Latest News

Maxis has recently begun selling the LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy S4 or I9505 from as low as RM1399. The smartphone is available with Maxis TalkMore and SurfMore packages and for 12 month or 24 month contracts. As stated earlier the RRP for the Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505 is RM2499 because it is the 32GB version. While Maxis have put it up on their website, it isn't available online so if you want it, you'll need to pay a visit to a nearby Maxis Store. Check out the table below for more details:

Taking a page from the Transformer AIO the new ASUS Transformer Book Trio does more or less the same thing in a more portable package. Taking the form of an ASUS notebook computer like the Transformer Book, the screen is detachable and functions as an Android tablet when detached. What sets it apart is the fact that the keyboard dock can be attached to another display unit, allowing it to function as a desktop, which means you get 2 systems for the price of one.

Tech specs for the tablet screen include:

• 2GHz Intel Atom Z2580 processor
• 11.6-inch display(1080p)
• 64GB storage
• Android 4.2

Entering the phablet range for ASUS is the new Asus FonePad Note FHD 6. This 6-inch touchscreen packs in a number of features including a built-in stylus. While it looks to be in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy Note phablet series, ASUS seem to not want to (at least in name), and have instead categorized the FonePad Note as a tablet. Tech specs for the FonePad Note FHD 6 include:

• 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2560 processor 
• 2GB RAM 
• 6-inch Super IPS+ display (1080p) 
• 8MP rear camera + 1.2MP front camera 
• 3G antenna ( DC-HSPA, up to 42Mbps)

While we wait for Samsung to make their big reveal on 20 June 2013 the company has since announced 2 new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 versions. The 8-inch version seems like a standard ARM based tablet while the 10.1-inch version is running Android on an Intel processor. Tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch version include:

• 1.5GHz dual-core processor 
• 1.5GB RAM 
• 16GB / 32GB storage 
• 8-inch display (1280 x 800) 
• 5MP rear camera + 1.3MP front camera 
• 4450 mAh battery
  

The ASUS Transformer series of tablets is well known for its quality (and add on keyboard docks) but the recently announced Transformer Pad Infinity takes it up to another level. While it doesn't look that different from it's predecessor, it is one of the few touchscreen tablet devices to be powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor and GeForce GPU. This allows it to offer a 2K screen with the ability to playback 4K video on an external 4K display or HDTV. Tech specs for the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity include:

• 10.1-inch display (2560 x1600, IPS)
• 1.9GHz NVIDIA Tegra 4 Quad-core processor 
• 72-core GeForce GPU 
• 2GB RAM 
• 32GB storage + SD card
• 5MP rear camera + 1.2MP front camera 
• USB 3.0 port + HDMI port

After all the leaks, teaser videos and unintentional Amazon listings, it was a bit hard to say that the official Acer Iconia W3 announcement was much of a surprise. Regardless, it has been officially announced at Computex 2013 and it has confirmed many of the leaked information. This includes the $379 (RM1169) price tag and the fact that it is running a full Windows 8 operating system much like Microsoft's own Surface Pro. Confirmed tech specs for the Acer Iconia W3 include:

• 1.8GHz Atom Z2760 processor
• 8.1-inch display (1280 x 800)
• 32GB / 64GB Storage + 32GB microSD
• 2MP rear camera + 2MP front camera
• 802.11b/g/n + micro-HDMI + micro-USB
• 540g

While the Apple iPad Mini hasn't cornered the 7-inch touchscreen tablet market it does have a rather large market base, which is probably why the MSI Primo 81 is trying to compete with it. What sets it apart from other contenders isn't just that MSI is a more well-known Taiwan brand but also because it is using the exact same 7.85-inch IPS screen with 1024 x 768 pixel resolution made by LG as the Apple iPad Mini. While it does look a bit wider than the iPad Mini, the Primo 81 has nearly identical bezels and shape along with a number of other similar tech specs including:

• Quad-core Allwinner A315 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 7.85-inch display (IPS, 1024 x 768)
• 3500 mAh battery
• Andorid 4.2

We were going to write about the rumoured Nexus 7 refresh which was supposedly going to be held here at Computex but ASUS had to go and release some early news about their MeMo Pad HD 7 tablet. Priced at a surprising $129 (RM398) and aimed at "developing markets" like Malaysia, it looks to be the next Nexus 7 killer if it maintains that price when it arrives here. This is because the tech specs for the MeMo Pad HD 7 are listed as:

• ARM Cortex A7 Quad-core processor
• 7-inch screen (IPS, 1280 x 800)
• 8GB / 16GB internal storage
• 5MP rear camera + 1.2MP front camera
• SonicMaster Audio
• Android 4.2
• 120.6 x 196.8 x 10.8mm | 302g

While relatively new to the smartphone industry, Acer are still at it, trying to make some headway. Looking to appeal to the phablet fans out there, Acer have announced the Liquid S1, an ARM powered smartphone sporting a 5.7-inch screen at Computex 2013. Looking almost too long in the hand, the Acer Liquid S1 has the following tech specs:

• 1.5Ghz Mediatek Quad-core processor
• 5.7-inch TFT display (720p)
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB storage
• Dual-SIM support
• 2400 mAh battery
• 195g
• Android 4.2

As part of the next bunch of Samsung Galaxy S4 variants, the Galaxy S4 Active is the rugged, tougher and reportedly water-proof version of Samsung's flagship smartphone. While the tech specs have revealed that it won't be using the same processor or chipset, the overall design remains the same. However, @evleaks have revealed a number of Samsung Galaxy S4 Active images, one bunch in black for AT&T and a turquoise blue one as well.