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Nokia recently announced that it would be holding an event on 22 October 2013. Announced on their Twitter feed, the accompanying image doesn't really reveal much except for some hashtags such as "#blazing", "#stories" and "#innovationreinvented". The image itself shows sand skiers in a desert which seems a bit odd if this event is for the Nokia Sirius Windows RT tablet. Instead, it could just barely fit with the upcoming Nokia Lumia 1520 which is the rumoured phablet formerly known as Bandit. Perhaps it could come with a new Nokia Maps update or have a rugged casing accessory. As a refresher, the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet may have tech specs or features like a 6-inch screen, 20MP PureView camera, Optical Image Stabilization and Carl Zeiss lens. No news on pricing or Malaysia release dates just yet but we should know everything in about 1 month or so. 

DiGi has announced that it will now be offering the Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro Duos, from just RM0. Yep, you can get it for free, provided you sign up for the DG SmartPlan 148 under a 24 month contract. If you don't mind the same 24 month contract but are not such a heavy mobile internet user you can also sign up for the DG SmartPlan 58 or DG SmartPlan 88 at fairly low subsidized prices. For the full details check out the table and links in this article

Fujifilm recently announced the X-A1 DSLR digital camera, featuring an X-mount mirrorless digital camera body targeting the entry-level market. The X-A1 looks a lot like the X-M1 but uses a 16MP sensor with conventional Bayer color filter array unlike the other X-series models which use the X-Trans design. The X-A1 still has some interesting tech specs and features including a 920k-dot tilting rear screen and built-in WiFi along with an EXR Processor II to help increase the overall speed performance. Since it is an entry-level model the price is $599 (RM1929) with the XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS standard zoom. Despite this the X-A1 should still offer a good starting point for those just going into DSLRs as the kit offers a compact yet lightweight body with good features and an above average zoom lens.

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 pre-orders are opening up and DiGi is currently offering the smartphone from RM1319 with a free Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch for DG SmartPlan 148 subscribers. The Note 3 is still available by itself for other Smart Plan postpaid subscribers but all of them are under a 24 month contract. According to earlier reports, DiGi may only have limited stock of the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch so if you want the RM999 smartwatch free, now is the time. For more details check out the table and other details in this article.

Before the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch was revealed, the hype machine put out all sorts of rumours that it would be the wearable tech device to beat, especially since Apple's iWatch isn't due until mid 2014. However, when it was revealed it didn't really get the sort of dominating presence Samsung were hoping for especially since the smartwatch can't last more than a day on a single charge. While in terms of features it does lead the pack, the fact that it currently only works with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has made things worse for the smartwatch. Rumours have it that the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch is currently under development and should be revealed during CES 2014 in January. These rumours claim that the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch may come with a GPS, better battery life and be able to connect to all Android smartphones. No Malaysia pricing or release dates just yet but we're guessing that the price won't be far off from the original Gear which retailed at $299 (RM981).

Barely days after announcing the world's first 256GB CF memory card, SanDisk has come and outed a new CompactFlash memory card that is the fastest memory card in the world with read speeds up to 450MB/s and write speeds up to 350MB/s. The SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 memory cards are also more durable and use a pinless design along with unique serial numbers for more security. Compatible with Arri XT and Classic + XR module cameras the memory is positioned as the memory of choice for 4K video makers who need the speed and performance to keep up. There will be 120GB and 60GB capacities but no Malaysia pricing just yet. Rest assured that it should satisfy any premium needs with the world's fastest performing memory card. No news on availability or Malaysia release dates just yet, but if there is Arri support, you can expect the SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 memory cards and USB3 card reader to be available as well.

The HTC One Max phablet is rumoured to feature the same iconic HTC One design in a larger 5.9-inch screen form factor. Images showing off the HTC One Max have recently surfaced clearly showing a fingerprint scanner on the back part right below the camera. So far, it seems to be a variant as there is one without the fingerprint scanner. Other tech specs for the phablet include a 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution screen along with a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM. Like most HTC One phones, the HTC One Max also packs in a 4MP UltraPixel camera with optical image stabilization and a 2.1MP front camera with wide-angle lens. Features include 16GB storage, microSD support and a 3300 mAh battery. Other features include a set of BoomSound stereo speakers with Beats Audio along with Dual-SIM and Android 4.3 with Sense 5.5. While there isn't any Malaysia pricing just yet, release dates in Malaysia currently point to Q4 of 2013.

Featuring a RM-114 model number the Sirius codenamed Nokia Windows RT Tablet has achieved Bluetooth certification on the GFX Banchmark test. Tech specs and features listed include a Snapdragon 800 processor, Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD support and a 10.1-inch 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution screen. The tablet will be powered by Windows RT and last for 10 hours on a single charge and even has 4G LTE support. So far, there isn't any news on pricing in Malaysia or if there will be a keyboard accessory cover but Malaysia release dates could be marked at 26 September 2013 along with other upcoming Nokia devices.

While it seems just like yesterday that Sony announced their latest feature flagship smartphone, the rumour mill is already in motion for the Sony Xperia Z2 (C770X), which may be codenamed Avatar. So far, other rumours about the Xperia Z2 include tech specs and features such as:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 chipset and processor
• 5.2-inch IGZO Trilumionous Display (500 ppi)
• 3GB RAM
• 20.7MP rear camera (4K video capture)
• 3200 mAh
• Android 4.4 Kit Kat

SanDisk recently announced another World's First, this time breaking the CF card capacity limit with a 256GB CF card. The SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash 256GB memory card offers 256GB capacity with up to 160 MB/s transfer speeds. Featuring a VPG-65 Video Performance Guarantee, the SanDisk Extreme Pro can record 4K video at 65MB/S. This ability makes it perfect for 4K videographers but also ensures super fast overall performance for non-4K uses. Tested for durability involving shock and vibration, the CF card can operate from -13 F / -25 degrees C to 185 degree F / 85 degrees C. In addition, the other SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB cards have been updated with up to 160 MB/s read speeds and up to 150MB/s write speeds. All of the SanDisk Extreme Pro CF cards are currently being shipped with Malaysia release dates being now or very soon.