Not more than 2 months after Microsoft pumped in USD240miliion into Facebook, Li Ka Shing, the Hong Kong tycoon has pumped in an additional USD60million into the company. This investment would possibly mark a partnership between Facebook and Li Ka Shing's own Chinese based site Tom.com. With Facebook growing in popularity, even here in Malaysia, this is no surprise really that more and more big names want to be involved with it.  

[Source via AFP] 

For those of you who DON'T use free Antivirus programs, you might be interested to know that Trend Micro has unveiled its 2008 suite of consumer security products. Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008 and Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 are updates their existing line, while Trend Micro Internet Security Pro is brand spanking new.

According to Trend Micro the three new products will cater to consumers as follows; Trend Micro Internet Security Pro are for advanced computer users who regularly use the PC for Web transactions and who require advanced solutions for identity protection; Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 are designed with the on-the-go web surfer in mind; and Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008 hasessential and value-priced protections for consumer PCs.  

The price of the products are as follows; Trend Micro Internet Security Pro: RM238 for one year protection for up to 3 PCs, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008: RM188 also one year protection for up to 3 PCs, and Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008: RM88 for one year on 1 PC. 

Read on for more info on the products. 

According to DigiTimes, nVidia is set to launch its GeForce 9 GPU come February next year, just after Chinese New Year. Details are a bit sketchy but from what we read, the first chip that will be rolling out will be the D9E which uses the 65nm manufacturing process. The cards based on the GPU will of course be supporting DirectX 10.1 as well as shader model 4.1. Also, according to DigiTimes source, a mid range family of the GeForce 9 can called the D9P can be expected in Jun 2008. Mind you all this is based on DigiTimes source so there is still no way to confirm it fully so stay tuned for more updates.

[New Via Endgadget via DigiTimes] 

No MIMOS isn't going around promoting or selling aunties with IT knowledge. The Makcik in question here actually means MIMOS' MAK-CIK PC (yes the name sounds ridiculous whichever way you see it), a device that they are currently developing that ought to help reduce the digital divide between the more tech savvy and affluent Malaysia and the more less tech savvy and rural Malaysia. Just think of it as Malaysia's version of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) PC that Nicholas Negroponte conceived except it being made in Malaysia.

The MIMOS CyberTablet

MIMOS is also working on a low-cost tablet PC called the CyberTablet that would cater to primary and secondary school students. The CyberTablet would mainly be used in education, especially the smart schools, to 'enhance' teaching and learning experience. Well from experience, anything that enters school usually ends up not being fun so I doubt the students will be enjoying a game of WOW or F.E.A.R with the CyberTablet should it come out and be implemented.

Its great to see that something is being developed here in order to reduce the digital divide though we'll just have to wait and see WHEN it will actually come out. And just in case you're wondering how much these devices will cost, well the MAK-CIK PC has an expected target retail price of less than US$160 while the CyberTablet should cost between US$160 to US$300. 

Read on for pictures of the MAK-CIK PC and expected functionalities of both it and the CyberTablet. 

Thinking of finally getting a Media Centre PC or Home Theatre PC for the living room? Well I am but the problem with most MCPCs and HTPCs is that they look just damn ugly and bulky sitting next to that sweet 40" LCD or plasma TV you have in the living room, not to mention the design scheme just doesn't sit well with the missus. Well Asus seems to have solve that problem with its new Digital Home System A33. As you can see from the picture, the Digital Home System A33 is one sweet looking system that look more at home in the living room then it does in the study.

And looks are not the only thing it can catch your fancy with. The Digital Home System A33 also come with an integrated HiFi 5.1 channel amplifier which is a class D digital amplifier with an SNR of 100dB+. This is not something you see in a HTPC or MCPC much if at all. Of course being based of Windows Vista home premium, it can also function as a full blow system as well. Unfortunately, we here in Malaysia will have yet to get our hands on it as it hasn't been brought in the country for sale... yet. So stay tuned to the site for updates and hopefully availabilty of it. 

Meanwhile you can read on for more info on the Digital Home System A33 and its tech specs.

Ever since Lenovo took over IBM’s PC division, we’ve seen mostly business notebooks to come out of to market. However, Lenovo has in the last year released its stable of consumer based notebooks in the form of the Lenovo 3000 line. One of their latest releases is the Lenovo 3000 Y410 which is being billed as an entertainment notebook complete with Dolby Surround Sound. I’ve managed to get my hands on a Y410 just recently and decided to take look at how Lenovo’s consumer line fares up.

Read on for the rest of the review. 

Edward J. Zander CEO of Motorola will be stepping down come January 1 2008 and the position will be taken over by Greg Brown. Zander is widely credited to have made the RAZR phone the hit it is. Well that was until everyone had a RAZR or its variants (RIZR, SLVR, RAZR er I think I' repeating myself). Admittedly the RAZR was a great phone in terms of style and design but seriously we'd really like to see something else from Motorola and hopefully with Brown in place, maybe we'll be seeing some new designs soon. Greg Brown also has a big job ahead of him in bringing Motorola back up into number two since its slip into third position in worldwide mobile phone sales and he and Motorola would really need to come up with something to rival the popularity of the original RAZR if they want to stay ahead. 

When it comes to desktop replacement notebooks, the one thing you noticed about them is that they are(well mostly) huge. The Dell Inspiron 1720 is no exception to the rule either measuring in at about 15.5" x 11.5" x 1.7" (inches) and weighing in at a good whopping 3.86kgs. At this size and weight you know that it isn’t really for lugging around more it is for staying put at your home, on your desk. Then again most of us get desktop replacement so we have the option of not lugging around a big ass computer case when mobility is called for.

Read on for the rest of the review. 

We're experiencing some hardware problems with the forums database server. Our technical team is looking into it now.

Please bear with us while we try to figure out the problem.

Update 10am : Initial investigations are that the server has experienced a hardware failure. We're on the way to the datacenter to check on it. 

Update 1.45pm : More bad news, it would seem that our 3 month old DELL server has suffered a motherboard failure. All attempts to revive it currently unsuccessful. :(  So much for reliability.

Update 5.30pm : The forums is back up on yesterday's backups on a backup server.  Full performance will be restored in a few days. 

Update 6.00pm : Replacement parts for server arrive.

Update 7.30pm : Dell technician arrives. Does some diagnostics. Logs show a voltage error before server went dead.

Update 8.00pm : Processor and motherboard replaced. Tests show no errors.

Update 11.00pm : Server back up and running. Network configuration mysteriously reset to default. wKkay  saved the day!

Day 2 12.30am : Server is stable. Routine updates and database merging. Should be back to normal in the morning.

Day 2 9.00am : More bad news, the server is down again. Looks like problem lies elsewhere. DELL technician to come over in the afternoon to check again. *sigh*

Day 2 11.30pm: Server is back up and running again.  The marines have gone home for much needed rest. 

Its been 42 years since a Malaysian woman last won a major badminton title for the country. This little blip in history changed last night when Wong Mew Choo against all odds beat some of the world's best players to clinch the 2007 China Open womens title.

Her incredible road to the final included defeated reigning world champion Zhu Lin 18-21 21-9 21-13 at the quaterfinals, making short work of  China Open defending champion and reigning Olympic champion Zhang Ning 21-16, 21-19 in the semis and then defeating reigning world number 1 Xie Xingfang 21-16, 8-21, 21-17 at the final.

The win is all the more sweeter as it was in the backyard of some of the worlds greatest women players.

Bravo Mew Choo, you've done us all proud.  

In conjunction with the upcoming Christmas and school holiday season, Intel Malaysia together with a network of participating partners will be offering many exciting deals at this coming PC Fair. Now consumers can own a high performance Intel Core 2 Duo based PC starting from RM1,599.00 or take home an Intel Core 2 Quad system starting from RM2,399.00. Intel together with its partners will be offering a complete range of affordable PCs powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo for mainstream users and Intel Core 2 Quad for high-end users and gamers.

“Intel is set to unveil more affordable PCs to Malaysians from all walks of life. We are aware that price is the Number 1 factor for the average Malaysian PC purchaser and we have created packages that enable them to experience the benefits of ICT without compromising its performance,” said Norhizam Kadir, marketing manager of Intel Malaysia.  

Visitors to PC Fair should activate their Bluetooth devices to receive special promotions. Look out for the Intel Christmas tree laden with ornaments at participating outlet. Upon purchase of a PC, customers can pick an ornament that will entitle them to various prizes including an MP3 player.  

Logitech has expanded its G-series family of PC gaming peripherals, unveiling the Logitech G51 Surround Sound Speaker System, a 5.1 speaker system featuring 360-degree surround sound with dual Matrix modes for a more immersive gaming experience. For gamers who want to bring their games to life, the Logitech G51 Surround Sound Speaker System offers all the benefits of 360-degree surround sound – and makes it available with or without a multi-channel audio source. With Logitech’s dual Matrix technology, gamers can create a 5.1 surround-sound experience from any common two-channel stereo source.

Using Logitech’s proprietary Matrix surround sound technology, the G51 speakers split the audio signal into six channels of sound, without degrading the audio quality. That means, even if their game doesn’t provide six-channel audio, people can enjoy it anyway. As a result, gamers can gain the competitive advantages of surround sound – first-person-shooter gamers, for example, can now hear enemies creep up behind them. If they’re being shot at, they’ll know what direction the bullets are coming from.

The Logitech G51 Surround Sound Speaker System is expected to be available in end November for a suggested retail price of RM950. Read on for more info.

The RAZR design never seems to get old according to Motorola as they have once again launched a new RAZR phone the MOTORAZR² V9 . According to Motorola the MOTORAZR² V9 is sleeker, smarter and stronger, offering a new, richer multimedia experience with mesmerising looks, and packed full of cutting edge features such as CrystalTalk technology, up to 2GB external memory support, Full screen web browsing, real-time point-to-point video and ultra-fast menu navigation.

“With the modern style and powerful performance of the MOTORAZR2 V9, Motorola is once again redefining the mobile phone,” said Eric Chong, Country General Manager, Motorola Mobile Devices Business. “This device takes the world’s best-selling feature-phone to the next level. With more than 100 million RAZR’s sold worldwide, people are now hungry for the next iconic feature phone. The RAZR2 delivers the ultimate mobile experience in a slim, strong and smart form that people will want to own, and others will envy!”  

The  MOTORAZR² V9 is retailing at around RM1,888. Read on for tech specs.

BenQ has recently launched a whole slew of sleek digital lifestyle prodcuts which include four exciting new widescreen LCD monitors (the 19-inch widescreen G900W and E900W, 22-inch widescreen E2200W and the 24-inch G2400W), three Joybooks (the R56, S32B and upgraded S41s), four ultra-chic digital cameras (the DC E1000, DC X835, upgraded DC C840 and T800) and six digital projectors (the MP511+, MP612c, MP723, MP730, MP771 and SP820).

“We are very proud and excited to introduce this exceptional new lineup of products which further reiterates our goal of bringing the best digital lifestyle solutions to consumers,” said Ms. Chee Fui Chung, General Manager of BenQ Service & Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd. The new products conjure up a sense of understated beauty, revealing classy minimalist inspiration behind it. The use of sleek lines and textured materials coupled with high quality finishing in the new lineup highlight an appreciation of sophistication and luxury.

Read on for more info and pricing on the launched products.