Product Review on My Gadget Planet

Blackberry Q10 is now physical locally

Wednesday, May 08, 2013 — Wednesday, May 08, 2013

For the people who are not on board (pun not intended) the touchscreen fad, the new BlackBerry Q10 smartphone features a classic BlackBerry QWERTY Keyboard. The phone will be available on May 15 from all authorized partners in Malaysia (Celcom and Maxis), and pre-orders can be made from Celcom beginning May 8.
The BlackBerry Q10 is available in two colours, Black and White, and is made from durable and lightweight materials. It has a 3.1 inch 330ppi Super AMOLED touchscreen display, but the star of the device is definitely the QWERTY keyboard, which has a wider layout and larger sculpted keys.

The device features the ever-present BlackBerry Hub, which brings all conversations together in one place for users to access at any time from any app. The BlackBerry Balance feature separates personal and work-related applications for easier usage.

Theres also BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), which allows users to share things with fellow BlackBerry users. The BBM in Blackberry 10 includes voice-calling and video chat, as well as phone-screen sharing with another BlackBerry 10 contact.

We are delighted to bring the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone to Malaysian customers, Annamalai Muthu, Country Director for Malaysia at BlackBerry, said. The BlackBerry Q10 will offer BlackBerry fans and new customers ultimate performance in this timeless design.

The BlackBerry Q10 will retail for RM2,388 in Malaysian stores.

ThinkPad Helix is all business

Wednesday, May 08, 2013 — Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Technology adds a lot of new vocabulary to the dictionary. The term phablet, for example, was coined to describe a device that is a mixture of a phone and tablet. While the convertible laptop-tablet devices have yet to find their own specific term yet (Laplet? Lablet? Tabtop?), there is no denying that these hybrid devices, with detachable and flexible screens, are the future of conventional laptops. At the end of April, Lenovo launched one such convertible laptop-tablet in Malaysia, the ThinkPad Helix. Targeted at business professionals, the 1.7kg Helix has a rip and flip design, which allows the device to be aligned in four modes.
There is the traditional laptop mode, a tablet mode solely for the screen, a stand mode where the screen can be reattached to the keyboard backwards, as well as a tablet + mode where the back of the screen touches the keyboard base.

The Helix combines the performance of a business Ultrabook with the mobility of a Windows 8 tablet. When functioning in laptop mode, the device can last up to 10 hours, whereas tablet mode lasts up 6 hours.

The device is shatter-proof and scratch-resistant. Steven Cheng, the Technical Manager for Lenovo Malaysia claimed as he demonstrated the ways the convertible laptop-tablet can be ripped and flipped. It is definitely of premium design, provides for an incredible user experience, is business ready and great reliability.

Lenovo has continued to outgrow the PC market with nearly 8 percent year-on-year growth. Khoo Hung Chuan, the Country General Manager of Lenovo Malaysia said. The ThinkPad Helix gives business professionals two devices in one form factor, and I trust that it will serve our consumers well.

The ThinkPad Helix comes with a pen stylus for consumers to hand-write on the screen. The webcam itself has 5 Mega Pixel in the back, and 2 Mega Pixels in the front.

Prices for the Helix start from RM6,500 and has an on-site warranty of 3 years. Worry not, for the screen and the keyboard are not sold separately.

The one, HTC One is here

Wednesday, May 08, 2013 — Wednesday, May 08, 2013

In the market of smartphones, there has to be a bit of researching, as well as searching, before one finally finds a smartphone that suits their needs perfectly. Its kind of like looking for love - but luckily for the end-consumers, there are suitors aplenty. If you are looking for The One in smartphone land, the HTC One is one that immediately captures attention. With a 4.9mm sleek aluminum exterior in either Glacial Silver or Stealth Black, it is very much a love-at-first-sight kind of phone.
The homepage display is that of the new HTC BlinkFeed, a personal live stream on the homepage. Instead of going into different applications to check out the latest on each different platform, one can continue scrolling downwards on their homepage to see social updates, news, photos, and so forth. This new display is certainly a change from the regular displays of other phones.

People today immerse themselves in a constant stream of updates, news and information, said SK Wong, Country Manager of HTC Malaysia.

As such, the HTC One sets out to address that new development in society with the HTC BlinkFeed. With the new HTC One, we have re-imagined the mobile experience from the ground up to reflect this new reality.

The HTC One also has dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers aka as the HTC BoomSound, a feature which makes listening to videos and music without headphones a pleasure. Users of smartphones with speakers located on the back will appreciate this feature.

Of course, even with its gorgeous exterior features, everyone knows it is the interior that counts. Perhaps one of the more intriguing aspects of the new HTC One is the HTC UltraPixel Camera that changes how pictures are captured.

The HTC Zoe gives people the ability to shoot high-res photos, which will come to life in three second snippets in the gallery. Basically, a click of the shutter button will capture up to 20 photos and a 3-second video image. This will give the usual gallery of still photos a miss and transform it into a motion gallery of memories as the user scrolls through the gallery.

The new HTC One with attractive rate plans by Celcom, Digi, U Mobile, Maxis and all SenQ chain stores will be offered from early May 2013. HTC authorized retailers availability for the new HTC One will be by mid-May onwards.

It retails for RM2,299 for 32GB storage and RM2,499 for 64GB storage.

For more information, visit HTCs webpage www.htc.com or HTC Malaysias Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HTCMalaysia?fref=ts.

Samsung plays its Smart TV card once again

Friday, April 26, 2013 — Friday, April 26, 2013

It seems that this year at least, there is no stopping Samsungs momentum in the world of electronic devices and appliances. Fresh off the announcement of its Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Samsung NX300 camera, the Korean electronics megaplayer immediately announces new additions to their SMART TV lineup.
Respectively, both the Samsung Smart LED TV F8000 and the Samsung Smart Plasma TVF8500 according to Samsung, are set to redefine the way users interact with their television sets.

The Smart Interaction feature, for example, allows for users to interact with their television sets using only their voices and bare hands. There are also new increased commands for Voice Control, allowing the Smart TV to understand more commands like turning the television on, choose channels and determine volume all without the need of a physical remote control.

With their bare hands through motion sensor technology Smart Television users can browse through photo albums and zoom to see pictures up close on their television set. Social media addicts will be pleased to know that Samsung has incorporated a function that lets them Like a picture or post on Facebook, simply by thumbing up literally in front of the television.

Samsung also introduces the Smart Evolution Kit for existing owners of Samsung Smart TVs - installing the kit on their television sets will allow them to enjoy the upgraded features of the upcoming Smart TVs without having to upgrade their television sets. The Smart Evolution Kit will only be available to Malaysian consumers later in the year, however.

With quad-core processors, the Smart Televisions will also allow for smooth usage of the set, be it for viewing content, accessing applications, and or web-browsing.

The 64 Samsung Smart Plasma TV F8500 is priced at RM13,999, and the 65 Samsung Smart LED TV F8000 is priced at RM21,999. Both are currently available.

Microsoft Surface RT hits Malaysian market

Friday, April 26, 2013 — Friday, April 26, 2013

While there still no word on Surface Pro, the long-awaited Microsoft Surface RT however - which was released in the United States October last year - is finally available to the local market.
Carlos Lacerda, the Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia, said that Microsoft Malaysia is incredibly thrilled for Malaysians to experience the Surface brand device, starting with Surface RT.

It is a tablet with laptop capabilities. He continued.It will change the way people play and work on an electronic device.

Surface RT will be made available through selected stores nationwide in three participating retail partners: Challenger Malaysia, Harvey Norman, and Thunder Match Technology.

The Surface RT includes a Touch Cover that provides a super-thin and spill-resistant keyboard in various colours, an ultra-light durable casing, an integrated kickstand for the display, SkyDrive cloud connectivity, games, a microSDXC card slot for additional storage, Office Home & Student 2013 and so forth.

It is meant to last up to 8 hours of battery life, which will attract people who play and work on the go.

Additional details on Surface are available at http://www.Surface.com/my, the Surface Blog and Surface on Facebook.

Follow Microsoft Malaysia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MicrosoftMalaysia) and Twitter for additional updates: @mymicrosoft.

Pearl Mini - Ninetology, Tune Talk and Qualcomms affordable love child

Friday, April 26, 2013 — Friday, April 26, 2013

Lets just say that smartphones locally, for what they are worth, are just too pricey, and as appealing as Apples iPhone or Samsungs Galaxy Note 2 is, you just cant justify their purchase. How about taking a look at Ninetologys dual-sim i5350 Pearl Mini?
Highlights:

- RRP RM399

- Dual sim

- Gingerbread Android 2.3 OS

- Runs on Qualcomms 1.0GHz Snapdragon

- 3.5 inch HVGA display

- Storage 512MB ROM / 256MB RAM, MicroSD up to 32GB

- 2MP camera

- Li-lon 1300mAh battery

Through the collaborative pack of Ninetology Marketing Sdn Bhd, Tune Talk and Qualcomm, the Pearl Mini is set to target the youth and lower income market.

Being able to access to the Internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. There is so much to learn from the Internet and to the youths, this is their world. We hope with the launch of Pearl Mini, we will be able to provide them world class quality yet secure edutainment, said Sean Ng, Ninetologys chief executive officer.

We want to offer the youths a smart phone that is affordable yet packed with astounding multimedia features that will enable them to connect to the digital world seamlessly, regardless of whether they are living in urban or rural areas, he added.

Tune Talks chief executive officer Jason Lo said, Tune Talks philosophy has always been to provide low calling rates and exciting incentives to the underserved segment of the market. We are happy to collaborate with Ninetology, who shares our vision of having the need to reach out to more youths and to enable them to get on to the Internet.

Pearl Mini will be packaged with Tune Talks prepaid service plan that includes a RM50 free talktime (comes preloaded with SIM) and RM100 Airtime Rebate (RM10 x 10). To get this rebate, one needs to reload RM20 or in a month.

Why Gingerbread Android 2.3 operating system when pretty much all Android phones out in the market are already running on Ice Cream Sandwich 4.1 is unknown but for what its worth its a phone definitely worth a look or made a spare if youve already own a smartphone.

For more information on the Tune Buddies SIM pack, visit http://www.tunetalk.com/my/services/tunebuddies.

Top three teams of Microsoft Malaysia-ADB pack heads to India

Tuesday, April 16, 2013 — Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Dream X, Centium Software Sdn Bhd and Gnowledge Sdn Bhd have bested 26 other teams in the AppsForAsia redesigning development program and will be the local representatives at the Asian Development Banks 46th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors.
The teams will be joining other top three representatives from each of the participated countries such as Australia, Philippines, India and South Korea at ADBs event held in Delhi, India from May 2 to 5.

The AppsForAsia program is a Microsoft-ADB initiative that gives Independent Software Developers (ISV) across Asia a chance to put their sustainable solutions to real-time use.

Developers are given access to Microsofts Cloud platform, Windows Azure, as well as deeper insight into Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, to develop applications using the cloud across various platforms and devices.

They were also given technical and architectural consulting, as well as support, as they developed their applications to address real-world needs pertaining to seven key sectors; civil society, education, governance, transport, urban development, water, and youth.

The teams that won fulfilled the criteria of solving a need, creativity, impact and completed within the set duration of allocated time, says Microsoft Malaysia director of developer and platform evangelism Dinesh Nair.

The winners and their apps are as follows:

Dream X (Winner) - EPIC Hope allows users to identify on-going or planned sustainable housing projects for indigenous people. The user may find ways to then make contributions to fund or assist the project.

Gnowledge Sdn Bhd (1st Runner-Up) - Gnowledge enables users to create, publish, share and take tests, do exercises and complete assignments. The company with the use of its app hopes to be the de facto academic exercise sharing site as with YouTube is to videos. The public portal, www.gnowledge.com is free-to-use.

Centium Software Sdn Bhd (2nd Runner-Up) - With the use of cloud computing and the Internet to create a people-to-people social awareness tool Blood R2 allows users to request and tune onto alerts on where blood donation is required.

We know that maximizing the use of technology is one of the fundamental drivers that empowers the poor and helps them improve their lives, says ADB corporate secretary Robert L.T. Dawson.

Between 2000 and 2011, ADB supported 372 ICT-related projects and technical assistance worth RM41 billion (US$13.22 billion).

The annual ADB meeting will see an estimated of 4,000 delegates including finance ministers and ministers; central bank governors; policy makers; chief executives of corporations; leading academics and heads of think-tanks; leaders of civil society; members of the diplomatic corps; and journalists from international, regional, and local media attending the event.

Samsung NX300 takes 3D pictures - with the aid of Smart TV and 3D glasses to view

Tuesday, April 02, 2013 — Tuesday, April 02, 2013

While photography has not quite yet reached that level of Harry Potter-esque pictures where people in pictures can move, 3D photography is possibly another step closer towards new levels in imaging technology.
For people interested in 3D photography/ videography, you can now take3D images with the Samsung NX300, the latest in the NX series range for Samsungs compact system cameras (CSC). Connect the camera to a Smart TV, and one will be able to enjoy the 3D imagery with the help of 3D glasses.

The NX300 envelops Samsungs in-house developed DRIMe IV imagine engine, which enables support for full 1080HD video captured in both 2D and 3D, as well as giving better colour reduction and cutting down on image noise.

The 45mm F1.8 2D/3D lens is the worlds first one-lens 3D system. As such, the NX300 is capable of taking photos and videos in between the two dimensions without changing between 2D and 3D lenses. The NX300s Wi-Fi connectivity also allows users to share photos instantly between their camera and smartphone.

Other features of the NX300 include a 20.3 Megapixel sensor, a wide ISO range from ISO100 - ISO25600, Hybrid Auto Focus (AF) system, a 1/6000 esc shutter speed and 8.6fps continuous shooting mode.

Kwon Jae Hoon, Managing Director of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, announces that the launch of the NX300 is meant to channel the best digital imagining technology to everyone without compromising on style and design.

Available in three colours (white, brown and black) the Samsung NX300 retails at RM2,699 and is available from 8 April onwards.

Hashim and his buddy Note II

Tuesday, April 02, 2013 — Tuesday, April 02, 2013

If smartphones had a social hierarchy, the Samsung Note II must be enjoying its place near the top, if not at the top. For Razif Hashim, the host of The Best in the World on 8TV, his favourite smartphone is definitely his Note II.
The Best in the World program follows Razif around Malaysia as he samples the best of Malaysian delicacies around the nation. Always with him on these journeys is his trusty Note II.

If Im not carrying around a DSLR or a camera like the Samsung Galaxy, the camera features on the Note II itself allows me to take great pictures of the food I eat. Razif quipped. The plus side is, I get to call it work!

In his creative line, a well-taken photo is crucial to convince his viewers that the food he consumes truly is worthy of the title best in the world. The macro capabilities of the Samsung Note IIs 8-Megapixels camera allows Razif to take detailed shots of food, before he uploads them to his Instagram account @razifhashim.

In the past decade, smartphones have taken off in a big way - it almost seems de rigueur to have one now. To Razif, his Note II is ever more so important for him to stay in touch with people from all walks of life, from his family to his colleagues to his viewers.

The Note II allows me to achieve what I cannot with my first phone. Razif explained. My first phone was an old-school analogue Nokia phone. The smartphone made the world smaller, redefining the way people in my line interact with viewers of my show, for example. The only similarity my first phone has with my current phone now is the size! The Nokia was much thicker of course.

The evolving of the phone into smartphones also included the evolving of more sophisticated games in smartphones. For Razif, one of the games he likes to play most on the Note II is Dead Trigger.

The graphics are amazing to behold on the 5.5-inch HD Super Amoled screen. Razif enthused. Often I like to play this game called Hill Climb Racing to kill time as well. Its like a gaming console I can take on the go.

The Note II has been called a phablet - a hybrid between a phone and a tablet. Great for the average person who does not like to carry more than a single media gadget around. As for Razif, it is hands down, without a doubt which is his personal best in the world phone is right now.

I use my smartphone a lot in my personal and working life. He said as he held his Note II. Its definitely a great boon for me.

Intel on the mobile bandwagon

Friday, March 15, 2013 — Friday, March 15, 2013

Mobile technology has come a long way. As the world gearing towards more lightweight and mobile technological experiences packed into a singular device, Intel knows the mobility experience with smartphones, tablets and ultrabooks is an eventual step to progress that no one can miss out on.
During Intel Technology Day on March 7, both Intel country manager Prakash Mallya and Leighton Phillips Director, Producer Marketing and Pricing - claimed that 2013 will be a game-changing year for Intel, with plans for end-users and consumers that Intel intends to reveal over the course of the year.

Also unveiled at the international Consumers Electronics Show in Las Vegas this past January, some of Intels plans include a new low-power Atom processor based platform and smartphone reference design targeted at the value smartphone market segment. Customers including Acer have announced support for the platform.

Tests reveal that phones running on these platforms outperform our competitors in terms of response and battery life. Leighton Phillips announced.

Intel Inside value smartphones includes features such as the Intel Atom processor Z2420 with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology. The processor can achieve speeds of 1.2GHz, 1080p hardware-accelerated encode/decode, and support for up to two cameras.

Ever keeping the cost-conscious customer in mind, the platform also includes the Intel XMM6265 HSPA+ model which offers Dual Sim/Dual Standby capability. The value smartphones area set to be launched in places like Latin America, Africa, India, China and Southeast Asia.

For performance and mainstream smartphones, Intel offers the forthcoming Intel Atom Z2580 processor platform which includes a dual core Atom processor with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, as well as a dual-core graphics engine.

Apart from the smartphones market, Leighton also revealed Intels plans in the tablets and ultrabook category. Tablet designs based on the Atom Processor Z2760 running Windows 8 are already on the shelves, with companies like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, LG and Samsung supporting the designs. The Atom platform claims to have all-day battery life, as well as being more power-efficient than competitive offerings.

With Intel, the future of Ultrabooks look set to be thin, elegant and detachable. Intels low-power line of Intel Core processors are available now and operate as low as 7 watts, giving Ultrabook designs more flexibility. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S Ultrabook is an example of an Ultrabook benefitting from the processor.

Intel is looking into more ways that consumers can interact with their devices and bring them around without being weighed down by short battery life, cables and so on. Leighton Phillips explained. Ultrabooks with Intel processors have all-day battery power, are thin, have touch, voice and facial performances, as well as anti-theft identity protection.

With the future of technology in mind, Intel is also looking into other possibilities for technological interaction between humans - such as perceptual computing for life-like interactions.

For example, a child can be in the kitchen doing homework on a tech device when the mother comes in - she speaks, and the device answers. Leighton clarified. Wee also doing research on voice control looking into how to optimize and make voice a natural way to interact with devices.

With more than a few devices running on Intel processors, and Intel looking into more ways that technology can be included in daily life and human interaction, Intel is definitely very much hoping that 2013 will be a game-changing year. It remains to be seen if consumers will embrace Intel Inside devices apart from PCs, however, with the strong smartphones competitors across the board.

Still, the more the merrier, as they say, and whatever Intel has in mind is definitely gearing towards changing the human and technology game.

Malaysians loves their personnal mobility especially at work

Friday, March 15, 2013 — Friday, March 15, 2013

It seems like corporate companies will need to look into a more open technology policy this year, as an increasing mobile workforce influences the way employees work at the office. The results of the VMware New Way study in 2013 show that in the post-PC era, more and more employees bring their own devices to work 85, to be exact.
The study focuses on changing consumer technology lifestyle, and how these lifestyles influence the way things are run at work when they are brought into the workforce. explained Laurence Si, country manager for VMware Malaysia.

The 2013 results is an indication that companies need to adopt more flexible and open, yet still secure, technology policies to enhance employee productivity and job satisfaction. He added that 30 of people would consider leaving their jobs due to poor IT policies, while dealing with IT issues is the 5th most stressful issue at work.

Personal devices that are brought to work include tablets (52), smart phones (81), and laptops (85). Employee reasons for using personal devices for work include getting more done (27), feeling more engaged (28), their work is mobile in nature (38), the device has more functions (38), and clients contact them via personal phone (39).

The study also reveals that 71 of employees work from home, and 69 spend time working on holidays. Away from the office, 88 of users use cloud-based apps for their work. As such, this reveals a potential security risk, as confidential company info is carried out of the office.

Corporate IT policies are now ill-equipped to deal with the trend, with 96 of those surveyed says IT know employees bring their own personal devices to work, yet only 26 say IT give them support with their personal devices. The ones that are not supported then either fix issues themselves (68), or use Google to fix the issues (64).

It is certain that managing challenges that arise from the influx of personal computing devices in the workplace can no longer be neglected, added Si.

The study is commissioned by VMware and conducted by Acorn Research and surveyed over 2,100 people in 12 countries across Asia-Pacific, including 150 responses from Malaysia.

In a separate announcement, VMware also unveiled the VMware Horizon Suite, a platform for workplace mobility. It consists of VMware Horizon Workspace, VMware Horizon View, and VMware Horizon Mirage.

Blackberry Z10 local release comes with BB trade-up program

Friday, February 22, 2013 — Friday, February 22, 2013

Can Blackberry reclaim its former Malaysian fanbase or beat out the competition with the restructuring of RIM into Blackberry and its pure touchscreen Z10? Those longing for the the new QUERTY keypad Q10 will have to wait till mid-year to find out but if the Z10 is your thing, then youd be happy to know theres more than one way to get hold of it, fast.
The Z10 will be available from authorized carrier Maxis on March 9, with a pre-registration program from now and will also be available from Celcom and DiGi on April 8.

Additionally a trade-up program run by BrightPoint, Brightstar and Sunstrike will allow BlackBerry fans to exchange their existing BlackBerry smartphonefor the Z10, with a rebate of up to RM480 per device.

Those interested in the trade up should first visit https://www.facebook.com/BlackBerryMY and provide the details required to obtain a voucher, which entitles them to participate in the program.

With a printed copy of this voucher and their old BlackBerry smartphone, they can then attend any of the 21 roadshows being organized across Malaysia by Brightstar and Maxis.

Available in two colours (black and white), the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone features a 1.5 Ghz dual core processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 64GB cards. It features a micro HDMI out port and NFC (near field communications).

For more information on the trade-up visit https://www.facebook.com/BlackBerryMY

For more information on the Z10 visit www.blackberry.com.my/BlackBerryZ10.

Trade up details:

*Notes:

- Terms and conditions apply

- Launch trade in pricing available for the first 3,000 units:

Model:

BlackBerry Curve 8520 RM255.00

BlackBerry Curve 9300 RM270.00

BlackBerry Bold 9000 RM125.00

BlackBerry Bold 9700 RM285.00

BlackBerry Bold 9780 RM330.00

BlackBerry Bold 9900 RM485.00

- To be eligible for the trade up program, all smartphones have to meet the following criteria:

1. The BlackBerry smartphone must be able to power on;

2. The BlackBerry smartphone was not have a damaged LCD screen;

3. The BlackBerry smartphone must have all the buttons on keypad;

4. The BlackBerry smartphone must not have any liquid damage;

5. The BlackBerry smartphone must not have damaged hardware.

E-mail virus attack lowest in five years

Friday, February 22, 2013 — Friday, February 22, 2013

The e-mail as a mode of transportation for online virus distributers has dropped. According to the January 2013 Symantec Intelligence Report, the global ratio of email-borne viruses was one in 400 emails (0.25 percent). This is a decrease of 0.11 percentage points since 2012 came to an end, and is the lowest virus rate recorded since 2009.
In January, Malaysias ratio of email-borne viruses in email traffic was lower than the global rate at one in 678 emails (0.15 percent). This is a decrease of 0.02 percentage points since December 2012.

Also included in the report are the results for the top five geographies with the highest virus rate in 2013, as well as the top five industry sectors with the highest virus rate in January 2013.

Respectively, the former included Hungary, South Africa, United Kingdom, Italy and India. The latter included the Public Sector, Education, Accommodation/Catering, Transport/Utility, and Non-Profit.

Types of malware that are usually sent out around this time of the year are Valentines Day spam. These typically arrive in the form of an ecard. Symantec and Microsoft also partnered to take down a notorious botnet known as Batmital, and have shut down all known components that were used to operate the botnet.

365 - The world is your Office

Tuesday, February 05, 2013 — Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Its a fast-paced world and there is a need to be constantly on the go, not hindered by physical surroundings. Thats the idea behind Microsofts new Office product suite - to provide an offering that complements the lifestyle of todays working Malaysians.
This isnt just another version of Office - this is Office reinvented as a cloud service, said Danny Ong, Microsoft Malaysias Chief Marketing & Operating Officer.

With Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, the new Office will allow working Malaysians to manage their work-life balance more effectively. Information should be available instantly from anywhere and on any device, and Microsoft has successfully done this with Office 365.

The Office 365 Home Premium is Microsofts subscription service model, which comes with cloud-connected capabilities. With a subscription code, Office 365 can be installed in up to five PCs, Macs, and compatible mobile devices in the household.

This enables the consumer to have on their devices the core Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, as well as Outlook, 20GB online storage on SkyDrive, 60 Skype world minutes each month to phones, and Office on Demand.

Office 365 will also allow for ongoing upgrades and access to multiple languages. Available in stores now the RRP for the Office 365 is RM259. A Live account is needed for access to the full features of the Office 365, and subscription will last for a year.

Microsoft also announced the launch of Office 365 University and the updated versions of traditional Office suites such as Office Home & Student 2013, Office Home & Business 2013, and Office Professional 2013.

Nokia Lumia 620 - Mid-range Windows 8 phone experience

Wednesday, January 23, 2013 — Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Were not going to lie - the Windows 8 OS on the Nokia Lumia series is rather fun to use. Its creative, colourful and not to mention, fast user interface gives it a very artistic and unique feel unlike that found in the more straightforward Android and Apples iOS UIs. And for those tight on budget to go out on a limb for it, you have the Lumia 620.
Granted it is a mid-range version of Windows 8 phone compared to the recently released Lumia 920 and 820, the 620 - after fiddling around with it - is sufficient enough to give users a taste on what the Windows 8 UI offers

More importantly is how the Nokia Lumia series matches up to existing mobile phones of various price ranges. The Lumia 620 in particular is solid, sleek and comfortable to hold. On a personal note it feels right at home in the palm of users maybe even more so than its larger siblings of 920 and 820.

At a glance: priced at RM799 the Lumia 620 runs on a dual-core 1 GHz Krait and Snapdragon S4. It has a 5MP camera, 32 GB internal storage (no slots) and 1 GB RAM.

Launched locally early this month, stock of the Lumia 620 is now available at your nearest Nokia store.

For more information on the Nokia Lumia 620 visit:

http://www.nokia.com/my-en/products/phone/lumia620/specifications/

Fuji Xerox signs document managing services with Nomad Offices

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 — Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Nomad Offices aims to improve their services provided to their tenants over the coming year. One of the steps taken so far is their recent partnership with Fuji Xerox Asia Pacic Malaysia Operations, announced on Jan 9 at The Nomad Offices at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
This partnership between The Nomad Offices and Fuji Xerox aims to create a single interface for The Nomad Offices administrator to subscribe new tenants and upload their information into its ApeosWare Management Services (AWMS) server.

All information will be integrated to The Nomad Offices centralized communication server, the Business Centre System.

This will allow tenants to immediately use facilities provided in the serviced offices. A password protected account and a key card will be provided to respective tenants to access their files on the Fuji Xerox machine.

With the revamped and more efficient process, our tenants will benefit with higher quality of services, said The Nomad Group ICT senior manager Charles Francis.

Cheng Shea Li, assistant general manager of The Nomad Offices concurred. Investing in technologies is a vital element to enhance tenants experiences in generating greater business value. For The Nomad Office, this is also in line with our vision to be up-to-date in office technology.

The partnership with Fuji Xerox, in addition to providing better document management services, also aims to promote a greener environment at work, with less wastage occurring.

At Fuji Xerox, we wish to surpass the expectations of our customers by implementing solutions that can help them operate better. We will continue to give our best in delivering cutting edge document management solutions to our partners business growth, said Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific Malaysia Operations president Sunil Gupta.

The partnership aims to take off by February while the second phase of the partnership will help extend the better document management service to other The Nomad Offices in the region.

The group operates regionally around Southeast Asia which includes Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Philippines. In Malaysia, The Nomad Offices are located at Menara Hap Seng, Menara Prestige, Pavilion KL, and The Gardens.

Samsung unveils new product at Consumer Electronics Show 2013

Monday, January 07, 2013 — Monday, January 07, 2013

A new year comes with new launches and to get a head start, Samsung has rolled out its list of what the company will be showcasing at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan 8 to 11.
- The Samsung NX300 Compact System Camera

The NX300 has a 20.3 Megapixel APS-CMOS sensor, a wide ISO rage (ISO100 - 25600) and a Hybrid Auto Focus (AF) system among other features. The unveiling is accompanied by the announcement of the worlds first one-lens 3D system - 45mm/3D lens - for a consumer camera.

- Enhanced Series 7 Chronos and Series 7 Ultra

To be thinner and lighter, the highlight of the Series 7 Chronos is its ten-finger multi-touch touchscreen as well as touchpad and keyboard. The Series 7 Ultra is the first Ultrabook in the Series 7 family.

- Premium Touch-Screen Monitors

The Series 7SC770 Touch Monitor will be optimized for Windows 8 and is a multi-touch display that supports up to 10 points of simultaneous multi-touch while the Series 7 SC750 has a slim design and is capable of a 90-degree pivot.

- Evolution Kit for an Evolving SMART TV

The Evolution Kit works as a back attachment to Smart TVs giving owners access to newer features. It was first introduced at last years CES.

- SMART TV Software Development Kit

The Smart TV Software Development Kit 4.0 allows for Smart TV software development on Linux and Mac, in addiction to Window O/S.

New iValue plan follows iPhone 5 launch

Friday, December 21, 2012 — Friday, December 21, 2012

It has been a week since Maxis Bhd launched the iPhone 5, have you gotten yours? Regardless Maxis has something for everyone: The telco company announced its new iValue Simple for those who simply want to pay even lesser than the available Maxis postpaid plans.
How does RM50 a month sound? The new plan is optional as part of Maxis iPhone 5 plan package.

According to Maxis, current iValue 1 customers will automatically have their accounts converted to the rates of the iValue Simple effective in January 2013.

For those still looking to buy an iPhone 5 here are its prices (by Maxis):

16GB RRP: RM2,199

32GB RRP: RM2,499

64GB RRP: RM2,799

For more information on the iPhone 5 along with Maxis rates visit:

http://www.maxis.com.my/personal/iphone/rates.asp

New 4K series Canon EOS cameras hit market

Friday, February 22, 2013 — Friday, February 22, 2013

Need some serious high-definition video shooting done? This is Hollywood quality shooting right here. With the recently launched Canon EOS C500 and EOS-1Dc cameras you are pretty much set to make your own Avengers movie.
Unless you are in the movie making business you may give these cameras a skip but if you insist to own one expect to pay up to RM110,040 (USD$36,000) for the C500 and RM 36,680 (USD$12,000) for the 1Dc.

According to Canon, they hope the cameras see collaboration with the local film making industry.

The C500 is already available in the market while the 1DC will only see stock in January.

Own your Maxis-iPhone 5 package tonight

Thursday, December 13, 2012 — Thursday, December 13, 2012

Thats it - No more waiting, no need for importing and no more waiting for that sweet and sexy iPhone 5 and whats it going to feel like in the palm of your sweaty hands because tonight, Maxis unveils its iPhone 5 package.
First of the many local telcos to do so, the launch event takes place at CapSquare in Kuala Lumpur accompanied by a host of performances and events held by various radio stations like ERA, Fly, Hitz and My FM.

The event will run from 8pm all the way up to midnight. A massive turnout is expected.