Android hurts me!

I have been using Anroid OS for nearly a month. I really enjoy it, especially the smart searching function. However, this is the fist time it disappoints me. Way back to last Sunday, I picked up the phone, connected to the Internet via EDGE to search for something but the device suddenly turned itself off due to the low battery. I thought the connection was totally cut off thereafter.

At home, I re-charged the battery, turned the phone on, and left it on the table. I found many scores of messages sent from the mobile network provider warning the balance was insufficient! (I’m using pre-paid.) I was so shocked, and I later noticed the GPRD/EDGE connection remained active. I turned it off thinking the phone must be too smart. It automatically retrieved the previous setting just before it was electrical-free.

Fortunately, it was only about 50 Baht. I must be more careful next time. I heard a multitude of smart phone users have to pay for such a thing. The new generation of smart phone is generally designed for the Internet connection.

Best innovation of decade!

Technology is fast developed over the past ten years. A multitude of devices and software were born but the notable among them are, Windows XP, ADSL Internet, Google, and iPhone. They are nominated in the best innovation of decade vote in Blognone.com. I admit they play a pivotal role in the globalized world. Which one touches you most? Me? I gave my vote to Google. Here is my idea for each.

Windows XP: Another big leap of Microsoft Windows, Windows XP gains a lot of positive feedback at its start thanks to its beautiful interface and much-enhanced system. It eventually replaces the outdated OS (Windows 98) and brings overwhelming success to Microsoft before they blew up with Windows Vista in 2006. It is true that a mass of computers run Windows XP but several geeks recently turn to Mac, Ubuntu, or other free open sources.

ADSL Internet: The dream of downloading Korean series within few hours comes true when the hi-speed internet becomes a commonplace. We don’t remember exactly when we put a dial-up modem on shelf. ADSL plays a large part in computer-dominated era. It largely changes our online habit and it could be considered as the beginning of countless beneficial services, such as, video conference, social network, cloud computing, online game, P2P, and many more. Despite the long establishment of hi-speed connection, it has yet covered the whole remote area. Lots of people still keep to 56K speed.

iPhone: The latest gadget from Apple, iPhone, gains much attention from mobile market and even provokes the smart phone revolution. Yes, it means we are no longer monopolized with Windows Mobile which drives us crazy every time it creased. iPhone isn’t just a phone but it is also a fashion! iPhone is usually considered as a leading player when compared with other phones. However, the short period as of its debut can’t prove much. We’d better wait and see.

Google: From the little-know search engine, Google made their long way to be the spearhead in IT industry. Not only its genius search engine, Google also unleashes a variety of  free services, namely, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Map, Google Document, Google Chrome, Picasa, Youtube, and the latest products, Android and Nexus One which believed to receive much popularity. Now, Google is even working on its own operating system–Chrome OS. Their products are smart and free. So, Google deserves my vote as the best innovation of decade for the reason that we all can’t live without it. Can you surf the Internet without a single visit to Google.com?

High pixel = high-resolution image?

Digital cameras are becoming cheaper and there are various models available on the market these days. Pixel normally tops the criteria when we look for a new camera, believing the high-pixel camera will take high-resolution images.  Stop it  if you have this in mind. It is misbelieved!

What’s the pixel then? The number of pixel defines the maximum enlargeable size of photos. For example, 1.3 mega pixel cameras will give us 1280 x 1024 px at maximum, whereas the photos taken by ten mega pixel can be maximally puffed up to 3648 x 2736 px.

Up to this point, I bet many are wondering where high-resolution image is from. Ok, it is due to an image sensor. It is typically called a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) active-pixel sensor. The compact or mobile phone camera usually comes with poor image sensor in comparison with DSLR camera which always produces high-quality photos. (But please except the Japanese call phone. I think it is equipped with rather fine CCD which I saw this with my eyes. Its single pixel phone, Sharp, can take a clear picture that even Nokias with one to five mega pixel are shy.

Hence, test the camera yourself before purchasing to see if it takes good-enough images. You need not to buy the high-pixel camera unless you want to snap yourself and enlarge it to put on the billboard near an expressway.

Google Calendar

Japaneses transforms the online Google Celendar to a real wall calendar. It’s simple yet stunning idea.

Source: http://gigazine.net/index.php?/news/comments/20091228_real_google_calendar/

Chiangkhan

What: The century-old small village on the bank of Mekong River is another fast-growing tourist hotspot thanks to its descendent traditions and tranquility. The archaic wooden houses lined along the road are also captivating.

When: Everyday but long holiday is highly not recommended if you prefer to experience the real Chiangkhan.

Where: Loei, 583 Km. away from Bangkok

Why: Despite over a century, the riverside community still holds its old vibe which umpteen old-time hunters are after.

Note: There is a tradition of offering sticky rice to monks in the early morning, and some travelers are likely to do inappropriate manner. Make sure you don’t bug the local or violate the monk’s prohibition (Monk is not allowed to be touched by women).

Banking

How long does  it usually take to deposit money in your account? Believe me? It shall take over an hour at TMB Bank. I was willing to bank with TMB after I have been leaving its balance at zero for severl months. After receiving queue and filling out the form, I squatted on the sofa and started to wait. I got no. 179 while the tellers were servicing no. 170 and 171. Fifteen minutes went by, one teller was engaged with something, leaving another to serve no. 173. Alright, I left the bank for the mobile shops to look around and I was back within roughly 15 minutes. The service moved up to 174….speechless! I turned my feet back to SCB instead. Opening a new account at SCB is even quicker than depositing in the available account at TMB!

Crowded Christmas

Christmas is another international season that Thai people also snatch this opportunity to celebrate. In fact, we celebrate all occasion whether American, Chinese, and Thai owns. Hence, it should not be surprised to see lots of people were going out to have a party with friends or to photograph the street embellished with lights in the city. To be honest, it was my first time that I went out at such a special night.

Siam Center in Christmas night

The Siam Center area was not hectic after all, not until Siam Paragon. Both footpath and sky walking were thronged with night goers. We had to walk through the flood of people and I started to ponder if we would have a space to take a photo like a couple of weeks ago. It turned out to be as I had predicted. I hardly hit the shutter, for I felt it was uneasy to take photos in such a status quo. I was so amazed to see people flooded into the city to celebrate for Christmas. New Year Count Down is coming and it must be more jam-packed!

We spent our time there less than I expected and we were all got defeated, agreeing to get home. Anyway, at least, I could have dinner with friends and got some (though not good enough) photos back. I was not disappointed after all.

Olympus Trip 35

I have been away from this blog for a while. Life is so-so, nothing to update since last Saturday. It was my latest attempt to drag myself to Klongthom after I had been disappointed with it throughout rainy season. I meant to drop by Saphan Lek to look for a new wallet but I had to be upset again thanks to its price. Not expensive but I expect it cheaper than this. So, I turned to Klongthom instead.

There were lots of vendors all over the place as usual. You know, this night market always makes me bahtless. So did this time. Yes, I got a wallet, priced B200. It looks good enough. My mission should have ended here but it was not. I kept walking through the crowd and ended up paying for sunglasses and new shoulder bag. (There were plenty of goods I wanted to get as always.) Before leaving, I accidentally set my eyes on an old camera Olympus Trip 35, priced 1,200 Baht, but it is not in quite a good shape after all. Anyway,I couldn’t stop thinking of that model all the time.

I began to search for the second-handed Olympus Trip 35 on eBay and Google and eventually found the one I think it is the best option at that momuent. (eBay is slightly cheaper but I have to ask my friend to bid and pay for me in advance. It’s not convenient.) Thus, I got the camera from SiamTLR. It is Klongthom again that made me broke in the mid if the month. If I had not gone there, I wouldn’t have paid for this. Boo!

I’m willing to share photos from this camera here after the film is used up and processed.

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Interview truth?

After people read the shocking headline on the Internet or newspaper yesterday, Timesonline finally releases the full transcript of interview with exiled Thai PM to prove the writer didn’t distort the story as he whined on his Twitter. Please visit Timesonline.co.uk to find out yourself what the ousted Thai leader actually said during the interview.

Note: True Internet user may be uable to access. I couldn’t get into the website at home but not workplace.