Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by N9484640

iCloud+ adds Apple TV & Arcade Free

N9484640 — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:15:12 +0800

In more than 100 countries, Apple has launched a new initiative that bundles Apple TV and Apple Arcade subscriptions into iCloud+, at no extra charge. Rather than the pricier Apple One bundles, rolling everything into iCloud+ now seems to be the company’s strategy for services growth in smaller territories and price-sensitive developing markets.

This will clearly boost the access of Apple’s content services in these markets. You can find the full list of over 100 supported countries below, spoiler alert it does not include the United States …

To clarify, Apple TV and Apple Arcade are now automatically included with the 50 GB iCloud+ subscription (which, for reference, in the US would be priced at $0.99/month) in these supported countries. The change is rolling out gradually over the course of this month.

Some markets are also getting access to a new ‘Apple Music Select’ tier as part of iCloud+, which includes a handful of ad-free radio stations. Eligible iCloud+ customers can then upgrade to a full Apple Music plan at a reduced price.

iCloud+ with Apple TV and Apple Arcade is rolling out to users in the following countries:

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Obviously, with this announcement, it seems like Apple is mostly giving up on pushing Apple One bundles in these markets, as the value-for-money offered by the new iCloud+ deal is substantially better.

It also reflects the fact the company’s content services are predominantly English-language based, with Apple TV producing a handful of local international content (and that does not really include the countries listed above).

As part of this rollout, the Apple TV service is now available in 59 new countries that it never was before, for a total reach of 170 countries.

__________________

Singapore got, Malaysia mana?

Action legend Chen Kuan-Tai has passed away at 80

N9484640 — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:41:57 +0800

It's with heavy hearts that we share the news of Hong Kong's legendary Shaw Brothers action star, Chen Kuan-Tai (Kwan Tai), who sadly passed away this morning. Reports suggest it was due to a brain hemorrhage despite rescue efforts. He was 80.

Born in 1945, he had a serious martial arts background from an early age, training under the Dasheng Pigua school. Back in '69, he won the light heavyweight championship at the Southeast Asian Wushu Tournament—his solid skills really made him stand out.

He joined the Shaw Brothers Nan Guo Drama School in '68, studying alongside legends like Bai Biao, Yang Zelin, Ti Lung, and others. Because his kung fu foundation was so strong, director Chang Cheh took him under his wing, launching him into stardom as a top action star.

In 1972, he totally blew up with the movie "The Boxer," pioneering the gangster fight genre with real, authentic moves. He went on to star in classics like "Duel of the Iron Fists" and "Blood Stained Swords for Vengeance," cementing his status as *the* face of Shaw Brothers action in the 70s.

Besides acting, he also tried directing films like "Iron Horse Monkey." As he got older, he slowed down and moved to live in Zhongshan, China, leading a pretty quiet, semi-reclusive life.

Back in 2020, he actually survived a major illness that almost took him away, needing urgent treatment.

Recently though, he seemed to be doing much better! He looked full of energy when he returned to HK for the "Shaw Brothers Friends" gathering and even started using social media. Hearing about his sudden passing is just so heartbreaking.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

N9484640 — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:04:55 +0800

[twt]https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard/status/2067792184753938484[/twt]
DNI Tulsi Gabbard

Office of the DNI
@DNIGabbard
12h

Today, on my final day as Director of National Intelligence, I’m releasing never-before-seen communications and documents exposing how Dr. Fauci provided millions in US taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab, worked with politicized elements within the Intelligence Community to suppress the truth about his actions and hide the virus’ lab-leak origins, and lied to Congress while under oath in 2024. It’s time you know the truth.

"My dad was a victim of Cryptocurrency Scam…"

N9484640 — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:17:10 +0800

[YOUTUBE]i67enedk-Hc?si=QRdNiq8GBjglzF9H[/YOUTUBE]

Dividend sudah ada, can buy Xiaomi dy

N9484640 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:16:17 +0800

[YOUTUBE]DlmeEk4wQEw?si=fK0K5TlFd6RsWF90[/YOUTUBE]

EPF expected to announce 2025 dividend on Saturday

N9484640 — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:17:25 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is expected to announce its dividend for the 2025 financial year at a media briefing on Feb 28, offering contributors fresh insight into returns from Malaysia's largest retirement savings scheme.

The briefing is due to be chaired by EPF chief executive officer Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn.

The annual dividend annoucement will be closely followed by the EPF's more than 16 million members, as it signals the performance of its diversified portfolio across equities, fixed income, real estate and infrastructure, both domestically and abroad.

Analysts have expected the dividend to be in the range of 6.3 per cent-6.5 per cent as contributors look to the fund to safeguard and grow their retirement nest egg.

This forecast is based on the fund's strong investment performance through the first nine months of 2025, which saw an 11 per cent increase in gross investment income, and reflects continued confidence in EPF's diversified asset mix and conservative investment approach.

Last year, EPF declared a 6.30 per cent dividend for both conventional and Shariah savings accounts for the year ended Dec 31, 2024, resulting in a total payout of RM73.24 billion to members.

That comprised RM63.05 billion for conventional savings and RM10.19 billion for Shariah savings, benefiting over 16 million contributors.

In recent years, EPF dividend rates have remained resilient despite global market volatility, supported by steady investment income and prudent risk management.

EPF's long-term strategy emphasises sustainable returns, portfolio diversification and responsible investing, while ensuring sufficient liquidity to meet withdrawals.

Tower fan stopped working when hairdryer is on

N9484640 — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:11:04 +0800

Here is the situation - I have a tower fan and hairdryer sharing the same power outlet (via a multi socket adapter)
Been using it this way for very long time now but recently, the fan would stop spinning whenever I use the hair dryer.
So my first thought was the fan is getting bad and so I replaced the fan with another tower fan
But the problem still persist. This time I replaced the multi socket with an extension cable that comes with a few outlets.
Plugged into this both my hair dryer and fan, nothing else.
New fan, new extension cable. Problem still there

They both work properly on their own individual socket.
Is it the hair dryer? Or maybe that particular wiring/electrical socket is bad....

Another fake robot video from China? 🤣

N9484640 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:52:12 +0800

[YOUTUBE]nzflxCHT4vw?si=sIqqvHDPWN4kwcco[/YOUTUBE]

On November 14, Chinese robotics firm UBtech released footage showing hundreds of Walker S2 humanoid robots standing in precise formation inside a warehouse. The machines turned their heads in unison, waved their arms and marched into shipping containers – a scene so visually arresting it evoked sci-fi blockbusters like I, Robot.
Brett Adcock, founder and CEO of leading US robotics company Figure, responded with disbelief.
He immediately took to social media to suggest the footage was computer-generated.

Wah now rempit can fly...

N9484640 — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:45:21 +0800

QUOTE

Before you say this is just some concept vaporware thing, its already on pre-order

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Chinese tech company Kuickwheel officially unveiled the Skyrider X6, designed and developed by Rictor, a tilting three-wheeled amphibious flying motorcycle. The vehicle is now available for pre-order on JD.com, one of China’s online marketplaces, priced at 498,800 yuan (approx. 69,000 USD).

The Skyrider X6 adopts a dual-mode configuration, enabling land and aerial mobility. It is a reverse trike powered by an electric motor on the ground, offering a top speed of 70 km/h and up to 200 km range (assembly CLTC). In flight mode, it uses a 6-axis, 6-rotor electric propulsion system capable of reaching 72 km/h with a maximum flight duration of around 20 minutes. Kuickwheel suggests the vehicle could serve short-range commuting and emergency transport scenarios.

The reverse-trike layout uses a mid-mounted rear-wheel-drive system for ground stability. The body is made from carbon fibre composite and aviation-grade aluminium alloy to minimise weight. For flight, the Skyrider X6 supports automated takeoff, landing, route planning, and cruising. Manual operation via a joystick is also available for experienced users.

Safety features include redundant propulsion and control systems. The rotors are powered by independent motors that can continue operating if one fails. The flight control unit includes backup logic for stability in variable conditions. A ballistic parachute system is designed to deploy automatically during critical failures.

The vehicle’s battery is 10.5 kWh and supports standard automotive DC fast charging. Charging from empty to full takes approximately one hour.

The X1 supports 50 kW DC fast charging, reaching 80% capacity in 30 minutes. Safety systems include a triple-redundant flight controller, a 0.3-second emergency parachute deployment system, and real-time battery monitoring.

According to Kuickwheel’s estimates, aerial commuting can significantly reduce travel time. For instance, a trip from Pudong to Puxi in Shanghai that takes 90 minutes by car could be shortened to 15 minutes by air.

Operating costs are estimated at 3 yuan (approx. 0.41 USD) per km in flight mode, with annual maintenance expected to range from 20,000 to 30,000 yuan (approx. 2,800 – 4,200 USD).

Airspace regulations remain a significant challenge. In China, civilian low-altitude airspace under 200 meters is not yet legal. Additionally, flying the Skyrider requires a light sport aircraft license, which involves a training investment of about 50,000 yuan (approx. 6,900 USD). Its main rival in China is the XPeng AeroHT’s flying car, which is priced at approximately 1.2 million yuan (approximately 166,000 USD).

Need help how to setup this network

N9484640 — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:26:57 +0800

dear sifu, need some help and advise how to solve this situation.

my Time fibre comes in to the DB Room. From here there are several LAN cables running to each of the rooms (embedded in the walls).
Normally I placed my wifi router in the living room and I can get wifi everywhere except the study room. So now I am thinking to use the lan in the study room.
But I still want the wifi router in the living room and I cant run another lan cable to the study room from the living room.
And I cant place the wifi router in the DB room as well as its another dead spot.
So summary is I want to run LAN in the study room and place the Wifi in the living room. How to go about doing this?

I have several old wifi routers, I wonder if I can set on up in the DB room but turn off the wireless section. Then run another wifi router in the living room as an access point.
Are there better ways?

Another question I have, my line is 600Mbps, but speedtest using LAN cable is only about 300++ Mbps. Should I complain to TIME?

Legacy autos will soon crash- engineer reveals why

N9484640 — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 14:22:33 +0800

[YOUTUBE]Xh07Q0NCITc?si=K1PJDPX2rCWtH8B1[/YOUTUBE]

The sound of engines vanishing in Thailand

N9484640 — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 23:42:13 +0800

[YOUTUBE]w7ldtHt6Mn4?si=xP8onzaKVCz7tjCP[/YOUTUBE]

"hybrids are a 'fool's errand'" - long read

N9484640 — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 13:30:36 +0800

https://www.businessinsider.com/godfather-o...h3D25W2EEo0sgBg

TLTR- The 'godfather of EVs' explains why China is winning the race to go electric — and why hybrids are a 'fool's errand'

Andy Palmer, the "godfather of EVs," explains how China took the lead in the electric-car race.
Palmer got the moniker after developing the Nissan Leaf, the world's first mass-market EV.
He said Chinese EVs offered "remarkable" value for money and better battery tech than Western rivals.
The man often known as the "godfather of EVs" has a warning for automakers thinking of ditching electric vehicles for hybrids.

Andy Palmer, a former Aston Martin CEO and Nissan exec, told Business Insider that delaying transitioning to EVs in favor of selling hybrids was a "fool's errand" and warned that automakers doing so risked falling even further behind Chinese EV companies.

Palmer's moniker comes from his time as chief operating officer at Nissan

He led the development of the Nissan Leaf, the world's first mass-market electric car, which has sold more than half a million units since it launched in 2010.

"I wish I could say that it was driven by a motivation to better the world. But actually, it was driven by the Toyota Prius kicking our ass," Palmer told BI.

A purple Nissan Leaf at a charging station in a showroom.
The Nissan Leaf was the first mass-market electric car. Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Rather than copying the success of the hybrid Prius, Palmer said, he pushed Nissan to build a fully electric vehicle, eventually securing the support of the CEO at the time, Carlos Ghosn.

Over a decade later, he's skeptical of automakers — including Aston Martin, the company Palmer ran as CEO from 2014 to 2020 — who have taken the opposite path and turned to hybrids as EV adoption has slowed.

"Hybrids are a road to hell. They are a transition strategy, and the longer you stay on that transition, the less quickly you ramp up into the new world," Palmer said.

"If you just delay transitioning to EVs by diluting it with hybrids then you are more uncompetitive for longer, and you allow the Chinese to continue to develop their market and their leadership. I honestly think it's a fool's errand," he added.

China races ahead
Over the past few years, the auto industry has been shaken by the booming growth of Chinese brands such as BYD, which have conquered their home market with a range of affordable and high-tech EVs and hybrids and are now rapidly expanding abroad.

"The Chinese cars are bloody good. The Chinese vehicles offer remarkable value for money for what they deliver," Palmer said.

"Their battery technology's class-leading, and they've concentrated very much on their software," he said.

Palmer told BI that the success of China's EV industry was down to the country's long-running industrial strategy.

One study found that the Chinese government had spent at least $230 billion on subsidies for EV makers since 2009.

Palmer, who previously served on the board of Dongfeng Motor Company, a joint venture between Nissan and the Chinese state-owned automaker Dongfeng, said he saw firsthand how aggressive China's EV strategy was.

"The edict [from the Chinese government] was to move to new energy vehicles," he said.

"It starts with an industrial strategy. That's the big thing to learn. For the best part of 14 years, we have not had an industrial strategy," Palmer added.

The BYD Seal on display in a showroom.
BYD has conquered its home market with a range of affordable and high-tech EVs and hybrids. Getty Images
Both the US and Europe have responded to the rise of Chinese automakers by imposing tariffs aimed at protecting their own auto industries, but Palmer said tariffs would only harm Western companies' ability to compete with their Chinese rivals.

"My experience with tariffs is it just makes your indigenous industry lazy. The gap becomes even bigger," he said.

Instead, he argued that automakers should prepare for a "survival of the fittest" battle with Chinese automakers, especially in Europe, where the likes of BYD and Xpeng have ambitious expansion plans.

"I think the Chinese firms will learn from competing in Europe, because that's the toughest market in the world. If they can do that, then they're going to be unbeatable," Palmer said.

Japanese carmakers stumble

The surging growth of China's EV giants has put Palmer's former employer Nissan and its Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda under severe pressure.

Nissan announced it would lay off 9,000 workers in November, while both Toyota and Honda are facing declining sales in China and slumping profits. In December, it was reported that Nissan and Honda were in merger talks.

Palmer said that while Toyota's decision to focus on hybrids paid off initially, it had left it and other Japanese automakers exposed as key markets such as China transition quickly to EVs.

"Toyota took the Japanese industry down a cul-de-sac, which it is going to struggle to recover from," he said.

The former Nissan executive said his old company, meanwhile, had "shot itself in the foot" and squandered a promising lineup of electric vehicles and a 10-year lead in EV tech.

"My last board meeting in July 2014, I was under enormous attack from the bean counters who were saying; these things don't make money, we are going too fast. I managed to win the day in that meeting, but I left the company," Palmer said.

"Nissan finds itself now with a very poor lineup of products and without obvious leadership in EVs, and that's the direct result of poor management," he said.

How to get EVs moving again
The past year has been tough for electric vehicles. While sales are still growing, the pace of adoption has been slower than expected, causing automakers across the globe to roll back investments.

For Palmer, the reason some consumers have proven reluctant to go electric is simple: EVs are too expensive.

"Prices have got to align to those of internal combustion engines. And to make that happen, you've got to be able to offer cars with smaller batteries," Palmer said.

The average price of an electric vehicle in the US in October was $56,902, according to Kelley Blue Book, compared with $48,623 for gas-powered vehicles.

Palmer said selling cheaper vehicles with smaller batteries and less range would require governments to incentivize the rollout of charging networks to alleviate range anxiety.

He added that the West could learn from China's approach to industrial strategy — especially when it comes to batteries, an industry that China dominates.

"If the West wants to catch up, I would advocate copying the Chinese," Palmer said.

"The alternative is everything is Chinese at the moment — even if you were building your own battery cells, you've still got to get all the minerals from China," he said. "The whole supply chain is stuck."

WTS SVS SB-2000 500 watts Active Subwoofer - 12in

N9484640 — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 13:31:02 +0800

SVS SB2000 sub. Good working condition. Clean and new condition. Comes with user manual and power cable. No box.
Specs -
Limited Edition Piano White finish
Front-firing 12" driver
Sledge STA-500D DSP amplifier
500 watts RMS continuous (1100 watts peak dynamic)
Freq. Response 19-220 Hz ±3 DB
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 39.12(D) x 36.07(W) x 37.08 cm(H); 15.88 kg

Price SOLD

Does this condo at Sri Petaling exists?

N9484640 — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:06:37 +0800

found the answer - thanks

WTS DIY Car Detailing Stuff Used & New

N9484640 — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:59:20 +0800

A - Microfiber Chenille Car Wash Mop Three-Section extendable. Selling because I bought another with a smaller mop head. Used once only. Still very clean and new. - RM20

B - Hybrid drying towel (no brand) - 50cm x 70cm. Used once. Very absorbent. Selling because I need a smaller towel. RM20

C - Rag Company Liquid8r Drying Towel - New - Bought extra of these from Taobao to save on cheaper shipping. Never used. Still in packaging. 2 sizes available. Selling same price as I bought with a few ringgit extra for postage. These are the best drying towel I ever use. One towel can dry your whole car. No streaks, only need one pass to dry.
40cm X 40cm - RM30 each (2 available)
40cm X 60cm - RM50 each (1 available)

GSM: 1100 GSM
Blend: 70% Polyester / 30% Polyamide
Weave: Twist Loop
Border / Edging: Hemmed Hidden Edge
Country of Origin: China

COD at Kuchai Lama or send to you (extra postage)
or you can order Lalamove to pickup

Offer - A+B=Rm30 for both items
C = sorry no discount. Selling at cost.

EPF Dividends - how many percent are you expecting

N9484640 — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 13:51:40 +0800

QUOTE

KUALA LUMPUR: The third Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) account, or “flexible" account, will be implemented in April 2024, said Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

"The dividends for EPF accounts will be announced in February 2024, and the Finance Ministry will announce a detailed plan on the flexible account afterwards.

Could today be the day they announce dividends? How much are you expecting?

WTS New Unregistered Plate Number BRR1809

N9484640 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 08:27:43 +0800

Selling unregistered car plate number BRR1809
Only RM300

Hand over car before JPJ transfer?

N9484640 — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 15:30:43 +0800

Let’s say my out of town buyer comes this weekend and he pays me the full amount for the car I’m selling. But he wants me to hand the car over to him to drive. Haven’t do puspakom and jpj transfer yet

What are my risks? If kena accident or saman I’m still responsible

WTS Viofo A139 3CH Dashcam 2K+1080+1080

N9484640 — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 16:11:22 +0800

Sample footage - set your YouTube to highest resolution before viewing
A139 Rear Cam https://youtu.be/0UQCtLob-IEam
A139 Front Cam https://youtu.be/sOwk7xy_kyk

Selling my dashcam cause car sold. Comes with front, rear and interior cameras. Good setup for ride sharing drivers.
Bought last year at Rm1k plus. Good working condition.
Using Super Capacitor
Comes with cables, polarizer, GPS, user manual and box. MicroSD memory card not included.
If you want to view some sample video footage let me know

1 month personal warranty. COD at Kuchai Lama, KL
Price ~~RM650~~