Weekly Tech Updates (September 10, 2021)
Weekly Tech Updates is an easy and convenient way to keep up with all the happenings in the tech world. Stay tuned every Friday for all the latest updates.
New Product Releases in Malaysia:
News:
1. MoH Malaysia launches COVIDNOW
The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the open data community today launched a simplified platform that will provide all daily information related to Covid-19 including more granular data that was previously unavailable in a bid to increase transparency.
A group of innovative developers worked closely with MoH, 100% pro bono, to build a site that would help Malaysians monitor the epidemic. This work was led by the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), in conjunction with CPRC Hospital and the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL).
Open data has enabled public and private players alike to scrutinise implemented policies, share fresh insights and analysis of the situation, and hold policy makers to higher standards.
Kudos to the team involved!
Henry Lim
DesignatFront-end Web DeveloperCreator of @MYVaccineCount Twitter Bot
“I believe that COVID-19 data should be easily accessible by anyone, anywhere. It was nice to see Malaysia’s MoH open-sourcing their datasets – I was able to develop products which helped people get a better understanding of the epidemic in Malaysia.”
Calum Lim
DesignerFull-stack developer by day, hobbyist UI/UX designer by night
“I joined the COVIDNOW project in hopes of providing an accessible and visually appealing site that would help Malaysians track the COVID-19 situation. I truly admire the effort that the MoH has put into curating and publishing its data, and hope it will persist – it provides transparency and allows creativity to flourish.”
Sheng Han Lim
Back-end Developer and Data ScientistCreator of MY Vax Tracker
“I strongly believe in the role of Data Science and AI in changing human lives for the better. Here’s to hoping that stronger data storytelling on COVIDNOW and the ongoing open data initiative will help turn the tide in Malaysia’s battle with COVID-19.”
Roshen Maghhan
Back-end DeveloperFull stack developer, with an interest in problem solving
“I enjoy programming and puzzles, and often spend my free time working on some project or another. I was really excited at the chance to get involved in this project, and hope to contribute more to MoH’s good work.”
2. Whatsapp announces updated OS support
Whatsapp will be ending support for a number of Android and iOS devices beginning 1 November 2021. Mainly systems older than Android OS 4.1, Apple’s iOS 10 and KaiOS 2.5.1 will stop receiving security and feature updates.
While this does not mean that the app will stop running, it is really only a matter of time before the app will become defunct on devices running the mentioned OS.
According to various sources, the affected devices are as follow:
| Brand | Device |
|---|---|
| Apple | iPhone SE (1st Gen), 6s and 6s Plus |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy Trend II, Galaxy S2, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy Core and Galaxy Ace 2. |
| LG | LG Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II Dual, Optimus F5, Optimus L5, Optimus L5 II, Optimus L5 Dual, Optimus L3 II, Optimus L7, Optimus L7 II Dual, Optimus L7 II, Optimus F6, Enact, Optimus L4 II Dual, Optimus F3, Optimus L4 II, Optimus L2 II, Optimus Nitro HD and 4X HD, and Optimus F3Q |
| ZTE | ZTE Grand S Flex, ZTE V956, Grand X Quad V987 and Grand Memo |
| Huawei | Huawei Ascend G740, Ascend Mate, Ascend D Quad XL, Ascend D1 Quad XL, Ascend P1 S and Ascend D2 |
| Sony | Sony Xperia Miro, Sony Xperia Neo L and Xperia Arc S |
| Others | The Alcatel One Touch Evo 7, Archos 53 Platinum, HTC Desire 500, Caterpillar Cat B15, Wiko Cink Five, Wiko Darknight, Lenovo A820, UMi X2, Faea F1 and THL W8 |
In case you need a new budget friendly phone you may find one here for less than RM500.
3. PlayStation Showcase: All Upcoming Game Titles
The 42 minutes-long Playstation Showcase that took place at 4am, 10 September (Malaysia Time) revealed key updates on games new and old. Overall, it was definitely a showcase that left PS5 owners feeling excited and non-PS5 owners feeling envious to say the least.
Key Highlights:
- God of War: Ragnarok officially revealed with a gameplay trailer
- Grand Theft Auto 5 upgrade delayed to March 2022
- Marvel’s Wolverine is getting his own game titled, developed by Insomniac Games
- Project Eve trailer impresses with stunning graphics and gameplay
- Marvel’s Spider Man 2 to arrive on PS5 in 2023. The game will also feature Miles Morales and Venom
Though it was a PS5 showcase, it was the team at Insomniac Games stole the spotlight and hearts of gamers with the announcements of their upcoming game titles. The acquisition of Insomniac Games by Sony has proven to have paid off.
4. Facebook x Ray-Ban smart glasses
Facebook in collaboration with Ray-Ban launched their latest tech gadget, the Ray-Ban Stories: Smart glasses that give you an authentic way to capture photos and video, share your adventures, and listen to music or take phone calls — so you can stay present with friends, family, and the world around you.
The Ray-Ban Stories are built with a dual integrated 5MP cameras that lets you capture life’s spontaneous moments as they happen from a unique first-person perspective. You can easily record the world as you see it, taking photos and up to 30-second videos using the capture button or hands-free with Facebook Assistant voice commands.
A hard-wired capture LED lights up to let people nearby know when you’re taking a photo or video. Streamlined, open-ear speakers are built in, and Ray-Ban Stories’ three-microphone audio array delivers richer voice and sound transmission for calls and videos.
Starting at $299 USD and available in 20 style combinations, the smart glasses are available for purchase online. Offline purchases are unfortunately only available in select retail stores in the US as well as Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and the UK.
