Inside Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus's Qualcomm Clear Sight technology

There aren't much news about the Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus, so this would be one of the first. Released in China last month, we have just gotten some insider report in the Xiaomi forums about how Xiaomi succeeded in using Qualcomm's cutting-edge processor, and also explained how the Clear Sight technology for the dual rear camera contributed to the smartphone's photography quality.

As the Mi 5s Plus is the first smartphone to utilize the dual camera setup with Sony's lens and Qualcomm's Clear Sight. Clear Sight is designed to produce photos with enhanced detail, better dynamic range and less noise in low light scenarios. Like the P9, the Mi 5s Plus also uses a colour sensor and a monochrome sensor, and combines the best of both "worlds" into one image making it a refined photo along with the help of Clear Sight technology.

Here's also an interesting note about the monochrome sensor, when taken in black & white mode, the light absorption increases 3x when the colour filter is removed. This provides better contrast, less noise and sharpness. The P9 does not function like that.

The Mi 5s Plus sounds like a great phone, but what do you think? If you want to know more about the phone, simply visit to their thread and check it out. Stay tuned for more news at Technave.com.


Insider claimed that Samsung could be releasing 3 more Galaxy Fold smartphones in 2021

No, we are not making this up but then again, this is some rumoured news we spotted online. Even though the Galaxy Fold 2 is not officially released yet, there are reports from an insider that Samsung could be releasing three more foldable smartphones which are the Galaxy Z Fold Lite, Galaxy Z Fold S and the Galaxy Z Fold.

So what do we know so far about these three unannounced foldable smartphones? To start off, there was a rumour that the Galaxy Note series in the future might be replaced and we can't help to think that these foldable phones could be it. Rumours have it that all three could have a stylus attached to the devices. Moreover, the displays for each are different as well - a non-coloured polyimide display (Galaxy Z Fold Lite), ultra-thin glass (Galaxy Z Fold 3), and a foldable outward and inward display (Galaxy Z Fold S).

On top of that, Samsung was also spotted for getting an unknown phone model (SM-F415F/DS) certified through the WiFi Alliance. Although there's barely any information from the screenshot, we can be quite certain that it's a new Galaxy Fold device because the previous Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Fold were coded SM-F700 and SM-F900 respectively. So yes, the letter "F" is the indicator here.

In terms of pricing, the insider also said that the Galaxy Z Fold Lite won't go over $1000 (~RM4171) whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could stay below $2000 (~RM8343). Nonetheless, we should totally take this news with a pinch of salt and just wait and see what Samsung would do in 2021. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Insider claims that Xiaomi is working on Redmi Note 8 2021 version

The Redmi Note 8 is almost going to be two years old since its launch in October 2019. For some reason, Xiaomi is planning to revive the device by smashing a "2021" label onto it. The information about the Redmi Note 8 (2021) was discovered by Xiaomi product tester and software developer Kacper Skrzypek.

Skrzypek revealed the device by publishing a Twitter post with screenshots of information from one of the Xiaomi sites. However, the insider was not able to share the link to the original material as he's afraid that the company representatives would remove them. It is worth mentioning that the Redmi Note 8 (2021) has also appeared in the database of the US Federal Communications Commission.

According to the screenshot, the new Redmi Note 8 will be powered by MediaTek Helio G85 paired with 4GB of RAM and 64/128GB of internal storage. The IPS LCD display will also offer a refresh rate of 120Hz. For photography, it is suggested to bring a quad-camera setup with wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle modules, as well as a macro shooter and a telephoto module. The resolution of the main sensor is 48MP. Furthermore, the device will receive a 4000mAh battery as well with 22.5W fast charging.

Let us know what you think about the device on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more smartphone rumours.


Insider shares a list revealing folding phones from Google, OPPO and vivo are coming in Q4 2021

Besides the HUAWEI Mate 50 Pro, it turns out that there are also a bunch of other exciting devices coming in the fourth quarter of 2021. The same guy who told us that the Mate 50 series is coming by the end of 2021 also shares a list of launched and upcoming devices with a 120Hz display. Surprisingly, some of the rumoured folding devices from Google, OPPO and vivo are on the list as well and marked for launch in Q4 2021.

The list shared by David Naranjo, a senior expert from Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), hints that Chinese smartphone companies like OPPO and vivo are finally presenting their first folding smartphones in the last quarter of the year. Not only that, but it also seems like it's still highly possible for us to meet Google's first folding smartphone at the launch event of Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

With the announcement of iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max having a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz marks 20 models that are current and rumored that use LTPO OLED panels from SDC. pic.twitter.com/5wlbsl2HF1

Xiaomi is also on the list with the Xiaomi 12 for Q4 2021 launch, which is somehow sure to happen. The company might also present a second folding device after launching the Mi Mix Fold in early 2022. We know that the list appears to be as realistic as possible, but we still want to warn you to take this with a pinch of salt, as not everyone gets to follow the schedule nowadays with issues like chip shortage.

What do you think about the list? If it's accurate, are you prepared for the rising era of folding smartphones? Drop a comment and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more smartphone news.


Insiders claim smartphones with 200W fast charging will arrive in 2022

The maximum charging power found on current commercial smartphones is 120W. Although it was impressive back in the day, it has become a mainstream feature, especially for Xiaomi devices. Now, it would be nice to see something that can spice up the smartphone charging game. According to the latest information from insiders, 2022 will be the year when we see devices with 200W fast charging, and they specifically mentioned that there should be at least two such devices.

One of the brands that could be among the first to launch a device with 200W charging is, of course, Xiaomi. The Chinese brand has been experimenting with the technology for a long while. Previously, it had demonstrated the HyperCharge to the public, proving that it is one step closer to a commercial launch. The devices that could be getting the battery feature are Xiaomi 12 or the Mix 5.

Besides Xiaomi, iQOO or realme might also strive to be the pioneers of the technology. Meanwhile, others such as vivo, OPPO and OnePlus could be taking the time to "perfect" other features before going to such high charging power. However, all of this is just speculation, so you can still expect the most unexpected.

What is your opinion on this article? Share it with us by leaving a comment and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more exciting tech reports.


Insiders hinted at an under-display camera for upcoming vivo X80 Pro

The vivo X70 series only debuted in Malaysia not long ago in September, but it looks like the company is already rushing to deliver the vivo X80 series to us. According to insights, the vanilla vivo X80 and the X80 Pro are already in the works. Their key details also get revealed to let us know what kind of devices we're waiting for.

The insiders say that the upcoming vivo X80 will deliver a 120Hz display with FullHD+ resolution and pack the latest 4nm Dimensity 2000 chip. For the camera department, it's said to feature a 50MP 1/1.3-inch camera sensor that offers support for 5-axis stabilization. There should also be another 12MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom.

Not only the standard variant but the Pro one also gets tipped to come with an under-display camera. It might also pack a more powerful chipset, but there's no information on which brand it will go to yet. With the debut of the X70 series happened only a while ago, it's still early to hope for the arrival of the X80 series. However, getting to know some future devices' tech specs is always a pleasure.

What are your thoughts on the leaked details of the vivo X80 series? Leave a comment to let us know and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more exciting smartphone leaks.


Insta360 may soon be introducing a drone with a 360-degree camera

Although 360-degree cameras have not really taken off, it's a niche category of products that many find useful. According to Techradar, Insta360 has something to show for CES 2020, which falls on 7 January 2020 next week. A 30-second teaser video was released to give us a hint of what is to come and it looks quite wild.

From the descriptions in the teaser, Insta360's next camera blends a flying drone, an action camera, a 360-degree camera, and a 1-inch camera together. If you take that at face value, it would mean the new product would be a flying drone that can be equipped with a camera with 3 different camera technologies. It would make sense, considering that the video mentions a drone and not just a blend of different cameras. Of course, this is just our speculation.

Moreover, a Japanese leaker seems to have some info on what the new camera could be. In a Twitter post, Nokishita claims that it is called the Insta360 One R. The image posted depicts an Insta360 camera with multiple parts, including two camera modules and a battery grip, that attach to each other.

Is this actually what Insta360 would be announcing? We're not sure but we'd like to read your thoughts on this on our Facebook page. For more news like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Instagram Kids is now paused due to parents, experts and policymakers' concern

Back in May, it was announced that both Facebook and Instagram were planning to build an Instagram Kids app version. However, it was met with some concerns from several parties including lawmakers and child specialists. This eventually led to a pause in the project.

In the Facebook newsroom, Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri officially stated that the team is pausing the work and use the time to work with parents, experts and policymakers. While we don't know how long it will take, Instagram will demonstrate to the parties the "value and need" of Instagram Kids.

Mosseri also argued that in this modern-day, most children already have access to the internet (which is true) and the company believes that developing an age-appropriate app experience for them is beneficial. For example, there are already YouTube Kids and Zigazoo (TikTok for kids) for minors under 13 years old. That said, Instagram Kids was planned for tweens aged between 10 to 12.

We’re pausing “Instagram Kids.” This was a tough decision. I still think building this experience is the right thing to do, but we want to take more time to speak with parents and experts working out how to get this right. pic.twitter.com/gMbPjft0CW

In addition, Mosseri also mentioned that Instagram Kids will still need parental permission to join the app. Unlike Instagram, there won't be any ads, followed by supervision from their parents on time spent on the app and who is messaging them. All in all, Instagram Kids is designed to be a safe place with age-appropriate content and features.

That said, what do you think of the idea? Is Instagram Kids needed? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Instagram Live Rooms lets you go live-stream with up to 4 people

It seems every other social media platform wants to be a streaming platform these days. Instagram started allowing users to broadcast live back in 2016, but the company has just expanded on that feature. That's right, you can now go live with multiple users!

Yesterday, Instagram has released a new feature called "Live Rooms". It allows an Instagram user to host a broadcast along with three other users. This opens up possibilities for live podcasts, band jamming sessions, Q&A talks, and more. Creators can also use it as a means of making a living, as viewers can buy virtual items like badges.

To host a Live Room, you first swipe left on the main screen of the app and select the Live camera. Next, you can set a title for the Live Room and invite up to three guests. If you only invited one or two people but want to add more later, you can still do so midway through your session.

For those who may have gotten the update to Instagram on your, have you managed to try going live with other people yet? What do you think of the feature so far? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


ASUS Sky Selection 2 release: Ryzen R7-5800H CPU, GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, and 240Hz display for ~RM5803

ASUS had lots to show at CES this year, including the sleek convertible ROG Flow 13 gaming laptop. But not everything was unveiled at the event, as the Taiwanese company unexpectedly launched a new gaming laptop in China.

Dubbed the "Sky Selection 2" (direct translation), this is a 15-inch gaming laptop that comes with the latest hardware. Specifically, it comes with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, and 16GB of RAM. It's expected to be available in China later tonight via JD.com for 9299 yuan (~RM5803), a decent price for a gaming laptop.

Its biggest feature is the 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display, which has a 240Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB colour gamut. The bezels are really thin too, making the display more immersive thanks to the high screen-to-body ratio. However, the laptop is on the heavier side with a weight of 4.05kg. Overall, this is a no-frills model that looks pretty good.

Unfortunately, this model is probably exclusive to China. The global model would be the TUF Gaming series that launched recently, but it doesn't have that silver-green colour option (dang!) Having said that, would you be interested in getting a new gaming laptop? Let us know what kind of specs you'd go for in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more news.


Instagram Subscriptions begins as testing phase, may be expanded to more creators in the future

Today, Instagram just announced a new monetisation feature which is simply known as Instagram Subscriptions. Since the company is under Meta, the subscription model is very similar to Facebook's for content creators to engage with their followers with exclusive content and benefits.

If you're a content creator on Instagram, don't expect to see this on your Instagram account so soon because it has only begun as a testing phase. At the moment, only a few creators are testing out this monthly subscription model and only in the US for now. Meta is planning to expand this feature to more creators this year.

There are three features that they can use - Subscriber Lives, Stores and Badges. Subscriber Lives is basically a broadcast livestream for fans to check out what's happening, whereas Subscriber Stories are content by creators that only subscribers can view. Finally, a Subscriber Badge will allow the creator to know who are the members in the comments section or message box.

If you want to see Subscriptions in action, you can follow and subscribe to these creators: @alanchikinchow, @sedona._, @alizakelly, @kelseylynncook, @elliottnorris, @jordanchiles, @jackjerry, @bunnymichael, @donalleniii and @lonnieiiv. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Instagram allegedly testing audio rooms and chat encryption

When an idea is popular, everyone wants to copy it. For social media platforms, that happened with the Stories format and it's happening again. Specifically, we're talking about audio rooms as Instagram has become the next platform to copy it.

Previously, it was revealed that Facebook was working on a feature similar to audio rooms from Clubhouse called Fireside. But Allessandro Paluzzi has found that Instagram is also developing audio rooms. These audio rooms let multiple users come together to chat, or broadcast to the general public. This means you'd be able to do audio podcasts.

#Instagram is working on audio rooms pic.twitter.com/5TI6YzLi9A

#Instagram is working on end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) chats pic.twitter.com/XSb4DqHtU6

Since Instagram is a company under Facebook, this could be the Fireside feature that was mentioned before. Of course, it's also possible that the feature will be present in both Facebook and Instagram apps. Besides that, Instagram is also working on end-to-end encryption for chats. However, this is probably not related to the audio rooms feature.

Currently, there's isn't much info about Instagram's rumoured audio room. But since the feature is popular, we're quite positive the rumour is legit. Having said that, what do you think of this whole concept? Let us know in the comments below! Also, stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Instagram and Messenger chats will be combined in a new update that Facebook pushed

Based on a statement by The Verge, it seems that Facebook has recently pushed out an update which allows users to have both their Messenger and Instagram chat to be combined together, allowing you to chat with users on either platform. While not much is known in regards to which Facebook-owned social media platform they plan on merging next.

With that said, what are your thoughts on Facebook merging the chat feature of both Messenger, as well as Instagram? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Instagram bans influencers from vaping and smoking

It seems like Facebook is trying to bring a more positive vibe to its photo-centric social media platform Instagram. Earlier, we’ve heard the platform is attempted to hide the likes of the posts, which is to promote the idea of focusing more on content rather than like counts. Now, it is trying to keep the social media platform clean by banning the influencers to promote vaping and smoking.

Other than sharing content, Instagram is also a place for brands to advertise through the fame of influencers. The company has even rolled out a feature called ‘branded content ads’ that allows brands to turn influencers’ sponsored content posts into ads to reach a bigger audience.

The move of banning advertisements for vaping, tobacco and weapons on the platform has long been implemented. Facebook only announced they will enforce the ban in the coming weeks on 18 December 2019. Therefore, we might not be able to see those cool pictures of influencers vaping with branded e-cigarretes anymore.

Other than that, there are also restrictions for branded alcohol and diet supplements that are promoted by the influencers. However, we really don’t see any changes as the advertised posts of those products are still popping up on my feed from various brands.

Influencers are the ones who have the most power on this social media platform. Many have created images that are deemed perfect, which has led to the blind pursue of the followers. Therefore, it is clear why Instagram is putting a stop to the advertisements of such products. Let us know what you think about this ban on our Facebook page! Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more viral news.


Instagram begins testing out NFT support with a small group of creators

These days, companies are really trying to take advantage of having non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in whichever platform they are having. Instagram is the latest player to join the bandwagon and it has begun testing NFTs.

This was confirmed by Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri in his short video announcement. In the testing phase, only a handful of Instagram users in the US will get to test out displaying NFTs on their walls, stories as well as messages. The NFTs will still appear like regular photos but with the tag "digital collectables" that will show the creator's and owner's names.

NFTs on Instagram This week we’re beginning to test digital collectibles with a handful of US creators and collectors who will be able to share NFTs on Instagram. There will be no fees associated with posting or sharing a digital collectible on IG.See you next week! pic.twitter.com/VuJbMVSBDr

While announcing the news, Mosseri also acknowledges that there may be some tension between corporate companies and blockchain technologies (such as Web3) due to distributing trust and power. Moreover, he emphasised that NFT's support on Instagram is to help creators to do business and introduce it to the masses.

We think it will take a while for Instagram to fully roll out the NFT update. This is because Mosseri himself said that the company wants to learn from the community about what works, hence starting small in the US. By the way, Mark Zuckerberg also said Facebook is testing NFTs as well and would come to other Meta-owned apps (maybe WhatsApp too?).

Besides that, Twitter has already enabled NFT support for Twitter users to display it on their profile pictures. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Instagram can now place multiple photos in a single story with the new Layout feature!

While most of the online tutorials do show how to add multiple photos in Instagram Stories, but this only worked on iOS devices until now. Today, Instagram is finally rolling out a new Layout feature that allows you to include multiple photos in a single story. Now both iOS and Android users will be able to add multiple photos in stories without a third-party app.

In order to get the latest layout feature on your stories, make sure to keep your apps updated to the latest version. Next, turn on your Stories camera and you’ll be able to see and select the Layout option. It will allow you to choose between two to six photos combine in a grid-based collage.

The company has recently focused on developing new features for Stories since early this year with Create mode, sharing Stories into a Facebook Dating profile, Reels and now Layout. This shows how important Stories have become to us. It is becoming like a daily diary that captures each exciting moment and shared on our profile instantly.

So be sure to keep your Instagram updated with the latest version to get the new feature. But is this new feature good enough for you? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more news updates on TechNave.com!


Instagram celebrates its 10th anniversary by letting you change the app icon

To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Instagram is rolling out an update that can bring you back to the time when the polaroid icon existed. The latest update allows users to customize the app's icon with several interesting designs including the nostalgic polaroid icon that we miss so much.

By changing the app icon, users have to go to the 'Settings' page and swipe down until some emojis appear. After that, the option to customize the app icon will be revealed. If you're not a fan of the polaroid icon, Instagram has also brought other coloured-themes for the current icon design including Twilight, Sunrise, Aurora, and more.

Here’s a vid of the secret! pic.twitter.com/ZlRIWWa0s7

However, not everybody can do that right now as the update is still in the process of rolling out. Furthermore, it looks like it's an update that will last for only a month as a message reads “this month we’re inviting you to change your app icon to your favorite” was found. What are you waiting for? Try swiping that 'Settings' page now!

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


Instagram confirms that tall 9:16 photos are coming to the app as early as 15 August

It looks like Instagram is not done with experimenting with its app just yet even after making a ‘u-turn’ on its recommended posts change following criticisms from fans. Now, the social media platform is doubling-down on full-screen content in its bid to compete with TikTok, this time by introducing ultra-tall 9:16 photos.

Shared by its CEO Adam Mosseri during his weekly Ask Me Anything, he was responding to a direct question on the matter when revealing Instagram’s upcoming plan. One user asked him whether ‘large, full screen 9x16 photos’ are coming to the platform and Mosseri replied that the company has been thinking maybe it’s time to make sure that tall photos are treated equally as tall videos on the app.

He further asserted that Instagram will be testing ultra-tall 9:16 photos ‘in a week or two’. Hence, we may be getting such a feature as early as 15 August 2022, if not sooner.

So, what do you guys think of the introduction of tall photos on Instagram? Is it a yay or a nay for you? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


Instagram confirms to bring chronological feed back next year

During a hearing in the states, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said that the company is bringing the chronological feed back. It has been a long time since Instagram decided to show us posts based on some AI algorithms instead of in a timely manner. Now, it looks like the order of how most users want to see their posts is making a comeback.

The order might be coming back as an option rather than applied to everyone using the app. Besides that, Instagram will also add a "favourites" feed option, which will show posts from designated friends higher in the feed. Both of them are said to be available for users next year.

According to Mosseri, arranging the feed in chronological order might lead to users missing the majority of the posts. It is "impossible for most people to see everything, let alone all the posts they cared about," said the Instagram CEO. However, no matter how much the company dislikes the idea, they are still bringing it back for the users who prefer that anyway.

Are you one of the people who would like to see the Instagram feed in chronological order, or you're okay with how it works now? Drop a comment to let us know the answer and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech report.


Instagram could be working on 90-second Reels, avatar stickers for Stories revealed

Short videos have become a thing, but maybe too short isn't enough for a lot of people. There's a demand for slightly longer short videos, with TikTok allowing for uploads of up to 3 minutes last year. Instagram is also planning to expand the length of Instagram Reels soon.

The company already expanded Instagram Reels from the initial 15 seconds to 60 seconds. App engineer Alessandro Paluzzi claimed that Instagram could be working on expanding Instagram Reels to 90 seconds. Specifically, the app could soon allow you to record a 90-second video directly through the app. The company has also been working on a few other features, including NFTs (non-fungible tokens) that it plans to simply call 'Collectibles'.

#Instagram is working on the possibility of creating #Reels lasting 90 seconds pic.twitter.com/M0KgJzQ90O

Avatar Updates This week 3D Avatars are rolling out to Stories and DMs. Avatars are a key building block for the future of personal identity in the metaverse.They’re now available in the US, Canada, Mexico and will be coming to more regions in the coming months. pic.twitter.com/1Vu6vSeV8m

In more official news, Instagram also confirmed the addition of 3D avatar stickers to Instagram Stories and in DMs. Adam Mosseri (Head of Instagram) described 3D avatars as the "key building block for the future of personal identity in the metaverse". This suggests that the company plans to create one or provide direct access to one in the future.

As you can see, Instagram is working on a lot of new things. Of course, the usefulness of these features remains to be seen. Having said that, what is a feature that you think Instagram needs? Share your ideas in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


2017 Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania Forum showcases new Samsung QLED TV, FamilyHub 2.0, FlexWash and more

Today, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. kicked off their SEA (South East Asia) and Oceania Forum 2017 in Singapore with a broad new range of new-generation technology and innovation products, the products that were showcased at the convention was the new QLED TV line-up, the Family Hub 2.0 refrigerator, FlexWash, a washer-dryer combination model, and the POWERbot VR7000.

A brief look at the products showcased today, Samsung unveiled the new range of QLED TVs – the Q7, Q8 and Q9. The series, which add new metal material to nano-sized semiconductor quantum dots, delivering a perfect mix of light and color resulting a large-screen QLED TV, with high-quality and wide colour contrast spectrum on the display. There’s even an additional accessory such as the optional “No-Gap Wall Mount,” makes mounting a TV flush against the wall simpler.

Next, the Family Hub marks a return and it’s now in 2.0 version, it now has enhanced usability with app integration and new app partners to help families stay connected, manage food, and access more entertainment on the refrigerator’s 21.5-inch LED touch-screen. An advanced voice technology has also been integrated across many of Family Hub 2.0’s apps.

The FlexWash laundry machine serves as a successor to the AddWash last year, this new laundry machine is designed to cut laundry time in half while providing a higher level of care for clothes: offering consumers the flexibility to start the dry cycle without moving clothes, which both loaders can be operated simultaneously or separately

Moving on, there’s also the world’s first Wind-Free wall-mounted air conditioner, launched in Korea last year, the AR9500M provides Wind-Free air conditioning, maintaining a comfortable level of coolness without the unpleasant feeling of direct cold wind.

Lastly, the VR7000 POWERbot vacuum cleaner which was recognized with innovation awards at CES 2017, is now a slimmer and more enhanced cleaner featuring the  Edge Clean Master. This allows the unit to clean within 15mm of the wall while the Auto Shutter automatically drops down a barrier to help sweep up dust right at the edge.

“At Samsung, we remain committed to developing thoughtful innovations that not only address the ever-changing needs of our customers, but are also aimed at making a meaningful impact in their lives,” said Yong Sung Jeon, President & CEO, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania.

“Despite some challenges, we’ve made big strides in 2016 and will continue to look forward as we engineer a smarter future together with our consumers.”

Stay tuned for a more detailed specification and features of the new Samsung products with the links below:


ASUS Store now accepts online banking, latest sales and promotions

ASUS Malaysia recently announced that their online portal the ASUS Store now accepts online banking through Fpx to pay for the various ASUS ZenFone smartphones available at the site. Previously the ASUS Store only accepted payment through credit card or cash-on-delivery (CoD). This means that you can now pay using Maybank2u, CIMB, Public Bank, Hong Leong, Bank Islam and RHB online banking. In related news, the ASUS Store is currently holding a New Year Flash Sale with the ASUS ZenFone 4 going for RM269 with a free bumper case. If you need help deciding feel free to check out our detailed ASUS ZenFone 4 review. ASUS Malaysia also announced that they recently sold more than 600000 ASUS ZenFone smartphones here in Malaysia so as a reward a special promotion will be available on 12 January 2015, so stay tuned for further developments.


Instagram could be working on letting users post directly from desktop

If you are an Instagram user, you must have hoped that the desktop site would let you do more. Currently, users can only interact with posts or edit your profile. But that could change, with the company possibly adding post creation.

According to Alessandro Paluzzi, Instagram seems to have started to test the ability to create and edit posts directly from the desktop site. The leaker posted screenshots of the new feature in action. You can add images from your PC, select the crop size, and add filters to the image you want to post.

ℹ This feature is currently being tested only internally. Don't expect to be able to use it anytime soon.But let's hope it doesn't take too long

Mind you, it's not impossible to post images to Instagram via desktop even now. For those who are unaware, you can actually connect your Instagram account to your Facebook account. After that, you could use Creator Studio to post to Instagram. However, you don't get to add filters or stickers using this method. Personally, I also find Creator Studio a terrible platform and would rather not use it.

Allegedly, the feature is still under internal testing, so it probably won't be available anytime soon. But what do you think about this? Is posting from the desktop something you'd prefer to have? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Instagram could launch subscriptions soon with price starting from ~RM4.11

Instagram might start asking you for money soon in order to see your favourite influencers' posts. According to the app's App Store listing, the platform will move away from conventional ads for monetization and launch subscriptions as "different ways to facilitate a financial relationship between a fan and a creator."

Judging by the listing, the subscription will cost 0.99 USD (~RM4.11) as the lowest and 4.99 USD (~RM20.71) as the highest. Besides that, there is also an "Instagram Badge" with the same price range. It is said that the new subscription will work by letting users pay their favourite creators for exclusive content not seen by non-paying users. Each subscription will also come with a "Member Badge" that displays next to the fans' usernames.

It's unsure when Instagram will roll out this feature. Besides that, the platform might also be working on "Exclusive Stories", which the name already suggests that only paying users can access the exclusive stories. At last, we hope that the social media platform will release something that doesn't require us to take our wallets out as well.

What do you think about paying to see the content that you get to see now for free on Instagram? Drop a comment to let us know your opinion and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech report.


Instagram cracks down on online bullying with 2 new features

With the reign of social media also reigns the keyboard warriors. If you aren’t familiar with the term, it refers to those who love arguing and posting mean things on the internet. Cyberbullying happens on the online space as well which is why Instagram is stepping up with two new features.

One thing the social media platform has learned is that people tend to retract their negative comments once they’ve had time to reflect. With the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Instagram will now notify users who are about to post negative comments. The AI will ask the user if they are sure if they want to post a specific comment, allowing them the chance to reflect and decide if they want to proceed.

Here's what hapens when you try to post a mean comment

The next feature is called Restrict. It allows users to control their Instagram experience without ruining relationships with people around them. It can be hard to block or unfollow someone - especially if they know each other in person which makes things awkward. Restrict makes it so that only the commenter can see their comments on a user’s posts. Users can make the comment visible by approving it. If you’ve restricted someone, they cannot see if you are active on Instagram or know when you’ve read their Direct Messages.

With these in place, hopefully social media will finally be the happy place we all long for. Also, with all the reflecting that will be happening before trolls post comments, perhaps they too would have some time to re-evaluate their personalities. What do you think? Keep up with the latest tech news on TechNave.com!


Instagram developing vertically-aligned Stories for smartphones

User behaviour can often change, which is why companies need to be on the lookout for new trends. In the last few years, one notable trend has to be the Stories format that is now common on many platforms. Now, Instagram wants to make vertically-aligned Stories.

According to TechCrunch, Instagram has confirmed that it is developing a vertical format for Instagram Stories. As you may know, you tap or swipe horizontally on Instagram to navigate through Stories. However, the company feels that vertically scrolling would be a more natural way of navigating the app.

Keep in mind that this feature is still a test/prototype. It may never be released

The feature was first spotted by Twitter user Alessandro Paluzzi, who mentioned that it was a prototype that hasn't even been tested. It's speculated that the new format could result in more dynamic Stories like video posts, which will allow Instagram to compete with TikTok. Instagram already has Reels to compete in the short video segment, but vertical scrolling would be a nice quality of life improvement.

Mind you, it's unknown whether the feature will be out anytime soon. We do think it's a better way of navigating, but what about you? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Instagram doesn't want to share just photos, discusses 4 new areas of development

It's inevitable for technology to progress, something to also applies to mobile apps. When it comes to content, photos are just one of many we see online. That's why Instagram no longer considers it enough and has been working on expanding the functionality of its platform.

Yesterday, Adam Mosseri (Head of Instagram) declared that the platform is "no longer just a square photo-sharing app". He confirms that the company is working on new features for Creators, Video, Shopping, and Messaging. We've seen hints of these in recent months, such as auto-captioning for Stories, Instagram Shop, Instagram Reels, and more.

Changes are coming to video on Instagram At Instagram we’re always trying to build new features that help you get the most out of your experience. Right now we’re focused on four key areas: Creators, Video, Shopping and Messaging. pic.twitter.com/ezFp4hfDpf

Instagram certainly has been working hard on features lately. In fact, the company finally started rolling out direct posting on desktop. The company also announced that physical security keys will now work with the mobile app. Another feature being tested are new stickers, which let you add clickable links in your posts.

If you're a dedicated Instagram user, all these changes and features are definitely good news for you. Having said that, what do you think of them and what other feature would you like to see on Instagram? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Instagram finally fixes its iOS app bug that plays Stories sound by default even when in silent mode

Recently, a lot of Instagram users on iOS have been complaining about a bug in the app which plays Instagram Stories with sound on by default even if your iPhone is set to silent mode. Now, the Meta-owned social media platform has finally fixed the issue with the latest update to the app.

Before the update, Instagram Stories has been broken on iPhones for quite some time now, with many netizens saying that they don’t use the app quite as often due to the bug. Well, we say bug, but we’re actually not sure whether it was a bug or something intentional by Instagram as the company don’t release any changelog for its updates.

Nevertheless, the way Stories always play sound by default throughout this period has been rather annoying, especially since it contradicts how it has always behaved on the iOS app. If you have your iPhone on silent mode, Stories will always mute the sound on Stories unless users press their volume button or unmute a video post on the Instagram feed.

Well, thankfully it has been fixed and all is normal in the world again. What do you guys think? Did you notice this bug on your iOS Instagram app? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news!


Instagram gets an upgrade to Stories, now allows videos of up to 60 seconds

If you're an Instagram content creator, here's some good news. In case you haven't heard, Instagram just got an upgrade to Stories. Previously, you could only upload clips of up to 15 seconds. But with the new update, creators can now upload videos 4 times the length.

That's right, the update allows Instagram users to upload Stories of up to 60 seconds. The company confirmed that this is a global update, so you should be able to do so on the app now. According to TechCrunch, Instagram has been testing this update since late last year. Video posts between 60 seconds and 15 minutes will be uploaded as an Instagram Reel instead.

As the source points out, this move blurs the lines between Stories and Reels. If users wanted slightly longer videos, uploading them as an Instagram Reel would be better. Of course, people who want to post GIFs or a series of photos should still use Stories. After all, Instagram Reels are only for videos.

Which one do you prefer: Stories or Reels? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Instagram has begun to test the disappearing messages feature for Direct messages

There are 'leaks' and there are discoveries. If you ask us, the latter is often more interesting because they are more likely to be true. That seems to be the case with a new unreleased feature discovered within Instagram for Android.

According to Jane Manchun Wong, an expert in the reverse-engineering of apps, the codes for disappearing messages were found in the Android version of Instagram. It was labelled as speak-no-evil mode, with the emoji in front. You know, the one with the monkey? Anyway, Wong demonstrated how the disappearing messages feature works on Instagram Direct.

Instagram is working on "speak-no-evil mode" where messages disappearIt seems to be in an early barebone version but I tried my best to demonstrate how it might work pic.twitter.com/ZrUZZj0TWo

For some reason, it works in dark mode and when you close the Direct message thread, messages sent will be gone. Instagram has also confirmed that this feature is coming, except that it's still in the early stages of development. But it seems to work, so we think it will come sooner rather than later.

With that said, how many of you are interested in having this feature on Instagram? Do let us know how important the feature could be for you on our Facebook page. Also, be sure to stay tuned to TechNave.com for more future updates on this.


Instagram has officially rolled out the new pin comments feature to everyone!

Instagram has been updating its features from group dm to story stickers to allow users to have a more personalized experience on their own profiles. Today, Instagram has just announced there will be a new pinned comment feature rolling out alongside with its comment filtering tool.

The new pinned comment feature has now rolled out to every user in its latest updates. The feature is pretty simple. All you need to do is just swipe on a comment and you’ll see the pin option alongside with the reply, report and delete prompts. So now you can just click the pin option to stick your preferred comment to the top to bring up a topic discussion towards your audience and should help you to prevent conversations from going out of it.

Today we’re rolling out pinned comments everywhere. That means you can a pin a few comments to the top of your feed post and better manage the conversation. pic.twitter.com/iPCMJVLxMh

Although some of you might not get the update yet by today, we’re pretty sure it will be appearing soon in the coming days or weeks in Malaysia. So what do you think about this new feature on Instagram? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more tech news updates on TechNave.com!


Instagram has started hiding likes as a test globally and you could be experiencing it!

Instagram is hiding likes globally! Starting from Thursday onward, the company announced hiding likes will only be extended in the US as a testing period last week but yesterday, users globally had experienced it. That's not to say everyone, but only some who are randomly selected. In fact, it could be you!

As Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram tweeted on Thursday that there will be a small portion of people globally won't be able to see the number of likes on other people’s photo anymore. Although the number of likes is hidden for other people’s post, but creators will still be able to see their own likes count.

Facebook mentioned the Instagram test was meant to “remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive” on Instagram. The company also began hiding likes since 27 September in Australia to gather feedback on whether the change will improve people’s experiences.

With that said, Facebook and Instagram will be waiting for further feedback from it. So do you feel less pressure to post pictures on your Instagram account now? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more updates on TechNave.com!


ASUS TUF Dash F15 2022 Malaysia release: 12th Gen Intel Core + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, starting from RM4699

Today, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is back with another plethora of gaming laptops. Among the lineup, the ASUS TUF series is one of the affordable ones for Malaysians and the next-gen ASUS TUF Dash F15 2022 has arrived. Featuring the latest 12th Gen Intel Core processors, it has a starting price of RM4699.

Before we get to the rest of the different variants, here's some stuff that you should know about the new TUF Dash F15. It has been updated and upgraded with the latest hardware with the aforementioned 12th Gen Intel Core processors. Besides that, you can also find an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU with a MUX Switch, DDR5 memory running at 4800MHz and a dual PCIe 4.0 SSD of storage.

The Malaysia variant is paired with an FHD 144Hz display panel with response times as low as 3ms and Adaptive-Sync support. With Thunderbolt 4 support, you can add an external dock or high-speed storage drive. Moreover, all ASUS TUF Dash F15 variant is equipped with a 76Whr battery and supports USB Type-C Power Delivery up to 100W.

For the full pricing for each TUF Dash F15 (2022) model, you may refer to them below:

It's also worth mentioning that purchasing any ASUS TUF Dash F15 model will include a free 1-month Xbox PC Game Pass (including EA Play). For your information, the monthly fee is just RM15 so it's a nice bonus to have. For more information, you may visit the official web portal right over here. Stay tuned for more trending tech gadget deals at TechNave.com.


Instagram includes photos, videos and Reels as parts of its subscription service

Back in January, Instagram introduced its subscription service for the creators to earn a profit through what they post on the social media platform. However, the subscriptions only covered minimal content, such as stories and live streams. Now, Instagram will be adding photos, videos, or Reels into the package, which is one of the most requested changes by the creators.

The subscription service is currently available only for US users. There are already features such as Subscriber Chats that allows creators to interact directly with their fans through chat groups that end in 24 hours. With the latest update, not only are photos, videos, and Reels able to be subscriber-only, but the platform has also added a new tab that stores all the exclusive content, which is called Subscriber Home.

Subscriptions Update Subscriptions are a great way for creators to have a predictable income & for fans to get exclusive content from creators that they love.This update includes:- Subscriber Chats- Subscriber Reels- Subscriber Posts- Subscriber Home pic.twitter.com/5PzDTcwn8d

Besides adding these new features, Instagram is also working on pushing the service onto the global stage. Unfortunately, it's still unknown when that might happen. The subscription can range from $0.99 (~RM4) to $99.99 (~RM444) per month for exclusive content in the US, not to mention that Instagram doesn't take any commission.

Do you hope for the feature to be available in Malaysia soon? Leave a comment to let us know, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


Instagram introduces ‘Quiet Mode’ to help users take a break from the app

Instagram has introduced a new feature called ‘Quiet Mode’ on its mobile app which the platform dubbed as ‘a new way to manage your time and focus’. When turned on, the feature will mute all notifications and send an auto-reply to anyone sending you a direct message (DM) on the app.

Announced on Meta’s Newsroom, Instagram said that it will specifically prompt teen users to toggle on Quiet Mode when they spend ‘a specific amount of time” on the app late at night. Furthermore, Quiet Mode will also be shown on your profile to notify other users that you’re using the feature so that they won’t disturb you or know that you won’t be seeing DMs from them.

Speaking of which, a summary of all notifications that you’ve missed will be shown to you once you return to the app. Quiet Mode can also be scheduled by users to turn on automatically at specific times.

Besides that, Instagram is also introducing several other changes to the app. These include:

So, what do you guys think of these changes being introduced by Instagram? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


Instagram introduces new features for Reels, including changing the time limit to 90 seconds.

Instagram's Reels was previously seen as a TikTok rip-off, but users might care less about that now as the platform has witnessed a substantial growth. To bring an even better experience, Instagram has revealed a few new features, including bumping up the time limit to 90 seconds.

Before this, users were only allowed to record up to 60 seconds of Reels. Compared to TikTok, it's still not a big upgrade as the competitor already allows up to 10 minutes. Furthermore, Instagram has introduced access to enhanced sound effects library. Users can also import their own audio now, with the ability to grab audio from an existing video clip on their phones and import it to Reels. Interactive stickers support is available now as well, plus the creation of polls.

The source says that the most useful feature among the new ones could be this one called 'Templates'. It will allow users to sync clips easily with music and video. The template will basically pre-load audio and clip placeholders, allowing the ability to add and trim own clips.

Have you filmed some Reels before? If yes, tell us what else you would like to see on the platform by leaving a comment, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech report.


Instagram is currently testing out a new feature to remind users to take a break

While surfing on your social media apps can be relaxing, it can also be tiring due to the kind of content you like to see online. Just a few hours ago, Adam Mosseri (Instagram CEO) just announced that the Instagram team will be testing out a new "Take a Break" feature.

As the name applies, it does what you think it does, said Mosseri in his Twitter post. How does this work? Simple, let's say after surfing on Instagram for a long period and eventually, you would come across the "Want a break?" which you can opt to turn on or not. At the moment, the beta test reveals between 10 to 30 minutes break.

Testing “Take a Break” We started testing a new feature called “Take a Break” this week. This opt-in control enables you to receive break reminders in-app after a duration of your choosing.I’m excited to dig into the results & hopefully launch this sometime in December. pic.twitter.com/WdSTjL6ZdH

The Instagram team is currently working with third-party experts on how to best utilise this feature and even gives some suggestions. From the Twitter video, the app would remind you to take a deep breath to do something else on your to-do list. Only a small percentage of Instagram users are testing it now and if it works, it will be rolling out globally to everyone.

Mosseri emphasised that this feature is an effort to give people more control to use Instagram on their terms. Should it succeed, it should take about two months or so for the new update. At the earliest lunch, "Take a Break" could launch sometime in December as well.

What do you think of this feature? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Instagram is launching a TikTok-like feature on its app

It seems like Facebook is doing a good job of keeping its younger generation of users on Instagram. However, the social media company is not stopping yet. It has developed a new feature that is similar to the one on TikTok and it's already released to Instagram users in Brazil.

The name of the feature is called ‘Reels’. It allows you to do the same thing on TikTok by adding music into a short clip of yours and share it with others. The 15-second video clips will also be ranked depending on their popularity and appear inside a ‘Top Reels’ section which you can find on the "explore" page to check out other interesting Reels videos.

For music selection, you don’t have to worry about not getting the right tune as Instagram stores a huge library of songs. You may also use the audio from the other publicly shared Reels videos or even remix their music for your own use in the app.

Furthermore, Reels also includes a ghost tool for you to line up your shots and a countdown to get your timing right. If you’re too shy to share your funny Reels video with the public, you can just share it with anyone you prefer via Direct Message too.

Let us know what you think about this TikTok-rival feature for Instagram? For more tech news, stay tuned on TechNews.com


Instagram is now rolling out an update that lets you restore your recently deleted posts

Have you ever accidentally deleted a post on your Instagram account and wished you could undo that? Well, there's a new update for the app now and you can now restore your recently deleted posts. This includes photos, videos, reels, stories and even IGTV.

While they didn't say much about the update, sources say that this new feature can come in quite handy against hackers. This is because hackers tend to delete the original account's posts and it's not possible to recover them when gone. With this, the original poster can just choose to either permanently delete or restore content by confirming that they are the real account owner via SMS text or email.

If the deleted items are not touched for more than 30 days, then the contents will be automatically deleted. This doesn't apply for deleted stories, though, as they only have 24 hours. To access into the deleted posts section, you just need to go to Settings -> Account -> Recently Deleted.

This new update is currently rolling out as we speak, so if you don't have it yet - be patient and wait for it! Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Instagram is putting ads in search results and enabling brands to push out ‘reminder ads’

Meta-owned social media platform Instagram has announced that it’s rolling out two new ad placements on the app. These include ads in search results and a new ‘reminder ads’ notification from brands.

In an official blog post, Instagram elaborated that the two new ad products would give businesses more ways to get discovered and form meaningful connections. Through ads in search results, businesses can reach people actively searching for specific products and content.

The ads will show up in the feed that users can scroll when they tap into a post from search results. Instagram further revealed that this ad placement will launch globally “in the coming months”.

As for reminder ads, businesses can announce, remind and notify people of future events or launches that they might be interested in. It is currently being rolled out to all advertisers as an option in feed.

Users have the option to o or out of receiving reminder ads. Should they opt-in, they will be receiving three notifications from Instagram one day before, 15 minutes before and at the time of the event.

So, what do you guys think of these new ad placements on Instagram? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news such as this!


Instagram is removing 'likes'... for now

Don’t freak out, Instagram is currently hiding Instagram likes for users in Australia as a test. For those of you not following, the number of “likes” for an instagram photo can usually be seen under a photo. Now it is no longer possible for Australian users to see their own and others’ “likes” on photos.

In light of mental health issues that have arisen, Mia Garlick, Facebook Australia and New Zealand’s Head of Policy expressed that the company wants “to be a place where people feel comfortable expressing themselves”. They hope that the test will remove the pressure of garnering “likes” on photos.

This is a very good thing as it has been reported that out of the five major social media platforms which are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Youtube and Instagram, Instagram is the most harmful to the youth’s mental health. In light of that, the social media platform has reacted by introducing some updates that would help obliterate the problem. Among them is an update that would help reduce cyberbullying through AI. Do you believe Instagram would be a better place without “likes”? Keep up with the latest app news on TechNave.com!


Instagram is stopping you from stalking public accounts by prompting you to sign in!

Stalking days are over! After the following tab got removed recently, Instagram is trying to get rid of stalkers as you will no longer be able to dig into public accounts without signing in to your account.

There was no official announcement when did this feature rolled out but it was discovered and confirmed by a Facebook spokesperson on Wednesday. It seems that you have a limited time to scroll through a few rows of pictures before being prompted to sign in.

Also, Instagram has a new feature for creators to create and share series on IGTV. Creators can now organize videos into episodes and have the series title appear on each video, this will automatically recommend viewers to watch the next episode when they are watching an episode from the series.

Although IGTV is not widely used by creators, the new horizontal videos coming up as a trend and new features popping up, it will probably be the next big thing! So what do you think of the recent updates on Instagram? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more on TechNave.com!


Instagram is testing new repost feature, could include a repost tab on profiles

Reposting is considered an important feature on social media. By doing so, you could share the things you came across with even more people, especially with your social circle. With that said, Instagram might soon add a new tab to store all your reposted pictures on your profile.

Currently, one of the ways to repost an Instagram post is by sharing it through Stories. It seems like the photo-sharing platform wants to make things more efficient by introducing this new tab. Of course, you will not see the feature if you open Instagram now as it is still in the testing phase.

Instagram Reposts Tab on profiles?!What’s dis Adam? pic.twitter.com/WayWCJGBfx

Other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and even TikTok have allowed reposting for quite some time. It's still unsure how Instagram will implement the feature, but we're looking forward to it. Could it include an extra button under each post? We'll find out soon!

What do you think about Instagram introducing a new repost feature? Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


ASUS TUF Dash F15 & Gaming A15 Malaysia release: AMD Ryzen 5000 series Mobile CPUs, Nvidia GeForce 3000 series GPUs, and improved thermals for RM5299

CES 2021 was held last week and we saw lots of new products being launched. Among them were the latest laptops from ASUS, including models for casual users and gamers. Now, ASUS Malaysia has confirmed that all of the new models will come to Malaysia, with the TUF series devices coming by the end of January 2021.

First up is the TUF Dash F15, which belongs to a completely new series. This laptop is the first TUF laptop that's designed to be portable, with a weight of just 2kg and a thickness of 19mm. However, it's still MIL-STD-810H certified and packs amazing specs. Under the chassis are the Intel Core i7-11375H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070. In addition to that, it has 1TB of SSD storage.

Next, there's the TUF Gaming A15 gaming laptop, which is a refresh of the model we reviewed last year. There are two variants of the laptop with different specs. The first one is equipped with the GeForce RTX 3060, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 144Hz display. On the other hand, the second variant has a more powerful RTX 3070 GPU, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 240Hz display. All variants have the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU and 16GB of DDR4 RAM.

ASUS Malaysia has already announced the local prices for all three models. The new TUF Dash F15 will retail for RM6999, while the two variants for the TUF Gaming A15 will be priced at RM5299 and RM6699 respectively. Those are pretty affordable prices, considering the CPUs and GPUs they come with.

The TUF laptops now come with fans with more blades, which should improve thermal performance

The new Nvidia GPUs come with a bunch of new features, such as this 2-way AI Noise Cancellation

Of course, that's not all that ASUS Malaysia announced. The company also confirmed that new devices for the ROG family that were revealed at CES 2021 would be coming to Malaysia soon. Specifically, a total of six new products will be arriving around mid-February 2021. This includes the ROG Flow X13, Zephyrus Duo 15 SE, Zephyrus G15, Strix Scar 15/17, Strix G15/G17, and the XG Mobile.

We'll be writing about the new ROG products once they've launched in Malaysia, so do stay tuned to TechNave.com for that. Aside from that, what do you think of the new TUF series laptops? Let us know in the comments below!


Instagram is working on a feature that mimics what BeReal offers

Photo courtesy of The Guardian and Lifestyle Asia

BeReal is a social media app that notifies the users to snap a picture within two minutes at a random, predetermined time each day and share it with others. Compared to another popular image-sharing platform Instagram, BeReal emphasizes its users being real without all those filters, likes, and followers. Today, it's discovered that Instagram might be taking the idea and implementing it on its platform as well.

Alessandro Paluzzi, a developer known for reverse engineering apps and finding early versions of upcoming updates, is the one who spotted the feature. An Instagram spokesperson has also confirmed it as an "internal prototype" and declined to provide additional details.

However, thanks to Paluzzi, we might be able to get a little bit of a taste of the feature. It's said that Instagram will make it as challenges called 'Candid Challenges'. Users who participate will see a notification at a different time each day to snap a photo of their surroundings. Upon getting the prompt, the Instagram camera will also open both front and rear-facing shooters and give users a two-minute window to take the pic. After that, content shared via the challenges will appear as Stories.

What do you think about this feature coming to Instagram? Would you join the challenges? Drop a comment to let us know your thoughts about it, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


Instagram launches AMBER Alerts to search for missing children in your area

With waves of news about Amber Heard losing the court case against Johnny Depp, there is also other news regarding AMBER. And no, it's not the actress again but rather AMBER Alerts launching on Instagram. This new function will help people to see and share notices of missing children in their area.

For those who don't know, AMBER Alerts has been around since 2015 on Facebook and it was a successful feature to locate missing children. Now making its debut on Instagram, the alert functions include important details of a missing child such as a photo, description, the abducted location and other available information.

It's important to note that your IG profile, IP address and location services must be turned on to use AMBER Alerts. This feature will be activated by law enforcement and if you are in your designated search area, it will appear on your Instagram feed. You may share the alert as aforementioned to spread awareness.

Malaysia happens to be part of the first wave of the rollout update. AMBER Alerts was co-developed with National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the US, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, the National Crime Agency in the UK, the Attorney General’s Office in Mexico, the Australian Federal Police and more.

That's all, folks. Make sure you update your Instagram to the latest version on the Apple App and Google Play Store. Stay safe and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Instagram new Commerce Eligibility Requirements updates will allow creators to sell products starting on July!

Instagram has been supporting small and local businesses throughout the pandemic period with stickers. Today, the company announced a new Commerce Eligibility Requirements for Instagram Shopping to let creators sell merchandise directly in the app starting from next month.

According to Instagram, the new Commerce Eligibility Requirements will go into effect on 9 July where creators will need to demonstrate the authenticity and trustworthiness on their profile as well as proving the established presence by showing the sufficient follower base. The creators also need to tag products on Instagram from the website they own or selling from. However, Instagram did not specify the minimum getaway of followers for creators to be qualified.

Instagram new Commerce Eligibility Updates

Instagram has been planning to allow creators to sell and shop on Instagram for years since 2016. The company first introduced shopping tags in 2016 and followed by the business stickers this on Instagram Stories this. Earlier on, only celebrities and influencers had access to Instagram’s shopping features and finally, it’s available to creators.

With that said,  you can start shopping on Instagram starting from next month. So are you excited about the new updates? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more news updates on TechNave.com!


Instagram now allows users to download their own Reels

Finally, Instagram will allow users to download Reels in the app. The announcement was made by Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri on his Instagram broadcast channel. However, this feature is only available in the US for now.

Are there any limits on downloading Reels? Well, the CEO mentioned that only public accounts are eligible for it. On top of that, users with a public account can turn the feature off should they prefer that way. Downloaded Reels will also have an Instagram logo and the account name embedded. This is pretty similar to TikTok if we are being honest.

In case you didn't know, TikTok has always allowed users to download their own videos. Downloaded TikTok videos will also leave a watermark and the account name, and people would simply upload them to other platforms such as Reels and YouTube Shorts.

That said, Instagram stopped promoting Reels with a TikTok watermark back in 2021 and YouTube started its own Shorts logo on downloaded videos on its own channel. Despite the intention to discourage that, it's believed that many users still do that due to convenience.


Instagram now has 60-second Reels and more security updates for kids

Instagram has been working on a lot of features in the last few months. Recently, the company even discussed its focus in four areas. These include videos and creators, which are both areas that received some related updates yesterday.

Yesterday, Instagram announced on Twitter that Reels would be expanded. From now on, you can record clips of up to 60 seconds on Instagram Reels. For your information, the feature initially started with 15-second videos. It soon expanded to 30-second videos and now 60-second videos. TikTok also has 60-second videos but is working to add 3-minute videos to its platform.

Reels. up to 60 secs. starting today. pic.twitter.com/pKWIqtoXU2

Besides the update to Reels, Instagram has updated the accounts of all users under 16-years-old have defaulted to private accounts. This allows young people to control who gets to see or respond to their content, as well as block creepy people from finding them via Explore. Moreover, advertisers now have more restrictions when it comes to targeting ads on kids under 18-years-old.

We're not too sure about the new security measures, but the Reels update is great for people who want to upload longer videos. Besides the above, what other features should Instagram add or change? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Instagram now has a Reels and Shop tab, enables easier content sharing and searching

When it comes to social media platforms, Instagram is one of the most popular globally and even in Malaysia. That's probably why Facebook is adding a new way for reaching out to its large user base with two new features - Reels and Shop.

As announced by Facebook, Instagram now has a Reels and Shop tab on the mobile app. In particular, Reels was actually introduced back in August. This feature is meant to compete with Tiktok, as it allows users to create and post 15-second videos to Instagram. Now, there's a whole tab dedicated to Reels, so the content creators on Instagram can share their content.

Then there's the Shop tab, which is rather self-explanatory. This tab makes it easier to sell products to Instagram users, something that was first allowed after an update in July this year. With the Shop tab, users can find personalised recommendations, editors' choices and a variety of other products.

Have you gotten the Instagram update on your phone yet? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below! Also, do stay tuned to TechNave.com for more trending tech news.


Instagram now has auto-captioning stickers for Stories

If you use Instagram a lot, you might be interested in the app's latest feature. Instagram has added a new function to stickers for Instagram Stories. It allows the app to automatically generate captions based on what the user says.

According to Engadget, the feature only recognises English for now and isn't widely available yet. However, Instagram will be adding more languages and will roll out the feature to more countries in the future. It will also be added to Instagram Reels eventually.

Sound off …with sound off Now you can add a captions sticker in Stories (coming soon to Reels) that automatically turns what you say into text. We’re starting in a handful of countries and hope to expand soon. pic.twitter.com/OAJjmFcx4R

So, how does the feature work? First, you have to go to the sticker menu and add the caption sticker. It will then add the captions based on what you say. The colour, font, and size of the text can be changed once it's generated. You can also edit it to correct any grammar or spelling issues.

The ones who benefit the most from the feature are users who have hearing issues. Would this be a feature you would use often? What kind of stickers do you like adding to your Instagram Stories? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Instagram now has paid badges, also testing selfie verification

If you recall, there was a rumour last week claiming that Instagram could launch subscriptions soon. From the leaked image, you could see that the company was also working on a badge system. Well, it looks like the latter is ready to roll out.

Instagram's paid badges are now officially available for Instagram content creators in the US. You must be of age (18-years-old) and need at least 10k followers to be eligible. Once approved, users can purchase badges during the live streams of their favourite creators. These badges will be available for USD1 (~RM4.18), USD2 (~RM8.36), and USD5 (~RM20.89). For more details, check the official website.

Instagram is now using video selfies to confirm users identityMeta promises not to collect biometric data. pic.twitter.com/FNT2AdW8H2

Besides paid badges, Instagram is also working on a new verification system. According to Matt Navarra, the company now requires users to confirm their identity with video selfies. For those worried about security, Instagram has allegedly promised not to collect biometric data. This method could cut down on the number of fake profiles and spam accounts.

Instagram is working on monetising its platform and also helping its users monetise. Would you want to pay to watch creators on Instagram? Share your opinion in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for updates on Instagram features.


Instagram now uses AI and face scanning to detect if users are 13 and above

Photo courtesy of Little Media Agency and Today's Parent

Instagram has once again enforced a new method to verify users' age. However, it uses a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and face scanning this time, and it's something it has never done before.

It has been a long while since Instagram made an effort to stop users below 13 years old from signing up for an account. However, pressured by privacy and child safety experts, the platform has recently introduced more and more age-verification features.

This new one will only ask users to verify their age if they're teenagers trying to edit their birth date to show them as 18 or older. They can do so by uploading pictures of various ID cards or, for US users, fulfilling social vouching and AI estimation. Social vouching works by letting other three users, who are 18 and above, prove that they're how old they say. The users only have three days to respond to Instagram's request. Meanwhile, the AI estimation involves sending a video selfie to a third-party company, Yoti, which uses machine learning to estimate a person's age.

Yoti has been a reputable company in the online age and ID verification segment. It's even trusted by the UK government and German digital regulators. If you want to know how it works, it says that it uses various facial signals to estimate a target's age. Its technology was 98.89 per cent accurate at guessing whether or not people aged 18 were over or under 25, which means for every 1,000 guesses the system made, only between 0 and 11 would be mistaken.

Do you think this new verification method can help prevent young users from signing up for an account? Leave a comment to let us know your opinion, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


Instagram officially kills off its IGTV standalone app after 4 years

It looks like Instagram has given up on its attempt to capture the long-form video market following the company’s move to kill off the IGTV standalone app. In an official blog post on Monday (28 February 2022), Instagram confirmed that it is discontinuing support for the IGTV app thus ending the service as a whole. RIP!

IGTV was introduced by Instagram back in 2018 but the app never actually took off. While IGTV had an audience, most people prefer to use more established video platforms such as YouTube to post their longer videos and use Instagram for posting photos and short videos that are under 1-minute.

The death of IGTV is not something unexpected though. In fact, you could see it from miles away. Last year, Instagram moved IGTV videos back to the main video feed of the Instagram app which negates the need to have a standalone IGTV app in the first place.

Now that IGTV is officially dead, the company said that it will be putting its focus on other aspects of Instagram video and Instagram Reels. Speaking of which, Instagram also announced within the same blog post that it will start showing ads on the Reels feed.

No details have been just given yet on how these ads would function but Instagram confirmed that this would allow content creators to monetise their video on Reels. Bad news for viewers, great news for content creators then. Do expect ads filling up your Instagram Reels feed by the year’s end!


ASUS TUF Dash F15, ROG Strix G15/ G17 and Zephyrus G14 Malaysia release: RTX 3000 series GPU starting from RM4699

Today, ASUS ROG Malaysia is bringing more gaming laptops into the Malaysian market in April 2021. This time, there are a total of five with the latest RTX 3000 series GPU processors namely the TUF Dash F15 (model FX516P-MHN085T and FX516P-MHN074T), ROG Strix G15 (G513Q-MHN266T) and G17 (G713Q-MHX132T), and finally the ROG Zephyrus G14 (2021). To read more on the tech specs and prices, continue below!

Starting with the TUF Dash F15, the new models are a bit different from the one announced back in January. This is because the new models (refer to the number above) just have a slight configuration using an RTX 3060 6GB VRAM GPU, as compared to the FX516PR model which uses RTX 3070 8GB. Plus, the lesser FX516PM variant features an Intel i5-11300H processor and an 8GB of DDR4 RAM. They bost cost RM5499 and RM4699 respectively.

Next, there are new ROG Strix G15 and G17 models coming in as well. Comparing the first Strix G15 that was launched in February, the newer model is slightly stronger with an AMD R9-5900H processor. Other notable specs include 2x 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD, RTX 3060 6GB VRAM GPU and a 15.6-inch FHD IPS 144Hz with Adaptive Sync. The new Strix G17 model also has the same specs except with much bigger storage of 1TB and the screen panel measures 17.3-inches. The price tags are RM5999 and RM6299.

Finally, the flashy Zephyrus G14 (2021) with AniMe Matrix is coming for the price of RM7699. The specs are similar to the Strix G17 but sporting an AMD R9-5900HS processor, 2x 8GB of DDR4 RAM, 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD and RTX 3060 6GB VRAM GPU. Like the predecessor, the IPS display is just 14-inches but it's Pantone Validated with Adaptive Sync as well as supporting WQHD resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and DCI-P3 100%. You can choose either Moonlight White (GA401Q-MK2237TS) or Eclipse Gray (GA401Q-MK2164TS).

To learn more about the gaming laptops mentioned above, you may visit the official links below. Stay tuned for more trending local tech gadget deals at TechNave.com.


Instagram planning not to split Stories if it's less than 60 seconds

Earlier, Instagram has confirmed the return of the chronological feed in 2022. It has proven that the platform does listen to its users by bringing the most loved post sequence back. However, it looks like another thing that users would like to have is coming as well, and it's posting Stories longer than 15 seconds.

According to a user from Turkey, the photo-sharing platform has started to notify some users regarding the change. The prompt message writes "Discover longer stories. Videos up to 60 seconds will no longer be segmented." If you haven't noticed, the current Stories can only last 15 seconds, and anything longer than that would split into another clip.

Besides that, Instagram could also be looking for a new way to let users interact with Stories. The platform is currently testing a revamped interface that will make it easier to mention other accounts or add a location to a post in Stories.

Are you looking forward to using these new features on Instagram? Drop a comment to let us know your answer and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


Instagram removes "following" tab feature and added Dark Mode Theme in its new updates!

Instagram is consistently having new updates recently and one of the major update is the removal of the following tab feature that allowed users to spy on their friend’s activities. This feature used to enable users to follow the activities such as liked posts, commented posts, new subscriptions and many more from their friends they followed.

This feature can be found once you clicked into the heart icon menu where there was two-column on top, a “Following” tab on the left and “You” on the right. Once you’ve clicked on the “Following” tab, you were able to see your friends activities but most users are unaware of this feature as it has been on Instagram since 2011.

New Instagram updates removes "Following" tab

Vishal Shah, Instagram product manager mentioned it’s initially similar to the Facebook activities history features but it has become a tool that hurts the privacy of the users themself. For example, a girlfriend will be able to track how many bikini girls pictures his boyfriend has liked for the past one week and questioning him for it.

Although Instagram has removed one of its old features, but it has added another cool new feature on the latest Instagram update that offers a dark mode interface. But according to the official Twitter post from Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, it is only available for the iOS 13, Android 10, and Android 9 devices which supports a system-wide dark mode.

While this feature is a cool new addition for the users, but it only can be triggered when you changed your device theme into dark mode but not in the app itself. So what do you think about the new updates on Instagram? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more updates on TechNave.com!


Instagram revamps its app feed, will display posts in chronological order once again

Instagram yesterday announced that it is revamping the app by introducing ‘Favourites’ and ‘Following’, two new ways for your feed to behave. The good news is, regardless of which option you take, your feed will display posts in chronological order again!

Shared by the Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri via a Meta blogpost yesterday, the change is part of the platform’s initiative to give users more choice and control over what they see in their feed. Furthermore, the change wants to make the time users spend on Instagram ‘feel more intentional’.

If users opt for ‘Favourites’, their feed will show the latest from accounts that they personally choose. These include posts by friends and their favourite personalities on Instagram; all of which will show up higher in users’ home feed.

With Favourites, users can add up to 50 accounts to their favourites list and are able to make changes to the list at any time. Furthermore, people are not notified when they are added or removed from the list, so if you have a feud with your friend, you can remove them from the list without worry. :P

As for 'Following', it practically just show you posts from the people you follow without priority for any specific account. Both Following and Favourites will show posts in chronological order, as we’ve mentioned earlier.

To use Favourites and Following, just tap on the Instagram logo at the top left corner of your home page which should have a drop down menu after the update. Just choose either Following and Favourites and you’re all set up.

So, what do you guys think of the new change? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and if you’re opting for a ‘Favourites’ Instagram feed, don’t forget to add TechNave’s Instagram account into your favourites list okay. :P

While you’re at it, do follow TechNave on Facebook and Twitter too for the latest trending tech news such as this!


Instagram rolled out a new Co-watching feature to let friends and families browse their feeds together with video chats!

Ever since people are staying at home to help curb the spread of`12 COVID-19, scrolling through your Instagram feed has been something you do alone throughout the day to keep yourself entertained. But recently, Instagram has rolled out the new Co-watching feature to help users feel less lonely by having a virtual gathering with their friends and families.The new feature does not just allow users to chat on video with groups to browse through posts that they liked or saved in their Instagram feed but also allows participants of the video call to view their friends’ Instagram recommendations. This will give them a chance to talk about different posts on photos and videos to make the group feel more connected to each other.

To use the CO-watching feature all you need to do is just head to Instagram Direct by tapping on the paper plane icon on the top right corner of the app, then tap into the selected contact and tap the video call icon in the messaging page. Once you’ve started the video call, just tap on the photo icon at the bottom of the panel to view all recently liked, saved and Instagram recommendations available on your feed.

To give people more ways to give back at this time, we added a new COVID-19 section to our Donation sticker so people can quickly identify relevant nonprofits. We are also making the sticker available in other countries. pic.twitter.com/gtUg5wLQtq

Other than that, Instagram also started highlighting more educational resources about Covid-19 in the search tab and also added donation stickers to let users identify non-profit organizations and ask for relevant and genuine donations from all around the world. Instagram also will start featuring a “Stay Home” on all the shared stories posts to help users practice social distancing during this period of time.With that said,  there are more group video chats and Co-watching features rolling out on mobile apps to help ease out the feelings of isolation. So do take advantage of these features to stay connected with your friends and family`. Stay tuned for more news updates on TechNave.com!


Instagram rolling out "Private Stories Likes" to declutter your DMs

Instagram is rolling out a minor update that takes away Stories reactions from direct messages (DMs). It's said to declutter the DMs by relocating the reactions to the other corner.

Users will soon find a new heart icon sitting between the send message pill and send button (paper plane icon) for them to react to Stories. After tapping on it, the authors of the Stories will find the reactions within the viewer sheet right next to the user names. Therefore, don't be sad if you find no one reacting to your Stories in DMs, as they have been moved to the other place.

Private Story Likes Starting to roll out today, you can now send some love by liking people’s stories without sending a DM. Likes on stories are private and do not have counts. Rather, they appear as hearts next to people’s handles in your Stories view sheet. pic.twitter.com/l56Rmzgnnw

"The idea here is to make sure that people can express more support for each other, but also to clean up DMs a little bit," said Instagram chief Adam Mosseri. Besides that, the social media platform is also looking to increase the duration of Reels from 60 seconds to 90 seconds to keep up with TikTok, which currently offers up to 3 minutes of continuous recording.

Do you find the update useful, or do you prefer the reactions to show up in your DMs? Drop a comment to let us know what you think, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech report.


Instagram rolling out direct posting from desktop to a limited group of users

If you recall, there was a leak last month revealing that Instagram had been working on direct posting from the desktop site. Of course, the company hasn't announced it yet. However, some users seem to have gotten access to it already.

The feature was spotted by Matt Navarra, who revealed that you can now publish posts from the Instagram desktop site. Instagram users can access it by clicking on the '+' button next to the Messenger icon. As you can see, the interface is similar to the one revealed in last month's leak. You'll be able to choose the size of pictures, directly upload them, add filters, and more.

More screenshots of creating + publishing posts via https://t.co/3QaHTLlqBE pic.twitter.com/G5mptOhN06

Mind you, the feature doesn't seem to be widely available. Plenty of users have confirmed that they don't have it, and we Malaysians don't have access either. This means that it could be a limited AB testing for users in selected countries. It also doesn't work via web browsers on mobile devices.

How about you, did you see the '+' icon on your Instagram desktop account? If you did, do let us know in the comments below! For updates on the feature's official release, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Instagram rolling out limited time "Playback" feature today!

Instagram has been working on a few new features this year which yesterday we reported that the app will bring back the chronological feed starting next year. Since we are approaching the end of 2021, the company is launching a new “Playback” feature that will recap up to 10 of your top stories for the year to reflect on your 2021.

The new Playback tool is rolling out starting today and this will be a limited time feature for the next several weeks only. Users will get to see a pop up message on top of your feed inviting them to view their 2021 Playback. Once you click in, The feature will automatically generate the Playback year-in-review.

Of course, just in case you feel like sharing a different Instagram story of the year, you will be able to customize it by adding or removing stories before sharing it. The Playback feature is rolling out starting today, so do remember to update and take note on the top of your feed.

As of now, we still have yet to receive this new limited time feature on our Instagram, but no worries, once we get it, we will certainly update it on our Facebook page. So do stay tuned on our Facebook page and TechNave.com for more tech news updates.


Instagram rolling the the Remix feature for Instagram Reels!

Instagram has officially announced on their Twitter account that the Remix feature for Instagram Reels will now be rolled out to the masses starting from today onwards. For those who are not familiar with the Remix feature, it essentially allows users to take existing reels and add their own twist to them such as adding a reaction or a response.

If you’re interested in trying out the new Remix feature for Instagram Reels, all you need to do is head over to any Reels you’re keen on remixing and tap on the 3-dot menu that’s located on the top right. Next, tap on “Remix This Reel” and record reaction or response to the original Reel.


Instagram's swipe left test hit a larger than intended audience and left many in shock

Many of you probably reach for your phones first thing in the morning to scroll through social media before starting your day. If you did that, then you probably saw the Instagram update where you scroll through your feed by swiping left instead of scrolling horizontally this morning, almost like Tinder.

Personally, I only saw the update on my account for 5 minutes before it was rolled back. The giant social media company tweeted out that the “update” was simply a bug. According to the company, the feature was supposed to be a test for a small number of users but a bug caused the test to go widespread to a larger than intended audience.

Due to a bug, some users saw a change to the way their feed appears today. We quickly fixed the issue and feed is back to normal. We apologize for any confusion.

wtf instagram? what's with swipe to left? Am I in Tinder? #instagram #fail pic.twitter.com/BgHJE5DshL

Despite the statement, many users called the company out for 'backpedalling' and the hashtag #InstagramFail began trending on Twitter and a few threatening to delete their accounts. Did you like swiping left to go through your IG feed?  For more news and updates on your favourite internet happenings, hit that follow button on TechNave.com’s social media feeds and don’t forget to drop by our website!


Instagram shutting down standalone Direct app most likely by end of May

Based on Twitter user Matt Navarra, Instagram will be shutting down their standalone Direct app most likely by the end of May 2019. But fret not, as all the conversations that took place on the standalone app will migrate over to the Instagram itself.

Instagram Direct was initially developed in 2017, to separate itself from the original Instagram app in order to directly compete with a similar app called Snapchat. However, due to positive remarks thanks to the introduction of the Instagram Story, the original app itself may have unintentionally “cannibalized” Instagram Direct.

That being said, many may not have heard of the standalone app due to it being only available in countries such as Uruguay, Chile, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, as well as Israel. The developers noted that they will continue the development of Direct and have its features incorporated into the main Instagram app. For more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


ASUS TUF Dash F15 released: 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, GeForce RTX 3070 and more

ASUS Republic of Gamers didn't hold back at all when they announced their 2021 gaming laptops and accessories, but they aren't done with CES 2021 yet. The company continued with other lifestyle laptops and their own TUF gaming laptop which makes a return. Here's everything you need to know about the new TUF Dash F15.

Built with MIL-STD-810H military body material, it is available in Moonlight White and Eclipse Gray alongside the TUF logo on the cover lid. Measuring at 19.9mm thin, the gaming laptop features the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11375H processor clocking in at 5GHz, up to a GeForce RTX 3070 GPU (8 GB GDDR6 VRAM), up to 16 GB of DDR4-3200 memory (+ SODIMM slot support up to 32GB), and up to 1TB of PCI Express SSD with additional M.2 SSD slots.

For the IPS screen panel, it is 15.6-inches in FHD resolution that can support 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, 100% sRGB, and Adaptive-Sync-ready. Like the ROG gaming laptop, the TUF Dash F15 also has DTSX: Ultra audio system and a Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation for better voice chatting. There are plenty of ports as well, including a Thunderbolt 4, 3x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), HDMI 2.0, an audio jack, and more.

The battery is 76Wh and the power supply is a 200W adapter type that supports 100W PD charging. Of course, the TUF Dash F15 also has an advanced cooling system to keep the laptop cool while gaming. The connectivity is improved with WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.1.

There's a good chance that ASUS ROG Malaysia will import this bad boy into the Malaysian market. Are you looking forward to it? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for the official announcement only at TechNave.com.


Instagram testing new UI for Stories for selected users

If you like using Instagram on your PC, you may or may not have seen a new update to the platform. Allegedly, Instagram is working on a new UI design for Instagram Stories for desktop users and has begun to do A/B testing recently.

Currently, when you use Instagram Stories on desktop PCs, you get a large tile taking up the centre of the screen and arrow buttons for navigation. But according to Engadget, the new Instagram Stories will look more like a carousel with a few new Stories loaded. You will still have to click through or let the Stories play to go through them, but at least you'll know where you are in the queue.

Instagram has said that a small group of users have been beta testing the feature since last month. However, it's hard to say when we'll get the update or if it will be a permanent feature. It does seem to be an improvement over the current UI, but it may use more system memory, so it might be annoying to use for PCs with very little RAM.

Having said that, has anyone of you managed to get this update for your Instagram account on desktops? What does it look like and what do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Instagram to reduce the number recommended posts after a week of criticisms from fans

Just yesterday, we talked about how Meta is doubling the amount of content that you don't follow on your Facebook and Instagram accounts. Personally, I'm not a big fan of this because I just want to see what my friends and family are up to. Even the Kardashians hate the new Instagram but luckily, it seems that Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri is going to make a U-turn.

For context, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company is trying out a new Discovery Engine that introduces users to more content that we never knew, particularly in video Reels. In short, it works similarly to TikTok on a certain topic or interest that has garnered millions of new users. Not surprisingly, many people have tweeted how much they hated the new approach.

The new Instagram update really understood what I was looking for:- none of my friends’ content- reposted TikToks from meme accounts I do not follow- 100x more ads - everything played at full volume against my will

During an interview between The Verge and Mosseri, it seems that Instagram will be making a U-turn after a week of criticism by fans and users. Mossier told the media that this version will be unused for the next one to two weeks. At the same time, Instagram will reduce the number of recommended posts that we don't want to see.

Mosseri said that he was glad that Instagram took a risk but will need to regroup and think of a better idea. Initially, he said the trend for users watching more short clips was inevitable so a change was only natural. However, the result wasn't great and we are glad that it made him realise that.

That said, this is only temporary and Instagram is back at the drawing table to figure out the best way to implement recommendations. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.