Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by stringfellow

Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

stringfellow — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:30:59 +0800

[center]
US Doubleday Hardcover Edition

VS

UK Edition[/center]

Just bought mine from MPH KLIA after touchdown from Amsterdam. Was their third purchaser of the anticipated book. Bought with staff discount. Retails at RM99.90. You have the option of getting either the US Doubleday publisher edition or the UK version. Personally, I think the US version look spiffier. And three cheers for early opening MPH KLIA.

I'm not sure what the deal is with MPH, but Kinokuniya preorders for this book is entitled for 30% discount off that RM99.90 price. Gonna use that discount later to get the UK Edition. for everyone's info, only hardcover editions are available now.

Later on at 2pm today, will be logging in into my Amazon account and purchase the Kindle Edition, USD9.99. Delivery will be instantaneous of course, via Amazon Digital Locker. That way, I can keep the hardcovers pristine in the house library.

Will Robert Langdon be tossing cryptex in the air again or looking for antimatter timebombs again? From the cover, looks like it's in the States in the Capitol revolving around the Freemasons. Delicious!

Oh, did I mention that the US Doubleday Edition looks absolutely gorgeous? Sprinkled with Mason glyphs and symbol it is!

iPhone OS3.0.1(OUT NOW) | iPhone 3G[S] V3

stringfellow — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:32:28 +0800

[center]

[/center]

[center]Version 1 is FULL HOUSE![/center]

Please continue reporting your experience with the OS3.0 in this thread, and this thread will also be the review thread for the iPhone 3G[S]/AifonTriJiEs once I have procured mine. Also, anyone with an iPhone 3G[S], you are most welcomed to post your thoughts, impressions and reviews here.

Forward, march!

[center]NEW INFO![/center]

For those keeping tab on the iPhone 3G[S] scene, some good news. Remember this link? Before this it shows which country provides unlocked iPhones based on their carriers. Now, it has been updated to include columns on which carrier provides MMS and Internet Tethering as well. I would presume, since these two new columns marks as new updates, the state of "which carrier/country provides unlocked iPhones" are also updated as well, and the list is now updated to include the state of unlocks for the 3G[S] as well.

If that is the case, these following countries are the countries are currently still providing unlocked iPhones to their customers, and presumably the same state of unlocks for the upcoming 3G[S]:-

[center]Countries with officially unlocked iPhone 3G, and therefore presumably, the iPhone 3G[S][/center]

CODE

Belgium(Mobistar), Czech Republic(O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone), Greece(Vodafone, Cosmote), Italy(TIM, Vodafone), Luxembourg (Vox, LUXGSM), Russia(Megafon, MTS, Beeline), Turkey(Turkcell), Hong Kong(3), Macau(3), Malaysia(Maxis), New Zealand(Vodafone), Singapore(SingTel), Taiwan(Chunghwa Telecom), Thailand(Truecom), Saudi Arabia(Mobily), UAE(Etisalat), South Africa(Vodacom)

There are a list of countries whose carrier provides official unlocks for their iPhones even though the initial state of the iPhone is locked, but I wont bother posting those. The process of these unlocks REQUIRES the presence of these iPhones to be within the country which provides these unlocks, and such logistics and planning can throw a lot of the planning off. My targets are the iPhones from countries above because they are more than likely, because of their law, REQUIRES their iPhones to remain unlocked officially.

Among the countries listed above, here are their release dates:-

[center]First Wave[/center]

CODE

Italy - June 19th

[center]Second Wave[/center]

CODE

Belgium - June 26th

[center]Third Wave Confirmed[/center]

CODE

New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore - July 10th

[center]Third Wave[/center]

CODE

Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Malaysia, South Africa - July 2009

The rest are on the Fourth Wave which is in August 2009.

--

Will be spliting this thread and make V3.

iPhone 3G[S] Maxis Registration-Booking-Buying V3

stringfellow — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:18:51 +0800

[center]

[/center]

Please continue reporting your experience with the OS3.0 in this thread, and this thread will also be the review thread for the iPhone 3G[S]/AifonTriJiEs once I have procured mine. Also, anyone with an iPhone 3G[S], you are most welcomed to post your thoughts, impressions and reviews here.

Forward, march!

[center]NEW INFO![/center]

For those keeping tab on the iPhone 3G[S] scene, some good news. Remember this link? Before this it shows which country provides unlocked iPhones based on their carriers. Now, it has been updated to include columns on which carrier provides MMS and Internet Tethering as well. I would presume, since these two new columns marks as new updates, the state of "which carrier/country provides unlocked iPhones" are also updated as well, and the list is now updated to include the state of unlocks for the 3G[S] as well.

If that is the case, these following countries are the countries are currently still providing unlocked iPhones to their customers, and presumably the same state of unlocks for the upcoming 3G[S]:-

[center]Countries with officially unlocked iPhone 3G, and therefore presumably, the iPhone 3G[S][/center]

CODE

Italy - June 19th

[center]Second Wave[/center]

CODE

Belgium - June 26th

[center]Third Wave Confirmed[/center]

CODE

New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore - July 10th

[center]Third Wave[/center]

CODE

Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Malaysia, South Africa - July 2009

The rest are on the Fourth Wave which is in August 2009.

--
iPhone OS 3.0(OUT NOW!) + iPhone 3GS(Late July?) - http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/962964
iPhone OS3.0(OUT NOW) | iPhone 3G[S](31/7) V2 - http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1071270

--

Bluetooth Headsets: Stereo & Telephony for iPhone

stringfellow — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:28:32 +0800

[center][/center]

Welcome! On this thread, we talk about headsets that work with the iPhone, after the introduction of iPhone OS3.0. I'll start myself with the units I have in hand and how they perform on my iPhone 3G.

For the mono telephony BT headsets, I have tested and own these:-

[center]
Sony Ericsson HBH-660[/center]

Pairs and discovered by the iPhone without much fuss, well...since the iPhone 2.0 days. IIANM, Caller ID is not passed to the little LCD screen on the set itself. Size is the second largest in the mono/single-ear headsets in my collection, but plenty comfy. Occasional call drops, but call when connected, is clear. Volume rocker switch is easy to access and press.

[center]
Jabra BT125[/center]

Pairs and discovered by the iPhone without much fuss too since the 2.0 days. The smallest of the single-ear headset I have. But because of its size, the circular part that clings to your ear tend to not clutch nicely to ears and tend to pop off. Volume rocker switch is small as well, making it hard to adjust on the fly.

[center]
Logitech Mobile Freedom[/center]

Initially having difficulty pairing with the iPhone. Had to reinitiate pairing a couple of times before the pairing sticks. Audio pickups are below average, and sound received on the other side is poor. Headset is largish, hence tend to droop or weigh down on your ear after a while. Foam covering tend to crumble after long usage, probably because of sweat absorption. Volume rocker is in the form of that circular symbol around the Logitech logo, and stiff/hard to press. AVOID AT ALL COST!

[center]
Logitech Mobile Express[/center]

Pairs and discovered by the iPhone without fuss, a welcome change from the crappy Mobile Freedom. Small in design but feels nice on the ear. Build quality is cheapish however. TWO-button control instead of the traditional 3 may confuse user (volume up, volume down, pair/power button now has its own unique combination presses on these two buttons). Great audio reception and sound comes out great as well on the other side. Fits the ear comfortably with that earplug.

[center]
Playstation Bluetooth Headset[/center]

Pairs and discovered by the iPhone without fuss. Elegant design. Glows red around the mic mute ring. Comfortable on the ears. Great audio reception and sound comes out nice on the other side as well. A good fit into the ears thanks to its design. Not too heavy and feels just right on the ears. You may want to save this for the PS3 alone, as the headset is more worthwhile using it on the PS3 with its High Quality setting, unavaillable other than on the PS3 itself.

Now let's dive into the STEREO side of the Bluetooth headset/headphones. First up:-

[center]
iTech clip R35[/center]

Versatile in the sense that you can use the provided earphones or supply your own. Pairs and discovered by the iPhone with no fuss. The blinking blue light may be a tad annoying. And since the sound quality is dependent on the earphones you use, it varies. As for the quality of the transmission itself, compared with the other two I'm about to list, shrill and tinny. Built like a cheap oversized clip. Buttons hard to push and tiny. AVRCP function on the iPhone works only for Play/Pause/Stop and answering calls.

[center]
Sony DR-BT140Q[/center]

Lightweight and clips onto your ears. Pairs and discovered by the iPhone with no fuss. Great build quality and looks exceptionally sleek. Comfortable as well, you tend to forget it is there. Price RM269. Audio quality transmission is excellent. AVRCP functions on the iPhone works only for the Play/Pause/Stop and answering calls. Audio/tunes fades out as calls comes in. Sound quality is full and equivalent to Sennheiser PX series. Volume up/down buttons as well as pressing the toggle In to pause/stop may takes getting used to, but using these babies in public and look like an almost normal person (not like a dork!:p) is worth the hassle. Call quality is excellent and sound received on the other side is great as well, receiver did not realise I'm talking on a BT headset at all.

[center]
Sony DR-BT50[/center]

The headphone to get for the uncompromising audiophile out there. Sounds awesome and full body, surprising on a BT headphone. Pairs and discovered by the iPhone with no fuss. Awesome build quality. AVRCP works only for the Play/Pause/Stop and answering calls. Price RM699. Volume up/down buttons as well as the pause/stop button may take getting used to for its size, but for the audio quality it gives, I'll learn it! May be a little too obvious/showy in public when worn because of its size. Call quality is excellent as well, and sound received is great, receiver did not think I was on a BT headphone. LEd blinking on the side may annoy others.

If there is anything else I remember, I'll edit them in later. Please add your experiences with your own Bluetooth headsets/headphones, but for me, for the day of light travel and remaining inconspicuous, the Sony DR-BT140Q is my choice. For the days of not wanting any audio compromises, BT50 is the way to go. For days where I would need to answer calls hands-free, I still use the wired iPhone cable I have, but if I had to choose between the single-ear mono headsets, I'd go for the Aliph Jawbone. But since it is not in my possession right now, I'll pick the Mobile Express. But most if not all the time, I tend to have and use the wired hands-free cable to my iPhone

iPhone OS3.0(OUT NOW) | iPhone 3G[S](31/7) V2

stringfellow — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:16:55 +0800

CODE

Italy - June 19th

[center]Second Wave[/center]

CODE

Belgium - June 26th

[center]Third Wave Confirmed[/center]

CODE

New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore - July 10th

[center]Third Wave[/center]

CODE

Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Malaysia, South Africa - July 2009

The rest are on the Fourth Wave which is in August 2009.

--

I think IIANM, it has been stated that the new unlock will disable Youtube, so it is a toss-up between wanting the new features of 3.0 + Cydia or Youtube itself. Weigh your options.

Correct me if I am wrong.

How to use Amazon Kindle 2 in Malaysia

stringfellow — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:22:06 +0800

I've just procured myself an Amazon Kindle 2, and seeing how I'm still tuned to the American time after the last trip, might as well write a review on how the Amazon Kindle 2, and possibly clear the air of the myth and possible misinformation on the the unit itself.

[center]

The Amazon Kindle 2[/center]

[center]Features:-

[youtube]XdpWnmawiBI[/youtube]