T-Cube

Motorola Motosurf

2009-05-05T15:59:00.004+08:00

Another smart phone coming to a country near you is the Motorola A3100 or also known as the Motosurf. It's Motorola's first smart touchscreen phone. Kinda cute if you look at it.

Specs are as follows:

Palm Pre

2009-05-05T15:40:00.002+08:00

Sprint will be launching the Palm Pre pretty soon. Words have it that the price for it will be around $199.99 for a 2 year contract and $599.99 for a contract free phone (Damn!).

The UI is pretty slick it seems and you can watch it below. Its fitted with a full on slide-up qwerty keyboard as well as a full-on touch screen interface. Look at its specs below:

Operating system
Palm® webOS™
Network specs
3G EVDO Rev A
Display
3.1-inch touch screen
24-bit color
320x480 resolution
HVGA display
Keyboard
Physical QWERTY keyboard
Email
Microsoft Outlook® email with Microsoft® Direct Push Technology
POP3/IMAP (Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, etc)
Messaging
Integrated IM, SMS, and MMS
GPS
Built-in GPS
Digital camera
3 megapixel camera
LED flash
extended depth of field
Sensors
Ambient light
accelerometer
proximity
Media formats supported
Audio Formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV
Video Formats: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264
Image Formats: GIF, Animated GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP
Wireless connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g with WPA, WPA2, 801.1x authentication
Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
Memory
8GB of user storage (~7.4GB user available)
USB mass storage support
Phone as laptop modem
Bluetooth tethering
Connector
MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
Headphone jack
3.5mm stereo
Palm® Touchstone™charging dock
Compatible
Dimensions
Width: 59.5mm (2.3 inches)
Height: 100.5mm (3.9 inches)
Thickness: 16.95mm (0.67 inches)
Weight: 135 grams (4.76 ounces)

1 Mbps @ RM 59!

2009-03-12T14:50:00.004+08:00

Ok guys and gurls this is what you all have been waiting for! 1 Mbps of internet for only RM59 a month!

It's not streamyx! It's not P1! It's not Celcom! It's Infolient.

Apparently it's a new company and it uses ADSL technology to provide subscribers with internet.

How I got to know about it? I was just surfing the internet and was looking for a change from Streamyx, more like Screamyx! and then I saw it. But unfortunately at the time, I already had my name signed up to P1 and was too lazy to change so I stuck with P1.

I don't know how good Infolient is but hey, anything is better than Streamyx right?

So why not go and check it out yourself.

It's http://www.infolient.com/.

LG Arena KM900

2009-03-04T10:45:00.000+08:00

Perak in Crisis

2009-03-04T10:29:00.003+08:00

Hi there people! It's been a long 3 months and I've been fairly busy with work and school. Anyways for all of you who are following the Perak constitutional crisis will know what's going on.

Yesterday, the High Court of Ipoh had declared the state assembly under the tree as illegal. I mean, come on! What in the world are we doing? Embarassing ourselves to the world?

First of all, PR has already file a case to the court seeking that the appointment of Zambry as the new MB is in fact out of order. So why go through all these trouble and ruckus? Why not wait for the court's decision on the case? Is PR really that desperate for media attention? Come on now!

Now is the worst time to pick a fight. We all know that the world economy is doing soooo "well" that we've already lost 45,000 workers. What the government in Perak should be concetrating in doing now is leave the legal matters to the courts and work on matters that involve the well being of the people. Isn't that the reason for us voting for them?

So I say stop all this hanky panky stupid bickering and start focusing on the people!

As far as Karpal is concerned, he should no longer be in politics. He's too old and probably is already senile. Yes, we applaud his courage and opinions for all that he had contributed but one must draw the line. Going against royalty is a bit too much, I think. It's a sign of disrespect.

I don't know where we are going with this. But I hope that we as the rakyat should realize that we have to pick better people to represent us in Parliment. I'm sorry to say but all those MPs don't have the qualification to be MPs. Just listen to the language. Embarassing ... sigh ...

Oldies Remix

2008-12-30T20:50:00.001+08:00

Diana King - Shy Guy

Sonique - It feels so good

Broadband woes in Malaysia

2008-12-24T11:18:00.002+08:00

Malaysia has a vision. Its vision is to have at least 50% of the population use broadband by the year 2012. Will it come true? I doubt so.

Malaysia is only second to Singapore in internet penetration in ASEAN. Currently, almost half of the Malaysian community is online. But those who use broadband is only a mere 7%.

Why might you ask? Well for one, the price. Internet usage is not cheap in Malaysia. For a 1M service you have to pay a minimum of RM 99. Compare that to Singapore where you only pay half of that for the same speed.

In addition, the Malaysian telecom market is dominated by one telco, Telekom Malaysia. They hold 95% of the country's service line. That's why in Malaysia, other telcos are offering Wireless broadband for obvious reasons of course. But in my opinion, these competitive telcos do not have a stable working network and most of them are quite new.

Maxis for example. So many complaints have been made by users using their broadband service. I mean they cap the bandwidth to only 5gb a month! Seriously! And the speed you get is only 384 kbps. That's like OMG so effing slow!

The latest company to offer a broadband service here is P1 Wimax by Green Packet. So far, they have lived up to their so called expectations. How do I know? Because I subscribe to it. The only problem that I have is their latency and network stability. It takes longer than normal for a webpage to respond but the loading itself is extremely FAST! Better than Streamyx I might add. The speed that I get is almost constant; around 1300 kbps. That's more speed than what I paid for. So I'm really hoping that their service will workout. But again, the price is a weee bit expensive. RM 99 for the 1.2 Mbps package. I know they're new and all but come on! Plus you have to pay RM 999 for the modem.

List of how much the world is paying for internet broadband.

Motorola Krave ZN4

2008-12-08T20:59:00.003+08:00

So sorry for the long absence. Been really really busy. Should be able to post normally now I hope.

Anyways, dear readers what you see here is the latest phone from Motorola called Motorola Krave. It's a touch screen phone and it's a very chic looking phone. I've seen a couple of videos of it in action and I was not impress very much. I still prefer the smoothness of the iPhone UI.

Besides that, I am also not impressed by its design. I mean come on Moto, you can't design every single phone based on the Razr. It's old stuff now and we need something new. Something more umph! Anyways ...

Here are its specs:

Service Provider: Verizon Wireless
Operating System: Other
Screen Size: 2.4 inches
Screen Details: 2.4", 240x400, 65k-color TFT LCD capacitive touch screen
Camera: Yes
Megapixels: 2 MP
802.11x: No
Bluetooth: Yes
Web Browser: No
Network: CDMA
Bands: 850, 1900
High-Speed Data: 1xRTT, EVDO Rev 0

Unfortunately for other countries, it's only available in the USA. We'd have to wait our turn for them to launch the phone here in Malaysia.

Below is a review on the phone.

Why Malaysia can never be like US

2008-11-17T20:41:00.000+08:00

Since after Obama's victory in becoming the President, many of us, especially in Malaysia, are voicing out that we should allow someone from the minority group to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Well dear readers, do you want to know why it can happen in the US and not in Malaysia? First and foremost, the US doesn't practice Democracy. They don't, if you want to fight me on this go ahead. I am 100% sure about this. What they practice is not a Democracy but a Republic.

You may say that they're basically the same thing. Well, you can never be more wrong. Yes, people do vote but that's basically about it. They are 2 very different types of Governments and their 3 branches are never intertwine.

In Malaysia, democracy rules. What do you mean by Democracy? Democracy; Rule by Omnipotent Majority. In a Democracy, The Individual, and any group of Individuals composing any Minority, have no protection against the unlimited power of The Majority. It is a case of Majority-over-Man.

This is true whether it be a Direct Democracy, or a Representative Democracy. In the direct type, applicable only to a small number of people as in the little city-states of ancient Greece, or in a New England town-meeting, all of the electorate assemble to debate and decide all government questions, and all decisions are reached by a majority vote (of at least half-plus-one). Decisions of The Majority in a New England town-meeting are, of course, subject to the Constitutions of the State and of the United States which protect The Individual’s rights; so, in this case, The Majority is not omnipotent and such a town-meeting is, therefore, not an example of a true Direct Democracy. Under a Representative Democracy like Britain’s parliamentary form of government, the people elect representatives to the national legislature--the elective body there being the House of Commons--and it functions by a similar vote of at least half-plus-one in making all legislative decisions.( http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/AmericanIdeal/aspects/demrep.html)

What is a Republic? A Republic; Its purpose is to control The Majority strictly, as well as all others among the people, primarily to protect The Individual’s God-given, unalienable rights and therefore for the protection of the rights of The Minority, of all minorities, and the liberties of people in general. The definition of a Republic is: a constitutionally limited government of the representative type, created by a written Constitution--adopted by the people and changeable (from its original meaning) by them only by its amendment--with its powers divided between three separate Branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Here the term "the people" means, of course, the electorate.(http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/AmericanIdeal/aspects/demrep.html)

There you go. You can Google up for more information regarding the two types of governments.

So we can never be like the US unless we ourselves practice a Republic government. Many of the world's goverments are Republic, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, America, France, China, South Korea, and the list goes on.

Apologize - De Grees VS The Real Booty Babes (One republic)

2008-11-03T21:09:00.001+08:00

A brief dialect intro

2008-11-03T11:51:00.002+08:00

OK, so I don't see a lot of Malay websites out there introducing the language and I don't think I'll be doing it too...Haha... I'll be introducing to you a dialect of Malay that is used in the Johorean state.

For those Malaysians who watch TV, there really isn't much different in the Johorean dialect than the standard Malay that you listen and hear every day. There are however some words and pronunciation differences that people from other states may not quite understand.

So for starters, I'll start out with the most common difference of the dialect that is words ending in '-ar'. For instance, 'belajar' (to learn) is pronounced as 'belajo'. 'Kelakar' (funny) is pronounced as 'kelako'.

The letter 'R' is pronounced much like the French 'ER' or 'gh' sound. An example, 'kerak' (that hard part of the rice) is pronounced as 'ke-ghak'. 'Beruk' (monkey) is pronounced as 'be-ghuk'.

My friends and cousins used to make fun of me when I pronounced words like that. I used to think to myself that I was saying it wrong but a few years back, there was an article in the newspaper that I read and realised that I wasn't wrong at all! It was a dialect! So now, I don't really care if my friends make fun of me, I'm proud to be speaking Johorean. Even my cousins who are supposedly supposed to be Johorean descendants don't speak like me.

Secondly, pronouns used when we refer to ourselves. You don't say 'saya' like in standar Malay when you refer to yourself but you would say 'kita'. Yes, so for instance; 'Saya nak pergi ke kedai' (I want to go to the shop) would be 'Kita nak pergi ke kedai'. I'm sure not only Johoreans use 'kita' but also Sarawakians but they have an extra -k at the end.

In addition, we don't have the vocabularies for 'kakak' or 'nenek'. I'm not kidding you. Both of these words are substituted by 'abang' and 'atuk'. So, if you want to call your grandma, you'd say 'Atuk Wan' - which basically means 'Atuk Perempuan' (Female grandpa). Grandpa is usually referred to as 'Atuk Aki' - 'Atuk Lelaki' (Male Grandpa). In English, the translation doesn't really add up but in Malay it makes sense, kind of. For big sister, you call her 'Abang [Name]'. So if your big sister is named 'Mastura', you call her 'Bang Mastura'. No idea why but we just do.

A few other words that may look familiar;
1. Saing - Together
- 'Kamu pergi Kuala Lumpur saing Jamal?' (You're going to KL together with Jamal?)
- in standard Malay saing means "to compete" and the word used is 'bersama'

2. Lawan - With
- 'Hari ini nasi lawan apa?' (We're having rice with what today?)
- in standard Malay lawan means "to fight" and the word closely related to that's used in standard Malay is 'dengan'

3. Keruk - To scratch
- 'Jangan keruk nanti berdarah!' (Don't scratch! It'll bleed)
- in standard Malay it's 'garu'

4. Gerobok - Closet
- 'Gerobok tu dah tua dah' (That closet is old)
- in standard Malay it's 'almari'

5. Gebar - Blanket
- 'Kau ada gebar lebih?' (You have extra blankets?)
- in standard Malay it's 'selimut'

6. Sepatu - Shoes
- 'Mana sepatu aku menghilang?' (Where have my shoes gone?)
- in standard Malay it's 'kasut'

I think those are some of the differences that I can think of right now. Well by that I mean that I can think of right now. If there are any other additions, I'll definitely add them to the post. I'm sorry for being a language freak but I just can't help it. I love languages!

Brandy - Right Here (Moto Blanco Radio Remix)

2008-10-25T20:54:00.001+08:00

Motorola AURA

2008-10-24T09:57:00.003+08:00

For those of you who are looking for a new, high end phone that looks elegant and yet simple and pleasing to the eyes, Motorola will be launching its new AURA in December and is now available for pre-ordering.

Its specs below:

Bands :Internal quad band, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Bluetooth : Stereo Bluetooth Class 1, Version 2.0 plus EDR and A2DP
Built-in Memory7 :2GB
Camera :2 MP Fixed Focus
Carriers :GSM
Connectivity :Micro USB
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed CrystalTalk™ Technology Yes
Dimensions (H x W x D) 1.87 x 3.81 x .730 in
Display 300 ppi resolution display
World's first 16 million color, round display 1.55 inches in diameter, 480 pixel diameter, LCD round
Email Support1 :Yes
Other Features :
Assisted-opening blade mechanism
Scratch-resistant, 62-carat, Grade 1 sapphire crystal lens
Stainless steel housing
Form Factor :Rotator
Music :Music Player
Standby Time2 :Up to 400 hours (16.6 days)
Talk Time2 :Up to 438 minutes or 7.3 hours
Weight :4.97 oz (141g)

Now people, try to guess how much this little bugger cost? $500? $600? $700? My, my. No such thing! This thing cost $1,999.99! No kidding! With that amount of money, I could get myself 12 iPhones!

Anyways, do go to their website if you are interested in getting one. Geee...My burtday is coming up soon...anyone wants to get me one? ^...^

Top 5 cancer causing food

2008-10-24T09:46:00.003+08:00

Ok, so this may not go well with the blog but hey, what I'm about to write contains some valuable information regarding your well being. Of course I got it from someone else through e-mail, who don't nowadays?

Anyhooo, let me first list down the top 5 food that are likely to cause cancer.

1. Hotdog - because they have a content of sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meat and bacon - reason; same as above.

3. Doughnut - this really was surprising to me

4. French fries

5. Chips, crackers and cookies

So people, now you know the top 5 cancer causing food. Hopefully you'll be more aware and careful at what you eat in the future.

Electric Mini

2008-10-19T19:41:00.004+08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates people. Have been really busy with work which is quite sad actually.

Anyways, since everyone has been talking about going Green and stuff with Hybrids and Electrics cars popping out like mushrooms, BMW is planning on releasing an all electric car next year to the residents of America. A perplexing riddle I must say as I don't know how the hell in the world can a gargantuan American fit in that tiny MINI car. That's just wrong!

Article below!

BMW has finally unleashed some information and photos of the much anticipated MINI E set to debut next month at the LA Auto Show. For those who haven't been paying attention, late last spring BMW announced plans to build and lease a fleet of 500 battery powered MINIs starting sometime in 2009. The front wheels of the MINI E receive torque through a single speed gearbox from a 204 hp, 162 lb-ft electric motor. Those numbers are rather unusual for an electric drive system which usually has much more torque. Nonetheless, the MINI E can hustle to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds and, according to BMW, can cover about 150 miles on a full charge of its lithium ion battery pack.

Full story here y'all.

Lady Gaga - Just Dance

2008-10-03T09:31:00.000+08:00

Top Torrent Clients

2008-10-02T19:22:00.002+08:00

Good day people! How's it going? I know most of you out there know what torrents are right?

Torrent is a small file (around few kilobytes) with the suffix .torrent, which contains all the information needed to download a file the torrent was made for. That means it contains file names, their sizes, where to download from and so on. You can get torrents for almost anything on lots of web sites and torrent search engines (http://www.what-is-torrent.com/).

And I know most of you out there use BitTorrent to download your files, well most of my friends do. Just so you know, BitTorrent is not the only torrent client that you can use to download files. They are gazzillions (ok, that's stretching it a bit) of torrent clients out there on the net.

My favourite one of course is uTorrent. Why do I like it so much? Well, for one it's a very simple application. Very easy to use, very user friendly especially for those newbies out there. In addition, the file isn't big. Only about 200kb. It doesn't take up much of your RAM (correct me if I'm wrong here) so your computer doesn't hang or interrupts your computer's running time. It's stable, has never crashed before on my use. In summary, I very strongly encourage you to use uTorrent.

But if you're an adventurer and would like to try out various applications, go ahead. Here's an article of the top torrent clients out there.

...
Here they are: the most popular 'Music Pirate' downloading software for torrent file sharing. This list is compiled from hundreds of user comments and reader suggestions.
(http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/peersharing/f/torrentclients.htm)

uTorrent(Known as both "u-torrent" and "micro torrent", this is the most popular torrent tool today. uTorrent has all the functions a torrent downloader will ever need, and it only requires 1 MB of hard drive space and memory. uTorrent has all the downloading and seeding performance of its competitors, but with minimal impact to the rest of your computer's speed.)

BitComet(Good, but losing popularity to uTorrent)

ABC(Another very popular Torrent client)

BitLord(A popular tool that has a built-in torrent search engine...you may never need to use a torrent search web site ever again with this product)

TurboBT(Nice-looking GUI appearance with this package)

Azureus(A Java language client; was considered "king" of the torrent programs until uTorrent software came along and took that crown away. As with uTorrent and any other software you install, ensure that you virus scan.)

The Original BitTorrent Client(Authored by Bram Cohen himself; no fancy GUI here, but it downloads quickly. Recommended for programmer types and Macintosh users)

DoCoMo and Fujitsu show off splitting phone at CEATEC

2008-09-30T19:01:00.002+08:00

This has got to be the coolest concept phone yet. Phones that split into two! No people, I'm not kidding. This is real.

The phone can be split into a screen and a keyboard segment and you can configure it into a standard flip phone or a sliding phone like Xperia or Touch Pro. Communication between the two segments will be via Bluetooth.

The news was taken from Engadget but the news coverage is on Akibahara News. Tried to access their site but it seems like there's something wrong with the server on their side. Wait for its news updates.

America's Worst breakfast foods

2008-09-27T18:45:00.001+08:00

By David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding

While the old cliché about breakfast being the most important meal of the day still holds true—because you’ll consume fewer calories over the course of the day, have stronger cognitive skills and be 30 percent less likely to become overweight or obese—new studies reveal something of a surprise for most diners: that breakfast may also be the most fattening.

According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity, basing your breakfast on the wrong nutrients can sabotage your weight-loss efforts. People who began their day with high-quality protein over refined carbohydrates were able to lose 65 percent more weight, and also reported higher levels of energy throughout the day.

Rest of article here.

Fuego - Cheetah Girls

2008-09-20T00:13:00.001+08:00

Cascada - Miracle (Dj Styles Jumpstyle Edit).

2008-09-14T22:43:00.000+08:00

24 Hour life battery is now possible!

2008-09-10T16:14:00.002+08:00

HP Breaks the 24-hour Battery Life Barrier
Customizable HP EliteBook Delivers All-Day Power

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced an unprecedented milestone in mobile computing: up to 24 hours of continuous notebook operation on a single battery charge.

As measured by an industry-standard benchmark, the new HP EliteBook 6930p configured with an optional ultra-capacity battery delivered up to 24 hours of battery runtime.(1)
“All-day computing has been the holy grail of notebook computing,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, HP. “With the HP EliteBook 6930p, customers no longer have to worry about their notebook battery running out before their work day is over.”

Designed and tested to last, HP batteries benefit from a combination of HP engineering and energy-efficient notebook components such as Intel® solid-state hard drives (SSD) and mercury-free LED displays. For example, the highly efficient HP Illumi-Lite LED display boosts battery run time by up to 4 hours compared to traditional LCD displays, while the Intel SSD provides up to a 7 percent increase in battery life compared to traditional hard drives.

With up to 24 hours of battery life, business travelers can easily:
- Use an HP EliteBook 6930p continuously on the world’s longest scheduled commercial airline flight – linking Newark Liberty International Airport and Singapore Changi Airport – approximately 18 hours, 40 minutes.
- Take more than 10 trips on the EuroStar train between London and Paris – approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes each direction – before recharging the battery.
- Travel as a passenger by car from Maine to Florida using a notebook during the entire journey. - Solid state for mobile professionals

Inspired by aircraft construction and designed for style-conscious mobile professionals, HP EliteBook notebooks feature the latest mobile technologies.

In October, customers will be able to purchase an HP EliteBook with the new Intel high-performance SSDs – HP is a launch customer for new Intel X25-M and X18-M Mainstream SATA SSDs.

In addition to helping achieve outstanding battery life, these new Intel SSDs provide greater durability and reliability as well as faster system responsiveness. Internal HP benchmarks show overall performance boosts of up to 57 percent on industry benchmarks, and data transfer rates almost six times faster than traditional hard disks.

“Intel architected its new line of high-performance solid-state drives specifically to bring a new level of performance and reliability to the computing platform and make significant impact to the way people use their PCs,” said Randy Wilhelm, vice president and general manager, NAND Products Group, Intel. “The HP milestone is an example of the impact of this new level of performance that specifically delivers on lower power consumption for longer battery life.”

Full article here.

Via: Engadget

New Zune updates

2008-09-09T09:29:00.002+08:00

Microsoft will be releasing its new Zune sometime this week and its software updates on the 16th of September. The new Zunes will be its new capacity of 120 gb and 16 gb. In addition, there will also be a new Wifi music store, Zune 3.0 with pre-programmed theme channels, two new games, and the latest color, blue. Price ranges from $250 for the 120gb and $199 for the 16gb.

Seriously, that is so freaking cheap! I had my share of Zune when it first came out. The first generation wasn't as good as Apple's ipod. It was big, bulky, heavy, the battery life sucked, limited Wifi usability, software was errr (you know Microsoft). So I only had it for a few months before actually selling it off to a friend after getting myself a, you know what, Apple. Not long after, Microsoft released its 2nd generation player with a smaller and thinner hardware and not to mention its touch pad mouse thingy. I was impressed. I was. However, since the capacity was limited to 4gb at that time, I was like meh.

But now, I see that they're catching up in the game and I think that it's good. I don't know how the new generation players are compared to the old ones, so if you guys have any good or bad experiences with it, please share them with us.

Via Engadget.

New DS Rumors Emerge

2008-09-05T16:29:00.002+08:00

user created mock up (NOT REAL!)

Redesign to include widescreen displays?
by Scott Lowe

September 4, 2008 - Last month, tech outlets all over the web were abuzz with reports of an upcoming Nintendo DS refresh. The reports indicated that sources outside of Nintendo had leaked information that a new DS redesign was on the horizon and would include dual touch screen functionality. Initial reactions were skeptical, however, we're hearing now that a refresh is indeed inbound and should be debuting in April or May of 2009.

Read the full article here at IGN.

Google Chrome disappoints

2008-09-05T16:24:00.000+08:00

All over the web, people are saying that Google Chrome will be the next IE. Well people, as far as I am concerned, they have a long, long way to go.

No doubt that the layout is simple and its speed to load web pages is magnificent, its lacking in executing certain scripts is a disappointment. For example, I couldn't play some online games at shockwave. It said that no plugins found. Tried to install the plugin, still didn't work. Another thing is that for uploading photos on photobucket, error was encountered over and over again.

It also lacks the ability to customize the layout of the browser which I guess most browsers lack except for a few like avant where you can choose to have your tabs below or above. You could also drag around your standard tabs (File Edit etc) which of course the Chrome lacks.

It is good that there's a competition out there to rival IE but to me, what they have produced so far it's still not enough.

** GOOGLE LAUNCHING WEB BROWSER TODAY !!

2008-09-02T18:10:00.004+08:00

News on the net has it that Google will be launching its own web browser sometime today. Details are not know but there is a comic web that explains on how the browser will look and function. Google has named it Google Chrome.

Click here to read the comic.

Will keep you guys updated on the news. I can't wait to download it and try it for myself.

Basshunter - Dota

2008-09-01T05:10:00.000+08:00

Creative's Zen Mozaic, X-Fi players hands-on

2008-08-31T18:37:00.003+08:00

We won't belabor these two: X-Fi has been spotted plenty of times before, and the Zen Mozaic "is a crap," as our friends at Engadget Spanish put it. There was no functioning WiFi to test out the X-Fi's networking features, but they looked pretty tedious on the surface, and the player is otherwise okay but unimpressive. Meanwhile, the Zen Mozaic is just another in a long line of shoddily built -- if interesting looking -- low-end DAPs from Creative. Next!

Check out engadget for gallery.

Via: Engadget

Coke testing fountain that dispenses 100 beverages

2008-08-30T13:12:00.003+08:00

If this thing come out anytime soon here in Malaysia, I'll try and get one for myself! Dude, this thing is soooo coool! Even though Coke is bad for you (I mean if you have it too much and too much for each person is different so ...) . Anyways, read on blog readers !...

By JOE GUY COLLIER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, August 28, 2008

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co., the world’s largest beverage firm, is working on a proprietary fountain system that can dispense more than 100 beverages from a single unit.

First-generation prototype dispensers were tested earlier this summer, the company said Thursday. Second-generation dispensers will begin testing in the first half of 2009. A decision on whether to roll out the system in the market will be made after the second round of testing.

The new dispenser, which fits in about the same space as a current eight-valve machine, uses high-concentrate ingredients to store more beverages. Adding a new brand is “about as easy as changing a print cartridge,” the company said in a press release.

“Innovation is our lifeblood,” said Chris Lowe, president of the Coca-Cola North America food service and on-premise division, “and we wanted a dispenser that offers consumers greater beverage variety while helping our customers increase beverage profitability.”

Via: AJC

TMNet blocks Malaysia Today

2008-08-29T23:40:00.003+08:00

Yes ladies and gentlemen, what is there that is not surprising? Freedom of press is yet again tested in this so called democratic country we call Malaysia.

But hey, all is not lost. There's a way of overcoming this problem. Just go to any search engine and type in "hide proxy". From there you can access any site you want.

What is hide proxy? Haha, not quite sure of the details. Simply said it's a detour of the normal route that your data usually take. That would explain why pages tend to load a lot slower when you use this application because it has to go around a few places before actually getting to its destination.

But hey, even though it takes longer to load, you're still able to access that blocked webpage now right?

Here's a few webpages that hide your proxy:
www.youhide.com
www.hidemyass.com
www.hideu.info

Give it a try and see how it works for you. It worked for me.

Rihanna - Disturbia Remix #1 [Flashlight Mindless Club Mix]

2008-08-27T20:59:00.001+08:00

GP2x Wiz

2008-08-27T10:13:00.002+08:00

The GP2x Wiz is an extremely compact, fully featured game console. Featuring a 533 MHz processor with 3D accelerator, the GP2x Wiz includes 12 games embedded in the console including demos for upcoming official games. For a list of available titles please view our Accessories page.

Features include video playback (MPEG4, XVID, DIVX) on its OLED touchscreen display, music playback (MP3, OGG, WAV), and enjoy viewing photos and e-books while listening to music with its multi-task support. The Wiz also includes a Planner, Alarm, World Time, Calculator, Memo Pad, and Voice Recorder.

Shipping this October. When purchased from Dynamism, the GP2x Wiz includes one year of Dynamism Rescue Warranty and unlimited toll-free technical support.

Via Dynamism

Samsung Omnia Official!

2008-08-21T19:55:00.005+08:00

Wohooo! I'm so excited as the new Samsung Omnia was launched not too long ago. It looks like we have a new Iphone competitor in the market and after watching its functionalities on youtube, hands down I'd say that it's sooooo, sooooo much better than the Iphone.

The widget thingy looks cool, so many applications and since it runs on Windows, the addition of so many other softwares seems limitless. Ok so Windows isn't exactly the best OS around but give it time and it may improve.

Anyways, here are its specs.

Click to enlarge.

Image source.

Part 1

Part 2

Super Suit

2008-08-17T19:11:00.000+08:00

Gosh, I must say that the U.S swimming team, the women especially has not been up to expectations. But we have Phelps right? Right?

Moving on, today let's look at the science of the world-record-breaking super suit that has, to a certain point, created a controversy over the performances of athletes in swimming. Some say it's cheating and some say not. But anyways, let's look at an article where the super suit speedo is explained.

...

The new Speedo LZR Racer suit, that is. Designed with all the power of science and technology behind it, the LZR Racer is being credited with imparting enhanced, record-breaking athletic performances to its wearers.

It was designed using the same technology applied to reducing drag on the Space Shuttle, with the goal of diminishing the friction and skin movement that normally occur during swimming, thus improving overall hydrodynamics. It's a cool story from the scientific perspective, to be sure, but the public reaction since its unveiling in February 08, and now with the Olympic Swimming competitions coming up, has been just a teensy bit hysterical.

Read the rest here.

In addition, click here for a visual explanation regarding the suit.

Source: Reuters

Science Blogdig

Vii Sports

2008-08-13T17:07:00.002+08:00

It's Wednesday people and how's your week been so far? Mine has been a total blekh...

Anyways, today's technology savvy post will be about the Vii Sports. Never heard of it? Well, of course not. It's a cheap rip-off of you know what, the Nintendo Wii. It's sold at about $74 and you can get it via e-bay. It includes 11 sport games and an additional 10 puzzle and arcade games will be included if you were to get it now (I don't know if the offer still stands though).

Well, since I've no first-hand experience with it I can't comment on it much. From the pictures, the games do look kinda cool but I wonder how responsive their remotes are. Ooo and another thing is the remote kind of resemble a certain shape...ahem.

Here's the website where it was featured and below is a video of some British guy reviewing the thang.

Via TechnaBob

Millenium - Day After Day

2008-08-10T18:44:00.000+08:00

Rob Mayth - H2H (Heart To Heart)

2008-08-09T23:09:00.000+08:00

Obscura VisionAire Interface

2008-08-06T12:04:00.001+08:00

Looks like the technology in the movie Minority Report has finally arrived!

Millennium - Time

2008-08-05T16:00:00.002+08:00

Radio edit

Fat Bass Remix

Bricycle

2008-08-03T18:43:00.004+08:00

With global warming issues now a hot thing, scientists around the world are trying hard to find greener technologies for use. Mass production of H2o cars will soon be a reality, a more efficient solar panel, etc...

Anyways, Brian, who is the brains behind the Bricycle (Brian + Bicycle...hmmmm), is no different. It's a home made electric bike with a 48 volt electric assist motor fitted with 21 gears and disc brakes for those quick stops.

Its design is marvellous and its concept is intriguing, however, the product itself is not yet completed. When will it be completed, God knows when but when it does, it will be a hella bike to ride on and would definitely put you on the cool guests' list.

Via: Engadget

Brian's Homepage

Huh?!?! What the hell is this?

2008-07-30T21:50:00.003+08:00

What you see above you is a cooling system for your computer! No kidding. Thermaltake is the brains behind its unique and attractive design. And guess what? It's not pricey at all! Retailing at only $60, I mean come on, look at that beauty, it ain't bad at all.

You can read the full story here.

source: Engadget

Project: Alien Mouse gets your arm into it

2008-07-27T12:54:00.002+08:00

Woooo, at first glance this looks like some sort of high tech weapon doesn't it? Well, to me it does. But actually it's a mouse! Can you believe it? I mean that big, long thingy is a mouse! It looks cool and all but I don't think I'll ever use it.

It's big, for one. I don't have the space to spare for a gargantuan mouse. Second, I don't even have the slightest idea how to work that contraption. They should make things like this easy to work with but with that kind of design, hmmmm. Well, you can read the rest here .

Ego from Bentley

2008-07-24T17:09:00.000+08:00

Are you looking for a new laptop? Is price not a concern for you? Do you like your laptop to look poshy and expensive?

Well then, why not get your hands on a new Ego? This exclusive, hand built laptop is yours for the taking at only ....wait....wait for it ... $20,000! That's right folks, at a mere $20,000.

Who are they kidding? Geezz...but look at it. It's so...errrrr...

Anyways, get the full news at T3 .
source: T3

Tiny Magnets to Capture Cancer

2008-07-21T15:11:00.005+08:00

image source

Wow! What an amazing feat! Although not yet in its final stages of experimentation, it sure is a step towards curing cancer.

...

Catching cancer before it metastasizes, or spreads throughout the body, is one way to increase your chances of survival. Now scientists may have found a way to help even when cancer is already on the move, by using magnets to lasso cancer cells and drag them out of the body. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have shown that magnetic nanoparticles—tiny shards of magnetic metal, less than a hundred thousandths of an inch in diameter—can be attached to cancer cells, which can then be manipulated and moved with another magnet.

Rest of article here

source: popsci

Rihanna - Shut up and drive (Wideboy's Club Remix)

2008-07-21T15:11:00.001+08:00

Lively by Google

2008-07-15T12:22:00.003+08:00

If you like The Sims then you would also probably like Lively. Developed by Google, Lively is an online version of The Sims. You create your rooms, decorate them as you like and invite people to chat. You can also customise your own avatar, to have them as animals or people, change their appearances, colour and etc.

I was curious to see how interesting it was and to my expectation, I'm not a fan of The Sims, it was boring. Not to say that the application isn't great, it's just that it's all been done before. The controls for me were a bit difficult because there wasn't exactly a manual or tutorial once you log on. You have to read the manual separately to learn what the controls are and how to move your things in the room or change your avatars clothes.

In addition, my internet connection is so effed up that it took awhile to load the rooms and the sprites or whatever you want to call them.

However, as far as character selections, I think that Lively has done a better job than Maxis with far more variations. Again, if you likeThe Sims, go check it out at http://www.lively.com/.

Caramelldansen - Naruto style!

2008-07-11T21:56:00.009+08:00

This is too adorable not to post. Enjoy!

Greener Gadgets

2008-07-11T21:56:00.006+08:00

Found a very cool website featuring gadgets that are eco-friendly. Check it out at http://www.inhabitat.com/. Haven'tt had the chance to through all the posts. Found it when I tried to look for the rotating tower that they're building in Dubai. Maybe I'll make an entry on that later. But now, enjoy the site.

Amazing paper cuts!

2008-07-08T16:18:00.004+08:00

It's amazing what you can do with just a pair of scissors and some papers.

Lilypad Island for Global Warming refugees

2008-07-06T10:45:00.003+08:00

What would happen if your city got engulfed by the ocean? Where would you live? Well, Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has designed a lilypad city that could sustain up to 50,000 people. The city would float around the world as an independent and fully self-sustainable home.

It has a lake at its center that functions as a rain collector and a water purifier. It will be accessed by 3 marinas and feature artificial mountains to offer the inhabitants a change of scenery from the seascape. Power is provided through a series of renewable energy sources such as the ocean, wind and sun. In addition, it will not house any roads or cars. This is to make it a truly carbon emission free city.

According to its architecture, the design of the lilypad is to create a harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

Phone of the FUTURE!

2008-07-02T17:57:00.005+08:00

The morph bracelet by Nokia

Have you ever wondered what phones would look like in the future? Or would there be any use for phones? Maybe we would just be implanted with antennas so we could receive calls from practically anywhere.

Anyways, as I was browsing the internet looking for some interesting yet not so common article, I came across this article in Computer World. It explains on how phones of the future could be molded into shapes we want, touch technology would be the 'in' thing and so on so forth.

And now, on to the article...

Look around at people talking on their cell phones and, almost without exception, they are chatting on familiar-looking small rectangular boxes with glowing screens. However, this cookie-cutter approach to mobile phones will change dramatically in the next few years as phone designers get more daring and more personal.

"All phones today do the basics well," says Shiv Bakhshi, director of mobile device technology and trends at market analysis firm IDC. "But that won't be enough in the future."

We asked a dozen designers and industry leaders from around the world how mobile phones will change in the next few years. They gave us their predictions, and some provided peeks at concept phones that embody those new ideas.

read the rest of the article here

source: ComputerWorld

Toshiba Portege G810

2008-06-30T18:26:00.001+08:00

I'd like to have one of this...but it seems a bit bulky...

Pop-up books and now pop-up rooms??

2008-06-28T11:34:00.000+08:00

Having trouble finding a room for the night? Or is your favourite hotel fully booked for that special day? Well, from a country that Americans seem to think that their women don't shave their armpits, France, come a revolutionary pop-up rooms!

Basically, you can set up the room anywhere and its collapsable if you need to use the space for something else. What's more amazing is that it has complete amenities such as electrity, a working bathroom, climate control and hardwood floors. All of these in a 130 sq ft of space. Quite interesting if you ask me.

source: gizmodo

Technological Music Marvels

2008-06-25T19:31:00.000+08:00

As I was browsing youtube yesterday, out of boredom at work, I'm bad I know, I found this cool video of what they call the Reactogon. It's a table with hexagons on it and each hexagon has its own tone. How it's used is by placing a cube like plastic on the hexagons. It's hard to imagine it so why don't we see the video?

Then I saw another similar video but this time the instrument is called the Reactable. Unlike the reactogon, it's purely a flat round shape table. How sound is produced is by placing specific cubes on the table and "tuning" the cube my rotating it left or right to control its rhythm. Let's go to the video.

Last but not least is from Japan's famous music company Yamaha the Tenori on. This music device is portable unlike the two above. It contains 16X16 keys with each key having a different note. How you use it is by programming each key according to the rhythm set by you. Again, it's hard to imagine isn't it? Video!

Hey guys and gals, if the videos don't work, why don't you try them later? I think youtube is having some issues.

Ultimate Remote Control - Perfect for the Gods

2008-06-23T21:00:00.002+08:00

It's unbelievable what people come up nowadays and this has got to be the most advanced remote control out there!

Just look at it! It's a beauty! It's a lean, mean remote control. At first glance, I thought that it was a phone. Ok, so I didn't quite read the big title as I should but hey if I didn't think it was a phone, I wouldn't have read the article. So I guess that's a blessing in disguise. Haha...

Anyways, here's the article about the "ULTIMATE remote control"...

For 18 years you fought a nightly crusade for control of the television. Like a samurai with his sword, your father protected his remote during dinner, while seated on his porcelain pedestal and while snoring loud enough to wake the dead. An air horn wouldn't rouse him, but a mere footstep towards the volume setting was perceived as a sign of aggression. Yep, Dad's a pretty special guy. Yet you, like so many other sons across this great land, forgot about Father’s Day. And forgiveness comes at a cost. So what better sign of devotion than to purchase your pop that which you so brilliantly battled for throughout your childhood—a remote.

Not just any remote, mind you. No, your father deserves more: the ultimate remote branded with four letters that mean so much to men and their television rituals: E – S – P – N. Yes, for a mere $299 you can purchase you father the ESPN Ultimate Remote (currently only available on Amazon.com).

The remote powers up with the familiar ditty that all SportsCenter enthusiasts sing to their children as a lullaby and is easily programmed to control the cable box, DVD player and TV with just a few clicks (and not a single curse word). Capable of controlling a plethora of devices at one time, Dad could literally carry the remote from room to room and from couch to bed and continually display his dominance.

read the rest of article here

source: popsci

Firefox 3

2008-06-21T19:57:00.004+08:00

I must admit, I'm not a Firefox fan and I didn't understand what was up with all the commotion about Firefox 3. I mean on my computer, Firefox kind of suck. I mean if I compared it to Avant which starts up pretty fast, it has autofill which makes life so much easier and the one thing that I love about Avant is that it has a floating bar, so when you put the mouse cursor over a picture you're able to save it directly to your hard drive. No right clicking! The best thing is that you can download pictures on sites that have disabled right clicking.

Anyways, I wasn't too keen on trying F3 since compared to the previous version, to me, it completely lost to Avant. But just to satisfy my curiosity I did try it out. It did take time to get use to but after a some tweaking here and there and playing with the buttons, I was pretty impressed. The page loading was exceptionally fast compared to other browsers. The buttons are easy to reach and they're big so even a blind person can find the buttons.

Although what I don't like about F3 is that its tabs aren't customizable like Avant where you can choose to have tabs either on top or at the bottom. I prefer them at the bottom of the screen as it makes clicking so much easier. Besides that if it has the autofill function like that in Avant, it would become a great browser.

However, in my opinion, I still prefer Avant over F3. Just because it has a lot more functions and its more user friendly. If you haven't tried out Avant, why not give it a try and see how you like it. Maybe you'll change your mind once you've used it.

Proof of Alien Existence

2008-06-20T14:39:00.002+08:00

I don't know how many of you out there actually believe in this "hoax", but to me I sincerely believe that there is someone else out there. They don't necessarily have to look like those 3 feet, big eyed, grey skin alien that we see in the media, but I know we are not alone. Call it gut feeling.

Anyways, as I was perusing the documentary files on Google video, I came across this video that tells us a story of Billy Meyer, the only person on earth who had contact, and by contact here means that they communicated with each other while Billy learned from them.

What they told Billy was that if Humans don't stop what we are doing now, meaning wars and corruption and blah blah, we are headed towards extinction...I think well we're doomed if we don't change. So it was Billy's job to spread the message I guess. So that we're able to join these aliens in the higher dimensions.

A theory I read, reads that a being of higher dimension can see a beeing of lower dimension. The example given was, compare an ant and us. The ant can't perceive us because we're big and we're in a totally different dimension from them but we, humans, are able to see the ants because we live in a higher dimension. Don't ask me how they came up with that example, I just read it.

Anyways, here's a documentary on aliens...

Britney Spears - Piece of me (REMIXES)

2008-06-19T19:40:00.009+08:00

I know most of you out there hate Britney Spears...Ok well hate is such a strong word. I don't hate her and I don't love her either although I do love her songs, kind of. I like her remixes. Here's some of her remixes:

Prezenter PSR Two-Touchscreen Laptop: Travelling Sales Pitches Go High-Tech

2008-06-19T19:40:00.004+08:00

I gotta say, this device does look cool. However, with its size I don't thin lugging it around would be a very good idea. I mean, if I were a salesman, which I know that they are very desperate people trying to get as many sales as they can and they wouldn't mind carrying this big junk around, I wouldn't waste my energy carrying it around. It does give a very good first impression on customers but come on!

Anyways, here's the article:

...
I've never encountered a traveling salesperson, so I've not had someone trying to push a "revolutionary" product on me from the comfort of my home. But if the Prezenter PSR is anything to go by, traveling sales is about to get high-tech. It's a custom notebook PC, designed to fold so that a 14-inch screen faces the victims audience, while a 7-inch touchscreen faces the seller. The small screen controls the presentation, and the audience can draw stuff on their screen. Apart from that it's a standard laptop, with 3.5 hours of battery if you're using Wi-Fi, and it's on trial in the US market. When it's for sale, it'll cost you $1,800: presumably you won't have to watch a two-hour sales pitch to buy one. [Cnet]

By Kit Eaton

source: Gizmodo

Car running on WATER!

2008-06-18T15:26:00.002+08:00

I'm surprised that very little coverage has been given to this latest development in the automative industry! Especially here in Malaysia. If it wasn't for a friend in the States that told me about the video, I don't think that I would've known that it actually does exist.

Anyways, since oil prices have been going on the uptrend and not sign of it ever going down ever again, this would be a good opportunity to get one of these cars. I mean who wouldn't want a car that runs on any kind of water. And the amazing thing is that for 1 litre of water in can run up to an hour going at 80 km/hour! For a litre of water!! That's amazing!

And yet I have the feeling that the big oil giants won't be very happy with this. Since water is abundant and since you can fill it up with any kind of water, they'll lose big money. I wonder what they'll think of next, the oil companies I mean.

Back to the matter at hand, here's a video by Reuters

Male contraceptive gone high tech

2008-06-16T18:02:00.006+08:00

I was going through popsci and came across a weird picture of a sperm on a remote control. Being the curious person as I am, ahem...I clicked to see what it was all about. Apparently it was about male contraceptives.

Yes, guys...the age of condoms may soon be over with these new high tech birth controls for men. However, I'd think twice before even having it done because it involves some foreign mechanism being inserted into your you know what. Nonetheless, let's look at the options:

First method shown is by remote control. How it works is that a small silicon is inserted into your vas deferens and when the remote is pressed, it causes the material to expand and block the sperms pathway.

Rest of options here...

source: popsci

Digimon: Greymon -> Rizegreymon

2008-06-15T19:27:00.007+08:00

Ok, I have to admit that this toy is mediocre. Nothing special really. The joints are tight which is good but the joint on the back where the wings come out is a bit hard to snap on. You have to be careful when you do it. Other than that, there's no difficult transformation that's needed.

The detailing on the toy is surprisingly quite good for Bandai America. The chest plate actually opens up just like in the anime. The proportion of the wings to the body is a bit small and as for the face mask, you could still see the underlying Greymon's mask after the transformation. The mouth moves up and down but the head is unable to move right or left. Leg joints move very well altough it ball joints seem to loosen up pretty fast if played with often (how I know this is because my nephews kept playing with it for almost a month and the joints are now loose).

Below is video review on the toy...it's just sooo cute:

by dragongirl66

Skynet actually exists??

2008-06-15T19:27:00.003+08:00

Hahaha...this is a funny one. Apparently the good ole Brits have completed their Skynet network used by the British Armed Forces. What made it funny is that the comment from the writer about how the world is going to end because of it as portrayed in Terminator...Here's the article.

source: geekologie

Growing Bone the Easy Way

2008-06-14T11:43:00.003+08:00

Wow! This article is just amazing. It explains on how scientists release glass in your body which then dissolves to activate the bone generating genes.

...
Vitamins may soon be a thing of the past. Researchers at Imperial College have developed a new type of glass that dissolves harmlessly in the body and promotes calcium growth. As the bioactive material dissipates, it releases silica and calcium ions into the body. If released at the correct rate, these can activate genes responsible for producing calcium—a near-panacea for an otherwise healthy aging body.

full article here

Solar Curtains Turn Unwanted Sunlight Into Energy

2008-06-13T14:45:00.003+08:00

This is interesting, curtains that turn sunlight into electricity, I wonder how much they're going to cost me?

~
Solar energy for household use is a pretty genius idea and one that we think will be come more and more commonplace in the next few years. These curtains are semi-transparent and flexible, turning sunlight into electricity whenever you're blocking out light to keep the home cool.

rest of article here...

Samsung i900 Omnio

2008-06-13T14:19:00.000+08:00

I bet most of you don't know that on the same day that Apple debuted its 3G Iphone, Samsung too debuted its latest version of the touch screen phone, code name Samsung i900 Omnio. Yupe, Samsung has come up with something that could rival the Iphone!

Unfortunately for US and other parts of the world, we won't be seeing it soon. The first place that they'll be launching it will be in South East Asia. Those lucky buggers! Anyways, here's the picture of the phone.

We don't know when they'll be launching the phone in the US but I read that it'll be sometime later this year.

Here are some of its specs:

OS: Windows Mobile
Display: Wide QVGA 3.2 inch
Has an accelerometer for landscape or portrait mode
Has handwriting recognition
Very thin @ 12.5 mm thick
Internal memory: 8 and 16 gigs
Will also feature a microSD slot so that you can expand your phone's mem to 16 gigs
5 megapixel camera
Has GPS
Has MS Office viewer
Bluetooth
Opera browser
Wifi
Quadband with GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Compatible with wireless carriers' 3Gs network
Plays audio and video
Has an FM radio

From its specs, I see that the 3G Iphone is no competitor. But since it's not officially out yet we would just have to wait to see how it compares to the Iphone.

I leave you guys with a a video of what it may be capable of.

And Malaysia starts crumbling down with greedy PM

2008-06-04T22:16:00.003+08:00

OK, so Malaysians have been told the bad news...oil prices will be going up by 0.78 cents and diesel by RM1.00 effective 12.00 a.m tonight.

I was in my room and I heard the commotion outside as my brother was ranting to my mum telling her how idiotic our PM is and blah blah blah.

Not to say that I don't agree with him, I do to a certain point. One thing that I don't agree is that our PM is stupid. He's not stupid but a genius! Yes, a greedy genius!

Geez...The govt keeps telling us that they have to pay for subsidies and whatnot and they can't keep up with the oil prices but WAIT! Aren't we an oil producing country?!?!?! Where is the money from selling our oil is going to?!?!?!

If they keep comparing us as to how cheap our oil is to other countries like UK, or US, they as in the govt must be STUPID!?! How can they compare us with them? They are developed while we are not!

Their power purchasing parity is higher than us! In the US or UK, you can buy a car for 16,000 either pounds or dollar. Here, you have to fork up at least 30,000 to buy a car. And that is not inclusive of road tax!

The UK/US has minimum wages! Yes! They have minimum wages! Students working get $7.50 an hour!!! Students!!! Here in Malaysia we don't have such things.

Fuel prices go up => Consumer products go up => Cost of living goes up => HELL for MALAYSIANS!

Seriously, I have lost faith in the current govt. Govts are supposed to be taking care of their citizens and not ripping them off!! I say down with PAK LAH! and let's make a new govt!!

Malaysia today: What's behind Mahathir's gambit?

2008-05-27T10:03:00.001+08:00

I read article yesterday and I find it very interesting...

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak and not Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is Dr Mahathir’s real choice as successor, said an extremely nervous UMNO insider whom I met at a secluded coffee shop on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. And Mahathir had really intended to go at the end of this year, not next year.

“You sure you were not followed?” asked the UMNO insider, glancing over his shoulders.

“Of course not!” I replied. “Why should I be followed?”

“Who knows? You are an ex-ISA detainee. I am sure the Special Branch is monitoring your movements.”

“Don’t worry,” I assured him. “I made sure I went round and round on my bike to shake off any possible tails.”

“And make sure you don’t mention my name,” he stressed, yet again. “When you made that report on ABIM you said, ‘someone close to the previous Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’. That’s dangerous. Everyone can suspect who you mean though you never mentioned his name.”

“Don’t worry,” I assured him again. “I will not make that mistake again.”

“Mahathir did not intend to retire after October 2003,” said the UMNO insider after he had calmed down. “He was never given a chance to finish his closing speech. They quickly surrounded him and escorted him off the stage. If Mahathir had been allowed to finish his speech, he would have announced that he planned to retire at the end of this year, not the end of next year.”

“Why would Mahathir want a long transition period? He already said in an interview once that this would make him a lame duck.”

“You think Mahathir’s announcement to resign was impromptu? He was reading from his prepared speech when he announced this. The announcement was already planned beforehand. It was written into his speech.”

“They published his opening speech in full. But they did not publish his closing speech. Why? Because this would show that his resignation announcement was already written into his speech and was not spontaneous. His family was aware of it. So was Daim.”

“Hmm. How do you know?” I was now really intrigued.

“Daim came for the opening isn’t it? But he was not there for the closing when Mahathir was supposed to announce his resignation. Daim knew Mahathir was going to make this announcement. That’s why he did not turn up. It was all planned.”

...for more go to http://www.malaysia-today.net/blogs/content/view/7758/295:testset/

Geletek (episode 1)

2008-05-23T19:26:00.005+08:00

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Malaysian News 21/5

2008-05-21T23:21:00.006+08:00

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Wesak Day

2008-05-19T19:16:00.003+08:00

Today is Wesak day in Malaysia or also known as Vesak in other parts of the world. It is to commemorate the birthday of Buddha.

History
The decision to agree to celebrate Vesak as the Buddha’s birthday was formalized at the first Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950, although festivals at this time in the Buddhist world are a centuries-old tradition. The Resolution that was adopted at the World Conference reads as follows:
“
That this Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, while recording its appreciation of the gracious act of His Majesty, the Maharaja of Nepal in making the full-moon day of Vesak a Public Holiday in Nepal, earnestly requests the Heads of Governments of all countries in which large or small number of Buddhists are to be found, to take steps to make the full-moon day in the month of May a Public Holiday in honour of the Buddha, who is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest benefactors of Humanity.
”
On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.

The celebration of Vesak
May 2007 had two full moon days, the 1st and the 31st. Some countries (including Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Malaysia) celebrated Vesak on the 1st, while others (Thailand, Singapore) celebrated the holiday on the 31st.
On Vesak day, devout Buddhists and followers alike are expected and requested to assemble in their various temples before dawn for the ceremonial, and honorable, hoisting of the Buddhist flag and the singing of hymns in praise of the holy triple gem: The Buddha, The Dharma (his teachings), and The Sangha (his disciples). Devotees may bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks to lay at the feet of their teacher. These symbolic offerings are to remind followers that just as the beautiful flowers would wither away after a short while and the candles and joss-sticks would soon burn out, so too is life subject to decay and destruction. Devotees are enjoined to make a special effort to refrain from killing of any kind. They are encouraged to partake of vegetarian food for the day. In some countries, notably Sri Lanka, two days are set aside for the celebration of Vesak and all liquor shops and slaughter houses are closed by government decree during the two days. Also birds, insects and animals are released by the thousands in what is known as a 'symbolic act to liberation'; of giving freedom to those who are in captivity, imprisoned, or tortured against their will. Some devout Buddhists will wear a simple white dress and spend the whole day in temples with renewed determination to observe the observance of the Eight Precepts.

Young novice on Vesak Day Parade
Devout Buddhists undertake to lead a noble life according to the teaching by making daily affirmations to observe the eight Precepts. However, on special days, notably new moon and full moon days, they observe additional disciplines to train themselves to practice morality, simplicity and humility.
Some temples also display a small image of the baby Buddha in front of the altar in a small basin filled with water and decorated with flowers, allowing devotees to pour water over the statue; it is symbolic of the events following the Buddha's birth, when devas and spirits made heavenly offerings to him.
The Eight Precepts are:
Not to kill
Not to steal
Not to engage in improper sexual activity
Not to indulge in wrong speech
Not to take intoxicating drinks and drugs
To abstain from taking food at unreasonable times
To refrain from sensual pleasures such as dancing, singing and self-adornment
To refrain from using high and luxurious seats in order to practice humility.
Devotees are expected to listen to talks given by monks. On this day monks will recite verses uttered by the Buddha twenty-five centuries ago, to invoke peace and happiness for the Government and the people. Buddhists are reminded to live in harmony with people of other faiths and to respect the beliefs of other people as the Buddha had taught.

Bringing happiness to others
Celebrating Vesak also means making special efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate like the aged, the handicapped and the sick. To this day, Buddhists will distribute gifts in cash and kind to various charitable homes throughout the country. Vesak is also a time for great joy and happiness, expressed not by pandering to one’s appetites but by concentrating on useful activities such as decorating and illuminating temples, painting and creating exquisite scenes from the life of the Buddha for public dissemination. Devout Buddhists also vie with one another to provide refreshments and vegetarian food to followers who visit the temple to pay homage to the Enlightened One.

Paying homage to the Buddha
Tradition ascribes to the Buddha himself instruction on how to pay him homage. Just before he died, he saw his faithful attendant Ananda, weeping. The Buddha advised him not to weep, but to understand the universal law that all compounded things (including even his own body) must disintegrate. He advised everyone not to cry over the disintegration of the physical body but to regard his teachings (The Dhamma) as their teacher from then on, because only the Dhamma truth is eternal and not subject to the law of change. He also stressed that the way to pay homage to him was not merely by offering flowers, incense, and lights, but by truly and sincerely striving to follow his teachings. This is how devotees are expected to celebrate Vesak: to use the opportunity to reiterate their determination to lead noble lives, to develop their minds, to practise loving-kindness and to bring peace and harmony to humanity.

Vesak in Sri Lanka
A Vesak Pandol in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Vesak is celebrated as a religious and a cultural festival in Sri Lanka on the full moon of the month of May, for a duration of one week. Celebrations include various religious and alms giving activities. Vesak also commemorate the Buddha Jayanthi (2006 Vesak commemorated the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi). Electrically lit pandols called toranas are erected in various locations in Colombo and elsewhere, most sponsored by donors, religious societies and welfare groups. Each pandol illustrates a story from the 550 Jathaka Katha or the 550 Past Life Stories of the Buddha. In addition, colourful lanterns called Vesak koodu are hung along streets and in front of homes. They signify the light of the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha. Food stalls set up by Buddhist devotees called dansälas provide free food and drinks to passersby. Colombo experiences a massive influx of public from all parts of the country during this week.

Related holidays
In Japan, Vesak is also practiced as 灌仏会（かんぶつえ or Kan-butsu-e, or a meeting to soak Buddha）but there are many common names for the celebration, including Hana-matsuri. It is not a public holiday. It is based on a legend that a dragon appeared in the sky on his birthday and poured soma over him.
It used to be celebrated on the 8th day of the fourth month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, based on one of the legends that proclaims the day as Buddha's birthday. At present, the celebration is observed on April 8 of the Solar Calendar since the Meiji government adopted the western solar calendar as the official calendar. Since the 8th day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar commonly falls in May of the current solar calendar, it is now celebrated about a month earlier.
In Japan, the general populace are not practicing Buddhists (and may be called casual Buddhists), so most Buddhist temples provide a way to allow the general public to celebrate and participate in only the aspect of the day being Buddha's birthday, providing the statue of baby Buddha and allowing the populace to worship or pay respect by pouring 甘茶（あまちゃ） tea made of Hydrangea. In Buddhist temples, monasteries and nunneries, more involved ceremonies are conducted for practicing Buddhists, priests, monks and nuns. Also, there are public festivals made out of the day in some areas.
In Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea, the 8th day of the fourth moon in the Chinese Lunar Calendar is a public holiday, observed as "Buddha's Birthday".

Negaraku - Malaysia's national anthem

2008-05-16T19:46:00.006+08:00

Negaraku
Tanah tumpahnya darahku
Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju
Rahmat bahagia Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita selamat bertakhta
Rahmat bahagia Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita selamat bertakhta

Translation:
My country
Tis the place where I was born
People live united and prosper
God gives us blessings
So that our King sits safely on his thrown

It was said that the national anthem was taken from the Perak state's national anthem and some say that it was taken from the Hawaiian song Blue moon. But wherever it came from, it is still a malay song, because Hawaiians are malays.

Lesson 2: Bahasa Malaysia

2008-05-16T19:46:00.002+08:00

Ok, in the first lesson, we learned how to introduce ourselves and now let's learn some numbers.
It's fairly simple.

1. Satu - sa-too
2. Dua - doo-aa
3. Tiga - tee-ga
4. Empat - em-pat
5. Lima - lee-ma
6. Enam - e-nam
7. Tujuh - too-joo
8. Lapan - la-pan
9. Sembilan - sem-bee-lan
10. Sepuluh - se-poo-lo
11. Sebelas - se-be-las
12. Dua belas - doo-aa be-las
13. Tiga belas
14. Empat belas
20. Dua puluh
30. Tiga puluh
100. Seratus - se-ra-toos
1000. Seribu - se-ree-boo
10000. Sepuluh ribu
100000. Seratus ribu
1000000. Satu juta - sa-too joo-ta

Job interview

2008-05-14T19:19:00.002+08:00

Oh my gosh, I just got a call from Arinso for an interview. Nervous, anxious, geez...I don't know what to expect. I hope that it's not hard. I mean, you know, well...Ok I don't know what I'm talking about but maybe that's because I'm nervous. Hahaha...

Heatwave!! and Buah Melaka

2008-05-13T14:05:00.004+08:00

Myanmar was hit by a cyclone and Malaysia has been hit by a heat wave. fuuuuuhhhh~~~~damn hot I tell ya.

Well, let me see. The picture above is another one of Malaysia's local delicacy. It is called "Buah Melaka" or in English fruit of Malacca.

It's basically glutinous rice that's colored green with dried coconut flesh mixed with brown sugar in the center. It's da bamb! Haha.

My grandma used to make these and they were great. I missed her cooking. Anyways, try googling it up and try it for yourself. I can guarantee you that it tastes great!

Malaysia and its Sultans

2008-05-10T14:36:00.005+08:00

Hello people. Let me introduce to you briefly about Malaysian politics. We are a constitutional monarchial government which is based on the Westminster template. The only one difference is that Malaysia has 9 Sultans.

Yup, it is the only country in the world that has 9 rulers and each of these rulers has his own state. Now, from these 9 Sultans, one will be chosen as the Paramount Ruler (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) for Malaysia and this is done by vote by the Council of Kings (Majlis Raja-raja). The Paramount Ruler is chosen every 5 years and the sultan that became the Paramount Ruler will then be ineligible to sit for the sit again until a sultan from another state has become the Paramount Ruler. Very simple really but very unique.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the 9 states that have Sultans...they are Selangor, Johor, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan. In Negeri Sembilan its Sultan is known as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

Anyways, our current Agong is from the state of Terengganu. His name is Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Here's a couple pictures.

Royal Flag of the Agong:

The Agong and her Majesty the Queen :

Sweet Death (update)

2008-05-08T19:27:00.008+08:00

Haha!! I am new to blogging so anyways, here the video.

Lesson 1: Bahasa Malaysia

2008-05-08T19:27:00.007+08:00

As promised, I am going to teach a bit of Malay basics. But before I begin, let me give you a rough picture of how easy it is to learn this language.

Malay or known as Bahasa Malaysia is an agglutinative language, which basically means that you stick prefixes, suffixes to the root word. In Malay they are known as "imbuhan". For example, the root verb 'to read' is "baca", 'reading' is "membaca", 'reader' is "pembaca" and so on. You got the gist, right?

What is soooo different from its English counterpart is that it doesn't have any conjugation of tenses. No past tense, present tense, future tense. Tenses are indicated by time words, such as "telah", "akan".

Ok, 1st lesson. How to introduce yourself.

1. Helo. Nama saya ialah ...
> hay-lo. na-mer sa-yer iya-la ...
Hello. My name is ...

2. Saya berumur ... tahun.
> sa-yer ber-u-moor ... ta-un.
I am ... years old.

3. Apa nama kamu?
> a-per na-mer ka-moo?
What is your name?

Finger whisper

2008-05-07T19:01:00.005+08:00

Ok, this has nothing whatsoever to do with Malaysia but the gadget is soooo cool that I just can't ignore it. It's called the Finger Whisper and it's actually a phone under develop by NTT Docomo.

How it works is by you inserting your finger into your ear and by pure "magic" you can hear the person calling you. Ok, maybe not magic but it uses your bones, yes your bones as an extension of the phone. There won't be any surgery needed if that is what you're afraid of. Your bones will vibrate and the sound waves will travel through your bones to your ear canal.

Here's a sample picture.

What to write about Malaysia?

2008-05-07T19:01:00.004+08:00

If there's anyone reading this, and you would like to know more about Malaysia, just drop a comment and I'll try my best to answer it.

Kuih Koci

2008-05-05T12:13:00.006+08:00

Geez, this is one of my favourites kuih (desert...if my spelling is right) of all times.

It is sedap tak terhingga (beyond delicious) and I like it because it's like chewing chewing gum.

What is it made out of? Well, the outer is layer is made out of sticky rice, the most similar food that I can compare it with is the Japanese mochi. And inside is a mix of shredded coconut flesh and gula melaka (brown sugar).

Here's some pictures of it.

Thinking

2008-05-03T22:35:00.002+08:00

I was just thinking...there aren't a lot of blogs out there that teach foreign languages now are there? Maybe, maybe not.

Anyways, I think I'm going to start one and I guess I'll start off with Malay which is of course my mother tongue. I've been speaking English since God knows when and I have an affinity towards languages.

So in a way, I'll start posting about the Malay language for those of you who want to visit Malaysia and as well as some other ones, I don't know maybe Japanese, took 3 and a half years of Japanese, French, Hebrew, Dutch, Swedish...etc. One for each day...

Wedding Day

2008-05-03T17:16:00.002+08:00

Went to a distant cousin's wedding today di Muar. It took 2 1/2 hours from KL and the journey was decent. Nothing really to do except sleep in the car during the whole journey but it was tolerable

What was interesting is that I was "eavesdropping" on my parents talking about the current Malaysian politics on how most DUNs are actually good at doing their job but the people are angry at Pak Lah for practicing nepotisme and whatnot and blah blah blah. My father was talking to someone whom I don't really know and that person was telling my father that he has come up with a list of things on why the BN lost the previous general election and something else. I wasn't really paying attention because it's old people talk.

Haha...like I'm not old. But anyways, while in the car I told my parents that whatever that is happening right now had been foreseen by Raja Petra. I was reading his article on how the political scene is going to be and it is amazing how spot on he is.

He as in Raja went on saying that if the current situation doesn't change then both Pak Lah and Najib won't have a chance at the UMNO general meeting coming up in December. I'd love to post the article here but I just can't remember what article it was and furthermore it was about 6 months ago.

Anyways, I guess that's it for today. I think I'll work on the blog a little bit more just so it looks more presentable. Haha.

Sweet death

2008-05-02T12:55:00.002+08:00

Macam-macam lah orang ni.

A few days ago I came upon this video telling me about the danger of aspartame. Haaa...sure y'all tak tau what the hell this is right?

Well, it's a kind of sweetening chemical yang supposedly takde calorie. To those who smoke kan, here's a quicker way to kill yourself and you don't have to worry whether you're indoor or outdoor and it tastes sweet all the way man!

Marilah kita same2 saksikan dokumentari ni.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-566922170441334340&q=sweet+misery&ei=Y7saSL7gKKT-qQOxptHAAQ