Purple Going Orange??

Remember my purple phone? Hi-ace got for me as a surprise since I was really obssessed about purple things? For this year anyway.. I’m thinking next year would be a good year for pink or maybe orange.. Hehehe I wonder.. Maybe I could get him to buy me an iPod or a digital camera in pink or orange?

Anyway, about my purple phone, its a Sony Ericsson K770i, Cybershot series. I really really love it! Sure its not loaded with features like the iPhone or a Blackberry or an HTC phone but I’ve come to love it mainly because it, yes! purple. It has the features that I need like 3G, Bluetooth, radio, RSS reader and what I love best is its 3 Megapixels camera. I have a digital camera but at times I forget to bring it around and this phone comes in really handy. The picture quality is almost at par with one taken by a digi cam, like the photos I took of Royal University of Phnom Penh (IFL). I use it more often that the digicam now I’m thinking of buying a new sd card so I could store more.

I’m thinking of not replacing it even if my color choice next year would be pink or orange.. but I kinda dig the orange one on the photo..What do you think?

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Techno-Savvy and Gadget Trendy Khmers

Seven years ago, when I told my brother that I was marrying my Cambodian boyfriend and we plan to live in Phnom Penh, he had this incredulous look in his face that just made me burst into laughter. Whhhatt??! Can we even call you on mobile?

My brother is a gadget-worshiper, a fashion-slave, a trend follower and for him Phnom Penh, being unheard of for decades is simply like being in exile. Some people could be really so naive and he still gets that incredulous look whenever I tell him Khmers are techno-savvy and really trendy when it comes to gadgets and they could easily be compared to their more affluent neighbors.

Perhaps so because Cambodia is a poor country and still on the path of development, that’s why people usually assume they don’t have the latest in gadgets and technology. But they couldn’t be more wrong. I’ve seen LCD TV’s here selling like hotcakes, there are mobile phone stores in almost every corner, shops with the latest laptops, computers,ipods,and every other conceivable gadget and gizmos can be easily found here. You’ll see teenagers and yuppies sporting über trendy PDA’s, the latest laptop models, iPhones. In fact, I love going shopping here for my gizmos coz they are much cheaper and I can easily cruise around looking for different choices.

Gee, even small internet shops here sports those flat screen monitors! Even when it comes to home appliances they all have the latest. No, they rarely use the box type airconditioners, they prefer those stylish split type aircons. Perhaps so because they have missed a lot. Like they didn’t get to enjoy the era of betamax, the black and white TV, the analog mobile phones etc so they jumped right up and they are enjoying the latest technology gadgetry.

Me? An Electronic Gaming “Semi-Addict”!

One of the things I obssess about are electronic gadgets. Among these are electronic games. I am not a super dedicated electronic gamer but I do enjoy playing every now and then. I remember in my “younger”years, my parents used to admonish us from playing with electronic games. That time, “electronic gaming” for us meant having a brick game. I really have nimble fingers which is really handy when it comes to typing and making fashion accessories, and all this thanks to my years of playing electronic games.

Times are changing though. Although, electronic games can still be destracting if you get addicted to it, but now these games have evolved not just for entertainment. The recent versions of interactive hardware or softwares are now played for challenge, educational as well as fitness purposes too. Playstation, Nintendo and xbox 360 are among some of the best gaming systems offering a myriad of features and technological innovations for the gaming enthusiasts.

Electronic games are one of our favorite pastimes and bonding activity with our child. I love strategy, card and boards, puzzle games while my husband likes fast-action arcade, adventure, flying simulation games. Our daughter too has been trying out some game programs using gaming to teach reading, writing, math and other basic skills.

Playing electronic games either on your own or with other gamers is certainly a fun way to relieve stress, to indulge in virtual reality fantasies.

Spam Glitches

I hate spam. (No not the canned food!) I’m sure most bloggers are familiar with it and I know a lot of them who are seriously pissed with spammers. It’s beginning to grate on my nerves too. Everyday, the first thing I would do is to sort out and reply on my blog comments. And everyday too I am greeted by hundreds of spams. I have more than five blogs so I think you can imagine how frustrating it can get…

I have Akismet installed for this wordpress blog and it has been a big help but still there are some legitimate comments that goes to the spam folder so I still end up checking it. It has been getting worse lately and not a day goes by where I have to weed out at least a hundred spam comments.

Grrr! Spammers be gone!

DirecTV..a New TV Viewing Experience

Though I’m not a TV addict I do sometimes watch TV occassionaly just to unwind and to catch up with what’s happening around the world. When there are no good programs to watch I find myself enjoying flipping on the remote and switching channels or if not that I also enjoy watching commercials.

There are a lot of channels now available on cable tv but I was really interested when I heard about direct tv or satellite tv. DirecTv provides crystal clear, digital-quality viewing experience. A huge difference between direct tv and cable is that DirecTV offers almost no downtimes since it uses satellite systems instead of cables which at times need some service and maintenance.

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Help for Gadget and Technology Klutz

Are you clueless when it comes to gadgets and new technology? A lot of people are and I used to be one. Gadgets are becoming more and more necessary and its getting all the more complex for us, mere humans to comprehend. Gadget advisor is one site where you could get as much help as you can to overcome being a gadget and technology klutz.

Even at this time, I am stupefied at the number of gadgets we have at home and one gadget that really amazes me is the ?Logitech universal remote where you’ll have control of all electronic devices in your place. Now wouldn’t that be convenient? It is for me as I always misplace remotes.?

I am also online most of the time and though there are an assortment of browsers around, I used Firefox more often because of the flexibility it offers as well as plugins that gets more things accomplished for me.There are a big number of top extensions for Firefox, all you need to do is to search for it, read reviews and try out which ones work best for you.

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Mobile Phones and Seniors

Mobile phones and gadgets are now getting packed with new cool features and twists that you can practically do almost anything with it. More features the more complicated it gets specially for seniors who most of the time prefer having just the basic functionality.

My father won’t have anything to do with mobile phones though he has a mobile phone he doesn’t even bother learning how to use it. When he needs to make a call or send a text message, he’d call other people to do it for him. He says he can’t be bothered learning those complicated buttons and besides the keypads are darn so small and he could hardly see it.

My mom is a bit more receptive to new technology and takes time to learn (and I really mean time – took her about a month to learn how to use a Nokia 3310). And when the phone won’t work anymore coz she dropped it sometime she had quite a dilemma if she’s going to replace it or not.

I’ve been surfing a bit awhile ago and to my surprise there are still phone designers and manufacturers who came up with mobile phones with older people in mind. A lot of seniors have deteriorated visions, some are forgetful and have memory lapses, some also have hearing problems, and some just would want a simple and basic functioning mobile phone. Check out these phones for seniors:

SENS by Takumi Yoshida

The “Sens” phone by designer Takumi Yoshida targets this elderly crowd, and those with vision problems. Sens sports tactile keys that are easily distinguishable, even by the blind. The nearly blind will benefit from the lighted sides that help convey different alert messages.

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Low-Priced Laptops @ Asia’s Biggest Computer Fair

Asia’s Biggest Computer Show opens this week in Taipei and computer makers are showcasing their lines of low cost PC’s. Most of those on display are priced at less than US $500. The five day trade fair also known as Computex Taipei will begin tomorrow, Tuesday.

Jane Tseng of the Topology Research Institute explains the reason why the trade fair is now showcasing low cost computing equipment. “Initially, low-cost PCs were designed for poor children in emerging markets, however, PC vendors found demand also from developed countries which they had not previously targeted. Since such laptops are thin and light in weight, they have become the second or third PCs of some individual users.” she said.

Asustek Computer Inc., one of Taiwan’s leading computer makers unveiled last October its first low cost brandname laptop “Eee PC” targeting children, elderly people and low-income users in the developing world.

Weighing only 0.89 kilograms and installing with a 7-inch screen, the first Eee PCs feature compact mobility, wireless capability and large flash-based storage capacity. They are priced at a range of 300-500 US dollars. Asustek sold at least 350,000 Eee PCs in the two months after it hit the market. The company sold 650,000 units in the three months to March this year and is estimated to sell up to five million this year. The better-than-expected success has encouraged Asustek’s rivals to follow suit.

Also to be seen at the trade show are products featuring futuristic WiMAX products, green IT products, innovative gadgets, and new generation items.

More than 1,700 exhibitors, up 28 percent from the previous year, will be hoping to attract an estimated 35,000 buyers from around the world. To meet rising demand, the trade show for the first time will be held simultaneously on four venues, three at or near the Taipei World Trade Centre and the fourth at a newly established exhibition hall in a city suburb.