Latest News

While you can count the number different of 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablets on one hand still, this market is one with a lot of potential to grow. Joining the ranks of the Acer Iconia W4 and others is the Toshiba Encore. Tech specs and features for the tablet include the 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z3740 quad-core Bay Trail processor, 2GB RAM, 64GB eMMC flash storage, 8-inch HFFS display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. The Malaysia pricing is a bit higher at RM1499 (RM400 more than the $330 (RM1096) international price) but most of the features are a bit higher-end compared to the other tablets in this class. For more information check out the Toshiba site. Hopefully it comes with a good matching keyboard combo (which we didn't see on the site). 

The 8-inch tablet market continues to grow, this time with an entry from Asus, leaked as the Asus VivoTab Note 8 M80TA. Leaked from a catalogue and priced at a very attractive $299.00 (RM980) the tablet comes with a pen stylus along with Windows 8.1. Other tech specs and features include a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Bay Trail processor and chipset, 2GB RAM, 32GB / 64GB flash storage, 8-inch IPS display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, 5MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera and 3950 mAh battery. Many of the features seem to be recycled from the Asus MeMo Pad HD 7 and there is no guarantee that by the time it reaches Malaysia the price won't increase past RM1000 somehow. So far, there doesn't seem to be any information regarding any affordable keyboard dock combo which would make it a much better contender for the other 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablets out there, but we're still waiting hopefully for something like to happen. No specific Malaysia release dates were available but it is rumoured to arrive during the holiday season, probably after Christmas. Do remember though that this is still very much a rumour, so take it with a pinch of salt. 

Current smartglasses like Google Glass offer an overlay version of Augmented Reality through an overlapping crystal display but it still is very far off from the computers in Minority Report and Ironman. Taking it a huge step further than all the other smartglasses is the Meta Pro which isn't just sleek and stylish, but also offers a full Augmented Reality platform beamed from a pocket computer. Instead of an overlapping crystal display, the Meta Pro glasses are the display with more than 15x the area than Google Glass. Coupled together with the Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM pocket computer, the entire Meta Pro system tracks your fingers and lets you interact with the Meta Augmented Reality platform. Currently available at $3000 (RM9772) and shipping in June 2014, the company making the Meta Pro already have a number of apps in the works with a developer's kit rolling out soon. Check out the video in this article or go to the Space Glasses site for more very cool information.

While it originally came out as the gaming accessory which revealed the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 a little too early, Samsung recently announced the GamePad for Android smartphones. Unlike the initial all white device the current GamePad is various shades of black, silver and grey with two joysticks, four buttons and a round directional keypad. The top slides out to hold the Android smartphone of your choice (it doesn't have to be the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 like in the picture) and it pairs up using NFC and Bluetooth. The slider can fit any smartphone from 4-inches to 6.3-inches wide and is compatible with Android 4.1 and Bluetooth 3.0 or higher but runs better with Samsung Galaxy devices using Android 4.3 and above.

According to rumours, Samsung may release 4 new tablets that focus more on the midrange and entry-level markets in 2014. As it is, Samsung have already flooded the premium markets nearly to the point of saturation, leaving the entry-level and midrange markets more or less undeveloped. These rumoured midrange tablets include the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite, a 12-inch Galaxy Note tablet and a 13.3-inch convertible with dual-boot operating systems. Still no news yet if or when we'll see some more affordable PLS-LCD based devices just yet or for how much but we expect them to come during the MWC Expo in February 2014. While Samsung have dominated in the smartphone field they haven't been doing very well with tablets and this is something which could change come 2014. No Malaysia release dates or pricing though, but stay tuned and we'll keep you updated.

While we've heard of a smaller Microsoft Surface Mini tablet from the Microsoft Surface range of tablets before, some other tech specs and a concept render have also recently surfaced. Apart from a previously revealed 8-inch 1080p display, the Surface Mini is said to also offer air gestures, be powered by an Intel Bay Trail chipset and arrive in 2014. While it is still unclear how the Surface Mini would implement air gestures (either through proximity sensors, IR sensors or LeapMotion like sensors) the feature certainly sounds interesting as is the concept render of the Surface Mini tablet. No Malaysia pricing or release dates were available though but we'll keep you updated.

As teased earlier, U Mobile has finally launched 4G LTE on their networks. Offering up to 75Mbps speeds the service currently covers Bandar Sunway, Berjaya Times Square, Puchong and Taman Molek, Johor Bahru. While the coverage areas are still rather limited, U Mobile have done good on their claim of 4G for all by opening it up to Prepaid, Postpaid and Broadband users. This means you don't need to get a new 4G LTE SIM card to get on U Mobile's 4G LTE network. As long as you have an LTE capable device and a U Mobile SIM all you need to do is send 'LTE ON' to 28118. Check out more deals and links in this article.

Filling out the Huawei Honor line is the recently announced Huawei Honor 3X and Honor 3C. Both smartphones are in the larger size range with a 720p 5.5-inch display for the Honor 3X and a 720p 5-inch display for the Honor 3C. However, one of the more notable tech specs for the Honor 3X is that it is using the 1.7GHz 8-core or octa-core MediaTek MT6592 chipset and processor. Other tech specs for the Honor 3X includes 2GB RAM, a 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and a 3000 mAh battery. Another notable feature is that the Honor 3X has dual-SIM support with both miniSIM and microSIM slots.

The Samsung Galaxy Core range has always been about afordable smartphones with relatively good tech specs and features. This trend continues with the newly announced Samsung Galaxy Core Advance but with a larger 4.7-inch display. It joins the Galaxy Core and Galaxy Core Plus with rather "old" tech specs that include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage + microSD, 5MP rear camera, VGA front camera and a 2000 mAh battery. While it doesn't support 4G LTE, it does have NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi b/g/n and GPS (GLONASS) features. The Galaxy Core Advance has rather standard looks (a lot like a Samsung Galaxy S3 actually) with a normal 9.7mm thinness and 145g weight. Running on Android 4.2 it also comes with a number of S features as well including S Translator, Group Play, Sound & Shot and others. The good news is that the Galaxy Core Advance has a lot of physical buttons, so you also have a dedicated camera button included. Unfortunately, no Malaysia pricing or release dates are available just yet, but it should be within the same below-RM1000 price range as the other Galaxy Core smartphones.

While there may be gamers who don't care about how much money they throw at their games and gaming consoles, these still don't compare to users who'd go out and get a $10000 (RM32375) Xbox One just because they can. Still, if one likes gold and other shiny things, then a gold plated Xbox One should be perfect. Currently available for around $10000 (RM32375), the gold plated Xbox One is available from Harrods of London. Tech specs and features are more or less the same but if the controller is also gold-plated you can expect to get tired from couch gaming very soon. No news yet of a gold plated AND crystal covered version yet, but just wait and see. Also no news of any Malaysia release dates or pricing, but if you're willing to shell out RM32375 for a game console, travel or shipping shouldn't be an issue.