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4. 2 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
Warcraft film for several reasons, chief among which
is Duncan Jones in the director’s chair. It also helps
that the film is bolstered by a star-studded cast, with
the story penned by Chris Metzen himself.
In view of the film’s release, we have prepared
two features for this issue of HWM Malaysia. The
first (page 52, ‘Warcraft: From PC to the Big Screen’)
focuses on the heroes and villains of Warcraft: The
Beginning, while the second (page 108, ‘The Chronicles
of Warcraft’) serves as a retrospective on the early
Warcraft real-time strategy trilogy, all the way up to the
World of Warcraft MMORPG installments.
As for me, I’m Team Horde all the way!
EDITOR
ED'S NOTEJ U N E 2 0 1 6
It’s unbelievable how fast we’re approaching
the halfway mark of the year. By the time this
issue gets in your hands, the 2016 edition of
COMPUTEX TAIPEI will have delivered its fair
share of surprise announcements and exciting
new products and solutions. Of course, you can
keep up with the latest developments from the
week-long ICT showcase, simply by pointing your
browser to us at HardwareZone.com.my
Meanwhile, you’ll find that our June 2016 issue
has quite the cover this month, with Durotan
(Toby Kebbell) and Lothar (Travis Fimmel) staring
straight on in an intimidating manner. We’re, of
course, referring to the two key characters from
Warcraft: The Beginning, which is probably one of
the most anticipated video game film adaptations
in recent years. Sure, these movies tend not to
have a very good track record with fans and
critics, but we’re cautiously optimistic about
Blizzard Entertainment’s first live-action / CG
ARE YOU TEAM HORDE OR ALLIANCE?
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CANON MARKETING (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD (158419-H):
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6. 4 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
119APERTURE
J U N E 2 0 1 6
CONTENTS
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37THINK
FEATURES
47
WI-FI TO THE FUTURE
52
WARCRAFT: FROM PC
TO THE BIG SCREEN
56
THE NOTEBOOK
CONVERGENCE
THINK
37
THE CURIOUS
CASE OF ANCIENT
AUTOMATA
MUSIC
REDISCOVERY
WITH SPOTIFY
THE FALLING
RISE OF
COMPUTERS
Q&A
44
KAN YEUNG,
MMD
IMPACT
46
BEAM ME UP,
SCOTTY

8. 6 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
ART DIRECTION FREDERICK LIM
PICTURE UIP MALAYSIA
All prices quoted in this magazine
are in Malaysia Ringgit (RM), unless
otherwise specified.
64TEST
09
GEAR
Cutting-edge technology
90
GEEK LIFE
Press start for summer
64
TEST
HRM FITNESS TRACKERS
Fitbit Blaze
Jawbone UP3
TomTom Spark Cardio+Music
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse
74
MULTI-DEVICE BLUETOOTH
KEYBOARDS
Apple Magic Keyboard
Logitech K380
Microsoft Universal Foldable
Keyboard
Ranger Touchpad Bluetooth
Keyboard
81
REVIEWS
ASUS VivoBook Flip TP301U
ASUS VivoMini UN65H
Dell XPS 13 (9350)
HyperX Cloud Revolver
Logitech MX Anywhere 2
MSI Z170I Gaming Pro AC
Plextor M7V M.2 (2280) SSD
Razer Blade Stealth
135
LEARN
What are bots?
All you need to know about
Vivaldi
iOS storage made easy
Keeping a watch-ful eye
App Attack
144
REWIND
09GEAR
44Q&A
47TEST
56FEATURE

10. 8 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
HWM (HardwareMAG®
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ZACHARY CHAN
NG CHONG SENG
ALVIN SOON
JAMES LU
KENNY YEO
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11. M O R E
I N S I D E >
APPLE MACBOOK (2016)
Skylake ready, available in rose gold.
KINDLE OASIS
Smallest and thinnest Kindle ever.
HASSELBLAD H6D
Medium format, maximum
megapixels. Whoa!
G E A R
NEW THIS
MONTHEvery month, we receive dozens of product announcements and mentions, sit
through many a launch event and try out all kinds of devices. All these
products are then carefully curated by our crack team of tech gurus. The final list is
presented here in Gear and it is our hope you’ll find something to geek-out to.
NVIDIAGEFORCE
GTX 1080
FOUNDERS
EDITION
Based on NVIDIA’s new Pascal architecture,
the GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition is
the company’s latest flagship graphics card.
Equipped with 8GB of GDDR5X memory, a base
clock of 1,607MHz that can be boosted up to
1,733MHz, and 10Gbps of memory bandwidth,
this card is truly a performance monster. It also
comes with plenty of overclocking headroom for
you to squeeze out even more out of the card.
geforce.com
9J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

12. SONYBRAVIA
X93DSERIES
If you want top-notch image quality from
your TV, then you’d definitely be interested
in Sony’s new range of 4K HDR TVs. Known
as the BRAVIA X93D series, these TVs are
available in 55- and 65-inch variants. Both
feature Slim Backlight Drive technology for
better backlighting, X-tended Dynamic Range
PRO technology for better contrast, and the 4K
Processor X1 for a wider color gamut.
Sony Customer Interaction Center
1 300 881 233
G E A R
10 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

13. *Price inclusive of GST. **Terms and conditions apply.

14. HUAWEIP9
For most, there’s an abundance of flagship
smartphones to choose from. For the
discerning individuals, there’s the Huawei
P9. Designed with a slim and sleek metallic
body, and a dual 12MP main camera that was
co-engineered with world-renowned optics
manufacturer, Leica, the biggest and greatest
selling point of this phone doesn’t just rest
on its basic functions, but also with its much
talked about monochrome mode, which
takes extremely detailed black and white
photos with every, satisfying click.
Huawei Malaysia 1 800 22 0086
G E A R
12 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

15. XIAOMIMIMAX
Featuring a 6.44-inch Full HD display, the
Xiaomi Mi Max sports Qualcomm’s latest
Snapdragon 650/652 SOC for a phone that’s
steady, yet still powerful to run day-to-day
tasks. The Mi Max is also the first phone to run
Xiaomi’s all-new MIUI 8 OS, which features
refreshing redesigns and functions, such as
the ability to clone apps, or to manage multiple
accounts on the same device.
mi.com/en
13J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

16. KINDLEOASIS
The Kindle Oasis is the smallest and thinnest
Kindle ever. A bulge at the rear evokes the
feel of the spine of an actual book, while
physical page turn buttons make a return
on the front. The screen is the same six-inch
300ppi e-ink display as on the Voyage, but it
now comes with additional LEDs for a more
even frontlight. Finally, an included leather
battery cover adds a dash of style and
extends battery life up to two months.
amazon.com
G E A R
14 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

18. HASSELBLAD
H6D
Hasselblad’s newest digital medium format
camera comes in two flavors; one with a
100MP sensor and the other with a 50MP
sensor. There’s a wider range of shutter
speeds, increased ISO range and a faster
shooting range, as well as a USB 3.0 Type-C
connector that transfers files rapidly. It also
shoots 4K video, with a touchscreen LCD
and Wi-Fi for modern conveniences.
hasselblad.com
G E A R
16 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

19. SCAN TO WIN A GoPro

20. CASIOG-SHOCK
MR-GHAMMER
TONE
G-Shocks are the ultimate workhorses, and
the last year saw the release of Casio’s
most premium line, the MR-G, designed
with a titanium shell and sapphire glass. If
you’ve got US$6,200 to spare though, the
Hammer Tone is a limited edition MR-G
fortified using the traditional Japanese
Tsuiki technique, which creates unique
relief patterns through hammering.
gshock.com
G E A R
18 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

22. SYNOLOGY
DISKSTATION
DS116
Are you in search for an affordable, yet
powerful NAS? The 1-bay DS116 has the
power of a dual-core processor, and the ability
to encrypt data on the fly. Equipped with two
USB 3.0 ports, the NAS’ transfer speeds are
rated at 112MB/s write and 111MB/s read,
respectively. On top of it all, the DS116 runs
on the highly-praised DiskStation Manager,
Synology’s own NAS OS.
Build Technology Supply Sdn Bhd
(03) 7955 3699 /
Eternal Asia (M) Sdn Bhd (03) 7610 0896
G E A R
20 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

24. APPLE
MACBOOK
(2016)
Apple has just updated its ultra-thin and
compact MacBooks with Intel’s latest Skylake
processors which will provide up to 25 percent
better graphics performance, and a longer
battery life of up to 10 hours. The newly
updated MacBook will also be available in a
rose gold finish similar to that of the iPhone 6s.
apple.com/my
G E A R
22 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

26. LENOVO
POCKET
PROJECTOR
The Pocket Projector takes portability to
a whole new level. Capable of 90-degree
rotation and projection of up to 110-inches
in size, Lenovo’s pocketable powerhouse
adds much-needed flair to presentations,
photo slideshows, and movie screenings.
The 50-lumen projector features DLNA and
Miracast support, as well as content playback
via microSD card and Micro-USB port.
Lenovo Technology Sdn Bhd (03) 7681 8000
G E A R
24 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

28. BUGATTI
CHIRON
It’s been a long wait, but the successor to the
groundbreaking Veyron is finally here. Boasting
a quad-turbocharged W16 engine, the Chiron
has a maximum power output of nearly 1,500
horsepower and 1,600nm of torque, making
it the most powerful production car in the
world. It also means that it can hit 0-100km/h
in under 2.5 seconds, and hit 200km/h in just
6.5 seconds. Top speed, if you should be bold
enough to attempt, is 420km/h.
bugatti.com
G E A R
26 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

30. AFTERSHOKZTREKZTITANIUM
You’ve used sports earphones that completely
isolate you from the rest of the world
while working out, but have you used bone
conduction headphones that let you retain
situational awareness as you work out? That’s
where the AfterShokz Treks Titanium comes in.
Not only does it let you listen to your favorite
tracks while still letting you be aware of your
surroundings, it also features a titanium frame
and an IP55 rating to let it survive the elements
outside the comfy gymnasium setting.
DISTEXPRESS (M) Sdn Bhd (03) 9054 6199
ASUSVIVOSTICKTS10
This pocket-sized PC goes up directly against
Intel’s Compute Stick, and is powered by an Atom
x5-Z8350 processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of
eMMC flash storage. Onboard USB 2.0 and 3.0
ports let you plug in a wireless keyboard and
mouse combo, and still hook up an external drive.
With this, you can quickly turn any HDMI display
into a fully functional Windows 10 PC.
my.asus.com
VIVOV3MAX
The V3Max may be a midrange smartphone,
but it's definitely equipped to impress. It offers
a fingerprint sensor that unlocks in 0.5 seconds,
while powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon
652 SoC with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal
storage. More interesting though, the V3Max
has a high-performance audio digital-to-analog
converter (DAC) for better audio quality when
paired with headphones.
vivo Cellular Sdn Bhd (03) 2856 9530
UEROLL
Make yourself the life of the party with the UE
Roll Bluetooth speaker, which is able to deliver
360-degree sound at a very loud volume of
85 dBA (anything louder would be considered
detrimental to your hearing). Accidentally got
some dirt on the UE Roll? Just give it a wash – its
IPX7 rating allows it to be submerged at depths
of up to one meter for a whole 30 minutes
without issue. The UE Roll would even be happy
to pull an all-nighter with you, as its rechargeable
Lithium-ion battery is able to provide up to nine
hours of battery life.
MCL Berhad (03) 8024 9909
BlueLogic Enterprise (03) 7877 1019
28 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
G E A R

31. OLIGHTS1BATON
How about a bright LED flashlight that fits right
into the palm of your hand? The Olight S1 Baton
outputs 480 lumens to a distance of 110 meters,
built in a durable titanium body. The tail cap
contains a strong magnet, which lets you attach
the baton when you need both hands free.
olightworld.com
HPOFFICEJET250
MOBILEALL-IN-ONE
Here’s a printer targeted at field service
professionals. The OfficeJet 250 Mobile AiO
features a 10-page automatic document feeder,
and can be recharged over USB via a vehicle’s
power outlet. The power adapter is integrated
into the body; there’s no separate charging
brick. It’s user-friendly too, with a 2.65-inch
touchscreen.
hp.com

32. GPPORTABLE
POWERBANKFP10MB
Not often will you come across a power
bank that’s as impressive as the GP Portable
PowerBank FP10MB, which comes equipped with
Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology. Not
only is it able to charge most device’s battery
capacity from zero to 60 percent within a brisk 30
minutes, it’s also quick to recharge itself as well –
up to 75 percent faster than conventional power
banks. Don’t worry, the FP10MB has a number of
safety features built in to prevent short circuits,
overcharging, and overloading.
GP Battery Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd (03) 5569 3499
ZTEBLADEV7LITE
For a phone that has the best of both worlds,
there's the ZTE Blade V7 Lite. At an affordable
price point of just RM699, you get a 5-inch HD
display, a rear fingerprint sensor for added
security, a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek SoC,
and the latest version of Google's Android 6.0
Marshmallow OS.
ZTE (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd
(03) 2161 5966
ACERSWITCHALPHA12
The Acer Switch Alpha 12 is the first 2-in-1
convertible notebook in the world to be fitted
with a liquid-cooling system, called the Acer
LiquidLoop. If you think that’s impressive, wait
until you see its hardware, which include a 12-
inch QHD (2,160 x 1,440) IPS multi-touch display,
a 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U processor, Intel HD
Graphics 520, 8GB of DDR3L RAM, and a 256GB
SSD – all within a chassis that weighs just 900g.
Acer Sales and Services Sdn Bhd 1 800 88 1288
POCKETC.H.I.P.
Next Thing Co. shook the single-board computer
scene when it introduced the US$9 C.H.I.P.
computer. Since then, the startup went on
to break more barriers with the release of
PocketC.H.I.P., which comes pre-installed with
PICO-8, for users to play and create games
on what is probably the most comprehensive
portable device in crowdfunding history. The
device has a five-hour battery life, a 480 x 272
LED-backlit display, and a QWERTY keyboard – all
in one neat package.
getchip.com
G E A R
30 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

33. ASUSROGGX700
For the gamer who seeks a notebook that offers
no compromise in performance and mobility,
there is the ASUS ROG GX700. For RM18,999, the
notebook and docking station of the GX700 is
guaranteed to provide unrivaled graphics fidelity
on the 17.3-inch Full HD, NVIDIA G-SYNC display,
thanks in small part to the full-sized, water-cooled
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics.
Build Technology Supply Sdn Bhd (03) 7955 3699
ECS Astar Sdn Bhd (03) 6286 8222
BENQSW2700PT
The BenQ SW2700PT is the monitor to go
for if you’re a photographer. Awarded ‘Best
Photo Monitor’ by the Technical Image Press
Association (TIPA), it is also the only display
device to be given such recognition. As a WQHD
(2,560 x 1,440) 3.7MP high-resolution IPS display,
the SW2700PT comes with a wide viewing angle,
and 14-bit 3D lookup table (LUT) with Delta E <2
to provide accurate replication of the Adobe RGB
color space of up to 99 percent.
BenQ Service and Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd
(03) 7954 7800
SAPPHIRERADEONPRODUO
Sapphire’s Radeon Pro Duo is based on AMD’s
flagship dual GPU graphics card that was
announced during the Capsaicin event at GDC
2016. Built to house two Fiji XT GPUs, the Radeon
Pro Duo boasts a total of 8GB of High Bandwidth
Memory clocked at 1,000MHz each, along with
a massive 4,096-bit memory bus interface. The
icing on this cake is that the card is also VR ready,
and is supportive of both DirectX 12 and the new
Vulkan APIs.
Build Technology Supply Sdn Bhd (03) 7955 3699
JW Power Marketing Sdn Bhd (03) 2148 1307
RAZERTURRET
There are gamers, and then there are TV-loving
couch potatoes. But what if you’re both? The
Razer Turret lets you take PC gaming to the
living room with a keyboard and mouse combo
that sits on your lap. The keyboard supports
10-key rollover and chiclet-style keys, while the
mouse sports a 3,500dpi sensor with a slightly
magnetized bottom so it doesn’t slip off. The
Turret connects via Bluetooth LE or 2.4GHz Wi-Fi,
so you can choose whichever suits you best.
Ban Leong Technologies Sdn Bhd (03) 7956 6300
31J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

34. OKIPRO6410NEONCOLOR
The new OKI Pro6410 Neo Color prints images so
vibrant that they could glow under UV light. OKI’s
latest innovation has the ability to print in super
bright fluorescent colors on almost any type of
media – up to A4 in size weighing up to 250gsm,
both light and dark using unique black or white
quick swap print cartridges. It is primarily targeted
at sectors producing creative designs, as well as
those with a volume print requirement.
OKI Data (S) Pte Ltd (Malaysia Rep Office)
1 800 88 1177
WDGOLD
WD Gold is the latest entry in the company’s
award-winning color portfolio. Designed for
data centers, these hard drives are meant for a
wide range of applications. Available in 4TB, 6TB
and 8TB, WD Gold features HelioSeal helium-
technology for performance, ideal capacity per
square foot, power efficiency, and low power
consumption in data center environments.
On top of that, WD Gold hard drives will also
include a premium dedicated support line for
customers worldwide.
Eternal Asia (M) Sdn Bhd (03) 5569 2220
ROKUSTREAMINGSTICK(2016)
This Roku Streaming Stick replaces the 2014
version, and it now comes with dual-band MIMO
antenna and an updated quad-core processor
with support for dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
(5GHz and 2.4 GHZ). It doesn’t stop there when
it comes to improving your screen-casting
experience. The new stick still comes with its
own remote, but Roku moved the private listening
feature onto Wi-Fi, where your show’s audio will
stream via your smartphone.
roku.com
CORSAIRK70RGBRAPIDFIRE
The K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE mechanical gaming
keyboard is one of the first of its kind to be fitted
with Cherry MX Speed switches, which have a
very shallow actuation point of just 1.2mm, and
a low activation force of 45g. It even has full-key
rollover and 100-percent anti-ghosting to ensure
that all your blazing-fast keystrokes are duly
registered. As with most mechanical gaming
keyboards, the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE also has per-
key RGB backlighting, and a USB pass-through
port for your various peripherals.
Cudo Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd (03) 2148 1177
G E A R
32 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

36. LINKSYSEA9500
The Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400
tri-band router is the company’s latest
flagship router, and it broadcasts up to three
separate networks, offering a total data
transfer rate of 5300Mbps. It also supports
MU-MIMO technology, enabling it to transmit
data simultaneously to MU-MIMO compatible
devices. And as befits its status as a flagship
router, it also has advanced features like
remote router management, parental controls,
and QoS management.
Glocomp Systems (M) Sdn Bhd (03) 7652 1188
ASUSRP-AC68U
Is your home router not covering enough
ground? Extend its reach using the ASUS RP-
AC68U. This sleek-looking AC1900 repeater can
supplement all your networking needs and is
easy to set up to boot – you don’t even need
a PC to do it. The RP-AC68U also has two LED
indicators to inform you on the signal strength
for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
Build Technology Supply Sdn Bhd (03) 7955 3699
BENQW3000
It really doesn’t matter how big a football fan you
are – not everyone likes watching their favorite
team live while they’re completely drenched
in sweat. So why not bring the stadium-like
experience back home with the BenQ W3000
projector, which only needs 2.5 meters of space
to project images up to 100-inches in size. It’s big
on image quality as well, seeing that the W3000
also conforms to the stringent Rec.709 HDTV
standard, which serves as a testament to its spot-
on color reproduction and clarity.
BenQ Service and Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd
(03) 7954 7800
ZOTACZBOXPI221
Suffice to say, you won’t find a mini PC that’s
any more capable and petite than the Zotac
ZBOX PI221, which is literally a PC-on-a-stick.
The ZBOX PI221 is powered by a 1.44GHz Intel
Atom x5-Z8300 processor, Intel HD Graphics,
2GB of DDR3L-RS1600 RAM, and 32GB of eMMC
storage. Connectivity-wise, it has a HDMI 1.4a
port, a USB 3.0 port, a 3-in-1 SD card reader,
and even a RJ45 Ethernet port. You can expect
the PI221 to operate in a constant state of pin-
drop silence simply because it uses a passive
cooling system to stave off heat.
zotac.com
G E A R
34 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

37. BenQ XL2730Z
Fierce Soul for Champions

38. SYNOLOGYDISKSTATIONDS916+
Designed for professionals and growing
businesses, the new DiskStation DS916+ is
one of the best NAS systems available today.
Powered by a quad-core CPU, the DS916+ can
be expanded up to nine drives. The unit also
comes with two memory options: 2GB and 8GB
for better flexibility. The DS916+ runs on DSM
6.0, and features a wide range of applications,
from backup to network management –
providing essential business services and
increased productivity at work.
Build Technology Supply Sdn Bhd (03) 7955 3699
Eternal Asia (M) Sdn Bhd (03) 7610 0896
CANONPIXMAE460
The PIXMA E460 is the one-stop shop for all
your printing, scanning, and copying needs.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be connected
to a desktop PC to get the job done either,
as its Access Point Mode allows you to send
print jobs wirelessly from your smartphone or
tablet. What’s more, you won’t ever have to
forget about switching it on before you send
your documents, as its Auto Power On feature
will automatically wake up the printer when it
receives a print job.
Canon Customer Careline 1 800 88 2000
MSIX99AGAMINGPROCARBON
Known for making some of the best
motherboards in the world, MSI’s new
X99 GAMING PRO CARBON is the latest
motherboard that’s designed to take advantage
of Intel’s Socket 2011 Extreme CPUs. It also
has support for a front USB 3.1 Type-C port,
and the new Turbo U.2 storage. Not only that,
the motherboard is also fitted with RGB LEDs
that pulsate according to a tempo and rhythm,
depending on your configurations.
MSI Malaysia 1 300 22 1986
AEGISGAMINGMICROPHONE
This dedicated gaming microphone comes with
sound suppression technology to keep in-game
communications clear and uninterrupted
by noise. It uses Digital Signal Processing
(DSP) to suppress background sounds from
your speakers, while it focuses on picking
up, and transmitting the user’s voice. It uses
two high-sensitivity unidirectional condenser
microphones for voice communication, which
is further refined via AverMedia’s proprietary
audio technology algorithm.
gamerzone.avermedia.com
G E A R
36 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

39. 37J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M
THE
CURIOUS
CASE
OF
ANCIENT
AUTOMATA
Robots and
androids are
the darling of science
fiction today, but
the history of the
automaton goes back
further than you may
think.
Text by Alvin Soon
Art Direction Ken Koh
M O R E
I N S I D E >
MUSIC DISCOVERY
Say goodbye to manually scanning
playlists and still not finding your jam.
Smart music curation really works. Is
it magic?
UNSUNG GIANT
MMD Singapore’s Kan Yeung talks
about Philips and AOC branded
displays in Malaysia and the APMEA
region.
T H I N K
PICTUREERATOISHIGUROSYMBIOTICHUMAN-ROBOTINTERACTIONPROJECT

40. 38 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
T H I N K
MEET
ERICA,AN
INTELLIGENT
ANDROID
Humanity has been
trying to create self-
operating machines for a
very long time.
PICTUREERATOISHIGUROSYMBIOTICHUMAN-ROBOTINTERACTIONPROJECT
Erica answers the audience’s
questions in Japanese. She’s a
little stiff, and she can’t walk on her
own. You notice her face, which is
beautiful. No wonder, as it’s based
on an average design
of features from 30
beautiful women.
Erica, an intelligent
android, is a
collaborative project
between Osaka and
Kyoto universities,
and the Advanced
Telecommunications
Research Institute
International. She was unveiled
last year, and is one of the most
advanced androids in the world
today, with the ability to make small
talk and answer basic questions.
You might think that androids,
robots built to look and act human,
are a product of the last century. But
mankind has been trying to create
automated machines for far longer
than that.
There are plenty of myths about
automata, self-
operating machines, in
the ancient world; the
Greek god Hephaestus
created talking
mechanical servants
out of gold, the Jews
animated clay golems
by writing holy words
on their foreheads,
and a robot made
of leather and wood apparently
entertained King Mu’s court in old
China.
None of these fables can be
proven, but there are pieces of
reality that have managed to survive
the decay of time.
"YOU
NOTICE
HER FACE,
WHICH IS
BEAUTIFUL.”

41. 39J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M
A U T O M A T O N
T H R O U G H T H E A G E S
The oldest
machine in
the world
The
Antikythera
Mechanism
is the world’s
oldest surviving
machine, which
the Greeks made
nearly 2,000 years
ago. It was found off a
shipwreck in 1901, and through a
series of radiographic scans, was revealed to
be a complex gear-based mechanism built to
calculate the movement of the Sun, Moon and
planets.
The fact that the Greeks could design
and construct an analog calculator like the
Mechanism in 150–100 BC, makes you think
twice about how advanced ancient civilizations
could have been. It might even lend credit to
what the ancient Greek poet Pindar (c. 522 – c.
443 BC) wrote about the island of Rhodes,
which sounds suspiciously like automata:“The
animated figures stand / Adorning every public
street / And seem to breathe in stone, or move
their marble / feet.”
The earliest Japanese robots
Automata flourished during the Edo period in
Japan, circa 1603–1867. The Japanese called
theirs‘karakuri ningyo,’or‘mechanical dolls’
that were powered by clockwork. The most
common were known as‘zashiki karakuri,’dolls
that moved and served cups of tea for home
entertainment.
There were other kinds of karakuri ningyo.
Shinatama ningyō were‘magician dolls’that
could perform simple‘magic’tricks, while
yumihiki doji, or‘archer dolls,’could pick up
arrows and shoot them at targets. Altogether,
the karakuri ningyo were sorted into three
main categories: as puppets for the
theater, small dolls for home
entertainment, or ones that
performed on wooden
floats during religious
festivals.
The golden age of automata
The years from 1848 to 1914 were called
‘The Golden Age of Automata.’Although
it was made slightly earlier, circa 1800,
one of the most famous automata from
this period is Maillardet’s Automaton,
built by a Swiss mechanician, Henri
Maillardet.
The story of Maillardet’s Automaton’s
restoration is as astonishing as the
automaton itself. In 1928, the estate
of John Penn Brock donated pieces
of a complex brass machine to The
Franklin Institute science museum in
Philadelphia. The machine, which was
made in the image of a boy, had been
damaged in a fire.
An Institute machinist managed to
repair the machine, and once it was
turned on, the Automaton came to
life, producing intricate sketches from
its drawing hand. After drawing four
pictures and three poems, it signed, in
the border of the final poem,“Ecrit par
L’Automate de Maillardet,”or,“Written by
the Automaton of Maillardet.”
Recreating
the Antikythera
Mechanism
Ever since it was discovered,
the Antikythera Mechanism has
fascinated the curious, and for good
reason. The astronomical calculator
and navigation tool was made out of
complex gear mechanisms that would
not be seen in history for another
1,000 years after it sunk near the small
island of Antikythera.
Since then, there have been
multiple efforts to recreate the
Antikythera Mechanism in working
order. Ioannis Theofanides built
the first model in the 1930s. Others
have followed, like Michael Wright, a
former British museum curator who
constructed a working model in 2006
that he believes to be a near replica of
the original.
In 2010, Andrew Carol, a software
engineer at Apple, debuted a working
replica of the Mechanism – made
entirely from LEGO!
Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot
made a miniature, working replica
based on the Antikythera Mechanism
that you could wear on your wrist.
Only four of the Antikythera Caliber
2033-CH01 watches were made, with
three sent to museums for display and
one put up for auction in 2012.
Two years later, however, Hublot
released the MP-08 Antikythera
Sunmoon, a watch based on the
Antikythera movement. However,
only 20 were made of this
masterpiece watch.
PICTUREWIKIPEDIA,HUBLOT

42. 40 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
T H I N K
How Spotify
Discover Weekly
took me on a journey
of rediscovery
We’re all music curators.
by Koh Wanzi
I’ve been a paying subscriber
of Spotify for over a year
now. And despite having multiple
alternatives to choose from, I’m
not going anywhere any time soon.
That’s not because Spotify puts all
the music I could possibly want at
my fingertips – it does – but because
of the weekly curated playlists that
just get me.
Updated every Monday morning,
Discover Weekly gives Spotify
listeners the equivalent of a two-hour
mixtape tailored for them. For me,
this means that my weekly playlist
has been stocked with Mandarin
songs. Ironically enough, while
my grasp of the language is fairly
abysmal, I have always enjoyed
listening to tunes from artists like Jay
Chou, Mayday, and Yoga Lin.
While Discover Weekly has
definitely disappointed me before,
in recent weeks it’s served up some
selections that make it seem almost
magical. Suddenly, I was being
confronted with songs I had listened
to and loved over a decade ago, but
had since forgotten about.
Furthermore, while Spotify says
that Discover Weekly intentionally
includes songs that listeners have
heard before in order to build trust
and a sense of familiarity, these
songs had slipped off my radar
entirely. I had never played them on
Spotify, so the streaming service and
its algorithms had no way of knowing
that I had ever listened to them
before. So when a long forgotten
track started up in my ear a month
ago, I had a serendipitous feeling
of stumbling upon something that I
didn’t even know I had missed.
From Khalil Fong’s 红豆 (Red Bean)
to David Tao’s Melody and F.I.R.’s
Lydia, I was having the time of my
life looping these familiar tunes. But
perhaps the most significant aspect
of rediscovering these songs was the
nostalgia that came with them. Given
my penchant for running my favorite
tunes on endless repeat, I’ve come
to vividly associate specific songs
with particular memories. So when
Michael Wong’s 童话 (Fairy Tale) and
Coldplay’s The Scientist came on, it
was easy to be transported back to
the time when my biggest concern
was whether or not I had brought
the right textbook to class. It was
almost uncanny – S.B.D.W’s 世界末日
(End of the World) even showed up
Your core
music
preferences
Songs you’re
experimenting
with/ secretly
embarassed
about
That time your niece
looped the Teletubbies
theme song on your phone
CORE TASTE PREFERENCES
WHITE LINE = DISCOVER WEEKLY SONGS
ILLUSTRATIONSKENKOH

43. 41J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M
one week, as if Spotify knew that I had been enamored with
Jay Chou’s 2001 rendition and wanted me to check out the
original.
These were songs I loved back then, and still appreciate
now (whatever you may think of my taste in music), and
Discover Weekly helped me see that perhaps some things
don’t change much after all.
How does Spotify do it?
Personalized music curation is hard. On the one hand, it
requires a certain intimacy that machines and algorithms
cannot provide, but on the other it’s also nearly impossible
to hire enough music experts to handpick songs for
everyone.
But what Spotify has done is turn its user base into a
collective music curation resource, where user preferences
are aggregated and parsed as a data layer that can be used
to provide personalized recommendations for everyone.
Simply put, Spotify leverages the playlist (of which there are
over two billion) – an act of curation in itself – to provide
curation at scale to its listeners.
SCALING UP
HUMAN CURATION
You listen to and
save songs.
Spotify users
create
billions of playlists
Develops your
“taste profile”
Spotify identifies
similar songs that
appear on those
playlists
Spotify finds songs
that fit your profile,
but that you
haven’t listened to
DISCOVER WEEKLY
1
2
3
4
5
6
Deep learning smarts
Discover Weekly is actually pretty smart, because it knows when
not to include that weird song your niece or nephew played on
your phone as part of your taste profile. It differentiates between
the music you actively listen to and the songs you listen to
passively (or outliers) through clustering algorithms. It works
something like this:
• Songs you listen to, but which you’re secretly embarrassed about
• The bulk of what you listen to, which also best represents your
musical identity
• Outliers, perhaps from when your phone was hijacked by friends
in a car
While Discover Weekly has
definitely disappointed me
before, in recent weeks it’s
served up some selections
that make it seem almost
magical.
PICTURESSPOTIFY

44. 42 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
T H I N K
THE FALLING RISE
OF COMPUTERS
And other stories from the 2016 IFA Global
Press Conference by Zachary Chan
Back in April, I attended the 2016 IFA
Global Press Conference (GPC) in Hong
Kong and Shenzhen. It’s an annual affair
by Messe Berlin, the people behind the IFA
consumer electronics show that happens
around September in Berlin, Germany. The
IFA GPC is more of a prelude of what’s to
come, where brands and analysts talk trends.
Traditionally, the IFA GPC is held in Europe, but
this marks the first year they’re holding it in
Asia, and for good reason.
As China continues to become a major
player in global consumer electronics and
technology, focus on China and Asia has never
been bigger. Last year, the American-based
Consumer Electronics Show was exported into
China as CES Asia, and this year, Messe Berlin
followed suit by bringing the IFA concept into
China. Known as CE China, the show was held
in Shenzhen from the 20th-22nd April.
The major recurring theme of the year is
the connected consumer and the surrounding
ecosystem of wearables and the Internet
of Things. What you may find interesting is
the evolving definition of what a connected
consumer is.
In 2003, when Intel launched their
Centrino platform, it was hailed as a wireless
revolution that would usher in the era of
mobile connectivity with better battery life
and integrated high-speed Wi-Fi for notebooks.
Some will say that the true revolution began in
2007, when the Apple iPhone effectively shrunk
the computer down into the size of your palm,
offering communications, mobile broadband
and apps in one device. The explosive rise
and continued growth of smartphones since
then have put the PC market on the path of
continuous decline.
Every single sales or market report points to
this trend toward the smaller mobile screen.
GfK reports that the computing devices market
in APAC (comprising desktop, notebook and
tablets) saw a 14-percent decline collectively
in 2015 compared to 2014. Smartphones, on
the other hand, saw a 17-percent increase in
total units sold in 2015. Of the 23,000 different
models being released through the year,
Chinese brands saw at 30-percent increased
market share.
Further insights from GfK showed that
among 10 Asian markets surveyed, the number
of consumers who access the Internet daily
from a mobile device has caught up to that of
computers. Comparing PC access to mobile
access, Singapore polled 85 to 83 percent,
Malaysia polled 85 to 80 percent, Indonesia
polled 82 to 81 percent, and Thailand polled 81
to 83 percent.
However, that doesn’t mean the PC market
hasn’t been fighting to buck the trend, and
it involves some creative product marketing.
Think about the last time you walked into
an electronics store or saw an ad for a PC,
you’d probably have seen buzzwords like
convertibles, hybrids and 2-in-1s thrown about.
Rarely are computers referred to as computers
anymore, and according to Gerard Tan, APAC
Director for Technology and Consumer Choices
at GfK, this tactic may actually be working.
While global numbers are down as
mentioned before, these creative categories
and form factors are doing their part to drive

45. 43J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M
up the hype and relevance for computers
again. Sales numbers show growth in every
niche PC segment in 2015 compared to
2014. Super-slim notebooks (<15mm thin and
<2.3kg) increased by 20 percent; convertibles
by 12 percent; computing tablets (detachable
hybrids) by 13 percent and ultra-mobile
notebooks (<12.2-inch) by 10 percent. The
micro desktop (<30cm depth/height) market
grew by a surprising 44 percent over 2014.
Overall, the key takeaway is that internet
connected devices are dominating consumer
tech spending. By the second half of 2015,
smartphones, tablets, LCD TVs and notebooks
accounted for 91 percent of all tech spending
in APAC.
Up till now, the term ‘connected’ is still
mainly used to refer to having Internet access,
but a change is coming. Internet connectivity
today can already be considered ubiquitous,
even among emerging Asian countries. Apps
and services have played a big role in defining
a base level of connectivity since data access is
an essential part of the experience. So what’s
next for the connected consumer? Our devices
are already connected to the cloud, we’re now
looking at them being connected to each other.
Here’s where wearables and the Internet
of Things start to make more sense. In the
past, most connected devices are standalone
devices that perform a single function with
a control app, so you can tinkle with a few
options on your phone. Fitness trackers, for
example, or that Wi-Fi enabled camera with a
rudimentary app that turns your smartphone
into a remote shutter button. Many of
the ‘smart’ functions felt tacked on as an
afterthought instead of being integral to the
device. And that’s what’s changing.
As devices continue to get more connected,
consumers are looking to have more control
over what can be done. Smartwatches used to
be glorified pagers on the wrist, but they could
be a perfect remote for a smart home setup
without having to carry your phone around
with around the home. Activity trackers can
now connect to one another, or even other
wellness monitors for a more comprehensive
overview of your health and fitness levels.
Most technology brands are already focused
on creating smart ecosystems where products
can work together at some level. Apple and
Samsung easily come to mind, but even
lifestyle brands like Philips have their own suite
of healthcare products that work and sync
with each other. Outside of brand-proprietary
ecosystems, there are open standards for IoT
and smart home control such as ZigBee being
developed.
When you look at the next generation of
wireless standards such as 802.11af and
802.11ah, which focus on extreme range
(possibly in kilometers) rather than speed,
you’ll have a glimpse of how our future
connected world will be like, not just to the
Internet, but to each other and everything in
between.
1. Dr. Christian Göke,
CEO Messe Berlin
during his opening
speech at IFA 2016 GPC.
2. Gerard Tan, APAC
Director, GfK, on Asian
technology insights.
3. First CE China held in
Shenzhen, April 2016.
4. Dr. Christian Göke
welcomes Biao Chen,
Vice Mayor of Shenzhen
Municipal Government
at CE China opening
ceremony.
5. The CE China
exhibition space.
1. 2.
3. 4.
5.

46. 44 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
Q & A

47. On a worldwide level, TPV holds
34.9 percent of the global monitor
manufacturing market share in 2015
at 43.3 million units. That is more than
double its closest competitor, which is
at 13.4 percent. When it comes to LCD
TVs, TPV is no. 3 at 8.1 percent.
What is MMD’s focus in the display
market? Consumer, enterprise,
or gaming?
We offer a wide range of displays
that caters to various needs. We have
displays for consumers, enterprises, and
gaming audience – each with its own
requirements and features. For example,
enterprise customers may need displays
with 4:3 aspect ratio to fit with their
legacy system, or a display that can
show advertisements for hours without
breaking down. A consumer display
may feature low blue light technology
for your eyes, which we implemented
via hardware, while gamers look for
the latest technology and the fastest
response time. We cater for them all.
Does MMD have a relationship
with the eSports scene?
Through the AOC brand, we target
the GDP group, which consists of
gamers, designers, and photographers.
Specifically for gamers, AOC has
launched AGON, a series of displays
specifically designed for gamers. The
series consists of 20 models with
features like FreeSync technology and
bigger screens, for example a 35-inch
21:9 curve monitor.
In the eSports scene, AOC has been
the main organizer of two Southeast
Asian AOC Masters Championship
(AMC) Dota 2 tournaments, and
has partnered with European ESL
tournament organizers.
We have also named the Eastern
European eSports club, Team
NatusVincere (Na’Vi) as AGON Worldwide
Ambassador. The team has won
countless international tournaments
across six major eSports games,
including Dota 2 and Counter-Strike:
Global Offensive. AOC also sponsors
Team Signature.Trust from Thailand and
Team TNC from the Philippines.
What are your best selling or
featured display models?
For Philips, our best-selling models
are the BDM4065UC (40-inch 4K2K),
BDM3490UC (34-inch curved, 21:9,
WQHD), and 279X6QJSW (27-inch curved,
FreeSync).
For AOC, the C3583FQ (35-inch curved,
21:9, Adaptive Sync), G2460PF (24-inch,
144Hz 1ms, FreeSync), G2460VQ6 (24-
inch, 1ms, Anti-Blue Light, FreeSync), and
G2778VQ (27-inch, 1ms, FreeSync) are the
bestsellers.
Consumers generally look for the
latest in monitor trends, such as curved
screens, gaming-centric features, and 4K
resolution. Home users and retailers, on
the other hand, look for better quality
panels, such as PLS, as well as good
quality monitors that are more durable.
Good design and value are contributing
factors as well.
What can Malaysians look
forward to from MMD?
We will continue to invest in Malaysia
to bring the latest technology like
quantum dot, AGON, PIO, and 5K. We
are also committed to providing better
after-sales service with 3-years onsite
warranty. Currently, we have 3,500 sales
and service centers worldwide. Last but
not least, we aim to provide the most
competitive price with highest quality.
Could you tell us about MMD,
its parent company TPV, and
your role in the company?
You may not have heard the name
before, but TPV currently holds the
crown as the world’s top monitor
manufacturer and the world’s no. 3
LCD TV maker. Under its wing is MMD
Singapore, which is the main distributor
for AOC and Philips monitors in the Asia
Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA)
region, and also a company that is
wholly owned by TPV. As the Regional
Sales Director of MMD Singapore Pte
Ltd, I manage the sales and marketing
of AOC and Philips monitors in
Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
What is the company’s market share
in Malaysia and the APMEA region
for the two main display brands that
are distributed by MMD Singapore?
For Philips and AOC branded display,
we hold a 20-percent market share in
Malaysia, and a 31.6-percent market
share in the APMEA region. This year,
we aim to conquer 25 percent of the
market share in Malaysia with these
two brands.
KAN YEUNG, REGIONAL
SALES DIRECTOR, MMD
SINGAPORE PTE LTD
by Azizul Rahman Ismail
Unsunggiant
ofthedisplay
market
45J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

48. 46 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
NASA is conducting an
experiment called Optical
Payload for Lasercomm Science
(OPALS), using laser beams to transmit
large amounts of data from the
International Space Station (ISS) to
Earth and vice versa.
Today, communication over such
long distances uses radio wave
transmission. Beaming information
with lasers is faster than using radio
frequencies – we’re talking about going
up to 50Mbps from the old 20Kbps
– and this means that a significantly
greater amount of information can
be transferred in the same period of
time. For example, the ISS successfully
tested beaming a HD video to Earth in
3.5 seconds, instead of the 10 minutes
it would have taken using radio waves.
The only caveat would be how
precise the transfer needs to be –
the satellite beaming the data needs
to accurately point the laser to the
receiving telescope on Earth. If the
technology succeeds, communications
between astronauts and Earth can be
sped up, reducing delays and errors.
Data from far-off satellites and surface
probes can be sent back faster – a
scan of Mars’ surface, for example,
would reach us in nine weeks instead
of nine years.
BEAM
ME UP,
SCOTTYNASA attempts data
transfer using laser
beams
by Liu Hongzu
I M P A C T
PICTURENASA

49. F E A T U R E
Wireless Internet technology is getting its
biggest shakeup in years, but what does it
mean for you? Will the newest routers finally
be able to get rid of Wi-Fi dead-spots? Join us
on a journey to understand the very latest in
home wireless technologies.
Text by Kenny Yeo
Photography by Winston Chuang
Art Direction by Ian Chong
THE FUTURE
OF HOME
WI-FI
47J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

50. wi-Fi now
Wireless technology has come a long way.
YEAR
1997
1999
1999
2003
2008
2012
2015
STANDARD
802.11 Legacy
802.11a
802.11b
802.11g
802.11n
802.11ac
802.11ac
FREQUENCY
2.4GHz
5.8GHZ
2.4GHz
2.4GHz
2.4GHz
5GHz
5GHz
DATA TRANSFER
RATE
1-2Mbps
54Mbps
11Mbps
54Mbps
600Mbps
1,300Mbps
2,167Mbps
"THE VERY FIRST WIRELESS
STANDARD - NOW KNOWN
AS 802.11 LEGACY -
OFFERED DATA TRANSFER
RATES OF JUST 1 TO 2MBPS."
I
f you were old enough to be using the
Internet during the very early days, you
would probably remember the first time
you logged on to a wireless network. The
amazement and joy of being able to surf
the web or connect to your local network
without dragging along cumbersome
Ethernet cables is indescribable.
Today, Wi-Fi is something that we take
for granted. If you tried searching for
wireless networks at home, chances are
you’ll see at least 10 different Wi-Fi SSIDs
being broadcasted. And as one of the
most connected regions in the world, Asia
has Wi-Fi in many public places including
train stations, shopping malls, cafes and
restaurants.
Wi-Fi has undergone many major changes
since its inception in the late Nineties. The
very first wireless standard - now known as
802.11 legacy - offered data transfer rates
of just 1 to 2Mbps over a 2.4GHz frequency
network. It was slow, but it was a start.
Wi-Fi only really took off near the turn of
the millennium when the 802.11b wireless
standard was introduced and data transfer
rates were bumped up to 11Mbps.
One of the most significant leaps in
wireless transmission speeds came around
2008 when the first routers to support the
802.11n wireless standard were released.
For once, wireless transmission speeds
could almost rival that of wired connections.
The reason for this was the ability to
broadcast on the lesser-used 5GHz band,
which enabled higher data transfer rates.
Beyond that, connecting to the 5GHz band
would also allow devices to avoid using the
2.4GHz frequency band as interference was
becoming a serious issue due to many other
devices - such as wireless keyboards and
mice, cordless phones, remote controls, and
more - also using the 2.4GHz frequency band.
In 2012, the first routers to support the
802.11ac standard, today’s predominant
wireless standard, went into retail. 802.11ac
builds on 802.11n by offering increasing
support for higher frequency bandwidths
and more streams. The earliest 802.11ac
routers could support up to 1,300Mbps on
their 5GHz bands - greater than that of a
Gigabit Ethernet connection.
Today, we have a new breed of devices
that build on 802.11ac technology;
sometimes collectively referred to as
‘802.11ac Wave 2’. 802.11ac Wave 2
brings about even greater speeds by
increasing support for spatial streams
from three to four. Along with technologies
such as Broadcom’s NitroQAM, certain
routers are able to provide data transfer
rates over the 5GHz band as high as
2,150Mbps. Theoretically speaking, this
is more than double that of most existing
Ethernet connections. These devices also
offer support a revolutionary technology
called MU-MIMO, which has the potential
to drastically improve our wireless
connections. So what is MU-MIMO?
F E A T U R E
48 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

51. Without MU-MIMO, the router transmits data one by one to
each device. If all devices are requesting data from the router,
it will take three cycles before a device receives a second
packet of data. And if we add more devices, it will take even
more cycles before a device can receive its next packet of
data. For high bandwidth and low latency operations like
streaming high-resolution videos or gaming, this could result
in jerky playback and lag.
In this example, we have a single router supporting a
maximum of 1,733Mbps on its 5GHz band and three client
devices connected to it. Because it doesn't support MU-MIMO,
it can only transmit data to one device at any one time.
MU-MIMO
The great leap in wireless.
O
ne of the most important new
wireless technologies is
MU-MIMO, or Multiple-user Multiple
Input Multiple Output. To appreciate
its importance, it’s first necessary to
understand the way routers currently work
and their limitations.
The performance of a wireless router is
limited not just by the quality and speed
of the connection, but also by the number
of devices connected to the router. This is
because even though multiple devices can
be connected to a single router’s network,
the router can actually only transmit data
to a single device at one time. This is why
performance degrades rapidly as more
devices are connected to the router. The
router has to quickly serve one device and
go on to the next, and if there are many
devices connected, the waiting time is
increased.
Waiting times aside, this current
limitation of routers also means that
bandwidth is not efficiently utilized. While
modern AC2400 or AC5300 class routers
can support data transfer rates of up to
1,733Mbps on their 5GHz networks, only a
fraction of it is being used because most
client devices (devices that connect to the
router) usually only support speeds of up
to 433Mbps or 867Mbps. The remaining
bandwidth is not employed because
the router can only transmit to a single
device. MU-MIMO aims to overcome these
problems by transmitting data to multiple
devices simultaneously.
Existing SU-MIMO
Wi-Fi Network
Time
1s-ac
SU
1s-ac
SU
2s-ac
SU
STREAM 1
STREAM 2
STREAM 3
STREAM 4
A router (4x4 device,
supporting four streams and
a maximum of 1,733Mbps on
the 5GHz band).
A smartphone (1x1
device, supporting
a single stream and
therefore a maximum
of 433Mbps on the
5GHz band).
A tablet (1x1 device,
supporting a single
stream and therefore a
maximum of 433Mbps
on the 5GHz band).
A notebook (2x2
device, support two
streams and therefore
a maximum of 867Mbps
on the 5GHz band).
49J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

52. STREAM 1
STREAM 2
STREAM 3
STREAM 4
A router (4x4 device,
supporting four streams
and a maximum of
1,733Mbps on
the 5GHz band).
A smartphone (1x1
device, supporting
a single stream and
therefore a maximum
of 433Mbps on the
5GHz band).
A tablet (1x1 device,
supporting a single
stream and therefore a
maximum of 433Mbps
on the 5GHz band).
A notebook (2x2
device, support two
streams and therefore
a maximum of 867Mbps
on the 5GHz band).
New MU-MIMO
Wi-Fi Network
Time
1s-ac MU
1s-ac MU
2s-ac MU
Additional time & capacity
for other SU/MU clients
With MU-MIMO, the router will attempt to send data to multiple
devices simultaneously. In the example illustrated here, the router will
be able to maximize its total bandwidth of 1,733Mbps by transmitting
data to the handphone, tablet, and notebook all at once. Not only is
this a much more efficient way of utilizing the router’s resources, it
also means that even with more connected devices, wait times are
reduced since the router can serve more devices in each cycle.
In this example, a single MU-MIMO router can effectively make use
of its entire available bandwidth and transmit data to all three client
devices simultaneously.
That said, there’s a crucial limitation to MU-MIMO. First and
foremost, MU-MIMO only works when both router and device are
MU-MIMO compatible. Because the technology is so new, there aren’t
many devices that support it yet.
"MU-MIMO ONLY WORKS
WHEN BOTH ROUTER AND
DEVICE SUPPORTS IT."
F E A T U R E
50 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

53. 802.11ad
Blasting into the future at 60GHz.
TP-Link Talon AD7200 Multi-Band Wi-Fi Router.
W
ith MU-MIMO focusing on
efficiency, home users can also
look forward to a new wireless
standard that is set to take speeds to a
whole new level. At CES 2016 earlier this
year, TP-Link announced its new Talon
AD7200 Multi-band Wi-Fi router, which also
happens to be the first router in the world
to support the upcoming 802.11ad wireless
standard, also known as WiGig.
This new wireless standard will operate
in the 60GHz frequency range and will
provide wireless data transfer rates that are
beyond anything in the market right now.
Routers supporting 802.11ad will broadcast
a single 60GHz frequency network that
will enable data transfer rates of up to
4,600Mbps. This is over twice as fast as
the fastest 802.11ac connection currently
available, and over seven times as fast as
802.11n connections.
According to TP-Link, the new Talon
AD7200 router will therefore let users
download an entire feature-length 4K movie
in just four minutes. It can also transfer a
thousand photos in a mere five seconds.
This super-fast new wireless standard
will also open new possibilities, such as
wireless storage devices that work as quick
as connected ones.
Like MU-MIMO, compatible 802.11ad
devices are required for this technology to
work. But that aside, there is another crucial
drawback, and that is the short range of the
60GHz network. As frequencies get higher,
wavelengths get shorter and attenuation
becomes greater. And if you are already
suffering Wi-Fi dead-spots in your home
with your 5GHz network, then it’s only going
to become worse with 60GHz.
The range of 802.11ad’s 60GHz networks
could be as short as 10 meters. And unlike
2.4GHz and 5GHz, 60GHz signals cannot
pass through walls. In other words, a clear
line of sight is required for users to be able
to enjoy the high speeds of 802.11ad’s
60GHz networks.
To overcome this problem, 802.11ad
routers will likely broadcast additional
frequency bands that support the older
802.11ac and 802.11n standards for client
devices to fall back on as they move out of
802.11ad range. The TP-Link Talon AD7200,
for example, will broadcast additional
2.4GHz and 5GHz networks for the times
when compatible 802.11ad devices are not
in range.
Beyond MU-MIMO and 802.11ad
Wi-Fi is about to get faster, but what
about problems like dead-spots and
limited range? Beyond these two new
technologies, there’s also talk of two new
wireless standards 802.11ah and 802.11af.
These two new standards will broadcast
lower frequency signals that can better
pass through walls and obstructions and
provide greater range. 802.11af, which
propose networks to be broadcasted
between 54MHz and 790MHz, could
possibly even provide coverage for up
to several kilometers. However, because
of their lower frequencies, these new
standards will not be suitable for
bandwidth-intensive applications. That
said, these new standards will be useful
for smart home automation, and can be
used to connect multiple sensors around
the home without fear of the sensors
being out of range.
900MHz
(802.11ah)
2.4GHz
(802.11b/g/n)
5GHz
(802.11ac)
802.11ah sacrifices performance for range. In theory, it can broadcast networks that
can cover several kilometers, making it ideal for smart home automation.
51J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

54. F E A T U R E
FROM PC TO THE BIG SCREEN
52 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

55. ne of the most recognized video game franchises of recent time is none other than
Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft series. Originally a real-time strategy game, the
franchise has since evolved into a MMORPG series, a standalone eSports competitive
game, and now, a blockbuster film helmed by Duncan Jones. However, a feature-length video
game film adaptation is only just as good as the talents involved. Here’s what you need to
know about the characters behind Warcraft: The Beginning.
By Bryan Chan
THE HEROES & VILLAINS OF WARCRAFT: THE BEGINNING
53J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

56. IN A WORLD
CALLED AZEROTH
Let’s first talk about the world of
Warcraft. No, not the MMORPG, but the
world in which everything takes place
– Azeroth. Like many other fantasy
settings, the world of Azeroth has been
fleshed out with continents, regions
and even sub-regions. It would take an
entire page just to explain them all, so
for the sake of simplicity and to keep
things relevant, all you need to know
about Warcraft: The Beginning is that it
revolves around the great wars, which
is set near the Eastern Kingdoms.
OF ORCS AND MEN
As mentioned, Warcraft: The Beginning
centers around the first of the great
wars, so it’s all about Orcs trying to kill
Humans, and Humans trying to defend
their kingdom. Like any other fantasy
settings, there are heroes on both sides
of the fence.
The background stories of these
characters camefrom multiple
sources, including Warcraft: Orcs &
Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of War,
World of Warcraft, and several novels
related to the Warcraft franchise. As
with many movie adaptations, the
background of the characters and
their roles may have been changed to
suit the big screen.
SIR ANDUIN LOTHAR
In the movie, Travis Fimmel
portrays Lothar, who’s the
Supreme Commander of
the Alliance – a faction of
human, dwarves and high
elves that stood together
to fight the Horde (Orcs)
in the Second War. As the
commander of a unified
army, Lothar is a powerful
fighter who inspires all under
his command.
MAGNA MEDIVH
If there ever was a
character to feel sorry
for, it would be Medivh.
Played by Ben Foster in the
movie, Medivh is the last
Guardian of Tirisfal, people
who were given great
magical powers to battle
the Burning Legion. Sadly,
he gets corrupted even
before birth, and becomes
instrumental in the events
seen in the movie.
LADY TARIA WRYNN
The queen of King Llane
Wrynn, Lady Taria is his
most trusted ally and
the love of his life. In the
movie, she is portrayed by
Ruth Negga.
MOROES
Moroes is Medivh’s butler.
In World of Warcraft, he
is killed, before being
resurrected by the new
master of Medivh’s castle.
It’s uncertain of his role
in the movie, so we’ll just
have to wait and see. He
is played by Callum Keith
Rennie in the movie.
KHADGAR
Considered one of the
most powerful wizards
in all of Azeroth, Khadgar
apprenticed under Medivh
and was among those
responsible in stopping
the advancement of the
Horde. Actor Ben Schnetzer
portrays him in the movie.
GARONA
A half-Orc, half-Draenei,
Garona joins Lothar and
Durotan to find a way to
stop the war between the
Orcs and Humans. Sadly, the
truth was hidden from her
from the start. Paula Patton
plays her in the movie.
KING LLANE WRYNN
A king who was forced
into war, King Llane Wrynn
is seen as a strong leader
and under his rule, the
Humans managed to
drive back the invading
Orcs. Unfortunately,
circumstances led to him
being betrayed by one
of his childhood friends.
Dominic Cooper steps into
the shoes of King Llane
Wrynn in the movie.
THE ALLIANCE
THE WORLD OF AZEROTH
PICTUREBATTLE.NET
Map of Azeroth, circa World of Warcraft:
Wrath of the Lich King
54 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

57. FOR THE HORDE OR THE ALLIANCE?
In Warcraft lore, there are two major factions called the
Horde and the Alliance. The Horde consists of Orcs,
Forsaken, Tauren, Trolls, Blood Elves, and Goblins. On the
other hand, the Alliance comprises Humans, Night Elves,
Dwarves, Gnomes, Draenei, and Worgen.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
The Horde is essentially a faction that values strength and
combat prowess, while the Alliance values
nobility and honor.
ORGRIM DOOMHAMMER
Wielder of the legendary
weapon Doomhammer,
Orgrim is a close friend of
Durotan and the second-
in-command of the Horde.
He places duty above
everything else, and obeys
the will of the Warchief,
despite disagreements. In
the movie, Robert Kazinsky
voices Orgrim.
DUROTAN
Toby Kebbel voices Durotan
in Warcraft: The Beginning.
Durotan is the chieftain of
the Frostwolf clan, and one
of the few who is against
the invasion of Azeroth. Torn
between duty and honor,
Durotan plays an important
role in shaping the role of
The Horde.
DRAKA
As Durotan’s wife, she is
his greatest supporter.
Draka and Durotan are the
parents of Warchief Thrall,
who is one of the main
characters in Warcraft
III: Reign of Chaos. Anna
Galvin takes on the role of
Draka in the movie.
GUL’DAN
There’s only one way to
describe Gul’dan – he’s
the bad guy, and the one
responsible in uniting many
Orc clans. He is attributed
to founding The Horde
to some degree. Daniel
Wu voices Gul’dan in the
upcoming movie.
BLACKHAND THE
DESTROYER
The first Warchief of the
Orcish Horde, Blackhand is a
powerful warrior who plays
a key role in leading the first
charge of Orcs into battle
against the Humans. He is
voiced by Clancy Brown.
THE HORDE
GROMMASH
HELLSCREAM
Known as Grom to many,
Grommash is the chieftain
of the Warsong Clan and
a strong supporter of the
invasion of Azeroth. In
the games, Grom played
only a small role, so it’ll be
interesting to see how the
movie portrays him. Terry
Notary lends his voice to
Grom in the movie.
WARCRAFT: THE BEGINNING ARRIVES IN
CINEMAS STARTING JUNE 9, 2016,
COURTESY OF UNITED INTERNATIONAL
PICTURES (UIP) MALAYSIA.
55J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

58. A CNC-MILLED ALUMINUM BODY.
DIMENSIONS THAT RIVAL THE
SVELTE APPLE MACBOOK AIR. IS
THIS THE PITCH FOR THE LATEST
CONSUMER NOTEBOOK? AS
IT TURNS OUT, NO. MEET THE
NEW GENERATION ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS.
Text by Koh Wanzi
Photography by Vernon Wong
Art Direction by Ken Koh
HAIRDOANGLEGWEEUSINGMAKEUPFOREVERANDLOREALPROFESSIONAL
Enough
with
notebooks!big,fat
56 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

59. T
hink of what a business device
looks like to you. Are you picturing
a black, thickset laptop with nearly
inch-long bezels and a rather drab look?
Yup, for the longest time, that was us too.
Enterprise and consumer devices used
to be in two entirely different categories.
While companies focused on pouring their
design dollars into the latter and sprucing
them up to look their Sunday best, it
always seemed like no one cared as much
about the aesthetics of business devices.
Productivity and functionality came before
everything else. And much like business
attire, god forbid if you walked into a
meeting with a casual machine!
Just consider 2009’s Dell Precision
M6500 workstation. It was fat,
cumbersome and ungainly, even by
standards then. Fast-forward four years to
2013, and the Precision M6700 may look
slightly thinner, but not a whole lot has
changed.
After our brush with next-generation
business devices like the HP Elite
x2 and EliteBook Folio G1, we can’t help
but feel that the winds are shifting.
Enterprise devices are starting to look
better and better in a really short span
of time. In fact, going by their design
and specification trends, it appears
increasingly likely that you’ll end up
using the same device for work and
entertainment by your next upgrade.
More telling was the manner in which
HP showed off its new devices at the
company’s print and PC launch event
in Macau in early April. HP didn’t just
take to the stage to extol the virtues of
the respective products, it trotted out a
polished presentation featuring fresh-
faced models; even going a step further to
create fictitious profiles – where each was
a young, upstart professional with a life
outside of work – showing how its latest
products fit perfectly into both work and
play.
Just consider 2009’s
Dell Precision M6500
workstation. It was
fat, cumbersome,
and ungainly, even
by standards then.
Enterprise devices
are starting to look
better and better in
a really short span
of time.
38.75cm
40mm
4.08kg
57J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

60. F E A T U R E
A
nd there’s a very good reason
why the presentation was so
snazzy, fashionable even. More
than 30 percent of the workforce in
Asia Pacific and Japan are millennials,
and to put it bluntly, this is a generation
that wants its devices to look good. By
2020, millennials are even expected to
comprise half of the global workforce.
Furthermore, 62 percent of the
workforce now works from more than
one location, and flexible working hours
and telecommuting are on the rise.
What this all means is that the
traditional, spatial barriers that divided
work and life are breaking down, and
the two are rapidly converging. It used
to be that you did work in the office,
and went home to your life. But now
that technological advances have
allowed us to work untethered from
our office desks – and combined with
the increasing prevalence of BYOD
policies – it’s become more important
for business devices to actually be
something that we want to take home
with us.
Still, it may be a little early to
conclude that consumer and business
devices will eventually become one
and the same, but what we can say is
that they are becoming remarkably
similar. As it turns out, HP’s Macau
event offered a clue as to where this
might all be going. While the majority
of the devices showed belonged to its
enterprise lineup, HP also revealed in
the same breath the HP Spectre, its new
darling consumer notebook that also
happens to be the world’s thinnest at
a mere 10.4mm. When such a striking
machine like the Spectre shares the
stage with a host of fairly attractive
enterprise devices, you know you
can no longer think of them as being
entirely different.
This convergence between work
and play is taking place on two fronts
– design and form factor. For the first
time, companies are including design
as a key factor when conceptualizing
enterprise devices, and thinking about
how well these devices can perform
for entertainment, outside of a cubicle.
It has effectively become a four-
pronged approach, with design and
entertainment joining the longstanding
considerations of security and
productivity.
To put it bluntly,
This is a generation
that wants its
devices to look
good.
This convergence
between work and
play is taking place
on two fronts –
design and form
factor.
10.4mm
1.1kg
Bang & Olufsen
Audio
58 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

61. is
The
workforce
changing
59J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

62. the-side’
A
‘trickle-to-
effect
F E A T U R E
60 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

63. T
he industry is rife with examples
of business devices taking on the
design characteristics of consumer
notebooks. For starters, there is Dell’s new
lineup of Latitude and Precision notebooks
for mobile workers and professionals.
Notebooks like the Latitude 13 7000 and
the Precision 15 5510 bear an unmistakable
resemblance to Dell’s successful XPS series
of consumer notebooks, and the latter
even sports a similar carbon fiber finish
and edge-to-edge display. Dell is assuming
that by porting over a well-received design,
it will be able to replicate the success on its
enterprise products, and from what we can
see, that’s sound reasoning right there.
Similarly, HP’s second-generation 2-in-1
hybrid, the Elite x2 is a good case study
for drastic evolution of design. While the
first iteration of the device, released in
2014, was a decidedly unstylish and very
ordinary-looking machine that could simply
be separated into two halves, the Elite x2
looks nothing like it. Instead, it looks a lot
like the Spectre x2, with a nearly identical
kickstand and detachable keyboard.
Then there’s the EliteBook 1040 and 800
series notebooks, which appear to have
taken a leaf from the lookbook of HP’s
ENVY laptops. Again, if you don’t look too
closely, you could be forgiven for mistaking
one for the other.
Finally, we have the EliteBook Folio G1. At
only 12.4mm thick, it is almost shockingly
thin for an enterprise device, thinner even
than Apple’s 2015 MacBook. The device
is undeniably sleek, and light as well,
terms that aren’t usually associated with
notebooks in this category.
Lenovo appears to have caught on too.
At CES this year, it unveiled a new family of
X1 devices that also trumpeted how thin
and light they were. And while Lenovo has
been making ThinkPad Yogas for some
time already, this is the first instance of it
placing the X1 and Yoga branding side by
side in the naming of the new ThinkPad X1
Yoga convertible. We may be reading too
much into it, but it’s interesting that this
is the year that Lenovo decided to put the
business-facing X1 tag beside the consumer-
oriented Yoga branding.
What’s more, the X1 Yoga is the first
convertible to feature an OLED display, a
technology that promises better-looking
screens with improved contrast ratios and
detail retention across a wider dynamic
range. That sounds like something more
suited to an entertainment machine than a
no-nonsense business device, but perhaps
Lenovo isn’t playing by these assumptions
anymore?
For better or for worse, work and life are
converging – a trend that’s reflected in the
growing similarities between enterprise and
consumer products. To put it all together,
not only are design features of consumers
devices percolating to their business-
oriented counterparts, alternative form
factors like tablets and convertibles are
also becoming more prominent. Business
devices are no longer staid, utilitarian affairs
to be used exclusively at your office desk.
Instead, they’re increasingly becoming sleek
and stylish products that you’d be happy
to stash in your briefcase or tote bag, for
use at home or at a neighboring Starbucks.
And when you’re done with work, this new
generation of devices will gladly fire up the
latest season of The Walking Dead for you
while you’re lounging on the couch.
Business devices
are no longer staid,
utilitarian affairs to
be used exclusively
at your office desk.
For better or for
worse, work and
life are converging.
16.8mm
1.36kg
OLED
display
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64. 62 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6
S P E C I A L
L E T YO U R E Y E S S P E A K W I T H M S I G T 7 2
V R R E A DY G A M I N G N OT E B O O K
TRANSLATING VISION INTO ACTION
With tobii’s eye-tracking capabilities in place,
gamers will be able to use just their eyes to
perform various actions within their games.
For example, in Tom Clancy’s The Division
(which has specifically been optimized for
tobii), you can use the power of your eyes to
aim, shoot, and tag enemies.
Need to hurl a grenade at an enemy hiding
behind a barricade? Just fix your eyes at the
exposed area behind him, click the aim button
on your mouse (which will automatically snap
the camera to where you’re looking at), and
toss away.
Apart from Tom Clancy’s The Division, tobii
is also fully compatible with titles such as
DayZ, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Assassin’s
Creed Rogue, Arma 3, and even Euro Truck
Simulator 2.
Besides improving your in-game
performance, tobii’s eye-tracking abilities will
also come in handy when you’re broadcasting
your gaming sessions using the XSplit
Gamecaster, as it can show your audience
where (and what) exactly you’re looking at
on your screen, removing the need for them
to dart their eyes about just to find what it is
that you’re speaking of.
PEDAL TO THE METAL
Naturally, in order for tobii’s eye-tracking
technology to function optimally, the MSI GT72
gaming notebooks need to be equipped with
powerful hardware, which is why they can be
configured with either NVIDIA GeForce GTX
970M or GTX 980M graphics, up to 64GB of
DDR4 RAM, as well as the latest and greatest
6th generation Intel Core i7 processors.
All that processing power underneath its
hood also means that the GT72 notebooks
will be able to run your games as smooth as
silk on their 17.3-inch Full HD (1,080 x 1,080)
NVIDIA G-SYNC-ready displays – even when
their graphics settings are being pushed to the
limit. Need more pixels? The GT72 notebooks
can be configured with a 17.3-inch QHD (3,840
x 2,160) display as well.
THE FOUR HORSEMEN
tobii’s eye-tracking technology is exclusively
available on the MSI GT72 6QD Dominator
G tobii, GT72 6QE Dominator Pro G tobii,
GT72S 6QD Dominator G tobii, and GT72S
6QE Dominator Pro G tobii.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
MSI Malaysia 1 300 22 1986 | Where to Buy: my.msi.com/service/wheretobuy/#43,3,
Have you ever wondered about
how amazing it would be to control
your notebook PC using just your
eyes? Well, the time has come
for you to experience it in reality,
as MSI’s refreshed lineup of GT72
gaming notebooks are VR ready
and equipped with eye-tracking
technology, courtesy of Swedish
eye-tracking company, tobii.
TomClancy’sTheDivision©2015UbisoftEntertainment.AllRightsReserved.

65. HOW WE RATE:
Products are rated on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 being so abysmal, it should be a
crime to sell it, and 10 being almost perfect. Come now, nothing is perfect.
An Editor’s Choice may also be awarded based on unique merits.
TEST
BEST
PERFORMANCE
M A L AYS I A
TEST
EDITOR’S
CHOICE
M A L AYS I A
TEST
BEST
VALUE
M A L AYS I A
M O R E
I N S I D E >
ASUS VIVOMINI UN65H
One size fits all.
MSI Z170I GAMING PRO
AC
Mini monstrosity.
PLEXTOR M7V M.2
(2280) SSD
Slightly better, faster
transfers.
LAB
RESULTSEvery month behind the doors of our super secret gadget testing
facility, the latest tech products are put through their paces using
industry-recognized benchmarks and our own blend of real-world usage
scenarios. Here are our findings.
T E S T
DISCLAIMER
While every care is made to ensure accurate or latest retail pricing is printed in our reviews, HWM Malaysia cannot be held responsible for changes in retail prices after time of print. You are advised to look for the latest pricing from retail outlets
and where there is a discrepancy between our printed price and price declared by a shop, the latter will prevail in choice.
81CE
63J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

66. VS
FITBIT BLAZE
•
JAWBONE UP3
•
TOMTOM SPARK
CARDIO + MUSIC
•
XIAOMI MI BAND PULSE
In this wearables
shootout, we look at
activity and wellness
trackers that are able
to provide Heart Rate
Monitoring (HRM)
without the need for a
chest strap.
Text by Liu Hongzuo
Photography by Vernon Wong
Art Direction by Ken Koh
The way
to a
T E S T - FITNESS TRACKER SHOOTOUT
64 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

67. healthy heart
65J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

68. AT A GLANCE
Compatibility
iOS
Android
Windows Phone
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.0
Battery
Up to 5 days
Weight
44g (default strap)
Price
RM950
Out of our small selection, the Fitbit Blaze
is easily the most attractive looking fitness
tracker available. The strap is made from flexible
elastomer found in sport watches, with options for
genuine leather or stainless steel. Its buckle and
frame is made from surgical-grade stainless steel
with traces of nickel.
Fitbit Blaze’s setup is simple
to do and its proprietary app
is even simpler to understand.
Out of all the proprietary apps
that came with their trackers
in this shootout, it was the
most interactive – giving us the
breakdown of all the statistics
we wanted to read, be it passive
step tracking or active sports.
The app interface is detailed yet
simple to understand, though it
doesn’t provide any tips on how
to maximize your lifestyle.
Some may argue that the
Blaze is a smartwatch because
of its appearance, but our experience with the
Blaze tells us that it works more as a full-fledged
fitness tracker, since the Blaze does not run on
Android Wear and it only provides smartphone
notification pushing to the user. The Fitbit Blaze
has a commendable fitness functionality amongst
the other trackers here that support Heart Rate
Monitoring, since it provides both active and
passive HR tracking, and multi-sport tracking
(except swimming).
Its 1.7-inch, touch-sensitive color LCD screen
also makes it easy to read the display at night. The
colors helped differentiate the different numbers
and logos – which can be handy
after a strenuous exercise. It’s not
the most accurate step tracker,
but its HRM tracking is on par with
the Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse, with
the extra benefit of having your HR
tracked during exercise. The Fitbit
Blaze becomes slightly difficult to
use with sweaty fingers after a run
though, given its glass display.
Between the TomTom Spark
Cardio + Music and this, the Fitbit
Blaze provides a more intuitive
interface for a fitness tracker. It
is suitable for someone with an
active lifestyle. It also helps that
the device doesn’t look out of place if you wear
it anywhere outside of exercising; something we
can’t say for the TomTom wearable’s appearance.
If you require a passive tracker at a lower price
point, look towards the Jawbone UP3 or Xiaomi Mi
Band Pulse instead.
FITBIT BLAZE
Attractive and
functional.
Difficult to use
touchscreen after
sweating it out.
The Fitbit Blaze’s appearance is
attractive and functional, making
it easy to use its color LCD
screen.
You can get the Fitbit Blaze
in its traditional durable strap
right out of the box, or a stylish
genuine leather alternative (sold
separately).
T E S T - FITNESS TRACKER SHOOTOUT
66 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

69. AT A GLANCE
Compatibility
iPhone 4S or later
Android 4.3 or later
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.0 BLE
Battery
38 mAh
Up to 7 days
Weight
29g
Price
RM829
The Jawbone UP3 is physically appealing, with
its strap made from hypoallergenic TPU rubber,
and a sensor fashioned from anodized aluminum.
However, form does not follow function – the
wearable can be challenging to wear. The clasp is
tricky to operate with just one hand. Even though
it is adjustable, we never really
got a comfortable fit. Worse of all,
the clasp seems to loosen with
wear, and after just a couple of
days, it wears much looser than
we would have liked.
Previously, we’ve tried the UP3
on its own and felt it was one of
the better wellness trackers you
can get. It turns out that the UP3
is not as accurate as we expected
it to be, after comparing it to
Xiaomi’s Mi Band Pulse and the
iPhone 6s Plus’ built-in trackers
(see our Benchmark section for
more details). However, it does
still have the best proprietary app
because data recorded is presented in a useful
and understandable manner. Other apps simply
tell us the numbers we’ve accumulated, but the
Jawbone’s tracking app has little snippets of fun
facts about exercise and sleep, and it integrates
your day’s result to make sense of your numbers.
The passive Heart Rate functionality was helpful
at large, even though it made us feel helpless
in the moment. The Jawbone UP3 is largely
automatic and decides when to take a sample of
your heart rate. There are pros and cons to this, of
course. On the downside, there
is virtually no way to pick up a
snapshot of your heart rate on
demand – unlike the Xiaomi Mi
Band Pulse, which gives you that
without any hassle. However, the
Jawbone UP3’s HR recording is
quiet and automatic, so you’ll get
a better average reading at the
end of the day.
Even if you’re not a stickler
for pinpoint accuracy within a
passive wellness tracker, it is
hard to deny that at RM829, the
UP3 is quite pricey when there
are more accurate alternatives at
a far lower cost, such as the Mi
Band Pulse. Also, while appearances are indeed
important, we’d like to argue that the Fitbit Blaze
would be better value for money – you pay a
similar amount, and you get far more than passive
tracking with the Blaze.
JAWBONE UP3
Amazing app
interface that
coaches the user.
Spotty accuracy,
even for a wellness
tracker.
Smart Coach within the Jawbone
UP3 app is a game changer to
understanding helpful data.
The clasp is secure, but it takes
nimble fingers and practice to get
the UP3 around your wrist.
67J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

70. AT A GLANCE
Compatibility
iOS
Android
Connectivity
Bluetooth Smart
(Bluetooth 4.0)
Battery
Up to three weeks
Weight
50g
Price
US$349
If you come across as the no-nonsense sort, the
TomTom Spark personifies exactly that. Its rubber
strap is the easiest to secure and detach. It even
comes in a few colors and is replaceable given that
the ‘brain’ of the Spark can be detached. Frankly,
it’s not the most attractive device with its thick
bezel and the knobby-looking
GPS housing, which doubles as
controls for the non-touchscreen
device. It provides sleep tracking,
but there’s no realistic way
of wearing it to bed without
interfering with your sleep.
The Spark comes in various
models ranging from a base
activity tracker (US$129.99) to
the Spark Cardio (US$199.99)
with built-in HRM and the Spark
Cardio + Music (US$249.99), which
further adds 3GB for local music
storage and playback so you don’t
need a separate music player.
It even comes pre-loaded with
a customized Ministry of Sound
playlist to get you started. You can even get the
Spark Cardio + Music with a Bluetooth headset
bundled – if you don’t already have one – at a must
costlier US$349.
The features of the Spark Cardio + Music thrives
in practicality. It has multi-sport tracking including
swimming, since the device is waterproof up to
40m. Activity tracking is very detailed; tell the
device the type of run you’re going for, and get
details other tracker’s apps don’t provide, such as
calories and energy burnt. The Spark’s HRM tracks
activity, which means you can’t
get a passive readout, but it can
give you a thorough breakdown
of your heart rate during exercise.
It has nearly everything the Fitbit
Blaze has and more, but it doesn’t
push smartphone notifications yet
(to arrive via software update in
Q2 2016).
The app’s interface looks
straightforward at first glance, until
you realize that it hides most of
its passive data points in deeper
menus. That said, it is still the
most informative app tested. While
the Jawbone UP3 offers tips, the
TomTom app is the boss of hard
empirical data. Our run data even
had the average number of strides per minute.
The TomTom Spark Cardio + Music is an easy
choice if you lead a hyper-active lifestyle, but
depending on the features you want, can end up
being a very hefty investment.
TOMTOM SPARK CARDIO + MUSIC
Detailed app and
filled with features
for adrenaline
junkies.
Least attractive and
most expensive of
the lot.
The physical buttons that houses
the GPS unit isn’t the prettiest,
but it sure works well with
sweaty fingers.
The ridged strap with snap-on
clasps on the TomTom Spark
Cardio + Music makes it ideal
for secure use during strenuous
sports.
T E S T - FITNESS TRACKER SHOOTOUT
68 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

71. AT A GLANCE
Compatibility
iOS7 or later
Android 4.4 or later
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.0
Battery
45mAh
Up to 30 days
(Standby only)
Weight
5.5g (Sensor only)
Price
RM79
On the surface, the Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse is nearly
indistinguishable from its predecessor, the original
Mi Band. It is still the same oblong shaped sensor,
with a shiny cut edge around its aluminum top. The
Pulse, however, introduces a heart rate monitor
onto the tiny device. The wearable’s silicone band
is quite comfortable on skin.
We were only conscious about
the device when we went for a
run, but not during day-to-day
activities, such as being at work
or in bed.
The Mi Band Pulse is supported
by the same app made for its
previous wearable. Pairing the new
Pulse via Bluetooth is just as easy
as the original Mi Band’s process.
The new BPM (beats per minute)
feature is easily visible on the main
screen, but it only tracks resting
HR, since the device requires you
to tap ‘measure’ in the app’s menu
in order to get a static snapshot of your BPM. It
does not take a live sample when you are awake,
or running. That said, it is one of the most accurate
HRMs in this shootout as it gives readings that are
close to other HRM-capable wearables, and even
home-use blood pressure monitors.
As we tested the band on an iOS platform,
it’s immediately apparent that the iOS version
has limited functionality when compared to its
Android counterpart. The Android app lets you
indicate the unique types of exercises, like Rope
Jumping or Sit-ups, but this feature is seemingly
missing from the iOS version.
As a passive wellness tracker,
the Mi Band Pulse only tells us
the total number of steps and
sleep accrued, and doesn’t
differentiate between exercise
and day-to-day activity.
While it may not pack as
many features as compared
to Jawbone or Fitbit trackers,
it still does all the basics of a
tracker, on top of its new and
accurate heart rate tracking.
If you’re particular about your
strenuous activities, the Mi
Band Pulse would be under-
equipped to make you satisfied. However, if
you’re a sedentary office worker who’d like to
see some physical progress, the Mi Band Pulse is
an excellent choice given its low price point and
core features. It’s more accurate than its fellow
wellness tracker, the Jawbone UP3, too.
XIAOMI MI BAND PULSE
Accurate wellness-
tracking despite its
weight.
Light on features
because of its price.
The Pulse’s Heart Rate Monitor
gives you your HR reading on-
demand within the app, but it
doesn’t track passively.
The Mi Band Pulse’s strap is
simple, and they come in gaudy
colors. Black seems like the
best choice as it amplifies its
simplicity.
69J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

72. T E S T - FITNESS TRACKER SHOOTOUT
Steps
(Closer to 100% – better)
We tested a day’s worth of steps tracking by wearing
one wearable on each wrist. Since we can only wear
two trackers on one individual wrist at any time for
the most accurate result possible, we tested different
wearables on different days, using the iPhone 6s
Plus’ built-in Health app as the control factor. We did
not feed the data from the wearables to the Health
app, and each number came from their respective
proprietary tracking apps.
We determine if the tracker is relatively more
accurate by comparing its score to the day’s average
score - an average of the trackers used and the iPhone
6s Plus. The Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse came within 0.02
percent of the average score, beating the TomTom
Spark Cardio + Music’s 0.04-percent difference.
Distance in kilometers
(Closer to 100% – better)
Like our steps, the distance indicates how far each
wearable has traveled in one day. Since we can only
wear two trackers on one individual wrist at any
time for the most accurate result possible, we tested
different wearables on different days, using the iPhone
6s Plus’ built-in Health app as the control factor. We
did not feed the data from the wearables to the Health
app, and each number came from their respective
proprietary tracking apps.
We determine if the tracker is relatively more
accurate by comparing its score to the day’s average
score - an average of the trackers used and the iPhone
6s Plus. The TomTom Spark Cardio + Music tracker was
only off the average score by 0.47 percent – the next
closest is the Fitbit Blaze at 1.89 percent off the mark.
Passive Heart Rate in BPM
(Closer to average score – better)
All four trackers are capable of reading our passive
heart rate. Since each reading takes only a few minutes
to record, we were able to test the values on the same
day, within the same hour. The sample was taken from
a sedentary position – at our office desk, in the middle
of the work day. Each value is an average of multiple
attempts. BPM stands for Beats Per Minute. It indicates
the number of times the heart would beat within the
minute.
For reference, a typical battery-powered blood
pressure monitor designed for home-use gave us
a reading of 84 BPM. The average score of all four
devices and the BP monitor is 80 BPM, with Fitbit Blaze
being right on the money.
TOMTOM SPARK CARDIO + MUSIC
JAWBONE UP3
FITBIT BLAZE
100.41%
100.38%
XIAOMI MI BAND PULSE
99.98%
103.93%
APPLE IPHONE 6S
98.21%
TOMTOM SPARK CARDIO + MUSIC
JAWBONE UP3
FITBIT BLAZE
102.06%
100.48%
XIAOMI MI BAND PULSE
96.42%
101.93%
APPLE IPHONE 6S
96.42%
TOMTOM SPARK CARDIO + MUSIC
JAWBONE UP3
FITBIT BLAZE
70
84
XIAOMI MI BAND PULSE
82
80
BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR
84
70 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

73. GETTING REWARDED FOR YOUR STEPS
MODEL
MULTI-SPORTS TRACKING
HEART RATE MONITOR
SLEEP MONITOR
CONNECTIVITY
COMPATIBILITY
GPS
XIAOMI MI BAND
PULSE
iOS 7 or later
Android 4.4 or later
Bluetooth 4.0
Yes
Yes
No
No
IP67 (water and dust
resistant)
Up to 30 days
(standby only)
37 x 13.6 x 9.9 mm
(sensor only)
5.5g (sensor only)
RM79
TOMTOM SPARK
CARDIO + MUSIC
iOS
Android OS
Bluetooth Smart
(Bluetooth 4.0)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Water-resistant
(5 ATM)
Up to 3 weeks
22 x 25 x 13.7 mm
(sensor only)
50g
US$349
JAWBONE UP3
iPhone 4S or later
Android 4.3 OS or later
Bluetooth 4.0 BLE
Yes
Yes
No
No
Splash-proof
Up to 7 days
220 x 12.2 x
3.0~9.3 mm
29g
RM829
FITBIT BLAZE
iOS
Android OS
Windows Phone
Bluetooth 4.0
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Splash-proof (1 ATM)
Up to 5 days
36.7 x 42.3 x 40.2 mm
44g (default strap)
RM950
DIMENSIONS
WEATHER-PROOFING
BATTERY
WEIGHT
PRICE
Activity trackers have never been more in-demand as healthy living and
fitness trends grow. However, unless you workout regularly, the novelty
of looking at your daily step counter usually wears off after a few weeks
when there’s no other motivation to keep tracking your progress.
Remember NikeFuel, Nike’s universal activity measurement system
that earned you ‘Fuel’ points and achievements? It was fun while it
lasted, but again, nothing tangible came out of it.
So what do you do with all those step goals you’re meeting
everyday? If you guessed “there’s bound to be an app for it”, you’d be
partially correct. There’s actually a portal for it.
Active Ager Asia (activeager.asia) is a new startup that gamifies
activity tracking with physical rewards. Signing up for a free account
lets you sync your tracker to its dashboard and access select
merchant privileges. Paid members with an annual subscription will
also be able to participate in regular ‘challenges’, redeem their points
for rewards such as grocery vouchers and take part in lucky draws.
According to the portal, it currently supports Fitbit and Jawbone
devices, plus Google Fit and Moves mobile apps.
71J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M

74. AND THE BEST
FITNESS TRACKER IS
FITBIT BLAZE
True, the TomTom Spark Music + Cardio is the more detailed
sports tracker, but the whole point of a wearable’s form factor
is to allow the device to be seen in a social setting. The Fitbit
Blaze does all the necessary tracking for strenuous activities with
due accuracy, and without forgoing the fact that the information
displayed must be easy to read and access. It is easy to use when
you’re exhausted after a run. The lower price tag makes it easy
for us to say that the Blaze definitely performed well – as an
active sports tracker and as a personal accessory.
XIAOMI MI BAND PULSE
Despite its diminutive size and cut-throat price tag, the Xiaomi
Mi Pulse has the best value for money given that it’s insanely
affordable and more accurate than some of its more expensive
peers. It’s nothing flashy, and the stats provided are rather basic,
but that makes it easier to convince a non-wearable user to
adopt this device and start a new life. The Jawbone UP3 is no
doubt handy with the app’s built-in coaching and attractive color
options, but the Xiaomi Mi Band actually did the ‘simple and
passive’ shtick to a better effect.
T E S T - UHS SPEED CLASS 3 SD CARD SHOOTOUT
TEST
BEST
VALUE
72 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

76. VS
APPLE MAGIC KEYBOARD
•
LOGITECH K380
•
MICROSOFT UNIVERSAL FOLDABLE KEYBOARD
•
RANGER TOUCHPAD BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD
T E S T - MULTI-DEVICE BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD SHOOTOUT
74 H W M | J U N E 2 0 1 6

77. WIRELESS
WARRIORSTablets and smartphones are getting so
powerful that many find they no longer need
a dedicated notebook PC. But if you’re trying
to get serious work done, a touchscreen
keyboard just won’t cut it. Bluetooth keyboards
are easy to set up, usable on multiple devices,
and give you a real typing experience.
Text by James Lu
Photography by Tan Wei Te
Art Direction by Ian Chong
75J U N E 2 0 1 6 | H W M