The cheapest tablet released

For those of you thinking of wanting to try out a tablet PC but think that the price is too steep (RM1000++ to RM2000++), India has released a cheap alternative at USD 60 (about RM180++).

Although the specs and battery life are nothing to shout about, the 32 GB memory seems to be more than what is expected on a tablet at this price point.

Th Aakash will be released in stores in India next month.

World’s Cheapest Tablet Released in India

If you thought Amazon’s $200 Kindle Fire was a steal, wait until you get a load of this: The Indian government has released a new tablet computer, Aakash, dubbed “the world’s cheapest.”

Aakash costs $35 with government subsidies for students or $60 in stores. The government is giving away 100,000 for free during its launch period. The first 500 tablets released received a mixed response, as some complained that they are slow.

The government hopes the device will bridge the gap between the rich and poor. “The rich have access to the digital world, the poor and ordinary have been excluded. Aakash will end that digital divide,” says Kapil Sibal, the communications and education minister.

If you’re wondering what a tablet that costs as much as a pair of sneakers can possibly do, here’s a bit more about its specs: Aakash runs Android 2.2 Froyo, has a 7-inch touchscreen, weighs 350 grams, and has 32 GB of internal memory, 256 MB of RAM and two USB ports. The 2100mAh battery should last for two to three hours. Although it comes pre-loaded with some apps, it does not access the Android Marketplace. It has been tested in 118 degree Fahrenheit conditions to replicate northern India’s summer.

Datawind, a small British company, developed the tablet with the Indian Institute of Technology. The tablet is being produced in India and should be available in stores next month. The government plans to start selling them at the subsidized price to students next year.

What do you think of this tablet? Is it worth compromising speed to bring access to millions who otherwise could not afford a tablet computer or any computer at all? Let us know what you think in the comments.

http://mashable.com/2011/10/05/worlds-cheapest-tablet/

Maxis 30Mbps FTTH Broadband

Maxis FTTH Broadband packages were not that attractive before due to the quota which they provide for their services but now they have come up with 30Mbps package with 300GB quota per month which seems reasonable enough for that speed(although I'm not so sure about the price=RM398 per month).

The good news is that all their packages currently are unlimited until 31 December 2011.

Maxis FTTH Now Comes In 30Mbps Flavour

Maxis look like they are going all out to grab the top end of the Fibre To The Home (FTTH) market, unveiling a 30Mbps service for home users after their 32Mbps service for businesses was launched earlier. Weighing in at a hefty RM398, the new plan imposes a 300GB data quota along with 1000 free minutes to Maxis Mobiles and 300 minutes to IDD destinations. If you're an existing Maxis mobile customer, you'll get a cool 200 free minutes too!

Discounting the "speed boost" of TIME's 12Mbps line to 50Mbps and the VIP20 offering from UniFi, the Maxis FTTH is the quickest available for Malaysia at the moment. So if you desperately need that crazy 3.75 Megabytes per second download speed at cap for a more optimum Facebook experience, then the new Maxis FTTH is perfect for you. But in all seriousness, it would be lovely to have a 30Mbps connection at your fingertips, but shame at the price.
http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5252&Itemid=1

U Mobile 42 Mbps in Klang Valley

Finally, a serious contender to provide fast wireless broadband but I seriously wonder what will be the average speed?

Now it is available for folks in the Klang Valley to try out as it has a 7 day refund if you don't like it.

U Mobile Brings 42Mbps Mobile Broadband To The Klang Valley

It looks like we have a new speed king of the Malaysian mobile broadband market, clocking in at a peak speed of 42Mbps, U Mobile's new Dual-Cell HSPA+ service is the fastest available today. Covering a total of 1300 sites including the entirety of the Klang Valley from Shah Alam to Bangi, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Seremban, Port Dickson and Johor Bahru with Penang to follow suit in the near future, it looks like if the coverage map is to believe, U Mobile may beome a serious contender in the mobile data space. There will be 2 plans to choose from MB 68 which gives you a 5GB data allowance for RM68 per month and MB 128 which gives you 20GB for RM128 per month. There will be 2 devices available at launch as well, a MiFi which only supports up to 21Mbps and 42Mbps USB dongle. The strange thing is that only the modem can be purchase outright for RM250 but the dongle has to be rented at RM20 per month. If you sign up now, you'll be getting a rebate of RM20 per month for the first 5 months making it even more affordable. If you are not happy with your service within the first 7 days, you can cancel for a complete money back guarantee. I'm keen to see how the coverage is for myself and if they can really offer such speeds even in the high storey apartments I live in, I may just jump over. In this day and age, I'm surprised to see a rental system for the dongles but hopefully that will change in the future. U Mobile has said that it will be steadily upgrading the line to 84Mbps and eventually 100Mbps. I'll believe it when I see it. For more info check out the U Mobile Website: http://www.u.com.my http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5246&Itemid=1

Try out Windows 8 now

Windows 7 proved to be quite successful after the ironing out the troubles found in Vista but now it seems the successor for Windows 7 is out in the form out Windows 8 although it is just a developer version but we can expect the final version to be out soon.

For those who can't wait can just download the developer version.

Windows 8 Developer Version Is Available For Download

Are you excited to see what Microsoft Windows 8 got to offer so far? Guess what, you are actually able to install that very operating system on your machine right now! All you got to do is download the Windows Developer Preview from Windows Dev Center and off you go.

The Windows Developer Preview comes in three different flavors which include one each for 64-bit and 32-bit machines as well as a 64-bit version that is bundled together with developer tools. Microsoft claimed that the Windows Developer Preview can be run on the same hardware as per Windows Vista and Windows 7 which require at least a 1GHz processor, 1 to 2GB or RAM, 16 to 20GB of disk space and a DirectX 9 graphics card with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver. Of course, if you would like to check out Windows 8 much touted touch capabilities, then you would need a multi-touch display as well.

No activation is needed to run Windows Developer Preview on your machine but since it is a pre-release software, Microsoft is not providing any support or warranty for the operating system. So, if you are ready to taste the next chapter of Microsoft Windows, head on to THIS link to download it.

http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5198&Itemid=1

Waterproof Tablet from Fujitsu

Finally, a waterproof tablet in the market next month but not in Malaysia :(.

Fujitsu's waterproof Arrows Tab LTE F-01D to launch on DoCoMo next month

First rule of expensive electronics 101 is don't get'em wet. For the Japanese, however, a waterproof gadget option's a welcome value-add to time spent soaking in that ofuro. We first got a sneak peek at DozCoMo's H2O-resistant LTE Fujitsu tablet just last week, and now the company's making the announcement official. Joining the Arrows Tab LTE F-01D on the carrier's new 4G Xi (read: Crossy) network is our good Samsung friend, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE SC-01D. Both slates are set to hit the operator's Japanese airwaves next month, with Sammy's bowing in early October and Fujitsu's model landing a few weeks later. While we're already privy to all the internal guts and glory of the former tab, we finally have some spec confirmation on the Arrows. The 10.1-incher boasts a WXGA display, dual-core processor running Android 3.2, 1.3 megapixel front-facing / 5 megapixel rear camera setup, up to 32GB of storage and that ever useful waterproofing. Try not to be too jealous, statesiders -- there's always that glimmer of FCC filing hope.'

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/fujitsus-waterproof-arrows-tab-lte-f-01d-to-launch-on-docomo-ne/

Facebook's Excel look

This could be one of the best(or worst) trick to do while on work. Let's just hope that your office hasn't blocked the site for the trick.

Stealthy Trick Makes Facebook Look Like an Excel Spreadsheet

Now you can get away with cruising around Facebook at work, even when your boss is peering over your shoulder. Well, as long as the boss doesn’t look too closely.

Even the laziest slacker can look busy in a jiffy with this interactive adaptation of many of Facebook’s functions. Simply go to HardlyWork.in, click “Gimme Dem Spreadsheets,” enter your Facebook credentials, and there’s your Facebook newsfeed, all done up to look exactly like an Excel spreadsheet.

It’s not just a static graphic, either — HardlyWork.in lets you search for Facebook friends by entering names into the formula bar, load more items, check your newsfeed, wall, or tag photos, hover to see who liked a post, and there’s even a boss switch (the spacebar) that immediately changes everything into a vast sea of spreadsheet numbers all nestled within their legitimate-looking cells.

The only thing missing? Full-sized pics. But links are clickable, and you can see thumbnails when you hover your cursor over their descriptions. Besides, big pics would be a giveaway to the fact that you, uh, aren’t working.

 

Don’t be surprised if there’s a lot of spreadsheet “work” going on when you report back to the office on Tuesday. Just be sure the boss hasn’t caught up with Mashable yet — or Lifehacker, where we found this clever idea.

http://mashable.com/2011/07/03/hardlyworkin-excel-facebook/

Skype on Facebook

This sounds too good to be true. Now we can(in the not so distant future) Skype on Facebook. Now at least it would be more convenient for those who are always online on facebook to video chat.  I wonder if it would use too much resources using skype in a browser.

Facebook To Unveil Skype-Powered Video Chat Next Week [CONFIRMED]

Facebook’s “awesome” announcement next week has been spoiled. The social network will reportedly be unveiling a Skype-powered video chat platform.

Facebook’s Seattle team was behind the new feature, according to TechCrunch. Skype and Facebook already have a serious partnership that integrated Facebook social data directly into the Skype client. Now it looks like Skype will be coming to Facebook.

This isn’t even the first time we’ve heard about Skype-powered video chat on Facebook. Rumors surfaced last year about such a product, but it never materialized.

The report is sparse on details about how it will work. Will it require a software download? Will it support group video chats? Undoubtedly it will be a major addition to the Facebook platform. Google+, the search giant’s answer to Facebook, launched with a group video chat feature, Google+ Hangouts. Google is seeing a lot of traction with the feature, but if Facebook can release a video chat product next week, Google+ Hangouts may not seem as revolutionary.

We’ve reached out to Facebook and Skype for comment.

Update: While Facebook and Skype aren’t saying anything officially, our sources confirm that Skype-powered video chat on Facebook will indeed be launching next week.

http://mashable.com/2011/07/01/facebook-skype-video-chat/

Tough iPad Alternative

For those people who want to have a tablet computer but afraid that it might break easily might consider this especially for those who always misplace their stuff.

Panasonic unveils Android Toughbook slate for Q4, sledgehammer sold seperately

Tired of handling your tablet with kid gloves? Go ahead, take them off -- a Toughbook slate is heading your way. Strutting its stuff at InfoComm this week, Panasonic's Android Toughbook tablet boasts a sunlight-friendly 10.1-inch multi-touch display, satellite-based GPS, full-shift battery life and optional 3G / 4G connectivity. Wrap it up in the same badass durability as its snowmobile-abused, tiger-gnawed brethren, and you've got a Android slab for the everyman. No specifics on pricing or release just yet, but feel free to hit up the press release after the break for a slew of feel-good factoids.

 

http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/16/panasonic-unveils-android-toughbook-slate-for-q4-sledgehammer-s/

A USD$25 computer

Don't expect much when you see it.

Raspberry Pi Computer only USD$25 a Pop

Finally here’s a solution you can give to those pesky little people asking you what computer they should buy before telling you they want something small, basic internet usage and do not want a netbook: this Raspberry Pi computer that is barely larger than an average USB stick. Do not look down on it’s boring appearance that could do better with at least a casing, the Raspberry Pi (do you feel like you’re suddenly craving for raspberry pies?) is actually functional enough for modern use with a 700MHz ARM 11 processor, a USB port, a HDMI port and an install of Ubuntu Linux.

 

To get this thing working, all you need to do is plug it into a display via the HDMI port and a keyboard via the USB port and voila! You have yourself a new computer. While I guess a normal user won’t fancy a thing like that, it’s actually designed to encourage schoolchildren to hack and modify it to unlock its true potential.  Yes, schoolchildren because you must start them off young. 

 

The Raspberry is packed with 128MB of SDRAM, OpenGL ES2.0, 1080p HD decoding, composite output, SD card slot and other software such as Iceweasel and Python. Additionally, a 12MP camera sensor can be connected to it too. Oh and not forgetting the price, the ultra-small computer comes with an ultra-affordable price too at USD$25; well, rather affordable at least for a computer at least.

http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4380&Itemid=2

 

Coming soon: 1Malaysia Email

1Malaysia e-mail accounts for Malaysians over 18

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians aged 18 and above will be assigned an e-mail account each to receive statements, bills and notices from the Government.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who announced this yesterday, said the 1MY E-mail initiative would allow “direct and secure” communication between citizens and the Government while enhancing the delivery of government services to consumers and businesses alike.

Tricubes Bhd is collaborating with Microsoft to develop the 1Malaysia E-mail project.

The company will spearhead the private RM50mil investment that also includes the development of a web portal as a one-stop centre for government services providing value-added services such as social networking, checking of bills online and payments.

Tricubes chief executive officer Khairun Zainal Mokhtar said the company was still conducting stress tests for the website.

“Hopefully, we can get it ready by July,” he told a press conference at the fifth progress update of the Economic Transformation Programme here yesterday.

Khairun said the portal was different from the MyEG website, which focused on the payment of bills and summonses, as it would allow interaction between people and the Government.

The Performance Management and Delivery Unit, responding to queries said the 1Malaysia E-mail would not be made compulsory.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/20/nation/8517754&sec=nation

At least we won't get any late charges if we frequently checked our email next time.

Hopefully, the government agencies can collaborate with this perfectly to avoid any unnecessary work. 

HTC Flyer coming soon to Malaysia

HTC's tablet PC is coming soon on May 12th 2011, available from Maxis.


HTC Flyer To Hit Malaysia In May, For As Low As RM 199

At the same time of HTC Desire S launch yesterday, HTC has also unveiled their first ever tablet – the HTC Flyer. Spotting a 7-inch display, it is powered by a 1.5GHz single-core processor together with 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It also runs on Android 2.4 operating system covered with the new HTC Sense 3.0 user interface.

The HTC Flyer comes together with HTC’s own stylus technology called HTC Scribe which allows user not only to sketch, draw and writes notes but also, record audio in line with their written notes for user to trace back later on. The Flyer will also become the debut platform for HTC Watch - the company’s own video subscription service – that is scheduled to be available in Malaysia sometime in Q4 2011.

Unfortunately, the new HTC Flyer is not available for consumers for the time being as it will only be released to the Malaysian market on 12th May 2011, again exclusively at all Maxis Centres and Maxis Exclusive Partners. Damage to the pocket? RM 2,499 - rather hefty, if you ask me.

That being said, Maxis will be offering the device at a lower price for their customers through their exclusive partnership with HTC but the telco have not reveal the actual subsidized pricing. They did give a hint though: from as low as RM 199. Yes, you have read that correctly- one hundred and ninety nine ringgit; more than 90% off the standard retail price.

Obviously, there will be a catch to this deal. Just that you can only find out about it on launch day itself, 12th May at www.maxis.com.my. So, get ready for whatever surprises that Maxis have in stores in slightly less than a month time. For the time being, enjoy the actual product shots taken at the launch event and its technical specifications right after the jump.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

---

http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4259&Itemid=1

Malaysia is ninth friendliest

FRANKFURT: Malaysia is considered to be one of the 10 “friendliest” countries in the world according to a survey conducted by HSBC. Malaysia is ranked 9th in the list.

Apart from the local people being friendly, foreigners found it easy to intergrate and live in the local environment. These were among the criteria outlined in the survey.

The HSBC poll surveyed over 4,000 people from more than 100 countries between April and June last year.

Eighty per cent of those surveyed said English was their mother tongue.

Germany, a non-English-speaking country, however, ranked 10th in the survey.

Ranked third, South Africa was rated very open' to foreigners who want to live there.

The top eight in the list are Canada, Bermuda, South Africa, United States, Australia, Spain, France and Britain. - Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/16/nation/8491969&sec=nation

P1 to have LTE

P1 is going to upgrade its network by deploying LTE-TDD which generally means we can get faster speeds, claimed to reach up to 110Mbps, and the good part for P1 subscribers is that they just need a software upgrade to use the new network.

P1 to deploy LTE-TDD technology

THE BIG PICTURE: Lai talking about long-term evolution-time division duplex (LTE-TDD) technology to the media in Port Dickson recently.

 

PORT DICKSON: Those of us using mobile Internet services will have more choices when Packet One Networks Malaysia (P1) launches its LTE-TDD (long-term evolution-time division duplex) network at the end of 2012.

It plans to start trial runs of the wireless broadband network technology at the end of this year and is now in the midst of identifying the areas in the country where it will conduct the tests.

P1 wants to roll out LTE-TDD commercially at the close of next year. "We have submitted a business plan to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and are waiting its approval," Michael Lai, P1's chief executive officer, said during a media retreat here.

LTE-TDD is a fourth-generation technology that promises even faster wireless access speeds for mobile device users, as well as enhanced capacity for broadband network providers, than is available now.

At the event, China's ZTE Corp, which is P1's network partner, demonstrated LTE-TDD speeds of up to 110Mbps (megabits per second). The top speed is claimed to be 120Mbps.

A typical 90-minute high-definition movie (720p) would take 7 minutes to download at 110Mbps.

P1's current WiMAX technology network offers speeds of up to 45Mbps, and the same movie would take 18 minutes to download on that.

However, the speeds depend on how many users are on the network at the same time.

The more users there are in a particular sector around a base station, the slower the speeds will be.

A hurdle to LTE-TDD is the lack of devices configured to operate on that network now. And the small number of such devices currently available are too expensive for the average user.

"Without compatible and affordable devices, consumers will not be able to fully leverage on the power of the LTE-TDD network," Lai said.

But he is confident that the number of LTE-TDD-enabled products will increase by the time P1 kicks off its LTE-TDD network in this country.

Also, he said, global telecommunications giants China Mobile and InfoTel of India are the main drivers of LTE-TDD technology in Asia.

He said China Mobile is conducting large-scale LTE-TDD trials in six cities in China; these cities have a population greater than 100 million each.

InfoTel has conducted similar trials in India with Ericsson, the Swedish provider of telecommunications and data communications systems.

Lai said another reason for his confidence in LTE-TDD is that more than 17 telcos worldwide are offering services based on the technology now.

"And as at the first quarter of this year, there are about 320,000 subscribers to those services in total," he added.

The transition from a WiMAX-based to LTE-TDD network requires only a software update, which is one of its attractions to P1.

http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2011/4/15/it_news/20110415163145&sec=it_news

Dual core Smartphone: LG Optimus 2X

If you think that your current smartphone is slow, this could be an alternative for your next smartphone purchase.

Dual-core goodness in the LG Optimus 2X

PETALING JAYA: LG Electronics recently announced that its latest Android 2.2 smartphone, the Optimus 2X, will be locally available next month.

The Optimus 2X features a 4in touch-sensitive display (480 x 800-pixels) that is made of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass material.

An 8-megapixel autofocus camera, complete with geo-tagging, face and smile detection, adorns the back of the camera. It is also able to record 1080p HD videos at 24 frames per second.

Additionally, the phone has a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera for making video calls.

LG said the smartphone features a new 1GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor to deliver higher performance when playing video and audio as well as allow users to multitask without any lag. The faster processor also enables the smartphone to play graphics intensive games smoothly and deliver a faster, smoother web browsing experience.

Other notable features of the Optimus 2X includes 1080p HD video playback through HDMI on a larger screen. Content can also be connected wirelessly to any DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compatible HDTV.

The phone, which will be priced at RM1,899, comes with 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via a microSD memory card.
++++
http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2011/4/13/it_news/20110413155555&sec=it_news

Trade in Promo by Acer

If you have an old Pentium PC that you need to get rid of and thinking of buying a new PC, now is the best time to do so.

Do you have any old computers that you would like to dispose? Your timing is just right then. Acer has just kicked off a trade-in program that not only benefits you but also a number of charity organizations across the country. Held in conjunction with the recently launched joint education and community program with Microsoftcalled I’m Inspired, customers are entitled to purchase selected desktop PC, laptop and all-in-one PCs for a discounted price with each trade-in.

While the RM 200 rebate might not sound much, what made this program special is that all the computers that Acer received through this event will be refurbished by them and Microsoft before they are donated to the said charity organizations. However, don’t think of this program as a place to dump your poor old PCs though since Acer are only accepting those with their main components such as motherboard, hard drives, processor, RAM, battery pack and power adapter still intact even though they can be either in working or non-working condition.

The Acer trade-in program is happening right now until 13 April 2011 at selected Acer dealers nationwide. For further information, check out the program’s website HERE.

http://www.acer-iconize.com.my/info_tradeinpromo.html

http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4180&Itemid=1

Asus Tablet

AsusTek's answer to the iPad comes in the form of the EEE Pad Transformer.

AsusTek launches Android-powered Tablet

ANOTHER CONTENDER: A Taiwanese model displaying an Asus Eee Pad Transformer during its unveiling in Taipei, Taiwan. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer features a 10.1-inch touch screen, tablet with a detachable keyboard dock. - AP

TAIPEI: Asustek Computer Inc unveiled a sleek Tablet computer after the Taiwanese firm saw the sales of its once popular line of mini-laptops stall following the launch of Apple's hit iPad.

AsusTek said the EEE Pad Transformer, which runs on the Android 3.0 operating system, distinguishes itself with an optional keyboard that is superior to docking options for other Tablets because of its light weight and flexibility.

Its 10.1in screen with a front and rear camera can be detached from the keyboard to allow users on the move quick web browsing and film viewing. Plugging it to the keyboard dock, the device can then be used as a fully-fledged laptop.

"In our own pursuit of perfection, we offer users more options," AsusTek CEO Jerry Shen told The Associated Press. "They can get a full range of functions including 10-finger touch, Flash supported video viewing, e-book reading, and a physical keyboard so they don't have to deal with any inconveniences."

The EEE Pad Transformer, which just became available for pre-order in Taiwan, goes on sale in Britain on March 30, to be followed by US sales.

In Taiwan, the 16GB version without the keyboard sells for US$500 (RM1,600), while the keyboard version costs US$600 (RM1,920). The company did not provide prices for other markets.

Another Asus Tablet, the 12in e-Slate powered by the Microsoft Windows operating system, went on sale in January, while two additional Asus Tablet models will go on sale soon. Shen said he expected total sales of the four models to reach two million units this year.

Taiwan's Acer Inc, the world's third largest computer vendor, has already unveiled four Tablet models, as well as a 4.8in smartphone that doubles as a Tablet. The company says all will be on sale next month.

Shen acknowledged Apple Inc's current dominance in the rapidly expanding Tablet computer market, but predicted that its market share would fall to 50% by next year, as devices run on Android and Microsoft systems pick up steam.

Asus pioneered netbooks - mini-laptops - to great fanfare in 2007. Once seen as a key to the company's growth, sales remained flat in 2010, Shen said, following the iPad's appearance in the marketplace. - AP

http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2011/3/28/it_news/20110328102203&sec=it_news

Sandy Bridge in Malaysia

Sandy Bridge is officially launched in Malaysia and it seems that they also solved the motherboard flaw.

The main significance for this is that we can get more powerful laptops and PCs at a lower price.

Sandy Bridge officially lands here

OFFICIAL LAUNCH: Prakash speaking at the launch of the company's new second-generation Core processor family.

KUALA LUMPUR: Intel has officially launched its second-generation Intel Core processors, (formerly codenamed "Sandy Bridge") in the country.

In terms of architecture, these second-generation Core processors are a major departure from the last generation of processors, as it integrates both the CPU (central processing unit) with the GPU (graphics processing unit) onto a single piece of silicon.

By integrating the two onto a single die, the performance is greatly improved compared to using a CPU with a similarly-specified but separate GPU located on the PC's motherboard.

The second-generation Core processors will still follow the current naming convention, i.e. Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7, but with a new logo to differentiate the new versions from their predecessors.

According to Prakash Mallya, Intel Malaysia country manager of sales and marketing, the company calls the new second-generation Core processors "Visibly Smart" in reference to how noticeably fast the chips process high-resolution digital photos, encode/decode videos and handle 3D (stereoscopic) video playback.

Prakash amusingly opened his speech by stating, amongst other things, that he would not mention Moore's Law (a mantra often repeated in speeches from Intel executives) in his presentation.

The international launch of Sandy Bridge has not been as smooth as Intel would have hoped for - at the end of January, the company announced that it had discovered a design flaw in the SATA controllers for the motherboard chipsets of the Core i5 and Core i7 Sandy Bridge-based processors.

In response, Intel offered its OEM partners workarounds to the problem, as well as returns, modifications or replacements as needed on motherboards or systems.

The company has since fixed the flaw in new chipsets that were shipped starting from the end of February.

http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2011/3/10/it_news/20110310171958&sec=it_news

Get a contract free iPhone 4 with the iDigi Promo

Get a Second iPhone 4 at RRP with the iDiGi Promo!

There’s nothing quite like the joy of being the owner of a brand new iPhone 4. We know. It’s just so shiny, so pretty, and nothing beats the ‘ooooohs’ and ‘aaaahs’ from your friends when you whip it out to show them that cool app you just bought today.

But it gets a little lonely after a while if you don’t have anyone to share your excitement over Fruit Ninja or Angry Birds with, right? Some things (like madly swiping at fruits) are infinitely more fun when you have friends to share it with 

Which is why starting today till 31 March 2011, DiGi is giving you the chance to get a second iPhone 4 without a contract with their iDiGi plans!

If you know somebody who’s just itching to get their hands on an iPhone 4 but is balking at the thought of a contract, this is the perfect time to get one  There are two ways you can go about it;

- Sign up for a new line under an iDiGi plan
- Upgrade your existing iDiGi plan to iDiGi 138 or iDiGi 238

When you sign up or upgrade your existing plan, you’ll get the opportunity to purchase a second iPhone 4 at the recommended retail price (RRP) without the need for another contract! This way, you get to save up to RM 288 on DiGi to DiGi calls, SMS and MMS over 6 months.

The promotion ends 31 March 2011. For more information about the z, log on to http://bit.ly/fGWLEY

GOOGLE BODY BROWSER

Now we can learn anatomy in 3D using the web courtesy of Google.

GOOGLE BODY BROWSER LETS YOU BROWSE THE HUMAN ANATOMY

We all know how the earth look like, thanks to those big round globe we have at home but how does a detailed earth look like? Thanks to Google Earth, you get to see not only the big round planet we reside in, we can also zoom into any parts of the earth to see every sea, trees, buildings, and with Google Maps Street View, you can even see people (sometimes doing bizarre things). So how does a human body look like? Thanks to Google again, you can use the Body Browser to see a 3D model of a human anatomy.

With the Google Body Browser, not only do you get to see a human body from the skin all the way down to the skeleton, it will show you everything (in 3D view), including the muscles, organs, tendons, tissues, veins, arteries and so many more but I failed my biology to properly list them all out but in a nutshell, you can see everything a human body has minus the gruesome blood. On top of that, all the parts of the human body, organs and such are labeled and all you have to do is click on it to see what it is. I think the team at Google Labs just made learning biology a whole lot more fun. Check it out in the Google Labs page but you’re going to need a web browser with WebGL support (Chrome beta, Firefox 4.0b1).

http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3717&Itemid=2

Apple launches iPad 2

I don't whether user in Malaysia will be delighted or sad cause the Apple iPad2 is now launched although the official iPad release is barely 6 months ago but anyway the Apple iPad seems to have some great improvements over its predecessor.

APPLE LAUNCHES IPAD 2

Apple® today introduced iPad^TM 2, the next generation of its magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. 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. iPad 2 is available in black or white, features models that run on AT&T's and Verizon's 3G networks, and introduces the innovative iPad 2 Smart Cover in a range of vibrant polyurethane and rich leather colors.

"With more than 15 million iPads sold, iPad has defined an entirely new category of mobile devices," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "While others have been scrambling to copy the first generation iPad, we're launching iPad 2, which moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again."

With the new front and rear cameras, iPad 2 users can now make FaceTime calls to millions of iPhone® 4, iPod touch® and Mac® users so they can see family and friends anywhere there is Wi-Fi. Photo Booth lets you apply fun visual effects, including eight photo special effects like Squeeze, Twirl and Kaleidoscope, to photos captured by either camera. 
iPad 2 comes with iOS 4.3, the latest version of the world's most advanced mobile operating system, with new features including faster Safari® mobile browsing performance; iTunes® Home Sharing; enhancements to AirPlay®;** the choice to use the iPad side switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute audio; and Personal Hotspot to share an iPhone 4 cellular data connection over Wi-Fi.*** Additional iPad 2 features include a built-in gyro for advanced gaming; HSUPA support for enhanced 3G upload speeds on iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G on AT&T, and HDMI Video Mirroring that lets users mirror their iPad screen on an HDTV using an optional adaptor.

The innovative new iPad 2 Smart Cover provides protection for the iPad screen while maintaining its thin and lightweight profile. Designed with a unique self-aligning magnetic hinge that makes it easy to attach and remove, the new iPad 2 Smart Cover automatically wakes iPad 2 when it's opened and puts it to sleep when it's closed, and has a soft microfiber lining to help keep the screen clean. The Smart Cover also folds into a stand for typing or viewing videos and is available in vibrant polyurethane for $39 or rich leather for $69 in a range of colors, including a (PRODUCT) RED one which helps support the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Apple also introduced two new apps: iMovie® and GarageBand® for iPad, both available on the App Store℠ for just $4.99 each. With iMovie, iPad 2 users can shoot and edit videos right on their iPad and post their movies to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and their MobileMe℠ gallery; watch them on their iPod®, iPhone or iPad; as well as view them on their HDTV using AirPlay and Apple TV®. GarageBand turns your iPad into a collection of touch instruments and 8-track recording studio, allowing you to perform with onscreen keyboards, guitars, drums and basses using multi-touch gestures-even if you don't play a musical instrument.

iPad 2 runs almost all of the over 350,000 apps available on the App Store and there are more than 65,000 native iPad apps available from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The iTunes Store gives iPad users access to the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 14 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 10,000 films including over 3,500 in stunning high definition video. The iBooks® app for iPad includes Apple's iBookstore℠, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device.


http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4049&Itemid=2

Fujitsu Wireless PC Monitor

A wireless PC display sounds cool and I think could be pretty handy for people who are obsessed with keeping their workstation wire free although I think the display could be prone to theft as there is nothing holding them back.

Fujitsu shows off wireless PC display at CeBIT

Many of us can now wirelessly stream images from a computer to a screen over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi without too much trouble, but the display is still inevitably powered by cables. At CeBIT 2011, Fujitsu is showing off a working prototype of a 22-inch computer display that receives both images and power wirelessly. The power transfer is made possible by magnetic induction technology – similar toPowermat chargers – that's concentrated into hotspots built into office furniture or conference tables.

• 
• 
• 
• 

I remember being somewhat disappointed when I bought my first wireless telephone. Although there were no cables connecting the handset to the base, there were still numerous wires joining the base to the power outlet and the telephone socket, and there was even one dangling down the back to provide a better signal.

Happily, wireless technology has moved on somewhat since then and we're now at a point where our homes are filled to the brim with computing solutions that connect to the internet without needing to be positioned next to a router, televisions and audio systems that can play digital media from a box located in another part of the house and mobile phones that can be charged by placing them on a special mat.

Now Fujitsu, working with the Fraunhofer Institute and other German partners under a project funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs, has developed a completely wireless solution for the provision of power and images to a computer display.

The new 22-inch proof-of-concept, park and play, wire-free monitor receives its power using something called Smart Universal Power Access (SUPA) technology. The display is placed on a hotspot area of a desk and draws power via magnetic induction from a transmitter located inside the desk or office panel or conference table, making as safe to use as electric toothbrush chargers. It receives its images over wireless USB from a desktop PC or notebook within a range of up to 10 meters (32 feet).

"We are planning to introduce the first models incorporating totally wireless power technology to our LED-backlit display range within the next year," said Fujitsu's Rajat Kakar. "This is another technology innovation from Fujitsu, following on from our 0-Watt PCs and displays. In operation, there's no difference in quality from the desktop image – except that we've consigned cables to the history books of display technology."

The working prototype is currently on display at the Fujitsu booth in the Dealers only section at CeBIT 2011. Pricing details are expected at launch.

http://www.gizmag.com/fujitsu-unveils-wireless-pc-monitor-at-cebit/18017/

Thunderbolt: Next gen port arrives

As the usage of High Definition content is becoming more common in our daily lives, transferring files between each other has started to take more time on the current USB 2.0 ports.

Apple and Intel has now released Thunderbolt which is set to compete with USB 3.0 and DisplayPort and may become the future for our computers.

So, you have heard about the newly refreshed line up of Apple MacBook Pro. Hence, you should already know that these new laptops come with a new I/O port called Thunderbolt. Previously codenamed by its developer asLight Peak, this new I/O technology was developed by Intel; together with some help from Apple which pretty much explained why the new MacBook Pro are the first ever product to feature it. But then, what exactly is the purpose of Thunderbolt? In essence, it is a full-duplex dual-channel high speed link that supports both data (PCI Express) and video (DisplayPort) connections, and capable of transferring data at the speed of 10Gbps per channel. Just to describe how fast that is, Intel claimed that users are able to transfer 10 to 20GB of data - a typical size of full-length full HD 1080p movie – in less than 30 seconds; way faster than the existing USB 3.0, 1394 Firewire and eSATA standard. Thunderbolt also supports daisy chaining with up to 7 devices at the same time. Another interesting fact about the new Thunderbolt standard is that it offers low-latency, high-accuracy synchronization time of 8ns within connected devices. This capability should be very useful to media professionals out there especially media creators who will be able to do real-time processing on multiple devices at the same time as the frames will be pretty much synchronized throughout all devices. It also compatible with existing DisplayPort-based displays so that current owners don’t have to replace their current monitors. As for many of us who depends on DVI or HDMI, there is nothing that adapters cannot do. As for physical connectors, Thunderbolt supports both electrical and optical cable although for electrical cable, it is limited to 3 meters long. That being said, Thunderbolt electrical cable is also able to provide up to 10W to bus-powered devices. Moving on, now it is time for the golden question: how fast will Thunderbolt-based devices pop into the market? Well, judging from the current adoption rate of DisplayPort and USB3.0, I personally don’t think it will take off in an instant. Thunderbolt’s high speed data transfer is clearly an advantage here, so one can expect that the first wave of Thunderbolt-based products are meant for users  such as mentioned earlier, media professionals, that can take advantage of the amazingly fast transfer speed. It already has a good start since the Apple MacBook Pro is also one of the products that are commonly associated with media creation. So, the impact of Thunderbolt will not be seen instantly but rather later on; when manufacturers have started to pick it up and make it available to users everywhere. For the time being, if you would like to learn more about Thunderbolt, check out its official website at www.intel.com. http://www.lowyat.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4021&Itemid=1

Free UNIFI Installation till 15 Feb 2011

TM is offering free installation for Unifi again from 15 January to 15 February which costs about RM200.

SIGN UP FOR UNIFI AND SAVE RM200 WITH TM UNIFI FREE INSTALLATION PROMOTION

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) is pleased to announce an installation fee waiver promotion for its High Speed Broadband (HSBB) service, UniFi. The normal RM200 installation fee is being waived for all new successful subscriber registrations submitted from 15 January till 15 February 2011!!  The promotion is applicable to all UniFi VIP and BIZ packages.  Customers can complete the service registration at selected TMpoint outlets (within UniFi service areas), TMpoint TM Authorized Dealership (TAD) outlets, authorised TM Sales Agents as well as via the UniFiOnline Customer Centre self-service portal at: www.tm.com.my  UniFi is currently being offered via three residential and three business packages.  The residential triple-play packages are VIP5 at RM149 a month, VIP10 at RM199 a month and VIP20 at RM249 a month. Each package comes with three (3) services; High Speed Internet, HyppTV and Phone. All UniFi subscribers will get the free HyppTV Basic channels. Additional Premium HyppTV and Video-on-Demand offerings are available on an ‘ala-carte’ basis for a nominal subscription fee.  Businesses packages are BIZ5 at RM199 a month, BIZ10 at RM599 a month and BIZ20 at RM899 a month. Each package comes with a ‘dual-play’ offering of Phone and High Speed Internet connectivity. The Phone service offers up a very competitive call plan while the High Speed Internet connectivity and a host of added complimentary services provide limitless possibilities serving the needs of businesses.  Inked in September 2008, the RM11.3 billion national HSBB project is a Public-Private-Partnership agreement between TM and the Government of Malaysia to develop next generation high speed broadband infrastructure and services for the nation.  TM is investing up RM8.9 billion into the project while the Government is contributing RM2.4 billion on an incurred claims basis based on project milestones reached by TM.   For a complete list of UniFi coverage areas, service availability further details of UniFi packages, log on towww.tm.com.my.

http://www.tm.com.my/ap/about/media/press/Pages/UNIFIFREEINSTALLATIONPROMOTION.aspx