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S60 Handphone - Understanding its limitation and advantages

Nokia N82 use S60, (Symbian 60) soft ware, which is a open software. It seem that this software has a lot of users, Major Handphone company use this software, Nokia, LG, Samsung etc as oppose the traditional computer company's use Window Mobile to power their PDA/Handphones/ Smart Phones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As a open software, it is also supported by alot of independent, these people, company, produce themes / skins , various applications, games, that can be use by all these handphone or devices, THE NOKIA N82 which i intend to get is one of such hand phone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . These applications, games, themes, are available to be downloaded either Free, or as Shareware where by you pay a bit, or as full fledged software where you have to pay a fair bit, to use it. and is available from many websites or blogs. (See my earlier post on downloading games and themes) . .. . . . . . . . . ................. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . Browsing through the web, this Christmas day, i found this web, http://www.s60.com which is all about symbian 60 software, they even have what they call S60 Ambassadors, People which promote S60, in return of getting the latest updates, information, software, on the S60, which they write about and weekly/monthly there are prizes (games, even use of handphones, s60 of course) for being the best story teller or promoter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . Well, "this look interesting" i said to my self, I will have to join up, as i believe in this, If you are spending your own hard earn money, on a product, use it to the fullest, to get the maximum for your money worth. Many Devices out there especially electronic gadget are being underutilised i believe. The Site to join is

• http://www.ambassadors.s60.com/

I will do so as soon as i get my hand on the Nokia N82, to keep in touch with what new out there as compared with my Sony K750i after the initial downloads, i did not do any thing at all. .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . I am thinking can i read my E - Books, on the Nokia N82, it seem i can, it can open txt, words, and also PDF files, I do have those e books, but the majority of my e books are in LIT format or shall i say Microsoft Reader format. Checking the web, unfortunately there is no support for this format, but there are a few person asking for it already. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Well, Getting a S60 handphone is easy, just go and buy, utelising it fully will be a task, you have to be computer savvy to handle it to download applications, and istalling them. You also have to be web savvy, to find out place where to get the applications and so on. . . . . I will take me time i believe to get to know this handphone / device well, as to use it to the fullest capability. GPS will be a new thing. There will be others ................................................................ Well, Happy holidays every one, I will not be around for a few days ;-)

Anticipating the arrival of the N82

I am waiting for the Nokia N82 to arrive, which due to my Finance and the Holiday period will be some time on the 29th of Dec 2008, In anticipation I have been browsing the web, . .

• to get to know the Handset Better
• to see what Free Games is available and to download a few to try it out
• to see and download the Free skins or theme available and that is interesting
• GPS applications , various Maps
• What free and possible useful application are out there to down load

. Here are some of the web sites that were useful in my research. . . Theme Websites .

• http://www4.ownskin.com/index?&r=1

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• http://forum2.mobile-review.com/showthread.php?p=739008

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• http://gallery.mobile9.com/c/nokia-n82-themes_1592/

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• http://www.onsmartphone.com/themes-for-nokia-n82/

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• http://www.symbianthemes.us/nokia_n82/p,29.html

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• http://axthemes.extra.hu/new.html

. . . I downloaded a bunch of theme which i would like to try out. More on those later once i have installed and started using them. . . Games Websites . .

• http://www5.ownskin.com/games

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• http://www.freesymbiansoft.com

I also got a bunch of games, more on those later after i get the handset, install them and play around with the games a bit. . . . Other Web sites / Blogs . .

• www.symbian-freeware.com

quite a bit of software here, themes, application, games, just that you have to register and login, this is one site where you will find almost everything you may required and down load direct. quite a bit of those application i read about is available here.

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• http://www.then82blog.com

a very informative blog on N82, and on the S60 devices in general, Tip on how to use your device , links to themes, applications, games it all here. etc its all here.

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• http://www.n82blog.com

also a very informative blog. in general almost the same as the above

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Changing My Phone Carrier! From Maxis to Digi

I had use Digi Prepaid for may years (5 years or more ), then i change to Digi Post paid due to my increase bills, and the offer they made, New Hand Phone Free in return for a 2 year contract, 15 cent a min per call anywhere in malaysia, monthly fees of RM30. When after the contract finish, I move to a new job in the outskirts of Penang,. . . Bad / No Signal when i am in the building, When I want to make call, I have to move to certain areas to get signal. And the best is, I am the only guy using Digi in my Work Place. ;-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . So I change to Maxis for better coverage, 2 year contract with a rebate, of RM20 per month for a Year, and another RM10 a month for another year, With Month Charges at RM30 and RM0.30 per min, initially the Sales man said it was RM0.15, but after is sign up it was RM0.30, i said never mind lah, what i wanted was the coverage. I also got my wife a supplementary line at RM10 per month. . . . . . . . . . . . Coverage was better, but there are still spots where i cannot get any coverage at all. Now it is after 2 years, and with the number potibility thingi comming in, i am thinking of changing back to Digi, Coverage have improve, though most staff here still use Maxis or Celcom, Some are thinking of going U Mobile, for the free calls. . . . . The Post Paid Easy Plan, The lowest, It now RM20 per month, and RM0.20 per min, No rebate, No Free Phone etc but seem to have a bonus if you spend a certain amount you will get a rebate, So I am thinking of setting it up together with my new phone, new carrier! Lower Monthly Charges, and even Lower Call Charges. Why not, I should be able to save say about RM20 a month or thereabouts. . . . . Have ask the Local Phone Shop guy to set it up! .. . . .. . and i am having problem controlling this blog!!!!!

Nokia N82 Website

There seems to be a good number of specific N82 website and Blog out there, very informative and helpful.. . . . . http://n82-download.blogspot.com/. . . . http://nds1.nokia.com/tutorials/support/global/phones/n82/english/index.html.. . . . . http://www.n82blog.com/. . . . . http://www.then82blog.com/. . . . . Nokia N82 seems to come in 3 colour, Black, Titanium and White, I am eyeing the Black, Look like my finance is working out. target date, 30 Dec 2008 ;-).

Time for a New Phone! I hope a S60 Smart Phone

The Price of this new model smart phones are way out of my reach, however reach i may want them, so i started listing down what i want, A Smart Phone that have wifi and able to open words, excel and power point. Why Wifi, its because it is now so common, even at the Kedai Mamak, the Humble Coffee Shop, Restaurants, Hotel you have Free Wifi, and the Dap State Govt of Penang want to blanket Penang with Free Wifi ;-). Any other feature will be a added benefits.

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Sony P1, Initial the P1 look attractive, as a colleague use one, i manage to lay my greasy hands on it and play around, did some research, and hey it look nice, touch screen, open and edit words excel, 3.15 camera with zoom, Qwerty input, why not i said, Cost around RM1400, which is the same with new model G900 said the salesman, then i heard that the op system is being stop, Is this true?

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S60 device, Friends introduce the S60 range of Smart Phones, they say lots of software out there, to customize your phone, and lots of New Model Handphone use them, not like the sony op system, Nokia, Samsung etc use S60.

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Nokia N82, After a bit of net research, I opted for a Nokia N82, its "boaring" candy bar look good to me, I am a bit of a conservetive person, dont like flip / slide etc as i am also a butter fingers, and Being a gadget freek, i think i will love the GPS, TV out capebility, 5 MP camera. Xanon flash, Cost = RM1280 (for a new AP set) but getting in the assecories like, car holder, car charger, case and Gamin map will cost me more. Not Cheep, but when compared to the P1, giving up the "not so functional" qwerty key board and the touch screen, for the extra goodies . Its not a new model, that why its cheep! and its a proven model, that being conservative again.

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I did think to get a 2nd hand set, but when comparing the phone only price of around RM900, then getting in the original accessories, plus what i want it will come up to the same as a new one, so no point. Time to start putting the money to one side, as long as there are no emergencies, i am thinking early Jan 2009

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Now i am already wondering what free software is out there that i should put in. Calling N82 / S60 handphone users out there, any suggestion and where to find this free software?

Bagan Ajam Beach

After finishing work this fine Sat, (6am till 3pm) i decided to take my 3 kids out for a drive, My intention is to scout for a location with good view of Penang Island, so i can take some night photos.

View of Komtar from Bagan Ajam.

I found it, and i also found a decent beach not to far from Butterwort at Bagan Ajam along the BORR highway at the BORR Bagan Ajam Rest Stop. Click here

Beach, Nice Sandy, just like what you will get in Penang Island, only with view of Komtar

Close Up View of the Ships

"The 4 fingers" at Tanjung Bungah on the Island, A Controversial condo Project

the Beach, with view of the Port at the Back

A Speeding Sampan

If some one put their heads to it, this area can be the Esplanade, Gurney Drive and Queensbay of Butterworth,

Birthday @ Corner Club

Happy Birthday Mom!

It was mom birthday, and we started looking for a wheel chair friendly restaurant to take her to. Having that in mind, I suggested Corner Club, as it was pretty wheelchair friendly and the food is good.

As it was quite some time we have been here last, I was surprise to see the ramps at the restaurant entrance have vanished. Still it is easy for my mon to step out of the car, and manage that one step up in to the restaurant.

That when we notice that the restaurant have undergone some extensive renovation, it bigger, brighter, neater, and that i begin to get worried on the food quality.

To cut the story short, the food quality remains, it's still as good as before, even with the new management, the renovation, all the usual menu items remain, and now you can even get tim sum at night here.

They dont bring the tim sum in carts any more, you order from a photo menu, and they steam them fresh and bring it out. I like that, many time i have to eat soggy tim sum due to oversteaming in the carts.

Price wise it remain the same. Any way we enjoy our lunch here! and will be back for more

Water Tap Display

Normally when you enter a shopping center wash room you will find that all the taps are similar, well not this shopping center wash room, it also serve as a tap display showcase! Every single tap inside this place is different!

Red Garden, George Town, Upper Penang Road

Cross a Food Court and a Nite Market, you will get Red Garden. formerly a Pub, now this old mansion have been transform in to a food court, that concentrate on late nite crowd, as some of the stall were not even open or ready at 7pm. It have two entrance, One on Upper Penang Road, while the other is on the road behind, where New Cathay Hotel is.

I use the Penang Road Entrance which is inside a Car Park, Very Convenient, However the car park is pricy, RM2/- per hour.

Nice interesting Ceiling Decoration.

Oyster Omelette, Fairly good, Up to Standard.

Chicken Rice, Overall, Urg! No comment, however if you eat just the chicken it fairly well done. The Rice is some thing else though. Even My wife agreeed. Western Food, Better then average . . . . There also a few shops that is open just like a typical nite market. This place is a place where you have to go late, It cater to the tourist as well as the night drinking crowd, and there are singers around too.

Neww BT Food Court

There is a new Food Court in Town. I have not sample the food there yet, but i is a big food court, with all the usual hawker food and some. There is also a lucky draw or some thing. Location : next to Am Assurance along Burma Road, Just after Penang Plaza.

Food here is not cheep though, But it big, wide and airy, not hot at all, and many many car parks which is important. I will be back here to try it out. This food court even have a web!

Restaurants & Parking at AEON Seberang Prai

I like AEON Seberang Prai, (at Bandar Perda) because in bring to the Penang (Mainland) some of the frills of Penang Island Shopping and KL Type Restaurants. I was there last night, not too crowded, but not bad. There is good parking space with sheltered walk way and the access is nice.

It even have a lot of handicap parking, spots, however i notice some not too civil conscious drivers will park their car at this location, when i walk past there was this merc and kancil, and they don't even bother to park properly. In the Restaurant Corner you will get all the usual suspects such as KFC, Mac D, Nando, Kenny Rogers, Starbucks, some KL grown restaurants like Secret Recipe, Nandos, Laksa Shack, White Coffee, and some local grown restaurants . . . . What i notice is some of the restaurant are pack, Mac D, Pizza Hut, White Coffee,while some business are not so good, like secret recipe, nando, kenny rogers, Is this due to the Penang Price Factor, and perceive value for money? The Main thing however as a person in the Hospitality industry is that all the workers seem to be FOREIGNERS, even some restaurant all the SERVERS and the COOK are FOREIGNERS including the captain, supervisors, managers. . . . One Restaurant though, (a KL Chain, on the 1st Floor) seem to be making a effort in hiring locals, there was a small banner up, Manager 3K, Supervisor 2K, etc, To me Salary seem to be on the higher side of norm, but there seem to be no takers? What Up? Locals are shying away from working in Restaurants? etc.

Experimenting with Peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing

This last raya I was introduce to Peer to Peer File sharing, when i ask some one where to find movies to watch on the net. . . He immediately down load a Bit Torrent client for me with assorted plug in, and pointed me to a site to find files to download. . . I know that this has been going on for a long time, But this my first experience with this type of thing, and i have to say that, i have mix feelings on doing this. . . It takes so long in downloading files, a 400MB + file look, log on time of 7 days of 8 hours each, a 10.6mb file is still down loading at the 16% mark after more then a whole month!, with time log in of 13+ days and counting. Actually it when up 3% over the last two days. I have access to a IDSN (commercial type), which should be fast. . . Further quality of the files are also suspected, it may not be actually what you want, or in a different language. . . Is it worth spending all that time and log in money? In my opinion, I don't think so, It just not worth the effort unless it is for some thing money cannot buy.

It's My Home

Listen to this music video

Malaysian Budget 2009: Basket of goodies that may make a difference for Me!

1. 1% cut for middle income group in tax from 13% to 12% . 2. Tax rebate from RM350 to RM400 for taxable income of RM35K . 3. Tax exemption of income savings. 4. Tax exemption on employee benefits. 5. diesel vehicle similar to petrol road tax. 6. Road tax for public transport cut to RM20 7. toll reduction for public transport . 8. scrapped / reduce inport duty on certain food stuffs like beehoo... 9. reduce import duties on certain electrical goods 10. scrapped duties of solar photovoltaic system equipments & high efficiency motors 11. scrapped duties on local made solar heating systems 12. exemption on duties for hybird cars . . . . . .. . . . . . .the above items are those that may affect me and help . . 1. reduce cost of living . . . . 2. may increase my take home pay . . . . .3. improve public transport . . . . 4. reduce power bill . . . . 5. fuel efficient car. . . . it will all depends on the manufacturers, the retail shops, service suppliers, and so on, if they will adjust their price or for my employee to pay me more and if i can afford to puy this energy efficient items and so on. on the whole its a big basket of goodies..... just that how will it tickle down and help, we will have to see.