Meat grown in the laboratory makes historic debut in Singapore

SINGAPORE ― Lab-grown chicken meat made a historic debut at a Singapore restaurant today in a culinary first that its creators said could help reduce the environmental damage involved in human food production.

US start-up Eat Just said earlier this month that its product had been approved for sale in the city-state as an ingredient in chicken nuggets after Singapore became the first country to allow the sale of meat created without slaughtering any animals.

Consumption of animals is an environmental threat as cattle produce the potent greenhouse gas methane, while logging to create pastures destroys natural barriers against climate change.

The company on Wednesday said it had made its first commercial sale of the product to 1880, a restaurant in Singapore's Robertson Quay, a posh riverside entertainment centre.

This undated handout from Eat Just released on December 19, 2020 shows a nugget made from lab-grown chicken meat at a restaurant in Singapore, which became the first country to allow meat created without slaughtering any animals to be sold. ― AFP pic

The restaurant began serving the cultured meat this evening, saying its first diners were students aged 14-18 who had been invited to the launch after showing “a commitment to building a better planet”.

The launch, however, was closed to the media because of measures against the coronavirus.

Entrepreneur Marc Nicholson, who founded 1880, described serving cultured meat as a “revolutionary step towards solving climate change and creating the opportunity to feed the world without overwhelming the planet”.

Eat Just chief executive Josh Tetrick said this week that the launch “moves us closer to a world where the majority of meat we eat will not require tearing down a single forest, displacing a single animal's habitat or using a single drop of antibiotics”.

Demand for sustainable meat alternatives is rising due to growing concerns from consumers about the environment and animal welfare, but other products on the market are plant-based.

Meat consumption is projected to increase more than 70 per cent by 2050, and lab-grown alternatives have a role to play in ensuring a secure food supply, the company said.

There were concerns that lab-grown varieties would be too expensive, but a spokesman for Eat Just said the company had made “considerable progress” in lowering the cost. ― AFP

Source: The Malay Mail
Dec 19, 2020

WhatsApp Untuk iOS Kini Membolehkan Anda Menyuruh Siri Membaca Mesej Terbaru

Apple sedia menawarkan sokongan untuk mengintegrasikan Siri pada pelbagai aplikasi iOS, dan terkini WhatsApp dilihat mengambil kelebihan berkenaan, dan membolehkan pengguna mengarahkan Siri untuk membaca mesej terkini yang diterima mereka.

Untuk menikmati ciri ini, pengguna mestilah menggunakan versi WhatsApp terkini, serta menjalankan iOS 10.3 dan terkini.

Disamping penambahan ciri baru ini, kini WhatsApp turut menawarkan kemaskini antaramuka pada tab panggilan, dan skrin informasi berkaitan Group.

Bagi anda yang menggunakan WhatsApp untuk iOS, anda boleh mengemaskini aplikasi anda, dan menikmati ciri baru ini.

- Sumber: Amanz 

Perkhidmatan Eatigo Dilancarkan Secara Rasmi Di Malaysia

Perkhidmatan menempah restoran merupakan satu aplikasi yang popular di pasaran tempatan. Salah satu pengendali utama adalah TableApp yang membolehkan anda menempah meja di restoran. Dalam membawakan kelainan, satu lagi startup baru yang hadir adalah eatigo yang membolehkan anda menempah meja dan memperoleh diskaun untuk masa berlainan.

Menggunakan eatigo, pengguna boleh melihat pelbagai restoran yang menawarkan diskaun. Menariknya, diskaun yang ditawarkan adalah berbeza mengikut waktu. Sekiranya pengguna menempah pada waktu puncak, diskaun yang ditawarkan pada restoran tersebut mungkin berbeza dengan waktu bukan puncak. Malah eatigo turut memaparkan harga makanan dan juga kiraan diskaunnya berdasarkan waktu.

eatigo merupakan startup dari Thailand dan mereka juga merupakan pemenang Digital/Online Startup of The Year pada anugerah Rice Bowl Startup Awards pada tahun 2015. Selain dari laman web, mereka juga turut menyediakan aplikasi iOS dan Android yang boleh digunakan di restoran.

- Sumber: Amanz | Apr 20, 2017

AirAsia naik taraf jalur lebar - Airbus A320 dan A330

Benyamin (kiri) bersama Leo Mondale pada majlis perjanjian.

AIRASIA, melalui anak syarikat Rokki Sdn Bhd menandatangani memorandum persefahaman (MoU) dengan Inmarsat untuk GX Aviation, penyelesaian sambungan jalur lebar dalam penerbangan.

Perjanjian meliputi Kumpulan Air Asia Airbus A320 dan A330 AirAsia armada tertakluk kepada kontrak akhir dan pemasangan dijangka bermula tahun ini dan boleh digunakan tahun depan.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan AirAsia, Tony Fernandes berkata, pelanggan kini boleh menggunakan jalur lebar yang cepat ke mana sahaja mereka berada sama ada di darat atau di udara.

“Keupayaan GX Aviation yang terkemuka di pasaran memberi sambungan dalam penerbangan yang membolehkan berhubung di antara darat dan atas kapal.

“Penumpang dapat menikmati sambungan tambahan pantas internet serta filem percuma, muzik, artikel dan permainan pada platform Rokki IFEC kami di samping boleh membeli-belah untuk makanan serta barangan bebas cukai dari keselesaan tempat duduk mereka sendiri,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Presiden Inmarsat Aviation, Leo Mondale berkata, GX Aviation adalah era baru yang belum pernah berlaku untuk jalur lebar dalam penerbangan kepada penumpang.

“Kami gembira apabila syarikat penerbangan tambang murah ini memilih GX Aviation untuk penerbangan mereka,” katanya.

- 6 April 2017

Aplikasi Astro GO Diberi Nafas Baru – Bakal Hadir Dengan Lebih Fungsi

Selain dari menonton rancangan TV Astro menerusi dekoder, penonton juga boleh menontonnya menerusi aplikasi Astro On The Go. Pada hari ini ia telah dijenamakam semula menjadi Astro GO, dan turut mempunyai pelbagai fungsi baru serta ditawarkan percuma walaupun pengguna bukan pelanggan Astro.

Sekiranya anda merupakan pelanggan Astro, anda boleh menonton kesemua 67 saluran yang ditawarkan dan boleh dikongsi sehingga empat peranti berlainan. Bagi pengguna aplikasi Astro GO yang tidak melanggan Astro, mereka boleh menonton 11 saluran menggunakan aplikasi ini.

Aplikasi Astro GO yang baru dikemaskini juga turut menawarkan 3 saluran baru yang eksklusif, dan tidak terdapat pada dekoder. Saluran tersebut ialah Comedy Central, K-PLUS dan juga ANIPLUS.

Pihak Astro turut menerangkan yang mana pelbagai lagi fungsi akan hadir untuk aplikasi ini termasuklah fungsi Chromecast kepada peranti lain, fungsi menghadiahkan siri atau rancangan TV kepada pengguna lain, dan juga kawalan khusus seperti sudut pandang berlainan untuk rancangan sukan seperti bolasepak.

Aplikasi ini terdapat untuk platform Android dan iOS dan khusus untuk tempoh terhad, pengguna boleh menonton kesemua saluran yang terdapat di Astro secara percuma selama dua bulan iaitu sehingga 31 Mei.

- Sumber: Astro Awani

USM Researchers Invent Fuel-saving Device

GEORGE TOWN - A group of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers have designed a fuel-saving device which can reduce the use of petrol and diesel by up to 45 per cent.

Head researcher of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Assoc Prof Dr Soib Taib said the product design was based on the electrolysis process which is connected directly to a vehicle's engine system for more efficient burning.

"It is a compact device made from stainless aluminum, whereby its use can repair engine airflow and optimise fuel consumption," he told a news conference here today.

He said research to produce the device known as the fuel capacitor took 10 months to complete, and was funded by a RM40,000 research grant.

Using the device for 20,000km a year is estimated to be able to save up to RM1,300, based on the current fuel prices, he said.

"The device also reduces smoke emission and unwanted gas such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, helping to reduce air pollution," said Soib.

He said the device was suitable for lorries, cars and motorcycles with a cost of RM350 and has a lifespan of up to three years.

He added that the device prototype was in the process of branding and they are ready to work with the industry on commercialising the product at a competitive price.

-- Source: BERNAMA

This tape is so sticky it can hold up a 42-inch TV

The next time you buy a LED TV, you may not need to drill a damaging holes on your wall. Especially if your wall have surfaces made of glass, all you need is a gecko-tape and you can easily hang your super-sized TV on it. Don't worry, your TV could just be 20kg at the most.





Gecko inspired sticky tape in action


For years man has been fascinated by the ability of geckos to run up walls feeling absolutely at home. Now a gecko-inspired sticky tape has been developed that could do everything from sticking a TV to a wall to holding parts of a car together. No kidding.

Not only is ‘Geckskin’ incredibly sticky stuff – capable of fixing 300kg to a flat surface – it can also be released with a gentle tug, and reused over 100 times without losing its strength.

Previous attempts to construct such an adhesive focused on mimicking the microscopic hairs that cover gecko toes. But it proved difficult to make larger pieces of these fabrics. Instead Geckskin, developed at the University of Massachusetts, Amhurst, employs other properties of gecko feet to impart its sticking ability- it is incredibly tough while being flexible enough to make close contact with whatever surface it’s sticking to.

In a demonstration of its abilities, the material was used to fix a 42-inch flat screen TV to a glass surface (refer to the above figure).

A thin rubbery polymer layer in Geckskin sticks to the glass because of van der Waals forces – an attraction between the molecules of the two surfaces. As the polymer is so flexible, it moulds to the glass surface, maximising contact between the molecules in the glass and polymer.

A stiff carbon fibre fabric provides the other important property of gecko feetstrength.

A synthetic tendon is stitched into the material that’s stuck to the wall. This is attached to the television’s mounting bracket.

Source: TheGreen Mechanics

Apple iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Welcome to the biggest smartphone battle of 2014. In the blue corner the Apple iPhone 6 and in the red corner the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.

This isn’t the head-to-head many were anticipating. The four month old Galaxy S5 was expected to be the natural challenger, but following disappointing sales Samsung has had a rethink and the newly announced Alpha is a like-for-like metal handset which throws down the gauntlet to the heavily leaked iPhone 6 in every area.

So let’s break down these rivals ahead of what promises to be two of the biggest advertising campaigns in smartphone history.

Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

                        

Display: iPhone 6 4.7-inches – Galaxy Alpha 4.7-inches

 For Apple the new iPhone represents a big step up in screen size from the 4-inch display seen since the iPhone 5 and an even bigger 5.5-inch model is expected to launch soon after. For Samsung the Alpha actually represents a step down from the 5.2-inch display on the Galaxy S5 and demonstrates how determined it is to make a phone which directly trades blows with the new iPhone.

But the first blows here will go to Apple. It’s widely reported 1704 x 960 pixel display creates a pixel density of 416ppi (pixels per inch) compared to the Alpha whose screen surprisingly is just 1280 x 720 pixels for a 320ppi.

Given how close both pixel densities are to Apple’s claim that a ‘Retina Display’ (the point where your eyes cannot distinguish individual pixels) starts at 326ppi it remains to be seen how much difference there will be in reality, but it is odd that Samsung has stepped down from the Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel displays it has used in flagship phones for the last few years.

In turn Samsung will be hoping the head turning (though arguably garish) AMOLED technology it uses in the Alpha and S5 will be enough to catch the eye compared to Apple’s more subtle IPS screens.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Materials: iPhone 6 Metal and Sapphire – Galaxy Alpha Metal, Plastic And Gorilla Glass

 The second blow Apple lands will be the materials of the iPhone 6. Samsung has taken direct cues from the HTC HTC One M8 and the iPhone 6 in finally producing a phone which uses metal in its chassis, but this only extends to the edges while rear remains plastic and the screen is the familiar Corning GLW +0.1% Gorilla Glass 3.
By contrast the iPhone 6 will ditch its glass back in favour of an all metal chassis and the screen is heavily tipped to be sapphire-based. Doubts still remain after the ‘proof’ offered by several leaks was undermined, but if Apple does go with sapphire it is expected to be layered with glass. As such the durability may not be as indestructible as many hope but it should still represent a step up from Gorilla Glass 3.

 

Alleged iPhone 6 fascia with sapphire display

Size and Weight

Despite this being one of the few aspects of the iPhone 6 not to leak, here Samsung appears to hold all the aces. At 0.26-inchs (6.7mm) thick the Galaxy Alpha is the slimmest mass market smartphone ever made and with a footprint of 5.21 x 2.58 inches (132.4 x 65.5mm) and weight of just 4.06 oz (115g) it should remain usable with one hand.
By contrast dummy units of the iPhone 6 have shown it to be almost the same footprint as the Samsung Galaxy S5 – 5.59 x 2.85 inches (142 x 72.5 mm) – despite the S5 packing a 5.2 inch display. This is due to Apple retaining thicker top and bottom bezels which add to the height. Meanwhile the only other all metal 4.7 inch handset is the HTC One M7 which tips the scales at 5.04 oz (143g). Apple should beat that as the iPhone 6 is also expected to be very thin, but it does look like one handed use will be tough for most.





Power: iPhone 6 Apple A8 Chipset – Galaxy Alpha Exynos 5 Octa 5430

 Here both handsets should be a real treat. The power of the A8 remains unknown, but Apple has doubled the power of its A series of ARM-based chips with each generation so the dual-core 1.3GHz CPU and quad-core GPU in the already fast iPhone 5S A7 chipset should see major gains and there is also talk of a step up to 2GB of RAM.
But the Galaxy Alpha should be able to match anything the iPhone 6 throws at it. The Alpha will come with 2GB of RAM and Samsung’s own Exynos 5 Octa 5430 chipset which the company claims will outpace the Snapdragon 805, ARM’s latest and greatest chip which is expected to appear in the Galaxy Note 4 and Nexus 6.
For reference the Snapdragon 800 chipset was seen to be largely on a par with Apple’s A7 and since then the 801 has added more power and battery optimisation while the 805 is a major leap forward in both.

Sony Exmor IMX220 sensor

Camera: iPhone 6 13 Megapixels – Galaxy Alpha 12 Megapixels

 Megapixels a poor guide to camera quality, but it is noticeable that Apple is set to step up from the 8 megapixel lens in the last three iPhones reportedly to Sony Sony’s 13 megapixel Exmor IMX220 camera sensor. This makes sense given previous iPhones have all used previous generations of this Sony line and it brings a 1/2.3′ sensor which would be a notable jump from the 1/3.2” sensor in the iPhone 5S. Video recording will remain at 1080p while optical image stabilisation (OIS) is expected to be exclusive to the monstrous 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant.

As for the Galaxy Alpha, Samsung has curiously taken a step down to 12 megapixels from the 16 megapixel sensor in the Galaxy S5. The sensor has yet to be revealed and while it also lacks OIS it offers real-time HDR (High Dynamic Range) so you can see the light balancing on the screen before taking a photo. Samsung has also fitted the Alpha with a selfie-friendly 2.1 megapixel front facing camera, something Apple should match.




Memory: iPhone 6 Up to 64GB – Galaxy Alpha 32GB

 Rumours once suggested the iPhone 6 would be the first 128GB smartphone, but having seen those dry up I will stick to what we know: up to 64GB of non-expandable storage is guaranteed. Consequently the Galaxy Alpha has two surprises in stock: neither of them good.
The first is that the handset does not have a 64GB version (at least not yet) and second is Samsung has ditched the microSD expansion slot that almost every Galaxy smartphone (and certainly every high end Galaxy smartphone) ships with. The logic may be to mimic Apple and keep storage options simple, but it could be a potential deal breaker for some.


Battery Life: iPhone 6 1800mAh – Galaxy Alpha 1860mAh

 Like megapixels, battery capacities don’t tell the whole story but here the handsets appear to be very well matched. It has been suggested the iPhone 6 may see a last minute bump to a 2100mAh battery, but regardless Apple will be leaning heavily on the efficiency of the A8 chip and iOS 8 to compensate for the larger screen and its higher resolution. Apple will need to produce some magic here as the iPhone 5S has mediocre battery life at best and that sported a 1560mAh battery.
It is a similar story for Samsung. The 1860mAh battery in the Alpha is a big drop from the 2800mAh battery in the S5, but Samsung will also hope the greater efficiencies in its Exynos 5 Octa 5430 chip make a difference. Where it may hold an advantage, however, is the 720p screen as driving less pixels greatly lessens the workload and may explain Samsung’s decision to shy away from 1080p. If Samsung can significantly top the iPhone 6’s battery life few may care about the lost pixels.


Miscellaneous: Sensor overload

 Both handsets will pack fingerprint sensors (though the iPhone 5S has shown slicker integration compared to the S5) while the Galaxy Alpha will carry over the heart rate sensor seen in the Galaxy S5. With fitness having played a major part in Samsung’s Galaxy S5 software, the same will again happen here and with Apple HealthKit formally launching with the iPhone 6 and iOS 8 this will be a major battle ground for these handsets.

That said the Galaxy Alpha loses the S5’s water resistant coating and no leaks have indicated the iPhone 6 will have it either so while both handsets have tough exteriors they won’t be happy being used in the rain.

iPhone 5S current pricing

Release Date And Price

 Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 6 on September 9th while Samsung has signalled its deliberate clash by confirming the Galaxy Alpha will go on sale in ‘early September’. Given the potential for a small gap between announcement and release this may give the Alpha a slight head start.

While the cost for the iPhone 6 remains unknown, Apple is famed for releasing each new iPhone at roughly the same price point as the last. That should mean from $199 on contract and $649 contract-free. Samsung has yet to reveal the cost of the Alpha, but it would be surprising if the company doesn’t try to marginally undercut this.

Source: Forbes

Affordable Asus Zenfone smartphone series starts at RM299

Asus Zenfone 6


Asus has launched the dual-SIM Zenfone series — comprising the Zenfone 4, 5 and 6, all named for their respective screen sizes — for the South-East Asia market.

The series marks the debut of the ZenUI on the mobile platform, which boasts features such as What’s Next, which presents the user’s most important information on the lock screen, home screen and notification drawer.

Asus Zenfone 5



There is also the Do It Later feature which allows users to focus on the current task at hand by automatically creating reminders to help them follow up on things they may not have been able to attend to, such as missed calls.

Much emphasis has been placed on the Zenfone’s imaging capabilities as Asus has packed up to 18 different camera modes for users to choose from.

These include Depth of Field for shooting pictures with high aperture settings like those taken with DSLR cameras; Selfie mode for users to snap better ­quality self portraits using the high ­resolution main camera instead of the front one; and Time Rewind for capturing images two seconds before and a second after a photo is snapped.


Asus Zenfone 4


Zenfone users can also enjoy the PixelMaster camera features which equips them to take ­better photos. In particular, the Low Light Mode seeks to improve images captured in dimly lit areas — Asus claims that it has increased the light sensitivity by up to 400% and contrast by up to 200%.

In terms of specs, the Zenfone 4 has a display with 800 x 480-pixel resolution, while the Zenfone 5 and 6 each have 1,280 x 720-pixel resolution with 178° wide viewing angle.

All three devices are powered by the Intel Atom Multicore Processor and run on the Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) operating ­system, which Asus says should be upgradeable to the latest 4.4 ­version (KitKat) by the end of the year.

Memory and storage size are the same across the board with 8GB internal storage plus 5GB Asus WebStorage on the Cloud.


Asus Zenfone Prices

The Zenfone 4 is priced at RM299, whereas the Zenfone 5 and 6 will cost RM599 and RM899 respectively and are expected to be available locally from the end of this month.


Source

Amazon kaji kaedah drone untuk menghantar barangan - penghantaran 30 minit

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KUALA LUMPUR: Amazon kini mengkaji cara untuk menghantar pesanan kepada pengguna dalam masa 30 minit.

Syarikat perniagaan atas talian ini meninjau untuk menggunakan alat terbang tanpa pemandu atau drone.

Menurut Amazon, projek drone Prime Air dijangka akan mengambil masa beberapa tahun untuk dilancarkan dan kebenaran daripada pentadbiran penerbangan persekutuan.

Berbeza daripada drone tentera, drone Amazon tidak akan memerlukan kawalan manusia.

Ia akan menerima koordinat GPS dan terbang secara automatik kepada lokasi.

Namun pengguna memberikan reaksi bercampur. Menurut Brian Lee, “Saya merasakan ia adalah idea yang unik dan segar tetapi akan berdepan banyak masalah seperti kemalangan yang melibatkan drone. Nampaknya seperti segala perkara akan dilakukan secara automatic dan pada masa akan datang kita tidak lagi menggunakan tenaga manusia.”

“Ia sesuatu yang tidak masuk akal. Apakah yang akan berlaku sekiranya terdapat helikopter yang terbang pada waktu yang sama dan terbang di atas sebuah lapangan terbang?” ulas Katarina Peturson.

Syarikat penghantaran global Fedex memberikan reaksi positif kepada usaha Amazon.

Pengarah urusan, operasi global Fedex, Paul Tronsor berkata, “Fedex sememangnya dikenali menerusi inovasi penghantaran barang. Pelbagai teknologi telah digunakan sejak 10 tahun yang lalu dan ia bukan sesuatu yang mustahil. Kami menyokong inovasi yang dilakukan oleh Amazon dalam bidang tersebut. Ia satu konsep yang menarik.”

Ketika ini tiada larangan untuk penerbangan drone rekreasi namun FAA menyatakan ia tidak boleh digunakan untuk tujuan komersial.


Astro Awani

Betulkah ni? Ada mana-mana guru yang boleh sahkan?

Guru IT mendakwa Penggunaan Internet Explorer, yang ketinggalan zaman, diguna dalam SPPBS.


Assalamualaikum,

SAYA ingin membuat aduan berkenaan dengan Sistem Pengurusan Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah (SPPBS) yang di jalankan oleh Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia.

Berikut adalah aduan saya:

1. Sistem SPPBS memaksa guru-guru menggunakan browser Internet Explorer versi 7-9 yang tidak lagi digunakan di kebanyakkan komputer zaman sekarang. Ia mengandungi banyak 'holes' dan masalah security pada browser yang berbahaya & vulnerable kepada pengguna sebab boleh di exploit untuk penyebaran virus dan malware ketika user online. Takkan beratus2 pegawai IT kat KPM tak boleh kenalpasti perkara basic seperti ini?

2. Microsoft sendiri tidak menggalakkan penggunaan browser tersebut sekarang. Bagaimana KPM boleh membuat sistem yang menggunakan teknologi lama dan tak compatible kepada hampir semua browser utama (yang lebih selamat) di seluruh dunia? Sistem tersebut TIDAK BOLEH digunakan di Chrome, Mozilla dan Safari yang mewakili hampir 80% pengguna komputer di seluruh dunia.

3. Kenapa semasa proses development sistem TIDAK mengambil kira perkara ini yang menyusahkan ramai user sistem tersebut? Adakah penggunaan Microsoft Server yang mahal kos tersebut berbaloi dengan kos sistem tersebut yang jauh lebih murah menggunakan open sources seperti Linux, Redhat dsb. Berapa banyak pembaziran oleh KPM membangunkan sistem yang berpuluh juta ini.

4. Ia juga menyebabkan beribu-ribu pengguna Mac (Apple) langsung tidak boleh menggunakan sistem ini kerana ia hanya boleh menggunakan Internet Explorer.

5. Selain itu, disebabkan bandwidth laman KPM yang terhad, sistem SPPBS yang dilaksanakan oleh KPM tersangat perlahan untuk di access oleh beratus ribu guru di seluruh Malaysia dalam tempoh yang sama. Ramai guru terpaksa bangun pukul 2-3 pagi semata-mata nak mengisi markah murid yang langsung tidak dapat di masuki pada sebelah siang. Ditambah dengan tarikh tutup yang ditetapkan oleh KPM kepada beratus ribu guru.

Saranan saya :

1. Penambahbaikan sistem dalam stage akan datang yang membolehkan sistem di access oleh semua browser (compatibility). Semua orang yang develop sistem benci dan mengelakkan menggunakan Internet Explorer (versi 10 dan ke bawah) yang developer tahu kelemahannya yang ketara. Tetapi kerajaan menggunakan juga sistem ini. Semua orang gelakkan sistem ketinggalan zaman yang masih menggunakan Internet Explorer pada tahun 2013.

2. Bandwidth server untuk access ke dalam sistem perlu di tambah. Fikirkan berpuluh ribu guru seluruh Malaysia access pada masa yang sama terpaksa membuang masa terlalu lama memasukkan data, tidur lewat malam, bangun awal pagi semata-mata kelemahan sistem ini. Kemudian mengajar pada waktu siang pula. Pernah orang KPM mengambil kira perkara ini?

Harap dapat membuat penambahbaikan secepat mungkin untuk kebaikan semua. Idea KPM dalam SPPBS ini amat dipuji dan sepatutnya perkara begini tidak berlaku sebab skala penggunakan sistem yang meliputi beratus ribu pengguna.

Ia hanya menyebabkan matlamat utama penggunaan sistem ini sukar di capai dan ia hanya menyusahkan guru-guru yang semakin terbeban. Bukan terbeban memasukkan data tetapi terbeban menunggu sistem loading dan tak compatible yang memakan masa terlalu lama untuk di access.


Wassalam

Guru IT.

Sumber

FGV mulakan pengeluaran komersil biodiesel di Kuantan

KUANTAN:  Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGVH) merancang memulakan pengeluaran komersil biodiesel di kilangnya di Kuantan bulan depan.

Kilang menelan kos RM 35 juta itu yang dibeli pada April lepas, beroperasi sejak 1 Julai, 2013.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Dr Emir Mavani Abdullah berkata perniagaan baharu itu sejajar dengan strategi FGVH menggerakkan lagi perniagaan hilirannya dalam usaha untuk melindungi perniagaan huluannya.

"Kami telahpun berada di tahap pengeluaran akhir. Kini kami sedang menguji produk dan akan memulakan pengeluaran komersil, harapnya dalam tempoh dua atau tiga minggu akan datang," katanya pada majlis rumah terbuka Hari Raya syarikat di sini, Selasa.

Beliau berkata FGVH juga membentuk sebuah syarikat konsortium dengan Sime Darby Bhd, yang dinamakan Biodiesel Malaysia Sdn Bhd, untuk meningkatkan lagi industri.

Pengerusinya Tan Sri Isa Samad berkata penubuhan konsortium tersebut bertujuan untuk mengurangkan simpanan stok minyak sawit mentah (MSM) negara bagi menyokong harga.

Ini, katanya, merupakan sebahagian daripada usaha untuk mengurangkan stok kerana disebabkan bekalan yang terlampau banyak bukan sahaja di Malaysia dan Indonesia, ia akan menyebabkan permintaan menjadi kurang, yang seterusnya membawa kepada penurunan harga.

FGVH dan Sime Darby setiap satu memegang 32 peratus pegangan dalam konsortium itu.

Pegangan selebihnya diperuntukkan bagi syarikat perladangan, peserta biodiesel dan pelabur lain.

Isa berkata FGVH masih sedang mencari pelabur yang sesuai untuk menyertai konsortium itu bagi mengembangkan pasaran biodiesel b5 dan b10, dalam dan luar negara.

- BERNAMA 

Pemanduan lancar Street View Malaysia menerusi Google

Google membawa Street View ke sekitar Malaysia dan menerbitkan imej Street View istimewa beberapa kawasan untuk mewujudkan cara baru untuk mengenali Malaysia.

Hasil sokongan daripada Tourism Malaysia, Street View adalah satu ciri popular Google Maps, membolehkan orang ramai meneroka dan menyusuri hak kejiranan secara maya pada peta melalui imej panorama 360 darjah.

Bermula di Kuala Lumpur, Google kini akan memandu kereta yang dilengkapi kamera khas untuk mengumpul imej untuk Google Maps dengan Street View.

Google turut mengeluarkan imej Street View baru 18 kawasan di seluruh Malaysia, termasuk Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuil Sri Subramaniam Batu Caves dan Masjid Sultan Sallahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.

Imej telah dikumpul menggunakan Street View Trike, sebuah sistem kamera berasaskan basikal beroda tiga, yang akan membolehkan rakyat Malaysia dan penduduk dunia meneroka secara maya destinasi-destinasi indah di Malaysia melalui Google Maps.

Google juga memperkenalkan Street View Trekker, sistem kamera terbaru dalam barisan Street View, dan Street View Trolley, sistem kamera kereta sorong, ke Malaysia.

Dengan Trekker dan Trolley, Google mensasarkan untuk merakam lebih banyak kawasan di luar jalan raya di Malaysia dan menjadikannya lebih mudah dicapai untuk dinikmati orang ramai.

"Kami sentiasa menerima baik teknologi dan melalui kerjasama dengan Google ini kami berharap untuk melibatkan lebih ramai orang, sama ada di seluruh dunia dan di Malaysia, dalam menerokai dan meneroka semula warisan unik negara kita," kata Dato' Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, Ketua Pengarah Pelancongan Malaysia.

Google berusaha sedaya upaya untuk melindungi privasi dalam Google Maps dengan Street View di samping membolehkan pengguna menikmati manfaat daripada ciri ini.

Google juga telah membangunkan teknologi canggih yang dapat mengaburkan wajah manusia dan plat lesen kenderaan secara berkesan agar ia tidak dapat dikenal pasti.

"Kami amat berbesar hati untuk bekerjasama dengan Tourism Malaysia untuk memulakan pemanduan dan merakam imej Malaysia melalui Google Maps dengan Street View. Malaysia adalah sebuah negara majmuk dan sentiasa berkembang, dan dengan menyediakan maklumat peta yang lebih berguna kepada pengguna dan perniagaan, Street View juga boleh membantu mewujudkan kesan ekonomi yang berpanjangan. Kami teruja untuk berkongsi imej panorama 360 darjah jalan-jalan di Malaysia pada Google Maps apabila ia dilancarkan tidak lama lagi, "kata Sajith Sivanandan, Pengurus Negara, Google Malaysia.

Google tidak sabar untuk mengumumkan bila imej-imej yang terkumpul bagi Malaysia sedia untuk dikongsi, dan ia akan boleh didapati dimaps.google.com.my.

Sumber: Astro Awani 

'Smart Homes' open doors to hackers

Smart homes that let residents control alarms, locks and more over the internet are opening doors for crooks with hacker skills, according to computer security specialists.


How smart is a Smart Home? Image credit: News Discovery


"The smart home trend is growing, and it evolves quickly into a story of security," Trustwave managing consultant Daniel Crowley told AFP.

"Connecting things to a network opens up a whole range of vectors of attack, and when you are talking door locks, garage doors, and alarm controls it gets scary."

Crowley and Trustwave colleague David Bryan found security "pretty poor" on the home networking devices they studied. "If someone can access your home network, but doesn't have a key to your home, they can still unlock your door and get in," Crowley said of what he found in gear on the market.

Trustwave researchers will share their findings Thursday with peers at a premier Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas and at the infamous Def Con hacker gathering taking place in that city through the weekend.

A vulnerability of particular concern to the researchers was that once hackers joined local home networks, perhaps through poorly protected wireless routers or using malware slipped onto computers, they could control devices with no password or other authentication required.

"The fact that you need to be on someone's local network to exploit these things is not as big a hurdle as you'd imagine," Crowley said.
- AFP

BMW's all-electric car the i3 is officially unveiled

BMW joined the all-electric vehicle bandwagon with the launching of the BMW i3 in its production version simultaneously in three locations – New York, London and Beijing.

It costs €34,950 in its home country, Germany, equivalent to RM151,000 here but don't get too excited yet about the direct currency conversion. We have the tariff, duties, and other import permits that will sure jack the price up much higher.

The BMW i3 electric car is unveiled in London

Launching its BMW i3 model, the German group compared the prospects of the electric car market to the technical revolution of the mobile telephone, but declined to give any sales or production targets.

Sleek and distinguished as always

"What the mobile phone did for communication, electric mobility will do for individual mobility. The BMW i3 is more than an evolutionary step -- it is a great leap forward."

- Chief executive Norbert Reithofer, during the launching.

The series-produced model will go on sale in Europe in November to be followed in the United States, China, Japan and several other markets in the first half of 2014.


Price and Features

It will hit the German market at a price of €34,950 ($46,438) and has a range of 130 to 160 kilometres (about 80 to 100 miles).

The Munich-based company trumpeted technological features of the model, which can seat four, including a carbon fibre passenger cell to help offset the weight of the batteries and an aluminium chassis.

BMW said the global market for electric vehicles was showing positive development. "After almost 93,000 electric vehicles were registered worldwide last year, a total of 150,000 units is already forecast for the current year," a statement said.


Source

Can Sabah become Biofuels centre in Malaysia?

According to report, yes, Sabah can become the centre for Second-Generation Biofuels.


Sabah to become second generation biofuel centre

There are more that 120 oil palm mills in Sabah, and according to industry study, they can provide sufficient residues or waste for downstream processing to produce biofuels.

If Sabah can gather these mills in a joint venture initiative, there is no doubt we will be able to tap into the biomass pellets market for Asia region which is estimated to be 10 million tonnes a year by 2020.

Syarikat Teck Guan Group, one of the palm oil industry players here, have recently launched its pilot bio-ethanol project in Tawau.




Empty fruit bunches going to waste? Photo credit: biochar


What are second-generation biofuels

Advance biofuels, or second generation biofuels, are fuels that can be manufactured from various types of biomass. While first generation biofuels are derived from arable crops, second generation biofuels are made from lignocellulosic biomass or woody crops, agricultural residues or waste.

It is more difficult to extract them in the second generation biofuels, but unlike in the first generation, sourcing of raw materials doesn't compete with the food supplies.


Biomass joint venture cluster formed in Sabah

The aspiration to turn Sabah into the country's second generation biofuel centre is one step closer with the signing of the first of its kind biomass joint venture cluster here yesterday.

In the ceremony, some 10 oil palm mills here made their commitment to supply oil palm biomass to the joint-venture company, Lahad Datu Biomass JV Cluster, which they themselves own. These include major plantation companies, namely Teck Guan Group, Bell Group, Genting Bhd, Kelas Wira Sdn Bhd and Golden Elate Sdn Bhd.

The company will then decide on the best use for the biomass such as producing solid or liquid biofuels in the form of pellets or ethanol, according to a statement from Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) Sabah Sdn Bhd.


Source: The Green Mechanics

Apa itu Pembenihan Awan

Dengan kejadian jerebu yang melanda negara ketika ini, proses Pembenihan Awan perlu dilakukan walaupun kosnya sangat tinggi.

TERDAPAT 3 JENIS PEMBENIHAN AWAN:-

Pembenihan dinamik awan
Arus udara menegak terdorong dan lebih banyak air melalui awan. Hal ini membawa pada lebih banyak hujan. Kaedah ini mempunyai 11 peringkat yang berbeza yang terlibat dan setiap kesalahan di salah satu peringkat boleh merosakkan seluruh proses.

Pembenihan Awan Higroskopik
Bahan letupan dan flare digunakan untuk menyebarkan garam melalui bahagian bawah awan. Air tertarik pada garam dan siaznya membesar lalu turun ke bawah sebagai hujan. Teknik ini masih memerlukan banyak kajian.

Pembenihan Awan Statik
Bahan kimia iaitu silver iodide disebarkan ke dalam awan. Kelembapan yang terdapat dalam awan terkondensasi di sekitar kristal. Hal ini membuat awan lebih berkesan dalam penyebaran hujan di tempat – tempat tertentu.

Namun begitu, Pembenihan awan bergantung pada cuaca. Kehadiran awan adalah suatu kemestian.Teknik ini juga bergantung pada suhu dan komposisi awan.

Pembenihan awan amat sangat komplesk cara persediaannya dan mungkin mengambil masa beberapa tahun latihan untuk menghasilkan buah (awan).Tidak ada sistem kawalan di tempat untuk menentukan di mana hujan akan jatuh.


Sumber

Chinese supercomputer named as world's fastest

A Chinese university has built the world's fastest supercomputer, almost doubling the speed of the U.S. machine that previously claimed the top spot and underlining China's rise as a science and technology powerhouse.

The semiannual TOP500 listing of the world's fastest supercomputers released Monday says the Tianhe-2 developed by the National University of Defense Technology in central China's Changsha city is capable of sustained computing of 33.86 petaflops per second. That's the equivalent of 33,860 trillion calculations per second.

The Tianhe-2, which means Milky Way-2, knocks the U.S. Energy Department's Titan machine off the No. 1 spot. It achieved 17.59 petaflops per second.

Supercomputers are used for complex work such as modeling weather systems, simulating nuclear explosions and designing jetliners.

It's the second time a Chinese computer has been named the world's fastest. In November 2010, the Tianhe-2's predecessor, Tianhe-1A, had that honor before Japan's K computer overtook it a few months later on the TOP500 list, a ranking curated by three computer scientists at universities in the U.S. and Germany.

The Tianhe-2 shows how China is leveraging rapid economic growth and sharp increases in research spending to join the United States, Europe and Japan in the global technology elite.

"Most of the features of the system were developed in China, and they are only using Intel for the main compute part," TOP500 editor Jack Dongarra, who toured the Tianhe-2 facility in May, said in a news release. "That is, the interconnect, operating system, front-end processors and software are mainly Chinese."

- AP/ Yahoo News

Ferris Wheel by George Washington Gale Ferris

Do you know George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.?

Never mind.

Have you ever ride a giant wheel, the Singapore Flyer, the Eye of Malaysia, the Ferris Wheel? Yeah, that's the wheel we are talking about here. Click on Google front/landing page today and you'll be told that today is the birthday of George Ferris, the creator of the Ferris Wheel.

Ferris was born on February 14, 1859 which happens to be the world famous Valentine's Day.  So, let's dedicate a little bit of blog space to him this day.

He is most famous for creating the original Ferris Wheel for the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition (wikipedia).

             The original 1893 Chicago Ferris Wheel. Source

    The famous Singapore Flyer (Ferris Wheel) in the city state of Singapore. Source

There is always place for people who have been kind to others and who become the source of inspiration for others. George Ferris died in 1896, but his piece of work would remain to be enjoyed by people of many many generations.


Sources: as per links given

Eye medication used to regrow human hair

Perhaps this is a good news for balding men.

New research in the FASEB Journal shows how a commonly prescribed glaucoma drug may be effective in treating male pattern baldness and other forms of alopecia.

If you're balding and want your hair to grow back, then here is some good news. A new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journal (www.fasebj.org) shows how the FDA-approved glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, causes human hair to regrow. It's been commercially available as a way to lengthen eyelashes, but these data are the first to show that it can actually grow human hair from the scalp.

"We hope this study will lead to the development of a new therapy for balding which should improve the quality of life for many people with hair loss," said Valerie Randall, a researcher involved in the work from the University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

"Further research should increase our understanding of how hair follicles work and thereby allow new therapeutic approaches for many hair growth disorders."

To make this discovery, Randall and colleagues conducted three sets of experiments. Two involved human cells and the other involved mice. The tests on human cells involved using hair follicles growing in organ culture as well as those take directly from the human scalp. In both of these experiments, the scientists found that bimatoprost led to hair growth. The third set of experiments involved applying bimatoprost to the skin of bald spots on mice. As was the case with human cells, the drug caused hair to regrow.

"This discovery could be the long-awaited follow up to Viagra that middle-aged men have been waiting for," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal.

"Given that the drug is already approved for human use and its safety profile is generally understood, this looks like a promising discovery that has been right in front of our eyes the whole time. On to the front of our scalp!"


Source: FASEB