Read later, a dead simple online bookmark service

The website is not readlater.com but instapaper.com.

You just need to register a username, password is not even necessary. If you need some security, just setup the password later. Drag a "read later" icon to your browser toolbar (it support firefox, not sure for other browser), then it is done. Is simple, right?

The idea of the service is, if you found some good websites for reading, you can bookmark it and read later. After you read the website later, it will be remove from your bookmark by default. You need to disable the default setting from your configuration.

Instapaper is an online bookmark service, but it is different from delicious. Delicious allow you to keep and share your bookmarks online, tag your bookmark, it was build with the community concept. Instapaper do not have the community or network circle (may be they will build one), it even delete the bookmark automatically after you have read it. Instapaper is dead simple, from the registration to the bookmark management process.

For me, instapaper is different from delicous because instapaper have good support on iPhone, which I have eagerly expected from delicious.

Ashton and Oprah on Twitter

When hollywood star start using it, you can't stop it.

Oprah register a Twitter account, no update yet, but she is going to send out the first tweet on her show tomorrow. Twitter founder Evan Williams will be there on the show as well.

On April 14, Ashton Kutcher tweet that he will plunk Ted Turners (media tycoon, founder of CNN) if his followers number beat CNN's millions (more than 900k) followers. You can refer to the TechCrunch story here. On 17 April (GMT 4:00) Ashton's follower has surpass CNN(Ashton 998,996 CNN 998,608).

Who is Ashton Kutcher? He is the host of the well known MTV celebrities prank show. He is an actor as well, I like the movie 'Just Married' that he co-star with Brittany Murphy. Ashton Kutcher married actress Demi Moore in year 2005.

When there are people to criticize iPod (the first generation of classic verion) are too big to be carried and over priced, but you found iPod inside every hollywood star's pocket and handbags, you know that you will not able to stop it. The only thing that you can worried is Twitter can handle the volume.

Update: Ashton Kutcher's followers already hit one million.

Beware of MSN messenger virus - photobukkets

"I am not so alert today"

Received a photobucket link on MSN, 30 minutes after I chat with my friend online using MSN messenger. I though my friend want to share some photo with me. After I click on the link, it ask me to login with my MSN username and password.

I don't really like photobucket (a photo sharing site), I only visit the site once or twice some time ago, but when did photobucket start using MSN username for login? I take a quick glance at the url, it looks normal. I hesitate... for just 2 seconds and continue login...I must be crazy for doing it.

Oh! No. It doesn't look like a photobucket website. I key in the url manually, pretty sure that is not a photobucket website (but I type the wrong address again, photobuckets). I take a close look at url send from my friend's url, is http://xxx. PhotoBukkets .com... and not the popular photobuckets.

The first thing I do is change my MSN password. How? Go to passport member services, sign in and change password.

There are some precautions that you can avoid this type of mistake:

1. Do not click on external url link from suspecious email or IM (instant messenger).
2. Never login from the url you click on any hyperlink document, just in case you miss out the url name like what I experience today.
3. If you really need a login, type in the url address manually and login from its homepage. After you have login, click on the external url link, if the url link is same with your login address, it should automatically login for you, it will not ask for username and password again.

Sometimes we are just lazy and forget about all the rules, but just be alert.

CSS Naked Day 2009

Earth Hour just pass. More that 1000 cities participated, off the lights for one hour.

Today is CSS naked day, I found it last year. Wow! Another year just pass. I don't like CSS, I prefre simplicity, but no doubt CSS make website looks better, make web application more presentable and extend its capabilities.

Be it good or not good, strip your CSS for just a day, be CSS naked, it not a bad idea.

Apple New Third Generation iPod Shuffle

Even I seldom listen mp3, I am tempted to buy Apple iPod. Now you know how Apple accumulate their cash.

Apple quietly launch it's new iPod Shuffle few days back. iPod Shuffle is getting simpler, is not just smaller in size, is neater in user interface.

When iPod Shuffle first launch, it doesn't came with a LCD display as other iPod does. Some people criticize this expensive 'low end' mp3 player, but I think Shuffle is just nice. The iPod Shuffle fill in the gap for Apple low end iPod mp3 player, fill up the full range product line for its iPod, from low end to high end.

Not everyone likes Apple product, not everyone need high capacity but bigger size iPod. Some people will prefer smaller, simpler mp3, like iPod Shuffle.

The 3rd generation iPod Shuffle not just smaller in size but the interface is simpler. Apple remove the wheel control, move it to the earphone. The control interface is much simpler, but provide more functions. How Apple do it?

Other than the normal pause and play, volume control, iPod Shuffle has VoiceOver function which speak out the song title, I think the design work just nice with Shuffle without LCD display. Another extra function is, you can now choose playlist with your earphone control.

If you do not need extra functions, you can ignored the extra 2 functions and still handle your iPod with the earphone control well. If you like simplicity (like me), iPod Shuffle is just for you.

A potential Google competitor candidate 2009

Google is the giant of the Internet, especially on search and online advertisment. If you ask me who is the potential candidate to compete with Google? I will say, is not Yahoo!, is not Alibaba, but is Apple.

Why not Microsoft? Microsoft is another IT giant, Microsoft can compete with anyone. It will not inspire you.

Google is a service provider on the Internet, but it also an Internet media company. Apple is a hardware, a software or an entertainment related company by selling iPod and mp3 songs. How could these two companies could compete with each other?

Google is good in search, and Apple is developing its search technology as well. Apple add in spotlight technology in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, it is a search function, not just to help user to look for a data file on the hard disk, but it can help user access to application easily, by 'searching' it.

The different is Google search the Internet, Apple spotlight search your desktop. This is not all the truth, as you know Google Desktop application search your desktop too. Is hard to avoid competition these day.

Searching is just a start. Browser application lead me to relate Apple as the potential competitor of Google.

Google search already dominate the Internet, if it can control the software platform like Microsoft does, that will be great. Google's answer for the software platform is browser--Chrome.

Google Chrome is an innovative browser, it not just render html real fast, its new v8 javascript engine performance out do all browsers available on the market. Since new web application depends heavily on javascript, an efficient javascript engine is crucial for a browser.

Apple release Safari 4.0 beta public few days ago.
Click on the picture to view

Apple develop browser application many years ago, way before Google does. The first Safari browser was release in year 2003. Recently Apple release Safari 4.0 beta public, is surprisingly fast on javascript performance (test by Sun Spider and V8) , it is the only javascript engine which can compete with Chrome in terms of speed.

Chrome and Safari share the same html engine, WebKit. It is one of the fastest html render engine in the market now. WebKit is modified from an open source html engine, khtml from KDE project. WebKit is open source as well, Google take the engine to build Chrome and added in with their v8 javascript engine.

Is too early to say that Apple will compete with Google with its new Safari browser, it is just a beta version and javascript engine is not the only thing that we are looking for in a browser, but I think Apple is a potential competitor.

Exchange for a stealing

若說以金錢購買，就受到法律全面保護，那麼購買盜版，何罪之有？

園明園是清朝時期所建立的皇家宮苑，於 1860 年八國聯軍入侵中國時被聯軍一把燒毀。園中許多寶物與珍藏被聯軍所掠奪而空。

園明園內西洋樓，海晏堂前有十二獸首人身銅像，為水力報時鐘，每一時辰輪流噴水報時。聯軍劫後十二獸首散落世界各地，不知所踪。

十二生肖銅像水力鐘

其中牛，猴，虎首以逾三千萬港元購回。豬，馬首被何鴻燊購下，再轉贈中國政府。鼠，兔首落在法國私人收藏家手裡，其餘五件下落不明。

最近有新聞報導說，已故法國時尚之王聖羅蘭 (Yves Saint Laurent) 的合夥人表示，若中國保證保障人權，解放西藏，將歸還寶物。若說以金錢購買，就受到法律全面保護，那麼購買盜版，何罪之有？此二銅像乃盜品，若要歸還何來交換條件之說？

清朝積弱，受列強欺凌，是中國人的恥辱。若華人要到法國羅浮宮 (Louvre)看中國銅像，卻是悲哀。

Do you still backup your document?

The concept of backup important document, started at least few hundred years ago, but we are still careless about it.

How often do you back up your document and source code? Every day? or every month? Most people started to backup everytime they make modification, but later only backup once in a while, till our hard disk (or system) crash, then we will start to backup frequently again.

The biggest China encyclopedia history book-- Si Ku Quan Shu, completed in year 1781, has seven hand written copies, located in different places.

The concept of backup important document, started few hundred years ago, or earlier. Today hard disk storage are so cheap, making copy with photocopy mahcine is so easy, and I still miss the backup procedure sometimes.

《四庫全書》是中國歷史上規模最大的一大套叢書，在清朝時乾隆皇帝，指派紀旳（紀曉嵐）為總編輯，收集了大量民間與官方的重要書籍，編汇而成。始於 1773 年，完成於 1781 年，歷時九年（一說十年）。

四庫全書收錄了從先秦到乾隆前，大部份的重要書籍，包括《論語》、《孟子》、《孫子兵法》、《本草綱目》等著作，是一部中國百科全書。全書共有七部手抄本－文淵閣、文源閣、文溯閣、文津閣、文宗閣、文匯閣及文瀾閣，分別典藏於七個不同的地方。

四庫全書抄本，多份都在戰亂中被毁。卻因為有多份抄本，才能保留至今。

The Sony VAIO P ads

After all these notebook vendors release netbook one after another. From EeePC, Acer to Dell, now Sony following the steps.
I found this ads when looking for some video clips on youtube.

I am not sure which is bigger, the VIAO or the butt.
Click on the picture to view video

It reminds me when Apple's Steve Jobs first introduce iPod nano, by taking out the iPod nano from his jean, check here

Anyway, the VAIO P doesn't look small which putting at the back of the jean pocket.

Back to basic Nokia 2630

I just bought a discounted Nokia 2630 phone from Digital Mall second anniversary sales. This anniversary sales are not really a mega sales, especially compare with the last few Digital Mall offer, if you have miss don't regret, if you were here, hope you found some good offer.

This Nokia 2630 is a budget, and light weight (66g) phone, with some useful features but limited. It has a 65k color display, 0.3 megapixel camera spec is too low by today standard. Since no expansion memory slot, 10Mb internal storage is limited, but it has all these basic features, it even has bluetooth and radio function. Do not forget this still consider as a budget phone.

The phone has 2 color, black and white. One of my friend bought this phone earlier, the black color version. I choose the white model, to differentiate from his one. There is a problem with the white color phone, when the keypad back lid is on under florescent or sun light, the keypad number is hardly visible.

This phone came with 4 languages, English, Malay, Chinese and Tamail(?). Which ever language you enable for you interface, you still can switch to a different input language when you type SMS. For example, if you choose English as the user interface, all your menu will be display as English, but you can switch to Chinese input while writing SMS.

The phone came with some handy application like Calendar, Todo list, expenses, dictionary and games.

It sounds good right? For me the missing functions are: No volume control button on the phone, no flight mode.

Why back to the basic feature phones? A phone is just a phone, I do not need a lot of fancy features. More features are better if it came with no cost. With a limited budget, 2630 is an ideal phone, but if you have more budget, may be you can try out the new 7210.

Where is Gmail task undo delete function

Happy New Year 2009!

I have bad memory, I use Palm to record my todo list. Sometimes I use the yellow stickies software to record down my todo list on my desktop and notebook.

When Gmail launch task function, I am happy with it, because I can use it as the yellow stickies software, and I can access to it through web. After I have been using it for a while, there is one thing I need to complain about the software.

Gmail task

I write down the task list because I will forget what I am going to do. I accidentally deleted a task entry by clicking on the dusbin icon, the entry just gone, and there is NO UNDO! I can not remember what I have deleted (that's the reason I write it down). Some other users having the same problem.

Having an undo function will be good. For me, a delete icon shouldn't exist, you don't need to delete a task, you just tick and complete it. If you need to remove it, click on Actions, Clear completed tasks, this is a 2 step actions, much safer.

Google has been writing good software, just need minor improvement.

HP mini 1001TU hardware

Bought a HP mini 1001TU last two weeks at PC Fair. Normally it was called HP mini 1000, 1001 should be an Asia model, mine one should a China model, because there are some China stickers on it.

Black Imprint Swirl version.
Originally uploaded by eeepcnews

Spec in short:
Intel Atom N270 1.6Ghz, 1024Mb Ram, 60Gb hard disk (4200rpm), 10.2" display 1024x600 wide screen, wireless WiFi & bluetooth, 1.11kg

Refer HP site for detail of the spec.

Please take note: I can't find the 56K modem. Upgrade to 2g ram is possible.

Taiwan launch 2 models, a black Imprint Swirl version and a red Vivienne Tam limited edition. The one I have is the black version. Vivienne Tam version is slightly more expensive.

Vivienne Tam version.
Originally uploaded by hpproducts2008

This HP mini 1001TU normally refer as 1000. The 1000 model has few configuration with different screen size and SSD, the 1001 I have is with 60G HD, and no other different configuration for 1001.

I was a EeePC supporter, I prefer Asus because they are pioneer in low cost sub-noteboom (or netbook). My prefer model is 901 and S101, but why I finally bought an HP mini? This HP mini 1001 is the second generation of HP netbook. The first generation is 2133 which is famous for its good looking and bigger keyboard amoung all netbook, but a bit expensive.

Since 901 and S101 is not availble in Malaysia now, and I think Asus slowly losing their direction in netbook market (refer here). HP mini 1001TU is selling about RM1699, which meet my target price.

If you like bigger and comfortable keyboard, get HP. If you think battery life is important, get Asus EeePC. I really like the HP keyboard, so I give up the battery life. If you need do a lot of presentation and connect to projector, you must take note that this HP do not have VGA output. You need an extra cable for VGA output, which doesn't came with the package. I heard the cable will only start selling at the beginning of year 2009.

Summary:
Pros:
Keyboard is easy to type
Altec Lancing speaker
Nice looking design

Cons:
only 2 USB
3 cells battery life might not last as long as expected
some people find the glossy display is hard to see

Christmas eve 2008

Today is Christmas eve.

Merry Christmas!

Google add task application to Gmail

Google have added task application to Gmail, it can be enable from Gmail setting - Lab. Even I am not hurry to try it out, but is a big news, because with task application, Google has a complete PIM application on web.

What is PIM? PIM is Personal Information Management. Back to old days of Palm, it normally refer to Datebook (Scheduler or Calendar), Contact (Address book), Task list and Memo application. These are the four applications that Palm defined by default, assign to the four access button on a classic Palm (New Palm has made some changes to the access button).

You can install more applications on a Palm PDA. For my case, the PIM applications listed above are the most frequently used applications. Top 2 is Datebook and Contact, and I am still using it everyday. Yahoo has added PIM in Yahoo! Mail many years ago. If you login to Yahoo! Mail classic, you will see four tab label with Mail, Contact, Calendar, Notepad, which is almost like the PIM on Palm except the Task list.

Google already have Calendar, Contact and Google Notebook (you almost forgotten about it right?), now with the newly added Task list, next to have just a missing sync application.

By the way, Google already have the sync program for Calendar to Outlook.

星洲，別搞砸了

This is about a short story of exchanging a Sin Chew Daily newspaper, written in Chinese character.

傍晚回到家裡，拾起送到家中的星洲夜報，很薄。首頁印上了斗大的四個字－－誠摯道歉。

由於生產程序出現間題，影響報紙出版，敬請大家寬諒。本報同仁為此向讀者及廣告商誠摯道歉。
星洲日報啟

國際與國內主版僅有三大開，共十二版。正常印刷出版應該約有三十二版。友人說，才那幾頁，上大號還沒結束，就看完了。就是打電話向派報的投訴，對方怕事，要我們直接打電話到星洲總社。

可是電話打到星洲總社發行部，沒人接聽，轉到接線員處，又幫不上忙。我問說，"不知道可不可以換一份完整的星洲日報？” 友人說，“星洲日報是一間大企業，不會在意讓你換一份。”

由於家住靠近星洲日報總社，決定開車到那兒去碰碰運氣。說真的，一元三毛一份報紙，我開車過去換是虧定了。不過這不是錢多錢少的問題，我就是想試試星洲這一個大企業，是不是如我朋友所說，不會在意。

夜晚十點，我們在星洲總社守衛亭，播了電話到總社辦公室，接電話的財哥說，對不起，無能為力，一來因為電腦故障，報紙還沒印好。二來，我們應該找派報者負責。最令我氣憤的是，財哥還丟了一句話，“你們只好自認倒霉。”

開什麼玩笑，這像是一間上市大企業對待忠實顧客應有的態度嗎？

世華媒體（原星洲日報，後與香港明報合併後更名）是在香港與大馬兩地上市的中文媒體集團。除了擁有香港明報集團與旗下報刊外，在大馬控制了星，明，中，商四份中文報紙，幾乎壟斷了大馬的中文報業。

別告訴我，這就是星洲對待兩位親自上門想要更換一份完整報紙的忠實讀者的方式與態度？

報紙出版問題，可以寬諒，可是待客態度不佳與推卸責任，卻無法被接受。

難道報上刊登的“誠摯道歉”是虛偽的。今日我最大，我要犯錯，你奈我何？所以你只好自認倒霉。

媒體出版也應該有社會責任。

星洲，別搞砸了。

New HP mini 1000 and Asus S101

The first generation of the 7 inch (display) EeePC 701 looks like a toy for me, but carrying a light weight "toy" around and giving you the ability to access to the Internet easily, is still better than your 2 to 3 kg notebook or the overpriced UMPC (Ultra mobile personal computer).

Recently more notebook vendors started to release 10 inch netbook products, most notable are the Asus EeePC S101 and latest HP mini 1000 netbook. 10 inch notebook is the ideal size for me to carry around, both notebook look attractive for me.

Tanaka Chie and HP mini 1000.
Originally uploaded by Andytn

Compare HP mini 1000 and Asus S101, both using Intel Atom N270 cpu (which is commonly found on most netbook, like Acer Aspire One), has a bigger keypad (92% of full size keyboard), so is easier to type compare to most netbook available in the market. HP mini has only 2 USB compare with S101 has 3 USB (USB is important for netbook). HP mini using HD, and S101 use SSD, but I believe this storage can be changed as an option in the future. Pricing wise HP should be cheaper.

I have not seen these 2 products available on the market yet, may be will check out on this coming PC Fair. Asus S101 has been launched in Asia for more than 2 months time, but I have not found any Asus dealers are selling this product. I think Asus should improve their support and distribution in Malaysia. HP has a much better local support.

I am a great fan of Asus EeePC, because they are the first to launch a small, light weight and cheap (USD299) netbook. Most importantly they choose Linux for their low cost netbook. Even though cost is the main concern that Asus use Linux for their EeePC netbook, it need a lot of courage for a company to choose Linux as the operating system. Xandros has done a good job to customize a Linux version for Asus EeePC.

With all latest release of EeePC runs on Windows, the only reason left for me to buy EeePC is just the battery life or the Asus brand name.

The specification of S101 and HP mini 1000.

The down side for HP mini 1000
- 2 USB port only
- glossy display
- slow HD or SSD access
- fan always on

Link:
HP mini 1000 vs EeePC 1000H

Convert iPhone movies nightmare

I have some movies that I want to put into iPod Touch. These movies are in Xvid (Divx) format, since iPod Touch support quicktime and mp4 (H.264) format, but not Xvid, I need to convert it into mp4 or qt.

iSquint is a freeware, easy to use, but development of the software seems has stopped. ffmpegX is open source software, it need another few open source software like mpeg2enc, mencoder, mplayer to work. These binaries can be downloaded from the internet easily.

I have tried iSquint and ffmpegX, both software seems to take forever to complete. To encode a 100 minutes move into a H.264 mp4 media file, on my iBook G3 700Mhz processor, estimate takes 10 hours or more. (Ya, may be I should upgrade)

The encoding processing time is not the worst nightmare. I prefer to add in subtitles. I have tried Submerge, is a shareware cost $9. Submerge add the subtitle directly into the movie file, that means I can't disable the subtitle.

I prefer to have soft subtitles on the iPod Touch, means I can show and hide the subtitles, whenever I want. mp4 support timed text, you can save the subtitle as text into the mp4 file, normally I have the subtitle file as a separated file. With timed text, just need 1 mp4 file.

I found handbrake and muxo, is free and is open source software (that's great!). Muxo fail to run, it doesn't like my G3 cpu.

Never-mind, I found another open source software-- mp4box, which do the same thing, add timed text into mp4, unfortunately it runs on Windows. Since it is an open source software, I believe there are binary compile for Mac. I search around but only found binary for Intel Mac, and my G3 is ppc.

I have to give up, for now. I should have compiled the software myself as before, but not now, may be next time.

ACM 2008

Came back from ACM 2008 (Asean Communication & Multimedia expo).

All the four main celco is there, Maxis, Celcom, Digi, U mobile. Other exhibitor includes RTM, TM, Motorola, Sony, Measat, Jaring, Kasturi, Cyberview, Wimax P1, Astro. The full list you can get from ACM Expo website.

Is like those years, they are there, but you don't know what they are doing there. Promoting 3G broadband? Selling SIM pack? or just promoting their brand? Is worst than last few years, where Maxis promoting their 3G network together with their service and solution partners.

I notice 2 company is promoting WiMax, other than Green Packet's P1, Amax is another company to provide Wimax service, pricing is almost the same. I test their broadband with youtube streaming, both performance are good, but Amax seems to be faster and their modem are smaller. Anyway I don't trust demo, you have to try it and find out yourself.

As I describe in ACM2006, most companies spend the money but doesn't know how to promote themselves. If they can't explain well with their products, show some demo is good, or at least get some pretty promoters to give out some freebies.

When I try to take some photos with these pretties with their company logo at the background, they just turn around and facing me with their back side! Some promoters just talking with each other, not even giving out freebies or entertain the visitors, just chit-chating and sitting there watching visitors playing games.

happy chit-chating

I would like to give credit to the Sony models, showcase their HD video camera (like last year). When they notice that I am taking photos, they look at the camera and smiles, that's what I call professional.

Smiles, Sony models.

Less and less interesting products for me in ACM, hope they can do better next year.

MyOSS October meetup 2008 Openmoko

It rains in the afternoon, traffic is bad, I was late to the MyOSS meetup at AeU, Dataran Kewangan Darul Takaful.

It was almost three years, I have not join the meetup. Saw some familiar faces like Kaeru, Ditesh, Aizat and ... I meet new people like Kai Jen, Sean, Poh Lim, Michael, Wei Liang... Almost 30 members attended, consider good and successful.

The topic today is Openmoko mobile, the speaker bring some demo phones, it runs on Linux, the interface looks quite nice. Probably most people are not impress with it, because they will compare it with Android phones.

I am not going to blog about the meetup event here, I believe Aizat will do it, he already upload the photos here.

After the meetup, have supper with Michael and Wei Liang in Bangsar. Wei Liang says I look like a tourist because I take pictures of the banana leaf supper.

Wei Liang says I look like a tourist by taking the photo

Is really nice to meet with the open source people again.

901 and EeePC strategy

EeePC 901 is no more selling in Malaysia

This is what local sales person told me, it was replace by 900 and 1000H. 900 is using Celeron CPU and 1000H is using Atom CPU but with a SATA hard disk (80G or 160G), selling price around RM2000.

I ask the sales person, since 1000H is using SATA hard disk, will it consumes more battery power compare with 901? The sales person told me, both 1000H and 901 battery life is the same. Later I found out from Asus's official specification, 901's battery last 1 hour longer than 1000H.

I feel like Asus EeePC strategy slowly losing their direction. Asus EeePC 701 as one the first successful sub-notebook, is getting popular because is light weight (less than 1 kg) and low cost (selling less than RM1k, now is about RM800).

If you look at the 1000H model that the market is selling now, the weight has increase to 1.45kg compare with the original 0.99kg. The price has been increased from RM1300 to RM2000, about 50%.

Using Intel Atom CPU is a good move, because it almost double the battery life. Using HD (as in 1000H) and selling with a higher price, I don't think is necessary, even there could be a market for it.

With RM2000 budget, I rather add a few hundred more, get a HP mini than EeePC 1000H. HP mini looks nicer and with a bigger size keyboard.

Personally I think 901 suit best for me. The weight is 1.1kg, using Atom and SSD storage, 6 cells battery which last for 4.2 to 7.5 hours. Just the price is slightly over my expectation, or else is just a perfect sub-notebook (without full size keyboard).

Too bad, Asus is no more selling 901 now.