IPHONE 5SE & IPAD AIR 3 COULD GO ON SALE ON 18TH MARCH

Apple’s upcoming event on the 15th of March – which is still unconfirmed by the Cupertino company – will supposedly see the introduction of two new products: a smaller iPhone dubbed the iPhone 5se and a new iPad Air. According to sources, these devices may go on sale as early as the 18th March 2016; that’s only three days apart from the supposed official unveiling.

A release date as early as this is not something that Apple has ever done in the past for its iOS devices. Typically, these products will be available for pre-order first for several weeks before they are available for sale. Then again, other Apple offerings such as the various Mac products and Apple Watch were available immediately after their respective official unveiling, which could be a new strategy Apple is taking for its iOS hardware.

Of course, as this information did not come from Apple itself, things could still change. This is exactly what 9to5Mac’s sources are saying as well, which revealed this supposed release date. If the iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 do go on sale on the 18th of March 2016, it’s possible that these devices will be available in Malaysia in a quicker manner, which is always a good thing.

(Source: 9to5Mac)

Get ready for top-end smartphones with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chip

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf talks up the Snapdragon 820 processor at CES in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, 2016

 Credit: James Niccolai

Smartphones will get 4K video playback and unprecedented wireless speeds with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 820, and users who want these high-end features should get ready for flagship handsets with that chip to be announced soon.

Many such smartphones with Snapdragon 820 will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress trade show in early March, said Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of Qualcomm, on an earnings call on late Wednesday.

One of the highest-profile smartphones with the Snapdragon 820 could be Samsung's Galaxy S7, which will carry the chip in some models. In January at CES, LeTV -- which has undergone a name change to LeEco -- announced the LeTV LeMax Pro, which was the first phone with Snapdragon 820.

After MWC, more phones will be announced with Snapdragon 820, with the handsets becoming available in the second half. The Snapdragon 820 will be in volume manufacturing in the second half. Samsung is making the Snapdragon 820 chips.

Qualcomm is hoping for a fresh start the the Snapdragon 820 and wants to close the curtains on its predecessor, the Snapdragon 810 chip, which was considered a flop. Samsung dropped the Snapdragon 810 from the Galaxy S6 smartphone due to overheating issues.

Qualcomm had a rough last year after the Chinese government fined the company $975 million for monopolistic, anticompetitive behavior. The company is now licensing the Snapdragon 820 to a few Chinese handset makers.

The Snapdragon 820 will bring users a longer battery life and faster data speeds. The chip has an integrated X12 LTE modem with 600Mbps (bits per second) download speeds, and 150Mbps upload speeds. It also is the first processor to support LTE-U, in which data transfers can be sped up through licensed and unlicensed spectrum.

The chip supports multiband Wi-Fi and is the first to support WiGig technology, which is up to two to three times faster than the 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

The integrated Adreno 530 GPU will allow 4K video playback. Smartphones could have cameras up to 25 megapixels. The CPU can run at up to 2.2GHz in quad-core configurations.

The Snapdragon 820 is Qualcomm's first chip based on its custom "Kryo" 64-bit CPU design.

User acquisition costs hit all-time highs in December

The costs of acquiring new users for mobile apps reached an all-time high in December as well-heeled companies scrambled for mobile market share over the holidays, according to a report by mobile marketing firm Fiksu.

The Fiksu Index published today shows that the cost to acquire a loyal user (one who opens an app three times or more) was $4.23 in December, up 19 percent from November and up 101 percent from December 2014. The all-time record beat out the previous record of $4.14 in September.

That should give shivers to mobile app marketers, who have to advertise heavily to get a user and then hope that the user sticks around long enough to spend money in a free-to-play app or game. As Fiksu predicted, the slight decline in November was only a temporary respite, with costs rebounding in December.

For newcomers to the market, it’s a grim task to penetrate the top ranks. Another report on the fourth quarter iOS app store from analytics firm Sensor Tower showed that games dominated the charts and that all of the top-grossing games for Q4 were released before Q4. Companies such as Machine Zone, whose Game of War: Fire Age and Mobile Strike games are in the top-grossing ranks, have turned to hiring stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and creating television commercials to make their ads stand out from the pack. Machine Zone led the spending by game makers, who spent $630 million on TV ads in 2015.

Above: Cost per loyal user rose in December 2015.

Image Credit: Fiksu

On the positive side, the growth in acquisition costs coincided with a growth in downloads. The Fiksu App Store Competitive Index, representing the combined daily downloads of the top 200 free iOS apps, rose 16 percent in December compared to November. Daily app downloads reached 8.5 million in December.

While this increase in volume is significant, it is comparatively less than the increase in costs, Fiksu said. That suggests there was fierce competition among app marketers in December. The patterns in December showed the holiday impact, with downloads surging 13 percent during Christmas compared to the week prior. Users who got new tablets and phones filled them with apps.

“Holiday competition for loyal app users was unsurprisingly fierce this month,” said Micah Adler, CEO of Fiksu, in a statement. “New device users are a desirable demographic and marketers will fight for the attention and home screens of these new users, for a chance to gain their loyalty for the long-term. We expect to see this competition continue into January.”

Fiksu also noted a significant discrepancy in the Cost Per Install (CPI) Index on iOS and Android, which measures the cost per install directly attributed to advertising. The iOS CPI declined 5 percent to $1.46 in December, compared to November. Meanwhile, Android CPI rose a surprising 52 percent to $3.34. This jump in Android costs, a spike of 144 percent year-over-year, marks the fifth month in a row that Android CPI more than doubled last year’s figures.

Above: Downloads rose 16 percent in December for the top 200 iOS apps.

Image Credit: Fiksu

Fiksu said the steep contrast between the two can be attributed to the popularity of incentivized marketing on iOS, particularly during times of intense competition like the holidays. App marketers on iOS have the ability to drive relatively inexpensive installs through incentivized channels, which helps them obtain higher ranks in the Apple App Store and keeps overall CPIs lower; this tactic isn’t available in the Google Play Store due to different rank algorithms.

With brands and app marketers spending over $3.00 per install on Android, it’s clear they see significant monetization potential in these users, Fiksu said. Data from App Annie shows the Google Play Store is seeing 100 percent more downloads than Apple’s App Store, but Apple continues to generate 70 percent more revenue for app developers.

While low-end Android phones bring down the worldwide revenue per user average, Fiksu said it is likely that Android users in developed markets and/or high-end phones are much closer to iOS in revenue potential. Furthermore, the evidence of growing Android CPIs shows that this revenue percentage gap may shorten over time.

Looking ahead to January, Fiksu said that marketers should prepare to see double-digit growth in download volumes, as has happened in three of the last four years. Fiksu also said that as 2016 proceeds, wearables and connected devices will make an impact on the market in some way.

Above: While iOS CPIs dropped, Android CPIs rose.

Image Credit: Fiksu

Apple recalls power adapters from as far back as 2003, free replacements for all

- Australia and Continental Europe affected by recall
- UK and US are safe
- Free replacements offered by Apple

It was just over a week ago that Microsoft was recalling power adapters for its Surface Pro tablets and now Apple is also issuing a recall.

Apple is recalling certain AC power wall plug adapters. The company cites that "In very rare cases, affected Apple two-prong wall plug adapters may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched."

The recall applies to two prong power adapters on Mac and certain iOS devices from 2003 to 2015.
Users in the UK, US, China and Japan will be relieved to hear that Mac and iOS devices bought in these countries are not affected. If however you have bought a World Travel Adapter Kits they you still are.

Areas affected by faulty Mac and iOS power adapters include Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Argentina and Brazil.

"The recall does not affect any other Apple AC wall plug adapters designed for Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, United Kingdom, United States or any Apple USB power adapters," Apple told Pocket-lint in a statement.

Apple has issued the recall voluntarily and stated that anyone affected will be able to exchange the adapter for a new one for free.

This can be done online, in store or via a phone call to Apple Support, depending on region. If you have a World Travel Adapter Kit you will have to go into an Apple Store as the company says the online option applies only to a Mac or iOS device that has been bought.

So how do you recognise if yours need replacing? Apple has issued an image showing the affected and redesigned models so you can spot the difference, shown above. Everything is listed on Apple's support page here where you can apply online for a replacement. You just need your device's serial number and an Apple ID.

Affected power adapters are: Continental Europe with round thin pins slightly slanted inwards, Korea with round thick pins, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina with flat angled blades and Brazil with round thin pins.

Smartphone makers shipped a record 1.4 billion devices in 2015

Smartphone global shipments grew 12 percent and hit a record 1.4 billion devices in 2015, according to Strategy Analytics. That doesn't mean all's well in the industry, though -- not when it's no longer expanding as fast as it did in the past. In the fourth quarter of 2015, shipments grew merely six percent from the same period in 2015. The research company says that's the industry's slowest growth rate of all time, most likely because the people in major markets like China who are inclined to use smartphones already have one.

Samsung, however, continues to thrive and lead the pack. It shipped 81.3 million units worldwide in the fourth quarter, up nine percent (its highest within the past two years) from Q4 2014. Apple, on the other hand, isn't doing too hot. It still shipped 74.8 million iPhones in Q4, but that's barely higher than the 74.5 million devices it sent out in 2014. Strategy Analytics says "Apple's iPhone growth is peaking," and that Cupertino should look into exploring new markets like India to ensure it doesn't remain stagnant.

Huawei's two percent growth from 2014 is nothing to write home about either, but it still comes third after the two clashing giants. Xiaomi in fifth place shipped over 2 million phones more compared to 2014's figures. It seems the only entry in the top five that shipped fewer units in 2015 isLenovo-Motorola, whose growth rate has declined by 18 percent.

IDC: Samsung shipped more smartphones than Apple in 2015, but the gap is narrowing

Because Apple dominates the smartphone market in the U.S., it’s easy to forget that the company only has the silver medal worldwide. Even with 74.8 million iPhones sold last quarter, Samsung continues to dominate the worldwide market. In Q4 2015 and in all of 2015, the South Korean company shipped more smartphones than any other firm.

Smartphone vendors shipped a total of 399.5 million smartphones worldwide last quarter, a 5.7 percent growth year over year. In 2015, the worldwide smartphone market saw a total of 1432.9 million units shipped — a record number of shipments for one year — up 10.1 percent from the 1,301.7 million units shipped in 2014. The latest figures come from IDC, which summarized its findings in the following two charts.

First, for Q4 2015:

And secondly, for the full year:

Interestingly, Samsung actually grew its lead over Apple between Q4 2014 and Q4 2015 (from 0.2 percentage points to 2.7 percentage points). But between the full years, the gap narrowed from 9.6 percentage points to 6.5 percentage points. Put another way, Samsung shipped 125.5 million more smartphones than Apple in 2014, but just 93.3 million more than Apple in 2014.

Unless something drastic happens, Samsung should be able to hold onto its lead over Apple in 2016. But this year could turn into a three-horse race, as Huawei last year managed to cross into 9-digit figures. In fact, Huawei in 2015 became the fourth mobile phone vendor in history to ship over 100 million smartphones in a year (preceded only by Nokia, Samsung, and Apple).

“Usually the conversation in the smartphone market revolves around Samsung and Apple, but Huawei’s strong showing for both the quarter and the year speak to how much it has grown as an international brand,” IDC senior research manager Melissa Chau said in a statement. “While there is a lot of uncertainty around the economic slowdown in China, Huawei is one of the few brands from China that has successfully diversified worldwide, with almost half of its shipments going outside of China. Huawei is poised to be in a good position to hold onto a strong number 3 over the next year.”

Indeed, Huawei was the biggest winner in 2015, thanks to 44.3 percent growth according to IDC. Lenovo and Xiaomi didn’t disappoint either, with 24.5 percent and 22.8 percent growth, respectively.

The Chinese trio accounted for 17.5 percent of 2015’s smartphone pie. That’s more than Apple, and just 5 percentage points behind Samsung. Last year, their combined share was just below Apple’s.

Another glimmer of hope for Windows Phone: It can work on phones with Intel x86 chips

After years, the wait for Intel-based Windows smartphones could be coming to an end.

The Windows 10 Mobile OS—popularly known as Windows Phone—can now run on x86 chips, according to a Microsoft Web page. It’s the first version of Windows Phone to be compatible with x86.

The information on the website was confirmed by a Microsoft spokeswoman as being accurate. Up to now, Windows smartphones have only run on ARM-based chips from Qualcomm.

Intel and Microsoft last year joined forces in an effort to get device makers to bring Windows 10 to low-cost smartphones and phablets that would run on the chip-maker’s Atom X3 chips.

Devices with Windows 10 Mobile can have screen sizes up to 7 inches and a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels.

Intel had said Atom X3 smartphones would be priced as low as $75. But the current version of the chip is only 3G capable, which may have caused mobile phone makers to hesitate—so far, no handset manufacturer has come out with a Windows phone running on the Atom X3.

Faster Atom X3 chips with integrated LTE capabilities will be in handsets this year, however.

Microsoft and Intel for years have wanted to build an alliance in smartphones along the lines of the partnership that made both companies successful in PCs. But Intel was underwhelmed by the adoption of Windows Phone, which was in just 31.3 million, or 2.2 percent, of the smartphones that shipped worldwide in 2015, according to IDC.

Microsoft and Intel declined to provide further comment on Windows 10 Mobile on x86 smartphones, or when handsets would come to the market.

There are only a handful of Intel-based smartphones in the market today, and they all run Android. Intel has in the past said that it believes the adoption of Windows Phone will grow, and that it wants to make its chips compatible with all OSes.

Like Chromebooks, thumb-size PCs will bloom

Thumb-size PCs like Intel’s Compute Stick are still a novelty, but adoption will slowly grow as TVs and displays increasingly become the center of entertainment and computing.

ABI Research is estimating that shipments of these compact computers will reach 5 million  by 2021. ABI didn’t provide shipment numbers for 2015, but the market for the devices is still in its infancy. 

The forecast growth trajectory sounds like that for Chrome PCs, which were introduced in 2011 but whose worldwide shipments grew gradually to about 5.7 million units through the first three quarters of 2015.

The typical thumb-size, or stick, PC is slightly larger than a flash drive, and converts any display with an HDMI port into a full-fledged PC. Users can run Windows 10 OS, applications like Microsoft Office, or stream movies from Youtube or Netflix to a TV.

Stick PCs first started popping up with Android OS in 2014, with the most prominent example being Dell’s Wyse Cloud Connect—popularly known as Project Ophelia—which is still available for $129. 

Intel last year introduced low-cost Compute Sticks, which have basic storage, memory, processors, Wi-Fi and USB ports. Asus sells the Chromebit with Chrome OS for under $100. Users still need a separate keyboard and mouse to use these ultra-compact computers.

The thumb-size PCs will be attractive to buyers as desktop and laptop prices rise, said Jeff Orr, research director at ABI Research.

The stick PCs will also be the next battleground for Windows, Chrome OS and Linux, Orr said. Users have managed to load Linux on thumb PCs.

Some miniature computers aren’t cheap. Intel’s Compute Sticks with Core M3 and M5 processors—which are in expensive tablets and hybrids—are priced above $399. Those devices are targeted at enterprises and can be managed and secured remotely. For example, a system administrator can prevent usage of the Compute Stick in unauthorized places.

The Compute Stick can provide a full desktop experience, but there’s confusion around these devices, Orr said. PC makers will need to articulate the purpose of these devices to potential buyers.

Unbranded compact computing sticks demonstrated at shows like Computex were dedicated to video streaming, much like Google’s Chromecast. Other Android sticks replicated the tablet and smartphone computing experience on large TV screens. 

Analysts at IDC and Gartner said it would be easier to customize these devices for entertainment or specific applications. The research firms don’t account for thumb-size PCs in their quarterly PC shipment numbers, but will start doing so in the coming quarters. Worldwide PC shipments were 276 million in 2015, according to IDC.

Cheap PCs are disappearing as phones, tablets become basic computers

In 2008, netbooks sparked a PC-buying frenzy as hundreds of low-power laptops were available for as little as $150. But those days are long gone, and low-cost PCs—particularly with Windows—are becoming scarce.

As the overall PC market shrinks, mobile devices have replaced low-cost PCs for many users. Those who are looking for a new PC more often than not are interested in a high-quality machine; buyers of low-cost PCs are currently in the minority.

It will be possible to find low-cost laptops, just not as many as in the last few years. You’ll find the best deals with Chromebooks—which are like netbooks—but they had just 2.8 percent of the overall market share through the third quarter of last year. Chromebooks have Chrome OS and are for Web-based computing.

HP and Dell are phasing out low-price PCs, offering only a handful of Windows laptops and desktops priced under $300. The companies don’t want to participate in the cut-throat, low-margin PC business, and like Apple are focusing on premium-price products.

That leaves just Acer, Asus and Lenovo. Lenovo’s cheapest laptop is the Windows-based IdeaPad 100, which starts at $179, followed by its Chromebook, which starts at $199. Other laptops are priced above $341.

Chromebooks sparked a PC price war in 2014 and early 2015, but that is now over. Microsoft responded to the low-price Chromebook threat by encouraging PC makers to develop inexpensive laptops with the free Windows 8.1 with Bing OS. The subsidies went away when Microsoft released Windows 10, and most of those low-cost laptop models are off the market, said Jay Chou, research manager at IDC.

Mobile devices have helped clear out a segment of low-cost PC buyers who now use tablets and smartphones for basic computing. Of the PC buyers who remain in the market, a large number need fast PCs and are willing to invest in advanced hardware like better screens, faster processors, more memory and SSDs, Chou said.

PC shipments in 2015 were 276.21 million units, declining by 10.4 percent compared to 2014, according to IDC. Pricey gaming desktops and laptops registered the fastest growth in 2015. Gaming and virtual reality are expected to drive high-end PC shipments in the coming years.

Businesses will also upgrade PCs this year, and corporate laptops and desktops are typically priced higher than consumer models. Some business users could switch over to tablet-laptop hybrids, which are priced at a premium due to thin sizes and high-end components.

Intel and AMD this month said they expect PC prices to go up this year, as they did in 2015. Gartner and IDC are not forecasting big changes in prices this year, with some exceptions.

For example, hybrid prices will gradually decline as demand ramps up and component prices fall, according to Gartner analyst Mikako Kitagawa.

PC prices in the U.S. went up last year, and currency fluctuations affected prices in many countries. But prices won’t influence overall PC shipments like they have in the past, and quality now matters more to PC buyers, Kitagawa said.

“There will always be people who buy entry-level PCs,” Kitagawa said. “ But they will be a minority in the total market.”

Samsung Sees Q4 Earnings Dip, Predicts a Tough 2016 for Mobile Devices

Korea’s Samsung Electronics said woes in the global economy and weak prices for components caused its earnings to fall in the usually strong fourth quarter.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, the company earned 6.14 trillion Korean won ($4.4 billion) in operating profits on revenue of 53.32 trillion won ($50.8 billion), which roughly matched the results Samsung had forecast.

Fourth-quarter smartphone shipments were down as the company aimed to manage inventory, while its tablet shipments rose amid the seasonal bump in demand.

Meanwhile, the company said increased competition mixed with slumping demand will limit growth in its mobile devices unit for 2016.

“As for the outlook for 2016, Samsung expects single-digit percentage growth in both the smartphone and tablet categories amid softening demand and intensifying competition,” Samsung said in a statement. “Despite this challenging environment, the company will focus on increasing smartphone shipments and maintaining a double-digit margin through releases of competitive devices and an optimized product portfolio.”

Tablets and wearables, meanwhile, should make up a growing amount of the mobile unit’s business, Samsung said.

As for Samsung’s other electronics businesses:

• The semiconductor business saw a tough fourth quarter as weak PC demand impacted memory chip sales.
• The display unit declined from the prior quarter, with both a continued decrease in average selling prices and a drop in the number of large-size panels sold.
• The TV and home appliance business had a good holiday quarter with increased sales of high-end 4K televisions.

Correction: An earlier version of this story included incorrect U.S. dollar conversions of Samsung’s earnings and revenue figures.

Microsoft beats Wall Street view on high demand for cloud products

Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) reported quarterly revenue and profit that beat analysts' expectations, driven by aggressive cost cutting and growing demand for its cloud products and services.

Chief Executive Satya Nadella has focussed on cloud services and mobile applications on slower growth in its traditional software business. Companies moving much of their information technology off premises, part of the cloud-computing trend, proved a bright spot.

"The enterprise cloud opportunity is massive, larger than any market we have ever participated in," Nadella said in a conference call.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft's stock had climbed more than 26 percent in the past 12 months to $52.06 at Thursday's close, even as the broader market has dropped 5 percent. The shares rose 3 percent in after-hours trading.

Revenue from the "intelligent cloud" business, which includes products such as its Azure cloud infrastructure and services business along with other noncloud products such as traditional servers, rose 5 percent to $6.3 billion.

Perhaps a better indicator of its cloud strength is what the company calls its combined cloud business, on track for $9.4 billion in annual revenue, the company said. That measure, which includes Azure plus other businesses like Office 365, is up 15 percent from the $8.2 billion revenue it estimated last quarter.

"They nailed the cloud," said Matt Howard, a venture capitalist at Norwest Ventures who monitors Microsoft closely.

Total revenue, however, fell 10.1 percent to $23.80 billion, squeezed by a strong dollar as well as a weak personal computer market that has reduced demand for Microsoft's Windows operating system. On an adjusted basis, revenue fell to $25.69 billion but beat analysts' estimates.

Microsoft generates more than half of its revenue from outside the United States.

Revenue in the business that includes Windows fell 5 percent to $12.66 billion. Windows revenue closely tracks sales of personal computers, which fell 10.6 percent globally in the December quarter from a year earlier, according to research firm IDC.

IDC said business should improve later this year as companies that had delayed replacing machines before upgrading to Windows 10 make the switch. Microsoft released Windows 10 in July.

Microsoft's net income fell to $5 billion, or 62 cents per share, in its second-quarter ended Dec. 31 from $5.86 billion, or 71 cents per share, a year earlier. (bit.ly/1PIRXEs)

Excluding items, the company earned 78 cents per share.

Analysts on average had expected a profit of 71 cents per share and revenue of $25.26 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The State of Digital In Iran

I don’t think anyone really understands the depth of digital upheaval Iran has experienced in the past few years. Social media and e-commerce consumption have both gone topsy-turvy in parallel to an overwhelming migration to smartphone devices.

It was October 2012 when I first conducted an online study to share how Iranians consumed digital in its varied forms. I’ve rerun the same study this month through our channel on LINE, sampling 886 respondents between January 17-19.

It’s noteworthy to mention that 62 percent of the participants accessed the survey while using a VPN.

Nearly two-thirds (58 percent) of Iranians used Facebook back in 2012, even though it was blocked (and still is). It has dropped 23 points since, settling down to 35 percent, or roughly one-third. The relatively new kid on the block, Instagram, has replaced Facebook as the market leader (although the latter technically owns the former), reigning in as the social platform of choice with half of Iranians actively using it.

Google+ has remained comparatively stable throughout the years, only dropping by 5 points to 31 percent. Twitter, blocked then as it is blocked now, dropped from 12 to 7 percent, while Linkedin has slipped by half down to 6 percent. Cloob, the local social media network that was only popular due to its strange immunity to censorship, has become practically obsolete, dropping from 14 to 3 percent.

Consumption levels of social media have completely changed gears in the country. Twenty-nine percent used to spend at least 1 hour a day idling away through myriad postings. That figure has now skyrocketed to 62 percent, of which 22 percent spend more than three hours a day on social media. Posting photos at least once or twice a day has multiplied threefold, from 7 to 25 percent.

Blog and forum activity has remained fairly constant, hovering around the double-digit mark. Only 12 percent use video calls on a daily basis, which is a 5 percent upward shift, but this reflects the stagnant state of sluggish and expensive bandwidth and data packages that continue to restrict the population from utilizing this service.

Instant messaging has taken the country by storm, just as it has the rest of the world. Thirty-eight percent are using instant messengers like Telegram and LINE several times a day, compared to 12 percent back in 2012 when 3G had yet to be fully released across the telecom sector.

Smartphone activity in general has spiked across the board for everything except checking emails (55 percent versus 40 percent in 2012), which has grown modestly through the years compared to other activities. Iranians are using their mobile device daily for instant chat (60 percent), downloading apps (60 percent), reading the news (60 percent), watching video clips (59 percent), playing games (54 percent) and streaming music (45 percent).

E-commerce has likewise exploded as local entrepreneurs copied and pasted proven global models that were well received. Iranians are literally shopping online by a factor of 3-5 times compared to 2012 levels. Every option under the sun has leaped onto unparalleled horizons that hallmark the fact that Iranians are true believers of the ethos of digital spending. Forty-eight percent are buying airline tickets online at least once a year, versus 17 percent in 2012.

Hotel bookings have jumped from 9 to 42 percent. Thanks to e-commerce upstarts like Digikala, purchasing tangible products online like electronics (44 percent), clothing (49 percent) and even mundane items like spare car parts (41 percent) and insurance (40 percent) are no longer hindered by consumer misgivings about whether the digital channel is secure, reliable and can deliver the same quality experience as shopping offline.

The demographics of the survey consisted of a fairly balanced mix. The gender split leans male (77 percent) with a good proportion of females (23 percent). Thirty-nine percent are 25 to 34 years old, followed by 18 to 24 (28 percent) and 35 to 44 (16 percent).

Singles or those who have never married account for half (52 percent) the sample, while 39 percent are married. Thirty-one percent have diplomas, 31 percent have bachelor degrees and 9 percent have master degrees. One-third are employed, 16 percent are students and a startling 26 percent indicate that they are currently without work. Forty-three percent currently make a household income of less than 1 million toman (approximately US$333) per month, 24 percent of the remaining households make 1-2 million toman and 8 percent make 2-5 million toman per month.

JaguarBoard Intel Atom Powered Single-Board Mini PC To Take On Raspberry Pi At $45

The teeny-tiny PC movement that's leading the Internet of Things (IoT) category is largely dominated by ARM-based processors, and for good reason—they're cheap and capable. That's fine and dandy, but what if you prefer to work with a x86 architecture? You have options, one of them being JaguarBoard, a mini PC project that's currently in search of funding on Kickstarter.

JaguarBoard looks strikingly similar to Raspberry Pi, which is arguably the most popular credit card sized PC out there. But unlike Raspberry Pi, JaguarBoard allows users to code for a x86 architecture courtesy of its Intel Atom Z3735G (Bay Trail) foundation (similar to the CPU you'll find in Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 2). The spunky chip is a quad-core part clocked at 1.33GHz to 1.83GHz with 2MB of L2 cache, offering a fair amount of horsepower for IoT applications. And of course for some it means working in familiar territory.

image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36319/content/JaguarBoard.jpg

"Being based on the x86 architecture brings JaguarBoard better performance, with high level of scalability and compatibility. It allows developers and DIYers who are experienced with x86 architecture to enjoy the single board software development without having to learn about embedded systems such as ARM," Jaguar Electronic explains.

In addition to an Atom processor, JaguarBoard also boasts 1GB of DDR3L memory, 16GB of eMMC storage, three USB 2.0 ports, 10/100M LAN port, HDMI 1.4 output, SDIO 3.0 socket, two COM ports, four GPIO pins, and audio ports.

image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36319/content/JaguarBoard-Layout.jpg

It's quite the package and for early birds who pounced on the Kickstarter campaign, it was a steal at $45 and $50, either of which may hint at its final price tag. Those tiers are all gone, though you can still snag one for $65, which comes bundled with a USB hub and 16GB TF card to help offset the price difference.

Just as there are many potential applications for Raspberry Pi, the same is true of JaguarBoard. You can use it strictly as a mini PC for general purpose computing, as an embedded system, a learning or research tool, or for whatever DIY projects you can conjure up.

There are just 30 hours left in the Kickstarter campaign. With nearly $24,000 raised from several hundred backers, it's blown way past its goal of $3,000, though you can still pledge at one of the one of reward tiers.
Read more at http://hothardware.com/news/jaguarboard-intel-atom-powered-single-board-mini-pc-to-take-on-raspberry-pi-at-45#xuc4xjsQHbjPZdwV.99

Intel forms chip venture in China, with eye toward cybersecurity concerns

Getty Images

Intel Corp. has formed an unusual chip venture with two partners in China that could help address concerns about the security of imported technology.

The arrangement with Tsinghua University and Montage Technology Global Holdings Ltd., aided by more than $100 million in research funding from Intel, follows calls by Chinese officials to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign-made semiconductors—particularly those used in systems that could be targeted by spies from abroad.

Intel INTC, -0.03%  said the university, known as TU, will develop a programmable chip that would be placed in a plastic module alongside one of its Xeon microprocessors, the most widely used calculating engine in corporate and government data centers. The additional chip—called a reconfigurable computing processor, or RCP—and associated software developed by the university would add capabilities that address “specific local requirements.”

The company declined to discuss what those requirements may be. But Martin Reynolds, a Gartner Inc. analyst briefed on the ventures, said a likely possibility is that the RCP would help ensure that the Intel chip doesn’t carry out suspicious activity.

“It lets you kind of prove the Xeon is behaving as it is supposed to be,” Reynolds said.

Pacific West Prosperity Toss @ Hakka Village (客家山寨), Balik Pulau, Penang.

Everyone thinks about a booze when it comes to Chinese New Year-related parties (especially eve of Chinese New Year) but the main Chinese dishes should not be disregarded. It is often an exhausting process just to think through what to cook, where to buy the ingredients and how to present them. Pacific West is here to introduce their range of frozen goods, which can be transformed into delectable Chinese New Year delicacies that go well with the cheers. It is a typical perception that the brand sells frozen foods and would be the last resort for many, never would a sane person think of using their products as Chinese New Year dishes; so let us see what Pacific West has in store to surprise you when the Year of Monkey is knocking the door.  

About Pacific West:

Pacific West is a renowned seafood brand name from its inception in Australia in the 1990's and has since expanded its reach to millions across the globe. Their products have been served in major international arena such as Sydney Olympic Games, Wimbledon Tennis Tournaments and the recent Manchester United Football Club. Pacific West's range of products are meticulously crafted and designed to provide customers with values like:

• Convenience- Ready prepared and easy to cook.
• Innovation- Continuous creations of new products and offerings.
• Quality- Premium Seafood that comply to the international food safety and process standards.

Pacific West products are available at all major and independent retail outlets in Malaysia (some of the big names include Cold Storage, Sam's Groceria, AEON, Tesco, Giant, Sunshine, Village Grocer etc). For more information, please contact Pacific West care line at 1800-88-389 or visit Pacific West Facebook Page.

Address: 4402, Jalan Chain Ferry, 12100, Butterworth, Penang.

Contact Number: 604- 331 7788
Email: enquiry@pacificwestfoods.com.my

Many Thanks to Pacific West and Hakka Village for hosting us that afternoon.

If you are throwing a celebratory party for Chinese New Year this year and looking forward to serve some simple but deliciousCanapes or Hors D'oeuvre, be sure to check out Pacific West's ideas. Below are some of the ideas created by Chef Leong. The fact that Pacific West had the key ingredients ready, it makes the arduous preparation process a lot easier. 

Puff Pastry filled with Mushrooms and Egg Pate served with Wiggy Cornflake Fish

Petite Ratatouille Corn Tortilla with Popcorn Fish

Hummus on Pita Bread with Tempura Calamari Ring

Tomato Salsa on Spoons with Dusted Baby Squid

We were certainly more than delighted to see all these petite but expertly-presented Canapes. We thought they make a great idea for celebratory parties or any cocktail sessions, in which some of them can be easily prepared. Tomato Salsa on Spoons with Dusted Baby Squid was refreshing, we love the marriage between the tangy fruity element but a pity that the Baby Squid turned soggy. It would be fantastic if they were as crispy as they were meant to be. 

Tempura Prawn Prosperity Toss

Pacific West takes on the quintessential Chinese New Year dish- Lou Sang with panache, under the supervision of Pacific West's Development Chef- Chef Leong, the culinary team (of Pacific West) had managed to craft out a very innovative Lou Sang dish that is completely different as compared to the conventional ingredients. Pacific West's Tempura Prawn Prosperity Toss sees ingredients like julienned Cucumber, Radish, Carrots, Cilantro, Torch Ginger, pickled Nutmeg, peeled Mandarin Oranges, Pomelo, crispy Pacific West Tempura Prawns and nutty condiments like Peanuts; drenched over their home-made dressing (consists of Chinese Plum Sauce, Lime Juice, Olive Oil, Sugar etc). The concoction was refreshing, bursting with the juice of greens. The addition of Torch Ginger and Cilantro was brilliant, the dish packs a herbaceous punch and most saliva-inducing (a result from the acerbic dressing). An excellent dish to kick start the year of Monkey.

Crab Meat Lettuce Cups with Pacific West Salt and Pepper Squid

Golden Nestum Pacific West Tempura Prawns

Chef Leong makes everything so presentable and elegant, Crab Meat Lettuce Cups with Pacific West Salt and Pepper Squid was one of the dishes with the most promising presentation. We love the combination- the green provided the juicy crunch while the Crab Meat introduced a sleek seafood-sweetness to the dish and of course, the Squid gives the flavor and the resilient bite. I'd personally prefer it with a tangy and zesty touch... like a light touch of Lime or Lemon juice would be great. Golden Nestum Pacific West Tempura Prawns on the other hand, did not shine. The Nestum flavor did not stand out and the dish was over-seasoned. With the same product (Tempura Prawns), the Prosperity Toss-dish has a slightly better edge over Golden Nestum.

Kung Pao Pacific West Salt and Pepper Squids

Nyonya Style Pacific West Tempura Fish Cocktails

The feast continues with Nyonya Style Pacific West Tempura Fish Cocktails and Kung Pao Pacific West Salt and Pepper Squids; the first dish was perfect to spoon over rice, a pity that the Fish was no longer in crisp but the sweet and sour sauce was most appetizing. It shared some similar characteristics as the intimate Chinese dish- Sweet and Sour Fish but the fact that the Fish was well-taken care of (you need not slice the fish and marinate the meat), cooking the dish is simplified and it saves a lot of time. The Kung Pao Pacific West Salt and Pepper Squids were a tad too salty to our liking but it was perfectly alright to enjoy together with the Yam (Yam Boat).

Hakka Abacus Beads

Hakka Lei Cha

Hakka Plum Sauce Duck

Hakka Salt-baked Chicken

Hakka Village was put in charge for the next 5 dishes, the place is well-known for its signature Hakka dishes (often served in Pork) but the event was a pork-free event so no pork was served. Hakka Lei Cha was first served... in tasting portion. It has the quintessential nutty-crunchy elements like Peanuts, Long Beans, Pickled Radish; served with the seemingly bitter Green-Vege soup. The vegetal flavor however, was not obvious. The soup was reasonably seasoned and paired well with the ingredients; the concoction was toothsome and delicious. The Hakka Abacus was good either, though not as overwhelming as I would have hoped (absence of Pork and Lards). Another dish that took the center spotlight would be their Hakka Salt-Baked Chicken, though veering towards the salty side; the Chicken was tender and possessed the alluring Chicken-meaty aroma. It is a dish that one could easily munch down a few bowls of Rice. 

Hakka Village is located at a mountain top at Pulau Betong, Balik Pulau (300 meters above Sea Level) and is a place designed for recreation (team building), preservation of Hakka culture and a place to enjoy mouth-watering and authentic Hakka dishes. If you keen to try their Hakka dishes, one person is priced at Rm 90 nett (with a group of minimum 10 person) and the packageincludes a tour at Balik Pulau/ Hakka Village area (approximately 4 hours) and is strictly available for Lunch only. Hakka Village is open everyday but ONE-day advance reservation is required to secure a booking. For more information, kindly visit theirFacebook Page. 

Additional Information about Hakka Village (客家山寨):

Non-Halal

Address: 61, Jalan Bukit Kebun Kha, Pulau Betong, MK 7, 11020, Balik Pulau, Penang.

Contact Number: 604- 282 9667

Hakka Village (客家山寨) Facebook Page

Direction: From Balik Pulau New Market, drive to Jalan Balik Pulau (via old market) and head straight to Pulau Betong Fish Village, drive for 3 km and you will find a Mosque on your right, turn to the road on the opposite and drive for another 1 km. Find a place to park nearby and contact Hakka Village. A special chauffeur will be arranged to pick you up as private cars are not allowed to enter the vicinity. A kind reminder, one day advance reservation is required.