A Little Bird Told Me.....

Received a forwarded email today titled "A Letter From A Malaysian". Not sure who this letter was addressed to nor where it was sent to but it basically describes the dissatisfaction that the writer faces. However, it was the 1st paragraph that caught my attention - or rather, the first 3 lines of the letter.

Rumours is been being passed around regarding the increase of petrol price
by Rm 0.50 on the 1st January 2007. The government would only anounce this
increase on the 31st December 2006. And then there would be a few
demonstration on the street followed by ministers appearing on the news
saying that Malaysia has the lowest rate for petrol price compared to other
ASEAN countries.

Its the first time I've heard of it. Only 9 days to go. Shall we take heed?

We knew this was going to happen, it was just a matter of time.

Just when I've almost decided on which phone to get, I stumble across this piece of news.

21 December 2006, London – Sony Ericsson takes digital imaging in camera phones to greater heights today with the launch of the K900 and K890 phones, the second handsets to carry the Cyber-shot™ brand, a true mark of imaging quality. Both are highly capable mobile phones with integrated 5.1 Megapixel digital cameras with Autofocus, Xenon flash and BestPic™ - Sony Ericsson’s unique imaging technology that allows you to capture exactly the moment you desire. K900 and K890 combine advanced image capture capabilities with high speed data transfer, making them perfect tools for shooting and sharing high quality pictures and videos. K900 is a dual-mode UMTS/GPRS phone and the K890 is a Tri Band EDGE phone. Both are available from Q1 2007.

"With this Cyber-shot™ phone we aim to improve on the success of the K800i lifestyle of ‘imaging communication’ by combining Sony Ericsson’s unique mobile applications and Sony digital imaging technologies,” said Rikko Sakaguchi, Senior Vice President, Product and Application Planning, Sony Ericsson. "Our aim has always been to innovate and create new values for the mobile life, and with this new Cyber-shot™ phone we will enable anyone to enjoy an even greater level of communication – taking quality pictures of anything, anytime and anywhere, and sharing their precious moments with others."

The versatile swivel design makes it easy to multitask between the K900’s/K890’s many functions, a feature which gives the phone an advantage over dedicated imaging devices. The direct function buttons get the user swiftly into Cyber-shot mode where it is possible to take advantage of the many new and innovative features.

The handsets have a classic Sony Ericsson design, with a large 2.3” screen and responsive, tactile keypad with a sleek and stylish dual front phone design. Turn the phones horizontally and there you have a digital still camera. Simply slide the active lens cover downwards and a user interface similar to that of a Cyber-shot™ camera automatically appears.

Tradition is carried over from the K800i by including BestPic™, which ensures that you never ‘miss’ an important picture. Press the shutter button once and get 7 full quality 5.1 megapixel pictures to choose from in a time sequence – 3 pictures before and 3 pictures after the actual image you captured. All 7 pictures are displayed as icons on the display. Simply scroll backwards and forwards through the 9 images and save the ones you like best.

The K900 and K890 offer full support for a complete digital imaging lifestyle. Printing is possible without the need for a PC thanks to PictBridge™, a feature that transfers pictures directly to a printer by using a USB cable. Storing and managing image files on your PC are made easy with the supplied Adobe software, and the phones are among the first to feature fully integrated Picture Blogging Blogging is growing exponentially as a way of sharing personal experiences with words and images, and Picture Blogging in K900 and K890 allows users to create and update personal blogs directly from the phone in just a few clicks.

Business users will find the K900 and K890 valuable work tools while out of the office and the functional Mist Grey casing fits neatly with the professional image. Full HTML browsing with RSS feeds and Google Search give you high-speed, graphic-rich Internet use. Support for standard push email and a connectivity suite comprising Bluetooth® 2.0, USB 2.0, Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) and Mini-SD means that keeping in touch is effortless. A complete entertainment package including music player, 3D gaming and an RDS FM radio are also provided for business downtime or relaxation.

The Sony Ericsson K900 is a dual-mode UMTS handset while K890 is a Tri Band EDGE handset. Both products will be commercially available in Mist Grey and start shipping globally during Q1 2007. The variants in the market will be:

K900i - Dual mode UMTS (2100MHz) - GPRS 900/1800/1900 MHz for Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa
K900c - Dual mode UMTS (2100MHz) - GPRS 900/1800/1900 MHz for Mainland China. (Launch dependent on availability of 3G services.)

K890i Tri Band EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz for Europe, Asia Pacific, Americas
K890a Tri Band EDGE 850/1800/1900 MHz for Americas
K890c Tri Band EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz for Mainland China

K900 and K890 – Features at a glance:

Imaging & Messaging

5.1 Mega pixel with Auto Focus Camera
Xenon Flash
BestPic™
Video and image stabilizer function
2.3” QVGA 262K TFT display
Active lens cover
Photo keys
Cyber-shot™ user interface
Memory for 100 pictures (at 5.1MP), 128 MB internal user memory
QVGA Video recording/playback (30fps)
Adobe picture/video PC SW
3x Optical zoom
16x Digital zoom
Auto red eye reduction
DPOF & PictBridge
Time line view of pictures
Picture Blogging (powered by Blogger)
PictureDJ ™ and VideoDJ™
Standard push e-mail (P-IMAP) support
VGA camera for Video Telephony
Entertainment

Music Player (MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+ support)
Video Player
Stereo Bluetooth profile (A2DP)
Music DJ™
OMA DRM phase 1.x
Streaming Audio/Video
3D games
A/B buttons for horizontal games support
RDS FM radio
Connectivity

Bluetooth® 2.0
IrDA
HTML Full Browser with RSS readers
USB 2.0 Mass storage
External antenna connector
Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) slot / Mini-SD™
Flight mode
Multitasking
USB cable, stereo portable handsfree and PC software in the box
Talk time: up to 9 hours GSM/3.5 hours UMTS
Standby time: up to 350 hours
Size: 117 x 48 x 11 (13) mm
Weight: 101 grams

Decent specifications if I do say so myself. Real or fake?

Problem is, I don't think I can wait until the launch date which is Q1 2007. That usually translates to "After 31st March". And that would also mean an exorbitant price to go along with new technology.

I guess I'll stick my choices now - until its time to make a switch again.

Speaking of phones, it appears I have no luck with them.

From what I've been informed from Seller A I contacted, prices will continue to increase until after New Year. Although that isn't really that far off, I don't think I'm willing to wait that long.

After failing to meet Seller A last weekend resulting in me not having my phone now, I managed to contact Seller B, a guy this time, who offered a slightly better deal with some extra freebies thrown in. This fellow was very prompt in replying my emails a few days back - answered all my questions obligingly etc.

The actual reason I was hesitant to get it from this fellow is because he does not have as much "good feedback" compared to Seller A.

Last night, my patience wore out and I decided I will no longer wait for Seller A. I sent private message to Seller B to confirm the price which he did. Then earlier this morning, I sent him a message to confirm if I'll be able to get my phone tonight as he mentioned that if I ordered before 12pm, I'd be able to get the phone by 9pm the same day. For good measure, I sent him a sms as well - in case he doesn't have net access or something.

Unfortunately, the fellow has not replied and once again, I am left without a phone when I have the intention of actually getting it.

What the fuck is going on here?!?!

Its like they don't want my money! (Speaking of money, a little more on that at the end of this post, I've been saving it for awhile but never got to use it)

I'm very close to saying "stuff all that" and just heading down to a store where I can get it on the spot without having to wait for sellers who need to go to suppliers etc. It might cost me a little more but I think it eliminates lots of unnecessary hassle.

Looks like official Sony Ericsson distributors are having a promotion now where they are giving out free Bluetooth headsets worth RM 215 during the Xmas promotion..... not that I'd want a Bluetooth headset anyway. Think it'll be wasted on me as I would probably not maximise its use.

At the rate things are going, I probably won't get my phone until after New Year's after all! I've got another 4 days of holiday, I'll see if Seller B contacts me or I'll just drop by one of the shops this weekend.

Is 9 days really that long of a wait? Someone knock me unconscious and wake me up after the New Year!

Here's another forward that I received via email, titled "RM 3000 per month, how to survive?". I found it "amusing", particular the comments in the brackets:

Let's do some simple calculations here.

In Malaysia, the average family income is RM3,000 /month (where father works, mother doesn't). I understand there are many families whose monthly income does not reach RM3,000, but, to make things simple, let's take RM3,000 as the figure. Ok lah, right?

Okay, let's start rolling with a family which has Papa, Mama, 1 daughter and 1 son.

Ngam-ngam…

Calculation starts...

Electricity and water bill: RM100

(No air-con, No home theatre, No water heater … ok?)

Phone bill (Telekom): RM100

Meals for a happy family: RM775

(3 meals on RM25/day, RM25 for 4 persons…?)

Papa makan / teh-tarik during working hrs: RM155

(RM5/day, RM5 … can eat what?)

Car repayment: RM400

(A proton saga aeroback, 7 yrs repayment)

Petrol (living in city, traffic-jam): RM300

(go to work, bring son to school, only can afford one car running)

Insurance: RM650

(kids, wife and myself)

House repayment: RM750

(low cost housing repayment for 30 yrs, retired still have to work to pay!)

Tuition: RM80

(got that cheap meh? i don't think so)

Older children pocket money @ school: RM20

(RM1/day, eat bread?)

School fees: RM30

(enough ah?)

School books and etc: RM100

(always got extra to pay in school)

Younger children milk powder: RM50

(cannot have the DHA, BHA, PHA one, expensive)

Miscellaneous: RM100

(shampoo, rice, sauce, toilet paper)

Oh wait!!! I have to stop here, so... No Astro, no movie @ cinema, no DVD, no CD, no online, cannot KFC, cannot McDonald, cannot go Park walk during weekend (petrol expensive), no chit chat on phone with grandparents, and etc...

Let's use a calculator to total up... WALAO EH! Shit! RM3,610 already…

EPF belum potong, income tax lagi........oledi RM3,610...

How to survive lah tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sekalian???

Our Deputy Prime Minister asked us to change lifestyle?

How to change? Don't eat? Don't work? Don't send children to school and study?

Besides that, I believe in Malaysia population, there are millions of rakyat Malaysia which still don't earn RM3,000/month!!!

What is this? Inilah Malaysia Boleh... Sorry... it should be Malaysians Boleh , because we're still alive and kicking!!