I must admit that I never saw the point of Apple's iPad. To me, the main reason is lack of "openness". When I spend money buying a gadget, it is me who decide how to use that gadget - not Steve Jobs or anybody else. I am for example not a very big fan of flash, but still - a lot of web pages use flash and if I am browsing these sites I want to see that flash (latest example was Tour de France's live timing).
In terms of being open I very much look forward to Meego based devices, but until that becomes a reality (probably late this year although I have already booted Meego on my netbook) Android is definitely the best choice. And right now China is pumping out Android based tablets by the hundreds (models that is). Of these devices some try to pretend they are iPads while others are just Android based tablets.
Yesterday I decided that my curiosity was big enough for me to get one, so I took a walk down to the local IT Mecca: Plaza Low Yat. I walked around for nearly an hour there and I was quite surprised that I only found ONE place that had ONE Android based tablet available ("aPad iRobot" - and I shit you not that is the name). What is weird is the fact that there are iPads just about everywhere. There must have been at least 200 shops selling these hugely overpriced devices while only one shop even made an attempt to sell an Android based device.
Unfortunately I couldn't agree with them on the price. I know this particular model cost around USD 110 if you buy it online and they wanted RM 800 (that is more than USD 200). So I am still without an Android based tablet (hint: anybody got the Orphan M16 aPad in KL I'll buy it!).
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Internet Speed per Region
From BBC today:
- South Korea 12Mbps
- Hong Kong 9Mbps
- Japan 7.8Mbps
- Romania 6.3Mbps
- Latvia 6.3Mbps
- Sweden 6.1Mbps
- Netherlands 5.9Mbps
- Czech Republic 5.4Mbps
- Denmark 5.3Mbps
- Switzerland 5.2Mbps
- ...
- ...
- Telekom Malaysia 0.3 Mbps
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Sex and Health
Just stumbled upon this one in the local news:
The amusing part is the effort that is being put into not sounding as if they encourage sex outside marriage. I mean - sex is healthy period - but obviously they can't write that.
The amusing part is the effort that is being put into not sounding as if they encourage sex outside marriage. I mean - sex is healthy period - but obviously they can't write that.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Making Formula One Interesting - Open Letter to Bernie Ecclestone and FIA
Jeremy Clarkson has on several occasions claimed that he knew how to make Formula 1 more interesting (that basically revolved around Clarkson being able to hand out random points as he saw fit). Like Clarkson I also know how Formula 1 could be turned into the spectator show that it ought to be.
My idea is quite simple really. Formula 1 should be the pinnacle of car racing - nothing less than that. It should be about car racing - using the best possible cars and the best possible drivers. The best driver in the best car should win! But it would appear that Bernie got other ideas. Before it was about fuel strategy and now it's more about tire management and tire changes. How boring is that. Turn F1 into what it ought to be please! Here are my suggestions:
Basic Rules
1. NO electronic gadgets (as it is now - this is fine - it's about racing - so no ABS, no traction control, no active suspension and other things that makes the cars easier to drive)
2. NO aerodynamic limitations - the teams can throw everything into making the cars as aerodynamic as humanly possible and create as much down force as possible as long as it is static or manually operated by the driver.
3. NO engine limits. IF limits are necessary limit the fuel type and fuel quantity for the teams instead so it will be about going as fast and long as possible with whatever fuel they got. For all I care they can turn it into diesel only - as long as the teams are given free hands to get whatever out of that they can.
4. NO scheduled pit stops of any kind.
5. NO tire limitations. The teams pick whatever tire they think or feel is most suitable for each race.
Race Format
The race format completely changed. Friday will have some free practice on the track - no limits on that - of course the teams should be given all the practice time they need or want. Each race weekend will have four races - two on Saturday and two on Sunday. Each race will be shorter than the current race - probably around 40 minutes to 1 hour - with NO scheduled stops allowed - no tire changes - no refuelling - unscheduled stops for fixes are allowed. The races will be like this:
1. Position Battle
This first race will start with cars in reverse order. In other words - the leader of the championship will be last - the slowest cars in the front. Outcome of this race will determine the starting order of first race.
2. First Race
First race on Saturday. Starting order determined from position battle. Winner of that race to get pole position.
3. Second Race
First race on Sunday. Starting order determined by previous race.
4. Third Race
Second race on Sunday. As previous two races.
The winner will be the driver with most wins. Ie. any driver with 2 or 3 wins will be the winner. In case of multiple drivers with 1 win each, best second position will be used.
It's as simple as that. This would be pure racing. Because of the reverse order first race - the drivers would HAVE to overtake. The ONLY strategy would be to go as fast as possible and overtake as many as possible.
How hard can it be - wake up Bernie (oh - and Bernie - should you choose to use this - I do expect to be invited to all races!)
(from: http://larsrants.blogspot.com)
My idea is quite simple really. Formula 1 should be the pinnacle of car racing - nothing less than that. It should be about car racing - using the best possible cars and the best possible drivers. The best driver in the best car should win! But it would appear that Bernie got other ideas. Before it was about fuel strategy and now it's more about tire management and tire changes. How boring is that. Turn F1 into what it ought to be please! Here are my suggestions:
Basic Rules
1. NO electronic gadgets (as it is now - this is fine - it's about racing - so no ABS, no traction control, no active suspension and other things that makes the cars easier to drive)
2. NO aerodynamic limitations - the teams can throw everything into making the cars as aerodynamic as humanly possible and create as much down force as possible as long as it is static or manually operated by the driver.
3. NO engine limits. IF limits are necessary limit the fuel type and fuel quantity for the teams instead so it will be about going as fast and long as possible with whatever fuel they got. For all I care they can turn it into diesel only - as long as the teams are given free hands to get whatever out of that they can.
4. NO scheduled pit stops of any kind.
5. NO tire limitations. The teams pick whatever tire they think or feel is most suitable for each race.
Race Format
The race format completely changed. Friday will have some free practice on the track - no limits on that - of course the teams should be given all the practice time they need or want. Each race weekend will have four races - two on Saturday and two on Sunday. Each race will be shorter than the current race - probably around 40 minutes to 1 hour - with NO scheduled stops allowed - no tire changes - no refuelling - unscheduled stops for fixes are allowed. The races will be like this:
1. Position Battle
This first race will start with cars in reverse order. In other words - the leader of the championship will be last - the slowest cars in the front. Outcome of this race will determine the starting order of first race.
2. First Race
First race on Saturday. Starting order determined from position battle. Winner of that race to get pole position.
3. Second Race
First race on Sunday. Starting order determined by previous race.
4. Third Race
Second race on Sunday. As previous two races.
The winner will be the driver with most wins. Ie. any driver with 2 or 3 wins will be the winner. In case of multiple drivers with 1 win each, best second position will be used.
It's as simple as that. This would be pure racing. Because of the reverse order first race - the drivers would HAVE to overtake. The ONLY strategy would be to go as fast as possible and overtake as many as possible.
How hard can it be - wake up Bernie (oh - and Bernie - should you choose to use this - I do expect to be invited to all races!)
(from: http://larsrants.blogspot.com)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Bloody Amateurs (or: Stonehenge Mystery Uncovered)
Today, BBC writes: Archaeologists have discovered a second henge at Stonehenge, described as the most exciting find there in 50 years.
While reading Wikipedia's article about Stonehenge, I came across this plan:
I don't know about you, but seriously - look at it. To me it is bleeding obvious what was the purpose of Stonehenge. Still don't get it? Ok - let's rotate the plan a bit:
Now focus entirely on the dark gray stones (the oldest if I am not mistaken) and forget about the rest.
Still not? Hmmm - how about this then:
Granted - some of the rocks have fallen over in the past 6000 years, but still - I am absolutely convinced that Stonehenge is nothing but a huge smiley.
Seriously, how hard can it be? Don't forget - you read it here first!!!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Quality of Gadgets
In 1989 I bought a HP-28C calculator (which at that time was already a few years old). After a few month it got killed by a leaking battery - but Duracell immediately replaced the calculator with the newer HP-28S model:
I haven't used it for a while because the size of batteries that it uses are somewhat rare. But I finally managed to find some, and guess what - it still works flawlessly. Mechanically it's as sound as when it was new - and that's even though I remember when I bought it, I thought the hinge mechanism would break one day.
What's even more amazing is that it still to this day almost unsurpassed as a scientific calculator(in fact I reckon it only got beaten once - by the following HP-48SX model - even though the keyboard on that one wasn't nearly as good as the HP-28C/S).
It wasn't cheap back when I bought it (around US$ 235 + danish sales tax - seem to remember somewhere around DKK 2000), but in terms of value for money it has got to be an all time number one. Try to imagine today - 1989 to 2010 - 21 years. Imagine the mobile phone you buy today still functioning in 2030 and still have any relevance whatsoever.
For a trip down memory lane - check this: HP Museum.
I haven't used it for a while because the size of batteries that it uses are somewhat rare. But I finally managed to find some, and guess what - it still works flawlessly. Mechanically it's as sound as when it was new - and that's even though I remember when I bought it, I thought the hinge mechanism would break one day.
What's even more amazing is that it still to this day almost unsurpassed as a scientific calculator(in fact I reckon it only got beaten once - by the following HP-48SX model - even though the keyboard on that one wasn't nearly as good as the HP-28C/S).
It wasn't cheap back when I bought it (around US$ 235 + danish sales tax - seem to remember somewhere around DKK 2000), but in terms of value for money it has got to be an all time number one. Try to imagine today - 1989 to 2010 - 21 years. Imagine the mobile phone you buy today still functioning in 2030 and still have any relevance whatsoever.
For a trip down memory lane - check this: HP Museum.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Room Service
From a hotel in Bangkok:
Seriously - how many people go to a hotel and decide: "Hell that's a cool TV - let me stuff that into my bag"? Or perhaps they anticipate having a lot of rock star wannabies staying there?
Seriously - how many people go to a hotel and decide: "Hell that's a cool TV - let me stuff that into my bag"? Or perhaps they anticipate having a lot of rock star wannabies staying there?
Best Guarded - Ever!
Just bought a doughnut on Air Asia - and that was quite something (apologies for the badly shaken image):
In case you're unable to read it - it says: "Krispy Kreme has been making doughnuts of the highest quality from a carefully guarded since 1937. Carefully guarded what? I guess that's a secret.
In case you're unable to read it - it says: "Krispy Kreme has been making doughnuts of the highest quality from a carefully guarded since 1937. Carefully guarded what? I guess that's a secret.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Hell Yeah - I've got a complaint!
Lately the taxis in KL have been carrying the following notices:
My first complaint would obviously be: In a country sporting more than 1.5 million public servants, surely someone should be able to proof read a notice like this?
Second, what's the freaking point when zero action is taken against drivers breaking the rules. It's just pointless show off as long as nobody is taking any action.
My first complaint would obviously be: In a country sporting more than 1.5 million public servants, surely someone should be able to proof read a notice like this?
Second, what's the freaking point when zero action is taken against drivers breaking the rules. It's just pointless show off as long as nobody is taking any action.
Friday, July 9, 2010
And they nicked Hamilton for a bit of wheel spin in Australia
Ha, ha - this must be the cool Aussie's revenge after Hamilton trashed the roads down under with wheel spin :)
And it doesn't really look as if the roads were blocked for this. Haven't been to London for 10 years - perhaps with the new congestion charges and all there is not much traffic left.
Oh - and I wonder if Webber had to pay that congestion charge.
And it doesn't really look as if the roads were blocked for this. Haven't been to London for 10 years - perhaps with the new congestion charges and all there is not much traffic left.
Oh - and I wonder if Webber had to pay that congestion charge.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Biggest Offense
The elevators at my condo all have a sign like this:
I find it amusing that they order you to not drink, eat or smoke, while they kindly ask you not to vandalise the elevator.
I find it amusing that they order you to not drink, eat or smoke, while they kindly ask you not to vandalise the elevator.
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