Tag Archives: Laptop

Samsung unveils AI For All future at IFA 2024!

Samsung celebrated 100 years of innovation at IFA 2024, with its showcase of AI For All innovations across devices and ecosystems. Take a look at new AI-powered Samsung home appliances, mobile devices, and more, announced at IFA 2024!

Samsung unveils AI For All future at IFA 2024!

Samsung Electronics marked its 100-year milestone at IFA 2024 with a bold commitment to its “AI For All” vision. The IFA 2024 showcase of new AI-powered devices and appliances highlighted Samsung’s stated mission to democratise AI, and extend its benefits across more devices.

Expanding AI for All

The central theme of Samsung’s presentation was “AI For All,” reflecting the company’s commitment to making AI accessible and beneficial for everyone. During the IFA conference, Samsung showcased the latest developments in its AI technology, demonstrating how it is set to transform daily life through enhanced communication, productivity, and creativity tools.

One UI 6.1.1 Brings Advanced AI Features To More Devices

Samsung’s announcement of the One UI 6.1.1 update was a major highlight. This update is set to expand AI features originally introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 to a broader range of devices, including the Galaxy S24 series, S23 series, S23 FE, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, and Tab S9 series. The update includes advanced tools like Live Translate and Circle To Search, which enhance communication and productivity.

You can read more about the One UI 6.1.1 update in our separate article here.

AI-Enhanced Home Entertainment and Productivity

At IFA 2024, Samsung introduced a range of new products designed to leverage AI for superior performance in home entertainment and productivity:

Premiere 7 and Premiere 9 Projectors: These advanced projectors bring cutting-edge laser technology to home entertainment. They deliver stunning 4K resolution on screens up to 130 inches. AI-powered features like Upscaling enhance content to 4K quality, while Vision Booster adjusts brightness and contrast for optimal viewing in various lighting conditions. These projectors aim to transform any living space into a premium home cinema.
Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: In collaboration with Intel, this device features the new Intel Core Ultra processor and Galaxy AI to offer a top-tier cross-device experience. It includes enhanced graphics and displays for a premium productivity and entertainment experience.
Galaxy Book4 Edge 15-inch: Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon® X Plus processor, this ultra-thin laptop integrates advanced NPU technology for high-end AI capabilities. It combines Copilot+ PC features with Galaxy AI, enhancing creativity and connectivity with a vibrant 15-inch display.

Advancing Sustainability With AI

Samsung continues to lead in sustainability with its AI-driven technologies. The company’s commitment to becoming Net Zero by 2050 is supported by its efforts to enhance energy efficiency across its product lineup:

AI Hybrid Refrigerators: These refrigerators use a combination of compressor and Peltier cooling technology to optimize energy use. For instance, if the refrigerator door is left open, the Peltier technology acts as an additional cooling source, improving overall energy efficiency.
Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™: This all-in-one washer and dryer combo meets and exceeds A-grade energy efficiency requirements. It features advanced heat pump drying technology, which dries clothes quickly and efficiently at lower temperatures.
SmartThings Ecosystem: Samsung’s SmartThings platform connects over 500 million devices, offering seamless control of all Samsung AI-enabled products. The AI Energy Mode in SmartThings Energy can save up to 70% of energy consumption for washing machines, while SmartThings Away Mode ensures appliances are automatically turned off when not in use.

Enhancing User Experience with Smart Technology

Samsung’s focus on enhancing user experience extended to its latest home appliances:

Bespoke AI Appliances: Upgraded with enhanced voice control through Bixby, these appliances now understand multiple commands in a single sentence, recall context for continuous commands, and provide personalized responses. Users can now open refrigerator doors or washing machine doors with simple voice commands, making daily tasks more convenient.
Samsung’s AI TVs: Since 2015, Tizen OS has powered Samsung’s smart TVs, and the 2024 models will continue to receive upgrades for seven years, ensuring consumers have access to the latest features and improved connectivity. The Neo QLED 8K AI screens, equipped with the NQ 8 AI Gen 3 processors, offer a highly customized viewing experience with superior sound and picture quality.
The Frame and Art Store: Samsung introduced new partnerships with Marimekko and Jean-Michel Basquiat, along with an exclusive collection of works by René Magritte. These collaborations bring extraordinary art into homes, enhancing everyday surroundings with a touch of creativity.

Samsung’s showcase at IFA 2024, which ran from September 6-10, highlights its efforts to make AI more accessible and practical for everyday use.

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Did FBI Confirm Child Rape Videos On Hunter Biden’s Laptop?!

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Did the FBI just confirm that the child rape videos on Hunter Biden’s laptop are real, and have not been tampered with?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : FBI Confirmed Child Rape Videos On Hunter Biden’s Laptop!

People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that the FBI just confirmed that the child rape videos on Hunter Biden’s laptop are real, and have not been tampered with!

Here is an excerpt of the article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

FBI: ‘Sickening’ Child Rape Videos on Hunter Biden’s Laptop Are Real

Hunter Biden’s ‘laptop from hell‘ containing child rape videos is real and has not been tampered with, an FBI witness testified during Hunter’s trial on Wednesday.

When asked if she’d seen any evidence of tampering of data from Hunter’s laptop, FBI agent Erika Jensen, a witness for Special Counsel David Weiss’ team, stunned the courtroom when she said “No.”

Visibly rattled attorney Abbe Lowell then asked Jensen during cross examination, “Did you find out if any of the files had been tampered with?”

“I did not,” Jensen calmly replied.

Hunter’s lawyers last month had claimed they would dispute the authenticity of the laptop if the DOJ moved to submit it into evidence.

“Defense counsel has numerous reasons to believe the data had been altered and compromised before investigators obtained the electronic material,” his lawyers wrote.

But Weiss shot down Hunter’s defense team’s argument before submitting the laptop into evidence, confirming that it was indeed authentic.

“He has not shown any of the actual evidence in this case is unreliable or inauthentic, because there is none,” Weiss’ team wrote. “Instead, the defendant’s theory about the laptop is a conspiracy theory with no supporting evidence.”

Show less

Truth : FBI Did Not Confirm Child Rape Videos On Hunter Biden’s Laptop!

This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Hunter Biden’s Laptop Had No Child Porn

Let me start by pointing out that the infamous “Hunter Biden’s laptop” never had any child porn on it.

Nearly 10,000 photos taken between 2008 and 2019 were found on Hunter Biden’s abandoned laptop, and publicly released on a website by a former Trump White House aide in June 2023 – a year ago!

If even a single child porn photo or video was found, it would have been discovered long ago, and reported extensively by the mainstream media. Hunter Biden would also have been charged with the possession of child pornography. Yet, none of that happened, because no child porn was found on his abandoned laptop!

Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that Hunter Biden’s laptop contained child porn.

Fact #2 : FBI Did Not Confirm Child Rape Videos On Hunter Biden’s Laptop

The FBI also did not confirm that there was child rape videos on Hunter Biden’s laptop, as claimed by The People’s Voice article.

FBI agent Erika Jensen only testified that she did not see any evidence of tampering of the data found on Hunter Biden’s laptop. She never mentioned anything about child pornography, or child rape videos.

In fact, The People’s Voice article itself only mentioned the word “child” in its title, and lede. The term “child porn” or “child rape videos” never appeared anywhere else in the rest of the article!

Needless to say, The People’s Voice article provided no evidence that the FBI ever confirmed or testified that Hunter Biden’s laptop contained child rape videos.

Fact #3 : FBI Photo Is From 2017 Terre Haute Investigation

The People’s Voice used a photo which purportedly shows FBI agents carrying evidence on Hunter Biden’s laptop.

The truth is – that photo was taken on Wednesday, 17 July 2017, when FBI agents raided the Terre Haute wastewater treatment administration building (archive).

Needless to say – that photo had nothing to do with Hunter Biden, or his infamous laptop, which he allegedly left in a computer repair shop in April 2019 – almost two years later, in Wilmington Delaware – more than 700 miles / 1,125 km away!

Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News

The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.

Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.

Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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US quietly revokes Intel + Qualcomm export licences to Huawei!

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The US government has quietly revoked some export licences from Intel and Qualcomm, cutting off more chip supplies to Huawei!

US quietly revokes Intel + Qualcomm export licences to Huawei!

A week after Huawei unveiled its MateBook X Pro laptop, which is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, the US government quietly revoked some export licences from Intel and Qualcomm, cutting off more chip supplies to Huawei!

It does not appear that Intel has violated any sanctions by supplying its latest Core processors to Huawei for its laptop. After all, Intel received a licence to export laptop CPUs to Huawei in 2020. Qualcomm also received a licence in 2020, to sell older 4G chips to Huawei.

However, American politicians who are critical of China have said that any authorisation by the Commerce Department “would be unacceptable and a failure to enforce export controls against a blacklisted champion of the Chinese Communist Party.”

That could explain the quiet revocation of existing export licences on Tuesday, 7 May 2024, not only affecting Intel and Qualcomm, but also other unnamed companies as well.

The US Department of Commerce confirmed that it revoked some export licences, but did not specify which licences were cancelled, and which companies were affected. However, Intel and Qualcomm have confirmed that some (but not all) of their licences were revoked.

While AMD has not been mentioned, it seems likely that Intel’s rival could also be affected.

Revoked Intel + Qualcomm Export Licences Will Hurt Huawei

The export licences being revoked appear to target processors and System-on-a-Chip (SoCs) used in laptops and smartphones, although it is still unknown which exact chips are affected.

The loss of high-performance computer chips will be particularly hurt Huawei, as it has no viable alternative, especially if AMD had its export licences revoked as well.

Huawei was able to circumvent US sanctions by developing last year’s HiSilicon Kirin 9000S mobile SoC for its Mate 60 series of smartphones, and fabricating it using SMIC’s 7nm process technology. But it won’t be able to do this for its laptops, which are based on the x86 architecture.

That said, it seems likely that the US government is only interested in curtailing the export of high-performance processors to Huawei. If Intel and Qualcomm are still allowed to sell less powerful chips to Huawei, it may not be quite the death knell for the embattled Chinese company. But it will certainly hurt its competitiveness.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Malaysia Airlines Passengers Won’t Need To Turn Off Devices!

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Passengers on Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MASwings won’t need to switch off personal devices during take-off and landing! Here is what you need to know!

Malaysia Airlines Passengers Won’t Need To Turn Off Devices!

On Tuesday, 28 June 2023, the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) announced that its airlines – Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and MASwings – are the first airlines to enable Gate-to-Gate connectivity for passengers by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

From 1 July 2023 onwards, passengers on three airlines can keep their personal devices switched on at all times. There is no longer the need to switch off your phone, tablet, laptop, or other devices, or stow them during take-off or landing.

As long as those devices must have their wireless connectivity turned off using the “Airplane Mode” or “Flight Mode“, you can continue to use them during take-off, or landing. This allows you to continue working on your laptop, or watch downloaded content on your phone or tablet during the entire journey, without interruption.

With this new regulatory approval, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and MASwings are the first airlines to allow Gate-to-Gate connectivity for passengers departing from Malaysia.

We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and innovative travel experiences which places customers at the heart of everything we do.

By enabling gate-to-gate connectivity across all our airlines, it allows passengers to stay connected throughout their journey with us; whether it’s to keep their loved ones updated on the move or even get some work done during their flight.

– MAG CEO Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi

Malaysia Airlines To Provide Free Wi-Fi For 2H 2023!

Malaysia Airlines also announced that it will provide limited free Wi-Fi connectivity to its Business Suite, Business Class, and Enrich Platinum (regardless of ticket class) passengers from 1 July until 31 December 2023.

Each passenger will be given up to 100 MB of free Wi-Fi data per sector to use, at a speed of up to 512 kbps. This free Wi-Fi offer will be made available on 20 Malaysia Airlines aircraft.

Beyond that free limit, passengers can continue to surf the Internet through its pay-per-use Wi-Fi offering. In addition, all passengers can access its wireless in-flight entertainment system through its web-based MHStudio service.

As part of our connectivity strategy, we will be actively expanding the number of our aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi to provide an improved in-flight experience to our valued customers. With a focus on safety, comfort, and convenience, we are dedicated to making air travel more accessible and enjoyable for all of our passengers.

We will continue to invest in innovative technologies and services to meet the changing needs and provide comfort to our passengers as guests to our ‘home’.

– MAG CEO Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi

The wireless connectivity onboard MAS aircraft, and passenger ability to use their devices from Gate-to-Gate, will come in handy with the refreshed Boeing 737 cabin, which feature lightweight seats that lack in-flight entertainment screens.

Instead, these new seats will come with a personal device holder, and a pair of USB Type A and USB Type C charging ports.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Gigabyte motherboards shipped with firmware backdoor!

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Millions of Gigabyte motherboards and laptops shipped with a built-in backdoor in its UEFI firmware!

Here is what you need to know about this cybersecurity danger, and what you can do about it!

Gigabyte Motherboards Shipped With Firmware Backdoor!

On 31 May 2023, researchers at the cybersecurity firm Eclypsium revealed that 271 Gigabyte motherboard models have been compromised with UEFI firmware with a built-in backdoor!

Eclypsium’s heuristic detection methods recently began flagging suspicious backdoor-like behaviour in Gigabyte motherboards. When its researchers looked into it, they found that Gigabyte motherboard firmware was executing a Windows native executable during the system start up process. This executable then insecurely downloads and executes additional payloads.

From their analysis, the executable appears to be a legitimate Gigabyte module called WpbtDxe.efi:

it checks to see if the “APP Center Download & Install” feature is enabled
it downloads executable payloads from Gigabyte servers
it has a Gigabyte cryptographic signature

They also found that the downloaded payloads have Gigabyte cryptographic signatures too, which suggest that this firmware backdoor was implemented by Gigabyte itself.

However, Eclypsium researchers discovered that the Gigabyte implementation had a number of problems, which would make it easy for threat actors to abuse the firmware backdoor:

one of its payload download locations lacks SSL (using plain HTTP, instead of the more secure HTTPS), allowing for Machine-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks
remote server certificate validation was not implemented correctly even when the other two HTTPS download locations were used, which allows for MITM attacks
one of its payload download locations is a local network-attacked storage device (NAS), which could allow a threat actor to spoof the location of the NAS to install their own malware
the Gigabyte firmware itself does not verify any cryptographic signatures, or validates the downloaded executables.

In short – millions of Gigabyte motherboards have a cybersecurity vulnerability, due to their firmware which includes an insecure / vulnerable OEM backdoor. As John Loucaides from Eclypsium put it:

If you have one of these machines, you have to worry about the fact that it’s basically grabbing something from the Internet and running it without you being involved, and hasn’t done any of this securely.

The concept of going underneath the end user and taking over their machine doesn’t sit well with most people.

Note : This vulnerability affects all computers using Gigabyte motherboards, including laptops.

Gigabyte Rolls Out New Firmware To Mitigate Backdoor!

After the news blew up inconveniently during Computex 2023, Gigabyte quickly rolled out new beta firmware upgrades for its AMD and Intel motherboards.

According to Gigabyte, the new beta firmware upgrades have “improved security mechanisms” that will “detect and prevent malicious activities during the boot process“. It also appeared to have implemented other changes:

enhanced the signature verification process for fils downloaded from its remote servers
conduct more thorough checks of file integrity to prevent the introduction of malicious code
enabled standard cryptographic verification of remote server certificates

The new firmware has just been released for AMD 600-series motherboards, as well as Intel 500- and 400-series motherboards, but will eventually be introduced for older motherboards. The new firmware will have the description, “Addresses Download Assistant Vulnerabilities Reported by Eclypsium Research“.

As Gigabyte does not intend to remove the backdoor feature, you might want to consider Eclypsium’s advice on how best to reduce the risk of malicious actors taking advantage:

Scan and monitor systems and firmware updates in order to detect affected Gigabyte systems and the backdoor-like tools embedded in firmware. Update systems to the latest validated firmware and software in order to address security issues like this one.
Inspect and disable the “APP Center Download & Install” feature in UEFI/BIOS Setup on Gigabyte systems and set a BIOS password to deter malicious changes.
Administrators can also block the following URLs:
– http://mb.download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Swhttp/LiveUpdate4
– https://mb.download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Swhttp/LiveUpdate4
– https://software-nas/Swhttp/LiveUpdate4

For starters, you should definitely download and update your Gigabyte motherboard or laptop with the improved firmware. Then disable APP Center Download & Install in the BIOS.

Let’s hope Gigabyte will be able to quickly issue new and improved firmware to mitigate, if not remove, the backdoor vulnerability for the affected 271 motherboard models, and its future motherboards and laptops. Even so, many users might not be aware of this vulnerability or these updates.

It seems likely that threat actors will have access to this backdoor vulnerability in many Gigabyte motherboards and laptops for years to come. Even Eclypsium’s Loucaides believes so:

I still think this will end up being a fairly pervasive problem on Gigabyte boards for years to come.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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SBF Flew Business As Judge Recuses From FTX Case!

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The FTX drama continues as SBF was seen flying business class, while Judge Ronnie Abrams recused herself from the case!

Judge Ronnie Abrams Recuses From SBF FTX Case!

The FTX drama continues with the shocking announcement by US District Judge Ronnie Abrams over a potential conflict of interest.

On Friday afternoon, December 23, Federal Judge Ronnie Abrams of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York recused herself from the FTX case.

The judge’s husband, Greg D. Andres, is a partner at the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, which advised FTX in 2021. Though Andres himself did not personally advise FTX, Abrams chose to recuse herself from the case “to avoid any possible conflict, or the appearance of one.”

The order also stated that Davis Polk & Wardwell previously represented parties “that may be adverse to FTX and Defendant Bankman-Fried,” though Andres allegedly did not represent those clients either.

RONNIE ABRAMS, United States District Judge:

It has come to the Court’s attention that the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, at which my husband is a partner, advised FTX in 2021, as well as represented parties that may be adverse to FTX and Defendant Bankman-Fried in other proceedings (or potential proceedings). My husband has had no involvement in any of these representations. These matters are confidential and their substance is unknown to the Court. Nonetheless, to avoid any possible conflict, or the appearance of one, the Court hereby recuses itself from this action. See 28

U.S.C. § 455.

This decision came just one day after Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) was released from custody pending trial on eight criminal charges including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and violations of federal campaign finance laws.

It is unknown why Judge Ronnie Abrams chose to wait until now to recuse herself from the FTX case. But it should be pointed that it was a different judge – Gabrial Gorenstein, who approved the record-setting $250 million bond that did not require SBF to pay a single cent up front.

A new judge from the Southern District of New York will now have to be selected to oversee Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial.

SBF Free + Flying Business On “No Cash Up Front” FTX Case Bail!

In the meantime, the disgraced FTX co-founder was spotted “chilling” in the American Airlines Greenwich Business Class lounge located at Terminal 8 of the John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City.

Sam Bankman-Fried was accompanied by his parents, FBI agents and lawyers. He had full access to what looks like an Acer Predator gaming laptop, and a smartphone. When he was asked for a photo, SBF replied, “Haha maybe not today“.

You may recall that, on December 9, SBF claimed that he did not have access to (much of) his professional or personal data, despite having obvious access to a laptop and a mobile phone.

1) I still do not have access to much of my data — professional or personal. So there is a limit to what I will be able to say, and I won’t be as helpful as I’d like. But as the committee still thinks it would be useful, I am willing to testify on the 13th.

SBF was later spotted in the Business class section of an American Airlines flight, “disguised with a beanie”. He appeared to be engaged in conversation with a suited executive.

The suited executive could be his lawyer, Mark Cohen, who may have been accompanying the disgraced FTX co-founder to his parents’ home in Palo Alto, California, where he has to serve his house arrest while awaiting trial.

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Apple To Move MORE iPhone Production Out Of China!

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Apple has accelerated its plans to leave Zhengzhou in China, where the massive iPhone City manufacturing zone is located!

Apple To Move MORE iPhone Production Out Of China!

As anti-government protests continue across China, Apple is accelerating its plans to leave Zhengzhou – where the massive iPhone City manufacturing zone is located!

Apple CEO Tim Cook is now eyeing Vietnam and India as new manufacturing hubs to replace Zhengzhou, where Foxconn workers earlier fled amidst repeated protests.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple now plans to move to 45% of iPhone production to factories in India, and ramp up production of its MacBooks, Apple Watches and AirPods in Vietnam.

Those moves come with serious challenges as Apple faces having to deal with different regional government bureaucracies in India.

Meanwhile, Vietnam only has 10% of China’s population, and can only handle a 60,000 person factory – far smaller than the 300,000 person “iPhone City” in Zhengzhou.

So Apple is still considering switching to other suppliers in China – Luxshare Precision Industry Co. and Wingtech Technology Co., although these alternate plans may be jeopardised by the Chinese government’s persistence with its Zero COVID policy.

Apple Earlier Planned To Move iPhone Production Out Of China!

While Apple had been planning the move for months due to the Chinese government’s insistence on Zero COVID policy, the recent uprisings at its Zhengzhou manufacturing hub has accelerated those plans.

In November, iPhone City in Zhengzhou erupted in violent protests by Foxconn employees over strict Zero COVID policies and pay disputes, prompting a lockdown.

This forced Foxconn to offer $1,400 to quit their jobs, and later, a $1,800 bonus to stay. Even so, manufacturing at Zhengzhou is down to about 20% of its capacity.

Foxconn has tried to shift some of its production to its Shenzhen factory, but it cannot make up the shortfall, which is reported to be as much as 6 million iPhone Pro smartphones.

Things got so bad the Chinese government even called on military veterans and CCP members to work at the iPhone City factories as volunteers!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

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It’s official – the EU has ordered all brands to standardise on the USB-C connector for all mobile chargers, including Apple!

EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the European Parliament voted decisively in favour of adopting the USB-C (USB Type C) port as the new standard for all portable devices.

The directive passed with an overwhelming vote of 602 MEPs in favour, and just 13 against (with 8 abstentions), and now heads to the EU Council for the formality of a final approval.

Once the Council signs off on the directive, it will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal. Member states will then have 12 months to transpose the new directive, and another 12 months after that transposition period, to apply the new rules.

Once these new rules are enforced, consumers will be able to use and share chargers since all portable devices use the same charging port.

The EU expects the directive to greatly reduce e-waste, and help consumers save up to €250 million a year on purchasing chargers of different standards.

In the EU, chargers alone account for about 11,000 tonnes of e-waste every year. So this directive will help to cut down on the environmental impact of disposing of so many old or unused chargers.

Details Of EU Directive On USB-C Standardisation

Here is my quick round-up of the new EU directive on standardising portable devices and laptops on the USB Type C charging port.

All Devices Must Come With USB-C Charging Port

What this means is that by the end of 2024, all portable devices sold in the EU must come with a USB Type C charging port.

Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.

Small devices like smartwatches and health trackers that cannot fit a USB-C port are exempted from this requirement.

This directive is more or less directed at Apple which persists in using its own proprietary Lighting connector for its devices – everything from iPhone, iPad, AirPods and even its wireless keyboard and mouse.

The only way for Apple to get around this is to switch their new devices to wireless charging before the end of 2024.

All Devices Must Support USB-C Fast Charging Standards

Also important is the fact that the EU is going to force all brands to adopt USB-C fast charging standards.

While the legislation won’t stop manufacturers from implementing special fast charging capabilities, it will ensure that their chargers and devices support USB-C fast charging standards as a minimum.

All devices that support fast charging will now have the same charging speed, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger.

USB-C Mandate To Extend To Laptops In 2026

On top of that, the directive also requires laptops to standardise on the USB Type C charging port by spring 2026.

This new directive will not please Apple MacBook users who just celebrated the return of the MagSafe connector, but it will be a great advantage for consumers.

Once enforced, everyone will be able to use their laptop’s USB-C charger to also recharge their other devices, because they all have the same USB Type port!

Dedicated Labels

The directive also requires brands to use dedicated labels to help consumers decide if their existing chargers will support their new devices, or if they need to purchase a new charger.

This will hopefully prevent consumers from being hoodwinked into purchasing a new charger with every new device, when their existing chargers will work just as well.

Dedicated labels will inform consumers about the charging characteristics of new devices, making it easier for them to see whether their existing chargers are compatible.

Buyers will also be able to make an informed choice about whether or not to purchase a new charging device with a new product.

Wireless Charging To Be Standardised Too

The directive also commanded the European Commission to tackle wireless charging interoperability by the end of 2024.

It highlighted the risk of brands using proprietary wireless charging technologies to “lock in” users, replicating what Apple did with its Lightning connector for wired charging.

Like with wired charging, the EU wants wireless charging to be interoperable as well.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Google Pixelbook Is Dead, But Chromebook Lives On!

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Google just cancelled their next Pixelbook, and dissolved the team behind it, but don’t worry – the Chromebook lives on!

Google Kills Pixelbook + Dissolves Team

Google just cancelled the next-generation Pixelbook laptop that was supposed to debut next year. They also dissolved the team developing it, and transferred its members to other teams.

This sudden decision came after Google said in May 2022 that it planned to continue its Pixelbook laptop business.

Then in July, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that he wanted to slow down hiring and cut some projects :

In some cases, that means consolidating where investments overlap and streamlining processes. In other cases, that means pausing development and re-deploying resources to higher priority areas.

It looks like Google decided that their next Pixelbook would be a waste of resources, and killed it to shift their resources elsewhere.

Google Pixelbook Is Dead, But Chromebook Lives On!

While there will no longer be a new Pixelbook laptop in 2023, that does not mean Google has given up on ChromeOS or Chromebook laptops.

In fact, Google likely canned their Pixelbook project because their OEM partners are doing a great job of producing a plethora of good or even great Chromebook laptops.

As Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh pointed out at Google I/O 2022 in May, the Chromebook market had matured and would last a long time.

Google have always developed hardware as a way to push the envelope, and to show its partners what can be achieved. It doesn’t benefit Google to directly compete with its partners.

Now that OEM partners like Acer, Lenovo and HP are offering Chromebook laptops in a wide range of price points and configurations, it just doesn’t make sense for Google to muddle the market with a new Pixelbook.

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Apple settles Butterfly Keyboard lawsuit for $50 million!

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Apple just agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class action lawsuit over the controversial butterfly keyboard used in its MacBook laptops!

Apple Sued For Controversial Butterfly Keyboard!

Apple introduced the controversial butterfly keyboard mechanism to their MacBook laptops from 2015 to 2019, to make them slimmer.

The butterfly mechanism uses mirrored switches that expand like wings, unlike the typical scissor mechanism used in laptop keyboards which uses two interlocking switches that click together when the key is pressed.

While the butterfly mechanism made the keys thinner, they also made the keyboard prone to trapping dust and debris, resulting in sticky and/or easily broken keys.

Apple added a membrane to the butterfly mechanism, in an effort to make it quieter while keeping debris out; but it didn’t help. Small design changes in 2019 also did little to improve the keyboard.

The Wall Street Journal even printed a famous typo-ridden column to demonstrate the butterfly mechanism’s issues in 2019.

Two law firms – Girard Sharp LLP, and Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP – then bought on a class action lawsuit, claiming that Apple was aware of the problem but failed to rectify the problem and do enough in supporting customers who experienced the problem.

Apple Settles Butterfly Keyboard Lawsuit For $50 million!

On July 18, 2022, Apple filed a $50 million settlement in San Jose, California, to settle the class action lawsuit over its butterfly keyboard.

If approved by a judge, the law firms can claim up to $15 million out of the $50 million settlement, for legal fees. Apple denied any wrongdoing, and did not offer any comments.

The rest of the settlement would be used to pay customers who bought a MacBook, MacBook Air, and most MacBook Pro laptops between 2015 and 2019 in seven US states :

California
Florida
Michigan
New Jersey
New York
Washington

Under the proposed settlement, customers who had issues with their butterfly keyboards in those states will receive :

up to $395, for those who had to replace multiple keyboards
$125 for those who had a single keyboard replacement
$50 for those who had to replace key caps

Apple dumped the butterfly keyboard for the more traditional scissor mechanism keyboard in 2019, with the introduction of the 16-inch MacBook Pro and the Magic Keyboard.

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Apple Silicon M1 Series vs. M2 Comparison!

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Apple just launched the M2 – their second-generation M-series system-on-a-chip (SoC) for Mac computers!

Let’s compare the new M2 against the last-generation M1 series SoCs!

Apple Silicon M1 vs. M2 Comparison

On 6 June 2022, Apple unveiled their second-generation M-series system-on-a-chip (SoC) for Mac computers – the Apple Silicon M2!

Built on an improved 5 nm process technology, the Apple M2 has 20 billion transistors – 25% more transistors than the M1.

All those transistors allow the Apple M2 to deliver better performance than the last-generation M1 :

Faster Performance cores with a larger cache
18% faster CPU performance
35% more powerful GPU at max. power
40% faster Neural Engine
50% more memory bandwidth
up to 24 GB of unified memory
a new image signal processor (ISP) for better image noise reduction

The new M2 no doubt offers a significant boost in performance and capabilities over the M1.

On top of that, it partially addressed the limited Unified Memory capacity offered by the M1, by offering a 24 MB option.

The new M2 will debut in the 2022 MacBook Air, and the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro 2022 laptops.

To give you a better idea of how they compare, here is our direct comparison b between the Apple M1 and the Apple M2 :

Specifications	M1	M2	Difference
Fab Tech	5nm (N5)	5 nm (N5P)	–
Transistor Count	16 billion	20 billion	+25%
Die Size	120 mm²	NA	–
CPU Cores (Performance)	4 x Firestorm @ 3.2 GHz	4 x Avalanche cores @ NA GHz	–
CPU Cores (Efficiency)	4 x Icestorm cores @ 2.06 GHz	4 Blizzard cores @ NA GHz	–
L2 Cache	P-core : 12 MB E-core : 4 MB	P-core : 16 MB E-core : 4 MB	P-core : +33%
SLC	16 MB	32 MB	+100%
GPU Cores	7 / 8 cores 1278 MHz	8 / 10 cores NA MHz	+1 / +2 cores
Neural Engine	16 cores (11 TOPS)	16 cores (15.8 TOPS)	+44%
Memory Options	8 GB / 16 GB	8 GB / 16 GB / 24 GB	–
Memory Type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5	–
Memory Speed	2133 MHz	3200 MHz	+50%
Memory Bus	128-bit	128-bit	–
Memory Bandwidth	68.2 GB/s	102.4 GB/s	50%

Apple Silicon M1 Series vs. M2 Comparison

While the M2 may offer significant improvements over the M1, Apple has been careful in not letting it cannibalise sales of the higher-performing M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips.

Even without testing the new M2, its specifications show that it slots in between the M1 and the M1 Pro.

M2 has 8 cores like M1, with 2-4 fewer Performance cores than the M1 Pro.
Its Performance cores have L2 cache size of 16 MB, right between M1 (8 MB) and M1 Pro (24 MB).
Its 8-10 GPU core count is right between M1 (7-8 cores) and M1 Pro (14-16 cores).
Its maximum Unified Memory option is 24 GB, right between M1 (16 GB) and M1 Pro (32 GB).
It retains the M1’s narrower 128-bit memory bus, but uses the M1 Pro’s faster LPDDR5 memory.

To show you what I mean, here is a table I created comparing the key specifications of the M1 series against the new M2 :

Specifications	M1	M1 Pro	M1 Max	M1 Ultra	M2
Fab Tech	5nm (N5)				5 nm (N5P)
Transistor Count	16 billion	33.7 billion	57 billion	114 billion	20 billion
Die Size	120 mm²	245 mm²	432 mm²	864 mm²	NA
CPU Cores (Performance)	4 cores (Firestorm) 3.2 GHz	6 / 8 cores (Firestorm) 3.23 GHz	8 cores (Firestorm) 3.23 GHz	16 cores (Firestorm) 3.23 GHz	4 cores (Avalanche) NA GHz
CPU Cores (Efficiency)	4 cores (Icestorm) 2.06 GHz	2 cores (Icestorm) 2.06 GHz	2 cores (Icestorm) 2.06 GHz	4 cores (Icestorm) 2.06 GHz	4 cores (Blizzard) NA GHz
L2 Cache	P-core : 12 MB E-core : 4 MB	P-core : 24 MB E-core : 4 MB		P-core : 48 MB E-core : 8 MB	P-core : 16 MB E-core : 4 MB
SLC	16 MB	32 MB	64 MB	128 MB	32 MB
GPU Cores	7 / 8 cores 1278 MHz	14 / 16 cores 1296 MHz	24 / 32 cores 1296 MHz	48 / 64 cores 1296 MHz	8 / 10 cores NA MHz
Neural Engine	16 cores			32 cores	16 cores
Memory Options	8 / 16 GB	16 / 32 GB	32 / 64 GB	64 / 128 GB	8 / 16 / 24 GB
Memory Type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Memory Speed	2133 MHz	3200 MHz
Memory Bus	128-bit	256-bit	512-bit	1024-bit	128-bit
Memory Bandwidth	68.2 GB/s	204.8 GB/s	409.6 GB/s	819.2 GB/s	102.4 GB/s

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Acer Chromebook Spin 713 Review : Great For Students!

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Parents are looking for great but affordable laptops for their kids, and the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 may just hit the sweet spot!

Take a look at my review of this MIL-STD-rated convertible laptop, and find out why it’s great for students!

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Fast + Tough

The 2021 Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (CP713-3W) is the world’s first Intel Evo platform-verified Chromebook, guaranteeing snappy performance out-of-the-box.

As an Intel Evo-verified laptop, it comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core processor with Intel Iris Xe Graphics, built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and is designed to wake up in less than a second!

Even though it is a convertible laptop, it is MIL-STD-810H rated for drops of up to 122 cm, and MIL-STD-810F rated against ingress of sand and dust!

So you now have a basic idea of why we think it’s great for students!

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Price + Availability

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is available in Malaysia with a retail price of RM3,799.

Here are some online purchase options in Malaysia :

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Specifications

Let’s start with the specifications of this review unit :

Specifications	Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Model	CP713-3W-503Z
Display	13.5-inch VertiView IPS touchscreen display 2256 x 1504 pixels, 220 ppi
Durability	Corning Gorilla Glass MIL-STD 810H
Operating System	Google Chrome OS 94.0
Processor	Intel Core i5-1135G7
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory	8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage	256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Camera	720p HD webcam
Connectivity	Intel® Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201 Bluetooth® 5.1
microSD Reader	Yes
Ports	2 x USB Type C ports 1 x USB Type A port 1 x HDMI port 1 x 3.5 mm audio port
Sensors	Accelerometer (G-sensor), Gyroscope
Audio	Smart Amplifier with DTS Stereo speakers
Battery	56 Whr Li-Ion battery Up to 10 hours of battery life Supports quick-charging
Dimensions	300.6 mm wide 235 mm deep 16.9 mm thick
Weight	1.37 kg

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Unboxing

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes in a brown cardboard box, with two labels on the side to confirm the model and specifications of the unit inside.

Please make sure the security seal is unbroken when you receive the box. Once you remove everything, this is what you will find inside :

one Acer Chromebook Spin 713 laptop
one 45 watt power adaptor with USB Type C cable
one localised power cord
one set of Setup Guide + Warranty booklet

Next Page > Chromebook Spin 713 Key Features

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Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Hands-On Experience!

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a convertible laptop, with a 13.5-inch display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels.

The display can flip completely around, letting you use it in the laptop mode, tent mode or the tablet mode – very useful for presentations and collaboration in school.

As this is a Chromebook, it runs on Google Chrome OS, but otherwise, appears and works like any other laptop.

It is quite thin at just under 17 mm at its thickest point, and weighs only 1.37 kg. It will have no problem fitting into schoolbags.

13.5-inch Touchscreen Display

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a 13.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels – much higher than most Chromebook laptops.

This is a touchscreen display, which is the main input method in tent and tablet modes. Even so, you will find it very useful in the laptop mode as well.

You will be glad to know that the display is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass, so it is resistant to scratches.

720p Webcam

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a 720p webcam at the top of its display, with two microphones to pick up your voice.

It would be be nice if Acer included a 1080p webcam, but hey, even the Dell XPS 13 (9300) came with a 720p webcam!

Available Ports

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a range of useful ports. On the left side, you will find :

two of the latest USB Type C / Thunderbolt 4 ports!
a full-size HDMI port
a 3.5 mm audio port

On the right side, you will find a physical Volume control button, with a microSD card reader, a USB 3.0 Type A port and the Power button.

Speakers

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has two downward-firing speakers on the underside (in laptop mode).

They are pretty loud and bright, and seem optimised for voice – which may appear to be what they are targeting.

But they will sound hollow and lack dynamism and bass, so music and movies are less enjoyable.

Keyboard + Touchpad

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a full-size keyboard, with a large touchpad.

The keys are backlit, which is fantastic in low-light conditions, and have decent key travel.

[twenty20 img1=”51383″ img2=”51384″ offset=”0.5″]

Next Page > Performance, Verdict + Award!

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Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Performance

Our Acer Chromebook Spin 713 laptop was powered by the Intel Core i5-1135G7, which is a 4-core, 8-thread processor that runs at up to 4.2 GHz.

It comes with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and is paired with 8 GB of RAM and 256 of PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

Battery Life

The Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a 3-cell 56 Whr lithium-ion battery, that Acer says all last up to 10 hours.

To test its battery life, we set its display to 50% and ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test, until its battery capacity dropped to 20%, repeating several times.

Unfortunately, we could not get 10 hours – the best we could do was just under 7.5 hours. But please note that this is a stress test that involves non-stop running work applications.

In real life, you will likely see longer usage times. And it is certainly more than long enough for a full day at school!

Battery Recharging Speed

The Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a 45 watt fast charger, that Acer says will give you 4 hours of battery life in just under 30 minutes.

Look at that! It only took 1 hour 31.5 minutes to fully recharge the Chromebook Spin 713 from 20% to 100%!

That gives it a battery life : recharging ratio of almost 5:1. A general rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, you will need to charge it for 12 minutes.

Work Performance : PCMark Work 3.0

As this laptop runs on Chrome OS, we can only compare it to mobile SoCs.

Its PCMark Work 3.0 score puts it firmly in between the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ and the Samsung Exynos 990.

In other words – this laptop is as fast as flagship mobile devices like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ and Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

Gaming Performance : 3DMark

As the Chromebook Spin 713 runs on Chrome OS, you can Android apps on it. Yes, that includes games that your kids are already playing on your Android phone. 😉

Its graphics performance is really good, coming in more than TWICE AS FAST as Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ and the Samsung Exynos 990.

In other words, you won’t have to worry about running any mobile games on this laptop. It will have no problem handling them.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Verdict + Award

People often think of Chromebook laptops as cheap throwaway devices that you only resort to when you have “no other choice”.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 puts paid to that perception, offering a sleek convertible design with high-end features like :

Intel Evo and MIL-STD-810 certifications
2K touch display with Gorilla Glass protection
Powerful Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Xe Graphics
Two USB Type C / Thunderbolt 4 ports

What you get is a truly versatile laptop with snappy work and gaming performance, with an excellent high-resolution display.

If you are a parent looking for a good and sturdy laptop that your child will have a hard time breaking, you really can’t go wrong with the Acer Chromebook Spin 713.

That’s why we have no qualms giving it our Reviewer’s Choice Award! Great job, Acer!

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Where To Buy?

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is available in Malaysia with a retail price of RM3,799.

Here are some online purchase options in Malaysia :

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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HUAWEI 12.12 Sale : Don’t Miss These Awesome Deals!

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The HUAWEI 12.12 sale is almost here, with a ton of AWESOME DEALS!

Check out what HUAWEI is offering in their 12.12 sale, and make sure you don’t miss them!

HUAWEI 12.12 Sale : Don’t Miss These Awesome Deals!

These HUAWEI smart devices and laptops will be available with these one-time only deals on 12 December 2021, starting at 12:01 AM sharp!

Look through the list below – you can start adding these deals to the cart, so you’re ready to check out on 12/12!

HUAWEI MateBook D14

12.12 Offer : RM2,299 (RRP : RM2,699) with FREE backpack worth RM199

Known for its sturdy yet lightweight body, HUAWEI MateBook D14 comes in a sleek and stylish design with a 14-inch FullView Display that boasts screen-to-body ratio of 84%.

The HUAWEI MateBook D14 has a large 56Wh battery that can serve you to last throughout the day, and a built-in fingerprint sensor that lets you quickly and securely log in.

Its support for HUAWEI’s Multi-Screen Collaboration feature lets you interact seamlessly between between your laptop and smartphone. It also allows you to take control of your smartphone using your laptop, allowing for greater productivity!

Add this deal to your cart and grab it on 12/12!

https://youtu.be/yj5k_xfpm-s

HUAWEI MatePad 10.4 LTE 4 (64 GB)

12.12 Offer : RM1,199 (RRP : RM1,399) with FREE Smart Magnetic Keyboard worth RM399

The HUAWEI MatePad is a great option for those who are looking for a tablet at an affordable price. It even comes with a keyboard case that protects it when closed, and turns it into a laptop when open!

It is designed to offer studio-quality audio with its quad-speaker, Histen 6.1 3D stereo and quad-channel Harmon Kardon sound system. And it supports HUAWEI’s Multi-Screen Collaboration feature which lets you transfer, drag and drop files between devices, as well as screen sharing between tablet, smartphone and laptop!

The tablet comes with 64 GB of storage, which can be extended to 512GB storage through an optional microSD card. It also supports 4G LTE connectivity – all you need to do is insert a SIM card!

Add this deal to your cart and grab it on 12/12!

HUAWEI MatePad 11

12.12 Offer : RM1,999 with FREE M-Pencil and Smart Magnetic Keyboard worth RM998

Running on HarmonyOS 2, the MatePad 11 is the first HUAWEI tablet to feature a 10.95-inch FullView display with a 120 Hz refresh rate for a silky-smooth visual experience, and a DCI-P3 colour gamut for real-to-life colours!

The MatePad 11 comes with the 2nd Generation M-Pencil stylus, which boasts an almost imperceptible lag as low as 2 ms. It has 4,096 pressure levels and tilt sensitivity, giving you a natural writing and drawing experience.

The MatePad 11 is also a multimedia powerhouse, with quad-channel large amplitude quad-speaker system, tuned by Harman Kardon.

It is further enhanced with Histen 7.0 for greater bass and a new sound field enhancement algorithm, giving you that immersive cinema-like audio experience when you watch movies!

Add this deal to your cart and grab it on 12/12!

https://youtu.be/VYG6UFNbcuA

HUAWEI MatePad T10 (32 GB)

12.12 Offer : RM499 (RRP : RM799)

The HUAWEI MatePad T10 comes with an anti-glare screen that is TÜV Rheinland certified Eye Comfort. By reducing the amount of blue light significantly without affecting the screen colour tone with its true tone technology, it ensures that you have greater viewing pleasure while preventing eye strain.

Whether it’s for work, watching movies or social media, this is a highly-affordable tablet that offers better eye comfort for everyday use!

Add this deal to your cart and grab it on 12/12!

HUAWEI Watch GT2e 46mm

12.12 Offer : RM329 (RRP : RM599)

The HUAWEI WATCH GT2e lets you work out anywhere you want, inside and outside the gym with a tracker that supports precise positioning systems and delivers professional sports guidance.

It lets you easily monitor your heart rate with its accurate TruSeen 3.5 and a calorie counter that displays the amount you have burnt after each session.

Add this deal to your cart and grab it on 12/12!

HUAWEI Band 6

12.12 Offer : RM149 (RRP : RM219)

The HUAWEI Band 6 monitors your SpO2 level all day long, to ensure that your blood oxygen saturation will never drop too low.

Get notified when its simple reminder feature vibrates to warn you when your SPO2 level drops below the average range!

Add this deal to your cart and grab it on 12/12!

HUAWEI WATCH Fit

12.12 Offer : RM299 (RRP : RM499)

The HUAWEI WATCH Fit offers you a total of 96 Effective Workout Modes to start your personal fitness training immediately.

It also delivers precise and real-time workout metrics for 11 professional sport modes, inclusive of running, swimming, and cycling. And it comes along with 85 more custom workout modes for a diverse fitness routine throughout the month.

Add this deal to your cart and grab it on 12/12!

Read more : HUAWEI WATCH FIT Smartwatch Review!

https://youtu.be/9Xh1zesaSjQ

HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i

12.12 Offer : RM199 (RRP : RM379)

Tthe HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i are active noise cancelling TWS earbuds, that lets you hear only what you want, while its dual-mic system comes with a slit-duct design that works to effectively reduce outdoor wind noise.

It also boasts an exclusive beamforming technology that uses AI noise reduction technology to pick up your voice with extra accuracy, maintaining its quality regardless of the environment you are in.

Add this deal to your cart and grab it on 12/12!

HUAWEI 12.12 Sale : Full List Of Deals!

Here is the FULL LIST of deals that HUAWEI is offering on 12.12.

Product	RRP	Promotion Price	Free Gifts
MatePad T10 2020 WiFi (2GB + 32GB)	RM 799	RM 499	–
MatePad 10.4 2020 WiFi (4GB + 64GB)	RM 1,399	RM 1,199	Keyboard (RM399)
MateBook D14	RM 2,699	RM 2,299	Backpack (RM199)
HUAWEI MatePad 11 WiFi (6GB + 128GB)	RM 1,999	–	M-Pencil + Keyboard (RM998)
HUAWEI Band 6	RM 219	RM 149	–
HUAWEI WATCH Fit	RM 499	RM 299	–
HUAWEI WATCH GT2 46mm (Fluoroelastomer Matte Black)	RM 799	RM 599	–
HUAWEI WATCH GT2 42mm (Fluoroelastomer Night Black)	RM 799	RM 459	–
HUAWEI WATCH GT2e 46mm (Graphite Black)	RM 599	RM 329	–
HUAWEI WATCH GT2e 46mm (Leather)	RM 899	RM 649	–
HUAWEI WATCH GT2e 46mm (TPU Mint Green)	RM 599	RM 329	–
HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i	RM 379	RM 199	–
HUAWEI WATCH GT3 42mm (Black) + FreeBuds Lipstick	RM 1,998	RM 1,698	–
HUAWEI WATCH GT3 42mm (White) + FreeBuds Lipstick	RM 2,098	RM 1,798	–

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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2021 Acer Chromebook Laptops : What You Need To Know!

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Acer introduced SIX new Chromebook models in 2021, offering a wide selection of affordable laptops with long battery life.

Here is what YOU need to know about the six new Acer Chromebook laptops!

2021 Acer Chromebook Laptops : What You Need To Know!

Acer introduced SIX new Chromebook models in 2021, in a variety of sizes and form factors with long battery life.

14-inch Acer Chromebook 314
17.3-inch Acer Chromebook 317
14-inch Acer Chromebook 514
14-inch Acer Chromebook Enterprise 514
13.5-inch Acer Chromebook Spin 713
13.5-inch Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 713

In this article, we are going to take a look at the six 2021 Acer Chromebook laptops, to see what they offer, and how they compare with each other!

2021 Acer Chromebook 314

Weighing only 1.5 kg, the 2021 Acer Chromebook 314 (CB314-2H/CB314-2HT) is an ultra-portable laptop designed for students.

Its 14-inch IPS display has a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and optional touch controls. It supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and comes with a 720p HDR webcam.

2021 Acer Chromebook 317

The 2021 Acer Chromebook 317 (CB317-1H) is targeted at users who want a large display for multitasking and streaming content.

It has a large 17.3-inch display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and anti-glare coating. It also comes with a large keyboard (with optional backlighting) with a numeric keypad and a large touchpad.

There is also space for two full-sized upward-facing speakers to give you a more immersive audio experience.

The 2021 Chromebook 317 is built around the latest Intel Celeron processors with Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and up to 10 hours of battery life.

2021 Acer Chromebook 514

The 2021 Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-1W/CB514-1WT) is built around the 11th Gen Intel core processors, with up to 10 hours of battery life.

Thanks to its metal top cover and reinforced design, it is MIL-STD810H rated for military-grade durability. On top of that, its touchpad is protected against scratches and corrosion with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass.

It supports the latest Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity, and comes with two full-function USB Type C ports with Thunderbolt 4, and a backlight keyboard with an optional embedded fingerprint reader.

2021 Acer Chromebook Enterprise 514

The 2021 Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-1W/CB514-1WT) is built around the 11th Gen Intel core processors, and MIL-STD810H rated for military-grade durability. On top of that, its touchpad is protected against scratches and corrosion with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass.

It supports the latest Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity, and comes with two full-function USB Type C ports with Thunderbolt 4, a HDMI port and a backlight keyboard with an optional embedded fingerprint reader.

It also features a Full HD MIPI webcam, and speakers powered by a Smart Amplifier, with support for DTS Audio.

Its Chrome Enterprise operating system features integrated manageability features to help your company cut costs, streamline operations and reduce security risks by letting you deploy, update and manage all your devices remotely.

2021 Acer Chromebook Spin 713

The 2021 Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (CP713-3W) is the world’s first Intel Evo platform-verified Chromebook.

It features a premium aluminium chassis that is MIL-STD 810H rated for military-grade durability, in a convertible form factor. Its 13.5-inch VertiView display has a resolution of 2256 x 1504, giving you 18% more vertical screen space.

Built around the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, it only weighs 1.37 kg and is less than 17 mm thick. Its fast-chargeable battery lasts up to 10 hours, and can get 4 hours of battery life with a quick 30 minute charge!

2021 Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 713

The 2021 Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 713 (CP713-3W) is the world’s first Intel Evo platform-verified Chromebook with Chrome Enterprise manageability built-in.

2021 Acer Chromebook Laptops : Specs + Price Comparison

Here is a quick specifications + price overview of the 2021 Acer Chromebook laptops :

Specifications	Chromebook 314	Chromebook 317	Chromebook 514 Enterprise 514	Chromebook Spin 713 Enterprise Spin 713
Type	Laptop			Convertible Laptop
Size	14-inch	17.3-inch	14-inch	13.5-inch
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080			2256 x 1504
Processor	MediaTek MT8183	Intel Celeron	11th Gen Intel Core
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5	Wi-Fi 6
Battery Life	15 hours	10 hours
Weight	1.5 kg	2.4 kg	1.5 kg	1.37 kg
Starting Price	USD 269.99 EUR 329	USD 379.99 EUR 399	USD 599.99 EUR 549	USD 699.99 EUR 769

2021 Acer Chromebook Laptops : Where To Buy?

Here are some online purchase options for the 2021 Acer Chromebook laptops (prices accurate as of 9 Nov 2021) :

United States

Acer Chromebook 314 : $219.99 | $219.99 | $259.53 | $259.95
Acer Chromebook 317 : $288.99
Acer Chromebook 514 : $326.39 | $366 | $366.38 | $388
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : $381 | $463.90 | $499 | $549

United Kingdom

Acer Chromebook 314 : £199.99 | £229.99 | £259.99 | £287.77
Acer Chromebook 514 : £194.99 | £229.99 | £309.95 | £344.26
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : £799.99

Australia

Acer Chromebook 314 : A$400.64 | A$486.52 | A$549.99
Acer Chromebook 317 : A$824.85
Acer Chromebook 514 : A$571.92 | A$632.76
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : A$744.04 | A$851.06 | A$1049.88

Malaysia

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : RM2,500 | RM3,299 | RM3,575

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Why HUAWEI MateBook 14s Is A Great All-Round Laptop!

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HUAWEI just introduced a new laptop – the MateBook 14s with a 90Hz display, and the latest 11th Gen Intel Core processors.

Find out why this is such a great all-round laptop!

Why HUAWEI MateBook 14s Is A Great All-Round Laptop!

In the past few years, HUAWEI has been aggressively creating laptops, to drive their 1+8+N concept of a fully-connected life.

The new HUAWEI MateBook 14s is their latest computing lynchpin in that strategy, as an affordable, high-performance laptop for business professionals.

Let’s take a look at its key features, and why it is such a great all-round laptop!

90 Hz High-Resolution Display

When you open up the HUAWEI MateBook 14s, the first thing you will notice is the expansive 14-inch FullView display with really thin bezels.

This is a high-resolution touch-screen display with a 2.5K resolution of 2520 x 1680 pixels, that supports a maximum refresh rate of 90 Hz and a wide 100% sRGB colour gamut.

For maximum viewing comfort, it has built-in Smart Brightness Adjustment with Dual Eye Comfort, and is certified by TUV Rheinland as a low blue light and flicker-free display.

Performance

The HUAWEI MateBook 14s is powered by the latest 11th Gen Intel Core processors, with two variants at present :

Intel Core i7-11370H : 4C / 8T, 12 MB cache, up to 4.8 GHz
Intel Core i5-11300H : 4C / 8T, 8 MB cache, up to 4.4 GHz

Both variants feature the latest Intel Iris Xe Graphics, with these RAM + storage options :

Core i7 variant : 16 GB RAM + 1 TB NVMe SSD storage
Core i5 variant : 8 GB RAM + 512 GB NVMe SSD storage

And if you need additional performance, you can activate its Performance Mode. By simply pressing the Fn+P key combo, the CPU TDP will be boosted to 45W, giving you a boost in CPU performance!

All that is powered by a 60 Who battery, and a pocketable 90W power adapter that supports HUAWEI Super Charge. A quick 15 minute charge gives you up to 3 hours of battery life.

Multimedia Prowess

Whether it’s for work or entertainment, the HUAWEI MateBook 14s will surely impress with its four speaker system.

Powered by HUAWEI SOUND, these speakers produce an enveloping virtual surround sound field around the user, which can be further adjusted using the four pre-set audio modes.

The MateBook 14s also features a quad-microphone system, which works with the new HUAWEI Personal Voice Enhancement technology, to intelligently isolate and boost your voice while cutting out ambient noise.

Its four microphones, which are placed along the laptop edges, can pick-up audio from sources up to 5 metres away, and ensure that you are clearly heard, even in noisy environments.

HUAWEI Innovation

The HUAWEI MateBook 14s is designed to work with other HUAWEI ecosystem devices, as part of their 1+8+N concept. Hence, it comes with a bevy of innovative tools for multi-device sharing and collaboration!

The Mirror Mode lets you mirror the MateBook 14s display onto a HUAWEI tablet, letting you use those devices as a digital drawing pad.
You can also use Mirror Mode to allow different groups to collaborate on the same content.
The Extend Mode lets your HUAWEI tablet serve as a secondary display, giving you more space to work with, or letting you play music / video while you work.
The Collaborate Mode lets you easily and wirelessly transfer content between the MateBook 14s and another HUAWEI device! You can just drag and drop the files you want using the mouse!
The Collaborate Mode also lets you use your laptop keyboard and mouse with your HUAWEI tablet or smartphone!

It Can Run Mobile Apps!

The HUAWEI MateBook 14s comes with the beta version of Mobile Apps Engine, which lets you run mobile apps (like WeChat, for example) directly on the laptop!

This not only lets you have a bigger, more expansive view of your mobile apps, you can now have two mobile accounts – one for personal use, one for work or business use.

HUAWEI MateBook 14s : Price + Pre-Order Deal!

The HUAWEI MateBook 14s is available to pre-order from RM4,999 (approx. S$1,599 / US$1,999 / £869 / A$1,599), from 28 October until 6 November 2021.

Every purchase of the HUAWEI MateBook 14s will come with freebies worth RM1,366 :

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro
HUAWEI Bluetooth mouse
HUAWEI Backpack
Office 365 (1 Year Subscription)

You can grab the pre-order deal for the HUAWEI MateBook 14s at these two official stores :

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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2021 MacBook Pro Restores 4 Features Jony Ive Threw Out!

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The 2021 MacBook Pro restored four great features that famed designer, Jony Ive threw out!

Well, isn’t it fortunate that he left Apple?

2021 MacBook Pro Restores 4 Features Jony Ive Threw Out!

Famed designed Jony Ive did many things right, but he also screwed up the MacBook Pro for many years.

In his obsessive quest for ever THINNER form factors, Sir Jony dumped four great features that MacBook Pro users loved.

Physical function keys
SDXC card reader
MagSafe charging port
HDMI port

The good news is – the 2021 MacBook Pro restores all four features that Jony threw out!

Magic Keyboard With Physical Function Keys!

Jony Ive introduced the butterfly keyboard mechanism because it was THINNER. However, it has less key travel (of course) and was prone to failure.

Apple finally gave up on the butterfly keyboard after Jony left, when they introduced the Magic Keyboard with a scissor mechanism in the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019).

But it was with this new 2021 MacBook Pro that nailed the coffin shut for the Touch Bar, which many MBP users considered an expensive boondoggle.

FINALLY, MacBook Pro users have a proper keyboard with physical function keys that provide tactile feedback!

SDXC Card Reader + HDMI Port Are Back!

Many MacBook Pro users are photographers who loved how their MBPs had an integrated SDXC card reader. They can just slot in their SD cards and get to work.

Many users also loved the convenience of an integrated HDMI port, which allowed quick and easy video output to an external monitor or even a projector.

Unfortunately, Jony Ive sacrificed both the SDXC card reader and the HDMI port on the altar of a THINNER profile, forcing users to use USB card readers and dongles.

Well, the good news is the 2021 MacBook Pro restored both the SDXC card reader and the HDMI port!

MagSafe 3 Charging!

Another stupid decision Apple made with their 4th Gen MacBook Pro was to remove the MagSafe charging connector.

Not only does the MagSafe prevent damage if anyone trips over the cable, it also has a very nifty indicator light that quickly tells you its charging status.

Fortunately, Apple just introduced MagSafe 3 in the 2021 MacBook Pro. It is now slimmer, and can support up to 140 watts of power delivery!

Don’t worry – you can still use USB-C charging if you want to.

2021 MacBook Pro So Much Better After Jony Ive Left

Now, I do not mean to disparage Sir Jony Ive’s excellent design work. I just think he went overboard with his obsession with THINNESS.

How much functionality is worth trading away to shave off an extra millimetre or two? Never enough in Jony’s book, from what I can tell.

Even with all that gone, he couldn’t even get the MacBook Pro to be thinner or lighter than the Dell XPS 13… so what was the point of removing them???

Hence, it is fortuitous for MacBook Pro users that he is no longer in charge of the design work at Apple.

The restoration of these four long-missed features arguably makes the 2021 MacBook Pro far more functional than its fancy mini LED display or M1 Pro / Max processor could achieve.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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100% Correct : MagSafe 3, SDXC + HDMI 2.0 In 2021 MBP!

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Back in February 2021, we gave you all a sneak peek at what the 2021 Apple MBP would offer in terms of connectivity.

We said back then that “Apple will not only introduce a new MagSafe 3 connector in the upcoming 2021 MacBook Pro, they will also bring back the SD card slot!”

Take a look at what we revealed back then, and what Apple just revealed earlier today!

We Were Right About MagSafe 3 In 2021 MBP!

In our February 2021 sneak peek of the 2021 MBP’s connectivity options, we shared that Apple will bring back their long-missed MagSafe connector.

It would be a brand new connector with a slimmer profile called MagSafe 3, which would be bidirectional with 5 pins, and have a slimmer profile.

Take a look at the picture we shared in February, showing MagSafe 3, next to two Thunderbolt ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

And take a look at the connectors on the left side of the actual 2021 MacBook Pro. Pretty much the same, right?

We Were Right About SDXC Card Reader + HDMI 2.0 In 2021 MBP!

In our February 2021 sneak peek, we also shared that Apple would bring back the sorely-missed SDXC card reader, as well as the HDMI 2.0 port.

Here was the picture we shared in February, showing the SDXC card reader, together with the HDMI 2.0 port.

Doesn’t it look EXACTLY like the actual right side of the 2021 MacBook Pro?

We also revealed back then that the OLED Touch Bar would finally be banished… hopefully for good. It was an expensive boondoggle that MBP users were forced to pay for.

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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2021 Acer Predator Triton + Helios Gaming Laptops First Look!

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Acer just introduced the 2021 Predator Triton and Predator Helios line of gaming laptops!

Take a look at these brand new gaming laptops and find out what they offer!

2021 Predator Triton + Helios Gaming Laptops Are Here!

On 30 September 2021, Acer unveiled the 2021 Predator Triton and Predator Helios line of gaming laptops!

These newly-refreshed gaming laptops now offer a new level of gaming performance, with even better displays!

Let’s start with their official launch briefing video…

2021 Predator Triton 500 SE

The 2021 Predator Triton 500 SE (Special Edition) is a discreetly-designed gaming laptop that look like professional business laptops, but will blast the competition out of the water in any game!

The new Predator Triton 500 SE is incredibly powerful, pairing an 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 processor with the NVIDIA® GeForce™ RTX 3080 GPU, with up to 32 GB of fast DDR4 memory.

Its 16-inch IPS display offers a large work space with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. No one would possibly guess that this large, high-resolution display is also fantastic for gaming, especially when it supports a 165 Hz refresh rate!

To ensure that it stays cool, even under the most strenuous work or gaming conditions, the Predator Triton 500 SE employs the Acer Vortex Flow cooling design, which features :

a triple-fan cooling system
5th Generation AeroBlade™ 3D fans
five dedicated heat pipes
strategically-placed intake and exhaust vents

Best of all – it offers up to 12-hours of battery life, in a 19.9 mm thin all-metal chassis that weighs only 2.4 kg! This lets you use the Predator Triton 500 SE for a full day of work or game on-the-go!

Why waste money on two separate laptops – one for work, one for play, when you can use the Predator Triton 500 SE for both? That’s why I’m especially excited about the 2021 Predator Triton 500 SE.

Acer is offering two models, priced at RM12,999 and RM8,999 respectively, with a 2 year on-site warranty with protection against accidental damage and theft!

Specifications	Predator Triton 500 SE
Model	PT516-51s-91KS	PT516-51s-70NF
Display	16-inch IPS Display 2560 x 1600 pixels, 165 Hz refresh rate
Processor	Intel Core i9-11900H	Intel Core i7-11800H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 6GB
Memory	32 GB DDR4-3200	16 GB DDR4-3200
Storage	1 TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD with 1 extra SSD slot
Connectivity	Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i Bluetooth 5.1 Killer Ethernet E3100G
Ports	2 x USB Type C ports with one port supporting – USB 3.2 Gen 2 – DisplayPort over USB-C – Thunderbolt 4 – USB charging 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports – one port supports power-off USB charging 1 x HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack
Card Reader	SD Card Reader
Audio	DTS X : Ultra Supports Windows Spatial Sound
Webcam	720p HD webcam
Dimensions	358.5 mm wide 262.4 mm deep 19.9 mm thick
Weight	2.4 kg
Price	RM12,999 ~ US$3,110 ~ £2,306 ~ A$4,294 ~ S$4,221	RM8,999 ~ US$2,153 ~ £1,596 ~ A$2,972 ~ S$2,922

2021 Predator Helios 500

For those who want the ultimate desktop-like gaming performance in a laptop, the 2021 Predator Helios 500 is the answer.

The top-of-the-line model pairs up to 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-11980HK processor, with an NVIDIA® GeForce™ RTX 3080 GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, together with up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of fast SSD storage!

The Intel® Core™ i9 model comes with a magnificent 17.3-inch Mini LED display, with 4K resolution and support for full-array local dimming!

The Intel® Core™ i7 model, on the other hand, comes with a super-fast Full HD display with a 360 Hz refresh rate and a 3 ms response time.

The 2021 Predator Helios 500 is kept cool by Predator PowerGem – a custom metal-alloy polymer on the CPU, as well as Acer Vortex Flow technology with two 5th Generation AeroBlade™ 3D fans.

The RGB-lit keys can also be further customised by the discerning gamer, who can swap them for Acer Racing or MagForce keys (featuring MagTek mechanical switches).

If you really want the best gaming laptop money can buy, definitely look at the Predator Helios 500.

Acer is offering two models priced at RM19,999 and RM13,999 respectively, with a 2 year on-site warranty with protection against accidental damage and theft!

Specifications	Predator Helios 500
Model	PH517-52-90NY	PH517-52-78L6
Display	17.3-inch Mini-LED IPS 3840 x 2160 pixels 120 Hz refresh rate 100% DCI-P3 HDR1000	17.3-inch IPS 1920 x 1080 pixels 360 Hz refresh rate 100% sRGB
Processor	Intel Core i9-11980HK	Intel Core i7-11800H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB
Memory	64 GB DDR4-3200	32 GB DDR4-3200
Storage	2 x 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD	1TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD
Connectivity	Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i Bluetooth 5.1 Killer Ethernet E3100G
Ports	2 x USB Type C ports with one port supporting – USB 3.2 Gen 2 – DisplayPort over USB-C – Thunderbolt 4 – USB charging 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports – one port supports power-off USB charging 1 x HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP 1 x mini DP 1.4 port 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack 1 x 3.5 mm microphone jack
Card Reader	SD Card Reader
Audio	DTS X : Ultra Supports Windows Spatial Sound
Webcam	720p HD webcam
Dimensions	400.0 mm wide 319.2 mm deep 35.3 mm thick
Weight	3.9 kg
Price	RM19,999 ~ US$4,785 ~ £3,552 ~ A$6,614 ~ S$6,494	RM13,999 ~ US$3,349 ~ £2,486 ~ A$4,630 ~ S$4,546

2021 Acer Predator Helios 300 (17.3-inch)

Those on a tighter budget but still want a large gaming laptop, should consider the 2021 Acer Predator Helios 300 (17.3-inch).

Now refreshed with the 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-11800H processor and up to the NVIDIA® GeForce™ RTX 3070 GPU, it comes with two excellent 17.3-inch display options :

a 2560 x 1440 display with a 165 Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, or
a 1920 x 1080 display with a 360 Hz refresh rate, and 100% sRGB colour gamut

It comes with 16GB of RAM, which can be expanded to 32GB, and up to 1TB of fast SSD storage, which can be expanded with another SSD and even a HDD!

To ensure it stays cool even in the most demanding gaming session, it features dual AeroBlade™ 3D fans, which can be monitored and controlled by the PredatorSense app.

The 17.3-inch Predator Helios 300 is definitely a great option for those who are looking for a good gaming laptop with a large display at an affordable price point.

Acer is offering two models priced at RM8,999 and RM7,999 respectively, with a 2 year on-site warranty with protection against accidental damage and theft!

Specifications	Predator Helios 300 (17-inch)
Model	PH317-55-7695	PH317-55-76CR
Display	17.3-inch IPS 2560 x 1440 pixels 165 Hz refresh rate 100% DCI-P3	17.3-inch IPS 1920 x 1080 pixels 360 Hz refresh rate 100% sRGB
Processor	Intel Core i7-11800H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Memory	16 GB DDR4-3200
Storage	1TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD	512GB PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD
Storage Expansion	1 extra SSD slot + 1 extra HDD slot
Connectivity	Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i Bluetooth 5.1 Killer Ethernet E2600
Ports	1 x USB Type C port supporting – USB 3.2 Gen 2 – DisplayPort over USB-C – Thunderbolt 4 – USB charging 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port supporting power-off USB charging 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports 1 x HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP 1 x mini-DP 1.4 port 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack
Card Reader	None
Audio	DTS X : Ultra Supports Windows Spatial Sound
Webcam	720p HD webcam
Dimensions	398.0 mm wide 375.3 mm deep 26.55 mm thick
Weight	2.9 kg
Price	RM8,999 ~ US$2,153 ~ £1,596 ~ A$2,972 ~ S$2,922	RM7,999 ~ US$1,913 ~ £1,418 ~ A$2,463 ~ S$2,599

2021 Acer Predator Helios 300 (15.6-inch)

The smaller 2021 Acer Predator Helios 300 offers great gaming performance in a compact, portable laptop for gaming on-the-go.

Now refreshed with the 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 or Core i7 and up to the NVIDIA® GeForce™ RTX 3070 GPU, it comes with two excellent 15.6-inch display options :

a 2560 x 1440 display with a 165 Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, or
a 1920 x 1080 display with a 360 Hz refresh rate, and 100% sRGB colour gamut

It comes with up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of fast SSD storage, which can be expanded with another SSD and even a HDD!

To ensure it stays cool even in the most demanding gaming session, it features dual AeroBlade™ 3D fans, which can be monitored and controlled by the PredatorSense app.

The 15.6-inch Predator Helios 300 is an affordable option for those who are looking for great gaming performance in a more portable form factor for on-the-go gaming.

Acer is offering three models priced at RM9,999, RM7,699 and RM6,299, with a 2 year on-site warranty with protection against accidental damage and theft!

Specifications	Predator Helios 300 (15.6-inch)
Model	PT315-54-9763	PT315-54-77YR	PH315-54-78G9
Display	15.6-inch IPS Display 2560 x 1440 pixels 100% DCI-P3165 Hz refresh rate		15.6-inch IPS Display 1920 x 1080 pixels 100% sRGB 360 Hz refresh rate
Processor	Intel Core i9-11900H	Intel Core i7-11800H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Memory	32 GB DDR4-3200	16 GB DDR4-3200	8GB DDR4-3200
Storage	1 TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD		512 GB PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD
Storage Expansion	1 extra SSD slot + 1 extra HDD slot
Connectivity	Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i Bluetooth 5.1 Killer Ethernet E2600
Ports	1 x USB Type C port supporting – USB 3.2 Gen 2 – DisplayPort over USB-C – Thunderbolt 4 – USB charging 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port supporting power-off USB charging 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports 1 x HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP 1 x mini-DP 1.4 port1 x 3.5 mm audio jack
Card Reader	None
Audio	DTS X : Ultra Supports Windows Spatial Sound
Webcam	720p HD webcam
Dimensions	363.0 mm wide 255.0 mm deep 22.9 mm thick
Weight	2.3 kg
Price	RM9,999 ~ US$2,392 ~ £1,774 ~ A$3,306 ~ S$3,249	RM7,699 ~ US$1,842 ~ £1,366 ~ A$2,546 ~ S$2,502	RM6,299 ~ US$1,507 ~ £1,117 ~ A$2,083 ~ S$2,047

2021 Predator Gaming Laptop Deals!

Acer is offering several deals for the 2021 Predator gaming laptops :

Now until 6 October 2021 : Any purchase of the new Predator Helios 300 will be entitled to free gifts worth more than RM1,000 including Predator Gaming Utility Backpack, Predator Galea 350 Headset and limited edition merchandise.
Now until 6 October 2021 : Any purchase of the Core i9 variant of Predator Helios 300 (PH315-54-9763) will receive an additional Predator Gaming Chair worth RM1,299 for FREE!
From 30 October until 6 November 2021 : Any purchase of Predator Triton 500 SE / Predator Helios 500 will be entitled to free gifts worth more than RM2,000 including Predator Gaming Chair, Predator Gaming Utility Backpack, Predator Galea 350 Headset.

Here are some online purchase options :

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : A Synergistic Combo!

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HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad 11 tablet and the MateBook D15 laptop, each offering new capabilities.

But take a look at what happens when you use them together!

HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : A Quick Primer!

HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad 11 tablet and the MateBook D15 laptop, each offering new capabilities.

HUAWEI MatePad 11

Its display is also TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light-certified, and TÜV Rheinland Flicker-Free certified, guaranteeing you hours of comfortable viewing without eye fatigue.

The 2nd Generation M-Pencil also supports Double Tap to Switch tools, for convenient writing and drawing. If you make a mistake, just double tap the M-Pencil to instantly switch it to the eraser mode!

It also supports HUAWEI FreeScript that quickly converts your handwriting into beautiful text, as well as Instant Shape and Instant Table, to help you easily draw perfect shapes and tablets!

The MatePad 11 is also a multimedia powerhouse, with quad-channel large amplitude quad-speaker system, tuned by Harman Kardon.

It is further enhanced with Histen 7.0 for greater bass and a new sound field enhancement algorithm, giving you that immersive cinema-like audio experience when you watch movies!

The MatePad 11 tablet also comes with 4 microphones, to pick up your voice while eliminating background noise using its built-in noise reduction and echo cancellation technologies.

You also do not need to worry about its battery life – the HUAWEI MatePad 11 offers up to 12 hours of work productivity time or 1080p video playback on a single charge.

HUAWEI MateBook D15

The HUAWEI MateBook D15 is now powered by either the 10th or 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, in a superbly thin and light aluminium alloy chassis – just 16.9 mm thin and weighing only 1.56 kg.

It comes with a FullView Display, offering 87% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to its 5.3 mm narrow bezels at the top and sides.

The large 15.6-inch display has a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and an anti-glare IPS panel that is TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free certified.

Despite its slim design, the MateBook 15 offers an impressive array of ports :

1 x USB-C port
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port
2 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x HDMI port
1 x 3.5 mm audio port

HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : A Synergistic Combo!

Both the HUAWEI MatePad 11 and MateBook 15 are not your average tablet or laptop. They both come with built-in distributed technology to harness the capabilities of other devices.

This distributed technology unleashes the synergistic potential that most people don’t realise, when the MatePad 11 and the MateBook D15 are used together!

When used together, they both can perform what HUAWEI calls Multi-screen Collaboration, with three modes :

Mirror Mode

The HUAWEI MateBook D15 display can be mirrored onto the MatePad 11 tablet, allowing it to be used as a digital drawing pad using the bundled 2nd Generation M-Pencil.

You can use the M-Pencil to write, draw or doodle on the MatePad 11 tablet, with the changes reflected on MateBook D15’s documents.

You can also use the mirror mode for collaborative discussions by separate groups – the same content can be viewed and changed on the tablet and PC by different people / groups at the same time.

Extend Mode

The HUAWEI MatePad 11 can serve as a secondary display for the MateBook D15 laptop, giving you more space to work with.

You can use tablet to load documents for reference, or browse for information or play videos while you work on the laptop.

Collaborate Mode

The built-in distributed technology allows you to easily transfer content between the MatePad 11 and the MateBook D15, without using a USB flash drive!

All you have to do is drag and drop the files you want – be they photos, videos, music or even documents – using the mouse. It’s that simple!

On top of that, you can use the keyboard and mouse between both devices using the Collaborate Mode!

HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : Price + Deal!

HUAWEI is offering their new tablets and laptops at these launch prices :

MatePad 11 (128 GB) : RM1,999 (about US$473 / £342 / A$641 / S$643)
MatePad 11 (256 GB) : RM2,399 (about US$568 / £411 / A$770 / S$771)
MateBook D15 (10th Gen i5) : RM2,999 (about US$709 / £513 / A$962 / S$964)
MateBook D15 (11th Gen i5) : RM3,699 (about US$875 / £633 / A$1,187 / S$1,189)

On top of that, you will get these freebies with every purchase!

MatePad 11 : 1 month 50GB HUAWEI Cloud Storage, 1 month HUAWEI Video VIP, 3 months HUAWEI Music Premium Trial and US$1 HUAWEI Books R-Voucher
MateBook D15 : HUAWEI Backpack, Bluetooth Mouse* and Microsoft 365 (1 Year Subscription)*.

So don’t miss this opportunity, and grab these great features at ;

* These free gifts are available while stocks lasts, on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Acer Day 2021 Sale : Check Out These Awesome Deals!

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The Acer Day 2021 bonanza is here! Check out the awesome deals that Acer Malaysia is offering this month!

Acer Day 2021 : Time For Great Deals!

Acer Day is an annual celebration of their success, kicking off a virtual bonanza of deals and giveaways.

Acer Day 2021 is now conducted online, with the theme “Live Your World”, to encourage all of us to make the best of the situation we are in.

Acer Day 2021 Sale : Check Out These Awesome Deals!

Special Acer Day 2021 Sale On Shopee

Acer Day will kick off with two days of special sales on Shopee – 3 and 4 August 2021.

Up to 60% or RM500 off for a wide range of Acer products
Store vouchers of up to RM200 to collect and apply during checkout.
The top 10 spends from select Acer Stores on Shopee (see below) will be able to bring home a Predator Gaming chair worth RM1,299!
100 units of Predator Gaming Chair will be sold at only RM359 once the Acer Malaysia Shopee Store hits 30,000 followers!
Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC Bank credit card holders will be able to stack vouchers worth up to RM300 when they checkout Acer products in their shopping cart!

Acer Day 2021 Limited Time Deals

Don’t miss the special Limited Time Deals to grab these selected Acer laptops and products at special prices!

Acer Helios 300 (PH315-53-58U0) : Only RM4,399!
Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-57-78PJ) : Only RM5,399!
Acer Swift 3 (SF314-43-R6WW / R5AD) : Only RM3,099!
Acer XC340CKP : Only RM1,529!
Acer T272HL : Only RM1,269!
Acer XZ270X : Only RM879!

They are only available at three time periods on the 3rd and 4th August, at select Acer Stores on Shopee (see below).

Acer Day 2021 Free Gifts

From 1 August until 30 September 2021, every purchase will entitle you to free gifts such as the Acer Yoga Mat, Predator Mousepad, Gateway Pro Wireless Headset or eWallet vouchers worth up to RM250!

In addition, you will stand a chance to win Acer products worth RM10,000.

Finally, Acer will donate up to RM50 to World Vision, for every purchase of select devices!

Acer Day 2021 Shops On Shopee

To grab these great Acer Day 2021 deals and freebies, please make sure you buy from these authorised Acer stores on Shopee :

Acer Day 2021 Contest : #LiveYourWorldWithAcer Challenge!

Acer is offering more than RM10,000 worth of prizes in their #LiveYourWorldWithAcer challenge, including :

Grand Prize : Acer Aspire 5 worth RM3,899
First Runner-Up : Acer Swift 3 worth RM3,499
Bi-Weekly Winners : Touch ‘n Go credit worth RM200, Acer Day Yoga Mat / T-Shirt

For the chance to win those awesome prizes, you have to do is simply record a 30-second video and post it from 7 August until 30 September 2021!

The video should showcase the hidden talents that you developed during this pandemic, with these themes to guide you :

Be An Entertainer!
Inspire Healthy Lifestyle!
Unleash Your Inner Artist!

You don’t even have to purchase an Acer product to participate! So make sure you tell your friends too!

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HUAWEI Launches MatePad 11 + 2021 MateBook D15!

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HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad 11 tablet and the MateBook D15 laptop, each offering new capabilities.

Take a look at these new HUAWEI devices!

HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : A Quick Primer!

HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad 11 tablet and the MateBook D15 laptop, each offering new capabilities.

HUAWEI MatePad 11

Its display is also TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light-certified, and TÜV Rheinland Flicker-Free certified, guaranteeing you hours of comfortable viewing without eye fatigue.

It also supports HUAWEI FreeScript that quickly converts your handwriting into beautiful text, as well as Instant Shape and Instant Table, to help you easily draw perfect shapes and tablets!

The MatePad 11 is also a multimedia powerhouse, with quad-channel large amplitude quad-speaker system, tuned by Harman Kardon.

It is further enhanced with Histen 7.0 for greater bass and a new sound field enhancement algorithm, giving you that immersive cinema-like audio experience when you watch movies!

The MatePad 11 tablet also comes with 4 microphones, to pick up your voice while eliminating background noise using its built-in noise reduction and echo cancellation technologies.

You also do not need to worry about its battery life – the HUAWEI MatePad 11 offers up to 12 hours of work productivity time or 1080p video playback on a single charge.

HUAWEI MateBook D15

It comes with a FullView Display, offering 87% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to its 5.3 mm narrow bezels at the top and sides.

The large 15.6-inch display has a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and an anti-glare IPS panel that is TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free certified.

Despite its slim design, the MateBook 15 offers an impressive array of ports :

1 x USB-C port
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port
2 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x HDMI port
1 x 3.5 mm audio port

HUAWEI MatePad 11 + MateBook D15 : Price + Deal!

HUAWEI is offering their new tablets and laptops at these launch prices :

MatePad 11 (128 GB) : RM1,999 (about US$473 / £342 / A$641 / S$643)
MatePad 11 (256 GB) : RM2,399 (about US$568 / £411 / A$770 / S$771)
MateBook D15 (10th Gen i5) : RM2,999 (about US$709 / £513 / A$962 / S$964)
MateBook D15 (11th Gen i5) : RM3,699 (about US$875 / £633 / A$1,187 / S$1,189)

Plus, if you pre-order from now until 5 August 2021, you will stand to get these freebies :

MatePad 11 : HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard, M-Pencil Second Generation, 1 month 50GB HUAWEI Cloud Storage, 1 month HUAWEI Video VIP, 3 months HUAWEI Music Premium Trial and US$1 HUAWEI Books R-Voucher
MateBook D15 : HUAWEI Backpack, Bluetooth Mouse and Microsoft 365 (1 Year Subscription).

So don’t miss this opportunity, and grab these great features at ;

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2021 Acer Spin 3 + Spin 5 : What You Need To Know!

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Acer just introduced the 2021 Spin 3 and Spin 5 convertible laptop models, with the latest Intel processors!

Take a look at both new Spin 3 and Spin 5 laptops, and find out what they offer!

2021 Acer Spin 3 + Spin 5 : What You Need To Know!

The 2020 Red Dot Design Award-winning Acer Spin 5 was just refreshed, and so is its sibling – the Acer Spin 3.

Convertible Design

They are both convertible laptops, with 360-degree hinges that lets them transform into different form factors to suit your requirements.

You can take notes in the tablet mode, watch movies in the tent mode, or use the clamshell mode for a more ergonomic typing experience!

Performance

Both models offer the latest 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and come with up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X memory and 512 GB of fast PCIe NVMe SSD storage!

The 2021 Acer Spin 5 models, in particular, come with the latest PCIe Gen 4 SSD, which offers double the transfer speed of PCIe Gen 3 SSDs.

Both models are Intel Evo platform-certified, which means they have designed to deliver better CPU, GPU and Wi-Fi performance, instant wake-up, and longer battery life!

This gives you a desktop-like computing performance, in a slim and light convertible form factor.

High Resolution Touch Display

The 2021 Acer Spin 5 offers a 13.5-inch QHD IPS display, with an impressive 80% screen-to-body ratio, with multi-touch and AES pen support.

The 2021 Acer Spin 3, on the other hand, comes with a 13.3-inch WQXGA IPS display, also with multi-touch and AES pen support.

Both displays support 100% sRGB colour gamut, and DC dimming, which allows for no-flicker image quality in low light conditions!

Acer Active Stylus

Both 2021 Acer Spin laptops come with the Acer Active Stylus in a built-in dock, that gives it a 90 minute battery life with just 15 seconds of charging!

With two configurable buttons, this active stylus supports 4,096 pressure levels, and offers a pen-to-paper like writing experience!

Antimicrobial Coating!

The 2021 Acer Spin 5 laptop is coated with a BPR and EPA-compliant silver-ion coating on the keyboard, fingerprint reader and palm rest, with its touchpad and display are protected by Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass.

Both the antibacterial coating and the antimicrobial glass inhibit and reduce bacterial growth on all surfaces that we may touch.

This is an important feature, because the Acer Spin 5 laptop will actually reduce the amount of bacteria we come into contact!

Embedded Fingerprint Reader

A fingerprint reader is embedded directly into the touchpad, giving you an easy and secure way to verify your identity using Windows Hello, without typing in a password.

This is very useful when you are using the laptop in public, where typing out a password is not recommended.

High-Speed Connectivity

Both 2021 Spin 5 and Spin 3 laptops come with Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 built-in, for the fastest possible WiFi connectivity with lower latency.

On top of that, it all comes with dual Type-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports. These are ultra-fast ports that offer data and video transfers of up to 40 Gb/s – four times faster than USB 3.2!

Both these Thunderbolt 4 ports also allow you to output up to two 4K external displays for even greater productivity.

Light + Tough

The 2021 Spin laptops are built with an aluminium chassis, offering a slimmer profile and lighter weight.

The Spin 5 is only 14.9 mm thin, and weighs only 1.2 kg, while the Spin 3 is just 15.9 mm thin, and weighs only 1.4 kg.

Not only will they fit comfortably into any tote or laptop bag, you will have no problem carrying them in your hands for hours on end.

Ultra-Long Battery Life

Both 2021 Spin 5 and Spin 3 laptops have a long 15-hour battery life, based on the MobileMark 2014 test.

They also support fast charging technology, to keep you going wherever you are. A quick 30 minute charge will give you 4 hours of use!

2021 Acer Spin 3 : Specifications

Specifications	Acer Spin 3 (Core i7)	Acer Spin 3 (Core i5)
Model	SP313-51N-714D	SP313-51N-56CM
Display	13.3-inch IPS touch display 2560 x 1600 pixels Supports multi-touch and AES pen
Operating System	Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor	Intel Core i7-1165G7	Intel Core i5-1135G7
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory	16 GB LPDDR4X	8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage	512 GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
Wireless	Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650i Bluetooth 5.1
Ports	1 x HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP support 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (Type A) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (Type C) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port (Type A) 1 x microSD card reader 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack
Camera	Acer HD webcam (720p)
Stylus	Acer Active Stylus Pen – 4096 pressure levels – 2 configurable buttons – up to 100 minutes battery life
Battery Life	Up to 15 hours
Warranty	2-year local warranty + 1st year international travellers warranty
Dimensions	302 mm wide 222.5 mm deep 15.9 mm thick
Weight	1.4 kg

2021 Acer Spin 5 : Specifications

Specifications	Acer Spin 5 (Core i7)	Acer Spin 5 (Core i5)
Model	SP513-55N-74VY	SP513-55N-53Q7
Display	13.5-inch IPS touch display 2256 x 1504 pixels Supports multi-touch and AES pen
Operating System	Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor	Intel Core i7-1165G7	Intel Core i5-1135G7
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory	16 GB LPDDR4X	8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage	512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Wireless	Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650i Bluetooth 5.1
Ports	1 x HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP support 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (Type A) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (Type C) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port (Type A) 1 x microSD card reader 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack
Camera	Acer HD webcam (720p)
Stylus	Acer Active Stylus Pen – 4096 pressure levels – 2 configurable buttons – up to 100 minutes battery life
Battery Life	Up to 15 hours
Warranty	2-year local warranty + 1st year international travellers warranty
Dimensions	300 mm wide 235 mm deep 14.9 mm thick
Weight	1.2 kg

2021 Acer Spin 3 + Spin 5 : Price + Availability

Both the 2021 Acer Spin 3 and Spin 5 convertible laptops are available with immediate effect at these price points :

2021 Spin 3 (Core i5) : RM3,999 (about US$964 / £696 / A$1286 / S$1297)
2021 Spin 3 (Core i7) : RM4,999 (about US$1205 / £871 / A$1608 / S$1621)
2021 Spin 5 (Core i5) : RM4,599 (about US$1108 / £801 / A$1479 / S$1491)
2021 Spin 5 (Core i7) : RM5,599 (about US$1349 / £975 / A$1800 / S$1816)

Here are some online purchase options :

Malaysia : Acer eStore | Acer Shopee Official Store

Please Support My Work!

If you would like to support my work, you can do so via bank transfer / PayPal / credit card.

Name : Adrian Wong

Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Thank you in advanced! ❤️

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Gaming Influencer Fail : Jaja zuber Teaches A Valuable Lesson

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Gaming influencer, Jaja zuber, just taught brands a valuable lesson in viral marketing through influencers.

Find out what happened, and what brands need to learn about hiring influencers…

Gaming Influencer Fail : Jaja zuber Playing PUBG PC?

Jaja zuber is, in her own words, a part-time actress and a full-time streamer. So she’s basically one of the thousands of game streamers who are trying to become the next PrestonPlayz or Pokimane.

She appears to be quite popular, with over 129,000 people following her Facebook page, where she streams her gameplay.

So it’s not surprising to see a tech brand partner with her. However, what they probably did not expect was the reaction to her photo, which came with this description :

I can play PUBG PC on Acer Nitro 5 at high fps without feeling lag and the cooling fan system that can activate CoolBoosts which further increases the speed for heavy usage. It is also fast for multitasking use.

Acer Nitro 5 is powered by 11th Gen Intel Coreᵀᴹ i7 processor. You can get this from Acer E-Store or official Acer certified stores on Shopee.

See if you can spot the mistakes she made in this photo, that has since gone viral!

At first glance, it looked like just another gaming influencer’s sponsored post. She is seen gaming on the laptop, to show her fans just how awesome the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop really is.

To be fair, we are kind of jealous she got her hands on the 2021 Acer Nitro 5. It looked like an awesome gaming laptop with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics!

However, Jaja zuber did not appear to take this sponsorship seriously, and screwed up this shot. Many gamers, including her fans, pointed out that :

She was not playing PUBG PC, as claimed. She was either using PUBG Mobile on emulator, or just using a YouTube video.
She was not using a mouse at all, so how could she even play PUBG? This is why some claimed she was “pretend playing” using a YouTube video.
She had her hands on the WASD keys and the arrow keys – both serving the same functions.
Her left hand was elevated uncomfortably over the WASD keys – no one games like that!
She initially called it the Spin 5 in the second paragraph, before correcting it to Nitro 5.

All those mistakes derailed the whole point of the sponsorship – to convey her sponsor’s message that the 2021 Acer Nitro 5 is a serious challenger to gaming laptops from other brands.

It garnered thousands of laughs and over 1.4K comments criticising the mistakes in the photo, and asking if she was using telepathy to aim the gun.

It didn’t help that the picture in the background showed a boy who looked like he was “not impressed” with her actions.

Gaming Influencer Fail : Jaja zuber Teaches A Valuable Lesson

Tech brands have long shifted emphasis from traditional media to the influencers, who boast a loyal fanbase. The idea is their fans will buy whatever it is that they are promoting.

However, not all gaming influencers are alike. Some influencers rely on their gaming skills, some rely on their personality or looks, while others focus on their commentating skills.

To be clear, Jaja zuber must be doing something right – she has 129,000 followers, so give her some credit for that. How many of us have even 1,000 followers?

And the saving grace is that her photo went viral, and is inspiring copycat troll posts like this. Like it or not, it is driving interest in the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop. Now, more people are aware of it.

However, brands need to look beyond the fanbase and consider the skills these influencers bring to the table.

Mobile vs PC

This may seem obvious, but why pick PUBG at all for this shot? After all, people can play PUBG Mobile on their smartphones too.

Gaming influencers who are being paid to promote a gaming laptop should really select a FPS game that is exclusively on PC.

There are so many out there – Valorant, DOOM Eternal, Borderlands 2, Overwatch, etc. which Jaja zuber could have used to ensure that she is targeting the right audience – PC gamers.

Influencers Need To Do Their Homework

It is obvious that Jaja zuber is not a techie, because she wrongly mentioned “CoolBoosts” in her sponsored post. It’s actually “CoolBoost”.

She also said that the 2021 Acer Nitro 5‘s cooling system activates CoolBoost to increase speed for heavy usage. It’s really the other way around – CoolBoost increases fan speed by 10% for 9% better CPU and GPU cooling.

It’s okay not to know tech stuff, but influencers should do their homework – all that is plainly stated in the official Acer Nitro 5 page!

After all, they are being paid for this project, or receiving the laptop as sponsorship.

Influencers Should Be Authentic

I would posit that influencers gain fans because they come across as “authentic” and “approachable”. People feel influencers are “just like them”.

Brands probably believe that works better too, which is why they are pouring money into influencers instead of traditional media which may feel “standoffish”.

But how authentic can influencers be, if it turns out that the photo was make-belief, as the Jaja zuber photo obviously was?

So the lesson, I suppose, is for influencers to just be themselves, be authentic. There’s no need to fake the shot.

Don’t Censor Criticism

So a mistake was made. Just admit it and move on. Censoring your fans or trolls will only spur more blowback.

Again, be authentic. You are only human. You make mistakes like the rest of us.

Real Influence Or Just The Perception?

Brands are focused on the influencer industry because they have large fan bases. Marketing departments love it, because it is easier to “sell to the boss” or include in KPI reports.

But when it comes to the tech or gaming industry, does a large fan base really translate into sales?

Think about it for a minute. Just because you enjoy watching a gaming influencer play PUBG, are you really going to buy a gaming laptop just because she says it’s great?

People are not that “simple”. When it comes to large purchases that cost several months of minimum wage, they are going to want to know MORE, before they make the leap.

They are going to read up on these products, and ask their techie friends for opinions. They will not just going to buy something expensive just because a gaming influencer posts a picture and says it’s nice.

More so when the gaming influencer chose to highlight a game that can be played on any smartphone!

That’s why I believe that influencers are great at changing the perception of a brand, but poor at directly translating that into sales.

Brands that focus only on influencers will probably not see their sales needle move much.

Help Support My Work!

If you would like to support my work, you can do so via bank transfer / PayPal / credit card.

Name : Adrian Wong

Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)

Thank you in advanced! ❤️

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Acer Aspire Vero : The First Earthion Laptop!

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Acer just unveiled the Aspire Vero – their first sustainability-focused laptop based on their Earthion platform!

Find out what the Acer Aspire Vero offers, and what the Earthion platform is all about!

Acer Aspire Vero : The First Earthion Laptop!

The Acer Aspire Vero is the first sustainability-focused laptop based on their new Earthion platform.

That Acer Earthion platform is part of their pledge to achieve 100% renewable energy use by the year 2035, which they undertook when they joined the RE100 initiative.

The RE100 initiative is a global corporate renewable energy intuitive that is committed to achieve 100% renewable energy use. The Acer Group has already achieve 44% renewable energy use by 2020.

As the first product from the Acer Earthion platform, the Acer Aspire Vero reimagines what the computer manufacturing process of the future will look like.

Sustainability-Focused Design

Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic is used throughout its chassis and keyboard caps. And the Aspire Vero ships in a box made from 80-85% recycled paper pulp, and plastic bagging is replaced by paper sleeves. Even the laptop bag is made with 100% industrial recycled plastic!

The emphasis on sustainability is carried over in the design language too. All graphics on the shipping box are printed with soy ink, and the notebook itself has no paint on its chassis, reducing its impact on the environment. The laptop is also held together by easily-accessible, standardised screws for easier disassembly.

11th Gen Intel Core Performance

The Acer Aspire Vero is powered by the latest 11th Gen Intel Core processor with Iris Xe graphics, with up to 1 TB of M.2 SSD storage.

It boasts Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity, a USB Type C port, two USB 3.2 ports and a HDMI 2.0 port for video out.

Acer Aspire Vero (Earthion) : Specifications

Here are the specifications of the Aspire Vero – Acer’s first Earthion laptop :

Specifications	Acer Aspire Vero
Model	AV15-51
Operating System	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Display	15.6-inch IPS display – 1920 x 1080 pixesl – 250 nits max. brightness
Processor	11th Gen Intel Core processor
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory	Onboard Memory + 1 x DDR4 SODIMM
Storage	Up to 1 TB M.2 SSD
Wireless	Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1
Audio	Two microphones Two speakers

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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If you like our work, please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Thank you!

HONOR MagicBook X 15 : What You Need To Know!

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HONOR just launched two new MagicBook X 15 laptop models. Let’s take a closer look and see what they really offer!

HONOR MagicBook X 15 : What You Need To Know!

Together with the HONOR 50 and HONOR 50 Pro smartphones, HONOR also launched two new MagicBook X 15 laptop models.

These basic laptops are part of the HUAWEI 1+8+N strategy, back when HONOR was a HUAWEI subsidiary.

And these two models appear to be a legacy of their HUAWEI heritage. We will show you why we say that…

Legacy Of HUAWEI Ban Persists

Despite being new models, the HONOR MagicBook X 15 are still powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core processors from 2019.

This appears to be a legacy of their HUAWEI heritage – HUAWEI was banned from purchasing new processors from Intel since September 2020.

They had already stocked up many processors in advanced of the ban, but can no longer purchase newer Intel processors.

The new HONOR, which was sold to Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology, is no longer affected by this ban. But it looks like they were not able to source for the latest Intel processors in time.

Performance

There are two HONOR MagicBook X 15 models, based on their processor and storage configurations :

10th Gen Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB storage
10th Gen Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage

HONOR claims that they come with a Supersized Shark Fin 2.0 Fan with up to 38% higher air intake, for better cooling performance.

They use DDR4 memory and come with a PCIe NVMe SSD, but that’s standard for laptops these days.

Display

The HONOR MagicBook X 15 comes with a large 15.6-inch display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Thanks to its narrow 5.3 mm bezels on the left and right side, this display offers a 87% screen-to-body ratio.

Battery Life

The 2021 MagicBook X 15 models come with a 42 Wh battery, which HONOR says will deliver just over 7.5 hours of 1080p video playback or just over 7 hours of web browsing.

They will come with a new compact 65 watt fast charger that weighs just 200 grams. It can recharge the battery to 53% in just 30 minutes.

Other Features

Despite its low cost, it boasts an aluminium alloy body, which allows for a thinner profile and a lighter weight at just 1.56 kg.

It also comes with a fingerprint sensor built into the power button, that lets you quickly log into Windows.

Finally, it supports Multi-Screen Collaboration – another legacy of its HUAWEI heritage.

HONOR MagicBook X 15 : Price + Deal

The HONOR MagicBook X 15 is available in Malaysia starting 19 June 2021, at these price points :

Intel Core i5, 8GB + 512GB : RM 2,899 (about US$700 / £504 / A$929 / S$938)
Intel Core i3, 8GB + 256GB : RM 2,299 (about US$555 / £400 / A$737 / S$744)

On its launch date, every purchase of the MagicBook X 15 will come with :

Intel Core i5 : HONOR laptop backpack + Bluetooth wireless mouse
Intel Core i3 : HONOR laptop backpack

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CERDIK Initiative : Only ⅓ Laptops Distributed By June 2021!

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The CERDIK Initiative is off to a very slow start, with just ⅓ of the laptops or tablets to be distributed by 12 June 2021!

Here are the details…

CERDIK Initiative : What Is It?

The CERDIK Initiative, which started in February 2021, aimed to provide low-income B40 families with a laptop or tablet and Internet access for a year.

This initiative is fully financed by GLCs (Government-Linked Companies) and GLICs (Government-Linked Investment Companies), with contributions of about RM 150 million (USD 37 million).

Yayasan Hasanah – the Khazanah foundation selected to be its secretariat – will manage the initiative which aims to distribute 150,000 laptops or tablets to students from B40 families across the country.

The laptop / tablet (with 1 year of Internet connectivity) will be distributed to schools, and students will retain them until they complete their education.

CERDIK Initiative : Only ⅓ Laptops Distributed By June 2021!

Even though the CERDIK Initiative kicked off in February 2021, they only managed to distribute 12,887 devices to 95 schools in 51 districts by 5 June 2021.

The Minister of Education. Dr. Radzi Jidin said that another 40,290 devices will be distributed by 12 June 2021.

He estimates that the remaining 96,823 devices will be fully distributed by end of September 2021.

As you can tell, the CERDIK Initiative is off to a very slow start, and students from low-income B40 families are going to suffer.

Students have been learning online (PdPR) since mid May 2021. Until they get these devices and Internet connectivity, students from B40 families will have trouble joining those classes and keeping up.

If these students end up getting their devices in August and September, they would only be able to learn for a few weeks before the school term ends in November!

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 For Entry-Level Laptops!

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Qualcomm just introduced the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 – a new compute platform for entry-level laptops!

Here is what you need to know about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2!

Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 For Entry-Level Laptops!

On 24 May 2021, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. launched their Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 – their second-generation entry-level compute platform!

This new computer platform will allow brands to introduce always-on, always-connected Windows PCs and Chromebooks with enhanced camera and audio capabilities, integrated LTE connectivity, AI acceleration and more!

Always On, Always Connected!

Devices powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 are Always On, Always Connected, just like your smartphone.

Its power-efficiency allows the device to stay in connected standby mode for weeks, keeping you connected whether for work, school or entertainment.

Improved Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 delivers up to 10% faster system performance over “most competing platforms”, with up to twice the battery life of those platforms – up to 19 or more hours of continuous use!

Built-In Artificial Intelligence

The Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 comes with the fifth-generation Qualcomm AI Engine built-in, to accelerate security applications and more accurate voice recognition, amongst other uses.

Enhanced Camera + Audio

This new Qualcomm compute platform is also designed to enhance camera and audio quality, with virtual surround sound, echo cancellation and noise suppression.

Enterprise-Grade Security

Windows devices powered by this new compute platform are Microsoft Secured-Core PCs, with support for Windows 10 Hypervisor.

Its always connected LTE capability also allows faster manageability for IT administrators managing enterprise and education laptops.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 : Key Specifications

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen features eight Kryo 468 CPU cores, running at up to 2.55 GHz; with support for two LPDDR4x memory channels (up to 2133 MHz).

It comes with the Qualcomm Spectra 255 image signal processor, the Qualcomm Hexagon 692 DSP, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X15 LTE modem built-in.

It supports 4G LTE, as well as 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 : Availability

Devices based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 are expected to be commercially available this summer 2021.

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China Boycotts GIGABYTE Over Low Quality Claims!

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GIGABYTE scrambled to issue an apology, after they were boycotted over their claims of “low quality” manufacturing in China!

Find out what’s going on between GIGABYTE and China!

GIGABYTE Trips Over Claims Of Low Quality Manufacturing In China!

This brouhaha started over the GIGABYTE’s claim that they choose to avoid “low cost” and “low quality” manufacturing in China, manufacturing their laptops instead in Taiwan.

Here is our English translation of what GIGABYTE posted :

MIT

Made In Taiwan Demanding High Quality

Strict quality control is assured by adhering to Taiwanese manufacturing. Unlike other brands that opt for low cost and low quality OEM manufacturing in China, GIGABYTE is committed to creating outstanding and powerful components and laptops.

As a local Taiwanese manufacturer of components and laptops, we guarantee that 90% of our laptops are made in Taiwan, assuring you of high quality control and high quality products.

China Boycotts GIGABYTE Over Low Quality Claims!

Once Chinese netizens discovered what GIGABYTE posted, their outrage was soon made manifest.

On 11 May 2021, the Communist Youth League of China responded with this short message on Weibo – “GIGABYTE, who gave you the courage to say this?”

They also highlighted the part that said, “Unlike other brands that opt for low cost, low quality OEM manufacturing in China…”

Chinese e-commerce companies – JD, Tmall and Suning – swiftly removed all GIGABYTE products from their platforms.

GIGABYTE Quickly Issues Apology

The official Weibo account of AORUS GIGABYTE E-Sports quickly issued a statement of apology, stating :

A few days ago, parts of the text published on our official website are seriously inconsistent with the facts. This was a result of poor internal management of our company.

We sincerely apologise for the discomfort caused to you. At the same time, we also thank gamers and consumers for their attention to our company.

GIGABYTE’s product business includes boards, laptops, computer peripherals, accessories, etc, with production lines all over mainland China, and its production capacity accounts for more than 90%. GIGABYTE is proud of the quality of Chinese production. Chinese production have helped GIGABYTE in creating excellent products and high-quality experiences for customers around the world. The product quality has withstood the test of the market and consumers for many years.

GIGABYTE has been operating in mainland China for more than 20 years, and will conduct a thorough review of the inappropriate remarks and carry out corrective actions to comply with national principles. GIGABYTE will strengthen internal management and training to ensure that all employees are aware of the problem and pay attention to it.

GIGABYTE Technology
11 May 2021

We are not sure if the Chinese authorities would consider this post an official apology, as it was posted by AORUS GIGABYTE E-Sports, which belongs to Ningbo Zhongjia Technology and Trade Co. Ltd. – a subsidiary of Taiwan Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd.

Officially, GIGABYTE Technology hasn’t issued any statement.

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2021 Dell Latitude 5520 : Our In-Depth Review!

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Made with bioplastics from trees, the Dell Latitude 5520 is not only more powerful, it promises a longer battery life and other improvements.

Join us for a close look at the new 2021 Dell Latitude 5520 business laptop!

Dell Latitude 5520 : 15.6-inch Business Laptop

The Dell Latitude 5520 is a 15.6-inch business laptop powered by the latest 11th Gen Intel Core processor, with a longer battery life.

The first Dell laptop to be made with bioplastics from trees, it offers environmentally-conscious businesses a way to minimise their ecological footprint.

Dell Latitude 5520 : Specifications + Options

The Dell Latitude 5520 can be configured to suit your requirements.

Here are the options available in Malaysia. You may get different options in other countries.

Specifications	2021 Dell Latitude 5520
Display Size	15.6-inch
Display Options	Full HD IPS (1920 x 1200, 250 nits) HD TN (1366 x 768, 220 nits)
Operating System	Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64 bit)
CPU + GPU Options	Intel Core i7-1185G7 + Iris Xe Graphics Intel Core i5-1145G7 + Iris Xe Graphics Intel Core i5-1135G7 + Iris Xe Graphics
Memory Options	DDR4-3200 (8 / 16 GB)
Storage Options	PCIe NVMe SSD (256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB)
Audio	Realtek Waves MaxxAudio Pro audio 2 x 2 watt speakers Dual array microphones 3.5 mm audio jack
Wireless	Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2×2) Bluetooth 5.1
External Ports	2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type C) ports – with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port 1 x HDMI 2.0 port 1 x 3.5 mm audio port 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port 1 x microSD card slot 1 x (optional) micro SIM tray 1 x (optional) smart card reader
Camera	720p webcam only 720p webcam + IR camera 1080p webcam + IR camera
Fingerprint Sensor	Optional, integrated into Power button
Keyboard	Backlit keyboard with numeric keypad
Battery	3-cell 42 Whr lithium-ion battery 4-cell 63 Whr lithium-ion battery
Charger	45 watt USB Type C charger
Dimensions	357.8 mm wide 233.3 mm deep 19.87 mm thick
Weight	Starting from 1.59 kg

Dell Latitude 5520 : Box Contents

The Dell Latitude 5520 comes in a plain brown cardboard box, with minimal materials to waste. Inside, you will find :

Dell Latitude 5520 laptop
Dell Latitude 5520 quick user guide + safety and regulatory information
65 watt compact charger with USB Type C cable
Localised power cord

Next Page > Dell Latitude 5520 : A Closer Look!

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Dell Latitude 5520 : A Closer Look!

15.6-inch IPS Display

The Dell Latitude 5520 comes with a large 15.6-inch IPS display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It does not have touch capability, which is not needed by most business users.

It has a maximum brightness of 250 nits, which is good enough for indoor use. However, you may have issues using it outdoors in bright sunlight.

For companies on a budget, Dell also offers a HD display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, and a lower brightness of 220 nits.

Built-In Privacy Shutter

Our review unit came with a high-resolution 1080p webcam, with an IR emitter and camera for Windows Hello facial authentication.

Dell also offers a cheaper 720p webcam, with and without the IR camera.

Both options come with a built-in privacy shutter – a critical feature for security-conscious business users.

Performance

Our Dell Latitude 5520 is powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor – a 4-core, 8-thread processor with 12 MB of cache and Iris Xe graphics.

You can also opt for the Core i5-1145G7 or the Core i5-1135G7 – both 4-core, 8-thread processors with Iris Xe graphics.

The processor and its integrated graphics are kept cool by the Dual Opposite Outlet fans, with side venting for improved airflow and cooling performance.

Our unit came with 16 GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory running at 3200 MHz, and a 512 GB Western Digital SN730 NVMe PCIe SSD.

Ports

Despite its large 15.6-inch form factor, the Latitude 5520 is slim at just under 20 mm.

Even so, its slightly thicker chassis lets Dell fit in more ports than slimmer designs like the XPS 13.

On the left side, you will find two Thunderbolt 4 (USB 3.2 Gen 2) Type C ports, both of which support PowerDelivery and DisplayPort output.

The Latitude 5520 is charged using a USB Type C cable, so it must be plugged into one of these two USB Type C ports.

There is a large row of cooling vents, and a slot for the optional Smart Card reader.

On the right side, you will find a microSD card reader, a 3.5 mm microphone and headphone combo port, with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A ports.

And next to them are a full-sized HDMI 2.0 port, an RJ-45 LAN port, and a wedge security lock.

Keyboard + Touchpad

The Dell Latitude 5520 has a full-sized backlit keyboard, with a numeric keypad.

Business users will love the numeric keypad, but it may need some getting used to for those who are migrating from “regular laptops”.

The touchpad is reasonably sized, but offset to the left – something you may need to get used to.

Connectivity

Our Dell Latitude 5520 comes with the Intel AX201 module, which offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity with 2×2 antennas and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.

On top of that, it comes with an RJ-45 LAN port built-in, giving you access to the best and fastest possible network connectivity.

Audio

The Dell Latitude 5520 features two front-firing speakers with 2 watts power output, powered by Realtek Waves MaxxAudio Pro.

It also comes with a 3.5 mm microphone / headphone combo jack, and dual microphone array.

Next Page > Dell Latitude 5520 : Performance + Verdict!

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Dell Latitude 5520 : Performance

Our Dell Latitude 5520 is powered by the 28 watt Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor, with 4 cores and 8 threads, and Iris Xe Graphics with 96 Execution Units.

This processor has 12 MB of L3 cache, a 3.0 GHz base frequency that ramps up to 4.8 GHz during intensive tasks.

Our review sample came with 16 GB of DDR4-3200 memory – in dual memory channels, of course, and a 512 GB Western Digital SN730 SSD.

Work Performance : PCMark 10

The Intel Core i7-1185G7 is a 28 watt processor that can be configured to run at a lower TDP of 12 watt – to improve battery life and reduce thermal output.

Dell left it at the full 28 watt TDP for maximum performance, so it delivered PCMark 10 scores in excess of 4800.

This makes the Dell Latitude 5520 about 15% faster than the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro, which uses the Intel Core i7-10510U 25W processor, and 25% faster than the XPS 13, which uses a down-clocked Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor at 15 W.

Gaming Performance : 3DMark Time Spy

The Dell Latitude 5520 is not meant to be a gaming system, but it has surprisingly decent gaming chops.

The Intel Core i7-1185G7 comes with integrated Iris Xe Graphics, with 96 execution units and maximum clock speed of 1.35 GHz.

That gave it a 3DMark Time Spy score just shy of 1190. That makes it about as fast as the NVIDIA GeForce MX350, and a little faster than the Radeon RX Vega 5 integrated graphics used in Ryzen 4000 Mobile processors.

Battery Life : YouTube + Modern Office

Our Dell Latitude 5520 came with a 4-cell lithium-ion battery, that has a rated capacity of 63 Whr.

To test its battery life, we locked the brightness at 50% – higher than the average of 40% – to see how it performs in these worst-case scenarios :

YouTube Streaming

The Dell Latitude 5520 lasted 8 hours 18 minutes streaming YouTube videos in the theatre mode using Wi-Fi, before its battery dropped to 10%.

PCMark 10 : Modern Office

The Dell Latitude 5520 lasted a phenomenal 11 hours before it powered off while running the Modern Office benchmark!

Battery Recharging Speed

Its 45 watt compact fast charger supports ExpressCharge Boost, which lets it deliver up to 35% charge in about 20 minutes, or up to 80% charge in an hour.

In our test, its fast charger took 29 minutes to charge from 10% to 35%, and took about 82 minutes to hit 80%. For a full charge to 100%, it took 142 minutes.

Here are our recorded recharging time from 10% :

16% – 6 minutes 36 seconds
22% – 13 minutes 38 seconds
25% – 17 minutes 25 seconds
31% – 23 minutes 53 seconds
35% – 29 minutes 15 seconds
40% – 35 minutes 12 seconds
45% – 41 minutes 19 seconds
51% – 48 minutes 18 seconds
60% – 59 minutes 34 seconds
66% – 65 minutes 22 seconds
71% – 71 minutes 19 seconds
76% – 77 minutes 19 seconds
81% – 83 minutes 14 seconds
90% – 95 minutes 16 seconds
95% – 107 minutes 18 seconds
100% – 142 minutes 10 seconds

This gives it a battery life : recharging time ratio of 3.5 : 1 for video streaming, and 4.7 : 1 for office work.

As a general rule of thumb, you will need to recharge its battery about 17 minutes for every hour of battery life.

Dell Latitude 5520 : Verdict

The Dell Latitude 5520 is not a sleek ultralight laptop like the XPS 13, it is a large, powerful business laptop.

Its large 15.6-inch display makes it a great desktop replacement, and yet is surprisingly thin and light – it is less than 2 cm thick, and weighs only 1.6 kg.

We strongly recommend the Full HD IPS panel, over the low-resolution HD TN panel option, which would look blurry / blocky on such a large display.

Built around the latest 11th Gen Intel Core processor, with integrated Iris Xe Graphics, it offers more than enough processing power for business users for many years to come.

Business users will appreciate the availability of at least two USB-C and two USB-A ports, as well as an actual RJ-45 LAN port and a HDMI 2.0 port too!

If you input a lot of numbers, you will also appreciate the keyboard which comes with a numeric keypad, which is not available in most consumer laptops.

On top of that, the Latitude 5520 comes with a built-in physical shutter for the webcam – a must-have for security conscious users!

If you are a road warrior, we definitely recommend getting the 4-cell battery for extended battery life, which should last you about 11 hours!

All-in-all, this is a solid, no-nonsense business laptop that lets you get work done as quickly and efficiently as possible, no matter whether you are working from home, or on the road.

Finally, we should mention Dell’s truly excellent onsite warranty. With the Latitude 5520, you get 3 years of ProSupport and Next Business Day Onsite Service!

For people who count on their laptops to make a living, NBD onsite service is a MUST!

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2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro Laptop : A Quick Preview!

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HUAWEI just unveiled their 2021 edition of the ultra-premium MateBook X Pro laptop!

Take a look at the 2021 MateBook X Pro laptop, and find out what it offers!

2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro Laptop : A Quick Intro!

First, let’s start with this official HUAWEI promotional video that showcases the key features of the new 2021 MateBook laptops!

It consists of not just the MateBook X Pro , but also two MateBook D 15 variants, the MateBook D 14 and the MateBook 14!

2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro : Specifications

The newly-refreshed 2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro has these key specifications

Specifications	HUAWEI MateBook X Pro
Display	13.9-inch FullView Display – 3000 x 2000pixels, 260 ppi – 450 nits max. brightness – 91% screen-to-body-ratio – 100% sRGB colour gamut – 1500:1 contrast ratio – 10-point touchscreen
OS	Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor	Intel Core i5-1135G7
Memory	16 GB LPDDR4x
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Storage	512 GB PCIe SSD
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.1
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes, integrated into Power button
Ports	2 x USB Type C 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A 1 x 3.5 mm audio port
Webcam	720p recessed camera
Speakers	2 x 2 watt speaker
Battery	56 Whr
Power Adaptor	65 W USB-C power adaptor
Dimensions	304.0 mm wide 217.0 mm deep 14.6 mm thick
Weight	1.33 kg

2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro : Key Features

Let’s take a look at its key features…

13.9-inch FullView Display

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro comes with a 13.9-inch FullView Display, with a 3K resolution of 3000 x 2000 pixels.

This is a premium 10-point touch display, with a maximum brightness of 450 nits; and a decent colour gamut of 100% sRGB.

It also has vey narrow bezels which give it a 91% screen-to-body ratio – hence the name, FullView Display.

Performance

It is powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor with integrated Intel Xe Graphics.

It comes with 16 GB of LPDDR4x memory, and a fast PCIe NVMe SSD with 512 GB of storage.

Battery + Charging

All that is powered by a large 56 Whr battery, which is paired with a compact 65 watt USB Type C fast charger.

This charger can be used to charge other USB Type C devices, and supports HUAWEI SuperCharge for certain HUAWEI smartphones.

Connectivity + Ports

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity built-in, but comes with the same ports as the 2020 version.

On the left side, you will find two USB Type C ports, with a 3.5 mm audio port. The USB C ports can output to external 4K displays at up to 60 Hz.

On the right side, you will find single USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A port. This is basically a USB 3.0 port.

Keyboard + Touchpad

The 2021 MateBook X Pro comes with a full-sized, ten-keyless keyboard, and a large touchpad.

Pop-Up Camera

Like the 2020 MateBook X Pro we reviewed, the 2021 MateBook 14 comes with a pop-up camera, hidden under a special camera key on the keyboard.

It pops up when you press on it, and pressing it again hides it. This is a great security measure because the camera is physically blocked until you actually need to use it – no hacker will be able to surreptitiously use it to take your photos or videos!

There is only one problem with such a design – it takes photos and videos at an unflattering upward angle. You will also always appear to look upwards on video conferences, and videos that you record.

HUAWEI Share Multi-Screen Collaboration

The 2021 MateBook X Pro supports HUAWEI Share for multi-screen collaboration.

It basically lets you connect your smartphone, and use it directly on the MateBook D 15!

You can control the apps and files on your phone directly on the laptop, even drag and drop files!

The only downside? It is limited to HUAWEI and HONOR smartphones with NFC.

HUAWEI MeeTime

The 2021 MateBook X Pro also supports HUAWEI MeeTime, which is their version of Apple FaceTime – a free, proprietary video call service.

It offers some advantages over its competitors – FaceTime, WhatsApp, etc. but can only be used by HUAWEI devices.

2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro Laptop : Price + Deal!

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 comes in the Emerald Green colour, with an official launch price of RM 6,899 (about US$1,679 / £1,209 / A$2,171 / S$2,228).

The first 1,500 customers to pre-order one from 20 to 23 April 2021, will receive free gifts worth RM 800 :

HUAWEI Backpack Swift
HUAWEI Bluetooth Mouse Swift
City Travel Gift Package
Microsoft Office 365 (1 Year Subscription)

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