Life: Me and My Samsung Galaxy Tab

I've been using my Samsung Galaxy Tab for almost 2 months now and I would like to share my experience of using it.

But, before that, let me share the reason why I bought Samsung Galaxy Tab, instead of iPad 2 which is more popular in Singapore.

There are 3 main reasons:

First, I already have a BlackBerry 9700 as my phone and I like its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) feature the most, an iPhone 3GS with its fantastic iOS operating system which is very user friendly and smooth interface, so a desire to have an Android-based gadget is a natural feeling that I can't resist. Need to experience the 3 main operating systems in smartphone and tablet world (... sorry for Microsoft, your Windows Phone 7 OS is out of my radar).

Second, the price is just right for me. Under my existing SingTel contract, with no additional subscription cost, I can get Samsung Galaxy Tab at S$198 + S$100 penalty (due to recontract after 1 year). At S$298, for a 3G + WiFi model, it is value for money.

Third, I simply like the design (see picture below), its white back color is nice, and the 7" size and 380 g weight is just right to hold in one hand (especially during travelling using public transport) or put it into my trouser's front pocket (just make sure your trouser is not the stretch or tight model... he he he).

OK. Not let's talk about my experience of using it.

My Samsung Galaxy Tab comes with Android 2.3.3. The touch interface is quite nice and smooth, eventhough it is not at iOS level yet. Different from iOS, the icons on the screen actually a shortcut of items in Applications list and not the application itself, so basically you can place more that one shortcut of an application in the same of any page of the screen. But, so far, I can't move a shortcut from one page to another... I need to delete it and then scroll to another page and create another shortcut. But, it's OK, not big deal.

I am not a serious game player, so I mainly use my Samsung Galaxy Tab for browsing internet, read news (Twitter, by following some news providers), email, watch videos, and social network (Facebook, WhatsApp). With its support of Adobe Flash, it has no problem displaying the websites, but I would prefer to use option to activate the Adobe Flash player only when I need it by touching the part of the website which need Adobe Flash to be played, since it will make website loading faster, and also save battery. With that activities, usually the battery will last about 8 hours before it needs to be charged. If you use it for playing games, the battery will drained faster. And, with its single core 1 GHz processor and 512MB RAM, it is not really meant for serious game players.

Since I only use my mobile internet 3G SIM Card, I haven't use my Samsung Galaxy Tab as a phone yet, so I have no review on its phone feature. But for sure you either need to use hands free kit (which is part of the package) or bluetooth headset, can't use your Samsung Galaxy Tab the way you use your normal phone to make a call... he he he...

Samsung Galaxy Tab's RAM size of 512MB might be considered too little. You will have problem if you install many application with has some background process, services, and tasks. In my case, the free memory is between 150MB at max to only 30-40MB at peak usage. Simply not enough, since it will compromise the performance and also cause the Samsung Galaxy Tab unresponsive, freeze, or even hang completely... I did need to force restart my Samsung Galaxy Tab quite numbers of times already, at least couple of times in a week. Android memory management, in this case, is not that good compares to iOS.

The last is Samsung Galaxy Tab's camera. Since Samsung Omnia smartphone, the quality of image captured using Samsung camera is considered quite good, at least in my eyes. It is quite sharp and acceptable. What you can expect more from a smartphone's camera :).

Here are some sample of pictures taken using my Samsung Galaxy Tab.

The very first picture:

Under the bright day:

Close up, the food:

A Cloudy Morning Sky:

An Afternoon Sky:

An Evening Scene:

An Exhibition:

Indoor Colorful Objects:

Another Indoor Objects:

Using Camera Fun Apps:

FYI: Adobe Flash in Tablets, Does It Really Necessary?

When iPad was initially launched, many people wonder why it doesn't support Adobe Flash... is it simply because of our dear Mr Jobs doesn't like it?? While most of the website heavily use Adobe Flash animation to enrich user experience accessing the website, more dynamic, more interactive... and more fun with those online games... even Facebook becomes so much more fun because of Flash-based games!!

Since I am getting so excited with those Facebook games... I do initially feel that Flash is a necessary animal in tablets, I want to be able to play my favorite games while I am away, while I am waiting somewhere out there, while I am travelling by bus or MRT...

But... yes but!... after window shopping and trying some Android-based tablets (gingerbread and honeycomb) which support Adobe Flash... I guess I started to share Mr Jobs' sentiment... Adobe Flash is not for tablets (at least for several years to come), simply because it is too slow loading it in tablets (even using Wifi, let alone 3G) which processor and memory is 'slow' and 'limited', furthermore it drains battery faster... We should get back to the concept of the tablet itself and for what purpose it exists... even game console was not build using Adobe Flash, it is using its own Operating System and Programming Language!

The answer is out there... there are million of iPad owners can live without Adobe Flash in their iPad!! There are million people still willing to pay premium buying iPad which is without Adobe Flash...

While the existence of Adobe Flash in Android-based tablets still considered a plus, it doesn't give that much value... it just something necessary but not a must. So, iPad2 is now in my horizon... but still considering... still calculating value for money... still back to the basic question, do I really need it? will I use it extensively and for what purpose? so far, my iPhone still be able to serve me well... Arrrgghh!! why our dear Mr 'Genius' Jobs be able to make such attractive product which make our eyes so hungry... guess I need to count the leaves in the garden downstairs to make decision... buy... no buy... buy... no buy... he he he...

FYI: BlackBerry Bold 9700 and OS 6

BlackBerry OS 6 is advertised as "Experience the Revolutionary" in BlackBerry website, and it features many improvement and enhancement, such as "Fast, rich web browsing", "Universal search", "Engaging multimedia", "Social feeds and views", and "Intuitive, fluid design". So, when I was offered to upgrade this OS from my BlackBerry Desktop Manager... I accepted it with all my heart!

It took almost 1 hour to run through all the upgrade process of my BlackBerry Bold 9700. Then... tada... I had it upgraded! And, I have BlackBerry Bold 9700 with OS 6 installed! Yes, it is very intuitive and nice to have. There are quite number of enhancements which I believe meant for the touch user interface in BlackBerry Torch. I was happily played around with it and explore the new interface and functionalities.

Well... then here comes the setback... in just a couple days, I was facing with the persistence hour glass, which means it became unresponsive because it did its background process... and finally realized that my BlackBerry Bold 9700 (Memory: 256MB) is facing Low Apps Memory... I have quite number of third party apps installed which consumed memory (before upgrade, it left only around 20MB free apps memory, but it still ran quite smoothly). So, I have no choice than started uninstalling those apps one-by-one until it left with only some essentials apps. But, unfortunately, that memory-hungry OS 6, gradually still "eat" the limited memory and when it gets worse, I have to restart my BlackBerry. Well, seems something beautiful and nice, really came with "cost". No turning back, so I just have to live with it... :(

Finally, my two cents advice, if you have BlackBerry which has memory 256MB and below, DON'T upgrade to OS 6, unless you don't really have/need third party apps at all in your BlackBerry, because it will be painful to have your BlackBerry performance keeps lagging, freezing, and need frequent restarting.

This OS 6 works seamlessly in models with 512MB memory and above.

Korean Drama: Kim Tae Hee

It's been quite long that I haven't write any actress from Korean Drama, last time was some time in 2009. But after last 4-days marathon watching My Princess, I decided to write this topic once again in this blog.

First time saw her in Stairway To Heaven acted as an Antagonist main character in 2003, then as main actress in Love Story in Harvard in 2004. This young Korean Actress, Kim Tae Hee, has been in a long journey in her career before landed at her highest level as main actress in IRIS (2009) and the latest, My Princess (2010).

What I can remember is her cute face, and beautiful-bright-and-big eyes in Stairway To Heaven (especially when she is angry or showing her evil character... he he he), then cheerful character in Love Story In Harvard, then serious character in IRIS. But still, her beautiful-bright-and-big eyes which eye-catching the most!

From tons of her pictures those can be found in internet (just google it!), here are some pictures of Kim Tae Hee that I like most:

FYI: Wireless Charging

Thinking of charging your mobile phone, smartphone, gadget, or gaming device without power cable? Is it possible? Seems like a future in the sci-fi movie... But, wait! It is something that already does exist! There is already technology for wireless charging.

Reading from some resources in the web, there are three method of wireless charging:

1. Inductive Charging
   In inductive charging, an adapter equipped with contact points is attached to the device's back plate. When the device requires a charge, it is placed on a conductive charging pad, which is plugged into a socket. This method is used for charging mid-sized items such as cell phones, MP3 players and PDAs.
2. Radio Charging
   Wireless radio charging works similarly. A transmitter, plugged into a socket, generates radio waves. When the receiver attached to the device is set to the same frequency as the transmitter, it will charge the device's battery. This method is used for charging items with small batteries and low power requirements, such as watches, hearing aids, medical implants, cell phones, MP3 players and wireless keyboard and mice.
3. Resonance Charging
   In resonance charging, a copper coil attached to a power source is the sending unit. Another coil, attached to the device to be charged, is the receiver. Both coils are tuned to the same electromagnetic frequency, which makes it possible for energy to be transferred from one to the other.The method works over short distances (3-5 meters). This method is used for charging items that require large amounts of power, such as an electric car, robot, vacuum cleaner or laptop computer.

But, well... actually it is not all wireless... the sending unit still needs to be attached to the power source using power cable and plug... so, the wireless one is the receiving unit.

For consumer products, this wireless charging still very limited. But, years ahead this technology will be more and more in the market. Today, I spotted one website which sells this wireless charging device for smartphones... quite interesting... the product called PowerMat Wireless Charging System.

Interested to know more? Visit its website here.

FYI: PingChat! (Free)

Smartphone is getting more popular, and more affordable too. One of the major advantage is its ability to run the popular social networking applications which connecting family members, friends, or colleagues... whenever and wherever.

Currently there are three major players: iPhone (iOS), Android-based, and BlackBerry.

While connecting one-to-one is the basic feature, connecting as a group is quite limited. Eventhough Facebook runs on all platform, it doesn't have group-chat feature (yet). Some popular messengers (Yahoo!Messenger, MSN) also available in all platforms, but they also don't have group-chat feature (yet). They have conference feature, but you should invite the members everytime need to chat, not permanent. One that have this group-chat feature is BlackBerry with its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), but it's ONLY among the BlackBerry users, and not everyone fans of BlackBerry...

PingChat! is one of the apps that runs on all those three platforms (iOS, Android, and BlackBerry) and have group-chat feature (as of the time I write this blog, the group chat max. 15 members, hopefully they will increase it in the future). Beside that, it also be able to send picture, audio, and video. The interface is also nice and looks professional. It uses the push notification method, so it works like SMS. The best of all, it's FREE.

PingChat! is always Online. There is no concept of signing in or signing out in PingChat!, unlike other instant messaging platforms. Once you install PingChat! and register your PingChat! ID, you will be always be online. This is great because you don't have to wait for your contacts to sign in to be able to chat with them.

Interested to know in detail? Go to PingChat website here.