Cameras were all the talk here last week on, but all that commuting must've taken its toll on you, yes? The Local Scene's travels around our beautiful homeland have come to an end, and this week, the technology spotlight moves from photography – a form of art that comes down to careful planning and a sharp eye – to something that's become a part of all our lives, whether we realise it or not.

Smartphones have become everyone's new companion, from being our study buddies to our trusty GPS systems. All smartphones come with their very own digital store, where mobile applications – usually more simply known as apps – can be downloaded either for free or a fixed price, giving new life to the phrase "a push of a button".

Convenience these days goes far beyond simply having a calculator at hand, or being able to take crystal clear photos. Even regular users like you and I expect to have everything at the tips of our fingers, and Malaysian mobile app developers have answered their callings.

The fashion market is filled to the brim with different clothing brands sprouting like mushrooms, and it's hardly uncommon to be spoilt for choice. With this in mind, local entrepreneur Kendrick Wong built a team and an idea of creating a mobile fashion discovery portal, which ultimately took form as Shoppr.

Instead of physically paying a visit to the mall and sifting through tens of stores, users can upload photos of their daily outfits, as well as their closets, to the app's database for others to view and like, and vice versa. Imagine having one big catalogue of apparel brands from all over the world, mixed and matched with different items of clothing – pretty dandy idea, if you ask me. Who better to show off your OOTDs to, if not fellow fashion enthusiasts?

The Shoppr app features a sleek, clean interface that makes its highlight, user apparel, stand out. (Shoppr, 2015)

Fashion is, of course, important, but if it's one thing Malaysians can't go without, it's – yes, you probably guessed it – food!

Benson Chang helped out in small-time restaurants when he was younger, and the one thing he noticed was that the staff were often too busy to pick up the phone and take down bookings from callers. This was the inspiration behind his latest brainchild, TableApp.

Booking tables at any of the 120 startup restaurants (and counting) that the app has on board, without having to worry about phone calls not getting through or reservations getting lost, was the original purpose of the app. Now, though, more than 50,000 diners are using it as a platform to communicate with fellow foodies.

TableApp currently services 120 restaurants and allows for free bookings at all of them! (TableApp, 2014)

Top-quality restaurant food is one thing, but what about the days where you just don't feel like going anywhere? Or the couch potatoes? The team at Presto has got that covered.

The name Presto might be familiar to some – not the magic spell, but the grocery store chain scattered around the Klang Valley. Its co-founders decided to open physical outlets first to get the brand name some exposure, but their real master plan soon followed – an online supermarket that delivers all ordered products fresh and right up to your doorstep.

Presto is not only available on mobile phones, but also has a web interface for those who prefer using their laptops or personal computers. (Presto Grocer, 2013)

Apps like these take minutes to download, but years (and a ton of courage!) to even begin developing. Bottom line is, it's not easy. To deliver convenience to users and establish the local name in a market largely dominated by foreign players sounds like a huge feat, but we believe that apps like Shoppr, TableApp and Presto are bringing the nation one step closer to achieving that.

Taking the Malaysian name across oceans and continents are undoubtedly the long-term goal of these developers, but it's also heavily got to do with the pursuit (hint, hint) of next week's featurette, when we bring you exclusive content from some very special guests!

Bibliography

eMarketer Inc. (2014). 2 Billion Consumers Worldwide to Get Smart(phones) by 2016. eMarketer. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from http://www.emarketer.com/Article/2-Billion-Consumers-Worldwide-Smartphones-by-2016/1011694

Presto Grocer. (2013). Presto is not only available on mobile phones, but also has a web interface for those who prefer using their laptops or personal computers [Online image]. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from http://www.expatgomalaysia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/3.-Presto-720.jpg

Shoppr. (2015). The Shoppr app features a sleek, clean interface that makes its highlight, user apparel, stand out [Online image]. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from http://www.dealstreetasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Shoppr_raises_400k-seedfund_500startups_eastern_ventures.jpg

TableApp. (2014). TableApp currently services 120 restaurants and allows for free bookings at all of them! [Online image]. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from http://az598155.vo.msecnd.net/wp-uploads/2014/01/reserve-restaurant-malaysia.png

Tay, Daniel. (2014). Forget food blogging: this startup aims to show that table reservations are the real money-makers. TechInAsia. Retrieved 6 November, 2015 from https://www.techinasia.com/forget-food-blogging-startup-aims-show-table-reservations-real-moneymakers/

We brought nature lovers to the outskirts for some quality unwinding in our last feature, but don't worry, we haven't forgotten about those who're more comfortable being surrounded by the sights and sounds of the big city!

This week, The Local Scene is taking you on another joyride – this time a picturesque adventure for avid photographers! Kuala Lumpur might be infamous for mind-numbing traffic jams (and more recently, haze), but looking past that, our bustling capital city is home to several beautiful sights that are simply stunning in pictures.

Petaling Street, widely considered the hub of Malaysian culture, is our first pit stop! Home to the city's central market, its main attraction is Lorong Melayu, which specialises in local arts and crafts. Meanwhile, a short 20-minute walk away is Little India, which is bursting at the seams with strong colours and even stronger scents! 

These two areas are most exciting during the day, as traders will be milling around with goods like traditional clothing, pottery and craft. Steeped in culture, the streets here are wonderful to photograph as you'll get a glimpse of the heritage that truly makes Malaysia special.

Located at Batu Caves, the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a holy shrine that consists of five small temples. Set against a background of age-old mountains, its beautiful, golden architecture and perfect lighting casts a peaceful veil over the area. The ambience is truly calming, not only to temple-goers, but also tourists! Trust me; that climb of 272 steps? Completely worth it for the breathtaking pictures you'll end up taking.

The temple is best photographed in the evenings, when the dusky pastel skies bring out its structure and warm lighting.

Closer to the heart of the city is the recently-built Nu Sentral shopping mall, a true feat of engineering and architecture. Located a stone's throw away from KL Sentral station, this brilliantly-built metallic structure glistens like diamonds when sunlight beams down on it. Even local pedestrians stop to photograph it sometimes, not just regular tourists! I know I do, that's for sure.

Fine metallic sheets beautifully arranged into an elegant structure outside Nu Sentral.

Meanwhile, Bukit Bintang is an area true to its name because it truly comes to life when the stars are out to play. At night, the streets transform into Malaysia's very own version of Times Square – brightly-lit restaurants and shops are woven perfectly between posh buildings, and the roads are jam-packed with all walks of life.

The contrast between the colourful streets and night skies are truly a treat for photographers, especially those who enjoy snapping city nightlife and posh buildings. Do keep safety in mind, though, as the traffic here is heavy no matter what time of the day it is!

Nestled in the middle of two beautiful skyscrapers in Bukit Bintang is a quiet alley lined with trees and bathed in warm light.

Iconic Malaysian landmarks that we definitely can't go without mentioning is the scenic KL Tower and its equally mesmerising companion, the Petronas Twin Towers – two of the tallest buildings in the nation. Flanked by towering skyscrapers and stunning nature courtesy of the nearby park, these two beacons of light look best at night, set against the glistening Kuala Lumpur cityscape. 

KL Tower playing peek-a-boo with the greenery surrounding the very heart of Kuala Lumpur's city centre.

Scattered all around Kuala Lumpur, these Malaysian landmarks are easily accessible via public transportation like train lines, so don't worry! Commuting would be the least of your hassles, though, believe me; as an avid photographer myself, I can tell you that once you start adjusting your camera settings and immersing yourself into taking pictures of these breathtaking places, you'll appreciate these Malaysian landmarks as more than just national icons.

They truly are a window to the city life in Kuala Lumpur – bustling and jam-packed, but 100% Malaysian and always, always feels like home.

The Local Scene has done our fair share of travelling this past month, and this marks the end of our adventures around Malaysia! Next week, our resident tech geek will be taking the stand and shedding some light on a different kind of Malaysian pride, so keep your eyes peeled!

Bibliography

About (Centre for Malaysian, Culture, Heritage, Art and Craft). 2015. Retrieved 29 October, 2010 from http://centralmarket.com.my/about.php