Me, Myself and Technology

Farewell Nokia N900

2011-06-25T08:32:00.002+08:00

23rd of June 2011, was my last day with N900.

I was using N900 for almost 14 months. During that period, this community played a major part in keeping my faith with maemo. Maemo was one of the exciting OSes that I ever used. Unfortunately, Nokia didn't share the same sentiment when they decided to stop the support for maemo and N900.

So, I decided it's time for me to ditch Nokia for good. But looking for a replacement is not an easy task. I can say that N900 has set a certain standard on how the mobile OS should looks like, especially when it comes to multi tasking. Not to mention the browser's capability, despite lack of support from Adobe on flash player. It's easily the best mobile browser I ever used.

Between iOS and Android, it's really a tough choice. With iOS, you'll be assured of support from Apple. With Android, you'll be assured of support from Google if you are using their official devices. If you buy other devices, it's up to the manufacturers to provide the update for Android.

So the search continue for a few months. But Samsung made it easy for me when they released the Galaxy S II. And on 23rd June 2011, I welcomed Galaxy S II into my life.

It's a decision that I'll never regret.

*Sent via Samsung Galaxy S II*

My latest gadget - Plantronics Discovery 975 bluetooth headset

2010-08-26T15:56:00.000+08:00

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Sent from my Nokia N900 using Nokia Messaging

A Bentley - cropped using Nokia N900 image editor

2010-05-22T11:56:00.000+08:00

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Sent from my mobile computer, Nokia N900

Using QuickPanorama on Nokia N900

2010-05-22T11:48:00.001+08:00

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Sent from my mobile computer, Nokia N900

Nokia N900 - between internet tablet and smartphone

2010-04-26T18:32:00.001+08:00

I've been using my Nokia E71 for around 2 years before I decided to do a tech refresh. But it's not easy to find a replacement for a device that can be considered as "complete", in terms of functionalities. So, I came out with my own "must have" requirements. I will not consider the device that cannot meet these "must have" requirements:
1. Touchscreen - since I browse a lot using my E71, it's time to get a bigger and better screen.
2. Keyboard - I am a fan of the physical keyboard. So, it must have a physical QWERTY keyboard.
3. Powerful - since my E71 can do almost everything, from blogging and tweeting to downloading torrent files (yes, I downloaded torrent files via my E71), so the new device should be able to match the capabilities of my E71. And capable of real multitasking. By the way, this criterion is subjective, depends on how you define "powerful".

After some intensive reading over the net, I shortlisted 3 devices:
1. Nokia N900
2. iPhone 3GS
3. Nokia N97 mini

Later I will list the advantages and disadvantages of each device.

Nokia N900 will be coming to Malaysia soon!

2010-03-23T17:19:00.001+08:00

Finally, the wait is almost over. You can pre-order from the Nokia Malaysia website: http://www.nokia.com.my/

Below is the response from Nokia Careline:

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SR#: 1-10905540449
Dear Mr. Abdullah,

Thank you for emailing Nokia Careline.

In response to your inquiry, the Nokia N900 is expected to begin shipping this month (March 2010).

You may also find it helpful to contact your local authorized Nokia retailer or network service provider as they may be able to provide details as to when they plan to release this phone model for retail.

You may use this link to locate the nearest Nokia Retail Store near your area: http://www.nokia.com.my/find-a-store.
Thank you for your interest in purchasing Nokia product/s and wishing you a pleasant day ahead!

You may like to visit our website at www.nokia.com.my for more information and support for your Nokia device. If you have further enquiries, please write to us again or contact Nokia Careline at 1300 881600. We operate between the hours of 8.00am and 8.00pm, seven days a week.

Kind regards,
Michelle N.
Nokia Careline

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G-JoE @ GMAIL

Blogging from Pixelpipe

2009-11-17T10:56:00.002+08:00

Isn't cool if you can blog from anywhere, anyhow and anytime? Previously, i've been blogging by sending email to this blog from my trusted Nokia E71. And it works like a charm. And very convenience as I don't need to install any application on my E71. Plus you can attach photos and send it to your blog.

I just discovered a new alternative way to blog, which is using Pixelpipe. Oh by the way, this post is sent via Pixelpipe. I've been actively using Pixelpipe to update my status on Facebook and Twitter from Nokia Contact. Cool huh? Now I just add Pixelpipe in my GoogleTalk contact list, so that I can update my status from my PC anytime I want. Oh I love technology!

Till then....

Sample photo taken with Nokia E71

2009-01-16T19:40:00.000+08:00

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sent using nokia e seventy one

My top 10 applications for Nokia E71

2009-01-14T08:37:00.000+08:00

Here is the list of my top 10 applications:
1. Roadsync - despite having a free Mfe, I decided to use Roadsync because it supports access to sub-folders.
2. Y-Browser - freeware file management
3. Handy Taskman
4. Handy Shell - replacing the standard home screen.
5. Google Maps
6. Nokia Maps
7. Nimbuzz
8. Fring
9. Gmail client
10. Mobitubia - client for YouTube

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sent using nokia e seventy one

If you free, do NIMBUZZ me.

2009-01-12T08:17:00.001+08:00

I like to test applications for my Nokia E71. If I found it useful, I will install it and use it. Well, sometimes I just use it for a couple of time then that's it. But some of it stays in my phone as I find it convenience to have. You know, the feeling to know that you have something although you may not using it frequently but when you want it, it's there.

Enough of craps. For this posting, I wanna share my experience of using one of the freeware instant messaging client, Nimbuzz. Not many people know about Nimbuzz. I've been using it (though not on daily basis) for quite sometimes. Maybe since 2006, during my time with Nokia E70. Since then, it has improved alot.

As you can see on the right side of this posting, I'm one of the ambassadors for Nimbuzz. But don't worry, I'm not going to be biased in my review. Keep on reading and you'll know.

Nimbuzz supports many IM such as Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Live and even Facebook chat to name a few. Cool huh? I like the user interface. Neat and tidy. You can even make a call to any Google Talk id (as long as they are using the client version on their pc). I'm not sure about call to any IM client. It delivers what it is suppose to deliver, instant messaging. No doubt about it. You can configure your SIP account for VoIP service. I haven't tried this feature.

In the early stage, I did tried to make a call to normal telephone using Nimbuzz but to no avail. At that time, we need to call a local number before our call is transferred to the targeted number. So, we can enjoy a local call rate which is cheaper than international.

I don't have to mention all the good things about Nimbuzz as they deliver what they advertise. However, I have a few complaints:
1. Some of the ID's are not grouped accordingly. For example, if I have 10 friends who are on Google Talk. Only 4 of them are listed under Google Talk group. The rest I need to find under the common group. Same goes to YM.
2. Whenever you want to start using Nimbuzz, it takes around 10 seconds to connect. Hopefully they can improve this.

Other than the above, I'm a happy user of Nimbuzz. Btw, they also released a desktop version. But I'm not able to use due to connection error. I reported this matter to the support team and waiting for their response.

Go ahead and give it a try. It's free anyway. Happy Nimbuzzing!

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sent using nokia e seventy one

Nokia E71 - part 3

2009-01-08T08:42:00.001+08:00

While the total RAM is 110 MB, do not expect that it will work without any glitches. I did experience some problems with Nokia E71. Sometimes it restart by itself, sometimes the screen will freeze, sometimes the applications won't work until you restart the phone etc. I'm not sure what is the real problem. Maybe due to some of the applications, or maybe due to Symbian OS. But the good outweigh the bad. I can live with it although sometimes it annoys me.

Let's review the built-in cameras. As I mentioned in my previous posting, it comes with 2 cameras, front and back. The front camera is meant for video while the back camera is the main camera. It's a 3.2 MP camera, with auto focus and LED flash. To be frank, the photo quality is sucks most of the time (unless you capture a photo in a bright sunny day). And again, I didn't expect too much on the phone camera. I will use my Nikon D40 whenever I want to capture photos.

Conclusion? Nokia E71 is a phone that has most of the latest technology and yet affordable. It's suitable for those who cannot live without email and internet. The build quality is very good and looks elegant. For those who want something like blackberry but not a blackberry, Nokia E71 is something that they should seriously consider. For those who like to send SMS, they also should consider this phone (I write this post with only one hand). But to fully utilise the phone, you need to subscribe to the unlimited data plan. Then you can push Nokia E71 to the limit. It's your call.

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sent using nokia e seventy one

Nokia E71 - part 2

2009-01-07T08:48:00.002+08:00

One thing I want to highlight is the display. IMHO, the display on Nokia E series is the best compare to other Nokia models. I can't remember what is the resolution (you can just google for it) but the color and the quality is above the rest. I always use it as a benchmark whenever I want to explore other phones.

The sound quality from Nokia E71 is good. Well this is very subjective. Since this device is meant for executive (E = executive, err I guess), the sound quality is acceptable.

Let's move to the hardware. The build quality is very good. The size is just nice, neither too big nor too small. The QWERTY keypad is very responsive. Although the keypad is small, believe me, it's easy to use. You just need to familiarize with the keypad structure (especially when you want to type a number or special character). You can even use it with one hand (because the other hand is busy hanging on something in lrt). It also has a dedicated button for volume control and 4 customizeable keys (which you can assign any favorite applications).

I'm the kind of user who will really fully utilize my mobile device. So, I installed many applications in my Nokia E71. Fring, Nimbuzz, Roadsync, Twim, Gmail, Google Maps, Opera Mini, to name a few. Most of it are freeware (why buy when you can get it for free). My Nokia E71 is the main source for me to be online. I surf alot using my phone. The built-in browser is good for normal browsing. You can even view youtube video using it. But it also has some limitations. Which is why I also installed Opera Mini to compensate that limitation.

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sent using nokia e seventy one

Happy New Year!  Nokia E71 - part 1

2009-01-06T08:38:00.003+08:00

It's been a very loooong time since my last posting. Ok, this year, I'll write frequently. That's my new year resolution. But, instead of sitting in front of my laptop typing, I'll write from my Nokia E71, and email the writing to my blog, and publish it instantly. So, in the process, you may notice typo errors etc. Pardon me for that. I want to fully utilise my Nokia E71.

Just so you know, I bought Nokia E71 in August 2008. I've been waiting for a phone that technically has everything. And Nokia E71 perfectly meets those requirements. My requirements are:
1. GPS device
2. HSDPA
3. 3G (duh)
4. Wifi
5. Dual camera for video call
6. QWERTY keyboard (actual keys, not touch screen like you-know-what)
7. Any features in my Nokia E70
8. Affordable (unlike Nokia E90, too expensive)
See? Nokia E71 meets all my requirements.

I'm not going to list out all the technical specifications of Nokia E71. Just visit Nokia's website and read it from there. I wanna share my experience of using it after 4 months. In general, I'm satisfied with the phone. It has all kind of connection method such as bluetooth, wifi and even infrared. It supports HSDPA, 3G, EDGE and GPRS. It also has 2 cameras, front and back. The front camera is meant for video call while the back camera is the main camera, 3.2 mp. Its integrated GPS chip works fine.

Another VOIP service for SIP-Enabled device

2007-07-28T23:46:00.000+08:00

Wow... it's been quite sometimes i haven't write anything on this blog. My last post was in April, when i wrote about Nikon D40 and SB-400. Now, i'm back! Hope i will have the time to update this blog regularly.

Early this year, on January 23rd, i wrote a blog titled "Free calls to regular phone. Seriously?". It's a VOIP service that enabled you to call to regular phone from your pc over internet. Recently, i found out another VOIP service that enabled you to call to regular phone over internet, but this time exclusively from your SIP-Enabled device such Nokia E-Series. It's called Truphone.

What is Truphone? From their website, "Truphone routes your mobile calls via the internet. That means free mobile calls to other Truphone users & very cheap calls to anyone else." See? "Very cheap calls to anyone else." But that is not my main attraction. The main attraction is, they are doing an offer, "Terrific offer: free calls until Dec 31st. Sign up before 30th September and get free mobile calls to 40 countries worldwide for the rest of the year." But as usual, read thoroughly before you sign up. Especially the fine print. Ok, enough of that. Let me share my experience of using Truphone.

As i owned Nokia E70 and subscribed to Unlimited 3G data usage, why don't i fully utilize the usage of my E70? So, i subscribed to Truphone. As i mentioned earlier, Truphone is meant for SIP-enabled mobile device. It doesn't have a client for pc. So, for people without SIP-enabled device, just forget it. Installation is done in two ways, either you download the client directly from your phone by SMS, or download to your pc and transfer the installation file to your phone. But everytime you install the client, it will send a sms to request for configuration file. And you'll get a couple of smses in return. I'm not sure the charges on sms. It didn't stated anywhere on the website.

Once configured, you can make a VOIP call to any regular phone as they gave USD2 for a start. I prefer to connect from the SIP service rather than the Truphone client. It consumes less memory. Oh did i mention that you can connect to Truphone by 3G or WiFi? Yes, we could. Making a call to regular phone is not a problem at all. I've done a couple of phone calls using Truphone and it works without any glitch. The best part is, you can also call google talk using from Truphone! I really really love this feature. As i don't have any of my friends using Truphone, i do have friends using google talk. Just imagine, you can call them from your handphone! Isn't cool?

But, i have a problem making a call to google talk id. When i tried to call my own id, which i log in during office hour, it's always unsuccessful. Same goes to my colleague. So, i log an incident to the support team. After exchanging emails, finally the support team decided to give me a call. Isn't great? You are using a free service, and they call you to solve your problem. After a couple of test, it worked as it should. However, when i try to call a friend in India, i faced another problem, unable to listen to his voice. Sheezz..... it's ok. I'll keep on trying. And it will be nice if they can provide the SIP password! So that we can use Truphone with third party application.

I recommend this service to anyone who own SIP-enabled device. Currently it only supports selected Nokia E-series and N-series. I believe they will try to expand the list of supported device. While there is a lag a second or two during the call, it still acceptable. I still hoping that i can resolve the google talk issue. And the support team, they really try their best to resolve the issue. So guys, try to call me on my Truphone. The number is +12064248375.

Nikon Speedlight SB-400

2007-04-29T19:17:00.000+08:00

I did mention about Nikon SB-400 in my previous posting. Now i'm going to review this litte stuff. Overall, i'm very satisfied with the performance of Nikon SB-400. It gives me the option to have creative lighting. It is small, compact and most important is affordable. It uses only 2 AA-size batteries, which is very convenient as u can get the batteries in most convenience stores. The flash head can be tilted in 4 steps, horizontal, 60, 75 and 90 degrees. For me, it'll complement Nikon D40.

Below are the technical specifications for Nikon SB-400, extracted from Nikon's website:

Electronic Construction	Automatic Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and series circuitry
Flash Exposure Control	Slow-sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction in slow sync, Rear-curtain sync flash, FV Lock flash, manual flash (with D40 camera)
Guide Number	30/98.4 (ISO 200, m/ft), 21/69 (ISO 100, m/ft)
Flash Coverage	Light distribution covers an 18mm lens when mounted on a Nikon DX format camera and a 27mm lens when mounted on an F6
Film Speed Range in TTL auto flash mode	0.6m to 20m (2 to 66 ft.) (Varies depending on the ISO sensitivity, zoom-head position, and lens aperture in use)
Recycling Time	Approx. 2.5 seconds
Number of Flashes	Approx. 210/2.5-30 sec.
Power Requirements	Two AA-size 1.5V batteries
Dimensions	Approx. 66 x 56.5 x 80mm (2.6 x 2.2 x 3.1 in.)
Weight (without battery, memory card or body cap)	Approx. 127g (4.5 oz.)
Other Features	Ready light
Supplied Accessories (may differ by country or area)	SS-400 Soft Case

Nikon D40

2007-04-29T08:23:00.000+08:00

Almost 3 months since my last posting, dated back in february 2007. Now i'm back, with new gadget this time. Readers, i would like u to meet Nikon D40.

Well, i've been doing some research on digital camera for quite sometimes, more than a year. At first, D-SLR is not in my list as the cost is too high. I was looking for high-end point-to-shoot digital camera. Panasonic Lumix TZ-1 and Sony DSC-H5 were one of the few that make it into my list. Around December 2006, i found out about Nikon D40. Then i stop searching. That's it. I found it. This is the one.

In terms of pricing, well it is affordable. In the range of high-end point-to-shoot camera. Of course in terms of size, it is bigger than point-to-shoot digital camera. But we can have more control of the camera. The target market for Nikon D40 is for the high-end point-to-shoot customer who wants to explore the world of D-SLR, which suits me.

I want a digital camera that is affordable but rich in features. Well, Nikon D40 meet my requirements. It comes with AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II (kit lens for Nikon D40), charger, Nikon D40 body (duh), straps and USB cable for data transfer. On top of that, i added 1 GB SD card, UV filter, tripod, camera bag and last but not least Nikon SB-400 speedlight. I will tell you more on Nikon SB-400 in my next posting.

As i mention in my earlier posting, i'm going to review this stuff from average joe point of view. I'm still new in D-SLR world, still learning to expand my knowledge. So, do not expect any details on technical things.

I like this gadget very much. I don't mind carry Nikon D-40 around while i was out and about. I read alot on the net about photography. And try to experiment what i learn. It gives u the control like a professional photographer. In terms of interface, it's user-friendly. It has a theme whereby it will show graphically what is aperture and shutter. Very helpful and informative for beginner, like me! Until now, i'm still trying very hard to understand how to get the correct aperture, exposure and shutter. Most of the time, i will set the exposure control to P (programmed auto). So, i can concentrate on my composure rather than fiddling around the aperture and shutter. Combine this gadget with Nikon SB-400, u'll get more control in terms of speedlight. Bounce the flash to the ceiling and u'll get a natural-looking photos. I always use that when shooting in-door.

Do alot of reading before you buy digital camera. One thing for sure, don't get blind by MEGAPIXELS! The sales people will say, the higher the MP, the better the picture. Nonsense.
While my Nikon D-40 is only 6 MP, but the quality is comparable with 10 MP cameras. Try first before u buy. Don't just listen to what people said. Find the one that will suit u.

Below are the technical specifications for Nikon D40, extracted from Nikon:

Type of Camera	Single-lens reflex digital camera
Effective Pixels	6.1 million
Image Sensor	RGB CCD, 23.7 x 15.6 mm; total pixels: 6.24 million, Nikon DX format
Image Size (Pixels)	3,008 x 2,000 [L], 2,256 x 1,496 [M], 1,504 x 1,000 [S]
Sensitivity	200 to 1,600 in steps of 1 EV with additional setting one step over 1600
File Format	Compressed NEF (RAW): 12-bit compression, JPEG: JPEG baseline compliant
File System	Exif 2.21, Compliant DCF 2.0 and DPOF
Storage Media	SD memory card, SDHC compliant
Shooting Modes	1) Single frame shooting mode, 2) Continuous shooting mode: approx. 2.5 frames per second*, 3) Self-timer mode, 4) Delayed remote mode: 2 s. delay, 5) Quick-response remote mode
White Balance	Auto (TTL white-balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor), six manual modes with fine-tuning and preset white balance
LCD Monitor Size	2.5-in.
LCD Monitor	230,000-dot, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
Playback Function	1) 1 frame; 2) Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments); 3) Magnifying playback; 4) Slide show; 5) Histogram indication; 6) Highlight point display; 7) Auto image rotation
Delete Function	1) Card format; 2) All frames delete; 3) Selected frames delete
I/O Terminal	Can be selected from NTSC and PAL
Interface	USB 2.0 (High-speed): Mass Storage and PTP selectable
Picture Angle (in 35mm [135] format equivalent)	Equivalent in 35mm [135] format is approx. 1.5 times lens focal length
ViewFinder Type	Fixed-eyelevel penta-Dach mirror type; built-in diopter adjustment (-1.7 to +0.5m-1)
Eyepoint	18mm (-1.0 m-1)
Focusing Screen	Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark V with superimposed focus brackets
Viewfinder Frame Coverage/Magnification (with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1)	Approx. 95% (vertical/horizontal) / Approx. 0.8x with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1
Autofocus	TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM530 autofocus module with AF-assist (range approximately 0.5-3.0m/1ft. 8in.-9ft. 10in.); Detection range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20°C/68°F)
Focus Modes	1) Autofocus (AF): Instant single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status, 2) Manual focus (M)
Focus Lock	Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Exposure Metering System	TTL full-aperture exposure metering system. 1) 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses); metering performed by 420-segment RGB sensor; 2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8mm circle in center of frame; 3) Spot: Meters 3.5mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on active focus area
Exposure Metering Range (at normal temperature [68°F/20°C], ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens)	1) 0 to 20 EV (3D Color Matrix or center-weighted metering), 2) 2 to 20 EV (spot metering)
Exposure Control	Digital Vari-program (Auto, Auto [Flash Off], Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, Night Portrait), Programmed Auto (P) with flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto (S); Aperture Priority Auto (A); Manual (M)
Auto Exposure Lock	Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
Auto Exposure Bracketing	±5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
Maximum Shutter	1/4000
Minimum Shutter	30
Shutter	Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter, 30 to 1/4000 s. in steps of 1/3, bulb
Sync Contact	X-contact only; flash synchronization at up to 1/500s
Flash Control	1) TTL: TTL flash control by 420-segment RGB sensor. i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR and standard i-TTL fill-flash for digital SLR available when CPU lens is used with built-in flash, SB-800, SB-600, and T041, 2) Auto aperture: Available with SB-800 with CPU lens, 3) Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 80DX, 28DX, 28, 27, and 22s , 4) Range-priority manual available with SB-800
Flash Sync Modes	AUTO, Portrait, Child, Close Up: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction; fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional Speedlight. Night portrait mode: Auto, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction; slow sync and slow sync with red-eye reduction available with optional Speedlight. Landscape, Sport mode: Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional Speedlight. P, A: Fill flash, rear-curtain with slow sync, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction. S, M: Fill flash, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction.
Accessory Shoe	Standard ISO hot-shoe contact with sync, signal, and ground contacts and safety lock
Self-Timer	Electronically controlled timer with duration of 2, 5, 10 or 20s
Remote Control	Via Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 (optional)
Power Requirements	One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9; charging voltage (MH-23 quick charger): 7.4V DC, AC Adapter EH-5 (available separately; requires optional AC Adapter Connector EP-5)
Battery Life (on a fully charged battery)	Up to 470 shots on a fully-charged battery
Tripod Socket	1/4 in. (ISO1222)
Dimensions	Approx. 126 x 64 x 94mm (5.0 x 2.5 x 3.7 in.)
Weight (without battery, memory card or body cap)	Approx. 475g (1lb. 1oz.) without battery, memory card or body cap
Supplied Accessories (may differ by country or area)	Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9, Quick Charger MH-23, USB Cable UC-E4, PictureProject, Rubber Eyecup DK-16, Camera Strap, Body Cap BF-1A, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Accessory Shoe Cap BS-1

Freeware: Fring

2007-02-12T23:47:00.000+08:00

I've been looking for a replacement of Agile Messenger for quite sometimes. Oh i like Agile Messenger. It's just we have to pay for it. Bad huh? So, early February 2007, i found "fring" from one of the forums for mobile phone. Then, i installed it, and voila, i made my first call to skype user.

What is fring? Excerpt from www.fring.com, "fring™ uses your mobile internet connection to make peer-to-peer VoIP calls, send instant messages and talk with VoIP applications such as Skype, Google Talk and MSN Messenger at no extra cost." Sounds great, isn't?

I configured my Skype and Google Talk account. It's very straightforward. Just key-in your id and password, and there you go. Fring will download all your contacts from the configured account. You can also include your phone contacts in Fring. Sounds cool? But i prefer not. Kinda messy.

The sound quality is acceptable. Both can hear each other clearly. But i think it depends on the network connection. Did i say that it can works over 3G, GPRS and wifi? Fring utilises the data connection. Basically, using Fring, the calls that you made to Skype, Google Talk or MSN Messenger over 3G or GPRS is free. But you have to pay for the data rate charged by your telco. So, be careful. It might cost you a bomb. Make sure you subscribe to the unlimited data plan package. Unless if you use a wifi connection, then, it's free. Just go to any free hotspot, and get connected. Cheapskate!

Chatting using Fring is easy and straightforward. However, it still didn't support the smiley face that you use in Yahoo Messenger. No big deal. And it works fine when i flip-open my Nokia E70 keyboard.

Fring is still in BETA. So, don't expect to have everything. These are my complaints:
1. Unable to assign which tone for the incoming call and chat.
2. Unable to put Fring in vibration mode.
3. It takes quite sometimes to connect to the registered services.
4. It takes quite a while to download all your contacts from the registered services.
5. Settings menu is too simple.
6. You are unable to download the installer from Fring's website. You need to download it via SMS.

Hopefully, they will keep Fring as a freeware, and become one of Agile Messenger's rival. Fring is a great VoIP application. Try it yourself, and you won't regret it. Just google for Fring's website.

Free calls to regular phone. Seriously?

2007-01-23T00:33:00.000+08:00

Hmm sounds interesting huh? Believe it or not, it's TRUE. This is no scam. It's called VoipCheap, a service from Betamax GmbH & Co KG.

What is VoipCheap? VoipCheap is a free program that uses the VOIP technology to bring free* voice communications to people all over the world. See? Whenever you read the promotion banner etc, make sure you did not skip the fine print. The one with the '*' sign. That's the most important part. While VoipCheap claims they are providing free calls to regular phone (landline), not all calls are free. Only applicable to selected countries such as Malaysia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States etc.

How to register for this service? First, you have to download the client application. That's the only way for you to register. Once done, voila, making a call is just a breeze. Just key in 00, followed by country code, area code and phone no, and voila, just wait for the person to answer you call.

I subscribed to this service since early January 2007. I tried a couple of time to make a call from my pc. The sound quality is good, but the person at the other end cannot hear me clearly. Not sure what cause this. I assume it is because of the network. The best part is, if you have a phone that has SIP capability, such as Nokia E70, you can configure your SIP device with your VoipCheap account. Just follow the instruction from the website.

I managed to call a friend of mine who's staying in Switzerland using SIP device (Nokia E70). While i can hear his voice very clear, he's unable to enjoy the same. I made the call over 3G connection. Still don't know why. You can also call other VoipCheap users without any charge, just like Skype.

Conclusion? VoipCheap is another alternative for Skype. But, the best part of VoipCheap for me is able to configure it on my phone without installing any particular client, as long as your phone support SIP. And by having a free call to the selected countries is another advantage over Skype. You should try, just to get the experience making a call over VOIP technology.

Life without INTERNET

2007-01-05T10:32:00.001+08:00

Last Tuesday, 26 December 2006, a powerful earthquake hit Taiwan at 7.1-magnitude. While the casualties is not high, but the aftermath effect is disastrous.
It was reported that the undersea cables, Asia Pacific Cable Network 2, are badly affected by this event. And this leads to another disaster, breakdown in telecommunication and internet. Hmm no wonder on Wednesday, 27th December 2006, the internet connection is damn slow, and on certain ocassion, unable to browse the websites hosted in US.
It's like 1997 where we use dial-up connection for browsing the net. But, during those days, there was no youtube, no bittorrent, no video streaming, mainly for email, chatting and normal surfing. And even the website use less graphic. With the current technology, can we cope with the speed of dial-up connection? Or what will happen if we're unable to access internet, at all?
Can u imagine that?
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sent using nokia e70

Freeware: Y-Browser

2006-12-21T23:15:00.000+08:00

When u bought Nokia E70, it comes with a number of applications. One of it is File Manager. File Manager is like Windows Explorer for Windows. But, it only has a very basic functionalities, enough for normal user. One of the constraint is unable to view the hidden files/folders.
However, if u are an expert user, of course u want more control of ur phone. That's y u need Y-Browser.

I've been using Y-Browser as a replacement for File Manager. And i like it very much. Y? First and foremost, it's a freeware! And on top of that, with the 0.77 version, u are able to view text file using the internal text viewer, like a notepad. U are able to view hidden drives, hidden folders and hidden files. It comes handy when u want to organize files properly.

This is not the only freeware app for file manager. But since i've been using this app, it's quite difficult to find its competitor. Once u use it, u'll know what i meant.
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sent using nokia e70

Freeware: SymTorrent

2006-12-21T12:01:00.001+08:00

Have u ever heard of torrent? No idea what is torrent all about? Basically torrent makes our life easier when it comes to downloading big-size files such as movies, mp3s, softwares etc. If u wanna know more, just google it. To download torrent file, we need to have a torrent client. For pc, there are quite a numbers of torrent client. But i'm not interested in that cos i surf the net using my lovely Nokia E70. After googling it, i found the torrent client for Symbian OS 9.1 3rd edition, SymTorrent.

SymTorrent is a freeware. Meaning u don't have to pay a single cent. I love freeware ;). The version that i use is 1.12. I can't remember from which site i downloaded this app but just google it. Not a problem.

I've been using this app for at least 2 months, and manage to download a couple of full albums in mp3 format and one episode of tv series, using 3G connection. The average size is around 400 MB. While it took a bit longer than the broadband connection, i'm satisfied with this app. What more can i say?

SymTorrent is very easy to use. Just download the torrent file, add it to SymTorrent, then, start downloading. I advise to upgrade ur memory card to at least 1 GB before downloading the file. U can leave the app running in the background while downloading the file.

In terms of speed, IMHO, it depends on the connection and seeders. I'm using 3G connection, so can't complaint much on the connection speed. It's slower than average broadband connection but faster than GPRS. If the file u're downloading has more seeders, it'll be faster.

I highly recommended this app to those who like to download movies, series etc using their phone.

p/s: don't forget to subscribe for 3G unlimited data plan. Or else, be prepared to pay a hefty bill.
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sent using nokia e70

Bluetooth Headset: Nokia HS-26W

2006-12-20T10:01:00.001+08:00

nokia hs-26w
Originally uploaded by gjoe.

Hola. I'm back. On 1st December 2006, after almost crack my head (hmm cheapskate actually), i bought the Nokia HS-26W, a bluetooth headset. I'm not gonna tell you what is the bluetooth technology. If you never heard of bluetooth or wanna get more info, just google it. Finally, i get the best bargain (at least the salesman made me think it's a good bargain).
It costs me RM189, inclusive the cable adapter for charger. The normal price (as what the salesman told me) is RM299.

What's in the box? 1 set of bluetooth headset (duh), a charger and manual book. And it comes with a warranty for 1 year, by Zitron (one of authorised dealer for Nokia).

The technical spec? The Nokia HS-26W is compliant with Bluetooth Specification 2.0 supporting the following profiles:
1. Headset Profile 1.1
2. Handsfree Profile 1.0
However, i advise you to check with the manufacturers of other devices to determine their compatibility with this device. It has three buttons:
1. Power key
2. Volume key
3. Answer/end key

How to configure this headset? Very simple. Switch on the headset, activate the bluetooth function on your handphone, and set the phone to search for bluetooth device. Select the headset, enter the passcode, and connect the headset to your phone. But, this might vary for other phones, especially the non-Nokia.

Functionalities? With compatible phone, you can answer/end call, voice dialing, redialing and switching an active call between the headset and the compatible phone.

My experience with HS-26W? I'm not the type who's gonna wear this thing all the time. Most of the time i use it when driving. If u wear it long enough, ur ear might feel a bit sore. It's light, didnt burden ur ear. Because of the shape, it looks like a thumbdrive.

In terms of voice clarity, we can hear the caller quite clear. The only setback is the volume level. Even at the highest level, still not loud enough, especially if u r in the noisy environment.

It doesn't have the noise cancellation feature, which is to improve the clarity of our voice to the caller. I can live without it anyway. Not a big deal.
Later on, i'll update on the performance of this device.
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sent using nokia e70

Nokia E70

2006-12-20T09:51:00.001+08:00

Nokia E70
Originally uploaded by gjoe.

I was using Nokia 8210 since 2002. During those 8210 days, i have to bear with all sort of comments on my lovely phone. Even my little sister is using Nokia 7250. I've been trying to persuade her to 'swap' our phone just for a couple of months but she disagreed. As time goes by, i grew stronger. My requirement is simple, a phone with 3G, wifi, QWERTY keyboard, 2 megapixels camera (at least) and able to replace my Toshiba e330 Pocket PC. So, after a thorough research, i made up decision to choose Nokia E70 over Dopod 838 Pro. While i'm tempting to have Dopod 838 Pro as my new gadget, i have to admit that the cost is damn expensive. But, i think Nokia E70 is a wise choice.

Nokia E70 is a very cooool smartphone. The only limitation is the built-in calendar and task management application. It is too simple for a device that house everything. Nokia should upgrade their calendar and task management application. I think there are 3rd party applications to cater that. But it ain't comes free. You have to pay for it. I have tested Aqua Calendar Beta and it's similar to Pocket Informant for Pocket PC. However, i notice that Aqua Calendar consumed a lot of memory. I think for the time being, i'll stick to the built-in Nokia's applications for calendar and task management.

Below is the technical spec for Nokia E70, extracted from Nokia:

General

* EGSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900 and WCDMA (3GPP Release 4) networks in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, North America, and South America where these networks are supported
* Automatic switching between bands
* Speech codecs: FR, EFR and AMR for GSM and AMR for WCDMA

Size

* Weight: 127 g (with Nokia Battery BL-6C)
* Dimensions: 117 mm x 53 mm x 22 mm (closed), 102 cc
* Full messaging keyboard with fold open design

Other Useful Phone Features

* Personal shortcuts
* Calendar
* Contact with images
* Customizable profiles
* Alarm clock
* RealOne Player
* Music player (MP3/AAC)
* Media player
* Notepad for short notes
* Auto lock for keyboard
* Calculator

Memory Functions

Cover

* Up to 65 MB internal memory for contacts, text messages, multimedia messages, ringing tones, images, video clips, calendar notes, to-do list, and applications
* Expandable memory with miniSD card 1
* Hot swap slot for easy miniSD card insertion and removal

Display and User Interface

Display

* Active matrix display
* Supports up to 16M colors within 352 x 416 pixels
* Up to 6 lines (Latin) in message viewing. Two display modes: portrait when flip is closed, landscape when flip is open
* Zoom enables enlarged view of content in office applications and the browser

Navigation

* Two soft keys with five-way scroll, power key can be used as profile key
* Configurable right and left soft keys
* Full keyboard with fold open design
* List and grid menu
* Active standby: Provides fast access to applications with 5 items user configurable
* Symbian operating system OS 9.1
* Series 60, 3rd edition

Messaging and Imaging

Multimedia Messaging (MMS)

* Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS, ver. 1.2) for text, voice clips, video clips and still images receiving, editing and sending
* Distribution list

Email and messaging

* Email client for connecting to personal and business email
* Supports POP3, IMAP4 (with idle) and SMTP protocols
* Intellisync Wireless Email
* Supported 3rd-party email clients: BlackBerry Connect, Seven Always-On Mail, Visto email technology6
* Email data roaming
o Seamless changes between different connections (for example WLAN, GPRS, WCDMA) without user configurations *
o Email data roaming requires no new network features, enabling wide utilization 2
* Email client with attachment support (view jpeg, 3gp, MP3, .ppt, .doc, excel, and .pdf files) and periodic polling functionality
* Attachment editors (document, spreadsheet, and presentation) 3
* Instant Messaging IMPS 1.2

* supported with POP3 and IMAP4 connections

Text messaging (SMS)

* SMS distribution list
* Concatenated SMS: Send and receive up to 30 messages as a single message
* Message register

Integrated camera and video

* 2 megapixel camera
* Resolution up to 1600 x 1200 pixels
* Self timer function
* Sequential shot functionality
* Phone display used as a viewfinder
* Possibility to select image resolution, compression level and capture mode: Standard, portrait and night modes
* 8x digital zoom
* Recording formats (encoding): 3GPP, H.263 video, and AMR radio
* Video resolution CIF (352 x 288 pixels), QCIF (176 x 144 pixels) or Sub QCIF (128 x 96 pixels)

Connectivity and Data Transfer

Connectivity

* Pop-Port™ interface
* USB 2.0 full speed supported via Pop-Port™
* Connect to a compatible PC wirelessly or with Nokia Connectivity Cable CA-53
* Integrated infrared module (IrCOMM, IrOBEX, IrTinyTP)
* Bluetooth wireless technology 1.2
* Install applications with Nokia PC Suite for the Nokia E70 phone
* Video and audio streaming (3GPP and RealMedia)
* WCDMA (3GPP Release 4)
* WAP 2.0
* Multiconnectivity
o WLAN connection can be shared by multiple applications at the same time. For example: email, browser and synchronization
o Possible to use WLAN, Bluetooth technology, USB and infrared at the same time
o Max 6 Bluetooth technology connections in use at the same time 4

Data transfer

* WCDMA (3GPP Release 4)
* EGPRS (Class B, MSC 10)
* GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Multislot Class 10
* Dual Transfer Mode (Multislot Class 9)
* WLAN (IEEE 802.11g and WPA2)
* Circuit-Switched Data
* Data/Modem Transmission
* Multitasking

Advanced Device Management

* Application Management enables the delivery and management of native Symbian and Java™ add-on applications over OMA DM
* Customization enables the delivery and management of terminal user interface elements over OMA DM.
* Terminal Management Security includes security model, which enables protecting device data via device wipe and device lock management, protecting service usage by ensuring that right settings are in place
* Help Desk Connect enables the device to send up-to-date information to the help desk before the actual call to the help desk is made

Call Management

* Push to talk
* Internet call over WLAN
* Voice dialing
* Speed dialing: Up to 8 names
* Automatic redial (max 10 attempts)
* Call waiting, call hold, call divert, call timer
* Automatic and manual network selection
* Caller identification with image
The name of the calling party (spoken caller line identification) is mixed with the ringing tone. The functionality is enabled/disabled through profile settings
* Fixed dialing number, allows calls only to predefined numbers
* Conference call (up to 6 participants)
* Vibrating alert
* Integrated handsfree speaker

Enhanced Voice Features

* Eyes-free name dialing and application launching by voice commands.
* User configurable commands
* Improved phone usability with voice feedback and simple user interface
* Dedicated voice key for easy use of voice recording, voice dialing and Push to talk
* Voice commands for menu short cuts, keypad lock and profiles
* Voice recording, record own notes or conversations
* Automatic volume control

Java™ Applications

* Converter: Converts currencies, measurements, temperature, etc.
* Downloadable games and personal applications via Java™ technology (MIDP 2.0)
* Over-the-air download of Java™-based applications and games

Games

* Pro Tour Golf
* Java™ and Symbian games
* Possibility to download new Java games using Java™ technology (MIDP 2.0)

Nokia E70: Firmware upgrade

2006-11-13T17:21:00.000+08:00

I bought Nokia E70 on 23rd August 2006. What i can say is i never regret my decision to buy this device. For me, it's almost perfect. Despite all the compliments, i did have some complaints. Well the most significant issue is memory management. It's pity for this kind of device has the memory issue. I'm not sure how Nokia E70 manage its memory but if u browse the internet, chances to face this problem is very high.

Well, on 15th September 2006 (a day before my birthday), i upgraded the firmware using Nokia Software Update (NSU) tool. But i only did that after a thorough reading. I read some of the Nokia E70 users have to send their phone to Nokia for repair, due to the failed firmware upgrade. Lucky me everything went smoothly.But, don't forget to backup ur data. Or u'll lose everything. After upgrading the firmware, these are the few things that i noticed:

1. Contacts
Now u can sort the contact details by "First Name, Last Name".

2. Media Player
In terms of sound quality, it improved but u have to sacrifice the volume. Even at 100% it's still not loud enough for me. Some users suggest to use ogg player, and tune it to overcome this issue. I haven't try that option yet.

3. Performance
While i'm not sure whether it really happen or just a psychology effect, i did notice that it responds faster than before. It switched to landscape mode almost instantly when u flip the keyboard open.

4. Web browsing
Well, i love browsing internet using this device. I have the net in my hand! Isn't it great? But the only setback is the memory. Sometimes i will get the "Memory full.." error message. My piece of advice, whenever u want to browse to another website, make sure u clear the cache. By doing so, u'll get that error message less frequent.

Hmm what else.. That's it for now i guess. Sorry for the typing errors if any. Still try to get use with the keyboard.

Chiao.
_______________________
sent using nokia e70

Me, Myself and Technology

Farewell Nokia N900

My latest gadget - Plantronics Discovery 975 bluetooth headset

A Bentley - cropped using Nokia N900 image editor

Using QuickPanorama on Nokia N900

Nokia N900 - between internet tablet and smartphone

Nokia N900 will be coming to Malaysia soon!

Blogging from Pixelpipe

Sample photo taken with Nokia E71

My top 10 applications for Nokia E71

If you free, do NIMBUZZ me.

Nokia E71 - part 3

Nokia E71 - part 2

Happy New Year! Nokia E71 - part 1

Another VOIP service for SIP-Enabled device

Nikon Speedlight SB-400

Nikon D40

Freeware: Fring

Free calls to regular phone. Seriously?

Life without INTERNET

Freeware: Y-Browser

Freeware: SymTorrent

Bluetooth Headset: Nokia HS-26W

Nokia E70

Nokia E70: Firmware upgrade

Happy New Year!  Nokia E71 - part 1