Everything else is just a toy

First touch with the HTC Desire HD

2010-12-02T12:22:00.002+08:00

Had a chance to feel and play with the latest HTC Desire HD recently. In a sentence, "I like it!"

First touch with the HTC HD7

2010-11-15T12:24:00.001+08:00

Was in the area and decided to POP over to DeeJay to have a feel of the famous Windows HD7.

Here's some of my first thoughts...

I have to say, first thing that hits you is the size and build. Beautiful.

The responsiveness of the touch screen is up there with the best. Flicking around the home screen and in and out of the menu was smooth.

Tried typing out message and it was so easy because of the screen size. Very promising.

Photo quality is very good too. Switched in and out of the gallery and photos. So smooth.

This might even give its twin brother the Desire HD a run.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Meeting of the droids

2010-11-12T12:53:00.001+08:00

A Nexus One and a HTC Desire. Both Froyo'd. Wonder how the Nexus 2 will be.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

HTC Desire HD vs iPhone 4

2010-11-11T23:56:00.002+08:00

Best of both worlds. Hard to decide when it comes down to it.

The HTC Desire HD (I still can't wait to get one)

Pros

Beautiful form factor. (Who wouldn't want a 4.3" screen?)
SRS and Dolby supported.
Latest flagship for the Android camp.
Updated HTC Sense UI
Seamless integration with social media - You can view all your FaceBook, Twitter updates fused into your Address books. What a touch.

Cons

A terrible battery life - one site claimed only 5 hours of usage.
Insufficient Media capabilities (how do you fight against Apple's iPod features??)
Some say a washed out screen resolution, when compared to the HTC Desire.
Heavy? (I'm on the fence with this one. Seriously, how heavy is 164g?)

The Apple iPhone 4

Pros

Its an iPhone. (Guess that says it all)
Retina display. Having used one for a brief period of time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The screen made everything look beautiful. Almost 3D popping out beautiful.
Sleeker form factor, glass front and back (not necessarily a great plus point)
FaceTime.
Better camera capabilities (than the 3GS)
I could go on here, but really, you DON'T know about the iPhone 4? You must have been born yesterday.

Cons

Arguably, the iPhone 3GS would be good enough. It does everything the 4 can do, especially in terms of the new iOS 4.
Glass body isn't quite smash-proof. But then, what phone is right?
Must sync with iTunes for everything.

Its a tough choice.

Both cost SGD888 (or BND)(if you're gunning for the 16GB iPhone 4 that is), both offer the latest from both camps. It really does come down to this question; Which camp do you support?

Test test with Droid-Blogger

2010-11-11T22:17:00.001+08:00

Saw this a couple of days ago and I tried to snap a picture. Using Retro Camera on my HTC Desire, turned out alright.

Uploading this post with Droid-Blogger app. Not bad so far. Not bad.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

HTC Desire HD and Desire Z

2010-10-06T12:25:00.003+08:00

HTC Desire Z

HTC Desire HD

HTC HD2 on Android

2010-08-30T19:41:00.004+08:00

This really intrigues me. Running Android on a HD2. The 4.3", the form factor. One word. Beautiful. Now with Android running on it, what more could you ask for.

Sorry Empire, I've moved to the Rebel Alliance

2010-08-04T19:38:00.004+08:00

I feel a fire burning in my hands, almost like an excitement I felt once before.... That's right, I've decided to give the Droid camp a go. In some ways, it was by accident really.

When I sold my Storm Trooper 3GS, I had to resort to using a trusty ol'Nokia E52. A great workhorse, exceptionally good to use. Except... it wasn't a touchscreen device. It didn't have a big screen. It didn't have apps I could download freely (ok, I'm not saying OVI isn't decent enough). It made me feel... incomplete almost.

Then, my brother came back from overseas and planted (an inception? =/) into my thoughts. "Why not an Android?". I brushed it of at first, but then the seed grew. "Yeah, why not an Android? Why not....".

All the more my E52 suddenly felt so lacking. And, with the iPhone 4 so difficult to source (no way was I gonna pay obscene prices for local ones), AND, a door opened for a Samsung Galaxy S deal to fall through.... I dived in.

For a day.

Long story. But I was hooked.

Anyway, I'm now an owner of an HTC Desire! Its been a week and a half of spending time with the Rebel Alliance (sorry for the lingo, I'm a Star Wars fanboy). There were times when I felt the force within to stick with the Empire, but no. The decision has been made. I will stick with it.

And, to be honest, I am quite enjoying the life in the android world. I can still do what I used to do on my 3GS, only differently. Facebook is there, Twitter is there, Whatsapp is there (now). I'm reconnected to the world.

Over the next few weeks, I intend to write up a bit on my experience. Stay tuned!

IOS 4 to be released soon!

2010-06-21T01:00:00.003+08:00

For those of us who can't get our hands on the new iPhone 4G, perhaps this will tantalize your tastebuds for a while. The new IOS4 for iPhone should be released on 21June (which is TODAY).

Can't wait to try out Folders, Multitasking, better email handling and Home screen wallpapers. The rest, will have to wait till I get my hands on the new iPhone 4G.

The wait begins...

2010-06-19T18:19:00.003+08:00

Finally, its coming. Pity the leaks and photos of it prior to the official announcement spoilt it for everyone. Conspiracy or marketing genius strategy, we'll never know.

All I know is, I want one. It will be a good upgrade to Ol'faithful 3GS.

Sure it'll take time to reach us here in Asia, but at least Apple will soon release the IOS4 software first.

2010

2010-05-26T23:51:00.004+08:00

Wow, its been a while old friend....

I'm back everyone. Thats if anyone's been reading still.

2010 is a year of refocusing for me. Think its time to narrow my focus down. Instead of being the jack of all trades (or phones), perhaps better to be a master of one (or two).

My current iPhone 3GS is still going strong!

The Force is strong

2009-09-22T18:33:00.002+08:00

It has truly been a while since I've last updated my blog. I have been tweaking and customizing my iPhone 3GS to perfection. Since I've last used the previous iPhone 3G here, this 3GS is something else.

Just working on a proper review to post here, but till then, here's a little collection I have.

Loving my Storm Trooper....

2009-08-01T23:39:00.003+08:00

Ok here it is! My Storm Trooper Bobble Head. (What did you think it was, a new mobile??). I was in Singapore over the weekend, browsing around with my mate TGIF for a conference. During our free time, we stumbled across this toy shop at Suntec City Mall. Having a secret passion for toys & such (esp star wars and such...), I was thrilled when the shop had all the bits and bobs of all things Star Wars (and tons of other stuff)... but I jumped when I saw this. Hmm, this could be a start of a new collection...

Oh yeah, the pics above were taken with my other Storm Trooper, the iPhone 3G S WHITE. Its finally here too.

Storm Trooper invasion

2009-08-01T15:26:00.002+08:00

Finally, my Storm Trooper has arrived. And I love it.

More details soon!

Darth N97: Build quality and physical aspects

2009-07-04T17:44:00.008+08:00

Its been about 10 days of using Darth N97 now.

For this post, I'll highlight some of the physical aspects and build quality of the N97. In short, this is perhaps one of Nokia's best efforts in creating a solid all rounder flagship. Many people who have played with the N97 (under my very watchful eye needless to say) always comment about the solid slide feature, which opens and closes with a nice "snap". (Unless of course, you do it in s-l-o-w....m-o-t-i-o-n).

When I took these photos, it just so happened to be in the evening, very close to sun set. So the photos turned out almost very sephia-anituque looking. Not on purpose, but hey, I like how it turned out. Almost as if Darth N97 was born in the 1950's!

N97 Box

As you can see, the box is very simple. Totally unlike boxes of (nokia) old, where a photo of the model is splashed out on the front.
INSIDE, you will find the full-on accessories that accompany Darth N97; a USB wall charger (great move Nokia!), a USB cable for your PC (also charges!), a little adapter (in case you still refuse to part ways with your old Nokia chargers), a Nokia earpiece, a flat-ish sort of stylus (You probably wouldn't need it), a beautiful leather case and of course, Nokia N97 assorted manuals (Note: with the 3.5mm jack, you can now use ANY of your favourite ear buds in case you rather not use the standard Nokia ones)

From the many reviews I've read: Here are the main complaints:

A TV cable not included? I personally am not fussed about this missing from my set. Even when I had my previous N95 / N95 8Gb, I don't recall even taking it out of the box... ever.
How lousy is that leather case? Again, I personally don't think that this is a worthwhile niggle that should stop anyone from buying the powerful N97. As for the leather case, its fantastic. I bet people would complain even more if a case WASN'T included! Anyway, look at this picture below. 'Nuff said.
A stylus? That's so 90's. Ok, maybe this applies to those who like to poke their screens, or maybe fancy a bit of writing here and there. The majority of people probably won't use it. I sure haven't, since taking Darth out of the box. But the stylus is sure nice and "stylish" (pun intended), so if you don't like it, don't use it. Simple.

Physical aspects

The N97 is very comfortable to hold in hand, big or small. The weight is even spread out and doesn't feel heavier on any side (like some older Nokia models).
Very quickly, to walk you through what you'd find with the N97 (I've not included any pictures here because you can find so many galleries elsewhere):

On the top, you'll find the power button and a 3.5mm jack.
On the right, you'll find the volume rocker keys and the dedicated camera button
On the left, the USB slot (for charging and PC connectivity) and the "lock switch" (which Nokia 5800 users would recognise)
On the front screen, the BEAUTIFUL 3.5" screen I must add, there are no physical buttons other than the "menu" button at the lower left of the screen. The green "call" and red "end call" buttons are touch sensitive are located next to the (only) menu button. (All three light up when you switch on the N97)
At the back, you'll find the camera slide, which, when opened, reveals the double LED flash and of course, the 5 mp camera. Many have complained about Nokia's choice on the mega pixelcount, considering many competitors are sporting more poweful cameras these days. Its not ALL bad, given Nokia's experience with the N95 and N82. And, its still way better than any smartphone offering from competitors, Sony Ericsson or even with Apple's soon-to-be-released iPhone 3GS. Check out my previous post for the photo quality here. Its not all bad right?
The keyboard. I could spend a whole post on this one feature alone. This is perhaps the deal breaker with many potential N97 buyers out there. Firstly, with only 3 rows of alphabet keys, so fully incorporated with numbers and symbols, the general feedback has been why not include another row? Secondly, why has the location of the spacebar being pushed to the right, instead of the standard centre location? Thirdly, the placement of the navi-pad on the left side. Why? Lastly, why is the "full-stop" not given its own button?? (You have to press the symbol shift key and press the "comma" key to get the "full-stop"). In short, in all this time using Darth N97, I've purposely made it a conscious choice to use the keyboard whenever and wherever I can, just to test the daily capabilities of the keyboard. Safe to say, it was very easy to familiarise with and took me only about a day or two just to be up to the typing speeds as my previous E71. I'm now blistering away on my SMS's and emails and (still) love snapping open good ol'Darth. So if you're an E71 or E90 user, or even a QWERTY device user, the N97 shouldn't be a problem for you to learn.
Ok, finally, there's the ribbon-like component found between the slide which you can read about at allaboutsymbian here, I don't think it should stop you from owning one, unless you plan to (foolishly) shove a pencil in there to test how strong the ribbon is. Remember, the N97 is a powerful multimedia device that can probably replace your notebook, its not a shock/water proof construction site accessory.

Size comparison with the Nokia E71

Size wise, as you can see, its not THAT much bigger than the E71. (Unfortunately, I didn't have an iPhone handy to compare with)
There's definitely a thickness issue, but hey, the N97 slides up, the E71 doesn't.
Someone's asked me once, whether the N97's "shirt-pocketable"? If I wanted to be generic about it, I'd say aren't all phones shirt-pocketable? But to be honest, with Darth in my shirt pocket, its a bit difficult to forget that there's a device weighing down your shirt. You won't forget its there basically! Not a big problem I'd say.

So, in conclusion, if I had to rate Darth N97 on the physical aspect on a 5 star scale, I'd give it 5 out of 5. Yes, I love it. Its well built, well designed and though I've not personally experienced how well it would hold up on a drop test (I don't plan to find out!), I'm sure Darth will hold up. Its Darth remember! (Ok, that was lame....)

In my next review, I'll possibly touch on some of the experiences of using Darth on a daily basis, and how my life has been taken over by this Nokia flagship. The Force is indeed strong....

My day out with Darth N97

2009-06-30T18:30:00.007+08:00

Its been over a week spent with me Darth N97. Most of the time was spent tweaking it to perfection (to me at least) with widgets and apps testing.

I did manage to snap a few pics to test out the quality of the 5 mp camera though. Here are a few from a drive out to town, and one by the water village.

Then on Sunday, 28Jun09, as I had signed up for the charity cycleton for Heart of Borneo, I decided to take Darth out with me for the ride, all 110km of it. Here are some shots taken from our world renowned Empire Hotel & Country Club , one of the checkpoints for the ride. (Obviously, you won't expect me to shoot pics WHILE cycling... I doubt Darth would appreciate that sort of adventure). There were almost 400 cyclists taking part in the event.

This is a shot from the car

Resting at Empire. Scorching 40 degree Celsius heat

And we're off! Last leg back to the finish line.

This isn't my bike. Just thought I'd snap it.

My personal challenge for the ride was to bust the 100km mark, which I had never done before during training from months before. In the end, I was sun burnt, had a swollen behind, sweat drenched and faced extreme energy depletion. But it was all worth it. Its for charity afterall.

And what better way to reward myself? A quick carb load at my favourite Japanese shop, Kaizen Sushi.

Pretty good flash shot at night I'd say.

And that ends a day with good ol'Darth. Next challenge, take a video while riding? Nah, I don't think so....

PS: None of the shots have been edited. Pity the lighting was a bit "overbearing", having been taken at noon day mostly.

Sneak preview: My Darth N97

2009-06-21T23:49:00.003+08:00

Thoroughly enjoying the N97 since I got it.... More to come....

The Dark Side: Nokia N97

2009-06-19T20:35:00.005+08:00

This is just a sneak preview...

For days, I have been pondering on whether to I should go with the masses and be a Storm Trooper, because as you know, Storm Troopers are just so uber cool... but the force was always strong within.

But then, as a friend said, there are many Storm Troopers, but only one Darth Vader...

So behold, my newly arrived Nokia N97 Black....

Over the next few days, I will be posting my thoughts and experiences with the N97. I absolutely love what I see so far... with the exception of a minor setback earlier... but, more on that later....

I'll be back, after the commercials.....

Nokia N97 finally starts shipping.... (Yes, I'm alive)

2009-06-02T23:02:00.005+08:00

Image courtesy of www.symbian-guru.com

Its official. The Nokia N97 has begun shipping today. To 75 countries worldwide, uncommon of Nokia given that they usually release new products in spurts to selected countries. Hopefully, Brunei is one of those 75 lucky countries.

There are so many good (p)reviews of the N97 already flying around the world wide web. Many claim that this is THE Nokia flagship to wait for. Reading so many, I can only say the only way to know is to try it.

But dang, it looks good.

I've been so held up with my daytime job lately, that I have not been able to post a decent phone review. I just realised, I haven't done one since my last Nokia E63 review. This sucks.

Thing is, I still can't see the light at the end of the tunnel just yet....

Dilbert nails it on the head...

2009-04-25T12:19:00.004+08:00

I've always been a fan of Dilbert, somehow for those of us who work in a daytime "9 to 5" job, you'd totally relate to the things that he goes through. I bumped into this strip courtesy of this site here and I knew I had to share it. It says it all, doesn't it?

Its only April...

2009-04-07T00:29:00.008+08:00

Yes, its been a month of sheer silence. Like a month of April Fool's day everyday. It almost seems as if nothing much was happening in the market. Nothing great to look forward to, nothing worth selling everything you own for... uninspiring you could say.

From the looks of things, everyone's just waiting for mid-2009, for more news on the Palm Pre or the now-rumoured new iPhone form factor. Either way, its still a good 3 months away, at least, especially for us here in Asia.

For one thing, it will be a great battle. And there can only be ONE winner. But a new iPhone though? Who really knows? Apple sure has a great knack for keeping things hushed. We can only wait. One thing's for sure, Apple had better make sure it does everything and more!

But, for me, I think I know what my next purchase will be, the new Nokia E75. Allabout symbian has reported that today, the E75's have started shipping! FINALLY! From the many (excellent) reviews I've read here and here and here, I think it will suit my needs very well. Time to replace my E71 and E66 soon anyway ;) If none of you have ever heard of FP2, read here at mobile-review for a good write up about it. If anything, personally, its reason enough to upgrade!

Now the question begs, what colours (black? bronze? red? all?) will arrive here in Brunei? And then... what colour should I get?! Decisions decisions....

Nokia E63: Better to go economy or business class?

2009-02-23T22:51:00.006+08:00

First of all, a very happy holiday to all Brunei readers, being our 25th Silver Jubilee National Day today.

I have received many queries from readers and friends on what its like to use the most recent and latest messaging device from Nokia, the Nokia E63. I've actually had the opportunity to use one for a good many weeks now, and of course, while I'm back to my trusty ol'Nokia E71, I do miss the E63 at times.... why you ask? Read on...

(Unlike my other reviews, I'm attempting to make this one slightly different basing my conclusion by doing more of a comparison between a E63 and her classier sibling, the E71)

We all know and love the E71 don't we? HSDPA, front facing video camera, 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus, wifi, email client support and a gorgeous QWERTY keyboard all enclosed in a very slim and metal clad body. Initially just launching the Grey steel and White steel variants, Nokia's thrown another curve ball at us with the new Black and Silver/Red editions. Even MORE of a reason to love it.

And then, almost out of nowhere, a reserved and quiet E63 appears, seemingly with the same looks, similar features, but also very different.

The Unboxing - the hardware

After opening up the box of the E63 (my unit was Ultramarine Blue)(Ruby Red being the other only colour so far), I half expected to pull out the same contents as the E71. To my surprise, there were no leather pouches or no wrist lanyards! All that it contained were the E63 unit, a battery, a travel charger and assorted manuals. Oh yes, there was a 1Gb microSD card thrown in too, fortunately. (Some other sites have reported that their E63's do NOT come with any memory cards).

Well, I guess we get what we pay for. The E63 is significantly cheaper than an E71 anyway. And from its weight (very light), this also give you an indication of the quality of materials used. There were plastics and rubber galore. It is noticably wider too, with the usual array of QWERTY buttons like the E71. Until I realised, upon closer inspection, that there are differences between the two. The E63 sports different characters and symbols at some different places, and, the space bar is smaller too (with a tiny flashlight symbol on it). A very neat and useful feature I have to add.

Moving on, taking the E63 out and switching it on (press and hold the Call End button), there wasn't a button at the top to switch on. There certainly wasn't a red button sticking out anywhere. Why was this an issue on the E71 I have no clue. I never did understand why people made such a fuss over a little red button. I always thought it provided some element of colour to a grey or white steel clad body.

Display / Call features / Connectivity - Software
I won't dwell too much into these areas as both the E63 and E71 are very similar. Both have the same landscape 2.36" 16M QVGA resolution screens, the same menu layout, the same call feature performances but, in the connectivity department however, the E63 does lack two main things which is present in the E71; HSDPA and a front facing camera for video calls. For the average person though, this might not be such a big deal. Besides, the E63 does have 3G at least, so you can still surf on the Web, chat on Fring or even download new apps from Nokia's Catalogue etc.
The E63 also has themes which the E71 does not curently own (the themes correspond to the matching Ultramarine Blue or Ruby Red editions). But otherwise, if you were just shown the menus for both the E63 and E71 without being told which was which, you'd probably not notice the difference anyway.

Camera performance / Multimedia
In a word, the camera performance for the E63 is "mediocre". Being a 2 megapixel (non-auto focus) camera, the E63 will simply do what you want it to do; take simple snaps. Forget about indoor shots though even though there is a flash to light up your shots. The E71's 3.2 megapixel snapper already has its own problems, in other words, it isn't quite a role model either, so in this department, there's not much to comment for both. I included a sample of the E63's outdoor shot, in an overcast day.

What I liked about the E63

I actually enjoyed using it for a good number of weeks. It was surprising to me too. It was lighter, and its size was just nice for my big hands.
The E63 could match everything my E71 could do too (minus any video calls of course). The Calendar's the same, the Contact's the same, the Messaging's the same...
The QWERTY keyboard experience was different to use, compared to the E71's. Maybe because it was wider, it felt a bit better to use too. Don't get me wrong, the E71's keyboard is still one of the better ones out there.
The battery life is commendable. Keeping in mind, both use the same battery, but minus a few features on the E63, this means that the battery life is longer than the lifespan of the E71. Any objections here?
The 3.5mm jack. Many have argued that if the E71 had this in the first place, it would probably be THE best smartphone out there today (of course, personally it'd be even better if it was a touchscreen too). I'm not much of a music buff myself, but knowing I can use my own earphones was a good option to have.

What I didn't like about the E63
(Note: I have to be subjective here. Remember, there is a significant price difference between the E63 and the E71, so I approched this with a "you-get-what-you-pay-for" mindset)

No front facing camera. I video call every so often, so missing this feature was a big deal to me.
The camera qualities were disappointing. But then, if you want to just snap photos (not for printing obviously), then it should satisfy you.
There's this little rubber cover protecting the 3.5mm jack at the top. Let's just say that if you ever lost this, just be prepared to have an exposed little jack hole. Its just not connected to the body in any way.

Overall, I really like the E63. I think its more of a successor to the E61i than the E71 is. I even contemplated owning my own unit, if it wasn't for the lack of the front facing camera. Sure the camera performance is lacking, sure its made of plastic and feels almost like a toy, sure it doesn't have 3.5G HSDPA but at the end of the day, it is still one serious business device very befitting of the Eseries range. If you currently own a E61i, and not too sure about upgrading to the more expensive E71, then give the E63 a consideration. You won't be disappointed.

I'd rate this 4 stars (out of 5).

Available at all Incomm branches throughout the country, its going for BND428-00.
Remember to use your DST privilege card for better discounts.

Nokia - New releases for Eseries and Nseries

2009-02-19T23:30:00.006+08:00

The year is beginning to have a bright outlook for Nokia. In Barcelona recently, there were a few key updates which promises to take the world by storm yet again. Not surprising really, considering they were not very-well-kept secrets.

We've all known and loved each of their Eseries models from popular best sellers like the E61's to E61i's to E51's to E90's and especially the current E71's that have flooded out markets, Nokia's hold on the business segment continues to remain strong.

Let me introduce to you.... the Nokia E55, Nokia E75 and the Nokia N86.

Nokia E55

Specs for the E55

Touted to be the upgrade for the ever-popular E51
Most prominent feature, the QW-ER-TY keyboard (very reminiscent of the Sony Ericsson P1)
Quad band GSM/GPRS./EDGE with (tri-band) HSDPA 10.2Mbps speeds
Very stable and well known S60 3rd edition OS with FP2
2.4" QVGA TFT 16M display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution.
60MB onboard storage with a shipped 2Gb micro SD card inbox.
Available in Black and white aluminium
Some sites report a one month standby time (???!!!)(I've yet to believe that)

Nokia E75
Specs for the E75

Expected to be the forefront for the Eseries range
Full slide out QWERTY keyboard and a regular alphanumeric keypad (Both existing E71 AND E51 would probably find this appealing)
Most complete Messaging device to date from Nokia.
Connectivity features - Wifi 802.11 b/g, A-GPS support with Nokia Maps
3.2megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE with tr-band HSDPA (3.6Mbps)
Very stable and well known S60 3rd edition OS with FP2
2.4" QVGA TFT 16M display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution.
50MB onboard storage with a shipped 4Gb micro SD card inbox.
Available in Silver Black, Red and Copper Yellow colours.

Nokia N86

Specs for the N86

Very similar to what the existing N85 already offers
Most outstanding feature - the first 8 megapixel camera which possesses shutter speeds of up to 1/1000 of a second, f-stop range of 2.4-4.8 and a 28mm wide-angle lens that Nokia claims is equal to that of a wide-angle 35mm SLR! It also sports a 3rd generation dual LED flash which should work at distances of up to 3.5m. (Shutterbugs might drool at this)
Quad-band GSM and tri-band HSDPA support
Very stable and well known S60 3rd edition OS with FP2
2.6" AMOLED QVGA display (also present in the N85)
8GB internal storage
A 3.5mm audio jack and TV out
Available in black and white

All 3 phones should start shipping by 2Q09.

So, if any of you are keen for an upgrade (even for those who own E71's), these new releases could very well stroke your interest.

Sexier E71's and a Pre.

2009-02-03T23:15:00.004+08:00

For those of you who loved the white edition of the hugely popular Nokia E71 and thought nothing could ever be sexier.... hold on to your breath.... Nokia's just made it EVEN more sexier, releasing new colours, in BLACK and RED. Click here to view them on Nokia's site.

There's no news (yet) on the release, but you can be sure I'm trying to find out! Especially on release for Brunei. More updates once I hear about it.

And then, there's the Palm Pre. More and more reviews are surfacing on the web and more and more of them reveal that Palm is now giving Apple a fight. (Finally). Anyway, read here at treonauts for lowdown on "Top 10 reasons to love the Palm Pre". Well, I certainly don't need convincing.

My LG X110 review

2009-01-16T23:44:00.004+08:00

Ok, I know this is a mobile blog, and so far, I've limited myself to the (already vast) world of mobiles, but every so often, I do get asked to review the occasional gadget. Usually I'd decline, but for this one, I didn't refuse. Why? First, let me introduce to you, the LG X110 Netbook.

SimpurGadgets has nicely done a short write up on this here. I've also spent some time with it myself and it has to be said, I thoroughly enjoyed using the X110. I don't use alot of Netbooks, but I will say also, the X110 is very decent for its price.

On the physical aspects side of things, the build quality is truly impressive and as my review unit came in glossy white, the thing that struck me most was how compact it felt. Opening the lid reveals a white keyboard which is surrounded by a silver case around the keyboard and the screen. With my large hands, I did not have any problems using it at all.

On the display and hardware front, the X110 sports a 10-inch screen with 1024 x 600 pixels and weighs just a little over 1kg; 1.19kg to be exact. This is small enough to carry easily in any bag without knowing its even there. LG has thrown in Windows XP Home as standard and is coupled with a 160GB hard drive. There are also 3 USB ports, a VGA out port, Ethernet connector, flash card reader for SD and Memory Stick formats, and headphones and microphone connectors. For those who like to see who they are chatting with, the X110 also comes with a 1.3 megapixel webcam for video calling.

On the sound quality, the speakers simply blew me away. It is extremely loud for something this small. I compared it with my MacBook and it was quite obvious which was the winner here. But then, I realised, with the location of the speakers being on the underside of the casing, LG might have anticipated for this.

Ok, so what makes this Netbook stand out then?

It is the inclusion of a SIM card slot for your broadband surfing needs. Simply insert your 3G enabled SIM (you have to open up the battery cover first), and you're good to go, anytime and any place, without the need to rely too much on Wifi spots. (However, make sure that you subscribe to a broadband package to enjoy the benefits). I tested out the speeds on my 3G surfing compared with the built in Wifi, the results were unnoticable. Both were extremely fast and half the time, I had to check whether I was still on 3G or not. Bluetooth does comes as standard. Surfing with the broadband lasted me about 3 hours, which I think is quite reasonable for its battery life.

On the downside, there is a lack of an optical drive which might be a deal breaker for some.

Overall, I was really impressed with the size mostly of the X110. It is small. So small. I even managed to stuff it into my DSLR camera bag too. So, if anyone asks me about the X110, I'd recommend it instantly.

The LG X110 is available at Incomm at the Gadong Branch. It retails at a very reasonable price of BND1,099. Don't forget to use your DST privilege card for further discounts.

A busy new year, and then, there's the new Palm Pre...

2009-01-10T00:22:00.004+08:00

Since the new year has kicked in, its almost hard to believe its already the 8th of Jan! Its been somewhat of a busy start for me, workwise... but thats a good thing isn't it?

Close to a year and a bit now of running my blog, I have to say its been amazing. So many opportunities have arisen from it, and all I can say is, its going to be a great year of mobiles, mobiles and more mobiles..... oh yeah, more reviews too for d3xlabs.blogspot.com. Thanks to all my readers and friends for always "dropping by". Its really just my simple blog about Everything mobile.

What I have been looking forward to since the start has been the CES event in Las Vegas on 09Jan09. Its meant to be one of THE tech events to watch out for on a calendar. And boy did this year's launch prove to be worth the wait! Its no secret that the longest ever mobile that I've used so far is the Palm Treo 680. Love the Palm OS, always have, always will. But their OS has been showing signs of ageing lately, with the likes of iPhone taking the world by storm (and now, everyone else seems to have followed their footsteps). Treos didn't even have wifi or 3G! So sadly, it was time to move on...

Until now...

The newly announced PALM PRE. I've been watching hands-on videos on it all over the web. It looks very very intriguing. Of course, patience is the key as the time it will take to reach this side of the world would be around 6-8 months. That already feels like forever... Anyway, here are some teaser pictures and specs:
Specs:

High speed wireless (HSDPA)
Wifi
3.1 inch 24 bit colour 480 x 320 display
slide out portrait QWERTY keyboard
Bluetooth 2.1
3 mp camera with LED flash and extended depth of field
3.5mm headphone jack
8Gb of internal memory
Palm trademark - Ringer mute switch

Just look at that! Ladies and Gentlemen, Palm is back in the building....
(now, the wait...)

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

2008-12-31T18:54:00.003+08:00

This image is a bit disturbing perhaps, but as we usher in the New Year 2009, its a good time to remind everyone to PLEASE DRIVE SAFE. Be careful and be considerate.

No text message or phone call is worth your life, or the life of others.

To all my friends who have supported me and to all readers out there, I wish you everyone a very Happy and Successful New Year, and may it be a year full of touchscreen glory, amazing screen resolutions, slimming beauties and to drool-for mobile phones!

Its going to be a great year ahead.

Signing off, for 2008.

My Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 review

2008-12-17T02:37:00.000+08:00

The long LONG awaited and highly publicised X1 has finally arrived on our shores! The much advertised marriage between Sony Ericsson and Windows Mobile. When it was first announced, everyone (especially Windows Mobile users) were captivated by the new fancy interface, with icons that zoom in and out, zipping left to right. Very iPhone-ish wouldn't you say?

I've spent a good few weeks with the X1.

It has been interesting.

So, what are my first impressions? Is it all its glammed up to be? Is this really the saviour flagship phone for Sony Ericsson? Should YOU get it? Read on..

Inbox
1 x Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 unit
1 x travel adapter with bundled miniport USB
1 x stereo headset with built-in microphone
1 x extra pen stylus
1 x setup CD
Sony Ericsson X1 manuals

First impressions
When I was first informed that the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 had (finally) arrived, I immediately arranged to pick one up. Arriving home, quickly opening up the box, I was pleasantly surprised with the packaging. Very classy. Taking it out and holding it, I thought "this is it, the X1 that everyone has been waiting for". Before switching it on, I opened up the slider to reveal the keyboard that I had often just seen in photos online. (Coming from using an iPhone with a virtual keyboard, this was refreshing I had to admit). Quickly popping in my sim card (the battery cover was a bit tight to open, which is a good thing really), I switched it on and was greeted with a cool Xperia logo followed by a Windows Mobile 6.1 green screen (windows lovers will find this familiar). There's even a "mirror finishing" display screen when on standby. Not bad, not bad... It was a good first impression.

Physical aspects

The SE Xperia comes in two colour variants; Silver and Black. My review unit is the black one as you can see.
On the top, you will find the 3.5mm jack (great inclusion by SE for the music buffs) and the power / standby key.
On the left, you will only see the mini USB slot.
On the right, the volume rocker key and the camera activation button.
At the back, you'll see the "3.2 megapixel" camera with flash and the XPERIA logo. As my unit is black, it looks very classy.
The real star of the X1 is the slide out keyboard. As you can see, its very well laid out . The number pad is quite different from these you would have seen from Nokia, Blackberry, Treo or even the P1. Because of the space constraints, SE decided to place the number pad at the far right, instead of label them on the top. Honestly, it took me a while (very short one) to get used to it. Once I got cracking, I found myself finding a reason to SMS / email someone... (anyone!!). (Note: The threaded chat is fantastic! As it should be since this is a WinMob 6.1 device. Anyone who has not experienced what threaded chat can do yet, you wouldn't understand). But, I have to say, for big thumbs like mine, you will need to press the keys with a "little bit" more effort. I guess the design of the keyboard, being placed on a "slope" or "curve", whichever you want to call it, has sacrificed some usability. Not a major problem in my opinion.
There is an optical sensor in the middle of the 4-way d-pad which is kinda cool at the beginning, but tends to get a little bit annoying and sometimes awkward after a while because its so sensitive! I mean, there's already a 4-way d-pad, so why include a optical sensor again?
Overall, the build quality of the X1 is superb. It felt very solid and very classy . SE sure knocked this one out of the park. About time too SE!

Display

When I first started up the X1, the full glory of the 800 x 400 VGA screen, I was blown away with the resolution. It is amazing. All packed into a nicely sized 2.8inch screen! I have to say its one of the best screen resolutions on a Windows device to date. But, the sacrifice will be the size of the fonts. If your eyesight isn't exactly 20-20, you might have to squint especially when reading under the sunlight. Also, maybe my fingernails weren't very sharp, so on some occasions I had to "angle" my "pokes" to make sure it hit the right areas. I suppose that's why they included a stylus. (But seriously, how many people really use those styluses anyway?)
There's a key feature which SE included in the X1, not found in other windows devices, and its called "Panels". There are 7 loaded panels (hence the name) which are customisable and allows you to choose what you want as a home screen e.g. a clock interface, a weather interface, a media interface (where you can listen to music, select videos, view photos or even make a call), a Google interface and a few others. It doubles up as a shortcut/favourites sort of screen too. Quite handy. I found myself moving in between panels just for fun. But at the end of the day, I still liked my standard "Today screen" with info on my daily schedules and messages clearly laid out in front of me.

Photo courtesy of engadgetmobile.com

Call quality

I tested the call quality both on the handset and on loudspeakers, both of which were clear and excellent. No major complaints here.
Hitting the "call" button will bring up the standard list of recent calls. It took a while before I could get used to identifying what were my missed calls, dialed calls or received calls though.

Connectivity

As you would expect, the X1 is touted as the most complete device that SE has released into the market. Go on, think of any feature you want. You'd probably find it on the X1. HSDPA, WIFI, GPS, Bluetooth... the list goes on.
I tested out Opera with Wifi on the X1 and suffice to say, I was impressed with it. I guess it works as well as I'd expect it to. Checking my emails, my blog and even logging onto Facebook. All brilliantly clear on the beautiful screen.

Camera / multimedia performance

Camera wise, this is perhaps the most used feature I used out of the X1. 3.2 megapixels with autofocus, 30fps video recording (albeit in VGA). Finally, a decent camera on a smartphone. OK, don't compare it to the killer SE C905 with 8megapixels but it puts up a fight compared to others out there like the Nokia E71, the E90 or even the iPhone. You can select the whole array of camera features, scene modes, flash on/off and even touch-select your focus points. Of course, in low light conditions, its not perfect. But like I always say in my reviews, if you want a clear night shot, use a real camera. But overall, I really had fun messing with this feature. I've included some shots taken with various scene modes.

A shot of the Bulletin in a dimly lighted room, with flash.

A shot of the garden outside. Full daylight.
Another shot of the garden.
A shot of the skies. Full daylight shot.
A shot of my little Tomy in a lighted room. No flash.
A night mode shot.
A night shot of my little Tomy. With flash.
A indoor shot of a house deco.
A close up shot of a Vaja leather case box.
A flash shot of the X1 box. Dim lighted room.

I would imagine the majority of (potential) buyers be wondering about the multimedia capabilities. SE did a great job including a 3.5mm headphone jack which means you can used just about any headphone as you wish, instead of being just limited to SE's included ones. Audio was loud, clear and crisp. Throw in the ease of the music player "panel", and you find a pretty enjoyable piece of Sony Ericsson (Walkman) tradition in your hands.

Things I loved about the X1

The build quality. It felt very solid in hand and quite a pleasure to use, especially with the slide out keyboard. Granted, you will need to put in a "little bit" of pressure when typing, but this is a minor issue in my opinion. Slide the X1 closed, you still get access to the whole array of shortcuts (ok, you wont be able to sms while driving, which is dangerous, so this is a good thing!)

The notification lights. Ok, maybe its just me, but there's something quite cool about a blinking phone on your desk. Kind of shows your phone is still alive I always thought. There are 4 independant notification lights on the four corners of the X1. These LED lights change with various colors. Ok, maybe you're not like me, then you can still switch them off under settings. But, the lights do offer a nice touch and weren’t too distracting or overly bright.
The battery life. Coming from using an iPhone, this was a joy. Making calls, sending numerous SMS's, occasional surfing on Wifi, listening to music, snapping random shots of things around me... I didn't need to charge for about 2 days.I'm sure it would last longer with "normal" use.
The multimedia capabilities. I just loved watching videos and viewing my photos on the screen. Granted, its not as savvy as an iPhone, but for a SE device, this is pretty revolutionary. Throw in the decent audio sound and you have a good multimedia device enough to satisfy the business user and the casual users out there.
Being able to charge with the USB cable when plugged into my pc. You'd be surprised but this is a very useful requirement. How many of us spend hours in front of the pc at work, or even at home? So why not use that time to charge up your X1 while transferring data across or even using the X1 as your modem? (I did not test this function as I did not have the review unit long enough to do so, but I'm sure it will work)

Things I didn't like about the X1

The sensitive optical button. Occasionally, I found myself "accidentally" brushing past the icon/application I wanted and/or activating it by mistake. I really think SE didn't need to include this on the X1.
Being a Windows Device, albeit with a fast 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7200 processor coupled with 256MB of RAM, a Windows device is still a Windows device. Sometimes pressing the "OK" button did nothing for a few seconds, or switching between portrait and landscape modes took a second longer than I wanted. BUT, the hardcore Windows mobile users out there would probably insist that this is normal. Maybe it is, but for me, I like my phones to react instantly you know? I'm fussy that way.

d3xlabs recommendations
Having finally been able to get my hands on the SE X1, I really had mixed feelings at first, as I'm not an avid Windows Mobile device user. But having spent a few weeks with the X1, I come away mildly impressed with it. Putting it through its paces, with using it as my daily workhorse, running my schedules, making my usual calls, pushing the multimedia to its capacities, even toying with GPS (I didn't report much on this. C'mon, do we really need to use this extensively in Brunei?), surfing with HSDPA and wifi... its quite a stunner this Sony Ericsson. Fully loaded and spec-ed out.

Sure there are minor niggles I have with it, but overall, the X1 has been a pleasure to use. The only thing is, it doesn't come cheap. For those of you who can afford this device, it won't disappoint, but I will be honest here too; there are cheaper alternatives in the market today that offer you similar features.

So was the wait worth it? I think so.

My Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 rating - 4 stars
Available at all Incomm outlets now
Retail Price - BND1,198
(Remember to use your DST privilege cards for better discounts)

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic starts being shipped!

2008-11-29T00:37:00.007+08:00

Photo courtesy of GSMarena

For those waiting for this Nokia revolution, GSMarena has just reported that its started shipping! I for one have received numerous queries about this phone, but all I can say is let's wait and see what it feels like in hand.

A little reminder what is so special about the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic:

1st ever S60 Nokia device with widescreen 640 x 320 pixels display.
3.2 mp autofocus camera with 30fps video capability
3G with HSDPA
3.5mm audio jack (its supposed to be a music centric phone remember?)
microSD support (reputed to come with 8GB SD card?)
Estimated to be around USD900 i.e. BND1,100?

Using an iPhone now, this could be interesting. But, its been long awaited for Nokia to enter the touchscreen arena. Let the games begin!

Will update once it actually reaches our shores here in Brunei.

Sneak peak: Sony Ericsson X1

2008-11-25T17:29:00.002+08:00

Full review up next!

Rumours: Nokia E63?

2008-10-28T23:59:00.002+08:00

I previously mentioned about rumours of a Nokia E72 and E75 here but seems like there's a new rumour in town, a Nokia E63 (?). I'm not sure what strategy Nokia has up their sleeves....

Some (Rumoured) Specs:

Symbian 9.1 OS S60 v 3.1
Full QWERTY keyboard
HSDPA support, Wifi, bluetooth
256k TFT colour screen (?!?)(Note: E71 has 16m colours)
Micro SD card compatibility
2 mp camera

From the sounds of it, it looks almost identical with an E71, except, it will (noticably) be made from plastic, unlike the more posh-classy-stainless-steel-clad E71. I guess, this would mean that the price would be significantly cheaper too? Maybe this is a business device for the masses? Let's see....

My Apple iPhone 3G review

2008-10-22T18:50:00.013+08:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, when the iPhone 3G was first announced, the reception here in Brunei was not as highly anticipated as what you would have seen in the US, or even our close nearby neighbour, Singapore. We definitely did not have any queues outside any stores (of course, this could be attributed to the fact the authorised premium reseller here doesn't have that privilege of selling it in tiny Brunei). So, we locals end up doing what we usually do when buying exotic brands, we hunt overseas.

When I first got my hands on the box, personally flown in from Singapore (thanks "Y"!), I immediately thought, what a small box! Of course, it wasn't REALLY a surprise after reading the numerous reviews already out there on the web. Zooming home, excited to seamlessly plug -and-sync it into my iMac, I was ready to set up my new toy to perfection.

Its been close to 3 weeks of using the Apple iPhone 3G. I love it. So what are my final thoughts and recommendations on this killer phone? Read on....
(I'll try to add a more personal touch to this review, rather than churn out what other sites have already shared)

Inbox

1 x Black Apple iPhone 3G - 16Gb edition
1 x USB cable
1 x travel adapter
1 x Apple iPhone earphones (doubles up as a wired headset too)
1 x Apple Get started and assorted manuals
2 x Apple stickers (standard when purchasing any Apple product)
1 x special cleaning cloth (Trust me, this is handy)

First impressions
Opening the box, you should expect to see it newly wrapped up in plastic covering the whole unit. Mine had already been opened previously because the reseller in Singapore (with my permission) had neatly pasted on a high quality screen protector onto it (another highly recommended must-have on your iPhone). Holding it in my hands for the first time, I was blown away by how slim it was. It seemed/felt much slimmer than the first gen iPhone. (Note, this is an illusion. The dimensions are similar to the first gen, with the difference being the slight tapered curve at the edges of the 3G version. Hence, the slim feel). Switching it on for the first time was breathtaking too.
A total black theme, with the familiar icons spread out throughout the display. Beautiful. (Please note though, the icons you see above aren't quite the "default" icons as I've tweaked it somewhat. More on this later). So, as you can tell, my first impressions is that the iPhone 3G ...is.... awesome.

Physical aspects

The Apple iPhone 3G comes in 2 memory size variations; 8Gb and 16Gb, with the 16Gb available in both black AND white editions.
Pricing for both the editions: I will not specifically publish the exact price but do take note, there was only a difference of $100 between the 8Gb and 16Gb (**at the time I surveyed and purchased). So, why not take the plunge with the 16Gb?
On the front of the iPhone 3G, its just one huge 3.5" display with a little circular button at the bottom.
At the back (mine is a black edition), you will see a highly glossy surface, with the Apple logo clearly placed in the middle, the 2mp camera on the top left and a iPhone 16Gb imprinted at the bottom.
On the left, you will see the ringer on/off switch (excellent innovation I tell you) and the volume rocker keys. Both are made of stainless steel material and feels very solid.
On the top, you will see the Power/Sleep key and a 3.5" socket for (any) earphone. This is improved from the first gen (which was imbedded slightly deeper thus not allowing anyone to use other earphones except Apple's provided ones)
At the bottom you will see the USB connector, a tiny microphone and of course, the speakers (don't be fooled though, this packs a punch! Sounds a L-O-U-D. Another improvement from the first gen)

Display

The 3.5" 16M TFT display with 480 x 320 resolution is in a word, "gorgeous".
Viewing photos, emails, surfing on the Web, punching in Calendar appointments, typing out SMS's (etc etc etc) are simply a joy to view on this display.
Coupled with the built in accelerometer, there is simply nothing out there (yet) than can compare with what the iPhone has done. I have no complaints in this area.
Taking down notes is also quite nifty!

Call quality

The iPhone 3G has improved vastly from the first gen, and from what I remember, the first gen had common issues with soft sound quality. Conversations always sounded like they were muffled.
This is not the case with the 3G edition. I would safely say now, that calls/conversations were clear and loud, as what a phone should be.

Connectivity

The iPhone 3G supports the whole range; wifi, HSDPA (the whole reason for the upgrade), bluetooth (but no A2DP?!) as well as SMS, Email (Push email with MS support).
Contrary to popular belief, MMS support is possible but only via a 3rd party app called "Swirly MMS". But you'd have to jail break your iPhone to be able to access Cydia and download this. (More on this later)
Another 3rd party app through Cydia is BiteSMS, which really, should be what the default SMS function perform i.e. SMS forwarding. A small minor issue in my opinion.

Camera / Multimedia performance

In the multimedia compartment, I will only say this; this is an Apple product. The only other Apple product that you, and millions out there, would probably know about is... an iPod. And what are iPods known for? That's right! Music, videos, podcasts and photos! The iPhone has the same strengths as all its non-phone siblings. I won't touch on this too much, because it would be like stating the obvious.
In the camera compartment however, I'd rather let photos speak for themselves.

(This last photo was taken with a 3rd party app call "Pano". A highly recommended download)

Ok, I will admit, the 2mp camera is nothing to shout about. It pretty much does what it is required to do, and that would be with ideal lighting conditions like the photos you see above. I did not include any photos taken at night, because frankly, they suck. But, as you can see, with the daytime shots, they are quite decent. Of course not print quality, but I was quite happy with it overall.
As the iPhone works with my iMac's iPhoto, I have synced most of my favourite photos (taken with my DSLR) into the iPhone. Coupled with iPhones pinching and zooming capabilities already evident from the first gen iPhone, viewing photos has never been the same for me, on ANY other mobile device.

One more thing I have to recommend, is download more camera/photo apps from Apple's Appstore (built into the iPhone) where you can download thousands of apps (for free or for a fee). So far, I've got Comic Touch, Photolabs, Pano (the photo above is an example), Snapture and even a video recorder called Cycorder (not absolutely perfect yet but at least there's something which allows me to take videos) .

Other reasons why I love the iPhone 3G

MAPS. Usually, I don't take much notice of what "maps" capabilities that I've seen from Nokia, SE or even Palm, but with the iPhone, I decided to give it a go. The photo above is an example of what the MAP looks like. You can choose map, satellite, hybrid and search your current location. Note: To use this, you must have your 3G network activated. (For Dst users, make sure your sim card supports 3G. Bmobile users shouldn't have this problem). Just for the heck of it, when I was in my car, I switched it on whilst I was driving in Jerudong and a tiny blue blip was seen tracking wherever I was heading. A minor downside I noticed was that it wasn't very accurate; and by that I mean the blip and I were about a few hundred metres off target. BUT, at least I knew I was in Jerudong. Quite fun.
APPSTORE. Today I read online, Apple has announced that they have, in total, 5500 apps out there for users to choose from. This one reason (and Cydia, which I will touch on next) has kept me busy everyday since I've had the iPhone 3G in possession. I've downloaded dozens and dozens of apps; utilities, games (I've got 21 in my iPhone to date), useless time wasters (like virtual lighters and drinks) etc.... One game which is highly recommended is Monkey Ball. (Ok, my photo isn't rotated to landscape mode. Just tilt your head?). Using iPhone's accelerometer, you control the glass ball (with monkey inside) through paths and routes to get to the goal. Highly addictive! Especially with the resolution!

CYDIA. Before I bought the iPhone, numerous online reviews, as well as advice from a good buddy of mine, all recommended jailbreaking the iPhone. This basically allows the iPhone to download 3rd party apps from Cydia (sort of like Appstore).You can then open up a whole treasure box of 3rd party apps, themes, sounds, utilities etc. (PLEASE NOTE: By jail breaking your iPhone, this could potentially void your warranty). Here's an example of some of the Cydia apps I've downloaded. (If I were to explain what each of them does, this would be one LONG review)

I travel every so often, and sometimes (believe it or not), its useful to note the WEATHER forecast in the various countries I visit. And I have to say, this function is quite accurate. I took a snapshot of this today while its been raining and unusually cool for us here in Brunei. You can set it up for more than one country, like I have; Hong Kong, Australia, London, Canada.

ALARM CLOCK. This was a big deal to me before I made up my mind to get the iPhone. I basically use my mobile device as an alarm clock to wake me every morning. Arguably the best I've ever used were from the Palm devices; unlimited snoozes and multiple alarm times. (Ok, I'm giving away my sleeping habits here) Nokia has decent alarm functions too, but SE is probably the worst. So, yes, alarms are a big deal to me. I remembered that the first gen iPhone didn't really do well for me as an alarm clock. Snooze time-outs of 9minutes?! Why not 5minutes? Why not 10minutes? I've now learnt to set multiple 5-10 minute snooze time-outs. Ok, this may be amusing to you, but really, does anyone use actual alarm clocks these days?

Customizable ringtones. Previously, again with the first gen iPhone, there wasn't really anyway to use your own ringtones other than the (boring) default marimba or sci-fi... etc. NOW, there's a way around this. I found this site here that shows you a step-by-step way of making your own ringtones, and then saving it into the default folder for Sounds in the iPhone. The iPhone has since become so much more better! I've now got about a dozen choices I've customized. (So far, I use either Top Gear Theme or Abba's Mamma Mia. Great movie ok?). (NOTE: Through Cydia, there are now tweaks which you can install to change your SMS tones. Otherwise, you'd be stuck with the default Tri-tone or other alerts)
CALENDAR. Since I use a Mac as my personal PC, there was no problem syncing iCal with the iPhone. (Windows users shouldn't have a problem either). But the one main issue I had was the lack of a Nokia style "Active standby" screen. With all the thousands of apps out there for the iPhone, I was certain that there must be at least one developer out there who had created this feature! And true enough, there was. Through Cydia, with an app called Intellisync, this has now become the no.1 most used feature on my iPhone. Not a day goes by without referring to what I need to do for the day, right on the wake-up screen on my iPhone. (You can even tweak it to show new SMS's, new emails, news feeds and even the weather). I did not include a screen shot here because of the sensitivity of my schedules. But here's the link you can read more about it yourself. Highly recommended.

FACEBOOK. That's right, you read it correctly. F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k. With this social network such a phenomenon around the world now (C'mon, who's NOT on Facebook?), Appstore now has an app just made for the iPhone. All I can say is that I'm speechless. Just log in once. It connects either through wifi, 3G or Edge. You can update your status, read live feeds on what your friends are doing, write on their walls, view their photos, chat with them (if they're online), accept/decline friend requests, upload photos wherever you are.... the list is endless! All from the comfort of your own iPhone, without the need to log on from a PC. If there was one killer app for the iPhone, I dare say this could be it.

3G speeds. You will never really appreciate 3G until you use an iPhone. Surfing is a sheer pleasure. The resolution of the iPhone made this possible. Coupled with how you can zoom in an out just by pinching your fingers together, AND with the 3.5" display screen, I can't find a reason to complain about this. 3G speeds are ALMOST as close to wifi speeds! Read this review by Gizmodo for a detailed breakdown on this.

One niggle I do have against the iPhone 3G
(This is perhaps the one and only annoyance I have)

If you're into cars, you may have heard of the Bugatti Veyron, potentially the most powerful car in production today; 1001 bhp, $1M+ price tag... a beautiful piece of machinery. But, how far does one gallon of petrol bring you in a Veyron? 11.3mpg only. Compare that to a Toyota Corolla with 40mpg. What point am I trying to make here exactly?
The iPhone, like the Veyron, is one of the most fully featured and (some say) sexiest device available today. The problem is, the battery life sucks. There, I said it.
I've read about this problem online before, but didn't think it was really that big an issue. I mean, I've used so many mobiles before, like Palm for e.g, so how bad could it be right? A day after messing around with the iPhone, downloading apps, numerous SMS's, random phone calls, Facebooking, photo viewing, I was appalled to discover that the battery life lasted much less than a day! It was horrible! I've even resorted to bringing my USB cable to the office with me just to make sure that I can leave it charging through the day. AND, I've even consciously tried NOT to play too much with the apps or make too many calls in fear I wouldn't be contactable at the end of the day. It was ridiculous.
Note: I've found a way around this problem, other than bringing the cable with me daily, and that is to switch OFF the 3G network (which you can do under settings). Other sites have also recommended switching off the "auto brightness" which drains power too. After doing so, its lasted me almost 2 days. So, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. (Of course when I DO need 3G, i'll just switch it back on again. A small price to pay for longer lasting battery life I suppose)
There is one last thing with the iPhone which used to bug me, and maybe this is an issue for potential owners out there. The touchscreen QWERTY keyboard and predictive text. Personally, I hated it before too, but after a few days of adjustments, its really not that bad. From poking it with one finger initially, I've now evolved to using two thumbs to type out texts.

d3xlabs recommendations

As I mentioned before, using my iPhone 3G for almost 3 weeks now. Everyday, together with a small community of iPhone 3G users I know, we continue to discover so many new stuff which make us amazed with what (else) this device can do. Its slim, its 3G fast, its got improved sound quality, customizable tones, surfing pleasures, 5500 apps out there to choose from... its close to what a perfect mobile should be. Ok granted the battery life does disappoint and maybe the lack of a physical keyboard, but other than that, I would fully recommend it to anyone, whether for personal users or I dare say, business users too.

Existing first gen owners, I say to you, upgrade.
Potential buyers, I say to you, take the dive.

If you're still not sure, just read the reviews, mess around with a mate's iPhone 3G or even watch youtube videos, you won't regret this purchase. Almost 10 million owners around the world can vouch for this too I'm sure.

My iPhone 3G rating - 4.9 stars
(Would have totally given it a 5 if it wasn't for the battery life)
Retail Price - I will not state this here. You can search my links from Singapore sites.

Other worthwhile iPhone 3G reviews you may like to read up on:

Feel free to msn or email me if you have any other queries on the iPhone 3G. I'll be more than glad to try and help you.

Resistance is futile: the Apple iPhone 3G

2008-10-12T23:49:00.003+08:00

It wasn't long ago that gave in to the phenomenon of the world and decided to try out the first gen Apple iPhone, but not wanting the hassle of not-being-able-to-upgrade the "unlocked" iPhone, and the (many) limitations of it (then), I gave up after a while, vowing to never want to use it again.

Even when I heard about the new launch of the 3G version upgrade, or even the "ease" of upgrading the firmwares for all iPhones now, I didn't really flinch much. I had, afterall, decided not to use it again.

Until, after messing a a friend's iPhone, and seeing what it could NOW do, with the (endless) possibilities of the "officially unlocked" sets that Apple had unleashed to the world, on 11JUL08, I thought, why not give it another go?

Sourcing it from Singapore, I managed to get my hands on one without much hassle (through a friend returning from a short trip there). I didn't want to get one locally as the prices charged here were a bit exhuberant for my taste.

Its been a week of use so far, and my 1st (or 2nd, whichever you prefer) impressions?

I love it.

The Apple iPhone 3G.

There, I said it....

Here are some pictures I snapped of my Black, 16Gb version. Sexy.

Its been a while since I've done a proper review. (Blame my day-time job, whatever...)
But watch out for it.... this weekend. Same time, same blog...

Wishing you Selamat Hari Raya 2008

2008-10-01T19:57:00.002+08:00

I'd like to wish all my Muslim friends, readers and families a "Selamat Hari Raya" and happy holidays.

Remember, don't text & drive. Safety first.

Rumours leaked: E72 and E75 already??

2008-09-23T00:23:00.004+08:00

It kinda shocked me (ok, maybe not THAT much) to see that there are already leaked rumours about a upgraded E72 and a new form factor-ed E75.

Already??

Just when everyone's just got into the hype with the E71 (and believe me when I say everyone), Nokia does what it does best.... release upgrades.

I'm not sure how true it is, based on what I've read, but if these 2 new models ARE real, I'm salivating at the E75. (Yea yea, I know Dopods and HTC's have sported this form factor, and so will the new Sony Ericsson X1, but c'mon, this is a first for Nokia.... though, it won't be touchscreen. Bummer)

Anyway, check it out for yourself....

Picture courtesy of endgadget.com

The E72 is basically an "upgrade" of the E71, whilst the E75 is a new slide (horizontal) form factor. Some sites claim its similar in size to the E66. Hmmm, should be an interesting one to wait for.

In the meantime, I just got my hands on a E66. So far, from what I've messed with, its nice to use. Just... no.... QWERTY..... having.... withdrawal.... symptoms.....

Updates and a Treo Resurrection: New Treo Pro

2008-09-07T17:31:00.005+08:00

Hi everyone. I am still very much alive. Been a bit held up over the past month which has kept me from completing my review and updating my site. Well, I'm back.... again.

I have still been keeping up to date with the new releases from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG, Motorola (the list is endless), Apple (yes the 3G has been set loose into the world!) and a even brand that's close to my heart, the Palm Treo.

This quarter's updates:

Nokia's released the 8800 Carbon Arte, N85 and N79 (N96 I just heard has started shipping for those of you who are waiting).
Sony Ericsson's released W902, W595 and the W302.
Samsung's released the highly acclaimed Samsung Omnia (I've actually had the chance to play with one up close. Its impressive). In black AND white variations too!
LG's released the successor to the Viewty, the KC910
Motorola's released a model called MOTOJEWEL. No prizes for guessing its targeted at the ladies.
Last but not least, a surprise by many, Palm has just released the new Treo update which is bound to take the (treo) world by storm; the Palm Treo Pro.

Treo Pro Specs

Size: 114 x 60 x 13.5mm and 133g in weight.
Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
256MB (100MB user available), 128MB RAM program memory
Micro SD compatible
320 x 320 pixel (a FIRST in WinOS devices!) although 65k colours
Touchscreen
3.5mm audio jack
Comes in black

But just look at it. Its gorgeous.

Apple, another worth while mention, has launched the 3G variant of their take-the-world-by-storm iPhone. Available in 8Gb and 16Gb, black or white, this upgrade has caused queues and overnight sleepovers just like its predecessor did.

Decisions, desicions... with Christmas not long away, or Raya (however you see it) its time to carefully plan your next gadget of choice.

White E71 out now!

2008-08-11T20:18:00.002+08:00

Just a quick post. Its finally out now. At Incomm. Tempting ain't it?

New link Mobile Phone

2008-07-30T19:31:00.003+08:00

Hi everyone, there's a new link I've added on my "d3xlabs supported mobile sites" on the right toolbar. Called "Mobile Phones".

www.mobiles.com.au

Its an Australian Mobile website full of information on mobiles, plans, accessories and even ringtones. There's even a news section about useful stuff like "What to do with old mobiles" and "Choosing a mobile phone".

Its worth a visit! Just click the link above!

New link created: d3xbay.blogspot.com

2008-07-16T00:44:00.004+08:00

I'm experimenting here.

A few friends have asked me to help advertise/sell their mobile phones on their behalf. Instead of SMS-ing everyone I know, I thought I'd try create an experimental blog for it.

Advertising these offers is not new for me. I've helped many a friend let go of their first loves. Its not difficult. "See a need, find the buyer". Someone out there is always looking for something within their budget. Not EVERYONE is willing to buy new I guess.

So here it is: d3xbay.blogspot.com
Whilst I'm debating about creating a logo link for it, I've placed the address discreetly on the sidebar under my MSN and email.

(And in case, you're wondering, I couldn't think of a more catchy name)

So far, there are 3 mobiles on offer. Check it out!

Beyond expectations

2008-07-13T01:36:00.003+08:00

Surprising, yet, not surprising... The E71 is selling like hotcakes. Within a matter of couple of days, shops everywhere, including Incomm is sold out!

I've just helped a few friends book their units from Incomm, and just in time too, otherwise they'd never be able to get their hands on these smartphones.

Imagine, if white was available....

Sneak peek: My new Nokia E71

2008-07-09T22:41:00.007+08:00

Its been a truly exciting past few weeks. Since my last post, I've been tracking numerous forums in the region about the release of the (ultimate) Nokia E71. I was quite settled in accepting that Nokia would only release it on 11July08 in Singapore, and probably in Brunei a week or so later. (THEN, I thought, I'd be the first to line up at Incomm to get it!)

Until...

A friend called me at 9.30pm on 29Jun08.

He had just bought one.... from DeeJay.

My heart stopped. I was beaten to it.

Nevermind I thought, I'd still surely be the first to get one from Incomm then, when they release it. Needless to say, like an excited schoolboy, I went to meet my friend at close to midnight just to have a "feel" of the precious E71. All this time, just reading about it online, and there it was, in my friend's possession! It just made me more impatient to get it.

Then, the next morning, I received a call from my sources; Incomm had launched it! So, at 9.30am in the morning, thinking I'd SURELY be the first then to buy one from Incomm, I booked one and zoomed over immediately. But, as it turned out, a few others had beaten me to it already. Ah well.... at least I have it now.

Since that fateful day, I've been falling more and more in love with the E71. Using it for over a week now, it truly is a joy to use. So many worthwhile upgrades compared to the E61i. So many neat add-ons, so many reasons to love it.

I'm currently working on a in-depth review for all my readers, but in the meantime, here are some shots I've taken with my E71, and a few with an iPhone, just to show you the size and form factor. Enjoy!

So far, I have to add (without giving away what final rating I would usually add at the end of a review), this is arguably Nokia's best smartphone to date. In just two days, all stocks in Incomm were sold out, and from what I hear from other shops, the story's the same everywhere. That says it all doesn't it? So if you're one of the elite few to have bought one in the first few days of launch, consider yourself lucky!

Anyway, do watch out soon for my in-depth review, in my next post!

(I was supposed to review the Sony Ericsson G700 and G900, but the E71 was launched! Don't worry, SE lovers, it will come right after my E71 review)

The Nokia E71 is now available in Incomm at a retail price of BND728-00.
Pls make sure you use your DST privilege card for better discounts.

Is your heart racing? E71 and E66 officially launched!

2008-06-16T22:56:00.005+08:00

Its been a while since my heart's been racing... for a mobile. So, when it does skip a beat, you KNOW its the ONE.

Imagine my moment of love-at-first-sight when I clicked here, here and here! Its official! The rumours we've seen are true. Its shipping out together with the other ultimate-do-it-all, the Nokia N96.

I've been watching the E71 product presentation on the Nokia Europe site over and over. My heart races for sure.

Images courtesy of GSMarena.com

Some (other) official details:

Both the E66 and E71 will retail at EUR350 (USD538) roughly. Not a bad price at all.
Both will come in white and grey steel colour variations with materials similar to the Nokia E51 already in the markets today.
Both come with 3.2megapixel (autofocus!!) cameras, HSDPA, GPS, Wifi connectivity and microSD card support.
E66 - Also features a sport built-in accelerator which allows auto screen rotation AND, as introduced on the Nokia 8800 Arte, the silencing of incoming calls when the device is turned over.
E71 - Has calendar features that auto scroll and there is also predictive text now, a Nokia-first for this QWERTY device.

Ok, now the other difficult part. The wait.

Funny - E90 gathering

2008-06-16T19:42:00.006+08:00

Read this on a friend's blog and thought it was hilarious. I am always amused by our friends in the Land of the Rising Sun. They do the best in everything... cars, gadgets... phones....

Repeating what Eninety asked in his post, "Any translators?"

Post and video here.

Kinda makes you want to get an E90 now doesn't it? Maybe we should have "mobile gatherings" too, since we have so many "car clubs" around nowadays.
Now THAT, would be funny....

Apple iPhone now on 3G!

2008-06-12T23:14:00.005+08:00

Its finally come, the long long LONG awaited news of the 3G version of the iPhone. Strange though, considering in Brunei, the original non-3G one didn't even make the "official" list. And here we have the 3G edition already. Go figure right.

Launched on contract in the US first (where else), it is pretty much an upgraded version of the iPhone we all love (or hate), except with slightly better specs. (We reviewed the iPhone when it first came out here).

Details/Specs:

Official launch on 11JUL08.
Estimated price of the 8Gb version is 499Euro and the 16Gb version at 569Euro. Not a bad pricing, quite similar to the prices we get locally here. Unless the money-hungry get greedy and charge exorbitant prices for being the first in Brunei to launch iPhone 3G.
Same 3.5" with 480 x 320 pixel display
Grown 1mm (!?) in width, height and thickness.
HSDPA support
Same 2mp camera as the original iPhone but (get this) NO secondary video camera (on a 3G phone?!)
According to the news release from GSMArena, on 11JUL08, "Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US - and availability will be further expanded to cover up to 70 countries worldwide before the end of the year". Well, I'm sure we'll see it here in Brunei somehow.

There you have it, a teaser on the coming 3G iPhone. I have a sneaking feeling there will be numerous sales on 2nd hand original iPhones soon.

For me, I'm still sticking to my aim of getting this baby, the E71. (E66 images just fyi)
Its been a while since I've found myself refreshing and refreshing websites on a daily basis trying to read about the official launch of it. I'm so going to run to Incomm to get one as soon as my sources tell me its here. I aim to be the first to own one!

But, its not in sight yet. So, back to waiting... and refreshing. In the meantime, this video here really wets my appetite!

Hurry up Nokia!

2008-06-08T01:25:00.002+08:00

I first mentioned about the this wonder phone here then again here. Its coming closer! I just read this here but it hasn't appeared here yet!!

C'mon Nokia!! Speed it up a bit, there are people waiting.

Buzzing this June 08

2008-06-04T00:07:00.008+08:00

Its been a busy past few weeks for me. I STILL haven't even swapped my DST SIM card. Just no time to shoot off down to the local DST counters although, from what I hear, people have complained about unstable connections at certain areas. I guess I could wait a while more.

What I have done though is change phones (yet again). No more P1, then I had a brief encounter with the Nokia 3120 classic. Not a bad model I have to admit. Just BND2++ for a model that "does everything" WITH a front facing camera too. I HIGHLY recommend it if you are looking for a cheap 3G phone. (Ok, in the looks department, it doesn't impress but buyers probably won't be worried about how they "look" using this model anyway)

But alas, that didn't last long either. Now, I'm using a Nokia N70, a "spare" phone a good friend has loaned to me, till my target E71 is released/announced. I hope I can hang on.

Anyway, the latest models from all brands is keeping this month a buzzing. Beginning with...

HTC has launched a model called HTC Diamond.

Specs

4GB of storage memory (no memory card slot though).
FM radio
A proprietary HTC mini-USB port
The highlight of the new HTC Touch 3D user interface will be the web capabilities - smart desktop-like rendering and superb touch navigation through web pages and hyperlinks.
Wi-Fi capabilities
Dual-band UMTS support plus HSDPA 7.2 Mbps.

Then comes our famous friends from Nokia, up to their usual antics as usual. Their latest offerings are the Nokia N78, the unofficial upgrade to the N73. (They sure look similar)

Specs

Candy bar form factor (sort of like a fusion between the N81 and N82)
3.2 megapixel camera
The usual connectivity features - Wifi, bluetooth, HSDPA connectivity
2.4" QVGA display
S60 3rd edition feature pack 2 OS - What is feature pack 2? Let's just say that the "Active standby" screen we are all familiar with? Its now gone through a revamp. You can choose how you want to see your "Active Standby"(!!). Don't believe me? Read here.

Then, there's the cool Sony Ericsson folk, releasing uber-cool models like these two below:
Sony Ericsson C902
Specs

The new look of their Cybershot series phones. This means, the days of the K-series (K800, K810, K850) are numbered. Move aside for the new Cybershot gang. (C = Cybershot)
Spec wise, typical of Sony Ericsson, with some tweaks in their user interface.
Read here for a more in depth review.

Sony Ericsson C702
Specs

A mid-range release similar to the C902. A better review here.

And last but not least, the fast evolving Samsung group has released a kicker of a PDA phone, the Samsung i780.
Specs

HSDPA, Wifi
FULL QWERTY keys
Large 2.55" 320x 320 pixel display
2 mega pixel camera
Good preloaded software

I don't know about you but I can't wait to get my hands on these models! Will do a review as soon as I grab hold of one...

More leaked news: Nokia E66, E71 & a SE P5.

2008-05-10T00:47:00.005+08:00

Just browsing around my usual sites of choice, I bumped into this very interesting piece of info. More indications that the Eseries - E65 and E61i upgrades will be released this year. At this point, specs wise, its not confirmed yet, but here are some pictures as teasers, courtesy of here and here.

Nokia E66

Nokia E71

Elsewhere in the mobile world, Sony Ericsson is also rumoured to release a Sony Ericsson P5. Looking at the photos, it seems that its an integration between the W910i and the M600. This should be interesting.

And suddenly, there are new goals and visions to look forward to again. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely gunning for the E71. Tick tock, tick tock....

DSTCom launches 3.5G

2008-05-06T18:09:00.006+08:00

The time has finally come, DST has launched the new HSDPA network supporting 3.5G for data streaming and all related services. (And of course, the GO! Broadband services. But this is a mobile blog so we'll just talk about phone stuff). Click here at DSTCom's website or the press release from the Borneo Bulletin for more information. You can also read anakbrunei's coverage on it here. I wish I could have been there to attend the launching but I was outstation last weekend.

But anyway..... "its about time DST!!!"

When Bmobile launched their network couple of years back, it was a crazy scramble to get the lines to test out the data streaming and maybe for some, the video calling capabilities. But to date, I'm not sure how to take up has been for Bmobile, but I heard of numerous people using it just for data. I guess holding on to 2 lines is a bit too much for most people. I don't blame them. Personally, one phone is more than enough to fit into my pockets, much less two.

Having just returned from overseas, I decided today to pop over to a DST counter to change my sim-card so that I can enjoy (or experiment) with these new services. (Sure other countries have been on this bandwagon for quite a while now, but like I said, its about time DST!!!). As expected, Gadong Properties was jammed packed with cars and parking was close to impossible to find. But nothing could prepare me for the shock after pressing the button for my number. I was "4428" out of "4201". I was speechless! I mean, this is a Tuesday afternoon and what is everyone doing out?! Doesn't anyone work on Tuesdays?!

Needless to say, I saw no point in queuing and left. I think I'll go back when the novelty dies down a bit.

Oh well my Nokia 6120 Classic, it looks like its just you and me for a while more. No new services to try out just yet. Bummer...

Nokia: Beautiful to use

2008-05-05T23:50:00.004+08:00

Well well well, yet another round of releases from our friends at Nokia.

Here's announcing the release of the "Beautiful to use" series; the Nokia 6600 slide, Nokia 6600 fold and Nokia 3600 slide.

Specifications - Nokia 6600 slide

Made of high gloss materials
A built in accelerometer which allows you to double tap to snooze an alert, "silent" or reject a call. The Nokia 8800 Arte series which I reviewed here first introduced this technology.
Based on the S40 user interface with a QVGA 2.2-inch 16M color TFT display.
A 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera
Sports a FM radio and some dedicated music keys
3G, has the usual connectivity options, standard in all Nokias today
Comes only in black.

Specifications - Nokia 6600 fold

Supposedly the flagship of the trio according to Nokia.
Clamshell form factor which offers a one-click electromagnetic opening mechanism with dampened hinge for smooth motion
Also has the same built in accelerometer as the Nokia 6600 slide
Made from high gloss materials
Based on S40 user interface with a QVGA 2.13-inch 16M color OLED display
A 2 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash
Comes in Mysterious Black or Sophisticated Purple colour variants.

Specifications - Nokia 3600 slide

A Slider form factor body with again, high-gloss materials.
Based on S50 user interface with a 2.2-inch QVGA 16M color TFT display
A 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera
The first-ever Nokia handset to feature Background Noise Cancellation for superior sound quality.
A 2.5 mm standard audio jack which also serves as a TV-out port.
Non-3G phone with the standard connectivity options.
Comes in Charcoal and Wine colours.

All 3 models are due to be released in 3Q08. So, hold on to your savings if any (or all) of these new releases appeal to you.

'Does not crack under pressure"

2008-04-27T01:17:00.003+08:00

Here's an interesting piece of news. I'm sure everyone is familiar with this logo.

Its usually associated with watches, F1, (now) sunglasses too.... but a phone?

TAG HEUER has just announced the release of a phone under their product line, "tagged" as the TAG HEUER MERIDIIST. Click here.

Specs:

Made of stainless steel
Swiss engineered and hand assembled from 430 components (!)
Has an unscratchable 60.5 carats sapphire crystal
7 hours talk time
28 DAYS of standby time
2 megapixel camera
Two display screens; a 1.9" display with QVGA resolution and a display at the top indepently showing the time (but of course!)
Available Sept 2008
Price: Estimate 3400-3900EUR

I'm an avid supporter of TAG HEUER watches, and loyally believe in their principles and "swiss-precision" watch expertise, but to own a Meridiist, I think I'll just stand by and watch only.

Size is everything... & a preview

2008-04-01T23:32:00.004+08:00

Size is everything alright. Especially when its 24inches of it. From now on, writing posts on my blog will never be the same again. Got this not long ago, to replace an aging PC. I decided to move to Apple quite a while ago, and you know what? I have no regrets. Why people don't switch over I don't know!

Anyway, a little piece of interesting news I just stumbled across, you know the faithful Nokia 6300 that everyone seems to own these days?

Well, it just got slightly better. Nokia has, yet again, pulled a fast one on us, and now released a Nokia 6300"i".
Retaining the same form factor as the classic Nokia 6300, this "upgrade" is now equipped with Wi-Fi to support fast data transfers, VOIP for making internet calls and even Nokia Maps (which isn't that big a thing yet in Brunei). But otherwise, you still get the same 2" QVGA TFT display, 2mp camera, microSD card support and stereo Bluetooth.

Why break something if its not broken right? I for one have always liked the Nokia 6300 and I still recommend it to people wanting a phone that does it all.

The "i" version, for those interested in an upgrade, should be available in 2Q this year, AND, it comes only in Graphite Grey, for now.

Live on air with Pilihan FM

2008-03-20T22:14:00.003+08:00

Hi everyone. Just a short one. Please tune in to Pilihan FM 95.9 tomorrow night! (Friday 21MAR08). I've been invited again for a session with Mr.Friday Night to chit chat about... what else.... mobile phones!

We will be talking about all things mobile, songs ideal as ringtones AND there will be small quizzes with surprise prizes to be won! (No, not mobile phones.... sorry!)

Remember, Pilihan FM.... Brunei's local station.

TOP 15 Mobiles today!

2008-03-09T19:37:00.027+08:00

d3xlabs is back. In the country that is.

My apologies for the lack of updates everyone. I still can't believe the last time I posted was during Chinese New Year! That's a whole month ago! I've been so busy with work, flying in and out of the country that I've not had the time to update my blog as much as I'd like to. The good thing is, I'm back again so I can settle back into life in Beautiful Brunei (and focus a bit on my phone reviews!)

BUT, just to share with you (or satisfy you), I've recently been asked to write brief reviews about the latest phones in the market in a local magazine. It was an honour to been asked to do so. So I've been spending a good amount of time with each of these mobiles, which you'll soon see. But in light of the many models requested for, and the limited space on the magazine, the reviews I've done are short and sweet.

And so I decided, for my blog readers, why not post up the same reviews (with some more added juicy info) onto my blog tonight (!) so that d3xlabs readers can be the first to read it before the magazine is released!

As the Title suggests, let me first begin by adding that these models are the TOP 15 mobiles that are out in the market today. I will begin with Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson and lastly, Nokia. They are not in any order in terms of which are the best, but I will try add some recommendations on whether I think they are worth parting your hard earned cash with.

MOTOROLA
Motorola RAZR V9

Motorola has been synonymous with classic models like StarTac of the 90's and RAZR. Its also been 3 years of touting the RAZR brand. You could say people are getting a bit bored of it. Until now. Motorola has finally introduced the RAZR2. Having big shoes to fill, the RAZR2 V9 is now 1mm thinner than the original RAZR, made of stainless steel and apparently, up to 120 pounds of pressure can be placed on the V9’s hinges. This means that, unlike other fashion wannabe phones out there, you know the V9 is built to last. Stacked with a number of cool features like HSDPA capabilities, a 2-megapixel camera and full Bluetooth support, the Razr2 sets itself apart from the rest with a very eye-catching design. It also sports a 2.2" QVGA resolution display on the inside and a suprisingly large 2" external TFT display on the outside – perhaps the largest found on any clamshell handset on the market. Also on the external screen, touch sensitive music keys with tactile feedback is found. Overall, the RAZR2 V9 is a very impressive successor to the original RAZR.

The Motorola V9 is ideal for: Those who appreciate solid stylish flip phones and have remained loyal to the Motorola brand. Remains true to its RAZR style.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND668-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

SAMSUNG
Samsung D880

Dual sim phones have so far been present in mostly China made brands, and its popularity in this side of South East Asia have been less than promising. However, now with the introduction of the D880 from giant Samsung, this trend could very well be headed towards a more widely accepted norm in the region. The D880 is now able to hold two sim cards simultaneously and users will also enjoy the 2.3” QVGA display, a 3 megapixels autofocus camera, a document viewer, an increased capacity battery and also a business card recognition feature, all packed into this slider form factor that is synonymous with the brand. Only time will tell if the other mobile giants will be heading in this direction, but for now, at least we know that there is such a model out there in the market should we have the need for one.

The Samsung D880 is ideal for those who travel and dislike carrying 2 mobile phones with 2 different lines wherever they go. "Finally", as some people have expressed.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - TBC.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

LG - LIFE's GOOD
LG KU380

Perhaps little is known about LG and their presence in the market share, but they are no doubt seen as aggressive in developing their product ranges and listening to the needs of the mobile community. The LG KU380 is yet another addition to the pack and is a 3G enabled slider form factor offering which sports a TFT 22k colour screen, 60MB onboard memory, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera with 15 fps video capturing abilities and an FM radio.
The LG KU380 is ideal for those who want a slider no-nonsense mobile that just does the job and does it well, without all the fancy bells and whistles.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND258-00,
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

LG KU990 Viewty

Comparing to previous models of old, LG really shows that they take into account user feedback, and are always aiming to develop their product line, both in terms of design and features, from the LG Chocolate to the LG Prada, and now, the LG KU990 Viewty. Under the hood of this feature packed arsenal lies an impressive 3" touchscreen display with 240 x 400 pixels resolution, HSDPA 3.6 Mbps capability, stereo Bluetooth and the most hyped up weapon of choice, the highly intriguing 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, which is also capable of capturing video at 120 fps. The LG KU990 definitely looks set to be a sweeping success. Perhaps a first ever feature, is the ability to edit an image after snapping it, with the gorgeous touchscreen. This will surely be attractive especially for those photo aficionados out there.
The LG KU990 Viewty is ideal for those keen photographers who want that little something extra from their camera phone. K850i and N82 had better keep a watch on their heels, this underdog will be one to watch out for.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND898-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

SONY ERICSSON
Sony Ericsson W890i

We all remember the introduction of the slim and sexy W880i (my old review here) when it was first launched. However, slim as it was, many could not handle the noticeable letdowns; the tiny keys and lack of FM radio. In comes the W890i. It now addresses the minor flaws of the W880i, with added support for HSDPA, quad-band GSM, the new Sony ericsson SensMe tempo, mood detector, 3.2 megapixel Cyber-shot camera, fast photo browser, finger print resistant body panels AND all this in a still-slim body. This worthy upgrade from Sony Ericsson indeed places it in a position above its predecessor and is set to be a huge seller.
The Sony Ericsson W890i is ideal for those music buffs who like to mix fashion with a bit of fun. Better keypad, better overall experience. Definitely worth the upgrade.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND668-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Sony Ericsson W960i

The Sony Ericsson W950i, which was released last year, was considered revolutionary with its 4GB of integrated memory especially in the line up as a Walkman phone. However, its shortcomings with regards to the lack of a camera and Wifi capabilities left users wanting. With that, Sony Ericsson introduced the W960i as a replacement. They have now brought out their big guns with this model, fielding a scorching 8GB of storage space, a large touchscreen 262K color TFT display, a 3 megapixel camera, 3G/Wifi capabilities AND all this in an oh-so-sexy-slim-and-nice-to-touch-body. You just have to hold one to know how it feels. Feature-wise, it resembles more to its smartphone brother, the Sony Ericsson P1 but with the addition of a dedicated Walkman key and 3-touch sensitive keys for controlling the music player. This model is a great choice and will certainly leave music fans drooling and feeling tingly all over.
The Sony Ericsson W960i is ideal for the hardcore music buff that loves having entire music collections on the go.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND888-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts

Sony Ericsson W910i

The addition of the Sony Ericsson W910 into their Walkman range has only strengthened their position in the music market. This solid performer sports a slim slider form factor, a high quality 2.4” display, supports 3G/HSDPA, improved Walkman 3.0 features (with SensMe and a first ever Shake control feature), FM radio, a 2 megapixel camera, fast photo browser and a decent loudspeaker. To balance it out, the W910i will also garner a lot of lovers as its looks place it in the market as a fashion-savvy phone. However, those expecting to use the W910i as a camera should take note, it does not have autofocus or flash. But at least you’ll look good with the W910 by your side.
The Sony Ericsson W910i is ideal for those who want to look good while enjoying listening to their favourite tunes. Shaking the phone to skip to the next track is definitely fun too, espcially for others to watch.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND628-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts

Sony Ericsson K850i

With the Cyber-shot name and reputation to uphold, Sony Ericsson called on reinforcements and launched its newest member and big-daddy of the Cyber-shot range, the K850i. Aside from the obvious addition of the Xenon flash and Cyber shot first-ever ISO settings to adapt under different lighting conditions, you’ll also find the standard autofocus, Macro focus, Best Pic technology, new 3 touch soft keys, an experimental tiny square keypad layout and a rather unusual navigation rail. Another worthwhile mention is the inclusion of a dual purpose memory slot; you can use either a Memory Stick Micro or a microSD. This means you will never need to worry about not having enough memory for those special moments. All in all, in such a small and compact size, these features alone make the K850i the closest ANY phone has ever come to matching the standalone digital camera experience.
The Sony Ericsson K850i is ideal for both the snap happy amateurs as well as the serious photographer who don’t want to miss any special moments with their loved ones. Picture quality is unmatched so far!

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND698-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

NOKIA
NOKIA Nokia 2600 Classic

Nokia has been long renowned for meeting the needs of the market with models that are simple and easy for users of all ages. Sporting a TFT 65K colour screen, phonebook capabilities of up to 1000 entries, GPRS/EDGE capabilities, Bluetooth, a VGA camera/video capabilities and colour choices of Blue, Black, Orange and Beige, the 2600 classic is armed with enough features to please those out there with the most basic needs; phone calls and SMS’s, and then some. Most value-for-money model out there.

The Nokia 2600 classic is ideal for those who appreciate the simple things in life; basic phone calls and SMS’s.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND138-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia N95 8GB

When the Nokia N95 was first released, it was considered as the ultimate smartphone in the market. Packed with a feature list comprising of; Symbian Series 60 v3, HSDPA capabilities, built-in GPS, a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, DVD quality video, easy to reach music controls in a very neat 2-way slider form factor, it was set to remain on its throne for a long time coming. But, it was all too good to be true. The N95’s power greedy features sucked the soul off the battery life and this was the most major downfall for the N95. Until that is, Nokia decided to reach back into their armoury and pull out yet another trick out of its hat; the introduction of the Nokia N95 8Gb. This new release has now turned evil with its new reincarnation of black styling, a beautiful 2.8” screen, a whopping 8Gb of internal memory and most important of all, the battery life now has soul. The Nokia N95 8Gb will satisfy the needs of all who expect much from it, and best of all, the same features we all remember from the old N95 still remain.
(My review here)
The Nokia N95 8Gb is ideal for those who want their mobiles to be able to keep up with them in their fast paced lives or even slow down with them in life to appreciate the little things around. The king of smartphones is back in the building.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND1,038-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia N81 8GB

The launch of the Nokia N81 proved to be a milestone first as it is one of the first handsets to support its re-launched N-Gage gaming platform. Aimed solely at the niche youth market, the N81 8Gb is meant to be the most affordable multimedia device marring music, gaming and imaging all under its hood. Sporting features such as Symbian S60 v3.1, wifi support, dedicated gaming keys, a brilliant 2.4” 16M display, a 2 megapixel camera, dedicated multimedia/music keys (with standard 3.5mm audio jack and over the roof stereo speakers!), a whopping 8Gb internal memory and a touch sensitive Navi wheel all in a compact slider form factor, the Nokia N81 8Gb is all set to thrill. However, it is worth mentioning that those interested in buying this gaming device will need to get used to its newly positioned key layout but all will be quickly forgotten as the N81 truly is an excellent pick-me-up for those moments of sheer boredom.

The Nokia N81 8Gb is ideal for those who are addicted to gaming but refuse to admit it. And the speakers, it just blows your ears away.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND718-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia N82

The Nokia N82, a direct competitor to the Sony Ericsson K850i, is the latest of releases to the N-series range under the Nokia brand. The N82 has all the features that promises to make it a truly best seller, combining smartphone functionality with one of the best camera phones in the market today. Sporting a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash with active lens cover, a 2.4” 16M color display, Symbian S60 v3 OS, wifi/3G/HSDPA functionalities, auto UI rotation, stereo speakers, built-in GPS, TV-out capabilities, standard 3.5mm audio jack, support up to 8Gb microSD memory and a commendable battery performance, the N82 is a buy that you will hardly ever regret. Perfect especially for those who want to capture those truly special moments without carrying another device, the decision is so simple, N82.
The Nokia N82 is ideal for those who want to capture the shots of their children growing up or special moments with their friends by their sides. And it does a real neat job in keeping your schedules and giving you directions on maps too!

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND798-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia E51

Nokia is renowned for churning out reliable and outstanding business phones, which also cater towards those who would like to mix business with a bit of pleasure. The conservative wolf in sheeps clothing Nokia E51 is one such device. Replacing its predecessor, the E50, the E51 brings functionality to a higher level with the inclusion of Symbian S60 v3.1 OS, 3G/HSDPA/WIFI capabilities, 130MB onboard memory, very comfortable keypad/D-pad, new symbian key icons, a 2 megapixel camera and all this packed into a very very slim 12mm body, making it the thinnest Eseries squad member in the ranks. The also-very stylish Nokia E51 proves to be quite a well-balanced performer that will certainly become an instant bestseller not only for business users, but for regular users too.
The Nokia E51 is ideal for those who want a reasonably priced business phone that can do it all, and look good at the same time.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND478-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia N800

Perhaps of all the models from Nokia, the one that has not made any huge headlines is the tablet series. From the Nokia 7700 and 7710, demand has not quite been anything to shout about. But this has not stopped Nokia from improving on the series, with the launch of the Nokia N800 internet tablet. It is stacked with features such as a large 4.1” 800x480 touchscreen display, displaying both text and pictures very clearly, WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth, a mini-USB port, and a 3.5mm headphones jack. It runs off a 320Mhz TI CPU, and 128MB RAM, and includes 256MB of flash storage and two SD slots. The most outstanding feature of the N800 is the use of the WiFi capability that makes surfing an extreme joy for those not wanting to carry around a laptop or be restricted to desktop bound PC’s.
The Nokia N800 is ideal for those internet junkies and with the 4.1” screen, need I say more?

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND468-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia 8800 Arte

Nokia has always maintained a stronghold on their flagship 8-series models, focusing more on the essence of premium lifestyles with exclusive and highest quality materials used on each improved model. The Nokia 8800 Arte is a 150 grams of solid steel piece of art and its exclusiveness is good enough reason for people who favour style over function. Some may argue that features such as a 2” 16M colour display, S40 OS with 3G functionality, 3 megapixel camera with autofocus, evolutionary Turn-to-mute technology and a large internal memory is rather basic compared to other similarly priced models from Nokia, but it is easy to forget, comparing the Arte to other handsets will be missing the point. It's just how things are in the small niche of mobile high fashion where Arte’s rub shoulders with the likes of Armani and Prada.
The Nokia 8800 Arte is ideal for those who prefer style over function, and for those who appreciate owning such exclusive and exquisitely made mobiles.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND1,688-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Happy Chinese New Year!

2008-02-07T23:45:00.000+08:00

Kung Hee Fatt Choy to one and all!

Apologies for the lack of updates, I'm in the process of revamping my blog. One year past, and it still looks the same. What better time than this festive season to make changes. Watch this space in the next post!

Last night, after a family gathering to celebrate Chinese New year eve, I went to visit another friend's place to wind down and watch some fireworks as the countdown began for midnight. Tying up the firecrackers at strategic places was important, because obviously, we didn't want anything to happen to our cars. As midnight struck, going through some 4000 sticks of firecrackers was sure an earful! We weren't the only ones doing it either. Throughout the area and beyond, fireworks were lighting up the sky. Its been quite a while since we've experienced this in Brunei I have to say. I felt like a kid again!

Then, we decided to move on to the hardcore stuff, the fireworks. After a couple of beautiful mid air explosions, the unexpected happened, the tube flew of out its enclosure and fell to the ground, shooting "missiles" around, hitting walls, astro antennas and even missing one of the guys feet by inches! We were running around everywhere! Thankfully, it ended after a few more "shots", no one was injured and we managed to have a laugh about it.

(Amidst all the excitement, needless to say, taking snaps with my phone wasn't the first thing on my mind, so I won't be including any shots in this post.)

So, a very important note to all celebrating Chinese New year, no matter what the age, please PLEASE be careful with fireworks as you celebrate this festive season.

Wishing you all a prosperous new year!

Rumours: E71

2008-01-10T23:43:00.001+08:00

Courtesy of dailynokia.com, look what could possibly be the new phone for this year!

Looks like a combination of E51, E61i and E90 all rolled into one.
Ok, I know its only January 2008, but I know what I want this Christmas. (Only another 11 months to go)

A Happy New Year 2008 with Nokia N95 8Gb

2008-01-04T23:10:00.000+08:00

First of all, let me wish everyone a very Happy New Year 2008.

Reading a few local blogs, there were a numerous "happening" events going on throughout the country, as it should on new year's eve. But for me, it was a quiet one. Just me and my buddy, the Nokia N95 8Gb right beside me. (Hey, this IS a mobile blog right?)

I started last year with a new year's resolution of sticking to one phone for the whole year. I did quite well half way through, then the madness began. I broke my goals, amidst the mockery of those who know d3xlabs. Closer to Christmas time, I had already gone through quite a few phones, and to be honest, at one point, I was just stumped. I just did NOT know what to get. Having reviewed and played with so many new phones in the market, I was like a master of all models, but owner of none.

It was during my period of silence in December (sorry everyone, but coupled with moving house, delayed espeed access and festive hols around, it was difficult to update my reviews), I decided to get myself this, the new champion of all Nokia's, the new improved version of the Nokia N95 8Gb.

Reading reviews from GSMArena, Mobile88, Mobile-Review and Allaboutsymbian, (all GREAT and EXTENSIVE reviews) I knew this would be the right choice. In fact, compared to my Nokia E90 review, the King of Nokia's, I would dare say that this new N95 8Gb is REAL close to dethroning the mighty E90.

On a side note, having read all those reviews (and MANY more, believe me), I started thinking, hey, how can I make my blog more interesting to read this year. 2007 was a good learning point for my blog. I always thought that readers like reading my blog because of the "hands on feel" of the phones that I review, compared to the hundreds of close-up's, spec filled, stating-the-obvious type of reviews that anyone can find out there (like the 4 review sites I mentioned above, no offence to them of course. To me these sites are like "my point of references" if you like). So, true to my goal, I think this year, I will try to include more of these "hands on feely" type reviews. So far I haven't received any negative feedback from you, my kind readers. And even from the handful of faithful ones I have who have kept my tag board active. (Thanks guys).

With this, starting 2008, my goals are:

To be more consistent in my reviews and blog posts
To be more subjective in brands (I know, I know, I seem to favour more Nokia's, SE's or Treo's)
Include more pictures because we all know, pictures speak a thousand words.

Armed with the new iMac which I hope to purchase soon enough, I think this will be a great year for d3xlabs.

Anyway, personal sentiments aside, back to the Nokia N95 8Gb. Let me try to give different perspective from the 4 reviews above. And this will be my first straight-to-the-point type review for 2008.

First Impressions

Using it for a month now, I have to say, I enjoy every moment of using this phone. From the moment I opened the inbox, with the black beauty peering at me from its transparent enclosure, it made my heart skip a beat. Taking it out, I just had a feeling that this was one precious device. Those of you out there who REALLY take care of your phones will know what I mean. (It also meant that I would inevitably have to buy a screen protector, a leather case or at least SOMETHING to protect this new baby!)(Note: I have done all three)
Switching it on, I'm faced with the super familiar S60 3rd edition OS on the beautiful 2.8inch screen.(A MAJOR improvement from the previous N95. And yes, the 0.2" difference sounds small on paper, but it really is a thoroughly enjoyable experience using it in real life)
The two way slider worked great, with a nice click on both ends.
Of course, one of the main features I used immediately was the camera and video. More on this shortly.

In short, I knew immediately, this was one impressive device.

What I loved about the N95 8Gb

The layout of the keypad is very ergonomically friendly. Big hands / fingers like mine have no issues problems whatsoever.
The weight and material used is "just nice" in my opinion. Doesn't feel like it will slip off your hands in use.
The performance of this beauty is F-A-S-T. With the improved processor included, I would expect this really. Gone are the days of hanging, or slow laggy activation of applications. (This is becoming a norm for the newer Nokia's. Thanks for listening Nokia)
The battery life. It has been tremendously refreshing to use! I have gone 3 days without charging even! Compared to my previous N95 review, this is a BIG PLUS. And this is after making calls, tons of SMS-ing, camera usage, music/radio activation and MSN chatting on wifi!
Sending SMS's, MMS's and emails have never been easier! With the Nokia trade marked T9 dictionary and the great keypad layout, I found myself just finding reasons to sms people. (Yea, I'm sad)
8Gb of internal memory?! Need I say more!? To date, I have about 200+ photos and 217 songs stored in my N95 8Gb, and so far, not even close to 2Gb used. Its great not to have to worry about finding back-up storage for additional stuff.
Did I fail to mention the N-Gage gaming features were also included in the N95 8Gb, like the sibling N81? The included games, FIFA and Racing STREET RULES are nothing short of amazing. I'm not a gamer myself, but just to see the graphics and speed of the games is quite something.
The camera, the camera, the camera. Yes, that's right, leave your dedicated digi camera's at home. For everyday snapping and capturing-those-special-moments, the N95 8Gb will be more than enough. I'm afraid, since using this, my Canon G7 has been sitting on a shelf just collecting dust. I'm so heartless. And can you blame me? Look at some of my sample photos below. There are tons more I have to admit, but alot of them have me, my family, friends and my car inside. Now you wouldn't want to know the identity of d3xlabs now would you?

My Christmas tree. Not my best attempt but hey, I just bought it a few days before Christmas.

The view from outside my window. Night mode.

What I enjoyed on New Year's Eve lunch with friends at a local restaurant in town. Macro mode.

The buddies I sleep next to every night. I'm serious.

Camera - Video mode. On a phone, this has GOT to be one of the best I've ever seen. DVD quality, Nokia claims. They're right. Those of you with kids, or not, this comes in really handy. And the inbox comes with AV cables which you can watch on your compatible TV's too. How amazing is that?! And what's more, these videos are also YOUTUBE friendly. I even have a friend who's posted all his videos on youtube taken by his N95.

What I didn't like about the N95 8Gb
(But-is-not-enough-not-to-make-me-not-want-to-buy-one)

Glossy black surface = fingerprint magnet. Enough said.
Yes the 8Gb is iPhone-beating but it can also be a worry. I've read in other reviews that if anyone ever, EVER drops the N95 8Gb, it could cause harm to the flash memory, meaning... you could lose everything. Of course, if you're like me, backing up the phone every night, then you'll have nothing to worry about. And again, if you're like me, you'll probably also make sure that you'll never ever drop your phone. Just guard it with your life ok? That's my rule.
Why oh why didn't Nokia include at least a leather case in the package like they did with the previous N95. Not a problem I guess for some as you can probably find other alternatives elsewhere. (I even contemplated getting a Vaja leather case for this baby would you believe). But here's what you can get separately from Nokia, the CP 235. Its not the best around I have to admit, but, it'll do its job in protecting your black beauty.

The two-way slider (again this won't be a problem is a case was included) tends to slide in your pockets (for guys). For the ladies, this may not apply to you as phones have become accessories in your handbags anyway right?
If you have as many photos as I do (so far) saving / sync-ing them through your pc (or mac in my case) can be a bit of a patience-builder. I suppose I COULD delete everything after saving it to speed up the process next time, but where's the fun in that?

My take on the N95 8Gb? I have to at least give it the same rating as I did with my E90 review.
5 stars.
It is the ultimate Nokia phone in the market today, next to the E90 dare I say.
So, after you read this, switch off your pc, hop into your car, drive straight to any Incomm branch and get one! From what I hear, stocks have been lapped up quite fast. That alone if proof that I'm not the only one who feels this way about the N95 8Gb isn't it?

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND1,168
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

PS: If you have any feedback for me, I would be more than happy to accomodate your ideas. Please email me at d3xlabs@gmail.com

PPS: I won't dare say I will stick to one phone again. That was 2007. I've learnt my lesson for 2008.

Season's greetings

2007-12-23T00:06:00.000+08:00

I'd just like to wish all friends and readers a very Blessed Christmas 2007 and happy holidays. The end of year is fast approaching. What better time to spend with family and close friends, and reflect on the year that has passed.

I'd like to share this with you all.

Photo taken with my new Nokia N95 8Gb. A photo of a cake tastefully made / created at a local bakery in Kiulap.

And the N95 8Gb? I bought it about a week ago, as a Birthday/Christmas gift to myself (I had to. No one else would risk buying me a phone. Can you blame them?) Been snapping away at anything and everything. Certainly living up to its title as the best phone in the market today. Read here at AAS for an in-depth review.

Anyway, I've decided, for my new year resolution, this N95 8Gb has to last me till my next birthday. (Next December obviously). I've already got bets against me on this, and even friends lining up to buy it off me should I ever decide to sell. But, I have to be focused. One y-e-a-r. Yup, only 357 days to go...

Blessed Christmas to everyone!

d3xlabs is back online!

2007-12-12T01:10:00.000+08:00

I'm back. Back online. Someone must have read my previous post. Today is the 11th Dec 2007. I applied for my espeed on 1st Dec 2007. Not bad, a full 10 days to do it. So they DID mean it when they said two weeks. What's with the two month crap then? The vendor came this afternoon to set it all up, and once I plugged in my new Apple Airport extreme, I was ready to roll! C'mon Telbru! Service, SERVICE!...

I have so many phones to update here. Since I've been MIA, so many new phones have popped up too! Nokia with their Eseries E51's, Nseries N95 8 Gb's, N82's, N81 8Gb's.... Sony Ericsson with their w910's and slew of other similar product line ups, Motorola with the new V8 Razr 2, which I MUST say looks absolutely stunning and even my personal favourite brand, Palm with the Centro, which isn't rumoured to be a GSM version yet.

Nevertheless, first up, business first.... should you get a Nokia 6500 Classic or Slide? Find out in my next review!

Withdrawal symptoms

2007-12-01T01:04:00.000+08:00

My apologies for the seemingly long silence. Its been a hectic past few weeks. Flying to Hong Kong twice within three weeks for work, then preparing for a big wedding within my family ... and at the same time, juggle a house move. Yup, a house move.... I've just moved into a new place but the problem is, i haven't got my broadband set up yet!

I do have a bone to pick though. Telbru's just launched a new promotion on the new espeed package which I thought would be an opportune time to apply for my new place. But what happens? I submit my application, then I'm told because of the area I'm staying in, they will "try" to set up "within two weeks", otherwise, it will be in February to March.

Did you read that?

FLIPPING FEBRUARY to MURDEROUS MARCH!!!! That totally got me quite ruffled. C'mon, if you say all your "lines" are fully booked, then why the heck did you advertise this fancy smancy promotion then!?!?!

Ridiculous.... thats all I gotta say. And so, my waiting journey begins. Even as I type this, its 1.00am and I have to come to a cafe to surf. How sad.

BUT, to keep me occupied, I've got two friends keeping me busy... let me introduce you. The pictures aren't fantastic, but in such a dimly lit cafe, their respective camera flashes were blinding.

A Sony Ericsson P1 and a Nokia N95 8Gb.

Ahhh, with friends like these, my wait for espeed won't feel that bad... I hope.

It was bound to happen...

2007-11-03T11:28:00.000+08:00

Over the weekend, I read this Article here and thought to myself, its finally happened. Almost everyone in the country owns a mobile phone. That.. its scary and yet, cool at the same time. But that also means, its likely that children these days make up a large percentage of that statistic.

I attended a 10 yr old kids birthday party recently, and I overheard someone asking the birthday girl, what she would like for her birthday as a gift. I was shocked when I heard the answer, "A mobile phone"(!!!) I mean, what does a 10 yr old want with a mobile phone?!

Over the past few weeks, there has been numerous feedback from various people in the Bulletin's opinion page about the Ministry of Education's decision to ban all mobile phones from schools. I have been following these comments with much amusement. There are some that feel that this was a long time coming, and there are those (mainly students surprise surprise) that feel that this new ruling is "unfair" and "unneccessary", one even going as far as saying now he has to WALK FURTHER to the school office to make a call, spending $0.10 - $0.20cents JUST to call his parents to pick him up! Even going as far as saying how can he be contacted if there's a family emergency like if someone passes away! Oh come on!

Personally, I support MOE's new ruling. I know numerous teachers who constantly complain about students not paying attention in classes because they're sms-ing or suddenly, their mobiles go off. Give teachers some respect I say. And if you're a student reading this, no offence, but please remember, if you're caught with a mobile, say your goodbyes, some schools c-o-n-f-i-s-c-a-t-e.

Heard about the Nokia 5310?

2007-10-28T17:40:00.000+08:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's post about the N81, I had some free time in the morning and dropped by Incomm, Gadong to "check out" the Nokia N81. The few reviews I've read about it were pretty spot on:

The N81 felt quite nice to hold,
The games included were C-O-O-L. Touted as a device following the N-Gage's heart, gamers out there wouldn't be disappointed with the N81.
The touchpad-looking keypad definitely was a fingerprint magnet.
The quality of music was clear and SUPER loud. It scared a couple of the sales staff when I played some tunes. I imagined how easily it would wake you in the morning if you set it as a daily alarm. Impressive.
The navi wheel D pad was interesting to use.

Just as I arrived, someone else had JUST purchased a unit and was walking out of the store quite happily I have to say. Ahhh, guys and their new toys.... Anyway, I'll try get a unit to review soon.

While I was there though, I spotted a mobile that caught my eye. I asked the friendly staff there what model that was; it was the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic.
This must have quietly creeped on shores too. There really hasn't been that much hype about this model but one thing's for sure, it was REALLY nice to hold. The size blew me away, especially hot off the release of the Nokia 6500 Classic! Made me feel like I want one too!

Some specs:

Slim (!)
Comes in either blue or red.
Has a 2" 240 x 320 pixel display running on S40 OS.
A 2 mp camera
MicroSD card compatibility.
Bluetooth, radio...
And of course, being an XpressMusic device, the dedicated media buttons are easily accessible on the front. Definitely an improvement from the older XpressMusic models.

Retailing at BND448-00 at all Incomm outlets, don't forget to use your DST privilege card for better discounts.

Check it out!

Nokia N81 is on shore!

2007-10-28T00:05:00.000+08:00

Hot off the heels of the launch of the 6500 series comes another stunner from Nokia, the Nokia N81. It is now on sale in Brunei.

Here's a short preview of the specs:

(Another) Slide form factor
3G compatible
Comes in two variants; Normal (with option of external memory slot) and the 8Gb version (Incomm has the 8Gb)
Dedicated music keys for instant access
A first-nokia ever touch sensitive Navi wheel D pad (see here for demonstrations)
2.4" 16M TFT Color screen, 2mp camera, WIFI
Device closely similar to the N-Gage in terms of gaming.

And, with that, its sure making me curious as to how it'll feel in hand. I'll try go have a look tomorrow.

Retailing at BND898-00 at all Incomm outlets now, don't forget to use your DST privilege card for better discounts.

Nokia 6500 Slide is on shore!

2007-10-25T00:35:00.000+08:00

I've just got home from the Mall. While I was there, I decided to check out the usual haunts on the latest mobile releases. First stop, Incomm @ Mall.

And there I saw it, the new Nokia 6500 Slide. Its finally here! I first posted about its announcement here, and now, i can actually hold it in hand.

I HAVE to say, it feels VERY nice to hold. Feels very solid and unlike the previous slider phones of yester-year like Nokia 6280, 6288 or even N80.

I tried to take a photo sample with the much touted 3.2mp camera the Slide is famous for, but because I was messing with a new unit, the sticker was still stuck on the camera lens... so I guess I'll wait till I can do a proper review on the 6500 series.

But all I can say for now is that I'm very impressed with the build quality. And, if you're an existing owner of the mobiles I just mentioned, and you're looking for a change, then look no further, this could be it.

Retailing at BND668-00 from all Incomm outlets, don't forget to use your DST privilege card for better discounts.

My Sony Ericsson P1 review

2007-10-21T21:02:00.000+08:00

Sony Ericsson (SE) has always been in the forefront in terms of releasing revolutionary models for many years now. Their first attempt at the pda smartphone market was with the release of the p800, seen as a true classic for many years. That marked the beginning of the P-series. I still remember those days, when being seen with a p800 brought oohs and ahhs from people around. The P series has since always had a loyal following, similar to the Communicator series of Nokia. SE then released the p900 followed by the p910 and just when it seemed as if SE had really begun to understand the smartphone market, they became complacent and released the p990i, which arrived sometime last year. Many saw the p990i as flawed and infested with firmware bugs. Even in Brunei, the p990i for some reason didn't boast a huge fanbase as compared to the previous models.

So what did SE do? They went back to the drawing boards and before the introduction of their latest Pseries, they came up with this...
The Sony Ericsson M600i, a rectangular candy bar PDA feaure packed model designed for the mass market. The M600i attracted many buyers because of the new revolutionary QWERTY dual button style. It was unheard of, 2 letters on 1 button?! It became a hit.

And so what did the SE designers decide to do then? They decided it was time to launch the newest member of the P Series family, tactfully named the P1, which supposedly addresses all the bugs and firmware issues of its predecessors. The P1 is fully packed with media capabilities and at the same time, allows the busy executive to get around his/her business.

I've had an extensive amount of time reviewing this new model. In some ways, I always had a love hate relationship with the P Series. Let's just say I had a tough time with the P800 back in the day, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I've honestly ignored the existences of each P series since, and had only limited my time playing with each of them. Until now. The P1 has been truly an experience. In particular with the QWERTY. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to use it, but it did take some getting used to. So what is my take on it then? Should you upgrade if you're a p990i owner? Should you try it out as a totally new user to the P series? Read on...

Inbox

1 x Sony Ericsson P1 unit
1 x Sony Ericsson 1160mAh lithium ion battery
1 x Sony Ericsson travel charger
1 x Sony Ericsson CDS 65 desktop cradle
1 x Sony 512MB M2 memory stick
1 x USB Cable
1 x HPM 62 wired Stereo headset
1 x extra stylus
1 x carrying case
1 x User guide and other reading materials
1 x P1 i CD rom

First Impressions
After months of reading about the P1, I was only slightly curious as to what the big deal was with this new flagship model from Sony Ericsson. As I mentioned, I never did follow extensively any of the previous P series models. When the P1 finally did arrive onshore, I was informed about it and once I got to actually feel / play with one, I was impressed with the features that it offered, and it definitely looked classy and very business executive-ish. BUT, I also finally understood what the big issue was for many out there. The QWERTY keyboard. After trying to type some notes / SMS's, I immediately drew my first impression; I didn't like it.

Physical aspects / Build quality

The Sony Ericsson P1 comes only in one colour variant; Silver/Black. In my opinion, its perfect. Just holding it in hand, you get the feel that this is one beautiful device.
On the front of the P1, you're greeted with a 2.6" 240 x 320 pixel TFT screen, with (of course) the QWERTY keyboard.
On the left side, you will see the hole for your lanyard, the 3 way jog dial (a standard with all P series models) and a "Return key" button. (Which basically allows you to "return" to the previous menu/screen)
On the right side, you will see a Web quick key button, the M2 memory stick slot and of course, the dedicated Camera launch button.
On the bottom, you will see the slot for charging your battery / headsets / USB cable.
At the back of the P1, you will imediately see the 3.2mp camera lens, encased in black with both the Sony Ericsson and P1 symbols. Classy.
The main issue with the P1 is of course, the QWERTY. But, similar with its predecessors, you can also use the Styus for writing. The P1's character recognition is amazingly accurate and works in collaboration with the built in T9 predictive text. I had purposely tried to totally scribble my handwriting on it, and it still picked up my words.

Display / User interface

Here, I have to say that I didn't really see any revolutionary improvements compared with the previous p990i's. So I won't go into too much detail on how to move around the menu. The photos below are some screen shots.
As mentioned earlier, the P1 sports a 240 x 320 pixel TFT screen. Beautiful to look at both indoors and outdoors. The Symbian version and UIQ 3.0 used by on the P1 is also a fairly stable OS. However, I will admit, moving around this menu isn't as straightforward as most would like. For e.g. it takes a few additional steps just to reach your desired function. Of course, I'm comparing to other QWERTY devices from Nokia, Palm and even the iPhone. But, having said that, existing owners of P series models won't be too fussed about this.
The Home screen, other than allowing you to use any wallpaper you desire, also has a summary or "Active Standby style" details like Calendar entries, messages, missed calls and also other shortcut keys, which you can customise to select up to 15 "favourites".
Going into the menu, you can also choose your menu layout as either Grid or List view.
You can use either the Stylus or the 3 way jog dial to move about the menu, but personally, I prefered using my fingertip to navigate around, as I usually do with other touchscreen devices I've owned. I did notice a little lag in between moving around the menu though.

Calls / Messaging

Voice calls tested are nothing short of standard. All calls made / received were clear and without complaints. Volumes can be adjusted with the jog dial as well. Being a 3G device, you can also make video calls with the front facing camera. So Bmobile users out there, you won't have any complaints here.
Entering numbers on this dual QWERTY took some getting used to though. Numbers are clearly marked in red on the buttons and from the Phone function, you just need to enter it directly.
The P1 supports the usual messaging formats: SMS/MMS and Emails. Typing out your SMS's / Emails however, will definitely take a good few days to master. For me, after a while, I noticed that I began typing out my words faster and with more confidence. As long as I used both hands to do it. I tried using one hand to type and let's just say, that it was a really brain-teasing effort.
As with all QWERTY devices, the main two keys you should look out for are the SHIFT and ALT keys. They are important when you want to enter numbers, punctuation / question marks, fullstop's and comma's etc. All in all, after a few days of use, I didn't really mind it at all really.

Multimedia / Camera performance

SE's Walkman legacy has also been imprinted into the P1, with multimedia capabilities that would please the most hardcore of music lovers. The sounds, even on highest volume, did not result in any "cracking" or breaks. The P1 can also transmit your music streams via Bluetooth with A2DP. Transferring your songs into the P1 is relatively simple to sort out; using the USB cable, just hook it up to your pc and the P1 wil be read as a mass storage device. All it takes is "drag & drop" and you'll be set to go.
The Camera features of the P1 were quite satisfactory. You get Autofocus (very important) and of course, the usual onslaught of settings and shooting modes commonly found on all camera phones these days. You can even select whether you want to take 3mp, 2mp, 1mp ot VGA resolution for your shots. But, of course, please don't compare this against the SE Cybershot series models. Some samples of photos taken below.

A shot of a shot being taken

Night shot 1

Night shot 2

Overall, I was quite happy with the images taken from the camera. I can't say the same though, for the video performances. Fast moving objects taken in the video will appear jerky but I suppose it depends how fast your hand movements are.

What I liked about the P1

The size and executive feel of the overall build quality
The (light) weight of the P1. Take notes Nokia, Palm and other smartphone makers out there. You CAN make lighter devices.
The PIM features (Calendar and organiser) are better than those found on other SE models. This is a must for me in any phone.
The connectivity features are fantastic here. You get Wifi, Bluetooth, 3G, infrared AND USB. This will surely satisfy you connection junkies out there. Using the WLAN and testing out the speed on web surfing (like reading this blog) on the P1, it loaded fairly fast.
The battery life. With such a device as this, getting about 2-3 days worth of juice is not too shabby. Having said that though, note that I only use Bluetooth when needed, listen to music / radio occasionally, surf when there's a WLAN around, make a coupleof calls and send my usual barrage of SMSs.

What I didn't like about the P1

As much as I love QWERTY devices, I would say this is a love-hate deal with the P1. Yes I got used to using the keyboard after a while, but at the same time, I can type alot faster on more dedicated QWERTY buttons (like from my Treo's and the Nokia e61i). You could argue that writing is also an option.
The "dated" look of the UIQ. With the intro of N95 and even the iPhone, SE could have made more improvements in this area.

d3xlabs recommendations
At the end of the day, after using the P1 as my daily workhorse for a few days, I did end up actually liking and getting quite used to the QWERTY-ness of the P1. But I will say though that its not to everyone's taste. Aside from this though, you would be hard pressed to find an equally feature packed device out there in terms of media and connection capabilities. And look at the size too! Totally pocketable, both on work days as well as weekends. If you're a new user debating on making this jump, I'd say give it a go. You might surprise yourself.

But, if you're an existing p990i user, should you upgrade? Probably not, but you might anyway because you're a P series loyal fan. Remember though, the P1 has bug issues fixed already so your only obstacle now is just getting used to the keyboard.

My Sony Ericsson P1 rating - 4 stars
Selling price - BND848-00
Available at all Incomm outlets, Brunei's authorised distributors for Sony Ericsson.
(Remember to use your DST privilege card for better discounts)

Festivities and L.I.F.E.

2007-10-16T23:14:00.000+08:00

I know this is a bit delayed but i'd like to wish all Muslim friends and readers a "Selamat Hari Raya". A season of being with families, visiting and not forgetting a tremendous amount of eating.

Most importantly though, Drive safe on the roads and remember:

PLEASE DO NOT SMS / TALK ON THE MOBILE WHILE DRIVING. There have been TOO many tragic accidents over the past few weeks. Its time to get serious. So what if the Police doesn't catch you, just remember, its YOUR life or the life of your loved ones, at stake.

Nokia 6500 Classic is on shore!

2007-10-09T02:39:00.000+08:00

Way back in June , I posted this preview of the Nokia 6500 Classic. It's finally here!
If you're wondering what's the big deal about it, other than the size, remember this; 1Gb built in memory!

Isn't she a stunner? I think this one will be a seller. And just in time for Raya too!
Retailing at BND588-00 at all Incomm outlets, don't forget to use your DST privilege card for better discounts.

IPhone review

2007-09-30T21:39:00.000+08:00

d3xlabs - Hi everyone, allow me to introduce to you, a review by a good buddy of mine, my guest blogger... with the Apple iPhone review. Enjoy...

There're already tonnes of iPhone reviews on the net so I'm just going to stick with the more personal experiences. (For a really indepth review, look at arstechnica). Do keep in mind as you're reading this, I've become much of a mac buff since I picked up a black macbook about a year ago.

The usual suspects

Stacked against Treo, Nokia and Ipods

First off, this thing is thin! It feels like a well crafted luxury item (say, like a Rolex?). Seamless and perfect cuts round each corner. Its something you can't appreciate until you hold it in your own hands. The metal and glass mix really takes the device to another level, downgrading every other plastic phone you've held. Needless to say, it passes the "twist" creak test and makes you feel silly you even tried. It LOOKS fragile, but in your hands, it feels like it can really take a beating. The week as gone by without a case, and not a blemish to be found. I'm not planning to get a case.

Work of art

Unlike a Treo, it slips discretely into your pocket so you can forget about as you go about your daily routine. Comfortable in jeans. That's something hugely refreshing being a Treo user for 3 years. You'd also know by now that the back of the phone is a matte metal, a welcome change to the scratch magnet that the iPods are. The weight feels just nice.

Polished vs Matte

Software
Much like switching to the Mac, the first few days can drive you a little nuts. (If you're never tried a Mac, walk into AV and mess with an iMac for a while.) Everything works a little differently, and sometimes, its frustrating because you don't know how to do the simplest of tasks.
Right off, you'll notice it takes more steps to do phone stuff.

For instance, to place a call on the iPhone:

Turn on phone
Slide to unlock
Press Home button
Touch Phone icon
Touch Contacts or Favorites
Scroll to Contact (arranged by last name)
Select Contact Name
Touch phone number to dial

On the Treo:

Press power
Press Center key to Unlock
Type Contact initials
Select the Contact to Dial

Woah. 8 steps. Though, Apple makes sure that each of those 8 steps are as sensuously delicious as going through phone menus can possibly be. Going into the 4th or 5th day, I'm still amused by the detail they put into the graphics and animation. Elegantly done.
For the most part, you'll find that tasks are quickly and easily done.

Phone
Reception is on par with a Treo, which is a little worse than a Nokia. Voice quality is above average, clear and pronounced even in noisy environments. The interface is basic but straight forward and easy to navigate. Place speed dials in "Favorites" and you're set to go.

Brunei: SMS Nation
I can't live without threaded SMS chat. If you're still using Inbox style SMS, you're really missing out. iPhone pulls off SMS chats beautifully. Its easy to scroll back through the conversation. My only disappointment is that you can't delete individual messages. You'll have to delete the entire thread. Not a problem MOST of the time. If you have someone send you a password or some ugly sms chain text picture thingies, you can't individually delete them and keep the other messages. Annoying.

Oh, and no Character count! With $0.03 sms's, it doesn't bother me much. But I know it'll bother some of you.

While I'm in this topic, I might as well talk about the keyboard. All the other reviewers weren't lying. Google "Iphone review keyboard", and they all say you get used to the keyboard after a while. Not as good as a physical thumbboard, but not far off. Don't let first impressions fool you, and trust the Autocorrect.
Two handed (or thumbed) typing is easy, although the standard index finger hunt and peck is more precise. Both styles work and are fast enough.

Killer App
Steve Jobs is wrong. The killer app in the iPhone isn't the Phone. It's the Photo viewer, the perfect extension to iPhoto (on the Mac). Just as with any iPod, iTunes will optimise the the pictures before uploading it into the device. Its strange. The experience is fresh, yet, nostalgic. Its like flipping through the printed 4R photo albums of old, except digitally.
Doing the reverse "pinch" to zoom in is the No.1 show off factor.

Its lengthy to describe in words so check out this movie in apple.com

The Party in "Third Party"
The good news is that in Brunei, you'll be sporting an Unlocked iPhone. This means you'll have access to the 'Installer' app. This will appear as the 13th icon in your virgin iPhone. Open it up and it lists hundreds of 3rd party items you can download directly in Installer and load it up. I recommend to install Summerboard as your first stop. This allows you to scroll in the main menu and choose from a flurry of themes. My current fav is "Space" as seen below. The pics in the preview post d3xlabs put up are using the "Tiger Basic" theme.

Tiger Basic - side by side with the original menu

Space theme

Son of iPod
Best iPod ever? I'd say, Yes. I'm no audiophile, but music sounds as good as on my 5.5G iPod. Browsing my music and podcasts is easier, and coverflow is lots of fun. I'm more inclined to scroll through some older music I've neglected. I have to re-encode some divx movies to put them on, but they turned out absolutely gorgeous!

Transformers 2007 (Full Length - 1GB) encoded in H.264

Check out music on the iPhone.

The Real Internet

Apart from the fact that there's no Flash and Java (which is different from javascript), Safari works incredibly well! Brudirect loads up just fine, and easily navigated. Wifi has never been so useful. ApolloIM fills the gap if you get on MSN or Yahoo. Its still an early build, but lots of potential.

Email, on the other hand, just scrapes by. It works. Having used push email, I feel cheated, but I'll survive.

Brudirect

Others
Camera is nothing spectacular. The 2MP cam is a lot better than Treo, and probably on par with standard Nokias, Motorolas and Samsungs out there. Great pics as long as you have good strong lighting.

Games are sparse, but we have NES, Sudoku, Blackjack and Minesweeper for a start. Bejeweled can be loaded off the internet. This are can only get better.

The stock calendar app does the job. Simple. In my experience, the simpler your time manager, the more likely you'll use it.

Youtube and Googlemaps have never been so good on the phone if you're on wifi. They're completely useless with the slow GPRS/EDGE speeds on DST.

Conclusion
Am I happy? Yes.

But I wouldn't recommend to Treo or other smartphone users. The iPhone, like the Mac, is good with "life" stuff, and just passable for business use. There's no way to save or edit Office documents (only view via email or web). Its hard to scroll through more than 500 contacts. There's no push email (no Exchange or Blackberry support). And limited sync with Outlook.

In brief, its the smartphone for casual users. I believe that is how Apple designed it, and they did a pretty darn good job. If you carry an iPod on a daily basis (like me), I recommend it whole heartedly. Otherwise, it falls in the 'worth a good look' section.

Feel free to post comments/questions, and I'll answer them as best I can.

Preview - iPhone, iPhone!

2007-09-28T00:04:00.000+08:00

I'm back! Keeping busy over the past few days checking out new phones as usual... but, before I post updates on what new releases there are.... I have had the chance to actually see / feel / touch / play the ONE phone that the whole world has been waiting for! So, I'll post this first!

I'll let pictures speak louder than my words....

Ladies & Gentlemen...

The Apple iPhone.

The famous logo we ALL know and love, on the back...

iPhone next to the "other" best phone in the world..

iPhone in hand

iPhone back

iPhone menu

iPhone side view (ain't it slim)

Proof that I'm not pulling a fast one on you....

AND

One cute one just for kicks...

No, its not mine, in case some are wondering... but a good buddy's of mine. You MAY remember him (click here), when I introduced him as the Treo Godfather many moons ago. Well, that he ain't anymore. Now that he has switched sides, I have asked him to be my guest blogger again in posting his review of the greatest mobile invention of the century. Its going to be good.

Stay blogged....

Back to basics...

2007-09-24T00:27:00.000+08:00

You know, there comes a time when you look back and suddenly shock yourself that another whole month has passed, just like that! Unbelievable.

Since my last post, there's been so many things going on. Work's definitely one of them, but the main thing this past month has been the amount of travelling I've been doing. I've been MIA (missing in action) because I was in Kota Kinabalu on one weekend, then Adelaide, Australia for about 10 days the week after.

Having just returned from the Land Down Under (and having the time of my life), let me post a couple of photos taken from KK the week before I left. I just HAVE to post this....

These shots were taken at a boutique hotel I stayed in KK. I knew I HAD to snap them. I mean, who USES phones like these nowadays!? Funnily enough too, I actually received a room call, and (for the phone on the top), it took me a good few seconds to figure out which was the ear-piece and which was the mouth-piece! For the life of me, I just couldn't figure where to speak into! My friends really had a good laugh. I think I'll stick to mobiles. The're alot simpler.

And, just before I end this brief post, just to update my fellow E90 counterparts out there, I'm not using my E90 anymore. This probably won't surprise anyone, but I'm back to my previous Treo 680, but in CRIMSON, like the one you see below. Its a long story, but I bid farewell to (perhaps) one of the best Nokia smartphones in the market today. I'd still recommend it to anyone.

ANYWAY, back to the adventures of using my Treo. Ol'faithful as they say....

Everything else is just a toy

First touch with the HTC Desire HD

First touch with the HTC HD7

Meeting of the droids

HTC Desire HD vs iPhone 4

Test test with Droid-Blogger

HTC Desire HD and Desire Z

HTC HD2 on Android

Sorry Empire, I've moved to the Rebel Alliance

IOS 4 to be released soon!

The wait begins...

2010

The Force is strong

Loving my Storm Trooper....

Storm Trooper invasion

Darth N97: Build quality and physical aspects

My day out with Darth N97

Sneak preview: My Darth N97

The Dark Side: Nokia N97

Nokia N97 finally starts shipping.... (Yes, I'm alive)

Dilbert nails it on the head...

Its only April...

Nokia E63: Better to go economy or business class?

Nokia - New releases for Eseries and Nseries

Sexier E71's and a Pre.

My LG X110 review

A busy new year, and then, there's the new Palm Pre...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

My Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 review

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic starts being shipped!

Sneak peak: Sony Ericsson X1

Rumours: Nokia E63?

My Apple iPhone 3G review

Resistance is futile: the Apple iPhone 3G

Wishing you Selamat Hari Raya 2008

Rumours leaked: E72 and E75 already??

Updates and a Treo Resurrection: New Treo Pro

White E71 out now!

New link ***Mobile Phone***

***New link created: d3xbay.blogspot.com***

Beyond expectations

Sneak peek: My new Nokia E71

Is your heart racing? E71 and E66 officially launched!

Funny - E90 gathering

Apple iPhone now on 3G!

Hurry up Nokia!

Buzzing this June 08

More leaked news: Nokia E66, E71 & a SE P5.

DSTCom launches 3.5G

Nokia: Beautiful to use

'Does not crack under pressure"

Size is everything... & a preview

Live on air with Pilihan FM

TOP 15 Mobiles today!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Rumours: E71

A Happy New Year 2008 with Nokia N95 8Gb

Season's greetings

d3xlabs is back online!

Withdrawal symptoms

It was bound to happen...

Heard about the Nokia 5310?

Nokia N81 is on shore!

Nokia 6500 Slide is on shore!

My Sony Ericsson P1 review

Festivities and L.I.F.E.

Nokia 6500 Classic is on shore!

IPhone review

Preview - iPhone, iPhone!

Back to basics...

New link Mobile Phone

New link created: d3xbay.blogspot.com