IBM zEnterprise System event KL 2010

IBM introduce the new zEnterprise System. The seminar event take place at Shangri-la Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The event started at 10am, I arrive there at 9.15am, the IBM people are already there. They are early and well prepared.

Opening:

Introduction by Hemanth Kalikiri, IBM Malaysia 

Introducing the zEnterprise 196 (z196), up to 96 cores, good choice for data center.

Introducing The New Enterprise System

 Greg Lotko, from IBM USA

Spend 3 years on development, running Linux and other OS. ZBX, blade center extension, with IBM Power7 blades.

60 percent improve in performance and 30 percent cost down.

It has RAID memory, for redundancy, like RAID HD storage.

Advantage with the New Enterprise System

 Juergen Roser, from IBM Germany

About the software. SPSS, Tivoli, C/C++ compiler, Lotus Sametime, Websphere, Java, DB2 version 9 and 10 (10 still in beta).

The system is 80 times faster (for specific queries).

Next 2 presentation:

Another 2 presentation by Greg and Juergen. I will skip these 2. The conclusion is IBM zEnterprise system is good for the enterprise solution.

Information Infrastructure

Freddy Lee, IBM ASEAN

Freddy started with a story how IBM fall in love with DS8000. Freddy talks on storage performance with mix of SSD, fiber channel and Sata. Some comparison with IBM and EMC storage products.

Services for zEnterprise:

Wong Choong Cheok, IBM Malaysia

Wong talks on IBM service on zEnterprise. IBM can manage the server for you.

Lunch:

Is just a half day event, have a good lunch before leaving.

The event is well organized, informative. Good marketing session during the breaks, you can sit down and chat with the others. I notice financial sectors especially banks use a lot of the IBM products.

Oracle Exadata webcast seminar 2010

I attended the Oracle Exadata webcase seminar. It is an online seminar, live. Oracle is using Cisco software call webex (version 6.5) to perform the webcast. I works on Snow Leopard too.

Exadata is a high performance hardware storage from Oracle. It was not mention here, Oracle Exadata power by Oracle Linux.

Exadata hardware

Take a look, who is using Oracle Exadata? Including mobile operators like China Mobile, SK mobile (the largest mobile operator in Korea).

Sure it is expensive, I don't now sure how much it cost. Talk to the Oracle people.

Oracle host a lot of online webcast event. Webcast save users a lot of time, but you don't meet the people face to face, less interactive.

Oracle Sun sue Google for Android Java license issues

With Oracle support Sun can sue Google over Android Java license issue. Android use Java technology, but they build a Dalvik VM on top of the Java (refer to Google Android software stack).

Sun in not into the business to sue other company for money, you can refer to Sun Jonathan Schwartz's blog post. Oracle do it a different way. You may say Oracle sue Google for Java license issue on Android platform.

Google has the money to pay Sun for Java license, Google also support open source (Java is open source), but Google try to avoid some issues may came with Java open source license. At the end Android is open source for most of the smartphone manufacturers out there. Google should have paid Sun earlier which may avoid all these issues.

Continue reading:

Java founder James Gosling blog.
Oracle sues Google over Android and Java
[Android被告侵權] 當年昇陽沒告 為何是甲骨文卯上了Google？

Tutorial: Install ubuntu net 10.4 on virtualbox

I just want to try out the Ubuntu Linux net version. It is a slim down version of the Ubuntu desktop version, suitable to install on netbook. I just install it on Sun Virtualbox (now owned by Oracle) to have a try.

I am using Virtualbox 3.1.2, Ubuntu net 10.4.

The system requirement for Ubuntu net is 4Gb hard disk, 512Mb ram.

The following are the procedure to install Ubuntu net 10.4 on Sun Virtualbox:

Step 1: Create a new virtual machine

Hard disk 3.2Gb
Ram 512 Mb
Video ram 4Mb

I just created a 3Gb hard disk for Virtualbox and name it ubuntu-net. This can be done when create a new virtual machine from Virtualbox main menu.

Step 2: Configure the virtual machine to boot from Ubuntu ISO installer file.

Virtualbox - virtual machine - Settings - Storage - IDE controller - CD Rom. Choose the ubuntu ISO file that downloaded from the ubuntu website, for CD/DVD device.

Select Ubuntu installer ISO as the CD/DVD Device

Step 3: Select timezone and keyboard layout.

Step 4: Prepare disk space.

The easiest way is use "Erase and use the entire disk", then goto step 6.

Since I have some Linux installation experience before, I try to partition manually:

256Mb for swap.

The remaining storage for system.

Step 5: New partition table. Select "free space", the "Add...".

Create the main partition

I partition the main storage, so it left about 250Mb for swap, remember to choose root ("/") as the mount point.

Create the swap partition, Primary or Logical is ok.

Swap partition is 250Mb. Since I have less than 4 partition (1 root, 1 swap), I can choose primary or logical. 

After partition. 1 main, 1 swap.

Note: One hard disk can have 4 primary partition, If you have more than 4 partition, just make one of the primary partition as logical partition. You can create more than 4 using logical partition.

Step 6: Create username and password. Start installing...

The installation will take a while

The Ubuntu for netbook has a nice looking interface

This ubuntu net version is one of the best Linux netbook version I ever saw. Nice interface, easy installation and update process, it even came with OpenOffice as well.

If Ubuntu can add in a few more features like the Asus Express Gate, fast system recovery from Xandros (found in EeePC Linux version by pressing F9), that will be good.

HP offer for kids

HP has some PC desktop offer for kids.

A kid don't really need a desktop. They need something much simpler with touch screen and instant on, something like iPad.

Gmail new contact interface 2010

I get a feed back request from Gmail, asking me why I am still using the old gmail. My main reason is, for the Gmail Contact only.

I don't like the previous "new" contact. It has 3 columns, looks like the Windows application or Outlook style. It leave me limited space for content editing. This type of design only suitable if you have a large display with high resolution.

The previous Gmail contact manager.

The new contact manager is more "Gmail-like".

Finally I don't have to go back the old gmail anymore.

Why iPad is good

Before iPad release, there are rumors around. Some of my friends ask my opinion on Apple iPad. My prediction on iPad, it can not sell. My prediction is base on the following guessing:

1. iPad is not cheap in price.
2. If it was just used for surfing net, people will use iPhone.

I was wrong and I am not shy to admit that I was wrong. When I see the price tag USD499 for the lowest end iPad, I know that I was wrong.

For USD499, most people don't mind to spend the money to buy an extra Apple product. iPad is not to replace your notebook or netbook, unless you are using your notebook/netbook for surfing Internet only.

The executive like it, in fact they love it. For the last 2 seminar event that I have attended, two of the speakers showing how impress they were, by the Apple iPad. The iPad is portable and easy to use.

The 2 speakers may (or may not) be an Apple fanboy. The truth is iPad is easy to use and hands on, with its touch user interface. A 3 years old kid knows how to use it, in 5 minutes time tutorial. I have seen it with my own eyes.

CNet has a post on the success factors on iPad. It includes factors like battery life, instant on, portable... I totally agree with it.

Photos: EMC Forum 2010 at Kuala Lumpur

Keynote speakers

1. Sal Fernando, EMC

Sal Fernando should be an Apple supporter, he is holding an iPad on his hand. He was using iPad while EMC have not approved a "go" yet. Sal Fernando make a point, device is out of control for cloud access, same for data. According to statistic 13 percent of the people store personal data at company server.

2. Lee Poh Wah, Vmware.

Lee Poh Wah gave an introduction on cloud computing and Vmware vCenter.

3. Damian Ryan, Cisco.

Cisco UCS machine, a blade server.

4. Rudy Phen, Riverbed.

Riverbed provide WAN (Wide Area Network) optimization solution.

The MC distributing free gifts

(Does he looks like Kent Cheng?)

Workshop track

One of the workshop track

Food

The food from the hotel is not really that great.

Tong Yam mee.

Tamaki

Tea break

Showcase

Lucky draw

The grand price is an iPad 3G version

and the winner is this lucky guy.

Server storage efficiency for dummies

I just pick one workshop from EMC Forum 2010 (KL) which I think is interesting. The original title for the workshop is Unified Storage.

There are 3 main factors to improve storage efficiency - capacity, flexibility and performance.

Storage efficiency

Capacity
DeDup. There is a lot of duplication data in our storage, for example the attachment in forwarded email. DeDup method to find out the duplicated data, keep just one copy. Others copies just a link to the identical data.

When there is a changes to a backup file, just backup the changes only, not all the file data. Similar like Apple Time Machine incremental backup. Could be more complicated, but just let you have an idea of it.

Flexibility
VM Aware. Able to integrate well with Vmware solution, since Vmware is a very popular software solution for virtualization and cloud computing.

Multi Protocol. Heard of iSCSI, eSATA, CIFS, NFS, be it hardware or software, just name it.

Performance
Flash Cache. Use flash drive as a cache, since flash drive is faster than normal hard disk, performance will be improved. Sure, flash drive came with a price (is more expensive).

64bit. This don't really mention in the EMC workshop, I would like to emphasize a bit here. The ZFS from Sun Solaris is a 64bit filesystem.

ZFS is an advance filesystem to eliminate all the limitation of the existing filesystem. It is easy to be managed and use software data redundancy control which may better than the hardware system.

There are rumors saying that ZFS may put storage company out of business (NetApp sues Sun for ZFS patent infringement).

Storage solution is not just the filesystem, it has an ecosystem includes hardware, software, backup solution and integration process.

EMC introduce Unified Storage, the high end scalable hardware. UniShpere (video), the software management tools which can be integrated into Vmware software system. You can check the details from EMC website.

Visit to PC Fair II August 2010

It was very crowded as usual. They even started to sell more LCD TV at PC Fair, lots of notebooks with different brand and different model, Intel core i3 and i5 is common and available on notebook.

I don't go through all the booths in detail, but just pick a few things which I think is interesting:

Apacer media player. They are selling AL670 and AL460, with offer price and free gifts. AL670 with bittorrent download capability.

Apacer media player offer.

Both players support video playback for variety of format includes rmvb and mkv. It support soft subtitles (external subtitles), you can adjust the font size of the subtitles. The interface just look like all those China made products. Both model doesn't came with internal storage, a bit disappointed with that.

A RM399 Goozee mini netbook. Is a 7" netbook, normal price selling at RM799, now the offer price is RM399 (about USD125). What OLPC can not deliver, they can do it now.

7" Gozee mini netbook.

Wimax notebook. I notice Wimax aggressive to partner with notebook companies. A few companies like Lenovo, Asus, MSI and the others came out with Wimax built-in notebook.

Wimax with Lenovo notebook.

New antivirus software. Other than Kaspensky, Avira and Trend Micro, I found more new antivirus software eg. TrustPort, ESET NOD32, Quick Heal.

Digi broadband 38 monthly plan. The cheapest plan that I know of, 3Gb quota. For casual users, this broadband package is just nice. Available during promotion period (PC Fair) only.

Tips: Rip DVD in Mac OS X

If you like to use netbook like me, you might not even want to carry the portable CD/DVD reader around. What you can do is rip the CD/DVD into iso file, copy to the hard disk, mount it as a drive when you need it. Is easy especially if you are using unix-like system eg. Linux.

You can use Disk Utility application in Mac OS X to rip CD/DVD. Mac OS X normally use .dmg file to store their disk image. You can mount dmg disk image in Mac OS X easily, but not on Linux.

This is how I rip CD/DVD into ISO file in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard using the Disk Utility.

1. Disk Utility - Menu - New - Disk Image from Folder.

Mac OS X Disk Utility, choose hybrid image.

2. Option
Image Format: hybrid image (HFS + ISO)
Encryption: none

The image file will be save as .dmg extension, but just change it to .iso will do.

Ads:
PC Magazine Basic Techniques and Utilities/Book and Disk

HP mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition

My friend want to get a notebook, asking for my opinion. I take this chance to look at the notebook available now, especially the HP mini series.

I heard from the Internet, some people give good comment to HP mini 311, but seems like 311 is no more available in Malaysia here, the distributor only selling HP mini 210.

HP mini 210 Vivienne Tam edition.

There is a special HP mini 210 Vivienne Tam edition catch my eyes. HP did came out with a Vivienne Tam edition after they release the HP mini 1000 series, it is a bright red color netbook. I suppose this 210 VT edition is the second netbook that Vivienne Tam design (just the front cover pattern) for HP.

Vivienne Tam is a famous Chinese fashion designer at New York. She has her own brand, Vivienne Tam.

The 210 VT edition is just RM200 higher than the normal edition. HP mini 210 selling at RM1399 and 210 VT edition selling at RM1599. The VT edition came with 2Gb memory (expandable to 4G according to the HP sales person, I have not confirmed that), 320Gb hard disk (normal edition is 250Gb). Just for RM200 you get a better spec and Vivienne Tam design.

I heard that HP want to become like Apple, more sexy. I am not into fashion, but this Vivienne Tam netbook looks cool. Too bad is still Windows when you switch it on, not so cool now.

Apple iPhone 4 Friday Press Conference

Yes, is about iPhone antennagate. Apple has a press conference about the iPhone 4 antenna issue. Seems like the complains on the Internet has put a lot of pressure on Apple and Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs spend some time to explain, the iPhone 4 antenna is not a specific or unique smartphone issue, it only affected a very small number of users, BUT Apple cares about everyone of their customers, so they look into the problems and provide some solutions.

I am more interested on what Apple offer for the iPhone 4 antenna issue:

Apple gives free bumper for iPhone 4.

1. iOS 4.0.1. New OS patched, fix the signal bar display algorithm. Current signal bar display method may not shown the actual signal strength.

2. Free bumper case. A free bumper case to be given out to every iPhone 4 customer (wow!). Refund for those who already bought a bumper.

3. Refund. If customers are still not happy with it, they can ask for refund.

This is a good PR, Apple has shown their great concern on their users and customers.

Taiwan should learn from Malaysia on WiMax experience

Taiwan TCA (Taiwan Computer Association) made a press release in response to Intel closing down their WiMAX development department, and may focus on LTE.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini will visit Taiwan in October to reiterate Intel commitment to WiMAX technology. TCA Chairman J.T. Wang's statement urge Intel continue support WiMAX because wireless technology is potential and WiMAX is 3 years ahead of LTE.

Intel will not given up any opportunities when the direction of the wireless technology is not clear yet. I believe that Intel already know where they are heading to. Intel will denied drop WiMax support, they still can support WiMax by paying more attention on "lips service".

Taiwan should learn the WiMax experience from Malaysia. You may be very surprise that Malaysia has a good start in WiMax technology and few years ahead of other countries including Taiwan.

Be it a successful or fail case in Malaysia's WiMAX, it will be a very good experience.

=====

The following is a re-write (not translation) of the same content of this blog in Chinese characters.

針對英特爾拆分 WiMax 部門，外界解讀為英特爾淡出 WiMax ，加碼 LTE 。台灣電腦公會理事長王振堂發出新聞稿，正式向英特爾抗議。主要內容為目前 WiMax 領先 LTE 數年，希望英特爾投入資源助台灣發展 WiMax 。而英特爾執長會于八月來台時，會對業界說明英特爾對無線上網科技的動向。（新聞 新聞 中時電子報）

英特爾不必對外宣稱放棄 WiMax 。科技發展一日千里，在 LTE 尚未成熟前，市場還有許多的變數。不過英特爾拆解散 WinMax 部門，經已說明英特爾看淡 WiMax 發展。

台灣在近這一年來才大力發展 WiMax 科技，我認為此路難行。馬來西亞早在數年前投入 WiMax ，筆者在一年半前就使用 P1 提供的 WiMax 服務。台灣當局應該來馬來西亞取經，學習那來西亞的 WiMax 經驗。

Apple call press conference on Friday

Apple going to have a press conference this Friday, most likely will be related to the iPhone 4 antenna and signal issue.

Some people suggested that Apple should recall iPhone 4, some said shouldn't. I think they should have an option for disappointed customers, with terms and conditions. I think most people will not return their iPhone 4, even given the choice.

iPhone 4 has sold out 1.7 millions in first 3 days. I don't care about the exact figures and how it was calculated. The message here is Apple sold out a lot of its new iPhone 4.

I agree the idea that iPhone is more for fun. The person who saying it actually means, iPhone is more for surfing Internet, playing games, to show off, or any other purposes. I doesn't mean iPhone can not be used for business.

For customer facing iPhone 4 antenna issues, Apple should gave the customer a solution, or return it back and get other phones. For me all other phones have issues here and there.

I don't own any iPhone and I have no plan to get an iPhone 4 yet. If I have an iPhone, I will not regret of owning it. Just my personal opinion.

iPhone is everywhere in Singapore

iPhone is everywhere in Singapore. Even in Malaysia, more and more people is getting an iPhone, "Everyone is getting an iPhone, so do I".

iPhone is not perfect, but no doubt iPhone is very good smart phone. iPhone is not expensive when you compare it with other high end smart phone.

With new iPhone 4 introduced by Steven Jobs. Mobile network operators should expect to sell more iPhone. Since iPhone 4 is not yet available in Singapore and Malaysia, the telcos further lower down the price for iPhone 3G and 3GS to warm up for iPhone 4.

First is Digi, slash price for iPhone package. Follow by Maxis, lower down prices for iPhone 3GS. If you are a heavy user, willing to signup a 24 months contract, you will get very good deal.

The promotion is till end of July because we expect iPhone 4 will be available in August.

RM90 for iPhone 3GS looks like a good promotion.

iValue Plans	iValue 1 RM100/mth		iValue 2 RM155/mth		iValue 3 RM250/mth
Contract period	24 months	12 months	24 months	12 months	24 months
iPhone 3GS 32GB (RRP RM2990)	RM1990 RM1790	RM2090	RM1690 RM1290	RM2190	RM1090 RM490
iPhone 3GS 16GB (RRP RM2490)	RM1590 RM1390	RM1790	RM1290 RM890	RM1790	RM690 RM90
iPhone 3G 8GB (RRP RM1990)	RM990	RM1390	RM590	RM1390	RM490

I predicted that iPhone 4 will be selling around SGD 1,000 (one thousand Singapore dollar) without contract in Singapore. For Malaysia is about RM 1,700 to RM 2,500 (Malaysia dollar) with contract.

Will you pay for iPhone 3GS now? Or wait for few months, top up another few hundreds to get an iPhone 4? An iPhone 4 which came with a brand new design, better hardware and software, like camera with better photo quality, FaceTime video call, high resolution retina display, and the new Apple A4 CPU which should be supported for another few years time.

Is really a tough decision for the telcos who selling iPhones now. When to start selling iPhone 4? Pricing for iPhone 4?

SUN, Openstep and Display Postscript

Do you like the Mac OS X desktop graphic user interface? I like it. It was based on Display Postscript technology which has been developed for years since the day in NeXT computer.

Sun cooperate with NeXT during the 1990s on a slim down version of NeXTSTEP operating system, which later name as Openstep. The Openstep take out the OS kernel and focus on Objective-C runtime library (also know as NS framework, where NS stands for NeXTStep or Next/Sun), compiler and Display Postscript. Unfortunately Sun later lost its interest in Openstep and move to another object oriented technology--Java, which developed by Sun.

Personally I prefer Java as the object oriented programming language. As a newly design programming language, it was well defined and clean, easy to use and easy to understand. The advantages of using object oriented design is, the code and object can be re-used easily.

Java was compiled into bytecode, which is portable to different CPU architecture (write once run everywhere). Bytecode normally runs slower than native code (program compiled by traditional programming language like C, Objective-C...), is worth to sacrifice performance in return of portability. It is very important in today’s software platform strategy because we already have different CPU architecture like PowerPC, Intel, ARM, SPARC etc.

In my opinion, there are two important things about Openstep:

1. Display Postscript. With new display and printing technology like scalable font (eg. True-type font, can enlarge without sacrifices quality), bitmap-base window system looks a bit outdated. With Display Postscript, easier for application to display content on display devices or application windows with different size.

2. Portable framework to different CPU architecture, that mean endian-free. Mac OS (and iPhone OS, now iOS 4) has been ported to PowerPC (from Motorola), Intel, ARM and Apple A4 cpu. I believe Sun has contributed their part while working together with NeXT to port Openstep to Solaris (Sun operating system).

No double Java is a very good object oriented technology, the language itself is well defined and Java program can run on different CPU architectures and operating system, but the Java GUI is not well accepted and deployed.

There is a Java Desktop System (JDS) released by Sun, but don’t be cheated by the name itself. The JDS is base on Gnome desktop, Gnome is an open source desktop environment written in C and not Java. Java is included as part of the system in JDS but not the major part as the desktop display.

Sun has developed similar technology like Display Postscript in mid 80s, even before it works together with NeXT. The implementation is call NeWS (Network extensible Window System), but it was not well accepted by the market.

Apple has made a lot of enhancement on Display Postscript and make it into today’s Mac OS X desktop. Since Apple can integrate X11, Display Postscript, NeXTSTEP (Openstemp) runtime and Java together into Mac OS X, Sun should be able to integrate Solaris, Java, X11 and Display Postscript technology together. Unfortunately an advance windows system never exist in Sun Solaris operating system until today.

Promote yourself during World Cup time

There are many ways to promote yourself at anywhere, anytime.

FIFA World Cup 2010 is another good chance to promote yourself (and your website), like Larissa Riquelme, a football fan from Paraguay. Her signature is placing a mobile phone inside her breast.

Paraguay football fan, Larissa Riquelme.
Originally uploaded by Digi_shot

Originally uploaded by bollymeranaam

Larissa and her photos at the World Cup match was reported by International media, sometime she was referred as the 'World Cup Girl". I can't do that simply because I am not at South Africa right now (smile!).

Larissa's blog.

Digi cut iPhone package price

Digi has just lower down their iPhone package price, as low as RM60 per month. Digi claimed they are the most affordable iPhone package, you can check the information here.

New Digi iPhone package, as low as 60 per month.

If you compare Digi iPhone 138 (which cost RM90 now) with Maxis iPhone iValue 1 (RM100), Digi plan looks much cheaper and more attractive. Maxis iPhone iValue came with 333 minutes free call, 100 SMS (Maxis to Maxis), 500Mb data. Digi iPhone 138 offer 450 minutes, 400 sms and 3G data.

If you are not heavy user, you can choose Digi iPhone 88 for RM60 only. Digi has unlimited access to Internet, just drop to a lower bandwidth when data access quota reached, so you will never exceed your budget. Maxis has a choice of 12 or 24 months. Digi only came with 24 months plan, which I think is too long, because there is an new iPhone release every year. I believe Maxis will adjust their iPhone package sooner or later.

If you ask me which package for me now? May be I will choose Digi iPhone 138, it cost 90 per month, and choose the iPhone 3G 8G for RM290. Since iPhone 4 is not available locally now, I just trade some functionality for pice, I just need to surf Internet and install a few applications. I will install the latest iOS 4, it might be slower a bit, but hp it will last for a year or two.

There are different package for different need. There must be a package which suits you, be it Digi or Maxis. Two years contract is really a bit too long for me.

iPhone World Cup App 2010

Unbelievable, Brazil 1:2 lost to Netherlands in today quater-finals match, FIFA World Cup at South Africa.

In year 2006 FIFA World Cup, I have blog how to get match result from here and here. Some website may not even exist after 4 years time.

If you are lazy, you can just search the result from google search:

Google FIFA World Cup 2010 result.

Steve Jobs told you, users don't search for information, users use iPhone application to get information. Maxis has an FIFA World Cup 2010 application available for download for free.

Maxis World Cup 2010 iPhone app.

The information may not updated in real-time, and they should pay more attention on design the user interface on a limited display. It is a free iPhone app that worth to take a look at it.

You don't have to listen what Steve Jobs told you. You just have more choices now, web or application.

iPhone 4 came with iOS 4 and iBooks

You may not find a lot of books available on Apple iBooks store, but there are some free books available, like Winnie the Pooh and Wuthering Heights.

iBooks - Wuthering Heights.

The iBooks application already available at App store, but it doesn't work with iPhone OS 3.x or earlier. There might be someone who told you that you have to get an iPhone 4 to have iBooks, but it is not true. You can upgrade the OS to iOS 4 if you are using iPhone 3G or 3GS, I already tried that, is easy.

For sure if you get an iPhone 4, it already came with iOS 4, and you can just download iBooks. It just sounds much easier for some people.

So, enjoy your iBooks on iOS 4.

Nokia retire Symbian and prefer MeeGo

According to CNet, Nokia will dump Symbian and use MeeGo to compete with Apple iPhone and other smartphones.

Symbian is a smartphone OS, the symbian is back up by few major mobile player include Sony Ericsson and Nokia. Nokia acquired Symbian in year 2008 and release the Symbian OS as an open source platform.

As a user and a developer, I am worried on Nokia strategy. Is just 2 years time, Nokia has change from a strong supporter of Symbian, to abandon Symbian.

MeeGo is a Linux-base OS. It is a join effort of Nokia Maemo and Intel Moblin project. Nokia has explored on Linux since at least 5 years ago (the Nokia Internet Tablet 770). I am in doubt with Nokia Linux strategy too, how long it will last and how well it will be supported.

OpenHand (acquired by Intel), Maemo, Moblin, MeeGo are all Linux-base platform, the application may not be compatible on all these platform. Software developer may know how to port the application from one platform to the other, but as a user how easy I upgrade my mobile device to the later software platform?

May be the Nokia smartphone or internet table platform will became a hacker's only platform.

iOS 4 upgrade and iBooks application

iBooks application is available on App Store for iPhone (and iPod Touch).

iBooks - Winnie the Pooh, on iPhone iOS4

To install the free iBooks application, update iPhone/iPod to iOS 4. iOS 4 is available for free download as well.

To update iOS 4, need iTunes 9.2. Here is my problem, on my old PowerPC G3, I was not able to update iTunes to 9.2 through system software update.

Luckily I was able to download it from Apple support manually, and install on the iBook G3, even it stated that some of the functions need G4 CPU.

The iOS 4 update process is easy (as usual), just click the update button, iTunes will do it all for you.

After update to iOS 4, having problem restoring the data from iTunes for the first time. I just turn off (totally, by holding the on/off button for few seconds) the device, switch on again (with the cable connecting to the PC/Mac), everything just work fine.

What new in iOS 4?

iPhone Multi-tasking (some people comment that is not true multitasking.
Camera improvement.
Folder
Change background picture.
Location privacy improvement.
iBooks application.

and 100 more improvements as mentioned by Apple website.

Is it worth updating to iOS 4? Many of the major features eg. multi-tasking don't work on iPod Touch 2G. I don't really need some of the new features. I enjoy the improvement on the location feature, the iBooks application. I get back the WiFi notification icon which was missing after I updated to version 3.1.3.

Just update to iOS 4.

SingTel hiCard at Malaysia

Singapore and Malaysia discuss to cut mobile roaming charges. Why? The roaming charges are expensive.

Is cheaper to get a local SIM card if you travel to Singapore or Malaysia. I got a hi!Card from SingTel, which is a Singapore SingTel prepaid card.

SingTel hi!Card 10.

When I am back to Malaysia, the SingTel hi!Card is on roaming.

How to use SingTel hi!Card in Malaysia?

Direct call fail, it says all out going call is bar. To call, I have to use this, *131*# eg. *131*60123456789. 60 is Malaysia country code (0)12 is the mobile operator or the area code.

To check balance and expiry date, *133#

To top-up, you don't have to go back to Singapore. You can go to Maxis headquarters, asking for help, because SingTel and Maxis are members of mobile bridge alliance.

You should be able to top-up hiCard through Maxis. I never try that, not sure it is possible, because I found another easier way. Just top-up through SingTel online easy top-up, pay by credit card.

Maxis showcase "Tomorrow is here"

Maxis showcase their smart home system at Mandarin Oriental Hotel together with their AGM (Annual General Meeting) event.

Basically it is fiber optic broadband, home gateway, TV set-top box, telephone, tablet and TV, integrated together.

They name it with the title, "Tomorrow is here".

The "tomorrow" that Maxis is showing is already here, nothing new or surprising. The existing is even better.

Let's go through one by one, what Maxis try to show us on "Tomorrow is here".

Fiber optic broadband. Is fast, everyone likes fast network, but how fast it will be? It can stream youtube video. I don't think you need fiber optic to stream youtube video, copper wire can do that. If the fiber optic broadband price is same with copper wire, why not?

Maxis home gateway. Is a central hub connect and communicate with your TV, set-top box, phones, video camera and act as an Internet Wifi access point. It can share files as network storage. I know there is a lot of media player like AC Ryan media player, HiMedia player can act as a network storage as well.

Tablet. Is a touch screen (but not multi-touch) device, capable for Internet browsing, play games, video call. Future can access facebook and twitter, stream your set-top box TV program.

Is the application on the tablet available through online download and update? No, current tablet running on Linux platform (I notice it printed with a PCCW name, looks like this), future product will run on Android. Then you can download from Android Market.

PS. PCCW, Pacific Century CyberWorks, is Hong Kong telecom provider.

Video call. This should be one the interesting function that attract the public, because you can see each other face to face. Video call is not new, Skype already doing it for years, with good voice quality. Apple Steve Jobs show FaceTime on iPhone 4, with duo camera and zero setup.

Set-top box. Allow TV program recording, even with pre-set recording schedule. It should be Astro satellite service only.

Call notification on TV. When someone call your phone, it will show a notification message on the TV, but this is not ready for showcase yet.

Games. You can play games on the TV. This is not new as well, your Wii, X-Box, PS3 or other game devices may be more interesting.

Online shopping. Maxis already partner with PayPal, online payment should not be a problem. Will be available in the future. If you already have an Internet and a browser, you can do online shopping now.

May be I didn't cover all the features of Maxis smart home system, this is what they show me on "Tomorrow is here".

Maxis (and related company) is ready to provide mobile network, TV program, but for a better smart home system, we need more than that. It still lacking of software and services.

Maxis smart home system doesn't integrated well with third party devices like your lovely Apple iPad. Maxis people told me that they support better if system is all provided by Maxis. You know it is not true.

Why I need two tablet? One Maxis table which can only connect to facebook and twitter in the future, another iPad which can not connect to Maxis set-top box. Just write an application on iPad which able to connect to the set-top box, gave users two choices. No one will thrown away their multi-touch Apple iPad for a Maxis tablet.

Maxis can not provide everything, Maxis need to partner with the others, integrate with other software and services. If Maxis insist of providing product and services with their own brand only, then Maxis should provide a Maxis Faces to replace facebook services.

Good try, Maxis. There is no good and complete solution for smart home system yet.

There is nothing new that surprise me. Broadband, home gateway, TV set-top box, telephone, tablet, video call, IP TV, all are existing products. There is no new services.

Maxis' "Tomorrow is here" looks so yesterday.

iPhone 4 unveiled at WWDC 10

Apple Steve Jobs unveiled 4th generation iPhone, the iPhone 4 at Apple WWDC 10 (World Wide Developers Conference 2010) at San Francisco. Is just name as iPhone 4, not iPhone HD as some rumors spread. iPhone 4 support HD video record, not the full HD 1080p but 720p.

Apple iPhone 4
Originally uploaded by BasBoerman

The new iPhone 4 thickness is just 9.3mm, very slim. Apple change the appearance, no more curve metal cover at the back, but 2 piece of glass at the back and front, rectangle in shape, which provide more space in this slim body. The metal side also act as a antenna. It comes with black and white color.

iPhone 4 support quad band, which include HSPDA up to 7.2Mbps download speed. The iPhone 4 powered by Apple own A4 chip, normally Apple never reveal what type of chip was use in their portable device including iPod and iPhone. This A4 chip claimed to be very power efficient, provide 300 hours of standby time, or 7 hours 3G talk time. These are just official figures, just for a reference. I rather wait till other users review on the battery life.

iPhone 4 use microSIM, as the iPad does. I don't prefer micro-SIM, till it was matured and well support by the mobile network operator. Steve Jobs says the use of micro-SIM will squeeze more space for other parts, but I don't find any other mobile phone that support micro-SIM yet.

Apple introduce Retina Display on iPhone 4, it double the resolution on iPhone, up to 960x640 pixel on a 3.5 inch display. Picture and text will looks better on Retina Display (but much darker), the best part is it still backward compatible with those old application. According to Jobs, with little modification on the application, the effect will be stunning on the Retina Display.

Side track: Steve Jobs encounter network problem with iPhone 4 demo, accessing to NY Times website, later found out it was interfered by too many WiFi devices (should be those portable WiFi station) on the event.

Apple iPhone's display is one of the best in smartphone market, with the new Retina Display, new slim design and other new features like multi-threaded iPhone OS 4 (now call iOS 4), 720p video recording, iMovie video editing software, FaceTime video calls, gyroscope motion sensing for gaming and etc., iPhone 4 left other smartphone competitors far behind.

iPhone 4 only available on 24th June 2010, pre-order start 15th. What about the pricing? USD $199 for 16G iPhone 4, I believe the price came with a contract, but is a very attractive price. iPhone 3GS 8G version will further down to USD $99. I expect Apple sales boost for the next six months time.

Google announced to support royalty-free WebM video format

Google announced in I/O conference to support royalty-free VP8 WebM video format. The WebM video is the technology that Google acquired from the company On2.

WebM which base on On2 VP8 technology, expected to deliver a high video quality through online streaming. The WebM technology sounds promising but there are professional comment that VP8 is a mess.

If you are interested, you can access to youtube to take a quick look on how WebM video looks like. Since WebM is still new, it only supported by the developer version of Mozilla, Opera and Chrome.

These is what you need to do:

1. Download a browser which support WebM. Try Mozilla Developer Preview.

2. Enable youtube html5 support. Access http://www.youtube.com/html5, enable by clicking on the link "Join the HTML5 Beta".

3. Search for WebM video, by adding &webm=1 at url. eg. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=trailer&aq=f&webm=1

The WebM video on youtube looks good.
Notice HTML5.WEBM shown at the bottom

The html5 player and flash player looks similar, if you right click on flash player, the right click menu will show "About Adobe Flash Player...".

For WebM video, it will show "HTML5.WEBM" at the bottom of the player. It will only show "HTML5" if is not a WebM video but html5 video. Make sure you get WEBM for WebM video.

The different between HTML5 and WEBM (HTML5.WEBM) video is the WEBM video only supported by the latest developer version of few browsers. HTML5 video is supported by (later version of) Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari.

The video quality of WebM looks good. The WebM video is still new, it might take some time for the market to accept and support it.

Video encoding (and decoding) is a complicated and advance technology. Other than the technology, the support from the software and service provider is importance as well.

WebM is new, is too early to make any conclusion. As youtube is one of the largest and popular online video website, the support from youtube affect the video format used online in the future. Other than the online video website, support from the browser software is important as well.

Is no surprise Apple Steve Jobs say no to WebM video format, since WebM is still new and Apple has their own preference. I rather take it as no comment from Apple at this point of time.

Normal user like us, don't really care (or know) what video format that we are watching, as long as it can be deliver smoothly and nicely through web.