Latest News

The mid-range smartphone formerly known as the HTC Zara was officially released as the HTC Desire 601 recently. Confirming pretty much all the rumoured tech specs, features and leaked images, the HTC Desire 601 will pack in a 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 4.5-inch display (960 x 540), 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage + microSD support and weigh in at 130g. Unfortunately, the rear camera is not Ultrapixel, instead it will be a 5MP AutoFocus f/2.0 aperture camera while the front camera is just a 0.3MP VGA camera. Other changes include just Sense 5.0 but this also means that Zoe and BlinkFeed gets included as well. It will support 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi and GPS though. The HTC Desire 601 will be released in October 2013 for selected markets in Africa, Europe and the Middle East but no exact release dates for Malaysia. The only thing left unclarified would be the price which is still pending, but should be cleared up during the local launch.

When we first covered the early rumours about a wireless lens, WVIL or the Wireless Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens came up way before the now upcoming Sony Smart Shot wireless lens. Released way back in 2011, the WVIL system isn't a real wireless lens but actually a concept exploring the possibilities of the wireless lens. Put up by the Artefact Group, it offered a look into what they thought would be the natural progression of digital photography with smartphones. While the Sony Smart Shot wireless lens could have come from a different source, the Artefact Group has explored the concept of a wireless lens so fully that there are even concept renders of possible accessories and even an easier to use camera app. We're practically days away from the unveiling of the Sony Smart Shot but if you'd like a possible view at the future of wireless lens check out the pics and videos here.

More images of the upcoming interchangeable wireless lens system for smartphones from Sony have appeared. TheSony Smart Shot wireless lens will still probably arrive in two versions, namely the higher-end Sony DSC-QX100 and consumer compact level Sony DSC-QX10. The new images show how the lens will connect to the frame which seems to be adjustable. The images confirm that the wireless lens will likely connect magnetically also confirming that they will probably be standalone systems complete with their own batteries and other features. No new tech spec information about the wireless lens so we assume that the previously outlined specs are correct. The official reveal should be within the next couple of days or during the IFA 2013 event but no exact details were available on release dates for Malaysia.

With the IFA 2013 event upon us, Acer has officially launched it's Acer Liquid S2 as the World's first smartphone with the ability to record 4K video. Powered by a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, this 6-inch phablet offers full HD IPS display for 368ppi protected by Gorilla Glass 3. Other tech specs and features include a 3300 mAh battery, 16GB storage and microSD support up to 128GB. It packs in a 13MP rear camera with 28mm wide-angle lens with a backside illuminated sensor. The 2MP front camera also has an ultra-wide 88 degree 24mm BSI sensor and supports 1080p video recording.

The Acer Liquid C2 captures 4K Ultra HD video at 60 frames per second and can also do slow motion video. At 166 x 86 x 8.9mm the phablet is quite thin and supports 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, 3G and GPS. At the event, Acer said that it would launch the smartphone late October 2013 in Europe but no detailed information on Malaysia release dates or pricing just yet. According to related news, the Acer Liquid S2 achieves 4K video recording not through it's camera sensor but through the Snapdragon 800 chipset, which may make the chipset synonymous with 4K video recording in general.

At a press conference by KT Corporation about broadband LTE, a presentation slide let slip that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note III would not only support a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset but also that it would be able to handle LTE-A. While this isn't an official Samsung announcement, KT Corporation is one of the major telcos in Korea so it doesn't look like a leak or prank. The slip doesn't confirm other features or details though as there are no Malaysia release dates, no pricing and no confirmation of other tech specs. With just another 2 or so days to go, the Samsung Galaxy Note III official reveal is set for 4 September 2013 where everything gets confirmed or not, so let's wait and see. We expect even more rumours and leaks to come though, as such things usually happen the closer you get to the official announcement.

Oracle Corporation recently released the latest MySQL Workbench 6.0. The open source design, development and administration tool provides data modeling, SQL development and comprehensive administration for server configuration, user administration migration and much more. The update follows up on more than 200 user inputs and requests from the MySQL community. The newest release offers a number of features and improvements which include:

• Redesigned user interface
• Vertical query results mode
• New Table Data Search
• Improved Server Status

Fujitsu recently announced the appointment of Michael Warren as the new Country President for Fujitsu Malaysia. His appointment will be effective from 1 September 2013. The role will see him driving overall business growth and profitability within the organization and increasing Fujitsu Malaysia's market share in the products, solutions and services available in Malaysia.

Micheal Warren has had 25 years worth of experience in a range of multinational and government-linked companies such as Malaysia's Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) and many more within the Asia Pacific region.  He will be responsible for the planning and overall strategic direction, sales, marketing and support operations while increasing customer satisfaction and strengthening strategic alliances with key channel partners.

Well, as expected, the HTC Zara Mini or Desire 601 mini will get a name change of it's own. Recent rumours indicate that rather than be called the HTC Desire 601 mini, the 4.3-inch display version could perhaps be called the HTC Z3. As before, this name change rumour comes from evleaks who has been quite accurate before about upcoming smartphone rumours and details. However, tech specs and features for the HTC Z3 will likely remain the same with the previously mentioned 4.3-inch screen (480 x 800), dual SIM, 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 8GB storage, 5MP rear camera and 1.2MP front camera. Again, no exact Malaysia release dates are available but we expect the HTC Z3 to be revealed in the next few months or so, perhaps with or after the HTC Desire 601.

The LG G Pad 8.3 has been officially announced, confirming many of the tech specs rumoured to come out with it. This includes the 8.3-inch display with 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution. According to LG this would make it the first 8-inch tablet with Full HD 1080p but we're expecting more such tablets to make an appearance soon. Other tech specs and features for the LG G Pad 8.3 include a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of LPDDR2 RAM, 16GB storage, 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera and 4600 mAh battery. The tablet will run on Android 4.2.2. At 216.8 x 126.5 x 8.3mm the LG G Pad 8.3 is bigger than most 7-inch tablets but may only just offer WiFi support for now, or at least until a cellular version comes out. No exact Malaysia release dates but the LG G Pad 8.3 will be made available to North America, Europe and Asia from Q4 of 2013. Prices will probably be released when the tablet gets launched.

Rumours about a 12.2 tablet from Samsung have been swirling around before but this is probably the first time we've seen some relatively clear leaked images of the tablet. Rumoured by evleaks back in July, the Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 tablet features a 12.2-inch screen with 2560 x 1600 pixel resolutions and may use an Exynos Octa 5 chipset. The Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 will have the model name SM-P900 and will likely have S-Pen support as part of it's features list and tech specs. With the quality of the rendered image, we're expecting the tablet to make an appearance at the IFA 2013 but no Malaysia release dates just yet.