Month: October 2013

Are You A Giraffe? Take The Great Giraffe Challenge (Facebook Riddle)

Posted on by Galvin Tan

giraffe

So if you’ve been noticing quite a number of your friends on Facebook are changing their profile pic to a picture of Giraffe, they are most likely a victim of The Giraffe Challenge, a Facebook riddle that’s been going on for the past few days. I too, am a Giraffe and it’s all in the name of fun.

The Great Giraffe Challenge is a pretty straight forward game, all you need to do is to accept a challenge to solve a Facebook riddle. If you win, you get to keep your profile picture, and if you lose, you’re a Giraffe and you need to change your Facebook profile pic to a picture of a Giraffe. Be a good sport and have fun, many of my friends did. And you too can play along and try to get others to take this challenge too. All you need to do it to copy and paste the riddle below and update it on your Facebook status.

So are you ready for the challenge? Here’s the riddle:

I tried to answer a riddle and got it WRONG. Try the great giraffe challenge! The deal is I give you a riddle. You get it right you get to keep your profile pic. You get it wrong and you change your profile pic to a giraffe for the next 3 days. MESSAGE ME ONLY SO YOU DON’T GIVE OUT THE ANSWER.

“Here is the riddle: 3:00 am, the doorbell rings and you wake up. Unexpected visitors – it’s your parents and they are there for breakfast. You have strawberry jam, honey, wine, bread and cheese. What is the first thing you open?”

REMEMBER, PRIVATE MESSAGE ME ONLY. If you get it right I’ll post your name here. If you get it wrong, you have to change your profile picture to a Giraffe!

Now do you accept this challenge? Then tell me the answer, PM (private message) me on http://www.facebook.com/galvintandotcom and I will tell you whether you got it right or wrong.

And if you’ve already tried and got it wrong, don’t share your answer. Let there be more giraffes! So Giraffe away and have fun!

Three Important Notes About Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Posted on by Galvin Tan
[portfolio_slideshow]

After getting a chance for a hands-on experience with the Galaxy Note 3 and Gear before it was launch, and after spending more than a month with the Galaxy Note 3, it is high time for me to share my experience on the Galaxy duo with my fellow readers.

Thanks to the good people from Samsung Malaysia, I had the opportunity to try out the Galaxy Note 3 with the Galaxy Gear before anyone in Malaysia had their hands on it; part of the perks of being a tech blogger. Well, as much as I would like to share my experience on both devices, it was rather a disappointing moment to know that the Galaxy Gear was not available for review. However, we get to really try it out during the tech bloggers’ workshop session.

During my review period, I had the chance to show the Galaxy Note 3 to some of my friends and family members. Surely, they all have their fair share of comments since some of them already owned a Note 2 or some other Galaxy brand smartphones. After hearing what they have to say, and with my self-discovery on the devices, I can easily note down 3 things about the Galaxy Note 3 and Gear to share with my fellow readers.

NOTE 1: TIMING – A LITTLE BIT TOO SOON

As much as Samsung wants to the world to accept it, the Galaxy Note 3 is not just for anyone – and especially those who have already owned a Galaxy Note 2. Many Galaxy Note 2 owners are either too proud with their Note 2 or too shy to admit that they have not fully utilized their existing device. However, I do hear a lot of Note 2 users not wanting to upgrade simply because their device is still pretty ‘new’ to them. Can’t blame them since most Note 2 owners I know only had their device for less than 6 months and so.

Although early adopters may not be tempted to switch to the new Note 3, I would strongly suggest new users who are keen to have a new and larger display smartphone to seriously consider the Galaxy Note 3.

NOTE 2: THE S PEN – THE EXECUTIVE’S MAGIC WAND

During the workshop session, we’ve been taught how to use the S Pen for the Note 3. It was a cool learning experience at first, but when we’re on our own, we’re happier touching the large screen with our fingers than with the S Pen – also the fear of losing it (yes, it’s quite costly to buy a new one).

Although the S Pen is a great feature on the Galaxy Note series, many owners do not use it as often or at all. After attending the workshop, I’ve got the notion that the Galaxy Note 3 is all about the S Pen, but that did not fancy many existing Note 2 users I know. I myself hardly use the S Pen, except for that one moment I needed to write down a phone number using the Action Memo on the Air Command feature. While the Galaxy Note 3 has got a huge real estate but it’s still not big enough to doodle properly – and it’s almost impossible to doodle on the Note 3 with the S Pen when you’re inside the train or while you’re on a road trip?

However, the S Pen is the only thing that sets apart Note 3 from other smartphones in the market. While the S Pen may not tickle my fancy or impress many average Joes, I can think of a hundred other reasons how the S Pen could benefit an elite group of people. The S Pen is truly a unique experience for the Note 3 and many done easily, especially with its superb hand-writing recognition. So one thing’s for sure, the Note 3 will definitely appeal to the corporate executives who are always busy and need quick access to a mobile office on the go.

NOTE 3: WHILE LARGER SCREEN MATTERS, BULK ISN’T

While one of the selling points of the Note 3 is its large 5.7-inch touchscreen display, the device itself is also way too bulky – or at least to me. While I’m used to carrying bulky stuff in my front pocket, the Note 3 is still way too big to fit inside my front pocket together with my wallet and my keys.

However, I have to admit that there are moments that I truly enjoy the larger screen; reading and playing game is much easier with less strain to my eyes.

So unless you’re carrying a man bag all the time, or you wear a suit with ample pocket space, then I would encourage you to seriously consider the Galaxy Note 3. As for the ladies, they’ll definitely be no problem at all.

SUMMARY

The Galaxy Note 3 is truly an amazing smartphone. But however great it is, the Galaxy Note 3 is still a device that is only for an elite group of people. Note 3 will appeal to consumers because of its large screen and classy design. I’m very sure many will want it, but only a small group of people will truly appreciate it. Then again, this is entirely from where I stand; from my point of view; the way I see it and you don’t have to agree with it.

If you wish to know the specs of the Galaxy Note 3, you can find it here. And if you would like to know more about Galaxy Note 3, then watch the video below:

Celcom, DiGi and Maxis Launched Registration of Interest Site for iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C

Posted on by Galvin Tan

iPhone 5S - Coming Soon

So it looks like the 3 major telcos in Malaysia are getting very busy ahead of the big iPhone 5S and 5C launch on 31 October. Since the pricing list for iPhone 5S and 5C have been pretty much been confirmed by Apple Store Malaysia earlier today, all we can do now is wait patiently for the announcement of price for the subsidized units from our three major telcos.

iPhone 5C - Coming Soon

So if you’re still on contract with your current iPhone 5, I would suggest to skip the iPhone 5S, unless you’re dying to get your hands on it, then you can opt for the non-contract iPhone 5S from Apple Store Malaysia. But if your contract has is due and it’s the right time for an upgrade, then you can seriously consider registering your interest to get the new iPhone 5S or 5C.

But seriously, go for iPhone 5S and forget about the 5C. You will definitely see a difference in the performance department with the 64-bit A7 chip on the new iPhone 5S. So what are you waiting for? Go register your interest!

Celcom – http://www.celcom.com.my/personal/iPhone5s_roi

Digi – http://new.digi.com.my/cs/Satellite/ecomm_C/whats_hot/default/register_your_interest_iphone5s#

Maxis – http://new.maxis.com.my/content/maxis/en/personal/devices/all-phones/apple/iphone5S.html

 

Apple Store Malaysia List Price of iPhone 5S from RM2,399, and iPhone 5C from RM1,999

Posted on by Galvin Tan

Apple Store Malaysia - iPhone 5S

Someone has spotted that Apple Store Malaysia has updated their page and listed the latest pricing for the new iPhone 5S and 5C.

Apple Store Malaysia - iPhone 5C

It turns out the insider’s news from Malaysia Wireless was way off (of at least RM200 less) the newly listed pricing on the official website.

Without further ado, here are the retail prices:

  • iPhone 5C – 16GB: RM1,999.00
  • iPhone 5C – 32GB: RM2,399.00
  • iPhone 5S – 16GB: RM2,399.00
  • iPhone 5S – 32GB: RM2,749.00
  • iPhone 5S – 64GB: RM3,149.00

If everything remains unchanged, the iPhone 5S and 5C will be available in Malaysia from Nov 1 onwards.

 

[Source: Apple Store Malaysia (1), (2)]

 

iPad Mini Gets A7-chip and Retina Display Boost

Posted on by Galvin Tan

iPad Mini with Retina display

It’s a double blow to tablet makers as Apple now has not one, but two tablet PCs powered with Apple’s A7 64-bit chip. I would say that there’s an equal amount of skepticism and hopefulness on the iPad Mini. But the announcement today definitely clears the air and gets the hopeful fanboys jumping in joy.

overview_ipad_mini

Besides the 64-bit A7 processor – with the M7 motion coprocessor, the new and improved iPad Mini also comes with Retina Display. It’s great to see that the 7.9-inch panel is now as crisp and sharp as the rest of the product family. The device now offers a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution panel, which will make photos crisper, apps clearer, and iOS 7 just that little bit more beautiful.

The camera remains largely unchanged for the rear camera, which still features 1080p video recording. However, the FaceTime HD camera has been improved.

AVAILIBITY

The iPad mini 2 with Retina display will be available later in November and it comes in 16, 32 and 64GB storage configurations in either Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular.

PRICING

With the boost of a Retina display, the device now is a tad bit expensive than the previous-gen iPad mini. The Wi-Fi only version starts at $399 for the 16GB model, $499 for the 32GB model, $599 for the 64GB model and a whopping $699 for the 128GB model.

Apple iPad Air Announced

Posted on by Galvin Tan

ipad-air

So the long awaited moment has come, Apple has announced the replacement of the New iPad with yet another new iPad called, the iPad Air. In today’s announcement, the fruit company has not disappointed, announcing a whole list of cool upgrades, software and hardware for their desktop products and portable devices.

The name came as quite a surprise as many did not expect it to be called iPad Air. Surely, I didn’t expect it to be called iPad Air but I feel good about the name. Gives it a little edge over the rest of the older iPads, and it always better to have it named different than to called it the ‘New iPad’.

FEATURES

So back to iPad Air, the device has gone through a design overhaul and now bearing similar outfit of the iPhone 5 – with a slender design and thinner bezels. The iPad Air is 20% thinner than the last generation iPad, which is the iPad 4. The bezels are 43% thinner but still retain the same 9.7-inch Retina display.

iPad Air pricelist
The iPad Air now runs on a 64-bit A7 processor, which is similar of the new iPhone 5S. This offers a huge difference in performance over the previous generation of iPad. iPad Air is now x2 faster than the processor found in the iPad 4.

However, iPad Air still offers the same 5MP camera sensor on the rear, with 1080p video recording, an improved FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones and more.

AVAILABILITY

The new iPad Air comes in two colours; Silver/White and Space Gray/Black. It will be available on November 1st in 41 countries around the globe. When exactly it will reach Malaysian shore is still unknown.

PRICING

As for the pricing, the new iPad Air follows the same pricing structure as before. The base model for the Wi-Fi only version starts at $499, whilst the Wi-Fi + Cellular version starts at $629.

Keeping My Digital Assets Safe with WD 1TB My Passport SLIM – First Thin Drive with Metal Case and Hardware Encryption

Posted on by Galvin Tan
[portfolio_slideshow]

Living in a fast pace digital life and always on the go, I need carry along an external drive with me most of the time. The digital age allows me to do more things – capture more, write more and even create more digital assets. But the question drills down to, how do I keep all my digital assets safe, portable and to easy to access? It’s quite simple, with a reliable external storage with huge capacity, and hopefully without the bulk.

I recently got my hands on WD’s 1TB My Passport Slim external drive and so far I’m extremely happy with it. The My Passport Slim was launched earlier this month and WD is the first to introduce the 1TB and 2TB thin drive with metal case and hardware encryption into their line of digital storage solution.

SLEEK, SLIM AND FAST

My Passport Slim’s metal case is really a nice touch. Its rigid and slim form definitely weighs lighter than many external drive of its size. My Passport Slim in no bigger than my Braun Buffel wallet, it measures a scant 4.33 x 3.14 x 0.48 inches. It’s easier if you just compare it with the wallet. My Passport Slim also incorporates super-fast USB 3.0 connectivity for speedy transfer of heavy data files – so no more waiting for hours to transfer and backing up my huge data from my PC!

SECURE AND SAFE

WD SmartWare Pro data protection software that comes with it allows me to back up my data to my drive and keep an extra copy in my Dropbox account for peace of mind. The 256-bit hardware-based encryption ensures my digital assets are always secured – you would have to literally rip the drive a part to get into the storage disk to actually get the data. So let’s say, if you’re a thief trying to steal my stuff, ripping the drive a part is not really a good idea.

So yeah, WD is definitely doing it right by setting a new industry standard for portability, capacity and data protection. As for the pricing, the recommended retail price for My Passport Slim 1TB is RM309.00 and the 2TB is RM489.00. Both drives are protected by 3-year limited warranty and it’s available from selected retailers. Quite a reasonable price for a sleek, safe and slim portable drive.

My Recipe for Home-Style Chinese Fried Rice with Wing Heong’s Honey Bacon ‘Bakkwa’ [Video]

Posted on by Galvin Tan

Home-style Fried Rice with Honey Bacon 'Bakkwa'

I do cook at home whenever possible and I enjoyed my time in the kitchen. I don’t regard myself as a great cook but I do know how to cook up some simple but extremely yummy dishes for my family. Chinese fried rice is one of my favourite dishes but I like to make my own recipe for it. This particular recipe I’m going to share today is my very own creation and I called it ‘Home-style Chinese Fried Rice with ‘Bakkwa’. It’s a simple yet delicious meal to cook and my family loves it a lot.

Unlike any other Chinese fried rice recipes, I use ‘bakkwa’ instead of ‘lap cheong’. I’m using Wing Heong’s Honey Bacon ‘bakkwa’ because it’s my favourite and perhaps the best ‘Bakkwa’ I’ve ever tasted so far. I prefer to use the ‘bakkwa’ because I don’t like the rancid taste and smell of ‘lap cheong’ so I use Honey Bacon ‘bakkwa’ – you can also use the traditional pork, beef or even chicken ‘bakkwa’. But seriously, try Wing Heong’s.

Cut the Honey Bacon 'Bakkwa' into small bits. fr_03 fr_04

My Home-style Chinese Fried Rice with Honey Bacon ‘Bakkwa’ is very simple to prepare. These are the things and ingredients needed:

  1. Rice – enough for 2-3 person
  2. Mix vege – carrots, corns, peas, cauliflower and even pepper  (all diced)
  3. Egg – beaten
  4. Soya sauce, Oyster sauce, salt and pepper – add them to taste
  5. Fresh prawns, slice chicken or beef – your choice
  6. 2-3 cloves of Garlic – chopped finely
  7. Honey Bacon ‘Bakkwa’ – diced to bits

You can watch the video below for the cooking steps but it’s pretty simple if you follow these steps:

  1. Heat up cooking oil in wok.
  2. Add in chopped garlic and give it a quick stir. Then add the rest of the mix vege and continue stirring it. If you’re using fresh prawns, add it after the mix vege or else you’ll over cook it.
  3. Now fry the eggs and keep stirring so you can clumps of fried eggs instead of an omelet.
  4. Add in the rice and continue stirring until everything is nicely cooked together.
  5. Add soya sauce, oyster sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Continue stirring everything gently to infuse the flavours.
  6. Once the fried rice is done, add in the honey bacon bits and give it a good stir.
  7. And finally, serve it while it’s hot with any condiments of your choice.

This is a very simple recipe and you can cook it easily for lunch and for dinner. I usually prepare for 3-4 people so you will need to estimate your ingredients to your preference. If it’s your first time cooking and trying out my recipe, you’ll probably need a try it a few times before you can get the hang of it. But if you’re a seasoned cook, you will find using ‘bakkwa’ gives more fragrant to your dishes. Hope you find this recipe helpful and enjoy cooking it as much as I do.

Plausible Retail Pricing of iPhone 5S and 5C in Malaysia and Pricing of Parallel Import Units

Posted on by Galvin Tan

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C

Apple has announced that the new iPhone 5S and 5C will be reaching Malaysian shores on November 1, major telcos and Apple resellers in Malaysia are putting up teaser ads and gearing up for the much awaited launch. And with just two weeks to go, Malaysian Wireless has got some insider information of the pricing of iPhone 5S and 5C in Malaysia.

  • iPhone 5C 16GB – RM1,899
  • iPhone 5S 16GB – RM2,299
  • iPhone 5S 32GB – RM2,599
  • iPhone 5S 64GB – RM2,899

We are not sure the accuracy of this information but we’re pretty certain that these prices are definitely cheaper than the current retail price of parallel import units. Check out this price list from a local mobile phone vendor in Malaysia.

iPhone 5S – 16GB

  • RM2,749 – Black              
  • RM3,199 – White            
  • RM3,999 – Gold             

iPhone 5S – 32GB

  • RM3,033 – Black              
  • RM3,499 – White            
  • RM4,299 – Gold

iPhone 5S – 64GB

  • RM4,299 – Black
  • RM4,599 – White
  • RM5,300 – Gold

iPhone 5C – 16GB

  • RM1,899 – White/ Blue
  • RM2,250 – Pink/Green/Yellow

As for the event launch, it is also reported that there won’t be the usual ‘night launch’. Although we haven’t heard of any confirmation from these major telcos, we are quite sure that these telcos will definitely do a launch event on the day itself.

 

[Source: MalaysianWireless]

 

WeChat Announces Partnership with Chatime And Celebrates with 1 Million Cups

Posted on by Galvin Tan

Lisa Surihani (WeChat Ambassador), Bryan Loo (MD of Chatime Malaysia), Louis Song (Country Manager - Tencent) & Shaheizy Sam (WeChat Ambassador)

WeChat, currently the number one mobile social communication application in the country, today announces their partnership with Chatime, the top lifestyle tea provider in Malaysia. In celebration of this strategic partnership, WeChat users will get an opportunity to redeem and purchase 1 million cups of Chatime through digital coupons made available via the WeChat platform.

WeChat offers brands the opportunity to engage their users and also reward them with unique and exclusive promotion. It is reported that the 1 million cups of Chatime is worth over RM6 million. This collaboration is not only to enhance connectivity and interaction of WeChat users but also to reward them.

Chatime Malaysia now has an ‘Official Account’ on WeChat. Chatime strives to be in line with many new advancement in technology, shifting gear and going beyond social media reach out to our existing and communication apps for fast, easy and usually free communication with their friends and loved ones. In 2010, Chatime Malaysia boomed into the beverage industry in Malaysia thanks to effective use of the social media platforms.

From today until 27 October 2013, WeChat users will be able to purchase and enjoy their second cup of Chatime at RM1 with every purchase of a normal priced beverage. In order to redeem this exclusive promotion, they would need to simply present the voucher on their phone upon ordering at any Chatime outlets in Malaysia.

Photos from the launch is available for viewing here. For more information, you can visit www.WeChat.com and www.Chatime.com.my

Photo Caption: (from L to R) Lisa Surihani (WeChat Ambassador), Bryan Loo (MD of Chatime Malaysia), Louis Song (Country Manager – Tencent) & Shaheizy Sam (WeChat Ambassador) posing for photo opportunity during the celebration launch and Chatime HQ.

Photo credit: Cik Lily Putih

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