A Couple of New Releases

A few new products caught my eye the other day, and I feel that they are worth mentioning here.

First on the list is the Canon Rebel XSi/ 450D. As expected, this DSLR is aimed to replace the aging Rebel XTi/ 400D. Upping the ante are appealing features that some may describe as "finally". This shooter packs a new 12.2 Megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD, DIGIC III processor, spotmeter and a live view shooting mode. Plus, Canon has at long last dumped CompactFlash support, letting us use SD and SDHC cards instead (Some may be disappointed... Yes I'm talking to you, Bryan). Heading out to stores in April, this DSLR should fit nicely into the sub-US$1000 category.

An LCD similar to point-and-shoots

Raging rumours about a new Windows OS have been spreading like wildfire. Dubbed Windows 7 (I'm not sure why), this upcoming OS may be out as early as mid 2009. Hopefully, this new OS will not require at least a 1 year old computer to run and not cause others to decelerate to a pitiful crawl like its predecessor.

Additionally, a report has shown that the next "Battlefield" game will be free of charge. This successful game series have delievered outstanding titles such as Battlefield 2 (my own favourite) and Battlefield 1942. This move may be driven by an urge to compete with other games such as Crysis and Unreal Tournament 3. We all like free software, don't we? However, based on current freeware games, I doubt that free games will be of any fun to me.

There is another about a new prosumer HD camcorder that Sony has unveiled recently. I trust that Bryan can shed some light on this bleeding edge tech.

This concludes my post. Standby for further updates.

T'ang

(image from http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=223805&s=1489&a=223806&po=2,00.asp)

Me Against the Apple

I have read Bryan's review and he has my full support (due to a conversation we had earlier on, haha). Plus, another thing to take note of...

During Macworld 08, Steve presented a few iPod touch updates. Widgets of mail, maps and notes to name a few. In fact, many of these apps were originally present in touch's brother, the iPhone. But due to a marketing decision, these were'nt carried forward to the touch. What's worse is that users have to shell out 20 bucks now, just to get their hands on them. As an iPod touch customer, I firmly believe that they should be there for free. C'mon, we ought to be given the opportunity to fully utilize our built-in wifi and touchscreen!

Besides, I was actually hoping for Apple to enable wireless syncing into both the iPhone and touch. Apple competitors such as Archos and Microsoft have already implemented this function into their devices. Being able to update our libraries without the need to plug our pods in will be prove to be immensely convenient. I believe an update like this will be a major blow to existing touch and iPhone users, as well as upcoming wannabe owners.

So much for the "Big Apple"
T'ang

MacBook Air, just a load of hot air

I'm back from my extended absence, due to school commitments. Recently, Apple released the new MacBook Air, which it claims to be the thinnest notebook ever. In my opinion, this latest offering from Apple, is not really worth your buck. Why?

The MacBook Air, although thin is missing many important features such as an integrated optical drive. Imagine not being able to watch DVDs or Rip Music directly onto your MacBook. Eventhough Apple has come up with a remedy, a sleek looking external optical drive, I doubt many of us would want to fork out another 100-200 bucks just to buy it. Besides, if we have to lug around the external drive when bringing the Air out, it would make the notebook less portable.

One other problem that would affect roadwarriors is the fact that the MacBook Air does not have removable batteries, the batteries are inbuilt into the casing and cannot be removed (Just like the Ipod). This means that with the Air, you cannot simply swap out batteries when your battery runs flat.

The availability of only one USB port is another problem with the Air that I would like to point out. With only one USB port, you will not be able to plug in both a Mouse and a Thumbdrive into the Air at the same time. This makes things extremely inconvenient.

Despite these shortcomings, the Air does have some of its merits. For one, it is the thinnest notebook in the world and can fit inside a manila envelope. It is also extremely lightweight, weighing it at only 1.36Kg.

And that's it for my extremely short Macbook Air review.

Thanks for reading,
Bryan

The MacBook Air (Picture Courtesy of www.apple.com.sg)

Dollars and Senns

I bought another Sennheiser headset-cum-mic just two days ago. If I haven't miscalculated, this should be my 6th Sennheiser product to date. You must be thinking that I've got a thing for this German brand. You're right. Well, I kindda trust this headphone maker, as none of its products has ever let me down due to their exquisite design, refined sound, and particularly, their svelte build quality. All six products, consisting of three PC headsets, two mp3 'phones, and a wireless can have served me well.

I would personally like to recommend this brand to readers, as its products will please even the most discerning audiophile, albeit at a steep price point.

Auf Wiedersehen
T'ang

What the Future Holds

The new year has arrived and with that, new dreams, hopes and of course tech innovations. The past year has been extremely fruitful in terms of the tech industry. 2007 ushered in the era of multi-core processing, it saw the ripening of the dual core processors and the introduction of the newer quad core chips.

So as we journey into 2008 and beyond, we would like to ponder on what the future holds. What new breakthroughs and trends we can expect to see for the next 10-25 years. Within the short time frame of 5 years, we can expect to see changes in terms of the way processors and memory chips are made. Currently, much research by chipmakers such as Intel has been done into making 3-Dimensional(3D) Processors.

What do I mean by 3D processors. To put it simply, 3D processors are processors which are made of many smaller processors stacked vertically. Presently, processors are made 2-Dimensionally. This poses a tremendous problem as in order to pack in more transistors (the most basic component of a computer chip) into one processor, each transistor has to be made smaller. By shrinking processor components such as transistors, we cause a major problem, which is the production of excessive amounts of heat.

When transistors become smaller, the pathways for electricity to flow to the transistors also proportionately become smaller, creating more electrical resistance. For those of us that study physics, we will know that thinner wires have more resistance and thereby cause more energy wastage, in this case in the form of heat.

When we stack processors one on top another to form a single processor, we are able to increase the number of transistors in a single processor but avoid the problems of heat production. Therein lies the benefits of 3D processors.

Moving on, quantum computing. For those of us that do not know, Quantum Mechanics (the science Quantum Computing is based on) is about the study of sub atomic particles. Within the next 10-20 years, Quantum Computers should be making their way into our homes, revolutionising the way we work, play and ultimately live.

Quantum computing surpasses the current digital computers in that they do not use transistors or silicon, what they use are quantum logic gates. These quantum logic gates are simply devices which are used to observe the properties of atoms and thereby perform calculations based on the observable properties of the atoms.

Another thing which is so special about quantum computing is the Qubit. We all know that the bit is the most simple unit of data which digital computers use. It can either be 0 or 1, off or on. Quantum mechanics is different from classical computers in that it makes use of Qubits. The Qubit is a third state and is the superposition of 0 and 1. Put simply, it means that 1 and 0 both happen at the same time.

The promise of Quantum Computing is that complex computing tasks such as the cracking of encrypted data using encryption protocols such as RSA and Diffie Huffman will be made easier. Today, even supercomputers can take decades to crack a document encrypted using the RSA encryption protocol with a 128bit strength key. With quantum computing this task will be able to be done much quicker. Quantum Computing will also promise to make weather forecasting and climate modelling more accurate than ever.

And that's all for now!

The future awaits you,
Bryan

To Infinity and Beyond

I enjoy times where I can talk about what is to come in the future. It gives me the chance to blast through my wildest imagination and think how the next technology can change the way we live. Be it a breakthrough towards renewable energy, or a leap forward in quantum computing, all are equally extraordinary. But for now, I will like to focus more on the area of CPUs and its roadmap for this fresh year.

The past year was more inclined towards moving from single to dual core processors. This year may be a little different, with both Intel and AMD shrinking their manufacturing process to 45nm. As all may know, Intel is still in the lead with their revolutionary Core 2 line of processors. Fortunately for us (we like stiff competitions, don’t we?), AMD is not out of the league. Although Intel’s market lead may seem light years ahead, there’s always hope for AMD to bounce right back on the track. However, it seems that things will stay the way they are till late 2008 with Intel’s promising CPU roadmap.

This year, we should be expecting to see Intel release their new line of Penryn (dual core) and Yorkfield (quad core) processors. Besides seeing a die shrink, this new pack will feature a boost in FSB speeds, a sharp increase in cache sizes, and a little gain in clock speeds. Mobile chips will also be likely to see a decline in power consumption and a step forward to quad cores.

As for AMD, arriving at the frontline will be the Phenom line of desktop processors. It will showcase new X2 (dual core) and X4 (quad core) versions. Not to forget a tri-core model, AMD will also make a push towards 45nm. Griffin, AMD’s upcoming mobile platform, will stick to 65nm whilst advancing to HyperTransport 3. AMD has long been in the field of eliminating a need of an FSB, by integrating the memory controller directly to the processor itself. It claims that HyperTransport 3 will deliver a threefold increase in bandwidth.

In 2009, Intel will initiate a whole new architectural design with Nehalem. It will feature an integrated memory controller and probably 8 cores for both desktops and laptops. AMD will proceed with its Leo and Python platform, making a move towards DDR3 memory.

That’s all we should be expecting folks!
T’ang

(With references from PCmag.com)

Where's My 4GB RAM?!

Through various forum entries, I have stumbled across many people who have complaints about 1GB or so RAM "missing" when they install 4GB onto their motherboard. In this post, I will try my best to address this baffling problem.

In fact, all 4GB of RAM installed are actually present. However, the "disappearance" of the 1GB (give or take) is due to a design decision by IBM years ago, in the days of the classic DOS. In those days, the maximum amount of RAM (due to address space) that can be utilized was a measly 1MB for a 16bit system. However, it was nearly impossible to install past 640KB of RAM on systems then. This lead to a maximum of 640KB system memory and a 1MB address limit. Because of this, a memory mapped input/output process (MMIO) was established to allocate the in-built memory on other hardware, such as video adapters, to the address space between 640KB and 1024KB. This may not seem as useful as one may think, as the 640KB-1MB space was used solely as an input/ output dumping ground.

So why has this been passed down the ages? This is for the reason of backward compatibility, as it enables current computers to install DOS. This may prove to be a stubborn obstacle for users wanting to install 4GB of RAM on current 32bit systems. Theoretically, the maximum amount of RAM (due to address space also) that a 32bit system can accommodate is 4GB. Any excess memory, including those from video cards and such, will take up address space and result in the lack of space to address all 4GB of RAM. For example, a video card with 256MB of on-board memory will take up address space and thus waste 256MB of physical memory if 4GB of RAM is present. This value doubles for those who would want to run 2 graphic cards in parallel. So since a 32bit system has a 4GB RAM limit, the system will want to make all your components and RAM correspond to the boundary. If more address space was assigned to the system RAM (to see more of it), the other devices will have a lack of space and will not work. Therefore, the system chooses the lesser of two problems and gives less RAM.

To get around this, users who really want 4GB or more RAM can opt to utilize Physical Address Extension (PAE) or install a 64bit operating system. Then again, this will arise several setbacks, of which are mainly compatibility issues with 64bit and 32bit drivers.

Thus, I recommend that ordinary users stick to a 32bit system, and install no more than 3GB of RAM if you want to maximize what you paid for. There may still be a small amount of RAM shadowed by MMIO too, but the value should be negligible. For those who had already bought 4GB of RAM, I am sorry, as you will never be able to see all 4GB of RAM unless you go with 64bit drivers.

For more detailed information (mine may not be 100% accurate), read more on this here and here.

Hope it helps
T'ang

I've been ACfied...

Hi! I'm back from my absence of 4 days. This past week has been really tiring, due to the ACJC orientation, AKA Brainwashing. It was a really fun experience as I made a lot of new friends. On the first day of orientation, I felt really bored. But as the days passed and we finally reached the end of the programme, I started to get more and more enthusiastic until I was finally enjoying it.

During the course of the orientation, we were made to play numerous games which involved us getting down and dirty. For example, during one of the games, we were made to crawl across a puddle of Mud. Games like these really helped us to bond as a group. Another thing which really helped us bond was the mass dance. Everyone of us were made to learn the dance and to dance with a dance partner of the opposite gender.

At first it felt strange as I hardly have the chance to dance with girls. But in the end, I really enjoyed it. ACJC has many CCAs and I'm still unable to make a decision about what CCA I want to join. The school has 3 Tech related clubs so I'm unsure which to join. It's unlike my old school which has only one IT Club. But i don't think I'll be joining two CCAs like during my secondary school days as JC life is supposed to be more stressful and the workload is much greater.

During my four days of Orientation, I have gained much insight into what JC life is all about and have experienced many new experiences. For this, I have only the J2 seniors to thank. So to end off I would like to say thank you to all OGLs (Orientation Group Leaders). U've all been a great!

The Best is Yet to Be, (AC motto lols)
Bryan

My Orientation Group :)

TriPod

I’ve got not much to say here, unlike my previous post, as I am not entirely sure how to review a tripod.

Just yesterday, I purchased a Manfrotto tripod from Sim Lim Square. The exact model is 728B, if you would like to know. It is quite lightweight and sturdy (enough for me), and is made of aluminium. The head, which is manufactured in Italy, is a 3-way movement model. The legs are extended through a quick release of latches and the tripod instantly rises up to a towering 165cm. So far, my only complaint is that the head is a hassle to adjust, due to 3 levers that are required to be manipulated whenever a shot is to be taken (a ballhead is way too pricey). Perhaps it’s just my inexperience. Overall, accounting for the amount I paid, I am wholly satisfied with my purchase.

what more can I say?

T’ang

AVP: R-estricted for Everyone

What a letdown! It seems to me that everyone has been anticipating for the sequel to save the franchise from the first installment. But I’ve got some bad news, as this isn’t going to be a savior. This is where the spoilers begin, so if you have not watched the movie (you are excused if you don’t want to), look away now.

Honestly, I am not sure where to start. Alright, the movie picks up immediately after the first movie, where the PredAlien kills the crew on board a smaller ship carrying the dead Predator. The ship then crash lands onto earth and a cleanser Predator is dispatched to clean up the mess. The intro seems mediocre though. Onto the 2^nd phase of the movie, I still can’t imagine how tens of Aliens, not to mention the “formidable” PredAlien, can’t swap the lone Predator out of their path. The setting of the movie is overwhelmingly dark and obscure (due to an everlasting rain), thus you can’t really see what is going on. And yes, humans can actually fire the Predator’s laser cannon just like a handheld pistol. I also feel that this Predator imitates the original Predator too much. Just because the Predator wants to kill Schwarzenegger with honor by removing advanced equipment, doesn’t mean the new Predator has to do the same to the superior PredAlien. Plus, the ending’s quite inconclusive.

Okay, to be fair, there are actually a couple of scenes in which I enjoyed. For instance, I love the part where the Predator’s shuriken impales a young lady to a wall, splattering red fluid all over the place. Moreover, the sound effects are pretty impressive.

Spoilers end here (the movie is spoilt enough though). Wrapping up this mess, I’d give Alien versus Predator 2/ Requiem, a solid 2 out of 5.

caught in the middle

T’ang

(image from http://www.avp-r.com/US/wallpapers/wallpaper_04__1024x768.jpg)

22 hours into the new year...

Time flies really quickly, we're already into a new year. Tomorrow is gonna be my first day in my new school ACJC. Somehow, I don't really feel scared of anxious. Afterall, it's not my first time in this sort of situation. I still remember my first day in FMSS, four years ago.

As for resolutions for the new year,
1.)I want to have lotsa fun
2.)I want to makes loads of new friends (This is Imperative for 1 to occur)
3.)I want to learn loads of new stuff
4.)Need to excel in studies
5.)Survive to make more new year resolutions. Haha!


The following objectives are mine, as Bryan beseeched me to do so.
1.) Quickly get used to the new environment
2.)Make plenty of new and good friends
3.)Excel independently
4.)Do well for studies
5.)Learn, learn, learn
6.)Do not forsake fellow Singaporeans
7.)Live an exultant life over at Canada
8.)Do not leave this blog to rot

T'ang


Moving on, I just got a new external 500GB HDD. YAY! Its a Seagate FreeAgent Pro, with a Firewire, USB2.0 and e-sata interface. Comparing this HDD to my old HDD, the price is really a bargain, only $270 compared to the $300 I paid only a few months back.

I spent the whole of yesterday finding a shop which sold this particular model, with Wilfred (My Friend). It might have been due to the Christmas sales that this particular model was sold out almost everywhere. Nevertheless, I still managed to find the HDD at one of the shops in Funan.

Comparing the new Seagate HDD to my old external HDD, the Seagate really has a much better finish, the seagate has a cool light which slowly glows brighter as you turn on the HDD. What I like most is the fact that the seagate allows me to use Firewire. Firewire might have a slower speed than USB2.0 but it actually is better. This is because Firewire is able to bypass the CPU, it has its own Bus. Thus, USB uses more system resources than Firewire.

Anyways, before I end, I would like to wish all of you an extremely Happy New Year! May all your wishes and dreams come true! Lols, unless its an evil wish. Haha! GdNite!

All the best in the new year,
Bryan

Seagate FreeAgent Pro 500GB