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It's finally official. The Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV is going to be officially launched in Malaysia on 27 April 2013 at a still 'secret' location. Thankfully, Malaysia is one of the countries to get the first roll-out of Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV smartphones. Still no news on pricing but all things considered you should probably prepare around RM2200 as all of the Malaysian Telcos we've seen have the RRP for the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV at RM2199.

Smartphones have come a long way in so little time, so much so that their design are also influencing devices completely outside of their scope. One of these devices is the HP Prime, a scientific graphing calculator which looks alarmingly similar to a smartphone and even packs in a 3.5-inch colour touchscreen with brushed metal chassis and removable li-ion battery.

Apps for more functionality
While it definitely looks good, the HP Prime also packs in various apps for quick and easy access to problem solving solutions that would have normally taken a slide rule and quite a few pieces of paper to go through. The HP Prime still has all the standard buttons you'd normally find on a scientific calculator but the apps add on a whole new level of functionality while the colour touchscreen makes it look good doing so.

Celcom has officially begun the roll-out of its 4G LTE network with a 1000 first-come first-serve deal for all their subscribers. As mentioned earlier, this deal is for 3-months service with the USB dongle. While this seems to be the only device and plan for Celcom 4G LTE for now, the company have stated that more plans and more devices are coming.

At their official roll-out the company listed the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV, Apple iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920 and Sony Xperia Z as smartphones that would support Celcom's 4G LTE network. They hope to roll out LTE support for the iPhone 5 this 18 May 2013 (which according to them is the actual commercial launch date for the service).

In an SMS broadcast, Maxis revealed that they will release the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV on 27 April 2013 (this Saturday) at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre. So far, the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV is set to be offered at a subsidized price of RM1499 under an RM118 per month commitment plan. While we were rather expecting a bit more in terms of details or promotions (Maxis One Club offers for example), this wasn't made clear in the SMS.

Microsoft's Windows 8 powered Surface tablets are finally coming to Malaysia in full force. While the lower-end Microsoft Surface RT is set to make an appearance tomorrow, the Microsoft Surface Pro may arrive in Malaysia by the end of June 2013. No exact date was specified exactly but it does mean that we'll see the Surface Pro in just a few more months.

Volkswagon recently showed off the iBeetle at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show. Featuring a Volkswagon Beetle with better Apple iPhone integration, the iBeetle offers a built-in docking station which allows the Apple iPhone 5 to be used as a mobile navigation system, entertainment hub and access the Beetle app on the iPhone.

Right now, early-adopters of Google Glass are running about recording everything and trying out the $1500 Google Glass Explorer Edition, but while Google have said a more affordable version is going to be produced they have yet to sat when exactly that may be. This particular information may have been inadvertantly revealed in a quote from Eric Schmidt, Google's Executive Chairman. See this quote below:

• "It's fair to say that thousands of these will be in use by developers over the next months, and then based on their feedback we will make some product changes, and it's probably a year-ish away," said Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google.

Recently, we reported on the upcoming BlackBerry Q10 that may come to Malaysia this 30 April 2013. Searching through the SIRIM database reveals that it will most likely be the 4G LTE version. This version is labeled as the SQN100-3 (RFN81UW) and should be coming under Brightstar Distribution Sdn Bhd.

Recently we covered tech specs and benchmarks done by the Intel Atom powered Lenovo K900 and now it has just been announced that it will be released to the Chinese market on May 6. While there isn't any info yet on other markets, a number of Lenovo IdeaBrand smartphones have already made their way to Malaysia, making the Lenovo K900's arrival here on Malaysian shores seem almost guaranteed. If not done officially, we can probably rely on some of our local retailers to pick it up as well.

Samsung's next rumour filled device, the Galaxy Note III now has a rumour about its screen. Rather than go for the almost-scratch-proof Corning Gorilla Glass 3 used on the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV, rumours have surfaced that say the Samsung Galaxy Note III will use a plastic OLED screen. If so, this wouldn't only be a world's first, it would mean a number of other things as well. First and foremost would be a screen that would not only be scratch resistant but tough to the point of being almost unbreakable which fits with earlier rumours stating that the screen would be unbreakable.