More on Microsoft Surface

The current cost for Microsoft Surface unit is priced @ US$12,500.
The developer Surface unit which includes a developer unit, support and 5 site licenses to access SDK is priced @ $15,000.

An anatomy of Microsoft Coffee Table
1. Screen. It is make up of an acryclic tabletop with large touch surface. However, the multi-touch capability is generated by the cameras build below the screen.

2. Cameras. It uses 5 near-infra cameras to detect static objects and finger motions. 5 is used instead of a wide angle camera, as 5 provide better resolution and speed. In addition, the cameras can detect static object which are coded with 3/4" square "Domino" tags.

3. CPU. Computer hardware needed is any PC with Core 2 DUO processor, 2GB RAM and 512MB graphics card. The underlying OS is Windows Vista. Currently wireless communication used is WiFi and Bluetooth technology.

4. Display. It uses Digital Light Processing (DLP) engine found in HDTV.

Surface application is developed in Windows Presentation Framework (WPF) or XNA. IDE Tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft Expression Blend assist developers to develop WPF windows for Surface.

Although, currently MS surface is market to corporate businesses in US region with a big price tag, i believe, in near future, it will be sitting in everyone's home.

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

Swensen's Ice Cream Buffet

Drop by Orchard Central with Jas today. To my surprised, it is quite deserted, to make the matter worst, all the escalators in the building are not functioning. Dun know what the management is doing; one thing for sure, I am unlikely to set foot into the centre again. Hopefully, it won’t become another Kallang Leisureplex.

Orchard Central Entrance (Quite crowded outside)

Inside Orchard Central Level 1 (Quite empty inside)

Non functional escalator without even any notice

Later, went with Jas to eat Ice cream buffet @ Swenson’s (Orchard Ion) using 1 for 1 deal voucher @ $18.90. After 3 rounds of ice-creams, my mouth is numbed by the cold and dulled by the sweetness. Luckily, i enjoyed my cakes and waffles before kick starting the ice-creams.

Some of the must try
- Waffles
- Chocolate Truffles Cake
- Chocolate Amer Cake
- American Cheese Cake
- Durian (for those durian lovers)
- Soursop
- Chendol
- Sticky Chewy Chocolate
- Cookies N Cream

In my opinion, it is a good deal for 2.


~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

Windows Mobile 6.5 Mix-up Session

My boss, Jas and I attended the Windows Mobile 6.5 development session this evening in Microsoft HQ Auditorium on the 21 floor of the NTUC Centre; the office is overlooking Suntec City, the integrated resorts (IR) and marina barrage. The view is simply fantastic. How I wish I am working in this type of environment.

The session summarizes the features of Windows Mobile 6.5 and the availability of Windows Marketplace towards the end of the year. 

Windows Marketplace is an equivalent to Apple concept of iTunes Appstore; it is a central depository of applications (widgets) where users can search, create and purchase. It provides a platform for mobile developers to monetize their applications in the Marketplace with fee.

Mobile 6.5 features include:

• Content riched internet applications known as widget
• Better user interface; provides better thumb interaction with the device such as scroll, pan, zoom, flick etc... (Single Touch Capability, Only Windows 7 provides Multi-Touch Capability)
• Incorporated with Internet Explorer 8.

Most of the 6.5 features are some what similar to Android and iPhone OS applications. In addition, Microsoft has launched a beta version of Microsoft My Phone, which the equivalent of Apple's Mobile Me. 


Microsoft is intensifying the mobile market competition, which i feel that it is beneficial for us as consumers.




~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

my parrot tank

my second tank (2ft) housing
- 1x big red
- 4x orange
- 2x frontosa
- 1x crown loach

Close up of Frontosa

Bear with my camera, i realised it is not easy to take aquarium shots, alot of noise.


Previously, i have 2 leopard sucker (L001 pleco) around 6" - 7" long; sadly they passed away after 1.5 years.


As for the parrots, i have kept them for more than 2 years. One thing for sure, parrot fish are quite hardy. There are times when i was burdened with work, no time to do water change bi-monthly. Miraculously, they manage to survive with abit of fin rot. With a fresh water change, they will become lively again, kissing each other, thus people also named them as "kissing" fish.


Besides parrots, there are 2 frontosa, which i bought it from Toa Payoh Lor 5 Aquarium Shop at quite a good deal. The 2 frontosa are burundi breed (6 stripes). With proper lighting, the tip of the fins will be luminous blue.


For aqua hobbist, 2 aquarium shop is a must go -
- Clementi Florist & Aquarium (5 out of 5 stars), good service, great deals and discounts. Click here
- Neo Kim Suey Aquarim (4 out of 5 stars), good service, specialised in Plecos. Click here




~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

Photo Sneak for my Australia trip 2009

A sneak to my australia foto collection.

29 July 2009 - OZ Jet Boating @ Sydney Harbour

30 July 2009 - Sydney Aquarium

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

my simple aquatic tank

my small plant tank setup, housing :

- a few malayan shrimps

- 2  Sterbai Cory (Corydoras sterbai), the color of the bottom fin tips is bright yellowish orange.

- a few baby guppies

The setup

Baby guppies swimming in front of filter (yellow color)

Shy Sterbai Cory hiding behind the plant

Sterbai Cory hiding, malayan shrimp crawling on filter

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

Sunday nite...

Besides sipping tea in AMK MOF, now i am sipping tea at home, enjoying my aromatherapy, reading blogs.

Lavender smells heavenly =)

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

A slow, lazing Sunday...

Slow and relaxing sunday.

Jas and I drove down to AMK Park MacDonald's to have an early lunch. The place is simply great! The restaurant has a natural theme which blends well with the park, sitting outside enjoying the greenery is so refreshing.

Anyway, the key reason to drop by is i wanted to try out the new flavors which are only available in 9 Mac Outlets, check out here. The 2 new flavors are: Le Grand Beef Sandwich and Oriental Spicy Chicken.

extracted from Macdonald's

Surprisingly, only the Le Grand Beef Sandwich comes with a meal, Oriental Spicy Chicken is an ala carte burger. Thus i bought Le Gand Meal upsized with Ice Tea @ $$8.70 and S$2.50 for the Oriental Chicken. Le Grand Beef sandwich is a big version of cheese burger using a different bun. Taste wise, quite smiliar to cheese burger, not up to restaurant standard yet, thus i won't recommend if you are not a big eater. As for Oriental Chicken burger, i find it quite nice, crispy tender chicken patty that makes my taste buds lingering for more. In addition, it is quite inexpensive.

In the afternoon, we went back to our favorite cafe, MOF for drinks and dessert. Since Jas is busy with her minutes, i am enjoying blogging my sunday afternoon away.

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

A black Thursday...

Today my lady luck went for holiday. I nearly met accident uncle and aunty.

I was driving to Tiong Bahru for my evening class in the evening, it happened along clementi road. A SMRT cab was turn out of the ulu pandan road into the main road (clementi road). What he did next gave me a shock. I was driving on the 2nd fast lane at a constant speed, since lights are all green. This SMRT cab without even bother to signal, veered his cab directly into my lane within a fraction of a second!!!! It was like I saw him turn out, the next second, it was next to me. At that very instant, I was like "WHAT THE F**K?!!" Then the next few seconds, i can feel the adrenaline rush, my hands and legs auto-pilot, manage to swerve my car to the first lane to avoid "kissing". I was quite lucky as at that point of time, as there was a comfort cab driving quite slowly in the first lane. I can't imagine the other scenario.

I have seen people changing lanes without signaling their intent a lot of times. These people think that the roads are theirs, and their skills are god send. I strongly feel that if they want to dig their own grave, do not implicate others. I am also wondering why nobody does anything about these reckless drivers, esp the cabbies.

The second incident happened around 2315hrs, when I was driving home from Toa Payoh. Along Upper Aljunied road (2 lanes), I was driving behind a comfort cab. The cab all of sudden jam his brake, stopping his car in between the two lanes. I was like "Not again!”, swerved to avoid the stupid cab. I seriously cannot comprehend what he was thinking at the point of time. I meant, if you need to stop urgently, you can drive to the side of the road and stop, and not just jam brake for nothing.

Coincidentally all these happen on the first day of seventh month. Cannot complain too much...

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

Sleek and neat! UI of the Future Now...

Imagine the abilities to manipulate digital information not by using traditional input devices, but by hand gestures, natural motions or with any physical objects. Wowwww! Welcome Microsoft Surface (codename Milan Project). Endless possibilities.

I may get a chance to develop applications on it!

Some neat videos on Surface:

And all these made possible by Jefferson Han, the research scientist that made Microsoft Surface possible.

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

Time for a knowledge upgrade

I applied MCSA course before i went for my Australia holiday 3weeks back. At that time, I feel that I need something to beef up my CV besides my standard education achievement; New Horizons is giving me a very good deal for the course. Furthermore, it is under CITREP program which grants up to 80% capped at 3k per course. So why not?!

Just back home from my first evening class, the session is quite useful; didn't know i am still an amatuer XP user. Hahaha. Anyway, busy days and tired nights ahead! Hopefully, i can get my certification soon. =)

Ciao!

For those who's keen to sign up courses:

• About CITREP


• Courses eligible for CITREP

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~

Movie Weekend...

Oops, long time haven't post anything... I dun have momentum to keep posting i suppose.

Last weekend, went to watch "Where Got Ghost" by Jack Neo on Saturday, "UP 3D" on Sunday.

"Where got Ghost?"

The movie is made up of 3 short stories; roadside got ghost, forest got ghost & house got ghost. The storyline is simple, lame jokes, low cost production. The last short story is the sequel from Jack Neo previous movie. I suppose most of the production cost goes to the last 10mins 3D CG.

In my opinion, 2 stars worth rating, a weekday show if you have nothing to do...




UP 3D

I can't remember when is the last time i catch a 3D movie; the 3D glasses Cathay offers is quite "solid". The glasses now are made of solid plastic as compared to paper glasses i used.

It is a heart-warming and touching movie. A MUST watch for me.

~Jotting down my memories, creating new life's chapter~