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The more affordable HTC One E8 was recently launched here in Malaysia from RM1699. The smartphone bears a similar shape and design as the HTC One M8 but goes for a plastic or polycarbonate backside casing instead. Currently available at all authorized HTC resellers here in Malaysia, the smartphone comes in Electric Crimson (red), Misty Grey (blueish grey) and Polar White (white). Check out the full tech specs and feature list for the HTC One E8 below:

• 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB storage + up to 128GB microSD support
• 5-inch display (Super Clear LCD, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution)
• 13MP rear camera (LED flash, f/2.2) + 5MP front camera
• supports 4G LTE,
• Features dual-front Boom Sound speakers,
• 2600 mAh battery
• Android 4.4 KitKat + Sense 6.0

Samsung fans have waited a long time for a semi-premium smartphone made from metal, and Samsung have finally given in by officially announcing the Samsung Galaxy Alpha. Rumoured to be the Samsung smartphone with the brushed metal backside, this appears to be still a rumour as only the frame is solid metal, but it does a lot to making the phone feel more premium. The Galaxy Alpha should now have less flex and feel a lot more sturdy compared to the larger and thicker yet more plastic build of the Samsung Galaxy S5. The perforated design on the back casing remains the same though just as the back material is also still plastic. Ironically, the Galaxy Alpha is much lighter at 115g and super thin at just 6.7mm. Check out the full tech specs and feature list for the Samsung Galaxy Alpha below:

• Octa-core Samsung Exynos processor (1.8GHz quad-core + 1.3GHz quad-core)
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 4.7-inch display (Super AMOLED, 1280 x 720 pixel resolution)
• 12MP rear camera (LED flash, 4K video record) + 2.1MP front camera
• features LTE Cat.6, WiFi 802.11 ac, MIMO(2x2), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, Hall Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Heartrate sensor
• 132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7mm | 115g
• 1860 mAh battery
• available in charcoal black, dazzling white, frosted gold, sleek silver and scuba blue
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Samsung's latest premium tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is now available from U Mobile starting from just RM1269. The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 has a retail price of RM1699 so there isn't that much of a price drop, however you will only have to sign up for a 12 month contract on either an Unlimited 50 or Unlimited 80 postpaid plan. In addition, there is no upfront payment if you qualify for the Limited Time Merdeka Promotion, which means you have to sign up for an extra SIM card for RM10 a month. This means one account must have 1 principal and 1 member. This deal is available until 30 September 2014 and you also get some pretty good freebies, such as an exclusive tablet cover and a 3 months free subscription to UCare Plus 8 if you sign up for the Unlimited 80 postpaid plan. Check out the table and links in this article for more details.

Microsoft recently sent out invites to their upcoming event at the IFA 2014 in September. The invite clearly shows a PureView sensor, hinting that a device with a PureView camera will be revealed at the event. The most obvious device could be the Lumia 830 which while a midrange device, could come with a 20.1MP PureView camera. Other rumoured tech specs for the Lumia 830 includes a 4.5-inch display with 720p pixel resolution. Another device said to be coming at the event could be the Lumia 730 or Lumia Superman, which has been dubbed as the company's Selfie smartphone, perhaps due to the rumoured 5MP front camera. Other tech specs and features for the Lumia 730 include a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 4.7-inch display with 720p pixel resolution. The Microsoft event is set for 4 September 2014 and while this rumour could be true, do take it with good pinch of salt. It could just as likely be the reveal for the next device to hold the 41MP PureView sensor said to be going out with the Lumia 1020. Stay tuned for more developments.

Sony started the whole water-proof smartphone trend with their Xperia Z smartphone, but truth be told, you can't really do much except take videos and pictures underwater. Well, now you can do something else as Sony release their new Underwater Apps for the Sony Xperia Z and Xperia Z1 smartphones, and even then, they must be from the US region. Most of the apps don't do much except to showcase your waterproof smartphone but the Goldie, Photo Lab, Plantimal, Sink Sunk, Rainy-oke and Tiny Umbrella do let you show it off a bit more. The only functional app to us would be the Sink Sunk app for those of you who'd like to play a game while scuba diving. As it is, Sony has opened it up to developers so we might see some useful underwater apps in the near future. No news when non-US Xperia Z and Xperia Z1 smartphones may get access but we'll let you know as soon as we find out.

The successor to the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 has appeared with the Samsung Galaxy Mega 2. The 5.98-inch phablet was recently spotted at China's Tenaa revealing pics and tech specs. These tech specs and features include a 64-bit 1.2GHz Qualcomm snapdragon 410 processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage with support for microSD flash memory, a 5.98-inch display with 120 x 1280 pixel resolution, 13MP rear camera with LED flash, 5MP front camera and Android 4.4 KitKat. Since it is coming out for China it supports TD-LTE which is the 4G LTE version in China. The phablet measures in at 163.6 x 84.9 x 8.6mm which is quite large despite having fairly thin bezels and an artifical leather backside. No specific Malaysia release dates or pricing yet, but if it is already out in China, it should be here in Malaysia soon.

Microsoft recently launched their new Nokia Lumia 530 Dual-SIM smartphone for the masses here in Malaysia. Priced at RM355.00,  the Nokia Lumia 530 has been designed to deliver a connected experience for everyone and at that price should be affordable enough for everyone as well. According to Microsoft, it is their most affordable Windows Phone at the moment and will be available here in Malaysia on 16 August 2014. In terms of design, the Nokia Lumia 530 retains more or less the same colourful polycarbonate backside as other Nokia Lumia smartphones but fits nicely in the hand. The successor for the original value Windows Phone,  the Lumia 520, the Nokia Lumia 530 packs in a number of tech specs which include:

• 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB storage + up to 128GB microSD support
• 4-inch display (FWVGA / 854 x 480 pixels)
• 5MP rear camera (no LED flash, no front camera)
• Features HSPA+, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB, Nokia Mixradio, HERE Drive+
• 1430 mAh battery
• Windows Phone 8.1 + Lumia Cyan

It appears that even the RM509 Xiaomi Redmi Note is being pirated with fake Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones. This comes from a fellow Malaysian buyer who got ripped off from what appeared to be a third-party seller (scalper) who sold the fake Xiaomi Redmi Note he bought at RM639. When he got the fake phone he discovered that the tech specs and features didn't match, and the smartphone that he got could not take very good pictures (the original Xiaomi Redmi Note packs in a very good 13MP rear camera) and even could not upgrade to the latest version of Facebook. He went on to buy an original Xiaomi Redmi Note (again from a third-party seller at RM699) to make a video comparison between the two.

Most of the differences can't be tested for unless you download and run certain benchmark programs like AnTuTu X where the fake smartphone will score around 9000+ while the original will go for around 26000+. We'd recommend that you check out his detailed comparison (in Malay) but if you're faced with the actual device the easiest way to check would be to try out the camera and record 1080p full HD video, then play it back. If it is the real Xiaomi Redmi Note the playback should be smooth while the fake one will lag. Xiaomi Malaysia generally sell all of their products on their own website and do not have any authorized third-party sellers or distributors in Malaysia so buyers should beware of this when buying through other sources. In the meantime, do check out the comparison video.

While the Huawei Honor 3C already has a prime spot on the value smartphone market at just RM499, this is still not entry-level pricing. As such, Huawei have since come out with teaser images of their upcoming Huawei Honor 3C Playpriced at a very low price of CNY599 (RM312). Tech specs for the Honor 3C Play are quite good and include a 1g.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6583 processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, 5-inch display with 720p pixel resolution, 8MP rear camera and Android 4.2.2. We suspect that the front camera will probably be a 2MP version and the rear camera won't have any LED flash but we assume it will come packing with Emotion UI 2.3 and offer an Apple iPhone like design based on the Apple logo image in one of the teasers. No news yet on actual Malaysia release dates or pricing but we expect it to come out soon in August 2014 or it may risk having to battle it out with the next Apple iPhone, Galaxy Note and Xperia Z smartphones in September 2014. Check out the teaser images for yourself.

It isn't a big secret that mobile devices are jumping onto the 64-bit bandwagon. We've already seen any number of 64-bit tablets but it appears that the first 64-bit smartphone from HTC may well be a model going by the codename of HTC A11. Reports indicate that it could be under the Desire branding and midrange tech specs that include:

• 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
• 4.7-inch display (480 x 854 pixel resolution)
• 5MP rear camera (no LED flash) + VGA front camera. 
• Android 4.4.2