Windows 9: next version of Windows? What do you expect?

Rumors

In recent months there's been rumors swirling around that Microsoft will release next version of Windows currently known as Windows 9. Currently, Microsoft is set to roll out Update 1 for Windows 8.1 soon.

Microsoft will release the Windows 9 between May and November this year, according to rumors. In January 2014, Windows 9 was expected only in early 2015.

What People Expect 

I expect the new release Windows 9 will be cheaper for home user, at least same price with Windows 7 Home Basic. And, the interface back to "normal" as Windows 7 and successful earlier versions of windows. Just put one button on task bar  or desktop to activate and disactivate Metro launcher.

John C. Dvorak, columnist PCMag.com, in his articles "Microsoft's Must-Have List for Windows 9" list 5 his wishlist:

1. Fix the file system.  - Develop a database-style file system that would allow for easy and super-fast searches for keywords within the structure of the file.
2. Fix the Networking. – Can support various networking protocol and interface, without additional patch.
3. Bring back the distraction games.  – Bring back Spider Solitaire and Pinball.
4. Scale everything.
5. Put back the real Start menu.-  For user convenience. 

Read full article here:  pcmag.com

Woody Leonhard, writer for "Windows 8 All-in-One for Dummies." in his article "10 must-have features for Windows 9":

1. Put back start button
2. Multiboot - To boot to the desktop or the Metro Start screen and configurable in control panel. ( like linux desktop)
   
3. Dual monitor with Metro on the side - Can configure, one screen for normal desktop and another screen for Metro
4. Meaningful notifications
5. Desktop Charms that do something
6. Metro apps at iPad standards
7. Bring back Aero Glass feature.
8. A Control Panel that controls
9. Metro mute button 
10. "Get out of hell" modal dialog

Read full article here:  infoworld.com

How about you?


Source: winbeta.org

Google’s ‘smart contact lens’: Future Glucose Monitoring Device

On 16 January 2014,  Google has announced that for the past 18 months, they had been working on a smart contact lens project, Google Contact Lens.

The Google Contact Lens built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material. They are testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second. They are also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer, so they are exploring integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds. It’s still early days for this technology, but they have completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine their prototype.

Brian Otis and Babak Parviz are co-founder for this project. Both of them is electrical engineering faculty members at the University of Washington. Babak Parviz also one of the project leaders at Google’s Project Glass next to Google X lead Product Manager, Steve Lee, and Stanford Research Professor and founder and head of Google X, Sebastian Thrun. In 2011, Microsoft supported Babak Parviz's research into chip-enabled contact lenses that could detect diabetes-related high blood sugar levels.




Google plan to look for partners who are experts in bringing products like this to market. These partners will use their technology for a smart contact lens and develop apps that would make the measurements available to the wearer and their doctor.



Source:

• http://www.geekwire.com
• http://techcrunch.com

Microsoft :Satya Nadella as CEO, Bill Gates As Technology Advisor

On Feb 4, 2014, Microsoft had made official announced that Satya Nadella is their new CEO, replacing Steve Ballmer. Nadella has spent 22 years at Microsoft, and was previously Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Cloud and Enterprise. Nadella also takes a position on Microsoft’s Board of Directors, and founder Bill Gates will increase his involvement in the company.


Nadella is only the third person to occupy Microsoft’s CEO role in 39 years, preceded by Ballmer who filled the role between January 2000 and January 2014 and Gates, who led the company between 1975 and 2000.

Along that news, another big change in the executive ranks: Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder, is leaving his role as chairman of the board and is taking a new role as “Founder and Technology Advisor”. Microsoft terms the change as a “step up” from his previous job, in that it will see Gates once again taking a more active role in the company.



Microsoft notes that Gates “will devote more time to the company, supporting Nadella in shaping technology and product direction.”  and he will remain a part of the board of directors.

As part of the new leadership succession there have been reports as recently  that Gates would take a more active product role in the company, including spending at least one day at week at Microsoft, but spending less time involved with administrative work.

For the last several years, Gates has put a lot of time, effort and money into philanthropic ventures with his wife Melinda and related investments. He has also built up a portfolio of investments focusing on areas like sustainable energy and medical technology.

Source:

• techcrunch.com:Technology Advisor: Was He Pushed Or Did He Jump?
• techcrunch.com:Microsoft Names Satya Nadella Its New CEO

Top 10 Highest Prices Paid for Domain Names

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Year of the Green Wooden Horse and Quotes

2014 is the Chinese Year of the Green Wooden Horse. In Chinese Five Element theory, Horse is in the Fire group. Horse month is in the middle of summer. Horse is the strongest Fire animal in 12 zodiacs.
Chinese like Horses for many reasons. Horse can give people a ride to their destination and also a sign of speedy success.

Horses like to compete with others. They pursuit for their freedom, passion and leadership. Therefore, people will have busy schedule for their goal in the year of Horse. In Chinese Five Element Horoscope, Horse is connected to fire, red and heat. Horse is treated as a Romantic Star in Chinese Horoscope.
Horse is intelligent animal. Human can make Horse famous. Without human's guide, Horse just a wild animal.

Quotes About Horses

“Employers are like horses — they require management.”― P.G. Wodehouse, Carry on, Jeeves

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him participate in synchronized diving.”― Cuthbert Soup, Another Whole Nother Story

"Donkey's lips do not fit in with a horse's mouth." - Chinese Proverb

"Long roads test the horse, long dealings the friend." - Chinese Proverb

"Be on a horse when you go in search of a better one." - Chinese Proverb

"You cannot train a horse with shouts and expect it to obey a whisper." - Dagobert D. Runes

"Every time you ride, your either teaching or un-teaching your horse." - Gordon Wrigh

"One reason why birds and horses are happy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses." - Dale Carnegie, How To Win Friends and Influence People

"Life is like a wild horse. You ride it or it rides you." - Unknown

503,000 oz of gold deposit in Kelantan - owned by Singaporeans !

CNMC Goldmine Holdings Ltd, which public listed company in Singapore, currently has a gold mine in Kelantan, Malaysia as well as an ore processing facility. Its mining rights to the area, which covers 10 square kilometres, expire on April 7, 2018. The company expects to produce 6,000 ounces of gold this year, with output rising to 31,500 ounces next year and 58,100 ounces by 2014.
Chris Lim, CNMC's CEO, said the firm's cost of production is estimated at $450-$550 per ounce, way below the current market price of spot gold which is around $1,650 an ounce.

The Minerals and Geoscience Department of Kelantan has approved the development of CNMC Goldmine Holdings’ heap leach gold recovery scheme at its flagship Sokor Gold Project in northern Malaysia. 1The green light means CNMC can begin an immediate trial run of its heap leach production operations using a stockpile of about 90,000 tonnes of gold-bearing ore. The heap leach scheme is the largest of CNMC’s three gold recovery sites at Sokor, with a monthly throughout capacity of 100,000 tonnes.

  

The company’s chief executive officer Chris Lim says, “This approval and the inauguration of our first mass gold recovery operation at Sokor marks another significant milestone in CNMC’s development. We have already identified the ore body from which gold will be recovered for this heap leach operation and look towards ramping up our gold production.”

The Sokor gold field project’s first gold pour was achieved in July 2010. The 10sqkm site hosts four identified gold deposits - Manson’s lode vein, New Discovery vein, Sg Ketubong target and Rixen target.

Sokor has a JORC compliant resource of 8.59 million tonnes @ 1.7 grams/tonne gold for 503,000 contained ounces of gold. It is considered to be the next most prospective but undeveloped hard rock gold mining area in Malaysia. Once developed, CNMC says it will be one of the country’s largest gold mines. 2012 has been a year of milestones for the company, with its maiden profit of US$480,000 reported in quarter 2 and gold production during the same quarter increasing by 65.3% to 1,314 ounces.

Source: http://huijiao-macma.blogspot.com/2013/08/503000-oz-of-gold-deposit-at-ulu.html

Serious Notes Before You Start Full Time Business

There are a lot of people who are not really clear on why they would want to start their own business. The main reason that most people want to start their own business is for the money. Over the long term you are probably going to make more money running your business than you will working for somebody else. Of course there are some people who choose to start their own business simply because they hate the idea of working for somebody else. One of the real attractions for a lot of people when starting a business is the fact that their time is their own.

Before get into full time business, here is serious notes to take:

1) Are you mentally ready? 

Are you prepare to work extra hard, accepting the challenge, take risks, to sacrifice time for yourself and family. If your business fails, you still have to put food on the table. 

Do you have to pay back the loan taken? 

Do you have a plan B?

The biggest sacrifice that you are going to have to make when you start your own business is going to be financial. It is recommended that individuals have enough available cash or a stream of alternative cash flow to live for at least one year, if not longer.

There are lots of people who really like the idea of running their own business. Unfortunately a lot of those people don't really think about what is involved in starting a business. It is important that you think about this before you rush into starting your own business.

2) For company partnerships – majority cannot last.

How well you know your partners is more important than how long. 
Before you start, do a detail profile of your partner or partners.
List down and study their integrity, strength, weakness, habits, personality or their spouses if they are influential or involve behind the scene. Give an overall score. If you can get 60% or more in favor, then go ahead. Do your homework.

3) Business Accounting

First, you have to do a Profit & Loss Account.
Revenue less Overhead Expenses = Profit or (Loss)
Overhead Expenses are generally fixed and that is easy to be accounted for.
The difficult part is the Revenue. You can only do a forecast.
Do not be naïve, there are too many factors which can affect your business.
In this case, you must know your competitors well. What are your “value added” against them?
If you cannot find many “value added” then you better think again.
Example:
a) Open a restaurant.
Do you have one or more specialties in your menu?
How tasty are your food? Is your pricing right for the targeted customers?
Your customers are the ones that determine your specialties, the right pricing and not you.
You have to do food testing and survey with a big group.
Do your homework.

b) Open a retail ICT Shop.
If you are only doing trading of ICT gadgets, likely you will not survive.
Models are changing too fast and margin too low. So what are your “value added”?
If you provide repair services and having a network of corporate clients, then you are different. 

4) Capital

All new companies take time to grow to be profitable. After paying the initial business set up,
how many months of operating cost can your capital sustain? 

Many first timers cannot get through this initial stage. One good example is the food business. 

It is sad to see so many new restaurants closed shop within 6 months. They cannot even recover the renovation cost.

5) Market research

Why do market research? Market research will allow you to make sure that there are actually people out there who are looking to buy your product. Far too many people start businesses without doing this and it rarely works out well for them, it is a step that you can't afford to neglect.
The easiest way to do market research to see if people are buying what you are offering is to to look and see if anybody is offering something similar. The vast majority of them simply offer a variation on something that is already available.

You also have to determine if your product solves a problem that they have or if it is merely something that they would like to have, this will affect your marketing strategy. As a general rule the more original your product the more market research you need to do.

There is a lot more to market research than finding out if people are interested in the product that you are selling. The far bigger challenge is finding out who those people are. It is also important that you know who else is selling products in your market so that you can create a plan to set your product apart. Good market research will save you from wasting a lot of time and money on a bad idea.

Are you ready for full time business?

Source: 

http://www.lamp.com.my/cm-s-column/to-start-or-not-to-start-business

http://www.homenetsouthasia.org/think-it-through.php

Passive Income: How Our Phones Can be Transformed From a Liability to an Asset.

But, its' real alright! Our phones can be transformed from a liability to an asset...

Crazy idea? You bet it is!

Now, who in their right mind would want to pay me to use my phone the way I wanted to? Thats' ridiculous right? But not anymore it isn't

This is real... This is possible... And this could be the biggest thing that is happening to you right now...

Just think... what if, YOUR mobile phone could provide YOU with a monthly, consistent and dependable income?

Now that would be great wouldn't it?

Why would you want to look at this?

Now lets' be honest here... I am sure that you, and everyone else in the planet, wishes to have a better life and overcome some, if not all of their financial challenges... I know that I am right in saying this...

Let's face it... It is true...

Now I don't know what is your biggest financial challenge may be, but let me give you some clues...

Your house... Is the mortgage getting you down?
Your dream car... When will you get your dream car? 
Getting married? Got enough money for your big day?
Got kids? What about their future?
Your Parents? Are you able to provide for them? 
Empty Pocket Syndrome? Do you suffer from this?
Your health? Health is costly... got any backup?
Bills, bills, bills...  Are you paying on time?
Debts? Is it weighing you down

These financial challenges are real... and people need to handle it, whether they like it or not...

I don't know where you stand... If you are blessed with wealth, and you don't have any financial challenges, then you may not need this, and you may not even want to read any further...

But if these challenges ring true for you... then you really have to pay attention to every single word that is written in this page... Because, this may be the solution that you have been looking for...

And your SOLUTION looks like this...

Yes... Your mobile phone can give you the solution that you are looking for...

It may not have been possible before this, but it is now...

All this while, your mobile phone has been a liability to you. You needed to pay to use it. And you had no choice... Whether you liked it or not, you needed to pay in order to use it...

Not anymore my friend...

The time has come for you to transform your mobile phone into as asset. It is finally possible to allow your mobile phone to pay you and put money into your pocket instead!

You can finally earn an income for doing something that you have always done... You can make calls, talk to people send SMS'es and get a big fat commission every month, month after month, for the rest of your life!

And there is more... With this solution, you can:- 

 

	You can retain your existing number!
	Or you can change your mobile phone number anytime!
	You can earn an income 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week and 52 weeks of the year..
	You can even decide how much you would like to earn every month...
	You can pay ALL your bills on time...
	You can even get out of debt!
	You can even share about this program to all your family members and friends, and show them that they can enjoy all these benefits too...

More than 100,000 people are already enjoying all this...

All the benefits I shared with you are real!

In fact more than 100,000 people are already enjoying all these benefits already... What I am sharing with you now is so unique, so simple and so powerful. The solution I am giving to you is definitely a game changer, and it can change the way you live the rest of your life.

It is here today... and whether you like it or not, it will impact you and your loved ones in a big and positive way.

For more details:

Click Here!! ( Malay )

Click Here!!! ( English )

 

Your Basic Rights As Malaysian Taxpayer

Here are list of your basic rights you need to aware as Malaysian taxpayers:

TO CLAIM TAX REFUND

If there are any refunds due, you have the right to make a claim for the refund under Section 111 of the Income Tax Act 1967 (ICTA). The claim must be made within six years after the year of assessment to which the claim for repayment relates. From 2012 interest at the rate of 2 % per annum will be paid if the tax refund is made 90 days from the due date for e-filing or 120 days in case the return is filed manually.

TO APPEAL

As the law stands you can appeal against an assessment within 30 days of the issue of the notice of assessment and if you wish to appeal beyond the 30 days, then you need to file a Form N together with the reasons for the application for an extension of time which will granted at the discretion of the Director General of Income Tax or special commissioners.

In a self-assessment system the tax return submitted by a taxpayer will be treated as the assessment issued on the day it is submitted. In a proposal in Budget 2014, which was expected to become law from Jan 1, 2014, the right of appeal to the special commissioners will be restricted to situations where the taxpayer has filed his/her tax return based on Inland Revenue Board(IRB)’s public ruling but does not with the views of the IRB, as expressed in the public ruling.

TO CORRECT ERROR OR MISTAKE

A taxpayer has the right to correct errors and mistakes within six years after the end of the year of assessment within which the assessment was made. Although the Budget 2014 proposal has restricted the right of the taxpayer to appeal against an assessment under the self-assessment system, the IRB has assured tax professionals that the error and mistake provisions in Section 131 can be used to rectify genuine errors and mistakes on a retrospective basis subject to the six-year time limit.

GET NOTIFICATION

You have the right to be notified before your returns are audited and given adequate opportunity and time to provide answers to the queries raised by the IRB.

REPRESENTATION

The taxpayer has the right to be represented by a tax agent or a lawyer: These professionals can represent the taxpayer when dealing with the IRB and be present in all meetings between the taxpayer and IRB and provide advice and guidance to the taxpayer throughout the period of the audit.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All information given to the IRB officers shall be dealt with in a confidential manner under Section 138 of the Act. Exceptions are where the cases are being investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering Act or where the court orders the IRB to release the information or where the Auditor General needs the information in the course of carrying out his duties.

CLAIMS

The right to claim the reliefs, deductions and incentives provided for in the tax legislation is always available to taxpayers and in the event these claims have been missed out an error or mistake claim under Section 131 can be made within the six-year period.

TO BE INFORMED

The taxpayer has the right to be informed of the reasons for the imposition of any additional taxes or penalties by the IRB.

INSTALLMENTS

The taxpayer has the right to request payment of tax by installments.

TIME BAR

Currently the IRB cannot raise assessments beyond five years unless there is fraud or negligence or willful default involved, for example, in 2014 the IRB can only raise assessments retrospectively up to 2009.
The above rights should be invoked by taxpayers whenever needed and the IRB has time and time again reminded taxpayers that it will respect their rights.

For more info contact:

INLAND REVENUE BOARD OF MALAYSIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE

Toll Free Number  1-800-88-5436 (LHDN)

http://www.hasil.gov.my

Source: Excerpt from an article by S.M Thanneermalai, President of Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia and Senior Executive director of PwC in SUNBIZ section, TheSun newspaper on Monday, January 20,2014.

Teach For Malaysia: Explore Your Potential and End Education Inequity

Who Is Teach For Malaysia

Teach For Malaysia is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that is enlisting Malaysia’s most promising future leaders in our mission to end education inequity. Participants in the programme, known as Fellows, serve as full-time teachers for two years in high-need schools across Malaysia, and commit to transforming the education outcomes of less-privileged schoolchildren through significantly improving their achievements, affect and access. In the long term, Teach For Malaysia Alumni will form a different class of leaders, working in various sectors to expand education opportunity for all children in Malaysia. To date, Teach For Malaysia has recruited 174 Fellows across 3 cohorts with 44 Alumni having completed the Fellowship. They aim to grow this number aggressively given the scale and urgency of education inequity. 

Their Story

Early 2009

The idea of starting Teach For Malaysia came about from a conversation at a mamak stall between the two co-founders, Keeran Sivarajah and Dzameer Dzulkifli, both associates at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

July 2009

Inspired by the successes of initiatives like Teach For America and Teach First in the UK, Keeran and Dzameer start developing the framework for Teach For Malaysia with help from Institut Aminuddin Baki and benchmark it against the recommendations and principles of the Teach For All network.

April 2010

With its proven model and strong framework, Teach For Malaysia gains strong buy-in and support from various individuals and departments within the Ministry of Education and Economic Planning Unit, who push for its implementation.

May 2010

Khazanah Nasional Berhad decide to fund Teach For Malaysia thanks to the efforts of now-Trustee Shahnaz Al-Sadat Abdul Mohsein, who advocates for the initiative in her capacity as Khazanah's then Executive Director of Strategic Human Capital Management.

September 2010

The next few months see Keeran and Dzameer working hard to build a dynamic,passionate team and secure funding and support from various sources, each of whom have been crucial to making the Teach For Malaysia vision a reality.

October 2010

Teach For Malaysia launches its first recruitment drive, and the search begins for Malaysia's most committed top graduates and young professionals, ready to join the battle against education inequity.

December 2010

Teach For Malaysia is recognised as a key human capital initiative in the 10th Malaysia Plan and is officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education YAB Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin bin Mohd Yassin.

October 2011

Teach For Malaysia's first Institute takes place for the inaugural cohort, consisting of trainers and specialists from across the Teach For All network, as well as lecturers from Institut Aminuddin Baki.

January 2012

The 50 Fellows in Teach For Malaysia's first cohort begin teaching in high need secondary schools across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

April 2012

Teach For Malaysia hosts its first annual TFM Week, where industry leaders and public figures come together to teach alongside Fellows for a day and shed light on the challenges teachers face each day in high need communities.

September 2012

As a follow-up to the highly successful TFM Week, Teach For Malaysia initiates TFM Week: Flipped, where industry leaders and public figures who had previously entered the classroom now work with Fellows to bring students out of school on a series of field trips that aim to inspire them to aspire to greater heights.

August 2013

The first Teach For Malaysia Summit is held at Sunway International School, bringing together all Fellows, staff, and partners and supporters for the first time in a collaborative approach to solving key educational problems at the classroom, school and systemic level.

How to get Involved

Here are some ways you can get involved

1. Donation

Make a donation and help make a difference in the lives of children who need it most.

2. Become a Campus Leader

Play a significant role in recruiting top talent by becoming a Teach For Malaysia representative on your university campus.

3. Apply for the Teach For Malaysia Fellowship

Apply here: http://www.tfaforms.com/301728

4. Refer a Friend 

Invite exceptional young leaders to apply to the life-changing Teach For Malaysia Fellowship

5. Join their Staff

If their mission and core values resonate with you and you thrive in an outcome-driven entrepreneurial environment, join them by sending your cover letter and resume to careers@teachformalaysia.org.

6. Volunteer

Whether your capacity to volunteer is great or small, you can help to make meaningful change.

7. Become a Corporate Partner

Partner with them and make a positive impact on the Malaysian education landscape.

8. Join their events

https://www.facebook.com/teachformalaysia/events

How to Contact

 Level 27, Mercu UEM
 Jalan Stesen Sentral 5
 50470 Kuala Lumpur
 Malaysia
 Telephone:   +603 2727 2050
 Fax:            +603 2727 2051
 Email:         getinvolved@teachformalaysia.org
 Web:          http://www.teachformalaysia.org
 Twitter:       https://twitter.com/TeachForMsia