My first Apple .....

I finally took the plunge and got myself a sexy, shiny 16GB Apple iPhone for RM 2170. And iLove it!

I got this beauty on 19th April 2008 and the first thing I did with it (after testing out the features etc. of course) was to go online and started downloading photos of Album Art to be used for the Cover Flow, like shown below:

Almost every night since 19th April 2008, I was online looking in Amazon.com, Google and Wikipedia looking for the best album covers in the best resolutions possible. Yes, call me a "perfectionist".

I was comparing multiple pictures whenever possible, looking to use the best one. Maybe its not "perfectionist" but another term.....

2 weeks later, with 466 photos worth 112 MB, I finally completed my task. And that's only for the 600+ favourite songs I have on the iPhone, which is about 1/4 of my MP3 collection. I suppose there's more work to be done.

Yes, the iPhone took up almost all of my free time to the extent that I have not blogged lately.

Some colleagues have been absolutely impressed with how the thing works, one of them even said that if he wants to get one, he'll let me know.

I loved looking at the reactions on their faces when they were trying it out. Jaw-dropping, swear-inducing *Holy shit! Look at that!*, to the more usual *OMIGOD*.

As I mentioned before, some of the phone functions were terrible. Unable to delete individual sms. The text messages are arranged in such a way that it appears to be a conversation, displayed via speech bubbles. Deleting an sms would wipe out the entire "conversation".

The phone was also unable to forward sms, unable to send MMS.

The camera also didn't have any features whatsoever! No special effects, no fancy BestPic function, not even a zoom!

Thank god all the 3rd Party Applications allowed fixes for all the issues I mentioned above.

As seen in my last post, the 2 Megapixel camera takes decent shots with good lighting:

The photos above were taken at the Management BBQ, at my colleagues place in Bandar Bukit Puchong called "The Heron Residency".

More pictures taken from the garden/house compound/outdoor:

Overall, I'm extremely pleased and impressed with my new phone. The seller gave me a free screen protector and also a rubber case to protect it. It's not that the case makes it look ugly, but the phone looks completely different (better) without the case.

With the casing.....

Free.....

I might probably go get a new screen + body protector for the iPhone called the Invisible Shield. It's a thin, transparent film used to protect the iPhone all around.

Apparently, these come with a lifetime guarantee and I've seen it going for RM 99 on Lowyat.net sales thread. The people who manufacture the Invisible Shield uses the same stuff to protect helicopter blades.

Check out the videos below to see the abuse it can stand:

Invisible Shield - Scratch Test, Water Proof
Invisible Shield - Strength Test (Bowling Ball)
Invisible Shield - Strength Test (Gym Weights)

Hey, if it can protect swirling helicopter blades, withstand even the drop of a bowling ball, it must be good enough for accidental scratches, isn't it?

Invisible Shield Website

I got this 2 days ago:

I don't know what made me do it, but I paid RM 385 for a game that comes with a safe deposit box (with working lock and keys), a keychain, artbook, game soundtrack and a duffel bag. The standard edition costs RM 170.

It's one of the most anticipated games to come out - very good reviews and ratings but I didn't spend much playing it.

Even though I was caught in the madness which is the iPhone, I did have time for "The Dark Knight" though. I hear a new trailer is expected within the next few weeks. In the meantime, the following images were released:

Drool-worthy.....

Can hardly wait!

iWant.....

I just can't stop reading about it. iWant iPhone!

And this picture just gave me that added boost. I can't explain it, its just a caricature of the Black Eyed Peas but I think it looks pretty sweet. Maybe its the quality of the gorgeous 3.5 inch display.

I think I've made up my mind and I will be getting an iPhone. I was previously contemplating whether to get an iPhone or a Playstation 3.

I'll probably get the iPhone first, then the Playstation 3 later on. Plus I read an article that the iPhone can be used as a remote control for the Playstation 3.

I've spent most of the weekend checking out/comparing prices online, reading articles and blogs. Never owned an APPLE product, so if I get an iPhone, it will be my first. It will be a milestone of sorts.

There have been rumours of the iPhone version 2 which is supposedly going to be released soon. Among the rumours are that of 3G capabilities. Some people have stopped getting stocks based on this. I wonder if it will affect the current prices.

• 8GB version - RM 1600 - 1800
• 16GB version - RM 2100 - 2300

Question, are these just rumours or are there any hints of truth in them? Will it a 3G iPhone matter to me? I have never used the 3G camera on my Sony Ericsson K800i for video calls.

With good lighting, the 2 megapixel camera takes some decent photos as well.

Credit: Mike3300 @ Lowyat forums

I'm not one who switches to a new mobile phone everytime a new one comes out - but in this case, I think I might make an exception. The K800i isn't even 18 months old yet. The last phone I used before the K800i lasted me about - oh, 4 years or so? And it still is in working condition. Only the volume control buttons on the outside are faulty.

But this is the "Jesus Phone" (as some people call it) we're talking about after all!

On the other hand, found some photos online, the limited edition Playstation 3 doesn't look too bad at all. I think it looks much better than the initial photos I had up in the last post.

A boxshot of the MGS4 PS3 bundle. iWant!

I was very close to getting the new Premium Leader Class Transformers Movie Megatron at Toys R Us today because I don't have a Leader Class Movie Megatron.

I don't know what stopped me, but I think it was more along the lines of "I gotta save for the iPhone".

The old one looks like shit, with baby blue and pink on it. Megatron didn't have blue and pink paint in the movie and that was the reason I didn't buy it.

The Premium series are basically the same toys with "metallic" paint and some slight changes.

First Release - Leader Class



New Release - Leader Class (Premium Series)

There's still abit of red on Megatron but that's acceptable. It doesn't look like that shit that was first released about when the movie came out last year.

I also saw the new Premium Optimus Prime with the new head and energy blade (instead of the blaster cannon)

First Release - Leader Class



New Release - Leader Class (Premium Series)

The changes aren't that noticeable for Optimus Prime. You can see the metallic paint on the thigh area, hips and shoulders. He also has a different head and has the sword/blade instead of the cannon.

First Release - Leader Class



New Release - Leader Class (Premium Series)

Of course if one has the time, skill and tools, they can work magic with the old figures too:

Sweet 16.....

Lil' bro celebrated his 16th birthday yesterday. Guess he's not so little anymore. Didn't realize that Daphne had a dinner to go to, and dad was out. In the end, it was just him, mum and I. Mum suggested TGIF's - and its been awhile since I had TGIF's.

Mum mentioned that it was Ryan's birthday, and the waiter told us that the birthday boy/girl gets a slice of Chocolate Malt Cake. Then there's the customary "Happy Birthday" song by all the waiters/waitresses.

The birthday boy was requested to stand on the seat and to make a speech. He was embarrassed for sure.

"Microphone" for the speech.....



"Take it, speech! Speech!"



Happy Birthday to you.....



Happy Birthday to you.....



Happy Birthday to Ryan, Happy Birthday to you.....

One of the friendly waiters then asked how tall Ryan was, because he didn't realize how tall Ryan was when he asked Ryan to stand up on the seat.

It was probably something like this:

The Two Ming's - HK Superstar Lai Ming (Leon Lai) and NBA Superstar Yau Ming

In addition to the birthday cake, we also had desserts (Cookies and Cream & TGIF's Sundae) from the two sets of 3-course meals that we ordered. And mum mistakenly ordered the Brownies when she actually wanted to order the Mocha Mud Pie.

All that dessert for 3 people!

Ryan had the Chicken Fingers as usual, mum had some Grilled Whitefish with rice and some kind of pineapple salsa salad thinggie, while I had the Parmesan Chicken Quesadillas. Somehow, it didn't taste as good as the 1st time I had it. Maybe I should've ordered the Smothered Steak (steak with smothered with mushrooms and cheese!) or stuck to my favorite Jack Daniel's Steak!

As for presents, no there weren't any. I guess I spoil him with enough XBOX360 games etc to last him till next year. Then there's also that new computer that I got 2 weeks back or so. That should be enough - shouldn't it? It's not that I don't want to get him anything, but the things that he wants aren't out yet so.....

I was reading some articles the other day that MGS4 will be released in June 20o8. What the heck is MGS4? MGS4 or Metal Gear Solid 4 - Guns Of The Patriots is one of the most (the most?) anticipated games in video gaming history.

It's a game that has everything - action, drama, comedy and there used to be abit of romance. There is so much hype about this game because the creator of the series says that this might be the last in the series.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty was THE reason I got the PS2 many years ago, and it looks like MGS4 will be the reason I'll get the PS3. Among other reasons of course.

Japan will get a special game + console bundle which has the special edition of the game as well as a special version of the PS3 called the "Hagane" (steel in Japanese, or at least that's what I read). Basically, its a "steel" coloured version of the PS3.

Here's a closer look:

The only other difference from the color of the console and the controller, is the "Metal Gear Solid 4 - Limited Edition" print at the bottom.

Why does SONY do this? Releasing the same gadget with so many different colours? It's the same with the PSP (Playstation Portable as well)

I think I'll just stick to the plain ol' black, thank you very much.

And yes, I'd still like to have the Apple iPhone.

And after dad's recent splurging on the Digital Video Camera, new mobile phone and new cellphone, why not? I'm tempted to splurge too! :D

Milestones.....

Team Leader or Assistant Managers at work have the unofficial duty of being ambulance drivers. What do I mean? When someone isn't feeling well, we have to drive him/her to the nearest clinic, hence "ambulance driver".

The first time, I drove PR in my team to the clinic, there wasn't really a big issue. I managed to borrow a car from one of my staff (A superior borrowing a staff's car! Oh my..... ).

On Friday, I had to drive another staff, UK, to the clinic because he was vomitting after having a "Toad In The Hole". The problem was, his car was a stick shift.

So ladies and gentlemen, 10 years after obtaining my driver's license, I've finally touched a car with manual transmission. And I didn't even stall the car, not even once. I guess its like how they compare certain things to riding a bike, you won't forget.

In all honesty, I wasn't comfortable driving the car because:

a) it was a stick shift
b) it was a modified car (PROTON WAJA, if you must know)
c) it wasn't my car

I'm always a little apprehensive when driving other people's cars. Add to the fact that it was a manual transmission AND that I haven't driven one in 10 years!

After his checkup, I asked UK if he could drive and he nodded. Then I joked if he had no confidence in my driving. Of course I told him I had no confidence in my driving a manual transmission.

And then a few hours after that, I had to listen back to a recorded call by one of the new staff to investigate a complaint by a supervisor from Bangalore. As my fellow Team Leaders/Supervisors have put it to me, "Welcome to the Club".

After confirmation on who my manager will be, my tasks have deviated from the original plan. My team will be taken over by Joe and I'll be going back on 1/2 days of calls for a month. The plus side is that I'll be back to the 3pm - 12am shift, so YAY for that.

What a ride its going to be.....

They promised Su they'd go look at some electical/electronics before she goes back to Indonesia once her contract expires - so we had dinner at IKANO today.

They decided to have steamboat - which is not really my thing. I mean, I don't mind really. But given the choice, I'd go for something else. Ryan and I ended up at Manhattan Fish Market again.

We ordered the Fish & Chips as usual - I still think Fish & Co has the better of the two.

Then I decided to order something called the Whitebait. I've seen it a few times and I was curious to what it was. From the photo, I thought they were strips of fish coated in batter. They were actually batter-coated little fish, kinda like ikan bilis.

If you look properly in the pic, you can see a little tail near the upper right of the photo, just by the edge of the dish.

It was a mistake to order the Whitebait. Not that it wasn't tasty - it was served with fresh carrot and cabbage with a dollop of tartar sauce on the side. But for the price, I think I'd have enjoyed the Fried Coated Mushrooms instead.

Dad seems to be on a shopping spree - another SAMSUNG mobile phone (PDA with WiFi etc) when the phone he was using is barely 6 months old!

And then on Friday, another digital camera, a RICOH Calplio R6, 7.2 Mega Pixel with 7.1x Optical Zoom. Whatever that means. It's also capable of taking macro shots from a minimum distance of 1 cm.

Haven't really been able to test it out yet but here are a couple of test shots in my room, with uneven lighting.

The new PC setup (and yes, I switched to my profile so I can show the Batman Begins wallpaper on PURPOSE)

Outdoor Shot:

Macro Shots:

Ooh, 1cm Macro shot - see those scratches? Time to get a new watch :D

So far so good, I think the camera's impressive but then what do I know about photography?