Dashcam

  • Thinkware Q1000 2K+2K dashcam now in Malaysia

    In Technology / By / / 7 comments

    If you’re looking for a high-end dash cam, the Thinkware Q1000 is now available in Malaysia. The new model offers 2K+2K recording, which means 2K resolution for both the front and rear cameras.

    Having 2K (1440p) resolution for the rear cam is an upgrade from other Thinkware models such as the Thinkware U1000 which only offers a 1080p rear camera paired to a higher 4K resolution for the front.

    The new Thinkware Q1000 also has the latest third generation Super Night Vision 3.0 technology, which promises to offer higher quality low light footage, which should be useful to pick out the details you need during incidents at night.

    Another new feature is Bluetooth assisted pairing where you can pair your phone to the dashcam easily using Bluetooth, although the actual connection still happens over WiFi, which in this case both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi connectivity are provided.

    If you already own a Thinkware dashcam, it’s worth pointing out that the Q1000 is built to connect to a different, newer cloud app platform with more features called Thinkware Connected, which is different from the Thinkware Cloud system that older dashcams like the U1000 use.

    The Thinkware Q1000 package includes front and rear cams, 32GB memory card, and a hardwire kit and retails for RM2,399 from Thinkware distributor Sicurez. Just as a reminder, if you want to upgrade to a bigger storage size than the bundled 32GB, remember to choose an endurance-type MicroSD card.



     
     

  • What is the best dashcam to buy? MIROS and CyberSecurity Malaysia want to help answer

    In Local News, Technology / By / / 14 comments

    MIROS (an agency under MOT) and CyberSecurity Malaysia (an agency under the MCMC) has collaborated to publish a safety scorecard for dashcams called CamScore.

    CamScore provides an initial evaluation of dashcams based on three different points – basic features, advanced features, and ADAS features. The cams are then ranked based on a score out of 5. There was no elaboration on how the scores were calculated.

    The two top scorers on the list are the 70mai A800S and the 70mai A500S, both scoring 4.59 points out of 5. This was followed by the Thinkware U1000 with a 4.56 score, the 70mai M500 with a 4.53 score and the DDPAI X5 Pro with a 4.52 score.

    With no elaboration on how these scores came about, it would be completely up to you if you want to refer to this list when choosing your next dashcam. For example, you might have different criteria when evaluating which dashcam to buy, such as the use of a lithium ion battery vs the use of a super capacitor for backup power as an indicator of potential longevity (no bloated battery issue with supercaps), or the availability of cloud connectivity features. These are not part of CamScore’s evaluation.

    Although ADAS features are part of the scoring, yours truly personally just turns off all the ADAS features on his own dashcams because of the nature of how Malaysian drivers behave on the road. The ADAS warnings just continuously go off all the time because Malaysian traffic seems to be a constant danger zone! This is in contrast to ADAS features that come native with cars which feel a lot less panicky.

    The CamScore table is missing pricing so here’s a list of some of the top dashcams listed including the pricing and a link for you to buy them online. As for installation you can either install the dashcam yourself or install it at a shop for an additional RM100-RM250 fee depending on complexity of the install process.

    As 11.11 sale is coming up, this might be a good time to get one if you haven’t already. Whenever possible, we’ll use the price for the version with a rear camera included as we think rear cameras are a must have when it comes to collecting footage to use as evidence.

    Lastly, for dashcams that do not come with built in storage, remember to choose the right kind of SD card to use with your dashcam.

     
     

  • 2022 Viofo A229 Duo dashcam offers 2K+2K recording

    In Technology / By / / 5 comments

    Chinese dashcam maker Viofo has launched a new dashcam for 2022 called the A229 Duo. The A229 Duo is a dual channel dashcam with 2K (1440p) recording for both the front and rear cams.

    The rear 1440p cam is the highest resolution for a rear cam in the Viofo range. It’s stablemates all use 1080p rear cams including the flagship A129 Pro Duo that has a 4K resolution front cam.

    The Viofo A229 Duo’s front and rear cameras both use Sony Starvis IMX335 5 megapixel sensors. You can either record in 2560x1440p or 1920x1080p for both the front and rear cams, but both resolution choices are offered with 30fps framerate – there’s no 60fps to be gained here even if you drop the reso.

    The front cam has a 140 degree field of view while the rear has a 160 degree field of view. The rear cam has 360 degree rotation so you can use it to point to the interior if you want. The connection to the rear cam now uses a slim coaxial cable for easier installation instead of the previous thicker MicroUSB cable.

    The A229 now uses a USB-C port for power, so you won’t be able to reuse a hardwire kit from previous Viofo dashcams. Backup power to ensure uncorrupted video files uses a supercapacitor instead of a li ion battery for better durability in hot weather.

    The Viofo A229 Duo supports up to a 256 GB MicroSD card. Remember to use an endurance MicroSD card for your dashcams for better reliability. Finally, the A229 Duo supports 5GHz WiFi for faster file transfers when connected to your smartphone via the app.

    You can get the Viofo A229 Duo from RM899 as a standalone dashcam without any add-ons. From there, you can add on various options such as the HK4 hardwire kit, a CPL filter, and a bluetooth record button that you can use to manually start recording clips.

    LINK: Viofo A229 Duo – from RM899

    We are of the opinion that dashcams have to be a standard feature on every car these days, as they can provide invaluable evidence to protect ourselves in case of anything.

     
     

  • New DDPAI Z50 dashcam offers 4K res at a lower price

    In Technology / By / / 2 comments

    Chinese dashcam manufacturer DDPAI has introduced the new DDPAI Z50 dashcam. As you would expect from the Z50 model name, it improves on the existing Z40 form factor in the line-up, although the Z40 continues to be on sale at a lower price point.

    The Z50 is now a 4K (2160p) dashcam powered by a Sony IMX415 sensor, an improvement over the Z40’s 1944p Sony IMX335 sensor. The Z50’s front camera lens offers a 140 degree wide view, the same as the Z40. The Z50’s optional RC1 rear camera is 1080p with a 125 degree wide view, the same as the Z40’s.

    Like the Z40, its temporary backup power to ensure file writing is complete in case of a power loss is via a super capacitor instead of a lithium battery, which is said to be superior in withstanding the heat that a dashcam will typically experience installed on a windscreen.

    A dashcam’s backup power is only for this purpose and is not big enough for it work in parking mode, which requires either hardwiring to the car’s fuse box or a specific external dashcam battery. In general, it is commonly assumed that dashcams using supercapacitors last longer than dashcams that use lithium batteries.

    The DDPAI Z50 supports MicroSD cards up to 128 GB in size. As we previously posted, it is recommended to use ‘endurance’-type MicroSD cards with dashcams due to the nature of constant loop recording when used with a dashcam,.

    You might realise that DDPAI already has a 4K dashcam in its line-up called the DDPAI X5 Pro using the same Sony IMX415 sensor, so this is yet another 4K dashcam. How is the Z50 different from the significantly more expensive X5 Pro?

    The X5 Pro supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi while the Z50 only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi. This means you will be able to copy files out of the X5 Pro much faster using 5 GHz WiFi if your phone supports it.

    In addition, the X5 Pro has built in 32 GB storage, which can be expanded with an additional 128 GB for a maximum of 160 GB, while the Z50 does not have any built in storage.

    As for recording capabilities, despite using the same sensor, the Z50 is limited to 25 fps at 4K and 30 fps for lower resolutions, while the X5 Pro’s 4K recording is at 30 fps and configurable to up to 90 fps at 1080p.

    The X5 Pro has a 6-axis gyro while the Z50 has a 3-axis gyro. There is one thing that the X5 Pro lacks that the Z50 and Z40 both have though, which is a small preview LCD screen on the dashcam.

    If you’re interested in any of the DDPAI models mentioned above, you can check them out at the links below.

     
     
 
 
 

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Last Updated 16 Mar 2023