Microsoft advances cybersecurity investments in Asia-Pacific with Transparency Center and Cybersecurity Center Launch

(L-R) Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive Officer, Government Technology Agency(GovTech); Toni Townes-Whitley, Corporate Vice-President, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft; Minister K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister forLaw; and Jessica Tan, Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore jointly launching the Microsoft Transparency Center andCybersecurity Centerin Singapore

Yesterday in Singapore, Microsoft launched its first combined Transparency Center and Cybersecurity Center (Asia-Pacific region). The purpose of the joint facility is to bring together Microsoft capabilities in a single location in Asia-Pacific to deliver a holistic approach to serving the security needs of both the public and private sector and building a trusted and secure computing environment, a critical enabler for digital transformation.

The building serves as a cornerstone of Microsoft’s long-standing Government Security Program (GSP), which offers participating government agencies the opportunity to review the source code of Microsoft products, access information on cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, and benefit from the expertise and insight of Microsoft security professionals. Currently, nearly 40 countries and international organizations participate in the Microsoft GSP program with 10 participants from Asia.

Furthermore, it will be part of a global network that covers four regions, joining existing facilities in Redmond, Washington, for North America, and Brussels, Belgium, for Europe. A Transparency Center in Beijing, China was also recently announced.

Toni Townes-Whitley, corporate vice-president, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft Corporation, said, “Public-private partnerships are key to strengthening national cybersecurity. The opening of the Microsoft regional Transparency Center in Singapore to serve the wider Asia-Pacific region, advances our worldwide commitment to drive transparency, security and trust in digital technologies in the mobile-first and cloud-first world. It is part of the Microsoft Government Security Program, where we support, collaborate and enable governments to protect citizens, public services and national infrastructure from cybercrime threats and to meet their rigorous cybersecurity requirements by building strong capabilities to protect, detect and respond.”

With the rise in cybercriminal activities and the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape, the Cybersecurity Center will bring forth innovations and advancements by way of security platform, threat intelligence analytics, advanced threat protection, machine learning capabilities, security services and cloud security in a comprehensive way.

Keshav Dhakad, regional director and assistant general counsel, Digital Crimes Unit (DCU), Microsoft Asia, said, “In the face of rising cyberattack sophistication, cybersecurity is mission-critical among C-suites and boardrooms. As governments and enterprises embrace digital transformation and strive for resilience, a holistic and agile security platform is ever more critical. This is where Microsoft’s unique threat intelligence innovations and trusted cloud ecosystem offer them powerful protection against security threats. Through strong public-private partnerships, we also empower them to investigate, disrupt and prosecute global cybercriminal networks.”

As the Transparency Center and Cybersecurity Center continues to expand Microsoft’s public-private- partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, this also strengthen strategic collaboration with Interpol in global malware botnet disruption operations and a PhotoDNA licensing collaboration to support Interpol’s efforts in preventing child sexual exploitation online, as well as cyber threat intelligence sharing partnerships with several Internet Service Providers in the region and government Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

Microsoft has been investing more than a billion dollars a year in security research, innovation and development. This includes a recently announced global Cyber Defense Operations Center (C-DOC), a state-of-the-art 24/7 facility that brings together security response experts from across the company to help protect, detect and respond to threats in real-time, securing Microsoft’s internal resources, cloud infrastructure, customer online services, devices and products.


Microsoft and AMD reportedly working on joint chipset for Surface devices

On 19 October, Google will launch its highly-anticipated Pixel 6 series along with the in-house chipset Tensor. Besides Google, someone might also be interested in making a new in-house chipset that fits better with its own devices. According to the latest information, Microsoft could be planning to develop its own for the Surface devices.

Thanks to LinkedIn, we know that Microsoft is looking to hire a Director of SoC Architecture and will be responsible for working on an exclusive chip for Surface devices. Recently, reports also suggested that the company is working with AMD to develop a laptop processor. The joint chipset of Microsoft and AMD will likely feature the Cortex-X1 core and familiar mRDNA 2 GPU. It's also rumoured to be based on a 5nm process.

If Microsoft did really plan all this, it wouldn't be its first time. The brand had previously worked with Qualcomm to develop the Microsoft SQ1 chip for Surface Pro X in 2019. Making own chips is a popular trend in the industry nowadays. Not only the SoCs can work better with the devices, but the companies can also have more control over the building costs.

What do you think about this news? Leave a comment to let us know your opinion and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more exciting tech reports.


Microsoft and Nokia giving away apps and Lumia 530 smartphones for Malaysia Day

Microsoft and Nokia Malaysia recently announced Malaysia Day apps along with a Nokia Lumia 530 smartphone giveaway. Just tell Nokia Malaysia on LINE Messenger how you're going to use the Windows Phone apps in their Malaysia Day Collection for the Malaysia Day Celebrations for a chance to win 1 of 2 Nokia Lumia 530 smartphones. Send your entries from 11 September 2014 to 16 September 2014. Check out the Windows Phone Malaysia Day Collection in the table below:


Microsoft announced Windows 10 will continue to get major updates once a year

If you think Microsoft would neglect Windows 10 after rolling out Windows 11, the company is here to prove you wrong. Besides starting to distribute the Windows 10 November 2021 Update (21H2), Microsoft also announced that it will continue to provide Windows 10 major updates once a year.

The company stated that it is "moving to a new Windows 10 update schedule to keep up with the pace of Windows 11; which is focused on getting functional updates every year. The next Windows 10 feature update is slated for the second half of 2022. It will continue to support at least one version of Windows 10 until October 14, 2025."

Therefore, it seems like there is still a long time to go before Microsoft cut off its resources for Windows 10. Not only customers can stay on Windows 10 until the company fix the bugs of the newly launched OS update, but enterprises can also test Microsoft's released packages for compatibility with their hardware before installing them on user devices.

Despite Microsoft will provide updates for Windows 10 for some time, do you still want to get your hands on the latest Windows 11? Let us know by dropping a comment and stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Microsoft announces 10-year commitment to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo

Nintendo Switch could get new Call of Duty titles or remake versions following the merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced on Twitter that the company had entered a 10-year commitment to bring the video game franchise to Nintendo.

In the tweet, Spencer mentioned that "Microsoft is committed to helping bring more games to more people – however they choose to play." He also confirmed that Microsoft would continue to offer Call of Duty on Valve's Steam service after it closed the merger with Activision Blizzard King.

Microsoft has entered into a 10-year commitment to bring Call of Duty to @Nintendo following the merger of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King.  Microsoft is committed to helping bring more games to more people – however they choose to play. @ATVI_AB

It didn't stop there. Microsoft also hopes Sony will accept its 10-year deal for Call of Duty to be on PlayStation with another tweet. It's worth mentioning that Sony is against the merger as it believes it would "harm competition, industry players, and users." However, it looks like Sony might have to compromise to continue having Call of Duty on its consoles if the merger completes.

What do you think about Call of Duty being on Switch? Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more gaming news.


Microsoft announces Augmented Reality HoloLens

We've seen quite a few smart glasses, but Microsoft has gone the Augmented Reality way with the announcement of their new HoloLens headset. While no actual tech specs were revealed, the headset allows a 3D augmented reality sort of view of the real world. This includes watching news on a wall with no actual display or playing Minecraft (Holobuilder according to Microsoft) on your coffee table with no actual pieces. We've seen this with the Meta Pro smart glasses before. However, there are still no details as to Malaysia pricing or exact release dates just yet. Microsoft say that we could see it within the year though, but it remains unclear as to when exactly that might be. In addition, Microsoft are also working on the Holo Studio, which looks to be like a 3D design studio connected to a 3D printer, so you can design stuff in the HoloLens and then get it in the real world. Check out the videos below for a closer look:


Microsoft announces Azure OpenAI service is now available, ChatGPT access coming soon

While Microsoft recently announced that it would integrate OpenAI into all of its Office and Windows products, the first to get it looks to be its Azure OpenAI Service. Available starting this week, it will allow businesses to integrate OpenAI tools like DALL-E and soon ChatGPT for their cloud apps.

Azure OpenAI services will feature AI models by OpenAI which include GPT-3.5, Codex and DALL-E. Microsoft sees OpenAI as something that could help improve content matching for search results (our Malaysian online marketplaces would definitely benefit) and more.

It could likely also help as a research or development assistant for app developers, helping to suggest more effective code, formulas and so forth. No news yet on how OpenAI may be integrated into Microsoft Office applications like Outlook, PowerPoint and Word but at this point, it’s just a matter of time.

How would you want to use OpenAI for Microsoft Office? We think asking it to improve your email, presentation or article doesn’t sound too far fetched, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Microsoft announces Nokia 216 Dual SIM feature phone for RM169, available tomorrow with front and back LED flash

Looking to offer something for everyone, Microsoft have announced that the Nokia 216 Dual SIM feature phone will be available here in Malaysia starting from tomorrow for just RM169. Featuring a VGA camera with LED flash on both the front and back, it should appeal to the basic user yet still satisfy those who like to take selfies. Other tech specs are decidedly entry level though, as it has a 2.4-inch display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution but you can see the full list below:


2nd-Gen Google Pixel Buds now have Adaptive Sound, Real-Time Translation & more for ~RM747

In this season of new TWS earbuds releases, the Google Pixel Buds are the latest audio product by Google and yes, this is how the earbuds look like but with some upgrades. So in other words, these pair are a second-generation and here's what Google is bringing to the table.

From the company's announcement, the second-gen Pixel Buds feature Adaptive Sound that adjusts the volume automatically depending on your surroundings. They also have better built-in sensors and mics now so you can make your calls even in public places, and it can last up to 5 hours of music playback on a single charge. With all that said, the one that we are more impressed is that you can get real-time translations with the earbuds on-the-spot.

Moreover, there are new colour schemes for the Pixel Buds as well. You have Clearly White, Oh So Orange, Quite Mint, and Almost Black. In terms of price, each pair cost $179 which is ~RM747 from direct currency conversion and we have no idea if Google Malaysia actually plans to import them or not. We actually saw some online retailers from Shopee and Lazada selling it up to RM1K+ but do be cautious about it.

Otherwise, you can just directly order from Google's main page in the US here. What do you think of the second-gen Pixel Buds? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending gadget news at TechNave.com.


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 price leak online, could start from ~RM1318

So yesterday, we managed to get our hands on the upcoming ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2. While we are restricted from showing you any official hands-on photos of the smartphone, we can tell you that most of the rumoured tech specs online are true, and some juicy news on the speculated price tag.

To recap the tech specs from popular leakster Roland Quandt from Twitter, the ZenFone Max Pro M2 will sport a slightly bigger LCD display than its predecessor at 6.3-inch with a notch on top with 1080p. The processor also got an upgrade, going for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 and it could go up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB memory storage, with the latest Android Oreo out of the box. For the dual camera setup behind, it features a 13MP + 5MP while the front camera gets 8MP.

Perhaps the best highlight of the tech spec is the fact that there is a 5000mAh battery pack inside the phone. That's a big bonus for budget gamers who would like to go on a gaming marathon and it's also worth mentioning that from the concept render, that's probably how the final look will be.

According to sources, the ZenFone Max Pro M2 variants could start from 280 euros (~RM1318, 4GB + 64GB) and 300 euros (~RM1413). Knowing European prices is usually higher than Malaysia's, there's a good chance that it will just cost around RM1K more or less. Until then, stay tuned for more ASUS news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft announces event for 24 June 2021, could launch Windows 11

Did you know that Windows 10 is almost 6 years old? Back in the day, each Microsoft operating system was replaced after every 3-4 years. As for Windows 10, most people expected it to be the last desktop OS and Microsoft would just keep updating it. However, there might be a new Windows OS on the way.

According to an official announcement, Microsoft will be hosting an event on 24 June 2021 at 11 AM Eastern Time (11 PM MYT). While the company doesn't reveal anything else important, the post included a GIF of the Windows logo with light shining through it. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to realise that this is clearly something related to the operating system.

I haven’t been this excited for a new version of @Windows since Windows 95! Although I don’t remember the box being that big. Make sure you save the date for June 24! #MicrosoftEvent https://t.co/j80Sh9rwos pic.twitter.com/XgfEI2qxqG

What's interesting is a follow-up tweet by Yusuf Mehdi, who is the Corporate Vice President for Modern Life Search & Devices Group at Microsoft. He claims that this will be a new version of Windows, which many speculate is Windows 11. In fact, this isn't the first time we've seen hints of a new Windows OS. In fact, there's a rumour about it that first popped up in February.

Of course, that's still speculation for now. For all we know, Microsoft could be working on a new variant of Windows for mobile devices (like its Surface tablets). But if it's a new Windows OS, what would you like to see changed, added, or improved? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates on this.


Microsoft announces free Windows 10 Anniversary Update on 2 August 2016

As you may be already aware, a free Windows 10 upgrade will be ending on 29 July this month. If you haven't upgraded it, here's one good reason to do so, because since Microsoft Corp. decided that the free upgrade isn't enough, they have announced that on 2 August, a Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be coming to all Windows 10 devices for free. So what can the free upgrade offer?

To sum it up, the free upgrade will feature Windows Ink, an improved Cortana, a more accessible and power-efficient Microsoft Edge browser, advanced security features for both consumers and enterprises (Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection and Windows Information Protection), and new gaming experiences. Again, all of these features are for free.

“When we introduced Windows 10, our vision was not only to deliver the best and most secure version of the OS ever, it was also to create an experience that would keep getting better, said Terry Myerson, executive vice president, Windows and Devices Group. “The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is a great example of this – and we look forward to building on it even further in the future.”

Below is a list of details from the free Windows 10 Anniversary update:

To celebrate the availability of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft is also making it easy for everyone to enjoy the great new features with special offers. Students can save $300 (around RM1195) when they purchase an Xbox One and Surface or get a free TV when they purchase a Dell PC over $699 (around RM2785). Plus, consumers can get $150 (around RM597) off select HP devices or $100 (around RM398) off select ASUS and Samsung devices.

To know more about the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, visit their official news site to check it out.


Microsoft announces global expansion for HoloLens

Today, Microsoft Corp. has announced that the Microsoft HoloLens, the world’s first self-contained holographic computer, is now available for pre-order in Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with devices starting to ship in late November.

First announced in January 2015, then shipped to developers and commercial partners in Canada and the United States on 13 March 2016. The HoloLens has gotten much excitement over the past few months and interest from several developers and commercial customers and partners around the globe. However, there's no news for the Malaysia market yet, though.

“Since the launch of Microsoft HoloLens, we have seen really passionate developers and world-class companies develop groundbreaking computing experiences — experiences only possible on HoloLens” said Alex Kipman, technical fellow, Microsoft Windows and Devices Group.

“When we set out to pioneer the mixed-reality category, we knew that many of the best innovations would be discovered when others got their hands on the technology. It has been quite inspiring to see what our partners have built and what individual developers have created. Together, we have only scratched the surface for what mixed reality can do. I can’t wait to see what happens next as we welcome these new countries to our holographic landscape.”

Innovations are starting to pop up since the launch of HoloLens, breaking new ground within its industries using HoloLens as a means to transform their business and a step forward to new possibilities. Below are a few comments by various companies about their HoloLens experience:

Case Western Reserve University: “This device allows us to engage students in unprecedented ways,” said Mark Griswold, faculty director for Case Western Reserve’s Interactive Commons and leader of the university’s work with Microsoft HoloLens.

“The HoloLens allows students to explore the world in completely new ways. The mixed-reality view means students and faculty can interact with one another and the holographic information the entire time, preserving the critical human connection that is such an essential part of learning. We have just begun to explore the potential of HoloLens, and I am already confident that in time the device will be as common in student backpacks as laptops and smartphones.”

Lowe’s Home Improvement: “At Lowe’s we’ve endeavored to build a mixed-reality solution to help change the future of our retail experience. When we saw HoloLens, we knew we had found a solution that would allow us to create a collaborative process, enabling customers to make decisions about their home improvement projects quickly and confidently,” said Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe’s Innovation Labs.

“We’re investing the most valuable thing we have: our time and our focus. Microsoft’s deep history of delivering meaningful solutions with other companies assures us that our partnership will help provide a differentiating customer experience.”

thyssenkrupp: “With elevators transporting over 1 billion people each day, we have a critical role to play in keeping cities moving. At thyssenkrupp, we are focused on leading the much-needed transformation of the global elevator industry to dramatically increase the efficiency and availability of elevators, and HoloLens is a key element in helping us achieve these goals,” said Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of thyssenkrupp Elevator.

“The application of HoloLens in our operations can reduce service intervention times by up to four times, and such a feat was only made possible through our strong collaboration with Microsoft.”

NASA: Our partnership with NASA brings mixed reality to space exploration and discovery, creating new experiences and educational opportunities for scientists and consumers alike. Together with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, we have created four groundbreaking mixed-reality applications. The OnSight project enables scientists to use HoloLens to “work on Mars” together, directly from their offices, allowing them a means to plan and, along with the Curiosity Mars Rover, conduct science operations on the Red Planet. By extending the OnSight project, in September we opened “Destination: Mars” at the Kennedy Space Center to the public, which allows visitors the only opportunity possible today to walk around the Red Planet, just as NASA scientists do today.

The Sidekick project brought HoloLens to the International Space Station to enable station crews to get remote expert assistance when and where they need it, reducing crew training requirements and increasing the efficiency at which astronauts can work in space. The NASA team created the ProtoSpace HoloLens application to build the next generation of spacecraft and space rovers; the application brings 3-D spacecraft designs into the world to help improve the design process. With today’s global expansion of HoloLens, more commercial partners are set to deliver new experiences that will allow their employees and customers to discover new ways to work.

Airbus: “Airbus believes in mixed-reality technologies, which are already deployed within our products and processes. Microsoft HoloLens is a promising platform, bringing mobility and new ways to consume and link users with digital information. Following our co-development with Microsoft teams, the device is concretely being tested and challenged in various environments across the company to understand if the technology will meet our business expectations. It is a very exciting phase, and we are looking forward to sharing concrete results based on our investigation.”

Audi: “Audi is invested in leading the future of automotive design through the use of cutting edge technologies. A technology like Microsoft HoloLens could open up new opportunities for our services in many ways-from engineering reviews and collaboration to after sales scenarios and new ways of customer experiences - there are many use cases to be realized," said Jan Pflüger, Coordination Augmented- & Virtual Reality at Audi IT.

“A mixed-reality solution like HoloLens seems very promising in helping us improve service quality, innovate on our customer communication, and cut time and costs required for maintenance. We see an exciting future in this technology and look forward to expanding its use at Audi.”

Saab: “Microsoft HoloLens is the perfect platform for learning, collaborating or visualizing complex information,” said Inger Lawes, Saab Australia’s Mixed Reality Applications Program Head.

“For example, in the training environment, it allows both trainers and trainees to share a visually rich interactive experience where the real world can be overlaid with fully interactive holograms. This technology is transformational, and we have had significant interest from a diverse range of industries such as healthcare and mining, keen to understand how Microsoft HoloLens and tailored mixed-reality applications can add new value to their businesses.”

According to IDC, “worldwide revenues for the augmented reality and virtual reality market will grow from $5.2 billion in 2016 to more than $162 billion in 2020.1”. Next year, Windows 10 will be updated to include Windows Holographic, a platform that empowers the mixed-reality experiences enabling people to perceive the world differently, break down barriers, and bring the virtual and the physical worlds together.

To learn more about the Microsoft HoloLens, visit any of the links below to check it out:


Microsoft announces the Surface Studio, Surface Dial and a new Surface Book

A company that is usually associated with hardcore IT, Microsoft has revealed three new products that is designed to be used by the creative industry, and everybody else. The new Microsoft Surface Studio, Surface Dial and an updated Surface Book joins the Surface family lineup.

Heading the new product range is the Surface Studio. It is an all-in-one device that brings a familiar environment to a new form factor. It features a 28-inch LCD PixelSense display with 3:2 aspect ratio and “over a billion possible colors.” It also features 32GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 980M and a large 2TB internal storage. What makes the Studio special is the ability to lie almost flat on the table – and when used with the Surface Pen and Surface Dial, it becomes a bestfriend to any and all creative professional.

To complement the Surface Studio is the Surface Dial. It is an accessory that can adapt to any program that is currently running, as different apps will invoke different functions when used with the Dial. Powered by two AAA batteries, it can last for a year with a 4-hour use every day.

Lastly, Microsoft also updated their Surface Book line with a new model. The Surface Book with Performance Base comes with the Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M 2GB GPU for better performance and graphics capabilities. It can now also last up to 16 hours per battery charge, so you can use it through the day with no problem at all.

The Surface Studio will be priced at USD 2999(~RM 12489), the Surface Dial is retailing at USD 99.99 (~RM 416) and the new Surface Book will be retailing for USD 2399 (~RM 9990). Stay tuned to TechNave for more news on the new Surface products in Malaysia soon.


Microsoft announces their next gen console, Project Scarlett, console streaming and more

After a small mention of their upcoming cloud streaming and next gen console last year, Microsoft finally announced the big guns. Dubbed Project Scarlett, Xbox fans will can expect this powerful new console out in the holidays of 2020. For those who don’t want to or can’t upgrade to the next gen console, Microsoft plans on bringing the Xbox to the cloud via Project xCloud.

The next gen console, currently named Project Scarlett, emphasizes its use for gaming. It has tech specs that include the Zen 2 and Navi processor from AMD as well as a high bandwidth GDDR6. In addition, it is also equipped with the next generation SSD which doubles as a virtual RAM. These tech specs result in extremely reduced load times and is apparently 4x more powerful than its predecessor, the Xbox One X. It supports 120fps with 8K resolution and raytracing, which is unheard of in current consoles. Cross platform is also supported by the console which will likely be to the PC.

In order to make gaming more inclusive for gamers everywhere, Microsoft is not limiting their brand new games to the next gen console only. For gamers with existing Xbox One consoles, Microsoft will be bringing gaming to the cloud. Starting this October, gamers can either utilize their Xbox One to be their own personal xCloud server for free or utilize Microsoft’s cloud server. Gamers will be able to access their Xbox One game library anytime and anywhere on their mobile device from their console. Project xCloud was also announced, with games on the Xbox One such as Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and Halo 5: Guardians which players can stream directly onto mobile devices and tablets so that players can choose where, when and how they would like to game.

In addition, Microsoft had also announced a whopping 60 new games which include Borderlands 3, Gears 5, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring and more. In conjunction with Project Scarlett’s release next year, Halo Infinite will be released at the same time. For those who want instant access to the latest games without breaking the bank, the Xbox Game Pass was also announced for the PC with the much loved Halo: Master Chief series for USD$9.99 (~RM41) per month. The Xbox Game Pass for PC open beta begins today. For gamers who want the Game Pass on both the Xbox and PC, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is also available for USD$14.99 (~RM62) per month. This pass includes Xbox Game Pass for both PC and Xbox as well as Xbox Live Gold which is a pretty good deal if you ask me. If you subscribe today, you can get the first month of the Xbox Game Pass for only USD$1 (~RM4).

The brand new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 was also announced with impressive fixes which gamers had been asking for like adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wraparound rubberized grip, shorter hair-trigger locks, and up to 40 hours of rechargeable battery life. The device is priced at USD$179.99 (~RM747).

With the Project Scarlett flexing not only some impressive specs but also an impressive variety of exclusive games, will that finally convince us gamers in Malaysia to switch Xbox from the Playstation if support does come to our country? Keep up with the hottest E3 news on TechNave.com!


Microsoft backs Epic Games bid to stop Apple from terminating developer account

Last week, Apple announced that it will be terminating Epic Games' developer account. It was likely retaliation to the latter submitting a lawsuit after Apple had removed Fortnite from the Apple App Store. Microsoft has now decided to throw in its support for Epic Games, stating that termination of a developer account will hurt other game creators that rely on Unreal Engine.

According to MacRumors, Epic Games has claimed that multiple companies with a license to develop games in Unreal Engine have voiced concerns over Apple's decision. The company claimed that Apple could impact these licensees ability to develop games for iOS and macOS. For example, Kevin Gammill (Microsoft GM of Gaming Developer Experiences) said that it could cause Unreal Engine and games to rely on it to be "at a substantial disadvantage".

Fortnite is not the only game that uses the Unreal Engine. A few well-known games like Forza Street and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds are also developed on Unreal Engine. If Epic Games' developer account is terminated, it could affect the company's ability to improve the game engine's compatibility with iOS and macOS.

Now that other companies are looking to support Epic Games in its lawsuit against Apple, the pressure is on Apple to respond. But should the biggest company in the US back down or should Epic Games comply and remove its direct payment option? Share your thoughts with us in the comments on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Microsoft brings mixed reality to meetings through Mesh for Teams

After Facebook changed its name to Meta to tell us how much the company cares about Metaverse, Microsoft soon jumped on the bandwagon by announcing Mesh as its own take on the technology concept. For the latter, it focuses on building an interactive platform for virtual experiences inside Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft Mesh will allow users to create 3D avatars to facilitate a metaverse environment and better engagement during meetings. The idea was said to be inspired by users who experience fatigue due to excess screen time while working at home during the pandemic. With Mesh, they won't have to sit in front of the camera all the time but let the avatar they created do the "job".

Besides that, extra features such as real-time translation support will be available for the companies that hire remote employees across the globe. Mesh for Teams will also include pre-built immersive spaces for the avatars to hang out virtually by letting the users feel like they're at the actual workplace. The feature is reported to be ready soon in early 2022, and we'll see how the Metaverse will do good to Teams by that time.

Share your thoughts on this article with us by leaving a comment. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more interesting tech reports.


Microsoft built an app called PC Manager, which works like CCleaner

Microsoft is building its version of CCleaner for the Windows operating system (OS). According to the source, an app called PC Manager is in the works, and it'll be compatible with Windows 10 and above computers. It'll bring features such as storage management and the ability to end tasks quickly, plus controlling which apps get started up with Windows.

Although most of these features are already available on the OS, it's still good to see them all in one place. Not only that, but the app also includes a setting to change the default browser. It's a bonus for Windows 11 users, considering how difficult it is to change it now.

Meanwhile, the storage management feature allows users to manage apps or remove those that are rarely used. There's also a full cleanup scan available or a scan to find large files on the drives. The process management feature in the app is a simplified version of the Task Manager, so users can quickly kill processes that might be eating up RAM. Furthermore, it comes with a "boost" button as well. Clicking on it will clear temporary files and free up memory.

The public beta of PC Manager has appeared on an official Microsoft website, though it's in Chinese. The source has contacted Microsoft to find out more regarding the future plan. Stay tuned to TechNave.com, and we'll update you about it too.


Microsoft buys Nokia, gets everything including Asha, Lumia and patents

We said it would happen and it has as Microsoft recently acquired Nokia for $7.17 billion (RM23.6 billion). The deal covers Nokia's Devices and Services along with the right to license Nokia's various phone patents. According to Microsoft, they will get the cash from overseas resources and close the deal by Q1 of 2014. Nokia are getting something out of it as well as Stephan Elop, Nokia CEO will get to lead the Microsoft Devices team where the rest of Nokia's employees will join him. The current head, Julie Larson-Green will focus instead on the Xbox and Surface devices. While this could result in a Microsoft Nokia Lumia Windows Phone, Microsoft have said that they will be keeping things short, so you can probably expect Microsoft Lumias and Ashas to hit the shelves soon. With Steve Balmer's impending retirement on the horizon, Stephan Elop looks like the most promising candidate for next head of Microsoft but it also means that he needs to step up Microsoft's new phone business, which looks more and more difficult with Nokia's resulting drop in share price. So far no news on when we'll all be using Microsoft Asha or Lumia phones but expect things to start shaking up here in Malaysia as these two gigantic companies shift gears. Microsoft will still support other Windows Phone partners like HTC and Samsung.[Source]


Microsoft clarifies naming scheme of Xbox Series X, says it's only first of many

Some of us get excited when seeing new gaming consoles, regardless if it comes to our shores. But admittedly, the name of Microsoft's next-gen console got more than a few people scratching their head. However, Microsoft has explained its logic in the naming and stated that the Xbox Series X is but the first in a new family of consoles.

According to BusinessInsider, Microsoft has confirmed that the 'Series X' is just one of the members in the new Xbox family. If we go by previous naming convention, this would make the former its model name. This contrasts the previous generation, where the 'One' here is not exactly its model name. Does this mean that the new console will actually be called something like Xbox X1? Honestly, we feel that Microsoft wouldn't have had any issues if they just called the new console the Xbox Two.

Microsoft also states that this naming convention "allows room for additional consoles in the future". Speculation is rife that a model, without the disc tray and with lower specs, is in the works. This should help reduce cost and allow Microsoft to offer a cheaper option.

However, the million RM question that remains is: Will Microsoft bring the Xbox Series X to Malaysia? Let us know what you think on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for further updates.


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 revealed with Snapdragon 660, 5000mAh battery & more starting from RM859

Today, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 has finally been revealed in Jakarta, Indonesia after weeks of teases here and there. It's a rather quick release after its predecessor back in July 2018 and for our local set, it seems that Malaysia will be getting two models which are the 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 64GB model for the official price of RM859 and RM999 respectively. Is there any difference from the ZenFone Max Pro M1? Well, allow us to give you the breakdown.

For starters, the new ZenFone Max Pro M2 is using a better Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset over the Snapdragon 636 which is in the ZenFone Max Pro M1. It also has a slightly larger display (Corning Gorilla Glass 6) of 6.3-inches in FHD+ resolution, as well as having AI scene detection for its 12MP + 5MP dual rear camera setup. The audio has also been improved with an NXP smart amplifier and that's about it.

The whole phone is sandwiched by a Corning Gorilla Glass 6, an uncommon feature for budget phones (and yes, there's a notch too on the display)

According to ASUS, the primary camera is using a Sony IMX486 sensor with F/1.8 and has a 0.03 seconds PDAFIt's able to record a 4K video footage at 30fps too but isn't compatible with EIS

Nothing out of the ordinary, the triple SIM card tray is on the other side

The speaker grill, microUSB 2.0 and 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottomThe curves are all four corners are well crafted

So, not much changes there. But obviously, the biggest highlight is the 5000mAh battery which according to ASUS, the ZenFone Max Pro M2 is able to go on a long marathon of video playback up to 16.3 hours on Netflix and 8.9 hours on Asphalt 9. Also for having such a big ass battery, the phone is incredibly lightweight. The company also made sure that its battery is safe with 12 "leading battery safety technologies" that are shown in the image below.

The 12 battery safety technologies to ensure the battery doesn't explode

The OS will be upgraded to Pie in January 2019!

The ZenFone Max Pro M2 exclusive pre-order starts today (11 December) and will end on 17 December 2018. If you want the 6GB + 64GB model, it's on sale at ASUS Malaysia's page in Shopee here (starting at 23.59PM), while the 4GB + 64GB model is sold separatedly on Lazada Malaysia (starting at 6PM). If you rather go to a retail store, it will only start selling from 18 December 2018 onward. Stay tuned for more ASUS news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft connects classrooms to change the world via Skype-a-Thon

On November 29-30, teachers around the world participated in Microsoft’s global Skype-a-Thon to celebrate learning without borders. Over the course of the two-day event, thousands of educators, guest speakers and students travelled 9,811,582 virtual miles.

In Malaysia, MRSM Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens of Sandakan logged in 174828 miles travelled. The school recorded 32 Skype sessions of 30 hours with participants across 23 countries. One of the Skype session activities had the Malaysian teachers playing traditional ethnic musical instruments such as Sompoton and Kulintang, with the other side dancing along.

Photo 1- Teachers from MRSM Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens, Sandakan, Malaysia performing a tune on traditional ethic instruments such as Sompoton and Kulintang to students from New Zealand during the Skyp-a-thon 2016 on November 29-30

Photo 2- Teachers from MRSM Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens, Sandakan performing the Sumazau traditional dance during an activity session for Skype-a-thon 2016 on November 29-30 with students from New Zealand

Photo 3- Interaction during the Skype-a-thon 2016 between participants of MRSM Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens with his students from New Zealand led by Mr.Steph Mcwen

The students also learned about programming with an introduction by doing an ‘Hour of Code’. For more information about the Skype-a-Thon, kindly visit the link here and stay tuned for more Microsoft news at Technave.com.


Microsoft could add Android app support in Windows 10 for 2021

As we close in on the last month of the year, companies are starting to talk about plans for 2021. For Microsoft, a big Windows 10 update is expected next year, along with the release of Windows 10X. But sources also claim that the company may consider adding support for Android apps for Windows 10.

According to TechRadar, Microsoft may bring Android apps to the Microsoft Store for Windows 10. If this is true, a lot of mobile-only apps will be able to reach new audiences. No details have been given, but it's said that the feature could be implemented in 2021. There would likely be major compatibility issues though, especially with apps that require Google Play Services.

Most people use Android emulators to run apps on PCs, especially for mobile games

It should be noted that this isn't the first time Microsoft has looked into add Android apps into its platform. The company announced Windows Bridge for Android back in 2015, but the project didn't pan out and was eventually scrapped. These days, the only way to run Android apps on a Windows 10 PC is to use Android emulators or Microsoft's "Your Phone" app, which only works with Samsung devices.

This is not just great for users but also developers, who would only need to develop one version of the app to target two platforms. But what do you think about this? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Microsoft could be developing a new 12.5-inch Surface clamshell laptop

Image of Surface Laptop 3 for illustration

Now that Microsoft has launched the Surface Duo tablet, its attention turns to other new products. The Xbox Series S that was announced yesterday is one of them, but it seems that the company may also be working on a new Surface laptop with a clamshell design.

According to Windows Central, the new Surface laptop will be codenamed 'Sparti' and will be a mid-range PC. It's going to be targeted at students, so the laptop will be a small and lightweight device. Specifically, it's expected to come with a 12.5-inch display, which will make it rival the rumoured 12-inch MacBook that could launch later this year.

Allegedly, Sparti will be equipped with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. Its price is expected to be between USD 500-600 (~RM 2086 to 2504). This makes it much cheaper than the Surface Laptop 3 that was launched last year. However, do note that it's going to be a Windows 10 S device, which is a cut-down version of Windows 10.

If the price range is accurate, this 12.5-inch Surface laptop would be great for those who are budget conscious. But would you be interested in an entry-level laptop like this? Let us know in the comments below and do stay tuned to TechNave for updates on this.


Microsoft could finally be working on a Surface Book 3

News from Microsoft isn't all that rare but when it comes to laptops, the company has been more focused on churning out other devices like the new Surface Pro X. We haven't seen a new Surface Book in almost two years but a new rumour hints that we're finally getting some updates on a potential new Surface Book 3.

The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is expected to arrive in two configurations, according to Twitter user _rogame. 3DMark screenshots showing the configurations of tech specs were posted, with the vendor listed as Microsoft. We can see that both are equipped with the Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU but have different graphics cards. The first one comes with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q with 6GB of VRAM, while the other one uses an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q with 4GB of VRAM instead.

Microsoft SurfaceBook 3 i7-1065G7GTX 1660 Ti Max Q pic.twitter.com/Vo0GZkxr9V

So, why do people think this is the Surface Book 3? Because Microsoft's Surface Book series is the only one that uses a mid-range discrete GPU so far. For example, the Surface Book 2 came with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050/1060 GPU. Since the vendor is Microsoft, it's entirely possible that this device could be the Surface Book 3. Of course, this is all conjecture. After all, the screenshots might not even be real.

Microsoft has yet to give an official announcement on this but there's no doubt that Microsoft fans would be interested in this news. Are you keen on getting a Surface Book 3 if it launches? Do let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news updates.


Microsoft could launch entry-level Surface Go 2 tablet in May 2020

The new dual-screen Windows 10X may not be coming this year, but a few other Surface devices should still make it. Back in January, it was rumoured that Microsoft could be working on a Surface Book 3 that could launch this year. Also, the company is likely to launch multiple Surface devices within 2020, including the Surface Go 2.

According to MSPoweruser, sources in Microsoft have revealed that a new Surface Go 2 tablet is coming soon. Microsoft did not release a successor for the Surface Go last year, so it's great to finally see one may perform well as an entry-level device. Allegedly, this Surface Go 2 device could launch as early as May 2020.

There's evidence of this device being real too, thanks to a 3DMark benchmark that was found by Windows Latest in February 2020. Through that benchmark, it was revealed that the device features an 8th Gen Intel Core m3-8100Y dual-core CPU and 8GB of RAM. It's also supposed to come in LTE and WiFi-only variants.

Microsoft will probably announce the Surface Go 2 along with the Surface Book 3 via an online stream soon. Hopefully, there will be news of whether the device will be released in Malaysia. With that said, would you buy this device if it's available in Malaysia? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for further updates.


Microsoft could launch the dual-screen Surface Duo as early as June 2020

Microsoft has been working on the dual-screen Surface Neo and Surface Duo for quite some time now. But they're not expected to launch till around the year-end holiday seasons of 2020, or at least that's what many believed. Recently, a report is claiming that we may see the Surface Duo much earlier than that.

According to Windows Central, sources have claimed that the Surface Duo could be ready for launch in summer 2020, which begins around late June 2020 and lasts up to late September 2020. Allegedly, Microsoft only has the Android 10 and various app optimisations left to work on. This is expected to be done by early April, which means that a launch could follow once Microsoft completes the first round of production.

The dual-screen Android device is expected to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, as well as a minimum of 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It won't come with 5G support, which is something that looks to be the big trend for 2020. Windows Central believes that this is why the device could launch sooner rather than later, as Microsoft would rather not have the device be too outdated by the time it launches.

Since the sources were not named, it's hard to consider the above as anything other than speculation so do take it with a grain of salt. Having said that, an earlier launch is always better than a later one, assuming that there would be any major issues. But we'll keep an eye on for any official announcements on the Microsoft Surface Duo, so you can be the first to find out if it's coming soon. Do stay tuned to TechNave.com for further updates!


Microsoft delivers enterprise-class ERP to the cloud

Today, Microsoft Corporation has announced a next-generation cloud ERP solution, the Microsoft Dynamics AX, to further enhance power, speed and intelligence of cloud computing for enterprise-class business and organization to be more efficient in their work. Built on and for Microsoft Azure, it is now available in 137 markets in 40 languages.

“Customers from around the world are using the cloud in incredible ways to accelerate and transform their business,” said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise. “Today’s release is an exciting milestone extending Microsoft’s business cloud offerings. It’s now possible for organizations to run their entire business in the cloud with Microsoft — from productivity with Office 365, to business analytics with Power BI and Cortana Analytics Suite, customer engagement with Dynamics CRM and business operations with Dynamics AX.”

With this new improvement, the programme now offers Microsoft-curated, pre-configured industry and vertical solutions help customers discover and implement the solution they need quicker than ever before. The Dynamics AX is able provide fast updates and improvements, and taking the Lifecycle Service (LCS) capabilities to another level, this means any kind of businesses are able to utilize it for their mission with flexibility and simplicity, formalizing developments and concepts, test and production, and many more.

“Lifecycle Services represents a shift in how companies manage the life cycle of an ERP system in a way that’s never really been done before,” said Josh Greenbaum, principal analyst, Enterprise Application Consulting. “The ability to test in the cloud and use the cloud’s natural elasticity and functionality to take the test, flip a switch and make it the actual production environment, that truly is magic.”

What's more, it also has enhanced security providing safety for businesses and people to work more safely anywhere, anytime while respecting the data sovereignty requirements of global customers no matter where in the globe they operate.

“We do everything through Dynamics AX now; we manage virtually all of our operations,” said Thomas Mayer, chief operating office, Renault Sport Formula One Team. “Having what I need to run my business available anywhere in the world is invaluable.”

“We are bringing massive amounts of data into our business to help control building climates and horticulture environments. That is a huge business transformation, and the cloud was the only way forward for us to make that real,” said Paul Ossewold, vice president, Digital Operations, Priva. “To manage our company with 10 offices around the world, we need systems that are fast.  That is what Dynamics AX in the cloud is giving us, and we couldn’t be more excited to be one of the first customers on board to take advantage of this new solution.”

Many self-esteem companies such as Hagler Systems, Haldex, Icon, Renault Sport Formula One Team, Priva, Smiles, Travel Alberta and Umbra Group are already using Dynamics AX to run their business in the cloud. To learn more about it, visit the Dynamics AX website to check it out.


Microsoft developing 64-bit Windows emulator for ARM-based devices

When it comes to more mobile devices, we're starting to see a lot of them with ARM-based chipsets. Some PC manufacturers may have thought about more compact Windows devices that use ARM processors but didn't go ahead with the plan due to poor support for 64-bit apps. Now, it looks like Microsoft has a plan to fix that.

According to a Microsoft blog post, the company is expanding support for x64 apps with an x64 emulator. The emulator is expected to be available for Windows insiders via the Windows Insider Program in November 2020. This should result in 64-bit apps running better on ARM PCs. In case you are unaware, a 64-bit app is typically more efficient and can do more compared to 32-bit apps.

Most Android and iOS apps are 64-bit these days. However, Windows devices with ARM chips, such as the new Surface Pro X (we'll have a report on that soon), don't have support for 64-bit x86 apps. To put it in other words, these devices won't be able to support the 64-bit version of certain apps, all because of the chipset it uses. The emulator is being developed to solve this problem.

Currently, this news is more relevant to users with Microsoft devices that use ARM chips. Do you own a Microsoft Surface and feel that some apps are just terrible to use? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news like this.


Microsoft develops AutoCharge, a true Wireless Charging technology

Even today, Wireless Charging doesn't actually involve wireless transfer of charge. It requires physical contact of the wireless compatible rear charging cover and a charging plate to work. However, Microsoft claims that it has developed a true wireless charging technology. The new mobile charging project is called AutoCharge and requires no charging cables or pads. This new technology uses image recognition and solar charging to find a smartphone and charge it automatically, without any physical contact. Identifying the smartphone doesn't take much time and Microsoft claims that its light charger can detect a phone and start charging in just 0.3 seconds. The company used cameras to detect a device on a flat surface and check the level of charging. Once, the charger detected that the device needs charge; it will then fire off beams carrying charge towards the device. Microsoft developed a special indoor solar charging mechanism to make wireless charging a reality. The technology uses a straight beam of concentrated light which is pointed at the device to be charged. The low scatter makes sure that the charge is carried to the phone from the charger. Unfortunately, the device requires an integrated solar charging cover for this technology to work and it would take some time before this technology can be incorporated into everyday devices.


Microsoft digital games store now includes a warning label for the Cyberpunk 2077

It seems that the Microsoft digital games store has recently placed a warning label on the Cyberpunk 2077 page, stating that those who purchased the game for the Xbox One might experience performance issues while playing. Those who are unsatisfied with how the game ran can request for a refund, which can be done via Microsoft’s official website.

As of today, CD Projekt Red has recently released two patches which fixed some of the issues that the game has been facing, there’s are two more major patches coming out to fix major problems around January and February 2021. Unfortunately, there’s no official information in regards to the exact release date of the two major patches for now.

What are your thoughts on Microsoft placing a warning label on Cyberpunk 2077 on the Microsoft Digital Store? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 review - A strong big battery budget-friendly smartphone that could've been better

When rumours of a new ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 were floating around, my first thought was that the successor was too soon should it ever be true. And true enough, ASUS officially launched another budget-friendly smartphone in Indonesia where we got to have a first look of the device. I played with it for a couple of days and after two weeks, here's our review on the pros and cons of the ZenFone Max Pro M2.

Comparing with the predecessor, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 and ZenFone Max Pro M2 look almost identical but the latter is a much better considering the fact that it has Corning Gorilla Glass 6 that is twice as tough as the predecessor. According to ASUS, they claimed that this phone is pretty durable and can withstand a force drop from 1.5 metres high.

Note that I said force drop, it means like throwing the phone on the ground on purpose. Obviously, no phone can survive if we threw it on an asphalt road, but for a practical scenario like accidentally dropping from your hands while standing or a table's height, it has a 100% survival rate (trust me, I threw the phone many times).

The front and back look, the notch is present but the overall design is quite top-notch

The typical dual rear camera setup and fingerprint sensor along with ASUS logo

Triple SIM card tray, you can also see how smooth the edges are

The standard speaker, microUSB 2.0 and 3.5mm headphone jack

The other side of the pone where the power and volume rockers are

You'd be glad to know that the back won't break that easily as well, even though it's not covered by the Corning Gorilla Glass 6. Some people couldn't really tell if it's plastic or glass, but coming from ASUS Malaysia itself, this so-called "Wave finish 3D-curved glossy design" is made out of hi-grade acrylic that's highly resistant to falling. It certainly feels like glass though but because of its thermoplastic nature, this is one tough smartphone to break. The ZenFone Max Pro M2's design and build quality gets a thumbs up.

Here are the specifications for the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2:

Again comparing it with the predecessor, there are barely any differences in terms of the tech specs sheet. ZenUI is still not part of the smartphone but there's barely any bloatware around. There's a new and better Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and a slightly larger 6.3-inch display. The features compartment have a nice upgrade too, including more AI scene detection categories for the camera, a 3-axis EIS (Electronic Image Stabilizer) for video recording and an improved NXP smart amplifier sound system.

The AI scene detection now comes out automatically which is nice however, it's still using the same Snapdragon Camera which is quite clunky for my taste. While it's still capable of taking good photos, it's a bit "slow". Not only that, but there's no Panorama Mode which is still head-scratching, they got Pro Mode into the camera this time but has little usage except for taking better night photos. But I digress, that's another topic to talk about in the performance section later.

This notification keeps popping up everytime I take the phone out of my pocket

Another clunky feature to mention is the rear fingerprint sensor and face unlock. While there's nothing wrong with the accuracy, it's just that the unlocking speed for both are slow compared to some other brands. I also found out that the rear fingerprint sensor will keep detecting your thighs due to the heat signature if you put it in your pocket jeans. I hope ASUS can fix this with an update via OTA in the near future.

Not all is lost. While I have never experienced the NXP Amplifier sound quality on the ZenFone Max Pro M1, the ZenFone Max Pro M2's version is said to have improved and from my experience, the sound quality is actually able to produce a balanced treble and bass even if you max the volume, which is great particularly for gaming and video playback.

On the other hand, the new 3-axis EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) is a great addition. I did a short video recording walking around without any smartphone gimbal support and while it did look like the video is shaking a lot during recording, the end result is satisfactory. Also, keep in mind that the EIS does not support any 4K video recording.

Moving onto the performance section, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset definitely does better and has a higher score in the AnTuTu charts. However, don't put your hopes too high to actually play graphics intense games like Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile on the highest setting, as it is probably better leave it to the system to put the default setting.

The ZenFone Max Pro M2 is still using the same 5000mAh battery, so it's still capable of going on for days without being charged on average usage. Going on a 3 hour or so gaming marathon will drain the battery but the battery doesn't heat up and should last longer than most gaming phones. But just so you know, it uses the standard 5V / 2A charging output so that means charging it up is super slow and takes more than 2 and a half hours.

Command and Conquer: Rivals actually takes up a lot of GPU during gamingBut it's good to know that the game is playable on the ZenFone Max Pro M2

Spent over three hours on games and YouTube during late afternoon and eveningYou can see the sharp drop on the battery chart there

It took almost 10 minutes for PUBG Mobile's winter update to get from 53% to 100%I probably waited 20 minutes and this was on WiFi

So far so good on the entertainment aspect, but there is one thing that's restricting the phone to reach its full potential. While the connectivity on multiplayer is smooth, the phone does not support 5GHz WiFi connectivity and that's a bit of a problem. That means downloading large apps like PUBG Mobile also takes quite a while. I find it mind boggling that ASUS would leave this out, as most game apps nowadays require you to be online and if your roommate or family member is downloading something big, it's quite likely that you won't be able to enter a match. So what's the solution? Well, you'll have to switch to your mobile data. To add insult to injury, this phone isn't able to play Asphalt 9 on tilting mode because there's a problem with the gyroscope. At the moment of publishing this review, there is yet to be an update for this issue.

Although the clunkiness of the Snapdragon Camera would stay that way, this does not affect the quality of the photos taken, thankfully. As an avid mobile photographer, I find that the macro shots taken on the ZenFone Max Pro M2 camera is one of the best ones I've used so far. If you view them on your monitor, the texture and colour details are quite accurate, while the bokeh effect is great too. However, night shots are beyond saving, though, even with Night Mode enabled. There is a way to get this around this, which is using Pro Mode and let the system do its job. Anyway, check out the pictures below!

Selfie mode by our new member, Natasha! Before and after using Beauty Mode

A wide shot of a building, not bad at all

And here's my favourite part of using the camera, macro shot!

Good enough to capture the spider's silky web from the outdoors

A medium shot with good lighting would produce fairly good shots too

Check out those details around the chicken

Pro Mode, the ISO can only go as low as 200 and shutter speed up to 1/4 only

As a smartphone that's marketed as a budget-friendly gaming device, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 does have a few perks here and there. It has a fairly good entertainment aspects thanks to its rather large 6.3-inch FHD display and NXP amplifier, and it is also good enough to play many graphics intensive games. To add on to that, its 3-axis EIS video recording is good, while the build quality, battery and macro shots are pretty awesome.

The tilting mode issue on Asphalt 9 can be overlooked since it's not a game that everyone plays, you can change it to AI control mode anyway. But the lack of 5Ghz WiFi connectivity, slow charging, clunky biometric unlocking speed and the camera's overall capabilities falls flat. With this, even with the starting price of RM859, it's difficult to favour this over other budget-friendly gaming phones such as the honor Play and Pocophone F1.

It's true both of these phones are priced higher at RM1299, but they certainly do not have any of the issues mentioned above and moreover, one has GPU Turbo for gaming optimization and the latter is using a Snapdragon 845 processor. Even the Realme 2 Pro which is priced from RM849 seems more favourable due to having similar tech specs, but with better camera capabilities and it has an 8GB + 128GB model.

For now, all we can say is that you should get the ZenFone Max Pro M2 if you want a big battery smartphone that lasts long and won't break that easily if you accidentally drop it. It should do well as a movie watching phone but if you're using WiFi to stream, the lack of 5Ghz support means it could be a bit unsuitable. Nonetheless, the RM859 price does make it a device to consider if you're on a budget.

I honestly didn't want to be harsh on this phone but facts are facts. I personally think ASUS might have shot themselves in the foot for "rushing" this too soon (the predecessor was only released back in July 2018) due to competition which is understandable. If anything, the price tag itself is still a good reason to get the phone, but not so much for gaming purpose. Just my two cents.

So do you agree with us? Or have you bought the phone and think otherwise? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more smartphones reviews at TechNave.com. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Microsoft employees experimented on working four days a week and this is the result

During August this year, Microsoft Japan was trying out a new project called Work-Life Choice Challenge Summer 2019. The initiative was to give its 2300 employees five Fridays off without decreasing their paycheck.

After five weeks of experimenting, Microsoft Japan came out with a report that showed the employees were more productive and happier (of course) instead of working five days a week.  “Work a short time, rest well and learn a lot,” Microsoft Japan president and CEO Takuya Hirano said.

Other than productivity, electricity usage was down 23% in the office with the additional day off per week. The usage of paper was also decreased as they printed 59% fewer pages of paper during the trial (fewer works, save planet).

A similar experiment like this was carried out in New Zealand as well. The trust management company, Perpetual Guardian, implemented the policy of working a four-day week which also helped boosting up the productivity of employees. The employees claimed that they had better work-life balance and this experiment improved their focus in the office.

So, when are we having this implemented in Malaysia?! Let us know what you think about this move! Stay with us to know more about interesting news on TechNave.com.


Microsoft gearing up for official launch of xCloud with over 150 games

As announced back in July, Microsoft is looking to launch its xCloud games streaming platform this month. The platform should go live officially later tonight or by tomorrow in about 22 regions, including countries in Europe, the United States, and South Korea. Microsoft will also be starting strong with over 150 games to be available at launch.

According to the list of games, there will be a total of 172 games playable at launch. You'll be able to get access to all of them if you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. However, the service is currently available only for Android users. Microsoft is still trying to get the service approved on the Apple App Store but is finding a hard time doing so with Apple's restrictions.

On top of the 172 launch titles, EA Games will help expand the games library for xCloud with EA Play. For that to happen, Microsoft's plan is for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to also get access to EA Play. If everything works out, xCloud is expected to have nearly double the number of games available on Google Stadia by the end of this year.

It's too bad Microsoft xCloud is unavailable in our country because it would be interesting to give this service a try. With that said, would you be interested to play on xCloud if it becomes available here? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Microsoft goes for world's largest selfie with Lumia 730

Microsoft Bangladesh recently used the Microsoft Lumia 730 to break the world record of the most people captured in a single selfie. The company used the 5MP Wide Angle front camera of the device to capture a selfie where one could recognize over 1151 people in the shot. It is said that the participants of the selfie shot had to sign in just to keep a track of how many people were there in the picture. While this picture is on its way to set a record for the largest selfie ever, the Guinness Book of World Records has still not confirmed it. As if this wasn't enough to promote the device, Microsoft Bangladesh also reportedly produced a video, unsurprisingly called 'Lets Selfie'. The company teamed up with the Bengali Singer Raef Al Hasan for the video. Check it out for yourself below:


Microsoft has revealed the name of its next-gen gaming console, Xbox Series X for 2020

Microsoft has announced the naming of its new console today and it will be called Xbox Series X. The name has undoubtly implied that there will be more than one console coming out next year. Some features of the consoles that were previously under the Project Scarlett have been revealed and let’s find out what they are!

The Xbox Series X will be running games on next-generation SSD as promised to virtually eliminate load times. It will support 4K and 8K gaming at 60FPS as well with the possibility of up to 120FPS. The new consoles from the series will have backward compatibility for across four generations of games, all Xbox gaming accessories and Xbox Game Pass.

For the design, the Xbox Series X assembles the look of a PC desktop unlike the previous generations of Xbox. However, the box is still able to be placed horizontally and vertically. Microsoft also revealed the Xbox Wireless Controller has been redesigned to accommodate an even wider range of people. It will feature a Share button as well to make sharing screenshots and game clips simpler. The new Xbox Wireless Controller will be compatible with Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs.

Microsoft has also stated that Xbox Series X will be the fastest and most powerful gaming console, does it imply that it will be more powerful than the upcoming PlayStation 5 as well? Let us know what you think about the naming of this new Xbox console on our Facebook page! For more gaming news, be sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Microsoft introduces Games panel with a collection of HTML5 games

In an attempt to catch up with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge had experimented with several features in the past, and some of them are just unnecessary. Today, the browser introduces a new Games panel for users that brings a collection of HTML5 games. Necessary or not, you tell us.

Spotted by a tipster named Leopeva64, who specialized in Chrome/Chromium-related reports, Microsoft is still testing the dedicated Games panel in Edge. To access the panel, users would need to toggle it on from the Settings > Appearance > Games button, as it's disabled by default.

The games cover multiple categories, including Arcade, Microsoft classics, Board & Card, Puzzle, Sports, Casual, Match 3, and more. Since these are HTML5 games, users can play them right in the browser without any downloads. The Games panel is only live for a small set of users in the latest version of Microsoft Edge Canary at the moment.

It's unknown whether Microsoft will make the feature available for all users in the future. Stay tuned to TechNave.com, and we'll bring you the latest update for it.


Microsoft introduces Windows 365 as a cloud based service for PCs

When it comes to Microsoft program services, it's not cheap at all to have any subscription. But just in case that you are ready for the next level, Microsoft just released Windows 365. It is a new cloud PC platform that can be used to stream on Windows 10 or Windows 11 via a web browser.

As a cloud-based service, that means you can pretty much stream your apps, data, content and other settings to any device from the Microsoft cloud. Windows 365 is mainly for business purposes only and it is separated between Business and Enterprise. Pricing depends on the memory capacity and CPU of your PC but if you are already a Windows 10 Professional user, it starts from $20 (~RM84) per user/month.

For new users, it starts from $31 (~RM130) per user/month. Users may upgrade the package if they wish to, going up to 8 vCPU, 32GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for a whopping $158 (~RM667) per user/month. On paper, it may be cheaper than buying an actual PC because of the regular maintenance. But in Malaysia, it's just a whole different story due to the currency exchange.

To learn more about Windows 365, you can visit the official webpage right here. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft introduces new products to their Surface line-up for the year 2019

Today Microsoft has announced that the pre-order for the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2 starts on 3 January 2019. The pre-order in Malaysia is available at all authorised dealers such as All-IT, Harvey Norman, Lazada, PC.Image, SNS, SenQ, Sen Heng and Ingram Micro while the availability of the devices start from 15 January 2019 onwards. In terms of the price, the Surface Pro 6 starts from RM4399 while the Surface Laptop 2 from RM4829 onwards.

In terms of the tech specs, the Surface Pro 6 comes equipped with up to an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, up to 512GB of SSD storage, a 12.3-inch PixelSense display and a 165-degree kickstand.

The Surface Laptop 2 on the other hand,  comes with an 8th Generation Core i5 chipset, 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of primary SSD storage. Like the Surface Pro 6, the laptop also features the PixelSense Touch Display as well along with 14.5 hours of battery life but no kickstand unlike the Surface Pro 6.

Other than the devices mentioned, Microsoft has also introduced the Surface for Business which you can find out more at Microsoft’s official website. For more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Microsoft is adding a built-in screen recording tool on Windows 11

Microsoft has revealed that it will be introducing a built-in screen recorder to Windows 11 embedded within the OS’ Snipping Tool. Now available in beta, the feature can be accessed by Windows 11 testers beginning today.

Currently, users have to depend on third-party tools or the Xbox Game Bar to record their screens on the full version of Windows 11. With the new Snipping Tool feature, there is a record option which allows users to record an entire screen or a cropped section.

As reported by The Verge, this feature is something that Windows 11 has been asking for and comes some 4 years after Microsoft introduced the revamped screenshot experience on the OS. However, it may take a while for the feature to come to the full version of Windows 11, so users just have to wait a while longer.

So, what do you guys think of the new screen recording feature on Windows Snipping Tool? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news such as this!


Microsoft is back in business with Huawei again after granting license

It's been a tough few months for Huawei getting caught in the trade war, but here's some good news for the China tech company. According to sources, Microsoft has been granted a license to export its software to Huawei. This is due to the recent ban lift extension by the US Commerce Department this week, giving them another 90 days.

In an official email statement by a Microsoft spokesperson, he said that the license has been approved on 20 November 2019. With this, Microsoft was able to export mass-market software to Huawei, most presumably their Matebook series to use their Microsoft software and programs. Microsoft also added they appreciated the US Commerce Department's response to their request.

In case you've forgotten, Huawei got caught up by the US back in May this year being accused of working closely with the Chinese government for "spying". The current US President, Donald Trump was the one who gave the order to ban the company from working closely with many US companies for national security purposes.

Oh well, Huawei will have some room to breathe in this time. How many of you have their Matebook series? Stay tuned for more Huawei news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft is giving Task Manager a makeover for Windows 11

Microsoft is working on something that might attract you to switch to the latest Windows 11. An engineering student named Gustave Monce discovered that the tech giant is giving Task Manager a interface redesign to fit the new operating system update.

Monce, who previously got Windows 11 running on a phone, found the redesigned Task Manager and shared it on Discord this week. According to him, the new Task Manager is still a hidden feature in the new build. He also mentioned that it's still in the early stages, as "everything is broken". However, it already includes a dark mode and interface that closely matches the major design changes in Windows 11, including rounded corners, pastel shades, and a focus on simplification.

Task Manager originally debuted with Windows NT 4.0. For over ten years, it hadn't been through any significant changes. We're glad that it's finally getting a makeover with a more up-to-date design. Besides Task Manager, Microsoft is also working on a new Media Player app and redesigning the Notepad app with dark mode support.

What do you think about the new look of Task Manager? Leave a comment to let us know your opinion, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 unboxing + drop test video

Officially launched in Jakarta, Indonesia, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 has also officially gone on sale online on ASUS Malaysia page on both Lazada Malaysia and Shopee Malaysia but with different models. As mentioned in our coverage news yesterday, the 4GB + 64GB model will only be on Lazada for RM859 while the 6GB + 64GB model is on Shopee for RM999. Obviously, it's marketed for the gaming community on a budget so if you're considering it, you may check out our unboxing and hands-on video below, trying out the camera, gaming and even a drop test!

To recap some of the tech specs, it features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, a 6.3-inches in FHD+ resolution in Corning Gorilla Glass 6, as well as having AI scene detection for its 12MP + 5MP dual rear camera setup. Of course, the battery is awesome too sitting at 5000mAh and it can go on for a really long time.

Stay tuned for more unboxing and hands-on videos at TechNave.com.


Microsoft is releasing a public preview of Microsoft Defender ATP for Android devices

When it comes to an anti-virus program, Windows Defender is often shelved to the back replaced by more favourable anti-virus programs (Avast, Avira, and others). While that may sound like a sad situation, the team behind the program probably aren't affected at all and they are excited to showcase a public preview of Microsoft Defense ATP for Android phones.

As officially announced by Rob Lefferts, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft 365 Security and Compliance, on Microsoft's blog post, the Microsoft Defense ATP will take on new mobile threats such as phishing, malware detection and many more. From the blog, the program's anti-phishing won't only just work on web browsers but as well as through SMS/texting, social media accounts like WhatsApp, email and other apps. It will also be a proactive scanner at all times so whenever the user downloads something on their phone, the program will quickly and scan and detect for any potential malware and apps that may pose security risks.

Moreover, it's also integrated with Microsoft Endpoint Manager and Conditional Access as layers of protection from accessing corporate resources. The Microsoft Defender ATP can be a unified security experience for the user on both PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) and Android smartphones. From that point of view, it is an idealistic method to protect yourself, better safe than sorry!

If you would like to learn more, you can visit this link here and get yourself started. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft is reportedly planning to put ads in Windows 11 File Explorer

After getting Windows users excited with the potential addition of tabs in the OS’ File Explorer, it seems that Microsoft is getting things 'balanced' by also potentially adding a feature that is almost universally loathed. Get this, a Windows 11 Insider build tester recently discovered that Microsoft is testing putting advertisements in File Explorer!

Shared by Florian on Twitter, a screenshot of File Explorer on the Windows 11 Insider build shows a line of ad placed right above the listing of folders and files. Furthermore, it seems that the feature would be putting ads promoting Microsoft products. For this particular instance captured by Florian, he received an ad promoting Microsoft Editor.

This is not the first time that Microsoft tried to embed ads within Windows applications, though based on the backlash it received in the past, it’s quite perplexing why Microsoft is still trying again. Back in 2016, Microsoft was caught showing a OneDrive ad in File Explorer, as shared by Tero Alhonen on Twitter.

Furthermore, in 2020, Microsoft tested putting ads promoting free Office web apps in the menu bar for the Windows 10 Wordpad. Users have also shared how Windows 10 Start Menu showed ads for Microsoft Edge in the past. All of these instances were met with backlash by Windows users.

However, this time around it is likely that this ads feature is only part of an A/B testing experiment conducted to Microsoft to gauge the feasibility of adding such a feature. Well, let’s hope that it will be met with similar backlash and that Microsoft won’t be adding it to Windows 11.

What do you guys think? Would you want to see ads in File Explorer? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news such as this!


Microsoft is reportedly working on a WeChat-like ‘super app’ to beat Google and Apple

Microsoft is reportedly working on a ‘super app’ that can dethrone both Google and Apple in the mobile search space. An all-in-one app that combines messaging, web search, shopping, news feeds and more, the concept is similar to how dominant WeChat is in China.

As reported by The Information, this is part of the solutions that the company came up with in order to increase its advertising business and Bing search. As a single platform for most personal daily needs, the Microsoft super app would have more users and with it, an increase in mobile advertising opportunities.

Besides that, this all-in-one platform will also enable Microsoft to entice customers to its other revenue-generating products such as Microsoft 365. Of course, do take this information with a grain of salt as nothing is confirmed as of yet.

What do you guys think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


Microsoft is shutting down Windows Phone 8.1 app store this December

If your phone is running on Windows Phone 8.1, chances are you might want to update it to Windows 10 Mobile. ASAP. Microsoft has confirmed that they are preparing to shut down the app store entirely in mid-December.

Back in July 2017, Microsoft had stopped updating the Windows Phone 8.1, meaning phones running the OS have not been receiving software updates since then. Now, starting on the 16th of December, Windows 8.1 users will not be able to download any app or receive updates for them. Yes, you will not even be able to reinstall the app.

As of right now, there are 17 Windows smartphones that can be updated to Windows 10 Mobile. However, official support for that OS will be ending soon as well but the good news is, the app store will continue to work. So is this news enough to make you get rid of your Windows devices or will you keep it for nostalgia’s sake? Keep up with the latest Windows news on TechNave.com!


Microsoft is slowly phasing out Windows Control Panel with each new update

Based on a report by windowslatest.com, it seems that Microsoft recently pushed out updates which removed features and functionality from the Windows Control Panel. With that said, there is a high chance Microsoft plans on completely removing the Control Panel, in favour of a more modern way of tweaking settings on a Windows machine.

If for any reason the user tries to access the Control Panel, they will instead be redirected to the About page instead which can be confusing especially for those who are used to tweaking their Windows PC via the control panel. As of now, there is no official information in regards to when Microsoft plans to completely phase out the Windows Control Panel.

What are your thoughts on the removal of the Windows Control Panel? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Microsoft is working on bringing the dead back to life through chatbots

Microsoft is working on bringing the dead back to life, or something similar to that. It is reported that the tech giant has granted a patent that uses the personal information of deceased people to build chatbots. Although we've seen such an idea happening in movies or TV series, it's still surprising knowing that it can be achieved in real life.

According to a statement from Microsoft, "the specific person (who the chatbot represents) may correspond to a past or present entity such as a friend, a relative, an acquaintance, a celebrity, a fictional character, a historical figure, a random entity, etc". It is also stated that "the specific person may also correspond to oneself", which means that the users are able to create and train the chatbot as a digital replacement in the event of their death.

Furthermore, Microsoft is also working on including the notion of 2D or 3D models of specific people being generated via images and depth information, or video data. If it worked out successfully, it could be a breakthrough technology by letting users chat with dead loved ones.

Let us know what you think about the project from Microsoft on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more latest tech news.


Microsoft joins Apple as the second US company in the $2 trillion club in market value

In case you didn't know, Apple is the first US company that's worth more than a trillion in market value. Not surprisingly, Microsoft is now the second US company to enter the $2 trillion-dollar club by achieving a $2 trillion market value thanks to the company's cloud computing and enterprise software.

Besides cloud computing and enterprise software, Microsoft's shares also contributed to its success as it rose to 1.2% in New York. On top of that, they also gained 19% on stocks which outperforms Apple and Amazon, as investors believe Microsoft's long-term growth in earnings and revenue, as well as product expansions.

So far, it is reported that Microsoft has not got into trouble from the American antitrust regulators, thus allowing the company to move freer during acquisitions and product expansions. Microsoft began investing in cloud computing services ever since Satya Nadella became the CEO in 2014.

For context, it took 33 years for Microsoft to reach their first $1 trillion market value and it happened in 2019. Also, more than 90% of analysts do recommend stock buyers to buy Microsoft as they offer sustainable growth. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft just achieved over 100 million daily active Bing users in a month

It's been a month since ChatGPT was introduced and Microsoft didn't waste any time to integrate it into Bing and Microsoft Edge browser. In the company's latest news update, it stated that Bing had achieved over 100 million daily active users.

Over the weeks of receiving the community's feedback, Microsoft said it has learnt and sent out a number of improvements to make Bing better. Of the millions of active users, the company also said that one-third are new Bing users. Also, another one-third are using Chat daily and there have been over 45 million total chats since the preview.

This has encouraged Microsoft to improve "the unique value proposition of combining Search + Answers + Chat + Creation in one experience". Besides the huge spike in growth, Microsoft is also seeing more users using Bing to search more. As the data also showed that 15% of users are using Bing to create new content from the Chat sessions.

Besides that, Bing has also been used on mobile phones since the Bing Mobile app was released. Microsoft said the new app "led to a 6X increase in the daily active users from pre-launch levels". It is believed that the voice input in the Answers and Chat feature proved to be helpful.

So what do you think? Are you using Bing actively on your PC and Mobile? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft launches Halo Infinite limited edition console for ~RM2300

If you've been trying to get your hands on a Sony PlayStation 5, you probably noticed that its supply is limited. We can't turn to Xbox either, as the Xbox Series X/S isn't available here. But that shouldn't stop you from importing the new Halo Infinite edition.

As part of Halo's 20th anniversary, Microsoft announced the Halo Infinite Limited Edition Xbox Series X. It's essentially a customised Xbox Series X, with a special design for the console and controller. In particular, the Cortana-blue accents for the top vent and star pattern really looks good here. Besides that, the console has custom sound effects for power on/off.

That's not the only thing that Microsoft announced. Another new product is the new limited edition Halo controller, which has a design that's based on Master Chief's armour. It even comes with a customised charging cable, carrying case, thumbstick extension, and charging dock. There are also some customised accessories from third-party brands available.

Anyway, the limited edition console will be available on 15 November 2021 for USD 549 (~RM2300). If you're interested in the new Halo-themed products, you can check out the official announcement for more details. Having said that, is anyone interested in importing one of these? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Microsoft launches personal universal translator for smartphones

If you are into science fiction, you must know of Star Trek’s Universal Translator that is present in just about every show – it allows aliens to talk to each other in their own language, in real time. Well, real life has finally mimicked the arts, as the first true univeral translator is now available on your smartphone, from Microsoft. The app works by using Deep Neural computing that allows real time translation to happen in the smartphone. Users just need to download the app, and then sign in for a one-to-one translation or even a group translation that can either be done via text, or even in voice as the app will pronounce the translated phrases out loud.Imagine that you are stuck in a country that you do not know the language. Just download this app, and walk around with confidence that your thoughts will be made known to anyone you want to communicate with. Technology is great isn’t it? The app is now available on iOS, Android and even the web.[Source]


ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 will launch in Shopee Malaysia on 12.12 sales

It was only yesterday that we posted a news about the speculated ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 price tag. While that was happening, someone on Shopee spotted the smartphone being listed there already. So today, Shopee has reached out to us that their platform has received the exclusive rights for the upcoming launch.

According to ASUS Malaysia's page, the model (ZB631KL) that's coming to Malaysia will be the 6GB + 64GB model and there's also a one-year warranty by the company. While the price remains as a mystery, the pre-order for the device will start on 12 December 2018 and maybe it's just us, but the fact that they listed three question marks there could mean that the price tag could actually be less than RM1K.

We are just a week away from the official launch. Until then, stay tuned for more Shopee news at TechNave.com.


Microsoft lays off 10,000 workers in response to “changing customer priorities”

The recent trend of retrenchments in the tech industry has continued with Microsoft being the latest to lay off its workers. Specifically, around 10,000 employees were laid off by the tech giant.

As reported by AP News, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed in an email to employees that the layoffs represent “less than 5 per cent” of the company’s total employee base. Some notifications are happening today with a regulatory filing by the company on Wednesday clarifying that the layoffs were a response to the “macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities.”

Nadella confirmed that while Microsoft is eliminating roles in some areas, it will continue to hire in “key strategic areas”. The email to employees also emphasised the importance of building a “new computer platform” using AI. Besides the layoffs, Microsoft is also making changes to its hardware portfolio and consolidating its leased office locations.

So, what do you guys think of the decision by Microsoft to let go 10,000 of its workers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


Microsoft lets Sony put Call of Duty on PlayStation Plus under the 10-year deal

Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard, and it has offered a 10-year deal to Nintendo for Call of Duty. On the other hand, it's not that peaceful with Sony due to the issues mentioned in previous reports. Microsoft has also offered a similar deal to the Japanese company, but now it's discovered that an additional term might persuade Sony to sign.

According to the latest report, the 10-year contract will also allow Sony to put Call of Duty on PlayStation Plus. However, it's unclear whether the deal implies that each new version will be available on the day it's released. Since Xbox Game Pass often gives exclusives from day one, it has to be the same for Sony to be interested in the deal.

Of course, it now depends on how Sony will make its move. The company has been worrying that the video game franchise will only be available on Xbox and PC. Since Microsoft has offered such a generous deal (at least to us), will Sony finally accept it?

Do you have anything to say on the deal? Leave a comment to share your opinion, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more gaming news.


Microsoft makes the Windows Phone 8.1-powered Lumia 435 official

Microsoft has just announced two new low-end phones in the market called the Microsoft Lumia 435 and Lumia 435 Dual SIM. The phone mates the latest Windows Mobile 8.1 operating system with budget specifications, thereby keeping the price low. Like the name suggests, the only difference between the two models is the Dual SIM support. The Lumia 435 features a Snapdragon 200 dual-core processor with 1GB RM and 8GB internal storage. This can be further expanded via a MicroSD card up to 128GB. The 1GB RAM comes as a surprise on this phone since the higher priced Lumia 635 features just 512MB RAM. This budget device sports a 4-inch display with a modest 800 x 480 pixel resolution. The camera too is pretty basic, 2MP at the back capable of 480p videos and a VGA front shooter. As mentioned above, the phone runs on the latest Windows Mobile 8.1 Denim edition. It features a 1560 mAh battery which is good for 12 hours of 3G and 21 hours of 2G talktime. The device comes with A-GPS and GLONASS inbuilt which can be used with HERE Drive+ even without a data connection. The Microsoft Lumia 435 starts at €70 which comes to around RM289 and will be available in select countries in Europe, Asia Pacific, India, Africa and Middle East from February.


Microsoft may introduce a “Friends & Family” Xbox Game Pass soon

Microsoft may soon allow Xbox gamers to share an Xbox Game Pass subscription with their friends and family according to an alleged leak. Shared by leaker @ALumia_Italia on Twitter, an "Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family" branding was spotted, alluding to it being close to launch.

Moreover, the alleged leak is also consistent with Microsoft’s current direction with the Xbox Game Pass. As reported by The Verge, a family plan for the subscription is already being tested in Ireland and Colombia since earlier this month.

Based on the preview programme in both aforementioned countries, it is highly likely that this Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family will include all the same Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefits for four other friends or family members. These include access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Live and the PC Game Pass versions of games.

However, do take this information with a grain of salt as nothing is confirmed as of yet. Nevertheless, it’ll be intriguing to see how popular this family & friends plan would be should it turn out to be true.

What do you guys think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


Microsoft might follow Apple's footsteps and produce their own ARM chips as well

Based on a statement by gizmodo, it seems that there could be a possibility that Microsoft might unveil their own ARM processors sometimes in the near future. While there is no news on the exact release date of the chips, our source did mention that it will most likely be used for the Azure cloud servers, as well as their Surface laptops.

With all that said, do take some of the information mentioned with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Microsoft has yet to provide an official statement on the leak. Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs of the upcoming Microsoft devices that will come equipped with the ARM processors.

What are your thoughts on Microsoft potentially producing their own chips as well? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.