iPad users have cumulatively downloaded an estimated 3 billion apps since Apple launched the hugely popular device on April 3, 2010, according to a report by ABI Research, a US-based market intelligence company.

It took iPad users took nearly a year and a half to reach the 3 billion downloads mark; iPhone users took as long as two years before being able to reach that level. In comparison, Android tablets only have around 440 million downloads thus far.

According to the report, Android still trails greatly behind the iPad mainly because Android tablets in the market are still using older versions of OS, which disadvantages users from enjoying the better effects of apps produced from more advanced software development kits.

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Over the past twenty years, the information age has developed at a rapid pace, and various technological transformations and applications have grown in both scope and variety. Today, the exponential growth of digitized information, combined with the skyrocketing popularity of mobile networks, has led to a surge in the sheer volume of digital content. Concurrently, as the digital divide has become smaller, people around the world are now able to freely share information and communicate with each other with fewer barriers.

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.

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Mobile voice over IP (VoIP) usage is on the rise with the number of subscriber tripling in 2011, growing from 9 million in 2010 to 29 million, according to a new report from In-Stat.

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.”

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The Kuala Lumpur City Hall will soon mandate that all new restaurants provide WiFi to their customers, according to a report by The New Straits Times today. This requirement will be a mandatory prerequisite for food operators when they apply for their license to open a new restaurant or when existing operators renew their license. However, the report states that the requirement would only apply to restaurants owners operating on premises bigger than 120 sq m in floor size.

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.

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The newest reiteration of the MyKad, which was rolled out yesterday by the National Registration Department (NRD), includes the latest laser technology and security features and has a ghost image of the identification cardholder to curb forgery, as reported by  Bernama.

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After the financial lifeline thrown its way courtesy of the 1 Malaysia email project a.k.a myemail in April last year (and the controversy that ensued), Tricubes Berhad can look forward to start 2012 on a positive note: it has been awarded a RM6 million contract by the Home Ministry to maintain the Royal Malaysian Police’s (PDRM) mobile systems for two years starting January 1.

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.

In 2011, Facebook added 69 million new Asian users in 2011. The social networking giant with $100 billion valuation started 2011 with 112 million Asian users and ended the year with 181 million users.

However, its quarterly growth has been sliding steadily in 2011, from 17% in Quarter 1 to 8% in Quarter 4. In Quarter 4 2010, it was growing at 21%.

2010 was the year when Facebook went on hyper-drive growth on users acquisition front in Asia. However, 2011 was the year when Facebook downshifted a gear or two. The decline is expected to continue as many Asian nations are reaching saturation level.

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2011 brought with it a whole slew of films from the Hollywood movie factory (and others); some were captivating, some tugged at our hearts while others made us wish we hadn’t wasted our precious hours watching them.

Here are the top 5 sci-fi/tech themed movies that we at GreyReview feel are the ones worthy of mention (and repeated viewings).

1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

This movie succeeds because of one man: Andy Serkis. His portrayal of Caesar the super-intelligent ape (albeit through the use of a mo-cap suit) makes him the most compelling protagonist in recent films. Serkis gives an astounding physical and emotional performance worthy of an Oscar. The special effects from the wizards at WETA are phenomenal and adds to the realism of the scenes. Definitely one for the Blu-Ray library.

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2011, what a year it was!

There are now over 12 million Facebook users and possibly, hundreds of thousands of Twitter users in Malaysia. Social tools are becoming more pervasive. In 2011, the tools are a force to be reckon with.

Malaysians (and elsewhere) used social media tools to amplify their dissatisfaction about various issues – from election reform to proposed Bill to government initiatives. Not only protests though. In 2011, we also saw a high-profile Malaysian CEO posting his unvarnished thoughts/opinions on social media, a record breaking tweetup, and a marriage proposal that went massively viral worldwide!

These days, whatever happens offline, the news get propagated across social networks. Whatever happens in social media space gets attention in the physical world.

In the past 365 days, there were many interesting things happening in the Malaysian social media scene. Here are some of the most notable, memorable ones.

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Malaysia’s over-reliance on foreign cyber information security software may open it to risks of information leaks and intelligence breaches, according to Prof Dr Ramlan Mahmod, the dean for the Computer Science and Information Technology Faculty at Universiti Putra Malaysia in an interview with Bernama today.

Hence the need for the country to produce its own cyber information security software.

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