Malaysians will get to buy foods and items for the coming festivals at home during mco with the new e-commerce platforms!

Ramadan is around the corner and most of the Hawkers and food vendors have prepared for the new Ramadan e-bazaar concept. Today, there are new e-commerce platforms being introduced to facilitate the selling and buying of essential items especially during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period such as Nak Makan, E-Kraf Baza and e-sahur.

My E. G. Services Berhad (MYEG) had introduced the new platform ‘Nak Makan’ that complied with the Ramadan e-bazaar concept to help food vendors and entrepreneurs to market their food and products online. The platform also partnered with MrSpeedy to make collections and deliveries to the customers. Food vendors who wish to participate just need to register their business details at www.nakmakan.com.my or by contacting 03-7664 8100 or 017-228 5948/5954/5958/5983.

The company mentioned in the first phase of ‘Nak Makan’ will involve Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor while e-sahur and e-raya facilities will be introduced in the second and third phases of the platform. Other than that, the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation had also introduced the E-Kraf Bazar to assist craft entrepreneurs who were impacted during this MCO period to market their handicraft products such as textile, forest products, and ceramics.

With that said, this will not just aid the food vendors and entrepreneurs but also help the consumers in seeking their items to prepare for the coming festivals without having to step out of the house. Stay tuned for more local news updates on TechNave.com!


Malaysians will have a 50% e-scooter ride discount from Beam's Merdeka Promo tomorrow

With Merdeka Day just around the corner, Beam Malaysia has announced a special, limited-time Merdeka Promo with discounts of up to 50% on all rides for all to benefit from. It will begin tomorrow (27 August) until 16 September, when riders can use a Beam e-scooter for just RM0.30 per minute.

That said, do keep note that there's a 33% discount for off-peak hours (6 AM to 6 PM on weekdays), and a 50% discount for peak hours (6 PM to 6 AM on weekdays and entire weekends). Moreover, riders who end their Beam e-scooter trips by parking at designated public transportation hub spots will also receive RM2.00 credit reward!

According to Beam Malaysia, Beam Mobility has been placing more of its shared e-scooters in key areas of Klang Valley, allowing commuters to get to their destinations efficiently and comfortably. With more of its e-scooters readily available in key areas of the city, there is an increasing number of commuters who have mentioned that they are willing to depend on public transportation regularly.

You can now download the Beam - Escooter Sharing app via the Apple Store or Google Play Store to get started. Happy riding and be safe. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Malaysians will need to submit an online health & hygiene declaration form before getting into a Grab car

As we enter a new Recovery MCO period until the end of August, Grab Malaysia have just issued a new policy for every Malaysian citizen before taking a ride. From the Grab app, they are introducing the GrabProtect Care Kit as well as an online health and hygiene declaration form starting this month. Here's what you need to do before getting into your Grab ride.

First and foremost, everyone including the Grab driver and delivery-partner must submit the online health and hygiene declaration. This can be done through the Grab app so make sure you fill-up the form and declare that you do not have any COVID-19 symptoms or any close contact with a COVID-19 patient in the last 14 days. On top of that, the aforementioned Care Kit which consists of hand sanitisers and disinfectant spray will be available as well during the ride.

The sample screenshots of the Health Declaration feature in the Grab Driver app, for illustration purposes only

The 6 steps to do for doing a Grab ride in this period

Of course, both the driver and passenger must wear a face mask at all times during the ride. Should either one of the party fail to comply wearing a mask, the passenger or driver can cancel the booking with a new feedback option - driver/passenger did not wear a mask - as the reason. Furthermore, passengers can also provide feedback if the Grab driver seemed unwell.

From exploring the Grab app, it seems that online health and hygiene declaration form is only available in the Grab Driver app. But with this new announcement, we expect the feature to be made available to the public within this week. Stay safe, stay informed, and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Malaysians will not be able to stream pirated content through Android TV boxes soon

If you own an Android TV box or you’re planning to get one, you might want to check out this news. Starting from now, Malaysian authorities will be blocking IP addresses of servers that host pirated copyright content. Therefore, if you’re using a TV box to stream illegal pirated content, you might not be able to do it anymore in the near future.

This action was initiated by The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) and it has already been implemented since 24 February 2020. The anti-piracy move is also a collaboration with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Earlier today, an official notice was shared on Facebook to warn the public regarding the issue.

Last year, the commission had blocked over 240 illegal streaming sites that provided illegal piracy content to users with Android TV boxes. The commission was also going to ban Android TV boxes as well seeing the device acts as a portal for the access of illegal streaming content. Luckily, it was decided not to ban the hardware but certain legal process would still be carried out, including issuing warnings to Android TV box suppliers to remind them not to pre-install applications that allow users to stream pirated content.

It is still okay to get an Android TV box without being scandalous, just get the one that has been certified by SIRIM and you’re good to go. If you want to check for SIRIM certification of your current TV box, you can use the Check Your Label service from the official SIRIM webpage. From now on, let’s support those great movies or songs together without getting them from unauthorized sources.

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


Malaysians will receive free 1GB Internet data every day & up to 50% discount on electricity usage starting from 1 April

Today, in his second live telecast of announcing the Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi, our Prime Minister Muhyiddin has announced that Malaysians will be granted free 1GB Internet data in this extended Movement Control Order period.  It shall begin from 1 April onwards until the MCO ends.

According to our Prime Minister, this initiative cost RM600 million and all our respective telco companies will have to play their part. To add on, another RM400 million will be used to improve the network quality and increase coverage across the nation. In terms of tech-related news regarding this, he also reminded Malaysians that the electricity bill discount from the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) is in line with this, as well as a 2% discount for commercial, industrial, agricultural and household sectors which will begin from 1 April.

To be more detailed on the electricity bill discount, TNB will increase an additional RM530 million to provide discount rates ranging from 15% to 50%. This will depend on the electricity rate usage with a maximum limit of 600 kilowatts per month. For example, the 50% discount will be given to those who use less than 200 kilowatts, 25% for those in between 201 - 300 kilowatts, and finally, 15% for those in between 301 - 600 kilowatts. This discount rates will be effective for six months starting from, you guessed it, 1 April 2020.

Furthermore, PM Muhyiddin also added that the Government will provide one-off assistance of RM500 to 120,000 e-hailing drivers (that's you, Grab drivers). That's a total of RM60 million and from the previous Economic Stimulus Package, taxi drivers will also receive their one-off assistance payment with RM600 starting from the aforementioned date.

So this is part of the important announcement regarding the tech industry. There are a lot more details from the Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi, such as add-on allowance for those earning at a certain salary, as well as for the front liners particularly those working in the medical field. Keep calm, stay at home and wash your hand. Stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.


Malaysians without a payslip can get housing loans using only their digital footprint soon

The Federal Government is set to launch a new residential property financing initiative called ‘i-Biaya’ this Thursday (14 April 2022) which will review the existing housing financial model in our country. With i-Biaya, new methods will be used to determine loan applicants’ eligibility, including their credit or digital footprint.

The initiative, part of the Malaysian Family Homeownership Programme (HOPE) seeks to improve home ownership among the B40 and M40 income groups in our country. Currently, many potential buyers could not own a house despite having a steady income due to them working in the gig economy sector or are self-employed, such as petty traders with no payslip.

As reported by NST, Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) deputy secretary-general Datuk Azhar Ahmad said that it is hoped that i-Biaya can help secure housing loans for applicants. As such, this would also help achieve the government’s target of 500,000 affordable housing units set under the 12th Malaysia Plan.

Under i-Biaya, there are several house financing schemes including the existing My First Home Scheme under Cagamas SRP Bhd and Syarikat Jaminan Kredit Perumahan. Both of which allows 100% and up to 110% loan for Malaysian first home buyers.

Now, the initiative will add another scheme, which is the new Rent-to Own (RTO) scheme under PR1MA Corporation Malaysia. Under the RTO scheme, occupants could opt to buy the units they live in after 5 years. Moreover, the monthly rental rates that would differ depending on the house prices, which go up to RM300,000.

All three of these schemes will also have a more lenient financing application eligibility. The National Affordable Housing Council (MPMMN), chaired by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be determining these new lenient requirements, including the usage of digital footprint instead of payslip.

Besides i-Biaya, HOPE comprises of another 3 components which are housing providers involving federal and state governments and private developers, public awareness and policies. KPKT Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Finance Minister Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz are expected to launch i-Biaya this Thursday.

What do you guys think of this initiative by the Federal Government? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


Malware specially developed for the Apple M1 chip might have been spotted

Based on a statement by macrumors.com, it seems that a malware made specifically for the Apple M1 chip have been spotted. While it seems that the malware is in its early stages, it does show that Apple chips, just like chips from other manufacturers, are not immune to malware attacks.

To go into more detail, the malware called GoSearch22 poses as a legitimate Safari browser to collect user data and information to serve ads and banners. But that’s not all, it seems that antivirus software is not able to detect the aforementioned software.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on the malware made specifically for the Apple M1 chip? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


ASUS ZenFone 5Z released in Malaysia with Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6GB + 128GB and more starting from RM1899

Today, ASUS Malaysia has finally revealed the long-awaited ZenFone 5Z (ZS620KL) flagship. It first made its debut at the MWC 2018 at the end of February 2018 as part of the new ZenFone 5 series and they will come in two variants - a 6GB + 128GB model for just RM1899 and the bigger 8GB + 256GB model for an amazing price at RM2299 only. The device is available across all ASUS concept stores in Malaysia as well as their official store in Lazada as well.

That being said, the price tags on the ZenFone 5Z phone officially made it one of the most valued-for-money flagships thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, not to forget that its RAM power goes up to 8GB along with a 19:9 aspect ratio on the front display. It also has several features that are AI-powered such as the scene detection for photography, AI Charging that monitor and prevents overcharging, an AI Ringtone that automatically adjusts volume control based on the environment and more.

The front look of the 6.2-inch FullView display

From here, you can see most of the notifications are on the top left side

Backside with the dual rear camera setup, LED flashlight and the fingerprint sensor

The dual rear camera setup comprised a 12MP Sony IMX363 sensor with 4K video recording, slow motion, super-resolution feature and more. On the other hand, the secondary 8MP camera is used for wide-angle shots up to 120-degree

At the bottom, the headphone jack is still alive with the USB Type-C and speaker grill

Here's how the top and side looks like, nothing too out of the ordinary

In addition, Lazada is exlusively offering the ASUS ZenFone 5Z for RM1699 on 31 July 2018. There is only limited stocks available so act fast during the promo period! If you need more information or details, check out the full review, the hands-on or the tech specs below.


Man Goes One step Further by Implanting Invisible Headphones

According to Instructables, invisible headphones are more or less tiny magnets that you insert into your ears that pick up signals from a coil of magnetic metal fashioned into a necklace. When connected to an amplifier and MP3 player it allows you to have invisible wireless headphones. While the Instructables site it was based on tells you to put the magnets in your ears, Rich Lee went one step further and had them implanted permanently. While he still has to wear the coil necklace and amplifier to pick up sound, it works much in the same way as the bone induction audio used by Google Glass. He says:

"Listening to music is nice and probably the most obvious answer, but I intend to do some very creative things with it. I can see myself using it with the GPS on my smartphone to navigate city streets on foot. I plan to hook it up to a directional mic of some sort (possibly disguised as a shirt button or something) so I can hear conversations across a room. Having a mic hooked up to it and routed through my phone would be handy.""You could use a simple voice stress analysis app to detect when people might be lying to you. Not to say that is a hard science, but I'm sure it could come in handy at the poker table or to pre-screen business clients. I have a contact mic that allows you to hear through walls. That might be my next implant actually."

Since his eyesight is deteriorating he plans to hook up an ultrasonic range finder, effectively giving him a bat-like echolocation ability so he can detect objects through sound (almost like a real-life Daredevil). There are other dangers though as he probably won't ever be able to get a CAT scan (the electrical magnets in the scan would rip the magnet implants right out) or get near to other powerful magnets. Check out the invisible headphones instructable video below:


Man builds his own custom PC into a luggage case so he could play game on trips

Non-standard PC rigs aren't uncommon but it's always interesting to see something quirky. One of the latest was spotted on Reddit, where a thread showing off a custom PC that looked as if it was shoved inside a luggage case. The owner calls his unusual rig the "Nuclear Football".

Reddit user thegabz posted the images of his latest rig, talking about tech specs and some details of the work that went into it. The reason he built it was because he found himself spending plenty of time in hotels. He wanted a portable gaming rig but wasn't satisfied with gaming laptops, which he said didn't have screens big enough for him.

To solve his dilemma, he decided to build a Small Form Factor PC into a Pelican 1525 luggage case. It's a liquid-cooled PC, with its coolant dyed blue for a glowy effect. But more importantly, it's good enough to play games at high settings. Installed on a Gigabyte B450-i Aorus Pro Wifi motherboard is a AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU, an Nvidia RTX 2070 Super FE GPU, a 256GB NVMe SSD, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM.

Of course, it won't be a portable gaming rig without a display. In fact, the owner had installed a Dell 23-inch monitor inside, allowing him to better enjoy his games at the comforts of his hotel rooms. Weighing 12.1 kg, the Nuclear Football isn't what we would call portable-friendly, but it fulfills its purpose of letting its owner game on his business trips.

Do you have your own quirky custom build PC? Share it with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for other tech news.


Man submits AI-generated art to state competition, walks away with first prize

If you ask the average person about artificial intelligence (AI), they might think of more common systems like voice assistants. But that's just the tip of the iceberg, and people are finding more ways to make AI more useful. In fact, someone managed to win an art competition using AI.

At this year's Colorado State Fair, Jason Allen submitted an entry to the art competition and won first prize. But he didn't do it by painting or sculpting his piece. Instead, his "Théâtre D'opéra Spatial" was an AI-generated piece of art created via Midjourney. This is an AI tool that generates images based on text prompts. The tool's development team is helmed by David Holz and is currently still in beta.

Although Allen took home first prize, many questioned the result and said that he should not have won. The man defended his work since he technically broke no rules. And the judges clearly agree as they awarded him first prize. Of course, this is understandably a highly controversial issue. Allen's win shows that AI can now create art on the level of professional artists, which has a real potential of threatening their livelihoods.

If you're curious, you can check the full story in New York Times (via PC Gamer). With that said, what do you think about the topic? Should AI image generation be allowed in this manner? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Man who generated fake news using ChatGPT arrested in China, who is next?

China recently arrested a man called Hong who generated fake news using ChatGPT. The fake news involved a train crash that killed 9 people in China and was spread across 21 different blogs on China’s Baidu with 15000 views. While we’re thinking this is more about the fake news than how it was generated, it could mark the first of many more such arrests using ChatGPT.

Granted, ChatGPT is not officially available in China, but you can usually bypass this using VPN or Virtual Private Networks. Held for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, he could get sentenced to prison for up to 10 years. It should be notable that the reason for his arrest is more for the fake news, but we do expect more arrests involving ChatGPT coming soon.

Legislation is still unclear as to whether AI generated art for example could be illegal as well, but it is already being used commercially across the world, even here in Malaysia. What do you think? What content created by ChatGPT should be made illegal and what should not? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Manage your daily transactions by linking bank account to Microsoft Excel

Personal financing can be done through many methods. However, have you ever wondered that you can just connect your bank account to a platform that gives you real-time updates on your earnings and expenses? Now, you might actually be able to do that with a platform that you're familiar with and it's Microsoft Excel. Microsoft is launching a new feature called 'Money in Excel' to help you track transactions and account information by securely connecting to your bank, credit card, investment, or loan accounts.

The feature is currently limited in the US and it's unsure when it's going to be launched in other regions. It is said that Money in Excel helps you to categorize your transactions so it would be easier for you to analyze how your money is spent. The feature will also automatically generate charts for recurring expenses or a monthly snapshot of spending for a quick preview. To use the feature, Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscriptions will be required.

Furthermore, it is mentioned that this is not the first time that Microsoft launches a personal finance product. Back in 1991, the company introduced a finance management software 'Microsoft Money' but it has later been discontinued. Other than that, the MSN Money app is also another finance-related app that was brought into Windows Store by offering features including a news aggregator and stocks tracker.

Let us know what you think about Money in Excel on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more latest tech updates.


Many Facebook users still can't access into their account after the "configuration change" issue

If you thought it was weird that you got logged out from your Facebook page, you weren't the only one. Just last Saturday, millions of Facebook users around the world were automatically logged out for some reason. Of course, this caused some confusion and even anxiety about the possibility of being hacked.

Facebook quickly looked into the issue immediately and thankfully, they did resolve it on the same day. According to their tweet post, the Facebook engineers said it was a "configuration change" with no further explanation. That being said, many users are still complaining that they still can't log in to their Facebook account.

So Facebook, heard it was a "configuration change". to the engineers who fixed the issue and patiently tried to explain the cause to us to no avail. https://t.co/AUARhCZ7W2

Judging by the tweet responses on the Facebook Twitter page, we are throwing a wild guess that this might be a two-factor authentication issue for many Facebook users. Some tried resetting their password but to no avail, and some could log in from their friend's phone but not their own. The majority of these seems to be from the USA.

Thankfully, I can still log into my Facebook account. If you have a problem with accessing, you should contact their customer service. Stay safe and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Many iPhone users are reporting WhatsApp is crashing for no reason

If you haven't updated to iOS 15.2 yet, you might want to hold off first. According to 9to5mac.com, it seems that many iPhone users cannot access WhatsApp after updating the latest software. But in some cases, WhatsApp crashes immediately after tapping on it even without the software update.

As seen on Twitter, WhatsApp is just crashing randomly to many iPhone users. The odd thing about this is that there was a bug fixed update patch on the App Store yesterday but even the WhatsApp beta version that is available on TestFlight crashes. Some are speculating that this may have something to do with Meta's servers than the iOS.

Okay now my WhatsApp keeps crashing and i cant send or receive anything

— blurry (@Blurrryy_face) December 14, 2021

WhatsApp business crashing after last update iOS

#WhatsApp WhatsApp is just crashing on my phone. Anyone else experiencing the same issue? pic.twitter.com/c48M3RMgOQ

Besides the regular WhatsApp, the WhatsApp Business app is also crashing due to an unknown bug. The WhatsApp team has yet to acknowledge what is happening and we can't do anything right now. If you are experiencing a crash on your iPhone, we suggest you use WhatsApp Desktop or Web for now to solve your issue.

Are you having trouble with your WhatsApp? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


March 2020 smartphone launch compilation: 25 mobile phones from entry-level to flagship class!

If there's one thing that was never dull in March 2020, it was the constant smartphone launches we saw. Now that the month is over, we decided to go over all the ones that were released. How many did you think were launched? 5 models? Perhaps 10 of them?

Well, there were about 25 mobile phones launched in March 2020! That's a lot and there's a good mix of phones too, ranging from entry-level devices to mid-rangers and flagship powerhouses. In this compilation article, we've listed 25 of the devices that were launched and some basic details about them.

A very affordable entry-level device with decent specs, but probably won't make its way to Malaysia.

Flagship level device that's got a sexy price tag, worth taking a look at!

If you're looking for a basic smartphone that just works, this might be the one you should go for.

The device to get if you want a gaming phone that doesn't break your bank.

Packs a bit more punch for those who want entry-level phones, though it costs a bit more too.

Looks, features, and hardware to back it up - if fancy is your game, then the Find X2 series is fine indeed.

This is the flagship options for all of you notch-haters.

A mid-range option that's pretty decent, has good cameras and okay specs.

The phone you buy for grandpa so you could stay in touch.

These are the camera phones you'd want if you're on a budget.

A gaming phone with fans inside, how cool is that?

Can this thing even run Android 10 with 2GB of RAM?

An upper range entry-level with a bit more power to handle your favourite apps.

This one straddles the line between entry-level and mid-range, great for those with a bit more budget.

Huge battery and decent cameras for an affordable price tag, nice stuff!

Lots of new options here, including a classic phone with a keypad!

The Tokyo Olympics isn't happening anymore, but hey, why not?

The bigger brother of the Galaxy M21 and just as good.

90Hz display on an entry-level phone? No way!

Oh look, a camera phone that won't burn a hole through your wallet!

The variant with transparent back is a cool idea, but I don't know about paying more for it...

Probably the best camera phone currently available.

Bringing you 5G connectivity at a lower price point.

Mid-rangers that can handle most things you throw at it.

Another option for people who just wants a simple phone without complicated bling.

There you go, the 25 smartphones that were released in March 2020! With that many to choose from, there has to be a model or two that suits your taste. Let us know if we missed out any phones on our Facebook page and remember to follow us on TechNave.com for more news on smartphones and other gadgets!


Mario Strikers: Battle League is an over-the-top 4v4 football game coming to Nintendo Switch in June 2022

Did you know that Nintendo just held its latest Nintendo Direct? A whole bunch of new updates were revealed in the early hours of today, including new exciting games that many didn't expect. One of the new games was Mario Strikers: Battle League.

Mario Strikers: Battle League is somewhat like futsal with its 5v5 format. But it's not just a regular futsal. The game allows you to use items, tackle opponents into electrified fences, and execute Hyper Strikes that gives you 2 points whenever you score. You can pick from a variety of characters such as Mario, Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, and more. On top of that, you can customise the gear of your characters, which chances their appearances and stats.

The game supports 4v4 on a single Nintendo Switch console, so you don't need to go online to enjoy multiplayer matches. However, Switch Online users can go online to compete with other players around the world. Switch Online subscribers can also join Online Clubs (20 players per club) to compete with other clubs. Since it's 8 players instead of 10, we assume that two of the on-field characters would be controlled by the AI (perhaps the goalie).

Mario Strikers: Battle League is coming to the Nintendo Switch in June 2022. If you want to know more, do check out the webpage. Anyway, does this look like an interesting game to you? Which character would you play once the game is out? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for further updates.


Mario is heading to the iOS

Nintendo has long been a stranger in the mobile gaming space, even though their games are generally suited to be played on small screens such as on smartphones. Not anymore – during the launch of the iPhone 7 event, Nintendo announced that Super Mario Run will be heading to iOS.

The launch event saw Shigeru Miyamoto, the well-known video game designer and producer from Nintendo on stage, announcing that they are launching a new Super Mario game, called Super Mario Run on the iOS platform. The game is basically an endless-running game that features Mario as the titular character of the game.

What is new with the game is the feature that lets you go against friends and family online, besting their scores on a leaderboard-like mechanic. You still run to get coins, so the more coins you get, the higher you are on the leaderboard.

The game will be arriving in time for the holidays – around November/December – and will be on sale on a fix priced, so we suspect there will not be any in-game purchases for this game. Stay tuned to TechNave as we bring more news on the Super Mario Run on iOS (and even possibly Android).