Couple of months ago when I landed in Oulu for Student Exchange Programme, I was hunting for an online gallery to store my photos. I chose Smugmug after weeks of consideration but might consider switching to Picasa at the end of 1 year because of the hefty price that Smugmug charges.
Basically here are the things I noted throughout my weeks of consideration.
Flickr [$24.95 USD]
Pros
API Support
Large Community
Video Support
Cons
Ugly interface
Summary
Most photography enthusiasts have at least 1 or 2 photos in Flickr. Flickr is so popular that no other galleries can compete with it. It has a large community that users can tap on, giving comments, joining groups and sharing photos with other people around the world that has the same common interest. However the interface is not the most pleasing to eyes. Browsing of photos could be a problem for non-Flickr users because of its unique way of browsing that is uncommon to many. Therefore, the API support of Flickr could be very useful to developers as they can create their own galleries, hosted on their own website, with pictures linked from Flickr. This will remove the only Flickr con of ugly interface.
Picasa [$5 USD - 20GB] Prices increase linearly.
Pros
Google’s product
Offers Picasa software for easy photos manipulation and uploading
Synchronization between folders and galleries
Very cheap, around $5USD for 20GB of storage
Cons
Average looking interface
Summary
Looking at how successful Google products are these days, one will not easily brush aside Picasa as it is a Google´s product. Picasa Web Gallery, together with its own software, Picasa, this has to be the best combination of the 3 galleries highlighted in this post. You can do simple red-eye reduction, cropping, resizing and many more with Picasa. Synchronization between folders and online galleries are possible too! This way, you do not have to upload new photos manually every time a new photo is taken. Everything is done automatically. What’s more, it’s only $5USD per year for 20GB of storage!
Smugmug [$39.95 USD]
Pros
Themes
Configuration of CSS and site is possible
Video support can be added by paying more
Cons
Expensive
Lacking community
Default uploading is done through browser interface
Summary
Smugmug adopts a template system where users can choose how they want their galleries to look like by using predefined templates. With higher prices, one can also edit CSS, header, footer of the gallery. However, all these come at a hefty price! Uploading is done through browser interface with their rather buggy JAVA software. Other uploading alternatives are available too but they are done up by other users and has no official support from Smugmug.
I hope what I provided above is useful to you.
If you are interested in getting Smugmug at a $5 discount, do use my coupon code 3d5s/RztXI1rg.
Quite interesting read which includes things like “The making of EOS 7D” and “Features of 7D”. All photos in the magazine have their respective EXIF data next to them.. Impressive…
Within hours after M1 announced their iPhone price plans, Starhub revised theirs. Singtel has also indicated that they will update their prices in a few days. Let’s see.
Update 1: Singtel updates price plans to allow more Data.
Update 2: M1 increases to 12GB.
Here’s the breakdown of the three telcos plans for iPhones currently.
Updated this blog with new skin and added a new page to this blog – NUS Modules! The page will just list out modules I am taking/took and some brief description!
Blogging on last day of the year! Cheers! Happy New Year!!
… Apparently Nexon is sueing us. Currently we don’t even know what claims they have against us – so far we have received a bill from a court with the information that it’s about €350,000 matter in controversy. And it’s sent from the Landgericht Hamburg.
Neither of this makes sense to us (we are not in Hamburg, neither is Nexon). Without any claims we don’t even know why they are trying to sue us.
We don’t know if or how much we’ll actually have to pay at this point.
We don’t know what will happen now. We won’t be trying to risk our financial futures for keeping this project alive (sorry).
OdinMS has been sued by Nexon, apparently asking for €350,000(Approx, $941,599SGD). In case you are wondering, what is OdinMS. Well, they created an open source java project for packet communication with MapleStory client. In short, by using their compiled code, you will be able to run your own private server while using Nexon’s MapleStory client.
By doing so, it has violated Nexon’s policy by using the client to communicate with other unintended servers.
Imagine leveling at the rate of 1000x exp rate? Killing a snail will give u 3000 exp. points. That is why so many people are obsessed with these private servers. Servers can be configured to drop items that Nexon’s MapleStory doesn’t, and/or selling rare items that are over 1000 times cheaper than the original.
Well, with this law suit, I believe many private servers currently running on OdinMS will have to think twice. Singapore servers, like Cyber.sg, will have to take extra precaution if they are to continue their servers. Asiasoft will not let this go easily in this “law is above all” country.
*Boost TFL3D Performance –> Using the above Advanced Config, change File system cache to 8MB and File system filter cache to 131072 sectors
*Black/faulty icons –> Use the above method do fix the black/faulty icons.
*Disable SIM contacts –> Show SIM contacts: No
Sometimes to tweak certain stuff, you will also need this registry editor – Resco Registry Editor.
*Wake Up on New SMS –> HKLM\Drivers\BuiltIn\RIL : DisableSMSWakeUpEvent: Change value to “0″
Anyway, I’ve just flashed my Diamond’s ROM to 1.37. It improves the speed of the TouchFlo interface significantly. This could be the result of a better management of RAM which hits 55%+ RAM usage after bootup compared to the 1.35 version of 68%+
Due to the full number portability that kicked in couple of days ago, telcos are now in war!
Singtel started by offering $498 HTC Diamond in the PC show, with Starhub following one day after.
Today, M1 comes into the battlefield too, probably late by 1 week.
But the weird thing is… on Singtelshop.com.sg, we see $0.00 price plans! Does that mean we can sign up any plan for $0.00 through out the 24 months contract!? Is this part of the war package? Or probably just another honest mistake from Singtel.
Just bought a BRAND NEW eee 900 @ $580. Yes $580 SGD, No joke.
This is the Windows XP licensed version, hence the smaller capacity of only 12gb internal. But shouldn’t it be selling at the same price as the LINUX 20GB version? How did i get it at $580!?!?
Well, few days back, i was hunting for a 2nd hand eee 900 but couldn’t find many people selling. I stumbled upon this girl, selling a 20GB linux version as advertised on her thread. Selling at $700, i thought it would be pretty ok since it is brand new and is cheaper compared to the SRP: $798.
I confirmed with her that it is the 20GB version and she even double assured me that it is the windows xp version with 20gb. I was like ok… a weird version indeed because ASUS only came out a 12GB + WINDOWS and 20GB + LINUX.
When I was preparing to leave house to meet her for the laptop, I received a sms from her. “Its 12GB only! So Sorry!” Well… I knew it….
So I told her the deal will be called off. She seems rather urgent to sell off the laptop, and later offered me a stunning price of $550. So i took it up immediately. Somehow, after i accept the price of $550, she decided to increase by another $30 – to $580. Probably she realised she offered too low. Well, still a steal. So i took it without any hassle.
Love this eee900. a lot longer battery life, lasting at least 2-3 hrs. Although it is white, and tense to get dirty easily, but who cares. At a price of $580. Definitely a steal!
Just sold my W950i recently, and was deciding between the Touch Cruise and N95 8GB. Price of a Touch Cruise is at $1.1k!! After many days of thoughts, i decided not to spurge so much on a phone). I might not fully utilise the WM functions in Touch Cruise yet, so dropped the idea totally and hooted a 2nd hand N95 8GB instead.
Wenya just got a N82 too.
I might do a N82 vs N95 one of these days! One thing that N82 beats N95 hands down is the FLASH! Damn. N82 Xenon Flash is no joke. The brightness and clarify of the flash allows you to take many low-light pictures that current handphone couldn’t take.
Since I’m not a fan of camera function in handphone, i decided to go for N95 8GB for it’s ultra 2.8″ large screen and unique slider design. The screen is really huge. The screen size is identical to the Touch Cruise, although you can’t really compare the two phones as Touch Cruise is a touchscreen.
Pic of my N95 8GB
Pouch i bought at MobileSquare to protect this precious N95…
Ep: 01 兴旺砂锅饭 –
Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre
3 Yung Sheng Rd #03-123
Ep: 02
明辉鱼片汤
Dunman Food Centre
271 Onan Rd #01-07
Ep: 03
忠记加东叻沙 *Mediacorp has declared not responsible for this shop due to the disgusted performance.
Blk 207, New Upper Changi Rd
Market & Food Centre, #01-64
(beside Bedok Interchange)
Just saw this review today at Vr-zone. Basically the big screen itself is already the ‘excuse’ to upgrade to the EEE 900. Running at resolution 1024 x 600 compared to the former 800*400. It comes with a 1.3MP webcam too, but how often do i use them? Instead of the usual 4GB, it comes with a total of 20GB! With 4GB SSD + 16GB mini PCI-E SSD. Although the 20GB looks tempting but in reality, my 4GB still doesn’t get filled up yet(even with WINXP SP2(FULL) + MS OFFICE 2007 + WAMP + Projects). It comes with a bigger touchpad too, but duh. Who needs it.
The same old processor and build. No bluetooth, no IR, no nothing. How much can you ask for? at the price of $798(LINUX version with 20GB).
Still considering of this upgrade… The only attraction for this upgrade is the big screen. It will allow me to see lines and lines of codes better with the higher resolution and bigger screen size. With the bigger screen, maybe I will drop the idea of getting a proper laptop for my uni. This ASUS EEE PC 900 might just be good enough to guide me through the 3-4 years there.
Starhub is retailing N95 8GB @ $398 at all starhub shops, with 2 years contract!
Additional $50 discount if you buy it from Raffles City Roadshow this weekend!
Really tempting offer! Getting this as my post-ord phone? Hmm…
*Update 27 April 2008: Seems like it’s a print error on the papers. The price suppose to be meant for N95 instead of N95 8GB. However, Starhub did honor the deal, but of course… with limited sets.
All N95 8GB sets are back to normal price now, $688. No chance for me.
I needed a printer quite urgently as i need to prepare scripts for my interviews. So I went SLS hunting and came back with a Canon LBP 2900 @ $180. It comes with one additional toner on top of the starter toner provided.
It comes with a $30 NTUC voucher that I can claim from Canon.
But after I reached home, I noticed that the warranty card has been stamped – CLAIMED. What does it mean? Somebody used my warranty card to claim the voucher?! Yet to confirm as I will need to head down to Canon ASAP one of these days.
*Update 23rd April 2008: The $30 NTUC voucher is indeed unclaimable. I called Canon and they told me it’s EITHER a toner or a $30 NTUC voucher. But Skylet definitely told me that it’s a toner AND a $30 NTUC voucher. I still reconfirmed with the guy as the offer seems unbelievable then. But now… they denied they said such thing…
Canon seems pretty innocent here, so did not bother to argue with them. Now, adding to my blacklisted shop: Skylet.
Also, this printer does not provide VISTA x64 drivers! Canon DID NOT RELEASE a VISTA x64 driver for this printer. Damn.
I tried searching for other sources, but could only come to this conclusion: Canon feels that Vista x64 is not the mainstream market at the moment! So they did not bother to release!
So… I have to uninstall my VISTA x64 (installed 2 weeks ago) and reinstall a VISTA x86 (32-bit)!
What the hell… Now i finally understand why many users still WANT to stay in WinXP – for its wide drivers support!
Just upgraded my computer recently to a E2160. Did not aim for high end processors I believe E2160 can squeeze out a lot more juice.
E2160 default clock speed is at 1.8Ghz. I managed to overclock it to hit 3.15Ghz. Vcore is at 1.30V, of course with the help of a 3rd party cooler, the Noctua NH-U12P!
Settings are as follows:
FSB: 350
Multiplier: 9
VCore: 1.30V
VDimm: 2.00V
VTT: 1.40V
May 7th, 2010
