Google.. on the road to World Domination.

According to Slashdot and according to Business 2.0, Google is planning to build a parallel universe Internet!

So, if you don't want to read the article, let me explain what is parallel Internet. Google has invested alot in these few years for dark fibre, these dark fibre is the "network connection" that never in service, they was installed in DOTCOM era. So, Google got a bargain for cheap and fast connection. Now, they want to build a GoogleNet by these fibre, user can use/enter Google's network by using free Internet access (by Wifi?) and joy-ride on GoogleNet, so what is the benefit to Google? Yes, that's right, all our connection is monitored by Google! Honestly, most of my Internet activities already invoked with Google, mail, search.. etc etc. I don't really care about that.

Technorati Tags: Google

Paris Apple Expo Countdown...

While I was reading MacGrass yesterday, I realised THE Apple Expo is coming very soon, the badges should be here this week or next week the latest. According to numerous rumours website, this Expo is most likely:

1. iPod Update (New colour ipod mini, or ipod mini with flash based drive)
2. PowerBook Update (Dual core?)
3. New consumer item (Airport Express Video? Unexpected item?)

Hopefully, it'll be more exciting than the last time I visited the Apple expo! Paris... see you soon!

Technorati Tags: Apple

Safari and Animated GIF

If you have used Safari and a regular forum visitor, you may notice the performance hits when you got a whole page of animated GIF! Apple has improved this behaviour in Tiger, but still, comparing to Windows's Animated GIF handling, it's still a long way to go. I know the problem about Quartz, PDF and Animated Element, but still, performance hit for some animated GIFs is really an embarrassment when new switcher asked why Safari is slow when loading animated GIFs or Flash.

Now, something even worst! A animated GIF that can kill your Safari! Gosh, I really hope while Apple fixing this bug, please also think a solution for quicker animated GIF, use less resources and less sluggish.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Internet, Mac, MacOSx, Safari

Long Weekend...

We usually don't have much holiday in UK, except some very odd holiday like May Bank or August Bank Holiday, no meaning, just for the sake of holiday. Luckily, MatMat got 2 days off too, hopefully, the weather will be better these few days!

My very first oath.

Due to a mis-posted certificate, my old school demand me to send them a form to declare that I never received it, in order for them to re-issue me one. However, the declaration has to be signed and witnessed by a magistrate, a Commissioner of Oaths or a solicitor. So, most common of them all, solicitors! I don't really know what to expect, the least thing I expected has happened! I have to swear a oath in front of him, hand on bible, in the reception of their office, THAT really surprised/scared me! Except a few oaths in Boy Scout, in front of other persons, I think this can count as my first legal oath, the most frightening of all!

Jobs in UK.

Alright, that's life, once I made up my mind to go back to Hong Kong (I was very resist about that a few months ago!), and suddenly, so many events is coming up! I like to plan ahead, way ahead and think of every possibilities that can be happen, but seem two out of ordinary things have happened (Murphy's Law, yay!). First one, about MatMat and I can't talk about it now, but second one, I came across a job ads in UK that is very appealing to me.

For all person who knows me, they know that I like to work in ISP/Telecom company, and I have had worked in these companies before and had great impression. Today, out of the blue via a chaos at my ISP - PlusNet, I visited other ISP for a alternative solution even I am days away from leaving UK, I found a job at one of the ISP which is very very interesting to me. It is a Network Engineer job, that I feel I am very capable of doing! Linux, Domains, Networks and Servers! Wow, I am living around these terms! Perhaps, I should give it a go, as it is a "fate" I saw that, if they don't hire me, then I can go back without any regret, however, in a very slim chance that they hire me, what SHOULD I do? I know it is too early to tell, but I told you, I like to plan ahead!

To Leave or not to Leave? That's the question.

Intel CPU Roadmap...

Intel just announced their strategy for the CPU line up in the coming years, it is confirmed that all CPU will be dual-cored and use far less power than current CPU, seem the hope of getting a dual core Apple laptop that runs for over 10 hours is possible in foreseeable future!! YEAH! Can't wait the first Mactel Desktop and Notebook from Apple!

For more news, go to Anandtech!

Technorati Tags: Apple, Mactel

Google Talk?

I can't wait the Google Talk go live! So many rumours and MatMat-Sense about this new IM, IMO, most things came from Google are always good (Gmail, Google Group, Google News)! For now, I can use the iChat to connect to Google Talk..

How to connect to Google Talk.

Technorati Tags: Google

Gadget/Tools: USB 2.0 to IDE Cable Version 2

Just saw a USB to IDE Cable in Gadgeteer, I really wish I have one of these a few years back, it'll save me a lot of time when fixing people's PC! I had uncountable amount of time just to take out the HDD and plug it to other PC to test, if I have one of these, I can just plug it to my laptop and do all the fixing I need! No problem screw and unscrew!

Technorati Tags: Gadget

Small update about me

Seem we are quickly approaching the end of August, BUT.. I still have too many things to do in this 2 weeks. E.g. many forms to submit to department, some widgets that I promised others, preparing the Paris trip next monthly, planning with MatMat about the events that ARE coming soon (very cryptic, as I promised MatMat don't tell others) and most important of all, my thesis.

Arr... Headache..

Bad Luck, Tired, Many Forms and Bureaucracy

Title says it all. Hopefully, it won't turn into depression..

RTHK Podcast is live!!!

Seem the speculation is right, RTHK could be one of the Apple's Podcast Partner. Their Podcast site just went live, seem their current approach is to group all program into one Podcast RSS, hopefully they can do something about it and use different feed for different programs!

RTHK Podcast

Technorati Tags: Apple, Podcast

Hunting Safari Memory Leak...

You can help Apple to build a better, sleeker, smaller browser by helping them! Like this one, just use the browser and find the memory leak, report to them and it is fixed! Now, you have a smaller (memory-footprint) browser, good for both!

Why wait! Help Safari: We’re Hunting Memory Leaks

Technorati Tags: Apple, Mac, MacOSx, Browser

Professional Hong Kong Podcast - Podcast 即將推出本地 (香港) 節目頻道

From iMacGuru (Probably an exclusive news!).

消息透露，蘋果將聯同媒體合作推出正式的 Podcast 本地頻道，並於本月 18 號於記者招待會正式宣報各頻道的詳細資料。到目前為止，據知已有最小 3 條頻道與本地著明媒體合作。

筆者認為 Podcast 雖已擁有成千上萬的頻道，但大多數只是一些個人成立，或是 Blog 之類的頻道，真正持續更新的大多仍是著名媒體。因此希望蘋果與本地媒體合作，為我們帶來更豐富的音樂節目！

Before we can get HK iTunes Music Store, we now have PodCast channel that dedicated to local! What an uplifting news for Apple, HK Mac Users as well as many PC "soon-to-be-Mac" users. The significant is that, most HK people think Apple HK has done nothing (or too little) to promote Apple brand, however, this news surprise all os us! This could be a important news for whole Asia or even World for Apple Podcast Partner! I really hope RTHK'll be one of them. More professional Cantonese podcast.. PLEASE!

Can't wait tomorrow!

Technorati Tags: Podcast, Cantonese, Radio

a Mac for USD$199?

Many places are reporting a story about "How to build a $199 Mac", sure it has a lot of "grey" software (i.e... BT Download, Hacks), but it is a interesting read for many "Pro-Mac" PC users.

Honestly, you prefer something like this:



or this:

Technorati Tags: Apple, Mac, MacOSx, Mactel

Slingbox - Place-shifting TV..

Photo Courtesy of SlingCommunity.com

Since the introduction of TiVO (aka PVR, Time-shifting TV, Personalise TV.. whatever-u-call-it), seem another revolution of watching TV is coming! I just came across a device called Slingbox, basically, in a simple terms, it allows you to watch TV anywhere in the world as long as you have broadband access. It currently only supports Windows only, Mac, Windows Mobile and Palm version is coming soon. So far the review on the Internet are blessing the device and think it has a great future ahead.

Personally, I think it is not very useful for me, as I don't watch TV in the office, however, as a HK people living in UK, I am fancying the idea of watching HK TV in UK, it is always a goal for me to stream TV from HK to UK, but so far it is not very successful, the weak point is always the hardware. Windows is not a good platform for this kind of processor intensive event, even I had built a dedicated one for this kind of TV streaming service. So, a purpose-bult device should behave better than that Windows box. But, as I am soon going back to HK, maybe I should buy one and ask one of my mates to stream TV back to HK? Gosh! TopGear in HK! Nice!

Or... Is it easier to BT?

Technorati Tags: Gadget

Widget Input Focus And Search...

Today, I have been spent half a day to solve a problem about focus in a input field, I used:

<input type="search" ...

Instead of

<input type="text" ...

I prefer Search type, because Input "Search" type is a unique function to Safari/Dashboard, it allows incremental search as well as storing previous search. However, seem I found a bug that make that unusable in my widget.

I am developing a widget allows user to enter Hong Kong stock quote in widget, normally, you'll expect the widget focus the input area ALL THE TIME, so once you want to enter another quote, you don't have to touch the mouse and click the input area. To achieve this result, you can use .focus() in Javascript. However, seem focus() is only work in normal input type, IT WON'T WORK in SEARCH! I have tried again and again with many small exmaples but no, I can prove .focus() is not working with the Apple specified Search type. Om.. time to write a bug report...

Technorati Tags: Apple, Dashboard, MacOSx, Widget

Official: British trains are the most expensive and uncomfortable in Europe

One more example to prove BR is more expensive since I typed my last Birmingham vs Venice blog, according to this report:


http://www.sundayherald.com/51261



UK Train are the slowest, most uncomfortable and the most expensive in Europe (and most probably the worst in the world!). I am truthfully agree with this report, considering the attitude of British Rail, 15 mins delay is considerably acceptable and there is no rubbish bin, storage locker in Train station (well, yeah, security problems), I don't yet found any place worst than British Rail. But, please don't start mention UK Bus services with me..... if you want me to moan a few more hours!!

One thing that's wrong in that article:

GNER’s high speed tilting train refurbishment as examples of best practice.

No, there is no titling train in GNER, only Virgin has tilting train available and they are not even tilt in most tracks.

One good thing about UK Railways System is the ticket system, they are so confusing that sometimes you can get a bargain ticket, takes my Paris Trip for example, I can get a Advance Booking Ticket from Lancaster to London Euston First Class for only £20 per person, considering a normal Saver Return Standard Class that cost you about £30 per trip. Great, isn't it?

Technorati Tags: Railway, Travel

Birmingham, UK vs Venice, Italy

These 2 places are like hell and heaven, don't ask me which one is hell and which one is heaven, but one of them is only 2 hrs drive (train) from my home, another one is thousand miles away. You may think it would be cheaper for me to go to Birmingham, no, you are wrong! wrong! wrong! To go to Birmingham, I need to pay £40 for a return train ticket, a direct train, no fuss. To go to Venice, I need to first take a train to Manchester Airport (cost £5.80 return), then here is the meat, take a low-cost airline "Jet2" to Venice (cost £29), a total cost of £36!! Wonderful. I should consider to do my shopping in Venice now, as it maybe cheaper to go to Europe than go to any Big Cities in UK!

That mean, a trip to Venice before I come back is inevitable!

Technorati Tags: Jet2, Travel

Mac OS X on any PC (Part 2)...

I have been following the development of OS X on Intel closely, the same time yesterday, people were only downloading a VMWare image torrent (that means, slow, cumbersome) but today, they are already found a way to boot that image natively (much much faster), I believe, by the same time next week, they may product a customised DVD that allow people to install their "customised" OS X... Time'll tell. Time'll really tell..

Technorati Tags: Apple, Mac, MacTel

Paris, here we come...

It is not a good idea to visit Apple Expo in Paris after I go back to HK, so I decided to go to the Expo once more, it is probably the last time in this few years . One of the main reason is to hear the great Steve Jobs keynote. Luckily, this time MatMat is going too, I remember last time it was very expensive when I went alone, I paid the same price for a single occupancy double room! And this time, we planned way ahead, the Expo start from 20 Sep, so we can get cheap Eurostar tickets, cheap train tickets to London as well as cheap hotel room. Lucky!

We really hope something exciting will be announced in the Keynotes, and leave us a good memory, last time, Mr. Jobs only announce iCal and something else that I can't really remember. And more importantly, I also hope MatMat and I can have a wonderful time in Paris, this is probably the one of the last Europe Trip for us. Once we go back to HK, it's not a good (and cheap) idea to come back to Europe, it is just too expensive! Maybe a trip to Japan is more feasible.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Keynote

Mac OS X on any PC...

Seem someone has opened (or cracked? ) the Pandora box, Mac OS X can now runs on any PC. I think many people has expected that but just when. Seem the time has come, but still the instruction to install OS X on PC are still very greeky, not for any faint heart. But just give these people some time, a underground OS X installer may available in a torrent site near you!

Link: MacRumors and HardMac

Technorati Tags: Apple, Mac, MacOSx

Me, Myself and MatMat

Seem the Summer is nearly to end soon, it is first week of August, that mean we are just entered the second half of 2005, seem MatMat has a bit of worry about the fact that we are going back to Hong Kong very soon. But for me, I have every faith that we can overcome every obstacles (there is an s in obstacle, not one but many ;), MatMat brought up a topic about staying in UK is much more "free" than in HK. It leads me to think if it is really the case? Perhaps MatMat's subconscious don't like Hong Kong, which is understandable. Seem for MatMat, the most happiest time in her life is the moment after she moved to UK a few years ago, then she met many friends which share the same interest, share some great time with her, and she enjoyed what's called freedom. And in this time, she met me :P, I can't say I gave MatMat most happiest time in her life, but at least our memory's "happy rating" is second to none!

I had gave MatMat every reassurance that nothing will be changed after we go back to HK, except we are going to live in separate place. To live under same roof, that's only one way to go (hint hint!)! But anyway, seem MatMat got many ideas in her head that something'll go horribly wrong, especially between us. I always a believer in "Once you want to accomplish anything, nothing can stop you", and I am also THE pessimistic person in the house. Is it that I am over optimistic this time, or MatMat is just too pessimistic?

The clock is ticking and we are destined to face THAT obstacle (that's a secret between us and MatMat and some of my close friends may know what's going on :D), now or later. And I think the time has come, for our own good, I rather it has come sooner rather than later. Once we resolved that, like most stories' ending, we'll live happily ever after with a small puppy :D.

Radio by Phone.

Just heard it from Radio, they have a Radio over Phone (RoP??) service, if you are in HK, you can dial 2272 0000 for all RTHK radios, realtime! Cool!

Technorati Tags: Hong Kong, Radio

Apple's Micky Mighty Mouse

To my surprise, Apple released a "Proper" mouse today, 3 button with a special squeeze button. Honestly, I am hoping a mouse with more buttons, just think, back/forward in browser, exposé for all windows AND desktop, dashboard and scroll, how many buttons on the mouse do I need? 101 perhaps?

Technorati Tags: Apple, Mac

Elevator hacking - Engadget - www.engadget.com

Elevator hacking - Engadget - www.engadget.com

Normally, a hack usually mean nothing to 90% of people, like a hack for getting some new features from a program or getting an Easter egg (don't ask me what is an Easter egg!). But this one, probably the most useful one for the place I came from - Hong Kong, I believe every buildings in Hong Kong have one ore more lifts, this hacks should save (or waste) millions people time..

Chinese Domain Name... Part 3!

OK, those Chinese domains I registered are working now, from now on, you can visit this page by:

香港人.暫時.hk

Or, you can use the following URL for WithoutWidget.

軟件.暫時.hk

All Chinese domains should be working in all browsers EXCEPT IE. If you are interested in a Chinese Domain, visit:

http://cdntt.hkdnr.hk/

Technorati Tags: Chinese, Domain

The Last Week of July.

Quite a while since I've written something about myself, as I was quite busy in the last week of July, a report, some HK widgets, some partnerships widgets, a friend that came over at the weekend, taking care MatMat who was ill etc etc. MatMat has recovered and this coming week may also very busy too.

While the last week, the only one thing that mentioning was a scary drive to Leighton Hall at 11pm. I had driven most Lake District style road, i.e. narrow, single lane, many hairpin turns, small road signs, no street light, I usually drive this kind of road in a good day to visit Lake District. And while I was driving that kind of road, one thing always come into my mind, "What happen if I need to drive this kind of road at night?" BINGO! I finally came to this nemesis, however I didn't expect that kind of road before I started my journey.

If any one of you drive, you will know what happen when you drive at pitch black, you need to turn on Main Beam (高燈), once an on-coming car near, you need to switch to dipped beam (大燈), but as a driver, you also know you may not act quick time to turning the main beam to dipped beam, and yes, you'll be blind! It may be ok when you are in Motorway or A road, but in a narrow lane with only 1 car width lane, it is very dangerous, on top of that, the speed of that road is national speed limit (60mph), I've no idea who can drive in that road with 60mph, but it just worry me when someone else REALLY does, but lucky, no one dare enough to drive 60mph in that road.

Another scary bit is Cow, maybe I watched too many funny home videos, while on my way to Leighton Hall, 3 Cows have blocked the way, what do u do? Use the horn? Flashing light at them? But what happen if they attack you? I don't know, so I decided to flash light at them 3 times, and wait. Finally they decided it is not many fun to block a car a t night, so they walked away after 2 mins! Good!