Nokia X launched in Malaysia

Nokia X offers a better-designed way to enjoy a world of apps

Kuala Lumpur, 5 March 2014 – Nokia today announced the launch of Nokia X, part of the new Nokia X family of affordable smartphones that run Android™ apps, in Malaysia. This new device is the perfect introduction to the world of Android apps, coupled with signature Nokia experiences, and the most popular Microsoft services.

The Nokia X features Nokia’s renowned quality and design, with a fresh, tile-based user interface inspired by our Lumia family. It comes with Fastlane, a screen which lets people switch between their favorite apps more smoothly. People can access curated, quality-tested apps from Nokia Store, more than a dozen third-party app stores and by sideloading. All devices are also pre-loaded with a variety of very popular third-party apps and games.

“We believe this unique combination will resonate with consumers around the world and set a great precedent for the level of quality that can be achieved in the fast-growing, affordable smartphone segment.” said Gary Chan, Head of Marketing, Pan Asia, Nokia.

“We are happy to be one of the first countries to launch the much anticipated Nokia X”, said Dick Yoong, Country Manager Malaysia and Brunei, Nokia. “The Nokia X would be a great device for Malaysians with Fastlane, signature Nokia experiences and a number of third party apps, in addition to a sturdy and attractive build at an affordable price.”

Out of the box, users can enjoy signature Nokia experiences including free* HERE Maps, with true offline maps and integrated turn-by-turn navigation, and Nokia MixRadio for free music streaming and downloadable playlists. The Nokia X is also an affordable introduction to popular Microsoft services, including free cloud storage using OneDrive.

With the purchase of Nokia X smartphone, people will get one month of Skype’s Unlimited World Subscription for a limited time, ideal to make international calls to landlines in more than 60 countries and to mobile phones in 8 countries.

Nokia X: an affordable introduction to the X family 
The Nokia X, a beautifully crafted smartphone with Nokia’s signature design approach and bold, bright colours. At only 10.4mm thin, the slim, durable monobody design features a 4” scratch-proof IPS display and exchangeable back covers that come in a variety of statement colours. Inside, the device runs on the Nokia X Software Platform and is powered by a1Ghz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

The Nokia X features two screens: home, which features a fresh, tile-based design and Fastlane. Fastlane is a dynamic record of how people use their phone, day by day, moment by moment. It captures everything people love: they need only to swipe once from the homescreen to access Fastlane, see a record of recent activity, and switch between their favourite apps, smoothly. Fastlane has been completely re-imagined for the Nokia X family. People can return a missed call by calling or texting, accept or decline calendar invitations, or control the music player – all from within the Fastlane view. Fastlane is also more customizable and socialfriendly than ever. People can select what appears on their Fastlane feed, read notifications from their social networks and update their status from within Fastlane, making the experience even more productive.

Product specifications and availability
The Nokia X will be available next week in the Klang Valley and a week later for the rest of Malaysia at a RRP of RM399. The Nokia X will be available in bright green, bright red, black and white.

The Nokia X device can be pre-ordered starting today at all Nokia Stores and on StoreKini. Devices preordered from Storekini from now till 31st March will be entitled to a free gift worth over RM50.

Nokia debuts on LINE
Nokia Malaysia’s official account on the LINE platform, NokiaMY, will go live today. In conjunction with the launch of Nokia X and Nokia Malaysia’s official account on LINE, 50 units of the Nokia X will be given away as prizes. Consumers can participate in this contest and win these devices by downloading the LINE app from the Nokia Store and following NokiaMY on LINE to get the clues for the tasks through the app itself.

“As one of the country’s leading mobile messaging app, we are pleased to partner with one of the industry’s pioneer brands in the mobile space. Our partnership with Nokia will enable rapid expansion for LINE in South East Asia and strengthen our user base within Malaysia and the region. We are excited to be a part of this launch, introducing the brand new Nokia X, continuing the cutting edge legacy of its predecessors. We are confident that our association with Nokia will reinforce LINE’s position as the preferred multiplatform instant messaging service among consumers” said Wind Koh, Advisor to LINE Malaysia.

Nokia Malaysia and LINE will also organize a campus outreach program across 10 campuses in Malaysia. Through this program, students will be able to experience the Nokia X, and LINE apps and characters.

Students can also experience Microsoft services such as Outlook.com, Skype, as well as Nokia Services such as MixRadio and HERE. Line and Nokia will also offer exclusive “stickers” for fans on the Nokia account.

Additional specifications for the Nokia X:
 4’’ capacitive touchscreen
 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Dual Core Processor
 512MB RAM
 3MP camera
 Dual SIM
 Up to 32GB expandable memory
 1500 mAH battery
 Satellite GPS
 Accelerometer
 Available colours: Bright Green, Bright Red, Black and White

Number of the week: an average of 900 online resources are active on TOR daily

Moscow, March 7, 2014. In recent months Kaspersky Lab experts have been closely monitoring so-called Darknet resources, mostly the Tor network. And one thing that is immediately obvious is that the cybercriminal element is growing. Although the Tor infrastructure and cybercriminal resources are not on the same scale as the conventional Internet, the experts managed to find approximately 900 hidden services online at the current time.

TOR is primarily unrestricted, free software operating via the Internet. It has users who enter sites, exchange messages on forums, communicate in IMS, etc. – just like the “ordinary” Internet. But there’s one crucial difference. TOR is unique in that it allows its users to remain anonymous during their activity in the Net. Network traffic is completely anonymous: it is impossible to identify the user’s IP in TOR, making it impossible to determine who the user is in real life. Moreover, this Darknet resource utilizes so-called pseudo domains which frustrate any efforts to pick up the resource owner’s personal information.

Recently cybercriminals have started actively using Tor to host malicious infrastructure. Kaspersky Lab experts found Zeus with Tor capabilities, then they detected ChewBacca and finally analyzed the first Tor Trojan for Android. A quick look at Tor network resources reveals lots of resources dedicated to malware – C&C servers, admin panels, etc.

“Hosting C&C servers in Tor makes them harder to identify, blacklist or eliminate. Although creating a Tor communication module within a malware sample means extra work from the malware developers, we expect there will be a rise in new Tor-based malware, as well as Tor support for existing malware”, said Sergey Lozhkin, Senior Security Researcher, Global Research and Analysis Team at Kaspersky Lab.

Read more at securelist.com.

Microsoft Malaysia Appoints Rukmani Subramaniam As New Chief Marketing & Operations Officer

Tasked to lead Microsoft’s marketing and operations in pursuing vision of 
Transforming Malaysia Together 

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 March 2014 – Microsoft today announced the appointment of Rukmani Subramaniam as its new Chief Marketing & Operations Officer for Malaysia. In this role, Rukmani will lead the marketing and operations functions of the subsidiary.

“I am thrilled to be joining such a great group of people at Microsoft Malaysia and am very eager to contribute to the subsidiary, especially in its vision of Transform Malaysia Together. I’ve come to appreciate what a high potential market Malaysia is and am very grateful for the opportunity to lead its marketing and operations function during this exciting period in our company’s history,” said Rukmani.

Reporting to Carlos Lacerda, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia, she will also play a key leadership role in directing and managing the overall business and marketing strategy as well as execution in Malaysia, overseeing product marketing groups, marketing communications, compete, business operations, enterprise marketing, public relations as well as customer and partner experience efforts.

Rukmani comes into the role with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, with last 10 years helming various roles in Microsoft at its Redmond corporate headquarters as well as the Asia Pacific area headquarters in Singapore. She began her career at Microsoft with the mergers and acquisitions team in Redmond, helping to drive the integration of several key acquisitions and joint ventures. She also has a strong track record working in key roles across strategy, business development, product management and marketing roles. Prior to Microsoft, Rukmani was with PricewaterhouseCoopers, India advising IT clients on mergers and acquisitions.

Rukmani holds a Master’s Degree in Commerce and is a chartered accountant as well as a certified public accountant.

“Rukmani’s appointment as our Chief Marketing and Operations Officer fulfills a very important building block in our commitment to transform Malaysia together. We are delighted to welcome Rukmani, after an extensive search, and look forward to how her keen expertise and achievements will greatly benefit our stakeholders,” said Carlos Lacerda, Managing Director, Microsoft Malaysia.

Rukmani will assume her responsibilities as Chief Marketing and Operations Officer for Microsoft Malaysia upon completion of the necessary work authorization processes.

WECHAT ENGAGES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH FAST-GROWING LIFESTYLE COFFEE CHAIN ESPRESSOLAB

• Partnership of two titans – WeChat and Espressolab to bring continuous special deals, offers and more value to the users and fans in Malaysia
• WeChat Malaysia plans to expand localization strategy with more brand collaborations and payment gateway in stages

MALAYSIA, 7 March 2014 – WeChat, world’s leading innovative mobile social communication application, announces its partnership with Espressolab, one of the fastest growing lifestyle premium coffee chain across the nation. The partnership aims to provide users with the latest updates, announcements, offers and personalized messages from Espressolab to WeChat and coffee fans with the Official Account page, and a move to anchor further business opportunities in the nation.

“WeChat Malaysia has been actively engaging brands in Malaysia to expand our reach and generate more exclusive content to our users. We are proud to announce today’s partnership with a big brand such as Espressolab to enhance our portfolio of brands for WeChat in Malaysia, in which a lot of effort are being put in by the local team. WeChat provides Espressolab a platform to engage fans in Malaysia with instant up-to-date announcements, offers and most importantly, personalized messages catered to different groups of people. With Espressolab joining the fray, we look forward to providing more features with Official Accounts such as in-app purchases for our partners,” said Ms. Leong Y E, Business Development Director of WeChat Malaysia.

(L to R) Ms. Kelly Leong, CEO of Espressolab Asia Pacific. Ms. Leong Y E, Business Development Director of WeChat Malaysia.
       
“Social media and mobile platforms have become an important tool to engage fans in order to be ahead of the competition. With our growing number of outlets across the nation, this partnership with WeChat will further enhance our approach in reaching out to our consumers and we look forward to a positive growth and engagement with our fans on our Official Account page,” said Ms. Kelly Leong, CEO of Espressolab.

Exclusive Espressolab Offer for WeChat Users
Sourcing for the best coffee beans around the world, Espressolab brews coffee made from the specialty grade, the top 20% of coffees produced in the world. Using the best grade coffee beans, state-of-the-art equipment and extensively trained baristas, Espressolab customizes every cup of coffee for every individual. For the 10 – 30 March 2014, Espressolab will be offering a 50% discount offer on all coffee served at participating outlets. To enjoy the finest coffee in town for less, simply add WeChat ID: EspressoLab or scan the QR code provided.

Besides actively engaging local brands with WeChat Official Accounts, WeChat Malaysia will also be bringing in more features in stages such as a payment gateway to allow in-app purchases and other features which have received positive responses from other markets worldwide. With over 90%penetration rate in the Malaysian smartphone market, WeChat Malaysia has also established an office in Kuala Lumpur to centralize all local efforts in Malaysia.

For more information about WeChat, please visit www.wechat.com.

TM EXPANDS ITS GLOBAL NETWORK CONNECTIVITY WITH SEA-ME-WE-5 SUBMARINE CABLE SYSTEM

The Company establishes consortium with global telcos to increase its international capacity to cater to the growing demand of HSBB consumption for local & global customers

Kuala Lumpur. 7 March 2014.Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today formed an alliance together with fifteen (15) leading global telcos to set up a consortium for the establishment of a new state-of-the-art submarine cable system –the South East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 5 or better known as SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable system. The submarine cable system will connect three (3) continents – Asia, Africa and Europe.

The collaboration was made official with the signing of the Construction and Maintenance Agreement (C&MA) for the SEA-ME-WE 5 cable system between the consortium members which consist of Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), China Mobile International Limited (CMI), China Telecommunications Global Limited (CTG), China United Network Communications Group Company Limited (CU), Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, PJSC,  (du), Orange (formerly France Telecom – FT), Myanmar Post and Telecom (MPT), PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel), Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT), Telecom Italia Sparkle (TIS), TOT Public Company Limited, Yemen International Telecommunications Co. (TeleYemen) and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM).

The members of the consortium to establish SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable system pose for the album together with Datuk Che Azemi Haron, Deputy Chief Secretary II, Ministry of Communications & Multimedia (9th from left), Dato’ Sri Dr. Halim Shafie, Chairman of TM (10th from left) and Datuk Bazlan Osman, Group Chief Financial Officer, TM (8th from left).

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Datuk Che Azemi Haron, Deputy Chief Secretary II, Ministry of Communications and Multimedia who represented YB Dato’ Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Minister of Communications & Multimedia and Dato’ Sri Dr. Halim Shafie, Chairman of TM. Also present were Datuk Bazlan Osman, Group Chief Financial Officer / Executive Director, TM and Rozaimy Rahman, Executive Vice President, Global & Wholesale, TM.

Speaking at the event, Datuk Che Azemi Haron said, “Today’s collaboration would certainly bring enormous benefits to the nation’s ICT development initiatives in line with the Government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) for EPP10 - "Extending the Regional Network" as well as National Key Economic Area (NKEA) for the Communications Content and Infrastructure (CCI) sector in improving communications infrastructure and the uptake of services. This plays a major role in making the digital lifestyle a reality for all Malaysians whereby, the Internet will easily be accessible and serves as an enabler for people living in Asia, Africa and Europe to experience the socio-benefits of an interconnected life. Interconnection has made a huge impact to the lives of people around the globe both economically and socially.”

“Prospects are even more exciting with the creation of SEA-ME-WE-5 submarine cable system. Connectivity would be further enhanced via the expansion of its capacity. Seamless connectivity while accessing the Internet will ensure end users enjoy hours of pleasurable surfing. This is in-line with the Government’s initiative to develop Malaysia to become an Information Exchange. This collaboration also shows TM’s commitment as Malaysia’s trusted ICT partner in propelling Malaysia to become an international service provider,” added Datuk Che Azemi Haron.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dato’ Sri Dr. Halim said, “As customer experience is TM’s top priority, the higher bandwidth capacity brought by this cable system via utilising the latest state-of-the-art 24Tbps (Terabits per second) with the latest 100Gbps (Gigabits per second) wavelength technology will provide better user experience of enhanced  Internet speed and quality. The resilient connectivity of SEA-ME-WE-5 will not only benefit TM, but the nation as a whole.”

“The alliance sealed today also marks part of TM’s initiatives in further supporting the Government's National Broadband Plan and the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) that is ‘Extending the Regional Network’ in-line with the development of Malaysia by year 2020,”
added Dato’ Sri Dr. Halim Shafie.

SEA-ME-WE 5 will provide seamless connectivity with the capability of originating or terminating traffic from the Points-of-Presence (POPs) in Singapore (Equinix and Global Switch) as well as in France (Marseilles) and Italy (Palermo) whereby the terrestrial link will be also part of the SEA-ME-WE 5 system. Malaysia will be one of the landing countries which will serve TM’s future business needs especially its organic IP traffic.

With a total distance spanning approximately 20,000 km, SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable system will provide extensive connectivity to 17 countries in South East Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Europe namely Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman, Djibouti, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy, France as well as Malaysia. SEA-ME-WE 5 will also provide an alternative route to Europe for TM’s IP traffic which is currently mostly dependant on the network to the USA. Past catastrophic failures in the Asia Pacific region due to earthquake or tsunami had given impact to TM’s services.

SEA-ME-WE 5 is designed to provide upgradable and transmission facilities by adopting the state-of-the-art 100Gbps technology. When fully loaded, the SEA-ME-WE 5 cable system is able to carry 24Tbps of capacity, equivalent of transmitting about 4800 high-definition (HD) movies every second.

This new submarine cable system is expected to start carrying commercial traffic by early 2016.

TM owns 13 in service submarine cable systems, which span more than 60,000 fiber-route miles around the globe, including several submarine cable routes that the Company utilises to carry traffic between Asia-Pacific region and North American region.

TM is also a member of the various consortiums for submarine cable systems in the region, which include Asia America Gateway Cable Network (AAG), South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe Cable System 3 (SEA-ME-WE3 – SMW3), SEA-ME-WE4 (SMW4), Asia Pacific Cable Network 2 (APCN2), Batam-Rengit Cable System (BRIGHT) and Batam-Dumai-Melaka Cable System (BDM), Cahaya Malaysia, including the new Bay of Bengal (BBG) cable system. Additionally TM also invests in other cable systems such as Japan – US Cable Network (JUSCN), China - US Cable Network (CUSCN) and South Atlantic 3 / Western Africa Submarine Cable / South Africa Far East (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE).

For more information on TM, visit www.tm.com.my.

XiaoMi Mi3 is HERE, 16GB for RM1282...

Xiaomi MI3 is here, online. 

SAP Unveils Next Step for the Cloud powered by SAP HANA

Customers Can Now Benefit from New Pricing and Access to the SAP HANA® Platform; SAP HANA Marketplace Simplifies Discovery, Purchase and Deployment

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — March 6, 2014 — Customers can now benefit from both the breakthrough power of the SAP HANA® platform and the simplicity of the cloud. SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced next steps toward delivering on its cloud strategy. Simplified pricing, deployment and accessibility options for SAP HANA herald a significant business shift to cloud-based consumption and pricing models. SAP announced new offerings for SAP HANA Cloud Platform. Customers now have the ability to choose from three offerings: SAP HANA AppServices, SAP HANA DBServices, and SAP HANA Infrastructure Services. These announcements were made during a press conference held from Palo Alto, California.

"Today, we are simplifying access and expanding the market reach for SAP's breakthrough SAP HANA platform," said Dr. Vishal Sikka, member of the Executive Board of SAP AG, Products & Innovation. "With these steps, customers and partners can experience the power of SAP HANA and build amazing applications in any way they choose to chart new frontiers in cloud-based software without compromise."

SAP HANA Offers New Pricing and Consumption Model
New pricing options for SAP HANA intend to broaden the reach of the SAP HANA platform and make it easily accessible to everyone starting with a base price with add-on options available as desired. Customers buy through a consumption model and can either implement end-to-end platform use cases or choose additional options as needed such as predictive analytics, spatial processing and planning. This significantly increases the opportunities to get started with SAP HANA and affords customers the ultimate ability to innovate.

SAP HANA Cloud Platform Delivers Choice With New Offerings
To address the growing apps economy, SAP announced new and enhanced offerings for SAP HANA Cloud Platform. Startups, ISVs and customers can now build new data-driven applications in the cloud. This platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offers in memory-centric infrastructure, database and application services to build, extend, deploy and run applications. SAP HANA Cloud Platform is available today via SAP HANA Marketplace. Customers can gain access to SAP HANA in as little as 30 minutes and immediately benefit from a unified platform service for next-gen apps, and can easily buy, deploy and run with the flexibility of a subscription contract.

SAP HANA Marketplace Simplifies Purchasing Experience
The new SAP HANA Cloud Platform offerings are available for a simplified trial and purchase experience in sizes ranging from 128 GB to 1 TB of memory on SAP HANA Marketplace, an online store that lets customers learn, try, and buy applications powered by SAP HANA. SAP Fiori™ apps and hundreds of startups and ISVs offerings are also available on the site.

SAP HANA Innovation Breakthrough With SAP Genomic Analyzer
The SAP HANA platform continues to change the world of compute and what is possible. SAP is paving the way for real-time personalized medicine with SAP Genomic Analyzer, a new application powered by SAP HANA that aims to allow researchers and clinicians to find  breakthrough insights from genomics data in real time. Currently in the early adoption phase, key planned benefits include faster data processing through various stages of genomics pipeline — alignment, annotation and analysis — and immediate analysis of data in minutes rather than days. Researchers are envisioned to be able to analyze genetic variants of large-scale cohorts to find patterns of variation within and between populations. With better identification of clinically actionable genetic variants and real-time visibility into “in-the moment” situations, clinicians shall  be able to understand and personalize care to patients with diseases such as Type II diabetes.

30 Days Left Before Windows XP Ends On 8 April 2014

• Consumers and companies still on Windows XP at risk, missing out on what modern technology has to offer; 
• Microsoft launches two free tools to help users migrate from Windows XP

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 March, 2014 – Microsoft Malaysia (“Microsoft”) today reminded consumers and companies that support for the Windows XP operating system (“OS”) and Office 2003 will end on 8 April 2014, just about 30 days away. To help users make the move, Microsoft also announced two new free tools to help migrate from Windows XP called “PCmover Express for Windows XP“ as well as a detection software to help users who are unsure find out what version of the operating system they may be using called “AmIrunningXP.com“.

Additionally, as part of its on-going awareness effort, on 8 March 2014 at 3:00 p.m. local time, customers using Windows XP (Home and Professional editions) will receive a notification via Windows Update informing them of the support deadline and encouraging them to visit Windows.com to find out more about what end of support means for them.

Millions of PCs in Malaysia Exposed To Risk

With support ending for Windows XP and Office 2003 in about 30 days, consumers and companies actively using these software versions will be left without security patches and customer support. Based on an estimation using data from StatCounter, a free public tracker, and IDC Worldwide PC Tracker, Windows XP makes up about 14.4% of PCs in Malaysia. Although this represents a decline by 6.68% over the last one year, this still means that there are 2,553,952 PCs on Windows XP.

This means that millions of businesses and individuals in Malaysia still using the 12-year-old operating system (OS) daily and 10-year-old productivity suite, risk falling prey to harmful viruses, spyware, increasingly sophisticated security threats and other malware, as well as compromising their ability to be more productive and collaborative as the lack of technical support results in costly productivity loss for businesses in the event of computer downtime or software compatibility issues.

”Windows XP and Office 2003 were widely used and have helped hundreds of millions of people to get productive for both work and play. But 12 years later, the way people use technology has evolved. Just like you cannot imagine yourself using a mobile phone which is 12 years old, Windows XP and Office 2003 are no longer adequate for the new, always-on world that we live in,” said Amrita Sapre, Windows Business Group Lead for Microsoft Malaysia.

“When Windows XP was launched in October 2001, notebooks were brick-like with short battery life, as well as very expensive. About 8% of the world was using the Internet in 2001 compared to 39% today . We had personal digital assistant (PDA) devices with no access to the internet while the devices we know and love today are touch enabled and almost always connected via social tools and apps. Yet, while internet access brings lots of goodness, it’s also a hotbed for cyber criminals who go where the people go. So it’s really critical that consumers who still own Windows XP devices recognise that it’s not just about upgrading to something new. This is about protecting your home devices from security threats, especially if you are using the internet. Windows XP wasn’t designed for today’s mobile, always-connected lives, or for protecting businesses and individuals from the millions of new online security threats that have emerged,” added Amrita.

“At the same time, it is great to see an accelerated decline of Windows XP users and an increase in the combined Windows 7 and 8 users over the last 12 months in Malaysia. We’ve been working closely with local organisations to raise awareness of the need to modernize, especially for SMEs,” she explained.

Many consumers may brush off these security threats, thinking that malicious software and hackers will never target them. In reality, however, the personal information that have been amassed and shared throughout the years are valuable payloads for hackers. In addition, Microsoft’s latest Security Intelligence Report (Vol. 15) found Windows XP SP3 to be 5.68 times more vulnerable than Windows 8 RTM, along with a staggering 82.4% higher malware infection rate. The math is simple: the odds of one getting compromised and losing valuable personal information on a Windows XP machine is far higher than on a modern, Windows 8 devices. Furthermore, the average cost of a severe security breach for SMEs is US$54,000 to US$100,000 .

Dr. Amirudin Abdul Wahad, CEO of Cybersecurity Malaysia has also previously commented, “Whether you’re an SMB or consumer in Malaysia, the dangers of continued use of XP are real and the risks should not be under-estimated. Windows XP is three generations behind Microsoft’s most modern operating system so continuing to use PCs with XP is similar to driving a car without a seat belt or a motorbike without a helmet. The risks are real and the only way to protect yourself and the organization is to upgrade.”

Making The Switch And Getting To Modern

Retiring a product is a normal part of the product lifecycle. While most Microsoft software is supported for 10 years, Windows XP has been supported for more than 12 years, longer than any other Windows version.

To minimize this risk, consumers must upgrade to newer operating systems that not only offer enhanced security features like built-in firewall, anti-virus, and rootkit malware protection. Microsoft’s partners like Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba have also continued to innovate will new form factors such as tablets and convertibles with a wide range of affordable choices to suit any lifestyle. Windows 8.1 is also well optimized for both touch and non-touch scenarios, where the user may prefer to a mouse and keyboard.

According to Amrita, “Cost should no longer be a barrier. The average cost of a PC today is 40% less than in 2002. Millions of consumers in Malaysia have already made the move to Windows 8.1 and are enjoying the benefits of a clean, fast and integrated user experience.”

In addition, together with Office 365, Windows 8.1 offers a faster, safer, more productive and more personal experience that supports both work and personal life - from multi-tasking on Word, PowerPoint, email, while watching videos and music to connecting with friends and families. Cutting-edge productivity features built into Windows 8.1also include seamless cloud connectivity to OneDrive for storing documents; and an app store that contains more than 140,000 apps, including built-in favorites such as Mail, Calendar, and Skype.

Companies still on Windows XP and Office 2003 are missing out on tangible benefits of modernizing their IT investments from dramatically enhanced security, broad device choice to meet the needs of a mobile workforce, higher user productivity, and lower total cost of ownership through improved management capabilities. Windows 8.1 and Office 365 have also been designed specifically for today’s work environment. These new technologies provide people with a consistent and personalized experience no matter which device they are using or where they are working, enabling them to collaborate with colleagues and get business done more efficiently.

“In this digital age, we identify with the idea of being technologically ready in our operations to ensure the best possible service to our customers. We are a young startup, full of energy and buzzing with ideas, and we are sure the new Windows 8 devices and Office 365 will help portray a tech-savvy image to our customers,” said Melissa Lee, Managing Director of PerkPool, a local startup focused on providing employee benefits to other SMEs through leveraging bulk orders and winner of Microsoft’s recent “Get To Modern” contest.

“I look forward to experiencing seamless, more integrated and accessible user experience that comes with Windows 8 and Office 365. In order to manage and drive our business, Microsoft is definitely lending a helping hand by providing their technology expertise and full support by assuring our IT needs are taken care of which allows us to focus on managing and driving our business well, all with the help of Microsoft’s technology solutions,” Mellissa concluded.

Millions of other SMEs and individuals in Malaysia have already made the switch and are enjoying the benefits of a modern operating system and an advanced office software suite. Upgrading is easy and affordable, even for businesses and individuals who consider themselves to be non-tech-savvy users. Whether it is through buying new PCs from the broad range of Windows 8.1 devices on offer or upgrading existing PCs, SMEs will find it effortless with the help of special offers, migration assistance, and other helpful tools found at http://www.microsoft.com/business/en-my.

Amrita added: “The modern workforce requires the tools to allow them to stay productive anytime, anywhere, while businesses have an ever increasing need to protect data and ensure security, compliance and manageability. Windows 8.1 and Office 365 are designed with these needs in mind. These are the real needs that a 12-year-old OS can no longer address.”

Two New Free Tools To Migrate From Windows XP

Microsoft today launched two new free tools to help users migrate from Windows XP:
• Free Windows XP migration tool: PCmover Express for Windows XP. Microsoft has partnered with Laplink to provide PCmover Express for Windows XP, which copies a user’s files and settings from a Windows XP PC to a new device running Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. PCmover Express will be available for download www.windowsxp.com; and
• Windows OS automatic detection website: AmIrunningXP.com. For customers unsure of what version of Windows they are using, Microsoft is launching AmIRunningXP.com, a site designed to automatically detect if a PC is running Windows XP or a newer version of Windows like Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. If Windows XP is detected, the site provides links to more information on Windows XP end of support and guidance on how to upgrade to a modern OS.

“Whether it’s you, your family and loved ones, or your business - don’t be exposed to risk an unprotected PC. Upgrade to a Windows 8.1 device and Office 365 today, which contains everything you already need and love, and more,” said Amrita.

To find out more about or to buy Windows 8.1, please visit: www.windows.com

To find out more about, to try, or to buy the New Office, please visit: www.office.com

DiGi’s brand new network delivers high quality internet experience for customers

Takes Best For Internet prepaid and postpaid plans to more Malaysians

SHAH ALAM, 6 March 2014 – As part of its new Best For Internet proposition, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) launched two new internet offerings today: a weekly prepaid mobile internet package and an enhanced choice of postpaid smartphone plans. The Company believes that these offerings, powered by the high quality internet experience on DiGi’s brand new network will drive internet usage to more customers across Malaysia. Today, DiGi is the fastest growing mobile internet service provider in the country, recording mobile internet growth of 47.5% year-on-year.

Albern Murty, DiGi’s Chief Operating Officer said the Company has in the past two years invested approximately RM1.5 billion in capital expenditure to modernise its network and expand its coverage footprint nationwide to deliver this strong network experience for customers. “We have achieved significant milestones in building a brand new, stronger, and more stable network. We have swapped every electronic part in more than 5,500 sites with brand new equipment, expanded our HSPA+ 3G network to more than 80% population coverage, and increased our own and jointly built fibre network to more than 3,200 kilometres nationwide.

(L-R) Albern Murty, Chief Operation Officer of DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd and Christian Thrane, Chief Marketing Officer of DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd.

“This resilient focus on providing a better data experience to customers means more Malaysians in more areas across the country now have access to a high quality, always-on, high-speed internet connectivity. Our customers now experience the best consistent average speeds on our network, from the smaller secondary towns to key urban market centres populated by customers with high data usage needs, where DiGi has big ambitions to address with 4G LTE services. Our brand new Best For Internet network solidly positions us to grow our mobile internet customer base further.”

Albern added that the Company has committed to invest up to RM900 million in capital expenditure this year to further strengthen its network position. This spend will be invested toward increasing its HSPA+ 3G coverage to 86% of population coverage, growing its LTE footprint up to 1,500 sites, and expanding its fibre network to ensure it continues bringing a high-speed internet experience to customers nationwide. He said DiGi will also focus on delivering relevant and affordable device and service offerings to drive internet uptake, beginning with the two new plans introduced today:

Most affordable weekly mobile internet packages for prepaid users
The new byte size weekly packages makes internet subscription more flexible and affordable, tailored for users looking flexibility and affordable alternatives to monthly subscriptions. New and existing prepaid customers can now enjoy unlimited internet surfing and social messaging by subscribing to the weekly package from as little as RM3, RM5 or RM7.

Most complete postpaid internet plans for smartphones
The newly enhanced DG SmartPlans are tailored to complement the internet-and feature-rich capabilities of smartphones in the market today, enabling customers to maximise usage of their devices. With a choice of RM50, RM78, RM108 or RM148 per month, new DG SmartPlan customers can now enjoy more value on data, calls and SMS, and access to the following digital services applications: Opera Mini for unlimited internet surfing, Whatsapp for unlimited messaging, and Deezer for on-demand access to over 30 million songs from top local and international artistes. The new offering is also bundled with free Norton Mobile Security protection as device security becomes increasingly important to customers today. Customers can also exercise the flexibility of enjoying all the above benefits using their existing device with the RM50 per month DG SmartPlan.

“Our Best for Internet proposition is about providing customers a total internet experience with DiGi. This means we take a holistic approach in innovating products that fit our customers usage patterns, enable them to enjoy a richer digital service experience on their devices and making these products easily accessible across the country - all the while delivering this on the strength and breadth of our brand new network,” said Christian Thrane, Chief Marketing Officer of DiGi.

More information on these plans and the trial pack are available at: www.digi.com.my.

Jamie Lerner to Join Seagate as President of Cloud Systems and Solutions

MALAYSIA — March 06, 2014 — Seagate plc today announced that Jamie Lerner will join the company as President, Cloud Systems and Solutions. Lerner most recently held the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Cloud and Systems Management Technology Group at Cisco Systems.
Lerner has spent nearly two decades in executive management positions in high-tech, primarily focused on enterprise level management software and services. He has a deep technology and business background, founding and successfully growing two technology companies, XUMA, Inc. and CITTIO, Inc. Over the last five years at Cisco, Lerner built the company’s Service Provider and Network Management businesses, ultimately leading to the creation of the company’s expanded cloud and systems management division.

Lerner will join Seagate on March 10 and will report directly to Seagate Chairman and CEO Steve Luczo.“The transitions happening in cloud computing represent significant changes for the storage industry and we are expanding Seagate’s opportunities by advancing our technology portfolio for greater capacity and efficiency in hyperscale deployments,” said Steve Luczo, Seagate Chairman and CEO. “With Jamie’s substantial expertise in this space, combined with his proven business acumen, we believe he can leverage our unique position as a storage leader and scale our business for new growth initiatives in cloud computing. We are confident Jamie is the right leader to drive this important next chapter for Seagate.”

“Seagate has been delivering innovative technology for decades and over that time has built a highly respected brand in the storage industry,” added Lerner. “I look forward to leading Seagate’s cloud strategy in this exciting time for the company.”

LINKEDIN SURVEY REVEALS JOB SATISFACTION IS NO GUARANTEE OF LOYALTY IN MALAYSIA

New report on talent trends both in Malaysia and globally, shows that 58% of candidates claim to be satisfied, yet still actively seek a new job

Opportunities for advancement named as key draw for active job seekers

MALAYSIA, March 6, 2014 – LinkedIn, the world’s largest online professional network with more than 277 million members globally and over one million in Malaysia, today announced the launch of its inaugural Talent Trends 2014 Report. The report provides insights into the attitudes of professionals towards job-seeking, job satisfaction and career evaluation.

The study polled over 18,000 fully-employed professionals in 26 countries, including 570 professionals in Malaysia.

The study found that professionals in Malaysia are a relatively content lot, with 73% reporting that they are satisfied with their current roles. This was in line with the global average, and higher than in countries like Hong Kong (67%) and Japan (65%), but lower than in countries like Indonesia (84%) and Sweden (83%).

However, underlying this picture are some trends which employers might do well to note. Firstly, 50% described their status as only ‘somewhat satisfied’, indicating clear room for improvement. Additionally, more than one out of four (26%) professionals are actively looking for their next role.

Furthermore, passive talent may not be as passive as employers think. At a ratio of more than nine to two, Malaysia had a relatively high ratio of ‘approachable’ passive talent (professionals who are not actively looking for a job, but open to considering opportunities if approached) in relation to ‘super-passives’ (professionals who are completely happy in their current jobs and not interested in new opportunities at all). This was in comparison to a global average of about seven to two. The chart provides a detailed breakdown:

Digging a little deeper, it is unsurprising that active candidates are considerably more dissatisfied than passive candidates at 22% vs 5% respectively. What may be surprising, however, is the high proportion of candidates (58%) who claim to be satisfied in their current roles, yet are actively looking for a job.

Clearly, high levels of job satisfaction are no guarantee of loyalty. No matter how satisfied a candidate is, employers can get their attention by offering a career upgrade.

Top Motivations for Changing Jobs among Malaysian  Professionals: Active vs Passive Candidates
Active candidates	Passive candidates
1.      Opportunities for advancement (40%) 2.      Better compensation and benefits (31%) 3.      Looking for more learning opportunities (28%)	1.      Significantly better compensation and benefits (44%) 2.      Better work/life balance (39%) 3.      Greater opportunities for advancement (28%)

On the flipside, for passive candidates, the least important factor when considering a new job opportunity – for professionals globally as well as in Malaysia – is job title, followed by office location. The active Malaysian candidates, however, rank seeking a better job title and being unhappy with their current team as amongst the least important factors when considering a job.

Across all countries surveyed, professionals agree that the most important factor when picking an employer is the prospective company’s talent brand, that is, whether it is considered a great place to work. This was true for more than half of Malaysia professionals (53%), at just 3% below the global average.

The report also looked at the top things professionals do to stay on top of their career, and found that ongoing career management is the norm. Whether passive or active, almost all professionals engage in some sort of career-advancement activity on a monthly basis. In fact, professionals in Malaysia are the world’s second most conscientious when it comes to keeping their resumes and professional profiles up to date, with 51% reporting having done so in the last month. 45% also engage in professional networking, which is fairly consistent with the global average (47%). Interestingly, it also appeared that head-hunters are well aware that many professionals are open to career opportunities – 44% of respondents in Malaysia reported having been approached by a recruiter in the last month – 5% more than the global average.

Citrix and CA Technologies Sign Agreement to Integrate NetScaler and SiteMinder

Native Integration of CA SiteMinder with NetScaler SDX Will Deliver Unified, Multi-tenant Policy Control Point for Mobile and Cloud Services

MALAYSIA – RSA Conference – March 6, 2014 – Citrix and CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) announced an agreement to enable integration of the Citrix NetScaler® SDX™ service delivery networking platform with CA SiteMinder®, a leading access management solution. This planned integration will consolidate the capabilities of CA SiteMinder® Secure Proxy Server (SPS) onto the NetScaler appliance, creating a unique solution for customers that will solve the problem of device, application and information diversity; while simplifying user authentication and providing secure, high performance access.

        Consumers today have become more mobile and the use of heterogeneous devices for information access has added significant complexity to how users securely access corporate data and applications. While critical network entry points need to support a range of traditionally separate functions, it has become more important for identity and access management solutions to seamlessly blend into the network infrastructure with simplified deployment.  A unified access infrastructure that works across applications and network layers is now needed. The planned integration of NetScaler SDX and CA SiteMinder will bring together the ability to host multiple networking instances on a single hardware appliance with the enterprise-class secure single sign-on (SSO) and flexible identity access management needed to authenticate users and control access to applications. The combined solution will lower total cost of ownership for the respective technologies, while delivering secure and simplified policy administration.

        With the solution from Citrix and CA Technologies that will be available later this year, enterprise IT will be able to consolidate hosting of the federated identity and SSO functions, VPN, application acceleration, application firewalling and load balancing into the NetScaler SDX platform without having to deploy discrete physical and virtual devices.  As businesses embrace flexible, multifunction network policy engines to improve performance and operational efficiency, this integration of best-in-class policy delivery, identity and access management keeps information delivery flexible and economical. And as businesses increasingly embrace cloud architectures, delivering the above policy control in a hardened, multi-tenant SDX platform will enable enterprises to have fine-grained control of virtualized apps, desktops and mobile services - allowing IT to cater to individual business unit needs without compromising on compliance.

Welcome to GALAXY Life, Your Passport to Amazing Experiences and Special Privileges by Samsung

• New customer programme connects Samsung smartphone and tablet users with a preference-based mobile app that offers personalisation through content, deals and expert recommendations

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – February 28, 2014 – Samsung Malaysia Electronics Sdn. Bhd., through its Media Solutions Centre in Southeast Asia (MSC-SEA), launched a new consumer community initiative through a customer programme coupled with a mobile app called GALAXY Life.

With the launch of GALAXY Life, Samsung seeks to offer their consumers a benefit unmatched by other device manufacturers. Samsung consumers  can join a community where they will receive personalised, curated and exclusive content optimised especially for their devices.

Vincent Chong, Director of IT and Mobile Communications, Samsung Malaysia Electronics Sdn. Bhd. said, “GALAXY Life is about living a life that is more enriching. We are happy to welcome Samsung smartphone and tablet users to the family with access to experts sharing customised content and preference-based offers and deals that go beyond the mundane. Whether it’s about getting recommendations on food, fashion or lifestyle by experts or a good deal found especially for a consumer, GALAXY Life will be their passport to all these and more!”

GALAXY Life offers Samsung consumers entry and access to a community that is customised by categories, content and deals. The programme will look towards building experiences for consumers across seven categories – Live, Entertain, Learn, Play, Connect, Work and Surprise.

Content will be provided by topic “experts” across Entertainment, Food, Fashion and Sports topics. The initial group of experts include celebrity chef Bobby Chinn, sports commentator/journalist Jason de la Pena and fashion host/model Asha Gill.
In Malaysia, consumers can look forward to exclusive deals on weekly basis from 50 partners to date, with more than 120 offers and deals up to be redeemed.

Availability
GALAXY Life is available for all users of a Samsung GALAXY smartphone, tablet or camera running on Android 4.1 and above. The app can be downloaded for free from Google Play Store.

For more information about Samsung GALAXY Life, please visit http://www.samsung.com/my/galaxylife.

Kingston Ships Dual Interface USB for Android Smartphones, Tablets

• DataTraveler microDuo Provides Additional Storage for Mobile Devices
• Share Larger Files Between Smartphones and Tablets Over USB
• Free Up Valuable Space on Devices

Hsinchu, Taiwan – March 5, 2014 − Kingston, the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the launch of the DataTraveler® microDuo. A small form factor combination USB and microUSB Flash drive, DataTraveler microDuo allows consumers to expand the storage of their Android™ tablets and smartphones.

DataTraveler microDuo uses the microUSB port on devices – often used for charging – to expand storage up to 64GB. This is especially helpful as more and more smartphones and some tablets come without a microSD card storage expansion slot. The drive can be used with any USB On-The-Go compatible device and the dual interface allows users to transfer files without plugging into a PC*. Smartphones and tablets shoot hi-res photos and HD video, and with some devices now shooting 4K video, consumers can easily move large files, photos, videos and music off the device to free up space just like a normal Flash drive.

“DT microDuo is a great companion device to mobile phones or tablets as it lets users back up files on the go thus freeing up space, or share files between devices with ease,” said Nathan Su, Flash Memory Sales Director, APAC Region, Kingston. “Its sleek design has a built-in key loop and rotating cap, so it is small in size and big on storage. Travelers can take entire libraries of music or videos with them on trips without worrying about filling up the memory on their own device.”

For a list of compatible devices visit www.kingston.com/otg/compatibility. DataTraveler microDuo is available in 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities and is backed by a five-year warranty, free technical support and legendary Kingston reliability. For more information visit http://www.kingston.com/en/usb/personal_business#DTDUO.

Kingston DataTraveler microDuo Features and Specifications:
• USB OTG (On-The-Go): a standard which enables host functionality in certain phones/tablets with microUSB ports, enabling connectivity to USB devices like Kingston’s DT microDuo
• 2-in-1: microUSB and USB 2.0 connectors for easy transfer of files between smartphones, tablets, and computers
• Plug-and-Play: simply connect as you would a standard USB Flash drive
• Convenient: ultra-small, pocket-sized design for easy transportability
• Capacities**: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
• Interface: USB 2.0
• Dimensions: 27.63mm x 16.46mm x 8.56mm
• Operating Temperatures: 32°F to 140°F (0°C to 60°C)
• Storage Temperatures: -4°F to 185°F (-20°C to 85°C)
• Warranty/support: 5-year warranty with free technical support

*File manager app required for file transfer. Free ES File Explorer available for download on Google Play™.
** Some of the listed capacity on a Flash storage device is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is less than what is listed on the products. For more information, go to Kingston’s Flash Memory Guide at kingston.com/flashguide.

Kaspersky Lab releases safe browser for Windows Phone

Petaling Jaya, March 5, 2014- Kaspersky Lab is pleased to announce the release of its free Kaspersky Safe Browser for Windows Phone app to safeguard web surfing on smartphones running Microsoft’s mobile OS. The application is now available for download from Windows Phone Store.

The new solution boasts protection against phishing, a widespread threat that affects PCs and mobile devices alike. Phishing scams see cybercriminals create fake sites and emails to trick unsuspecting users into providing personal data. According to research from B2B International, over the past year one in three Internet users received messages with phishing links.

Kaspersky Safe Browser for Windows Phone blocks links to content that may be harmful. The application receives information about malicious sites in real time from the anti-phishing database in the cloud-based Kaspersky Security Network. This allows the application to block even those phishing pages that have only recently appeared on the Internet.

In addition to blocking phishing links, the application makes it possible to filter web resources according to their content. Users can choose which categories of sites should be blocked, such as pornographic sites, pages containing obscene words or scenes of violence, gaming sites, social networking sites, etc.

This function also helps parents keep their children safe from harmful content. Kaspersky Safe Browser for Windows Phone should be added to the Kid’s Corner, a special children’s section on Windows Phone smartphones which houses content and applications selected by parents.

Victor Yablokov, Head of Mobile Product Line at Kaspersky Lab, commented: “Smartphones are becoming an essential part of modern life and the web browser is one of the most popular features. People use them for all sorts of things. However, even the most tech-savvy web user may sometimes struggle to distinguish fake sites from the real thing. Now, Kaspersky Safe Browser for Windows Phone is here to help, providing automatic protection against fraudulent and inappropriate sites.”

Kaspersky Safe Browser for Windows Phone further extends the portfolio of Kaspersky Lab products for mobile platforms, which currently includes the security solution Kaspersky Internet Security for Android designed for Android-based smartphones and tablets, as well as the Kaspersky Safe Browser for iOS app released in October 2013.

Autodesk Establishes Global Foundation to Accelerate Design-Led Revolution

3D Design Software Leader Creates First Foundation Dedicated to Design for Impact

MALAYSIA, March 5, 2014 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) yesterday launched the Autodesk Foundation, which will invest in and support the most impactful nonprofit organizations using the power of design to help solve epic challenges, such as climate change, access to water, and healthcare, among others.  In partnership with the company, the Autodesk Foundation will provide select design-oriented grantees with software, training and financial support.

“We have been delighted by the number of people using our technology to design a better world and solve global problems,” said Autodesk President and CEO Carl Bass. “These are the people who inspired us to align our philanthropic giving with our core business, to support more of these nonprofits to bring their ideas to market.  We will also be encouraging the thousands of Autodesk employees to get involved in Foundation programs.”

 “We believe that design offers humanity our greatest hope for addressing some of the most urgent, inter-connected and non-negotiable challenges of our time,” says President and CEO of the Autodesk Foundation and Autodesk Senior Director of Sustainability Lynelle Cameron. “We want to support and accelerate the design-led revolution currently underway, by investing in design-driven entities that are pursuing scalable solutions with measureable impact.”

Tackling Epic Challenges through Impact Design
Impact design focuses on generating significant, measurable progress toward solving today’s epic challenges – access to healthcare and education; clean energy and water; efficient transportation; or the many other global problems we face. Through the Foundation’s Impact Design Program, carefully selected nonprofits will receive funding, and in partnership with Autodesk, Inc., software and training to create solutions that address these challenges.

The program’s first grantees also include:
• KickStart International, one of the Foundation’s pilot grantees, exemplifies impact design.  The Foundation recently hosted four of their engineers from Kenya to come to San Francisco for a multi-week design software immersion and fabrication workshop. KickStart designs simple agricultural irrigation tools that help African farmers start profitable businesses and rise out of poverty.
• MASS Design Group, which designs health facilities in parts of the world where they’re needed most. The Autodesk Foundation is supporting its efforts in rural Malawi to design maternal waiting homes, which are shelters for expectant mothers, enabling women who once waited until the onset of labor to travel to receive medical care and a safe hospital birth.
• D-Rev, which designs and develops devices and products to improve the health and income of people living on less than $4 a day. Autodesk has helped fund crucial durability testing of the next generation of the organization’s ReMotion Knee, an inexpensive and easy-to-fit prosthetic for those in the developing world.

Employees Contribute to the Foundation Goal
Autodesk’s employees play a significant role in the Foundation’s efforts to create a better world. Autodesk supports the 7,390 employees worldwide to volunteer with or donate to the nonprofit organizations they care most about. As part of the Foundation launch, Autodesk increased the annual donation matching commitment per employee and has made it easier to volunteer. Last year, Autodesk employees around the world volunteered more than 8,200 hours.

Providing Critical Disaster Response
The Autodesk Foundation provides financial support and facilitates in-kind and technical support to areas struck by unexpected disasters. The company has most recently supported relief efforts for Typhoon Haiyan in The Philippines and the tsunami stemming from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Autodesk and its employees have held various fundraisers and donated to charities and relief organizations including Doctors Without Borders, American Red Cross and Architecture for Humanity. Autodesk further supports disaster response efforts through matching employee donations with corporate funds.

About the Autodesk Foundation
The Autodesk Foundation invests in the most impactful people and organizations using design to solve epic challenges. As the first foundation exclusively focused on design for impact, the Autodesk Foundation directs investments to design-driven entities that are pursuing measurable and scalable solutions.  For more information, visit http://www.autodesk.org/. or follow @AutodeskFdn.

TM INKS PARTNERSHIP WITH ETISALAT FOR SMARTHUB FACILITY

TM extends its reachability and connectivity to the Middle East to support its growing regional business

Kuala Lumpur. 5 March 2014. Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), Malaysia’s leading telecommunication service provider recently sealed an agreement with Etisalat, a pioneer company in Next-Generation Networks technology for fixed line and wireless services in the Middle East. This move further enhances TM’s role in providing wide array of reliable communications services in Malaysia and beyond its shores.

This collaboration will enable TM to leverage on Etisalat’s SmartHub facility at Fujairah Cable Landing Station (CLS) to deliver its content, Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX), Internet Exchange (IX) and high speed data services for its customers in the region. This partnership enables TM to connect its customers in the Middle East and neighbouring region via diversified routes to Europe and Asia. Etisalat SmartHub’s converged integration of multiple network infrastructure components (bundling services) provides integrated, robust and seamless connectivity with low latency. This not only enables reliable service delivery but is also in line with TM’s aspiration to become preferred hub in global market.

Let’s work together: Mohamed Asri Jaafar, Vice President, Product & Solutions, Global & Wholesale, TM (left) who represented Rozaimy Rahman, Executive Vice President, Global & Wholesale, TM shaking hands with Ali Amiri, Executive Vice President, Carrier & Wholesale Services, Etisalat signifying the collaboration established between the two companies for SmartHub facility.

Present to seal the agreement for the Smarthub facility partnership was Mohamed Asri Jaafar, Vice President, Product & Solutions, Global & Wholesale, TM and Ali Amiri, Executive Vice President, Carrier & Wholesale Services, Etisalat.

Besides further strengthening and expanding TM’s business internationally, this initiative is also in line with the Company’s aspiration of becoming an Information Exchange as well as in support of the Government’s aspiration in making Malaysia a regional hub for data communications.

Commenting on the partnership, Rozaimy Rahman, Executive Vice President, Global & Wholesale, TM said, “As one of the fast growing telcos in Asia, we at TM are constantly investing and partnering with world class providers to offer better reachability and connectivity through reciprocal business. This alliance with Etisalat will maintain TM’s Point of Presence (POP) in the Middle East and communications hub of choice in the region, thus enabling TM to create a value proposition as one of the key players in the Middle East region”.

“This is the right platform for TM in promoting its services, as Middle East is a growing market for the potential customers. The range of services that can be offered include IP Transit, Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IPVPN), Global Ethernet (GE), International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC), Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks (providing secure connectivity), voice hubbing and others,” he added.

Also commenting on the collaboration, Ali Amiri, Executive Vice President, Carrier & Wholesale Services of Etisalat said, “Etisalat is honoured that we have added yet another telecom major into our expanding portfolio of customers. This partnership will allow TM to further expand its reachability by establishing a multi-functional network node at Etisalat’s SmartHub. Over the past year, the hub has already proved its capability in providing the consistency and best-in-class connectivity in the region. This addresses the need of the operators who have to adapt to the changing business dynamics and requirements in the region and globally. Etisalat’s SmartHub is designed to provide our partners with a one stop shop for connectivity to the region.”

Ultimately, this collaboration will enable TM’s end customers in the Middle East to leverage on its international infrastructure and at the same time strengthens TM’s presence globally. Customers/ Internet users on the other end will be able to enjoy seamless and extensive connectivity hence, enhance their surfing experience with low latency.

For further information on TM, visit www.tm.com.my.

Red Hat Launches Industry’s Most Comprehensive Open Source BPM Suite

Red Hat JBoss BPM Suite enables businesses to automate processes and decisions, and respond to changing market conditions more quickly and easily

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA. – MARCH 5, 2014 – Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced the industry’s most comprehensive open source business process management suite, Red Hat JBoss BPM Suite 6, which includes the next version of its business rules platform, JBoss BRMS 6. With JBoss BPM Suite 6, Red Hat brings a unique combination of business process management (BPM), business rules management (BRM) and complex event processing (CEP) technologies together in a single product offering.

JBoss BPM Suite is a platform for business process management that includes all the capabilities of JBoss BRMS and adds support for modeling, automation, simulation, and monitoring of business processes. JBoss BRMS is a platform for business rules management and complex event processing that is used to host an organization’s business rules and to make business decisions based on those rules, as an alternative to coding them directly in applications. The complementary technologies help organizations respond to changing market conditions faster and easier through advanced decision and process automation capabilities, and empower business users to make the necessary changes without requiring IT to manually rewrite application code.

Organizations are under constant pressure to remain competitive and compliant in a rapidly-changing business environment. Manually incorporating changes into critical IT applications can be costly and time consuming, and can introduce the risk of error and inconsistency. BPM and BRM systems play a critical role in automating workflows to maintain consistent and accurate decisions throughout an organization. By creating an environment in which business and IT users can collaborate quickly and effectively, these systems improve the ability of a business to quickly incorporate changes into their application infrastructure.

JBoss BPM Suite enables organizations to focus on helping customers and grow their business by providing:

• Visibility: JBoss BPM Suite and JBoss BRMS enable organizations to gain better visibility into how their business is functioning, identify where bottlenecks may be occurring, and determine what they can do to improve the way the organization works.
• Business Agility: With JBoss BPM Suite, business users can own, manage and change processes, rules and policies in response to changing market conditions, allowing the organization to respond faster and compete more effectively.
• Consistency: Manual intervention in business processes and decision management can lead to inconsistent outcomes and high labor costs. Modern enterprises cannot leave critical business decisions to chance. JBoss BPM Suite and JBoss BRMS help organizations execute key processes and decisions the same way, every time.

Business rules management is often deployed in conjunction with BPM to provide decision management in the context of business processes, and JBoss BPM Suite 6 incorporates all of the features found in JBoss BRMS 6. Highlights include:

• Advanced business user tools: With tooling that makes rule and process definitions visible and understandable, JBoss BPM Suite 6 helps business experts apply their domain knowledge directly to the models. These tools include a drag and drop BPMN2 process modeler, a graphical data modeler, and business activity monitoring (BAM) dashboards and reports, in addition to rule authoring and management tools also included in JBoss BRMS 6.
• Powerful integration: JBoss BPM Suite combines the powerful runtime rule engine and CEP features from JBoss BRMS with a business process execution server capable of supporting a variety of workload needs. Combining these technologies into a single, comprehensive offering provides efficient integration and a seamless user experience, ultimately allowing organizations to go to market faster with new products and services.
• Flexible deployment options: JBoss BPM Suite 6 and JBoss BRMS 6 can be deployed on physical, virtual and cloud environments. Both products can leverage JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6 clustering to meet scalability and high availability deployment needs. JBoss BPM Suite 6 and JBoss BRMS 6 are compatible with platform-as-a-service (PaaS) environments, such as OpenShift by Red Hat, and provide the foundation for bpmPaaS as part of Red Hat JBoss xPaaS services for OpenShift.

Availability
JBoss BPM Suite 6 and JBoss BRMS 6 are available globally.

2014 F-SECURE NATIONAL INTER-VARSITY IT SECURITY COMPETITION

Attention to all IT undergraduates in Malaysia! It is time to showcase your academic knowledge and personal interest in IT security by participating in a friendly competition organized by F-Secure.

Each university will be able to submit up to 3 teams of 3 members each, with a team name and a team leader. The winning team will be awarded three branded, high-end Windows 8 laptops worth RM5, 000 each. The 1st runner-up team will receive three Android tablets worth RM2, 000 each and the 2nd runner-up team will receive three smart-watches worth RM 500 each.

The closing date for registration is on Friday, 7 March 2014, at 6.00 p.m.
For more information, kindly contact Marsyada Mazlan at +6012-314 5233 or
ext-marsyada.mazlan@f-secure.com.

Canon Delights Consumers with New Compact Digital Camera and Photo Printer

 In bringing its consumers’ experience of capturing precious moments to yet another level, Canon, the world leader in Digital Imaging has proudly announced the launch of two new and innovative products – the PowerShot S200 compact digital camera and SELPHY CP910 Compact Photo Printer.

Capturing moments
An introductory model, the PowerShot S200 effectively combines supreme imaging capabilities with a slim pocket-sized camera body. This feature-packed camera is easy to use and designed to help users make full use of its features, making it an ideal solution for those who want to start taking more control over their images instead of just relying on Auto mode. With its intuitive Controller Wheel and Control Ring, users are able to adjust the exposure, ISO, zoom and shutter speed settings quickly and conveniently to start shooting like a pro.

The PowerShot S200 also incorporates Canon’s proprietary DIGIC 5 imaging processor, allowing users to evaluate and optimise the quality of images captured. It also features a 10.1 megapixel high-sensitivity CCD sensor and 5x 24-120mm f/2.0 (w) optical zoom lens for increased depth-of-field in images.

Meanwhile, the S200’s 3” LCD Panel, Live View Control and Eco Mode makes it easier for users to view and manage captured images. All these features ensure that the images captured are as envisioned by users.

As with any efficient modern device, the PowerShot S200 comes with an in-built Wi-Fi, enabling users to instantly share and sync images with other wireless enabled devices. With this Wi-Fi function, users can also send images to print directly from the S200 to the SELPHY CP910.

Convenient prints
Besides printing directly from a wireless enabled camera such as the PowerShot S200, the SELPHY CP910 can be used as a mobile access point as well. This allows convenient Wi-Fi connectivity to other devices such as smart phones, tablets and computers without the need for an external router. As such, users are also able to print images directly using their mobile devices.

Additionally, the SELPHY CP910 will delight iOS users as it comes with Apple AirPrint support, allowing them to print images stored on their iPhone, iPad and/or Mac without additional printer drivers.  Android users are also able to enjoy an enhanced printing experience directly from their mobile device.

When it comes to printing different photo sizes, SELPHY CP910 certainly leads the way as it is capable of printing 43 different types of photo ID sizes, as opposed to the traditional 28 sizes using other printers. Besides that, users are able to select their desired print finish via the printer’s settings for standard glossy prints, or by selecting one of two other patterns for a toned down textured effect.

The SELPHY CP910 is also the first printer in its range to utilise Canon’s new RP series of ink cartridges. Designed to help users save in costs, the high-efficiency RP series of ink cartridges allows users to print up to 54 sheets without needing to change cartridges. This effectively reduces downtime as well as minimises the risk of dust or dirt entering the printer during cartridge change.

The PowerShot S200 comes in black and white and is available at RM1,119, while the SELPHY CP910 is retailed at RM499 and is also available in black or white. Both models are available at selected Canon authorised outlets.

CAPTURE, SHOOT & RECORD LIKE A PRO

Canon Launches Legria Mini X for Photo Journalists, Bloggers and Performers

The world of blogging, recording and publicising is now all the more exciting with Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Canon)’s latest addition to its Legria Mini Series – the Legria Mini X. With its enhanced features and increased portability, the Legria Mini X offers photo journalists, bloggers and performers a heightened user experience that blend in seamlessly with their trade and lifestyles.

Convenient and enhanced recording right from your pocket
Featuring a new sleek design, the Legria Mini X is incredibly compact and lightweight, allowing users to carry it easily and conveniently in their pockets whenever they are out and about. Thanks to the video camera’s quick response feature, users would no longer have to miss important performances or life’s precious moments. All they would need to do is to whip out the Legria Mini X from their pockets and start recording immediately.

The Legria Mini X features an adjustable built-in stand that allows users to shoot at a horizontal level or up to an approximately 60 degree angle. Not only does this reduce users’ reliance on tripods and other bulky accessories, it also allows them to capture great hands-free shots in almost any environment the camera is set up in. However, the Legria Mini X also comes with a tripod socket for those wishing to use an external tripod.

High quality sound, low noise interference
The Legria Mini X’s new design is also complemented by an advanced microphone and superior PCM audio format recording. The microphone is specifically designed with bigger heads that are 2.5 times larger than its predecessor, significantly reducing background noise while recording. Its two-layer structure of sponge and cloth mesh also helps reduce ambient noise, further improving sound quality.

Not only that, users will certainly be impressed with the Legria Mini X’s capability of recording sound in Linear PCM (16-bit/48KHz) format – an unprocessed and uncompressed format that provides the same high audio quality as CDs. This allows users to preserve all sound signals without any loss of quality, giving them recorded sound that is as accurate to the actual source as can be.

The quality of video footages is also impressive with the Legria Mini X, even when shot in poorly lit conditions, thanks to its12 megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and the DIGIC DV4 image processor. On top of that, the Legria Mini X also supports both MP4 and AVCHD (50i) recording.

Innovation for greater control, freedom and versatility
Those seeking greater control and versatility when recording will find the Legria Mini X more than satisfactory. Its manual audio features such as mic level volume dial and other configurable settings like wind screen and microphone directionality give users the opportunity to experiment and improve on their creativity – a much appreciated feature, especially amongst the core group users.

Meanwhile, the Audio Scene Select function offers greater simplicity to the more casual users. They can easily select one of eight recording modes that will automatically optimise the camera’s audio settings to the selected audio scene. Besides the usual modes, the Legria Mini X also features new scenes including ‘Festival’ for outdoor music events; ‘Meeting’ for clear recordings of multiple speakers within an office environment; ‘In the Car’ that reduces ambient engine noises; ‘Food and Fashion’ to bring out natural and attractive colours; and Smart Auto, which automatically detects shooting conditions and optimises the current scene mode.

The Legria Mini X also includes a Vari-Angle touch-screen LCD monitor, which automatically detects the orientation of various scenes and inverts the LCD display if needed. This highly innovative feature allows users the freedom to shoot from various angles – forward, high and low. Even shooting a ‘selfie’ is easier and more convenient than ever.

Because of its time effects as well as the reversible screen and built-in stand, dancers, musicians and video bloggers would have the liberty of recording themselves performing using the Legria Mini X. It can record as slow as 1/4x the speed in slow-motion (in VGA resolution), and 4x the speed in fast motion. With these features, the Legria Mini X is an ideal tool that helps artists improves their performance with each shot.

Furthermore, its ultra-wide angle lens provides a 170 degree angle of view during still photography and 160 degrees while shooting, enabling users to capture scenes in greater detail and precision. Users can also opt to switch to the Close-up mode just by touching the icon on the LCD screen for a smaller and more traditional view.

Wi-Fi connectivity
Continuing to support the lifestyles of its users, the Legria Mini X comes with advanced Wi-Fi connectivity. Through the CameraAccess Plus app, users are able to connect the Legria Mini X with their Smartphones, allowing them to control and monitor shots remotely. This means that users are able to stream live, as well as use the video camera as a monitoring device to keep an eye on their pets at home, or watch over their baby while in another room.

Complementing this feature is the optional CT-V1 camera pan table that allows horizontal panning within a range of 200 degrees. Combine this with the ultra-wide angle view of the Legria Mini X, users are able to have a nearly complete view of any environment the camera is set up in. All users would need to do is attach the Legria Mini X to the CT-V1 camera pan table and use their Smartphone to control the Legria Mini X over the internet. The CT-V1 can be powered by an outlet to run indefinitely, or last for over 9 hours using 2 AA batteries.

The Legria Mini X will be available at selected Canon authorised outlets at RRP: RM1, 399 from February onwards.