Tag Archives: Windows 10

Microsoft : No More Windows 10 Updates, EOL In 2025!

Microsoft will no longer issue major Windows 10 updates, and will end support for the operating system in October 2025!

 

Microsoft : No More Windows 10 Updates, EOL In 2025!

On Thursday, 27 April 2023, Microsoft announced that it will no longer issue any further major Windows 10 update. The current 22H2 version that was released in October 2022, and entered broad deployment on November 18, 2022, would be the final version of Windows 10.

In addition, Microsoft announced that all editions of Windows 10 will reach the end of support on October 14, 2025.

  • Windows 10 Home
  • Windows 10 Pro
  • Windows 10 Enterprise
  • Windows 10 Education
  • Windows 10 Pro Education
  • Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
  • Windows 10 IoT Enterprise

However, Microsoft will continue to issue monthly security update releases (including Windows Defender updates) until that EOL date.

Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date. Existing LTSC releases will continue to receive updates beyond that date based on their specific lifecycles.

The only exception will be existing LTSC (Long Term Servicing Channel) releases – they will continue to receive updates beyond that EOL date, based on their specific lifecycles.

  • Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 : Jan. 9, 2029
  • Windows 10 IoT LTSC 2019 Core : Jan. 9, 2029
  • Windows 10 IoT Core LTSC : Jan. 9, 2029
  • Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 : Jan. 12, 2027
  • Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019 : Jan. 9, 2029
  • Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 : Jan. 13, 2032

Microsoft also took the opportunity to announce that two Windows 11 LTSC releases will be available in the second half of 2024:

  • Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC
  • Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC

Enterprise users who want to plan and test applications and hardware while waiting for a Windows 11 LTSC release, should start doing so with the current Windows 11 22H2 edition.

 

Microsoft : Please Upgrade Before Windows 10 EOL!

Microsoft is therefore encouraging users to transition to Windows 11, because it will no longer release any feature upgrades.

Despite Windows 11 being introduced over 1.5 years ago, many Windows 10 users still refuse to upgrade / migrate to Windows 11.

According to the both Steam Store’s March 2023 and StatCounter’s survey, more than 73% of Windows-based PCs are still running on Windows 10!

On its part, Microsoft stopped selling Windows 120 downloads in January 2023, but until Microsoft starts cutting off security updates in October 2025, there will be little impetus for Windows 10 users to migrate to Windows 11.

 

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

Convertible Design

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

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

Performance

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

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

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

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

High Resolution Touch Display

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

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

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

Acer Active Stylus

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

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

Antimicrobial Coating!

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

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

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

Embedded Fingerprint Reader

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

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

High-Speed Connectivity

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

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

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

Light + Tough

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

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

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

Ultra-Long Battery Life

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

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

 

2021 Acer Spin 3 : Specifications

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

 

2021 Acer Spin 5 : Specifications

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

 

2021 Acer Spin 3 + Spin 5 : Price + Availability

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

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

Here are some online purchase options :

 

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HONOR MagicBook X 15 : What You Need To Know!

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

 

HONOR MagicBook X 15 : What You Need To Know!

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

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

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

Legacy Of HUAWEI Ban Persists

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

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

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

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

Performance

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

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

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

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

Display

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

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

Battery Life

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

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

Other Features

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

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

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

 

HONOR MagicBook X 15 : Price + Deal

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

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

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

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

 

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2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro Laptop : A Quick Preview!

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

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

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro Laptop : A Quick Intro!

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

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

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro : Specifications

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

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

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro : Key Features

Let’s take a look at its key features…

13.9-inch FullView Display

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

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

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

Performance

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

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

Battery + Charging

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

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

Connectivity + Ports

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

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

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

Keyboard + Touchpad

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

Pop-Up Camera

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

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

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

HUAWEI Share Multi-Screen Collaboration

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

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

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

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

HUAWEI MeeTime

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

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

Recommended : MeeTime : Free Voice + Video Calls On HUAWEI Devices!

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook X Pro Laptop : Price + Deal!

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

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

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

 

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2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 Laptop : A Quick Preview!

HUAWEI just unveiled their 2021 edition of the higher-end MateBook 14 laptop!

Take a look at the 2021 MateBook 14 laptop, and find out what it offers!

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 Laptop : A Quick Intro!

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

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

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 : Specifications

The newly-refreshed 2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 has these key specifications

Specifications HUAWEI MateBook 14
Display 14-inch FullView Display
– 2160 x 1440 pixels, 185 ppi
– 300 nits max. brightness
– 90% screen-to-body-ratio
– 100% sRGB colour gamut
– 1500:1 contrast ratio
OS Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor Intel Core i5-1135G7
Memory 16 GB DDR4-3200
Graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Storage 512 GB PCIe SSD
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.1
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, integrated into Power button
Ports 1 x USB Type C
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A
1 x HDMI 1.4b
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
Webcam 720p recessed camera
Speakers 2 x 2 watt speaker
Battery 56 Whr
Power Adaptor 65 W USB-C power adaptor
Dimensions 307.5 mm wide
223.8 mm deep
15.9 mm thick
Weight 1.49 kg

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 : Key Features

Let’s take a look at its key features…

14-inch FullView Display

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 comes with a 14-inch FullView Display, with a 2K resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels.

This is not a particularly bright display, with a maximum brightness of 300 nits; but it has a decent colour gamut of 100% sRGB.

It also has vey narrow bezels which give it a 90% screen-to-body ratio – hence the name, FullView Display.

Performance

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

It comes with 16 GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and a fast PCIe NVMe SSD with 512 GB of storage.

Battery + Charging

All that is powered by a large 56 Whr battery, that HUAWEI claims will last 11 hours of non-stop 1080p video playback.

It is paired with a compact 65 watt USB Type C fast charger, that can be used to charge other USB Type C devices, and supports HUAWEI SuperCharge for certain HUAWEI smartphones.

Connectivity + Ports

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity built-in.

On the left side, you will find a single USB Type C port, with a 3.5 mm audio port and a HDMI 1.4b port.

The HDMI 1.4b port can handle up to 4K displays, but only at up to 24 fps. To display at 4K @ 50 fps / 60 fps, you need HDMI 2.0.

On the right side, you will find two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A ports. These are basically USB 3.0 ports.

Keyboard + Touchpad

The 2021 MateBook 14 comes with a full-sized, ten-keyless keyboard, and a large touchpad.

Pop-Up Camera

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

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

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

HUAWEI Share Multi-Screen Collaboration

The 2021 MateBook 14 supports HUAWEI Share for multi-screen collaboration.

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

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

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

HUAWEI MeeTime

The 2021 MateBook 14 also supports HUAWEI MeeTime, which is their version of Apple FaceTime – a free, proprietary video call service.

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

Recommended : MeeTime : Free Voice + Video Calls On HUAWEI Devices!

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 Laptop : Price + Deal!

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook 14 comes in the Space Grey colour, with an official launch price of RM 4,899 (about US$1,192 / £859 / A$1,542 / S$1,583).

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

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

 

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2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 Laptop : A Quick Preview!

HUAWEI just unveiled their 2021 edition of the MateBook D 14 laptop!

Take a look at the 2021 MateBook D 14, and find out what it offers!

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 Laptop : A Quick Intro!

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

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

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 : Specifications

The newly-refreshed 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 has these key specifications

Specifications HUAWEI MateBook D14
Display 14-inch FullView Display
– 1920 x 1080 pixels, 157 ppi
– 250 nits max. brightness
– 84% screen-to-body-ratio
– 45% NTSC colour gamut
– 800:1 contrast ratio
OS Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor Intel Core i5-10210U
Memory 8 GB / 16 GB DDR4-3200
Graphics Intel UHD Graphics
Storage 256 GB / 512 GB PCIe SSD
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.1
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, integrated into Power button
Ports 1 x USB Type C
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A
1 x USB 2.0 Type A
1 x HDMI 1.4b
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
Webcam 720p recessed camera
Speakers 2 x 2 watt speaker
Battery 42 Whr
Power Adaptor 65 W USB-C power adaptor
Dimensions 322.5 mm wide
214.8 mm deep
15.9 mm thick
Weight 1.38 kg

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 : Key Features

Let’s take a look at its key features…

14-inch FullView Display

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 comes with a 14-inch FullView Display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

This is not a particularly bright display, with a maximum brightness of just 250 nits; and it only has a colour gamut of 45% NTSC.

But it is large, with narrow bezels that give it an 84% screen-to-body ratio – hence the name, FullView Display.

Performance

It is powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U with integrated Intel UHD Graphics.

It comes with either 8 GB or 16 GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and a fast PCIe NVMe SSD with 256 GB or 512 GB of storage.

Battery + Charging

All that is powered by a decent 42 Whr battery, paired with a compact 65 watt USB Type C fast charger.

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

Connectivity + Ports

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity built-in.

On the left side, you will find a single USB Type C port, with a USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A port and a HDMI 1.4b port.

The HDMI 1.4b port can handle up to 4K displays, but only at up to 24 fps. To display at 4K @ 50 fps / 60 fps, you need HDMI 2.0.

On the right side, you will find a 3.5 mm audio port, and a single USB 2.0 Type A port.

We have to wonder though – why stick with super-old USB 2.0, instead of the much faster USB 3.0 port?

Keyboard + Touchpad

The 2021 MateBook D 14 comes with a full-sized, ten-keyless keyboard, and a large touchpad.

Pop-Up Camera

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

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

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

HUAWEI Share Multi-Screen Collaboration

The 2021 MateBook D 14 supports HUAWEI Share for multi-screen collaboration.

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

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

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

HUAWEI MeeTime

The 2021 MateBook D 14 also supports HUAWEI MeeTime, which is their version of Apple FaceTime – a free, proprietary video call service.

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

Recommended : MeeTime : Free Voice + Video Calls On HUAWEI Devices!

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 Laptop : Price + Deal!

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 14 comes in the Mystic Silver colour, with an official launch price of RM 3,499 (about US$850 / £609 / A$1,095 / S$1,129).

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

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

 

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2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 Laptops : A Quick Preview!

HUAWEI just launched their 2021 edition of the MateBook D 15 laptops in two variants!

Here is a quick preview of both variants of the 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 laptops!

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 Laptops : A Quick Intro!

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

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

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 Laptops : Two Variants

In their 2021 refresh, HUAWEI is offering the MateBook D 15 in two variants – the 11th Gen Edition, and the 10th Gen Edition.

As you can pretty much surmise, they are basically the same laptop, just powered by either the 11th Gen Core i5 processor, or the older 10th Gen Core i5 processor.

To make it easier for you to compare them, we created this table comparing their key specifications :

Specifications HUAWEI MateBook D15
11th Gen Edition 10th Gen Edition
Display 15.6-inch FullView Display
– 1920 x 1080 pixels, 141 ppi
– 250 nits max. brightness
– 87% screen-to-body-ratio
– 45% NTSC colour gamut
– 800:1 contrast ratio
OS Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i5-10210U
Memory 8 GB / 16 GB DDR4 8 GB DDR4
Graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Intel UHD Graphics
Storage 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6, 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi 5, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.1 Bluetooth 5.0
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, integrated into Power button
Ports 1 x USB Type C
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A
2 x USB 2.0 Type A
1 x HDMI 1.4b
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
Webcam 720p recessed camera
Speakers 2 x 2 watt speaker
Battery 42 Whr
Power Adaptor 65 W USB-C power adaptor
Dimensions 357.8 mm wide
229.9 mm deep
16.9 mm thick
Weight 1.56 kg

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 Laptops : Key Features

Let’s take a look at their key features…

15.6-inch FullView Display

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 comes with a large 15.6-inch FullView Display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

This is not a particularly bright display, with a maximum brightness of just 250 nits; and it only has a colour gamut of 45% NTSC.

But it is large, with narrow bezels that give it an 87% screen-to-body ratio – hence the name, FullView Display.

Performance

HUAWEI offers two variants, with different CPU + GPU options :

  • 11th Gen Edition : Intel Core i5-1135G7 with Intel Xe Graphics
  • 10th Gen Edition : Intel Core i5-10210U with NVIDIA GeForce MX250

They both come with fast DDR4 memory, and a fast PCIe NVMe SSD with 512 GB of storage.

Battery + Charging

All that is powered by a decent 42 Whr battery, paired with a compact 65 watt USB Type C fast charger.

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

Connectivity

The 11th Gen Edition supports faster Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, while the 10th Gen Edition supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.

Ports

On the left side, you will find a single USB Type C port, with a USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A port and a HDMI 1.4b port.

In case you are wondering, the HDMI 1.4b port can handle up to 4K displays, but only at up to 24 fps. To display at 4K @ 50 fps / 60 fps, you need HDMI 2.0.

On the right side, you will find a 3.5 mm audio port, as well as two USB 2.0 Type A ports.

We have to wonder though – why stick with super-old USB 2.0, instead of the much faster USB 3.0 ports?

Keyboard + Touchpad

The 2021 MateBook D 15 comes with a full-sized, ten-keyless keyboard, and a large touchpad.

Pop-Up Camera

Like the MateBook X Pro we reviewed, the 2021 MateBook D 15 comes with a pop-up camera, hidden under a special camera key on the keyboard.

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

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

HUAWEI Share Multi-Screen Collaboration

The 2021 MateBook D 15 supports HUAWEI Share for multi-screen collaboration.

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

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

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

HUAWEI MeeTime

The 2021 MateBook D 15 also supports HUAWEI MeeTime, which is their version of Apple FaceTime – a free, proprietary video call service.

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

Recommended : MeeTime : Free Voice + Video Calls On HUAWEI Devices!

 

2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 Laptops : Price + Deals!

The 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D 15 comes in the Mystic Silver colour, with these official launch prices :

  • 11th Gen Edition : RM 3,899 (about US$947 / £678 / A$1,218 / S$1,258)
  • 10th Gen Edition : RM 3,299 (about US$802 / £574 / A$1,030 / S$1,064)

The first 1,500 customers to pre-order the 10th Gen or 11th Gen Edition from 20 to 23 April 2021, will receive free gifts worth RM 800 :

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

 

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Dell XPS 13 (9300) Review : Incredible Ultra-Light Laptop!

The Dell XPS 13 (9300) features the first-ever InfinityEdge display with Gorilla Glass 6 protection.

Find out why we think it’s an incredible ultra-light laptop worthy of our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

 

Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Featuring The InfinityEdge Display

The Dell XPS 13 (9300) continues the evolution of the XPS 13 line, with an ultra-light chassis built from machined aluminium and woven glass fibre, with Gorilla Glass 6 protection.

With the first-ever InfinityEdge display, the XPS 13 (9300) offers a 13.4-inch display in an 11-inch form factor, that fits neatly on an airplane’s seat tray.

 

Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Colour Options

Our unit comes in the Frost White colour with an Arctic White woven glass fibre palm rest.

Dell also offers the Platinum Silver colour option, with a Black carbon fiber palm rest.

 

Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Specifications + Options

Specifications XPS 13 9300
Display Size 13.4-inch
Display Options 4K touch screen (3840 x 2400)
Full HD touch screen (1920 x 1200)
Full HD non-touch (1920 x 1200)
Display Features WLED backlight
60 Hz refresh rate
500 nits max. brightness
35 ms response time
1200:1 contrast ratio
Colour Gamut 4K : 90% DCI-P3
Full HD : 100% sRGB
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 Home
CPU + GPU Options Intel Core i7-1065G7 + Iris Plus Graphics
Intel Core i5-1035G1 + UHD Graphics
Intel Core i3-1005G1 + UHD Graphics
Memory Options LPDDR4X-3733 (8 / 16 / 32 GB)
LPDDR4-3733 (4 GB)
Storage Options PCIe NVMe SSD (512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB)
Audio Realtek ALC3281-CG audio chip
2 x 2.5 watt speakers
Dual microphone array
3.5 mm audio jack
Wireless Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2)
Bluetooth 5.1
External Ports 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) ports
– with Power Delivery and DisplayPort
1 x 3.5 mm audio port
1 x microSD card slot
Camera HD webcam
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, capacitive 500 dpi sensor
Keyboard Backlit keyboard
19.05 x 18.05 mm key pitch
Touchpad 1300 x 722 pixel resolution
Battery 4-cell 52 Whr lithium-ion battery
Charger 45 watt USB Type C charger
Dimensions 296 mm wide
199 mm deep
14.8 mm thick
Weight 1.27 kg (touch screen)
1.20 kg (non-touch)

 

Unboxing The Dell XPS 13 (9300) Laptop

The Dell XPS 13 (9300) comes in a premium white cardboard box. Once you fully unbox it, you will find these items :

  • Dell XPS 13 (9300) laptop
  • Dell USB Type C to USB Type A dongle
  • 45 watt charger with integrated USB Type C cable
  • Power cord with localised plug
  • XPS 13 9300 Quick Start Guide + Safety and Regulatory Information

 

Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Hands-On Experience!

This Dell XPS 13 (9300) is an eminently thin and light laptop. It offers a 13.4-inch display in an 11-inch form factor that weighs only 1.27 kg, and is less than 15 mm thick.

It easily fits into the smallest laptop bag, and even a large handbag. And when you can fly again, you will love how it fits onto the airplane’s seat tray!

Once you try it out, you will find it hard to go back to regular laptops – you will find them heavy and unwieldy!

Next Page > Dell XPS 13 (9300) : A Closer Look!

 

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Dell XPS 13 (9300) : A Closer Look!

13.4-inch Display In 11-Inch Form Factor

This Dell XPS 13 (9300) model comes with a 4K UHD+ touch display, with a resolution of 3840 x 2400 pixel, a colour gamut of 90% DCI-P3 and DisplayHDR 400 certification.

The incredibly high resolution and wide colour gamut allow your high resolution photos and HDR content to really pop.

Dell also offers a Full HD+ display, with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and 100% sRGB colour gamut; in both touch and non-touch options.

All three display options are 25% brighter at 500 nits, and are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 against scratches and impact.

Cameras + Security

The thin bezel at the top conceals two cameras – a regular 720p webcam, and an infra-red camera for facial recognition.

So you can either unlock the XPS 13 using the IR camera and Windows Hello, or the fingerprint sensor, which integrated into the power button.

While its 720p webcam may be rather low in resolution, it uses a new 4-element lens for sharper image quality. It also supports temporal noise reduction to improve video quality in low-light conditions.

We hope that Dell would look at upgrading it to a 1080p camera, with a physical or electronics privacy shutter.

Performance

Our Dell XPS 13 (9300) is powered by the Intel Core i7-1065G7 – a 4-core, 8-thread processor with 8 MB of cache and built-in Iris Plus Graphics.

You can opt for a Core i5-1035G1 or the Core i3-1005G1, both of which come with integrated UHD Graphics.

A redesigned cooler keeps things cool, using a single heat pipe and evaporator design with dual condensers and GORE thermal insulation. The hot air is exhausted through the hinge at the back.

It can get a little toasty from the hot exhaust when you use it on your lap, especially if you’re doing compute-intensive tasks like rendering videos.

It also comes with 16 GB of dual-channel LPDDR4X memory running at 3733 MHz. The memory is soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be upgraded.

Our unit came with a 1 TB SK hynix PC611 PCIe NVMe SSD, but you can opt for a smaller 512 GB SSD, or a larger 2 TB SSD.

Ports

Due to its ultra-slim profile – 14.8 mm at its thickest point, the XPS 13 has very limited ports.

On the left side, you will find a microSD card reader; as well as a single Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) port, which supports Power Delivery and DisplayPort output

On the right side, you will find a 3.5 mm microphone and headphone combo port, with a second Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) port, which also supports Power Delivery and DisplayPort output.

You can plug the USB Type C charging cable into either Thunderbolt 3 port. But unless you are using it on-the-go, you really only have one free port to use.

The good news is Dell actually bundles the XPS 13 (9300) with a free USB Type C to USB Type A dongle, so you can use your USB Type A drives and devices (including cables) with it.

Keyboard + Touchpad

The Dell XPS (9300) comes an edge-to-edge keyboard, and a 17% larger touchpad for maximum working comfort.  The keyboard is backlit, and comes with larger key caps!

It definitely offers a far superior typing experience to the horrible butterfly switch keyboard used in Apple MacBook Pro laptops.

[twenty20 img1=”43631″ img2=”43632″ offset=”0.5″]

Connectivity

Our XPS 13 (9300) comes with the Killer AX1650 module, which offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity with 2×2 antennas, and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.

It is much too thin to support a LAN port, but you can add LAN connectivity using a USB-C dongle.

[twenty20 img1=”43626″ img2=”43627″ offset=”0.5″ before=”Top” after=”Bottom”]

Audio

The two long stripes on both sides of the XPS 13 are not cooling vents, but ports for its 2.5 watt stereo speakers, which are tuned with Waves MaxxAudio Pro.

Its 3.5 mm microphone / headphone combo jack is also optimised with the 360-degree Waves NX 3D virtual surround sound with head tracking.

Finally, its dual microphone array is powered by Waves MaxxVoice Pro, which supports VOIP and is Cortana Farfield-capable.

Next Page > XPS 13 (9300) Performance, Verdict + Award 

 

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Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Performance

Our Dell XPS 13 (9300) is powered by the 15-watt Intel Core i7-1065G7 (Ice Lake) with 4 cores and 8 threads, and Iris Plus Graphics with 64 Execution Units.

It comes with 8 MB of cache, and has a 1.3 GHz base frequency that ramps up to 3.5 GHz during intensive tasks.

Our review sample came with 16 GB LPDDR4X-3733 dual-channel memory, and a 1 TB SK hynix PC611 PCIe NVMe SSD.

Work Performance : PCMark 10

The Intel Core i7-1065G7 is a 25 watt processor that can be configured to run at a lower TDP of 15 watt – to improve battery life and reduce thermal output.

At the full 25 watt TDP, it should deliver PCMark 10 scores in excess of 4700. It is obvious now that Dell configured it for the cooler 15 watt TDP. This is why benchmarks are important.

This makes the Dell XPS 13 (9300) about 7.6% slower than the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro, which uses the Intel Core i7-10510U processor.

Gaming Performance : 3DMark Time Spy

The integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics sounds powerful on paper – with 64 Execution Units – but it is only about as fast as the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 / GeForce 940MX.

So this is most definitely NOT a gaming laptop, although you should have no problem playing older games and games that are not 3D graphics-intensive like DOTA 2.

Battery Life : YouTube + Modern Office

The Dell XPS 13 (9300) comes with a 4-cell smart lithium-ion battery that is rated for 52 Whr.

Dell claims a battery life of up to 18 hours and 49 minutes with the Full HD+ display, and up to 12 hours and 13 minutes with the 4K UHD+ display.

In our general use, we have no problem working a full day on it without recharging, which makes it really convenient when travelling.

That said, we locked the brightness at 50% – higher than the average of 40% – to see how it performs in these worst-case scenarios :

YouTube Streaming

The Dell XPS 13 (9300) lasted 8 hours 15 minutes streaming YouTube videos in theatre mode using WiFi, before its battery dropped to 10%.

PCMark 10 : Modern Office

The Dell XPS 13 (9300) lasted 6 hours 36 minutes before it powered off while running the Modern Office benchmark.

Battery : Recharging Speed

Its 65 watt fast charger took about 52.5 minutes to hit the mid-point (55%), but 2 hours 23.5 minutes to fully recharge its battery from 10%.

Here are the times it takes to recharge from 10% :

  • 15% – 5 minutes 57 seconds
  • 20% – 11 minutes 53 seconds
  • 25% – 17 minutes 45 seconds
  • 30% – 23 minutes 22 seconds
  • 35% – 29 minutes 25 seconds
  • 40% – 35 minutes 8 seconds
  • 45% – 41 minutes 22 seconds
  • 50% – 46 minutes 56 seconds
  • 55% – 52 minutes 39 seconds
  • 60% – 58 minutes 27 seconds
  • 65% – 64 minutes 13 seconds
  • 70% – 70 minutes 15 seconds
  • 75% – 76 minutes
  • 80% – 81 minutes 58 seconds
  • 85% – 89 minutes 41 seconds
  • 90% – 100 minutes 50 seconds
  • 95% – 118 minutes 45 seconds
  • 100% – 143 minutes 20 seconds

This gives it a battery life : recharging time ratio of 3.45 : 1 for video streaming, and 2.76 : 1 for office work.

As a rule of thumb, you will need to recharge its battery about 22 minutes for every hour of battery life.

 

Dell XPS 13 (9300) : Verdict + Award

The Dell XPS 13 (9300) is a really great ultra-light laptop for people who are always on-the-go.

It packs serious processing power, memory and a huge SSD with the latest wireless connectivity built-in, in a very thin and light package.

It is less than 15 mm at its thickest point, and weighs less than 1.3 kg. But this is something you have to hold in your hand to actually get a feel of how much engineering went into the XPS 13.

Even the latest 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro, powered by the new Apple M1 SoC, is largerthicker at 15.6 mm and weighs more at 1.4 kg!

The extremely thin profile offers some challenges to first time users – limited physical ports. Yet the XPS 13 (9300) managed to squeeze in an extra microSD card reader over the new 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1).

Even so, you will have to live with just two USB Type C ports – one of which is not available when you recharge its battery. Fortunately, the XPS 13 (9300) comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 wireless connectivity.

Thankfully, Dell threw in a free USB-C to USB-A dongle, so at least you have ready access to your USB Type A drives and devices out-of-the-box.

Security-conscious users will love the fingerprint sensor and IR camera, which allows for easy and secure logins. However, the webcam lacks a physical shutter, and the lid clearance is too tight to safely use a third-party shutter.

As far as battery life is concerned, the XPS 13 (9300) will last more than full day’s work without recharging. After a while, you will get used to leaving the office without the charger!

All-in-all, the Dell XPS 13 (9300) is an engineering marvel that must be experienced to truly understand. If you want the very best Windows 10 ultra-light laptop money can buy, this should be right at the top of the list.

That is why we wholeheartedly award it our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

 

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Dell for sending us this review unit, and making us part of the #DellInsideCircle

 

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AMD Smart Access Memory (Resizable BAR) Guide

Find out what AMD Smart Access Memory is all about, and how to turn it on for a FREE BOOST in performance!

 

Smart Access Memory : PCIe Resizable BAR for AMD!

Smart Access Memory is AMD’s marketing term for their implementation of the PCI Express Resizable BAR (Base Address Registers) capability.

What does that mean exactly?

CPUs are traditionally limited to a 256 MB I/O memory address region for the GPU frame buffer. This of it as an “data dump” for stuff like textures, shaders and geometry.

Since this “data dump” is limited to 256 MB, the CPU can only send texture, shader and geometry data as and when the GPU requires them.

This introduces some latency – delay from when the GPU requires the data, and the CPU send them.

Turning on Resizable BAR or Smart Access Memory greatly expands the size of that data dump, letting the CPU directly access the GPU’s entire frame buffer memory.

Instead of transferring data when requested by the GPU, the CPU processes and stores the data directly in the graphics memory.

Graphics assets can be transferred to graphics memory in full, instead of in pieces. In addition, multiple transfers can occur simultaneously, instead of being queued up.

While this AMD graphic above suggests that Smart Access Memory will widen the memory path (and thus memory bandwidth) between the CPU and GPU, that is not true.

Smart Access Memory / Resizable BAR will not increase memory bandwidth.

What it does is let the CPU directly access the entire GPU frame buffer memory, instead of using the usual 256 MB “dump”. That reduces latency because the graphics assets are now accessible by the GPU at all times.

 

AMD Smart Access Memory : Performance Gains

According to AMD, enabling Smart Access Memory will give you a small but free boost of 5% to 11% in gaming performance.

Here is a summary of the test results from our article, RX 6800 XT Smart Access Memory Performance Comparison!

You can expect up to 16% better performance in some games, but no effect in certain games. But overall, you get a free boost in performance. There is simply no reason not to enable Smart Access Memory.

1080p Resolution (1920 x 1080)

1440p Resolution (2560 x 1440)

2160p Resolution (3840 x 2160)

 

AMD Smart Access Memory : Requirements

Since Smart Access Memory is just an AMD implementation of PCI Express Resizable BAR. Therefore, it can be be implemented for all PCI Express 3.0 and PCI Express 4.0 graphics cards and motherboards.

However, AMD is currently limiting it to a small subset of components, having validated it only for their new Ryzen 5000 series CPUs, select Ryzen 3000 Series Processors and Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards.

So this is what you currently require to enable AMD Smart Access Memory :

Hardware

Software

  • AMD Radeon Software Driver 20.11.2 or newer
  • Latest Motherboard BIOS (AMD AGESA 1.1.0.0 or newer)

AMD currently recommends these X570 motherboards, because they have updated BIOS available :

 

AMD Smart Access Memory : How To Enable It?

If you have all of those supported components above, and updated your motherboard BIOS, you need to manually enable Smart Access Memory.

Now, the method will vary from motherboard to motherboard, and it probably won’t even be called Smart Access Memory.

Instead, look for variations of Above 4G Decoding, or Resizing BAR, or Resizable BAR, or Re-Size BAR Support.

AMD Generic Method

AMD has provided these generic steps to enable Smart Access Memory :

  1. Enter the System BIOS by press <DEL> or <F12> during the system startup.
  2. Navigate to the Advanced Settings or Advanced menu.
  3. Enable “Above 4G Decoding” and “Re-Size BAR Support“.
  4. Save the changes and restart the computer.

Step-by-Step Method For ASUS Crosshair VIII Hero

In our guide, we are using the ASUS CROSSHAIR VIII Hero (AMD X570) motherboard, as an example :

  1. First you will need to turn off CSM (Compatibility Support Module), or make sure it’s disabled.Go to the Boot menu and look for a CSM / Compatibility Support Module option.

  1. Set CSM (Compatibility Support Module) to Disabled.

  1. Go to the Advanced menu and look for the PCI Subsystem. In other motherboards, look for PCIe / PCI Express configuration options.

  1. Enable Above 4G Decoding.

  1. This will give you access to the Re-Size BAR Support option. Set it to Auto.

  1. Now go to the Exit menu, and select Save Changes & Reset.

  1. It will ask you to confirm the changes. Just verify both, and click OK.

After the motherboard reboots, AMD Smart Access Memory (PCIe Resizable BAR) will be enabled for your Ryzen 5000 series CPU and Radeon RX 6000 series graphics card!

 

CSM Warning For GIGABYTE AORUS X570 Master

AMD currently recommends these X570 motherboards, because they have updated BIOS available :

CSM is disabled by default for the ASUS, ASRock and MSI motherboards. However, it is enabled by default in the GIGABYTE AORUS X570 Master.

If you installed Windows without first turning CSM off, it will be configured as non-UEFI. It will NOT boot if you enable Resizable BAR Support (Smart Access Memory).

You will need to reinstall Windows with CSM support disabled.

 

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Apple M1 Gaming : Watch It Run The Witcher 3! 😲

Windows gaming on the ARM-based Apple M1 is possible!

Watch how well the Apple M1 runs The Witcher 3 using CrossOver 20!

 

Apple M1 Gaming : Watch It Run The Witcher 3 On CrossOver 20!

MrMacRight successfully ran The Witcher 3 on CrossOver 20, using the 2020 Apple MacBook Pro with the new ARM-based Apple M1 SoC.

Here was his recorded gameplay of The Witcher 3 at the 1080p resolution, with the Medium graphics and post-processing presets, and VSync enabled.

He could not get the FPS counter to work, but it looks smooth and very playable, albeit with some visual artefacts.

Basically – Apple M1 gaming is not only possible, it is possible to play Windows games!

Video Credit : MrMacRight

 

Windows Gaming On Apple M1 : Rosetta 2 + Windows API Translation!

That quick gameplay showcase of The Witcher 3 shows that Windows gaming is possible on the Apple M1.

The ability to run The Witcher 3 on CrossOver 20, and at such playable frame rates, is important for two reasons.

Windows App Compatibility

The Witcher 3 is a 64-bit Windows-only game, so you wouldn’t expect it to run well on the ARM-based Apple M1, right?

Running it on the Apple M1 involves translating Windows API calls using CrossOver, and then translating x86 instructions to ARM instructions using Rossetta 2.

Yet it not only worked, it ran pretty well on the Apple M1!

Performance

While AppleGamers was not able to obtain a frame rate, The Witcher 3 appears to run pretty well at the 1080p resolution.

That shows that the Apple M1’s integrated 8-core GPU is fast, and will have no problem handling native ARM games at 1080p, and likely 1440p as well.

 

Apple M1 : A Quick Primer

The Apple M1 is the first ARM-based SoC (System on a Chip) designed by Apple for use in Mac computers.

Packing 16 billion transistors, it is the first chip to be manufactured on the new 5 nm TSMC process technology.

It comes with 4 high-performance Firestorm CPU cores, 4 power-efficient Icestorm cores, an 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.

As the M1 is based on the ARM architecture, you can natively run iPhone and iPad apps on it. However, existing macOS apps will have to be ported over, or translated on-the-fly using Rosetta 2.

It is currently available in these Apple Mac computers :

  • 2020 MacBook Air : US | UK | AU | MY | SG
  • 2020 MacBook Pro 13-inch : US | UK | AU | MY | SG
  • 2020 Mac mini : US | UK | AU | MY | SG

 

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

 

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Acer Swift, Aspire + TravelMate : December 2020 Models!

Acer just released new and updated Swift, Aspire and TravelMate laptops, just in time for Christmas 2020!

Take a look at the new slew of Acer Swift, Aspire and TravelMate laptops that you can buy now!

 

Acer Swift 3 : New December 2020 Model!

The Acer Swift 3 is a 14-inch laptop designed for the young, and comes in three colour options – Blue, Pink and Silver.

It has a 14-inch slim bezel IPS LED display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, in a chassis that is just under 16 mm thick, and weighs just 1.2 kg.

Built around the new 11th Gen Intel Core processor, and Intel Iris Xe Graphics, it comes with up to 16 GB of onboard LPDDR4X memory, and 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

The new December 2020 Acer Swift 3 model has a rated battery life of 11 hours, and supports fast charging to give you 4 hours of video playback with a 30-minute charge.

In addition, the December 2020 model of Acer Swift 3 comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019.

 

Acer Swift 3X : New December 2020 Model!

The Acer Swift 3X is a 14-inch laptop designed for both games and creative apps, with its new Iris Xe Max discrete graphics.

It has a 14-inch slim bezel IPS LED display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, in a chassis that is just under 18 mm thick, and weighs just 1.37 kg.

Built around the new 11th Gen Intel Core processor, and Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics, it comes with up to 16 GB of onboard LPDDR4X memory, and 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

The new December 2020 Acer Swift 3 model has a rated battery life of 17 hours, and supports fast charging to give you 4 hours of video playback with a 30-minute charge.

In addition, the Acer Swift 3X comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019.

 

Acer Swift 5 : New December 2020 Model!

The Acer Swift 5 is a 14-inch ultra-light Intel Evo-certified laptop, that is just under 15 mm thick, and weighs only 1.05 kg!

It has a 14-inch IPS LED touch display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and 100% sRGB colour gamut. This touch display is protected by Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass.

Built around the new 11th Gen Intel Core processor, and Intel Iris Xe Graphics, it comes with up to 16 GB of onboard LPDDR4X memory, and 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

The new December 2020 Acer Swift 5 model has a rated battery life of 15 hours, and supports fast charging to give you 4 hours of video playback with a 30-minute charge.

In addition, the December 2020 model of Acer Swift 5 comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019.

 

Acer Aspire 5 : New December 2020 Model!

The December 2020 Acer Aspire 5 comes in 14-inch or 15.6-inch display options, with an all-metal chassis.

The 14-inch Aspire 5 is 15.6 mm thick, and weighs 1.45 kg; while the 15.6-inch Aspire 5 is 17.9 mm thick and weighs just 1.65 kg.

Built around the new 11th Gen Intel Core processor, and Intel Iris Xe Graphics, they both with up to 16 GB of onboard LPDDR4X memory (upgradable to 20 GB), and 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

Acer also offers an NVIDIA GeForce MX350 discrete graphics option for both models.

Both 14-inch and 15-inch models have a rated battery life of 13 hours, and supports fast charging to give you 4 hours of video playback with a 30-minute charge.

In addition, they both come pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019.

 

Acer TravelMate P2 : New December 2020 Model!

The Acer TravelMate P2 is a rugged laptop designed for business executives, with handy business features and advanced connectivity options.

Built to comply with MIL-STD-810G standards, the Travelmate P2 has a spill-resistant keyboard, and shock-absorbent corners to survive bumps and drops.

It also comes with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 protection, a fingerprint reader and Windows Hello for secure authentication, to safeguard sensitive data while working away from the office.

Built around the new 11th Gen Intel Core processor, and Intel Iris Xe Graphics, it comes with up to 32 GB of onboard LPDDR4X memory, and 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage or a 1 TB hard disk drive.

The new December 2020 Acer TravelMate P2 model has a rated battery life of 13 hours, and supports fast charging to give you 4 hours of video playback with a 30-minute charge.

 

Acer Swift, Aspire + TravelMate (Dec 2020 Models) : Price + Availability

The December 2020 models are available with immediate effect at these RRP :

  • Acer Swift 3 : RM 3,299 (approximately US$813 / £611 / A$1,082 / S$1,086)
  • Acer Swift 3X : RM 3,799 (approximately US$935 / £704 / A$1,245 / S$1,250)
  • Acer Swift 5 : RM 3,999 (approximately US$985 / £741 / A$1,312 / S$1,316)
  • 14-inch Acer Aspire 5 : RM 2,799 (approximately US$689 / £519 / A$918 / S$921)
  • 15.6-inch Acer Aspire 5 : RM 2,899 (approximately US$714 / £537 / A$951 / S$954)
  • Acer TravelMate P2 : RM 2,699 (approximately US$665 / £500 / A$885 / S$888)

Here are some online purchase options :

 

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2020 HP ENVY Laptops : Be The Envy Of Creators Wherever You Go!

The new 2020 HP ENVY 13 and ENVY 15 laptops are each designed for a different purpose, but with a single mission – to help you bring your ideas to life no matter where you are.

Find out how the 2020 HP ENVY 13 and HP ENVY 15 laptops differ, and which is the best option for you!

 

HP ENVY 13 (2020) Laptop

Powerful and yet light and compact, the new HP ENVY 13 laptop is designed for creators on-the-go. Its long-lasting battery ensures you can work for a full day and then some, without worrying about running out of power.

And should you be on-the-road longer than expected, the HP Fast Charge feature lets you recharge 50% of its battery in just 30 minutes, so you can get right back to creating your content, after a short break!

Being light and compact, the new ENVY 13 is great for creators who need the flexibility to work wherever they are. But it does not compromise quality for mobility.

Despite weighing just 1.3 kg, the HP ENVY 13 provides the performance you need for designing and editing work, with its NVIDIA GeForce MX350 graphics and 10th Gen Intel Core processor.

When your workspace can be anywhere from your home to a busy café or a shooting location, security and privacy becomes a real concern. Thankfully, the new ENVY 13 comes with built-in security features like a physical camera shutter, and a microphone mute button, as well as a fingerprint reader.

When out and about, you can enjoy accurate, cinematic audio thanks to its dual speakers with HP Audio Boost, that have been custom-tuned by Bang & Olufsen.

On top of all that, the new ENVY 13 comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 worth RM529 for FREE, you can get straight to creating on your new laptop.

And you never have to worry about where you create your content, thanks to its 2-year Accidental Damage Protection coverage!

 

HP ENVY 15 (2020) Laptop

The HP ENVY 15 is not just a larger version of the ENVY 13. It is designed to be a content creation workhorse, with serious gaming chops.

It can be equipped with the latest 10th Generation Intel Core processors and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, and up to 32 GB of DDR4 memory.

To ensure the best possible performance while designing and editing high-resolution videos, or during strenuous gaming sessions, its CPU and GPU are kept cool by HP’s custom vapour chamber cooling, with dual 12V high-performance fans and an IR thermal sensor.

They all work together to keep the CPU and GPU cool, delivering 33% more processing power during intense workloads.

Its 15.6-inch touch display also offers a better experience while working on your creative project, with greater colour accuracy thanks to its Full High Definition micro-edge display with WLED backlight, IPS technology, 100% sRGB, and anti-glare coating.

Your creative journey is also enhanced by its two built-in speakers, which are not only custom-tuned by Bang & Olufsen, but also feature HP Audio Boost for a cinematic experience.

To keep your creations under wraps until you are ready to share it with the world, the new HP ENVY 15 comes with built-in security features, such as a fingerprint reader, physical camera shutter, and a dedicated microphone mute button, which are all easily accessible from the keyboard.

Just like the smaller ENVY 13, the new ENVY 15 comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 worth RM529 for FREE, as well as 2 years of Accidental Damage Protection coverage!

 

HP ENVY 13 vs HP ENVY 15 : Which Should You Choose?

The HP ENVY 13 and HP ENVY 15 are not just different in their sizes – they are actually very different laptops.

The HP ENVY 13 is most suited for those who want the ability to create content for ultra-long hours on-the-go.

The HP ENVY 15 is best for those who want a powerful GPU for intense content creation or gaming no matter where they are.

To make it easier for you, this table gives you a quick comparison of their key advantages :

Why Buy The ENVY 13? Why Buy The ENVY 15?
Performance
– Latest Intel 10th Gen processors
– Intel Iris Plus Graphics / NVIDIA GeForce MX350
– Up to 19.5 hours battery life
– HP Fast Charge: Up to 50% in 30 mins
Performance
– Latest Intel 10th Gen processors
– Vapour Chamber Cooling with dual 12V fans
– Up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
– Up to 32 GB of DDR4 memory
– Up to 16.5 hours battery life
– HP Fast Charge : Up to 50% in 45 mins
Design
– 13.3-inch micro-edge WLED display
– 88% screen-to-body ratio
Design
– 15.6-inch micro-edge WLED touch display
– 100% sRGB colour gamut
Security
– unhackable physical camera shutter
– microphone mute button on keyboard
– fingerprint reader
Security
– unhackable physical camera shutter
– microphone mute button on keyboard
– fingerprint reader
– virtual private ExpressVPN (30 day trial)
Other Features
– free Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 (worth RM 529)
– 2-year accidental damage protection coverage

But no matter which HP ENVY laptop you choose, it will come with free pre-installed Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 (worth RM 529) as well as 2 Years of Accidental Damage Protection!

Find out more about the new HP ENVY 13 and HP ENVY 15 laptops here.

 

HP Accidental Damage Protection (ADP)

HP Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) is designed to protect your HP ENVY laptop against any accidental damage during your use.

It will cover drops, spills, power surges, including broken parts. Even damaged or broken displays!

Here are some examples of how useful it can be to protect your investment :

  • You accidentally knock your HP ENVY laptop off the desk, and crack its LCD display. The ADP coverage includes a free replacement of the damaged LCD screen!
  • You accidentally spill your drink on the keyboard, causing the laptop to stop operating. It will be repaired for free with ADP coverage!
  • A power surge during a lightning storm damages the laptop. It will be repaired for free with ADP coverage!

 

2020 HP ENVY 13 | HP ENVY 15 : Price + Availability

The 2020 HP ENVY laptops are available with immediate effect, with these starting prices :

  • HP ENVY 13 (2020) : RM 4,399
  • HP ENVY 15 (2020) : RM 5,799

Here are the online purchase options :

 

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WD NAS Can’t Be Seen In Windows? Here Are The Solutions!

You may be wondering why your WD NAS is no longer visible in Windows 10.

Where did it go? How do you get it back?

Find out why your WD NAS cannot no longer be seen in Windows, and what are the solutions!

 

WD NAS Can’t Be Seen In Windows : What Happened?

You may have been using your WD NAS for some time, but one day, its network share – the “drive” that you directly access – can no longer be seen in Windows 10.

The NAS links in Windows File Explorer will only lead you to the login page for the WD NAS management page, not the actual drive where you can directly read, copy, write or edit your files.

All these NAS issues are happening because Microsoft disabled the Network Browse function from Windows 10 v1709 onwards.

The problems started after Windows 10 Fall Creators Update 1709, which :

The Computer Browser service relies on the SMB 1.0 protocol to discover network devices and display them in the Windows Network Neighbourhood.

Disabling SMB 1.0 breaks the Computer Browser service, so it is automatically uninstalled and your NAS drives “disappear” from Network Neighbourhood.

Disabling guest access prevents guest or public access to your NAS drives, even to folders you specifically set to allow for public access. Hence, the Public folder they had access to earlier “disappears”.

 

Why Did Microsoft Disable Those Network Features?

The SMB1 network protocol was first implemented in Windows back in 1992, so it’s old… very old.

It’s so old that it lacks encryption. Everything transmitted via SMB1 can be captured and read, and even modified, by any attacker who gains access to the network.

Guest logins even on SMB2 do not support standard security features like signing and encryption. This makes them vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks.

That’s why Microsoft (finally) disabled them both, starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update 1709.

 

WD NAS Can’t Be Seen In Windows : Before We Start…

Preliminary Step #1 : Update Your NAS

Before you do anything, you should log into your WD NAS management system and update its firmware, in case it’s not already set to automatically update.

Updating its firmware will ensure that your NAS supports at least SMB 2, if not SMB 3 as well.

WD NAS Windows URL macOS URL
My Cloud EX2100 http://wdmycloudex2100 http://wdmycloudex2100.local
My Cloud DL2100 http://wdmyclouddl2100 http://wdmyclouddl2100.local
My Cloud EX4100 http://wdmycloudex4100 http://wdmycloudex4100.local
My Cloud DL4100 http://wdmyclouddl4100 http://wdmyclouddl4100.local

Preliminary Step #2 : Use A Higher SMB Protocol

Then, enable the highest SMB protocol your WD NAS supports (Settings > Network). Set it to SMB 3 if possible.

This will ensure that both your WD NAS and your network support the most secure network protocol possible, for your security.

 

WD NAS Can’t Be Seen In Windows : The Solutions!

Best Solution : Map Your WD NAS By Device Name

The best way is to manually map your WD NAS by its device name. This lets you use the more secure SMB2 or SMB3 network protocols, with direct access to your files as usual.

  1. Determine your WD NAS network path, which is based on the device name.If you changed your WD NAS device name to TechARPCloud (for example), the network name will be \\TechARPCloudHere is a list of default network paths for different WD NAS :
WD NAS Default Network Path
My Cloud Home \\MYCLOUD-last 6 digits of serial number
Example : \\MYCLOUD-123456
My Cloud Home Duo
My Cloud \\WDMYCLOUD
My Cloud Mirror \\WDMYCLOUDMIRROR
My Cloud Mirror Gen 2
My Cloud EX2 \\WDMYCLOUDEX2
My Cloud EX2 Ultra \\MYCLOUDEX2ULTRA
My Cloud EX4 \\WDMYCLOUDEX4
My Cloud EX2100 \\WDMYCLOUDEX2100
My Cloud EX4100 \\WDMYCLOUDEX4100
My Cloud DL2100 \\WDMYCLOUDDL2100
My Cloud DL4100 \\WDMYCLOUDDL4100
My Cloud PR2100 \\MYCLOUDPR2100
My Cloud PR4100 \\MYCLOUDPR2100
  1. Open Windows File Explorer and click on Network on the left pane.
  2. Key in the network path of the WD NAS, which is based on its device name. Make sure you include \\ before the network path.

  1. You will be asked to key in a user name and password.
    This can be the administrator’s login, or the login of any registered user of your WD NAS.
    Remember – Windows 10 no longer allows guest logins or public access. So you will need to create a password-protected account even for guests to use.

  1. Once you successfully authenticate your user name and password, the network shares of your WD NAS will become visible in File Explorer under Network!You can stop here, but you will need to keep keying in the network path and login to access your NAS every time you boot into Windows.

  1. For more convenience, you can create a password-protected Private Share.Start by right-clicking on a network share from your WD NAS and select Map network drive…

  1. Select a drive letter for the network share.
    Check Reconnect at sign-in if you don’t want to automatically log into the drive.
    Then click Finish to map the drive.

That’s it! If you expand This PC in Windows File Explorer, you should now see that the WD NAS network drive has now been mapped by its device name!

 

Alternate Solution : Enable Network Discovery Without SMB1

This Windows 10 workaround can be used if your WD NAS supports SMB2 or SMB3 and you prefer not to map the network drives.

  1. Go to Windows Services.
  2. Start these two services :
    Function Discovery Provider Host
    Function Discovery Resource Publication
  3. Set the Startup type for both those services to Automatic (Delayed Start).
  4. Open Windows File Explorer and go to Network.
  5. When prompted, enable Network Discovery.

Your WD NAS shares should now be visible in Windows File Explorer.

 

Worst Case Solution : Enable Network Discovery Without SMB1

This should only be attempted if your WD NAS simply cannot support SMB2 or SMB3, and can only use SMB1.

  1. Go to Control Panel > Programs.
  2. Click on Turn Windows features on or off.
  3. Expand the SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support option.
  4. Check the SMB 1.0/CIFS Client option.
  5. Click the OK button.
  6. Restart Windows 10

After Windows 10 restarts, your WD NAS shares should now be visible in Windows File Explorer.

 

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2020 Acer Predator Helios 700 : What You Need To Know!

Acer just launched the 2020 Predator Helios 700, with the latest 10th Gen Intel processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics.

Here is what you need to know about the refreshed Acer Predator Helios 700 gaming laptop!

 

2020 Acer Predator Helios 700 : What You Need To Know!

The newly-refreshed 2020 Acer Predator Helios 700 is available in two variants, differing in their processor and graphics choices.

The base model comes with the Intel Core i7-10875H processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER graphics.

The top-of-the-line model, on the other hand, has the Intel Core i9-10980HK processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER graphics.

They both come with a large 17.3-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, with NVIDIA G-SYNC support for tear-free gaming.

The Core i9 model comes with two 512 GB SSDs in RAID 0, while the Core i7 model comes a 512 GB SSD and a 1 TB HDD.

They both come with Killer AX1650i for fast Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, and Killer E3100G for Gigabit LAN connectivity with Killer DoubleShot Pro capability.

 

2020 Acer Predator Helios 700 : Specifications

For your convenience, we compare the two 2020 Predator Helios 700 variants in this table :

Specifications Predator Helios 700
(Intel Core i9)
Predator Helios 700
(Intel Core i7)
Model PH717-72-944E PH717-72-76GW
Display 17.3-inch G-SYNC IPS display (144 Hz)
– Full HD resolution
(1920 x 1080)
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor Intel Core i9-10980HK Intel Core i7-10875H
Memory 1 x 16 GB DDR4-2933 (upgradable to 64 GB)
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce
RTX 2080 SUPER
NVIDIA GeForce
RTX 2070 SUPER
Storage 1 TB PCIe NVMe SSD
(512 GB x 2 in RAID 0)
512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
+ 1TB HDD (7.2K RPM)
Connectivity Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i
Killer Ethernet E3100G
Bluetooth 5.1
Card Reader NA
Ports 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C
3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2
1 x HDMI 2.0 with HDCP
1 x Display Port 1.4
1 x Microphone
1 x Headphone
1 x RJ-45 Ethernet
Audio DTS X Audio + Acer TrueHarmony
Webcam Acer Full HD Webcam (1920 x 1080)
Dimensions 430 mm wide
299 mm deep
41.7 mm thick
Weight 4.8 kg

 

2020 Acer Predator Helios 700 : Price + Deal

The 2020 Acer Predator Helios 700 is available for PRE-ORDER in August 2020, with the following recommended retail price in Malaysia :

  • Intel Core i9 : RM 17,999 (about US$4,246 / £3,244 / A$5,962 / S$5,828)
  • Intel Core i7 : RM 12,999 (about US$3,066 / £2,343 / A$4,305 / S$4,209)

If you pre-order them during Acer Day 2020 (2 – 4 August 2020), you will receive these free gifts :

  • Acer Predator RGB Mousepad / Redmi TV Soundbar
  • Acer Predator Gaming Chair
  • Acer Predator Gaming Utility Backpack

 

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2020 Acer Predator Helios 300 : What You Need To Know!

Acer just launched the 2020 Predator Helios 300, with the latest 10th Gen Intel processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics.

Here is what you need to know about the refreshed Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop!

 

2020 Acer Predator Helios 300 : What You Need To Know!

The newly-refreshed 2020 Acer Predator Helios 300 is available in two variants, differing only in their processor choice.

The base model comes with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H processor, while the top-of-the-line model has a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor.

They both come with a large 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics.

In addition to a large and fast 512 GB PCIe SSD, it comes with a spare SSD slot, and a spare HDD slot, for storage upgrades.

The 2020 Predator Helios 300 comes with Killer AX1650 for fast Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and Killer E2500 for Gigabit LAN connectivity.

 

2020 Acer Predator Helios 300 : Specifications

For your convenience, we compare the two 2020 Predator Helios 300 variants in this table :

Specifications Predator Helios 300
(Intel Core i7)
Predator Helios 300
(Intel Core i5)
Model PH315-53-77CF PH315-53-5462
Display 15.6-inch IPS display (144 Hz)
– Full HD resolution
(1920 x 1080)
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Processor Intel Core i7-10750H Intel Core i5-10300H
Memory 1 x 8 GB DDR4-2933 (upgradable to 32 GB)
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6 GB)
Storage 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
1 x SSD slot, 1 x HDD slot
Connectivity Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650
Killer Ethernet E2500
Bluetooth 5.0
Card Reader SD Card Reader
Ports 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1
1 x HDMI 2.0 with HDCP
1 x mini Display Port 1.4
Audio DTS X Audio
Webcam Acer HD Webcam (1280 x 720)
Dimensions 363.4 mm wide
255 mm deep
22.9 mm thick
Weight 2.2 kg

 

2020 Acer Predator Helios 300 : Price + Deal

The 2020 Acer Predator Helios 300 is available with in August 2020, with the following recommended retail price in Malaysia :

  • Intel Core i7 : RM 5,199 (about US$1,226 / £941 / A$1,724 / S$1,688)
  • Intel Core i5 : RM 4,599 (about US$1,085 / £833 / A$1,525 / S$1,493)

However, they are both available with a RM 100 discount during Acer Day 2020 (2 – 4 August 2020) :

  • Intel Core i7 : RM 5,099 (about US$1,203 / £924 / A$1,690 / S$1,656)
  • Intel Core i5 : RM 4,499 (about US$1,061 / £815 / A$1,488 / S$1,460)

In addition, you will receive these free gifts :

  • Acer Predator Mousepad (M)
  • Acer Predator Flask
  • Acer Predator Urban Gaming Backpack
  • Redmi Airdots Earbuds / Acer Slim Wireless Mouse / Predator Cestus 310 Mouse

 

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Samsung Link To Windows Guide : Work From Home Easier!

If you own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, its Link To Windows feature is a really great way to get more work done at home during the COVID-19 crisis!

In this guide, we will show you how to set-up Link To Windows, and use it to make your work-from-home life a LOT easier! 😀

 

Samsung Link To Windows : What Is It?

Link To Windows is a Microsoft feature that allows Samsung Galaxy smartphones to be directly linked to a Windows 10 computer – whether it’s a desktop or laptop.

Once you link your Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you can directly access its data on your Windows 10 computer :

  • access up to 2,000 of the most recent photos,
  • view notifications,
  • send and receive text messages,
  • make calls from your computer,
  • copy and paste text and images, and
  • control your phone using your mouse!

Link To Windows is one of the features Samsung is promoting as part of their Stay Apart By Stay Together With Galaxy campaign to help users tackle the COVID-19 crisis.

 

Samsung Link To Windows : What Do You Need?

Samsung Link To Windows only requires you to have a Windows 10 computer, and one of these Samsung Galaxy smartphone models

 

Samsung Link To Windows : How To Set It Up

Your Windows 10 computer should already have the Microsoft Your Phone app installed as part of the October 2018 Update. But on the off-chance you can’t find it, you can download it for FREE.

On Your Windows 10 PC

  1. Open the Your Phone app (type Your Phone in the taskbar search box, and select it)
  2. Select Android, and click Continue.
  3. Click Sign in with Microsoft, and log in using your Microsoft account. You will be asked to provide your smartphone number, so Microsoft can send a text message to authenticate it.
  4. Once you are done, you will see a screen saying “Please open Your Phone Companion – Link to Windows“.

On Your Samsung Galaxy Smartphone

  1. Swipe downwards from the top of the display to reveal the Quick Panel.
    Alternatively, go to Settings > Connections or Advanced features
    If you can’t find it, you can download and install Your Phone Companion app from Google Play.
  2. Tap Link to Windows.
  3. In the welcome screen, tap the Sign in with Microsoft button.
  4. Accept the app permissions.
  5. When you see the screen “Set up the Your Phone app on your PC”, tap My PC is ready.
  6. You will see the Link to Windows settings open up on your Galaxy smartphone.

Congratulations! Your Samsung Galaxy smartphone is now connected to your Windows 10 PC!

 

Samsung Link To Windows : How To Use

Reading + Sending Messages

  1. Click on the Messages tab
  2. You will see all of the text messages on your phone
  3. Select a recipient to send your text message to
  4. Type your message, and hit Send

Making Calls

  1. You must first pair your PC and phone using Bluetooth
  2. Turn on Bluetooth on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone (if it’s not already enabled)
  3. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Bluetooth and other devices
  4. Click Add Bluetooth or other device.
  5. Select your Samsung Galaxy smartphone
  6. Click on the Calls tab
  7. You will see a log of your recent calls, as well as a bar to search your phone’s contacts
  8. Select a contact to make your call

Using Phone Screen

  1. Click on the Phone screen tab
  2. You will be prompted to make sure your Galaxy smartphone and Windows 10 PC are on the same Wi-Fi network, if they are not already.
  3. Once connected, you will be able to see your phone’s screen on your PC display and interact with it using your mouse or touchpad.

Copy + Paste

  1. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Cross-device copy and paste
  2. Make sure the toggle is On for Allow this app to access and transfer content I copy and paste between my phone and PC
  3. You can now use the same shortcuts you normally use to copy and paste on both your Galaxy smartphone, and your Windows 10 PC.

 

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The Legendary Phoenix for Minecraft : Get It FREE!

For this holiday season, GOE-CRAFT is giving away The Legendary Phoenix, an arctic adventure for Minecraft!

Find out how to get The Legendary Phoenix for FREE, and make sure you tell your friends!

 

The Legendary Phoenix for Minecraft : Get It FREE!

Travel to a frozen land, lost in time, and explore its bygone civilisation of frigid lakes, villages, and castles.

Unlock ancient secrets as you complete the challenging quests before you. Obtain the six magic scrolls to free the Legendary Arctic Phoenix!

  • Frozen HD textures
  • 10 frosty HD skins
  • Abominable snowmen and boss fights
  • Captivating arctic landscape

Recommended : Minecraft Ray Tracing : Everything You Need To Know!

 

The Legendary Phoenix for Minecraft : How To Get It FREE!

As of today, you can download The Legendary Phoenix for all versions of Minecraft with a Minecraft Marketplace :

  • Xbox One
  • Nintendo Switch
  • Windows 10
  • Apple iOS
  • Android
  • PlayStation 4 (it’s called store, instead of Minecraft Marketplace)

Just open up the Marketplace on your Minecrafting device and download!

 

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Minecraft Gets FREE Way of the Bee Map!

Mojang just announced that they’re giving away a free Minecraft map – Way of the Bee! Go download this free map and have a buzzy time this holiday season!

 

Minecraft Gets FREE Way of the Bee Map!

For this holiday season, Mojang is giving away a free Minecraft map called Way of the Bee, created by the Razzleberries team.

Mojang’s Tom Stone asked their studio lead, Mariana Graham for some information on the old timer dressed as a bee in the map :

Mariana said, “Some say he’s not touched the ground in over a decade, and that his tongue is three feet long. All we know is he’s called the bee scientist!

The bee scientist took his love of bees to extremes by choosing to live among his favourite flower-feeders instead of other humans, learning their ways, tending their hives and eating their honey.

He’s far from happy about the state of Poppy Isle, where bees have all but died out, and thus is ecstatic to see someone from there taking an interest in bees and trying to re-introduce them!”

To meet the bee scientist, go to the Minecraft Marketplace on your platform of choice, and help yourself to the Way of the Bee map!

Recommended : Minecraft Ray Tracing : Everything You Need To Know!

 

Minecraft Way of the Bee Map : How To Get It

As of today, you can download the free Way of the Bee map for all versions of Minecraft with a Minecraft Marketplace :

  • Xbox One
  • Nintendo Switch
  • Windows 10
  • Apple iOS
  • Android
  • PlayStation 4 (it’s called store, instead of Minecraft Marketplace)

 

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The Microsoft Secured-core PC Initiative Explained!

Microsoft and their hardware partners just announced the Secured-core PC initiative to combat threats that target the PC’s firmware and operating system.

With help from David Weston, Partner Director of Microsoft OS Security, here is everything you need to know about the Secured-core PC initiative!

 

What Is The Secured-core PC Initiative?

Secured-core PC is a new Microsoft initiative that they just announced. In partnership with their hardware partners, they aim to create a specific set of requirements for devices that are meant for secure use.

These requirements will apply the best practices in data security – isolation and minimal trust in the firmware layer and the device core that underpins the Windows operating system.

Secured-core PC devices will be targeted at industries like financial services, government and healthcare, and anyone who work with valuable IP, customer or personal data. They would also be useful for persons of interest, who would be high-value targets for hackers and nation-state attackers.

 

Is There A Need For Secured-core PC?

As more protection is built into the operating system and connected services, attackers are exploring other methods with firmware emerging as a top target.

The NIST’s National Vulnerability Database shows a near 5X increase in the number of firmware vulnerabilities in the last 3 years :

In late 2018, security researchers discovered that the hacking group Strontium targeted systems in the wild with malware that made use of firmware vulnerabilities.

Because it targeted firmware, the malicious code was hard to detect, and difficult to remove. It even persists after the operating system is reinstalled, or the storage drive replaced!

 

Why Is Firmware The New Target?

Firmware is used to initialise the hardware and software when a device is started up. It therefore has a higher level of access and privileges than the hypervisor and operating system kernel.

This means firmware attacks that succeed can undermine protective mechanisms like Secure Boot that the hypervisor or operating system use to protect against malware.

Firmware attacks can more easily evade endpoint protection and detection solutions, because the latter run under the operating system layer, and therefore have limited visibility of the firmware layer.

 

What Is A Secured-core PC Made Up Of?

Secured-core PCs will combine multiple layers of protection – identity, virtualisation, operating system, hardware and firmware – to prevent attacks, rather than simply detecting them.

They all ensure that the device will boot securely and is protected against firmware vulnerabilities, shielding the operating system from attacks and preventing unauthorised access to the device and data.

Recommended : How AMD CPUs Work In A Secured-core PC Device

System Guard Secure Launch

Microsoft is now implementing System Guard Secure Launch in Windows 10 as a key Secured-core PC requirement.

System Guard uses the Dynamic Root of Trust for Measurement (DRTM) capabilities built into the latest processors from AMD, Intel and Qualcomm, to protect the boot process from firmware attacks.

The firmware is used to start the hardware, and then shortly after, re-initialise the system into a trusted state. This helps to limit the trust assigned to the firmware, greatly mitigating against firmware attacks.

This method also helps protect the integrity of the Virtualisation-Based Security (VBS) feature in the hypervisor against firmware vulnerabilities. This is critical because VBS is used for important OS security functions like Windows Defender Credential Guard and Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI).

Trusted Platform Module 2.0

Microsoft is also implementing Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM) as a device requirement for Secured-core PCs.

It is used to measure the components that are used during the secure launch process, allowing for zero trust networks using System Guard runtime attestation.

 

Secured-core PC Availability

Secured-core PC devices are available from Dell, Dynabook, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic and Microsoft’s own Surface brand.

 

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Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Price + Pre-Order Details Revealed!

Microsoft Malaysia just announced that the Surface Pro 6 is available for pre-order in Malaysia. Here are the full Surface Pro 6 price, availability and pre-order details!

Microsoft Surface Pro 6

The new Surface Pro 6 retains the familiar exterior but is far more powerful inside. With a quad-core 8th Generation Intel Core processor, it is 50% faster than its predecessor, while offering the same battery life.

Surface Pro 6 has a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with digital inking capabilities using the Surface Pen and Office 365. it also has a 165-degree kickstand, and weighs just 770 grams.

For greater comfort and productivity, you can attach the Signature Type Cover and Surface Mouse, to immediately transform the Surface Pro 6 into a laptop.

Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Price + Availability

The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is available in three colour options globally –Platinum, Burgundy and Cobalt Blue. In Malaysia, Microsoft will only offer them in the Platinum colour, from 15 January 2019 onwards.

There are currently four configurations :

Together with these Microsoft Surface accessories :

Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Pre-Order In Malaysia

The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is available for ore-order starting 3 January 2019 via authorised Microsoft retailers like All IT, Harvey Norman, and the Lazada Microsoft Flagship Store.

On top of that, Microsoft is offering a 50% discount code MSFTCNY for Microsoft Office and accessories when you purchase them with a new Surface Pro 6 at these links :

  • Intel Core i7 + 16 GB RAM + 512 GB SSD : RM 8,999
  • Intel Core i7 + 8 GB RAM + 256 GB SSD : RM 7,079
  • Intel Core i5 + 8 GB RAM + 256 GB SSD : RM 5,799
  • Intel Core i5 + 8 GB RAM + 128 GB SSD : RM 4,399

Note : The MSFTCNY discount code is only valid from 16-18 January 2019.

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Price + Pre-Order Details!

Microsoft Malaysia just announced that the Surface Laptop 2 is available for pre-order in Malaysia. Here are the full Surface Laptop 2 price, availability and pre-order details!

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2

The new Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 are powered by the latest quad-core 8th Generation Intel Core processor, delivering 85% more performance than its predecessor.

The Surface Laptop 2 boasts up to 14.5 hours of battery life, a premium design, PixelSense Touch Display, and best-in-class keyboard and trackpad. A pair of OmniSonic speakers are hidden below the keyboard, discreetly delivering powerful audio.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Price + Availability

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 will be available only in the Platinum colour, from 15 January 2019 onwards. Microsoft Malaysia will offer two configurations :

  • Intel Core i5 + 8 GB RAM + 256 GB SSD : RM 6,199 / ~US$ 1,179 / ~£ 916
  • Intel Core i5 + 8 GB RAM + 128 GB SSD : RM 4,829 / ~US$ 1,512 / ~£ 1,176

In the US and UK, Microsoft is offering a higher-end configuration :

Here are some direct purchase links for readers in the US and UK :

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Pre-Order In Malaysia

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 is available for ore-order starting 3 January 2019 via authorised Microsoft retailers like All IT, Harvey Norman, and the Lazada Microsoft Flagship Store.

On top of that, Microsoft is offering a 50% discount code MSFTCNY for Microsoft Office and accessories when you purchase them with a new Surface Laptop 2 at these links :

  • Intel Core i5 + 8 GB RAM + 128 GB SSD : RM 4,829
  • Intel Core i5 + 8 GB RAM + 256 GB SSD : RM 6,199

Note : The MSFTCNY discount code is only valid from 16-18 January 2019.

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JOI Book 100 Ultra-Thin Laptop Debuts @ Just RM1,299 / $325!

SNS Network just introduced a highly-affordable ultra-thin laptop – the JOI Book 100. Priced at only RM 1,299 / $325, it has a premium metal and glass design, with a Full HD IPS display and solid state storage. Here are the full details!

 

Introducing The JOI Book 100!

Despite its low cost, the JOI Book 100 boasts a full metal and glass design that gives it a premium look and feel that is quite unlike any other laptop in the same price range. Its 14.1-inch display does not only come with a Full HD IPS panel, it has a full glass cover and very narrow bezels.

Performance

Powering the JOI Book 100 is a power-sipping Intel Celeron N3450 quad-core processor – it uses just 6 W of power while delivering clock speeds between 1.1 GHz and 2.2 GHz. It is backed by 2 MB of L2 cache, Intel HD Graphics 500 and 4 GB of memory.

Storage

The JOI Book 100 is unique in that it comes with a 32 GB eMMC boot drive, preloaded with Windows 10 Home. For additional storage, it has an M.2 SSD bay with a 128 GB Intel SSD 545s drive installed.

This SSD bay has an easy-access hatch that allows you to easily swap out the existing SSD for a larger drive later. If that’s not enough, you can also add a microSD card for additional storage of up to 64 GB.

Mobility

The JOI Book 100 comes with a 10,000 mAh lithium-ion battery that will last 6-8 hours. It is also very slim at just 14 mm and weighs only 1.35 kg, which means you will have no problem slipping it into small bags.

 

JOI Book 100 Specifications

SpecificationsJOI Book 100
Display14.1-inch IPS display
- 1920 x 1080 pixels
- full glass panel with 3 mm bezels
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10 Home
ProcessorIntel Celeron N3450
- 4 cores, 4 threads
- 1.1 GHz base clock, 2.2 GHz boost clock
- 2 MB L2 cache
Graphics ProcessorIntel HD Graphics 500
- 200 MHz to 700 MHz
Memory4 GB RAM
Storage32 GB eMMC 5.1 flash storage
128 GB Intel SSD 545s
Micro SD card slot (up to 64 GB)
Front Camera2 MP Webcam
ConnectivityWiFi + Bluetooth 4.0
Available Ports2 x USB 3.0 ports
1 x micro HDMI port
Battery10,000 mAh lithium-ion battery
Weight1.35 kg
Available ColoursGold / Dark Grey

 

JOI Book 100 Price + Offers

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As you already know, the JOI Book 100 only costs RM 1,299 / US$ 325. It is available in two colour options – Dark Grey and Gold.

It will come with a complimentary 128 GB Intel SSD 545s drive (worth RM 249 / $62) preinstalled, and a JOI Anti-Theft backpack (worth RM 129 / $32).

In addition, from 12th to 15th July 2018, Gloo.com.my and Gloo @ Lazada will be offer an exclusive promotion. Every purchase of a JOI Book 100 will come with a free wireless mouse and PWP offers of Microsoft Office 365 Personal at RM 99 and Seagate Back Up Plus 1TB at only RM 169. 

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The New Windows 10 Features In 30 April 2018 Update!

On 30 April 2018, Microsoft released the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. This is the latest major update, with a number of new Windows 10 features and improvements.

In this article, Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President of the Microsoft Windows and Devices Group, shares with us the new Windows 10 updates and improvements being introduced in the April 2018 update.

 

New Windows 10 Feature – Timeline

The proliferation of devices, combined with the explosion of information, has led to an influx of screen time. In fact, today, practically all free time goes toward screens. Your information is spread across multiple devices – making it increasingly harder to find your stuff.

We’ve all had the experience of digging through your email or file folders for the document you know you wrote, but can’t find. Or looking for photos and videos that you know you’ve seen and love, but can no longer locate. Timeline can help you get back this wasted time.

With Timeline, your Windows 10 PC lets you go back in time up to 30 days to find your stuff, whether you were working on it earlier today, last week, or a few weeks ago. Because much of our activity is on the go, you can even pick up what you were doing if signed into your Microsoft account while using Microsoft Edge or Office 365 on your iOS or Android device when you return to your Windows 10 PC.

Imagine looking at bathroom vanity options for that home remodel when you’re out and about on your phone, and then finishing that purchase when you’re back at your PC. Or working on a document on the bus during your commute and seamlessly picking it back up when you’re at your desk.

 

New Windows 10 Feature – Focus Assist

Today, most of us spend between 3-6 hours – each day – on screens. Much of this time is spent on social media, where the constant stream of distractions across our myriad of devices makes it hard to focus. In many ways, our attention is being hacked, pulling us into continuous scrolls of information, but distracting us from what matters most.

This war on attention is real – in the workplace, the average amount of time people spend on any single event before being interrupted or switching tasks is about three minutes (outside of meetings). Since the average person needs about 23 minutes to regroup after being interrupted, we see our productivity and creativity diminished.

With the April 2018 Update we’re introducing Focus Assist to help you stay in the zone. Turn on Focus Assist whenever you want to get things done without distractions, like social media or other notifications. Or set it to turn on automatically at certain times during the day when you want focused time.

When you finish, you receive a summary of what came through, whether notifications, emails or updates, while you were heads down. If you’re waiting on a specific call or email, choose people who you want to break through.

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Microsoft Edge Improvements

We’re also helping you focus while on the web with updates to Microsoft Edge. You can now click the audio icon to mute and unmute a tab that is playing sound. Books, PDFs and Reading View pages can go full-screen for a distraction-free reading experience.

Shopping gets easier as your address, payment and other information can be securely saved with the option to autofill on web payment forms. You can now clear out clutter from your printouts by printing web pages in a cleaner format with the new clutter-free printing option.

Finally, anyone needing a little help with reading can use the new Grammar Tools button to enable comprehension aids. Grammar Tools can break the words on the page into syllables, as well as highlight different parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

 

Improved Dictation

Natural computing experiences enable us to speak directly to our devices to accomplish tasks, without typing. We see potential for voice input to dramatically change how people interact with their devices, far beyond novelty experiences or entertainment.

One way we’ve done this in the April 2018 Update is with Dictation. It’s now easier than ever to take a note or write a paper, with just your voice. With your cursor in any text field either in Windows 10 or in an app, simply press Win+H and start talking.

The improved Dictation feature in Windows 10 will capture your thoughts quickly and accurately so that brilliant idea you just riffed on with your colleagues or the speech you’re practicing for your best friend’s wedding isn’t lost forever.

With the April 2018 Update and Cortana enabled on your Windows 10 PC, you can manage your smart home right from your PC using just your voice. For example, want to come home to a warm house from a long day at work? Just tap Cortana on your PC and say “Hey Cortana, set the living room thermostat to 72 degrees” to control your ecobeeHoneywellNest Learning thermostat and more4.

Of course, there are many more great new Windows 10 features in the April 2018 Update including simplified IT management tools for our enterprise customers, new ways to create with Photos, 3D and Windows Mixed Reality, new ways to keep you safer online and enhancements to your PC gaming experience.

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The Microsoft Surface Book 2 Price & Availability In Malaysia

Microsoft announced that the Surface Book 2 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia starting 7 February 2018 at local Surface authorized retailers. Here are the pre-order details of the Microsoft Surface Book 2, as well as its price and availability!

 

The Microsoft Surface Book 2

The Surface Book 2 is Microsoft’s most powerful laptop yet. With the latest 8th Generation Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 and 1060 discrete graphics options, it is up to five times more powerful than its predecessor. Yet, the Surface Book 2 provides all-day battery life, supporting up to 17 hours of video playback.

For users that seek a powerful yet portable device, the Surface Book 2 (13.5”) weighs just slightly over 1.5kg, and is crafted from premium, lightweight materials that balances performance with size.

Work and play the way you want with the Surface Book 2

The Surface Book 2 is able to morph from a laptop into a powerful, lightweight tablet or even as a powerful studio for those who want a single device that can follow one from concept to sketch to creation. The device has been redesigned so that users can have a smoother, faster detach of the screen with just a push of a button. In addition, the Surface Book 2 can be simply folded to activate Studio Mode to ink or sketch with the Surface Pen and Surface Dial.

Available in 13.5” or 15”, and featuring a stunningly vibrant and crisp PixelSense Display supporting multi touch, the Surface Book 2 empowers users to create the way they want – whether by inking, touch or conventional keyboard and mouse input. For visual artists and creatives, the Surface Book 2 delivers almost seven million pixels onscreen, providing amazing pixel density on a digital canvas.

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For users who require productivity on-the-go, Surface Book 2 ships with Windows 10 Pro and supports Microsoft Office apps. The device also brings a full array of ports, including USB-A, USB-C, and full-size SD reader so that it is easier to connect to other devices, accessories and memory cards.

With the latest Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Surface Book 2 users can unleash their creativity with the new Photos app, as well as a new range of experiences that allows for creating and interactive with 3D objects.

The Fall Creators Update is also the best version of Windows for PC gamers, and users can be sure that the device will be able to handle the most popular PC games at 1080p and 60 FPS – in some cases matching the graphics performance of game consoles like the Xbox One.

 

Surface Book 2 Price & Availability In Malaysia

Microsoft Surface Book 2 Specifications Suggested Retail Price
13.5” Intel Core i5, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 620 RM 6,899
13.5” Intel Core i7, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 RM 8,899
13.5” Intel Core i7, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 RM 11,199
13.5” Intel Core i7, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (coming soon) RM 13,399
15” Intel Core i7, 256GB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 RM 10,799
15” Intel Core i7, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 RM 12,499
15” Intel Core i7, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (coming soon) RM 14,199

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KB4078130 : Emergency Windows Update To Disable Intel Spectre Patches!

You may recall our extensive coverage of Intel’s buggy Spectre 2 patches that were causing random and spontaneous reboots in over 800 CPU models. It’s gotten so bad that Microsoft was forced to issue KB4078130 – an emergency update to disable the Intel Spectre 2 mitigations that were causing the spontaneous reboots.

 

Spectre Variant 2

Colloquially known as Spectre 2, it is more accurately known as Spectre Variant 2Google Project Zero Variant 2 (GPZ Variant 2), or officially as CVE-2017-5715.

After deploying the Spectre 2 patches in their new microcode updates, Intel started receiving reports of “higher than expected reboots and other unpredictable system behaviour“.

Microsoft confirmed this, stating further that their “own experience is that system instability can in some circumstances cause data loss or corruption“.

 

KB4078130 : Update To Disable Mitigation Against Spectre, Variant 2

Unwilling to wait for Intel to fix the problem, Microsoft decided to issue KB4078130 – an “out of band” or emergency update. All it does is disable the mitigation against Spectre 2.

Their tests proved that this update is sufficient to prevent the random and spontaneous reboots experienced by the affected Intel processors.

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The KB4078130 update covers the following Windows version :

  • Windows 7 SP1 (client and server variants)
  • Windows 8.1 (client and server variants)
  • Windows 10 (client and server variants)

 

Where To Download KB4078130

This update is not applied automatically because it’s meant only for Intel systems affected by these reboot issues.

You will need to download and install it manually at the Microsoft Update Catalog.

 

For Advanced Users Only

If you are a system administrator, or a 1337 techie, Microsoft is making available a new registry key to manually disable and re-enable the mitigation against Spectre 2.

  • Instructions for Windows administrators – KB4073119
  • Instructions for Windows Server administrators – KB4072698

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These Windows 10 Updates Are Bricking AMD PCs! Rev. 4.0

Microsoft has stopped pushing a number of Windows 10 updates, including the Meltdown and Spectre mitigation patches, because they were bricking some AMD PCs. Frustrated users were left with their AMD PCs in an unbootable state after installing those updates. The cure was, in this case, worse than the disease!

Updated @ 2018-01-16 : Added another affected CPU, a new section on Microsoft’s confusing statement, and a new section on what you should do.

Updated @ 2018-01-15 : Added 6 more CPUs affected by these Windows 10 updates, as well as the official word from AMD.

Updated @ 2018-01-11 : Added more AMD CPUs that were reported to have failed to boot up, after applying these Meltdown and Spectre patches.

Originally posted @ 2018-01-10


 

These Windows 10 Updates Are Bricking AMD PCs!

Following reports of users unable to boot up their AMD PCs after applying Windows 10 updates, Microsoft has identified the following security patches and updates from 3-9 January 2018 as the culprits :

January 3, 2018—KB4056897 (Security-only update)
January 9, 2018—KB4056894 (Monthly Rollup)
January 3, 2018—KB4056888 (OS Build 10586.1356)
January 3, 2018—KB4056892 (OS Build 16299.192)
January 3, 2018—KB4056891 (OS Build 15063.850)
January 3, 2018—KB4056890 (OS Build 14393.2007)
January 3, 2018—KB4056898 (Security-only update)
January 3, 2018—KB4056893 (OS Build 10240.17735)
January 9, 2018—KB4056895 (Monthly Rollup)

In the affected AMD systems, the Windows logo will appear after the PC reboots to complete the upgrade process. However, it won’t complete the boot process.

 

What AMD CPUs Are Affected? Updated!

Neither Microsoft nor AMD have revealed what AMD CPUs are affected but based on user reports, here is a list of affected AMD CPUs.

  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X
  • AMD Ryzen 7 1700
  • AMD FX-8350
  • AMD A10-7800
  • AMD FX-6350
  • AMD Phenom II X6 Black Edition 1090T
  • AMD Opteron 180
  • AMD Athlon X2 5050e
  • AMD Athlon X2 4850e
  • AMD Athlon X2 4450B
  • AMD Athlon X2 L310
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 3200+
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55
  • AMD Athlon 64 FX-62
  • AMD Athlon 64 FX-60
  • AMD Athlon 64 1640B
  • AMD Sempron 3200+
  • AMD Turion Neo X2 L625
  • AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60
  • AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-56
  • AMD Turion X2 RM-72
  • AMD Turion X2 RM-70

There has been at least one case each involving the newer Ryzen 7 and Threadripper processors, but these are outliers. So far, this issue affects mostly older AMD Athlon processors. However, there

Needless to say, the list above is NOT EXHAUSTIVE. We will update the list, as and when, people report them.

On 11 January 2018, AMD stated that the problem affected AMD Opteron, Athlon and Turion X2 Ultra processors.

 

How Did This Happen?

Microsoft is blaming documentation from AMD, stating that some AMD chipsets do not conform to the documentation previously provided to Microsoft to develop the Windows operating system mitigations to protect against the chipset vulnerabilities known as Spectre and Meltdown.

Technically, Meltdown and Spectre are CPU, not chipset, vulnerabilities. So Microsoft was probably referring to CPU documentation provided by AMD.

 

What Is Being Done?

Because Windows 10 forcibly installs updates, Microsoft has temporarily stopped pushing those Windows 10 updates to the affected AMD processors. They’re now working with AMD to correct the problem with those patches.

According to AMD, the new patches will be issued sometime in the week of 15-21 January 2018. At the time of this update (16 January 2018), the new patches have not been released.

 

Microsoft’s Confusing Statement New!

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Microsoft invited some confusion when they stated on 11 January 2018 that “Microsoft has resumed updating the majority of AMD devices with the Windows operating system security update to help protect against the chipset vulnerabilities known as Spectre and Meltdown.

As far as we can tell – they only resumed Windows 10 updates for the AMD CPUs that are NOT affected by this problem. They merely identified the affected subset of AMD CPUs, and only blocked updates to them – “A small subset of older AMD processors remain blocked to avoid users getting into an unbootable state after installation of recent Windows operating system security updates.

 

Should You Install Windows 10 Updates? New!

As Microsoft claims to have accurately determined which subset of AMD CPUs are affected, it is theoretically safe to continue installing Windows 10 updates. Windows 10 should be able to identify your CPU and block the updates if it’s one of the affected models.

That said, there is still NO RISK of a Meltdown or Spectre attack. For all of the hype and panic, there are no know exploits of the speculative execution bug in the wild. The Meltdown and Spectre exploits also require physical access to the system.

So we still think it is better to be safe than sorry and HOLD OFF your Windows 10 updates, if you have an OLDER AMD CPU, until Microsoft releases the proper patches in the next few days.

 

Meltdown + Spectre Reading Suggestions

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Wise Pad W7 Windows 10 4G LTE Phablet Review Rev. 3.0

There are many phablets in the market, but most of them are based on the Android operating system. So when a Windows 10 phablet hit the market recently, everyone took note. The Windows 10 phablet in question is the new Wise Pad W7. You will find it marketed as the Microsoft Wise Pad W7.

People immediately asked us to review it, and as if they were reading our minds, they sent us one! So today, we present to you, our review of the Wise Pad W7 Windows 10 phablet!

Updated @ 2017-06-23 : Updated the links in the review. Added more information on the included software. Reworked the Verdict.

Updated @ 2016-09-04 : Added new information on its manufacturer. Made various improvements and corrections to the review.

Originally posted @ 2016-08-18


 

Wise Pad W7 Specifications

SpecificationsWise Pad W7
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10 Mobile
Display7" IPS display (540 x 960 pixels)
System PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 212 (MSM8909 v2)
Processor4 x ARM Cortex-A7 cores (1.3 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 304 (400 MHz)
Memory2 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
Storage16 GB internal flash storage
microSD card slot (up to 64 GB)
Front Camera1.9 MP sensor (720p video recording)
Rear Camera5.0 MP sensor (720p video recording) with single LED flash and f/2.4 lens
Connectivity4G : LTE Cat4 (150 Mbps / 50 Mbps)
WiFi : 810.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth : 4.1 LE
USB : Micro USB 2.0
GPSYes, A-GPS
FM RadioYes, but lacks antenna (earphones)
Battery3,200 mAh lithium-ion battery (11,840 mWh)
Dimensions13 cm wide x 21 cm tall x 5 mm thick

 

Phablet, Not Tablet

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There was some confusion about whether the Wise Pad W7 is a phablet or a tablet. Partly because the advertisement calls it a “tab“. Let us clarify this once and for all.

The Wise Pad W7 is a phablet, not a tablet. There are tablets of the same size, like the ASUS ZenPad 7.0, but tablets do not have telecommunication capabilities. They cannot make calls like smartphones or phablets can.

The Wise Pad W7, on the other hand, is a 4G LTE phablet. You can make calls on it, like any other smartphone or phablet. It’s called a phablet because it is a smartphone that’s the size of a small tablet.

 

Designed & Made By Microsoft?

What attracted people the most was the claim that the Wise Pad W7 was designed, made and sold by Microsoft. Perhaps it had to do with the product descriptions in the advertisement :

Microsoft has truly outdone themselves with this creation, introducing innovative features and designs that are sure to impress.

Microsoft has engineered a unique design that showcases the tab’s 7-inch display screen in the slimmest form.

We reached out to Microsoft for clarification. They informed us that the Wise Pad W7 is not an official Microsoft product, but an OEM product running on Windows 10. Of course, Wise Pad may have cooperated with Microsoft, or received their assistance, in developing this phablet.

Our further investigations revealed that the Wise Pad W7 is actually made by Meizu, and marketed in Malaysia by Blue Kor (also known as Meizu Malaysia).

This makes no difference to our review process though. However, we will refer to it as the Wise Pad W7, instead of the Microsoft Wise Pad W7.

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Unboxing The Wise Pad W7 Phablet

The Wise Pad W7 comes in a nice, shrink-wrapped box with the Microsoft logo prominently printed on the upper left corner. Let’s take a look inside!

The Wise Pad W7 is a low-cost phablet, so you only get the bare essentials :

  • One Wise Pad W7 phablet with a screen protector
  • One Wise Pad W7 user manual
  • One 10 W charger with one micro USB cable

Unfortunately, the Wise Pad W7 does not come with any earphones, even though it has a built-in FM radio. The FM radio requires a pair of earphones to be attached, to serve as its antenna.

Next Page > Wise Pad W7 Overview, Setup, Windows 10 Mobile & Apps

 

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Overview Of The Wise Pad W7

Now that it’s out of the box, let’s take a quick tour of the Wise Pad W7 phablet!

The 7″ IPS display is bright and vivid, but has a low resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. It lacks an oleophobic coating, so it smears very easily. However, it should not matter too much since you will likely install the provided screen protector.

The Wise Pad W7 comes with a 2 MP front camera that is okay for video chats, but takes noisy, low-resolution selfies. You will most likely rely exclusively on the 5 MP main camera at the back, which is supported by an LED flash.

The only physical buttons are located along the right side – a Power button and two Volume buttons. The micro USB 2.0 port is located at the top, together with the earphone port, and a compartment for the microSD and micro SIM cards.

 

Setting Up The Wise Pad W7

Let’s show you how the Wise Pad W7‘s initial setup process is like.

Unfortunately, the Windows 10 Mobile setup process is rather protracted. Android Marshmallow devices take no more than 5 minutes to boot and setup. The Wise Pad W7, on the other hand, took a whooping 82 seconds to start-up for the first time. Then after selecting the country of choice, it had to reboot, taking up an additional 53 seconds.

That’s not the worst of it though. After we set-up the Wise Pad W7, Windows 10 Mobile took an additional 2.5 minutes to decompress and install its apps. Generally, it will take you about 10-15 minutes to setup the Wise Pad W7.

 

Windows 10 Mobile

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Another point of confusion for many potential users is the fact that they marketed it as a Windows 10 tablet. It gave the impression that the Wise Pad W7 is a smaller and far more affordable version of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.

The Wise Pad W7 actually runs on Windows 10 Mobile. This is the mobile version of Windows 10, that is designed to look and feel like Windows 10. However, unlike devices running on actual Windows 10, it is not capable of running Windows desktop applications.

Think of the Wise Pad W7 as a larger version of the Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL smartphones. It will run Windows Mobile or Windows Phone applications, and comes bundled with Office for Windows 10, and Microsoft Edge.

 

Built-In Microsoft Apps

What’s advantageous is the fact that the Wise Pad W7 comes with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive, the Microsoft Edge browser and even Skype pre-installed. That takes care of the productivity requirements for most users.

You can literally start using it to do your work right out of the box. And the tight integration between those Microsoft apps allow you to sync your files and switch between your desktop and the Wise Pad W7 very easily.

Next Page > Wise Pad W7 Camera Performance – Photo & Video

 

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Camera Performance – Photo

The Wise Pad W7 has a 5 MP main camera, with f/2.4 lens and an LED flash. It takes photos with a resolution of 2592 x 1456, with file sizes ranging from 650 KB to 1 MB. Here are some photo samples from the 5MP main camera.

The photos taken appear washed out, unless HDR is enabled. But because the lens is relatively slow, using HDR may result in blurry pictures. The highlights are also easily blown-out when HDR is enabled.

Generally, the pictures are okay for viewing on the Wise Pad W7 itself, or posting on social media. However, the camera’s limitations are very apparent when viewed on a high-resolution computer display.

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Camera Performance – Video

The Wise Pad W7‘s 5 MP camera sensor is capable of recording 1080p videos. However, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor powering the Wise Pad W7 is only powerful enough to handle 720p video recording. So you are limited to recording 720p videos. Here is a sample of the 720p video recording by the main camera.

Immediately, we can tell that the camera lacks optical image stabilisation. It supports electronic image stabilisation, but it does not help much in stabilising the image. You can see that the handshake is quite noticeable, even though we recorded this sample using two hands.

What is most distracting though is the camera’s inability to maintain focus. You can see the camera losing focus and seeking very often. The audio quality was also terrible, sounding really muffled and monotonous.

Next Page > Memory & Storage Capacity, Display Problems, Performance, Verdict

 

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Memory & Storage Capacity

The Wise Pad W7 comes with 2 GB of memory, and 16 GB of internal flash storage. Unfortunately, we cannot find out how much free memory is available for your apps to use. But we can tell you that out of the 16 GB of internal flash storage, you will have at least 10.75 GB of free storage space.

You can top up the storage capacity with a microSD card (up to 64 GB), which should be plenty enough for most users. The Wise Pad W7 also supports OTG drives, so you can easily transfer data.

 

Problems With The Display

The automatic brightness feature in the Wise Pad W7 does not seem to be working at all. Even though its light sensor is working (we checked), the Wise Pad W7 maintains the same brightness level whether it’s in the shade or in direct sunlight. Hence, the display was completely useless in bright sunlight. The workaround? Disable the automatic brightness feature and set the brightness manually.

The other issue we noticed was its improperly calibrated digitiser (touch panel). It appears to register our touches a few millimetres lower than expected. Unfortunately, there is no option to recalibrate the digitiser, so if you face this issue, you will need to learn to touch a few millimetres higher on the display.

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Performance

We tested the Wise Pad W7‘s performance using the AnTuTu benchmark, comparing it against the honor 5C and ASUS ZenFone Zoom smartphones.

Wise Pad W7 honor 5C ASUS ZenFone Zoom
TOTAL SCORE 31570 53417 65914
3D SCORE 1629 9842 16839
– 3D (Marooned) 1306 5795 9863
– 3D (Garden) 323 4047 6976
UX SCORE 14151 19297 21371
– UX Data Secure 9262 5577 5896
– UX Data Process 1202 2706 4353
– UX Strategy Games 2328 4109 4118
– UX Image Process 196 3144 2926
– UX I/O Performance 1163 3761 4078
CPU SCORE 11833 19254 23110
– CPU Mathematics 4385 4198 5196
– CPU Common Use 2763 5947 8699
– CPU Multi-Core 4685 9109 9215
RAM 3957 5024 4594

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 is slow, period. It may have four cores, but they are the slower ARM Cortex-A7 cores. It was particularly poor at graphics, due to its slow Adreno 510 graphics processor.

 

Verdict

The Wise Pad W7 is an interesting phablet. Mainly because it runs on Windows 10 Mobile. This can be a boon or a bane, depending on what you are looking for.

If you are looking for a ton of games and apps, then you are going to be disappointed with the limited choices in the Windows Store. But if you are only interested in using Microsoft applications like Word or Excel, then you will love the tight integration of those Microsoft apps into Windows 10 Mobile.

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The Wise Pad W7 was definitely not designed or manufactured by Microsoft though. The design and build quality is far from what you would expect from Microsoft. It is certainly very cheap, but it is a mixed bag of hits and misses. You will have to compromise with its limitations.

The Wise Pad W7 has a decent polycarbonate chassis with a matte metallic finish, but the display and the camera lens cover lack oleophobic coatings and are very easily smeared. The 7″ display has a lot more screen space than a smartphone, but it is limited by its low resolution of 540 x 960.

What really concerned us the most was the non-functioning auto-brightness feature and improperly-calibrated digitiser. We have no idea how it could have passed quality control checks at the factory. It also has a relatively small 3,200 mAh battery for its size. The much smaller ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom, for example, boasts a 5,000 mAh battery!

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor is just fast enough for work applications, but do not expect to play 3D games on the Wise Pad W7. The good news is that it sips power, so the Wise Pad W7 putters on longer than we would expect for its small battery.

 

Pros & Cons

To summarise, here are the pros and cons of the Wise Pad W7 phablet :

Pros Cons
  • Comes with Microsoft Office apps pre-installed and integrated
  • Decent polycarbonate chassis
  • Relatively decent battery life
  • Comes with a free screen protector
  • Very low cost Windows 10 option
  • No oleophobic coating on display and camera cover
  • Relatively low resolution display
  • Auto-brightness does not work
  • Improperly calibrated digitiser
  • Relatively slow processor
  • Relatively poor front and rear cameras
  • Relatively small 3,200 mAh battery

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The 2017 ASUS ZenBook & VivoBook Laptops Revealed!

At the prestigious The Edge of Beyond 2017 event, ASUS launched a stunning line-up of thin and light ASUS ZenBook and ASUS VivoBook laptops. Get the full details of the incredibly svelte 2017 ASUS ZenBook and VivoBook laptops, including their price and availability!

 

The 2017 ASUS ZenBook & VivoBook Laptops Revealed!

Thin and light is obviously the the motto of the day. Everything ASUS revealed was both thin and light. No exceptions.

The new ASUS ZenBook Flip S (UX370) is the world’s thinnest convertible laptop; while the ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe (UX490) is the world’s thinnest [1] 14″ laptop. Even the powerful ASUS ZenBook Pro (UX550) is the thinnest and lightest laptop in the professional-grade ultraportable series.

The ASUS VivoBook family also received the same treatment. The ASUS VivoBook S15 features a 15.6″ display in a 14″-class chassis; while the ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 packs a tremendous amount of computing and graphics power in a form factor that is less than 20 mm thick.

[1] As of 1st May, 2017 based on internal ASUS market analysis of 2-in-1 convertible laptops with the following key competitive criteria: Windows or OS X operating system; thickness measured at z-height; Intel Core processor; non-detachable keyboard.

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Price & Availability

In this video, Leo Tseng, Country Manager of ASUS Malaysia, reveals the price and availability of the 2017 ASUS ZenBook and VivoBook laptops.

Here is a summary of the price and availability of the 2017 ASUS ZenBook and VivoBook laptops :

  • ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe (UX490) is available now with an SRP of RM 8,299 / ~US$ 1,969
  • ASUS ZenBook 3 Pro (UX550) is available now with an SRP of RM 7,299 / ~US$ 1,729
  • ASUS ZenBook Flip S (UX370) is available in early August with an SRP of RM 6,699 / ~US$ 1,589
  • ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 (N580) is available in early August with an SRP of RM 4,799 / ~US$ 1,139
  • ASUS VivoBook S15 (S510) is available in early July with an SRP of RM 3,699 / ~US$ 879 (Core i7) or RM 2,899 / ~US$ 689 (Core i5).

Next Page > Key Features of the 2017 ASUS ZenBook & VivoBook Laptops

 

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The 2017 ASUS ZenBook & VivoBook Laptops

ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe (UX490)

SRP (+GST): RM 8,299 / ~US$ 1,969
Availability: Available now

The stunning all-aluminum ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe, winner of a Computex 2017 d&i Award, has a 12.9mm-thin and 1.1 kg-light 13-inch-class chassis that houses a gorgeous 14-inch NanoEdge ultranarrow-bezel display. ZenBook 3 Deluxe is the world’s thinnest 14″ laptop, providing users with the perfect balance between portability and productivity.

The ZenBook 3 Series is designed to deliver unprecedented performance, and ZenBook 3 Deluxe takes this to the next level with the latest 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor, 16 GB of 2133 MHz LPDDR3 RAM, and a blazingly-fast up 1 TB PCI Express SSD — one of the largest-capacity SSDs available.

Unrivalled expansion capabilities are provided by two USB Type-C ports that are Thunderbolt 3-enabled with support for 40Gbps data transfers, dual 4K UHD external displays and power delivery. ZenBook 3 Deluxe comes with Windows 10 and is also equipped with a fingerprint sensor for easy one-touch login with Windows Hello.

 

ASUS ZenBook Pro (UX550)

SRP (+GST): RM 7,299 / ~US$ 1,729
Availability: beginning of August 2017

ASUS ZenBook Pro is designed to entice with pure, unadulterated power. This redesigned model —winner of a Computex 2017 Best Choice Award — is the thinnest, lightest and most powerful ZenBook Pro ever, offering discerning professional users a winning combination of serious performance and supremely elegant design. Every part of ZenBook Pro has been crafted to make it faster, more powerful and more amazing than the previous generation.

Using the highest performance 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core processor for notebooks, gaming-grade NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics, a 512 GB PCIe x4 SSD and 16 GB DDR4 RAM, it delivers ultimate computing performance and unrivaled style, with day-long battery life of up to 14 hours.

The ASUS ZenBook Pro features a stunning 15.6″ FHD NanoEdge display for an expanded view and quad-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio, creating an incredible visual and audio experience. ZenBook Pro features Windows 10 and is also equipped with a fingerprint sensor for quick and secure one-touch login with Windows Hello.

Despite its astonishing performance, ZenBook Pro is incredibly compact, with a precision-crafted all-aluminum unibody that’s just 18.9 mm thin and 1.8 kg light. The NanoEdge display has a slim 7.3 mm bezel that enhances the beauty of ZenBook Pro while minimizing its overall dimensions. Every detail of ZenBook Pro is even more beautiful than before — including its iconic Zen-inspired spun-metal finish, diamond-cut silver edges, and illuminated lid logo.

 

ASUS ZenBook Flip S (UX370)

SRP (+GST): RM 6,699 / ~US$ 1,589
Availability: beginning of August 2017

ASUS ZenBook Flip S, winner of a Computex 2017 d&i Award, is the world’s thinnest1 convertible laptop, and also one of the lightest. Combining elegant sophistication with the convenience and versatility of a 360°-flippable display, this ultrathin convertible is only 10.9 mm thin and 1.1 kg light. The innovative 360° ErgoLift hinge has a dual-action mechanism that lifts and tilts the keyboard into the perfect typing position when the display is opened beyond 135°.

ZenBook Flip S features Windows 10 and is powered by 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor and an ultrafast 512 GB PCIe SSD, allowing users to sail through everyday computing tasks with ease. To keep ZenBook Flip S comfortably cool, ASUS engineers invented a brand-new cooling system using state-of-the-art components, including a liquid-crystal-polymer fan impeller that’s just 0.3mm thin.

The FHD multitouch NanoEdge display on ZenBook Flip S supports an active stylus, combining an amazing visual experience with the convenience of effortless and intuitive interactivity. ZenBook Flip S also includes one of our smallest-ever laptop fingerprint sensors — measuring just 16 x 3.6 mm — for instant one-touch login via Windows Hello in either laptop or tablet mode.

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ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 (N580)

SRP (+GST): RM 4,799 / ~US$ 1,139
Availability: beginning of August 2017

ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 is a slim and lightweight 15.6-inch Windows 10 laptop powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core processor with 4 GB DDR4 RAM and gaming-grade NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics. An intelligent dual-fan cooling system with a dual-copper thermal module and heat pipes ensures the system stays cool during intense gaming sessions or under heavy loads.

VivoBook Pro 15 has a FHD (1920 x 1080) display with wide-view technology and a wide 100 percent sRGB color gamut. It features Harman Kardon-certified audio, including twin speakers with large 8cc audio chambers and smart-amplifier technology for 3.2X louder volume. VivoBook Pro 15 features support for ASUS Pen (optional)

 

ASUS VivoBook S15 (S510)

SRP (+GST): RM 3,699 / ~US$ 879 (Core i7) or RM 2,899 / ~US$ 689 (Core i5)
Availability: beginning of July 2017

ASUS VivoBook S15 is the latest and most premium model in the VivoBook Series. This 15.6″ slim and lightweight Windows 10 laptop is designed for those constantly on the go, with a 17.9mm profile and weighing just 1.5 kg.

It features an Icicle Gold finish for a quality feel, and a NanoEdge display with a slim 7.8 mm bezel that provides a larger display area for more immersive viewing.

This stylish laptop is powered by the latest 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor with 4GB DDR4 memory and NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics.

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The Lenovo Legion Y720 & Y520 Gaming Laptops Revealed!

Lenovo just announced Legion by Lenovo – a new sub-brand dedicated to creating powerful gaming laptops with DIY flexibility. The first two Legion gaming notebooks they launched are the Legion Y520 and the Legion Y720. Let’s find out what makes them special!

 

The Lenovo Legion Y720 & Y520 Presentation

The Country General Manager of Lenovo Malaysia & Singapore, Mr. Khoo Hung Chuan, revealed Legion by Lenovo, and the new Legion Y520 and Legion Y720 gaming laptops.

 

The Lenovo Legion Y720 Gaming Laptop

The Lenovo Legion Y720 is the world’s first Windows-based Dolby Atmos PC with JBL speakers. It is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU.

The Lenovo Legion Y720 has a backlit keyboard with programmable LED lights, and boasts an integrated wireless receiver that supports up to four Xbox One controllers (not included). Here is a quick look at the Lenovo Legion Y720 gaming laptop.

And here are its key specifications.

SpecificationsLenovo Legion Y720 - 15IKBUpgrade Options In Future Models
Model Number80VR001CMJ
Display15.6" Full HD anti-glare IPS display (1920 x 1080)15.6" 4K anti-glare IPS display (3840 x 2160)
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10 Home
ProcessorIntel Core i7-7700HQ
- 2.8 GHz base clock, 3.8 GHz boost clock, 6 MB L3 cache
Memory8 GB DDR4-2400, 2 SODIMM Slots16 GB DDR4-2400 memory
Graphics CardNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB GDDR5)
Storage1 TB SATA hard disk drive (5400 RPM)
PCIe M.2 slot
128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB PCIe SSD
500 GB / 2 TB SATA hard disk drive (5400 RPM)
Audio2 x JBL speakers (2 W)
1 x Dolby Atmos subwoofer (3 W)
Connectivity802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2 x 2)
Integrated wireless receiver for Xbox One controller
Battery4 Cell Lithium-Polymer battery (60 WHr)
- Up to 5 hours of battery life
Dimensions380 mm wide x 177 mm deep x 29 mm thick
14.96" wide x 10.9" deep x 1.14" thick
WeightStarting from 3.2 kg (7.05 lbs)
Launch PriceRM 6,099 / ~US$ 1,359

Next Page > The Lenovo Legion Y520 Gaming Laptop, Price & Availability

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The Lenovo Legion Y520 Gaming Laptop

The Lenovo Legion Y520 gaming laptop has a 15.6″ Full HD IPS display, and is powered by either an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU.

It boasts Harman-certified speakers, and a red backlit keyboard, with a key travel of 1.7 mm. Here is a quick look at the Lenovo Legion Y520 gaming laptop.

And here are its key specifications.

SpecificationsLenovo Legion Y520 - 15IKBNLenovo Legion Y520 - 15IKBNLenovo Legion Y520 - 15IKBNLenovo Legion Y520 - 15IKBN
Model Number80WK0050MJ80WK0051MJ80WK0052MJ80WK004YMJ
Display15.6" Full HD anti-glare IPS display (1920 x 1080)15.6" Full HD anti-glare IPS display (1920 x 1080)15.6" Full HD anti-glare IPS display (1920 x 1080)15.6" Full HD anti-glare IPS display (1920 x 1080)
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10 HomeMicrosoft Windows 10 HomeMicrosoft Windows 10 HomeMicrosoft Windows 10 Home
ProcessorIntel Core i5-7300HQ
- 2.5 GHz base clock, 3.5 GHz boost clock, 6 MB L3 cache
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
- 2.8 GHz base clock, 3.8 GHz boost clock, 6 MB L3 cache
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
- 2.8 GHz base clock, 3.8 GHz boost clock, 6 MB L3 cache
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
- 2.8 GHz base clock, 3.8 GHz boost clock, 6 MB L3 cache
Memory4 GB DDR4-2400, 2 SODIMM Slots4 GB DDR4-2400, 2 SODIMM Slots4 GB DDR4-2400, 2 SODIMM Slots8 GB DDR4-2400, 2 SODIMM Slots
Graphics CardNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (2 GB GDDR5)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (4 GB GDDR5)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (4 GB GDDR5)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (4 GB GDDR5)
Storage1 TB SATA hard disk drive (5400 RPM)
PCIe M.2 slot
1 TB SATA hard disk drive (5400 RPM)
PCIe M.2 slot
128 GB M.2 PCIe SSD
1 TB SATA hard disk drive (5400 RPM)
256 GB M.2 PCIe SSD
2 TB SATA hard disk drive (5400 RPM)
Audio2 x Harmon-certified speakers with Dolby Audio Premium (2 W)2 x Harmon-certified speakers with Dolby Audio Premium (2 W)2 x Harmon-certified speakers with Dolby Audio Premium (2 W)2 x Harmon-certified speakers with Dolby Audio Premium (2 W)
Connectivity802.11a/b/g/n/ac (1 x 1)802.11a/b/g/n/ac (1 x 1)802.11a/b/g/n/ac (1 x 1)802.11a/b/g/n/ac (1 x 1)
Battery3 Cell Lithium-Polymer battery (45 WHr)
- Up to 4 hours of battery life
3 Cell Lithium-Polymer battery (45 WHr)
- Up to 4 hours of battery life
3 Cell Lithium-Polymer battery (45 WHr)
- Up to 4 hours of battery life
3 Cell Lithium-Polymer battery (45 WHr)
- Up to 4 hours of battery life
Dimensions380 mm wide x 265 mm deep x 25.8 mm thick
14.96" wide x 10.43" deep x 1.01" thick
380 mm wide x 265 mm deep x 25.8 mm thick
14.96" wide x 10.43" deep x 1.01" thick
380 mm wide x 265 mm deep x 25.8 mm thick
14.96" wide x 10.43" deep x 1.01" thick
380 mm wide x 265 mm deep x 25.8 mm thick
14.96" wide x 10.43" deep x 1.01" thick
WeightStarting from 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs)Starting from 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs)Starting from 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs)Starting from 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs)
Launch PriceRM 3,299 / ~US$ 729RM 4,219 / ~US$ 829RM 4,919 / ~US$ 1,089RM 5,419 / ~US$ 1,199

 

Price & Availability

All of these Lenovo Legion models are available right now from Lenovo Exclusive Stores and Lenovo Multi-Brand Stores.

The Lenovo Legion Y720 base model (80VR001CMJ), with an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU, 8 GB DDR4 memory and 1 TB SATA hard disk drive, is priced at RM 6,099 (inclusive of 6% GST) / ~US$ 1,359.

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The Lenovo Legion Y520 base model (80WK0050MJ), with an Intel Core i5-7700HQ processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU, 4 GB DDR4 memory and 1 TB SATA hard disk drive, is currently available for purchase at RM 3,299 (inclusive of 6% GST) / ~US$ 729.

The 80WK0051MJ variant of the Lenovo Legion Y520 model features an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, and is priced at RM 4,219 (inclusive of 6% GST) / ~US$ 829.

The 80WK0052MJ variant of the Lenovo Legion Y520 model features an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor and an additional 128 GB SSD, and is priced at RM 4,919 (inclusive of 6% GST) / ~US$ 1,089.

The top-of-the-line 80WK004YMJ variant of the Lenovo Legion Y520 model features an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, 8 GB DDR4 memory, 256 GB SSD, and a 2 TB SATA hard disk drive. It is priced at RM 5,419 (inclusive of 6% GST) / ~US$ 1,199.

 

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The SNS JOI 11 2-in-1 Tablet Revealed!

On 2 March 2017, SNS Network revealed the JOI 11 tablet, with three optional accessories – the JOI Metal Keyboard, the JOI Leather Keyboard and the JOI Active Pen.  This is a dual OS (Windows 10 + Android) tablet that readily converts into a laptop with the optional keyboard. Check it out!

 

The SNS JOI 11 Tablet Revealed

The founder and Managing Director of SNS Network, Ko Yun Hung, presented the key features of the new JOI 11 2-in-1 tablet.

Then Vivian and Harry gave an in-depth demonstration of the JOI 11 tablet, with the two keyboard options and the JOI Active Pen.

 

The SNS JOI 11 Tablet Hands-On Preview

The JOI 11 tablet features a sleek metal design with a 10.8″ Full HD IPS display. It weighs just 700 gm and is as thin as 8.8 mm. Internally, it has a quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor with 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and 32 GB of internal flash storage, which is expandable via a Micro SD card (up to 64 GB).

The JOI 11 boasts the new USB Type C port, which allows for faster charging speed and data transfers. It also has a built-in mini HDMI port for easy video and audio output to external displays. For greater productivity, you can pair with an optional detachable keyboard with metal or leather finishing, and a JOI Active Pen.

All of that is powered by a 8,400 mAh battery that is good for 6-8 hours of non-stop use.

 

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The SNS JOI 11 Specifications

  • Quad Core Intel Atom x5- Z8350 Processor
  • 4 GB DDR3 RAM
  • 32 GB storage (expandable up to 128 GB MicroSD)
  • Microsoft Windows 10 Home
  • 10.8” Full HD IPS display – 1920 X 1280 resolution, 3:2 screen aspect ratio
  • Rear 5 MP camera and Front 2 MP camera
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
  • USB Type C, Micro HDMI port

 

The SNS JOI 11 Price & Availability

Best of all, the SNS JOI 11 is available for pre-order at just RM 899 / ~US$ 199, with delivery in 2 weeks or so. The accessories are priced as such :

  • JOI Metal Keyboard – RM 249 / ~US$ 55
  • JOI Leather Keyboard – RM 199 / ~US$ 44
  • JOI Active Pen – RM 99 / ~US$ 22

 

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