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The Samsung Galaxy Alpha was just launched today in Malaysia for RM1899. The super thin metal frame smartphone from Samsung is currently available in authorized Samsung Experience Stores and other retail outlets but is limited to just black or white for now. The gold and silver colours will be coming later. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha tech specs and features are as follows:

• 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 (ISOCELL, 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

The previously rumoured OPPO R1S has apparently reached Malaysia, only this time it may be going by the name of OPPO R1L. Bearing the same metal frame design as the OPPO R1 but packing in better tech specs and features, the smartphone will be priced at RM1198. Unlike the R1 which packed in a MediaTek processor, the R1L has the tried and tested Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, which provides 4G LTE support. The full tech specs and features for the OPPO R1L include:

• 1.6 GHz quad-core Qualcomm snapdragon 400 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• 5-inch display (IPS LCD, 720 x 1280 , 294 ppi)
• 13MP rear camera + 5MP front camera
• Supports Wifi, GPS, 3G, 4G LTE
• 142.7 x 70.4 x 7.1mm | 136g
• 2410 mAh battery
• Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

ASUS Malaysia has officially announced the availability of the 6-inch ZenFone 6 (A601CG) smartphone in Malaysia. While it has been available here and there, this is a newer version with a slower clocked Intel Atom Z2560 processor. As always, to get further info about where to buy your new ASUS ZenFone 6, do check out the ASUS Malaysia Facebook Page. For a refresher, tech specs and features for the ASUS ZenFone 6 include a 13MP PixelMaster rear camera, 6-inch Corning Gorilla Glass 3 covered display with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution, 2GB of RAM and 2MP front camera but now at much lower RM699 (the initially priced RM899 ASUS ZenFone 6 has a 2GHz Intel Atom Z2580). This RM699 pricing puts it closer to the overseas pricing and makes it a lot more attractive but do remember that you're gettting a slower clocked device. We expect a 4G LTE version to come out soon but the current ZenFone 6 (A601CG) still supports 3G and Dual SIM which is still good enough for most users.

With the Apple iPhone 6 and Watch officially announced, the next device in the Apple stable will likely be the Apple iPads with a rumoured announcement set for 21 October 2014. This rumour comes from insiders supposedly, so do take it with a good pinch of salt. However, the previous iPad announcements did come in October around this time as well, so it could be possible. For now, there is no definite news on what will be available for the iPad. We are expecting an A8 chip refresh for both the Apple iPad Air and iPad mini along with a TouchID fingerprint sensor, but apart from that nothing else is definite. There are rumours about a 12.2-inch iPad Pro tablet but again, this is still very much a rumour.

While the iOS site for Malaysia has the operating system still in Coming Soon, Apple have already made their latest iOS 8 update available for download. The update is available to all Apple iPhone 4S and above users, iPad 2 and above users, all iPad mini users and those with a 5th generation iPod Touch. All you need to do is go to Settings > General > Software Updates. The update is almost 1GB but requires some free space (about 5.7GB for the iPhone) to update properly, so be sure to have a good amount of space available on your device. Like all updates be sure to back up all your important stuff and make sure you have enough battery life before you update.

While Panasonic have officially stopped making Android smartphones, this hasn't stopped them from making a camera in an Android smartphone with the announcement of the Panasonic Lumix Smart Camera CM1. Slim, thin and coming with a very thin telescoping zoom lens, the black and silver CM1 looks like a very flat digital camera. Other tech specs and features include a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 4.7-inch display with full HD 1080p resolution, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, microSD expansion slot, 4G LTE support, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, 2600 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat. It measures in at 21.1mm thick and 204g while the 20MP camera sensor with f/2.8 Leica lens can record 4K video at 15fps. No specific Malaysia release dates or pricing, but the Lumix Smart Camera CM1 will be available in France around November 2014 for 899 euros (RM3748). It's closest competitior would probably be the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom which is definitely a lot more affordable, but probably not as powerful in terms of features and tech specs.

Direct from Samsung Malaysia, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha smartphone will be coming on 19 September 2014 and will also be available with a FREE Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch. The offer is for the first 100 buyers of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha smartphone at the Samsung Experience Store in The Gardens KL, Gurney Paragon Penang and the Maxis Centre at KLCC. No confirmed Malaysia pricing yet but some retailers are offering the Samsung Galaxy Alpha from RM1899. The metal-frame Samsung Galaxy Alpha offers tech specs and features that includes:

• 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 (ISOCELL, 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

The RM355 entry-level Nokia Lumia 530 is now available for just RM57 after you purchase a Nokia Lumia 1520, Lumia 530, Lumia 930 or Lumia 630 in conjunction with Malaysia Day tomorrow. The Malaysia Day Sale will be on from 12 September 2014 to 16 September 2014. So far, there are no other conditions, asides from stock availability and buying from certain stores that include the following:

• Klang Valley
• Vlife Communication (Wangsa Walk Mall)
• URS Telecommunications (Mines Shopping Centre)
• Hello Station (Suria KLCC, Low Yat Plaza, Pavilion, The Gardens, Bangsar Village II)
• Lee Wai Trading (Pertama Complex)
• BBS Distributions (Low Yat Plaza
• Selangor
• Hello Station (1 Utama, The curve, Sunway Pyramid, AEON Bukit Tinggi)
• Gadget Boutique (Paradigm Mall)
• Amber Channel Trading (Digital Mall)
• Others
• Northern Point (Gurney Plaza)
• Speak Phone (Mahkota Parade)
• Incomm Marketing (AEON Tebrau City)
• Tristar Solution Distribution (KBMALL)
• Metro Elctronic Supplies (Centre Point Sabah)
• Allied Marketing (Wisma Saberkas)

OPPO, makers of the rotating cameraphone the OPPO N1, may reveal their OPPO N3 smartphone in October 2014. This comes direct from OPPO's Facebook page but other sites have supposedly got their hands on early press renders of the OPPO N3. Like the Oppo N1 before it, the renders show a rotateable camera on top with dual LED flash and some fairly large speakers on the sides of the hinge. The design looks rather different from your average smartphone, with super slim bezels and the cylinder-like camera hinge on the top but it certainly looks very thin. No details yet on tech specs or features, but we expect it to be at least a 16MP camera to top the previous 13MP camera on the OPPO N1. No exact Malaysia release dates but we expect it to be either in October 2014 as OPPO is teasing or the next month. While the news on the release date is directly from OPPO, the press renders are not, so do take it with a pinch of salt. If you're unfamiliar with the rotateable camera on the original OPPO N1, do check out our OPPO N1 review later on.

Microsoft and Nokia Malaysia recently announced Malaysia Day apps along with a Nokia Lumia 530 smartphone giveaway. Just tell Nokia Malaysia on LINE Messenger how you're going to use the Windows Phone apps in their Malaysia Day Collection for the Malaysia Day Celebrations for a chance to win 1 of 2 Nokia Lumia 530 smartphones. Send your entries from 11 September 2014 to 16 September 2014. Check out the Windows Phone Malaysia Day Collection in the table below: