I created a very simple Android app that launches the Calendar app, at the New Event screen, with the start time pre-filled as the time on your device.
I wonder why the Calendar widget doesn’t have a New Event/Add Event button. That annoys me, too!
It only works with the Calendar app that came with Ice-cream Sandwich onwards, though, so you won’t be able to install this on a pre-Ice-cream Sandwich device.
Data Safety and Privacy Policy
This app only collects the current device time, then asks Android OS to create an empty calendar event using the Intent system, and inserts the time that was collected. It does not read the Calendar entries.
Something’s wrong with my blog and I’m trying to debug it with my hosting company. I’ve lost the latest 5 blog posts, but I have backups. I’ll only restore them when I’m sure the system is properly setup, though! Apologies again if you come from a link and find it missing – I’ll repost the updated links to where I posted them before.
7 years, 8 months and 18 days after, I finally change my blog skin again, this time not at all even to a new blog skin but to a new blog system!
I coded my previous blog engine from scratch, and used the ideas as a base to build the Xfresh.com blogs – having cool widget-insertion features like <BlogFriends /> and <BlogCalendar /> for your skins, and Xanga-style following, and Livejournal-inspired history navigation. Or at least that’s how I remember it. Many famous Malaysian bloggers started on URLs like http://expectation.xfresh.com/ – wouldn’t you like to know who?
Xfresh.com is now defunct, but the true stories are beyond my earshot.
Anyway, what brought about this change, to WordPress? Well, my blog was no longer accessible, with a HTTP 500 (and previously I’d find the hosting company to be not very helpful – but then I understand well why a HTTP 500’s detailed error isn’t shown publicly.) So I downloaded the MDB (Microsoft Access file) and used MDB Viewer Plus to export the tables to CSV files.
My blog entries and titles had commas, so you could tell there would be a problem splitting the text. Fortunately, as I am a Grammar Nazi, I tend to type spaces after commas, so I could replace the “, ” with intermediate text e.g. “@@@@@” and then split the CSV file, then replacing it back.
The decision for WordPress was simple – the most plugins and the most ubiquitous blog system. I needed to get the fuss out and had no time for the kind of Content Management Systems where you’d have to build parts yourself. I had no time to code myself. Heck, my blog was down for a week and nobody cared to ask.
So then there were a few ways to get the CSV in – an outdated plugin, or convert the CSV to RSS, and then import. However, I found the most native would be WordPress’ own Import and Export functions. It would export a WXR (WordPress eXtended RSS) file with an XML extension, including blog entries, comments, authors, categories and the like.
I then made a simple Android app (I tend to write utilities in my mostly-used language, whichever is convenient) to read the blog entry and blog comment CSVs and write them out as a WXR file. I should’ve validated the XML earlier and saved many hours trying to figure out what was wrong when it would not import my custom WXR file!
And so, you’ll see my blog posts and comments mostly carried over, intact, with redirects for /default.asp?id=### going to /?p=###. The older blog entries reference /oldlinks.asp but heck with that, and there are some mislinks, but I’ll see what I can sort out when I have the time. I pulled an all-nighter and only finished importing at 2pm so I won’t be working on this for a while.
I also ported the old subpages (Guestbook, Jokes, Modified Lyrics, Plugin Player Models, Quotes) as posts with those categories. Thus my main navigation has been downsized to categories. I can’t seem to hack the dates though, so Plugin Player Models and Quotes are within the first page of entries for now.
Maybe someday I’ll put something in an About Me on a widget on the right. A *gasp* Facebook widget or Twitter feed or Instagram feed?
I also hacked the Twenty Twelve theme that came default with WordPress. Blog entry fonts are 125% scaled and there is a familiar tint in the background. Oh, and the theme promises mobile layouts, and you get RSS as WordPress gives you. ShaolinTiger, this is for you, more than 6 years after the Nikon D3 debuted (I think I said I’d implement RSS when Nikon comes out with a full-frame digital SLR.)
I still do this, though, because it is my preferred way of archiving and being all historian, especially with the music scene. If you want your pictures immediately, we could always come to a agreeable stipend – otherwise for those on a budget of zero, you can wait.
15th March 2012 was the first ever Moonshine: A Homemade Music Show at The Bee, Publika!
This is opening act Ryota Katamaya.
He has this haunting melancholic voice, which is quite different from his rock voice when singing in Seconds To Collide, and yet very authentic and enjoyable.
Here’s an anachronism – Reza Salleh the organizer during the setup. This shot and Ryota’s second were shot with the Sony Alpha 900 with the Sony 135mm F2.8/T4.5 Smooth Transition Focus lens, for a wonderful rendition of out-of-focus areas.
I have to say, I enjoyed the lighting at The Bee – shot with the Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 at 1/30s ISO5000 on the Sony Alpha 77. Other than that ever-magenta-ish tinge coming from the stage LED lighting, the rest of the restaurant is in good ol’ warm tungsten lighting.
Moonshine had a new format with an opening act, a featured act and a headliner act. Here’s featured act, alternative rock band Mordo Blasters. A900 and the STF.
These guys are serious stuff. In comparison here’s the A900 and 135mm F1.8 from this shot onwards.
I always like Ryan Lee Bhaskaran’s T-shirts. He’s always got a cool one on.
More cool T-shirts.
Darren Ashley was filling in for bass duties for Joe Loy. Samyang 35mm F1.4 on the A900.
A near year and a half later I see the wisdom in double-locking guitar straps. A77 with 135mm F1.8 for that extra tight close-up.
Headliner act Rendra Zawawi.
Alda Tan on bass. Rest in peace. This would be the last gig I would ever see him at!
Rendra brought his brother, Hameer, on stage. In the beautifully rendered bokeh from the STF lens is keyboardist…
Sharon Chong!
Brothers. At T4.5 1/15s ISO1600 there is just a bit of motion blur… but the best out-of-focus rendition you can ever have.
Group shot. All shots of Rendra and band with the STF except this one shot on the A77, with missing EXIF data because I used either my unchipped Opteka 85mm F1.4 or Samyang 35mm F1.4. I’m thinking it’s more likely to be the 35mm because I wouldn’t bring the 85mm, Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 and STF all at the same time, all being too close in focal length.
Alda, through the beautifully rendered bokeh.
Rendra has this haunting voice and a bunch of uncommon-sounding chord progressions.
Stephanie on drums.
David and Alda. You should ask him about his Alda story.
Ignoring who you are voting for, what kind of situation would you like?
A) BN wins by a supermajority
B) BN wins by a simple majority
C) BN wins by a jaguh kampung majority
D) PR wins by a jaguh kampung majority
E) PR wins by a simple majority
F) PR wins by a supermajority
Supermajority = more than 2/3rds of Parliament Simple majority = more than 50% of Parliament but less than 2/3rds of Parliament Jaguh kampung majority = more than 50% of Parliament but less than 2/3rds of Parliament and the total votes are less than 50%
The Jaguh kampung majority happened in 1969, when the Alliance (UMNO, MCA, MIC) + SUPP won 65.67% of the seats with 49.3% of the total votes. The Opposition (PAS, Gerakan, PPP, DAP, etc.) had 50.7% of total votes but only 34.33% of seats.
If you have more than 2/3rds of Parliament, you can change the Constitution.
Now I would personally like either C) or E) to happen. 2008 results were B) and you could say that the sentiment has swayed towards PR, but there are new dubious voters and the EC has doubled the number of classrooms to vote in (meaning that you need twice as many Polling Agents and Counting Agents to make sure no cheating happens.)
As much as I am tempted to vote BN to ensure that F) does not happen, I know BN has already implemented measures to make sure that B) or C) happens.
In a fair election, the percentage of parliament seats should be equal to the total vote percentage. Every voter should have equal voting power. (In Singapore, 60.14% voted for PAP but they got 93.1% seats, not fair either!)
So how does this happen? Some seats are smaller than others, like in 2008 where Putrajaya had 6
I’ve been super busy, but here’s a quick textual update on my good self:
I got myself the Sony Alpha 99 on the 23rd of October 2012, and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s just as the specifications are, as expected, not really exceeding expectations, but the dynamic range and ISO performance exceed the previous champion of high ISO amongst the Alphas, the Sony Alpha 900 (at least, according to DxO Labs, and I agree with their ratings.) I haven’t gotten around to doing a side-by-side comparison in terms of ISO and dynamic range, though. I’d be comfortable shooting at ISO6400, for sure.
I helped organize a photo exhibition on the 17th of November 2012 for the Rakan KL Day. Rakan KL is a people’s movement for the heritage preservation of Kuala Lumpur. I also exhibited photos, but pictures of that will come later – I did say this was a textual blog post, didn’t I?
I dropped by a pharmacist for my usual dose of topical steroid cream and she suggested that what I had was in fact topical steroid withdrawal, and tried to sell me some non-steroid alternative. I was skeptical and bought nothing from her, but I went home and looked it up – so perhaps I was having that, instead of classic atopic dermatitis! I had eczema during my childhood, which explains why I am fair and don’t play sports – I could not go out in the sun much or I’d sweat, scratch, and bleed. This went away thankfully at the age of 12, only to reappear after a prescription of insecticide lotion (for bed bugs) that triggered eczema again. I had thus been a regular to the Dermatology Department of the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, where I’d pay RM5 per visit, and the ever-changing, rotating dermatologist would prescribe steroids. Hydrocortisone for the face, and something stronger for the rest. These would run out, and I’d have clear skin within 4 days, but after 2 weeks, the flares would come back, and I’d go visit the pharmacist. I found cheaper Malaysian variations of bethamethasone-17-valerate, but at some point some pharmacist gave me Dermovate, which was the “Superhigh Potency I” clobetasol, but I did not know it then. Needless to say my body got lazy to make its own cortisol/steroids to fight inflammation, so it became dependent on steroids.
I got a bit of ‘roid rage upon calculating that I’d been on steroids for 15 months and the hospital didn’t bother that I’d been on it so long, so I quit steroids cold turkey one 10th of November 2012 ago. The flare is there, and it’s taking its own sweet time, but I do find that getting a lot of sleep, like 12 hours, really helps reduce the inflammation. The problem then is the itching and scratching and scarring that comes with it, with the risk of infection. Some days my skin flakes like crazy, which is a good sign, as it means the skin is healing. The flare will clear eventually, and I’ll have a period of clear skin before the next flare, and this flaring is expected to continue from 10-30% of the time I was on steroids, which means I should bear with it for 5 months. Doable, I guess. Also, each subsequent flare gets weaker and shorter, but the first one’s not over yet.
I’ve been a pescetarian for 14 days, from 20th November 2012 onwards. This means I’m a half-assed vegetarian who eats fish. This was done in hopes of getting the first flare out of the way, reducing all possible histamine intake. Those 14 days did not include today, where I broke it to subside a case of gastritis and all fish options nearby would take too long. Geez I thought I was supposed to be immortal with such a diet!
It was the 5th of October 2012, and Sony had just launched their Sony Alpha SLT-A99 at the Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival 2012!
Clockwise from top-left:
– Masahiko Ishida, Head of Digital Imaging Dept
– Gary Friedman, Minolta/Sony Alpha book author/guru, stock photographer, uber geek
– Kikuo Okura, Managing Director of Sony Malaysia
– John Shum, Head of Sony Product Workshop Department
Jeremy Teo of Red FM was the emcee.
They also launched the Sony NEX-5R, the Sony NEX-6, the Sony NEX-VG900E, and the Sony DSC-RX1!
One more with Ishida and Okura.
Estimated Retail Price: Sony SLT-A99: RM9,299 (body only) (coming November 2012) Sony DSC-RX1: RM9,999 (coming December 2012) Sony NEX-VG900E: RM10,999 (coming December 2012) Sony NEX-5RL: RM2,699 (with the Sony 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Optical SteadyShot E-mount Retractable Power Zoom lens) (coming November 2012) Sony NEX-5RY: RM3,499 (with the Sony 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Optical SteadyShot E-mount Retractable Power Zoom lens and Sony 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 Optical SteadyShot E-mount lens) (coming November 2012) Sony NEX-6RL: RM3,299 (with Sony 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Optical SteadyShot E-mount Retractable Power Zoom lens) (coming mid-November 2012) Sony NEX-6RY: RM4,099 (with SELP1650 and Sony 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 Optical SteadyShot E-mount lens) (coming mid-November 2012)
They also announced the Malaysia Award, under the Sony World Photography Awards.
A blown-up A99.
The Sony Alpha NEX-6.
They also had an Experience Studio, where Darren Chang, founder of Alphanatics, gave a talk.
Here’s the Sony Alpha NEX-5R, now with WiFi – it lets you transfer pictures to your smartphone via PlayMemories Mobile, as well as wirelessly tether while getting a live feed. It also improves on the articulation of the NEX-F3, being able to tilt downwards (top-left picture) as well as 180 degrees upwards (like the NEX-F3.)
On it is the Sony 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Optical SteadyShot Retractable Power Zoom E-mount lens, a very sweet, collapsible lens! Sure, it won’t fit in my pocket the same way the Sony 16mm F2.8 E-mount lens did…
…but it’s a fair bit shorter than the original kit lens, the Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 Optical SteadyShot E-mount lens.
The Power Zoom part lets you turn the single ring to zoom in and out quickly (albeit with some minor latency, which we can forgive until we can guarantee that it is a production model.) If you push the rocker you can zoom in and out smoothly and at a slower speed. If you’re in manual focus, turning the ring will manually focus instead! This works great with Direct Manual Focus enabled, where you turn the ring to zoom, half-press and lock focus, then turn the ring again to fine-tune focus.
The Sony DSC-RX1, the first full-frame digital point-and-shoot camera in the world! It has an unremovable prime lens, a Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm F2.0 with the ability to focus 20cm from the sensor. Regretfully I didn’t get to play with this – I was later told that this was a hollow mock model!
The Sony 10-18mm F4.0 Optical SteadyShot E-mount lens, an ultra-wide in small porportions and an impressive F4.0 throughout.
The Sony Alpha NEX-6, with the Sony 35mm F1.8 Optical SteadyShot E-mount lens, a tiny but amazing performer.
We then went out of the room where they had the launch, and guess what I saw on the table – the same setup I had, hanging around my neck! 2 Sony Alpha 900 bodies with Sony 135mm F2.8/T4.5 Smooth Transition Focus, how rare and unlikely!
I got the promoter lady to show us how the WiFi Transfer worked. You’d connect your smartphone to an ad-hoc WiFi hotspot that the NEX body creates, and then use the app to download the pictures.
Clockwise from top-left:
I like that the NEX-6 has Quick Navi, so you can change settings on-screen without diving into menus
– one picture has been downloaded
– you can then copy it and share it to any app, the proper Android way
– you can also connect to an access point and download apps for the NEX-5R and NEX-6. Unfortunately though, the market isn’t available in Malaysia yet.
We also saw the new HVL-RL1 ring light. Interesting battery slot orientation!
The Sony SLT-A99 through the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM, at 24mm. Picture credits to Joseph Cheung.
Again, at 70mm. Picture credits to Joseph Cheung.
And then, for the HVL-F60M, using the new Sony Multi-interface Shoe! The A99 and NEX-6 also use this. The older one is called the Auto-lock Accessory Shoe. I was a big fan of the older auto-locking mechanism – it would lock automatically when you slide it in, and you’d just press one button to release it.
I’ve read unconfirmed reports that the HVL-F60M would come with the ADP-AMA, an adapter that allowed you to mount the F60M on older Alphas with the Auto-lock Accessory Shoe. Likewise unconfirmed that the A99 would come with the ADP-MAA, an adapter to allow you to mount an older Alpha flash with Auto-lock Accessory (Foot) on the A99. The NEX-6 meanwhile is rumored to not come with it.
To be scientific, the only way we’d know is when the production boxes come out.
Left to right:
– in the Release position, there is a moving plate
– in the Lock position, the moving plate clamps down
– here’s the Multi-interface Shoe cover, with an interesting icon.
Thankfully, you can switch to the Lock position while the flash is not mounted, and slide it on the camera without any resistance. It will stay locked, making it very similiar in concept to the Auto-lock Accessory Shoe. So my concerns were allayed – I never liked the classic ISO518 hotshoe mount because if there was impact to the flash and camera, it would behead the flash (on the Auto-lock Accessory Shoe, the flash’s little plastic foot would break but you can still mount it on, and it’s faster and cheaper to replace.)
Clockwise from top-left
– in Speed Priority (10 FPS) the A99 crops out the center 2640×1760 region from 6000×4000 pixels, making it a 2.27x crop factor
– the pins on the F60M are cause for concern though, as they look like they could be bent out of place, instead of the spring-loaded pins on other brands
– you can now record videos at up to ISO6400 (compared to ISO1600 on the A77)
– the F60M has LED lights on the front for video, and you can control its power
– the bare LEDs
– the LEDs covered with a wide-angle diffuser
You cannot turn on the LED lights and use the flash as normal when pressing the shutter, unfortunately. Would’ve made for a very cool AF-assist, especially in low light!
It, as well as the top 4 buttons, glow a brilliant deep cinnabar orange. The F60M now has a rotary dial that is also a directional pad with a center button.
Head to head with the F58AM – the F60M is on the left.
Yup, it can trigger the HVL-F56AM when in CTRL/CTRL2 wireless commander mode, and the HVL-F58AM in RMT2 when in CTRL+/CTRL wireless commander mode. I don’t have a picture of the former because my SD card was in the A99, I think. I also did not get to use the F20AM to trigger the F60M because my F20AM had corroded battery contacts and I could not turn it on, only knowing about it when I sent it to the service center days later.
Clockwise from top-left:
– I like the new dot-matrix display!
– it’s a lot easier to enable manual power even though the camera is not in manual exposure
– not sure what this memory thing does
– pressing Test when it is set to 4 seconds makes for a great modelling light or flashlight
– CTRL+ to trigger the F42AM/F43AM/F58AM/F60M, and CTRL to trigger the F36AM/F42AM/F43AM/F56AM/F58AM/F60M
– I love how there are little power bars at the bottom so you know that 16 is more powerful than 1 – sometimes photography can be confusing when F16 is smaller than F4.
Top: Strobe mode goes down to 1/256. Bottom: The main screen when you press Mode.
The new flash stand (left) next to the old flash stand for the F43AM/F58AM (right). Also note that they can sort of clip together at the bottom!
Also, just for kicks, we tried some other flashes on the A99 – we found that the Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-1 and AF-2, for Canon, would not fire when mounted on the A99, but the Nikon versions were fine. It might have something to do with the flash hotshoe on the A99 being not as deep, to allow space for the contact pins.
More to come in a bit, regarding the A99 and other things!
My HTC Desire had just turned 2 years old. It was still going strong, with Sandvold‘s Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich based on CyanogenMod 9. Although I had in my possession a Samsung Galaxy Nexus for a while (in my line of work as an Android app developer) I never quite felt the need to upgrade, as the 1 Ghz Snapdragon was still very competent.
The only missing things were:
– a front-facing camera
– NFC support
– a gyroscope
That, and tiny internal storage space meant gymnastics with partitions especially with apps that would not move to SD card. Plus the few ROMs I tried didn’t quite like my partitions. But anyway!
At the Computex 2011, one amazing product was showcased – the Asus Padfone!
The Internet was abuzz with this, and many were hoping that it would be able to connect to a keyboard dock, like how the Asus Eee Pad Transformer does.
Then Jonney Shih, chairman of Asus, launched it officially at the Mobile World Congress 2012:
Pleasantly, they added the keyboard, and added one more amazing surprise – a capacitive stylus that doubles as a Bluetooth headset! I cannot tell you how cool that is.
And so, here is the final ad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrh_EwFaZ7I
When there was wind of it coming to Malaysia, I pre-ordered it. Unfortunately, I only have what was announced in 2011 – the Padfone and Padfone Station.
Wait, what is a Padfone Station?
Terminology
Padfone – the phone itself
Padfone Station – the tablet
Padfone Station Dock – the keyboard
Stylus Headset – the capacitive stylus that doubles as a Bluetooth headset
The Padfone box has earphones, a wall plug, a Micro USB cable and of course the phone.
The Padfone Station box has a pleasant surprise – when you open it, the first thing you see is a sleeve! It is not a separate item.
As you remove the sleeve and Padfone Station, you can see a pretty box.
The Padfone is on the right, sporting a 4.3″ Super AMOLED screen with qHD 960×540 pixel resolution. The CPU is a Qualcomm 8260A Dual-Core 1.5Ghz and despite there being quad-core phones out there, this phone is very much responsive. It is also surprisingly light, at 129 grams, and yet it has a very premium feel. If you ever wondered what a iPhone 4s would feel like if it was lighter, this would be it! (The difference is only 8 grams, but I put it down to density and weight distribution.)
On the left is my HTC Desire, the original 3.7″ 800×480 AMOLED version.
The Padfone is codenamed A66, fitting since the original Asus Garmin phones were called the A10 and A50.
Thickness and size from the back – the Padfone being on the right, the HTC Desire on the left.
The key selling point is that the Padfone fits into the back of the Padfone Station, and becomes a tablet. However, the tablet cannot operate without the phone inside – it is just a dumb screen.
By putting the phone in the tablet, all your phone’s apps and data are there in the tablet!
Some people would prefer to have a separate tablet so that two people could use it at the same time. This is not for them!
Some people want to use a phone and a tablet, all to themselves. This lets you play Angry Birds on your phone while sitting in the toilet, and continue at home on your tablet. Since I had access to tablets, there are some games I would play on the tablet, but not on the phone, or vice versa, simply because my game progress would be on the other device.
Now with the Padfone, I would not have such a problem at all!
The latch then locks the phone in place. When you open the latch, you can pull down on the door to nudge the phone out slightly.
The slot from the top. From the left is a Micro HDMI Type D port, a Micro USB port, a little button (pressing it will trigger a short vibration because it thinks the Padfone is inserted), and 3 pins (I think they are for a display dock, but I don’t understand why.) Also note the 2 holes for the camera and LED flash!
From the back, you can tell if the Padfone is inside – you can see the camera and LED flash!
The LED flash is blindingly bright – much brighter than my HTC Desire’s. Another very cool thing is that the LED flash can be used in the tablet, making it one of the very few tablets with a LED flash!
There is a power button on the left.
The bottom. This is compatible with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 keyboard dock.
The volume buttons and the earphone/handsfree jack. Also note the large speaker – the Padfone Station can play music clearly, at an uncomfortably loud volume! (Apparently, the Asus engineers spent a lot of time on this.) You’d want to dial it down.
Oh yes, you can receive calls when the phone is plugged into the tablet, in many ways:
1) pull out phone and answer call
2) answer call on tablet loudspeaker (be warned that the tablet’s maximum volume is surprisingly loud, more than most laptops)
3) answer call on tablet loudspeaker, then pull out phone halfway (the conversation will not be cut off!)
4) answer using the stylus headset
5) answer using any Bluetooth headset
6) answer using the handsfree kit that comes with the phone
And finally, from the back. The texture is a very luxurious, smooth metal with a bit of rubber, with a contour that is nice to hold.
The sleeve folds under a little flap to put it at an angle that is suitable for reading…
…and you can move the tablet so it goes into an angle that is suitable for typing.
Of course, with the keyboard dock, you can adjust it at any angle.
So here it is, with my office’s Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 keyboard dock. It doesn’t lock all the way in, though, as you can see from the latch, and if you tilt it too far back, the whole thing will fall backwards!
That is why I have also pre-ordered the Padfone Station Dock – it is very similiar to this dock, except that you cannot tilt it so far back.
Plus, it would probably match better, too!
The sleeve also has a holder for the stylus headset. Oh, I can’t wait!
You can also operate the camera with the latch open – this is what you’d see.
The 8 megapixel camera is pretty good, with a F2.2 lens and autofocus.
Dynamic range test. Not bad! No EV compensation was used.
100% crop from a 6 megapixel 16:9 picture.
This is what it looks like when the latch is open. Gotta love how close it can focus!
Another close shot, this time at 4mm F2.2 1/15s ISO800. I set the ISO to 800, the highest it would go. The angle of view looks quite like a 28mm on full-frame.
The moment I turned it on at the shop, it asked to update the firmware. This is the latest over-the-air update. (Note that this is with the TF101 keyboard dock, not the Padfone Station Dock, so ignore the Padfone Station Dock version.)
I then installed Titanium Backup, and transplanted the MicroSD card from my HTC Desire and restored my apps and app data. So I have all my 3-star scores, unlocked eggs and 100% dragons in all 4 Angry Birds games!
I have not installed any custom ROMs – Asus makes pretty decent bare-bones firmware with very few tweaks to the system. Plus they were the first (as I remember) to put out Ice Cream Sandwich on a device that was not a Google Developer Device (HTC Nexus One, Samsung Nexus S, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Asus Nexus 7, Google Nexus Q). The exact debut was on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, then the original Transformer TF101. It would occasionally randomly restart, but they put out a few firmware updates that gradually fixed the problem. They could do so, since they had very few Android products in the market – compare this to Samsung, who floods the market in every price range with Androids, and as a result, their firmware engineers haven’t got time to work on updating their devices to Ice Cream Sandwich. They were eventually one of the last to update their older devices.
And let’s not even get started on Jelly Bean – but knowing Asus’ track record, I can expect to see it soon.
However, the Padfone does have its caveats:
The Micro HDMI Type-D port on the Padfone does not output anything to a HD screen, and the Padfone does not acknowledge that it is plugged to a screen. So for now we presume it simply cannot. This may also be due to the screen resolution of 960×540 in landscape orientation – it will not output nicely to a 720p or 1080p HD screen (unless it doubles the pixels to make 1080p!)
Alternatively they could make the output 1280×720 as other tablets do, but the Padfone screen cannot support that. The Padfone Station is a 1280×800 screen, but it has no HDMI output!
The USB cable to the Padfone Station does not allow a data connection. This is a major bummer for me as I wanted to make tablet apps – however I can get around by either plugging the Padfone via its Micro USB plug, or using ADB Wireless (requires root access.)
I also tried it with the Transformer TF101 keyboard dock, and it would not allow the data connection, either!
All apps will be closed when you go from phone to tablet or vice versa, and they don’t get retained in the Task Switcher, unless it is added to the exclusion list under Settings – Asus customized setting – Dynamic display switch list. Asus’ own apps are probably added in a hidden list, since those stay when you switch from phone to tablet or vice versa.
I’ve made a video that shows how it all clicks together:
Here’s just a bit more than a year’s worth of Twitter posts, that do not include Tweets just notifying of a blog entry. The reason why I don’t like Twitter or any external content-storing site other than my blog is because there is always that risk that the content you have on whichever site will become inaccessible someday.
From 4th January 2005, Songwriters Avenue 2: @rezasalleh @Pheroxia
1st July
@hikkichan don’t suppose you’re in the inner circle to get an early look at it? I like the idea of a public jukebox.
30 Jun
RM4810 for a double neck acoustic! Spotted at CK Music. @azsamad
30 Jun
Google IO 2012 Keynote, Day 2 starts in less than 10 minutes! @smashpop
29 Jun
RT ‏@Kamigoroshi Let me get this straight. Google is building an AI and integrate us with technology. I welcome becoming Borg with open arms. #googleio
28 Jun
RT ‏@tenoq Congratulations, Google. Now all the tech companies will call you scumbag.
28 Jun
RT ‏@Grg They told Sergey Brin he could be anything, so he decided to be Tony fucking Stark.
28 Jun
@gtp_roadmap I take urban public transport and would like a TT session. Not in Putrajaya though.
27 Jun
@tenoq thanks! Yes they sold it here at XL-Shop Midvalley.
15 Jun
Vegan Black Metal Chef! @duuuhvina @adlinrosli @yungkhang
15 Jun
Don’t call yourself a bass slut unless you’ve played for more than the 38 bands/artistes that @Aldo_Tan has played for. #PrayForAldaEvanTan
14 Jun
Damn I can’t transfer the monthly pass or existing credit from my old Touch N Go which I lost although I have the last reload receipt.
12 Jun
RT ‏@1Obefiend since Jobs died it is harder for people to swallow the Apple propaganda. Its like when Madey stepped down Msian stop believing MSM
12 Jun
RT ‏@1Obefiend What no support for Bahasa Bumiputera on SIRI? They instead support mandarin n cantonese.Ini menghina namanya! #Perkasa #ibrahimAli
12 Jun
@mrkenhong er nope I am not. π
11 Jun
Hi @flizzow can I use your picture of Alda on my blog entry here? http://glaringnotebook.com/?p=1586 Will link back and credit. π
11 Jun
RT ‏@KayKayster He fought a great battle & he did not lose bcos much good came out of it. Not saying goodbye Alda, but See you again soon.
11 Jun
RT ‏@zaradevlin Dear friends & family, @Aldo_Tan’s funeral service will be held on Thursday, 14th June 2012, 10am at St Ignatius Church, Kelana Jaya.
11 Jun
Call me judgemental, but I initially had a feeling about this judge based on previous cases. Guess I was wrong. http://goo.gl/brZtB
11 Jun
@KayKayster @CollinCCH @aldo_tan if girl how? Evangeline?
11 Jun
Rest in peace @Aldo_Tan. I’ll see you at the wake service at St. Ignatius – seems to be the only reason I go there… #PrayForAldaEvanTan
11 Jun
@yungkhang those in Kota Bharu, Kelantan have gotta be the winner. @avrilchan @kamigoroshi Makes me wanna support their stall just because!
10 Jun
Saw a Malay lady with tudung selling nasi lemak at a Chinese kopitiam. There is hope for Malaysia after all!
10 Jun
@ktmkomuter awas penyeluksaku@ KL Sentral KTM pltfm5. Mamat tinggi baju biru cerah belang putih, beg hitam. Tangan dekat poket I, x naik KTM
9 Jun
@ktmkomuter lewat atau tak jalan langsung? Tengah tunggu di Segambut KTM ke KL.
9 Jun
ordered at Rock Corner 1U RM21.90. @olied @chapree @yungkhang @jalijan @amirazrael
6 Jun
RT ‏@syazwinasaw Amazingly ironic when lackeys, who support any government’s decision to opress its people, fawn all over Aung San Suu Kyi. You KIDDING me?
1 Jun
Just realized that the mysteriously banked-in money 3 weeks ago was my tax return!
6 Jun
@EwinEe didn’t go as I had other plans and the average speedcuber solves cubes in half my time. Only my 11x11x11 at 40:34 is competitive.
6 Jun
@zekezakarberg I am back! @hikkichan been trying to call you – Alda got pneumonia and is in critical condition now.
6 Jun
Can’t decide which blows my mind more:
or
4 Jun
Glam rock = rock kangkang. Punk rock = rock bangkang.
3 Jun
On the 29th of May 2012, I went to the Sony NEX-F3 and SLT-A37 launch at the 28th floor, Bridge Bar, G Tower.
Dense parking at the Mini showroom!
The emcee giving out prizes during the lucky draw session.
Here’s the new Sony Alpha NEX-F3, with the new Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE lens! There is a built-in flash which folds up, and can be used in bounce if you pull it back manually.
A highlight of it is that it pulls up all the way to the top, to make camwhoring real easy!
However, it makes over-the-head shots a lot harder. I use this position a lot on my NEX-5. π
Interestingly, the memory card slot gets its own door.
The Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE on the left, and the older Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Active OSS. At 200mm, the latter is shorter…
…however, the newer 18-200mm is less wide and lighter at 460 grams versus 524 grams, with a smaller filter thread of 62mm compared to 67mm, and appears far more sleeker.
The newer 18-200mm cannot focus as close, with a minimum focus distance of 50cm compared to its predecessor’s 30-50cm. It also loses in maximum magnification, at 1:3.7x compared to 1:2.8x.
You can also mount the HVL-F20S (I didn’t bring my NEX-5 or I’d have my HVL-F7S to try it with). However, the pop-up flash will not fire – it is also blocked from reaching its tallest position.
The older 18-200mm looked disporportionate on any NEX except the VG and FS camcorder series.
You could, of course, use the flash and flip the screen up, but you would not be able to see anything!
John Shum of Sony shows us the pink NEX-F3. It’s a deep metallic pink, rather reddish.
The view from the Bridge Bar, 28 storeys above ground.
Interestingly, they’ve made Intelligent Auto more tweakable – from left to right:
– depth of field control (aperture)
– brightness/darkness (exposure value)
– warm/cool (white balance)
– saturation
– Picture Effects
Some things to note in comparison to other NEX cameras (as you can see from pictures of the screen, left to right, then top to bottom):
– The NEX-F3 is on firmware version 1.0
– There is no wireless flash control (only the NEX-7 has this, when using a HVL-F20AM, HVL-F43AM or HVL-F58AM, but not the pop-up flash.)
– Auto ISO has no options to set minimum/maximum ISO within this menu. The standard maximum ISO is ISO 16000.
– You don’t get 50p (that is only on the NEX-5N and NEX-7 so far)
– There is Live View Display – Setting Effect ON (the display shows how bright or dark the exposure will be with the existing shutter speed) or Setting Effect OFF (the display gains up even if you are shooting at F11 ISO200 1/125s – great for studio shooting!)
– There is Wind Noise Reduction, also in the NEX-5N and NEX-7.
– Different grid line options!
– HDMI Resolution – I didn’t have this on my NEX-5 – I assume that this option is only on the NEX-F3, NEX-5N and NEX-7, which support 1080p and 1080i.
– Eco Mode – not sure what this means.
Added 1237 hours +800 GMT, 6th June 2012:
Interestingly, the NEX-F3 is the only Sony Alpha or NEX body with a USB Micro B female port. The USB Micro B port is what you see on most Android and Blackberry phones since 2010. Perhaps this is how Sony plans to prevent somebody from using a NEX-F3 cable to charge a NEX-5N, for example.
The A100 to A900 had some proprietary USB port.
The A230 onwards, up to the A37 and NEX-7, used the USB Mini B female port. The USB Mini B is what you see on early Android and Blackberry phones, as well as card readers and some portable hard disk drives.
I am glad that Sony didn’t remove the HDMI Mini C female port – sure, they can use the MHL standard, like on the Samsung Galaxy S2/Nexus onwards, where it functions as USB charger and HDMI output. The MHL cable can also charge the device, but the cable would be Y-shaped so a USB charger could charge the device while it is plugged to HDMI. It’s just a bit messy and the cables are hard to find.
And more, from left to right, then top to bottom:
– White Balance is similiar to all the new series – you can dial in a WB shift even in AWB, and the M9/G9 control in the old system is gone.
– AF Micro Adjust gets its own menu.
– There is a Table Of Contents of helpful tips!
– Appears to be decent. I didn’t read through the tips, though.
– Auto Portrait Framing, bound to crop many landscapes and buildings away, leaving only tourists.
– LCD Display (DISP) – not sure what this does.
– DISP Button (Monitor) – lets you set what the DISP button cycles through. Regretfully I didn’t try Big Font Size Disp. – should be interesting!
– USB Connection – Auto. Not sure what this is about as well.
There is also a Soft Skin function – what happens when you set that to High and set the Picture Effect to HDR Painting: High?
You get an extremely fake, highly-processed image with an obvious thick halo. The Alpha line hasn’t been known to make such cheesy effects before this. A much more natural option to keep the highlights and shadows without the crappy halo-ing, is to use DRO Level 5 or Auto HDR.
Soft Skin makes for some interesting artifacts, especially at the edge of the face that was detected!
A much better use for Face Detect is with Auto Portrait Framing.
And now, for the Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM! This is at 135mm F5.6, at its minimum focus distance of 45cm and a maximum magnification of 1:4x. It has a filter thread of 62mm.
The lens was also amazingly quiet when autofocusing in video – however as I recorded the video while background music was playing, it wasn’t quiet enough to qualitatively say that you won’t hear the lens focusing in the video.
I did not bring my A900, so I cannot report whether this DT lens clears its vignetting on a full-frame camera.
This is what it looks like, fully extended, on the Sony Alpha SLT-A37.
From the back, the A37 uses a hinge mechanism that gives similiar angles to Sony Alpha’s debut Live View models – the A300 and A350.
Unfortunately, like the A300 and A350, it had a low resolution screen. This looks just horrendous compared to the NEX-F3’s brilliant 921K screen! Also, the viewing angles on the A37 are horrendous – the screen inverts the moment you aren’t looking directly at it.
Ironically, the A33 had a rotating hinge with a decent screen, and the A35 had a fixed 3.0″ XtraFine TruBlack LCD screen. I’d really rather they revert to the A33 screen in this case!
Something else they stripped from the A33 was the Remote mode in the Drive menu – so you could not use the RMT-DSLR1 infrared remote control to trigger the shutter! This was also omitted in the A35. So I wondered what that infrared window was – as it turns out, it was just for the countdown timer to blink. I used a long exposure shot to get the red blinking LED on camera.
The A55 on the left, and the A37 on the right. Pretty much the same size.
From left to right, top to bottom:
– No remote mode.
– No customizable Auto ISO (though there was Multi-Frame Noise Reduction.)
– It seems every new Sony Alpha comes with the new white balance screen.
– This, I love! Zone Area AF area.
– The same old Fn menu.
– Also, the Help menu like on the NEX-F3.
From left to right, top to bottom:
– No larger font size mode (would be nice to have, like it does on the NEX-F3.)
– HDMI Resolution is also selectable here.
– Live View Display, just as described above, invaluable for studio shooting!
– Viewfinder Magnification – Maximum or Standard, for people who wear glasses.
– Bindable buttons! I love that I can bind it to Spot Meter AEL Toggle, my favorite option back on the A100, but a bit redundant since the EVF always shows you how it will meter.
– No 50p here, either.
I really don’t know what Superior Auto Image Extract does.
A quick comparison chart.
Prices in Malaysia. I forgot to take a picture of the A37’s prices.
It seemed like the NEX-F3 was a superior upgrade, but the A37 was just pushed out as it was time to replace the A35 according to product cycles. (I wonder why they don’t decide this for the higher-end cameras sooner!)
