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Posts tagged as “Tech”

Current pricing of the new Samsung Galaxy S23 phones in Saudi Arabia

February 5, 2023

If you’re in Saudi Arabia, below are the pricing of the just announced Samsung Galaxy S23 phones;

Galaxy S23
8GB RAM + 128GB storage – TBA
8GB RAM + 256GB storage – SAR 3,499.00

Galaxy S23+
8GB RAM + 256GB storage – SAR 3,999.00
8GB RAM + 512GB storage – SAR 4,399.00

Galaxy S23 Ultra
8GB RAM + 256GB storage – TBA
12GB RAM + 256GB storage – SAR 5,199.00
12GB RAM + 512GB storage – SAR 5,699.00
12GB RAM + 1TB storage – SAR 6,699.00

Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ last Feb 1, 2023 at their Galaxy Unpacked 2023. In a nutshell, the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ are the same phones with different screen size while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the premium version that supports S-Pen and features a 200 MP camera.

You can read more about the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ here.

Samsung announces the Galaxy Book3 series of laptops

February 3, 2023

Aside from the new Galaxy S23 phones, Samsung also announced in their Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event, the Galaxy Book3 series; the Galaxy Book3 Ultra, Book3 Pro 360, Book3 360 and Book3 Pro. Except for the Galaxy Book3 Ultra all other Galaxy Book3 features similar specs.

Samsung describes the Galaxy Book3 Ultra as a “premium PC” with “ultra-high-performance computing,” while the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is a 2-in-1 convertible that supports S Pen functionality and the Galaxy Book3 Pro will be the the thinnest laptop in the series. The new Galaxy Book3 Ultra and Pro series will have a full aluminum frame and parts built from recycled plastics.

All Galaxy Book3 will be connected to an assortment of services like the Windows / Microsoft Phone Link; Windows / Microsoft Phone Link’s to Recent Websites; Instant Hotspot; Samsung Multi Control, Samsung Pass and much much more.

The Galaxy Book3 Ultra will be Samsung’s entry to the gaming space, since it features Intel’s 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 processor and NVIDIA® RTX Geforce™ 4070 laptop GPU. Both the Galaxy Book3 Ultra and Pro series will be available in 14-inches and 16-inches displays, that uses Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, first used in Galaxy premium smartphone lineup display. The display supports 3K (2880×1800) resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate. It is also VESA ClearMR and DisplayHDR TRUE BLACK 500 certified, and has received SGS Eye Care Display certification.

As for its availability, the new Galaxy Book3 series will be available for purchase this February 17th, 2023, starting with the Galaxy Book3 Pro and Pro360 models in select markets.

The Galaxy Book3 Pro will start at $1449.99, available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes with Graphite and Beige color options. The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 will start at $1899.99, available in 16-inch size with Graphite and Beige color options, and Galaxy Book3 Ultra will have a starting price of $2,399.99, available in a 16-inch size in Graphite.

Here’s the specs of the 16-inches Galaxy Book3 Pro 360.

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 16”
Dimensions 355.4 x 252.2 x 12.8 mm
Weight 1.66kg (3.7lbs) / 1.71kg (5G model)
OS+ Windows 11
Display 16.0-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (16:10 ratio),
Touch screen & S Pen capable (Pen in-box)
400nits,120Hz,120% Color volume (DCI-P3),
3K (2880×1800),
*400nit (Typ), 500nit (HDR) -VESA HDR 500 authentication, HDR Contents only.
CPU (Platform) 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 / Core™ i7 (Intel Evp)
Graphic Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Connectivity (WLAN) 5G Sub6 (Optional), Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11 ax 2×2, Bluetooth v5.1
Color Graphite / Beige
Memory 8GB / 16GB / 32GB (LPDDR5)
Storage 256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD (PCIe)
Camera/Mic FHD 1080p / Studio-quality Dual Mic
Audio (Speakers) AKG Quad Speaker (Woofer Max 5W x 2, Tweeter 2W x 2),
Smart Amp, Dolby Atmos®
Keyboard 3-row Numeric, Island Type with Backlit
S Pen (Stylus) In-box (8.2 x 7.7 x 144.84mm, 7.9g)
Battery 76Wh (Typical)
Adaptor (Charging) 65W USB Type-C Adapter
Authentication (Security) Secured-core PC, Fingerprint on Power Key
Ports Thunderbolt™ 4, USB Type-A
HDMI 1.4, microSD, Headphone/Mic, nano SIM slot (Optional)

Samsung officially unveil the Galaxy S23 Ultra series of Smartphones

February 3, 2023

Last Wednesday, Feb. 1st, at the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 – Samsung has officially announced their next line of smartphones, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It composed of 3 new smartphones; the Galaxy S23 and the larger Galaxy S23+, then there’s the premium version the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23+

The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ are basically the same phones, the only difference is on the display, storage and battery. The Galaxy S23 features a 6.1-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display and a 3,900mAh battery, while the Galaxy S23+ will have a 6.1-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display and a whopping 4,700mAh battery.

Both phones will use Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Quamcomm’s Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform.

Both Galaxy S23s will have same 8GB RAM, the storage offerings of the smaller Galaxy S23 will start at 128GB, up to 256GB of storage, while the larger Galaxy 23+ will be 256GB and up to 512GB of storage.

Both the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23+ will be available in 4 colors; Cream, Lavender, Phantom Black, Green. Plus 2 online exclusive colors; Lime and Graphite. The starting price of the Galaxy S23 will be $799.99 and the Galaxy S23+ will be $999.99. Samsung is already taking pre-orders.

Samsung Galaxy S23 & Galaxy S23 Plus

Here are the specs for both the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+;

Galaxy S23 Galaxy S23+
Display 6.1-inch FHD+* 6.6-inch FHD+*
Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (48~120Hz) Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (48~120Hz)
240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game Mode 240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game Mode
Vision booster Vision booster
Enhanced comfort Enhanced comfort
Dimensions & Weight 2.79 x 5.76 x 0.3in, 5.93oz 3.07 x 6.43 x 0.35in, 6.91oz
Camera 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
• F2.2, FOV 120˚
50 MP Wide Camera
• F1.8, FOV 85˚
10MP Telephoto Camera
• 3x Optical Zoom, F2.4, FOV 36˚
12MP Front Camera
• F2.2, FOV 80˚
Processor Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory & Storage 8 + 256GB 8 + 512GB
8 + 128GB 8 + 256GB
Battery 3,900mAh 4,700mAh
OS Android 13
One UI 5.1
Network and Connectivity 5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 6E***, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth® v 5.3
Security Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
Water Resistance IP68

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Samsung also announced a premium smartphones that they’re calling the Galaxy S23 Ultra. From the looks of its specs, Samsung went all-out on this device. Just like the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23+, the Galaxy S23 Ultra uses Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform. It supports the S Pen, for productivity, notetaking, hobbies, etc.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra will also have the largest battery capacity with 5,000mAh and the main rear camera will use a “new 200MP Adaptive Pixel sensor” for taking that “epic” photo.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra will be available in 3 configuration; 12GB RAM with 1TB storage, 12GB RAM and a 512GB storage, and 8GB RAM with 256GB storage. The phone will be available in available in 4 colors; Cream, Lavender, Phantom Black, Green; and 4 online exclusive colors; Lime, Graphite, Sky Blue, and Red.

The starting price for the Galaxy S23 Ultra will be at $1,199.99 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration. Pre-order for the Galaxy S23 Ultra is now available.

Here’s the specs of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra;

Galaxy S23 Ultra
Display 6.8-inch QHD+ Edge*
Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz)
240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game Mode
Vision booster
Enhanced comfort
Dimensions & Weight 3.07 x 6.43 x 0.35 in , 8.25oz
Camera 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
• F2.2, FOV 120˚
200 MP Wide Camera
• F1.7, FOV 85˚
10MP Telephoto Camera
• 3x Optical Zoom, F2.4, FOV 36˚
10MP Telephoto Camera
• 10x Optical Zoom, F4.9, FOV 11˚
12MP Front Camera
• F2.2, FOV 80˚
AP Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory & Storage 12GB + 1TB
12 + 512GB
8 + 256GB
Battery 5,000mAh
OS Android 13
One UI 5.1
Network and Connectivity 5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 6E***, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth® v 5.3

Official Unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Series

Apple announces new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max

January 19, 2023

Together with the new Mac mini, Apple also announced a new MacBook Pro powered by the new M2 Pro and M2 Max. With the new M2 Pro and M2 Max, the new Macbook Pros’ “battery life will be up to 22 hours — the longest battery life ever in a Mac.”

The new Macbook Pro features Liquid Retina XDR display, 16GB unified memory that’s configurable up to 96GB RAM, a 22 hours battery life, 512GB SSD storage which you can upgrade up to 8 TB. As for expansion slots, you’ll find SDXC card slot, HDMI port, 3.5 mm headphone jack and MagSafe 3 port for charging. It also have Thunderbolt 4 for charging and display. Its backlit magic Keyboard will have an integrated Touch ID, ambient light sensor and force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and multi-touch gestures.

For connectivity it supports Wi-Fi 6E 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.3. The new Macbook Pro will have a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, six built-in speakers with force-cancelling woofers and wide stereo sounds. If you’re concern about the weight there a very small different between the weight of the Macbook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max. Right out of the box, the new Macbook Pro will run Apple’s latest macOS Ventura.

The new MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max are now available for order in 27 countries and they will begin arriving to customers and will be in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers starting Tuesday, January 24.

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at $1,999 (USD) and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at $2,499 (US).

MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max will be available in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, and Singapore beginning Friday, February 3.

You can read Apple’s full announcement here.

Apple intros new Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro

January 19, 2023

Apple just announced an updated version of the Mac mini powered by their very own M2 and the all-new M2 Pro Soc.

Mac Mini with M2 chip

The new Mac mini with the M2 features an 8-core CPU with four high-performance and four high-efficiency cores, along with a 10-core GPU — perfect for users looking for superfast performance and incredible productivity at an even more affordable starting price of $599. It supports up to 24GB of unified memory and 100GB/s of bandwidth and the M2 model can also simultaneously play up to two streams of 8K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps, or up to 12 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps.

Specs of Mac Mini with M2 chip;
Apple M2 chip
– 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
– 10-core GPU
– 16-core Neural Engine
– 100GB/s memory bandwidth
8GB unified RAM, configurable to 16GB or 24GB
256GB SSD, configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB
2x Thunderbolt 4 ports
2x USB-A ports
HDMI port
Gigabit Ethernet ports
3.5 mm headphone jack
Built-in speaker
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet Connectivity
3.58cm x 19.70cm x 19.70cm dimension
1.18 kg weight

Apple Mac mini with Studio Display and Magic accessories.

Mac Mini with M2 Pro chip

The new Mac mini with the M2 Pro will provide pro-level performance with up to 12-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, together with an up to a 19-core GPU. It supports up to 32GB of memory, a faster Neural Engine and a powerful media engine for streaming 8K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps, or up to 23 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps. The M2 Pro-powered model is up to 14x faster than the fastest Intel-based Mac mini.

Specs of Mac Mini with M2 Pro chip;
Apple M2 Pro chip
– 10-core CPU with 6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
– 16-core GPU
– 16-core Neural Engine
– 200GB/s memory bandwidth
16GB unified RAM, configurable 32GB
512GB SSD, configurable to 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB
4x Thunderbolt 4 ports
2x USB-A ports
HDMI port
Gigabit Ethernet ports
3.5 mm headphone jack
Built-in speaker
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet Connectivity
3.58cm x 19.70cm x 19.70cm dimension
1.28 kg weight

The new Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro is now available for order and will start arriving to customers, and in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, starting Tuesday, January 24. Mac mini with M2 will have starting price of $599, while the Mac mini with M2 Pro will be $1,299. Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro will be available in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, and New Zealand beginning Friday, February 3.

LinkedIn published the 15 fastest-growing job titles in the Philippines

January 19, 2023

LinkedIn, the social media network for professionals and businesses just reveal the 15 fastest-growing job titles in the Philippines. The list is a good reference for those who are planning to switch jobs or gauge if there’s long term opportunity in the industry where you’re at.

LinkedIn explained that the list was published by “LinkedIn Economic Graph researchers examined millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members from January 1, 2018 to July 31, 2022 to calculate a growth rate for each job title.” and added “To be ranked, a job title needed to see consistent growth across our membership base, as well as have grown to a meaningful size by 2022.”

Here’s the full list of LinkedIn’s 15 fastest-growing job titles in the Philippines;

  1. Clinical Research Associate

    • What they do: Clinical research associates are responsible for the setup, conduct, and supervision of clinical trials and studies designed to determine the effectiveness and safety of drugs, products, and procedures.
    • Most common skills: Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Clinical Monitoring, Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS)
    • Most common industries: Manufacturing, Professional Services, Hospitals and Health Care

  2. Business Development Representative

    • What they do: Business development representatives help both the marketing and sales departments of a company by identifying, connecting, and nurturing new clients in order to generate new revenue.
    • Most common skills: Lead Generation, Business Development, Cold Calling.
    • Most common industries: Technology and Media, Professional Services, Entertainment Providers.

  3. Insights Analyst

    • What they do: Insights analysts are responsible for translating a company’s financial, customer, and market data into insights that can help the business make informed decisions.
    • Most common skills: Microsoft Power BI, Business Insights, Data Visualization
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Manufacturing, Technology and Media

  4. Delivery Specialist

    • What they do: Delivery specialists manage projects on behalf of clients, making sure that projects are completed within deadlines and budgets and that projects meet every client specification.
    • Most common skills: Service Delivery, Alteryx, Business Process Improvement
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Technology and Media, Administrative and Support Services

  5. Anti-Money Laundering Analyst

    • What they do: Anti-money laundering analysts help organizations comply with anti-money laundering regulations by monitoring financial transactions and investigating any suspicious activity.
    • Most common skills: KYC Verification, Anti-Money Laundering, Due Diligence
    • Most common industries: Financial Services, Professional Services, Technology and Media

  6. Media Analyst

    • What they do: Media analysts measure the success of advertising campaigns and other marketing activities through the monitoring of media channels and analysis of media data.
    • Most common skills: Media Analysis, Media Monitoring, Data Analysis
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Technology and Media, Financial Services

  7. Customer Success Specialist

    • What they do: Customer success specialists help businesses retain existing customers by responding to inquiries, resolving issues, and providing other support that ensure customer satisfaction.
    • Most common skills: Account Management, Customer Success, Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Financial Services, Technology and Media

  8. Virtual Medical Assistant

    • What they do: Virtual medical assistants take care of many administrative and clerical duties for clinics or hospitals, including the maintenance of medical databases, appointment scheduling, patient billing, and insurance coverage processing.
    • Most common skills: Virtual Assistance, Medical Assisting, Appointment Scheduling
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Hospitals and Health Care, Administrative and Support Services

  9. Salesforce Consultant

    • What they do: Salesforce consultants help companies use the Salesforce CRM software, providing expert guidance during the setup, implementation, and optimisation of the tool to suit the company’s needs.
    • Most common skills: Salesforce.com Administration, Apex Programming, Salesforce Sales Cloud
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Technology and Media, Manufacturing

  10. Data Engineer

    • What they do: Data engineers work with raw data and transform it into a format that’s more accessible and usable for further analysis by data scientists.
    • Most common skills: Data Engineering, Load (ETL), Python (Programming Language)
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Financial Services, Oil, Gas, and Mining

  11. Security Operations Center Analyst

    • What they do: Security operations center analysts protect a company’s computer network by monitoring system activity, identifying and responding to threats, and patching any system security flaw.
    • Most common skills: Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Operations Center, Cybersecurity
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Financial Services, Technology and Media

  12. DevOps Engineer

    • What they do: DevOps engineers sit between software development and software operation teams to improve end user experience, balancing the rollout of new features with maintaining the stability and security of the software.
    • Most common skills: DevOps, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kubernetes
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Financial Services, Technology and Media

  13. Product Owner

    • What they do: Product owners take the lead in all aspects of new product development and are responsible for setting the vision for the product, deciding what features the product should have, and managing the whole process from start to finish.
    • Most common skills: Agile Methodologies, Scrum, Product Management
    • Most common industries: Financial Services, Professional Services, Technology and Media

  14. Cloud Engineer

    • What they do: Cloud engineers manage a company’s cloud-based systems and are responsible for setting it up, ensuring its stability, implementing updates, and customizing its features to suit end users’ needs.
    • Most common skills: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Cloud Computing
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Technology and Media, Manufacturing

  15. Tax Associate

    • What they do: Tax associates help organizations file their taxes correctly, find opportunities for tax deductions, and provide guidance on tax-related matters.
    • Most common skills: Tax Preparation, Tax Compliance, Accounting
    • Most common industries: Professional Services, Financial Services, Real Estate and Equipment Rental Services

Source: TechJobs, LinkedIn

Apple just added a karaoke feature to Apple Music

December 11, 2022

Apple just announced that they are adding karaoke features to Apple Music. The company said that they’re calling this new feature Apple Music Sing, “a new feature that allows users to sing along to their favorite songs with adjustable vocals and real-time lyrics.” It added that “Apple Music Sing offers multiple lyric views to help fans take the lead, perform duets, sing backup, and more — all integrated within Apple Music’s unparalleled lyrics experience.”

The new feature will be available this month to all Apple Music Subscribers worldwide and can be access using compatible iPhones, iPads, and the new Apple TV 4K. Apple will also create 50 dedicated companion playlists featuring all of the karaoke friendly songs all around the world to sing and it’s fully optimized for the Apple Music Sing experience.

The compatible devices that Apple Music Sing will be available are; iPhone 11 to the latest iPhones; iPhone SE (third-generation, 2022); the iPad 9, 10, iPad mini 6, iPad Air 4 and 5; the M1 and M2 iPad Pro, and the said devices needs to updated to the latest iOS 16.2, which will be release this December 2022.

Apple announces the 2022 App Store Award Winners

November 30, 2022

Apple just announced this year’s App Store Award winners and looks like games dominated this year’s winners. Apple also announced the winners for apps that have the most Cultural Impact, which are apps that “impacted people’s lives in awesome ways.”

The winning apps are selected selected by Apple’s App Store editorial international teams for their technical innovation, user experience and design, and the impact these apps have had on our lives. You can checkout the complete list below;

2022 App Store Award winners

  • iPhone App of the Year: BeReal
  • iPhone Game of the Year: Apex Legends Mobile
  • iPad App of the Year: GoodNotes 5
  • iPad Game of the Year: Moncage
  • Apple Watch App of the Year: Gentler Streak
  • Apple TV Game of the Year: El Hijo
  • Apple TV App of the Year: ViX
  • Mac App of the Year: MacFamilyTree 10
  • Mac Game of the Year: Inscryption
  • Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Wylde Flowers
  • China Game of the Year: League of Legends Esports Manager

Cultural Impact winners

  • Dot’s Home – Game(Free).
  • How We Feel – emotional wellbeing journal (Free).
  • Inua – Free Game.
  • Locket Widget – Social network and photo sharing (Free).
  • Waterllama – Health & Fitness (Free with in-app purchases).

Source: Apple

Blizzard Entertainment to suspend most of its services in China starting this January 2023

November 20, 2022

After it failed to reach an agreement with China’s Netease Games, US gaming giant, Blizzard Entertainment will suspend most, if not all of its services in China starting this January 2023. Both Netease Games and Blizzard Entertainment where not able to extend their 14-year licensing agreement, since started 2008.

It’s unclear how failed extension will affect both companies and but all is not lost, since Blizzard’s mobile game Diablo Immortal will continue operating under a separate agreement with NetEase.

Here’s the official announcement by Blizzard Entertainment;

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 16, 2022– Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. announced today that it will be suspending most Blizzard game services in mainland China due to the expiration of the current licensing agreements with NetEase, Inc. on January 23, 2023. This includes World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone®, Warcraft® III: Reforged, Overwatch®, the StarCraft® series, Diablo III®, and Heroes of the Storm®. Diablo Immortal® co-development and publishing is covered under a separate agreement between the two companies.

Blizzard Entertainment has had licensing agreements with NetEase since 2008, covering the publication of these Blizzard titles in China. The two parties have not reached a deal to renew the agreements that is consistent with Blizzard’s operating principles and commitments to players and employees, and the agreements are set to expire in January 2023.

We will suspend new sales in the coming days and Chinese players will be receiving details of how this will work soon. Upcoming releases for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, Hearthstone: March of the Lich King, and season 2 of Overwatch 2 will proceed later this year.

“We’re immensely grateful for the passion our Chinese community has shown throughout the nearly 20 years we’ve been bringing our games to China through NetEase and other partners,” said Mike Ybarra, president, Blizzard Entertainment. “Their enthusiasm and creativity inspire us, and we are looking for alternatives to bring our games back to players in the future.”

Partnership like this is not uncommon in the gaming industry, since Riot Games partnered with Chinese gaming company Tencent distribute League of Legends in the country before the Chinese company acquired Riot Games for around $400 million.

Saudi Arabia launches its own electric vehicle brand – Ceer

November 10, 2022

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the launching of Ceer – “the first Saudi electric vehicle brand that will contribute to Saudi Arabia’s automotive manufacturing sector.” The announcement is part of PIR and Saudi’s plan to diversify the country’s economy, as it moves away from oil dependency.

Ceer will also contribute to Kingdom’s “efforts towards carbon emissions reduction and driving sustainability to address the impact of climate change.” In the official announcement published by Saudi Press Agency (SPA), his Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) said;

Saudi Arabia is not just building a new automotive brand, we are igniting a new industry and an ecosystem that attracts international and local investments, creates job opportunities for local talent, enables the private sector, and contributes to increasing Saudi Arabia’s GDP over the next decade, as part of PIF’s strategy to drive the economic growth in line with Vision 2030.

Ceer is the first Saudi automotive brand that will will design, manufacture and sell a range of electric vehicles for consumers in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. It is projected that Ceer will attract more than US$150 million of foreign direct investment, and create up to 30,000 direct and indirect jobs. Ceer is projected to directly contribute US$8 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP by 2034.

Ceer motors, the company behind Ceer, is a joint venture between PIF and Foxconn, will be using technology from BMW for its vehicle development process. Foxconn will also develop the electrical architecture of the vehicle, to power its infotainment, connectivity and autonomous driving technologies. Each vehicle will be designed and manufactured in Saudi Arabia, and will be tested to the highest global automotive quality control and safety standards. Ceer vehicles are expected to be on the road by 2025.

Source: SPA, ceermotors.com

How to Pre-Order the iPhone 14 in Saudi Arabia

September 12, 2022

If you are still high on the recent announcement of the new iPhone 14 series, and want to immediately order the device, then you’ve come to the right place.

There are a number of ways you can pre-order the iPhone 14; you can preorder the device thru your carrier or thru a retailer.

These are the leading carrier in Saudi Arabia where you can preorder the latest Apple smartphone;

  • Mobily – orders will be released 16/09/2022 except for iPhone 14 Plus which will be available on October 7th, 2022.
  • STC – you can order via mystc app, which means that you should be a current STC subscriber in order to have an active MY STC account.
  • Virgin Mobile – they offer a limited number of of iPhone 14s for pre-order. You can also pre-register your interest and once iPhone 14 are available they will notify you over SMS.
  • Virgin Mobile – you can pre order thru their mobile app.
  • Zain – Stock is limited, 1 order per customer and the iPhone will be released on 16 September 2022, while the iPhone 14 Plus will be available by 7th of October .

If you want to go and place your pre order thru a retailer, then these are the leading retailers in the Kingdom;

All retailers said that the the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max will be release on September 16, 2022, while iPhone 14 Plus will be available by October 7th.

iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Plus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehbmC1irQuY

iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max

Rewatch Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked August 2022

August 18, 2022
Rewatch Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked August 2022

If you’re like me, who is just catching up on the latest gadget/tech news for past two weeks, then you’re on the right place. Samsung recently help their annual unpacked and announced the latest products namely the Galaxy Z Flip4, Galaxy ZFold4, Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro and Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

To relive the experience, you can watch replay of the event below;

Grand Theft Auto Trilogy now on Nintendo Switch

November 15, 2021

A remastered version of Grand Theft Auto Trilogy; GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas is now available for Switch users.

All three games are collectively available as ‘Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition’ which is available on Nintendo.com and Nintendo eShop on your device for $59.99 or around SAR 255.00.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition includes:

Grand Theft Auto III
It all starts in Liberty City. With the revolutionary freedom to go anywhere and jack anyone, Grand Theft Auto III puts the center of the criminal underworld at your fingertips.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man’s rise to the top of the criminal pile. Grand Theft Auto returns with Tommy Vercetti’s tale of betrayal and revenge in a neon-soaked tropical town full of excess and brimming with possibilities.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Five years ago, Carl “CJ” Johnson escaped the haze of Los Santos, San Andreas…a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs, and corruption. Now, it’s the early ‘90s. On his return to the neighborhood, CJ is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets.

This article was first published on KabayanTech

SABIC partners with Microsoft to create the first consumer electronic product made with recycled ocean plastic

October 1, 2021

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), one of the world’s largest petrochemicals manufacturers, and Microsoft just announced that they will be launching the ‘Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse’ – the first consumer product made from recycled ocean plastic. The Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse is made from 20% recycled ocean plastic.

According to SABIC;

Ocean plastic is defined as plastic that has been certified by a third party as recovered from any ocean or ocean-feeding waterways or where it washed ashore from these locations. Ocean plastic differs from ocean-bound plastic in that ocean-bound plastic is recovered from ocean-feeding waterways, shorelines, and inland areas within a 50-kilometer radius of the ocean. The two recycled products play complementary roles in helping address the issue of ocean plastic waste.

Microsoft design team initially goal was to create a new plastic resin with 10% ocean plastic, after several rounds of reformulation, SABIC was able to exceed Microosft’s 10% goal and then final product contains 20% recycled ocean plastic by weight in its external casing or “shell.”

SABIC added that “this project has also provided a blueprint to demonstrate to the broader industry sector that recycling and reusing valuable plastic resins that have been recovered from the ocean, ocean – feeding waterways or where they have been washed ashore from these locations, is achievable when value chain partners use their knowledge and expertise and work together.”

SABIC added that “the SABIC-Microsoft collaboration envisions SABIC providing a new XENOY™ resin for Microsoft product use that is comprised of 20% ocean plastic, as part of SABIC’S TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio and services. This new XENOY™ resin with recycled ocean plastic can help reduce plastic waste in the ocean. For example, based on a resin grade comprised of 20% recycled content, for every 1kT of product containing recycled ocean-plastic XENOY™ PC/PET compound, an equivalent of 24 million single-use 0.5liter PET water bottles is removed from the ocean, ocean-feeding waterways, or ocean-adjacent shores.”

Microsoft first unveil the “Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse” during their September 2021 Event, which will can be pre-order in selected market for $24.99 or around SAR 94.00.

You can read SABIC’s official announcement here – SABIC AND MICROSOFT COLLABORATE TO CREATE MICROSOFT’S FIRST PRODUCT MADE WITH RECYCLED OCEAN PLASTIC

Apple just release the iOS 15 and iPadOS 15

September 22, 2021

Apple just release the iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, which you can download today. Owners of iPhone 10 and later model will benefit the most, when they update to the iOS 15, as it offers new and enhanced features.

If you are using the iPhone 6s or later model, you can download the new iOS 15, while the iPadOS 15 will be available to users of the following ipads;

  • iPad mini 4 and later
  • iPad Air 2 and later
  • iPad 5th generation and later
  • all iPad Pro models

Owners of iPhone 10 and later model will benefit the most when they update to the iOS 15, as it offers new and enhanced features.

Since iPadOS is just an optimized version of iOS, we can assume that most if not all features of iOS 15 will also be on iPadOS 15.

Here’s a rundown on the new and enhanced features on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15;

  • Enhancements on Facetime calls
  • Focus, which Apple says will help reduce distractions
  • New redesigned Notifications
  • On-device AI like Live Text, Advanced Spotlight Search, and Memories
  • Redesigned Safari browser, where the tab bar will be located at the bottom of the screen, to easily access the tabs and the introduction of Tab Groups that organize the browser tabs.
  • New visuals and navigation features for Maps
  • Redesigned Weather app
  • More Privacy controls
  • and more…

To read more on the new iOS 15, you can go here and here for more on iPadOS 15.

If you have ‘Automatic Updates’ turned on, your device should have updated to the latest iOS or iPadOS, without you doing anything, just in case it did not update, you can go to SEETINGS > GENERAL > SOFTWARE UPDATE, from there you should see the notification regarding the latest iOS or iPadOS, then just tap the DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL to proceed with the update.

iOS 14.8 now available for iPhone 6s and later models

September 22, 2021

Apple just release the iOS 14.8, which is ‘probably’ the last update for iOS 14 before the iOS 15 becomes available.

The iOS 14.8 provides the usual “security updates” and is recommended for users using the following devices;

  • iPhone 6s and later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad Air 2 and later
  • iPad 5th generation and later
  • iPad mini 4 and later
  • iPod touch (7th generation)

If you have ‘Automatic Updates’ turned on, your device should have updated without you doing anything but incase it did not update, you can go to SEETINGS > GENERAL > SOFTWARE UPDATE, from there you should see the notification regarding the iOS 14.8 update, then just tap the DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL to update to the latest version of iOS 14.8.

You can find more information on the iOS 14.8 update by going to https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212807.

iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max with Super Retina XDR with ProMotion now official

September 20, 2021

Apple also announced the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Just like with the non-pro iPhone 13, both the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max are technically the same phone with just the display, size and battery that differentiate them.

Here are the notable features that is shared by both Pro iPhones; the new tri-12MP camera system, the new Super Retina XDR with ProMotion and 1TB storage option.

The new tri-12MP camera system which is compose of a Wide angle lens, a telephoto lens and an ultra wide lens, all three cameras are powered by the new image signal processor (ISP) in the A15 Bionic.

The 12-MP Wide camera has a larger sensor with 1.9 µm pixels for less noise and faster shutter speeds needed in any lighting conditions. The Wide camera will have a larger ƒ/1.5 aperture which for those low light situations. The Ultra Wide camera features a wider ƒ/1.8 aperture and a new autofocus system, that is 92% better from the previous model for low-light environments. The combination of the new lens design, autofocus and advanced computational photography in iOS 15, will allow you to shoot macro photography, which is the first for iPhone but have been available on Android phones for years. The new lens can capture macro images with a minimum focus distance of 2 centimeters. You can also use slo-mo and time-lapse while on macro mode.

Here are sample macro photos taken using the new 12-MP Ultra Wide camera;

Both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will feature the new Super Retina XDR with ProMotion, that supports adaptive refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz. For those not familiar with the adaptive refresh rate, the screen automatically adjust the refresh rate depending on the app that is being used, if you are using a game that requires fast refresh rate or just reading the news or email that only requires a low refresh rate.

The new Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion takes advantage of the efficient OLED panel, new display engine of A15 Bionic, faster GPU performance, always-on touch coprocessor, and is custom designed to operate with iOS 15, making gestures, animations, and activities like gameplay feel faster and more responsive.

Other feature of the Pro iPhones, you can say, are the features that are also in the non-pro iPhones 13 and iPhone 13 mini. You can read all about the new iPhones 13 and iPhone 13 mini here.

A 1TB storage model will now be available for the iPhones 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, which is ideal for users who will use their devices for video capture in 4k.

Both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, will be available Sept. 24th, with the following pricing;
iPhone 13 Pro
128 GB: $999.00
256 GB: $1,099.00
512 GB: $1,299.00
1 TB: $1,499.00

iPhone 13 Pro Max
128 GB: $1,099.00
256 GB: $1,199.00
512 GB: $1,399.00
1 TB: $1,599.00

Here are the list of features and specs for iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max;

iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max
Display 6.1″ Super Retina XDR display with Pro Motion 6.7″ Super Retina XDR display with Pro Motion
Resolution 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi 2778-by-1287-pixel resolution at 458 ppi
Refresh rate ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz
Max brightness 1000 nits (typical) / 1200 nits (HDR)
Color profile True Tone display, Wide color display (P3)
Processor A15 Bionic chip, with new 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores.
Cores New 5-core GPU and new 16-core Neural Engine
Rear Camera Dual 12MP camera system (Telephoto, Wide, and Ultra Wide)
Wide: ƒ/1.5 aperture
Ultra Wide: ƒ/1.8 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.8 aperture
Night mode
Apple ProRAW
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 6x optical zoom range
Digital zoom up to 15x
True Tone flash with Slow Sync
Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control
Smart HDR 4 for photos
Photographic Styles
Front camera 12 MP TrueDepth camera
ƒ/2.2 aperture
Retina Flash
Smart HDR 4 for photos
Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control
Photographic Styles
up to 4K video recording @60 fps
Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field (1080p at 30 fps)
Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps
Cinematic video stabilization (4K, 1080p, and 720p)
1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
Night mode, Deep Fusion, QuickTake video
Animoji and Memoji
Connectivity GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (some models), Gigabit LTE
5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave)
WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0. Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness,
Built-in GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou
VoLTE, NFC with reader mode
Express Cards with power reserve
Wi-Fi calling
SIM Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM), Dual eSIM support
Security Face ID via TrueDepth camera for facial recognition
Sensors LiDAR scanner, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
Storage 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB. 1 TB
Dimension 5.78 inches X 2.82 inches X 0.30 inch 6.33 inches X 3.07 inches X 0.30 inch
Weight 7.19 ounces (204 grams) 8.46 ounces (240 grams)
Battery Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery
MagSafe and Qi wireless charging with supprot for fast charging via 20W adapter or higher
Up to 22 hours video playback Up to 28 ours video playback
Up to 20 hours video playback (streamed) Up to 25 ours video playback (streamed)
Up to 75 hours Audio playback Up to 95 hours Audio playback
Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
Interface Lightning connector
Colors Silver, Graphite, Gold, Sierra Blue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKfgdkcIUxw

Apple introduces iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini with new dual-camera system and A15 Bionic SoC

September 16, 2021

Apple just announced the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini with new dual camera system, Super Retina XDR display and powered by Apple’s newest chip, the A15 Bionic SoC.

The new iPhone 13 will still be using the same design language of the iPhone 12, which is a flat-edged but with narrower notch, which is 20% smaller than the previous model. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini is rated IP68 for water resistance for up to maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes.

The improved Super Retina XDR OLED displays on both iPhones delivers an incredible contrast ratio for true blacks and a 28% increase in max outdoor brightness at 800 nits, with higher peak brightness for HDR photos and videos at 1200 nits, while being more power efficient.

Speaking of power, Apple said that the new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will have a larger battery than the previous model and can offer an all-day battery life. The iPhone 13 offers up to 2.5 more hours in a day than iPhone 12, and iPhone 13 mini up to 1.5 hours more in a day than iPhone 12 mini.

The biggest improvement that Apple made with the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini is in its processor, the A15 Bionic, the same processor that you see in the new iPad Mini.

Apple said that the new A15 Bionic, was designed using 5-nanometer technology that packs 15 billion transistors in the chip. It can peform 15.8 trillion operations per second. The A15 Bionic chip features new 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores is 50% faster that the fastest competition. The new 4-core GPU offers up to 30% faster than the competition and enables more lifelike visuals and lighting effects in graphics-intensive games.

Just like with previous generation of iPhone, Apple made a lot of advancement with its dual-camera system both in hardware and computational photography. Its new 12MP Wide angle camera with 1.7 µm pixels, the biggest sensor in any iPhone camera, is capable of capturing 47% more light for less noise and brighter images. The custom-designed 12MP Ultra Wide camera with its new sensor captures images with more detail in the dark areas of photos and videos with less noise.

Apple also introduced the new Cinematic mode on iPhone, where its records videos of people, pets, and objects with a beautiful depth effect with automatic focus changes, which means you can always change focus object even while you are recording.

Here’s a short video that Apple released to demonstrate the Cinematic mode feature.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tl1RL8MRCA

To offer the best connectivity, the new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will support 5G and with the iOS 15, Smart Data mode will help you conserve battery life by automatically shifting iPhone to LTE when 5G speeds aren’t needed.

Apple also increase the entry-level storage from 64 GB to 128 GB, which is understandable, specially with its enchanced dual-camera system that can capture HDR photos and video with a resolution of up to 4K at 60 fps, which requires a lot of diskspace.

If you look at both device more closely, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are technically same device. Both are powered by Apple-designed A15 Bionic SoC, the same Dual 12MP camera system, supports 5G connection and supports fast charging. Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will also be using the same screen, the Super Retina XDR display.

The only difference between the two is the size and the screen resolution, which appears to be relative to the size of the device.

You can now order the new iPhones and will be available by September 24th. You can find the pricing for the new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini below;

iPhone 13

  • 128 GB: $799.00
  • 256 GB: $899.00
  • 512 GB: $1,099.00

iPhone 13 Mini

  • 128 GB: $699.00
  • 256 GB: $799.00
  • 512 GB: $999.00

Here are the list of features and specs for iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini;

iPhone 13 iPhone 13 Mini
Display 6.1″ Super Retina XDR display 5.4″ Super Retina XDR display
Resolution 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi 2340-by-1080-pixel resolution at 476 ppi
Max brightness 800 nits (typical) / 1200 nits (HDR)
Color profile True Tone display, Wide color display (P3)
Processor A15 Bionic chip, with new 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores.
Cores New 4-core GPU and new 16-core Neural Engine
Rear Camera Dual 12MP camera system (Wide and Ultra Wide)
Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Night mode
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
2x optical zoom out and up to 5x digital zoom
True Tone flash with Slow Sync
Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control
Smart HDR 4 for photos
Photographic Styles
Front camera 12 MP TrueDepth camera
ƒ/2.2 aperture
Retina Flash
Smart HDR 4 for photos
Photographic Styles
up to 4K video recording @60 fps
Cinematic video stabilization (up to 4K)
Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps
Night mode, Deep Fusion, QuickTake video
Animoji and Memoji
Connectivity GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (some models), Gigabit LTE, 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave)
WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0. Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness,
Built-in GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou
VoLTE, NFC with reader mode
Express Cards with power reserve
Wi-Fi calling
SIM Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM), Dual eSIM support
Security Face ID via TrueDepth camera for facial recognition
Sensors Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
Storage 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Dimension 5.78 inches X 2.82 inches X 0.30 inch 5.18 inches X 2.53 inches X 0.30 inch
Weight 6.14 ounces (174 grams) 4.97 ounces (141 grams)
Battery Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery
MagSafe and Qi wireless charging with supprot for fast charging via 20W adapter or higher
Up to 19 hours video playback Up to 17 hours video playback
Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
Interface Lightning connector
Colors Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Product RED

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m43rh-pI0P0

Apple announces the Apple Watch Series 7 with more screen area and thinner borders

September 15, 2021

Apple just announced the Apple Watch Series 7, which at first look will be no different from the previous generation Apple Watch. There may be new aluminum case colors but the case itself is virtually the same as the one used in Series 6.

The biggest changes that Apple made with the Apple Watch Series 7 is with the screen. Apple Watch Series 7 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, it offers Always-On Retina display is up to 70 percent brighter indoors than that of Apple Watch Series 6.

The screen of the new Apple Watch Series 7 provides 20% more screen area and is virtually edge-to-edge with thinner borders at just 1.7 mm. It has a more rounded corners, and the display has a unique refractive edge that makes full-screen watch faces and apps appear to seamlessly connect with the curvature of the case.

Apple also made the front crystal of the Watch more durable and more crack-resistant, it’s first Apple Watch to have an IP6X certification for resistance to dust, and still maintains a WR50 water resistance rating.

With its bigger screen, the Apple Watch Series 7 offers two additional larger font sizes, and a new QWERTY keyboard that you can tapped or swiped with QuickPath — allowing users to slide a finger to type — and utilizes on-device machine learning to anticipate the next word based on the context.

As for the battery, the new Apple Watch Series 7 will have an all-day 18-hour battery life on a full charge and it will be 33% faster charging compared with Apple Watch Series 6.

Just like with the Series 6, the new Apple Watch Series 7 is geared towards health and wellness, so it offers features like electrical heart sensor and ECG app, and a Blood Oxygen sensor and app.

Apple Watch Series 7 will be powered by the new watchOS 8, which will have additional watch faces designed specially for the larger display on Series 7. The new Contour face takes the dial right to the edge of the display and fluidly animates throughout the day, emphasizing the current hour. The new Modular Duo face leverages the extra screen area with two large, data-rich center complications.

The Apple Watch Series 7 will available in five new case colors; midnight, starlight, green, and a new blue and (PRODUCT)RED, it will also be backward compatible with previously released Apple Watch bands.

The new Apple Watch Series 7 will be available this fall and price starts at $399.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMdQ-gWBNZE

Apple announces the new iPad and new iPad mini

September 15, 2021

Apple just announced the new iPad (9th generation) and the new iPad mini (6th generation). The announcement was made at the Apple “California Streaming” event which livestream a recorded video presentation.

The 9th Generation Ipad


The new iPad looks similar to the previous model, that still have the Touch ID home button and powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chip. It has a 10.2″ Retina display with 2160 X 1620 resolution at 264 ppi and 500 nits.

The new iPad will be powered by A13 Bionic chip, a 64-bit ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) that was used in the iPhone 11, 11 Pro/Pro Max and the 2nd generation iPhone SE.

The rear camera will feature a 8MP Wide angle camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture and a 5x digital zoom with HDR for Photos. The front camera on the other hand will be a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture and 2x zoom out. It will also feature Retina Flash, HDR for Photos and Center Stage, a camera feature that keeps focus on the subject and first introduced to the iPad Pro.

The new iPad will be compatible to the first generation Apple Pencil and Smart keyboard for more productivity. The price for the new iPad starts at $329 and will be available on September 24th.

Here is the complete price list for the new iPad (9th generation);
Wifi model
64 GG – $329.00
256 GB- $479.00

Wi-Fi + Cellular
64 GB – $459.00
256 GB – $609.00

The 6th Generation Ipad mini


Together with the new iPad, Apple also announced a new and redesigned iPad mini, which uses the new A15 Bionic chip, that has 6-core CPU that provides an additional 40% in performance, and the 5-core GPU that boost the graphics performance to 80%.

Unlike the new iPad, the new iPad mini will support 5G connectivity that reach the speeds of up to 3.5Gbps in ideal conditions. Both the front and rear cameras of the new iPad mini will be a 12MP Wide angle camera, a ƒ/1.8 aperture for the rear camera and ƒ/2.4 aperture front camera. Both cameras supports Smart HDR 3 for photos.

iPad mini now features a USB-C port for up to 5Gbps data transfer and will support existing ecosystem of USB-C accessories, including cameras and external storage and displays up to 4K.

The biggest changes that Apple made with the new iPad Mini is the design, it now has a flat and cornered edges similar to the iPad Pro and iPad air. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with narrow borders and the Touch ID was mode to the top button of iPad mini.

The new iPad mini is compatible with the 2nd-Gen Apple Pencil and will be in four colors; Space Gray, Pink, Purple and Starlight. The price starts at $499.00 and will be available on Sept. 24th.

Here is the complete price list for the new iPad mini (6th generation);
Wifi
64 GB – $499.00
256 GB – $649.00

Wi-Fi + Cellular
64 GB – $649.00
256 GB – $799.00

Specs of the new iPad and new iPad mini;

iPad iPad mini
Display 10.2″ Retina display 8.3″ Liquid Retina display
Resolution 2160-by-1620 resolution @264 ppi 2266‑by‑1488 resolution @326 ppi
Max brightness 500 nits 500 nits
Color profile sRGB Wide color display (P3)
Processor A13 Bionic chip A15 Bionic chip
Interface Lightning USB-C
Connectivity Wi‑Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac); 2.4GHz and 5GHz; speeds up to 866 Mbps Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/​​ac/ax); 2.4GHz and 5GHz; simultaneous dual band; speeds up to 1.2 Gbps
MIMO, Bluetooth 4.2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0
Wifi + Cellular 4G LTE 5G (sub-6 GHz)
UMTS/HSPA/​HSPA+/​DC‑HSDPA UMTS/HSPA/​HSPA+/​DC‑HSDPA
Built-in GPS/GNSS Gigabit LTE (up to 32 bands)
Data Only Built-in GPS/GNSS
Wifi calling Data Only
Wifi calling
SIM Nano SIM, eSIM Nano SIM, eSIM
Accessories 1st Gen Apple Pencil 2nd-Gen Apple Pencil
Smart keyboard Bluetooth keyboard
Storage 64 GB, 256 GB 64 GB, 256 GB
Rear Camera 8MP Wide camera, ƒ/2.4 aperture, Digital zoom up to 5x, HDR for Photos 12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture, Digital zoom up to 5x, Quad-LED True Tone flash, Smart HDR 3 for photos
Front camera 12MP Ultra Wide camera, ƒ/2.4 aperture, 2x zoom out, Center stage, Retina Flash, HDR for Photos. 12MP Ultra Wide camera, ƒ/2.4 aperture, 2x zoom out, Center stage, Retina Flash,
Smart HDR 3 for photos
Dimension 9.8 inch x 6.8 inch x 0.29 inch 7.69 inch x 5.3 inch x 0.25 inch
Weight 1.07 pounds (487 grams) 0.65 punds (293 grams)
Battery Up to 10 hours of surfing web on Wifi or watching video Up to 10 hours of surfing web on Wifi or watching video
Up to 9 hours of surfing web on cellular data Up to 9 hours of surfing web on cellular data
Audio Two speaker audio Two speaker audio landscape mode
Security Touch ID built into the Home button Touch ID built into the top or power  button
Sensors Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer

Instagram is testing a new feature called ‘Favorites,’ giving you more control over your IG Feed

September 14, 2021

Your Instagram feed will soon look like it got some advice from Marie Kondo, since it is currently testing an new feature called ‘Favorites,’ which give you more control and better organize your IG feed.

You will no longer have to scroll endlessly in order for you to checkout your friend’s foodgram or watch the latest ‘House of Highlights’ post, since you now designate an account as a “favorite’ which tells Instagram these are accounts that are more important to you.

Instagram tested a similar feature back in 2017, by limiting the people who can view each of your post.

According to Alessandro Paluzzi, a mobile developer, Favorites will allow you to let Instagram know which of the accounts that you follow is more important to you, so their posts will appear “higher” in your feed.



Accounts that you tag as your “Favorites” will by pass Instagram’s algorithm, so that you’ll be able to see them first rather than later.

Of course it’s still not clear if Instagram will make this feature official and rollout to all its users. I guess we just have to wait and see.

Source: The Verge

Facebook announces Ray-Ban Smart Glasses

September 12, 2021

Facebook, the social media giant, has officially announce the first-generation smart glasses called Ray-Ban Stories.

The smart glasses was built-in partnership with Facebook and EssilorLuxottica, Ray-Ban Stories start at $299 USD and will be available for purchase in 20 style combinations online and in select retail stores in the US, as well as Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy and the UK.

Here are some of the notable features and specs of Ray-Ban Stories;

  • Integragted with a 5MP cameras for video and image capture from a first-person perspective.
  • up to 30-second videos using the capture button or hands-free with Facebook Assistant voice commands.
  • A hard-wired capture LED that notify people around you that you’re taking a photo or video.
  • Open-ear built-in speakers with three-microphone audio array for for calls and videos calls.
  • The speaker will be using beamforming technology and a background noise suppression algorithm for better audio.

You can use the new Facebook View app to import, edit and share content captured on Ray-Ban Stories and can be shared on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat and more.

Facebook is not the first company to release smart glasses but they may be banking on the idea that this is the perfect time to release a smart glass, since both Google Glass and Snap’s Spectacles, which failed to gain momentum when they release their own respective smart glasses.

Source: Facebook

Apple to hold an event on Sept 14th and calling it “California streaming”

September 8, 2021

Apple’s next event will take place on September 14th, at 10 a.m. PDT, and they are calling it “California streaming.” The event, just like the past “shows” and because of the threat of COVID-19, will be a pre-recorded broadcast from Apple Park.

Apple usually announce the next iPhone for their fall event, for 2021, it is expected to be called the iPhone 13. The upcoming iPhone 13 is reported to follow the same design language of iPhone but with a much higher refresh-rate with smaller notch and plenty of camera enhancements. Displays with higher refresh-rate have been available on a number of Android phones, most notably those gaming phones.

It’s hard to know what are the hidden messages that Apple puts into their invites but this AR Apple logo Easter egg that they included in the event site is a good indication that Apple may be announcing a new AR or mixed reality device, or may be an AR/mixed reality feature on the new iPhones.

If you want to see the AR Apple logo, using any iOS device, go to the Apple event site, then tap on the event Apple logo, after that the glowing AR Apple event logo will render within your surroundings.

Aside from the AR features, high refresh rate and better cameras, other enhancement that Apple is reported to be including in the new iPhone are; SharePlay, astrophotography mode, satellite link and an always on lock screen.

Apple may also be announcing other products like the next Apple Watch, a new entry-level AirPods and may be by a longshot, a Macbook Pros that’s powered by Apple-designed chips and an SD card slot. I guess we just have to wait and see.

Tesla announces Tesla bot, a humanoid robot right out of science fiction

August 22, 2021

Tesla just concluded their AI Day and one of the highlights of the event is when Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company is building a Tesla bot, humanoid robot that the company named “Optimus.”

According to their website, Tesla bot is a bi-pedal, humanoid robot capable of performing tasks that are unsafe, repetitive or boring. Tesla bot will be five feet, eight inches tall and will weigh 125 pounds, and have a screen for a face.

Elon Musk added that a prototype will be available “sometime next year” and will take advantage of Tesla’s experience with AI that powers the company’s Autopilot driver assistance software in their products.

You can watch the full video of Tesla’s AI day on the company’s Youtube Channel. You can watch the Tesla bot part of the event in the ebedded video below;

Samsung now accepting pre-orders for Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

August 18, 2021

Samsung has announced that consumer can now pre-order the latest folding smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. In a Facebook page post, the S. Korean company said that those who pre-order can receive discounts and freebies worth up to ₱27,400.

There are four ways or options to pre-order;

  1. Galaxy Z Fold3 5G from Samsung Experience Stores and Authorized Stores. Get discounts and freebies worth up to ₱27,400.
  2. Galaxy Z Flip3 5G via Samsung Experience Stores and Authorized Stores. Get discounts and freebies worth up to ₱24,900.
  3. Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G from Samsung Authorized Online Partners like Lazada, Shopee, Abenson and MemoXpress. Receive discounts and freebies worth up to ₱27,400.
  4. Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G thru official Samsung Online Store, the discounts and freebies will be worth up to ₱20,400.

The pre-order period will be from Aug 19. 2021 to Sep 21. 2021.

Both the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G were announced last week at the Samsung Galaxy UNPACKED 2021 event, you can checkout the highlights of the event below;

Lenovo announces Legion Phone Duel 2

April 9, 2021

Lenovo officially announces Legion Phone Duel 2, their next gaming phones.

The Legion Phone Duel 2 features a 6.92-inch screen that is powered by two batteries, two USB-C ports, and two actual spinning fans. Together with the two fans, the Legion Phone Duel 2 also have a vapor chamber to cool the new Snapdragon 888 processor that’s powering the phone.

The phone will feature a 44MP pop-up camera with an ultra-wide 84-degree autofocus lens that Lenovo claims can be used by streamers for its incredible detail plus excellent low-light performance.

Legion Phone Duel 2 will have up to 18GB of RAM (LPDDR5) and up to 512GB (UFS 3.1) of storage. As for its OS, it will run Lenovo’s ZUI 12.5, based on Android 11, right out of the box.

The phone will be available in two colors; Titanium White and Ultimate Black, and will initially be release in China this month, and select markets in Asia Pacific and Europe in May, with the following price tag; €999 (around ₱57,625) with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and a bundled charging dock; €799 (around ₱46,088) as a standalone phone with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.

Lenovo has yet to announce if the Legion Phone Duel 2 will be release in the Philippines.

Here’s the full spec sheet of the Legion Phone Duel 2;

Special features · ATA 2.0 (Advanced Technology Architecture)
· Octa-Trigger in a ‘console controller-like’ array with Quad Ultrasonic Shoulder keys, Dual pressure touch buttons, Dual Capacitance keys input
· Nearly 16.8M possible RGB lighting color combinations
· Dual HaptiX – Dual X-Axis Haptic Vibration Linear Motors
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform with 5nm processor technology
CPU: 8 cores Kryo™ 680 (1@2.84G + 3@2.42G + 4@1.8G)
GPU: Adreno™ 660 @840MHz
Display 6.92″ 20.5:9 (2460 x 1080) 144 Hz AMOLED 8-bit HDR gaming display
720Hz touch sampling rate
Delta-E < 0.514
800 nits outdoor-readable brightness (1300 nits peak)
111.1% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage
1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
Pixelworks i6 AI tunning
HDR10+ certified
TÜV Low Blue Light certification
DC dimming
Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5
Design 176mm x 78.5mm x 9.9mm (12.56mm mid)
Weighs 259g
Colors: Ultimate Black and Titanium White4
RAM + ROM 12GB/16GB/18GB LPDDR5
256GB/512GB UFS3.15
Cooling system Integrated, Active, Twin Turbo-Fan Cooling System
Area of Air-duct: 3000mm²
Intake fan with 29 fan blades 12,500 RPM; Output fan with 29 fan blades 15,000 RPM
Passive cooling components
Vapor Chamber liquid cooling area: 4730mm²
Fans Max speed noise: 27dB (30cm distance)14
Thermal cooling area: 62573mm2
Front camera 44MP Samsung® GH1+ Camera, f/2.0 aperture, 0.7 µm, 5 lens, 84˚ wide angle
Auto focus and live stream-ready
AI beauty mode / Background remove or replace/ Virtual avatar/ Counting-down selfie / Portrait photography/ Night mode/HD photo
Video recording: 4K video recording at 30 fps, or 60 fps, 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps, or 60 fps, 720p HD video recording at 30 fps / Slow motion mode: 720P@240fps, 720P@120fps, 1080P@120fps
Rear Camera 64MP OmniVision® flagship OV64A image sensor, f/1.9 aperture, 1.0 µm pixel, 7 lens, 82° field of view
16 MP f/2.2 aperture and 123° field of view 1.0 µm pixel
Digital zoom up to 10x
Photo shooting: Portrait mode/Wide angle photo/RAW photo/Super night mode/Photo geotagging/Panorama/Time-lapse/Macro Mode/Pro mode
Video recording: HDR 10+ video recording at 4K@30fps, 8K video recording at 24 fps, 4K video recording at 30 fps, or 60 fps, 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps, or 60 fps, 720p HD video recording at 30 fps / Slow motion mode: 720P@240fps, 720P@120fps,1080P@240fps, 1080P@120fps /Audio Zoom/Director mode /Dual mode
Operating System ZUI 12.5 based on Android 11
Battery Battery: 5500mAh (2750mAh x 2)
Turbo Charging: up to 90W quick charging (sold separately); Fast Charging: 65W quick charging14
Audio · Dual front-facing speakers and Dolby Atmos®
· 7-magnet stereo speaker with dual smart amplifier for louder, deeper and less distorted sound effect
· Equivalent to dual 1.6 cc speakers
· Audio Output: 48 kHz / 16-bit standard (USB-C output)
· Game Mode for better in-game sounding experience with localization capability
· Four Microphones with noise reduction technology
Sensor Fingerprint sensor, 3D motion sensor, Electronic Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light Sensor, Quad Ultrasonic Shoulder keys, Dual Capacitance keys, Dual Force Touch sensor
Navigation GPS (L1+L5)／AGPS／GLONASS／BEIDOU (L1+L5)/ Galileo(L1+L5) / QZSS

Salesforce to acquire Slack for $27.7 billion

December 2, 2020
Salesforce to acquire Slack for $27.7 billion

Salesforce, provider of cloud-based CRM, is acquiring Slack for $27.7 billion. The combined company of Salesforce and Slack will be able to better compete with Microsoft, Oracle and other companies in the cloud enterprise space.

In a press release, “Under the terms of the agreement, Slack shareholders will receive $26.79 in cash and 0.0776 shares of Salesforce common stock for each Slack share, representing an enterprise value of approximately $27.7 billion based on the closing price of Salesforce’s common stock on November 30, 2020.”

“Stewart and his team have built one of the most beloved platforms in enterprise software history, with an incredible ecosystem around it,” said Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO, Salesforce. “This is a match made in heaven. Together, Salesforce and Slack will shape the future of enterprise software and transform the way everyone works in the all-digital, work-from-anywhere world. I’m thrilled to welcome Slack to the Salesforce Ohana once the transaction closes.”

“Salesforce started the cloud revolution, and two decades later, we are still tapping into all the possibilities it offers to transform the way we work. The opportunity we see together is massive,” said Stewart Butterfield, Slack CEO and Co-Founder. “As software plays a more and more critical role in the performance of every organization, we share a vision of reduced complexity, increased power and flexibility, and ultimately a greater degree of alignment and organizational agility. Personally, I believe this is the most strategic combination in the history of software, and I can’t wait to get going.”

You can read the full text of Salesforce press release here.

You can now pre-order the new Macbook Air, 13-inch Macbook Pro and Mac mini with M1 chip in Saudi Arabia

November 18, 2020

If you’re in Saudi Arabia, you can now preorder the new Macbook Air, 13-inch Macbook Pro and Mac mini with M1 chip. To be more specific, you can preorder the new Macs powered with the M1 chips at Extra. The announcement was made via the social media account of the retail store.

Here are the pricing below;

Macbook Air;
8GB RAM + 256GB SSD storage: SAR 4,899.00
8GB RAM + 512GB SSD storage: SAR 6,199.00


13-inch Macbook Pro;
8GB RAM + 256GB SSD storage: SAR 6,299.00


Mac Mini;
8GB RAM + 256GB SSD storage: SAR 3,499.00
8GB RAM + 512GB SSD storage: SAR 4,499.00

The new Macbook Air, 13-inch Macbook Pro and Mac mini with M1 chip was first announced last week and from the reviews that are already out, it looks these new Macs with are great for first time Mac buyer and may be be so good if you are a professional and already have an established work flow.

Here’s the price of the new Macbook Air, Mac Mini and 13-inch Macbook Pro with the M1 chip in the Philippines

November 14, 2020

Apple just release the Philippine pricing of the new Macbook Air, Mac Mini and 13-inch Macbook Pro with the M1 chip.

MacBook Air;
8GB RAM with 256GB SSD – ₱54,990.00
8GB RAM with 512GB SSD – ₱68,990.00

13-inch Macbook Pro;
8GB RAM with 256GB SSD – ₱71,990.00
8GB RAM with 512GB SSD – ₱83,990.00

Mac mini;
8GB RAM with 256GB SSD – ₱37,990.00
8GB RAM with 512GB SSD – ₱49,990.00

*Display, keyboard and mouse are not included.

Since you can configure to have a bigger RAM and storage for all 3 Macs, the price will also increase. No word as to when the new Macbook Air, Mac Mini and 13-inch Macbook Pro with the M1 chip will be available in the Philippines.

You can rewatch Apple’s “One More Thing” event here

November 13, 2020

Apple has officially announced the custom ARM-based chip the Apple Silicon M1 chip and the three (3) computing devices; new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, that will be powered by the M1 chip.

If you missed the event but have 50 mins to spare, you can rewatch the whole event from the embedded video below;

Watch the special Apple Event and learn about the next generation of Mac. Now with the Apple M1 chip, the new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini each take a huge leap forward.

00:00 Introduction
04:39 Apple Silicon
14:00 macOS Big Sur
22:45 MacBook Air
29:50 Mac Mini
35:06 MacBook Pro

‘Fly Away’ by Tones and I http://apple.co/FlyAway
‘Take Back The Power’ by Raury http://apple.co/TakeBackThePower
‘Music To Clean The House To’ by Nick Leng http://apple.co/MusicToCleanTheHouseTo
‘Playing Your Game, Baby’ by Barry White http://apple.co/PlayingYourGameBaby
‘Ya Ya Power’ by KingupingU http://apple.co/YaYaPower
‘Bring The Drums Back’ by Noisy http://apple.co/BringTheDrumsBack
‘Wave’ by Whethan http://apple.co/Wave
‘Back It Up’ by Alison Wonderland X AWE http://apple.co/BackItUp
‘Show Me How’ by Beacon
‘Alright With Me’ by Memba & Ricky James http://apple.co/AlrightWithMe