New users can claim free 20GB of Internet data for signing up Yoodo's Ramadan Booster package

I hope you all still remember Yoodo, a sub-brand by Celcom that was released at the beginning of 2018 and it offers a customizable mobile plan for everyone. In this latest news by them, they are now introducing a new Ramadan Booster package for just RM10 which features 10GB worth of internet data from 16 May to 17 June 2018!

On top of that, new subscribers who order and activate their first Yoodo SIM will be granted a RM20 auto-credited to their Yoodo wallet, and if you use it to purchase the Ramadan Boost, you will have a whopping 20GB pool of data for free. Wait, there's more - Yoodo users can also refer their friends and family via a referral code given, once the SIM is activated by that, both parties will receive RM20 for free (can be used to buy any Yoodo service with no expiry date).

During the promotional period as aforementioned earlier, Yoodo users can purchase the booster as many times as they want so there's no limit. The Yoodo app is universally available for all Android and iOS devices.

For more information, visit www.yoodo.com.my/raya to read more and stay tuned for more Celcom news at TechNave.com.


New variant of realme Pad spotted on Geekbench with Unisoc chipset

When realme launched its first tablet in September 2021, it was clear that the focus is on entry-level users. The device's performance may be modest, but it had a solid body and sleek design. Now, it seems that a new variant of the realme Pad is on the way.

Yesterday, the benchmark for a realme RMP2105 device was uploaded on Geekbench. As you can this, this device sports a Unisoc chipset with an 8-core CPU. Specifically, the CPU has 2x CPU cores at 1.95GHz and 6x CPU cores at 1.82GHz. A little digging on the Unisoc website reveals that its CPU specs closely match the Unisoc T616.

For reference, the realme Pad has a similar model number (RMP2102). As such, this is likely a variant of the realme Pad. Besides the chipset, this model will have the same 3GB of RAM and probably 32GB of storage. The front and rear should also retain the 8MP cameras. In other words, this variant could be identical to the standard realme Pad sans the chipset.

realme may have done this because of the global supply chain issue. After all, Unisoc is based in China. But what do you think, is realme already working on more powerful tablets? Let us know what you think in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


New version of Microsoft Edge is now second most popular desktop browser

The last time we wrote about Microsoft Edge, it was about how Microsoft revamped the web browser using the open-source Chromium project. Well, that move has paid off for Microsoft in recent months. In March 2020, Microsoft Edge became the second most popular desktop browser globally.

According to NetMarketShare, Microsoft Edge recorded a global desktop browser market share of 7.59%. It barely edged out (heh!) Mozilla Firefox's 7.19% to third place. Google Chrome remains the world's undisputed number one browser with a massive market share of 68.5%, while Apple's Safari browser is in fifth place with 3.62%.

To be honest, that small of a lead doesn't mean much at the moment. It also doesn't mean that Microsoft Edge can stay ahead for long. But if you consider how the browser is pre-installed on every Windows PC, Microsoft has an advantage. As long as Microsoft can continue to improve Edge's compatibility and privacy protection, as well as continue to add useful features, it should be able to convince users to keep using it.

With that said, how many of you have started to use Microsoft Edge? Which web browser do you prefer to use? Share it with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


New version of NieR Replicant will be ported to PS4, Xbox One, and Steam

There are some old games that never make it to the PC, but some developers are changing things up by bringing them to more modern systems. One that many will be excited to see is the new version for Nier Replicant, which was first released on the Sony PS3 in 2010. The remake will be available on the Sony PS4, Microsoft Xbox One, and Windows PC on Steam.

According to Famitsu, it will be called "NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139..." As ridiculous as the name sounds, that's exactly what it implies: a version upgrade. In other words, it's not supposed to be a remake or remaster. What this means is that you can expect the gameplay to be unchanged, but we should be able to see a lot of new or edited aspects to the game.

So, what's new? Square Enix has confirmed that there will be a few new additions. First, the game will now be fully voiced, with the voice actors that played 2B (Yui Ishikawa) and 9S (Natsuki Hanae) in NieR Automata taking roles. Additionally, it should come with new songs and possibly new endings. Also, we're hoping to see upgraded resolution and textures, even though Square Enix has said it's not a remaster.

If you enjoyed NieR Automata but have never played NieR Replicant, this new version could be a good pickup for you. You can check out the teaser site that has been launched. With that said, are you excited to play this new version of the prequel? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news on tech and games.


New video shows LG Wing used for gaming, phone expected to retail around ~RM4165

When LG first revealed that it has been working on a new dual-screen phone, many called the design weird. While it's refreshing to see something new, it's not the most practical design. But LG showed how you could use the LG Wing in a car earlier this week and now there's some more news about the product.

Thanks to Android Authority, we get to see how the dual-screen form factor can be used for gaming as well. As you can see from the video, the LG Wing was used to play Asphalt 9, with the main screen at the bottom and a map of the race track on the secondary display. Of course, this is probably not a feature native to the game. It's hard to say if developers will be interested in the concept enough to develop game features for a smaller secondary screen.

Besides that, XDA Developers claim that LG will launch in the US in Fall 2020 (September to November). Allegedly, sources with knowledge about internal LG plans said that the phone could retail for around USD 1000 (~RM4165). In terms of tech specs, this phone is expected to be a mid-ranger that comes with a Snapdragon 765G chipset. It'll also sport a triple-rear camera setup with a 64MP main camera.

With that said, what do you think about the LG Wing's price and dual-screen implementation? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for further updates on the phone.


New videos show iPhone 12 series in graphite and blue, as well as its upcoming accessories

With Apple finally launching the iPhone 12 series, debates about the changes were rife on the Internet. But we're not here to stir up more Internet war today. Instead, let's talk about the new videos that show the iPhone 12 and some of its accessories.

New videos were uploaded by Ben Geskin, showing off the new iPhone 12 Pro in graphite colour and the iPhone 12 in blue colour. In both videos, Ben Geskin showed the back and sides of the two phones, though the display at the front couldn't be seen due to a white sheet covering it. It does show the volume controls on the left, power button on the right, and rear cameras. Also, we now get a closer look at how compact the new packaging is.

Besides that, other unboxing videos of MagSafe compatible cases have appeared recently. For those who want a bit more colour to go with the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro, the silicone cases come Navy, Plum, Pink Citrus, Cyprus Green, and Kumquat colours. There's also the clear case, which has the bottom of the case open, unlike the coloured cases.

So, what are your thoughts after getting a closer look at the iPhone 12 series? Is there a particular model you are interested in? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news on Apple's latest iPhones.


New vivo HQ construction completed in China and it looks amazing

In a piece of unrelated news to vivo Malaysia, the vivo in China has just recently completed their new headquarters in China. From a distance, the architecture piece looks awesome but even more so on the inside, where it's a mix of technology, nature, and plenty of outdoor spaces such as parks and courtyards.

To be officiated in mid-May, you can probably see a lot of V-shaped bridges around the building. Not only does it connect all the building blocks but also meant to withstand strong typhoons as well. Anyway, below are some sneak peeks of the building so enjoy.

An eagle's view on the new HQ, the three taller buildings on the left are accommodation for vivo employees

Once you enter the entrance, you'll see the oral main building at your right and a square "comprehensive building" at your left

The V shape corridor linked all these buildings and it helps to avoid the attack of typhoons as mentioned

Other than that, the office area provides quite a spacious environment

Even pool tables! There's also a dance studio, a yoga room and a reading room

Much impressive, too bad it's not in Malaysia, though. I'm sure many would love to work in an environment like that.


ASUS announced new partnership with Gal Gadot in Computex 2018

During the kick off of Computex 2018, ASUS was delighted to announce that they are working with Gal Gadot to promote their latest laptop and PC product lineup. As some of you already know, a barrage of new ZenBook and VivoBook laptops were revealed today and showcasing a new innovative ScreenPad feature which is a combination of a touchpad and an interactive display, giving users convenience and a new way of doing things.

Sharing the same philosophy and core values, both ASUS and Gadot hope to inspire people around the world that everyone can use technology to create. From the words of Wonder Woman herself, she said:

“People used to think you had to be super techy or geeky to get the most out of technology, but the truth is everyone can use technology to create. ASUS’ new ZenBook Pro with ScreenPad empowers boundless creativity, so I’m thrilled to be working with a brand that helps unleash the creativity I know is within us all.” said Gadot.

Eric Chen, Corporate Vice President from ASUS comments: “Gal is a role model for people around the world – staying true to herself as she achieves international success. Like Gal, we believe everyone can pursue their own incredible. It just takes the right technology to unleash one’s creative power. With that in mind, we can think of no better person to work with on our own search for incredible.”

To watch ASUS' new promo video of the ZenBook featuring Gal Gadot, you can check out the video above and see the ScreenPad in action. Stay tuned for more ASUS news at TechNave.com.


New vivo V5Plus Matte Black edition and Trade-in promotion

Here’s some great news for Malaysian selfie lovers, as vivo Malaysia will officially release the V5Plus Matte Black edition in Malaysia at the same price of RM1699. There will also be a new rebate promotion on the V5Plus, V5 and Y66, both on the same day of 1 June 2016.

The promotion rebate begins from 1 June until 31 June 2017 and customers can visit any vivo concept store in Malaysia and trade-in their old smartphone or cellphone (including old school dumbphones or feature phones) and get a rebate of RM100 to purchase the V5Plus or Y66. The trade-in phone has to still work of course. With this RM100 rebate, you can also purchase the V5Plus Matte Black at RM1599 only (while stocks last).

Tech-specs wise, the V5Plus Matte Black still retains the same old 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625 chip, 3160mAh battery, 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM. Other features include the trademark dual 20MP IMX376 front camera + 8MP secondary camera and the Selfie Softlight on the front. Stay tuned for more vivo news at TechNave.com.


New vivo XPlay 7 render concept appears online with ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and full screen display

If you have followed our news, the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is now in mass production and we can expect vivo smartphones to feature them in 2018. In this case, vivo may just be the first company to do so and according to rumours, the XPlay 7 could be the first smartphone to feature this new biometric system.

It's not the first time that the Internet has speculated this, the last time that we reported about this was way back in August and it has resurfaced once again with render concepts of the phone in black, gold and rose gold. From the image, the XPlay 7 doesn't differ much from the XPlay 6, the headphone jack is still there, so as the USB Type-C port. Besides that, there are rumours that the XPlay 7 will sport a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, backed up by 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB worth of space. vivo also promised a new set of dual cameras using a new Sony image sensor with 4x optical zoom, it's also interesting to note that the front cameras are on the screen itself without any notch which seems odd.

Are you looking forward to this ultrasonic fingerprint sensor? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more news at TechNave.com.


New vivo device found on Geekbench, features Snapdragon 898 chipset

Boy is vivo keeping itself busy or what? The launch for the company's X70 series is just around the corner, which is why there's a benchmark of the vivo X70 Pro+. But it's not the only flagship device in the works. In fact, another device was spotted on Geekbench.

According to Digital Chat Station, vivo has a new flagship device that will use the Snapdragon 898 chipset. The device will also have 8GB of RAM, so it's not a top-of-the-line like the vivo X70 Pro+. On top of that, its model number (V2102A) isn't similar to any of the X70 series phones. Its Geekbench scores aren't very impressive, but that could be because it's a prototype or engineering unit. In fact, it could be one of the vivo devices with flexible displays we've heard about in June.

Manufactured on the 4nm process, the SD898 has a new Cortex-X2 CPU core that runs on 2.42GHz, 3x Cortex-A710 CPU cores at 2.17GHz, and 4x Cortex-A510 CPU cores at 1.79GHz. It's also going to come with an Adreno 730 GPU. But this chipset will only be unveiled at the next Snapdragon Summit Day, which means brands have time to make sure it works well with their devices. As such, don't expect this vivo phone to launch anytime soon.

To be honest, we're a bit concerned about the thermal performance of the Snapdragon 898. Previously, it was rumoured that the new chipset runs hotter than its predecessor. This could be bad if a phone has insufficient cooling. Would you rather stick to the current chipset or upgrade anyway? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


New vivo device powered by Snapdragon 865 confirmed

It was just last week when benchmarks of a vivo smartphone was found on GeekBench, showing a device that sports the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. Now, it's been confirmed that vivo will also have a phone powered by a Snapdragon 865 chipset, and it could come with the same curved 'waterfall' screen as the vivo NEX 3.

According to Toutiao, the vivo device with a model name of V1950A has successfully passed China's 3C certification process. Supposedly, this device's display will not have any notches or holes. This could mean that the front camera is either an under-screen camera, or vivo is opting for it to pop-up from the top like the one for the vivo NEX 3. The Toutiao article also claims that the device will come with a 44W fast-charger and a 90% screen-to-body ratio.

The prospects of an under-screen camera is perhaps the most interesting bit of this news but there's no confirmation on this yet. How about you, do you think the camera will pop-up or is it under the display? Do let us know which one you prefer on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


New vivo flagship store is now open in Sunway Pyramid with incredible lucky draw prizes and 50% off on all accessories!

Vivo’s brand new flagship store was launched earlier today in Sunway Pyramid. To celebrate, all accessories in the store are 50% off and the first 200 customers entering the store at 2PM and 8PM today will be able to join in the lucky draw which prizes include Swarovski necklaces, mountain bikes, FIFA backpacks as well as pillows with vivo’s ambassador, Luhan, on it!

All you have to do to win one of these prizes is be one of the first 200 people just walk into the store and you’ll be eligible to participate in the lucky draw. In addition to the 50% off all accessories in store, there are also discounts on selected smartphones! To make it all even better, you’ll also receive free gifts when you purchase selected smartphones. You can see which smartphones are eligible for discounts as well as the free gifts that come with it in the table below.

CEO of vivo Malaysia, Xu Miao, stated that the store is using a 3.0 concept in order to provide a more modern and technologically advanced service for their customers. Currently there are more than 110 vivo specialty stores throughout Malaysia and they will be upgraded in the near future.

Lucky draw session that happened earlier

The vivo flagship store even has a smartphone maintanence corner!

The future of vivo is looking pretty amazing for their customers. In addition to the existing V and X series, vivo also confirms that the vivo NEX series will be coming here to Malaysia as well. By NEX series, we also mean the iconic dual screen variant of the smartphone. As of right now, Xu states that they are only selling one unit of the smartphone in the country right now, which he says many are excited for. So what are you waiting for? Now is a great time to get that smartphone you’ve been dreaming of for this New Year! For more news on vivo, make sure to hit up TechNave.com!


New vivo patent shows smartphone that has slider mechanism

A lot of smartphones have similarities these days, so we always appreciate seeing different designs that stand out from the norm. That seems to be what vivo is going for, as a new patent from the company was recently discovered. The patent depicts a device that comes with a slide mechanism.

According to the patent record, Weiwo Communication Private Limited (vivo Mobile) is the company that submitted the patent. From the images provided, it would seem that sliding the phone reveals the LED flash for the rear camera, which is a weird design choice if you ask us. The very act of sliding the phone should also activate the cameras, but we are unsure what else vivo could be trying to accomplish with the design.

In our opinion, a slide mechanism's most obvious use is to hide front cameras, so companies won't have to use the dreaded notch design on their phones. Oddly enough, that seems to be the idea here as the vivo patent doesn't show any notch on the screen. However, there's also no front camera even when the slide mechanism is engaged.

Of course, this is just a patent so it might not end up becoming an actual product. Still, we'd like to see where vivo intends to go with this if only to see something that isn't the common fare. Having said that, what do you think of the slide mechanism here? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


New vivo smartphone sporting Snapdragon 765G chipset found

The new reveals continue to come and the latest seems to be for vivo. Recently, we found out that vivo was making a phone that may have four cameras in front. Now, we wonder if it'll be related to a new vivo device that has been spotted on GeekBench. Specifically, a benchmark on the site shows a vivo device that uses Android 10 and runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset plus 6GB of RAM.

Aside from a few tech specs, all we know from the benchmark result is that it bears the model number V1963A. As you can see, this device didn't score as high as another Snapdragon 765G-based device from OPPO, leading us to believe that the V1963A could be a very early engineering sample. We still don't know which series this smartphone could belong under and no other tech specs have been announced yet. But since it's meant to be a mid-range model, it could be a new S series phone.

As for the official reveal, we expect it to be held during this year's Mobile World Congress since it doesn't seem to be ready for CES 2020. But what about you, when do you think this phone is coming and what other features could it have? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like this.


New vivo smartphone spotted on Geekbench, could be using Helio G80 chipset

Our guess is this would be a Y-series device

MediaTek's G80 chipset has been out for some time and we've seen some devices that come with it. Now it seems there could be a new device that will be using it. A benchmark for what could be an upcoming vivo smartphone has been found and it uses the Helio G80 chipset.

According to Abhishek Yadav, the vivo V2037 device that was found on Geekbench has a chipset with the name ARM MT6769V/CU. A quick Google search confirms that this is the Helio G80 chipset, which comes with an 8-core CPU (consisting of Cortex A75+Cortex A55 CPU cores) and a Mali-G52 GPU. This particular phone also has 4GB of RAM and runs on Android 11.

Vivo V2037 Spotted On Geekbench.•Android 11•4GB Ram•Mediatek Helio G80 pic.twitter.com/8YrKAKhR8M

Actually, this unknown device has already appeared earlier this month, with a score of 342 points for single-core and 1319 points for multi-core on Geekbench 5. For reference, its performance is roughly around the level of the highly popular Samsung Galaxy A51, which features an Exynos 980 chipset. What's great is that since it's a MediaTek chipset, this mid-range device could be much cheaper than the Galaxy A51.

We're not sure what device this is, but we'll probably find out during CES 2021. With that said, what do you think a mid-range device would need to stand out next year? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


New vivo teaser mentions X7 to feature Moonlight Flash with the front camera

In relation to the vivo X7 teaser yesterday, we already know it will pack a huge 16MP front camera sensor. Today, we got another update from them but this is a minor one, as it only mentions the front camera's LED flash called the Moonlight Flash.

So what is the difference between the Moonlight Flash and a regular LED flash? Perhaps they are the same, or not, but vivo will reveal to us in time this month. Also since their X series lineup usually has powerful tech-specs for mid-range, we can expect some decent specifications. Another thing mentioned in the teaser is that the phone has a better beautifying effect that lets users enhance their pictures after taking one. also, the phone also has a striking resemblance to the Apple iPhone 6.

There will be more vivo teasers to come, stay tuned for more at Technave.com!


New wireless Xiaomi Mouse revealed in China

Aside from the surprise Xiaomi announcement today of slashing the Redmi Note 3 price to RM499, the Mi Max for RM999 + a free 10000 mAh Mi Power Bank, and a RM119 for a Mi Power Bank Pro in Malaysia, the China company has also revealed their first computer product mouse called, you guessed it - the Xiaomi Mouse.

The Xiaomi Mouse is almost shaped in rectangular size, with ABS plastic for the buttons and scroller, while the body is made of sand-blasted anodized aluminium, which is similar to Apple Macbook body material, it's also really light, weighing just 77.5 grams. Since it's wireless, it uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect and can support two devices at the same time, the company further claims that even on a glass or fabric surface, the mouse has a 95% accuracy which is impressive. A 3V battery powers the mouse, and range is only 10 meters.

Priced 99 Yuan (around RM62) only, the mouse is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 devices and will go on sale on the 11 of November, likely in China first as usual. Stay tuned for more news at Technave.com.


ASUS announced the ASUS TUF Gaming FX504 starting from RM3149

ASUS has recently announced the arrival of the ASUS TUF Gaming FX504 in Malaysia starting from RM3149 and it comes complete with HyperCool technology, up to an Nvidia GeForce GTX1060 as well as a 120Hz display to give you the most immersive experience in gaming and content consumption.

The ASUS TUF gaming series line-up usually boasts a durable laptop chassis paired with performance sufficient enough to play most esports and AAA titles smoothly at FHD resolution. Not only that, it also features the HyperCool Technology which keeps the TUF Gaming laptop cool and dust free to increase the longevity of the device.

In terms of tech specs, the FX504 variants comes equipped with up to an Intel Core i7-8750H chipset, up to an Nvidia GeForce GTX1060 graphics processor with 6GB of GDDR5 memory, up to 8GB of DDR4 RAM, 128GB M.2 SSD primary internal storage and a 1TB FireCuda Hybrid SSHD secondary storage. For more information about the ASUS TUF Gaming FX504 gaming laptop, check out the official ASUS website and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like these.


New year, new phone! Shopee is offering crazy discounts on your favourite smartphones

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and as the saying goes: New year, new phone. Shopee is the perfect place for you to get your upgrades as they are offering low prices this festive season. In addition, you will get an additional RM30 off when you use the code NEWMOB30 with a minimum spending of RM660 from the collection. Better hurry though, as this promotion is only available till the 11th of January and vouchers are only valid till tomorrow.

This deal is limited to selected smartphones that have been listed in the Shopee collection. Among smartphones that are included in the collection are the Xiaomi Mi A2, the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro (M1), the Huawei Nova 3i and many, many more. If you’re interested in checking out the list for yourself, you can simply follow this link. So are you upgrading your smartphone? For more amazing deals on tech and beyond, make sure to add TechNave.com to your RSS Feeds!


Newcomer French brand Wiko debut in Malaysia tomorrow

Newcomer smartphone manufacturer Wiko will make their debut in Malaysia tomorrow showcasing not one, but three devices. Originally from Marseille, France, their emphasis on inspiration and vision are heavily defined and cultivated in France, bringing unique products, designed and created to satisfy their customers.

The three smartphones that likely to appear at the event are Wiko Highway Pure 4G, Lenny2, and Fever 4G. The Highway Pure will be the main highlight, as it is the slimmest and lightest 4G smartphone in the market; let's also keep in mind that these gadgets are entry – mid range level so we shouldn't put our expectations too high. Below are the tech specs:-

If you look closely at the Highway Pure, those are actually Swarovski Zirconia stones on the device's volume and power/lock button. It only weighs 98 grams too, which is really lightweight. Lenny2 is definitely an entry-level smartphone judging by the specifications, but it comes in handy with a HSPA+ feature that can download up to 21Mbps speed. Lastly, the Fever smartphone is a special one that can glow in the dark with the highest specs too.

Wiko also happens to be one the fastest growing smartphone brands in Europe, but will they be able to live up to their slogan the “Game Changer”? Stay tuned for tomorrow as we will be covering and find out more about Wiko.


Newly launched Apple app suggests that Apple AirTags could launch soon

There have been leaks and rumours about the Apple AirTags since last year. It was expected to launch with new iPads last month, but as you know that event was delayed. Fortunately, it looks like Apple still plans to launch it with the new iPads as a new rumour hints that it's coming soon.

According to TechCrunch, Apple has released a new "Find My Certification Asst." app on the App Store. It works with Apple's Find My Network, which helps users find their missing Apple devices. Apple and other licensed third-party devices can use this new app to test the compatibility of accessories like the Apple AirTags with the network.

More importantly, opening the app to other developers is a good thing. It means we'll probably get an AirTag designed by a third-party company, and it'll most likely be cheaper too. Apple's Find My app was also updated and now has an 'Items' tab to track other accessories and items that may be compatible with the app.

If all goes well, the Apple AirTags should launch with a new iPad Pro and iPad mini sometime this month. Having said that, which of the new products are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


NewsBytes #10 - Wiko Malaysia Sunny2Plus, Samsung Little Pilot, Lenovo Lunar Cup and more

After a quiet period, Wiko have come out with their budget Wiki Sunny2 Plus smartphone for just RM249. Coming in black, bleen, gold, lime and silver, the Sunny2 Plus has a quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage, up to 64GB microSD, 5-inch display, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and Android Nougat. For more details on the Sunny2 Plus check out the site. In related news, Wiki also announced a merger with Tinno and new releases set for unveiling at MWC 2018.

The Smart School initiative by Samsung seeks to inspire more students across Southeast Asia to Do What They Can’t, by showing how they can overcome obstacles associated with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning. In light of this, Samsung introduced its ‘Little Pilot’ video below but check out their site for more details.

In conjunction with Chinese New Year, Lenovo is hosting the first-ever Lunar Cup 2018, a 1v1 League of Legends gaming competition in four states across Malaysia. Held in partnership with Intel, TGV Cinemas and Armaggeddon Malaysia, the Lunar Cup is a two-weekend gaming extravaganza, Week 1 (10 – 11 February 2018) and Week 2 (24 – 25 February 2018). Venturing out of Klang Valley, the tournament will see gaming teams from different states in Malaysia compete with the chance to win part of the total prize available valued at over RM6,000 with lucky draws of a Lenovo Legion Y520 and other exciting prizes.

To bring visibility back to corporate networks and reduce response times, New Kaspersky Threat Management and Defense brings together and reinforces the capabilities of Kaspersky Anti Targeted Attack, Kaspersky Cybersecurity Services and new Kaspersky EDR within a single platform. Also available as standalone solutions, Kaspersky Anti Targeted Attack, Kaspersky EDR and Kaspersky Cybersecurity Services perform best as a single Threat Management and Defense platform, allowing for unified administration and automation of the whole threat management cycle. Check out their site for more details.

Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (Digi) has tied up with Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) for a year-long collaboration to bring special rewards to customers such as movie tickets at RM8.99 every Thursday, in addition to popcorn combos and other discounts when watching the latest blockbusters at GSC cinemas throughout Malaysia.

IPC Shopping Centre recently launched their app which matches what you want to eat (and what is available to eat at IPC Shopping Centre) with what you're listening to on Spotify. If your stomach can't choose and you're in IPC Shopping Centre you can download the app for Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and let it do it for you.

Still feeling CNY or Chinese New Year? YouTube have listed their Top 10 Popular Chinese New Year Advertisements on YouTube Malaysia for your nostalgic (and sometimes tear jerking) pleasure.

Celcom - 5 Sekawan Selamanya – Chinese New Year Short Film

Gaviscon - #JiakSongSong | #GavisconMalaysia Chinese New Year 2018

Lazada Malaysia - LAZADA Gong Xi Fa Cai 2018

Lee Kum Kee - The Joyous Taste of Reunion (团圆的味道你紧记的好味道)

Maxis - Maxis CNY 2018 – It’s time to HuatAR

Mudah.my - 2018 新年歌 - Uncover Prosperity 发财秘诀

Petronas - #PETRONAS CNY 2018: A Long Way Home

Pizza Hut - Kongsi Gong Xi Happiness with Cheese Sang Cheesy Bites from Pizza Hut

S P Setia - Setia CNY TVC 2018 | Stay Together. Stay Setia

Tenaga Nasional Berhad - The Coming Together - TNB Chinese New Year 2018

On 13 February, 80 Maxis volunteers visited Rumah Charis to bring festive joy to the children and elderly residents and to help prepare the home for the upcoming new year celebrations. The volunteers worked in teams to paint the fences surrounding the home, cleaned up the interior and exterior, and also put up Chinese New Year decorations.

Acer recently received 12 iF Design Awards 2018 in recognition for design excellence. The award-winning Acer products include Predator Orion 9000 desktop, Predator Triton 700 laptop, Predator X27 monitor, Predator X34P monitor, PredatorSense software, Predator Gaming Gadget packaging design, Acer Swift 7 laptop, Aspire S 24 all-in-one desktop, VG0 series gaming monitor, Holo360 and Vision360 cameras and Pawbo Wagtag pet tracker.

U Mobile recently introduced their new Chief Information Officer (CIO), Neil Tomkinson and added Woon Ooi Yuen to the team as Deputy Chief Technology Officer (DCTO). Neil joins U Mobile from MTN Next!, replacing Tan Chen Sen who was U Mobile’s CIO for the past 5 years.


NewsBytes #11 - Cupid Co. drama series, Facebook data privacy, Samsung Smart Savings and more

If you're a fan of DanKhoo YouTube videos, then you should know that they have worked together with iflix, releasing a six-part drama series for free on iflix, called Cupid Co. The series is written and directed by Malaysian YouTube veterans, Brian Lee and Ernest Ng, with Dan Khoo as Co-director and Executive Producer. Cupid Co. stars Michael Lean (Kael) as Tim, Michelle Leong as Michelle, Dennis Yin as Bruce, Amanda Ang as Director Evans, Tanesh as Eugene, and Ernest Ng as Matt.

Aside from the hilarious footage of the senators asking super basic questions for Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. We thought you should also know how exactly online companies collect your data online, the controls you have, privacy and data use and others. If you want to know more, you can head over to this site and equip yourself with online privacy.

On the other hand, Samsung is having a promotion on their home appliance products. Introducing "Making Cents of Smart Savings", you get to bring home a complimentary Samsung Smart TV worth RM2499, provided if you purchase a Samsung washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, air conditioner and vacuum cleaner. But that's not all, you will also be rewarded with a free Vacuum Cleaner worth RM299 and a free thermal container flask with pouch (while stocks last) with RM88. For more information, check it out at their page here.

No, we didn't just make up that Googlegram word. In case you've been under the rock, Google Earth has just celebrated its 1 year anniversary! Apparently, millions of users have already visited the website and searched various things online, such as cute polar bears to the highest peaks on the planet. There's also an iOS and Android app for that, so if you're a keen explorer, join the rest of the community on 300 voyage stories in 8 languages and counting to see what makes GoogleEarth go around!

Also known as the Ultrastar DC HC530 hard drive, there's no other CMR (conventional magnetic recording) hard drive in the industry offers a higher capacity at 14TB. It's WD's fifth-gen HelioSeal technology designed for public and private cloud environments where storage density, watt/TB and $/TB are critical parameters for creating the most cost-efficient infrastructure. To know more about it, you can visit the product page right here to learn more.

Now for the game news, God of War has just been released for PlayStation 4 in Malaysia recently and 4FINGERS Crispy Chicken is having a month-long promotional event complete with a game demo console giveaways in Sunway Pyramid. So if you purchase a "Wings of Power" combo meal, you will get a chance at the Treasure Chest lucky dip - with a grand prize of a paid trip to the famous Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) gaming conference in Los Angeles. Other prizes include Limited Edition God of War PlayStation 4 Pro consoles, copies of the God of War game, and other exclusive merchandise.

Next, AoV progaming team Will New Era recently won the regional SEA Valor Cup in Quezon City, Philippines but that's not the best part. Together with the top 3 teams, they have booked a spot in the Road to AWC Invitationals to determine who will represent the SEA region and participate the AoV World Cup, which boasts a RM2,200,000 (USD550,000) prize pool.

For Vainglory players, a new hero has joined the realm and is none other than Malene, a ranged spellcaster and there is some fix on Petal's ability, Spontaneous Combustion where players can now indicate the direction of her ability. Also, there will be a new "Tea Party" skin for Petal, along with "Samurai" Krul skin and the "Clownwalker" Churnwalker skin. You can check out the update 3.2 patch here.

That's all, TechNavers. Stay tuned for more local tech news at TechNave.com.


NewsBytes #12 - Lenovo PremiumCare, Acer gets an award, 11street Raya promo and more

What's up TechNavers, starting now until 31 May 2018 - Lenovo Malaysia has introduced a new initiative to their customers with a new warranty upgrade plan called Lenovo PremiumCare (worth RM288). This new plan allows the customers to address any of their technical issues (hardware and software) with the Lenovo PremiumCare Call Centre at any time of the day as it operates 24/7, including national public holidays. For on-site technical support, technicians are available nationwide on weekdays, excluding weekends and public holidays from 9AM to 9PM.

From as low as RM30, customers who have the following products - Lenovo Legion, Yoga, Miix and IdeaPad are able to upgrade from their Standard Limited Warranty plan. For more information on the Lenovo’s PremiumCare, please visit the official page here.

Ricky Tan, Managing Director of Acer Malaysia (Third from left) receiving the award for Best Brand in IT - Personal Computer Solutions

Then earlier this month, Acer Malaysia was named "Best Brand IT - Personal Computer Solutions" from BrandLaureate BestBrands Awards 2017-2018, which honours the biggest and the brightest SME brands in Malaysia. In addition to that, Acer also received the "People's Choice for IT and Office & Business Equipment category" in the Putra Brands Awards 2017. This marks the first time for the company to receive such an award, so congratulations!

Speaking of awards, Canon also got an award. Six of their products, comprising four cameras, one lens and an accessory has earned them the “Best Photo and Imaging Product” awards from the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA). This will be the 24th year in a row for Canon to win an award in the photography and imaging industry. Below is the list of awards from the TIPA World Awards 2018:

1. Best DSLR Enthusiast - Canon EOS 200D 2. Best Full-Frame DSLR Expert - Canon EOS 6D Mark II 3. Best DSLR Prime Lens - Canon EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM 4. Best Mirrorless CSC Enthusiast - Canon EOS M50 5. Best Professional Compact Camera - Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III 6. Best Photo Innovation - Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI

The festive Raya season is also just around the corner, so with that 11street is preparing their latest campaign - Syioknya Raya which comes with a wide range of discounts up to 90%, giveaways and new features on the 11street platform. It has already started since 2 May 2018 and to cope with the demands, 11street is collaborating with CJ WOW Shop in the Raya Fashion category, as well as rewarding those who use the app with RM9000 worth of prizes. Syioknya!

Another app to look out for is SOCAR, a car-sharing app that was released in Malaysia earlier this year and for this promotion period starting now until 13 May 2018 (7PM), customers will have a special price of RM3 - 6/hour with 30km of petrol included for each hour booked. The car-sharing platform has also introduced several new car models since their launch, this includes the Volkswagen Polo, new Perodua Myvi, Alza, Toyota Vios and Corolla-Altis along with their luxe Mini Cooper range. Below is the table of the new promotion rates.

In other news, Digi is revamping its CXO Apprentice Programme this year with some slight changes. The programme was first launched two years ago to help and challenge new fresh graduates to develop real-life working skills during the first and second year. For the third year, the management will put the apprentices to the test, to see what they have learned from the first two years by making real decisions on Digi’s day-to-day business and help to shape the company’s digital ambitions for 2018/19.

CXO Apprentice Year 2 apprentices together with Digi's management team

If you are a final-year university student in the final semester with a Bachelor’s Degree or a fresh graduate who has worked for less than a year from any background, you can try it out as the application for it is now open until 9 June 2018. For more on Digi CXO Apprentice and to apply, visit www.digi.com.my/cxoapprentice.

Lastly, if you're a Tik Tok user then here's some news for you. There will be a new feature in the near future - a Split Screen Duet Challenge with a superstar. Called as 'Duet' for short, it allows users to have a split-screen video recording together with their friends, families and even their favourite celebrity (if they are on the account). You can simply tag them with the #duetwithme in the video and who knows, they might respond to your request and share it on their official Instagram account.


NewsBytes #13 - The Future of Grab, Maxis Charity, OPPO's first 5G Video Call Demo, Samsung Ostrich winner and more

In this latest Newsbytes, Grab Malaysia has unveiled its vision for Malaysia and it's sure an ambitious one. Under the theme "Your Everyday App", the company wants to be a part of our future in many areas such as on-demand food delivery, logistics, cashless payments, and financial services for the people of Malaysia, as well as Southeast Asia - all within one mobile app.

In other words, Malaysians can potentially use Grab app for many things like going to work with GrabCar, paying stuff with GrabPay, using GrabExpress to deliver items, and having delivered meals from GrabFood. To read the full game plan by Sean Goh, Country Head of Grab Malaysia, you can check out the company's blog here.

If you're a Maxis employee, chances are you were part of the Maxis Charity Jogathon that happened last Saturday at Lake Gardens. The charity's mission was to raise funds and create awareness for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and with more than 160 Maxis employees participating, they have managed to raise over RM40,000 (which was their original target) up to RM61,550! Amazing!

“There are around 40,000 kidney patients in Malaysia, and this number increases by 20% every year. Our main aim is to educate the Malaysian public about kidney failure and to advise patients on what needs to be done after health screenings. The cost for dialysis, however, is high. So we rely a lot on donations, which really help us,” said Chua Hong Wee, CEO of National Kidney Foundation.

Want to give a helping hand? Then you can check out the video below for more details.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, OPPO Global Research Institute has announced that the company has successfully demonstrated the world's first 5G Video Call Demo Using 3D Structured Light Technology. During the demo, a 3D portrait image was reproduced on a remote receiver using portrait information, which was collected from a structured-light 3D camera of a customized OPPO R11s phone and 5G NR terminal prototypes from Qualcomm Technologies.

With this, 5G Video Call with 3D Structured Light Technology will become a reality one day in the future. Who knows, we might be able to communicate with each other via 3D calls just like in those sci-fi movies. For more information, you can read all about it here.

Chen Yan, the Director of Software Research Group of OPPO Research Institute

By the way, do you remember the Samsung Gear VR commercial that had an ostrich in it? Apparently, it has received thirteen awards including seven Gold Pencils, three Silver Pencils, three Bronze Pencils across visual effects, animation and cinematography at The One Club Awards. Moreover, the ad continues to receive high praise from other award shows like Cannes Lions, The Clio Awards and D&AD Awards, totalling 36 awards altogether.

Produced by The One Club for Creativity, the global awards show is judged by top industry professionals and honours the best creative ideas that are setting new industry standards and they deserve it. Here's the video below in case you haven't seen it!

Talking about success, Neffos has also been gaining ground this year. Even though there is a backdrop of 6.3% on the worldwide smartphone market in Q1 2018 by IDC statistics, Neffos Q1 2018 shipments increased impressively by 300%. That's quite a breakthrough there.

In detail, Neffos gained a 338% shipment increase in East Europe and 270% in Asia. While in West Europe, the number is 168%. In South America, the shipments were up 148%. This is due to the uprising popularity of the Neffos X1 Lite, which was the best-selling product. C5 and Y5 were also popular in the market. To meet consumers’ needs, Neffos has released new the selfie-focused C7 and dual-camera N1 in March.

Going back to our local news, SOCAR has launched their Buka Puasa Stress Free Pass campaign for Malaysians. During the special Ramadan promo now until 14 June 2018, members can choose to book selected cars on the platform with prices as low as RM 20 - RM 46 from 5pm - 8am. That's 15 hours for less than RM50!

There are two codes - "BUKAPUASACOMFORT" and "BUKAPUASAPASS" - for selected cars. To check the full list and pricing details, you can visit their blog page here. Don't drink and drive, mmkay?

Another local product that fitness people might want to check out is Weloop Neo by Olike Malaysia. It's a multifunctional sports band that features health and fitness monitors for just RM399 only + 1-year guarantee (a 1-to-1 product exchange)

The wearable will be available at Olike Concept Stores, Olike Authorized Dealer Stores and OPPO Concept Stores nationwide beginning 19 May 2018. Alternatively, customers may also get it through OPPO online stores at Lazada, 11 street or Shopee.

Finally, Adobe just recently announced the XD CC Starter plan, which includes a free offering of the all-in-one UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) design platform. Available for both Mac and Windows, iOS and Android, it's a service for everyone to design, prototype and share experiences with colleagues in the virtual world of online designing.

If that sounds intriguing to you, you can check out their FAQs here, a starter plan for Adobe XD, Adobe Fund for Design and more information on the designers and links to download the kits right here.

Stay tuned for more NewsBytes at TechNave.com.


NewsBytes #14 - Maxis Inspire, Samsung Studio9, GrabPay, GrabFood, and more

Somewhere in the exterior part of Kuching, Sarawak, Maxis has initiated a Pusat Internet Kampung Quop or in other words, eKelas which the company has been running since early January this year. So during Teachers' Day on 16 May 2018, Maxis paid tribute to the teachers by organising a lunch for them and community members.

“What we have seen in Kampung Quop today is a clear example of what the power of technology can do for education, especially in under-served locations. With eKelas, students in multiple locations will have direct access to the same experienced teachers, live tutorials and the opportunity to participate in competitions, motivational talks and holiday camps. It’s a fun way to learn and it’s free to sign up for everyone. We are really pleased to see the active participation in eKelas in this Pusat Internet, and we thank all the teachers for the critical role that they have played in this programme,” said Alex Bong, Maxis Head of Sarawak region

The Maxis team together with Kg Quop’s community members at the Pusat Internet following the eKelas showcase

On the other hand, Adzhar Ibrahim, Maxis Head of People and Organisation hosted an event called the Maxis Inspire series. It's a platform “for those who always wanted to shake things up at work, bring ideas to life, or create an impact on society. We wanted to create a platform that can offer firsthand insights from entrepreneurs and exposure to how an entrepreneurial mindset can impact one’s career, company or the community."

If you're an entrepreneur and this is what you're looking for, you can head over to Maxis Inspire page to learn more.

Moving back to the concrete jungle of Kuala Lumpur, Samsung Malaysia Electronics has renovated its studio again in front of Fahrenheit 88. Inspired by the spring season, Studio9 is decorated with blooming flowers all around and it showcases the latest Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ for the public. The public can try out its unique camera features, such as recording in Super Slow-mo, depth of field effect and more.

Also, starting now until 31 May 2018 (10AM - 10PM), you can record your "Moment of Spring" in Super Slow-mo with either the Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+ can walk away with a pair of movie tickets! All you need to do is upload the video on Instagram with hashtag #TakeItSloMalaysia. Sap sap water lah!

What do Grab and Maybank have in common? Nothing much, but they just announced a new partnership with each other. This strategic partnership will allow everyone to have the benefit of mobile payments to cash-first consumers and merchants, increasing the usage of GrabPay.

With GrabPay, Malaysians can use GrabPay as a mobile wallet to conduct both payments at Maybank's key merchants and top-up their mobile wallet directly from their bank accounts. Maybank consumers who use GrabPay as a payment method for rides and other services on Grab will also receive exclusive benefits. To read the full story, you can visit their blog here to check it out.

(Left side) L-R: Michael Foong, Datuk Farid Alias, Anthony Tan and Ooi Huey Tyng(Right side) GrabFood

On the other hand, GrabFood which is currently in beta (both iOS and Android) will officially launch on 28 May as the latest food deliverer platform. At the moment, it's available in Mont Kiara, Sri Hartamas, Bukit Damansara and Bangsar, but the company will add five more areas which are Kampung Baru, Chow Kit, KL City Centre, Titiwangsa and Setiawangsa. There will be more added to the list in the future so stay tuned for that.

Two-factor Authentication (2FA)? Yup, seems like Facebook is looking into new ways to help their billion plus of users to navigate better safety and security practices. The 2FA is an extra layer of protection for your personal Facebook account and it's said that users are no longer required to register a phone number to use it too. Ultimately, this feature will give people more choices and easier to improve the security of their accounts.

To understand how the 2FA set up on Facebook works, you can visit the following link here and check it out.

Meanwhile, Tik Tok, an international trendy short video app has just reached number 1 in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store in Malaysia. Thanks to the latest duet feature as well as other trending challenges, it quickly gained popularity and it's now the most downloaded app worldwide in Q1 2018. Not only it has caught the attention in Malaysia, but also South Korea, Japan and other countries in Southeast Asia as well.

To celebrate this occasion, Tik Tok has customized a new sticker specially made for Malaysia users - the "Bunga Raya", Malaysia’s national flower. There are other hot stickers too including Malaysia national flag and its iconic landmark Petronas Twin Towers, which have been booming in popularity among the young generation and have been used for over 35,000 times.

For other promotional news, Malaysia Airports has just joined forces with e-wallet service provider Boost. During the promotional period between 22 May to 30 June 2018, Boost is offering a special where shoppers are entitled to receive up to 50% cash back the next working day. This only happens if they use the Boost Application to pay for their transactions at all participating Malaysia Airports retail and F&B outlets, such as DOME, Burger King, The Chicken Rice Shop, Dunkin Donuts, Fukuya, WHSmith and many more.

From 22 May to 30 June 2018, BOOST is offering a special promotion where shoppers are entitled to receive up to 50 per cent cashback on the next working day whenever they use the Boost Application to pay for their transactions at all participating Malaysia Airports retail and F&B outlets, such as DOME, Burger King, The Chicken Rice Shop, Dunkin Donuts, Fukuya, WHSmith and many more which you can read all about it right here.

In other news, HMD Global is proud to announce that it has raised an additional USD 100 million from multiple investors to scale business operations. Led by Geneva based, Ginko Ventures via Alpha Ginko Ltd., with participation from DMJ Asia Investment Opportunity Limited and Wonderful Stars Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of FIH Mobile Ltd., this is to fund the company’s growth in its second year, particularly Nokia's game plan this year.

“We are thrilled to have these investors join us in our journey to script the next chapter of Nokia phones. It is our ambition to deliver great smartphones that delight our fans while staying true to our Finnish roots and the hallmarks that the Nokia brand has always been known for. We aim to be among the top smartphone players globally and our success to date gives us the confidence to further continue on a growth path in 2018 and beyond.” said Florian Seiche, CEO, HMD Global.

To read the full story, visit their website here to check it out.

Finally, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (Digi) is currently searching for two inspiring youths to represent Malaysia in its sixth Telenor Youth Forum. Now open for applications, the two participants can join other young leaders from seven of Telenor’s markets across the world to seek innovative solutions that are able to drive real change in the world and help reduce inequalities by using digital technology.

The Telenor Youth Forum (TYF) is a year-long global programme designed and hosted by Telenor Group and the Nobel Peace Center (NPC). If you're interested or you know someone who would love to join, you can visit the official Telenor website here and apply.

Stay tuned for more Newsbytes at TechNave.com.


NewsBytes #15 - Bonus YES and Yoodo rate, New Sony Store, DiGi iFleet, #JustALine and more

As we enter the month of June 2018, the removal of 6% GST has taken effect and many brands are making price adjustments. Our local mobile 4G brand YES is joining the fray and they are doubling the free pre-loaded 4G LTE data for YES 4G LTE Prepaid SIM packs. In other words, the original 500MB has now climbed up to 1GB and there's a free RM5 credit plus free calls and SMS to all YES numbers.

The YES Prepaid SIM pack is RM10 and will take effect from 1 June onwards at any YES Store, YES Exclusive Retail Partner or Yes Retailer nationwide To add on, YES is also donating 10% (RM1) for each new YES Prepaid SIM pack sold for June and July as charity. Aw.

Next up, Yoodo is also doing the same and instead of writing off the GST, they will do a 15% off for all data charges as well starting 1 June. With that, the new Data (GB) monthly payment has been dropped to RM120 from RM150 if you're taking up 100GB Internet data plan. If you choose 15GB, it will be just RM50/month (originally RM60), or RM25/month (originally RM30) for 5GB. As for the rest such as Voice, SMS, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, all of them will remain the same. For more information, you can visit their website here.

Meanwhile, as the days go by the world is also slowly adapting to a cashless society. Not bringing around a lot of cash in hand is pretty convenient but Kaspersky Lab would like to remind everyone to proceed with caution, as cyber fraud will still find its way to catch victims off guard.

“Kaspersky Lab estimate that in 2018 more high-end APT malware for mobile will be discovered as the widespread penetration of e-payments has made the theft of electronic money a profitable business for criminals. The E-platform provides and merchants need technology that protects their clients from today’s threats and minimizes the costs linked to reimbursing the stolen money,” said Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager, SEA, Kaspersky Lab.

So yes, be smart about it and be careful. If you're interested in their Security Risks survey, you can check it out here.

Meanwhile, Sony Malaysia has opened its first-ever EXTRA BASS concept store in Kuala Lumpur. The company aims to create a unique shopping experience through its creative display, hosting a wide range of EXTRA BASS products such as headphone, wireless speakers and others. In conjunction with the launch, they have also released three new speakers called SRS-XB41, SRS-XB31, and SRS-XB21which are priced RM809, RM569 and RM409 respectively.

On the other hand, Sony is also hosting the upcoming third instalment of ULTRA concert in Ultra Park, Singapore next to Marina Bay Sands hotel on 15 and 16 of June. From 1 May to 30 May, customers will get a chance to win a pair of ULTRA Singapore tickets with any purchase of EXTRA BASS products by simply snapping a proof shot of themselves with their purchase at the store and posting the picture up with a creative caption telling Sony why they want to go to ULTRA Singapore.

As for OPPO, they have been making some internal changes in the organisation. For one, Alen Wu, Vice President of OPPO, was formerly in charge of China Marketing and Sales and will now oversee the entire international operations to grow the business outside China. Replacing his former seat is Brian Shen, now Assistant Vice President and is responsible for China Marketing and Sales.

“International business is a highly valued, strategic role at OPPO. Similarly, we are also committed to nurturing young talents and promotion from within OPPO. As OPPO’s key executives, Alen and Brian are highly experienced in marketing and possess valuable knowledge on consumer insights. We look forward to their greater contribution to OPPO in the years ahead,” said Tony Chen, CEO of OPPO.

Well, we wish them all the best and hope to see cool products in Malaysia in the future.

Have you ever heard of iFleet? Dubbed as intelligent fleet, it's a tracking IoT (Internet of Things) solution by DiGi to serve Sime Darby Industrial Sdn Bhd (SDI)'s customers better. How? It will be utilised in 180 units of SDI’s service vehicles nationwide, enabling SDI to track its fleet in real-time.

Praveen Rajan, Digi’s Chief Digital Officer said, “We have begun working with Sime Darby Industrial to enable their fleet to serve its customers better. Recognising the high costs of investment and maintenance involved in utilising commercial vehicles, iFleet represents an opportunity for Sime Darby Industrial Sdn Bhd to maximize fleet usage from the monitoring of their behaviour and potentially enable the costs of investment to work harder over a longer life-cycle.”

iFleet is available to all Malaysian enterprises interested in leveraging digital technology as a competitive advantage for their business, at an affordable RM90/vehicle fee for the all-in-one fleet tracking solution. For more information on iFleet, visit: www.ifleet.my.

Also fiddling with other technology, Google is currently experimenting with a Just A Line app. #JustALine was originally an experimental Android app that lets you draw in the air with your phone, now, they are testing it on the iPhone users, along with a new feature for both Android and iOS that lets you draw with a friend.

If you're interested, it's now available on any Android device that supports ARCore as well as the latest iPhone models. If you’re a developer, you can check out the open-source code for both Android and iOS to see how you can build shared AR experiences into your own app using ARCore’s Cloud Anchors. You can find out more details about it here at their webpage.

Stay tuned for more NewsBytes at TechNave.com.


NewsBytes #16 - Acer wins awards, VAIO's return, new Logitech, Sony, WD products, OPPO Raya vid and more

During the Computex 2018 event, Acer managed to win several golds and awards. First, they got the d&i gold award for best design with the Chromebook 11, Chromebox, Swift 7 and Switch 7 Black Edition - a total of 4 d&i awards. In addition to that, the Air Monitor, Windows Mixed Reality Headset and Leap Beads are also honoured with Computex Best Choice Awards.

The award is a collaboration between iF Design of Germany and TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council), as well as co-organized by TCA (Taipei Computer Association), in the fields of IoT, gaming, and mobile communications. Anyway, congratulations to Acer!

At the same time, it was also announced that VAIO is making a return to the Asian market together with Nexstgo. The initiative will oversee the business in Asia, manufacturing, sales and marketing as well as customer service for VAIO laptops in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Macau, Singapore and Taiwan markets.

“Nexstgo is energetic and is strong in Research and Development (R&D) capabilities. What’s more, they understand the VAIO brand and the products very well and we see their efforts in capturing the commercial market through business-to-business (B2B) marketing. We are confident that Nexstgo will successfully re-introduce and expand the VAIO business in various Asian markets.” said Ryosuke Akahane, Executive Vice President of VAIO Corporation.

Meanwhile, Logitech G also announced a new gaming mouse called the G304. It didn't show up at Computex 2018, though, but at least we got to know that it will be available at Logitech’s authorised resellers in Malaysia in July 2018 for a suggested retail price of RM199.

Using LIGHTSPEED wireless technology and the HERO (High-Efficiency Rated Optical) sensor, it's said to achieve 10x the power efficiency when compared to the previous generation of gaming mice. Housing 400 IPS precision and sensitivity up to 12,000 DPI with no acceleration or smoothing, the gaming mouse have no problem going up to 250 hours of continuous gameplay at a 1ms report rate in Performance mode on just one AA battery. Damn son!

You can find out more information about it here

Sony also released two new products - a new Cyber-shot RX100 VI (DSC-RX100M6) camera and a VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip. According to Sony, the RX100 VI will be available in Malaysia from July 2018 onwards while the VCT-SGR1 will only be in selected Asia Pacific markets from August 2018 onwards.

The new RX100 VI camera is the first of all the RX100 models to include a high magnification zoom lens, as it packs in a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T 24-200mm1 F2.8 – F4.5 lens which has become a hallmark for the series. As for the shooting grip, it was specially made for the RX0 and RX100 series of camera, which is perfect for a vlogger's lifestyle.

The VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip (left) and RX100 VI (right)

For more information, you can check out the RX100 VI and VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip at their respective websites.

Do you know what's on 17 June 2018? It's Father's Day! Western Digital is putting up some gifts that your dad might like (hopefully). Among the products are SanDisk iXpand Base, a device that charges and back up all iPhone storage, My Cloud Home, a personal cloud storage that enables you to backup your phone storage through a My Cloud Home app, and a My Passport SSD, a sleek and slim designed portable SSD.

Prices and availability vary for these products. For the SanDisk iXpand Base, it's available at Apple Premium Reseller stores, 11street, Lazada and Shopee from RM369 at 64GB, RM529 at 128GB and RM899 for 256GB. The My Cloud Home is available at all leading IT and consumer electronics stores across Malaysia starting from RM739 for 2TB, RM839 for 3TB, RM1059 for 4TB, RM1459 for 6TB and RM1799.00 for 8TB. Finally, the last item is backed by a 3-year limited warranty at selected retailers and distributors for RM2099 for 1TB, RM1039 for 512GB and RM579 for 256GB.

(L-R) SanDisk iXpand Base, My Cloud Home and My Passport SSD

Alright, enough of products. Now we go back to Bolehland with its upcoming Hari Raya festive season. As many brands do, they will definitely release a Raya video and OPPO Malaysia is one of them. Titled "Setulus Kasih Di Sisimu", the video is about four different people struggling in certain situations before the Raya celebration and then getting help from unexpected strangers.

For a video production point of view, it's pretty well made but we can't help but notice the awkward slow-mo at the 1.21-minute mark just to show off the OPPO device (lol) since the characters are already holding it. Well anyway, kind of touching at the end.

Finally, your friendly neighbourhood security, Kaspersky Lab has set a Malaysian record of anti-virus for mobile devices activated at an event, as well as winning two Networks Asia Information Management Awards. What's the deal with the new record? Well, during the company’s 20th-anniversary event and partnership with Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, 1931 of its anti-virus for mobile devices were activated at an education and awareness program. The anti-virus apps include Kaspersky Internet Security for Android and Kaspersky Password Managers for iOS devices for smartphones and tablets.

Then at the Networks Asia Information Management Awards, the company was voted the winners of APT Protection and Threat Lifecycle Management categories. This was the vote of confidence from 100 CIOs, IT directors, and heads of data centres and security from the Asia Pacific region. It is their second time winning an award for Cyber Security Solutions.

(Left pic) - Representatives from the Malaysia Book of Records, Ms Nurasyikin Ramli, and Mdm. Siti Hajar Johor, presenting the record certificate to Jesmond Chang, Kaspersky Lab Head of Corporate Communications, APAC during the event in Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) University College(Right pic) - Craig Chu, CIO ASIA of Westpac International presented an award for Threat Lifecycle Management to Jesmond Chang, Head of Corporate Communication, APAC, Kaspersky Lab at the Network World Asia Awards

That's all for this week, stay tuned for more Newsbytes at TechNave.com.


ASUS announces 3 new 64-bit Android tablets with FonePad 8, MeMo Pad7 and MeMo Pad 8

Jonney Shih, ASUS Chairman showing off the new tablets

While we covered the recent 64-bit ASUS MeMo Pad in Japan, ASUS have officially announced 3 new tablets powered by the new 64-bit Intel processors. These include the ASUS Fonepad 8 (FE380CG), ASUS MeMo Pad 7 (ME176C) and the aforementioned ASUS MeMo Pad 8 (ME581CL). Featuring a thinner design with slimmer bezels, the tablets not only mark the first of Intel's 64-bit mobile processors but also one of the first devices to have Intel's LTE modem. All of the tablets utilize the new ASUS ZenUI and as such, should also come with a while bunch of useful apps from time schedulers to a messaging app. The tech specs for the ASUS Fonepad 8 (FE380CG), ASUS MeMo Pad 7 (ME176C) and the aforementioned ASUS MeMo Pad 8 (ME581CL) are listed below:

No news yet on pricing or Malaysia release dates but we expect them to come to Malaysia in Q2 of 2014. For now, check out the videos below:

Introducing the new ASUS MeMo Pad 7

Check out this cute ASUS MeMo Pad 7 ad


NewsBytes #17 - Samsung takes top spot, Digi and Celcom giving back, Raya videos and goodies, VRMark and more

Curious what has been going on these past few days? First up, for the seventh year in a row for Samsung, the company has once again been named the best brand in Asia in 2018. The results from ‘Asia’s Top 1000 Brands’ annual online survey conducted by Campaign Asia-Pacific in collaboration with Nielsen, which aggregates views from across 17 major product categories including automotive, retail, F&B and consumer electronics.

“Samsung is extremely honored to be receiving this award once again – the award is an indicator of our consumers’ support towards us and the products and services that we offer. As we continue to grow as a brand, Samsung remains committed to continuously innovating towards creating new possibilities and experiences for our consumers through our products and services,” said Steve Lee, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia & Oceania.

Well done, Samsung. Keep it up! To read more about it, you can head over here to check it out.

Meanwhile, Digi has just initiated a Digi Yellow Heart. This program is in conjunction with Stop Cyberbullying Day on 15 June 2018, in mind to help reduce inequalities and support the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal #10.

Philip Ling, Digi’s Head of Sustainability said, “In this digital age, it is no longer just about providing easy access to the Internet, it is about ensuring that Malaysians and their children are safe, aware and resilient towards various online risks. Hence, through a variety of educational engagements, we aim to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills on responsible digital usage as well as preventive steps against cyber risks, enabling freedom to internet not only for them but for future generations as well.”

Way to go, Digi! If you're interested in taking part, you can visit the webpage here to see how you can contribute to a better society!

By now you should be back in your respective kampung, but you also probably be thinking of when is a good time to go back. Nowadays, everyone is relying on Google Maps or Waze to avoid traffic jams. Well, Waze has just released some tips for us and we are gonna share them with you and your family.

Tip 1: Plan around High Traffic Areas and Peak Hours

Based on Waze’s road traffic data, it is predicted that Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu will be seeing an increase in traffic jams from 12 June - 20 June 2018. To check out the areas of your destination, you can check out Batu Pahat - Johor, Johor Bahru - Johor, Kuala Muda - Kedah, Kota Bharu - Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Central Melaka, Kuantan - Pahang, Kota Kinabalu - Sabah, Kuching - Sarawak, and Kuala Terengganu - Terengganu.

Tip 3: Avoid Hanging Out in High Traffic Destinations!

Tip 4: Share Your Location for Easy Meet-ups

By the way, Waze is also rolling out a "Share with Dad" feature. You can now do a voice customization so just head over to Advanced Settings > Sound & Voice > Voice Directions. There's also "Planned Drives" for your calendar, and "Gas Stations" your father's preferred petrol type and station.

On the other hand, if you actually happen to feel bored during the holidays. You can have a Raya video spree and YouTube Malaysia actually compiled a bunch of popular Ramadan-Raya advertisements, covering a wide variety of genres and emotions, from testing hunger pangs, to heartwarming tales of family and forgiveness. Below are some of our favourite tech-related brands' Raya videos:

Wrapping up the night, Kuala Lumpur Chief Police CP Dato’ Seri Mazlan bin Lazim and wife took a group photo with Celcom Management team and members of Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department Kuala Lumpur

For 14 years in a row, Celcom Axiata Berhad has once again celebrated Ramadan together with the members of Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department Kuala Lumpur (JSPT KL) and the police officers who were on duty around Jalan Esfahan, Kuala Lumpur on 8 June 2018. As usual, they were treated with bubur lambuk goodie bags and celebrated Buka Puasa, prepared by Celcom employees with the assistance of Tun H.S. Lee Traffic Police Station personnel.

The distribution parade comprising senior officials from PDRM were CP Datuk Seri Hj. Mazlan bin Lazim, Chief Police Kuala Lumpur and DCP Dato’ Zainuddin bin Yaacob, Deputy Chief Police Kuala Lumpur, and ACP Zulkefly bin Yahaya, Head of Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department. They were accompanied by Celcom’s senior management team which included Azmi Ujang, Chief Human Capital Officer, Ramanathan Sathiamutty, Chief Transformation Officer, Zuraida Jamaluddin, Chief Corporate Officer, and Surinderdeep Singh, Head of Enterprise Business & Solutions.

Continuing the Raya news, Boost is introducing some new features such as allowing their users to give back to society. How? Well, they can now send duit raya to friends and family conveniently, as well as choosing to donate to a charity which Boost partnered with Tabung BERSAMAMU and Tabung Harapan as part of its list of organizations for users to donate to.

For more information about this new feature and donating your duit raya, you can visit their official website here.

That being said, the FIFA 2018 World Cup has also started and what better way to get lucky and win some original jerseys signed by Messi, Neymar or Hazard? Hosted by Yoodo, all you have to do is go to their website here and tell them which country will be the World Champion this year. Entries must be submitted before 29 June 2018 before midnight. It's that simple.

If you want to win more prizes, you can actually win some PROTECH KITZONE vouchers worth RM300 when you invite 5 friends to Yoodo! This is a really easy one and you have all the time in the world until 22 July 2018. Get on it!

Speaking of games, Moonton and eGG Network are proud to present Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) Season 2: The Rise of Legends this month! Starting from 22 June - 8 July 2018, it will begin with three online qualifiers and the Grand Finals is scheduled for October 2018 with a grand prize of USD 25,000 (~RM99,840)!

Only a maximum of 512 teams can enter each qualifier, where only six teams will enter the Regular Season and no, there will be no prizes during this stage. To read more details you can visit their newsroom right here.

Woah, a benchmark for VR? That's right, it's called VRMark benchmark app and it's only available for Android devices. Don't worry, the app can work with or without a VR headset so you don't really need to get one. There's also a VRMark Professional Edition app, designed for industry and press use and this cost $499 (~RM1992).

Like all benchmarks, VRMark estimates the device's battery life for VR, along with detailed performance monitoring charts and an in-app list for ranking and comparing the latest devices. In addition, VRMark is compatible with ARM-based devices running Android 7.0 or later with at least 1GB of RAM that supports OpenGL ES 3.1 or OpenGL ES 3.0 with MSAA. You can find out more about it here.

Stay tuned for more NewsBytes at TechNave and Selamat Hari Raya!


NewsBytes #18 - New partnerships including Maxis, Samsung, iflix, Adobe, KK Mart and Boost, Kaspersky moving, Klook and more

So what has been happening during the Raya holidays? Well, Maxis just recently organized a special Projek Laris Raya programme for the community of FELCRA Sungai Ara in Kota Tinggi, Johor. The purpose was to empower local entrepreneurs (40 of them) with digital tools and marketing skills to expand their business using social media, content creation, photography and basic accounting. Commenting on the importance of the digital workshop, Mazlan Mokhtar, Maxis’ Head of Southern Region said,

“Most cottage industry entrepreneurs, like the ones here in FELCRA Sungai Ara, have the determination and passion but may not have the know-how or access to digital tools to grow their business. So for this Raya, we had the opportunity to help the community with something that will go a long way. Through this workshop, we hope that they will be better equipped to create an online presence, extend their market reach, communicate easily with their customers as well as promote their products and services more efficiently.” said Mr Mazlan.

Participants of the digital workshop standing proudly with their Certificate of Completion together with Maxis volunteers

Senthil Balan Danapalan, Maxis’ Head of Business Development (centre) and Daniel Ng, Maxis’ Head of eCommerce Technology (seated next to Senthil), together with the expanded Maxis eCommerce team following the "acqui-hir" of Optima

Meanwhile, the company also expanded its Enterprise solutions offerings with new end-to-end Maxis eCommerce solution. Supported by a dedicated eCommerce team, it was specially targeted to SMEs in Malaysia to build, amplify, optimise their e-commerce presence and maximise revenue potential from within and outside Malaysia. If you would like to learn more about that, you can visit www.maxis.com.my/oneretail or call 1-800-82-1919.

Meanwhile, Samsung Malaysia Electronics was also doing its own thing during the Raya holidays. The company actually entered into a new content collaboration with Media Prima Television Networks (MPTN) and created a new mini-drama series, Amira Rose.

Amira Rose features a diverse cast of Malaysia’s leading talents, including popular drama stars Aiman Hakim and Farah Nabilah, as well as a special appearance by teen singer, Ismail Izzani. The mini-series also treats viewers with the Samsung Galaxy S9, highlighting some of the features available such as AR Emoji, Slow-mo and Super Low Light.

Amira Rose premiered with a 30-minute Raya episode on Sunday, 17 June 2018 at 11.15am on TV3. Six subsequent episodes of 10-minute mini-series will be aired on TV3 every Monday and Tuesday at 9.50pm from 25 June – 10 July 2018. Viewers can also catch the Raya episode on NTV7 (Sunday, 17 June 2018, 3.00pm) and TV9 (Friday, 22 June 2018, 9.00pm).

On the other hand, iflix has also made a new partnership with Complex Networks to create localised versions of world-class proven content formats. This includes Hot Ones, Sneaker Shopping, Complex Closets, Don’t Believe the Hype and Price the Hype. All these new original series will be showcased in a newly created premium, dedicated Complex branded channel, which will additionally showcase the network’s most popular global series, available to audiences on iflix’s platform for free.

To read more about this, you can go over to their blog and check it out.

Back to the tech-world, Toshiba has announced a new Portégé Z30-E laptop. No word on the price and availability yet, but it's coming soon in the third quarter of 2018 and features the latest 8th generation Intel Core processor, with DDR4 RAM (2400MHz), an 18-hour battery life, 13.3-inch display with Full HD screen with LED backlighting.

Furthermore, the laptop was designed to resist accidental drops, water spillage and pressure-testing. It also has a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) keeps critical data safe and sound on the local storage, as well as a Smartcard and SecurePad with a fingerprint reader. You can find out more about it right here.

To the software side, there are now new enhancements for Adobe Document Cloud with advancements to its document scanning app, Adobe Scan, and new PDF integrations across Microsoft Office 365. Adobe Scan app is one of the company's newest additions and now offers users an option to instantly save details from business cards which is much needed. Then with the Adobe Sensei, it can make the digital text on a business card extractable, reusable, and searchable in a secure, reliable PDF.

The new PDF integration with Microsoft Office 365 now has some new improvements, as it can now integrate cloud services like Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Adobe Sign, and Adobe Acrobat DC. To read the full details, you can open the news over here.

(From left) Oleg Abdurashitov, Head of Public Affairs, Kaspersky Lab APAC, Stephan Neumeier, Managing Director, Kaspersky Lab, APAC and Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager, Kaspersky Lab, Southeast Asia at Kaspersky Lab's Global Transparency Initiative in Malaysia

Meanwhile, Kaspersky Labs just did its first Global Transparency Initiative, the company is adapting infrastructure to move a number of core processes from Russia to Switzerland. This includes customer data storage and processing for most regions, as well as software assembly, including threat detection updates.

First announced in October last year, this shows Kaspersky Labs commitment to show the public that they can be trusted with a black and white movement. That's a lot of work but respectable for their actions. To read more about it, here's the full story of the whole initiative.

How about going cashless? Well, KK Super Mart is finally going into that direction with e-wallet mobile app, Boost. In a transition to a cashless and cardless society, Boost users can now pay for KK Super Mart items and get instant cash back when transacting at any KK Super Mart.

To celebrate this occasion, Boost will be offering RM10 cashback to customers paying using Boost at any KK Super Mart Convenience Chain Stores in Malaysia, with a minimum spend of RM20. This offer will run from 26 June until 25 August 2018. Sweet.

Marcus Yong, Head of Marketing, Klook Southeast Asia at the Klook launch event

What is Klook? Well, it's a travelling app for travellers and knowing Malaysians, Klook has the potential to be one of the most favourite apps, as it offers Malaysian travellers an easy-to-use platform catering to all their travel needs. From attractions and shows, activities and experiences, tours and sightseeing, food and dining, even local transfers and wi-fi connectivity. Klook provides a one-stop platform for travellers to book and discover things-to-do.

By the way, if you start using Klook now until 15 July 2018 - you will get an extra 7% off all theme parks, travel activities and essentials such as airport transfers, transport tickets, pocket wifi and more with promo code <KLOOKAWAY>. Visit www.klook.com for more information!

Finally, the last news piece is about Xiaomi Corporation announcing its global offering and its proposed listing on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. There are a couple of highlights during the event, such as a total of 2,179,585,000 shares (subject to the Over-allotment Option) (the “Offer Shares”) are being offered under the Global Offering, comprising an international offering of 2,070,605,000 Offer Shares (subject to reallocation and the Over-allotment Option) (the “International Offering”) and a Hong Kong Public Offering of 108,980,000 Offer Shares (subject to reallocation) (the “Hong Kong Public Offering”), representing approximately 95% and 5% of the total number of the Offer Shares, respectively.

So yeah...trading stocks business stuff. Anyway, Xiaomi’s stock code on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited is 1810 and Trading is expected to commence on 9 July 2018. You can read more about it here at their blog page.

That's all TechNavers, stay tuned for more NewsBytes at TechNave.com.


NewsBytes #19 - Lenovo workstations, GrabPlatform + GrabFresh, SOCAR YOLO Pass, Samsung AI wins, Celcom charity and more

Starting this week's NewsBytes with Lenovo, the company has launched three new entry-level workstations - the ThinkStation P330 Tower, Small Form Factor (SFF) and Tiny. From the name, these devices are compact and designed to fit into small spaces easily. The ThinkStation P330 Tower and SFF’s new mechanical design include a decrease in the size of up to 30%, while the ThinkStation P330 Tiny has the world’s smallest chassis at only 1L.

All three have the latest 8th Generation Intel Xeon E and Core processors, comparing with the predecessors that a 44% increase in performance and are powered by up to six cores per CPU clocking in at 4.7GHz. Not to mention, they also have Intel Optane Memory, up to 64GB DDR4 memory and multiple storage bays of up to 2TB of M.2 NVMe SSD storage and the NVIDIA Quadro P620 GPU

(L-R) ThinkStation P330 SFF, Thinkstation P330 Tiny and ThinkStation P330 Tower

The availability and pricing of ThinkStation P330 Tower, SFF and Tiny in Malaysia will be announced at a later date. To learn more about this family of solutions, click here.

As Grab continues to expand their business, GrabPlatform is the latest feature by the company but what does it do exactly? According to the company, GrabPlatform is "a suite of APIs for partners to integrate their services with Grab", this will allow partners to expand more efficiently across SEA by utilizing Grab's user base and technology like logistics and payments.

Official launch of GrabPlatform and GrabFresh

To add on to that, there's also GrabFresh as the company's latest delivery service and it's integrated with HappyFresh, Southeast Asia’s #1 grocery delivery provider. Sounds pretty convenient, huh? To find out more, check out the full story on their blog page here.

Not that SOCAR is asking you to drive recklessly with the term YOLO (You Only Live Once), but this is a new feature by the company that offers members a once in a blue moon wanderlust adventure randomly. How does this work? Well, it's a lucky draw for every SOCAR member, also they need to adhere their availability to take up the YOLO Pass within one week’s notice.

As long as they have one reservation completed with the car sharing platform, random winners will receive the ultimate YOLO Pass via a text message, phone call or email on the first Friday of the month. The cut-off date and time to join the YOLO Pass will be the last day of every month before 11:59 PM.

In addition, SOCAR members who are travelling to the airport can select a SOCAR to complete their journey with the convenience of dropping off the car at any valid parking zone at the airport (both KLIA and KLIA 2), without the hassle of returning it back from where they first picked the car. Cool.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics' Research and Development team has just won two of the world’s top global AI machine reading comprehension competitions, MAchine Reading COmprehension (MS MARCO by MS Microsoft) and TriviaQA (hosted by the University of Washington). Samsung Research was able to excel in these competitions which required particularly high levels of technical expertise, thanks to its ConZNet algorithm.

“Artificial Intelligence is the way forward and the future of how we experience the world. Our R&D team has done truly outstanding work in the development of its AI technologies, as proven when Samsung Research was ranked first in the MS MARCO competition and won ‘Best Performance’ in TriviaQA. Although there is still much to be researched and developed, this is the right step forward toward creating an efficient world assisted by smart AI,” said Yoonsoo Kim, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

With this, there's a good chance of introducing Samsung Research’s AI algorithm to other departments such as home appliances and smartphones which we can't wait to see. For more information, kindly visit the Samsung Malaysia Newsroom here.

In another collaboration episode, this time it will be between Hotlink and Astro bringing MeleTOP and Hlive episodes on the newly launched Instagram TV (IGTV) and Facebook Live. It will start on 17 July onward where fans can watch three extended episodes on Astro Gempak and Hotlink's Facebook or IGTV (@Astrogempak or @Hotlink) page, then on the show's regular TV broadcast on Astro RIA.

“With the growth of video consumption on mobile, it’s clear that customers are enjoying exciting content on popular platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Through our partnership with Astro, we are bringing new and innovative ways to watch video content, especially on the new IGTV. And with the No. 1 4G network in Malaysia, viewers can look forward to the best viewing experience with Hotlink,” said Navin Manian, Maxis’ Head of Prepaid.

Celcom staff and the children of Rumah Titian Kaseh

Also on 10 July 2018, Celcom Axiata Berhad just donated RM10,000 to Rumah Titian Kaseh in Kuala Lumpur, a home to 90 orphans and 10 senior citizens. The contribution was handed over by Zuraida Jamaluddin, Chief Corporate Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad, to Sharifah binti Adlan, Chairman of Rumah Titian Kaseh, in a Hari Raya themed celebration.

All this was made possible due to the success of their short film "Kasih 5 Sekawan" on YouTube with a pledge to contribute RM140,000 to selected charity homes after hitting 2 million views. With the support of Malaysians, and in the spirit of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Celcom’s pledge was achieved with over 2 million YouTube views within the first week. Celcom will soon be reaching out to 13 more homes nationwide.

If you would like to contribute for the campaign, visit www.celcom.com.my/kasih_5sekawan or watch the ‘5 Sekawan’ short film series via Celcom’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/CelcomChannel.

Left to right - Alston Foo, Head of Consumer Channel for Signify, Singapore & Malaysia; Alok Ghose, CEO for Signify in ASEAN

Never heard of Signify? Neither did we, but that's because it was formerly known as Philips Lighting due to the amendment of the company’s articles of association changing its name from Philips Lighting N.V. to Signify N.V. They will still continue to sell their products with the Philips brand under the existing licensing agreement with Royal Philips. That being said, the company expects the name change to be implemented in all the countries where it is active by the beginning of 2019.

“The choice of our new company name originates from the way light becomes an intelligent language, which connects and conveys meaning. It is a clear expression of our strategic vision and purpose to unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world.” said Eric Rondolat, CEO of Signify.

Their website name has also changed as well, you can check out their newsroom over here.

OpenSignal is no stranger to Internet consumers and recently, they just released a new report on the 4G download and upload speeds (from March until May 2018) of 12 cities that represent the big economic centers in the region, including Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh to see how they compare.

According to the report, KL has an average of over 14.1Mbps 4G download speed and 6.3Mbps 4G upload speed. Yup, we are only at the 8th position out of 12 major cities of the East Asia region. Who got the top spot then? Well, that'd be Seoul from South Korea with 48.3Mbps and 14.8Mbps respectively, Singapore isn't doing so bad either at second place with 47.6Mbps and 15.4Mbps speed.

If you're interested in reading more, here’s the link to view the complete findings.

Meanwhile, in the South of KL, the Cyberview Living Lab Accelerator (CLLA) Programme has hand-picked five startups to participate in the company's latest instalment of the Cyberview Living Lab Accelerator (CLLA) Programme. The five startups participating in the latest instalment of the CLLA Programme are Fintech players EPC Blockchain, MEDKAD, and CheQQme; IoT solutions provider Touchless; and Ideasparq Robotics, an automation company which provides robotics solutions.

“The latest installment of our accelerator programme is testament to the success of the past installments. For example, the Demo Day which was held in October of last year saw satisfactory response from ecosystem partners, venture capitalists, and corporate partners towards the last cohort of the programme. In fact, the amount of funds raised by the previous cohort comes up to RM12.28 million,” said the Managing Director, Mohd Najib Ibrahim.

Best of luck to the five teams and if you want to know more about this programme, you can check it out over here.

Stay tuned for more NewsBytes at TechNave.com.