Step into a future of 5G with the premium mid-range OPPO Reno5

In 2020, companies started to push 5G technology in various markets and sectors. 5G may not be widely available yet, but the push for it is expected to accelerate this year. Because of that, you'll see companies launch more 5G smartphones this year. But the same questions remain. Is 5G worth adopting so early and which model should we go for?

Many hesitate to invest in 5G devices because they tend to be more expensive. While entry-level 5G smartphones would be more common in the future, mid-range models are generally the better options in 2021. Today, we take a look at one that's going on pre-order starting today - the OPPO Reno5 - and see what makes it a suitable 5G smartphone to futureproof yourself with.

Preliminary 5G tests in 2019 show speed far surpassing 4G speeds

So, why should I get a 5G phone like the OPPO Reno5? There are a few reasons, such as higher resolution for photos and videos, or higher bit-rates for audio files. While you can comfortably stream a few 1080p YouTube videos simultaneously on a 300Mbps broadband line, the videos will probably have to constantly buffer if you switch to a 4K resolution.

While 5G is (again) not widely available yet, it will deliver wireless Internet speeds of up to a 20Gbps once it's rolled out. For one, this means you get faster download speeds for 4K videos or large photos. You'll also enjoy ultra-low latencies, which could make various online services smoother and more stable. For example, you won't have to worry about your remote video calls or Google Stadia game streaming session dying or breaking up on you.

On that topic, you'll need a good screen to fully enjoy streaming games and videos. A good screen should ideally have vivid colours, high brightness levels, and a high refresh rate for games. The OPPO Reno5 happens to satisfy those requirements.

Since OPPO used an AMOLED panel, there's no doubt about the quality of the 6.43-inch screen here. It combines a max resolution of 2400 x 1800, HDR10+, and a max brightness of 600 nits to provide an immersive screen that delivers fantastic visuals. Moreover, it comes with a max refresh rate of 90Hz, which makes everything on the screen run and look smoother. Despite that, OPPO mentioned that the display will have lower power consumption and is protected by 3rd Gen Corning Gorilla Glass.

Of course, 5G and a good display may not be enough. That's okay because OPPO's Reno series are well-known for their cameras. Smartphone cameras are improving by the day, and you can now take pretty good photos with them. You could check out the Be A RENOgrapher contest that happened a while back for some shining examples.

If you're into mobile photography, then the OPPO Reno5 series could easily fit your needs. The Reno5 5G comes with a quad-camera setup at the back. It consists of a 64MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The front is no slouch either with a powerful 32MP selfie camera. With these cameras and the Image-clear Engine, you can even capture fast-moving subjects clearly.

Aside from that, the phone has some neat video features. For example, the Dual View feature lets you record videos using the front and rear cameras simultaneously. Another one is AI Highlight Video, which dynamically switches the camera between the ultra-night and live HDR modes based on ambient lighting conditions. There's also the Smart AI for portrait videos, Ultra-steady Video 3.0, and SOLOOP smart video editor.

Besides the camera app, one of the best things about the Reno5 series is its battery and charging speed. For a mid-ranger, it's quite impressive to see that it has a relatively large 4300mAh battery. On top of that, the phone supports OPPO's 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 Flash Charge technology, which charges the phone to 100% within 35 minutes. Even if there's just 5% left, the Super Power Saving Mode gives you enough time to send text messages on WhatsApp for over an hour.

Of course, a good mid-range 5G phone should at least have the specs to match. In this case, the Reno5 has some relatively impressive hardware. The phone comes with a Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset, which has an 8-core CPU with a 1+3+4 CPU cores configuration. Specifically, it has a primary Cortex-A76 CPU core at 2.4GHz, three more performance Cortex-A76 CPU cores at 2.2GHz, and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores running at 1.8GHz. It also has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which should be more than enough to store a large number of photos and videos. To put it into perspective, the Reno5 should be more than capable of playing a wide range of games at 60FPS.

And that's plenty of reasons to get the OPPO Reno5, but to sum it up it's a mid-range device with some premium features but is available for a reasonable price of just RM1899. On top of that, if you pre-order it from 13 to 26 January 2021, you'll get gifts worth RM397. This includes an OPPO Enco W11 (RM159), phone case (RM129), and complimentary 1 year extended warranty (RM109).

If you're interested, you can find out more about the phone and pre-order it online here. You can also get it via the OPPO brand stores or authorised resellers like Senheng, Direct D, ThunderMatch, Urban Republic, as well as telco companies like U Mobile.

So, what do you think of the OPPO Reno5? Is a 5G device something you plan to get within 2021? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more articles like this.


Step up your mobile gaming skills with the vivo Y17 for free with Celcom!

One of many parts that separates a pro gamer and a noob is definitely the hardware. A good smartphone can alleviate your skills in the gaming battleground. If you’re looking for a brand new device to show your gaming skills on, look no further than the vivo Y17. The best part, the device is available for free when users sign up with the Celcom’s Platinum and Platinum Plus plans which offer 60GB and 100GB internet for RM148 and RM188 per month.

The Ultra Gaming mode on the device helps to make your gaming experience better. Competition mode allocates your smartphone’s resources to prioritize your game performance above other applications. Dual Turbo increases makes gaming smoother on the device by reducing frame drops.

The vivo Y17 features tech specs that include a 6.35 inch display, 4GB RAM + 64GB / 128GB internal storage, Mediatek Helio P35 chipset, and a whopping 5000mAh battery capacity for longer gaming sessions. The battery is supported by the 18W exclusive Dual-Engine Fast Charging technology. In terms of camera, this device comes with a triple rear camera setup with 13MP + 8MP (ultrawide) + 2MP (depth) and the selfie camera comes with a 20MP sensor.

So will you be getting this phone for some juicy chicken dinners? Keep up with the latest vivo news and updates on TechNave.com!


Still thinking about upgrading to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra even with the Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer? Check out this comparison between the Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra

Samsung's recent Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is certainly enticing, but for some Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra users, getting a free Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone isn't enough reason to upgrade. Especially since this would mean having to trade in their Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

This is understandable as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is still an excellent flagship smartphone that introduced us to nightography or night photography. But, just to show how much more the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has to offer, we compared the 108MP quad rear cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the 200MP quad rear cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to answer the question, just how much does it take nightography and photography to another level? You can check out our results below.

Previously the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra came with quad rear cameras consisting of 108MP (main) + 12MP (ultrawide) + 10MP (telephoto) + 10MP (periscope) cameras and a 40MP (wide) front camera. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra goes for a quad rear camera as well with a 200MP (main wide-angle sensor) + 12MP (ultra-wide) + 10MP (10x Optical zoom, telephoto periscope) + 10MP (3X Optical Zoom, telephoto) quad-camera setup and a 12MP front camera.

From the numbers alone, you’d think that the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will take rear camera shots 2x better than that of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra but perhaps not as much for selfies using the front camera. However, there may yet be some surprises as Samsung has put in a lot of AI camera tech to work as well. In any case, check out the photo samples below.

Like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra uses a 10MP telephoto sensor with a periscope lens, which when used in tandem with the 10MP telephoto camera sensor, can deliver up to 100x zoom. However, the presets are set at 0.6x for ultra wide-angle, 1x for normal shots, 3x zoom and 10x zoom.

In the pictures below we tried both the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at night down a long winding road in both 1x and 3x. While both offer clear imaging at night, it is also quite clear that the S23 Ultra does better at 3x zoom.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, 1x, Night Mode

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, 1x, Night Mode

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, 3x zoom, Night Mode

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, 3x zoom, Night Mode

Samsung's new and improved camera algorithm ensures that backlit photos remain richly detailed. This can be seen in the portrait mode shots at night and even the front cameras.

Despite going down to 12MP in the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra from 40MP in the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Dual Pixel Auto Focus and AI Stereo Depth Samsung tech provides detailed selfies with natural night BOKEH effects for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, 12MP front camera

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, 40MP front camera

If you didn't know already, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra uses a new 200MP main camera sensor over the 108MP camera sensor on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. It also uses Adaptive Pixel technology along with AI so you can get the right resolution for the right photo.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, 200MP, Night Mode

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, 108MP, Night mode

Last year, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra really wowed us with its nightography and photography. We were seriously wondering how Samsung would improve it, but improve they did and it's clear that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra does take nightography and mobile photography to another level. If you're serious about your mobile photography or you take a lot of photos mostly at night, then the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the more solid and reliable camera phone to get, even more so if you're still using a Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

On that point, you can still take advantage of the current Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer to get that free Samsung Galaxy S23 (128GB storage version) if you trade in your Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Unlike those Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra trade-in users who need to top up RM399 and RM199 respectively, you don't need to top up anything with your Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra trade-in.

You can check out the Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal at their site but for a breakdown of the whole process, please see below:

So, what sort of nightography would you do with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Do let us know in the comments on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Stocks for the new iPad Pro might be limited due to production issues

Due to production issues faced by Apple, there could be a possibility that stocks for the iPad Pro equipped with Mini LED displays might be very limited. The cause for the shortage was attributed to the low manufacturing yields likely due to the complexity of the aforementioned display, causing the factory to cease production for the time being.

However, the report mentioned that only the 12.9-inch variant might be affected as they’re the ones equipped with the Mini LED display while variants with a smaller display will continue to flow out of the production line as usual. That all being said, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Apple has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date, local pricing, and exact tech specs for now. What are your thoughts on Apple’s selected iPad Pro variants being only available in limited quantities? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Stop, click, and shop with Honor Malaysia’s Christmas sales!

Can you believe it? We are already at the end of the year, and what better way for Honor Malaysia to give thanks to their fans with its latest Honor Gala Christmas Promotion 2016! This time around, the promotion brings in sales for five of its devices: Honor 8, Honor 5C, Honor 5X, Honor 5A and Honor 7 / 7 Enhanced, all at reduced prices and each coming with free gifts!

Below is the list of the new Honor Gala Christmas Promotion 2016 prices:

Free gifts according to the selected Honor devices:

Perfect gifts for the budget-conscious, the Honor 5C, Honor 5A, Honor 7/7 Enhanced, or Honor 5X, are all affordable devices with strong performance thanks to their impressive Kirin chipsets, good battery life and sleek design for the masses. They also come with free gifts and what's inside the mystery gift from the Honor 5A? Only YOU can find out!

On the other hand, possibly the most beautiful smartphone of the year - the Honor 8 is still available in four vibrant in-trend colours: Pearl White, Midnight Black, Sunrise Gold, and the unique color of Sapphire Blue. It also has a pair of dual-lens 12MP camera system that are equipped with hybrid auto-focus to capture RGB and monochrome shots, lasting up to 1.77 days with regular usage and 1.22 days with heavy usage. If you still can't make up your mind check out our review of the Honor 8 for more details.

The promotional sale will start on 1 December 2016 until 12 December 2016, so hurry up to VMall Malaysia and other participating outlets to get the best gift for your loved ones from Honor this coming Christmas!


Stop someone from spying you with this amazing multi-functional Xiaomi device

While you are in a hotel room, will you be scared of being spied on by some tiny cameras and start to check every suspicious corner? If you do, Xiaomi has released an infrared camera detector to make the task easier. Next time, just whip out the tiny device at any supposed-to-be private place and check for spy cams effortlessly.

The device was launched by one of Xiaomi’s ecological chain companies and it is being called Smoovie Multifunctional Infrared Detector. Not only will it help you to detect spy cams, but also able to function as an alert device with its anti-theft/anti-lost feature. Other than that, the device is pretty easy to use as well. With just a few presses, different types of functions will be toggled on according to your needs.

The Smoovie Multifunctional Infrared Detector packs a 230mAh lithium-ion battery that supports USB charging. For camera detector mode, the device can last up to 24 hours with continuous usage. If the device is in alarm mode, it can last even longer which goes up to 72 hours. Furthermore, the device weighs just 34g, so you will not have any problem carrying it out.

For those who are interested, the device is being sold at a reasonable price of 99 Yuan (~RM58.68). Let us know what you think about this smart device on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more cool tech news.


Stop trusting on those blue light filters, trust your mom and put your phone down

Has your mother ever told you not to look at your phone before bed so that you won't go blind? However, you would still toggle on that ‘light filter’ on your phone and continue to scroll your phone at ease. Now, you may need to consider scrolling it without toggling anything on (yea, just be blind, don't care). Researchers from a university have found out that the blue light filters on smartphones are actually not helpful at all.

Recently, the University of Manchester conducted a study on a group of mice to see how they react to the blue light filters, and the result is shocking. They stated that the filters are actually not doing any better to help you promote the production of melatonin (the hormone that helps you to sleep). Instead, the filter is telling your brain not to sleep.

Anyway, the study was conducted on mice instead of humans, so its result was treated with skepticism rather than presented as a fact. Furthermore, the university didn’t conduct the study on a microbiological level, instead it was more of an observational study by exposing the mice to different colours of lights at different brightness.

Options like Night Shift from Apple and Night Light from Google were invented to protect us from the blue light that will cause symptoms like digital eye strain, retina damage and more. Some people would toggle it on while using their smartphones at night or low light conditions, which they believe will help them to fall asleep without being exposed to blue light.

Whether if it's true or not, I think you should always listen to your mom by putting your phone down before going to rest (because moms know best). Let us know what you think about this on our Facebook Page! For more tech news, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Storage drives of the future could store up to 360TB of data on glass

A scientist working on Project Silica, trying to read data from the glass medium

With the increase in resolution of videos and the proliferation of IoT networks, there's an urgent need for data storage devices with greater capacities. However, the rate at which current storage technologies are growing may not be enough. To that end, companies like Microsoft, Seagate, and Western Digital are looking into optical data storage with glass as a medium.

According to TechRadar (via IEEE Explore), one of the earliest proof of concepts for glass a medium emerged last year. In November 2019, Microsoft's Project Silica team unveiled a glass storage device that contained the 1978 Superman movie, which is said that have 75.6GB of data and error-correcting code. In other words, think of it as a fancier and thicker version of a Blu-ray disc.

Project Silica's proof of concept had 75.6GB of data stored inside

While Blu-ray discs can be rewritable, researchers haven't been able to do so with the new glass medium. However, it does seem like it'll have a far larger capacity compared to Blu-ray, as you can tell from the example given above. Researchers have claimed that a DVD-sized disc, using a piece of glass of 2mm in thickness, could store up to 360TB of data.

Of course, all of these is still in the research phase and we have no idea when we'll start seeing actual consumer products. Having said that, don't you think rewritable storage drives like that would be revolutionary? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more interesting news.


Storage specs regarding the Redmi Note 10 series spotted. Launch happening in February 2021?

Based on a statement by MySmartPrice, it seems that the storage specs of the upcoming Redmi Note 10 series which consists of the Redmi Note 10, as well as the Note 10 Pro, may have been spotted. While there is no news on the Malaysia release date, it does give us a better idea of what to expect when it is available in the local market.

If we have a closer look at the report, it seems that the Redmi Note 10 will be available in either 4GB+64GB and 6GB+64GB while the Note 10 Pro will have either 4GB+64GB, 4GB+128GB, and 6GB+128GB storage variant. However, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that Xiaomi has yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

Not only that, but there’s also no news on the Malaysia release date and local pricing for now. Would you be interested in getting the Redmi Note 10 series as soon as it is available in the local market? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Stream Malaysia’s biggest DotA 2 League at MESL, FREE with U Mobile

DotA 2 fans will be happy to know that U Mobile will be providing free live streaming of selected games from the Group Stage of the Malaysia Esports League (MESL) from 21 October 2017 to 21 January 2018.

How? Just simply tune into Astro eGG with your U Mobile number on the Astro Go app with Video-Onz™, the telco’s service that offers free unlimited data for video streaming.

Twitch.TV, MESL’s official streaming partner, will be live streaming all the games throughout the Group Stages in high definition. U Mobile users can enjoy the games live or watch it any time after the games are over on the Twitch mobile application with U Mobile’s high-speed Internet.

For more information on MESL and the schedule of the Group Stages, swing by their official website at www.mesl.my.


Apple Smart Keyboard gets 0/1 repairability rating by iFixit

The folks from iFixit are at it again, last week they tore down the Apple Pencil stylus open and now the Apple Smart Keyboard. How well did it go? Well, they aren’t impossible to be opened. But repairability wise, not so good.

According to iFixit, it’s not possible to fix the smart keyboard after you’ve opened it. None of the internal components can be replaced, but they did find some high tech fabric inside the body which makes it water and stain resistant; in other words quite durable. The pencil on the other hand, is also beyond repair if you spoil it. As it’s almost impossible to retrieve the battery without destroying the outer shell. So what does this mean? Be extra careful with your Apple devices! They don't come cheap, the keyboard costs $169 (RM711.07) and the pencil stylus costs $99 (RM416.54).

If you’re interested to see the rest of step by steps, visit iFixit’s smart keyboard or the pencil stylus section to find out more.


Stream YouTube without touching your quota balance with Digi Video Freedom from RM1/hour

Tomorrow Digi will announce their new promotion, Digi Video Freedom where you can stream video from YouTube, iflix, Astro on the Go, Viu, tonton, Dailymotion and HyppTV without using your current data plan quota. Digi Video Freedom is perfect for those who need to stream videos for their daily commute, or watch TV drama without touching their original limited quota balance.

This promotion is applicable for both prepaid and postpaid user that have already subscribe to existing internet plan by DiGi. All you need to do is to open the MyDigi app and purchase either one of the passes, for 1 hour at RM1 or a full day pass pricing at RM5. The RM1 pass will entitle you to 3GB of data consumption, while the RM5 will provide you with 10GB. This way Digi can prevent network abuse, so they can continue to provide excellent service without network interruption. User also will be notified to purchase another pass if the current pass quota is reaching limit. This help prevents user from accidentally using their current data plan quota.

You can download the MyDigi app from the PlayStore (Android) or App Store (iOS) and do take note that the pricing offer tomorrow will be a limited offer, plus we have no date as to when this promotion ends with the current pricing. This service will launch starting on 15 April 2016 and will be made available to purchase on the MyDigi app.


Stream to your HDTV with Chromecast using anything, just $35

Previously you could only view things on your HDTV from other devices like your computer if it had WiFi and was DLNA compatible. This also meant you had to have a DLNA compatible server, NAS or device to stream from and you'd still have to use the HDTV's remote control and interface to navigate all the media you'd like shown on your big screen. Now, Google have released Chromecast, a rooted Android-based HDMI dongle that plugs into your HDTV and lets you stream media from practically any device that can connect to the Internet.

Basically, if your tablet, smartphone, notebook computer, desktop or any other device can play Netflix, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV and Google Play Music, then it can stream to your HDTV the moment you plug-in the Chromecast dongle. After it has been set up, you can then use your tablet, smartphone, notebook computer or desktop as a remote. However, you can also leave it and do other stuff as most of the processing load is done by the Chromecast servers and not your device. The Chromecast dongle can be used with any HDTV with a HDMI port and works with Android, iOS and Windows with plans to offer more support soon. Oh, and the Chromecast dongle only costs $35 (RM112).

While Chromecast has been officially introduced, it is still not available globally and is actually launching in beta so there may still be a few quirks here and there. Technically, there should be no reason why Chromecast wouldn't work here in Malaysia, but the only problem would be availability. This isn't such a big obstacle though as this can easily be solved by those travelling abroad or having US mailboxes. Chromecast runs off of the Google Cast SDK which can be downloaded by developers at the Google Developers blog. We expect not so well known brands to pick this up as soon as possible to embed Chromecast capability for their devices as soon as possible. For now, check out the video of Chromecast in action below:


Streamyx Promos appeared which costs RM100 for 8Mbps

Based on a report from Lowyat.net, there seems to be a Streamyx promo circulating around offering 8Mbps for RM100 a month and 4Mbps for RM90 a month. Not only that, the promo also offers unifi TV set top box as well as a wireless router and a DECT phone included in the packages mentioned. However, the promo is only available to newly registered customers only and not available to existing Streamyx customers.

In light of the recent media briefing regarding the Broadband Improvement Plan, there was no mention of this special offer by Telekom Malaysia but a according to a Twitter post by Rozeman, the promo is used as a marketing tool to target certain areas in Malaysia. Take every bit of information with a grain of salt as Telekom Malaysia has yet to make an official statement regarding the matter. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.


Students can now get 15GB of mobile date for only RM20 with Digi's Pakej Data Khas Pelajar

Earlier today, Digi officially announced the Pakej Data Khas Pelajar for students between the age of 12 to 24 years old where they can get 15GB of mobile data that’s valid for up to 30 days for only RM20. But that’s not all, in conjunction with the Jaringan PRIHATIN Programme, parents will be eligible to get RM300 device subsidy for both Digi postpaid and prepaid customers.

Other than that, families can also sign up for the Digi Fibre 90 plan from a low entry fee of RM75 a month for 50Mbps speed. Also, postpaid customers will be able to add up to 6 family lines for as low as RM20 a month each.

Last but not least, students will be able to sign up for JomTuisyen where they can get up to 10000 video lessons at only RM10 a month while those that are under Year 6 can sign up for the Zapzapmath Home at only RM2 a month. If you want to find out more information, head over to Digi’s official website.

Alternatively, if you could also sign up through the MyDigi App or dialing *128# on your mobile phone. With all that said, would you be interested in any of the services mentioned above? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Students in Japan held virtual graduation in Minecraft due to schools being cancelled

If there's one thing we learned in recent weeks, it's that the effect of the coronavirus pandemic can sometimes result in fun happenings. For example, last week there was news of a professor in China conducting online lessons using anime avatars. Now, we have news of students hosting their own graduation ceremony in Minecraft.

Schools in Japan have been closed for two weeks as a precautionary measure against the virus from spreading. As a result, students won't be able to attend their official graduation ceremonies. To work around the issue, some students decided to have the ceremony digitally in Minecraft. Twitter user backyennew has a son who attended this virtual graduation and posted a short video of what it looked like.

一日中オンラインで集まってゲームをやって笑い転げている。楽しそうで良いねぇ。 pic.twitter.com/sYqoJ1zYaj

Of course, this isn't an official ceremony by the school and is just something the students decided to do for themselves. But it's interesting to see children this young come up with an idea like this. You could watch the full video by the original creator of the digital ceremony in the video below.

What do you think about this piece of news? Do you have kids playing Minecraft and find it beneficial in developing their sense of creativity? Do share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Studies and research say wearing a smartwatch can help detect early COVID-19 symptoms

The number of pandemic cases is still sky-high, so we all have a role to play. It's crucial to practice social distancing, as well as being hygienically clean. Waiting for a swab test could take a couple of days, but there have to be other ways to keep ourselves notified in advanced, right? The short answer is "yes", while the long answer is "you can get one now at your own wrist" (#punintended).

According to studies and research from Mount Sinai Health System, Stanford University and other reputable medical and academic institutions, smartwatches from Apple, Garmin and Fitbit can detect COVID-19 infections up to 7 days before the symptoms start appearing. Basically, any wearables like the Amazfit GTS 2 or GTR 2 can do the same, but we will get to that later.

Research cases provide strong evidence that our heart rate variability starts to change its pattern when infected, which infected COVID-19 patients experience (whether high or low). Patients who wore smartwatches "experienced changes in their resting heart rates up to nine and a half days prior to the onset of symptoms". This shows that smartwatches can detect early COVID-19 symptoms (or other diseases) early, something that can save lives.

Most smartwatches are quite expensive, but this is where the Amazfit GTS 2 or GTR 2 come in. Currently, both devices are on a CNY sale for only RM588 each. This means they could be a good investment for your health. Granted, these aren't 100% foolproof, so you still gotta go to a hospital for a check-up.

Onto the features, the Amazfit GTS 2 and GTR 2 have the necessary sensors for your healthy lifestyle. This includes a Huami self-developed BioTracker 2 PPG for monitoring blood oxygen and collects biological data. If you want to check your health data, you can sync it to an iOS or Android device. Once synced, you can then use the Zepp Health Data Management App for further analysis.

Both smartwatches have an unbelievable battery life up to 38 days. Of course, their endurance varies depending on usage. If you have the heart rate and sleep monitor turned on (and other modes), they typically last up to 14 days, which is still pretty long. You can also wear either one of them for exercising or sports (great for various sports mode), and go for a swim with it as it is waterproof-rated (5 ATM grade).

If you would like to know more about the Amazfit GTS 2 and GTR 2, you can visit their official online store on Lazada and Shopee here. Also, don't forget that both devices are now on CNY sales promo too! So what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more tech articles at TechNave.com.


Studies say "Beauty Mode" is related to negative mental health so Google is turning it off by default

For a few years, many smartphone brands have set Beauty Mode on the camera UI by default. Usually found in Chinese branded phones (as well as Samsung), some Beauty Modes are still visible even if you turn it off. As popular as it may, recent studies have found that there is a correlation to negative mental health so Google has decided to turn it off by default.

As mentioned in their blog post, they too have conducted several studies and consulted with many children and mental health experts. From their research, it was noted that if the user is not aware that the beauty filter is on, it would set a "beauty standard" and tend to compare themselves to other people. With that said, Google is also encouraging other brands to do the same and advise not to use words like "enhancement", "beautification", "touch up" as well as "face retouching" as they indirectly tell the user that they're not beautiful enough.

Furthermore, Google will update their own Pixel phones to have the Beauty Mode option for the users. They will also add a new UI information on its function and renaming "Natural" to "Subtle". But what do you think about this? I personally dislike using Beauty Mode so I approve of their initiative. Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Studies show that iPhone users aren't all that interested in foldable devices

Samsung is probably the leading brand in foldable phones now

Foldable devices started popping up a few years back, as companies look to take advantage of new flexible displays. A great thing about this new form factor is that it enables new ways of using devices. Like it or not, it's here to stay.

Unfortunately, not everyone's interested in foldable phones. According to a recent study, only 47% of iPhone users are interested in foldable devices. Mind you, this study is for people in the US and 47% is still a large percentage. But don't be surprised if you don't see any iPhone Flip or iPad Fold anytime soon.

Up to 48% of Apple owners express a lack of interest in foldable phones

On the other hand, about 50% of American consumers would like to get foldable devices, so the interest is definitely there. The report also points out that foldable phones are becoming more popular in place of tablets. If you want more statistics, you can read more here.

Of course, this is a very limited survey for consumers in the US, so it might not be relevant for us. So the question is, how many of you are interested in foldable phones and would be willing to pay the premium for one? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Studies suggest that smart wearable devices can help detect COVID-19 infection before it happens

Yup, you read that right. New case studies are saying that smartwatches may have a key to detect a COVID-19 virus. According to research from Mount Sinai Health System, Stanford University and other reputable medical and academic institutions, smartwatches such as Apple Watch, Garmin and Fitbit can detect infections before the symptoms start appearing up to 7 days.

In one of the tests that involved 300 Mount Sinai health care workers wearing Apple Watches last year (29 April - 29 September), the study said that the heart rate variability would change if the inflammation starts to occur, which is what the virus would cause. So far, infected individuals would have a lower heart rate or little variation time in between heartbeats, compared to those who aren't infected.

Meanwhile, another study from Stanford said that participants who wore Apple Watches, Garmin, Fitbit and others have "experienced changes in their resting heart rates up to nine and a half days prior to the onset of symptoms". So aside from having lower or irregular heart rate, a highly elevated heart rate also signalled COVID-19 symptoms.

As smartwatches and smartbands regularly measure our heart rates and skin temperature when wearing them, this could be a faster and safer way to detect infections before getting sick and calling in the ambulance. Perhaps it's time to get one for yourself? If you want to read the full story, you can visit the source link above. Stay safe and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Study: Android users are better and safer drivers than those that use iPhone

We are currently in the midst of the Aidilfitri festive season and the first since the start of the pandemic in which movement restrictions have been relaxed. Hence, many Malaysians are taking the opportunity to drive cross-country back to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya.

For those of you that ‘balik kampung’ by road this festive period, you probably notice different type of drivers throughout your journey. Well, if you notice road users that are more sensible and drive safely, according to a new study, they are most probably Android users rather than iPhone users.

The study, conducted by Jerry, a car insurance comparison service based in the United States found that Android users achieved higher safe-driving scores than their iPhone counterparts. In fact, Android users are better and safer drivers than iPhone users in all six categories of the study.

These include overall score, distraction, speed, turning, accelerating and braking. For reference, the study analysed the driving habits of 20,000 drivers in the United States during 13 million kilometres of driving over a 2-weeks period.

Among the intriguing takeaways from the study is that Android users achieved higher scores regardless of age, gender, marital status, education, and credit rating. These characteristics are otherwise strong predictors of safe-driving scores.

Besides that, the widest margin in the findings of the study is in the distraction category. This essentially means that  Android users more often than not kept their hands off their phones while driving compared to those that use iPhone.

While it is merely speculative, the study believe that the difference in scoring may be a result of rule-based versus emotional-based driving. The researchers referenced two previous studies which found that Android users are more conscientious and exhibited higher levels of honesty.

What do you guys think of the findings of the study? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news!


47 mobile games discovered by Avast as adware apps on Google Play Store

Yikes, 47 mobile game apps have been reported to be malicious and they are still on the Google Play Store. The latest finding was done by Avast alongside Apklab.io and although Google is investigating this, it may be too late for those who have downloaded the app.

It has been estimated that the apps got downloaded over 15 million times albeit there is some good news to this, most of these mobile game apps are relatively unknown but still, it poses a threat to children. According to Avast, the mobile games that are listed (see below) will force ads appearing even if you're not playing. In other words, the apps are disguised as a Trojan horse as adware and part of the HiddenAds family.

It's easy to criticize Google for letting the adware pass through the security but it's not entirely their fault. Avast threat analyst, Jakub Vávra mentioned that it's not an easy task to detect them because HiddenAds disguises itself first, then will only send out malicious features after being downloaded by the user. Below is the official list of mobile game apps that contains adware:

It is recommended that everyone checks the app review before proceeding to download it. Safe informed and stay safe, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Apple Store (Malaysia) reveals iPhone SE price starting at RM1949 only

Calling all Malaysian Apple fans! The Apple Store website in Malaysia has finally released the price tag for the iPhone SE, and depending on the storage variant you want, it's priced at RM1949 for the 16GB version and RM2449 for the 64GB version, which is considered very affordable due to its specifications inside the hood. To recap the tech-specs, the iPhone SE features:-

Keep in mind that although the price is revealed, it does not mean that the unit is available yet in Malaysia. As according to the source from Apple's event last month, Malaysia is likely to get the device at the end of May. Meanwhile, you may visit their official website to see more details. Stay tuned for more news at Technave.com!


Study suggests that PC gamers have highest average IQ

With there being so many gamers across the world, it's not all that unusual to find that there are studies of us and how we may behave. In fact, there's a recent study on the intelligence of gamers. IQ tests were given to gamers remotely and a variety of data were collected along with the test.

According to Game Rant, Royal Panda - a company that runs an online casino (of all platforms...) - conducted a study to test the IQ of 1001 gamers. The results showed that PC gamers have the highest average IQ at 112.3, while mobile gamers have the lowest at 99.4 IQ. Mobile gamers scored fourth place in Verbal Intelligence and last place in Mathematical Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Visual Reasoning.

While the study didn't specify the reason for the low scores, mobile games tend to be simpler and more accessible, which appeals to a wider range of gamers. However, the study doesn't say if each demographic has a fair sample size. For example, if there were only 100 mobile gamers and they all scored lower, then it's easier for the average IQ score to also be lower.

Regardless, we think this is a fun study and would certainly like to see more detailed studies from more credible sources. Having said that, do you agree with the statistics provided in the study? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Stylish honor Band SS smartwatch now available with italian leather and bronze metal body for RM399

The sleek and stylish yet affordable honor band Z1 made a splash in Malaysia previously for just RM259. Thanks to high demand for the band Z1, honor Malaysia have brought in the more premium honor band SS featuring a bronze metal body and a genuine italian leather band. Thankfully, the band comes in 2 sizes, 395mm and 430mm, both at the same price tag of RM399 on VMALL.my.

Like the band Z1, the band SS provides notifications for mail, messages, chats and calls and you can even read messages or emails from the band SS itself. It also tracks steps, fitness and sleep through Poysomnography and capacitive sensors. Battery life for the honor bands are better than most smartwatches with a standby time of 14 days and operational time of 4 days on a single charge.


Subscribe to Digi's Postpaid plan with any vivo phone to win a new Perodua Axia car or a Blossom Pink V15

Yup, you read that right. vivo Malaysia has announced that if you sign up with Digi's postpaid plan for any vivo smartphone, you actually stand a chance to win a limited edition Vivo V15 Blossom Pink signed by Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza. Also, the Perodua Axia Grand Prize is also included during the contest period starting from 16 May - 14 July 2019.

If you're feeling lucky, there are a couple of vivo smartphones you can sign up to - there's the V15 Pro, V11, Y81 and Y91. But if you want the most affordable one, that'd be the Y93 for RM199 when you sign up for the RM58 Digi Postpaid Plan.

Just to recap, the Y93 sports a 6.22-inch Halo FullView display, a 13MP + 2MP dual rear camera, 8MP selfie snapper with AI Beauty, a gigantic 4030mAh battery, 32GB ROM (expandable up to 256GB), Funtouch OS 4.5 out of the box and more which is pretty great for daily phone usage.

For more information, you can visit your nearest Digi store or the website here to find out more about this sweet contest deal. Stay tuned for more vivo news at TechNave.com.


Sudden Shut Down for Some Sony Xperia Z Owners

Despite being waterproof, scratch-proof and dust-proof, the new Sony Xperia Z isn't completely proofed from every threat as some owners are finding out. These owners are reporting that their Sony Xperia Z smartphones are shutting down for no reason and then not turning back on again. Some have reported success at bringing them back online by doing a hard reset (through a combination button press of the power and volume buttons) but some have not been successful. So far there have been no indications as to a common reason why something like this could have happened.Sony has been notified and have responded that it would be solved with the next firmware update, so don't panic or throw down your new Sony Xperia Z smartphone just yet. While the problem has been acknowledged, it isn't widespread as many more Sony Xperia Z users have responded that their smartphones are fine and in working condition.[sourced from GSMarena.com]


Suffered losses from the major blackout last week? You can claim rebates from TNB, says Energy Minister

In the aftermath of the major power outage that affected several areas in Peninsular Malaysia last Wednesday (27 July 2022), those that have suffered losses due to the blackout has been told that they can claim rebate from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). This was announced by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA), Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan yesterday.

As reported by national news agency Bernama, Takiyuddin said that affected account users, such as traders can submit claims by stating the amount of loss suffered. The KeTSA Minister further elaborated that he will be tabling detailed information on the rebate in Parliament this 4 August 2022.

Besides that, Takiyuddin also praised TNB for its swift action in resolving the blackout, in which power was fully restored within 2 hours and 21 minutes. The KeTSA Minister then stressed that our country must maintain energy stability.

The outage disrupted approximately one million domestic, industrial and commercial account users as well as forced TNB to ration power supply to certain areas that are not critical. Thankfully, hospitals, airports and the parliament that was sitting during the blackout didn’t experience any disruption.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by Takiyuddin? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news!


Sugar dating platform SeekingArrangement says that there are 42,500 sugar daddies in Malaysia

Surprisingly, a platform that is built for sugar dating has recorded 42,500 sugar daddies in just Malaysia alone. The number has even placed Malaysia in the top three of the list for the highest number of sugar daddies in Asia after India and Indonesia. SeekingArrangement has also revealed that Asia is basically "a hotbed for sugar dating, especially among the urban demographics."

To start with, the platform aims to "help connect young and empowered women with wealthier, more affluent men who not only bolster their financial woes but act as a mentor or gateway in catapulting a promising future for these sugar babies". As for the reason why the service is popular in Asia, the dating firm has done some research as well.

It is said that countries with high-tertiary education penetration rates were proven to be more vulnerable to this trend. For Malaysia, we have a total outstanding debt of RM39 billion in student loans as of 2018. Other countries like South Korea and Japan are also affected by the demand for tertiary education. Furthermore, economic inequality in Asia is also one of the reasons that stimulates more women to seek older men for various factors.

Let us know what you think about this news on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more interesting local news.


Sugarbook founder and CEO has been arrested by the Selangor police

Latest update - We just learned that the Shah Alam High Court today rejected an application by the police to remand the founder of Sugarbook. A lawyer representing Mr Chan said the High Court Deputy Registrar Noorasyikin Sahat rejected the authority's application after his client promised to cooperate fully with the police.

Today, it has been reported that Sugarbook founder and CEO, Darren Chan was arrested by the Selangor police. As most of you already know, the company got themselves in hot water for sharing the top 10 sugar baby universities in Malaysia.

MCMC has already stated that they are investigating the dating app and the arrest warrant is due to the suspicion of arranging prostitution activities from the dating app. The arrest took place at 4.30 PM yesterday at the Icon Residence on Persiaran Dutamas, under Section 372 (B) of the Penal Code for the solicitation of prostitution and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) for misuse of network facilities.

Despite banning the website on any web browser in Malaysia, Sugarbook members can still access via an alternative URL website. On top of that, they can also log in to the app version on their Android phone. The company also denied that any transactions between the sugar daddy (or mummy) and sugar baby are based on transparency.

Honestly, we were quite surprised at the rather quick action taken by the Malaysian authorities (if only they do the same for other corrupted practices). But what do you think of this? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Sugarbook redirects members to a new URL website after being blocked in Malaysia

Well, it has finally happened - Sugarbook got blocked in Malaysia. From our report yesterday, MCMC and the PDRM are now investigating the dating social network and claimed that it has violated Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998 for "illegal" activities (but no proof yet). However, Sugarbook members can still access via a new URL website.

From the sources, Sugarbook has sent a new email notification to the members on how to access the website. If you're a non-member trying to visit, you would be greeted with a message saying "This site is not accessible in Malaysia due to legal conflicts". Now, none of us is a member here so we can't tell you how to get in, but this is how the email looks like.

Intriguingly, the Sugarbook app is still accessible and not affected for some reason. This is perhaps due to the fact that MCMC has no power over asking Google to take it down (it's not on iOS). Anyway, MCMC is still investigating and the PDRM will take action if any illegal activity such as prostitution is found.

As bad as it may seem for Sugarbook, no publicity is bad publicity because more people are now aware of the brand. Just two years ago, Sugarbook ads were seen on a billboard in Malaysia but got taken down and were allowed to continue their business (the irony). The Founder/CEO has also released a statement which you can read below:

Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Sugarbook's ads have been taken down by DBKL for promoting sugar daddies

Online dating platforms are developed for us to meet people that are outside of our social circles. However, there are also other platforms that have different purposes, as they allow you to look for a person to be in a mutually beneficial relationship that involves money. It seems like Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) don’t really like the idea of it and they have taken down billboards of the dating platform Sugarbook earlier this week.

The platform Sugarbook is a place for you to meet Sugar Daddy, Sugar Mommy, and even Sugar Baby (let’s assume you know who they are). According to the official site, it lets you be in a relationship in exchange for financial support. Recently, the company have put up billboards of their platform and they were really proud of it. Sadly, the happiness didn’t last long as the billboards were soon taken down by DBKL after being found out.

Sugarbook’s billboards went viral after they were discovered by the public. Many think the billboards were inappropriate and lewd for our Malaysian culture. The Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP) has also stated that they actually didn’t know anything about the ads in the first place, as they were not informed by the billboard operator, Out of Home.

It didn’t take long to remove the ads as they were shown as electronic billboards. Let us know what you think about this issue on our Facebook page! For more viral news, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Sugarbook's database shows many Malaysians have signed up during the Movement Control Order

Sugarbook? Isn't that the online dating platform that had their billboard ads taken down by DBKL last year? Yes, that's the same company and they are back once again! Apparently, the company have been doing quite well despite the negative perception received from the public. In fact, during this Movement Control Order period, the company is experiencing a ton of online activities spiking up the traffic. And yes, Malaysians are the top customer.

According to their database, Malaysia takes the top spot with a 40% leap, followed by Singapore (28%), the US (8%), Russia (5%) and the United Kingdom (4%). So what are the online activities that caused such a surge? Well, as an online platform where it lets you be in a relationship in exchange for financial support, it seems that there has been a lot of new users signing up and messages exchanged have increased exponentially since the MCO started in mid-March.

With the increase of newcomers onto the platform, Sugarbook have decided to offer Free Premium Membership Upgrades (worth $79.95, around ~RM347) to Italy, China, and Hong Kong. Like Pornhub, you can see this as a "gesture of goodwill" since the majority are stuck at home.

Although there is no free upgrade for Malaysia, you can sign up for free anyway but just minus the Premium Membership features. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Apple Studio Display owners are facing issues updating the monitor to its latest iOS firmware

Owners of the new Studio Display by Apple are reporting issues with updating the monitor’s firmware to its latest iOS version, with some even being told by Apple Support to send their unit for repair. It is believed that this latest firmware update is to patch an infamous issue regarding the monitor’s below par webcam quality.

The issue was shared by several users on the official Apple Support forum, with many saying that they received an error message when trying to update their monitors. The error in question reads, “Apple Studio Display firmware could not be completed. Try again in an hour. If the problem persists, contact an authorized Apple service provider.”

Furthermore, according to several users, the problem still occurred even though they have wait a full 60 minutes for their next attempt. Besides that, some users said that the issue also persisted when they connect the display to another Mac or restart the monitor.

As reported by MacRumors, Studio Display owners are also complaining about the issue on the site’s forums. In fact, some were even told by Apple Support to send in their new monitors for repair.

In case you didn’t know, the Studio Display has an A13 chipset under the hood to help with performance. Hence, just like iPhones, users can update iOS on the monitor.

Well, let’s hope that Apple would rectify the issue soon as this is not the experience that users would anticipate from a new Apple product. What do you guys think?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Moreover, make sure to stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest trending tech news!


Summer Game Fest and EA Play are the next to be postponed

The unrest currently happening in the USA isn't something that people can just brush off and it has caused many online events and conferences to be cancelled. Just earlier this week, we saw Sony postpone its highly anticipated PlayStation 5 event. Now, EA Play Live and Summer Game Fest 2020 are confirmed to be delayed.

Fortunately, the delay isn't going to be a long one this time. Geoff Keighley has confirmed that the summer edition of the Steam Game Festival will be moved to 16-22 June 2020, while the EA Play Live will be held on 18 June 2020. Of course, there are also companies like Sony, CD Projeck Red, and Activision that have yet to reschedule their events. But we don't expect those events to be postponed for too long either.

The Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition will now take place one week later. June 16 - 22. #SummerGameFest pic.twitter.com/1t5lY2UdaK

While the slight delay may be disappointing for some people, it's not a big deal since there are plenty of other games and news to tide us over. For example, there's the Minecraft Dungeon that's launched recently. With that said, what new games have you been playing recently to pass the time? Share the title with us on our Facebook page! Also, do remember to stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news on gadgets and games.


Summer Game Fest will play host to live-streams of AAA and indie games

What was once Geoff Keighley's pet project for Game Developers Conference (GDC), the Summer Game Fest has changed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Developers and publishers are switching to online events this year but not having panels can be boring for some people. Perhaps Keighley is expecting that, which is why the Summer Game Fest will be hosting some of these digital events.

The Summer Game Fest's website has revealed schedules for events from June to August. In June 2020 alone, there will be the Steam Game Festival on 9 June 2020, followed by major conferences by EA and CD Projeck Red on 11 June 2020. Depending on the live event, Keighley may get to talk to the developers and publishers to get more insights on their upcoming games.

According to Engadget, Keighley and the folks with Day of the Devs will also be showcasing selected indie and AAA games during these live-stream events. In conjunction with the events, some of the demos for the introduced games may also be playable via platforms like Steam and Xbox. There's already a long list of participating publishers, including the likes of Activision, Square Enix, Riot Games, and more.

If you want to know more about the Summer Game Festival and watch the live-streams when the time comes, do check out their website. With that said, what are your thoughts on all these game conferences and reveals going fully online? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates on this.


Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet wants AI to be regulated by governments

The developments from Google and Alphabet in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are getting more and more advanced nowadays. It is undeniable the AI projects from the companies have provided many benefits to society, no matter if it's for normal consumer use or professional use. However, the companies’ CEO Sundar Pichai is worried about the technology would be misused in certain aspects, so he wants to bring stronger regulations for the use of AI by working with governments.

Earlier, Pichai has written an article for the Financial Times in which he called out the issue by highlighting the dangers posed by the powerful technology. He mentioned that this is the time for AI to be regulated, so no one is able to use it for malicious purposes including support mass surveillance or violate human rights.

He also brought in the issue of using deepfakes, which is a technology that creates media from a person’s existing image and being replaced with the person’s likeness with the help of AI. The technology was created without any intention to cause harm to society, but there is no doubt that it would be misused or abused for purposes like media manipulation or identity theft in the future.

These programs can be used to manipulate a person's behavior including expressions, speech, movements and more.

Pichai has mentioned that both of his companies, Google and Alphabet, have been making every move a safe one as well when it comes to developing new AI technologies. The companies have established their own AI principles to help guide ethical development and use of the technology, including avoid bias, test rigorously for safety, design with privacy top of mind, and make the technology accountable to people.

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


Super Mario Run now available in Apple Store for "free"

Today, Nintendo has stormed the Apple Store by releasing Super Mario Run. Introduced in September during the Apple event, Super Mario Run is a casual one-handed + running gameplay in a 2D environment, the app also allows you and your friends to have friendly competitions and even a world building setup.

However, like most app games. A free game does not mean it's completely free, in Malaysia Apple App Store, you will have to pay RM39.90 for the full game and that's way too expensive for us Malaysians. Only the first three levels are free, and the goal of the game is to collect as many coins as possible.

According to the folks at Macrumors.com, there is a total of 24 levels in all 6 worlds. Each world consists of 3 standard levels and a boss level. Unlocking the 6 worlds also give you 3000 coins and 20 Rally tickets, what the Rally ticket does is allowing you to compete with other players to win over Toad villagers, by tricks, defeating enemies and taking bonuses.

You can also build your own Kingdom with decorations and some mini games, mini games give you some additional coins and Rally tickets can expand your Kingdom.

Apple users can now download Super Mario Run for "free" on their iPhone and iPad devices in iOS or iTunes App Store. Stay tuned for more Apple news at Technave.com.


Super Mario can now be played in real life with this awesome Lego set

In conjunction with Mario Day which happened two days ago (Mar10), Lego is collaborating with Nintendo to make mini Lego versions of Super Mario characters, at least that’s what we expected. However, it turns out the two companies are up to something more than that. Today, a new way to play the beloved video game has been revealed and I wish I was a child again!

Lego and Nintendo not only have turned Mario into a Lego figurine, the companies have also added a tiny LCD display onto the character. The display is made to interact with players while they are playing a level of Super Mario game, which they can create out of different types of Lego bricks. Players can build the game with Lego pieces like warp pipes, question blocks, lava stones, and even Goombas!

For the Mario figurine to interact with each Lego brick, it is said that it uses technology like RFID. The display will show players visual feedback including telling them if Mario was hurt, the game’s timer, and some other facial expressions. Other than that, a Bluetooth button can also be spotted at the back of Mario, and it is rumoured that the figurine can be paired with smartphone apps to bring more fun features.

Let us know what you think about the Super Mario Lego set on our Facebook page! Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more fun tech news!


Super Smash Bros-inspired Lego Brawls coming to consoles and PC

Who doesn't know that Nintendo's Super Smash Bros is a hit? Putting all characters into one game and letting them fight, it's hard for us not to like the idea! Earlier, Lego had introduced something similar called Lego Brawls on Apple Arcade. Until now, the company is bringing it to consoles and PC as well.

Unlike Super Smash Bros, the characters in Lego Brawls are all about your creativity. Players are given the ability to customize the bricks however they want by mix and match various legs, torsos, heads, and accessories to create a unique Lego character. You may also equip them with pie cannons or even just baguettes for the weapons. Later on, you'll be able to swap in custom loadouts and power-ups to conquer the fights following your style.

The video game allows local and online multiplayer and several other competitive modes, as well as a bunch of levels themed around different Lego sets. It's scheduled to launch in mid-2022 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Are you excited about getting your hands on the Lego Brawls? Drop a comment to let us know how you feel, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more gaming news.


Super honor Day sales coming soon with discount honor phone prices + freebies starting from RM659

With the recent launch of the Phantom Green honor 10 and honor 7A in Malaysia, honor fans and customers will be in a treat for Super honor Day on 8 June 2018 for fantastic price discounts on selected devices. In a collaboration with Shopee, it will start from 9AM onwards on both hihonor and its online store on Shopee platform.

There are some freebies to get and lucky draws as well. For the View10, purchasing it on Super honor Day will grant you a free honor giftbox worth RM109 when purchasing it on hihonor.com. To add on to that, customers who are purchasing the honor 7A will stand a chance to get it for free, provided if they are the 7th, 77th and 177th customer! Below is the table list of the promotion:

Just for the record, the Phantom Green honor 10 can also be purchased at a physical retail store across Malaysia (while stocks last). You can check out the full list here and find the nearest store. Stay tuned for more honor news at TechNave.com.


Super small 256GB SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash drive is available in Malaysia for RM399

Western Digital recently announced that their new 256GB SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash Drive is now available in Malaysia for RM399. The world's smallest 256GB USB flash drive, it also comes in 16GB (RM39), 32GB (RM49), 64GB (RM99) and 128GB (RM179) with a 5-year limited warranty. You can get them at key IT retail outlets and online stores including 11street, Lazada and Shopee but for more details check out their site.


SuperVOOC 3.0 rumoured to launch next year, expected to deliver 80W fast-charging

SuperVOOC 2.0, first demonstrated in 2019

The rumour mill isn't always reliable, but there's always something interesting. For many smartphone users, fast-charging speed is one of those interesting things. A new rumour hints that OPPO's SuperVOOC 3.0 will be available next year and that it'll deliver 80W fast-charging.

In a post from Weibo, a blogger claimed that users can look forward to the 80W fast-charging from SuperVOOC 3.0 next year. Currently, the company's SuperVOOC is already one of the faster fast-charging technologies around at 65W of fast-charging. Pushing it to 80W doesn't sound like a stretch either, considering that Lenovo's upcoming Legion gaming phone is supposedly capable of 90W fast-charging.

If SuperVOOC 3.0 does deliver 80W fast-charging, we believe this means that the adapter will support 20V of voltage and 4A of current. The number could be higher too, but we can't confirm that through hearsay alone.

And hearsay is exactly what this piece of news is, so do take it with a healthy pinch of salt. With that said, what do you think of the alleged fast-charging speed versus existing ones? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Superbook has surpassed USD 500,000 in pledges on Kickstarter

Previously we have covered about Superbook here when it was first mooted online. Now that it has started its kickstarter period, they have surpassed expectations – their current USD 944,000 (~RM 3.8 million as the time of this post) amount is about twenty times their initial request!

As a recap, the Superbook is a device that can be connected to your mobile device which transforms it from a smartphone to a mobile computer. The phone now becomes the processing unit for Andromium, which creates a desktop-like experience using the smartphone.

The campaign has just passed two milestones, where the unit will now feature a larger battery as well as a second USB port for external storage purposes. The Superbook device also can be connected to any Windows device to act like a second display, complete with a keyboard/touchpad combo as well.

Superbook + Surface Demo from Andromium Inc. on Vimeo.

This device may just change the way we see computers, especially smartphones, work. With just a cable, the productivity options of the smartphone just exploded a hundredfold.


Apple Studio Display to deliver 7K resolution on 36-inch screen

Back in January, it was rumoured that Apple could be working on a new monitor to replace the Pro Display XDR. Some people might think that Apple wants to appeal to a wider audience with a more affordable product. But that Apple also seems to have another monitor that's in development if sources are to be believed.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple could be working on not just one new monitor but two. The second monitor is allegedly codenamed 'J327' and would be called the Apple Studio Display. It's suggested that this would be a more advanced model than the Pro Display XDR, as it comes with a 36-inch screen that offers 7K resolution.

Currently, there are no concrete details about the Apple Studio Display. However, it's believed that the monitor could come with a built-in Apple A13 Bionic chip. This suggests that the monitor's chip is what helps it output the high-resolution, and possibly other features that would help with video or image rendering.

Since Apple is scheduled to host an event on 8 March 2022, we might hear more about this monitor soon. What else would you like to see at Apple's upcoming event? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more Apple news.


Superbook will transform your Android smartphone into a laptop for $99 (RM387)

Have you ever wished you could turn your smartphone into a laptop? Well, apparently you can do that with Superbook, a laptop shell that transforms your Android smartphone into a working laptop. Just attach your smartphone to the Superbook via an MHL cable that can utilize either the USB Type-C or microUSB port. Superbook itself includes an 11.6-inch LCD screen running at 1366x768 resolution, a battery that can last up to 8 hours, a multi-touch trackpad and a full-size keyboard.

All you need is to hook the cable, turn on the Superbook and it will boot up with a pre-installed Andronium OS that comes with it. The Andronium OS is quite similar to any laptop based operating system like Windows. Once inside, you can use Superbook to access your smartphone contents as well as access Google Play's massive library of apps. Additionally, the Andronium OS also offers a multi-tasking ability where you can watch a video and browse the web like you can usually do on a typical laptop.

One thing to note is that the Superbook relies heavily on your smartphone hardware. Therefore, it requires a smartphone that has at least a 1GB of RAM running an Android Lolipop version 5.0 and above to work correctly. Also, there aren't that many smartphones that support MHL either. The device is not official yet, but their crowdfunding campaign is set to launch on 15 June 2016, and the price tag is set at $99 (RM387). No Malaysia release dates but if you are interested, you can sign up for early access from within their website page.


Supplier claims Apple AirPods Pro Lite is happening and it could be priced around RM800

After launching the expensive AirPods Max last week, Apple could now be striving for something more affordable in its audio segment. Earlier, it was reported that the tech giant could be launching an AirPods Pro Lite in early 2021 but the rumour has calmed down a little. Now, a supplier has come out claiming that the rumour is true and we will indeed get the AirPods Pro Lite in the first half of the year.

According to The Elec, the supplier claimed that Apple will launch a Lite version of the Airpods Pro without noise-canceling feature in the first half of 2021. It is stated that a South Korean supplier is now developing a system-in-package (SiP) with Airpods’ H1 chip for the AirPods Pro Lite. The SiP used in the Lite version is said to be a simple square shape while the regular AirPods Pro has one that comes in a round shape.

Other than that, the supplier also mentioned that there would be a 20% cut from the price of the regular AirPods Pro. The current AirPods Pro is priced at RM1,099 in Malaysia. Therefore, the Lite version could be somewhere around RM800. However, suppliers normally wouldn't have insight into Apple’s marketing or pricing plans, so take this with a pinch of salt.

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


Supply chain sources confirmed Google has cancelled orders for Pixel Fold

We have been seeing rumours saying that Google is working on the Pixel Fold and could launch it in no time. Sadly, news about Google launching its first foldable smartphone might not appear for a while. According to the latest information, the company might have scrapped the project after cancelling the orders with its supply chain.

Digital Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) reported that Google has reached out to multiple supply chain sources by confirming that its Pixel Fold won't be released to the market. It's also mentioned that the tech giant is not planning to release a foldable device in 2021 or early 2022 as it believes that the product "wouldn't be as competitive as it needed to be".

However, the source doesn't specify if Google has totally cancelled the project or just put it on hold indefinitely. It's also not that surprising since Google has never publicly announced that it's making a foldable phone unless you've been following the news. Therefore, for those who've been looking forward to a folding device from Google, you might need to look somewhere else.

Since we can't really get Pixel smartphones through official means in Malaysia, there's not much harm in hearing this news. Are you disappointed anyway? Let us know by leaving a comment and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more smartphone reports.


Supply chain unveiled an iPhone 13 Pro dummy unit with a smaller notch and repositioned selfie sensor

There are still many more months to go for the next iPhone 13 series, so if you're reading this - take it with a grain of salt. In this news, a supply chain blog called Macotakara from Japan did a dummy unit mockup of an iPhone 13 Pro. The design is based on the rumours that we have been reading for the past few weeks and the notch may be changed.

According to leaked schematics that are usually passed around accessory phone makers, the iPhone 13 Pro notch is reportedly to be slightly smaller. It's said that the notch's width is 26.8mm (the iPhone 12 Pro's notch is 34.83mm), but also slightly taller measuring 5.35mm in comparison to the latter's 5.3mm. The reason for this is possible because of the earpiece speaker being moved to the top bezel.

Initially, this notch design was meant for the iPhone 12 series but it didn't happen. As for the sensors you see on the dummy unit, Apple might move the front camera to the left side from the right. We should also expect the Face ID sensor to be present as it has become a staple since the iPhone X.

Either way, we are not expecting a huge design change on the iPhone 13 series as Apple has always consistently kept its identity familiar to consumers. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Supply of Apple iPhones constrained because of coronavirus outbreak, revenue expected to drop

The outbreak of the coronavirus continues to affect many, with Apple now warning that global supply for iPhones will be in shortage. Apple has pledged to aid public health efforts by doubling its donations but with the issues faced, the company expects the shortage to affect its global revenue.

According to Apple's press release, the company's factories have reopened but production volume isn't ramping up very fast. Besides that, the demand for iPhones was affected. The virus outbreak made it necessary for Apple to close or reduce operating hours for its offices, stores and partner stores in China. This caused productivity to drop and fewer customers coming into stores, which resulted in lower sales.

So, if you are suddenly told that there's no iPhone 11 left when you visit an Apple Malaysia store, you can blame the shortage. Apple expects the situation to gradually improve as it continues to ramp up production and reopen stores. But the reasons above do mean that the company's revenue will take a hit this quarter, and would not reach the target initially announced to investors.

However, Apple is right to be cautious as long as coronavirus remains a threat. Hopefully, the shortage can be resolved soon so as to not affect supply for the upcoming iPhone 9 or 12. With that said, is there an iPhone model that you're looking forward to? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Support single parents with Maxis ONEder

In conjunction with the recent Mother's day, Maxis launched their ONEder Parent campaign for those single parents who take on both the roles of mother and father. Teaming up with Parents without Partners or PWP, Maxis is helping these single parents raise funds via their Jumble Station powered by the Maxis eCommerce platform, selling pre-loved donated goods that include books, toys and household items.

While the Maxis eCommerce platform will help to offer an online store complete with training for the PWP team, Maxis will also sponsor a year of hosting maintenance and support for the Jumble Station site. Check out the Maxis ONEder video below for some insight on being the daughter of a single dad and vice versa or the Maxis ONEder site for more details.


Supposed iOS 8 Wave wireless charging via microwave is a hoax

A tweet supposedly revealing a new wireless charging method called Wave for your iOS 8 compatible device has appeared. According to the tweet, to use Wave, just put your iOS 8 device, be it an Apple iPhone or iPad into the microwave for 60 seconds at 700w or 70 seconds at 800w. Everyone who has ever used a microwave should know by now that you should not microwave metal, even more so electronic devices. Asides from melting and destroying your iPad or iPhone, it could lead to an explosion dangerous enough to harm you and everything else around the microwave. While this may seem an obvious fake and hoax to most people, some users actually have tried it, resulting in a broken iPhone that no warranty will ever cover so be warned and do some research before you do anything.


Surface Laptop 3, Pro 7 and Pro X launched at Microsoft Surface event, price starts from ~RM3769

3 brand new laptops were unveiled at the Microsoft Surface Event 2019. The laptops are the Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7 and the Surface Pro X. Prices for the devices start from USD899 (~RM3769).

The Surface Laptop 3 looks similar to its predecessor in terms of design but now comes in an aluminum finish. It comes in 2 variants which are 13” and 15”. The 13 inch variant is powered by Intel's latest 10th Generation Ice Lake quad-core processors and the 15 inch variant comes equipped with AMD’s new Ryzen mobile chips which are custom Ryzen Surface Silicons.

In terms of connectivity, it comes with a USB-C port which can be used to transfer data, connect to peripherals and charge the laptop itself. Speaking of charging, the laptop comes with fast charge support, able to charge from low battery to 80% in just under an hour and the laptop comes with a 1 day battery life. The keyboard is quieter this time round with only a 1.3mm key travel but with the same tactile feedback.

Prices for the Surface Laptop 3 starts at USD$999 (~RM4186) for the 13 inch variant and USD$1199 (~RM5024) for the 15 inch variant. Pre-orders begin today in the US and ships out on the 22nd of October.

Next up is the Surface Pro 7 which comes with Intel’s latest mobile processor. It also comes with a brand new USB-C port and a better Surface Pen which the device can use to recognize its user’s handwriting.

The device comes in 6 variants with a choice between the Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors and a variety of RAM and storage. Here’s the full price list:

Finally, we have the Surface Pro X which is a tablet with a detachable keyboard. It is powered by a custom Qualcomm chipset called the Surface SQ1. Design-wise, the device comes with thin bezels but in a regular Surface Pro form factor. It is only about 800g in weight and 5.3mm thin and comes with a USB-C connector.

A brand new Surface Slim pen comes with the device which can be placed in the folds of the keyboard and held there by magnets. When the pen is docked inside, it will charge. When the pen is taken out, a prompt will appear on the screen making it easier to use the pen accordingly. The device will be available in the US starting from the 5th of November. Prices start from USD$999 (~RM4186).

There has been no word of any Malaysia price or release dates for the devices so stay tuned to TechNave.com to find out.


Survey: 49% of Android users consider switching to iPhone due to privacy and security concerns

A new survey on mobile phone security habits and sentiments found that 49% of Android users are considering switching to Apple’s iPhone due to a ‘perceived superiority’ the latter has in security and privacy. The survey, conducted by Beyond Identity also found that 76% of Apple users feel more secure with iOS.

In comparison, 74% of Android users have the same perception. Moreover,  consumers surveyed also said that they feel more secure using the iPhone 13 Pro Max instead of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. In fact, iPhone 13 users were more than twice as likely to say that theirs was the most secure smartphone they had ever used.

The survey by Beyond Identity interviewed 1003 United States citizens and yielded rather interesting findings, including how cloud services of both OS impact users. 20% of iCloud Keychain users feel extremely secure compared to the 13% of Google Password Manager users feeling the same, while 27% of Apple users feel extremely secure using iCloud compared to 22% of Google Drive users feeling the same.

Another advantage that the iPhone has over perceived better security among consumers is the introduction of the Lockdown Mode in the upcoming iOS 16. In fact, 33% of Android users surveyed are considering switching to iPhone due to iOS 16 next month and its improved security features. The survey further revealed that iPhone users are more proactive on their digital safety and are more likely to monitor their location tracking and use facial recognition with Face ID.

So, what do you guys think of the findings of the survey? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news!


[Survey] What do you like in tech and on TechNave? Answer this survey and you might win some prizes too

Welcome back TechNavers, as we proceed towards new norms, and new tech in this current era of interesting times we’d like to find out what exactly you like in tech. While we’re always looking to push new tech and gadget news and reviews it would really help us out if you could take 5 minutes to fill out the survey below.

In addition, once you’ve filled it up, you could also get the chance to win a pair of realme Buds Air Neo or a realme Watch. So check it out below and let us know what you really think.

Many thanks for filling up the survey. What else would you like us to explore on TechNave.com? Anything in particular you'd like us to giveaway? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Apple TV 2021 will feature faster chipset and increased focus on gaming

When it comes to Apple, most of us think of iPhones or MacBooks. The Apple TV may not be as widely used, but it comes with some pretty neat features that go well with a TV. Now, it looks like Apple is ready to make the idea of owning next year's Apple TV to be far more enticing than before.

According to Bloomberg (via Wccftech), Apple is planning to launch an Apple TV with a strong focus on gaming. From what we can guess, this could be referring to higher performance for games running on Apple Arcade. If that's the case, it may come with the Apple M1 or another more powerful chipset. On top of that, the new model is also expected to have an updated remote controller.

Apple TV 2021 could be more gaming-focused

Speaking of remote control, the new one will allegedly have a "find my location" type of feature, so that it will be easy to find when you misplace it. Apple could also be making an official gaming controller for the Apple TV, which could work with iOS or iPadOS devices as well. This is great news for those who play mobile games on their iPhones or iPads.

The Apple TV series hasn't gotten a real update since the Apple TV 4K about three years ago, so it won't be surprising if these rumours are true. Having said that, what kind of improvements or features do you think would make it worth upgrading to a new one? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Survey shows Android 4.x is 2x more stable than iOS 7.1

As far as mobile operating systems go, Android and iOS are two of the top ranking ones but the common misconception is that iOS is more stable than Android. However, a survey done by Crittercism shows that this is not only untrue, but that Android 4.x and above is 2x more stable than iOS 7.1. Crittercism processed more than 30000 request over 1 billion mobile users and the survey is quite extensive, covering complexity, app responsiveness, crash rates and a lot more such as error rates for cloud services. The most notable statistics from the Crittercism survey are listed below:

However, the study does note that these crash rate numbers are mostly applicable for smartphones as Android for tablets is still not on par with Android for smartphones. This is because most Android apps are designed for use on smartphones and not on tablets which result in the higher Android tablet crash rates. Properly optimized apps should lower Android tablet crash rates down to the level of smartphones. Of noteworthy interest is the statistic that the Apple iPhone 5 crashes at 1.7% compared to the Aple iPhone 5S which crashes at 2% of the time.[Source]


Survey states that 3 out of 10 Android smartphone users would switch over to the iPhone 12 series

Based on an online survey posted on sellcell.com, it seems that 3 out of 10 Android smartphone users would be keen on switching over to the Apple iPhone 12 series. But that’s not all, based on the response, it seems that the iPhone 12 Mini is the most popular choice at 48.1% while the iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, as well as the iPhone 12 Max, were considered by 22.9%, 18.1%, and 10.9% of the respondents respectively.

But that’s not all, it seems that 55.9% responded stating that the reason they’re likely to switch is due to longer software support, followed by better privacy protection, as well as a much more appealing form factor. With all that said, do keep in mind that this is just a survey and it does not reflect the actual sales numbers when the iPhone 12 series becomes official.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on Android users switching over to the iPhone 12? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


Survival horror game Dead by Daylight launching on mobile soon

Way back in July last year, Behavior Interactive announced that it will be launching a mobile version of Dead by Daylight. Originally expected to launch within 2019, the developer has now confirmed that the game will be published by NetEase in Southeast Asia this year in spring (March to June) 2020.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Dead by Daylight is a 4v1 game where four players must work to escape from the fifth player who plays the role of a 'killer'. It's a popular PC game with over 15 million players around the world that is making the switch over to the mobile screen. We're not entirely sure if NetEase will be launching the game in Malaysia, but there's an official SEA Facebook page set up by NetEase that you can follow for updates.

Behavior Interactive has promised that the core gameplay, mechanics, and game modes will be the same as the PC version. Of course, the UI and controls have been adjusted to suit a mobile screen. The game is free to play for Android and iOS users but some content have to be purchased.

With all that said, it should be noted that NetEase has its own mobile survival horror game called Identify V, which has a healthy player base in SEA. So, would Dead by Daylight Mobile prove to be the better game? Let us know what you think on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.


Suunto 9 Baro review - For serious sports lovers and athletes

So we have been reviewing many consumer smartwatches lately, mainly from smartphone manufacturers and recently we managed to get a hold of a professional multi-sport GPS watch from Suunto - the Suunto 9 Baro and if you're familiar with the brand, you would know that this watch costs a lot more than many smartwatches in the market coming in officially for RM2799 at its official store in Lazada.

What makes the Suunto 9 different from other typical smartwatches if it lets you do similar things such as monitoring your health for running, hiking, swimming and others? Well, that's exactly why we have reviewed it and if you're really serious about sports tracking and love sports, read below to see how "Pro" this watch is.

One of our colleagues used to own a Suunto Ambit 2 and it actually looks rugged and tough. However the Suunto 9 has very similar design compared to most of the smartwatches in the market but looks and feels tougher. The body's bezel and button are made out of stainless steel and as for the touchscreen color display, it's running on 320 x 300 pixels and has an LED backlight covered by sapphire crystal glass. The strap is using silicone and for a tough smartwatch for a man with a small to medium wrist size, it was actually quite comfortable to wear it. Not too light, not too heavy, a perfect balance.

Front view, it looks pretty simple. If you want to change the watch face, there are a few templates available for you.

The buttons on the side for you to do certain tasks

The sensors on the back, it also comes with a magnetic charging cable which is very convenient and easy to charge.

However, one of the drawbacks is that although you don't need to bring around a heart rate belt together, it's not really that nice to sleep with. Another problem is the brightness on the touchscreen when you're outdoors, you may not be able to see clearly what's on the display even when the sun is not too shiny and with 100% screen brightness. The touch screen was a bit unresponsive at times too but at least you can access all the features with the three buttons on the side of the watch.

The tech specs of the Suunto 9 Baro are as follows:

Like most smartwatches, the Suunto 9 Baro offers plenty of features such as sports tracking, GPS navigation and alert notifications. In just the sports tracking alone, it already has over 80 types of sports modes with a standalone GPS tracker, showing information of the sunrise/sunset times, altitude, temperature, storm alerts and also provides route map navigation, which happens to be one of the best features that we like. Because it works in real time where you can easily follow the route to go back to your starting point. This is very useful if you get lost.

Of course, the Suunto 9 Baro has a built-in health tracker with an optical heart rate sensor underneath the body. Along with the built-in accelerometer, it can help to monitor your heart rate 24 hours, track your step counts, calorie burn and monitor your sleep too. All these data and analysis will be synced back to the Suunto mobile app which is available on both iOS and Android, where you can see how you have been doing over the past day, weeks, months and or a year in a detailed manner.

This is how the data looks like in the app for hiking

The running data, you can see the flag as your starting point which is nice

Besides the Suunto mobile app, you can also use other social sports apps like Strava to share your training and achievements with your friends and family. The smartwatch can also receive all incoming messages, emails and phone calls after you connect it to your smartphone. Despite that, it's a bit ironic that the smartwatch is unable to decline or answer the call on the spot, as well as unable to reply a message or play a song.

Due to our limited time with the smartwatch, we only managed to test with it with running and hiking mode. Despite the short period to test, we found that the details provided were very accurate. This includes distance tracking and altitude information by comparing to the data we have from our all-time training routes. Thanks to the FusedTrack feature, it was able to save the battery consumption because (according to Suunto) of the combination of the GPS and motion sensor rate which improves the track and distance accuracy.

You can follow the route back to your starting point

Checking out my data on the first pit stop

Speaking of battery performance, a 5KM run with performance mode on only consumes 3% of the battery, whereas a 3 hours hike consumes 11% only with performance battery mode on. We have a feeling that it can actually go on longer, as Suunto claimed that the smartwatch can last for 25 hours with performance, that's far more than enough for anyone to complete a full marathon. If you want a longer lasting performance, you can switch it to Endurance and Ultra battery mode which is said to last for 50 and 120 hours respectively with GPS mode on.

It's also worth mentioning that the Suunto 9 Baro comes with 100m water resistance. That's pretty deep and it's able to track your swimming stroke rate, count and type and even record your heart rate underwater. Just wow!

Well well well, will you look at that data. This is for serious professional athletes

So who is the target audience for this smartwatch? Well, if you love joining a triathlon or play multiple sports such as running, hiking or swimming, and also are really serious on tracking your training data, the Suunto 9 Baro is a good choice. By the way, there is also the Suunto 9 for a slightly lower rate of RM2299 in black and white which also offers a long-lasting battery without sacrificing any of the data accuracy.

What smartwatch do you use for your sports activities? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more tech reviews at TechNave.com.


'Swap Your Phone' with ASUS Malaysia to win a free ZenFone Max Pro M1

So apparently, ASUS Malaysia is doing another social contest round online. Following the last contest they did for the ZenFone Max Pro M1, this time they will be doing a 'Swap My Phone' contest and 30 units will be given away to 30 lucky participants!

The contest has already started and will end on 21 May 2018 @ 11.59PM. To participate, you will need to use either Facebook Stories or Instagram Stories. As usual, your profile must be set to public mode otherwise the entry is not valid. You can read more of the terms and conditions right here.

The winners will be announced on 22 May 2018 (Tues) on ASUS Malaysia Facebook, anyway without further ado, below are the guide to your lucky draw.

That's all folks, stay tuned for more ASUS news at TechNave.com.


Swatch smartwatch coming in the next few months?

While they initially said that there wouldn't be a Swatch smartwatch, it appears that we may soon see one from the watch maker. Recently, Nick Hayek, Swatch CEO said that the company would be launching a Swatch smartwatch in the next three months or so. While no definite tech specs or features were revealed, he went on to say that the Swatch smartwatch would support Android and Windows Phone, have NFC, mobile payments and an Internet connection. Swatch have made similar devices before but never a full-scale smartwatch like the current batch of Android Wear devices. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details were available at the time but if it does come, it should hit Malaysian markets faster than most smarwatches.


Sweet free gifts worth up to RM947 in Motorola & Lenovo Mobile's Merdeka Campaign

As per tradition, a lot of stores are giving our Merdeka promotion and Lenovo Mobile is one of them. Starting from 25 August to 30 September 2017, the company is offering a bunch of bundle promo on selected Motorola and Lenovo smartphones + free gifts worth up to RM947. One of the exciting gifts includes the Incipop Power Pack Moto Mod (RM499) for the Moto Z and Moto Z Play (should be compatible with the Moto Z2 Play as well). Anyway, check out the table below for reference!

*Terms and conditions apply. Promotion valid for selected models within campaign period at Lenovo and Motorola authorized retailers, while stocks last.

To add on to that, the extended warranty and accidental damage protection are for 12 months, stocks are limited too so better hurry up if you're looking for some sweet deals. For a list of participating outlets, visit www.lenovomobile.com.my. and stay tuned for more promotion news at TechNave.com.


Swipe left and right to watch your next video on Youtube for iOS

Binging Youtube videos is now even better thanks to an update for the Youtube app on iOS. You can now swipe left and right to switch between next and previous videos on your list instead of having to exit full screen and pick a video. The update should be rolling out throughout this week for all iOS users.

Swiping left would bring you to your last video watched while swiping right will bring you to the next video on your playlist or recommended list. Whatever video you swipe to will start off where you left off so there’s no worries about accidentally swiping while watching your video. According to Youtube, this update is to allow users more control over what video playback on their mobile devices.

So far no word on a release date for this update on Android. This update feels like a way for users to “video surf” quickly in order to find what they like to watch on the app, similar to channel surfing on TV. If anything, I can see myself binging more videos and somehow headed to the weird part of Youtube quickly with this feature. What do you think? For more interesting quality of life updates and beyond, make sure to check out TechNave.com!