Post using laptop but via 3G using tethering from Android phone

This post is made using my laptop via 3G connectivity, made possible with tethering from my Android phone. This is pretty cool!

Tethering is available on new Android 2.2 and iPhone 4.0 phones. As for the earlier Android 2.1 phones, tethering is possible by installing third party drivers without having to jailbreak your phone. Nothing is impossible with Google Android.

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Android 2.2 Froyo Update Comes to Google Nexus One

According to Google's official Nexus One blog, the new update for Android 2.2, codenamed Froyo, will be rolling out to all Nexus Ones by the end of the week. Android 2.2 contains, among other features, the long-awaited addition of Adobe Flash to the operating system.

In order to access the update, you will receive a message on your phone's notification bar. Just download the update, wait for it to install, and you should be all set. This update will be rolled out gradually to phones - and most users will receive the notification by the end of the week . We hope you enjoy these new features.

To view Android 2.2 platform highlights, visit http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.2-highlights.html.

When will Froyo arrive on Motorola Droid, HTC Incredible, HTC Legend and HTC Desire?

New POSB Everyday Credit Card Unveiled

The POSB Everyday Card will get a new look that showcases the latest Singapore skyline that includes the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.

The new credit card will come with new features like the ATM function and an Ez-link card. From the POSB Everyday Card site, the EZ-Reload capability will entitle a savings of 2% cash rebate of any amount, slightly more than the 1.7% rebate Citibank SMRT Credit Card is offering if monthly spending is less than S$600.

This new POSB Everyday Card looks great.

Existing cardholders will receive the new POSB Everyday Card by December 2010.

101 ways to hold your Nokia phone - Unlike iPhone 4.0

How can you hold your Nokia phone? An article posted on the Nokia official blog reveals the many several ways to hold your Nokia phone, without suffering any signal loss. Just a few days ago, users of the new Apple's iPhone 4.0 raised concerns over losing of signals when the phone was held covering the sides of the phone. Apple's chief Steve Jobs had admitted this problem and suggested to avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band. Is he trying to tell us to hold an iPhone in the below manner?

How to hold an iPhone 4.0?

The article on Nokia page comes rather timely and I wonder if that was a mock against Apple. Nokia phones are well suited for both left-handed and right-handed users, using methods like the thumb and finger, the cup, the balance and the four edge grip.

The article ended sarcastically like this:

Of course, feel free to ignore all of the above because realistically, you’re free to hold your Nokia device any way you like. And you won’t suffer any signal loss. Cool, huh?

A joke: Lucky iPhone 4 users get to have the option to improve their signal 100% with accessories such as:

How do you hold your Nokia? [via]

Value Chain Analysis of iPhone 4.0 - Most expensive is the 'Retina Display'

According to an estimate by iSuppli, the materials that go into making the 16-Gbyte version of the iPhone 4 cost $187.51. Of all the many parts that make up iPhone 4, the most expensive part of the iPhone 4 is the LCD display at $28.50, or 15.2 percent of the phone's total cost.

iPhone 4 Carries Bill of Materials of $187.51, According to iSuppli [via]

Citi says Genting Singapore is a “top sell”

Citi has identified Genting Singapore (G13.SI), which operates casinos in Singapore and Britain, as one of its “top sells”, saying the firm’s high valuations made it the world's most expensive gaming stock.

World Cup 2010: Netherlands VS Slovakia

Round of 16 (Match 4)
Mon Jun 28, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Durban

Netherlands 2 - 1 Slovakia

Fixtures file in excel.

PM Lee Hsien Loong has finally spoken on the recent flash flood after more than two weeks of silence

After more than two weeks since Orchard's flash flood that resulted in millions retail losses, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has finally spoken. His "maiden" speech from more than two weeks of silence is rather disappointing - in my opinion.

Read the below for his comment on the recent flash flood.

PUB has an ongoing drainage improvement programme which over the years has made floods much rarer and much less severe, so much so that when it does happen, we're sometimes taken by surprise and we scramble to see how we can deal with those remaining problems.

PM: We can't be flood-free but can limit impact [via]

World Cup 2010: Argentina VS Mexico

Round of 16 (Match 3)
Mon Jun 28, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Johannesburg

Argentina 3 - 1 Mexico

Fixtures file in excel.

Chrome Overtakes Safari for First Time to Claim Third Place in US Internet Browser Market

Google’s internet browser Chrome has overtaken Apple’s Safari in the US for the first time on a weekly basis according to StatCounter, the company which provides free website analytics. The firm’s research arm StatCounter Global Stats reports that for the week beginning 21 June Chrome overtook Safari to claim third place in the US browser market.

Chrome Overtakes Safari for First Time to Claim Third Place in US Internet Browser Market [via]

UMS Holdings giving 104% return so far

Semiconductor and manufacturing company, shares of UMS Holdings [558.SI], has since risen more than 104% since I bought it in January 2010. This stock has surpassed my Parkway Holdings' gain of 75% when I disposed it early this month.

Should I hold onto UMS Holdings and believe in continued recovery in the semiconductor, electronics and manufacturing industry. Or should I cash out now?

World Cup 2010: Germany VS England

Round of 16 (Match 2)
Sun Jun 27, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Mangaung / Bloemfontein

Germany 4 - 1 England

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: USA VS Ghana

Round of 16 (Match 2)
Sun Jun 27, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Rustenburg

USA 1 - 2 Ghana

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Uruguay VS South Korea

Round of 16 (Match 1)
Sat Jun 26, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Nelson Mandela Bay

Uruguay 2 - 1 South Korea

Fixtures file in excel.

SMRT CEO said our trains are 30% off crush load capacity

On Sunday Times of 27 June 2010, SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa, made a remark on Singapore's crowded trains.

She did not think that trains here are as packed as those in cities like Hong Kong, Taipei and Shanghai.

Even at its most crowded, an SMRT train carries 1,400 passengers, she said.

This is "not crush load", where a train is carrying more passengers than the standing load it is designed to carry under normal circumstances.

Crush load happens when a train carries more than 2,000 passengers.

"People can board the train - it is whether they choose to," she said.

I do not agree with her statements.

Apple rumoured to release firmware update to alleviate iPhone 4 'Death Grip'

Following the antenna's problem as reported on Apple's new iPhone 4.0, Apple is rumoured to be releasing firmware update to alleviate the so-called 'Death Grip' problem. The problem has the tendency to completely block reception if the phone is held in a "normal" fashion.

Rumor: Firmware Update to Alleviate iPhone "Death Grip" [via]

Has been a while

It has been a while since I wrote anything on the current state of Singapore' economy. Needless to say, I am still very much bullish on the Singapore's economy and its dollar, given better than expected growth in many sectors, including pharmaceutical, biomedical and manufacturing.

Remain vested.

Apple iPhone 4 antenna reception problem and its solution

According to numerous reports, holding the new Apple's iPhone 4 phone's new external antenna band has the tendency to completely block reception. This seems to be a major design flaw. Though Apple's chief Steve Jobs had admitted this problem, he suggested to avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band.

Watch the following two videos to witness the reception problem in play.

iPhone 4 Reception Issue with Holding the Phone

Simple Illustration of iPhone 4 Antenna Problem / Flaw / Reception Issues When You Hold in Your Hand

Jobs' response:

Just avoid holding it in that way.

My thought: A product should adapt to the consumer and the consumer shouldn’t adapt to the phone.

Apple's Jobs: You're Holding the iPhone 4 Wrong [via]

Windows Live Essentials Beta

Microsoft just released the beta version of Windows Live Essentials, a suite of free desktop applications including Windows Live Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Mail, and several more useful apps you may just want to download.

The number of free applications look abundant but too bad I only use Messenger from their list. I have since moved to Google's services.

Windows Live Essentials Beta
http://explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials-beta

Word document can now be viewed and edited in Gmail

If you receive Microsoft Word files (.doc and docx) as attachments in Gmail, you can now view them with a single click. This is possible after Google Docs viewer added support for both .doc and .docx formats, in addition to .pdf, .ppt, and .tiff files. Originally, Word files can only be viewed a HTML.

If you decide you want to edit the file, clicking "Edit online" will open it in Google Docs, or you can download it to your desktop from there.

View .doc attachments right in your browser [via]

World Cup 2010 Round of 16 schedule

World Cup 2010 End of 1st Round Group Stage Standings

The top two teams advance to the Round of 16 knockout stage.

World Cup 2010: Switzerland VS Honduras

Group H
Sat Jun 26, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Mangaung / Bloemfontein

Switzerland 0 - 0 Honduras

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Chile VS Spain

Group H
Sat Jun 26, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Tshwane/Pretoria

Chile 1 - 2 Spain

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: North Korea VS Ivory Coast

Group G
Fri Jun 25, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Nelspruit

North Korea 0 - 3 Ivory Coast

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Portugal VS Brazil

Group G
Fri Jun 25, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Durban

Portugal 0 - 0 Brazil

Fixtures file in excel.

Mah Bow Tan was caught off-guard like everyone when housing prices rose

With regards to the rising housing prices in Singapore, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan late last year admitted he himself was caught off-guard.

Nobody, no matter how prescient, no matter how clever, would have been able to predict that this is what is going to happen this year. All of us were caught off-guard... I did not expect the prices to go up. But the point is, are we able to respond to this change. And the answer is yes.

Housing prices set to rise, but govt committed to affordable homes [via]

World Cup 2010: Cameroon VS Netherlands

Group E
Fri Jun 25, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Cape Town

Cameroon 1 - 2 Netherlands

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Denmark VS Japan

Group E
Fri Jun 25, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Rustenburg

Denmark 1 - 3 Japan

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Paraguay VS New Zealand

Group F
Thu Jun 24, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Polokwane

Paraguay 0 - 0 New Zealand

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Slovakia VS Italy

Group F
Thu Jun 24, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JEP

Slovakia 2 - 1 Italy

Fixtures file in excel.

YouTube Adds Vuvuzela Button

OMG! YouTube actually came out with a new button for playing the extremely loud and irritating vuvuzela sound file, now often heard of in all World Cup 2010 matches played in South Africa.

According to Wikipedia,

The vuvuzela, also known as lepatata (its Tswana name), stadium horn and plastic trumpet, is a typical 65 cm (2.13 ft) plastic blowing horn that produces a loud, distinctive monotone B♭3 note (the B♭ below middle C).

Watch out for the "football" icon at the control bar.

This instrument is made popular across the world with fans playing them during World Cup matches.

New Motorola Droid X and original Droid will get Android 2.2 update

The new Motorola Droid X is arriving on July 15, but it won't bring along one of its flagship features - Flash, meaning to say the new phone will still come with Android 2.1. However, the new Droid X and original Droid phones will get free update to the new Android 2.2 this coming summer when it become available.

Will HTC Droid Incredible and Desire get the update too?

Droid X Flash Support Could Be Months Away [via]

World Cup 2010: Australia VS Serbia

Group D
Thu Jun 24, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Nelspruit

Australia 2 - 1 Serbia

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Ghana VS Germany

Group D
Thu Jun 24, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JSC

Ghana 0 - 1 Germany

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: USA VS Algeria

Group C
Wed Jun 23, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Tshwane/Pretoria

USA 1 - 0 Algeria

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Slovenia VS England

Group C
Wed Jun 23, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Nelson Mandela Bay

Slovenia 0 - 1 England

Fixtures file in excel.

France's manager, Domenech, refused to shake hands with South Africa's manager, Craig Foster

France's manager, Domenech, refused to shake hands with South Africa's manager, Craig Foster, after the end of last night's World Cup 2010 group stage match between the two countries. The match ended 2-1 in favour of South Africa. Both countries were booted out of World Cup, unable to advance to the second round.

France's manager, Domenech, indeed has ZERO sportsmanship.

Sneak Preview of Angry Birds for Android

Sign up to angrybirds.com for immediate notification of when Angry Birds for Android is released.

England team World Cup 2010 campaign cursed by a 'Pigeon'

The English team drew Algeria 0-0 last Friday in their second group stage match of World Cup 2010. Some blamed the coach and the players but now, people are also putting the blame on a 'Pigeon'. They suspect the pigeon was setup by a witchdoctor and England were the victims of black magic.

According to a South African shaman interviewed by The Sun yesterday, African medicine men often use birds to deliver spells and he suspects it was the doing of an Algerian fan.

Early in the first half of the England-Algeria clash in Cape Town, a grey speckled pigeon perched itself atop Algeria's goal. It enjoyed its bird's eye view undisturbed, seeing as how England had trouble even getting a shot on target.

The bird changed ends at half-time, and it continued to be unbothered by Wayne Rooney and Co.

England were 'cursed': Witch doctor [via]

UMS Holdings rallied

In just one week, UMS Holdings rallied by up to 24% from $0.25 to $0.31.

Stock portfolio past performance

World Cup 2010: Greece VS Argentina

Group B
Wed Jun 23, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Polokwane

Greece 0 - 2 Argentina

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Nigeria VS South Korea

Group B
Wed Jun 23, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Durban

Nigeria 2 - 2 South Korea

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: France VS South Africa

Group A
Tue Jun 22, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Mangaung / Bloemfontein

France 1 - 2 South Africa

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Mexico VS Uruguay

Group A
Tue Jun 22, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Rustenburg

Mexico 0 - 1 Uruguay

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Spain VS Honduras

Group H
Tue Jun 22, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JEP

Spain 2 - 0 Honduras

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Chile VS Switzerland

Group H
Mon Jun 21, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Nelson Mandela Bay

Chile 1 - 0 Switzerland

Fixtures file in excel.

Speed comparison among Apple's iPhone iOS and OS 3.1.3

What is "pari passu"?

Learnt a new jargon today - pari passu.

The term pari passu is used in economics to describe equal rate.

Some examples:

• The new units will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing units.
• While the inflation is increasing, average expenses has been inflating pari passu.

Music Piracy Arrives on the Phone Via Google's Android

Just for your information. I am not going to try it anyway.

Music Piracy Arrives on the Phone Via Google's Android [via]

Lee Wei Ling not paying attention in class

Lee Wei Ling, director of the National Neuroscience Institute and daughter of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's daughter, did not pay attention in class.

The way GP was taught at RI, I felt I was merely being coached to pass examinations, and that put me off. My seat in class was in the first row. The GP teacher could see me doing non-GP work under her nose. I am grateful she pretended not to notice my disobedience.

As I was writing this article, I e-mailed an officer in the Ministry of Education to ask the purpose of making all A-level students take GP. She explained that the purpose of GP was to stimulate critical thinking and foster an ability to express one's views clearly and concisely across a wide variety of subjects as well as to argue a case cogently. While Uncle Earnest did not explicitly state that these were his aims, he achieved them in the most mentally stimulating and enjoyable way.

Lessons in critical thinking

Getting the right answer was not enough. I learnt to question conventional wisdom, and approach each new problem with a fresh mind. I was not worried about making a mistake nor did I necessarily follow conventional rules. I learnt that any given problem may have more than one solution, each with its pros and cons. My task was to select the best solution, given the circumstances.

'A' for Uncle Earnest [via]

World Cup 2010: Portugal VS North Korea

Group G
Mon Jun 21, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Cape Town

Portugal 7 - 0 North Korea

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Brazil VS Ivory Coast

Group G
Mon Jun 21, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JSC

Brazil 3 - 1 Ivory Coast

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Italy VS New Zealand

Group F
Sun Jun 20, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Nelspruit

Italy 1 - 1 New Zealand

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Slovakia VS Paraguay

Group F
Sun Jun 20, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Mangaung / Bloemfontein

Slovakia 0 - 2 Paraguay

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Cameroon VS Denmark

Group E
Sun Jun 20, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Tshwane/Pretoria

Cameroon 1 - 2 Denmark

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Ghana VS Australia

Group D
Sat Jun 19, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Rustenburg

Ghana 1 - 1 Australia

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Netherlands VS Japan

Group E
Sat Jun 19, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Durban

Netherlands 1 - 0 Japan

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: England VS Algeria

Group C
Sat Jun 19, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Cape Town

England 0 - 0 Algeria

Fixtures file in excel.

Singer Ho Yeow Sun, wife of Reverend Kong Hee, of City Harvest Church, lives like Hollywood Star

As reported on the Straits Times, singer Ho Yeow Sun, wife of Reverend Kong Hee, of City Harvest Church, lives in a $28,000-a-month estate in same exclusive suburb in Los Angeles as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, just like a Hollywood star. The management of City Harvest Church is currently being investigated for alleged misuse of funds.

Lives like Hollywood star [via]

North Koreans' players promised homes and cars if they perform

An article from The Chosun IIbo titled 'N.Korean Footballers Got Special Attention from Heir Apparent', it mentioned how North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir apparent Jong-un made visits to his World Cup 2010 players to motivate them. Kim Jong-un was reported to have instructed the coach to make the team "invincible" in all departments and laid down rewards should they perform. Homes and cars are the few items promised.

Yesterday, I made a post titled 'North Korean Broadcast declared win over Brazil?', a YouTube video, showing how the North Korean Broadcast declared its "win" over Brazil, despite losing to the Brazilians in reality. Was that real?

As quoted from the same article from The Chosun IIbo:

The North's official KCNA news agency reported on the North Korea-Brazil match on Wednesday about four hours after it was finished, relatively very fast compared to earlier reports on games between foreign teams, when it took a day or two.

"In the 88th minute, Jong Tae-se's header found Ji Yun-nam, who rushed onward and rifled the ball into the goal," it said, but failed to say how the Brazilian team had earlier scored two goals.

North Koreans players went missing from World Cup 2010

There were rumours reporting four North Koreans footballers went missing from World Cup 2010. Their attendances were marked as "absent" on the North Koreans' name list. However, the FIFA has since denied such rumours.

Before I carry on, I better stop calling them citizens of "North Korea" and switch to "Chosun" or the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" or just the "People's Republic" instead.

One thing journalists must avoid saying during those events is "North Korea." Reporters are told sternly to refer to the communist country as "Chosun" or the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" or just the "People's Republic." When a South Korean journalist accidentally said "North Korea" during a recent press conference, coach Kim Jong-hun pointed out testily, "There's no such country called North Korea. Only the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

Did they flee to gain their freedom by defecting away from one of the most oppressive regimes in the world? I wish them the best!

World Cup 2010: Slovenia VS USA

Group C
Fri Jun 18, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JEP

Slovenia 2 - 2 USA

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Germany VS Serbia

Group D
Fri Jun 18, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Nelson Mandela Bay

Germany 0 - 1 Serbia

Fixtures file in excel.

5 things you may not know you can do with attachments in Gmail

Gmail official blog published 5 tips on what you can do with attachments in Gmail. And I have been using these 5 tips ever since they are included in Google Labs.

The 5 tips:

1. Drag attachments in
2. Select multiple attachments
3. Never forget an attachment again
4. View attachments online
5. Find that long lost attachment via search

5 things you may not know you can do with attachments in Gmail [via]

North Korean Broadcast declared win over Brazil?

Is the below video footage from North Korean broadcast on its win over Brazil real? If you had watched the World Cup 2010 group stage match between the two countries, you would have known that the match ended 2-1 in favour of five-times world champion Brazil, of which Brazil dominated. The North Koreans had very little chances to even make any decent shot on or off the target.

North Korea 1 Brazil 0 (North Korean Broadcast) FIFA WORLD CUP 2010

World Cup 2010: France VS Mexico

Group A
Fri Jun 18, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Polokwane

France 0 - 2 Mexico

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Greece VS Nigeria

Group B
Thu Jun 17, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Mangaung / Bloemfontein

Greece 2 - 1 Nigeria

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Argentina VS South Korea

Group B
Thu Jun 17, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JSC

Argentina 4 - 1 South Korea

Fixtures file in excel.

Profitable Plots making phone calls to random people

It seems like Profitable Plots is calling people directly to entice them into investing into "Land Banking". Are they allowed to call people up to make such solicitations since they are on MAS Investor Alert List?

For more of my articles on Land Banking, visit http://hongjun.blogspot.com/search?q=land+banking.

World Cup 2010: South Africa VS Uruguay

Group A
Thu Jun 17, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Tshwane/Pretoria

South Africa 0 - 3 Uruguay

Fixtures file in excel.

The new Hotmail

World 2010 Group Standings so far

Spain lose to Switzerland spainfully

Despite Spain enjoying 74% possession and 25 shots, it still could not register a single goal against Switzerland. The Group H match between them ended Switzerland won 1 goal to nil.

Spain is living to its flopper expectation.

World Cup 2010: Spain VS Switzerland

Group H
Wed Jun 16, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Durban

Spain 0 - 1 Switzerland

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Honduras VS Chile

Group H
Wed Jun 16, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Nelspruit

Honduras 0 - 1 Chile

Fixtures file in excel.

The Start to Finish Guide to Rooting Your Android Phone

I am not going to try out rooting my Motorola Droid phone. Nonetheless, I am still posting this rooting guide here for interested users.

The Start to Finish Guide to Rooting Your Android Phone [via]

Microsoft's Revamped Hotmail Begins Rollout

Microsoft's Windows Live blog announced that Hotmail Wave 4 has started rolling out to the 360 million worldwide users of the venerable web mail service.

The updated email service includes a new Sweep feature to tidy up inboxes, integration with Microsoft's new Office Web Apps, and a Gmail-like conversation view

Microsoft's Revamped Hotmail Begins Rollout [via]

Dr Mahathir commented why he won't sue journalist

Dr Mathathir wrote on his blog that he will not sue journalists/writers on critics against him. He feels this is a cowardly move and in fact proves that the criticisms are fully justified. His comment came after a book by Barry Wain entitled "Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times", in which he was condemned for all kinds of misdeeds, was launched.

Erm. I am aware of politicians from a country who had sued journalists several times and had won millions from winning lawsuits.

BARRY WAIN [via]

World Cup 2010: Brazil VS North Korea

Group G
Tue Jun 16, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JEP

Brazil 2 - 1 North Korea

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Ivory Coast VS Portugal

Group G
Tue Jun 15, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Nelson Mandela Bay

Ivory Coast 0 - 0 Portugal

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: New Zealand VS Slovakia

Group F
Tue Jun 15, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Rustenburg

New Zealand 1 - 1 Slovakia

Fixtures file in excel.

LTA Launches New Distance Fares Calculator

Commuters can go online to check their fares before Distance Fares kicks in from July 3.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will launch the new Distance Fares Calculator on the PublicTransport@SG portal Wednesday to help commuters calculate their exact fares. With fares shown against each journey option, commuters can then choose one that best suits their transport needs.

The Distance Fares Calculator will be operational from tomorrow onwards.

LTA Launches New Distance Fares Calculator [via]

e-Government: The Next Quantum Leap

No wonder many government websites are now revamping and adding in social tools like Facebook and Twitter.

e-Government: The Next Quantum Leap [via]

Greek credit rating cut to junk again, from A3 to Ba1, by Moody's Ratings

The Moody's Ratings has cut Greece credit rating to junk again, from A3 to Ba1, despite the EU's €750bn rescue package. This move is in line with Standard & Poor, when they downgraded Greece's sovereign debt to "junk" last month.

Many investors say they expect the country to default on its debt payments; meanwhile, internal protest over budget cuts grows

Markets braced as Greek credit rating cut to junk again [via]

World Cup 2010: Italy VS Paraguay

Group F
Mon Jun 15, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Cape Town

Italy 1 - 1 Paraguay

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Japan VS Cameroon

Group E
Mon Jun 14, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Mangaung / Bloemfontein

Japan 1 - 0 Cameroon

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Netherlands VS Denmark

Group E
Mon Jun 14, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JSC

Netherlands 2 - 0 Denmark

Fixtures file in excel.

Google's New OS Will Offer Remote Desktop Capabilities

ReadWriteWeb reports that the new Google Chrome OS will allow users to access PC desktop applications through a browser using a capability known as "chromoting". "Chromoting" allows users to access programs like Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office. It's said that the feature is similar to Windows' Remote Desktop Connect, which allows a user to connect to a remote computer from another computer.

Google's New OS Will Offer Remote Desktop Capabilities [via]

Embed WMV onto your website

You may have a WMV file uploaded somewhere in the Internet and would like to share it with visitors of your website or blog. To embed, use the following:

You just have to replace [WMV URL] with the actual address.

The History of Microsoft with Charles Simonyi (the Pioneer Behind Microsoft Word)

Part One:

Meet software visionary, business executive, and space tourist Charles Simonyi. Simonyi pioneered the development of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. This documentary begins with Simonyi’s youth in Hungary in the 1960s, where he first learned to program on hand-me-down Soviet computers, and follows him on to Xerox Palo Alto Research Center where he invented Bravo, the first WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) text editor. It also follows him into the exciting world of Microsoft in the 1980s.

Part Two:

In this documentary, Charles Simonyi tells the history of Microsoft’s business and creative challenges, and how, after becoming known as the father of Excel and Word, he went on to co-found his own company and to take up space travel.

World Cup 2010: Germany VS Australia

Group D
Mon Jun 14, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Durban

Germany 4 - 0 Australia

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Serbia VS Ghana

Group D
Sun Jun 13, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Tshwane/Pretoria

Serbia 0 - 1 Ghana

Fixtures file in excel.

The World Cup Doesn't Need the United States

Strong U.S. Ticket Sales and Better Results on the Pitch Don't Impress FIFA; the'Weak Sprout'

The World Cup Doesn't Need the United States [via]

World Cup 2010: Algeria VS Slovenia

Group C
Sun Jun 13, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Polokwane

Algeria 0 - 1 Slovenia

Fixtures file in excel.

Maradonna Hand of God and Best of World Cup Goal

During the 1986 World Cup quarter final match between Argentina and England, the great Diego Maradona of Argentina netted both two goals against the opponent in their 2-1 quarter final victory, with the his first goal now known as “the hand of God” and his second voted by FIFA as the best goal in World Cup history.

Hand of God

Maradonna greatest goal

Maradonna is now the current coach of Argentina for World Cup 2010.

Diego Maradonna Hand of God [via]

Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories

Posting this does not imply I am a believer of U.S. President Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories. I am not a U.S. citizen and so am reserving my comments on this issue.

Conspiracy theories about the citizenship of Barack Obama are ideas that reject the legitimacy of the United States citizenship of President Barack Obama or his eligibility to be President of the United States. Some of these conspiracy theories allege that Obama was born in Kenya, not Hawaii, and that his birth certificate is a forgery. Others allege that Obama is a citizen of Indonesia, or that because he had dual citizenship at birth (British and American), he is not a natural born citizen of the United States, which is a requirement to be President of the United States under Article Two of the United States Constitution. These conspiracy theories received attention in mid-2008 following Obama's victory in the Democratic primaries, in late 2008–early 2009 with regard to the Electoral College vote and Obama's inauguration, and again in mid-2009 following a lawsuit by Army reservist Stefan Cook.

Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories [via]

'World Cup 2010' label added

A new label 'World Cup 2010' is added.

Jetstar first attempt to land aborted on suspect of pilot sending SMS before landing

A Singapore-bound plane Jetstar flight from Darwin aborted a landing at Changi airport in the early hours of May 27 after receiving an "incorrect configuration warning" because the plane's landing gear was not in place. The incident happened when the plane, carrying 167 passengers, was just 122 metres above the ground. The pilots performed a second run and managed to land safely shortly.

According to Australian media, air safety authorities are investigating the text messaging claims as part of a probe into the aborted landing of the Jetstar flight JQ57.

Jetstar plane aborted landing [via]

Tomatoes and cucumbers are fruits, not vegetables

Scientifically, fruits have seeds and develop from the ovary in the base of a flower. We use "vegetable" to describe the other edible parts of a plant (leaves, roots, etc.).

Tomatoes and cucumbers are fruits, not vegetables [via]

World Cup 2010: England VS USA

Group C
Sun Jun 13, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Rustenburg

England 1 - 1 USA

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: South Korea VS Greece

Group B
Sat Jun 12, 2010 19:30 (GMT+8), Nelson Mandela Bay

South Korea 2 - 0 Greece

Fixtures file in excel.

World Cup 2010: Argentina VS Nigeria

Group B
Sat Jun 12, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JEP

Argentina 1 - 0 Nigeria

Fixtures file in excel.

Argentina's Lionel Messi met his match

Lionel Messi looked at his scintillating best at times but he was thwarted, along with a number of his team-mates, by the fantastic Nigerian goalkeeper Enayama. The goalkeeper produced several acrobatic saves deny Messi and his other team-mates.

Messi has met his match.

South Korea's Park Ji Sung second goal against Greece

South Korea saw off a lacklustre Greece side 2-0 in the Group B opener thanks to goals from Lee Jung-Soo and Park Ji-Sung. The below video shows the second goal by Park Ji Sung, who plays with Manchester United club.

England's goalkeeper Robert Green blunder

It's a disaster for Robert Green and England. Clint Dempsey of USA twists and turns 25 yards out and wriggles free of his marker, hitting a low shot goalwards. It looks like a comfortable take for Green, but somehow the ball slips through his attempted grasp and before he can get back in time, it rolls agonisingly over the line. Incredible.

This blunder effectively cancelled England's captain Steven Gerrard's dream start in the early minutes.

This World Cup 2010 group stage match between England and USA ended 1-1.

Butter fingers.

iPhone almost useless Bluetooth

I remembered suggesting sending just one picture file to a friend in Taipei last month over Bluetooth from my Android phone to her iPhone. That attempt shockingly failed. I thought Bluetooth is supposed to be a standard?

A quick search solved this mystery.

iPhone’s Bluetooth is dumb, purposely crippled or both? [via]

Did you know that there are roughly twenty-five Bluetooth profiles? iPhone only supports the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) and Headset Profile (HSP).

iPhone Support
Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
Headset Profile (HSP)

iPhone Does Not Support
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
Basic Imaging Profile (BIP)
Basic Printing Profile (BPP)
Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP)
Device ID Profile (DID)
Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN)
Fax Profile (FAX)
File Transfer Profile (FTP)
General Audio/Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP)
Generic Access Profile (GAP)
Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP)
Human Interface Device Profile (HID)
Intercom Profile (ICP)
Object Push Profile (OPP)
Personal Area Networking Profile (PAN)
Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
Serial Port Profile (SPP)
Service Discovery Application Profile (SDAP)
SIM Access Profile (SAP,SIM)
Synchronisation Profile (synch)
Video Distribution Profile (vdp)
Wireless Application Protocol Bearer (WAPB)

What can you do with Bluetooth on the iPhone?; Bluetooth File Exchange, iSync do not work [via]

We've yet to hear reports of Windows applications that can successfully interact with the iPhone via Bluetooth.

It seems only Apple's iPhone is friendly to Apple's iPhone. I doubt Apple new iPhone dubbed iOS4 will change this.

Does the iPhone 4 Really Have a "Retina Display"?

Does the iPhone 4 really have a "Retina Display" as claimed? Dr. Raymond Soneira who runs DisplayMate Technologies, which makes software to test display quality, and has a PhD in Theoretical Physics from Princeton University, has his say.

A retina display is one whose resolution meets or exceeds the maximum resolution the human retina is capable of resolving, assuming perfect vision.

The iPhone 4 has an outstanding display... and I'm glad that Apple resisted the emotional rush to OLEDs because they still need lots of improvement before they will be ready to compete with the highly refined IPS LCDs. The iPhone 4 display should be comparable to the outstanding IPS LCD in the Motorola Droid, which I tested and compared to the Nexus One OLED, which was trounced by the Droid.

Steve Jobs claimed that the iPhone 4 has a resolution higher than the retina - that's not right:

1. The resolution of the retina is in angular measure - it's 50 Cycles Per Degree. A cycle is a line pair, which is two pixels, so the angular resolution of the eye is 0.6 arc minutes per pixel.

2. So if you hold an iPhone at the typical 12 inches from your eyes, that works out to 477 pixels per inch. At 8 inches it's 716 ppi. You have to hold it out 18 inches before it falls to 318 ppi.

So the iPhone has significantly lower resolution than the retina. It actually needs a resolution significantly higher than the retina in order to deliver an image that appears perfect to the retina.

This is an example of specification exaggeration.

World Cup 2010: Uruguay VS France

Group A
Sat Jun 12, 2010 02:30 (GMT+8), Cape Town

Uruguay 0 - 0 France

Fixtures file in excel.

FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa Official Theme Song-Wavin' Flag

World Cup 2010: South Africa VS Mexico

Group A
Fri Jun 11, 2010 22:00 (GMT+8), Johannesburg - JSC

South Africa 1 - 1 Mexico

Fixtures file in excel.

Encounter 'ASP.NET Ajax client-side framework failed to load' error

Sometimes you may encounter 'ASP.NET Ajax client-side framework failed to load' error when AJAX is used in your ASP.NET web application.

If you are running ASP.NET AJAX under Internet Information Services 7.0, the below has to be included in your web.config file.

If you are running Windows 7 or 2008 Server and you have IIS installed, then it is very likely the version is of 7.0.

Apple Faces Antitrust Scrutiny Over Ad Network Policy

Couple of days after Google's AdMob slammed Apple's updated iPhone developer terms stifling fair competition, U.S. antitrust regulators is now planning to investigate whether Apple is unfairly restricting rivals such as Google from carrying ads on the iPhone, iPad and iPod.

Apple Faces Antitrust Scrutiny Over Ad Network Policy [via]

World Cup 2010 Results

I shall be updating World Cup 2010 results in this spreadsheet as soon as the result or I myself is available. The opening match is host South Africa against Mexico on Jun 11, 1600hr (GMT+2 / South Africa time).

Do come back and check it out.

The spreadsheet is located here.

NOTE: The time in the spreadsheet is set to GMT+8 (Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur time).

Google Search background wallpaper made available today

It is now official - Changing of Google Search background wallpaper. You should now find "Change background image" at the bottom left corner of the main search page.