At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas today, Huawei unveiled the Ascend P1 S, which it claims is the world’s slimmest smartphone.

Running on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, the Ascend P1 S is only 6.68mm thin; in comparison, the Motorola RAZR is 7.1mm thick and the Samsung Galaxy S II is 8.49mm thick. In addition to its super slim form factor, the Ascend P1 S is also the fastest and most compact smartphone in its class, with a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 Cortext-A9 processor with 1GB of RAM.

And that’s not all! The Ascend P1 S boasts a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display with HD resolution of 960×540, toughened with Corning’s Gorilla Glass for extra durability. For imaging, it comes with a back-lit 8MP camera and a front facing 1.3MP camera. Users can also experience its built-in 1080p HD video-capture capabilities.

“We’re excited to unveil the world’s slimmest smartphone here at CES 2012,” said Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Device. “The Ascend P1 S demonstrates our ongoing commitment to innovating high quality devices that utilize the latest hardware and software technologies.”

No pricing has been revealed for the Huawei Ascend P1 S yet, but it is expected to be available in Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, Australia, Middle East, and China from April 2012. A lower end model, the Ascend P1,  which is slightly thicker at 7.69mm (but carries roughly the same specification) will also be offered.

Promo Video of Huawei Ascend P1 / P1 S

Huawei Unveils the World’s Slimmest Android Smartphone originally appeared on GreyReview.com on January 10, 2012.

This new digital era is marked by an important new factor: user experience. Users have the ultimate say in steering the development of the industry so it is vitally important that they are equipped with the means with which to quickly and easily access mobile networks. This in turn drives current and future industry development, which will result in a flourishing information age.

In today’s world, millions of services and applications are close at hand, enabling a constant, 24-hour online digital life. While the underlying network infrastructure is at the heart of this ubiquitous connectivity, user experience is limited to a few points of interface. Since user experience and the demand for continuous service drives technological development, it is therefore of utmost importance to provide users with optimal experiences.

The following factors best illustrate what comprises an optimal user experience.

1. Speed that counts: Zero wait time redefines network speed

In telecommunications, increases in speed are often measured exponentially. Due to rapidly advancing technologies that have taken us from dial-up to fiber to the home (FTTH), it has taken a mere 20 years to increase bandwidth by 1,000 times. Despite this extraordinary pace of development, people are still clamoring for additional bandwidth.

Despite the current fixation on bandwidth, in the future, network speed will no longer be measured by the bandwidth a service needs, but determined instead by the wait time experienced by users waiting for networks to respond. Zero wait time for users is the new paradigm that will shape Internet development.

2. Quality that counts: Ensuring the availability of video and other media presentation forms powered by augmented reality technologies

The development of the Internet has witnessed the transformation of web content from mere text, images and sounds into high-definition videos and other next-generation forms of media presentation, such as 3D technologies, ultra high-definition technologies, and augmented reality technologies. These vivid media presentation forms will become more widely available and will increasingly be used across various applications such as e-commerce, social networking, and broadcast media.

3. Freedom that counts: Access the ubiquitous Internet easily and instantaneously

It took twenty years to bring the number of fixed Internet users to two billion, but only five years to bring the number of mobile Internet users to one billion, two times faster than the fixed Internet. Today people are enabled to be online anywhere and anytime because the mobile Internet sets users free from fixed lines as well as the popularization of the smart phones.

Similarly, à la carte services will continue to be provided on-demand, television programming in particular, since people will have the ability to watch programs at any time much more freely than they do today. Key to this provision of on-demand services is a freely available mobile Internet, which will enable users to easily access services and applications around the clock and in any location.

4. Simplicity that counts: Optimal ergonomic function

The history of man-machine interaction, during which the input method has transformed from keyboard and mouse to touchpad to motion sensing input, demonstrates a return from complicated input devices to intuitive and natural ones that tap into natural human function and form. In the future, even more natural ergonomics will further the user experience by leveraging people’s natural abilities like speaking, making gestures, and conveying emotions.

5. Sharing that counts: Community-like experiences elevate user experience

Google introduced mathematical logic to its search services, providing improved access to massive amounts of information. Google does this merely at the tool layer, while Facebook transcends the tool layer and deals with the social nature of humans. By emphasizing the social aspects of the Internet, Facebook addresses users’ emotional needs to some extent as well as satisfying their desire for sharing. The Facebook phenomenon indicates that a community-like experience will be a basic feature for both consumer-oriented services and enterprise-targeted applications.

The pursuit of a better user experience is a major driver in the further development of the telecom industry. A better user experience equates to higher speed, better quality, more freedom, greater simplicity, and easier sharing—in some ways, these factors reflect our fundamental human nature.

Although the concept of an information society has been bandied about for years, actual information-based development has just begun. The ongoing pursuit of better user experiences will continuously drive the transformation of information services. The development of telecom networks and technologies will also enter a new development phase. The combination of optimizing user experiences and network technologies will undoubtedly drive information services into stronger synergies and promote new applications and technologies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jeff Liu Jiangfeng is currently the Southern Pacific Region and Vice Present of Asia Pacific Region of Huawei. In this role, Mr. Jiangfeng Liu is responsible for telecommunication including marketing strategy, planning and operations as well as product promotion and sales of wireless, wire line and data communication networks in the Southern Pacific Region. Jiangfeng has persistently dedicated to implementing the customer-centric culture to achieve a sound and prosperous business development in the Asia Pacific Region, one of the fastest growing regions in the global scale.

Jiangfeng brings more than 15 years solid technical and management experience and expertise to the role and has held senior product and business development positions within Huawei since 2000. Originally joined the company in 1996, Mr. Jiangfeng Liu has contributed and witnessed the makeover of Huawei from a small local enterprise to a global giant.

User Experience as a Disruptive Force in Today’s Telecom Industry: Huawei originally appeared on GreyReview.com on January 6, 2012.

According to the report, with the increasing market, thanks to the expanding number of smartphone users, many providers are introducing services, which includes to some degree, mobile VoIP.

The report quotes Amy Cravens, a senior analyst at In-Stat as saying: “While VoIP is a well-defined market, mobile VoIP is still in its infancy, with most offerings only being developed over the past several years, and because it’s in its nascent stage, there are significant opportunities for companies to develop the market.”

The main avenue for these providers to offer their mobile VoIP services is through the OS application store like iTunes and the Android Market.

The report also estimates that the revenues generated by mobile VoIP usage will increase to over $4 billion in 2015 and that LTE operators are not likely to have a significant impact on the mobile VoIP market until 2013.

Mobile VoIP Users Tripled in 2011 originally appeared on GreyReview.com on January 5, 2012.

Those expecting the service to be free should not hold their collective breaths, though… the outlet operators are given the choice to provide Wi-Fi to their customers for free or for a reasonable fee.

In an interview with the NST, Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail acknowledged that Wi-Fi is in demand and that food outlet operators who offer it will be giving their customers value-added services.

The mayor also mentioned that the council is also currently studying the feasibility of  installing Wi-Fi facilities at public food courts.

Image credit

KL Eateries to be Wi-Fi Ready originally appeared on GreyReview.com on January 4, 2012.

The project, which will be to maintain PDRM’s Enhanced Mobile Management System (EMMS) and Mobile Card Acceptance Device (MCAD) will be spearheaded by TricubesNCR JV Sdn Bhd, which is 70% owned by Tricubes Berhad.

Tricubes, which was appointed as PDRM’s traffic fines collection agent last November expects the award ”to contribute positively to the earnings and net assets per share of the group from the financial year ending 31 March 2012 and is not expected to have any material effect on the gearing of the company”, as stated in a filing to Bursa Malaysia today.

The Malaysian Insider reveals that Tricubes has also approached the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the Road Transport Department (JPN) and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to use its controversial myemail billing system and will begin pilot trials soon.

Myemail service provider Tricubes starts 2012 on the right footing originally appeared on GreyReview.com on January 3, 2012.

And here is a list of iPad-crazy nations in Asia, in terms of total iPads purchased on eBay:

1. Hong Kong: 357 units
2. Japan: 353
3. Singapore: 137
4. Malaysia: 70
5. South Korea: 62
6. Thailand: 53
7. China: 51

click to enlarge

Since Apple doesn’t disclose sales information (yet), this awesome infographic can be a rough indicator for iPad 2 popularity around the world.

iPad 2 demand patterns worldwide: An early indication originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 1, 2011.

After seeing a rather dismal FDI (Finger Dexterity Index) trend over the years, online search giant Google today quietly launch its latest fitness initiative to further enhance the well-being of Internet users worldwide. Google called the new hands/fingers exercise, Chromercise, to leverage on the the branding of its highly popular Chrome browser.

A rather dismal FDI

According to Googler Chris Wright, certified Chromercise instructor:

Some existing finger exercise programs focus on upgrading your digits’ cardiovascular strength and musculature; others focus on dexterity. Chromercise’s unique blend of aerobic motion and rhythmic accompaniment covers all of the above while simultaneously tightening and toning your fingers’ actual appearance.

Check out the before-after of the Chromercise programme:

In addition to Chromercise, Google also introduces Gmail Motion to allow Gmail users to compose emails using body motions. Here’s how it works:

To use Gmail Motion, you’ll need a computer with a built-in webcam. Once you enable Gmail Motion from the Settings page, Gmail will enable your webcam when you sign in and automatically recognize any one of the detected movements via a spatial tracking algorithm. We designed the movements to be easy and intuitive to perform and consulted with top experts in kinestetics and body movement in devising them.

Google venturing into personal fitness, introduces Chromercise and Gmail Motion originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 1, 2011.

The good news is that now Malaysians are finally able to buy an IPad that is covered by full official support and warranty, as opposed to those covered by shop warranty and support if you were to buy them from, say, Lowyat Plaza.

Below is a list of prices of the various iPads which will be made available through Mac stores and Apple shops in the Klang Valley and Penang:

iPad WiFi

• 16GB: RM1,549
• 32GB: RM1,849
• 64GB: RM2,149

iPad 3G

On the data plan front, there’s Maxis who is offering three plans:

• Entry 3.5GB – RM70 per month (available for postpaid and prepaid)
• Super 6.0GB – RM90 per month (available for postpaid only)
• Premium 15.0GB – RM200 per month (available for postpaid only)

Not to be left out, DiGi also posted its iPad-friendly data plans on Facebook.

Fledgling mobile service operator, YES, may also be offering data plans for the IPad, based on their latest Twitter. Nothing much is certain though; all that is certain now based on their tweet is that you can purchase an iPad at the Yes flagship store in Lot 10 and that there is no activation fee if you opt for the IPad + Huddle bundle.

With a replacement for the iPad to be announced sometime in early next year (as reported by Bloomberg), one wonders if now is the right time to launch the product in Malaysia or if now is the right time to make the purchase. The fact that this generation of the iPad will be rendered obsolete in less than six months might deter some buyers (and Fast Company wrote First-generation Apple products are for suckers.) But the question to ask is this: when the new iPad does make its debut, when will it finally (officially) reach Malaysia?

Apple iPad Makes Delayed Landing in Malaysia originally appeared on GreyReview.com on November 30, 2010.

Registration is a pretty simple affair. Just key in your email and desired password and you’re ready to go.

At present, Smokeball Malaysia boasts of having over 700 free legal forms (ranging from court forms to company forms) together with an increasing number of Legal Practice Guides and Precedents. These guides, unlike the legal forms, require subscription (the user has the option to choose between a month’s subscription or an annual one, both of which are affordable) and according to Smokeball Malaysia “are authored by practising, qualified lawyers who are knowledgeable in their chosen area of law.”

Currently only guides on Conveyancing & Property and Wills, Estates & Powers of Attorney are available for purchase (with options for one month subscription and 12 months subscription) but will be updated as and when new content is available.

Want free online legal forms and guides? Have a Smokeball originally appeared on GreyReview.com on November 17, 2010.

This morning, Facebook released an upgrade (version 3.2 to 3.2.1) for its iPhone app:

In the latest version 3.2.1, I can no longer see friends’ check-ins (as shown above). Instead, I see this:

Facebook not going all Places yet originally appeared on GreyReview.com on August 20, 2010.

CIMB claimed its Twitter account has been hijacked. If true, CIMB needs to re-look at its password policy. For CIMB, its inability to safeguard its own online presence can send a disturbing signal, considering CIMB is one of the largest commercial banks in Malaysia. BUT, can this be just an unfortunate mis-tweeting mishap?

CIMB Bank tweets cock, blames hijacker originally appeared on GreyReview.com on July 31, 2010.