Latest News

Sony has announced their first Android Wear smartwatch with the Sony SmartWatch 3. Designed to work with Sony's Lifelog app it can track fitness statistics, get notifications, answer calls and pairs with smartphones via Bluetooth. Tech specs include a 1.6-inch transfelctive display for good visibility in bright sunlight at 320 x 320 pixel resolutions. Other tech specs include 4GB of storage, a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB of RAM and a 420mAh battery. It comes in black and lime green with the cost being around 230 euros (RM945). As expected, there are no specific Malaysia release dates or pricing details available yet but it should be coming to Malaysia soon.

Sony recently announced their SmartBand Talk wearable device. A step up from the SmartBand, the SmartBand Talk features an energy efficient 1.4-inch e-ink display with a 288 x 128 pixel resolution. Other tech specs include an ARM Cortex-M4 processor, The SmartBand Talk comes in two sizes and both are IP68 certifief to be waterproof up to 1.5m. The wearable allows you to take and answer calls directly through the smartband and while it does take notifications from your smartphone it can also track your fitness and other health statistics. According to Sony, the SmartBand Talk should last 2-3 days on a single charge and connects via both NFC and Bluetooth. No details yet on Malaysia release dates or pricing but it should be available this year from around 159 euros (RM653).

As of the time of writing, Apple will be holding an event in the next 11 hours or so where many are expecting the next Apple iPhone, the iPhone 6 to be revealed. Quite a number of rumours and leaked images suggest that we could see two sizes of Apple iPhone 6, one with a 4.7-inch display and another with a 5.5-inch screen. Other rumours also say that we could see the Apple iWatch smartwatch and the latest version of iOS make an appearance, so if you're interested in seeing it all happen as it happens, do check out the Livestream event at about 1 o'clock tonight.

ASUS has announced their latest 64-bit addition with the ASUS VivoTab 8 (M81C). Powered by Windows 8.1 and a 64-bit 1.86GHZ quad-core Intel Atom Z3745 processor, the 8-inch tablet comes in black, gold, purple and white. Other tech specs include 1GB to 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage with up to 64GB microSD support, an 8-inch display with 800 x 1280 pixel resolution, a 2MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and 3040 mAh battery and weighs in at 330g. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet but it could cost below $249 (RM794) which is the retail price of the ASUS VivoTab Note 8.

Despite all the leaked images, Sony has finally revealed it's latest Sony Xperia Z3 and Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphones along with the Sony Xperia E3. True to their word, the new Xperia Z3 was released in 6 months after the Xperia Z2 and while the Z3 Compact skips a number it is even more capable than the Xperia Z1 Compact. Overall, these two new smartphones don't change much in terms of design but they are more compact and lighter. The Xperia E3 on the other hand is designed for the entry-level market with 4G LTE connectivity. Check out their respective tech specs below:

• Sony Xperia Z3
• 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 16GB storage + up to 128GB microSD
• 5.2-inch display (TRILUMINOS, X-Reality engine, 1920 x 1080)
• 20.7MP rear camera (Pulsed LED Flash, Image Stabilizer, ISO 12800, 4K video record) + 2.2MP front camera
• features IP65 / IP68 waterproof and dust resistance, PS4 Remote Play, Sony 3D surround sound, Digital Noise Cancelling
• supports 4G LTE, NFC, WiFi, aGPS, Bluetooth 4.0
• 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm | 152g
• 3100 mAh battery
• Android 4.4 KitKat

• Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
• 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB storage + up to 128GB microSD
• 4.6-inch display (TRILUMINOS, X-Reality engine, 1280 x 720 pixel resolution)
• 20.7MP rear camera (Pulsed LED Flash, Image Stabilizer, ISO 12800, 4K video record) + 2.2MP front camera
• features IP65 / IP68 waterproof and dust resistance, PS4 Remote Play, Sony 3D surround sound, Digital Noise Cancelling
• supports 4G LTE, NFC, WiFi, aGPS, Bluetooth 4.0
• 127 x 64.9 x 8.6 mm | 129g
• 2600 mAh battery
• Android 4.4 KitKat

• Sony Xperia E3
• 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB storage + up to 32GB microSD
• 4.5-inch display (scratch resistant, 854 x 480 pixel resolution)
• 5MP rear camera + VGA front camera
• features FM Radio
• supports 4G LTE, WiFi, aGPS, Bluetooth 4.0
• 137.1 x 69.4 x 8.5 mm | 143.8g
• 2330 mAh battery
• Android 4.4 KitKat

While it isn't the first 64-bit Android tablet, the recently announced Lenovo Tab S8 is the first Intel-powered Android tablet from Lenovo. The 8-inch tablet is slim and thin with a monolithic slate-like look to it. As expected of the newer tablets, the Tav S8 has very small bezels and the tech specs are quite high-end for a tablet. Tech specs for the Lenovo Tab S8 include:

• 64-bit 1.86GHz Intel Atom Z3745 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• 8-inch display (1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, 283ppi pixel density)
• 8MP rear camera (f/2.2) + 1.6MP front camera
• supports 4G LTE (optional), WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0
• features Dolby-enhanced dual front speakers
• 209.8 x 123.8 x 7.9mm | 299g
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 4290 mAh battery

After a whole bunch of teasers, Huawei has unveiled the Huawei Ascend Mate7 and Ascend G7 smartphones at the IFA 2014. The Huawei Ascend Mate7 is a nearly bezel-free flagship smartphone with a large 6-inch full HD display and a single-touch fingerprint scanner and much more. The Huawei Ascend G7 on the other hand is their metal-body midrange smartphone with 4G LTE. While the Ascend G7 has the more obvious looking metal body, the Ascend Mate7 is actually made up of more than 95% metal, in particular aluminum alloy for the interior structure and frame. Both smartphones are quite slim at 7.9mm thin for the Ascend Mate7 and 7.6mm thin for the Ascend G7 and will come with Huawei's latest EMUI 3.0 user interface. Check out the tech specs for both the Huawei Ascend Mate7 and Huawei Ascend G7 below:

• Huawei Ascend Mate7
• 1.8GHZ octa-core Huawei Kirin 925 processor
• 2GB / 3GB RAM
• 16GB / 32GB storage
• 6-inch display (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, 1500:1 contrast ratio)
• 13MP rear camera (Sony BSI sensor, f/2.0 aperture) + 5MP front camera
• 157 x 81 x 7.9mm | 185g
• features single-touch rear fingerprint sensor, ultra low power saving mode,
• supports 4G LTE Cat6, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS,
• 4100 mAh battery
• Android 4.4 KitKat + Emotion UI 3.0

Samsung recently announced their new rugged, anti-shock Samsung Galaxy Tab Active tablet. Featuring IP67 water resistance certification, a built-in C-Pen stylus and the ability to survive a 1.2 meter drop thanks to an inclusive shock-proof protective cover, the Galaxy Tab Active is the tablet for rugged outdoor professionals. Other tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active include the following:

• 1.2GHz quad-core processor
• 1.5GB RAM
• 16GB storage + up to 64GB microSD
• 8-inch display (1280 x 800 pixel resolution)
• 3.1MP rear camera (LED Flash) + 1.2MP front camera
• supports 4G LTE, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, NFC, GPS
• features S Translator, Ultra Power saving mode, Barcod Scanner, Businessweek+, Hanshow, Hancell, Hanwrite
• 126.2 x 213.1 x 9.75mm | 393g
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 4450 mAh battery

ASUS Malaysia recently released one of the first of their planned 64-bit Intel Atom processor powered tablets with the ASUS Fonepad 7 (FE375CG). The tablet follows the slim bezel 7-inch display design as before while featuring dual-SIM capabilities, 3G connectivity and phone functions. Other tech specs include a 64-bit 1.83GHz Intel Atom Z3560 processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB / 16GB storage + 5GB ASUS Webstorage, 7-inch display with 1280 x 800 pixel screen resolution, 5MP PixelMaster rear camera, 2MP front camera and Android 4.4 KitKat. The tablet will feature the ASUS ZenUI and weigh in at just 299g. It is available in black and white for now. The retail pricing according to Dynamics Distribution is set at RM649 but we've seen it being sold on the local market for as low as RM599. The new range of 64-bit Intel Atom processors should bring increased performance and better graphics but we'll be able to say more after we have the review unit for testing. In the meantime, check out the video below:

While ASUS have already announced a 64-bit tablet with the ASUS Fonepad 7 (FE375CG) they recently brought another 64-bit tablet to the family with the official announcement of a 64-bit ASUS MeMo Pad 7 (ME572C/CL). In terms of design,  the tablet offers more colours and slimmer bezels. Unlike the Fonepad 7, this MeMo Pad 7 tablet does not pack in 3G or 4G LTE. Tech specs for the tablet include a 1.86GHz Intel Atom processor,  1GB RAM, 7-inch IPS screen with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution and oleophobic coating along with a 5MP rear camera and  2MP front camera.  The cameras use ASUS PixelMaster camera technoloogy while the tablet measures in at 113.7 x 189.3 x 9.6mm and 295g. No news yet on Malaysia release dates or pricing but early performance benchmarks have these new 64-bit Intel Atom processor working very well so stay tuned for more developments.