Friday, March 20, 2020

Yoodo provides free weekly additional 1GB data plan until end April 2020

Currently, Malaysia is undergoing a Movement Control Order (MCO) to prevent the widespread infection of COVID-19 corona virus. Most people are ordered to work from home.

In view of this, Yoodo has announced to provide free additional 1GB data plan on every Monday to all their active users. This free additional 1GB data is given automatically, and users need not do any setting to enjoy the free data.


The first additional 1GB data has been allocated on Friday 20 March 2020. Thereafter, on every Monday of every week until 27 April 2020, active users will automatically get another additional 1GB data in their plan.

Note that if you did not subscribe to any Yoodo data plan during the period, you will still get this free 1GB data as long as your account is still active. However, the 1GB data will not be seen in your Yoodo app's dashboard.

If you have an active data plan, you will be able to see 1GB added on top of your remaining data quota in the dashboard screen. However, the 1GB free data will not be added to your total data plan value.


In the example above, the active data plan is 2GB, and 0.03 GB has already been used. The remaining is 1.97GB. Then, the additional 1GB is added, so the remaining is now 2.97GB instead.


Unifi Mobile #bebas prepaid provides 7 days FREE unlimited LTE data pass during 2020 Malaysia Movement Control Order period

Currently, Malaysia is undergoing a Movement Control Order (MCO) to prevent the widespread infection of COVID-19 corona virus. Most people are ordered to work from home.

Unifi Mobile has just announced that they are providing a 7 days FREE unlimited LTE data pass to all their  #bebas prepaid users.



Note that this 7 days FREE unlimited LTE data pass, namely BEBAS Weekly, is not given automatically, and you have to subscribe to it from within the mobile@unifi app.

All you need to do is to tap on the BUY NOW! button at the bottom of the screen, go to the Data menu, and select BEBAS Weekly at the price of RM0.


I believe after 7 days, when this free data pass is expired, you can go to the same place and subscribe for another 7 days, until this option is eventually revoked from the menu.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Huawei Watch GT 2 46mm (LTN-B19) and 42mm (DAN-B19)

Recently, 2 smart watches have entered into my family life, one for my wife and another for myself.


Due to the size difference, the larger, 46mm Huawei Watch GT 2 (LTN-B19) is more suitable for gentlemen, while the smaller, 42mm Huawei Watch GT 2 (DAN-B19) is more suitable for ladies.

There are a lot of similarities in terms of features and functions between the 2 of them. However, the Huawei Watch GT 2 46mm is slightly more expensive than the 42mm version. Other than a larger screen size, the Huawei Watch GT 2 46mm (LTN-B19) contains several features more than the 42mm version. The key differences are:
  • 46mm LTN-B19 (41 gram) is 30% heavier than the 42mm DAN-B19 (29 gram).
  • 46mm LTN-B19 has a slightly wider strap (22mm) than the 42mm DAN-B19 (20mm).
  • 46mm LTN-B19 has longer battery life (typically 14 days) than the 42mm DAN-B19 (typically 7 days).
  • 46mm LTN-B19 supports making phone calls through favourite contacts list and also receiving incoming phone calls, while the 42mm DAN-B19 doesn't have this feature.
  • 46mm LTN-B19 can play music on the watch itself as well as through connected ear buds, while 42mm DAN-B19 does not have built-in speaker to play music on the watch itself, but able to play music through connected ear buds.
The Huawei Watch GT 2 is more than a smart watch. When connected to a smartphone with Bluetooth and working together with the Huawei Health mobile app, you will realize that it can function as a personal digital coach for health, exercise and lifestyle.

Its basic functions as a smart watch including:
  • Time and calendar
  • MP3 music player
  • Barometer
  • Compass
  • Make and receive phone calls (46mm version only)
  • SMS and notifications sync from smartphone
  • Weather reporting
  • Stopwatch
  • Timer
  • Alarm
  • Flashlight
  • Find my phone
  • Monitoring and recording of steps, heart rates, calorie burning, etc.
  • Workout recording
In terms of MP3 music, it can play music streamed from the connected smartphone, or play music directly stored in its storage. For 46mm version, the watch can play the music by itself. Both 46mm and 42mm versions can play the music with connected ear buds. It supports MP3 information written in Chinese.




For the coaching functions, this smart watch can work together with Huawei Health mobile app to provide comprehensive report about your night sleep quality with improvement suggestion.


The watch can also vibrate and remind you to move your body when you are detected to be sitting at the same place for a long time.

It can continuously monitor your heart rate and alert you when your heart rate is too high or too low.

It can also monitor and provide report to your stress level.


It has comprehensive work-out programmes, able to record down your body condition during exercise, and come out with work-out report and coaching advice.

When connected to a digital weighting scale, it can also monitor your weight change and provide advice accordingly.

There is even a simple breathing exercise to guide you to breath and relax.

One thing I want to emphasize is that, its sensors and data measurements are more accurate than most of the cheaper smartwatches and smart bands in the market.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Upgraded Honda City stock Goodyear Excellence 185/55R16 tyres to Michelin Energy XM2 Plus

The stock Goodyear Excellence 185/55R16 tyres of my Honda City had worn out by 70%, and I had shortlisted the following 3 models as their replacement:

  • Michelin Energy XM2 Plus
  • Goodyear Assurance Triplemax 2
  • Continental UltraContact UC6
Before I was able to made up my mind, one of my tyres was found to have a nail poked in it, so I was forced to replace them a little bit earlier than my planned date.

The tyre shop informed me that they didn't have stock that fit with the wheel size of my car for some of the brands, and I ended up taking Michelin Energy XM2 Plus to be the replacement.


When looking for new tyre, I look for the following 4 criteria: cost, comfort, performance and lifespan.

Cost

This Michelin Energy XM2 Plus costed me RM200 each (including installation), which is within my budget.

There are of course better tyres with higher cost, which are beyond my selection.

Comfort

This Michelin Energy XM2 Plus is apparently softer than the stock Goodyear Excellent. The car is now less stiff when crossing road bumps, and also less road noise produced when running on the road, especially on cemented road.

Performance

Handling and traction is pretty good. Braking is very responsive. I haven't tried braking on water surface yet, as there is still no raining since I changed the tyres.

Lifespan

This tyre is made with full silica thread compound, which is said to have longer lifespan than rubber tyres. It is advertised to be able to last for over 100,000km mileage. Michelin provides a 6 years manufacturer warranty to it.

This means that as long as it is not poked by nail or damaged by accident, I can expect to use it for many years.

All in all, I am pretty satisfied with this Michelin Energy XM2 Plus tyre. It is value for money and performing up to expectation.


Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Boost x Prudential free special COVID-19 life insurance coverage

Boost e-wallet has just launched a "Boost Cares for you" campaign to provide free special COVID-19 life insurance coverage by Prudential, made available to Boost Premium e-wallet users who enrolled for it in their app.

This free COVID-19 insurance coverage is eligible to Boost users who are:

  • having Premium e-wallet with verified personal details.
  • aged between 18 to 55.
  • limited to the first 200,000 enrolments only.
The coverage will start from the date of successful enrolment until 30 April 2020. The coverage is funded by Boost and free for members who successfully signed up for this campaign.

To sign up, open Boost app, then tap on the Boost (second) icon on the top menu, tap on More, scroll down the page to Insurance section, and select COVID-19 with the Prudential logo. Then, accept the terms & conditions and submit for processing.



The coverage of this special COVID-19 life insurance include:
  • RM1,000 payout to your family upon death (all death reasons are covered, except suicide)
  • RM5,000 coverage upon diagnosis of COVID-19


You will be entitled to this coverage despite having an existing medical condition.

For existing Prudential insurance policy holders, if you are already covered for the special RM5,000 COVID-19 coverage under Prudential insurance, you cannot claim double with the COVID-19 coverage under this Boost campaign.


Monday, February 24, 2020

Upgraded my Bacfree BS-1 drinking water filter element from Swiss-Tech to pH-Tech

I have been using Bacfree drinking water filter for more than a decade and it is still functioning very well.

All the years, I had been using Swiss-Tech filter element, which I would replace with a new one after using it for more than a year.

This time, I decided to upgrade the filter element to pH-Tech, because I found out that there is not much price different between Swiss-Tech and Multi-Tech, and that the Multi-Tech is selling at the same price with pH-Tech.

The differences among Swiss-Tech, Multi-Tech and pH-Tech is summarized in the table below:


Basically, Multi-Tech has all the functions of Swiss-Tech, plus an additional function to remove Chloramine in the water. You can read about the danger of Chloramine to our body and health here.

Chloramine can be removed from the water by boiling it for more than 20 minutes. However, my family has been drinking water directly from the Bacfree water filter over the years!

pH-Tech has all the functions of Multi-Tech, plus additional mineral stones to make the water slightly alkaline, and convert the water into mineral water.

When I installed my Bacfree drinking water filter many years ago, Swiss-Tech was the best filter element available, and there were some other filter elements with less functions, which now Bacfree has stopped selling.

Now that I have discovered the availability of pH-Tech filter element, and its price is pretty close with Swiss-Tech, there is no doubt for me to upgrade my Bacfree filter element to pH-Tech from now onwards.

Saturday, February 22, 2020

EPF declared 5.45% (conventional) / 5.00% (shariah) dividend for 2019

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF, a.k.a. KWSP) has just declared the dividend rate for financial year 2019.

For year 2019, the dividend declared for conventional account is 5.45% while for Shariah account is 5.00%. The dividend has already credited into members' account, and you can check for it by login into your EPF i-Account.

Year 2019 was the third year of dividend declaration for Shariah account, while dividend for conventional account has been declared annually since 1952. The dividend for Shariah account in all the years from 2017 to 2019 were lower than the dividend for conventional account of the same year.


The 5.45% dividend for EPF conventional account in 2019 is 11.38% lower than the 6.15%  dividend declared for 2018 (last year).

Calculation: (5.45-6.15)/6.15 = -0.7/6.15 = -11.38%

It is 9.00% higher than the 5.00% Shariah dividend declared for the same year.

Calculation: (5.45-5.00)/5.00 = 0.45/5.00 = 9.00%

The table below shows the historical EPF dividend payout rate since 2001, for you to judge yourself whether the dividend payout rate in 2019 is satisfactory or not.



Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Auspicious dates for opening business in 2020

Here is the list of auspicious dates for opening business in year 2020, which is produced based on the Chinese almanac Tong Shu.

It can be applied to new business opening, or reopening of business after a break/holiday. (Click the image to enlarge)


Bear in mind that although the Tong Shu is a compilation of Chinese astrology and calendaring studies gathering wisdom of thousands of years, we should use it wisely and rationally, but not be too superstitious on it.

You might probably also be interested with the auspicious dates for the following occasions in year 2020:

Auspicious dates for renovation in 2020

Here is the list of auspicious dates for home or office renovation in year 2020, which is produced based on the Chinese almanac Tong Shu. (Click the image to enlarge)


Bear in mind that although the Tong Shu is a compilation of Chinese astrology and calendaring studies gathering wisdom of thousands of years, we should use it wisely and rationally, but not be too superstitious on it.

You might probably also be interested with the auspicious dates for the following occasions in year 2020:

Auspicious dates in 2020 for signing contract, register for marriage, etc.

Here is the list of auspicious dates in year 2020 for signing contract, signing offer letter, register for marriage, receiving religious baptism, and other similar agreement-related activities.

It is produced based on the Chinese almanac Tong Shu. (Click the image to enlarge)


Bear in mind that although the Tong Shu is a compilation of Chinese astrology and calendaring studies gathering wisdom of thousands of years, we should use it wisely and rationally, but not be too superstitious on it.

You might probably also be interested with the auspicious dates for the following occasions in year 2020:

Monday, February 17, 2020

Auspicious dates for marriage proposal or engagement in 2020

Before becoming the life partner, marriage is proposed by lover and engagement is made.

Here is the list of auspicious dates for marriage proposal or engagement in year 2020 (year of Rat), which is produced based on the Chinese almanac Tong Shu. (Click the image to enlarge)


Bear in mind that although the Tong Shu is a compilation of Chinese astrology and calendaring studies gathering wisdom of thousands of years, we should use it wisely and rationally, but not be too superstitious on it.

You might probably also be interested with the auspicious dates for the following occasions in year 2020:

Auspicious dates in 2020 for getting a baby / childbirth / Caesarian delivery

Here is the list of auspicious dates in 2020 (year of Rat) for getting a baby (求嗣), which is produced based on the Chinese almanac Tong Shu.

The dates have good element(s) to embro/faetus. Traditionally, the dates are referred for conception planning (making love and expecting a baby to the family). Nowadays, people also make reference to them for Caesarian delivery of new born. (Click the image to enlarge)


Bear in mind that although the Tong Shu is a compilation of Chinese astrology and calendaring studies gathering wisdom of thousands of years, we should use it wisely and rationally, but not be too superstitious on it.

You might probably also be interested with the auspicious dates for the following occasions in year 2020:

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Auspicious dates for moving to new house / office in 2020

Here is the list of auspicious dates for moving to new house/office in year 2020, which is produced based on the Chinese almanac Tong Shu. (Click the image to enlarge)


Bear in mind that although the Tong Shu is a compilation of Chinese astrology and calendaring studies gathering wisdom of thousands of years, we should use it wisely and rationally, but not be too superstitious on it.

You might probably also be interested with the auspicious dates for the following occasions in year 2020:

Auspicious dates for wedding / marriage in 2021

Many couples plan for their wedding more than 1 year ahead in order to have sufficient preparation time.

Here is the list of auspicious dates for wedding/marriage in year 2021 (year of Cow), which is produced based on the Chinese almanac Tong Shu. (Click the image to enlarge)


Bear in mind that although the Tong Shu is a compilation of Chinese astrology and calendaring studies gathering wisdom of thousands of years, we should use it wisely and rationally, but not be too superstitious on it.

If you are looking for auspicious dates for wedding / marriage in 2020 (year of Rat), click here.

Hint: Click on the "Older Posts" link to continue reading, or click here for a listing of all my past 3 months articles.