SHOUT Q3 2015 - English

SHOUT! www.cfm.my

quarterly newsletter

KDN PP 17752/11/2013 (033132)

published by the Communications and Multimedia Consumer Forum of Malaysia

THE WORD WITH...

AMIN HAYAT

We have the inside scoop on award winning journalist and Renaissance Man

Lost & Found

OFFLINE MAP APPS

Special Feature

MY Mobile Rights

Get the lowdown on CFM’s latest game-changing app

We pick four of the best to get you home

Free Copy

consumer.forum.malaysia

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INTRO

Quarter 3 2015 EDITOR’S NOTE

3 THINGS YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS ISSUE 6 ONLINE DATING PRIVACY TIPS

Find out how to protect your privacy and ensure your safety when dating online

4 GREAT OFFLINE MAP APPS

If you lack Internet connectivity, these four map apps will save your bacon when you need it most

4 SAVVY CROWDFUNDING TIPS

Discover four essential tips to getting your money’s worth when investing in a crowdfunding project

These are exciting times for SHOUT! Magazine and the Communications and Multimedia Consumer Forum of Malaysia (CFM).

We have constantly endeavoured to be accessible to everyone who is seeking aid and redress to defend their rights as a consumer since our inception. In addition to our hotline, website and e-mail, consumers now have a new avenue to highlight their grievances – the MY Mobile Rights app. Our app empowers consumers to file complaints directly from their smartphone. The app also offers news, tips and articles on the industry that will empower consumers to make the right choices. Check out our special preview on p3.

In this issue, we sit down and have a chat with TV producer, award winning journalist and modern Renaissance Man, Amin Hayat Abd Rahim. He takes time off his busy schedule to share more about what makes him tick, his dreams and more on p8.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIAL FEATURE - MY MOBILE RIGHTS APP

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ON THE WIRE

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SOCIAL MEDIA LIFE – DATING ONLINE? six MINDFUL PRIVACY TIPS

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Find out more about CFM’s innovative new smartphone app for Android and iOS devices Discover the latest happenings with the Consumer Forum of Malaysia Find out how to stay safe seeking love online

TOP GEAR ON A ROLL – FOUR ELECTRIC SCOOTERS 7 Save wear and tear on your tootsies with these slick electric scooters

THE WORD – AMIN HAYAT abd RAHIM

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CONNECTED – THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

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ISSUE OF THE QUARTER – A VIEW TO THRILL

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Megat Ishak Ma’amunor Rashid Editor

Cut the cord and watch local Malaysian terrestrial television without being tied to your TV set. Find out just how watch on your tablet or mobile…

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APPZONE – 4 GREAT OFFLINE MAP APPS

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DIGITAL LIFE – CROWDFUNDING 101

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Hands On

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If you’ve been out and about, you’ll doubtless have encountered situations where you don’t have connectivity but desperately need to navigate somewhere. Check out our handpicked selection of top offline map apps in Appzone on p12.

Take care readers and see you all next issue!

SHOUT! is published on a quarterly basis by: Communications and Multimedia Consumer Forum of Malaysia 6-02, 6th Floor, Wisma Straits Trading, No 2, Lebuh Pasar Besar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur T: 03-2692-3800 F: 03-2693-2288 W: www.cfm.my Printed in Malaysia by: Ultimate Print Sdn. Bhd Lot 2, Jalan Sepana 15/3, Off Persiaran Selangor, Seksyen 15, 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor Distributed by: Hotpaper Media 2

Q3 2015

Malaysia’s modern day Renaissance Man talks about his diverse interests and his work as one of TV9’s top producers Cyclist and humanitarian Muhammad Adeeb shares his epic continent-spanning journey of self-discovery and charity

Don’t have data, but desperately need to get directions?

Check out four of the top offline map apps for use both locally and abroad Find out what the crowdfunding phenomenon is about, along with how to fund your first project, common pitfalls and more Readers get their most pressing questions answered

special feature

The Right Stuff

CFM’s latest mobile app gives you the power to make your voice heard straight from your smartphone.

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hile the Consumer Forum of Malaysia (CFM) has made significant inroads into making the process of filing a complaint with a service provider a swift and transparent affair, it’s now time to take things up a notch. On top of the existing methods of filing a grievance - a phone call, e-mail, or contact form on the CFM website, they have launched an even more efficient means of making your voice heard. Introducing the CFM MY Mobile Rights app.

With the CFM MY Mobile Rights app, you’ll be able to file a complaint regarding your service provider straight from your smartphone. There’s no need to wander around the Internet to find a service provider’s service hotline or their official e-mail, then going through the rigmarole just to make a complaint.

All you have to do is to download the MY Mobile Rights app on your smartphone or tablet and you’ll be able to file a service provider related complaint immediately straight from your device. That’s not all. The MY Mobile Rights app lets you access a veritable cornucopia of information that can help you make an informed decision, as well as much more. The MY Mobile Rights app is now available free on the Google Play store and Apple App store for free.

Fantastic Things You Can DoDo With thethe MY Mobile Rights AppApp Four4 Fantastic ThingsThat That You Can with MY Mobile Rights Find the best deal!

Check in regularly with the app, as it will tell you the best deals on prepaid, postpaid and broadband plans in Malaysia.

Find your nearest service provider Get the contact and address details of every service branch of every major Malaysian telco and broadband service provider.

File a complaint The raison d’etre of the MY Mobile Rights, this section lets you officially file a complaint with CFM against a service provider.

Tips and Guides Check out articles with information on how things work, with tips and more about broadband, smartphones, land lines and even digital TV.

Q3 2015

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ON THE WIRE Underprivileged kids enjoy Ramadan treat with iM4U

A special buka puasa dinner was held on 8th July 2015 at Laman Seri Kayangan, Shah Alam which saw 125 orphans and tahfiz school students feted to a grand feast courtesy of Malaysian radio station iM4U. Delegates from CFM were also in attendance to partake in the festivities and meet up with iM4U CEO Rudy Malik and iM4U FM Director of Radio, Kartini Kamalul Ariffin as well as the iM4U FM radio announcers before breaking fast together with the children.

CFM Hits the Streets To Share Goodies and Spread the Word

To mark the end of Ramadan and spread awareness of CFM’s noble mission, members of CFM undertook the “CFM Istimewa Ramadan” project, which saw them taking to the streets on 10th July 2015 to pass out copies of CFM’s in-house SHOUT! magazine, savoury bubur lambuk packets and CFM collectibles to passers-by. This marks the first year of an annual Ramadan tradition for CFM to interact with the public.

iM4U FM interviews CFM leadership

On 14th July 2015, iM4U FM radio invited CFM Director, Ahmad Izham Khairuddin over for an interview broadcasted live on 107.9FM for iM4U’s “Bangkit” segment. Ahmad Izham Khairuddin discussed a number of issues at length with iM4U’s radio announcer, Fiza Frizzy, including CFM’s role and how CFM can help consumers with communications and multimedia issues.

CFM’s mascot and new logo make their debut at Raya open house

The D’Saji Titiwangsa restaurant in Kuala Lumpur was the centre of much merriment on 30th July 2015, when CFM hosted an open house party to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The event was officiated by Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia, YB Dato’ Jailani Johari and was attended by CFM council members and delegates from a host of stakeholders in the communications and multimedia sector. CFM’s new mascot, Fillo the Elephant, along with CFM’s revamped logo were also introduced that day. Fillo’s name, which means elephant in Arabic, was the winning entry in a nationwide competition to name him and the winner, Abdul Matin Abdul Ibrahim received an iPhone 6 and the chance to meet Fillo in person at the open house.

Minds Meet at KL Converge 2015

The biggest digital content and creative industry event in Malaysia saw CFM taking part as an exhibitor from 27th to 29th August 2015. During the three-day show, visitors were able to take pictures with CFM’s new mascot, Fillo the Elephant as well as participate in games and challenges for prizes at the CFM booth. During the show, CFM’s Chairman, Megat Ishak Ma’amunor Rashid and CFM Director, Ahmad Izham Khairuddin took the stage in a series of talk sessions to share more about CFM’s role in helping consumers and on them knowing their rights.

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on the wire CFM enjoys roaring good time with Cats FM radio

CFM ruled the airwaves with a live interview at CATS FM, one of Sarawak’s biggest radio stations. Taking place on 10th September 2015, the interview conducted by DJ TraceyB in her “CATS 10 to 2” segment saw CFM members sharing more about the organisation’s role and practical tips on a host of communications and multimedia issues.

The interview also can be listened online on CATS FM’s website at www.catsfm.my

CFM interviewed by Sarawak FM radio

On 14th September 2015, then CFM Representative, Megat Ishak Ma’amunor Rashid took part in a live phone interview with SARAWAK 88.9FM, sharing the latest statistics and complaints from Sarawak residents on communications and multimedia issues. During the interview, he also welcomed local NGOs to come forward to share and discuss such issues with CFM. Users can listened the interview online at www.sarawakfm. rtmsarawak.gov.my

CFM participates in ‘Sampai dengan Selamat’ Carnival and Competition

Organised by the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in conjunction with a host of government bodies, the carnival and competition was aimed to nurture a culture of road safety among drivers and the some 30,000 postal and courier industry workers who contribute to the national economy. The event took place from 12th to 13th September 2015 at Bulatan Bazarena at the Shah Alam Stadium, Selangor.

CFM established a prominent booth where visitors could find out more on their consumer rights. Many visitors even took the opportunity to file complaints with the CFM concerning problems they encountered in the communications and multimedia industry.

NGOs and telcos flock to CFM knowledge sharing session in Sarawak

The Hilton Kuching was abuzz with activity on 15th September 2015 when a number of local consumer associations in Kuching, NGOs, media and telco representatives from major telcos and other service providers gathered for a knowledge sharing session and a chance for open dialogue organised by CFM. The session saw CFM sharing with NGOs about how together they could both help consumers and encouraged their participation as CFM members. CFM also shed light on the total number and type of complaints reported to them to the media present during the session and opened the floor for service provider representatives to take questions by participants on any telecommunications issues they may have experienced.

CFM graces talk by the noblest profession

There’s no nobler profession than teaching, and CFM was honoured to take part in a talk by the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) at the KL International Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 23rd September 2015. CFM Director, Ahmad Izham Khairuddin had the honour of speaking on the topic “The Rights of Communications and Multimedia Consumers” to the assembly, as well as sharing his extensive knowledge with the teachers gathered at the event.

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SOCIAL MEDIA LIFE

Online Dating - 6 Mindful Privacy Tips

At some point in time, most people have likely signed up on a dating site. Unfortunately, that profile you made on a whimsical lark or a hunt for true love may haunt you for the rest of your life...

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he dating game isn’t what it used to be. If Shakespeare were to base any of his sonnets on post 21st century dating, he’d probably end up writing something along the lines of “To swipe left or right, that is the question.”

With increasing levels of computer literacy, easier Internet access and busier lives, men and women are increasingly turning to dating websites to find the right match. On paper, this sounds like a sure-fire win. Online dating offers a larger pool of viable candidates not limited by geography and the option to shortlist candidates even before the first date. This would seem, on paper at least, to be a sure-fire way to meet the man or woman of your dreams. Aside from the more obvious hazards of encountering scammers and unsavoury sorts looking to take advantage of you, dating online entails its own set of potential hazards, most of which can be easily summed up - the Internet never forgets.

Almost every snapshot - yes, even the ones you supposedly

deleted off your dating profile years ago - along with every word you’ve written is searchable in some fashion. That drunk photo of yourself? That embarrassing dating profile?

It’s all there, cached on Google for all to see and it’s usually there to stay. The ramifications are chilling, now that many employers perform an online background search before even considering a potential employee.

Even worse is the fact that many dating websites have lax or non-existent security policies, resulting in potential leaks of private information. Consider the recent hack of the Ashley Madison site, a dating website for “married people looking for an affair” which suffered a leak of embarrassing details of millions of users, including a number of celebrities.

Still, even these potential hazards, that doesn’t mean swear off dating sites forever. Simply be mindful of what you reveal and follow these six rules. You’ll be well on your way to a safer online experience finding Mr or Mrs Right.

6 Mindful Safety Tips when using Dating Sites

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Everything Stays On the Internet Your dating profile, pictures and all, may remain on a site long after you’ve cancelled the account. All of that can end up being used against you at work or in personal or legal matters, so be mindful what sites you use and what you upload or post.

Photos can be searched That shot of you at the party? It may be traced to you via a reverse image search on TinEye or Google Reverse Image search. Use an avatar to avoid this potential risk to your privacy.

Use secured connections Many dating sites don’t use secured connections, allowing savvy eavesdroppers to tune into what you’re doing, especially if you’re on public Wi-Fi or in an Internet cafe. Enable HTTPS encryption in your browser with this extension: bit.ly/18qiajr

Your personal data is not personal Many dating sites encourage you to reveal personal data for better matches, while proclaiming that gathered personal data is anonymised. Odds are that it isn’t. Your personal data may be resold to online marketers. Review security policies in detail or limit what you post.

Photos often contain metadata Many phones and cameras embed Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) data in an image and is a priracy. This tells you where and when an image was taken, and is a privacy hazard indeed. Disable geotagging on your camera and learn to remove EXIF data before uploading.

Do use a free non identifiable email account When signing up for a dating profile, use a fresh email account from any of the usual free services such as Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook for additional privacy. You may be using one already, but a new email account won’t have searchable social media or other services linked to it.

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TOP GEAR

On A Roll – Four Exciting Electric Scooters

If you’re like most urban dwellers, chances are that you drive, use some form of public transport or combine both methods. While there’s no way to completely avoid the travails of city life, such as congested traffic, finding a place to park your car or enduring the haphazard schedules of public transport, these four interesting alternative modes of transport may help you make the last mile from work to home (or to your favourite coffee shop) in speed and comfort, while saving you fuel and time too.

Air Wheel A-3

RM8957 www.airwheelmalaysia.com

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Wheeling in at 34 kilos, the Air Wheel A-3 is not exactly something you can toss in your backpack. However, it’s compact enough to fit into most urban spaces, surprisingly agile and one of the few electric scooters with a seat. The seated scooter runs off a built-in battery feeding a 1000W motor with a maximum range of up to 65km and a top speed of 16km/h. It operates somewhat like a scooter with handles, but uses a gyroscope so that leaning forward makes it go faster and leaning backwards makes it slow down.

One Scooter 2 E-Micro RM4687 www.micro-scooters.co.uk

While it may look like a child’s toy, the E-Micro One electric kick scooter is anything but as it’s able to comfortably take an adult up to 7 miles on its 500W battery and needs just one hour for a full charge. Weighing just 7.5 kilos, it’s also eminently portable.

Getting it up and running is simply a matter of unfolding it and there’s no steep learning curve to use it as getting started.

Accelerating simply requires you to give it a push, like a traditional man-powered scooter.

Air Wheel X8

RM2,950 www.airwheelmalaysia.com

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The unusual looking Air Wheel X8 powered unicycle weighs 11.1kilos and is compact enough to fit into a backpack or be hand carried via the top carrying handle. To use it, you stand on the fold-out pedals on either side of the wheel while a builtin gyroscope helps you stay balanced. Despite its small size, the Air Wheel X8 is able to carry a combined weight of up to 120 kilos, with a top speed of 18km/h and the ability to scale a 15° incline. It also boasts an impressive 28km range before needing a recharge.

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Deus Hoverboard

RM1,849 www.myelectricscooterz.com

Easily one of the most unique and lightest electric scooters available, the Deux Hoverboard has just enough space for your feet. Its two wheels are powered by independently-driven hub motors that allow you to spin on a dime and move at up to 10km/h. An internal gyroscope keeps you balanced, while controlling it is simply a matter of pointing your toes forward or heels backward to move in each direction. A full charge lasts 10-15km and it will take up to a 110 kilogram payload, making it very capable indeed for its size. *Please note that the following devices are not considered street legal and cannot be used on a road. While they can be used in public places and five foot ways, they can, at the discretion of a property’s owner (eg. a mall or train station), not be allowed for use. Please also purchase from legitimate distributors to avoid any possible risks of malfunctioning.

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THE WORD

AMIN HAYAT ABD RAHIM

With an impressive resume that includes being a TV producer, news anchor, emcee and even a successful model, award winning journalist Amin Hayat Rahim is a man of many talents. Malaysia’s modern day Renaissance Man took time out to talk about what keeps pushes him onward to greater heights.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m the second of five children. My father was a security guard and factory worker while my mother sold kuih. I aspired to greater things and graduated from UTM in Software Engineering. After I graduated, I worked in an advertising agency and even ran an event management company for a while. My big break came when I was accepted as a journalist for TV9 in 2006. I didn’t have any experience in journalism or broadcasting, and worked my way up to the chance to become a news producer after 7 years.

How did you get to where you are as a news anchor?

Before I embarked on this path I ran a business that didn’t work out. It was very disheartening and I was jobless for six months. It was a very humbling period as the only ones who gave me support and encouragement were my family, especially my mother who is still my greatest supporter and motivator. She saw an ad that TV9 was looking for broadcasters and asked me to give it a try. I understand that there were over 5000 candidates who applied for the position, but fewer than a hundred were called for interviews.

Of them, only three were shortlisted, including me. I didn’t have any experience but was willing to work hard, took my responsibilities seriously and pursued every chance I had to gain more experience.

Walk us through a typical day at work.

My work days are rather flexible. The earliest time I report to the office is at 7.30AM, and the latest I’ve clocked off was 9.00PM. When I’m on duty as a news producer, I am responsible for the entire process from production, right through to the final step of it appearing on your TV. During quiet lulls in the production process, I work out at the gym.

If I’m on duty as a news anchor, I’ll step in and announce the news on TV following the planned schedule. On average, I appear on TV about 15 times a month, although this What makes a good news producer?

There’s no shortcut to success. You have to start from the depends on the situation. bottom and make up your way. You’ll have to take to the field, find and report news as it happens and not just sit in a What do you do to unwind after a busy week at work? studio. It adds value and impact when you take to the field I head to the gym. My responsibilities as a news anchor and and report an event live on location. I look up to Anderson producer requires me to be mentally sharp and physically fit. My focus is not on getting an amazing physique like a Cooper from CNN as a role model. body builder; my health is of a higher priority. My dream goal is to be on the cover of Men’s Health Malaysia. Haha...

What are the key elements of your success?

The keys to success are planning, preparation and passion.

When you want to report on an issue or news, you need to What is your proudest moment so far? Why? do research beforehand so you can plan out your script and My proudest moment in the local scene was when I was the the right angles for the story. You also need to focus and recipient of the Broadcast Journalist of the year 2014 award stick to deadlines, as well as prepare fallback plans if your which was conferred by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd initial one doesn’t work out. You also need to have passion Najib Tun Abdul Razak himself. On the international front, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves and finish a job, it was when I was selected to represent the Malaysia media twice at the United Nations Economic and Social Comeven if you’re called in to work on your off days. mission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.

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THE WORD

The internet is a vast fountain of information. As a news anchor and opinion leader, how do you decipher fact from fiction?

The Internet is a massive resource of knowledge. As part of an IT savvy generation, you should understand an issue thoroughly and authenticate the source it came from before using it. Unfortunately, what is happening now is that some individuals are taking information without doing any research beforehand to ascertain its accuracy and quoting it as fact. As a wise netizen, you must be ethical and responsible in how you use the Internet and information obtained from it.

News in this day and age can be reported in a matter of minutes on social media. What do you think of the role of citizen reporters and how technology allows everyone and everyone to report news as it happens?

It’s a fantastic thing. Citizen reporters can report news that more conservative media find difficult to cover and can cover events immediately as they happen. Even so, citizen journalists ought to be aware of and practice ethical, factually based journalism and be aware of the 5W1H concept (Where, Why, What, When, Who, and How). An example of this is a citizen reporter covering a car crash. It’s fine to cover the crash, but it’s too sensitive to take pictures of the victims.

What are the key concerns you have in conveying important information to the public? What role does the media have to protect public interest and the truth?

The mass media has a critical role to play indeed. Information can go viral easily and affect public perception of an issue. As a media practitioner, it’s critical to report based on verified and accurate facts. Unfortunately, social media is occasionally misused by irresponsible individuals, so you must be extremely careful. This is especially important for media practitioners when using and conveying information on social media like Twitter, WhatsApp, and Facebook, lest their posts be factually inaccurate or conveys the wrong context. Social media has an immense impact on public perception and has to be used responsibly.

AMIN’S TOP APP PICKS

As a news producer, Amin needs to be able to share and disseminate information to a huge audience and his colleagues on the fly. Here are his top four indispensable app picks for when he’s on the job.

YouTube

for iOS and Android

The fastest and most efficient way to share videos of news coverage with viewers around the globe.

CNN

Instagram

for iOS and Android

for iOS and Android

I get breaking news as it happens worldwide straight from the Cable News Network via this handy app.

If you need to share images with your fans and followers, it’s hard to beat Instagram for speed.

Check out www.instagram.com/ amintv9 for more pictures of my work

Avid MediaCentral | UX For iOS

This invaluable app allows a newscaster to write news scripts straight off a smartphone, review content and browse media straight from the field.

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CONNECTED

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

It’s a rare thing to be able to indulge in your passion and help the underprivileged but cyclist Muhammad Adeeb did that and much more on an epic journey of self-discovery and charity ...

S

ick Siders was started in pursuit of a dream. My friends and I shared a similar passion to expand our horizons and explore new places, peoples, and cultures, as well as the desire to raise awareness about refugees and the poor. Sick Siders was founded to pursue these two dreams.

My fellow Sick Siders and I started our journey in England in early 2014. We dubbed our mission the “Journey to Homeland by SSMY” and cycled across 22 different countries from England to Malaysia, covering 29,000 kilometres over the course of 17 months while making live updates across social media. We shared our experiences on the road, including the joys and the hardships we went through, as well as highlighting the plight of refugees and the homeless.

Our journey was not without hardship. It was so cold once that I nearly got frostbite. I could barely feel my fingers and asked myself why I put myself through this. I steeled myself to face to whatever would happen and left fate in God’s hands. I encountered astounding things as well. I met a dog which we named Ohrid while in Macedonia. He begged for some food. I gave him some and thought that was the end of it, but the fellow followed us for the next 8 days across nearly 200km. He would have kept going if not for him hurting his paw which made him unable to keep up with us. The toughest part was hugging him and bidding him goodbye, as we had to press on with our journey. The memory of Ohrid was unforgettable.

Even across the long roads and cold nights, I still kept in touch with friends, family and fans who were following my journey. Keeping in touch is easier than before with social media though you have to be savvy to manage your bills and stay connected. We saved on roaming charges by doing our research. If we’re in a country for a short time, we just buy a day pass SIM card. This helps avoid a lot of worry about racking up a huge phone bill when using roaming. We also carried multiple power banks to keep our devices charged.

Most times though, we basked in the moment and did not stay glued to a phone. When you go travelling, you have to bear in mind that it’s not a race, it’s a journey. It was an amazing experience every step of the way. My fellow Sick Siders and I learned a lot over the course of our travels. If I given the chance do it all over again, I’d gladly do it in a heartbeat.

“The tough part was hugging him and bidding him goodbye as we had to press on with our journey.”

Muhammad Adeeb

LIVING VICAROUSLY

Catch a glimpse of some of the wondrous spectacles that the Sick Siders experienced on their epic journey. For more videos and details, visit their website at www.ssmy.co.uk, Facebook at www.facebook.com/sicksidersmalaysia and Twitter at twitter. com/SICKSDRSMY

Ascending the Mountain

This clip was taken when we climbed the Alps.

It took two days to ascend the 2,756 metres, but the view was worth it. bit.ly/1m7Nz50 10 10

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Warm Memories

Three and a Half Men

We enjoyed a memorable Ramadhan at my step A person can learn a lot from man’s best friend. family’s place in Labunishta, Macedonia. It is one Ohrid the dog taught me about seizing the of my most cherished memories. bit.ly/1U7eVT5 moment and following your heart. bit.ly/1JxOn85

ISSUE OF THE QUARTER

A View To a Thrill – Watching Malaysian TV on your mobile

The best things in life do come free. Check out these free options which allow you to enjoy some of the best in Malaysian TV on your smartphone or mobile.

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he traditional model of the whole family clustering around a TV watching a show on prime time hasn’t totally disappeared in Malaysia, although how TV is enjoyed has changed over the years. Back in the day, a favourite show only appeared once a week at a certain time. If you weren’t able to catch it, you were out of luck.

That was where vintage VCR recorders came into play as they were able to record content – sadly with a ton of commercials in between them – for later viewing. Cable TV attempted to solve this conundrum somewhat by repeating content twice a day so that audiences could enjoy it even if they kept different hours or simply wanted to watch it twice.

The problem is that you still need to sit in front of a TV at a certain time, though timeshift recording devices such as TiVo have been introduced as stopgap solutions. The remaining choices were DVDs or Blu-ray discs, though these shiny discs cost a fortune.

Fast forward to today and the game has changed considerably. We enjoy the increasingly widespread prevalence of Internet-capable smart devices with bigger and sharper displays and the ability to stream content without necessarily adhering to a fixed schedule. People are increasingly getting their telly fix on their smartphone or tablet whenever and wherever they want it.

While there are plenty of ‘view on demand’ options to be had both locally and internationally, only a scant few among them are actually free with decent content. Nor are there any that actually feature any Malaysian content of note. Even fewer offer superficially Malaysian options such as local news and soap operas, music and other distinctive services.

Enter these TV streaming apps for your smartphone or tablet, encompassing the definitive experience for Malaysian telly for your smartphone and mobile in a more portable format.

RTM Mobile

Free for iOS and Android www.rtm.gov.my

One of Malaysia’s oldest TV channels has finally made the digital leap with this app that streams a live feed of the TV1, TV2 and Tvi terrestrial TV channels, offers a stream of local music videos off the Musik Aktif channel, and shows a live video feed when Parliament is in session. It also lets you stream a host of local radio channels too, like Nasional FM, Radio Klasik, and more.

Tonton

Free for iOS and Android with in-app purchases www.tonton.com.my

This app gives you access to content from local free-to-air TV channels TV3, 8TV, ntv7, and TV9 as well as a selection of sports channels, the Bananana cartoon channel, and an eclectic mix of themed channels like Tonton Chinese, Tonton Korean, and the Tonton Learn education channel. Most channels are streamed live and free, though there’s also premium content on offer that you can watch for a nominal fee.

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APPZONE

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You Are Here: 4 Great Offline Map Apps

magine this likely scenario: You’re out on holiday overseas or outdoors in an area with no cell reception and need to find an address, whether a restaurant, mall, or somewhere you’re not entirely familiar with. Bring a map, you say? It’s 2015 and no one carts around a map made of dead trees any more. Well then, what’s a SHOUT! reader to do? Whip out your smart app, of course. Check out these four awesome offline map navigation apps which help you get where you need to go without the need for a data connection.

Maps.Me

Free for iOS and Android maps.me

This offline map app has downloadable maps for every country in the world, including some of the most obscure islands on the planet (Socorro Island, anyone?) down to the street level. Maps come complete with street routing and popular points of interest, all of which are searchable offline. However, it lacks voice navigation and can only create routes from your current location. Otherwise, it’s a solid app.

HERE Maps

Free for iOS and Android www.here.com

HERE Maps offers turn-by-turn voice navigation that integrates driving routes and walking paths for all but the most obscure locations. The maps available offer points of interest, though public transport routes are not very comprehensive. Pathing is useful if you’re driving. It also has the ‘Glympse’ function, which lets selected friends track your progress on your journey.

Sygic

Free with in-app purchases for iOS and Android www.sygic.com

The free version is an otherwise decent offline map app, though you’ll have to pay quite a bit to unlock additional options such as turn-by-turn navigation and voice instructions. Core functions in the basic free version, like offline maps and route planning, are on the house. Of note is the ability to navigate based on geotagged photos and a handy mode which points out nearby parking.

MapFactor Navigator

Free for Android www.mapfactor.com

This free offline map navigation app has a lot going for it, considering that it’s free. It has monthly map updates that are based on the open-sourced OpenStreetMap project. It features voice navigation, 2D and 3D maps, and a surprisingly well-updated points of interest database. The user interface is somewhat clunky and it’s a bit slow when rendering maps, but it’s still worth a look.

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Q 4 2015 2 014 Q3

DIGITAL LIFE

Crowdfunding 101 - Hopping on the crowdfunding bandwagon

Crowdfunding allows anyone to solicit funds and investors be it for a product, a cause, or anything in between, but what you see may not necessarily be what you get...

W

hile the idea of crowdfunding isn’t exactly new, only recently has it become mainstream after several high-profile projects were successfully funded on crowdfunding websites. Within the last few years, projects such as the Android-powered Ouya game console, the Pebble smartwatch, and the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset have debuted.

For the uninitiated, crowdfunding sites potentially allow any entrepreneur to solicit funding from anyone with an Internet connection, rather than going through the usual avenue of getting a bank loan. To encourage backers to invest more, crowdfunding sites offer tiered rewards: the more you give, the bigger the rewards you get. Rewards are usually goods or services, such as an early or limited edition version of the product or a meeting with the product creators. While the most popular crowdfunding sites follow this model, more niche crowdfunding platforms exist which cater to investors seeking a return on their investment as well as those with purely charitable concerns. Note that you’re not buying a product or a service in advance on a crowdfunding site, though it might seem like it. You’re essentially giving a donation in exchange for promised future rewards. Barring certain circumstances, this is usually nonrefundable.

For every successful project that gets funded and reaches the market, there are a half a dozen others that fail, like the Zano drone, a palm-sized, smartphone controlled aerial photography drone whose manufacturer declared bankruptcy after raising a whopping £2.3 million in funding earlier this year. Backers were left out in the cold with no recourse for getting what they paid for, making this just one of dozens of other projects that have fallen by the wayside. The onus is on the backer – you – to determine if a project is worth funding. That means doing your homework, checking a project’s credentials and determining whether the project’s creators can pull it off before ponying up the cash.

With that in mind, crowdfunding sites are a thrilling way to get a pulse on the cutting edge of what’s trending culturally and technologically. While you don’t necessarily have to donate huge amounts – even a dollar will do – what matters is that you can make a difference by backing projects you believe in and influencing the outcome in a small yet significant manner.

Happy crowdfunding!

Check Out These Crowdfunding Sites

www.kickstarter.com www.indiegogo.com www.pitchin.my www.rockethub.com www.gofundme.com

Crowdfunding Tips!

New to crowdfunding? Check out these tips to get started.

Do Your Homework Check the background of the project creators and of any previous projects. Proceed with caution if they don’t have a track record or if they have a history of failed projects.

Do They Communicate?

See how the project creator’s handle feedback and how often they post updates. If updates are infrequent or poorly done, this should ring alarm bells.

Understand the Rules Different crowdfunding sites have different rules concerning funding. Some, like Kickstarter, don’t take your pledge if the set funding total isn’t reached.

Shipping Costs More If you’re pledging for a product, be prepared to pay more than your initial pledge as you have to factor in shipping to Malaysia and possible taxes from Customs.

QQ3 4 22015 014

1313 9

HANDS-ON

THE HELP DESK

LETTER OF THE QUARTER

Surfing Woes

Q

I’m currently on a contract which includes a data plan with a telco. Despite forking out my fees every month for both voice and data on my contract, I am not able to surf the Internet or get a data connection at all, at any time day or night in the area I am staying.

I’ve checked my smartphone with the manufacturer and it’s in perfect working order. I’m at my wits end, as I can make voice calls, but without the ability to use data I’m simply wasting money on my contract.

This state of affairs is very frustrating and despite numerous complaints, my telco has been unable to resolve the problem. Please help.

Anna

A

We’ve investigated your problem and have determined that the area you are located in only receives 2G service from your telco. Unfortunately, your telco gave us no timeline for when they will upgrade their services to cover your area beyond basic voice connectivity. We would suggest porting your number to another telco provider who has better coverage in your area. Before porting, please call the new telco’s service staff and get confirm whether they provide 3G service or better in your area.

Got a problem? Write to us!

Do you have a query, concern or dispute regarding your fixed line, mobile, Internet, TV or radio service? Write in to the Consumer Forum of Malaysia at aduan@cfm.org.my. The best letters and our solutions will be shared here at the Help Desk so that readers can understand more about their rights as consumers.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA CONSUMER FORUM OF MALAYSIA

14

Q3 2015

*Letter have been edited for grammar and clarity

Hapless Helpline

Q

I am currently living overseas in New Zealand and have a postpaid line with a local Malaysian service provider. As I don’t use it often but want to maintain the number, I wanted to convert my number to a prepaid line. I thought it would be a fairly simple process, but I was wrong.

I have called the service hotline at my expense from New Zealand numerous times, but was constantly passed around with no actual resolution to my request at all, instead hearing all manner of excuses. I just want my phone number converted to a prepaid line. Is that too hard to ask? Why is my service provider stonewalling and denying me this simple request?

Sidney

A

We have contacted the service provider on your behalf and successfully converted your phone number to a prepaid one. We have also advised your service provider to improve on their customer service, regardless of where their customers are.

Unwanted Messages

Q

I have been getting a lot of unsolicited SMS with bizarre messages from two short code numbers.

I’ve never subscribed to any SMS service before in my life.

When I checked my postpaid bill, I discovered that each and every message from the two numbers was charged to my mobile phone account. I’ve incurred RM60 on my bill from these unwanted SMS, even though I never signed up for them at all.

I made a formal complaint to my service provider and want my money back but no action has been taken yet.

Amar

A

You made the right move by reporting this discrepancy in your postpaid account to your service provider. After getting in touch with your service provider, they’ve reported that the two short codes that have been sending unsolicited SMS to your account have been deactivated from your mobile number. RM60 has been credited to your next monthly bill.

Q 4 2 014

15

-English version

-Bahasa Melayu

do you know? adakah anda tahu?

As a responsible consumer, get to know the right channels for addressing your complaints. Different agencies and authorities are appointed based on different type of services. Jurisdiction empowered to these agencies are also limited. So, be savvy and save time by complaining correctly.

Sebagai pengguna yang bertanggungjawab, ketahui saluran yang betul untuk menangani aduan anda. Pelbagai agensi dan pihak berkuasa yang berlainan dilantik berdasarkan jenis perkhidmatan.

Bidang kuasa untuk agensi-agensi ini juga terhad. Jadi, fahami dan jimatkan masa anda dengan melaporkan aduan kepada saluran yang betul.

The COP stands for Complaint Online Portal which is a self-managed complaint portal designed to allow you the consumer to monitor for yourself the status of your complaint, looked at or responded to by cers. It gives you a transparent access to the status of your complaint.

TheCOP COPmerujuk stands forkepada Complaint Online Portal whichPortal is a Complaint Online di mana portal aduan self-managed complaint portal diuruskan sendiri direka designed to allow you the untuktomembenarkan consumer monitor for yourself pengguna the status of youruntuk complaint, melaporkan status aduan anda, sama ada fail anda lookeddisemak at or responded to by telah atau dikenal cers. It aduan. gives youIa pasti oleh pegawai a transparent access to the memberi anda laluan telus status status of youraduan complaint. kepada anda.

Get help from customer service / DAPATKAN BANTUAN DARIPADA PERKHIDMATAN PELANGGAN FREE TO AIR TV /

PAY TV / TV BERBAYAR

TELECOMMUNICATIONS / TELEKOMUNIKASI

SIARAN TV PERCUMA Media Prima Berhad

Calls to 1300-111-000 from your Celcom numbers Dial 1111 if you’re calling from your Celcom mobile https://www.celcom.com.my https://www.celcom.com. my/personal/helpsupport/ contactus/contactus-form

Hotline: 1-800-82-1123 Or dial 123 from your Maxis mobile.

International calls: +60374922123 Fax: +603-7492-2950 http://www.maxis.com.my http://www.hotlink.com.my

+6016-2211-800 http://www.digi.com.my/ custsvc@digi.com.my

Hotline +6018-388-1318 / UM1318 customer.service.@u.com.my

+6018-333-0000 yescare@yes.my

Dial 13100 or +603 2772 0000 customer.care@tunetalk.com

+6018-0011-0800 careline@redone.com.my www.redone.com.my https://www.facebook.com/ RED1Mobile

+603 2161 9032 care@mmode.com.my

+6018-0018-1818 +603-5021-2122 (Oversea) customerservice@time.com.my

+603- 2613 3888 or dail 13388 from Altel line http://www.altel.my/

TM Call Center: 100 (Malaysia) 1-300-888-123 (mobile) +603-2241-1290 (Overseas) UniFi Call Center: 1-300-88-1222 (pre sales) 1-300-88-1221 (current subscribers) help@tm.my

1-300-03-1300 +603-8800-8888 (kl) +604-722-8888 (penang) +605-811-8888 (perak) +606-733-8888 (melaka) +607-293-8888 (JB) +609-293-8888 (kuantan) http://www.p1.com.my/ http://www.p1.com.my/ customercare/form/ careline@p1.com.my

1-300-888-010 from Malaysia 12273 from XOX mobile +603-7962 8000 from abroad

+603-9543 3838 wecare@astro.my

+603-2303 4988 http://www.buzzme.com.my /content/default https://www.buzzme.com.my /content/contact-us

Call 1-300-88-1222 Call 100 (Malaysia)

+603-7832 6081 info@symphonet.com.my

Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia (Bernama) support@bernama-tv.com

+603-9543-8888 webmaster@era.fm

+609-624-1008 (Conty) +609-626-2255 (Office) admin@manis.fm

al hijrahmedia corporati0n

TV AL Hijrah (TWAH) +603-226-01600 info@tvalhijrah.com

RADIO BERNAMa RADIO24 1-300-800-188 for local +603-6275 8233 for overseas (10am – 7pm daily) cs@tron.com.my

+603-80616140 im4uradio@im4u.my

+603-7885-1188 (Office) +603-7710-3988 (Hotline) feedback@988.com.my

+603-9543-8888 webmaster@hitz.fm

HUSA NETWORK SDN. BHD.

Nat Seven TV Sdn. Bhd. (NTV7) +603-7726-8777 feedback@ntv7.com.my

Tel: +6019-388-0632 (Joe) Tel: +6016-915-8281 (Sandra) aduan@mmcp.org.my

+603-7710-8822 (Studio) +603-7710-5022 (Office)

+603-9543-8888 webmaster@sinar.fm

Ch-9 Media Sdn Bhd (TV9) +603-7726-6333 contactus@altmedia.my

Asian Broadcasting Network (M) Sdn. Bhd. (ABN) Tel: +603-8947-0222 http://www.abnxcess.com/ http://www.abnxcess.com/enquiry/ cust.service@abnxcess.com

+603-9543-8888 webmaster@my.com.my

+603-7724-1144 (studio) +603-7710-5022 (office)

Metropolitan TV Sdn Bhd (8TV) +603-7726-6333(Alt Media) +603-7728-8282(8TV) contactus@altmedia.my chinese@8tv.com.my 8tv.urban@gmail.com

eTV Holding Sdn Bhd (eTV) +6018-0087-9993 http://www.etv.my/etv/ index_en.html info@etv.my

star rfm sdn. bhd.

+603 7885-1885 digital@red.fm

Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3) +603-7726-6333 contactus@altmedia.my

+603-7710-0110 (studio) +603-7710-5022 (office) SUARA JOHOR SDN. BHD.

+607-333-1041 (Studio) +607-331-4104 (Office)

+603-2692-7939 +603-9543-8888 br24@radio24.com.my webmaster@litefm.com.my

CAPITAL FM SDN. BHD.

+603-7885-1885 (Office) +603-7885-1188 (Office) +603-7733-5757 (Studio) INSTITUT KEFAHAMAN ISLAM MALAYSIA

+603-7724-2115 (Studio) +603-7885-1188 (Office)

+603-6204-6200 info@ikimfm.my

BFM MEDIA SDN.BHD

KRISTAL HARTA SDN. BHD.

+603-2035-5900

+608-231-1799

+603-9543-8888 webmaster@thr.fm

+603-9543-8888 webmaster@melody.com.my

+603-9543-8888 webmaster@xfm.com.my

+603-9543-8888 webmaster@mix.fm

MEMBERS OF CFM

MEMBERS OF CFM

18

Q 4 2 014

SUPPLY SIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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3.

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7.

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15.

Altel Communications Sdn Bhd Celcom Axiata Berhad DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) Malaysian Mobile Content Providers Association (MMCPA) Maxis Mobile Services Sdn Bhd *Merchantrade Asia Sdn Bhd *M-Mode Mobile Sdn Bhd Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd (Green Packet Berhad) Red ONE Network Sdn Bhd Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) TIME dotCom Berhad Tunetalk Sdn Bhd U Mobile Sdn Bhd *XOX Com Sdn Bhd YTL Communications Sdn Bhd

16.

17.

18.

19.

Astro Radio Sdn Bhd Asian Broadcasting Network (ABN) Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd (ASTRO) Sistem Televisyen (M) Bhd (TV3)

1.

2.

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Consumer Association of Miri (CAM) Malaysian Consumers Association (MACONAS) National Council Women’s Organization Malaysia (NCWO) Persatuan Ekonomi Pengguna & Keluarga Malaysia (MACFEA) Persatuan Kebajikan Pengguna Johor (JCWA) Persatuan Kebajikan Pengguna Melaka Persatuan Keselamatan Pengguna Kuala Lumpur (PKPKL) Persatuan Pelindung Pengguna Kelantan (PELINDUNG) Persatuan Pelindung Pengguna Pulau Pinang (PCPA) Persatuan Pemilik-Pemilik Telefon Bimbit Malaysia (PERBIT) Persatuan Pengguna Daerah Kuala Terengganu (PPDKT) Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) Persatuan Pengguna Kedah (CAKE) *Persatuan Pengguna Komunikasi & Media Malaysia (PEKOMA) Persatuan Pengguna Melaka Tengah (PPMT) Persatuan Pengguna Negeri Sembilan (NESCA) Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP)

BROADCASTING

DEMAND SIDE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION