Smartphone market share for Europe Big-Five markets, and Malaysia

The top-five markets in Europe - sometimes called The Big-Five markets - collectively have a majority of consumers using smartphones, and that proportion continues to grow. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK are now reporting more 60% smartphone penetration.

In Europe, and in particular the top five markets, Android remains the top operating system with a 70.1% market share. The other two, iOS (16.1%) and Window Phones (9.2%) paled in comparison.

Smartphone market share in Big Five European markets. Source: Engadget

What about us?

I read in Computerworld Malaysia online magazine last month and was shocked that, Malaysians are actually "smartphone crazy" - we have higher smartphone penetration rates than the United States and the European Big-Five markets!

Who would have thought about that?

We are now categorised as "Developed Asia", aren't we? Source: Nielsen

According to Nielsen, our penetration rate now stands at 80%, compared with US' 60% and UK's 72%. That, I think, is because many of us have more than one smartphones at any one time, not to mention the primary school-going children having their own smartphones.


Are we worried?

Why would these figures concern me? I don't know, maybe you are not at all concerned. And why should you? That's the way the society seems to be moving to. We have just got to be 'smarter' than the smartphones so as not to be enslaved by them, I suppose.

But if this fact is freaking you out, you are not alone, there are many out there who share the same concern with you.

As a matter of coincidence, this reminds me of one of Will Smith's movies where he fought with the smarter-than-human robots. Things were in complete disorder before human finally prevailed.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

Sabah not ready for implementation of Feed-In Tariff (FiT) system

In March this year, Business Times reported that "the Sabah government has verbally agreed" to the collection of 1% Renewable Energy (RE) levy on heavy energy users in the state.

Also, it was understood that Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry was "waiting for the official letter from the Sabah state government" to allow TNB to collect RE levy.

Fast forward to today, we are still waiting for signature of the Chief Minister, Datuk Musa Aman. It is the waiting game that've probably led SESB to make the assumption that Sabah is not ready for implementation of FiT here.

-   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  o0o  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -

This is what Bernama news portal reported last month:
September 19,2013 (Bernama)

Sabah is not ready for implementation of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) system to encourage consumers to use renewable energy (RE) as no firm decision has been made by the state.

The Senior General Manager (Assets Management) Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), Ir Ahmad Fuad Md Kasim said discussions were still ongoing with the state government, to determine the method of implementation as well as payment.

"Discussion are still at a preliminary stage and no firm decision has been reached on its implementation, including the means to develop RE at present," he told reporters at a briefing and dinner with chief editors and bureau chiefs in Sabah, here Wednesday night.

Ahmad Fuad said generally, the potential of RE and its availability in the country - including in Sabah - from sources such as biomass, biogas and solar energy had been identified.

The government has also identified the FiT mechanism to improve mixed capacities for electricity generation from RE. The target for such generation from RE sources is 985MW by 2015 or a contribution of 5.5% of the overall mixed supply.


TheGreenMechanics' two cents:

I think we are ready. But if the leaders think we are not, then it is just sad that there will be no effort towards bringing the FiT system here as the desire is not there in the first place.

Like the Malay saying "Kalau hendak seribu daya, kalau tak hendak seribu dalih", if we want it, we will surely work hard (and put aside some fund from the government coffer) to make it happen.


Ref: Bernama

TNB to build two 1,000MW coal-fired power plants in Perak

It is good that TNB is taking proactive measures to mitigate the risk of inability to supply sufficient power to Peninsula Malaysia. The catchy keyword is coal, and because it is coal, it is sensitive.

Setting up of coal-fired power plant is controversial (we have such experience in Sabah) because the potential for environmental pollution is very high. The proposed 300 MW coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu was scrapped due to the people's objection.

Extension to the existing power plant in Manjung will start soon. Photo: Lowyat

Contrary to this, n West Malaysia, though, coal-fired power plant is one of the bigger contributors to the energy generation mix. There are also coal-fired power plants in Sarawak.

So, the real question here in Sabah is, are we looking more towards solution of the perennial issue of blackout/power failure or are we more looking at the environment alone? Of course there is a balance to be struck, but you cannot have the best of both.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - o0o -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Two new 1,000MW power plants in Manjung

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) will build two high-technology 1,000 MW coal-fired power plants in Manjung, Perak to meet the increasing demand for electricity.

Its vice president of generation Zainuddin Ibrahim said the two projects will start soon and will be completed within the next four years. The power consumption is expected to increase by 5% annually and the two projects are in the company's pipeline.

"The two projects in Manjung are mainly for domestic usage and are expected to be completed in 2017," he told reporters after launching the 3rd Annual Asian Sub-Bituminous Coal User Group Conference which was attended by over 140 industry professionals from 15 countries including Malaysia, the United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Russia on October 1, 2013.

On average, Malaysia consumes about 15,000 to 16,000 MW of power daily, with the figure expected to increase annually. TNB's power generation ratio is as follows:-

• Natural gas                    : 50%
• Coal-fired power plants   : 35% to 40%
• Renewable energy         : 10% to 15%

TNB believes that coal is one of Malaysia's most important sources of energy, and over 80% of coal in Malaysia is imported from Indonesia, South Africa and Australia.

The utility's annual consumption of coal is about 42 million tonnes and the trend continues to increase, with Asia being the biggest market for coal for power plants, accounting for 67% of worldwide demand.


Source: Bernama