Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop Is Just Like a Candy

I'm a fan of small PCs and even dreaming to install a mobile PC in my car. At that time, I only able to build a PC based on Mini-ITX motherboard. It never materialize as I was searching over and over again for a suitable casing. When the Apple Mac Mini introduced, it was awesome but the price still on the steep side (need to fork another thousand ringgit for the display). Then, Dell came up with this gem called Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop. Wow...



Features:

• 7 interchangeable sleeves colour
  
• 80% smaller than most desktop PC
• Come with optional wireless keyboard & mouse (great bargain for sure)
• Use 70% less power than typical desktop PC (energy saver means less electrical bill to pay)
  
• Analog and Digital sound outputs
• Built-in Draft-N Wireless Networking
• HDMI and DVI output
  

In Malaysia, the price for a complete system at the moment (14 August 2008) is starting from RM 2,899.00 inclusive of delivery.

Let's watch Jason unboxed a unit of Dell Studio Hybrid to evaluate is it worth to drool on this cute candy like PC from Dell



Yup, it worth it. As for me it is just a matter of time to get a unit.

The future of Web is here

Freebase Parallax: A new way to browse and explore data from David Huynh on Vimeo
If you want to do some research work on a topic, normally you would pop the browser and search the topic through Google or Wikipedia and click one by one the related URL link. And then extract all information into your notepad or words etc. This is tedious work and you wish that if there is another way, a much better way to help you out? Yes there is, read on.


The principle of this new kind of technology is called semantic web. It's kind of complicated way of handling a data if you ask me, because a single search will divided in several set instead of one to one search result.

Freebaseis one of the application out there that handle this kind of data. It is a global knowledge base: a structured, searchable, writeable and editable database built by a community of contributors, and open to everyone.

But on top of Freebase, David Huynh has designed a novel browsing interface called Parallax where it enhance data result even further.

However, as I search through Freebase data through Parallax, the data that I found will depends how popular the topic is. Of course the the US president will hits lot set of data, but when I search the Malaysian Prime Minister for example, it only shows few things. Maybe we should let the Freebase mature first, or better let participate by becoming one of the contributor. You judge.

Sensational Title - Cashier No 16.3gp

If you want to know the important rule of search engine optimization (SEO), selecting the right page title is one of crucial part. For this example, I'm borrowing the local news keyword 'Cashier No 16.3gp' as part of this blog title. The news were actually about a cashier... well I don't have to elaborate more, read it yourself. It just The important thing is that to choose the most sensational title that you can imagine of. If you are part of the subject in local news, grab that keyword and integrate it in your post. Your page view will sky rocket high for sure.

To all Malaysian folks, if you're looking for this particular video, I'm sorry it is not here. Even though if I have it with me, I won't publish it. I don't want the cops knock on my door searching my PC tonight. This is just a another SEO experiment to study how my fellow Malaysian behave. I'll post my finding later on. Peace.

GMail - Error 502

This error occur yesterday. According to the Google official blog, apparently GMail experiencing a temporary outage in GMail contact system. You know, the section where you save all your friends and contacts info in your GMail application. Luckily I was already at home (GMT +8 Malaysia time) so my GMail or other Google app usage normally drop to 5% only. I'm kind of get to use of this accessibility problem anyway.

Previously, even though my GMail is working, I usually still experiencing some glitch due to either my ISP or my office network congestion. This kind of glitch makes me wondering, are we ready to adapt a full blown service-based software or the Microsoft Outlook still shine for at least 10 more years? A tough question indeed don't you think?

Google Lively - Yet another fantasy chat room

Have you try out the new Google's app called "Lively" lately? yes, no, yes, no? If no, then a short word to describe this app would be, it is just like Second Life. Meaning, it is a platform that lets user create and personalize avatars and their own virtual rooms. Than what so special about it? Read on...

After personalizing to your own taste, you can embed your room to their website, your own blog, Facebook or Myspace pages.


You need to download the app first and the app is running through Internet Explorer or Firefox. Even though the Lively is free, the optional accessories for your avatar like cool shirt or hat is on sale.

To me this personalize avatar and chat rooms is nothing new. I did try out this type apps few years ago and I'm still wondering why do they create this app. It's more like meeting up in a fantasy room doing stuff that they can't do in real life. Get real people.

Olympic 2008 Medal Update

I add the top 10 country Olympic 2008 medal count widget on the right to alert me if Malaysia ever get the top 10. I wonder who will get the first 1 million Ringgit as the Olympic gold medal reward. Get your Olympic Medal Update widget at the official site.

Olympic 2008, Beijing - Youtube Channel

Hey, did you catch the opening ceremony just now. What a spectacular synchronize show. If you missed it, don't worry. You can still watch it (legally) at Youtube. According to CBC Canada news dated August 5, IOC strikes a deal with YouTube to bring Olympics online. You can watch video feeds at a Channel setup by the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS). OK, let's just cut to the chase. Point your browser to http://www.youtube.com/beijing2008 and enjoy the video stream. Catch the Olympic 2008 opening ceremony video.


By the way, apparently you can't embed all video from this channel to your blog. They just won't allow it due to some regions where broadcasters already hold online rights to Olympic video, including Canada. Hahaha, how ironic, I read this news from CBC Canada.

Blogger is now in Malay

I saw this on Blogger Buzz

Here’s a quick summary of recent fixes and changes we’ve made to Blogger:

Blogger is now available in Malay! Blogger has a large base of users in Malaysia and we are excited to now bring them Blogger in their native language.

Basically all wording for each Blogger function are now replaceble into Malay language. If you ask me, this is rather useless as the minimal education here in Malaysia require you to passed the English subject even from primary or secondary school.

Autorun Your CD-ROM using Autorun.inf File

Wondering how to make a CD-ROM automatically play or execute a program from any of your "burned" program or file in your CD-ROM? Well this info is something that you should know ages ago.

The Autorun.inf file is a text file located in the root directory of the compact disc. This file contains the name of the startup application on the disc (the application that runs automatically when the disc is inserted in the CD-ROM drive), and the icon that you want to represent the AutoPlay-enabled compact disc in the Windows user interface. The Autorun.inf file also can contain optional menu commands that you want added to the shortcut menu, which is displayed when the user right-clicks the CD-ROM icon.

At a minimum, an Autorun.inf file contains three lines of text and identifies the startup application and the icon, as shown in the following example:

[autorun]
open=filename.exe
icon=filename.ico

The [autorun] section identifies the lines that follow it as AutoPlay commands. An [autorun] section is required in every Autorun.inf file. The open command specifies the path and file name of the startup application, and the icon command specifies the file that contains the icon information.

The Autorun.inf file also can contain architecture-specific sections for Windows NT 4.0 running on RISC processors. For each type of processor architecture, add a section to the Autorun.inf file that contains the file name of the startup application you want to run for that architecture. For x86 architectures, use the standard [autorun] line. Use [autorun.mips] to run an application on MIPS architecture, [autorun.alpha] for applications on the Alpha architecture, and [autorun.ppc] for the PowerPC architecture. The following example shows how to create an Autorun.inf file that runs different startup applications depending on the computer architecture:

[autorun]
open=filename.exe
icon=filename.ico

[autorun.mips]
open=filenam2.exe
icon=filename.ico

[autorun.alpha]
open=filenam3.exe
icon=filename.ico

[autorun.ppc]
open=filenam4.exe
icon=filename.ico

The shell checks for an architecture-specific section first. If it does not find one, it uses the information in the [autorun] section. After the shell finds a section, it ignores all the other sections, so make sure each section contains all the information for that architecture.

If only Autorun.inf script could automate some part of my life like driving to office in crowded highway.

Join the Streamyx Downtime

I'm having this weird but in away I thought it was funny and frustrated at the same time. My Streamyx connection were down since last Monday (21 July 2008 and today is already 24 July) but only manage to lodge some complains last night. I dialed 100 for TM customer service not once not twice but four times. That's right 4 times. Based on those experience I believe you need to dial TM more than once to rectify/troubleshoot your Streamyx connection. The following is my conversation with the technical supports (in Malay coz I live in Malaysia). It maybe useful to any of current or future Streamyx customers so that you may only need to dialed "100" once or twice.

Technical Support (TS) 1 (A fast talking woman)
TS1: TM teknikal support, apa yg boleh saya bantu.
Me: Streamyx conection saya down.
TS1: Berikan saya no report jika Encik pernah buat report sebelum ni jika belum boleh Encik beri nama user Streamyx
Me: Belum lagi, nama user saya ****
TS1: (Typing in my username on her console) Nama Encik ni Azizul ke? Saya nak confirmkan no contact encik Azizul ialah 01*-******?
Me: Ya
TS1: Ok sebentarya saya kumpulkan maklumat (Put me on hold)
TS1: Ok Encik Azizul sekarang ni encik didepan komputer ke? Modem dah dipasang?
Me: Ya
TS1: Saya dah semak, modem Encik memang tak ada connection ke tempat kami. Boleh saya tahu model modem encik.
Me: Riger.
TS1: Adakah lampu "Link" pada modem tersebut menyala atau tidak.
Me: Lampu kuning berlabel "Link" tu sedang berkelip sejak Isnin lepas.
TS1: Ok, sekarang encik guna OS apa?
Me: Windows Vista
TS1: Saya nak encik pergi ke Start>All Programs>Accessoris>Command Prompt dan taip IPCONFIG
Me: (I thought I can do it faster by typing "cmd" and "enter" at search program, but layan jelah) Ok dah
TS1: Apa IP encik skrg.
Me: (I thought does it important, I can customize my IP instead of using standard IP, but layan jelah) 192.168.1.2
TS1: Telefon talian tetap encik ada bunyi bising tak?
Me: Sekarang ni takde
TS1: Ok Encik Azizul, apa yang saya nak encik buat selepas ini cuba guna kabel pada dinding tu terus ke modem tanpa menggunakan splitter. Restart computer & modem dan cuba buat connection. Sekiranya lampu link tu masih berkelip encik boleh telefon kami semula.
Me: Oh ok
TS1: Ada lagi yang boleh saya bantu?
Me: Takde itu sahaja
TS1: Terima kasih kerana mnghubungi kami (something like this, can't really remember)
Me: sama-sama

Technical Support (TS) 2 (A fast talking but very professional and friendly guy)
TS2: TM teknikal support, apa yg boleh saya bantu.
Me: Streamyx conection saya down.
TS2: Boleh Encik beri nama user Streamyx
Me: nama user saya ****
TS2: (Typing in my username on her console) Nama Encik ni Azizul ke? Saya nak confirmkan no contact encik Azizul ialah 01*-******?
Me: Ya
TS2: Ok sebentarya saya kumpulkan maklumat (Put me on hold)
TS2: Ok Encik Azizul sekarang ni encik didepan komputer ke? Modem dah dipasang?
Me: Ya
TS2: Boleh saya tahu model modem encik.
Me: Riger.
TS2: Adakah lampu "Link" pada modem tersebut menyala atau tidak.
Me: Lampu kuning berlabel "Link" tu sedang berkelip sejak Isnin lepas.
TS2: Ok Encik Azizul, apa yang saya nak encik buat selepas ini cuba guna kabel pada dinding tu terus ke modem tanpa menggunakan splitter. Restart computer & modem dan cuba buat connection. Saya akan berikan 2 senario. Sekiranya dengan cara ini connection encik seperti biasa, bermakna splitter encik rosak. Sekiranya masih tiada connection, saya akan buat satu report dan akan menghantar teknikal kami untuk memeriksa.
Me: Oh ok, saya akan buat macam tu (Ah the same solutions again ka)
TS2: Ada lagi yang boleh saya bantu?
Me: Takde itu sahaja
TS2: Terima kasih kerana mnghubungi kami (something like this, can't really remember)

Technical Support (TS) 3 (Sounded like a tired guy on his long shift)
TS3: TM teknikal support, apa yg boleh saya bantu.
Me: Streamyx conection saya down.
TS3: Boleh Encik beri nama user Streamyx
Me: nama user saya ****
TS3: (Typing in my username on her console) Nama Encik ni Azizul ke? Saya nak confirmkan no contact encik Azizul ialah 01*-******?
Me: Ya
TS3: Ok sebentarya saya kumpulkan maklumat (Put me on hold)
TS3: Ok Encik Azizul sekarang ni encik didepan komputer ke? Modem dah dipasang?
Me: Ya, tadi saya dah call, dah try sambung kabel direct dari dinding ke modem, tapi lampu "link" tu masih berkelip
TS3: Oh berkelip ya encik, tu maknanya connection tak stabil. Boleh saya tahu model modem encik.
Me: Riger.
TS3: Ok Encik Azizul, apa yang saya nak encik buat sekarang ini cuba guna kabel yang lagi satu, bukan yg dari dinding tu, dari ADSL splitter ke modem. Saya nak pastikan bukan masalah kabel
Me: Saya kena letak telefon dulu la kalau nak buat macam tu.
TS3: Oh encik guna talian apa sekarang ni?
Me: Talian tetap TM la, saya dail 100 (duhhhhhhh blur la pulak mamat nih)
TS3: Kalau macam tu, encik cuba dulu. Kalau tak boleh jugak kamai akan open report.
Me: Ok (Arghhhhhhh tensennya akuuu, besok siap, aku tulis dalam blog)
TS3: Ada lagi yang boleh saya bantu?
Me: Takde itu sahaja
TS3: Terima kasih kerana mnghubungi kami (hung up straight)


Technical Support (TS) 4 (A guy pick up and I'm tired already)
TS4: TM teknikal support, apa yg boleh saya bantu.
Me: Streamyx conection saya down. User saya ****, Tapi saya dah buat apa kawan awak cadangkan, dari taip command IPCONFIG sampai la cabut kabel dari splitter (2 kali), tapi masih takleh jugak buat connection (straight to the point hehe).
Ts4: Sebentar ya Encik... Ok encik Azizul ye bercakap, no contact encik 01*-******, betul ke encik?
Me: Ya (berapa kali mau tanya da)
TS4: Sebentar ya encik, saya kumpulkan maklumat yang kawan saya dah masukkan. (Put me on hold)
TS4: Encik Azizul, dah buat semua tukar kabel dan sambung terus kabel dari dinding tetapi masih takde connectionkan?
Me: Ya
TS4: Saya akan buka report dan TM teknikal akan contact Encik Azizul dalam masa 2 atau 3 hari ni.
Me: Oklah
TS4: Ada lagi yang boleh saya bantu?
Me: Takde itu sahaja
TS4: Terima kasih kerana mnghubungi kami
Me: Penatnyaaaa den.

I wonder if I can claim the lost of use for this no Streamyx connection time. YO TM, It's been 4 days already. No. It's been 94 hours already (more numbers :p).

Streamyx Combo

It's been 2 months since my last post here. The reason? Simply no internet connectivity at home. I used to have the Celcom 3G but I terminate it since May due to lack of coverage here in Semenyih. Plus I'm staying here for good so there is no need for me to have the internet connection wherever I go (I do now realize I can't browse while driving :P)

While looking for ISP alternative, I decided to choose Streamyx. Despite the bad reputation that the Streamyx user stamp on this ISP, I still want to give it a try. I thought of the cable broadband is much reliable compared to mobile broadband. Well it is confirm much more reliable (compared to Celcom 3G).

While researching on Streamyx service, I decided to get the Streamyx Combo 1MB plan (I want the 4MB plan but there is no coverage here in Semenyih - greedy). I thought it would be smarter to ditch the phone line monthly rental but later it just saved up a few ringgit. But with petrol price ridiculously high, every cent counts.

The detail comparison between normal Streamyx & Streamyx Combo package as follow:

	384Kbps with modem		512Kbps with modem		1Mbps with modem		2Mbps with modem		4Mbps with modem
	Normal	Combo	Normal	Combo	Normal	Combo	Normal	Combo	Normal	Combo
Streamyx subscription fee	RM45	RM60	RM77	RM90	RM99	RM110	RM188	RM140	RM268	RM160
Phone line monthly rental	RM26	Free	RM26	Free	RM26	Free	RM26	Free	RM26	Free
Monthly bill pay to TM	RM71	RM60	RM103	RM90	RM125	RM110	RM214	RM140	RM	RM160
Monthly bill saving	RM11		RM13		RM15		RM74		RM134

Previously I don't have fixed line phone service at Semenyih but I have it at my old house, so I need to transfer the line and bare the charges:

Streamyx activation fee = RM75
Streamyx installation fee (optional) = RM88 (I simply use the self installed & collect the modem myself)
Home fixed line new wiring fee (less than 5m) = RM50

If I'm going to subscribe a new fixed line phone, I will need to add up:

Home fixed line Initial Deposit = RM75
Home fixed line activation fee = RM50
Home fixed line stamp duty = RM10

The voice call rates remain the same for all packages.

The package is good if you're a new Streamyx customer. For the existing normal Streamyx customer you still need to pay the Streamyx activation fee (RM 75) Ouch.....

Happy Labour Day (or some call it May Day)

Wow it's a labour day today, I never thought of anxiously waiting this particular public holiday previously. Although it is just a day to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers, for me getting out of the month of April is worth of a celebration because April of 2008 is the longest month that I ever experience in my life. Why? I'll tell you why in short while, but first let just celebrate the day by smiling and knowing that the trio burglar who broke in our office last week were arrested last Sunday and are now remanded in Penang. (Read the full news here).

Let's get back to the story of the longest April in my life. It started on 1st April itself. My wife called to inform that she invloved in a car accident. I wish it was April fool prank so that I knew that in the end everything is a lie, but it was not. My wife and her friend were fine and the damage looks minor to me, but to be involve in an accident is a tedeous process. Initial police report and waiting the police to investigate for 2 weeks is fine, after all it is written on the wall. But what they failed to tell us all is that you need to wait another 2 weeks to get the printed investigation report after the investigation is done. Until now the car still in the workshop. I wish this would never happened again, ever.

As the day reaching 4th of April, my former CEO informed me that NCE is having a financial difficulty (perhaps the suitable word is financial disaster). But he promissed to pay the March salary on 8 April. After changing the date 3 times, it was never happened. It was a clear sign to me (after so many signs) that I need to move on. An entire family at a stake here. I did calculate the financial damage done here would affect us for at least 5 months. Damn. I wish this would never happened again, period.

15th April was my new chapter at Papyrus Media. It is a new company setup, I even acted as photographer during the official Papyrus Media Open Day ceremony. But a week after that, 3 indian burglars broke in and took all notebook including my external hardisk, and other stuff. The estimated total lost were around RM 24000. I thought it wouldn't happen to me but I thought wrong. See the full CCTV video footage below.



To a relief, I recieved a message that NCE would pay my March salary but 3 days after that the bank called to inform that they can't process the cheque. Yup, rejected. Sob sob, don't you guys tested my patience enough?

Well that is the whole story of my life in April 2008. Could it be a lot more worse than these? You bet, but who knows, maybe something good come could out of this mess.

SOA based apps

Justin has compiled a useful SOA based applications or some called it as service-oriented business applications (SOBAs). What ever it is, for each application, you just need a browser to do the task, no desktop based application required (some may require browser plugin).

... read on 40 Excellent Web Based Tools to Help You Design from Anywhere.

15 April

I woke up this morning and I heard Mazidul Akmal Sidek and Abby Fana talking in the MHI about what happened on 15 April for the past years or centuries. If I can remember some of it are something like the following:

The birth of Leonardo da Vinci
RMS Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic
Hillsborough disaster - 96 people died (all fans of Liverpool Football Club)

and some others (if interested check Wikipedia's On This Day for a lot more events). But the main point of 15 April in my life this year is that I change job again. Yup, again. Although I add this as reserved plan but I never thought of using it this fast (just over 3 months). To be honest I really hated changing work place too often but nothing much I could do to improve the situation. What really happened? I rather not saying this to the public but I could say that a father, husband or son could do anything to protect what really maters to him. Well in my case, my big family of course. I also did some thinking for the past 2 weeks and a lot of kick ass apps start pouring in my brain. It just a matter of time to complete each one of those app. Well wish me luck.

How to keep focus at work?

Did you ever feel that time really flies? You start your day by browse through your email, read news, click on link, spend hours and hours on unrelated-to-work website. When you knew it, the time is up and you're still wondering what did you do all day. Did you ever wish to overcome this? Well it is up to the individual to improve them self towards a better job or service done.

Another scenario is when you are working alone or self employed. How to keep track your time spend or how to analyze your time management towards your goal.

Yet another scenario, if you are an employer, did you ever wish that you could analyze the time spend by each of your employee?

I'm not sure how other people solve those scenarios but the way I see it there is a tool out there that specifically solve all of those (or at least half of it). Why don't you try the RescueTime. Yup the tools literally could save your time.

RescueTime is a web-based time-management tool that allows you to easily understand how you spend your time. One of the coolest things about RescueTime is that there is NO DATA ENTRY. You install a doohicky on your computer and they "magically" track all of your time usage. Take their product tour for better understanding.