Latest News

The BlackBerry Jakarta is rumoured to be the next touchscreen smartphone from BlackBerry after the BlackBerry Z30 and Z10. So far, the Jakarta is just the codename with it possibly being called the BlackBerry Z3 when it gets announced. So far, the design looks very similar to that of the LG Vu but tech specs include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB RAM, 8GB of storage, a 5MP rear camer, 1.1MP front camera, 2650 mAh battery and a 5-inch display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution. As usual, the tech specs aren't very impressive, prompting many to consider that the Jakarta or Z3 could be an entry-level device around RM500. This seems unlikely though as BlackBerry devices have not dipped past RM1K even for the supposedly affordable BlackBerry Q5. The BlackBerry Z3 is expected to come with the BlackBerry 10.2.1 update which will allow users to install Android apps through APK files.

It appears that Sony could be coming out with more midrange smartphones as new images of some Sony smartphones have recently leaked. Coming courtesy of @vizileaks these images include the Sony Xperia G and the Sony Xperia D-series. Both seem to share the same monolithic look and metal power button but the tech specs differ somewhat. The Sony Xperia G tech specs include what looks to be a 5-inch display with a design and size more or less the same as the Sony Xperia Z1. Tech specs and features for the Sony Xperia D-Series on the other hand is a bit mroe detailed which includes a 4.8-inch screen, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, 8MP rear camera and LTE connectivity. No news on Malaysia pricing or release dates but both phones are expected to be announced at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2014.

Another day, another concept render, but this time the concept render is not for an upcoming smartphone but for smartphone Google could build in the future. Coming from Giuseppe Avanzato and Enrico Vicari, the design is for a Google Nexus smartphone which they have called the Google Nexus P3. While the smartphone concept render looks fairly similar to other Nexus smartphones from the front bezel, the backside slides out to reveal a drawer like slot which you can then use to slot in a number of different modules. These modules include a QWERTY keyboard, a gamepad and a larger 4700 mAh battery. So far, it doesn't seem like Google would do this considering that they've already started on Project Ara but it is still a very interesting concept render. Other tech specs for the Nexus P3 include a 5-inch display, dual speakers, a 12MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. Check out the concept for yourself below or go to the designers site.

Sony has recently come out with the Sony Alpha A6000 mirrorless camera with tech specs and features that are simply awesome at just $800 (RM2654) with a 16-50mm power-zoom lens kit. Drool-worthy tech specs and features for the Sony Alpha A6000 include a new 24.3MP CMOS APS-C sensor with BIONZ X processor and 179 phase-detect and 25 contrast detect AF points (resulting in a crazy 0.06 second autofocus lag). Other notable features include 11 fps continuous shooting with tracking AF, a 100 percent frame coverage OLED viewfinder, tilting 3-inch 921K-dot LCD, pop-up flash, a multi-interface shoe and 1080p at 60fps video recording with 4K still image capture. It seems standard to also include WiFi and NFC with the A6000 and it also comes with a number of apps which include Direct Upload and Photo Retouch apps. Controls and design are spot on. Unfortunately we have no specific Malaysia release dates or pricing but it should reach Malaysia in or after April 2014. Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted.

Everyone is on a tighter budget these days, even photographers and in line with that, Canon have announced the Canon EOS Rebel T5 which is an affordable DSLR that comes with an 18-55mm lens at just $550. The camera is by no means a pushover and comes with a fairly capable 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processor, 9-point AF system, ISO 100~12800 and 1080p at 30fps video recording. While these are all the more notable tech specs and features available the fact that it comes with an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens for just $550 (RM1825) is certainly a very tempting offer. While there isn't any official Malaysia pricing just yet, you should be able to expect the compact Canon EOS Rebel T5 in Malaysia sometime in or after March 2014.

Taking over from the LG G Pro, the LG G Pro 2 was officially announced recently, offering even more features and the latest tech specs. It is the first LG smartphone to have a 13MP OIS+  (Optical Image Stabilizer Plus) camera and adds a number of other features including 120 fps HD slow motion video recording, 4K Ultra HD video recording and other camera centric features. That's not all, as other features and tech specs for the LG G Pro 2 include:

• 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 800
• 3GB DDR3 RAM
• 16GB/32GB eMMC ROM + microSD slot
• 5.9-inch Full HD IPS (1920 x 1080, Slim Bezel)
• 13MP Rear camera (OIS+) + 2.1MP front camera
• Supports LTE / HSPA+, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), NFC, SlimPort
• 157.9 x 81.9 x 8.3mm | 172g
• 3200 mAh battery (removable)
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• Titan, White, Red colours
• Other features Knock Code, 1W Hi-Fi Sound, Content Lock

There have been quite a lot of concept renders already for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 but a new one has come up nonetheless. This render comes from Sonny Dickson who isn't a designer but is more well-known for being a serial leaker of smartphones. He recently posted this render with the message that it was a design reference for the Samsung Galaxy S5. The design looks nothing like the previous Samsung smartphone patent, but then it also looks very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S4. While he didn't mention any tech specs or features, the design does offer measurements with the "design reference" measuring 141.7mm x 72.5mm x 8.2mm, making it larger and thicker than the Samsung Galaxy S4, which could be to make way for a bigger screen and battery. With the Samsung Galaxy S5 set to be unveiled in just another week or so, we won't have to wait long to find out how it will really look.

Don't fancy a smartwatch or smart band or even smart glasses? Well, why not have some smart, wireless and in-ear headphones instead? This is exactly the premise of The Dash by BRAGI LLC, which are a pair of water-proof in-ear headphones packed with a 4GB built-in music player and sensors that can track your heartbeat, steps and gestures. The headphones fit perfectly (for most ears) into your ear and have a glowing LED circle on the outside, giving it a very stylish and Tron-like feel.

Well, it turns out the earlier rumours we reported on are true as LG themselves have confirmed that they are working on an LG G2 mini smartphone. This comes from a teaser image of the smaller version next to the LG G2 on LG's own Facebook page. The teaser doesn't confirm any Malaysia release dates but we expect it to come at the MWC Expo 2014 at the end of this month. So far, tech specs and features have yet to be confirmed but rumours indicate that the LG G2 mini could have a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM and a 4.7-inch screen. This would make it just a smaller version of the LG G2, and something we'd definitely look forward to more than the standard cut-down mini most other smartphone makers tend to come out with. No news on pricing, but we're hoping it doesn't go too high.

Making good on their word of focusing more on the mid-range and lower-end smartphone market, HTC looks to be coming out with more mid-range devices as the HTC Desire 8 was recently leaked. The 5.5-inch phablet looks to offer a number of tech specs and features which include a 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. The leaked image shows a nearly buttonless design with mostly on-screen controls. It could also use HTC's BoomSound dual speakers with a possible announce or launch date being 18 March 2014 (based on the date on the screen). Other clues include dual-SIM support. Check out the pic for yourself and see if there are other clues but do stay tuned as we'll keep you updated to any more news.