PC.com - May 2016

APRIL 2016
CONTENTS
40
bIz2.0
40 Microsoft launches SQL Server 2016
42 2016 IT spending forecast out
44 OKI introduces neon colour printer
46 Reduction in ISP porting fee
49 Security that comes with flexibility
50 On the road to disruption
53
12
WIRE
14
United we stand
gIzmOS
18 Battle for words
20 Selfies galore
22 Sony goes 4K
24 Enter the king of all EOS
27 A class of its own
HUAWEI P9
60
FIRST LOOK
62
TESTEd
64 OPPO F1 Plus
66 Huawei Mobile WiFi E5786 (by DiGi)
2
MAY 2016
28 Celcom brings out the big guns
67 Huawei Mate 8 (Premium)
32 Digi introduces new mobile products
68 Xiami Redmi Note 3
34 HTC and Valve forges partnerships
70 Acer Predator 15
36 vivo Malaysia goes high-end
72 Ducky Shine 5
CONTENTS
74
TESTEd (CONT.)
74 DJI Phantom 4
76 HTC One A9
77 HP Spectre x2
78 ASUS ZenPad 8.0
80 MSI Z170 Gaming M9 ACK
81 Lenovo Pocket Projector P0150
82 Garmin Forerunner 235
85 Dell Inspiron 24 7000 AIO
87
95
4
gamETimE
109
Battleborn
110
FFXV Platinum Demo
111
Nioh Alpha Demo
112
Megadimensional Neptunia VII
114
Ashes of The Singularity
116
Rachet & Clank
118
Gravity Rush
119
Enter the Gungeon
120
Tom Clancy’s The Division
SHOWdOWN
COvEr STOry
MALAYSIA GONE MOBILE
MAY 2016
97
122
126
SpOTligHT
iNviEW
THE
M
TEA
PUBLISHED BY
Reach Publishing Sdn Bhd, No. 15-3, Block F1, Jln PJU 1/42, Dataran Prima,
46500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7880 2611/22 Fax: 03-7880 1971
Website: liveatpc.com FB: facebook.com/liveatpc
PUBLISHER / MANAGING EDITOR
Selva Rajan
EDITORIAL
[email protected]
Editor-In-Chief
Editor
Writers
Digital Writer
Singapore Correspondent
Contributors
Senior Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer
Vinodhani Nair K
Nur Atifi
Ng Thim Soon, Teh Wi-Liam
Shazmyir Rahman
Lee Ser Wei
Amir Rothman, Andrew Tong, Daryl Tan, Abbi Li, Otter
Heirul Mohd Kamel
Ahmad Zhafri
ADVERTISING
[email protected]
Advertising Manager Stephanie Wong
Business Development Manager Connor Tan
Assistant Advertising Manager Nain Mazlan
Advertising Executive Moon Leong
CIRCULATION
[email protected]
TAIwAN REPRESENTATIVE
JK Media Co, 10F-4, No. 43, Songjiang Rd., Jhongshan District, Taipei City, 104, Taiwan. Contact: Juliet Tseng
Tel: +886-2-25065637 ext.11 Fax: +886-2-25065390 Email: [email protected]
PRINTER
Kam Heng Sdn Bhd (620143-W), 11,13 & 15 Jalan SR 4/18, Serdang Raya, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor
OffICIAL MAGAzINE fOR
IT World, Sunway Pyramid, Digital Mall, Fitness First, Digital Bay,
Digital One, Landmark IT Mall, Mine Shopping Fair, Hatten Square
AVAILABLE AT
Starbucks Coffee, MPH Bookstore, Open University, Dome, Popular,
Acer Tele Dynamics, The Coffee Bean, MyNews.com, Maxis
PICTURE CREDITS
All images used on the cover and PC.com GameTime are owned and copyrighted to their respective owners
Find us on:
www.liveatpc.com
onlInE PArTnEr
ProTECTED By
PL
LE
TH
Audited by
Audit Bureau of
Circulation
IS
All material published in PC.com is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. the views expressed by writers are their own
and may not necessarily be those of the publisher or Editor. Contributed articles are welcome and, if selected for publication, will be subject to editing for style and clarity.
SE RECY
C
A
E
WInnEr
I
N
oFFICIAl MEDIA
PArTnEr
E
AvAIlABlE onlInE
MAGAZ
EDITOR’S NOTE
T
he need for a reliable mobile network operator,
with attractive data packages, has never been
more highly sought after as it is now. The age-old
telco price wars is heating up again as service
providers try to outdo each other with never seen before
data package offerings.
As we celebrate the World Telco Day this month of May,
PC.com explores the trials and tribulations of what makes
or breaks an MNO in Malaysia. We have the numbers to
back it up in our Cover Story; read on to find out more.
In the same vein, we went on an adventure to find out who
is the Champions of Coverage in our Showdown segment.
Here we pen our thoughts about the four main telcos,
namely Celcom, Digi, Maxis and U Mobile, and the many
considerations that consumers will want to know before
committing to the one.
Don’t forget about our ever-exciting Tested section. We
have the latest and greatest to share with you this month.
The newly launched DJI Phantom 4 (we’re the first to
review this!), the self-proclaimed ‘Selfie Expert’ OPPO F1
Plus and the sleek HP Spectre x2 are just some of the many
nifty gadgets we have in store for you.
A WORD FROM
THE EDITOR
We also have an array of Gametime Impressions, giving you
a brief preview of what’s to come. Of course, if you’re not
one for waiting, the Gametime segment kept our writers
busy with the latest offerings....the rereleased cult classic
Rachet & Clank being one of them.
With an all new team on-board, we at PC.com hope you’ll
enjoy the selection of stories and reviews we have in this
power-packed issue.
Til next month, happy reading.
Nur Atifi | PC.com Editor
8
MAY 2016
*Price inclusive of GST. Only applicable for E400, E460 and E480.
**Terms and conditions apply.
inbox
Write In And Win!
Write
& Win!
Stand a chance to win
A MYSTERY GIFT!
Send your mail to [email protected] and please be
sure to include your full name and address for our record
Mailbox
From
letter
oF tHe
MontH
Barry
How do I change my router’s settings?
Reply
To
From
Barry
PC.com
Dear Barry,
First, you have to connect to your router through WiFi or LAN port. Then you’ll have to find out your router’s
setup address - it’s usually set as “192.168.0.1” or “192.168.1.1” by default. Open your browser and type in the
address. If you entered the correct address, you’ll see a setup page prompting you to login in order to access
the settings. If you do not have them, the default login details are usually on the back of your router. Once
logged in, you’ll have access to tweak the router’s settings as you see fit.
How do I reinstall Windows 10 on my
computer?
Chi Keong
Zamri
You can do this by going to the Windows 10 Search
Bar and type in “reset pc”. The option to “Reset this
PC” will be listed, and clicking on it will bring you
to the settings page. There will be two categories:
“Reset this PC” and “Advanced startup”. Click on
the “Get started” under the “Reset this PC” category
and you’ll be prompted to choose to either keep
your personal files or remove everything. Note that
choosing to keep personal files will remove your
installed apps or programs, but personal files will
not be affected.
Stalk uS on
10
MAY 2016
What is an SSD hard disk, and how is it different
compared to the usual ones?
Hard disk drive (HDD) technology has evolved over the years.
Solid State Drive (SSD) hard disks are lower in capacity, but
has a higher performance compared to common mechanical
HDDs. SSDs are also smaller and lighter, but they are also
much more expensive. While they are still reliable for storing
media files thanks to the capacity, HDDs will eventually
become obsolete sometime in the near future.
http://facebook.com/pcdotcomd
http://www.twitter.com/pcdotcom
- 14 UNITED WE
STAND
- 18 BATTLE OF
WORDS
20
SELFIES GALORE
- 22 SONY GOES 4K
- 24 ENTER THE KING
OF ALL EOS
- 27 THE HP SPECTRE DELIVERS YET
ANOTHER STUNNER
- 28 CELCOM BRINGS OUT
THE BIG GUNS
Wire
Hooking you up to the latest.
14
12
JUN2016
MAY
2015
18
22
24
WIRE
14
MAY 2016
United We Stand
Supporting Our Nation’s Champions
T
he Team Malaysia Campus
Road Tour 2016 is off to a
good start, and will continue
its tour this month. An
event collaboration between
Telekom Malaysia and PC.com, the
Team Malaysia Campus Road Tour is
in support for our national athletes
who will be competing at the Rio 2016
Olympics and national tournaments.
The roadshow invites students from
the various universities involved to join
Team Malaysia; to be part of the largest
national fan community – in cheering our
champions in their respective sports. Join
in on the fun as students are eligible to
receive free goodies when they sign up to
become a Team Malaysia member. You’ll
also receive a chance to buy Team Malaysia
Jersey at a discounted student price.
Aside from that, students can
participate in the many activities we
have in store, including sport games
on the Sony PlayStation 3; dribble
ball around cones; know your sports
person jigsaw; balance ball on squash
racket; and shuttlecock takraw. Also
stand a chance to win Lucky Draw
prizes; who knows, you might be the
lucky winner!
15
MAY 2016
WIRE
Nigel Richards, Scrabble French World Champion,
is one of the ASCI open category participant.
Battle of Words
participants vie for top spots at the 2016 aSTaR Scrabble challenge international
T
he ASTAR Scrabble Challenge
International (ASCI) kicks off with an
impressive total of 492 participants
from 10 different countries this year,
namely from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam,
Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Pakistan,
Hong Kong, New Zealand and India.
Celebrating its 10th year running, the ASCI
event saw both amateur and veteran players
convening at the prestigious Dewan Tunku
Canselor in University of Malaya to take part
in the annual event.
Taking part in the tournament are Scrabble
World Champion, Nigel Richards from New
Zealand, along other notable participants
including the First President of Malaysian
Scrabble Association (MSA), Mohammad
Ali Ismail; and long-time consultant to ASCI,
Karen Richards.
When asked if he could describe Scrabble
in one word, Mohammad Ali, with a laugh,
says: “Obsessed.”
Richards, on the other hand, believes
the game is all about “connecting tiles and
people”, which is a quote proven to be true
as our fellow Malaysian participants have
had the chance to participate alongside with
people from nine other countries.
The Tournament Director this year,
Martin Teo, shares that the tournament
is continuously growing, and this year in
particular, many young and brilliant players
are observed. When asked with what he
likes most about the game, Teo opines that
18
MAY 2016
the game cultivates talented young players
especially in the Under 12 category. His
advice for young and beginner players is not
to be afraid to try, or to lose, as Scrabble is not
about winning.
“The game of Scrabble is a learning
process, no matter how old you are, the
game follows you. Be passionate, and
don’t give up on the game because of one
mistake,” says Teo.
After two days of competing, the closing
ceremony was officiated by the Honourable
Guest, Haji Mohd. Anuar bin Haji Abdul
Hamid, the Chief Senior Assistant Director
of the Co-Curriculum and Arts Division
from the Ministry of Education. The closing
ceremony was also joined by Norazmah binti
Mohd Yunos, who is the Assistant Director
of the Language Sub-unit, Co-Curriculum
and Arts Division from the Ministry of
Education and the Master of University of
Malaya’s First Residential College (ASTAR),
Dr. Firdaus Hariri.
This year, the participants faced with
many talented competitors, but finally, four
deserving individual emerged as champions
of their respective categories. For open
category, Goutham Jayaraman takes home
the winning title as Champion and walks away
with a cash prize of RM 3000, certificate and a
trophy after winning 13 rounds. Goutham has
continuously joined ASCI for several years and
when asked if he would join again next year,
and his answer is a definite yes.
The first runner-up for the Open Category
is Toh Wei Bin, with the second runner-up
being Michael Tang (Organiser of Causeway
Scrabble Challenge). For the following
category, Under 18, the Champion and First
Runner-Up are Yong Jian Rong and Leon Tan
Zheng Han respectively, while Azhamirul Bin
Warno from SMK Sungai Pelek, Selangor, won
the title of Second Runner-Up. The Champion
of this category walked away with cash prize
of RM 1500, certificate and a trophy as well.
Next, the Under 15 category Champion is
a Sri Lankian, Aabid Ismail, who walks away
with RM 1500, certificate and a trophy. The
First and Second Runner-Up winners are
Muhd Ariff Jazlan from SMK Bukit Jelutong,
Selangor and Khor Jia Wynn from SMJK Jit
Sin, Pulau Pinang.
Last but not least, the winners of the
Under 12 category are as followed; Tengku
Ariff Shah from SK Alam Damai, Nutchanon
Iemsungnern (SCRABBOARD CROSSWORD
ACADEMY) from Thailand and Daparavee
Direkwatana from Thailand as well. From
this category also, the youngest participant,
aged 8, Wapol Tangcharoen from Thailand
managed to emerge as the fifth winner for
his category. ASCI is the first international
competition Wapol has joined, as he only
began playing this game two months ago.
pc.com is official media of for the aSTaR
Scrabble challenge international
WIRE
Nora Danish, OPPO Selfie Icon taking
a selfie on stage with the OPPO
Malaysia team
Selfies Galore
16-megapixels front-facing camera; need we say more?
J
ust when you thought OPPO was
done, they are back again with a
brand new smartphone, enticing
the public into taking even more
and better ‘selfies’. The OPPO F1
Plus offers significant improvements as
compared to its predecessor in terms
of performance, hardware, and features
installed into the phone.
One of the key differences between the F1
and F1 Plus is its Hi-light Camera - the first
ever device to feature this brand new piece of
technology by the company. If you’re worried
about not being able to capture the perfect
selfie, Oppo has already got you covered
as the camera ensures bright and colourful
selfies in any lighting condition possible.
This 16-megapixel front-facing camera
is purpose-built for the sole reason of
capturing that perfect selfie, even on your
first try. It also comes with the new Selfie
Panorama feature, Beautify 4.0, as well as
the front-facing Screen Flash. With all these
enhancements, your Instagram follower’s
count will see a surged increase in the
coming weeks.
Another feature added into the F1
Plus would have to be Smart Fingerprint
Recognition, which is slowly becoming
the norm amongst smartphones these
days. With security being a great deal
of concern these days, OPPO finally
introduces it into the F1 Plus… the first
of its smartphone to be equipped with
the feature.
20
MAY 2016
When it comes to hardware and
performance, the F1 Plus thoroughly
outweighs its forerunner in many aspects.
Instead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon
616 chipset featured in the F1, the F1
Plus comes with the MediaTek Helio P10
alongside 4GB RAM, so multitasking will
be a walk in the park.
It also comes with 64GB worth of
internal storage as compared to the
16GB in the F1. This allows you to store a
lot more data, information, and apps into
the smartphone without having to worry
about expanding your storage capacity.
If expanding the storage capacity is
what you want, you can expand to an
additional 128GB via microSD, which
is located in the smart SIM slot design,
which can fit a Nano-SIM slot as well
as an adaptable secondary slot that can
accept either a microSD card or another
Nano-SIM card.
Customers lining up to grab their OPPO F1 Plus
OPPO staff taking a selfie with F1 Plus
OPPO F1 Plus
Chen Lu, Brand Manager of OPPO Electronics, Marton Barcza,
Global Community Manager & Product Expert of OPPO and Nora
Danish, OPPO Selfie Icon at the launch of OPPO F1 Plus
OPPO team and Nora Danish launching the OPPO F1 Plus
21
MAY 2016
WIRE
Sony Bravia X85D
Sony Bravia X93D
Sony Goes 4K
New BRAVIA 4K HDR TV Series set to impress
A
iming to deliver greater range of
brightness and improvement in
contract, within a unique slim
design, Sony Malaysia unveils
its latest television line-up, the 2016 Sony
BRAVIA 4K HDR (High Dynamic Range)
TVs. The 4K HDR TV series, namely the
X93D and X85D, offers consumers a screen
range size of either 55” or 65”.
For 2016, Sony is focusing on integrating
BRAVIA TVs into the living room setting,
with the notion of creating a smart living
ecosystem that gives users the freedom
to utilise a variety of Sony products
with the TVs by means of enhancing
22
MAY 2016
viewer experience. Some of the products
that are compatible with the BRAVIA
ecosystem include PMW-F55 CineAlta
4K Digital Cinema Camera; FDR-AXP55
4K Handycam® with Built-in projector;
HT-ST9 & HT-NT5 Sound Bars; A7RM2 &
A7SM2 Mirrorless Cameras; and Xperia Z5
& Xperia Z5 Premium mobile phones.
Sony’s new Slim Backlight Drive
technology with a new grid-array
backlighting
structure,
which
was
previously only available with full-array
backlighting systems. This new technology
allows X-tended Dynamic Range PRO
technology, which is featured in the X93D,
to boost peak brightness and black levels
more precisely and enhance contrast levels
while maintaining a slim form factor.
Both series will run Android TV with
Sony’s exclusive user interface. From live
TV broadcasting to Internet video services,
the seamless user interface Content Bar
includes enhanced content navigation
along with voice search.
The X85D series is now available, priced
at RM7,499 and RM10,999 for the 55” and
65” respectively. As for the higher-end
X93D series, Sony shares that it will only hit
the stores in June 2016, and the pricing for
it has not be revealed either.
GO
EXPLORE
PROTECTED BY
Proactive Anti-Theft for re‑uniting
you with your lost device
Antivirus for safe web‑browsing
Anti-Phishing for personal data
protection online
SMS & Call Filter for managing
your calls and texts
www.eset.com/my
WIRE
Enter The King of All EOS
Canon’s crown jewel makes its way to our shores
P
hotography has always been an
outlet for the creative minds to
let their ideas and thoughts flow
onto printed pages through the
lens of a camera. It is a partnership
between a camera and its photographer
to make magic happen through the most
unexpected of circumstances. For all
hobbyists and professional photographers,
Canon gives you its flagship model for 2016,
the Canon EOS-1DX Mark II.
Making its debut at the ballroom of
Hilton Kuala Lumpur, the EOS-1DX Mark
II makes it first appearance in Malaysia
alongside two other DSLR cameras, a host
of compact cameras, as well as a portable
printer. Wataru Nishioka, President and
CEO of Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn
Bhd, was also present to officiate the
launch of this next-generation EOS DSLR
professional camera.
“As a leader, we understand the everincreasing requirements of the imaging
industry and the needs of photographers,
be it professionals, beginners, or hobbyists.
With that in mind, we constantly innovate
to introduce more evolved products to
suit the various needs of all photography
aficionados,” says Nishioka.
“This year, amidst our new additions to
the EOS, PowerShot, and IXUS series, we
24
MAY 2016
are very proud to introduce the EOS-1DX
Mark II. This DSLR professional camera is
the outcome of our R&D’s pursuit of the
ultimate EOS standards for high speed,
comfort, and high image quality. It is
carefully crafted to give photographers a
competitive edge from the second their
finger touches the shutter button.”
The Canon EOS-1DX Mark II is perfect for
sports, wildlife, and journalism photography
as it establishes a new benchmark for
speed and autofocus – perfect for highspeed precision shooting scenarios.
“We at Canon have always been
passionately committed to bringing
innovation to our product lines. We have
achieved many milestones as a market
leader in the digital imaging industry – one
of them being the number one brand for 13
consecutive years from 2003 to 2015 in terms
of volume within the interchangeable-lens
digital camera market,” he adds.
WIRE
Drones Galore
DJI Phantom 3 and Phantom 4 Now Available
D
JI, one of the world’s top
developer for high quality and
sophisticated drones, has taken
big steps to take advantage
of the growing popularity for drones in
Malaysia. Long awaiting fans – hobbyists
and professionals alike - can now get their
hands on the world’s most sought after DJI
drone series: the Phantom.
DJI is the world leader in unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) technology and accounts
for 70% market share globally, according
to a report published by Oppenheimer in
February 2016. More recently, DJI launched
the Phantom 4, the smartest consumer
drone to date with first-in-market intelligent
flight features such as Obstacle Avoidance,
ActiveTrack and TapFly.
Local distributor ECS Astar Sdn Bhd is now
carrying the brand’s latest range of drones
(namely the Phantom 3 and Phantom 4) and
the Osmo (a stabilised handheld 4K camera).
ECS’ Chief Executive Officer Soong
Jan Hsung said that the target market for
these drones expand beyond the general
consumers and create new opportunities
for businesses in construction, property
development, surveying and mapping,
agriculture, security and cinematography
26
MAY 2016
industries, amongst others. Meanwhile,
the Osmo will spark creative possibilities
for videographers, journalists, sports
enthusiasts and anyone who aspires to
become a content creator.
The company will be taking advantage of
its wide distribution network of more than
30 touch points across Malaysia including
the IT, lifestyle, Consumer Electronic Chain
Stores and e-commerce channels.
ECS’ move into the drone market
is timely as Goldman Sachs estimates
that global spending on drones by the
commercial sector would reach US$21
billion over the next five years.
“This distribution agreement grants
ECS a firm first-mover advantage
into the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT)
market, where superior technology and
lifestyles now integrate seamlessly,”
adds Soong.
DJI’s Phantom drones are priced at
RM2,129 onwards, while the Osmo is
priced at RM2,499.
A Class of its Own
The HP Spectre delivers yet another stunner
A
side from being dubbed as the
world’s thinnest laptop, the HP
Spectre is out to prove that it is
more than just a one trick pony
with its CNC machined-aluminium chassis,
which is only 10.4mm thick.
The HP Spectre was imagined to
revolutionise the laptop industry with its
power and design, and revolutionise it
did. With the help of celebrated industrial
product designer Tord Bootnje and jewellery
designer Jess Hannah, the HP Spectre was
manufactured for the finer things in life,
paired with a nice flashy sports car and
endless bottles of champagne.
The illusion of a hinge-less design on
the HP Spectre is due to the innovative
hidden piston hinges, which were geared
in synchronisation while being designed
to rotate fluidly with a firm hold, no matter
what way it’s being turned. The laptop also
comes with a carbon fibre bottom that is
both lightweight and durable, ensuring the
laptop stays at a mere 1.11kg.
With up to four modes to choose from,
you can now decide on how you want the
HP Spectre to be displayed. Switch over to
Stand mode, which is perfect for movies and
videos conferencing, Tablet mode when you
just want to relax and browse the web or read,
Notebook mode when it’s time to get work
done, or switch to Tent mode when you want
to show others what you’ve been up to.
One luxurious feature installed into
the HP Spectre laptop are the Bang &
Olufson speakers seeing as they are the
leaders in their field when it comes to
high-end audio technology. Now you can
enjoy exceptional audio quality matched
with a 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch display
screen with a choice of Full HD, Quad
HD, or 4K display. It truly is a good day to
be a fan of HP.
Speed and performance will not be an issue
for the HP Spectre as it comes with equipped
with the 6th Generation i processors and
an SSD drive up to 512GB. This allows for
not only greater multitasking but also easier
and quicker load up time as well as opening
programs and applications. You will also never
have to worry about the battery life due to the
innovative hybrid battery, which splits into two
thinner pieces to deliver the same wattage as
a single battery for up to a minimum of nine
and a half hours of battery in one charge.
27
MAY 2016
WIRE
Dato’ Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer, Zalman Aefendy
Zainal Abidin, Chief of Sales and Marketing Officer and the
management team of Celcom Axiata Berhad feeling ecstatic with the
new FIRST Platinum plan
Celcom brings out the big guns
The FIRST Platinum Plan offers 18GB of data at only RM150 a month
I
f managing your online data quota has
never been one of your strong points,
all that is about to change with Celcom
as the telco introduces a new plan
into its already successful Celcom FIRST
package.
The Celcom FIRST Platinum completes
the FIRST flagship and comes with a
whopping 18GB of data quota: 9GB during
the weekdays as well as 9GB during the
weekends. It provides unlimited calls and
text messages and also allows users who
are under the FIRST Platinum plan to carryforward up to 9GB of unused data to the
following month. All this is available at only
RM150 a month.
This new plan from Celcom caters to the
premium segment of customers with a big
appetite for internet usage. Other benefits
from the FIRST Platinum package includes
the choice of having your own preferred
phone number and having a priority
customer service line at your beck and call.
Subscribing to the plan also extends your
credit limit and payment date.
With 18GB of internet data, one would
think about how to use that entire amount
in a month while ensuring its value for
money. The FIRST Platinum package also
offers a 12-month full subscription to iFlix
to fulfil all your binge-watching needs,
unlimited access to Yonder Music for the
music junkies, and an unlimited secure
messaging service in the form of Zipit Chat.
28
MAY 2016
Travelling overseas with the FIRST
Platinum package also works well for users
as the first 1,000 subscribers to the new
plan will be given a one-time exclusive
access pass to the Malaysia Airlines
Golden Lounge in KLIA. Aside from that,
users will also be connected to the internet
when abroad thanks to the Wonderoam
1-Day Internet pass for RM38 as well as the
Wonderoam 1-Week Internet pass for RM
138, which comes with 3GB of data.
Celcom has also come up with a new
campaign called ‘Keep Calm and Win a
Perodua Axia’ that starts from 15 April to
31 May 2016. Six Perodua Axia’s will be up
Dato’ Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief
Executive Officer of Celcom
Axiata Berhad
for grabs every 14 days together with three
daily prizes as a welcoming gesture to new
members who sign on to the FIRST Gold
and Platinum plans.
For new and existing FIRST Gold and
Platinum users, you will also receive more
bonuses from Celcom in the form of the new
Celcom Home Broadband. It comes with
the new fixed fibre broadband service that
offers up to 10Mbps Internet speed with
unlimited quota, which will cost RM145
a month. FIRST Gold and Platinum users
however, will receive a 50% deduction from
the first six months of their subscription to
their Celcom Home Broadband bill.
Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin, Chief of
Sales and Marketing Officer, Celcom
Axiata Berhad presenting FIRST Platinum
GIGABYTE recommends Windows.
P55 GTX 965M / 960M
6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor
6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 Processor
SS
PCIe Gen3
Reach 2000MB/s
TECH ARMORY SDN BHD
MADE in TAIWAN
HDMI 2.0
4K @ 60Hz
10
USB 3.1 Type-C
10Gbps/ 5V 3A
2133MHz
Up to 32GB
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX
965M / 960M Graphics
XSplit Gamecaster
Streaming Software
Dual Storage: Up to
512GB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD
Full HD Wide View
Matte Display
(optional)
Add: 44-1 JALAN SS15/4D SUBANG JAYA 47500 PETALING JAYA, ELANGOR MALAYSIA
Tel: +60 3-67347962
Office hour: TUESDAY – FRIDAY : 11AM – 8PM; Saturday 11AM – 6PM
Some apps sold separately; vary by market. The entire materials provided herein are for reference only. GIGABYTE reserves the right to modify or revise the content at anytime without prior notice.
www.gigabyte.my
WIRE
Making Waves
Lose no more data when using Waze on U Mobile
D
iving in the land of traffic jams,
roadblocks, and road closures
galore, Malaysians have come to
appreciate the use of navigation
and community-based traffic
app, Waze more and more every day. Waze
has now partnered up with U Mobile to
ensure that all drivers using the app will
never have to worry about eating through
their Internet data quota anymore.
Until 31st December 2016, U Mobile
users can now use Waze to arrive at their
destination early and safely while also
enjoying the free data access that comes
with the partnership. With Waze being one
of the most widely-used applications to
date in Malaysia by U Mobile customers,
a partnership between one of the big four
telco companies in Malaysia join hands
with one of the world’s most popular
navigation apps.
“We are a data-centric telco, one that
is always looking at ways to enhance our
customers’ data experience, whether in
terms of value or quality of experience.
By partnering with Waze, we are able to
reward our customers by giving them free
data access to the app. Our customers will
be encouraged to play a more active role
in updating traffic situations in Malaysia
via Waze as their data quota will not
be utilised,” says Jasmine Lee, Chief
Marketing Officer at U Mobile.
Edward Ling, Head of Malaysia (Sales) for Waze and
Jasmine Lee, Chief Marketing Officer for U Mobile
Maxis Fires Back
Up to 20GB worth of extra data at no charge
W
ithin 24 hours of Celcom
announcing
the
FIRST
Platinum package offering
18GB worth of Internet data
paired with unlimited calls
and text messages for only RM150 a month,
Maxis fires back with the much-anticipated
upgraded MaxisONE plan.
The upgrade comes with a surge of
Internet data into the current MaxisONE
plans. Not only is this upgrade effective
immediately and free of charge, it is also for
both new users as well as pre-existing users.
The MaxisONE 98 plan used to consist
of only 1GB worth of data; now, it is up to
5GB. The same goes for the MaxisONE 128,
158, and the 188 plan as they each receive
significant upgrades into Internet data
capacity, mainly an extra 5GB, 15GB, and
20GB, respectively.
Other noteworthy updates for the
MaxisONE plans includes an extra 5GB
every month, which can be used for video
streaming on popular video-on-demand
streaming sites like iFlix, Viu, Eros Now, and
Hopster. This lifetime feature also allows you
to top-up an extra 5GB for video streaming
at only RM5 a day.
30
MAY 2016
Aside from introducing upgrades to the
current MaxisONE plans, Maxis also brings in
DataPool, a new and efficient way for MaxisONE
plan users to share their vast amount of Internet
data. This is compatible with any smartphone
and tablet. All you have to do is pay RM48 a
month and you will get a MaxisONE line with
Left to right: Tan Lay Han, Maxis’ Head of Sales
and Service, Dushyan Vaithiyanathan, Maxis’
Head of Consumer Business, and Morten Lundal,
Maxis’ CEO, at the launch of the upgraded
MaxisONE Plan
an extra 5GB worth of Internet data as well as
free calls and text messages.
For family vacations, the MaxisONE World
feature allows the whole family to use all of
their MaxisONE DataPool while roaming
overseas. They can also enjoy unlimited calls
and SMS to their hearts content.
comprehensive
product reviews _
the latest
gadgets and gizmos _
exclusive insights
into the IT industry _
DOWNLOAD NOW _
WIRE
On The Move
Digi introduces new mobile products
D
igi Telecommunications Sdn
Bhd (Digi) rolls out its new high
speed mobile broadband plans
using its 4G LTE and 4G LTEAdvanced (LTE-A) network,
where customers can enjoy access high
speed internet while on the go through its
new LTE-A capable MobiFi device.
On the first of April, and this is no
April fool’s joke, Digi introduces two new
plans, namely the Broadband 145 and
185, with 50GB and 100GB of internet
quota respectively. By using the new
MobiFi, users can now create their own
WiFi hotspot, where they can share the
internet connection with up to 10 devices.
An added advantage lies within the
MobiFi’s impressive battery life, where
users can enjoy a longer internet surfing
time. The device will initially be available
in the Klang Valley, and will continue on
introducing it to other markets in stages.
In conjunction with the launch of these
plans, current Digi Postpaid customers
subscribed to the new Broadband 145
or Broadband 185 are eligible for an
additional promotional discount of RM25
per month.
Praveen Ra jan, Digi’s Head of Postpaid & Digital Services, Andrew Sweetman,
Digi's Head of Device Marketing, Sivakumar Nagaretnam, Head of Network
Planning, and Cheong Chen Hoong, Head of Radio Access Planning at the launch
of Digi's new high speed mobile broadband plans; Broadband 145 and 185
Here, Kitty, Kitty…
Acer Revo One Gets A Makeover
G
ood news to Hello Kitty’s fans
and Acer’s loyal users, the
limited edition Acer Revo One
Hello Kitty is now available in
Malaysia. Limited to only 600
units available, this sweet-looking mini PC
is sure to be the centrepiece of your desk.
For those who are not familiar with
Acer Revo One, this mini PC has bagged
itself multiple design awards such as Red
Dot Design Award 2015 and Good Design
Award 2015. It can easily fit into any indoor
environment without hassle as it has
compact design.
There are two models of Acer Revo One
Hello Kitty, Intel® Core™ i3 processor with
1 TB storage supporting WiFi 802.11 ac/a/
b/g/n, and Intel®Celeron® processor with
500 GB storage supporting WiFi 802.11
b/g/n respectively.
Both models support HD resolution with
integrated graphic. They come equipped
with a card reader, HDMI port, Mini Display
32
MAY 2016
Port, LAN port, Audio jack, USB 2.0 ports (2
ports), USB 3.0 ports (2 ports), Bluetooth 4.0
and 4GB DDR3L (upgradable up to 8GB),
in addition to Windows® 10 operating
system. Also, there is one additional SATA
hard disk drive expansion available.
Fans might be thrilled to find out that the
package of Acer Revo One Hello Kitty edition
comes with a matching pink theme and colour
of Acer’s exclusive keyboard and mouse. The
mini PC is now available at selected Acer
resellers at a starting price of RM1,499.
WIRE
Com-PACKED with Power
Giada Launches Super-Compact i80
G
iada
launches
its
highperformance
super-compact
PC – the i80. The i80 embodies
the core principles of Intel's
NUC (Next Unit of Computing)
concept, offering great power, connectivity
and adaptability, but with a tiny footprint.
The
newly
launched
PC
is
equipped with latest 6th generation
Intel Core CPU, Skylake. With an
Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 520, it
is capable to support dual monitor with
resolution up to 4k (4096 x 2304).
The i80 comes equipped with four USB
3.0 ports, with an upgradable memory
module of up to 16GB using two SO-DIMM
sockets for DDR3L. It also features a JAHC
power automation management function
that includes an infrared remote control for
powering on the unit, schedule for power
on/off and auto restart for if and when the
system crashes.
This compact PC is ideal for general
office task and environment, as its design
is small and able to fit most areas with
ease. Giada offers customers two different
variants for i80, namely i80-B5000 which
comes with Intel Core i5-6200U processor
with speed up to 2.5 GHz (up to 2.8 GHz
with Turbo Boost 2.0 enabled),
and
i80-B3000 which equipped with 2.3 GHz
Intel Core i3-6300U processor.
HTC and Valve Forges Partnerships
Harrods and IKEA goes virtual through HTC Vive
H
TC teams up with video game
development
powerhouse
Valve to bring to you the HTC
Vive, a virtual reality system
capable of immersing the user
into a whole new realm of possibilities
and experiences.
Joining the tag-team are two giants in
its own industry, namely Harrods and IKEA,
entailing hands-on demonstrations and
applications of the HTC Vive.
There will be a pop-up HTC booth located
within Harrods London, which will spotlight a Vive
live demonstration area and is open to customers
visiting the department store for individual
sessions to experience a wide array of virtual
reality content. A pre-order will also be made
available at its Harrods Technology department.
IKEA’s virtual reality demonstration,
on the other hand, will not be available at
any IKEA outlets located around the globe.
That said, you can now experience the Ikea
virtual reality-kitchen with HTC Vive in the
comfort of your own home through Valve’s
gaming platform, Steam.
34
MAY 2016
Known as the IKEA VR Experience,
this pilot test is to explore new ways for
customers to have the full Ikea experience
without increasing the impact on the
environment. One of the features of the
IKEA VR Experience is the ability to try
out a variety of home furnishing solutions
before actually making a decision.
HTC Vive at Harrods
Rebranding For the Better
P1 is now known as webe
A
fter a period of silence from the
network, P1 rebrands itself as webe
- a digital mobile service provider
who will also be looking to launch its
own LTE network in Malaysia soon.
CC Puan, Chief Executive Officer of
webe, says: “More than a year into our
partnership with TM and SK Telco, our focus
has been on creating an entirely new user
experience….This isn’t just a name change;
we have completely renewed our philosophy
as well as our approach to business. In terms
of business, in line with TM’s aspiration
of becoming Malaysia’s Covergence
Champion, webe will become TM Group’s
Centre of Excellence for mobility.”
Webe’s new brand philosophy – ‘start
here, go anywhere’ – demonstrates the
diversity of ways communities can
come together as one to make things
happen. Along with the introduction of
its brand new image, webe launches
its webe community, a unique crowdbacking platform, which will enable
Malaysians to connect, collaborate, and
co-create with other Malaysians who
share similar goals.
CC Puan, CEO of webe and James Chong, Chief
Calibrator, webe community with the webe team
Feeling the Vibe
Vibe X3 now available in Malaysia
J
ohor
Football
Association
collaborates with ONEXOX
Sdn Bhd to bring a new
exclusive communication and
marketing plan to keep the
club’s fans closer and more updated
on the its happenings.
The telco will be introducing a
special edition Southern Tigers Club
Prepaid Starter Pack with a customised
ONEXOX’s USSD EASY MENU – a
feature that can be accessed offline
or online for free by dialling a special
code. The limited edition starter
pack is expected to be a sought-after
premium amongst fans as it will bring
them closer to their favourite team.
“We realised that ONEXOX has a
strong Johor subscriber base, and we
could track the spike in data usage
whenever a Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT)
match or happening was underway…
This exclusive service from ONEXOX
to Johor Southern Tigers fan club will
be of great benefit in keeping everyone
updated,” says Ng Kok Heng, Group
Chief Executive Office of XOX Bhd.
35
MAY 2016
WIRE
STOM Spectrum i100 is Out
First STOM Tablet Device
S
TOM is a new brand in the market
that is developed by Thunder
Match Technology (TMT) Sdn
Bhd. The newly launched STOM
Spectrum i100 2-in-1 is the result of a
collaboration between Intel and Microsoft. It
also introduced the all new STOM PC Stick.
While the Spectrum i100 is designed
as a portable device for multimedia
entertainment and serves as a computer
with its 10.6" IPS display, the PC Stick is
a USB-like device that can connect to any
monitor with a HDMI port and transform it
into a personal computer. Imagine your TV
becoming one giant computer.
Adrian Yu, Managing Director of TMT
Sdn Bhd says: "Now running over 270 million
devices around the world, Windows 10
enables the i100 to offer the full range of allnew universal apps such as Netflix, YouTube,
and Office 365. The i100 brings users to the
whirlwind centre of amazing experiences.”
Sumner Lemon, Country Manager of
Intel Malaysia and Singapore also adds:
"Intel's technology leadership and innovation
continues to inspire new products, and we
are pleased to work closely with local players
like TMT Sdn Bhd to introduce new 2-in-1
devices to consumers in Malaysia. Combining
the performance of a laptop and the versatility
of a tablet in an attractive design, the STOM
Spectrum i100 provides solid technology and
capabilities in a single device."
The competitive advantage of these
devices is on their value compared to the
larger market share competitors such as
Apple and Samsung. Aside from that,
TMT also has strong after sales support
with 51 service outlets around the country
to enhance customer’s confidence in its
product line. Also, these devices come with
one-year parts and labour warranty, with an
option to upgrade the warranty for another
two to three years.
STOM Spectrum i100 is priced at
RM1,099, while STOM PC Stick is priced at
RM599. To celebrate its launch, TMT will be
giving a discount of RM100 for Spectrum i100
and RM200 for its PC Stick. This promotion
is only limited for the first 500 units.
TMT also shares that it will also be collaborating
with YES for its devices late 2016.
A New Flagship Contender
vivo Malaysia Goes High-end
O
ffering
the
Malaysian
market a ‘faster than faster’
smartphone, vivo Malaysia
launches the vivo V3Max
that boasts cutting edge
technology, impressive looks and Hi-Fi
music quality. Comparative to its earlier
smartphone - the X5 Pro - launched in
the country last year, the V3Max is said
to be the brand’s high-end smartphone,
featuring a 5.5-inch Full HDS IPS display
protected by the 3rd generation 2.5D
Gorilla Glass atop.
The V3Max is powered by the
Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 1.8GHz
octa-core processor and carries 4GB
RAM on board, encased in an aluminium
magnesium alloy body covered with glossy
surface. Its internal storage capacity is
32GB and the handset supports up to 128
GB MicroSD Card for storage expansion.
Truly a work of art, the construction
of its body uses a series of specialised
36
MAY 2016
procedures,
including
precision
stamping, anodising and CNC (computer
numerical control). Complementing its
intricate body work, an additional zircon
sand-coating is sprayed throughout the
body to provide smooth textural feel –
making it comfortable in hand.
Moving forward, through the launch of
the V3Max, vivo aims to grow its business
to be global. Mike Xu, CEO of vivo Malaysia,
reveals that the company has over 3,000
sales offices and service centre, covering
the whole of Malaysia. He hopes to increase
its number of representative offices.
WIRE
11street turns one!
11street and Celcom Xpax launches year-long reload savings plan.
1
1street
turns
one
and
commemorates its birthday by
bringing its customers ‘Shocking
Deals to Life’, a carnival-themed
celebration where its customers
can enjoy shopping while saving money. In
conjunction with the merriment, it is also
collaborating with Xpax, featuring a yearlong exclusive 10% Reload Savings where
the new Magic SIM customers can stand to
enjoy more credit with the Shocking Deals
during the sale.
“11street constantly looks for the best
deals in town to offer its customers, and
this timely collaboration comes in handy
to help Malaysians save more. Sharing
the same view, both 11street and Xpax
are committed to providing high-quality
products and services to Malaysians at
competitive prices,” says Hoseok Kim,
11street’s CEO.
Additionally, 11street introduces famous
local actor-cum-entertainer, Zizan Razak
and Malaysia’s YouTube sweetheart,
Elizabeth Tan as its official brand
ambassadors.
“Looking at both Zizan and Lizzy, a
young and dynamic brand like 11street
could very well relate to their boundless
youth and energy that exuberates through
their passion and enthusiasm to take the
bulls by the horns. Honing these positive
Hoseok Kim, CEO of 11street and Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin, Chief of Sales and Marketing
Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad officially launched the year-long exclusive 10% reload savings
with Magic SIM alongside 11street’s new Brand Ambassador Zizan Razak and Elizabeth Tan.
LinkedIn makes it
way to Singapore
Professional networking platform opens its first
data centre in the region
K
nown as the world’s largest
professional network, LinkedIn
boasts of more than 414 million
members in its database, with
over 85 million based in Asia
Pacific. So it only seemed natural for
LinkedIn to unveil its first data centre out of
the US in the region
Spanning over 23,500sqft, Singapore
will be the first data centre for LinkedIn
located in the Asia Pacific region and
also one of the six, globally. This new
data centre will process all of LinkedIn’s
online traffic in the Asia Pacific region
while also handling a third of the online
traffic globally.
38
MAY 2016
vibes, we believe the duo will bring
11street to greater heights and be loved by
all Malaysians as much as they are now,”
Kim adds.
“Asia Pacific is our fastest growing
region in terms of member base outside
of the US. We are investing to make sure
we continue to provide a great experience
as our business continues to grow in this
region”, says Olivier Legrand, Managing
Director of LinkedIn in Asia Pacific.
“With the data centre closer to home for
both our members and clients, we hope
this will boost our continuing efforts to
provide them with faster and more reliable
services. Our objective is also to continue
to play an active role in facilitating the
free flow of economic opportunities for the
ASEAN trading block countries, including
Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.”
UKM, Bangi 29 March 2016
Utar-Sg Long, Kajang 31 March 2016
MMU, Cyberjaya 13 April 2016
UM, Kuala Lumpur 16-17 April 2016
MSU, Shah Alam 21 April 2016
UM, Kuala Lumpur 15 May 2016
*UiTM Shah Alam, *Unisel Bestari Jaya,
*UPM Serdang, *Usim Nilai,*UiTM
Puncak Alam, *Uniten, *IIUM/UIA
* Venue & Date. Subject to change.
BIZ 2.0
A New Revolution
Microsoft Launches SQL Server 2016
A
midst the revolution happening
in Malaysia and the data
industry, Microsoft launches its
latest SQL Server 2016 - built to
power the transformation of this
revolution, with technology and capabilities
borne from the disruptions happening in
cloud, data and intelligence.
True to this revolution, the tech giant’s
SQL Server 2016 comes with R - the most
popular language with data scientists
- built-in to help them solve the most
challenging problems in fields ranging
from computational biology to quantitative
marketing. It supports hybrid transactional/
analytical processing, advanced analytics
and machine learning, mobile BI, data
integration, always encrypted query
processing capabilities and in-memory
transactions with persistence.
Further supporting its expertise,
Gartner recognises Microsoft as an
industry leader within the Operational
Database Management Systems and also
the fields of analytics platform and business
intelligence.
Michal Golebiewski, Chief Marketing
and Operations Officer of Microsoft Malaysia
explains: “Gartner’s Magic Quadrant report
is testament to the demands brought forth
by the revolution within the industry.
Organisations and sectors alike want more
insights to transform their businesses and
services. Microsoft recognises this shift
and have integrated SQL Server 2016
with the tools and resources required to
be ahead of today’s revolution curve.
We believe that SQL Server 2016 is the
40
MAY 2016
biggest leap forward in Microsoft’s data
platform history with real-time operational
analytics, rich visualisations on mobile
devices, built-in advanced analytics, new
advanced security technology, and new
hybrid cloud scenarios.”
Putting Microsoft above its competitors
in the segment, the company is offering free
Express software licensing (Standard and
Enterprise are prices starting at US$3,717
and US$14,256 respectively), subsidised
deployment cost and complimentary training
package for those migrating to SQL Server
2016 from all commercial competitors’ database
by signing up with their Software Assurance
service. The offer is available for a limited
time only and is valid until 30 June 2016.
Reaping the benefits of the newly
introduced SQL Server 2016, multinational
corporations such as MasterCard, UPS
and BMW are already taking advantage of
the technology.
“MasterCard is a prime example of
an institution that was able to leverage
and transform one’s disposition to take
advantage of today’s industry trends, despite
the disruptive nature of such a revolution.
“With SQL Server 2016, MasterCard
was able to abstract tangible insights that
it then used to empower its organization
forward, with more meaningful products
in a more efficient manner. This is
exactly what Microsoft’s products and
services (such as SQL Server 2016) were
made for – to empower every person
and organization to achieve more in
this increasingly cloud-first, mobile-first
world,” says Golebiewski.
BIZ 2.0
2016 IT Spending Forecast Out
Malaysia Expected to Spend More
T
he Gartner Worldwide IT Spending
Forecast reveals Malaysia’s IT
spending this year is expected to
increase by 7.8% to US$68.9 billion
compared to 2015. Comparatively,
worldwide IT spending in 2016 has declined
marginally to US$3.49 trillion (0.5%) as
compared to last year (US$3.5 trillion).
This is down from last quarter’s forecast of
0.5% growth, and Gartner attributes it to
currency fluctuation.
“There is an undercurrent of economic
uncertainty that is driving organisations to
tighten their belts, and IT spending is one of
the casualties,” says John-David Lovelock,
research vice president at Gartner. “At
the same time, the need to invest in IT to
support digital business is more urgent
than ever. Business leaders know that they
need to become digital businesses or face
irrelevance in a digital world. To make that
happen, leaders are engaging in tough cost
optimisation efforts in some areas to fund
digital business in others.”
According
to
Lovelock,
savings
from legacy system optimisation and
enhancements are being redirected to fund
digital initiatives. “It’s about doing more
with the same funds,” he opines.
“Typically, less than 10% of organisations
are in cost optimisation or cost cutting
mode. However, the need to spend on
digital business initiatives in a time when
revenue growth does not support runaway
IT budgets is forcing more organisations to
optimise as a first step. Business processes,
as well as IT, are undergoing optimisation
- digital business requires both. However,
many CIOs are reluctant to raise this
possibility, given the cultural and political
barriers to optimising business costs.”
Malaysia IT Spending Forecast (Billions of Ringgit)
Note: Numbers may not add up to totals shown because of rounding. Source: Gartner (April 2016)
Worldwide IT Spending Forecast (Billions of U.S. Dollars)
Source: Gartner (April 2016)
42
MAY 2016
PC.com is also available for the mobile medium,
coming in bite-sized MMS news twice a week. We
cover the latest tech news, hottest gadgets, product
reviews and more. It is currently available for Maxis,
Celcom and Digi users.
3G
4:08 PM
There's a market for midrange cameras,
particularly for those who either want to
learn how to take proper pictures or
believe they can become a great
photographer but can't afford a full
blown DSLR. Always catering for
photography enthusiasts on both divides
with its offerings, Fujifilm decided to
release a camera that sits between the
two groups – the Fujifilm SL300.
There's a market for midrange cameras,
particularly for those who either want to
learn how to take proper pictures or
believe they can become a great
photographer but can't afford a full
blown DSLR. Always catering for
photography enthusiasts on both divides
with its offerings, Fujifilm decided to
release a camera that sits between the
two groups – the Fujifilm SL300.
Price: RM1/week
Frequency: Twice a week
Language: English
Availability: Maxis, Celcom, Digi
Follow the instructions below to subscribe:
Maxis & Digi: SMS “ON PC” to 23238
Celcom: SMS “ON PC” to 27272
BIZ 2.0
A (Big) Splash
of Neon
OKI introduces ground-breaking neon color
printer into its arsenal
A
truly ground-breaking printer,
the new OKI Pro6410 Neon
Color will give businesses in
the creative and graphic
arts industry the ability to
produce materials with super bright
fluorescent colours.
The Pro6410 Neon Color printer is
compact enough to sit on a tabletop,
yet its size masks an incredible ability
to produce beautiful neon colours on
almost any type of media. Incorporating
a unique black or white quick swap
print cartridge feature, the Pro6410
Neon Color printer makes it easy to
produce dazzling fluorescent effects on
either dark or light backgrounds. This
unique approach offers the additional
flexibility to use OKI’s neon white
toner as, a security mark only revealed
when checked under UV black light,
or to provide a white background for
transfer to dark substrates.
Innovative neon colours will generate
the wow factor when brought to life
under UV black light, while 3D glasses
bring a funky new dimension to neon
colour images. Banners, tickets and
point-of-sale barkers all resonate with
colour, while the vibrant tones electrify
T-shirt and garment decoration.
The incredible versatility of this
revolutionary printer and its vibrant
colour spectrum means businesses
now have fast access to new revenuestreams in garment and product
decoration, personalisation, packaging
and proofing, point-of-sale and in-store
signage and education. For the retail
sector this is the perfect printer to help
bring a greater number of customers
through the door.
“The Pro6410 Neon Color liberates
graphic designers and print houses
from the limits of the standard CMYK
colour spectrum. Businesses can now
create stunning effects with brilliant
neon colours to spark interest in
various special offers that they might
have for the day, for example, attractive
signage, POS displays and window
graphics using neon colour will all
command the customer’s attention and
44
MAY 2016
increase sales. These new printers will
therefore unleash the full creative and
commercial potential of commercial
printers,
designers,
copy-shops,
technology and promotional printers,”
says Goh Yin Hwang, Country Manager
of OKI Malaysia.
“(The) printer is another OKI
first with its stand-out feature of
printing neon colours. There are so
many possibilities by electrifying
conventional graphics with bursts
of high-voltage, fluorescent colour
on almost any medium. It is part
of our continuous commitment
to innovation that opens up new,
practical,
revenue-generating
opportunities for customers.”
The Pro6410 Neon Color is part
of the new Pro Series line-up that
is primarily targeted at sectors
producing
creative
designs
as
well as those with a volume print
requirement, including print houses,
advertising, design and other graphic
arts businesses.
T
I
T
O
G
!
E
R
E
H
I
“We are professional retail operation for the ICT industry. Our ICT Centre is
a 20,000 square foot premise at 1st Avenue, Penang and includes popular
IT and Telecommunication products. Visit an iconic IT shopping experience
that caters to your lifestyle needs. ”
ICT Shops Available At 2ND Floor 1ST AVENUE
RETAIL OUTLET ENQUIRY +603 2727 2727
The Management Initiative Sdn. Bhd. (1025869-U)
A-5-1, Level 7, Block A, Menara Uncang Emas,
No. 85, Jalan Loke Yew, 55200 Kuala Lumpur
BIZ 2.0
Reduction in ISP Porting Fee
MyIX Provides Support For Internet Improvements
M
alaysia Internet Exchange
(MyIX) - an initiative under the
Malaysian Communication
and Multimedia Commission
(MCMC) - has reduced current port fees
for every Malaysian Internet Service
Providers (ISP) and other members,
effective 1st April 2016.
“We are already utilising approximately
65% of the central node’s capacity and
hence going forward, an upgrade is
necessary. This upgrade is planned to
meet the projected Internet connectivity
needs of the country over the next two
to three years,” shares Chiew Kok Hin,
Chairman of MyIX.
The reduction in fees applies across
the board for all port speeds ranging from
100Mbps to 10Gbps, and is expected to
save ISPs more than 10% of their current
monthly fees. The decision was made
to align with MyIX’s goal to encourage
greater usage of its node and to promote
better peering between local ISPs. The
organisation also received approval to
upgrade its central node’s capacity from
40Gbps to 100Gbps.
E-Commerce’s Huge Potential
Maximise Potentials in E-Commerce with EasyStore
E
xabytes Network Sdn Bhd
(Exabytes)
announces
its
partnership with Japanese
Payment Gateway (GMO-PG)
to provide better service and
coverage of regions to their clients.
GMO-PG services are now available
in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
Thailand, and now Malaysia.
“The E-Commerce market in South
Eastern Asia is expected to grow at an
annual average rate of 37.6% from 2013
to 2018, making it an attractive sector
for Japanese merchants looking to do
business in Malaysia,” says Exabytes’
Founder and CEO, Chan Kee Siak.
The forecasted year-on-year growth
of the market is a good indication of the
opportunities and potential that has yet
to be unleashed. The partnership hopes
to also provide Japanese businesses
that are using the EasyStore solution
to set up their online stores, to offer
customers secure online credit card
transactions via the Japanese GMO-PG
payment gateway.
Chan adds: “EasyStore is an all-inone solution to help SMEs to easily set up
46
MAY 2016
an online store. SMEs are able to easily
design, manage and automate a lot of
business processes that is needed to run
an online store. Currently there is more
than 15,000 successful online stores that
is using (this) solution.”
With the GMO-PG payment gateway in
place, Malaysian businesses can also explore
entering the Japanese E-Commerce market.
Moreover, Exabytes’ clients can easily and
readily penetrate into other markets that
GMO-PG is currently available in.
Chan Lee Siak
AVAILABLE
at bookstores near you
Fashion Week in
i n
New York
C Shopping
I T Yin
Cannes
Meditate in Ubud
another quality
product from
P a r t y
London
Honeymoon
at Necker
Islands
Musha Cay
Discover Paradise at Tetiaroa
Puck
Wolfgang
Culture in Santa Fe
Sunbathe in
To Peru on Orient Express
Dining with
Nature in Aspen
BIZ 2.0
Accelerating Digital
Transformation with Huawei
Huawei holds the Southern Pacific Telco IT Industry Summit 2016
T
he Huawei Southern Pacific
Telco IT Industry Summit 2016
welcomes more than 100 global
partners, including Accenture,
Intel, SAP, and Entropy Solution.
Also present at the event are top telco
operators from Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, and Philippines.
The summit aims to create a platform for
the telco IT industry, where new players can
connect and learn from industry leaders,
create business opportunities, leading to
growth and expansion, as well as build a
new digital service industry chain.
Liu Dongfang, Vice President of Carrier
Business Group, Huawei Technologies,
South Pacific Region, says: “This is the
most important event of the year for
Huawei’s telco IT partners and customers.
It is a credible platform and a medium for
networking opportunities with thoughtprovoking dialogues as well as a place to
discuss and share strategic ideas.”
Participants at the event are able to
gain first-hand insights and knowledge
on the telco business, such as exploring
new ways to expand a business creating a win-win situation for a
Chen Gang, Neil Osmond, Peter Tanghe, Evan Schultz, Greg Tilton, Magnus Alvarsson
Creating a Ruckus
Networking Experts Join Forces
B
rocade enters into a definitive
agreement with Ruckus Wireless
for the acquisition of the latter.
The acquisition will complement
Brocade’s enterprise networking
portfolio, adding Ruckus’ higher-growth,
wireless products to Brocade’s market-leading
networking solutions. It will also significantly
strengthen Brocade’s strategic presence in the
broader service provider space, with Ruckus’
market-leading Wi-Fi position.
“This strategic combination will position us to
expand our addressable market and technology
leadership with Ruckus’ fast-growing wireless
LAN products, and supports our vision to deliver
market-leading New IP solutions that enable the
network to become a platform for innovation,” says
Lloyd Carney, chief executive officer of Brocade.
Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus
reiterates: “The combination of our two
companies will create an exciting new
thought leader in networking and significant
opportunities for our stakeholders to
participate in the combined company’s future
growth potential.”
48
MAY 2016
telco IT ecosystem with partners. This
also creates new opportunities in the
industry to further develop and enhance
diverse operating experiences with agile
IT architectures.
Security That Comes With Flexibility
Dell’s SonicOS Delivers
D
ell Security announces the new
SonicOS 6.2.5, which is now
available for Dell SonicWALL
SuperMassive, NSA and TZ
Series firewalls. This new
firmware enhances security to Dell
switches, wireless access points and
firewalls by consolidating the management
of the converged network infrastructure.
The release also significantly advances
capabilities associated with inspecting
encrypted traffic, a major threat vector
in today’s malware economy, and meets
strict certification requirements of the US
Department of Defense.
SonicOS 6.2.5 simplifies support for
Dell Security partners by providing one
version of firmware to handle the majority
of Dell SonicWALL products. The new
SonicOS also increases connection
counts on encrypted HTTPS sessions,
enabling stronger encryption support and
expanding government certification for
high security applications.
“The life of a security officer in any sized
organisation is not easy, no matter what the
industry. With the introduction of SonicOS
6.2.5, Dell Security has made strides to
make their lives easier,” says Han Chon,
director, Security and Endpoint Systems
Management, Dell Asia Pacific & Japan.
“The new OS has features designed
to enable a converged infrastructure
across
switching,
wireless,
and
security, allowing organisations to
do more with less and reduce the
complexity of network management.
This is yet another innovative offering
we deliver to help our customers
navigate
today’s
rising
threat
landscape, keep their network secure
and workforce productive.”
Logitech Revolutionises Video
Conferencing Technology
Video Conferencing made easy for you
W
hen it comes to improving
video conferencing technology,
Logitech has introduced its latest
breakthrough by working with
video conference applications that
are already being used. The Logitech GROUP is
equipped with crystal-clear audio paired with
high-quality HD video conferencing technology
to drastically improve video conferencing for
groups of up to 14 people.
Both audio and visual technology that makes
up the Logitech GROUP focuses on pristine and
crystal clear perfection; the full-duplex, sleek
speakerphone delivers crisp, top-quality audio
that can be heard by everyone in the meeting,
no matter where they are seated. For improved
acoustic performance, the speakerphone comes
with a metal case by isolating the microphone
from the speaker.
The 1080p video quality brings out full HD
video to conference calls, ensuring all participants
will be able to interact with each other clearly
while being able to track facial expressions and
movements with great precision.
49
MAY 2016
BIZ 2.0
On The Road to Disruption
5G, IoT and Cloud identified as three emerging disruptive technologies by Ericsson
E
ricsson predicts that the fast
emerging technologies of 5G,
Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud
will drive digital disruption in every
industry in Malaysia in 2016. With
a government that actively pushes policies
that are in line with the adoption of new
technologies and the usage of ICT towards
building a Smart Nation, Malaysia is well
placed to benefit from the transformational
opportunities brought by 5G, IoT and Cloud.
“Ericsson together with our partners
and customers, is on a transformation
journey which will see industries and even
whole societies benefiting from mobility,
broadband and cloud,” says Todd Ashton,
Head of Ericsson Malaysia & Sri Lanka.
“Digital disruption will come to every
industry in 2016 especially here in Malaysia
where society is rapidly adopting ICT.
Smartphone subscription is expected to
grow more than 1.5 times from now until
2020 across Malaysia. We are already
working closely with various industries to
create a truly Networked Society here in
Malaysia through collaborations with our
local 5G and IoT partners with whom we
are working on building a 5G roadmap and
connecting industries such as agriculture”.
Ashton went on to share that major
announcements were made at the recent
Mobile World Congress towards ensuring
a more global, innovative and effective
portfolio of solutions, including Ericsson’s
agreements with 20 major operators
around the world to work together on 5Gl
a collaboration with AT&T to bring the
operator’s Digital Life solution , which uses
IoT technology to transform home security
and automation, to service providers in
Malaysia; and its plans to form a global
business, technology and services alliance
with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to
accelerate cloud transformation for
telecoms service providers.
Todd Ashton
Land of Scams
Study finds Malaysians vulnerable to scams
A
s internet accessibility in
Malaysia continues to expand,
so does the breadth of internet
scams to gain consumers’
personal information. Telenor
Group, which Digi is a part of, released the
results of an Internet Scams study showing
that the top three scams in Malaysia are;
‘work from home’ fraud (30%); internet
auction scams; (22%) and online dating
scams (20%). It also revealed the top
five ways Malaysian’s avoid scam - an
important way to reduce these instances in
the near future.
The multi-market survey assessed 400
internet users aged 18 – 65+ in Malaysia,
India, Singapore and Thailand. In Malaysia,
all of those surveyed classified themselves
as internet users, averaging nearly 10 hours
per day on the web.
However, online safety is a growing
concern with more than half of those
surveyed (54%) stating they are ‘very
concerned’ with online scams - more than
those equally concerned with mugging
(45%) and stalking (42%).
50
MAY 2016
Of the regions surveyed, Malaysia was
the country most vulnerable to internet
scams, with 46% of respondents saying
they had been victims to scams - followed
only by Thailand at 43%. The study found
that 1-in-5 people have been victims to
both internet auction scams and online
dating scams, and a 1-in-10 had their
Facebook hacked. A further 46% of
Malaysian respondents saying they know
a friend or family member who has been
scammed online.
Available at all major
bookstore. Download
edition on app store and
google marketplace
BUSINESS TODAY
PC.COM
TRAVEL & DINING
REACH PUBLISHING SDN BHD
NO 15-3, BLOCK F1, JALAN PJU 1/42, DATARAN PRIMA,
47301 PE TALING JAYA, SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
O: 03-7880 2611 | F: 03-7880 1971
Covers critical economic, financial and business developments that
impact Malaysian and multinational enterprises, and marries it to a
lifestyle focus that’s second-to-none.
The country’s leading local ICT magazine, and continues to
be every newbie and veteran user’s ultimate guide to the
computing age.
The latest luxury themed magazine that centres around what everyone
likes most - travel and food - and we brings you the best kept secrets of
chefs, dieticians, and wonder-struck travelers, who love nothing more
than to share with you their pearls of wisdom.
CORPORATE: WWW.REACH.COM.MY
PC.COM: WWW.LIVEATPC.COM I WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PCDOTCOM
WWW.TWITTER.COM/PCDOTCOM I WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/USER/PCDOTCOMMY
BUSINESS TODAY | PC.COM | TRAVEL & DINING
BUSINESS TODAY: WWW.BUSINESSTODAY.NET.MY
BIZ 2.0
Insure Against Digital Disaster
Veeam now offers its Availability Orchestrator with Disaster Recovery
A
ccording to Veeam Availability
Report 2016, data protection
and disaster recovery are key
areas for improving availability
as unplanned IT outages
cost the average organisation US$16
million a year. In addressing the need for
the abovementioned, Veeam Software
announces its multi-hypervisor disaster
recovery (DR) orchestration engine that
enables enterprises to easily execute,
test and document DR plans: the Veeam
Availability Orchestrator.
The new Veeam Availablity Orchestrator
fixes current issues with DR plans by
providing enterprises with a multihypervisor DR orchestration engine for
Veeam Availability Suite and Veeam
Backup & Replication.
“Well-orchestrated and tested DR plans
continue to remain one of the primary
challenges facing CIOs,” says Ratmir
Timashev, CEO of Veeam Software.
“While
many
enterprises
have
plans in place, they are complex and
cumbersome, which means they are often
unreliable and difficult to execute, as
well as untested and outdated. This puts
compliance and enterprise availability
at risk. The new Veeam Availability
Orchestrator continues our mission to
enable enterprises to achieve 24/7/365
availability. It enables modern SLAs for
data and application recovery to be met,
reduces costs, increases reliability by
eliminating manual processes, all while
satisfying compliance requirements.”
The Veeam Availability Orchestrator
will be available later this year.
Hit The Ground Running
Canon reveals the third generation of its enterprise printing solution
A
dding to its portfolio of
A3 multi-function devices
(MFDs), Canon introduces
its third generation of
imageRUNNER
ADVANCE
(iR-ADV) line-up, designed and
engineered to deliver the holistic
document imaging needs of users
today. These new machines are
geared with intelligent features that
improve the efficiency of workflow
including wireless capabilities.
“Keeping the changing needs of
modern workgroups in mind, we are
proud to introduce the new generation
series featuring a high level of
connectivity and innovative smart
features such as My ADVANCE and
Intelligent Recovery. These features
were designed to create a secure yet
user-centric platform for enhanced
process and cost efficiencies at the
workplace,” says Rodney Lee, Head of
Business Imaging Solution Division,
Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
The new iR-ADV series offers users
enhances security and reliability
features for added protection and fleet
52
MAY 2016
management, along with sustainable
design with cost management features.
The first in-line to hit the stores
from the iR-ADV new product
Rodney Lee, Head of Business Imaging Solution Division,
Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
range is the monochrome iR-ADV
6500i/8500 series, which is available
at authorised Canon distributors
and dealers.
- 02 OSSIC X 3D AuDIO
HeADpHOneS
- 03 XIAOmI ReDmI
nOte 3
07
- 04 OtteRbOX ACHIeveR
SeRIeS
pHIlIpS A5-pRO
- 10 tRInuS All-metAl 3D
pRInteR
- 12 FIReFly COmmunICAtOR
Gizmos
where technology meets lifestyle
02
03
10
12
53
MAY 2016
GIZMOS
02
01
OSSIC X 3D AuDIO
HeADpHOneS
Labelled as the world’s first 3D audio headphones,
the people behind the OSSIC X ensures that
these headphones will instantly calibrate to the
listeners, increasing the sense of auditory space
while acoustically recreating the way you hear
the world on an everyday basis. It pairs individual
anatomy calibration with advanced 3D audio
algorithms and head-tracking for an accurate 3D
sound to your ears. These headphones are not
only suited for an immersive experience with
movies and music but also video games, perfectly
suited for the average audiophile.
bObby tHe AntI-tHeFt
bACkpACk
If possible, you would want to go about the rest of
your life never having experienced being a victim
to theft. That is what the people over at XD Design
are all about with their latest creation known as
Bobby, the best anti-theft backpack. Its advanced
storage design with quick-access pockets and
anti-cut material allows it to be extremely sturdy
yet lightweight so you will not feel the burden on
your shoulders. Bobby comes with an integrated
USB charging port to charge your device without
any fuss or worry.
www.kickstarter.com | US$249
https://www.xd-design.com | £80
03
XIAOmI ReDmI nOte 3
The Redmi Note 3 comes in two choices of either
16GB with 2GB RAM in silver or 32GB with 3GB
RAM in gold or grey. Users can also enjoy playing
their favourite games or browse the web on the
5.5” LCD display with 1080p resolution. The heart
of the Redmi Note 3 is the Qualcomm MSM8956
Snapdragon 650 with a 64-bit hexa-core processor.
The non-removable Li-Po 4050 mAh battery can be
quickly charged but also takes days to finish.
www.Mi.com | RM746
54
MAY 2016
04
OtteRbOX ACHIeveR SeRIeS
Otterbox has once again redefined security when
it comes to casing with the new Achiever series. It
comes in five different colours, mainly Black Powder,
Black Powder Moon, Golden Sierra, Pink Bubblegum
Way, and Red Nightfire. The Achiever series brings
together a well-balanced design, featuring a spiralpatterned internal layer with multiple vents on the
outer shell. It is also custom-designed to provide
superior dual-layered protection to your smartphone
against drops, bumps, and shock.
www.otterbox.asia | RM 129 (iPhone 6/6S)
RM 149 (iPhone 6 Plus/6S Plus)
05
leAGOO SHARk 1
LEAGOO ups the ante with its new flagship device
– the LEAGOO Shark 1. It is also equipped with a
6,300mAh Li-Po battery, the LEAGOO Shark 1 is
capable of lasting up to 45 days on standby with
a single charge. Carrying a large battery capacity
is no excuse to compromise on design. It comes
with a dynamic metal unibody design: 8.5 mm in
thickness and curved edges from side to the corner
of the device. The Shark 1 comes in Modern Gold,
Elegant Black and Satin Silver.
www.leagoo.com.my | RM999
06
eXIlIm eX-FR100
Like its predecessor, the new EXILIM EX-FR100
features a rugged design with shock, water and
dust resistance…the best bit? It can easily be
operated single-handedly. The FR100 retains the
detachable design, which enables users to attach
the camera module to virtually anywhere via an
assortment of aftermarket accessories. Equipped
with a new 16mm ultra wide-angle lens, it works
well to take selfies, large group photos, as well as
landscape photography when you’re travelling or
during outdoor activities.
RM2,149
55
MAY 2016
GIZMOS
08
SOny bRAvIA w650D SeRIeS
Come home to the all-new Sony BRAVIA LED TV
W650D series, packed with features that will further
enhance your entertainment experience. The W650D
series comes in multiple screen size options, from
40” to 48”. Its sleek lines and elegant slim display
will complement your home interior, and its clean
cable management keep wires out of view. Sony’s
X-Reality PRO feature, which is included in this
particular series, provides stunning details for any
content, from broadcast, DVD and Blu-ray Disc to
Internet streaming and digital photos – the latter can
be done wirelessly!
www.sony.com.my | RM1,699
07
pHIlIpS A5-pRO
Specifically designed by International DJ legend,
Armin van Buuren to meet his needs as a
globetrotting DJ, the Philips A5-PRO headphone
is an essential tool for every DJ professional as
well as music aficionados. Powered by 50mm
neodymium drivers, Philips A5-PRO provides
3500mW power handling with clear, dynamic
and distortion-free delivery event a high volumes
or with high audio input power. It is built on
anodised-finish and sturdy yet lightweight
aluminium structure to withstand any active DJ
environment. Moreover, the earpieces on these
headphones can be rotated 90° for convenient
one-ear listening while track mixing.
RM2,112.15 (with GST)
09
ACeR SwItCH AlpHA 12
Offering a heightened level of mobility and excellent
performance, the recently announced Switch Alpha
12 2-in-1 notebook with Windows 10 is an ultra-slim,
flexible notebook-to-tablet that is both elegant and
sturdy. The device comes with the Acer LiquidLoop
cooling, which keeps the Switch Alpha 12 at a stable
temperature and running efficiently without fan noise.
It is also the industry’s first 2-in-1 with a 6th Generation
Intel Core processor to use a fanless design. Equipped
with a versatile kickstand, attachable keyboard, and an
optional Acer Active Pen, the Switch Alpha 12 is a great
companion when one is out and about.
www.acer.com | US$599
56
MAY 2016
12
10
tRInuS All-metAl 3D pRInteR
If you’ve always wanted a high quality 3D printer
of your own, but found them to be expensive, this
Trinus All-Metal 3D Printer is the one for you. Trinus
is made with all premium aluminum and steel parts.
Not only does it have a metal frame, it also has metal
internal components. Scaled down from industrialgrade machines, Trinus delivers stability, accuracy, and
durability.
www.trinus3d.com | Starts from US$299
FIReFly COmmunICAtOR
Most people want to learn a different language.
Be ahead of the curve and learn how you can
communicate with fireflies instead. The Firefly
Communicator, the first of its kind, is a device
that allows people to emulate the light patterns of
fireflies, attracting them with the press of a single
button. The device is designed to emulate the
shape of a firefly (that has been supersized, made
from a solid material), and can be programmed
using the SpeakFirefly app to display firefly
patterns. With Firefly Communicator, the potential
for discovery and the opportunity to contribute to
science is at your fingertips.
www.kickstarter.com | US$30
11
kAptIvO
A whiteboard is a traditional tool used to write and
present ideas and notes, be it in the office, school or
even at home. With Kaptivo, a brand new accessory that
transforms any whiteboard into an online collaboration
solution, everything you write on your whiteboard
can be shared in real time with colleagues working
remotely, or distributed to your team afterwards as a
PDF document. You can even rewind your whiteboard
to a particular point in the meeting to see how an idea
developed. Kaptivo gives you clean, sharp images ready
to share or stream wirelessly in real time.
www.latestbuy.com.au | US$ 34.95
57
MAY 2016
GIZMOS
You can find these products and more in
RadioShack outlets at:
Mid Valley Megamall Berjaya Times Square
Bangsar Shopping Centre Hartamas Shopping Centre
Sunway Pyramid IOI City Mall
Avenue K Sunway Putra Mall
Gardens (shop-in-shop inside Borders)
The Curve (shop-in-shop inside Borders)
Tropicana City Mall (shop-in-shop inside Borders)
Gurney Plaza Penang
FItbIt blAze
Innovating the workout experience, the Fitbit Blaze is a fitness
watch that you’ll want on you at all times. Choose from sport
modes like running, biking and cardio, to see real-time stats on
display. Even if you forget to log in your exercises, the Fitbit
Blaze’s SmartTrack™ will automatically recognise and record
them for you…you’ll get credit for a workout even if you forget.
Get more out of your fitness by connecting your Fitbit Blaze with
the GPS on your phone to map your routes and see run stats like
pace and duration on display. Pair that with its on-screen summary
of each workout, and then check its details of the Fitbit app,
achieving your weekly workout goals has never been this easy.
mARSHAll kIlbuRn
The Marshall Kilburn pays homage to the
brand’s classic speakers that many of us are
familiar with.
This portable and lightweight piece
of vintage styled engineering takes the
unmistakable look and sound of Marshall,
unplugs the chords and quite literally takes
the show on the road. It even comes with
a guitar-influenced leather strap, which
enables easy and stylish travel.
It may be small in size, but it sets the bar
as one of the loudest speakers in its class,
complete with well-balanced audio. The
Kilburn can be used via Bluetooth connectivity
or through the 3.5mm jack input. A built-in
battery life of up to 20 hours means the jams
will be kicking for as long as you are.
58
MAY 2016
mARSHAll mAjOR II
The Marshall Major makes comeback for round II (two),
and this time, with updated sound and durability, as well
as improved ergonomics. In fact, the headphone’s already
classic good looks got an upgrade to a more rounded
construction and extra durable vinyl finish.
The Major II features more advanced sound features,
including customised drivers, to deliver deeper bass and
more extended detailed highs with a refined mid- range
and overall lower distortion. The detachable double-ended
coil cord with mic and remote is equipped with an L-plug
end, providing improved durability and carrying ease. The
dual 3.5 mm jacks allow you to choose which side you prefer
to wear your cable on or to plug in and share your music
with a friend.
FItbIt AltA
Find inspiration every day by putting on the Fitbit Alta, a
slim and smart fitness watch that will blending in with the
rest of your wardrobe. Begin by tracking your steps, the
distance you’ve gone, how much calories you’ve burned
and count how many active minutes you have had. Even
if you don’t the Alta will give you friendly reminders to
move and stay active throughout the day. The best bit is,
it will reward you for your efforts!
It is also a great companion for those who are on-the-go,
as the Alta allows for smart notifications to be displayed
on its slim OLED screen. Get instant access to your stats,
the time and even your smartphone notification without
even having to take the latter out of your bag or pocket.
mARSHAll mODe
The biggest surprise usually comes in small packages, and
that is certainly what the Marshall Mode is. Though its small
silhouette may not appeal to you, know that it certainly
offers huge sounds that will knock your socks off.
Featuring a unique in-ear design anchors to your ear
while still providing a comfortable fit, the Mode also delivers
high-output sound at minimal distortion. This is further
combined with excellent audio, a tangle resistant cord and
unique styling that embodies the Marshall legacy.
59
MAY 2016
FIRST LOOK
The Perfect Match
Huawei and Leica pair up for a collaboration of epic proportion.
by teh wi-liam
T
here are plenty of smartphones
currently in the market boasting
the best in camera quality.
Some of the contenders include
consumer favourites, Apple and Samsung,
who has always been consistent when
it comes to capturing quality images
on camera. However, this new player
into the ring might just blow these two
powerhouses out of the water.
Huawei is out to set a new standard in
smartphone technology, thanks to its
introduction of the dual-lens technology
introduced in two new phones: the P9 and
P9 Plus. How all this came about is due to
the collaboration between Huawei and the
iconic camera brand known worldwide,
Leica Camera AG.
Known as the number one choice for several
street photographers, Leica does not mess
around when it comes to photography.
The dual-lens featured in both the P9 and
P9 Plus is fitted with remarkable precision
60
MAY 2016
Huawei P9
Huawei P9 Plus
and attention to detail. The RGB camera
specialises in capturing colour in exquisite
detail whereas the monochrome camera
works best when it comes to acquiring
explicit details in images.
The cameras located in the smartphone
carries three different film modes to choose
from, mainly Standard, Vivid Colours, and
Smooth Colours. This ensures that each
and every picture captured through the
dual-lens of the P9 and P9 Plus carries a
certain distinctive quality and perpetuity
that can only be found through the lens of a
Leica camera. What makes this smartphone
unique from the rest is the use of Huawei’s
Hybrid Focus technology. Paired with Leica’s
unprecedented perfectionism with camera
lens, the P9 and P9 Plus captures images with
superior speed, accuracy, and stability.
would have to be the dual-IC Rapid Charge,
giving users up to six hours of talk time after
only charging the device for 10 minutes.
This innovative partnership brings together
not only the best in photography but also
in its design, as well as hardware that
is featured in the P9 and P9 Plus. The P9
comes with a 5.2-inch, 1080p display that
ensures you will be able to view every image
captured in crisp, crystal clear quality.
The two smartphones were launched
together with Huawei’s latest wearable
wristband, the TalkBand B3 at London’s
Battersea Evolution. The TalkBand
B3 focuses more on productivity and
connectivity while conducting itself in a
sleek and stylish form.
There are significant difference between
the P9 and P9 Plus, most noticeably, the
larger display screen at 5.5-inches and a
larger 3,400mAh battery, as opposed to
the P9’s 3,000mAh. The biggest difference
The availability in Malaysia has yet to
be announced (as of print time), but we
have it on good authority that Malaysia is
among the list of countries to receive the
P9 series.
Huawei TalkBand B3
61
MAY 2016
AWArdS
PLATINUM award
Minimum Score: 9.0
- 64 OPPO F1 PLUS
The best of the best and all wrapped into a
neat package.
- 67 HUAWEI MATE 8
GOLD award
Minimum Score: 8.0
- 68 xIAOMI rEdMI nOTE 3
Outstanding in performance, features
and design.
Silver award
Minimum Score: 7.5
- 70 ACEr PrEdATOr 15
Above average but yet still deserve recognition.
- 72 dUCKY SHInE 5
EVALUATIOn
Value | Expensive does not always mean good.
- 77 HP SPECTrE x2
Performance | A measure of how well the
product stands up to our testing.
Features | The best gimmicks and flashy parts
get the top score.
- 78 LEnOVO POCKET
PrOjECTOr
design | Aesthetics are important. The nicer it
looks, the more points it gets.
Usability | The best for day-to-day tasks are
valued higher.
- 84 VIVO V3MAx
Tested
74
djI PHAnTOM 4
If it explodes, we'll let you know.
64
62
MAY 2016
77
reviews by nur atifi, amir, wi-liam, ng thim soon, daryl tan, lydia chian, syazmir, and an otter
TEST LAB GUIdE
Starting this year, we are improving our internal testing methodologies for
all components and devices. Also, starting this month we are introducing a
new Editor's Choice award for the best product in each category such as PCs,
inkjet printers, smartphones and DSLR cameras.
InKjET PrInTErS
a) Print a reference page for colour images, black and white text using the
same DPI settings.
b) Scan printed pages into Adobe Photoshop using identical settings.
c) Compare scans from different printers using the Histogram function.
SMArTPHOnES
a) Performance: Using 3DMark and GFXBench GL.
b) Battery life: Using PCMark for Android.
c) Camera Quality: Capture the same photo using identical camera settings.
d) Compare the photos using Photoshop Histogram analysis.
GFXBench GL
PCMark
63
MAY 2016
TESTED
Quite the OPPO-site
OPPO F1 Plus
RM1,898
by nur atifi
" The F1 Plus is a
testament of the
brand heading toward
a more premium look
and feel. "
L
et’s face it: every one of us
would’ve probably taken a
selfie before. Either by choice
or forced by a group of friends
(wefie, anyone?). The use of
the front facing camera has never been so
important; in fact, just as important as the
rear camera.
Taking the selfie game to a whole new
level, the recently launched OPPO F1 Plus
dishes out what could be the best selfie
phone in town...or so they claim. How
does this self-proclaimed “Selfie Expert”
perform? Read on to find out more.
64
MAY 2016
Déjà Vu
I just have to put it out there that the
look and feel of the F1 Plus is reminiscent
of a certain fruit brand. The shape and
the colour (rose gold) had me slightly
perplexed. I had to do a double take to
make sure I picked up the right box. Yes,
even the box was oddly a similar shape
and size.
This is not particularly a bad thing as
the fruit brand is pretty popular in most
markets. If it means getting the same,
if not better, features on a more budgetfriendly device, I say: why not? Besides,
the F1 Plus is a beautiful option for those
wanting a full featured smartphone.
KeePinG SLiM
What makes the F1 Plus stand out – aside
from its “Selfie Expert” claims - is the
weight and thickness of the smartphone.
At an unbelievable 6.6mm, the F1 Plus
reigns supreme on this front. Even the
bezel is teeny-tiny at only 1.66mm in width.
It feels light as a feather in hand, which
sometimes made me forget that I was
holding a phone. Not to the point I’d drop
it, that is. I’d be somewhat apprehensive
in putting it in my back pocket, in fear I’d
snap it in half.
GoinG PreMiuM
OPPO has certainly up their game when it
comes to manufacturing its devices. The
F1 Plus is a testament of the brand heading
toward a more premium look and feel.
Certainly having a unibody has become a
dime a dozen in the market, but it doesn’t
mean I can’t appreciate the beautiful
combination of its glossy Gorilla Glass 4
and metallic polished metal back panel.
It has very minimal branding, so to
speak. The only engraving can only be
found on the back, and even that is just a
simple ‘OPPO’ etched onto the metal piece.
StyLe CheCK
On boot up, OPPO has done away with the
novelty homescreen. You’ll also find that
OPPO has finally found the right foot in with
the F1 Plus through its ColorOS 3.0, which
is based on the Android OS 5.1 Lollipop.
The layout feels more streamlined and
pleasing to the eyes. They’ve finally found
a style that I can agree with and I hope it
stays that way.
tAP, tAP!
One thing commendable about the F1 Plus
is the fingerprint scanner that its lightning
fast to respond. And unlike many other
smartphones in the market, the fingerprint
scanner on the F1 Plus is not activated
via swiping motion. You’d actually have
to place your digits on the home button
and apply a little pressure on the plate.
Once it authenticates, getting from your
lockscreen to homescreen takes you less
than a millisecond!
SeLFie eXPert
By now you must be thinking, “Yes, that’s
nice and all, but what about the camera?”.
To call itself an expert in selfies is a bit
of stretch to say the least. While the 16
megapixels sounds great on paper, the
results were a little underwhelming when
I tried it out.
The one thing I liked about the
ColorOS camera is the many different
modes it has to offer. For the selfie
experiment, I had compared the pictures
side by side with other smartphones…
and I just didn’t see what the fuss
was all about. There was no defining
difference between the pictures…if
anything, the results from the F1 Plus
was slightly lacklustre. Perhaps it was
my high expectations that brought my
disappointment levels to an all-time low.
So, Do i StiLL Get it?
The cameras will take nice pictures for
social media consumption. While its
claims for being a Selfie Expert has not
met expectations, the F1 Plus is still
a worthwhile investment for the price
you pay.
SPECS
DiMenSionS: 151.8 x 74.3 x 6.6 mm
WeiGht: 145 g
oS: ColorOS 3.0, based on Android 5.1 Lollipop
ProCeSSor: MediaTek MT6755 Octa-core
GPu: Mali T860
rAM: 4GB
StorAGe: 64GB (Expandable up to 128GB
microSD card)
DiSPLAy: 5.5-inch AMOLED capacitive
touchscreen, 16M colors
reSoLution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
CAMerA: Front – f/2.0 16 megapixels. Rear –
f/2.2 13 megapixels
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
May not take amazing
photographs, but the rest of
the features makes up for it.
score
atifi
8.0
65
MAY 2016
TESTED
WiFi on the Fly
Huawei Mobile WiFi E5786 (LTE-A) with digi
L
et’s be honest, most of us don’t
just carry only one device
everywhere we go anymore.
I myself, more often than not,
carry at least three devices (two
smartphones and a notebook) on the days
I’m running around.
On some days, it could be more as I’m
constantly testing out devices. And when
I do, I’d be stuck with a handful of devices
that rely on the sole mobile broadband
connectivity: my Digi postpaid plan on a
OnePlus One smartphone.
Yes, sure, I can probably tether to the
other devices…but can you imagine the
amount of data that I’d use within a week?
My poor, poor 2GB data plan will need to be
resuscitated – thank goodness for internet
top-up. My poor wallet will cry in agony
when I pay the bill though. That is until I
got my hands on the Huawei Mobile WiFi
E5786 by Digi (MobiFi for short).
GottA ConneCt theM ALL!
Capable of supporting of up to 10 Wi-Fi
enabled devices, I was connecting all sorts
of things to the MobiFi – three smartphones,
a tablet and a 2-in-1 notebook. I don’t think
I could connect to all 10 spots alone, but I’d
RM TBA
imagine this is useful if you’re sharing with
a group of friends.
There are two ways for you to connect to the
pocket device. The first is the most common:
connecting to the WiFi SSID manually by
keying in the password, which is displayed
as soon as the MobiFi turns on. If you’re on a
laptop, this will be your method of choice.
The other method is by scanning a QR
code displayed on the MobiFi’s screen.
While this is more convenient than typing
random letters and numbers on your mobile
devices, you’d need to have a QR code
scanner app ready.
FASt ConneCtion
The added advantage to this particular
MobiFi is the 4G LTE-A connectivity.
While Digi’s LTE-A coverage isn’t available
everywhere yet, the telco’s 4G LTE network
is available in 150 cities and major towns.
There are some issue of spottiness in certain
areas, which I experienced especially at
home. Then again, I live on top of a hill in
the midst of a reserved forest.
Let’S tALK PLAnS
While the MobiFi can be bought at
Huawei resellers, it doesn’t come
by nur atifi
bundled together with a comprehensive
broadband plan. Digi offers two plans for
the MobiFi device: Broadband 145 and
Broadband 185. The plans come with a
monthly total internet quota of 50GB and
100GB respectively.
The device itself retails for RM754.
With Digi, your start-up payments (device
upfront fee + plan advance payment) are
RM300 for Broadband 145 and RM280 for
Broadband 185, after which you’ll pay
RM145 and RM185 per month (excluding
GST) respectively.
Between my four WiFi enabled devices,
I’ve barely made a dent in my monthly
quota. My meagre 2GB data postpaid plan
can now take a backseat as the MobiFi is
my choice of internet connection on the
go now.
SPECS
PriCe: Telco plan dependent
DiMenSionS (WXhXD): 106.0mm x 66.0mm
x 15.9mm
WeiGht: 155 g (including battery)
DiSPLAy: TFT-LCD
BAttery: 3000 mAh
ConneCtiVity: Up to 10 devices
simultaneously
SLotS: microSD card (up to 32GB)
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
Sharing is caring, especially
when it comes to data .
" If you’re on a laptop,
this will be your
method of choice. "
66
MAY 2016
score
atifi
8.0
G’day Mate 8
Huawei Mate 8 (Premium)
T
he saying of ‘bigger is better’
doesn’t hold much stock
nowadays, especially when it
comes to the latest gadgets in
the market. However, in the
case of the Huawei Mate 8, this smartphone
certainly makes a statement.
Even before uncovering the smartphone
from its box, Huawei has managed to exude
an air of premium. Its matte black square
box – one with gold embossed branding on
the front – was a winner in the category of
being eye-catching on the get-go. Shall we
delve into how this beauty stacks up in the
phablet game?
SLeeK DiSPoSition
With sharper and bolder edges, the
smartphone offers users a clean design,
which was achieved through a machine
RM2,399
by nur atifi
precision metal and glass components
seamlessly melding together.
In hand, the Mate 8 has a nice weight to
it, and like most phablets in the market, it
feels like a handful in my tiny, tiny hands.
The finishing on its body is smooth and
sleek, taking cue from the influx of metal
unibody smartphones in the market now.
one, tWo, SWiPe
The reasoning behind its unibody is sound
enough though – it’s fingerprint sensor is
located on the back panel, just under the
camera. The position of the sensor didn’t make
me feel like my fingers needed grow a few
centimetre to swipe it, that’s always a plus!
DouBLe the CoVerAGe
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that
this premium smartphone has dual sim
" Indeed, it’s a
businessman’s best mate in
all sense of the word. "
capabilities. If for whatever reason you
have to use two lines, the Mate 8’s
toggling between sims is easy enough to
master and fairly quick to do so. Indeed,
it’s a businessman’s best mate in all sense
of the word.
You can toggle between the two sims,
and selecting which is your primary line.
The primary can support up to 4G LTE
connectivity, whilst the secondary line does
have a limit of up to 2G connectivity only.
out on DiSPLAy
The
6-inch
IPS
LCD
capacitive
touchscreen display has a resolution of
1080 x 1920 pixels, which is something
brought forward from its predecessor.
Most flagships in its class have further
moved on to QHD resolution, leaving us
to wonder why hasn’t the Mate 8 followed
suit? Perhaps this is the only niggling
issue of the Mate 8.
That said, the display does the job
perfectly for everyday use. Images are
crisps and colours are accurate. High
resolution videos can be played without
any problems.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
Giving other flagship phablets
a run for their money, but the
1080p display may be a turn
off to some.
score
atifi
8.6
67
MAY 2016
TESTED
Hitting All The right notes
xiaomi redmi note 3
RM849
by teh wi-liam
" The 1080p full Hd
display is a dream
to look at, even if
nothing is going on. "
Y
ou know that satisfying feeling
when you finally get your hands
on the Christmas present
your parents had hidden from
you? That’s how I felt when I
unboxed the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3.
I was greeted with a blank screen
covered in metallic gold, a much better
choice of colour as compared to its
predecessor, which were a bit too tacky
and immature for my taste. It is Xiaomi’s
first attempt at covering its smartphone
in a premium metal body with metallic
colours and it is a home run for me.
DoinG the BACK StroKe
Smartphones these days are getting more
secured than ever. Aside from the usual
pin code and pattern key lock, Xiaomi has
finally joined in on the trend of biometric
fingerprint scanners.
68
MAY 2016
Joining the likes of Huawei Mate
8 and Nexus 6P, the Redmi Note 3
features a rear placement fingerprint
sensor – just right underneath the
camera. This somehow works better
for me, compared to traditional
placements on the front home button.
I am more comfortable placing my
index finger onto the spine of the
phone rather than at the front of it, but
that’s a personal preference.
eASy PeASy Set-uP
Setting up the Redmi Note 3 was simple
and straightforward. Due to the speed
of which the Qualcomm Snapdragon
650 processor was working, I got
through the entire process in less than
10 minutes. It would have been a lot
shorter but finalising your set-up before
actually getting to the home screen took
up a few crucial minutes, which could
have been saved.
The MIUI 7 - Xiaomi’s version of
Android - has already been deeply
customised with games and applications.
What makes the OS stand out from the
rest, is that it’s forever changing and
evolving with constant improvements
coming…all done through user-base
feedbacks worldwide.
niFty ShortCutS
A plus point during the set-up was having
the chance to choose and customise my
own keyboard. Although this feature is
generic across all Android smartphones,
Xiaomi’s take on it was refreshing as
it gave twice the amount of options to
choose from as compared to other big
name brands. The downside however, is
most of them would cost at least RM10
to have. Another nifty feature that adds
a plus in my books is the one-handed
mode which minimises the screen to a
smaller size, allowing you to access the
entire screen, which will be within reach
of your thumb.
eASy reADinG
It’s pretty safe to say that most people
who own a smartphone would be glued
to it 24/7. I plead guilty as I am constantly
finding new articles to read online.
Somehow, that only occurs during the
night or it’s just me growing bored during
the wee hours that every article seems
interesting. Go figure…
After reading a few articles through
your smartphone, you would find that
going to sleep becomes harder than
normal, no matter how tired you are.
This is because all phones emit a certain
blue light out of its screen that can cause
discomfort and eye strain. Xiaomi has
a cure for this with its Reading Mode,
which emits a yellow hue to the screen,
providing much relief; this makes it
easier on the eyes and also ensures a
good night’s sleep.
ViDeo FrienDLy
Standing at 5.5-inches, the Redmi Note 3
is at an optimum height to watch all your
favourite movies and videos. The 1080p
full HD display is a dream to look at,
even if nothing is going on. What makes
it even better is the 178° angle, which
allows you to share the screen with your
friends and everyone will still be able to
view it clearly.
FinAL thouGhtS
Although I only get to spend one weekend
with the Redmi Note 3 (which is a lot
longer than most hook-ups), it has been
more than a blast and I would highly
consider doing it again.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 5.91 x 2.99 x 0.34
inches
WeiGht: 164 grams
ProCeSSor: Qualcomm MSM8956
Snapdragon 650
MeMory: 2GB/3GB RAM
StorAGe: 16GB/32GB
oS: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
DiSPLAy: 5.5-inches, 1080x1920
GrAPhiCS: Adreno 510
ConneCtiVity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G
LTE
PortS: microSD up to 128GB, micro USB,
3.5mm audio jack
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
With its easy-on-the-eye ui
and price tag, this is one
Android smartphone that
will soon be a staple in any
household.
score
wi-liam
8.2
69
MAY 2016
TESTED
A True Predator of a Gaming
Acer Predator 15
B
RM6,999
eing a gamer - be it a casual
or a hardcore player - having
the right tool for the job is
important. You would not want
to be caught pants down with
a sub-par system when you are facing a
hoard of zombies, trolls or flying monkeys.
What makes a great gaming
system? Is it the processor? GPU?
Peripherals? It is everything - every
one of the components needs to be
in sync with each other so that your
gaming experience will be something
70
MAY 2016
by otter
spectacular. Acer’s Predator line of
products has now become synonymous
with great games, and the latest Predator
15 is no slouch in that department.
relative comfort, even though it is more
than 3KG in weight. But with the size and
weight, comes a great range of features and
functions that thinner machines will lack.
BiG AnD BoLD
First of all, we have to say that the Predator
15 is definitely not a notebook you tote
along everywhere. It is designed as a
notebook, but safe to say that this is more
of a desktop replacement than a mobile
gaming solution. Still, with the correct bag,
the Predator 15 can be carried around with
KeyS to A GAMer’S heArt
You get a full keyboard layout here - 101 keys
to be precise. This is supplemented by a
row of macro keys that can be programmed
to run your choice of quick functions, be it
on Windows or in the game environment.
Just below the keyboard sits a button that
on a single press, disables the Predator’s
touchpad and Windows key - two things
that can ruin your gaming experience if you
accidentally press them. No more sudden
jumps back to the Desktop.
BrinG on the heAt
For peripherals, there are ports for just
about any device you can think of. It
comes with four USB 3.0 ports, both a
HDMI and DisplayPort, Gigabit LAN, SD
card reader, as well as a USB Type-C port
that also serves as a Thunderbolt 3 port.
Also included with the Predator is a DVDRW drive that sits in a hot-swappable bay
on the left side of the chassis. While you
may wonder why do you need to hot swap
it out, ACER has teamed up with Cooler
Master to create a fan module called the
Predator FrostCore for the bay that you
can slot in for extra cooling power. Now
that is cool.
Underneath all of these lies an Intel Core
i7 6700HQ processor, clocked at 2.6GHz.
This is paired with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX
970m GPU, as well as 16GB of RAM that can
be upgraded. With a 15” IPS panel running at
1920 x 1080 pixels, this is a gaming machine
that is both lethal and powerful. How lethal
can it go? Well, lethal enough that nary
a dropped frame during intense gaming
sessions for AAA game titles.
Even the benchmarks agrees with our
assessments. 3DMark scores the Predator 15
a 6719 for its Firestrike benchmark, and 1789
for its 4K-capable Firestrike Ultra benchmark.
Unigine churned out a max of 79 frames
per second at its maximum setting, while
PCMark scored an impressive 3290 points.
" Acer’s Predator line of
products has now become
synonymous with great
games, and the latest
Predator 15 is no slouch in
that department. "
ALMoSt PerFeCt
There are some niggles with the Predator 15.
For one, the buttons on the trackpad are very,
very mushy. There is barely any tactile feel with
every press. The keyboard is commendable,
but the placement of the keys may just irk
some people as it is slightly off to the right
from the centre of the screen. The bezel on
the screen is also something of an eyesore, as
it is so thick around the display that it looks
like a picture frame than a screen bezel. Plus,
even on idle, the fans on this machine can be
audible enough that it is not advisable to run
this in a quiet room.
These niggles aside, the ACER Predator 15
is one hot gaming machine that many will like
to own as a “portable” gaming machine.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 38.5 x 391 x 300
mm
WeiGht: 3.4KG
ProCeSSor: Intel Core i7 6700HQ @ 2.6GHz
MeMory: 16GB RAM
StorAGe: 1TB + 128GB SSD
oPerAtinG SySteM: Windows 10
DiSPLAy: 15.6 inch 1080p display
GrAPhiCS: NVIDIA GTX 970M
Connectivity: Wifi 802.11ac / Bluetooth 4.0 /
Gigabit Lan
PortS: HDMI/DisplayPort/USB 3.0 x 4/ USB
type C x 1 (working as Thunderbolt)
eXPAnSion: multi-use bay drive (DVD-RW /
Predator FrostCore Fan Module)
BEnCHMArKS
3DMArK – FireStriKe uLtrA: 1789
3DMArK – FireStriKe: 6719
uniGine: 79 fps Max
PCMArK 8: 3290
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
A great gaming laptop that is
too heavy to carry around.
score
otter
9.0
71
MAY 2016
TESTED
Almost Too Shiny!
ducky Shine 5
RM749
M
echanical keyboards can be
found almost everywhere
now due to its increased
popularity among gamers.
The
satisfaction
on
clicking and clacking on them comes from
the key switches, and in the case of the
Ducky Shine 5, it features the ever-popular
Cherry MX. This particular model comes
with Brown Cherry switches, which is the
quieter, non-clicky and tactile switch from
the keyboard switch manufacturer.
The Shine 5 looks to be like a solid performer,
with its sturdy built and sleek outlook. Let’s
see if everything clicks in to place.
CoLourS oF the rAinBoW
At first glance, the design is pretty much
standard; nothing out of the ordinary. On the
top right hand corner, there are four function
shortcut keys, namely for volume setting and
to open up the calculator app. The Shine 5 isn’t
fancy looking, but there is hidden gem behind
it waiting to be explored.
A main feature, which instantly captured
my attention, is the RGB LED backlit keys on
the Shine 5. The colours are customisable as
by ng thim soon
the keyboard can be set to one of seven types of
pre-set mode. The multicolour lighting can also
be adjusted in terms for speed and sequence;
you might also be able to have a rainbow disco
party on your table. There are endless lighting
combinations that I can’t even begin to share.
Just know this: if you’re looking for a fancy
LED mechanical keyboard, the Shine 5 should
already be in your shopping cart.
The DIP switch can be found as you
flip the keyboard over. You can swap your
function keys and set it to your liking. I do,
however, feel that the cable management
for the Shine 5 to be weak. The angled
wiring system may seem like a good idea
at first. It is actually quite awkward to plug
or pull the cable (you’d need tiny delicate
fingers I think).
PerForMAnCe
It may be pretty, but really, how does it
perform? The keyboard has 1000Hz USB
polling rate, which I think gamers – both
casual and pro – would be happy about. It also
comes with full N-Key Rollover (NKRO)…a
feature that can prevent an unfortunate
“ghosting” problem during gaming.
The Shine 5 does allow you to set macro
functions, but it has to be done manually.
There are guides provided in the instruction
manual on how users can set it. It should
not pose too much of a problem if you’re
keen in doing it yourself. This is not for you
if you need a quick and easy program to set
the macro keys, especially since there is a
lack of GUI like some other brands provide.
oVerALL, An outStAnDinG
KeyBoArD
The Shine 5 doesn’t differ too much from
its predecessor, the Shine 4. However,
its excellent lighting makes up for it.
If you’re in the market for a quality allin-one package, the Shine 5 is a good
intermediate mechanical keyboard as
it comes complete with flexible lighting
settings and macro functions.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 460 mm x 154 mm
x 34 mm
WeiGht: 1.3 kg
SWitCh: Brown Cherry MX
LeD CoLour: RGB
reSPonSe: 1000Hz USB polling rate
ConneCtion: 4' USB to mini-USB cable
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
Solid performer; one of
the best LeD lightning
mechanical keyboard.
score
soon
72
MAY 2016
8.5
You Had Me At Zoom
ASUS ZenFone Zoom
RM2,099
A
nnounced earlier this year,
the Asus ZenFone Zoom
quickly became a sensational
smartphone, boasting its
capabilities of 3x optical zoom
together with 10 elements Hoya lens. Users
can now experience DLSR style shooting
experience. The ZenFone Zoom is also the
world’s thinnest optical-zoom smartphone.
eLeGAnt DeSiGn
Incorporating a fine leather finish, when
this smartphone was on my hand, I
felt much more confidence in showing
off the smartphone to my friends and
families. Even whilst attending a meeting,
colleagues seemed very impress on how
Asus managed to incorporate traditional
Italian leather tailoring. Imagine yourself
walking around the city with a brick of
gold bar - that is the feeling of carrying this
unique smartphone.
Using a series of 201 intricate engineering
processes, the ZenFone Zoom is built with
the finest aerospace-grade alloy that is said
to have been milled with a 0.4mm diamondcutting technology for that detailed
precision. Nano-moulding technology was
by syazmir
also used to flawlessly fuse together the
antenna to the aluminium frame.
reduces blue-light emissions. As Johnson
& Johnson would say: No More Tears.
PiCture PerFeCt
As expected from a smartphone that
boasts of its image capturing capabilities,
the ZenFone Zoom produces crisp and
vivid pictures - thanks to its 13 megapixels
rear camera - that I was gladly sharing
them with my social media platforms.
From manual mode, super-resolution,
HDR, to low-light mode, these camera
effects were fun to play around with. My
experience was further enhanced by its
optical image stabilisation (OIS) feature –
no more blurry photos (re: selfies)! Paired
with its 5.5” Full High-Definition (FHD)
screen and 178 degree viewing-angle,
your gallery is guaranteed to have many
picture perfect moments.
What’s more is that the display features
the exclusive ASUS TruVivid technology
that gives uses improved clarity. I
personally found that as compared to other
premium smartphones, my eyes weren’t
hurting while I was using the phone in the
dark – this was a plus point for me. In fact,
the ZenFone Zoom comes with a filter that
DeCent PerForMAnCe
While boasting an Intel Atom processor,
and a 4 GB RAM, the performance of this
device still did not “wow” me as I was using
it. With that being said, I think that the
performance of the device is still sufficient
enough to play a games without losing
much detail in the graphics. There was no
lag while playing these games, which is
impressive…but I’ll just leave it at that.
That said, when it comes to the
camera and display, the ZenFone Zoom
has outperformed its predecessors. These
alone, for me, justifies its hefty price tag as
the technology behind both these features
are just out of this world.
SPECS
WeiGht: 185g
DiSPLAy: 5.5 inches(1080x1920 pixels)
ProteCtion: Corning Gorilla Glass 4
oS: Android Lolipop 5.0
ChiPSet: Intel Atom Z3580
RAM: 4 GB
CAMerA: 13MP rear-camera, 5 MP frontcamera, laser auto-focus, dual LED flash
BAttery: 3000 mAh
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
Comes with a camera that
will outlasts other premium
smartphones.
score
syazmir
8.5
73
MAY 2016
TESTED EXCLUSIVE!
Going Sky High
djI Phantom 4
RM6,199
W
ords cannot describe how
disappointed I was when
the haze started rolling
back into town. I had the
DJI Phantom 4 for a week
and there wasn’t much of a view to look at.
So I thought: fine, I’ll just buzz around
town and practice for the Drone Racing
League. Well, not really, but I did manage
to use it to secure some footage for an
upcoming local Sci-Fi feature film that
I’m working on just to test out its cinemaworthiness. Shall we see if stacks up to
being suitable for both hobbyists and
professionals.
eASy AS 1,2,3
Assembly and setup of the drone was
painless and very quick. From box to lift
off took me less than 2 minutes – it was
basically taking it out and snapping on
the propellers, and then hooking up my
smartphone to the controller.
You’d need to have downloaded the
DJI Go app, which is required to pair the
remote with the drone. The app is full of
fun telemetry from the drone. Combined
with the Tap to Fly mode, it makes flying so
much easier now. The ActiveTrack mode is
a great new feature; while not completely
by amir rothman
perfect, it’s one new way to take a next
level selfie.
CAMerA ACe
I never got a chance to fly a Phantom 3 so this
was the first time I experienced DJI’s Vision
Positioning System. It was nice not having
to worry too much when flying around tight
spaces and it also makes the Smart Return
Home mode work a lot better too.
DJI’s own camera records video up to 4K
(4096 x 2160) at 25 fps and has the capacity
to record up to 120fps at Full HD (1920 x
1080). There’s a total of 10 color profiles
available, so for all you budding aerial
videographers – the Phantom 4 will give
you the best results.
The camera also does stills at 12
megapixels in both JPG and DNG RAW
formats, allowing the editing process to
be sped up with existing lens profiles on
Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
uP, uP AnD AWAy
Experience wise, I really like how easy it
was to fly the Phantom 4. As I got more and
more confident with my flying, I was able
to switch to the Sport mode, which really
made it more fun to fly the Phantom 4 than
to use it to take pretty pictures.
I didn’t have the guts to try Attitude
Mode, but on paper, the Phantom 4 will
hit speeds up to 72km/h. With or without
the positioning systems switched off, the
Phantom 4 will move sideways beautifully.
Alas, I’m not that good yet.
Charge time is also really good. The
Phantom 4 battery takes only 1 hour and 20
minutes to fully charge, and that’ll give you
about 28 minutes of flight time.
AIrCrAFT
WeiGht (inCLuDinG BAttery AnD
ProPeLLerS): 1380 g
DiAGonAL Size (eXCLuDinG
ProPeLLerS): 350 mm
CAMErA
SenSor: 1/2.3” Effective pixels:12 M
LenS: FOV 94° 20 mm (35 mm format
equivalent) f/2.8, focus at ∞
ISO Range: 100-3200 (video), 100-1600 (photo)
Shutter SPeeD: 8s -1/8000s
iMAGe MAX Size: 4000×3000
Photo: JPEG, DNG ( RAW )
Video: MP4 / MOV ( MPEG – 4 AVC / H.264 )
SuPPorteD SD CArD tyPeS: Micro SD
(Max capacity 64 GB, Class 10 or UHS-1 rating
required)
rEMOTE COnTrOLLEr
oPerAtinG FrequenCy: 2.400 GHz to
2.483 GHz
BAttery: 6000 mAh LiPo 2S
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
the price point is steep; an
excellent choice if you’re a
professional.
score
amir
74
MAY 2016
8.6
A Solid network Performer
ASUS rT-AC1200G+
RM TBA
I
wish companies would name their
products to something a bit more
consumer friendly. Case in point,
the new ASUS RT-AC1200G+. It just
rolls off your tongue right? Maybe
something more like ‘ASUS ACPlus Router
One’ or something along that line.
In any case, the name is just a small
distraction, because the router, long
designation notwithstanding, is a great
piece of kit to beef up your home or office
network and bring it to this decade for
speed and performance.
StrenGth in nuMBerS
Sporting ASUS’s now familiar router
design, the AC1200G+ comes with four
antennas, with all antennas supports
MIMO (multiple in, multiple out) signals,
so that your data are always ensured of its
integrity and strength when it flies through
the air from your device to the router. It is
also using ASUS’s FAST ( Fast Easy Stable)
by otter
networking solution, a.k.a. easy network
setup to help your network propagate and
set-up in a jiffy.
At the back, you get four Gigabit Ethernet
ports for your wired connection, along with
the dedicated Ethernet port for your WAN
connection, a USB 2.0 port, reset button and
the power button, while the four antennas
are located around the perimeter of the
router body itself (two at the back flanking
the ports, one each at the side of the router).
eASy PeASy
Thanks to ASUS’s easy to use networking
firmware in the router, it is easy to setup
your connection as it is a matter of just
selecting your ISP (UniFi is included in the
dropdown), setting up your WiFi password,
and bob’s your uncle. Through the interface,
you can have everything set up – from
the setup of your QOS, DMZ, MAC client
blacklist, WiFi signal type and more. Plus,
if you have either a printer or external USB
drive – plug it into the USB port, and it can
be accessed by the network with a click. If
you have a USB dongle or even an Android
device – you can use the RT-AC1200G+ as
a wireless hotspot device.
After setting it up for the first time,
connecting to the network is either as easy
as logging into the SSID associated with
the router (you can personalise your SSID
in the settings page) or just plugging into
one of the LAN ports. We managed to get
good performance with the router, with
signal strength still at three bars even from
two rooms away. Transferring files over
the network was also quite speedy – we
managed to transfer a 1GB file over WiFi in
just under 3 minutes, and over LAN is less
than one.
The ASUS RT-AC1200G+ is a great router
to have in your home or office, thanks to its
features and performance over the network.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 207 x 148 x 35 mm
ConneCtiVity: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac,
IPv4, IPv6
PortS: RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for WAN x
1, RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for LAN x 4
USB 2.0 x 1
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
A more than adequate
wireless router for any
conceivable scenario.
score
otter
9.0
75
MAY 2016
TESTED
Expensive doppelganger
HTC One A9
RM TBA
O
by daryl tan
nce the poster child of Android,
HTC has been going through
some pretty turbulent times.
Not one to give up without a
fight, HTC has returned with
its latest One - the A9. Now packing mid-tier
specs and missing its signature BoomSound
stereo speakers, can it truly compete with the
flagships of today?
its contemporaries but somehow HTC has
made it work on the A9. Navigating around
the OS is buttery smooth and I was able to
multitask between multiple apps without any
lag whatsoever.
The only downside is that even when just
scrolling Facebook, the phone gets hot. You’ll
want to get a casing for this, lest it roast your
legs through your pocket.
DejA Vu
The design of the A9 takes a bizarre turn as
HTC moved away from its famed unibody
build. Almost everyone I showed it to thought
it was an iPhone 6S - the resemblance is truly
uncanny. The phone feels truly premium in
the hand. The metal buttons feels responsive,
with the power button having a nice ridged
design. Worryingly though, mimicking the 6S
has led to the A9 has picking up one of the
iPhone’s downsides, which is its slipperiness.
I’ve had more than one instance where the
phone nearly slipped clean off my hands,
especially when taking it out of my pocket.
unDerWheLMinG Shot
While design is HTC’s forte, its cameras
always seem to be several step behind the
competition. It’s certainly the best camera
HTC has ever shipped on a smartphone,
but their best is only a passing grade when
compared with what rivals.
The camera seems incapable of capturing
any good detail, with zoomed in photos
showing HTC’s clumsy post-processing
unable to preserve images to the extent of its
rivals. Additionally, sharpness also seems to
be an issue, with soft images and blurriness
apparent even in the steadiest of shots. This is
considering the fact that the A9 is also the first
HTC smartphone in a while to include optical
image stabilisation.
Its front camera is a far better proposition.
Featuring its UltraPixel unit featured on the M8
and M9, its enlarged pixels offers much better
performance, even in low light resulting in one
of the better front facing cameras on the market.
BeAutiFuL SPeeD
HTC has put in an incredibly capable AMOLED
screen with superbly vibrant colors and contrast.
Placed side by side with its more capable rival,
most would struggle to find a difference.
Rocking Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 617, it’s
a far cry from the red hot Snapdragon 810s of
iS thiS the one?
The A9 is a pretty exceptionally executed
phone. It has a beautiful (if somewhat
familiar) design, decent screen, battery
life that will last the day and buttery
smooth software. The persisting downside
of its subpar camera and the missing
BoomSound speaker grills could be a deal
breaker though.
The biggest offender is its price. For over
RM2,000, it’s opening itself to too much
higher value competition. With the advent
of cheap yet capable midrange devices
from Oppo and Xiaomi, the A9 is simply
priced too far out of its bracket to justify its
capable performance.
SPECS
DiMenSionS: 145.8 x 70.8 x 7.3 mm
WeiGht: 143 g
oS: Android 6.0
DiSPLAy: 5.0 inches, 1920 x 1080
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 617
GrAPhiCS: Adreno 405
MeMory: 3 GB RAM
CAMerA: 13MP rear camera, 4MP front-facing
camera
StorAGe: 32GB
PortS: microSD up to 200GB, 3.5mm audio
jack, microUSB
SiM: Nano Sim
BAttery: 2150mAh non-removable Li-Ion
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
htC’s built a pretty decent
mid-ranger – unfortunately it’s
priced well out of the market.
score
daryl
76
MAY 2016
7.6
Bang For Your Buck
HP Spectre x2
RM4,699
I
f James Bond were to ever use a tablet
during his missions, it should probably
be the HP Spectre x2. I had the pleasure
of taking the Spectre x2 out with me
for a couple of days for a test drive and
my expectations were more than met. Aside
from ordering my third vodka martini (shaken,
not stirred), I’ve come to enjoy having a
miniaturised computer around with me.
StyLiSh AnD ConVenient
Upon unboxing, my first impression of the
Spectre x2 was its eerie similarity with the
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and in some instances,
the Apple iPad as well. Given that, the Spectre
x2 still has some pretty good traits about itself
that makes it distinguishable from the rest.
The outer edges are fitted with two USB-C
ports that allows you to charge the tablet in
both sides for greater efficiency, especially
during crunch time at work. One double-edge
feature about the Spectre x2 is the protruding
slide button that unlocks the u-shaped
kickstand, which is held together by a springloaded hinge. Although nifty, it isn’t really
lap-friendly and loading the kickstand into
position can be somewhat annoying as the
release button is pretty stiff.
BAnG & oLuFSen?
To set the record straight, Bang & Olufsen
are HP’s official premium audio partner for
by teh wi-liam
its computers and other products. Although
the speakers – that comes together with the
detachable keyboard for the Spectre x2 – carry
the name of Bang & Olufsen, the engineers
behind the reputable Danish audio company
played no part in designing or engineering the
speakers for that matter.
The only part Bang & Olufsen played were
to listen and sign off on the speakers. The sign
off basically proves how well the speakers
were built and manufactured to meet Bang &
Olufsen’s high standards.
Although comparing the stereo speakers
to Bang & Olufsen is a bit of a stretch, HP
still did a decent job with them as the audio
is crisp and clear, capable of detecting most
highs and lows, no matter what was playing.
Fun fact: if you ever want to test out speakers
or headsets, let Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody
play at full volume to truly understand how
good the products are.
KeyBoArD WArrior
If you’re one of those who’s constantly
online and always has something to say
in every conversation, you’d be surprised
to know that typing for long hours on the
detachable keyboard that comes with the
Spectre x2 is surprisingly comfortable for a
tablet keyboard.
As I was typing this review on the
Spectre x2, I have not stopped using it
ever since I turned it on (the battery life is
amazing by the way, almost up to 10 hours).
Although it doesn’t provide the same feel
and look as a traditional keyboard (why
should it?), it is still pretty good, especially
for the working adults who are constantly
on-the-go and need to get work done.
ALL the riGht noteS
HP gets it right with the Spectre x2, not
only in terms of great value for money, but
also in terms of its user functionality with
being a great everyday tablet use for work
or play. Its lightweight design allows it to be
carried with great ease, whether it’s in your
arms or in your bag.
SPECS
DiMenSionS: 30.3cm (W) x 20.9cm (D) x
0.8cm (H) (Tablet) / 30.3cm (W) x 20.9cm (D) x
1.31cm (H) (Tablet & Base)
WeiGht: 0.8kg (without keyboard), 1.2kg
(with keyboard)
ProCeSSor: Intel Core m3-6Y30
MeMory: 4GB DDR3 RAM
StorAGe: 128 GB M.2 SSD
oS: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Edition
DiSPLAy: 12-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution
GrAPhiCS: Intel HD Graphics 515
ConneCtiVity: 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0
PortS: 2 x USB-C Ports, 1 x Audio Jack
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
A great everyday tablet
whether for work or play
score
wi-liam
7.8
77
MAY 2016
TESTED
Above Average in All Aspects
ASUS Zenpad 8.0
RM999
C
ontinuing its expertise in the
tablet market, Asus introduces
a lightweight tablet developed
and manufactured by the brand
themselves: the Asus ZenPad
Theatre 8.0. This particular variant is an
extension of its existing ZenPad 8.0 offering.
The difference? The Theatre variant comes
with an Audio Cover sleeve that allows you to
effortlessly plug the ZenPad 8.0 into to enjoy all
your video-watching and game-playing needs.
BiGGer MiGht not
ALWAyS Be Better
Fitted with a 1280x800-pixel screen, the ZenPad
8.0 doesn’t quite match up with other tablets in
its category. It is too low-resolution with only
189 PPI (pixels per inch) to play around with,
thus affecting the brightness and colours when
displayed on its 8-inch screen. However, it is
still considerably on-par with most high-end
Asus smartphone and tablet screens.
LArGer StorAGe SPACe
Although not ideal, the ZenPad 8.0 is capable
of storing up to 16GB worth of files and data in
its tablet. If 16GB is not even enough to begin
with, it also comes with a microSD slot, which
can hold up to 64GB for even more storage
space. To get the full use out of the limited
16GB, store all apps in the device memory
while saving the more important data like
pictures, videos, and songs for the microSD.
by teh wi-liam
ASuS zen ui
The main highlight of the ZenPad 8.0 is the Zen
UI, a front-end touch interface developed by
Asus and comes preloaded with Asus-made
applications to make a user’s life much easier and
manageable. This made the standard Android
interface a lot more fun to toy around with while
letting your creative juices flow freely.
The only disappointment with the Zen UI
is the amount of unnecessary needs it has.
Imagine having a friend who constantly needs
your attention, yet somehow you two aren’t
even in a relationship. That is sort of what
the Zen UI feels like as it comes as part of the
package and most of it cannot be uninstalled.
AuDioPhiLeS ALert
The ZenPad Theatre 8.0 bundle was
designed in such a way that you use it to do
everything else under the sun, except from
putting it on your face when making phone
calls. However, if you’re willing to fork out
extra dinero for the bundle, the combination
does a great job for your entertainment
needs. This entertainment accessory brings
along the true cinematic experience to you
in the comfort of your own home.
Paired with the pre-installed AudioWizard
application, you can choose between five
preset audio settings, mainly Movie, Music,
Smart Mode, Gaming, and Vocal. You can
also customise the audio levels and settings
to your own personal preference.
WhAt MAKeS it tiCK
Running on the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 415 chipset
paired with a quad-core 1.2Ghz processor,
the ZenPad 8.0 has a consistent smoothness
to it.The Smart Folder feature helps you
organise all your applications so that you
won’t have to do it yourself.
The battery life is pretty respectable as
it can last up to 2 days without recharging
when left idle. Even under heavy usage,
it still clocks in 12 – 14 hours of usage,
depending on what apps were used.
All in all, the Asus ZenPad 8.0 is a
decent tablet for the price you are paying;
it is good enough for home use or to bring
around town with you.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 8.23 x 4.84 x 0.33
inches
WeiGht: 350 grams
ProCeSSor: Qualcomm MSM8929
Snapdragon 415
MeMory: 1GB/2GB RAM
StorAGe: 8GB/16GB
oS: Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
DiSPLAy: 8-inches, 1280x800
Graphics: Adreno 306/Adreno 405
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G LTE
PortS: microSD up to 64GB, micro USB,
3.5mm audio jack
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
Smooth, sharp, and stylish;
perfect for the everyday user.
score
wi-liam
78
MAY 2016
7.2
Great display with Mobility
dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1
G
one are the days where
2-in-1 laptops are hard to
come by. It seems that every
computing brand has jumped
on the bandwagon to see
whose device reigns supreme. With a bold
statement to be made, Dell’s Inspiron 15
7000 2-in-1 is a strong contender in the
segment with above average performance
and high resolution FHD display. This
device is better equipped as compared to
its smaller sibling, Inspiron 13 7000 Series
2-in-1, and it certainly packs a punch.
SLeeK & DiStinCtiVe DeSiGn
The Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1’s sleek
and distinctive design was made to
impress. Design with top quality in
mind, the device’s body does look and
feel premium. The outer body also took
into consideration of the user’s grip, for
both when opening the screen and while
holding the laptop itself.
The keyboard area is encased with
what looks to be aluminium. It is not only
classy looking the material used provides
" If you’re looking for an
above average day-today 2-in-1 device, look
no further. "
RM4,299
by ng thim soon
a comfortable platform to place your
hands on it. It also has a built-in backlit
keyboard, perfect for ease of usage in
dimmed areas. Overall, it is a solid design.
GreAt reSoLution
With GreAt SPeeD
Sporting an Intel HD Graphics 520, the
Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 supports up to
1920 x 1080 FHD resolution. You’ll be
enjoying crisp and clear visuals with
great precision, which is great for
watching videos, video chat and displayrelated activities.
As for its performance, the device
is equipped with 6th Generation
Intel Core i7 processor that clears out
any doubt of it being able to handle
multitasking of programs.
tABLet eXPerienCe
The touch experience on this 2-in-1 device
is great. It has exceptional precision – an
all-round pleasant experience especially
when combined with the crisp graphic of
the FHD resolution.
ALL GreAt, eXCePt iF you’re A
(heAVy) GAMer
If you’re looking for an above average dayto-day 2-in-1 device, look no further. The
Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 is suited to perform
these tasks. It performs well for work and play.
It also works exceptionally well for casual or
light games, as heavy graphic games would
be just too much for it. I tried to play Diablo
3 on this, just for the fun of it, and it lagged
terribly. This was further supported by PC
Mark 8 as the results shows high strain on the
integrated graphic card.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 15: 0.78” (19.9 mm)
/ 15.04” (381.9 mm) / 9.94” (252.5 mm)
WeiGht: 4.78 lb / 2168 g
ProCeSSor: 6th Generation Intel® Core™
i7-6500U Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)
MeMory: 8GB Single Channel DDR3L
1600MHz
StorAGe: 1 TB
oPerAtinG SySteM: Windows 10 Home
Single Language, 64-bit
DiSPLAy: LED Backlit Truelife Display with
FHD resolution (1920 x 1080)
GrAPhiCS: Intel® HD Graphics 520
ConneCtiVity: Intel® Centrino® Wireless
AC 3165 + Bluetooth 4.0
PortS: HDMI™ 1.4a, USB 3.0 with
PowerShare, USB 3.0 x 2, Media Card (SD)
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
An above average 2-in-1
laptop with great quality
display.
score
soon
7.8
79
MAY 2016
TESTED
Game On!
MSI Z170 Gaming M9 ACK
M
astering
your
gaming
side requires you to have
the best at all times. This
means that your investment
should be focused on the
best components you can get your hands
on at Lowyat Plaza, assemble it into your
PC and optimise it to your gaming tune.
Every system starts off with a motherboard,
and the MSI Z170 Gaming M9 ACK is as
good as it gets today (at the point of this
being printed that is).
SPoiLeD For ChoiCe
As a full-size ATX motherboard, the Gaming
M9 ACK features a wealth of connectivity
and ports that you will ever need, plus
some that you may need in the future.
It features an LGA115 socket, which is
designed for Intel processors, especially the
6th Generation Skylake processors. This is
paired with four banks of DDR4 slots, which
can accept two pairs of dual-channel RAM,
and can have the clock speed boosted
thanks to MSI’s DDR4 Boost technology.
It also comes with multiple ports for
you to plug in your peripherals into.
RM TBA
by otter
This includes HDMI and DisplayPort,
combo mouse/keyboard PS/2, USB 2.0,
USB 3.1, Gigabit Ethernet, and the new
USB Type C connector. You even get onboard headers for USB 2.0 for your case
USB ports. With these different options,
you will not be running out of ports
anytime soon.
KiLLer WireLeSS ConneCtiVity
Apart from the ports, the Gaming M9
ACK also comes with Killer’s Wireless
LAN module that lives in an optional
module which can be installed upon
the needs of the user. Just plug in the
module, set up the antennas, and you
will have a MIMO wireless setup for your
gaming machine.
Expansions comes in the form of three
PCIe x16 and three PCIe x1 slots, plus
two M2.Sata slots for on-board storage.
This motherboard supports up to three
graphic cards, for Triple SLI or Crossfire
setup. You also get 6 SATA3 ports for
your optical storage. Imagine how much
hard drive storage you can set-up with
that many SATA ports.
GoinG ABoVe eXPeCtAtionS
To see how the motherboard performs, we set
it up with an Intel Core i7 6700K processor,
8GB of DDR4 RAM and ran our benchmark
software. PCMark 8 is a suite of tests that
gives any system a realistic real-world set of
tasks which includes image editing, word
processing, video transcoding and even web
browsing. The Gaming M9 ACK scored a
healthy 3898 points for the conventional test,
and 3788 points for the creative-oriented test.
As a gaming motherboard, the MSI
Z170 Gaming M9 ACK is certainly the best
motherboard you can own and play with,
especially with its range of connectivity
options that will give you a degree of future
proofing as time goes on.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 305 x 244 mm
SoCKet: LGA1151
MeMory: DDR4 x 4
ConneCtiVity: WiFi 802.11ac
PortS: USB 2.0 x 3 / USB 3.1 x 2 (1 x Type C) /
DisplayPort/ HDMI / PS/2 / Gigabit LAN
eXPAnSion: PCIe x16
BEnCHMArKS
PCMArK8 – ConVentionAL: 3898
PCMArK8 – CreAtiVe: 3788
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
A gaming motherboard that
should be in your shopping list.
score
otter
80
MAY 2016
9.0
Adaptation Made Easy
Lenovo Pocket Projector P0510
P
ocket projectors seem like an
increasingly popular item among
many companies and business
people always on the go. Easy
and lightweight to carry, and
having similar functions to office-size
projectors – Lenovo’s first projector on the
market holds just as much weight as any
other projectors.
Designed for business people
who travels plenty, Lenovo’s Pocket
Projector P0510 is made for businesses
who often has to present ideas on the
go. A model with simple design, it has
several useful functions.
ADAPtinG to neW enVironMentS
Having similar functions as any other
regular projectors, a lightweight, pocketsized projector, it can be placed anywhere.
The feature that stands out from this
projector is its projector camera, which can
be rotated 90° (manually). You don’t have
to use external stands or objects to help
it adjust to the screen level you wanted.
This makes life a lot easier when you need
to adjust the screen projection for your
presentation without needing to fumble for
an external projector stand.
GreAt For WorK
The Lenovo Pocket Projector P0510’s video
resolution has been eye-catching. With
50 lumens, the resolution may not be as
powerful as its larger counter parts but the
RM999
by lydia chian
videos and images it presents are crisp and
vivid. Its colours are rich and accurate also.
Should we also mention videos played runs
relatively smoothly despite few stutter.
It works great for companies or business
people who often does presentations on the
go…or when there was a power outage, this
projector works as an alternative to carry on
your important business presentations.
MoVie niGht reADy
Aside from business usage, you can use it
for social events with friends and family.
Play your favourite films on the big screen
outdoors without needing to lug a bigger
version of a projector – Lenovo’s latest
standalone projector works just fine.
It is perfect for making presentations or
watching videos, but it is not designed for
constantly interacting with your desktop
screen interface or for playing games. At
the same time, although it may have come
with crisp and vivid images, you can’t
place it anywhere further than 3 metres
where images and videos start to blur.
When playing videos on the projector,
its sound system comes around brassy,
and works louder than most phones’
speakers. But it works better when
connected to a desktop or PC.
A PieCe oF ADViCe
It does have some compatibility issues.
With Windows 8, it will only work with
Miracast installed. It works well with
the latest Windows operating systems
and any Mac or iPhone devices after
2012. It does have some other confusing
compatibility and connectivity issues
but otherwise it works great as a
pocket projector.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 104mm x 25mm x
100 mm
WeiGht: 170g
reSoLution: Up to 110” (854x480) display
BriGhtneSS: 50 lumens
StorAGe: MicroSD card with up to 32GB
external storage
Sound: 2 x speakers, 3.5mm audio jack
Wi-Fi: DNLA and Miracast capability
BAttery: Up to 2.5 hours of battery life; up to
20,000 hours of LED lamp life
ConneCtorS: Micro USB, microSD card
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
A nifty compact projector
for all occasions
score
lydia
7.2
81
MAY 2016
TESTED
runner’s Companion
Garmin Forerunner 235
RM1,450
T
he rise of fitness wearables
from luminaries such as FitBit
has seen the rest of industry
jumping on this potentially
lucrative bandwagon. Garmin’s
latest entry wearable, the Forerunner 235,
is primarily targeted at runners, featuring
activity trackers and heart rate monitoring.
Released a year after the Forerunner 225,
is the 235 a simple incremental update, or a
serious consideration in your shopping list?
inoFFenSiVe LooKS
Featuring a large watch face and riddled
with buttons on its sides, the 235 is a pretty
good looking device. Utilising soft, rubber
straps, it also fits snugly against the wrist
without feeling uncomfortable even on a
hot sunny day. Weighing a scant 42 grams,
it’s also easy on the wrist, and we almost
never noticed it other than when checking
the time. It isn’t the most premium feeling
watch out there, and Android Wear devices
such as the Moto 360 will definitely attract
more attention, but you could do a lot worse
when picking a sports watch.
Onto the screen, the 215 x 180, 31.1mm
LCD display isn’t the sharpest on the
market, but it gets the job done. The bezel
by daryl tan
around the display is pretty thick though,
and causes the display to look smaller than
it really is. Additionally, the backlight is off
by default, and you’ll need to hit a button
on the top left corner to temporary switch
the backlight on, which can be annoying if
you’re in a dimly lit environment.
FitneSS CreDentiALS
The Forerunner 235 is a true fitness wearable,
and there’s definitely a lot going under the
hood to cement its credentials. Featuring
multiple sports modes such as running, bike
and a free-tracking setting, you’ll get access
to info such as pace, distance, time, average
heart rate and even calories. Interestingly,
there’s also a Training Effect, which measures
how effective the training was for you, though
I’m unsure what metric it uses to determine
the score which is based on a 5 point scale.
GPS tracking is also fairly quick, and there’s
a recovery time recommendation after every
workout. As for connectivity, there’s a Garmin
Connect application where you can build your
customised workout online, sync it to the
235, and you’re good to go. It’s a little limited
though, as the watch itself does not contain
previous data which can you can then use to
test yourself against. The heart rate monitor
is also somewhat inconsistent, especially
when doing high intensity workouts. It takes
some time to pick up the current heart rate,
which can cause your workout results to
be somewhat off compared to other, more
capable heart rate monitoring devices.
runninG CoMPAnion
Garmin’s latest Forerunner is a pretty
interesting device if you’re serious about your
fitness. It has a ton of software, a comfortable
design, and a battery that lasts forever. It may
be a little confusing to navigate, what with its
array of buttons, but you get used to it fairly
quickly and it does what it needs to do.
The only downside is its heart rate sensor
isn’t the best, and there is no VO2 option like
on its more expensive siblings. If your workout
consists mainly of long distance running, the
235 is an easy recommendation.
SPECS
DiMenSionS: 45 x 45 x 11.7 mm
WeiGht: 42 g
DiSPLAy: 215 x 180, 31.1 mm
BAttery: Up to 9 days for regular watch +
activity tracking + notifications + heart rate, 11
hours for training
WAter rAtinG: 5 ATM
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
A solid running watch, with
excellent 24/7 tracking. heart
rate monitor is a little off
though.
score
daryl
82
MAY 2016
7.8
A ‘STOM’ is Brewing
STOM Spectrum i100 2-in-1
A
s lightweight as most laptops
are nowadays, sometimes
the size of a laptop can be
frustrating, to say the least.
That said, having a tablet
around with you isn’t very convenient
either, seeing as its touchscreen keyboard
doesn’t increase productivity at all. Using a
tablet to type is fine but for long hours, your
fingers will pay in the long run. Introducing
the STOM Spectrum i100, a 2-in-1 device
that melds a tablet with a detachable
keyboard, which offers the usability of a
laptop with the convenience of a laptop.
it MeetS the neeDS
Fitted with only 2GB RAM and 64GB worth
of storage space, the Spectrum i100 was
meant for writers and anyone on the go
who needs a laptop around but couldn’t be
bothered to be carry one. Although heavyduty multitasking is out of the question, the
Spectrum i100 is still capable of running
basic programs like Google Chrome and
various Microsoft Office programs without
any lag. However, do expect a delay in
response, especially when opening various
programs simultaneously. Although 64GB
isn’t a lot to work with, the Spectrum i100
RM1099
by teh wi-liam
can hold an additional 128Gb worth of
storage through a microSD card.
PerForMAnCe unDer PreSSure
Switching back and forth between becoming
a tablet and a laptop with the Spectrum i100
is easy enough to do seeing as all you have
to do is remove the swivel-docking keyboard.
Although I am not a fan of Windows 10 (due to
its constant reminders to make me download
it onto my desktop. No Windows 10, I will not),
it does however have a knack to be addictive
as its functionality and smoothness on the
Spectrum i100 is surprisingly pleasing due to
the quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F processor.
It’s not the greatest tablet-cum-laptop I’ve
used, but it’s not the worst as well.
LonG LiFetiMe
With a large 8900mAh battery, the Spectrum
i100 can last up to a couple of days on a single
charge alone. However, if it was running
multiple programs simultaneously, the battery
depletes in a matter of hours. Charging time
isn’t all that great either as it takes quite a
while to get back up at 100 percent.
SMALL hD DiSPLAy
With a display screen of up to 10.6-inches, the
"The Spectrum i100 does
the job that’s required of
it due to its small size and
lightweight body. "
Spectrum i100 is one of the smallest 2-in-1
devices that is currently in the market to offer
a full HD display screen. Its 1920 x 1080 pixel
resolution allows you to watch HD videos on
various sites offering HD videos like YouTube
and iFlix. Playing video games on the
Spectrum i100 is pretty fun as well, so long as
you keep its video settings to a minimum and
not towards ultra HD, as most games these
days would require it.
oVerALL thouGhtS
Coming from a writing background, The
Spectrum i100 does the job that’s required of
it due to its small size and lightweight body.
Aside from being there for me when I needed
it most, it serves as a pretty average tablet and
laptop. However, the price you are paying for
this is pretty good, especially since you will be
getting a 2-in-1 device.
SPECS
ProCeSSor: Quad-core Intel Atom 1.33GHz
Z3735F
MeMory: 2GB
StorAGe: 64GB
oS: Microsoft Windows 10
DiSPLAy: 10.6-inch, 1080p IPS
GrAPhiCS: Intel HD Graphics
ConneCtiVity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
PortS: 1 x mini USB, 1 x HDMI
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
A good entry-level surface to have
on students and aspiring writers.
score
wi-liam
7.0
83
MAY 2016
TESTED
Platinum Performance
Vivo V3MAx
RM1,399
T
he Vivo V3MAX offers top-notch
features, encased in a premium
body and is currently boasting
about its product to be “faster
than faster”. This leads us to
think, this might very well be the latest midrange beast in the market.
So how good is the V3MAX you ask? Well,
it claims to have a much faster charging,
faster finger-print scanner, faster shots and a
few other. Here’s our take on it.
PLAtinuM DeSiGn
Platinum design will be the correct way
to describe this amazing product. Why?
It arrived in a normal white box with no
graphics; only the logo was stamped on the
front and sides of the box.
Once everything was calm, I reached for
the V3MAX and I was blown away by the
weight of this smartphone. It is utterly mind
boggling at how lightweight the device
was. Let’s get real here, who wants a heavy
smartphone anyways, right?
Its outer body of the Vivo V3MAX is
made up of metal unibody with the front
display coated with a 2.5D Gorilla Glass.
" We now
know that its
sleek design
is something
I favour; the
display equally
excites me. "
by syazmir
Though nothing revolutionary, it is still a
good looking phone.
LiFeLiKe DiSPLAy
We now know that its sleek design is
something I favour; the display equally excites
me. The V3MAX has a 5.5-inch screen with
1920 X 1080 FHD display. I do have to say that
the visuals are vivid, with no detail loss. If you
were to play a 1080p video, you definitely will
be ready to forgive this product, should you
find faults in it.
SPeCtACuLAr PerForMAnCe
Built with a 1.8GHz Snapdragon Octa-core
processor, the smartphone runs seamlessly.
While playing games with high graphics, the
battery remained at a normal temperature. My
hands weren’t burning by the end of it.
Despite the awesome performance, the
battery life was not that big of a deal. At
maximum usage, it lasts half-a-day while mid
usage gives you a full-day usage.
GoD-SPeeD CAMerA
Planted with an 8-megapixel front shooter
camera and a 13-megapixel rear-camera,
it takes less than one second to launch the
function. At full zoom mode, images were
clear but slightly pixelated – something to be
expected when you go into digital zoom.
A SAtiSFACtory MuSiC LiSteninG
eXPerienCe
Why did I rate the music experience
“satisfactory”? Simple: on high volume with
its headset, yes I admit it is a nice experience
but the bass is lacking and the speaker
located on the bottom is only one sided
instead of two.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hxWxD): 153.9mm X 77.1mm X
7.58mm
WeiGht: 168g
ProCeSSor: Qualcomm S652 1.8GHz Octacore 64bit
MeMory: 4GB
StorAGe: 32GB
oPerAtinG SySteM: Funtouch OS 2.5 based
on Android 5.1 Lollipop
Display: 5.5-inch
GrAPhiCS: 1920 X 1080 FHD IPS with Multitouch Capacitive Screen
ConneCtiVity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, OTG,
FM Radio
PortS: USB 2.0
eXPAnSion: Supports up to 128GB MicroSD card
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
Fairly priced product with
spectacular performance and
features.
score
syazmir
84
MAY 2016
8.8
Large Modern Style AIO
dell Inspiron 24 7000 AIO
A
ll-in-one PCs are simple to use
and are able to pack with higher
specification when compared to
tablets and notebooks. For Dell
Inspiron 24 7000 AIO, we’ve
managed to secure ourselves the highest
specs in the range for our reviewing pleasure.
Find out more about this compact machine
and how it performs.
ConteMPorAry DeSiGn
The Inspiron 24 7000 AIO is sleek and
designed with flexibility in mind. Unlike
many of the AIOs in the market, this
particular model features a unique stand
that allows the machine to be lay flat on
the surface if you choose to not extend it.
The design is modern and classy, but still
manage to appeal to those who’d like coollooking gadgets on their desks. Like many
AIO that are slim in form, a ROM drive is
omitted from list of features. This is not a
major disadvantage as the need and use for
one is sporadic.
Its 23.8-inch IPS touchscreen display
supports FHD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080
pixels. The screen itself is very glossy and
clear. But how does it perform? For day to
day, work and play, the Inspiron 24 7000 AIO
RM5,799
by ng thim soon
does its job swimmingly; it’s good enough
for gaming, viewing videos and photos. I
found it lacking in producing crisp images
that you often feel from high-end monitors.
A StronG PerForMer For the
AVerAGe joe
The Inspiron 24 AIO 7000 is equipped
with a 6th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM)
i7-6700HQ Processor (6M Cache, up to
3.50 GHz) with 12GB Dual Channel DDR4
2133MHz (4GBx1+8GBx1) and an NVIDIA
GeForce 940M mobile graphics card with
4GB of GDDR3 RAM. These specifications
are suitable for home entertainment and
multimedia machine.
Of course, you can probably get away
with using it as a gaming machine if you’re
playing games with low to average graphic
requirements on high quality graphic settings.
Unless you’re running the latest game titles
requiring heavy graphics, you’d experiencing
a certain degree of lag and graphic tearing.
This machine runs on hybrid drive with a
1 TB 5,400 RPM mechanical hard drive and
32 GB mSATA ss. With the hybrid storage
system, it enables you to enjoy some enhanced
performance so that your file accessing speed
is faster and run programs smoother.
An ADDeD FeAture
Aside from its unusual design, a special
feature is the RealSense 3D camera, which
enables you to take advantage of apps like
3DMe. The app scans your face and fit it onto a
variety of 3D models. Currently, the use of this
3D camera may be limited but the potential of
engage more fun and creative activities could
be huge.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hxWxD): 361.18mm x
582.98mm x 27mm / 14.22" X 22.95" X 1.06"
(Touch Screen’s measurement)
ProCeSSor: 6th Generation Intel(R)
Core(TM) i7-6700HQ Processor (6M Cache, up
to 3.50 GHz)
MeMory: 12GB Dual Channel DDR4 2133MHz
(4GBx1+8GBx1)
StorAGe: 1TB 5400 rpm Hard Drive + 32GB
mSATA Solid State Drive
Operating System: Windows 10 Home Single
Language, 64-bit
DiSPLAy: 23.8-inch FHD (1920x1080) Truelife
LED-Backlit Touch Display with IPS and Intel(R)
RealSense(R) 3D Camera
CAMerA: 3D FHD Camera
GrAPhiCS: NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) 940M 4GB
GDDR3
AuDio: Stereo speakers professionally tuned
with Waves MaxxAudio
ConneCtiVity: 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
PortS: Rear: 2 x USB 2.0, 45 - RJ Ethernet
Port, HDMI in, HDMI out. Side: 4 x USB 3.0
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
A solid running watch, with
excellent 24/7 tracking. heart
rate monitor is a little off
though.
score
soon
8.3
85
MAY 2016
TESTED
Out For Blood
Bloody by A4Tech B700 Gaming Keyboard
U
pon unboxing the Bloody
by A4Tech B700 Gaming
Keyboard and connecting it
to my computer, I was greeted
with a flash of bright LED
lights dancing around the keys, twisting,
turning, and spiralling. This is clearly a sign
of good things to come from the people
at Bloody. Boasting a lightning-quick
response paired with infrared keys, Bloody
is literally out for blood with its new range
of gaming keyboards.
inStAnt reSPonSe
With a response time of 0.2ms, the B700
provides lighting quick responses from
keyboard to computer in literally no time at
all. The moment slight pressure is placed
on a key, the signal is immediately picked
up and responds.
This made my gaming experience so
much better as it required less effort while
providing an even quicker response as
compared to previous keyboards I’ve used in
RM549
the past. Even using the keyboard for regular
typing has its benefits as the moment my
fingers touched the keys, it would’ve already
responded instead of having to press it all
the way down for the signal to be sent.
inFrAreD KeyS
Instead of using regular mechanical
switches like most gaming keyboards
would have, Bloody has opted for its own
creation of infrared mechanical switches,
providing a zero-lag performance while
being faster than a regular metal switch by
30ms. The infrared switches also require
only 1.5mm to actuate, which is 30% faster
than traditional metal switches.
MAXiMuM CoMFort
Most keyboards these days – whether
conventional or gaming – comes with its
palm rest to ensure minimal fatigue, the
B700 comes with a removable palm rest for
only the left palm. Although this isn’t ideal
for work and long hours of typing, it works
" The exterior of the B700 is
easy on the eye, but what
makes this beast tick is
what’s under the hood. "
by teh wi-liam
wonders when gaming since your right
palm will be navigating the mouse.
the BeASt Within
The exterior of the B700 is easy on the eye, but
what makes this beast tick is what’s under
the hood. Pop open the keys and you will see
the suspended keycaps ready and awaiting
your orders. These infrared keycaps are also
dust-resistant and water-proof, perfect for
people who choose to eat and not keep their
peripherals clean and neat.
The B700 also comes with a screwenhanced space bar with dual screws,
dual springs, and a balancing bar, which
provides stronger durability. This keyboard
also comes with 8 non-slip silicone keys
that has already been pre-emptively
installed into the QWER and ASDF keys.
This provides extra comfort during long
hours of gaming as well as reducing the
wear and tear of the keys.
SPECS
DiMenSionS (hXWXD): 138.3x34.8x368 mm
WeiGht: 923 grams
tACtiLe eXPerienCe: Crisp
reSPonSe: Extra-quick response time
ConneCtion: USB
ADDitionAL PortS: N/A
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
VErdICT
An all-round versatile keyboard
for everyday use and gaming.
score
wi-liam
86
MAY 2016
8.6
showdown
ConstAntly EVolVinG
Celcom Axiata Berhad
by nur atifi
the First Gold is now competitively priced
with a similar package offered by Digi for the
same price. The major difference is the fact
Celcom is more reliable in network stability
and has wider coverage as compared to the
latter. More on that below.
CUSTOMERS COME FIRST
A
telco
industry
pioneer,
Celcom Axiata Berhad has
been in the game for close to
three decades. It is by far the
oldest and holds many first in the industry;
perhaps it is also the most innovative telco
in the market.
Celcom was the industry darling, for
both consumer and business postpaid
plans. That has changed over the years as
number porting between telcos has become
easier. Loyalties are challenged. That said,
they’ve not backed down of their claims of
being numero uno in terms of number of
subscribers and network coverage.
In sealing its commitment to the industry,
Celcom has also forged partnerships with
network infrastructure vendors, namely
Ericsson and Huawei, to integrate, deploy
and manage its 4G LTE developments in
the country. 2016 is the year of investments
88
MAY 2016
APR
2016
and expansions for Celcom as it looks to
expand its 4G service areas through this
partnership.
Its postpaid plans, the Celcom First
plans, are divided into three offerings: Blue,
Gold and Platinum. If we were to compare
Celcom’s plans with its competitors, it’s
somewhere in the middle of Maxis and Digi
– a mid-point in value for what they offer.
GETTING COMPETITIvE
Power users would appreciate what Celcom
has in store for them. Though its most
expensive plan, the First Platinum, has all
the bells and whistles, the First Gold (midrange) plan shines brighter than any other.
It has the right balance between data and
voice/sms for a minimum of RM80 monthly
commitment.
With a total of 10GB (5GB+5GB on
weekends) and unlimited calls and sms,
Having experienced three out of four telcos
in this showdown, I can safely say that
Celcom gets my vote for overall customer
service. The need to dial its call centre
has significantly been reduced since the
introduction it’s Online Customer Service
portal to manage all your account needs.
There was an instance my line was barred
during an overseas trip, and all I needed to
do is login to the portal, initiate a Live Chat
with one of the representatives and request
for temporary unbarring while I make
payment (I needed my TAC number). All this
was done within 15 minutes, and I was on
my way. Somehow dealing with someone via
keyboard and screen is better for my blood
pressure than speaking to a rep on the phone
who may or may not be cranky.
MEETING ExPECTATIONS
Celcom doesn’t mess around when it says it
has an undisputed No. 1 network coverage
in the country. Going about running some
network speed tests in the three locations,
it was the most stable among the four
– it never dropped below half for signal
strength and keeping to 4G connectivity
most times. And in most instances, it had
the fastest download/upload speed in the
three locations we’ve covered.
Personally, I’ve experienced little to no
drop calls even when the signal strength
drops to just one bar – and I live at the edge
of a rainforest in KL where a few other telcos
can leave me virtually uncontactable.
thE CuRREnt Go-to
Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd
D
igi is one of the younger
telcos in the lineup, set up
after Celcom and Maxis has
been online for quite some
time. Because of that, they have a younger
corporate mind set when compared to the
big blue and green telco. This is reflected
with their demographic, which is more
skewed towards the 18-36 age range.
However so, they are still a big player
in the market, with recent numbers seeing
them clinching more subscribers than ever
before, even beating out Celcom and Maxis
for the first time.
The service from Digi overall is quite
satisfactory, especially with the recent drive
that the company is taking to beef up and
buck up on customer interaction as well as
customer service online as well as offline.
Better interaction between the company’s
representatives and the end users are
evident, however the level of interaction
needs to be ramped up and the company
need to instil a more proactive stance with
their representative in customer relations.
by otter
SERvICE, PLEASE
ON THE SPOT
The customer service (CS) for Digi can be
a hit or miss depending on the time of day,
temperature of your coffee and the status of
the internet at any given time. Their social
media team are hard at work to receive and
help users when they are mentioned on
twitter, but when you pick up the phone,
the person on the other side can be either
the most helpful or the most infuriating
person to deal with.
We tried to ask for the Personal Unlocking
Key (PUK) code for the Digi postpaid line,
in case of any complications in the future,
and 50% of the time, the transaction took
more than 10 minutes to go through. We
may chalk it up to the mood of the CS
representative during the call, but the
human interaction needs to be tweaked a
bit further.
In the three locations that we did testing,
we have found that while Digi is not the
strongest performer in data throughout. It is
the more stable amongst the four as we did
not see sudden spikes in both upload and
download speeds.
This bodes well for the company as with
their current nationwide 4G rollout, we
can say that Digi is the best performer for
constant throughput, if not the one with the
highest speed.
However Digi is prone to dropped signals
for both calls and data when one is too deep
in a building – in a basement car park, for
example. Digi is also prone to lose signal
when the phone is at the edge of the signal
tower, so transitions from one cell tower to
another may result in abrupt signal lost when
in a call or downloading from the internet.
GREAT vALUE
Digi is one of the more affordable telcos,
with a great data to monthly commitment
ratio, which translates to great value per
gigabyte of data. Their current line-up of
postpaid and prepaid offerings gives them
a leg up when compared to their peers and
competitors, as they have been making
great strides on giving the best value for
money to their customers.
The lowest plan that you can get from
Digi is the New Digi Postpaid 68, which
gives customers 3GB of data, with a 1GB
of unused data rollover for the next billing
cycle. Included in this plan is unlimited calls
to all networks, and freebies such as one year
free subscription to iFlix.
89
MAY 2016
showdown
lEAn GREEn
fiGhtinG mAChinE
Maxis Berhad
by teh wi-liam
packages now will have 5GB, 10GB, 15GB,
and 20GB of Internet data, respectively.
Aside from the increase, MaxisONE
customers new and old will also receive an
extra 5GB each month for video-on-demand
streaming applications, allowing you to
binge-watch your favourite TV series and
movies to your heart’s content.
MORE DATA!
Aside from the upgrade to the MaxisONE
packages, Maxis also introduced its new
Internet data-sharing feature called DataPool.
For RM48 a month, you can now pool together
all your Internet data a month alongside your
entire family to create one huge pool of data
where everyone can have a share of it. The
DataPool can also be used while you and your
family are overseas on vacation, allowing you
to enjoy unlimited incoming and outgoing
calls as well as data roaming.
NOT SO STEADy
S
ince its inception in 1993, Maxis
has since become the number one
telco brand in Malaysia, boasting
more than 10 million subscribers
as of right now. Maxis was also the first
telco to introduce the 4G LTE network to
Malaysians, which enabled us to reach a
new level of high-speed Internet. Maxis
also introduced the era of smartphones to
the Malaysian market by introducing the
BlackBerry, Apple iPhone, and Samsung
Galaxy series.
These days, MaxisONE is considered to
be Maxis’s most popular package, boasting
Internet data quota paired with unlimited
calls and SMS for a monthly fixed rate.
However, numerous competitors these days
90
MAY 2016
have been able to match or even lower
the pricing on its own packages while
increasing the Internet data quota, giving
Maxis a real run for its money.
THERE CAN ONLy BE ONE
Recently, Maxis introduced a major upgrade
to the current MaxisONE plan, not only
giving a significant increase to the current
MaxisONE packages but also adding even
more value add-ons onto its packages.
The MaxisONE 98 used to only come
with 1GB of Internet data while the
MaxisONE 128 came with 3GB, the
MaxisONE 158 came with 5GB, and the
MaxisONE 188 came with 7GB worth of
Internet data. After the upgrade, these
Although Maxis now offers greater
Internet data quota with unlimited calls
and SMS, there has been no change
to the fixed monthly charges to the
MaxisONE packages.
Another issue that could be a
potential problem for Maxis is the
current inconsistent signal service the
Internet data has on users’ smartphones.
After running speed tests to test the
latency, download speed, as well as
upload speed at three different locations
around the Klang Valley, Maxis came up
short almost always in all three areas
as compared to its competitors. The
three locations in question were KLIA,
a transit hub; Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, a
housing area; and Mid Valley Megamall,
a shopping complex.
simplE, with VAluE
U Mobile Sdn Bhd
T
he youngest telco in our line-up of
four service providers, U Mobile
Sdn Bhd was launched in 2007 and
gained quite a following with its
product innovation and value proposition.
U Mobile’s plans and packages has always
been straightforward and simple. It certainly
offers more value for money to consumers,
seeing as even its most expensive plan is
competitively priced as compared to the entrylevel plans by the yellow, green and blue telcos.
LESS FOR MORE?
The most talked about plans offered by
U Mobile are its value plan (U28 at RM28
monthly) and premium plan (Hero Postpaid
P70 at RM70 monthly).
For those with budget constraints, U Mobile
has made it easy for these users to have entry
and access to both competitive data and voice
offerings. With 3GB of monthly data and up to
50 minutes call to all networks, and 300 free
SMS(100 free SMS to U Mobile network and
200 free SMS to other networks), the U28 plan
covers the needs of most casual smartphone
users. Comparatively, to get a similar plan with
other telcos, one would have to pay about three
times more. The U28 is probably the most
affordable postpaid plan out there!
Power users will definitely appreciate the
newly launched Hero Postpaid P70. Users get
unlimited call to all networks, paired along
with 15GB (7GB+8GB) of internet quota.
Though the additional 8GB promotion will only
last until the end of this year, U Mobile’s top
of the line plan isn’t very much exorbitantly
priced for what you get. That said, this plan is
data and voice centric as it does not have any
free SMS included.
Though in providing such simplicity, the
value added service and features are limited in
U Mobile. The only extra service they provide,
by ng thim soon
which I found useful, is the presence of an
app to help manage usage. Other than that,
popular services such as Spotify, iFlix and
the likes are nowhere to be seen.
THE AvERAGE JOE
While the packages have amazing value, its
customer service is just average. The navigation
from the call was divided into existing customer
and non-existing customer (I will not go into
detail for this category). Overall, the navigation
is clear and easily reachable to the problem that
we’re trying to resolve.
The waiting time was short and the
customer service representative I spoke
to was polite and curt – no real complaints
here. Compared to my experience in
the past, U Mobile have made some
improvements in terms of structure of call
and level of customer service friendliness.
NOT QUITE COvERED
As far as coverage concern, the locations we
tested on the signal was good and strong
in areas such as Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Mid
Valley Megamall and KLIA2. These location
shows off the versatility of U Mobile’s
performance in different settings. In fact, it
was second best when we ran out tests.
Out of Klang Valley and major cities like
Penang and Johor, U Mobile’s coverage
isn’t as far reaching as to its peers.
Most locations would only receive 2G
connectivity, including East Malaysia. Its
3G connectivity is available in most cities
and towns in Peninsular Malaysia and the
coast cities of East Malaysia. As for 4G, it’s
severely limited to Klang Valley and Johor.
Although U Mobile provides the most value
for money, its coverage is still an issue and
a concern for most consumers.
91
MAY 2016
showdown
A BREAkdown of tElCo plAns
tElCo | plAns
CELCOM
First Blue
First Gold
First Platinum
Min
Monthly
Commitment
RM45
RM80
RM180
Data
4GB monthly
10GB monthly
18GB monthly
Calls
50 minutes
Unlimited
Unlimited
SMS
50 SMS
Unlimited
Unlimited
Extras
Free unlimited
streaming with
Yonder Music
Free unlimited
streaming with
Yonder Music
Unlimited access to
iFlix for 12 months
2GB complimentary
WiFiPlus
5GB complimentary
WiFiPlus
9GB complimentary
WiFiPlus
Free messaging
with Zipit Chat
tElCo | plAns
DIGI
92
MAY 2016
APR
2016
Digi Postpaid 68
Digi Postpaid 78
Digi Postpaid 80
Min
Monthly
Commitment
RM68
RM78
RM80
Data
3GB monthly
7GB monthly
10GB monthly
Calls
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
SMS
RM0.10 per SMS
RM0.10 per SMS
RM0.10 per SMS
Extras
Unlimited
Whatsapp and
Wechat
Unlimited
Whatsapp and
Wechat
Unlimited
Whatsapp and
Wechat
30GB storage on
Capture
100GB storage on
Capture
100GB storage on
Capture
Music Freedom
(Spotify)
Music Freedom
(Spotify)
Music Freedom
(Spotify)
Unlimited access to
iFlix for 12 months
Unlimited access to
iFlix for 12 months
Unlimited access to
iFlix for 12 months
MaxisOne
Plan 98
MaxisOne
Plan 128
MaxisOne
Plan 188
Min
Monthly
Commitment
RM98
RM128
RM188
Data
5GB monthly
10GB monthly
20GB monthly
Calls
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
SMS
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Extras
Free extra 15GB/month
for Spotify
Free extra 15GB/
month for Spotify. Free
subscription for Spotify
Premium
Free extra 15GB/
month for Spotify. Free
subscription for Spotify
Premium
Free extra 5GB/month for
streaming services
Free extra 5GB/month for
streaming services
Unlimited access on
iFlix, Viu, ErosNow and
Hopster for 3 Months
Unlimited access on
iFlix, Viu, ErosNow and
Hopster for 3 Months
U28
P50
Hero
Postpaid P70
Min
Monthly
Commitment
RM28
RM50
RM70
Data
3GB monthly
5GB monthly
15GB monthly
Calls
50 minutes
Unlimited
Unlimited
SMS
300 SMS (100
to U Mobile,
200 to other
networks)
RM0.03 per
SMS to U
Mobile, RM0.08
per SMS to
other networks
RM0.03 per
SMS to U
Mobile, RM0.08
per SMS to
other networks
Extras
Extra 3GB data
for Video-Onz
Extra 5GB data
for Video-Onz
Free unlimited
streaming for
Video-Onz
tElCo | plAns
MAxIS
Free extra 5GB/month for
streaming services
Unlimited access on
iFlix, Viu, ErosNow and
Hopster for 3 months
tElCo | plAns
U MOBILE
93
MAY 2016
showdown
All in thE spEEd
international
departure
terminal,
kliA 2
lim tayar,
taman tun
dr. ismail
midvalley
Concourse
Ground floor
Each of us were assigned to a telco and put them to the test. To streamline and minimise discrepancies, we visited three locations that we
felt would best reflect the many factors of which could affect your network coverage experience, and used only one device – the Huawei
Mate 8. Read on for the results of the speedtests done via the Speedtest by OOKLA app.
server:
petaling Jaya
server:
singapore
server:
petaling Jaya
server:
singapore
server:
petaling Jaya
server:
singapore
CElCom
diGi
mAXis
u moBilE
Ping (ms)
19
51
58
61
Download (mbps)
70.14
32.39
16.05
24.5
Upload (mbps)
24.03
16.99
18.64
14.07
Ping (ms)
99
55
71
22
Download (mbps)
24.35
32.32
43.19
24.27
Upload (mbps)
30.56
18.73
20.87
5.35
Ping (ms)
28
51
51
57
Download (mbps)
15.17
10.01
6.17
13.32
Upload (mbps)
15.84
7.20
18.63
15.59
Ping (ms)
238
52
54
29
Download (mbps)
11.72
31.12
28.53
13.45
Upload (mbps)
13.49
7.60
26.66
5.60
Ping (ms)
31
50
65
56
Download (mbps)
49.49
21.59
12.43
40.18
Upload (mbps)
16.61
4.36
6.06
18.02
Ping (ms)
239
52
70
72
Download (mbps)
23.61
20.95
10.87
37.81
Upload (mbps)
21.78
4.33
5.25
15.92
ConClusion
After conducting several tests as seen above, it is clear Celcom is the victor among the four big telco giants in Malaysia. Aside from
providing consistent and stable cell service through extensive coverage, Celcom is an all-rounder that provides the most value for
money when it comes to the eyes of the consumers, mainly through its postpaid plans in terms of Internet data quota, phone calls,
and text messages.
Another major factor that pulled Celcom ahead of the pack was its dedicated customer service hotline, which is not only
innovative (with its Celcom FIRST Platinum package, subscribers will get their very own dedicated priority service number with
their very own personal service consultants to assist their every need), but also well-mannered and well-trained.
One other telco that deserves an honourable mention in our books is of course U Mobile, due to its value for money plans,
which are very data-centric, thus giving what most customers these days yearn for: more Internet data to surf the web while
being active on various social media sites.
94
MAY 2016
APR
2016
COVER STORY
MALAYSIA T
GONE MOBILE
The country’s mobile consumption
pushes telco industry to improve
here is no denying
that
the
way
we
consumer
multimedia
and entertainment has
evolved over the last decade. We
have moved away from being
“desktop-based” to going mobile
– a trend that isn’t likely to stop
given the increase number of mobile
devices and broadband connectivity
made available in the market today.
95
MAY 2016
COVER STORY
The
telecommunications
industry
continues to be fast-paced; growing
and changing with the needs of its
consumers, especially those in the Mobile
Network Operators (MNOs) space.
Malaysia’s mobile penetration has also
reached over 140% since 2014, with 8.9
million smartphone users. According
to Statista, by 2016, the number of
smartphone users in Malaysia is
estimated to reach 11 million, with the
penetration rate to remain the same.
96
MAY 2016
The growth is driven by the increase in
data usage, which will delivers an array
for opportunities for MNOs, and will
continue to do so in the coming years.
SteAdY OutLOOk
Given the positive outlook in the sector,
it is no wonder MNOs are now using
innovative marketing tactics to attract
new subscribers, while trying to retain
existing ones. With the increasing
adoption of social media, achieving
this is harder than it sounds.
“MNOs are targeting newer customer
segments through innovative pricing
plans that integrates voice, data and
digital services and incorporate their
device strategy,” says Frost & Sullivan.
Frost & Sullivan adds that growth in
the non-voice revenues is supported
by increase in the smartphone
penetration, and attractive data plans
and bundled offers.
“(However), the lack of transparency
in pricing and subscription plans are
driving customers away from their
telecommunication service provider.”
The numbers are further supported
by tech industry giant Ericsson, in its
Ericsson Mobility Report 2015. Todd
Ashton, Head of Malaysia and Sri
Lanka, Ericsson, shares that Malaysia’s
smartphone subscription penetration is
higher than its urbanisation rate last year.
It is expected to further grow in the next
three years.
A staggering 83% of consumers
say that they will switch to another
telecom service provider if there is
a lack of transparency in pricing and
subscription plans, based on the Frost &
Sullivan Malaysia Telecommunications
Services Customer Experience study.
This
reiterates
the
Malaysian
Communications
and
Multimedia
Commission’s (MCMC) Hand Phone User
2014 survey where it found 90% of users
have stayed with their respective service
providers in the first year. Of the 10% that
have ported over to another provider, 60.7%
share that they have no qualms in changing
if competitors were to offer a better package.
On this end, it is increasingly important for
MNOs to build and maintain loyalty among
subscribers, seeing as switching over to
competitors has become easier and more
accessible as well.
This is one of the many trends identified
by Frost & Sullivan. Its 2016 ICT Outlook
for Malaysia telco highlight that the overall
mobile subscriber penetration is expected
to remain stable, however the churns
rates will increase by 2-5% because of
intensified competition.
Among the reasons why Malaysians opt to
or change their subscription is due to poor
network or coverage of service providers,
a solid indicator that users are a stickler in
obtaining value for money plans and stable
high speed connectivity.
Says MCMC: “Service providers need to
deliver (quality) services to gain users’
long term loyalty. In some cases, the on-net
prices, which tend to be substantially lower,
has encouraged some users to subscribe to
the same service provider.
(Competitor’s) bundled package plan
has also attracted users to change
service provider.”
“The lack customer experience from
telecom service providers is the fourth
highest reason for Malaysians to stop their
subscription,” adds Frost & Sullivan.
“To maintain the same share of customer
wallet, and to drive the data service
adoption, service providers are enticing
subscriptions
by
offering
unique
propositions. For example, Digi is offering
mobile internet add-ons for social Apps,
while U Mobile offers video streaming
services for free.”
97
DEC
MAY 2016
2015
COVER STORY
HIgH Speed InfrAStruCture
With mobile internet data and connectivity
seemingly climbing up on the ladder of
importance, service providers are also
continuously improving infrastructure
and bringing forth the next generation of
connectivity in the form of 4G LTE.
“Users demand for high speed connectivity
and they have no qualms ending their
subscription from the current service provider
due to low speed,” shares Frost & Sullivan.
On the global level, Gartner shares telecom
service spending is projected to decline 2%
in 2016, with spending reaching US$1.4
trillion. As for mobile data spending,
on the other hand, is a bright spot with
accelerating growth driven by improved
pricing on bandwidth, mobile app and 4G/
LTE network availability.
Source: MCMC
98
MAY 2016
Ericsson’s Ashton believes the current
LTE adoption in Malaysia is still very small
despite 80% of the country’s population
being smartphone users. The growth of
LTE in the country will be a huge revenue
growth opportunity for service providers in
the coming years.
“Adoption of LTE services will grow at a very
fast pace. LTE subscribers is expected to
reach close to 10% of the overall subscriber
base by 2016,” says Frost & Sullivan.
It is no wonder that providers such as
Celcom, Maxis and Digi have been
aggressively expanding its coverage
within the country, while trying to one up
each other in a price war for data. Perhaps
another round of our Showdown to see who
will win the race?
- 100 GAMETIME
NEWS
- 109 BATTLE BoRN
opEN BETA
- 110 NIoH : ALpHA DEMo
- 112 MEGADIMENSIoNAL
NEpTUNIA VII
- 114 ASHES oF
THE SINGULARITY
- 118 GRAVITY RUSH
REMASTERED
- 120 ToM CLANCY’S
THE DIVISIoN
GameTime
This is where the fun begins
110
114
116
RATCHET & CLANK
118
120
99
MAY 2016
gametime news
Wireless FREEDoM
Razer releases the all-new wireless gaming suite
W
ith a tagline, ‘For Gamers, By
Gamers’, Razer once again
lives up to that mission
by introducing the latest
weapon in its long list of arsenal for
gamers: The ManO’War wireless gaming
headset, along with the Razer Turret,
a mouse and integrated keyboard and
mouse surface. Gaming from your couch
has never been easier.
Hear everything that is going on in the
game thanks to the 360° Razer Surround
Sound feature on the ManO’War, which
makes it impossible for you to be flanked or
ganked. This gaming grade, lag-free 2.4Ghz
wireless headset was designed to keep
you at your optimum levels while gaming
without any outside interruptions. Pick up
even the softest of footsteps or murmurs
thanks to the high-performance 50mm
Neodymium magnet drivers as well as the
immersive 7.1 surround sound capabilities.
The ManO’War comes with an ultracompact wireless USB adapter that provides
Razer Mano’War
Razer Turret
100
MAY 2016
instant plug-and-play connectivity from up
to 12 meters/39 feet. The ManO’War also
comes with an optional extension dock,
which allows users to have an even greater
distance. Comfort is also a non-issue as the
closed-style, upgraded leatherette cushions
on the ManO’War covers the wearer’s entire
ear, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit
while enhancing noise isolation.
Aside from having unparalleled audio
supremacy, the ManO’War also comes with
a built-in microphone that is concealed in
the left ear cup. It can be easily retracted
and extracted as well as positioned just
how you like it. The mic on the headset is
also equipped with an optimised algorithm
for more natural sounding paired with
crystal clear voice production, ensuring
your teammates hear your cries of victory
while your enemies bathe in the sound of
your maniacal laughter as you slay them
one by one.
As for the Razer Turret, the combo was
originally unveiled as a prototype in early
2015. Designed with a focus on enabling a
PC gaming experience from the couch, it
features a gaming grade chiclet keyboard
with full anti-ghosting and a highly precise
gaming mouse with a 3500 DPI sensor. The
integrated magnetic mouse mat ensures
the mouse will not slip even during intense
gaming sessions.
The keyboard/mouse duo comes with
dual wireless connectivity, enabling users
to play lag-free when connected to a console
via Bluetooth LE or to a PC via the bundled
wireless adaptor. Its ergonomic and ultraslim form factor is made specifically to fit on
a user’s lap. A foldable hinge ensures that
the lapboard is unobtrusive and dock-able,
leaving it a normal part of the living room
environment when not in use.
Built FoR BATTLE
The Devastator II ascends its predecessor in dramatic fashion
M
anufactured solely for the
battlefield, the geniuses at
Cooler Master have released the
Devastator II gaming keyboard
and mouse combo with much applause,
outweighing its predecessor in every aspect
possible. From the new mem-chanical
switches on the keyboard to increasing the
life cycle on the mouse, the Devastator II is
suited for gamers of all needs.
The keyboard is covered with UVcoated keycaps for better long-lasting
performance as well as enhanced durability.
Its removable keycaps are also compatible
with switches powerhouse, Cherry MX.
Each keycap comes with five components
altogether which not only increases its
life cycle up to 12 million clicks (which is
double of the average keyboard with a
normal membrane), its click force is also
increased to 50g.
Aside from technical improvements, the
keyboard also comes with dedicated media
keys placed at the top of the keyboard,
allowing you to switch your music up as
well as having control of the volume. You
also have control over the backlight coming
out from the keyboard, allowing you to
increase or reduce how bright the LED
lighting will be.
Every sword needs a shield. For the
Devastator II, that would be the mouse.
Although there was no change to the DPI,
which is preset to 1,000/1,600/2,000 – and
can be switch on the fly thanks to the DPI
button –, it does however come with a
much better life cycle of up to 10 million
clicks. The mouse also comes with a lower
lift-off distance (LOD), which is plus point
for FPS gamers and two side buttons for
more micro-managing over your computer.
With three different LED lightings to
choose from, mainly red, green, and blue,
you can now pick and choose which colours
suits you most while you lay waste to your
adversaries with extreme ease.
101
MAY 2016
gametime news
tyrannical
TIDINGS
New RPG from famed developer
O
bsidian
Entertainment
and
Paradox Interactive announces
Tyranny, a new role-playing
game (RPG) coming to Windows,
Mac, and Linux PCs. Tyranny, designed
and developed by the studio behind awardwinning titles such as Pillars of Eternity,
Fallout: New Vegas, and Star Wars: Knights
of the Old Republic II, introduces players to
an original fantasy world where a brutal clash
between good and evil has taken place – and
evil emerged triumphant. A nonlinear story
challenges players to find their role within the
dominant empire and live with the outcomes
of difficult, morally unclear decisions.
“…There’s been a renaissance in RPGs
thanks to games like Pillars of Eternity,
Wasteland 2, Divinity: Original Sin and
others. What’s incredible is that we’ve
been able to continue evolving the types of
RPGs we make since Obsidian was founded
in 2003,” says Feargus Urquhart, CEO of
Obsidian Entertainment.
In Tyranny, the grand war between good
and evil is over – and the forces of evil, led by
Kyros the Overlord, have won. The Overlord’s
merciless armies dominate the face of the
world, and its denizens must find their new
roles within the war-torn realm. Players
interact with the populace to inspire loyalty,
disgust, or fear as they roam the world as an
officer in Kyros’ forces, empowered to act as
both judge and executioner.
“With Tyranny, we love the twist we’ve
put on the world which started with the
premise ‘What if evil already won?’ Coupled
with that is our ongoing dedication to
giving our players games full of choice and
consequence. Games they can play not just
once, but many times,” adds Urquhart.
Dragon Blaze:
BoDENS 2ND WAVE
New Bodens, New Boss and Increase Level Cap!
G
AMEVIL’s
Dragon
Blaze
offers a range of new exciting
content in its latest update
(at time of print). From raising
the level cap from 83 to 86, to providing
10 additional ally slots, the game will
certainly set you ablaze with what it has
in store for players.
Perhaps the most exciting announcement
from this update is the introduction of not
one, but four new legendary Bodens allies.
The Bodens, namely Judge Shadow Howl,
Chaser Tracy, Shaman Doll Margaret and
Divine Hammer Drunken Falcon, each
possess different characteristics that will
certainly aid you in protecting the world
from annihilation.
102
MAY 2016
Moreover, a new region – the Fiery Land
– makes its way into the Dragon Blaze map.
Bodens must exercise extreme caution
while navigating through the multiple
frozen stalagmites which are riddled
throughout Fiery Land. A new boss can
also be found in the region. Disgael, once
an angelic servant of good, has turned his
back on his allies and has been forever.
Now, looking to seek vengeance, Disgael is
driven by a ferocity only matched by King
Gram himself.
Vr DREAMS
Sony confirms PlayStation VR price and launch date
D
uring a media event at Game
Developers Conference in San
Francisco,
Sony
Computer
Entertainment finally gave more
precise information on the availability and
price of PlayStation VR.
The headset will be released in October
2016 for US$399, €399, £349 and 44,980
yen. Sony kept the price and release
date of PlayStation VR as one of its most
closely guarded secrets during the past
few months, but now you can finally make
an informed decision on whether you’ll
jump on virtual reality at launch or not.
By comparison, Valve’s HTC Vive
will cost US$799, while Oculus Rift will
take US$599 out of your wallet. In a rare
example of symmetry, there are exactly
US$200 setting the three headsets apart.
Sony
Computer
Entertainment
President Andrew House shared that
a new media player supporting virtual
reality will be launched at the same time
as the headset, and over fifty games will
be released from October to the end of the
year, including The PlayRoom VR, which
will come for free with PlayStation VR.
House also mentioned that Sony
intentionally designed the visor in a style
that reduces the pressure on the player’s
face, and the company’s engineers have
reduced the weight of materials to make
the headset as light weight as they could.
According to him, the focus was also
to offer PlayStation VR as a “great value”
to gamers, as Sony firmly believes that the
right price is crucial to drive adoption of
any new technology. After announcing
the price, followed by a round of applause
by the media attendees at the event,
House said that the package represents
“unmatched value for the high quality VR
experience” that it offers.
Achieving this price point was “far
from an easy task,” House continued,
and was fruit of Sony’s expertise in
engineering, design and manufacturing,
built over the past two decades of
building hardware for the gaming market,
with the help of the whole Sony group,
which has been designing consumer
electronics for nearly seventy years.
Afterwards, he mentioned that the
company is proud of the headset’s
price point, because it means that
more gamers will be able to afford
PlayStation VR, and they’re even
prouder
of
the
“breakthrough
experiences that PlayStation VR will
deliver,” and that determined the
release window of October 2016 to
ensure that the company could offer
a “wide breadth of compelling games
and content” and produce the volume
of hardware necessary to meet demand
from gamers worldwide.
On top of that, Sony Computer
Entertainment partnered with Electronic
Arts to launch a Star Wars Battlefront
virtual reality experience available
exclusively for its headset. If you don’t
have a PlayStation Camera, you’ll have
to add it to the cost of your investment in
PlayStation VR, as it’ll be required, but it
won’t be included in the package.
103
MAY 2016
gametime news
FulFill YoUR DESTINY
ArmaGallant: Decks of Destiny Now Available in Asia
S
ony Interactive Entertainment
Hong Kong Limited Singapore
Branch (SCES) announces the
availability of ArmaGallant: Decks
of Destiny for PlayStation 4 on the PSN store
in Asia.
ArmaGallant: Decks of Destiny is a
brand new game that combines the worlds
of deck-building and RTS video games. In
the game, players create a battle deck to
bring into fast-paced 1v1 or 2v2 RTS battles.
From fortifying strategic map points, to
unleashing your armies and spells at the
right time – it’s all about building a great
deck and playing an epic game!
Priced at RM151, PS Plus members will
get to enjoy 30% off the retail price from
22nd April to 5th May 2016.
going aBoVe AND BEYoND
BIOSTAR brings the Dual-BIOS feature into its Racing Series motherboards
F
amous for manufacturing and
designing numerous computer
products
that
range
from
motherboards to video cards
and even headphones and desktop PCs,
Taiwan-based BIOSTAR announces a game
changer to its motherboards.
The new Dual-BIOS feature will now be
featured in all BIOSTAR RACING series
motherboards, which are designed with
utmost protection in mind. The careful
craftsmanship of the Dual-BIOS feature by
BIOSTAR ensures it will meet all the needs
of everyday users, enthusiasts, and power
users as well.
With the help of two physical BIOS
chips, BIOSTAR motherboards allow the
booting of two independent BIOS ROMs.
This safety precaution feature is also a
convenient tool for overclockers who might
encounter system stability issues during
system tweaking as well as troubleshooting
possible issues caused by corrupted ROMs
or a hardware failure.
BIOSTAR’s
RACING
series
motherboards feature a manual BIOS
104
MAY 2016
switch, which allows you to toggle
between ROMs. A manual BIOS switch is
a lot better as compared to an automatic
design as it limits the possibility of
corrupting the secondary BIOS. This
manual switch design ensures the
Dual-BIOS implementation limits the
issue by allowing each ROM to operate
independently with each other.
The Dual-BIOS technology can be
found in all of BIOSTAR’s motherboards,
including the BIOSTAR RACING Z170GT7,
the RACING B150GT5, as well as the
RACING H170GT3.
soliD gaming FoUNDATIoN
X99A GODLIKE GAMING CARBON Has Arrived
T
outed as the world’s most extreme
gaming motherboard, the newly
announced MSI X99A GODLIKE
GAMING CARBON is now in
stores, and ready to take on any challenge.
It is designed to provide gamers with bestin-class features and technology.
The company’s new motherboard
features the pinnacle of gaming in terms
of performance and features – raising the
bar higher in motherboard aesthetics. To
cool, protect and highlight these features,
heavy plated armour is used. Stunning
looks, backed by the MSI Dragon, the X99A
GODLIKE GAMING CARBON motherboard
is an engineering masterpiece tailored to
gaming perfection.
Its newly improved Mystic Light RGB
LEDs complement its full black colour
scheme, which certainly stands outs when
it’s lit. In fact, to add to its flashiness, the
LED lighting can be controlled through
your smartphone!
Besides its strength and futuristic looks,
carbon-fibre is also very light to represent the
ultimate performance the new motherboard
delivers. It is also ready for next-generation
Intel ‘Broadwell-E(P)’ processors.
In minimising memory signals distorted
by electromagnetic signals from other
components, MSI also introduces DDR4
Boost technology with optimised traces and
fully isolated memory circuitry. This design
ensures the memory signals stay pure for
optimal performance and stability.
let there BE LIGHT!
Com2us releases new RP in seven countries
M
obile game company, Com2us
announces the release of a new
RPG, Light: Fellowship of Loux,
developed by Polygon Games
(CEO Guk-hee Shin) in seven countries (Singapore,
Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam,
and Philippines) on the Google Play Store.
Light is an RPG for strategic battles with
Hero formations and Runes with more than
100 Heroes with five different classes and a
Rune System with 15 different effects. Users
will be able to collect Heroes to come up with
their own team formations and increase the
Hero’s ability to defeat the opponent team.
The game also provides various battle
content including explorations, Raid, Arena,
and dungeons. Heroes are equipped with
unique skills according to 3 attributes (Fire,
Water, and Earth) and the elaborate skill effects
will enhance the thrill of real-time battles.
105
MAY 2016
gametime news
exciting
ANNoUNCEMENTS AHEAD
COMPUTEX 2016 brings you the latest and greatest
C
OMPUTEX, the leading global
ICT exhibition, is set to give
enthusiasts the latest trends in
gaming and eSports, as well as
showcase products from gaming giants
and exhibitors.
Gaming,
eSports
and
mobile
research firm Newzoo forecasts that
the worldwide gaming market will
grow from US$91.5 billion in 2015 to
US$113.3 billion by 2018 and the global
eSports market from US$325 million in 2015
to US$1.1 billion by 2019. In response to this
explosive worldwide growth, the Taiwan
External Trade Development Council
(TAITRA), the organiser of COMPUTEX,
has designated gaming and eSports as one
of the show’s four main themes.
More than 30 gaming brands will
showcase their latest gaming products
including PCs, tablets, memory devices,
graphics
processing
units
(GPUs),
motherboards, keyboards, mice, consoles,
headsets, computer cases, cooling fans
and more.
Big names like MSI, Cooler Master,
GIGABYTE, NVIDIA and Thermaltake are
just some of the many exhibitors attendees
can look forward to.
“The gaming and eSports ecosystem
at COMPUTEX will provide the most
comprehensive global platform for gaming
brands, gamers, and overclockers to build
relationships, view and test the latest
gaming product innovations,” says TAITRA
Executive Vice President, Walter Yeh.
KritiKa-l HIT
Online action RPG makes its way to SEA
K
ritika Online, a 3D MORPG for
the PC, features a fast-paced
combo system and action
controls, which is popular in
Korea. Leading publishers around the
world have expressed their interest in
publishing the game.
Well, wait no more as Playpark announces
the launch of the PC game in South East
Asia in May 2016 with four classes: Warrior,
Rogue, Mage and Scyther. Kritika Online
SEA will commence service simultaneously
across six countries, namely Thailand,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore
and the Philippines.
106
MAY 2016
“We are excited to capture at COMPUTEX
the pulse of a dynamic and engaging
industry whose market value has surpassed
that of films and music combined.”
on the roaD To CoRRUpTIoN
Whispers of the Old Gods turn the tables on players
W
hispers of the Old Gods, the
third expansion for Blizzard
Entertainment’s
awardwinning online strategy card
game, Hearthstone, is now live. Players
around the world are invited to collect and
do battle with 134 new twisted, tentaclepacked cards—including the legendary
Old Gods themselves: C’Thun, N’Zoth,
Yogg-Saron, and Y’Shaarj.
This
spine-tingling
expansion
turns everything players know about
Hearthstone inside out. Familiar allies
have been corrupted, new monstrosities
have appeared, and the Old Gods of
Azeroth have resurfaced - spreading their
sinister influence and game-changing
powers throughout the tavern.
“Whispers of the Old Gods adds an
exciting new set of creepy, corrupted
cards to Hearthstone,” says Mike
Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard
Entertainment. “We can’t wait to see how
creative players are with the ancient evil
of the Old Gods in their hands.”
WoW, trouBle BREWING!
The Demon Hunter will incite chaos
T
he great enemy of Azeroth is
back, and soon the kingdoms of
the Horde and the Alliance will
be consumed in a storm of fel fire.
Starting 30 August 2016, realms will shatter,
heroes will fall, and the world will stand on
the brink of destruction with the launch
of World of Warcraft: Legion, the sixth
expansion for Blizzard Entertainment’s
acclaimed massively multiplayer online
role-playing game.
Defenders of the Alliance and the Horde
can steel themselves for the return of the
demonic armies of the Burning Legion by
pre-purchasing World of Warcraft: Legion
digitally. Players who pre-purchase will
unlock an instant level-100 character boost,
as well as early access to the Demon Hunter.
“Legion opens a dark and thrilling new
chapter in one of the Warcraft series’
greatest conflicts, and things will never
be the same for some of Azeroth’s most
iconic heroes and villains,” says Mike
Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard
Entertainment.
“This expansion is loaded with
features and content that give players
whole new ways to explore the world
and customize their heroes. We’re
looking forward to sending everyone
into battle against the Burning Legion
this August.”
107
MAY 2016
gametime news
ultimate pERFoRMANCE
ASUS ROG GX700 Now in Malaysia
A
SUS RoG brings out the big guns
with the introduction of the
world’s first liquid cooling laptop
GX700 - a collaboration between
ASUS and Intel.
The all-new ROG GX700 comes
equipped with a desktop-level graphic card
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 – that gives
users the ability of raising its power when
paired together with the liquid cooling.
The liquid cooling feature will help
cool down both the GPU and CPU, which
makes overclocking possible for the GX700
108
MAY 2016
and further enhance its performance.
Additionally, the laptop’s display comes
with G-SYNC technology that supports
better display without graphic tearing.
From the keyboard to the audio system,
GX700 is also chock-full of premium
features, including anti-ghosting keys and
ASUS Sonic Studio and Sonic Radar.
It weighs about 4.8kg – a heavyweight
(literally) for its class. This seems a little
clunky for the everyday person to tote
around, but ASUS has a solution for you;
a special case designed to do just so. The
RoG GX700 is now available in stores, with
a pricing that will surely surprise many:
RM18,999.
The event also saw the announcement
of the ASUS ROG Champions Cup - a
collaboration with Garena – hosting a
League of Legends tournament. With a
total of RM60,000 in cash prizes to be
won, the qualifying rounds will be done
as an offline tournament that will be held
at various venues across Malaysia in midMay 2016. The finals will be held at the end
of June 2016.
gametime impressions
WE WERE BoRN FoR BATTLE
Gearbox Studios presents another badass game for badass gamers
by teh wi-liam
N
ot one for playing a first-person
shooter through a gaming
console, I was quite hesitant
when the open beta release
for Battleborn became available on the
PlayStation 4 in early April. What convinced
me was the way a friend had sold the game
to me: “It’s like Dota and Counter-Strike in a
Borderlands setting.” …He had me at Dota.
Battleborn is best described as a “hero
shooter” MOBA (multiplayer online battle
arena) where you and four other teammates
pit against another team of five players to
see who would destroy the other team’s
sentries (base) first. As with every MOBA
game that is played online, you will come
across players with toxic levels higher than
my ex-girlfriend.
What makes this game ridiculously
addictive is not only the competitiveness
that comes with a co-op game and wanting
to be the best among them; it is to also rub
it in your opponents’ face when you do lay
waste to them with the in-game ‘Taunt’
feature to further humiliate your enemies
as you slay them over and over and over
again. Believe me when I say, I have done
more than my fair share of taunts to my
enemies, which ultimately resulted in my
death straight after and hearing my friends
cussing at me throughout the remainder of
the game.
Battleborn starts off with only seven
characters for the picking. Although a
relatively small pool to choose from, you will
stand the chance to unlock more heroes as
you level up in the game after every match.
Getting the most kills, the most assists,
and even collecting the most shards can
help score you accomplishments, which
can grant you different taunts, skins, and
various other tools to aid you in battle.
Sadly, all good things must come to an
end as the open beta for Battleborn has
officially ended. For those who did not have
a chance to experience getting your behind
kicked during the open beta testing, fret
not as Battleborn will be available on PS4,
Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows on 3
May 2016.
As far as first-person shooter video
games go, I am completely sold onto the
idea of Battleborn, even if I was constantly
being sniped and taken out while my
allies rushed too deep into the enemy
base countless of times because someone
called someone else’s mom something
very unflattering.
TITLE: Battleborn
pUBLISHER: 2K games
DEVELopER: gearbox studios
pLATFoRM: Ps4, xbox one,
microsoft Windows
RELEASE DATE: 3rd may
GENRE: FPs/moBa
pLAYER(S): 1 – 5 players
109
MAY 2016
gametime impressions
HITS AND MISSES
BY SqUARE-ENIx
Can FFXV live up to the hype it created?
by teh wi-liam
G
one were the days of turn-based
battle systems, which made
Final Fantasy all the rage during
the era of PlayStation 1 and
PlayStation 2 with Final Fantasy VII, VIII,
IX, and X. Final Fantasy XII was the first
Final Fantasy game to feature an actionbased battle system on the PlayStation 2
but was met with much criticism.
With the launch of the Final Fantasy XV
Platinum Demo, Square Enix is sticking
TITLE: FFxV Platinum Demo
pUBLISHER: square-enix
DEVELopER: square-enix
pLATFoRM: Playstation 4 and
xbox one
RELEASE DATE: 30th
september 2016
GENRE: rPg/action
pLAYER(S): 1
110
MAY 2016
to their guns with the action-based battle
system, seeing as it garnered much praise
from the developer’s other popular game
titles, Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom
Hearts II.
The game begins with the player
gaining control over a much younger
Noctis as he awakens in what seems
to look like a jungle. There, he meets
Carbuncle who agrees to assist Noctis in
waking up from his dream. Travel through
the lands while fighting various monsters
and collecting gold fragments scattered
around, which may have some use when
the official game is released.
What made the demo worthwhile was
the ability to transform into animals to
fight monsters, changing the weather,
and even speeding up time (it is a dream,
after all). Unfortunately, the action-based
battle system was not as how I expected
it to be, when you compare it to the
controls for Kingdom Hearts. Changing
the attack button from X to O was not a
smart decision since button mapping to
your own preference wasn’t even given in
the demo.
Another issue with the demo was the
camera angles, which somehow had a
mind of its own and would feature Noctis
in all sorts of obscure angles, making it
hard to gauge as to which direction is
the correct one. Frame rates also took a
massive hit whenever magic was casted,
so Square Enix had better look into that
as well.
Overall, the demo would last no longer
than 20 minutes (add another 10 if you
plan on fighting an optional boss before
leaving the dream sequence). Although
there are still some kinks that needs to be
smoothen out, Square Enix can still turn
this around and bring back the glory days
of Final Fantasy in the RPG universe.
NIoH KIDDING!
Nioh excites in its beta release
by teh wi-liam
I
f you think Dark Souls and
Bloodbourne are enough to make
you unleash your inner Hulk, fling
your controller across the room,
and destroy everything in your path,
then Nioh is for you masochistic gamers
out there.
You start off with having control over
William (who reminds me of more pale
version of Geralt from Witcher 3), the main
protagonist in the game. You somehow
wound up in war-torn Japan and must
battle your way through samurais and
undead zombies wielding axes, katanas,
searing arrows, and spears.
What makes this game ridiculously
difficult, yet addictive, is its fast-paced
action gameplay, which has very little to no
margin for error. One wrong move, and you
could see yourself getting hacked to death
in a matter of seconds. Fret not as you will
respawn back at a shrine, much like how it
works with bonfires and Dark Souls.
However, when you do die (which you
will, a lot), you will lose all your Amirita, the
currency to level up your stats and abilities.
Once you respawn, you will be given the
chance to reset the level and collect back
all the Amirita you lost previously. Amirita
can be collected through killing various
samurais and undead as well as can be
picked up along the way.
After spending a couple of hours throwing
everything I had – including enough cuss
words to fit an Oxford dictionary – at this
game and still see myself restarting after a
couple of minutes each time, I can fairly say
that I am now hooked with wanting to beat
this game so badly I am willing do anything;
even if it means sacrificing a goat to the
mighty God Ra.
One of the thing I enjoyed about the
game – trust me, there wasn’t much
with me constantly dying – was having
the choice between better graphics or
frame rates, mainly Movie Mode or Action
Mode, respectively. Although the in-game
camera controls could be worked on, Nioh
is a work-of-art in the making and I expect
great things from them. If not, I guess
it’s back to swearing and cursing at Dark
Souls III instead.
TITLE: Battleborn
pUBLISHER: 2K games
DEVELopER: gearbox studios
pLATFoRM: Ps4, xbox one,
microsoft Windows
RELEASE DATE: 3rd may
GENRE: FPs/moBa
pLAYER(S): 1 – 5 players
111
MAY 2016
gametime reviews
Hate it or love it
Megadimension Neptunia VII
I
have to honestly say, this is the first
time I’m playing a game from this
popular series by Compile Heart and
Idea Factory. I’ve played a number
of games from this publisher/developer,
but not Neptunia. As I understand, this
franchise has a huge cult following, probably
as much as Love Live! and Idolmaster.
Anyway, despite being a game generally
tailored for guys, I still offered to test the game
out, probably out of curiosity. Firstly, I was
really, really glad that this game allows you to
choose between English or Japanese voiceovers. The only drawback is, you would need
to download the Japanese VO as it doesn’t
come with the disc, but as a DLC that takes
up about 1.5GB of hard disk space.
oF pUDDINGS AND oTHER
jIGGLY THINGS
Before I get into the experience in detail,
you do have to remember a few things. This
game is an RPG that is visual novel styles,
so if you can’t abide high pitch voices,
conversations that revolves around pudding
and *ahem* other assets, long banters that
don’t make much sense; then it would just
be best to avoid this game. However, I have
112
MAY 2016
by abby li
to admit, the game is rather charming and
let me tell you why.
THE CoNSoLE WAR
Basically, the storyline is based on
CPUs and the Gamindustri; which
represents all sorts of gaming consoles.
In this particular franchise, you start
off controlling Neptune and her sister
Nepgear, as they get sucked into Zero
Dimension, via what is known to us as
a Dreamcast console. It is somehow
nostalgic when there were references
made such as SegaNet and the VMU,
which brings back memories of the now
dead platform.
REDEFINING YoUR TASTE
Moving on from the premise, let’s talk about
the game itself. These CPUs mentioned
above, they take the form of cute animestyled characters with generally highpitched voice. As characters in a visual
novel, they look and sound interesting
though after a while, the character
template looks a little similar. Some of the
characters are annoying as heck, and some
are charming – it all boils down on the
archetype character you like. Probably in
this game, there has to be at least a type of
character any player will prefer, and since
you have to play different CPU girls in each
of their own storyline, it gives you even
more insight on their character.
WALK IN THE pARK CoMBoS
As for the gameplay, the RPG style is quite
simple. There are random encounters, and
in each battle, you need to move each
character as close to the enemy as possible
to inflict damage upon it. There are a variety
of combos you can use depending on how
you map your buttons with a special move.
I’ve played games like that before such
as Magna Carta, and that was a pain in the
butt as you need to time it right. However,
in Megadimension Neptunia VII (the name
is seriously way to long), you can take your
time in pressing the combo buttons; you
can even go make yourself a cup of coffee
between buttons if you like!
I had a friend who commented that this
makes the battle too easy, but honestly, this
game is more visual novel centric than an
RPG, so I don’t think anyone would mind if
the battle was too easy. Having said that, I
would have preferred if the battles were a
little more consistent; some of the battles
were too easy, and some were too hard,
even if they’re all on the same level.
poINTY pEopLE
Despite Megadimension Neptunia VII
being the first of its franchise available
on Playstation 4, I am a little disappointed
that the graphics were not that great. I
was expecting more, but looking at the
awkward planes and antialiasing, you
would think this was just a port over
from an older generation console. The
artwork for the characters when they’re
in conversation is fine, and even when it
is a cut-scene, it looks great. But when it
comes to moving around on the map and
during combat, the 3D characters look
very stiff and unnatural.
SIMpLE, SILLY AND FUN
So, did I actually like the game? To
be honest, I actually did. The combat
wasn’t too taxing and I didn’t have
to grind like many other RPGs, and
although conversations between the
characters can be over-the-top silly
(such as having a serious debate about
pudding), I found the game enjoyable
and brain-numbing especially after
a long day at work. If you want a
challenge, then don’t bother getting
stressed and hate this game. However,
if you like visual novels, or already a fan
of the Neptunia series, this is the game
for you.
pUBLISHER: compile heart
DEVELopER: compile heart, idea
Factory
RELEASE DATE: 23 april
2015
pLATFoRM: Playstation 4
pLAYER(S): single
GENRE: role-playing
score:
6
/10
oKAY
113
MAY 2016
gametime reviews
A Spiritual Supreme
Commander Successor
Ashes of the Singularity
S
tardock’s latest space-flung sci-fi
adventure, Ashes of the Singularity
is one of those games that remind
us what the word ‘strategy’
is supposed to mean. Its large scope,
healthy disdain for micromanagement, and
strong emphasis on high-level thinking
is refreshing. While it does not quite pack
the punch of Supreme Commander: Forged
Alliance, it does hit the mark in several of
the same places.
pUTTING THE S BACK IN RTS
The single-player campaign is set in a
future where the Post-Human Coalition
sends robot armies out to do battle with
other robot armies of mysterious and
aggressive AI called The Substrate. There
are eight main missions and three optional
ones. Most of the 11 missions feel more
like an extended tutorial compared to the
interesting multiplayer challenges.
114
MAY 2016
by andrew tong
The two races, Post-Humans and
Substrate don’t play significantly differently.
Post-Humans get tougher hulls and more
self-sufficient basic units, while Substrate
have rechargeable shields and a bit more
mobility. Given the high-level focus on
strategy, you will always be emphasising
which tools to bring over who has the better
toolbox. Thinking back over a match, I often
realise that one side or the other had already
clinched victory long before the last base well.
THINK BIG
You have to think of the awe-inspiring scale
of the battles and the armies fighting over
them. The number of units can easily go up
to 100 by the late game. There are squads
of small, frontline tanks, mid-sized cruisers
with versatile battlefields roles, massive
dreadnoughts with the ability to level up
and hold their own against hordes of smaller
vehicles. The creative and distinctive unit
designs are fun to look at and allow you to
easily assess the composition of an army at
a glance. Especially dreadnoughts, which
become distinctive characters as they level
up, with each hull speaking to the theme
and capabilities of the hulking capital ship.
The game engine handles it all incredibly
well too, with no notable slowdown on my
Core i5, GeForce GTX 970 on Windows
10 even when the battlespace gets very
crowded. A flexible and responsive zooming
camera makes me feel like I was managing
an entire theatre with multiple, full-scale
battles going on across the colossal maps.
GRoUND CoNTRoL
Ashes allow control of large groups of units
grouped into formal armies with the press
of a hotkey, which will adopt and maintain
a logical formation and act effectively as
a single entity. This creates interesting
ultimately rewarding learning curve.
Commanders compete for resource
nodes spread across the map with only
node connected by a chain to your
base generating resources that creates
opportunity to crash the entire economy
by surgically taking out a key node
in a smaller, more agile force before a
larger, dreadnought-anchored armies
can respond. Options for rapid, reactive
counters are few, and have a high
resource cost.
My only significant gripe was the bland
environment art. Unadorned, repeating
slopes of brown and green stand in contrast
to the creativity and distinctiveness of the
units. Adding more of this visual detail and
personality to the maps themselves would
have gone a long way.
FINAL THoUGHT
Once you break free from the speed and
tactics-focused mindset of most RTS,
Ashes of the Singularity is a challenging
cerebral exercise that has me mentally
iterating on army compositions, build
timings and board deployment schemes
even when I am not playing it. Aside from
the weak campaign, Oxide has delivered on
the promise of bringing capital-S Strategy
back to the RTS space.
DEVELopERS: oxide games
pUBLISHER: stardock
pLATFoRMS: Windows
RELEASE DATE: 1 april 2016
GENRE: real-time strategy
Players: single-player, multiplayer
REVIEWED: Windows
score:
8
/10
GooD
115
MAY 2016
gametime reviews
A Game Based on A Movie,
Based on A Game
Ratchet & Clank
by teh wi-liam
L
ying dormant for almost 14 years, the
brains at Insomniac Games alongside
Sony Interactive Entertainment
brought back one of its more
memorable and popular video games of the
21st century, Rachet & Clank. Although a rehash of the original 2002 video game, this HD
reimagined masterpiece has managed to dot all
the i’s and cross all the t’s in spectacular fashion.
CRANK IT Up
For everyone else who has yet to play Rachet
& Clank, it will be like riding a bicycle, going
for a swim, or falling in love; easy and effortless
without a thought as to what happens after
that. Although it shares the same main plot
as its 2002 counterpart, the re-imagined HD
version also borrows elements from its other
titles in the series. Features like new weapons,
raritarium weapon upgrades, and even strafing
are part of the new Rachet & Clank, which
makes it all the more entertaining to play.
One common factor that can be found
through the entire Rachet & Clank series
– which includes spinoffs – is the usage
of exotic and over-the-top weaponry and
gadgets. This concept in particular is
what sets Insomniac Games apart from its
competitors due to the attention to detail as
well as the quality made into the weaponry
and gadgets used in the series.
116
MAY 2016
One of the more iconic weapons would
definitely be the Pixelator, which will turn your
enemies into an 8-bit character. Although not
as powerful as compared to your entire arsenal
of weapons, it is something worth having with
you just for laughs.
pLANET HoppING
Another feature that has earned Insomniac
Games plenty of praise is the use of creating
planets inhabited with evil-doers and villains,
much to the joy of most fans. The difference
in all the worlds were a creation of beauty
that cannot be overlooked; each planet carried
different characteristics about them, making
the inhabitants fit into the planet’s ecosystem,
rather than the other way around.
VISUALLY STUNNING
What made Rachet & Clank beyond enjoyable
to play was its gorgeous graphics, creating
the perfect blend between animation and
real-world. Jumping around dodging enemy
fire, swimming underwater, and even running
around destroying boxes for bolts and
ammunition was a lot more fun due to the
upgraded graphics. Even exploring the vast
planets Insomniac Games had to offer kept me
on my toes the entire time as I just couldn’t get
enough of how stunning everything looked.
SWITCHING IT Up
Although you will be in control of Rachet
for most of the game, there will be missions
where only Clank is capable of completing it
(i.e. Clank can survive out in space whereas
Rachet can’t). This allows for greater diversity
in the game since Rachet seems to get all the
really cool and exotic weapons while Clank
doesn’t really get any. However, Clank does
have his own set of unique skills like taking
over other bots to do his bidding.
pUBLISHER: sony interactive
entertainment
DEVELopER: insomniac games
pLATFoRM: Playstation 4
RELEASE DATE: 22nd april
GENRE: Platform/rPg/third-person
shooter
NoSTALGIC MoMENTS
Although the remake comes with better
graphics, even cooler weapons, and
interesting side quests, Rachet & Clank
still somehow manages to maintain its
foundation and keeping the 3D platform
video game genre alive. For all lovers
of nostalgia, this is the game for you to
constantly jump, spin, and flip around your
enemies while hailing down bullets, bombs,
and everything else under the sun.
score:
8
/10
GooD
117
MAY 2016
gametime reviews
DEVELopERS: Project siren, Bluepoint
games (Ps4 re-master)
pUBLISHER: sony computer
entertainment
pLATFoRMS: Ps4
RELEASE DATE: 2 February 2016
GENRE: open world action-adventure
pLAYERS: single-player
Get Dazed
Gravity Rush: Remastered
F
or those who’ve missed the
chance to play the original
incarnation
of
Keiichiro
Toyama’s gravity defying game
on the PS Vita, Gravity Rush can now be
enjoyed in glorious high definition on the
PS4. While it was developed to fully utilise
the Vita’s hardware, most wonder if the
experience would differ greatly on the PS4,
sans the touchscreen and rear touchpad
features. Having played both versions of
the game, the game has ported over quite
well on the PS4.
Kat out of the bag
Gravity Rush is set in the floating city of
Hekseville, where you control Kat, a girl
with no memory of who she was or how
she got there. She immediately encounters
a mysterious black cat, which she names
“Dusty”, that could grant her a unique ability
to shift gravity at will. As she tries to uncover
the mystery of her own identity, Kat also
learns to utilise her abilities to aid Hekseville
to rescue its citizens from the Nevi - monsters
spawned from gravity storms that disrupts
the game’s world.
Sure, Kat’s amnesiac origin story is
nothing new but the story makes up for it
with its intriguing setting. The characters
are interesting, and the dialogues are well
written with a touch of comedy to lighten
up the mood. Hekseville itself is a wonderful
location which you can seamlessly explore,
and is divided into different unique districts
118
MAY 2016
by heirul mk
with their own atmosphere, inhabitants and
musical themes. Later on, you’ll also be able
to travel into the Nevi’s dimension to rescue
trapped citizens and restore parts of the city
that was abducted during gravity storms.
Dive KicK
A stand-out feature is Kat’s unique ability to
manipulate gravity at will. By doing so, she’ll
float into the air first before “falling” towards
any direction that the player chooses. It’s
the fastest way to navigate the world, and
other cool methods such as Gravity Slide
can be purchased by collecting gems that
are scattered around the world. The game’s
combat shines brightest when mixed with
gravity manipulation.
Aside from Kat’s basic combo of kicks,
players are able to stylishly combine them with
powerful gravity attacks and finishers. There
are various enemy types in Gravity Rush along
with their obvious “destroy me” weak spots for
Kat to exploit during fights. However, it’s not
as easy as it seems. While minor enemies have
their weak spots exposed, some may require
a specific move or combo in order to expose
score:
9
/10
GREAT
them. This keeps combat interesting for most
of the part, and are more challenging when it
comes to boss battles.
fall in Place
Surprisingly, Gravity Rush’s port over to
the PlayStation 4 is an excellent one. The
graphics has been up-scaled and improved
with better lighting effects, high definition
textures and special effects. Even the controls
complements the Dual Shock 4 controller
quite nicely in all aspects.
The DLC content; side missions and
costumes from the original Vita release has
been included in the port, and that itself is
a pretty sweet deal. For returning players,
Gravity Rush: Remastered is a worthy revisit,
and is a must for those who’ve not played
it yet. Now… we wait for Gravity Rush 2’s
release sometime this year.
A Trip to Hell
Enter The Gungeon
by amir rothman
E
nter the Gungeon (ETG) is a bullet
hell dungeon crawler with roguelike
elements peppered with gun
puns. You choose from one of four
characters who are in search of the Gungeon’s
ultimate treasure: a gun that can kill the past.
It comes as no surprise that the main
theme of the game is deep regret, but the
gameplay is anything but regretful.
Like every roguelike game out there
in the market, EtG rewards the player’s
persistence with every playthrough. If
you’ve never experienced the joy or horror
of playing a bullet hell game, it can be a
daunting task. However, like all things in
life, there’s a pattern to it.
If you can slow your pace down in the
first few playthroughs, you’ll be dodgerolling or table-flipping your way out of
sticky situations fairly quickly. So what’s
great about the game?
master. The dodge-roll mechanics are tight
and make for some interesting moments in
gaming. My personal favourite mechanic in
the game is actually the ability to flip tables
to block bullets coming your way. There’s
just something about dodge-rolling towards
fire and flipping a table at the right moment
to block it.
guns, guns everywhere!
cheesy tunes
There are so many guns to find within
the Gungeon and each with their own
unique characteristics. While the main four
characters don’t really change your play
style, the guns really make the game. Some
of the guns I discovered over the course of my
playthrough ranged from a literal peashooter
to a grub shotgun with a life of its own!
Like a lot of good roguelike games, EtG
is an easy game to get into but difficult to
I’m not a huge a fan of the music for EtG but
when you’re in the heat of battle, it does get
pretty funky fresh. The sound design on the
other hand is pretty neat, every gun has a
characteristic sound and some of the more
unique ones are hilarious!
gaming session with friends and while I
may be biased, the best co-op has to be
local co-op.
All in all, EtG is an action-packed zany
rougelike Gungeon-crawling adventure with
an unhealthy amount of guns thrown in. It’s
great to play casually if you’re can’t put in the
hours but if you do decide to get into it, the
Gungeon will reveal its dark and wonderful
secrets to you.
Dungeon of secrets
The Gungeon holds many secrets and stories
and over the course of my playthrough,
I’ve only scratched the surface. While I
am, tempted to check the EtG wiki online,
the sense of adventure and exploring the
Gungeon was too fun for me to spoil.
It’s hard spotting the secrets hidden
throughout the Gungeon though, as the
game is very well animated and the entire
game environment comes alive as the
Gungeoneer walks through/over an object.
gooD ol’ couch co-oP
While EtG doesn’t have an online co-op
mode, the local co-op is great for quick
DEVELopER: Dodge roll
pUBLISHER: Devolver Digital
GENRE: action, adventure, indie
RELEASE DATE: 5 apr, 2016
pLATFoRMS: Playstation 4 & Pc
pLAYER(S): singleplayer &
multiplayer
score:
8
/10
GooD
119
MAY 2016
gametime reviews
Action-packed Brilliance
Tom Clancy’s The Division
T
om Clancy’s The Division is an
amazing single-player game;
a wonderful co-op game;
and fascinating competitive
multiplayer game. Perhaps what I
respect the game most for is its ability
to embrace the way you want to play…
whether alone or with other people.
The Division is an open-world game and
could be described as a shooter, or an RPG,
or an MMORPG, or a shoot–and–looter; it is
sort of all of those things and yet, none of
them. It is set in a dystopian New York City in
the aftermath of a smallpox pandemic.
You, as an agent of the titular Strategic
Homeland Division, commonly referred to
as simply “The Division”, is tasked with
helping to rebuild the Division’s operations
in Manhattan, investigating the nature
of the outbreak and combating criminal
activity in its wake.
CoVER-BASED CoMBAT
Mission design in The Division is
excellent and while it all centres on the
concept of cover-based combat, Ubisoft
did a phenomenal job of introducing
verticality into each battleground. Staying
120
MAY 2016
by andrew tong
on the ground time and time again will
more than likely trap you in a precarious
position. It’s important to make sure you
are varying up where you choose to play
because the higher ground can be the
difference between succeeding easily
and failing miserably.
VARIETY oF WEApoNS
Combat is absolutely addictive and a lot of
that comes from how authentic the game’s
weapons have been created. Rather than
locking your character into one class, you
can change your role on the fly by using the
interaction between your gear and abilities.
The combat gear has different scores which
directly change what your character is best
at, which, despite being a complex system,
works really well in game.
Skills are also well designed to balance
with different roles. Aside from area of
effect healing and portable cover, you can
get yourself a riot shield that heals you
as it gets shot, or a sticky bomb that fires
long distances and attaches to/explodes
that bastard sniper. Having different skills
mapped completely changes how you play.
Crafting in The Division is simple and
easy to understand. Be a certain level, find a
blueprint, have the necessary resources and
you’ve got yourself a new item. Throughout
my dozens of hours with the game, I found
the best way to obtain new blueprints was
through side missions. Sure, there are other
avenues to discover these things, but side
missions tended to reward me the most.
SIDE MISSIoNS
If you’re talking about an open-world game,
then you absolutely have to talk about the
side content that’s carefully been woven
into this world. These activities can be
found simply by exploring New York City
or by unlocking a new Safe House. Once
inside a Safe House, you can wander over to
a map of the region you’ve just discovered
and synch up for more missions.
It wouldn’t be a true open-world game if
there weren’t items to collect or mysteries
to uncover. Discovery is such a treat in The
Division, whether you are talking about voice
recordings that convey a sliver of context
from an individual’s life or an Echo that recalls
a previous event from when the virus hit and
all hell was breaking loose in New York.
The city of The Division is massive in
size and is jammed packed with interesting
opportunities for adventure, progression and
fun. New York City is absolutely stunning
and looks magnificent, especially when you
take a stroll through Times Square.
DARK ZoNE
The multiplayer in The Division is probably
the most fun multiplayer has been for
literally years. The shining light of the
whole game is the PvP in the Dark Zone. It
is a terrifying, thrilling and amazing, which
will allow people to be able to spend dozens
of hours journeying through with friends.
The NPC enemies in the Dark Zone are
tougher too, and you’ll often find yourself
teaming up with these unknown agents to
take them down for the higher level loot.
Dark Zone loot is more valuable than loot
from outside, and at any point those dudes
you were working with a second ago could
suddenly decide maybe they want what
you’ve got.
In addition, you’ll often find groups
of hostile players camping around the
extraction points. You can be fired upon
accidentally if a twitchy agent mistakes
you for an NPC, and then everything
has to be diffused with a hand wave or
salute emote. There’s proximity voice
chat if you all have your mic turned on,
leading to heavily accented and tentative
hellos, congratulations on stylish kills, and
agreements to cover one another on the
extraction. It is, genuinely, fantastic, and
the unpredictable nature of the Dark Zone
is what makes it so.
VERDICT
The Division is not a perfect game. There
are flaws. But the flaws are mostly because
it’s straddling genres, and this is also what
gives it so many different things to enjoy.
The Division shows you can have both an
incredible online multiplayer experience,
while staying true to the roots of an
immersive campaign. It is a magnificent
revelation and one that was well worth
the wait. It may not a perfect game, but
it’s really fun. Which is sort of the point,
isn’t it?
DEVELopERS: ubisoft massive
pUBLISHER: ubisoft
pLATFoRMS: xbox one, Ps4,
Windows
RELEASE DATE: 8 march 2016
GENRE: third-person shooter
mode: multiplayer
REVIEWED: Ps4
score:
8
/10
GooD
121
MAY 2016
spotlight
The Need for INTegraTed
erP SofTware
PC.com interviews Sridharan arumugam, Vice President of IfS Southeast asia
E
RP software performs multiple
functions, but defined at a
high level, ERP is a consistent
way of managing a company’s
financial well-being. ERP systems are
business management systems tied
together under one system integrating all
the departmental functions of a company
such as production planning, materials
management,
production
control,
procurement, engineering, accounting,
sales, distribution, and human resources.
Today’s ERP systems are an evolution of
earlier generation systems
f o r
materials requirements planning (MRP)
in that they look beyond production
control and materials management
activities, beginning with manufacturing
resource planning (MRP II) systems,
which evolved into ERP in the 1990s.
The technologies of ERP systems have
continued to advance since the 1990s.
122
MAY 2016
Sridharan Arumugam: Sometimes
the problems you are trying to solve
are related to business growth but
rather business consolidation or even
shrinkage. Oftentimes, companies that
have grown by acquisition find that
they are running very different business
systems across their newly established
enterprise, and need to standardise on
a new, more modern business platform
in order to begin functioning as a single
business entity.
Sometimes these acquisitions cross
national borders or span oceans, and that
means these new business systems
need to run in multiple languages and
currencies. And in manufacturing, the
trend towards outsourcing presents its
own business challenges. Manufacturers
that might have in the past made almost
everything they sell must now manage
extended supply chains with the same
or greater precision with which they had
formerly managed their own plant.
Not every enterprise application is
designed for the challenges of this new
Project Economy, and even in a best-case
scenario, mapping out how an extended
supply chain needs to operate is a real
undertaking. In situations when enabling
top-line growth is not the goal, these
various process-oriented and systemic
goals need to be quantified.
Through the years, ERP has remained the
core business management system that
companies rely on to succeed. This makes
proper selection and implementation of
ERP a vital project for any company and
not just another task to tick off from the
corporate to-do list.
ERP should include some modules that
supports financials, human resources,
quality
management,
document
management,
customer
relationship
management (CRM), business intelligence,
sustainability management and other
core functionalities to facilitate full life
cycle management of products, assets,
customers, projects and more, pending your
industry and your core business processes.
: What are the signs that a
business is in need of an ERP software
system?
: How can ERP software
system as a single integrated database
help in a company’s decision-making
process and business growth?
Sridharan Arumugam: ERP software
costs money, and the more different
products you use, the more it costs.
They key to making it cost efficient is
using a single, consolidated enterprise
system. ERP is built to help capitalise
on change, bringing you closer to
your business, with quick, at-a-glance
visibility of what is happening at any
moment in time. And it embeds real
operational flexibility into the heart of
your organisation, with technology that
enables your strategic growth.
When striving for business agility,
you need to a technology foundation that
enables and empowers your ambitions.
Enterprise software products built on
monolithic blocks of code rather than
on SOA, produce inconsistencies and
delays in adapting to change.
Simple field service management
software
alone
may
encompass
scheduling, inventory, fleet management,
technician skills data, reverse logistics
and more. However, even when working
with a single global ERP instance, for
large, multi-country operations, greater
flexibility relies on a common, integrated
set of core operational data, based on a
common business data structure that
is consistent across multiple locations
and projects.
This kind of standardised global
data allows businesses to respond
more
flexibly to customer demand
by integrating planning into multi-site
scenarios allowing information from
sales forecasts across the organisation
to propagate from HQ through regional
distribution centres right up to execution
level so a local sales order received into
a distribution centre can be flexibly
routed to a factory for production and
shipped to the customer directly.
: How can ERP software
system as a single integrated database
help in a company’s decision-making
process and business growth?
Sridharan Arumugam: ERP software
costs money, and the more different
products you use, the more it costs.
They key to making it cost efficient is
using a single, consolidated enterprise
system. ERP is built to help capitalise
on change, bringing you closer to your
business, with quick, at- a - g l a n c e
visibility of what is happening at any
moment in time. And it embeds real
operational flexibility into the heart of
your organisation, with technology that
enables your strategic growth.
When striving for business agility,
you need to a technology foundation that
enables and empowers your ambitions.
Enterprise software products built on
monolithic blocks of code rather than
on SOA, produce inconsistencies and
delays in adapting to change.
Simple field service management
software alone may encompass scheduling,
inventory, fleet management, technician
skills data, reverse logistics and more.
However, even when working with a
single global ERP instance, for large, multicountry operations, greater flexibility
relies on a common, integrated set of core
operational data, based on a common
business data structure that is consistent
across multiple locations and projects.
This kind of standardised global
data allows businesses to respond
more
flexibly to customer demand
by integrating planning into multi-site
scenarios allowing information from
sales forecasts across the organisation
to propagate from HQ through regional
distribution centres right up to execution
level so a local sales order received into
a distribution centre can be flexibly
routed to a factory for production and
shipped to the customer directly.
: What are some of the
advantages of using ERP software
system and why is its implementation
particularly
critical
for
big-scale
companies?
Sridharan
Arumugam:
True
business agility is the product of three
foundational characteristics -- the
ability to
link business strategy
and growth ambitions to technology
investments; the ability to identify,
understand and predict new sources of
threat or opportunities across your daily
business and projects; and the ability to
take rapid action when the unexpected
happens, founded on technology that
makes change possible.
In general, an ERP package can help
businesses grow revenue, increase
productivity, improve efficiency, and
manage costs.
: Do you foresee a positive
growth potential for ERP software in
Malaysia?
Sr id h a r a n
A r u mu ga m :
Ye s.
G a r t ne r’s l at e s t M a rket S t at i s t ic s
s how E R P s of t w a re i n M a l ay s i a
w i l l g row at 14% p er a n nu m for
t he ne x t c ouple of ye a r s. IC T
g row t h i s ach iev i ng h igher g row t h
i n M a l ay s i a i n order t o prop e l
e c onom ic e x p a n s ion.
Ma laysia
cou ld
ma ke
eyecatch i ng prog ress of it s economy by
ex pa nd i ng on i nvest ment tech nolog y
w it h “cor porate-w ide i nteg ration,
cor porate
rest r uctu ri ng
a nd
tech nolog ica l i n novation pol icies”
a mong pu bl ic a nd private sectors.
T he adoption of t h is system a l so
conveys ot her benef it s i nclud i ng
suppor t to ex h i bit h igher ef f iciency
by mea ns of
reduci ng i nventor y
cost s,
i mprov i ng
prof it a bi l it y,
i ncrea si ng
t ra nspa rency,
a nd
reduci ng lead ti me of ma nufactu ri ng
i n busi ness processes. A n ER P
system ca n pa ss t h rough a n
orga n isation by d ra stica l ly a f fecti ng
severa l processes, a nd a l so show i ng
benef it s at va rious level s.
: What are the factors to
consider when selecting the types of
ERP implementation?
Sridharan
Arumugam:
One
way of achieving this is through
modular sof tware technolog y. For
project-based
organisations
that
rely heavily on enterprise resource
planning (ER P) or enterprise asset
management (EA M) systems to
help them automate processes and
enable real-time control over cost,
cash, time, resources and risk across
the entire lifecycle of a project or
asset, having the ability to quick ly
and easily add new languages, new
currencies or new items means they
can adapt their systems to help them
negotiate new markets.
This enables them to capture a market
opportunity in a new region, integrate
a company post acquisition or adapt
business processes to new revenue models
or services. Core enterprise software
must enable businesses to make these
kinds of strategic moves quickly, without
sacrificing security, or interfering with
ongoing, day-to-day operations.
For many companies, it makes sense to
start by implementing core functionality
necessary to replace what was provided by
existing systems. Once the company can
run
comfortably
in
this
new
environment, there is a solid foundation
on which to place additional functionality
for process and improvements and new
business capabilities starting with the
most pressing deliverables.
: W hat specialty solutions
are offered by I FS Solutions Malaysia?
Sridharan Arumugam: IFS has 30
years’ experience in helping its customers
become more responsive. We develop
enterprise resource planning (ERP),
enterprise asset management (EAM)
and
enterprise service management
(ESM) products that give our customers
the flexibility to optimise the way their
business performs daily across even the
most complex global operations, projects
and supply chains.
This results in many kinds of
operational
flexibility
including
responding to new, changing or variable
demand; pptimising how staff and
facilities are deployed; extending or
reconfiguring capabilities on the fly;
and tailoring and customising business
tools and processes.
123
MAY 2016
spotlight
geTTINg UP CloSe
aNd PerSoNal
PC.com speaks to albert Chang, Senior Manager of Product Marketing
at wd asia Pacific about the future of cloud storage
cloud users, say consumers and oppose
to businesses?
Albert Chang: From a consumer lifestyle
perspective serves as the central hub for
all their digital content for more seamless
organisation of their files, instead of having
them stored in several places. It also serves
as an entertainment hub, where several
smart devices can stream content either
from home where the cloud storage device
is hosted, or on the go.
For businesses, network attached
storage (NAS) drive – another form of
personal cloud storage – are equipped
with applications and business-ready
capabilities including iSCSI target
and initiator, replication and file
synchronisation, integrated FTP, WebDAV
server, SSH Shell, and Microsoft Active
Directory support.
Trends and lifestyles have evolved.
Consumers are content creators; in fact, very
sophisticated ones. And BYOD is inching
closer to be one of the main components of
the local workforce. Consumers today are
also seeking for a one-stop or all-in-one,
ergonomic solutions to reduce hassle, cost
of maintenance and use of space.
This calls for more state-of-the-art
upgrades and features to be attached to
personal cloud storage – a commitment
WD is constantly investing and attesting
to for a smarter storage solution. This, we
believe, will be the future of personal cloud
storage: a hub for all consumers’ digital
content and workflow needs.
P
ersonal cloud storage was designed
to offer more than just storage
spaces for digital content, though
being the core function as digital
files become increasingly large in size.
By end of 2016, each household will create
3.3TB worth of digital content. With much
of the 3.3TB data to be multimedia files, it
is easily to foresee the future that large and
centralised storage will be implemented
into normal home environment. We are also
124
MAY 2016
: At the moment, there is a
cloud ‘war’ between Amazon, Microsoft
and Google, leading to lower prices. Any
thoughts on this?
seeing more “Smart Devices” that will be
purchased in the future, which can add
to more and more digital content to the
personal cloud storage.
On this end, Albert Chang, Senior
Manager of Product Marketing at WD Asia
Pacific is here to help us delve further into
the ever-evolving world of cloud storage.
: What are the different
applications and needs for different
Albert Chang: Cloud is a platform many
companies are moving into and they are
looking various ways to optimise their
shift by bringing along various business
operations onto this new ‘realm’. This
opens up various opportunities for
companies to recruit new users, upgrade
existing users and getting consumers to
port over to their services.
Also, the beauty of technology is that
it is evolving by the minute, with new
development comes new demands for
existing infrastructure to adapt to these
changes. Hence, as long as cloud service
providers innovate, the war will continue
and it will intensify.
Not forgetting the personal cloud
storage players in the market, such as
WD, is also taking on the share from
major players with stronger propositions
of personalised spaces that offer
greater privacy and control – ideal for
everyday consumers, small businesses
and homeowners.
Personal cloud storage players are
also offering greater storage spaces
for a reasonably lower price or onetime investment basis, making it an
appealing and viable option for these
targeted audiences.
Even with the advertised “public
cloud” anti-virus technology, recently we
are hearing more frequent cyber-attacks
in all types of forms. Personal cloud
grants you the advantage of knowing
where your data is stored (e.g. the My
Cloud device, a private cloud storage that
will be physically housed in the user’s
home), and since hackers are targeting
high valuable targets, personal storage
has less chance of getting attacks.
: So how can small local cloud
service providers differentiate themselves
from the big providers like Amazon?
Albert Chang: Cloud players like WD can
distinguish from the competitive market by
offering personalisation of storage space,
which most public cloud service providers
are not able to offer.
Personal cloud storage offers consumers
the benefit of having more control over the
content stored, as their digital files are
stored within the device they purchased.
They are free to categorise their files
according to their preferences and
determine different levels of access for
different users.
The latter also serves as a security
and privacy feature, on top of the other
password and two-step verification
functionality as offered in WD My Cloud
devices for added protection.
Also, cloud players like WD, as the drives
themselves are owned by consumers fully,
are able to offer significantly higher storage
space at a very affordable investment.
These plus points certainly give
major public cloud players a run for their
money and remain competitive in this
growing market.
: In your opinion, what are
the advantages of a private cloud over a
public one?
Albert Chang: Consumers can have the
assurance that their contents are stored
within the device they purchased, and
accessed on-the-go either via desktop
or mobile application. This allows them
the freedom to curate and manage
the content stored within the device
according to their preference. WD My
Cloud personal cloud storage solutions
also offer users the freedom to determine
the level of access granted to different
people within their community.
Most personal cloud storage device,
such as the WD My Cloud series,
comes with security features that give
additional protection for consumers’
content. The added encryption features
help prevent devices from hacking and
other malicious intents done via the
network. Multi-bay drives, such as the
My Cloud Mirror and the My Cloud EX
series, also offer the option of backing
up consumers’ data on a separate hard
disk, so that consumers are assured that
their data are well-protected should the
inevitable happens.
With the many content created and
files increasing in size due to the quality
of the content, naturally consumers will
need more space. While public cloud
services charge a premium for additional
storage spaces, personal cloud is an
affordable, one-time investment which
offer consumers much more than what
they pay for in terms of storage, as well
as other security features.
: Do you think (if ever) SSDs
can match disk drives in terms of cost per
gigabyte?
Albert Chang: We have witness the
transformation of the SSD in the past few
years and how technology continues to
drive SSD into larger capacities. Although
the pricing has dropped significantly, but
the cost per gigabyte is still much higher
compared to HDD, especially in the large
capacity sector. It’s difficult to estimate
whether will SSD be as economical as
HDD, but we believe there is a place for
both SSD and HDD to co-exist in harmony.
: When do you think current
disk drive technology will reach its limits?
Albert Chang: Every couple of years, a
technology S curve is bound to show up.
The fact that HDD has transitioned from
Longitudinal Magnetic Recording (LMR)
to the current Perpendicular Magnetic
Recording (PMR) is a perfect example. Every
time we think we have reached to a limit, a
new technology gives it another boost, kicking
capacity and storage into the next level. There
are a few new technologies out there in the
open, such as Shingled Magnetic Recording
(SMR) or even HEMR that are being utilised
in the laboratories. The fact that there are still
ways to create more storage with current form
factors clearly shows that sky is the limit for
future HDD development.
125
MAY 2016
inview
bringing presentations
back to life
T
126
MAY 2016
he average attention span of an
adult is about 20 minutes. Try
looking around the next time you
attend a seminar or a talk and you
will notice that after the first 20 minutes,
people will start to drift and would be doing
their own things such as looking at their
phones, doodling or even just looking around
rather than focusing on the presentation.
boring, illegible and pointless – or at
the other end of the spectrum so full of
dissolves, spins, colour bursts and all
the other whizz-bang features, that the
only thing they deliver is a migraine.
Audiences tune out, the objective has
been missed and the investment made
by the presenting enterprise - and the
audience - has been wasted.
Sadly, it may be a fact that many
presentations often fail to engage their
audience. Everyone has their favourite
horror story of presentations that are
What solutions are available to remove
this serious roadblock in conference
communications,
and
bring
every
presentation back to life?
Tools for a beTTer
presenTaTion?
Well, managing the content of a
presentation, using the software’s
toolbox appropriately and developing
effective presentation skills are clearly
the responsibility of the individual
presenter. But another part of the problem
lies in the use of legacy equipment
and a teacher-student, classroom-type
approach. We’ve all been there – sitting
in rows, facing forward, as the presenter
assumes his or her position at the front
of the room and fires up the whirring box
to throw some poorly focused slides up
on the dusty screen.
After all, we can’t blame the projector for
a lousy presentation, can we? A projector
is just a projector, right? Wrong!
Today a solution is available that uses
advanced technology to overcome
these traditional issues, unleash the
combined capabilities of the presenter
and his/her audience, and transform
the whole concept of conference and
event presentations. This solution is the
interactive projector.
Simply
put,
interactive
projectors
create a participatory environment in
which everyone is involved, making
presentations
more
engaging
and
productive, and optimising the value of
the business outcome. The key feature is
that the screen becomes a huge drawing
board, letting participants freely handwrite
comments and diagrams directly onto
the projection with the Interactive Pen –
which can be emailed or printed for instant
dissemination or saved for editing.
But not all interactive projectors are made
equal and when looking to acquiring one,
organisations should look for the latest
features such as finger-touch capabilities,
available on top of the conventional
interactive pens. It makes work much
easier when you can operate the screen
simply by touching it to open and close
files, scroll through pages, move and
expand objects and add notes, with both
hands and multiple interactive pens at
the same time.
The benefit of this revolutionary approach
is that it helps to break down the wall
between the presenter and audience.
When multiple participants are given
free rein to write simultaneously, the
presentation becomes a stimulating,
collaborative and productive experience,
increasing engagement and delivering
improved business outcomes.
And as a further nod to the value of
group collaboration, the latest interactive
projectors can also wirelessly connect up
to 50 devices like laptops, smartphones
and tablets over a network, with a
terminal serving as a moderator host PC.
The group moderator can display content
from up to four devices simultaneously
onto the big screen to link participants
together for side by side evaluation of
presentations, making group discussions
even more broad-based and insightful.
User friendly
Technology enhances
The viewing experience
From plug-and-play set-up to adjustable
resolution and an ultra-short throw ratio
that reduces glare on the presenter
as well as shadow interference on the
screen, these features make the viewing
experience conducive and comfortable
for everyone in the room. You can even
project smartphone content wirelessly,
from both iOS and Android devices.
Conference
participants
invest
substantial time and money in attending
events, and their expectations of
value are rightly high. From the
exhibitor’s point of view, participants
are something of a captive audience
and every presentation should be a key
touchpoint, helping to connect and build
partnerships with them. With a host of
presentations to choose from on every
conference schedule, it’s the company
that gives its audience a memorable
interactive experience that will deliver
the ROI that the home office demands.
Since presentations, whether in business
or education are here to stay, it’s an
imperative to find ways to make them
more engaging. The opportunities that
the latest interactive projectors offer go
beyond merely advancing the evolution
of the humble projector – they permit
a revolutionary re-imagining of the
traditional presentation. Since they
increase productivity, save time and
unleash the participants’ creativity to solve
problems and perhaps even formulate fresh
directions for their business, the leading
interactive projectors have become the
indispensable tools organisations should
not ignore any longer.
By Siew Jin Kiat,
Regional General Manager,
Epson Visual Instrument Division.
127
MAY 2016
subscription
RM114
1 yeAR - 12 iSSUeS
Peninsular Malaysia
& Sabah and Sarawak (RM137)
RM203.50
Subscribe
Now &
Save Up
to 20%
form
EXCLUSIVE
! WE HAVE
FIRST DIBS
WITH THE
NEW DJI PH
ANTOM 4
FIRST LOOK
VOLUME 17
HUAWEI P9 &
B3
ISSUE 1
PROTECTED
BY
SHOWDOWN
2 yeAR - 24 iSSUeS
ORDER HOTLINE
Peninsular Malaysia
& Sabah and Sarawak (RM243) Call us to get the next issue delivered
right to your doorstep
03-7880 2611
THINGS AR
E HEAT
IS PITTING ING UP AGAIN ON TH
THE FOUR
E TELCO FR
TO SEE WHO
ON
WILL REIGN T, AND PC.com
SUPREME
WIRE
SELFIES GALO
RE
ENTER THE KIN
G OF
ALL EOS
(EM)
GAMETIME
BATTLEBORN
NIOH
RATCHET & CL
ANK
GRAVITY RU
SH
TOM CLANCY
THE DIVISION’S
RM
Plus! Two lucky subscribers stand a chance
to win an Audio-Technica ATH-C100G
Headphones
MAY 2016
TESTED
OPPO F1 PLUS
ACER PREDAT
OR 15
DUCKY SHIN
E5
ASUS ZENPAD
THEATER 8.0
HP SPECTRE
X2
RM
10.60 12.70
(WM)
(Mondays to Fridays, 9.00am-6.00PM)
YES! I would like to subscribe to PC.com
Peninsular Malaysia & East Malaysia
x 1 year (12 issues) rM114 / rM137(eM)
x norMal post (free)
x 2 year (24 issues) rM203.50 / rM243(eM)
x special courier rM78 / rM96(eM)
x renew/extend My current subscription using this offer
Complete the Slogan in not more than 20 words
i like pc.coM because
PAYMENT DETAILS
x Mastercard x visa
expiry date x x / x x
credit card no:
xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx
last 3 digits stated on back of the card x x x
naMe on card
naMe
signature
occupation
cheque no
coMpany
Money/postal order no
Mailing address (please indicate either x hoMe or x office
All cheques must be crossed and made payable to
“Reach Publishing Sdn Bhd”
signature
postcode
nric no
age
Mobile nuMber__________________________ sex
e-Mail
DELIVERY Please allow approximately 4-6 weeks for first issue to be delivered.
CANCELLATION You may cancel at any time and receive a full refund on all
unmailed copies minus RM30.00 for cancellation and processing charges.
: Reach PUblishing sdn bhd
Mail to
No. 15-3, Block F1, Jln PJU 1/42,
Dataran Prima, 46500 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor