Apple Malaysia Unlocked 8GB iPhone 4

iPhone 4S has already hit the shelves in a number of countries on 14 October, but we have yet to hear from Apple about its release date in Malaysia.

Question is, does Siri understand Malaysian English a.k.a Manglish though?

Well I’m just kidding.

While waiting for Apple iPhone 4S’ release, there is good news from Malaysia’s Apple page: they are making available the cheaper, unlocked 8GB iPhone 4 at only 1799.

Apple Malaysia Unlocked 8GB iPhone 4

The 8GB iPhone 4, just like its 16GB and 32GB counterparts, is fixed with latest Apple’s latest operating system iOS 5.

Which also means having over 200 software features to play with. But as what Joe mentioned in this article, one can be paralised by too many choices!

Buying an unlocked iPhone 4 means you get to choose your own telco without having to worry too much about contracts and length of commitments.

Apple iPhone 4 was first launched in June 2010 with the 16 GB and 32 GB versions. The white version added to the series in April this year.

The 8G iPhone 4 can be purchased from the Malaysian Apple store.

Update: Well it seems that is not all! Entry-level 8GB iPhone 3GS is also available outright for RM1,199.

Apple Malaysia Unlocked 8GB iPhone 4

Android Tablet Choice: Galaxy Tab or Kindle Fire?

The tablet market is just starting to get exciting. To this point it has been Apple’s world, but this fall Android takes the spotlight with a number of competitive models.

Among the most hyped are the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Amazon Kindle Fire. They’ll both debut in November, and both will likely carry strong sales — though Amazon has a decided edge in that category. Yet they are two distinctly different tablets. Let’s take a look at how they compare to each other.

MrDefinite.com recently examined the Kindle Fire. It really is a media-first tablet that integrates with Amazon services. That is, while it’s an Android tablet in name, in function it operates more like Amazon’s own.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Tab is a full-powered Android tablet that will take advantage of every nook and cranny of the platform. That means we get to distinctly different flavors, and therefore two different types of users who will benefit from these devices.

Kindle Fire: The Media Kingpin

Make no mistake: the Kindle Fire is a media-first tablet. It wasn’t designed to take on the iPad or even Android tablets in terms of functionality. In fact, the Kindle Fire is definitively less functional than the iPad and Android tablets.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, and it actually seems to be Amazon’s point. This tablet was created with one type of user in mind: the media consumer.

To this end, Amazon packed the Kindle Fire with as many Amazon media services as possible. When you read books it’s through the Kindle App.

There is no Google Book or Nook on this platform. There’s no Netflix, either. You’ll get your fix of video through Amazon’s video store, or through Amazon Instant Video.

Music comes right from Amazon’s MP3 Store, which also allows you to store your music in the cloud. That way you don’t need to use up the device’s meager storage. Even email runs through an Amazon-created app. You won’t find your Android-standard Gmail app on this device.

Android Tablet Choice: Galaxy Tab or Kindle Fire?

The Kindle Fire, then, is pointed right at an audience that sees tablets as a complete luxury. They haven’t bought an iPad, because they can’t justify spending $500 on what amounts to a Saturday car. That’s not to say that the iPad and other Android tablets are necessarily Saturday cars.

They really aren’t, and that’s why so many millions of people have dropped that $500.

But for people who would only use them in that manner, the Kindle Fire makes plenty of sense. Now consumers have a way to get all of their ebooks, movies, music, apps, and more onto one device — and for a reasonable price. That $200 price tag is really the difference when it comes to the Kindle Fire.

The Galaxy Tab: Powerful Nomad Device

While Amazon has put a great focus on media capabilities, it’s not as though the general Android platform lacks them. In fact, many of those Amazon services are available to all Android tablet users. The difference is that Android tablet users have access to so many more services. And it all starts with apps.

While Amazon has done a good job of building up the Amazon App Store, it still pales in comparison to the deluge of apps you’ll find in the Android Market.

Sure, Amazon has a library of curated apps worth paying for, but the variety on the Android Market just can’t be matched. That makes it a wonderful portal for Android tablet users to turn their tablet into whatever they imagine.

That is, the Galaxy Tab doesn’t have to be a couch device. It really isn’t designed to be. It comes with a 4G radio, so it’s meant to go on the road and be your companion along the way.

Some people will take that to be their media companion and will fill the device with ebook readers, music, videos, and other entertainment apps.

They can’t use the Kindle Fire for this purpose, because the Kindle Fire works only on WiFi. Then we get to business apps, such as the office suite Documents To Go, that can turn the Galaxy Tab from a neat device into a laptop-replacing business powerhouse.

Someone could, if she were so inclined, use the Galaxy Tab in the same manner as the Kindle Fire. But that would defeat the purpose. The Galaxy Tab is meant to be out in the world, keeping people up-to-date on everything they need for work, and then entertaining them in off-hours.

It really is an all-inclusive tablet. Best of all, it will get even better as the Android Market expands and the Android platform improves. On the flipside, the Kindle Fire won’t change much, especially if Amazon releases a more powerful follow-up device in 2012.

Comparing Costs

We know that the Kindle Fire costs $200, and that will sell many people on it. It’s hard to argue with a powerful tablet at that price. While we have no official word on the Galaxy Tab’s pricing, we have heard rumors.

Those rumors suggest that the Galaxy Tab could cost the same as the Kindle Fire. That makes the choice even tougher. Wouldn’t you rather have the full-powered tablet at that price?

Ah, but you knew there had to be a catch. In order to get the Galaxy Tab at $200, you’d have to sign up for a two-year contract with a cellular carrier — T-Mobile in the US has announced that they will carry the Galaxy Tab. The cheapest plan costs $40 per month, and provides only 2GB of 4G speeds. After that speeds get reduced.

For moderate users it costs $50 per month for 5GB, and for heavy users it’s $80 per month for 10GB. That means the device will really cost between $1,160 and $2,120.

Of course, you’ll get plenty of value for that money, since the mobile broadband connection allows you to use the internet anywhere. But that’s still a steep two-year cost. It also means you’re pretty much stuck with that tablet for two years, while many new, shiny devices get released.

Which is for You?

Clearly there is a choice here, but it’s not one that will be determined by fancy processors or specifications. Two distinctly different types of users will be drawn to these devices.

Those wanting a leisure device that brings them all their media in one place will appreciate the Kindle Fire. It not only brings these services, but does so for a low price.

Those wanting a full-featured device that they can take on the road will want the Galaxy Tab and its Android interface. That makes life a bit easier. We can often become paralyzed by too many choices.

Thankfully, this one should be much easier.

Joe Pawlikowski is the editor of BBGeeks, a site dedicated to helping BlackBerry users get the most out of their devices.

Android Tablet Choice: Galaxy Tab or Kindle Fire?