Happy New Year Everyone! By the time this post is out in public, most of the countries in Eastern Hemisphere are in 2012, while the rest of countries are still in 2011.
Let's this blog start off with a making money post. A lot of us have somehow, somewhere and sometime in our life have played or seen Typing game or Typing training software. Either a freeware or a paid game or Facebook game, they are not really fun anyway, well, it was fun at beginning, but somehow we get bored and never touch the game or software again, unlike Angry Birds which can be pick up after long but still feel excited for it. :)
The service (or a product??) that I want to introduce to you is Captcha.Trader.
Let's understand Captcha first. Captcha has been widely use in file-server services, to prevent machine/robot or automatic scripts being use to occupied all the download bandwidth. Captcha also being use on some website to prevent spam comments by robot/scripts.
Captcha.Trader can be use in JDownloader and MiPony to help to automatically resolve captcha. I will cover JDownloader and Mipony in future post(s). Captcha.Trader also available for Android, WP7 and iOS!
Since captcha need human eye to solve it, so Captcha.Trader need real people to solve the captcha for they customers. Here's how it work:
1. We open an account at Captcha.Trader.
2. We earn credits by solving captcha for Captcha.Trader. Captcha.Trader will give us the captcha and we type the answer into Captcha.Trader.
3. Captcha.Trader allow us to cash the credit.
100 Captcha.Trader credit is equivalent to 1 cent (US Dolar). You can choose to cash out by Amazon gift card (minimum $5), or Paypal (minimum $2.50, or AlertPay (minimum $1).
Even though the money is small, but here a calculation you can refer to:
1. Every captcha that Captcha.Trader send is around 20 to 30 seconds. Let's take 30 seconds as worst case.
2. Average users need 7 seconds to solve it. Let's take 10 seconds into calculation as worst case.
3. If a person work at home, in front of computer for 8 hours, he or she can key-in 720 captcha.
[ (8*60*60)/(30+10) = 720 ]
4. Usually one captcha worth 7 credits. So 5040 credits.
[ 720 * 7 = 5040 ]
5. 5000 credits is worth $0.50. Looks small but by doing that for 20 days only, we can get around $10.
Since we going to surf net and facebook-ing anyway, why not make use of the time to earn some extra money? Beside earning money, there is another good thing to have Captcha.Trader. I will write about it in future.
To sign up, go to link below:
Captcha.Trader.
Like this if you are FB user and you think this post is useful. The button is at top right of content of this post.
+1 this post if you are Google+ users and you think this post is useful.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Battle of the Gadgets
Today is the last day of 2011!
Now, before we go to face the 'End of The World year - 2012', there is a summary of battle of technologies and gadgets.
If you are old enough, you should have known these products or gadgets from somewhere or used these products or gadget before.
The infographic included:
Betamax vs VHS - both are dinosaurs now :P
Sega Genesis vs Super Nintendo - both are retired now
Laserdisc vs DVD - DVD still popular since BD still expensive
Nook vs Kindle - on going fight!
BD vs HD-DVD - BD won, but for how long since nowadays more and more people are moving to online streaming
PS3 vs Xbox360 vs Wii - on going fight!
Zune vs iPod - iPod won, most people at countries outside of US never ever see the Zune real product anyway.
Click on the image to see in full side.
Happy New Year!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: dailyinfographic.com
Now, before we go to face the 'End of The World year - 2012', there is a summary of battle of technologies and gadgets.
If you are old enough, you should have known these products or gadgets from somewhere or used these products or gadget before.
The infographic included:
Betamax vs VHS - both are dinosaurs now :P
Sega Genesis vs Super Nintendo - both are retired now
Laserdisc vs DVD - DVD still popular since BD still expensive
Nook vs Kindle - on going fight!
BD vs HD-DVD - BD won, but for how long since nowadays more and more people are moving to online streaming
PS3 vs Xbox360 vs Wii - on going fight!
Zune vs iPod - iPod won, most people at countries outside of US never ever see the Zune real product anyway.
Click on the image to see in full side.
Happy New Year!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: dailyinfographic.com
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Play LEGO without buying LEGO
Excuse me? How to play LEGO without buying LEGO?
Imagination in my brain?
Not really, we are really able to play or design LEGO with need to buy the LEGO first.
Introducing LEGO Digital Designer.
The downloaded setup file size is about 140MB and installation need about 200MB only.
Here is the interface (from Lego website, I don't need to explain it again here, haha):
It will calculate how many of each type blocks that you need to build a Lego project, which is very convenient when you going to buy the real physical Lego to build the real Lego project.
It also include the Lego with micro computer, Lego Power Function, which make it a is a very good planning tool to plan for a Lego project, either huge or big or small.
Talking about Lego, I posted a few video showing Lego projects that people built using Lego:
How to waste 8mins on Tuesday
Build film projector with LEGO
Predict eclipses with LEGO
ARM that solves Rubik's Cube
To download this software, go this this link, choose either Windows or Mac OSX. Supported Windows version are Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.
http://ldd.lego.com/download/default.aspx
And yes, it is absolutely free!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
pix source: LEGO website
video source: http://ldd.lego.com/getstarted/default.aspx
Imagination in my brain?
Not really, we are really able to play or design LEGO with need to buy the LEGO first.
Introducing LEGO Digital Designer.
The downloaded setup file size is about 140MB and installation need about 200MB only.
Here is the interface (from Lego website, I don't need to explain it again here, haha):
It will calculate how many of each type blocks that you need to build a Lego project, which is very convenient when you going to buy the real physical Lego to build the real Lego project.
It also include the Lego with micro computer, Lego Power Function, which make it a is a very good planning tool to plan for a Lego project, either huge or big or small.
Talking about Lego, I posted a few video showing Lego projects that people built using Lego:
How to waste 8mins on Tuesday
Build film projector with LEGO
Predict eclipses with LEGO
ARM that solves Rubik's Cube
To download this software, go this this link, choose either Windows or Mac OSX. Supported Windows version are Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.
http://ldd.lego.com/download/default.aspx
And yes, it is absolutely free!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
pix source: LEGO website
video source: http://ldd.lego.com/getstarted/default.aspx
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Making Intel Graphics more comfortable to see
If your laptop is the new Sandy Bridge platform and using Intel's integrated graphics, and if your eyes sometimes feels very tired after staring at laptop's monitor after a while, then you are on same situation like me.
In order to prolong the battery life, the default setting of the refresh rate on Intel Graphics is most likely is set at 40Hz only. This is a very good feature on Sandy Bridge platform to preserve power, my few months old Sandy Bridge HP laptop on single charge can last up to 7 to 8 hours on wired network, or 4 to 5 hours on WiFi [okay, okay, it should be longer, but I always open at least 15 Windows at same time, not including over 30 Chrome tabs :P ]
However if your eyes are sensitive like mine, 40Hz refresh rate would be more like a burden than convenient. I would rather bring along the charger than killing my eyes.
To make Intel Graphics more comfortable to see, here are few simple steps:
1. Open Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel (the top left icon in below picture) by double click on it.
2. Change the refresh rate from 40Hz to 60Hz. Save it as a new Display Profiles.
3. Repeat the step while the laptop on charging as well. My laptop has both on charging and on battery at 40Hz refresh rate, so I have to change the refresh rate and save the Display Profile for both.
Do note that changing power profile might change it back again to 40Hz again, use the above step to make your eye comfortable. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this tutorial!
In order to prolong the battery life, the default setting of the refresh rate on Intel Graphics is most likely is set at 40Hz only. This is a very good feature on Sandy Bridge platform to preserve power, my few months old Sandy Bridge HP laptop on single charge can last up to 7 to 8 hours on wired network, or 4 to 5 hours on WiFi [okay, okay, it should be longer, but I always open at least 15 Windows at same time, not including over 30 Chrome tabs :P ]
However if your eyes are sensitive like mine, 40Hz refresh rate would be more like a burden than convenient. I would rather bring along the charger than killing my eyes.
To make Intel Graphics more comfortable to see, here are few simple steps:
1. Open Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel (the top left icon in below picture) by double click on it.
2. Change the refresh rate from 40Hz to 60Hz. Save it as a new Display Profiles.
3. Repeat the step while the laptop on charging as well. My laptop has both on charging and on battery at 40Hz refresh rate, so I have to change the refresh rate and save the Display Profile for both.
Do note that changing power profile might change it back again to 40Hz again, use the above step to make your eye comfortable. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this tutorial!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
How to run Windows XP programs in Windows 7?
If you have programs (or we call them apps nowadays, thanks to Apple) that runs only on Windows XP and will not run on Windows 7 at all. Even you tried to execute the program by setting "Compatibility" (in properties) to run as Windows XP, the program will stubbornly not run at all. It is time to install a virtual PC on your Windows 7.
There are other methods to allow you to run the native Windows XP program:
1. Install Windows XP and Windows 7, and make the PC dual boot - Windows XP and Windows 7 co-exist on same system. However this will create quite a messy files system and I am not sure will it works.
2. You can also install virtual box on Windows 7 and then install the Windows XP. However you will need the original setup CD of Windows XP. Who would ever keep the Windows XP setup CD?
3. Buy a second hand system that come with Windows XP. Or install Windows XP on the old system, but need the original Windows XP setup CD as well.
Microsoft is kind enough to provide this Windows XP virtual [read: MS is not always so generous, okay]. Here are what to do:
1. Go to the virtual pc website of MS
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
2. Choose to download for Windows XP virtual pc.
3. The website will need to verify if your Windows 7 is a legitimate, you will need to allow the download and execute this file "WindowsActivationUpdate.exe". I have to use IE to do this, using Chrome to download and execute taking forever (Probably MS purposely make it that way?).
4. After verification, it will bring you to the actual download page. There are 4 steps to follow, first step is to save that web page or print it for reference. I skipped the first step and jump to step 2 to step 4. :P
5. There are 3 files to download:
7. After restart your PC, time to run Windows XP virtual PC for first time.
a. Start -> All Programs -> Windows Virtual PC -> Windows XP Mode
8. You will have to wait a while for the first time because it will install the Windows XP.
a. Key in a password for the Windows XP virtual PC when it ask for it. Not needed to be same with your Windows 7 password.
9. After Windows XP boot up in virtual PC, you will able to see this. Note the BlueStacks gadget next to it. :D
10. The C drive and D drive in this virtual PC is not the same one on your Windows 7. They are virtual disk on this virtual PC. However your actual disks on Windows 7 should be link as a network disk in the virtual PC.
11. Go ahead and install the programs that you want to use in Windows 7.
Things to note: there are no shutdown option in this virtual Windows XP. Click on "Ctrl+Alt+Del" on the virtual PC windows and select shutdown. Or course no hibernate for this Windows XP as well.
It took ~2 to 3GB of disk space from the Windows 7 system for the Windows XP virtual PC default installation, not including the additional software you going to install on the virtual PC.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
There are other methods to allow you to run the native Windows XP program:
1. Install Windows XP and Windows 7, and make the PC dual boot - Windows XP and Windows 7 co-exist on same system. However this will create quite a messy files system and I am not sure will it works.
2. You can also install virtual box on Windows 7 and then install the Windows XP. However you will need the original setup CD of Windows XP. Who would ever keep the Windows XP setup CD?
3. Buy a second hand system that come with Windows XP. Or install Windows XP on the old system, but need the original Windows XP setup CD as well.
Microsoft is kind enough to provide this Windows XP virtual [read: MS is not always so generous, okay]. Here are what to do:
1. Go to the virtual pc website of MS
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
2. Choose to download for Windows XP virtual pc.
3. The website will need to verify if your Windows 7 is a legitimate, you will need to allow the download and execute this file "WindowsActivationUpdate.exe". I have to use IE to do this, using Chrome to download and execute taking forever (Probably MS purposely make it that way?).
4. After verification, it will bring you to the actual download page. There are 4 steps to follow, first step is to save that web page or print it for reference. I skipped the first step and jump to step 2 to step 4. :P
5. There are 3 files to download:
- Windows XP virtual PC (WindowsXPMode_N_en-us.exe) ~460MB.
- Virtual PC update (Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu) ~16MB
- WinXP virtual PC update (Windows6.1-KB977206-x64.msu) ~4MB
7. After restart your PC, time to run Windows XP virtual PC for first time.
a. Start -> All Programs -> Windows Virtual PC -> Windows XP Mode
8. You will have to wait a while for the first time because it will install the Windows XP.
a. Key in a password for the Windows XP virtual PC when it ask for it. Not needed to be same with your Windows 7 password.
9. After Windows XP boot up in virtual PC, you will able to see this. Note the BlueStacks gadget next to it. :D
10. The C drive and D drive in this virtual PC is not the same one on your Windows 7. They are virtual disk on this virtual PC. However your actual disks on Windows 7 should be link as a network disk in the virtual PC.
11. Go ahead and install the programs that you want to use in Windows 7.
Things to note: there are no shutdown option in this virtual Windows XP. Click on "Ctrl+Alt+Del" on the virtual PC windows and select shutdown. Or course no hibernate for this Windows XP as well.
It took ~2 to 3GB of disk space from the Windows 7 system for the Windows XP virtual PC default installation, not including the additional software you going to install on the virtual PC.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Monday, December 26, 2011
How to embed PDF in blogger?
This should works for PDF and any document that uploaded or created in Google docs.
I posted this so that I can find this blogging tips easily next time when I want to embed another PDF or Google docs in my blog.
1. Make sure you are using "Edit HTML" mode when adding the code below (Otherwise, it will try to load the document in "Compose" mode as soon as you paste the code).
<iframe frameborder="0" height="75%" width="50%"
src="http://docs.google.com/gview?
a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=false&api=true&embedded=true&srcid=
0B6E4pzOCFjPAMjA1MTFiNzQtOTZiYi00NTM4LWEzZDItMzcxOGI1NTRlNTIz"
width="100%"></iframe>
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
2. Open the PDF or google documents at docs.google.com, copy the documents ID from the URL and replace with the ID in the code above (bold and purple font). It should be a bunch of numbers and letters starting at srcid= and ending with =en. Or between srcid= and double quote.
3. Adjust the height and width of the PDF or document you want to display in your blog. It can be in percentage or pixel. The example showed here is in percentage.
height="75%" width="50%"
4. Hit "PREVIEW" button to preview it to make sure it is in the size that you want. If not, go back to step 3 to edit the height and width.
I used this method to embed a PDF which is a ebook of this blog in previous post:
Publish your blog into PDF and Kindle and ePub
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source of this tips: http://www.google.ca/support/forum/p/Google+Docs/thread?tid=2e81a3ec8fc33480&hl=en
I posted this so that I can find this blogging tips easily next time when I want to embed another PDF or Google docs in my blog.
1. Make sure you are using "Edit HTML" mode when adding the code below (Otherwise, it will try to load the document in "Compose" mode as soon as you paste the code).
<iframe frameborder="0" height="75%" width="50%"
src="http://docs.google.com/gview?
a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=false&api=true&embedded=true&srcid=
0B6E4pzOCFjPAMjA1MTFiNzQtOTZiYi00NTM4LWEzZDItMzcxOGI1NTRlNTIz"
width="100%"></iframe>
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
2. Open the PDF or google documents at docs.google.com, copy the documents ID from the URL and replace with the ID in the code above (bold and purple font). It should be a bunch of numbers and letters starting at srcid= and ending with =en. Or between srcid= and double quote.
3. Adjust the height and width of the PDF or document you want to display in your blog. It can be in percentage or pixel. The example showed here is in percentage.
height="75%" width="50%"
4. Hit "PREVIEW" button to preview it to make sure it is in the size that you want. If not, go back to step 3 to edit the height and width.
I used this method to embed a PDF which is a ebook of this blog in previous post:
Publish your blog into PDF and Kindle and ePub
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source of this tips: http://www.google.ca/support/forum/p/Google+Docs/thread?tid=2e81a3ec8fc33480&hl=en
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Batman (1966) in Lego
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Friday, December 23, 2011
Publish your blog into PDF and Kindle and ePub
Blog is a dream of everyone who wish to publish their idea. Think of the time before internet, to publish an article, we have to send the article to every single news papers or magazine publishers at downtown and hope that the editor like it very much and publish it. Painful right?
At the time of free website (geocities and so on), there are too many stuffs to configure, too many codes to take care just to make the website looks okay only.
But when blog came out, it is super easy to publish our idea, pictures, and video. There are tens of thousands of blog template that freely available. Since then everyone become publisher.
However what if you want to convert your blog into an PDF or Kindle or ePub, so that you could print it out as a book. Of course you can send it to a publisher, but how much it would cost?
Recently I saw this website that provide free service to convert blog or website into PDF or Kindle or ePub a.k.a. your book! And it is free. Yes, free with limited features, but with the first 20 posting that being included into your book would be a good start to publish it.
I use Zinepal to publish this blog into a book (PDF/Kindle/ePub).
Even without sign up with Zinepal, I can convert this blog into a book. But I cannot customize it. So I sign up for a free account and edit the layout.
So here it is, my "book" ;-)
Of course there is no free lunch in this world, Zinepal will include their link into the book. But this is good start. If you feel like want to really publish a real PDF without ads, you can sign up for pro account.
I would not introduce something that need to be pay here. Because I am Outdated Penang Uncle!
Merry Christmas for those celebrating and happy holiday!
Happy New Year to everyone!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
At the time of free website (geocities and so on), there are too many stuffs to configure, too many codes to take care just to make the website looks okay only.
But when blog came out, it is super easy to publish our idea, pictures, and video. There are tens of thousands of blog template that freely available. Since then everyone become publisher.
However what if you want to convert your blog into an PDF or Kindle or ePub, so that you could print it out as a book. Of course you can send it to a publisher, but how much it would cost?
Recently I saw this website that provide free service to convert blog or website into PDF or Kindle or ePub a.k.a. your book! And it is free. Yes, free with limited features, but with the first 20 posting that being included into your book would be a good start to publish it.
I use Zinepal to publish this blog into a book (PDF/Kindle/ePub).
Even without sign up with Zinepal, I can convert this blog into a book. But I cannot customize it. So I sign up for a free account and edit the layout.
So here it is, my "book" ;-)
Of course there is no free lunch in this world, Zinepal will include their link into the book. But this is good start. If you feel like want to really publish a real PDF without ads, you can sign up for pro account.
I would not introduce something that need to be pay here. Because I am Outdated Penang Uncle!
Merry Christmas for those celebrating and happy holiday!
Happy New Year to everyone!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Find your apps quick
Nowadays everything must be fast and quick. Anything that slow is a big NO NO. That's why we have google, smartphones, GPS, and tablet, everything has to be done within a blink of eyes. That's why Quixey come to the picture. It helps us to find apps for everything. Yes, everything meaning Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Chrome, Firefox, Facebook, and so on.
I did a search for WhatsApp, the very hot apps on Android, iOS and Blackberry. The result is WhatsApp for Android, Blackberry, iOS and Nokia. Beside the price, it also include some introduction and version number. If there is picture or tweets or video about the apps, you can also take a look of the apps before go to download/buy it.
The search result also shows some other similar apps.
Next search for Angry Birds Rio. 12 editions of Angry Birds Rio show up, including free version, paid version and HD version.
So if you saw your friends using a cool apps on his/her smartphone, don't worry that you will left out if you using different OS/platform. Go to Quixey to find the apps.
Thegoogle link of apps:
http://www.quixey.com/
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
pix source: Quixey
p/s: I wrote this!
I did a search for WhatsApp, the very hot apps on Android, iOS and Blackberry. The result is WhatsApp for Android, Blackberry, iOS and Nokia. Beside the price, it also include some introduction and version number. If there is picture or tweets or video about the apps, you can also take a look of the apps before go to download/buy it.
The search result also shows some other similar apps.
Next search for Angry Birds Rio. 12 editions of Angry Birds Rio show up, including free version, paid version and HD version.
So if you saw your friends using a cool apps on his/her smartphone, don't worry that you will left out if you using different OS/platform. Go to Quixey to find the apps.
The
http://www.quixey.com/
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
pix source: Quixey
p/s: I wrote this!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Samsung Galaxy Note - a crossover of smartphone and tablet
I saw this "thing" at Kuala Lumpur last month at some Samsung roadshow. It was a bit sluggish when I tried it. The sales person forgot or don't know how to kill background apps to give the best out of Android. Anyway, I know that it should be powerful enough to meet some expectation.
If you call it a smartphone, it is too huge.
If you call it a tablet, it is too small.
So I would call it crossover of smartphone and tablet. This concept is very popular these few years in automotive industry (crossover of sedan and SVU/offroad).
To see the hardware spec, I always go to the old and fateful gsmarena.com.
When comparing with Samsung Galaxy S 2, there only a few things that different between these 2 phones, everything else are pretty much the same. It is like Ford Focus hatchback and Ford Focus sedan. :-)
What are the different?
1. The screen, which is very obvious; 5.3 inches vs 4.3 inches; 800x1280 vs 480x800
2. Processor a bit faster; 1.4GHz vs 1.2GHz.
3. Stylus [stylus was very popular during Windows Mobile time, because everything on touch screen back then was super tiny!]
What are the best ones among the good ones on both phone?
Gorilla Glass! , Dual core processors and support external microSD cards.
Link to comparison on gsmarena:
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4135&idPhone2=3621
Smartphone review without video is a NO NO. So after some "research", here are some review video from pocketnow.com.
Samsung Galaxy Note Unboxing
Jump to 2:05 to skip the stuffs that come with the box.
Jump to 2:30 to see the stylus in action.
Jump to 3:13 to see how tiny other smartphones compare to Samsung Galaxy Note.
Samsung Galaxy Note Hardware Review
Jump to 3:40 to see the speed benchmark.
Samsung Galaxy Note Software Review (15 mins of video!)
Jump to 4:48 to see note can be taken at any apps.
Jump to 5:58 to see DLNA in action.
Jump to 7:00 to see more stylus action.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
video source: pocketnow.com
p/s: yes, this post is way too late since SGN being announced, this is OutdatedPenangUncle.blogspot.com!
If you call it a smartphone, it is too huge.
If you call it a tablet, it is too small.
So I would call it crossover of smartphone and tablet. This concept is very popular these few years in automotive industry (crossover of sedan and SVU/offroad).
To see the hardware spec, I always go to the old and fateful gsmarena.com.
When comparing with Samsung Galaxy S 2, there only a few things that different between these 2 phones, everything else are pretty much the same. It is like Ford Focus hatchback and Ford Focus sedan. :-)
What are the different?
1. The screen, which is very obvious; 5.3 inches vs 4.3 inches; 800x1280 vs 480x800
2. Processor a bit faster; 1.4GHz vs 1.2GHz.
3. Stylus [stylus was very popular during Windows Mobile time, because everything on touch screen back then was super tiny!]
What are the best ones among the good ones on both phone?
Gorilla Glass! , Dual core processors and support external microSD cards.
Link to comparison on gsmarena:
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4135&idPhone2=3621
Smartphone review without video is a NO NO. So after some "research", here are some review video from pocketnow.com.
Samsung Galaxy Note Unboxing
Jump to 2:05 to skip the stuffs that come with the box.
Jump to 2:30 to see the stylus in action.
Jump to 3:13 to see how tiny other smartphones compare to Samsung Galaxy Note.
Samsung Galaxy Note Hardware Review
Jump to 3:40 to see the speed benchmark.
Samsung Galaxy Note Software Review (15 mins of video!)
Jump to 4:48 to see note can be taken at any apps.
Jump to 5:58 to see DLNA in action.
Jump to 7:00 to see more stylus action.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
video source: pocketnow.com
p/s: yes, this post is way too late since SGN being announced, this is OutdatedPenangUncle.blogspot.com!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Manage HP laptop wireless connections
This tutorial works only for HP laptop (applicable to desktop if has WiFi and/or bluetooth).
My company gives (almost) everyone in the company a laptop each for work purpose (of course you have to return the laptop if you resign). Since the IT department has concern about the security of the laptops, they will not using the default setup (OS and programs/software) that come together with the laptop. They will format and re-install OS, and programs/software that custom made to the company. Too bad that this IT department always left out some software that I think is useful. They might do it on purpose since the Windows already has the default programs.
The work laptop I am having right is a HP EliteBook 8460p. The only HP program the IT department installed for me is HP HotKey Support, which is required to works with the function keys on this laptop.
However, there is no connection manager being installed. Whenever I press the "Wireless" button , it will turn on both bluetooth and WiFi at same time, which I don't want it that way all the time. Wifi and bluetooth will draw power from the battery. I want to preserve some battery juice if possible. Sometime I want to sync my smartphone with the laptop through bluetooth, so I don't need the WiFi.
After some research at HP website, I found out there are a few HP Connection Manager. I chosen the one the labeled "HP Connection Manager - Power Only mode" because all I want is to control the power of WiFi and BlueTooth.
Here is the direct link the page to download the setup file:
HP connection manager link
This program should works for all current HP laptop models and OS supported are from Windows XP to Windows 7.
After installation, I can find the HP Connection Manager icon on the taskbar notification area.
This is the icon.
Right click on the icon will bring up the Connection Manager, click on the button to turn on/off Wifi and/or BlueTooth. In this picture, I turn on Wifi, but turn off BlueTooth. I also have the option to turn on Airplane mode which actually turn off both WiFi and BlueTooth.
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source: I wrote this!
My company gives (almost) everyone in the company a laptop each for work purpose (of course you have to return the laptop if you resign). Since the IT department has concern about the security of the laptops, they will not using the default setup (OS and programs/software) that come together with the laptop. They will format and re-install OS, and programs/software that custom made to the company. Too bad that this IT department always left out some software that I think is useful. They might do it on purpose since the Windows already has the default programs.
The work laptop I am having right is a HP EliteBook 8460p. The only HP program the IT department installed for me is HP HotKey Support, which is required to works with the function keys on this laptop.
However, there is no connection manager being installed. Whenever I press the "Wireless" button , it will turn on both bluetooth and WiFi at same time, which I don't want it that way all the time. Wifi and bluetooth will draw power from the battery. I want to preserve some battery juice if possible. Sometime I want to sync my smartphone with the laptop through bluetooth, so I don't need the WiFi.
After some research at HP website, I found out there are a few HP Connection Manager. I chosen the one the labeled "HP Connection Manager - Power Only mode" because all I want is to control the power of WiFi and BlueTooth.
Here is the direct link the page to download the setup file:
HP connection manager link
This program should works for all current HP laptop models and OS supported are from Windows XP to Windows 7.
After installation, I can find the HP Connection Manager icon on the taskbar notification area.
This is the icon.
Right click on the icon will bring up the Connection Manager, click on the button to turn on/off Wifi and/or BlueTooth. In this picture, I turn on Wifi, but turn off BlueTooth. I also have the option to turn on Airplane mode which actually turn off both WiFi and BlueTooth.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Samsung Galaxy Nexus - everything you need to know
Usually I will post the phone review before the teardown, but for this Samsung Galaxy Nexus, I do it the other way this time. I have posted the teardown few days ago. Actually I don't really do the review. What I did was grep some video from youtube and website. That's is called research, my teacher told me. I would hope that I have the chance to do some review on my own. Telco or smartphone.tablet maker's marketing guys (and ladies), do contact me for smartphone/tablet review. :)
Samsung Galaxy Nexus Unboxing, which was not done by Mr Miniman, so it was a bit lame. You can skip it. :P
Samsung Galaxy Nexus Hardware Tour, which was not done by Mr Miniman as well. But this one is less lame compare with unboxing video above. You should spend bit of time to watch it.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus First Boot and some GUI intro, not done by Mr Miniman as well. sigh.
Jump to 3.:30 if you don't want to see the login to google.
Jump to 5:00 if you want to look at the widgets directly.
Side by side comparison of Samsung Galaxy Nexus and iPhone 4S. iPhone 4S looks very small!
Mr Miniman do this video personally, yeah!
Jump to 6:49 if you want to see the browser comparison.
Jump to 10:00 if you want to see how iPhone 4S looks terrible on playing youtube video. ;-)
Jump to 12:30 if you want to see how iPhone 4S's screen looks terrible again on showing pictures. ;-)
Jump to 14:00 if you want to see Galaxy Nexus slower loading a racing game apps, but start the game a it faster.
More browser speed test. This time include Samsung Galaxy S 2.
Time 0 to 4:30 is just demo of browser on Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Some special features of the browser.
Jump to 4:41 to see side by side browser comparison of iPhone 4S vs Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy S 2.
Jump to 6:02, I like the auto text wrap on Samsung Galaxy S 2.
Jump to 7:25 for youtube playback performance.
Jump to 8:20 to see youtube playback error on iPhone 4S! ;-)
Here is an ads from Google that selling the new features available on Android 4.0.
In summary, there will be some pros and cons on each smartphone. At end of day, it is the one that satisfy your need and also meeting the budget. Happy shopping!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: videos by pocketnow.com
Samsung Galaxy Nexus Unboxing, which was not done by Mr Miniman, so it was a bit lame. You can skip it. :P
Samsung Galaxy Nexus Hardware Tour, which was not done by Mr Miniman as well. But this one is less lame compare with unboxing video above. You should spend bit of time to watch it.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus First Boot and some GUI intro, not done by Mr Miniman as well. sigh.
Jump to 3.:30 if you don't want to see the login to google.
Jump to 5:00 if you want to look at the widgets directly.
Side by side comparison of Samsung Galaxy Nexus and iPhone 4S. iPhone 4S looks very small!
Mr Miniman do this video personally, yeah!
Jump to 6:49 if you want to see the browser comparison.
Jump to 10:00 if you want to see how iPhone 4S looks terrible on playing youtube video. ;-)
Jump to 12:30 if you want to see how iPhone 4S's screen looks terrible again on showing pictures. ;-)
Jump to 14:00 if you want to see Galaxy Nexus slower loading a racing game apps, but start the game a it faster.
More browser speed test. This time include Samsung Galaxy S 2.
Time 0 to 4:30 is just demo of browser on Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Some special features of the browser.
Jump to 4:41 to see side by side browser comparison of iPhone 4S vs Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy S 2.
Jump to 6:02, I like the auto text wrap on Samsung Galaxy S 2.
Jump to 7:25 for youtube playback performance.
Jump to 8:20 to see youtube playback error on iPhone 4S! ;-)
Here is an ads from Google that selling the new features available on Android 4.0.
In summary, there will be some pros and cons on each smartphone. At end of day, it is the one that satisfy your need and also meeting the budget. Happy shopping!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: videos by pocketnow.com
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Summary of 2011
It is almost end of 2011. All media will start to publish summary of 2011 or review of 2011. News, either sad or happy, are part of history book now. Ever year, Google will also produce a summary according the keywords being searched on Google. Google called it Zeitgeist. Here is the Zeitgeist 2011: Year In Review by Google.
This blog made it to 50k pageview at Nov. The all time most popular post are always the mobilism posts.
ppcwarez.org changed to mobilism.org
Mobilism (ppcwarez.org) is back online
Excluding the mobilism posts, the most popular post this year should be the post about how to put picture side by side on blogspot/blogger:
How to put picture side by side in Blogspot or Blogger
Follow by Samsung Galaxy S 2 screen problem and it's review:
Samsung Galaxy S 2 screen problem?
Samsung Galaxy S 2 - everything you need to know
I believe the BlueStacks posts will soon take over the Samsung Galaxy S 2 posts:
How to install apk into BlueStacks
How to enable Android Market for BlueStacks
How about you? What is your 2011 summary?
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: google and youtube
This blog made it to 50k pageview at Nov. The all time most popular post are always the mobilism posts.
ppcwarez.org changed to mobilism.org
Mobilism (ppcwarez.org) is back online
Excluding the mobilism posts, the most popular post this year should be the post about how to put picture side by side on blogspot/blogger:
How to put picture side by side in Blogspot or Blogger
Follow by Samsung Galaxy S 2 screen problem and it's review:
Samsung Galaxy S 2 screen problem?
Samsung Galaxy S 2 - everything you need to know
I believe the BlueStacks posts will soon take over the Samsung Galaxy S 2 posts:
How to install apk into BlueStacks
How to enable Android Market for BlueStacks
How about you? What is your 2011 summary?
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: google and youtube
Saturday, December 17, 2011
PS Vita unboxing
If you follow Engadget and other tech websites, PS Vita might have been mentioned and being demo at some gadget shows. An gadget website at HongKong managed to get hold on a PS Vita (Jap version) and played an Romance of Three Kingdom game.
Need translation? [my opinion is in square bracket]
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: youtube via Kotaku.com
Need translation? [my opinion is in square bracket]
Time 1:19 - Back side of PS Vita has lots of small icon consist of the symbol of PS (The square, triangle, cross and circle)
Time 1:27 - Camera
Time 1:37 - The gadget looks huge, but the weight feels relatively lighter. Build quality feels good.
Time 1:49 - the buttons are smaller than PSP
Time 2:03 - power button next to the card slot
Time 2:25 - this PS Vita has been changed to display Chinese characters.
Time 2:29 - the time of this unboxing video is 3:36pm, Dec 16.
Time 2:42 - the interface, nice!
Time 3:08 - demo of game [the game is in Japanese]
Time 4:25 - can use the touch screen
Time 4:45 - [some pages of the game cannot be operate by touch screen, not fully touch screen yet, still need the buttons to operate]
Time 5:00 - the color is very nice
Time 6:20 - home button take you all the way to the begin screen of the game and then to home screen
Time 6:32 - the game card slot [looks like SD card, except it is curve at top]
Time 7:03 - right hand side is a normal SD card
Time 7:12 - not sure of the function of this socket
Time 7:26 - socket for charging
Time 7:30 - socket for earphone
Time 7:38 - socket for 3G dongle. This model is a wifi model only, so no 3G dongle inserted here.
Time 7:53 - Lets look at the package of games. Smaller than DVD, BD box.
Time 8:11 - Left side is some menu or brouchers, right side is the slot for the game card.
Time 8:23 - Cable for charging. One side of it doesn't match with other products in the market at the moment.
Time 1:27 - Camera
Time 1:37 - The gadget looks huge, but the weight feels relatively lighter. Build quality feels good.
Time 1:49 - the buttons are smaller than PSP
Time 2:03 - power button next to the card slot
Time 2:25 - this PS Vita has been changed to display Chinese characters.
Time 2:29 - the time of this unboxing video is 3:36pm, Dec 16.
Time 2:42 - the interface, nice!
Time 3:08 - demo of game [the game is in Japanese]
Time 4:25 - can use the touch screen
Time 4:45 - [some pages of the game cannot be operate by touch screen, not fully touch screen yet, still need the buttons to operate]
Time 5:00 - the color is very nice
Time 6:20 - home button take you all the way to the begin screen of the game and then to home screen
Time 6:32 - the game card slot [looks like SD card, except it is curve at top]
Time 7:03 - right hand side is a normal SD card
Time 7:12 - not sure of the function of this socket
Time 7:26 - socket for charging
Time 7:30 - socket for earphone
Time 7:38 - socket for 3G dongle. This model is a wifi model only, so no 3G dongle inserted here.
Time 7:53 - Lets look at the package of games. Smaller than DVD, BD box.
Time 8:11 - Left side is some menu or brouchers, right side is the slot for the game card.
Time 8:23 - Cable for charging. One side of it doesn't match with other products in the market at the moment.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: youtube via Kotaku.com
Friday, December 16, 2011
Notorious S.I.R.I.
SIRI, the talking apps for iOS has been hacked for London's Music Hack Day 2011. SIRI raps Notorious B.I.G in this video. The sky is the limit with what SIRI can do nowadays. We are one more step closer to Skynet? :P
Previously I posted SIRI duet with a male singer.
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/10/duet-with-siri.html
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source: saw this at blameitonthevoices.com and youtube!
Previously I posted SIRI duet with a male singer.
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/10/duet-with-siri.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: saw this at blameitonthevoices.com and youtube!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Biggest Daytime Fireworks Show
Seriously, daytime fireworks? What I gonna see? Nothing except smokes right? Well, I had the same thought before I saw this video. A Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang uses computer to control computer microchips on the fireworks. And here you go, enjoy!
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source: youtube!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: youtube!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Waste time Thursday
I think I have not posted any waste time post on Thursday, so here it is. Whole 5 minutes of dogs sticking their heads out car windows, in slow-motion. Great for dog lovers.
I am still trying to figure out good tutorial to write, please stay tune okay? In mean time, check out more waste time posts.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: saw this at vimeo :P
I am still trying to figure out good tutorial to write, please stay tune okay? In mean time, check out more waste time posts.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: saw this at vimeo :P
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Extend Windows desktop to 4 desktops
Why would someone extend a Windows desktop to 4 desktop? For those that used to Linux would know that that help to organize the Windows, you can put some jobs in one desktop and another jobs in another. By doing that you don't always have to look into every Windows just find the MS office or MathLab or Chrome.
I could put all personal web browsing in one desktop and work related Windows into another desktop. So when your boss drop by your cubicle, he/she would see your clean desktop with just work related stuffs. ;-)
There are a few similar software that have this kind of function. Today I would want to introduce Dexpot. It is free of charge for personal use.
It supports older version of Windows such as Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows NT4, but upto version 1.4 only.
It also have portable version, which I like it very much!
You can configure different wallpapers and screen saver for each desktop. However I didn't try the password. One Windows login password is enough, why want to have so many password? I would think this is very useful if you are sharing one computer with another person, there is no need to login and logout every time want to change user. Just use Dexpot to assign each Desktop to each user. By doing this it can be share with 4 persons!
There is a powerful component in Dexpot that automatically distribute the Windows into different Desktop. By configure it correctly, you can always make sure your facebook page is not same desktop with simulation windows.
There are many more features, but it would be super long post. So I leave it to you to explorer. :)
Dexpot download page
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
pix source: http://dexpot.de
Source: I wrote this!
I could put all personal web browsing in one desktop and work related Windows into another desktop. So when your boss drop by your cubicle, he/she would see your clean desktop with just work related stuffs. ;-)
There are a few similar software that have this kind of function. Today I would want to introduce Dexpot. It is free of charge for personal use.
It supports older version of Windows such as Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows NT4, but upto version 1.4 only.
It also have portable version, which I like it very much!
You can configure different wallpapers and screen saver for each desktop. However I didn't try the password. One Windows login password is enough, why want to have so many password? I would think this is very useful if you are sharing one computer with another person, there is no need to login and logout every time want to change user. Just use Dexpot to assign each Desktop to each user. By doing this it can be share with 4 persons!
There is a powerful component in Dexpot that automatically distribute the Windows into different Desktop. By configure it correctly, you can always make sure your facebook page is not same desktop with simulation windows.
There are many more features, but it would be super long post. So I leave it to you to explorer. :)
Dexpot download page
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
pix source: http://dexpot.de
Source: I wrote this!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Extracting video or audio from MKV
Recently my brother gave me a mkv video file which I have a problem playing with my laptop. Initially I thought that the laptop problem or the k-lite that I install is outdated. So I went to download and install the latest k-lite. But this didn't resolve the problem. And I did tried with Windows Media Player, KMPLayer, and MediaPlayerClassic, playback of the same file still very sluggish. Later when I check the file format with MediaInfo (come together with k-lite), the video inside the mkv is actually rmvb. I think all the playback software did not know how to decode rmvb inside mkv correctly.
After some goggle-ing, I found a MKV extract tool that can separate video and/or audio. By separating the rmvb video and the audio (forgot what format was the audio) from the mkv, I can play the movie with no problem. Due to I did not intend to keep the movie (watch and delete!), so I did not merge the video with the audio that I extracted. What I did was play the rmvb and load the audio file at same time with KMPlayer.
The tools (actually is 2 tools) to extract video and/or audio from mkv that I mentioned is MKVExtractGUI and MKVToolnix. I found them at videohelp.com.
MKVEXtractGUI is the GUI and MKVtoolnix is the executable file. Please download them from the links that I included on the name on this paragraph. Don't worry, both of them are freeware. :)
After downloaded them, unzip them to same folder. Run MKVEXtractGUI.
1. Choose your mkv you want to extract, it will show you what are the track (video and audio) that you can extract.
2. Make sure you also choose the output directory.
3. Check or uncheck that format that you want or don't want from the "Track/Attachment list" box.
4. Click "Extract" and wait for it to complete.
5. Check the output dir, you should able to find the file you want.
You can also merge them back to mkv format (maybe exclude one of the track, to save space) using mkvmergeGUI that included in MKVtoolnix.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: http://www.videohelp.com
After some goggle-ing, I found a MKV extract tool that can separate video and/or audio. By separating the rmvb video and the audio (forgot what format was the audio) from the mkv, I can play the movie with no problem. Due to I did not intend to keep the movie (watch and delete!), so I did not merge the video with the audio that I extracted. What I did was play the rmvb and load the audio file at same time with KMPlayer.
The tools (actually is 2 tools) to extract video and/or audio from mkv that I mentioned is MKVExtractGUI and MKVToolnix. I found them at videohelp.com.
MKVEXtractGUI is the GUI and MKVtoolnix is the executable file. Please download them from the links that I included on the name on this paragraph. Don't worry, both of them are freeware. :)
After downloaded them, unzip them to same folder. Run MKVEXtractGUI.
2. Make sure you also choose the output directory.
3. Check or uncheck that format that you want or don't want from the "Track/Attachment list" box.
4. Click "Extract" and wait for it to complete.
5. Check the output dir, you should able to find the file you want.
You can also merge them back to mkv format (maybe exclude one of the track, to save space) using mkvmergeGUI that included in MKVtoolnix.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: http://www.videohelp.com
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Decorate Windows with Snow Flakes
Usually at this time of year, a lot of people would start changing their wallpapers or Windows theme to something very Christmas. Here is something to impress your family or colleagues or customers.
DesktopSnowOK is just small ~57k zip file (~79k after unzip). You can put it any place you want and execute the .exe file. DesktopSnowOK.ini will be generated to keep the setting. DesktopSnowOK is a portable software, so please copy both files (exe and ini) when you want to transfer the program and its setting to thumbdrive or another computer.
As you can see in the picture above, DesktopSnowOK (below BlueStacks) will generate the snowflakes all over your desktop.
There is a few settings to change:
1. Number of flakes
2. Transparency of flakes
3. Speed - how fast the flakes fall
4. How big is the flakes. Or you can choose soccer/glass/red/blue/tennis/baseball balls.
5. Let the snow continue to fall or disable snow flakes with mouse/keyboard movement.
DesktopSnowOK is written by Nenad Hrg from Germany. He is very good software writer who wrote a lot of freeware for Windows. I will try to intro other good stuffs he has in his website.
However I do notice that the snowflakes only appear in primary screen. If you have extended screen like me, the snowflakes will not appear in extended screen. Even if I place the program at extended screen before activate it, the snowflakes still appear at primary screen. Probably this is a bug. I will try to feedback to him about this.
To download this freeware, go to this link:
http://softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/DesktopSnowOK
Look for "... Download (57 KB)"
Or direct download link:
http://softwareok.com/?Download=DesktopSnowOK&goto=../Download/DesktopSnowOK.zip
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
software source: http://softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/DesktopSnowOK
I wrote this review! And also the screen capture by myself!
p/s: contact me for software/smartphone/tablet/anything you can send to me for review
DesktopSnowOK is just small ~57k zip file (~79k after unzip). You can put it any place you want and execute the .exe file. DesktopSnowOK.ini will be generated to keep the setting. DesktopSnowOK is a portable software, so please copy both files (exe and ini) when you want to transfer the program and its setting to thumbdrive or another computer.
As you can see in the picture above, DesktopSnowOK (below BlueStacks) will generate the snowflakes all over your desktop.
There is a few settings to change:
1. Number of flakes
2. Transparency of flakes
3. Speed - how fast the flakes fall
4. How big is the flakes. Or you can choose soccer/glass/red/blue/tennis/baseball balls.
5. Let the snow continue to fall or disable snow flakes with mouse/keyboard movement.
DesktopSnowOK is written by Nenad Hrg from Germany. He is very good software writer who wrote a lot of freeware for Windows. I will try to intro other good stuffs he has in his website.
However I do notice that the snowflakes only appear in primary screen. If you have extended screen like me, the snowflakes will not appear in extended screen. Even if I place the program at extended screen before activate it, the snowflakes still appear at primary screen. Probably this is a bug. I will try to feedback to him about this.
To download this freeware, go to this link:
http://softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/DesktopSnowOK
Look for "... Download (57 KB)"
Or direct download link:
http://softwareok.com/?Download=DesktopSnowOK&goto=../Download/DesktopSnowOK.zip
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
software source: http://softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/DesktopSnowOK
I wrote this review! And also the screen capture by myself!
p/s: contact me for software/smartphone/tablet/anything you can send to me for review
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Star Wars vs Star Trek
Oppss...... I think I have used up all my energy to write BlueStacks series (running Android on Windows), now I have no idea what to write. Most probably I will put post a few more stuffs that I think is funny or interesting. Until I find my inspiration...... x-finger.
How is Star Wars vs Star Trek? Read this comic to find out: (Btw, I am Star Wars geek, not Star Trek geek.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: www.cracked.com
How is Star Wars vs Star Trek? Read this comic to find out: (Btw, I am Star Wars geek, not Star Trek geek.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: www.cracked.com
Friday, December 9, 2011
Angry Birds party!
I can't wait to post this until next week, so I just post this even I have already posted the Angry Birds movie just few hours ago.
Thanks to Intel AppUp, few months ago, I got my Angry Birds Rio for Windows for free! Now it is updated to 1.4.0. For those that also got this free offer or those that pay USD $4.99, please open up your IntelAppUp and then go to "My Apps" and look for the update if you have not done so.
3 new levels! (all 3 columns from right)
On another note, Angry Birds Chrome also have a Christmas party. For the first time, Angry Birds Chrome is offering Angry Birds Season.
Thing to note is we have to login using google account in order to play Angry Birds Season on Chrome. This also mean need to be connected to intenet to play it. However there is no need to login to play Level 1 and Level 2.
For those that installing Angry Birds Chrome for first time, please wait for a moment for Angry Birds to download and install, especially those with slower connection.
Have a blasting weekend!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Thanks to Intel AppUp, few months ago, I got my Angry Birds Rio for Windows for free! Now it is updated to 1.4.0. For those that also got this free offer or those that pay USD $4.99, please open up your IntelAppUp and then go to "My Apps" and look for the update if you have not done so.
3 new levels! (all 3 columns from right)
On another note, Angry Birds Chrome also have a Christmas party. For the first time, Angry Birds Chrome is offering Angry Birds Season.
Thing to note is we have to login using google account in order to play Angry Birds Season on Chrome. This also mean need to be connected to intenet to play it. However there is no need to login to play Level 1 and Level 2.
For those that installing Angry Birds Chrome for first time, please wait for a moment for Angry Birds to download and install, especially those with slower connection.
Have a blasting weekend!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Another Angry Birds Movie
Thursday, December 8, 2011
How Google Impacting Our Memory
Ever since search engine become part of our life, the way how we find information changed completely. Before search engine, we have to go to library and look for whole day just for a small project or homework, but with Google/Yahoo/Bing, we can find the information we want in less than 30 mins or less.
See how Google impacting our memory. Click on the image to see in fullsize:
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source:http://dailyinfographic.com/is-google-making-us-e-tards-infographic/googleandmemory
See how Google impacting our memory. Click on the image to see in fullsize:
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source:http://dailyinfographic.com/is-google-making-us-e-tards-infographic/googleandmemory
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Which Geek Are You?
Geek is now no longer refer to nerd. There are so many types of geek nowadays. Check out the infographic below to find out which geek are you? :)
I am Star Wars and Internet Geek for sure. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: http://dailyinfographic.com
I am Star Wars and Internet Geek for sure. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: http://dailyinfographic.com
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Samsung Galaxy Nexus Teardown
How can this blog miss out any teardown? So here it is, the first teardown in this month on this blog.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus is released on last month (Nov 2011). Instead of Gorilla glass that being use on Galaxy S 2, oleophobic being use, I wonder why they choose it. Another cons is lower resolution of the front and back camera. 5MP and 1.3MP vs 8MP and 2MP on Galaxy S 2. Also no slot of external memory card.
Beside that, everything else is pretty much same like Galaxy S 2, except the screen is 4.65 inches with 720x1280. Galaxy S 2's screen only have 4.3 inches with 480x800. It also support NFC.
So here is the teardown:
If you prefer to read it on iFixIt website, here is the link:
Samsung Galaxy Nexus Teardown at iFixIt
The see the spec in detail, you can go to gsmarena:
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_nexus-4219.php
For comparison between Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S 2, also refer to gsmarena:
Galaxy Nexus vs Galaxy S2 in gsmarena
Galaxy S 2 teardown also being posted in this blog:
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/07/samsung-galaxy-s-2-teardown.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: iFixit!
Samsung Galaxy Nexus is released on last month (Nov 2011). Instead of Gorilla glass that being use on Galaxy S 2, oleophobic being use, I wonder why they choose it. Another cons is lower resolution of the front and back camera. 5MP and 1.3MP vs 8MP and 2MP on Galaxy S 2. Also no slot of external memory card.
Beside that, everything else is pretty much same like Galaxy S 2, except the screen is 4.65 inches with 720x1280. Galaxy S 2's screen only have 4.3 inches with 480x800. It also support NFC.
So here is the teardown:
If you prefer to read it on iFixIt website, here is the link:
Samsung Galaxy Nexus Teardown at iFixIt
The see the spec in detail, you can go to gsmarena:
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_nexus-4219.php
For comparison between Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S 2, also refer to gsmarena:
Galaxy Nexus vs Galaxy S2 in gsmarena
Galaxy S 2 teardown also being posted in this blog:
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/07/samsung-galaxy-s-2-teardown.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: iFixit!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Google and its numbers
I have posted a series of tutorial on how to run Android apps on Windows 7, now to take a break, lets look at how Google impacting the world and the environment.
Click on the picture to see it in full size.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: http://dailyinfographic.com
Click on the picture to see it in full size.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: http://dailyinfographic.com
Saturday, December 3, 2011
More info on BlueStacks
Some nice people at XDA forum put up a comprehensive tutorial/tips/hacking for BlueStacks, in my previous posts I also refer to the same page at XDA. If you want to also change BlueStacks to windowed (not fullscreen), there is a part for it. If you want to change the SD card capacity, there is tools to do that, what you need to do is to go this link below and find out the detail:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1298332
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-install-apk-into-bluestacks.html
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-enable-android-market-for.html
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/rearrange-apps-list-on-bluestacks.html
Have an adventure weekend. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: XDA
pix source: BlueStacks
Friday, December 2, 2011
How to enable Android Market for BlueStacks
In previous post, I have showed how to install apk directly into BlueStacks, however some prefer to install apps through Android Market. Even though there was cases where virus being distributed on Android Market (because Android Market is not as stringent as Apple AppStore), it is still better than downloading apk from unknown sources.
BlueStacks don't offer Android Market apk, but we can find the apk from XDA forum. Download the zip file from this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18336028&postcount=7
After unzip apk files from the zip file, install the apk in the following order using the method showed here:
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-install-apk-into-bluestacks.html
1. GoogleServicesFramework.apk
2. OneTimeInitializer.apk
3. SetupWizard.apk
4. Talk.apk
5. Vending.apk
6. Gmail.apk
7. Maps.apk
If you don't have any google account, you can use normal method (web browser on PC) to create one new account.
If you already have google account, you can use the same user name and password to login to Android Apps.
After login, it is just like browsing Android Market on Android phone. Find your apps and install and launch it. Do note that apps that installed through Android Market has to be launch from Android Market. I cannot find the apps appear on launcher of BlueStacks.
Android Market also require internet access no matter to launch the apps that already install. So there might be a problem if you are offline (not connected to internet all the time).
I also installed Amazon AppStore on BlueStacks, however the apps that I installed through Amazon AppStore seems like taking forever to load (a.k.a not running). Probably it is because the apps or Amazon AppStore, I have to check again.
Because of limitation of Android Market and Amazon AppStore, I still think installing apk directly is the best method.
Update (Jan 19, 2012): If you are plan to upgrade BlueStacks and if you want to preserve the icon arrangement after you edit the apps.json, make sure you back up the file before you run the upgrade.
Update (Mar 31, 2012): Thank you for visiting this blog. If you are coming from (fake)outdatedpenanguncle dot blogspot dot in, please do not visit it again. That blog is copying this blog (OutdatedPenangUncle.blogspot.com) exactly. Please support this blog (OutdatedPenangUncle.blogspot.com) by g+ or like.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: XDA
BlueStacks don't offer Android Market apk, but we can find the apk from XDA forum. Download the zip file from this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18336028&postcount=7
After unzip apk files from the zip file, install the apk in the following order using the method showed here:
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-install-apk-into-bluestacks.html
1. GoogleServicesFramework.apk
2. OneTimeInitializer.apk
3. SetupWizard.apk
4. Talk.apk
5. Vending.apk
6. Gmail.apk
7. Maps.apk
If you don't have any google account, you can use normal method (web browser on PC) to create one new account.
If you already have google account, you can use the same user name and password to login to Android Apps.
After login, it is just like browsing Android Market on Android phone. Find your apps and install and launch it. Do note that apps that installed through Android Market has to be launch from Android Market. I cannot find the apps appear on launcher of BlueStacks.
Android Market also require internet access no matter to launch the apps that already install. So there might be a problem if you are offline (not connected to internet all the time).
I also installed Amazon AppStore on BlueStacks, however the apps that I installed through Amazon AppStore seems like taking forever to load (a.k.a not running). Probably it is because the apps or Amazon AppStore, I have to check again.
Because of limitation of Android Market and Amazon AppStore, I still think installing apk directly is the best method.
Update (Jan 19, 2012): If you are plan to upgrade BlueStacks and if you want to preserve the icon arrangement after you edit the apps.json, make sure you back up the file before you run the upgrade.
Update (Mar 31, 2012): Thank you for visiting this blog. If you are coming from (fake)outdatedpenanguncle dot blogspot dot in, please do not visit it again. That blog is copying this blog (OutdatedPenangUncle.blogspot.com) exactly. Please support this blog (OutdatedPenangUncle.blogspot.com) by g+ or like.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: XDA
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Rearrange apps list on BlueStacks
After installing apk on BlueStacks, I found out that the app list is following the installation order. The last installed apps will be added into last icon in the gadget/launcher. At beginning it was okay since I have a few apps only, but later when I install more apps, finding apps become difficult. And I have a few apps that I always use, so I would want to move the icons to the first page of launcher.
However BlueStack does not allow moving icon of apps interactively like on iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPod touch). Fortunately, there is a way to do it, it is by hacking a BlueStacks' file.
Edit this file: %localappdata%\bluestacks\gadget\apps.json
1. To access this path quickly, put in the following path (without double quote) into the run box [the "Search programs and files box"] and hit Enter.
"%localappdata%\bluestacks\gadget\"
A new Windows Explorer windows will open at that location.
2. Back up apps.json first.
3. Edit apps.json with text editor (Notepad, Textpad or PSPad).
4. The file is in one single line only. Each icon is represent by a pair of curly bracket {xxx}.
5. For example, I want to move ASTRO file manager to be first one. I will move the following code to be first one and separate it from the currently first one with a comma.
{"name": "ASTRO", "img": "com.metago.astro.png", "package": "com.metago.astro", "activity": "com.metago.astro.SplashActivity", "system": "0"}
6. I can also change the name of the apps. Example, Dolphin Browser HD that I installed is a Chinese version. The name for this apps become some funny characters after installation. So I edit it to Dolphin Browser HD.
{"name": "Dolphin Browser HD", "img": "com.dolphin.browser.cn.png", "package": "com.dolphin.browser.cn", "activity".......
7. For those apps that I removed using ASTRO, the icon still remain there, so I can use this method to remove the icon as well. Example, I want to remove TextFree apps, I will remove this code from apps.json.
{"name": "Textfree", "img": "com.pinger.textfree.png", "package": "com.pinger.textfree", "activity": "com.pinger.textfree.activities.TFSplash", "system": "0"}
Now I can access ASTRO, Android Market, Amazon AppStore and Talking Tom 2 FREE at first page:
Update (Jan 19, 2012): If you plan to upgrade BlueStacks, please backup the apps.json that you edited before running the update. Otherwise it will be overwrite by the update and all the edit will be gone.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: some from XDA (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18333866&postcount=5)
However BlueStack does not allow moving icon of apps interactively like on iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPod touch). Fortunately, there is a way to do it, it is by hacking a BlueStacks' file.
Edit this file: %localappdata%\bluestacks\gadget\apps.json
1. To access this path quickly, put in the following path (without double quote) into the run box [the "Search programs and files box"] and hit Enter.
"%localappdata%\bluestacks\gadget\"
A new Windows Explorer windows will open at that location.
2. Back up apps.json first.
3. Edit apps.json with text editor (Notepad, Textpad or PSPad).
4. The file is in one single line only. Each icon is represent by a pair of curly bracket {xxx}.
5. For example, I want to move ASTRO file manager to be first one. I will move the following code to be first one and separate it from the currently first one with a comma.
{"name": "ASTRO", "img": "com.metago.astro.png", "package": "com.metago.astro", "activity": "com.metago.astro.SplashActivity", "system": "0"}
6. I can also change the name of the apps. Example, Dolphin Browser HD that I installed is a Chinese version. The name for this apps become some funny characters after installation. So I edit it to Dolphin Browser HD.
{"name": "Dolphin Browser HD", "img": "com.dolphin.browser.cn.png", "package": "com.dolphin.browser.cn", "activity".......
7. For those apps that I removed using ASTRO, the icon still remain there, so I can use this method to remove the icon as well. Example, I want to remove TextFree apps, I will remove this code from apps.json.
{"name": "Textfree", "img": "com.pinger.textfree.png", "package": "com.pinger.textfree", "activity": "com.pinger.textfree.activities.TFSplash", "system": "0"}
Now I can access ASTRO, Android Market, Amazon AppStore and Talking Tom 2 FREE at first page:
Update (Jan 19, 2012): If you plan to upgrade BlueStacks, please backup the apps.json that you edited before running the update. Otherwise it will be overwrite by the update and all the edit will be gone.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: some from XDA (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18333866&postcount=5)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
How to install apk into BlueStacks
In previous post, I wrote about BlueStacks and how to install additional apps that provided by BlueStacks. But how to install additional apps? Either wait for BlueStacks to add into their database, or sync from your android phone using BlueStacks' cloud connect. However if we already own Android phone, there is no use to sync to PC right? And for those that do not own an Android phone, how to get more apps on BlueStacks?
There is a lot of free apps available in Android market or Amazon apps or can be directly download. For direct download, you just need to google for it. :)
So how to install the apk (that is the setup file for Android apps) into BlueStacks?
1. Right-click on the .apk file and click on "Open with..."
2. Click on "Browse..."
3. Navigate to "C:\Program Files\BlueStacks" or for 64-bit computers, "C:\Program Files (x86)\BlueStacks"
4. Double-click on "HD-ApkHandler.exe"
5. Click on "Ok" [Check on "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" if you wish to associate apk with BlueStacks. I use this method, so now every time I just need to double click on apk to install new apps to my BlueStacks ;) ]
The .apk file will be install into Bluestacks and notify you when its done. You should able to see new icon to the apps that you just install on BlueStacks.
If you getting error msg "INSTALL_FAILED_CPU_ABI_INCOMPATIBLE" during apk installation, too bad that now still don't have workaround yet. This is because BlueStacks currently doesn't support binary translation. More info here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18376033&postcount=15
Even though there is a warning from XDA forum that apps installed this way CANNOT be removed directly. I found out I can use Astro File Manager to uninstall apps from BlueStacks. Astro File Manager is available freely from the internet.
http://www.freewarelovers.com/android/app/astro-file-manager
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.metago.astro&hl=en
update:
see also how to rearrange the apps list on BlueStacks after you install apk
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/rearrange-apps-list-on-bluestacks.html
see also how to enable Android Market using method mentioned in this post
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-enable-android-market-for.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: XDA forum
There is a lot of free apps available in Android market or Amazon apps or can be directly download. For direct download, you just need to google for it. :)
So how to install the apk (that is the setup file for Android apps) into BlueStacks?
1. Right-click on the .apk file and click on "Open with..."
2. Click on "Browse..."
3. Navigate to "C:\Program Files\BlueStacks" or for 64-bit computers, "C:\Program Files (x86)\BlueStacks"
4. Double-click on "HD-ApkHandler.exe"
5. Click on "Ok" [Check on "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" if you wish to associate apk with BlueStacks. I use this method, so now every time I just need to double click on apk to install new apps to my BlueStacks ;) ]
The .apk file will be install into Bluestacks and notify you when its done. You should able to see new icon to the apps that you just install on BlueStacks.
If you getting error msg "INSTALL_FAILED_CPU_ABI_INCOMPATIBLE" during apk installation, too bad that now still don't have workaround yet. This is because BlueStacks currently doesn't support binary translation. More info here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18376033&postcount=15
Even though there is a warning from XDA forum that apps installed this way CANNOT be removed directly. I found out I can use Astro File Manager to uninstall apps from BlueStacks. Astro File Manager is available freely from the internet.
http://www.freewarelovers.com/android/app/astro-file-manager
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.metago.astro&hl=en
update:
see also how to rearrange the apps list on BlueStacks after you install apk
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/rearrange-apps-list-on-bluestacks.html
see also how to enable Android Market using method mentioned in this post
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-enable-android-market-for.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: XDA forum
Monday, November 28, 2011
Running Android apps on Windows with BlueStacks
What have been Outdated Penang Uncle up to lately? I have been trying out Android apps on my laptop using BlueStacks.
Before BlueStacks, there is only Android SDK that has the emulator to try out Android apps on Windows. To do that you have to install Android SDK, install bla bla bla and then do bla bla bla and finally try to the Android apps on Windows.
Thanks to BlueStacks, now I can skip a lot of steps and just double-click to install the Android apps into BlueStacks. Sounds like installing software on Windows right? I will show you how in following post, do stay tune or subscribe to rss of this blog.
To download, go to BlueStacks website and then go to download page to download BlueStacks App Player.
http://bluestacks.com
For Windows 7, make sure you install BlueStacks using administrator permission so avoid any installation problem.If I remember correctly, BlueStacks runs only on Windows 7, too bad for older version of Windows. Update: BlueStacks now runs on Windows XP as well! [I was using version Alpha v2007 when I write this post, latest version is 0.6.2.0563_REL]
Most of users will find the BlueStacks icon (gadget to be exact) appear on desktop after installation success. Launching Android apps on BlueStack is actually through Windows Gadget of BlueStacks.
If you don't find the BlueStacks icon, minimize all windows (Start button + m) and then right-click on any place of desktop, select "Gadget". The Gadget windows will come up, you should able to see BlueStacks Gadget. Left click and hold on the gadget, then drag it to any place at desktop that you prefer.
BlueStacks' default installation already come with some Android apps, such as Bloomberg, Pulse, Kids Learn to Read FREE, and Talking Tom 2 FREE.
If you want to more apps from BlueStacks, you can go to BlueStacks website by click on the "Get More Apps" button.
It will open your default web browser and asking you to login with facebook account. That is the only login that BlueStacks provide. After login, there are total of 31 apps that available for you to install.
BlueStacks also allow Android phone owner to send apps from Android phone to BlueStacks on PC. I am not sure the motive of this feature, if you already have Android phone, why would you want to use the apps on PC? Example, if you send Angry Birds from your phone to PC via BlueStacks' Cloud Connect, the progress or level completed on Angry Birds cannot be sync between phone and PC. So there is not really a benefit right? Anyway, I will show you how to install apps through Android market, Amazon apps, and install apk directly. So stay tune ya.
Thing to note: Do not install apps that need sensor to play, because laptop don't have accelerometer sensor. Would not able to play the game anyway. However if your tablet have the sensor, you might able to make use of the sensor to play apps that need sensor to play. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I learned the tricks from XDA forum :)
pix source: BlueStack pix from BlueStacks
Before BlueStacks, there is only Android SDK that has the emulator to try out Android apps on Windows. To do that you have to install Android SDK, install bla bla bla and then do bla bla bla and finally try to the Android apps on Windows.
Thanks to BlueStacks, now I can skip a lot of steps and just double-click to install the Android apps into BlueStacks. Sounds like installing software on Windows right? I will show you how in following post, do stay tune or subscribe to rss of this blog.
To download, go to BlueStacks website and then go to download page to download BlueStacks App Player.
http://bluestacks.com
For Windows 7, make sure you install BlueStacks using administrator permission so avoid any installation problem.
Most of users will find the BlueStacks icon (gadget to be exact) appear on desktop after installation success. Launching Android apps on BlueStack is actually through Windows Gadget of BlueStacks.
If you don't find the BlueStacks icon, minimize all windows (Start button + m) and then right-click on any place of desktop, select "Gadget". The Gadget windows will come up, you should able to see BlueStacks Gadget. Left click and hold on the gadget, then drag it to any place at desktop that you prefer.
BlueStacks' default installation already come with some Android apps, such as Bloomberg, Pulse, Kids Learn to Read FREE, and Talking Tom 2 FREE.
If you want to more apps from BlueStacks, you can go to BlueStacks website by click on the "Get More Apps" button.
It will open your default web browser and asking you to login with facebook account. That is the only login that BlueStacks provide. After login, there are total of 31 apps that available for you to install.
BlueStacks also allow Android phone owner to send apps from Android phone to BlueStacks on PC. I am not sure the motive of this feature, if you already have Android phone, why would you want to use the apps on PC? Example, if you send Angry Birds from your phone to PC via BlueStacks' Cloud Connect, the progress or level completed on Angry Birds cannot be sync between phone and PC. So there is not really a benefit right? Anyway, I will show you how to install apps through Android market, Amazon apps, and install apk directly. So stay tune ya.
Thing to note: Do not install apps that need sensor to play, because laptop don't have accelerometer sensor. Would not able to play the game anyway. However if your tablet have the sensor, you might able to make use of the sensor to play apps that need sensor to play. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I learned the tricks from XDA forum :)
pix source: BlueStack pix from BlueStacks
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Why switch to Samsung Galaxy S 2?
Samsung US come out with a nice TV commercial to woo iPhone users. Watch the youtube:
Now you have more solid reason to switch to GS2 right?
If you still can't decide, here are some of my post to help you to decide:
Samsung Galaxy S 2 - everything you need to know
More of Samsung Galaxy S 2
Samsung Galaxy S 2 teardown
iPhone4s vs Samsung Galaxy S 2
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: saw this video at youtube!
Now you have more solid reason to switch to GS2 right?
If you still can't decide, here are some of my post to help you to decide:
Samsung Galaxy S 2 - everything you need to know
More of Samsung Galaxy S 2
Samsung Galaxy S 2 teardown
iPhone4s vs Samsung Galaxy S 2
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: saw this video at youtube!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Internet 1996 vs 2011
Internet has been ever changing since 1980s. See how much the Internet change since 1996 compare with 2011.
Click on the picture to see in fullsize.
Happy Thanks Giving to fellow US friends!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: http://dailyinfographic.com/true-hollywood-story-bipeds-and-the-world-wide-web/1996-vs-2011
Click on the picture to see in fullsize.
Happy Thanks Giving to fellow US friends!
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: http://dailyinfographic.com/true-hollywood-story-bipeds-and-the-world-wide-web/1996-vs-2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Nook Tablet Teardown
People at iFixIt must be very busy these few weeks with so many devices come to market within a short period. Barnes & Noble (is a online book store) come out Nook Tablet to fight with Amazon's Kindle Fire.
Equips with a dual-core OMAP, 1GM RAM, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Custom Android OS and supports upto 48GB of mini SD card, do you want to get one? I think I will still get an iPad2. :P
If you prefer to read it at iFixIt website, go to this link:
Nook Tablet Teardown at iFixIt website
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: teardown from iFixIt, I wrote the rest.
Equips with a dual-core OMAP, 1GM RAM, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Custom Android OS and supports upto 48GB of mini SD card, do you want to get one? I think I will still get an iPad2. :P
If you prefer to read it at iFixIt website, go to this link:
Nook Tablet Teardown at iFixIt website
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: teardown from iFixIt, I wrote the rest.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Amazon Kindle Fire Teardown
Amazon Kindle Fire supposedly come out to compete with iPad. People who wish to get something like iPad but don't want to pay the high price, and do not want to buy no-name brand from China manufacturers, would consider Kindle Fire as the top choice.
With dual-core processor, Android 2.3 OS, WiFi, multi-touch display, looks like this is a good choice. If you need to update your facebook status where ever you go, then this is not a good choice since no 3G connectivity (WiFi is not available everywhere, okay?).
Okay, here is the teardown, enjoy!
If you prefer to read it at ifixit, here is the link:
Amazon Kindle Fire Teardown at iFixIt
Btw, I am trying out Android apps using BlueStacks on my Windows 7. BlueStacks is an Android emulator. Stay tune for the tutorial of it, or subscribe to RSS or follow me in blogger.
p/s: I found out the ifixit embed code always show up as 2 same ifixit windows, I have tried IE, FireFox and Chrome, all show same problem. I have no time to debug it, just ignore the 2nd one, it is the same ifixit.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: iFixIt for the teardown, I wrote the rest, okay?
With dual-core processor, Android 2.3 OS, WiFi, multi-touch display, looks like this is a good choice. If you need to update your facebook status where ever you go, then this is not a good choice since no 3G connectivity (WiFi is not available everywhere, okay?).
Okay, here is the teardown, enjoy!
If you prefer to read it at ifixit, here is the link:
Amazon Kindle Fire Teardown at iFixIt
Btw, I am trying out Android apps using BlueStacks on my Windows 7. BlueStacks is an Android emulator. Stay tune for the tutorial of it, or subscribe to RSS or follow me in blogger.
p/s: I found out the ifixit embed code always show up as 2 same ifixit windows, I have tried IE, FireFox and Chrome, all show same problem. I have no time to debug it, just ignore the 2nd one, it is the same ifixit.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: iFixIt for the teardown, I wrote the rest, okay?
Friday, November 18, 2011
Motorola Droid RAZR Teardown
How can this blog complete without any teardown? I haven't post any teardown this month, so let's do it on this weekend. :)
Motorola DROID Razr, is also know as DROID HD, is a new release from Motorola. It supports GSM/CDMA/HSDPA/HSUPA/EV-DO/LTE/WiFi b/g/n, meaning it is a world phone, you can use in most of the countries in this world, except North Korea. :P
Okay, cut the crap and see the teardown yourself here:
Or if you prefer, go directly to ifixit website at link below:
Motorola Droid RAZR Teardown at iFixit.
And if you like to see the spec of this phone, go to gmsarena:
Motorola DROID RAZR spec at gsmarena
Have a nice weekend. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: ifixit
Motorola DROID Razr, is also know as DROID HD, is a new release from Motorola. It supports GSM/CDMA/HSDPA/HSUPA/EV-DO/LTE/WiFi b/g/n, meaning it is a world phone, you can use in most of the countries in this world, except North Korea. :P
Okay, cut the crap and see the teardown yourself here:
Or if you prefer, go directly to ifixit website at link below:
Motorola Droid RAZR Teardown at iFixit.
And if you like to see the spec of this phone, go to gmsarena:
Motorola DROID RAZR spec at gsmarena
Have a nice weekend. :)
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: ifixit
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Teach your children electric or electronics
How do you teach children about electric or electronics? By using broadboard like this?
Only if they are more grown up right? What if you want to teach 3 or 5 years old about electric or electronics? Using breadboard is not really a good choice because breadboard is small and not easy to use. Even sometime myself also find it difficult to plug in some components into breadboard.
So how about using some material that can be find at home and make learning electronics a fun stuff?
Squishy circuits are a project from Thomas Lab at University of St. Thomas. Here is the TED video of the demonstration of Squishy circuit:
This is how to make a conductive dough:
This is how to make a insulating dough:
This is how to play squishy circuits with young children:
Visit Squishy Circuits official website for more detail:
http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/
Here are 2 posts on how to dowload TED video:
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-download-ted-videos.html
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-download-ted-videos-ii.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: video from TED and youtube and squishy circuit
Pix source: Wikipedia
Only if they are more grown up right? What if you want to teach 3 or 5 years old about electric or electronics? Using breadboard is not really a good choice because breadboard is small and not easy to use. Even sometime myself also find it difficult to plug in some components into breadboard.
So how about using some material that can be find at home and make learning electronics a fun stuff?
Squishy circuits are a project from Thomas Lab at University of St. Thomas. Here is the TED video of the demonstration of Squishy circuit:
This is how to make a conductive dough:
This is how to make a insulating dough:
This is how to play squishy circuits with young children:
Visit Squishy Circuits official website for more detail:
http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/
Here are 2 posts on how to dowload TED video:
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-download-ted-videos.html
http://outdatedpenanguncle.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-download-ted-videos-ii.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: video from TED and youtube and squishy circuit
Monday, November 14, 2011
Super fast find file for Windows
For most of the Windows users, they use the default "search" function on Windows to find their file. There are a few problems with it.
For older Windows, the search function just not doing the job right, meaning it cannot find the file I want, even though I gave the right keyword. This happen a lot during Windows XP time. So I use cygwin to search file.
For Windows 7, the search function become better and faster. Why it can become faster? It is because it keep on indexing all the files (including emails). The problem with this is that it create a huge index file on hard-disk Although hard-disk (non-solid-state type) are very cheap nowadays, no problem with Windows creating a Gig or two on a 500G or 1T hard-disk. But this will be a problem for solid-state type hard-disk, because solid-state hard-disk still very expensive. So in order to save the disk space on my laptop (I use solid-state hard-disk, hehe), I disable the indexing but search function become super slow.
Luckily I found a software that search files as fast as Windows 7 search (with indexing turn on), but without the huge indexing file! Introducing FileLocator Lite. The same company also selling the pro version, named "FileLocator Pro", but this cost US$39!
Anyway, you can download the setup file for lite version here:
http://mythicsoft.com/Page.aspx?type=filelocatorlite&page=download
I found out the lite version is good enough for me for daily usage. Search with asterisk (*something*) always give me the right file. You can also search by modified, created, or last accessed date of a particular file(s).
Actually this software also called "Agent Ransack" but the name seems like not really suitable for work (NSFW), so the company compile the same code with different product name.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
pix source: http://mythicsoft.com
source: I wrote this review!
Contact me for software review at: ahsiang888 at gmail dot com
For older Windows, the search function just not doing the job right, meaning it cannot find the file I want, even though I gave the right keyword. This happen a lot during Windows XP time. So I use cygwin to search file.
For Windows 7, the search function become better and faster. Why it can become faster? It is because it keep on indexing all the files (including emails). The problem with this is that it create a huge index file on hard-disk Although hard-disk (non-solid-state type) are very cheap nowadays, no problem with Windows creating a Gig or two on a 500G or 1T hard-disk. But this will be a problem for solid-state type hard-disk, because solid-state hard-disk still very expensive. So in order to save the disk space on my laptop (I use solid-state hard-disk, hehe), I disable the indexing but search function become super slow.
Luckily I found a software that search files as fast as Windows 7 search (with indexing turn on), but without the huge indexing file! Introducing FileLocator Lite. The same company also selling the pro version, named "FileLocator Pro", but this cost US$39!
Anyway, you can download the setup file for lite version here:
http://mythicsoft.com/Page.aspx?type=filelocatorlite&page=download
I found out the lite version is good enough for me for daily usage. Search with asterisk (*something*) always give me the right file. You can also search by modified, created, or last accessed date of a particular file(s).
Actually this software also called "Agent Ransack" but the name seems like not really suitable for work (NSFW), so the company compile the same code with different product name.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
pix source: http://mythicsoft.com
source: I wrote this review!
Contact me for software review at: ahsiang888 at gmail dot com
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Outdated Penang Uncle PageRank
PageRank of this blog is not consistent. I did reach PR1 last year, but then it drop to zero after Google panda update. Don't ask me what is panda update, google it if you want. :P
Recently I found out this blog is getting PR2. Wow! Jump from zero to PR2!
This is the snapshot of PR check on http://www.checkpagerank.net/
This is the snapshot of PR check on http://www.prchecker.info/check_page_rank.php
Some blogging/website experts told that backlink is very important to PageRank, most important is quality backlink. I am not hiring anyone to create backlink to this blog. All I did is just comment on other blog and website of my opinion on their articles.
How about you? How you promote your blog/website?
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Recently I found out this blog is getting PR2. Wow! Jump from zero to PR2!
This is the snapshot of PR check on http://www.checkpagerank.net/
This is the snapshot of PR check on http://www.prchecker.info/check_page_rank.php
Some blogging/website experts told that backlink is very important to PageRank, most important is quality backlink. I am not hiring anyone to create backlink to this blog. All I did is just comment on other blog and website of my opinion on their articles.
How about you? How you promote your blog/website?
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
How to update maps for Garmin nüvi 255W
Recently I borrow a GPS (Garmin nüvi 255W) from my friend so that I can use it when traveling to Kuala Lumpur. Since the maps in his GPS is dated April this year, I decided to update the maps to the latest one.
Updating maps for Garmin GPS in Malaysia (Singapore and Brunei too!) is super easy. Thanks to the people at community of MalSingMaps.com! Another great thing about MalSingMaps is they update the map at least once a month, which is much better than the official Garmin update that happen once every quarter (read 3 months) only!
Here are the steps:
1. Go to MalSingMaps.com to download the latest maps.
http://www.malsingmaps.com/portal/downloads.php
There are 3 types for Garmin Format section. For the super easy method, download the first type, which is usually name like this "MSM NT v5.xx". "MSM NT for Mapsource v5.xx" is for another method, refer to malsingmaps.com forum for detail.
2. Unzip the zip file. For version v5.29 and v5.30 which I downloaded, it has 2 files in it. gmapsupp.img is the map file, while product.JCV is junction view file, which not being supported on this 255W. If you have a GPS that support junction view, you should also copy it. For this example, I will just copy both file, so that other Garmin GPS can benefit from this tutorial.
3. Connect the GPS to your computer via USB. It should take a while for Windows to detect the GPS.
4. Because you update any map, do a backup first. Since this GPS is my friend's, so I just backup everything, even though I really just need to backup the old map. It took me about 1 hour for me, because the transfer rate for Garmin nüvi (not latest one) are just USB1.0 speed only, the max is about 600k per sec.
5. After backup is done, it is time to replace the original map. Depend on where you store the maps, you should copy and replace gmapsupp.img in your device.
Either on device::\Garmin\ [gmapsupp.img is here]
Or on SD card which on the GPS device::\Garmin\ or :\Maps\
6. After copy finish, it is time to verify the map.
7. Disconnect the GPS from your computer, turn on Garmin nüvi 255W.
8. After the GPS is turn on, click "Tool" -> "Settings" -> "Map" -> "Map Info". You should able to see "MSM NT v5.30".
9. If you don't find it, turn off the GPS and connect to computer again. This time put gmapsupp.img to another location mentioned in step 5.
10. If you find there is more than one map, just check on the map that you want to use. For my case, I saw "CN North America NT 2010.10", because my friend bought this GPS at US.
That's it, you just get yourself to update Garmin GPS!
Unless the shop that sold you the GPS willing to do it with no cost at all, why not DIY! (Do It Yourself)
:)
If you still have question or problem, just go to the malsingmaps.com forum to find out. You have to register to post question but registration is free!
Malsingmaps forum
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Updating maps for Garmin GPS in Malaysia (Singapore and Brunei too!) is super easy. Thanks to the people at community of MalSingMaps.com! Another great thing about MalSingMaps is they update the map at least once a month, which is much better than the official Garmin update that happen once every quarter (read 3 months) only!
Here are the steps:
1. Go to MalSingMaps.com to download the latest maps.
http://www.malsingmaps.com/portal/downloads.php
There are 3 types for Garmin Format section. For the super easy method, download the first type, which is usually name like this "MSM NT v5.xx". "MSM NT for Mapsource v5.xx" is for another method, refer to malsingmaps.com forum for detail.
2. Unzip the zip file. For version v5.29 and v5.30 which I downloaded, it has 2 files in it. gmapsupp.img is the map file, while product.JCV is junction view file, which not being supported on this 255W. If you have a GPS that support junction view, you should also copy it. For this example, I will just copy both file, so that other Garmin GPS can benefit from this tutorial.
3. Connect the GPS to your computer via USB. It should take a while for Windows to detect the GPS.
4. Because you update any map, do a backup first. Since this GPS is my friend's, so I just backup everything, even though I really just need to backup the old map. It took me about 1 hour for me, because the transfer rate for Garmin nüvi (not latest one) are just USB1.0 speed only, the max is about 600k per sec.
5. After backup is done, it is time to replace the original map. Depend on where you store the maps, you should copy and replace gmapsupp.img in your device.
Either on device:
Or on SD card which on the GPS device:
6. After copy finish, it is time to verify the map.
7. Disconnect the GPS from your computer, turn on Garmin nüvi 255W.
8. After the GPS is turn on, click "Tool" -> "Settings" -> "Map" -> "Map Info". You should able to see "MSM NT v5.30".
9. If you don't find it, turn off the GPS and connect to computer again. This time put gmapsupp.img to another location mentioned in step 5.
10. If you find there is more than one map, just check on the map that you want to use. For my case, I saw "CN North America NT 2010.10", because my friend bought this GPS at US.
That's it, you just get yourself to update Garmin GPS!
Unless the shop that sold you the GPS willing to do it with no cost at all, why not DIY! (Do It Yourself)
:)
If you still have question or problem, just go to the malsingmaps.com forum to find out. You have to register to post question but registration is free!
Malsingmaps forum
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Online QR code generator
I posted a free QR code Reader for PC (QuickMark) in last post. This software require you to install the software. If you do not want to install any software or you are using company computer/laptop that not being allow to install any software, here is a website that generate QR code for free!
Here is how:
1. Go to this link:
free-2d-barcode-data-matrix-or-qrcode-online-creator
2. Fill in the text or URL to encode in the text box.
3. Choose your preferred encoding type, I chosen QR code.
4. Click "Generate", wait for a while for your QR code to show up.
5. Right click on the barcode and save it to your computer/laptop. Or copy it and paste it directly.
Of course this free service is for personal purpose only, if you want to use it as business, please buy commercial software.
This is Outdated Penang Uncle QR code, I upload it to imgur.com and put it in this blog.
p/s: I found another website also provide free QR code generator. Also it is for personal use.
http://i-nigma.com/CreateBarcodes.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this and the QR code link is from http://www.wikarski.com
Here is how:
1. Go to this link:
free-2d-barcode-data-matrix-or-qrcode-online-creator
2. Fill in the text or URL to encode in the text box.
3. Choose your preferred encoding type, I chosen QR code.
4. Click "Generate", wait for a while for your QR code to show up.
5. Right click on the barcode and save it to your computer/laptop. Or copy it and paste it directly.
Of course this free service is for personal purpose only, if you want to use it as business, please buy commercial software.
This is Outdated Penang Uncle QR code, I upload it to imgur.com and put it in this blog.
p/s: I found another website also provide free QR code generator. Also it is for personal use.
http://i-nigma.com/CreateBarcodes.html
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this and the QR code link is from http://www.wikarski.com
Sunday, November 6, 2011
QR Code Reader for PC
What is QR Code? QR code is a 2D barcode that represent information like websites and contact info. The 1D barcode is the usual barcode that we see on most of the food product. That contains numbers only. So to store more information such as links, QR code being invented. Usually we can see QR code reader on Android phone (Barcode Scanner App) and iPhone (QR Reader for iPhone). It is very rare to find QR code reader for PC, it is because QR code reader require a camera, which some PC don't have a web cam. And we don't usually carry laptop around just to read the QR code.
With more and more websites and companies use QR code for their posters or promotional flyer, PC user with no smartphone (Android and iPhone) felt like being left out. Luckily I found a software that will help PC users to read the QR code, without the need of camera or webcam.
QuickMark QR Code Reader for PC is the software that I am talking about. Not only QR code, it can also read many popular 2D and 1D barcode format, using webcam, drag and drop, and screen capture.
This software also can create 2D barcode for you. This is OutdatedPenangUncle 2D barcode that I created previously, you can try it to use this barcode reader to read this barcode.
This QuickMark also available for Windows Mobile, which is very surprise for me, no one would support Windows Mobile platform nowadays. The company even compiled their code for different screen size resolution!
Of course, iPhone and Android are supported as well. Samsung Bada OS and Symbian S60 also supported.
To find out the suitable setup file for your device, go to this link below:
http://www.quickmark.com.tw/en/basic/download.asp
Also available for Chrome browser extension:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bhddglpocgogkbpkbkoieiplhgbjmiim
update: I forgot to mention, you can also drag and drop for this software. Meaning if you see a QR code image, you can just drag and drop it into the box of this software to decode it.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
With more and more websites and companies use QR code for their posters or promotional flyer, PC user with no smartphone (Android and iPhone) felt like being left out. Luckily I found a software that will help PC users to read the QR code, without the need of camera or webcam.
QuickMark QR Code Reader for PC is the software that I am talking about. Not only QR code, it can also read many popular 2D and 1D barcode format, using webcam, drag and drop, and screen capture.
This software also can create 2D barcode for you. This is OutdatedPenangUncle 2D barcode that I created previously, you can try it to use this barcode reader to read this barcode.
This QuickMark also available for Windows Mobile, which is very surprise for me, no one would support Windows Mobile platform nowadays. The company even compiled their code for different screen size resolution!
Of course, iPhone and Android are supported as well. Samsung Bada OS and Symbian S60 also supported.
To find out the suitable setup file for your device, go to this link below:
http://www.quickmark.com.tw/en/basic/download.asp
Also available for Chrome browser extension:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bhddglpocgogkbpkbkoieiplhgbjmiim
update: I forgot to mention, you can also drag and drop for this software. Meaning if you see a QR code image, you can just drag and drop it into the box of this software to decode it.
Hope you will enjoy this post, subscribe to my RSS or mailing list or follow me on blogger or twitter. :)
source: I wrote this!
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