Tag Archives: Wireless

Kamala Harris caught using audio earrings at Trump debate?!

Was Kamala Harris caught using audio earrings during the ABC News debate with Donald Trump?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Kamala Harris caught using audio earrings at Trump debate!

Right after the Harris-Trump debate on ABC News ended, some people started claiming or suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris was secretly using the NOVA H1 audio earrings to cheat!

The Trump Train : BREAKING🚨 It appears Kamala Harris was being coached by using earphones embedded in her earrings during the ABC presidential debate against President Trump.

MJTruthUltra : No way… did Kamala really wear Audio Earrings? Holy crap… they look EXACTLY the same They’re called NOVA H1 Audio Earrings

The Truth : 🚨 KAMALA BUSTED WEARING EARPHONE EARRINGS‼️

NOVA H1 Audio Earrings – the first and only wireless earphones embedded in a pair of pearl earrings on a gold- or silver-plated clip. LOOK AT HER EARRINGS! Busted!

Alex Jones : Look at these Earpieces that look like earrings. Looks a lot like what Cackling Kamala was wearing. What do you think?

Sam O’Leary : That debate was a farce, even with 3 v 1 it looks like Kamala was wearing ‘Audio Earings’ AKA earphones embedded in earrings.

Larry : At the debate against Trump, Kamala Harris made quite the statement with her choice of earrings. Those look a lot like Nova Audio earrings. 🤔

Show less

Truth : Kamala Harris was not using audio earrings at Trump debate!

This appears to be yet another example of fake news created about Kamala Harris, and here are the reasons why…

Kamala Harris was not wearing NOVA H1 audio earrings

Many people are claiming that Kamala Harris wore the NOVA H1 audio earrings during her debate with Donald Trump. That’s not true.

The NOVA H1 audio earrings are pearl earrings that are clipped onto the earlobes. Each earring has an integrated microphone inside the pearl that projects sound into the ear canal.

As you can see from the photos below, the NOVA H1 audio earrings have a thick and solid clip which connects the large stem (containing the electronics and battery) to the microphone inside the pearl.

While the NOVA H1 sports a large pearl, it uses a completely different design than the earrings Kamala Harris wore during her debate with Donald Trump.

Kamala Harris wore Tiffany double hinged pearl earrings

The earrings Kamala Harris wore to her ABC News debate with Donald Trump has a large pearl too, but lacks a thick clip. In fact, her earrings appear to have a double hinge design – the pearl sits on a hinged loop of metal.

If you look at the zoomed-in photo that we provided below, the hinge appears to be hanging freely below her earlobe. The earring Kamala Harris wore does not appear to be clipped onto her earlobe, and is likely attached by a post.

Kamala Harris appears to be wearing the South Sea Pearl Earrings (no longer available online) from Tiffany & Co. It has a similar design to Double Pearl Hinged Earrings, but features 9-10 mm South Sea Pearls and is 18K gold-plated instead of silver-plated.

What is certain is that Kamala Harris was not wearing the NOVA H1 audio earrings.

Kamala Harris wore the same earrings earlier

Kamala Harris is known to favour pearls, and is often seen wearing pearl earrings. In fact, she was seen wearing the same earrings at earlier events. For example:

At NCAA championship teams celebration on the White House South Lawn on July 22, 2024 : Photo
At the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on September 11, 2023 : Photo
At the NBC News “Meet the Press” interview on September 11, 2022 : Photo

In short – Kamala Harris was just wearing a pair of her existing pearl earrings. It wasn’t even a new pair of earrings.

This is just political fake news

Ultimately, this is yet another example of political fake news surrounding the upcoming 2024 US Presidential election. Here are some other examples I fact checked recently:

As the 2024 US Presidential election draws close, you can expect more of such fake news to appear, so be wary and skeptical!

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

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

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Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 pre-order deals for Malaysia!

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Here are the pre-order deals in Malaysia for new foldable smartphones, smartwatches and earbuds announced at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event!

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 : What Was Announced!

Samsung just launched a slew of new foldable smartphones, smartwatches and earbuds at the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event! Here’s a quick summary of what they announced:

Galaxy Z Fold6 + Galaxy Z Flip6 Smartphones

Samsung introduced upgraded versions of its foldable smartphones – the Galaxy Z Fold6 and and the Galaxy Z Flip6. You can read more about them in our recent articles:

Galaxy Watch7

Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Watch7, with an enhanced BioActive Sensor with greater accuracy. For the first time, the Galaxy Watch7 will allow you to track advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

The Samsung Galaxy Watch7 is also the first to be powered by a 3nm processor, as well as the first to feature a dual-frequency GPS system, for more precise location tracking.

Galaxy Watch Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a new smartwatch built for extreme durability, with a Titanium Grade 4 frame, and 10ATM water resistance. It is also designed to operate at a wide range of altitudes – from 500 metres below sea level, or 9,000 metres high.

Galaxy Buds3 + Galaxy Buds3 Pro

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro leverage the power of Galaxy AI to allow you to translate foreign languages in real-time. They also automatically analyse internal and external sound in real-time to enhanced sound and reduce noise.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 Pre-Order Deals for Malaysia!

Here are the price and pre-order deals Samsung is offering in Malaysia, for the new devices announced the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event. These deals are valid from now until 30 July 2024:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Price + Colour Options

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6	RRP	Available Colours
12 GB + 1 TB	RM9,099	Silver Shadow, Pink, NavyOnline Only: White, Crafted Black
12 GB + 512 GB	RM7,899
12 GB + 256 GB	RM7,299

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Colour Comparison!

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Pre-order Offer

FREE 1 year Samsung Care+ Accidental damage and liquid damage protection worth up to RM829
Receive up to RM500 exclusive e-voucher to purchase selected Galaxy accessories, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds
Trade in your current device and get additional RM500 off
Redeem your pre-registered rewards of up to RM500 e-voucher
Buy more save more to enjoy up to 25% off when you purchase with selected Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds
PWP Promotion – 20% off Galaxy Watch Ultra when you purchase Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Price + Colour Options

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6	RRP	Available Colours
12 GB + 512 GB	RM5,599	Silver Shadow, Blue, Yellow, Mint Online Only: Crafted Black, White, Peach
12 GB + 256 GB	RM4,999

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Colour Comparison!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Pre-order Offer

FREE 1 year Samsung Care+ Accidental damage and liquid damage protection worth up to RM829
Receive up to RM500 exclusive e-voucher to purchase selected Galaxy accessories, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds
Trade in your current device and get additional RM500 off
Redeem your pre-registered rewards of up to RM500 e-voucher
Buy more save more to enjoy up to 25% off when you purchase with selected Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds
PWP Promotion – 20% off Galaxy Watch Ultra when you purchase Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Price + Colour Options

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Series	RRP	Available Colours
Galaxy Buds3 Pro	RM999	Grey White
Galaxy Buds3	RM599	Grey White

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Pre-order Offer

Pre-order Galaxy Buds3 or Galaxy Buds3 Pro and get free Buds Case worth RM169

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Price + Pre-order Offer

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra	RRP	Available Colours
47 mm (LTE)	RM3,399	Dark Gray Titanium White

Selected Watch Strap worth up to RM399
Smart Tag2 worth up to RM149
15W Charger W/O Cable worth up to RM59
Wireless PowerBank worth up to RM199
RM200 instant rebate when you trade in your old Galaxy Watch

Samsung Galaxy Watch7 Price + Pre-order Offer

Samsung Galaxy Watch7	RRP	Available Colours
44mm (LTE)	RM1,599	Green, Silver
44mm (Bluetooth)	RM1,299	Green, Silver
40mm (LTE)	RM1,499	Green, Beige
40mm (Bluetooth)	RM1,199	Green, Beige

Selected Watch Strap worth up to RM229
Smart Tag2 worth up to RM149
RM200 instant rebate when you trade in your old Galaxy Watch

Additional Discounts For Samsung Members In Malaysia!

Here are additional discounts for selected devices announced in Galaxy Unpacked 2024 for Samsung Members in Malaysia:

Model	Discount Voucher
Galaxy Watch Ultra	RM1,360 (40%)
All Galaxy Watch7 models	RM200
Galaxy Buds3 Pro	RM200
Galaxy Buds3	RM100

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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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Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Hands-on Preview!

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Samsung just launched the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro, and here is my hands-on preview of those new wireless earbuds in both Silver and White colour options!

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Hands-On Preview!

I managed to get my hands on both the Galaxy Buds 3, as well as the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, in both colour options!

And now, I present to you – my hands-on experience with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, in both Silver and White!

I apologise for the slightly shaky video – Samsung still insists that I do not take photos or record videos with a smartphone, even though it’s their own Galaxy S24 Ultra!

The Buds 3 and the Buds 3 Pro both look quite similar, with identical charging cases. The Buds 3 has a simpler open-ear design, without ear tips. The Buds 3 Pro, on the other hand, has an in-ear design, but is more easily differentiated by its silicone ear tips and its Blade Lights.

They both support Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, and common SBC and AAC wireless codecs, as well as the proprietary Samsung Scalable Codec in both HiFi and UHQ (Ultra High Quality) versions for superior audio quality and fidelity with supported Samsung devices. However, they notably do not support aptX.

Internally, the Buds 3 has a single speaker, while the Buds 3 Pro version has two speakers – the dynamic driver, as well as a planar driver. They both have three microphones and a voice pickup unit (VPU), and they both support active noise cancellation. However, the Pro model can distinguish between noise and human voices, will automatically switch to Ambient mode so you can hear conversations.

Samsung also leveraged machine learning to improve phone calls on the new Galaxy Buds 3 series, using a pre-trained model to restore the original voice of the speaker in various noise environments – a feature called Super-Wideband Call.

The Buds 3 can play music for up to 5 hours with active noise cancellation enabled, and up to 6 hours with ANC disabled. The Pro version adds an additional hour of music playback time, with or without ANC. Talk time is shorter. You can talk for up to 3.5 hours on the Buds 3 with ANC, and 4 hours without. The Pro version extends that by an hour, with or without ANC.

The case for both versions will automatically recharge the earbuds whenever you put them back in. Its internal battery is enough to give you 20-24 hours of additional music playback time, and 15-17 hours of additional talk time.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro:

Specifications	Galaxy Buds 3	Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Type	Open Ear	In-Ear
Speaker	1-Way: 11 mm Dynamic Driver	Enhanced 2-Way: 10.5 mm Dynamic Driver + 6.1 mm Planar
Microphone	3 x Microphones + VPU
Sound Quality	UHQ, 24-bit Hi-Fi – 24-bit, 96 kHz using SSC UHQ 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel
Noise Cancellation	ANC	ANC with Ambient Sound, and Voice Detect
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4, Auto Switch
Wireless Codecs	Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) HiFi SSC UHQ (proprietary) AAC, SBC
Sensors	Voice Pickup Unit (VPU) Force + Touch (Swipe) SWIR, Accelerometer, Hall sensor
Battery	Earbud : 48 mAh Case : 515 mAh	Earbud : 53 mAh Case : 515 mAh
Music Playback (Earbuds only)	With ANC : ≤ 5 hours No ANC : ≤ 6 hours	With ANC : ≤ 6 hours No ANC : ≤ 7 hours
Music Playback (Total)	With ANC : ≤ 24 hours No ANC : ≤ 30 hours	With ANC : ≤ 26 hours No ANC : ≤ 30 hours
Talk Time (Earbuds only)	With ANC : ≤ 3.5 hours No ANC : ≤ 4 hours	With ANC : ≤ 4.5 hours No ANC : ≤ 5 hours
Talk Time (Total)	With ANC : ≤ 18 hours No ANC : ≤ 20 hours	With ANC : ≤ 20 hours No ANC : ≤ 22 hours
Water Resistance	IP57 (earbuds only)
Earbud Dimensions	18.1 mm x 20.4 mm x 31.9 mm	18.1 mm x 19.8 mm x 33.2 mm
Case Dimensions	58.9 mm x 48.7 mm x 24.4 mm	58.9 mm x 48.7 mm x 24.4 mm
Earbud Weight	4.7 grams	5.4 grams
Case Weight	46.5 grams	46.5 grams

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 / Buds 3 Pro Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are available for pre-order on launch, with general available from 24 July 2024 onwards, at these price points :

Galaxy Buds 3 : US$179.99 / £219 / A$399 / RM599
12 GB + 512 GB : US$249.99 / £159 / A$299 / RM999

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

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

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

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Marshall Minor III Wireless Earphones Scam Alert!

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Please watch out for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones scam! Take a look at the scam, and find out what the facts really are!

Marshall Minor III Wireless Earphones Scam Alert!

Scammers are running Facebook ads that promote an awesome discount for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones! Here is one recent example:

😣”Frustrating” 😣I had to queue for 5 hours at IOI City Mall to buy MARSHALL MINOR III wireless headphones for only RM179 (original price RM596), I was surprised because I thought they only sold directly I heard it’s open for sale online in 2 more days https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms And also get the same discount as buying at the store. Free shipping nationwide.

But the 4 hours of queuing was worth it. As a Marshall fan, I was very excited when I heard the news that the Minor III series was coming out. And don’t waste your time waiting, the design is very beautiful, more stylish than the old version 💯 Great sound quality. Clear bus, fast Bluetooth connection, suitable for all types of devices, super battery life, 5 hours of continuous use and 25 hours with charging box, waterproof. The best thing about these headphones is the close-to-ear design. Comfortable, can play sports without worrying about falling. If you don’t buy it, you will be very disappointed.

I let my colleagues borrow it to play games because it sounded so realistic. There is no delay in movement.
Many people ask me if the store still has promotions? I just saw information that the store has a discount in the next 2 days. Order quickly. At the end of the promotion, the price will return to the original price of RM596. I leave the purchase link here for those who want to buy: https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms

Recommended : Bantuan Rakyat Malaysia Scam Alert!

Marshall Minor III Offer : Why Is It A Scam?!

This is yet another example of SCAMS circulating on Facebook, and here are there reasons why…

Fact #1 : Marshall Minor III Price Absurdly Low

The first thing about scams involving electronics, is that they often promise ridiculous great deals. If it’s too good to be true, it often is just a scam.

In this particular scam, scammers are offering the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones for just RM179 (US$39). That’s absurd, as the Marshall Minor II wireless earphones has an official retail price of $159 (approximately RM699)!

Marshall is a high-end audiophile brand, and its electronics are never cheap. Even if they offer a discount, it wouldn’t be anything like 70% to 75%. That’s just ridiculous.

For your safety, here are legit purchase options online for the Marshall Minor III earbuds :

Malaysia : Shopee | Shopee | Shopee
Singapore : Shopee
United States : Amazon | Amazon
United Kingdom : Amazon

Fact #2 : Facebook Advertisement Is Fake

The Facebook advertisement appears to be created by a handsome influencer called 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠 瑾.鍾.瑾. with 5.5 million followers.

But that’s what the scammers put in the intro. If you look carefully, this scam page only has 13 followers!

Recommended : Warning – PDRM Parking Fine Scam Alert!

Fact #3 : That Is “Push” Puttichai Kasetsin

The page is not owned by any influencer or digital creator called 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠 瑾.鍾.瑾.

Those are actually photos of Puttichai Kasetsin – a Thai actor, model, DJ and TV host who is also known as “Push”.

Fact #4 : IOI City Mall Does Not Have A Marshall Outlet

The claim by these scammers that Alvinn Chong queued up for 5 hours at the IOI City Mall to buy the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones is easily debunked.

If you check the IOI City Mall tenant listing, you will quickly discover that it does not have a Marshall outlet.

Fact #5 : Queue Photos Are From Vietnam

The two photos which claim to show long queues for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones were not taken in Malaysia. They were actually taken in Vietnam.

This photo does not show people in IOI City Mall queueing up outside a Marshall outlet. It actually shows people queuing up for the opening of the 15th Pandora store at the Long Bien Aeon Mall, on 28 April 2022.

Incidentally, Pandora is a Danish jewellery brand, and does not sell Marshall audio products…

The second queue photo is also from Vietnam, but taken many years ago on 11 November 2017. It does not show people queuing up to buy any Marshall products either.

They were actually queuing up at Royal City Shopping Center in Hanoi, for the opening ceremony of the second H&M store in Vietnam.

Fact #6 : Scam Website Not Affiliated With ASH Asia

ASH Asia is an authorised distributor of Marshall products in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

However, the scam page (https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms) has nothing to do with ASH Asia, whose official Marshall Minor III page is https://ash-asia.com/ms.

On top of that, ASH Asia does not sell the Marshall Minor III directly (like the scam page). Instead, ASH Asia sells the wireless earphones through Shopee and Lazada.

In fact, if you check the main domain itself, you will get an error message, stating:

Your domain name has been successfully pointed! Please publish a Landing Page with the above domain name to use the service. Thank you!

This not only gives it away as a scam website, it also suggests that the scammers are operating out of Vietnam.

Fact #7 : Scam Website Admits Selling Fake Marshall Minor III

Ironically, the scam website itself has a disclaimer, warning potential buyers that it is not selling genuine Marshall Minor III wireless earphones, but a replica instead…

Most people won’t notice it because if you click to order, the website is designed to skip past this warning.

Fact #8 : Package Apparently Contained “Trash”?

To assure you that this is safe, the scammers say that you only need to pay on delivery. Sounds good, doesn’t it? That guarantees that you will at least receive the item, doesn’t it?

Not quite, as one person who claimed to have purchased from this scam website explained…

I was attracted and clicked in, filling in my address and phone number. Three days later, I got a call saying that my package would arrive through DHL-COD, and asked me to make sure I was home.

I started looking forward to it, but when I thought about it, I became more suspicious. Since when does DHL provide Cash On Delivery service? I can’t believe they would dare to pay for first-class service without any payment from me. I figured it might be a scam!

What’s the scam? You may not have any doubts when you receive the package. When I open it immediately and take a look, then I realized it was full of garbage. [Unfortunately] I had already paid the delivery person, who ran away.

我被吸引点了进去，填了地址电话。跟着三天后有电话来说我的包裹会到，DHL-COD的，确定我在家等。我开始很期待。跟着想，越想越不对。DHL有COD的服务咩？我还没过账他们就这么敢与服务一流到我不敢相信。我猜可能是诈骗！骗什么？当你收到包裹时是不会怀疑，立刻打开来看的。然后才发现里面是垃圾。人跑了钱给了。。。

If true, the scam involves giving you an empty package filled with trash to receive your cash payment. After which, you have no recourse.

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

Please Support My Work!

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

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

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

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

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Did Man Using Bluetooth Get Electrocuted Near Train?!

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Did a man using Bluetooth earphones get electrocuted by the high tension power cable of an electric train?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Man Using Bluetooth Got Electrocuted Near Electric Train!

A video showing a man getting electrocuted and falling onto train tracks has gone viral, together with a message that claims that it happened because he was using Bluetooth earphones too close to the train tracks!

As the Bluetooth was activated on the mobile phone, the current came from the high tension cable of the track and reached the brain through the ear phones

And what happened next? See it yourself

Avoid using Bluetooth on the railway platform while travelling and standing “close to the train track” on the platform. 16/12/22

Truth : Man Near Electric Train Was Not Electrocuted Using Bluetooth!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and shared on WhatsApp and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Incident Happened On 7 December 2022

First, let me just confirm that the video is genuine, and was recorded by a CCTV camera at the Kharagpur railway station in West Bengal, India, on 7 December 2022.

It did not happen on 16 December 2022, as the fake viral message claimed.

Fact #2 : Man Was A Train Ticket Inspector

The man was not a train passenger wearing Bluetooth earphones. He was a ticket inspector – a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) to be precise.

There was no mention of the ticket inspector wearing headphones or earphones of any kind in the incident report. As he was working on the job, he would not have been wearing any earphones, much less Bluetooth earphones.

Fact #3 : He Was Hit By A Falling Live Wire

While the ticket inspector was speaking to another person, an electrical cable that was in contact with the Overhead Equipment (OHE) live cable fell on him.

He was electrocuted by that loose cable, with sparks coming off his shoes and head. The ticket inspector fell backwards onto the rail tracks as the other person ran away in fright.

Fortunately, there were no passing trains, and after a few seconds, onlookers (who were probably stunned) came to help him. Miraculously, the man was taken to the hospital, and survived with only burn injuries!

If you look carefully at the video, you can see the cable when it sparks up on touching the ticket inspector’s head.

Fact #4 : Railway Official Confirmed Live Wire As The Cause

Chennai railway official, Ananth Rupanagudi, confirmed the incident, and explained that it was a freak accident that occurred because a long piece of cable fell on the man’s head.

A freak accident – a long piece of loose cable, taken by a bird somehow came in contact with the OHE wire and the other end came down and touched a TTE’s head. He suffered burn injuries but is out of danger and under treatment – at Kharagpur station yesterday afternoon! #Accident

He also revealed that the cable was very long – about 6 to 8 metres in length, and it was touching the OHE live cable on the other end.

Fact #5 : Incident Had Nothing To Do With Location / Bluetooth

To be clear, this incident had nothing to do with the man “standing close to the train track”. It also had nothing to do with using Bluetooth earphones.

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology. It is simply not possible for anyone using Bluetooth devices to get electrocuted by nearby power cables, even if they are exposed.

Now that you know the truth, please help to SHARE this fact check article so other people won’t be fooled by this fake news!

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

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

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

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Apple Limits AirDrop To Help China Prevent Protests!

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Find out how Apple has quietly limited AirDrop to help China prevent anti-government protests!

Protestors In China Use AirDrop To Organise + Bypass Censors!

China has been rocked by anti-government protests, that started at the in Zhengzhou, but later spread to at least seven cities.

Despite efforts by the CCP government to censor and block efforts to organise demonstrations, Chinese protestors were able to bypass the “Great Firewall” using the Apple AirDrop feature.

AirDrop is a proprietary feature that allows for the wireless transfers of files between Apple mobile devices and computers. It was used to great effect in 2019, when protestors in Hong Kong used it to bypass the China’s “Great Firewall” and organise their demonstrations.

Now, Chinese citizens are using the AirDrop feature of their iPhones to circulate information about planned demonstrations, or memes and messages opposing Chinese President Xi Jinping, or the Chinese government.

Since AirDrop communicates directly between Apple devices, it works even when the authorities shut down mobile communications and Internet connectivity.

How Apple Helps China Limit Protests Using AirDrop!

Unfortunately, Apple quietly introduced an update on November 9, 2022 to severely restrict the AirDrop feature on iPhones sold in China.

In the past, iPhone users in China could set AirDrop to accept files from Everyone without any time limit, allowing them to discreetly send and receive files from strangers.

The iOS 16.1.1 update introduced a 10 minute limit for AirDrop, making it impossible to receive files from strangers.

While it is still possible to receive files from strangers, users will have to repeatedly reset the setting to Everyone for 10 Minutes, which is not practical.

On top of that, the new time restriction on AirDrop affects all iPhones sold in China, regardless of which country your App Store account is based in. So foreigners who purchased their iPhones in China will be similarly affected.

It is not surprising that Apple would bend the knee to the CCP government. After all, China accounts for almost a fifth of Apple’s total sales!

In 2021, it was even reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook signed a secret $275 billion deal with China in 2016 to “solve” regulatory problems.

The relationship between Apple and the CCP government in China appears to be so strong that when Foxconn employees fled the massive iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, Beijing ordered military veterans and Communist Party members to fill in for the labour shortage!

It will now be up to the Chinese protestors to figure another way to bypass the Great Firewall. Jia you!

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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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Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Review: 24-bit Audio FTW!

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The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out just how good it really is, and why its 24-bit audio support is something audiophiles will love!

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : What’s In The Box?

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box.

Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.

Inside, you will find the following items :

A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro storage + charging case
Guide Start Guide
USB-C to USB-C charging cable
Two sets of extra ear tips (small and large)

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Key Features

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds from Samsung, with a slew of improvements.

Despite its name, it is the second generation version of the ultra-premium Galaxy Buds Pro, and not an improved version of the Galaxy Buds2 we reviewed last year.

Comfort

These are amongst the lightest and smallest earbuds I ever tried. Each earbud weighs just 5.5 grams and are 15% smaller.

They feel less intrusive, and are also more discreet than the last generation Buds Pro – fitting snugly into your ear.

The earbuds come with medium ear tips fitted, but the package includes small and large ear tips, allowing you to swap them out for a snug fit.

IPX7 Water Resistant

Unlike the Galaxy Buds2, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are IPX7 water-resistant, so you can carry on using them even in the rain!

While they are officially rated to withstand submersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, Samsung do not advise you use them at the beach or in the pool.

I should also point out that the charging case itself is NOT water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the Galaxy Buds2 Pro before you put them back into the charging case.

Even so, water-resistance is one of the things I love about Samsung wearables and smartphones. As a rather clumsy person, I’ve dropped my fair share of gadgets, and more often than not – into pools of rainwater, or even swimming pools!

Active Noise Cancellation

Budget ANC earbuds use one microphone, with mid-range ANC earbuds like the Galaxy Buds2 use up to two microphones to receive ambient noise for cancellation.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro uses three microphones with high signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio to expand the amount of ambient noise it can cancel, and you can tell the difference. Its ANC performance is markedly improved from the last generation.

I managed to test them out on two turboprop flights which are noticeably louder than your typical airliner, and they worked great! The noise outside the planes was greatly muted, and once onboard, it’s like you are in your own oasis of peace and quiet.

If you need to listen to someone speak, there is an Ambient mode that temporarily disables ANC and lets you listen to the outside world. When you take out one earbud, the other earbud cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the earbud back on.

You don’t even have to turn Ambient mode manually like with the Galaxy Buds2. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes with the Voice Detect feature, which automatically activates Ambient mode when you start talking! Just make sure you enable it in your Galaxy Wearable app first!

24-bit Audio

If you are an audiophile, you will love the 24-bit audio support in the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

24-bit audio has been around for a while, offering higher audio resolution and fidelity. However, adoption has been limited so far to expensive music players and audio devices.

After all, the entire chain – from the music file to the music player (software or hardware) and the earphones / headphones, plus the connectivity between them – must support 24-bit audio.

So it’s great to see Samsung driving the 24-bit audio effort forward by making sure that its mobile devices support 24-bit audio. Just make sure you upgrade to the One UI 4.0 or higher, to enable its proprietary Samsung Seamless Hi-Fi codec.

Built on the Scalable Codec it introduced several years ago, the Samsung Seamless codec is able to encode full 24-bit audio to transmit to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro wirelessly.

The only downside is that it’s proprietary, and will only work with Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI 4.0 or higher.

360 Audio

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro also supports 360 Audio, which is basically their version of the spatial audio feature in Apple AirPods. It’s not enabled by default, because you may not want to turn it on all the time.

The 360 Audio feature only works with apps and content that support Dolby Atmos surround sound. When enabled, it delivers a 360-degree surround sound effect for a more immersive experience.

On top of that, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro supports head tracking, so the 360 audio you hear will actually change with your head movement!

While it doesn’t do much for music (very few are encoded for Dolby Atmos), you should enable it for movies and games.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.3, with support for AAC, SBC and Samsung’s new Seamless codec, but not aptX, LDAC or LHDC. Again, please note that the Samsung Seamless codec is proprietary, and will only work with their devices running on One UI 4.0 and above.

These earbuds do not offer Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, which means they can only be connected to one device at any one time.

They support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices using the same Samsung account, but if you want to switch from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to your laptops you need to manually switch using the Bluetooth menu.

Battery Life

The biggest problem I have with the Buds2 Pro though is its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I can get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that’s still on the low side for premium earbuds.

This is really a trade off – a larger battery (and consequently, longer battery life) would mean a heavier and more obtrusive earbuds. There is only so much Samsung can squeeze out of the tiny 61 mAh battery in each earbud.

The charging case with an internal 515 mAh battery provides another 13 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 21 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 2.5 full charges.

They support quick charging though – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of battery life.

Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Our Verdict

If you want the very best TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation technology from Samsung, there can be no doubt – the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is it.

It is amazing that such a small package comes with so many great features – 24-bit audio with 360 Audio, active noise cancellation with three SNR microphones, and IPX7 water resistance.

While the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is not cheap, those features do really make a real difference in the enjoyment of your music, videos and games.

For those reasons, I think it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

Just be aware of its relatively short battery life, lack of Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, and reliance on a proprietary codec which limits 24-bit audio to Samsung devices.

If you are in the Samsung ecosystem and would like to enjoy 24-bit audio and/or surround sound, you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

But if you are not using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, or do not need 24-bit audio support, then these are not the earbuds you are looking for. You are better off buying the cheaper Galaxy Buds2!

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM899 / S$328 / US$229 / £189 / A$349.

Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 11 November 2022) :

Malaysia : RM899 | RM899 | RM899
Singapore : $243 | $279 | $328
United States : $179.99 | $226.49
United Kingdom : £189 | £189
Australia : $301 | $306 | $310

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

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

Recommended Reading

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2022 Samsung Neo QLED 8K TV + Soundbar Showcase!

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Samsung just launched their 2022 Neo QLED 8K televisions, with a new 2022 Ultra Slim Soundbar to complement them!

Take a look at both of them in our video showcase!

2022 Samsung Neo QLED 8K TV + Soundbar Showcase!

We were given the opportunity to view Samsung’s new 2022 Neo QLED 8K televisions, as well as the new 2022 Ultra Slim Soundbar that complements them.

The 2022 Samsung Neo QLED 8K televisions come in a variety of sizes, from 55 inches all the way to 85 inches. Take a look!

Every model is built around a new Neural Quantum Processor 8K, which has 20 independent neural AI networks, each analysing the content’s characteristics to deliver the best picture quality, regardless of the source.

It also powers a new feature called Real Depth Enhancer. Real Depth Enhancer scans each frame, and maximises the object’s contrast with the background.

The new processor also uses Shape Adaptive Light Control technology to create precise lighting and pure blacks using Samsung’s best Quantum mini LED display panel.

In fact, the 2022 Neo QLED 8K televisions are the world’s first Pantone-validated displays, which mean they will authentically reproduce more than 2000 colours, as well as 110 new skin tone shades.

These new models also use AI technology to automatically adjust the brightness and colour temperature of the display to match the room’s lighting condition.

The 2022 Neo QLED 8K televisions boast Samsung’s new Smart Hub user interface, powered by Tizen. They are also designed to provide the ultimate gaming experience through features like :

four HDMI 2.1 ports
Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro 4K 144 Hz gaming
Super Ultrawite GameView, and
Game Bar

These televisions are also more eco-friendly, featuring eco-packaging and a more efficient SolarCell Remote that is completely battery-free, and can recharge through 2.4 GHz radio frequency harvesting – drawing power from your WiFi router’s signals!

The Neural Quantum Processor 8K also uses artificial intelligence to create a truly immersive soundscape by analysing the picture in real time, to deliver positional audio cues through the Adaptive Sound technology.

The flagship QN900B model even features a 90 watt 6.2.4 channel audio system, featuring Dolby Atmos with Object Tracking Sound Pro.

Finally, Samsung added Wireless Dolby Atmos to these models, ensuring that you can connect them to the new 2022 Ultra Slim Soundbar without using a HDMI cable!

The new Ultra Slim Soundbar delivers true 3.1.2 sound with two up-firing channels, and is now much thinner and smaller.

2022 Samsung Neo QLED 8K TV : Price + Models

The 2022 Samsung Neo QLED 8K televisions are available in a variety of sizes, at these price points :

85″ Neo QLED 8K QN900B : RM49,999 (about US$11,385)
75″ Neo QLED 8K QN900B : RM34,999 (about US$7,969)
65″ Neo QLED 8K QN900B : RM23,999 (about US$5,465)
85″ Neo QLED 8K QN800B : RM33,999 (about US$7,742)
75″ Neo QLED 8K QN800B : RM24,999 (about US$5,693)
65″ Neo QLED 8K QN800B : RM18,999 (about US$4,326)
55″ Neo QLED 8K QN800B : RM12,499 (about US$2,846)

Here are some online purchase options in Malaysia :

QN900B : 85-inch | 85-inch | 75-inch | 65-inch
QN800B : 85-inch | 75-inch | 65-inch | 65-inch

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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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How Central Medicare Leveraged Ruckus For Digital Transformation!

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Find out how Central Medicare leveraged Ruckus network technologies to digitally transform and rapidly expand their business!

Central Medicare Undergoes Digital Transformation + Rapid Expansion

Central Medicare Sdn. Bhd. (CMSB) is a nitrile glove manufacturer, that started with a single manufacturing facility with 6 production lines and an annual manufacturing capacity of 1.1 billion nitrile gloves in 2015.

Based in Teluk Intan, Perak, Central Medicare has been undergoing a massive expansion and digital transformation plan that started in 2019.

They expanded to 27 production lines delivering an annual capacity of 8 billion gloves in 2020, and 34 production lines with an annual capacity of 11.6 billion in 2021.

How Central Medicare Leveraged Ruckus For Digital Transformation!

Peter Cheong, the IT Assistant Manager of Central Medicare, recently shared how they leveraged Ruckus network technologies for digital transformation during their rapid expansion plans.

As Central Medicare added more production facilities, it was becoming complicated to manage the rapidly expanding digital network.

After a thorough evaluation process that included top brands like Cisco, Aruba and Juniper, the IT team decided to leverage Ruckus network technologies for their new digital network.

They started creating their new digital network in 2016, using Ruckus ICX7150 network switches, and Ruckus ZoneDirector 1200 with R500 and R600 series wireless APs.

Both Ruckus switches and wireless APs allowed them to link and manage their different facilities in a centralised, unified manner.

The Ruckus wireless APs also allowed them to create an isolated Wi-Fi network for their customers and suppliers to use, hardening their network security.

The team also liked how Ruckus’ centralised management interface is so user-friendly, making it easy to manage for people who are not IT-savvy.

On top of that, the Ruckus KnowledgeBase is so comprehensive and easy-to-use that they can self-manage their network, without requiring any technical assistance.

All those advantages allowed the IT team to remotely manage their network during the COVID-19 pandemic MCO lockdowns.

The reliability of Ruckus network also shone through during the pandemic – Peter stated that they have not experienced a single failure, since they implemented their Ruckus network 5 years ago.

Central Medicare plans to continue leveraging Ruckus network technologies as they continue to expand their business and production facilities in 2022.

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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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Did China Give These AWESOME Olympics 2022 Gifts?!

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Did China give Olympics 2022 athletes AWESOME gifts like Samsung gadgets, and a personalised necklace?

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Updated @ 2022-02-12 : Added the actual price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Olympic Edition, and other updates.
Originally posted @ 2022-02-07

Claim : China Gave Olympics 2022 Athletes These AWESOME Gifts!

This video and message are going viral on WhatsApp, claiming to show the awesome gifts that China gave Olympic Games 2022 athletes.

A total of 2,925 athletes participated in the Winter Olympics. The country has prepared a gift bag for every athlete, which contains the latest Samsung mobile phone worth $7999, sports headphones, a unique Winter Olympics necklace and ring, and a small quilt that is close to the body.

Foreign athletes are happy when they open the gift bag. Shout out Mamma Mia, resounding throughout the sports village. The cost of the Samsung phone is no more than $3k (marketing & profits accounting for more than half the listed price).

Product placement to the 3,000 Olympian influencers will cost about $9m. Compare that with a 30-second advert slot during the Superbowl for $6m a pop. If they give a Huawei the Western press would be terrified. 🌿

Truth : China Did NOT Give Olympics 2022 Athletes Those Awesome Gifts!

This is yet another example of pro-China fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Video Was Taken By Petra Nieminen

The video was misappropriated by the fake news creator, probably because it has the comment – Beijing 2022 gifts for athletes.

This video was actually taken by Petra Nieminen, a hockey player from Finland, who was showing off the free gifts she received since arriving in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Fact #2 : Gifts Not Prepared, Nor Given By China

The gifts Petra showed in the video were neither prepared, nor sponsored, by China – the host country for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Samsung is the worldwide sponsor of the Olympic Games, and it was they who gave the athletes the Galaxy Z Flip 3 Olympic Edition smartphone, and Galaxy Buds2 wireless earphones.

Incidentally, Samsung will also be giving them to athletes at the upcoming Paralympic Games!

The personalised necklace with the ring was given to the athletes by Lumoava – the official Olympic partner of the Finnish team.

Fact #3 : No Evidence Athletes Shouted Mamma Mia

There is no known report of any athlete shouting Mamma Mia on getting their gifts. It is also a silly claim since it’s an Italian expression.

Fact #4 : The Gifts Do Not Cost So Much

The fake news creator made up the value of these gifts, falsely claiming that the Samsung smartphone cost $7,999.

It’s likely a mistranslation from the original Chinese post, because the Galaxy Z Flip Olympic Edition smartphone costs ¥7,999 (about US$1,259 / £929 / RM5,269), while the Galaxy Buds2 cost US$149.

The personalised Lumoava Brilliance Pendant 4 necklace, which is engraved with the words “Olympic Team Finland Beijing 2022” costs €124 or about US$142.

Fact #5 : Lumoava Necklace Limited To Finnish Athletes

From what I understand, the Lumoava necklace was made specially for Finnish athletes, and was not given to athletes from other countries.

Teams from different countries received different gifts from their partners. For example, Team USA received gear from Skims, while Team Canada received special Lululemon gear.

Fact #6 : China Can Spy On Athletes Without HUAWEI Smartphones

The fake message mocked Western media for fearing HUAWEI smartphones. The truth is – China can spy on Olympic athletes without giving them HUAWEI smartphones.

All participants in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are required to install and use the My 2022 app, which ostensibly is used to keep everyone connected and informed about services, food, transportation, etc.

The problem is one cybersecurity researcher, Jonathan Scott, recently reverse-engineered the app, and found that it was capable of recording and sending audio to servers based in China.

It appears that Chinese netizens / 50 Cent Army are creating such fake news to cover up negative news reports of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Since arriving in Beijing, Olympic athletes from Germany, Belgium and Russia have complained about nightmarish conditions in their quarantine hotels – bad food, poor to no Internet connectivity, no access to training equipment, or even the ability to communicate with their own teams.

Whatever their reasons may be, there is no excuse for creating and spreading fake news. Help us fight their fake news by sharing this fact check!

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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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CommScope-RUCKUS Showcase @ Bayview Georgetown!

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Bayview Hotel Georgetown recently invited me for an exclusive look at their complete CommScope-RUCKUS network upgrade!

Find out what they did, and why they went with CommScope-RUCKUS!

CommScope-RUCKUS Showcase @ Bayview Georgetown!

Bayview Georgetown started work on a massive RM 1.7 million digitisation project in 2020, which took several months to complete.

A major part of that project involved the complete replacement of their existing network using CommScope-RUCKUS networking products from end-to-end.

The Bayview team was so happy with the upgrade that they invited me for an exclusive look at their brand new CommScope-RUCKUS network, which now offers guests fast and reliable Internet connectivity at their hotel.

Leslie Lim, the Regional Manager in charge of Information Technology at Bayview International Hotels & Resorts also explained how he designed the new network, and why he opted for CommScope-RUCKUS networking products from end-to-end.

Fast, Reliable Internet : A Major KSP At Bayview Hotel Georgetown

Bayview Hotel Georgetown is a 340-bed hotel in Georgetown, Penang. It is one of two hotels run by Bayview International Hotels & Resorts, the other being Bayview Beach Resort which is right by the Batu Ferringhi Beach.

While the Bayview Beach Resort is full of tourists, their Georgetown hotel caters more to business travellers who expect fast and reliable Internet connectivity.

That’s why Bayview Georgetown embarked on a major upgrade of their Internet connectivity in 2020, in partnership with Fortesys – the official distributor of RUCKUS networking products and solutions in Southeast Asia.

Ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospitality industry has become extremely competitive. Hotels like Bayview Georgetown will need to rely on the latest networking technologies to get ahead of the competition.

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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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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review : Great Bang For Your Buck!

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The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out just how good it really is, and why it offers such great bang for your buck!

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : What’s In The Box?

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box.

Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.

Inside, you will find the following items :

A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 storage + charging case
Guide Start Guide
USB-A to USB-C charging cable
Extra ear tips (small and large)

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Key Features

The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds from Samsung, and the lightest pair they ever made.

Despite its name, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is not really a second-generation Buds, but a more affordable version of the ultra-premium Galaxy Buds Pro.

Comfort

These are really the lightest and smallest earbuds I ever tried. Each earbud weighs just 5 grams, and if you fit them right – you can hardly feel them.

They come with three sets of ear tips – small, medium and large, allowing you to fit them snugly.

But please note that the Galaxy Buds 2 are not IPX7 water-resistant like the Buds Pro. These earbuds are only IPX2 sweat-resistant, so you should avoid wearing them in the rain.

Active Noise Cancellation

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has two microphones to constantly monitor ambient noise, 98% of which Samsung says will be cancelled by its Active Noise Cancellation technology.

Its noise cancelling performance is good, delivering much clearer audio while driving (haven’t been flying lately!) and in noisier surroundings. However, don’t expect the same level of noise cancellation as premium over-ear ANC headphones like Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45.

If you need to listen to someone speak, it has an Ambient mode (with 3 levels) that temporarily disable ANC and lets you listen to the outside world.

And when you take out one ear bud, the Buds 2 cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the ear bud back on.

Audio Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has decidedly better audio quality than the original Galaxy Buds, but I suspect audiophiles will say that it lacks the refinement and richness of more premium earbuds like the Buds Pro or Sony’s WF-1000MX4.

That would not be a fair comparison, and it doesn’t really matter unless you are comparing them side-by-side. The Buds 2 sounds great, and you can further adjust it to suit your proclivities using its equaliser setting.

Instead of worrying about how it compares against its far more expensive competitors, it’s best to learn how to get the best fit possible for the best sound and active noise cancelling.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds 2 connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.2, with support for AAC, SBC and Samsung’s proprietary Scalable codecs, but not aptX.

The earbuds support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices, but does not offer true Bluetooth multipoint connectivity – switching from your phone to your computer, for example.

Battery Life

There is a downside of the reduced weight though – a battery life of 5 hours with ANC enabled, and up to 7.5 hours with ANC disabled.

That may seem a little short for some, but it’s really not so bad because the ear buds support quick charging – popping them into the charging case for 5 minutes gets you another hour of use.

The charging case, incidentally, has enough juice for three full charges. That’s 20 hours of battery life in your pocket.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Our Verdict

The Galaxy Buds 2 is the cheapest and lightest pair of TWS earbuds from Samsung, and it boasts many of the best features from the far more expensive Galaxy Buds Pro.

Unless you have plenty of cash to splash, the decision is simple – just get the Galaxy Buds 2 and enjoy it!

Battery life is shorter and it’s not water-resistant, but the Buds 2 has a better fit and is both lighter in weight and on your wallet!

For those reasons, I think it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

Frankly speaking, the Buds2 will kill a lot of budget TWS earbuds. Why settle for less when you can get an affordable pair of AKG-tuned ultra-light earbuds from Samsung?

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM499 / S$248 / US$149.99 / £139 / A$219.

Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 28 October 2021) :

Malaysia : RM439 | RM469 | RM499
Singapore : $190 | $192 | $209
United States : $123.49 | $129.99
United Kingdom : £134
Australia : $197 | $197 | $197

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

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

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vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

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vivo just introduced the TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e true wireless stereo earbuds that offer studio quality audio!

Find out if the new TWS earbuds are what you have been looking for!

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

vivo just introduced two new true wireless stereo earbuds – the TWS 2e and the TWS 2 ANC with active noise cancellation!

They both come with 12.2 mm speakers offering super strong bass, in a pair of feather-light earbuds.

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo TWS 2 series earbuds…

Comfortable Fit

Both vivo TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e earbuds are ultra-light at just 4.7 grams. But more importantly, they were designed with a G3 curvature that conforms to the contours of your ears.

They also feature an innovative vent design, with front and rear chamber flow to help equalise pressure. You will hardly remember they are there!

Super Strong Bass

Both vivo TWS 2 models come with a large 12.2 mm speaker, which features a carbon fibre composite diaphragm to deliver powerful bass, with crisp mids and highs.

Active Noise Cancellation

The vivo TWS 2 ANC can continuously monitor and cancel the background sound, eliminating up to 40 dB of noise!

You can rely on its smart noise algorithm to intelligently adjust the degree of noise cancellation, or manually choose from three levels – high, normal and low.

It doesn’t matter how loud traffic gets – you will always hear every song and conversation crystal clear!

And a single tap activates the Transparency Mode which lets you clearly hear outside sounds, letting you hear announcements and chat with people as if you were not wearing the earbuds at all.

Microphone Noise Cancellation

Both models come with two external beam forming microphones to eliminate background noise while picking up your voice.

Their duct design also improves wind noise reduction by an astounding 148%, so your voice will always be clear even if you are running or cycling.

The TWS 2 ANC model has an additional microphone hidden within the earbud. This microphone has a high SNR to help pick up your voice even in the noisiest environment.

Multipoint Connection

Both vivo TWS 2 models can simultaneously connect to two devices, and switch seamlessly between them – like your vivo X70 smartphone and a laptop, for example.

If you receive a call on your phone while watching a video on your laptop, the earbuds will automatically stream the call and switch back to the video after you hang up.

Ultra-Low Latency

Both models have been enhanced with vivo’s dual-coupled antennas to reduce wireless latency, which is critical for online games.

The TWS 2e has a wireless latency of just 117 ms, while the TWS 2 ANC goes as low as 88 ms!

Battery Life

Both models have a battery life of about 7 hours, and 29-30 hours when used with the charging case.

With active noise cancellation enabled, the TWS 2 ANC has a 4 hour battery life on a single charge.

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Specifications

To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :

Specifications	TWS 2 ANC	TWS 2e
Design	In-Ear Earbuds
IP Rating	IP54
Speaker Unit	12.2 mm voice coil
Frequency Range	20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes	No
Microphones	3	2
Voice Call Noise Cancellation	Yes, 3-Mic	Yes, 2-Mic
Wireless Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2 Dual-Channel Transmission 2.0
Wireless Latency	88 ms (min.)	117 ms (min.)
Wireless Codec	aptX Adaptive / AAC / SBC	AAC / SBC
Wear Detection	Two capacitive sensors	None
Google Fast Pair	Yes
Controls	Pressure + Touch	None
Battery	45 mAh (each earbud) 505 mAh (charging case)
Battery Life (Noise Cancellation Off)	7.3 Hours	7.6 Hours
Battery Life (Noise Cancellation On)	4.1 Hours	–
Charging Time	60 minutes (earbuds) 110 minutes (charging case)
Charging Port	USB Type C
Earbud Dimensions	23.8 x 22.2 x 30.2 mm
Charging Case Dimensions	60.0 x 24.3 x 45.4 mm
Earbud Weight	4.7 g per earbud
Charging Case Weight	41.9 g

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Price + Pre-Order Deals

The vivo TWS 2e is priced at RM269 – approximately US$64 / £47 / A$88 / S$87.

But it only costs RM68, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM369 – approximately US$88 / £65 / A$121 / S$119.

But it only costs RM98, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

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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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Maxis Fibre Warning : WiFi 6 Router NOT Exactly Free!

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The free WiFi 6 router that Maxis is touting isn’t exactly FREE as claimed.

Here’s what I just found out, and what you should know about their “free” WiFi 6 router.

Maxis Fibre Broadband : What Free WiFi 6 Router?

On 18 February 2021, Maxis announced that they would make a new WiFi 6 router available for FREE to all new and existing Maxis Fibre Broadband customers!

The WiFi 6 router will be available for free from today, 18 February onwards for new customers who sign up for Maxis Fibre plans of 100Mbps and above. Existing Maxis Fibre customers will be contacted in phases for the router upgrade exercise. Maxis’ specialised Internet experts, Maxperts, will also provide free installation of the router to ensure that the WiFi is optimized for the best connectivity experience for the home.

When I wrote about it, I thought that was pretty generous of them, and a brilliant way to reduce churn and eat into Unifi’s business.

I quickly called up Maxis, eager to give it a try myself. But almost 7 months later, no one from the Maxis Fibre Broadband team called me up about this free WiFi 6 router upgrade.

Today, I found out that what Maxis announced in February was not exactly the truth. Here are the facts…

Maxis Fibre Warning : WiFi 6 Router NOT Exactly Free!

When Maxis first announced the availability of their free WiFi 6 router, they specifically stated that :

it would be made available for FREE for new customers who sign up for 100 Mbps or faster plans, and
existing customers would receive the upgrade in phases.

Neither are true… which is good news and bad news.

Based on my conversation with Amir from their Customer Service team, and Intan from their Fibre Broadband team on 17 September 2021, here are the facts :

The WiFi 6 router is only available to new customers, and existing customers who are already (or almost) out-of-contract.
This WiFi 6 router will not be made available to customers who are still under contract.
Existing customers will not be upgraded in phases as claimed. Rather, you have to call up Maxis customer service to request for the upgrade.
Existing customers MUST upgrade their existing plans to qualify for the WiFi 6 router upgrade.
If you are on 30 Mbps, you must upgrade to 100 Mbps or higher
If you are on 300 Mbps, you must upgrade to 500 Mbps or higher

Existing customers MUST sign up for a 2-year contract, which introduces this penalty should you terminate the contract at any point in time :

Early Termination Charge of RM500 or the remaining monthly subscription charges in the contract period, whichever is higher.
For existing customers, the WiFi 6 router replaces your existing router, which will be taken back by Maxis.
Since this occurs at the end of a contract, this implies that the routers are “leased” and do not belong to you even after you complete the contract.

None of the information I gleaned above were posted in the official Maxis WiFi 6 router page.

Their FAQ mentioned that the WiFi 6 router is only given free to “new installations for all plans of Maxis Fibre“, including their cheaper 30 Mbps plan.

There is NO MENTION in the Maxis website of any requirement to upgrade your plan, or sign up for a new 2-year contract, to receive this “free” WiFi 6 router upgrade.

The only reference to the Early Termination Charge is found in the Maxis Fibre Service Specific Terms & Conditions (SSTC) page, but that appears to refer to new installations.

Maxis Fibre WiFi 6 Router : Caveat Emptor!

As a long-time Maxis Mobile and Maxis Fibre customer, I’m very disappointed to see them quietly change the terms for what would have been a great upgrade for their loyal customers.

Forcing people to upgrade their plans when they don’t need the extra speed means you are essentially paying for the router.

That’s RM20 to RM80 extra per month, or between RM480 and RM1,920 for a 2-year contract!

Don’t be the fool who ends up paying RM80 extra per month for a “free” WiFi 6 router, unless it’s gold-plated!

I can understand if they wish to tack on a 2-year contract, but at least make it clear to customers in the website, including the early termination penalty!

There is one piece of good news though – even their cheapest 30 Mbps plan comes with the WiFi 6 router!

Pro Tip #1 : Call Maxis customer service and switch to the 30 Mbps plan, before asking for the WiFi 6 upgrade. This way, you don’t have to upgrade to a faster plan unnecessarily.

Pro Tip #2 : If you are currently on the 30 Mbps plan and don’t want to upgrade for the free router, call to CANCEL the service and migrate to Unifi or TIME (which always gives free upgrades!). Their Save team will call you up to try and salvage your business.

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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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Epson EcoTank L3150 / ET-2710 Review : Editor’s Choice!

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If you want a cheap colour printer that can print great photos for mere pennies, we give you – the Epson EcoTank L3150, also known as the EcoTank ET-2710 in some markets.

Find out why we gave this affordable multifunction colour printer our Editor’s Choice Award!

Epson EcoTank Family : A Quick Primer!

Pearly Lee, Product Manage of Epson Malaysia explains the key features and benefits of the Epson EcoTank printer family. Note their vast advantages over their laser and ink cartridge printer rivals.

The EcoTank M-series has 24 times lower power consumption, and deliver 28 times lower overall cost per print compared to laser printers, with a single Epson EcoTank Monochrome bottle yielding 6,000 black and white pages!

The EcoTank L-series colour printers, on the other hand, delivers incredibly low cost per print of 0.52 sen (0.13 cent) per page for black, and 0.94 sen (0.24 cent) per page for colour.

How did they do that? A set of 4 Epson ink bottles yields 4,500 black and white pages and 7,500 colour pages!

In this review, we are going to take a look at the mainstay of the L series – the EcoTank L3150 (also known as EcoTank ET-2710 in some markets).

Epson EcoTank L3150 : Price + Availability

The Epson EcoTank L3150 is available for purchase with a recommended retail price of RM 599, which is about US$140 / £110 / A$199 / S$195. Here are some online purchase options :

Malaysia : RM 599 | RM 599 | RM 599 | RM 599 | RM 599
Singapore : S$260 | S$266 | S$269 | S$279
United Kingdom : £179.99
Australia : A$364 | A$379

And here’s where to check how much the Epson 003 / 103 / 104 ink bottles cost :

Malaysia : Black | Cyan | Yellow | Magenta
Singapore : Set of 4 | Black | Cyan | Yellow | Magenta
United Kingdom : Black | Cyan | Yellow | Magenta
Australia : Price Check

And here’s where to buy Epson Photo Papers :

Malaysia : Premium Glossy 4R | Economy A4 | Premium Glossy A4
Singapore : Premium Glossy 4R | Economy A4 | Premium Glossy A4
US : Premium Glossy 4R | Premium Letter | Value 4R | Value Letter
UK : Premium Glossy 4R | Premium Glossy A4 | Premium Semi-Gloss A4
Australia : Premium Semi-Gloss 4R | Ultra Glossy 4R | Glossy A4 | Ultra Glossy A4

Epson EcoTank L3150 : What’s Inside The Box?

The Epson EcoTank L3150 comes with everything you need to print right out of the box. All you need is paper :

One Epson EcoTank L3150 printer
One set of Epson 003 ink bottles (CMYK)
One set of Epson L3150 user guides and software CD
One set of power cable and USB data cable

Next Page > Key Features + Specifications

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Epson EcoTank L3150 : Key Features

The Epson EcoTank L3150 is the mainstay of the EcoTank L-series of multifunction colour printers, offering the ability to scan, copy and print in colour wirelessly.

Colour Scanning + Copying

Flip open the top cover, and you will find a high-resolution colour scanner, with a resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi, and a 24-bit colour depth.

This built-in scanner lets you make black and white or colour photocopies, albeit only at a lower resolution of 600 x 600 dpi.

Colour Printing

The Epson EcoTank L3150 uses Variable-Sized Droplet technology to deliver a maximum print resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi, at up to 33 pages per minute (black) and 15 pages per minute (colour).

But its call to fame is its EcoTank system, with CYMK colours – cyan, yellow, magenta and black – that delivers incredibly low cost per print.

A single set of four Epson 003 ink bottles (Epson 103 / 104 in some countries) will let you print up to 4,500 pages (black) and 7,500 pages (colour).

That works out to just 0.52 sen (0.13 cent) per page for black, and 0.94 sen (0.24 cent) per page for colour!

USB + Wireless Connectivity

Like other printers, it can be connected to your computer through a USB cable. However, it is not even necessary to use the cable.

The EcoTank L3150 has WiFi-N connectivity built-in, so you can just plug in the power cable and start printing wirelessly from your computer, or even your smartphone or tablet.

In fact, you can even print remotely from your devices through Google Cloud Print!

Paper Support

The Epson EcoTank L3150 supports printing on paper up to A4 or Letter, with a maximum weight of 80 g/m2 for plain paper.

But it supports photo paper, which are much thicker and heavier. Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper, for example, has a paper weight of 225 g/m2.

It also supports 4R borderless printing – that’s 4 inch x 6 inch, preferably using the Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper.

The print quality on plain paper is acceptable for presentations, but not for photos – they appear dull as you can see in the video above.

For photo printing, you must use photo paper. The print quality on photo paper is worlds apart from what you can get on plain paper. The colours are deeper and a lot more vibrant, and your photos will actually look like photos!

The video may not show it, but the detail in the photo is amazing. As long as you print with high-resolution photos, the printer will deliver colour print resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 dots per inch!

The print-outs do come out a little darker than our display. But that’s easily corrected by adjusting the exposure in the photos before printing.

But without a doubt, the Epson L3150 offers a very cheap photo printing solution. The cost of printing a large A4 photo is only 75 sen (about 18 cents), including both photo paper and ink!

Epson EcoTank L3150 : Specifications

Specifications	Epson EcoTank L3150
Printer Type	Multi-Function (Print, Scan, Copy)
Printing Technology	Piezoelectric Inkjet
Nozzle Configuration	Black : 180 nozzles Yellow : 59 nozzles Magenta : 59 nozzles Cyan : 59 nozzles
Print Direction	Bi-Directional
Maximum Print Resolution	5760 x 1440 dpi (Variable-Sized Droplet Technology)
Minimum Ink Droplet size	3 picolitre
Automatic 2-Sided Printing	No
Print Speed	4×6″ Photo (Border) : 69 seconds 4×6″ Photo (Borderless) : 90 seconds A4 Black (Draft) : 33 ppm A4 Black (Simplex) : 10 ipm A4 Colour (Draft) : 15 ppm A4 Colour (Simplex) : 5 ipm
Paper Support	Premium Glossy Photo Paper : 20 sheets Envelope : 10 sheets Postcard : 30 sheets A4 / Letter Paper (80 g/m2) : 100 sheets
Print Noise	Plain Paper : 52 dB(A) Premium Photo Paper : 38 dB(A)
Ink Bottle Yield	Black : 4,500 pages Cyan + Magenta + Yellow : 7,500 pages
Maximum Paper Size	215.9 mm x 1200 mm
Scanner Type	Flatbed Colour Scanner
Scanner Sensor	Contact Image Sensor (CIS)
Optical Resolution	1200 x 2400 dpi
Scanner Bit Depth	48-bit input, 24-bit output
Scan Speed	Black, 200 dpi : 11 seconds Colour, 200 dpi : 28 seconds
Maximum Scan Area	216 mm x 297 mm
Copy Size	A4 / Letter
Copy Resolution	600 x 600 dpi
Copy Speed	Black : 7.7 ipm Colour : 3.8 ipm
Connectivity	Wired : USB 2.0 LAN : No Wireless : WiFi-N (with Wi-Fi Direct)
Power Consumption	Operating : 12 W Standby : 4.3 W Sleep : 0.7 W Power Off : 0.3 W

Next Page > Verdict + Award | Where To Buy!

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Epson EcoTank L3150 : Our Verdict + Award

When Epson first revealed their EcoTank system, we were very impressed. Finally, we could now print to our heart’s content without breaking the bank.

The Epson EcoTank L3150 is not only highly affordable at just RM 599 (about US$140 / £110 / A$199 / S$195), it offers really low printing costs.

A single set of ink bottles, which costs less than RM 90 (US$21 / £16 / A$29 / S$29) will let you print up to 24 reams of paper – 12,000 pages. That’s A LOT of printing!

Of course, the ink usage and cost is higher if you print in high quality. But even if you get half the rated capacity, it’s so cheap you wouldn’t even bother with “compatible ink” options.

The Epson EcoTank L3150 is a great photo printer, just not on plain paper. You must print photos on photo paper. We cannot stress this enough.

The print quality on plain paper lacks the vividness and deep colours you can get from photo printers with 6-ink or 8-ink print systems, or if you use photo paper.

Photo paper not only delivers the vibrant colours and incredible print resolution, it is also thicker. The recommended Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper, for example, has a paper weight of 225 gm.

Malaysia : Premium Glossy 4R | Economy A4 | Premium Glossy A4
Singapore : Premium Glossy 4R | Economy A4 | Premium Glossy A4
US : Premium Glossy 4R | Premium Letter | Value 4R | Value Letter
UK : Premium Glossy 4R | Premium Glossy A4 | Premium Semi-Gloss A4
Australia : Premium Semi-Gloss 4R | Ultra Glossy 4R | Glossy A4 | Ultra Glossy A4

While the L3150 is officially limited to 80 gm plain paper, it supports much heavier photo paper. So unofficially, it will support art card and heavier plain paper stocks.

The Epson EcoTank L3150 is, ultimately, an affordable multifunction printer for the family or SOHO.

It lets you freely print and make colour copies without worrying about the cost; with the ability to scan full A4 / Letter documents.

We cannot stress the very low cost of ownership enough, because many competing printers are cheaper, but kill you with their high printing costs.

On top of that, it offers fast and convenient wireless printing capability, not just on the same wireless network, but literally from anywhere in the world!

Because it offers a great combination of features, excellent print quality, and low cost of ownership, we believe the Epson EcoTank L3150 deserves no less than our Editor’s Choice Award! Great job, Epson!

Epson EcoTank L3150 : Where To Buy

The Epson EcoTank L3150 is available for purchase with a recommended retail price of RM 599, which is about US$140 / £110 / A$199 / S$195. Here are some online purchase options :

Malaysia : RM 599 | RM 599 | RM 599 | RM 599 | RM 599
Singapore : S$260 | S$266 | S$269 | S$279
United Kingdom : £179.99
Australia : A$364 | A$379

And here’s where to check how much the Epson 003 / 103 / 104 ink bottles cost :

Malaysia : Black | Cyan | Yellow | Magenta
Singapore : Set of 4 | Black | Cyan | Yellow | Magenta
United Kingdom : Black | Cyan | Yellow | Magenta
Australia : Price Check

And here’s where to buy Epson Photo Papers :

Malaysia : Premium Glossy 4R | Economy A4 | Premium Glossy A4
Singapore : Premium Glossy 4R | Economy A4 | Premium Glossy A4
US : Premium Glossy 4R | Premium Letter | Value 4R | Value Letter
UK : Premium Glossy 4R | Premium Glossy A4 | Premium Semi-Gloss A4
Australia : Premium Semi-Gloss 4R | Ultra Glossy 4R | Glossy A4 | Ultra Glossy A4

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vivo Wireless Sport Lite : What You Need To Know!

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vivo just introduced a new pair of neckband headphones – the Wireless Sport Lite!

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo Wireless Sport Lite!

vivo Wireless Sport Lite : What You Need To Know!

The new vivo Wireless Sport Lite was introduced together with the new vivo V21 series smartphones on 28 April 2021.

While designed to complement the new V21 and V21 smartphones, they will work well with other smartphones too.

Golden Ear Acoustics

The vivo Wireless Sport Lite boasts an 11.2 mm moving coil for a strong bass, and a high polymer diaphragm for a more powerful bass and to balance the different frequencies.

Its Daikoku aluminium-coated bronze coil also produces more crisp higher frequencies, to match the powerful bass.

It also comes with a double-layered sound chamber, with front and back vents that enable you to feel the music, as well as hear it.

The Wireless Sport Lite was tuned by the renowned Golden Ears acoustics team, to deliver the best possible audio quality.

Ergonomic Design

The vivo Wireless Sport Lite is very light at just 23.9 grams, so you will barely remember it’s there!

For maximum comfort, you can choose from three sizes of soft ear tips to find the perfect fit.

Its neckband is designed to contour comfortably around your neck, and has a flexible memory metal wire that bounces back to shape even after being coiled up.

Low Latency

If you are a gamer or like to watch movies on your phone, you may be worried about the Bluetooth latency.

vivo says that the earphone to smartphone full loop latency was brought down to as low as 80 ms in the Wireless Sport Lite.

This means better gaming audio performance, and no syncing issues with your movies!

Active Noise Cancellation

The vivo Wireless Sport Lite also supports active noise cancellation (ANC)!

It will cancel out ambient noise, so that you can clearly hear your fellow gamers during a gaming session.

It also makes for clear voice and video calls with your family and friends, no matter where you are.

Long Lasting + Tough

The vivo Wireless Sport boasts a long battery life of 18 hours. It also supports fast charging, giving you 5 hours of playback time after just 10 minutes of charging.

It is also IPX4 rated, which makes it splash-proof, allowing you to use it outdoors – in both rain and shine!

vivo Wireless Sport Lite : Price + Availability

The vivo Wireless Sport Lite neckband earphones come in two colour options – Blue and Black.

They are both priced at RM 159 (about US$39 / £28 / A$50 / S$51).

Here are some online purchase options :

Malaysia : RM 159

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Maxis Fibre Broadband : Get WiFi 6 Router For FREE!

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Maxis just announced a new WiFi 6 router that will be made available FREE to all new and existing Maxis Fibre Broadband customers! Here are the details…

Maxis Fibre Broadband : Get WiFi 6 Router For FREE!

Maxis just announced the availability of a new WiFi 6 router which promises to deliver faster wireless connectivity with greater range, better signal and the capacity to support more devices.

WiFi 6, also known as Wi-Fi 6 or IEEE 802.11ax or WiFi-AX, is the next-generation Wi-Fi standard, which can deliver up to 1.2 Gb/s of wireless bandwidth.

In addition to higher bandwidth, Wi-Fi 6 boasts reduced interference, increased network efficiency, reduced latency, as well as expanded capacity to support more Wi-Fi devices concurrently.

The new Maxis WiFi 6 router also comes with built-in EasyMesh technology, allowing you to easily expand the WiFi coverage by adding more EasyMesh units.

Maxis WiFi 6 Router : FREE For All New + Existing Customers!

Starting 18 February 2021, Maxis will make this new WiFi 6 router available for FREE to all new customers who sign up for Maxis Fibre plans of 100 Mbps or faster.

Existing Maxis Fibre customers will be contacted in phases for the free router upgrade exercise, with free installation by their Maxperts team.

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Keep Your iPhone + MagSafe Away From Medical Devices!

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If you own an Apple iPhone or use an Apple MagSafe charger, please make sure you keep them away from medical devices!

Find out why you need to be careful about putting them in close proximity with medical devices!

iPhone 12 + MagSafe : As Safe As Older iPhone Models

On 23 January 2021, Apple updated their safety guidance on the magnets in their iPhones and MagSafe chargers.

It addressed the concerns about the radios and larger number of magnets used in their latest devices :

iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
MagSafe Charger
MagSafe Duo

Apple claims even though they contain more magnets than prior iPhone models, they are “not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models“.

Keep Your iPhone + MagSafe Away From Medical Devices!

While Apple does not believe that the risk is higher in these newer iPhone 12 models and MagSafe chargers, they also noted that the magnets and radios could pose a risk to medical devices in close proximity.

Medical devices such as implanted pacemakers and defibrillators might contain sensors that respond to magnets and radios when in close contact.

These magnets and electromagnetic fields might interfere with medical devices.

Therefore, Apple recommends that you keep ALL iPhone models and MagSafe chargers away from medical devices, like pacemakers and defibrillators.

more than 6 inches or 15 cm apart, or
more than 12 inches or 30 cm apart if wirelessly charging

They also advised all users to stop using their iPhone or MagSafe accessories, if they suspect that they may be interfering with medical devices.

Note : This does NOT mean that the magnetic fields or wireless emissions of your iPhone or MagSafe accessories are dangerous to your health. They only pose a risk to medical devices.

Safety Guidance On iPhone + MagSafe Magnets + Radios

Here is Apple’s latest safety guidance on iPhone and MagSafe magnets and radios :

iPhone contains magnets as well as components and radios that emit electromagnetic fields. All MagSafe accessories (each sold separately) also contain magnets—and MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger contain radios. These magnets and electromagnetic fields might interfere with medical devices.

Though all iPhone 12 models contain more magnets than prior iPhone models, they’re not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models.

Medical devices such as implanted pacemakers and defibrillators might contain sensors that respond to magnets and radios when in close contact. To avoid any potential interactions with these devices, keep your iPhone and MagSafe accessories a safe distance away from your device (more than 6 inches / 15 cm apart or more than 12 inches / 30 cm apart if wirelessly charging). But consult with your physician and your device manufacturer for specific guidelines.

Consult your physician and medical device manufacturer for information specific to your medical device and whether you need to maintain a safe distance of separation between your medical device and iPhone or any MagSafe accessories. Manufacturers often provide recommendations on the safe use of their devices around wireless or magnetic products to prevent possible interference. If you suspect iPhone or any MagSafe accessories are interfering with your medical device, stop using your iPhone or MagSafe accessories.

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Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Edition : What A Looker!

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Cyberpunk 2077 may be delayed yet again, but the Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Edition is now out, and what a looker it is!

Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Edition : What A Looker!

In collaboration with CD PROJEKT RED, the Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Edition has finally hit the streets to gear you up and take it to the Edge.

Prepare for the most anticipated game release of 2020 and own the Night City with a variation of Razer’s best-selling ambidextrous Viper Ultimate for the complete triple A experience.

Weighing at only 74 grams, the Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Edition is powered by Razer Chroma RGB and comes with the Razer Chroma Mouse Charging Dock.

A Powerful Connection

Explore the vast city untethered with Razer’s highly rated HyperSpeed technology, which delivers stable, wireless performance that is 25% faster than other wireless technology.

Street-Smart Precision

In Cyberpunk 2077, words don’t always do the trick. Make them see the point (or several) with some clean gunwork courtesy of the mouse’s Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor

The sensor is designed with industry-leading 20,000 DPI for up to 99.6% resolution accuracy and intelligent functions.

Killer Response

Night City will chew you up and spit you out if you flinch or hesitate. Good thing you’ll always be quickest on the draw with 2nd-Gen Razer Optical Mouse Switches that offer a blistering 0.2ms response time for every click.

Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Edition : Specifications

Specifications	Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077
Model	RZ01-03050500-R3M1
Design	Ambidextrous
Connectivity	Wireless (Razer Hyperspeed)
Sensor	Razer Focus+ (PAW3399)
Sensor Resolution	20,000 dots per inch
Tracking Speed	650 inches per second
Accuracy	99.6%
Response Time	0.2 milliseconds
Polling Rate	125 / 500 / 1000 Hz
Buttons	8 (including wheel click)
Switches	Razer Optical (70 M)
Memory Profiles	5
Mouse Feet	100% PTFE
Battery Life	70 hours
Dimensions	57.6 mm wide 126.8 mm long 37.8 mm tall
Weight	74 g

Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Edition : Price + Availability

The Razer Viper Ultimate Cyberpunk 2077 Edition is available with immediate effect, with a RRP of :

United States : $159.99
Singapore : S$249.90

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Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t Get FREE ANC Upgrade!

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Jabra is introducing a FREE ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) upgrade for all Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds!

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t Get FREE ANC Upgrade!

On 21 October 2020, Jabra announced a FREE ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) upgrade for all Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds!

By taking advantage of the superior Qualcomm digital audio processor already built-into the Elite 75t, Jabra is able to introduce this free ANC upgrade via a firmware update in the Jabra Sound+ app.

The Jabra Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t with ANC as standard will be available for purchase in October 2020.

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t : Now With ANC

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is their fourth-generation wireless earbuds, offering two key improvements over last year’s Elite 65t.

Improved Comfort + Secure Fit

Jabra used thousands of ear scans from all over the world, to create a profile of the most optimal 3D shape and size for the Elite 75t.

They promise that they will offer an improved fit that is more comfortable and secure, allowing you to use them for long hours, and without fear of them falling out.

Better Battery + Charging Capabilities

Jabra extended the Elite 75t’s battery life by 50%, from 5 hours to 7.5 hours. They also extended its charging case’s battery capacity, allowing the Elite 75t to offer a total battery life of 28 hours, versus 15 hours for the 65t.

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) also has fast charging capability – a quick 15 minutes charge in its charging case will give you an hour of battery life.

Incidentally, Jabra will offer an Elite 75t variant in Q2 2020 that will have a charging case with wireless charging capability, in addition to USB Type C wired charging.

MyControl + MySound (Coming In Q2 2020)

Jabra will introduce two new features through a future firmware update – MyControl and MySound.

MyControl lets you personalise the touch controls, with the option of using either left or right earbud by itself. Otherwise, you can only use the right earbud independently.

MySound lets you create and use a personalised hearing profile using a series of audio tests. This will offer you a significant improvement in audio quality.

4-Microphone Technology

Like the Elite 65t, the Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with four microphones for clearer voice pickups and better wind noise reduction.

Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) supports Bluetooth 5.0, which allows for lower-latency audio with lower power consumption. That means longer battery life without the fear of audio dropouts!

IP55 / IP57 Dust + Water Resistance

The Jabra Elite 75t is IP55-rated for dust and water resistance. That means it is sweat- and splash- resistant, but not waterproof. Do NOT take it for a swim!

The Jabra Elite Active 75t, on the other hand, is IP57-rated, which allows for water submersion up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t : Price + Availability

The Jabra Elite 75t is priced at USD 179.99 / €169.99 / A$249 / S$288 / RM949.

Malaysia : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
Singapore : Titanium Black | Black | Gold Beige
United States : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
United Kingdom : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
Australia : Titanium Black | Gold Beige

The Jabra Elite Active 75t is priced at USD 199.99 / €189.99 / A$279 / S$318 / RM999.

Malaysia : Dark Grey | Navy Blue | Mint | Sienna
Singapore : Dark Grey | Navy Blue | Mint | Sienna
United States : Navy Blue | Mint | Sienna
UK : Titanium Black | Copper Black | Dark Grey | Navy | Sienna | Mint
Australia : Copper Black | Dark Grey | Navy | Sienna | Mint

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Xiaomi Disses 15W MagSafe With 80W Mi Wireless Charging!

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Just after Apple introduced their 15W MagSafe wireless charger, Xiaomi unveils the 80W Mi Wireless Charger!

Take a look at how fast a modified Mi 10 Pro recharged wirelessly using this new 80W wireless charger!

Xiaomi Disses 15W MagSafe With 80W Mi Wireless Charger!

Apple may have wowed their fans with the new 15W MagSafe wireless charger, but Xiaomi just showed us the future of wireless charging.

Introducing the new 80W Mi Wireless Charging Technology by Xiaomi!

As this video showed, the 80W Mi Wireless Charging Technology recharges the 4,000 mAh battery of a modified Mi 10 Pro astoundingly quickly :

0% to 10% : 1 minute
0% to 50% : 8 minutes
0% to 100% : 19 minutes

In comparison, last year’s 30W Mi Wireless Charging Technology took much longer to recharge a similar battery :

0% to 50% : 25 minutes
0% to 100% : 69 minutes

80W Mi Wireless Charging : May It Come Soon!

Xiaomi has not announced when they will actually introduce 80W Mi Wireless Charging in a production smartphone, or offer the charger for sale.

However, based on the fact that they recently introduced the Mi 10 Ultra with 50W wireless charging capability, we could see 80W wireless charging introduced as early as next year!

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HUAWEI 5G Aces GSMA NESAS Security Audit : The Impact?

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In a bit of good news after months of bad news, HUAWEI announced that their 5G wireless and core network equipment passed the GSMA NESAS cybersecurity audit!

While that is great news for them, what exactly is the impact on the deployment of HUAWEI 5G equipment globally?

HUAWEI 5G Passes GSMA Network Security Assurance Audit!

In a bit of good news after months of bad news, HUAWEI announced that their 5G wireless and core network equipment passed the GSMA Network Equipment Security Assurance Scheme (NESAS) audit!

5G RAN gNodeB
5G Core UDG, UDM, UNC, UPCF
LTE eNodeB

Here is a summary of the twenty NESAS assessment categories and the compliance levels of the HUAWEI 5G equipment that were tested :

Prior to passing the GSMA NESAS audit, these HUAWEI 5G equipment also passed the 5G cybersecurity test by China’s IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group, using test specifications based on 3GPP International standards for 5G security assurance.

HUAWEI 5G Faces Political, Not Technical, Pressures

Passing the GSMA NESAS audit will help assuage the cybersecurity concerns of nations planning, or already implementing HUAWEI 5G network equipment.

However, HUAWEI faces political, not technical, pressures with their 5G network equipment.

The 100% compliance score in the NESAS audit will not change minds in the US, and their Five Eyes partners are unlikely to consider HUAWEI 5G equipment.

That said, passing this audit will nevertheless strengthen HUAWEI’s shield against claims that their 5G equipment pose much greater cybersecurity risks than competing platforms.

It will help them win additional contracts in smaller countries whose concerns are far less about cybersecurity and privacy, and more with costs.

GSMA Network Security Assurance Scheme (NESAS)

The GSMA Network Equipment Security Assurance Scheme (NESAS) audit is a standardised cybersecurity assessment mechanism, jointly defined by GSMA (GSM Association) and 3GPP, together with regulators, industry partners, major global operators, and vendors.

This is a voluntary program which network equipment vendors can subject their product development and lifecycle processes to a comprehensive and independent security audit.

The GSMA NESAS covers 20 assessment categories, defining security requirements with an assessment framework for 5G product development and product lifecycle processes. It also uses security test cases by 3GPP to assess the security of network equipment.

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OPPO 125W Flash Charge | 65W AirVOOC : Vapourware?

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OPPO just unveiled 125W Flash Charge and 65W AirVOOC – the fastest battery charging technologies in the world!

Find out if these new OPPO flash charging technologies are really useful, or just vapourware!

OPPO 125W Flash Charge | 65W AirVOOC : A Quick Primer

OPPO 125W Flash Charge is a wired fast-charging technology, that is built around a Double 6C cell battery, with multiple tab winding technology, and three parallel charge pumps.

This allows it to recharge a 4,000 mAh battery to 41% in 5 minutes, and to full capacity in just 20 minutes! Crazy fast!

OPPO 65W AirVOOC, on the other hand, is their improved wireless fast charging technology that will deliver the same performance as wired 65W SuperVOOC fast charging.

By using parallel dual charging coils, it can fully recharge a 4,000 mAh battery in just 30 minutes! Crazy fast for wireless charging!

OPPO 125W Flash Charge | 65W AirVOOC : Vapourware?

First, we have to point out that these are, as far as we know, still prototypes that may or may not make it to the market.

After all, OPPO announced their 120W Super FlashCharge last year, and nothing come of it. No phone launched with 120W flash charging capability, not even from OPPO.

So will OPPO introduce 125W flash charging or 65W AirVOOC? Unlikely anytime soon.

For one thing, they are brand new, only in prototype stage, and would be prohibitively expensive to add to any smartphone.

Smartphone manufacturers, whether OPPO or another brand, will need to test and certify the safety of these new battery charging technologies.

On top of that, they have to consider the cost. Apple and Samsung are reputedly considering removing bundled chargers to reduce cost.

Will any smartphone brand be willing to allocate a bigger cost budget for 125W Flash Charge or 65W AirVOOC capability? We doubt it…

OPPO 125W Flash Charge | 65W AirVOOC : Useful?

The OPPO 125W Flash Charge and 65W AirVOOC technologies are incredibly impressive, from a technical perspective.

We would personally love it if all smartphones come with it. However, will consumers pay top dollar for a particular smartphone just because it has 125W Flash Charge or 65W AirVOOC capability?

We doubt it. After all, how often do you really need to recharge your smartphone?

Smartphones now have much larger batteries, and the industry has made great strides in reducing power consumption. Most smartphones can now easily last 10-12 hours on a single charge, with heavy use :

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : 11 hours 32 minutes
Black Shark 2 Pro : 12 hours 25 minutes
Samsung Galaxy Note10+ : 10 hours 32 minutes
Samsung Galaxy S10+ : 10 hours 17 minutes

At most, you will need to recharge your smartphone at the end of your work day, and that takes what – just 60 to 90 minutes with a regular fast charger?

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra : 57.5 minutes
Black Shark 2 Pro : 67 minutes
Samsung Galaxy Note10+ : 63 minutes
Samsung Galaxy S10+ : 91.6 minutes

So, in our humble opinion, the 125W OPPO Flash Charge is nothing more than a technology showcase that will unlikely be introduced in any smartphone anytime soon.

What We Are Rooting For : 65W AirVOOC!

The OPPO 65W AirVOOC technology, on the other hand, has the potential to be a real game changer. Wireless charging is the future.

That said, its current implementation, which requires two Peltier heat pumps to keep cool, is not practical, and highly inefficient.

But if OPPO can improve it to the point it only requires a fan to keep cool, or better still – passive cooling, everyone will want to implement 65W AirVOOC!

So we are rooting for OPPO to continue improving AirVOOC, particularly their work on single coil wireless flash charging, which should reduce thermal output.

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OPPO 125W Wired + 65W Wireless Charging Tech Details!

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OPPO just unveiled 125W wired flash charging and 65W wireless charging – the fastest in the world!

Get briefed on the new OPPO flash charging technologies, and find out if they really matter!

OPPO Reveals 125W Wired + 65W Wireless Charging Technologies!

Let’s start with the official tech briefing on the two new fast charging technologies.

OPPO 125W Flash Charge (Wired)

The new OPPO 125W wired flash charging technology is built around a Double 6C cell battery, with multiple tab winding technology – allowing for a much higher input current of 12.5 A.

The new battery charging technology also uses three parallel charge pumps, which converts the charger input of 20V @ 6.25A into 10V @ 12.5A, with a 98% conversion efficiency.

To ensure the battery charges safely, OPPO added 10 new temperature sensors, to make sure the phone temperature do not exceed 40°C.

At 125W full power, it will recharge a 4,000 mAh battery to 41% in 5 minutes, and to full capacity in just 20 minutes.

However, this is a prototype technology, which will not soon make it into any phone.

OPPO 65W AirVOOC (Wireless)

OPPO claims that the 65W AirVOOC will deliver the same charging performance as 65W SuperVOOC, thanks to parallel dual charging coils with an 88% charging efficiency.

This allows it to fully recharge a 4,000 mAh battery in just 30 minutes! Crazy fast for wireless charging!

To ensure that the phone temperature does not exceed 40°C, the AirVOOC wireless charger uses two thermoelectric coolers (Peltier heat pumps) to whisk the heat away from the charging phone.

However, anyone who has ever used a Peltier can tell you that it gets very hot on the other side!

While OPPO claims an 88% transmission and receiving efficiency, the power required for thermoelectric cooling will greatly reduce AirVOOC’s power efficiency.

Two OPPO GaN Fast Chargers

OPPO also announced two fast chargers that use GaN technology to greatly reduce their sizes.

This is the OPPO 50W mini SuperVOOC charger, which is about the size of a business card, and weighs just 60 grams.

And this is the OPPO 110W mini flash charger, which offers 110W of pulse charging in a charge the size of a regular 18W fast charger.

OPPO 125W Flash Charge | 65W AirVOOC : Vapourware?

First, we have to point out that these are, as far as we know, still prototypes that may or may not make it to the market.

After all, OPPO announced their 120W Super FlashCharge last year, and nothing come of it. No phone launched with 120W flash charging capability, not even from OPPO.

So will OPPO introduce 125W flash charging or 65W AirVOOC? Unlikely anytime soon.

Find out WHY in our opinion piece : OPPO 125W Flash Charge | 65W AirVOOC : Vapourware?

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition : Unboxing!

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If you are a BTS fan, here are the key features and an unboxing video of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition True Wireless Stereo earphones!

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition : Unboxing!

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition is a limited edition version of the Galaxy Buds Plus True Wireless Stereo earphones in the unique purple and black colour scheme.

It is only available for pre-order (details below), but Samsung shared with us their official unboxing video, which we “improved” and shared with you here :

2-Way Dynamic Speaker System by AKG

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition features a new 2-way dynamic speaker system, tuned by AKG. It combines a tweeter with a woofer, to deliver both clear high notes and a rich and powerful bass.

Adaptive 3-Microphone System

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition also comes with an adaptive 3 microphone system to make sure background noises will never drown out your voice.

You can also use it to tune out ambient noise while listening to your music, or whenever you just want some peace and quiet.

Better Battery + Wireless Charging!

The Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition can last 11 hours, with an additional 11 hours of battery life in its battery case! That means you get a total of 22 hours of battery life on-the-go!

They also feature 3X faster wireless recharging speed – it now takes just 3 minutes of charging to get you an hour of playback time.

Heck, you can even recharge it on smartphones that support Qi reverse charging, like the Samsung Galaxy S20 / Galaxy S20 Plus / Galaxy S20 Ultra… and even the HUAWEI P40 / P40 Pro / P40 Pro Plus smartphones!

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition : Price + Pre-Order Deal!

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition has an official RRP of RM 899 (about $211 / £170 / A$307 / S$294), which is RM 300 (50%) more expensive than the regular Galaxy Buds Plus.

To sweeten the deal, Samsung is offering a FREE Wireless Charger Pad BTS Edition worth RM 199 (about $47 / £38 / A$68 / S$65) with every pre-order!

The Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition pre-order deal will last from 19 June 2020 until 5 July 2020. You can either collect your pre-ordered earphones on 9th July 2020, or have them delivered directly to you.

If you prefer to just get the regular Galaxy Buds Plus, here are direct purchase options :

Malaysia : White | Black
Singapore : White | Black | Blue
United States : Black | Pink | Red
United Kingdom : White | Black | Blue
Australia : White | Black | Blue

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition : Pre-Order Deal!

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The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition earphones are here, for all of you BTS fans!

Reserve using this limited pre-order deal now, for a FREE Wireless Charger Pad BTS Edition!

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition : A Quick Primer

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition is a limited edition version of the Galaxy Buds Plus wireless earphones.

Available in the unique purple and black colour scheme, it offers these same great features :

2-Way Dynamic Speaker System by AKG

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus features a new 2-way dynamic speaker system, tuned by AKG. It combines a tweeter with a woofer, to deliver both clear high notes and a rich and powerful bass.

Adaptive 3-Microphone System

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus also comes with an adaptive 3 microphone system to make sure background noises will never drown out your voice.

You can also use it to tune out ambient noise while listening to your music, or whenever you just want some peace and quiet.

Better Battery + Wireless Charging!

The Galaxy Buds Plus can last 11 hours, with an additional 11 hours of battery life in its battery case! That means you get a total of 22 hours of battery life on-the-go!

They also feature 3X faster wireless recharging speed – it now takes just 3 minutes of charging to get you an hour of playback time.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition : Price + Pre-Order Deal!

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition has an official RRP of RM 899 (about $211 / £170 / A$307 / S$294), which is RM 300 (50%) more expensive than the regular Galaxy Buds Plus.

To sweeten the deal, Samsung is offering a FREE Wireless Charger Pad BTS Edition worth RM 199 (about $47 / £38 / A$68 / S$65) with every pre-order!

The Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition pre-order deal will last from today, 19 June 2020 until 5 July 2020. You can either collect your pre-ordered earphones on 9th July 2020, or have them delivered directly to you.

If you prefer to just get the regular Galaxy Buds Plus, here are direct purchase options :

Malaysia : White | Black
Singapore : White | Black | Blue
United States : Black | Pink | Red
United Kingdom : White | Black | Blue
Australia : White | Black | Blue

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Jabra Elite Active 75t : Father’s Day Deal!

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There is a special Father’s Day Deal for the Jabra Elite Active 75t water-resistant true wireless earphones!

Get the details of the Father’s Day Deal, and a quick primer on the Jabra Elite Active 75t!

Jabra Elite Active 75t : Father’s Day Deal!

To celebrate Father’s Day, Jabra is offering a FREE pair of Jabra Elite 45e in Gold Beige as well as free delivery, with every purchase of the Elite Active 75t!

All you have to do is purchase the Elite Active 75t from their official store below, from 13 June until 21 June 2020.

Here are the purchase options in other countries :

United Kingdom : Titanium Black | Navy | Dark Grey | Copper Black
Australia : Copper Black | Navy | Mint

Jabra Elite Active 75t : A Quick Primer!

Similar to the Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY), the Active version brings the same great call and music quality expected from Jabra yet 22 percent smaller than its predecessor for a better fit.

Noise Isolation

The Elite Active 75t is also designed to further enhance comfort through optimal earbud design, based on thousands of ear measurements and scans to determine the optimal earbud shape and size.

This provides superior passive noise reduction for an improved sound experience overall. And you can activate the integrated HearThrough feature to let surrounding sound in when needed.

The Jabra Elite Active 75t earbuds also offer personalised sound and customisable controls with Jabra MySound and Jabra MyControls through the Jabra Sound+ App.

Jabra MySound

This feature allows users to individualise their music experience to their preference. The user’s hearing profile is benchmarked through a simple auditory test consisting of a series of beeps and the output is optimised based on these results, for a truly individualised listening experience.

Jabra MyControls

This function enables the user to define the button controls on the earbuds in a few simple steps. Some users may focus on music or media button actions whilst others may want the buttons to revolve around calls. This remap of the buttons further enhances the custom experience for the user.

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Jabra Elite 75t : Improved 4th Gen Wireless Earbuds!

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The Jabra Elite 75t – their 4th generation wireless earbuds – are here! Find out what Jabra has improved over last year’s Elite 65t, which are already impressive in their own right!

Jabra Elite 75t : Improved 4th Gen Wireless Earbuds!

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is their fourth-generation wireless earbuds, offering two key improvements over last year’s Elite 65t. Let’s start with the official tech briefing on the Jabra Elite 75t :

Improved Comfort + Secure Fit

Jabra used thousands of ear scans from all over the world, to create a profile of the most optimal 3D shape and size for the Elite 75t.

They promise that they will offer an improved fit that is more comfortable and secure, allowing you to use them for long hours, and without fear of them falling out.

Better Battery + Charging Capabilities

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) also has fast charging capability – a quick 15 minutes charge in its charging case will give you an hour of battery life.

Incidentally, Jabra will offer an Elite 75t variant in Q2 2020 that will have a charging case with wireless charging capability, in addition to USB Type C wired charging.

MyControl + MySound (Coming In Q2 2020)

Jabra will introduce two new features through a future firmware update – MyControl and MySound.

MyControl lets you personalise the touch controls, with the option of using either left or right earbud by itself. Otherwise, you can only use the right earbud independently.

MySound lets you create and use a personalised hearing profile using a series of audio tests. This will offer you a significant improvement in audio quality.

4-Microphone Technology

Like the Elite 65t, the Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with four microphones for clearer voice pickups and better wind noise reduction.

Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity

IP55 Dust + Water Resistance

It is IP55-rated for dust and water resistance. That means it is sweat- and splash- resistant, but not waterproof. Do NOT take it for a swim!

Jabra Elite 75t Price + Availability

The Jabra Elite 75t is available in two colour options – Titanium Black and Gold Beige.

It is priced at USD 179.99 / €169.99 / A$297 / S$288 / RM 949.

United States : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
United Kingdom : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
Australia : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
Singapore : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
Malaysia : Titanium Black | Gold Beige

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Edifier W860NB vs Edifier W828NB : What’s The Difference?

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The Edifier W860NB and W828NB are both active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones, with an over-ear design.

In this article, we will compare both models to find out how they differ, and where they are similar. Find out which is the best option for you!

Edifier W860NB Primer

The Edifier W860NB is their first active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphone, targeted at the value premium market. Hence, it sports a premium design with touch controls.

It also has folding ear cups with neodymium drivers, NFC support and a complete set of accessories including a hard travel case.

Edifier W828NB Primer

The Edifier W828NB, on the other hand, is a newer model, with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and a lower price point.

However, it only comes with a soft travel case, and lacks both touch controls and an aircraft audio adaptor.

Edifier W860NB vs Edifier W828NB : What’s The Difference?

The Edifier W860NB has a more refined design, while the W828NB has a sportier design.

They can both be folded for more compact storage, but the ear cups of the W860NB can further be tilted inwards to fit its hard travel case.

If touch controls are important, then obviously you will prefer the W860NB, but the W828NB has a BIG advantage – Bluetooth 5.0.

Bluetooth 5.0 is more than twice as fast as Bluetooth 4.1, letting the W828NB avoid audio synchronisation issues. It is also more power efficient, which means a longer battery life.

Edifier W860NB vs Edifier W828NB : Our Recommendations

If you prefer an all-in kit or a more premium build and arguably better audio and noise cancellation performance, you should definitely get the W860NB.

But if you want the best possible Bluetooth connectivity for better audio synchronisation and battery life, then get the W828NB.

One thing is for sure – they are both very affordable active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones, and offer great value for your money.

Edifier W860NB vs Edifier W828NB : Specifications

Specifications	Edifier W860NB	Edifier W828NB
Type	Over-Ear Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
Ergonomic Features	Adjustable Headband (up to 6 cm total) Padded headband and ear cups, with faux leather covers
Noise Cancellation	Yes, Active Noise Cancellation
Connectivity Options	Wireless : Bluetooth 4.0 Wired : 3.5 mm audio cable	Wireless : Bluetooth 5.0 Wired : 3.5 mm audio cable
Touch Controls	Yes	No
NFC Support	Yes	No
Bluetooth Codecs	Qualcomm aptX A2DP SBC (sub-band coding)	Qualcomm aptX A2DP SBC (sub-band coding)
Bluetooth Range	10 meters / 30 feet
Audio Drivers	40 mm Neodymium Drivers	Not specified
Impedence	32 Ohms	24 Ohms
Frequency Response	20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
Sensitivity	97 dB	100 dB
Battery	1,400 mAh lithium-ion battery	1,400 mAh lithium-ion battery (estimated)
Rated Battery Life	Standby : 1,500 hours Music without ANC : 45 hours Music with ANC : 25 hours	Standby : 1,500 hours Music without ANC : 80 hours Music with ANC : 25 hours
Rated Charging Time	4 hours @ 5 watt USB

Edifier W860NB Price + Availability

The W860NB has a recommended retail price of US$ 119.99 in the US, and RM 499 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :

Malaysia : RM 499 (Lazada) | RM 499 (Shopee)
Singapore : S$278
United States : $119.99
United Kingdom : £212.40
Australia : A$189.99

Edifier W828NB Price + Availability

The Edifier W828NB has a recommended retail price of US$ 89.99 in the US, and RM 399 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :

Malaysia : RM 399 (Lazada) | RM 399 (Shopee)
Singapore : S$157
United States : $89.99
Australia : A$119.99

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Why FreeBuds 3 Is The Best Alternative To AirPods Pro!

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Apple AirPods Pro are a popular choice for those who want active noise cancelling earbuds, but there is actually a better alternative – the HUAWEI FreeBuds 3.

Don’t believe us? Find out why the FreeBuds 3 is a superior alternative to the AirPods Pro!

Why FreeBuds 3 Is The Best Alternative To AirPods Pro!

Reason #1 : Low Latency Bluetooth Connectivity

One of the biggest problems affecting Bluetooth earbuds is latency – the delay from when the audio data is transmitted to the earbuds, and when the sound emits from the speakers.

High latency causes the sounds and images of the movie you are watching to go out of sync. It is also a big problem in games, where audio cues can mean the difference between winning and losing!

Most TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earbuds like the AirPods Pro uses a binaural single-channel connection, where the smartphone transmits the audio data to the primary earbud, which then forwards one of the channels to the secondary earbud.

This is simpler to implement, but results in greater latency and higher power consumption by the primary earbud.

A select few TWS earbuds use dual-channel transmissions to both earbuds simultaneously, which reduces latency but results in higher power consumption by both earbuds.

HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 avoids both issues because it uses their proprietary Isochronous Dual Channel Transmission technology to transmit the left and right channels to each earbud synchronously and separately.

This reduces latency to just 190 ms (lower than the AirPods Pro), ensuring accurate synchronisation, while reducing power consumption!

Reason #2 : Less Chance Of Interference

In public places, interference is a big issue because there is an abundance of both active Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, and they are all using the same 2.4 GHz spectrum!

This may result in higher audio latencies, or even worse – a disconnection of one or both earbuds from your smartphone!

The HUAWEI Isochronous Dual Channel Transmission technology reduces the chance of interference from other Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.

Reason #3 : Powerful Kirin A1 Chipset

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 is powered by the Kirin A1 – the world’s first Bluetooth 5.1 SoC, which supports Bluetooth Low Energy 5.1 as well.

With an industry-leading 365 MHz audio processor, it is powerful enough to simultaneously perform real-time noise cancellation for both earbuds, as well as real-time 3A call noise cancellation, with automatic echo cancellation (AEC), automatic gain control (AGC) and adaptive noise reduction (ANR) for the microphones!

Reason #4 : More Comfortable Fit

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 is the world’s first active noise cancelling Bluetooth earbuds with an open fit design. Because they won’t close up your ear canals, they are more comfortable to wear for long hours of use.

Its Dolphin Bionic Design is not just aesthetically-pleasing, it’s designed to ensure a more secure yet comfortable fit so you can run and jog without worry.

Reason #5 : Personalised Noise Cancellation

The open design is more complicated to handle because it lets more ambient noise leak in. To correct for that, HUAWEI generated 9 sets of noise reduction profiles, based on extensive research of real human ear canals of different ages, genders, ear sizes, etc.

This lets you optimise its active noise cancellation performance with a simple click in the HUAWEI AI Life app (available in Google Play Store and HUAWEI AppGallery). This gives it a leg up over its competitors that are based on standard ear models.

Reason #6 : Noise Reduction For Voice

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 reduce noise through two mechanisms. Its microphones are shielded by a wind noise reduction duct, so you can speak clearly even if you are running or cycling.

Whenever you speak, the FreeBuds 3 uses bone vibrations to distinguish your voice from background noise, ensuring you are clearly heard even in noisy environments.

Reason #7 : Super Fast Pairing!

Thanks to its support for Bluetooth 5.1, it connects much quicker to your smartphone than Bluetooth 5.0 earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro.

It is also designed to automatically turn on and pair with your smartphone, whenever you open its charging case. It’s ready to use by the time you place it in your ears!

Finally, The FreeBuds 3 Is MUCH CHEAPER Than AirPods Pro!

The eight and final reason – the HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) is MUCH CHEAPER than the AirPods Pro!

With a retail price of RM 679 / ~US$163 / £139.99 / ~A$239.99 / S$219, you will get a better pair of wireless earphones with lower latency and better active noise cancellation for both voice and audio… at a steep discount!

So head over to the nearest HUAWEI store to try out the FreeBuds 3, and see for yourself why it’s a better alternative to the AirPods Pro!

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) is available in two colour options – Carbon Black and Ceramic White, and you can purchase it directly from HUAWEI Malaysia here! For more information, see HUAWEI’s FB post!

Here are some online purchase links, with prices accurate as of 1 December 2019 :

Malaysia : RM 679
Singapore : S$219 | S$219
UK : £139.99 (White) | £139.99 (Black)

One More Thing…

HUAWEI Malaysia recently announced that they are giving every HUAWEI Mate 30 / Mate 30 Pro user 3 MONTHS of FREE 50 GB cloud storage!

Here are the steps to claim this free offer :

Log into your Malaysia HUAWEI ID on your HUAWEI Mate 30 / Mate 30 Pro smartphone.
Go to Settings > Account > Cloud > Upgrade Your Cloud Storage
Select Claim 50 GB (valid for 3 months only)