Astro B.yond launched

Astro HD is launched today and known as Astro B.yond.

The good thing is that you need to top up RM20 on your existing subscription package with the HD channel.

More info can be found here:

http://www.astro.com.my/byond/faq.asp

Astro B.yond launched

KUALA LUMPUR: Astro today launched its Astro B.yond — a multi-phased innovative service starting with the first ever High Definition (HD) broadcast, setting yet another new benchmark in Malaysia’s broadcast industry.

“At 48 per cent penetration of Malaysian TV homes, we are part of 2.875 million homes. It is a privilege we do not take for granted. At Astro, we are committed to innovation in content, technology and customer experience.

We would also like to ensure our customers get the maximum value out of every ringgit they spend with us,” said Astro chief executive officer Datuk Rohana Rozhan.

Incorporating the best in class technologies, the newly launched Astro B.yond offers customers new services which will be introduced in phases starting on Dec 18.

Starting with the first-ever High-Definition (HD) broadcast in Malaysia, Astro B.yond has the potential to change TV viewing experiences with richer colours, picture-perfect clarity and cinematic surround sound. A new and improved Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) designed for better viewer interface will also be introduced.

In 2010, Astro aims to be the first in the world to offer video recording through an external hard drive. With this service, customers can record their favourite programmes and personalise their TV viewing schedules. Astro B.yond will also introduce Digital Video Recording (DVR), Video on Demand (VOD) and IPTV connectivity in phases over the next 24 months.

As Astro B.yond is a major shift in technology, it calls for total revamp in capabilities, hardware and installation. In addition to Astro's delivery infrastructure, customers who wish to experience Astro B.yond and access the HD services have a choice to sign up at an additional service fee of RM20 per month and a commitment of 12 months.

Customers will get the new B.yond box, new smart card, new outdoor unit dish, HD Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable and new remote control. New set-up installation fee will be waived in exchange for the existing box.

On content, Astro will show three key genres that are recognised as HD content drivers globally - sports, movies and documentaries. Astro will start with four HD channels — Astro Supersport HD, HBO HD, National Geographic Channel HD and History HD on Dec 18, followed by ESPN HD in January 2010.

Sports fans may also get to watch the coming World Cup 2010 in HD. Astro plans to roll out more HD channels, including local content, in 2010. The access to enjoy the HD channels corresponds to the customer’s current package subscription.

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/21650-astro-byond-launched

Friendster owned by Malaysian?

Now we know why friendster looks different.

Malaysian company buys Friendster

DONE DEAL: Bangah (extreme left) shaking hands with Kimber after the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. The event was witnessed by the Tan (second from left) and Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) CEO Badlisham Ghazali.

KUALA LUMPUR: Friendster, one of the most popular social networking sites in the world, is now owned by a Malaysian company.

The new owner, MOL Global Pte Ltd, is a newly-formed entity spawned from the recent MOL AccessPortal Bhd acquisition of California-based Friendster Inc.

The merger of the two companies is aimed at creating Asia’s largest end-to-end content, distribution and commerce network.

This will be achieved through the pairing of MOL’s offline retail channel partners and payment platform with Friendster’s large online footprint, social network and user community in Asia.

Friendster has 115 million members worldwide, with more than 75 million registered users in Asia alone. Today, 80% of its Asian members are youths aged between 16 and 24.

“We are creating a unique company that will be well positioned to provide content to a huge, regional user base, especially here in Asia,” said newly appointed MOL Global Group CEO Ganesh Kumar Bangah. Friendster’s former CEO, Richard Kimber, is now the non-executive chairman.

Bangah said a wide array of merchandise via MOL, such as games, goods, gifts, music and videos, will now be made available to the Friendster community.

MOL — an MSC Malaysia-status company whose business is payment solutions — has more than 500,000 physical and virtual payment channels across 75 countries for its content and services. Its core markets are Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and India.

The company also has relationships with more than 70 online games publishers, which in total provide more than 200 titles. It also has partnerships covering music, movie and video content.

Future plans

Earlier this month, Friendster announced several initiatives that will see it focusing more on the Asian youth market, including a rebranding exercise and redesigned webpages with emphasise on Asian relevance.

According to Bangah, MOL Global will continue with these directions set by the previous Friendster management before the merger.

“At the same time, we will look at combining both our valued assets to create Asia’s biggest content distribution and e-commerce platform,” he said.

Kimber said the deal provides Friendster with the kind of financial backing and resources — such as retail distribution centres and e-commerce infrastructure — to further the social networking site’s development.

“This merger enables us to accelerate our strategy and create more locally relevant, fun experiences for our users both on and offfline,” he said.

The offices of both MOL and Friendster around the world, including the Friendster headquarters in Mountain View, California, will be retained, said Bangah.

“In countries where both companies operate, such as Singapore and the Philippines, we will combine the staff and resources,” he added.

Friendster’s rivals include the popular Facebook and MySpace social networking sites, as well as local sites JomSocial and Ruumz.

The principal shareholder of MOL is Tan Sri Vincent Tan who is chairman and CEO of Berjaya Corporation Bhd.

http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2009/12/10/technology/20091210164923&sec=technology

Top 10 cruel things men do to women

This is for all those feminist.

Love him or hate him, but you can’t ignore him – yes, we are talking about the man of your life. He’s probably the most loving creature in ways more than one.

Here, we bring the top 10 cruel things that men do to women ...

1. Having the biggest ego: Ever wondered why men hate taking directions and prefer hunting out the place on their own, even if it means 2 hours delay and waste of gas. Well, the answer is the big ego they walk around with. This was the pettiest exemplar of a man’s ego, which gets hurt at the drop of the hat and needs a massage whenever possible.

2. Living with a ‘selective memory’: They’ll not only remember the name of every cricketer and football player on the planet but will also know their scores by heart. But, the moment the deal is about remembering birthdays and anniversaries of people close to them, their brain suffers an ailment called ‘selective memory syndrome’.

3. Ogling (read at breasts): ‘Men do stare at women’s breasts’ has been stamped as official by a world wide survey. But how we wish they knew that their drooling at the sight of a well endowed woman is cruel not only to the victim of that gaze, but also to the woman sitting beside them. Yes, they don’t miss any chance, even if it is when they are on a date!
4. Being overtly possessive: Where in the world did men get that insecurity from? (Their mother
? )They blame women for being jealous but a mere mention of another man from their girl can turn them into an ever clinging magnet.

5. Taking pride in their hypocrisy: Men can’t get more cruel than this! They love hanging around with the coolest and sexiest babe in the town, but when it comes to meeting mom, it’s a ‘homely’ girl they start hunting for. You loved her dressing style and carefree attitude when she came for night-outs with you, what’s with that marriage material hunt now?

6. Showing extra care: How does it feel to take his ‘where-about’ calls every 15 minutes after you step out of the home? The care in that gesture goes out of the window and irritation takes charge. Don’t they realise that we lived safe, sound and perfectly well in this world before they came into our lives. Hope someone is listening.

7. Throwing their ‘superman’ self everywhere: Yes, it feels nice when men are around for some help. However, their ‘I-can-do-everything-under-the-sun’ attitude does more harm than good, especially when they think themselves to be exalted beings – a plumber, electrician, carpenter and a financial adviser all rolled into one.

8. Consider emotions to be crap: Women might be emotional but having a constant practical point of view, like men doesn’t, score well always. Men will become better beings for sure, if they stop making fun of sentiments and ignoring them as useless.

9. Being the friend worshippers: It is very torturing for women when men don’t learn to priorities their life post marriage. They blame her for being a clinging vine when she asks for his time, but how sane is it to have a bunch of friends in the backseat on a long-drive, which was planned to be a romantic one?

10. Being the sex monster: Undoubtedly, women love zest in bed, but it’s very cruel of men to demand their partners to play the porn star they saw in that flick last night. It’s better to let her be herself in a sexapade rather than putting her in an uncomfy situation and then blaming her for being non-cooperative.

Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/relationships/man-woman/Top-10-cruel-things-men-do-to-women/articleshow/5298989.cms

Top 10 cruel things women do to men

Top 10 cruel things women do to men

Despite being known as the fairer sex, women can be downright nasty and often do cruel things to men.

Fox News has compiled a list of top 10 cruel things that women do to men and how they play with the guy's emotions or ego.

10. They don't pick up the phone
While men feel good as they manage to take the girls’ phone number, the girls often give them a fake number or don't pick up the call.

9. Use men for free drinks
Some women go out never planning to spend any of their own money on drinks at the bar or club. Instead, they count on their feminine wiles to convince guys to shell out for their libations.
While some of them might begin to get to know him, the cruel and heartless ones will take that drink, flirt a little and move on.

8. Use men as placeholders
If she is a decent person, she'll just get it over with and dump the boy, but if she's cruel, she'll hold on to him for a while until somebody new comes along.
These girls don't like to be alone and without a relationship, so instead of putting you out of your misery and ending it, she'll string you along until she meets someone to replace you.

7. Emotionally manipulate men
Men don't like to see women cry and some cruel women take advantage of the fact and use it to get what they want. A few tears would make men do anything to get it to stop.

6. Use physical violence
While men hitting girls are often termed nasty, some cruel women feel it's perfectly acceptable to hit their boyfriends, as he would never hit her back. This type of woman feels like she can inflict any kind physical pain on him without fear of repercussion.

5. Criticize their men in public
Cruel women criticize and humiliate their men in public places. They often poke fun at her man or even soundly debase him.

4. They don't disclose their relationship status
It’s certainly not the worst thing a woman could do to a man, but it is annoying when she'll already in a relationship and lets you assume that she's available so that she can enjoy the man's flirtation and flattery.

3. They withhold sex
This is a time-tested, and frequently used, cruel thing for women to do to men. For most men, sex is as important as breathing, so withholding it in order to get something she wants or simply to punish her man for his transgressions is a pretty awful thing to do, even if it is effective.

2. They test their men
You're all ready to go for a night out with your friends, when your girlfriend calls and asks you to change your plans to be with her instead.
She doesn't have any particular reason; she just wants to see you.
She knows that you had plans to meet up with the guys, but if you really loved her, you'd come over to her place instead.
If her request comes with an "if you really loved me," then it's a test. If you choose anything other than immediately rushing to her side, you're going to fail. This kind of testing in a relationship is indeed cruel and petty.

1. They flirt to inspire jealousy
Maybe she's feeling underappreciated, maybe you've just had a big fight or maybe she just enjoys the tortured look on your face.
For whatever reason, girls who flirt obviously with other guys in front of their boyfriends are immature and manipulative.

http://www.dailychilli.com/news/1259-top-10-cruel-things-women-do-to-men
- ANI/timesof india.com

Halal Bak Kut Teh

Jom! makan 'bak kut teh'

KUALA LUMPUR: The "halal" version of "bak kut teh", a popular Chinese dish, can be savoured at the "Fabulous Food 1Malaysia" event at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from Dec 18 to 20.

The dish will be prepared by the executive chef of the JW Marriot Hotel, Zaffar Abdul Samad, for 300 people daily, said Eileen Chew, director of projects and public relations of Expomal International, which is organising the event with Tourism Malaysia.

"Like nasi lemak, the traditional food of the Malay community, which can be savoured by all Malaysians, we also want this popular Chinese dish to be experienced by the other communities," she told reporters.

The halal bak kut teh dish will have chicken, seafood and vegetables as the ingredients, and will be cooked with 10 types of herbs, including angelica, cloves and orange peel.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/8/nation/20091208190617&sec=nation

Kek Lok Si pavilion finally finished

If you guys visited Penang Island before, then you would notice a big Kuan Yin statue on top of the hill.

The statue is located at the Kek Lok Si temple which is as far as I know is at least 100 years old.

The statue was not built then though, I think less than 10 years cause this one is bronze while there was another clay statue before that at the same spot but it started cracking and they replaced it with a bronze one.

The pavilion's construction was suggested slightly more than 10 years ago, where my parent would pray and give donations to the temple. (My mom's from Penang by the way)

After so many years, it is finally completed and it is now the tallest pavilion in the world.

Grand opening for 20-storey pavilion at temple

GEORGE TOWN: Buddhist devotees from 20 countries arrived here for the grand opening today of the 20-storey pavilion over the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam.

The temple authorities are planning to list the RM40mil structure as the tallest pavilion in the world.

Making it big: Spotlights illuminating the skyline of the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam yesterday. The huge octagonal pavilion to shelter the Goddess of Mercy ( Kuan Yin ) statue will open.

Temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi said several thousand devotees, monks and chief monks from as far as the United States, New Zealand and Australia were already in town.

“I believe the grand opening of the pavilion, which coincides with the 118th anniversary of the temple, will be the biggest Buddhist event in the country since independence,” he said.

Ooi said there would also be a 20th memorial ceremony for the fourth chief abbot, the Venerable Bai Sheng, who is also the founder of the Kuan Yin statue.

The three-tiered 60.9m roof pavilion, which is supported by 16 granite pillars, serves as a canopy to shelter the 30.2m-tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/6/nation/5250603&sec=nation