club pic.twitter.com/zCwdt2was6

So... should we be wary of wearing our headphones for too long? According to sources, it really depends. Headphonesty's findings said an object of 135kg can cause minor fractures to the skull, and usually, gamers do get "headphone hair" from wearing headphones for too long. The solution is just make sure not to wear the headphone headband too tight, so we don't really need to worry too much.

In addition, the World Health Organization also estimated that approximately 50% of people between the ages of 12 to 35 could risk damaging their hearing because of prolonged loud sound exposure, which can also happen through headphones. Hearing loss can happen at 120 dB after an hour and 15 minutes, and many headphones can produce sounds up to that level so you should also make sure your volume isn't too loud either.

What do you think? Are you a gamer who wears headphones like above? Have you felt your head lately? Share your experiences in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Twitter Articles feature could let users write full-length articles

Have you seen Twitter users who write a string of tweets on a single topic? There's no feature in Twitter that allows for long posts, though Twitlonger somewhat helps with this. Fortunately, Twitter seems to be working on a feature related to this.

According to app engineer Jane Manchun Wong, Twitter is working on a feature called "Twitter Articles". From what we can tell, this feature allows users to write long-form articles within Twitter without the character limit. Currently, most users who want to exceed the character limit have to rely on posting Twitter threads.

Twitter is working on “Twitter Articles” and the ability to create one within TwitterPossibility a new longform format on Twitter pic.twitter.com/Srk3E6R5sz

For your info, Twitter doubled its character limit to 280 back in 2017. But Twitter is a social media platform that promotes discussions, so the capability to post full-length articles would be better for blog posts or opinion articles. Of course, some people suggest that a single long-form post won't have as much engagement as multiple tweets in a Twitter thread. For now, we can only wait to see what happens.

But what do you think about this, do you prefer posting a Twitter thread or a single article? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Twitter Blue now only available to accounts more than 90 days old

Twitter has been in turmoil since Elon Musk acquired it, with plans for Twitter Blue unravelling due to a problem with impersonation. As a solution, the subscription plan was shut down last week. Well, it seems Twitter is back with a new plan.

On the Twitter Blue FAQ page, Twitter has announced that newly created accounts will not be able to get a Twitter Blue subscription. Now, the company will block any accounts that are not more than 90 days old. This is to prevent Internet trolls from creating new accounts to impersonate well-known companies or celebrities.

The service probably won't be available here anytime soon

Of course, the new restriction isn't perfect. It doesn't stop people from using their Twitter accounts to impersonate others or those who have multiple throwaway accounts from trolling others. These accounts can still be banned as a result, which would be unfortunate if it's their main Twitter ID. Honestly, this restriction only delays the problem but doesn't solve it.

In the meantime, Twitter will have to come up with some real solutions. We'd like to reiterate that the issue doesn't affect us here in Malaysia, but it's interesting to see how the situation pans out. What do you think? Please share your thoughts on our Facebook page! Also, stay tuned to TechNave for more updates on the Twitter fiasco.


Twitter Blue officially now in Malaysia with a starting price as low as RM30.75 per month

Twitter Blue has been an on-and-off-topic for a couple of months ever since Elon Musk took over Twitter, but it looks like the company is finally knowing what to do with it. Today, Twitter Blue is officially launching and verified Malaysian users would need to pay as low as RM30.75 per month.

If you visit the Twitter Blue page, you can see that there are two kinds of plans - the Annual and Monthly plans. Signing up for the Annual plan would make more sense because you can save 12% if compared to the Monthly plan. Comparing the two, an Annual plan is RM369 per year whereas the latter is RM420 per year. Interestingly, the plans on iOS is more expensive, offering RM519 per annual fee or RM600 per year if you go for the RM50 monthly fee.

Having a Blue tick is more than just showing your account is verified, as it also allows you to edit your Tweet, upload 1080p videos, create Tweets up to 4000 characters long and more. Also, your tweet would be prioritised to be one of the top replies, mentions and searches on Twitter. Twitter said that this can help to fight scams and spam as well as see 50% fewer ads on your home page.

Sounds like there are a lot of benefits if you are an active Twitter user. If you happen to need it, you can visit the Twitter Blue offer right over here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Twitter Blue relaunches, features different pricings for Android and iOS

At the end of last month, Twitter decided to hold off on the relaunch of Twitter Blue. Allegedly, this was because Elon Musk didn't want to pay the 30% cut that the Apple App Store collects from all apps with transactions. However, it looks like the company will relaunch it soon.

Yesterday, Twitter announced that it will relaunch Twitter Blue on Monday (12 December 2022). However, there's a clear caveat this time. While the subscription price remains at USD8/month (~RM35/month) for Android, Twitter is raising the price for iOS users to USD11/month (~RM48/month). Interestingly, the screenshot posted in the Tweet shows that the USD8/month pricing is a limited-time offer, so there's a chance that Android users could also see an eventual price hike.

we’re relaunching @TwitterBlue on Monday – subscribe on web for $8/month or on iOS for $11/month to get access to subscriber-only features, including the blue checkmark pic.twitter.com/DvvsLoSO50

As you can tell, the price hike is probably to ensure that the company can still earn the desired amount after the 30% cut. However, the features of Twitter Blue remain the same. Firstly, subscribers will get the blue verified checkmark. Secondly, their tweets will be bumped to the top in replies, mentions, and the platform's internal search engine. Besides that, they can also edit their Tweets, upload 1080p videos, and use the reader mode.

Since Twitter Blue is relaunching, we can assume that Twitter has found a solution to the problem of users impersonating well-known brands or people. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have added other features to make the service more enticing. Would you consider subscribing to Twitter Blue? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news about it.


Twitter Blue suspended due to concerns about identity impersonation

Just last week, Twitter confirmed that it would be offering paid Twitter verification for USD7.99/month (~RM38/month) on iOS. This was quickly followed by the 'official' label for, well, official accounts. But the Twitter Blue update was short-lived, as it got suspended this weekend.

According to Zoe Schiffer, Twitter Blue has been suspended because the company is trying to address the issue of identity impersonation. Now that any account can get 'verified' just by paying, there has been a sharp increase in fake accounts trying to impersonate brands and celebrities. There was even a guy who paid the money just to impersonate the Tesla account.

The announcement was posted on Slack: "An update on what we did tonight: hid the entry point to Twitter Blue, added the 'official' label for ONLY advertisers. Note: here is at least one way for users to sign up for Blue. Legacy Blue users can go to subscriptions and upgrade" 2/— Zoë Schiffer (@ZoeSchiffer) November 11, 2022

Interestingly, Twitter accounts that were previously verified can still upgrade to Twitter Blue. Also, those who are already subscribed will keep their extra benefits. Everyone else will have to wait for the Twitter development team to fix the issue. If you ask us, the best way to fix it is to manually approve the accounts. However, that might be tough at the moment due to Twitter's lowered headcount from the mass layoff.

While this problem shouldn't affect Malaysia, local brands with unverified Twitter accounts might have to look out for impersonators in the future. With that said, do you think it's still worth getting Twitter Blue? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Twitter Blue will now let you upload videos that are 2 hours long

Twitter has decided that its paying customers should be rewarded with more. Elon Musk has been adding increasingly more features to the platform's Twitter Blue subscription plan, and the latest one is more than a bit head-scratch inducing.

Yesterday, Musk announced that Twitter Blue verified users will now be able to upload videos up to 2 hours in length or 8GB in size. Verified subscribers were quick to take advantage of the new feature, uploading all kinds of videos with different lengths (like 2-hour nyancat videos). There was even someone who uploaded a licensed movie, but received a DMCA takedown in no time.

Twitter Blue Verified subscribers can now upload 2 hour videos (8GB)!

One question we have is: Is the 8GB mentioned the upload limit per video or the total storage limit? Regardless, this new 'feature' has potential for abuse. Besides the movie video example, some people could use it as an alternative to cloud storage for videos. It could also encourage more people to upload NFSW videos, something you can see users commenting on in response to Musk's announcement.

Nobody goes to Twitter to watch long videos, so what's the point? Well, some users are excited for this and think it could replace YouTube. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


5.9 million people use MySJ Trace in Malaysia, over 124600 Covid-19 contacts identified through the feature

The MySJ Trace function which was added to the MySejahtera app in December last year has proved to be successful in conducting contact tracing of Covid-19 positive cases in Maaysia. In fact, a total of 124643 Covid-19 close or casual contacts have been identified by the feature as of 15 February 2022.

Revealed by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in a Parliamentary written reply yesterday, the feature, which uses Bluetooth technology to detect close proximity is currently being used by 5971117 people in Malaysia. For reference, the MySejahtera app has over 24.5 million users in our country throughout all platforms, meaning that only around 25% of users have opted for MySJ Trace.

Furthermore, the feature has also detected contacts linked to 11212 Covid-19 positive cases, all of which are based on users’ interactions gathered over 14 days. Khairy revealed the data in a reply to a question by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kuching, Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen in Parliament.

The Health Minister also stressed in the written reply that his ministry is constantly evaluating the effectiveness of the MySejahtera app. This includes adding improvements to the MySJ Trace feature when it is needed.

What do you guys think of the MySJ Trace statistic? What other features do you want to see in the MySejahtera app? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


Apple expected to mass-produce 2 new MacBooks equipped with Apple Silicon in H2 2021

Looks like a recent report by both Asia.Nikkei.com, as well as Apple Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, stated that Apple could be planning to mass-produce 2 new MacBooks that are equipped with Apple Silicon chips somewhere around H2 2021. While not much is known in regards to the exact release date, knowing Apple, it will most likely be unveiled during an Apple Launch event around October 2021.

Other than that, the analyst also mentioned that it will most likely come equipped with a Mini-LED backlit display, HDMI port, SD card reader, as well as the MagSafe charging port. However, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Apple has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs for now. What are your thoughts on Apple releasing 2 new MacBooks with Apple Silicon chips by the end of 2021? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.