Archive for April, 2008

Posted on April 25, 2008 - by Abner

Olympic Torch Relay – Malaysia Pix

Finally I managed to extract the pictures taken last Monday. The crowd was huge.

Nice bike.

Samsung girls…



Me and Samsung i450. Did not realize she was in the background.



Torch bearer


Exchange of the Olympic torch

She said “Welcome To China!” …

Wanted to start another post for these photos… but what the heck. Let’s put it up all here.

This was the roadshow Samsung held in KLCC


I saw a lot of new models thats yet to be released. Very nice…

Got 2 of the girls to pose for me. One of them was my colleagues friend so it was easier to approach. Hehe.
Ale… my climbing friend.

Excolleagues

Haha… sorry… I need head count.

Posted on April 25, 2008 - by Abner

Abnerd does i450

So more than half a month has gone by and I am starting to get to know the Samsung i450 better. Everyday I get to learn some new applications or functions thats hidden here and there. No, I don’t read the manual. Yet. It’s more like learning through experience. When am really stuck…there’s the internet.

Let me go through the ones that I use the most. That would be the basic functions, calling, messaging, listening to music, taking photos and jotting down to-do notes.

Since I got this phone, I have been making loads of calls and it shows. My phone bill this month has already exceeded the RM200 mark. Wow. My record so far. And let’s hope it stays uncontested for days to come.

When I make a call, the reception on my side is apparently quite clear and no disruption. Unfortunately that was not the case on the other side of the conversation. My mum especially was quick to point out the flaw, but I was doubtful at first cos older people… hearing not so good… *sorry mum* But when my brother and friends too complained about the breakage and disruptions, I was convinced. Tried plugging in the handsfree set but it was the same. Any of you guys having that problem?

As for the messaging, it needed a little bit of getting used to. After 2 years churning out smses on my SE K700i, having a different messaging system to explore was fun. I liked the fact that I get to “Add Recipient” before I start texting. This would prevent from sending a message to the wrong person. With Predictive Text @ T9 turned on, it was a breeze. The * and # made my life easier too with their extra functions. Even more cooler was the Copy, Cut and Paste function.

I never played with those before, and now I send contact numbers or web address by just copying and pasting. No more retyping. Sending a message while driving is a bit more difficult and the flat keypad makes it harder. Being a lousy multitasker, I try not to reply any smses when I am driving. And luckily no “mata-mata” has caught me in the act. Have just sent out an Audio Message, do not know if it works. I sounded funny.

I am using the To-Do Notes extensively. Currently I have 7 things I need to complete. Top in the list is to train and get a mean core muscle. Haha… Others are meetings, appointments and things to settle. Had the habit to list them down so I don’t have to keep remembering them. Details are displayed in one single interface unlike my old phone. I like it. Much much.

I really dig the dual slider design. The horizontal interface of the player is amazing. The sound quality is no doubt excellent. It’s like having my own compact Bang & Olufsen in hand. Scrolling through my songs with the touch control is totally rad. Songs are sorted in different categories and I could choose to play them All at once or by Albums, Artists, Genres. Heck, I could be my own DJ and create my own playlist. I take the LRT everyday so I am pumping the i450 to and from work. For now, I have abandoned my 512Mb MP3 player. Poor fellow collecting dust. Can’t blame me because with a 1Gb MiniSD card, I could load in so many songs. Yesterday a guy on the street thought I was using an iPod or something. I don’t know about you all, but I can watch movies, read PDF, make calls, send messages, get organized, listen to songs and much more with my i450. FM radio reception is good and now I can listen to it in my office too, for those prank calls, fix its and gender discussions. Haha…

The camera function does not match the other functions though. It’s a known fact that the 2.0 Megapixel camera get their ass whooped by their other 2.0 peers. But I am not disappointed for my old phone photo quality is even worse. Haha… so not much complain from me. And I can save it to my MicroSD card makes it way better. My solution to make my photo sessions much more fun and exciting… let me show you.

Yup, I got a LOMO Fisheye filter imported from Japan. Now even my reluctant friends have become willing participants. *wink*
Yeah, the 3G video quality is affected. It’s bad. I look like I got run over by several army trucks. *roll eyes* Nothing I can do.

I am also using a lot of their Organizers function. Under the Clock, I can set a quick alarm. For the past few days I was setting it every night before I went to sleep. Was actually not too happy with it because my old phone has a function where I can set alarms for my working days. To my surprise, while commuting back home last Wednesday I found out that the Samsung i450′s Alarm function provides all these and I can even set several alarms with different Repeat selection. For now, it’s only 2… one to wake up to go to work every weekday and the other is to get me to sleep daily.

The last one, is World Clock. For kicks, I set several time display which are Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipei, Hanoi, London and Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi because Sponkers is there. Er… actually he is in Qatar but since I can’t find it, I just chose Abu Dhabi. This time next month I will be using the Bangkok time. Aaa… can’t wait.

Honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I have not even tried their S60 Platform. Will share what other features I use before I burrow into the abyss. Haha…

Damn. My audio message failed to send. Mmm… who else for me to test it with.

Posted on April 22, 2008 - by Abner

Celebrate Earth Day with RDM Cuba

Just can’t resist myself from posting these songs, coincidentally it’s Earth Day so here is a compilation music that I overheard last week while hanging out with R in Coffee Bean. I loved the songs so curiosity gotthe best of me and I walked up to the counter and asked them what was playing. The guy told me it was called Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba. Went to the back and got me the CD cover.

A very small portion of the CD sales will go to APE = Artist’s Project Earth – the climate change awareness and disaster relief charity. Packaging is made out of recycle material, obviously. Then there are a few mini articles inserted inside.

Let the music do the talking. I am posting 2 videos. There is nothing much to see, but listen to the different version of the songs. First is by Coldplay – Clocks and the second is by Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved
Hear them. Love them.
Here is the original site : RhythmsDelMundo.com
You can get the music CD in Tower Records. I have already checked it out.

Posted on April 22, 2008 - by Abner

Olympic Torch Relay – Malaysia

Yup. I was balancing myself on the curb at around 4pm yesterday in front of Sungei Wang Plaza awaiting the arrival of the Olympic Torch bearer. Though the sun hid itself among the cloudy skies but the heat was definitely there. Throw in a hundred plus people seasoning it with a group of adrenaline pumped cheerleaders in tights, not to mention the Samsung roadshow DJ working up the crowd, one would expect a little bit of havoc. A 3 lane road became single lane with the crowd edging and pushing themselves forward to get a better glimpse or clearer shot of the Olympic convoy.

The traffic police came first. Revving their bikes and honking, trying to force their way through the congested lane, just like Moses trying to create a path through the sea. But there are some spectators who complained that their attitude were too brutish as they just sped along the curb lines, very very close to us. At that moment they seem to be wishing that they could clip and trip any of us. Not friendly at all.

When the convoy finally arrived, it was a dozen of them on bicycles. Everything just went by very very fast. More waiting before the real torch bearer came. I nearly missed him as he was surrounded or rather hounded by a large group. Did not manage to get a nice shot.

Would really love to leave you all with some pictures here, but the Sony driver don’t seem to be working on my Windows 2000. Will have to enlist YF’s help when she gets back. And they are coming back tonight. Yippie.

Posted on April 21, 2008 - by Abner

Food and Friends – Part 1

That’s a really good combination if you ask me. And that’s what I was up to most of the weekend. In short, it was a lip smacking weekend. But this post will not have any photos yet because my camera is in Taiwan now and will be back on Tuesday. So I am waiting for my friends to send them over to me. Did I mention that evil@lai was kind enough to let me meddle with her Nikon DSLR. Yeah, it was my first time handling a DSLR for more than 5 minutes. I like the sound of it capturing the moment. *click*

Saturday and Sunday really had me all over the place. The time I spent at home was just to sleep. I was out most of the time and if I was home it was just 30 minutes plus, where I bath before I rushed out again. Everything was scheduled back to back. I was spiritually involved in the KL Freeze which happened yesterday at 8pm if you count sleeping as freezing. Had an early dinner at 6pm and got home before 8. Lay down and just dozed off. I was that tired. I had nearly 12 hours of sleep and guess what I am getting a day off work today too.

I am planning to go check out the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay : Malaysia which is sponsored by Samsung. Am stringing a friend along for the event. Hope to get some shots down together with my i450 phone. Hope to see some of the BlogMobbers there. But first I am going to bath and then head over the the Income Tax Office to get my password. I forgot mine. And am left with 2 chances of unlocking it. Don’t want to get suspended. Another busy Monday ya.

Happy working!

Posted on April 19, 2008 - by Abner

The Taiwan Drama

As I am sitting alone here in the living room looking at Crumbs, can’t help but to listen to my dear bro and dear YF squabbling. Those two fellows are going on a holiday and at 12am, no bags are packed yet. Their flight is 14 hours from now. What’s even more commendable is that they have not gone to a money changer to get some Taiwan Dollar. And being first timers on such a long way from home… they really amazes me. But somehow their last minuteness adds to the excitement. The adrenaline rush thats gradually building up to the moment their airplane takes off. Racing against time to get everything packed will surely ignite their imagination. Well, it works that way for me at least. I would spend a good hour or two wondering what I would be experiencing, which will get me exhilarated and eyes wide shut. Kubrick movie title. Yup.

Suddenly the silence dawns on me. The din those two holidaymakers were making earlier seemed to have died out. Let me steal a look. Hang on.

Reporting in.
YF is busy packing while my brother, the hero is sitting in front of the computer. What audacity. Well he might be doing some research for his trip and all but hey, with me adding spices to the situation, it makes this post more blog worthy. Guess they won’t have time to check on my blog tonight and by the time they are reading this… haha… it’s already published.

My brother just beckoned me over. To see a forwarded email attached with some tattooed puff dragon… damn… and at this hour. It’s confirmed my brother is not doing anything but hey, the efficiency rate is damn high. In under 20minutes they have already packed what they wanted. Bravo!

I am tired. Need to wash up and rest. A full day tomorrow.

Posted on April 18, 2008 - by Abner

Yummy Weekend

It seems that I will be having a full weekend again.
My darling sis, Qiqi  will be doing her ‘thang’ as promised and I honestly can’t wait. Can I help in the kitchen too?

Then there is a gathering at night… at I don’t know where. Will be seeing some friends who are coming all the way from Singapore. Actually I only know one. Hopefully some hugs are in store. *wink* you know who you are. I just crash their party. Eat drink and mix around. Let’s just take it that I am representing Sponkers.

Sunday. Climb in Summit. Gathering. Dinner with ex-colleagues. Been more than a  year since I last met all of them together. The previous planned dinner was scrapped at the last minute, so let’s pray that this time it goes off without a hitch. Bring camera ya!

All these means more people to show the Samsung i450 phone to. Hahaha…..

Posted on April 17, 2008 - by Abner

Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone

Getting out my camera and snapping around was something that I very seldom do. More so, when approaching total strangers or not-so-strangers to pose for you. Last Saturday, when I attended the BlogMob event, I kind of agreed to get out of my comfort zone, that being a bit shy and avoiding attention. The phone itself had generated quite amount of buzz lately, with the huge billboards, tv and radio ads, press ads and roadshows too. Guess the people in Samsung are really working their butts off. Having meeting them personally and seeing all the work they put in, *pat pat* *nod nod*

Let me roll out the photos first as I have to get all my pictures out before this Friday. My brother and YF will be flying to Taiwan and I promised to borrow them my camera. Mmm… how am I going to take some photos of me showing people the i450? Nah… it will work itself out. Let’s hope that they bring me back something nice from Taiwan. Haha… Joking… but you guys better find someone for me to take pictures with.

Some of you might not understand what I am proposing to you online. So I am showing you examples of what I need you to do when I meet or do not meet any of you. Here goes. I missed out the first person that I showed it to. Will get him to pose for a photo soon.

First night. Had some German beer before we took photos.

My friends at the climbing gym. Did I mention only a portion of climbers?

This is my current favorite. Poor fellow was a bit blur when I approached him to ask for a photo. Was worried that the phone will slip off his hands too, because his glove was too big for him. What a start.
My favorite nasi lemak seller. They are friendly and nice. And their nasi lemak… power. I could eat them for the whole week. I got them to pose for me because by 8.40am they were already sold out and nothing left for me to eat. Hence they were free, so got them to model.
Click more to kill bandwidth.
(more…)

Posted on April 17, 2008 - by Abner

The Time is Now

Yeah… it’s a Moloko song title.
Now that’s out of the way too… let’s get on with it. Everyone is so fired up with their Samsung phones and are already doing loads of posts. Better late than never right? Let me start hogging your bandwidth with some event and phone pictures.


The Bloggers + Soon to be Bloggers





PC Fair…

That is the music player interface when you slide it down. Everything goes horizontal from there on.
The phone stands out among ugly doodles.
Click on more to continue killing your bandwidth. (more…)

Posted on April 16, 2008 - by Abner

One of the 16th BlogMobbers

Ok ok. I know… am lagging behind on the Samsung i450 posts. Had been playing with it a little but it’s hard to fully concentrate on it when I have another new toy to play around too. My new lappie. Gosh… obviously the other bloggers are hard at work fanning their Samsung i550 and i450. Jolene really whip my ass. Ouch. She really has been going around town showing the phones.

Anyway, for my friends and visitors who are too lazy to click on the BlogMob links… here is the group photo taken during the event. I stole it from their site. Go check it out and click around. Have a look at my other new blogger friends site while you are at it.

But in actual fact, I have already taken some photos and have yet to post them. I have some interesting characters down today. I noticed that day most of the bloggers were in black and white. And most of them are very young… *cough*