I have been a Windows user all my life but since I have to change my OS when I buy a new laptop and Vista sux, I might as well get a Mac with the latest OS X Snow Leopard.

Hopefully, there will be some good deals at the COMEX 2009 in Singapore. It is unlikely that Apple’s going to lower the price, however, give me free upgrade to more RAM or a bigger HDD for my new MacBook Pro.

The iPhone crippled bluetooth can use bluetooth earpiece or bluetooth headset.

iPhone does not support:

• Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
• Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
• Basic Imaging Profile (BIP)
• Basic Printing Profile (BPP)
• Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP)
• Device ID Profile (DID)
• Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN)
• Fax Profile (FAX)
• File Transfer Profile (FTP)
• General Audio/Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP)
• Generic Access Profile (GAP)
• Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP)
• Human Interface Device Profile (HID)
• Intercom Profile (ICP)
• Object Push Profile (OPP)
• Personal Area Networking Profile (PAN)
• Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
• Serial Port Profile (SPP)
• Service Discovery Application Profile (SDAP)
• SIM Access Profile (SAP,SIM)
• Synchronisation Profile (synch)
• Video Distribution Profile (vdp)
• Wireless Application Protocol Bearer (WAPB)

Source: iPhone’s Bluetooth is dumb, purposely crippled or both?

iPhone 3GS Bluetooth with Windows Vista

As for the new iPhone 3GS, Windows Vista may the the culprit that prevent proper communication over bluetooth. My Vista kept asking to look for “Bluetooth Peripheral Device”?! Apparently, Vista does not have a driver to support iPhone 3GS bluetooth profiles.

If you mange to connect using bluetooth for Internet tethering, leave a comment below.

Everything on the new iPhone 3GS is fast & cool Except …

How to Switch iPhone to Silent Mode?

Switch your mobile phone to Silent Mode is a vitally important function and I expect Apple to make it really easy for me to switch the iPhone to Silent Mode.

To a iPhone noob like me, everything else was easy except for the fact that I could not make the iPhone to just vibrate and not ring. Even after nearly an hour trying out all the options in the Settings, I was still clueless!

Is it because I am too used to Nokia and Sony Ericsson?

I was too lazy to read the quick start or the user guide instead I text a friend for help and within minutes I got a reply:

“Slide the switch on the left side of the phone above the volume control”

Yes. It was that simple. Thank you Jeffrey!

The Starhub MaxMobile Prepaid bundle promotion includes a Huawei E1750 USB modem (HSDPA 7.2Mbps/HSUPA 5.6Mbps) and Prepaid SIM card plus 2 additional $6 top-up cards and it costs only $149. The Huawei E1750 USB Modem is priced at CNY800(about S$171) so I thought there must be a catch for Starhub to offer the 7.2Mbps mobile broadband prepaid bundle at such low price, S$149!

Maybe the Starhub E1750 is locked and cannot accept other service provider SIM cards.

Tested M1 Mobile Broadband SIM Card in Starhub Mobile Broadband Modem

So I set out to test my new Starhub mobile broadband modem, Huawei E1750, with my exisiting M1 Mobile Broadband SIM card which I have been using for the past 1 year in the M1’s Vodafone E220 USB Modem.

With the Vodafone E220 USB modem, all the settings were configured nicely for M1 SIM card so I have no idea how to configure it for the E1750. Luckily, after some googling I found the M1 settings at AlvinPoh.com.

Here’s the screen shots on the value to enter for the Starhub’s Huawei E1750 USB modem:

• Dial Number: *99#
• Username: ppp@aplus.at
• Password: ppp

Also, ensure that both CHAP and PAP are not selected in the Advanced settings.

Once connected, the DNS are:
- 202.65.244.31
- 202.65.247.32

The M1 mobile broadband SIM card can actually work with my new Starhub MaxMobile Prepaid modem!

Starhub MaxMobile USB Modem is Not Locked

So the Starhub E1750 USB modem is unlocked.

Confirmed.

How about Singtel Mobile Broadband?

Connection settings for Singtel Mobile Broadband:

1. Number to dial is *99#
2. DNS to use is 165.21.83.88 and 165.21.100.88
3. APN for Singtel is “internet”
4. Username =
5. Password =

Next week , when I get my hand on Singtel BBOM SIM card, I shall test it with the E1750. Or, maybe you have already tried it? Do leave your comment below.

For more information, visit Singtel website now.

What’s new are the BBOM Premium and Platinum plans (7.2Mbps/1.5Mbps):

• BBoM Plus – 1GB @ $19.90
• BBoM Premium – 10GB @ $29.90
• BBoM Platinum – 30GB @ $39.90

[Updated on 10 July 2009]

Then I search on Google for Singtel iPhone 3GS and read about the Dow Jones Newswires on CNN Money.

CNN Money: SingTel To Offer iPhone 3GS In Singapore On July 10

Here’s why you want to own the new iPhone 3GS:

• 2X faster
• Video, edit it and share it
• 3-megapixel camera, auto-focus
• Voice control
• Digital compass and GPS
• Cut, copy, and paste words and photos, even between applications
• Landscape Keyboard
• Send MMS and forward one or more messages to others
• Internet tethering
• Spotlight searches everything in your iPhone
• and all those free apps from iTune Store

Yes. I am buying the

- iPod Touch
- external HDD (will check out both the WD My Book World Edition 1 TB and the Buffalo Linkstation Pro Duo)

and thinking of adding Creative Gigaworks T3 to my collection of speakers – I already have 3 sets of speakers big and small.

So what are you going to buy at this year PC Show?

A new MacBook Pro? A new smartphone e.g. HTC Magic? Or a super slim and lightweight 10″ Netbook?

I believe HTC Magic is the first Android phone offered by M1. However, I will wait for a little while to see how’s the response to the new phone. I am still keen to look at the Samsung i7500 before making the decision on my next smartphone. I think the Samsung Android phone has better specs than the HTC Magic e.g. 8GB internal memory, 3.5mm earphone jack and multitudes of video formats: MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and WMV.

HTC Magic Specifications

MSI X340 Review

There many MSI X340 reviews already and you can find them with Google and read all about the pro and con.

• MSI’s MacBook Air Killer Is a Real Gas
• MSI X340 (silver)
• MSI X340 Review: The Unemployed Man’s MacBook Air

Even Engadget has featured several articles on this gorgeous looking machine. So I would not say much on the MSI X340 except… I want it.

The MSI X340 Launch

So let’s talk about the X340 launch event organised by Corbell Technology.

I think the organizer should not have let me waited nearly an hour before they started making the presentation. People were already getting bored and doing their own things. I think we all came for the lucky draw and really want to get over with it…

Who Else Wanted The X-Slim X340? Black or White?

The X-Slim X340 is really a desirable machine and I really like the white one… it is sexy but pricey at $1,599.

I was telling myself that if the X340 were to cost S$1,200 inclusive of a external DVD writer then I will go make some money to get one.

[Updated on 11 Jun 2009] MSI X-Slim X340 price dropped to S$1,388 at the PC Show. But, still too pricey for me, maybe it would go down to S$1,188 at the next Comex 2009.

Indeed, when I was researching to write this blog post, I discovered e-retailer in the US is already selling it for US$799. This is about S$1,200 and at this price I believe it can attract high-end netbook consumers – especially the ladies.

Yes, I will wait for a couple months for the price to drop and then get one so that I can carry it around – not worrying about the weight and battery life.

And did I tell you that the LED display looks really good?

[Updated on 2 Jul 2009] The official list price of X340 is now $1,388 so the street price is even lower now. I am really tempted to pull out my credit card….

Starhub’s HTC Magic Promotion

Starhub will be offering free one-month subscription to the MaxMobile Value to those who buy the HTC Magic. The channels include CNN, CNBC, Animax and the Football Channel.

HTC Magic Launched in Singapore

I didn’t realized the HTC Magic was launched in Singapore on 14 May 2009.

However, I have yet to see any of the carrier service providers offering them. So when huh?

Samsung Android Phone

I really want to know more about this new Samsung Android phone and how the i7500 compares with the HTC Magic.

Samsung i7500 Specifications

But both models are not officially available yet and there are very few reviews on these phones. Maybe the Samsung i7500 will be available at the PC Show 2009 at Suntec City next month.

“Comparing to the specs of i7500, I think HTC Magic is a waste of time…”

Even Youtube has not few good video on the new Samsung Android phone.

This video on the Samsung i7500 from Tech65.org probably the best preview I’ve seen so far.

If you come across any good Samsung i7500 review, please let me know and leave a comment below.

The Original FX Trilogy

Back in 2007, when Nikon launched the first FX format DSLR – D3, it also rolled out two new lenses, and bundled it with an older lens; many call these 3 lenses the ‘FX Trilogy”

• AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
• AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
• AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED

Image Sensor: Nikon FX vs Nikon DX

Those numbers work out to be 131% larger area for FX than DX format. More area to pack more pixels resulting on lesser noise.

When you use a DX lens on a FX camera, the resulting image is smaller than the FX image sensor area and you’ll get a cropped picture with lesser pixels and lower resolution. This wastes much of the capability of the FX cameras.

Use Non-DX Lens on Your D700

All non-DX lenses, older AF or manual focus, will give you full frame image on the FX format DSLR.

In other words, non-DX lenses are FX lenses!

You can really get amazingly good picture with the right lens on the Nikon D700! Here’s a video comparing D700 vs F5 using the same 85mm/F1.8 lens. So you see, you can use your good old Nikkor AF lens on the new D700 to get even better result.

I talked to 3 of my friends who visited the IT Show 2009 and all said this year’s show is no different from last year – “just as crowded”. In fact, the organizer of the IT Show said that he expected more revenue this year because people waited since last December to make purchase at this year’s IT Show.

Ready to buy something? Digital cameras, netbooks, portable HDD, IBM laptops or the iMac 24-inch.

Go check out this IT Show 2009 Price List…

[Update 16 March 2009]
IT Show 2009 generated a record $58.5M – $4.5M more than last year! – The worst may be over? If you think figures don’t lie then start buying up Singapore stocks.

Who wants to pay $38 for this HTC Dream when the new HTC Magic (Android G2) has already been announced on HTC official website.

Singtel HTC Dream Launch

A report in today’s Straits Times (B14)… “Although there were no long queue at the weekend launch, Singtel said sales of the phone fell within expectations.”

It depends where you set the expectations!

HTC Dream Review

Try google for htc dream review or t-mobile g1 review(for the USA market) and you will see for yourself why you should wait for the HTC Magic.

Engadget said: “The G1(HTC Dream) isn’t going to blow anyone’s mind right out of the gate.”

The Sydney Morning Herald said: “Unfortunately the Dream can’t decide whether it’s a touchscreen device or not.”

So much for the negative comments of the HTC Dream. Let’s take a sneek at the HTC Magic instead.

HTC Magic Getting Rave Early Review

Unfortunately, there is no HTC Magic review on the production unit yet. What we have here are units displayed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Whether it’s early hype or otherwise it is good for the HTC Magic to be said to be “Getting close to perfection…”

So one can’t help but to compare this new HTC Magic to the iPhone.

“HTC has got a very smooth phone, which feels great on your hands and in your pants’ pockets. While it’s sightly thicker than the iPhone, the narrower, rounded body, and weight makes it feel the same size.”

And, this time round, HTC remembered to include video recording in the HTC Magic.

See it for yourself, here’s a HTC Magic Hands-on Video:

Now, I can’t wait to get my hands on the new HTC Magic aka Android G2. Maybe, Singtel should have included free upgrade to HTC Magic for all those who have purchased the HTC Dream and I don’t think they have sold many!

[Updated on 13 May 2009] I changed my mind on the HTC Magic, instead I will go for Samsung Android Phone – the Samsung i7500. The i7500 has a 8G memory, the 3.5mmm ear jack and other better specs; and I always wanted to get a Samsung.

I tend to shop at the IT Show more than the other 3 shows… PC Show, Comex and SITEX because it is the first IT & Home Electronics trade show of the year.

So here’s what I want to buy:

• 32″ LCD TV
• DVD HDD Recorder
• External DVD Burner
  – the new Asus External Slim DVD Drive SDRW-08D1S-U
  
• Small Form Factor (SFF) PC

Best Sellers at the IT Show

I guess beside the Netbook, accessories for the Netbook would be also the best sellers. People will need external DVD burner to install software, burner photo albums and more. Well, I definitely need one for my little eee PC.

So what are you buying at this year IT Show?