Play iPod/iPhone Games Handsfree! [iOS]

I saw this at miyagi.sg a while ago and found it so ridiculously hilarious.



I understand well that this is an marketing effort, but, this really tempts to me add the following caption to the video:

If you paid for this, you were scammed!

Mayorant: Benchmarks, Benchmarks, Benchmarks...

Source: Phandroid

(Image from cloggedgears)

Samsung Galaxy S II scores an amazing score of 3,500 in Quadrant, a popular Benchmarking app.

So?

In case there are still people still obsessed about benchmarking, I want to make this clear: Benchmarks DO NOT translate to real world performance, and is easily tweaked by developers. Go do a search in XDA-Developers Forums if you still have doubts.

That said, congratulations to Samsung for being able to please the ignorant crowd, and let's see how it transfers to real-life performance with your wonderful tweaks that irritated quite a number of Samsung Galaxy S developers and owners.

It's still not OVER 9000!

Japanese Mobile Phone Ad: A Work Of Art [Mobile]

I've always admired the physical designs of Japanese phones. They're unlike the phones that are sold in Singapore (usually 'forwarded' from the US), holding the same boring look:
- Black/Dark brown/Silver/(rarely)White
- Rectangular design with rounded corners
- One odd looking button at the bottom that probably serves as a stress(making) ball

The brands that our market provides can be counted with both of my hands: Apple, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Nokia. There may be more, but I usually filter them out of my vision because their physical designs just don't catch my eye!

I wish phones had more variety like this and promoted artistically like what you're seeing below:



Cue the Touch Wood SH-08C, a concept model available at NTT Docomo, sold at a limited amount of 15,000 sets. It's made with the Shimantou Hinoki carved into the shape of a bean. The website even has a disclaimer indicating that the colors of each phone may vary by a little, showing that the phones are made of actual wood with little human interferance to the natural 'waves' of the wood.

It is wear and tear durable, water resistant, worm resistant and fungal resistant. Here's a quick list of the features available:
- "Feel the Forest" theme by moretrees
- Easy to use design where you can customise your buttons
- QWERTY soft keyboard
- Calling buttons and the lock button
- 5.3MP camera
- 3.4" AQUOS AVS screen
- Eco mode to save battery life
- Pedometer
- Noise cancellation

The first thought I had when I saw this phone was "Why did they design it like a kidney? Did some Yakuza sponsor for it?" Still, it'd be a fresh experience if it were to appear in Singapore, even though it probably would be stuffed into one corner of the store.

Really, it wouldn't be too much to ask for phones in more colors, would it?

Drooling at the thought of LG ice cream and Google Ice Cream, from the Biased blog, peace out.

Motorola Announced Unlockable Bootloaders. Nobody Believes. [Android]

Source: AndroidPolice

(Image from XDA-Developers)

The above was a photo taken from prison cell #1203, the latest offender in the house. Nicknamed Atrix.

As you might or might not know, Motorola's Android phones are ALL locked down at bootloader level, except for the Droid. Which resulted in many dissatisfied customers. Mainly because of their shoddy programming and slow updates.

They released a statement just today:

"It is our intention to enable the unlockable/relockable bootloader currently found on Motorola XOOM across our portfolio of devices starting in late 2011, where carriers and operators will allow it.”

LIES, here's a few reasons why:
- Tethering: In the US, tethering costs money, and the carriers earn from it

= MONEY

- Carrier and partners' app bloatware: Money-making schemes for the carriers and their partners

= MONEY

- Bootanimation: Instead of awesome bootanimations that can be changed in the kernel, they force you to stare at the carriers' or the Big M logo and make you a walking advertisement

= MONEY

In short, it all amounts to one reason: MONEY.

Prove me wrong then, release devices as fun as the Nexus series, or continue to have your PR department tortured by us Facebook users.

Stop Hiding Your Love For Steve Jobs, iPhone Users [Idolism]

Source: Gizmodo

(Image from Wired.com)

Well well, iPhone users. As much as you all would like to deny, many of you know Steve Jobs, or even love him. In your little closet, you might have googled images of him from all angles, holding magical devices on stage, imagining if you were the devices instead, held by his magical fingers.

That probably will not happen, but you can now do the reverse: imagine Steve Jobs lives in your iPhone and hold him in your hands instead. You always knew he's looking after you from your phone, don't you?

You probably would gather all your believer friends in a small room, put your iPhone with that magical casing on a table with Steve Jobs facing all of you, kneel down and bow to him for his magic.

Update: It seems that the product has been taken off the planes of reality, but we have provided two alternatives for you to drool at. Enjoy!

(Image from Geeky-Gadgets.com)

(Image and details at Gizmodo)

Bad News: Facebook for Android Remove Misunderstood Feature; There Goes My Real Social Life Again [Apps]

Source: AndroidPolice

(Image from potatochipping.com)

Great. Just great. When I thought I could have my real social life back again, Facebook (for the first time) pushed out a quick update for its Android app.

To refresh your memory, the previous version added a new feature: Constant Force Closing. And it's really constant, I loved it. It made me go out more, check my mobile phone much lesser, and actually build good relationships with my friends.

But before the last point could happen, they updated the app and removed the feature.

Dang.

How To Have A Great Time With Your Favourite ATM Machine. [Spoof]

Inspired by the wonderful Citibank ATM, Explodreamer realised how many people do not build good relationships and decided to write an idiot-proof guide. (Unnecessary comments by Mayora Gori)

I'm sure any one of us has faced problems when using an ATM machine. There could have been no more receipt paper, your card could have been captured for no apparent reason, the cash was stuck at the cash dispenser before it could come out and/or the machine just shut down when it saw you approaching.

Thus, I've created a guide where you could improve your relationship with your ATM machine to ensure smooth and successful transactions in the future.

Disclaimer: Try it at your own risk and reputation. There is no damage compensation for following this guide.

The Guide:
Setting up:

Choose a time and place at night where you and your ATM machine will not be interrupted by other patrons. Make sure you clean your card squeaky before you visit your ATM machine, for hygiene reasons.


Once you are ready emotionally and physically: 
- Stand in front of your ATM machine.
- Take your card slowly and carefully out of your trousers, so nobody would see it.
- Dip in your card in the slot in a smooth motion and take it out to begin.
- Repeat the steps of dipping it in and taking it out continuously.
- However, slow down when you begin to hear annoying beeps from your ATM machine; you wouldn't want your card to be taken away from you.
- Enjoy!

Understanding Parts of an ATM Machine:

The picture above illustrates the various parts of an ATM machine.

The list below explains how to tell when it's time.

1) A**hole (or commonly known as the card slot)

Dip your card in and take it out.

2) Sensual areas (or commonly known as the number pad)

It's the only part where you can touch and savor its texture to your heart's content legitimately. Every button pronounces the same 'beep' so you need to practice often so that you don't forget what makes your ATM machine happy.

3) V*g**a (or commonly known as the currency box)

Currency notes are kept in there until you visit your ATM machine. The amount you get at the end of a session depends on how you pamper your ATM machine.

4) Sweet spot (as seen graphically)

You'll hear endless purrs as your ATM machine flips the notes for you sensually. Talk about seduction.

5) Dead End (or commonly known as reject box)

This is where your cash will be if you push your ATM machine too hard. It will choke and your cash will be retained in the machine before you see it.

6) Org**m (or commonly known as the cash dispenser)
You know you've done it right when you see the notes flapping at you wantonly.

7) Tissue Box (or commonly known Receipt Printer)

Take one and clean yourself up as you weep for the fact that you've decreased your savings once again.

Wrap-up:

Give yourself a pat on the back if you've read through the whole guide. I thank you very much for your patience, you an*l pervert.

Screwing youGuiding you from the Biased blog, peace out.

Picture source: Bustathief.com is a useful site in educating the public on ATM Machine Fraud and has nothing to do with this guide.


Mayora Gori: Thanks for the insight into the mind of those STOMP readers.

Bad Command Of English Or Too Imaginative? [Engrish]

Source: STOMP

I can't believe how low-quality this post is. It's not even funny. If you find it funny, there's seriously probably something wrong with you. Physically.

("Hmm. I'll go for 'Extra Services'." Fap fap fap.)

Let's just post the questionable quote here, saving you the time to visit the source link:

"Please dip your card in the slot and take it out - so we can begin"

Apparently a STOMP reader had dirty thoughts after seeing the message. How his/her body reacted is not known to us, fortunately.

Anyway, he/she apparently finds an ATM card resembling a certain male-exclusive reproductive organ (not saying which!) resembling this:

(EXPLICIT PICTURE ALERT)

(Uncensored picture of STOMP reader's reproductive organ lookalike)

(EXPLICIT PICTURE ALERT) 

(Said STOMP reader's idea of reproduction in humans.)

Sorry for the uncensored pictures, but I had to be blunt.

Our message to the STOMP reader:

So you think all male reproductive organs look like that!?
Assuming you're male, you look down and you see what we normally think is an ATM card?
Your school taught you that all females have an ATM card slot down there?
And sex = inserting your ATM card which expanded from a nail drive into an ATM card slot?
And that people are being couth for inserting their ATM card into ATM card slots publicly and taking it out?

Now stop touching your ATM card, it's disgusting.

Mayora Gori: Now let me clarify this: I know that the sentence itself does sound awkward, but anybody with some logic and sense would know that it doesn't sound suggestive THAT MUCH. It's not even funny- oh wait, 50% of the readers on STOMP LOL-ed. Seriously, grow up. And Citibank, it's good to be creative and different, but don't make it sound weird. And get your hands off your ATM card, I'm warning you.

Misleading Newspaper Headlines. So Bad It Makes Glass Turn Brown When You Wipe With It. [FAIL]

Source: mrbrown.com

I was drinking my Yakult happily when Mayora Gori alerted me to this headline from the New Paper. *sprays juice all over screen*

(Image from mrbrown.com)

If you're not a Singaporean, you might find this post obscure. What's wrong with gays? Is being gay wrong? Well, it's not wrong, at least to me. Now, this is some kind of moral/ethical topic that could go on for light years and I'm not interested in that.

Here's some background:

As according to Section 377A of the Penal Code, generally speaking (very general), it's not legal to have gay sex. But hey, it's not as if every neighborhood has an ambassador to check on the sexual preference of every resident.

In any case, my highlight here is the headline itself.

... Gay MP? (MP means member of Parliament)

Who said that he's gay? Hands up if you thought the headlines was directed at the Indian dressed in red.

Upon a simple investigation, it can be easily deduced that New Paper took the term from a STOMPer who took the literal meaning of the man's sarcastic words -"future gay MP, Vincent Wijeysingha".

I'd be gay to post the link to the video of this "gay forum" but from the looks of it, it'll probably be taken down within these couple of days. If you are really keen on listening to the man, you could try searching 'Vincent Wijeysingha - Gay agenda' on Youtube. Good luck and have a gay week ahead.

Wiping my 20" screen quietly, peace out.

Update: I've digged out the origins for this chronicle. Enjoy.

What Does The "I" in iPad And iMovie Stand For? Steve Jobs. [FAIL]

Source: USAToday

(Image from Ophelia's Blog)

I was surfing around Apple fansites and voilà, here's a wonderful article for all sadistic anti-Apple fans. This article reviews the video making aspects of iPad 2.

Here's a quick look at what it's packed with:
- shoot and edit high-definition video on the go (Mayora: "high".)
- trim your clips (Mayora: so new!)
- add in menus, titles, music and sound effects ... record voice-overs for narration (Mayora: Wow.)

Here's my justification for iPad2, taken direct from the article:

"The pros are big: a huge screen, instant gratification, exceptional video quality in good light. But the cons are many: no flash, no zoom and it’s bulky. It does not fit well into a pocket or tote. There’s no tripod mount for it either, so your finished video could get quite shaky. And the unsteadiness is much more noticeable on the larger screen."

Of course, you can fix it easily by thinking on the spot such as like this:

Definitely a black bird.

Before you can start editing your videos, you need either of these apps: iMovie app for $4.99, ReelDirector for $1.99, Splice for $1.99.

As per tradition, you can't edit any videos imported from other cameras and sources.You will need to have the clips taken via iPhone 4 or iPad 2 camera. It's not a dead end though, because you can easily import a footage and "convert to iPad" via iTunes. Don't forget to sync your laptop and iPad.

Don't forget to sync, or you'll see nothing.

The article was kind enough to compare the capabilities of iPad 2 with cameras such as this.

... Don't worry, I assure you that you were reading about iPad 2.

Reporting sadistically from the Biased blog, peace out.

Explodreamer: I swear it was a pain in the ass when I was searching for details on iMovie, ReelDirector and Splice. Google actually does a better job of listing Apple's apps then the App store itself.


Mayora Gori: Cue the biased techfreak here. To put it simply, Apple DO NOT have the means to create a smooth video player, music player, and especially not video editor. That is the main reason why everything has to go through iTunes, so everything can be made optimum for iDevices, at the sacrifice of quality, freedom and time to go out with friends. Or make an awesome montage with videos contributed by your friends and you without lugging a laptop with iTunes around.
Personal? My big butt. Everything you do on this device is dictated by Apple, by Steve Jobs. Call it the uPad, uPod, uPhone. Specially made for you, my dear Steve Jobs.

Ocarina of Time 3DS interface, gameplay and trailer [Gaming]

Source: Nintendo3DSBlog

I was trying to wake myself up in the office when I saw Mayora Gori's post to me. It's a video done by Nintendo3DS on some gameplay footages and a short trailer for Ocarina of Time on the 3DS.



"Move the Nintendo 3DS and you are able to see the world through Link's perspective"
The first feature showed immediately in the video is the gyroscope controls in the game. Its beauty is amplified when you see the player shifting the 3DS into the Sun and you see the pretty sunrays shining right at you.

"You can feel as if you're directly controlling the slingshot and other similar items"
If you've played the game before on N64, you would have known that when switching to weapons such as the bow and arrow or the slingshot will switch you into first person perspective. With gyroscope, you can gladly shoot around like a hero in-game while looking like an idiot in real life. (Don't worry, you can still play it the traditional way.)

"Improved interface with 2 screens"
The next highlight of the video is the interface of the game. It is convenient (as it should be for a handheld game).

"The number of items that you can set and you can change them quickly with the bottom screen"
More items set means lesser time spent distracted by your beautiful sword and shield.

"Touch the item that you have set to use it"
"You can check your progress on the map on the bottom screen while you play"
Very convenient. It's one of the features that I dislike in all of the previous games (because no console/handheld had two screen). Of course, you could press the preset buttons as well.

Towards the end of the trailer, it shows Link riding Epona on the Hyrule field. The images are less polygon now (something that I love to poke at) and the music as awesome as ever. The view streams away from Link and Epona, and towards the entrance of Kokiri village.

Which reminds me.

Why isn't Majora's Mask packed together!? The scene actually reminds me of how Link returns to Kokiri village after the events of Ocarina of Time, even though I know it's made to show that 'everything happened from here.' Since you have the Master Quest packaged with it, surely you could squeeze in another Majora's Mask!!!

Give me Majora's Mask as well, Nintendo.

PS: I didn't get play to play Majora's Mask in its full glory because I was intimidated with the quests available. I remember vaguely playing for hours and hours, and I haven't even entered the first dungeon. Still, I'd love the idea of porting it to 3DS.

RantingReporting via the Biased blog, peace out.

Facebook For Android Adds Best Feature No Other Developer Dares to Try [Fail]

Source: AndroidPolice

(The recent update also announced Facebook's new mobile branch's name. Image from GlobeTrottingTexan.)

FaceBook recently updated their Android app, bringing it to a higher level nobody could comprehend. It added a feature that works, and constantly kicks in, giving users surprises - constant Force Close.

Sad to say most users do now understand the intricacy of this feature. Facebook has been under critics (from my neighbour, the b_tchy old woman) that it has been destroying real-life relationships as the bonds created online are virtual, and will remain that way.

FaceBook apparently heard her concerns, and decided to try this improvement on the fastest-growing crowd OS of choice of smartphone users.

Sadly not many people could appreciate how caring FaceBook is for your real-life relationships. I'm sad.

"We Think Technology (Like Nintendo 3DS) Is Evil, But We'll Use It To Make You Come To Us Anyway" [FAIL]

Source: Nintendo3DSBlog via Kare


I have nothing against any religion, but this blog is to dig out the contradictions and sometimes, stupidity people over the world have been performing to the rest of the world. It might be working, but how many people go there just for the sake of getting freebies? And on top of that, is the money better spent giving out "crap" instead of helping the people in need?


Hmm. So "crap" is worth more than fellow human beings. Awesome.

(Behold, the symbol of evil. Image from www.evilcontrollers.com)

Oh, the irony. Recently there were a few incidents of statements regarding the evil internet and technology. How about devices that combine the two of them (practically everything you buy out there now)? Pure evil.

Yet someone out there is trying to be innovative, and has "no problem bribing people with crap in order to meet Christ."

Of course! All for the bigger picture, right?

Urgh.

iPod Has Amazing Battery Life, Warns You Really Early. [Spoofs]

Source: FailBlog

You never have to charge your battery again with the new iPod. Has a battery life like never before, and warns you so early that you won't ever have to feel the sense of danger (and wetting your pants) whenever you see the Low Battery warning again! (The 20% at the top-right is the new Awesome Meter measuring how awesome your songs are)

I know it's a jailbroken iPod with hacked strings, but seriously, look at the comments. People jailbreak to do stuff like this? Worth the effort? Probably but look at what others jailbreak for. Inform me of a person who jailbreak not for pirating the apps just to save a dollar or two. And apparently the people who left comments don't understand humour. Awesome.

Motorola Xoom (Wi-Fi Edition without Usable Wi-Fi): First Impressions [Android]

Official Site: Motorola


Ok, I won't do a full review (because many other sites have in-depth reviews and analysis already), because I don't own a set (would love to though, are you reading this Motorola?)

I spent about an hour with the Motorola Xoom. However, it was in a commercial electronics store, I'm not a famous blogger (yet [hehe]) and I activated their security alarm like three times because it came off easily. Not telling where to protect their security and, of course more importantly, image. =)

Anyway back to the Xoom.

Hardware:
Overall, it is rather light, lighter than I had expected from a tablet that big. It also felt really sturdy. However the weight does show after a while of using it. Design I have nothing to say. Simple, black (can't go wrong with black), and maximises the screen quite well. I have seen sites complaining about the border, but think seriously, without the border your non-master hand will keep touching the screen unless it is always at the bottom, which gets tiring really quickly.

Camera is pretty decent, because it is at least 5 megapixels and not some embarrassingly-low resolution. Yes I do know resolution is not everything, but it does affect the amount of detail you can capture with a camera, and especially if you don't have steady hands and an optimum lighting environment.

Regarding the power button at the back, I actually like it. Stop complaining you left-handers, you do know most of the world's population are right handers right? Anyway I personally do not think it matters if you are left- or right-handed, it should be easy enough to reach either way.

Software:
Interface is what have been shown to the death online: Stock Honeycomb (Android 3.0). Feels really fast on that Tegra 2 chip. Everything just felt very user-friendly, and being able to view live updates and customise the home screen with Honeycomb widgets (I personally like the Bookmark, Calendar, Market and Music apps) which all look simple and function well. Having a lively desktop does make a difference to whether you want to look at it, in my opinion. Notification bar is now a popup from the bottom right, and works in any app. I actually love the new notification bar which has information as well as quick access to settings.

Camera interface is great, with features you would expect from a cheap digital camera, but it is nothing the Android Market cannot fix if you are clamouring for more. Nicely-designed interface, very suitable for taking photos without fear of shaking the Xoom too much as the shutter button is really positioned very well. As for video camera, the default one's rather decent, and since there are not many video camera replacements on the Market yet.

Movie Editor was one highlight during the conference held by Google. It has actually more functions than I thought. Thanks to the dual-core insides, the Movie Editor could handle movie editing with effects and transitions rather decently. It's not the best movie editor out there, but it does the job and for most users, it's more than enough to edit and upload a video to YouTube or any other video-sharing site.

Music Player, YouTube, Market and the Browser could not be tested in more detail in the display set I got my hairy hands on, as there was no Wi-Fi connection in the shop for me to use, and my phone's battery was in critical condition, and decided not to try to tether. The Browser looked very much like Chrome, and has syncing with Chrome. Nothing much I can say about it, unfortunately.

Games, as you might have expected, could not be tested as well, due to the Xoom I tried being a largely out-of-the-box device and not having any internet connection. Sorry dual-core processor, I could not abuse you.

However, I tried the Acer Iconia Tab sitting right beside the Xoom, and played Need For Speed: Shift with it. To nobody's surprise (he's a naive guy, he is), it runs at a high resolution, and everything was really smooth. However as I am not a fan of racing games (ok I just played very badly and decided to explore other features of it) I put it down after realizing it is pretty much like the Xoom with little customization from Acer.

Would recommend if you:
-like tablets which can multi-task, customizable, shows live updates on the home screen all together without having to access any app, has a great and non-intrusive notification system.
-like more intensive gaming, which will definitely pick up this year as more and more Tegra 2 devices roll out.
-has the spare cash to spend on it. A bit pricey, but it beats the performance of most, if not all netbooks I have seen.

Would not recommend if you:
-need applications available only on Windows/Mac (like me)
-think that everything without an Apple logo is bad.
-only want to play casual games, do simple tasks that do not require integration between apps, play music and video (after waiting patiently for iTunes to convert and transfer)
-still love Microsoft Windows and cannot live without the applications available for it.
-are not rich enough to afford this (duh).

Hackability:
Full. As a Google flagship device, it is unlockable.

I personally do not see much of a use for tablets now. I would expect tablets to pick up when mobile network becomes a must for most people. Also when laptops/desktops/netbooks become irrelevant for most people. However if you are really looking for a productive tablet (and not some oversized music/video player which I have never seen people doing productive stuff with, only Angry Birds, Bejeweled, Plants Vs. Zombies and similar games), the Xoom is definitely the way to go for now.

Creative Ziio 7": First Impressions [Android]

Official Site: Creative (Singapore)


Didn't have much time for this one, but tried it twice.

First time I tried it, it was running 2.1, and mostly stock-looking, with the Creative Apps on the homescreen (of course). Navigation was slightly fidgety (partly due to the resistive screen) and it just felt like a big and generic stock Android device.

Tried it again, and realized that it was actually running Android 2.2. Glad to see Creative putting in effort into this one and making it better. Amazingly it felt much less fidgety, and the launcher has been revamped. It looks more professional and less stock-ish now. As much as Android users emphasize that customization should be left to the users, I personally prefer to see manufacturers trying to distinguish their device with an attractive default launcher to capture people's eyes and improve first impressions.

Animations were much more snappier, and the browser speed definitely improved a lot. However, due to the resistive touch screen, multi-touch gestures were not possible (sorry folks, no zooming in and out when playing Angry Birds).

Also, as advertised on their websites, it can stream sound wirelessly to their wireless speakers.

Had no time to try out their sound, but looking at their track record and my experiences with their devices, Creative usually delivers decent sound quality for a decent enough price.

For the interested, there's a VGA camera too. Don't expect amazing photos from it. Decent for short sessions of cam-whoring, or just purely checking your hair before meeting that not-so-special-any-more someone (just bring a mirror if you want to do that, seriously).

Would recommend if you:
-prefer a good music/player with a decent screen size but still portable.

Would not recomment if you:
-are looking for a powerhouse device that can play intensive games or play back 1080p videos. However it has a HDMI cable for connecting to your giant awesome TV.
-audiophiles. You probably won't be reading this if you're one anyway.

Hackability:
Apparently no according to a search on XDA Forums. =( No Root. No custom ROMs.

Heavy edits on reader's letter [Fail]

Here is an wonderful post which contains the sequel to this impressive heavily edited letter from a reader, Samuel Wee, to the Straits Times Forum.

According to the author of the letter, it was literally 'distorted and misrepresented' when it was published on the Forum.


Now, I'm already under the impression that news that you find on standard media are usually manipulated (which I don't really mind since it's really easy to dig out the dirt when I want to).

Please allow me to be the straight man here: "Why even publish the letter?"

Why even attempt to straighten out the content of the letter when it's actually substantial enough for an editor to probably edit a whole new article for the next day's newspaper?

I'm not sure how things work over at Straits Times, but if you were keen and ethical about what you are going to publish, shouldn't you clarify with the author? If it really is content that you need to substantially edit, doesn't this mean that the letter isn't suitable for publishing? Why bother?

iWorld. Arriving soon. [Spoofs]

Source: Youtube

Yeah, you read it right. The scenario of iShit iPhone dominating the world is depicted dearly by:


It's iPhone44G. Flash, speed, visuals no longer matters because iPhone will become everything you need. You clean yourself up with it, you eat it, you drink it, you smoke it and you rob with it.

It's amazing that 44G's appearance is exactly the same as 30 years ago. There's just no argument about that: Look at iPhone 1st Gen all the way to iPhone 4. Even the rumoured iPhone 5 is quoted to look almost the same.

It'll be impressive to have a phone that you literally cannot live without it, but imagine if The Man decides that iLipstick is the sexiest, iShaver is best for you, iEggs from Japan has the perfect proteins, iBeer is the way you keep up your social ties, and iSmoke is renewed as the coolest thing in town. Of course, you can get your iPistol if you go through the right procedure at the app store (pressing up up down left up right right down).

(Update)Mayora Gori: I hate the inaccurate information. It's obviously Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A.

Steve Jobs Wants To Know Whether You Visited That Nightclub He Forbade You To Go [Stalking]

Source: GSMArena

(image from GSMArena)

It is almost at a point where how a "simple" phone like this contains functions for Apple to track where you have been and the frequency of the visits is just pure second nature. Just look at THAT map. Scary?

I mean, it is probably fine for most users to willingly provide anonymous location data for whatever purposes manufacturers might have, but to do it (highly) secretively and without stating it clearly for most users (look, nobody I know read the agreements and stuff like that, because it's mostly filled with boring text and stuff we don't need to know), and choosing to hide such statements in the dark corners of the agreement?

"There's an app for that. That's the iPhone. Solving life's dilemma one app at a time." - Apple Inc., 2008 for their iPhone 3GS promotional campaign.

I want an app to remove this creepy function. Now.

...unless I get to utilize it to stalk my friends?

ClearOptix 3DS Eye-protection Glasses: The 3DS Will Blind You If You Don't Get This [Gaming]

Source: TinyCartridge

(Image from newbiegaming)

Oh, the magic of the Nintendo 3DS. Glasses-free 3D? There must be some magic done in there, the screen must have been conjured out from the brewing pot of some Japanese sorcerer, chanting in words intelligible even by the most knowledgeable.

Therefore it must be harmful. However, scientists in the world have already found a solution: introducing the ClearOptix Anti-3DS glasses. Touted to "Increases accuracy and enhances visual performance", must be good, right? I mean, what can a pair of glasses that doesn't run on BATTERIES do to your eyes?

WRONG.

In my opinion it might be worse, here's why.

• The description has no relation to 3DS. It's designed to block out UV rays at certain frequencies. So they're saying Nintendo's Magic 3D Screen emits UV rays?
• You don't look cool with it and the neighbourhood bully will smash the glasses in your face.
• You'll lose your girlfriend for wearing it. Who wants to hang out with such an embarrassing guy?
• It won't fit over spectacles, which many people need.

Anyway, the Nintendo 3DS uses a simple LCD screen, just directing light in a different manner as compared to traditional LCD screens. The harmful effects of LCD has been answered long ago, by the way. Or just ask yourself about the harm your Monitor/TV/Mobile Phone screens have been dealing to you.

On top of that, from my personal experience, the strain is actually lesser because of the constant re-focusing of eyes as compared to traditional screens where you stare at a fixed distance and your eyeballs are practically frozen in position.

If you are still uncomfortable with the prospect of the magical screen, just turn the slider down to a minimum or back to 2D mode. Or get this.

(No, I'm kidding about the De-3D Cinema glasses, the technology is different and it wouldn't work at all.)

Apple vs Samsung Flames Continue To Burn With Inaccurate Data [Mobile]

Source: TUAW(The Unofficial Apple Weblog), AppleInsider


Let me make one thing clear: I DO NOT side either side on this one. I still strongly hold my stand that Apple ripped off LG's user interface designs. (More on this point below)

(image from XDA-Developers' article)

Firstly, kudos to Apple fanboys writing the articles. It seems that none of you actually read the complaint filed by Apple before you even wrote the articles. F700 is not included in the complaint (read it, folks, if not speak to my hand), only the Android devices, including Nexus S and Galaxy Tab which makes no sense whatsoever.

"However, the F700 also carried a number of notable features that Apple didn't offer until later, including support for 7.2Mbps HSDPA mobile networks (not available until the iPhone 3GS) and a 5 megapixel camera (unmatched until iPhone 4). If anything, it indicates that Apple faced serious technical hurdles in entering the mobile business in competition with much more experienced mobile manufacturers."

Talk about the lack of responsible journalism. Quoting from a source that has information BEFORE a device is released? The only parts in that sentence that is accurate is the iPhones' (weak) specifications. The F700 has a 3.15MP camera, and supported only 3.6Mbps HSDPA. Proof (from GSMArena)

"What Apple brought to the mobile business wasn't a copy of existing technology, but breakthroughs in original design aimed at usability, with features such as a truly useful mobile browser, tight integration with iPod and iTunes media sync, and a novel app model."

Original design? Quotes? "Truly useful mobile browser"? That is a subjective description. "Tight integration with iPod and iTunes media sync"? Definitely, because all other phones only have a tight integration with all computers without the need to go through a middleman software, and nobody but Apple fanboys/fangirls like iTunes integration (more like interception). Novel app model? The repository idea has been around in the Linux circle for many years before Apple even thought about going into mobile. They only succeeded probably because of the diehard fanbase they have.

"Unlike the iPhone, LG's Prada phone built its user interface using Adobe Flash Lite, with a home screen featuring six round, monochrome icons and a separate menu bar. The phone was intended to sell through Prada stores, at $775."

And unlike the iPhone, every other mobile OS has its own OS until Android/WP7 came along, so what point are you trying to bring across? The "six, round, monochrome icons and a separate menu bar" is actually a categorized menu, not the homescreen. The homescreen is customizable with widgets. Why don't we take a look at the design of the real homescreen instead? Four fundamental function buttons at the bottom, information bar at the top. Sounds familiar? Full review to check out. (GSMArena)

"The graphic states the Samsung F700 was first shown at CEBIT in 2006, and was released in February 2007, while noting that the iPhone was first shown at Macworld in January 2007 and didn't go on sale until the end of June 2007."

I rather trust GSMArena Specifications than their mysterious unnamed sources which seems to have many errors. Which means although the F700 was shown to the world in February 2007 after a re-designed that happened in a month, they only released the phone in December 2007. Amazing that the article trusts the poster they deem as inaccurate so much without doing their own research. Unless the journalist secretly uses a  non iPhone smartphone?

Even then, can a total mobile re-design for the same internal hardware happen within a month? Anybody who has worked in any company in the world would know that's highly impossible. If they could actually do that and produce a working demo set, it's pretty impressive.

Finally, the inaccuracies and nonsensical "LG efforts to clone Apple" poster should be posted on Failblog or something. Shows how much the article is written based on the journalist's imagination. Great imagination there, dude.

1) The LG Prada phone in the graphic: What's the purpose? The design came BEFORE Apple unveiled the first iPhone, do you not realize that?
2) It's LG Optimus 2X, not X2. If anybody has seen the actual phone they will see the big difference in appearance, the only one similarity is the speaker grills at the bottom, nothing else. I advise you, dude, turn the phone over when you find one. And comparing a largely curved phone to a rectangle brick-looking phone is exactly like what Apple's complaint is: laughable.

Disclaimer: As any intelligent being can tell, I do not want to get involved in the flame wars with regards to this issue. I simply can not stand websites pouring out inaccurate data and trying to manipulate minds with a half-hearted and easily-countered effort.

From the less geeky Explodreamer:
I just simply hate the idea of iTunes. That said, it probably means that nothing was innovative about iPhone after all. People just happened to know about it and hype about it, thanks to Apple's magical campaigns. This is the Biased Blog, peace out.

Crush 3D Will Show You The Transition Between 2D To 3D [Gaming]

Source: Nintendolife

Please don't crush our hope for this one.

Puns aside, the PSP version was quite well-received when released, showcasing an interesting puzzle-platforming gameplay converting from 2D landscapes to 3D.

But of course, what's 3D without stereoscopic 3D? Call it a cheap port/lazy sequel if you would, but I believe given the extra power on the 3DS, Sega could easily add new elements and improve on the visuals and audio. Most importantly I would want to see how they present a transition from 2D to 3D. It would be really impressive if they totally destroy the 3D effects in 2D mode to epmhasize the stereoscopic 3D.

So please, Sega, produce something that would crush our wallets.

PSP Go Officially Killed By Sony, Reincarnates As Xperia Play [Gaming]

Source: Andriasang


Definitely a no-go from the start.

From the day this baby was born, it was bound to failure. An overly-expensive device labelled with the "PSP" trademark but unable to play PSP games, all download-only titles with insane prices. More like a crippled PSP, I would say.

I do not think anybody in the whole wide world would be surprised the PSP Go died this fast in its lifespan. Especially after Sony announced their Xperia Play which has more reasonably-priced download-only Android games and can be used as a phone while taking advantage of the phone capabilities.

Rest in peace in overly-rich Sony fanboys' drawers, nobody would feel as though the world lost something. Probably only gaming websites' "Top 10 Gaming Hardware Failures" articles would remember you, together with Virtual Boy, which, sadly, actually sported more innovation.

Oh but it's a cool-looking paperweight though.

The Mountain by Terje Sorgjerd

Thanks to my colleagues, I've found a pretty beautiful video of the scenery on El Teide, taken over the period of a week.

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Created by Terje Sorgjerd-TSO Photography (http://www.facebook.com/TSOPhotography)

What's biased, you ask me? Mother Nature, of course. Now, if I can move that piece of sky right in front of my bedroom...

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Sends Link Into A Mirrored World In Master Quest [Gaming]

Source: Nintendo3DSBlog

As you might know, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be released for the Nintendo 3DS in mid-June. The latest goodies we discovered from our friends at Nintendo3DSBlog indicates that the included Master Quest (re-designed dungeons for Ocarina of Time, and higher difficulty) will be mirrored this time.

They also quoted that “what would ordinarily have been on the right now appears on the left and vice versa.”.

What does this mean? Link's shield will be on the left hand and vice versa? Sparking another debate between purists and "the others" on the internet just like Skyward Sword did presenting a right-handed Link? Will this cause purists to claw their throats and punch walls to counter their irritation when playing the game? Or will they sit outside Nintendo's HQ and demand a refund as the game does not deliver the "real" Link?

If that actually happens, please drop us a photo or video, I would be very glad. (Cue sadistic laughter)

Link used to be left-handed, confirmed.

Sonna Famitsu SCORE daijoubu ka? Mondai nai. [Gaming]

Source: Andriasang

It's Wednesday, and that means Famitsu scores. This week we have El Shaddai among Patapon 3 and some other games.

El Shaddai (PS3/Xbox360) got 9, 8, 8, 9 for a total of 34/40.

Sonna SCORE daijoubu ka? If it's a good game, definitely mondai nai.

(Translation: "Is that score okay?" "No problem")

Check out the source link for more famitsu scores.

Here's a gift El Shaddai video:

You Never Need A New Device Again With The Compufon [Hype]

Source: Compufon via Phandroid


Let's get this clear: I've seen many hyped-about devices not delivering when they're released at the end, but this sure looks promising, if the community picks this up. Might also be the future of technology (?). I've a love-hate relationship with Motorola, and the Atrix is no exception. Seems that I can break up with them now.

Some of the more avid Android users might have already noticed Motorola's Atrix as a hybrid smartphone/laptop/"webtop" device that seeks to replace your other devices at home and monopolize your life.

Not for long. Aptly-named Compufon (if anybody does not get the laughable naming of the device, tell me so I can laugh at him/her/you) has apparently came up with a worthy competitor to the Atrix (if they bundle the phone with the accessories or price it competitively), with comparable specs. More information for the hungry and geeky at the Official Site.

If anybody needs to know, it probably won't replace your PC because you can't play WoW with it.

Droid Bionic's Availability Answered/Confirmed. Motorola Has The Best Customer Filter In The World. [Bad PR]

Source: Droid-Life


This saga probably won't stop, as more and more people (or rather, geeks who buy Motorola phones) realise the importance of an unlocked bootloader.

Motorola just posted on Twitter (in reply to @AnurajBhatt) that the Droid Bionic will be available from Verizon come summer.

Sure this is some great news to many people out there who love the company and do not care about doing software modifications. But to those who wish to know why Android has turned the cool and savvy to geeks, here's a short article from Technorati.

For the lazy, here's my own (incomplete) run-down:
-Fixes to software due to company's shoddy programming
-Fixes to slow and laggy performance, again, due to shoddy programming
-Always up-to-date firmware version instead of waiting for the manufacturer's release (which may be buggy too)
-Any and every visual element could be modified with the know-how and a dash of imagination
-Additional features not found in stock firmware
-Battery-saving options

The list goes on, but I think I should just list the most important ones.

You might be asking, isn't this article supposed to be about the Droid Bionic? Yes it still is, because what many Motorola mobile phone owners want to know is how hackable the Bionic's bootloader is to future-proof it.

And so you won't end up like one of the 10,000 dissatisfied users as discovered by Phandroid via PocketNow who never got their point across to Motorola, who seems to have an auto-filter for any post with the word "bootloader" in them, choosing to specifically only answer sales-related questions.

ComScore Thinks It's Fair To Include All iOS Devices When Comparing To Android Devices [Data]

Source: Phandroid

(Image from laptopmag.com)

I do understand that ComScore is just trying to present a fair representation of market shares for others to analyse, but the omission of specific group data (on purpose?) just irritates me as it feeds the fruit trolls with more inaccurate data to boast (not like they don't have enough from official sources).

That said, ComsScore published a market analysis detailing the market shares of every iOS devices versus Android, disregarding head-starts. The iOS devices, when totalled, have a further outreach, obviously. This results in a bunch of websites writing misleading headlines to further feed the Fruity Trolls and arguing for obviously what they're holding in their hands playing some game while writing insensible articles.

Android Dominates (most) of The World And Most People Hate Apple Now [For The Ignorant]

Source: AndroidPolice

It's a survey I got my friends to help when I saw it on Android Police. We really rigged the results well it seems.

Shall not spoil anything, but it sure is worth taking a look.

Apple Sues Samsung For Ridiculous Reasons, All For The Sake Of Pride

Source: GSMArena, MacWorld

Actually there were many more sources, but I really like GSMArena's take on this matter.

In short, Apple's suing Samsung for infringing their "innovative" designs of iDevices, both hardware and software. Let's not mind that they blatantly ripped off nearly every phone in existence before they even thought about entering the mobile market. Especially LG phones.

“The copying is so pervasive, that the Samsung Galaxy products appear to be actual Apple products — with the same rectangular shape with rounded corners, silver edging, a flat surface face with substantial top and bottom black borders, gently curving edges on the back, and a display of colorful square icons with rounded corners,” the complaint says."
-MacWorld.com

So, to not infringe Apple's wonderful and innovative ideas, everybody else's phones must be triangular/pentagonal/hexagonal with sharp corners, gold edging, curved/spiked surface with shining insignificant top and bottom borders, sharp pointed edges at the back, and a display of triangular black&white icons with sharp edges.

Like this:

... Sorry for the cruddy photoshop job, anyway it's just a concept right?