Restoran Fend Ikan Bakar @ SS6, Kelana Jaya

If you like your Ikan Bakar to be tongue-numbing spicy, then I am pretty sure you would like Fend Ikan Bakarat Kelana Jaya. Before they establised themselves in a shop lot, they used to operate with a van-cum-stall and were already very popular with the locals.

Ikan keli, ikan pari, tilapia, ikan kembung and siakap are only some of the available items you could choose from. Typically, a set that comes with rice, curry and sambal cost in the region of RM6 to RM7. I think the curry is meant for those who couldn’t handle the spicy food, as the spiciness is very much toned down compared to the sambal with an appetizing and sourish taste.

A piece of advice here, try to negotiate for the meatier cut of pari (and avoid the flat ones) to reduce the possibility of getting burnt parts. The marination of the fish is excellent and goes very well with the spicy sambal (I liked this a lot) but it’s a shame they overcooked and burnt the bottom of my fish.
Since I sat right in front of the kitchen counter I could get a good view of the other grilled fish the other patrons had. From what I saw, I think I was the only unlucky person to receive a burnt one lol. The other tables seemed to get their fish nicely cooked, damn.

One of the more funky drinks here, Lemon Blue @ RM2.50. A refreshing, chilling drink with a zesty finish filled with chewy biji selasih and slurpy jellies.

They also serve satay here at 60 cents a stick if not mistaken. Not bad at all but I found the satay sauce to be a bit too oily for my liking.

Fend Ikan Bakar actually got most of the things right like the marination and sauce but I just hope they could be more careful in grilling the fishes, especially when it comes to stingray that gets burnt easily due to their delicate flesh. In terms of pricing I find them to be fair and I would happily return again to try the other types of grilled fish.

Restoran Fend Ikan Bakar
Jalan SS6/20A, Dataran Glomac,
Kelana Jaya
GPS Coordinates: N3 06.144 E101 35.977

HTC ONE A9 GOES OFFICIAL: ALL METAL BODY, SNAPDRAGON 617, ANDROID MARSHMALLOW, 13MP CAMERA, HI-RES AUDIO AND MORE

After tons of leaks made its way to the net which seemed to be quite accurate, the HTC One A9 is now finally official. Featuring the family’s signature all metal design, HTC stated that the new smartphone is designed for users that want “stunning design without compromising on style, performance or personalization”.

As mentioned earlier, most of the leaks that we’ve seen before regarding One A9 were spot on. Apart from featuring a physical design that seemed to be heavily influenced by previous HTC One devices and Apple iPhone, the One A9 also features a 5-inch full HD AMOLED display that is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

In terms of specifications, the One A9 comes in two variants that can be differentiate by their internal storage and RAM. Specifically, the 32GB model comes with 3GB while the 16GB variant is built with 2GB RAM. Both models do support microSD cards with storage of up to 2TB.

Other than that, both models do feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 64-bit octa-core processor that runs at maximum speed of 1.5GHz and built with integrated X8 LTE modem as well as Adreno 405 GPU. At the same time, HTC also claimed that One A9 is the first non-Nexus device to come with Android 6.0 Marshmallow although it still feature the company’s own Sense UI implementation.

For photography, HTC has equipped One A9 with a 13-megapixels BSI sensor on its rear camera together with optical image stabilization, phase detection autofocus, f/2.0 lens with sapphire cover, and a flash while there’s also a 4-megapixels Ultrapixel camera on the front. To compliment these hardware, the company includes several features for them such as RAW capture, Hyperlapse editing tool, and HTC Zoe.

As you can see from the product images, HTC’s front firing BoomSound speakers are noticeably missing from One A9 but instead, the company choose to include built-in headphone amplifier together with the support for 24-bit 192KHz high-resolution audio alongside Dolby Audio surround technology. In case you wondering, yes, there is a fingerprint scanner on the phone’s physical home button.

Not to forget, the One A9 also comes with 2,150 mAh battery that supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 and forward compatible with future Quick Charge 3.0. In terms of battery life, HTC claims that One A9 able to last up to 12 hours of HD video playback, 9 hours of Internet on WiFi, 16 hours of 3G talk time, and 18 days standby time.

At this moment, there’s no release date and pricing information are available for Malaysia at the moment although HTC did mentioned that it will be released throughout the world starting this November. In United States, the 32GB/3GB model is priced at USD 399.99 (around RM 1,711) – so, take that as some sort of rough estimate.

(Source: HTC)

YAHOO SEARCH WILL BE PARTLY POWERED BY GOOGLE

Yahoo has a new plan to make its search engine more relevant, while also making a little extra money on the side. The company has entered into an agreement with Google that will allow the world’s biggest internet company to partially provide search results for Yahoo.

A previous deal was already struck with Microsoft for Bing to provide results, and will remain in place until it expires in 2018. It is unknown how the searches will be divided between Bing, Google, and Yahoo itself, but it is known that Google will be paying Yahoo to place search ads.

Yahoo’s most recent earnings call may point to a greater emphasis on bringing in more money instead of worrying about who provides its search results. The company saw profits drop to $76 million in Q3 2015, a substantial drop from the $6.7 billion it earned in the same time period last year.

It should be no surprise that the current Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer, is willing to work with arch-rival Google. Mayer is an ex-Google employee and is likely to be on better terms with the company than her predecessors. She has also been under increasing pressure to steady the ship, even if it means admitting that Yahoo search is not as competitive as it once was.

[Source: Yahoo]

ARM ANNOUNCES NEW GPU FOR SMARTWATCHES

The current generation of smartwatches is not particularly worried about graphics, with most manufacturers instead looking to capitalise on lifestyle features. ARM is looking to change that with the new Mali-470 GPU, which promises smartphone quality graphics on your wrist.

ARM’s Mali-470 mainly brings improvements to power efficiency, allowing it to work on wearable devices without reducing battery life. ARM says that the GPU has half the power consumption of the Mali-400; while also being 10-percent smaller. Performance should be about the same, and is aimed at displays with a resolution of 640 x 640.

One might question the need for fancy graphics on a smartwatch, but it could go quite a long way to making the interface a lot more interesting to look at. The Mali-470 supports OpenGL ES 2.0, and uses the same driver stack as the Mali-400. No re-optimising will need to be done to port apps over to the new GPU, and it should make it easier for developers to work with it.

No manufacturer has announced that they will be using the Mali-470 yet, and ARM does not expect its new GPU to begin shipping until 2016. This could be the start of a new race for better graphics on smartwatches and other wearables.

[Source: ARM]

NA’VI DISBANDS; THEN RECRUITS DENDI AND SONNEIKO

Not long ago, Natus Vincere announced that the company would be dropping its entire Dota 2 team. However, in a surprising turn of events, Na’ Vi has now taken back Danil ‘Dendi’ Ishutin and Akbar ‘SoNNeikO’ Butaev to be the core of their latest Dota 2 team.

The team failed to leave an impact at The International 5, and failing to even qualify for the Nanyang Championships after falling out of the qualifiers, losing to Team (monkey) Business. Their disappointing performance at the Frankfurt Major qualifiers put the final nail in the coffin as the company announced that it had disbanded its Dota 2 team.

The likelihood of other past teammates returning are very slim; especially in the case of former carry player XBOCT. XBOCT had been struggling with his No.1 position and his synergy with the other team members has been slightly slipping during the past few months. His performance has been the centre of criticism for Na’ Vi’s poor showing in competitions, which lead to calls for him to be dropped.

During this time, other top players are already tied to their teams, not to mention that the transfer deadline closed before the Frankfurt Major. This means that the new members joining could be new faces recruited from the ranks of up-and-coming rookies, or even pub stars.

It will be exciting to see who the remaining three members are that will be playing for Na’ Vi. Do leave your predictions in the comment sections below!

Source: [Natus Vincere via SBNATION]

HTC ONE A9 WILL RECEIVE ANDROID UPDATES WITHIN 15 DAYS OF NEXUS LINE

HTC seems to be putting a lot of emphasis on its latest device, the One A9. Introducedearlier today, HTC has mentioned that the One A9 will receive Android updates within 15 days of when the Nexus line receives the software; that’s pretty darn quick.

However, HTC did not go into detail just which Nexus device it is referring to. When Google releases a new version of Android to its Nexus lineup, it is usually done in stages. It can take up to several days (or weeks) before all eligible Nexus devices receive the update.

In any case, this is definitely a very good move by the Taiwanese company. Of course, the Android update within 15 days will only apply to unlocked One A9s; those who purchase locked units from mobile carriers will probably have to wait longer.

The One A9 is quite a change for HTC. After many fans were disappointed by the One M9, the One A9 can be the company’s saving grace. Unlike previous HTC devices, a lot of work has been put into the A9’s camera. This, along with the extra emphasis on bringing the latest and greatest Android updates as soon as possible to the One A9, this device may be just what HTC needs right now to get back into the game.

At the time of writing, there are now words yet on when the HTC One A9 will be arriving in Malaysia. Its retail price is set at US$399 (about RM1,720) in the US.

(Source: The Verge)

THE QUICK FIRE XTI, COOLER MASTER’S MINIMALISTIC MECHANICAL GAMING KEYBOARD

Right after Cooler Master made the Swift-RX series mousepad available in Malaysia, the company is now bringing in the Quick Fire XTi. Cooler Master has always been known for its mechanical gaming keyboards, but with the company’s latest addition, the Quick Fire XTi priced at RM629, what does it offer?

The Quick Fire XTi is a lot different from Cooler Master’s usual design language for a mechanical gaming keyboard. The company is going for a more minimalistic approach by getting rid of any logos or unnecessary buttons and space. Built with authentic Cherry MX switches (red, brown or blue), the keyboard also has a full anti-ghosting system that registers every single keypress accurately no matter how many other keys are pressed at the same time.

The keyboard features dual colour backlighting (red and blue) that can be combined to give users up to 35 colours per key. It has three lighting modes which are wave, breathing, and other responsive effects. Changing the lighting modes can easily be done with the four profile keys, and the programming of multiple keystrokes does not require installation of any additional software.

As for cable management, the keyboard has a detachable braided cloth cable. There are three cable tracks underneath (left, centre, right) the keyboard to keep the cable in place.

The Quick Fire XTi will set users back at RM629, and is available in Malaysia starting today. For more information on the product, visit its official webpage here.

HANDS ON: THE HUAWEI MATE S IS HUAWEI’S MOST EXPENSIVE SMARTPHONE TO DATE

Huawei’s latest flagship smartphone, the Mate S, will be officially launched in Malaysia next week. Armed with a full metal unibody construction paired with premium hardware, this is Huawei’s most premium smartphone to date – and it is priced accordingly, too: the Mate S will retail for RM2,698.

If the Mate S’ design looks strikingly familiar, it is because it is distinctly similar to the Huawei’s sister company, honor’s most recent flagship, the honor 7. The back design is almost the same, save for a few minute details: the camera bump at the back is the same size, but the Mate S’ smaller sensor means it looks slightly different; the top and bottom of the honor 7 is made from plastic for better antenna signals, while the Mate S sports a full metal body.

We were told that the designs were similar due to both companies’ synergy, but the Mate S uses more premium materials both externally and internally to justify its higher price point. There are also finer details like the use of 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4 as well as a subtle curved back for better ergonomics.

Inside, the Huawei Mate S is powered by Huawei’s own HiSilicon Kirin 935 octa-core chipset (the same as the honor 7) paired with 3GB of RAM. Besides that, the Mate S sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 13MP rear camera with OIS and a 8MP front-facing camera. There’s also a 2,700mAh “step platform” battery, which has a shape that takes advantage of the device’s curved back – in theory it is similar to Apple’s liberal use of batteries on the new MacBook. Other notable specs include fast charging support, fingerprint sensor located at the back, hybrid dual-SIM support with dual-4G connectivity, and Knuckle Sense 2.0. The Malaysian model will be the 64GB version, and Huawei is offering a choice of two colourways: Prestige Gold and Coral Pink.

A point to note here is on the lack of Force Touch support on the Mate S. As some will remember, the Mate S with Force Touch is a limited release model which will be sold only in selected markets – Malaysia is not one of those markets, for now. We’re told that the 128GB Force Touch model would “easily” cost RM600-RM800 more than the Malaysian model, which was why Huawei is holding it back until the market is ready for the new feature.

As such, Malaysians will have to be content with Knuckle Sense 2.0 for now. A feature first seen on the Huawei P8 earlier this year, Knuckle Sense technology on the display is able to distinguish touch inputs made by a fingertip and by a knuckle. This allows the P8 and Mate S to support “knuckle gestures” like double-tapping with the knuckle to capture a screenshot, or new “draw” functions that lets you open specific apps by drawing a letter (like C for camera).

Speaking of cameras, the Mate S’ camera also gets a suite of features. Besides Huawei’s standard shooting mode, you can also try out interesting modes like Light Painting, Time-lapse, Super Night and Pro Camera, which unlocks manual control for enthusiasts. Unfortunately, HDR is still a separate shooting mode on the Mate S.

We’ll be spending more time with the Huawei Mate S in our full review, so check that out very soon.

In the meantime, here are more information about the Mate S in Malaysia. As mentioned in the headline, this will be the most expensive Huawei smartphone to date, at a retail price of RM2,698. However, Huawei is sweetening things with an array of after-sales services. This include a standard two-year warranty, and a one-to-one exchange policy for the first year only. There’s also a no-questions-asked one-time free cracked screen replacement within the first year of purchase.

And, perhaps most interestingly, the first 3,000 purchases of the Mate S will also receive a bespoke Pewter Membership Card, made by Royal Selangor. This card will allow Mate S owners to skip all queues for a VIP service treatment at all Huawei Exclusive Service Centres. All Mate S owners can also arrange a delivery and pick-up arrangement for their device for servicing purposes.

Finally, the first 1,000 customers will also receive a free Huawei Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) earphones which is not sold in Malaysia.

HANDS ON: MICROSOFT LUMIA 950 XL, ONE OF THE FIRST WINDOWS 10 FLAGSHIP SMARTPHONES

First announced at Microsoft’s grand Windows 10 event in New York few weeks ago, theLumia 950 XL is one of the first smartphone to feature Windows 10 as its native operating system alongside Lumia 950 and Lumia 550. What made it special though is that the Lumia 950 XL is not only the largest device among these new phones but it is also the most premium Windows 10 smartphone at the moment.

Let’s start with some hardware specs: the Lumia 950 XL is built with a 5.7-inch AMOLED display that has a resolution of 2560 x 1440, pixel density of 518 ppi, and covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Inside, its heart comes in the form of Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor clocked at a maximum speed of 2.0GHz and it is further supplemented by 3GB of RAM.

As for internal storage, the Lumia 950 XL comes with only one option though which is 32GB. Of course, users are free to expand it further through microSD card as the phone is able to support cards with storage of up to 200GB.

In terms of physical build, Microsoft retained the usage of high quality polycarbonate as per many other Lumia devices that were released into the market over the years. Despite being a high end device, the Lumia 950 XL’s design is much more straight forward and is way too subdued as compared to previous Lumia devices that usually have more rounded bodies.

Furthermore, the device is only available in black or white colorway which is unlike the old Lumia devices that were generally known to have bright color options. Lumia 950 XL also once again feature a sizeable PureView camera module on its back although thankfully, it is not as thick and protruding as the 41-megapixels module on Lumia 1020.

Speaking about Lumia 950 XL’s PureView camera, the module contains a 20-megapixels BSI sensor that is paired together with f/1.9 six elements lens from Zeiss as well as fifth-generation optical image stabilization and triple LED flash that correspond to the colors of ambient light. They work in hand with the phone’s image processing software that offers newly improved Rich Capture auto mode and Pro mode for users that prefer manual control.

The PureView rear camera on Lumia 950 XL is also able to capture 4K video at 30 fps with audio enhancements through Lumia Rich Recording technology and the phone’s four microphones. At the same time, there’s also a 5-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera with f/2.4 lens which not only can be used for selfie but also supports Windows Hello which enables users to unlock their phone via biometric recognition.

Not to forget, the Lumia 950 XL also comes with removable 3,340 mAh battery that apparently able to deliver up to 25 hours of Wi-Fi internet browsing, 11 hours of 1080p video playback, 75 hours of 3G talk time and 300 hours of standby time. Users can choose to charge the device either through its USB-C fast charger that charges the battery from 10% to 50% in 30 minutes or through wireless charging.

Meanwhile, Lumia 950 XL is one of the three Windows 10 phones – together with Lumia 950 and Acer Liquid Jade Primo – so far that have been confirmed to come with Continuum for Phones which provide PC-like experience when connected to a bigger display. We’ve already discussed this feature in length right here but it is rather unfortunate that I’m not able to experience it myself since Microsoft Display Dock was not available at this particular Microsoft Store where I’ve tested this phone.

Since the unit that I’ve tried at this particular Microsoft Store in United States is still a prototype and running on Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview which essentially still a pre-release software, it is still too early to put a full verdict on the Lumia 950 XL. As far as first impression goes though, I was slightly underwhelmed by Lumia 950 XL’s physical design as it is not as exciting as compared to many of previous Lumia devices or even to other high end smartphones out there.

Nevertheless, the phone seems to have plenty of firepower in terms of performance and photography capability. Not to forget, Continuum for Phone could be another of its major selling point and Microsoft seems to be riding a lot of this particular feature to push Lumia 950 XL into the market. Given its price tag of USD 649 (about RM 2,792), the company need to play its cards right to convince users to get their hands on this new Windows 10 flagship smartphone.