Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is world's thinnest and lightest

Sony has announced the new Xperia Tablet Z2 that it claimed the world's thinnest and lightest waterproof tablet.

It's a lighter, thinner version of the older Xperia Tablet Z, which has been given a thorough upgrade in order to help it take on the iPad Air and larger Samsung. By comparison, the iPad Air weighs 478g and measures 7.5 mm in thickness.


World's thinnest and lightest. My current iPad 3 weighs 662g; it's a monster!



Sony Xperia Z2 tablet Specifications

OS and Processor	Google Android 4.4 (Kitkat)
	2.3 GHz Qualcomm APQ8074+MSM8974AB Quad-core
	Adreno 320
Weight	439 grams
	15.49 oz
Dimensions	172 x 266 x 6.4 mm
	6.8 x 10.47 x 0.25 inches
Camera	8.1 MP
	16 x digital zoom
	Front-facing camera (2.2 MP 1080p)
Display	10.1" TFT
	16,777,216 colours, 1920 x 1200 pixels
Memory	RAM: 3 GB
	Flash memory: Up to 16 GB
	Expansion slot: microSD™ card, up to 64 GB
Durability	IPX5/IPX8 (waterproof) & IP5X (dust resistant)

Availability and price

The new Xperia Z2 Tablet is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in March 2014. No news on wider availability yet, so, we may not be able to see this in Malaysia anytime soon.

The older version was selling for RM1,499 and RM1,999 depending on model. That means you are looking at a starting price of not less than RM1,499 when it lands here.


TheGreenMechanics: Some say the iPad is overrated price-wise. There may be some point to such argument, but I think user experience also play a big part in selecting the suitable tablet. I've tried both iPad and Android-run tabs and I still prefer my current iPad 3.

The Xperia Z2 looks decent though, and it could be a game changer, especially now that Sony has stopped producing laptop and putting more effort in refining its mobile devices.

Kumpulan Melaka to build second Solar PV farm this year

We have nothing but admiration for Melaka's determination and quest for more energy generated from renewable sources. Latest in its list of green technology initiative is the proposed RM20 mil second solar farm.

Last year, Kumpulan Melaka Berhad opened the country's first state-owned solar farm. The 5 MW solar photovoltaic farm involved an investment of about RM46 million.

Launching of Melaka's first solar PV farm in 2012 by then Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam. NST pic.

Note:
The solar farm was created in three phases: The first (1.3MW) was completed in April 2013, second phase (1.22MW) in May 2013 and the final phase of 2.48MW was completed in August 2013.




Second solar farm to cost RM20 million

Kumpulan Melaka Bhd is investing approximately RM20 million to build and operate its second solar farm in Melaka this year.

Technical Manager KhairulEzuan Harun said the new solar farm is projected to have two megawatts (MWp) of solar photovoltaic (PV) sprawled on 2.8 hectares.

The solar valley would apply solar energy as the primary alternative activities for all sectors which would encompass land development, research, innovation and commercialisation, he said.

"However, the solar farm project is also subject to Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA) quota as they need to get more funds," he told Bernama.

SEDA will set a quota on the amount of solar power systems that can be installed in every six months. KhairulEzuan said SEDA has yet to announce when the new quota will be released but once the quota is unveiled, the group will proceed with the project.

All power generated by the solar farm will be sold to power giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and the electricity will be channelled directly into the National Power Grid.

Late last year, the Melaka state government launched the first state-owned 5MWp solar PV farm in the country, which cost RM46 million. The solar farm, built on a 7.2ha site at the Rembia Industrial Park is one of the five key projects realising Melaka's ambition to become a green technology city-state by 2020.

The park was created in three phases. The first phase, to produce 1.3MW electricity, was completed in April last year, followed by 1.22MW electricity under the second phase in May last year and the final phase of 2.48MW in August last year.

The first solar farm in Melaka, which is expected to create 45,000 jobs, is poised to contribute a total of RM118 million of gross national income for 21 years, he added. - Sourced from: Bernama, January 30, 2014.


TheGreenMechanics' two cents:

The date for the release and volume of the new renewable energy quota for 2014 under the FIT programme will be announced by SEDA next month, during the International Sustainable Energy Summit.

Big RE players such as Kumpulan Melaka, Cypark, etc., would be eyeing for big chunk of the pie but let's hope everyone has equal chance of getting the cut. The non-individual quota is the one that would be snapped up as soon as it is announced. 

There should be mechanism in place to enable more organisations to take part in the green technology initiative. Attempt by some to win big quota and then distributing them to others in umbrella concept must be curtailed.

Higher rate of use of alternatives, but Cash is still king in Singapore

40 percent of consumers in Singapore prefer paying with paper for daily spending, according to Nielsen's Global Survey.

39 percent of those who pay with plastic instead of paper use their credit card, 14% use their debit card and 2% use their prepaid card for daily expenses.

"Cash only!" 40% of consumers in Singapore prefer cash for daily spending.

In comparison, respondents in other ASEAN countries use cash payment in the following order:

• 74% in Philippines depend on cash payment, 
• 68% in Thailand
• 61% in Vietnam
• 60% in Malaysia
• 51 % in Indonesia
• (40% in Singapore)

Singaporeans shop on the web

49% of Singaporean respondents are comfortable shopping on the web. These shoppers use their payment card on smartphone and tablet device if they are sure their personal information is safe.

22% of Singaporean respondents said they may consider using their credit or debit cards for online payment. 29% consumers in the city declined using their cards on either a smartphone or tablet.

"There are opportunities to extend the usage of cash alternatives in Singapore, especially among consumers who rely more on cash payments, such as older consumers and less affluent consumers, for those transactions that are still predominantly paid for in cash."
- Luca Griseri, Head of Financial Services, Nielsen Singapore and Malaysia. 

Competitive credit card market 

Issuers of credit card have become very competitive as they are trying to encourage consumers to use their cards more often. Singaporeans use more than three cards more often in contrast to consumers in other Southeast Asia nations. 

In Singapore, many options are available to consumers who want to pay without cash, such as contactless technology, but it is important to understand the barriers and reasons why many consumers in Singapore prefer cash over credit cards, noted Nelsen's survey.

Source: CM


TheGreenMechanics: We were in Singapore last December and we preferred credit card over cash as it was convenient and many establishments give incentive, such  as discount, for payment with card.

Back in Malaysia, I tend to spend more when I use credit card, so, I pay with cash most of the time.