The XOOM features a 1GHz dual-core processor, 32 GB of memory and 1GB of RAM, front-facing and rear-facing cameras, true multi-tasking functionality, and the latest Google Mobile services on a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display.

At an exclusive launch at the Ciao Ristorante in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, T. Kugan, Vice-President of Product, Device and Innovation at Maxis said, “Maxis customers will be the first to enjoy the coveted Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi in Malaysia. User experience will definitely be enhanced by the fact that Maxis today has the widest and fastest 3G broadband footprint in Malaysia, enabling them to enjoy the features of the smart device on seamless high-speed mobile data networks.”

Robert van Tilburg, senior regional sales director for Motorola Mobility in South Asia had this to add: “Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi re-defines what the tablet experience should be. Designed from the ground up with the user in mind, it provides more ways to have fun, connect with friends and stay productive while on the go. Whether surfing the Web, watching the latest hit movie as it was intended or video-chatting with friends, Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi will delight customers with its ease of use, speed and vivid graphics, as well as its Motorola Smart Accessories.”

Since the one to be made available in the Malaysian market will be the Wi-Fi only version, Maxis is offering a bundle of the XOOM together with the Motorola Defy for a combo price of RM2499. The Motorola Defy being an Android smartphone has a portable hotspot feature which will allow it to share its connection with the XOOM. However, according to Maxis, this limited period offer will be valid only from May 6 until May 22, and customers will need to sign up for a 3GB x 24 month contract on the Motorola DEFY.

Excerpt from Maxis’ official press release on the XOOM’s features:

Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi features – a new mobile experience

Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi delivers exceptionally fast performance with its 1 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The tablet showcases the innovations of the Honeycomb user experience – including widgets, true multi-tasking, tabbed browsing, notifications and customization – on a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display with 1280X800 resolution enabling video content that’s richer and clearer than ever before. Support for HDMI enables viewing of videos and movies on larger screens, such as HD televisions. A 5 MP rear-facing camera captures HD video, and a 2 MP front-facing camera enables clear video chats using Google Talk™.

The latest Google Mobile services include Google Maps 5.0™ and access to Android Market™. Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi also supports a beta version of Adobe® Flash® Player 10.2 downloadable from Android Market, enabling the delivery of rich Flash-based web content including videos, games and rich Internet applications. The tablet also features a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer and adaptive lighting. It supports up to 10 hours of video playback, and charges in half the time of competitive tablets on the market.  Motorola XOOM has an SD card slot but this will not be supported at launch – a software upgrade will follow after launch to enable this feature.

Motorola Smart Accessories

• A Speaker HD Dock for sending HD content directly to a TV or clearly listening to music through two built-in speakers without attaching external speakers
• A protective gel case designed to be a snug fit and to give you peace of mind when you are on the go
• A premium folio case which protects your Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi when you are on the go. It also allows you to position it at two different angles

Meanwhile, Motorola launches world’s first Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet XOOM in Malaysia originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 29, 2011.

Here are some photos of iPad 2 queues at some of the Apple reseller stores today in Kuala Lumpur / Klang Valley areas.

Machines, Suria KLCC

photo by Daniel Riveong on Twitter.

photo by Machines on Facebook.

Machines, Sunway Pyramid

photo by Ramakrishnan CN on Facebook.

photo by Andrew Lee on Twitter.

Machines, Mid-Valley

photo by Machines on Facebook.

photo by Lowyat.NET on Twitter.

photo by Sharine L. on Twitter.

Machines, Lot 10

photo by YH Lim.

Switch, The Mines

photo by Muhammad Hijazi on Twitter.

Macstudio, Berjaya Times Square

photo by YH Lim.

Mac City, 1Utama

photo by Mei Ng on Facebook.

Macstudio, Low Yat Plaza

photo by YH Lim.

iPad 2 Sold Out notices

photo by YH Lim.

iPad 2 swarms in Malaysia: Launch Day [Photos] originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 29, 2011.

LATEST: IT’S OFFICIAL. Apple just announced iPad 2 launch dates – Japan (Thursday April 28) ; Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE (Friday April 29).

Back in March 2011, Apple Inc. announced that iPad 2  will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April. April is now coming to the end and the anticipation for the iPad 2 here in Malaysia is reaching fever pitch. (The original iPad was launched in Malaysia in November 2010).

Grace Chng, the Digital Life editor for Singapore’s The Straits Time speculated in her blog that the iPad 2 will be released in Singapore on April 29th, taking into account Apple’s penchant for choosing Fridays to kick off sales of new iPhone models and the original iPad.  Meanwhile, Techtree reported that Apple will launch the iPad 2 in India later this week, with rumor that the device will be available in Japan on the 28th.

Will Malaysia be in the list of additional countries which will be getting the iPad 2 this week? Indications from a discussion on the popular Lowyat forum seem positive.

At around 7pm this evening, Apple Premium Reseller Machines this image on its Facebook Page with a caption: work in progress. The image showing workers getting ready queue rope. Earlier, it tweeted: Stay tuned for an IMPORTANT announcement tonight.

Can it really be for iPad 2 OR it is for the launch of white iPhone 4? According to this article, white iPhone 4 will launch today, with sources informed that numerous stores and even Best Buy have announced that they will start selling the White iPhone 4 from April 27. PC Magazine also reported the impending launch of white iPhone 4 on April 27 2011.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 1: It’s confirmed, iPad 2 is coming to Malaysia.

CUPERTINO, California—April 27, 2011—Apple® today announced that iPad® 2, the second-generation of its breakthrough post-PC device, will arrive in Japan on Thursday, April 28 and Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and eight additional countries on Friday, April 29. iPad 2 will be available at Apple retail stores at 9 a.m. local time, select Apple Authorized Resellers, and online through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com) beginning at 1 a.m. Additionally, iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in China beginning Friday, May 6.

iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime® and Photo Booth®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect.

Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in Japan on April 28 and Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE on April 29 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in China on May 6, and further international availability will be announced at a later date.

UPDATE 2: Apple said white iPhone 4 will be available beginning tomorrow in 28 countries.

CUPERTINO, California—April 27, 2011—Apple® today announced that the white iPhone® 4 will be available beginning tomorrow. White iPhone 4 models will be available from Apple’s online store (www.apple.com), at Apple’s retail stores, AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

“The white iPhone 4 has finally arrived and it’s beautiful,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We appreciate everyone who has waited patiently while we’ve worked to get every detail right.”

iPhone 4 is the most innovative phone in the world, featuring Apple’s stunning Retina™ display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone resulting in super crisp text, images and video, and FaceTime®, which makes video calling a reality.

Pricing & Availability
White models of iPhone 4 will be available in 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, beginning Thursday, April 28 and in many more countries around the world soon. White iPhone 4 will be available for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model with a new two year agreement through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple’s retail stores, AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

iPad 2 or white iPhone 4, which one is launching in Malaysia? originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 27, 2011.

Nielsen also surveyed those who have purchased a smartphone in the past 6 months. Half of them said they have purchased an Android device. Only 25% have purchased Apple iOS devices, followed by BlackBerry 15% and Windows 7 7%.

Another latest report – Mobile Developer Report found that mobile developers remain bullish about the iOS platform. Appcelerator and IDC surveyed a total of 2,760 Appcelerator Titanium developers in early April 2011. 91% of the developers surveyed are “very interested” in iPhone development and 86% for iPad. For Android, 85% saying they are “very interested” for Android phones and 71% for tablets. Microsoft’s Windows 7 in distant third with 29%.

Mobile Developer Report by Appcelerator / IDC (Full Report)

Google Android desired by consumers; Apple iOS attracted more mobile developers originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 27, 2011.

And here is a list of iPad-crazy nations in Asia, in terms of total iPads purchased on eBay:

1. Hong Kong: 357 units
2. Japan: 353
3. Singapore: 137
4. Malaysia: 70
5. South Korea: 62
6. Thailand: 53
7. China: 51

click to enlarge

Since Apple doesn’t disclose sales information (yet), this awesome infographic can be a rough indicator for iPad 2 popularity around the world.

iPad 2 demand patterns worldwide: An early indication originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 1, 2011.

The good news is that now Malaysians are finally able to buy an IPad that is covered by full official support and warranty, as opposed to those covered by shop warranty and support if you were to buy them from, say, Lowyat Plaza.

Below is a list of prices of the various iPads which will be made available through Mac stores and Apple shops in the Klang Valley and Penang:

iPad WiFi

• 16GB: RM1,549
• 32GB: RM1,849
• 64GB: RM2,149

iPad 3G

On the data plan front, there’s Maxis who is offering three plans:

• Entry 3.5GB – RM70 per month (available for postpaid and prepaid)
• Super 6.0GB – RM90 per month (available for postpaid only)
• Premium 15.0GB – RM200 per month (available for postpaid only)

Not to be left out, DiGi also posted its iPad-friendly data plans on Facebook.

Fledgling mobile service operator, YES, may also be offering data plans for the IPad, based on their latest Twitter. Nothing much is certain though; all that is certain now based on their tweet is that you can purchase an iPad at the Yes flagship store in Lot 10 and that there is no activation fee if you opt for the IPad + Huddle bundle.

With a replacement for the iPad to be announced sometime in early next year (as reported by Bloomberg), one wonders if now is the right time to launch the product in Malaysia or if now is the right time to make the purchase. The fact that this generation of the iPad will be rendered obsolete in less than six months might deter some buyers (and Fast Company wrote First-generation Apple products are for suckers.) But the question to ask is this: when the new iPad does make its debut, when will it finally (officially) reach Malaysia?

Apple iPad Makes Delayed Landing in Malaysia originally appeared on GreyReview.com on November 30, 2010.

Second is gestures, where users interact with onscreen elements using gestures. Patents filing: Multi-Touch Gestures Dictionary that “..include a variety of motions associated with the chord and the meanings of gestures formed from the chord and the motions” and Swipe Gestures for Touch Screen Keyboards which “allow for a user entering text using the virtual keyboard to perform certain functions using swipes across the key area rather than tapping particular keys.”

Let’s wait and see if these features are available in Apple’s latest creation. ¶ @zhiQ

Swivel Screen and Stylus Are Ancient; Get Ready to Hover and Gesture originally appeared on GreyReview.com on January 27, 2010.