Showing posts with label 2 Techie Tuesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Techie Tuesday. Show all posts

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The One on New Macbooks


Disclaimer: If you think I am using this post or this whole blog to solicit for any gifts, slap yourself in the face now. Or perhaps a lot of readers out there doesn't mind giving you a helping hand too. However of course any act of generosity towards Sotongball will not be turned down if you really really love the way he is.

What better way to start a new chapter by introducing the trusty machine that enable blogging and pictures so much more elegant and stylish?

The new Macbook and Macbook Pro from Apple are real eye-candies, and these beauties are definitely more than meet the eyes. The new Macbooks are clad in a anodized, aircraft-grade, (precision) laser carved, brushed, unibody (one-piece) aluminum (think Steve Jobs meets one of the Project Runway challenges). This translates to a Macbook with less seams, less gaps, lighter weight, and a more solid feel, thus smoothly entering into Apple's whole new Aluminum world, phasing the classic glossy White (correction: low-end 2.1GHz Macbook White is still available for the nostalgist).

On the surface the new Macbook and Macbook Pro look identical, sans the difference in screen size (13.3" vs 15.4"). Inside these two beauties both house equally beastie and powerful Core 2 Duo processors and integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400 graphics. While an additional GeForce 9600M GT works simultaneously within the Pros to give you double graphics power if you ever require it (though you have to log in and out to make the switch on/off): for playing 4 WoW characters at the same time, for running all Kong Videos available simultaneously, or simply airbrushing all your photos in batches.

They are probably the first, and perhaps for a long time the only notebook to ship with a trackpad without any buttons, except that the button is also the trackpad. Pressure-sensitive clicking I guess, a very risky move as I myself do prefer to separate my clicking from the estate my fingers move around the trackpad. More importantly the trackpad is now etched glass! Most fitting for even the most fragile jade hands...

And finally the back-lit keyboard lands on 13.3" Macbook! However it is only available in the more expensive higher end 2.4GHz models. That means more irritation from idiots who like to use not only their phones, but Macbooks in the cinema.

It is really a tough call between the few new Macbook and Macbook Pro models, since they are even more so similar now. I guess the primary factor would be your budget, followed by your needs, and lastly your wants.

For the newcomers with a budget: The 2.0GHz Macbook offers no back-lit keyboard, but that's just about it. Highly recommended if you always work in a well-lit environment.

For the office workers and tertiary students with more cash to spare: Go for the 2.4GHz Macbook if you are need the extra back-lit keyboard and 0.4Ghz to work on your spreadsheets, presentations and reports well into the late nights.

For the hardcore gamers, professional photographers and film-makers: Go for the 2.4GHz Macbook Pro unless your pocket is really really deep.

Macbooks and Macbook Pros are usually cheaper in the summer season due to the Back-To-School Rebate offer starting from April to September every year, which entitles you to a free iPod together with a purchase of your Mac. Otherwise, you can also click on the Education Store section of the online Apple Store for substantial discount.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

The One on Blog Creation

After reading Sotongball - whatever and whatever for almost a month, I'm sure some of you are inspired to start up a new blog too. But you might be afraid to take the first step, or worse still don't even know how to begin with. Fret not, STB has put up a simple guide of how to set up your spanking new blog.

1. Go to http://www.blogger.com
2. Press on "CREATE YOUR BLOG NOW"
3. Get ready your preferred email. Can be Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail and etc. Fill up all the blanks
4. I suggest you create your blog as early as possible to secure an URL. http://sotongball.blogspot.com was taken so I had to make do with rawsotongball (which turned out to be more saucy). Don't try to be funny and use some long URL like http://rawsotongballcrispyandcrunchy.blogspot.com, it's really a chore for people to access your blog.
5. Choose a template, I straight away fell in love with the pink one :p If you're good, you should be able to figure out how to use an external template for your blog.
6. That's it, easier than shoving a dildo up your arse for some of you, or getting some of you guys to bed for that matter.
7. Your very first virgin post: Of course you must the courtesy to introduce yourself to the rest - age, height, weight, race and t/b? Oops wait this's not #sgboy. Just something you want to tell others about yourself. STB gave an opening theme to his blog, what can you do?
8. Click on the Layout, it's good to customize your blog especially on the layout and sidebar. You can easily a new page element to the sidebar like a chatterbox, a poll, links to blogs that you read and etc.
Things to note when you get yourself into blogging:
  • Font size and color coordination - You won't want your readers to strain their eyes while reading your blog entries.
  • Originality - Copy and paste from others' works is just so cheap, try to take time and come out with your own content.
  • Value adding - Be it arousing, entertaining, touching, educating or even boring. Do make every visitor's time reading your blog worth while.
  • Privacy - Unless you're out and loud and proud, try not to reveal too much of sensitive information like where you stay or shit.
  • Sensitivity - If you want to write about others in your blog, consult them first before making them special guest in your blog.
That's all, good luck at your virgin blog entry. Do feel free to consult STB if you ever need any help in setting up your virgin blog. Happy Blogging.

Oops, Sotongball might be adding numbers to the already over-populated blogosphere. Hope to see some interesting posts sprouting out.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The One on Nintendo Wii

If you do not know what is the Nintendo Wii (pronounced as "Weeee", not "why"), you must have probably been living under big gigantic rock for the past 2 years or so. Even old folks around the world are hooked onto the Wii (I'm dead serious!) Sotongball is so proud of his mum who has zero IT knowledge and interest when she finished her first game of Wii Bowling.

Since its worldwide launch in December 2006, the Nintendo Wii has sold more than 10 million units up to date, Nintendo outsold its competitors (namely the PS3 and Xbox 360) to become the leading console of this generation's console war, walk-in-a-park style. It is also the only console that has sticked to its US$250 price tag since launch day.
A quick look at this humble console's specs does not really explain well why is it selling like hotcakes everywhere:
  • Outdated graphics card only on-par with XboxV1 and PS2
  • Lack of High-Definition image - maximum output of 480p resolution
  • Only a SD Card slot, lack of storage
  • Limited multimedia capabilities
The points just mentioned above shows the Wii's limitations in even catagorizing itself as a next-gen console just before it was launched. However, Nintendo took the term "next-gen" towards a different direction, by introducing the motion sensing controller aka WiiMote.

Just like how the click wheel of the iPod does to MP3 music players, the Nintendo WiiMote make new interactive ways of controlling games feasible. The WiiMote can be a sword, gun, baseball bat, steering wheel, golf club, tennis racquet, magic wand, cue... ya you should get the drift.

I may as well just let the video below do the explanation:



For graphics whores like STB, the Nintendo Wii is definitely out of the question because the graphics are nowhere near the realistic HD graphics of the PS3 or even the Xbox360. Wii truly shines in the games that utilises its motion sensing WiiMote, games like the bundled Wii Sports will get you hooked for a week or so and can easily entertain your guests at home, hence the term "casual gaming".

For serious gamers, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime Corruption, Super Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros Brawl, Mario Kart and Resident Evil 4 will keep your lust for the AA list games fulfilled. Full backward compatibility with all the classic Nintendo and Sega consoles allows you to relive the nostalgia of playing Street Rage or Golden Axe via the Virtual Console in Wii.

Though much cheaper than its counterparts in countries like the US and Japan, the Nintendo Wii is not that much cheaper than a PS3 or a Xbox360. A Wii bundle in Singapore can easily cost SG$500 while Xbox360 Arcade and Pro sets are only SG$399 an SG$499 respectively, while a PS3 40GB cost SG$570~599.

All in all, if you like hosting people for parties at your place or you want to get yourself or just anyone into the gaming world, get a Wii and hope that you won't accidentally break a jaw or two with the violence swinging of the Wiimote.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The One on PlayStation2

Many of you guys who are in the know surely would ask why did I kick start my Techie Tuesday with the Sony PlayStation2 (PS2). After all it is already considered the last generation of gaming console and everyone should be talking about the PS3 now. Well, if you're truly a gamer, you would know that the PS2 is far from being extinct or casted into the museum of great gaming consoles, PS2 hardware sales is still going strong.

Furthermore, this is the first gaming console that I first bought, and I think close to 500 hours of my life had been spent on it ever since I bought it in 2003. So definitely there are a lot of sentiments with me and the PS2. Last but not least, it was the only Playstation console that launched with a vibration-enabled controller bundled.

Launched on March 5, 2000 in Japan, the PS2 has climbed into record sales of 127 million units by end of 2007, almost comparable to the combined sales of 140 million units of the iPods which was launched in the same year.

It has gone through 2 major facelifts since the original model, from the squarish PS2 to the PS2 slim to the current PS2 slim with built-in power supply.

What made the PS2 shine is really its vast library of games available, coupled with *ahem* method, literally thousands of video games are available at your fingertips. It has literally any possible genre of games that you can hope for: from the staple Japanese Role Playing Games, Action Adventure, Fighting, Racing, Sports to the quirky Dance Dance Revolution and EyeToy series.

Probably half of you already got put off by the unfamiliar lingos that I have been using, well too bad I already tried to use as simple terms as possible for non-gamers to catch up. Go borrow your nephew's PS2 or better still buy one second hand set to try it out yourself.

A quick search in online second hand market yields the results of a couple of modified Fat PS2's selling for more or less S$150. Why Sotongball recommends you to buy a second-hand set is because the now-discontinued Fat PS2 has less over-heating issue; and also very likely the console is already wallet-friendly as modding had been banned in Singapore.

Below is STB's recommendations for each genre of games for the PS2:

RPG: Final Fantasy X and XII, Kingdom Hearts I and II, Xenosaga I, II and III
Action: Metal Gear Solid 1,2 and 3, God of War 1 and 2, Devil May Cry 1,2 and 3
Fighting: Soul Caliber II and III
Racing: Burnout Revenge, Need for Speed series
Sports: NBA Live, Winning Eleven

I promised myself not to go into details of any games so that I won't go on and on and on for this post :p Well that's the PS2 for you and hope you will find it a enjoyable console as much as I do if you happen to pick it up - it's never too late.

Sotongball sold his PS2 to his colleague last December due to his busy schedule and has regretted that ever since...

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The One on iPhone [update]

Looks the same as the previous iPhone? Yeah... so what? What's inside this new baby is:
  • 3G chipset - quite confirmed no front camera...
  • GPS modules - kicks N95's ass
  • App store - no more illegally jailbreaking your iPhone, now it's more Mac than a phone seriously
  • (we have yet to find out whether is it carrier locked or not)
More than we can hope or dream of, Steve gave it all to us! You did me proud, mister! Now let's move on to more details...
  • It's gonna launch in 22 countries (including US) on 11th July 2008
  • Available in 70 countries for the next several months. Singapore will probably get it by September... but but... (click me) does that mean sooner?
  • Comes in 4 flavours: Black or White, 8GB or 16GB
  • Most exciting part? US$199 for 8GB and US$299 for 16GB tops!
Implications implications:
  • Soon, every Tom, Dick and Harry will be using iPhones in the streets of Singapore.
  • No more resale value for current-gen iPhone as it will be discontinue and 8GB iPhone 3G is selling for even cheaper price than an 8GB iPod touch! (US$199 vs US$299)
  • Does that spell discontinuation of iPod touch? maybe not, price for iPhone should come with 2 year contract
That's all I have this morning, I should hit the bed. Hope everyone is as excited as I am about the new iPhone 3G!

Monday, June 9, 2008

The One on iPhone



On 29th June 2007. Steve Jobs introduced to the world the highly anticipated iPhone. it carries the traditional minimalist Apple industrial design DNA, while sporting yet another new innovation in its interface, namely the Multitouch.

One year has passed since, we have probably familiarized ourselves with the Multitouch interface somehow, through your friends' imported jailbroken (read: hacked) iPhones or the locally available iPod touch. We know that you can scroll through contact list or emails with a flick of your finger, resize photos by pinching them. It is simply too user-friendly and desirable.

Web-browsing on the iPhone was made an Experience with Safari, webpages appear desktoply crisp and uncompromised, like no other smartphones out there. Music was made good-looking (if it's even necessary) through Coverflow.

You have probably heard this a dozen of times: its the best iPod ever, it surfs the internet, it plays music, videos, photos. Oh, it makes calls too! And yet somehow Carrie Bradshaw does not quite know how to work that thing, not that trendy afterall, Parker...

Yet there are some flaws that hurdles the iPhone from attaining the Nokia 3310 status 8 years ago:
  • Expensive - introductory price of US$599 for 8GB model? I rather invest in a PS3 then... it plays games too!
  • 2.5G - no video calls, no high speed mobile surfing, still 10 years ahead of other phones?
  • Carrier-locked - to AT&T? no official launch in Singapore puts you in a risk of getting an expensive paper weight anytime.
  • "Revolutionary" keyboard - I half expected the iPhone to read my mind! kidding!
  • 2MP camera - my 3 year old Sony Ericsson K750i does a better job at this department

Hopefully by tonight, all will improve as Steve Jobs is expected to introduce an all-new iPhone in the WWDC, unless he wants Apple stock price to tumble... Watch this space for more updates!