Garena has announced its fourth local celebrity tie-up in conjunction with Free Fire’s newest brand refresh. In the next wave of the “Free Fire Untuk Semua” campaign, Garena has decided to do a collaboration with Malaysian hip-hop artist, Bunga. This time around, the theme of the campaign would be “Free Fire For All Circumstances” with the mobile game’s tagline “Battle in Style”.
This campaign advertises how players from the different communities are connected by Free Fire in their own way. Moreover, The collaboration with the local celebrities is part of Garena’s effort to localize the content for Free Fire’s Malaysian community.
Battle in Style with Bunga!
Garena Free Fire My YouTube channel
The 19 years old celebrity rapper, singer and songwriter, Bunga will be featured as the actress in the campaign film. The “Free Fire For All Circumstances” campaign intends to empower people who are being raised in different circumstances. Therefore, Free Fire will be a platform for people to express themselves freely. The film’s teaser shows Bunga as a student who has difficulty fitting in. However, she always has a group of friends known as the “Free Fire Family”.
If you guys want to check out the full film or are curious about this campaign, it will be available to be streamed on Free Fire Malaysia’s official Facebook, Instagram and Youtube channels starting on 13 July.
What You Should Know About Free Fire Untuk Semua Campaign
The Free Fire For All Circumstances campaign film will be combined with multiple in-game activities known as “All Circumstances” under the “Free Fire Adventure For All” web event which will start from 12 July until 1 August 2022. On the other hand, the Battle in Style events will happen later this month.
This campaign enables players to share their own version of the Free Fire For All Circumstances story through the web event equipped with the built-in comic creator. They can design their avatar and decorate them with stickers or backgrounds according to their preferences.
Get All the Exclusive Merchandise and Collect Your In-Game Prizes!
The best thing is, once you have shared your story and added the hashtag #FFUntukSemua while the campaign is happening, you have the chance to win exclusive campaign merchandise including a Bunga autograph! On top of that, you can also win the in-game prizes including Onigiri Hood and Beach Ball grenade skin if you participate directly in the web event.
Want to be part of the Free Fire Family too? Download Free Fire on the Apple iOS App and Google Play store right now!
Do you find it hard to find a budget-friendly smartphone in this challenging economic state? Are you worried that cheaper smartphones will have bad quality? Well, we have good news to share with you! Soon, you will be able to get your hands on an affordable but high-quality smartphone! Sounds too good to be true right?
Well, all thanks to Wiko. Originally, Wiko was founded in Marseille, France in 2011. As a global mobile brand, Wiko’s ultimate goal is to make smartphone technology accessible to all, which prompted the brand to spread its wings to a wider horizon including Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia with more than 30 million users of its brand.
Now, we heard that Wiko will be made available and accessible across Malaysia too! With a plethora of unique smartphones to choose from and not to mention, at a very reasonable price, Malaysians will get to experience a sophisticated and advanced technology without boundaries. Moreover, the smartphones that embodied the original French Touch further enhanced its functionality and hopefully convenient for its users.
Stay tuned for the latest updates and news about Wiko Malaysia as well as the announcement of the launch in the coming months! For more info, you can visit Wiko’s official social media sites including their Facebook page and Instagram.
Calling out to all tech geeks in Malaysia! The super smartphone, Huawei nova Y90 is going to be launched soon! Huawei Business Device Group (BG) will release its latest addition to the Nova Y series, the nova Y90, this Friday, 15 July 2022 which is equipped with innovative features and promised the best-for-value smartphone for the customers.
HUAWEI nova Y90 embedded the ‘4s’ (Super Screen, Super Battery, Super Charge and Super Design) in its features which guarantees an upgraded user experience with the affordable price of RM999. It is a good deal for someone who is in need of a smartphone with premium features that will not make your wallet cry!
Here Is Everything That We Know About the Impressive Features of the HUAWEI Nova Y90
Firstly, nova Y90 presents a super sleek modern design with a unique texture that makes the smartphone more comfortable to grip. It comes with four choices of sophisticated colors namely Crystal Blue, Pearl White, Emerald Green and Midnight Black.
With all the innovative tech features, users will experience a wider seamless cinematic screen view with a 6.7-inch HUAWEI Edgeless FullView Display for immersive viewing. The screen also provides seamless dimming controls and real-time screen adjustments for users’ eye protection. Moreover, the eye comfort and e-book modes that reduce harmful blue light are perfect features, especially for bookworms! They can now comfortably scroll through their e-books for unlimited hours.
The smartphone also provides a 270 Hz touch sampling rate and 90 Hz refresh rate that enhance gameplay and deliver a smoother web browsing experience. Most importantly, the built-in 5000 mAh large battery and 40W HUAWEI Supercharge technology with 22 layers end-to-end charging protection system will boost the battery life. The device will only take 30 minutes to charge up to 50%.
The next feature will surely allure all mobile photography enthusiasts! HUAWEI nova Y90 comes with 50MP AI Triple Camera shot that lets users capture a greater level of detailed scenes at any time, day or night. On top of that, the AI snapshot feature allows users to snap spontaneous shots of scenes in motion with absolute stability. In addition, the 128 GB storage ensured users a spacious room for everything including various interesting games, apps, pics and documents! Speaking about apps, HUAWEI also included the pre-installed AppGallery that will offer a variety of exclusive giveaways, rebates, coupons and HUAWEI Points from time to time.
All of these impressive technologies incorporated in the HUAWEI nova Y90 are convenient for users who wish for a budget-friendly smartphone but still built with high-quality specifications. Stay alert for further information on the latest updates and promotions which will be revealed on the launch day. You can visit the HUAWEI Official Website and HUAWEI Facebook and Instagram page. Mark the date down on your calendar now!
Grab Malaysia has made the user’s experience even more convenient by launching the new feature ‘Grab Intercity’. Users can now easily purchase bus and ferry tickets and plan their trips through the Grab app. The company had announced that this feature had made its first tribute in Malaysia and will also be available in other Grab countries in the near future.
Yes, you read that right! You don’t only get to order a ride or food but also buy a ticket to go anywhere life might bring you at the moment.
What you should know about Grab’s Intercity feature
Through the partnership with Splyt and Easybook, Grab hopes that this feature will be practical for users especially those who are constantly commuting within or outside of the city with various options of public transportation. Grab also stated that in a future version of this feature, trains will also be added as part of the transportation offered.
The main highlights of this feature include:
Check bus or ferry routes and schedules
Book a bus or a ferry ride one-way or roundtrip, instantly or in advance
Purchase tickets for bus or ferry rides
Apart from that, you should also know that this service also offers direct bus routes to Singapore! This is good news for travelers who often go back and forth between Malaysia and Singapore for work purposes. Another great news is that users will get a 10% discount when purchasing any tickets until the end of July.
Here are some steps on how to book your tickets through Grab Intercity
First of all, you need to install the latest version of the Grab app on your smartphone, and if you already have it, then you are good to go with the next step!
On your Grab app homepage, you can tap on the Intercity section. Before proceeding to the next step, you might want to set up your GrabPay wallet first and make sure that your balance is sufficient to proceed with the ticket purchase. This is because the Intercity service only accepts payment through GrabPay.
Once you have clicked on Intercity, the interface should be easy enough to navigate through and you can start booking your tickets right away! There will be bus tickets to 11 different states and cities across Malaysia and over 30 destinations in Singapore to choose from.
We shared the same hope with Grab that this practical service will enable Malaysians to plan their trip conveniently and strategically, especially during the peak season for instance during Hari Raya or any upcoming festivity. Moreover, with this feature, you no longer have to switch between apps to do multiple tasks. The Grab app could be the next one-stop center app that caters to your different needs just with a few clicks.
Xiaomi has recently unveiled its latest masterpiece to the world, Xiaomi Mi 12s Ultra. The main highlight of this launch is the invention of its camera sensor which is said to be the strongest camera system in history! Xiaomi has made such accomplishment possible through the strategic partnership with Leica, the German camera company and Sony.
However, before all of you get excited, we have bad news to tell you. Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that this impressive device is not available to be purchased in Malaysia or other countries except China.
The latest upgrades and specifications
Everybody has been gushing over the impressive camera system equipped in the device which features Sony’s huge IMX989 1-inch sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide sensor and a 48MP telephoto sensor that makes the image more stabilized and the camera supports the night mode as well. In addition, the 50.3MP sensor that sits beneath an 8P lens with multiple anti-glare lens coatings will guarantee glare-free and more detailed photography results. The pixel sizes that reach up to 3.2μm enables you to capture better photos in low exposure conditions.
The development of these optical lenses is the product of the collaboration between Xiaomi and Leica, making it the first Leica co-engineered smartphone. It is a huge upgrade from the previous model Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra.
Source image: engadget
Xiaomi Mi 12s Ultra comes in two modes namely Leica Authentic Look and Leica Vibrant Look which vary significantly in terms of the outcomes of the image captured. Leica Authentic Look focuses more on the naturality of the image. On the other hand, Leica Vibrant is the combination of both Leica’s signature mode and Xiaomi’s camera tech. Other than that, the video quality also promised a significant performance with Dolby Vision HDR which is able to support 4k @ 60 fps recording.
The device also provides a 3-D cooling system that enhances the phone’s temperature. Therefore, it can cater to various tasks running in the background. In terms of battery, it has a 4860 mAh battery, 67W wired turbocharging, 50W wireless turbocharging and 10W reverse wireless charging.
Source: mi News Xiaomi YouTube
Richard Lai, the Engadget Chinese editor stated that although the new 12s Ultra is exclusive in the mainland China market, the sensor won’t be exclusive to Xiaomi as CEO Lei Jun Wan intends to promote the advancement of mobile imaging together with competitors.
With that being said, luck might be on our side! We will eventually get to experience this technology on other smartphone models in the future.
Reading Time: 3minutes readSource image: Microsoft
Having your laptop slowing down and disrupting your productivity can be frustrating right? Are you still browsing with your eyebrows furrowed, skimming through information regarding which laptop should you buy to replace the old one?
Microsoft has recently announced the new Surface Laptop Go 2 which is now available in Malaysia. You can grab yours via commercial authorized resellers such as Maxis and authorized retailers for example, All IT, Gloo by SNS Network, Harvey Norman, PC Image, Senheng, and TMT by Thundermatch. In celebrating the launch, these authorized retailers will be giving away complimentary gifts worth up to RM590 until 31 July 2022.
All there is to know about the new Surface Laptop Go 2
When it comes to getting some work done, a laptop is our closest companion. Well, second after 10 cups of coffee, that is. You might want to look for a laptop that offers efficient functionality but still won’t empty your bank. Therefore, before you decide on investing in a good laptop, you might conjure up a series of questions such as “Are the new updates better? Is it expensive? Is it worth it?”.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 was first released back in early June and available to be purchased across several countries and now it has entered the Malaysia market The latest device updates are equipped with specs that enhance the user’s experience of Window 11. It is crafted to deliver the Surface’s signature premium design.
Here are some of the highlights of the Surface Laptop Go 2
Source image: Microsoft
Users no longer have to worry about the blurry visual and interrupted sound system during video calls as Surface Laptop Go 2 features a vibrant 3:2, 12.4” PixelSense™ touch display and improved HD camera with 720p webcam and dual Studio Mics and speakers with Dolby Audio.
source image: Microsoft
Equipped with the power of the Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor, it can manage the standard operating software smoothly. In addition, if you are looking for something fast and efficient to start your work in the spur of the moment, this device offers its users the Instant On and Window Hello through the fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. Just lift off the lid and you are good to go!
Complemented with its all-day battery life and fast charging makes it a perfect device to do your work everywhere. The battery is said to last up to 13.5 hours. Moreover, the large precision trackpad promised an enjoyable typing experience.
Source image: Microsoft
With an ultraportable format, weighing only 1.13kg, this device is more than suitable for users ranging from students who are always running around places to travelers who are in need of a lightweight and portable device to bring along. Furthermore, in Malaysia the only color available is in Platinum, a durable, cool metal finish that promises you an elegant looking device.
Source: YouTube
Surface Laptop Go 2 Malaysia pricing and options
Model
Estimated Retail Price
Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
RM 3,488
Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
RM 3, 788
To conclude, we think that this device looks promising especially for those who want to buy a laptop under a tight budget but still hoping for a secure and efficient one. However, it is best we leave it up for you guys to make your own judgment regarding which device suits you the most! For more info, feel free to visit here.
Reading Time: 3minutes readImage Source: The Verge
Apple has revealed the release of the latest updates that allows users to customize the all-new exciting lock screen experience where users can now play around with the vibrance colors and widgets and personalize their lock screen according to their preferred aesthetics.
According to Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, he stated that “iOS 16 is a big release with updates that will change the way you experience the iPhone”.
Image source: Apple
So, is this good news or bad news?
Well, since the iOS 16 beta was released to public beta testers in June, there have been mixed reviews from people on the internet regarding the new features introduced. Some said that it is a feature similar to Android while others favor it and are excited to install the update.
Customizing your own lock screen is not a new trend though. In fact, Android had taken that step ages ago and now Apple seems to follow the path. However, it has come to our attention that soon, the Android lock screen will be swarmed with various advertisements.
Online advertisements on phone’s lock screen
Popped up adsare not entirely a foreign concept and more common on smartphone applications. Therefore, it is quite predictable that they will be coming for your lock screen as well. In the recent news, TechNave reported that the ‘Glance app’ is in the process of partnering up with the US carriers in launching the ads in several Android phones’ lock screen within two months.
The Glance app
Photo from The verge
Glance is a subsidiary of AdTech giant InMobi Group, an Indian multinational mobile advertising technology company. The Glance app contains a dynamic interface that supports lock screen advertising. It is designed to update users with the latest news and information based on the personalized content feed that the users prefer, for example; sports, food, entertainment and much more.
Basically, all of these ads will pop up on your lock screen the moment your screen is being turned on. This can either be a troublesome or convenient thing. On one hand, you will be kept updated on news for every second without having to go through different tabs in search of them. On the other hand, it can also be a huge source of distraction.
Glance app is also available on almost 50 millions devices across Asia including countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
With Apple unveiling their latest features of lock screen personalization, it would not be a surprise if they too, would start to include ads on iOS in the future. As a matter of fact, in iOS 16, Live Activities on lock screen will be included which serves almost similar purpose as the glance app. It will show real-time notifications on various activities such as food delivery order.
Image source: Apple
In a nutshell, at the end of the day, it is up to the user’s preferences whether they are comfortable with this new dimension of lock screen. With that being said, we are interested to hear your opinions on this matter. What are your concerns about having ads on your lock screen? Are you comfortable with it? leave your comments below.
Maybank has recently issued a cyber security alert to its customers, in response to the advisory released by Malaysia’s Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team (MyCERT) addressing the latest digital fraud campaign known as ‘SMSSpy’.
As stated by The Federation of Malaysian Consumers (FOMCA), cyber criminals are getting even more creative with their tricks to easily manipulate us, a potential victim. Well, buckle up folks! Here’s another scam tactic coming for you.
You must be asking yourself “should I be worried about this? I am always careful though”
Yes! You definitely should! Here is why.
What is SMSSpy and why is it threatening the Android users?
According to MyCERT, SMSSpy refers to an Android malware that is found to be attacking the online users in Malaysia by replicating itself as one of the applications on the legitimate platform such as Google Play.
MyCERT added that one of the tactics performed by SMSSpy campaign is through a phone call. The scammer will usually pretend to be a person from the law enforcement agency, giving a warning to the potential victim that they are being charged with some kind of a crime and their account has been freezed. Feeling scared and panicked, the victim often follows the instruction blindly just to quickly make this problem go away.
So what will they do next? The scammer will ask the victim to transfer a particular amount of money and install an Android application that contains malicious malware to complete the transaction so this so-called issue will be resolved.
MyCERT further stated that once the user has installed any application containing this malware into a phone, the online banking credentials such as passwords or username will be compromised or stolen. These apps will have the access to view user’s SMS and use the TAC numbers to authorize an online transaction. This will impact severely in terms of financial loss as well as the disclosure of one’s personal information.
Eight fake websites users should keep an eye out
Users should also beware of the fake website when browsing through the internet as this campaign often impersonates legitimate services to carry out their grand scheme. MyCERT has listed out eight websites in Malaysia that have the similar domain names as the services impersonated.
Grabmaid
Maria’s Cleaning
Maid4u
YourMaid
Maideasy
MaidACall
MyMaidKL
PetsMore
Read more on the list of indicators involved in SMSSpy campaign
What should users do to prevent it?
Should you find yourself in this situation, do not panic! MyCERT have laid out a few useful recommendations for users to avoid being one of the SMSSpy victims.
Users must avoid installing applications or clicking on suspicious URLs’ from unknown sources or platforms such as Whatsapp or Messenger. Usually, the links would have the indicator type ‘Apk’.
Allows the application permission before installing it.
Users need to install a verified antivirus app and constantly update the operating system on the smartphone or tablet to strengthen the security of the devices.
Users are advised to immediately contact relevant authorities for instance, Cyber999 for any issues related to this threat.
Last but not least, let’s be smart users and no matter how fancy our gadget is, always be mindful of the potential threat that might come with it if we are not careful.
The Malaysia Travel Healthcare Council (MHTC) has inked a partnership with PubliCT.io (formerly Supernewsroom) in a bid to further promote healthcare travel in the region, and globally.
The partnership was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will benefit some 80 MHTC member hospitals enabling them to obtain end-to-end publicity services at a discounted price by the award-winning media tech start-up PubliCT.io. Under the collaboration, member hospitals are assured of media coverage to some 3,000 international partners.
“Malaysia is known for its quality medical treatments that are accessible and affordable, being one of the top preferred destinations for healthcare travel. With healthcare travellers already resuming their medical treatments in Malaysia since the borders reopened, this partnership with PubliCT.io will help further spur Malaysia’s reputation as a safe and trusted destination, in addition to Malaysia Healthcare’s efforts in providing the best Malaysia healthcare travel experience,” said Mohd Daud Mohd Arif, Chief Executive Officer of MHTC.
“This partnership is indeed timely as it facilitates the promotion of our member hospitals’ medical offerings, state-of-the-art technology, and internationally qualified and trained medical personnel to the discerning healthcare traveller via well-known international media platforms. We look forward to welcoming healthcare travellers to experience the best of Malaysia Healthcare,” he added.
The healthcare industry has been witnessing great success in the last 10 years. In 2019 alone, the industry achieved close to RM1.7 billion in revenue from hospital receipts and welcomed 1.22 million healthcare travellers for a wide range of treatments including cardiology, fertility, and oncology.
PubliCT.io is committed and ready to help MHTC healthcare members in achieving broader reach through its services that include virtual public relations consultants, press release writing and translation services.
“Publicity is crucial for any organisation as it provides credibility, visibility and validation. Being a home-grown Malaysian start-up, we are excited to support the country’s healthcare travel industry players by providing publicity in top news agencies not only in Southeast Asian countries but across the globe,” said Manminder Kaur Dhillon, Chief Executive Officer, PubliCT.io.
Citing partnership with 3,000 media partners including the likes of the Associated Press which has wide coverage in the US, Middle East and Asia, Manminder is confident that Malaysia’s quality healthcare services and offerings will be recognised in more countries.
“PubliCT.io’s users are guaranteed coverage in top publications through our news-partner network, using our unique content marketplace platform. Our unique value proposition offers news agencies the authority to choose editorial content that will be published, and empower brands to obtain media coverage in selected news sites,” she explains.
The partnership with MHTC also marks the start of a rebranding campaign from Supernewsroom to PubliCT.io. In the coming months, the public relations tech startup is looking to join arms with more news sites and start-up-enablers, and encourage more government-linked corporations and government agencies to partner up with the platform.
“When industry enablers such as MHTC collaborate with local start-ups, it solidifies the notion that Malaysia has highly innovative start-ups with game-changing products and services that can ultimately contribute to the growth of any industry. Collaborations such as this should be emulated by other corporations and we thank MHTC for leading the way.
“There is a definite win-win in these collaborations: targets can be achieved and there is support for the local start-up ecosystem. PubliCT.io is also looking forward to working with other industry enablers as we help get things moving again for the country, and for the region,” Manminder adds.
The use of virtual production and in-camera visual effects (ICVFX) technologies have grown exponentially over the past two years. In 2020, for instance, there were fewer than a dozen ICVFX stages running around the world. Fast forward to today, and you have more than 250 of such stages across the globe — with trailblazers like 3Particle in Malaysia, AUX Media in Singapore, and V2 in Indonesia leveraging large-scale xR stages and LED screens across their live events, film and production workflows.
The technologies and workflows that were once the preserve of big studios with multi-million dollar budgets are now democratized, paving the way for a new generation of content creators. Many of them have gone on to now leverage real-time technologies like virtual production and ICVFX to drive cutting-edge innovation and create otherworldly immersive environments, breaking records and garnering plaudits for their creativity.
In Asia and across the world, creators and industry professionals are fast adopting real-time across their production workflows, and for a multitude of content. This has bearings on projects at every stage of the creative lifecycle — from ideation and conceptualization, to location scouting, and even production design and final-frame visual effects.
Malaysia’s first xR studio, 3Particle, has leveraged real-time technologies and xR stages to create futuristic new environments in music videos for local bands IMAGI and MADAM, and world-class virtual performances for Alan Walker. The ability to shoot and combine these hyper-realistic scenes has been revolutionary for the industry; enabling producers and directors to make creative decisions on the fly, and bring concepts to shoot much faster, without the need to travel to various places just to shoot on-location. This has huge bearings on the production timeline — resulting in significant time, cost and resource savings for all teams involved.
Moving forward, the xR Stage Malaysia by 3Particle will work closely with local-based creatives, Experiential Design Team (EDT), to explore content-based tech collaboration for the M&E industry, both in Malaysia and abroad. This will be underpinned by the Unreal Engine’s real-time 3D workflows, as seen in projects such as Metahuman Raya, Arvena and Silau Maya Alun.
EDT is a personalized team that is plugged into the future, with xR at its core. Led by Fariz Hanapiah, Creative Tech Director, EDT’s work leverages Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) across different communication touchpoints, to help its clients increase customer engagement through AR/VR enterprise tools. And through it all, EDT is here to help clients create a seamless customer experience in their offline to online journey.
“Our xR stage has seen over a year of production. In that time, we have continued to see the many advantages and versatilities that virtual production provides for capturing in-camera VFX and high-fidelity, cinematic shots with LED volumes. This technology is definitely reshaping the media and entertainment industry landscape in Malaysia,” shared Carl Loo, Owner and Founder, Technical Director & Event Strategist of 3Particle Malaysia. “We will continue to venture forward with a pioneering spirit in this immersive way of storytelling, and we look forward to collaborating with local educational institutions and universities to cultivate the industry’s growing talent pool for the years ahead.”
“I’m really excited to see production teams in Southeast Asia working more collaboratively and efficiently than ever before in virtual production, and seeing all these technologies coming together within a unified disguise workflow. The future of filmmaking is now upon us, and this is already creating new roles and skills on the market,” shared Nicholas Chan, Regional Sales Manager, Southeast Asia, disguise.
Epic Games is committed to empowering studios and creators across ASEAN to support the growing demand for virtual production and ICVFX. To date, it has supported over 1600 creators and teams across 89 countries, through its Epic MegaGrants (EMG) program — a US$100 million fund designed to actively foster success in the developer and creator community.
In Asia, this number is currently at 47, with animation studios like Malaysia’s Streamline Media Group, AeonSparx Interactive Sdn Bhd, and Ammobox Studios as recipients of the grant. Epic also plans to expand this network of support for ASEAN creators through several schemes and initiatives to be launched later this year, such as regional iterations of its Women Creators’ Program and Unreal Shorts Challenges for Southeast Asia. “Virtual production is absolutely the future for the media and entertainment sector — whether that is for film and television production, advertisements, broadcast or live events. It is rapidly shaping the way we create, and the speed and scale at which creators can bring their ideas to life, and ASEAN is well-positioned to capture this demand,” shared Dean Reinhard, Evangelist and Technical Account Manager, Southeast Asia at Epic Games. “We’re already seeing great use cases come out of the region, with studios like AUX Media, 3Particle and V2 blazing the path forward! Epic is thrilled to be doing what we can to support Southeast Asian creators, and we’re excited to see what’s ahead for the future of ASEAN media and entertainment.”
