Mobile Review: LG KU380

February 8, 2008

 I recently got my sister a postpaid plan from Globe. She opted for the LG KU380 which Globe was offering under PLAN 800. It took I believe a week for the phone to arrive since they don’t have any stocks available at the Globe Center at Ali Mall. I was already in Iloilo when they called me up to get the unit, so I had Deedee get it for me instead.

What’s included in the box when I got it:

• LG KU380 unit

• Headset

• Charger

• USB cable

• Software CD

• Manuals

• Warranty Card

 

SPECIFICATIONS:

Date Announced	2007, 4Q
Network Technology	UMTS/ GSM 900 / 1800/ 1900
Dimensions (mm)	95 x 46 x 18.8
Weight (g)	91
Display	Screen Size : 1.76 inch, 176 x 220 Screen Color : TFT 262k colors
Design	Type : Slider Navigation Key : 5 way Navigation Key Antenna : Fixed Internal
Memory	Internal(MB) : 10 Expansion : microSD (T-Flash)
Battery	Battery Type : Li - Ion Stand-by (hrs) : TalkTime(min) :

Entertainment
Ringtones	Polyphonic : Yes, 72 chords Polyphonic
MP3	Yes
A2DP	Yes
TV Receiver	Null
FM Radio	No
Video Record	Yes
Video Support	MPEG 4, 3GPP
Audio Support	MP3, MIDI, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+
Voice Support	Command, Dial, Recording, Speaker

Messaging
SMS	Yes
MMS	Yes
EMS	No

Connectivity
HSDPA	Null
EDGE	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes, ver 1.2
3G	Yes
GPRS	Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots)
Infrared (IrDA)	No
USB Port	Yes

Software
Java (J2ME)	Yes ,MIDP 2.0
WAP	Yes Ver 2.0
Platform / OS	Proprietary
Browser	xHTML
Predictive Text Entry	T9

Personals
Themes	Yes
Caller ID	Photo Caller ID
ProfileID	Yes

Camera
Lens Type	CMOS, 1.3 Megapixel
Digital zoom
Max. Resolution	1280 x 1024 (secondary : VGA)
Flash	Yes
Night Mode	Yes
Multi Shot	Yes
Extra Features	Portrait mode, Self-timer
Photo Format	(1280 x 960), (640 x 480), (320 x 240)
Video	Yes
Video Format	(176 x 144) (128 x 96)

Looks good, lightweight but my roomie said that it looks like a toy. It must be because of the colors. But hey, I like white. The camera leaves much to be desired though. It really doesn’t take pictures well indoors. Even if you switch it to flash or night mode. Interface is good, you can easily navigate through the keys and menu options.

For a cheap 3G phone, pwede na.

 

Workers Actually Buy a $3,394 MacBook Air!

February 7, 2008

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Most of the stuff you need is comprised of add-ons. Which is one of the reasons why, I have never been a fan of small lappys.

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Not wanting any suspense hovering over this simple (and logical) piece, I’m just going to get straight to the point. How much do you think the MacBook Air really has you forking for, if you’re going to use it as your primary work tool? 3.394$ That’s how much! Here’s why.

Say you’re an editor for a hot-shot technology-based website, always on the road, attending important events such as Macworld and CeBit, the usual stuff. A laptop is clearly in order for this kind of work and Apple’s latest is a must-have since it’s your business to use new tech and become familiar with it. So, instead of asking the same question in the introductory column, let’s ask first and foremost, what do you lack in the MacBook Air?

The answer is simple: pretty much everything, if you’re going to work with it. Here’s what an Air owner will pay in extra after buying the high-end 64GB SSD model ($3,100), if (I repeat) they use it as a primary working tool.

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Lacking feature no. 1 – Although voices on the Internet claim Air’s non-user-replaceable battery is the biggest issue with the notebook, I personally find the lacking optical drive as the biggest possible problem, not just with the Air, but with any laptop or PC out there. Not being able to hook a system up with a decent operating system using its own internal features is upsetting and downright hilarious to say the least. Sure, we can all understand the world was screaming for the thinnest notebook ever (not to mention that everyone’s crazy about wireless), but come on… The least Apple could have done was to provide a smaller Apple-exclusive-format-something that goes with the Air and makes up for the missing drive, at least to be able to boot the thing.

Add-on - MacBook Air SuperDrive: it can read and write/burn CDs and DVDs, "taking up little space on your desk or tray table" in MacBook Air spirit, according to Apple; it weighs 0.71 pounds (320 grams; it costs $99 (plus fuss).

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Lacking feature no. 2 – Yes, let’s take on that battery now. Why is it that Apple didn’t place a slide-in, slide-out battery on the Air? On the road, a spare is always required (should heavy computing be necessary), yet the Air doesn’t allow its user to swap it. It’s no secret that they wanted the new laptop to look and feel as sleek as possible. And they did that. We can now buy a laptop that sports a clean and streamlined aluminum case, that looks sexier than anything in its class. However, a 5-inch wide battery chamber right underneath and behind the Air’s LCD screen makes a lot of sense, don’t you think?

Battery replacement program: $129 (plus fuss).

Lacking feature no. 3 – Out of the box, the Air can only use its Wi-Fi abilities to get on the Internet. Ethernet was so last Tuesday anyway, right Apple…? The built-in Wi-Fi connection is quite fast, no arguing there, but only as long as you’re in Wi-Fi range. If not, tough luck. You either have to use Apple’s add-on Ethernet Adapter, or a cellphone modem that connects via USB. Which brings us to our next unsatisfactory feature.

Add-on - Ethernet Adapter/Dongle: $29 (plus fuss) and this one’s not even available yet.

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Unsatisfactory feature (no. 4) – To top it all, the MacBook air features a single measly USB 2.0 port. Don’t even get me started on how overworked that port is going to get, since it’s the only bridge between the Optical Drive, the Ethernet Adapter, a flash memory stick and whatever else connects via USB to a laptop. Bottom line is: the Air sports one headphone jack, one DVI port (for connecting an external monitor) and a single USB port. So, the only way to use more than one USB-connected devices on Apple’s notebook at the same time (and you’ll need to) is by using a USB hub. The one in the image to the left matches the notebook’s design quite a bit, I’d say, so there you are:

Add-on - Mini USB 2.0 HUB - 4 Ports (480Mbps) w/Extension cord. Current bid (eBay): $7.58 (plus a bit of fuss, again – you never know when the dog chews on your mail).

And then, there are those other upsetting facts about the MacBook Air (recently revealed), such as the headphone jack that doesn’t support all third party jacks, which is why you’ll probably need to get an adapter, again. Those are pretty cheap, so we’ll just skip this part for added cost (and fuss).

BUT! Watching the MacBook Air guided tour, before the notebook started shipping, I was pretty convinced that its impressive wireless capabilities would make up a bit for the lacking features. Well, as it turns out, wireless issues have already been reported with the device:

"Other MacBook Air wireless issues involve slow speeds when connected to multiple Bluetooth devices and balky routers that refuse to work the Remote Disc magic. For the latter, Apple suggested that users update the firmware of their non-Apple 802.11n wireless routers to get disc-sharing operational", reads a recent Apple support document.

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SlashGear has an entire piece dedicated to the Air’s technical difficulties. They too tackled its wireless issues saying "…if you are using an external monitor and close the lid, the wireless signal on the 2.4GHz band is degraded, second, if you are using more than one Bluetooth device, your 2.4GHz WiFi is once again, degraded or completely knocked out. […] the fix is changing to the 5GHz band or changing which channel you are on in the wireless router’s config, or, as usual, moving closer to the AP."

Apple confirmed that Windows XP or Vista cannot be installed in a Boot Camp partition via the Remote Disc CD/DVD-sharing software. Instead, users are advised to do it using… guess what?!

Lacking feature no 1: an optical drive! Told you it was hilarious.

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Last, whatever laptop you intend on using, you’ll certainly need something to carry it in. Sure enough, you’re not going to want to scratch your fancy MacBook Air while carrying it from and to the office (or whatever your whereabouts are), so Belkin’s Macbook Air Sleeve, made of neoprene, can protect the laptop from damage by absorbing shock. Starting at $29.99, the neoprene Sleeves will become available in March, 2008. A $49.99 Sleeve, that includes leather and the option to access the laptop from the top or side, will start shipping in May.

Add-on - Belkin’s Macbook Air Sleeve (neoprene): $29.99.

Adding Belkin’s "low-end" Macbook Air Sleeve to the list of required accessories to use with the MacBook Air, if you want to keep your job as a successful news editor at the hot-shot technology-based website your work for, here’s your final endorsement: $3,394.

And… let’s just forget the fuss.

 

- from http://news.softpedia.com/news/Workers-Actually-Buy-a-3-394-MacBook-Air-78031.shtml

 

How to play RMVB files

I haven’t posted in quite a while.. I guess I was infected with the lazy bug. Hahaha.. But seriously, I couldn’t really find any reason or any new things to post. Even while I was on vacation! Hahahah.. I was THAT lazy. BTW, we have DSL connection at home and all I did the whole time was download, download, download.

 

I was using Limewire (I’m lucky the laptop’s not infected yet..) to download this file. Unfortunately, it has a filename extension of RMVB. Even VLC media player was not able to play it. Hmm.. what is this?

From Jake Ludington’s blog,

RMVB is a RealMedia Variable Bitrate file. This is one of the newer formats from Real for publishing video files, which is quickly becoming a popular format for Anime and Asian movie titles because of smaller file sizes and lower bitrates with exceptional quality compared to DivX, which has long been the standard for trading videos online.

You can then play it back by downloading and installing RealPlayer. It’s free.

 

Service Packs and Slipstreams

January 24, 2008

Hay na lang! Just this week our office bought 20 desktop computer units. It only means one thing… work on weekends! I asked my boss if I could set it all up on weekdays.. kasi nga pagod pa ako sa kakachat all week..hahaha! “No, you must do it this weekend!” He said. No choice! I have to set-up the OS, MS Office, anti-virus, etc…etc 20 times! I wish I could just simply deploy them over the network, or do a "unattended installation."  It would be of course much better if I could do a “voice activated setup.” I’d be happy to say “Computers! Out of the box! Get your own mouse, keyboards.. Whatever! Get the hell out of my sight and set-up yourselves! Better be connected to the network when I’m back or else….!” Tinatamad lang ako. Weekends eh!

It’s been a while since I last checked my installers… may alikabok na nga! I suddenly have the need to update/upgrade them, so I searched the net for Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Bad News! According to Paul Thurrott:

Q: When will Microsoft ship XP SP3?

A: “The company (Microsoft) says that Windows XP Service Pack 3 will ship in the second quarter of 2008, or about three months after Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008. However, you can now download a near-final version of XP3, the Windows XP SP3 RC refresh.“

I don’t want to download the Windows XP Service Pack 3 RC (Release Candidate). Maski ilang beses pa yang –rerefresh nila. Maski RC Refresh 100x pa yan. I want the final one! I wouldn’t waste my time slipstreaming RCs to my installer and used it… then have problems… then would result to “Do-it-all-over-again.”

Same source:

Q: What are these new features I keep hearing about?

A: Windows XP Service Pack 3 will not include any major new features, but it will include four minor new features that improve the system’s reliability and security. Contrary to reports, Microsoft has been very up-front about these functional additions for quite some time now.

These new features include:

Network Access Protection compatibility. Announced years ago, this feature allows Windows XP machines to interact with the NAP feature in Windows Server 2008. This functionality is built into the RTM version of Windows Vista as well.

Product Key-less install option. As with Windows Vista, new XP with SP3 installs can proceed without entering a product key during Setup.

Kernel Mode Cryptographics Module. A new kernel module that "encapsulates several different cryptographic algorithms," according to Microsoft.

"Black hole" router detection algorithm. XP gains the ability to ignore network routers that incorrectly drop certain kinds of network packets. This, too, is a feature of Windows Vista.

And that’s about it. Nothing dramatic, as promised.

Nothing else new. There are updated applications, which shipped long ago as separate downloads, like Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Media Player 11. And there are even some features that have been removed, like the taskbar-based Address Bar option.

 

Why bother? I’ll use my Windows XP SP2 then and update each unit through Windows update.

Kasi nga I am disappointed with the delayed release of Windows XP SP3 FINAL, sasayangin ko na ang time ko sa MS Office 2003. I’ve never tried slipstreaming Office Service Packs before. Nakakatamad..nasisira ang time ko sa chat! The latest release is Service pack 3, I think it was released 2nd Quarter of 2007. Not sure.

Since we’re gonna set-up 20 units, I’d rather Slipstream the latest Service Pack than waste my time installing the SP3 manually. Waiting is the hardest (Inherent??) part of the task and I hate it. Since I don’t know how, I searched Google for a guide on how to. I found this: Office System (2003) SP3 Slipstreaming. I simply followed the guide and got it right!

The author wrote:

“If you don’t know how to follow these simple instructions then you’d better go and find yourself another job”

 

c",)BreGuer

The System Administrator Song

January 18, 2008

There’s a guy who works in another room, or on another floor.
He’s the one you call, when your document ain’t there no more.
He’s probably a boy, but he might be a girl, or something in between.
He’s the only one in the office who knows what PC Load Letter means.

He’s your system administrator, he’s probably into comic books.
And you tremble in fear when you have to hear one of his "What a dummy!" looks.
Got a virus? Lost your password? Or you just can’t print?
In an hour he’ll show up and crouch and squint.
Fight to save your files, he might be there all day,
But sometimes he just presses Caps Lock and walks away.

But HEY! Suddenly my password works! Wow! Hooray!

Hooray, hooray, oh happy day! I’m gonna buy my guy a gift to say:
Having you around means I get to stay stupid! and uninformed!
And I can keep opening dot e-x-e file attachments,
And forgetting my mother’s maiden name, ’cause you’ll fix it all for me, Yay!

I’ll give you a cake, I’ll give you a hug,
I’ll buy the world’s best System Administrator mug.
Just help me out, system administrator.
Please plug in my mouse, system administrator.
I don’t know which button is the mouse click button, system administrator.

Piss him off, and you’ll be fired by tomorrow morn.
‘Cause he’s the guy who knows that you’ve been surfing porn.
So, make sure you stay nice to your system administrator.

(Original music and lyrics by Wes Borg)

Video - Click Here

c",)BreGuer