Bernie’s Ramblings

Along with the announcement that there is now a GSM unlocked model of the popular Palm Centro in the US, Google is debuting a new Google Maps version that uses GSM towers triangulation or GPS hardware to determine the phone’s location called MyLocation. I’ve seen this in action when I was using my iPAQ 6965 (GPS) and also on the iPhone (via a 3rd party software that piggy backs on Google Maps). I certainly didn’t know that it wasn’t available on Palm OS devices. I’m without an unlimited data plan so I’ve not been playing with Google Maps much.

With Palm Centros selling in the millions and software freebies like this and the earier Facebook application, Palm OS is still going strong. Malaysian users interested in getting their feet wet in an extremely powerful and mature smartphone should take a look at the RM1299 (RRP) priced Palm Centro. Street price is going for less than that or with freebies.

It’s a simple dish. You dip sticks of meatballs, seafood, veg into boiling water until they cook and choose from a choice of sweet sauce, peanut spiced sauce or garlic chili sauce. You eat standing too. Sounds like a poor man’s food eh? Wrong, because these sticks of food can rack up quite a bill if you’re not careful (hint: keep a count while you’re busy eating)

Malaysia’s not perfect. The government could be better, price of cars is ridiculous, racial policies, etc. But one thing it has going for it is the food. Being multi-racial, we get to taste foods from different cultures.

OK, that was a bad header. Who cares? The important thing is, I got a new lens! In preparation for the trip to Bali the end of the month, let me introduce the new member of my family, the Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 ultra-wide angle lens. Purpose of the lens - to capture the dramatic landscapes of Bali. Got it second hand off another photographer who’s less inclined for ultra-wide angles and wanted to sell it off (gotta love these rich kids ). Reviews of the lens:

• http://kenrockwell.com/tech/digital-wide-zooms/comparison.htm
• http://www.shutterasia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3168 (local forum)
• http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/nikkor-12-24mm/super-wide_shootout_3.html
• http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Sigma-10-20mm-f4-56-EX-DC
• http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Nikkor%20/%20Nikon%20Lens%20Tests/308-sigma-af-10-20mm-f4-56-dc-ex-hsm-lab-test-report–review

I’m loving the lens so far. It has an odd distortion effect for a non-fisheye lens @10mm but I’m OK with it. In fact, used properly, the exaggerated angle and distortion works. Can’t wait to try this thing out in the field!

Was alerted that Firefox 3.0 Final is available on Mozilla’s download server. I’ve been running FF3 since RC2 and it’s been stable so far. No reason why not to use this over the aging Internet Explorer. Check out Firefox’s cool plugins while you’re at it. Plenty have been upgraded to play nice with the latest and greatest version of this browser.

Update: Download counter

Thanks to palmdoc for spreading the word that there is a Facebook® for Palm native application now available. I bet this will rack up the your data usage so only those with unlimited data plans need apply. Still this is pretty cool stuff for Facebook addicts.

More food for thought:

An average office clerk may own a second hand 1300cc proton Iswara costing $7,000 (rebate = $625) while the Datuk’s children can own a fleet of 10 new cars of BMW, Audi and Volvo all less than 2000cc costing $2 millions and get a total rebate of $625 x 10 = $6,250!

And what of those that are too poor to own a car? These group of unfortunate people also feels the pinch because of the increased inflation because of the petrol price. Dare I say that it is actually these folks that is burdened the most, yet get the least?

Prime example of fool-hardy decision making if you ask me.