Sony Mocopi Can Be Your Very Own Motion Capture Kit

In today’s online world of YouTubers and live streamers, VTubers and VStreamers are starting to rise in prominence from what was once a ciche corner of the market. But having a virtual avatar instead of just revealing your real self has challenges of its own, primarily on the motion capture department. Sony has something that can be an affordable-ish solution, in the form of the Mocopi.

The Sony Mocopi is a motion capture kit that consists of six sensors, each about the size of, say, an Apple AirTag. Each measures 32mm across in diameter, and weights about 8g, and are labelled for which part of your body they are supposed to be strapped to – one for your head, one for your hip, one for each wrist and one for each ankle. They are also dust-proof and water resistant, with the usual IP65 / IP68 rating that you find on most of the brand’s smartphones. While we’re on the subject, the sensors also connect to phones via Bluetooth.

 

On the software side of things, the Sony Mocopi uses the company’s proprietary algorithm to translate physical motion into data. This can then be streamed to applicable software like VRChat. Or, should you prefer, you can also export your motion with an avatar as an MP4 video file. Being completely wireless, the Sony Mocopi set comes with a carrying case which also serves to charge the sensors. The company claims that each sensor has a battery life of up to 10 hours, and the case can charge each one up to full in 1.5 hours, or 90 minutes, via USB-C.

This is all pretty impressive-sounding, but there are a couple of issues that one can foresee some very specific use case issues with the Sony Mocopi. For one, there’s no indication on if it does finger tracking. The how-to video posted on YouTube indicated that there’s lip-syncing at least, but its accuracy remains to be judged.

Sony announced that it will be releasing the software development kit (SDK) for the Mocopi on 15 December, so that devs can get it to work on things like Unity and Autodesk MotionBuilder. A little later, consumers (in Japan at least) will be able to purchase it for JPY49500 (`~RM1600) in late January. No word on when or if it will be available elsewhere just yet.

Facebook Now Allows You To Transfer Your Posts To Other Platforms

Facebook today revealed that it has rolled out a new feature which would allow its users to preserve their published posts to platforms outside of its ecosystem such as Google Docs, WordPress or Blogger. This greatly expands the existing data transfer tool for photos and videos that was introduced by the social media company last year.

The new feature is part of a cross-company data-sharing initiative that launched in 2018, simply known as the Data Transfer Project. Its aim is to have users freely move their data across various online services and platforms seamlessly without restriction. Among those participating in this initiative includes Apple, Google, Microsoft and Twitter – all of which also have introduced their own data-export tools.

Concurrently, as noted by The Verge, the introduction of this new feature would also help bring Facebook in line with two recent regulation laws, the California’s Consumer Privacy Act and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. “We hope this tool empowers people to take control of their data and encourages the creation of updated rules around data portability by lawmakers,” said company Chief Privacy Officer Michel Protti. “We look forward to working with more experts and companies to expand the scope of what you can move between platforms.”

This new addition to Facebook’s information transfer tool is now available to all users across the globe. Those who wish to utilise the feature may find it in the “Your Facebook Information” page, under the platform’s Settings page. From there, you can choose which type of content you wish to transfer, and to which platform outside of Facebook that you want it delivered to.

Keep in mind that the choices of transfer destinations will differ depending on what type of content you wish to move. Also, it’s worth noting that any data ported to other platforms will not include elements such as comments or data from other users, as they belong to their respective owners.

You Can Now Check Your Vaccination Appointment Status Directly On JKJAV’s Website

As previously announced by the authorities, Phase 2 of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP) will kick off tomorrow, 19 April 2021. With the aim to immunise 9.4 million people, this particular phase is focusing on senior citizens, people with disabilities, and those that have chronic diseases.

Since earlier this month, the national contact tracing app, MySejahtera has begun notifying users of the details for their vaccination appointment which include the date, time, and location of the Vaccine Administration Centre (VAC). In case you have forgotten your appointment date, you can always return to the app to check them out.

Alternatively, you could use this online tool that the Special Committee On COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV’s) has recently implemented on its website. All you need to do is just input your MyKad or passport ID as well as phone number and once you solve the captcha, you are then able to check out the details of your vaccination session:

As pointed out earlier, you don’t have much to be worried about if you are using MySejahtera as information in the status check should ultimately match what has been stated inside the app. What’s more important is that you get yourself registered for the vaccine and keep a look out for MySejahtera’s notification or SMS in which you then have 48 hours to accept your vaccination session:

If you are not a MySejahtera user, you can also register for the vaccine manually via JKJAV’s official website or call the NCIP’s hotline at 1800-888-828. The NCIP has been scheduled to take place until February 2022 but nevertheless, we do recommend registering yourself for the vaccine as soon as possible.

Old CS:GO Vulnerability Allows Hackers To Take Control Of Your PC

A group of white hat hackers known as the Secret Club recently took to Twitter to point out what seems to be a critical security flaw, found within Source 3D, the game engine of Valve’s popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).

According to the group, the bug can be exploited by less-than-savoury hackers to trick gamers who play the game, by sending them a fake Steam invite. Upon accepting the invite, the hackers can then proceed to take over a user’s PC or laptop, effectively locking them out of their machine.

While the existence of the bug is troubling, it isn’t the most alarming aspect of it. Secret Club says that the exploit was reported by one of its members, Florian, back in 2019. Florian said that they had reported the bug to Valve via HackerOne, a bug bounty platform used by the studio that owns Steam. Florian was paid the bounty for its discovery but as per the report, the bug is still there. And it seems that little or next-to-nothing has been done about it.

To that end, the Secret Club accuses Valve of ignoring the problem outright, even after a more recent report this month was filed once more. At the time of writing, Valve still has not commented on the matter.

Xiaomi Mi 11: The Ultimate Movie Studio And Cinema Experience In Your Pocket

Equipped with a best-in-class flagship chipset and an outstanding battery capacity, it is without a doubt that the Xiaomi Mi 11 is one of the most powerful Android smartphones currently available in Malaysia. The handset also comes with the largest camera sensor ever on mobile devices, a high-resolution display and immersive audio system, much like having a movie studio and cinema – all neatly packed in a compact size that will fit nicely in your pocket.

So how powerful is it? Let’s take a detailed look at what Xiaomi has to offer on its latest flagship-tier smartphone.

Snapdragon Powerhouse

 

The Mi 11 holds the honour of being the first ever smartphone in the world and in Malaysia to showcase the capabilities of Qualcomm’s latest high-end Snapdragon 888 processor. It is fitted with eight Kyro 660 CPU cores and an onboard Adreno 660 GPU, which is capable of delivering 35% faster graphics rendering with 25% higher performance than its predecessor and competitors.

This in turn enables the Mi 11 to provide users with the best image quality and superior power efficiency. Regardless whether for your daily drive or for gaming, you can expect the Xiaomi flagship to effortlessly provide you with the best performance ever found in a handset.

All-In-One Imaging Studio

Combining the capabilities of a DSLR and a cinema camera into a smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 11’s imaging setup ensures that you’ll never miss a moment, or even the slightest detail in every frame. This is thanks to its onboard 108MP main camera sensor which is capable of capturing crisp and vivid images, as well as recording videos of up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second. Complementing it is a 13MP ultra-wide angle and a 5MP telemacro camera, enabling for high quality panoramic shots and bokeh portraits respectively.

Further enhancing the imaging capabilities of the Mi 11 are a slew of photo and video modes such as one-click AI cinema features, Pro Time-lapse, HDR10+ and more. These give the user more freedom to control every aspect of their shots, while at the same time providing post-processing conveniences without having to edit their photos or videos via external means.

Also not forgetting the new BlinkAI-powered night mode technology, which allows for real-time low light enhancements for video recording – a first for mobile imaging. Thanks to the power of machine learning, the Mi 11 is able to brighten videos shot in poorly lit environments on the fly while retaining a respectable amount of detail in the process.

Home Entertainment In Your Hands

Whether you’re watching a video, reviewing your captured images or enjoying some mobile gaming, you’ll be treated to an incredible view via the Xiaomi Mi 11’s display. The smartphone is equipped with a large 6.81-inch AMOLED WQHD+ curved screen, along with an eye-pleasing 120Hz refresh rate. It also boasts a tremendous colour range of one billion, ensuring accurate and rich colour visuals for your viewing pleasure.

Of course, no immersive video or gaming experience is complete without including an equally powerful audio system. Luckily, the Mi 11 has got you covered in that regard. Thanks to its onboard Harman Kardon enhanced dual front-facing speakers, you won’t be needing any external speakers in order to enjoy your favourite music, TV shows, movies and games.

Fully Charged In No Time

The Mi 11 is fitted with a large 4,600mAh battery that will ensure hours upon hours of entertainment and use. Even on its last legs, you can be rest assured that the phone will jump back into the game in mere minutes.

Thanks to Xiaomi’s groundbreaking fast charging technology, the Mi 11 is able to support speeds of up to 55W via USB-C. This enables it to top-up about 50% of its capacity in half an hour, and 100% in just 50 minutes. In addition, the phone also comes with wireless charging support at 50W, as well as 10W reverse wireless charging.

Rest assured that its 55W GaN charger is included in the box in order for you to enjoy the flagship phone’s incredible fast charging capability at its fullest potential.

Premium At An Attractive Price Range

Phones that come with powerful chipsets, advanced camera setups, and a wide array of astounding features often fall into an intimidating price range. Fortunately for consumers, this isn’t the case for Xiaomi’s latest flagship.

Despite currently being the brand’s most premium smartphone offering, the new Mi 11 is available at a competitive price – enabling fans and new users alike to experience top-of-the-line performance and features without needing to break the bank!

Xiaomi’s brand new flagship smartphone is priced at RM2,799 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration and RM2,999 for the 8GB + 256GB. It is also available in two colour options: Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue. Those interested in owning your very own Xiaomi Mi 11 flagship smartphone may check out the brand’s official store on Lazada, as well as all Authorised Mi Stores nationwide.

And that’s not all! Each purchase of the new handset will also include 24 months warranty and 12 Months Screen Protection Guarantee from Xiaomi Malaysia!

Xiaomi Mi 11: The Ultimate Movie Studio And Cinema Experience In Your Pocket

Equipped with a best-in-class flagship chipset and an outstanding battery capacity, it is without a doubt that the Xiaomi Mi 11 is one of the most powerful Android smartphones currently available in Malaysia. The handset also comes with the largest camera sensor ever on mobile devices, a high-resolution display and immersive audio system, much like having a movie studio and cinema – all neatly packed in a compact size that will fit nicely in your pocket.

So how powerful is it? Let’s take a detailed look at what Xiaomi has to offer on its latest flagship-tier smartphone.

Snapdragon Powerhouse

The Mi 11 holds the honour of being the first ever smartphone in the world and in Malaysia to showcase the capabilities of Qualcomm’s latest high-end Snapdragon 888 processor. It is fitted with eight Kyro 660 CPU cores and an onboard Adreno 660 GPU, which is capable of delivering 35% faster graphics rendering with 25% higher performance than its predecessor and competitors.

This in turn enables the Mi 11 to provide users with the best image quality and superior power efficiency. Regardless whether for your daily drive or for gaming, you can expect the Xiaomi flagship to effortlessly provide you with the best performance ever found in a handset.

All-In-One Imaging Studio

Combining the capabilities of a DSLR and a cinema camera into a smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 11’s imaging setup ensures that you’ll never miss a moment, or even the slightest detail in every frame. This is thanks to its onboard 108MP main camera sensor which is capable of capturing crisp and vivid images, as well as recording videos of up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second. Complementing it is a 13MP ultra-wide angle and a 5MP telemacro camera, enabling for high quality panoramic shots and bokeh portraits respectively.

Further enhancing the imaging capabilities of the Mi 11 are a slew of photo and video modes such as one-click AI cinema features, Pro Time-lapse, HDR10+ and more. These give the user more freedom to control every aspect of their shots, while at the same time providing post-processing conveniences without having to edit their photos or videos via external means.

Also not forgetting the new BlinkAI-powered night mode technology, which allows for real-time low light enhancements for video recording – a first for mobile imaging. Thanks to the power of machine learning, the Mi 11 is able to brighten videos shot in poorly lit environments on the fly while retaining a respectable amount of detail in the process.

Home Entertainment In Your Hands

Whether you’re watching a video, reviewing your captured images or enjoying some mobile gaming, you’ll be treated to an incredible view via the Xiaomi Mi 11’s display. The smartphone is equipped with a large 6.81-inch AMOLED WQHD+ curved screen, along with an eye-pleasing 120Hz refresh rate. It also boasts a tremendous colour range of one billion, ensuring accurate and rich colour visuals for your viewing pleasure.

Of course, no immersive video or gaming experience is complete without including an equally powerful audio system. Luckily, the Mi 11 has got you covered in that regard. Thanks to its onboard Harman Kardon enhanced dual front-facing speakers, you won’t be needing any external speakers in order to enjoy your favourite music, TV shows, movies and games.

Fully Charged In No Time

The Mi 11 is fitted with a large 4,600mAh battery that will ensure hours upon hours of entertainment and use. Even on its last legs, you can be rest assured that the phone will jump back into the game in mere minutes.

Thanks to Xiaomi’s groundbreaking fast charging technology, the Mi 11 is able to support speeds of up to 55W via USB-C. This enables it to top-up about 50% of its capacity in half an hour, and 100% in just 50 minutes. In addition, the phone also comes with wireless charging support at 50W, as well as 10W reverse wireless charging.

Rest assured that its 55W GaN charger is included in the box in order for you to enjoy the flagship phone’s incredible fast charging capability at its fullest potential.

Premium At An Attractive Price Range

Phones that come with powerful chipsets, advanced camera setups, and a wide array of astounding features often fall into an intimidating price range. Fortunately for consumers, this isn’t the case for Xiaomi’s latest flagship.

Despite currently being the brand’s most premium smartphone offering, the new Mi 11 is available at a competitive price – enabling fans and new users alike to experience top-of-the-line performance and features without needing to break the bank!

Xiaomi’s brand new flagship smartphone is priced at RM2,799 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration and RM2,999 for the 8GB + 256GB. It is also available in two colour options: Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue. Those interested in owning your very own Xiaomi Mi 11 flagship smartphone may check out the brand’s official store on Lazada, as well as all Authorised Mi Stores nationwide.

And that’s not all! Each purchase of the new handset will also include 24 months warranty and 12 Months Screen Protection Guarantee from Xiaomi Malaysia!

Curious New Fintech Platform convertCASH Offers To Pay For Your Instalments First

A curious new fintech platform called convertCASH claims it will pay for your monthly car and home instalments first without charging any interest.

“It is interest-free, no borrowing with instant approval. We only require the users to have a credit card as security while using convertCASH’s ‘Pay for you First’ benefit. They can then pay back to the credit card up to 45 days later without any interest charge,” said convertCASH co-founder Jason Bak.

Bak said this system will eliminate the need for car and/or homeowners to borrow money from friends or family to keep up with those monthly instalments. Once relevant details are filled in, convertCASH claims it will pay the instalment within one working day.

Sounds too good to be true? We too wondered how a company providing this service can generate revenue without imposing any interest on its users. But Bak claimed that the firm’s current focus is on building a user base for its platform and cultivating an ecosystem by which revenue can be generated in the future.

He also told us that the company will eventually introduce a fee for the pay-first transactions. But he did not specify when and how much.

We also touched on the regulatory side of things which was not mentioned on its website or marketing materials but Bak emphasised that convertCASH doesn’t provide loans – you don’t borrow money from the company and use it to pay your instalments. The company simply pays for your instalments first.

According to Bak, convertCASH allows a maximum transaction amount of US$5,000 (RM20,000). “To date, we have an average amount of US$123,786 (RM500,000) transacted via convertCASH platform,” he said.

Founded in November 2020 and headquartered in Singapore, convertCASH is now available in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia. It plans to expand to Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines in the second quarter of this year and to Japan, Korea, and China in 2022.

The convertCASH app is currently available on iOS App Store, Google Play, and Huawei AppGallery. However, we do recommend you to visit their website first and make sure that you read as well as understand all of the service’s terms and conditions before making any decisions.

If you die from the COVID-19 vaccine in Japan, the government will give your family over ¥44 mil

Japan began distributing the COVID-19 vaccine on Feb 17. While a little behind other developed countries, they seem to be trying to do it in as organized fashion as possible, staggering vaccinations to medical staff, the elderly, people with health conditions, and everyone else in that order.

It’s not without its challenges, however, and one of them remains the Japanese people’s general skittishness when it comes to vaccines. It might seem surprising in a country that’s all too ready to slip on a mask, but the fear of side effects and a general attitude of “It probably won’t happen to me” has kept flu shot rates lingering at a steady 50 percent year after year, despite the fact that in Japan the number of flu deaths in 2018 was about the same as COVID-19 deaths in 2020.

However, some who fear that the prevention might be worse than the disease may be swayed by a recent report that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will award a lump sum of 44,200,000 yen to the surviving family of any person who dies as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine and even cover funeral costs up to 209,000 yen.

It doesn’t even matter if there was negligence on the part of medical staff or the vaccine producer. In other words, there’s no strings attached.

This is actually a long standing policy of the ministry which covers any kind of vaccination, not just COVID-19. However, it recently made news when it was brought up by health minister Norihisa Tamura at a budget meeting.

Judging by the comments, a lot of people were unaware of this policy up until now.

“Now that’s some news! Let’s hurry up and die!”

“Wow! It also says you can get an annual five million yen if you’re severely disabled by the vaccine. I like those odds.”

“Maybe this will help more people get the shot.”

“Let the death game begin!”

“Seems simple, but isn’t it difficult to prove that it was in fact the vaccine that caused the death?”

That last comment is a valid concern, but it would seem that in practice the opposite is actually a bigger problem. According to a report by Diamond Online, the ambiguousness of vaccine side effects tends to work in favor of the victims in court. As a result, Japanese pharmaceutical companies have been reluctant to produce vaccines in recent years, because the financial risks outweighs the benefits.

This, combined with the fact that much of the public isn’t even aware of the policy, would suggest that it is probably more intended to coax Japanese companies to produce their own vaccines by reducing their liability. However, Diamond Online also points out that even after accepting the government’s money, victims still have the right to go after the companies in court.

This brings us right back to square one, as evidenced by the lack of any Japanese-made vaccines during this time of peak mass inoculation. Still, like one comment suggests, the new of this policy could at least help bring more people to the vaccination table by showing the the government believes in the safety of it enough to put their money on the line.

If it does, then it’ll ultimately be worth well over a few million yen.