Simply Apple iPad

Finally the Apple tablet reviewed to the public, it was named an iPad. It is a 9.7 inch touch pad, price from USD499. It just like a 10 inch size iPhone (or iPod Touch).

Apple iPad

With this latest Apple iPad, Apple fill in the gap between iPhone and notebook. More specifically, the netbook market which Apple has been absent for years. In terms of price, size and weight, the Apple iPad just fit in nicely.

Apple show an e-book reader application call the iBooks. With the iBooks application iPad will looks like Amazon Kindle.

This iPad power by an Apple A4 1GHz CPU. Remember Apple bought a CPU design company P.A. Semi (Palo Alto Semiconductor) earlier? This is not Intel or ARM base processor, is very new and still not sure about the performance yet.

iPad has 3G (WLAN) version, USD130 more than the non-3G version. iPad is not available yet, Apple iPad webpage is up, you can check the details there.

A complain on DiGi call center

You don't call to get your problem solved, you need to go to the service center, show your sour face, bang the table and get your problem solved.

This time I want to complain about DiGi call center.

I have some enquiries for my phone bill. Since I can't go to the DiGi center, I call to the help center.

"I suppose to have rebate for my data charges, but it doesn't shown on the account statement, can you check it for me?"

"When you subscribe, it doesn't have the data rebate plan yet."

"Can you check when I subscribed? The rebate plan should be available."

"No. The rebate plan is not available yet when you subscribed."

"I subscribed last december, the offer should be available."

"Oh, you already have your phone rebate, so you will not have data rebate."

"But your representative told me I will have both offer, that's why I subscribe to the plan."

"No..."

"Ok. Since you know I have my phone rebate, but it doesn't shown on my account statement as well."

" [err...] if you still have the receipt, you can go to the nearest DiGi center ..."

Wow, wow, wow... now you know something really go wrong.

Since DiGi have all my information, and they should know something must have gone wrong, why can't they just report the problem, and get back to me?

The call center support always speaks in polite tone, but polite tone doesn't means polite. I think anyone can be help desk, if you know how to answer, "You can go to the nearest DiGi center."

You have to go the DiGi center, bang the table, show your anger, to get your problem solved.

No. You don't have to bang the table. You bang the table just to release your pressure. Go to the DiGi center, they will solved the issue, I believe.

Need a new one? by Ballmer

An event while Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer visit to Trevecca Nazarene University, one of the students ask Ballmer to sign on a MacBook Pro.

Steve Ballmer sign on a MacBook Pro

This is a bad PR. If it doesn't turn into a disaster, it will remain as an all time Internet joke.

Why can't he sign at the corner and write properly. This is the first time I saw Steve Ballmer's writing. Oh! His writing is bad. As a CEO, may be he should start practice his writing. You think this is not from Steve Ballmer, check the youtube video here.

Microsoft Windows is able to run on a MacBook Pro these days. Why Ballmer have to laugh and talk sarcastically? I don't get that.

Other posts on it:
Ballmer desecrates MacBook Pro
... running Windows, of course
Microsoft CEO sign a Mac

Ballmer, ya. After the way you sign on it, I will need a new one.

The big Mach-O in Mac OS X

This is a bit technical, but I try to write it as easy as possible to be understand by layman.

Mac OS X support both PowerPC and Intel platform, and is possibile to run the same executable on PowerPC and Intel Mac, provided it is an universal binary.

Is no big deal for Intel Mac users, but is a big deal for old PowerPC Mac users. The lastest software might not have PowerPC support unless you download the universal binary executable.

The Mac OS X originally written to support PowerPC Mac. Steve Jobs announced Mac switch to Intel at year 2006.

Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (the updated version) is the first version of OS X to support both PowerPC and Intel platform. New Mac users who start using OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard may not interested, because Snow Leopard drop PowerPC and support Intel only platform. For those people who are still using PowerPC Mac, you will love the universal binary.

Universal binary help the operating system transition from one platform (PowerPC) to another platform (Intel) smoothly. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is the last version that you can used for PowerPC Mac.

To support two different platform (PowerPC and Intel), you need two different set of binaries, one for the PowerPC Mac and one for the Intel Mac. Apple introduced universal binary to support two platform with a single binary, this single binary contain the code for PowerPC and Intel. Is easy for user without CPU architecture (PowerPC or Intel) knowledge, just download the universal binary and it should work on your Mac.

The universal binary also called as "fat binary" or multi-architecture binary, which include more than one binary code in a single executable file, so it is usually bigger in size. Sometimes the universal binary file also refer as big Mach-O (Mach Object, Mach not Mac) file. Snow Leopard which only support Intel platform, the size are smaller compare with Leopard which support both binary code. (Code optimization may help to reduce the binary size as well)

If you know Mac OS X history, it based on NeXT Computer's NeXTSTEP operating system code. Before Apple bought over NeXT, NeXTSTEP is capable to run on Intel platform (and SUN's SPARC!). Is not so surprise for you that Apple can switch to Intel platform in a short period of time.

Next time, I will talk about how to create universal binary using Xcode development tools.

It must be an Apple Tablet

Some of my friends ask me, what is the next Apple product? Will it be a tablet?

It must be a tablet.

Techcrunch and macrumors reported that France Telecom executive "confirm" that.

I am just curious how Steve Jobs going to present it. What is the size of the device? 10 or 12 inch?

What so special about tablet? Tablet is everywhere at CES, but tablet from Apple does matter. Even we all know that is tablet, we want to know what's so special with Applet tablet. Is it something which surprise us like iPhone?

May be Amazon should start worried now. Some people say that tablet can be a good ebook reader, just like the Amazon Kindle.

Apple may start selling ebooks online. There are news reported that Apple start talking with HarperCollins and other book publisher.

Is so natural that Apple sell books online. Apple already have music store, app store. They sell music, movies, TV program, application online. Selling books are just one step away.

Just get an iPhone

iPhone will taken the mobile world by storm. In fact it already does.

This post is for those people who doesn't want to get an iPhone.

I am not going to get an iPhone, the reasons I already stated here.

There are some people telling me that they don't want to get an iPhone because everyone else is having an iPhone. If that's the only reason, I suggest just get an iPhone.

iPhone is just like your iPod, Everyone is having an iPod, will you get an mp3 player from S brand, or C brand? No you will just get an iPod.

If you have other reasons not to get an iPhone, so be it.

Starhub prepaid mobile data plan

Singapore has cheap mobile data access plan, one of the cheapest in this region.

I found this Starhub prepaid mobile internet plan, MaxMobile Prepaid. This is a SGD12 prepaid card, I am suggesting this mobile internet plan because it is flexible and affortable.

Flexibility. This is very important in marketing. With this Starhub internet prepaid plan, you have different choices with different price and rate. You can have 1 hour, 1 day, 3 day or 5 day plan. You can check the rate listing from the website.

Low cost. If you choose the 3 days plan is SGD 3.33 per day (SGD 10 for 3 days), 5 days plan is SGD 3 per day (SGD 15 for 5 days). This is cheap compare with other countries, even with other mobile operator offer here now. If you compare with other post paid mobile Internet package, Starhub cheapest package is SDG 14 per month (but it is postpaid).

Easy. You can get the prepaid card from Starhub service center and some franchise grocery store. Just choose your package and send the SMS code to activate. To top up you can use the top up card or top up through Internet.

Fair usage policy. The policy set a data size limit as most mobile operator does. The limit is 2.2 Gigabytes per day, the usage provided is more than enough, no need to worried about the access limit.

If you have a short trip in Singapore, and you need to access internet with your netbook, this MaxMobile Prepaid will be a good choice.

Mobile Bridge Alliance

The first thing I do when I was in Singapore is to get myself a prepaid SIM card, roaming is just too costly for me.

There are 3 mobile operator in Singapore, Singtel, MobileOne and StarHub. I just simply get Singtel, the service center is the first to appear in front of me. Later I found out that Singtel is a member of Bridget Alliance. This is the first time I know about Bridge Alliance.

What is Bridge Alliance? Bridget Alliance is a alliance form by few mobile operators in Asia Pacific region. Since both Singtel and Maxis are members, I can top up Singtel with Maxis.

My Singtel prepaid card call Hi!Card. How to top up Hi!Card? Here is a FAQ, you need to purchase a Singtel top up card, or you go to a Singtel service center for top up. If you are outside of Singapore how do you purchase the Singtel top up card? You can ask your Singapore friend do it for you, or there is an easier way if you are in Kuala Lumpur. You just go to the Maxis HQ just beside KLCC, you can do the top up there, because Maxis and Singtel are members of Mobile Bridge Alliance.

This is part of the list of Mobile Bridge Alliance members (there is a total of 11 by now):

Malaysia - Maxis
Singapore - Singtel
Taiwan - Taiwan Mobile
(台灣大哥大)
Australia - Optus

The full list of the 11 members can be found here.

Yes I use Google Chrome browser

When I show my HP mini to an IT friend, he says, "Hei! You use Google Chome!".

Yes, I am using Google Chrome, because Google Chorome design suit my style. I prefer a simple user interface, without much toolbar, free more space for browsing display as much as possible.

Did you notice Google Chome does not have a menu bar, unlike most of the applications, the menu access is just the 2 icons at the right side of the url address bar. The status bar is always hidden at the bottom, it only appear at the bottom left corner to display url and other status information when necessary.

Google Chrome use tab browsing as most of the advance browser did. The tab control don't occupied a horizontal space as most of the browser did, it make use of the standard Windows title bar to put in its tab control.

Since the HP mini (1000) has a 1024x600 display resolution, smaller than the standard 1024x768 display resolution. Google Chrome's neat and cleaner design is just nice for netbook Internet browsing.

(Google is pushing Chrome browser to Mac users)

Huawei broadband modem on Snow Leopard

Finally I get it work on Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

I have an USB broadband modem which came with the broadband subscription, is a Huawei E160. Unfortunately the software came with the modem, doesn't work in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

You need to download the latest software from Huawei support here, select Download - Software, choose Software - For Mac OS X 10.6 on the left.

There are 3 software available:

1. Dashboard installer.
This is the installer but it doesn't include the Mobile Partner software.

2. Mobile Connect driver

This driver works with OS X 10.6.

3. Huawei UMTS Dashboard
This is the Mobile Partner software.

Step 1: Install the Mobile Connect driver

You may need to reboot if you are replacing the old driver.

You can check for the old driver exist before install the new driver. The driver will be located at:

Mac HD/System/Library/Extensions/HuaweiiDataCardDriver.kext
Mac HD/Library/Modem Scripts/HUAWEI Mobile Connect - 3G Modem

Step 2 (optional): Dashboard

Is a software to help you to install the Mobile Connect software. You need Mobile Partner software mounted before install this software.

Step 3: Install Mobile Partner software (Huawei UMTS Dashboard)

You may already have a Mobile Partner, then you don't need to install.

Mobile Connect software, should be written in Java

The old software call Mobile Partner, the newer Mobile Connect software is written in Java. The new software response a bit slow, just be patient.

No iPhone for me, not now

Most of my friends thought that I will get an iPhone. No, I have no plan to get an iPhone, for a few reasons:

1. I am not an Apple fan. (You might not agree with me)

2. Is still costly. I am not heavy mobile phone users, so there is no good package for me.

3. Battery life. I am a light user, I don't have a lot of phone calls, but if I use it to surf net and watch movie, the battery life might not last for my daily usage.

No doubt, iPhone is a very good smart phone. I strongly recommended to get one.

What netbook expected in Pikom PC Fair 3 2009

What do you expect in this PC Fair (3)?

I am expecting netbook.

1. HP
HP mini 311. The number one on my list, it came with nVidia ION chipset, it is not a 3D graphic chipset, but it has hardware HD video decoder, can perform HD (1080p) video playback on your Atom netbook. It came with 1Gb on board ram, expandable to 3Gb.

2. Dell
Dell mini 10v. Personally I am not interested in Dell, but this budget netbook is Chrome OS ready.

3. Samsung
Samsung Go N310. The most attracting selling point of this netbook is its battery life. Ads say up to 11hrs (or 9hrs).

4. Acer
Acer Aspire Timeline series. It is a notebook (not netbook), thin, slick design, long battery life (as long as 9hrs), it is using low voltage cpu eg. SU9400.

Acer Aspire One. One of the best selling netbook from Acer, but no surprise.

5. Lenovo
May be can take a look at IdeaPad S10-2.

6. Toshiba
Toshiba always has nice looking, price competitive netbook.

7. Sony
Sony VAIO W or P series, but their ads sucks.

8. ASUS
Asus has release many models since the first netbook EeePC 701. The latest should be T91, a touch screen netbook, just like the Tablet PC, but much cheaper. A Table PC will cost 3 times more than this EeePC T91.

I have seen this T91, not so exciting for me. I prefer 1008HA (SeaShell)

Microsoft "New Efficient" (Windows 7) event at KLCC

Just came back from Microsoft Windows 7 event. Other than Windows 7, Microsoft introduce Windows Server 2008 R2 and Exchange 2010. I am just interested in Windows 7 only.

The first session is from 9am to 11.30am, more on marketing talk, a bit lengthly. Microsoft partners and a few of their customers talk about the success case on implementing these few new software system.

Windows 7 is easy to use, easy to deploy, with advance power management software, and a few others advantages. I will not believe it until I try it myself, luckily everyone who return back the evaluation form will get a Windows 7 90 days evaluation copy.

Everyone likes free gift, technical people are responsive with free gift.

Correct answer came with a free gift
(when is my turn?)

Why? Because technical people (including software developer, administrator, network engineer, support...) are poor. Long working hours, short break, a lot of work, but very little pay. So technical people have to try their luck at technical company's public event.

Luckily these technical company are generous, they give out books, bags, software, training vouchers, computer mouse and NOTEBOOKS! Really they give out few notebooks as free gift this time. You register the event, you are entitle for lucky draw, you pass back feed back form, get lucky draw, you tweet (about the event), you get lucky draw, you answer question, you get free gift.

There are free gifts, free drinks, unfortunately there is no food provided, no breakfast, lunch or refreshment. This is the only IT event that make me feel really hungry.

Rely on contract is old business style

I want to terminate my P1 Internet service before my one year contract end, because I experience line drop problem and unable to connect Internet with the P1 service. One of the supervisor at P1 HQ refuse to help me, and gave me only 2 choices, which make me feel like being threated. Is either I pay $299 (I suppose is the modem price), or wait till they check my network problem. (story here)

Contract is to protect the consumer or the service provider? The business style to use contract to tie up customer is so old fashion.

P1, Maxis broadband has contract, so I choose DiGi broadband.

I choose DiGi broadband because their package is flexible. For my DiGi broadband package, if I terminate the service before the one year contract, I just need to pay for the modem (which came with the package) in prorated, and not the full amount or all the subscription fees for the rest of the months till contract expired.

You must think that without a contract, is not able to tie up customer for a period of time, is true. Recently I am thinking to terminate the DiGi broadband and subscribe to another package, but not P1 or Maxis. I am thinking to subscribe to another DiGi broadband package, which is cheaper.

Sometimes contract do not attract customer, but keep customer away. Provide a better service should be the more appropriate way to keep the customer.

If the provider can provide me a good service, why I bother to change?

P1 upload test error

Test the P1 network this morning.

P1 download speed is fast but upload speed is 2!?

P1 upload problem this morning

Later it shows upload test error, may be time out.

P1 upload test error

I notice, modem indicator has turned red.

iPod beginner buying guide 2009 Q4

Recently there are some people asking me, is it worth buying the new iPod nano (with FM and Video recording)? Which iPod should I buy? First, you always ask yourself what do you need? What is your budget?

There are 4 type of iPod model, iPod classic, touch, nano and shuffle.

iPod classic. Hard disk base, big and looks bulky, store up to 40 thousand songs. You can sync almost every mp3 you have into this iPod. Most people will not carry such a large music library with them.

iPod nano. Apple just launch its 5th generation of iPod nano. This is the most common model which comparable to other mp3 players available on the market.

The iPod nano size is like a chocolate bar, easy to carry around, the price tag is higher than average. This new iPod nano came with FM tuner (first in iPod history), video recording and pedometer. iPod nano is capable to playback movie as well, but I find it a little too small for movie and photo display.

iPod shuffle has been criticized badly by their competitors when it was launched, because it doesn't have a display (and FM). The cheapest China made mp3 player came with a display. Shuffle is very small and is good for workout.

Sometimes you will find that it was given as a free gift when you purchase your LCD TV or blu-ray player.

iPod touch. If you just using iPod for mp3, iPod shuffle and iPod nano is good enough, if you need a portable media player (for watching movie and photos), you need an iPod touch.

The iPod Touch is like the iPhone without the phone function. The iPod touch has an (updated) 8G model, and the new 32G and 64G model. There is no 16G available, the new 32G is cheaper than the previous 16G version, and the new 32G came with earphones with remote mic which cost about RM129.

The new iPod touch (32G and 64G version) is worth buying, and yes, it is very expensive, you can buy a netbook with this price, but there is no other products come close to iPod touch (except iPhone). Or may be you can wait for another 12 months to the next Apple music event to get a better offer.

iPod came with different model and different price. My opinion all iPod are price above average. It depends on your budget and your need.

Personally I prefer iPod Touch, but for iPod beginners may start from nano or shuffle. Or you can try to ask an iPod shuffle (or nano) as a free gift when you buy your new LCD TV.

MNP Rashomon version

MNP is Mobile Number Portability, allow mobile user to switch from one mobile network to another mobile network without changing the number including the prefix (eg. 012, 016, 019...)

"Rashomon" ( 羅生門 ) is a movie by lengendary Jananese director Akira Kurosawa ( 黑澤明 ). The movie is about a curious murder case, all people involved in the case are giving a different story of their own.

MNP has started more than a year, but mobile users are still confused with it, since there is not much benefits from switching one network to another network, MNP response is not well received.

I have a main and sub line to switch to another mobile operator as sub line, but I get different answers from mobile operator, dealers and MCMC on how to do the MNP.

For sure, I can not switch just one of the line from the main or the sub line. All parties are giving the same confirmed answer, but other answers are just confusing.

Some told me I can not switch my main and sub line as a sub line of another network.

Some said is possible, but I need to switch as pre-paid, then convert it to post paid.

Some said I don't even need to switch as pre-paid, direct convert it as sub line will do.

I don't know which is the right answer, I didn't use MNP.

This time I try to do it again, the dealer told me that I can split the original main and sub line to two different account, is just easy. I have double check this solution for me, so I just gave it a try.

The mobile operator support call me this afternoon, the MNP is not successful, because the 2 accounts are still under the same name, even it was splitted.

You think my case is complicated? The mobile operators' billing system is hundred times more complicated than my case here. If they can handle their billing system, why not my case?

Someone must have done something wrong, I have to find out myself later.

The discounted cabin service of AirAsia budget flight

"now everyone can fly", is true.

No doubt, AirAsia is popular and with a branded name, for its low air fare to fly. When you are thinking of Air Flight, most people will think of AirAsia, first is to check their air fare. For those who don't fly, you can fly now. For those who fly, they fly more often with AsiaAsia. I find it almost unbelievable, travel by Air may be cheaper than travel by bus.

Recently I have the pleasure to fly with AirAsia, I am a little bit disappointed with their cabin services. Those who have fly with AirAsia recently, should agree with me. The first experience is, the flight attendance are so careless that she split the left over milo drink on my friend clothes, she did apologized but my friend complain to me that she didn't help him to clean up the mess.

The second experience is I am travelling with another 2 friends and AsiaAsia. We have pre-ordered the food, but the food was not delivered earlier as usual, but they start selling food to the others in the cabin. Since the food is not ready for us yet, my hungry and thirsty friend requested (to buy) a drink, but the air hostess told him politely that he can't because food trolley cart has just pass by (a few steps) and we have to wait till they came back. I have written this down in the feed back form, but so far there is no reply or response from AirAsia.

I ask my friends who travel more often with AirAsia, is the cabin service that poor? They answer, yes, as usual. My experience told me that the air hostess service is the best service I can found, it is as good as those high class restaurant, but the new experience on AirAsia cabin change my mind, the service was discounted together with the ticket price.

This is about working attitude. In service sector, like hotel, restaurant or bank, provide a good service is the basic thing. Is not how much the customer pay for it, as long as you getting paid by the company, you are responsible to do a good job. Even is a free service, you should do it well. Never heard of such thing happen?

The free and open source Firefox browser, is much better than many commercialize browser.

Hopefully AirAsia will improved and do not set a bad example for the other service sector.

My last P1 bill rebate is 330

Since I have experience with P1 network problems for more than 2 weeks time, P1 offer me a one month rebate for October. I shouldn't trust them anymore, because I have bad experience with them. They always says they are going to give you some rebates to cover your lost for the days that you are not able to access to the Internet, but they never keep their promise. (read here)

This time they did gave me some rebate, is 3.30.

My P1 rebate is 3.30

P1 CEO Michael Lai

Sin Chew Daily has a 2 page coverage story and interview with P1 CEO Michael Lai (賴敬達) at Fortune Investment Weekly section.

Since P1 already has an aggressive advertisement campaign for these 2 months, is this interview necessary? If Michael Lai has free time, he should pay more attention to those P1 users' complain (here, here, here, here and here).

Michael Lai is a high profile CEO, I doesn't know much about him, but I believe he is good, in business or a professional manager. Before joining P1, Michael is the Marketing Director of Oracle Malaysia, Senior Vice President of Branding and Market Development for Celcom, CEO of TM Net. Michael is familiar with the telecommunication and internet broadband market. You can look at Michael's profile on Green Packet website.

You still don't know who is Michael Lai?

Michael in Bername news

Streamyx ads strike back to P1

Michael Lai, P1 CEO.

You can visit the post at low yat forum too.