Latest News

After being told we wouldn't have to wait that long, Samsung Malaysia has announced the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone here in the country. As typical of a Samsung flagship smartphone, it also comes with companion devices like the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch and Samsung Gear Fit smartband. While it probably doesn't need mentioning anymore, the tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy S5 include:

• 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB / 32GB storage + microSD (64GB)
• 5.1-display (FHD, Super AMOLED, 1920 x 1080)
• 16MP rear camera (ISOCELL, UHD@30fps, HDR, video stabilization) + 2.0MP front camera
• 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm | 145g
• 2800 mAh battery
• Supports LTE Cat.4, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO(2x2), Bluetooth 4.0 BLE / ANT+, USB 3.0, NFC, IR Remote
• Features Gesture(IR), Finger Scanner, Heart rate sensor, Download Booster, S Health 3.0, Quick Connect, Private Mode, Kids Mode
• IP67 Dust and Water Resistant
• Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

TM may have just bought a recent controlling 57% stake inP1 but quite a few of us remember the memorable P1 Potong campaign where the company made references to cutting TM's wired Internet services. TM responded in kind, with an equally abrasive promotion campaign highlighting P1 Wimax connection issues. Personally, I have been a very satisfied P1 Wimax user and hopefully will remain so in the near future but we see TM's acquisition of P1 being mutually beneficial. Despite progress in TM's Internet services, it still is very far away from more established 4G LTE network operators. P1 on the other hand don't have the resources to make any major expansion in their wireless portfolio. We just hope that TM are not using the P1 acquisition as a stopgap measure while they build up their 4G LTE network, as advances in Wimax tech could prove advantageous for everyone, especially Malaysian wireless Internet users. 

Samsung have been releasing larger Tab Pro and Note Pro tablets but there has yet to be any definite news about a newSamsung Galaxy Tab 4 lineup. As it is, master leaker @evleaks has just leaked images of what he says is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4. While the overall look more or less remains the same, bezels on the tablet seems to be thinner. Unfortunately, there are still no tec specs or features about the tablet, much less any details regarding Malaysia release dates or pricing. However, stay tuned and we'll keep you posted as to any new developments. 

When the Samsung Galaxy S4 first got launched it was quickly followed by a number of other smartphones with the same design but different tech specs and features for specific needs. One of these smartphones was the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and it was one of the few smartphones from Samsung to get water proofing. While we've yet to hear anything about a Samsung Galaxy S5 Active, mainly because the Samsung Galaxy S5 is already dust and water proof,  @evleaks suggests that a Samsung Galaxy S5 Active smartphone is still coming under the model name of SM-G870x. Instead of just IP67 certification, it could offer MIL-STD-810G certification which would offer proofing for dust, heat, humidity, rain, salt, solar radiation, transportation, shock and vibration on top of just water proofing. No news on specific Malaysia release dates, tech specs or features but the master leaker expects the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active to come by the end of 2014.

The latest version of the HTC One (M8) may well be the one device that saves HTC completely, however, it appears that it may be too little too late for users in Malaysia. With the Samsung Galaxy S5 set for a 27 March 2014 launch tomorrow, HTC Malaysia are still unsure as to when we'll see the new HTC One (M8) here. While the HTC One (M8) was available nearly instantly over in the US and UK, HTC Malaysia say that we should expect the HTC One (M8) by the end of April 2014. They also went on to say that the HTC One (M8) would be available for all major telcos. While it could be another late entry, we're thinking that HTC Malaysia could do much with a couple HTC One (M8) smartphones and some persuasive campers placed strategically nearby the Galaxy S5 launching areas (HTC did this for the original HTC One). Still no specific Malaysia release dates just yet but stay tuned and we'll keep you posted.

The LG G Watch smartwatch recently appeared on the LG UK twitter feed, showing off a bit more about the size of the Android Wear using smartwatch. While the overall slab of touchscreen design hasn't changed, the picture does reveal how it might look on someone's wrist. Truth be told, it isn't as bulky as we first thought but we're still not sure how thin it is just yet. Tech specs for the LG G Watch include a 1.65-inch display with 280 x 280 pixel resolution 512MB RAM and 4GB storage with an expected release date set to be Q2 of 2014. Unfortunately, we still don't have exact Malaysia release dates or pricing so stay tuned for more updates.

We've been looking forward to the ASUS ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6 for quite some time, but it appears that China may get the new range of smartphones before we do. The Intel Atom powered smartphones will apparently be available in China on 11 April 2014, as announced by ASUS on Weibo. The ASUS ZenFones will be running the new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean based ZenFone UI with an Android 4.4 KitKat update expected later in the year. Confirming earlier reports that the ASUS ZenFone range of smartphones would be priced below RM1K, the pricing in China is expected to go for $100 (RM329) for the ASUS ZenFone 4, $150 (RM494) for the ASUS ZenFone 5 and $200 (RM659) for the ASUS ZenFone 6. We'll be attending the regional launch in April as well with Malaysia release dates expected after the middle of the month. Stay tuned to Technave.com for more ASUS ZenFone coverage coming to you soon.

As is typical right before the actual announcement, a whole bunch of new details have come out for the HTC One 2014 (HTC M8, All New HTC One). While we've already seen tech specs, features and practically confirmed pics, performance benchmarks usually come afterwards, but somehow Rightware have done just that. Showing benchmarks of the Basemark OS II and Basemark X benchmarks, the HTC One 2014 scored very well in the performance and graphics part but not so well in the browser based tests. The benchmarks also confirm a 2.3Ghz Snapdragon 801 processor with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution display but we should know everything in a few more hours. The still unnamed HTC One 2014 is expected to be announced tomorrow but there is still no exact Malaysia release dates or pricing details just yet. Stay tuned for more information.

It isn't a secret that Malaysia will be seeing the Sony Xperia Z2, Sony Xperia T2 Ultra and Sony Xperia M2 smartphones soon. However, up until now, we've still been in the dark about pricing, but this could have been revealed in an online brochure for the UOB Bank online store UOB InStore. The listings state that the Malaysia retail pricing for the Sony xperia Z2 is set at RM2399, while the Xperia T2 Ultra is listed at RM1299. The lower end Sony Xperia M2 is listed at RM999. Of note though is that the listing mentions the pricing of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact at RM1799 despite previous reports that it would retail at RM1699. So far the listings do not mention any exact Malaysia release dates as the devices mentioned are only for pre-order at the UOB InStore for now.

Motorola have already announced the Moto 360 officially but have yet to offer any of the juicy tech specs, features and other details. However, some images of how the smartwatch could be customized with different watchbands have appeared. As one of the few round smartwatches in the market, the Moto 360 looks to be coming with a choice of leather, various types of metal and rubber or silicon wristbands. The images also show a bit more of the overall design for the smartwatch so check it out for yourself below: