The High Speed Internet Bandwagon

So I have received the highspeed CSU/DSU (the equivalent of Modem, or modulator/demodulator, for the cable connection from starhub. It really harks back the time when I have experienced the Docsis 1.0 CSU/DSU from SCV (now Starhub) for the trial. The quantum leap from 55k Modem to Cable is really mind blowing (when square floppy disc was in the rage then, you can imagine how young I am). So would the jump from an 'ok' speed to 'high' speed be that significant?

Was thinking how to plan the test as I have an internet connection being shared amongst the family members wirelessly without them being inconvenienced but still have a good test.

So the test period for 2 weekends is actually not that helpful for one who is working full time since the only time where most people are not at home is during the working hours.

The wireless router is another issue. WRT54G is rated at 54mbps at the best data throughput rate. Wireless being wireless, there will be issues with regards to transmission strength with our thick HDB walls and doors being the usual suspects halting the connection from laptop to router.

Router as it is known is a smart switch. But no matter how smart it is, it has to route and that will include some latency time, no matter how small or fast it is.

Hence wireless out, router out and direct connection is in. But would the splitter affect the test as well? Gosh. there are just many unknowns and I do not want to lay wires throughout the house.

Therefore I opt for this test sequence instead.

Using my netbook as the standard machine to access the internet, I would make a direct connection with the same UTP cable from Netbook to the 2 CSU/DSU(C/D) but these two C/D will share the same connection using a splitter. To make sure full access to the co-ax is enabled, the untested C/D will be switched off.

The timing would be fixed also: 10am-11am (non peak period) and 10pm-11pm (peak period)

The tests will be in the done side by side, each time switching on/off the UTP connection on the netbook itself.

When connection is switched on, the following will be done.

a) Local video streaming sites from CNA, Asiaone, STOMP, razor.tv, OMY. Will time each download by pressing play and see when the download bar has become full.
b) Do a speedtest via www.speedtest.net to both local and international test servers.
c) Play my game, COD instead of Maplestory using my desktop. The reason is that Maplestory is not 3D intensive and although it is Massive Multiplayer Online game, the throughput rate is more significant for full 3D game effect in a multiplayer setting where connection speed lies between being killed or being alive.

Check in when the test is completed by the end of this weekend.

Untangle My Life....Simple...Bluetooth

Got some videos from Ripplevox and to be honest I am not ready to see some of the videos. Some are really lame, one is extreme disgusting and 2 that are really out of this world. If you are scared of mice, better not watch it.


Version Animals



This I got to say, really would get those people from SPCA that jitters and I am not really keen to see the cat doing what it is doing...although it is a trick of the eye...it is just plain disgusting. The mice version is better.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets

We are briefed!

I don't think I am cut out for this!

Joanna: Doing her Interview Thingie

Carry the torch! (By the way did not see Nicky carrying this torch at all!)

After growing up watching Indiana Jones, and viewing countless adventure/treasure hunting movie such as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider and Davinci Code...one thing is for sure, I miss Indy A LOT. I guess Mr Ford in his old creaky body should not reprise the role of the swash buckling role and should leave it to the younger generation.

That's where Nicky Cage comes in...slightly younger and a hairdo in the movie that is close to disastrous. Not exactly a hair style that one would sport if you are an adventurer. As you can see I am practically distracted by Nick's Character Mr B. J. Cage just because of his hair style.

But at least I can say that the whole movie is just one hell of a ride: car chase, problem solving, breaking in and squeezing through holes full of cobwebs...and of course solving the mandatory ancient traps that surrounds the treasure. It is so fast, you would never try to understand how one clue leads to another. And (spoiler alert) the whole movie has actually TWO book of secrets, one that has a clue and the other (named after this show) is held by the President.

Now this book of secrets, people would love to have it because for me, I would really want to know how many babes did Mr JFK really have other than Marilyn Monroe. Of course it would be nice to know who really killed him. As the show has gone forth, the characters really do not have much time to look through the book.

Anyway, like I said if you are looking for some thinking, guessing and solving movie like thrillers then this is one movie you should not have to watch. It is basically action all the way, not much brain juice is needed. Even if one do use the brain to trace the clues to the final solution, it just does not make sense at all!

So how is this movie? I guess the first movie is much better because it is up against Davinci Code and so the clue solving is much more 'intelligent'. As for the 2nd version, Nicky just act as though he is thinking really hard, which of course he isn't and it shows. The whole show is entertaining but not to the point that will prompt me to say that it is a must watch.

But the show stealer has to be Helen Mirren because she does a really good job in captivating me as an audience when she has to do a verbal sparring with Nicky's dad, helmed by Jon Voight (aka Jolie's dad...the lips cannot be mistaken). There's another good actor in Ed Harris who acted as the bad guy who acted good so that he can be bad...come again?

To sum it all up my wife says the darnest thing, "I don't understand the whole movie".

Gosh..when will the next Indy Movie be up?

Other than the show, there's this thing about doing some interview for MTV Asia and we have a blast doing it (although I did not do it, I have fun taking pictures of the interview). We did a review for MTV as well! Fun Fun Fun....

Samsung T10: Review Post 2

Although the post supposed to be on the T10, the main character here is the Samsung's Bluetooth headset SBH 500, an accessory for the T10.

Nothing out of the ordinary though and out of the box the headset is extremely comfortable but those who wear spectacles have to take it out first, put on the headset and then replace the spectacles. The SBH 500 out of the box.

Initial impressions of the Bluetooth headset is quite good. Pairing it off with my Nokia 6300, Dopod HTC U1000 and the Samsung T10 (more on that in the later posts) did not encounter any problems.

Sound wise, the SBH500 perform well with good base, mid and treble response. Calls made through it was clear and audible to the recipients despite being in a noisy and busy place.

What endears me to it was that it is not flashy (pun intended). I do have a Jabra BT headset as well but it likes to 'shout' its presence because it flashes a ring of blue light whenever it is on. Although I did not do the flashing, people kept staring at me thinking that I am wearing something that is obviously too 'bling bling' for me.

I also do appreciate the simple 'on-off' button that is absent from most BT receivers.

Still there are 2 things I do not really like. I would very much appreciate that the play and phone buttons to be separated as it took me time to find the play button and accidentally click the phone button instead. The other thing I do not really like is the lack of a USB charger and bringing this headset for trips would mean an extra charger in my bag.

All in, the SBH 500 is still a very practical and user friendly headset.

Samsung T10: Review Post 1

Ripplevox passed me this MP3 player called the Samsung T10 and asked me to cough...i mean... blog about it. So here I am blogging this MP3 player like it will be my dream girlfriend, while i slowly undress it to my heart's content.

The T10 sounds like one of those killer robots in the Terminator shows that have Arnie says "I'll be back!" and "Hasta La Vista...(pause)...baby". Damn...it is not as sexy as T2000, the babe chick terminator that I am willing to let her 'kill me softly with her words'.

Ok...enough of those sexual innuendos. T10 no doubt has done something that most MP3 players do not have, the ability not to stick on to your like those sticky girlfriends like a wired earphones. There you got it: wireless and I am ready to divorce my wires away.

Drum roll please...the T10 in boxed glory~!!



Give it a good look around and for those who are lazy to hunt it down via Google, this is what it says behind the box

"Animation GUI
Video (WMV, MPEG4), Music(MP3, WMA, Ogg), Photo Slideshow(JPEG), FM Radio, Text Viewer, Voice Recording, Bluetooth 2.0"

First impression is that if I am not a IT geek, I would not have known Samsung T10 can help you divorce your wife...err...your wire. As a red-blooded guys go, we see the face, the 'love pillows' and then the shape...(dun act blur...guys do look as girls do). So the cover did not say anything about being wireless at the front and a good selling point has thus being muted.

Next is the opening ceremony.

Everything do look easy from the word get go and my confidence was up when I saw a tag to 'pull'.... and it did not work. After a frustrating minute or so I forgot that I need to treat this as woman of my dreams. There has got to be a way to make her come out from her shell and since she can't take one liners, then i have to push the right buttons.


And with the right buttons...everything just spills.



Introducing the Samsung T10 (clap clap clap)....at last it comes out.



Now to charge her up and see what joy and ecstasy she can bring me.

Shucks....have to bring her to buy some clothes tomorrow (not even an underwear in the box!).

Logitech MX Air

• S$ 279

• Available from major IT Retailers

User interface norm has been turning on its head since the arrival of the Wii controller. For those who loves the Wii controller and wish that it could be used along with the Windows XP Media Center Edition PC sitting in the living room, the Logitech MX Air is the perfect answer to the prayer.

The wireless MX Air comes in elegant black and silver that oozes style from every angle. The design would not look out of place in the Zen inspired living room with flush buttons, flowing design with no sharp edges; just like a smooth stone.

First and foremost the MX Air is a mouse for the common desktop. Armed with a laser tracking system, the feedback on mouse position is more precise and faster. Thus it performs really well for First Person Shooting (FPS) games that is reliant on precise aiming such as Battlefield 2142. The accompanied Logitech Setpoint software can also sense that a game is starting up and will configure the mouse for games so that users need not to change their mouse sensitivity level for games and work.

Scrolling through the web pages with the MX Air is also very different as it does not come with a scroll wheel. What replaces it is the cool touch sensitive scroll panel that can sense the touch of the finger and scroll the page effortlessly.

Unlike the Wii Controller that makes use of the sensor bar to sense its position relative to the TV screen, Logitech's Freespace technology allows users to just pick up the mouse and control the cursor on the screen without any other devices except for a USB plug to connect the mouse to the PC. A welcome relief for users whose TV console is filled to the brim.

What caught me by surprise is the relative ease of pointing the cursor, controlling volume and skipping tracks just by using hand gestures. For example, when lowering the volume, I just need to hold the volume key, wait for the volume bar to appear and then swing the mouse to the left. How about forwarding a track? Simple. Just hold the 'play' button, draw a clockwise circle in the air and the next music track is played.

For all its beauty in form and function, the MX Air is a fingerprint magnet that requires constant cleaning if one's hand is sweaty. And to maintain its pebble like form, it may not have the same comfort level as those ergonomically designed mouse. For someone that scroll pages quite frequently, the scroll panel may also see more wear and tear and thus tarnish the smooth facade.

At $279 the MX Air is an expensive mouse that may not appeal to most desktop bound PC users except for those who has hooked up a PC to the living room's Flat screen TV. It is really indispensable once you get the hang of it. A truly innovative product.

Samsung Ultra II 9.6 SGH-U300

Sleekness seems to be the order of the day for the latest iteration of Sumsung's line of slim phone. This time round the Ultra Edition II 9.6 clam shell phone is carrying the torch for no frills phone for the Korean chaebo.

As the model number suggest this thin, slim calling machine is just a mere 9.6 mm thick and it is easy to slot it into pockets and handbags. Size wise, the phone measured 100 by 51 mm is also easy to hold and more so when the phone is flipped up. Access to the buttons and keys is easy enough so no dramas there.

Samsung phone's brilliant 2.2" TFT-LCD makes reading and looking at text, graphics and pictures that much enjoyable thanks to its 262K colour screen. It also comes with a secondary OLED screen on the cover for a quick check whenever there's a call.

As mentioned, since this is a no frills phone, the SGH-U300 does not have 3G connectivity. This phone will be perfect for those who do not need to access the Internet frequently.

For such a thin phone, the Samsung is armed with a 3.2 mega pixel camera on the cover. The picture quality is quite good even for its lack of flash and lens thanks to the phone's good control of image noise.

The most talked about feature of the phone should be its cool metallic keypad. What distinguished it from other phones, most notably the Motorola Razr, is the seamless keypad that has no apparent demarcation for individual buttons as it is presented as one piece of metal sheet. That adds the cool factor to the phone.

That said, what irks most was the lack of sensitivity of the buttons as some strength has to be utilised when pressing the button for the phone to register the key press. The inability to feel individual keys also hinders fast SMS messaging.

There are also other kinks to its sleek armour no thanks to its non-changeable batteries, lack of and the lack of a memory slot to increase its meagre 70 megabyte built-in memory. The use of a proprietary data cum power cable did not endear itself to frequent business travellers either as power adaptor and data cable has to be brought along.