I'm in Freakn Love! Sony UX Series

A dream come true!
WindowsXP in the palm of your hand!

3G use in the Philippines

Since my last post from the states, i've been back here in the Philippines and it looks like the 3G bandwagon has gone into full swing here.

I've so far acquired the following to take advantage of the new service from globe and smart. I will also comment services/signal from each telco.

Things i needed:

- A 3G cellphone (for my pda and laptop)
- A 3G pcmcia pc card (for my laptop only)
- prepaid sim card from smart and globe



For the 3G Cellphone, I ended up buying a cheap one, the Sony ericsson k600i. They say the unwarrantied one costs below P10,000. I was able to get one for P9,000+ with 1 year warranty. Since ive had the phone, its done everything ive wanted it to do. Specifically connect to 3G networks to surf the net over 3G (HSDPA,UMTS,GPRS) speeds via bluetooth from my laptop or pda. Overall this solution save me tons of money after almost falling for the dopod 900 (P65,000) or any of the highend phones (i.e. Nokia 3G phones, around P30k+) which is really a bad idea since they are all first generation 3G phones as well. I'd hold off for now and buy the better ones later on, especially since both telco's are still further improving their network. I wont go into details about the Sony ericsson k600i, the only thing you need to know is that its compatible with whatever you want to do on a 3G network for a cheap cheap price.
I couldnt stop raving about the features, its size and most of all its cost to everyone who asked me for a 3g phone recommendation.

So here's the deal, i was able to connect the k600i to my pda/laptop via bluetooth. When it came to choosing which telco to try out first, i tried smart since it has the greater coverage. On my pda it worked terrific after setting the dialup number "*99**1#". So now i have a connection to the internet at 3G high speed on my powerful Dell Axim x50v PDA, what now!?? Only one thing to do! watch the NBA 2006 Finals on it! yep, using the 3G speed over my 3G cellphone and unto my pda via bluetooth using my slingbox player for windows mobile. I was successful in watching the nba playoffs from my car every morning on way to work. I would loose 3G signal along edsa from time to time in areas where they havent installed 3G cellsites yet, but its just a matter of time.

Here's a comparison of the rates from smart and globe:

Smart:

P10 for 30 mins.
- this means that once you start surfing, you need to use up the entire 30 mins to make it worth it. even if your email was just 2 mins to download, you still have 28 mins to use up or its gone. Power users will get more bang out of their buck since this type of plan isnt based on the size of data, instead based on time. So no matter if your watching video or talking over skype or listening to internet music, the rate will still be P10 for an entire 30 mins.

Globe:

Unfortunately globe is alot stricter when it comes to internet access on their 3G network, as I understand it.. only corporate customers can avail of internet over gprs/3G access through their get-visibility.com deal. Their plans for 3G internet access are listed their ranging from P2000 unlimited access to P1700 per kb access)


List of wireless internet speeds: (from fastest to slowest)

hsdpa (3.5G fastest)
umts (3G)
edge
gprs (slowest)

HSDPA cellphones are on their way out soon, right now only 3G handsets are out here locally. Ive bought a hsdpa/umts/edge/gprs pc card (Globetrotter by option) dedicated for my laptop and so far its been wireless internet nirvana!! finally i can keep all my media files on my home network and remotely play them all back from my laptop or car or office!!

David Blaine, He's at it again!

I just thought this was wickedly awesome editing!

Bench store in Serramonte Mall

Bench store in Serramonte Mall, originally uploaded by ChrisFong.

Kris Aquino in the window of a Bench store here in Serramonte mall in my

second home Pacifica, California. I've seen it all. This girl has got to be

stopped!

Kite Boarding!

Kite Boarding!, originally uploaded by ChrisFong.

Finally caught some kite boarders in action out here in florida, the

epicenter of water sports! Wohooo!

An iPod Dispensing Machine

An iPod Dispensing Machine, originally uploaded by ChrisFong.

this is just unbelievable! I just deplaned in the airport and as I was

walking in the terminal I could have sworn seeing ipod's inside this

dispensing machine with all accessories and othe mp3 players as well!

Simpsons the Movie!

Clerks 2!!!

Yes Finally its back!!!

Just landed in LA

Just landed in LA, originally uploaded by ChrisFong.

Am on my way to Augusta to see Tiger woods in the Masters after winning the

free ticket at raffle! Wohoo!

AAAAAAAAAWWWWEESOME!!!!

AAAAAAAAAWWWWEESOME!!!!

Watch your Cable programs on your laptop or cellphone!

Click this picture below to start playing the VIDEO clip:
























The Slingbox allows you to watch your TV/Cable/Dvd's/VCR on your laptop (via wifi) or cellphone (GPRS,EVDO or EDGE). It does this by hooking up the slingbox to your home cable and to your internet connection, it then streams the channels onto the internet to feed your laptop or cellphone the content from anywhere in the world.

The short video will show you a demo, which was done in realtime over a EVDO wireless connection in the states onto a Treo cellphone running windows mobile 5.0

click here for more..

To see more on the Slingbox click here

An iPod/Cellphone!!??

Yes its true, based on the below article, read on:

"Ever thought that Apple would make a musical iPod / Phone gadget ?

Insiders at Taiwanese phone maker BenQ say that Apple procurement executives have been talking to various Taiwanese phone makers during the past few months in an effort to cut a manufacturing deal on an iPod Phone. “An iPod phone is definitely coming,” according to BenQ executive. They claimed that several suppliers have been approached to manufacture parts. J.P Morgan believes Apple will introduce the phone by the fourth quarter of this year. As you may have noticed, the iphone.org site is now pointed to apple.com." - From, The Gadget Blog

for more info click on these two links from The Gadget Blog and Pocket-Lint

Is Gadget Obsession or Multi-Tasking Bad?

In a Recent cover story on Time Magazine, an article reads that the current youth may be losing their focus and "quality" and spending more time on "quantity" on doing more with less focus in whatever task they may be doing. It blames the pervasive electronics and gadgetry that make kids "so wired up" or "so connected" anytime and anywhere now a days that pull their attention away from doing one thing at a time and with great focus. Although, this may be good in a way because they get alot of things done at the same time, it still is a concern in terms of family time spent in the household and general time/life management.

My personal take on this is basically ones self-conciousness. At the very least if one chooses to continue a lifestyle, one must "atleast be aware" of whats happening to him or her, thats the first step. Next is he or she still choses to do so then that is their choice, but atleast it was a choice and not a natural take over by their surroudings without their comprehension of whats going on with their selves.

Click here to read the original article...

DJ Days! Behold the Mp3 Revo!

Vinyl Records then CD's now MP3's!! the old "crate carrying days" of the DJ are now being replaced by the high tech world with MP3 files. It even boasts that you can "scratch" an Mp3 as if it were a normal vinyl record against the needle!




Click Here for more..

Windows XP running on a Mac!

Look like they've done it! After raising an award of $13,000+ on the net, someone has found a way to make windows xp and max os X run on Mac hardware specifically on a mac mini with an intel core solo processor. This video (itunes required) shows evidence of windows running quite smoothly with small exceptions of driver issues on display and network cards. It wont be long now!! =)

Samsung's version of "Origami", the Q1

With Microsofts unveiling of the newest form factor for windows then called "Origami" now called the "UltraMobilePC" or "UMPC". Samsung and Asus are one of the first to take a crack at releasing the very first prototypes to soon hit the market. You can be sure ill be getting my hands on one right away!

click here for more shots and info..

Buying a new laptop? here's some considerations..

Am currently eyeing on a new laptop, and if you wana know what are the things im currently looking for in one, here they are: (in no particular order)

1.) Intel Dual Core processor
- latest chip from intel which is actually two processors in one, made for more multitasking and load sharing across processors. makes for faster performance and boot times.

2.) Weight max 6 lbs.
- will be using this as both my personal and business laptop so must be portable. So it must be a desktop replacement at heart but lightweight in body.

3.) atleast 256mb Graphics Card
- three words! GAMING, GAMING and GAMING. also required for the next version of windows.

4.) atleast 1 gig RAM Memory
- can never have enough, normally when your laptop doesnt have enough RAM memory, it starts using your hard drive as a temporary place to process which leads to slower performance.

5.) atleast 100 Gig Hard Drive
- can never have enough, i like ripping dvd and converting them into formats for my psp, ipod video and archos av500 players. so ill definitely need the space for conversion purposes. aside from my office files needs as well.

6.) Wifi preferably 802.11G
- connectivity reigns, i cant see the purpose of a laptop with this!

7.) DVD-RW writer
- need this to free up space from my hard drive by moving/archiving old files i dont use anymore to large capacity DVD discs.

8.) atleast 3 hrs batt life (with wifi on)
- a 9-cell battery is capable of atleast 3 hrs batt life. this should be standard by now.

9.) Certified compatible with next version of windows, namely Windows Vista (coming out late this year 2006)
- the next release of windows is right around the corner and im really looking forward to the new feature which makes windows look more like a mac gui interface. its called "Aero glass" and one requirement is a good graphics/video card.


so far the Acer TravelMate 8200 has been the best that measures closest to my criteria. Will most likely end up with it on my trip to the US this april.

CD to iPod Converter

Well, at least it aint vaporware! a taiwan company called Zettabyte has finally come out with a prototype of a cd reader/player that will read any music cd and tranfer all songs onto your ipod via usb without need for a computer. Hmm... I wonder if they will come out with a video version that rips DVD to my ipod video, now that would be awesome!!!

click here for more info..

Windows for all seasons!

Ever wonder how many "Form Factors" Microsoft has made over the years?
(I've been fortunate enough to have atleast owned and experienced every one of these historical devices.)



Portable Media Center
- use: to bring your music and videos wherever you go.

Smartphone
- use: built to be a cellphone first then a semi pda.






Pocket PC Mobile
- use: built to be a pda first then a cellphone second.




Tablet PC
- use: initially built as an input device via pen for doctors to hold on their arms while walking. Screen swivels and folds to hide keyboard.





Desktop PC
- use: First ever form factor used as we know it.




Laptop
- use: Second form factor created for the "on the go" user.



Pocket PC
- use: First ever "pocketable" PC






Media Center PC
- use: First ever PC meant to be in your "Living Room" and connected to a plasma screen or TV, controlled via remote.


Xbox
- use: First ever game console from Microsoft.






LATEST:
UltraMobile PC (UMPC) aka "Origami"
- use: A smaller Tablet PC, finally getting the tablet pc down to a size more portable. The screen is now a touchscreen which doesnt require a pen.