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After months of teasing and leaks the square like BlackBerry Passport smartphone has been officially announced. Priced at RM2399, key features and tech specs of the Passport include a 4.5-inch screen with 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution and a QWERTY keyboard with integrated trackpad capabilities. This means that while you can use the high resolution touchscreen, you won't have to as the trackpad lets you do so with ease. The integrated trackpad is quite innovative as you can just run your finger across the QWERTY keys, swype style to use the trackpad. Set for a release here in Malaysia from 10 October 2014 to 31 October 2014 under Celcom, the Passport will be available for everybody from 1 November 2014. Celcom is expected to start their postpaid plan bundles from RM638. Tech specs are very good with the full BlackBerry Passport tech spec list as follows:

• 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm snapdragon 800 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB storage + up to 128GB microSD
• 4.5-inch display (1440 x 1440 pixels, 453 ppi pixel density)
• 13MP rear camera (Optical Image Stabilization) + 2MP front camera
• features 4 mics, 4G LTE, BlackBerry Assistant, BlackBerry Blend, NFC, GPS, 802.11 ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE,
• 128 x 90.3 x 9.3mm | 196g
• 3450 mAh battery
• BlackBerry 10 OS

The Sony Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact are now available in Malaysia with the Xperia Z3 retail price going for RM2399 while the Xperia Z3 Compact is going for RM1899. The new Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact offer a number of refreshed tech specs and features over their predecessors which include a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and higher rated iP67 water proof certification. Awesome tech specs like the 20.7MP rear camera and thin design remain the same though. However, recent benchmark tests have revealed that the new Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact now offer much better battery life than many other competing smartphones. Sony Mobile are also offering some great freebies which include:

• 22 free downloadable episodes of popular TV series, Blacklist, starting November 2014
• unlimited music streaming with Akazaoo, the social media app, for 6 months upon activation
• free 50GB of storage with Box
• RM100 Qoo10 online shopping vouchers
• real-time stock and financial information by Share Investor
• RM15 off MyTeksi rides (up to 3 rides), with a total value of RM45
• 3 free e-magazine titles from SPH Magazine's library of over 20 titles, worth RM 30
• Free bumper casing + premium tempered glass cover (for Xperia Z3 Compact only)

Microsoft Mobile Devices Malaysia recently launched the Lumia 830 and Lumia 735 smartphones for Malaysia. The Nokia Lumia 830 is currently the only midrange Lumia with a 10MP PureView rear camera (which includes features like optical image stabilization and other PureView camera functions) and will be priced at RM1399. The Lumia 735 on the other hand is the company's Selfie camera with it's 5MP front camera with a price tag of RM999. While the slightly lower-end Lumia 735 will offer a standard Lumia polycarbonate backside design in various colours, the Lumia 830 will offer a metal frame much like the Lumia 930. The two midrange Lumias should be available at all authorized retail stores and vendors by 3 October 2014. Tech specs for the Lumia 830 and Lumia 735 are listed as follows:

• Nokia Lumia 830
• 1.2GHZ quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB storage + microSD (up to 128 GB)
• 5-inch display (720 x 1280 pixel resolution, 294 ppi)
• 10MP rear camera (Carl Zeiss lens, optical image stabilization, autofocus, LED flash +
  0.9MP front camera
• supports Wifi, NFC, GPS, 3G and 4G LTE
• 2200 mAh battery
• 139.4  x  70.7  x  8.5mm | 150g
• Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 (Denim Update)

• Nokia Lumia 735
• 1.2GHZ quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB storage + microSD (up to 128 GB)
• 4.7-inch display (720 x 1280 pixel resolution, 312 ppi)
• 6.7 MP rear camera (Carl Zeiss lens, autofocus, LED flash) + 5MP front camera
• supports Wifi, NFC, GPS, 3G and 4G LTE
• 2200 mAh battery
• 134.7  x  68.5  x  8.9mm | 134g
• Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 (Denim Update)

A really dedicated photographer recently took pictures using all of the Apple iPhones from the first iPhone to the latest Apple iPhone 6 and mashed the camera samples up together in a big comparison. While many say that the iPhone takes better camera shots, the mashup clearly shows the evolution of the iPhone camera in terms of depth, resolution and colour reproduction. The photographer offers six types of shots including macro, backlit, daylight, portrait, sunset and low-light. Check it out for yourself in this article.

Reports from Taiwan say that the next Apple iPad Air which probably won't be called the iPad Air 2 may be coming next month in October. While there isn't any Malaysia release date, the report was very specific, pointing to 21 October 2014 as the reveal date for the tablet. Tech specs and features about the upcoming tablet have not been many with some saying that it could pack in a new A8 processor, 2GB of RAM, a redesigned speaker and possibly a Touch ID fingerprint scanner. While we're quite certain about the A8 processor and Touch ID scanner, we'd advise you to take a pinch of salt regarding the other rumoured tech specs. Unfortunately, the reports go on to say that the next Apple iPad mini or iPad mini 3 will only be coming in early 2015. Granted, it was a bit late last year but it could also be late this year as well so take this rumour with a pinch of salt too. The 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro is expected to be announced as well, but again there are no specific Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet.

Another day, another revelation about the larger and thin Apple iPhone 6 Plus. Apparently, the iPhone 6 Plus has been bending simply from being in someone's front pants pocket. This initially came from several posts in the MacRumours forums with quite a few users showing images of their bent iPhone 6 Plus. The folks at Unbox Therapy took it a step further showing that you can actually permanently bend your iPhone 6 Plus with just your bare hands. While we don't think anyone will intentionally try to bend their iPhone 6 Plus smartphone it certainly means that you should not put this thin phablet in your pocket without some form of casing to protect it.

While the Xiaomi Redmi Note already offers fairly impressive tech specs, it seems that it may be getting a new phablet sibling soon, with tech specs and features that could eclipse the original Redmi Note completely. These tech specs include a 2.2GHZ octa-core MediaTek MT6595 processor, 3GB RAM, 16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB storage, 5.5-inch display, 20.7MP rear camera, 8MP front camera and 3500 mAh battery. Other notable features include rapid charging and an AnTuTu benchmark score of 47233 which is quite high indeed. No news yet on Malaysia release dates or pricing or even if it will be called the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2. However, it is estimated that the pricing will begin from $165 (RM536) for the 16GB version.

Samsung officially announced their new NX1 digital camera at the recent Photokina 2014 event. The Samsung NX1 incorporates a massive 28.2MP APS-C BSI CMOS sensor featuring new BSI pixel technology. This has resulted in better light absorption making pictures in daylight and sufficient lighting pop more while providing better looking images with less noise in low-light conditions. In addition, the 28.2MP camera sensor or S5KVB2 sensor enables features such as UHD or 4K video recording at 30fps and since it is made using a 65nm fabrication process, the sensor itself is very energy efficient.

The recently announced Huawei Honor 6 is set to come to Malaysia as soon as 27 September 2014 with appearances at Huawei's VMALL.my site along with their Facebook Page. Tech specs for the smartphone are quite high-end including a 1.7GHz octa-core Hi-Silicon Kirin 920 processor, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage with 64GB microSD, 5-inch 1080p display, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and 3100 mAh battery. Other notable features includes an instant shot of 0.6 second (faster than the 1.4 seconds on the Huawei Ascend P7), hardware-based HDR, dual-LED flash and a wide angle 5MP front camera. While there is no specific Malaysia release date or pricing, the Honor 6 was priced at 1999 yuan (RM1056) so there is a high chance that it could cost somewhere around RM1099. This would make it a very attractive smartphone with top of the line tech specs. In addition, Huawei are also offering 6 Huawei Honor 6 smartphones up for grabs via their Facebook Page.

Microsoft Devices Malaysia have sent out the invites for an event on 25 September 2014 and while they didn't mention it by name, the picture in the invite gives the smartphone to be launched away as the Nokia Lumia 830. Recently announced at IFA 2014, the Lumia 830 is one of the few midrange market smartphones to offer Optical Image Stabilization to go with it's 10MP PureView camera. Other tech specs and features include a 1.2GHZ quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB RAM, 5-inch display with 720p HD resolution and the Lumia Denim Update for Windows Phone 8.1. While there isn't any Malaysia pricing yet, it was initially priced at 330 euros (RM1371) which is quite affordable for a Lumia with these tech specs.