Different Idea, Different Solution

I don't know if you are in the same world as me because I'm always looking for any technology-related, especially semiconductor-related, any device, and software. Nowadays, I am exciting about implement those new technologies into real device like The Sony Reader which uses e-Ink screen to be closer to real paper, it's really close; you'd got to see by yourself. However, I found another group has tried to make a paper more than just a paper, reusable paper. I found two kinds of them;

1. e-blue which is erasable ink.
Basically, it's like an ordinary ink that uses with your printer, but the special thing is it can be re-color to be transparent! All you need is an ink and an erasing machine. I have no idea if it released but I will find out.
>> here is a full news from newscientist.com

2. plastic paper
This method differs to previous one. The point is they made a new kind of paper which can change its color back and forth for hundreds of times. This paper made of the same type of plastic that uses for bottles of fizzy drinks; it can change its color by heat (actually by CO2 emission). This kind of paper is used in real world now, Japan.
>> full news from bbc.co.uk

Very interesting to me. Both ways are pretty good. Even they are still too expensive to use in every household, I am sure it won't be too long; we will have opportunity to use at affordable price. As I mentioned at first, I am one of folks who are looking for anything replacing a paper (In fact, I still prefer to read in physical paper), but another group are trying to invent something new to make a paper better in a way I never think of! Wow that's why we are different, isn't it?

WiFi card: PCI vs USB -- who win?

Before writing this post, maybe I thought as same as others, or the most people. But now my thought was changed totally due to my experience. It might be the result of the product I chose only. I didn't have a chance to test with another model so far though.

The thing is I have to find a solution to make a computer, pretty old one with Celeron 500MHz, 128MB RAM PC100, BX Chipset (Ohhh, legendary chipset about 10 years ago!!) You know finding the wifi card that supports Win98se is pretty hard and it's even hard to find all of drivers for another device. Because so far we have Windows XP which's so smart and automatically finds most of driver. Maybe new technoguy does even know how hard, how long it takes to find and install those devices. First I tried to setup Win98SE and WinME; however, they didn't seem work properly due to incomplete windows setup set I had or whatever I have no idea too. (After I left my home, I didn't have any kind of things to fix a computer.) Then I decided to install windows XP which it's too heavy for this computer for sure but it worked even it had a slow process.

Ok, get it to our topic. I bought NETGEAR WG311 v3 at RadioShack $39.99 (after $20 inst. rebate) I thought It's expensive enough to be good but I was so wrong.

from my little research: suggestions are the same way >> Go for PCI!!
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/PCI-USB-Wifi-ftopict174476.html
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/USB-card-PCI-card-ftopict117577.html

As far as my knowledge, I'm pretty sure that PCI device is much better than USB device in several reasons, such as CPU Load, Bandwidth, BUS, Power. This time I faced a total different story from what I knew before.

NETGEAR WG311 works properly but it saw only 1 hotspot which is 1 foot far from it.
My laptop, fujitsu S2110, found 5 hotspots around my room. (Surprise, huh?)
my zodiac with SanDisk 256 MB SD+Wifi found 2 hotspots.
The last thing is nobrand USB Wifi, tested on the same PC as NETGEAR WG311, found 3 hotspots..

The result of Netgear NIC didn't change at all when I changed a stock antenna to a new one which has 4.5dBi gain which's better than stock about 2.2dBi gain. I think I try enough with this NIC. I'd better return this *disappointed* product and find a new USB Wifi which it's better for sure...

In brief I can't say that USB Wifi is better than PCI Wifi, but one thing I'm pretty sure of is DON'T GO FOR *NETGEAR WG311 v3* and if you choose USB Wifi, you have more chance of success. 555

At least I'm not alone: Comment in newegg.com

#1
Cons: bad xp SP2 compatibility. not sure if it is my AMD chip or SP2 because even the XP update from netgear woulnt help. BSOD's daily needed a restore to get them to stop. buy a linksys, havent had a single problem with them.

#2
Cons: This thing is piece of junk. It just sits there forever and scans for networks, and if it ever connects, it drops the signal within a few seconds. Buy a Lxxxxys instead of this garbage.

Beware of deliberate mistake!

Stay alert if you would like to stay in the US, ha ha it's not about terrorism but something that's closer than that; please check a transaction or bill in every single line. Because they, any company, will overcharge you in every way they can. Even though it's a stupid way. Last few days, I got 2 stupid electronic mistakes (they claimed). Firstly, it's from CitiBank. They charged me $30 for insufficient fund in my new account (I just opened it few weeks ago and never used it before) Second, it's Sprint mistake again (I hope it's the last one) They rejected my $100 rebate with a reason that is "We apologize for the misunderstanding, but your rebate is invalid because the product was not purchased within the dates specified by this promotion". How stupid they are? They gave me a rebate form. All I did is just filled out the application and sent to Sprint.

All this stupid things is solved by calling and making a quarrel for a while. Ohh, am I wrong if I think they make a deliberate mistake for people who don't care in every single detail? I don't know for sure; however, it seems to be that way. Becareful of your bill!!!

I don't like New York

I don't like New York

After a week living in New York. Someone dub it *land of freedom*. It's true indeed but too much, in my thinking. New York is such a city that incredibly amalgamates every races well, I mean it's not only stay together but live together. Many couples are black and white, some are yellow and white, so new generation seems to be brown mostly.

It did pretty good about racial harmony but not how good they live a life. Another side of huge city always has something're really worse. NY has too much based-level people, I mean worker, blue-collar or whatever you call. To be huge city, NY needs a lot of blue-collar to fulfil work that upper level afraid to do. According to my idea, social structure always be like triangle, higher it is, it needs wider base to stablilize. Such a big city like NY, its peak is too high, meanwhile base is too low as well. This is the problem that it can't avoid and seems that it won't care about this. Subway envirom ment, for example, is very very bad, including dirt, certainty and so on. How old is the trains? I can't answer this but all I know is they need improvment, a lot of improvement and subway station must be improve either. why I have to mention subway? because subway is a main transportation for most based level people here. If you can't improve how they live a life, don't try to improve others, it's always suck that this gruop of people always be treated bad, whether they have the hardest work and the least revenue.

Next problem is a basic problem, that is, manhattan is only one place that's civilization. Everything is in mahattan. If you can blink your eyes to see manhattan and queens or brooklyn in a row. you will think like me, "is that the same state?" "Am I stay in New York? (when you see others but manhattan)" It's not what we saw in a movie. Even where peter parker live, I think he live in nearby manhattan city. It looks better that real town that I saw. And if you have a chance to see rental room of foreigner in queens. Ohhh! its environment's sort of place to sleep only, in such an environment like that no one can think of a thing creatively. $400 room here you can find neither small room size like 2*3 sq. meters nor big but dirt and all without furnished and share-bathroom. On the contrary in other states, with this price, you can get a comfortable furnished room with your own bathroom for sure.

I don't mention to mahattan at all because it's much expensive to compare with where I used to live. If you stay in manhattan, maybe you can used the same amount of money that pay for room 1 month to live in Bangkok for 4 months, including good room and food for living. I have no idea how new yorker can live their life like this. As soon as I have a chance to go other place I'll leave. But now my life must go on stucking in Gotham-like city for a while. Wait and see maybe I will find some good sides in a place like this. I hope.

The Lake House (2006) from WB

From TV ad again, Surprisely, The Lake House is the new movie that will release June 16, 2006. Oh! very soon!! I can't wait to watch now. Anyway, at first, I don't know what this movie is either; however, the ad showed enough informations for me to realize that is mimic of il mare, one of my favorite, I means that il mare is very emotional romantic movie and sure, it's all about love.

It's pretty exciting to wait to watch old brand new movie esp, the one you really liked. Honestly, I don't expect The Lake House would be better than il mare, I don't think american could make romantic movie as good as asian do. Eventhough I'm asian, but il mare is korean, so I don't get that like a native so. I think it's fair enough for me to compare both of them. Will see how much Keenu Reeves and Sandra Bullock spell the scroll of love through the mail box.

Whether you get about love or not, what I'm pretty sure of is you will charm with fully romance through the film named "il Mare". Don't miss!

take back to the fully emotional film for a while..






ps. Anyway, one thing that I'm not to feel good about this is I can not watch this movie with the one I want to.

New MSN 8 beta

Windows Live Messenger or MSN version 8.0 released for a while. Someone said it's pretty cool interface, someone said it's so suck, darned slow.

Anyway, I won't talk about that. Because today, I received the alert from MSN to update a new BETA version. I have no choice, it's not gonna worse than this one. that's all I know. It took pretty long to finish downloading and installing progression, comparing w/G-Talk. (absolute difference, right?)

After completed all procedures, Main program is look so guady, flashy to me. I don't know why microsoft want to make it look like this. I prefered the way G-talk did, just simple, fast, adequate. Maybe I'm a minority.

One thing that I found it's more pragmatic, that is, merge a consecutive conversion together like most of chat-clients. It uses space more efficient than they did before. I hope microsoft might have started to change their perspective. That'll be the best news, if it's real.

Using Treo as palm plus phone or just a sophisticated phone and decoration

Yesterday, I went to Atlanta airport to pick someone. The interesting things in an airport is there are many treo users and risible story about how they used treo.

First, a guy with a treo on his belt. When I first saw him, treo still opened, keyboard light on and palm original headset is connected in his ear. I'm not sure what program was opening. Anyway, when he wanna make a phone call, he pick another phone in his pant pocket, that is, surprisely Nokia 5130 body-like, I'm not sure but it's grayscale screen, and make a phone call! -_-! What about treo he has? Unfortunately, it seem like his call has a problem, so he pick a treo and open phone program and use via touch screen only!! And make a phone call with an old phone again! What?!?

According to my own opinion, treo has a significant advantage in one-hand operation but, as you can see, he didn't even use that! Otherwise, I imply that he didn't have any 3rd party program in order not to turn keyboard light off in that circumstance, enough lumen to see anything clearly.

One question is "Is Treo not easy or comfortable enough for everyone to make a call as Nokia 5130?"

Second, pretty women's time. It's not ridiculous as the first one but it showed the same idea of how they used treo in a uncomfortable way. I think her age should be around 40. She always held treo w/leather case in her hand. When she used, first she did is picked up stylus, after that she tried to stare at treo screen, like a people who has not very well vision, and tap and tap on screen for a while, then she acts as calling someone. :-D that's all, she just tried to make a phone call! OH! What a one-hand operation? NO! None of them used that feature. Why? It should be a good question.

It's just a funny story while waiting for an arrival of my friends.

Realphone handset?!?

That's an first ad on TV which makes me smile, amaze, and laugh at the same time even I was under stressful at that time. I don't know how they can think this product and which group that they target. It seems funny to me to have a big handset like that instead of a little one.

Ok, we have to take a look about this stuff for some reasons, that is, how good or advantage it is. That's really important to convince an audience to feel the same way we want. This handset was juxtaposed with a cellphone, flip-style. They claimed that using the cellphone can caused your ear hurt or pain as a worse design or not as good as other ergonomic stuff. Anyway, the old brand handset is really built suitably for your ear and for talking; that's why they just uses that handset without changing anything. I don't know whether it pursuade audiences or not but it's absolutely catch me when I glimpsed of TV that opens to keep my room not too quiet. 555 Firstly I thought about how can they think like this, it's too big! It should be like a small headset to connect a home phone, not in contrary like this. Next, I'm wondering about the target of this product, it's not as easy as selling the exercise or cooking products because people who mostly watch TV should be housekeepers that already have a phone, a home phone. Why they have to pay more to talk via a cellphone that charges airtime pretty expensive. I can't imagine when I see someone use this kind of handset; it should be really hilarious for sure.

[Advertising zone]
Anyway, it's $19.99 per each, but if you buy it now, you'll get second one for free ;-P
for more information: http://realphoneheadset.com/

Is that catch yours?!? 

Complain about GRE or any standardize test

My experience while I was taking a GRE General Test.

I was frustrated by a user interface and technical problem that noone cares about it... I already sent feedback about technical problem that I met... it said..

"When I went to a computer that I had to take an exam, I found that it used CRT monitor and its refresh rate's so bad. I think its less than 65 Hz for sure. It's not good at all for everyone's eyes, I saw it blink always, so annoyed me. I think you should set a requirement for refresh rate setting of computer that uses for a test at 75Hz at least or changing to LCD to avoid this problem. Thank you."

I expect to see a progress or reply for this problem because not only annoyed anyone who take that test but also show that the standard test team didn't see technical problem is their problem at all!!! What do you think if you take a paper-based test in a dim room! it's the same problem that happened w/me now.

Result: They reply me within 3 or 4 days.
>>
Dear Sippakorn

We received your inquiry. Your feedback is very important to us. Our goal is to provide exceptional quality service. We welcome and appreciate your comments and we apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Please contact our Candidate Care Department at 1-800-853-6769, Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm Eastern Time.

We ask that you please remain on the Candidate Care telephone line to speak to a representative and they will be happy to assist you. Your satisfaction is the key to our success. Again we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you for your time and we appreciate your patience.

Thank You

>> Hmm.. Apologize!! and so what? Is it important? But I seem like they have a internet-based feedback just for apologize! -_-' It's pretty darned good! What if I call them, and get a response just only "we apologize our inconvenience." and that's it!.. Is it worth? or Is it really feedback to make it better?? or just make it to avoid breaking a law.

Another problem is who designed this test user interface...?? What's their purpose? They want me to just click next! (or proceed) and answer the question. That's all?? What about time organize? In my opinion, in a test, it should has a outline.... and easy to say where we are or what I have to do next! like this

- Part I: Writing analysis (45 min)
• no1.
• no2.
- Part II: Mathematical analysis (45min)
• no1.
• no2.
•...
• no28.
- Part III: Verbal (45 min)
• no1.
• no2.
•...
• no36.

and when we passed.. it should has a check (/) sign in front of it or something like that especially I think student should have a choice to choose which part they wanna take first.... anyway, I don't agree about we can not review that we already passed!! It doesn't make any sense because all we have is time that can limit what we are doing.

Oh, .... another thing that make me antsy is TIME Button... it's just to turn on/off time, isn't it? If yes, why they did show as "TIME on/off" to make it clear!. I think at least they should show some details instead of time!! for example,

"0:45 mins left in Part I: Writing Analysis! ---> 1 of 2" instead of only "0:45" ~!.

I know it sounds crazy but I don't think all of these suppose to be one of factor that reflects in how score we get! That's all!!

U*blog

Another way to post a blog from treo, besides sending via e-mail that can make some advertisement in post and we have to delete or edit it again.. U*Blog
just make a try... Is it better or not?

note: editing test in the blog, is it work? >> it's gonna be duplicate!!

result(Apr 29, 2006 9:05pm): it's not gonna work. I can't edit, delete post, or even add a long post, approx 2kB. it totally fails me... Anyway, posts blog via e-mail is better!!

Return to retro!

Yesterday, I found a great article in 1src.com that link to Jim's Tips:A
recent article on Palm247.com--"PDAs: Back To The Basics". It talks
about what the real PDA purpose!, how much we get a distraction from
many many new features PDA has! and how we go back to simplicity. Forget
all of new stuff, decrease your geeky factor('_')/

In this article, Jim Barr turnedT3 back and got a brand new Z22!!, Then what he found is so interesting!

See by yourself!! >> Link

edit (Apr 30, 2006) : wrong link. -_-'

Stuffbak -- a fabulous idea!

Have you ever lost you stuff? Have you ever feel you missing something that couldn't be back? Have you ever buy something that you had before but now it disappear? If you ever feel one of them. I'm sure this will catch you! as it catch me this afternoon, even I never have any situation like that. I found this from Treocentral.com

"Stuffbak!" is your solution.

It's a spectacularly fabulous idea I ever heard. I couldn't even imagine depends on my environment I lived. This idea should come with a honest! not only thyself but also all people in a town, in a city or all of the world to make it work. Stuffbak comes with a service and a tag! To make it works is simple, practical but not that easy, it depends on how honest people have. That's all.



Stuffbak is a label with an information about toll free number., website of stuffbak, ID, and the important phrase "Reward for Return!" ;p



It's simply. Label tells enough information for finder to return that stuff easily-- with payback. Stuffbak call center will always wait for contact from finder. The most important thing is ID will identify the owner! that means it's easy to return that stuff!

Just place your label on your device and register ID on Stuffbak.com That's it! Stuffbak will keep you database forever but whether you sell that stuff, you still can change the information to new owner!

It seems a great service. Anyway, Nothing free in this world 55 about that label costs around $3-4 each. I'm not sure but they offer a package that contains some, in many size, type for suitable for everything. When you stuff return, you have to pay $14.95 for returning fee plus shipping that depends on how far between you and a finder plus optional payback for finder! It seems expensive but if you compare with your expensive gadget like iPod, Palm, or even laptop. I think it's worth to have more advantage of returning lost stuff.

For a finder, stuffbak claims that "they receive StuffBak's standard reward, $20 worth of STUFFBAK labels, plus any cash reward you may have offered." Hmm.. that's nice. After stuffbak has a contact from finder, they will contact an owner as soon as possible and return immediately via a mail or make an appointment between an owner and a finder as they wish!

Anyway, There are many TV show tests on how the result of this label, So the result is 70-80% chance of returning in a week! Some got back less than an hour. How cool it is! One thing that's not in test is trying in different ways such as between stuffbak label and owner-information label! Maybe chance of getting your stuff back is about the same ;p 555

For more information: Stuffbak.com

it's not only video rental store

Several days ago, I went to a video rental store like Tsutaya, Blockbluster in Thailand. Then I can find an answer that I wanna before I arrived in the US, that is, "There are no VideoCD for sell or rent in another country esp. western country, right?" So now I can answer that question; "Sure, due to low quality they have, in US, there have only VHS(some) and DVD(most), That mean they use only high-quality medium for movie". I think VideoCD is use for home-used or specific-used only!

Another thing that I found is There are many console games available for rental! that's weird for me because as I know, I can buy piracy games cheaper than this in my hometown. 55 Anyway, maybe it's one of reason that american use only legal games even if it's very expensive (I'm not sure they think the same as me 55), They can rent! they can try for a while before buying.... ;p sounds good but it doesn't work in country that illegal copy is less than $1 per game.. ;p Hmm I found that XBOX and PS2 games is about the same quantity, that mean XBOX is popular, isn't it? How can I answer that? I never own any game console in my life. ;p

about the movie rental cost, I can't remember exactly how much; however I think it's around $1-3 per disc and time period depends on how recent the movie is. ;p

Georgia Aquarium (cont.)

Here we are at Georgia Aquarium, its outside looks terrific, I think its logo it's very cute! So today, it seems normal, not crowd. Maybe because that day is wednesday, family that has a K-12 student can't come. One thing you have to know before going this aquarium is you can't go and buy ticket on that day you wanna visit; you have to purchase a ticket online or reserve it via telephone because of limiting visitor each day, here. (sometimes you have to reserve by few weeks such as on friday or weekend) Anyway it's the most expensive aquarium fee in the U.S. o_O" (I can't tell this is the best aquarium in USA, All I can tell is this is the newest ;p)


Each section has an enormous sign! in front of entering path. In Georgia Aquarium, there have 5 sections, including Georgia Explorer, River Scout, Coldwater Quest, Tropical Diver and Ocean Voyager. I am little disappointed with this aquarium, because I think it's so small, maybe because its ads show that "this is a very big aquarium with 8 million gallons of water and more than 100,000 animals." Then when I finished first section, Georgia Explorer that look like dreamworld more than aquarium, all I can say is "that's it! 0_O' ". Anyway it's not only the bad thing but also one impressive section, that is, River Scout, this section is show about freshwater fish especially from Amazon. I think they tried to make an environment in aquarium as same as the real, Amazon forest , it's cool!, and there has a roof as a fish!, I can't explain.., I think you have to look at the photo on my space , but it's really cool! this perspective is very interesting! .. Anyway fish in this section, you can see the same in The Mall 6 Ngamwongwan 555... such as a big fish that bit children's finger ;p

This photo makes me little antsy! ... hmm... that means airflow in this section is not good, right? -_-'

Finally, Georgia Aquarium is still interesting place around auburn. 555 if you come to auburn and want me to be a guide, this is the one of only a few choice that may make you impressive! ;p

ps. because this blog is less comfortable to upload a lot of pictures than MSN space, so I upload all of that to my space for your convenient viewing. My Space here, you can see all at photo section.

Georgia Aquarium

Luckily, A lot of japanese students, approx. 25, attend to IEP course, so IEP students increase to around 45 from 10-13 students last term. That's why this term IEP will take us to Atlanta.. I will show Atlanta city today, and I will try to upload photo in Georgia Aquarium tomorrow because of internet speed in a library is really faster than Sprint PCS Vision..



This is path across building over road. o_O" The most interesting is it's not only one level but also has many levels 'til the top of a building!.. Only this kind of structure that looks different from Bangkok but others is the same as Sukhumvit Rd., just only skyscraper. Huge difference to Auburn that only one-to-two-floor building is easy to find... -_-' I feel like rural boy goes to a big city again.. After it first happened when I moved to Bangkok many years ago. 

Fire Alarm!

Today, it's my first time in a library with my laptop. The Internet, here, is awesome. It's pretty fast! and more comfortable than the one in Wallace Bld, where IEP located. Maybe it's based on my laptop that has everything I want and I want it to be..

Oh!! no.. it's happened again, maybe it's time to go home now -_-'

Hm.. come back to write again after that twice fire alarm, first, when I heard that alarm, beepp, too noisy, and blinking fire alarm sign, I didn't think that is real but someone tried to pack their stuff, including laptop, most of students sat around me also using laptop. So, I think I would do the same as them. ;p (If I was in Thailand, I will not do like this, and others won't either, I guess) Afterward, I sat outside that building for a while, approx. 10 mins, continued downloading GRASS, and followed students back into that building. Around 5 mins later, it's make noise again -_-' that's why I can only write for a few sentence.. before I said "Oh!! no....". That seems to be a good and also bad impression together. Anyway I will stay at library after finished class next day. It will be better than go back to home and ... wasting my time ;p


Additional post about Cingular; raising the bar!

I really impressed about that TV Commercial ads of Cingular because there are a lot of times, good color, good sign and also good phrase,"raising the bar". In their commercial ads, they always show anything that looks like signal bar in cellphone and always maximum signal strength. Contrast with my Sprint, it's always 1 or 2 or 3 bar of 5; however, it can make a phone call normally even if in room 117, 1st floor, Wallace Bld, in the middle of severe whether shelter floor, and also look better than Alltel, ar tom's mobile, that always lost its signal while she's driving in Interstate! but Sprint still the same... just 1 or 2 bar.. ;p

Today, Japanese just bought cingular, so I'm very exciting the way its signal tends to be. One of japanese asks me a phone number, but I asks her to give me first and I will call to make it easier. Not that easy, I can't call her, I thought maybe 1 bar of sprint in this room is not enough to make a phone call. Then, I ask her for a phone to add number thyself and surely I have to test that problem is mine or not. I saw Cingular w/o any bar! and can't make any call -_-' Oh.. just commercial program... They only use advantage of media to promote their brands... and it works! especially for me ;p BUT NOT NOW 555

I did it!

Finally, I did it. I can make it true! My TOEFL score reaches 550 now. Surprisely, I am not mention about higer score at this time, 3rd time after 2 months in the United States.

First, it's on around first week when I came to USA, I didn't prepare anything before that but reading all grammar rules at night before test, so my score is not even reached my expectation-493. Second time is on end of IEP term, approx. 8 weeks later from first time, I think I took a lot of grammar practice test, just only one section that I can improve with taking a lot of practice, besides this section I think I should get better after 2-month-living-in-USA. However, 2 month is long enough to forget how feeling in the first time. Then when I took the test, I feel its extremely short and I never seen this kind of test before, it's pretty hard, but I thought my score would be better for sure. At last, 2nd time score was still not good enough even my expectation, it's 517. Another chance before next term of IEP began, pre-test of this term. However, I had only 4 days to make a practice and get ready for the test. Unfortunately, I was very busy such as going to temple with ar tom, studying at church on sunday, watching basketball. Because of that, I had only one day left. I decided to relax, do a little listening practice, read smallville handbook, and hit the sack. So, while I was taking the test, I did't feel I have to make 550, just do my best, actually I didn't even think about it and take the test another ways; go with my first instinct, skip a difficult one, that's all and get busy reading a passage I didn't understand.

Unbelievable, when I got a score, it's 553 o_O' what have I done?.... Anyway, passed TOEFL is not only a good thing, when I told that to others, first thing I heared, "glad with you, you don't have to learn this term anymore". That makes me confused because what about my skill? Even I can pass TOEFL, it doesn't mean I have enough skill to study in University right now, or to get a good score in GRE... In fact, I really want to go on with IEP to improve my english skill and retain a student status in US without going back to Thailand but how can I say to them? Do they think I wanna waste money? Oh, Nooo -_-"

Versamail vs Snappermail

After 1 month using Treo 650, one thing that bother me is email client, VersaMail. Do not misconceive, it's still work probably and well also. However, There have some dissatified function that make me looking for another client, including missing detach attachment function to free up main memory, irritating screen when enable receive only new message function, and re-receive deleted message. After that I found another popular palm email client, SnapperMail, so I have to use both programs for a week to find out which one is better..

That's a tough decision because there don't have a perfect program. Each program has advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at some example that I can found.

Reference: VersaMail v.3.1b and SnapperMail v.2.3 Enterprise Edition

Versamail
advantage:
— easy to use
— clearly interface
— pretty fast operation & preview attachment
— enable CSS but not including downloading link image

disadvantage:
— can't detach attachments.
— no card friendly function
— always re-receive deleted mail
— receive only new mail function, such as less than a week, doesn't make any sense. Because it always show awkward popup "There are a new mail but it's too old." For what?
— slow save attach to card
— doesn't have save to handheld function—into other program.


SnapperMail
advantage:
— detach attachment function
— smart receive mail function. No annoyed alert like versamail.
— friendly with card storage!
— has a file manager on its own, easy to find an attachment.
— Has a screen to show progression of every operation
— useful receive function; only Message Text or Entire Message or Tag to receive.
— Disable all stylesheet.

disadvantage:
— slower operation than versamail
— less clearly interface than versamail
— more complicate function and harder using one-hand operation than versamail
— extremely slow copying attach to card

Finally, I decide using SnapperMail because of detach attachment function, and no annoyed screen about old messages. Anyway, I can't tell it is my dream program likes Mozilla Thunderbird in desktop.

ps. I will try to capture both program screen for better understanding ;p but not yet..

add 3/11/2006:
>> Interface Comparion between Versamail and SnapperMail in PDF format download here

iPod shuffle review!

• first impression...
First of all, all iPod package is completely catched my motive. As I told before, I really love company that pays intention in packaging its product: its let me assumed that it also heeds in its product even actually it does or not.

• design
No doubt about this of all apple product since iMac G3; design is the most important factor of new era of Apple. Despite a symbol of iPod, clickwheel is missing in iPod shuffle, it still designs controller looks like click wheel to contain in iPod series. About this controller has an advantage above clickwheel in some ways that will talk later in next section. With a slim body of shuffle, it's very convenient to carry or put in shirt pocket. It differs form iPod mini that I can't put in shirt pocket because of its weight and size. All buttons of shuffle also easy to use and understand, maybe by reason of a few function it has. Additionally, USB Cap is a big issue in USB flash drive because in many product, USB cap has very bad design, it's just to cover USB connector but doesn't have any locker to make it sure that will never detach from connector. But in iPod, apple didn't pass by this point, they use sth. like ball bearing to lock in hole at connector, in left picture. that's another one that I impressed in Apple's Design..

• usability
to start play the first song from OFF state: it takes approximate 6s before ready to response any command. In my opinion, 6 seconds, it seems petty long time but it's acceptable. That means it's not long enough to get boring and not short as I wish also. In Addition, shuffle battery life is acceptable, ie, around 10-11 hours for continuous playing and around 3-4 days for normal use, 2-4 hours per day.

Another shuffle purpose is USB flash drive, you can set ratio between song:data in iTunes to restrict space for data, protecting joylously inserting song, I think, and you can disable this function also; that means you will use shuffle as MP3 player only. Computer that doesn't have iTunes will never found it as removable disk.

Anyway even if iTunes is a good, easy, and versatile tool. I think it's not good idea to make all iPod depends on only this, in fact, copyright, or fighting piracy could be one of major reasons. In other perspective, iTunes is a factor why iPod is very popular, too. Especially, Online music store—that allow buying song easily—and Podcast—like an offline radio. So, the problem is you wanna use iPod in what ways. If you want to share your song to your friends, you'll not appreciate with this ipod companion too much; however, you still can find 3rd party program that has ability to backup/download any song or data to desktop.

Comparing with other iPod, I think only one clear adventage of shuffle is vol+,- button instead of using you finger touchs around click wheel, it make user increase/decrease more practical than others, it can push that button correctly despite it still in a pocket. That's absolutely different from using clickwheel that you have to take it out of your pocket before doing anything.
The last point, lack of display, seems to be just a little problem but if you wanna use Podcast, it will be struggle because you're not able to find podcast easilly..

• Conclusion
After I have used it for a week. It impresses me a lot such as size, vol button, battery life and especially scatch invulnerablility, not like other iPod. My slightly concern is only apple should find a solution to use podcast easier than this. For example, always starting with all podcast in non-shuffle after turn on shuffle. (I think actually apple will discontinue this product instead of finding any solution :-p)

Pros
— tiny, light weight, easy to carry
— scatch invulnerablility; don't have to take care as much as other ipod.
— easy to increase/decrease volume
— good life time

Cons
— should have more capacity
— not include charger
— depends on iTunes too much
— hard to use with PodCast; can't select or find PodCast easily.

iPod shuffle 1GB arrived

According to ordering iPod shuffle 1GB "The Classical Gemolody" for good, gift's brother, on Feb 23, 2006. Today, at 10.14am, I got a mail from FedEx which told me about arrival of iPod, B Thomas already signed to accept that box also.. It's so exciting even if it's not a new product, but it's new for me..

at ~4pm, when I'm home, I found a FedEx box; it's just a plain box, not like amazon.com... however, I quickly got a camera and started to take a photo and open that box slowly.. It impressed me a lot, just because an Apple Product is always care about packaging. Anyway, let's look inside..

It's all about box.. now it's time to look at iPod shuffle. Remind you again, this is just low-end product of Apple but it doesn't look like low-cost product at all... I really love company that do like this ;p In addition, Apple also doesn't forget about fighting with piracy with many many language 55.. ;p

This is size of shuffle compare to my treo650, Another thing that buying iPod in US differs form others is graving any name on iPod like in center picture "The Classical Gemolody"--if you wanna know what's that means, you have to ask good, not me 555..

Finally, I have to use it for a while to tell how good it is... it's good in the same level as its look or not? and comparing about ease-of-use with other iPod that has monitor...

Post box

I try to find post box to send mail easier than to go to post office... But I didn't found it...

Finally, I know that the United States doesn't have post box but it uses another way to send mail, maybe it looks more comfortable; in front of any house has post box, then if someone in house who wanna send a mail, already including a stamp, can put it in that post box and raise a red flag up to tell a postman that there are sth to send. When a postman come to send a mail, he will know and pick it up by himself... Ohh! Surprise!

What "ameliorate" means?

First, ameliorate blog was born because MSN space didn't allow me to add picture in post, but here did.. So, I have to try this blog is suitable for me or not! That's all why I have to choose to sign this web... In addition, This blog allows me to post by just sending e-mail then it will instantly post to my blog, so cool!--fortunately seems to be easier with a companion, treo650.. will see how good it is soon...

Let's talk about the name of this blog why it's "ameliorate"? what "ameliorate" means? In fact, I prefer choosing "depend", my sister thought this word for a long time ago, to this but it's unavailable anymore, then I have to find another name, luckily again few days ago, my teacher Lauren told me about word that inter. students should know for writing essay professionally; "exacerbate & ameliorate", exacerbate, a negative word, means make worse and ameliorate surely means opposite of exacerbate, make better. Maybe this weblog means "to make this blog better than old one." Time is only one answered this.. that's correct or not!