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We'd never think to pair a Vespa with a tablet, but Samsung are thinking out of the box for their new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite tablet with their "Samsung Unlock Joy and Win" contest. The contest gives Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite buyers the chance to win a Vespa LX150 scooter, with the contest starting from 8 May 2014 until 30 June 2014. You can buy the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 Lite for just RM699, download the Galaxy Life mobile app and select the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite deal to start the contest. There will be 15 winners for the contest, each bringing back the Vespa LX150, which retails at RM9750. Tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite includes:

• 1.2GHz dual-core processor
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB storage + up to 32GB microSD
• 7-inch display (1024 x 600 pixel resolution)
• 2MP rear camera
• 116.4 x 193.4 x 9.7mm | 322g
• supports S-Voice, 3G UMTS, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS
• 3600 mAh battery

Xiaomi Malaysia have just announced that their current flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 3 will soon be available in Malaysia for RM889. Announced on their Facebook page, the Xiaomi Mi 3 will be coming on 20 May 2014 and offer tech specs on par with some more premium smartphones. The tech specs for the Xiaomi Mi 3 include:

• 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8274AB)
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB / 64GB storage
• 5-inch display (IPS, 1080 x 1920 pixels, 441ppi)
• 13MP rear camera (dual-LED flash) + 2MP front camera
• supports 3G, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
• 144 x 73.6 x 8.1 mm | 145g
• Android 4.2.1
• 3050 mAh battery (non-removable)

If you have been interested in trying out any of the recent Alcatel OneTouch smartphones and devices first-hand, you can now do so at the new Alcatel OneTouch concept store on the ground floor in Plaza Low Yat. Officially launched yesterday, the concept store is the first Alcatel OneTouch concept store in Malaysia with more coming soon. It is here that you will be able to check out the transparent Alcatel OneTouch Idol Alpha and the octa-core powered Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+. In line with this grand opening, various promotions will be held from 8 May 2014 to 11 May 2014 at the store. These promotions include discounts on Alcatel OneTouch devices, including the current flagship Alcatel Idol X+ which is going for RM1199 instead of the normal RM1299 retail price. Other promotions include a Spin 'N' Win game where you can win extra gifts after you purchase an Alcatel OneTouch device at the store, and much more.

It isn't a big secret that the new range of ASUS ZenFone smartphones are powered by Intel processors, but what most users in Malaysia are asking is "when will the ASUS ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6 arrive in Malaysia?". After the regional launch in Jakarta about a month back, the entry-level to midrange smartphone market in Malaysia has erupted into what appears to be the beginnings of a price war, while the ASUS ZenFone's appear to have been delayed. Intel Malaysia has since teased the ASUS ZenFone's low-light capabilities on their Facebook page, hinting as well that they should arrive on 10 May 2014. We think that such features are certainly worth waiting for, so stay tuned for more developments.

OPPO Malaysia have officially launched the Find 7 and Find 7a smartphones in Malaysia. Notable tech specs and features on the OPPO Find 7 include a 5.5-inch screen with 2K or 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution and a 50MP camera mode (which is basically many shots using the 13MP rear camera that are then combined for extra quality).  As was mentioned in our earlier report on the international launch of the two smartphones, the Find 7a is the lower-end version, but even then the tech specs on this smartphone are still top-notch, on par with many other flagship smartphones currently in the market. In their guess the price contest, OPPO Malaysia revealed the pricing for the OPPO Find 7 at RM1998 while the OPPO Find 7a will be offered at it's pre-order price of RM1598. Both smartphones will be available in Malaysia starting from 15 May 2014 for the Find 7a and June 2014 for the Find 7. For more details, check out the OPPO Find 7 and Find 7a tech specs below:

• OPPO Find 7
• 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 5.5-inch display (IPS, 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, 538ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 3)
• 13MP rear camera (50MP software enhancement, Pure Image 2.0, 6-element lens, f/2.0 wide aperture Sony Sensor, dual-LED flash) + 5MP front camera
• Supports 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 801.11 a/b/g/n, NFC, GPS
• 152.6 x 75 x 9.2mm | 173g
• 3000 mAh battery (VOOC rapid charge)

On top of releasing the OPPO Find 7 and Find 7a here in Malaysia, OPPO have also revealed two new models for the entry level and lower midrange user in the form of the OPPO Yoyo and OPPO Joy. While OPPO Malaysia did tease the two smartphones at the Find 7 and Find 7a launch yesterday, they quickly revealed the pricing for the Yoyo and Joy at their Facebook page today with availability also expected from today onwards. Tech specs and pricing for the OPPO Yoyo and OPPO Joy are listed below

• OPPO Yoyo
• 1.3GHz quadcore processor
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB storage + up to 32GB microSD
• 4.7-inch display (IPS, 960 x 540 pixel resolution)
• 5MP rear camera + 2MP front camera
• 1900 mAh battery
• Supports 3G, HSPA+, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1
• Android 4.2
• RM798

We've seen any number of smartphone torture tests where people drop them, dunk them in water and drive over them. Most don't survive the last test and even then, usually end up with at least a cracked screen. The Caterpillar CAT B15 smartphone on the other hand takes all that and one ups all these other torture tests by adding heavy machinery to the mix, courtesy of Caterpillar of course. Tech specs for this smartphone include a 1GHz dual-core MediaTek processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, 2000 mAh battery, support for GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and a rear and front camera. It is also one of the few smartphones out there with mil-spec 810g shock proof military grade certification. Do you think your tough smartphone can handle being run over by a 4.6 ton tank tread loader? Check out the CAT B15 doing just that in the video below:

The Microsoft Surface Mini remains one of those as of yet unannounced rumours but Microsoft have since come out with an invite for a "small gathering" on 29 May 2014, hinting that they could be announcing the Surface Mini tablet there. Currently, rumours have the Microsoft Surface Mini sized with a 7.5-inch display with 1440 x 1080 pixel resolution and 4:3 Aspect Ratio to compete directly with the Apple iPad Mini. Previous versions like the Microsoft Surface and Surface Pro use a 16:9 Aspect Ratio. Other tech specs and features include an NVIDIA Tegra processor, Windows RT, 2GB of RAM, 32GB / 64GB of storage and no built-in kickstand. It is expected to have WiFi and LTE versions. The dealbreaker remains the pricing though as the other Microsoft's other Windows RT installed tablets only started selling well when they hit below RM1K pricing. Again, no news on Malaysia pricing or release dates but stay tuned for more developments.

Rumours indicate that we could soon get to see a new line of premium Galaxy Tab tablets from Samsung called the Samsung Galaxy Tab S. Coming courtesy of SamMobile, the rumours seem to be credible but do take it with a good pinch of salt as they have missed sometimes as well. According to them, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S will come out first with two models, one with an 8.4-inch display and another with a 10.5-inch display. Both displays will be AMOLED and offer 2K or 2560 x 1600 pixel resolutions. Other notable tech specs and features include fingerprint sensors embedded in the home button like the Samsung Galaxy S5 complete with Fingerprint unlock and other related features.

The first time we saw a smartphone with an artificial leather back was when Samsung did it with their Galaxy Note 3 phablet. This design was continued on for other Samsung devices but it seems that the trend has caught on with other smartphone manufacturers as well as leaked images of the Huawei Glory 3X Pro show that it too has an artificial leather backside. The current leaked image only shows the artificial leather and stitching in white but we're sure there are other colours as well. For now, tech specs of the Huawei Glory 3X Pro include an octa-core MediaTek MT6592 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 5.5-inch full HD 1080p display, 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. No specific Malaysia release dates or pricing yet but prices in China are rumoured to be 1699 yuan (RM885). Considering this price, we're left wondering if Huawei Malaysia may soon bring the Huawei Glory 3X Pro over to Malaysia to keep their RM499 Honor 3C company.