27-Inch iMac With Retina Display Could Release Next Month

We heard late on last week that Apple could be plotting the roll out of a refreshed Mac mini next month to coincide with the launch of OS X 10.10 Yosemite as well as the iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2. A new report has added another release to a growing list of touted products set to arrive over the next few weeks, noting that Apple is also set to take the wraps off a 27-inch iMac with Retina display. Citing sources familiar with Apple’s product movements, the report suggests that this as-yet unannounced keynote may be much larger than first anticipated, but like the purported Mac mini refresh, the Cupertino company will be forced into using the ageing Haswell processor from Intel rather than the imminent Broadwell.
It’s rather uncommon for companies to release major new products when one of the integral components is nearing the end of its life cycle, and given how long iMac users have been waiting for the Retina upgrade, one might have thought that Apple would hold out until the Broadwell chips were readily available before releasing such a machine.

As per a report by Jack March, the 5K Retina iMac will include a display boasting a resolution of 5120 x 2880. Apple is said to be configuring the UI elements of OS X Yosemite in compliance with this high-res panel, and if there’s any substance to the report, it’s likely that Apple’s fleet of Thunderbolt Displays will be treated to a similar upgrade in the near future.
So, while nothing is set in stone at the moment, we could be looking at a new Mac mini featuring 5K support, and a 27-inch iMac with a 5K display. There have been rumors that an improved Thunderbolt Display could manifest itself before the end of the year, and given that the new Mac mini and iMac are being touted for an October release, it’s reasonable to suggest that the Thunderbolt panel could also be a part of the deal.

With the enigmatic Retina MacBook Air said to be waiting on Broadwell, Apple will apparently stick with Haswell for the Retina iMac, although with the fully kitted-out model pushing a 4.0 GHz Core i7-4790K processor, it certainly won’t be too shabby in terms of raw power.

GoPro Hero4: Capturing life’s greatest adventures in 4K

GoPro, the maker of versatile action cameras has just unveiled its latest line up with 3 new models. Leading the pack is its new Hero4 which now shoots in UHD 4K resolution that’s available in Hero4 Black and Hero4 Silver variants. To bring GoPro action at lower price points, they have introduced the “Hero”, its basic offering that’s priced at just US$129.99 (about RM423). This slots right below its current Hero3 White camera.
The cream of the crop Hero4 Black promises twice the performance of its former model which now shoots 4K videos at 30fps and Full HD 1080p videos at 120fps. Going down a notch is the Hero4 Silver which also shoots 4K videos but at a lower 15fps. However it still shoots 2.7K videos at 30fps and 1080p videos at 60fps. Another plus point for the Hero4 Silver is the inclusion of a built-in touch display at the back, which is usually an optional accessory across the GoPro range.

As capturing loads of footages can be time consuming to vet through, the new GoPro offers a HiLight Tag. This allows you to bookmark important footages by pressing the WiFi button on the sides of the device so that it is easy to find them later on.
To avoid missing out epic moments, they have also introduced QuickCapture that starts the camera rolling from sleep to snap by simply pressing the top button. To take time lapse video, just press and hold it for 2 seconds. For taking still shots, both Hero4 models are capable of shooting at 12MP.
Its imaging capabilities have been improved too with better Protune mode that now works for both photo and video. For greater control, it now allows you to make extra tweaks including colour, sharpness, ISO and exposure. For taking night shots, there’s a new night photo and night lapse mode with a long exposure time up to 30 seconds.
The audio pick up is said to be improved too with better microphones to capture high fidelity sound. Connectivity wise, the GoPro Hero4 now supports Bluetooth in addition to WiFi, which opens up more remote control features.
For the affordable GoPro Hero, it is pretty bare bones without wireless connectivity but it still gets the job done with Full HD 1080p videos at 30fps, while still shots are taken at 5MP. You still get features such as time lapse and burst shots too but at limited intervals.
The new cameras will be available on 5th October and it will be priced at US$499.99 (about RM1,637) for the Hero4 Black and US$399.99 (about RM1,310) for the Hero4 Silver. For more information, head over to GoPro’s website.

Honor 6 officially launched in Malaysia

The Huawei Honor 6 is now official in Malaysia, offering an Octa-Core processor with faster Cat 6 4G LTE connectivity. It is priced at only RM999 and pre-booking shall start this coming Monday on 29th September. The Honor 6 will be in stock on both VMall.my and Lelong from 16th October. It will also be offered on contract via DiGi. According to the Honor team, Malaysia is their first market to launch the Honor 6 outside of China.
To recap on the specs, the Honor 6 gets a 5″ JDI sourced Full HD display and it is powered by its own 1.7GHz Octa-Core Hi-Silicon Kirin 920 processor (4xA7 1.3GHz 4xA15 1.7GHz) that’s mated to 3GB of RAM. There’s 16GB of storage with expandable microSD slot and it is juiced up with a decent sized 3,100mAh capacity battery. For taking photos, its main camera is a Sony 13MP unit while selfie shots are handled by its wide angle 5MP camera.
Some of its unique features include the ability to take pictures from sleep to snap in just 0.6 seconds. For those love taking group selfies, it also comes with panorama selfie mode like its flagship Ascend P7. During the launch, they have also demonstrated its infrared blaster which can be used as a remote. According to them, this will be enabled for Malaysian units with a software update. Running on board is a newer Android 4.4.2 with EMUI 2.3.
The Honor 6 is quite a sleek device too at only 7.5mm thick and it weighs 130 grams. For more information, head over to VMall.my.

Samsung releases its own Galaxy Note 4 Unboxing Video

While we wait for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to go on sale in Malaysia, here’s an unboxing video released by Samsung Tomorrow. In terms of packaging, they have dropped the wooden grain pattern that’s found with the previous Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3 for a cleaner appearance. The rest of the contents are similar with previous Samsung devices but do take note that this is the South Korean version.

For Malaysia, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 that’s coming is the Exynos 5433 variant (N910C). On paper, it appears to be better than the Qualcomm Snapdragon version as it uses 20nm process and newer Cortex ARM A57/53 cores which offers better performance and battery life. The Galaxy Note 4 is expected to be available in Malaysia by the end of October.

Watch the Galaxy Note 4 unboxing video after the break.

Huawei Ascend P7 Arsenal Edition is coming to Malaysia

If you are a true gunners fan, here’s some good news for you. Huawei is bringing their Ascend P7 Arsenal Edition to Malaysia. It comes with a specially printed Arsenal crest underneath its Gorilla Glass 3 protected back panel. So far there’s no word of its pricing and in the UK, it is sold with a free TalkBand B1 bundle. The standard Ascend P7 is currently priced at RM1,499.

For the Arsenal Edition, the specs are the same as the original with a 5″ Full HD display fitted in a super slim 6.5mm body surrounded with an aluminium frame. Powering the device is their own Quad-Core 1.8GHz Kirin 910T processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of on-board storage. For taking pictures, it has a 13MP BSI unit with 5-piece ISP lens and f/2.0 aperture size while the front gets a massive 8MP shooter that is able to take impressive panorama selfies. You can take a closer look at the device with our hands-on video.

It’s a product for die hard Arsenal fans, and if they were on the fence about the Ascend P7, this would probably push them over.

Sony slashes price of its 6″ Xperia T2 Ultra

The price of the Sony Xperia T2 Ultra has been slashed to RM1,099 from its original price of RM1,299. If you’re looking for a large screen device that isn’t a tablet, this is worth considering. It comes with a large 6″ HD 720p display and runs on a mid-spec 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1GB of RAM.
It also packs an expandable 8GB storage that’s expandable a microSD slot and keeping the device ticking is a generous 3,000mAh capacity battery. For taking photos the Xperia T2 Ultra has a 13MP Exmor RS camera for the rear while the front gets a 1.1MP camera. Dimension wise, it is respectably slim at 7.65mm and it weighs 172 grams. For faster connectivity, it is good to know that the Xperia T2 also comes with 4G LTE support as well as NFC connectivity.

ASUS announces Transformer Book Flip in Malaysia

ASUS has announced the availability of its Transformer Book Flip range in Malaysia, today with three different variants to choose from — a 13.3-inch Core i3, a 15.6 Core i5 and the top of the line 15.6 Core i7.

Powered by Windows 8.1, the Transformer Book Flip range features a 360 hinge that allows you to rotate the screen 360 degrees, converting the laptop into a hydrid tablet of sorts. ASUS engineers have managed to include a total of four gears in the hinge to provide a smooth, stepless rotating movement, ensuring that the screen stays in position while making it easy to adjust. Other essentials include intel Core processors and 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT840M graphics for the top two variants.

All screens in the range are 1366×768 pixels, full touch panels with feature smaller than standard 6mm actuators (vs 9mm industry standard) for a more accurate touch response. Build around a compact aluminum chassis for rigidity and strength, the Transformer Flip also incorporates a nicely spaced chiclet keyboard and a multi-touch touchpad which supports Smart Gestures.

Instant On technology means that Flip takes only two seconds to resume from sleep, and the latest Intel Core chips combined with a generous battery capacity means the Flip can stay in sleep mode for up to 14 days. For watching movies the Flip comes with ASUS SonicMaster audi technology that features larger speakers and resonance chambers than standard laptops, for better audio performance.

The ASUS Transformer Book Flip will be available at local IT stores and ASUS authorized resellers by early next week:-

TP300LA (Core i3)
13.3” HD | Core i3-4010U Processor | Integrated HD Graphics 4400 | 500GB HDD
RRP: RM 1,699

TP550LN-CI073H (Core i5)
15.6” HD | Core i5-4210U Processor | GeForce GT840M – 2GB DDR3 | 500GB HDD + 24GB SSD
RRP: RM 2,599

TP550LN-CI088H (Core i7)
15.6” HD | Core i7-4510U Processor | GeForce GT840M – 2GB DDR3 | 500GB HDD + 24GB SSD
RRP: RM 2,899

OPPO R1L now official in Malaysia. 4G LTE Smart Phone at only 7.1mm thin

OPPO is refreshing its product line up with newer hardware and 4G LTE connectivity. Now its OPPO R1L is officially announced and this refreshes its previous Oppo R1. The exterior looks pretty much the same with a 5″ HD 720p display and it still retains a respectable slim 7.1mm body that’s surrounded by a metallic frame.
Instead of using MediaTek’s Quad-Core 1.3GHz processor, the OPPO R1L is powered by Qualcomm’s 1.6GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 400 processor that’s mated to 1GB of RAM and it gets 16GB of storage which is non-expandable. The main camera has been improved too from 8MP to 13MP f/2.0 shooter. This is the same Sony IMX214 Sensor that’s found on the Find 7 and OnePlus One smart phones.

Like the rest of its OPPO line up, it runs on their own ColorOS 1.2 (Android 4.3) which features gesture controls where you can draw gestures. This lets you launch apps and shortcuts by simply drawing on the screen. The on-board battery is the same 2,410mAh capacity unit which gives it an overall weight of 140 grams. For 4G connectivity it supports our local 4G FDD-LTE Band 3 (1800MHz) / 7 (2600MHz). If you’re interested, the Oppo R1L is available now at RM1,198.
For more information, head over to OPPO’s R1L product page.

Google wants to put a smartphone in the hands of 5 billion people

Google believes cheap smartphones is the next big thing and the technology giant wants to put smartphones in the hands of 5 billion people in developed countries who couldn’t previously afford them — enter the Android One platform.
First announced in June this year, Android One aims to make smartphones even cheaper (sub US$100 mark) for developing markets like India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. At the same time Google is also working with operators through the Android One platform to provide affordable connectivity packages for these devices.
Three months after the initiative was announced, the first batch of Android One devices are now ready to enter the market in India with three partner vendors — Micromax, Karbonn Mobiles and Spice. The devices will be sold specifically online initially but will available in brick and mortar stores not long after that. In keeping with the budget theme, these Android One devices will also come bundled with some amount of data with a partner operator in India. Among them is Airtel that’s offering 200MB of data monthly for the first 6 months.
To bring device development costs down even further, Google is giving vendors a device template to build off from. This includes references for hardware specifications, design and software requirements. The other benefit of this is that it makes it delivering the latest version of Android and other software or services updates to Android One devices quicker, making Android One an ambitious effort to put a smartphone in as many people in the world as possible.
So what do you get with cheap? For around RM370, There’s the Spice Android One Dream Uno with a 4.5-inch (854×480 pixel, 217ppi) display, plain vanilla version of the latest Android OS, a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of on board storage that is expandable up to an additional 32GB with microSD. You also get a 1,700mAh battery, dual-SIM support, a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera, and 3G.
In addition to the three vendors, Acer, Alcatel OneTouch, Asus, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic, Xolo and Qualcomm have shown interest to support the Android One initiative with releases in more countries planned for next year.

Panasonic sets the standard for phone cameras

Picture from the Verge
From the Lumia 1020 to the Galaxy K Zoom, combining a smartphone with a better than standard camera is something that many manufacturer have experimented on with varying degrees of success. The Lumia 1020, while effective, requires that you have a relatively high degree of knowledge in photography for it to be fully exploited. The Galaxy K Zoom is easier to use but is bulky and doesn’t offer that much more of an advantage over a really good camera phone.
Meet the Panasonic DMC-CM1 phone camera. A camera-centric smartphone that could very well re-write the standard for the category. Inside is a large 1-inch image sensor that’s on par with some of the top-tier point-and-shoot cameras in the market today (like our favourite PNS right now, the Sony RX100) but the CM1 successfull avoids the many pitfalls that many smartphones of this type stumble into. For starters, it’s really good to look at and while at 21mm thick, the CM1 is easily three times thicker than your standard smartphone, it hides its bulk very well.
But looking good and sleek is just part of the battle won if Panasonic really wants to carve a niche in the camera-centric smartphone segment. Looking at the camera spec-sheet however, we’re inclined to say that you can expect big things with the CM1. The 1-inch sensor packs 20MP and is mated to some high end glass — a f/2.8 Leica DC Elmarit lens to be exact. Instead of a digital shutter, Panasonic opted to use a mechanical shutter instead, for better control and feel there’s also a manual control ring too. And then there’s Panasonic track record of making some very capable PNS cameras, you can expect the CM1 to not disappoint in this respect as well.
As a phone, the CM1 is not to shabby either (on paper at least). There’s a 4.7-inch 1080p display packing 468ppi. You get a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of on board storage that’s expandable up to an additional 128GB with microSD and a 2,600mAh battery. The device runs on Android 4.4 KitKat and there’s support for 4K videos.
The CM1 will go on sale in France and Germany this November for around €900 or RM3,755 — that’s a price that will make even iPhone buyers weep. If the phone does well in these two markets, Panasonic may consider making it available elsewhere as well.
So is the CM1 coming to Malaysia? Looking at the price and the nonexistent smartphone presence here, we don’t think so but we sure would love to give it a try.

Cheaper Mi In-Ear Head Phones available this coming Tuesday

In the upcoming flash sale that’s happening next Tuesday 16th September, Xiaomi will be introducing a cheaper version of its In-Ear Piston headphones. Simply called as the Mi In-Ear Headphones Basic, it promises the similar audio quality at a cheaper price.
The plastic based headphone will be priced at RM25, which is half of its RM50 premium version. Being plastic, it is lighter by a mere 2 grams (Basic: 10g, Original: 12g) and it will be available in White colour. Another difference is the headphone connector which is nickel-plated instead of the usual gold. Also retained the same 1.2m cable length and 3 button controls in the middle.
For this coming Tuesday, they will be restocking Mi 3 (2,000 units), Redmi 1S (5,000 units), Redmi Note (10,000 units) and more of its popular powerbanks at 12PM.

Nokia Lumia 530 offered at RM57 during Malaysia Day Promo

Microsoft Devices is doing a special purchase with purchase promo where you can pick up a new Lumia 530 for only RM57. All you’ll need to do is purchase either a Lumia 930 (RM1,999), Lumia 1520 (RM1,799), Lumia 630 (RM499) or even a Lumia 530 (RM355).
The Lumia 530 is their most affordable Windows Phone 8.1 device that’s priced at RM355. It offers dual-SIM connectivity with a 4″ display and runs on a 1.2GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 200 processor. You can find out more about this device in our Lumia 530 hands-on post.
The Malaysia Day sale offer is applicable for 5 days from now until 16th September 2014. It is valid only at selected Nokia outlets that’s listed after the break.

Klang Valley
Vlife Communications (Wangsa Walk Mall)
URS Telecommunication (Mines Shopping Centre)
Hello Station (Suria KLCC, Low Yat Plaza, Pavilion, The Gardens, Bangsar Village II)
Lee Wai Trading (Pertama Complex)
BBS Distributions (Low Yat Plaza)
Hello Station (1 Utama, The Curve, Sunway Pyramid, AEON Bukit Tinggi)
Gadget Boutique (Paradigm Mall)
Amber Channel Trading (Digital Mall)
Penang
Northern Point (Gurney Plaza)
Melaka
Speak Phone (Mahkota Parade, AEON Melaka)
Johor Bahru
Incomm Marketing (AEON Tebrau City)
Kota Bahru
Tristar Solution Distribution (KBMALL)
Kota Kinabalu
Metro Electronic Supplies (Centre Point Sabah)
Kuching
Allied Marketing (Wisma Saberkas)

Apple slashes iPhone 5S pricing in Malaysia. iPhone 5C 8GB introduced as entry level option

We hope nobody bought a brand new iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C recently. Immediately after announcing its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple has already reduced its current stock of iPhones.
The iPhone 5S is now priced at RM1,999 for its 16GB, which is RM400 off its previous price while its 32GB capacity gets a massive RM550 cut. Meanwhile its colourful iPhone 5C line up has been revised a single 8GB option that’s priced at RM1,499. This makes the iPhone 5C 8GB their official entry-level model in Malaysia.

The full pricing below along with last year’s official launch price.

New iPhone Pricing Effective 10th September 2014
iPhone 5C 8GB – RM1,499
iPhone 5S 16GB – RM1,999
iPhone 5S 32GB – RM2,199
2013 Launch Price
iPhone 5C 16GB – RM1,999
iPhone 5C 32GB – RM2,399
iPhone 5S 16GB – RM2,399
iPhone 5S 32GB – RM2,749
iPhone 5S 64GB – RM3,149

For more information, head over to Apple Malaysia’s Online Store.

Size Comparison: iPhone 6 Plus Vs Galaxy Note 4 Vs Lumia 1520 Vs LG G3

Apple’s announcement of the iPhone 6 Plus is not only significant in that it’s a great deal larger than any smartphone the company has created before, but it also drafts the Cupertino company into the realm of the “phablet.” A term derived from the combination of phone and tablet, these large handsets have taken the smartphone world by storm over the past few years, and while Samsung’s Galaxy Note was the originator of this niche market, it now shares this space with several rivaling vendors. Below, you can take a look at how the iPhone 6 Plus stands up – in terms of size and specs, both – against the also-new Galaxy Note 4, Nokia’s Lumia 1520 and LG’s mammoth G3.
Despite the iPhone 6 Plus’s sizeable display compared to those before it, when pitted against what else is out there, it’s decidedly less spectacular-sounding. It matches the LG G3 for real estate, with a 5.5-inch display diameter, but loses out to the G3 and the Galaxy Note 4 in terms of resolution.

Each of those competing with the iPhone 6 Plus offer a variant of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor, with the Note 4′s Snapdragon 805 being the most impressive and recent, but given that the Apple handset includes the company’s own in-house, 64-bit dual-core processor with M8 motion coprocessor, it’s hard to compare it with the gold standard of SoC gracing Windows Phone and Android.
When it comes to storage, the iPhone 6 Plus does shine, although if you’re going for the top-end model with 128GB of on-board flash, you’re going to be left with little change out of a thousand bucks. The rest of the field, meanwhile, can be expanded via microSD.
On paper, the iPhone 6 Plus’s 8-megapixel iSight appears weak, but given how Apple likes to optimize the entire experience rather than simply upping the megapixel count, we’ll reserve judgment until we’ve been able to test it. If the Note 4′s point-and-shoot experience is comparable to that of the Galaxy S5 then we’re in for a real treat, and given that all top-end Lumias pack insanely good cameras, there’s no question that a Lumia 1520 owner would be able to capture some awesome photo and video.
But with two major new phablets on the horizon, which will you choose? Take a look at the chart and image below, and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section!

Specs Comparison: iPhone 6 Vs iPhone 6 Plus Vs iPhone 5s Vs iPhone 5c [Chart]

Apple has just announced two new iPhones in the form of the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6, but while many had reported that the iPhone 5c would be instantly removed from the line-up, the Cupertino company has opted to keep last year’s releases retailing for the time being. As we noted in our earlier coverage, both 5s and 5c have been in receipt of handsome price drops, and with four smartphone options now on the table from Apple, we take a look at how each stands up against the other.
The iPhone 6 Plus is the undoubted king of this quartet. It’s similar to the iPhone 6 in a number of ways including design, but as we suspected in the run-up to announcement, the Plus stands for more than just a but of extra display real estate.

Featuring a better, OIS-packing camera, the device also runs on a slightly different version of iOS, and as such, UI elements animate in a decidedly more iPad-esque fashion. In both portrait and landscape mode, the iPhone 6 Plus looks like an iPad mini mini, and given the better touted battery life, it seems a definite winner for productive folk.
The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will likely serve as the most popular, flagship model when they both go on sale on September 12th, and despite its shortcomings versus the Plus, is still a drastic improvement over the iPhone 5s. With the A8 processor offering a 25% increase in processing power over the iPhone 5s’s A7, we’re not talking about minor gains here, and with the graphics performance up by 50%, gamers and video lovers will be in for a real treat.
It’s only when you begin to look at the specs and features of the iPhone 5c that you get a true reading of how far Apple’s smartphone has come along in just two short years. Considering that the iPhone 5c is essentially an iPhone 5, the performance level increase since the 2012 release is quite exceptional, and with Apple already boasting second-generation 64-bit coprocessors, the rest of the field is certainly playing catch-up in this regard.
Below, you can take a side-by-side look at the four currently-available iPhone models and decide for yourself which once fits your requirements. For sheer performance, it’s hard to argue with the iPhone 6 Plus, but for value and choice of finishes, you may instead wish to opt for the iPhone 5c:

iPhone 6 Plus Announced: Features, Specs, Price, Release Date

Along with the small matter of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, Apple has, as expected, also taken the wraps off the 5.5-inch version, which it has opted to call the ‘iPhone 6 Plus.’ We know you’re eager to learn of the device’s specs, features, price and release date, and all of the just-announced info can be seen below.

Features and Specs
Design
The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus is physically similar to the 4.7-inch model, although aside from the size of the display and overall form factor, there are some notable discrepancies.
Its profile almost as thin as the 4.7-inch edition. With a depth of just 7.1 mm, it’ll be noticeably slenderer than the iPhone 5s at 7.6mm, and if it were not for the 4.7-inch handset (6.9 mm thick), it would be the thinnest iPhone of all time.

The power button, as with the 4.7-inch model, is located on the side of the device. This, in turn, makes it easier to reach the button with just the one hand.

Color options are once again Space Gray, White + Gold and White + Silver, although once again, we’d imagine that the gold one will sell out first.

iPhone 6 Announced: Features, Specs, Price, Release [Everything You Need To Know]

After months of speculation, leaks, rumors and even more leaks, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 has just been announced, and below, we’ve got the official details of what you can expect from Apple’s latest and greatest smartphone.

Features and Specs
Design

Complete Roundup: Apple Watch, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Event

Whew! It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster ride today by all accounts, and as we finally catch our breath as the world reacts to the major announcements made by Apple earlier on this morning, we take a quick check back at everything that was discussed. If you missed out on the coverage due to work or other commitments, come join us after the break for a recap!

iPhone 6

Usually, Apple spends the first 25 or so minutes of an event waxing poetic about its numerous achievements, giving itself an extended pat on the back that draws rounds of applause from attendees. However, with only two hours scheduled for the keynote and an exhaustive list of announcements, Tim Cook cut straight to the chase in unveiling the iPhone 6.
As expected, it’s a 4.7-inch device offering a brand-new, iPad Air-like design. Perks include a brand new A8 processor with 64-bit architecture, an improved 8-megapixel iSight camera, and NFC.
For full details, please check our extended coverage:

• iPhone 6 Announced: Features, Specs, Price, Release [Everything You Need To Know]

iPhone 6 Plus

We thought that Apple might save the iPhone 6 Plus until after the announcement of the entry-level model, but alongside the iPhone 6 arrived the almighty iPhone 6 Plus. With a 5.5-inch display and similar design, it offers more than just a bit more real estate, and with OIS, a much larger battery with supposedly longer battery life and an iPad-esque interface throughout, the iPhone 6 Plus is a beast.
For full details, please check our extended coverage:

• iPhone 6 Plus Announced: Features, Specs, Price, Release Date

Full iPhone 6 Specs Allegedly Leaked Ahead Of Announcement

The iPhone 6 is without a doubt the most leaked Apple smartphone to date, and you don’t have to place your bets on it to prove that fact wrong. And having been treated to a 7-minute long video review of the device itself over the weekend, we now have the complete set of tech. specs of Apple’s flagship that will adorn our pockets in the months to come.
The tech. specs of the new Apple smartphone duo come right out of China, which has been the source of pretty much every other leak that we’ve seen to date. And judging by what we’re being treated to, the iPhone 6 and the larger, 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus / 6L are going to be a huge upgrade over the iPhone 5s, and the 5c, which are Cupertino giant’s current offerings in the market.

Latest Bluetooth Keyboard From Logitech Can Dock Your Smartphone, Tablet At The Same Time

Logitech is one of Apple’s official accessory partners, and invests a great amount of its developmental man-power in creating some exciting new products. But aside from dreaming up some wondrous gadgets for devices bearing the Apple logo, it also caters to the wider market in general, allowing those on Android and Windows Phone to reap the benefits of its creations. In the latest, it has unleashed a quirky new keyboard capable of docking a smartphone and tablet at the same time, and with a very agreeable price tag to boot, it’s the perfect all-in-one solution for traditional typists.
Mobile consumers have gradually adapted to the idea of touch-based keyboards, but nevertheless, they still cannot compete with a physical QWERTY laid flat on a desk. Personally, I find it much easier to type on a more traditional set-up, and for myself and the many millions of others who subscribe to this notion, products like the Logitech K480 are something of a godsend, and that too for good enough reason.

As you’d imagine, it hooks to your device via Bluetooth, and once you’ve docked your device and tablet, you can type away to your heart’s content. It’s ideal for a sizeable smartphone and a tablet in the 7-8-inch range, although if you’re rocking something more sizeable, you still might struggle to dock both gadgets at the same time.
As for colors, you’ve a choice of black or white, which is useful given that most tablets can only be purchased in these to shades, and since it’s Bluetooth, you’re not limited to just smartphones or tablets.

 In fact, you could hook it up to just about any device that offers support for Bluetooth peripherals, but aside from its flexibility, the real clincher for me with the K480 is the price.

Moto G (2nd Gen.) Announced: A Swift Upgrade Over The Original

Motorola has just taken the wraps off the Moto G (2nd Gen.) smartphone at a special Chicago event to coincide with Berlin’s IFA trade show, and as anticipated, it offers yet more decent smartphoning at low cost while also improving the display. Below, we’ll be running through the specs.
Although it was suggested that the device may be called the Moto G2, Motorola is simply labeling it as the Moto G, which is a very Google approach. Even though the industry veteran is in the process of being sold off to Lenovo, the Google influence on Motorola is plain for all to see, and as you’d expect, the new Moto G offers the clean-cut, untouched Android experience out of the box.

Features and Specs
The two main enhancements to the Moto G are the display and the front-firing speakers. While the 5.0-inch 720p HD IPS display is not much to shout about given the recent fleet of devices offering 1440p, it’s still nice to see the budget device being treated to an HD panel.
Nowadays, 720p doesn’t even seem like high-def, but if you owned the original Moto G, you’ll notice the difference, and if you decide to pick up this new smartphone as a first-timer, you’ll still be presented with a passable Gorilla Glass panel that is easy enough on the eye.

The device is a tad larger than the preceding Moto G, with dimensions of  70.7 x 141.5 x 11mm, but given that the depth is measured from the outermost point of the curved rear shell, it’s not as bulky as it may seem on paper.
The processor keeping the device ticking over remains the same, and although the 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 mightn’t seem like much given what many mid to high-end models offer, it’s certainly a decent SoC for what is a lower tier handset, and with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, the new Moto G offers real value for money.

Elsewhere, you get 16GB or 32GB of storage depending on how much you’re willing to pay, and if those tiers still aren’t enough, you can always expand courtesy of the microSD slot.
There’s a 2,070mAh battery – the same one that powered the original – and the stock Android 4.4 KitKat software will be Android L-ready once Google pushes that major update later on in the year.

Lenovo Vibe X2 and Vibe Z2 offer premium design for the mid-range segment

While most of the mainstream players are showcasing its flagship smart phones at IFA 2014, Lenovo has turned its attention to the the mid-range segment. They have just announced the Vibe X2 and Vibe Z2 that boast premium and stylish design, that aims to stand out in the competitive mid-tier space.

Instead of sticking to the usual hardware with a different exterior, both the Vibe X2 and Vibe Z2 uses new processors including MediaTek’s new True Octa-core processor with 4G LTE and Qualcomm’s Quad-Core Snapdragon 410 64-bit processor.

Sony Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact And Z3 Tablet Compact Announced, Here Are The Details

It’s been a busy few hours at the IFA trade show in Berlin, and following Samsung’s three-pronged assault on the mobile industry, Sony has since taken to the stage to unleash a couple of new releases of its own. The Xperia Z3, a follow up to the Xperia Z2 announced in February at IFA, is accompanied in its entrance by the Xperia Z3 Compact and the Z3 Tablet Compact, and if you’re interested to see what the Japanese outfit has come up with next, then join us after the leap.
We’ve begrudgingly become accustomed to flagship devices launching once a year, but with the Z2 only halfway through this assumed life cycle, the Z3′s showcasing seems a tad impromptu. Nevertheless, the Z3 is fairly similar in terms of form factor, sporting that slick, minimalist design that we loved when we reviewed it in Barcelona back in February, although there are a number of subtle, yet important differences.

Sony Xperia Z3
The main, non-compact Z3 packs in a 3,100mAh, which Sony claims will keep the device ticking over for two days’ use. Two-day battery life is almost unheard of in smartphone circles, but if the Xperia Z3 can live up to its billing, it’ll definitely be on the radar of power users.
Under the hood, you get a quad-core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 SoC as well as monstrous 3GB or RAM, and having already seen what’s in store with the Galaxy Note 4, the Xperia Z3 is almost as impressive.

Sony’s Xperia Z3 offers a 2K display over a 5.2-inch spread, and although there were rumors of a 4K display for the Z3, you’ll still struggle to notice any pixels when using this device.

The rear-facing camera is a 20.7-megapixel offering inclusive of Sony’s own software and technologies, so expect a premier point-and-shoot experience from the Z3.

New iPhone 6 + iWatch Renders Are Pure Eyegasm

Concept designs are a wonderful thing, and they always will be. Not only do they do good for our own imaginations, but often suggest creative ways of doing things to product manufacturers as well. That’s one of the primary reasons they get maximum exposure from tech blogosphere as well, and that makes certain concept artists really famous too.
Take Martin Hajek for example, who’s done a remarkable job of creating realistic renders of upcoming devices in the past, including those of the iPhone 6. Now, he has something new and fresh for us – his ima

gination of what the iWatch will end up looking like.

The conceptual renders essentially put both the new iPhone 6 and the iWatch together in a glory of various color combinations, inspired by the current iPhone 5s variants of Space Gray, Champagne Gold etc. The interesting bit is that while the iPhone 6 renders stick closely to the design schema that we’re almost certain the real iPhone 6 will be revealed in (thanks to the tons of leaks that have taken place over the past few months), the iWatch ones are – unusual, at best – since they make the device look more like a somewhat thicker and smaller iPod nano. And trust me when I say this, it does not look that good. You don’t, in fact, have to take our word for it – see the renders in their full glory below.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Announced: Features, Specs

At the IFA trade show in Berlin, Samsung just took the wraps off the Galaxy Note 4, and as predicted, it’s a beast of a device. For the most part, it’s very much as we expected, with a stunning-looking quad-HD display and equally-impressive camera, and below, we go through each and every aspect of this all-new addition to the market-leading phablet series.

Features And Specs
Design
Although the design isn’t dissimilar to that of the preceding Note 3, it is rather different in many respects. With a metallic finish around the edges, it’ll feel more premium to the touch, and for the most part, it looks just like the recently-announced Galaxy Alpha.

Given how Samsung’s Note must offer pro facilities such as removable battery and expandable memory, a unibody finish akin to the HTC One M8 was never going to be on the cards, but for those who’ve continually bemoaned the all-plastic finish, the Note 4′s outer shell offers a touch of finesse.

Samsung Galaxy V – Affordable Dual-SIM KitKat smart phone

Samsung has introduced a new contender in the entry level segment with the Galaxy V. Priced at only RM299, it offers dual-SIM connectivity, a 4″ screen, has a camera for the front and it runs on Android 4.4 KitKat.
The official specs isn’t revealed yet but based on their Vietnam model, the Galaxy V is quite a typical entry-level phone but it does get extras such as LED flash light and a front facing camera which are lacking on low cost phones. The Galaxy V’s 4″ display pushes a resolution of 854×480 pixels and it runs on an unspecified 1.2GHz processor that’s mated to 512MB of RAM. For Malaysia, the main camera is a 3MP unit and it appears to have assisted LED flash from the picture below .
Taking selfies should be a low key affair as the front camera is likely to be a basic VGA unit. On-board there’s 4GB of storage that is expandable with microSD. Keeping it juiced up is a modest 1,500mAh capacity battery which should be decent enough for average use.

Samsung Goes High-End With Crystal Coated Gear S Smartwatch

Although Google’s announcement of Android Wear means that we’re going to be seeing a bunch of smartwatches in the very near future, Samsung has already beaten its rivals to the punch with a host of releases. Starting with last year’s Galaxy Gear, we’ve since been treated to the likes of the Gear Fit, Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. But even with the Android Wear-packing Gear Live having been announced at Google’s I/O, the Korean outfit is not yet done, and today, the company has taken the wraps off a Swarovski crystal-encrusted strap for the most-recent Gear S.
The interesting thing about the Gear S is that it packs a 3G data connection, meaning it’s not reliant on a smartphone for its information. Many have already questioned whether the 300mAh battery will be able to cope with the added strain of a cellular connection, and in a move that will certainly do little to quell these these concerns, the Gear S Strap provides that essential touch of bling to proceedings. 

Some will undoubtedly make the case that Swarovski crystals will make the thing look tacky, but then again, that’s what everybody said about the much sought-after gold iPhone 5s. Fashion and tech seem to crossover at every opportunity these days, and although geeks are unlikely to be sold by this new strap, it could certainly catch on among fashionistas.
The strap will begin retailing as of next month, and although no pricing details have yet been divulged, it’s unlikely to come cheap. Still, if you’re planning on picking up the Gear S and wish to stand out from the crowd, this is one accessory that you may wish to pony up for.
It’s ironic that despite the fact that the Gear S runs on the rather unrefined Tizen OS, Samsung should focus its efforts on glamming up its flagship wearable. The original Galaxy Gear, which is scarcely a year old, was panned by critics for its poor functionality and even worse battery retention rate, and while this may have improved over the past twelve months, it still does feel as though Sammy is concentrating on the wrong things.

With LG, Motorola and several others in line to release smartwatches, it’s going to be a busy market, especially with Apple set to announce the iWatch next week. We’ll be keeping an eye out for the moves of the big companies as we head towards the holiday period, so stay tuned!