Kuan Yee Han’s Blog

The latest OS from Microsoft will be released soon. Windows Vista will be out in the market as early as January 2007. I have downloaded and installed the Windows Vista Release Candidate 1. What are the special features about Windows Vista as compared to Windows XP?


Firstly, it’s desktop graphic is better. There’s this Windows Aero which is an environment with an additional level of visual sophistication, one that is even more responsive and manageable, providing a further level of clarity and confidence to Windows users. It has a glass-like interface effect.

Also, Windows Vista provides two entirely new features to manage windows: Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D. Flip allows you to flip through open windows (by using Alt+Tab), providing a live thumbnail of each window, rather than just a generic icon and file name. Live thumbnails make it easier to quickly identify the window you want, particularly when multiple windows of the same kind are open. With Flip 3D (using Windows+Tab), you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse to flip through open windows in a stack, and quickly locate and select the one you want to work with.

 

Next, Vista allows you to search the items in your computer easily. On the start button, there’s this “Search” which enables you to search for your items much easier and much much faster than Windows XP. You just type any word and it’ll start searching for the files. I feel that this is one of the features in Vista that would hope to refrain users from using “Google Desktop Search”.

 

Another additional feature in Vista is the Windows Sidebar. It’s a bit similar to Yahoo! Widgets. There’s the clock, the calendar, weather forecast, notepad and a lot more. Again, another effort by Microsoft to prevent people from using Yahoo! Widgets or the Post-it for windows desktop.

 

There’s a list of items that are bundled with Vista; the latest Internet Explorer 7, which has the tab feature like Firefox. You can actually upgrade your IE 6 now as the latest version is now available. You’ll not really get used to the IE 7 initially as it’s quite different from IE 6. They say that they’ve stepped up the security in IE 7. So why not give it a try?

 There’s also Windows Media Player 11. It’s now in Beta 2 version. It was mentioned that new Media Player bring a whole new look to your digital entertainment. I would agree that it looks nicer. But if you are a hardcore music ripper of not original CDs, maybe you may want to remain using version 10. The latest version has this Media Usage Rights stuff which requires you to so-called verify the music license. Microsoft is helping the world to fight music piracy.

There’s also this Windows Defender, a newer version of Microsoft AntiSpyware. So far, there are only 3 anti-virus providers compatible with RC1; CA Anti-Virus 2007, F-Secure Corporation and Trend Micro. So it’s a bit risky if you are using RC1 now. Oh ya, about the Windows Games, there are new games for Vista like Chess Titans, Mahjong Titans etc. Minesweeper gets a new look too. It has more animations now. You can choose to have flowers to replace the bombs too.

Of course, there’s the other side of the coin. Firstly, you’ll need a lot of memory if you were to use Vista. Recommended would be 1-2GB RAM. Secondly, like XP when it was first released, a lot of softwares are not compatible with Vista at the moment. It’s a bit frustrating to know that the ATI graphic technology that I have in my comp is not compatible with Vista. Not to mention the pathetic number of anti-viruses softwares available now for Vista. Your computer will be more vulnerable to attacks for the moment. I guess I shall wait a while longer before I buy Windows Vista. In the meantime, I’ll spend more time to learn about the additional features in Vista. This RC1 will expire on 31 May 2007.

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This video clip was introduced to me by my friend. It’s an inspiring story. “Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whos sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.As this symbol of human hope spread accross the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person…”

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There has been news report by Today on the latest actions taken by the Recording Industry Association of Singapore (RIAS). Twenty-five new cases of illegal music file-sharing were reported to the Criminal Investigation Department days after police raided the homes of seven alleged culprits. The full article can be viewed at: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/149306.asp

Although such efforts by CID will be lauded by the music industry, I doubt the level of piracy in the region will decrease. What is the main reason behind the unending piracy? I would put it in this way. Consumers would like to have something that they want at zero cost. Although there are efforts by the recording/music industry to reduce the price of CDs and downloading of songs, people still reluctant to dig out some money to pay for the songs. It’s human nature, I would say.

Unless they can find a way to cover the costs (like getting advertising companies to insert adverts which I dunno how they going to do it [just a suggestion]), there’ll always be some money involved if you wish to have a legal copy of songs. Perhaps recording companies can try to offer free downloads, but to download the songs, one has to do something in return, say a survey. Then in the survey, there’ll be advertisements. They can earn revenues to offset their losses through such initiatives. Wow, it sounds so ideal. What if they fail? Then piracy will continue to dominate. But hey, look at YouTube, the free video sharing site. Google is paying about US$1.6 billion to get hold of the site. Advertisements will be inserted into the clips soon. So, this is not a bad idea afterall.

(I’m just talking crap. Haha.)

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Saturday- 7 October 2006. I spent the night under the stars (err, i mean under the thick haze) in The Padang. Why on earth I risked myself exposing myself to the zillions of smoke particles in the air? By the way, the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) index in Singapore hits the highest so far this year (around 100++), reaching an unhealthy level. Well, there’s this Asia’s Largest Outdoor Cinema Festival. Yeap, you read correctly. I went for an outdoor cinema; Nokia Starlight Cinema.

The outdoor cinema is unlike the usual cinemas where you sit on the comfortable cushion chairs, superior surround sound system, dark room except for the screen and of course the cooling air-con. At the Padang, we sat on the ground (on canvas), sound system was “okay”, there were visible lights (street, building, car lights)  around and well, it was a bit hot. The night view there is nice, especially the lighted Old Supreme Court. P/S: Not forgetting the new Supreme Building that looks like one in Star Wars at the right side of the old one.

Nokia Starlight Cinema is a yearly event and today was the last movie screening of the entire two weeks which started from 27 Sept 06 to 7 Oct 06. Well, which movie was screened? Err movies I mean. I spent my 5 hours there watching X2: X-Men United and X-Men: The Last Stand. I haven’t watched X-Men 3 yet, so this was a chance for me to watch it on the big screen. Anyway, I had a pair of complimentary tickets, but I ended up watching alone because didn’t manage to find someone to watch with. My sis wasn’t free, my friends were busy with studio project, school work and mid term tests. But I doubt they would want to watch under such bad haze even if they are free.

I reached there at around 7.15pm and there were quite a lot of people. Just managed to grab a spot near the back but oh well, anywhere will do. Then I waited and waited and waited. The movie was supposed to start at 8.00pm (it was stated in the ticket) and guess what, they screened it only at around 8.25pm. Darn. Oh ya, before the screening, I took a photo with some “X-Men”; Wolverine, Angel, Jean Grey and Storm. They were walking around in their X-suits. Yeah.

 

Well, movie started so I thought at least I can enjoy the movie but guess what, there’s this irritating guy in front of me and keep moving his head and position around. I had to move left, right, left, right. Why can’t he just watch the movie with minimal movements?

After the first movie, there was a supposed to be 20 minute intermission (toilet break). But as usual, they dragged for another 10 minutes. In the end, I finished watching at 12.40am. Since there wasn’t any more public transport, I took a cab home; paid a sum of $10.80 for the extra night charges. So, is this Nokia Starlight Cinema worth going? Well, it’s a good experience. Never in my life had I watched a movie on a big screen in the city under the stars. But I think one or two times is enough, (especially when you are watching alone). Anyway, I would still prefer watching it in the cinemas- it’s cooler and you don’t have to sweat while enjoying the movie. You can go for it next year but definitely not under such unhealthy condition- HAZE. I really hate haze!!

Look at the hazy view!

Oh ya, I think I was a bit too much in trying to risk my health. I went jogging last night at 12am around the campus when the PSI index was at its high level of 136. It was really hazy and yeap, I was a bit out of my mind!!!

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Mid Autumn Festival or also known as Mooncake festival is coming soon. It falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, and this year, it falls on 6 October 2006 (in the Gregorian Calendar). This is a date that parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. At this time, the moon is at its fullest and brightest, marking an ideal time to celebrate the abundance of the summer’s harvest. The traditional food of this festival is the moon cake, of which there are many different varieties. Not forgetting the big round pomelo.

The origin of Mooncake festival. Read on at Wikipedia

This year, I’ll be celebrating Mooncake festival in Singapore (My fourth time now). In fact, me and my fellow RAs just organised a Mid-Autumn Festival for our fellow residents. It was held in the grandstand at SRC. There were competitions which includes pomelo peeling competition (you should try peeling with your bare hands if you haven’t- it’s fun and err.. tough too). We also had mooncake tasting competition. Eat and guess the flavour. So easy, right? Haha. But, the highlight for the night was free mooncakes and lots of other finger food.

Me and my sis had our way of pre-celebrating. Take a look at my Piggy Mooncakes from my sister. They are just too adorable to be eaten. Don’t you think so? We had a fun time looking at the cute lil pigs. And we seems a bit unwilling to cut them into pieces. They are just too CUTE!!!! They are fat and round.

  

Here’s one baby pig. It looks more like a guinea pig to me. Tee-hehe Haha. Lala. So adorable!! I think I just can’t stop chanting about the pigs.

But we cut all of them up eventually. This is the baby pig with its head chop off. Sobb. Look at its eyes!!!

 

Me and my sis spent some time thinking of how to cut the pigs. This one is chop identically half.

They have to be eaten ultimately. And guess how pigs taste like? This baby pig taste like durian. Diao… Haizz. Seems like people are coming out with any sorts of flavour they can think of. The other two big pigs are lotus seed paste. Me and my sis share half of each pigs, plus two jade skin mooncakes. Can you see the baby pig’s head inside? It still looks cute even without the body.

 

And finally, me and the mooncakes. This is the “cutest” meal that I have ever eaten. Haha. Happy mooncake festival everyone and also to dad, mom and sisters. =)

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