PhotoTech+Devotional: Good Ehh!

Meanwhile in a board meeting:

CEO:"Okay folks, you're in a board meeting so there's no excuse for you to get bored. C'mon, I need you to suggest any new products we can offer"
Creative Staff1:"How about mobile phones?!?"
CEO:"Bright idea! As if none of us have thought of that. Besides, Mr.Jobs seem to have permeated the mobile phone industry with his i..iProducts. I'm beginning to think he produced and directed the movie iRobot. Anyway, any other ideas?"
Creative Staff2:"Digital Cameras! ...sounds good ehh?"


Have you noticed that most electronics manufacturing companies nowadays are jumping into either digital cameras or mobile phone business? You might've heard of GE's digital cameras before. Yes, you read it right.. GE, your flourescent lamp and/or your fridge' brand. This company has unveiled more digital camera lines.

Here's one of 'em.

(image courtesy of GIC)

Well, competition among digital electronics manufacturers could mean a wide array of great new products to choose from :)

Hooray for modern tech! hehe, actually I'm talking about the devotion I read this morning. Check it out below. God bless y'all!

- Jep c",)


Today's Devotion

March 10

Hooray for Modern Technology!

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel (Isaiah 44:23).

Scripture: Isaiah 44:21-28

Song: "Shout to the Lord"

We know people misuse the Internet-looking at the wrong things, talking to the wrong people. But it's great to use our computers for good things, isn't it? Many of us conduct business from our homes through the Internet. Research is simplified. We can buy and sell. And e-mail helps us stay in close touch with loved ones.

It's exciting, as well, to use computers to enjoy the magnificent things God is doing. Some churches and radio programs broadcast their services live, shows that can also be accessed later through video archives.

I love using the Internet to see what God is doing in churches all over the world. Using Google, I access God-tube and You-tube to see church worship teams playing a variety of music. I sing and worship with them. Mime and drama teams perform gospel truths right on my screen.

As with most everything God has created or allowed, it can be used for the good or the not-so-good. Computers are no exception. Let us use them for the glory of God.

Thank You, Lord, for the wonderful opportunities the Internet provides. May I use it only for good purposes, promoting the values of Your kingdom and growing in knowledge of Your will. Through Christ, amen.

(This devotion is from the book, 365 Devotions)

TechLife: So you like foosball..

Do you wanna play foosball while waiting for your coffee to be served? That is, if someone's sweet enough to make you a cup of coffee, haha.

This coffee table is made of solid poplar, stands about 20" high, and comes with a built-in foosball game. Isn't that great? I think this is ideal for your living room so your guests will have something to keep 'em busy with while you're in the kitchen preparing coffee :)
Just make sure you don't place the coffee on this table while playing the game, otherwise it'll be a very messy game once the players starts to become competitive, nyahaha!

TechLife: Apple - will you take a bite? (part2)

What's the first thing that comes to mind when somebody says "Apple?"

A fruit? ...perhaps if that question is asked some 10 or 15 years ago. But the word "Apple" has evolved from a fruit to becoming a tiny icon that you'll find engraved in todays music players and mobile phones. Well, it's the digital age! So now when you say "apple" you'll hear people responding.. "iPod?" "iPhone?" "iTouch?" aiyooh! Steve Jobs found a way to infiltrate the new generation's mind with apple innovations! That's probably the reason why he got listed as the most powerful businessman a few years back by Fortune Mag. I guess I can say Steve did his Job! haha.

I'm particularly amazed how they made the ipodshuffle so tiny (as small as the Bic ballpen cap) that you can clip anywhere on your clothes while maintaining its classic look. The only external controls you'll see on the player is the power/shuffle button. They designed an earphones with remote that communicates with the shuffle. Hence, you'll ONLY be able to control the volume or jump through tracks using the dedicated apple earphones. So to apple you'd be nitpicking if you get upset simply because your favorite (3rd-party) earphones is flawed when used with the shuffle. C'mon! It's a marketing strategy, yet effective :)

Now you know why Apple has that logo. More and more people are tempted to bite the apple! =)

For this MP3 player, out of five I'll give it 4.5 stars.

Here's their latest edition..

TechLife: Woof! There it is!

Do you want to know what your pet dog is saying when he barks?
Well, you can with this Bow-lingual gadget!

This gadget was developed by a Japanese toy company "Takara" and was first launched in 2002. It was then marketed in S.Korea and US the following year. This is simply an emotion analyzer device that tells you what your dog is trying to say when he growls. Although this gadget doesn't prove to be accurate on some tests, but it's definitely fun to see how your dog responds to certain activities when the receiver delivers an analysis close to your dog's behavior when he yelps for something, like in this video.


(shared video courtesy of youtuber PowerLeague)

And here's the bow-lingual 2009 version:

Cool isn't it? =)
Russell: "Can I keep this Bowlingual? Please, please, please?" :)

Nonetheless, it is still a toy, so we shouldn't be expecting much from it. It would be great, though, hearing the analyzed voice directly from the gadget attached to your dog's collar than looking at a receiver. Like what you'll see in the movie "UP" (sorry, I'm not tryin' to spoil the movie, I'm just highlighting possible upgrade this gadget should consider, hehe)

Well, if you haven't seen that movie, you should! And try the 3D!

Dug: "My name is Dug. I have just met you and I love you." "..squirrel!!"

TechLife: Honey, I'm using a real mouse!

I once heard a kid asked, "Why is that device called a mouse?!?" Well, for obvious reason.. it has a tail. The cord, I mean. Earlier models of this pointing device had the cord attached to its rear part. Just hope though that your kid will not ask about the wireless mouse! hah! =P

Anyhow, if it's called a mouse why not use a real mouse?!
Your wish is granted! If you are an exotic pet lover you might want to consider this. The guys from Instructables.com will show you how to build exactly what you're wishing for (again, if you prefer exotic items, hah!)

Click here for the DIY Mouse Mouse!


(image courtesy of coolest-gadget.com/instructables.com)

PS. That instructables website is pretty neat. Has various DIY projects! If you are like Mr.Enteng who butingting everything, you'll find that website interesting!

ciao! c",)

TechLife: Take a snap or Snap it on!

I saw two new gadgets that might appeal to (1) people who loves to take a snap as well as print the photo in a snap, and (2) to those who wants to guard themselves with style from catching any flu.


(1) Miss the Polaroid?

"Remember when you could print your photos instantly? ...You still can!" This is Polaroid's latest catch-phrase in their newest product called the.. Polaroid PoGo!

Yes, I do remember that camera that looks like a waffle maker and prints photos right away. As a matter of fact, I was so amazed when I first saw it (I think back when I was 10), but I was also left wonderin' if they could make it a li'l smaller. And they just did! technology nga naman!

I guess the guys from Polaroid doesn't wanna be left behind, so they took the same route and jumped into pocketable gadgetronics bandwagon.

So here it is:




(2) Are you Paranoid?

With the rise of the Influenza A pandemic, frequently referred to as the swine flu or (A)H1N1 in its common scientific term, people have become more vigilant when it comes to their health. Some are taking vitamins and food supplements to strengthen immune system, while others never forget to carry along an alcogel, and still some wears hygienic mask outdoor for protection - a common scene in Japan.

So the guys from MintDesigners in Japan came up with the idea of "being someone" by making stylish masks! The designer masks, according to likecool, is made of SMASH, a highly thermoplastic nonwoven fabric.

Oh well, talking about ideas. So what do you think, clever or funny? Once again, verdict is yours leh! haha =P

To be someone by Mintdesigners

PhotoTech: Sigmazooka!

Ever thought of the idea that weight-lifting and shooting photos can be done at the same time? Nope, I'm not talkin' about getting a weight lifter to be your photoshoot model. I'm referring to this new breathtaking ginormous glass from Sigma. The new ultra telephoto zoom lens Sigma APO 200-500mm F2.8/400-1000mm EX DG.

So lugging around a heavy duty tripod is must if you will opt for this lens, unless you want to pump up those biceps while you're out and about doin' your exciting outdoor shoots. I'd like to call this glass the Sigmazooka!

Here's the specs:

Features a fast aperture of F2.8 at 500mm focal length and F5.6 at 1000mm.

Lens Construction : 17 Elements in 13 Groups
Angle of View : 12.3 - 5 degrees
Number of Diaphragm Blades : 9 Blades
Minimum Aperture : F22
Minimum Focusing Distance : 200-500cm / 78.7-196.9in.
Maximum Magnification : 1:7.7
Filter Size : Diameter 72mm (Rear)
Filter Size : Petal-type Hood
Dimensions : Diameter 236.5mm X Length 726mm 9.3 in. X 28.6 in.
Weight : 15,700g/553.7 oz.
Corresponding AF Mounts : SIGMA, CANON, NIKON

(photo grabbed from gizmodo site, courtesy of Juza)

TechLife: Eco-Wireless Headset?

So while driving you feel obligated to use your fancy headset that came free with your mobile phone even though you hate wires. And you couldn't use your new bluetooth earpiece either as it easily drains the juice out of your mobile phone's battery; or maybe you're just havin' trouble pairing.

Well, the guys from Cell-Mate came out with.. what else? a cell mate!
It is somethin' like a stainless headstrap that sticks your mobile or cordless phone to your ear. Brilliant or funny? I guess while some geeks will love it, others may simply despise it. Actually, it's a matter of preference.. or a matter of fashion.. or.. sanity? the verdict is yours =)

They made it to CES 2009 though. It's actually cool, errm, what did I just say? ;-)

TechLife: Can you detect my face?

So you think digital camera is the only consumer electronic device that sports a face-recognition feature?

You might wanna check this out..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: http://www.reevoo.com/

Gadget Watch - Tap with face recognition

If there’s one thing in your house that you thought they’d never computerize, would it be a tap? Well, the guys at iHome have decided that a touchscreen tap with face recognition is the future in household gadgetry. I have to admit, this is pretty cool. The SmartFaucet recognises your face and then remembers exactly what water temperature and pressure you like. And if you get bored while you soak? Just use SmartFaucet to catch up on a few emails or find out how your calendar’s shaping up for the weekend.
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TechLife: Youtube Sensation!

I realized that in most of my blogs I embed video clips from youtube. Hmmm, well, I think probably that's because adding visuals to an article makes it more stimulating. It is like a sauce for that sushi you are eating. Or maybe, everything that anybody wants to talk about are now on youtube, reyht?

You want to get famous while singing inside your bathroom? then post that video on youtube..tube..tube! (echoing like your voice bouncing back & forth on those 4x4-inch tiles surrounding you)

You want to share some tips on cooking, vacuuming, proper way of cleaning your dSLR sensor, or even cleaning your dog's ears, skateboarding, dancing, tree-climbing, or just anything that ends with "-ing," go ahead and make that video & post it too.

You want to write blogs but your fingers are tired or too delicate to press those letters on your keyboard? then do a video blog instead.

You have the newest & coolest gadget and you want everyone to see while you're un-boxing it? (maybe to show the aesthetics of that desirable gizmo), then post it too.

Oh well, it's the youtube sensaaaaaatioN!
Your Own Unique Television Universally Broadcasted Everyday ...how's that for a definition? :)

Nearly almost any type of video clips can be found posted online nowadays. Perhaps all these hype turned up so fast in the advent of pocketable electronic devices -- digicams/videocams, built-in webcams on laptops, mobile phones with tiny cameras, giving everyone the ability to create amateur videos anywhere they go.

A whippersnapper can become suddenly popular by just creating his own channel and airing his talent on youtube. We can actually name some talented individuals who gained publicity through this media. The most popular videos (those with million hits, 5-star rankings, and thousand comments) are likely to become web stars. Imagine their audiences are in different parts of this world. I can only name a few youtube celebrities I know:

Marie Digby - a lovely and talented singer
Esmee Denters - another lovely singer from nether Netherlands :)
Chad Vader - a series of comedy clips produced by tandem Aaron & Matt
Moymoy Palaboy - wacky brothers who are now with GMA-7's Comedy Show Bubble Gang
Charice Pempengco - a young filipina singer who gained web publicity after her performance in a Korean talent show

I wonder, can this be a good point of entry to Hollywood? Haha.
But I guess it is possible especially if you get invited to guest in famous TV shows, like Ellen DeGeneres or in Letterman's =)

Anyway, I find youtube as a good source if you want to learn about something for free, at least the basic. There are good beings out there who generously share basic information or tricks about almost anything. For example some of these videoclip categories I'm benefiting from -- playing guitar, gadget reviews, photoshop techniques, and the hottest news that I might've missed on TV. And if I want to just crack up my day, there are a lot of funny clips also.

Okay, gotta go. I'm doin my own video too! hehe, I'm kidding. I'm just a regular viewer not an active uploader.

ciao! God bless! c",)


Here's an old clip which I find really amusing:
(This clip was embedded from and courtesy of youtuber BlackOleg)


And here's a funny animation commercial:
(This clip was embedded from and courtesy of youtuber paropetje)

TECH TIPS (Facebook): I clicked on "Add a Friend" request link by mistake, how do I cancel this?

Okay, to those with adrenalized fingers, I'm sure there were times in your net surfing experience that you furtuitously clicked on certain link in a page (or maybe because your mouse device was setup to autoclick on hotlinks). But that's no problem as you can just hit "back" to return to your previous page or simply close the window you don't intend to view.

Wait, I have another problem! I'm using Facebook and I accidentally clicked on the "Add as Friend" link, I dunno how, it happened so fast and there's no button nor any other links to Undo it! :(
..And I don't understand why Facebook didn't provide another confirmation if this link is unintentionally selected.

Chill out. There's a solution to this actually. But it's not like the other social networking websites where you can revoke such request by a click of a button. And Facebook have provided confirmation form after hitting that friend request link.. EXCEPT if you have more than three (i think) common friends, in which no confirmation form is displayed anymore. Quite silly huh?!? Anyway, here's how:

1. Go to your privacy settings and you'll see a boxed item there where you can block someone.
2. Enter the person's name (his/her facebook name I mean), then click on "Block" button. Another page will open, just proceed by clicking the "Block Person" button.
3. A confirmation message appears on top of that same privacy settings page. Then on the same boxed section, click "remove". That's it! It will automatically purge the friend request you might've "unintentionally" performed earlier.

Cheers! Technology has ways to reverse things, except your life! Haha. So make the most of it! Enjoy life! God bless!

c",)

TECH TIPS (iTunes): How to Undo the settings "Use iTunes for internet playback"

Have you ever, either intentionally or accidentally, clicked on that "SET" button that says "Use iTunes for Internet playback," which is under iTunes Preferences' Advanced tab? Well, I did, and I think out of curiosity, when I was fiddling around with the settings (something I have the habit of doing after installing certain apps). The annoying part is... there's no option under that iTunes preferences settings to UNDO it! geez! Are they really thinking about how it will benefit the users when they put that in there or this is just another trick to promote iTunes?

This iTunes auto-launch setting started to annoy me when I was downloading multiple MP3s from the internet. As soon as the download completes, it launches iTunes and instantly plays the downloaded MP3. It was as if iTunes was vaingloriously yelling and telling me "Hey, here I am! I played it for you! just what you're about to do!" Grrr! (calm down, you need to calm down Jeff).

Okay, how do we undo this if Apple did not provide that reverse option? Some users might suggest to reinstall the iTunes to set it back to its original state (making sure you don't tick that SET button again! and nobody in your household does!). Well, the quickest way to UNDO this is by going to your Safari Preferences. Wait! Safari?!? iTunes is the one that keeps operating by itself isn't it? Yes, but you're using your browser for downloading, right? So here's how:

Go to Safari \ Preferences \ uncheck the box that says Open "safe" files after downloading.

In addition, that settings to "Use iTunes for internet playback" will make your iTunes the default player for your audio files.

If you ever want to use other players, DIVX or Real Player for example, you may change the "open default" by selecting your audio file from Finder window and view the file information by pressing COMMAND I. You'll see a section that says "Open with:" with a drop-down list, from there select your desired default application you want your audio file to open with.

'Hope you find this useful. If it doesn't solve your iTunes internet playback problem just drop me a line and we'll see how I can extend some more help. Have a good day!

ciao! c",)

What's new?

Ey hey! I'm back after over a year! =)

So waddup? What's new?

Well, I'm revamping all my sites including my existence here in blogger sphere.
- First off, I'll be updating or removing the dead links. And will try to avoid, in as much as I can, adding external (video) links as I have no control over 'em.
- Then I'll be adding a few useful and interesting (at least for me, hehe) gadgets [or widgets] on my page, like what you see now.. my flickr badge and a chat box.
- And last but not least, of course I'll be posting new blog entries! (I have blog extension, btw, on multiply i call iBlog that contain some reflections and inspirations -- lifeblog entries, that is. While this blogger page will house the rest of my online journals, perhaps mostly techblogs & photoblogs.

That's about it for now. ciao!


c",)

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)

Tech Blog: Dopod C500 and N95 side-by-side

Here are some Dopod C500 shots taken alongside Nokia N95. (in reference to the earlier post)

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",)

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",)

Tech Blog: What could be next?

A friend forwarded this link to me. I was flabbergasted with this great invention since the first time I’ve seen this kind of technology was from the movie “Mission Impossible” or “Minority Report” (I couldn't recall exactly). Remember the scene where Tom Cruise was pulling some pieces (like a digitized files) out on a glass panel using his fingers to locate someone? Intuitive is it? and yes there’s a working prototype launched by this research scientist himself in TEDTalk online.

Watch it from this link

Like the audience, I wowed when Jeff Han showed some pictures he played around, a digitized keyboard -- which can be resized on your preference, and also few GPS snapshots in 3D which you can move around if you want to see the perfect angle!

Truly intuitive and amazing! This is just one of the incredible inventions out there, and some scientists could probably formulating new ideas at this very moment, while others might painstakingly be testing out their new discoveries. So, in today's world can you imagine what could be next?

c”,)

Tech Blog: MP3 Mania

“No Music. No Life.” was Tower Records’ catch phrase. I was pleased when I first saw this. I think life without music is dull. Music is the best companion when traveling, reading, while working, doing your chores, in almost everything we do (except of course when sleeping, hehe, though I know some who listen to soothing music to help get a good sleep). Music may either set our moods or ride our moods. Observe how others get easily exasperated after listening to heavy metal sounds. And notice why spa houses plays classical or nature-like sounds.

Different people have different preferences in terms of the music genre they tune in to. My ears accept almost all types of music but heavy metal (although there was a time that I got hooked in this kind of music, which I now consider noise as I was unable to concentrate when I hear them, hehe). I used to collect audio CDs since I started working. When I acquired my MD player (my first smallest music player - Y2003), I began ripping all my favorite songs into it to avoid carrying all those CDs with me. Songs are converted to ATRAC3 files (Sony’s proprietary file type for compressed digital music). Though MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) was already famous back then, I still preferred to rip audio CDs than download music online -- after my computer got infected by virus! grrr :)

I think MP3s started to evolve dramatically when Apple introduced the IPOD player (which is now by far the most favored music player – kudos to Apple!). They even went past Creative’s line of MP3 players. As manufacturers relentlessly compete to gain the “best MP3 player” title, many individual (music-lover alike) are having wide range of players to choose from. You’ll get a hard time deciding on which to buy if you have budget constraint. And if you’re after the features, you’ll somehow get confused on which would be the ‘good buy’.

In today’s generation, music players are now termed ‘MP3 Players’. There are even pens, eyeglasses, watches, digicams, and mobile phones that are solely designed for mp3 aficionados.

c",)