ASUS announces new upgraded PadFone Infinity

The ASUS PadFone Infinity which is arriving in Malaysia this month has gotten a new sibling. Simply called as the New PadFone Infinity, the new version offers updated hardware and some improvements on its build quality.
Although the design is rather identical, there are some subtle changes on the new version. The back comes with diamond cut edges which gives it a more premium feel, a microSD card slot for storage expansion and a secondary mic for noise cancellation. Internally, the processor is upgraded from the previous 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 to a faster 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800. .
The rest of the PadFone hardware remains the same which includes a 5″ Full HD Super IPS display, 13MP BSI camera, 2MP front facing camera and a 2,400mAh battery. In terms of storage, the new version comes with a lower option of 16GB/32GB while the 2GB memory has been upgraded from LPDDR2 to LPDDR3.
Meanwhile the base PadStation tablet remains unchanged with the same 10.1″ display that pushes 1920×1200 pixels resolution. In case you’re wondering, the new PadFone Infinity does work with the current PadFone Infinity’s PadStation. To differentiate itself from the old one, the new Padfone Infinity comes in new Titanium Black and Platinum White colours. Pricing wise, the smart phone costs NT$18,990 (Approx. RM2,073) while the PadStation tablet is an extra NT$7,000 (Approx. RM765).
No word on its availability yet but if you can’t wait, the current PadFone Infinity is priced locally at RM2,699 for the 32GB version. The price is inclusive of the 10.1″ PadFone station.

2013 Mitsubishi Attrage Previewed At Paradigm Mall; Price, Specs List Revealed

Keen on a small B-segment sedan? Well, if you haven’t heard already, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia will be introducing the all-new 2013 Mitsubishi Attrage very soon. Our informants suggest a launch is due in November, this year. But before that…
A couple of months ago, Mitsubishi previewed the basis for the Attrage, the Concept G4, at the Mid Valley Megamall. This time around, the new Mitsubishi Attrage itself was previewed at the Paradigm Mall in Kelana Jaya.
We know the new Attrage is mostly a 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage, with a boot at the back, and more legroom for rear passengers. But what’s most exciting about the new Attrage is its very attractive starting price for a B-segment Japanese sedan.

Prices, And Taking On The Nissan Almera
For price and segment, the new Attrage faces stiff competition from the 2013 Nissan Almera. While the Attrage may be cheaper than the Almera at RM59,000 (OTR with insurance), but it’s 1.2-litre engine, and lesser spaciousness may not be very attractive to potential customers.
It is however, far more economical on paper, than the Nissan Almera. The 1.2-litre Attrage returns 4.7-litres/100km, while the 1.6-litre Almera boasts 6.2-litres/100km. But then of course, you’ll be far more heavy-footed with the Attrage then the Almera.
You can read about and compare both cars here:

• 2013 Mitsubishi Attrage Media Drive in Thailand
• 2013 Nissan Almera Test Drive

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• 2013 Mitsubishi Attrage Open For Booking In Malaysia - From RM59,000

Apple’s Touch ID Fingerprint Scanner is Amazing

A fingerprint scanner in an iPhone. When we heard about it, we dismissed it as a ridiculous rumour and for good reason. Fingerprint scanners have been in computers for years now, they promise enhanced security but they are notorious for piss poor accuracy and when they do work they take way too long to read your print.
So you can understand why we didn’t think Apple would bother with a fingerprint scanner on their latest iPhone. It’s just too cumbersome, too finicky, too unApple to find the place in the sleek, intuitive iPhone. And then Apple reinvented the fingerprint scanner.
Obviously we’ve not yet tried Touch ID ourselves but looking at the many hands-on reviews and comments from people who have the experience is totally unlike anything that we are used to.
Apple’s Touch ID does everything fingerprint scanners didn’t. It’s easy to setup, it’s accurate, its fast, its intuitive and most important of all, it doesn’t change the way you use your iPhone. Yet at the same time Touch ID offers substantial benefits for mobile security than any other security method currently being used in a smartphone. It’s practical, robust security that’s so easy to use that it becomes second nature, and it makes Google’s Face Unlock look like a plaything.
No one sums up Touch ID more perfectly and succinctly than Johnny Ive: “Touch ID defines the next step of how you use your iPhone making something as important as security so effortless, so simple. We believe that technology is at its very best, at its most empowering when it simply disappears.”
That’s just beautiful.
Touch ID is a amazing and competitors will scramble to offer something similar in their next flagship product but is it enough to put the iPhone back at the top? We don’t think so.
See a demo video of how Touch ID works after the jump.

ROBOCOP - Official Trailer (2014)

 

Mitsubishi Attrage order books open; to start at RM59k

   
 
The Mitsubishi Attrage is now open for booking, with introductory prices starting from RM59,000 (on-the-road, without insurance). That’s a good deal cheaper than other B-segment sedan offerings, undercutting the base Nissan Almera by more than 10% in price.


The range-topping Attrage SE comes with a factory bodykit, LED daytime running lights (seen in the official picture at the top of the page), security window film, leather seats and a 2-DIN touchscreen audio unit with USB and AUX-in connectivity plus a reverse camera. UPDATE: Reader PS Lee has just sent in this spyshot of a Malaysian-spec Mitsubishi Attrage (GS variant, presumably) in its signature Cerulean Blue Mica paintjob.
The booted version of the Mirage was first shown as the Mitsubishi Concept G4 at the 2013 Bangkok Motor Show. MMM has put the concept car on display here before, and now’s your chance to see the real deal – the one you can actually buy – as the Attrage will start its own tour in Malaysia.
It will be making its first public appearance ahead of its launch at the Paradigm Mall Ground Floor Promotional Area from September 6 until 8 (Friday to Sunday), between 10am to 10pm. Do check it out if you’re attracted to the Attrage.
Our man Jonathan has previewed the small Mitsubishi sedan at a Thai test track some time back, which he summarised as “a B-segment sedan with all the city driving qualities – nippiness, fuel efficiency and ease of use – of an A-segmenter.” Read the full preview drive story here.

Samsung Galaxy Gear launched with call & camera functionality

On the watch face, the Galaxy Gear comes with a 1.63″ screen of Super AMOLED variety that does a modest resolution of 320×320. The screen is touch-enabled which relies on taps and swipes to navigate around. Powering the device is a single core 800MHz processor with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage which should be more than sufficient for a wearable gadget.
The biggest addition for the smart watch is a built-in 1.9MP camera on the strap and the ability to make & receive calls directly from the watch. This made possible with an integrated loud speaker on the watch and a dual mic set up in the watch strap buckle. While these features sound cool, it would be interesting to see if this would be practically useful without looking silly in public. We don’t expect much from the camera for any serious photography but it can be a potential discreet cam whenever you need it.
The Galaxy Gear comes with a 315mAh battery which is said to last for more than 25 hours in a single charge. In terms of applications, there’s a variety of apps available which includes Line, MyFitnessPal, Path and RunKeeper which more can be downloaded from a dedicated Galaxy Gear AppStore.
The Galaxy Gear acts as a seamless bridge with the Galaxy Note 3. If you read a message on the watch, you can instantly relay the full content on the larger Note 3 screen. For hands-free operation, it also comes with S-Voice which lets you perform task by merely dictating to it. Another neat feature is auto-lock where the Note 3 will automatically locks its screen when the Galaxy Gear goes beyond 1.5 metres away from the smart phone and then unlocks when they are close together.
In terms of colours, the Galaxy Gear comes in Jet Black, Mocha Gray, Wild Orange, Oatmeal Beige, Rose Gold, and Lime Green. It will be launched together with the Galaxy Note 3 in over 140 countries from September 25. It is safe to assume that the Galaxy Gear will be available here when the Note 3 is launched at the end of the month.