Apple launches new iPad Mini and 4th Gen iPad

After all the leaks in what possibly is Apple’s worst kept secret, Apple unveiled the all new iPad Mini in the media event it hosted 1am Malaysian Time. The iPad Mini was released to combat the fierce competition from Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle series. The specs seemed lackluster and last gen compared to the new iPad, but it was necessary to meet the $349 starting price of the Mini. Specs include a 7.9 inch 1024×768 display, a dual core A5 processor all in a slim 7.5mm thick frame. It also comes with a 5MP iSight camera, Nd Apple promises a  10 hour battery life, as it does with all its iPads.

In the midst of all the hoohah, Apple managed to shock the entire world, by releasing the 4th generation iPad, 7 months after the 3rd generation. The new “new” iPad keeps most of the 3rd gen specs, save for a new Facetime HD front shooter, and all new A6X cpu that’s twice as fast. Both the iPads come with apples new Lightning connector, a move to standardise its ports.

Keep it locked to Cracktech on availability of the new iPads in Malaysia.

Credit : Engadget

Apple Store Down Ahead of iPad mini Announcement

As has become a tradition on the day of an Apple media event, the Apple Store is currently offline as we await the debut of the iPad mini. We may also be seeing new iMacs, Mac minis and the introduction of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, so be prepared for a lot of new items.

In one of the most baffling things about Apple, we will never understand why in 2012 it feels it has to take its online store completely offline during a media event. Is it to build up even more anticipation? Is it truly a technical issue? Who knows. What we do know is, it has happened, and the iPad mini is sure to be there when it comes back up after the event.

Nexus 7 Malaysian Launch Liveblog

 

ASUS Malaysia is hosting a media event today to launch the Nexus 7 here in Malaysia. Want in on the scoop live? Our new website, CrackTech.net ,will be liveblogging it, so tune in on time! The event starts at Friday , 21 September 3PM ( GMT + 8 Malaysian Time ). Also, please comment on what questions you may have for ASUS , and we’ll ask them for you . Please visit the new site here http://cracktech.net/2012/09/21/nexus-7-malaysian-launch-liveblog/ where the liveblog is happening.

 

Blackberry Curve 9320 Review

RIM has been working very hard to push its new and upcoming BB10 OS, giving everyone a sneak peak of the OS and trying to convince developers to hop in the bandwagon. However, BB10 has been plagued with delays and is now forced to be launched in early 2013 with whatever upcoming handsets RIM will be launching. In the mean time, RIM has launched a few Blackberry handsets to keep the QWERTY-Loving crowd occupied until BB10 ships. 

Please click here to visit the new website and read the full review 🙂

ASUS Teases Nexus 7 Launch in Malaysia, event on September 21

 

 

Tons of Malaysians have been anxiously waiting for the much hyped Jelly Bean tablet, the ASUS and Google Nexus 7 . We ourselves coudn’t stand the wait and imported a unit from the US. ASUS have sent us a media invite to attend the launch event of the Nexus 7 , happening on the September 21st , 3PM. The event will be liveblogged on the new CrackTech website here, so please remember to tune in to the new website. So, mark those calendars folks. Of course, CrackTech will be there liveblogging the event live, and livetweeting it so be sure to tune in on time! Our very own Chief Editor Vishnuu Panickar and Co-Chief Editor Kumaran Ganesh will on liveblog duty. Just a recap of the specs, the Nexus 7 runs on an NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU with 1GB of RAM and a 7 – inch IPS HD display – hence the name. We expect the tablet to do exceptionally well here, penetrating the below RM1000 price of a tablet, especially with no Kindle to compete with here.

Remember guys, the event will be live on the new website here.

 

iPhone 5 Announced: Thinner, Lighter, Faster.

After all the rumours and painfully long waits, Apple has finally launched their latest flagship, the iPhone 5, during the September 12 event scheduled earlier. The released product met with a number of leaks and rumours, even the design. However, the iPhone wasn’t the only star of the show. Apple also took the opportunity to unveil new versions of its iPod lineup, the Nano, Shuffle, and of course the Touch.
The latest iPhone 5 comes with an all new processor, the A6. Apple quotes it to be two times faster than the A5X on the new iPad, paired with a quad cored graphics chip. Apple did not disclose clock speeds and core numbers, but many believe it to be an overclocked dual core chip, with the latest Arm 15 architecture, beating Samsung and Qualcomm to releasing Krait.

The biggest talk however is the new 4 inch screen of the iPhone 5, upgraded from 3.5 inches from every previous iPhone. The resolution has also been bumped up to retain Retina status, and is now a 1130 x 640 display with an almost 16:9 ratio. Older apps will be letterboxed until they are updated to support the new display ratio. There will now be 5 rows of icons to accommodate the new real estate.

A long with that, a few other features will surely whet Apple fan boys. The front camera is now  Facetime HD, capable of 720p recording. The back camera, surprisingly, has not been changed from the iPhone 4S, with only software improvements made to enhance photo taking. Apple also took the chance to unveil new headphones, dubbed EarPort. Apple also unveiled the much leaked new charging and data transfer port, Lightning. It’s a new 8 pin dock, trimmed down from the 30 pin original from 9 years back. Pricing starts at $199 for 16GB model

As for the iPod, the Touch is now 4″ with the A6 cpu, and it’s all new design is 6mm thin with a fully colourful aluminium backing. Now you have a variety of colours for the iPod touch. Pricing is $299 for the 32GB and $399 for the 64GB model.

The new iPod Nano comes with an all new 2.5″ touch display with home button and the Lightning port, but it doesn’t run on iOS. The new shuffle is essentially the same as the previous model except for more colour options.

Meet The Galaxy Note II, Samsung’s Most Important Phone Yet

The original Samsung Note was huge — in both physical size and popularity. Samsung sold over 10 million units of the huge phone, or rather, if you prefer, mini tablet. The Note II is more of the same, really. It sports a much more capable mobile SoC, which should make the Jelly Bean Android build run as smooth as, well, butter. Strangely, the new model features a lower resolution screen than the original, but that likely won’t hurt sales.

In all, the new Note is like the old Note. Engadget likes what they see so far. That’s a good thing. It’s still a massive thing, likely too big for some users. But that’s fine with Samsung. The Note II shows Samsung’s swagger. It might not be the best selling phone in Samsung’s lineup, but it’s the most important.

Samsung is fresh off a huge court loss that could have sweeping effects. Early reports from phone resellers indicate that users are actually dumping their Samsung phones twice as often as normal. Gazelle.com, a site that buys old phones from owners, reports a 50% increase in Samsung smartphones buybacks over the past three days. That’s just nuts. But Samsung is plowing forward even though some devices could face a ban in the U.S.

The Galaxy Note II is the successor to the widely popular Galaxy Note. The original Note wasn’t the first 5-inch touchscreen phone, but it was the model to make it big. The 5-inch Dell Streak busted into the market in the summer of 2010 but failed to make much of an impact. The Streak shipped with outdated Android software and Dell failed to provide updates in a timely fashion. Plus, unlike the Note, the Streak wasn’t marketed to the general consumer; the Streak was intended for the business crowd.

Samsung announced the Galaxy Note one year ago at IFA 2011. The phone hit the European market in late October and went on to sell one million units prior to launching in the U.S. the following February. Samsung went big with the Note’s marketing and went as far as showcasing it at CES in a huge booth by having artists draw caricatures of show goers. It was a widely popular stunt, and the booth often had a massive line.

Samsung is likely to go even bigger with the Note II’s advertising. The original’s success shows that there is a big market for large screen phones. With the new iPhone using a larger screen, Samsung’s argument for huge screens could be made easier this time around. If nothing else, the Galaxy Note II is a fine halo device, designed to draw consumers’ attention to the Samsung brand — and to the Galaxy S III.

Consider the Chevy Corvette — it’s too expensive and not practical for every buyer, but it brings people into car showrooms and that’s the Note II’s job too. The Note II is physically huge. It’s not for everyone. But Samsung would argue that the Galaxy S III, the Note’s smaller and cheaper counterpart, is for everyone. Where the Note II is Samsung’s Corvette, the Galaxy S III is the Chevy Camaro, an everyday driver.

At $199 with carrier subsidies, the Galaxy S III is Samsung’s mainstay. The phone still features a large screen, but it’s rather small compared to the Note II. The GSIII lacks a stylus, tablet-ish flappy cover and, most important, the negative connotation that it’s too big.

Samsung clearly knows what it’s doing. It’s the largest phone manufacturer in the world and the Galaxy S III will rival the new iPhone in sales; the Note series will not. But it doesn’t have to in order to accomplish its mission. The Note II gives Samsung’s lineup a bit of variety while still keeping the manufacturing simply by using parts similar to that found in the Galaxy S III. This way Samsung can offer more models while keeping manufacturing costs down.

Expect to hear a lot about the Note II in the coming months. It’s scheduled to hit Europe in October, with a wider release to follow shortly.

To view some pictures of the Note 2 click here

How to Buy a Nexus 7 in Malaysia

 

 

Ever since Google launched the Nexus 7 in Google I/O 2012, every Malaysian has been searching high and low for a way to purchase the Nexus 7 , and for a reasonable price at that. Because of that I’ve tried my best to search through the internet and all the online stores to try and find possible ways for us to get our hands on Google’s latest and greatest.

IP-Mart

IPMart has been one of the fastest local resellers to offer the Nexus 7 , priced at RM949 for the 8GB version and RM1149 for the 16GB version. Yes , this might be RM300 more than the RRP price from the Play Store, but its the only option that ships fast and the only store locally selling it. I have gotten confirmation from Google Malaysia that they have no immediate plans to release the Nexus 7 here yet, so this may be a viable option. You have an option to pay either by Bank In, Credit Card , PayPal or even Cash On Delivery ( select States). Click here for more details.

Negri Electronics

Negri Electronics is well known for offering all the latest devices the fastest and they ship internationally – including Malaysia! The 8Gb version is RM780 and the 16GB model is RM1000 . It is slightly cheaper than IPMart, but when you take into account the shipping costs and delivery time, it comes up to the same. More info here.

Google Play Store

This is the cheapest but hardest option, as it requires you to ship to a US address, and have your friend ship it to you. You have the advantage of buying it with the RRP price of $199 / @249 but it’s quite troublesome to find a friend who is willing to go through the trouble to ship it to you. You will also have to get your friend in the US to purhase it for you, as the Play Store website isn’t accessible from Malaysia.

I hope these options certainly help you to get your hands on the much coveted Nexus 7 . We ourselves are working on purchasing one and we’ll definitely review the device when we get it. Stay tuned.

 

iOS App Review: Plague Inc

Plague Inc [$0.99] is a strategy title from Ndemic Creations with a pretty dark goal: launch a disease somewhere in the world and slowly infect the population, eventually infecting the entire world and eradicating humanity.

Sure, it’s just a video game, but there’s something about it that gets under your skin. First it’s fascination as you watch your creation spread and the number of infected skyrocket, then a sense of awe and sadness as that number slowly begins to reflect the number of deceased by your own doing.

It can be unsettling playing Plague Inc, but also hugely satisfying due to the many different ways you can go about accomplishing your goal. You control the evolution of your plague, its resilience, and the manner in which it spreads by way of various upgrade trees.

There are 7 different kinds of plagues in the game, and as Ndemic has revealed there’s a special new plague called the Neurax Worm coming in the next update. If you’re curious what this worm does, well, it burrows into the brain of its host and is able to take control over their bodies. Sounds pretty unpleasant.

The Neurax Worm option will come with new infection behaviors and new options for evolution. Since it can control the minds of its hosts, a new feature called Trojan Planes allows you to get a host to fly to the country of your choosing and begin infections. There will also be more ways to win besides just eradicating humanity, and new graphics and sounds to accompany the Neurax Worm.

There is a tiny catch: you’ll have to have beaten the game on Brutal difficulty in order to unlock the new Neurax Worm content for free. Alternately, you can purchase it for 99¢. Seems like a good idea, offering a paid expansion pack but having the ability to earn it for free by accomplishing a goal in the game. I like that.

Whether you buy the new expansion or not, there is still a ton of stuff in this update that all players will receive, including new events and achievements, an improved interface, better graphics and AI, Twitter and Facebook integration, and a host of other tweaks and fixes.

Plague Inc is one of those strangely compelling titles. There’s not a ton of interaction while you’re watching your plague overtake the world, but the choices that you’re given and how you utilize your resources are crucial for success.

If you think you can live through the guilt of murdering billions of people through devious and likely painful ways, then make sure you check out Plague Inc and keep an eye out for the Neurax Worm update which has already been submitted to Apple and should be coming soon.

App Store Link: Plague Inc

Best Football iOS apps: Essential 2012-13 season downloads

Looking for the best football apps for your iOS device? These are the apps to help you follow the new 2012/13 football season on your Apple iOS device.

1. Live Score Addicts

The slickest football scores app on the App Store already covers over 400 leagues and has been tracking the Premier League action since last season. As well as offering video highlights during and after the match, Live Score Addicts now offers live tables, starting line-ups, match statistics and key head-to-head information. The push notification service will let you know as soon as the matches kick off and when the goals begin to pour in.

Platform: iPhone, iPad and Android | Price: Free | Link: Live Score Addicts iPhone app now I Live Score Addicts iPhone review

 

2. Sky Go

Sky’s live TV app gives you access to Sky Sports 1 and 2, bringing you all the Premier League football action you could want. Oh, and there’s Sky Sports News – so you can keep on an eye on all the transfer deadline day drama.

Platform:  iPhone, iPad, Android | Price: Free | Link: Download Sky Go iPhone app now

3. FourFourTwo Football Stats Zone

After taking care of stat-related matters at the EUROS, the Opta Sports-powered app turns its attention back to the Premier League providing the same detailed insight into tracking match data. From pass completion to player influence, you’ll be able to share it all on Twitter and Facebook so you can back up your booze-fuelled assessment that Mario Balotelli spent more time sulking than he did trying to get into dangerous positions in the box.

Platform: iPhone | Price: Free (no-in app purchase required) | Link: Download FourFourTwo Football Stats Zone iPhone app now

4. ESPN Goals

Whether a Saturday night out means missing Match of the Day, or you are desperate to see the action on a Saturday, ESPN Goals delivers, well, goals, and a whole seasons worth of them. There’s also live stats and goal updates, but this app is all about getting access to the goalmouth action quicker than you can sink that last pint, and now it’s free.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone 7 | Price: Free | Link::Download ESPN Goals iPhone app now

5. MatchPint

Trying to find the perfect place to watch the season opener? This pub finder app will help you find the perfect place to watch the game, letting you know how many screens are available, whether the sound will be turned up and even if the food is up to scratch. So you don’t have to pack an extra round of sandwiches in your bag that day…

Platform: iPhone, iPad | Price: Free | Link: Download MatchPint iPhone app now I MatchPint iPhone review

6. New Star Soccer

One of the biggest iOS gaming hits of 2012, this simple but epic uber-addictive footie sim is like Football Manager, Sensible Soccer and Be A Pro mode from FIFA all beautifully moulded into a Spectrum-esque touch romp that you will truly struggle to put back down. In-app purchases will make the beautiful game go longer, but it is well worth the money.

Platform: iPhone, iPad | Price: Free | Link: Download New Star Soccer iPhone app

7. Sky Sports Live Football Score Centre

When you can’t enjoy the Saturday afternoon’s entertainment with Stelling, Le Tiss and the rest of the boys, you can stay up to date with live results from every match in England, Scotland and from across Europe.

Platform: iPhone, iPad and Android | Price: Free | Link: Download Sky Sports Live Football Score Centre iPhone app now

8. FIFA 12

Until FIFA 13 lands, this is still comfortably the best footy sim to get on your iPhone. Sporting sharper graphics (courtesy of the new Retina display), refined virtual controls to make it easier to play on a touchscreen, instant replays now means you can re-live the most memorable sweeping counter-attacking moves or simply pulling off a Cruyff turn.

Platform: iPhone, iPad and Android | Price: £3.99 | Link: Download FIFA 12 iPhone app now
 

9. Football Manager Handheld 2012

To the dismay of wannabe wags everywhere, Football Manager steps out onto hallowed iPhone turf every much as addictive as the PC and MAC versions. A new real world stadium finder means you can find you way around the San Siro or Alexandra Stadium, home to the mighty Crewe Alexandra.

Platform: iPhone, iPad | Price £6.99 | Link: Download Football Manager Handheld 2011 iPhone app now

10. Live Football on the TV

Making sure you know everything there is to know about fixtures on the box whether it’s Premier League action, a European match or even a reserve game,  this app will ensure armchair fans never miss a game that is being televised in the UK. Our condolences go out to football-hating spouses everywhere.

Platform: iPhone, iPad | Price: Free | Link: Download Live Football on the TV iPhone app now
 

11. iFooty World Plus

From the Bundesliga to the deepest depths of South American football, get league tables, post match results, minute by minute commentary and find out whether the other Ronaldo is still doing the business in front of goal.

Platform: iPhone, iPad | Price: £1.99 | Link: Download iFooty World Plus iPhone app now