Happy New Year 2011!

Just as 2010 comes to an end in a few more minutes, I would like to share with you my favourite photo of the whole year, taken at Hong Kong Disneyland during a company trip. I'm not good with photographing people during their candid moments but somehow, while waiting for the parade to start and swinging my camera around I caught this interesting moment.

Hands down my favourite photo of 2010!

The Bali Ice Incident

The drink bali ice (or bali ping in Cantonese), folks, not the Bali in Indonesia with snow due to global climate change... yet. Had lunch just now and iced bali was my drink. The price - RM1.50. It surprised me a little considering a drink of iced bali was only RM1 in the southern region of Malaysia while here in the central region, outskirts of the heart of the capital the price is an extra 50%!

Factoring in rental, inflation and slightly higher standard of living, is the 50% higher price tag justifiable? This wouldn't have crossed my mind had I not been traveling to the south so often lately. Hmmm... wonder how much will iced bali be as we approach Chinese New Year. RM1.60? RM1.70? RM2? :O

All in the day of Boxing

Watched a rather effects laden Tron Legacy in 3D with my buds earlier today, discovered good and evil Gingerbread Men at Coffee Bean Mid Valley and then somehow, went on to be busy bodies at a what-appeared-to-be-partially-opened-SStwo Mall. All these on Boxing Day.

SStwo Mall Front Facade

Book fair at SStwo Mall

Setting Custom Ringtones for Android Phones

Recently, I was playing a lot of Angry Birds and found that the theme is rather catchy and so I was looking for the theme to download and set as my HTC Desire's ringtone. The search was easy enough with Google. The first search result was perfect - AngryBirdsNest.com. iPhone users can find their .m4r version there, too. Downloading was also easy.

Setting the .mp3 as ringtone was not as simple. My initial thought was to just browse to the file, press and hold and there should be a pop-up with the option to set the .mp3 as default ringtone but nope, not as easy as that. Another search and the solution came up. The site I found out from is here though the version of Android it used as illustration was probably an older version that I've never used before (I've only used 2.1 and 2.2 before).

All that needs to be done is to create a Ringtones folder in the SD card's root directory and move the .mp3 file to it followed by going to Settings > Sound > Phone Ringtone and the ringtone should appear there. To create a folder, a third party file browser app is required but these are easily available for free from Android Market. The one I am using is called ES File Explorer. Similarly, do the same for customised Notifications and Alarms sounds.

Attempted Simulated HDR II

Folks, here is another attempt at simulated HDR taken with my HTD Desire with the Camera360 app. Kinda scary me thinks. Further enhanced the colour by increasing contrast with the Adope Photoshop Express app.

Previously less scary, less exaggerated simulated HRD here.

Dual Core Goes to Smartphones in 2011

Just as desktops and laptops go quad core, it is time for smartphones to inherit dual core processors. LG was the first to announce dual core Tegra 2 chips for their Optimus something line. Being Korean, Samsung followed suit with announcements for dual core Cortex powered smartphones called Orion. Both are clocked at 1GHz.

Nokia seems to also have plans for dual core phones targetted in the last quarter of 2011 and more interestingly, to offer cameras that will have optical zoom! Finally!

I guess with my HTC Desire, I could wait till quad core smartphones with interchangeable lens come out in a few years...

via CNET Asia Mobile Tech newsletter.

Gingerbread, the Android 2.3

The next version of the Android OS is called Gingerbread and here's the official introductory video:

In a nutshell, 2.3 focuses on improvements in games development, multimedia, speed and power management. Besides that, there is support for this thing called near field communication where one can get more information of something that the device is near to. Hmmm... all these should appear first in the Google-Samsung phone Nexus S.

via Android Tapp.

TGIF Section 14 Relocates

Another memorable landmark in Section 14 is relocating to some where... did not see any notice indicating where TGI Friday's is relocating to, though. Have not been to the place for a long time and visiting Digital Mall today was quite a surprise. First, my bud and I noticed the TGIF closure... the graffiti in the middle more telling than the colourful notices all around. Second, the former Jaya Supermarket is finally torn down. Looks like Section 14 is alive and changing.

Insane: Panda Blasphemy!

I was in total shock while looking at my colleague flipping through the papers earlier today. A quick glance, I saw the image of a panda but without the trademark dark rings around the eyes. After blinking in astonishment a couple of times, I stopped my colleague from flipping and asked her to back track, all the while in panic that there may be a new discover of a panda with unique genes.

After some searching, I was relieved to find that it was nothing more than an advertisement for an alcoholic drink that brings liveliness back to the drinker. Phew!

Kuwait is Innocent! No Such DSLR Ban!

Hey! Another example of how widespread the internet is when one party reports of the Kuwait government issuing a ban on DLSR use in public without real research into facts, yours truly included. Well, I don't really care because I've read about it in so many places so it must be real, right? Hmph! WRONG!

Thankfully, The Online Photographer has debunked this cruel myth for the people in Kuwaiti land. The Kuwait Times that started it all issued a retraction:
On Saturday, November 20, 2010 the Kuwait Times published an article titled 'Multi ministry camera ban frustrates artists' in which incorrect information was provided. The newspaper regrets failing to verify the information. The article wrongly stated that a ban on DSLR cameras was implemented by the Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance. This information is false. In a follow up investigation, it was proved that no such ban has been issued. We regret this error and deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused.

via The Online Photographer.

Multi-Coloured Pentax

I thought the K-x was the most colourful camera around but Pentax best their own by coming out with a Korejanai K-r. Don't have the slightest idea what Korejanai means but my guess is it's related to robots and lots of colours.

via PhotographyBLOG.

Trays of Chilli and Ketchup

Have a great saucy month before greeting 2011, folks!