P1 CEO Michael Lai

Sin Chew Daily has a 2 page coverage story and interview with P1 CEO Michael Lai (賴敬達) at Fortune Investment Weekly section.

Since P1 already has an aggressive advertisement campaign for these 2 months, is this interview necessary? If Michael Lai has free time, he should pay more attention to those P1 users' complain (here, here, here, here and here).

Michael Lai is a high profile CEO, I doesn't know much about him, but I believe he is good, in business or a professional manager. Before joining P1, Michael is the Marketing Director of Oracle Malaysia, Senior Vice President of Branding and Market Development for Celcom, CEO of TM Net. Michael is familiar with the telecommunication and internet broadband market. You can look at Michael's profile on Green Packet website.

You still don't know who is Michael Lai?

Michael in Bername news

Streamyx ads strike back to P1

Michael Lai, P1 CEO.

You can visit the post at low yat forum too.

P1 customer service not to serve the customer

P1 customer service is not to serve customer, but to protect the company.

Company staff is responsible to defend their company, because company pay their salary, but for the P1 case since all the subscribers pay monthly subscription fees, they should treat the subscribers better.

Sunday I drop by at P1 HQ (again) to terminate the Internet line. The supervisor keep telling me that I can not terminate the P1 line because I have a 1 year contract with P1. Since P1 is not working, as well I terminate it. After bargain for so long, the supervisor so sure that I can not terminate the line, but he is not sure that when my internet line problem can be solved.

The worst thing about the P1 customer service is their attitude. They are not there to solve your problem, at lease I don't feel it. The supervisor told me that if I insist to terminate the line now, they will charge me RM299. I just need to pay for another 2 month subscription, a total of RM198 till the contract end, it will be cheaper. They sounds like 'Dai Ko' and threaten the customer, by telling me that, you either let me check your problem or you pay us the RM299. Unbelievable.

(If P1 can solve the problem, why my Internet network problem remain unsolved, after I reported my Internet problem?)

This is the worst case scenario, my P1 Internet line has been down for almost a month, they was not able to solve the problem, they can't even send a technician in a week time after my problem reported (and their promise is in 4 days time), the collection department keep chasing you to pay the outstanding payment. If you want to terminate in this case, you will be threaten.

Come on P1, you can do better than this.

The Streamyx guy solve my P1 problem

I complained about my P1 problem a few days back, they suppose to send in a technician in four days time. Today is the third or the forth day, but there is not sign of any technician coming in to solve the problematic P1 network problem.

The P1 technical people call me yesterday, ask me to reset the modem, place the modem in different place, towards the direction closer to the nearest base station, is still doesn't work. If I push the modem further a bit toward the base station direction, it will be put outside of the house. No joke.

Luckily the Stream guy came a little bit "earlier" today and solve our P1 problem. How? I think you all know how, just replace the P1 with Streamyx.

Streamyx ads strike back to P1

That will end my experience with P1 in 2009. I started using it on January 2009 with one year contract. Is still one or two months before the contract end, but I doubt P1 dare to ask for the 2 months remaining payment.

DiGi Get Connected roadshow at Suria KLCC 2009

DiGi is running a Get Connected roadshow from 4th to 8th November at Suria KLCC. I drop by and take a look at what they are offering. DiGi always came out with good offering, but I still want to complain a few things here.

1. DiGi gift. DiGi can spend millions of dollars on newspaper, TV commercial. I don't believe they are so stingy on their mystery gift. If you receive the following SMS you are entitle for 1 (if still available):

"DiGi Get Connected Road Shw@KLCC Center Court on 4-8 Nov09. 1st 300 customers to show this SMS@redemption counter will walk away with a mystery gift. T&C Apply."

Guess what is the mystery gift? Is a DiGi door hanger. What type of door hanger? Is like those you found in the hotel room, hanging on the door handle with "Do not disturb" writing on it. No joke, that is the mystery gift with limited supply.

Come on DiGi, You can do better than that.

The following are all about the wrong information that DiGi representative have given to me in the morning. Since I have bad experience with it, I double check the information, and then I go back to them in the afternoon, they admitted they have made some mistakes. Their excuse is, they are just on the first day of the roadshow.

I am so mad, not just for the wrong information, but when I ask the DiGi representative to double check some of my doubts. Few of them double check for me, few of them didn't. They still came back with some wrong information for me. May be the DiGi package are too complicatied for them to understand.

2. The Nokia 2730 does support 3.5G. I am interested with the free Nokia 2730 phone which came with the new subscription. One of their representative told me that it is a 3G phone, so I ask does it support 3.5G? He says no. I have checked the mobile88 website, it says yes for 3.5G (HSPDA). The representative insist the answer is no, because he is checking another website.

Later I check it on the website, Nokia official page says WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100, wikipedia says is a 3.5G cell phone.

3. The offer for 3G Internet Unlimited monthly 58 is RM48 not RM58, the offer end 31 December. When I was informed that the 3G Internet is RM58, I ask the promoter, isn't RM48? The promoter says RM48 is for DiGi broadband, DiGi 3G is RM58. I though I just get the 2 package price wrong. If you are confused with DiGi broadband and 3G service, try read broadband vs 3G.

When I go back to the roadshow in the afternoon, she told me that she just made a mistake.

4. Broadband data usage is not review in OCS (Online Customer Service) website. Start from the day I subscribe to DiGi broadband, I was told that I can check my data usage in OCS, but I never find it there.

Since they keep saying that I can check my data usage in OCS, I just want them to show me how. Then they came back the real answer to me, no, you can not check your data use in OCS.

5. You though I am complaining no pretty girls there? No, I don't. I am really tired today.

Training time at DiGi roadshow.

DiGi broadband vs DiGi 3G

DiGi broadband and 3G are 2 different services, most people are confused. This is the information that I have collected these 2 days, hopefully can help you to have a better understand the 2 different services.

DiGi has no 3G services, the DiGi 3G is just a marketing term.
The DiGi 3G is a 3.5G (HSPA, High Speed Packet Access or some name it HSDPA, D means download), which is faster, an improvement to the 3G services. In general you can call 3.5G and 3G as 3G services, but DiGi 3.5G services only provide data access. You can not have conference call with DiGi 3G (3.5G) services. If you have a phone which only support 3G, it will not work with DiGi network.

To help the consumer have a better understanding on DiGi broadband and 3G, DiGi people will tell you that broadband is for your desktop access to the Internet, 3G is for your phone to access to the Internet. If you just normal people and doesn't want to know more, you should stop here.

Further question, can I use my desktop or notebook connect to the DiGi 3G services? The answer is yes. You can place your SIM card (with 3G service activated) in to GSM modem which support 3.G (eg. Huawei 160e), or you can use your mobile phone as a dial-up modem for your notebook, it works. The only thing missing is you will not be able to receive phone call while accessing the 3G services with your notebook.

How about the other way? Will it works if I place the broadband SIM card into the phone? According to the DiGi representative, it works as long as your phone support 3.5G services, but you can not make calls with it. Since I do not have a mobile phone which support 3.5G, I have not tested with it.

If you access to DiGi broadband web page, you will notice there are 2 data services call broadband and 3G, hope my explanation can help you to make your choice.

P1 Sudah Potong advertisement

"你割左沒 ?" (Cantonese)
"Sudah poting?" (Bahasa Malaysia)
"Cut already (you Internet line)?"

I just go to P1 HQ to complain about the Internet connection again.

P1 lastest ads posted at the HQ building

The latest P1 advertisement campaign has been running for about a month time, it should come to an end. I didn't notice it at the beginning, I first know it from my friend. The advertisement is everywhere, on TV, radio, full page coverage on newspaper, billboard...is hard to ignored it.

Their slogan is, "Sudah potong?" (Cut already?). It refers to cut the fix Internet (Streamyx) line, and switch to wireless P1. The slogan may refer to circumcision as well. The ads are impressive, it capture public attention, but I think the the ads are rude, low class and inappropriate. You can talk about it with your MSN friends, put it on your non-official blog, but put up such ads to the public is not necessary.

I go to the P1 HQ not to complain about the advertisement, but the Internet connection (again!). I am having a connection problem for more than 2 weeks time. P1 representative told me that they are upgrading the network at my area, that causes slow network connection. The problem is not just slow, I can't even connect to the Internet at all, for almost 2 weeks time.

P1 should save some of their marketing budget and assign it to their technical department to improve their services. If P1 provide good services, fast Internet connection, I can advertise for P1 free of charge here.

If the problem continue, I have to "Cut now", not the wire line, but the wireless WiMax line. P1 agree to send technician to look at the network problem in a few days time. More stories after three days later.

Is WiMax a good business investment?

3 companies were fined a total of 3.8 millions for failing to provide the required WiMax network coverage

WiMax is a technology like WiFi, but has wider coverage range, since they use different protocol, you can not use a wifi device (eg. netbook) connected to WiMax service. The WiFi (the wireless internet that we use at our home and internet cafe) has a shorter coverage range of about 100m, WiMax coverage range is counted by kilometers.

Don't be too excited to get a WiMax license in Malaysia here. Before you start making money, you have to invest tons of money in and you are not sure when you can collected the money back. This is still not the worst case scenario.

So far there are 4 WiMax license issued, to Green Packet (P1 WiMax), Redtone, YTLE (YTL e-Solutions) and Asiaspace. The first three companies are public listed company, only Asiaspace is not public listed, most people are not familiar with Asiaspace. Each company is responsible to provide WiMax service for at lease 25 percent coverage, I assume these 4 companies share the 100 percent coverage, that's how MCMC came out with the 25 percent coverage figure.

P1 (Packet One, backup by Intel) has started to provide WiMax services in August 2008, and P1 is the first to roll out WiMax service in South East Asia. The other three companies are not ready to provide WiMax services yet (I remember Asiaspace did provide WiMax services). Redtone, YTLE and Asiaspace was fined a total 3.8 millions Ringgit Malaysia by MCMC (Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission) for failing to meet the required network coverage. YTLE was fined 1.9 millions, Asiaspace was fined 1.7 millions, Redtone was fined 200K.

Don't be too excited by getting a WiMax license, before these companies can provide WiMax sevices, they was fined millions of dollar. P1 has started WiMax service for slightly more than a year now, but the service quality is not good (read my previous post). Heavy investment in advertisement and marketing campaign may bring down Green Packet's profit too (financial report).

WiMax investment could be a money printing machine but it could be money burning machine too.

Why Apple iPod outsell us?

I work in a small mp3 player company.

Last week, the managing director call up all the senior manager and experience technical people for a meeting.

MD says, "I am wandering, why Apple iPod still selling better than ours. The cheapest iPod shuffle cost much more than our cheapest mp3 player, and it doesn't came with a display."

."This meeting is our brainstorm session, how we can increase our sales and revenue. Each one of you has to contribute at least one idea."

I say, "May be we should have more color choice for our mp3 player."

Another technical guy says, " We can package the mp3 player with portable speaker."

The marketing manager says, "I try to get a new marketing executive to run a campaign to promote our product, and already inform the HR to get new people in."

While the HR manager still have no ideas why she was in the meeting, "Oh! Yes. I have already place the online recruitment, but so far no good response."

The Finance Director say, "If we need more people to research on new product, or run new campaign, we need to look at our budget again..."

The other technical guy and me, looking at each other. We know the answer in our mind, we need an iTunes.

It was 3 years ago, at the same meeting room, same topic, we propose to have a mp3 management software like iTunes, but much simpler. The first response from the previous MD is, "What iTunes? I thought we are talking about mp3 players here."

After we explain what iTunes is, we agree to allocate resources for it. Unfortunately after some discussion from the top management, we do not have the budget for it.

Since it was not in our KPI (Key Performance Indicator), we all just simply thrown out some ideas, write it down and end the brainstorm session.

While walking out from the meeting rooms and pass by some colleagues, I heard them talking with each other.

"This iTunes software is so easy and convenient to use, is even better than our own mp3 conversion software."

"Too bad, after I have updated to the latest version, it doesn't work with our mp3 player anymore."

...

I am not working in a company who make mp3 players. I just make up the story above, imagine myself working in Sony, Samsung or Creative Technology.

Some Apple and Newton history

This article stated that Newton PDA is Steve Jobs' failure ("most notorious failure, the Newton"), is totally wrong.

According to wikipedia, Newton development started at 1989 (Jobs already left Apple at that time), Apple CEO John Sculley is back behind the project. If you know Apple history well, Sculley was invited by Steve Jobs to join Apple, while he was a president of Pepsi Cola.

That is a legendary quote, Jobs ask Sculley, "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?". It was the year 1983, Sculley join Apple.

Sculley and Jobs has conflicts on Apple's management, force Jobs to leave the Apple Computer in 1985. Sculley leave Apple in 1993, Jobs came back to Apple in 1997 after Apple bought over the NeXT Computer.

The Newton development was stop at 1998, the year after Steve Jobs came back to Apple again.

Maxis prepaid broadband 2009

I didn't notice that Maxis has their prepaid broadband too.

Maxis broadband go wireless

It comes with your hotlink SIM. 2 types of package:

1. Day plan (24 hours), RM8.
2. Week plan (7 days), RM25.

No contract, and modem provided.

Celcom, Digi and Maxis has prepaid broadband now. (*Digi is EDGE, no 3G services). Why prepaid broadband sounds so interesting? Is for flexibility, especially for travelers.

Update iPhone OS 3.1

I just updated my iPod Touch 2G to OS 3.0, right before they release the OS 3.1 (about 1 week earlier). That means I have paid USD9.95 for for the update, if I just wait for another few more days, I can update to 3.1 directly and is cheaper by 50%, just USD4.95 (Hei! Apple, any rebate?). Upgrade from OS 3.0 to 3.1.1 is free.

What do I get for OS 3.0 update? It enable the bluetooth chips that already came with iPod Touch 2G, and it support stereo (A2DP) profile, spotlight search, and added a voice memo application. The are many applications eg. Twitterrific doesn't run well on OS 3.0, you need to update those application as well.

I though I may be lucky to get the bluetooth mic working, but it didn't. Bluetooth stereo headset with volume control is working fine, but the bluetooth mic is not working. I still need a wire earphone with remote mic, which works on iPod Touch 2nd generation or newer, it will not work on the first generation of iPod Touch. How do you differentiate the 1st and 2nd generation of iPod Touch? 2nd generation has volume control button at the side.

How about the 3rd generation of iPod Touch? The 8G version should be the old (2G) iPod Touch. The 32G and 64G version is the new 3rd generation iPod Touch, which will support VoiceOver and voice control. These new functions will not work on the 2nd generation or earlier. For the new 32G and 64G version, you will get a faster cpu and faster display software, good for gamers.

IT Planet at Ikano

I came back to the IT Planet at Ikano to check for Apple products, because I meet a responsible sales people there before, he is very helpful . I can not remember the sales people name and I didn't see him around this time. The sales people that I meet today, was not able to answer my questions properly, he need to check with other sales people every time I ask a question like price of ram upgrade and etc.

I am ok with it, because he looks like new. There is no other customer other than myself, there are 4 or 5 other sales people there, 1 of them busy doing stock check and others do nothing. None of them entertain me, other than this new sales guy, and checking the answer for me. May be they didn't notice there is a customer here. I left the shop after 10 minutes time.

Last week, I attended a sales talk seminar. The speaker quote a car sales representative, "Any customer walk into the show room, is a potential customer who may spend up to USD300K here.". The sales representative knows that if he/she serve the customer well, the customer will came back again, when the customer change car next time.

The IT planet is not just selling Apple products but other brand IT products as well. I have bought 2 products there before, that's why I go back to the same shop. Seems like I will not go back there again for a long long time.

New DiGi Prepaid plan 2009

The new DiGi Prepaid plan sounds like a better plan than my post paid now. First is the 1 cent per SMS (digi network), once you use up RM1, it only cost you 1 cent per SMS for the rest of the day, but only to DiGi network, and talk time rate will be 12 cent per minutes (30s block) to all network. The rate is even cheaper than postpaid DG30 (20 cents per minutes), how could this happen?

New data access maximum is RM5 per day unlimited usage. This is even better for me, I was using PAYU (pay as you use) data plan which maximum cap at RM138 per month. As for my usage, I normally use up all the RM138 in one day time (then the rest of the month will be free). Since I am not using the data plan everyday, with the new data plan, I may save 30 percent of my cost.

The good thing about DiGi is they always has a flexible plan compare with other local telco companies. Too bad that I have already started to use my DiGi broadband.

If you are already a prepaid user, you may need to switch to the new DiGi prepaid, you can read the FAQ.

Note: Once you have switched to new DiGi prepaid, you can never switch back. If you are enjoying some special rate or features with your existing, plan, please think twice before you switch.

6. I am an existing subscriber under the Beyond/ Chat Plus plan. How do I switch to the new DiGi Prepaid^TM
You can migrate from an older plan to the new DiGi Prepaid^TM call plan via our self help channels (UMB, OCS, IVR). Please note you'll be charged a onetime fee of RM3.

To change call plan via *128#: Step 1: Type *128*7*2# and send
Step 2: Select 1 for DiGi Prepaid^TM
Step 3: Select 1 to confirm and a one-off fee will be charged from main account

To change call plan via OCS: Step 1: Go to change call plan page
Step 2: Select DiGi Prepaid^TM
Step 3: Upon confirmation, a one-off fee will be charged from main account

To change call plan via IVR: Dial 016 2211800 and follow the instructions

This new DiGi Prepaid launch on 15 July 2009.

Now we know how Joltid sue eBay

From TechCrunch report we know the story behind eBay-Skype.

Skype software base on an engine call Global Index own by Joltid, but Skype does not have the right to access Global Index source code, but Joltid license GI source code to Joost, the online web TV. GI is a peer to peer software which Skype base on to make Internet voice call.

Finally we know why Skype was not improved for pass few years, because Skype don't even own their core technologies.

I have a different view point on this. Skype has improve a lot in their software and service since the day I have registered, it still improving after eBay has bought it. May be it is just not good enough.

Other than voice and message, Skype has SkypeIn, SkypeOut (online number), SMS, call forwarding service. It was available on many platform like Windows, Mac, Linux, Windows Mobile, iPhone...

I am not sure why eBay bought Skype, may be just for the user base, so the core technology is not really important to them. I am sure eBay knows what they are getting, just found out that is a bad investment after few years time, eBay management team should be responsible for it.

May be Skype just lack of an innovative leader. Why eBay make such a mistake that to acquire Skype without their core technology? May be just because eBay is not good at software business? If eBay sell Skype, this is good for users like us, because this piece of software could be ruin in eBay's hand.

Skype co-founders sue eBay from selling Skype

The founders of Skype are using a copyright infringement to stop eBay to sell Skype. The VoIP technology (was name as "global index") use in the Skype was own by Joltid, which is still own by Skype founders.

eBay bought over Skype for USD$2.6 billion at 2005. Four years later eBay decided to sell Skype to a group of investor.

Skype co-founders left Skype (and eBay) to focus on their new Internet TV startup call Joost at 2007. There are news and rumors that the Skype co-founders (Zennström and Janus Friis) interested to buy back Skype from eBay, seems like eBay get a better deal and sell Skype to a group of investor lead by Silver Lake.

Another interesting thing is, Joost remove Mike Volpi as chairman and then Volpi left Joost. Volpi was Index Ventures CEO before he join Skype and Joost, Index Ventures is an investor of Skype and Joost, Index Ventures is also one of the buyers of Skype now, it doesn't sounds like a co-incidence right? (read here and here)

Skype is a software phone service to all users to make free calls through Internet. Skype started at year 2003 and getting popular for its good voice call quality. Skype is available on few operating system like Windows, Linux, Mac OS and some other mobile platform.

Skype is still a very potential software and services.

Nokia OneConnectedWorld 2009

This is a half day seminar at Hilton KL, Sentral. Briefing for developers on Nokia's OVI online store which was launched this May. Nokia showcase their new N97 mini and X6 mobile phones as well. N97 mini is a smaller version of N97, X6 is a replacement for 5800.

The conference

I arrive there 1.30pm, but I only join the conference later, because I was visiting the showcase room. Roslan from MDeC introduce the MSC ICON program. Nazrin from Cradle Fund says is the best year for developer, you can get funding from Cradle fund. Just register and submit your idea through the website.

Doesn't know how to write the proposal? Just answer the few questions on the website, will help you generate the proposal.

Cradle fund started in 2003, by Minister of Finance, Malaysia.

The showcase

Nokia N97 mini.

Nokia showcase their new N97 mini and X6, they bring along their partners in Malaysia and vendors from other countries (like Singapore), to join the showcase.

Media. Harian metro, i-SinChew and theStar is there. Nokia provided the software and the news media company just need to provide the content. I heard the news were provided in RSS format. The software by abigmob interactive.

MSC and Cradle. If you have any question on getting funded, they are there to answer your question. They ask me to refer to Gary from Nokia for OVI related matters.

N97 mini Raoul edition. This is a limited edition of Nokia N97 mini by Raoul. Raoul is a fashion company.

Raoul.

Other. Games by breakdesign.com, business by 2C2P (Singapore), lifestyle by groovymap, starhub and cellcity. Starhub is telco from Singapore, but when I approach their booth, they didn't entertain me.

Demos

Playing a game on N97, with the accelerometer sensor.

Axel Meyer from Nokia, Finland.

Nelson Wee demo Midomi application
Just hum or sing, will get you the song titles

What developers want?

I thought this is a developer briefing, but I think there are more friends from the news media than developers.

Developers would like to know, how to develop software for Nokia, and how easy it is. They mention about the SDK, but didn't demo how to use it.

Is wasted for those people fly all the way from Europe but just given a 15 to 20 minutes presentation.

Nice view at Hilton KL.

Have tea break with a friend, chit-chat and enjoying the good view at the Hilton KL, Sentral.

Some better pictures, here.

Angels from Toshiba at Comex September 2009

Comex at Suntec, Singapore, 10 to 13 September, level 1 to 6, admission is free.

Angels from Toshiba.

Canon.

Lenovo.

and finally:

Microsoft.

Apple 9 September Rock and Roll event

It's Only Rock and Roll

Apple has caught media attention in their every new announcement and event. Before this 'rock and roll' event started, I have google few hundreds of news. Just 2 hours before the event started, price cut (about 50 to 100) for iPod Touch, iPod nano and iPod Classic on Apple website, user tweet on it every minutes.

After the event, I found another few hundreds more news on Google talking about this Apple event.

What do you have in this Apple event?

Steve Jobs is back on the stage. After 6 months "leave of absence", Steve Jobs make his first public appearance. Welcome back Jobs, but no one will be there forever. Reuters reported an analyst pointed out that Jobs looks "frail".

You can check out some photos from here.

New features in iTunes. iTunes Genius is getting smarter, new features were introduced like Genius DJ, iTunes LP and live demo by Jeff Robin, VP of iTunes engineering. I heard that there are 9 new features on iTunes 9.

iPod. Slash price in a few iPod series, you can check out the latest price from Apple website. iPod shuffles come with more colors. iPod nano will have a video camera, but not the iPod Touch. This 5th generation of iPod nano will have a FM tuner and pedometer.

A remaster version of Beatles catalog was release on 9 September, but Beatles catalog is still not on iTunes yet.

There are people commented that, audience are disappointed for the pass few events, like Snow Leopard has "0" new features. I can not disagree that, we have been expected too much from Apple, and we should, so that Apple will keep innovating.

Write before Nokia OVI briefing for developers

As a developer, if you compare the mobile phones for Nokia and iPhone. iPhone has 2 type of hardware (iPhone and iPod Touch), 3 version of OS (may be you just need to take care the latest version). iPhone hardware has iPhone 1.0, 3G and 3GS, the later 2 are just with 3G enable and faster speed. Developer does not need to cater for different specification.

Nokia has wide range of phones from S40 series to S60 series, one or two of it has touch screen, the others do not, different screen size, button control... is complicated. I can't find my Nokia 2630 on OVI store, may be it was not supported, but the phone is just 1 year old.

Apple iTunes App Store has a close and strict strategy (as usual), because you can not install third party application without going through iTunes App Store (unless you jailbreak it). You can not simply upload an application without Apple's approval. The Google voice case is a good example, FCC step in and invest for the case.

Everyone is criticizing on Apple's strategy for its iTunes App Store, but all vendors are following Apple model and marketing plan. Google has Android Market, Microsoft has Windows Mobile Market, Palm has App catalog (for WebOS) and Nokia has OVI store.

OVI website. Not just the concept. The design looks like Apple website.
(The menu and navigation bar)

Palm OS is very successfully mobile platform without an application store, you can download third party application from other website like handango. It fails because Palm does not provide a stable software and good service.

iTunes is available on Mac and PC. Nokia has a good desktop application call PC Suite, and it only runs on PC. When Nokia will have a Mac Suite or Linux Suite? Nokia OVI Suite is the next version of Nokia PC Suite, which expected to have a Mac version, but not sure when it will be released.

Why follow Apple if you can not beat Apple. At the end, not everyone like Apple, right?

IBM Virtualization seminar

I just came back from IBM Virtualization seminar on 8 September.

IBM introduce their virtual machine and storage technologies. In simple words, is cloud computing.

These days, everyone talks about cloud computing. IBM claim that they have 40 years of experience in cloud computing, you can ignored that. Why we heard of cloud computing from Google, Amazon... and not IBM? It is just marketing talk, and cloud computing is marketing talk. Just show us what you have now, 40 years old technologies is much different from now.

Why cloud computing? Hardware is more powerful, with cheaper price, but cost doesn't go down, because administration cost shoot up. You need PowerVM (virtualization for AIX) and SVC (SAN Volume Controller).

The PowerVM is like a VMware. If you doesn't know what is a VMware, I will say PowerVM is a virtual machine, which share out the resources of a server to act like a few server virtually. IBM SVC can consolidate different type of storage system like SUN, EMC, NetApp, IBM XIV (sure) and others (list is here). SVC target for mid-sized business. IBM show us with a few live demo as well.

I am not going to comment much on their technologies, you can take a look at XIV Storage System, PowerVM and SVC.

It is a half day event, they provide good food and some freebies too.