More Cowbell!

[How To] Android - Change Sync Behavior

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:26:48 +0800

Android user have a great sync adavantages. With just one gmail account, you can sync to Gmail, Google Contacts and Google Calendar. Developers also take this opportunity to use the default sync option to sycn their applications.

I am a K-9 Mail user, an android mail client that replace the default email client. I configured my work mail to work with this app. One thing is missing. I cannot customize the sync behavior. I don’t want to receive my work mail at midnight. I need to customize it, where only sync from Monday thru Friday at 9AM to 5PM. There is no option under K-9 Mail.

Now with the integration from Locale and Locale Sync Plugin. You can now customize the sync behavior for any situation for your android phone. For my example, I want to customize sync behavior for my K-9 Mail syncing.

1. Head to Market from your android phone and search for “Locale” and “Locale Sync Plug-in”

2. Download it and installed.

3. Open the drawer and click Locale icon, you will be presented to this screen.

4. The default is blank but my screenshot below show 4 Situation that I’ve created before.

5. To use my example, first we click Add Situation a and named it “Syncing Option On” and we presented to this screen.

6. Click Time and choose what time you want to sync, click Menu and Save.

7. Now on Settings tab, click Add Settings, and pick Sync, and hit the button until it change On.

8. Click Menu and Save.

Now you have a situation where Every Monday to Friday from 8.15AM till 6:15PM to receive all syncing (Mail, K-9 and everything.

At the default screen, you will see the bold text means that the we are in the middle of the situation.

Now, you can play around with Locale to optimize the usage of your Android. For me, I have add some situation where from 7.00AM to 10:00PM my ringing colume is max and from 10:00PM until 7:00AM , I set it level 2.

Have fun exploring Locale.

fedora 11 new kernel is a mess. vbox cannot start, revert to old kernel

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:19:10 +0800

fedora 11 new kernel is a mess. vbox cannot start, revert to old kernel

geek content: usb tethering in CM4.2.3 is flawless, even work on my fedora 11 #android #cyanogen

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:56:43 +0800

geek content: usb tethering in CM4.2.3 is flawless, even work on my fedora 11 #android #cyanogen

Extended Battery (2300 mah) for HTC Dream

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:34:24 +0800

HTC Dream or you might called it G1 is a great phone. All great google apps are packed in a phone. GMail, Google Maps, Google Contacts, Google Calendar and much more. With the background services is on, it would replace your notebook anyday.

The depressed part from all the experience above is the battery. With background services is on 3G, loaded with apps like Facebook, twidroid, GMail, Contacts, SMSBackup, Email, max usage is 4 hours. With the same apps without the background services is off, lucky if I survived 6 hours.

Seido battery always top on search result for “HTC G1 replacement battery” on google, but it quite pricey. USD50++. So i dig into amazon and found this link. I read the comments and 2 out of 6 people gave it 5 star. With price only USD20, this is a steal. I texted my friend who his friend is a airport manager at California, and asked him to buy this battery.

1 week later it arrived. Plug it in and to my suprised it still have over 50% charged. Like other battery, first time charged will take 8 hour plus. The result is awesome.

With the apps running on my background

1. twidroid (15 minutes interval)
2. Facebook (15 minutes interval)
3. K9-Mail (15 minutes interval)
4. Google Mail, Contacts, Calendar
5. iMusic (occasionally 3 downloads per day)
6. Music (4 to 5 songs per play)
7. Screen brightness to the max

it would stay one whole day without a re-charged. Great isn’t it?. Recommended it.

Google Barcode Image

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:37:50 +0800

While browsing twitter, the trending topic that caught my attention is “New Google Logo”. So I fired up my browser and type google.com . And there it is, the google logo is now change to some barcode image.

To my curious, I open up my HTC Dream and open Barcode Scanner application. And this is the screenshots

Official Android 1.6 Donut OTA Update for T-Mobile

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:16:00 +0800

From AndroidGuys.com

Look no further for confirmation! Tonight marked the beginning of the Donut OTA rollout for T-Mobile customers on Android phones. Our friends over at Tmonews provided some extra details regarding tonight’s OTA release: Only select G1s would be receiving the update tonight, with select myTouch3Gs on the schedule for tomorrow, and then the rest to follow. As everyone sat and waited in anticipation to get their update notice, they finally started to trickle in around 1:30AM Eastern Standard Time. Hopefully the updates will run smoothly and remain uninterrupted. We’re very excited to see the community’s response to this update, for both novice and expert users.

Wow, a week after Google send C & D letter to cyanogen, now it rolling out the OTA update for G1(Dream), and myTouch(Clicks). So G1 still get the donut update afterall. Will update later what has been slashed to fit the tiny memory on G1.

Me? Will stay rooted with cyanogen. He update something here

#fb lagi sekali

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:14:57 +0800

#fb lagi sekali

Android Buatan Malaysia

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:54:00 +0800

UPDATE: Actually this is not a android based phone, it just mimic the UI of android. False alarm, thanks KageSenshi (read the comment section) for the head up

Thanks to google, android source code are publicly open and anyone can use and compile it and manufactured it (remember kogan?). Now malaysian company CSL have produces its own Android phone. Namely CSL G2 (takde name lain ke?)

The print is so tiny I could not extract the specs and feature. So any takers?

p/s: thanks to KageSenshi for the findings

Android 1.6 SDK is here (update with screenshots)

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:16:00 +0800

Wow, this is fast, Android now now releasing new sdk 1.6 (codename : donut). Just few weeks ago, I have decided to install eclipse and do a devlopment on android, but java is too extensive for me. will look that later.

As a HTC Dream owner, I have experienced the 1.6 thanks to cyanogen mod rom 4.1.x.x . With current experimental rom (as now 4.1.10.1 it supports multi-touch, will test later)

Cyanogen firstly put the BFS into 1.6 tree and now the official developer put that in the git tree. wow, i love open source. The 1.6 is responsive, can wait the Text-to-speech feature and like the rumour said maybe Dream/G1 not getting “Donut” feature officially, this is because cyanogen push the limit to his rom and able to fit into tiny memory. As now, I have only 10MB space left and at 7MB, notification always on remind that low on space.

So, developers, get your hands on the new sdk.

All picture taken from my HTC Dream to show what is really 1.6 has to offer, gladly I have the first hand experince and share with all you readers out there

TGV Mobile from Flavert Media

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:55:55 +0800

Gotta to keep this energy of blogging , a post a day. So, browsing my twitter (follow me! i do more tech news update rather than facebook status update) stumble upon @icednyior tweet about new apps from Flavert Media - TGV Mobile.

This is a flash lite app (look to your phone now whether it is supported or not) similar to viewing tgv online (what movie showing now, etc). Here are TGV Mobile capable of: -

View ‘Now Showing Movies’ that categorized by language.
View the TGV Cinema branches and see what are the movie that are shown in that cinema by date ( today, till the second-next day )
View synopsis of the movie
One-click-call-booking including all the branches of TGV in Malaysia ( Also covers Tebrau, Seberang Perai, Seremban & Ipoh )
All general info about movie included ( Genre, Language, Showtime, Cast , Director, Runtime )
Another nifty thing: Bytes Loaded Counter ( to keep track of your usage )

And the best part it is free, forever. (wonder how they make money from it). Head here for details and download it now for your phone (mine not support flash, yet!)

Sampul Duit Raya Linux

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:00:54 +0800

Wow, this is new. From the creator of Jomlinux.com, they have created a cool products: Sampul Duit Raya Linux. and it is cheap also.

Photo taken without permission; (sorry aa megat)

Easiest ever Remote Desktop Application with Ammy Admin

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:46:14 +0800

I will share to all of you the easiest way ever to do a remote desktop over wan, without specific ip (vpn or whatsoeva) and the best part, it is free. yeah free you heard me.

First of all, this is a windows based solutions. You don’t need LogMeIn or WebEx. Enter Ammyy Admin. Download the application (small size. win!). And run it. This must be the easiest and cleanest interface. This file is consist a two type; for client and server apps.

The main important thing is your ID. If you want to access your work place computer which is a always on, push the start button and it will connect to a public router available. Now if you have a notebook with usb broadband, download the file above and acts a operator and click the operator tab. Fill in the ID of the work place. For first settings, it will prompt that a user is trying to connect to the pc, and set as always trust the connections.

Now at home easily you can connect to your work place PC without the hassle settings vpn and rememper those passphrase key. The connectivity is depends on your connections bandwidth.

Try it, and I guarantee you will ditch logmein or webex that have to do an invitation.

How to sold your soul to Google. Getting a G1 phone.

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:33:00 +0800

Everyone , I mean everyone now should by now have a Gmail account. Use calendar, contacts and everything related to google. To complete that, I bought HTC Dream aka Google G1 Phone. w00t.

Got this phone from my officemate who is a runner and can get any sort of rare phone here in Johor Bahru. Then I ask him to find me a G1 phone. After 1 week of searching, he texted me that HTC Dream is now in his hand. Whoa!

With money only to spare on my roadtax fees, gamble up to take the phone. Risking it to find a buyer to buy my Nokia E71. First impression, wow. A very responsive touch screen phone with bonus hardware keyboard. It’s used phone, I don’t mind the scratch here and there. Just want to try the Android OS. I must say this is an awesome phone to have.

The firmware on the phone is 1.1 , no on-screen keyboard and the cupcake update. After browsing and testing the phone, I am sold.

Reaching home with wifi connection always on, the phone prompts for System Update. Cupcake!!!1 Download it and apply it, wahh. on-screen keyboard, better performance, new google maps. I’m just hooked.

Android Market is the answer for android apps. Too many apps to browse, maybe not many as AppStore for iPhone. Here are some of the list apps I have downloaded so far

1. Barcode Scanner - useful if browsing market thru desktop browser, point to the QR bar code, instantly installed the apps.
2. twidroid - a free and awesome twitter client
3. Battery Widget - a smart battery widget , using 1 x 1 space and very informative
4. Soccer Livescore - apps for live soccer highlights
5. Babler Lite for Facebook - third party facebook apps. waiting for official one from facebook itself
6. Compass - compass using the accelerometer
7. Metal Detector - it detect real metal. wow
8. Weather Bug - useful enough to display current temperature on notification area
9. Google Sky Map - this is the best app. launch it, it will detect your current position and display all the star, act as mirror and you know now that Jupiter is near the moon right now
10. aTrackDog - a version tracking software

Bonus

1. Facebook Sync - sync picture profile with your contacts , need to polish more on the algo, cause only sync with name (may want to cross check with emails and phone in phonebook)
2. Recovery Flasher - one click root, yes, I have rooted my phone
3. CM-Updater - an OTA custom firmware update by Cyanogen. fail two times already. but surely will try again until custom rom is in my HTC Dream phone.

Any readers out there want to share their experince with HTC Dream especially android os. Want to meet within Johor Bahru to exchange talk on android. I stumble a car here in Johor Bahru with car decal ‘Android on Board’. So if you reading this, come share your thought on android or we can create a mini user group for android user.

PSP Minis

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:13:30 +0800

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced the imminent arrival of “minis”: a new section on PlayStation(R)Store that offers a range of all-new downloadable games for PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable). Available exclusively via digital distribution, “minis” will have a 100MB size limit, ensuring they are quick and easy to download to either the upcoming PSP(R)go or to the more than 52 million units of PSP that exist worldwide, offering innovative entertainment at your fingertips.

The new “minis” section will be available on PlayStation Store on 1st October in Europe/ PAL territories and in North America, to coincide with the launch of PSPgo, offering more choice, more ways to play and more innovative experiences to immerse yourself in wherever you are. Fifteen games will be available initially, across a wide variety of genres including arcade-style games, racers, parlor games - and a few that defy categorization! - with more than 50 games on offer by the end of the year in Europe and the PAL territories.

The “minis” development process has been designed to open the door to a broad range of developers to encourage new talent and creative ideas to PSP. “minis” are being developed by some of the most creative studios from across the globe from GameShastra, a medium-sized development team based in India, to HoneySlug a three-man team in Camden, London. Some developers, such as Creat, have already created content for PlayStation Network; others, such as Subatomic Studios are bringing their experience in the mobile phone market to PSP.

The minis initiative is also supported by traditional game publishers, with industry leader Electronic Arts Inc. developing a number of games for the programme including Tetris(R) and Sudoku, with other titles to follow before the end of the year.

“We are very excited to offer so much new content for PSP this year, particularly in this bite-sized form,” said Zeno Colaco, Vice President, Publisher and Developer Relations, SCEE. “In opening the door to developers everywhere, we are broadening the type of content available to PSP owners, and opening up a world of possibilities to enhance the PSP gaming experience.”

“‘minis’ is yet another part of our concerted effort to expand content options on PlayStation Store as the demand for digital content will increase with the launch of PSPgo,” said Eric Lempel, Director of PlayStation Network and Strategic Planning, SCEA. “minis will give developers the opportunity to create and share a variety of new and original content that in some cases, are only available on PSP.”

Arriving on 1st October, “minis” - along with the new PlayStation(R)Network video delivery service, Digital Comics, and features such as Skype, photos, music, movies and the best handheld games out there - are another reason to take PSP with you wherever you go.

source - http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/introducing-minis-for-pspr-playstationrportable,930502.shtml

URL Services tr.im discontinuing it services

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:57:35 +0800

yeap. You heard it right, tr.im one of the hundred url shortener service in now in the process of discontinuing service, effective immediately. Now if you click on the link above, there is just a static page news. With so many url shortener services, this bound to happen to at least (or many) of them. Well everybody with some knowledge of web programming does know how to write a simple url shortener services. I agree with the post that there is no way of making money from this services. Luckily bit.ly now is partnering with twitter as their default url services, but still bit.ly can get money from it because, twitter is forbidding bit.ly to advertise ads on their services. Only to digest data from it. Any other url shortener services you know that is closing down soon?

[UPDATE] [GWL] Gadget Wishlist #3 Kibardindesign Black and White Clock

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:12:00 +0800

Stumble this site while browsing late night yesterday. Some info depicted from the webiste Digital clock: only figures, no case, only the necessary – only accurate time. Each figure has self-contained power supply and independent control, it can be fixed to any surface autonomously. A light sensor will switch the clock to an invert mode: the figures are white in the dark time of day and black at daytime. Design: Vadim Kibardin Size of one figure: 60 mm x 110 mm x 10mm Colour: translucent white Materials: polycarbonate, luminous part of figure - Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) Power-supply: lithium-ion accumulators Control (choice of mode and time settings): touch-sensitive Status of project: searching for manufacturer. Simple and beautiful design. but the clock is not in production yet, the designer Vadim is seeking for manufacturer to supply it (hope its China coz it will be cheap) Will update here later if Vadim has found the manufacturer. [UPDATE] Got an email from Vadim himself, right after my posting, here are the excerpt from the email

Thank you for being interested in my designs and the Black & White Clock concept in particular. We found a manufacturer for this concept! Your address was registered in the studio database so we will inform you when it is available for sale. If you like my designs you can visit the Collection section and choose something from Kibardindesign studio goods. For example — Greenboy keychains in plastic wrapping for only 5.5 Euro or Garry soft toys. On www.kibardindesign.com in Collection section you will find more information concerning all studio goods and options of purchase. Thank you, Vadim Kibardin

Movie Review - The Hangover

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:14:44 +0800

I dig into comedy film. Just to name a few and all time favorite is Old School. The director Todd Philips returned with this new movie called The Hangover

Rotten Tomatoes, a highly acclaimed movie review site , give a 79% TOMATOMETER. The story starts as Doug is about to be married and his friends(Stu, a spineless dentist; Phil, schoolteacher ready to party, and bored of married life; Alan, Doug’s soon to be brother in-law) take him to Las Vegas to give him the best bachelor party one has ever seen (and also get hammered themselves while doing it).

The movie starts with a fast foward scene where a phone call from Phil in a desert (Las Vegas, Nevada) saying that Doug is missing and its about 5 1/2 hours from Doug wedding reception. Then the movie roll into introducing all the character involves on the hangover. Doug, Stu, Alan and Phil began their ride to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. The party takes off on the roof of the hotel they are staying in with a toast. The scene fades out..and they wake up in their suite, which is fulled with sign of a party and a tiger in the bathroom and a baby in the closet. Their car and Doug are missing and Stu without a tooth.

The best part is the film didnt show any of the party, some said that it’s like Resevoir Dog, the heist film without the heist. I recommend you to watch the movie (if FINAS approved it, or buy the DVD), its worth it and better than Will Ferrell’s Land of The Lost (sorry will)

I give 4.5 out of 5 stars

JB Food Club Directory

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:12:00 +0800

I am in the middle of creating a one stop database of makan spot in Johor Bahru. In order of this is working and functional , I need help.

Please go to JB Food Club Directory Form and fill up the form if you discover any makan spot that you want to share with others.

Help me, if you discover this post by accidentally and know any makan spot in Johor Bahru or know any friend live in Johor Bahru, spread this news.

Google Maps Updated. With Latitude and Layers

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:54:12 +0800

With the new version Google Maps (3.2), Google Maps for mobile allows you to view many layers of information on your map at the same time. Last Saturday, I have a chance to update my current Google Maps for Mobile on my Nokia E71. Just launch the native browser (not Opera Mini), the installation went smooth. First thing after the installation, I enable the Latitude, now I can track where my wifey is (she had Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, damn cool touch phone).

Then adding the layers is simple, now I can add Wikipedia layers and discover new places. Even more cool, My Maps that specially design for desktop now on mobile, from the Google Mobile Blog, it is among the fifth most requested features.

Some picture from Google Mobile Blog.

Cool eh?, To get it on your phone, go to m.google.com/maps

Manage your Internet activity with OpenDNS

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:15:31 +0800

As you might know, I owned two cybercafes, which give me headaches to manage them. Nowadays, all my customers now utilizing all the bandwidth by installing illegal p2p/filesharing software like they owned it. Yes, I can install IPCop/Smoothwall to manage the cybercafes, but still I have to get an old pc , plug in 2 network card, plusmore the electric bill will add up at the end of month.

Now that I have discovered a new services that excludes all the hassles (pc, nic, bills). OpenDNS now provide new services that cater all the hardware related firewall/ids/proxy can do. With simple solutions, adding the dns thru the router, dynamic dns also supported (will update the ip automatically to opendns).

Here is the link for how to -> http://www.ehow.com/how_4556123_bad-web-sites-using-opendns.html