Everything under the sun: 2009

Friday, November 6, 2009

Aztech HW550-3G

I bought Aztech HW550 (on 3^rd Nov) to replace by old Netgear wireless router (I think is about 5 years ago). The Aztech HW550-3G router is one of the newest entrant to the market with supporting feature such as the USB storage and printer sharing making it a basic NAS functionality; and of course, pairing of an external 3G modem, allowing a working broadband connection anywhere.

The box consists of the wireless router (Is N), network cable, simple installation guide, CD (useless only user guide) and a huge adapter (about half the size of the router, doesn’t make sense as the adapter is too huge to carry around).

Setup

Setup is easy; just connect it to your broadband and power. Did not try the mobile broadband (since I do not have any).

Once turn on, connect the LAN cable to your PC and type in the address and you on:

Once you connect in the USB hard disk, you will able to share it. Once shared, you will able to access it on any PC/notebook in the network via the Samba server

The good:
Great performance (wan-lan, wlan)
Neat web interface, high-usability for even the beginners.
Amazingly cheap price; $70++

The odd:
Big-sized power adapter for a mobility router?

Technorati Tags: Aztech,HW550,Wireless,N,G,801.120gb,wlan,wan-lan,samba,printer,usb,hard disk

Sunday, October 11, 2009

SPB Mobile Shell 3.5

I been using SPB Mobile Shell 2.0 since I got my Omnia and now is upgraded to version 3.5 by SPB Software.

So what so nice about version 3.5? Installation is easy but you need to have at least 12MB of RAM to install the program.

After installation you have 2 types of screen:

a. Professional

b. Lifestyle

The cool thing about version 3.5 is the widgets, so no need to use 3rd party widgets. The widgets are:

Other nice features are

a. Email (like like cards, you flip thru the emails)

b. SMS (like like cards, you flip thru the sms)

Here a little about Windows Mobile 6.5, according to Microsoft, Omnia 2 can be upgraded. So hopefully, Samsung opens it to Omnia series too :)

Technorati Tags: Samsung,Omnia,i900,windows,mobile,6.5,spb,software,mobile shell,3.5,widget,sms,email,upgrade

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Geo tagging photos

To geotagging your photos you need the following:

a. Camera

b. GPS

c. Software that can edit the photo’s EXIF data

Unless you have a camera with GPS built in. (like Omnia or most phone with GPS – Nokia N97, etc)

For me, I have a Sony GPS CS1 (I think Sony not producing it anymore), this is a very small and handy GPS.

You can store up to 7 days of data in the GPS. All you need is just on it and let it track your journey. Once you back from your trip, you upload both the photos and the GPS data into your computer. The Sony software will then tag the photos sync the photo date/time with the GPS data and tag it into the photo’s EXIF.

You remember to change your camera date/time to the time zone of the place the photos are taken, example if you travel to UK, you must change the UK time zone, else the date/time of the photos will not sync with the GPS date/time. The GPS date/time is obtained from the GPS so it will always use the location time zone (no setting required).

Second methods, is much simpler, if you have those phone with GPS, you can turn on the geotagging. The GPS will be turn on and each photo taken will be tag with the current location.

Once you have all the photos tag, you can use Google Earth/Map to see your GPS tracks and photos. The

Other methods include:

a. Using Photoshop Elements 5 and above. You load up the maps in Photoshop and link it to your photos. This method do not required any GPS

b. Using www.gpsed.com similar to Photoshop but you need a GPS, after you upload the tracks to the website, you can also upload the photos and link it to the location.

Technorati Tags: Sony,GPSed,CS1,geotagging,tagging,photo,Photoshop,Elements,www.gpsed.conm,Omnia,Google,Maps,Earth

Friday, July 31, 2009

Me and Ipod

I got myself a second hand ipod classic 120GB for RM30 and that is the bargain I cannot resist. I have been toying with the ipod ideas since end of 2008 and now I finally got it.

The device:

About the same size of my Omnia and nothing much to talk about as most people already know about ipod.

The software:

I guess I really don’t like it that much as can only limited audio format such as AAC or MP3, the Apple fanatic might argue that this is the best and purest audio format, what about WMA?

The WMA can get the album arts for most of my CD whereas the iTunes almost returns non album arts.

My comments:

The ipod by itself is really bad, but with the help of Motorola D650 (Bluetooth dongle) for my Motorola S9

Now that is different story. I can listen to MP3 via the ipod and answer my phone (while pausing the songs) using my Omnia.

Why do I need to buy an ipod?

Well…. Asked my car. The only MP3 adapter that my car stereo accepts is meant for ipod. So now I am thinking to change the car stereo so that I do not need adapter (maybe a Bluetooth car stereo). Then I can retire the ipod.

Technorati Tags: Apple,ipod,120gb,Motorola,D650,S9

Omnia – End of life soon?

Is been a long time since I update on regarding Omnia.

Well, first on the Omnia. Since Omnia II is already in the market and the Windows Mobile 6.5 is also coming out, , I guess our Omnia is coming to end-of-life as Samsung not updating the firmware (the last update is DZIA5) .

Well in the past one year with Omnia is like having a new phone after every firmware update and with SPB Mobile Shell, my Omnia is more finger friendly and I hardly uses the Stylus. I also change the casing to those skin type from CAPDASE (www.capdase.com).

So far I have added many apps into my omnia:

and the following are the most apps are:

S2U2 – This is the program that was first release even iphone was release and the author almost got sued for it. Is lock your phone and to unlock, just slide (like iphone). The latest version can also change the background picture. It shows the time, appointment, emails, etc too. And when incoming phone, just slide to answer.

S2P – I have stop using the windows media player or the touch player as both very limited and restricted. At first glance it looks like iPhone media player and you right.

It can play by directory or by genre or artist, etc. Best of all is finger friendly and activated when my Bluetooth headset is on. When I off my headset, the apps terminate itself.

GPSed – This is like those tracking GPS we installed into the truck and is free. The data is transmitted to www.gpsed.com where you can track the device. You can also add photos, etc.

mFlash – This is Omnia exclusive tools that make full use of the LED flash of the camera. With it you can use it as a flash, Send SOS signal or strobe. You can also sent morse code(Transformer also using morse code too – never know when it will be useful).

mToolbox – This apps is actually makes up of various in one apps. The apps are:

Water level – good for check the levelness of your tripod

Ruler – hmm…. Just a ruler, in case you need to measure something about 3.5” size J

Light Sensor – good for photography too

Shock Sensor – in case you want to measure the level of shock in your car J

Where is – This is the GPS apps that come with compass and can store location of the place you wanted to go, the distance remaining, the traveling speed, etc

CurrencyConv – This is a simple currency conversion program. It can auto update the rates from the net.

Google Maps – This is the new Google Maps with layer, meaning you can now go underground to look at the transit lines (MRT lines, etc), plus you can also use it to replace the GPS software.

Facebook – This is the facebook apps that link facebook to your Omnia. Great stuff if you a fan of facebook, get all the facebook email, contact, etc.

Skyfire – Another browser that I like as it can open any website without limitation of being PDA. Some website refuse to allow access such as those banking site and you can also put all the news feed into one page (no need to use Avantgo – guess Avantgo is died by now)

Opera Mobile 9.7 Beta – Even is beta is still better and more responsive than the Opera that comes with the firmware

Sun’n’Moon – This apps help me track the phases of the moon as I am planning for my moon photography in future J Hmmm…. Full moon in a couple of days time, must get the camera ready.

Off course, I also have the Phone Log, which sits in the background and log all the phone calls, smses and mmses that I send and the information is log into m Outlook.

And the most used apps for today is mymobiler, which is used to capture all the pictures in this email. Well guess is long enough. If you need more information, please contact me and I have others not so useful apps too (might be useful to you).

Technorati Tags: Samsung,Omnia,Windows,Mobile,6.5,II,S2U2,S2P,Iphone,bluetooth,headset,GPSed,mFlash,mToolbox,Where is,CurrencyConv,Currency,Conversion,Google,Maps,Layers,Facebook,Skyfire,Opera,Beta,Sun'n'Moon,PhonelLog

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Phonelog

I downloaded PhoneLog (Freeware) from http://freewareppc.com/communication/phonelog_by_infinityball.shtml

What is it for?

Phonelog is a simple program that logs all call (placed, missed, answered) and sms to outlook calendar. It records the total time spent on the call, etc.