Posts filed under 'Electronics'
I can finally come out of the shell and talk about Smart’s latest technology release — Plug ‘n Talk. I met with Smart representatives earlier today and I was able to witness a demonstration of this very cool gadget. It is a hybrid VoIP unit. In a nutshell, the unit which is essentially a thumbdrive accepts a Smart Buddy Simcard, plugged into a Windows computer with internet connection and can take outgoing and incoming voice calls and SMS/MMS messages incurring Philippine local rates. The hybrid nature of the technology is derived from the model whereas the party using the unit uses an over-IP technology which connects to Smart’s network in the Philippines and from there a circuit-switch communication occurs. The reciprocal applies when the unit becomes the receiver. In other words, it’s a VoIP-Circuit-switch technology.
Though I know the launch date, I will not provide that information as well as any pricing. I’m just to excited to post the technology’s overall concept. For more information, visit the hyperlinked site above.
During the demonstration, the call is quite loud and clear, however I won’t be too optimistic. There still is that VoIP characteristic. I’m only after the text messaging because it only costs P1/outgoing message to any Smart/TNT and P2 for Globe/TM/Sun and the MMS which costs the same as what they charge in the Philippines. I’ll have my dongle hooked into my PC and find TXTM8S.
September 3rd, 2008
As I posted a few weeks back, I switched my mobile carrier from Sprint to T-Mobile. With the switch I purchased a Nokia 6301 unit. I spend most of the time in our basement because that’s my room. It’s an underground basement and network signal from any mobile carrier is very faint or nil. Most of the time, I had to go to a spot in order to get a signal. It’s frustrating especially if I’m expecting an urgent call. Thanks to T-Mobile and Nokia, my problem is solved.
I’m probably behind in the knowledge of this technology, but let me document it here anyway. T-Mobile has a service called HotSpot where if you have the service, you can use T-Mobile WiFi hotspots as your network connection. You may call it VoIP plus all the capabilities (WAP/SMS/MMS) of a mobile phone minus the wires. T-Mobile advertises the service by informing you that you can only use their hotspot, thus you have to pay for the service. I had to conduct an experiment before posting this.
After a few weeks of observation, I’m convinced that I can use any available WiFi network that will provide my cellphone an IP address and internet connection without signing up for the T-Mobile HotSpot service. I have my cellphone configured such that anytime it is on the range of my home network, it’ll connect to it. That means I have a very clear signal in my basement. Also in the mall where nobody seems to get any signal, T-Mobile provides a free hotspot — that’s the case in the mall where we frequent anyway.
I can’t say about other carriers and cellphone units because I didn’t sign up on T-Mobile simply because of this capability. As a matter of fact, I only realized this capability when I got home studying the phone. I’m really not a cellphone expert which explains my late discovery of this technology.
August 13th, 2008
I’ve been out of Eee PC news for a while, so I decided to check on what ASUStek has in store for us. They have a 10.0″ beauty in the 1000H 80G model. I strongly recommend the unit for Windows-slave users because it has a gigabyte of RAM and 80GB hard drive running on Genuine Windows XP Home. It’s not a solid state drive before you get your hopes too high.
The model I’m speaking of is using a regular hard drive which explains the minimal cost at huge storage space. Nonetheless, there’s a model sporting a 20GB SSD if you’re interested. The unit weighs 3.2lbs which is not bad. It’s a decent replacement for MacBooks that cost ridiculously high, Toshibas, or Sonys. The battery life is estimated to run at about 7.5 hours. That’s excellent provided the weight. It has Bluetooth capability in addition to WiFi. The webcam is stil mediocre, but it’s not an important peripheral for me.
I’m still not replacing my 701.
August 7th, 2008
I finally had the guts to get rid of my Treo with Sprint. I kind of tolerated Treo’s malfunction for the past year. What I really hate with CDMA service is that I can’t change my phone. So here I finally switched to my former carrier, T-Mobile. My colleague was selling me AT&T, but there’s one feature that made me decide for T-Mobile. That’s SMS/MMS messaging rate for both domestic and international. Signal is no matter for me because whatever they say, that factor is relative.
I ported my old number to the new carrier so that I don’t have to inform people of my number. Besides, it’s free. Anyway, the porting should take about 48 hours, but after the 48th hour, I still didn’t have my number. So I called T-Mobile number transfer support and I found out that the pin# we provided was wrong. I had to reset the pin# via MySprint and it finally went through. The support representative was excellent and made the process very easy. This morning when I woke up, my Nokia 6301 was blinking its beacon telling me that the number was successfully ported. Finally I’m back to a normal telephone.
Now I should send my rebate form.
July 22nd, 2008
Before leaving the house, I saw on the news that the Philippines’ Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will pilot an electronic voting process in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the coming gubernatorial (regional) election in the region. The machines are provided by Avante.
Electronic voting is still a huge issue in the United States and we debated the issue in one of my classes. A few nations have been using this technique for their elections, to some degree. The system is said to be “very” secure according to Smartmatic Sahi’s Vince Dizon because it uses an encryption similar to internet banking.
I’m pessimistic (once again) with this advancement. Firstly, ARMM is a very significant region in the current world affairs. If it was local government we’re talking about, then it would be okay, but this election affects several provinces. My pessimism lies on the technology. Any electronic device that we know of is insecure. Unless the system is using quantum encryption (which is not 100% secure anymore) then my pessimism would go away. If they are using an encryption that internet banking is using, then they are using decades old technology and have been documented to have been broken.
Government is more crucial than banking. If the system in banking catches an anomaly, they can always revert the numbers. In the government, you can’t ask the people to vote again. Election is not stateful, while banking is stateful. There’s a reset in banking, but none in election.
Do I need to mention the possible hackers? I think I’ll leave that to your imagination.
July 21st, 2008
My fellow CCNY alumnus, Andy Grove, wrote in The American about the future of energy in the United States. There he suggested that America ought to head towards the direction of electric fuel because America’s “exposure to the vagaries of oil supply is growing by the month.” I agree that we must make haste the transition from petroleum to electric fuel, but there’s one problem.
There is one big problem with vehicles fueled solely by electricity and that is the reloading. Electric cars can reach about 100 miles before their batteries need to be recharged. The recharge, unlike petroleum, takes time. That is the problem with electric power reload. That would be the main obstacle that engineers will be facing and are probably facing right now.
July 13th, 2008
A (pretty much) summary of my technical encounter with Directv technical support specialists. I am a technical support specialist myself and I know the feeling. Sometimes I just give up on problems because it’s difficult talking to someone on the other end when they are doing something different you’re asking them to do. It’s difficult being blind because that’s how you feel when you are supporting someone over the phone.
Continue Reading June 13th, 2008
I was watching the Mind Of Mencia season 3 last night and in one of the episodes he mentioned about how hard it is for the white people to say what they want. It’s true. Caucasians doesn’t really have the freedom of speech that they should be having. They can’t say certain words because it would be discriminating to the minorities. On the other hand, minorities can say such words in addition to the words that insults or discriminates white people.
In one episode, he also pointed out why America is not ready for a female president yet. I have pointed out many times even before Hillary Clinton ran for senate (it was and still is obvious she’s using New York to eventually ran for president…it’s just many New Yorkers are clueless and naïve) that women will not vote for a female presidential candidate and that’s enough reason why a female president won’t be elected. The reason being that women don’t have faith in their own kind. Women are not confident enough to carry such a burden of “manning” the world’s superpower.
This would be a perfect chance for me to criticize Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, but my thoughts does not deserve such a person. It would be a waste.
# Change of topic begins here
I spent half an hour this morning trying to fix my DVR. The technical support for Directv concluded by sending me another unit. It’s a replacement for my old R15 because it had hard drive problem and this one isn’t properly recognized. I can watch shows and record, but the Directv portal does not recognize it as a DVR and I can’t watch other channels (error 721) like the YES Network. The channel works for other receivers so it’s not a package problem.
# Change of topic ends here
Ayoko nang sumimangot
Ayoko nang magalit
Ayoko nang mamroblema
Ayoko nang mag-isip
June 11th, 2008
Asustek will be releasing the second generation of its Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play PC ultra-mobile notebook on May 12 in the US at a starting price of $549 (12GB SSD on WinXP). The 900 will sport an 8.9″ viewable screen - just an inch and three quarters more than its predecessor - at 1024×600 resolution. It’s increase in size does not affect the overall weight of the UMPC. It weights about 2.18 lbs and a few millimeters larger than the 701. A few more enhancements were made by Asustek to further the gap from evolving UMPCs that are joining the competition.
I am happy with my 701 so this upgrade is really not a temptation for me. However, I highly recommend Eee PC 900 to anyone who wishes to purchase a notebook. It’s really very handy and I do all my writing on the 701. I can just take it out of my bag whenever something comes into my head. It’s really a true notebook.
One advice - if you are buying one, make sure to buy the galaxy black color because the pearl white is ugly. Black looks more professional if ever you are in a meeting :D Oh, get a Brando case also ’cause it’ll look smashing.
May 7th, 2008
Many portable gadgets in the past few years have been coming out that are multi-purpose. Everyone seems to want everything in their cellphones now. While I was with my girlfriend, she remarked that she won’t buy a digital camera because her cellphone already has enough mega pixels to capture the moments. I have no comment on that remark, but it did inspire this entry.
I admit I have a Treo, but that was because of a necessity when my sister offered it to me. I was addicted then and still is to internet radio and with that device only can I listen while away from my high-speed internet. I regret the two-year contract because now I just want a simple phone. As a matter of fact, I have an LG KG320 for my roaming Smart Buddy and I’m loving it. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it doesn’t have memory expansion. I’d love to save more messages, y’know.
I have nothing against iPhones or Nokia N-Series. Personally and professionally speaking, by throwing everything in one hood, compromises were definitely made and they aren’t pretty I’m sure. I have a fixation for quality and the compromises in these devices are definitely not quality, but quantity of functionalities. I won’t rely on a cellphone to capture a moment in my life. It can capture, but not at a better quality that let’s say a Nikon digital camera can. All my digital pictures are kept in their original format and I only edit copies. If you have been around this web site, you’d realize that I have a habit of backing up everything. Later on, I want to get back on these photographs and scan every pixel of it. Especially if I’m taking a photograph of my love one. I will visit every corner of that snapshot and discover many things about her. It’s an obsession,I know.
I hate listening to music from my Treo. For one, you can’t find a decent headset. Second, the phone function would sometimes not work and it’s obvious why – because everything is in a series circuit; you just wouldn’t know what’s going to happen. I’m pretty sure these shortcomings applies also to other multi-purpose cellphones. Also I hate it every time my phone rings, my music stops and it’s worst if I’m in the mood with the music.
I know that these devices serve a single purpose, and that’s to carry only one while having everything. I guess it all depends on the person. I’d rather carry a cellphone, an mp3 player, a camera, and a laptop. At least if one malfunctions, I still can use the others. If I run out of battery for my cellphone, I can still listen to my music and take pictures. If my laptop crashes, I still have my pictures from my camera, my music in my mp3 player, and my contacts in my cellphone memory. Call my primitive, but think about it.
April 8th, 2008
Previous Posts
