To iPhone or Not?

DiGi's iPhone entry

The hottest news in the telco scene right now is DiGi’s entry into the smartphone space with its very own iPhone plans. iPhone fans are all a buzz about the whole thing and my own brother pre-ordered the thing. It’s great to see another telco enter the market. It gives us (the consumer) choice. I can’t wait to see what DiGi brings to the playing field.

On another note, I’ve been around iPhones for a long time and I doubt I’d ever get one as a primary phone. I still like physical keyboards and all this touchscreen virtual keyboardness doesn’t seem to fit the bill for me. I still prefer my HTC Touch Pros physical keyboard and even though the delete key isn’t responsive now I’d still go for a device that doesn’t depend exclusively on its screen for input. Admittedly, the iPhone does have a great variety of affordable apps and out of all the smartphones out there it’s definitely the sexiest. I dunno … Maybe if I have excess cash to spare or maybe when the rumoured iPhone 4G comes out. We’ll see. I’m still not convinced about the iPhone’s ability to function as a work phone. It still feels like a fun phone that’s more a toy than some of the other devices that’s out in the market now.

In the meantime, the iPhone 3GS is finally available with someone else other than Maxis which is great for consumers all over Malaysia! As for me … well, I’m gonna wait for Windows Phone 7 Series before I decide on a new smartphone. I can’t wait to see how Microsoft is going to level the playing field with it’s revamped mobile OS. If you’ve been waiting to jump on the iPhone bandwagon, I suppose now’s the time to do it. DiGi’s data plans have always been the best value for money in the market, and I trust they’ll do the same here with their iPhone bundles.

Check it out!

Singapore Ho!

Good morning everyone!

I’m writing this whilst I’m on the bus to Singapore. It’s 8.51am now and I’m about 2 hours away from Singapore. Just discovered to my horror that not all the seats on Aeroliner have plug points. Thankfully the seat in front of me was empty so I swapped seats! Bwa ha ha ha ha! I’m really looking forward to Singapore. Here’s what I have planned for the next 3 days:

1. Fireworks & countdown at Marina Bay tonight
2. Sentosa Island tomorrow
3. Jurong Birdpark and the Singapore Zoo (maybe)
4. The much heard about Night Safari
5. Shopping on Saturday (Funan IT and maybe Orchard for some clothing)

After I drop off my luggage at Hotel 81 Bencoolen, the day starts and I daresay it’s gonna be fun. I hope I can get data access with the Singtel Prepaid SIM that I’ll be purchasing when I get in to Singapore.

Anyways, it’s been a good year overall. Work’s been a blast especially my experiences working with Microsoft on launching Windows 7. Did I mention I love Windows 7 even though I have a Mac? Anyways here are some things that I’m thankful for as I close 2009 and enter 2010:

1. A tonne of movies with UP, Star Trek & Sherlock Holmes being the most notable
2. The great friends I have especially my buddies J-son and Roland
3. My matte black DSi and Metroid Prime Pinball
4. Windows 7 & Snow Leopard
5. The Windows 7 experience at work
6. Blu-rays!
7. Better performance at work and great colleagues – am definitely much better at delegation and am more confident now in the things I can contribute at the office
8. Cluster leadership
9. Finally getting up the 440 Records website with the help of WordPress
10. My HTC Touch Pro and Unlimited Mobile Internet with Maxis

It’s been an awesome year but it’s been also a challenging one. The one thing I look forward to in 2010 is more restedness in God. Of everything in life; I guess that’s what I find lacking in my life.

Here’s to a good new year’s eve to all of ya, don’t drink too much and don’t strain those necks staring at fireworks in the sky … Happy New Year and I’ll see ya’ll in 2010!

Low Yat Windows 7 Blast

Drumming up the Windows 7 hype

It was pretty fun being at Low Yat and wow the number of prizes that Microsoft and their sponsors gave away were really cool. I was pretty amazed that there exists a community that supports original software and it makes me feel that there’s hope for us yet to start respecting intellectual property more here in Malaysia. I got to Low Yat at around 5.30pm and was just in time to catch the contestants of the Made for 7 coding contest demo their touchscreen applications which was quite an impressive thing to see especially as the contestants were students. For an ex-code monkey like me it was cool to see the stuff that those kids did with on touchscreens. 🙂

Touchscreen demo.

Windows 7 Wu-shu

For the actual launch itself there was a decent wu-shu thing for the opening gambit and a whole bunch of other things that happened this evening. I had a pretty good time although the traffic after was horrendous due to road closures because of a Rakan Muda thing that was going on just opposite Plaza Low Yat.

Wow! The 1st Seven to Get Win 7 at RM370!

The best part about the evening were the great deal that Microsoft had on Windows 7 Home Premium. At 30% you could get a copy for just RM370! I walked around a bit more and noticed that on average Windows 7 Home Premium went for RM435 at other retailers so Microsoft really did a great job thinking of us, the consumer. Great stuff!

Proof that MS gave launch attendees a GREAT DEAL!

Anyways, it’s late. Time for me to get some shut eye after being in heavy traffic from 9.45 all the way till 11.00-ish. It was quite a nightmare getting out of the Bukit Bintang area but I am finally home hence this post. Incidentally  I’ve got “Revenge of the Fallen” playing now as I’m writing this entry. Heh heh! I picked up the 2 disc set Blu-Ray whilst waiting for traffic to clear in Sg Wang Plaza. Shopping is evil!!! Oh well… 😛

G’nite guys!

Windows 7 Live at Low Yat!

Windows 7 @ Low Yat

I sure am excited. Microsoft is organising a very public launch for consumers today at Plaza Low Yat. I’m gonna head over there with some of my colleagues in the afternoon to chill out and check out what’s going on today. I’ll probably catch “Inglourius Basterds” at GSC Berjaya Times Square first before joining the official proceedings that start later in the evening. I’m looking forward to it as its been a long wait to see everything come together today.

Windows 7 @ IKANO, PJ

The road shows at Ikano Power Centre & Gurney Plaza are still on-going and opens from 10am to 10pm I believe. Find out more about the roadshows at www.win7.com.my or the official Malaysian Facebook fan page here cos’ I don’t think I wanna copy and paste everything from there. If you can’t make it to Low Yat then try to make your way to the other two venues cos’ I hear there’s tonnes to do there plus I think you can get copies of the full retail version of Windows 7 Home Premium at 30% off! That’s great savings! I’m sure numbers are limited so we probably need to line up a bit to get in on this great deal.  It’s gonna be a long & tiring day for me but I think it’s gonna be worth it. If you have time today join me at Plaza Low Yat to check things out! Drop me a line on Twitter if you’re there and I’ll see if we can meet up or something.

Have an awesome Saturday!

Am So Missin’ Aero Snap in Windows 7

Aero Snapped.

After a long day at a shoot I’m kickin’ back a little and decided it’s time for me to fire up Snow Leopard for a bit. Why? Well I’ve been on Windows 7 all weekend till today cos’ of work. It’s easier to work off my Vostro 1400 cos’ all my files are there so I’ve been missing Snow Leopard and my Macbook a fair bit. Anyways, back to my tale for today.

Funnily enough the first thing I tried to do when Safari launched was to do an Aero Snap maneuver which didn’t turn out too well. Ha ha! Obviously the window I was trying to Aero Snap didn’t maximise as it does on Windows 7 and I must say that I’m beginning to love Windows 7 a lot and Aero Snap ranks as one of my favourite features on the OS that Microsoft built.

I am so missing Aero Snap right about now on my Mac and I’m looking forward to getting back on Windows 7 tomorrow at work. Snow Leopard, I still love you but right now I’m enjoying my everyday experience with Windows 7. I’m thinking that Mac fanboys would so want to kill me right now for saying that. LOL!

I still like Snow Leopard but Windows 7 really does have some uber cool features.

What is Aero Snap? It’s a simple but great feature that allows me to maximise a window by just dragging the window to the top of the desktop. A glow/touch effect occurs and voila the window in question maximises! Cool eh? The handiest thing about Aero Snap happens when I need to compare 2 documents when I’m not dual-screened (which happened today on location). All I need to do is just “snap” each window that I wanna compare. One to the left. The other to the right. And just like magic both windows are instantly resized into equal sized windows that sit side by side for me to compare.

I know, I know. I’m supposed to do an indepth look at Grabber on Snow Leopard but I couldn’t help but write about Aero Snap today. It is such a cool feature.

I [heart] Aero Snap. I really do.

Better Than Google

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Something I read this morning that reminds me that we can ask Him for our deepest desires and that we can trust that they will come to pass in His timing. The key words here are “His timing” cos’ most times we human beings are impatient creatures and we always want things to happen OUR WAY, NOW!

Life in my opinion can be better & happier if only we learn patience and trust. We are human. We can’t see beyond the now and even if we could I think we wouldn’t be able to handle the enormity of the future very well. I keep reminding myself time and time again to stay in the present and to be thankful for what I already have. He will provide for the things that I need in time – again the key word here is “need” and strangely enough He doesn’t just bless us with our needs but He goes beyond and blesses us with our wants & more! How? Here’s an example of God blessing me with more than I asked.

Asking Him? Way better than Googling. Definitely.

The job I’m at now is more than I asked for. Sure it’s more responsibility but more importantly it’s more than what I originally intended in terms of finances. When I first started work last year I was just looking for something part-time but the amazing thing is that I was offered a full-time position (with more money of course) but more importantly I found a company with great management that believes in me. Being where I am at now is pretty amazing if you consider that I was out of the industry for quite a long while doing music. It is a challenge trying to juggle everything in life but as I sit here at y desk this morning and remember Him for the blessings that He has brought into my life, I know that He has given me more than I asked for and in everything that I hope for now I can trust Him in that.

What is the coolest thing about my job now? Well … it’s small I know but I can’t help but wake up every day and feel thrilled to be using Microsoft’s newest OS before any one else. Maybe it’s the geek in me or its just the fact that I like getting in on new things like sneak peeks and such. That’s one thing that I can be thankful for today. Before I sign off I’d like to leave all of you with the following.

“Remember Him for His goodness today for the things that are to come tomorrow.”
-Me-

Windows 7 & Snow Leopard: Aero Peek vs. Expose

Windows 7

Operating systems. No one thinks twice about what’s under the hood but everyone certainly cares about how easy it is to use and I am loving both Windows 7 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard so far. My only gripe is with Apple at the moment cos’ I had problems with the install disc that came bundled with my copy of the Mac Box Set that I purchased from Machines in 1U. I had no issues with Windows 7 but then again my IT department set my office laptop with a burned copy that we obtained off MSDN so I can’t really judge Microsoft in this respect as I have yet to get a hold of a retail copy of the disc.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard

As I experience both OSes at work and at home I’ve decided to write up a fair play by play of the features that I use on a daily basis on both OSes. I’m not a power user so I’m guessing that my experiences with both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard would reflect what most of you do out there on a daily basis with your PCs.

Pardon the low-res screen captures but I don’t wanna kill anyone who loads up this post with sharp PNGs that will take ages to load up. The screen caps are meant to illustrate a point not look pretty.

Windows 7
First up! Let’s have a look at the number one feature of Windows 7 that I use every day… AERO PEEK! Yep … I use Aero Peek on a daily basis to go through all my open windows as I work in the office.

With Aero Peek I get live previews of any open window when I mouseover app icons in the taskbar.

For everyone’s info, I compare and reference a lot of materials in the office and this is a huge time saver which also helps to keep my screen clean of clutter. When I scroll over open windows within the taskbar, the coolest thing about Windows 7 is that I get to view the contents of windows that I mouse over directly on the desktop with other windows going translucent; exposing the window that I wanna look at. It’s a big help when I have a multitude of windows open.

Check out the cool translucent window effect when I mouseover a window I wanna preview.

The coolest thing about Aero Peek is that I am able to close windows from within the live preview boxes that appear in the taskbar whenever my mouse pointer hovers over open applications and windows. It’s a simple yet nifty feature that allows me to be more productive at work.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard
Mac OS X Snow Leopard on the other hand still uses Expose that allows me to view any open windows and apps that I have running at any point in time by just hitting the F3 key or by holding left click mouse button on an open app in the dock. Expose was revolutionary when it first came out and while useful it is a bit of a pain to always have to hit F3 just to view all the windows that I’ve got open.

Expose shows all open windows by hitting F3.

By clicking on an app's icon you can see all open windows it has.

I’m not really a power user on my Macbook but I don’t think I can close any open apps I have from within Expose. So Windows 7 does a one up on Snow Leopard in this respect. Apple’s introduction of enhanced stacks and Expose re-arranging windows in a grid format does help but I definitely like how Windows 7 treats the viewing & previewing of open windows on my desktop.

To be fair to Apple I really do like how I don’t need to go into Finder anymore when previewing folders and apps within stacks on my dock, which is a feature that should have been introduced earlier in OS X in my opinion. It’s a bit hard for me to illustrate this in writing so take a look at the screen shots below that I’ve taken to illustrate this.

Just click on a folder within the dock to pop a stack open.

Click on a folder within a stack to view it without having to open Mac OS' Finder. Neat!

Stacks in Mac OS X are cool but Windows Explorer does the same thing pretty much and stacks in my opinion function just like mini Finder windows in Snow Leopard. It is handy though when it comes to looking through folder shortcuts in the Mac OS Dock.

Explorer does the same thing as a stack doesn't it?

I think I’ve covered enough for Part 1. Suffice to say both OSes treat windows niftily but I definitely prefer Windows 7 in this respect. And it really helps that Aero makes the desktop sleek & sexy which was a selling point of Mac OS X to me. Hey … what can I say? I’m attracted to sexy.

Tune in next week as I continue to experience both OSes on a day to day basis. Windows 7 launches October 23rd here in Malaysia so I’m gonna try to cover as much as possible to help everyone get a sense of what to expect with the new OS and to see how it stacks up against Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

Cheers!

Note:
This post was written by tediously swapping between my Macbook and Dell Vostro 1400. Oh the sacrifice … heh.

Exonerating Apple

First things first. I’m big enough to admit it when I’m wrong so here it is.

“I’m sorry Apple.”

I must say that I made a mistake by ranting online first about my Snow Leopard problem. So here’s an apology of sorts to Apple. I gave their helpline a call upon the advice of a friend and explained the problem I had with my disc. It was a relief to hear that Apple acknowledges the issue and all I need to do now is read out the serial number on the disc to them.

It was a breath of fresh air to me cos’ most retailers/brands in Malaysia tend to push the problem back to the user first. I understand why Machines couldn’t do a one-to-one exchange for me without a ticket number from Apple themselves and even though I was recommended to give the Apple Helpline a call I didn’t. The basic distrust I had for brands kicked in and I didn’t. Instead I opted to try to reach someone at Apple.com which so far has proven futile. There goes another illusion I had about good customer service from American brands and the web as a communication tool. Oh well. I’ll try the local arm first next time before trying to go international.

I'm sorry Apple... *sheepish look*

I haven’t done so yet cos’ I didn’t have the disc yet and the call centre was closed over the weekend so hopefully I’ll be able to clear things up tomorrow. For all Apple users here in Malaysia here are the correct steps to take should you have problems with Apple stuff as the local distributors have to follow a procedure when it comes to exchanges or faulty products.

1. First give Apple a call at 1-800 803-638 (for the latest contact numbers in your region click here)
2. Describe your problem to the friendly voice on the other end
3. If everything goes well they should be issuing you a ticket number
4. Have your ticket number on hand when you visit a local retailer to do your exchange

I’ll make the call tomorrow and will do the one-to-one exchange some time within the next few days.

Wish me luck!

P.S. I’ve been putting together some notes to compare Snow Leopard against Windows 7 as I’m one of the privileged few at work to be running Microsoft’s brand new OS. Check back in a couple of days!