Maxis offers Motorola Xoom with Defy for RM2499
Maxis has announced today the anticipated Android Honeycomb tablet, the Motorola Xoom will be made available from 6th May onwards. We will be getting the WiFi only version as the 3G version is mentioned to be not available outside the US at the moment.
So how do you get connected you might ask? Maxis is offering a bundle of the Motorola Xoom together with the robust Motorola Defy for a combo price of RM2499. The connectivity for the Xoom is supposedly to come from the Motorola Defy through its portable hotspot feature as mentioned via twitter. Although this is workable, having hotspot enabled would be taxing on the smart phone’s battery and isn’t a recommended solution long term. It would be better if you could connect with a proper WiFi router while the Defy’s hotspot feature is used only when it is absolutely necessary. If we can have it our way, we would prefer the Xoom to be paired together with a MiFi device.
There’s no full details on the bundling plans yet but all should be revealed next Friday. To register your interest, head to Maxis Tablet page here.
Maxis announces specific iPad 2 plans coming soon
This just in from Maxis:
Maxis today announced it will offer dedicated data plans for iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G in the coming weeks. iPad 2 is the next generation of Apple’s magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. The amazing new iPad 2 improves on the original iPad by being thinner, lighter and faster, all while maintaining the same incredible 10 hours of battery life. For more information about iPad 2 please visit www.apple.com/ipad/.
Capitalising on the hype of the iPad 2 in Malaysia Maxis came out first to announce iPad 2 specific plans for the 3G version of the device. We’re not sure how much will the iPad 2 plans will differ from the earlier Maxis iPad 3G plan, but what we know is that Maxis will not offer a iPad 2 bundle.
So how many of you will be getting the iPad 3G and who will be getting just the WiFi only version, and why?
Machines issue FAQ for those who want to queue for the iPad 2
Update: iPad 2 stock at Machines KLCC. Photo credit: cerventus.
In anticipation of long, long, long queues at all official Apple retailers across Malaysia, Machines — one of the country’s more prominent Apple retailers — have posted FAQs related to the purchasing process for the iPad 2 on launch day.
Head on after the jump for the full list but here are the more pertinent points:
- All Machines outlets will carry the iPad 2 EXCEPT for its outlet in the Gardens at Mid Valley.
- Retail store sales will begin at 1000hrs. Not all outlets will allow you to queue overnight. Machines Mid Valley, Sunway Pyramid, allow overnight queues. Machines KLCC, Bukit Tinggi, Lot 10 and JB City Square do not. Queue for these outlets will be right outside the outlets from the time of mall opens to public, roughly around 0900hrs.
- Purchases are limited to two units per customer.
We take a closer look at the Smart Cover for the iPad 2
Update: Official Malaysian pricing and comparison of Smart Cover prices from around the world here.
When it is officially launched in Malaysia this Friday, the Smart Cover is expected to cost RM250 for the leather version and RM150 for the polyurethane version.
The thing with the Smart Cover is that its just a cover. The Smart Cover is not a casing and so it doesn’t protect the back portion of the iPad 2 which is also very prone to scratches.
Fact of the matter is, you can get a lot of pretty good cases that fully cover the iPad 2 for RM250. So what is the point of this Smart Cover then? Does the cost justify the utility of the Smart Cover?
Actually not really. As a protective shield for your iPad 2, the Smart Cover is really good at being virtually useless. Even the microfibre inner lining doesn’t keep the screen clean like Apple claim it would. In fact the inner lining is actually a dust trap. Prolonged use of the Smart Cover actually accumulates dust, fingerprint and greasy gunk on the iPad 2 screen. On the other hand, the Smart Cover does protect the screen of the device but that’s pretty much it.
As a stand the Smart Cover is probably one of the best out there but it’s not the only good stand in the market. We know of other pretty good iPad 2 cases+stands in the market that offer much better protection at the same price or even less.
So what do we like about the Smart Cover? We like that it doesn’t add any bulk to the thin and sleek iPad 2. We like that it makes the iPad 2 a joy to hold and we like that the magnets are strong enough for us to stick the iPad 2 to a fridge door, but should you get one?
Well it depends. Are you a sucker for minimalist design? If you are, then there is no other casing out there that is as minimalist as the Smart Cover but if you’re looking for a casing that can protect your precious iPad 2 and keep it in mint condition for as long as possible, then the Smart Cover is not a wise choice.
It’s official. The white iPhone 4 will make its way to Apple retail stores in the following country starting from today — Thursday, April 28.
Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UK and the US.
Pricing for the white iPhone 4 is exactly the same as its non-white stablemate and while DiGi has opened registration of interest for the device, there is no word as to when it will come to Malaysia.
All Apple have to say about availability in other countries is that it’s coming soon. Soon being a relative term in this context.
So would you get a white iPhone 4 now or wait for the iPhone 4s/iPhone 5 to make an appearance sometime in September?
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