Mi 3@Affordable Android (Launch 20/May/2014)*!

*PROMOTION : Mi 3@Affordable Android (Launch 20/May/2014)*!

XIAOMI is China smartphone market has entered Malaysia market with flagship smartphone of Mi3.
The price is only RM889 for the Android smartphone!

• Slender frame with 8.1mm thickness
• Weight scale with 145g
• 5in Full HD IPS display with pixel density of 441ppi
• 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor. 
• 13-megapixel rear-facing autofocus camera with a wide f/2.2 aperture and a front-facing 2-megapixel camera
• NFC (near nield nommunication)
• 3,050mAh battery which is rated to have a standby time of up to 500 hours
• Android 4.3 JellyBean

Users can save their data on the Cloud using Xiaomi’s MiCloud service.
It will keep all their important data such as contacts, calls, text messages and photos backed up on the Cloud.

Xiaomi said it’s still working with three local telcos (Celcom, Maxis and DiGi) to sell its smartphone at subsidised rates. The 16GB variant of the Mi3 will go on sale tomorrow (May 20) at 12pm on its site at  www.mi.com.

Malaysians Mi Fans can finally purchase Mi 3 starting from tomorrow (On www.mi.com/my)

Free Yes Pakej Komunikasi Belia

Yes is now offering two types of Pakej Komunikasi Belia that are absolutely free. Both packages come with free Samsung 4G Smartphone (Yes Buzz 4G Cloud Phone) and a Yes ID. The only difference between the two packages is the bundled prepaid plan:

1. Pakej Komunikasi Belia for the working youth with 1Malaysia value pack 25
2. Pakej Komunikasi Belia for the academic staff and students with 3 * Campuspack 28

PKB Type	Feature
1Malaysia value pack 25	Priced at RM25, 1GB data, 100 minutes talk time (Yes network),  300 SMS (Yes network)
Campuspack 28	Priced at RM28, 1GB data, 100 minutes talk time (Yes network),  400 SMS (Yes network)

Yes Buzz 4G Cloud Phone that costs RM 488 is given for free after deducting RM 200 government subsidy and a further subsidy from Yes. It is the world's first ever SIM-less 4G cloud phone which is packed with amazing features that make the most out of Yes network - Internet, voice and SMS, all in one. 

This 4G mobile device has an integrated Opera mini browser for faster search and browsing experience with Yes 4G. The full sliding QWERTY keyboard let you type and communicate faster with your friends and loved ones. What's more the Buzz phone can be used for Internet tethering, that serves as a modem for your computer to connect to Yes 4G networks and connecting to the Internet. 

This is the technical specification for the phone:

Dimension	52.9 x 113 x 16.8mm
Display	2.2", 64k TFT
Battery	960mAh
Talk Time/ Standby	4.5h / 100h
Band	WiMAX 2.3GHz
Camera	2MP
Memory	64MB, Micro SD
Audio/ Video	MP3, ACC, ACC+, WMA, WAV / MP4, 3gp
Email/ Browsing	POP3, SMTP / Java, xHTML, WAP, CSS
Phone Book	1000 contacts
Connectivity	USB cable
Organizer	Calendar, To-do List, Memo, Clock, Calculator, Voice Memo, World time, Dictionary

If you have registered for the Pakej Komunikasi Belia at SKMM, just print the form or take down the serial number on the form, go to your nearest Yes Store or Campus Store to ask for the details.

Phones to Consider in Pakej Komunikasi Belia

It's 31st December, the last day of Year 2012. A few minutes later, we will be in Year 2013 and we can start the registration for the Pakej Komunikasi Belia (Youth Communication Package).

So which phones are worth to consider from the list of 23 devices? I've compiled a table for quick comparison purpose:

No.	Model	RRP	Screen	OS
1	Alcatel OneTouch 993D	588	4.0”	Android 4.0
2	Alcatel OneTouch Glory 2	-
3	Alcatel OneTouch Inspire 2	-
4	The Buzz Phone	-
5	HTC Wildfire	385	3.2”	Android 2.2
6	Huawei Ideos X3	330	3.2”	Android 2.3
7	LG Optimus L3	414	3.2”	Android 2.3
8	Ninetology Black Pearl II	599	4.0”	Android 4.0
9	Ninetology Palette	345	3.0”	Android 2.3
10	Nokia 2730	218
11	Nokia 7230	-
12	Nokia Asha 305	299
13	Nokia Asha 308	320
14	Nokia Asha 311	419
15	Nokia C2-03	260
16	Nokia Lumia 610	539	3.7”	WM 7.5
17	Samsung Galaxy Chat	495	3.0”	Android 4.0
18	Samsung Galaxy Mini	499	3.1”	Android 2.3
19	Samsung Galaxy Pocket	370	2.8”	Android 2.3
20	Samsung Galaxy Y	400	3.0”	Android 2.3
21	Sony Xperia Tipo	505	3.2”	Android 4.0
22	ZTE Acqua	699	4.0”	Android 4.0
23	ZTE V790	-

These are the smartphones that are worth buying:
1. Nokia Lumia 610
Nokia is a brand well-known for its quality and durability, 3.7" screen, 5MP camera, great at locking GPS signal and smoother interface as running in Windows Phone 7.5 Mango.

2. Ninetology Black Pearl II
Malaysian brand packed with 4.0" IPS screen, dual core processor, 5MP camera with ability to shoot 8MP photo, dual SIM, running on Android 4.0.

3. Ninetology Palette
3.0" screen, dual SIM, can purchase with special price RM 299 when trade in with old/ unused phone.

4. Sony Xperia Tipo
3.2" screen, 800 MHz processor, 3.2 MP camera, running on Android 4.0.

Smartphone RM200 Rebate for Youth

As part of Budget 2013 tabled in September 2012, the Youth Communication Package is a scheme coordinated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and implemented by the celcos,  to encourage more youths especially those in rural areas to enjoy the nation’s broadband facilities.

Update on 3/1/2013: Restriction on smartphone price is lifted.

Youths who qualify for the RM 200 rebate will be able to purchase 'selected' 3G smartphones costing up to RM 500 from selected dealers and agents appointed by service providers. With the rebate, they are expected to pay no more than RM 300 to own a new 3G smartphone.

Eligibility:

• Age 21 to 30.
• Income below RM 3000.
• Need to subscribe to data plan from celcos, if not yet a data plan subscriber.

The list of smartphones offered is as follows:

1) Alcatel 993D
2) Alcatel OneTouch Glory 2
3) Alcatel OneTouch Inspire 2
4) The Buzz Phone
5) HTC Wildfire
6) Huawei Ideos X3
7) LG Optimus L3
8) Ninetology Black Pearl II
9) Ninetology Palette
10) Nokia 2730
11) Nokia 7230
12) Nokia Asha 305
13) Nokia Asha 308
14) Nokia Asha 311
15) Nokia C2-03
16) Nokia Lumia 610
17) Samsung Galaxy Chat
18) Samsung Galaxy Mini
19) Samsung Galaxy Pocket
20) Samsung Galaxy Y
21) Sony Xperia Tipo
22) ZTE Acqua
23) ZTE V790

The models list will be updated from time to time in the Service Provider's website. The brand, model and quantity offered may differ amongst different Service Providers.

The application can be done online via National Broadband Initiative website, starting from 1 January 2013. The scheme is on a first-come-first served basis and will be for the first 1.5 million eligible youths who may claim their smartphones while stocks last.

Apple iPhone 5

Apple has officially launched its iPhone 5 a few hours ago. The new features are exactly same as the rumours spreaded around the Internet earlier. It comes with bigger screen, thinner and lighter body, different types of connector, new processor and LTE network.

The back of iPhone 5 is now made from aluminum and the lens of back camera is made of sapphire crystal. This provides the solid feel, better durability and reliability. The thinner iPhone 5 has also changed to lightning connector and nano SIM. For the headphones, they are changed to earpods which are claimed to be more comfortable, durable & stable. Let's take a look at the comparison between iPhone 5 and its predecessor iPhone 4S.

No	Category	iPhone 5	iPhone 4S
1	Processor	A6 chip	A5 chip
2	Dimension	Height: 123.8 mm Width: 58.6 mm Depth: 7.6 mm	Height: 115.2 mm Width: 58.6 mm Depth: 9.3 mm
3	Weight	112 g	140 g
4	Display	4-inch Retina display	3.5-inch Retina display
5	Resolution	1136 * 640	960 * 640
6	Cellular & Wireless	GSM model: GSM/EDGE UMTS/HSPA+ DC-HSDPA CDMA model: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A & Rev. B LTE3 Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n; 802.11n on 2.4GHz and 5GHz) Bluetooth 4.0 GPS and GLONASS	GSM/EDGE UMTS/HSPA - CDMA EV-DO Rev. A2 - Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n; 802.11n on 2.4GHz) Bluetooth 4.0 GPS and GLONASS
7	SIM Card	Nano SIM (44% smaller than micro SIM)	Micro SIM
8	Back Camera	8 MP	8 MP
9	Front Camera	1.2MP photos 720p HD video Backside illumination sensor	VGA-resolution photos VGA-resolution video
10	Video Recording	1080p HD video recording 30 fps Tap to focus while recording LED light Improved video stabilization Take still photos while recording video Face detection	1080p HD video recording 30 fps Tap to focus while recording LED light Video stabilization - -
11	Headphones	Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic Storage and travel case	Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
12	Connector	Lightning	30-pin
13	Talk Time	Talk time: Up to 8 hours on 3G Browsing time: Up to 8 hours on LTE Up to 8 hours on 3G Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi Standby time: Up to 225 hours	Talk time: Up to 8 hours on 3G Browsing time: - Up to 6 hours on 3G Up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi Standby time: Up to 200 hours
14	Price	16GB RM2199 (Estimation) 32GB RM2499 (Estimation) 64GB RM2799 (Estimation)	16GB RM1799