Asus Malaysia launches 128GB ZenFone Zoom in Malaysia for RM 2,099

Android Asus CES Launch ZenFone

Asus Malaysia launches 128GB ZenFone Zoom in Malaysia for RM 2,099

CES this year went by a breeze without much news about any overkill smartphones but there was the announcement of the Lenovo project tango smartphone that's coming out later this summer. While there was no actual new flagship grade hardware, Asus finally decides to make the ZenFone Zoom which was announced last year available to the masses. The news is already out the the ZenFone Zoom is coming to the US but at a launch earlier today, Asus Malaysia officially announced that the ZenFone Zoom is coming to Malaysia by the end of January 2016.

Asus ZenFone Zoom Key Specifications:

• 5.5-inch 1080P IPS LCD display
• Intel Atom Z3590 @ 2.5GHz
• 4GB RAM
• 128GB expandable memory
• 13MP rear camera with OIS
• 5MP f2.0 front camera
• 3,000mAh battery
• 158.9 x 78.8 x 12mm
• 185g

In terms of feature set, the ZenFone Zoom is designed to be a camera centric device and that big part of the device is at it's camera which has a 3x optical Zoom. But the ZenFone Zoom itself is an excellent phone given that it is just like the ZenFone 2 except for the extra camera hump on the back.

That extra heft and thickness will give you an impressive 13MP camera with a 10 element camera lens array from Hoya, the afformentioned 3x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, a laser autofocus system, a dual Real Tone flash, and also a handy physical camera shutter button to give you that professional camera photographer look.

The model that is coming to Malaysia is the ZenFone Zoom ZX551ML that comes with an intel processor, 4GB of RAM and a standard 128GB of internal storage that is expandable via the microSD card slot so you can store a ton of your photos. And the priced of the ZenFone Zoom in Malaysia will be at RM 2,099 inclusive of GST. While you won't be getting any fancy USB Type C or Snapdragon 820 on the ZenFone Zoom, it is built upon a pretty solid smartphone (ie the ZenFone 2) and the experience will likely be good since Asus has been keeping the device off market for about a year now. So, the price of the ZenFone Zoom here in Malaysia is at RM 2,099 and will be available in stores in the next two weeks.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: LOWYAT.NET

Lenovo to introduce the first consumer focused Project Tango phablet this summer

Android CES Google Lenovo Project Tango

Lenovo to introduce the first consumer focused Project Tango phablet this summer

Lenovo has been doing some great things recently with the devices and at CES, they are announcing a partnership between Google to build a Project Tango phone that measures in at 6.5" in terms of display size and will become the first consumer ready Project Tango device. Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group first introduced Project Tango at Google I/O nearly two years ago and since then, there has been a lot of hardware designed for developers but this Lenovo phablet will be the first device that average smartphone users can buy. Provided that Lenovo/Google doesn't make this device a US exclusive smartphone.

This Lenovo phablet will be running Android (possible Android N) and the hardware inside the first consumer Project Tango phone will also include chips from Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm as they are the partners of Google's 3D mapping technology. But what average users will end up getting out of this sub-$500 phone is yet to be known.

Google says they will be funding selected developers to complete their Project Tango specific application and these apps will be preloaded onto the Lenovo Project Tango phablet for end users to use. If you think the reports that Apple will be putting two cameras on the next iPhone to be amazing, the Lenovo phablet with Project Tango will come with at least 3 sensor to be able to scan objects in three dimension. We'll most likely see this during Google I/O 2016.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: GADGETS360

The Razer Blade Stealth is an Ultrabook with desktop class graphics

CES Intel Laptop Razer Razer Blade Ultrabook

The Razer Blade Stealth is an Ultrabook with desktop class graphics

During CES last year, Razer showed off their first console called the Forge TV which ended up being a complete mistake as it never made it's way to the market. This year however, Razer is going back to what it's good at and here it is, the Razer Blade Stealth rounds up Razer's lineup of gaming laptops. While the Razer Blade Stealth is categorized as a gaming laptop, it actually runs on Intel 520 (not even iris graphics, just the normal HD graphics from intel) graphics which is bascially on every Skylake laptop out there. In fact, the new Blade Stealth is actually rocking a measly 25w dual core i7 processor.


Well, as you might have noticed in the picture above, the Razer Blade Stealth is not meant to be a all in on gaming device like previous Razer Blades. You could just take the Razer Blade Stealth as a regular Windows 10 laptop since it starts at just $999 or you can do what Razer wants you to do and buy the Razer Core and pop in your desktop grade graphics card, hook up a monitor, mouse and keyboard and you have yourself a gaming experience that is comparable to the 14" Razer Blade that cost well over $2,000 for the base model.

But it is actually hard to say how good of a deal is this as Razer has yet to announce pricing for the Razer Core GPU dock. Razer is not the first to do such a thing, MSI launched a GPU dock specifically for their GS30 gaming notebook last year at CES and that cost about $399. I personally think Razer has a good chance of making this a success if they price the Razer Core correctly and given that the Razer Blade Stealth costs like half the price of the most affordable Razer Blade system at the moment makes it an instant buy for Razer fans.

Beyond the potentially unrivalled performance that the Razer Core can provide, the Razer Blade Stealth itself is a very capable machine. The new Blade Stealth looks to be designed to take on the Surface Book in terms of price and performance. In fact, Razer's new Blade Stealth is actually just as thin and ligh as the Surface Book and the specifications of both devices are identical. But the big difference is the price, for $999 you will be getting a i7 processor with 8GB of RAM while the Surface Book which starts at $1,499 will only get you a i5 processor with 8GB of RAM. In terms of what you get for your money, the Razer Blade Stealth wins this round without a hitch but it'll be interesting to see how both devices fare in the market.

The Surface Book has the power of the Surface Pen and magic button which automatically detaches the display into a clipboard but the Razer Blade Stealth also has a few tricks up it's sleeve. The highlight of the device is undoubtedly it's Razer Chrome keyboard which are individually lit up and can be configure with over 16 million colors to match all the other Razer accessories. Another cool part of the Razer Blade Stealth is that the device has a USB Typ-C port that is capable of speeds up to 40Gbps thanks to Thunderbolt 3. This port will both be used as a charging port and a link to the Razer Core GPU dock.

If you're sold on this ultrabook, Razer is starting to accept orders for the Razer Blade Stealth which starts at $999 (~RM 4,415) for the 128GB model and goes up to $1,599 (~RM 7,066) for the top of the line 512GB model with a UHD display. Razer will begin shipping the Blade Stealth in late January and there is no official pricing and release date of the Razer Core but it should't be too far from now. Learn more about the Razer Blade Stealth here

Razer Blade Stealth Key Specifications

• Intel Core i7 6500U
• Intel HD graphics 520
• 8GB RAM
• 12.5" IGZO LED touch display
• QHD (2560 x 1440) OR UHD (3840 x 2160)
• 128/256/512GB PCIe M.2 SSD
• Thunderbolt 3 port (USB Type-C)
• USB 3.0 ports (x2)
• 13.2mm x 321mm x 206mm
• 1.25kg

Razer Core Key Specifications

• USB 3.0 ports (x4)
• Thunderbolt 3
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 500w]
• 104.9mm x 333.9mm x 218.4mm

ORIGINAL SOURCE: RAZER

Fitbit Blaze is a $200 fitness tracker with replaceable bands like the Apple Watch

Android CES Fitbit Fitness iOS Windows

Fitbit Blaze is a $200 fitness tracker with replaceable bands like the Apple Watch

Apple might be new to the game of wearables but last year alone, the Apple Watch manage to outsell just about every other fitness tracker and smartwatch out there. Fitbit which is the prominent leader in the race is feeling the heat and I think that Apple Watch is the inspiration for the new Fitbit Blaze fitness tracker.

Make no mistake, this is still a fitness tracker deep down and you can't install third party apps or view reply to notifications as the core functionality of the Fitbit Blaze is to track your steps, measure your sleep and track workout. There is a built in HR sensor on the Fitbit Blaze but unlike the Fitbit Surge, the new Blaze does not come with built in GPS.

But what the Fitbit Blaze does come with is a sense of style. The design of Fitbit's new fitness tracker is a lot like those square smartwatches and for the first time ever, Fitbit is also putting a color display onto one of their fitness trackers. Not a fancy OLED display but the Fitbit Blaze does get up to 5 days of battery life with he color LCD display.

In terms of software, you can expect to receive basic notifications on the Fitbit Blaze and the device is compatible with up to 200 iOS, Android and Windows devices. Beyond that, the Blaze also includes integration with FitStar which is an app that provides guided workouts and like all modern Fitbit trackers, the Blaze will also automatically recognize your workout.

For $200, the Fitbit Blaze works exactly like the Fitbit Charge HR but the only difference is in terms of design. Wearing the Blaze doesn't give others the impression that you are wearing a fitness band as the Blaze a sophisticated look and you can even upgrade that look with an optional band that goes up to $130 and ranges from leather straps to metal bands.

The Fitbit Blaze is now available for Pre-order through Fitbit's online store for $199.95 (~ RM 870) and will be available in black, blue and plum.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: FITBIT

Nvidia's new Drive PX2 module for autonomous driving has 12 CPU cores ans 8 teraflops of compute power

CES Drive PX2 Driving Nvidia Pascal Supercomputer Volvo

Nvidia's new Drive PX2 module for autonomous driving has 12 CPU cores ans 8 teraflops of compute power

Nvidia is always known for their amazingly impressive engineering effort towards a more efficient computing package and this year at CES 2016 is no exception. Building upon the already powerful Nvidia Drive CX module announced last year, the new Drive PX2 module unveiled at CES 2016 will feature 2 Tegra SoCs which will be based off Nvidia's pascal architecture.

With the theoretical compute computer power of about 150 MacBook Pros, the new Drive PX2 modules has a computer power of over 8 teraflops and thus Nvidia is calling this the supercomputer for autonomous driving. But, the Drive PX2 is essentially just a dual GPU card and with two powerful SoCs, only then Nvidia managed to get a compute power even higher than their GTX Titan X graphics card.

But what does this all mean in terms of autonomous driving, not much can be said at the time being as there is yet to be proof of concept based on the Drive PX2. To get that starting, Nvidia will be partnering with Volvo to implement the new Drive PX2 modules in 100 XC90 SUVs so that the company can continue it's effort in advancing autonomous driving which is a pretty big thing in the car industry.

But as for the Drive PX2 itself, the module looks a lot like a dual graphics card setup and make no mistake, the Drive PX2 consume just as much power as a high end GPU from Nvidia. With a TDP of 250w, Nvidia is actually including an active liquid cooling setup to tame the 2 SoCs and the Drive PX2 will be connected to the car's radiator. In the end, all of data being collected by the Drive PX2 will be used to supply data to a deep learning network in order to improve autonomous driving. 

ORIGINAL SOURCE: NVIDIA

LG's new K-series smartphones will have flagship features at mid-range prices

Android CES Launch LG

LG's new K-series smartphones will have flagship features at mid-range prices

CES has always been a big trade show for everything electronic but it has never been a place for smartphones and tablet, not high end devices to say. To stay true to this mantra, LG is launching a new LG K series smartphone lineup which has a mid-range price paired flagship features.

Software features like Gesture Shot, Gesture Interval Shot and Tap and Shoot which were previously only available on LG's flagship devices will be available on the new LG K10 and LG K7. In terms of design, both the LG K10 and LG K7 will be the first to incorporate LG's new glossy pebble design language (sounds like something straight out of Samsung) and a 2.5D arc cover glass to create that unibody look and feel.

In terms of the actual hardware, both devices are powered by a quad core processor, LTE and 3G versions, 8 and 13MP cameras and the signature rear button placement of LG devices. Both the LG K7 and LG K10 will be available later this year and CES 2016 visitors can check out the device in person at LG's booth in Hall #8204 of the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 6-9.

K10 Key Specifications:

• 5.3-inch HD In-cell Touch 
• 1.2GHz or 1.3GHz Quad-Core / 1.14GHz Octa-Core (LTE model)
• 3G: 1.3GHz Quad-Core (3G model)
• Rear 13MP / Front 8MP or 5MP (LTE model) 
• Rear 8MP / Front 8MP or 5MP (3G model)
• 2GB / 1.5GB / 1GB 
• 16GB / 8GB expandable memory
• 2,300mAh battery
• Android 5.1 Lollipop 
• 146.6 x 74.8 x 8.8mm 
• White / Indigo / Gold 

K7 Key Specifications: 

• 5.0-inch FWVGA In-cell Touch (LTE) / On-cell Touch (3G) 
• 1.1GHz Quad-Core (LTE model)
• 1.3GHz Quad-Core (3G model)
• Rear 8MP or 5MP / Front 5MP 
• 1.5GB / 1GB RAM
• 16GB / 8GB memory
• 2,125mAh 
• Android 5.1 Lollipop 
• 143.6 x 72.5 x 8.9mm (LTE model)
• 143.6 x 72.5 x 9.05mm (3G model)
• White / Black / Gold / Titan

Lenovo unveils the new ThinkPad X1 series with a new laptop, tablet and All-in-one

CES Intel Lenovo Realsense Surface Pro 4 Tablet ThinCentre ThinkPad X1

Lenovo unveils the new ThinkPad X1 series with a new laptop, tablet and All-in-one

It is the first week of 2016 and that means that Las Vegas will be facing the limelight as the annual Consumer Electronics Show will be there for a week. To start things off, Lenovo is unveiling a couple of new Windows 10 and Intel Skylake powered computers. More specifically, the new tablet, computer an All-in-one from Lenovo comes under the Lenovo X1 brand. Namely the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, ThinkPad X1 Yoga, ThinPad X1 Tablet and the ThinkCentre X1 which will all be available at Lenovo's CES 2016 booth this week.

Beyond being powered by Intel's new 14nm Skylake CPUs, the new ThinkPad X1 series being unveiled at CES 2016 will come with a consistent design and these devices will be part of Lenovo's flagship lineup of Windows 10 powered devices.

The newest addition to the ThinkPad X1 series is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet which is indeed a tablet hat has a 12" 2160 x 1,440, an Intel Core M processor, a standard USB port, a USB Type-C port and a built in kickstand. But what makes the new ThinkPad X1 Tablet a different device compared to the Surface Pro 4 is it's modular port that will accept modules like a battery extender, a projector module and another module with Intel's RealSense camera.

To top things off, Lenovo will also offer an optional $50 stylus alongside the other optional modules and also a Surface type keyboard with the signature lenovo keyboard. But bottom line, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet itself starts at $899 (~ RM 3,897) and will launch in February.

In terms of laptops, Lenovo is introducing the new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga in addition to updating their well acclaimed ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Basically, the new ThinkPad X1 Yoga has the same 14" display with an optional OLED display like the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon but the former has the same hinge design like the Yoga 900 enabling the screen to rotate 360 degrees. The convertible ThinkPad X1 Yoga starts at $1,499 (~ RM 6,493) and the updated ThinkPad X1 Carbon will go for $1,299 (~ RM 5,627).

And finally to round up the new ThinkPad X1 series is the Lenovo ThinkCentre X1 which is an All-in-one system that packs a 24" 1080P display that features a USB Type-C connector that is capable of outputting to a 27" 4k monitor. Lenovo will allow you to configure the ThinkCentre X1 with an i7 processor, up to 1TB of SSD storage and up to 16GB of RAM. With it's Military grade ruggedness and design aesthetics like the Lenovo X1 Carbon, the new ThinkCentre X1 which starts at $1,049 (~ RM 4,547) will be available starting March.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet

Lenovo ThinkCentre X1

ORIGINAL SOURCE: LENOVO via THE VERGE

Huawei Mate 8 announced, new homegrown Kirin 950 SoC but same 1080P display

CES China Huawei Huawei Mate 8 Kirin 950 SoC

Huawei Mate 8 announced, new homegrown Kirin 950 SoC but same 1080P display

Huawei which is the latest manufacturer to join Nexus program has unveiled a brand new smartphone earlier today. Similar to the new Nexus 6P, the new Huawei Mate 8 is also a 6" phablet constructed from aluminum but this time around, Huawei has reduced the bezels on the front to make the Mate 8 easier to hold. However, with the new Huawei Mate 8, the company is focusing on it's performance as this is the first device to be powered by Huawei's own Kirin 950 SoC which is fabricated by HiSilicon.

Huawei Mate 8 Key Specifications:

• HiSilicon Kirin 950 SoC
• 3/4GB LPDDR4 RAM
• 2.5D 6" 1080P IPS LCD
• 32/64/128GB expandable storage
• 16MP rear camera with OIS
• 8MP front camera
• 4,000mAh battery
• EmotionUI 4.0
• 157.1 x 80.6 x 7.9mm (185g)

The inclusion of the new octa core Kirin 950 SoC is probably the biggest change from it's predecessor, the Huawei Ascend Mate 7. Other hardware features like the 6" 1080P display and the storage configurations remain the same. Huawei didn't include a fancy new USB Type-C port on the new Mate 8 but it did cleaned up the design and improved the camera optics. The rear camera is now up from 13MP to a 16MP Sony sensor that features OIS and the front camera has also been bumped up to 8MP. Finally, the rear mounted fingerprint scanner is still there but it is now a round ring like the Nexus 6P.

Huawei says that the new Mate 8 will go on sale in China early next year and will be previewed during CES 2016. As for pricing, the new Huawei Mate 8 starts at ¥2,999 (~MYR 1,988) for the 32GB model with 3GB of RAM and ¥3,699 (~MYR 2,452) and ¥4,399 (MYR 2,916) respectively for the 64GB and 128GB models with 4GB of RAM. Expect to see the Huawei Mate 8 arrive in Malaysia early next year but don't expect it to be that lucrative by then as Samsung, HTC, and even Huawei might even unveil an even better device.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: ANANDTECH