Dual-core iPhone 6s obliterates Galaxy S6, Note 5 and other top Android phones in performance tests

The first iPhone 6s benchmarks have emerged from a lucky buyer who received her handset a few days before the official September 25th launch date. The Geekbench 3 tests showed the Apple’s new flagship is significantly faster than last year’s iPhone 6. Even more impressive is the fact that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have almost the same scores as this year’s Retina MacBook laptops, both in single-core and multi-core tests.

An iPhone 6s review further shows that the iPhone 6s handsets indeed have stellar performance, obliterating top competitors, including the Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5, and other flagship Android handsets from the competition.

Reviewing the iPhone 6s models, Apple blogger Jon Gruber used Geekbench 3 benchmark software to test them, obtaining the same scores. According to Gruber, the iPhone 6s got a 2500 in single-core tests and 4340 in multi-core tests – that’s 1.6x and 1.5x faster than the iPhone 6, respectively.

Gruber also noted that the iPhone 6s is in a class of its own, at least when it comes to single-core performance.

“In terms of single-core performance, there isn’t a single Android phone that beats the two-year-old iPhone 5S,” he said. “Android devices fare better in multi-core benchmarks, because they have more cores (some have eight, many have four — the iPhones 6S still have only two cores), but single-core performance is a better measure for the sort of things you can feel while using a device.”

“Apple is literally years ahead of the industry,” he added. “Even if you don’t agree that single-core performance is the more meaningful benchmark, you can’t deny that iPhone benchmarks don’t look anything like the benchmarks for high-end Android devices.”

Gruber posted the following image that lists Geekbench 3 single-core average scores for this year’s most popular Android devices, including smartphones and tablets. Notably absent, though, is the recently released Galaxy Note 5, but MobileSyrup‘s iPhone 6s review does list Geekbench 3 tests for the new Samsung phablet, and the Note 5 can’t even beat the iPhone 6 in single-core tests (second image below).

Burger Bakar Abang Burn Selayang

Just a quick one. Impressed by Abang Burn’s burger bakar during my first visit to their Selayang branch, I returned again last weekend for a quick bite. This time however, resulted in a disappointing experience.
It’s disheartening to learn that the quality of a place could deteriorate so fast. Worst of all, I have been highly recommending Abang Burn to my close friends for the past few months. Sigh.

While it was crunchy alright, the Cheesy Mushroom @ RM5 was either over fried, or was fried in stale oil. There was a weird sourness to it that you’d only get from food that was fried in heavily reused oil. It simply left a bad taste in my mouth.

Since we liked the fried chicken burger so much, we decided to give the Burger Kahwin (fried chicken and beef) @ RM14.90 a try. Unfortunately, I think they used the same oil to fry the chicken thigh so it also absorbed the unpleasant taste.
If you compare the fried chicken patty you see now with the one I had last month, you will there’s a huge difference in the colour. The one we had last time was golden brown while this one was dark brown – the texture is dryer and chewier too.
I am not sure if we were just being unlucky but if you encounter the same issue, I think it’s only best you ask for an exchange.

Travel in Style [Business Class] with MH Upgrade of Malaysia Airlines

Travel in style with Malaysia Airlines' MH Upgrade feature, sharing based on my personal experience (this is not a sponsored post). I booked my ticket via Malaysia Airlines and was invited for a quotation for upgrade- MH Upgrade feature. The feature is user-friendly and highly flexible. You may bid your quote based on your means; if you must know, I bought my air tickets to Ho Chi Minh City from Penang (via KL) at Rm 518 and I bid a minimum offer of Rm 250. Notification on your offer will be sent 48 hours prior to your departure and fortunately, my offer was being accepted. 

MH Upgrade to Business Class 

Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

Holding a Business Class Boarding Pass gives you access to their Golden Lounge, there is a small buffet spread available for you to recharge. Not only the food lives up to expectation but the view is spectacular as well. If you have long layover hours, this could be the perfect place for you to kill time (thanks to the high-speed wifi as well). However, the service was not quite attentive, I actually had to walk over to the counter and asked them for tea (I was expecting them to serve me). 

Appetizer for my customized Low Calorie Meal

Pink Guava Fruit Juice and Salted Peanuts

Unlimited Refills of Red/ White Wine

Chicken Breast served with Tomato Sauce

In-Flight Menu

In-Flight Entertainment

Comfortable Seating Space

Business Class comes with 40 kg baggage allowance and priority boarding; which speeds up the boarding process. I had my meal pre-ordered before departure and my pick was Low Calorie Meal (no idea why the Stewardess was so surprised though) and they were served to me in a jiffy. Otherwise, you may just pick your order from the In-Flight menu. A glass of Fruit Juice will also be served to you (your choice). If alcohol is your kinda thing, you may also order a glass (or more) of Red/ White. While sleeping might be a good option but their in-flight entertainment should not be forsaken as well. Nevertheless, the trip was smooth and the service was beyond amazing. I would definitely try my luck again in the near future. Happy traveling! 

Microsoft Band 2 with curved display leaks, expected October 6

The flat-faced Microsoft Band wasn’t hailed as the most stylish wearable ever, but leaked renders of what is expected to be the second generation device surfaced via Microsoft Insider on Sunday, showing a new curved display.

The blog claims that we can expect a new metallic finish, at least on part of the front display panel, and physical buttons, as well as some new functionality — for example, users will finally be able to measure elevation (i.e. climbing or descending flights of stairs or otherwise steep terrain).

The report said the device will be more widely available across more markets at launch, including European countries like Spain, France, Italy, and Germany.

One other notable physical tweak that Microsoft appears to have made with the Band 2, known internally as “Envoy,” is a new location for the battery — now under the display instead of on the sides.

The original $199 band was announced in late October 2014, and positioned as a health- and productivity-focused wearable in the tradition of Fitbit.

As we wrote at the time, it offered “10 sensors for tracking steps, heart rate, sleep, and other biometrics. A UV sensor measures sun exposure, and a galvanic skin response sensor can tell you if you’re stressed out. Other sensors include an optical heart rate sensor, a 3-axis accelerometer/gyro, a gyrometer, an ambient light sensor, and a skin temperature sensor. There’s also a GPS radio for tracking routes, and a microphone for dictating notes on the run.”

While the first-generation band received mixed reviews, it generally did as advertised, and earned compliments for being simple and easy to use. Cross-platform availability was an important factor in its adoption, but it was plagued by poor battery life, and some had concerns that it wasn’t waterproof enough.

On top of these concerns, it was generally seen as being on the expensive side for what it offered, and, as we pointed out, didn’t exactly sport the most stylish or sleek design to persuade potential buyers to hand over a hard-earned $200.

I’d expect some sort of refresh to the Microsoft Health app, which syncs up with the band to display collected biometrics data, and is available on Windows Phone, Android, and iOS.

For all the final details on the Microsoft Band 2, we’ll have to wait until the company’s October 6 event. In the meantime, here’s a shot of the original band from 2014 to refresh your memory:

Uber Could Be First to Test Completely Driverless Cars in Public

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has made no secret about wanting robots to replace human drivers in his rideshare service—and now he’s found somewhere to develop them. Last month, the governor of Arizona, Doug Ducey, paved the way for the world’s first driverless taxis on public roads.

At a joint press conference with Uber, Ducey unveiled an executive order calling for pilot programmes of self-driving vehicles “regardless of whether the operator is physically present in the vehicle or is providing direction remotely.”

Several U.S. states already permit autonomous vehicle tests but all require a human in the driver’s seat should the technology unexpectedly fail. While safety drivers might suit auto makers like Tesla that are building “autopilots” to help motorists avoid accidents on boring motorway journeys, Uber ultimately wants to eliminate human drivers altogether.

At a technology conference in California last year, Kalanick said, “The reason Uber could be expensive is because you’re not just paying for the car—you’re paying for the other dude in the car. When there’s no other dude in the car, the cost of taking an Uber anywhere becomes cheaper than owning a vehicle.”

The idea would be that the car would cope with the vast majority of situations it finds itself in, but a human monitoring its cameras and other systems online could be ready to take over if something goes wrong.

Up until now, the U.S. government has frowned on removing human drivers from the equation. In a 2013 policy paper, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated: 

[We] strongly recommend that states require that a properly licensed driver be seated in the driver’s seat and ready to take control of the vehicle while the vehicle is operating in self-driving mode on public roads.

All the other U.S. states that have passed laws for the testing of self-driving vehicles have followed this recommendation, requiring a driver in the car able to quickly and easily take manual control. California even requires safety drivers to be specially trained to deal with problems that self-driving cars might suffer from, such as unexpectedly steering, accelerating, or braking.

Uber is not the only company that would prefer to let self-driving vehicles fend for themselves, however. Volkswagen-Audi and Zoox, a Silicon Valley robo-taxi start-up, both unsuccessfully lobbied Californian officials to remove the requirement for a safety driver in their test vehicles. “Zoox is designing vehicles to perform all safety critical driving functions,” wrote Michael Harrison-Ford, the company’s chief of staff. “The regulations are couched in terms of traditional automobiles and risk excluding the benefits of [full] autonomy.”

Arizona promises to be a much friendlier state for such high-tech companies. “Arizona has been a great home for Uber,” the company wrote in a recent blog post. Governor Ducey championed ridesharing regulations that allowed Uber to operate legally in Arizona, and Uber opened a customer service center in the state in June. During August’s press conference, the company announced a US $25,000 donation to the University of Arizona, and committed to fund research into mapping and self-driving technologies there.

“Some universities have shied away more than they should from working with the private sector and we’re quite the opposite,” says Tom Koch, dean of the University’s College of Optical Sciences. “For us, working with companies like Uber has always been a tremendous win.”

Ducey’s executive order looks to have been written with Uber in mind. It requires that Arizona’s driverless vehicle pilot programmes take place on the campuses of public universities, such as the University of Arizona. It also directs the state’s Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety and “all other agencies” to “undertake any necessary steps to support the testing and operation of self-driving vehicles on public roads within Arizona.”

This means that when Uber does reveal its self-driving taxi, it should be able to legally drive paying customers around the University from day one, which may not be too far off. Uber told Spectrum that the company’s mapping vehicles are already operating on the university’s public roads. Although the cars do not currently have self-driving capabilities, they do have laser-ranging lidar units and multiple video cameras similar to those used by many autonomous vehicles today.

“Uber will be engaging our faculty with specific interests that they have,” says Koch. “We’re anticipating that Uber will work with us on problems that are near term, helping them with engineering solutions in the design of advanced imaging systems.”

The close relations between Uber and Arizona come as no surprise to Bryant Walker Smith, a professor at the University of South Carolina and expert in self-driving law. “You have companies that are looking for customised legal regimes,” he says. “There is probably a project underway to do some kind of testing and this is the way that the company has suggested moving forward in a limited fashion to facilitate only what it wants to do.”

Smith thinks that Governor’s Ducey’s choice of university campuses should limit the risk to the public if the technology fails. “It points to a low-speed shuttle system moving around in a constrained geographic area,” he says. “If you’re going slow enough, the car has more time to process and decide how to respond to events. And if it gets it wrong, the damage is likely to be much less.”

Uber told Spectrum that it has not made any plans or announcements for self-driving vehicles beyond what was revealed in Arizona last month. However, documents obtained by IEEE Spectrum show that the company has approached a testing facility for autonomous vehicles in California.GoMentum Station is a disused military base in the Bay Area that Apple was also considering for testing its self-driving car.

The NHTSA was not able to comment on Arizona’s roadmap for legalising driverless taxis for public use. But in its policy paper, the agency says, “NHTSA does not recommend that states authorize the operation of self-driving vehicles for purposes other than testing at this time. Self-driving vehicle technology is not yet at the stage of sophistication or demonstrated safety capability that it should be authorized for use by members of the public for general driving purposes.”

While the NHTSA cannot ban Uber outright, it does have options to investigate and if necessary recall self-driving vehicles, according to Smith. “This isn’t a free for all,” he says. “The NHTSA can make life difficult for Uber if things get out of hand.”

Is Black Phosphorus the New Graphene?

Chemists first synthesized black phosphorus over a hundred years ago. But it was only last year when anybody really took interest in the flaky black stuff. In a series of experiments reported in the first half of 2014, researchers were able to exfoliate black phosphorus into very thin films of only about 10 to 20 atoms thick. Now black phosphorus has become the new darling of two-dimensional materials research and a new hope for a postsilicon world.

The excitement around black phosphorus, which is also called phosphorene in reference to its 2-D cousin graphene, stems mainly from the fact that it has an inherent bandgap, something that graphene lacks. A bandgap, an energy band in which no electron states can exist, is essential for creating the on/off flow of electrons that are needed in digital logic and for the generation of photons for LEDs and lasers.

Black phosphorus doesn’t just have any bandgap. Its bandgap can be fine-tuned by adjusting the number of layers of the material, explains Philip Feng, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Case Western Reserve University. His team has demonstrated some of the first black phosphorous mechanical and electronic devices.

The bandgap can be dialed up from 0.3 to 2.0 electron volts. That’s a range covering a regime otherwise unavailable to all other recently discovered 2-D materials. It bridges the bandgaps of graphene (0 eV) and of transition-metal dichalcogenides such as molybdenum disulfide, which range from 1.0 to 2.5 eV.

By combining this bandgap tuning with different choices of contact materials, scientists at Sungkyunkwan University, in South Korea, were recently able to build both n-type transistors—those conducting electrons—and ambipolar transistors, which conduct both holes and electrons. Such a mix brings the material closer to mimicking the complementary logic used in today’s silicon chips.

Scientists are also excited about black phosphorus for photonics, “since optoelectronic functions, including light absorption, emission, and modulation, of semiconductor materials depend on the size of the bandgap,” says Mo Li, a photonics expert at the University of Minnesota. Black phosphorus’s bandgap range means it can absorb and emit light with wavelengths of 0.6 to 4.0 micrometers—covering the visible to infrared. That spectrum could be key to its use in sensors and in optical communications. Li’s group built a black phosphorous photodetector that was able to convert 3 gigabits per second of optical data to electronic signals.

Another cool property, Feng points out, is that black phosphorus possesses an intrinsic, strong in-plane anisotropy, which means its properties are dependent on the direction of the crystal. “This in-plane anisotropy is not readily found in other 2-D crystals derived from layered materials,” he says. His team recently demonstrated the first black phosphorous high-frequency nanoelectromechanical systems resonator. The resonator took advantage of the material’s in-plane anisotropy to generate new elastic behaviors and frequency scaling abilities.

Unfortunately, black phosphorus is hard to make and hard to keep. Currently, it’s made by treating an amorphous form of the element called red phosphorus with high pressure (1 gigapascal) and high temperature (1,000 °C). The resulting millimeter-scale crystals are then exfoliated into atoms-thick flakes for making nanostructures and nanoscale devices.

More troubling is that “when exposed in air, black phosphorous film degrades within a few hours, due to reaction with water vapor and oxygen in air,” explains Li. “Luckily, many inert materials can be used as passivation to preserve black phosphorous devices for weeks or longer.”

If the manufacturing and preservation problems can be solved, perhaps silicon could finally fade to black.

Samsung Unveils Shiny U.S. Headquarters

Samsung Electronics held the opening ceremony for its new state-of-the-art $300 million 1.1 million square feet, 10-story building and campus on Thursday in San Jose, California.

Built on the razed site of its previous 214,000 square foot campus, and covering a total of 9.4 acres, the site, which includes approximately 636,000 sq. ft. of office and lab space and can hold up to 2000 employees, is 100 percent owned by Samsung.

Housing the North American headquarters for the Device Solutions (components) businesses for Samsung Electronics, the new facility is also home to several of the firm's research labs, as well as sales and marketing staff for the Device Solutions America headquarters. It currently boasts some 700 employees, with the firm noting that primary hiring for the next decade at the facility will be for R&D.

Samsung's Device Solutions businesses are focused on providing semiconductor, display and other component technologies for consumer electronics, smartphones, tablets, PCs, home appliances and the Internet of Things.

Opened just two years after the initial groundbreaking ceremony, the building dedication was attended by local government officials, Samsung partners, executives and hundreds of staff, all uniformed in Samsung blue.

San Jose's mayor, Sam Liccardo, said approval of the site's permit took just 54 working days, while Mike Rossi, California governor Jerry Brown's senior business advisor, said that by supporting Samsung, the state had made a "good investment" that was already paying dividends.

Dr. O.H Kwon, CEO and Vice Chairman of Samsung electronics, said the facility would help Samsung ramp to a "more aggressive pace of growth" over the next few decades, and that the firm planned to fill it to capacity with "2,000 of Silicon Valley's best and brightest talent."

"We are determined to drive the leading edge of innovation in the semiconductor industry," he added.

The building itself is certainly innovative, built as a series of two-story office "buildings" stacked on top of one another, sandwiching a series of "green floors" with gardens and recreational opportunities that are part of an effort to re-introduce the natural environment in office architecture.

The architects behind the structure are NBBJ, while the construction was undertaken by Webcor Builders.

The facility is clad in white metal, punctuated by a series of windows that vary in width, making it look like a chip stack from the outside, and an airy, open, glass space from the inside.

The wider windows are aligned with shared communal spaces for extra natural daylight, and campus amenities include large gardens of varying dimensions and character, an expansive fitness facility, and a large star-shaped cafeteria building capable of seating up to 750 diners. The cafeteria covers 20,158 square feet of space, and it provides one free and subsequently subsidized meals to all employees.

The 170-foot tall building has been designed to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The firm said the new building would not mean that it will close other facilities outside of Northern California. In 2014 alone, Samsung Electronics' total investment in R&D was $13.7 billion, around 6.9 percent of its overall sales for that year.

Most recently, Samsung's R&D has been working on SSD products for the data center and cloud computing, with software to speed up and enhance the drives.

Meanwhile, in the world of displays, Samsung boasted that it has developed the world's fastest display interface systems to drive next-generation ultra-high resolution screens, and a display data compression codec adopted by all of the major chip makers, as well as a methodology for evaluating visual display quality that has been accepted as a part of the JPEG standard.

Wrapping up the ceremony, Samsung executives discussed how the new facility would increase the economic development of San Jose and talked about the firm's corporate responsibility and outreach programs with local non-profits like the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Family Giving Tree.

The firm said its employees volunteered many service hours with both groups, and it presented them each a check for $100,000.

Samsung also said it was putting greater emphasis on STEM, by setting up an education scholarship fund for college age students in STEM programs at California state universities or the University of California. One student per year will receive funding for his or her enrollment and living expenses.

Why Cars Are Apple’s Next Big Market

Few industries are as highly regulated as the global automobile industry. Just this week, Volkswagen discovered it could be facing a federal criminal probe for allegedly cheating on toxic emissions tests.

So why would Apple, the envy of the corporate world for making gadgets everyone wants, bother to venture into an industry so fraught with pitfalls?

Some $2 trillion in potential annual sales, or even a fraction of that, has convinced the iPhone maker to move from the exploration phase to committing to a deadline to deliver an Apple-branded car. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has tripled the size of the team devoted to the project, code-named Titan, and has set a target ship date of 2019.

Apple has made a practice of slipping into a sleepy market and making it its own. It has had amazing runs in PCs, digital music players, tablets and phones. But the global smartphone market, which accounts for nearly 70 percent of Apple’s revenue, is slowing down. Sales are expected to rise 10 percent this year industrywide, down from the comparatively torrid 27.5 percent rate of 2014. Clearly, Apple needs big new markets to upend to justify its status atop corporate America and grow its $657.8 billion market capitalization.

The global automotive market fits the bill. Last year, some 87 million vehicles were sold, generating around $2 trillion in revenue, according to UBS. The market is forecast to rise by a paltry 3.5 percent a year through 2021 on a compounded annual growth rate, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

PwC projects global vehicle sales to grow at an annual rate of 3.5 percent through 2021.

The market with the greatest potential is the tiny market in electric vehicles. Although it accounts for less than 1 percent of global vehicle sales, its compounded annual growth rate through 2020 is projected at 19 percent driven by a combination of falling prices, improved driving range and the onslaught of stricter government air quality regulations.

Navigant ResearchNavigant Research projects exponential growth of electric vehicles — which includes hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles.

That helps explain why Tesla Motors, founded a dozen years ago, has already claimed 20 percent of the luxury vehicle market in the U.S. So far this year, Tesla has sold more Model S sedans than Mercedes sold of its comparable S-Class, according to Credit Suisse automotive analyst Dan Galves.

Then there are the lofty estimates around robot cars. As absurd as Google’s steering wheelless, gondola-shaped clown cars may seem to some, the expectation around autonomous vehicles is astounding. The market for vehicles with autonomous features could grow to a $42 billion business by 2025, according to the Boston Consulting Group, assuming the technology can achieve a clean safety record and regulators look favorably on the idea of driverless cars.

Boston Consulting Group

For Apple, moving into cars is about owning the experience on a new tech platform — and keeping Google from dominating. A similar motivation is pushing the company into home automation, where Google too has a significant presence. Cars, in particular, are rapidly becoming centralized around mobile technology. “Eventually,” said Pete Tenereillo, CEO of GPS company PathSense, “you’re going to get in your car and your car will be your phone.”

Tablet vendors competing for Bay Trail ahead of Intel discount cancellation

Intel, in order to promote the latest CPU platform Cherry Trail, will cancel price discounts for Bay Trail in October and as a result, tablet vendors have been keen to procure Bay Trail processors, according to Taiwan-based tablet supply chain makers.

A Bay Trail processor is priced at US$12 and Intel has offered a discount of about US$8 for Android tablets and about US$4 for Windows tablets, the sources said. In contrast, Intel has offered smaller discounts of US$2-3 for Cherry Trail which is priced at US$15, the sources indicated.

Intel hopes that the cancellation of pricing incentives for Bay Trial will bring Bay Trail pricing almost on a par with the discounted prices for Cherry Trail, and thus motivate tablet vendors to adopt the latter, the sources said.

However, the discount cancellation may push tablet vendors to adopt platforms developed by Qualcomm or MediaTek, the sources indicated

HANDS ON: XIAOMI MI 4C – NOW THIS IS A FLAGSHIP

When Xiaomi announced the Mi 4i as a flagship device, more than a few eyebrows were raised. While it offers plenty value for money, the Snapdragon 615 processor puts it more comfortably as an upper mid-range device.

Enter the Xiaomi Mi 4c. While it shares the same design as the Mi 4i, it is powered by a superior Snapdragon 808 processor. The Mi 4c also has several new tricks up its sleeves. We managed to spend some time with it to see just how different it is from the Mi 4i.

In terms of appearance, there are very little differences between the Mi 4c and Mi 4i; only when you look really closely you’d notice several subtle changes. For example, the Mi 4c has a USB Type-C port along with an IR blaster on top of the device. Beyond these two exterior differences, however, it’s basically a Mi 4i with slight changes here and there.

However, that’s only on the outside. Xiaomi also introduced a new feature called Edge Tap with the Mi 4c. Basically, I just need to tap on either sides of the phone (Edge Tap works on both the left and right sides of the device) to snap a picture or to go back. The whole feature feels pretty surreal, seeing how I’m just tapping on the side of the phone – instead of a physical button or a capacitive key – and it just works.

Other than that, the Mi 4c also has a new rear camera sensor: either a Sony IMX258 or a Samsung S5K3M2 sensor. While I can’t be sure which of the two sensors the Mi 4c I had was equipped with, the low-light performance of the 13MP camera is pretty good. The time it takes to focus is decent, there doesn’t seem to be much pause in between shots, and the images are pretty detailed as well.

One of the main highlights of the Mi 4c is definitely its processor. Thanks to the Snapdragon 808 hexa-core chipset, the Mi 4c feels much smoother than the Mi 4i, but that’s a given. After all, the Snapdragon 615 processor of the Mi 4i is an upper mid-range chipset, while the Snapdragon 808 SoC can be found on flagship devices such as the LG G4.

As for the Mi 4c’s other aspects, it should be similar to the Mi 4i. The 5-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution JDI display has accurate colours as well as excellent viewing angles, the polycarbonate body is comfortable to hold, and the overall build quality is especially impressive for such an affordable device.

For now, Xiaomi has no plan to sell the Mi 4c anywhere outside of China. If it does make it out of the country, we’re pretty sure it will be one of Xiaomi’s most well-received smartphones. With a starting price of 1,299 Chinese yuan (about RM895), the Mi 4c offers a very hard to beat package.

The Internet Is Going Crazy Over Photos That Could Prove Jon Snow Is Alive

Did the Lord of Light choose Jon Snow over Stannis Baratheon?

New paparazzi pictures appear to show actor Kit Harington on the set of Game of Thrones in Belfast, Ireland, raising questions about the characters true fate.

The internet is in a tizzy over the new shots, considering his character, Jon Snow, died in the show’s Season 5 finale. The Daily Mail published grainy photos of the star, which show him on set in full costume with sword in hand.

The shots are particularly provocative considering Harington’s recent statements on his future with the show. A September interview with Belgian news outlet Humo, as translated by a user on Reddit, has been interpreted by some as an admission by the actor that Jon Snow is indeed alive.

“The important thing is that I now know exactly how long I am still under contract … Let’s just say that Game of Thrones will remain a part of my life for a while, I’ll probably be in my thirties when it’s over,” said Harington, according to the translation, which was confirmed by the Huffington Post.

HBO president Michael Lombardo, meanwhile, has worked to squash rumors of a Snow resurrection. “Dead is dead is dead. He be dead … Everything I’ve seen, heard and read, Jon Snow is, indeed dead,” Lombardotold reporters in July

The star himself has also thrown a wet blanket on resurrection theories, telling Entertainment Weekly, “I’m dead. I’m not coming back next season.” Well, then.

But the new images have still stoked hopes among Game of Thrones fans that the beloved character might one day return. After all: What is Kit doing on set if he’s actually gone?

For GoT watchers who want to dive deeper into the mystery,Vanity Fairhas some insight on Harington’s attire and the possible characters he’s with on set. Only time will tell whether Snow has actually survived, but that hasn’t stopped many on Twitter from celebrating his purported recovery.

Golden Sands Resort: Garden Cafe

While I have patronized Sigi's Bar & Grill on several occasions, I have yet to visit the other service restaurant at Golden Sands Resort: Garden Cafe. Besides providing breakfast for hotel guests, this eatery also serves à la carte dishes throughout the day.

My visit today is to witness the launching of the Viva Italiano Buffet Dinner. This Italian-theme buffet is inspired by Peppino, the resort's former award-winning Italian restaurant. Although Peppino closed several years ago, most of its staff and menu items have been integrated into Garden Cafe.

Unlike Sigi's, the Garden Cafe presents an open-air atmosphere to allow the cool oceanic breeze to flow in. Hopefully the haze problem will improve, otherwise the dining section become uncomfortably warm.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Therefore, I started the meal with some soup. There are two types served today. Minestrone Casalinga, or "housewife's minestrone", is a thick soup with pasta, beans and various vegetables. Meanwhile, the Crema Di Pomodoro (tomato soup) provides sourness which expands my appetite for the large feast ahead.

As usual, I tend to go gaga with garlic croutons because I like the delightful crisp in soup. You may also want to help yourself with some freshly baked bread rolls from the basket. Alternatively, the soup can also be enjoyed with some grissini (breadsticks).

In lieu of soup, Italians sometimes serve gnocchi as primo piatto (first course). Like many Italian dishes, there are many regional recipes of this delicacy. The highlight this evening is Potatoes Gnocchi With Green Peas, where the dough dumplings are made from semolina and potatoes.

I love the soft, starchy texture of the gnocchi. Although made primarily from potatoes, they do not appear surfeiting in the slightest bit. The gnocchi taste slightly sweet, but the main taste comes from creamy sauce which is provided separately. I highly recommend that you give this dish a try especially if you have not heard of gnocchi before.

Another commendable dish is Ossobuco-Style Braised Beef Short Ribs. "Ossobuco" means "bone with a hole" in Italian, which refers to the hollowed marrow hole of the bones. This Milanese specialty is braised with carrots, onions and broth to give a gratifying gastronomical experience.

Next on the line is Grilled Lamb Cutlet. While the savoriness of this dish pales in comparison with the previous one, its appeal should not be underestimated nevertheless. Lightly grilled pieces of mutton are served with bell pepper, not just for aesthetic appeal but also to act as flavor counter-balance of savory mutton. This lamb dish is best enjoyed with thyme garlic gravy.

As for poultry, Baked Pesto Chicken is served this evening. While chicken is not as savory as red meats, the appeal of this dish is somewhat compensated by the creamy pesto sauce. Originating from Genoa in northern Italy, pesto is traditionally made from cheese, basil, garlic and olive oil.

Moving on to seafood, I am duly impressed with the Grilled Prawn With Parmigiana Paprika Cream Sauce. The sweet, crunchy sensation of fresh shrimps complements well with the creamy sauce. Black olives and chopped thyme are included to enhance flavor of this lovely dish.

Also appealing is the Pan Fried Fish With Dill Cream Sauce. While the texture of fish is quite refined, I think the main contribution comes from the sour cream sauce. This sauce is subtly seasoned with chopped dill leaves to impart some herbal freshness.

Pastitsio is a Mediterranean-style dish made from layers of pasta, ground meat and tomato sauce. The layers are topped with cheese custard then baked in an oven, similar to how lasagna is prepared. Unfortunately, this Pastitsio dish has too much pasta in proportion to other ingredients, causing the layers to break apart rather easily.

Should you crave for more meat, Roast Beef is provided for your indulgence. Using a sharp carving knife, the server shaves off thin slices of beef so that you can enjoy the juicy red meat without needing to chew through tough beef.

Caramelized onion brown sauce is provided to be paired with Roast Beef. Alternatively, there are other condiments such as HP brown sauce, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce. There should be one which suits your palate!

Moving on, there is a pasta station where diners can request for customized pasta dishes. The types of pasta are fusilli, fettuccine, penne and spaghetti. As for sauces, the station provides napolitana, carbonara, bolognese and marinara sauces for diners to choose from. Honestly, I think it is best to skip this station altogether and go for the previously-mentioned dishes instead.

At the salad bar, there are a handful of choices such as Parmigiana Italian Pasta Salad, Poached Half Shell Mussel With Vegetable Emulsion, Caesar Salad and Caprese Salad.

Of special mention is Caprese Salad which features mozzarella di bufala (buffalo mozzarella). This special cheese is made from milk derived from Italian water buffalo. Mozzarella di bufala is very expensive because the cheese can only be produced from milk farmed in certain regions of southern Italy.

As for desserts, Tiramisu is an iconic Italian cake which features very light and soft texture. On the top are fresh strawberries, grapes and a thorough sprinkle of chocolate powder. This dessert is served with coffee sauce on the side.

The Crème De Menthe Cake (peppermint cream cake) carries a mild hint of peppermint flavor. However, the cooling breath of peppermint is somewhat lost in the sea of sugary sweetness. I feel that peppermint aroma should take the center stage instead.

Panna Cotta, Italian for "cooked cream", is made from sweetened cream that is thickened with gelatin. To prepare this dessert, flavored cream is warmed until sugar and gelatin dissolve in it. The mixture is then poured in a bowl and is allowed to set. When done, the solidified cream is turned over and served with powdered sugar, whipped cream and fresh fruits.

If fruity dessert is your cup of tea, the Strawberry Pudding should strike a chord with your palate. Like the Panna Cotta, this pudding is coated with lots of powdered sugar to the extent that it is almost excessive. I prefer to allow its strawberry flavors to be more prominent.

For a less sugary treat, try the Fruits & Nut Cake which is coated on all sides with crushed nuts. A mere slice of this cake is very filling to the stomach.

Last but not least, conclude the meal with some fresh fruits of your choice. Tropical fruits provided are pineapple, papaya, watermelon and honeydew.

Overall, I feel that tonight's dinner has several Italian specialties that are worth trying, especially the gnocchi, beef short ribs and grilled prawns. The pasta section is somewhat lacking in appeal, while pizza is notably excluded from the menu. As for bread and desserts, I am looking forward to more Italian-centric delicacies such as panettone, sfogliatella, cassata and gelato.

Viva Italiano Buffet Dinner is served every Wednesday evening from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. The buffet runs for 2 months: September and October 2015, but may extend longer if the demand is high. The Viva Italiano Buffet Dinner is priced at RM78.00 for an adult, RM39.00 for a child of age 6 to 11. Reservation is recommended in case of overwhelming response.

Name: Garden Cafe
Address: Golden Sands Resort, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-886-1911
Business hours: 6:30am-11:00pm
Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/penang/goldensandsresort/dining/restaurants/garden-cafe
Coordinates: 5.47751 N, 100.2516 E
Directions: Driving from George Town and upon arriving Batu Ferringhi, Golden Sands Resort is located on the right at the first traffic junction. The main entrance to the hotel is located slightly after the junction. Garden Cafe is located on the west wing just beside the lobby.