My Cell Phone Chronicle: 1995-2012

Do you remember all the mobile handsets you have owned?  

I did a stock-taking of mine out of oddity and here's what I have been through...

 
1995-1997: Motorola CD920
My first ever cellular handset (dual band: GSM900/1800)


1997- 1998: Ericsson GH337
Ericsson was a hit, it was fashionable and everyone carried one.




1998-1999: StarTAC 75
The so-called "wearable phone" was the world's smallest and lightest then. It weighed just 88g & it was an envy amongst my peer.
 
1999-2000: StarTAC 130 Slim
As if 88g was not light enough.

 
2000-2002: Kyocera 200
When everyone chose the trendy Japanese manufacturers, I had eyes on the Korean bet. I liked it light, practical and different.

 
2002-2003: Siemens SL45
Bought it as soon as it came out in the market - a rather expensive choice back then but was the first MP3 phone with reasonable audio quality - Felt rather good carrying a trend setter. 


 
2003-2003: Nokia 6600
My first handset with a camera - though I said I didn't want to be Nokia slave then.

2003-2004: Nokia 6100
Surrendered to the slim, lightness and the all-rounded feature of this handset.

2004-2005: LG 8120
My first 3G handset that can make video calls.

2005-2006: Sony Ericsson K608i 
Sony + Ericsson = first time when style & practicality got married.

2006-2007: Nokia 6288
Boomerang to the Nokia camp as this phone was a bargain and honestly flawless after all.


2007- 2009: Sony Ericsson K810i
Totally impressed by its Cybershot 3.2M & its AF function.



 
2009-2009: Sony Ericsson W995
Classic slider technique, a mechanism that was strangely addictive when I had it in my palm.



2009-2010: Sony Ericsson Aino
The Aino has pretty much everything - plus a simple-but-snappy touch media menu.


 
2010-present: Apple iPhone 4
Finally - the Apple defiant has converted to iPhone in 2010 and this device has become the longest I have hung onto till this very day.
 

Can't help but wonder...what would be my next pick?

Draw Something

When I was a kid, I loved to draw.  Alright, scribble - to be more precise. 

Then I got old and too busy and just never quite get back to the old self.

Then came a game named Pictionary - loved that. 

I think many of us have been through the above cycle and that probably explained how the latest No. 1 game on iOS and Android "Draw Something" got so popular.  


It has racked up 30 million downloads in just about 6 weeks, generated about 2 billion drawings and are exchanging pictures at a rate of 2,000 to 3,000 per second! 

I don't really consider that as a game really, as it does not have scores or leader boards, and players involved aren't actually competing against each other but playing in a cooperative manner rather.  And I think that - has played a major part in the immense success of Draw Something - emphasizing social interaction over some game mechanics.

You know what I think they should chuck in as well?  They should consider including an integrated chat (who cares if people use it for cheating), I mean most often than not, don't you feel you want to chat or express yourself after the guessing part?

The Typical Apple Arrogance

Consumers did not expect this.  It does not make any commercial sense either to launch a new product with snazzy features that cannot work in the market in which it is selling.

I am talking about the new Apple iPad, which was unveiled last week amid much exuberance.  The product hit this part of the world with razor-sharp text and images, among other cool features.

But here is the hitch:  the much-vaunted 4G tablet cannot hook up to 4G networks as the device is configured for different radio frequency bands used in the United States.

Just like Hong Kong, many Asia Pacific areas such as Singapore and Australia cannot enjoy the iPad's ultra-fast 4G capability due to different frequencies.  It can hook up with the 3G networks though but that is beside the point. 

It may seem strange that Apple has decided to launch a product with a feature that is incompatible with many markets.  No hardware manufacturer in its right mind would pull such a stunt, but then I guess Apple does not have to make sense, right?   

It has counted on, and can still count on die-hard fans to join snaking queues for the product because the brand has won the hearts of many consumers here and around the world - the typical Apple arrogance at work.

Queue seen forming 2 days before the sale started in Singapore.

I really enjoy Apple products, but the naming of this new one is kind of dumb, if I may say so.

My 4th iPhone 4

Hi readers, 

I am on my fourth iPhone 4 at the moment, believe it or not. 

The first iPhone 4 I purchased 1.5 years ago lasted several months until a battery defect overheated the hardware and would no longer hold a charge. The genius replacement iPhone 4 that I swapped out then, had a hardware microphone issue that I noticed only hours after leaving the store. The third kept crashing and just refused to talk to iTunes.  I am on my number four - going 2 days strong.

It has come to my attention that people who replaced their iPhones tend to go through numerous replacements whereas the rest of them still have a perfectly working original.  I mean it does make me ponder those like myself on our 3rd, 4th, 5th and so on iPhone, can't possibly have all the bad luck, right?   The rest of you seems to be suggesting that the problem could be with people rather than the phones.  

Anyhow, several things I learned from all these replacement exercise, in which you lucky people might not have otherwise discovered. 

1. Backing up data on a regular basis is absolutely essential
2. The AppleCare Protection Plan is definitely worth investing and
3. Decoding iPhone's unique serial number

Point no. 1 and 2 are self-explanatory.  Point no. 3 is quite interesting.  

Every unit comes with a 11-digit serial number and it contains vital information of where and when the unit was manufactured.

aabccdddeef

aa = Factory and Machine ID
b = Year
cc = Production Week
ddd = Unique Identifier
ee = Color (A4=black)
f = size (S=16GB, T=32GB)

So for my replacement unit - reads a black iPhone 4 with 16GB - produced in week 52 of 2011.


Go check yours now! 

Siri-ously Speaking

Purely out of curiosity, I can't wait to grab hold of Siri - iPhone 4S's latest voice-recognition personal assistant - who, according to Apple, is able to tell your wife that you are running late, or send a note to your friend.  


Hypothetically, Siri does what you say, finds the information you need, then answers you just like you are having a normal conversation with a human but this time with a device - the iPhone.

Right...exciting as it may sound, don't think your wife will be particularly impressed with that when you have the time to ask for help from Siri personally but don't have the time to tell her yourself that you are running late!


Then you might try instructing Siri to send a note of apology to your wife.  Sounds viable too but, how impersonal will that make you, seriously?


What happened to the "I just call to say I love you" era?  

Staining Whites

Red wine, coffee, chocolate - all good things until they land on your favourite white blouse or jeans.

I spill all the time.  I am particularly aware of that situation whenever I am on light-coloured clothing.  No matter how careful I am whenever I eat or drink, I still manage to stain clothes on a regular basis.  Please tell me I am not alone!

White clothing tends to transcend the trends don't they?   Well, not any more as I have found this instant stain remover "Tide To Go" in the size of a marker pen that has worked wonders.

We know we don't want to let that stain get too comfortable and the best chance of getting it out is to tackle it as soon as it happened.  I have applied the product as soon as I noticed the stain, and even if I can’t completely remove the grime, the pre-op made it much easier to remove before it made its way to a washing machine.

I've tried it.  The security it provides is worth the extra space in my handbag.

Pay Tribute To Steve Jobs

I would like to talk about my day today. 

My alarm was set off at 0700 sharp and that was when I woke up and started my day.  Not knowing what clothes were appropriate to wear, I took a quick glance at the weather forecast.   Over breakfast, I caught up with my emails while pulling up files ready for the next appointment feeling extremely efficient. 

Half way through the morning, I checked in to follow some news threads, replied a few Whatsapp and Pingchat messages, performed an online check-in for my flight tomorrow and off I went to Napa Valley for a wine tour that I have been looking forward to. 

It was a really pleasant day with sunshine after rain and it was the most scenic of all, en route to the valley.  I couldn't help but snapped a few photos in the car and I couldn't wait to brag about it by sharing one or two with my friends on Facebook. 

The wine tour was splendid.  I took lots of useful wine notes during the various tastings and needless to say, plenty of beautiful shots to help me remember where I went and what I drank.


Steve Jobs has technically enabled and sentimentally fulfilled my day.  To the extent in which much of what I use to manage my tasks listed above and much of the emotions involved - exist on the platforms his company has created.

There have been many compliments to the man, his ideas and his achievements over the past day or so on the Internet.   I want to pay tribute to him by saying how his life’s work has played a crucial part in helping me - craft my life’s work.

The best way to honour his memory is for me to press on doing just that: my life’s work.  

And thanks to his vision - I can do that a lot more efficiently and effectively than I could have without it.

 

Fake iPhone (5)??

Some of the counterfeit gadgets and knockoffs one can find on the streets of Beijing are truly astounding.

It often doesn’t take too long for Apple to release a product before images of home-grown imitators start making the rounds.  In some cases, such as the iPhones or iPads, counterfeiters got to work well before the device was even released.

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting you herewith hiPhone 5.

Unlike the actual product from Apple, the hiPhone can accommodate two SIM cards and has a built-in radio receiver - all for the miraculously low price of about US$78.00 only. 

Even they look bulky and incredibly ancient, you will be surprised how many would believe it to be an iPhone 5, went and bought it.

Welcome to China, buddy.  They sell like hot cakes in here. 
You interested?

Bodum: A Great Eye Candy

I accidentally found these in my cupboard the other day and not knowing when and where these came from, I've decided to give them to someone who might know how to treasure them a bit more than I.  


Before I wave them goodbye, I thought I should stick a post here and pay some tributes by way of constructing a nice little advertising script for them...




"Imagine an ice-cold shot of vodka or a steamy espresso feels just right in your palm no matter what the temperature of your drink is.

Not only pleasing to the eye, coasters won't be needed from now on either.  


Coolest!  Only from Bodum."

An Enjoyable Companion

We can have as many wrist watches as we want and yet be constantly short of time still.

I don't really need another watch like I need a third kneecap but this is a real pleaser.  The question remains: Why mechanical when Swatch does quartz so well?

Answer: ETA caliber C01-211 movement with a 46-hour power reserve and terribly light-weight for a chronograph. 

Not a shabby choice at all and definitely a reason to notice a brand that I have long forgotten about.  

After all, an enjoyable companion is hard to find. My pleasure to have found you.

A Year of Smoking Apple

It is exactly a year ago I purchased my first Apple's iPhone and since then, my iPhone 4 has changed the way I work and play more than any other gadget I have had - I would say, mostly for the better.

The downside: there's always distractions a tap away.  I find myself getting distracted more often than not.  That has led to more than a few stern talking-tos from family members and friends, wondering why on earth I can't go an hour without doing something on the iPhone...at the dinner table, a bar, or even on vacation!

There had been a few kinks of software clashes on my current phone but in general, I am quite happy with it.  So happy, that I went and bought the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend its warranty for another year before the current one expires.   


Can't bear to even imagine living a day without it you see - the addiction is that bad.

Cherry Chomper

Love cherries but hate the mess of trying to pit them by hand for your young child?


How about a tool that pits your cherries on your behalf and takes all the work out of serving cherries?  Shaped like an adorable cartoon character, all you need to do is place a cherry in its mouth, press the head and you’re good to go – the rapid plunging action will push the stone through the cherry, leaving it perfectly pitted and ready to eat.


Awesome stuff isn't it?

Are You Smarter Than Your iPhone?

As you continue swiping and tapping your way through life with your iPhone, you sincerely believe you know it all.  But do you really?

How often do you access iPhone's "Voice Control" function?  


Right, I am not talking about the command "Call...Joe Blogg, Mobile".  Old hat.  You probably knew that one.  


How about asking your iPhone "What time is it?" and let it read you the current time aloud?  Cool huh?

Voice Control knows the music in your library too. You can ask your iPhone to play a specific album, artist, or playlist.  If you just say “Play more songs like this,” it will activate the Genius feature. If you’re not sure what’s playing, just ask “What’s playing?”

Are you letting your iPhone outsmart you?

A Letter to Steve Job from A Lefty

Hi Steve,

I understand you have already stated millions of times that we lefties just have to live with the inherited bottom-left corner antenna reception problem on our iPhone 4. 

That's probably the worst possible speech you gave but we can just about live with that.

May I make a little suggestion here for you to make us a little less miserable?  Or I suppose, a gesture to make it up to us in a sense?  

How about someone in your design team try modifying the “Slide to Unlock” so it can go the opposite direction?

It is the norm for us lefties to hold the iPhone with our right hand and if your team of engineers can investigate an easier slide motion to unlock, it would be real exhilarating. 

Apparently, if you don't know, lefties by and large, currently constitutes about 20% of your customer base (excluding the ambidextrous of course).  Would be grateful if you can look into incorporating this in the next OS upgrade. 

Thanks a bunch.

Yours sincerely,

Alampy 

The World's Dumbest Phone

Tired of your super hi-tech, the full of bells and whistles phone that you've been carrying around?

John's Phone might be your key to returning to the bare basics.  

No frills – no more features such as camera, text messaging, endless ringtones or Wi-Fi.  Only large buttons, a concealed paper address book and a pen.  What you get in return is an energy efficient phone that can last for 3 weeks on stand-by.

John’s Phone requires no explanation - couldn't be simpler - dumbest you can lay your hands on!

A User-Friendly Fire Extinguisher At Long Last

Have you ever used a fire extinguisher before?  It is one of those things that you will only encounter in emergencies and touch wood, I haven't had the chance to operate one. 

Not sure about you, but it forever feels like it weighs tonnes to me!  I contemplated in getting one at home but I can't help but wonder how wieldy it can be in any panicking situation so eventaully I dropped the idea.



Here comes a saviour from the very innovative Japanese that might change my mind - introducing a throw-able fire extinguisher.  No longer in its alarmingly red colour, it's in blue.  What's more, you can operate it single-handedly!

You have just gotta see it in action in the video below and I bet you would want to get one right now!  

Panic Without iPhone

  

I have heard people can be rather lost without their iPhones but I can't believe I was frantically panicking when my iPhone 4 hanged on me last Sunday.   


In the old days, I would pull out the battery, take out the SIM, reinsert everything and that would by and large do the trick.  When you have something so seamless like an iPhone 4, I have absolutely no idea what I can do but to take it to the service centre and have it examined. 



4 hours without feeling the weight of it in my pocket nor in my palm.  If I can't say it was a liberation, then I know for sure I am royally screwed.  And I am. 


   

Wide Is Wonderful?

It hasn't really been that long since you get rid of the aspect ratio of 4:3 and get really accustomed to 16:9. 

And here we are, right in front of us comes the no mercy 21:9.

While I totally admire PHILIPS' bravery in trying to lead a new TV category, and I am sure movie buffs will embrace the 21:9 concept to death, I can't help but wonder if the world at large really is ready for what the Cinema 21:9 is trying to do. 

To tell you the truth, I still have a 4:3 CRT married to a VHS at home somewhere.  They just refuse to retire.  The least I could do, is to mercifully offer them a shelter, for them to age gracefully!

i-Touching

iPhone is out to lunch, and dinner for that matter.


I was at lunch with 3 others, all us were iPhone 4 users and our subject of discussion all lunch hour surrounded some of the latest location-based apps. 


The very same day when I had a roundtable dinner gathering, the majority of us had our iPhone with us too - all showing flashy on the table that was. 

How very i-Touching - for Steve to know! 


Let's us not forget our very well-trained table etiquette, esp when loads of family dinners are coming up for the Chinese New Year and don't let them get in the way!

Handbag Hook

I was in a bar one evening, had to stand while waiting for a table and there was this very attentive bar manager who gave me one of these cute little hanger to hang my handbag.

Honestly, that was the first time I came across something so practical.  My bag was rather heavy that night with a laptop plus some documents and this little thing did a magnificent job of making sure my bag was safe and off the dusty floor, so I could enjoy my drink hassle free!



And I thought...the manager was such a saint! Well he was, but this hanger is cuter. 



Today, I was delighted to see this selling on the street and bought this piece here without hesitation. 

I was told this invention dated back to our parents' generation and I got laughed at for being so ignorant.

Was it just me, I mean...have you seen one of these before?

Sometimes I do wonder where I have been living all these years!