I attended Maxis’ iPhone 4 launch at Garden’s Hotel. As some of you may know, I am a lawyer by profession. Attending a product launch is something out of the ordinary for us practicing lawyers. It was definitely an eye opener and was glad to be invited to one!
I arrived at the Maxis iPhone launch at 11pm. There was already a long-long line! I thought long lines to get iPhone4 is a thing of the west! Heard some people waited until 6am for the phone!
Upon arriving at Garden’s Hotel, I was whisked into the VIP section for free flow of drinks and food. I was alone but luckily I bumped into a few bloggers such TimothyTiah, fourfeetnine, sixthseal and a few others. Hate going to parties and be alone :/
At 12am, the phone was launched and a press conference was held. The bloggers stood by the side while journalists cramp together to catch every word that was said. It was an eye opener to see real journalists in action. It was quite cordial. No pushing and shoving and journalists took turns to ask questions.
There was even a lucky draw for journalist. The lucky ones got themselves an iPhone 4! I should have gotten myself a blogger name card and drop it at the lucky draw bowl.
So after the press conference, it was time to get my hands on the new iPhone 4!
I got myself a 16GB. It compliments my iPad 16GB 3G! Heh.
It was already 130am when I got my new phone. I had to wake up at 6am to head to Seremban the next day. -_- Felt like a zombie the next day.
As for my review of the iPhone, I’ll write a review after I play with it for few days 😀
One of the newest technological advancements has arrived in Malaysia. Finally, Malaysians can now watch High-Definition (HD) broadcast, all thanks to ASTRO.
HD channels present a sensory viewing experience with sharper pictures, more vibrant colours, cinematic surround sound, and a wider screen – giving audiences crystal clear details and colours like never before. It delivers details that are five times greater than that of regular Standard-Definition (SD) programming (the standard shows we are watching on Malaysian TV are SD), and it comes with the 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.
ASTRO has launched the HD service under its brand name ASTRO B.yond. HD broadcasting had been around ages ago. Australia started its HD broadcasting since 2001. If not for ASTRO, HD broadcasting would not have seen light in Malaysia.
On HD content, ASTRO will start with four HD channels – ASTRO Supersport HD, HBO HD, National Geographic Channel HD and HISTORY HD on 18 December 2009, followed by ESPN HD in January 2010. FIFA World Cup 2010 will also be in HD. It will be so clear until you can see the sweat of your favourite footballers!
With HD content, you can watch shows on HDTV like this. Experience sharper images!
Customers can sign up for ASTRO B.yond at www.astro.com.my/byond or call the ASTRO customer Hotline 1300 82 3838.
Customers have a choice to sign up at an additional service fee of RM20 per month and a commitment of 12 months. As part of the new B.yond service, customers will get the new B.yond box, new smart card, new outdoor unit dish, HD Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable and new remote control. New set-up installation fee will be waived in exchange for the existing box.
Being in front of a camera is no easy task for me. I cocked up a few times. The poor cameraman had to refilm me over and over again.
When speaking in front of the camera, I had to ensure that my English is perfect. No grammatical mistakes etc. However, it was not easy. I think I did screw up a bit. Now I understand why former Ms. Singapore, Ris Low screwed up her interview with leopard preenz and boomz.
Also, it was bloody hot. We had to speak under the sun. Since the videos are shot in HD, I bet you can see our sweat dripping off us.
Tziaaa..I BET, I BET, THAT SHE WOULD GET THE MOST CLICKS ON HER LINK!!!
Azaria, our director for the day, sitting in front of a monitor to check the progress. Eric Yong was here to ‘8’ as well.
Me. One of the camera chaps was nice enough to shield me from the sun.
Lolling!!!
I heard the TVC will be out on YouTube. Will let you guys know once it is out!
Astro B.yond Bloggers Night
To celebrate the advent of Astro B.yond, ASTRO will be organizing an event called Astro B.yond Bloggers Night on 13th January 2010 at Modesto’s, Desa Sri Hartamas from 7:30pm till 10.30pm.
Refreshments will be provided for and there will be total of 3 units of Astro B.yond set comprising 32” LG High Definition TV, Astro B.yond box, new remote control and new outdoor dish to give out along with free subscription to Astro B.yond channels!
There will be also be a game called “Murder in the Details”. The winner of the Murder in the Details will be given a HDTV! Stay tuned for the announcement of the Murder Mystery Game on ASTRO’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/Astro).
Also, two best post-event coverage will get a chance to win a HDTV. However, in order to qualify for the prize, all bloggers must be a Fan of the Astro Facebook page.
Nuffnang is looking for 100 bloggers to attend the exclusive event. To be eligible to attend the event, all you need to do is to blog about the event and email to your full name and blog URL to astroB.yond@nuffnang.com.
The Star Newspaper finally published the story about the Smirnoff Two New Flavours One Launch Party @ Sanctuary, The Curve Shopping Centre which I attended with fellow blogges Shaolin Tiger, Suanie and Kimfluttersby. Many thanks to ThaiBoxingGirl, Kimberlycun & Mypartners for the publicity.
MALAYSIAN nightlife just got more exciting with the launch of the two new Smirnoff flavoured vodkas at the Sanctuary, The Curve last month.
The new flavours – Green Apple and Vanilla – were introduced during an exclusive party for Smirnoff enthusiasts.
“Smirnoff’s new lines of flavoured vodkas are highly versatile when it comes to mixing, and they are easy on the palates hence making it fun to drink,” said DIAGEO Brands Manager Shirley Chan.
An exclusive treat: (From left) Chan with the bloggers, Foong, Kim Ong, Suanie and Gareth.
“This distinctive characteristic will resonate most with young achievers who are adventurous and fun individuals, always on the lookout for new and original offerings.”
The signature cocktails concocted from the new flavours were Apple Breeze Martini, Pineapple Apple Dava, Vanilla Cola and Twisted Cream.
The crowd gave their thumbs up for the new flavours when the drinks were . Four bloggers that helped spread the word of the new flavours prior to the launch were also treated to an exclusive tasting session of yet to be released Smirnoff flavoured vodkas in the ice-room.
The chill in the room, at -15 degree Celsius, could not dissuade the bloggers from gamely posing for photos with the drinks.
The bloggers, Gareth (www.shaolintiger.com), Kim Ong (www.xanga.com/kimfluttersby), Suanie (www.suanie.net) and Foong (www.xes.cx), were treated to the full range of Smirnoff Vodka flavours of raspberry, citrus and orange.
[Note: ShaolinTiger is huge!!]
Vodka enthusiasts can look forward to the addition of all Smirnoff vodkas on the shelves of Duty Free Stores, major hypermarkets and night entertainment venues such as, Sanctuary, Zouk and The Loft (Asian Heritage Row). The retail price is RM145 for each 70cl bottle.
Many thanks to Kimberlycun for the invites and Mypartners Communications and Riche Monde for the free bottle of Smirnoff Green Apple. Initially I’ve no idea who will be attending and why I was invited. I was later told that, in Kimfluttersby’s words, “They chose us for our versatile, fun and colourful lives or persona in our blog”. Yes ah?
Mypartners had gathered 4 bloggers, Suanie of http://www.suanie.net, ShaolinTiger of http://www.shaolintiger.com, Kimfluttersby of http://www.xanga.com/kimfluttersby and I to one Smirnoff vodka tasting session in the ice bar of Sanctuary (Sanctuary is a pub/club). Yes, an ice bar, a bloody freezer made into a bar with minus 15 degrees Celsius. We were there for probably a good 20 minutes. It was freezing cold.
Nevertheless, we were fortunate to be given shots of vodka (in various flavours) and each of us was presented with a bottle of Smirnoff vodka by Ms. Shirley Chan of Riche Monde. People from the media were there as well. Many photos and videos were taken by them.
The new Smirnoff vodka is actually pretty nice. It’s sweet and you can actually drink it neat (without any mixtures)!
ShaolinTiger being presented with a bottle of Smirnoff Vanilla by Shirley Chan.
Kimfluttersby being presented with a bottle of Smirnoff Vanilla by Shirley Chan
Suanie helping herself.
After the drinking and posing session, we drank some more. My friends and I were given drinks 3 coupons each.
The group
4 person x 3 coupons = 12 glasses of vodka. 12 glasses of vodka/4 + few glasses of vodka with ShaolinTiger, Suanie, Shirley Chan, Kelvin Tan, Kimfluttersby, etc = MABUK MAXIMUM PLUS ONE.
Suania, Kimfluttersby, ShaolinTiger and RedLobster.
I crashed straight to bed with my contact lens intact and in working clothes. I woke up with a hangover and dragged myself to work.
Hours later, my mum called and screamed, “AH BOY!! YOU DON’T GO AND DRINK ANYMORE!!!!”
For the first time, www.xes.cx was featured on the Star Newspaper!
Blog enthusiasts collect clues in a race to win Malaysian Grand Prix party invitations.
By NASA MARIA ENTABAN
IT’S amazing what some people would do to get special invites to a Malaysian Grand Prix party.
Avid bloggers and blog-readers hunted high and low in a race that began in the physical world, which then moved on to cyberspace, before they ended up racing to a physical finish line.
The event, dubbed “Spot The Raving Blogger” began on March 1 and will culminate at one of Kuala Lumpur’s most prominent landmarks, the KL Tower.
Nigel Low, 31 (second from right) was one of the first participants to show up at the ‘Spot the Raving Blogger’ race, which had contestants hunting clues that would lead them to a final meeting point. Low won himself passes to the official Malaysian Grand Prix party at the KL Tower.
On the first day of the race, participants were given a clue in The Star that identified a local blogger. On that individual’s blog, more clues were posted which directed the participants to other blogs, over the course of 10 days.
The last clue, which read, “A coffee house in the new wing of 1-Utama” led the participants to a final location – Starbucks Coffee at 1-Utama Shopping Complex where the five bloggers were waiting to be identified at 1.45pm.
Race participants reached the location panting, after they had run all around the shopping complex in search of the right outlet. The first 50 participants to arrive each won passes to the Speedzone Tour 2007, the official Malaysian Grand Prix party.
“I think this event is a fun way to give out passes, instead of the usual slogan-writing contests,” one of the featured bloggers, Suanie (www.suanie.net), said. “The clues are a new and interesting way to get people to join in.”
The five bloggers were selected based on the popularity of their blogs as well as their blog themes.
Suanie, who has been blogging for several years, usually writes on music, lifestyle and clubbing – which made her an ideal candidate for the contest.
The others who were involved were food blogger KY, 29 (www.kyspeaks.com); lawyer Xes, 26 (www.xes.cx); accountant Fireangel, 27 (www.fireangelism.com); and karate practitioner Gareth, better known as Shaolin Tiger, 28 (www.shaolintiger.com).
One of the race participants, Nigel Low, followed the clues all the way and was thrilled to win the free passes.
“I’m also glad I’m finally getting to know the bloggers in person,” the 31-year-old human resource manager said. “This contest is a very interesting and new way of doing things.”
Low is one of the many people who will be partying at the KL Tower terrace event, on April 7, which will feature local DJ extraordinaire Joey G alongside international DJs such as D-formation, Marco V and Yoji Biomehanika.
