Facebook demographics

How many users are there on Facebook?

Based on the results from the Facebook Flyers targeting feature, there are over 45 million users. 37% of these users are outside North America (USA & Canada).

Here's a snapshot of an analysis that I just completed. Flyers currently covers targeting for 31 countries, excluding some notable social network havens such as Hong Kong, Philippines (Friendster) and Brazil (Orkut).



Further analysis to follow.

I'll be back

Rest assured, your browser's reload / refresh button is not broken.

I'll be taking a blogging break for the next 2 weeks. Something is brewing =)

In the meantime, don't forget to check out the new posts from my friends, buddies and pals

GENG: possibly the best made-in-Malaysia movie

Check out the trailer of the upcoming 3d animated movie, Geng. You will be impressed.



Click the poster above, or visit this link to view the trailer: http://youtubemalaysia.com/?v=UXuDfMXRd9A

Startup tip: Live on the edge!

Jason Fried of 37signals answers the question: "Will you ever hire more people?"

Absolutely. We could use another person or two right now, but we also like feeling the stretch. The edge is where you are forced to be creative. It's where your decisions are sharper and more informed. You make calls because you have to, not because they are convenient. "We can't do this right now because that is more important." Being at the limit forces you to think about value and we think that's a great place to be.

(*p/s: reminder for myself when I get back into the fray -- can't wait!)

Maybank ROMPAK bonus pekerja

Spotted outside Maybank in Bangsar, earlier this morning. Someone's obviously unhappy about something. The sticker is in Malay, and translates to: "Maybank robbed their employees bonuses"

To infinity & beyond

Just noticed that my total storage on Gmail has been bumped up to 3.4GB That's as much space as I had on my hard drive back in 1998. Thank you Google!

If the GOS report is true, then we're likely to see more storage in the coming months:

Gmail will increase the free storage gradually in the next days. On October 23, you'll get 4321 MB of storage, then the growth will slow down until January 4, when you'll have 6283 MB of storage. From January 4, you'll receive 3.3 MB every day, that's 10 times bigger than the current rate of growth.

Keeping track of blog comments

How do you keep track of comments on blogs? Visiting each one individually to see if there's something new is time consuming.

Fortunately, there are solutions.

I've been using Commentful, and it does a great job. It tells me when a new comment has been added, and works very nicely with Firefox.

Check it out: How to use Commentful.

Right brain or Left brain?

Which one are you?

If you see the dancer turning clockwise, then you probably use more of the right side of the brain. Similarly, anti-clockwise, and you're more likely to use the left-side.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling "big picture" oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy & religion can "get it" (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking

BEWARE: this may permanently re-wire your brain! I first saw the dancer spinning anti-clockwise, but have since been able to see her spinning both ways.

Source: The Daily Telegraph. Also check out the ABC forum for views and frustrations about the illusion.

Really achieving your childhood dreams

This has been one of the most inspiring videos I've watched this year. If you don't have time for the video, read the transcript (PDF).



Computer Science Professor, Randy Pausch, has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He gave his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University on September 18. The impact of his illness, is quantified with the following summary on his website:

In August of 2007, we learned that the cancer had returned, having metastasized to my liver and spleen, which is a death sentence. At that time, the doctors gave me an estimate of having 3-6 months of healthy living left.

My wife Jai has been an incredible source of stability and courage through all this. We both agree that "you can't control the cards you're dealt, just how you play the hand."

As Techcrunch puts it:

He gives excellent advice on how to live your life and achieve your most outrageous dreams. It's a must see for entrepreneurs, and really anyone looking for a refresher course on living life to achieve your maximum creative potential.

My favourite quotes from the video:
On giving everything a shot:

Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted

On setbacks:

So that was a bit of a setback. But remember, the brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.

Where does a SysAdmin go after work?

127.0.0.1

If you laughed, then there's definitely a geek in you. Smile for the camera!

If you thought that was a typo, point here. You're not alone.

This was the winning entry in the OpenDNS SysAdmin Challenge No. 3

Top 20 Facebook apps

As of October 5, 2007:

1. Top Friends (Slide)
2. FunWall (Slide)
3. Super Wall (RockYou!)
4. SuperPoke! (Slide)
5. Video (Facebook)
6. X Me (RockYou!)
7. iLike
8. Movies
9. Graffiti
10. Likeness (RockYou!)
11. My Questions (Slide)
12. Quizzes
13. Mobile (Facebook)
14. Free Gifts
15. Booze Mail
16. Compare People
17. Honesty Box
18. (fluff)Friends
19. Vampires
20. Scrabulous

Stats compiled by O'Reilly Media. Download the top 200 (Excel). Also read the Techcrunch analysis.

*p/s: Ranga, Vicky - please stop bashing each other up in the Fighters' Club!

Look & feel

Spruced up this blog over the weekend. Long overdue. Hopefully it's easier on the eyes now.

What do you think?

The best way to design Excel charts

If you've resolved 300 billion requests without downtime, you better be jumping about it!

Click the image to view it in its original size, or read the OpenDNS article about their recent achievement.



I've enjoyed reading both the OpenDNS blog and their newsletters (pity, it's not archived). They're doing a really good job at keeping the community active and participative. Bravo, guys!

By the way, if you haven't already started using OpenDNS, get started now.

Ahmad Fuad Osman

My buddy, Farid, recently designed the website for one of Malaysia's top artists, Ahmad Fuad Osman.



Point to:
http://www.ahmadfuadosman.com

Bro, nice work (as usual!) - refreshing interface and experience.

Nokia's anti-iPhone posters

Source: FierceWireless

A dream can only become reality if you chase it

What a powerful line! Here's the Lewis Hamilton + Vodafone ad that Prashant highlighted:


Go ahead, make the most of now!

Beyonce = Irreplaceable

Beyonce has canceled her Kuala Lumpur show.

No points for guessing why.

Excerpt from the Yahoo! news feed:

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Beyonce Knowles has scrapped plans to stage her first concert in Muslim-majority Malaysia and will instead perform in neighboring Indonesia.

International Creative Management, her Los Angeles-based talent agency, said Knowles' Nov. 1 date in Kuala Lumpur was canceled "due to a scheduling conflict."

The announcement followed recent speculation that Knowles — who is famous for her sexy image and skimpy outfits — was reluctant to fulfill the Malaysian government's demand for female performers to cover up from the top of their chests to their knees, including their shoulders.

Indonesia, also Muslim, has less stringent rules about how performers should dress and behave.

Malaysia is missing out for sad reasons. Beyonce's Irreplaceable lyrics definitely strikes the chord:

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be be here in a minute

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
Don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

The Nokia 6300 is a can of worms!

What's the point of using a camera phone when you can't take landscape shots by default?

Just realised this on my Nokia 6300. If I had known earlier, I would have opted for something else. Bummer.

Excerpt from MobileBurn:

As there is not a dedicated camera key, users will have to use the 6300's 2MP camera in a portrait orientation. This makes it slightly less comfortable to use, unlike other handsets where users can hold the device in a landscape orientation just like how they would use a normal camera.

Have you tried this?

Bumped into it in Bangsar's Mak Koh Restaurant. Haven't been brave enough to try it though.

Did Maxis rip the idea?

You would have probably noticed the recent string of Maxis Broadband ads. It's appeared in several newspapers as well as their website.

Here's a gist of the ads, screen captured from the Maxis website:





Nice?

Now, have a look at these print ads by Microsoft:







The We See campaign by Microsoft has been around for over a year. In fact, they've even got TV ads to go with it:



("Your Potential, Our Passion": Makes you love Microsoft, doesn't it?)

People "borrow ideas" all the time, so this is NOT a crime. It's just not as original as it seems. (PS: It's time to change)