KUALA LUMPUR: Chipmaker Intel Malaysia said the netbook bundle for university students, announced in the Budget 2010 speech, is a great initiative to ignite computing and broadband adoption among the youths.
It hopes the initiative can be scaled out to students at all education levels in the near future because it dreams of the day when there will be stronger integration of ICT (information and communications technology) in education.
That, said Intel, would drive learning in and outside of the classroom.
The Government is offering netbooks and broadband access to university students at a low cost — just RM50 a month for two years.
Intel said it also hoped to see more allocation for higher education research, as well as stronger collaboration between Malaysian universities and top-ranking engineering schools around the world.
As for the government decision to give a tax relief of RM500 to each person who subscribes to a broadband Internet service, Intel said it had expected better.
Intel believes the Government should instead subsidise the cost of broadband access and the devices for all Malaysians; similar to its netbook package for university students.
Such a subsidy would benefit a broader audience, especially those outside of the tax net, it said.
The US-based company also said it hoped the Government will help address the need to encourage competition and liberalisation among Internet service providers in the country so that broadband cost and quality can be improved.
To read more of Intel’s comments, go to the Intel Malaysia Blog at www.myintelblog.com.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
NEWS: Emphasis on creativity the right move
PETALING JAYA: The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) is encouraged that the Government has set up a RM200mil creativity fund aimed at further boosting Malaysia’s animation, advertisement, music, film, and content industries.
“The plan, laid out in the Prime Minister’s budget speech, provides a solid start to creating an innovative and creative culture in Malaysians,” said Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, chief executive officer of MDeC.
“It is also a recognition of the convergence that is happening with all those different media.”
MDeC is caretaker of the country’s MSC Malaysia initiative which was started to leapfrog the nation’s ICT use and build up its knowledge-based economy.
The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom) is just as pleased that the Government is putting emphasis on encouraging Malaysians to be more creative.
“There is a great demand for animation and animators worldwide now and Malaysia has the resources to be a major player in this segment. And it all starts with tapping into the creativity of our people,” said Pikom chairman Wei Chuan Beng.
One path towards that goal is to get computers into the hands of as many Malaysians as possible and as quickly as we can, according to him.
So it is timely that the Government is offering netbooks and broadband access to university students at a low cost — just RM50 a month for two years.
Badlisham agreed with Wei. “Encouraging the students to go online is paramount if we are to create a society of knowledge workers,” Badlisham said. “Also, the Government has a better incentive now to get civil servants to own computers.”
SME boost
MDeC and Pikom said the 2010 budget hands small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) a huge incentive to embrace ICT (information and communications technology).
The incentive from the Government is a RM100mil fund for capacity enhancement that targets local SMEs.
Wei said SME expenditure on ICT would be covered by this capacity enhancement fund.
“This is the good news that we have been waiting for,” he said. “The fund will encourage more SMEs to start adopting the technology which will enhance their businesses.”
Such successes will lead many of these homegrown businesses to explore international markets, which will in turn benefit the country.
“The plan, laid out in the Prime Minister’s budget speech, provides a solid start to creating an innovative and creative culture in Malaysians,” said Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, chief executive officer of MDeC.
“It is also a recognition of the convergence that is happening with all those different media.”
MDeC is caretaker of the country’s MSC Malaysia initiative which was started to leapfrog the nation’s ICT use and build up its knowledge-based economy.
The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom) is just as pleased that the Government is putting emphasis on encouraging Malaysians to be more creative.
“There is a great demand for animation and animators worldwide now and Malaysia has the resources to be a major player in this segment. And it all starts with tapping into the creativity of our people,” said Pikom chairman Wei Chuan Beng.
One path towards that goal is to get computers into the hands of as many Malaysians as possible and as quickly as we can, according to him.
So it is timely that the Government is offering netbooks and broadband access to university students at a low cost — just RM50 a month for two years.
Badlisham agreed with Wei. “Encouraging the students to go online is paramount if we are to create a society of knowledge workers,” Badlisham said. “Also, the Government has a better incentive now to get civil servants to own computers.”
SME boost
MDeC and Pikom said the 2010 budget hands small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) a huge incentive to embrace ICT (information and communications technology).
The incentive from the Government is a RM100mil fund for capacity enhancement that targets local SMEs.
Wei said SME expenditure on ICT would be covered by this capacity enhancement fund.
“This is the good news that we have been waiting for,” he said. “The fund will encourage more SMEs to start adopting the technology which will enhance their businesses.”
Such successes will lead many of these homegrown businesses to explore international markets, which will in turn benefit the country.
NEWS: Don’t take eye off broadband quality, Govt urged
PETALING JAYA: Many people welcome the decision to grant tax relief for those who subscribe to broadband Internet, but they also want the Government to keep pressuring the service providers to improve the quality of service.
Most of the people contacted by The Star said the RM500 tax relief incentive is bound to help the country boost its broadband penetration rate. But they fear that the service may suffer with the sudden influx of more subscribers.
As it is now, they said, they pay for a certain speed but usually have to put up with substandard connections that are deemed the “best effort” of the service providers.
“I love it that the Government is going to subsidise my broadband service,” said a housewife who asked to be identified only as Adelina. “But if the quality of my Internet speed is going to stay the same as now, I think the Government won’t be getting its money’s worth.”
“It would be a waste of public funds,” she added.
Belinda, a media relations executive who also wanted anonymity, believes the Government should be spending that money on getting the service providers to improve broadband speeds in the country.
“If the broadband quality goes up tremendously, the people will be flocking to subscribe to the service,” she said. “There would then be no need for a carrot like the proferred tax relief.
She said not many people would turn down the incentive but that won’t be much of a consolation if they have to suffer erractic or slower than expected Internet connections.
Actor Fish Fazil hopes the increase in broadband service subscribers that the tax relief incentive brings, will be enough to encourage the service providers to improve their infrastructures.
Broadband is becoming an essential utility now, like electricty and water, and its quality must be just as good as those.
He is hoping for broadband services that are on par with those in the other countries which are leading the world in that respect.
“Unfortunately, broadband here today is more like narrowband,” he laughed. “Come on everyone, we can do this.”
The tax relief incentive would be implemented next year and would last till 2012.
Broadband penetration in Malaysian households is 26%, compared to 88% in Singapore and 95% in South Korea.
Most of the people contacted by The Star said the RM500 tax relief incentive is bound to help the country boost its broadband penetration rate. But they fear that the service may suffer with the sudden influx of more subscribers.
As it is now, they said, they pay for a certain speed but usually have to put up with substandard connections that are deemed the “best effort” of the service providers.
“I love it that the Government is going to subsidise my broadband service,” said a housewife who asked to be identified only as Adelina. “But if the quality of my Internet speed is going to stay the same as now, I think the Government won’t be getting its money’s worth.”
“It would be a waste of public funds,” she added.
Belinda, a media relations executive who also wanted anonymity, believes the Government should be spending that money on getting the service providers to improve broadband speeds in the country.
“If the broadband quality goes up tremendously, the people will be flocking to subscribe to the service,” she said. “There would then be no need for a carrot like the proferred tax relief.
She said not many people would turn down the incentive but that won’t be much of a consolation if they have to suffer erractic or slower than expected Internet connections.
Actor Fish Fazil hopes the increase in broadband service subscribers that the tax relief incentive brings, will be enough to encourage the service providers to improve their infrastructures.
Broadband is becoming an essential utility now, like electricty and water, and its quality must be just as good as those.
He is hoping for broadband services that are on par with those in the other countries which are leading the world in that respect.
“Unfortunately, broadband here today is more like narrowband,” he laughed. “Come on everyone, we can do this.”
The tax relief incentive would be implemented next year and would last till 2012.
Broadband penetration in Malaysian households is 26%, compared to 88% in Singapore and 95% in South Korea.
NEWS: Content developers happy with incentives
PETALING JAYA: Creative content developers are happy with the incentives the industry received from the Government during the tabling of the 2010 budget.
They said the Government clearly recognises that the creative industry has the potential to be further developed and can contribute much to the nation’s economic growth.
The Prime Minister announced several incentives for the industry, including the formulation of a comprehensive Creative Industry Policy, the establishment of a RM200mil creative industry fund, and a RM3mil welfare fund for artistes and actors.
These incentives are not limited to the performing arts and music, but include design, animation, advertisement and content development.
Those in the digital content industry said the incentives will help drive the industry forward.
Mohd Nizam Abd Razak, managing director of Animonsta Studios, is happy that the Government has plans for the creative industry.
“I believe this will help more people learn about and understand the industry, as well as what is required to develop it,” he told The Star.
The RM200mil fund is a good move, said Nizam who hopes proper procedures will be put in place to ensure the money is efficiently and fairly distributed.
He suggested that part of the fund should be allocated for marketing and promotions activities.
“These activities can be expensive and a lot of industry players fail to market their products because they cannot afford to promote them,” he said.
Digital artist Muid Latiff hopes that the fund will also be used for organising workshops that will expose artists to other forms of art.
“That way everyone can diversify, which will be helpful in the event of difficult financial times,” he said.
BigBeak Pictures managing director Azlan Pa’wan said it is about time the creative content industry is given a boost.
A new player in the global creative content economy, he said Malaysia needs to leap forward to be on par with other countries that are more established in the creative industry.
“With the Government’s support and the recent stimulus announcements, I believe our creative content developers will be able to compete in global markets,” Azlan said.
They said the Government clearly recognises that the creative industry has the potential to be further developed and can contribute much to the nation’s economic growth.
The Prime Minister announced several incentives for the industry, including the formulation of a comprehensive Creative Industry Policy, the establishment of a RM200mil creative industry fund, and a RM3mil welfare fund for artistes and actors.
These incentives are not limited to the performing arts and music, but include design, animation, advertisement and content development.
Those in the digital content industry said the incentives will help drive the industry forward.
Mohd Nizam Abd Razak, managing director of Animonsta Studios, is happy that the Government has plans for the creative industry.
“I believe this will help more people learn about and understand the industry, as well as what is required to develop it,” he told The Star.
The RM200mil fund is a good move, said Nizam who hopes proper procedures will be put in place to ensure the money is efficiently and fairly distributed.
He suggested that part of the fund should be allocated for marketing and promotions activities.
“These activities can be expensive and a lot of industry players fail to market their products because they cannot afford to promote them,” he said.
Digital artist Muid Latiff hopes that the fund will also be used for organising workshops that will expose artists to other forms of art.
“That way everyone can diversify, which will be helpful in the event of difficult financial times,” he said.
BigBeak Pictures managing director Azlan Pa’wan said it is about time the creative content industry is given a boost.
A new player in the global creative content economy, he said Malaysia needs to leap forward to be on par with other countries that are more established in the creative industry.
“With the Government’s support and the recent stimulus announcements, I believe our creative content developers will be able to compete in global markets,” Azlan said.
NEWS: Bouquets for the budget
KUALA LUMPUR: Many companies in the IT and ICT industries are pleased with the incentives put forward in Budget 2010, which was announced by the Prime Minister on Friday evening.
Here are their comments in a nutshell:
Nokia Siemens Networks
(A manufacturer of cellular basestations, core networks and related infrastructure)
THE Government’s overarching commitment to innovation will surely help place Malaysia firmly on the world map. As such, we look forward to the opening of the National Innovation Centre, which promises much needed investment in technology, science and education.
NetApp Malaysia
(A storage and data management solutions provider)
WE are encouraged by the allocation of RM1.5bil to companies that supply and use green technology. Energy efficient products are vital to counter escalating energy costs and at the same time, protect and preserve our environment. NetApp hopes to also see specific subsidies offered to companies that implement smart, efficient strategies to achieve green IT. Being green is not just about being conscious of the environment but also looking at aspects of efficiency, power consumption and the application of green principles to business decision-making.
Hitachi Data Systems
(Enterprise storage solutions vendor)
WE applaud the Government’s continued emphasis on enhancing human capital, with the allocation of more than RM2bil towards education and training at public institutions of higher learning. This will improve the supply of a skilled and professional workforce, particularly for the ICT industry where Malaysia is globally recognised as a profitable regional hub for both manufacturing and services activities.
Microsoft Malaysia
(Software giant)
THE policies proposed — particularly with regards to the incentives concerning broadband and encouraging greater PC adoption among civil servants and university students — go a long way in addressing the challenges of affordability, accessibility and connectivity. This will contribute enormously to the uptake of Internet usage and broadband adoption within Malaysia, which in turn moves us closer towards our country’s vision of being a full-fledged knowledge economy.
Dell Global Business Centre
(PC vendor)
THE allocation to higher education institutions to build human capital is very welcome. Malaysia’s ICT industry is still facing a shortage of skilled IT professionals despite several key measures to tackle the problem. There are a large number of unemployed ICT graduates who do not meet today’s industry requirements. This alarming situation is further aggravated by corporate expansions and brain drain to other developed countries which offer better job prospects and remuneration. There is also a growing mismatch of graduates’ expectations and industry needs.
Autodesk
(A world leader in 2D and 3D design software)
THE introduction of the Green Building Index (GBI) to guide the industry in getting environmentally-friendly buildings certified is a move in the right direction. With the income tax exemptions for building owners obtaining GBI certificates and stamp duty exemption for buyers of GBI-certified buildings, the Government is signalling that making sustainability part of the equation in the building industry is the only way forward.
Cisco Malaysia
(Worldwide leader in networking)
BROADBAND technology and the network will play a significant role in driving productivity, innovation and a sustainable economy. While the Government’s investment and commitment to expedite the implementation of high-speed broadband are key, we must also recognise that the initiative is not just about the longer-term vision — the impact is immediate. In order for the nation to achieve developed nation status, we need to ensure that the implementation is timely. Ubiquitous broadband will create jobs, enable business efficiency and drive competitive advantage that will allow Malaysia to compete effectively on the global stage. But government effort alone is not enough and will require the collective effort of corporate Malaysia, technology leaders and service providers to realise this ambition.
Nokia Malaysia
(Cellphone manufacturer)
WE are encouraged by the allocation of RM200mil toward the development of local content through the Creative Industry Fund. Good local content is what will drive the adoption of the Internet. Nokia is a firm supporter of local content.
Lenovo
(PC maker)
THE initiative by the Government to offer a netbook package with free broadband for RM50 per month for two years to university students and low-income families must be applauded. This initiative bodes well for the Government’s aim to enhance the IT competency and competitiveness of young Malaysians. It will also serve well to narrow the “digital divide” — that gap between the technology haves ad have-nots — especially among the lower income group.
Red-Hat
(Open-source software vendor)
IT IS encouraging to note the government allocation of RM1.5bil in soft loans to companies that utilise and develop green technology.
Axis Communications
(A provider of Internet Protocol-based network video solutions)
WE applaud the Government’s RM11.3bil allocation to bump up the implementation of high-speed broadband. We are confident that this will result in more efficient monitoring of our streets and highways through digital network video surveillance.
Symantec Malaysia
(Antivirus and security software vendor)
AS the country gets more connected, Symantec recommends that the Government continue to strengthen the cybersecurity framework, because increasing broadband usage will expose users to more risks from cyberthreats. As such, we recommend leveraging on the public-private partnerships to determine the data protection legislation structure and national infrastructure, as well as technologies and industry best practices.
Motorola Technology
(Communications solutions specialist)
WE are pleased to see that Budget 2010 aims to invest in human capital development through efforts such as providing opportunities for post-graduate education (the Graduate Employability Management Scheme), nurturing a holistic development among children, creating employment opportunities, strengthening R&D and commercialisation activities to bolster the nation’s competitiveness.
Here are their comments in a nutshell:
Nokia Siemens Networks
(A manufacturer of cellular basestations, core networks and related infrastructure)
THE Government’s overarching commitment to innovation will surely help place Malaysia firmly on the world map. As such, we look forward to the opening of the National Innovation Centre, which promises much needed investment in technology, science and education.
NetApp Malaysia
(A storage and data management solutions provider)
WE are encouraged by the allocation of RM1.5bil to companies that supply and use green technology. Energy efficient products are vital to counter escalating energy costs and at the same time, protect and preserve our environment. NetApp hopes to also see specific subsidies offered to companies that implement smart, efficient strategies to achieve green IT. Being green is not just about being conscious of the environment but also looking at aspects of efficiency, power consumption and the application of green principles to business decision-making.
Hitachi Data Systems
(Enterprise storage solutions vendor)
WE applaud the Government’s continued emphasis on enhancing human capital, with the allocation of more than RM2bil towards education and training at public institutions of higher learning. This will improve the supply of a skilled and professional workforce, particularly for the ICT industry where Malaysia is globally recognised as a profitable regional hub for both manufacturing and services activities.
Microsoft Malaysia
(Software giant)
THE policies proposed — particularly with regards to the incentives concerning broadband and encouraging greater PC adoption among civil servants and university students — go a long way in addressing the challenges of affordability, accessibility and connectivity. This will contribute enormously to the uptake of Internet usage and broadband adoption within Malaysia, which in turn moves us closer towards our country’s vision of being a full-fledged knowledge economy.
Dell Global Business Centre
(PC vendor)
THE allocation to higher education institutions to build human capital is very welcome. Malaysia’s ICT industry is still facing a shortage of skilled IT professionals despite several key measures to tackle the problem. There are a large number of unemployed ICT graduates who do not meet today’s industry requirements. This alarming situation is further aggravated by corporate expansions and brain drain to other developed countries which offer better job prospects and remuneration. There is also a growing mismatch of graduates’ expectations and industry needs.
Autodesk
(A world leader in 2D and 3D design software)
THE introduction of the Green Building Index (GBI) to guide the industry in getting environmentally-friendly buildings certified is a move in the right direction. With the income tax exemptions for building owners obtaining GBI certificates and stamp duty exemption for buyers of GBI-certified buildings, the Government is signalling that making sustainability part of the equation in the building industry is the only way forward.
Cisco Malaysia
(Worldwide leader in networking)
BROADBAND technology and the network will play a significant role in driving productivity, innovation and a sustainable economy. While the Government’s investment and commitment to expedite the implementation of high-speed broadband are key, we must also recognise that the initiative is not just about the longer-term vision — the impact is immediate. In order for the nation to achieve developed nation status, we need to ensure that the implementation is timely. Ubiquitous broadband will create jobs, enable business efficiency and drive competitive advantage that will allow Malaysia to compete effectively on the global stage. But government effort alone is not enough and will require the collective effort of corporate Malaysia, technology leaders and service providers to realise this ambition.
Nokia Malaysia
(Cellphone manufacturer)
WE are encouraged by the allocation of RM200mil toward the development of local content through the Creative Industry Fund. Good local content is what will drive the adoption of the Internet. Nokia is a firm supporter of local content.
Lenovo
(PC maker)
THE initiative by the Government to offer a netbook package with free broadband for RM50 per month for two years to university students and low-income families must be applauded. This initiative bodes well for the Government’s aim to enhance the IT competency and competitiveness of young Malaysians. It will also serve well to narrow the “digital divide” — that gap between the technology haves ad have-nots — especially among the lower income group.
Red-Hat
(Open-source software vendor)
IT IS encouraging to note the government allocation of RM1.5bil in soft loans to companies that utilise and develop green technology.
Axis Communications
(A provider of Internet Protocol-based network video solutions)
WE applaud the Government’s RM11.3bil allocation to bump up the implementation of high-speed broadband. We are confident that this will result in more efficient monitoring of our streets and highways through digital network video surveillance.
Symantec Malaysia
(Antivirus and security software vendor)
AS the country gets more connected, Symantec recommends that the Government continue to strengthen the cybersecurity framework, because increasing broadband usage will expose users to more risks from cyberthreats. As such, we recommend leveraging on the public-private partnerships to determine the data protection legislation structure and national infrastructure, as well as technologies and industry best practices.
Motorola Technology
(Communications solutions specialist)
WE are pleased to see that Budget 2010 aims to invest in human capital development through efforts such as providing opportunities for post-graduate education (the Graduate Employability Management Scheme), nurturing a holistic development among children, creating employment opportunities, strengthening R&D and commercialisation activities to bolster the nation’s competitiveness.
NEWS: Internet set for change with non-English addresses
SEOUL: The Internet is set to undergo one of the biggest changes in its four-decade history with the expected approval this week of international domain names - or addresses - that can be written in languages other than English, an official said Monday.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN - the non-profit group that oversees domain names - is holding a meeting this week in Seoul.
Domain names are the monikers behind every website, e-mail address and Twitter post, such as “.com” and other suffixes.
One of the key issues to be taken up by ICANN’s board at this week’s gathering is whether to allow for the first time entire Internet addresses to be in scripts that are not based on Latin letters. That could potentially open up the Web to more people around the world as addresses could be in characters as diverse as Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Greek, Hindi and Cyrillic - in which Russian is written.
“This is the biggest change technically to the Internet since it was invented 40 years ago,” Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of the ICANN board, told reporters, calling it a “fantastically complicated technical feature.” He said he expects the board to grant approval on Friday, the conference’s final day.
The Internet’s roots are traced to experiments at a US university in 1969 but it wasn’t until the early 1990s that its use began expanding beyond academia and research institutions to the general public.
Rod Beckstrom, ICANN’s new president and CEO, said that if the change is approved, ICANN would begin accepting applications for non-English domain names and that the first entries into the system would likely come sometime in mid-2010.
Enabling the change, Thrush said, is the creation of a translation system that allows multiple scripts to be converted to the right address.
“We’re confident that it works because we’ve been testing it now for a couple of years,” he said. “And so we’re really ready to start rolling it out.”
Of the 1.6 billion Internet users worldwide, Beckstrom - a former chief of US cybersecurity - said that more than half use languages that have scripts based on alphabets other than Latin.
“So this change is very much necessary for not only half the world’s Internet users today, but more than half of probably the future users as the use of the Internet continues to spread,” he said.
Beckstrom, in earlier remarks to conference participants, recalled that many people had said just three to five years ago that using non-Latin scripts for domain names would be impossible to achieve.
“But you the community and the policy groups and staff and board have worked through them, which is absolutely incredible,” he said.
ICANN is headquartered in the United States in Marina del Rey, California. - AP
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN - the non-profit group that oversees domain names - is holding a meeting this week in Seoul.
Domain names are the monikers behind every website, e-mail address and Twitter post, such as “.com” and other suffixes.
One of the key issues to be taken up by ICANN’s board at this week’s gathering is whether to allow for the first time entire Internet addresses to be in scripts that are not based on Latin letters. That could potentially open up the Web to more people around the world as addresses could be in characters as diverse as Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Greek, Hindi and Cyrillic - in which Russian is written.
“This is the biggest change technically to the Internet since it was invented 40 years ago,” Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of the ICANN board, told reporters, calling it a “fantastically complicated technical feature.” He said he expects the board to grant approval on Friday, the conference’s final day.
The Internet’s roots are traced to experiments at a US university in 1969 but it wasn’t until the early 1990s that its use began expanding beyond academia and research institutions to the general public.
Rod Beckstrom, ICANN’s new president and CEO, said that if the change is approved, ICANN would begin accepting applications for non-English domain names and that the first entries into the system would likely come sometime in mid-2010.
Enabling the change, Thrush said, is the creation of a translation system that allows multiple scripts to be converted to the right address.
“We’re confident that it works because we’ve been testing it now for a couple of years,” he said. “And so we’re really ready to start rolling it out.”
Of the 1.6 billion Internet users worldwide, Beckstrom - a former chief of US cybersecurity - said that more than half use languages that have scripts based on alphabets other than Latin.
“So this change is very much necessary for not only half the world’s Internet users today, but more than half of probably the future users as the use of the Internet continues to spread,” he said.
Beckstrom, in earlier remarks to conference participants, recalled that many people had said just three to five years ago that using non-Latin scripts for domain names would be impossible to achieve.
“But you the community and the policy groups and staff and board have worked through them, which is absolutely incredible,” he said.
ICANN is headquartered in the United States in Marina del Rey, California. - AP
Friday, October 23, 2009
NEWS: US report: China building cyberwarfare ability
WASHINGTON: China is building its cyberwarfare capabilities and appears to be using the growing technical abilities to collect US intelligence through a sophisticated and long-term computer attack campaign, according to an independent report.
Released Thursday by a congressional advisory panel, the study found cases suggesting that China’s elite hacker community has ties to the Beijing government, although there is little hard evidence.
The commission report details a cyberattack against a US company several years ago that appeared to either originate in or come through China and was similar to other incidents also believed to be connected to the country.
According to the analysis, the company noticed that over several days, data from its network was being sent to multiple computers in the United States and overseas.
While the report does not identify the company, it contends that the attackers targeted specific data, suggesting a very coordinated and sophisticated operation by people who had the expertise to use the high-tech information. An internet protocol (IP) address located in China was used at times during the episode.
Barring proof, the study by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission warns that the sort of expansive and sophisticated computer resources that have been seen in cyberattacks on the United States and other countries “is difficult at best without some type of state sponsorship.”
The study contends that the Chinese, long reported to be stoking a massive military build up, has also made computer warfare a priority. The Chinese government is said to view such cyberprowess as critical for victory in future conflicts -- similar to the priority on offensive cyber abilities stressed by some US officials.
Potential Chinese targets in the United States, according to the report, would likely include Pentagon networks and databases to disrupt command and control communications, and possibly corrupt encrypted data. The report notes, however, that penetrating such classified systems would be time consuming and difficult.
In large part, the commission report expands on the Pentagon’s annual China military power review. The Defence Department study said earlier this year that China’s People’s Liberation Army has set up information warfare units to develop viruses to attack enemy computer systems and networks as well as to protect friendly systems.
The Pentagon report described computer attacks believed to have originated in China, but concluded that “it remains unclear if these intrusions were conducted by, or with the endorsement of, the PLA or other elements of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) government.”
The new report, prepared for the commission by Northrop Grumman Corp, relies largely on publicly available information from Chinese hacker websites, technical articles and analysis of computer intrusions attributed to the Chinese. -- AP
Released Thursday by a congressional advisory panel, the study found cases suggesting that China’s elite hacker community has ties to the Beijing government, although there is little hard evidence.
The commission report details a cyberattack against a US company several years ago that appeared to either originate in or come through China and was similar to other incidents also believed to be connected to the country.
According to the analysis, the company noticed that over several days, data from its network was being sent to multiple computers in the United States and overseas.
While the report does not identify the company, it contends that the attackers targeted specific data, suggesting a very coordinated and sophisticated operation by people who had the expertise to use the high-tech information. An internet protocol (IP) address located in China was used at times during the episode.
Barring proof, the study by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission warns that the sort of expansive and sophisticated computer resources that have been seen in cyberattacks on the United States and other countries “is difficult at best without some type of state sponsorship.”
The study contends that the Chinese, long reported to be stoking a massive military build up, has also made computer warfare a priority. The Chinese government is said to view such cyberprowess as critical for victory in future conflicts -- similar to the priority on offensive cyber abilities stressed by some US officials.
Potential Chinese targets in the United States, according to the report, would likely include Pentagon networks and databases to disrupt command and control communications, and possibly corrupt encrypted data. The report notes, however, that penetrating such classified systems would be time consuming and difficult.
In large part, the commission report expands on the Pentagon’s annual China military power review. The Defence Department study said earlier this year that China’s People’s Liberation Army has set up information warfare units to develop viruses to attack enemy computer systems and networks as well as to protect friendly systems.
The Pentagon report described computer attacks believed to have originated in China, but concluded that “it remains unclear if these intrusions were conducted by, or with the endorsement of, the PLA or other elements of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) government.”
The new report, prepared for the commission by Northrop Grumman Corp, relies largely on publicly available information from Chinese hacker websites, technical articles and analysis of computer intrusions attributed to the Chinese. -- AP
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
NEWS: What MDeC, Pikom want in Budget 2010
PETALING JAYA: Ahead of the tabling of the 2010 Budget by the Government tomorrow, the Multimedia Development Corp is hoping for measures that are friendly to small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
MDeC, the custodian of the country’s MSC Malaysia initiative, said incentives are much needed to encourage SMEs to invest in ICT (information and communications technology) so that the nation can benefit from having more vibrant and efficient businesses.
Its chief executive officer, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, told In.Tech that more than 90% of Malaysian businesses are SMEs, and that the “digital divide” in the group is very clear. The divide refers to technology haves and have-nots.
“Now is the time that SMEs must invest in ICT to help them increase their profits,” he said. “A simple example is the use of the Internet as a channel to reach the global market.”
Malaysian businesses shouldn’t sell themselves short by sticking solely with the local marketplace; they should maximise on their business potential by expanding internationally, he added.
Another benefit from SMEs embracing technology is that there will be an increased demand in the country for ICT solutions and services, which will help boost Malaysia’s ICT industry further.
“There are more than 2,000 MSC Malaysia-status companies, developing and improving on world-class ICT solutions and services, which can support our SMEs,” Badlisham said.
Let’s get going
Like MDeC, the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom) also wants more incentives to help drive the adoption of ICT among SMEs.
Pikom chairman Wei Chuan Beng said a tax deduction on IT expenditure will encourage the companies to start investing in ICT, which will improve business productivity.
Large numbers of SMEs in other developing countries are already investing in ICT and are reaping the benefits; Malaysian companies will lag if they don’t start soon, he said.
Pikom is also hoping that the 2010 Budget will include incentives to drive PC adoption among Malaysians.
According to Wei, 35% of households have PCs now but in other countries, this has already reached the 75% mark.
He said the association is lobbying for the revival of a scheme that enabled Malaysians to buy computers using part of their savings in the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
The scheme, implemented in 2000, was stopped two years later when it was discovered that some people were abusing the initiative to buy new cars, big-screen TVs or pocket the cash instead.
Wei believes that only a few shortsighted Malaysians abused the scheme, whereas most were encouraged by it to own computers and experience the Internet.
If the scheme were to be revived, Pikom said it should be properly and diligently monitored to prevent such abuse. “And it shouldn’t be limited to the purchase of computers,” Wei said.
“The scheme should be expanded to cover smartphones and other digital devices. Computers aren’t the only Information Age products that people should be using these days,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will table the 2010 Budget tomorrow afternoon.
The MSC Malaysia initiative is aimed at building up the nation’s knowledge-based economy.
MDeC, the custodian of the country’s MSC Malaysia initiative, said incentives are much needed to encourage SMEs to invest in ICT (information and communications technology) so that the nation can benefit from having more vibrant and efficient businesses.
Its chief executive officer, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, told In.Tech that more than 90% of Malaysian businesses are SMEs, and that the “digital divide” in the group is very clear. The divide refers to technology haves and have-nots.
“Now is the time that SMEs must invest in ICT to help them increase their profits,” he said. “A simple example is the use of the Internet as a channel to reach the global market.”
Malaysian businesses shouldn’t sell themselves short by sticking solely with the local marketplace; they should maximise on their business potential by expanding internationally, he added.
Another benefit from SMEs embracing technology is that there will be an increased demand in the country for ICT solutions and services, which will help boost Malaysia’s ICT industry further.
“There are more than 2,000 MSC Malaysia-status companies, developing and improving on world-class ICT solutions and services, which can support our SMEs,” Badlisham said.
Let’s get going
Like MDeC, the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom) also wants more incentives to help drive the adoption of ICT among SMEs.
Pikom chairman Wei Chuan Beng said a tax deduction on IT expenditure will encourage the companies to start investing in ICT, which will improve business productivity.
Large numbers of SMEs in other developing countries are already investing in ICT and are reaping the benefits; Malaysian companies will lag if they don’t start soon, he said.
Pikom is also hoping that the 2010 Budget will include incentives to drive PC adoption among Malaysians.
According to Wei, 35% of households have PCs now but in other countries, this has already reached the 75% mark.
He said the association is lobbying for the revival of a scheme that enabled Malaysians to buy computers using part of their savings in the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
The scheme, implemented in 2000, was stopped two years later when it was discovered that some people were abusing the initiative to buy new cars, big-screen TVs or pocket the cash instead.
Wei believes that only a few shortsighted Malaysians abused the scheme, whereas most were encouraged by it to own computers and experience the Internet.
If the scheme were to be revived, Pikom said it should be properly and diligently monitored to prevent such abuse. “And it shouldn’t be limited to the purchase of computers,” Wei said.
“The scheme should be expanded to cover smartphones and other digital devices. Computers aren’t the only Information Age products that people should be using these days,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will table the 2010 Budget tomorrow afternoon.
The MSC Malaysia initiative is aimed at building up the nation’s knowledge-based economy.
NEWS: Friendster dives into virtual gifts
KUALA LUMPUR: Social networking site Friendster is coming out with its own virtual products and online currency in a scheme known as the Friendster Wallet.
The “wallet” enables Friendster members to send virtual flowers and other gifts to each other, and to pay for it with virtual money known as “Friendster Coins.”
You have to use real-world money to buy the “coins.”
Friendster has signed a partnership deal with local prepaid payment provider MOL AccessPortal Bhd to allow Friendster users to exchange money for Friendster Coins.
The virtual currency will be purchasable in the form of top-up cards at convenient stores (specifically 7-Elevens), cybercafes, petrol stations and any of the 1,500 participating outlets nationwide next month.
“90% of our subscribers are based in Asia and are mostly young people,” said Friendster CEO Richard Kimber.
“Many of them do not have credit cards, usually a requirement to buy anything online. This prepaid scheme will give them the opportunity to buy a virtual present for someone without the need for a credit card or bank account.”
MOL, a Malaysian company that runs real-world and virtual payment networks in 75 countries, is keen to tap into Friendster’s user base.
“Friendster has more than 115 million subscribers (worldwide), of which 25 million are active users, so we see great potential in this partnership,” said the president and CEO of MOL, Ganesh Kumar Bangah.
An active Friendster user is someone who has accesses his account at least once in 30 days, according to the social networking site.
PayPal made payments easier for eBay users and contributed to the success of the online auction house, Bangah said.
“In the same way, we are hoping to eliminate the barriers to online transactions for Friendster and open up important revenue streams,” he said.
For more information, surf to www.friendster.com.
The “wallet” enables Friendster members to send virtual flowers and other gifts to each other, and to pay for it with virtual money known as “Friendster Coins.”
You have to use real-world money to buy the “coins.”
Friendster has signed a partnership deal with local prepaid payment provider MOL AccessPortal Bhd to allow Friendster users to exchange money for Friendster Coins.
The virtual currency will be purchasable in the form of top-up cards at convenient stores (specifically 7-Elevens), cybercafes, petrol stations and any of the 1,500 participating outlets nationwide next month.
“90% of our subscribers are based in Asia and are mostly young people,” said Friendster CEO Richard Kimber.
“Many of them do not have credit cards, usually a requirement to buy anything online. This prepaid scheme will give them the opportunity to buy a virtual present for someone without the need for a credit card or bank account.”
MOL, a Malaysian company that runs real-world and virtual payment networks in 75 countries, is keen to tap into Friendster’s user base.
“Friendster has more than 115 million subscribers (worldwide), of which 25 million are active users, so we see great potential in this partnership,” said the president and CEO of MOL, Ganesh Kumar Bangah.
An active Friendster user is someone who has accesses his account at least once in 30 days, according to the social networking site.
PayPal made payments easier for eBay users and contributed to the success of the online auction house, Bangah said.
“In the same way, we are hoping to eliminate the barriers to online transactions for Friendster and open up important revenue streams,” he said.
For more information, surf to www.friendster.com.
NEWS: Govt directs SKMM to investigate high cost of IT services
CYBERJAYA: The Government has directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to study the reasons behind the high cost of providing Information Technology (IT) services in the country.
Information, Communications, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said there were numerous complaints on how expensive it was to obtain IT services here, while the quality -- particularly connection availability and speed -- was not up to expectation.
“The Government would also like to know why the cost for IT services is high in Malaysia. Consumers’ main grouse is that they are charged more compared with users in other countries but the quality of service is not up to mark.
“We want to know how it (the cost) can be brought down and at the same time improve on the quality,” he told reporters after a briefing at the SKMM on Wednesday.
Rais said SKMM must also see to it that providers deliver what they promised consumers, adding that if a provider promised Internet surfing speeds of 10Mb (megabits) per second, the public should not be experiencing a “slow as tortoise service at one or two megabits.”
He said providers whose services failed to meet expectation must be dealt with, adding this was where the Commission, as the enforcement authority, should play its role to ensure the public was not shortchaged,
Rais said efforts must be taken to close the digital gap between rural and urban areas, adding that fixed telephone line providers must expedite the laying of optical fibre cables so that people in districts and kampungs (villages) could also enjoy Internet service.
On another matter, the minister said 11 cases related to violations committed in cyberspace had been to court, adding the nature of cases included sending lewd and vulgar SMSes and e-mail, and comments insulting the Sultan of Perak.
He said there were a “good number of cases” that had been brought to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Commission would leave it to the A-G to decide whether or not prosecute the offenders.
Rais reminded the Commission of its responsibility to ensure that all cyberspace users in the country follow laws and regulations, adding it should not hesitate to take action against violators.
“I must however stress that we are not practising censorship but there are laws that need to be respected and adhered to.
“The public’s interest and safety, as well as the country’s security, need to be looked after and that is why the Commission must do its job to see to it that users follow guidelines,” he said.
Information, Communications, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said there were numerous complaints on how expensive it was to obtain IT services here, while the quality -- particularly connection availability and speed -- was not up to expectation.
“The Government would also like to know why the cost for IT services is high in Malaysia. Consumers’ main grouse is that they are charged more compared with users in other countries but the quality of service is not up to mark.
“We want to know how it (the cost) can be brought down and at the same time improve on the quality,” he told reporters after a briefing at the SKMM on Wednesday.
Rais said SKMM must also see to it that providers deliver what they promised consumers, adding that if a provider promised Internet surfing speeds of 10Mb (megabits) per second, the public should not be experiencing a “slow as tortoise service at one or two megabits.”
He said providers whose services failed to meet expectation must be dealt with, adding this was where the Commission, as the enforcement authority, should play its role to ensure the public was not shortchaged,
Rais said efforts must be taken to close the digital gap between rural and urban areas, adding that fixed telephone line providers must expedite the laying of optical fibre cables so that people in districts and kampungs (villages) could also enjoy Internet service.
On another matter, the minister said 11 cases related to violations committed in cyberspace had been to court, adding the nature of cases included sending lewd and vulgar SMSes and e-mail, and comments insulting the Sultan of Perak.
He said there were a “good number of cases” that had been brought to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Commission would leave it to the A-G to decide whether or not prosecute the offenders.
Rais reminded the Commission of its responsibility to ensure that all cyberspace users in the country follow laws and regulations, adding it should not hesitate to take action against violators.
“I must however stress that we are not practising censorship but there are laws that need to be respected and adhered to.
“The public’s interest and safety, as well as the country’s security, need to be looked after and that is why the Commission must do its job to see to it that users follow guidelines,” he said.
Friday, October 16, 2009
NEWS: Scanning driving-licence photos to spot fugitives
RALEIGH (North Carolina): In its search for fugitives, the FBI has begun using facial-recognition technology on millions of motorists in the United States.
The federal agency is comparing driver’s licence photos with pictures of convicts in a high-tech analysis of chin widths and nose sizes.
The project in North Carolina has already helped nab at least one suspect. Agents are eager to look for more criminals and possibly to expand the effort countrywide.
But privacy advocates worry that the method allows authorities to track people who have done nothing wrong.
“Everybody’s participating, essentially, in a virtual lineup by getting a driver’s licence,” said Christopher Calabrese, an attorney who focuses on privacy issues at the American Civil Liberties Union.
Earlier this year, investigators learned that a double-homicide suspect named Rodolfo Corrales had moved to North Carolina. The FBI took a 1991 booking photo from California and compared it with 30 million photos stored by the motor vehicle agency in Raleigh.
In seconds, the search returned dozens of drivers who resembled Corrales, and an FBI analyst reviewed a gallery of images before zeroing in on a man who called himself Jose Solis.
A week later, after corroborating Corrales’ identity, agents arrested him in High Point, southwest of Greensboro, where they believe he had built a new life under the assumed name. Corrales is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles later this month.
“Running facial recognition is not very labour-intensive at all,” analyst Michael Garcia said. “If I can probe a hundred fugitives and get one or two, that’s a home run.”
Wider net
Facial-recognition software is not entirely new, but the North Carolina project is the first major step for the FBI as it considers expanding use of the technology to find fugitives nationwide.
So-called biometric information that is unique to each person also includes fingerprints and DNA. More distant possibilities include iris patterns in the eye, voices, scent and even a person’s gait.
FBI officials have organised a panel of authorities to study how best to increase use of the software. It will take at least a year to establish standards for licence photos, and there’s no timetable to roll out the programme nationally.
The technology has allowed the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to quickly highlight 28 different photos of one man who was apparently using many identities.
It also identified one person who, as part of a sex change, came in with plucked eyebrows, long flowing hair and a new name — but the same radiant smile.
The system is not always right. Investigators used one DMV photo of an Associated Press reporter to search for a second DMV photo, but the system first returned dozens of other people, including a North Carolina terrorism suspect who had some similar facial features.
The images from the reporter and terror suspect scored a likeness of 72%, below the mid-80s that officials consider a solid hit. — AP
The federal agency is comparing driver’s licence photos with pictures of convicts in a high-tech analysis of chin widths and nose sizes.
The project in North Carolina has already helped nab at least one suspect. Agents are eager to look for more criminals and possibly to expand the effort countrywide.
But privacy advocates worry that the method allows authorities to track people who have done nothing wrong.
“Everybody’s participating, essentially, in a virtual lineup by getting a driver’s licence,” said Christopher Calabrese, an attorney who focuses on privacy issues at the American Civil Liberties Union.
Earlier this year, investigators learned that a double-homicide suspect named Rodolfo Corrales had moved to North Carolina. The FBI took a 1991 booking photo from California and compared it with 30 million photos stored by the motor vehicle agency in Raleigh.
In seconds, the search returned dozens of drivers who resembled Corrales, and an FBI analyst reviewed a gallery of images before zeroing in on a man who called himself Jose Solis.
A week later, after corroborating Corrales’ identity, agents arrested him in High Point, southwest of Greensboro, where they believe he had built a new life under the assumed name. Corrales is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles later this month.
“Running facial recognition is not very labour-intensive at all,” analyst Michael Garcia said. “If I can probe a hundred fugitives and get one or two, that’s a home run.”
Wider net
Facial-recognition software is not entirely new, but the North Carolina project is the first major step for the FBI as it considers expanding use of the technology to find fugitives nationwide.
So-called biometric information that is unique to each person also includes fingerprints and DNA. More distant possibilities include iris patterns in the eye, voices, scent and even a person’s gait.
FBI officials have organised a panel of authorities to study how best to increase use of the software. It will take at least a year to establish standards for licence photos, and there’s no timetable to roll out the programme nationally.
The technology has allowed the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to quickly highlight 28 different photos of one man who was apparently using many identities.
It also identified one person who, as part of a sex change, came in with plucked eyebrows, long flowing hair and a new name — but the same radiant smile.
The system is not always right. Investigators used one DMV photo of an Associated Press reporter to search for a second DMV photo, but the system first returned dozens of other people, including a North Carolina terrorism suspect who had some similar facial features.
The images from the reporter and terror suspect scored a likeness of 72%, below the mid-80s that officials consider a solid hit. — AP
NEWS: Crooks more high-tech than cops
SINGAPORE: Transnational crime syndicates are becoming stronger by exploiting technology, said officials at an Interpol conference here.
The syndicates are forging links with one another and taking advantage of insufficient co-ordination among the world’s police forces.
Delegates warned that law enforcement agencies must urgently boost the sharing of intelligence to fight criminals, who are increasingly in cahoots with terrorist networks including al-Qaida.
“It is fair to say that criminals are ahead of governments in exploiting the most advanced tools of globalisation,” such as international travel, banking and trade, US Deputy Attorney General David Ogden said.
“Criminals are at the most advanced stage of globalisation,” Ogden told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference organised by the United Nations and Interpol. “There is no question that we are behind and the power of these international criminals has grown.”
By one estimate, organised crime today comprises up to 15% of the global gross domestic product, Ogden said.
The Lyon, France-based Interpol was created in 1923 and is the world’s largest international police organisation with 187 member countries.
But it appears Interpol is behind in the fight against crime, thanks to insufficient co-operation among countries.
Part of the problem is corruption of police departments in many countries. Because of their shaky reputations, other countries are reluctant to share information with them.
“In order to share information you have to have confidence that it won’t be misused,” Ogden said.
Also, various law enforcement agencies — even within the same country — suffer from rivalries, resulting in information not being disseminated.
Examples of transnational crimes abound. Ogden cited an emblematic case disclosed last year — a racketeering enterprise in Romania that had joined forces with criminals around the world, including street gangs in Los Angeles, to use the Internet to defraud thousands of people and hundreds of financial institutions.
Those charged in the case operated from locations in the Canada, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania and the United States, and were citizens or permanent residents of Cambodia, Mexico, Pakistan, Romania, the United States and Vietnam. — AP
The syndicates are forging links with one another and taking advantage of insufficient co-ordination among the world’s police forces.
Delegates warned that law enforcement agencies must urgently boost the sharing of intelligence to fight criminals, who are increasingly in cahoots with terrorist networks including al-Qaida.
“It is fair to say that criminals are ahead of governments in exploiting the most advanced tools of globalisation,” such as international travel, banking and trade, US Deputy Attorney General David Ogden said.
“Criminals are at the most advanced stage of globalisation,” Ogden told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference organised by the United Nations and Interpol. “There is no question that we are behind and the power of these international criminals has grown.”
By one estimate, organised crime today comprises up to 15% of the global gross domestic product, Ogden said.
The Lyon, France-based Interpol was created in 1923 and is the world’s largest international police organisation with 187 member countries.
But it appears Interpol is behind in the fight against crime, thanks to insufficient co-operation among countries.
Part of the problem is corruption of police departments in many countries. Because of their shaky reputations, other countries are reluctant to share information with them.
“In order to share information you have to have confidence that it won’t be misused,” Ogden said.
Also, various law enforcement agencies — even within the same country — suffer from rivalries, resulting in information not being disseminated.
Examples of transnational crimes abound. Ogden cited an emblematic case disclosed last year — a racketeering enterprise in Romania that had joined forces with criminals around the world, including street gangs in Los Angeles, to use the Internet to defraud thousands of people and hundreds of financial institutions.
Those charged in the case operated from locations in the Canada, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania and the United States, and were citizens or permanent residents of Cambodia, Mexico, Pakistan, Romania, the United States and Vietnam. — AP
NEWS: The Star sends news videos to your cellphone
PETALING JAYA: The next time you’re in a traffic jam or waiting somewhere, you might want to tune in to The Star’s mobile video-news channel on your 3G cellphone.
If you’re a Maxis service subscriber, you can access the Star 3G service now. All you need to do is make a video call to the shortcode *32838.
When the video call connects, you will see a service menu that you can navigate using the phone keypad.
The Star 3G service menu indicates a choice of two video channels — Daily News and Star TV.
Daily News is a three-minute summary of each day’s happenings.
Star TV offers a looping video of about 10 clips, with each lasting between a minute and seven minutes. Viewers have limited fast-forward and rewind options for this channel.
This streaming-video service keeps you in the know anywhere you are and you’ll never be bored while you wait ever again.
The company that created the quick-delivery video platform for this service is Nano Media Technology (NMT) Sdn Bhd, a three-year-old company headquartered in Technology Park Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
Its managing director, Mark Hoo, said there is no time-consuming buffering (such as when watching videos on the Web) because the video call is a dedicated connection to each caller, like with a voice call.
“We wanted to make viewing videos on your mobile as simple and straightforward as possible, and our technology enables us to do this,” said Hoo.
NMT claims its solution gives service users a much better experience in comparison to WAP-based video delivery because its service is easier to navigate, faster and much cheaper.
Hoo explained that the cost of The Star 3G service would be calculated on a per-minute basis rather than by the amount of data downloaded.
“That’s roughly 30sen per minute (for the service’s fixed data transmission speed of 64 kilobits per second),” he said.
With NMT’s solution, it will typically cost about RM1 to watch a three-minute video, whereas with a WAP-based platform this would cost between RM2 and RM3.
Hoo said The Star 3G service would be extended to DiGi cellular service subscribers in December while discussions to include Celcom users are still ongoing.
For more information, go to www.thestar.com.my/3gvideo.
If you’re a Maxis service subscriber, you can access the Star 3G service now. All you need to do is make a video call to the shortcode *32838.
When the video call connects, you will see a service menu that you can navigate using the phone keypad.
The Star 3G service menu indicates a choice of two video channels — Daily News and Star TV.
Daily News is a three-minute summary of each day’s happenings.
Star TV offers a looping video of about 10 clips, with each lasting between a minute and seven minutes. Viewers have limited fast-forward and rewind options for this channel.
This streaming-video service keeps you in the know anywhere you are and you’ll never be bored while you wait ever again.
The company that created the quick-delivery video platform for this service is Nano Media Technology (NMT) Sdn Bhd, a three-year-old company headquartered in Technology Park Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
Its managing director, Mark Hoo, said there is no time-consuming buffering (such as when watching videos on the Web) because the video call is a dedicated connection to each caller, like with a voice call.
“We wanted to make viewing videos on your mobile as simple and straightforward as possible, and our technology enables us to do this,” said Hoo.
NMT claims its solution gives service users a much better experience in comparison to WAP-based video delivery because its service is easier to navigate, faster and much cheaper.
Hoo explained that the cost of The Star 3G service would be calculated on a per-minute basis rather than by the amount of data downloaded.
“That’s roughly 30sen per minute (for the service’s fixed data transmission speed of 64 kilobits per second),” he said.
With NMT’s solution, it will typically cost about RM1 to watch a three-minute video, whereas with a WAP-based platform this would cost between RM2 and RM3.
Hoo said The Star 3G service would be extended to DiGi cellular service subscribers in December while discussions to include Celcom users are still ongoing.
For more information, go to www.thestar.com.my/3gvideo.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
NEWS: Police SMS service wins top Apicta accolade
By STEVEN PATRICK
KUALA LUMPUR: A young girl hears intruders outside her house while she is in her room. Instead of dialing 911 on the house phone and risk alerting the intruders, she sends an SMS to the police.
Minutes later, the police arrive on the scene and apprehend the suspects. This quick preventive action is made possible by Dapat Vista Sdn Bhd, the service provider for the Rakancop (Friends of the Police) SMS e-community project.
It’s no wonder that this company beat 17 other finalists to win the MSC Malaysia Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (Apicta) Prime Minister’s Choice Award because of its contribution to the community.
The 10th annual Apicta awards, billed as the Oscars of the ICT industry, took place last night at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
Dapat Vista also won the Best of e-Inclusion and e-Community Apicta Award for the service.
The Rakancop service enables members of the public to SMS the police to report crimes, make enquiries on summons, and even notify the police on traffic-congested areas.
Superintendent Alwee Abdul Ghani, the assistant director of operations at Bukit Aman for the Royal Malaysian Police, said there were 1.2 million SMSes received last year.
“The whole idea is to fight crime together with the public. Our target is to respond and act within 15 minutes of receiving an SMS from the public,” he said. “Sometimes our response time can be as quick as 6.5 minutes.”
Alwee said the police in other countries, such as Germany, Hong Kong and Bangladesh, are studying the Rakancop system because of its efficiency.
The police started using the system in 2004 and it has undergone several upgrades.
Aziz Arshad, chief executive officer of Dapat Vista, said the system also saves the police time and effort, such as when the public wants information on summonses.
“The motorists just send an SMS and the system searches the police database before sending a return SMS with the relevant information,” he said,
Dapat Vista will go on to represent Malaysia at the Apicta International 2009 awards, which will be held in Melbourne, Australia, in December.
The awards comes with a prize — one representative from Dapat Vista will get to attend a week-long entrepreneurship development programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States in January, next year.
More glitter
Another notable Apicta award winner is the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu).
Mampu director-general Datuk Normah Md Yusof said she was pleasantly surprised that the unit won the Best of e-Government and Services Award for its mySMS 15888 service.
“We are surprised because our project is only about a year old. With this SMS 15888 short code, people can access the services of various government agencies via their mobile gadgets,” she said.
With it, users have access to Employees Provident Fund withdrawal forms, the checking and paying of traffic fines online, and other government services.
Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, chief executive officer of the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) which organises the awards, said there is a record 383 nominees this year — the highest ever in the event’s history.
He said that over the past 10 years, the MSC Malaysia Apicta awards have been instrumental in developing a pool of small- and medium-scale technopreneurs for the nation. The awards have also helped these innovators go on to bigger and better things, as well as penetrate the global market.
For instance, last year’s Apicta award winners Sarawak Information Systems Bhd and Les Copaque Productions Sdn Bhd, made impacts at the biennial United Nations World Summit Award ceremony that was in Monterrey, Mexico, last month.
Sarawak Information Systems was chosen as the best entry in the e-Government & Institutions category while Les Copaque Productions received a Regional Special Mention for Asia in the e-Entertainment & Games category.
The history of the MSC Malaysia Apicta awards goes back to 1999 when it was first introduced to showcase the country’s ICT sector. MDeC is guardian of the MSC Malaysia initiative to leapfrog the country’s knowledge economy.
Pikom — the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia — partners with MDeC to organise the Apicta event.
For a full list of the winners, go to www.mscapicta.com.my or thestar.com.my/apicta2009awards
KUALA LUMPUR: A young girl hears intruders outside her house while she is in her room. Instead of dialing 911 on the house phone and risk alerting the intruders, she sends an SMS to the police.
Minutes later, the police arrive on the scene and apprehend the suspects. This quick preventive action is made possible by Dapat Vista Sdn Bhd, the service provider for the Rakancop (Friends of the Police) SMS e-community project.
It’s no wonder that this company beat 17 other finalists to win the MSC Malaysia Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (Apicta) Prime Minister’s Choice Award because of its contribution to the community.
The 10th annual Apicta awards, billed as the Oscars of the ICT industry, took place last night at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
Dapat Vista also won the Best of e-Inclusion and e-Community Apicta Award for the service.
The Rakancop service enables members of the public to SMS the police to report crimes, make enquiries on summons, and even notify the police on traffic-congested areas.
Superintendent Alwee Abdul Ghani, the assistant director of operations at Bukit Aman for the Royal Malaysian Police, said there were 1.2 million SMSes received last year.
“The whole idea is to fight crime together with the public. Our target is to respond and act within 15 minutes of receiving an SMS from the public,” he said. “Sometimes our response time can be as quick as 6.5 minutes.”
Alwee said the police in other countries, such as Germany, Hong Kong and Bangladesh, are studying the Rakancop system because of its efficiency.
The police started using the system in 2004 and it has undergone several upgrades.
Aziz Arshad, chief executive officer of Dapat Vista, said the system also saves the police time and effort, such as when the public wants information on summonses.
“The motorists just send an SMS and the system searches the police database before sending a return SMS with the relevant information,” he said,
Dapat Vista will go on to represent Malaysia at the Apicta International 2009 awards, which will be held in Melbourne, Australia, in December.
The awards comes with a prize — one representative from Dapat Vista will get to attend a week-long entrepreneurship development programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States in January, next year.
More glitter
Another notable Apicta award winner is the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu).
Mampu director-general Datuk Normah Md Yusof said she was pleasantly surprised that the unit won the Best of e-Government and Services Award for its mySMS 15888 service.
“We are surprised because our project is only about a year old. With this SMS 15888 short code, people can access the services of various government agencies via their mobile gadgets,” she said.
With it, users have access to Employees Provident Fund withdrawal forms, the checking and paying of traffic fines online, and other government services.
Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, chief executive officer of the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) which organises the awards, said there is a record 383 nominees this year — the highest ever in the event’s history.
He said that over the past 10 years, the MSC Malaysia Apicta awards have been instrumental in developing a pool of small- and medium-scale technopreneurs for the nation. The awards have also helped these innovators go on to bigger and better things, as well as penetrate the global market.
For instance, last year’s Apicta award winners Sarawak Information Systems Bhd and Les Copaque Productions Sdn Bhd, made impacts at the biennial United Nations World Summit Award ceremony that was in Monterrey, Mexico, last month.
Sarawak Information Systems was chosen as the best entry in the e-Government & Institutions category while Les Copaque Productions received a Regional Special Mention for Asia in the e-Entertainment & Games category.
The history of the MSC Malaysia Apicta awards goes back to 1999 when it was first introduced to showcase the country’s ICT sector. MDeC is guardian of the MSC Malaysia initiative to leapfrog the country’s knowledge economy.
Pikom — the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia — partners with MDeC to organise the Apicta event.
For a full list of the winners, go to www.mscapicta.com.my or thestar.com.my/apicta2009awards
NEWS: British hacker loses latest extradition appeal
LONDON: A British man accused of hacking into US military computers has failed in his latest bid to avoid extradition to the United States.
Gary McKinnon is charged with breaking into dozens of computers belonging to Nasa, the US Department of Defense and several branches of the US military soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. US prosecutors have spent seven years seeking his extradition.
McKinnon claims he was searching for evidence of alien life, although prosecutors say he left a message on an Army computer criticising US foreign policy.
Friday’s decision denies McKinnon the possibility of taking his case to Britain’s new Supreme Court — the latest in a series of blows to his campaign to remain in Britain.
Lord Justice Stanley Burnton said that extradition was “a lawful and proportionate response” to McKinnon’s alleged crimes.
McKinnon’s attorney, Karen Todner, said she was not giving up.
“The legal team are now considering our position and we will exhaust every avenue to prevent Gary’s extradition,” she said after the ruling.
McKinnon’s supporters argue that the 43-year-old is autistic and should not be put through the ordeal of a custodial sentence across the Atlantic.
His case has attracted significant attention in Britain, where it has served as touchstone for debate about the country’s fast-track extradition treaty with the United States — signed in the wake of Sept 11 — and wider US-British relations.
McKinnon’s mother, Janis Sharp, said that her government was too willing to send its citizens to the United States “as sacrificial lambs” to safeguard the pair’s “special political relationship.”
“To use my desperately vulnerable son in this way is despicable, immoral and devoid of humanity,” she said after the ruling.
Britain’s Home Office, which would ultimately be responsible for handling McKinnon’s extradition, said only that it had noted the decision. — AP
Gary McKinnon is charged with breaking into dozens of computers belonging to Nasa, the US Department of Defense and several branches of the US military soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. US prosecutors have spent seven years seeking his extradition.
McKinnon claims he was searching for evidence of alien life, although prosecutors say he left a message on an Army computer criticising US foreign policy.
Friday’s decision denies McKinnon the possibility of taking his case to Britain’s new Supreme Court — the latest in a series of blows to his campaign to remain in Britain.
Lord Justice Stanley Burnton said that extradition was “a lawful and proportionate response” to McKinnon’s alleged crimes.
McKinnon’s attorney, Karen Todner, said she was not giving up.
“The legal team are now considering our position and we will exhaust every avenue to prevent Gary’s extradition,” she said after the ruling.
McKinnon’s supporters argue that the 43-year-old is autistic and should not be put through the ordeal of a custodial sentence across the Atlantic.
His case has attracted significant attention in Britain, where it has served as touchstone for debate about the country’s fast-track extradition treaty with the United States — signed in the wake of Sept 11 — and wider US-British relations.
McKinnon’s mother, Janis Sharp, said that her government was too willing to send its citizens to the United States “as sacrificial lambs” to safeguard the pair’s “special political relationship.”
“To use my desperately vulnerable son in this way is despicable, immoral and devoid of humanity,” she said after the ruling.
Britain’s Home Office, which would ultimately be responsible for handling McKinnon’s extradition, said only that it had noted the decision. — AP
NEWS: Japan court acquits filesharing software creator
TOKYO: A Japanese high court has acquitted the developer of a free filesharing software in a high profile case over copyright law.
The court reversed a 2006 ruling by a lower court that imposed a fine of 1.5mil yen (about RM60,000) on Isamu Kaneko, 39, said a court official who declined to be named citing department policy.
“Today’s ruling helps not only myself but also other computer engineers in pursuing the development of computer technology,” Kaneko told at a news conference at the court in Osaka.
Kaneko’s program, Winny, allows users to trade files without revealing their Internet Protocol addresses — the online equivalent of a phone number.
Digital content providers argued that the software infringes on their copyright by giving users access to their material for free.
Kaneko, a former instructor at the prestigious University of Tokyo, was arrested in 2004. He became the first filesharing software developer arrested in Japan.
He was accused of helping two users disseminate copyrighted material on the Internet with Winny, which can be accessed from his homepage.
In the 2006 ruling, a judge said Winny assisted in the perpetration of crimes. Violating copyright laws in Japan can bring up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of 3mil yen (about RM120,000).
But presiding judge Masazo Ogura rejected the initial verdict, saying it “cannot be said that the defendant published the software to encourage copyright infringement,” according to the Kyodo News agency.
Not happy
Around 200,000 users, mostly in Japan, are believed to use Winny daily, according to the Association of Copyright for Computer Software, a Tokyo-based industry group for over 220 computer software makers.
The association voiced “regret” over the decision. “It is crystal clear that allowing people to use this network further encourages copyright violation,” the association said in a statement.
The reversal runs counter to recent rulings elsewhere. There has been a spate of cases in the United States in which people who run filesharing sites or illegally share content have been ordered to pay fines.
In addition, several members of a music piracy group, Apocalypse Production Crew, have been convicted for copyright infringement. Most recently, a man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement with the group.
In Sweden, four men connected to The Pirate Bay, one of the world’s largest filesharing venues, were sentenced in June to one-year prison terms for abetting violations of copyright law. They were also ordered to pay a fine of 30mil kronor (RM14mil). — AP
The court reversed a 2006 ruling by a lower court that imposed a fine of 1.5mil yen (about RM60,000) on Isamu Kaneko, 39, said a court official who declined to be named citing department policy.
“Today’s ruling helps not only myself but also other computer engineers in pursuing the development of computer technology,” Kaneko told at a news conference at the court in Osaka.
Kaneko’s program, Winny, allows users to trade files without revealing their Internet Protocol addresses — the online equivalent of a phone number.
Digital content providers argued that the software infringes on their copyright by giving users access to their material for free.
Kaneko, a former instructor at the prestigious University of Tokyo, was arrested in 2004. He became the first filesharing software developer arrested in Japan.
He was accused of helping two users disseminate copyrighted material on the Internet with Winny, which can be accessed from his homepage.
In the 2006 ruling, a judge said Winny assisted in the perpetration of crimes. Violating copyright laws in Japan can bring up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of 3mil yen (about RM120,000).
But presiding judge Masazo Ogura rejected the initial verdict, saying it “cannot be said that the defendant published the software to encourage copyright infringement,” according to the Kyodo News agency.
Not happy
Around 200,000 users, mostly in Japan, are believed to use Winny daily, according to the Association of Copyright for Computer Software, a Tokyo-based industry group for over 220 computer software makers.
The association voiced “regret” over the decision. “It is crystal clear that allowing people to use this network further encourages copyright violation,” the association said in a statement.
The reversal runs counter to recent rulings elsewhere. There has been a spate of cases in the United States in which people who run filesharing sites or illegally share content have been ordered to pay fines.
In addition, several members of a music piracy group, Apocalypse Production Crew, have been convicted for copyright infringement. Most recently, a man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement with the group.
In Sweden, four men connected to The Pirate Bay, one of the world’s largest filesharing venues, were sentenced in June to one-year prison terms for abetting violations of copyright law. They were also ordered to pay a fine of 30mil kronor (RM14mil). — AP
NEWS: Robotics in 300 schools
The Education Ministry’s pilot project aims to encourage students to be creative and innovative.
STUDENTS in 300 primary and secondary schools have started studying Robotics in a pilot project.
Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the pilot project was introduced earlier this year in both urban and rural schools.
Alimuddin (right) checks out John’s gold medal as his team members Benjamin (second from left) and Cheng En (third from left) look on. The team will represent Malaysia in the World Robot Olympiad in Korea next month.
“Robotics is something new which we are introducing into the school curriculum. It encourages students to be creative and innovative,” he told reporters after presenting prizes to the winners of the National Robotics Competition (NRC) 2009.
Alimuddin said the ministry had also encouraged the establishment of robotics clubs in schools.
Organised by the Education Ministry, the National Science Centre and Sasbadi Sdn Bhd, he said the objectives of the NRC were to help students build a solid foundation in Mathematics, Science, Technology, Design and ICT, work together as a team, enhance creativity and promote robotics among students.
He said 26 primary school and 52 secondary school teams competed in the NRC finals, with the winners of each category representing Malaysia at the World Robot Olympiad to be held in Pohang, South Korea in November.
He said Malaysia won a gold, two silver and two bronze medals from the World Robot Olympiad in 2008.
SJKC Jalan Davidson Year Five pupil Benjamin Phang Shin Yoong said he and his team mates, John Leong and Tan Cheng En, were happy to come out tops in the primary school open category in the NRC.
“We worked on our project for six months and are excited about representing Malaysia at the World Robot Olympiad,” he said.
Music that was incorporated into the team’s robotic project came from the angklung (a musical instrument made of bamboo) and special computer software, he added.
STUDENTS in 300 primary and secondary schools have started studying Robotics in a pilot project.
Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the pilot project was introduced earlier this year in both urban and rural schools.
Alimuddin (right) checks out John’s gold medal as his team members Benjamin (second from left) and Cheng En (third from left) look on. The team will represent Malaysia in the World Robot Olympiad in Korea next month.
“Robotics is something new which we are introducing into the school curriculum. It encourages students to be creative and innovative,” he told reporters after presenting prizes to the winners of the National Robotics Competition (NRC) 2009.
Alimuddin said the ministry had also encouraged the establishment of robotics clubs in schools.
Organised by the Education Ministry, the National Science Centre and Sasbadi Sdn Bhd, he said the objectives of the NRC were to help students build a solid foundation in Mathematics, Science, Technology, Design and ICT, work together as a team, enhance creativity and promote robotics among students.
He said 26 primary school and 52 secondary school teams competed in the NRC finals, with the winners of each category representing Malaysia at the World Robot Olympiad to be held in Pohang, South Korea in November.
He said Malaysia won a gold, two silver and two bronze medals from the World Robot Olympiad in 2008.
SJKC Jalan Davidson Year Five pupil Benjamin Phang Shin Yoong said he and his team mates, John Leong and Tan Cheng En, were happy to come out tops in the primary school open category in the NRC.
“We worked on our project for six months and are excited about representing Malaysia at the World Robot Olympiad,” he said.
Music that was incorporated into the team’s robotic project came from the angklung (a musical instrument made of bamboo) and special computer software, he added.
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