Did leaked AstraZeneca audio show that the COVID-19 pandemic was preplanned years in advance?! Let’s take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Leaked AstraZeneca Audio Show Pandemic Was Preplanned!
People are sharing a video which shows Sasha Latypova and Clayton Morris discussing how leaked audio of an AstraZeneca meeting show that the COVID-19 pandemic was preplanned years in advance!
Chief Nerd : 👀 Sasha Latypova Has New Evidence Showing the COVID Countermeasures Were ‘Preset Years Before’ the Pandemic Occurred
“The audio is from an internal meeting in AstraZeneca…VP Mark Esser says we started working with the Dept. of Defense Pandemic Preparedness Program in 2017. He also mentions that they were approached by Dept. of Defense…with a proposal that they would be working on something like this with the DoD to develop vaccines and therapeutics within 60 days of the DoD identifying a pathogenic virus that can cause global pandemics.”
Redacted : BREAKING! They PLANNED the whole thing years in advance. | Redacted w Natali and Clayton Morris
Here is an abridged transcript of the video between Clayton Morris (CM) and Sasha Latypova (SL):
CM : What really happened here?
SL : Well, the truth turns out this [COVID-19 pandemic] was all preset way… years before. From this leaked audio, but it’s not the only source, this is just the confirmatory evidence that I obtained.
Claim : Leaked AstraZeneca Audio Show Pandemic Was Preplanned!
This is yet another example of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Sasha Latypova Did Not Work For Big Pharma
In the video, Clayton Morris referred to Sasha Latypova’s years of work in the pharmaceutical industry:
Before we get to the tape, you’ve worked, obviously, in the pharmaceutical industry with a lot of clients for many, many years, so you know this intimately.
However, there is no indication that Sasha Latypova ever worked in the pharmaceutical industry, never mind Big Pharma. According to her own LinkedIn profile, she only appears to have worked in the medical device industry, and then only in the management capacity:
1997 – 1999 : Graduated with MBA from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
March 2006 – October 2016 : Co-Founder and Executive VP of iCardiac Technologies, Inc.
December 2014 to present : Co-Founder, Executive VP and Director of Clerio Vision, Inc.
As far as I can tell – Sasha Latypova does not have any medical training, or experience with viruses or vaccines. It also looks like she never worked for any of the Big Pharma companies. How does that translate into working in the pharmaceutical industry for “many, many years”???
Fact #2 : 2017 Pandemic Prevention Program Did Not Target COVID-19
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US Department of Defense initiated its Pandemic Prevention Platform (P3) in 2017 (archive), aiming to develop “an integrated technology platform” to “halt the spread of any viral disease outbreak within 60 days“.
Its initial program outline specifically pointed out that the goal of the P3 platform was to cut the time to develop countermeasures to a viral outbreak from years to just “weeks”, using DNA- and RNA-based technologies.
Nowhere in its program description did it once refer to COVID-19, or the SARS-CoV-2. That’s because the novel coronavirus would not appear until the end of 2019, and the world informed on 31 December 2019.
In other words – the DARPA P3 program is not evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic was preplanned years in advance. It is called “being prepared for a future disaster”. Just because you build a bomb shelter does not mean you are planning to launch a war!
Fact #3 : AstraZeneca Audio Does Not Show Pandemic Was Preplanned
Sasha Latypova actually shared the leaked AstraZeneca audio on 7 February 2024, but it didn’t go viral… because it was a “nothingburger”.
Anyone who listens to the leaked audio, or reads the transcript below will quickly realise that it does not show that the COVID-19 pandemic was pre-planned years in advance by the US Department of Defense, or Big Pharma companies like AstraZeneca.
Here is a transcript of the audio, which is very long:
Mark (the introducer) : … [Mark] Esser who has been the architect of the long-acting antibody against Covid-19. Mark, back to you.
Mark Esser : Excellent! So, thank you for the introduction, Mark [the introducer], and it’s really a pleasure to share with all of you a little bit of the journey that the “long-acting antibody” team has taken in 2020, but actually our story begins back in 2017 in the basement of a Quality Inn in Tysons Corner VA at the Defense Department Industry Day.
There, I met Col. Matt Hepburn, who is actually the architect of the Pandemic Prevention Program or P3, and the goal of P3 was going from the discovering a novel virus to producing drugs in less than 60 days – something that would normally take 6 years at best.
To me that sounded more like science fiction than science, but we signed up in a small and committed team of virologists and molecular biologists and engineers and started working in 2018 on new technologies to discover and manufacture antibodies against viruses. The team has actually been pretty successful on the early discovery engine piece and had won a biopharma R&D award about this time last year.
So, in January we were all anxiously following the emerging news from China about the new disease. It wasn’t a surprise to me when I got a call on February 4th from the Defense Department here in the US saying that the newly discovered SARS-2 virus posed a national security threat. We needed to stop everything we were doing on our model system influenza, and put everything onto SARS-2.
Fortunately, our top 2 virologists, Patrick and ??? were already a step ahead, having cloned and expressed the virus protein soon after the virus sequence was published on January 21st. Of course, the task was formidable: we had to learn everything we could about the new virus, the immune response to the virus, and the disease called “COVID-19”.
What we and others quickly learned was that the critical protein on the virus is called the “spike protein” and this is the protein on the virus that allows the virus to infect cells by binding to the ACE-2 receptor, and what we also learned was that it could exist in active and an inactive form.
In the active form, it expressed a special domain called a Receptor Binding Domain, or the RBD, and what we quickly figured out was that RBD was going to be the “Achilles’ heel” of the virus. So, we decided that our best strategy was to come up with two antibodies against this Receptor Binding Domain, and we set out with a three-pronged approach to discover those antibodies.
First, we tried to isolate these B-cells from the blood taken from Covid-19 patients. Second, we immunized humanized mice with different constructs of spike protein to elicit those magical B-cells, and third, we ran a huge screen using our traditional Cambridge antibody technology phage display library.
All in all, we screened tens of thousands of antibodies, and then discovered about 1500 that bound the spike protein and whittled it down to our top 100 by the end of March. The team worked late into the night, weekends – their commitment was inspiring, and they surprised me with their “top 12” neutralizing antibodies on my birthday, April 10th.
The next challenge was to down-select from these 12 neutralizing antibodies to our “top 2”. The best way I can describe this is like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle while blindfolded, but at the end the team selected two very distinct, two very potent antibodies that showed synergistic activity. When I say, “synergistic activity”, it was 1% + 1% actually equaled 93% neutralization.
At the same time, our protein engineers, who are in my mind are some of the best in the world, made key enhancements to the antibodies to extend their half-lives so that a single dose could afford up to 6 to 12 months of protection, ensure high yield production in 15,000 liter bioreactors, and be stable up to 1 year in a refrigerator.
So, all in all, all this was done in just 99 days – 1 day ahead of schedule. So, our last hurdle to overcome was to accelerate that normal kind of 2 to 3 year early development timeline into 2 months, and we basically did that by running everything in parallel, and making significant investments at risk. Two notable examples were manufacturing of the Cho-cell pools and starting out tech transfer to our tech transfers to our manufacturing partners before we had even selected our top clones.
Our clinical and regulatory teams worked around the clock, and we dosed our first patient on August 21st [2020], and I am happy to report that we started our two Phase 3 studies: PROVENT last week, and yesterday we dosed first patient in my favorite study, “Storm Chaser” yesterday.
It’s really been astonishing to see how everyone in the company has pulled together and risen to the challenge, and I’ve had the good fortune working with everyone in Biopharma R&D, Precision Medicine, Legal, Business Development, Procurement, Project Management, Ops [Operations], IT [Information Technology], Commercial and the all-important Government Affairs, and I’d like to take this moment to thank everyone.
So, clearly, fighting a virus like SARS-2 in a worldwide pandemic is not for the faint of heart, but clearly, we are all in this fight to the finish. Also, very grateful to Pascal [Soriot, AstraZeneca CEO], Mene (Sir Menelaus Pangalos, an AstraZeneca board member) and Nesset (sp) for their leadership, and I am very proud to be part of the company that not only follow the science but is putting patients first and doing what is right thing for the whole world.
Just like the antibody we are “better together” and I look forward to being with many of you in a healthier and happier 2021. So, thank you and over to you, Pascal.
Pascal Soriot : Thank you, Mark, and congratulations again to you and the team. This long-acting antibodies are quite unique because this is the only combination that potentially will last more than 6 months, up to potentially 12 months and protect people for a long period of time.
And for those of you who may not be totally familiar with antibodies, you know, you have to know a number of people cannot be vaccinated, like if you have an immune disease, lupus or some other immune condition… or multiple sclerosis, you cannot be vaccinated. So, there are millions of people in the world that will need the protection that cannot be coming from a vaccine, so the long-acting antibody has the enormous potential.
In short, the leaked AstraZeneca audio does not show any pre-planning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It only gives us an inside look at how pharmaceutical teams can now quickly develop products like neutralising antibodies, and vaccines, against a novel (new) virus.
Fact #4 : AstraZeneca Audio Showed How It Developed Evusheld
The truth is – the leaked audio actually detailed how AstraZeneca quickly developed Evusheld (AZD7442) – its combination of tixagevimab and cilgavimab – two long-acting antibodies (LAAB) against COVID-19.
Even so, it did not take AstraZeneca 60 days to develop and ship Evusheld, as envisioned by the P3 project. In the end, it took AstraZeneca almost two years to get Evusheld approved by the FDA. Its development started in February 2020, and Evusheld only received its FDA EUA on 8 December 2021.
To be clear – that’s still very fast, and demonstrates the effectiveness of DARPA’s Pandemic Prevention Platform (P3). Again, it does not show that DARPA or AstraZeneca planned the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2017.
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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.
Is the FAA planning to eliminate white men from the aviation industry?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : FAA Plans To Eliminate White Men From Aviation Industry!
People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims or suggests that the FAA just admitted its plan is to eliminate white men from the aviation industry, while fast tracking disabled minorities into key roles like pilots and air traffic controllers!
Here is an excerpt from the long, and (intentionally?) rambling article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
FAA Admits Plan Is To ‘Eliminate White Men’ From Aviation Industry
A leaked Zoom call recording shows Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials admitting that the plan is to completely eliminate white men from the aviation industry while fast tracking disabled minorities into key roles like pilots and air traffic controllers.
The DailyWire’s Matt Walsh obtained the leaked Zoom call from 2022 between senior officials at the FAA’s Flight Program Operations division talking about implementing Diversity Equity and Inclusion measures in the aviation industry.
“The footage begins with FAA acting deputy chief operating officer Angela McCullough saying more workers need to go from ‘ramp to cockpit,’ meaning she wants to see more baggage handlers become airline pilots,” Walsh declared on X.
Infowars.com reports: McCullough then complains that Flight Operations is “white-male dominated” and tells the managers they need to “talk about what the future could look like.”
But the DEI insanity extends far beyond the pilots. According to Walsh, an “industry-wide embrace of overt mental illness afflicts every aspect of aviation.”
And “billions of dollars in critical grant funding” is going to DEI programs and initiatives rather than other important aspects of the industry.
This comes after the FAA announced a diversity push that would include focusing on hiring people with “severe intellectual” and “psychiatric” disabilities.
Truth : FAA Does Not Plan To Eliminate White Men From Aviation Industry!
This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : FAA Is A US Federal Government Agency
Let me just start by pointing out that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a US federal government agency. It only has powers over civil aviation in the United States, and its surrounding international waters.
The FAA has no power or authority over civil aviation in the rest of the world.
It is therefore impossible for the FAA to “completely eliminate white men from the aviation industry“, even if it really wanted to do that (which it doesn’t).
Fact #2 : Video Does Not Show FAA Plan To Eliminate White Men
Nothing posted by Matt Walsh, Infowars, or The People’s Voice, show the FAA admitting to any plan to eliminate white men from the aviation industry.
The leaked video only shows what appears to be an FAA internal meeting on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) measures that the aviation industry can adopt to make flight operations more inclusive and representative of the population.
In fact, FAA Acting Deputy Chief Operating Officer Angela McCullough is seen stating talking about potentially developing “partnerships” with university or trade schools to encourage a more diverse flight operations team.
Are there opportunities for any partnerships with universities or trade schools which specialised… we kinda talked about from ramp to cockpit. There are some things we would want to look at.
Unfortunately, the video ended abruptly at that point, which makes me wonder – could the video be missing context about what Angela McCullough was saying in that meeting?
But even without the rest of the video, you can see that Angela never once said that she or the FAA planned to eliminate white men from the aviation industry.
In fact, Matt Walsh himself did not even claim that the FAA plans to eliminate all white men from the aviation industry. So why would anyone make that claim based on his posts???
Fact #3 : There’s Nothing Wrong With Retraining People
It is uncertain what Angela McCullough meant by “from ramp to cockpit”, but it could simply mean offering people working in aviation ramp operations the opportunity to train and become pilots.
There is nothing wrong with retraining people for a different job, if that’s what the industry needs, and if they are interested and capable in the new job.
People can, and do, learn new skills to change jobs and even industries. As long as they are qualified for those new jobs, what exactly is wrong with that?
Only fools would believe that the FAA will ever let baggage handlers become airline pilots without training or passing qualification tests.
Fact #4 : Being Transgender Is Not A Mental Illness
Matt Walsh appears to suggest or claim that being transgender is an “overt mental illness”. That’s just not true.
Being transgender was once considered a psychological problem that can be treated. However, the American Psychiatric Association revised its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2012, to remove being transgender as a mental disorder.
With the release of DSM-5 in 2013, being transgender itself is no longer a mental disorder. Some transgender people are now diagnosed with “gender dysphoria”, if they face emotional stress related to their gender identity.
All psychiatric diagnoses occur within a cultural context. We know there is a whole community of people out there who are not seeking medical attention and live between the two binary categories. We wanted to send the message that the therapist’s job isn’t to pathologize. – Jack Drescher, a member of the APA subcommittee responsible for the change
Just because someone disagrees with the American Psychiatric Association’s definition, does not mean that the aviation industry is embracing “overt mental illness”.
The People’s Voice article used a photo of two young black female pilots (above). On of the off-chance that it was chosen to convey the perception that unqualified female minority pilots may soon begin putting your lives at risk, let me just say that it couldn’t be further from the truth.
The two female pilots are Captain Tara Wright, and First Officer Mallory Cave. They made made history on 13 May 2018, as the first African-American female flight crew to fly an Alaska Airlines flight from San Francisco to Portland.
Not only are they both fully-qualified pilots, Captain Wright was also the first-ever African-American female pilot to fly for US Airways, before becoming its first African-American female pilot to be promoted to Captain in 2017.
Captain Wright is only the 7th African-American woman to ever become a captain in any major airline, which points to the lack of diversity and representation in the aviation industry.
Fact #6 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Publishing 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:
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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.
Epic Games Christmas 2023 + New Year 2024 Free Games!
Just like last year, Epic Games is giving away a slew of games for Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024!
Here is the list of FREE games that Epic Games will give away for just 24 hours, every day from 15 December 2023, until 11 January 2024!
Free Epic game on 13-20 December : Destiny 2: Legacy Collection
Create your Guardian and embark on a cinematic story in an evolving universe filled with a variety of co-op missions and PvP modes. This edition includes The Witch Queen, Beyond Light, and Shadowkeep.
Play through three epic campaigns, unlock 37 Exotic weapons, 15 Exotic pieces of armor, and the power of Stasis, allowing you to lock down and control the battlefield. This collection includes:
Action fighting at its extreme! One of the most popular and widely played RPGs in the world, Dungeon and Fighter is now back as a 2.5D action fighting game.
Choose from 16 charming characters, each with their distinct skills and personalities. Outsmart, outplay, or downright beat up your opponents and become the master of the Ultimate Will!
Online Mode: Ranked Match, Player Match, Ranking
Local Mode: Free Battle, Story Mode, Arcade Mode, Survival Mode
Practice Mode: Training Mode, Tutorial
Collection: Player Profile, Replay Library, Gallery, Glossary
Inspired by RuneScape, Melvor Idle takes the core of what makes an adventure game so addictive and strips it down to its purest form! This is a feature-rich, idle/incremental game combining a distinctly familiar feel with a fresh gameplay experience.
art of rally is a stylized experience inspired by the golden era of rally from the creator of Absolute Drift. Race across the world through colorful and stylized environments in top-down view. Will you master the art of rally?
Free Epic game on 24-25 December : Ghostwire: Tokyo
Tokyo is overrun by deadly supernatural forces, perpetrated by a dangerous occultist, causing Tokyo’s population to vanish in an instant.
Ally with a powerful spectral entity on their quest for vengeance and master a powerful arsenal of abilities to unravel the dark truth behind the disappearance as you FACE THE UNKNOWN in Ghostwire: Tokyo.
Free Epic game on 25-26 December : The Outer World: Spacer’s Choice Edition
The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is the ultimate way to play the award-winning RPG from Obsidian Entertainment and Private Division.
The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition includes the base game and all add-on content as the definitive way to play the beloved RPG from Obsidian Entertainment.
Free Epic game on 26-27 December : Human Resource Machine
Human Resource Machine is a puzzle game for nerds. In each level, your boss gives you a job. Automate it by programming your little office worker. If you succeed, you’ll be promoted up to the next level for another year of work in the vast office building. Congratulations!
Cursed to Golf offers a fresh take on the golfing and roguelike subgenres. Make your way through a hole within the PAR Count or your curse will take you back to the beginning of the course!
To add to the challenge, these courses don’t just have bunkers and rough spots but are also chock full of mad obstacles like high powered fans, spikes, TNT boxes, teleporters and a whole load more. It’s all par for the course in this twisted take on the classic game!
Cat Quest is an open world RPG set in the pawsome world of cats!
Leap into a grand adventure in purrsuit of the evil Drakoth and your catnapped sister! Explore Felingard’s huge overworld map, risk life and limb delving into dungeons for epic loot, and lend a paw to a furry cast of characters in a flurry of side quests.
Free Epic game on 30-31 December : Snakebird Complete
Introducing Snakebird Complete: The Ultimate Snakebird Experience!
Embark on an extraordinary puzzle-solving adventure bringing together hit classic Snakebird and Snakebird Primer, offering the complete Snakebird experience in a single, comprehensive package.
Free Epic game on 31 December – 1 : Saints Row + 5 DLCs
Experience the biggest and best Saints Row playground ever created; the unique sprawling world of Santo Ileso is the backdrop for a wild, larger than life sandbox of thrilling side hustles, criminal ventures and blockbuster missions, as you shoot, drive, and wingsuit your way to the top.
Download it here! Don’t forget to also pick up the five free DLCs too:
Hexy Halloween Cosmetic Pack
Dead Island 2 Free Cosmetic Pack
SteelSeries Free Cosmetic Pack
Festive Felonies Free Cosmetic Pack
Front to Back Cosmetic Pack
Free Epic game on 1-2 January : Ghostrunner
Ghostrunner is a hardcore FPP slasher packed with lightning-fast action, set in a grim, cyberpunk megastructure.
Climb Dharma Tower, humanity’s last shelter, after a world-ending cataclysm. Make your way up from the bottom to the top, confront the tyrannical Keymaster, and take your revenge.
Welcome to Escape Academy. Train to become the ultimate Escapist. Solve Puzzles. Hack Servers. Meet the Faculty. Brew the perfect cup of tea. Escape Rooms in single player or co-op with a friend – local or online!
Free Epic game on 3-4 January : 20 Minutes Until Dawn
Face an onslaught of endless hordes and outlast the night in 20 Minutes Till Dawn. Create dynamic builds from a variety of weapons, runes, and special abilities in order to survive for 20 minutes.
Are you strong enough to see daylight once again, or will you allow the creatures of the night to consume you?
Free Epic game on 4-5 January : A Plague Tale: Innocence
Follow the grim tale of young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, in a heartrending journey through the darkest hours of history.
Hunted by Inquisition soldiers and surrounded by unstoppable swarms of rats, Amicia and Hugo will come to know and trust each other. As they struggle to survive against overwhelming odds, they will fight to find purpose in this brutal, unforgiving world.
Free Epic game on 5-11 January : Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Fire up Star-Lord’s jet boots for a wild ride across the cosmos in this third-person action-adventure game, a fresh take on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
With the unpredictable Guardians at your side, blast your way from one explosive situation to another, with original and iconic Marvel characters caught in a struggle for the fate of the universe. You got this. Probably.
That’s it! The game is now added to your Epic Games account, and you can download and install it anytime after this.
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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.
Is Apple about to quietly release new iPad models in October 2023?! Take a look at the new rumours!
Claim : Apple Is Releasing New iPad Models In October 2023!
The Internet is abuzz with rumours that Apple is about to quietly release new iPad models this week, in October 2023!
It started with a report by SuperCharged that “sources familiar with Apple’s media plans” told them that Apple will announce new iPad models “as soon as Tuesday, October 17”, and the new iPads will have these improvements:
Apple will announce updates to its iPad lineup this week, according to sources familiar with Apple’s media plans who spoke to Supercharged. Apple is planning briefings with select media personnel scheduled for later this week specifically focused on the iPad.
The sources added that the announcements could happen as soon as Tuesday, October 17.
The updates will feature minor spec bumps, bringing the models in line with faster and more efficient chips. The iPad Air will gain the M2 chip, an upgrade from the current M1 chip, while the upcoming iPad mini will feature the A16 Bionic chip.
The announcements will take place on Apple’s website and its YouTube channel and will not include a flashy hybrid event for significant product announcements.
This report was later corroborated by 9to5Mac, who spoke to their own sources:
Via Supercharged, Apple is set to announce new iPad updates this week, likely on Tuesday October 17. 9to5Mac has corroborated the report with our own sources.
The iPad Air, iPad mini and the base model iPad are expected to be refreshed. These updates will likely comprise smaller spec bump updates rather than significant design changes.
Now, I’m no Mark Gurman or Ming-Chi Kuo, and Tech ARP is no 9to5Mac or SuperCharged, but I did break the news on Apple’s new MagSafe connector and the SD card reader’s return in the 2021 MacBook Pro.
I actually heard from a source a couple of weeks earlier that Apple will not release any new entry-level iPad models this year. Rather, the new entry-level iPad is slated to debut in April 2024.
This, of course, only addresses the entry-level iPad models. It is possible that Apple will announce updated iPad Air and iPad mini models this week, while leaving the entry-level iPad for April 2024.
However, my money is on Apple not releasing any new iPad models this year, and my source is correct about the April 2024 date. In fact, I literally bet my own money on my source’s information, by purchasing an iPad yesterday for my parents.
In any case, I don’t think Apple will wow anyone with the new entry-level iPad model. It’s all about incremental changes these days. In fact, Apple has already been shifting away from a yearly update cycle, as it gets harder to deliver any exciting updates for these tablets.
On top of that, the entry-level iPad was completely redesigned just a year ago – in October 2022. Most likely, the new entry-level iPad will feature the A16 Bionic chip, with maybe a new colour or two. Is that exciting? I don’t think so.
The truth is – even the 7th Generation iPad that I currently own is fast enough for most people. I personally don’t see a real need to upgrade to the 11th Generation iPad when it arrives, whether it’s this week, or in April 2024.
So yes, I think Apple will quietly update its iPad line-up through a simple and cheap press release and YouTube announcement. I just don’t think it’s this week, or even this year.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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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.
Is the Biden Administration preparing to bring back FULL COVID-19 restrictions beginning in mid-September 2023?! Find out what the facts really are!
Updated @ 2023-08-24 : Added a fact check video, updated parts of the article Originally posted @ 2023-08-19
Claim : Biden Admin Bringing Back Full COVID Restrictions!
People are sharing an InfoWars article which claims that the Biden Administration is preparing to bring back FULL COVID-19 restrictions, beginning in mid-September 2023!
The article is pretty long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
EXCLUSIVE: Biden Admin Preparing to Bring Back FULL Covid Restrictions, Rollout to Begin Mid-September
Whistleblowers from the TSA and Border Patrol have raised the alarm to Infowars that the Biden administration is setting the stage for full Covid lockdowns that will begin with incremental restrictions like masking TSA employees in mid-September.
The first source, a high-level TSA official confirmed and known to Infowars, reached out to Infowars and cited a Tuesday meeting in which TSA managers were told new memorandums & policies were being completed that would reimplement masking, starting with TSA & airport employees as early as mid-September.
The TSA official also said next week they will receive new guidelines on how the policy will escalate: by mid-October, mask-wearing will be required by pilots, flight staff, passengers, and airport patrons.
After hearing from the TSA manager, Infowars reached out to our trusted Border Patrol source who is also a manager. This source confirmed the same directives were being given to Border Patrol.
They were told it was not a matter of “if” but “when” official Covid numbers will go back up and they expect by mid-October a return to forced-masking policies that the Biden administration previously only reluctantly ended after massive pressure.
Both whistleblowers were told this rollout will be in tandem with the new Covid “variant” hysteria that the MSM has been reporting on this week.
Infowars’ analysis is clear: this new rollout’s timing is perfect for the embattled Biden administration to put the country back in a state of civil emergency and even martial law to further divide and confuse the public and move forward with the greatest election meddling in history.
Many times, Alex Jones has warned that the system will bring back biomedical tyranny. And the launch of this new crisis in September will allow a build-up of control that would allow the use of mail-in ballots for the next presidential election.
Remember, mail-in ballots were decisive for Biden’s victory last election.
We now know the Covid lockdowns were an international psychological warfare operation run by the Ministry of Defense and Pentagon.
Countries worldwide implemented fear campaigns for political purposes and to push experimental shots.
But this time around, the masses have awakened to the globalist playbook of conquest, and may not be as receptive to MSM hysteria.
Simply put, the Deep State is getting desperate and is behaving like a cornered animal.
No Evidence Biden Administration Is Bringing Back COVID Restrictions!
Let’s take a look at what Infowars just claimed, and find out what the facts really are!
Fact #1 : InfoWars Is Notorious Fake News Website
First, let me just point out that InfoWars is notorious for posting conspiracy theories and fake news.
2020 study by four universities – Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers, found that InfoWars was amongst the top 5 most shared websites for COVID-19 fake news.
InfoWars is listed as #4 on the Top 10 Worst Anti-Science Websites list.
InfoWars video editor Josh Owens admitted to intentionally creating misleading videos – “It’s not about truth, it’s not about accuracy — it’s about what’s going to make people click on this video…In essence, we lied.“
Both Alex Jones and InfoWars have been subjected to multiple lawsuits, losing them one after another. In December 2022, he and the InfoWars parent company was ordered to pay about $1.5 billion for spreading lies about the 2002 Sandy Hook mass shooting.
Based on its reputation, everything posted by InfoWars should be considered as FAKE NEWS until proven otherwise.
Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from InfoWars. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:
Fact #2 : Alex Jones + InfoWars Provided No Evidence
If you watch the InfoWars video where Alex Jones detailed the “exclusive news” that the Biden Administration is planning to bring back FULL COVID-19 restrictions, you may be forgiven for thinking that all those papers on his table were leaked memorandum and policy documents that TSA and Border Patrol whistleblowers provided.
Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case. While there is A TON of papers on his massive table, they appear to be nothing more than printed copies of news articles. Alex Jones never showed any evidence of the “planned COVID-19 protocols” that will roll out in the middle of September 2023.
It’s easy to make outlandish claims, it’s quite another thing to back them with actual evidence. Needless to say, InfoWars offered ZERO evidence to back up its claims.
Fact #3 : Lockdowns Were Necessary Because There Was No Vaccine
In his video, Alex Jones said that his whistleblowers were told to expect “a return to the full COVID protocol of 2020/2021” by December 2023.
The problem with that claim is that many governments implemented lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, because there was no treatment and vaccines were not yet invented or available in sufficient quantities.
Lockdowns were used as a way to limit transmission, and prevent hospitals and healthcare workers from being overloaded with COVID-19 patients.
Now that many people have some protection from a prior infection, or from COVID-19 vaccines, there has been no new need for governments to implement new lockdowns. In fact, there has been multiple waves of new COVID-19 variants, but they have not necessitated new lockdowns.
So the claim that the Biden Administration is going to implement COVID-19 lockdowns in December 2023 over the new Eris EG.5 variant is not supported by the prevailing evidence.
Fact #4 : WHO Declared COVID-19 Is No Longer PHEIC
It is interesting that the whistleblowers mentioned that the World Health Organization (WHO) may declare (an emergency?) over the new EG.5 Eris variant.
For one thing, the WHO itself declared on 5 May 2023 that COVID-19 as a whole is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Instead, COVID-19 is now considered “an established and ongoing health issue“.
Fact #5 : Eris Variant Is Not More Dangerous
The WHO has been monitoring the new EG.5 “Eris” variant, designating it as a “variant of interest”. However, that does not mean Eris is a more dangerous variant.
According to the WHO, the EG. 5 variant has increased prevalence, growth advantage, and immune escape properties, but…
presents a low public health risk at a global level, and
has no reported changes in disease severity to date
While it is possible that EG.5 / Eris will become the dominant COVID-19 variant moving into the winter months of 2023, it has the same symptoms and severity as past variants.
Fact #6 : New Vaccines Are Coming In September 2023
Even if the Eris / EG.5 becomes dominant, it is unlikely for the United States to require lockdowns in December 2023, because new COVID-19 vaccines coming in September will offer better protection against it.
From late September 2023 onwards, Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are introducing new COVID-19 vaccines that will target XBB variants. As EG.5 is part of the XBB lineage, the new vaccines are expected to offer better protection against this new variant.
EG.5 is part of the XBB lineage and is more closely related to the XBB variants than it is to previous vaccine strains.
For this reason, the expectation is that the reformulated vaccines that will be available this fall will offer better protection to EG.5 than previous vaccines.
– Justin Lessler, professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
In short, there really isn’t a need for new lockdowns, because the improved COVID-19 vaccines are already coming in the fall of 2023.
Fact #7 : Biden Administration Does Not Want New Lockdowns
I should now point out that it is against the Biden Administration’s interest to implement new lockdowns, which would cripple the economy. In fact, the Biden Administration mentioned this when it released its National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan (PDF download) in March 2022.
The path forward in the fight against COVID-19 is clear: schools, workers, and workplaces have resources and guidance to prevent shutdowns.
Finally, I should also point out that any order for a face mask mandate on public transportation, including airlines, would be issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevent, not the TSA or Border Control.
It was the US CDC that issued the first and only face mask mandate for public transportation in the United States (PDF download) on January 29, 2021. The TSA and Border Control had nothing to do with that, but only issued their own directives to comply with the CDC order.
However, the CDC face mask mandate was made “unenforceable” by court order on April 18, 2022, and expired when the Biden Administration ended the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023.
If the CDC ever issues another face mask mandate, it seems inevitable that it would be challenged in court, and made “unenforceable” by another court order. So what really is this panic over a “future” face mask mandate?
I should also point out that, long before the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers all over the world have had no issues wearing face masks to protect themselves and their patients. Seriously, stop being such a wuss.
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Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
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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.
Apple may be planning to limit data transfer and charging speed on USB-C ports used in its devices, by introducing MFI certification!
Earlier : Apple Forced To Adopt USB-C Port!
Apple has been hesitant about moving to the superior USB-C port for years, limiting it to Mac computers and iPad tablets.
The 12-inch MacBook was the first Mac computer to get USB-C in 2015, while the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets made the switch from Lighting to USB-C in 2018. However, Apple stubbornly refused to migrate its iPhones to USB-C.
The choice to stick with their proprietary Lightning port was taken out of their hands on October 4, 2022, when the European Parliament voted decisively to adopt the USB-C (USB Type C) port as the new standard for all portable devices.
By the end of 2024, all portable devices sold in the EU must come with a USB-C charging port. This directive is more or less directed at Apple, which is the only brand that continues to use its own proprietary Lighting connector.
Apple MFI plan to limit speed, power on USB-C leaked!
Now that the EU is firmly forcing everyone to use USB-C, Apple will start using the USB Type C port in its upcoming iPhone 15 models.
However, Apple apparently isn’t going to give up its lucrative side gig of selling its users MFI (Made for iPhone) cables and accessories at exorbitant prices.
According to ShrimpApplePro, who accurately leaked on the iPhone 14, Apple will introduce MFI for its USB-C cables and accessories.
And even worse – cables that lack MFI certification will have their data and charging speeds limited.
Yeah usb-c with MFI is happening
Foxconn already in mass production accessories like EarPods and cables
Cables w no MFI will be software limited in data and charging speed
MFI-certified cables have a small authenticator chip to verify that they are “certified” to work with Apple devices. If you use cables that lack this authenticator chip, you will get the “This accessory is not supported” warning on your Apple device.
Apple gets paid for every authenticator chip, so MFI cables and accessories are priced at a premium, even if they work just as well as non-MFI cables and accessories.
Apple is already expected to limit the iPhone 15 base model, and iPhone 15 Plus, to USB 2.0 data transfer speeds of up to 480 Mbps (60 MB/s), while Pro models will get the much higher transfer rates of 20 Gbps (USB-C 3.2) or even 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3).
People may not bat an eye at Apple limiting data transfer speeds to differentiate their Pro models from the non-Pro models, but limiting battery recharging speeds for non-MFI cables should ruffle some feathers. After all, there is technically no good reason why Apple cannot allow their devices to benefit from faster charging using non-MFI cables.
Naturally, Apple benefits financially from introducing MFI for USB-C. It will force Apple users to pay the notorious “Apple tax” on top of the “Apple premium” they paid for their Apple devices.
Imagine if Apple introduces MFI for USB-C and phases that in for future Mac computers and iPad tablets, as well as the upcoming iPhone 15 smartphones. Even those who have been happily using regular, non-MFI USB-C cables will have to switch them to MFI cables, and for what?
There is really no discernible benefit for Apple users to use MFI-certified cables over regular USB-C cables. It’s not like they will give your Apple devices magical powers. If there is any reduction in transfer rate or charging speed, it will only happen because Apple intentionally chose to make it so.
Of course, this leak may turn out to be true, and Apple may not be quite so evil as to foist the MFI tax on its loyal users. But I fear that Apple believes its users are more loyal than discerning, and will yet again, quietly pay for MFI cables just because Apple said so.
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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.
Take a look at the key details and specifications that has leaked ahead of the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series smartphones!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Series : All The Leaks So Far!
Ahead of the official launch of the Galaxy S23 series, key details and specifications of Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphones have leaked!
Boosted Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones will use a specially-boosted variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, which features a quad-cluster architecture:
1 x Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz, instead of 3.2 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A715 cores (2.8 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
Here is a quick comparison between the boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC used in the Galaxy S22 series:
Specifications
Galaxy S23 Series
Galaxy S22 Series
Mobile SoC
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU Clusters
4
3
CPU Cores
1 x Cortex-X3 (3.36 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 (2.0 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A710 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 740
Qualcomm Adreno 730
200 MP Main Camera
Arguably the biggest upgrade in the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its new main camera, which is built around the 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (S5KHP2) sensor, and features a slightly wider f/1.7 aperture.
This is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size. The Galaxy S23 Ultra camera will be able to combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel – a pixel binning technique called Tetra2pixel.
The number of pixels binned will vary according to the photography conditions. In low-light conditions, up to 16 pixels can be combined to create a large 2.4 μm pixel, for a 12.5 MP photo.
On top of that, the new Samsung ISOCELL HP2 sensor also offers better auto-focus performance in low-light conditions through Super QPD autofocus. By using all 200 million pixels, which are physically grouped as four pixels under a single microns, the sensor can detect patterns in both vertical and horizontal directions for faster low-light focusing.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Series : Prices + Offers Leaked So Far!
Higher Prices
This is the only dampener amongst the leaks – be prepared to pay more for the Galaxy S23 smartphones! Here are the leaked prices for Europe:
Models
Variant
Launch
Prices
Premium Over
S22 Models
Galaxy S23
8 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB
€949/959
€1019
+ €99/109
+ €119
Galaxy S23+
8 GB + 256 GB
8 GB + 512 GB
€1209
€1329
+ €159
+ €229
Galaxy S23 Ultra
8 GB + 256 GB
12 GB + 512 GB
€1399/1409
€1589
NA
+ €139
Pre-Order Offer
While the increased price may be disappointing, Samsung will potentially boost pre-order sales by offering a free upgrade to the next storage variant.
For example, if you pre-order the Galaxy S23 with 128 GB storage, you will get the 256 GB variant instead. This is based on a leak on the Samsung UK Business portal that states:
Pre-order from Samsung.com by 16.02.23. Operates as a price discount:
Pre-order the larger storage variant (S23 256GB, 523+ 512GB, 523 Ultra 512GB) by 16.02.23 and pay the future price of the smaller storage variant (523 128GB, S23+ 256GB, S23 Ultra 256GB).
This free upgrade will only be offered for the pre-order period, and is essentially a 10% discount on the price of the higher-capacity model.
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.
Take a look at the key details and specifications that has leaked ahead of the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra : Everything Leaked So Far!
Ahead of the official launch of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, key details and specifications of Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphone have leaked!
Boosted Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will use a specially-boosted variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, which features a quad-cluster architecture:
1 x Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz, instead of 3.2 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A715 cores (2.8 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
Here is a quick comparison between the boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC used in the Galaxy S22 Ultra:
Specifications
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Galaxy S22 Ultra
Mobile SoC
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU Clusters
4
3
CPU Cores
1 x Cortex-X3 (3.36 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 (2.0 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A710 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 740
Qualcomm Adreno 730
200 MP Main Camera
Arguably the biggest upgrade in the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its new main camera, which is built around the 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (S5KHP2) sensor, and features a slightly wider f/1.7 aperture.
This is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size. The Galaxy S23 Ultra camera will be able to combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel – a pixel binning technique called Tetra2pixel.
The number of pixels binned will vary according to the photography conditions. In low-light conditions, up to 16 pixels can be combined to create a large 2.4 μm pixel, for a 12.5 MP photo.
On top of that, the new Samsung ISOCELL HP2 sensor also offers better auto-focus performance in low-light conditions through Super QPD autofocus. By using all 200 million pixels, which are physically grouped as four pixels under a single microns, the sensor can detect patterns in both vertical and horizontal directions for faster low-light focusing.
Similar Telephoto + Wide-Angle Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will reuse the same 3X and 10X zoom cameras from the Galaxy S22 Ultra, right down to their Sony IMX754 sensors.
The ultra-wide angle camera gets a newer sensor – the Sony IMX564, which appears to be an incremental upgrade of the S22 Ultra’s IMX563.
Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphones will come in four colour options:
The specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (SM-918B) smartphone have leaked, and in this table, we compare it to last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra!
Sadly, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will be significantly more expensive than last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra!. Here are the leaked prices for Europe:
Models
Variant
Launch
Prices
Premium Over
S22 Models
Galaxy S23 Ultra
8 GB + 256 GB
12 GB + 512 GB
€1399/1409
€1589
NA
+ €139
While the increased price may be disappointing, Samsung will potentially boost pre-order sales by offering a free upgrade to the next storage variant.
For example, if you pre-order the Galaxy S23 Ultra with 256 GB storage, you will get the 512 GB variant instead. This is based on a leak on the Samsung UK Business portal that states:
Pre-order from Samsung.com by 16.02.23. Operates as a price discount:
Pre-order the larger storage variant (S23 256GB, 523+ 512GB, 523 Ultra 512GB) by 16.02.23 and pay the future price of the smaller storage variant (523 128GB, S23+ 256GB, S23 Ultra 256GB).
This free upgrade will only be offered for the pre-order period, and is essentially a 10% discount on the price of the higher-capacity model.
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.
Did Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg warn Facebook staff not to get the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine?!
Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Mark Zuckerberg Warned FB Staff Not To Get Vaccine!
A viral video clip of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has gone viral, together with claims that he was warning Facebook staff not to get the COVID-19 vaccine!
Steve Kirsch : LEAKED VIDEO: Facebook’s Zuckerberg Warned His Staff NOT To Get the Vaccine. But censors the info YOU see. You are the Guinea pigs.
Johnny Midnight : Zuckerberg warned his staff not to get the Vaccine 💉!
James Cintolo, RN FN CPT : 🚨BREAKING — Leaked Video Of Mark Zuckerberg Warning His Staff Not To Take A COVID Vaccine
Truth : Zuckerberg Did Not Warn FB Staff Not To Get COVID-19 Vaccine!
This is yet another example of MISINFORMATION created and/or propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : The Viral Video Is Genuine
First, let me confirm that the video is genuine, and is not a deepfake production. As fake as it appear, that was really Mark Zuckerberg speaking in that video.
However, you will note that Zuckerberg did not actually tell or warn Facebook staff not to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact #2 : The Viral Video Is More Than 2.5 Years Old
One version of the viral video was edited to state that it happen in August 2021, to give the impression that Mark Zuckerberg was advising Facebook staff against getting vaccinated.
The viral video clip is not new, as people are claiming on social media. It is actually a short segment of a virtual Q&A meeting for Facebook staff that was streamed live on July 16, 2020.
The video was only publicly revealed on February 17, 2021, when Project Veritas got a copy of the livestream, and leaked a very short segment of the entire video.
In other words – the video clip is old – it was recorded more than 30 months ago, and leaked more than 23 months ago.
Fact #3 : The Viral Video Was Edited Even More
Subsequently, the video was further edited again to cut out the parts in bold, to get the condensed 24-second video clip that just went viral on 21 January 2023.
I do just want to make sure that I share some caution on this because we just don’t know the long-term side effects of basically modifying people’s DNA and RNA to directly code in a person’s DNA and RNA.
Basically the ability to produce those antibodies and whether that causes other mutations or other risks downstream. So there’s work on both paths of vaccine development.
You will note that Zuckerberg misstated how mRNA vaccines work, and pointed out that there is work bering done on other types of COVID-19 vaccines.
Fact #4 : COVID-19 Vaccines Were Still In Development Then
It is impossible for Mark Zuckerberg to ask or warn Facebook staff not to get the COVID-19 vaccine, because when he made those comments, COVID-19 vaccines were still being developed.
Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone later clarified that the July 2020 discussion occurred shortly after Moderna released its initial-stage trial results for its mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which used the new, state-of-the-art messenger RNA technology.
There was very little public knowledge about mRNA technology at that time, so it is not surprising to see Mark Zuckerberg wonder about the risks of any new technology, like everyone else.
I should point out that, at that time, Moderna had not started its Phase 3 trial, which would eventually prove that the mRNA-1273 vaccine candidate would offer robust protection against hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.
After that successful Phase 3 trial, the mRNA-1273 vaccine candidate received an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) on December 18, 2020 as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. That was followed up with a full FDA approval on January 31, 2022, and it was henceforth marketed as Spikevax.
Fact #5 : mRNA Does Not Enter Cell Nucleus
mRNA vaccines do not enter the cell nucleus, and therefore, will not affect or interfere with the person’s DNA.
That is not my opinion, but is the official statement by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the matter.
To enter the nucleus, the mRNA vaccine would need an enzyme called integrase (which the real SARS-CoV-2 virus produces). Without this integrase enzyme, the mRNA cannot physically enter the cell nucleus and therefore, cannot change or integrate with our DNA.
Some anti-vaccination activists are referring to a Feb 2022 study by Alden et. al as “evidence”, but the truth is – the study does not show that the Pfizer vaccine (which is not the Moderna vaccine) combined with DNA in liver cells.
Fact #6 : Zuckerberg Clarified The Matter With Dr. Fauci
Mark Zuckerberg actually brought up the topic in a November 30, 2020 livestream with Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Zuckerberg : Just to clear up one point, my understanding is that these vaccines do not modify your DNA or RNA. So that’s just an important point to clarify, if I’m getting anything wrong here, of course correct me.
Dr. Fauci : No, first of all, DNA is inherent in your own nuclear cell. Sticking in anything foreign will ultimately get cleared.
Zuckerberg : I’m glad we can clear that up.
In other words, before Project Veritas even leaked the video, Mark Zuckerberg had already clarified with Dr. Anthony Fauci that mRNA vaccines cannot modify our DNA.
Fact #7 : Facebook Banned Claims mRNA Vaccines Alter DNA In 2021
We know that Mark Zuckerberg was convinced about the safety of the mRNA vaccines, and that they do not alter or change our DNA, because he banned any claim that the mRNA vaccines can change DNA on Facebook.
On February 8, 2021, Facebook updated its COVID-19 and vaccine policies to “protect people from harmful content and new types of abuse related to COVID-19 and vaccines“.
Facebook also said that it would remove posts that included “claims that the COVID-19 vaccine changes people’s DNA“.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
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.
Did leaked data show that Pfizer knew that its COVID-19 vaccine would kill people who took it?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Leaked Data Show Pfizer Knew Vaccine Would Kill!
People have been sharing a photo of The Irish Light newspaper, which claims that leaked data showed that Pfizer knew that its COVID-19 vaccine would kill people who took it!
It’s a long article, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
Pfizer knew their vaccine would kill
Leaked data shows shocking number of fatalities and side effects now officially associated with covid shots
THE documents were leaked due to a cyber attack on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) website. More than 40 megabytes of classified information from the agency’s revlew were published on the dark web. and several Journalists including the BMJ were sent coples of the leak by anonvmous senders.
The documents have proved to be shocking due to the sheer amount of side ellects that are now ollicially associaled with the ‘vaccine*. Most alarmingly, there were at least 1,223 deaths reported in the first 28 days following the shot.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had previously agreed to withhold the documents and their shocking revelations from the public for 75 years.
The HSE, moda and the government continually state that the vaccines are ‘safe and effective’ and those that had renorted vaccine-related injuries were oflen accused of making false correlations or imagining their symptoms.
However, the Pfizer documents paint a very different picture. They list thousands of side effeets that occurred at an alarming rate which were as a direct result of taking the experimental genetac injection.
These side effects included noat-fatal conditions such as eccema, blisters, asthma. low sperm counts and fertility problems.
Other more serious side ellects included, but were not limited to: auto-immine disorders; blindness: diabetes: berpes: heart problems such as myocardite; divroid disorders: neurological condations such as multiple sclerosis; sexures; epilepsy; narcolepsy and Guillain-Bame Syndrome. Also, inllammatory bowel disease, relapsing diseases, dcalness and even tongue biting.
While it has been approved for use in pregnant women, it is also known to cause pregnancy complications, including many spontaneous abortions.
One of the many issues it causes is anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy or ASP for short. ASP is a fatal discase for mothers and is among the leading causes of maternal mortality.
Symploms include anciety, confusion. shortness of breath, severe bleeding and death. Therefore, there is a high risk for pregnant women taking the covid “vaccine’.
The Pfizer document also list various blood disorders, Crohn’s disease, and liver failure as side effects. Blood clotting was another issue reported from the ‘vaccine’ trials.
One of the most telling side effects of this covid-19 injection is… covid-19. Proponents often argue that despite the possible side effects associated with some of the covid shots, they at least prevent people from dying from covid-19.
The problem is that the ‘vaccine’ actually causes people to develop the disease. In other words, it is contributing to the mumber of cases. It also lists covid-19 associated pneumonia as a side effect.
Some may argue that all of these side ellects are only associated with the Pfizer shot.
However, death and serious injuries have been present and publicly acknowledged with all of die manubcturers’ shots.
Research developed by Edinburgh University showed that almost 350 Brits have been struck down with a separate rare clotting disorder afler getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.
These blood clots cause minor bruising around the body and can leave some with a purple-dotted rash.
The Moderna vaccine has been assoctaled with heart problems such as mvocarditis and pericarditis. The list of adverse reactions also includes inflammation, fainting and breathing difficulties.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) listed on page 2 has also revealed that both covid-19 deaths and cases were worse in vaccinated people, particularly those over the age of 18
The data in the table is clear: the chances of developing covid-19 increases significantly following subsequent ‘booster jabs.
This is broadly in line with the information contained in the Mizer document, which stated that vaccine side effects cause covid-19 and respiratory illnesses.
Coupled with the fact that ONS data recently revealed that covid deaths were much lwer than previously thought, the risks of taking the vaccine seem to greatly outweigh the risks of not doing so.
Truth : Leaked Data Did Not Show Pfizer Vaccine Is Dangerous!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why!
Fact #1 : The Irish Light Is An Anti-Vaccination Newspaper
While many anti-vaccination activists are promoting the article as coming from an Irish newspaper, The Irish Light is a self-printed newspaper that was launched in August 2021 by two former journalists turned COVID conspiracy theorists – Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters.
Gemma O’Doherty previously worked for the Irish Independent newspaper, while John Waters used to work for The Irish Times.
Unlike regular newspapers which delivers news content, The Irish Light focuses on questioning the effectiveness of vaccines, the COVID pandemic, and other far-right ideas.
Fact #2 : EMA Cyberattack Occurred In January 2021
The Irish Light published their article called “Pfizer knew their vaccine would kill” in April 2022, as part of their 10th issue.
However, the cyber attack on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) it referred to occurred more than a year ago – in January 2021.
Fact #3 : EMA-Pfizer Data Was Leaked To Journalists + Dark Web
More than 40 MB of data was stolen in the EMA cyberattack and released on the dark web, and leaked to several journalists, including from The BMJ and academics worldwide.
The leaked data consisted of confidential documents on the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine candidate (later known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COMIRNATY COVID-19 vaccine), which included “internal / confidential email correspondence from November, relating to evaluation processes for COVID-19 vaccines“.
Fact #4 : Leaked Documents Was About Quality Of Early Vaccine Batches
The BMJ reviewed the leaked documents, and found that they showed that regulators at the EMA had concerns about the quality of some early commercial batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
An email dated 23 November 2020 showed that a high-ranking EMA official complained that Pfizer was not producing its COVID-19 vaccines to the expected specifications.
Specifically, the level of intact mRNA dropped from about 78% in the clinical batches to 55% in the proposed commercial batches. Nothing in the leaked documents referred to safety issues, or side effects.
Fact #5 : Leaked EMA-Pfizer Data Was Tampered Before Release
On 15 January 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that their investigation showed that some of the leaked data was tampered by the hackers before being released.
Some of the correspondence has been manipulated by the perpetrators prior to publication in a way which could undermine trust in vaccines.
The BMJ was criticised for reviewing the leaked documents without first verifying their authenticity and accuracy.
EMA states that the information was partially doctored, and that the perpetrators selected and aggregated data from different users and added additional headings.
It is unclear to us why a respected journal chose to present unverifiable information, in the process damaging an institution that has worked for 25 years in a transparent and successful manner.
Fact #6 : Leaked Documents Showed EMA Regulation At Work
While anti-vaccination activists framed the leak as evidence of collusion between EMA and Pfizer, they actually show that EMA regulators were doing their jobs.
EMA did not cover up the quality issue, but filed two “major objections” with Pfizer, together with a host of other questions it wanted Pfizer to address.
On 25 November 2020, one of the leaked emails showed that Pfizer had already brought up the level of mRNA in their COVID-19 vaccine lots.
The latest lots indicate that % intact RNA are back at around 70-75%, which leaves us cautiously optimistic that additional data could address the issue.
Ultimately, the EMA authorised the vaccine on 21 December 2020, nothing that “the quality of this medicinal product, submitted in the emergency context of the current (covid-19) pandemic, is considered to be sufficiently consistent and acceptable.”
Fact #7 : FDA Never Agreed To Withhold Pfizer Documents For 75 Years
The claim that the US FDA earlier agreed to withhold documents on the Pfizer vaccine for 75 years was debunked months earlier – in December 2021.
The US FDA never asked or agreed to withhold Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine documents for 75 years. That was merely the “interpretation” of Aaron Siri – the lawyer for PHMPT (Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency) – the group requesting the data that the FDA used to licence the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact #8 : Pfizer Documents Did Not Reveal Thousands Of Side Effects
The claim that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine documents revealed that it had thousands of side effects was debunked in March 2022.
The Pfizer document was publicly released on 17 November 2021, but it took antivaxxers more than 3 months to “discover” the list of 1,291 adverse events of special interest (AESI).
However, the AESI list was not a list of vaccine side effects. It was a list of “adverse events” that must be reported for further investigation.
It was also a generic list, which includes irrelevant adverse events like manufacturing and lab test issues, and even product availability and supply issues, as well as other diseases like MERS and chickenpox.
Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!
Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!
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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.
Leaked audio from internal TikTok meetings show that private user data has been repeatedly accessed from China!
Here is what you need to know…
Privacy Promise By TikTok : Overseas Data Stored In US + Singapore
For many years now, TikTok has repeatedly assured users that all data collected from users outside of China, stays out of China and is thus, not accessible to anyone in China.
To ensure that the Chinese government has no access to the data, one of the measures they took was to store all data collected overseas in servers located in the United States, with backups in Singapore.
This was explicitly stated in their New Privacy Policy :
We store the information described in the “ What Information We Collect ” section in servers located in the United States and Singapore.
Most people may not realise this, but they also added a caveat right after that, stating that their Corporate Group (in China) may remotely access the data…
When entities in our Corporate Group need information to help us provide the Platform, they remotely access the information pursuant to authorised and secure access controls.
TikTok Leak : China Repeatedly Accessed Private User Data!
Buzzfeed News recently received audio recordings from more than eighty (80) internal TikTok meetings, in which employees admitted that engineers in China accessed private user data.
This was despite a TikTok executive’s sworn testimony at an October 2021 US Senate hearing at the same time period, that a “world-renowned, US-based security team” decides who gets access to the private user data.
Instead, the leaked audio revealed that US staff did not have permission or knowledge of how to access the data. Rather, it was their colleagues in China who determined how and who accessed the private user data.
The leaked tapes ultimately show that TikTok may have misled lawmakers, users, and the public by downplaying the fact that their private data is readily accessible by employees in China, and potentially, the Chinese government.
Everything Is Seen In China
Eight different employees stated in nine statements that they had to refer to their colleagues in China to make those decisions.
“Everything is seen in China“, said a member of TikTok’s Trust and Safety department in a September 2021 meeting.
In another September 2021 meeting, a TikTok director referred to a Beijing-based engineer as a “Master Admin” who “has access to everything“.
There’s Some Backdoor To Access User Data…
Fourteen of the leaked audio recordings were with, or about, a team of Booz Allen Hamilton consultants that TikTok brought in to investigate how data flows through TikTok and ByteDance’s internal tools.
In September 2021, one Booz Allen Hamilton consultant told colleagues that the tools felt like they had backdoors to access user data :
I feel like with these tools, there’s some backdoor to access user data in almost all of them, which is exhausting.
Oracle Only Providing Storage For Project Texas
TikTok has been working on what they call Project Texas – securely storing overseas data in Oracle cloud servers to comply with CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States).
Project Texas is limited to protecting the private information of US users, like phone numbers and birthdays – details that are not publicly visible, or have been set to private.
Such data will be stored at an Oracle datacenter in Texas – hence the name, and would only be accessible to specific US-based TikTok employees.
However, TikTok’s head of global cyber and data defense made clear that Oracle was only providing the data storage space for Project Texas. Ultimately, TikTok would be setting up the servers, and controlling everything.
It’s almost incorrect to call it Oracle Cloud, because they’re just giving us bare metal, and then we’re building our VMs [virtual machines] on top of it.
Unique IDs Not Protected Information
In one of the leaked audio recordings from a January 2022 meeting, TikTok’s head of product and user operations announced with a laugh that the Unique ID (UID) will not be amongst the protected content under the CFIUS agreement.
The conversation continues to evolve. We recently found out that UIDs are things we can have access to, which changes the game a bit.
Other Data Not Stored On Oracle Servers
The problem with Project Texas is that it only addresses US users… and only a small subset of their data.
Everything else – including private user data from non-US countries – will stay in their US and Singapore servers that remain accessible to ByteDance’s Beijing offices.
Response By TikTok : 100% US Data Traffic Routed To Oracle
TikTok publicly announced on the same day – June 17, 2022, that it changed the “default storage location of US user data“, and that “100% of US user traffic is being routed to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure“.
Although they “expect” to fully pivot to Oracle cloud servers located in the US, they will continue to use their existing US and Singapore servers for backup, and delete US users’ private data over time.
While this may address some of the privacy concerns for US users, it does not address the other privacy concerns revealed in the leaked audio recordings… or the privacy concerns of non-US users.
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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.
Classified details of China’s DTC10-125 anti-tank sabot round just leaked in a game forum!
Find out what happened, and what secrets were actually leaked on the DTC10-125 sabot round!
China’s DTC10-125 Anti-Tank Ammo Leaked In Game Forum!
Fans of War Thunder are always arguing about the tanks and their weapons in that free-to-play combat vehicle simulator game.
To prove a point in a recent argument, one of them posted a picture of a classified Chinese document together with a tungsten penetrator from China’s DTC10-125 anti-tank ammunition.
The forum moderators quickly removed the post, but it was too late. As they say – the Internet never forgets.
In this screenshot, you can see part of the tungsten penetrator sitting on top of an official specification sheet for the DTC10-125 anti-tank sabot round used in China’s main battle tanks.
While some websites call this a sabot, that is not correct. That is the tungsten kinetic energy penetrator that actually hits the target.
The sabot (French for wooden shoe) is a lightweight multi-part structure that attaches to the grooves on this tungsten penetrator to fit the gun’s barrel. Without the sabot, the propelling gas would just blow past the much thinner penetrator.
The sabot drives the penetrator down the barrel and detaches on exiting the barrel, leaving the dart-like penetrator to continue to the target.
This isn’t the first time War Thunder fans leaked classified information. In July 2021, a gamer who identified himself as a UK tank commander posted excerpts from the Challenger 2 tank’s Army Equipment Support Publication (AESP).
Then in October 2021, a French army tank crewman posted a portion of the Leclerc S2 main battle tank’s classified manual, to prove that its real turret rotation speed is slower than in the game (9 seconds):
It took about 11 seconds for the turret to complete a complete rotation, so 550mil/s (31°) is correct instead of 40°.
What Does Leaked DTC10-125 Anti-Tank Ammo Document Say?
Here is a rough translation of what the document says, which I refined with help from Chai and Yuh Hui. Thank you!
Product Manual
Product Name : DTC10 Type 125 mm armour-piercing projectile
Compatible Tanks : ZTZ96, ZTZ96A, ZTZ99, ZTZ99A
Key Specifications:
Muzzle velocity (+15°C) : 1760m/s
Accuracy? (+15°C, median error) : Height X Direction ≤0.25m x 0.25m (Average of three groups at room temperature)
Armour Penetration : normal temperature (+15°C), at 2000 metres, 220mm at 71.12° (Equivalent to 680mm at 0°)
Design : The schematic diagram of the whole projectile structure is shown in Figure 1, and the schematic diagram of the projectile structure is shown in Figure 2.
China’s DTC10-125 Anti-Tank Ammo : What We Know So Far
The DTC10-125 is a 125 mm armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) projectile, used in Chinese Type 99 (ZTZ99) and Type 96 (ZTZ96) tanks.
Unlike NATO tank ammunition (which comes in one piece), the DTC10-125 comes in two pieces. The projectile is loaded into the ZPT-98 gun, followed by a separate propellant charge.
This may seem tedious, but the ZPT-98 smoothbore gun is loaded by a carousel-style autoloader, which can be filled with up to 22 rounds.
The autoloader allows for rapid firing of up to 8 rounds per minute. Manual loading is much slower at just 2 rounds per minute.
The Chinese ZPT-98 gun is based on the Ukrainian 2A46M tank gun, which is 10% lighter than the original Soviet 2A46 gun.
Even before this leaked document in the War Thunder game forum, some of the DTC10-125 ammo’s performance characteristics were known through the US TRADOC and a Norinco internal document.
It features an all-tungsten penetrator with a tungsten carbide core towards the tip, with new Taigen (太根) propellant offering a higher chamber pressure, with a higher muzzle velocity of 1760 metres per second.
The DTC10-125 is said to be capable of penetrating 960 mm of rolled homogenous armour (RHA) at 1,000 metres, and 700 mm RHA at 2,000 metres.
Chinese netizens, however, recently posted this screenshot of a CCTV news report, which claims that ZTZ99A tank is capable of defeating 680 mm RHA at 1,800 metres using DTC10-125 round.
The leaked Chinese document appears to confirm the earlier assessment – the DTC10-125 penetrator is rated to penetrate 220 mm RHA at 71.12° angle, which is equivalent to 680 mm RHA at 2,000 metres.
This makes it significantly better than the previous DTW-125 round, which delivers a muzzle velocity of 1650 metres per second, and is rated to penetrate about 600 mm RHA at 2,000 metres.
The lower penetration reported by CCTV may be intentionally meant to obfuscate the DTC10-125 ammunition’s real capabilities to foreign observers.
On top of that, the DTC10-125 ammunition is compatible with older autoloaders designed for the 2A46 gun, and can thus be used in older Soviet-era tanks like the T-72, offering them better anti-tank penetration without modification.
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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.
A Chinese state media outlet accidentally leaked instructions on how their staff should frame Russian threats and military action against Ukraine.
Take a look at what their censorship instructions were regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict!
Chinese Media Accidentally Leaked Ukraine Censorship Order!
Horizon News, officially 世面 (Shimian, which literally translates as The World), is a media outlet that belongs to Beijing News (新京报), which is owned by the Chinese Communist Party.
On 22 February 2022, the verified Horizon News / Shimian account on Weibo accidentally leaked an internal directive on how their staff should frame the Russian threats and military action against Ukraine.
The Weibo post was deleted on the same day, but Ling Li – a Chinese researcher – managed to capture a screenshot :
Detailed censorship instructions for dissemination of reports and comments on the Russian-Ukraine conflict, mistakenly leaked⬇️⬇️⬇️
To make it easier for those who do not read Chinese to verify what Horizon News (世面) posted on their official and verified Weibo account, here is the original leaked text in Chinese.
Why Are The Chinese Censoring Opinions On Ukraine?
You may be wondering – why on earth would the Chinese spend so much time, money and effort to frame and censor their citizens’ opinions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict?
It appears that Beijing believes that backing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will reap rewards in the future, when China decides to “solve the Taiwan issue once and for all”.
Ming Jinwei – a senior editor at the Xinhua News Agency – elucidated this opinion in a WeChat post :
Simply put, China has to back Russia up with emotional and moral support while refraining from treading on the toes of the United States and European Union.
In the future, China will also need Russia’s understanding and support when wrestling with America to solve the Taiwan issue once and for all.
China is backing Russia beyond framing and censoring online opinions. Just one day before Russia recognised the two breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, China signed a deal to buy 100 million tons of Russian coal.
This deal would not only help China address its severe shortage of cheap coal, it would also help Russian mitigate sanctions enacted by the West, indirectly giving them more latitude to invade Ukraine.
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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.
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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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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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.
The government has officially announced a walk-in vaccination program for teenagers, but it is NOT open to all.
Here is what you need to know, before you head to the vaccination centre!
Walk-In Vaccination : Limited To Certain Teenagers
On 15 September 2021, the Malaysian government announced their aim to vaccinate 80% of adolescents before they start the new school year in March 2022.
To this end, they created CITF-A (COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force-Adolescent) to set the policies and coordinate the implementation of the adolescent vaccination plan.
On 21 September 2021, the Malaysia Health Ministry (KKM) announced a walk-in programme for certain teenagers.
Walk-In Vaccination For Teenagers : What You Need To Know!
Here is what you need to know about the walk-in vaccination programme for teenagers.
Teenagers Who Qualify For Walk-In Vaccination
These teenagers (defined as 12-17 years old) are ALLOWED to walk into PPVs for their COVID-19 vaccination :
Teenagers who are no longer studying (in public / private schools)
Teenagers studying in public or private universities
Teenagers who are home-schooled.
The government has specifically asked parents NOT to bring their children to “walk-in” for their vaccinations unless they are in the three groups above.
Note : Only one (1) parent / guardian may accompany each teenager for vaccination, to avoid crowding.
Teenagers Who DO NOT Qualify For Walk-In Vaccination
These teenagers (defined as 12-17 years old) are FORBIDDEN from walking into PPVs for their COVID-19 vaccination :
Teenagers who are studying in public or private schools, including international schools.
Teenagers studying in boarding schools, including day boarding schools.
These groups will be given appointments through their schools or MySejahtera.
What Vaccine Will Be Given
As mentioned earlier, teenagers in Malaysia will receive the Pfizer COMIRNATY vaccine, which was approved on 15 June 2021 for children of 12 to 17 years in age.
Vaccine Quota
Every COVID-19 Vaccination Centre (PPV) assigned to this program have been asked to reserve at least 20% of their daily vaccine quota for teenagers.
This is to ensure that adult vaccinations can proceed without interruptions or delay.
Walk-In Vaccination For Teenagers : PPV + Capacity
Here is the list of 156 PPVs and their capacities, as well as end-dates, involved in walk-in vaccination for teenagers.
State
District
PPV
Capacity for
Teenagers
Last Day
Perlis
Kangar
Dewan 2020
1600
5 October
Perlis
Dewan Seri Melati
400
–
Kedah
Baling
Dewan Kenangan TAR
Dewan MDB Kupang
1000
1000
–
Kubang Pasu
Dewan Sri Mas
800
–
Pendang
Dewan Cenderawasih
Dewan Felda Sg. Tiang
1000
400
–
Padang Terap
Dewan Tunku Putra
IKBN Naka
600
600
–
Sik
Dewan Al Hana
1800
–
Yan
Dewan Serbaguna
Guar Chempedak
400
–
Kuala Muda
Dewan PLAK
Dewan Gurun Jaya
800
1000
–
Bandar Baharu
Kompleks Sukan
Komuniti Serdang
1000
–
Langkawi
Dewan Syifa
600
–
Kota Setar
Dewan Serbaguna
Kementerian Dalam Negeri
1500
–
Penang
Penang Island
SPICE Convention Centre
5000
5 October
Prai Central
Seberang Jaya Expo
1000
5 October
Prai North
Perda Convention Centre
2000
5 October
Prai South
Dewan Serbaguna Sg. Bakap
1200
5 October
Perak
Kinta
Stadium Indera Mulia
Dewan Silverlake
3000
1000
5 October
Larut Matang
+ Selama
Dewan Besar ADTEC
Dewan Serbaguna Selama Permai 2
2400
400
5 October
Manjung
Dewan Inderawati
Dewan Merdeka
600
1600
5 October
Selangor
Petaling
Dewan Sivik MBPJ
3000
29 September
Hulu Langat
Bangi Avenue Convention Centre
5000
30 September
Gombak
Hospital Orang Asli Gombak
UNIKL British Malaysia Institute
250
1000
29 September
Kuala Langat
Dewan Sukan Kuala Langat
1800
29 September
Kuala Selangor
Stadium Tertutup Kuala Selangor
2000
29 September
Sepang
Multimedia University (MMU)
3000
15 October
Kuala Lumpur
Bukit Jalil
Axiata Arena
8000
15 October
Kuala Lumpur
Universiti Malaya (UM)
3300
30 September
Negeri
Sembilan
Seremban
Dewan Bandaraya Seremban
Dewan Orang Ramai Sikamat
1200
1000
–
Jelebu
Dewan D’Sury
400
–
Kuala Pilah
Dewan Dato Bahaman
600
–
Port Dickson
Dewan Kompleks Teluk Kemang
550
–
Melaka
Alor Gajah
Kompleks Sukan Masjid Tanah
Dewan UITM
600
800
5 October
Melaka Tengah
Dewan Tun Ali
Dewan MMU
Dewan Japerun
800
600
400
5 October
Jasin
Dewan MPJ
Dewan Jasin Sri Umbai
400
400
5 October
Johor
Johor Bahru
Persada Convention Centre
8000
5 October
Kulai
Dewan Bandar Putra Kulai
2500
5 October
Mersing
Dewan Serbaguna Endau
400
5 October
Pontian
KK Tenggaroh
Dewan Jubli Intan Pontian Dewan Pekan Nenas
NA
1000
600
5 October
Segamat
Dewan Serbaguna Jalan Genuang
Dewan Yayasan
PPV Labis
1200
800
800
5 October
Pahang
Jerantut
Dewan ADTEC
Dewan Chu Rahimah Jerantut
Xcape Resort Tahan
1000
400
200
5 October
Kuantan
Wisma Belia
Dewan Jubli Perak
1400
2400
5 October
Lipis
Dewan Kampung Sungai Koyan 1
Dewan Jubli Perak Lipis
Balora Benta
RPS Merapoh
600
600
400
400
5 October
Pekan
Dewan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah
JKKK Nenasi Pantai
Dewan Semai Bakti Felda Chini 1
Dewan Abdul Aziz IKM Pekan
Dewan IKBN
800
200
400
800600
5 October
Temerloh
Dewan Tun Razak
Dewan Dato Zaharuddin Peragap Dewan MPT
1200
600
600
5 October
Raub
Dewan UITM Raub
1800
5 October
Rompin
Dewan Sultan Ahmad Shah
Dewan Dara Muadzam Shah
600
600
5 October
Maran
Dewan Jubli Perak Maran
Stadium Tun Abdul Razak
1000
1600
5 October
Kelantan
Kota Bahru
Kompleks Sultan Ismail Petra
Dewan Majlis Daerah Ketereh
Dewan Sri Tunjung
1600
1600
1000
5 October
Kuala Krai
Dewan Taman Sri Guchil
Dewan Manik Urai
800
800
5 October
Machang
Dewan Perpaduan Machang
Dewan Profesional UITM
1000
1000
5 October
Pasir Mas
Dewan Samad Gul
1000
5 October
Pasir Puteh
Dewan Pasir Puteh
1000
5 October
Tanah Merah
& Tumpat
Dewan IKBN
Dewan Felda Kemahang 1
Dewan Kopeladar
Dewan Putra SBJ
Dewan Bunga Raya
Dewan Sri Renjuna
1000
800
600
600
600
600
5 October
Sabah
Penampang
Dewan Kebudayaan Penampang
Dewan KDCA
1500
2000
15 October
Sandakan
Dewan Masyarakat Sandakan
Dewan Hakka Dewan Serbaguna Entilibon Dewan PPPR Batu Sapi
1200
1600
200
400
15 October
Papar
Dewan Masyarakat Papar
Dewan Masyarakat Bongawan
1200
300
15 October
Putatan
Dewan Sri Putatan
1500
15 October
Keningau
Dewan Masyarakat Keningau
Kompleks Sukan Keningau
Dewan Masyarakat Sook Dewan Masyarakat Bingkor
2000
800
800
400
15 October
Beaufort
Dewan Pak Musa
Dewan Islam Membakut
1500
1500
15 October
Ranau
Dewan Masyarakat Ranau
1000
15 October
Kota Marudu
Dewan Kota Marudu
1400
15 October
Lahad Datu
Dewan Sri Perdana
Dewan Desa Kencana Dewab Serbaguna Lamag Dewan Silabukan Peringkat 1 Dewan Serbaguna Masjid Tunku Dewan Serbaguna Tambisan
1500
800 600
800
800
500
15 October
Kudat
Dewan Tun Mustapa
1000
15 October
Tenom
Dewan Sri Antanom
1200
15 October
Kinabatangan
Dewan Paduka Mat Salleh
1000
15 October
Sipitang
Dewan Serbaguna Sipitang
800
15 October
Beluran
Dewan Serbaguna Beluran
Dewan Serbaguna Botition Dewan Kombambangan
600
400
200
15 October
Telupid
Dewan IPS Telupid
800
15 October
Kunak
Dewan Masyarakat Sri Kunak
800
15 October
Kota Kinabalu
Dewan Wisma Wanita
Dewan Komuniti Menggatal Dewan Muhibbah Sembulan
2000
1200
300
15 October
Semporna
Dewan Masyarakat Semporna
1200
15 October
Kuala Penyu
Dewan Shahbandar Makang
800
15 October
Kota Belud
Dewan Tun Said
1000
15 October
Pitas
Dewan Belia Arena KBBS
500
15 October
Tambunan
Dewan Daerah Tambunan
800
15 October
Nabawan
Dewan Serbaguna Nabawan
600
15 October
Kalabakan
Sekolah Kebangsaan Kalabakan
Dewan Komuniti Felda Umas
200
200
15 October
Kudat
Dewan Terbuka Kerakit
Dewan Matunggong
200
200
15 October
Tuaran
Dewan Tun Hamdan
300
15 October
Tawau
Dewan Bola Keranjang Tawau
3500
15 October
Sarawak
Kapit
Dewan Sri Balleh
Dewan Eastwood Valley
500
3000
30 September
Miri
Dewan Curtin University
2500
30 September
Marudi
Dewan Suarah Marudi
1000
30 September
Subis
Dewan Sepupok Niah
Dewan Masy Bekenu
1000
1000
30 September
Telang Usan
Dewan Long Lama
600
30 September
Beluru
Dewan Masyarakat Beluru
Dewan Suarah Limbang
800
1000
30 September
Limbang
Dewan Long Tuma
Dewan Kampung Masjid Baru
Dewan Sundar
200
200
400
30 September
Lawas
Dewan Trusan
400
30 September
Labuan
Labuan
Dewan Darul Kifayah MAIWP
Dewan Kolej Matrikulasi Labuan
600
1500
15 October
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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.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 official promo video just leaked ahead of Galaxy Unpacked 2021!
Check out the leaked video, and find out what we know so far about the two new Samsung foldable phones!
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 + Z Flip3 Promo Video Leaked!
The official promotional video of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 smartphones was just leaked, ahead of Galaxy Unpacked 2021!
Get an early sneak peek at these two new magnificent Samsung foldable smartphones!
Here is what the 30-second official Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 revealed :
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
It has a bigger and more versatile cover display.
Flex mode supports angles of between 75° and 115°.
IPX8 water-resistant – up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.
Not dust-resistant
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
Flex mode supports angles of between 75° and 115°.
IPX8 water-resistant – up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.
Not dust-resistant
New Samsung S Pen Models
There are two models – S Pen Pro and S Pen Fold Edition
Both are sold separately
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 : Where + When?
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event will be held virtually, and streamed on Samsung official websites, YouTube and Facebook.
The livestream starts on 11 August at these times globally :
Malaysia + Singapore : 10 PM (GMT+8)
US : 10 AM EDT / 7 AM PDT
UK : 3 PM
India : 7:30 PM IST
Australia : 12 AM AEST (12 August)
If you register your interest from now until 11 August, Samsung will give you an e-voucher worth RM300 / US$100 / SGD$100 or a complimentary Samsung Care+ (Australia), which you can use with the purchase of your next Galaxy device.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 : What To Expect?
Here is what you can expect Samsung to announce during Galaxy Unpacked 2021 :
Two Foldable Smartphones
Samsung will likely introduce two foldable smartphones, with a more robust folding design and upgraded hardware :
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 – available in Phantom Green, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black.
– 256 GB variant will be priced around €1,678.51 (before VAT).
– 512 GB variant will be priced around €1,783.10 (before VAT).
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
– available in Phantom Black, Dark Blue, Grey, White, Cream, Green, Light Pink and Lavender.
– 128 GB variant will be priced around €978.13 (before VAT).
– 256 GB variant will be priced around €1,029.20 (before VAT).
No Galaxy Note On The Horizon
We would normally expect Samsung to introduce a new Galaxy Note design, but this appears to be off the table in 2021.
However, you can expect Samsung to introduce t he Galaxy S21 FE as an affordable option for the new normal.
More Wearables, Of Course!
Look out for more wearables like Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch Active 4 smartwatches, and Galaxy Buds 2 TWS earbuds.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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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.
Samsung has officially announced that Galaxy Unpacked 2021 will kick off on 11 August!
Here is what you can expect at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 virtual launch event!
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 : Where + When?
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event will be held virtually, and streamed on Samsung official websites, YouTube and Facebook.
The livestream starts on 11 August at these times globally :
Malaysia + Singapore : 10 PM (GMT+8)
US : 10 AM EDT / 7 AM PDT
UK : 3 PM
India : 7:30 PM IST
Australia : 12 AM AEST (12 August)
If you register your interest from now until 11 August, Samsung will give you an e-voucher worth RM300 / US$100 / SGD$100 or a complimentary Samsung Care+ (Australia), which you can use with the purchase of your next Galaxy device.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 : What To Expect?
Samsung is naturally short on details about their Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event, stating that :
We live in a time of accelerated change — from rapid shifts in work culture to the rise of cutting-edge communication technologies.
Now more than ever there is a need for flexible, versatile mobile devices that can keep up with the fast pace of our lives so we can maximize and enjoy every moment.
Whatever does that mean? We got you covered…
Here is what you can expect Samsung to announce during Galaxy Unpacked 2021 :
Two Foldable Smartphones
Samsung will likely introduce two foldable smartphones, with a more robust folding design and upgraded hardware :
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 – available in Phantom Green, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black.
– 256 GB variant will be priced around €1,678.51 (before VAT).
– 512 GB variant will be priced around €1,783.10 (before VAT).
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
– available in Phantom Black, Dark Blue, Grey, White, Cream, Green, Light Pink and Lavender.
– 128 GB variant will be priced around €978.13 (before VAT).
– 256 GB variant will be priced around €1,029.20 (before VAT).
No Galaxy Note On The Horizon
We would normally expect Samsung to introduce a new Galaxy Note design, but this appears to be off the table in 2021.
However, you can expect Samsung to introduce t he Galaxy S21 FE as an affordable option for the new normal.
More Wearables, Of Course!
Look out for more wearables like Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch Active 4 smartwatches, and Galaxy Buds 2 TWS earbuds.
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.
HUAWEI is about to launch the nova 8i smartphone, but some of its specifications and details have leaked!
Here is what you can look forward to, when the HUAWEI nova 8i smartphone launches!
HUAWEI nova 8i Specifications + Features Leaked!
Ahead of its launch here in Southeast Asia, we have the leaked specifications and details of the HUAWEI nova 8i smartphone!
Upgraded Design!
HUAWEI nova 8i comes with 6.67-inch Edgeless Display, with a Full HD+ resolution, DCI-P3 colour gamut, and an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 94.7%.
The display features a 180 Hz touch sampling rate, and supports Eye Comfort Mode to filter out blue light.
The back of the nova 8i will offer “a delicate visual effect”, courtesy of the NCVM (non-conductive vacuum metallisation) process, together with a sleek 4D curved design.
It will be offered in three colour options – Moonlight Silver (seen below), Starry Black and Interstellar Blue.
Upgraded Photography!
The HUAWEI nova 8i will feature a circular camera module at the back, with four cameras :
64 MP main camera (f/1.9)
8 MP ultra-wide angle camera
2 MP macro camera
2 MP depth sensor (does not take photo / video)
It will support upgraded Super Night Shot 2.0 enhancements for superior image quality in low-light conditions.
Upgraded Performance!
The HUAWEI nova 8i is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 mobile platform, with a 6GB / 8GB memory configuration, and 128 GB of internal storage.
It will run on EMUI 11, which is based on Android 10. HUAWEI will introduce HarmonyOS later.
Upgraded Fast Charging
The HUAWEI nova 8i is powered by a 4,300 mAh battery, that supports 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge for these recharging speeds :
100% battery capacity in just 38 minutes
68% battery capacity in just 20 minutes
HUAWEI nova 8i Specifications : What We Know So Far
Exclusive on Tech ARP – the first look at the 2021 MacBook Pro ports, including a brand new MagSafe 3 port and an SD card slot!
Here is the first ever look at the MagSafe 3 connector, the SD card slot, and other ports that will ship with the 2021 MacBook Pro!
First Look : 2021 MacBook Pro MagSafe 3 + SD Card Slot!
Apple fans who miss the MagSafe port and the SD card reader in their MacBook laptops will have something to cheer for this year!
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!
New Apple MagSafe 3 Connector!
The new MagSafe 3 connector is bidirectional and has 5 pins, and will lock and detach magnetically like the previous two generations.
The MagSafe 3 connector is not compatible with older MacBook computers, and has a pill-shaped design with a thinner profile.
The MagSafe 3 port is located on the left side of the 2021 MBP, next to two Thunderbolt 3 (USB4) ports, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Ports on the left side of the 2021 Apple MBP | Copyright : Tech ARP (www.techarp.com)
Return Of The SD Card Reader!
We are also glad to report that Apple will (finally) bring back the SD card reader that many photographers LOVED, and bemoaned when Phil Schiller killed it in 2016.
Now that Schiller is out of Apple, it looks like it’s been resurrected for the 2021 MacBook Pro. Utility finally trumped cumbersome!
The SD card reader is located on the right side, together with a third Thunderbolt 3 (USB4) port and a HDMI 2.0 port.
Ports on the right side of the 2021 Apple MBP | Copyright : Tech ARP (www.techarp.com)
2021 Apple MacBook Pro : What Else Is New?
So what else is new in the 2021 MacBook Pro, other than MagSafe 3 and the resurrected SD card reader?
14-inch + 16-inch Models
There will be two 2021 MacBook Pro models – with 14-inch and 16-inch displays.
Apple M1X SoC
There will no longer be Intel CPU options, only the Apple M1X SoC.
Nothing much is known about the Apple M1X, other than it is a more powerful version of the M1 that has stunned many with its performance.
But rumours have it that it will have 12 processor cores, split into two performance clusters :
P Cluster (Performance) : 8 x Firestorm (?) cores
E Cluster (Efficient) : 4 x Icestorm (?) cores
It will have a more powerful GPU than Apple M1‘s 8-core GPU.
Memory
The Apple M1X will use the same unified memory design as the M1, built directly onto the package for near-instantaneous access.
However, it will offer larger memory options – 24 GB and 32 GB are possible – in addition to 16 GB currently available with the M1.
External Display Support
A big limitation of the Apple M1 is its support for just one external display of up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz.
The 2021 MacBook Pro will support at least two external displays, if not more, via its Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI ports.
OLED Touch Bar Gone!
Good riddance to the pointless OLED Touch Bar. That’s gone for the 2021 MacBook Pro models.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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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.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Did the leaked Eurocham circular warn of a total shutdown of the economy in Malaysia?
Find out why it was really just a storm in a teacup…
Eurocham Leak Of Malaysia Shutdown : What Happened?
On 23 January 2021, a Eurocham (EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry) circular to their members leaked and circulated on social media – WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Many netizens and even media outlets blared warnings of a TOTAL LOCKDOWN immediately after 4 February 2021.
Eurocham Leak Of Malaysia Shutdown : Nothing Shocking…
When the circular leaked, there were expressions of SHOCK! Horror! Outrage! online.
The truth is – those who actually read the circular carefully would be nonplussed about what it revealed…
It was really an appeal to the manufacturing industry to help cut down on the infection rate, so that the economy does NOT need to shut down.
So please don’t panic over the threat of a complete shutdown of the economy. We went through it once with the first MCO in March 2020.
It will be no different. We survived that, and if it happens again, we will be ready for it. Remember, my fellow Malaysians – MALAYSIA BOLEH!!!
And if you really want to help prevent a shut down of the economy, please FOLLOW THE SOP!
Eurocham Leak Of Malaysia Shutdown : The Facts
For those who want a play-by-play of why there’s nothing to worry about in the Eurocham circular, here are our points…
Fact #1 : It Was KKM With Clear Stand On Complete Shutdown
The circular noted that it was the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) that “made a clear stand of the matter of a complete shutdown of the economy“.
It did not even mention what that “clear stand” was, but KKM has stated publicly that they recommended a strict lockdown to the government several times in the past.
Fact #2 : Shutdown Was Always A Possibility
A complete shutdown of the economy, which happened with the first MCO, was always a possibility.
The Malaysia Ministry of Health shared publicly that they had recommended the reimposition of those strict measures several times in the past.
Fact #3 : Shutdown Was Predicated On Infection Rate
What many people did not notice or care is that the “threat” of a complete shutdown of the economy was predicated on the infection rate.
“Should the infection rate not decrease, the Malaysian government will announce a shutdown / strict lockdown immediately after 4 February 2021.”
In other words – if the infection rate can be brought down, the shutdown or strict lockdown will not happen at all.
Fact #4 : Shutdown Was Overruled In The Past
The Malaysian government overruled KKM’s recommendations for strict MCO in the past, so even their “clear stand” this time may not amount to much.
In fact, the circular states that the Malaysian government is considering either a shutdown or a strict lockdown (see the quote in Fact #3).
Fact #5 : Industry Was Asked To Help Cut Down Infection Rate
The circular points out that the manufacturing sector accounts for a large number of clusters, and worker dormitories, transportation and social activities were identified as key problem areas.
Therefore, the meeting was to get the manufacturing industry to help clamp down on the infection rate, by addressing those problem areas.
Fact #6 : It Was An Urgent Appeal To Forestall A Shutdown
If the government had already made up their mind to shutdown the economy, they would not bother to call for such meetings with industry representatives.
It was obvious from the circular that the Malaysian government was urgently appealing for industries to solve the problem of persistently high COVID-19 infection rates.
Hence, the circular listed two urgent measures that companies were requested to implement immediately.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Samsung is about to launch the Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) – a refreshed version of the original Galaxy S20 smartphone!
Here is EVERYTHING leaked so far about the upcoming Galaxy S20 FE smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE : Fan Edition
Scheduled for an official launch on 23 September 2020, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) is an upcoming Lite version of the original Galaxy S20 smartphone.
It’s not just a cheaper mid-range version though, with some improvements over the Galaxy S20, like a large display with 120 Hz refresh rate and a larger battery.
The term Fan Edition, you may recall, was originally introduced for the revamped Galaxy Note 7.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE : What Leaked So Far!
Ahead of its official launch, here is what we know so far about the Galaxy S20 FE :
It was originally called the Galaxy S20 Lite.
It will be available in 4G (SM-G780) and 5G (SM-G781) models
The 5G variant will be powered by the Snapdragon 865, and available in Europe as well as the US, Korea and China.
The 4G variant will be powered by the Exynos 990, and available in all the other countries.
It will come with a larger 6.5-inch display with 120 Hz refresh rate, but a lower resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels
It will use Gorilla Glass 3 protection to save on costs
It will come with 6 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage
The front camera will be upgraded with a 32 MP sensor
The 3X telephoto rear camera will have an 8 MP sensor, instead of 64 MP
It will come with a large 4,500 battery – 500 mAh (12.5%) more than Galaxy S20
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE : Price + Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE will be CHEAPER than the Galaxy S20, with reports saying that it will have a starting price of US$750 (about £579 / A$1,026 / S$1019 / RM3099).
Samsung will offer it in six colour options – Navy Blue, Teal, Lavender, Red, White and Orange – which they revealed in their promotional images above. This confirmed Evan Blass’ leaked photo below.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE : 5G vs 4G
Here is a specification comparison of the 5G and 4G variants of the Galaxy S20 FE :
Specifications
Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Galaxy S20 FE 4G
Model
SM-G781
SM-G780
Display
6.5-inch Super AMOLED display
– 1080 x 2400 pixels
– 120 Hz refresh
– HDR10 support
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
IP68 dust- and water-resistance
Operating System
Android Q with One UI 2.5
System Platform
Snapdragon 865
Exynos 990
Processor
1 x Kryo 585 Gold 3 x Kryo 585 Gold 4 x Kryo 585 Silver
2 x Exynos M5 2 x Cortex-A76 4 x Cortex-A55
GPU
Adreno 650
Mali-G77 MP11
RAM
6 GB LPDDR5
Storage
128 GB (UFS 2.1)
External Storage
microSD (hybrid, up to 1 TB)
Front Camera
32 MP, f/2.2 aperture
Rear Cameras
Main : 12 MP Sony IMX555, f/1.8
Ultra-Wide : 12 MP, f/2.2
3X Telephoto: 8 MP, f/2.4
Connectivity
5G / 4G / 3G / 2G
Wi-Fi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band)
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
Fingerprint Sensor
In Display Ultrasonic
Audio
Dolby Atmos stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Battery
4,500 mAh battery
Charger
15 W fast charger
Dimensions
? mm wide
? mm tall
8.4 mm thick
Weight
190 g
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE vs Galaxy S20
Here is a specification comparison of Galaxy S20 FE against the original Galaxy S20 :
Specifications
Galaxy S20 FE
Galaxy S20
Model
SM-G781
SM-G981
Display
6.5-inch Super AMOLED – 1080 x 2400 pixels – 120 Hz refresh
– HDR10 support
6.2-inch Super AMOLED – 1440 x 3200 pixels – 60 Hz refresh
– HDR10 support
Protection
Gorilla Glass 3
Gorilla Glass 6
IP Rating
IP68 dust- and water-resistance
Operating System
Android Q with One UI
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 / Samsung Exynos 990
RAM
6 GB LPDDR5
8 GB LPDDR5
Storage
128 GB (UFS 2.1)
External Storage
microSD (hybrid, up to 1 TB)
Front Camera
32 MP, f/2.2 aperture
10 MP, f/2.2 aperture
Rear Cameras
12 MP main camera
12 MP ultra-wide camera 8 MP telephone camera (3X)
12 MP main camera
12 MP ultra-wide camera 64 MP telephone camera (3X)
Connectivity
Wi-Fi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band)
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
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Galaxy Note20 Ultra : 5X Hybrid Optic Zoom with 50X Super Resolution Zoom
Galaxy Note20 : 3X Hybrid Optic Zoom with 30X Super Resolution Zoom
Mobile Gaming
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 devices will come with a free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription in select countries, giving you access to 100+ specially selected games.
On top of that, Samsung is giving it serious gaming chops, with an AI Game Booster feature, a high-resolution display with 120 Hz refresh rate and 240 Hz touch rate.
In addition, they also reduced the Bluetooth audio response time, to reduce audio lag.
Improved S Pen
They will both come with a lithium titanate battery that gives it 24 hour standby time. However, the S Pen for the Galaxy Note 20 has a 25 ms response time, while the S Pen for the Note 20 Ultra has a 9 ms response time.
The new S Pen will also support Anywhere actions – general Air actions that will work with any app :
Move Backwards
Home
Recent App
Smart Select
Screen Capture
Battery Capacities
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will come with a slightly larger battery than the “regular” Note 20 :
Galaxy Note20 Ultra : 4,500 mAh
Galaxy Note20 : 4,300 mAh
They will both support wireless charging with reverse charging capability, of course.
New Colours
Samsung will offer three colour options per model :
Galaxy Note20 Ultra : Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Mystic White
Rumours have it that Samsung will also introduce Mint and Purple colour options, even a BTS Limited Edition… eventually.
Ultra-Wideband Technology (UWB)
Both devices will support Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, which enables the newly-announced Google Nearby Share feature – letting you share files by pointing at compatible devices.
UWB technology also allows the Galaxy Note20 devices to function as digital keys. And in the future, Samsung will introduce SmartThings, which lets you locate objects using AR (Augmented Reality).
Samsung DeX
Naturally, the Galaxy Note20 devices support Samsung DeX, which has been enhanced to support wireless projection. So yes, you no longer need a cable to use Dex!
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Price leaks from Korea and Vietnam show that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will be slightly cheaper! Here are the details!
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 : Price Leaks!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that Samsung will introduce the Galaxy Note 20 series with slightly lower prices in Korea :
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display, with a Full HD+ resolution.
It will come with 8 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, and a 4,300 mAh battery. Its triple camera system will support 8K video recording :
a 12 MP main camera,
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and
a 64 MP telephoto camera with 30X Space Zoom
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, with a 2K+ resolution.
It will come with 12 GB of RAM, up to 512 GB of storage, and a 4,500 mAh battery. Its triple camera system will come with laser focusing and support 8K video recording :
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Just hours before Galaxy Unpacked 2020, the complete price list and press release for the Samsung Galaxy S20 leaked!
Here is everything you need to know about the Galaxy S20 price list and press release leaked by Dutch blog, LetsGoDigital!
Samsung Galaxy S20 : Price List + Availability LEAKED!
According to the leaked Galaxy S20 press release, the new Samsung Galaxy Buds+ true wireless earbuds will go on sale on Friday, 14 February 2020.
The Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra will be released for sale or delivery one month later, on Friday, 13 March 2020.
LetsGoDigital only revealed the leaked Dutch prices for the Galaxy S20 family and Galaxy Buds+, but we compiled estimated prices for you in this table :
Model
The Netherlands
US
UK
MY
Galaxy S20 Ultra
(512 GB)
€1549
$1549.99
£1299
RM 6999
Galaxy S20 Ultra
(128 GB)
€1349
$1349.99
£1199
RM 5999
Galaxy S20+
(128 GB)
€1099
$1199.99
£999
RM 4999
Galaxy S20
(128 GB, 5G)
€999
$999.99
£899
RM 4499
Galaxy S20
(128 GB, LTE)
€899
$899.99
£799
RM 3999
Galaxy Buds+
€169
$169.99
£149
RM 759
Samsung Galaxy S20 : Press Release LEAKED!
Here is the leaked Galaxy S20 press release for The Netherlands :
The Samsung Galaxy S20: the start of a new mobile era
Samsung today unveils the Galaxy S20, a new series of premium devices that fundamentally changes the way we capture and experience the world around us. The integration of advanced 5G technology, artificial intelligence and new camera hardware and software helps users to express themselves in a whole new way. No matter how we use our phone, the Galaxy S20 makes every experience easier, more enjoyable and more complete. This not only applies to taking photos, but also to listening to music, watching videos and playing games.
“In this decade, 5G will completely change how we communicate and how we experience the world around us,” says Gerben van Walt Meijer, Mobile Marketing Manager at Samsung Netherlands. ‘All three Galaxy S20 variants are equipped with 5G connectivity, which means that even larger amounts of data can be shared much faster and accessibility is improved considerably, even in busy locations. Thanks to the stable 5G connection and the AI-powered camera, video chat becomes a completely different experience. Thanks to the improved latency, you can effortlessly play your favorite game on the Galaxy S20. “
Shaping the future in communication
With 5G, Samsung is entering a new decade of mobile innovation. And to take advantage of this new generation of connectivity, every device in the Galaxy S20 series – the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 + and Galaxy S20 Ultra – is equipped with the latest 5G technology. The Galaxy S20 line are the first devices that enable new mobile experiences that benefit from nationwide low-frequency bands and high-frequency bands. The Galaxy S20 series offers both non-standalone and standalone 5G options. The Galaxy S20 series is of course also fully compatible with 4G.
Capture changes
More than ever, we record our lives and tell our stories via our smartphone. That is why the camera is the most important function for consumers who buy a new smartphone. Designed for the way we live, the Galaxy S20 introduces a completely new camera system – powered by AI and with the largest image sensor ever – to bring out the best in every image and every moment.
• Every detail in stunning clarity: the camera of the Galaxy S20 offers a super high resolution (108MP high resolution [Galaxy S20 Ultra] / 64MP high resolution [Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 +]), which brings every detail and nuance of the image forward brings. The Galaxy S20 Ultra goes one step further with pixel fusion technology at sensor level, for stunning shots in low light. • Unrivaled zoom options: the Galaxy S20’s Space Zoom technology narrows the gap between DSLRs and the cameras we are used to in our phones. Space Zoom – a combination of lossless hybrid optical zoom (3x [Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 +], 10x [Galaxy S20 Ultra]) and AI-powered 10x digital zoom – lets users zoom up to 100x (S20 Ultra). It is also easy to take a picture, crop it and edit it in impressive quality, thanks to the crop-zoom technology of the Galaxy S20. • Professional-level filming: the Galaxy S20 offers 8K video recording, which allows users to capture every detail and stunning colors. With Super Steady 2.0, with anti-roll stabilization and AI motion analysis, even the most bumpy videos look like they were recorded with a track and dolly. Cast the end result to a Samsung 8K TV for a best-in-class viewing experience. • Single Take, multiple options: with the Galaxy S20 the user can stay in the moment while he captures it. The Galaxy S20 takes several photos and videos simultaneously, including live focus, cropped, ultra wide and more, after which the device recommends the best shots based on AI.
Do what you love, even better
The Galaxy S20 also improves all other things that we like to do on our phone. With new functions and impactful partnerships, the Galaxy S20 has been built for a new kind of mobile experience. • Immersive music: Thanks to a new integration between Spotify and Bixby Routines you can easily enjoy a personalized soundtrack based on routines. With Music Share you can extend the Bluetooth connection to a car radio or speaker, so that you can take turns DJing during a road trip. • Exceptional video chat on Google Duo: the Galaxy S20 enhances the video chat experience through 5G and an exclusive collaboration with Google and Google Duo video calls. Use the wide lens to engage the entire family in a conversation. Chat with eight friends at a time. And chat for the first time in FHD quality. • YouTube on 5G: your 8K videos are worth sharing with the world. Samsung works with YouTube so that you can upload 8K videos directly. Create your own 8K content and watch it in unrivaled quality on your 8K television. • Streaming: Because of the professional camera of the Galaxy S20, Netflix and Samsung have joined forces to have the Galaxy S20, to have renowned directors capture exclusive content for Samsung users. Users can also discover the very best content from Netflix through improved integration with Galaxy devices, making content easier to discover and accessible through Samsung Daily, Bixby and Finder. • Great gaming: mobile gaming is also being lifted to a higher level. With a 120Hz screen you will experience the fastest refresh rate and smooth gameplay – perfect for gaming on a 5G network. Combined with a fast processor, 12GB RAM, an AKG audio system and a game booster that works in the background to optimize the settings for top performance, the Galaxy S20 sets a new standard for on-the-go gaming.
Experience endless possibilities
The new Galaxy S20 features the premium technologies that Galaxy fans have come to know and expect. The Galaxy S20 is the most secure device that Samsung has ever made and is protected by Knox, the leading mobile security platform that protects the device from the chip to software level. The Galaxy S20 also features a new, secure processor, called Guardian Chip, to protect against hardware attacks.
Powered by a larger and smarter battery, the Galaxy S20 comes with a 25W fast charger, with the Ultra also supporting 45W Super Fast charging. The entire series is equipped with enormous storage as standard (128 GB for S20; 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB for Galaxy S20 + and S20 Ultra).
The Galaxy S20 is located in the heart of the Galaxy ecosystem. The device comes with Samsung’s most clean, simple and intuitive interface to date: One UI 2. You can also use the Galaxy S20 to control the smart home with SmartThings, to achieve health and wellness goals with Samsung Health and more.
Galaxy Buds +
With the new Samsung Galaxy Buds + you can immerse yourself in your favorite music and podcasts. The Buds + have dynamic two-way speakers for powerful bass and crystal clear sound, tuned by AKG; three microphones for unparalleled sound and voice quality; and an incredibly long battery life – 11 hours for the Buds + and an additional 11 hours using the charging case. The Buds + are iOS compatible, so no matter which device you use you can enjoy a great audio experience. With a Spotify partnership, you can listen to your music more easily, point to your favorite playlists and press Play with one tap.
Galaxy S20 availability
From March 13, 2020, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 +, Galaxy S20 Ultra are available in various color options and prices. The Galaxy Buds + are available from February 14, 2020.
The smartphones are available with the following suggested retail prices: • Galaxy S20: 128GB LTE for € 899 and 128GB 5G for € 999 • Galaxy S20 +: 128GB 5G for € 1099 • Galaxy S20 Ultra: 128GB for € 1349 and 512GB for € 1549 • Galaxy Buds + : € 169
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On 11 February 2020, Samsung will unveil three new Galaxy smartphones – the Galaxy S20 series!
On the cusp of the big reveal, let us share with you what you can expect from the Samsung Galaxy S20 series!
Samsung Galaxy S20 Series : What Should You Expect?
Okay, let’s do a quick run-down of what you can expect Samsung to announce for the Galaxy S20 series :
Hi! My Name Is Picasso!
The codename for the Samsung Galaxy S20 series is Picasso, and even though it is sequentially supposed to be the Galaxy S11 series, Samsung is calling it the Galaxy S20 series.
Why? To align with the year 2020? To breakaway from the S10’s naming convention of S10e, S10, S10+? Perhaps it’s both reasons?
Congratulations! You Have Triplets!
Samsung will release three models to target different segments :
Galaxy S20 Ultra : 6.9-inch display, 108 MP camera, and 48 MP telephoto camera with 10X zoom
Galaxy S20 Plus : 6.7-inch display, 12 MP camera, and 64 MP telephoto camera with 3X zoom
Galaxy S20 : 6.2-inch display, 12 MP camera, and 64 MP telephoto camera with 3X zoom
Speedy, Speedy Gonzales!
Needless to say, the Samsung Galaxy S20 series will boast the latest mobile platform :
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 has been unveiled! And we managed to get our hands on the first few units in the world!
But while we are working on the videos and preview articles, let’s do a quick round-up of EVERYTHING we know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 so far!
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 – Everything You Need To Know!
This will become our central repository of everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ smartphones!
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Key Dates
Samsung Unpacked Launch
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 10 in New York City on Wednesday, 7 August 2019 at 1 PM PST / 4 PM EDT / 9 PM BST… and over here in Malaysia, at 4 AM on 8 August 2019.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 Pre-Order
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 pre-order will run globally from 8-18 August 2019, with collections starting from 22 August 2019 onwards.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 Retail Availability
Samsung will start selling the Galaxy Note 10 globally beginning 23 August 2019.
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Faster Exynos / Snapdragon Platforms!
Globally, they will all run on the new Samsung Exynos 9825 mobile SoC, released just in time to power the Galaxy Note 10 devices.
It is a refreshed version of the Exynos 9820 that powers the Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e smartphones, fabricated on the smaller 7 nm process.
Here is a comparison of the Exynos 9825’s performance against other devices.
Geekbench
Samsung Galaxy
Note 10
Samsung Galaxy
Note 9
Apple iPhone
XS
HUAWEI
P30 Pro
Single Core
4495
3443
4821
3317
Multi-Core
10223
8778
11610
9819
In the United States, they will both use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 instead.
Whichever mobile platform your Galaxy Note 10 comes with, Samsung promises that it will have a 33% faster CPU and a 42% faster GPU than last year’s Galaxy Note 9.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Display Sizes
Both models will come with Infinity-O displays, with a punch hole for the front camera.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will come with a 6.3-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution.
This would make it slightly smaller than the 6.4-inch display of the Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy Note9, with a lower display resolution and pixel density.
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ will come with a massive 6.8-inch display and Quad HD display resolution.
Improved S Pen With Air Gestures
The groundbreaking S Pen will get some upgrades, with the new version supporting Air Gestures.
It retains the single button, but comes with a built-in battery for about 10 hours of battery life, instead of a capacitor that powered the Note9 S Pen.
It will apparently let you control certain functions using gestures without the S Pen touching the display… How mysterious! We can’t wait to see how it works!
Both models will have a single 10 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.9 aperture and a 80° field of view like the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e smartphones.
Triple Or Quad Rear Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will have a triple camera system, that is made up of :
Main Camera : 12 MP sensor with f/1.5 and f/2.4 variable aperture
Ultra-Wide Angle Camera : 16 MP sensor with f/1.9 aperture, and 123° field of view.
Telephoto Camera : 12 MP sensor with f/2.4 aperture and 2X lossless zoom
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ will have a quad camera system. In addition to the three cameras above, it will feature :
DepthVision Camera : a HQVGA (240 x 160 pixels) ToF (Time of Flight) sensor which provides 3D data – does not take pictures!
Video Bokeh
This is a really exciting feature for those who record videos. The Galaxy Note 10+ with its DepthVision camera will be able to blur out the background of your videos using the Video Bokeh feature.
This will give your videos a real cinematic flair with adjustable depth-of-field effects. You can also add special effects in real-time!
Audio Zoom Capability!
This is an incredibly important new feature, at least for those who do a lot of video recording without using external microphones.
There are three Audio Zoom microphones, which will “focus” on the subject that you are recording, and hopefully greatly reduce ambient noise.
Audio Zoom will also change the range of sound that it captures as you “zoom” into the action. Very interesting!
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Hybrid SIM Tray
Disappointingly, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will NOT come with a hybrid SIM tray.
Instead, it will have a dual SIM tray. This means you are limited to the 256 GB internal storage.
While that is more than enough for most users, we personally prefer to use a microSD card to store our media.
In case anything happens to the phone, we can still retrieve the media stored on the microSD card.
If you want the ability to add a microSD card, you will need to opt for the Galaxy Note 10+, which comes with the hybrid SIM slot.
Here’s a curious bit of oddity – the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G does not have the hybrid SIM tray. Only the LTE version.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 comes with a 3,500 mAh battery, while the Note 10+ has a larger 4,300 mAh battery.
They both support 45W fast charging and 12W fast wireless charging.
However, neither will come bundled with the new 45W Samsung EP-TA845 fast charger. Only a 25W fast charger.
Samsung will introduce a new EP-N5200 wireless charging dock that will support 20W wireless charging across two coils.
Time To Hit The Road, Jack…
Even as Xiaomi resurrects the 3.5 mm audio port in the new Mi A3 smartphone, Samsung will officially kill the headphone jack in the Galaxy Note10 series.
Unfortunately, the dongle is NOT free. Samsung is going to sell it for US$10 / ~£8.30 / A$20 / ~RM 42 each.
There is some good news though – the box includes a pair of USB Type C AKG earphones. At the very least, you can listen to music right out of the box!
Fingerprint Scanner, Iris Scanner?
Both models will come with an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner like their Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e brethren.
They lose the iris scanner from the Galaxy Note9, but retain Face Recognition.
IP68 Water-Resistance
It was rumoured that they will boast improved IP69 water-resistance. This would mean they will withstand high-pressure water (80-100 bar) for at least 3 minutes at a distance of 10 to 15 cm.
Unfortunately, Samsung stuck with IP68, which is good enough for short immersions in water up to 1.5 m in depth, but not enough to withstand pressurised or forceful sprays of water.
2019-08-11 : Added more information about the Exynos 9825 and Snapdragon 855 mobile platforms, DepthVision camera, hybrid SIM tray, and IP68 water resistance.
2019-08-09 : Addedthe Galaxy Note 10 vs Galaxy Note 10+ colour comparison, and details about their colour options.
2019-08-08 : Added the confirmed launch prices and specifications, as well as pre-order details and videos from the Galaxy Unpacked event, and the exclusive media preview.
2019-08-07 : Added the leaked Galaxy Note 10 prices, specifications as well as details on the S Pen, Air Gestures, Audio Zoom, etc.
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Komachi just discovered a treasure trove – the Radeon RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT graphics cards that ASUS and GIGABYTE will soon announce!
Here is the full list of ASUS and GIGABYTE RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT models that will be coming shortly to a store near you!
The AMD Radeon RX 5700 Series
The AMD Radeon RX 5700 series of graphics cards is built around the new AMD Navi GPU that uses the new RDNA architecture and fabricated on the 7 nm process technology.
Its redesigned Compute Units deliver 1.25X higher performance per clock, and up to 1.5X better performance per watt.
Here is a quick comparison between the Radeon RX 5700 XT, and the Radeon RX 5700 models :
Specifications
Radeon
RX 5700 XT
Radeon
RX 5700
Transistor Count
10.3 Billion
10.3 Billion
Die Size
251 mm²
1 mm²
Compute Units
40
40
Stream Processors
2560
2304
Base Clock
1605 MHz
1465 MHz
Game Clock Clock
1755 MHz
1625 MHz
Boost Clock Clock
1905 MHz
1725 MHz
Peak Performance
9.75 TFLOPS
7.95 TFLOPS
Texture Fill Rate
304.8 GP/s
248.4 GP/s
ROPS
64
64
Pixel Fill Rate
121.9 GP/s
110.4 GP/s
Memory Interface
256-bits
256-bits
Graphics Memory
8 GB GDDR6
8 GB GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
448 GB/s
448 GB/s
Board Power
225 W
185 W
ASUS Radeon RX 5700 Graphics Cards
Here is the first slew of ASUS Radeon RX 5700 graphics cards :
ASUS Radeon RX 5700 Graphics Cards
RX 5700 XT
RX 5700
ROG Strix Series
OG-STRIX-RX5700XT-O8G-GAMING
ROG-STRIX-RX5700-O8G-GAMING
ROG-STRIX-RX5700XT-A8G-GAMING
ROG-STRIX-RX5700-A8G-GAMING
ROG-STRIX-RX5700XT-8G-GAMING
ROG-STRIX-RX5700-8G-GAMING
TUF Gaming 3X Series
TUF3-RX5700XT-A8G-GAMING
TUF3-RX5700-O8G-GAMING
TUF3-RX5700XT-8G-GAMING
TUF3-RX5700-A8G-GAMING
TUF3-RX5700XT-O8G-GAMING
TUF3-RX5700-8G-GAMING
Dual Series
DUAL-RX5700-O8G-EVO
DUAL-RX5700-A8G-EVO
DUAL-RX5700-8G-EVO
Reference Series
RX5700XT-8G
RX5700-8G
ASUS should release seven Radeon RX 5700 XT cards, and ten Radeon RX 5700 cards – a total of 17 cards.
A respectable number, but still far fewer than the 33 Super RTX cards they are also going to release!
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 5700 Graphics Cards
Here is the first slew of GIGABYTE Radeon RX 5700 graphics cards :
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 5700 Graphics Cards
RX 5700 XT
RX 5700
AORUS Series
GV-R57XTAORUS-8GD
GV-R57AORUS-8GD
Gaming Series
GV-R57XTGAMING OC-8GD
GV-R57GAMING OC-8GD
GV-R57XTGAMING-8GD
GV-R57GAMING-8GD
Reference Series
GV-R57XT-8GD-B
GV-R57-8GD-B
Shockingly, GIGABYTE will only release just eight AMD Navi cards – four Radeon RX 5700 XT cards, and four Radeon RX 5700 cards.
In contrast, they are expected to release a whopping 69 Super RTX cards!
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Malaysian celebrities and heartthrob couple, Fasha Sandha and Aidil Aziz, just leaked their pre-wedding photos. And believe it or not – they were taken with the HUAWEI P30 smartphone, which has not yet been launched!
Wedding Photography Is Changing
For decades, every posh wedding requires a retinue of photographers with large, heavy DSLRs. But times are changing. Couples are now opting for smartphones, which are handier and allow them to be part of the process.
The wedding photography today are definitely more creative, natural and spontaneous. There are more selfies, wefies, and video content. Best of all – they can all be shared with family and friends within seconds!
The image quality of smartphones have also improved drastically. This makes them truly indispensable at every important times of our lives.
These Pre-Wedding Photos Were Taken By HUAWEI P30!
Fasha Sandha and Aidil Aziz appear to believe so too. In their recent pre-wedding photoshoot, they apparently used the yet-to-be-released HUAWEI P30 smartphone. These five photos were leaked on her Instagram feed.
Here is what we think stands out from her posts :
She confirmed that they were taken by a HUAWEI P30 series smartphone.
The image quality is spectacular, with very good colour and contrast
The super close shots show incredible detail
It’s quite likely that her photographer was using the top-of-the-line HUAWEI P30 Pro, which is rumoured to boast an incredible 10X optical zoom capability!
But if her photographer was using the standard HUAWEI P30 model, then that would be even more incredible!
HUAWEI has shown a dogged interest in pushing the boundaries of mobile photography. You may recall that last year’s HUAWEI P20 Pro introduced the world’s first triple-lens camera, with 3X zoom.
The same ground-breaking Leica camera was also used in the HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro, allowing both smartphones to achieve a class-topping DxOMark score of 109 points!
HUAWEI Backup May Be FREE!
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We have just learned that HUAWEI may be giving away HUAWEI Backup – a 1 TB external hard disk drive storage solution that will manually or automatically backup data from your smartphone!
This will allow you to take as many photos as you wish with your HUAWEI P30 Pro, and never run out of storage!
Save The Date!
HUAWEI just created a special HUAWEI P30 mini-site, where you can save the date to your calendar, and get updated on the upcoming HUAWEI P30 smartphones!
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This year, Samsung will reveal the world’s first FOLDABLE smartphone – the Samsung Galaxy X, also known as the Galaxy F in some rumours.
In this article, we will share everything we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy X / Galaxy F / Galaxy FX. Check back for more updates when we get them!
2018-10-09 :Added more details about the Samsung Galaxy X, and the three other Galaxy X devices.
2018-10-05 :Originally posted as Foldable Samsung Galaxy F / X Launch Details CONFIRMED!
The Samsung Galaxy X Launch Details
We had earlier speculated that Samsung will be launching the Samsung Galaxy X at the Galaxy UNPACKED KL 2018 event. Sadly, while we were expecting DJ Koh (who’s coming all the way to Malaysia for the UNPACKED KL 2018 event), to reveal the Galaxy X, it looks like it will NOT be unveiled at this event.
The Galaxy UNPACKED KL 2018 event event will, instead, be all about the Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro (2018), although we are still hoping that they will reveal something about the Galaxy X / F / FX. Our source did mention “devices”, not just a single “device”…
It looks like Samsung will most likely reveal the Galaxy X / Galaxy F / Galaxy FX at the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 next month (7-8 November 2018).
In any case, we have already locked in our invitation, so watch out for our live coverage of the launch event. Heck, you may even see us on the livestream that will be show on www.samsung.com!
What’s It Really Called???
It is known by many names. Its original codename was said to be Project Valley. That was later renamed Project Winner. In fact, the Android 9.0 manifest has references to “winnerlte_us”
Codenames aside, it was originally branded as the Samsung Galaxy X, but more recent rumours have it renamed as Samsung Galaxy F – F for Foldable, F for First.
However, we think it could possibly be called Samsung Galaxy FX. Why?
Samsung Galaxy F was a premium device that was cancelled in 2014.
The letter F is associated with failure, and even used as a failing grade, in many countries.
The invitation included a teaser – “Get ready to witness Four X Fun with Samsung “A Galaxy Event” in Malaysia“.
Even the images in the original invitation and subsequent reminders kept emphasising 4x fun.
Samsung Galaxy FX has a nicer ring than just Samsung Galaxy F!
Of course, the smaller x could refer to a number in this new family, with futures model called Samsung Galaxy F2, Galaxy F3 and so on. After all, DJ Koh did indicate that this would not be a one-off design, but may continue as a new series.
But Wait… There Could Be FOUR Galaxy X Devices!
The Samsung Galaxy S10 could possibly be renamed as the Galaxy X. If the Galaxy S10 becomes the new Galaxy X, then the foldable smartphone will likely be called Galaxy FX.
If Samsung maintains the Galaxy S10 name, then we believe the foldable smartphone will be called Galaxy X. We still think Galaxy F is less likely than Galaxy X, no matter what the rumours say.
What Is Its Model Number?
We are very certain that its model number will be SM-G888. In fact, the support page for the South Korean model SM-G888N0 has already been created, although it’s currently empty.
It also ties in with very odd nicknames that have been floating around – Triple Eight or Treble Eight (bad spelling?).
The Samsung Galaxy X Specifications
Its specifications are, arguably, Samsung’s best-kept secret. Here is everything we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy X :
It will be marketed as an ultra-premium gaming smartphone.
It will feature a very large foldable OLED display – reputedly 7-inch to 7.3-inch in size.
The display will not have Gorilla Glass or any similar kinds of protective glass, because they are not flexible enough.
It will run on a Samsung Exynos SoC, even in the United States. Presumably the same Exynos 9810 powering the Samsung Galaxy Note9, although the newer Exynos 9820 is still a real possibility.
For an ultra-premium device targeted at gamers, we expect it to come with 8 GB of LPDDR4x memory, and 512 GB of internal storage.
It will run on Android Pie – its codename is referenced in the configuration files of a leaked build!
Samsung Galaxy X Price + Availability
Let us be frank – this is cutting-edge technology right there. Samsung has been developing foldable displays for many years now, and the world’s first foldable smartphone will NOT be cheap.
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According to Kim Jang-yeol of Golden Bridge Investment, the Samsung Galaxy X / F / FX could cost as much as two million won, or about US$1,750 / £1350 / RM 7,300.
This will very likely be an ultra-premium device manufactured in small numbers. This is not going to be a mass market premium smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy Note9.
And don’t expect it to be available quite so soon. While DJ Koh will reveal it on 11 October 2018, it will likely only be available for sale in early 2019… at least in most parts of the world.
There are reports that they may make it available in small markets (sounds like Malaysia will be amongst the first!), with a gradual rollout globally in the first half of 2019.
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