4 days Sabah Trip at 11:31 PM

Sabah Map

followed my uncle and a friend of his for 4 days starting from 19th-22nd Oct 2009 to do some testing on radio communication signal around sabah except Kudat or up North Sabah (from Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau, Kalabakan, Tibow, Sepulot, Nabawan, Sook, Keningau, Tenom, Sipitang, Kota Kinabalu then back home to Sandakan).

visited Bukit Silam Lahad Datu, Gunung Andrassy at Tawau (highest point at Tawau if I'm not mistaken), Bukit Gemok Tawau, Sungai Imam Tawau, Maliau Basin at Kalabakan, some rural places like Tibow, Sepulot, Nabawan and Sook and visited a few Forestry Department branches along the way (each branch has its own uniqueness) . Didn't really get a chance to visit inside Maliau Basin and Bukit Gemok maybe later, hope so especially Maliau Basin, I heard the fee is expensive even more than Danum valley. For now, you'll not get any usual communication line signal along Kalabakan road until Keningau or Tawau even up hill Keningau-Sipitang road.

it was great, the view was amazing no words can describe it, see it for yourself if you have the chance and if you do go a.s.a.p because just like my uncle said, it will change soon and it will not the same again. I've seen there were a lot of deforestation for timbers and oil palms especially along Kalabakan road. We might see massive development at that area in the near future.

Acer Aspire Z5610: Acer's first touch desktop at 5:27 PM

Acer is finally getting into the multi-touch game with its first all-in-one desktop with multi-touch input support. It will be going for only $899 (RM 3k ++)
The Windows 7-based all-in-one computer has a 23-inch, 1920×1080 display. It has a A 2.6GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core chip, 4GB of RAM, a a 320GB hard drive.The Z5610 has built-in Wi-Fi, a webcam, and a 5W speaker system that provides virtual 5.1-channel surround. There are also six USB ports, and an eSATA port.

Sources:
gadgets
zdnet

2012 Mayan Apocalypse Predictions?? at 9:58 PM

December 21, 2012 is supposedly the end of the world. There are many believers who fear the coming of this day. Here are some facts about the Mayans and some that are revolving around this day that is yet to come:

1) The theory of December 21, 2012 revolves around the Mayan calendar, a calendar created by a group of people that existed from 250-900 AD. They had advanced writing skills and are most famous for their pyramids and other structures. Many Mayans still live today, continuing age-old traditions.

2) The Mayans used different calendars and viewed time as a meshing of spiritual cycles.

3) Their calendars had practical uses and had a heavy religious element. Every day had a patron spirit, with each day having a specific use.

4) Using an innovative method, the Mayans were able to expand over a 52-year Calendar Round, which was a calendar system that could last 18,980 days within the course of 52 years. They created a calendar system found in the “Long Count”, a calendar lasting 5126 years.

5) The end of the world part was wholly based on an assumption that something bad is going to happen once the Mayan Long Count Calendar runs out.

6) How is December 21, 2012 the date when this calendar supposedly runs out? They used the numbers 13 and 20 at the root of their numerical systems with the last day occurring on 13.0.0.0.0. This represents 5126 years and the long count started on 0.0.0.0.0., which corresponds to the day August 11, 3114 BC. 5126 years later is December 21, 2012.

7) Many archaeologists and mythologists believe that the day 13.0.0.0.0. actually will bring an age of enlightenment. instead of the end of the world.

read this too-->The 6 Best 2012 Apocalypse Theories (Are All Bullshit)

Sources:
survive2012
2012endofdays
cracked
articlebase
wikipedia
paranormalknowledge

Intel's New Core i7 and Core i5 at 12:21 AM

The Core i5 750 is the first release in a series of processors based on a mainstream version of the Core i7 platform. It is a quad-core part based on the "Lynnfield" architecture, fabricated using a 45nm process and will use a new LGA1156 platform. This new chip is set to cost just $199, it will operate at a healthy 2.66GHz and feature a whopping 8MB L3 cache, but no Hyper-Threading support will be present.

Turbo Boost:

The new Core i7 800-series CPUs and the Core i5 750 still support the same automatic overclocking functionality, or Turbo Boost, as the Core i7 900-series processors. However, this feature has been jacked up on the newer chips. Core i7 900-series CPUs will only increase their multipliers to a maximum of two additional steps according to system demands (effectively taking a 3.33-GHz processor to 3.6-GHz depending on how many cores are in use). The new Lynnfield processors are able to jump up five multiplier steps for the 800-series chips (taking a 2.93-GHz processor to 3.6-GHz) and four for the Core i5 750 (2.66-GHz to a maximum 3.2-GHz).

Performance

Both Core i7 800-series processors support hyperthreading the same as their Core i7 900-series brethren. The Core i5 750 does not-its four physical cores are all that will appear in your operating system's task manager. Even so, the CPU's noteworthy performance makes it an excellent value for its roughly $200 price.

Sources:
techspot
pcworld

BlackBerry Curve 8520 a.k.a Gemini at 5:52 PM

Specifications (click above picture to enlarge)

Xpax to launch prepaid BlackBerry plans

Priding itself as being the most affordable BlackBerry to date, the Curve 8520 comes with (almost) all the bells and whistles that turned models like the previous Curve and Bold into cult favorites. A full-QWERTY keyboard headlines the feature set, 256MB of flash memory and a 512Mhz processor combo ensures smooth operation, and EDGE connectivity takes care of the emailing capabilities from virtually any kind of email protocol. Making a debut on the Curve 8520 is an all new touch-sensitive trackpad in place of the trackball (a.k.a the BlackBerry " nipple"), so sweaty palmed folks (like yours truly) can enjoy problem free scrolling.

Also available on the Curve 8520 are all the integrated conveniences that make the BlackBerry OS one of the most user-friendly ones on a mobile device. By integrating elements of social networking effortlessly into the context menus, uploading and sharing pictures, updating your status on Facebook, or posting a Tweet are turned into simple one click operations.

$130 at T-Mobile stores (roughly around RM500)

Sources:
lowyat
blackberry
xpax
engadget
mobile88
crackberry
recombu

Game consoles: A New Way to Play at 12:11 AM

PS3's new 3D mode

Engadget has captured a new 3D mode for the PS3 on film and reports that the new mode is set to come to all existing games in 2010. That’s right, all of your games will be playable in 3D. The exact time frame for the 3D introduction is unknown and the closest we can get to a launch date is sometime in 2010. The console sends the 3D content out over HDMI and then the TV synchronizes it with your 3D glasses. There are sure to be some limitations on the TVs that can work along the lines of the NVIDIA 3D system that required monitors with a specific refresh rate. Apparently, for PS3 3D content, 200Hz is the magic number. captured on video, coming in 2010 to all existing games

"Project Natal" motion controller for Xbox 360!

No Strings (or Controllers) Attached. Introducing Project Natal, a revolutionary new way to play: no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak you and your friends can jump into the fun -- the only experience needed is life experience. Apparently the small, black device -- codenamed "Natal" -- will allow for an astoundingly wide range of actions by utilizing a group of sensors (the box itself sits beneath your TV), and the accessory will be capable of juggling multiple users during a single session. The demo Microsoft showed off included a skateboarding game (replete with a young man "air" ollie-ing), and a family playing a racing game (the dad was changing a tire, the daughter driving).

Sources:
engadget (PS3 3D mode)
engadget (project natal)
slashgear
xbox
foxnews

Apple 09/09/09 Highlights at 12:34 PM

iPod nano with camera, FM tuner, pedometer

Apple today introduced the new iPod nano , adding a video camera, mic and speaker to the world’s most popular music player. Music lovers can now shoot video wherever they are, view it on their iPod nano and use their computers to easily transfer their videos to YouTube. The new iPod nano features an ultra-thin and sleek design with a larger 2.2-inch color display and gorgeous polished aluminum and glass enclosure. iPod nano also features a built-in FM radio with live pause and iTunes Tagging, as well as a built-in pedometer.

Highlights:


Apple announces iPod nano with camera, FM tuner, pedometer

The new iPod nano is available today in an 8GB model for $149 and a 16GB model for $179, and comes in nine brilliant colors including silver, black, purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, (PRODUCT) RED and pink.

Apple unveils 64GB iPod touch with faster processor for $399

32GB offering will be available for $299, and an 8GB option for $199. Apple executive Phil Schiller noted that the $199 is a "magic price point," so the 8GB option with lower component costs was used to hit that pricing sweet spot.

Apple unveils cleaner iTunes 9 with app management, LPs, and more

The latest version of iTunes brings improved syncing and application management, allows easier sharing of content, features a redesigned iTunes Store, and includes enhanced albums in the form of iTunes LPs.

Apple ups iPod classic to 160GB; shuffle sports headphone options

Rumors of the demise of the iPod classic were greatly exaggerated, and Apple's new iPod shuffle has gained compatibility with more third-party headphones.

Apple brings App Store recommendations with iPhone OS 3.1
Apple Wednesday released a new version of its iPhone operating system, fixing bugs and bringing new features, including a "Genius" recommendation system for the App Store.

List of fixes in iPhone OS 3.1 are as follows:

* Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos
* iTunes U content organization
* Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store
* Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store
* Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll
* Option to "Save as new clip" when trimming a video on iPhone 3GS
* Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on
* Remotely lock iPhone with a passcode via MobileMe
* Use Voice Control on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsets
* Paste phone numbers into the keypad
* Option to use Home button to turn on accessibility features on iPhone 3GS
* Warn when visiting fraudulent websites in Safari (anti-phishing)
* Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handling
* Fixes issue that cause some app icons to display incorrectly

Sources:
slashgear
appleinsider
cnn