Wow! This is really exciting to start the ball rolling in 2010! Read on guys…..accept the challenge today!

mYprize challenges developers from across the world to create unique applications, content or devices that highlight the benefits of YTL Communications’ 4G Network in Malaysia. To motivate developers worldwide to submit prototypes, YTL Communications is offering USD$1 million in prizes to those with the most exciting and creative solutions that serve consumer needs.

Join now to submit your your ideas, or to share, rate and comment on entries submitted by others.

Apart from mYprize, if you join the 4G Innovation Network, you’ll have access to:

• Newsletters – Get the latest news on projects and techniques delivered right to your inbox.
• Contests – Share, rate or comment and win a prize on any contest which is initiated by YTL Communications.
• Privileges – Get invited to participate in events or product launch.
• Developer forums – Post questions and get answers from experts in the developer community.
• Developer Desktop – Stay on top of bug base updates and track updates to components via automatic desktop notifications.

Join us now

YTL Communications envisions a modern broadband nation enhanced by the Internet and supports technological innovation. In 2009, it created the YTL 4G Innovation Network and opened a testing centre at Sentul Park near Kuala Lumpur that will help to make the mobile Internet a reality throughout Malaysia.

Developers can submit their entries from Jan 8, 2010 until May 1, 2010. Ideas will be judged based on criteria such as the originality of the concept and its commercial potential. Finalists will be invited to demonstrate their products in person to a panel of expert and community judges. Winners will be announced in September 2010 and cash prizes will be awarded in multiple categories:

1. Top Applications: 1^st: USD$200,000; 2^nd: USD$120,000; 3^rd: USD$80,000

2. Top 4G Devices: 1^st: USD$200,000; 2^nd: USD$120,000; 3^rd: USD$80,000

3. Malaysian Only Prize: USD$120,000

4. Top Device Idea: USD$40,000

5. Top Application Idea: USD$40,000

Winning entries may be developed for mass deployment to customers upon launch of YTL Communications’ nationwide 4G network in Malaysia in the second half of 2010. Interested developers can go to the ‘mYprize’ portal at www.myprize.my, to learn more details, register and submit their entries online.

‘We believe this exciting ‘mYprize’ Global Developer Challenge is a strategic impetus in propelling Malaysia into a truly cutting-edge incubation centre for 4G innovations,’ said Wing K Lee, Chief Executive Officer of YTL Communications. ‘We are confident that the applications and devices will help accelerate our mission of providing affordable, world-class quality products and services that improve the way people in Malaysia learn, work and play.’

‘Our YTL 4G Innovation Network expands the 4G ecosystem and enables the next wave of mobile Internet innovations by connecting the best minds across the globe in developing new consumer products via YTL’s nationwide 4G mobile Internet network,’ Lee continued. ‘The network is linked with the Clearwire 4G WiMAX Innovation Network in Silicon Valley, a global hotbed for innovations, and provides developers opportunities for commercialization in Malaysia and beyond. Developers are able to incubate their ideas, with support from the world leaders in mobile Internet, giving people in Malaysia a new level of mobile Internet experience with products and services optimized for a high bandwidth, low latency 4G mobile Internet.’

So guys, what are you waiting for, give out your ideas today.

To begin, here is a definition of creativity by Andy Rutledge:

Creativity is an inborn capacity for thinking differently than most, seeing differently, and making connections and perceiving relationships others miss. But most importantly, it is the ability to then extrapolate contextually useful ways of employing that data: to create something that meets a specific challenge. (Andy Rutledge)

So creativity is the development of an ‘idea’.

Be Creative and Be Innovated

Understand the culture of Technology and  The design of Business.

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At the first place what is Burj-Khalifa?

Burj Khalifa “Khalifa Tower”, formerly known as Burj Dubai, is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the tallest man-made structure ever built, at 828 m (2,717 ft). Construction began on 21 September 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on 1 October 2009 and the building officially opened on 4 January 2010.

Stretching over half a mile high, the skyscraper literally towers above the previous record holder, Taiwan’s 508 meter tall Taipei 101. The 818 meter tall spike of steel and glass now piercing the skyline is the centerpiece of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s plans to transform Dubai into the Middle East’s premier business hub. Will this be a reality?

Now I invite you to have a look on the latest wonder of the world, The Burj-Khalifa or Burj-Dubai.

But my dear readers, what is the significant of this building? Why waste money unnecessarily when there are so many critical and noble things to do? What is the use or who cares for such world records? UAE already boasted big buildings like the biggest or most expensive hotel etc. It’s all for competition- now someone else will go one better and this reminds me of the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when he stated that one of the signs for the day of judgement (minor) would be the constructing of high buildings (for competition purposes).
A sign of the advanced technology of the age in which we live and which The Prophet (pbuh) has mentioned is the construction of tall buildings.

“There will be no Judgment—until very tall buildings are constructed”. (Reported by Abu Hurairah)
“The Hour will not be established—till the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings”. (Bukhari)

This is so true and it is happening before our own eyes! If we look at the history of architecture and engineering, we see that multi-storied buildings began to be constructed only towards the end of the nineteenth century. Technological developments, the growing use of steel and the use of elevators accelerated the construction of structures called skyscrapers. Skyscrapers have become an important part of the architecture of the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries, and have today become a symbol of prestige. What the hadith says has come true: people do compete in the construction of tall buildings, and nations compete with one another in building the tallest skyscrapers. Nauzubillah.

In another famous Hadith of Jibril which we often hear, what we don’t usually know is that in the same hadith the Prophet actually prophesied about the appearance of tall buildings at the end of time. See the full hadith below:

`Umar ibn Khattab (Allah be well pleased with him) said: “As we were sitting one day before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), a man suddenly appeared. He wore pure white clothes and his hair was dark black—yet there were no signs of travel on him, and none of us knew him. He came and sat down in front of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), placing his knees against his, and his hands on his thighs. He said, “O Muhammad! Tell me about Islam.”

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Islam is to bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God; and to perform the prayer; pay zakat; fast Ramadan; and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able.”

The man said, “You have spoken the truth,” and we were surprised that he asked and then confirmed the answer. Then, he asked, “Tell me about belief (iman).”

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “It is to believe in Allah; His Angels; His Books; His Messengers; the Last Day; and in destiny—its good and bad.”

The man said, “You have spoken the truth. Now, tell me about spiritual excellence (ihsan).”

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “It is to serve Allah as though you behold Him; and if you don’t behold him, (know that) He surely sees you.”

“Now, tell me of the Last Hour,” asked the man.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “The one asked knows no more of it than the one asking.”

“Then tell me about its signs,” said the man.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “That slave women give birth to their mistresses; and that you see barefoot, unclothed, beginning shepherds competing in the construction of tall buildings.”

Then the visitor left, and I waited a long time. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked me, “Do you know, Umar, who the questioner was?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”He said (Allah bless him and give him peace), “It was Jibril. He came to you to teach you your religion.” [Sahih Muslim]

So let’s ponder whether this is necessary or not when we know that Dubai economy is not in a good shape. To understand better about Dubai, read Dubai in debt crisis: Now British banks face fresh crisis after investing billions.

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Guys, today I read about the new Sony Reader PRS-505 which the electronic book for bookworms. The sleeker and more stylish second generation of the Sony Reader is a hardcover replacement. Is that so? We have to wait and see. Sony said the electronic book with enough memory to hold up to 160 novels is due to go on sale in the UK tomorrow. Wow! to those in the UK, check this out and share your review here. Today I look around on the internet and found this Sony Digital Reader at its website with a slogan “Always have the perfect book – wherever, whenever.”

Before you buy, just read the review here, Sony Reader Digital Book PRS-505, and this is a good one. . . .

Saying the gadget will “revolutionize reading”, Sony’s spokesman declared: “What the Walkman did for music on the move, the Reader is about to do for books.”

May I change it a bit, “It is tip to do for books what the iPod did for music…” Am I right? It is reported that Model Lily Cole launched the Sony Reader at a Waterstone’s store in London ahead of the nationwide release of the £200 gadget. Wow! could we afford it? Looking at 160 books storage, I think it is worth buying, especially is you are a bookworm.
On her review, Miss Cole, 20, who is about to begin reading social and political sciences at King’s College, Cambridge, said: “In these extremely fast-paced times it’s hard for book lovers like me to read on the go. This device allows me the freedom to carry around hundreds of books all under one cover.” But the British Library said the gadget was unlikely to kill off the traditional paper book. A book lover said, “We as the book lovers and pleasure readers would not give up the traditional paper book for an electronic gadget”, which I do agree. Reading a traditional paperback book is more fun but on the other side sometime technology does help to ease our daily life.

Guys, if you need a closer look on this gadget, here is how it looks like. Do you like it? If you are in the UK, get it tomorrow at £200 a piece. Also read about this, “Can eBooks really conquer the world?”

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Wow, sounds like alien huh! Today I went to make a courtesy visit to one of my customer who work at a reputable telecommunication company in Malaysia. Since this month is Ramadan so we talk just in his office. Normally I would have a “teh-tarik” with him.

So along the casual conversation suddently we jumped to talk about Mobile number portability (MNP). Basically MNP enables mobile telephone users to retain our mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another. This is cool when we want to switch to a new mobile service provider, while retaining our existing mobile number.

The service which was launched last Friday, would firstly be on a limited ‘live’ trial basis for prepaid phone users in the Klang Valley. He said the service would be extended to postpaid users later on mid September followed by a nationwide launch in early October 2008. This is what his CEO told a reporter on this seamless tranfer for mobile users in Malaysia.

Read the report in theedgedaily.com for further details.

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I read an interesting gadget today at reuters.com.

Japanese researchers have come up with a device which can help find keys and other misplaced household items.The goggles rely on complicated computer algorithms to achieve the feat.

My question is, could it find a missing person???

Andrew Potter reports via this video.

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