BENNY's RANTS: April 2010

Thursday, April 15, 2010

APCO : RM 76+ million per year contract

The STAR report :
Wednesday April 14, 2010
Apco’s unit to be paid RM76.8mil

BY July, the Government would have paid Apco Worldwide Sdn Bhd’s subsidiary Mind Teams RM76.8mil for work done from last June.
In a written reply, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told Tian Chua (PKR – Batu) that the payment was for services in public affairs, government affairs services and strategic communications, public relations and press outreach.
He said the contract for public affairs and government affairs services was from July 15 last year to Jan 15. It costs RM1.3mil plus RM387,000 in other claims.
“The contract was extended until July 15 with the same amount of payment for the service,” he said.

The $$$ paid is mind-boggling when I read this. This is the amount contracted to be paid and does not even covers the 1Malaysia concept and promotion. As a taxpayer I want to know the actual breakdown of these payments. Till today what do we know ?? Just a brief summary : Public Affairs and government services - US$540000 and Strategic communications, public reactions and press outreach US$11,273,579 giving a total of US$24.2 million ( RM 76.8 million )

Anwar had been lambasting on the APCO-Israel connection - I feel he should spend more time questioning the government for details of this contract.

Apr 15 The STAR reported : " MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz stood his ground for nearly an hour against the Opposition as they threw a barrage of questions and accusations on the Government’s payment to Apco Worldwide.
However, the seasoned MP had the last laugh when in a parting shot, he told the House that even Opposition MPs would lobby for a chance to meet the head of the United States’ Senate.
“This is an honour. Don’t have malicious feelings. You try and see if you won’t lobby to meet for, an example, the majority leader of the (United States’) Senate. "

Nazri said Apco was bridge between Malaysia and USA and that Apco was hired to help strengthen ties between Malaysia and the USA. Due to the lobby culture in USA, every country who wants to be close to US has to resort to lobbying. " You think a local company can do that for us?" he countered.   Nazri then said the Jewish Americans were the biggest lobbyists.  "So if we want to lobby for something in the US adminstration, do you think that we can succeed if we use an Islamic company?"

So our PM has to pay a vast sum of money thro APCO to some US lobbyists just for our PM to meet Obama ?? This sounds like "corruption " isn't it - paying someone in the USA whoever it is just to fix-up such a meetup ? I also find it amusing that now our government is willing to work with the Jews for such a purpose. All of us know how powerful the Jewish influence is in US politics and it is because of this influence, Israel is so well supported by USA.

And to date, do hear of any protests from UMNO, PAS or any religious NGO's about this using the Jewish connection ???

MUHYIDDIN's gaffes

I like this review and summary by Deborah Loh from http://www.thenutgraph.com/muhyiddins-gaffes
She'd summarized very well the various issues arising due to our DPM's bluntness in commenting or replying. Our DPM do need a good dressing up to improve his image - he is well educated , articulate and a potential PM in the works .

CAN someone please send Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for image consulting? Or
for some prepping on the art of answering reporters' questions? Maybe the
deputy prime minister ought to have a daily practice session with aides who
should throw him trick questions on race and religion. He should learn to
either deflect difficult questions skilfully, like former Prime Minister Tun
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, or not answer them at all.
http://www.thenutgraph.com/muhyiddin-supports-1msia
http://www.thenutgraph.com/dr-m-endorses-perak-takeover

For all the millions the Malaysian government is paying Apco Worldwide to
pretty its image, personal coaching for key members of the federal
administration doesn't appear to be in the consultancy package. A pity,
because after all those public funds spent, the toil of Apco's hard work is
lost on those who are waiting to be impressed the most: the citizens.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/129066
http://www.apcoworldwide.com/content/News/press_releases2009/malaysia0809.aspx

Unless Muhyiddin and his boss, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, are
really playing "good cop, bad cop" - one each to placate Malay and non-Malay
Malaysians - what should we make of Muhyiddin's gaffes?
http://www.thenutgraph.com/who-is-najib-razak

Foot in mouth

Muhyiddin has always been a blunt straight-talker. I am not senior enough to
have had the experience of covering him when he was Johor menteri besar, but
I do recall that his press conferences while he was agriculture and
agro-based industries minister (2004-2008) were as dry as deadwood and
straight to the point.

Muhyiddin tackles questions so narrowly that I'm guessing he doesn't think
about how his answers are perceived by a larger audience. Of course, the
consequences are different when talking about agricultural subsidies and
padi output, than when responding to a dare to state whether one is Malay or
Malaysian first.

And so, into wily Lim Kit Siang's trap the deputy premier fell, and provided
the opposition just the soundbite it needed to go to town with: "I am a
Malay first." And Muhyiddin's reason for not prioritising being Malaysian?
"All the Malay [Malaysians] will shun me and say you're not proper."
http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2010/03/31/muhyiddin-should-resign-as-deputy-prime-minister-if-he-is-not-prepared-to-set-the-lead-and-declare-that-in-accordance-with-the-1malaysia-goal-he-is-malaysian-first-and-malay-second/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rxiJSs7aYE
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/1/nation/5976477&sec=nation

May I suggest what Muhyiddin could have said? If he really could not bring
himself to say he is Malaysian first, he could have said any of the
following:

a) "My race is Malay, but I am a Malaysian."

b) "All citizens are Malaysians, although we are of different races."

c) "I will not entertain Kit Siang's challenge. There is no need for me to
respond directly just to show I support the 1Malaysia concept. The proof
will be in the government's policies and actions."

Any of the above would have sounded more nuanced than a flat-out declaration
of his racial identification. While the above responses would unlikely score
Muhyiddin extra points with Malay Malaysian ultras, it is unlikely they
could have earned him the demerit points he seems to have secured from other
Malaysians.

Muhyiddin seems prone to verbal blunders when he's on the defensive; "I am a
Malay first" being a case in point. In an earlier incident, he was trying to
defend the indefensible - the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, disbarred
lawyer Rohaizat Othman, in the August 2009 Permatang Pasir by-election.
Muhyiddin likened the Bar Council's fines slapped on Rohaizat to parking
tickets.
http://www.thenutgraph.com/accusations-mount-against-rohaizat-othman
http://www.thenutgraph.com/meaning-of-permatang-pasir
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/35554-muhyiddin-calls-bar-council-fines-parking-tickets

Assets and liabilities

In comparing disciplinary action by the Bar Council to parking tickets,
Muhyiddin betrayed either arrogance, or a lack of respect for professional
ethics, or a lackadaisical attitude towards traffic offences.

In that cornered situation, Muhyiddin should have simply acknowledged that
the Bar Council, as a professional body, had the right to act against its
members. Instead, he accused the Bar of an anti-BN agenda. Muhyiddin may be
thinking of the adage "the best defence is a good offence", but unless he
can master it, he only comes out looking desperate.

Muhyiddin's forthright, no-nonsense style of talking, a possibly good trait
under other circumstances, will become a liability if he doesn't pause to
ponder his responses before speaking.

As it is, Muhyiddin's image seems to be getting more damaged by the day. And
this is a pity, because he has strength of experience, knowledge, and
leadership on his side. Yet, he's chosen to show his stripes as a
Malay-Muslim supremacist first and foremost, when, as second-in-charge of
the country, he should be a leader for all citizens.

Unlikely Apco can do anything about this, though. This is public relations
advice that politicians can only get from the public, not a consulting
company.

Silly arguments about whether Apco had a hand in designing the 1Malaysia
concept, or whether it is based on a similar Israeli campaign, are a waste
of time. Instead, we should be questioning the real value of spending
millions on public relations to shore up Malaysia's image abroad while
leaders at home continue to stupefy citizens with their obtuse remarks.
http://thenutgraph.com/anwar-israel-the-king
http://www.apcoworldwide.com/content/news/press_releases2010/kuala_lumpur0310.aspx
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/13/nation/6044422&sec=nation

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

NEXUS ONE : Guides and WebLinks

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

ZAID IBRAHIM : In Good Faith

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim , who is a member of the PKR Central Leadership Council, was announced by Opposition Leader and PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for the by-election for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat on Apr 25.

Zaid's background :
Zaid from Kelantan started his law studies at the Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM) and obtained his LL.B (Hons.) from the University of London. He'd work as a Barrister-at-Law at Inner Temple, London . In 1987 he founded Zaid Ibrahim & Co., which as of 2008 is the largest law firm in Malaysia with over 140 lawyers.
In 2000, he joined UMNO, becoming Kota Bharu UMNO division chief a year later. He was Kelantan Umno deputy liaison chief for two years later. Zaid contested and won the Parliamentary seat of Kota Bharu in the 2004 general election. However, UMNO dropped him as a candidate in the 2008 general election.

After the 2008 elections, Badawi appointed Zaid as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department to oversee legal affairs and judicial reform.
His appointment as Minister in the PM Department in charge of reforming the judiciary, which has been riddled with scandals, especially following the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Video Clip.

Following his appointment as a Minister, Zaid resigned from all his posts in Zaid Ibrahim & Co., and relinquished his shares in the company.

Zaid stated that the government had to openly apologise for its handling of the 1988 Judicial Crisis, which saw the sacking of the then Lord President of the Supreme Court, Tun Salleh Abas, from his seat. Zaid called it one of his three main goals: "In the eyes of the world, the judicial crisis has weakened our judiciary system." However, he rejected the idea of reviewing the decision: "I am not suggesting that we re-open the case. I am saying that it’s clear to everyone, to the world, that serious transgressions had been committed by the previous administration. And I believe that the prime minister is big enough and man enough to say that we had done wrong to these people and we are sorry."

On Sept 15 2008, after criticizing the arrests of DAP's MP Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra , and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng—under the Internal Security Act, Zaid resigned from the Cabinet on September 15, 2008.

Zaid Ibrahim urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong not to appoint Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as Prime Minister of Malaysia, and instead appoint someone else from UMNO. He pointed out Najib has been linked on the internet and by political rivals to the murder of Altantuya . Zaid also cited the RM400 million in commissions reportedly paid by the Defence Ministry while Najib was minister for the procurement of submarines, and pointed out that Abdul Razak Baginda, Najib's friend, was an agent in the deal.

I got to "know" Zaid better through his book "IN GOOD FAITH" which I purchased in late 2007. Before that, I only has a fleeting impression of him as one of those UMNO guys. I bought the book after reading the back cover and the few reviews done by Tun Dzaiddin former Chief Justice, Tan Sri Navaratnam, Datuk Khoo Kay Khim, Datuk Marina Mahathir and the introduction by Tun Musa Hitam , ex DPM.

IN GOOD FAITH

The book over 350 pages and 9 chapters is a collection of writings and responses by Zaid Ibrahim when he was a lawyer and MP in the time before 2008. The 9 chapters covers Pluralism and Democracy, Judiciary, Legislature, Executive, Media, Culture, Faith and Religion, Human Rights and Regional and Global issues.

Extract from the back cover : " Besides previously published articles, inside are new essays and interviews released for the first time, such as the ‘Department of Bumiputra Affairs’. The author combines an intellectual’s interest in concept, a lawyer’s grasp of detail and an abiding support for the lay-person’s point of view. He argues that while Malaysia celebrates 50 years of Independence, more is needed before Malaysians can truly think independently – namely, more transparency and freedom of expression. A passionate patriot, he also argues for a pluralistic Malaysia more in line with the country’s Constitution. In doing so, he articulates what many Malaysians believe but dare not say."

Zaid is one of the open-minded modern Malays whose thinking and writings is not based on ethnic-centered bigotry or religious extremism. His writing shows impartiality and sensitive topics on judiciary, human rights, racial issues are frankly discourse. His writings and speeches reflect many thoughts of the "silently majority" who dare not voiced out for fear of persecution.
All proceeds from the sale of his book goes to the Yayasan Orang Kurang Upaya Kelantan ( Kelantan Foundation for Disabled People )

Some excerpts from Bakri Musa review of his book : checkup the link to read the whole review
http://www.bakrimusa.com/archives/a-gemstone-among-pebbles

Zaid argues his points rationally, convincingly, and most of all, very clearly. If I have not stated it, few would know from reading this book that Zaid is a lawyer. It is pleasantly free of legal jargons and that most irritating habit of lawyers, of lacing their commentaries with ancient and barely comprehensible Latin phrases.

As a lawyer he was passionate and committed to justice, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. He leaves no doubt about that in this book and elsewhere. “If we continue to put ourselves in reverse gear by departing from democratic principles,” he said, “we will continue to fall behind other countries.” He added, “Democratic and civil values are not new novel concepts, alien to Malaysians! In fact, strong subscription to these values propelled us to where we are today.”

Thus Zaid asserts that we should go beyond mere tolerating to embracing and celebrating our differences (“Pluralism and Democracy in Malaysia”). This is the only way for a plural society like Malaysia to survive and indeed thrive. I would go further; if we do not treat our diversity as an asset, it will by default become a liability. And what a horrendous liability! Malaysia had a foretaste of it in May 1969, and there are many ready tragic examples in the world today: Iraq, Darfur, and the Balkans.

As a lawyer, Zaid is not at all shy on commenting on the sad state of our judiciary and the generally sorry performances of our judges. He is critical of non-Syariah judges who shy away from cases remotely involving Islam or Muslims. Nor is Zaid complimentary towards Syariah judges. He clearly stated this singular point, purposefully made confusing by many, that while Islam is under state jurisdiction (except in the Federal territories), the Supreme Court decisions are binding upon all other courts, including the Syariah’s.

Zaid advocates bringing back local elections (“Bring Back Municipal Elections”) believing that to be the essence of democracy, of government closest to the people.

I wish him best of luck in the coming by-elections. Given the chance I do believe he will be another stronger and vocal voice in Parliament.

NEW MacBooks now available

From: New MacBooks from Apple Store Msia

Except the 13" model retaining the older Intel C2D chip, the 15" and 17" model uses now the faster and newer Intel Corei5 and Corei7 chip. Steve Jobs had said "We chose killer graphics plus 10 hour battery life over a very small CPU speed increase. Users will see far more performance boost from the speedy graphics" . The 13" model even with the older chip is reported to be 1.8 times faster than the old model.

Select your MacBook Pro.

13-inch: 2.4GHz	13-inch: 2.66GHz	13-inch \| 15-inch \| 17-inch
Intel Core 2 Duo	Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB Memory	4GB Memory
250GB hard drive¹	320GB hard drive¹
SD card slot	SD card slot
Built-in battery (10 hours)²	Built-in battery (10 hours)²
NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
Estimated Ship: 4 business days	Estimated Ship: 4 business days
Free Shipping	Free Shipping
RM 3,899.00	RM 4,899.00

15-inch: 2.4GHz	15-inch: 2.53GHz	15-inch: 2.66GHz	17-inch: 2.53GHz
Intel Core i5	Intel Core i5	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i5
4-GB Memory	4-GB Memory	4-GB Memory	4-GB Memory
320-GB hard drive¹	500-GB hard drive¹	500-GB hard drive¹	500-GB hard drive¹
SD card slot	SD card slot	SD card slot	ExpressCard/34 slot
Built-in 8- to 9-hour battery²	Built-in 8- to 9-hour battery²	Built-in 8- to 9-hour battery²	Built-in 8- to 9-hour battery²
Intel HD Graphics	Intel HD Graphics	Intel HD Graphics	Intel HD Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256 MB	NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256 MB	NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512 MB	NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512 MB
Estimated Ship: Within 24hrs	Estimated Ship: Within 24hrs	Estimated Ship: Within 24hrs	Estimated Ship: Within 24hrs
Free Shipping	Free Shipping	Free Shipping	Free Shipping
RM 5,899.00	RM 6,499.00	RM 7,199.00	RM 7,499.00

WePAD on Android : challenging the iPAD

Neofonie, a German company is introducing the WePad - which is their words a "fast Internet connectivity, a complete world of ready-to-use applications and easy access to books and photos, as well as magazines and newspapers from various publishers via the WeMagazine ePublishing".

Company website : http://wepad.mobi/en

Specs :

Android O/S
Tablet type - fingers gestures
1.66 Ghz Intel Atom N450 processor
11.6" display ( 1366 x 768 )
1.3MP Webcam
2 USB ports
Sim Card slot
Flash card reader
Integrated WWAN modem
GMA3150 graphics
Battery - estimated 6 hours
Built-in speakers
Adobe Flash and Adobe Air support
Bluetooth/WiFi
Access to Google's Android Marketplace and WePad AppStore

WePad is capable of running Google's Android software. That way, any application offered through the Android Market store - currently more than 30,000, both free and paid, according to Google - will also run on the WePad
This is in contrast to Apple who control the types of apps and most recently its new policy to reject apps needing Adobe Flash support which is used for almost 75 percent of all video streaming on the Web, according to Adobe.

For those who love audio and video - need not depend on iTunes to manage your collection unlike the iPAD

Neofonie says. In addition, the company plans to offer other software as well. "We came up with the new concept of a 'meta app store'", says Hoffer von Ankershoffen, "integrating apps from various sources to give users as broad a choice as possible.

The WePad's basic version, which comes with Wi-Fi and 16-gigabyte storage, is set to cost €449 ($600), the larger 32-gigabyte version with a fast 3G modem is €569.

8 May UPDATE : the WePad folks are changing the name of their device WeTab.
Probably to avoid any potential legal problems down the road over the word “Pad.” Note that Apple claims it has a trademark, but others say they don’t.

Comparison with iPAD:

All specs points it to be a much better product with so many additional hardware features builtin and flash support compared to the iPAD. However the smaller disk storage is disappointing but can be overcome as it supports external flash drive. It will be the underdog against the hegemonic Apple iPAD

UPDATE : 26 apr

Neofonie's WePad tablet shown to German journalists, seems legit (update: now with English!). See the videos at :

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/neofonies-wepad-tablet-shown-to-german-journalists-seems-legit/

News releases on the web:

http://www.stern.de/digital/computer/wepad-a-fresh-alternative-to-apples-ipad-1553767.html

http://www.pcworld.com/blogs/id,56/today_pc_world.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36423363/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/20/neofonie-announces-wepad-11-6-inch-android-slate/

Monday, April 12, 2010

Adobe versus Apple

This review is based on the numerous websites that had been debating this issue the last 2 weeks. I have listed the 6 links below. Each link wwill direct you to any sub-links if any

This latest battle between Adobe and Apple is now on based on these 2 issues:

1. Flash browser plug-in.
2. Apple is not allowing apps created using third-party development platforms

It is now public that Adobe Systems is unhappy with Apple "ban" on using Adobe's Flash in their new iPhone and iPads.

Lee Brimelow ( Adobe's Flash evangelist ) had cried out on his Flash blog - Quote :

Adobe and Apple has had a long relationship and each has helped the other get where they are today. The fact that Apple would make such a hostile and despicable move like this clearly shows the difference between our two companies. All we want is to provide creative professionals an avenue to deploy their work to as many devices as possible. We are not looking to kill anything or anyone. This would be like us putting something in our SDK to make it impossible for 3rd-party editors like FDT to work with our platform. I can tell you that we wouldn’t even think or consider something like that.

Lee Brimelow end his post saying, "Speaking purely for myself, I would look to make it clear what is going through my mind at the moment. Go screw yourself Apple."

Flash 10.1 will be available to Android, webOS and Windows Mobile bringing "true desktop-class" browsing experience on these mobile devices. Apple had promised such with the iPhone but had failed to deliver. Apple is proposing a new alternative HTML5 for its new iPhone and iPAD. HTML5 is still at infancy stage and for the time being all iPhone and iPAD users will just have to accept that their devices cannot use more than 75% of videos/apps on the internet as these required Flash support.

Apple was displeased with Flash . Apple claim too much resources was required for a small mobile smartphone while the mobile version of the browser plugin was lacking in feature and usability - thus, Apple left Flash off of the iPhone. Ironically only last year, the 2 companies did announced that they were working together to bring some version of Flash to the iPhone, but there hasn't been much progress as even now Apple has left out Flash support on iPad. Apple CEO Steve Jobs said Apple is now making a push for HTML5 standards rather than the flash plugin. In addition quoting poor performance of the desktop version of Flash and that the mobile version of Flash is limited in potential, Jobs also accused Flash of taking a toll on battery life.

With the announcement of iPhone OS 4.0, users found that Apple has implemented new language in its SDK that bars developers from using compilers for third-party development environments that would make it quick for developers to create multi-platform apps with ease. A big player that will be shut out of the iPhone with OS 4.0 is Adobe, which had hoped to leverage Flash and Adobe Air as part of its Creative Suite 5 engine to allow developers to cross compile and create apps for multiple platforms.

Daring Fireball reports that Adobe's upcoming Flash-to-iPhone compiler, that aims to let Flash developers take advantage of the iPhone platform, will produce iPhone apps that violate the iPhone OS 4 SDK:

The latest language change states:

"Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited)."

When Adobe announced its Flash-to-iPhone compiler last year, the idea was to turn some Flash apps into native iPhone apps. In order to do that, Adobe created a new tool that will be part of Flash Professional CS5. This tool is again based on a system that violates the new iPhone OS 4 SDK. In other words, Flash-to-iPhone apps submitted to Apple's App Store will be declined. The new iPhone OS 4 SDK basically tells Adobe to turn Flash apps into HTML5 apps if they want to reach iPhone users.

This segment of the agreement effectively locks out the use of Adobe’s Flash-to-iPhone compiler. Developers have used this program to import their designed apps into a format which the Apple App Store can, in turn, process. This means that developers who have been developing using this tool will have to find another way, just because Apple doesn’t enjoy that platform.

While Adobe isn't the only one targeted--Java, Silverlight application ports, as well as Flash app ports are affected--the latest move by Apple seems to incite and fuel a long battle already being fought in Silicon Valley.

Jobs had defended his move in the language change of the iPhone 4.0 SDK stating that the move is to create a common set of APIs for multitasking to be effective on the iPlatform. According to Jobs, "We've been there before, and intermediate layers between the platform and the developer ultimately produces sub-standard apps and hinders the progress of the platform," referencing the multitasking efforts that Apple is rolling out.

Whether the move will hurt Apple in the end with developers migrating to other platforms--such as webOS, Android, Symbian, or Windows Mobile--is still unclear. Apple stated during its keynote that it has 85 million iPhones and iPod Touch devices sold. In addition, the company is ramping up its iPad platform, which is cross-compatible with iPhone apps, creating a greater market for apps and more incentive for developers to remain within the iPhone ecosystem.

During the iPhone 4.0 keynote, Jobs also introduced HTML-based ads, called iAds--a product of Apple's foray into mobile advertising--that takes a lot of the way interactive Flash ads are based, but are built using the open HTML5 standards. Apple has also been courting developers and content providers, including the ABC television network, YouTube, the popular Ted.com website, the New York Times, and others to make their videos for the company's iPad tablet available in HTML5 rather than the Flash plugin.

iAd is part of Apple’s recent strategy to set precedents without using Flash support for both iPhone and iPad. This lack of support became a large issue when the company decided to release their iPad tablet, as Adobe claims that Flash is installed on 98% of Internet enabled desktops, and 75% of all video online is viewed through their technology. How would they be able to tout the iPad as the “ultimate browsing experience” if it could not see half the videos and a large amount of ads that are on the Internet?

Apple then did what it does best, and set a precedent. Apple is now asking all developers to drop Flash and support HTML5 as the new standard. It is analogous to asking the world not to develop apps for Windows OS but for MacOSX. Apple hope this will then create the demand for more Apple iPhones/iPads killing off all Symbian, Windows mobile devices.

Android will fare better as it is not averse to HTML5, as any device with 2.0 and above has built-in support for the format.

The success of HTML5 is not certain and it is anyone bet it could fail , meaning the new Apple products might need to re-instate the flash plugin . In this scenario, just imagine the amount of apps that had been develop without flash plug-in , all might need to be redevelop again.

Admob, the largest SDK for mobile ads has being acquired by Google and is available to develop for Flash. At the moment, it has three SDKs: Flash, Android and iPhone. Apple wanted to acquire Admob but lost to Google. Infact this is one of the rumors why Apple now wants to "punish" Google by suing HTC. Now that it’s directly competing with Apple’s iAd, it will be interesting to see if Admob will change to Apple’s new standards or perhaps cater more to Android developers.

Links about this issue :

http://theflashblog.com/?p=1888

http://daringfireball.net/2010/04/why_apple_changed_section_331

http://daringfireball.net/2010/04/iphone_agreement_bans_flash_compiler
http://pocketnow.com/tech-news/apple-adobe-war-heats-up-with-iphone-40

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/adobe-got-7-million-iphone-and-ipod-touch-download-requests-for/

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/02/18/steve_jobs_calls_flash_a_cpu_hog_in_meeting_with_wsj_rumor.html

Alexander McCall Smith : No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a series of eleven novels by British author Alexander McCall Smith. To date I have read the first 6 while the other 5 books I am still unable to find in the local stores.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series
    •    1998 The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency
    •    2000 Tears of the Giraffe
    •    2001 Morality for Beautiful Girls
    •    2002 The Kalahari Typing School for Men
    •    2003 The Full Cupboard of Life
    •    2004 In the Company of Cheerful Ladies

Not read yet :

    •    2006 Blue Shoes and Happiness
    •    2007 The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
    •    2008 The Miracle at Speedy Motors
    •    2009 Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

The author : Alexander (R.A.A.) "Sandy" McCall Smith, CBE, FRSE, (born 24 August 1948) is a Zimbabwean-born Scottish writer and Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. In the late 20th century, McCall Smith became a respected expert on medical law and bioethics and served on British and international committees concerned with these issues. He has since become internationally known as a writer of fiction. He is most widely known as the creator of the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

His novels has now been made into HBO mini-series and is expected to be available for viewing by May 2010 at our M'sian Astro HBO channel. I have watched all the trailers ( download from iTunes ) and I'd say each episode follow quite closely to the novels.

If you are looking for serious detective fiction this is not for you. It has none of the CSI genes. Though it carry a tagline of "detective" - detective essence is only part of the novel . You get to feel the characters - their idiosyncrasies , their lifestyle, their habits and practices, their traditions - I'd say this series of novels is a refreshing change compared to the normal detective novels churned out by European, UK and USA writers. There is virtually no violence in these novels. The books are well written and the story line flows smoothly over the pages. It is witty , entertaining and reading it is a good way to pass those lazy afternoons. Reading the series, you too can capture the essence of the natural surroundings - is analogous to our typical kampung/village

The storyline mostly takes place in Gaborone, capital of Botswana. A Motswana woman, Mma Precious Ramotswe, is the story protagonist and main detective. The novels are as much about the adventures and foibles of different characters as they are about solving mysteries. Each book in the series follows on from the previous book. The tagline of the series - " If you've got an apparently insoluble problem, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s finest – and only – female private detective. Her methods may be unconventional but she's got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side "

Some book review and comments on these series:

"The Miss Marple of Botswana." -- The New York Times Book Review"One of the best, most charming, honest, hilarious and life-affirming books to appear in years." -- The Plain Dealer
"One of the most entrancing literary treats of many a year.... A tapestry of extraordinary nuance and richness." -- The Wall Street Journal
"What a treat. . . . Utterly charming." -- Entertainment Weekly
"A literary confection of . . . gossamer deliciousness. . . . There is no end to the pleasure that may be extracted from [this book]." --The New York Times Book Review
“Smart and sassy...Precious’ progress is charted in passages that have the power to amuse or shock or touch the heart, sometimes all at once.” –Los Angeles Times
“The author’s prose has the merits of simplicity, euphony and precision. His descriptions leave one as if standing in the Botswana landscape. This is art that conceals art. I haven’t read anything with such alloyed pleasure for a long time.” –Anthony Daniels, The Sunday Telegraph
"Utterly enchanting." --Chicago Sun-Times
"What a treat. . . . Utterly charming." -- Entertainment Weekly
"One of the most entrancing literary treats of many a year.... A tapestry of extraordinary nuance and richness." -- The Wall Street Journal

I list below a brief rundown of the series ( which I have condensed from the web reviews )   - call it a $1 tour :

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
This first novel tells the story of the delightfully cunning and enormously engaging Precious Ramotswe, who is drawn to her profession to “help people with problems in their lives. Motivated to help others and to make Botswana a better place, she encounters many dangerous and risky obstacles in the course of her investigations, but succeeds through using her intelligence, courage and instinct.

Along with the plot developments, Mma Ramotswe provides observations upon the fine qualities of Botswana and Africa: the culture, traditions, and natural beauties found there, and the inhabitants' pride in their land.

Mma Ramotswe is portrayed as someone who loves "all the people that God made", but especially loves the "people who live in this place" and says that “they are my people, my brothers and sisters.” Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witchdoctors.

Even Mma Ramotswe with all her modern views and ideologies, wants to buy a house when she retires, and live with her cousins and loved ones. He shows us the African values and traditions of these people. Family values are extremely important to this nation. “She would buy a house, or build one perhaps, and ask some of her cousins to live with her. They would grow melons on the lands and might even buy a small shop in the village...” Moreover, through the descriptions and images between the characters of this novel, Alexander McCall Smith shows how welcoming and warm-hearted Africans can be.

Tears of the Giraffe
Mma Ramotswe is unimpressed with her fiance's maid, who has been stealing from him and skimping on her work. The maid, sensing that the forthcoming marriage will involve her dismissal, attempts to plant a gun on Mma Ramotswe in order to have her jailed, but the maid's plan is foiled and it is she who ends up behind bars.

All attempts to solve the mystery have failed, but Mma Ramotswe's blend of local knowledge, instinct and compassion uncover the truth: the young man died accidentally; his death was concealed out of fear; and he left a son who can be made known to his grieving grandmother.

She also investigates a butcher's wife who is suspected of an affair, and discovers that the man's son has been fathered by another man who is paying for his private education. The resolution of this case highlights differences between the methods and moralities of Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi. Mma Makutsi has expressed her yearning to do detective rather than administrative work, and Mma Ramotswe promotes her to assistant detective (although also retaining her secretarial role). The solution of the paternity case proves to be the first test of Mma Makutsi's detective and diplomatic skills.

Mr J. L. B. Matekoni is manoeuvred into offering a home to Motholeli and Puso, two orphaned children with a tragic past. He worries that this may affect his engagement to Mma Ramotswe, but she accepts the children and they both see potential in them, particularly in the girl, Motholeli, who is confined to a wheelchair but displays a real aptitude and interest in the work of the garage. A family unit begins to emerge.

Morality for Beautiful Girls
Precious Ramotswe, founder and owner of the only detective agency for the concerns of both ladies and others, investigates the alleged poisoning of the brother of an important "Government Man," and the moral character of the four finalists of the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest, the winner of which will almost certainly be a contestant for the title of Miss Botswana. Yet her business is having money problems, and when other difficulties arise at her fiance's Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, she discovers the reliable Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is more complicated then he seems.

With her No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency in financial difficulty, Mma Ramotswe makes the tricky decision to share offices with her fiancé, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni. But although Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors could do with a little help, it is Mr Matekoni himself who really requires her attention.

The Kalahari Typing School For Men
Mma Precious Ramotswe is content. Her business is well established with many satisfied customers, and in her mid-thirties ("the finest age to be") she has a house, two adopted children, a fine fiancé. But, as always, there are troubles. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has not set the date for their marriage. Her able assistant, Mma Makutsi, wants a husband. And worse, a rival detective agency has opened in town--an agency that does not have the gentle approach to business that Mma Ramotswe's does. But, of course, Precious will manage these things, as she always does, with her uncanny insight and her good heart.

The focus shifts to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's garage, and more specifically, the apprentices, formerly described as lazy young men "always looking at girls." However, there is quite a change in the younger apprentice, who seems to have found religion and is now uninterested in discussing girls, to the chagrin of his fellow apprentice.

To increase her income, Mma Makutsi decides to open a typing school just for men, because, in her view, men usually cannot or don't want to type because they don't want to be bettered by women or do not want to be seen doing "woman's work". She manages to procure typewriters from her alma mater, the Botswana Secretarial College, and finds a place to teach at the younger apprentice's church. This business model is very successful.

Mma Makutsi then gets involved with one of her students, a Mr. Bernard Selelipeng, a married man passing himself off as divorced. Consequent to parallel developments involving Mma Ramotswe, Mr. Selelipeng is forced to break off with Mma Makutsi

To solve the current problem with Puso, Mma Ramotswe goes to the orphanage to consult the matron, Mma Silvia Potokwane, about him. Mma Potokwane's advises having Mr J.L.B Matekoni act as more of a father to the boy. Mr. J.L.B Matekoni does this, with apparently favorable results.

The Full Cupboard of Life
Mma Ramotswe is now engaged to the mechanic Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, but he seems reluctant to set a wedding date, which makes her a little unhappy. She takes on an interesting investigation: Mma Holonga, a rich businesswoman, is seeking a husband, and asks Mma Ramotswe to check the men on her shortlist of four, to eliminate those who only want her for her money. Meanwhile Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's assistant, moves to better rooms thanks to her promotion and extra income, but is mourning the loss of her brother.

Mma Potokwani, the formidable matron of the orphan farm, manoevures Mr J.L.B. Matekoni into agreeing to do a sponsored parachute jump to benefit the orphans. The gentle and timid mechanic is terrified at the prospect, Mma Ramotswe solves the parachute problem by persuading the garage apprentice Charlie to do it instead, convincing him that it will make him attractive to girls. Mma Potokwani offers to sort out the matter of the wedding by arranging it all herself, and presenting it to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni as a fait accompli - Mma Ramotswe agrees, although Mma Makutsi is horrified.

Everyone assembles at the orphan farm to watch Charlie's parachute jump, which is successful. And then Mma Potokwani surprises everyone by announcing that she has made all the preparations for the wedding, and with the help of a priest who is present, Mma Ramotswe and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni are married there and then.

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies

Mma Ramotswe and her new husband settle down to married life with their foster-children, but problems are piling up. At Mr J.L.B. Matekoni's own house, the tenant is running an illegal drinking den. Mma Ramotswe's violent ex-husband Note Mokote reappears. Then Charlie, the apprentice, gets entangled with a wealthy married woman. Help arrives in the person of Mr Polopetsi, whom Mma Ramotswe accidentally knocks off his bicycle with her van. He has been unemployed following a spell in prison after what appears to have been a miscarriage of justice, and Mma Ramotswe persuades her husband to employ him out of guilt and sympathy, but he proves an asset to the garage.

Mma Makutsi's love prospects improve when she starts dancing lessons and is partnered with another student, Mr Radiphuti. At first she tries to avoid him, as he is awkward and stammers, but he turns out to be a kind and gentle man and a romance begins. She removes some of Mma Ramotswe's burden of worry by solving an important fraud investigation on her own, and manoeuvring Charlie back to work. Mr Radiphuti's father enlists the help of Mma Ramotswe to put a proposal of marriage from his shy son to Mma Makutsi, and the two become engaged.

HBO Mini Series Link

Books Links:

http://www.alexandermccallsmith.co.uk/lda/no1ladies.aspx
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/mccallsmith/main.php

PALM is up for sale

My very first smartphone was the Palm 180G ( a monochrome flip type with a glass screen cover ). Over the next few years I have progressively upgraded to the colored model 270G, Treo 750V ( Windows), Treo 680 and Treo Pro ( Windows ). Palm products then was not popular and was then considered a "specialist" phone for the geeky types. Sales and service support was terribly poor in Malaysia and Singapore. The brand eventually " die off" in Malaysia about 2 years ago. Their sales in USA was poor too with the surge in greater demand for Windows Mobile from HTC and Samsung, the Symbians range of Nokia and S Ericsson, and of course the iPhone.

Palm which currently has a US$870.8 million market value is now up for sale. This news was reported by Bloomberg on 12 Apr and the sale will be handled through Goldman Sachs and Quattrone Qatalyst Partners just after CEO Jon Rubinstein announced his plan to make Palm profitable.

Possible buyers are HTC and Lenovo with offers this week but as expected both makers had declined comment . HTC is most probably the final buyer and it makes total sense, because by buying Palm HTC may find in Palm the patent portfolio it needs to battle Apple's lawsuit.

Apple and Palm has threatened to sue each other in the past. Rubinstein, who was at Apple during the development of the iPhone, came to Palm to create a theoretical iPhone killer and save the company from irrelevance. He got a nice phone, but his marketing strategy failed miserably. However, during this time Apple never sued Palm, presumably because Palm has enough patents to sue Apple back and make the legal battle pointless.

Palm has a long history in the PDA and smartphone worlds. Their original Palm Pilot—their low-cost Newton — was a total success back in the 90s, and their Treo smartphones were probably the first nice PDA/phone hybrids. As a result of this long story, Palm owns patents that may become very effective weapons in the war against Apple's iPhone. Weapons that HTC may use to settle the lawsuit against Apple.

Whoever buys Palm will gain access to a a modern smartphone operating system in the market. That's definitely an interesting development since Palm's webOS would strength both companies position in the smartphone market. HTC is already using Windows Mobile and Android for its smartphones. One thing seems to be clear - Palm's asset cant be the hardware and its design (especially HTC is building way better looking devices) but both companies might be especially interested in the Palm brand, the sales channels and Palm's own operating system technology - webOS - making HTC and Lenovo even more independent from Microsoft and Google.

If this sale go through, we as consumers would benefit from this convergence of technologies against the hegemonic Apple.

Full details of this breaking news :

Bloomberg : http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a6pU3a3o5vu8

TheUnwired: http://www.theunwired.net/?item=rumor-palm-is-looking-for-a-buyer-htc-and-lenovo-might-be-interested&category=general-news&category=general-news&5435

Android Central : http://www.androidcentral.com/

Engadget : http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/11/bloomberg-palm-is-up-for-sale/

Gizmodo : http://gizmodo.com/5514797/htc-may-buy-palm-to-fight-apple?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29

Malaysia Telco GPRS-MMS Settings for NEXUS

MAXIS
You just need only ONE APN. Fill only the fields specified here. Leave others as they are!
1) Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Points Name
2) Menu -> New APN
Name = Maxis(3G)
APN = unet
Username = maxis
MMSC = http://172.16.74.100:10021/mmsc
MMS proxy = 202.75.133.49
MMS port = 80
APN type = default,mms

DiGi
1) Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Points Name
2) Menu -> New APN
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
DIGI Data - Internet
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
APN: diginet
MCC: 502
MNC: 16
APN Type: default

The rest of the field is blank.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

DIGI MMS (WAP 2.0)

APN: digimms
username: mms
password: mms
Proxy: 203.092.128.160
Port: 80
MMSC: http://mms.digi.com.my/servlets/mms
MMS Proxy: 203.092.128.160
MMS Port: 80
MCC: 502
MNC: 16
APN Type: mms
=========

Celcom
1) Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Points Name
2) Menu -> New APN
Enter this
Name : Celcom 3G
APN : celcom3g
MMSC: http://mms.celcom.net.my
MMS Proxy : 10.128.1.242
MMS Port : 8080

Above info from Shahz at forum lowyat:
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1393679

Malaysia Inter-Faith Committe are " small fry"

DPM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today the inter-faith panel set up Cabinet consisted only of “small-fry" as reported by MalaysiaKini . On 13 Apr, the DPM had denied saying he was misquoted and he talk in BM, so the word "small fry" was incorrect!!! What he said was "small committee"

I wonder how all the committee members is feeling now - as even the word "small" connote an impression of something " not so important" ? ? So it is immaterial whether it is "small fry" or "small committee" - the word "small" is significant.

What is our DPM trying to say? I am beginning to feel that his words showed he is not supportive of the 1Malaysia concept so actively promote by his boss the PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

I view our DPM words as a sign of low commitment towards this interfaith committee and I hope it is not just another window dressing .

I am also reading his words as just a means to allay fears raised by Perkasa ??

This is a multi-racial and multi-religious country. The main purpose of the Inter-Faith panel is just to discuss and mediate religious issues . In the words of the DPM - it is "to foster religious understanding and harmony", "is just an avenue to allow space for better understanding between religions in this country". I don't see how such a committee can erode Islam and that Islam will be put on par with other faiths?? ALL Malaysians accept Islam as the country's official religion - no one is now questioning or has ever question this right.

Perkasa demanding also that Koh Tsu Koon be replaced as minister in charge and replace him with Datuk Jamil Baharom, the Islamic Affairs Minister under the Prime Minister’s Department - perhaps Perkasa should also be included in this committee ???

Dr Koh Tsu Koon - speak up NOW!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Am I a Malaysian first or Chinese first ??

On 31 Mar, DAP's veteran Lim Kit Siang throw 2 challenge questions to our DPM Muhyiddin :

1. Is he (Muhyiddin) prepared to declare that the basis of '1Malaysia' is "ketuanan rakyat Malaysia" (People's supremacy) and not "ketuanan Melayu" (Malay supremacy)

2. Is he (Muhyiddin) prepared to endorse the objective of 1Malaysia as defined by the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Roadmap to create a nation where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion or region second ?"

Muhyiddin reply : I am Malay first, but being Malay doesn't mean I am not Malaysian,
He doesn't understand (what) the meaning of the concept of 1Malaysia is all about. How can I say I'm Malaysian first and Malay second? All the Malays will shun me... and it's not proper   

My opinion is this:

The witty DAP supremo had purposely put our DPM in a Catch-22 situation. There is no absolute right or wrong answer for a politician to answer. Answering being Malay first or Malaysian first will not help Muhyiddin as he had to face firstly UMNO and secondly the rest of the Malaysian public. If I were him, I will choose not to respond but instead divert the question away by condemning LKS being trying to stir up racial based political issues.

I lookout at Muhyiddin's response especially his last comment " All the Malays will shun me... and it's not proper " - what message is he trying to convey ? It was obvious - racial acceptance will precede all others… He is basically telling us being a Malay is more important than be a Malaysian. He should not have utter this last statement.

So I also ask myself - am I a Chinese first or a Malaysian first ? Before LKS ask our DPM this, such a question had never occurred to me.

Both my parents and grandparents were born in China. My grandparents came over to Malaysia to work on the tin mines in Ipoh. My father similarly follow their footsteps and work as a laborer in the tin mine until he was stricken with cancer and passed away in his 60's. My mother work as a odd job worker in the rubber estate. So I grew up in poverty and every day was a struggle to survive. As an infant, I grew up on condensed milk and for the next 18 years I was still just having 2 meals a day . As a young boy, during the school holidays I work in the tin mine too as a laborer. The point I want to make is simply, as a family we were struggling to survive - race issues and politics was never a concern or issue to us. What was more important was "will there be food on the table tomorrow" ?

I am now in my mid fifties and I have accepted that I am born a Malaysian and god willing, die a Malaysian in Malaysia. I have been working in Malaysia for the last 30+ years and every year without fail I paid all my taxes . There is also no way I can pay less tax as I am a full-time employee and all income is declared. So I contributed rightly and fairly to the government. So I can proudly say I am a Malaysian first , and being Chinese is just a race.

Dear Muhyiddin - it is NOT a shame to declare yourself as a Malaysian first and not justify it as not just because you worry the Malay will shun you.

NAZRI Law Minister : A parody of the wild west

Dato Seri Nazri Aziz can now claimed to be the fastest "gun draw" in Malaysia reminiscent of the wild wild west of USA. Then whoever can draw his gun fastest was well respected and feared. On Apr 11, he came out guns blazing without even thinking!

This is his latest shot on Apr 11 : "She is a liar! She lied in the inquest and she is lying now," outburst on Dr Pornthip claim " she was “advised” by high-ranking officials from the Thai Justice Ministry - where she is director-general of the ministry's Central Institute of Forensic Science - not to go to Malaysia next week for the inquest. According to her, the Thai Foreign Ministry had received “signals” from the Malaysian government through “informal channels” suggesting that her presence at the inquest later this month would not be welcomed.
It was conveyed to me by certain senior Thai government officials that there has been political pressure from certain Malaysian government circles to block my presence in court, so much so that it might interfere with my current important forensic mission in"

Such behaviour of his is not the first time. He is well know for irresponsible outbursts in parliment and I called it a "premature ejaculation" from the mouth.

What a disgusting and irresponsible comment from a learned minister who possess a legal background. This is the same minister who challenged bloggers : " Siapa itu blogger ? Kalau dia hebat, saya cabar dia orang tanding di pilihanraya ".

The inquest into Teoh Beng Hock case is still on-going. Who the heck is he to comment " She lied in the inquest..." - as a Law Minister is he indirectly telling us the case is already settled and close behind back doors. Or he is now assuming the judge position declaring Dr Pornthip a liar ??? Was he present in all sittings of the hearing to make this conclusion? I don't think the Malaysian public has yet heard about this decision from the presiding judge yet.

A responsible minister would have commented that such serious claims will be investigated fully with all stones unturned. He is only a Law Minister - he has no right nor that wise to be able to judge what other Ministries could be involved in such a allegation

Where is the integrity, impartiality, sense of justice so deemed important in this Teoh Beng Hock case ? I sympathize deeply with Teoh's family if our Law Minister has such an attitude.

" MALAYSIA apa pun BOLEH !!

PAPAGO M6 : Installation instructions

1. Download all the required files:

These files are provided by http://kocpc.pixnet.net/blog/post/26463186

TW Map files:
http://www.multiupload.com/E3B5DFJGSX
http://www.multiupload.com/GXOXBQVYTA
http://www.multiupload.com/NJY9WRPQKR
http://www.multiupload.com/LT8VX2I078
http://www.multiupload.com/XNI1T59WVF

Papago M6 Program Files:
http://www.multiupload.com/02UX8WTG4G
http://www.multiupload.com/63MQ4OSDSR

2. Extract Papago M6 Program files (password: http://kocpc.pixnet.net/blog). You should get a folder named 'Navi'. Copy this folder into your SD card root directory (\sdcard\).

3. Extract TW Map files (password: http://kocpc.pixnet.net/blog). Copy all the files in the extracted folder into \sdcard\Navi\Maps\TW

4. Visit http://www.papago.com.tw/android from your Nexus One browser. Download 'M6 V2.0 100324' and then install it on your phone. (direct link: http://www.papago.com.tw/android/PAPAGO_M6_V2.0_100324.apk)

5. After installation, run Papago M6. Put in your registration code if you have one or go for trial. You should now able to view Taiwan maps.

6. Download MFM Papago X3/X5 GPS Map from http://www.malfreemaps.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3184.

7. Run the exe file and select "Papago X5 for Android". After you have gone through the wizard, you should have your map files extracted in C:\Navi\Maps.

8. Copy all the files (except MapAniPOI.psu, R51_prp.kuf and R51_SSC.hdr) in C:\Navi\Maps\MFM\ to \sdcard\Navi\Maps\TW\. Replace all of them when you are prompted that you have the same file exist.

9. Change the extension of MapAniPOI.psu in C:\Navi\Maps\MFM\ to MapAniPOI.psz and then copy it to \sdcard\Navi\Maps\TW\.

10. Finally, rename papago.dbp to PAPAGO.DBP and standard.mb6 to Standard.mb6 (in \sdcard\Navi\Maps\TW\).

NOTES: English as default - turn off the default built-in chinese keyboard. Go to setting and turn the last fourth option (智能型注音快拼) off.
javascript:void(0)
Reduce space no use of TW maps : delete following files

1) Everything in Navi/TravelWalker/
2) Navi/Maps/TW/R51_SSC.fdt

WooHoo ( Tiger Dance ) CNY movie

WooHoo 大日子 the Movie

I am not a big fan of Chinese movies and rarely do I go to the cineplex to watch any. Most of the better Chinese movies I watch the DVD instead. So it was an auspicious occasion when I decided to pop over to the local cineplex to watch it. It was the aggressive marketing efforts promoted daily by the radio DJs Jack Lim and Gan Mei Yan on myFM radio station that persuaded me to do so. These 2 radio DJs are one of my favorites - their daily early morning chatter , laughter and the Emperor sketches do brighten up one's day.

The 1 and half hour movie was entertaining and hilarious. It'll not win any local "Oscars" but kudos to the whole team of actors and actresses, who for most of them were first time acting in movies. The majority of the movie casts are DJs from Astro myFM radio station and Astro AEC channel. Those who follow these channels would be familiar with the cast :
myFM radio DJS - 林德榮 Jack Lim aka Ah Beng , 顏微恩 Gan Mei Yan aka Ah Lian, Jack co-host in the MyFM morning show, 勤 Vivian Tok and AEC newscasters and TV DJs - 顏江瀚 Gan Jiang Han, 陳志康 Royce Tan, 邱文博Bernard Hiew, 楊佳賢 Jason Yeoh, 曾潔鈺 Chen Keat Yoke, and 黃一飛 Freddie Ng ( Hua Hee Channel ), and Siao Hui Min

Director Chiu Keng Guan ( a graduate of Beijing Film Academy) has taken a team of raw actors/actress and produced a commendable entertaining film. There is a rojak mix of Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien dialogue in the movie. It is one of those movies you come out viewing happy. Not only did I laugh, tears flow too at some of the touching scenes.

The film's storyline is simple and straightforward. Throw in 2 love stories between contrasting personalities , traditional prayer practices and customs, family piety - the director had setup the theme for the film. The film was mainly shot at Beserah , a small fishing village in Kuantan and I supposed this small town was abuzz with excitement then.

The village elder due to his failing health was unable to perform the traditional Tiger Dance and he was also unsuccessful recruiting volunteers to perform. His grand daughter came to his rescue by putting up a misleading advertisement promising a good compensation package in the local papers to attract applicants. The advertisement attracted 2 young chaps and 3 others who were unwillingly drawn in to participate. The elder subject the 5 to a rigorous training program ( seeing it remind me one of those HK kungfu B flicks ) to master the Tiger Dance. Amidst the training program , the thorny relationship between the 2 pairs of lovebirds blossom.
The movie had raked in RM 4 million, a record for local produced Chinese movies . The ticket sales were unexpected and a sequel seems to be in the works.

To support this Malaysian made production , I bought the original DVD ( RM 19.90 ) and the supporting Chinese New Year festive album with WooHoo as the theme( RM 29.90 )

Trailer link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YRTOmKb4gA&feature=player_embedded

Thursday, April 15, 2010

APCO : RM 76+ million per year contract

MUHYIDDIN's gaffes

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

NEXUS ONE : Guides and WebLinks

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

ZAID IBRAHIM : In Good Faith

NEW MacBooks now available

From: New MacBooks from Apple Store Msia

Select your MacBook Pro.

13-inch: 2.4GHz

13-inch: 2.66GHz

15-inch: 2.4GHz

15-inch: 2.53GHz

15-inch: 2.66GHz

17-inch: 2.53GHz