Earlier today, South Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung officially took the wraps off their latest Galaxy S24 range of flagship smartphones during this year’s annual Samsung Unpacked convention.

Held in in San Jose, California earlier today, the Samsung Galaxy S24 range is set to replace the preceding S23 lineup that debuted in early February last year. Just like the generation that came before it, the new lineup consists of three devices, namely the base Galaxy S24, the larger Galaxy S24 Plus, and of course, the uber flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S24 buying guide: Specs, prices, where to nab yours in Hong Kong

Across the board, all three devices share the same platform and are powered by a Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset or Saumsung’s in-house Exynos 2400 (4 nm) chipset, running Android 14 out of the box. With that said, varying price points mean that each device comes with slight tweaks on the S24 recipe for different consumer segments, such as a bump in screen size on the S24 Plus, or improved camera specifications on the S24 Ultra.

Here is the rough lowdown on what you can expect out of each device:

Samsung S24 

Chipset: Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2400 (4 nm)
OS: Android 14
Display: 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, maximum brightness of 2600 nits (peak) with a resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels
Memory: 128GB with 8GB RAM, 256GB with 8GB RAM, 512GB with 8GB RAM
Battery: 4000 mAh
Camera: Triple camera setup. 50-megapixel main camera with 24mm wide angle lens, 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle setup

Samsung S24 Plus

Chipset: Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2400 (4 nm)
OS: Android 14
Display: 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, maximum brightness of 2600 nits (peak) with a resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels
Memory: 128GB with 8GB RAM, 256GB with 8GB RAM, 512GB with 8GB RAM
Battery: 4000 mAh
Camera: Triple camera setup. 50-megapixel main camera with 24mm wide angle lens, 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle setup

Samsung S24 Ultra

Chipset: Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
OS: Android 14
Display: 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, maximum brightness of 2600 nits (peak) with a resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels
Memory: 256GB with 12GB RAM, 512GB with 12GB RAM
Battery: 5000 mAh
Camera: Quad camera setup. 200-megapixel main camera with 24mm wide angle lens, 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, 10-megapixel telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 12-megapixel ultrawide
Peripherals: S-Pen support

Of course, prices differ depending on the model and amount of storage you’re looking to nab. In Hong Kong, the new Samsung Galaxy S24 range starts from HKD 5,898.00 and tops out with the creme de la creme S24 Ultra at HKD 9,898.00.

The full list of Samsung Galaxy S24 prices are as follows:

Samsung Galaxy S24

• 256GB – Pre-order price HKD 5,898.00 (Regular price HKD 5,898.00)
• 512GB – Pre-order price HKD 5,898.00 (Regular price HKD 6,898.00)

Samsung Galaxy s24+

• 256GB – Pre-order price HKD 7,598.00 (Regular price HKD 7,898.00)
• 512GB – Pre-order price HKD 7,598.00 (Regular price HKD 8,898.00)

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

• 256GB – Pre-order price HKD 9,898.00 (Regular price HKD 9,898.00)
• 512GB – Pre-order price  HKD 9,898.00  (Regular price HKD 10,898.00)
• 1TB – Pre-order price  HKD 10,898.00 (Regular price HKD 12,898.00)

If you’re looking to nab your own Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphone, the first place you should start looking is at your nearest Samsung store. As part of the S24 launch, Samsung will be offering a pre-order promotion which includes a eVoucher for other Samsung products, alongside a double storage upgrade worth RM500 when getting a Galaxy S24 series device.

The promotion is exclusively available on the Samsung Hong Kong website, and will run until 6 February 2024.

Of course, the device will also be available to purchase through major telecommunications carriers such as Maxis, Digi, and U Mobile. Alternatively, you may consider shopping from tech retailers such as Thundermatch, Harvey Norman, or Direct D.

Feature and hero image credits: Samsung 

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Malaysia

The post Samsung Galaxy S24 Buying Guide: Specs, Prices, And Where You Can Nab Yours appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

In a post-generative AI world where we love to leave all the donkey’s work to our slave chatbots, I wish we could simply ask, “Hey Google, what products are you cooking for 2024?” and expect it to write an elaborate story while I roast marshmallows on a bonfire. For curiosity’s sake though, we asked Bard, and after a rather boring response, we decided it was better if we discussed this in our classy Augustman style.

If we were to compare tech brands with school teachers, Google would be the art and crafts teacher coming up with something so exciting that remains etched in our memories. The group of geniuses at Mountain View, California took us on an AI-filled wild ride in 2023, with the highlight being the Pixel 8 Pro and all its magical capabilities powered by Google’s Gemini AI model.

For 2024, it seems we might be having double the fun this year, especially if the announcements made by Google at CES 2024 pan out in time. It partnered with Samsung to use its Quick Share as a replacement for Nearby Share and expand Fast Pair to Google TV devices for quickly pairing accessories to TVs.

But Google has a lot more to revamp and release this year and we can’t wait to explore all the upcoming Google products releasing in 2024. Hop on the ride!

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The post Hey Google, What Are The Upcoming Google Products Releasing In 2024? appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

A series of fantastic video games will be released in January 2024 to the delight of fans across genres and platforms. These upcoming video games, which range from arcade fighting to immersive storytelling, include titles by both established studios and innovative indie game developers.

Perhaps at the very top – sitting high among the most-anticipated titles list – is Tekken 8. The Tekken series started in 1994 with its eponymous first game.

The year 2024, therefore, marks the 30th anniversary of the long-running game franchise which has been showered with worldwide critical acclaim through the decades and some of the highest-selling game titles in history. Fans of the franchise will get to witness the final battle between Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama, the father and son who have been among the most famous game characters of all time.

Tekken 8 is one of the strongest contenders for game awards of 2024 and is expected to become one of the highest-selling video games of the year.

A few days before the release of Tekken 8, video game fans will be able to both relive and experience a newfound joy for another iconic franchise — Prince of Persia. Having started way back in 1989 on Apple II computers, the legendary video game has come a long way. Its The Sands of Time reboot continuity, spanning three games from 2003 to 2005, was one of the biggest successes both critically and commercially in video game history. The upcoming game, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, will now focus on an entirely new character and will perhaps add a new dimension to the fabled story of a prince who wields the power of time.

Besides the upcoming new video games, quite a few titles are remastered and relaunched on new platforms such as The Last of Us Part II Remastered and Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy.

As always, the games span PCs and all modern consoles, including PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation 5 (PS5), Microsoft Xbox One, Microsoft Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.

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The post <i>Tekken 8</i> And Other Video Games Releasing in January 2024 appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Take the guesswork out of gift shopping with our list of the best Christmas gift ideas, perfect for all unique personalities on your nice list. From foodies to fashionistas, there’s a whole new world of gift ideas that will keep the fun, joy, and merriment going.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Come the end of November, stores and malls are instantly transformed into magical wonderlands that marry brilliantly-sparkling baubles, twinkling fairy lights, and an abundance of thistle. As Mae West once said, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.”

And in the holly jolly season of Christmas, what else could be true?

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The best Christmas gift ideas for every personality on your nice list

For discerning gourmands and tipplers

As the saying goes, the way to a man’s (or woman’s) heart is through their stomach. Which is probably why food and drinks always make perfect gift ideas guaranteed to satisfy. In time for the Yuletide season, UK luxury department store Selfridges has introduced the The Christmas Celebration Hamper comprising two wicker baskets overflowing with 33 items such as nuts, cookies, chocolates, condiments, preserves, sweets, tea, coffee, and biscuits. Traditional staples of panettone, stollen, mincemeat (for your pies), hot chocolate and marzipan fruits are also included.

Not to be outdone, Harrods has unveiled The St James Christmas Hamper, which is well-stocked with British festive classics the likes of Christmas pudding, cake, panettone and mince pies. It also comes with jams and spreads such as spiced honey, chutney, brandy butter, port-infused cranberry sauce, and marmalade with whisky. For the little ones, there’s a variety of jellies, gummies, chocolates, and biscuits.

Also worth considering is Fortnum & Mason’s The Fortnum’s Christmas Collection Hamper filled with delightful treats. Highlights include biscuits presented in a tin that sings ‘Jingle Bells’, reindeer noses in the form of milk chocolate cereal balls, Peppermint Bark (white chocolate dusted with mint candy), Christmas spiced black tea, and blackberry and elderberry conserve — which we recommend slathering thickly on hot, buttery toast.

Shop here

Selfridges The Christmas Celebration Hamper

HKD 4,350

Harrods The St James Christmas Hamper

HKD 3,758

Fortnum & Mason The Fortnum’s Christmas Collection Hamper

Approx HKD 1,623.50

Make it a boozy Christmas for your loved ones with the indulgent Whisky Advent Calendar from Drinks by the Dram, which features 24 30ml drams of whisky concealed behind doors. Savour whiskies from a diversity of labels such as Balblair, Chivas Regal, Gulliver’s, Kyrö, Sheep Dip, Lagavulin, Talisker and Tobermory. The calendar comes in three colourways, but our pick is naturally the White Christmas, which depicts a beautiful, wintry landscape.

For gin aficionados, Drinks by the Dram has also rolled out a dedicated, juniper-centric Premium Gin Advent Calendar. Expect to sample 24 different types of gin from labels like Gin Ting, Hendrick’s, Hepple, Roku and Tanqueray. Get the calendar in the Art Deco colourway, which sets the drams against a vivid backdrop of blue, green and purple hues.

Travelling right before Christmas Day and fretting about how and when to do your gift shopping? The newly launched Macallan Colour Collection is a travel retail exclusive range of five aged statement whiskies available at selected stores in airports around the world. The whiskies feature natural golden-brown hues derived from their maturation in sherry oak casks, and come in packaging and boxes designed in collaboration with famed graphic designer David Carson. Standouts include the 21 Years Old — carrying notes of candied ginger and orange dark chocolate — and the 30 Years Old, which has tropical fruity notes with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The Macallan Colour Collection is available at the arrivals hall of Hong Kong International Airport and various other locations globally.

Shop here

Whisky Advent Calendar

Approx HKD 1,032.45

Premium Gin Advent Calendar

Approx HKD 884.88

The Macallan Colour Collection

From HKD 625

Planning to keep the vino flowing throughout Christmas? Wine lovers will need a Coravin wine preservation system, which is equipped with a needle that gently passes through cork so one can pour out the wine inside without actually opening it. The device fills the empty space in the bottle with argon gas to keep the remaining wine fresh so its taste and quality aren’t compromised, and reseals the cork upon the Coravin’s removal. If you’re shopping for an oenophile, the Timeless Six+ Burgundy, which pairs the product’s all-black hue with a striking red shade on top, is a stylish choice. It comes with a Timeless aerator, three Coravin pure argon capsules, six Timeless standard screw caps (for your screw top bottles), one Timeless carry case, one needle clearing tool, and one bottle sleeve.

A spectacular feast deserves equally incredible tableware. We’re particularly enamoured with the 17-piece blue and green glass dinner set by Completedworks, which is exclusively available on Net-a-Porter. It comprises four wine glasses, four tumblers, four dinner plates, two side plates, a salad bowl, a jug, and a tapered candlestick all crafted in recycled glass. The wine glasses are works of art with their delicate, swirling stemmed bases, while the glass jug is an eye-catching feature with its whimsical, sculptural lines. Dainty, beautiful and sustainable, the whole set is bound to be a conversation-starter.

For something a little breezier and über Instagrammable, go for the Anya Hindmarch Eyes leather-trimmed straw picnic set, which features a basket bag packed with plates, cutlery and cups for four people. It’s adorned with brown leather details along its straps, edges and sides, and boasts two spacious compartments. Embroidered on its front is the brand’s iconic eyes motif.

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Coravin Timeless Six+ Burgundy

HKD 3,430

Completedworks 17-Piece Blue and Green Glass Dinner Set

HKD 29,445

Anya Hindmarch Eyes Leather-Trimmed Straw Picnic Set

HKD 11,295

For the urban dreamer who lives life to the fullest

This Christmas, treat your loved ones to the luxury of smelling fabulous by giving them the ultimate scent experience. Step away from typical perfumes and pamper their senses with CELINE’s magnificent ‘CÉLESTE’ bath and body line, combined with the fascinating ‘ILLUMINATIONS’ candle.

The ‘CÉLESTE’ bath and body collection is a beautiful collection that contains cologne splashes, scented body oil, and bath milk. Explore the brand’s recently developed solid soaps, which capture the same enticing Eau De Cologne smell, ensuring a comprehensive and deep sensory experience.

In keeping with the luxury theme, gift your loved ones the enticing ‘ILLUMINATIONS’ candle, a new addition to CELINE’s candle line. That brings the brand’s unique scent options up to total of 7, making it the ideal present for individuals who love the art of fine fragrance.

If you believe in imbuing your gifts with personal thoughts, these are your options. This amazing wristband effortlessly combines aged wood with stainless steel links to create a magnificent accessory perfect for those with an eye for the extraordinary. Embrace the craftsmanship that comes from the heart of whisky culture with this timepiece, which features a classic black dial face decorated with a cork-shaped oak crown. This clock strikes a delicate balance between minimalist beauty and rustic appeal, making it the ideal gift for spirit fans who value craftsmanship as well as style.

Capture the essence of your special relationship with a unique holiday gift. Let Claudia Moldovan turn your favourite song into a magnificent wooden masterpiece. These one-of-a-kind wall sculptures are made to reflect the chosen tune’s soundwaves. Choose a clip, the chorus, or the complete song to transform it into a beautiful work of art that is sure to spark conversation.

Bridge the gap and illuminate the lives of those you miss dearly with this special Friendship Lamp. Whether they’re across town or across the world, this new design maintains the heartwarming functionality: touch your lamp, and theirs emits the same glow, sending a silent “thinking of you.” If you’re buying these for a group of friends, add a personal touch by assigning colours, so each person can enjoy their own special hue. Light up the holiday season and connect with those who hold a special place in your heart.

Shop here

Whiskey Barrel Watch

HKD 2,088

Custom Song Wall Art

HKD 1,493.00 – 6,618.00

Long Distance Friendship Lamp – Wood

HKD 1,670

Help your loved ones to resist the harsh winter elements with Augustinus Bader’s ‘The Winter Radiance System.’ Each product protects while promoting skin rejuvenation and is powered by the brand’s revolutionary Trigger Factor Complex technology. The ‘Cream Cleansing Gel’ eliminates pollutants and conditions the skin, preparing it for additional treatment. Follow up with the award-winning ‘The Rich Cream’, a daily moisturiser that nourishes while slowing water loss to keep your skin youthful and healthy.

With MZ Skin’s ‘LED 2.0 LightMAX Supercharged’ mask, you can embrace the year’s biggest skincare trend. This non-invasive at-home therapy promotes general skin renewal, similar to Dr. Maryam Zamani’s in-clinic procedures. Give this advanced LED mask to a loved one as a gift to help them maintain a glowing and revitalised complexion.

Consider the House of Dior’s magnificent Advent Calendar for a fantastic holiday experience. The gorgeous advent calendar opens up to reveal stunning adornments by artist Pietro Ruffo, and is designed to replicate the iconic boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne. An exquisite representation of the Tuileries Garden with its beautiful wrought iron work, octagonal basin, and statues, this advent calendar serves as a backdrop for 24 miniature treasures. The calendar features fragrances, skincare, makeup, and lifestyle essentials, making it the ideal gift for any beauty fan. It even transforms into a reusable storage case after the holiday season, adding a touch of elegance to everyday life.

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Augustinus Bader Winter Radiance System

HKD 1,695

MZ Skin LED Mask

HKD 9,000

Dior Le 30 Montaigne Advent Calendar

HKD 5300

For adventure-seekers and travel-buffs

There’s one in every family and group of friends – the frequent flier whose life just seems to be an endless revolving door of glittering sandy beaches and exotic faraway places. These sorts never seem to tire and are blessed with an abundance of energy that they use to chase the next big thrill. To them, life is an adventure, and the world is an oyster just waiting to be explored. And, if you’re lucky enough to be the travel buff in your circle, send this gift guide out to make sure you get exactly what you want under the Christmas tree.

Adventure seekers are always on the go! There’s no time for meandering about the airport; they’re the first to clear security and customs, the first in line at duty free, and somehow always arrive at their gate with plenty of time to spare before boarding. Every airport speed walker needs easy access to their documents, money, and items at any given time. For that, we love Bellroy’s eco-tanned leather travel folio, which stores up to two passports, eight cards, and paper currencies of all sizes. It even zips up, keeping one’s documents safely tucked away to be conveniently retrieved at a moment’s notice.

Every adventure seeker wants to make the most of their time abroad, and that means there’s zero time to make up for jetlag. That means it is absolutely imperative they sleep through their flight. What better way to ensure that proper shut-eye than with Versace’s Crete de Fleur sleep mask, which is both effective as well as stylish?

Chasing down one’s next big adventure is a Herculean feat worthy of The Amazing Race. For those who waste no time getting in and out of the plane, a larger piece of luggage means lost minutes, which could be better spent hailing down a cab to start seeing the sights. If you know someone who travels light, Rimowa’s Signature Nylon flap backpack makes a great in-flight companion; it even conveniently attaches onto the handles of hard suitcases to make transportation an absolute breeze.

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Versace Crete De Fleur Sleep Mask

HKD 2,100

Rimowa Signature – Nylon Flap Backpack

HKD 11,300

Bellroy Travel Folio

HKD 1,290

For every adventurer who zips through the airport at the speed of light with minimal luggage in tow, there’s a planner who comes prepared for all situations. Without a doubt, these folks have distilled their departure-to-plane-to-arrival experience into a well-rehearsed performance. They are the kings and queens of thinking ahead, with lists upon lists of places to visit and items they’ll need both in-flight and upon arrival at their destination. They’re also wonderful travel buddies, particularly if you enjoy the experience, but none of the planning that goes with it.

Help your planner friends out by giving them the wherewithal to travel with everything they’ll need. The Celine travel spray case in smooth calfskin provides protection for delicate bottles, keeping them safe from the trials and tribulations of being on the move.

If your planner friend is a stickler for organisation, the Hermes Travelsilk PM travel cube provides a structured space for the careful storage of clothes. Adorned with a Mors Ajoure motif, it is available in four alluring colours, including a wine-red shade that’s perfect for the holiday season.

Do your planner friends have travel anxiety? The Samsonite x Maison Kitsuné sling bag is a stylish and convenient way to help them keep everything they need close on hand. Adorned with the Japanese label’s iconic fox emblem in a ‘camo’ pattern, the bag provides convenient storage within its organised and spacious interiors, with detachable and adjustable shoulder straps for optimum carrying comfort.

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Celine Travel Spray Case In Smooth Calfskin

HKD 2,950

Hermes Travelsilk PM Travel Cube

HKD 4,200

MK x Samsonite Sling Bag

HKD 1,720

There’s something incredibly romantic about traveling ala Audrey Hepburn on Roman Holiday. Give your loved ones the ultimate gift of style with these fantastic luxury picks – the perfect accessories to evoke quiet luxury on chic holidays abroad.

For those who want to travel in style, there’s Tumi’s International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry On, now available in festive red to truly bring home the spirit of Christmas. Equipped with a built-in USB port, an integrated TSA lock, retractable top and side handles, a zipper expansion, and more, it’s got everything one could possibly need for traveling in ease and comfort. The kicker — plenty of storage space to keep you in festive ‘fits from Christmas to New Year’s Eve.

Nothing beats a leather duffel bag for a weekend getaway, and Gucci’s Savoy large duffel bag provides in, quite literally, a big way. Crafted of beige and ebony GG Supreme canvas incorporating a distinct pattern and Double G hardware, the design marries both form and function. A green and red web provides tasteful recall to the holiday season — with style.

Shopping for someone who wants to make a splash? Louis Vuitton’s Keepall Bandoulière 50 marries the design house’s new Epi XL grained leather with a vibrant-red colourway, making it an instant eye-catcher of noteworthy maximalism.

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Tumi 19 Degree International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry On

HKD 6,700

Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandoulière 50

HKD 33,500

Gucci Savoy Large Duffel Bag

Click to find out more

For those who eat, breathe, and sleep fashion

What is Christmas if not the most socially acceptable excuse to dress up in fabulous clothing? With most big brands dropping their festive collections, the option to pick the perfect piece — for yourself or the discerning connoisseurs in your life — seems to be growing with each merry second! There are no fashion rights or wrongs during the holiday season; only an endless array of sparkly dresses, exquisite bags, glittery heels, and bedazzled watches.

Constructing the perfect party fit often starts with finding the right dress. Standing out in a sea of reds and greens requires bold colours and even bolder designs, which is why India-based couturier Kangana Trehan’s offerings are a cut above the rest. Our pick includes this black slip dress, which is encrusted with Swarovski crystals with slits high enough to give just the right amount of leg. If going dark isn’t your vibe, orange can be your new black with this mini dress from The Real B. Tease out your inner sexy goddess with this embellished number, which features a plunging neck, barely-there back, and a flare that’s fit for a queen.

For shoes that are sure to seal any deal, Jimmy Choos are your best friend. Part of the brand’s festive drop, these emerald satin pumps with Swarovski crystals are sparkly enough to keep all eyes transfixed in your direction.

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Kavya Trehan Black Strappy Embellished Dress

MYR 3,875

The Real B ‘Midnight in Summer’ Mini Dress

MYR 1,826

Jimmy Choo ‘Saeda 100’

MY 8,545

Pair any outfit with Bottega Veneta’s silver Sardine bag, and you’ve got yourself a look that’s going to be etched in your memory for several Christmases to come. If you’re looking for something a little less metallic, Coach is always here to serve up some hot girl handbags with their Barbie pink Tabby box bag.

When it comes to picking the right accessories to match your festive mood, no jewellery brand comes close to Tiffany & Co’s. A timeless addition to any jewellery collection, their small Wrap Necklace in yellow gold is here to impress and dazzle. Meant to embody the spirit of the women of New York City, this layered piece is your passport to global style — because why settle for sidewalks when you can own the runway?

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Bottega Veneta Sardine Bag

MYR 16,002

Tiffany HardWear Small Wrap Necklace

MYR 117,663

Coach Tabby Box Bag

SGD 665

In a world where time is money, a brand-new watch is an expression of love. Those looking to gift a timepiece for the first time can look to a Michael Kors number, which will certainly do the trick. The brand’s 38mm Runway watch features a silver brushed dial, chronograph movement, and a stainless steel pavé bracelet that’s worthy of stealing every limelight. The luminescence of the watch is meant to add that extra sprinkle of love this festive season.

The second watch on our list of recommendations is a stunner from Emporio Armani. This 42mm watch features a black sunray dial and comes with automatic movement and a lust-worthy stainless steel bracelet. Imagine whipping out this baby on Christmas Eve and undoubtedly becoming your loved ones’ favourite gifter of all time. Pretty sweet!

But for the watch connoisseurs who love their bold designs, Diesel’s 44mm Vert watch is the way to go. Featuring a black sunray dial, three-hand date movement, and a black textured leather strap, this accessory is more an architectural marvel than your conventional horology piece. Chunky enough to make a statement, yet subtle enough to seamlessly style with every outfit, the timepiece is worth every penny of that investment for anyone on your gifting list.

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Michael Kors Runway Pavé Silver-Tone Watch

MYR 3,669

Emporio Armani Automatic Stainless Steel Watch

MYR 1,860

Diesel Vert watch

MYR 1,875

For the technology savant

Know a tech lover or two? This holiday season, dive into the world of gadgets as the go-to choice for amazing Christmas presents. From cutting-edge gaming chairs that take gaming to a whole new level of comfort to the latest LED face masks, there’s a treasure trove of innovative and exciting options available. Whether your loved ones are gaming enthusiasts, tech aficionados, or skincare enthusiasts, there’s a gadget waiting to bring joy and excitement to everyone on your list.

On the lookout for that perfect Christmas gift? Enter the Leica Q3 camera, a compact powerhouse that guarantees stunning photos and videos in any light. Its easy-to-use features and seamless connections make creating captivating content a breeze for everyone. Plus, it effortlessly fits into your daily creative routine, blending style with the latest tech. Boost your workflow with lightning-fast transfer speeds, and keep it charged hassle-free with the sleek Charging Pad and handgrip. It’s the perfect combo for top-notch functionality and style.

Introduced last year, this remarkable system fuses the finest aspects of paper and digital interfaces. It’s not just a gadget; it’s an ingenious tool, an ideal Christmas gift for your loved ones in 2023. Seamlessly transition between handwritten notes and digital text; this gadget allows you to effortlessly send emails or share concepts directly from paper. The added feature of syncing audio with your notes enriches meetings and evokes cherished memories. With instant paper-to-digital backup and universal access to Smart Notebooks from any device, it serves as the ultimate organiser for your ideas. Whether connected or offline, the Smart Moleskine ensures your notes remain secure and easily searchable, ensuring your thoughts stay impeccably organised.

Introducing the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair — the ultimate throne for every gaming aficionado out there. Combining Herman Miller’s expertise in ergonomic design with Logitech G’s gaming prowess, this chair is a game-changer in comfort and performance. With unparalleled support and comfort tailored for long gaming sessions, it’s your ticket to leveling up in style and comfort. Built with precision and durability, it’s not just a chair; it’s an experience, keeping you fully immersed in your game while ensuring you can play comfortably for hours on end. Christmas is a great time to say goodbye to those uncomfortable sessions and welcome a new era of gaming indulgence.

Shop here

Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair

MYR 12,419

Leica Q3 Black

MYR 29,570

Moleskine Smart Writing Set Smart Notebook & New Smart Pen

MYR 1,319

Looking for an extraordinary audio experience wrapped up in a gift? Balmuda’s innovative speaker might surprise you, coming from a home appliance company! Inspired by Gen Terao’s music background in a Japanese rock band, this speaker aims to mirror the live music experience. Unlike typical portable speakers, Balmuda’s design creates a three-dimensional sound, ensuring consistent quality from any direction. With a “vocally-driven” focus and minimal distortion, it flawlessly delivers the vibe of a live concert. Simply connect via Bluetooth or AUX input and immerse yourself in pure auditory delight.

Immerse yourself in a tale of luxury and innovation with Louis Vuitton’s Horizon Light Up Earphones — an exquisite addition to the Maison’s line of connected treasures. Inspired by the graceful curves of the Tambour watch, these earphones embody the perfect fusion of craftsmanship, elegance, and technological prowess. Crafted from lightweight aluminum and adorned with polished sapphire glass, they showcase the iconic Monogram flower, exuding a blend of opulence and sophistication. The charging case, a mesmerising masterpiece, comes alive with LEDs, creating a captivating visual symphony of vibrant colors that elegantly display the battery levels. A gift that encapsulates Louis Vuitton’s artistry and excellence, it is ideal for those seeking luxury and exceptional audio performance this holiday season.

Get ready to unwrap the future of health tracking with the Oura Ring Generation 3! This clever little ring packs a punch with its 15 advanced sensors and updated tech, keeping tabs on your sleep, daily activity, and even your body’s signals day and night. Whether you fancy the classic Heritage or the chic Horizon design, this ring is not just a gadget — it’s a style statement that’s all about your well-being. Just make sure the sensors are snug against the palm side of your finger for the best data. Plus, it holds onto all the awesome features of its predecessor, Gen 2, like monitoring your nighttime resting heart rate, skin temperature, and more. It’s the perfect gift for the health-conscious folks looking to elevate their wellness game this holiday season!

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BALMUDA The Speaker

MYR 1,879

Louis Vuitton Horizon Light Up Earphones in Black

MYR 7,550

Oura Heritage Ring in Gold

Approx. MYR 2,094

Discover the ultimate self-care treat this Christmas with the TheraFace Mask — a cutting-edge LED skincare solution that’s as effective as it is relaxing! This FDA-cleared mask combines Red, Red + Infrared, and Blue light therapy with tension-relieving vibrations for a spa-like experience at home. Clinical studies have sung its praises, showing firmer, smoother, and healthier-looking skin in just 8 weeks. Say goodbye to fine lines and dark spots — it’s proven to tackle them all. Plus, its hands-free design lets you multitask while enjoying your treatment, and the removable eye shields add a practical touch. It’s the perfect gift for anyone looking to rejuvenate their skin and indulge in some well-deserved me-time this holiday season.

Looking for a top-notch and super swanky Christmas gift? Meet the Courant Catch:3, a smart wireless charger that blends together tech and luxury to add touch of style to your charging game. With up to 10W of wireless charging and a hassle-free alignment, this charger keeps your space tidy and your phone juiced up. Crafted from top-tier Italian leather with top environmental ratings and high-grade aluminium alloy, it’s the ideal addition to any home. Perfect for entryways or bedside tables, it’s a sleek and practical present anyone would love.

This holiday season, gift the ultimate cocktail experience with the Bartesian cocktail maker. Transform any home into a cocktail lounge with this one-touch wonder. Just load your favorite spirits and water, and let the Bartesian capsules do the rest; they’re packed with top-quality ingredients for the perfect pour every single time. Whether you prefer mocktails or strong drinks, you’ll be able customise the strength to your liking and enjoy bar-quality cocktails in the comfort of your home. Give the gift of mixology mastery this Christmas with Bartesian. Cheers to festive celebrations!

Shop here

TheraFace Mask

Approx. MYR 2,794

Courant CATCH:3 Classics Single-Device Charging Tray in Cortado

Approx. MYR 816

Bartesian Premium Cocktail Machine

MYR 1,389.44

(Main and featured image: Laura James/Pexels)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What are the rules of Christmas gift giving?

All Christmas gifts should come from the heart. As a general rule of thumb, the best gifts are either useful, edible, or provide immeasurable beauty to your recipient’s life. If you’re buying gifts for a secret santa event, it’s good practice to set a budget so all participants know to stay within the same range.

– What is the etiquette for Christmas gifts?

Christmas gifts should come from the heart and should never be selected simply for its price tag. Remember that it is the thought that truly counts! A personalised gift goes a very long way.

– What is the most popular Christmas gift?

One of the most popular Christmas gifts, store cash vouchers and gift cards are a great way to show your appreciation and love for someone you care about.

– What are the rules on gifting?

While there are no hard or fast rules surrounding gifting, it’s generally understood that personalised gifts are a good idea. It’s the thought that counts, so don’t stress yourself out on the price tag; pick a gift you can afford, and that you know the recipient will like. Both money and gift cards are good ideas, as many people can actually prefer the wherewithal to buy something they would personally like. If you’re looking to support local businesses, check out some smaller boutique gift stores for handmade gifts. And most importantly, give from the heart.

– Where do most people buy Christmas gifts?

In our digital age of convenience and doorstep deliveries, online shopping has become the norm. Gift buying is no less personal whether you buy it in-store or online; the important thing to remember is to do your research, find a gift the recipient will love, and figure out a way to get your hands on it. Some gifts may only be available in-store, but doing prior research will greatly cut down on the time you’ll have to spend on your feet amidst the last-minute Christmas shopping crowd.

– What are the manners for gift receiving?

Receive a gift the way you would like your gifts to be received. Remember to thank the gifter for their thoughtfulness. If you especially love their present (or them), take special care of your gift, use it well, and return the favour with a gift you know they’ll love.

The post Season’s Giftings: 45 Best Christmas Gift Ideas For Every Unique Personality On Your Nice List appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

The much-maligned and most-wanted zombie survival MMO (massively multiplayer online game) was finally released last week though there’s some unfortunate news for a few console players. As it turns out, we have all the information you need about The Day Before and its gameplay, release date, trailer and more.

First unveiled back in January 2021, The Day Before generated a huge amount of hype and shot up to the top spot on Steam’s wish list. However, the game was removed from Steam when a dispute emerged regarding its name. This has since passed and The Day Before was reinstated.

The Day Before is a true online zombie-infested sandbox that can be played solo or with friends in co-op. Now, after its release on 7th December, we are finally able to dive in and see for ourselves.

So, without further ado, here is everything we know about The Day Before. 

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When was ‘The Day Before’ release date?

The Day Before’s release date was 7th December 2023.

The game had earlier been set for a March launch and was delayed to the 10th of November before being pushed back once more.

Official announcement. #thedaybefore pic.twitter.com/AXYAxwjYrf

— The Day Before (@playdaybefore) November 1, 2023

Now that it is out, we can finally see what developer Fantastic had been brewing up for all these years. Unfortunately, the final product was not up to the mark and the game’s sales have been quite underwhelming. In fact, the Singapore-based studio has decided to shut down after The Day Before’s failure.

Which consoles and platforms is ‘The Day Before’ available on?

The Day Before is available on PC via Steam and on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Unfortunately, there is no sign of the zombie MMO being released on the PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch.

Without some serious compromises to the game’s detailed graphics, though, we doubt those three consoles could run this game. Don’t expect it to be ported to the last-gen machines or the Switch either.

‘The Day Before’ gameplay and story details

The Day Before is an open-world MMO zombie survival game. If you ever watched The Walking Dead and wished to have a crack at that (we don’t judge here) then you’re in luck.

With zombies everywhere across New Fortune City, a post-apocalyptic vision of America’s East Coast, The Day Before’s gameplay requires you to survive in any way you can.

The game starts when you awaken after being rescued by survivors living in the Woodbury Colony. There, you’ll create a character and the colony will act as a hub for new players where you can accept missions in exchange for Woodbury coins, the in-game currency.

On top of its third-person shooting mechanics, the game offers large-scale exploration and drivable, detailed vehicles that you can buy from Woodbury or steal from fellow survivors. You can also steal other players’ weapons and food. It’s kill or be killed out there.

You can, of course, work in a team for survival and play with friends/family in your attempt to survive by scavenging for resources.

Is there a ‘The Day Before’ trailer?

You can check out the official The Day Before trailer below:

This story first appeared on www.radiotimes.com

© Immediate Media Company London Limited, 2023. All rights reserved. First published on RadioTimes.com and reproduced with permission of Immediate Media Company London Limited. Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited. Radio Times and the Radio Times logo are registered trade marks of Immediate Media Company London Limited and used under licence.

The post Everything We Know About ‘The Day Before’ And Its Gameplay appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

After an initial leak, The Last of Us Part II Remastered has been officially revealed, and you can soon play the souped-up version of Naughty Dog’s controversial classic on the PS5.

It’s not Part 3, but it’ll have to do for now.

Not to be confused with the standard PS5 upgrade to the game, The Last of Us 2 remastered is a fancy version of the 2020 PS4 title – shiny new PS5 graphical upgrades are just the tip of the iceberg.

Along with new 4K visual upgrades, Naughty Dog has added playable lost levels that were cut from the initial PS4 version of the game. These come complete with developer commentary – which can also be enjoyed over cutscenes throughout the game.

If that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite to play through the dark game again, a brand new roguelike survival mode is included. You can even play the guitar freely.

Now if you’re finished with the remastered version of Part I, read on to find out what The Last of Us 2 remastered release date is, where to pre-order it, and discover more details about its new modes and upgrades. Skip to the end of the page to watch the trailer!

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What is ‘The Last of Us 2’ remastered release date?

The Last of Us 2 remastered release date is 19th January 2024, the development team has revealed.

This is nearly four years after the game’s initial release on the PS4 and continues the series’s penchant for re-releases.

More than just a simple visual remaster, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is launching early next year with a boatload of new content. Its new No Return roguelike survival mode alone looks to be enough to warrant an upgrade.

Fortunately, Sony and Naughty Dog appreciate that fact. If you already own the PS4 version of the game, you will be able to upgrade to its PS5 remaster for just £10. Best of all, your save file from the PS4 version can be imported into the remaster.

Can I pre-order ‘The Last of Us 2’ remastered?

You cannot pre-order The Last of Us 2 remastered just yet. Sony has told us that pre-orders will begin from 5th December, though, for both a standard and special WLF Edition.

Over on the PlayStation Blog, Naughty Dog revealed: “Pre-orders will be available beginning December 5, both for the standard edition, as well as The Last of Us Part II Remastered WLF Edition, which will be exclusively available direct from PlayStation in select markets (United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Benelux, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Austria).”

The Last of Us 2 remastered WLF Edition comes with the following:

• Steelbook case
• Four enamel pins
• Washington Liberation Front patch
• 47 Total Society of Champions trading cards (eight holographic)
• Additional digital content

Which consoles and platforms can play ‘The Last of Us 2’ remastered?

The Last of Us 2 remastered is releasing exclusively on the PS5. Sorry PC players, there’s no sign of a port to Steam on the Epic Games Store yet.

Given that the PS5 remaster of the first game launched on the PC, it’s safe to predict that this version of its sequel likely will reach the PC at some point as well.

We’d be surprised if this remastered version of The Last of Us Part 2 doesn’t eventually launch on the PC, with all these bells and whistles, plus more. For now, though, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is only confirmed for the PS5.

‘The Last of Us 2’ remastered gameplay and story details

The Last of Us 2 remastered is bringing back the gameplay you already know from the original PS4 version of the game, plus much, much more. If you’ve already played through the harrowing tale, you’ll be glad to know nothing’s changed on that front.

The PlayStation Blog details how Naughty Dog has developed The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered to be “the definitive way to experience the sequel and everything it has to offer”.

Expect an even prettier version of the game thanks to the enhanced power of the PS5 compared to the PS4, with a native 4K fidelity mode, 1440p (upscaled to 4K performance mode) and unlocked framerate – if you own a TV that supports VRR.

Improved load times and increases in textures, shadow quality and level of detail at distances await in terms of graphical upgrades. The haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of your DualSense controller will also be given a workout.

It’s not what the game changes, though, that’s impressive. The Last of Us 2 remastered also offers players a load of new content to play through.

The biggest single addition is the No Return mode. This roguelike survival mode lets “players prove their mettle in randomised encounters and experience The Last of Us Part II’s combat in a fresh experience”.

In No Return, you can select from a “host of playable characters… who each come with their own traits to suit different playstyles”. Complete a No Return run and you’ll unlock new characters, skins and more.

If that wasn’t enough, the new Guitar Free Play mode lets you play the guitar minigame freely, as different characters in different locations.

Finally, you’ll also encounter Lost Levels. These unfinished levels “allow players a unique chance to check out some playable sequences previously cut from the game”.

These are filled with developer commentary, which is also included in cutscenes during the main story. Complete the game and you’ll unlock a speedrun mode, to boot.

Is there a ‘Last of Us 2’ remastered trailer?

Yes, there is a Last of Us 2 remastered trailer! You can check out the official announcement trailer below to see the upgraded game in action, and to see a slice of the new No Return roguelike survival mode:

This story first appeared on www.radiotimes.com

© Immediate Media Company London Limited, 2023. All rights reserved. First published on RadioTimes.com and reproduced with permission of Immediate Media Company London Limited. Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited. Radio Times and the Radio Times logo are registered trade marks of Immediate Media Company London Limited and used under licence.

The post Everything We Know About ‘The Last of Us 2’ Remastered Coming To The PS5 appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Instagram is rolling out a host of new features to enhance user experience, with the latest update allowing you to download public Reels directly! The groundbreaking feature lets users download Reels uploaded by public accounts directly to their camera roll, and they’ll no longer have to rely on third-party apps to get hold of their favourite videos. Prior to this update, users could only save the Reels to view them later on the platform.

As for all creators who might be worried that their creative content will now be available for easy access, Instagram has granted some provisions. Here’s everything you need to know about Instagram’s latest update and how to exercise the feature.

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Here’s how to download public Reels on Instagram

Informing users about the feature via his broadcast channel, Instagram head Adam Mosseri mentioned, “Now anyone, anywhere on the globe, can easily download public Reels straight to their devices. No more dealing with the old way of saving Reels only within the Instagram app. Now, you don’t need to hunt for third-party apps to get Reels.”

Mosseri also confirmed that each downloaded Reel will come with a watermark showcasing the creator’s Instagram handle — similar to how it appears on TikTok. Initially launched in the US earlier this year, the feature is now available for users globally.

Follow these steps to download Instagram Reels:

• Open the Reel of the public account you wish to download.
• Tap on the ‘Share’ button.
• From the list of options appearing at the bottom of your screen, choose ‘download’. And, it’s done!

Please note that if you download Reels that use a licensed audio clip, the saved version won’t have any sound. Only Reels with an original soundtrack will have audio in the downloaded clip.

Moreover, public accounts also have the option to disable downloads and have control over the distribution of their content.

Here’s how creators can disable the download of their Reels:

• Go to ‘Settings’ and tap ‘Privacy’.
• Select the ‘Reels and Remix’ option.
• Switch off the ‘Allow people to download your Reels’ toggle button.

Also, the Reels download option is turned off by default for Instagram users below the age of 18. However, it can be turned on at any time.

Since the feature has just rolled out, it might not reflect in the ‘Settings’ of all account holders. Till then, wait patiently and also ensure that your Instagram is updated to the latest version.

The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong

(Hero and feature image credit: Freepik)

The post Instagram now lets users download public Reels directly: Here’s how to do it appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

What does it take to transform a house party into an epic dancefest, or a movie night into a theatrical experience at home? The secret lies in the power of a dynamic speaker system with excellent sound quality. And some of the most expensive speakers in the world promise that and more.

With such high-tech audio equipment, equipped with state-of-the-art digital signal processing systems, bass horns, woofers and other exceptional features, you can not just heighten the rumble and thump in your favourite songs but also create an amazing experience for your next get-together.

Additionally, with the popularity of streaming platforms, people are not shying away from investing in good speakers with clear surround sound to enjoy movies and shows. While most home theatres offer a decent sound experience, within the electronics market, there exists a niche premium segment that delivers such an impeccable audio experience that is worth its hefty price tag. These systems often run into hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars in some cases.

These are some of the best and most expensive speakers that promise the ultimate sound experience

Final Audio Opus 204

Price: USD 450,000

This expensive speaker weighs a massive 800 kg and was developed by the Japanese audio company Final Audio, founded by Kanemori Takai. These were unveiled at the 2013 Munich High End Show.

It incorporates ultra-thin aluminium cones filled with sand. Weighing about 8 g each, they might be feather-light, but these cones help filter out all the unwanted background noise. According to Hablr, the speakers comprise a cantilever and stylus made of a two-carat diamond.

Such is the design, look and size of these expensive speakers that Takai insisted buyers build their houses around them. Hence, if you wish to procure these rare audio equipment, you can consider integrating them into your current set-up or restructuring the space around your existing speakers before buying one.

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CAT MBX Powered Speakers

Price: USD 500,000

California Audio Technology (CAT) can customise their expensive speakers to meet all your specifications, and their MBX-powered speakers make the perfect sound system for loud parties and large gatherings.

Measuring 3.6 m in height and weighing about 5,000 kg, these speakers consist of 55 cm subwoofers, 23 cm woofers, 14 cm mid-range speakers and 3 cm tweeters. They are enveloped in 20 cm thick enclosures made out of CAT’s confidential lamination process.

While the CAT MBX Powered speakers are initially priced at USD 500,000, the company specialises in delivering customisations, which can significantly push up the cost. With its range of premium offerings and personalised modifications available, the price tag for these speakers could reach up to 16 million. From visible to hidden camouflaged speakers, CAT understands the assignment and makes expensive loudspeakers with the best sound quality and effect.

Audio Infinite Wisdom Grande

Price: USD 700,000

The Audio Infinite Wisdom Grande is one of the most expensive speakers that will steal the show at any house gathering. From the premium house of Wisdom Audio, the ultimate home theatre weighs a massive 1,723 kg and comprises three stacked planar-magnetic arrays and 2.4-m-tall subwoofers.

According to CNET, the manufacturers claim to generate sound pressure levels more than 120 dB. But, what takes things a notch higher is the fact that despite such loud noise, the speakers don’t make unbearable distortion. As a result, you can listen to loud noise for a long time without much strain.

According to What Hi*Fi, mid/treble and bass units are stored in separate cabinets. While the latter are 243 cm tall and have 24×30 cm woofers, the other “stacks six 7.5cm x 190cm Quasi-Ribbon/Planar-Magnetic units into its 4m frame.”

Magico Ultimate Speakers III

Price: USD 700,000

The third version of these expensive speakers from Magico can grab the spotlight in absolutely any space with its bizarre design. A CNET report suggests that what adds to its hefty price tag is the fact that these are so rare that there are little to no dealers in the USA who have them on display. The manufacturer doesn’t have warehouses to stock these wonderfully robust speakers. Therefore, laying hands on one is nothing short of a great feat.

Sharing the horns and mega-phone structure from the original 2004 model, the Magico Ultimate III speakers feature redesigned drivers, crossover networks and amplifiers. The report states, it is an all-aluminium five-way horn-loaded system with each speaker weighing about 500 kg and has four horns.

The drivers are made in Japan and cost about USD 10,000. The 2.4-m-tall audio equipment also carries a 38-cm-diameter woofer and a 4,000-watt amplifier that produce deep bass sounds.

Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic

Price: USD 850,000

Described as the ‘Magnum Opus’ creation by founder Davis Wilson, the WAMM Master Chronosonic from Wilson Audio comes in line with the brand’s long heritage of making some of the most expensive speakers in the world.

Aptly carrying the acronym WAMM for Wilson Audio Modular Monitor, these multi-module speakers produce a life-like sound that can turn any home into a movie theatre. Featuring “a true full-range design”, the Chronosonic is a culmination of nearly five years of research and development. Such is the precision and high-end quality that the time element of each module can be adjusted by five microseconds.

Each speaker is towering at 214 cm, 53 cm wide and 95 cm deep. Constructed out of aerospace-grade aluminium, along with patented materials which Wilson Audio calls S-, X- and W-material, they flaunt an open-front body to reduce stored energy.

The bottom portion can also be moved to adjust it with a wide range of listening environments. The audio system uses 25 mm doped silk fabric for the front and rear firing tweeters, two upper midrange and lower midrange drivers and two woofers.

Cessaro Horn Acoustics Omega 1

Price: USD 1 million

Expert horn speaker maker Cessaro Horn Acoustics offers a premium speaker set that not only has striking looks and design but also delivers high-quality sound that can bring any live concert to your living room. Measuring 2.8 m in height and weighing 4,500 kg, this expensive speaker features six 40 cm bass units that breathe life into the front-loaded horns. It is available in an array of vibrant colours for fun customisation.

According to some reports, their horns are made of new proprietary composite elements — a two-shell fibre material with a polymer filling, which is sealed with a CNC-machined aluminium flange.

The company also offers side panels and cabinets that can compliment these sound beasts and make them stand out in your home.

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Kharma Grand Enigma

Price: USD 1 million

One of the most expensive speakers in the world, the Kharma Grand Enigma is just as alluring as it sounds. In fact, reports suggest the high-end Dutch manufacturer created just a few of these wall audio systems and are not sold in the general market. The bid to offer the unique and the best music-listening equipment led Kharma to build this lavish machine in a secret cellar in Belgium with high-quality control.

However, not much information about its features and specs is known. Hence, if you want to experience good sound from this label, the Kharma Grand Enigma Veyron 1D is a great alternative.

It measures around 2.2 m in height, 560 mm in width and 920 mm in depth. It features eight high-frequency drives, along with two mid-frequency and four low-frequency drives.

A Diamond Kharma Lotus — an eightfold Diamond tweeter of 25 mm and 50mm — sits at the centre of each speaker. “The largest Diamond cone surface ever made for dynamic loudspeakers,” the Enigma Veyron 1D offers “higher resolution, faster transients, more micro and macro dynamics and a more richer [sic] spectrum of tonal variations from the music itself, more natural, explosive and realistic sound,” states the Khamra website. Reports suggest its price is over USD 430,000.

Moon Audio Opulence

Price: USD 1.1 million

The state-of-the-art audio loudspeakers have altered the way of producing sounds at home. As a limited-edition gem, only 10 pairs of these speakers have been reportedly made. This exclusivity adds to its price tag and easily puts it among the most expensive home speakers.

The speaker system is equipped with a certain Dark Star technology, which will feed sound “directly into the brain, bypassing the ears”. According to gearspace.com, “The Opulence employs innovative magnetic control systems developed from nuclear reactor containment to structure internal magnetic fields in a way that is non-damaging to music reproduction.”

The speaker system is sold exclusively via HigherFi, one of the world’s largest retailers of ultra-luxury audio gadgets, to Audio Moon’s top client base.

Transmission Audio Ultimate

Price: USD 1 million – 2 million

Occupying a mammoth 12 m of floor space and standing at 2 m, the Transmission Audio Ultimate’s size is not the only gigantic thing. The price tag is equally heavy, with just a single piece costing USD 1 million. Hence, you would have to shell out double for a pair and almost USD 5 million for a complete home theatre system.

According to What Hi*Fi, the speaker pair boasts a slew of premium components that provide exceptional sound quality without distortion. These include four Dipole Subwoofers, each comprising 10 38 cm Ultra Class elements; two Dipole Woofers (one per channel), each with 24 Ultra-low distortion; 20 cm Wide band woofers; four Dipole MF/HF ribbon panels (two per channel), with 14 m of 5 cm wide ribbons each; and two Dipole HF Super ribbon panels (one per channel), 2 m of 2.5 cm ribbons.

The price also includes six optimised amplifiers, which generate 3,000 watts and thrust sound pressure levels of 146 dB.

Hart Audio D&W Aural Pleasure

Price: USD 5 million

As the most expensive speakers in the world, this Hart Audio creation embodies opulence, decadence and grandeur. These ultra-luxurious speakers are crafted out of 100 kg 18-carat gold and weigh around 50 kg without drivers. Launched in 2012, the company made only one version; however, they did produce five silver speakers, priced at USD 315,000, and 99 pairs in phosphor bronze, priced at USD 63,000.

The speaker system comprises three speaker drive units which offer a controlled, well-balanced and clear audio signal. The main driver offers midrange and bass sounds and has a high-frequency unit at the centre for treble.

“The super tweeter extends the bandwidth of this all-embracing speaker to reveal the full potential of the latest high-resolution audio formats,” states the report, while low-end frequencies are generated by the speakers using high-end unique innovations.

(Main image credit: Wilson Audio; Feature image credit: Magico)

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– Which speaker is best for home theatre?
Some of the best speakers for home theatres include the Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package, Wharfedale Diamond 12.1HCP, Wharfedale Evo 4.4 5.1 and Q Acoustics 3050i 5.1 Cinema Pack.

– What is the most expensive home theatre gadget?
The Hart Audio D&W Aural Pleasure is among the most expensive speakers at USD 5 million. It has an 18k gold body and makes a stunning home theatre feature with impeccable sound quality.

– Which is the most expensive speaker in the world?
The Hart Audio D&W Aural Pleasure is the most expensive speaker in the world, with a price of USD 5 million.

The post 10 Most Expensive Speakers In the World You Need to Hear About appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

If you’re ready to take your gaming setup to the next level and you’ve got loads of cash lying around, check out these five expensive gaming chairs. 

Gaming is an expensive hobby. For most of us, shelling out THB 2,000 (HKD 440) on a game is already a big ask. Worth it, sure, but still big. Don’t even get me started about the hardware. Consoles will run you less than THB 20,000 (HKD 4402) while a good PC with everything will probably clock in at around THB 50,000 (HKD 11006). We haven’t even mentioned the additional accessories you may want for a great gaming setup, which brings us to this list: some of the most expensive gaming chairs out there you can buy. If you’ve got the dough and you really want to get a gaming setup that will blow your mind and everyone else’s, consider the ones one this list.

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Some of the most expensive gaming chairs

Secretlab TITAN 2020 Series – $749

This brand is well-known among the gaming community for making accessories and a lot of comfortable chairs. The Titan 2020 Series is one of their more high-end creations. It looks simple at first glance: its sleek black leather design isn’t flashy at all but that’s by design to keep the attention on the gamer when streaming. What’s important is how comfortable it is, and it definitely delivers on that front. 

Roto VR Chair – $2,399

If it isn’t obvious by its name, this chair is dedicated for VR. Instead of standing and running the risk of falling flat on your face when you jump off a cliff in-game, the seat can rotate along with you and can also vibrate for that added haptic experience. It’s like you own 4D theatre experience, which explains the hefty price tag.

GTM Motion Simulator – $3,499

Driving game enthusiasts or Euro Truck Simulator streamers know that immersion is key, and no other gaming chair will make you more immersed than this one when it comes to driving games. On its website, it promises gamers that they will “experience the same thrill that real-life race drivers feel”. The whole cockpit does look impressive and will undoubtedly make you feel like Lewis Hamilton on the track—or Crash Bandicoot throwing a bomb at Neo Cortex from his kart. Both are equally valid.

IW-J20 PRO – $8,000

If you’ve ever dreamed of gaming in a tank, then the IW-J20 PRO is the gaming chair for you. The metal exosuit-like design wraps overhead like a steel scorpion, but the design feature that definitely pops out the most is the rail guns that flank the chair. Is it real? No. Is it cool? Sure, I guess? Add the fact that there are tracks on the bottom similar to what tanks have and you either have a really cool or really over the top gaming chair. You be the judge. 

Emperor 200 – $44,750

Topping the list and making an astronomic jump in price is the Emperor 200. This futuristic chair has multiple built-in display monitors, built-in surface keyboards, and comfortable seats, of course. Other additional features include an air filtration and a light therapy system so that the air around you is clean and you also get your dose of Vitamin D. Basically, it provides you the health benefits of what you would get if you spent some time outside, but let’s not kid ourselves. Don’t forget though: it’s more expensive than your average BMW.  

The post These are 5 of the Most Expensive Gaming Chairs  appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Starting today, the Apple Watch brings the new double tap gesture to fruition, hand in hand with the release of watchOS 10.1.

Once again, Apple launches a brand-new update, and this time, it’s for the Apple Watch Series. Users of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, rejoice! Things are about to get even faster and more convenient. From today onwards, the double tap gesture is available as soon as you update the software with watchOS 10.1.

With this update, you won’t need to touch the Apple Watch display to control your Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Just tap your index finger and thumb (of the hand that’s wearing the watch) together twice, and you can quickly perform many of the most common actions. This new feature is yet another addition to already existing gestures of the Apple Watch, such as tap, swipe, raise to wake, and cover to mute.

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What does the double tap gesture let you do?

First and foremost, what’s important to note is, as we’ve mentioned above, you won’t need to touch the display. So if you’ve got a steaming cup of coffee in hand, or if you’re in the midst of cooking that demands full attention, but you’ve received an important notification… well, all you have to do is tap your watch hand twice!

Here’s everything you can do on your Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the new double tap gesture:

• Open the Smart Stack and scroll through widgets in the Stack
• Answer and hang up phone calls
• View a message from a notification
• Scroll through longer notifications (with an additional double tap!)
• Reply using dictation
• Sending a message
• Pause, resume and end a timer
• Stop and resume a stopwatch
• Snooze an alarm
• Play and pause music, podcasts, and audiobooks
• Switch to the new Elevation view in the Compass app
• Take an iPhone photo with the Camera Remote in the Camera app
• Start or stop automatic Workout reminders

Is there room for customisation at all?

Absolutely! The double tap gesture was designed to automatically select the primary action for most apps and notifications. But in two instances, you can even select a different function: advance through widgets in the Smart Stack or selecting the first available widget; and also play or pause media during an active session, or skip to the next track instead.

The double tap gesture works anytime the Apple Watch display is awake, and it is also available all day long with minimal impact to the 18-hour battery life (on Apple Watch Series 9) or the 36-hour battery life (on Apple Watch Ultra 2). So, rest assured that you can be double-tapping all day and it won’t compromise the battery!

Do note that the watchOS 10.1 requires iPhone XS or later running iOS 17. The double tap gesture is enabled by default on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 that’s running on watchOS 10.1, with no additional setup required.

(All photos by Apple)

The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur

The post The Apple Watch Series 9 And Ultra 2 Finally Have The Double Tap Gesture appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Interactive technology is about to reach yet another tipping point, and that’s all thanks to nascent commercial artificial intelligence (AI) technology that is now rapidly gaining steam. So much so in fact that thanks to it, you may even be able to chat with your favourite celebrities such as Kendall Kennee using a new project spearheaded by tech conglomerate Meta known as AI Personas.

While relatively under the radar, some Instagram users may already be aware of the project through a series of well-placed advertisements on the platform, featuring what appears to be Kendall Jenner, Paris Hilton, and even Snoop Dogg taking turns marketing the new AI chatbot service. But here’s the twist: they aren’t actually who they appear to be.

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Meet Meta AI Personas, featuring Kendall Jenner, Paris Hilton and more

The Meta AI Personas service is in fact a brand-new chatbot application that made its global debut earlier last month during the company’s Meta Connect event. As company founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg describes the new host of celebrity avatars, “This isn’t just going to be about answering queries, this is about entertainment,”.

A tech demonstration showed how AI Personas such as Max (played by chef Roy Choi) providing users with cooking advice, while Snoop Dogg’s alter ego assumed the role of what appears to be a tabletop roleplay Dungeon Master.

In essence, they utilise the company’s generative AI technology and marry it with celebrity likenesses and voices to create a completely new host of personas. This is to say that while it may look like Kendall Jenner is taking the time out of her schedule to respond to you, the fact is you’re receiving replies from a Meta AI Persona known as ‘Billie’.

Each individual from the project will be paid a considerable sum over the course of years for the rights to reproduce and use their likeness and voice, as per insider knowledge on the project cited by The Information. Celebrities are reportedly looking at a payout in the millions.

How can you try out the Meta AI Persona feature?

If you’re interested in giving the chatbots a try for yourself, you can simply head over to their respective accounts on Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp and begin by selecting ‘AI Chat’. But instead of the usual chat interface, things will look a little different on your Instagram app when interacting with these Meta AI Persona characters.

A window showing the faces of your respective personas of choice will appear alongside your chat, and you will be able to see how they react to your messages in real time as you receive AI-generated responses. The experience isn’t dissimilar to that of using ChatGPT, only in this case, it has been humanised by the addition of a familiar face to an otherwise disembodied intelligence.

Keep in mind that as the feature is still in its beta stages, only a select handful of users on both Instagram and Facebook will be able to interact with the Meta AI Persona characters. At this point, 28 characters are available, 15 of which feature celebrity likenesses.

Feature and hero image credit: meetthedungeonmaster/Instagram, amberthedetective/Instagram, yoursisbillie/Instagram

The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur

The post Meta AI Personas: How You Can Chat With ‘Kendall Jenner’ Using AI Technology appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Most of us have tried downloading Instagram photos to our camera roll and failed! Unlike other platforms, downloading photos from Instagram isn’t as straightforward and you have to know some workarounds to transfer pictures without compromising on the quality! And yes, we’re ruling out the classic ‘screenshot and edit’ approach many of you make do with because there’s no way you should settle for those muzzy and bleary visuals when in fact, there are ways to download photos from Instagram!

Whether you’re curating a blog, compiling a social media post for your organisation or simply collecting images for a presentation – you need to have excellent-quality images. Even if you plan to go off Instagram and want to save all your original images, knowing how to download them comes in handy.

Instagram has intentionally limited the downloading of photos in order to ensure that only the copyright holders have access to the images they’ve captured. However, netizens always find sneaky ways to get the work done, isn’t it? Keep reading to know two simple and hassle-free ways to download Instagram photos!

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Here’s how you can download Instagram photos easily!

1. Save your Instagram uploads on your phone

If you’ve in any case lost the photos you once uploaded on Instagram, downloading them from the app is really easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to download the original photos:

•  Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines on the top right corner of the screen.
• Tap ‘Settings and privacy’ and scroll down to the ‘Your app and media’ section.
• Select ‘Archiving and downloading’ and turn on the toggle button against the ‘Save original photos’ option.

If you have ‘Save original photos’ or ‘Save original posts’ turned on, each photo you post on Instagram will automatically be saved on your device.

2. Download other users’ Instagram photos using downloading tools

The easiest (and probably the only) way to download any post on Instagram is by using downloading tools like iGram, DownloadGram, as well as Toolzu.  These are some of the most popular tools that do the work without any hassle. All you have to do is copy the link of the Instagram post you want to download, visit their website and paste the link in the text box provided. Hit the ‘Download’ button below the loaded images and voila, it’s done!

With this brief guide, we hope you can easily download not just yours, but anyone and everyone’s Instagram posts easily and quickly!

Hero and feature image: Courtesy cottonbro studio/ Pexels

The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

•  Can you download other people’s pictures from Instagram?

Instagram doesn’t allow users to download others’ Instagram posts directly. However, there are downloading tools that help you save anyone’s Instagram photos.

• How do you download Instagram photos to your camera roll?

You can download your own original photos by turning on the ‘Save original photos’ option in Settings. As for other users’ posts, you can download them by using downloading tools.

• Why can’t I download pictures from Instagram?

Instagram doesn’t allow users to download pictures owing to its policy that the copyright of each post should only be with its owner and no one else.

The post Struggling to Download Photos from Instagram? Check Out These Easy Ways! appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

For a highly fragmented ecosystem like Android, it is quite tricky to build a smartwatch that works seamlessly with smartphones of all makes. Hence, it isn’t surprising to see manufacturers like Samsung and Google building smartwatches that work best with the smartphones that bear their logos. The ones that try to please all are… well… not effective! Samsung, however, has been going all in while playing the smartwatch game for years, defining the category and even inspiring Apple to join in. I am still fond of the Tizen-based Gear and Galaxy watches with their quirky designs and features. While those watches were great, Samsung soon decided to utilise Google’s messy Wear OS platform to challenge Apple’s superiority.

The Wear OS platform is a concept that looks good on paper but is poorly executed in the real world. It was Samsung’s commitment that improved Wear OS to the matured operating system it is today. After three years of refining it with its own One UI skin, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic are Samsung’s best shot at being the definitive smartwatch and taking a dig at the marvellous Apple Watch. With a couple of standout features and competitive pricing, Samsung seems to be closer than ever before to achieving this goal.

The competition, however, hasn’t been sitting idle. The Apple Watch Series 9 has just broken cover and there’s a new Google Pixel Watch 2 sitting on the horizon. So, let’s find out whether Samsung has done enough for these smartwatches to warrant a premium and fend for itself against the tricky competition.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic’s specifications

Display: 1.5-inch AMOLED (44mm, 47mm), 1.3-inch (40mm and 43mm)
Chipset: Exynos W930
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 16GB
OS: One UI 5 Watch based on Wear OS 4
Battery: 425mAh (47mm, 44mm), 300mAh (40mm, 43mm)
Sensors: Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Heart Rate + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, 3D Hall sensor (Watch 6 Classic)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz, NFC, GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Galileo, LTE (optional)
Durability: 5ATM + IP68 / MIL-STD-810H
Compatibility: Smartphones with Android 10 or higher

Pros:

• Well built
• Loaded with features
• Good battery life

Cons:

• Lethargic performance
• The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is too hefty
• A tedious pairing process for non-Samsung phones

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, Watch 6 Classic review

The Galaxy Watch 6 series consists of the standard Galaxy Watch 6 available in 40mm and 44mm sizes and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic which is available in 43mm and 47mm sizes. We have based this review on the Galaxy Watch 6 44mm LTE and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic 47mm LTE.

A classic design

In the world of smartwatches, there’s the Apple Watch and then there’s the rest.

The Apple Watch does everything the way it wants to because Apple can afford to redefine conventional ideas. Every other brand, on the other hand, wants to make its smartwatch as close to an analogue wristwatch as possible in a bid to hit the sweet spot where technology and fashion go hand-in-hand. And while some of the best-designed smartwatches come from the Fossil group, it’s actually Samsung’s Galaxy Watch series that has always been considered more suitable for the mature crowd.

The Galaxy Watch 6 looks largely identical to its predecessors and that’s not a bad thing, considering the vanilla model has the modern lines and curves to add just enough style without being opulent. Not to mention, the 30 per cent slimmer display bezels add to the watch’s cutting-edge look. The silicon strap has also been refined and is now more comfortable to wear all day long.

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, on the other hand, has been designed for those who are stuck in the past. Quite contrary to the Galaxy Watch 6’s sleek and elegant proportions, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is bulky with design references to retro digital watches. The combination of a chunky frame, a thick rotating bezel with gaudy minute markings and the faux leather strap (it’s made of silicon) may appeal to those who seek a more daunting persona on their smartwatch. Unfortunately, the extra heft also makes it uncomfortable to wear all day long.

While my unusually petite wrists may have preferred the smaller 43mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, in terms of overall wear comfort, I would be happy to recommend the regular Galaxy Watch 6 for its sleeker proportions and lesser weight.

Quite a loaded package

Let’s talk about the display first.

Both models use a 1.5-inch circular Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480×480 pixels. That’s a recipe the human eye loves and when paired with the colourful watch faces, the Galaxy Watch 6 series has a tendency to keep you coming back for more. Text and images are rendered in absolute sharpness as well as great colour vibrancy. The peak brightness of 2,000 nits is also a boon when wearing the watches under bright sunlight. I also had no trouble with the touchscreen response.

An OS packed with features 

However, a smartwatch is only as good as its software. Both variants of the Galaxy Watch 6 come with Samsung’s One UI 5 for Watch. This is a software skin based on Google’s Wear OS 4 and, in typical Samsung fashion, there are no visual clues to suggest it’s based on Google’s OS. In fact, One UI 5 for Watch sticks to the conventional smartwatch UI design we had seen on Samsung’s Tizen-based watches.

Swiping from the watch face leads you to app tiles, which are essentially widgets for the onboard apps. You can shuffle through them to keep an eye on your fitness activity and stats, sleep data, ANC modes for your Galaxy Buds and even the weather. Quick access to notification panes is also present and you can respond to messages via the watch’s onboard QWERTY keyboard or through voice input.

Similarly, all the installed apps are just a swipe away. Thanks to the Google Play Store, you can download more third-party apps for fitness, health tracking, custom watch faces and lots more. I was able to download WhatsApp’s trickled-down WearOS app and initiate a chat with any of my contacts. Similarly, I was able to pair my Galaxy Buds 2 Pro with the watch and stream my Spotify/Amazon Music playlists from it.

Samsung’s One UI allows for a simpler Settings menu that is much easier for an average user to grasp. And this year, you can use Samsung Wallet to make payments directly from your watch via the onboard NFC chip. Sadly, due to an issue with my debit card, I was unable to test this feature.

Here’s a quick word on the watch faces. Samsung’s pre-loaded selection of watch faces is dull and the customisation options are limited. If someone from Samsung is reading this, please take a page out of Apple’s design books and offer us more diverse watch faces with granular customisation features.

Performance is a mixed bag

One of the biggest drawbacks of Wear OS watches has always been their performance. Previous generations of the Galaxy Watch models with Wear OS have been lethargic at best. With the new Exynos W930 chip on the Galaxy Watch 6 series, things have improved but not in the way we expected. These watches feel fast as long as you restrict your usage to Samsung’s apps but Wear OS’ lack of optimisation results in occasional stutters and long loading times for other apps. The lethargic attitude to general performance remains on these watches. This is unacceptable for a device that is supposed to be a wrist extension of your smartphone on the move.

For a non-Apple Watch though, these Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic models are among the fastest ones we have witnessed so far. All of Samsung’s first-party apps as well as some of the pre-loaded Google apps work with a previously unseen agility (in the Wear OS universe that is). The rotating bezel on the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic provides an alternative way to scroll with more speed, precision and a satisfactory mechanical click. However, we do wish it could also be pressed to confirm selections.

I was able to take calls on the watch via my Wi-Fi connection and even though the loudspeaker quality is not the best, it’s good enough for short calls.

Health and fitness on focus

For fitness enthusiasts, Samsung’s collection of workout modes is diverse enough to appeal to everyone. As an individual whose only preferred workout is walking after a long day at the office, the Galaxy Watch 6 overwhelms with its tracking data. I was able to keep an eye on my pace, heart rate, distance covered and stress rate after completing my sessions. The onboard GPS also tracks my walk on a map and can be seen on the Samsung Health app. Simply put, there are enough useful metrics here for those who are into serious workout modes like running, weightlifting and swimming.

Then comes the suite of health monitoring features.

The Galaxy Watch 6 series can track continuous heart rate and use the data to analyse stress levels. The onboard sensors also do a good job of tracking sleep and the data comes out to be nearly accurate (something the Apple Watch needs to master). The temperature sensor also joins in to measure your skin’s temperature when you’re sleeping (no idea why that would be relevant to an average user though) and accurately predict menstrual cycles (couldn’t test this).

Samsung’s BioActive sensor is also able to calculate the Body Composition and while I don’t have access to medical-grade equipment to verify the data, it provides a nice overview of body fat levels and skeletal bone mass. The device can also measure blood oxygen saturation and give a rough estimate of your SpO2 levels. Keep in mind that several critics have pointed out incorrect SpO2 data (we couldn’t test this due to the lack of professional equipment).

The Galaxy Watch 6 series can also do an ECG and blood pressure monitoring but sadly, these features haven’t been activated in all regions. This makes the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 9 the only watches widely available to do so.

Battery life has improved

Smartwatches match smartphones when it comes to battery life. The Galaxy Watch 5 struggled to make it past a full day on a single charge but this year’s Galaxy Watch 6 sees improvements.

With a daily 1-hour workout included in the usage pattern along with generic dealings with notifications and map navigation (and Always On display enabled), the Galaxy Watch 6 has been able to survive an entire day, and the entire night for sleep tracking, on a full charge. However, charging the battery to 100% takes almost 1.5 hours via an 18W charger (the charging time comes down with a Samsung charger).

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic fared even better with its 2-day battery life with the same usage pattern. Turning off the Always On display extends the battery life by almost 10 hours on both models.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, Watch 6 Classic review: The verdict

Are the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic two of the finest smartwatches money can buy in 2023? When dealing with a highly fragmented ecosystem like Android, Samsung has done an exceptional job in ensuring that these watches work well with non-Samsung branded Android smartphones. Samsung users obviously have the benefit of ecosystem integration, enjoying a fuss-free setup process and a few extra features. The onboard sensors and the clever software do a great job at fitness and health monitoring. I have no doubts that workout enthusiasts are going to love the Galaxy Watch 6 for its wider selection of fitness tracking modes.

As far as the ‘smart’ bits are concerned, the Galaxy Watch 6 series has oodles of functionality packed in. We were left impressed with the bright display, a well-designed One UI interface and good battery life on these watches. Performance is still a sore point though and that’s where Samsung and Google need to put in more effort in optimising the OS better. Unlocking the ECG as well as blood pressure monitoring in all the regions should be a priority as well. That’s not too much to ask for considering the premium these Galaxy Watch 6 models command.

As long as the issues above aren’t bothersome, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is an easy recommendation for someone who has an Android smartphone and wants to invest in a fitness-focused smartwatch, especially considering its starting price of MYR 1,099 in Malaysia. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is an expensive affair though. You are getting a much better battery life and a fun-to-use rotating bezel but that price tag – MYR 1,399 – is also steeper.

As for whether these are the finest watches of their kind, the recently announced Apple Watch Series 9 has changed our minds. With all of Apple’s superiority in hardware and software design, Samsung’s newest watches need more fine-tuning and (some extra zing!) to give the Apple Watch Series 9 a run for its money.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What is the price of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 starts at a price of MYR 1,099 in Malaysia for the 40mm Bluetooth version.

– What are the specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 comes in two sizes – 40mm and 44mm – and features a Super AMOLED display, an Exynos W930 chip, Samsung’s BioActive sensor, a 300mAh battery and Samsung’s One UI 5 for Watch based on Wear OS 4.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Amritanshu Mukherjee / Augustman)

This story first appeared on Augustman Malaysia

The post Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, Watch 6 Classic Review: Among The Finest Smartwatches Money Can Buy appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

As the iPhone 15 finally releases here in Thailand, we talk about our first impression after using Apple’s new phone for the past few days.

Today’s the day: the iPhone 15 is finally here in Thailand. Announced last week in Apple’s “Wanderlust” keynote, the iPhone 15 was immediately available for pre-orders the day after and is being widely released today, the same day as the US… Well, technically the same day but we actually have it earlier. I’ve been able to use the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro for the past few days to get a really hands-on experience. While I haven’t had it for long enough to justify a full-on review (that’s coming next week), here are some of my first impression of the iPhone 15 after a few days of having it.

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Our first impression of the iPhone 15

The Pro lineup is really light

The “Wanderlust” keynote mentioned that because the Pro lineup utilises titanium, it was going to feel lighter, so I was fully expecting this. But I wasn’t expecting it to be this light. It’s considerably less hefty than the 14 Pro lineup and because of its new design, also feels like it sits even smaller in your hand. The base iPhone 15, however, is pretty similar in weight to its predecessor.

Rounded edges and (slightly) smaller bezels

The iPhone 15 has a rounded edge across its whole lineup, deviating from the 14’s sharp drop-off in its edges. It’s a small change but actually quite noticeable, giving the 15 a nice curve. On the Pro, the bezels are also slightly smaller than last year’s Pro lineup, though I was really hoping for a little more screen real estate than what we got. 

Bye bye, mute toggle

When they revealed that the mute toggle on the side was going to be replaced with a button, I was actually a little sad. Maybe it’s because I have a problem of letting things in the past go but that’s a problem for my therapist. But after using it after a few days, I realised just how easier it was to just press a button instead of having to push or pull a toggle. 

USB-C… finally!

The biggest advantage of USB-C that you’ll immediately realise and appreciate is that you no longer have to carry extra wires in your bag anymore. Just a few days ago, I realised my iPad was out of juice before going to work, and I was glad I only had to take one charger with me instead of having to bring one USB-C and one Lightning. Charging on the Pro does seem to be a tad faster, though the base iPhone 15 only comes with USB 2 speeds instead of the Pro’s USB 3 speeds which is… odd.

Speedy… maybe?

The base 15 runs on the same chip the 14 Pro did, the A16 Bionic, while the Pro lineup runs on the A17 Pro. Like they do every year, Apple boasted about this new chip’s speeds and how much faster it was compared to its competitors and its predecessors. It’s not really evident when you’re just using it normally. The chip also powers the process behind the Pro’s photography power so I still have to test that out for myself. The one thing I was really excited about was testing how this chip performs when gaming. Metal Slug Awakening and Genshin Impact all perform beautifully but I don’t think its capabilities will truly be tested until the ports of Resident Evil 4 and Death Stranding are finally available.

The new FineWoven cases are pretty classy

Apple revealed that in an effort to be greener, they won’t be making any more leather products. Instead, they’ve opted for something they’re calling FineWoven accessories made from recycled microtwill. The result is a material that feels like cloth, and aesthetically looks so much better than a silicone or leather case. The darker hue and texture are a nice change and don’t add any weight to the phone, but it’s also a tad slippery at times.

And finally… the base lineup still has the fun colours

Look, I love the natural titanium of the Pro but that’s pretty much the only colour I like. I get that the Pro lineup has better material and is usually sports darker broodier colours. The Pro is the Batman of the iPhones, stuck in a perpetual emo mode. While those shades do give the Pro a classier look like last year’s purple and this year’s natural titanium, the other colours just seem to be a bit bland. However, the base iPhone 15 comes with nice pastel colours that really pop. Design-wise, I know it’s so that you can tell the base 15 and the Pro apart, but I was really hoping for better colours for the Pro. 

The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok

The post We’ve been using the iPhone 15 for a few days. Here’s our first impression. appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

iPhones almost always have to be accompanied by a protective case. While we welcome the new iPhone 15 and are browsing the market for some chic phone cases, let’s take a look at some of the most expensive iPhone cases in the world.

An ordinary iPhone case should not cost more than a hundred dollars, but these beautiful creations are far from ordinary. They’re not meant to be treated as a supplementary to the iPhone, but are a stunning craft in themselves. Read on to see how high the price tag can climb as we unveil some of the priciest iPhone cases so far.

7 Most Expensive iPhone Cases in the World

iPhone 11 Pro Max Gresso Blackwood

This iPhone 11 Pro Max case from Gresso Design is a statement of style and luxury. It is made from 200-year-old African Blackwood, one of the rarest and most expensive woods in the world. At the bottom is a solid 18K gold plate with titanium plating. The case is also incredibly slim, so as to add a protective layer and sleek design to the phone without increasing the size of the device.

Price: $7,000

Brikk Lux iPhone X Ingot 250

The Lux iPhone X Ingot 250 phone case is totally meant for the public, as its durability is not so practical for the user. The eye-watering price tag comes from 250 grams of 22K gold, assembled by hand by Brikk’s craftsmen. The gold is soft and is sensitive to scratching, so it’s better for showing off than for using on a daily basis.

Price: $70,000

Brikk iPhone XS + XS Trim Case

The Trim cases of Brikk stands out with its minimalistic design from a smooth gold finish. It’s actually made of titanium and gold, adorned with over 6000 diamonds weighing 6 carats.

Price: $100,000

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Goldgenie Donald Trump Case

Kava za simu zenye Bei kubwa Duniani

1. Alexander Amosu – $2.7M

2. Anita Mai Tan Dragon and Spider – $880,000

3. Buccellati iPhone case – $208,000

4. Goldgenie Donald Trump Case – $151,000

5. Lux iPhone X Ingot 250 – $70,000 pic.twitter.com/OIp174OZl7

— adamlutta (@adamlutta) November 6, 2020

Have you ever admired someone so much you want them on your phone case? This Goldgenie Donald Trump case was commissioned by a Chinese woman, who had Donald Trump’s face engraved on the back of the case. The one-of-a-kind case is made from 24K gold, and covered with diamonds around the edges.

Price: $151,000

Buccellati iPhone Case

Luxury iPhone case from #Buccellati in yellow gold, white gold, and diamonds. #InspireConfidence pic.twitter.com/5GNpVjvh7q

— Sarine (@SarineTechLtd) September 19, 2015

Crafted by the renowned Italian goldsmith family, Buccellati, this unique phone case was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s solar illustrations and the artworks in the golden Renaissance period. It is made with solid gold, available in gold, rose, and white gold, and decorated with diamond stars.

Price: $208,000

Anita Mai Tan Dragon and Spider

AIGems’s jewellery designer, Anita Mai Tan, drew two exquisite designs that display classy beauty and protection. The spider version is comprised of 2800 black and colourless diamonds, while the dragon has 2200 colourful diamonds. The spider and dragon can actually sparkle in the light.

Price: $880,000

Alexander Amosu

The designer Alexander Amosu presents an iPhone 6 fully encased in 18 carat gold and precious diamonds #DiamondsTech pic.twitter.com/ZoxBs9RRCV

— Get Diamonds Direct (@GetDiamondsDire) November 20, 2015

Alexander Amosu, a British-Nigerian designer who is credited for producing the world’s most expensive Champagne, most expensive suit, and most expensive BlackBerry, came up with this 18K solid gold phone case. Dotted with 6127 pieces of diamonds, his iPhone case is the most expensive in the world. Each diamond is of unparalleled quality and has a cushion cut.

Price: $2.7 Million

(Hero and featured image credit: Buccellati)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What is the most expensive iPhone 13 model?

• iPhone 13 Pro Max 1 TB is the most expensive

What is the most expensive case in the world?

• The most expensive iPhone case is designed by Alexander Amosu, priced at $2.7 million.

The post 7 Most Expensive iPhone Cases in the World appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Apple’s much-awaited ‘Wonderlust’ event has just concluded and it won’t be an exaggeration to say that it was packed to the teeth. While the iPhone 15 series was the big draw of Apple’s 2023 September event, other products and features were also unveiled to give it company. The new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are bound to draw fitness enthusiasts to the showrooms over the next few weeks. For those who don’t plan on making any upgrades this year, Apple has lined up the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates for their existing iPhones and iPads.

Obviously, it would take the world a couple of days to digest everything Apple unveiled today. The iPhone 15 series in itself is a vast subject to explore since these smartphones are bringing a host of new features and refinements. If you are planning to buy the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, there are even more things to consider this year than ever before. At the same time, the old iPhone 14 is also available as a low-cost alternative to the iPhone 15, but without the much-hyped USB-C modification.

Oh yes, let’s talk about that USB-C port, shall we? The USB-C fever has gripped the iPhone 15 and AirPods Pro this year. You now require just one charging cable for most of your Apple devices (unless you are buying the older iPhones or vanilla AirPods).

Hence, without further ado, let’s go through the Apple event 2023 highlights, deep-diving into everything that Tim Cook and his team unveiled this year.

Apple event 2023 highlights

iPhone 15 series

It has been over a year since we were treated to the ‘dynamic’ iPhone 14 Pro and its unique interpretation of a display notch. For the iPhone 15 series, Apple has simply gotten rid of the display notch for all the variants and adopted the funky Dynamic Island. The functionality hasn’t changed much but the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus look a lot smarter than their predecessors. The Super Retina XDR display is now rated to go up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness.

Other than the Dynamic Island, the design on all the iPhone 15 models has been slightly refined to allow for a more comfortable in-hand feel. While the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are still loyal to Aluminium, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have ditched the stainless steel frame and gone for a Titanium frame, which is more lightweight and durable. These Pro iPhones have also gained an Action button, replacing the age-old slider key, that lets you add a shortcut for any iOS activity.

The cameras have also been overhauled. A new 48-megapixel camera is now in charge of photos and videos along with the 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the standard iPhone 15. On the iPhone 15 Pro, there’s another new 48-megapixel image sensor along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x zoom. The iPhone 15 Pro Max gets Apple’s first periscope lens setup for the zoom camera, allowing the optical zoom range to be enhanced to up to 5X.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max also get the new A17 Pro chip fabricated on the 3nm process that promises multifold improvement in performance and power efficiency. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, however, miss out on the A17 chip and have to settle for last year’s A16 Bionic chip (still very powerful).

The new ultrawideband 2nd gen chip can also help find your friends nearby. Additionally, satellite connectivity can help locate you on the grid when there’s no cellular connection.

Battery capacities have also been enhanced across the range, with Apple promising up to an extra hour of battery stamina on all the iPhone 15 variants. The USB-C port is the biggest change here and, as hinted previously, it is only the Pro iPhones that are getting the faster data transfer and charging speeds. The MagSafe wireless charging continues to exist on all the models as standard.

The most important bit though is the pricing. The iPhone 15 Pro is 6.1 inches in size and priced at HKD 8,599 for 128GB. The iPhone Pro Max measures 6.7 inches and is priced at HKD 10,199 for the 256GB model. The iPhone 15 Plus is at HKD 7,699.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be available in Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue and Black. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium and Natural Titanium.

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New Apple Watches also unveiled

Another one of the major highlights of the Apple 2023 Event was the unveiling of the Apple Watch Series 9 with a couple of cool upgrades. Available in both 41mm and 45m sizes, the Series 9 continues to be available in Wi-Fi and Cellular variants. While the design remains identical and so do the colours (except for the new Pink shade), a new S9 chip promises superior performance and power efficiency.

The new chip also allows for on-device Siri, enabling quicker Siri responses and local device control. It also lets Series 9 users transfer/receive Apple Music playlists and recommendations from a nearby HomePod device. Now how cool is that?

The new display is now rated to achieve a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The Series 9 also gets a ‘Double Tap’ feature, enabling users to double tap their fingers to silence an alarm, take or end a call, take pictures and do more. Battery life has also improved marginally, thanks to the presence of the new chip. The Apple Watch Series 9 starts at HKD 3,199 for the regular Wi-Fi variant.

Another one of the Apple event 2023 highlights was the unveiling of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the new S9 chip for improved performance and power efficiency. The S9 chip brings in all the new features we’ll get to see on the Apple Watch Series 9. The peak display brightness has also been increased to 3,000 nits, while the battery life figures remain unchanged. The new Watch Ultra 2 starts at HKD 6,399.

Apple event 2023 highlights: iOS 17 gets a release date

As the iPhone 15 series was unveiled, Apple also declared the official release date for the latest version of iOS.

The iOS 17 update will hit all compatible iPhones starting September 18, 2023. The iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus won’t be getting the iOS 17 update. However, all iPhones released after 2017 will see improved customisation and sharing features with the new iOS update. You can check out our detailed look into all the features that iOS 17 will bring to the table.

The USB-C fever

Alongside the iPhone 15, Apple also updated the AirPods Pro 2nd Gen with a USB-C port. The USB-C port now allows users to charge the AirPods Pro 2nd Gen via any USB-C charging cable. iPhone 15 series users will also be able to charge the AirPods Pro 2nd Gen from their phone by using the USB-C to USB-C charging cable. Apple has also updated its EarPods with a USB-C port.

Goodbye, Lightning port. You served us well.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What were the major highlights from Apple’s 2023 event?
The 2023 Apple event saw the launch of the iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2nd Gen. It also unveiled the release date of iOS 17.

– What are the features of the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a new 3nm A17 Bionic chip, a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display, an Action button, a Titanium frame, a 48-megapixel main rear camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The smartphone also has a USB-C port for charging.

– What is the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone Pro Max measures 6.7 inches and is priced at HKD 10,199 for the 256GB model.

– What are the specifications for AirPods Pro 2nd Gen?
The updated Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen gets a USB-C charging port on the case. The features remain identical to its predecessor, including the strong ANC and the great audio performance. iPhone 15 users can also reverse charge their AirPods Pro via a USB-C to USB-C cable.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Apple) 

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The Apple Event 2023, dubbed ‘Wonderlust,’ was held in Cupertino, California, on 12 September. This annual event saw the launch of the Apple iPhone 15 series and the introduction of a slew of interesting features.

The keynote presentation was held on Apple’s campus at the Steve Jobs Theater by CEO Tim Cook. The event began with a montage showcasing Apple users who benefitted from life-saving features such as health detection systems, crash detection and emergency SOS features on Apple’s products.

“Apple watch helps us stay healthy, active and connected,” Cook said in a brief introduction to the day.

The company confirmed that it is phasing out leather cases starting in 2023. It announced that Apple boxes will feature a new carbon-neutral logo on the box.

All about Apple Event 2023: iPhone 15 models and new Watch series

Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus: Specifications, colours and price

Apple introduced the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus to much fanfare at the event. Apple made attendees wait a while to announce that the phones come with the much talked about USB-C.

Apple said that the same cable can be used to charge multiple Apple products and devices which have USB-C connectivity. The USB-C connectivity is coming to AirPods too, Apple announced.

The new smartphone comes in five new colours: yellow, green, blue, black and, for the first time, pink.

The phone has a dynamic island, which expands and contracts depending on activity. Dynamic Island can now perform more features, such as pizza delivery and follow scores side-by-side among other features.

It has a Super Retina XDR display functioning on OLED technology, with a peak Dolby Vision brightness of 1600 nits which increases to 2000 nits under the sun. The brightness is twice that of the iPhone 14.

The phone has a new contoured edge on aerospace-grade aluminium enclosures. Its ceramic shield face is tougher than any smartphone glass, Apple said.

It comes with two cameras at the rear. The main camera is 48MP and has a 26mm focal length with quad pixel censor. Apple said that the phone can produce 24MP photos in normal use through the company’s computational photography technology.

Using advanced machine learning, the camera is capable of taking detailed portraits in high resolution. Through machine learning, the Apple iPhone 15 can filter a user’s voice in noisy environments on calls and can select “voice isolation” to cut background noise automatically.

The Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus come with Apple A16 Bionic with 16-core neural engine inside the case. It has a 5-core GPU, which is 50 percent more powerful than A15 Bionic, and all-day battery life.

The iPhone Pro is 6.1 inches in size and priced at HKD 8,599 for 128GB. The iPhone 15 Plus is at HKD 7,699.

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Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max: Specifications, colours and price

The event also saw the launch of Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. For the Pro models, Apple created a new Titanium design.

Apple said that it is “the most premium material” we have ever used in an Apple and described it as the lightest Pro model ever. It has the same Ceramic Shield protection on the face as the iPhone 15 series.

The company used Grade-5 Titanium and alloy with higher tensile strength than pure titanium to make the case of the phones. Apple said that it used the same alloy that was used on the Mars rover. It has an aluminium sub-structure made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium. The borders of Pro models were described as the “thinnest ever on an iPhone.”

Apple said that a key change that has been introduced with the new iPhone 15 Pro series is in the Ring/Silent switch. Apple called it the ‘Action Button,’ saying that it can now be used to set a range of customisable actions such as launching the camera or starting a voice recording with the press of a button.

It is powered by an A17 Pro chipset, with what Apple said is “industry’s first 3-nanometer chip.” It has a 6-core GPU, and two performance cores which are 10 per cent faster in single-threaded performance for any phone. Its 16-core neural engine is two times faster.

The 15 Pro models are the first iPhones with USB-C speeds of 10GBPS. It has 20 times faster transfer speeds.

Apple also gave a ray tracing demo on the iPhone 15 Pro model at the event. Ray tracing is a high-end tech that helps make video game graphics look ultra-realistic. In the demo, Apple showed how the powerful new hardware on iPhone Pro models made it possible to play high-definition games without lag.

Apple said that A17 makes it possible to play Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village video games on the iPhone 15 Pro models. The company said that a series of games will be coming on the phone in 2024, including the acclaimed Assassin’s Creed franchise and Ubisoft’s Division Resurgence.

The Pro models have three cameras, which, Apple said, are “equivalent to seven camera lenses in the pocket.”

The main camera is a more advanced 48MP with a larger sensor. The main camera can shoot in 24-, 28- and 35-mm focal lengths. It has better low-light photography capabilities and enhanced portrait mode.

It has a 12MP Telephoto camera with 77mm focal length and 5x optical zoom with 120mm focal length, which the company said is the longest optical zoom on Pro Max. The zoom has been achieved using an innovative ‘tetraprism’ design behind the camera, which bounces light four times.

The 12MP Ultra Wide camera can do macro photography up to a 10x optical zoom. It has a 13mm to 120mm optical zoom range.

The Main and Ultra Wide cameras can be used together to make a Spatial video. These can be seen and shared on Apple Vision. Photos and videos can be transferred using a USB-3 cable.

The iPhone Pro is 6.1 inches in size and priced at HKD 8,599 for 128GB. The iPhone Pro Max measures 6.7 inches and is priced at HKD 10,199 for the 256GB model.

The iPhone 15 Pro phones come in four finishes: black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium and natural titanium.

All iPhones are set to open for pre-orders on 15 September. The phones will be available starting 22 September.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2: Features and price

Apple also launched the Apple Watch Series 9 with an all-new S9 SiP series chip. The company said that it is the most powerful Apple Watch chipset yet and claimed that it is 60 per cent faster and coupled with a 30 per cent faster GPU. Apple said that the Series 9 is its first carbon-neutral product.

The company said that the S9 SiP can perform machine learning tasks twice as fast as its predecessor. In fact, the work on the neural engine was highlighted during the event.

Apple said that most common requests on Siri can now be completed without redirecting to the cloud. Siri on Apple Series 9 can also generate health data, which will be initially available in English and Mandarin and will be followed by more languages.

Apple Watch Series 9’s WatchOS 10 offers the new Name Drop feature. It lets users share their personal information when close to another user with the Device. The watch has an Ultra Wideband chip, which can detect Apple devices such as the iPhone nearby.

The new watch has an always-on retina display. The company says that it is brighter than Series 8, with 2000 nits which means the screen is easily readable even in bright daylight. It can also save power down to just 1 nit.

The most unique feature of Series 9 is the new hand gesture which the company has dubbed ‘double tap.’ Wearers can simply tap their index finger and thumb twice to execute a number of functions, including receiving and disconnecting calls, playing music, snoozing alarm, and bringing up widgets among other features.

Series 9 carries out the ‘double tap’ feature using a machine-learning algorithm with which it detects changes in blood flow on the wrist when the fingers are tapped.

The new Apple Watch will be available in a gorgeous new pink aluminium case, the first time that Apple has introduced a pink-coloured watch. The aluminium casing will also be available in starlight, silver, midnight and Product red colours. It will also have stainless steel gold, silver and graphite colours.

The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra was also introduced. While the Apple Watch Series 9 starts at HKD 3,199, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is priced at HKD 6,399  for the GPS+ Cellular version.

(Hero and Featured images: Apple)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)`

How many colours are available for iPhone 15?

There are a total of nine colours of the Apple iPhone 15 series, including Plus, Pro and Pro Max models.

What are the camera features of the iPhone 15?

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have two cameras. The iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max have three cameras. The main cameras in both families are 48MP.

What is the price for the iPhone 15?

The iPhone Pro is 6.1 inches in size and priced at HKD 8,599 for 128GB. The iPhone Pro Max measures 6.7 inches and is priced at HKD 10,199 for the 256GB model. The iPhone 15 Plus is at HKD 7,699.

The post Apple Unveils Four New iPhone 15 Models appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

We don’t like fueling up the heated Android vs. iOS debate, considering that both platforms have made our lives a lot easier with their flagship offerings. iOS on the most powerful iPhones is always a pleasure to experience and with the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Ultra, if rumours are to be believed), we expect Apple to deliver the goods yet again. Adding to the excitement is the standard iPhone 15, which is also shaping up to be an impressive upgrade over its controversial predecessor, especially considering the arrival of the rumoured USB-C charging port. But the iPhone 15 might find it difficult to stay in the limelight when Google’s Pixel 8 drops as its fiercest rival a few weeks later.

The Google Pixel 8 leaks have already given us a glimpse of everything we can expect from Android’s hero smartphone. While there’s no drastic change to the Pixel 8 this year, the finer refinements could make it tough for consumers to choose between it and the iPhone 15. Given that we already have enough information about both smartphones, we decided to pitch them against each other and figure out how they compare.

Hence, in our Google Pixel 8 vs iPhone 15 showdown, we will take a look at everything we know about the two upcoming flagship phones and try to see which one fares better.

Google Pixel 8 vs iPhone 15

We will look at all of the leaked information and compare these smartphones on the following aspects.

Launch dates

Come September 12, Apple will take the cover off the iPhone 15 series. The focus, as usual, seems to be on the iPhone 15 Pro for its Titanium frame and all the other bigger upgrades. However, the vanilla iPhone 15 is also being anticipated due to the likely inclusion of Dynamic Island and a USB-C charging port.

Google, meanwhile, will wait for the iPhone 15’s hype to fall off before announcing the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro to the world on October 4, 2023. All the eyes will be on the Pixel 8 Pro for its bigger improvements to the cameras and display but the standard Pixel 8 will be refined enough to be presented as a formidable rival to the iPhone 15 and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24.

Design

Design is one aspect where Google has shone brightly in the past. Now, based on the Pixel 8 leaks, it seems like Google could take a big lead here with the Pixel 8’s refined design.

While the design seems to be based on the Pixel 7’s compact and practical frame, the curved edges on the rear along with the enlarged lens housings on the camera visor make the Pixel 8 stand out. The flat display will flaunt slimmer bezels and a small cutout for the front camera, which is a standard affair in the Android universe.

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On the other hand, the iPhone 15 is expected to largely retain the design laid out by the iPhone 13 two years ago. The diagonally stacked rear cameras will stay and so will its flat sides. However, the sharp edges will be blunted out and Apple will finally get rid of the dated notch in favour of the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island. The USB-C port will be another change that not many users will notice.

Display

The Dynamic Island will be the biggest change for the iPhone 15’s display, considering the rest of the package won’t change much over the iPhone 14. Apple is still rumoured to offer a 60Hz OLED display on the iPhone 15, which in the remaining months of 2023 and the entirety of 2024 wouldn’t command a technological lead over similarly priced rivals from Samsung and Google. The slimmer bezels and the Dynamic Island will most likely be the only changes seen on the iPhone 15’s display.

On the Google Pixel 8, the changes are expected to be more notable. Based on the newest leaks, the display size will be limited to a compact 6.2 inches and Google will use an OLED panel with a higher refresh rate of 90Hz, although some rumours hint at a variable refresh rate between 10Hz-120Hz. The display will be flat but its corners will be more rounded this year, in a similar fashion to the Samsung Galaxy S23. The Pixel 8’s display is also expected to feature an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner though you shouldn’t count out the good old optical fingerprint sensor (yet).

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: What about the Specifications and performance?

The Google Pixel 8 will also amuse us with its new Tensor G3 chipset. Rumoured to be based on the newer Samsung Exynos 2200 chip, the Tensor G3 is expected to be faster and help the on-device AI algorithms perform better. The chip will be accompanied by 8GB RAM as standard and Google could still offer 128GB of base storage. The Pixel 8 will launch with Android 14 onboard and is expected to bring several novel features like Magic Audio Eraser, more customisation options and improved security.

The iPhone 15 will also debut Apple’s latest iOS 17 as its choice of operating system, bringing more customisation and improved features related to file sharing, iMessage, widgets interactions and more. However, the iPhone 15 won’t get Apple’s newest A17 chip. Instead, rumours suggest that Apple will re-assign the A16 Bionic chip from the iPhone 14 Pro for duty on the iPhone 15. While the A16 Bionic is no slouch, it won’t be as power efficient and capable as the 3nm A17 chipset assigned for the iPhone 15 Pro variants.

Cameras

The Google Pixel 8 has always owned the camera section in a head-to-head comparison with the iPhones of the past. For this year, rumours suggest that Google will use a newer 50-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GN2 image sensor for the main camera and a 12-megapixel Sony sensor for the ultrawide camera. Together with the 10.8-megapixel selfie camera, the Pixel 8 could once again leave us impressed with its superior still photography.

The iPhone 15 will get an even bigger upgrade than the Pixel 8. A new 48-megapixel main camera is expected to improve still photography as well as videography performance, especially in low-light situations. The larger sensor could finally allow for a 2x lossless digital zoom that could aid in better portrait photography.

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Battery life

Battery life has always been a stronghold of the iPhone and with this year’s iPhone 15, it is rumoured that Apple will put in a bigger capacity battery. This, along with the A16 Bionic chip, could make the iPhone 15 more power efficient, resulting in improved battery life. The USB-C port could make charging the device easier, although iPhone loyalists could also piggyback on Apple’s 15W MagSafe charger.

Google’s Pixel 7 had issues with its battery stamina but rumours hint at improvements with the Pixel 8’s battery life. The Pixel 8 is expected to use a similar 4,485mAh battery and when paired with the more power-efficient Tensor G3 chipset, the smartphone could provide all-day battery life. Google is also expected to offer a slightly faster 24W wired charging solution along with a 15W wireless charging solution.

Price

With all the upgrades that Apple has in store, the iPhone 15 is rumoured to cost the same as the iPhone 14. The base 128GB variant of the iPhone 15 could end up costing USD 799 and you can expect the price to go up to USD 899 for the 256GB variant.

In comparison, the Google Pixel 8 is rumoured to see a price hike this year. The base variant with 128GB storage could cost EUR 874, which roughly amounts to USD 943.

Google Pixel 8 Vs iPhone 15: Our take

We defer from giving an outright verdict until we have had our hands on these devices. That said, based on the leaked information, the Google Pixel 8 could be a geeky delight for smartphone users this year. Apple seems to be playing it safe with the iPhone 15 but the inclusion of the USB-C port as well as the improved cameras could make it a smart pick in the premium smartphone segment.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Thai Nguyen via Unsplash)

This story first appeared Augustman. 

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If you want the simplest and most affordable laptop from Apple, your best bet continues to be the Macbook Air with the M1 chip. Launched originally in 2020, the M1 MacBook Air continues to be a good option for college goers, casual users and professionals with lighter needs. However, with a starting price of USD 999, the MacBook Air continues to be elusive to those who want something at a much lower price. Google’s Chromebooks and several entry-level Windows laptops continue to be a popular choice among the school-going crowd as well as those who seek a computer for basic needs. Based on the recent MacBook Lite rumours though, it seems like Apple doesn’t want to miss out on this section of consumers anymore.

Considering the newest rumours from the Taiwanese media, there’s a possibility that Apple could have a more affordable MacBook lineup on the shelves by next year. While we don’t have any names or specific details regarding its features and specifications, this ‘MacBook Lite’ could kickstart a new lineup of cut-price MacBooks designed for those who otherwise would opt for a Google Chromebook or one of those affordable Windows laptops.

Has the idea of a MacBook Lite got you excited? Well, let’s take a quick look at everything we know about this low-cost MacBook.

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Is the MacBook Lite happening?

As the launch of a potential MacBook Lite is purely based on speculation right now, everything you read about it should be taken with a pinch of salt.

A recent report from DigiTimes suggests that Apple is working on a new product line of MacBook laptops. This laptop lineup will be sitting under the company’s existing Air and Pro series of laptops, with prices expected to remain under the threshold of USD 1,000.

Despite the lower prices, Apple is expected to carry on with a metal casing for the laptop’s lid though the material used will be different from what we have seen on the MacBook Air and Pro laptops. The cost of the mechanical components is also said to be lower than existing MacBook models.

How will this new MacBook series affect the MacBook Air and iPad Pro?

Given that Apple’s target audience for this sub-USD 1,000 laptop will largely be the school-going crowd, this MacBook Lite could end up being smaller and more compact than the 13-inch MacBook Air M1. A couple of years ago, Apple had a 12-inch MacBook on sale to bridge the gap between the 13-inch MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro models. Back then, Apple relied on Intel’s processors and gave this compact MacBook a 7th Gen Intel Core m3 processor. The compact dimensions allowed for a 12-inch Retina display with thick bezels and a frameless keyboard.

Apple usually has a habit of reusing its old platforms to keep costs low, something we’ve recently seen with the iPhone SE lineup as well as the base iPad models. With the Apple M3 chip expected to be announced later in 2023 for the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple could repurpose the original M1 chip for the MacBook Lit and stuff it inside the 12-inch MacBook’s body. Even if Apple manages to offer only 12 hours of battery life, this MacBook Lite could be a worthy alternative to the Chromebook laptops that suffer from lower storage and a total dependence on Google’s cloud computing.

Can you imagine a compact 12-inch MacBook Lite with a M1 chip selling at a price of USD 800? We hope the product heads at Apple are listening.

What happens to the iPad Pro?

The iPad Pro has always offered a platform best suited for creators who seek a touchscreen interface, can work with mobile versions of desktop apps and services, seek portability over raw computing power and can spend more on basic accessories like a keyboard and the Apple Pencil. Even with the upcoming iPadOS 17 update, the iPad Pro will continue to be a tablet first and will always be inferior to even the cheapest of Macbooks as far as basic computing is concerned. As such, this rumoured MacBook Lite could continue to coexist with the iPad Pro devices in a similar price range.

{Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Dmitry Chernyshov via Unsplash (Representational Image)}

This story first appeared on Augustman.

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Carl Pei is one of the most significant figures in the world of smartphones and is building his net worth on the back of two immensely successful companies he created.

Born in Beijing on 11 September 1989, Pei left for the United States with his family at an early age. The family then moved to Sweden, where Pei was raised.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he dropped out of the Stockholm School of Economics, where he enrolled in 2008 for a Bachelor of Science degree before leaving in 2011. There is no information about any other educational qualification or school on his profile.

However, Pei, today, is one of the most important faces in the world of technology. In 2016, he was included on Forbes’ list of 30 Under 30 in Consumer Tech for how he formed and led OnePlus.

 

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Fortune included him on their list of 40 Under 40 in 2019 for making OnePlus more popular in India than Apple, with 33 per cent smartphone market share in the country and behind only Samsung.

Pei has been popular for a long time. But his fame perhaps grew far more when he created Nothing — a tech company that has produced two smartphones and earbuds. The products have been quick to create a buzz in the market, especially in India.

Pei is now aiming for much more. In a conversation with The Verge in July 2023, he said that he is now thinking about software.

Referring to the invention of the App Store in 2008, which he called the “last major innovation in mobile OSes,” Pei said that it gave “infinite capability” to smartphones.

“The major platforms, they’re bought into this because whenever the app developers make money, they also make money. So I think there’s a vested interest in not doing that much on the mobile OS side. Maybe that’s where we should be exploring what could be done,” he said.

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What is the net worth of Carl Pei?

The net worth of Carl Pei is unknown. Some media reports suggest that his net worth can be between USD 5 million to USD 10 million. Although there is no confirmation of the same, a detailed look at the sales figures and the success of the two companies he has helmed gives an idea about his wealth.

Everything about Carl Pei and his businesses

Early life and career

During his time in college, Pei started working for Nokia for a very short one. He told Forbes in 2015 that he first returned to China during a gap year before college to explore business opportunities.

At some point soon after dropping out of college, Pei again left for China with the objective of establishing himself in the world of technology.

How Carl Pei founded OnePlus

When Carl Pei flew back to Asia after dropping out, it was to work for Chinese consumer electronics giant Meizu in their marketing department in Hong Kong.

The job offer, according to Pei, came because of the popularity of an online forum he had started in Sweden, discussing MP4 players with its international users. Meizu took note of Pei as the forum grew and asked him to join their Hong Kong office in 2011. By this time, Meizu had started focusing on smartphones.

Pei soon left to work for Chinese smartphone maker OPPO as its international markets manager under Pete Lau. This was where the seed of OnePlus germinated.

 

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Lau and Pei soon left OPPO to co-found OnePlus on 16 December 2013 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province of China. Pei served as the director of OnePlus Global and Lau was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Though it was not widely known in the initial years, Gizmochina had in April 2014 reported that OnePlus was a wholly owned sub-brand of OPPO based on a document from the Market surveillance department in Shenzhen, which showed that OPPO’s investment in OnePlus was 100 per cent.

OPPO, on the other hand, is owned by BBK Electronics — a Chinese electronics conglomerate that also owns smartphone makers Vivo and Realme.

Launch of OnePlus One

Under their motto, “Never Settle,” OnePlus launched their first smartphone, OnePlus One (also written as OnePlus 1), in April 2014.

Shipping started in late June of the same year, with the smartphone being offered under a unique strategy. Under this, invitations were sent by their initial owners to prospective buyers, which created a sense of exclusivity and reduced the burden of production on the company.

The phone was considered a high-end Android device. It came with a 5.5-inch 1080 pixel display, a 2.5 GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, 64GB storage, a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera.

TIME magazine hailed the OnePlus One as the “phone of dreams” in its July 2014 review.

Incredible sales of the flagship phone

Though the strategy was initially criticised, it paid off and, according to Forbes, the company said that its revenue for 2014, completing the first year of its launch, was more than USD 300 million. It had surpassed sales of over half a million handsets by November 2014 and “almost a million” in the first six months.

Speaking to Forbes in November 2014, Pei said that the sales figure was achieved on the back of an advertising budget of just USD 300.

“All that money was spent experimenting on different types of Facebook ads. We found that we’ve now reached a critical mass of users, and they are helping us spread the word organically,” he said.

In a conversation with CKGSB Knowledge, the online publication of the Chinese business school Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB), in June 2015, which was shared by Forbes, Pei revealed that even he was surprised by the rapid growth of the company.

“We didn’t really have a lot of expectations. We initially forecasted that 10 per cent of our business would be global. But in 2014, our first year, around 65 per cent of our business was global. In Q1 this year, around 92 per cent was global,” he said.

“We had no money. We still have very little money. And when you don’t have money, you are forced to become a lot more creative in how you reach out to people. Most of our marketing has been very focused on word-of-mouth online, like campaigns on social media and forums. We also earned a lot of attention through PR,” he added.

By July 2015, Pei told The Wall Street Journal that sales of the phone had crossed 1.5 million units.

Within this one year, OnePlus rose from less than 10 employees to over 900 employees spread in more than a dozen countries and satellite offices in Singapore and India’s Bengaluru.

OnePlus has not looked back since. Its focus from the very beginning was on excellent build quality, outstanding design and attention to customer’s core needs. The company’s smartphones offer all of that at a price more affordable than other smartphones with similar features which were at the higher end of the spectrum.

By 2019, when Pei was named in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list, OnePlus was selling in 38 regions around the world, including the US. Its latest model, OnePlus 7, had raised USD 144 million in sales within one minute of its release in China.

Several observers, therefore, credit OnePlus and Pei’s vision for the disruption caused to the smartphone market, following which better quality at a lower price point became a pursuit for most brands.

Today, OnePlus has several phones in the main OnePlus line and under the OnePlus Nord series, whose first model was launched in 2020. The company also produces headphones, TVs and wearables such as smartwatch and OnePlus Band.

Carl Pei leaves OnePlus

After seven years with the company since its founding, Pei announced his resignation in October 2020.

“The world didn’t need another smartphone brand in 2013. But we saw ways of doing things better and dreamt of shaking things up. Better products. Built hand in hand with our users. At more reasonable prices. Fast forward to today, and OnePlus is a strong force to be reckoned[sic.] when it comes to flagship smartphones,” he said in his farewell address.

“Our community joined the movement before we even had a product, back when all we had were ambitions and ideas. From having hundreds of you show up to have ice cream with me, thousands attending our launch events, and tens of millions purchasing our products worldwide; I want to thank you all for believing in us throughout all these years,” added Pei, before thanking Lau “for taking a chance in this kid without a college degree.”

At the time, Pei didn’t reveal his next plans. He simply said he would take the time off to focus on friends and family.

Carl Pei launches Nothing

Carl Pei announced the formation of his own company, Nothing, in January 2021. Headquartered in London, the company’s early investors included iPod inventor Tony Fadell, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin and YouTuber Casey Neistat.

“Nothing’s mission is to remove barriers between people and technology to create a seamless digital future,” Pei said in a press release, adding, “We believe that the best technology is beautiful, yet natural and intuitive to use. When sufficiently advanced, it should fade into the background and feel like nothing.”

Pei serves as the CEO of the company, whose first product was Nothing Ear (1) wireless buds, which was launched in July 2021.

It was followed by the company’s first smartphone, Nothing Phone (1), which was announced on 23 March 2022. The phone was eventually launched by Pei with a keynote address in London on 12 July 2022.

Nothing Phone (1) instantly caught the attention of the market and the end user it targeted with its unique design, featuring glyph lights on the semi-transparent back of the phone. The lights sync with ringtones as well as Morse codes. Users can set specific combinations of the lights to identify specific callers from the way the glyph interface flickers.

Later on, the acclaimed music group Swedish House Mafia collaborated with Nothing with their sound pack on the glyph composer.

Let’s make some noise.

The Swedish House Mafia Sound Pack is now live on the Glyph Composer.

Here’s how to access the sounds and create your very own Glyph Ringtone. pic.twitter.com/AYLi1vKNkv

— Nothing (@nothing) August 3, 2023

At the time of its launch, Nothing Phone (1) came with a 6.55-inch OLED display panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 778G+ chipset, a 4500mAh battery and two main 50 MP cameras on the back.

“Unlike what some brands would have you believe, quality doesn’t mean more cameras. They stack cameras. Think more is more. But more just means more cameras of lower quality. For an illusion of innovation. So Phone (1) has just two cameras. Two superb ones. Not four mediocre ones,” the company later said in a statement.

The phone was launched in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In December 2022, Pei told CNBC, that Nothing didn’t launch the phone in the US “because you need a lot of additional technical support, to support all the carriers and their unique customisations that they need to make on top of Android.”

He added that the company was not ready for the US demand at the time of its launch.

In March 2023, Nothing launched Ear (2) earbuds to highly positive reviews. Though priced at USD 149 — USD 50 more than Ear (1) — reviews suggested that the company had massively upgraded the quality of the product with fewer bugs, better noise cancellation, fine sound quality and longer battery life.

Four months later, Nothing Phone (2) was launched. The 6.7-inch 1080p screen-size phone came with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor paired with Adreno 730 GPU and up to 12GB of RAM. At 4700 mAh, the battery of the second-generation Nothing phone is more powerful than the first.

Is Nothing making profits?

According to the December 2022 CNBC report, Nothing had till that point sold more than one million products worldwide. Its Ear (1) and Ear (Stick) earbuds had, at the time, sold 600,000 units. Sales of Nothing Phone (1) were at 500,000 units.

Speaking to CNBC, Pei said that he expects the company to be profitable by 2024.

“We are not profitable right now. And this year was made even harder due to the foreign currency exchange. We pay a lot of our COGS [cost of goods sold] in USD but we make money in pounds, in euros, in Indian rupees — so everything devalued against the USD,” he said, referring to the rally in the US dollar.

The report said that Nothing was expecting a more than tenfold jump in revenues at USD 250 million in 2022 — from USD 20 million in 2021. Its employee count had, by this time, doubled to more than 400.

(Hero image: Carl Pei/@getpeid/Twitter; Featured image: Carl Pei/@getpeid/Instagram)

This article was first seen on Augustman.

The post Carl Pei: His Net Worth and All About the Man Behind OnePlus, Nothing appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Let’s face it, we all love some serial stalking on Instagram! After all, what’s the fun in innocently scrolling through the app and not satiating your curiosity with some quick profile checks? However, a good stalking session can turn into a nightmare when you leave traces by accidentally liking someone’s posts. Yes, many of us have been there, and done that. While we instantly unlike the post and pretend like nothing happened, there’s a good chance this ‘lowkey cringe-worthy’ activity has caught the person’s attention. Let’s discuss what happens when you’ve accidentally liked and then unliked an Instagram post!

Navigating social media is very tricky, and even the slightest of actions can leave a lasting mark as there’s no easy way of undoing your deeds. The good news is that Instagram does cover your tracks if you accidentally like a post. But there’s a catch! If the receiver has their push notifications on, your secret stalking sessions might not be so secretive anymore. Here’s what entails after liking and unliking an Instagram post.

If you’ve accidentally liked an Instagram post, will it show?

If the receiver is actively using Instagram

When you like an Instagram post, the app immediately sends an alert that appears in the user’s activity tab. So, if the person is actively using Instagram or worse, checking their activity at that time – they will get the oh-so dreaded notification saying ‘@abc liked your photo’!

However, if they aren’t active on the app at that particular moment, and you immediately unlike the post, there’s not much to worry about. The user will get a split-second alert, which will then be removed from the app right after you unlike the post. But this scenario only works when their push notifications are off!

So, what happens when a person isn’t actively using Instagram when you accidentally like their post, but has enabled push notifications?

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What happens when the receiver has push notifications on?

Now this is a tricky situation to be in. When push notifications are on, the other person is immediately notified on their screen about any activity happening on Instagram. Even if you withdraw the link seconds later, the notification will remain on the screen. However, when tapped, it will take the user to the post without your like on it. But that doesn’t matter since you’ve already been caught. While Instagram removes the notification from the user’s activity feed, the push notification stays!

So, when are you actually safe?

The only scenario when the person won’t be notified about your accidental like is when they’re not actively using Instagram AND their push notifications are off! Otherwise, you’ll just have to count on your luck and hope they didn’t notice your name among the pool of notifications.

Moreover, celebrities, creators and businesses with large follower bases don’t usually enable push notifications on Instagram. Imagine getting tons of likes and spammy notifications on your phone every second! So, if you’ve chanced upon such a user, they might not have noticed it at all.

If you’re really embarrassed about the situation and want to remove any possible trace, you’ll have to take some drastic measures. The first one is to block this person right away. If you can’t do that, try disabling your account temporarily and resume activity after a while.

We hope you steer clear of any Instagram faux pas on your next stalking escapade!

(Hero image credit: Pexels)

(Feature image credit: juneaye/ Pixabay)

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong.

The post Accidentally Liked and Then Unliked an Instagram Post? Here’s What Will Happen appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

The world’s most recognisable smartphone of the modern age is all set to witness another update, with Apple confirming that the highly anticipated iPhone 15 will officially make its global debut on September 12 at 10AM Pacific Time via a dedicated event.

For us in Hong Kong, this means September 13, 1AM. This follows weeks of industry speculation concerning the exact date of the device’s launch, with pundits speculating a time frame occupying the first half of September. Of course, this comes as no surprise given the track record of previous iPhone launches that came before it that have historically occurred within the early part of September on an annual basis.

Apple to launch iPhone 15 on September 12th

According to the official press announcement by the Cupertino-based computer giant, the event will be live-streamed to their official website as well as through their dedicated Apple TV platform.

As for the iPhone 15 range, it’s probably a good idea to temper one’s expectations for any major overhauling design, as the new phones are expected to be more iterative than truly groundbreaking. The devices will comprise of the Apple iPhone 15 and the usual addition of the Pro and Pro Max models, the latter of which is said to be renamed to the Ultra. But that doesn’t mean that the phones won’t come with a few much-coveted upgrades to justify an upgrade either.

For one, speculation has indicated that this new generation of iPhones will be the first to forgo Apple’s longstanding proprietary Thunderbolt port, introduced 11 years ago on the iPhone 5. Instead, the industry-standard USB C port is expected to take its place after an EU ruling that mandated its use on all new mobile devices.

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Aside from a change in I/O, the new iPhones are likely to sport brand-new titanium frames in place of stainless steel for improved durability. This is in addition to the rumoured replacement of the beloved mute switch, which has been an iPhone staple since the original back in 2009, with a programmable ‘Action Button’.

Furthermore, the ‘Dynamic Island’ is said to be a universal feature to be offered across the iPhone 15 range. Previously, it was only found on the premium Pro models in last year’s iPhone 14 lineup.

Expect other iterative upgrades to be announced in Apple’s mobile tech range too, from the AirPods to next-generation Apple Watches.

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur

(Featured and main image credit: Apple/apple.com, Daniel Romero/Unsplash)

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Imagine swiping right and finding yourself matched with your favourite celebrity – seems surreal, right? But here’s the kicker: it’s no longer just a fantasy! As we have discovered, the world of dating apps harbours more celebrities than you might imagine. Famous faces are actively seeking love in the star-studded sea, with many publicly confirming their virtual quests. Read on to find out more about the most popular celebrity dating apps — some of which are easily accessible too.

With courage that matches their stardom, celebs like Drew Barrymore have embarked on heartfelt journeys for companionship, granting us an all-access pass to their pursuit of love. Drew’s candid moment on The Drew Barrymore Show offered a peek into her online dating escapades – though she playfully refrained from naming names, her witty remark “Can’t you be a jerk like an hour before? That would have been such a time saver” had us nodding in agreement.

Meanwhile, in a casual Monday chat with Andy Cohen for his SiriusXM Radio Andy show, This Is Us star Chrissy Metz unveiled how she met her partner on the dating app Bumble. She cleverly shared that her minimalistic profile aimed to filter out those seeking her attention for reasons beyond genuine connections.

Today, we delve into celebrity romance in the digital era. Hollywood’s elite have swapped red carpets in their quest for a virtual rendezvous, and we’re here to spill the beans.

Here are 5 celebrity dating apps that have set Tinseltown hearts aflutter

Raya

Ah, Raya, the ultra-exclusive app that’s like the VIP room of the dating world. Imagine the Met Gala, but instead of couture gowns, it’s all about connecting with fellow creatives. Raya has been the go-to for our artsy celebs, with the likes of Channing Tatum, Demi Lovato, and even good ol’ Ben Affleck diving into the swiping scene.

Once, Selling Sunset’s Emma Hernan claimed that during season 5, she matched with Affleck on the app. “He may or may not have been texting me,” the real estate agent said during the April 2022 episode, which seemingly filmed in fall 2021, before ‘Bennifer’ happened. “He may or may not have asked to grab … coffee a few times,” she added. Affleck’s “opening line” on the app referred to their “Boston connection,” Hernan added. While she grew up in Scituate, a coastal Massachusetts town, Affleck was born in Cambridge.

Well, if you’ve got the creative flair and the heart to match, this app might just be your golden ticket to an A-list romance.

Want to try Raya? Apply here.

Tinder

This OG swiping app has brought together everyone from next-door neighbours to bona fide megastars. You might think celebrities would be too cool for this app, but think again! Tinder levels the playing field, allowing even the most glamorous among us to find love sans the Hollywood hullabaloo.

Believe it or not, Hilary Duff once confessed to swiping right on Tinder, and Zac Efron reportedly dabbled in it too! Apparently when Efron joined Tinder a few years ago, he had trouble getting matches. “Amazingly, when I signed up for Tinder, nobody swiped me! They thought [my profile] was fake,” he told The Times.

Efron further opened up about the struggles of dating as a celebrity. “Dating is something I’ll never be able to do. As in the dictionary definition of dating, because one way or another I’ve impacted that person’s life and they’ll soon realise it,” he told the paper. “A date has to be very long to dispel whatever people think of me.”

Download Tinder here.

Bumble

When it comes to the dating game, Bumble is all about empowering women to make the first move. And guess what? Celebrities love a good power move just as much as the rest of us. Sharon Stone made headlines when she hilariously got kicked off Bumble. Apparently, users swiping through the dating app got suspicious when they came across a profile for the Golden Globe-winning actress. The account was blocked after repeatedly being flagged as fake.

Stone took to Twitter to say, “I went on the @bumble dating site and they closed my account. Some users reported that it couldn’t possibly be me! Hey @bumble, is being me exclusionary? Don’t shut me out of the hive!” Bumble reinstated the account two hours later. “Looks like our users thought you were too good to be true,” the company responded.

Bumble isn’t just about finding romance; it’s about forging connections and building a meaningful foundation, which is what we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) crave, whether we’re walking red carpets or hitting the local coffee shop.

Download Bumble here.

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Hinge

Now, let’s venture into the world of Hinge, where profiles read like heartfelt letters waiting to be opened. This app has caught the attention of modern-day Hollywood, with stars like Sam Smith giving it a whirl. Imagine swiping through pictures that tell a story, and answers to prompts that reveal the quirks and passions behind the celebrity smiles.

Smith, one of the most famous pop stars in the world, has given Hinge a go, claiming that their account was deactivated after one night because the app’s moderators thought they were being a catfish. On the show Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, he told Cohen, “I took your advice and I joined this dating site called Hinge in the UK and they chucked me off of it after one night cause they thought I was a catfish pretending to be me.”

Download Hinge here.

OkCupid

The dream of swiping right on a Kardashian sister was actually once a reality. After Khloe Kardashian filed for divorce from former NBA star Lamar Odom, the reality TV star confessed to signing up on OkCupid. “I’ve never done online dating before, but it’s just for s–ts and giggles,” she revealed online.

Download OkCupid here.

Don’t Give Up On Dating Apps Just Yet

In a world where fame and fortune often collide with busy schedules and paparazzi flashes, dating apps provide a glimmer of hope. These platforms give celebrities the chance to connect beyond the limelight, focusing on genuine connections rather than Instagram likes. So, as we swipe, match, and chat, let’s remember that love, in all its starry glory, can be found in the most unexpected of places.

Who knows? The next time your thumb swipes right, it might just lead to a Hollywood romance.

(Main and featured images:  Instagram/@khloekardashian and @zacefron)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What dating apps do celebrities use the most?

Raya, Tinder and Bumble.

Is Raya only for celebs? 

While you don’t have to be a celebrity to join Raya, it is touted to be the most exclusive dating app and unlike other dating apps, membership is not offered to just anyone. In fact, Raya has an application process and according to the New York Times, only around 8% of applicants are accepted.

The post These Celebrity Dating Apps Could Match You With the World’s Biggest Stars appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

The Internet is an integral part of our lives, but the advent of blockchain illustrates both its shortcomings and potential. Among its believers is 9GAG founder Ray Chan, who’s working tirelessly to usher in the third iteration of the World Wide Web.

Blockchain. Cryptocurrency. The metaverse. Web 3.0. These terms may still sound novel to most of us – despite taking the mainstream media by storm during the past two or three years, especially during Bitcoin’s all-time high in 2021 – but the underlying technology and guiding principles of these innovations have existed for much longer than you may imagine. Bitcoin, for example, was invented as long ago as 2008, by a programmer who went under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. But while blockchain technology can be traced back by more than a decade, Ray Chan, the Hong Kong-based founder of the meme-sharing website 9GAG, tells us that the ethos behind what many consider to be an impending revolution has existed for years.

“It almost goes back to what started the Internet in the first place,” Chan tells me as he retraces the concepts back to the late 1980s. “In Web 1.0, we talked a lot about open source and building it for the people. It’s just that in Web 2.0, things got so efficient and effective that all the power went to the big companies. For Web 3.0, we’re going back to the basics. If you believe in the Internet, Web 3.0 should be a better model instead of its current form.”

In essence, this new iteration of the Internet utilises blockchain technology to create a decentralised system that gives control back to its users, granting them greater ownership of both their created content and personal data. It’s been hailed as the great equaliser, which should level the playing field and significantly shift power dynamics between web users and massive corporations such as Meta or Google, and it’s precisely these ideals that spurred Chan to create his newest Web 3.0 venture, Memeland.

Thanks to Chan’s 15 years of experience with Web 2.0 through 9GAG, the problems plaguing the status quo are obvious to him, though he says the requisite solutions are now clearer than ever before. Describing current social-media models, Chan explains that, while the likes of Facebook and Instagram are free for both users and content creators, these platforms can take up to a 95 percent cut of advertising revenue, leaving its community with scraps. On the other hand, the payment models employed by the likes of OnlyFans and Netflix are able to provide their creators with a more significant cut, though paywalls may ultimately limit distribution. A superior alternative, says Chan, is SocialFi.

SocialFi combines social media with decentralised finance (DeFi) concepts such as decentralisation and digital ownership, so that content creators and users can both benefit directly. Through NFTs, creators can sell their content in exchange for digital tokens, giving them proper remuneration for their work, while fans can enjoy owning unique digital products that prove their loyalty. Since both the underlying cryptocurrency as well as the NFTs are limited in supply, their values naturally appreciate – or, at least, they have done so far – which has often made them better investments than traditional financial instruments. But while SocialFi products are the company’s ultimate goal, Memeland is currently focusing on building a community through NFTs and a fungible token named $MEME that will facilitate digital transactions, both of which are important foundational pillars for the project.

“If you look at Web 3.0, it’s made up of a few components. What I see is that many companies in the industry right now only have one component, and when they only have one, it can be good when it’s a bull market, but they’ll hit a bottleneck after some time,” Chan explains. “Different components need to work together to maximise impact – and that’s why, for Memeland, we use the analogy of cooking a three-course meal for a Web 3.0 dinner: NFTs, a fungible token and SocialFi products. With these three courses, it’ll make the dinner much more delicious.”

His approach is a refreshing one, especially considering the current bear market for crypto and NFTs. Anyone paying attention to the blockchain news cycle over the past several years will have heard of dozens – if not hundreds – of projects either being rug-pulled or completely falling off a cliff, in spite of bright and ambitious launches. In such a climate, Chan believes it’s critical to look not just at local peaks, but step back and observe market cycles, which so far have proven bullish.

But most important – and this is why Memeland stands out among the vast sea of Web 3.0 projects – is that Chan is able to appreciate the importance of something most other projects have yet to understand: that success with any Web 3.0 endeavour requires the collaboration of a lively, participating community, one that truly believes in your vision and the ethos behind what you’re doing.

“Among all the top companies in this area, Memeland is one of only few that actually have a very strong background in Web 2.0, as well as a strong start in Web 3.0,” Chan points out. “Most other top projects are basically semi-dead already. Unlike them, we have a very strong vision, and we want to build a community that’s interested in creating this SocialFi ecosystem together.” He adds: “A lot of people in Web 3.0 talk about building in public, but for us, whether we’re building things in public or not doesn’t really matter. Building with the community is the key.”

As a testament, Memeland has launched three separate NFT collections over the past year and a half since its conception – titled Potatoz, Captainz and MVP – and they’ve amassed upward of 6,000 collectors. Even more impressive is its follower base on Twitter, which has now exceeded 400,000 fans, making Memeland one of the most anticipated Web 3.0 projects in the post-Covid period. Unlike many other products or cryptocurrencies in that sphere, which heavily spotlight their own roadmaps and often make unrealistic promises, Chan prides himself in going completely without one. Instead, he simply holds a grand vision of what Memeland can ultimately develop into, and his team works closely with its online followers through social-media channels and its own Discord server to realise that vision, while constantly fine-tuning the latter according to user feedback.

Touching on Treasure Islandz – Memeland’s version of the metaverse – Chan drives home the point of why it’s necessary to keep options open and not restrict himself to an overly ambitious and over-promising road map, instead working with the community to build something people actually want.

“We never announce any road maps but we do have a vision of a few products we want to build,” he explains. “With Treasure Islandz, it’s a metaverse concept we want
to launch, but what it actually is is pretty fluid. Web 3.0 moves so quickly it’s almost like dog years: working one year in Web 3.0 is basically like working for seven years
in the rest of the tech industry. Because of this, we have a vision where people can participate and communicate with each other, but exactly what it is is still evolving.”

The concept of Web 3.0 will no doubt revolutionise the Internet, but to successfully bring around any revolution requires acceptance by millions of users, a challenge that countless tech pioneers have yet to conquer. Whether this will happen any time soon or what the end product might look like are questions no one can really answer now. But what we do know is that change is coming, and we’re going to need more thought leaders like Chan to bring us into this new age of interconnection.

The post Memetic Moonshot: Ray Chan on His Latest Web 3.0 Venture Memeland appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Though I enjoy good sound, I don’t consider myself an audiophile in particular, primarily because a large number of people can’t really tell the difference between a lossless audio file and a compressed audio file and it requires super high end equipment. And the truth is: the problem with “fidelity” – is that the listener usually doesn’t know exactly what the original instrument or voice sounded like when it was being recorded. Unless you were in the studio or the venue where the performance took place and heard it acoustically (and not through a microphone and speakers) you can’t know how close to the original the reproduction is. Enter Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.

Like it or not, it’s the future of music: It offers music lovers a more discernible and readily identifiable way of listening to music – everyone can visualise the Eagles and where each instrumentalist is sitting as they play Hotel California. In fact, in a special release on Spatial Audio as part of Apple Music in May 2021, it was announced that “Since launch, the number of monthly Spatial Audio listeners has more than tripled, with more than 80 percent of worldwide subscribers enjoying the experience, while monthly plays in Spatial Audio have grown by over 1,000 percent.”

Nearly two years on, all major label releases on Apple Music have a Spatial Audio mix available. Icing on cake, older releases continue to be released weekly and highlighted in the app. Last month, Augustman met with Zeke Keran aka Flightsch, a Singaporean hip hop R&B producer who found regional acclaim early on and built a name for himself in the Taiwanese hip hop and pop scene. Keran has developed top hip hop musicians like Yung Raja, and discovered Spatial Audio sometime in 2021 while he was A&R at Universal Music and looked to launching local singer Iman Fandi.

For Thai singer Earth Patravee, the eight year veteran found that producing music in Spatial was akin to not only producing a painting from her mind but also imbuing it with her exact emotions when she was producing it because spatial audio gave her the ability to portray layers of music and her voice differently.

Evan Low aka Evanturetime, who has engineered for the likes of David Foster, while also co-arranging and co-producing Singapore’s National Day Parade in 2022, likens the launch of Spatial Audio as an evolution of the technology and a new way of expressing one’s self. “Your standard AirPods are now able to support spatial audio and this sets a good precedent for the general public to adopt this format naturally without realising it,” he said. As a producer and song-writer he added that, “in the past, we had left and right speakers but humans perceive audio in a 360 space and this opens a new ground when it comes to creation because we can recreate an experience that was unprecedented in the past. This opens up a lot of avenues where artists can express narratives and change things up incredibly. I’m very salty that I could not get Taylor Swift tickets but if you had the support of Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio, you could listen to Tay-Tay via streaming service as if you where there in the middle of the audience. The analogy would be Category One tickets from the comfort of my own room in my pyjamas with a glass of wine. We couldn’t do that and now we can. Spatial Audio is a new canvas.”

Paints for a new canvas: Apple Logic Pro

Given the proliferation of amateur content creation and how a sizzling audio reel can make or break a reel or Instagram story, Logic Pro is yet another potent toolkit in an artist’s repertoire. “Logic Pro already has that support in binaural,” says Low, “and it took me a night before bed with headphones to translate that into Dolby Atmos for a Spatial Audio format. Jeff, our studio guy took a listen and with a few tweaks, we were done. It’s a myth that you need 11 speakers to get this done, all you need is a laptop and a pair of good headphones.”

The logic (no pun intended), is quite solid considering that most consumers use consumer products rather than have audiophile setups, hence, working on a pair of headphones makes more sense rather than translating the audio format with some highfalutin high tech setup.

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Music stems are a type of audio file that breaks down a complete track into individual mixes. This allows you to control each of the particular mixes for your production and these tracks commonly include melody, instruments, bass, and drums. Conceivably, with these song stems, one could even remix their favourite oldie and reinterpret the track in a new way.

“You can even reimagine songs to create an effect of being played in a bigger room just by taking a track and delaying it a few milliseconds so it sounds perceptibly like the instrument was way in tieback of the room, simulating the size of space, it’s literally a way to revitalise old songs,” says Low.

In a single project, Apple Logic Pro can run up to a whopping 1,000 stereo audio tracks, 1,000 instrument tracks, and 1,000 auxiliary tracks, and use up to 12 sends per channel strip. Icing on cake, if you recently got a new MacBook Pro or iPad, the software is not only free but also the lifetime updates that continue as Apple persists on incremental tweaks on lesser machines.

Its new 3D Object Panner allows you to visualise and position special effects and instruments in graphical three-dimensional space, letting you create mixes with elevation control by moving objects in the soundscape around you. Furthermore, a Dolby Atmos rendering plug-in can visualise these objects in the mix and monitor in multi-channel mode, either using a discrete speaker system or even binaurally in standard studio headphones.

The app also includes eight Producer Packs originally introduced in GarageBand with royalty-free sounds from famous producers such as Take a Daytrip, Mark Ronson, and Oak Felder, plus slap house and modern ambient sound packs among other sounds—2,800 loops, 50 kits, and 120 instrument patches in all. You even get the original multitrack project of Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”.

Perhaps Zeke nails it best on the head, “Imagine if you’ve never heard about the internet and now you have to create for the internet.”

Essentially, the difficult lies in re-configuring our 2D audio space, an environment we’ve created it for most of our lives and now envisioning sound in all three dimensions. “I think essentially we are in an era of engagement where fans can relate to artists and I would love to add to that perspective. You could hear Dua Lipa singing right beside you. From a national day perspective, it would be incredible to listen to the anthem right in the middle of the national stadium,” continued Low. “A Dungeons & Dragons podcast where you be at the table where they’re playing and you can feel the dice sounds and the positional audio from each player will be insane. We’ve moved from mono to stereo to 5.1 format and now we have Spatial Audio, this is definitely the future.”

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The possibilities are endless

For FlightSch, the potential for Spatial Audio is immeasurable. “We are in undiscovered lands right now. We need more minds in the game to be able to push everyone’s creativity. I can only figure out mixes as much as I know but we need to see what others are doing in order to expand its potential creatively,” says Zeke. “For example, experiencing live music in a spatial audio way requires us to figure out a way on how to do that and present it in an immersive virtual reality experience,” he explains.

Indeed, Spatial Audio does expand upon one of the bug bears of virtual reality which breaks the illusion of immersion: sound that doesn’t feel multi-directional. In the real world, you can hear someone creeping up beside you, on non-Spatial Audio enabled headphones, it’s more of a general “coming from the left or right” sensation. Coupled with Apple’s recently demonstrated Apple Vision Pro, this could be the game changer.

Earth is quite enthusiastic about her music being able to speak to the heart, “I won’t use it as an effect but I’ll use it to be closer to the audience. It allows me to whisper closely to the microphone and then sing further back as well. There’s an intimacy.”

“You can do so much more as artists and open a new chapter for music. Before the integration with Logic Pro, you needed proper technical knowledge. Now you can do it all with a click of the button, you can create a Spatial Audio session, it makes Dolby Atmos more accessible to the market,” agreed Zeke.

If they could remaster a song in Spatial Audio, which would they pick and why

“I would go for Michael Jackson’s Remember the Time. An R&B song fused with jack swing. Helps that it was a legendary short film also!” – Zeke

“I would do Adele’s latest album. I also like the song Stranger by nature. There are so many layers and chords, almost like an oldies Jazz song.” – Earth

“The cop out answer will be “Home”. It’s too minimal but if they did an orchestral revamp, it would be great. The national anthem done live would be epic to feel from a first person perspective and to be in the position of the singer. But right off the top of the head, Bohemian Rhapsody because its so choral and so big, with Freddie Mercury in my face and the band surrounding me.” – Evanturetime

HomePods: A new audio experience at home

Designed to work in harmony, the Apple’s new HomePods leverage advanced computational audio to deliver groundbreaking acoustics. The S7 chip is joined with software and system-sensing technology to offer even more advanced computational audio that maximises the full potential of its acoustic system for a groundbreaking listening experience: room sensing technology allows HomePod to recognise sound reflections from nearby surfaces to determine if it is against a wall or freestanding, and then adapts sound in real time.

Precise directional control of its beamforming array of five tweeters separates and beams direct and ambient audio, immersing listeners in crystal-clear vocals and rich instrumentation, making it perfect for Spatial Audio without requiring expensive 11 speaker set ups.

On its own, HomePod delivers immersive, captivating audio quality, with rich, deep bass and stunning high frequencies. A custom-engineered high-excursion woofer that drives the diaphragm a remarkable 20mm, a built-in bass-EQ mic, and beamforming array of five tweeters around the base all work together to achieve a powerful acoustic experience. Paired in stereo, each HomePod plays a channel in perfect harmony for a truly standout listening experience.

HomePod mini features an Apple-designed acoustic waveguide to direct the flow of sound down and out toward the bottom of the speaker for an immersive 360-degree audio experience. This allows customers to place HomePod mini almost anywhere in a room and hear consistent sound. To achieve big sound out of such a compact design, the Apple S5 chip in HomePod mini works with advanced software to analyse the unique characteristics of the music and apply complex tuning models to optimise volume, adjust the dynamic range, and control the movement of the driver and passive radiators in real time.

When placed in a large open-plan area, such as on a kitchen island, it sounds great with well-controlled bass, detailed highs and good mids, with excellent separation of tones. It sounds great with normal and spatial audio tracks, though it can sound a little clean and clinical. Two HomePods can be paired up for even wider sound. Spatial audio tracks can sound fantastic if the recording has been well produced.

Spatial Audio according to JBL: Tour Pro 2 & Tour One M2

While Apple patent filings suggest that the AirPods of the future might showcase “smart cases”, it appears Samsung owned JBL is first to the punch. Winners of the prestigious Red Dot Award for Product Design in 2023, the JBL Tour Pro 2 and JBL Tour One M2 not only feature user friendly designs but also pioneer a new era for audio technology.

Housed in the world’s first smart charging case, the Tour Pro 2 includes an exhaustive, well-rounded list of features: The 1.45” LED touch display controls music, receives calls, manages message notifications in real time without requiring you to interact with the brand’s smartphone app.

JBL’s adaptive noise-cancellation adjusts in real time based on the loudness of your environment strong thanks to its 6-mic design. Furthermore, users can optimise True Adaptive Noise Cancellation performance by taking the Ear Canal Test (in the dedicated JBL app) in a noisy environment and then enjoy signature sound provided via 10-millimeter drivers following the revered Harman response curve – an optimal sound signature that most people prefer.

Taking a call while commuting on public transport or running outdoors will also prove to be a seamless experience, thanks to new improved hardware and software optimisation. However, where it acquits itself admirably is Spatial Audio.

Spatial audio compatibility is one of the Tour Pro 2’s flagship features, adjustable via the JBL smartphone app and case to accommodate three different modes: Movie, Music and Games. Setting the Tour Pro 2 to Music before loading up Apple Music and looking for layers of instrumental interplay in something jazzy like Weaver of Dreams by Freddie Hubbard sees the technology working beautifully. We can hear Hubbard’s iconic trumpet on our left, with snare drums to our right and saxophone behind, making everything separated and distinct. R.E.M.’s Drive gets major credit as well: guitar to our left, bass overhead, harmonica to the right, Stipe himself even commented on his remaster in Dolby Atmos in 2017, “breathtaking,” he said.

But therein lies the conceit, spatial audio works when the stems have fidelity to the artist’s intentions. Many of Apple Music’s catalog passes muster, but it only takes a handful of bad tracks to ruin a good run when a once favourite tune comes across more like a digital filter than 3D audio.

On the Tour One M2 headphones, we couldn’t quite get spatial audio to function as well as the Tour Pro 2 earbuds: Spatial Audio ends up losing a lot of fidelity and it comes across more like an EQ preset or “3D virtualisation” on the soundstage than it does actual Dolby Atmos. Other factors like EQ and Personi-Fi — basically a hearing test that when completed, will personalise the sound based on your hearing. You can basically tune the sound signature to your ears — these play a role. Movement is well represented and it does its best to establish some discernible layers and separation but ultimately, where the Tour One M2 acquits itself is as an incredibly competent pair of stereo headphones: nice bass with balance and grace, with Personi-Fi turned on, you get a soupçon of more vibration from sub-bass details layered. For its price point, it has everything you could possibly want in a wireless headphone.

This story first appeared in Augustman Singapore.

The post Sound Investments: Is Spatial Audio the Future of Music? appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.