Talking about the next gen technology, more and more mobile devices are now gearing towards wireless connectivity. From IR.. to Bluetooth.. to WIFI.. now comes wireless energy?!?
Although this technology has emerged in as early as 1900s, it took several years for this to be accepted in household machines. Like bluetooth technology whereby some even predicted that it's not gonna be a hit when it was first introduced. But look, it is a standard feature in most mobile phones nowadays. So likewise, I believe this company is bringing this wireless energy into another dimension by offering it to huge manufacturers of home devices.
Check out this vid:
(this short documentary is courtesy of christovtech)
Yes, they are cutting all the wires! ..for added convenience. We already have wireless clothes iron, a wireless home entertainment system, some wireless home appliances, and now wireless energy!?! What else? a wireless baby? perhaps no umbilical cord? oh well, yeah I guess I can say the testtube babies belong to that category.
So what will these great minds could possibly invent next?
And that's TECHNOLOGY. c",)
[+/-] |
Tech Blog: Wireless network? why not Electricity? |
[+/-] |
Life Blog: Loving and Inspiration.. heart matters |
While reading through some inspiring stories on the internet, I chance upon one of my favorite quotes from Helen Keller, it goes..
“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen nor touched, but are felt in the heart.”
Helen grew up blind and deaf due to serious illness she experienced when she was about less than 2 years of age, yet she inspired many people in her lifetime. Her sight and hearing senses might have deteriorated but her heart had shaped her into becoming the Miracle Worker.
Everyone would agree that our heart is the most important part of the human body. Some people might have broken limbs caused by serious accidents whilst others might have donated their eyes or kidneys, yet still continues to live. But when the heart stops beating, we’ll all end up in a flat line. I never heard of any heart donor that is still very much alive, hehe.
If I were asked to describe what are the best and most beautiful things I have experienced so far, well I think I would probably recount on those people whom have touched my heart as well.
In another context, when someone finally found his/her lifetime partner, wouldn’t it be nice that when both of 'em have grown old (having gums abandoned by their used-to-be-healthy teeth and with sagging skins all over, hehe kidding) yet they can still exchange the sweetest phrase “I Love You”s to each other?
Truly, what we keep in our heart is what really matters. Like if we feed our hearts with anger or hatred, it might result to developing unwanted attitude. But if we feed our hearts with love, we begin to demonstrate living life humbly and harmoniously.
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.”(from the gospel of Luke)
c",)
[+/-] |
Life Blog: Numbers can do wonders.. |
'got below equation combinations from a friend. It's interesting to know how we can do various combinations on numbers to form simple mathematical equations or even derive an startling message.
it's called the..
Beauty of Math!
1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321
1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111
9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888
Brilliant, isn't it?
And look at this symmetry:
1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111=123456789 87654321
Now, take a look at this...
101%
From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:
What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.
How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
If:
H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K
8+1+18+4+23 + 15+18+11 = 98%
And:
K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%
But:
A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%
THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E- O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!
c",)
[+/-] |
Entertainment: ROBOTICS and GRAPHICS |
The robotics technology have made it possible by some creating real a life transformers.. check out these vids..
This one is cool as it is remotely operated:
I guess Adidas Clima-Cool have no match with this Cool Nike ads, created by NikeLab:
This one I dunno how to describe but it's funny and kinda weird.. not robotics, just real transformers fanatics! haha:
And.. I've discovered that Singapore has its own transformer naval army.. cool flash animation ad:
c",)
[+/-] |
Entertainment: End of work-week, the Lion sleeps tonight..so enjoy your weekend! |
Here's a cute animation clip to start with your pleasurable weekend.
These two characters are french.. they are Pat and Stanley. Enjoy!
(animated video courtesy of TF1)
[+/-] |
Tech Blog: WANTED: Unbiased Review Needed (prizefight?) |
I accidentally deleted my post last time regarding my comments on the recent Prizefight Video by CNET TV. Okay, without further ado, let me go directly to what I think about their head-to-head review of N95 versus iPhone. The review and scoring were BIASED. In fact, it was based on the preference of the video editor herself. Listen carefully to her last statement when she said..
“…you may call ME an apple fan-girl but when “I” stack up the features THAT MATTERS TO ME the iPhone comes out on top”
I wrote them and asked what is their objective when presenting a battle of 2 electronic devices in their Prizefight video? I never received any feedback. I asked because I do watch most of their video reviews and I love reading (or watching for this case) some video feature-by-feature comparisons of two gadgets. I trust what they (CNET TV) can say about a certain gizmo because they have the privilege to play around with the actual unit. But hearing their recent review on these two gadgets is totally frustrating. I once believed that their PrizeFight video section is where they keep the viewing public informed (especially those who’s been planning, saving some bucks, and having a dilemma on which gizmo to get) about how certain gadget match up with another of its level so consumers can draw out a wise decision on which gizmo worth every hard-earned penny.
Like what the video editor said: (back track to her initial statement)
“..because hey, if you’ve got over 500 dollars to spend on a brand new cellphone, you better pick the one that’s right for you.”
Now, I’m starting to doubt their reviews.
Here’s how the clash of the titans were presented
*** N95 vs iPhone ***
1. SEXINESS
She scored 5 on the iPhone and 3 on the N95. On this part, yes I agree. Definite you’ll find lots of people drooling over someone who have an iPhone.
2. INTERFACE & NAVIGATION
She scored 5 on the iPhone and 4 on the N95. On this part, I can still agree. The touch interface of the iPhone is truly intuitive and innovative. While N95 still uses few mechanical buttons to navigate through the phone. The dual slider is one thing to note though, but not too much to wow about.
Btw, on this round, don’t forget the ability to do one-hand operation, especially when creating an SMS. After all, I believe it’s one of the main reasons how the mobile phones have evolved so quickly. Can the iPhone be operated one-hand for composing and sending text messages?
3. FEATURES
She scored 4 on the iPhone and 5 on the N95. Wait a sec, iPhone gets a "4" on features? C’mon!
Let’s list and score ‘em one by one:
a. Camera
iPhone = 2mp (NO flash), NO front camera for video calling
N95 = 5mp (although images created not comparable to 5mp Digicam, but hey, isn’t it we're comparing it to the iPhone? Hehe). This camera has most of the features a digicam has and it also function as barcode reader! Hmm, can I give N95 a 6? Too bad scoring is up to the highest 5 only, so let’s do this the other way around..
For this round I’m giving N95 a “5” and the iPhone a “3”
b. Built-in GPS receiver
iPhone = none
N95 = yes
Need I say more? For this round I’m giving N95 another “5” and iPhone a “1” (I’m just being nice because I would’ve given iPhone a “0” because NONE equates to Zero, right?)
c. FM Tuner
iPhone = none
N95 = yes
Same score as above. N95 gets a “5” and iPhone gets a “1”
d. MP3 Player
iPhone = enhanced iPod
N95 = average MP3 player
Okay, for this round iPhone is striving to win back the crown. I’m giving N95 a “3” and the iPhone a “5”
e. Standard 3.5mm Earphone Jack
iPhone = yes
N95 = yes
She mentioned that “iPhone’s headphone jack is recessed and not all headphones are gonna fit!” Well, too bad iPhone because apart from the fact that you can fit any types of standard 3.5mm earphones to the N95, you can actually perform 8 different ways to listen to music! See for yourself by checking out this link for the live demonstration
For this round I’m giving N95 a “5” and the iPhone a “3”
Btw, did I mention that this headphone jack also functions as video out? I tried connecting it to a projector and output is pretty decent. Also while on the call, you can try and use the wired remote then attach to it any speaker and you’ll be able to let other people hear what the other party is saying (this is good when you’re with your family and a member of your family from abroad calls you and want to say "hi" to everyone.. instead of using the phone’s loud speaker try connecting it to your home speaker, hehe, sweet)
Now let me recalculate the score. For this round I’m giving N95 a “5” and the iPhone a “2”
f. Storage Capacity
iPhone = 8GB
N95 = 160mb internal memory, and an expansion slot for microSD (currently 2GB)
I heard that Samsung/SanDisk has developed a 4GB microSD already for N95. Not long, they’ll introduce a 8GB capacity. The iPhone is limited to 8GB only. But the question remains, using the same model of the phone, will N95 be able to handle high capacity micro SDs? Let's leave that to the finnish company to answer.
For this round (let’s forget about the successor models first and focus on what currently is in the market), I’m giving N95 a “4” and the iPhone a “5”
G. What about the OFFICE and other Productivity tools?
IPhone = didn’t say anything about the ability to create or browse office documents (at least nothing was mentioned in iPhone specs from Apple website)
N95 = this is not just for yuppies but for business professionals too! This feature is innate to N95
For this round N95 gets a “5” and iPhone gets a “2”. (Please do tell me if this sounds unfair, and provide an explanation please. Just take note, we are comparing here the “current” models of the phone and what’s built-in, please don’t give me an explanation that “they are developing an enhancement” because that’s another story.)
H. Other
Can iPhone use MP3s as ring tone? I heard you cant
Does iPhone have 3G? I’m definite there’s none. N95 even uses HSDPA
Does iPhone have built-in games? I heard there’s none
Can I replace battery of the iPhone in case the one I got is faulty (perhaps after a series of recharging cycles)? I bet you can't!
Let's leave all of these to Mr.Jobs to answer.
Okay fine, let’s not widen the hole in the ground for this sexy phone to bury itself and let’s tally up the scores:
5 3
5 1
5 1
3 5
5 2
4 5
5 2
Sum of 32 for N95 and 19 for the iPhone
Feature-wise, we get the average as 4.5 for N95 and 2.7 for the iPhone.
Round 'em up..
N95 gets a “5”
iPhone gets a “3”
So now tell me, how did iPhone scored “4” on this round again? Oh, N95 TKOs iPhone you mean.. if I hadn't been nice about the scoring? hmm.. yup, I believe so.
4. CONNECTIVITY
Quick run down:
iPhone: WIFI, Bluetooth, EDGE
N95: WIFI, Bluetooth, EDGE/GPRS, IR, 3G and USB OTG.
I tried connecting N95 to a PMP via USB cable and it was recognized as hard disk, isn’t that amazing? I also tried connecting N95 to a home microDVD with USB slot, and it could read all the MP3 in the phone. Now this can be counted as another way of listening to MP3s stored in your gadget.
I wanted to do video-call with my girlfriend so I can get to see her eventhough we're far from each other.
I wanted to download rich content fast, good thing my phone supports 3.5G
Hmm, once iPhone gets here, I’ll spend some bucks to get one and try out these stuff. But I can somehow foresee that I’ll get frustrated. hmmmm.
Huuwhat? You gave N95 a “4” and the iPhone a “3”? Do I need to repeat myself here? Or maybe I can come up with another video on the “various ways to connect to N95”
For this round I’m giving the N95 a “5” and iPhone still an average score of “3”
5. PERFORMANCE
Well, I may have to agree with your review on this.
The N95 gets a “4” while the iPhone gets a “5”
Now, what’s the overall score?
Round 1: N95 = 3 / iPhone = 5
Round 2: N95 = 4 / iPhone = 5
Round 3: N95 = 5 / iPhone = 3
Round 4: N95 = 5 / iPhone = 3
Round 5: N95 = 4 / iPhone = 5
21 / 21
Woah! It’s a tie! Sorry, I just stack up the features these two devices are claiming it can do, not what matters to me :) And if I have not been so nice about the scoring, iPhone will just have to admit defeat and come up with another fully featured phone that lives up to its claim.
Well, anyhow, no doubt both phones are great. But then again, it’s a matter of preference. So this brings me back to my earlier post.. “are you after the features or after the uniqueness of the mobile phone?” As the saying goes, “you cannot judge the book by its cover.” You must read through it to appreciate it.
That’s all folks! Ciao! c”,)
P.S.
(here's the actual video of Nokia N95 vs Apple iPhone from CNET's PrizeFight. Well, for what it's worth.. she's cute)
(here's a tabulated feature-by-feature comparison from cnet asia. just count the number of red & green rows then score 'em. red means cons while green means pros)
[+/-] |
Entertainment: Voltron coming to the BIG screen? |
I'm hearing a lot of rumors and speculations about the Transformer movie having its part 2 sometime in 2009. But another interesting news I learned was about this giant android formed by 5 lion-bots who claimed to be the "Defender of the Universe" will be showing itself to the big screen! whoah!
Yes transforming-droid-fanatics, there's an ongoing production (and some negotiations about the air-date) of the Voltron force!
Check out this link for the announcement.
ciao!
c",)
[+/-] |
Life Blog: HAPPINESS |
What is it?
Can it be bought?
Once you have it, does it linger?
Is it just the absence of sadness like light in the absence of darkness?
Where did it come from?
A simple answer could be.. when you are pleased with somethin' – a gift perhaps or just receiving a simple complement from a friend – then you get to demonstrate happiness in a simple gesture as smile.
“here’s something for you” “you look cute” “I like your dress” “thank you, I appreciate what you did” “we are considering you for this job” “I wanted to share my blessings to you”
These are just some of the many phrases we’ll hear each day that will surely stretch out some muscles on our face to draw out that wonderful smile.
Many people have different interpretation of what true happiness is. Some think it must be something BIG. While others think it’s just temporary, that we get it all the time.. Like sometimes we’re sad and oftentimes we’re happy kind of thing. There are some who claim they have already found true happiness while others never seem to get contented and even wanting something more so they can be a lot happier.
Here’s how Merriam-Webster defines this:
1. good fortune; prosperity
2. state of well-being and contentment: joy; a pleasurable or satisfying experience
3. felicity; aptness
Have you seen the movie “Pursuit to Happyness?” It’s a good example or revelation of how simple happiness could be.
Did you know that our Mighty Creator also promotes happiness? A typical illustration is about the Parable of Talents in Matthew 25:23, where the master was pleased and said, “...Come and share your master’s happiness.”
Why am I talking about this thing?
Am I just babbling for the sake of blogging? ;-)
We all know many things in this world can make us happy
Even as simple as getting a new puppy.
But above all, I’m truly delighted because I know God loves me.
I'm also grateful that I can share His love and blessings to my family
An sms from my girlfriend is a simple source of my happiness
So what about you, what can you consider your true source of happiness?
c”,)
[+/-] |
Tech Blog: Dopod C500.. some pros and cons |
Every mobile device has pros and cons. The features it can offer matters on every user’s preferences. Presently, I can say that no mobile device can offer a whole lot of features at the same time brings appeal to majority of users.
I have replaced my D838 Pro with a smaller Dopod unit called C500 (a.k.a. HTC S710). I know some tech geek would argue why on earth I downgraded from much adored PDA phone to this newbie smartphone which will probably attract most consumers only because it sports WM6 OS and a slide-out QWERTY keypad?
Well, like what I’m trying to point out, I realized that the feature that matters most to me on mobile phones is being able to do one-hand operation when typing sms. I tried downloading a phonepad software into my D838 Pro but I still find it knotty typing quick messages with just one hand. And the bulkiness of the unit still makes me wanna leave it at home sometimes and just carry my old phone which I could easily slid in my pocket. This is when I saw the C500. The fact that it still resembles the modern looks of an ordinary candy-bar phone with numeric keypad, it also holds underneath a qwerty keyboard despite its tiny size. Although it runs on WM6, it is still categorized under smart phones, which means other capabilities of PDA may not be inherent on this device. Anyhow, on my daily usage of this smartphone, here are some PROS and CONS I noticed:
PROS
· Small and elegant with good rubberize finish
· Having both Numeric keypad and QWERTY keyboard
· Hot-swappable SIM card slot, no need to take out the battery
· Searching through contacts and inbox (email or sms) for any name, number, or words is without a hitch. You can do so by directly typing on numeric keypad. (This is very useful when you have hundreds of messages stored and you want to search for particular sms/email/contact)
· Quick synching via Outlook contacts. You can organize all contact names in outlook then synch with this device swiftly (either via bluetooth, wifi, or usb cable)
· Flight mode is readily available. This profile will simply turn off the mobile and radio frequency so you can still use your the device while inside the hospital or plane (but I would still suggest turning the unit off)
· Built-in software includes Windows Live, Messenger, and RSS. Runs on WM6 standard
· I still find the Voice Commander cool to play with. Also the Audio Manager (an alternative to Windows Media player) can trim MP3s to turn into sweet ring tones
CONS
· It looks compact but when you try to hold with your right hand, it feels a bit loose. Perhaps this is because the qwerty keyboard slides out to the right. It doesn’t seem to have the same locking mechanism as the D838 pro.
· Camera does not function as barcode reader like what is intrinsic to D838 Pro or N95.
· No IR. I thought I don’t need this anymore as the phone already have bluetooth and wifi. Unfortunately, when I was trying to transfer a word document to my office laptop (where all means of connectivity – except IR – were turned off because of their so-called policy.. gees) I found this phone useless on this aspect. I had to transfer to my colleague's phone via bluetooth then IRd it to my office laptop
· Non-3G / HSDPA ready. I thought also I’d never use this as last time my phone bill sky-rocketed because I accidentally left my 3G phone connected to the net. Initially it was easy to accept as well that this new device doesn't have 3G as this also eats up battery power when phone detects a 3G network and tries to re-establish connection. However, it was unfortunate to know that I couldn’t use my Broadband simcard onto this smartphone. Now, I can somehow say that 3G is as important as wifi in todays telecoms infrastructure. So with this phone, I can only connect to the net via GPRS/EDGE (which is a bit costly than broadband connection) OR try & find some wifi hotspots for less costly or free internet access.
These are just what I noticed based on the features I normally used. Nevertheless, I still love this phone and never regretted having this as replacement to my PDA.
Ciao!
c",)
[+/-] |
Poetry: RELAXED |
When did I last updated my blog?
It's been about 3 months since I logged
Now that I resigned from my current job
I can now spare some time to blog
ciao! c",)
[+/-] |
Tech Blog: As technology evolve – N95 a revolutionary device? |
I once said, “I always get mesmerized when technology advances.” When great minds work together, they are able to build a grand invention. How these infiltrate our lives is when people think about convenience with the aid of modern-day technology. We gain access to the world through Internet and we can continue to keep in touch (as often as we like) with our families and friends through mobile phones. We are able to capture great moments in a flash through digi-cams or camera-phones (which majority carries with them), and finally we get to enjoy our favorite songs via our MP3 players and watch videos in our PMPs.
Now, combine all of ‘em and you get something like this amazing device from Nokia.. the N95. (Though it may not actually meet the quality you’d expect in separate devices, convenience is a good trade-off having them in a single device)
I have put together below some details and a straightforward review of my new gizmo. Please note that these are just my personal evaluations based on my day-to-day usage and experience playing around with my device (I’m saying “my device” because any flaws I find may not be present in another (if you’ve purchased one), you get what I mean? Alrighty then..
The N95 Basics..
> The Phone
> Digital Camera
> Entertainment (MP3 player, Media Player, FM stereo, Java-based Games)
> GPS Receiver
> Mobile Office / PDA-like features (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, PDF viewer, Zipped, Email, Internet Browser, some Tools)
> With various Connectivity options and Storage flexibility
Some details..
1) Let’s look at the aesthetics and design first
STRENGTHS:
- Unique dual-slider phone (slide down for media keys, slide up for the phone keypad)
- Simple yet professional-look design
- Sharp LCD screen (which automatically changes orientation to landscape or portrait when you slide up/down)
- Very lightweight considering it has lots of features. The size is just enough for a power pack device
- Alphanumeric keypad is perfectly outlined, so it’s not difficult to do speed-texting, hehe
- Well-positioned in-built speakers and with dedicated shortcut button for Gallery
WEAKNESSES:
- The Menu key and Media Key (placed side-by-side 4-way navigation key) is touch-sensitive. If you have huge thumb you’ll accidentally press ‘em while using nav-keys
- Attracts finger-prints
- Comes in 2 colors only, i.e. Plum&Silver and Gold&Silver (it would’ve been great if it comes with Black&Silver, hehe)
- Plasticky (non-robust) feeling
- Touch-screen? Nope!
2) Now the main function of this device
This is still a mobile phone! (‘though the finnish company would like to call it a multimedia device). It performs well on its primary functions. If you own a series-60 mobile phone before, e.g. 6600, you wouldn’t find it difficult to use this one
STRENGTHS:
- Loud and clear audio during calls, either through handset or loudspeaker
- Quad band enabled, meaning you will be able to use it in different continents (ideal for travelers)
- HSDPA (3G) enabled for faster download speed
- Uses S60 3rd edition UI in a new version Symbian OS 9
WEAKNESSES:
- No auto-search function using numbers (I find this really useful in my PDA-phone when I had 1 contact number unintentionally recorded twice in my phonebook on different names, e.g. 9100-1234 as Jonh Doe and 9100-1234 as J.Doe. For duplicate numbers, the names will not be displayed if this person calls me or send me an SMS since the device is confused which name to display, hehe. This function will save time in determining if you have already recorded such number in your contacts or not)
- Phone hangs on some occasions when there’s an incoming call (I've been using this phone for a month now and I have already experienced this twice. Perhaps I left other applications open or this is just simply one infuriating flaw of my device – 'hope this will be the only one I’ll discover overtime, hehe)
3) Lets look at the Digital Camera and Video Recorder
STRENGTHS:
- 5 MP Autofocus DigiCam using Carl Zeiss optics for the lens (with 10x digital zoom)
- Typical digicam features. i.e. color effect, scene modes, white balance, light sensitivity option, flash for low-light condition, and self-timer
- Better than any camera-phone to date as it produces good quality images esp. during daytime or indoor with good lighting
- Records crisp and stable video with DVD-like quality
- Strong flash light compared to other camphone, and with compact-cam-feel when taking pictures because the trigger button is perfectly positioned on top in landscape shot
- Protective lens cover which functions as camera on/off slider button
- Long video-recording (this is dependent on available memory) and you can zoom-in or out while capturing video
WEAKNESSES:
- The self-timer is useless for landscape photos since the phone could not stand on its own on flat surfaces
- Shutter sound cannot be turned off (although you have the option to lower down or select the less noisy shutter sound)
- Still not comparable to any 5mp DigiCam as there are noise in the images taken in low- light conditions (or when zoomed-in) and capturing images is a bit slow than typical compact digicam of the same specs
4) On the multimedia aspect
STRENGTHS:
- Music player, which can support MP3/AAC/M4A/eAAC+/AAC+ formats with playlist and equalizer feature. It also support WMDRM for music files
- Music can be played in background while other application is running. Even if the GPS voice is activated, the music volume automatically reduces when voice navigation announces guided directions
- Video Player, which can support 3GP and MP4 formats. With pre-installed RealPlayer (I loaded an episode of Heroes and it played the video well with no play gap or delay)
- Voice Recorder, which support AMR audio format
- Dedicated button for quick access to multimedia content
- FM stereo with Visual Radio feature
- You can attach a standard 3.5mm speakers or earphones (that’s awesome!). This slot also function as TV out (using the supplied cable)
- You can install and play various Java-based Games
- The dual built-in speakers delivers good-quality audio even on high volume
WEAKNESSES:
- When visualization is used during music playback and random option is on, there’s a noticeable play gap. But at normal playback everything is smooth
- Easily juices out the battery (doesn’t even last the entire day)
- When installing rich Java-based games in microSD, the application runs very slow (you wouldn’t want to install this in main memory as this will surely eat up storage space, so better use maximum capacity microSD)
5) And what about the GPS receiver..
Well this is new to a non-PDA phone. And applaud for Nokia for being the first to put it in a symbian-based mobile phone. I have not tested this further yet but I’d say it’s quite cool having this in your device and the application is pretty stable.
STRENGTHS:
- Built-in GPS receiver with pre-bundled application for Navigation is good (ideal for on-foot navigation as the receiver functions better in a clear view of the sky)
- The maps load up quicker than I thought
- There are 2 pre-bundled software for Map Navigation (NavFonePro Asia-maps and Nokia Maps). Though I don’t use them that often, it aid me a lot whenever I try to locate ATM machines within the area or when searching for the nearest establishments of the street I am are trying to locate
- Here’s a good feature of this GPS that I saw in one of the tech site review: “The GPS was able to indicate if a fixed-position speed camera was ahead (test was done in Singapore along the CTE expressway).”
- Voice-enabled navigation automatically stops when you receive incoming call and resumes after the call (similar to how music player in mobile phones is designed)
- Alternative routes is calculated as well if you opt to re-route
(Please note that GPS will only give you directions and locations, it will not be able to tell you the traffic condition)
WEAKNESSES:
- Easily juices out the battery (doesn’t even last the entire day when GPS is being used)
- Unable to lower down the volume of voice navigator (unless you use headset) as the loud voice may somehow irritate some people around
- You may want to save your favorite location when using Asia Maps, but there’s no option to delete them!
6) Now for its PDA-like functions
STRENGTHS:
- Pre-installed Quick Office, which enable you to browse (and edit, using advance version which you have to purchase) Word, Excel, and Powerpoint file types
- PDF viewer
- Standard Tools (Calculator, Currency Converter, Voice Recorder, Wireless keyboard enhancement compatibility)
- Internet Browser: I find the Internet browser rather fast than browsing through a PDA-phone. You can easily find the hot keys, input box, or links as the cursor automatically switches to hand when it passes them
- Mini-map feature. This when activated adds up to the browser’s flexibility and ease of use. You can easily swap or jump from one page to another (which is somewhat difficult task to do in a PDA) if you have opened several pages or websites
- Personal Information Management. Like what’s inherent in today’s phone, the address book, calendar (for special events and meetings), and to-do list is also present in this device
WEAKNESSES:
- The need to purchase a version of Quick Office if you want to edit above-mentioned file types
- The pre-installed BarCode reader is not functioning well, unlike the scanner in my PDA (though it scans only modern types of barcodes, hehe)
- It would have been better if the built-in scanner can also function as Business Card reader to capture names and contact information from a business card. (this is a great function I found in my PDA)
- The Zip Manager is able to Zip file folders only, not individual files
*********************************************************************
* 2007-05-21 UPDATE: Sorry, let me correct my statement here.
* The Zip Manager can actually do individual file zipping,
* you just need to create a new archive folder (name it
* anything u like) then add files to it, then viola!
**********************************************************************
- No Wallet feature?? I was surprised to know that this doesn’t have wallet feature. Although I never use this to purchase online using my mobile phone but I definitely find this useful in storing confidential information
7) Finally, for the connectivity options and other features I have not mentioned yet
STRENGTHS:
- This device has all the connectivity options you would look for in a device, i.e. Infrared, Bluetooth (with A2DP support), Wifi (B&G compliant), High-speed Mini-USB port, UPnP support, PC synch using PC Suite, SyncML for OTA synchronization
- Boast a whopping 160mb internal memory, with hot-swappable expansion slot for MicroSD (available currently up to 2GB)
- Soft keys and shortcut icon menu reassignment (but the multimedia icons are pre-defined)
- RSS-feed for web videos
- High-speed data transfer and page loading
- You can install 3rd-party Productivity Tools either in internal memory or MiscroSD memory card, the applications can still operate fast (except for rich java-based games when installed in memory card)
WEAKNESS:
- The battery life! (When this device is used as ordinary phone, i.e. sending sms and making calls only, the battery can last two days or so. BUT with its various features, it’s so enticing to use or play with them, and before you know it.. you’ll be hearing a beep prompting you to charge!)
These things I listed is what makes this a truly innovative gizmo. However, there are still flaws which I believe apparent as well on some mobile phones. But I’m sure Nokia will be (or should be) developing improvements to them. Personally, the only issue is the battery life (since most of the weakenesses I listed are application-based which can easily be enhanced). Longer-lasting battery will allow us to enjoy more of this without charging everyday (though I can always buy spare batt, better still if the battery could last longer despite simultaneous usage of applications)
Nonetheless, for me this minuscule multimedia device rocks! as I can do one-hand texting and the UI -- you'll find it easy to get acquainted with =)
That’s all folks! Ciao! c”,)
[+/-] |
Entertainment: It's been a while.. |
It's been a while since I last updated my blog.. hmmm.. perhaps this only means I'm busier than my typical blogging day.. hehe..
Anyhow, my mind ain't functioning well lately due to stress so I'm just gonna post this song from the Australian Idol Guy Sebastian which I seem to enjoy listenin'. I'll match it with a cool music video nicely done by one of YouTuber.. enjoy!
Angels Brought Me Here
[Verse 1]
It's been a long and winding journey, but i'm finally here tonight
Picking up the pieces, walking back into the light
Into the sunset of your glory, where my heart and future lies
There's nothing like that feeling, when i look into your eyes...
[Bridge]
My dreams came true, when i found you
I found you, my miracle...
[Chorus]
If you could see, what i see, that you're the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel, the tenderness i feel
You would know, it would be clear, that angels brought me here...
[Verse 2]
Standing here before you, feels like i've been born again
Every breath is your love, every heartbeat speaks your name...
[Bridge 2]
My dreams came true, right here in front of you
My miracle...
[Chorus]
If you could see, what i see, you're the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel, the tenderness i feel
You would know, it would be clear, that angels brought me here...
[Bridge 3]
Brought me here to be with you,
I'll be forever grateful (oh forever Faithful)
My dreams came true
When I found you
My miracle...
[Chorus]
If you could see, what i see, you're the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel, the tenderness i feel
You would know, it would be clear, that angels brought me here...
Yes they brought me here...
If you could feel, the tenderness i feel...
You would know, it would be clear, that angels brought me here...
[+/-] |
Life Blog: Disciplined? |
I missed my bus so I pulled a cab instead to get home fast as my stomach is grumbling and crying out for food. Inside, the cab driver began explaining why he was not able to turn his overhead sign to green (meaning for hire) and that he almost went pass me. He was fuming and giving out harsh comments on those 5 people who called him out for a ride. He keeps talkin and talking and I’m just answering “yeah, yeah, yeah” with a deep sigh and whispering “can you just drive and take me home please?”
Here in SG, strictly only 4 passengers max are allowed in a taxi. Unlike in other countries, as long as there’s room to fit more passengers in one cab, and as long as the driver doesn’t mind, most people will take advantage. The issue is not whether the driver would agree or the taxi could accommodate, but the LAW. Not many countries follow their law like how people in SG does. This is good and depicts how disciplined their citizens are. Talking about discipline, I think the idea of their government is to demonstrate to people how serious they are in chastising people living in their soil who will be violating their laws. Imagine paying $300 for littering or being caned plus imprisoned for other serious offenses.
It leads me to thinking why can’t other countries be like this? Is it because this country is so small and can be easily managed? Or there are just a lot of hardheaded individuals that’s why other countries finds it difficult to implement such?
Well, I believe “fear and respect” is what creates disciplined beings. When our parents need to discipline us, they may try different ways (could be gentle or stiff, depending on how hardheaded we are, hehe) to remind us of the rules and who’s in charge while making sure we understand that it’s for our own good.
Anyhow, at least I'm home now and my stomach full!! 'need to hit the bed now.
ciao! c",)
[+/-] |
Life Blog: Simple day is a Beautiful day |
I feel sooo sleepy the whole day because of an early morning meeting. In which I need to inject three rounds of caffeine to stimulate my central system and pump in the blood thru my nerves down to my fingers to be able to hit those letters on my keyboard. Whew! I need to stop drinking coffee and I’ve said this to myself several times.
Anyway, though sleepy, I managed to work on my task list for the day. Nothin so special today, however I’m trying to consider each day a 'Beautiful Day'. Kinda like my way of convincin' myself to savor each day no matter how simple or complicated it might be.
In one of Bono’s hit single from the album All That You Can Leave Behind, he was somehow talkin’ about enjoying what you currently have then breathe out sayin' “oh, what a wonderful day!”
In an interview, Bono explained, "Beautiful Day" is about "a man who has lost everything, but finds joy in what he still has"
The last part of the lyrics says..
What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
Was a beautiful day
Here’s a a clip of this song in one of their concert performances:
ciao! c",)
[+/-] |
Tech Blog: Apple – will you take a bite? |
I was watching Steve Jobs' keynote video clip on iPhone’s launching during MacWorld 2007 and what I first noticed was the apple’s logo in shadow effect behind him. Then I surmised, “I think the reason they called their company Apple ('just my opinion btw, I dunno the real reason behind, hehe) was because they aim to build a product that consumers will, for sure, not be able to resist, that some might even break their piggy savings just to get a taste of their product.” Just like Eve in the Garden of Eden.. sooo tempted to get.. just one… succulent bite.. oohhh ;-)
Anyway, back to my gadgetry-opinionated-self, apple have finally ventured into mobile telecommunication bandwagon – iPhone’s debut, that is. Speculations about how the iPod+Mobilephone device will look like are finally over. The CEO himself have flashed and demonstrated his so-called revolutionary phone. He said it would change the way people uses a mobile phone. Just like how iPod have impinged our lives with mp3 music? :)
Well, as I used to express, different people have different preferences. But talking about gizmos, more often than not, what’s hip and what’s hot will surely influence what majority wants to have. I was a bit skeptical when I first heard of this iPhone. I even commented in one of review-site that it’ll just gonna be more of a trendy and for a showoff device than having it for productive use. But after seeing more of it (in video demos), I was also astonished. The multi-touch is awesome! The cool design and intuitive interface will surely compensate for its lack of 3G capabilities, simply irresistible. So the question is, are you after “having more features with better-than-average design?” or are you after “average features with super duper cool aesthetics?” (I think I'm the former)
It’s really difficult to sacrifice something for another. But for me, the bottom line is, as long as it meets my needs without bringing much trouble then I think I could live with it =)
Check out this video demo of Apple’s flagship mobile device and tell me.. will you take a bite?
ciao! c",)
[+/-] |
Entertainment: Welcome 2007! *oink* |
In Chinese Astrology, 2007 is Year of the Pig. So I guess no diet this year for some to be "in", hehe.
Here's a funny clip about 3 little pigs working hand-in-hand for their noche buena feast..
HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!!! c",)