Constantly Changing

Androidized

2010-03-20T09:00:00.005+08:00

I just recently made my HTC Touch Pro2 to boot in Android and I am loving it thanks to the folks at XDA! Well the android for HTC Touch Pro2 is not yet fully compatible having the phone originally built for windows. For one, it still doesn't have sound, you can place calls and talk to the person on the other end of the line but you cannot play music or have a ringtone, not even hear an alert message. Another is the sleep mode, which is what I have the most trouble with. Right now, it just emulates the "sleep" mode by blanking the display but it is still very active and is still displaying something, only it is black (I can still see some light at the sides of the screen). Thus the battery is still draining while in sleep mode and is actually making the phone heat up a little.

But all in all it looks very promising! And it didn't disappoint me at all with my first encounter with Android. In fact I'm loving it. Windows 7 aside, I love Android more than Windows mobile and I can't wait to create my own apps for it!

I hope the XDA folks can complete it soon! :)

10 Inspirational Photography Websites – Little Photoshop

2010-03-19T23:34:00.000+08:00

10 Inspirational Photography Websites – Little Photoshop

This a good list of websites too get some inspiration in photography. Click on!

A Few Things I Want to Do Right Now

2010-03-02T14:15:00.001+08:00

I have been out of sync with the latest and the greatest of web application development these past years due to my growing interest in project management. Thus, since I am currently a programmer, I feel that my knowledge is not at par with my peers or even way down below the level that I should be in right now.

So to at least up my ante, there are a few things I want to do right now.

Study the Spring Framework.
Study the Seam Framework.
Study Web Services and SOA.
Learn how to create Eclipse Plugins.
Learn how to develop iPhone Applications.

For each of these goals, I want to create a project -- not big projects, small ones but useful. For #1 I have already created a Google code hosted project named "liban". It's an online leave and absence management tool that is appropriate for small to maybe up to medium-sized companies. There are no source code checked in yet as it is still in the inception phase and I still have to read on the Spring Framework. As for the other goals, if you have some projects in mind, do shout it out at the comments section.

Of course these goals does not just end here. Incidentally I will also need to study or brush up on the different persistence framework, design patterns, design concepts, and AJAX libraries.

I just hope these just doesn't end as a list here. *grin*

Depression, Hobbies, and Some Sort of Resolutions

2010-01-12T07:12:00.002+08:00

I have been rather unsatisfied of whatever I have right now especially my work and the fact that I am working in a land far away from my home. Maybe its home sickness or maybe a form of depression. Whatever it is, it sure has grabbed me by my balls!

What to do?

Anyway I've decided to make my life even more exciting by engaging my hobbies again but this time with more fury!

I have awoken my childhood dream to play the piano thus I purchased a full electronic keyboard in all its 88-key glory :) It will arrive

this Saturday.

I have also updated my LEGO Mindtorms to Lejos, hoping to put my Java skills to create some robots! Oh by the way, my coin sorter project failed. I lacked a critical part, a gear, to make it complete. :( Hoppefully this year I can start on a more feasible projects.

Running. I have always ran away from this one lol! But this time I will make it happen! Half marathon goal come mid of the year!!!

And then of course there is photography. I have decided to pursue a 52 weeks project - 1 photo for each week for the whole year.

I am looking forward to a great year! Writing this did make me feel better. Kudos to me!!!

--- Sent from my HTC ---

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T05:40:00.000+08:00

I have been busy in a while I know. I will be updating everything soon.

Happy New Year to everyone! This is going to be a an even more busy year...

Happy Halloween

2009-11-01T02:12:00.005+08:00

Just had a great Halloween celebration with a few of my ever growing friends. It was a lot of fun and a lot of food! Thanks everyone! I really had a great time.

Oh by the way, it's Shils' birthday today so... Happy Birthday Shils!

First Official LEGO Project

2009-10-31T11:36:00.001+08:00

Whew! LEGO! I haven't touched them in a while. I've been busy with work... and yeah playing DOTA!

Anyway, to get back, I've decided to take up my first challenge. I saw this video a couple of weeks back and I thought to myself, can I already do something like this? I am a newbie in LEGO Mindstorms and Technic after all. I might have no problem in the programming part as I am already a programmer but for the construction part ... I am having doubts.

So there is only one way to find out ... I will try it! So this is going to be my first official LEGO challenge, to build a coin sorter.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

2009-10-26T14:17:00.001+08:00

Although I've been jogging a lot lately, it seems that my body is getting weaker and I don't know why. In my previous job, even though I am working almost two shifts just to manage all my projects, I feel energetic. Yes I went to the doctor often but it's just the same as now. Although right now, my job is easier and less demanding. I even took extra hobbies just to kill extra time. So why am I getting weaker? It's not stress definitely. Or is it that I need to be stressed out... that can't be...

Diet is something that also change in me. My diet got more broad. Now I eat Chinese and Indian cuisine too! But then again, most of the time, I eat the same food as when I was back at home. I even got bigger and gained more weight here. Is it because I am becoming unhealthy? Eating a lot?

I almost always have colds. Am I allergic to something in here? The air perhaps? Maybe my nose doesn't like unpolluted air!

Last week I went to the doctor because I had this chest pain that lasted for two hours, my nose bled twice, my neck feels very very tired, and I was dizzy for two days! But then again my blood pressure turned out to be normal, my ECG also normal, and even my chest X-ray is normal! So what is happening to me? Maybe I'm turning into a mutant or some sorts...

Now I am on sick leave because I felt very cold, my joints are aching, my head feels like its going to explode, and I feel like vomiting! I have no fever, my temperature is normal and I have no colds right now either. Good thing it went all away after taking an extended rest for half of the day.

Dr. House are you there? What's wrong with me?!

Domain is Back!

2009-10-21T21:49:00.000+08:00

I got my domain www.romanofabian.com back! Soon I'll set up my site and this blog again to use my domain again.

Pinoy Kami!

2009-10-03T23:10:00.004+08:00

A small gathering of Filipino friends (officemates) in Singapore.

LEGO Technic!

2009-10-02T23:03:00.004+08:00

This is my new LEGO technique that I bought a couple of weeks ago. This is the second configuration by the way.

Sleepy

2009-10-01T22:43:00.004+08:00

I have been very sleepy lately and I don't know why. I almost always have 7 hours of sleep and in my age, I consider that enough... or it isn't?

Earthquake!

2009-09-30T23:59:00.001+08:00

Singapore has experienced an earthquake just a while ago. It was an aftershock from an earthquake that claimed many lives in Indonesia. Back at home, another typhoon has already entered the Philippine area of responsibility. Samoan and some other places also had some deadly tsunami. A week ago, Australia got whipped by a sandstorm. What's happening to our world?

It's Time to Clean Up

2009-09-29T23:56:00.003+08:00

After the flood has subsided, much of Metro Manila was left with stacked cars, ruined homes, thick mud, and garbage, garbage, garbage. It's time to clean up! It will be difficult to clean though as there is still no electricity and water.

I hope that everyone would notice that one of the contributing factor of this tragic event are the amount of garbage that we improperly disposed. I hope this time around, as we clean what remains of our properties, that everyone be wise enough to dispose the garbages properly.

A clean environment is always better for us and our future.

Sad for Those Who Were Affected By Typhoon Ketsana

2009-09-28T22:34:00.003+08:00

It was really a sad day for the Philippines, my family included. A flash flood engulfed Metro Manila and left thousands of families homeless or devastated. Our house alone almost went under water. Almost all our belongings were destroyed. Everything that we have worked hard for were left unusable. I'm just glad that every member of my family were safe and that we still have our house.

There are areas that are still under the water as of this writing and yet another typhoon might hit the Philippines in two days. And it will not be just one typhoon but two!

There are a lot of people missing, a lot of people starving and thirsty, and a lot of people are homeless. If you want to know how you can help, then jump on to this link.

I Hope Everything's Gonna Be Alright

2009-09-28T10:57:00.001+08:00

My family suffered their share of this calamity that hit the Metro. They are safe but would probably need clean water within the few coming days. I just hope the other Filipinos that were affected are going to be alright.

I hope everything's gonna be alright.

[image was taken from "Philippines rescue workers step up search for storm survivors"]

Dragging Myself to Cyberspace

2009-09-23T10:46:00.006+08:00

I'm thinking of restarting again my 365 days, a photo a day commitment but I am currently doubting myself since the commitment is too big. I abandoned the last time because I got too lazy :)

Anyway, I'm thinking of reorganizing my blog again, re-tagging everything, and making it more personal. I'm getting tired waiting for my domain to be available again so I think I'll just get the .net version and then create a home page somewhere (some free site). I'd like the home page to be linked to this blog (and vice versa) and they should have the same look and feel.

On another note, I created this forum site for my High School so that all alumni can get in touch with each other. It's almost already complete but I am not releasing it yet since I'm having doubts about it successfully taking off. I would need exposure for the site and some dedicated souls to be moderators.

I should try to stop doubting myself and try risking more... it's getting me nowhere.

Weekend Flu

2009-09-22T09:33:00.003+08:00

I caught a flu yesterday. And it was supposed to be a long weekend...

I don't have the flu anymore but I feel weak and dehydrated even when I'm drinking a lot of water. I feel weak and my joints are in pain. My head also feels a little woozy and I don't think I can think clearly. I wish the day could just quickly end so that I can retire in my bed.

[image taken from "Doggie Got the Flu?"]

Thinking Business While Bored

2009-09-17T11:20:00.009+08:00

I'm really bored right now.

Currently, I have only one task that's been on my plate for about a couple of weeks now.

This is the kind of task that never ends... study a certain existing module; In other words, there is no "real" tasks that can be assigned to you right now so go study! It's not that bad really... It's just plain boring. But then again having "real" tasks can be so stressful! So which is better, boring or stressful? I dunno... I don't know what I want right now.

But I do have one big idea that has been going on through my head for weeks now; and that is to have a business of my own. I just don't know where and how to begin or the heck what to begin! I believe I have the resolve to take some risks now and I think I have enough money to start a very small business. It's the business idea that is eluding me. All my idea recently are too big for me to handle and it's exactly not unique.

As far as I know aside from the regular business jargons and what not, for a business to succeed, it has to be something that you enjoy doing and relevant to what you can do or your skills. So I did a short list of what is relevant to me and to the people around me.

1. I am a Programmer.

2. I used to be a Project Manager and I love managing projects.

3. I love photography. I like to think that I am creative.

4. I like music. I play basic guitar and I'd love to learn the piano too.

4. I like seeing my creations come alive like a robot. I have LEGO Mindstorms.

5. We have a dormitory type business back home.

6. My girlfriend is a recruiter, she is used to sourcing and recruiting people.

7. My girlfriend loves photography as well.

7. My sister is a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate and is currently a waitress at a cruise ship.

8. My sister loves to cook.

9. My brother is an Industrial Engineer.

10. My brother is currently involved in logistics.

Hmmm... a quick look at these and all I see is a business related to catering services for events. What do you think?

Internet Anywhere, Anytime

2009-08-30T01:41:00.002+08:00

I recently subscribed to a data plan for my mobile phone so that I can surf anytime, anywhere I want utilizing that sweet screen of my HTC Touch Pro 2. So now I have two data plans! The other one is for the company-provided blackberry. I dunno... I just find it hard to browse in my blackberry's small screen; besides it shouldn't be used for non-business activities ^_^/

Now if only my HTC's battery would last long enough with my constant surfing...

Speaking of my HTC, I rarely use its PDA functionality now that I am a programmer in my current job. And I do have to admit, I miss being a project manager. Undoubtedly, in my opinion and experience, being a manager is harder but also rewards better. So how could I return to project management without going back to the Philippines?

Terminator 4, Rise of Mindstorm

2009-08-29T02:36:00.018+08:00

I have always wanted to build a robot that can move autonomously even when I was still young... yes when I still have hair on top of my head! So I have always fancied buying a LEGO Mindstorm, and recently my order arrived!

What the?! Lego, a toy?! Urmm... yup! THE Toy. Technically, it's a toy for the big boys or bigger boys should I say (my tummy is killing me!). It consists of a programmable unit called the NXT brick which acts as its controller or brain. The NXT brick attaches to a number of sensors and motors so that your robot can interact with its environment. And since it's Lego, the possibilities are finite but many! You can create robots with wheels, robots that can identify colors, robots that can walk, see, hear, or feel, or anything that you can fancy, of course limited by what Lego's you have and the sensors available.

The Lego Mindstorm comes with its own programming software called the NXT-G and it is a drag and drop kind-of-programming that is very suitable for non-programmers or young children. But that programming software bores me hehehe! So I resorted to RobotC; A language most similar to C that can control Lego Mindstorm. Of course there are a lot more other options out there like Lejos, a java-based API but not yet in version 1.0, Matlab, MSDN Robotics Studio just to name a few.

So for now I'll be following RobotC's curriculum to learn the language. Hopefully I can learn it fast enough so that I can get to work in creating my own Terminator mwahahaha!

Any ideas on any feasible robots to create? Throw in some ideas in the comments!

Edit: I got tired of studying a new language so I'm going to take the Lejos root. I just hope they can release the support for the Color-Light-Lamp sensor very soon.

romanofabian.com is down

2009-08-24T13:36:00.004+08:00

I forgot to renew my domain and now it has expired :( I also failed to renew within the grace period past the expiration hahaha! So now I won't be able to use my domain until I renew it paying an additional 98 USD (no way!) or I can just wait until it is cleared in the domain registries and then buy the domain again. If someone bought the domain before I did (which is highly unlikely), I'll just think of another one!

So now I'm back to http://romanofabian.blogspot.com/.

Two Things

2009-07-24T16:13:00.006+08:00

I have two things in my mind right now that I want to achieve; have a healthier body and earn more money. And since I have no project this week, these two things have been occupying my mind. I thought, if I can achieve these two things, I might be happier and closer to being content with my life.

First off, have a healthier body. By healthy I don't mean to be big or fat -- what I meant is to be physically fit. To achieve this, I've started running as I mentioned in my previous post. And I'm quite proud of myself because although I can run only a few kilometers, my performance is improving steadily (but slowly) as of late. Slow and steady! At least it's improving!

I've also began hitting the gym again but this time I'm not going through the machines like a lost soul wandering around. I'm now more concentrated on improving my core. Take note, I'm exercising to improve my core and not to lose weight. The reason behind is I think if I can improve my overall stamina (and core), I can exercise more with greater quality and therefore I can lose my weight and gain muscles more steadily later on.

And now I'm thinking of taking swimming classes. I've always wanted to swim. It's a 200 SGD per month investment! So I think money will be a concern which leads me to...

The second thing on my mind is to earn more money. Money, money, money! Can't live without it ... at least here. So I'm thinking of going back to competing in Topcoder. I'm also thinking of directing some of my photography hobby to stock photography where I can sell my photos online.

But then again, the problem for these are time and skills. I wouldn't worry much about the time as I consider my self good enough in time management... but the skills... that worries me! It is the main reason I can't execute any of these! I never considered myself a good enough java programmer and my photography especially in lighting skills are pretty much newbie level.

Oh well, nobody can help me here but myself. Better improve my skills fast if I want to achieve these "two things". I'll still run though, catch me if you can! :)

The End, The Beginning, and The Present

2009-07-18T03:26:00.004+08:00

At last my project will be deployed to production tomorrow. It's time to take it easy until I get my next project. :) Right now I'm just helping out with the company wiki and testing another team's project.

I've started exercising again but this time instead of forcing myself to the gym, I decided to run. Yup running like what my brother is doing as his hobby. But since I am a beginner, my goal is not related to milleage but instead my goal is to develop the habit. And so my initial goal is to run at least 3 times a week regardless of how much runnung I did in a session. So far so good. I'm still going to the gym but my priority is to run. The gym will be there to help me build my other muscles aside from the legs. naks!

As for my hobby, I took it a step further by starting on portraiture. I find it a little more challenging than landscape photography because you have to deal with people and not inanimate objects that won't object to whatever it is that you're doing. Plus it opens up a whole new possibilities and challenges!

So far, life has been smooth sailing here in Singapore. And I am hoping that it stays that way until I retire at my home land. I miss the Philippines! I miss everyone back home!

Working Late and Parallel Phased Projects

2009-06-17T02:02:00.003+08:00

It's now 11:30 pm and I am still just on my way home. I am working on a project wherein I am the only developer. And now that it's just a few days from QA testing, I find it hard to test all my implementations and verify it against the FSD (Functional Specification Document).

The project started without the FSD. And since the project plan indicated that I should start without the FSD, so I did. It was tough. I had to rely on verbal requirements from the SA (Systems Analyst) and the verbal technical decisions from my team lead whom is located on the other half of the world. On top of that, I had to deal with the changes in the requirements that wasn't being tracked properly since it was verbal as well.

When the FSD finally came out, I had to recheck everything which is what I am doing right now and make the necessary adjustments. Oh by the way, I just came from a TSD (Technical Specification Document) review. These gives huge risks in the final product's quality and sacrifices traceability and coherence. Not to mention, it creates confusion and a lot of frustrations.

This post is not meant to be a rant. Just think of this as my way of sharing my experience so that other managers, leads, and analyst may learn from these. Ok ok I am in a way ranting... Hahaha!

So what are the lessons learned from these?

1. If you are a project manager and you want to do the requirements definition, technical analysis and design, and development at almost parallel, then use the appropriate approach like the agile methodology. Also, do a lot of risk planning.

2. If you are a developer and the above holds true, then record everything you can weather you ask questions through email or you record your discussions and give out minutes of every meeting with your lead and analyst. These will later on come handy when they are trying to find someone to blame for the not-so-good outcome of the project. It's so easy to point at unsuspecting developers believe me.

3. If you are a lead and the above still holds true, try to pressure your manager and analysts to stick to the requirments or finalize them as soon as possible. Also make sure that your whole team is on the loop and that all changes in any requirements and design are reflected back to the estimates and ultimately the project plan.

4. Lastly, for the analyst, make sure that the product owner or the ones giving out the requirements is comitted 100% to the project so that he can give out timely decisions and prioritization of requirments as well as to give clarity to what he wants as the project progresses.

So there, I hope this experience of mine might benefit one of you someday.

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sent through email via my mobile phone