Hot Chili

Revisiting some old pictures taken with the Ricoh.

If you like fiery stuff and have the stomach for it, you can try XiaoLaJiao.

The Chicken Feet salad looks innocent, but it can be quite fiery compared to the local/Thai version.

Fried Rice is like a balm for sore tongue or the weak stomached.

This fish soup is tangy, can be spicy if requested, definitely stimulate your appetite.

Anticipation

Up or down

Which way?

iPhone 5

Semi live blogging...

It is official, the phone is 5, with a A6.

It is exactly what has been leaked. Duo tone backing.

The Apple keynote is like a Keynote template where you just drop in the name and specifications of the iDevice: The best phone design ever, the lightest ever, nothing like we have ever done before, we couldn't be prouder of it. Yada Yada.

Just like the Olympics, records are still being broken, but the differential is getting smaller and smaller. It is now 7.6mm thin, an 18% reduction from before. It "fits" just nice in your hands. Duh!

The camera is flattened a little but basically similar, except they can do a super panorama, up to 28 MPs.

Oh 3 microphones, for a moment I thought Rich Recording like Nokia? Hmmm wideband audio really sounds like Rich Recording.

Ah the connector is now called Lightning. You can plug it in either way. Thinner and more durable. Really? Looks like something that can snap with the wrong move. Class action someone? The adapter looks worse.

Here comes the iOS 6, with Scotty. Yawn already. Serious Yawn fest, but I shall struggle on!

Oh how delicious, Shared Photostream. Anyone on your sharing group will receive that oh so very naughty picture you took while drunk stupid! Oh is that your mistress? Oh so family friendly.

Uniquely bi-colored. Apple is all black and white, all Aluminium and Glass. Time to trade commodity?

"The variances from product to product we now measure in microns." Cameras actually take images of each case and select the appropriate back plate to fit.
Fascinating manufacturing process. Still a Yawn fest for a phone.

Available 21 September. iOS6 for everyone else on the 19th.

Ah wait, something new about music i.e. iTunes. Which we didn't get in Singapore for the longest time. Probably will be very US centric still. The interface is now "dramatically simpler" with a full page of tiles. Sounds familiar.

New iPods. Up first the Nano. Desperately in need of reinvention. Its got Lightning. Best Nano created, (see what I mean Yada Yada). Home button! How original. Multi-coloured oh wow. Built in pedometer. Bluetooth DUH!.

The iPod Touch is next. Template on, best, thinner, lighter. With Retina display left over from the iPhone 5, it is the poor man's iPhone without the phone. Better camera, finally. Oh Siri is present with sartorial flair for more colours.

Speakers. Hmmm. Something new? Oh its just headphones. Imagine there are 1.2 billion headphones out there! Imagine the spaghetti tangle! Nothing surprising here, the design had been leaked.

It has been a Yawn fest, clearly something for the truly faithful.

Apple Harvest 2012

Well in just over 30 minutes, there will be the proclamation from the hallowed halls of Cupertino.

Will the new iPhone be introduced as the iPhone 5 or simply the New iPhone to confound and confuse with the next, new, now iPhone? The bet is on 5 from the clever graphics.

Courtesy of Engadget

And the new 6 will be on the 5, iOS 6 that is. What new will there be that we knew not already?

Is it going to be jaw dropping or a huge yawn fest? For sure what will not be new will be hordes of the faithful renewed.

Money will be taken

Being a duck

I used this title from Shelton Muller's blog as I simply could not think of anything better.

After talking about Nokia, I chanced upon this post and thought about it. Apart from a mild ache from actually thinking, I also realized that I had known this service philosophy all along, just not so eloquently put.
When providing a service, or putting up a show, the client or audience should not be aware of the background work being done. It should be so seamless that they are totally immersed in the experience. Of course most people are simply clueless or oblivious anyway.

Being a duck means:

"you simply have to be a duck. For all concerned, you are sailing along smoothly on top of the water while all along you are privately paddling like crazy underneath. To be anything less than a duck would be unprofessional. Whatever is going on in your life, it is irrelevant to this event, this moment, this bride and groom. Leave it at home, and be a duck." - Shelton Muller

The problem with being a successful aquatic avian, is that a lot of people think what you do is so easy and they tell you so openly or imply politely.

"It is very simple right? Doesn't take long"
"It is very small, shouldn't be expensive"
"Children are very easy right?"
"Even my child can do it!"

Each of those statement have the power to demoralize you, especially when you make the extra effort to maintain that calm seamless experience while things fall apart at the back.

So here is to all those special ducks out there, may your swim be uneventful.

Nokia oh Nokia

Oh dear, the time I was focusing on the PureView technology, Nokia's shares have dropped at least 16%. Apparently investors and the "market" are totally unimpressed by the presentation. (How do you know it is bad: Their shares are half the price of RIMM, maker of Blackberry phones.)

The worst sin was to omit the availability, release date and pricing. The presentation venue itself was rather small probably due to Nokia losing money and obviously the quality of the show was a bit uninspired. I think they rushed to get ahead of Apple before lining up their production ducks.

Faking a advertisement is also a serious No No. You just ruined a beautiful technology Nokia. 

Let Janet Takavoli tell you what went wrong with Nokia's business and sartorial decisions. 

I do agree that Apple does the best keynote presentation. They are tightly choreographed, hardly any glitches and speakers don't sound like they are reading off scripts. Steve Jobs had a knack for his famous Reality Distortion Field, almost like a mutant power. He could (perhaps can) suck you in and you will totally ignore unpleasant facts like a supposedly unique feature has already been done by others.

Come September 12, we shall see if the rumour mills are accurate about the design of the new iPhone. As is, I find the design boring, but that is Apple. Fans will gush over it, the masses will just accept that it is the best. 

Money will be taken.

808 Pure View

A day with the 808

The Haze.
The city skyline lost.

Panorama on 808

 

Indulgence
Cinnamon! Seriously rich flavour. Gives a kick to dark chocolate. Sadly it may not be repeated due to low demand. By the way note how quickly it melts! Don't waste it!

Disappointment
This is suppose to be Penang Char Kway Teow. I hate it when food is wasted on half-hearted cooks.

Food photography
While I was finishing up the rather boring lunch, someone was busy creating pictures to tempt diners. Hope he doesn't mind me sharing his setup.

Nokia Lumia PureView

Well well, Nokia just finished showing off their latest Lumia with PureView technology. Information had been leaking like crazy in the day before, so a lot of people were incredulous at the claim of PureView with a 8 Mp sensor. Turns out it wasn't the same as the 808. It was different and much more.

ARRRRRRRRRRGH!

That was my reaction when I watched the keynote. On the verge of pulling out my depleting hair, I was amazed and frustrated at the same time, wishing they had used the optical stabilization technology in the 808.
I so very much need that with my rather shaky hands.


They managed to float the whole lens assembly and actively compensate against movements up to 500 per seconds which allows for blur free photography at shutters as slow as 1/4th seconds.

A Steadicam setup? Who needs it!

It will probably be up to 1/30th with my hands, even then I will be very very pleased as I get blurriness at that speed on the 808.

Not to mention video.

ARRRRRRRRRRGH!

Built in Cinemagraph function. Just when I am amazed at how people did it, Nokia went and made it simple for people like me.



While I am still very pleased with my 808, I can't help feel a tinge of sadness it was not given the full potential it could have been. Then again it was a technology waiting for the OS and CPU. On that note, Nokia had been running on single core CPUs for the longest time with everyone else already jumping on 4 cores but they were never a slouch.

I don't know much about the Windows ecosystem, but Nokia is concentrating on letting people take good pictures and getting around with better ease and have your social life flashing and winking at you continuously. Sure iOS fans will swear Apple has already done that and more, but then again I have seen a bunch of late teens armed with at least 4 or 5 iPhones confused as to how to proceed to their destination.

How will the Temple of Cupertino respond?

PureView Cinema

My little blog got a visitor boost recently when the PureView Club kindly put up my pictures. So to Marc and Peter, dank u. Think I got that right.

Here is the latest from their treasure trove. From a Chris West, a mini showcase of what the PureView can do with some help. Read the text here, watch below.

PureView 808: Before and after

I had been and still am a Ricoh fanboy for a long time, but ever since the PureView 808, I have been neglecting the Ricoh. For the longest time, I almost always had a Ricoh in my bag, but the 808 is really much easier to bring around. While a dedicated camera like the GXR can be better for certain situations, it does not beat the 808 for convenience and speed. The capability of the 808 means more confidence in getting reasonable shots.

The only issue I currently have with the Nokia is that it can hang. I don't know if anyone else experiences this, but the 808 stalled on me yesterday for the third time. Being my secondary phone to the N9, I only use it mainly for photos and WhatsApp. When it hangs the screen remains frozen and could not power down using the power button, the only solution was to remove the battery. I have had this problem with the E52 previously and I suspect it could be due to Symbian not agreeing with me somehow.

Anyone out there with similar situation?

Comex 2012

Singapore's third quarter tech "show" is on, yes we have one show every three months. Sadly it is nothing like IFA currently on in Berlin, which showcases upcoming toys. Here it is more like cheap-er sale, although if one has the tenacity and stamina to brave the crowds there are gems to be found.

This year however, I think the crowd situation just might be a real nightmare. Suntec City Convention Center is currently undergoing a make over. The usual access areas have been blocked off and security planning has gone into top gear. So those thinking of braving the weekend crowd, be warned. Most routes are now one-way and choose the wrong way you might need to detour back. While the distance is really minimal, but with  everyone packed in like sardines it just might be an explosive keg. The only entrance by foot is likely to be only the main entrance, even the way through Food Republic might be cordoned off.

That said, if you have the chance to go before the weekend, for PureView fans, the phone is going for SGD$799, down from $839 without contract. Availability is questionable considering the worldwide shortage, but for the brave and strong it might be a worth physical bruising to save $40. 

For possible discounts available, you can see the brochures here first.

 

Clash of the Tech-tans

The recently ended legal saga between Apple and Samsung had the tech blogger sphere abuzz, divided over the judgement declaring Samsung a copy cat. Actually the Appeals process is just started,  so the matter is far from over legally.

Samsung on the surface did appear to copy the iPhone, I still remember having to take a second look to see if some one was using either. However it did not take too long with Samsung's name across the top in shiny silver. The legal case is actually more complex than just that fleeting similarity, but I am not going to rehash the discussion that is all over the internet. 

The sum of money involved is mere pocket change to either giants, so the real ramifications from this tussle is the possible technical fallout. Will it allow Apple to go after other smartphone producers or hinder innovation as Samsung claims?

Frankly I think the rest of the world has moved on from simply catching up to Apple's iOS especially Android. Heck, Apple has not been actually completely original either, there are lots of ideas in iOS that have been done by someone else. Apple's strength is making something appear to be an "Aha" moment and very intuitive. Sleekness is the keyword.

All the devices listed as infringing Apple's patents are generally the older generation Androids which are bordering on turning into antiques in the fast paced tech world. Not so long after Judge Koh struck down her gavel for the last time, Samsung fired a shot across Apple's bow at this year's IFA.

Ranging from the Galaxy Note 2 to Windows 8 devices, Samsung has shown it can think beyond the Apple orchard. I think the thing that makes the most difference is the very thing that Steve Jobs dismissed, a stylus. It is almost as if Samsung was giving him a high tech finger.

I am quite impressed with the S Pen system, but being the stubborn mule that I am, Jelly Bean will not be my pick of dessert as yet. Still, enjoy the rather euro-korean centric presentation here.

New flavour

Heads up gelato lovers!
Alfero which I mentioned previously has a new flavour on offer. New to me anyway and it's Banana.
Not a big fan of banana flavoured dessert generally, but this has quite the potential to change my mind.

Memories

Recently there was a column in our local newspaper (unfortunately no links here) that was talking about old buildings in Singapore. I only glanced through the article so what I am commenting on is based on an impression, rather than a actual deconstruction.

The main point that stuck in my head relates to the balance of preserving the old and clearing the way for the new. The writer's pragmatic advice is that clearing away those without significant offering to nation building is acceptable. Practical, very business like and with precision calculation of worth. It would seem logical when land space is at a premium.

Now I hate doing social commentary as it tend to follow with you-say I-say devolving into I hate you, you hate me. This topic of conservation vs modernization happen to intrigue me, so I shall attempt in this post to crystallize my thought. (Hey it's my blog! Why should it bother you! Shoo!).

My perspective in the face of new malls sprouting like mushrooms and massive road works is this: All those old buildings are like memories. At the rate things are changing, I go around Singapore muttering "Hey wasn't such and such building here before?" I bet this is a taste of how dementia patient feel.

Is ripping up and tearing down so many like the onset of national dementia? I can't help but feel so much like a stranger at home at times. The speed which it happens at is also the problem. I can visit a town in UK almost a decade apart and still know my way around, three months here and I can get confused.

Here is to being a stranger at home. The Rochor center, which will be a mere memory in 5 years time, is so familiar to geeks in Singapore.

Tweets from Mars

The boxy lady on Mars has tweeted some travel photos. (E.T. phone home is so last century)

It is a huge panorama, with some missing parts, understandable considering the long distance connection.
Go here to view the latest Martian vista.

The full resolution JPEG file is about 9 MB

National Day

How do you get a SUV on to Mars

NASA is nearing the end of a mission that could be dramatically ended or a new beginning to space exploration.

The Mars Science Laboratory  is a huge project. Follow it here.

At this time of writing, it is about 13 hours before the Curiosity Rover land on the Red Planet. What it will find is another story, now the crucial part is landing it. Mars's rather thin atmosphere is making it challenging to the engineers.

Is the complicated maneuver typical NASA or is it simply the only way? Brings to mind the story about designing the best writing implement for zero gravity, where the Russians simply used a pencil instead of a convoluted pen design by the Americans.

Still, it is something out of a movie but with real stakes.

I hope it succeed and avoid the waking up something evil apocalyptic story end.

Watch the dramatic simulation of the landing while following the time delay news from NASA

Follow the detailed schematics of the landing at this amazing slide show. 

Street View @ NASA

This is very very cool!
Thanks to Google Maps Street View.

Also see the Gallery


 

Alfero Gelato

There is Gelato and then there is Alfero Gelato

Anyone can claim they use the freshest ingredients, but only some you can really taste it.
The chef is one Marco Alfero, Italian obviously who trained at The Gelato University of Carpigiani.
Now that is passion! Stupid as it may sound to pragmatic Singaporeans, that is really pride in what you love to do.

To quote his website:

"As a kid, he has always love eating gelato and would even eat gelato like a regular meal. He still loves eating gelato and has always dreamed of becoming a gelato chef."

That is someone you know can make good gelato!

I have only recently visited his website for "ahem" research, but I have been enjoying his gelato at Marina Square since he started.

For an Italian, he does a mean Durian Gelato with a seriously rich flavour that last to the final scoop but is not overpowering that makes you a little sick.

Chocolate lovers will love their version, a deceptively pale looking dark chocolate gelato. It is pure indulgence.

Coffee lovers I recommend pairing their basic Coffee with Vanilla, it's like a cold fluffy Affogato.

I don't have much pictures to share as I am more eager to eat it than snap it. Plus a word of warning, if ordering for kids, don't let them run off first. It melts very fast, especially with a cone.

One of my favourite is Limone and I could not figure out what to pair it with for a long time, until I tried the Mango flavour. That hit the spot.

Go taste the Gelato. They are very generous with sampling, but seriously, you need to part with some money and appreciate the complex taste slowly. It is almost a religious experience.