HTC Sensation review

Today I've gotten myself a new phone. After reading intensively lately on reviews, and even comparing phones from friends as well as demo units.(Such as the HTC Wildfire, which I gave a kinda bad review.)

After testing out of dozens of smart phones such as the iPhone, HTC Touch 2/Wildfire/Salsa, I've concluded that all phones should only...

• Run either iOS or Android, A BIG No-no-no to Windows Mobile.
• Minimal of 600/800mhz processor speed for optimal performances.
• For bloggers: A good camera with auto-focus, preferably with flash.

And out of all, I've chose the HTC Sensation, my reasons are simple.

• It's more affordable than the iPhone
• Good quality product
• It runs Android, which is now pretty much the same as iOS
• It records videos in 1080p Full-HD
• Large screen
• Has analogue radio(Yes, uses less power compared to radio over a data connection)
• It's specifications are way better than the latest iPhone 4.
  

Here it is, my sweet sweet HTC sensation



One of the favorite reasons why I choose HTC phones, is that unlike iPhones, it's screens are all designed to be a concave inwards, minimizing risks of scratches.


What really astounds me is....it's video recording feature, Full HD on a phone? Even the iPhone only supports up to a normal 720p HD only. The only additional feature I wish the HTC Sensation have, is manual exposure settings.


This HTC Sensation has made my video cameras obsolete....HTC, I really have to salute you, even my cameras only support up to 720p, I'm really loving my HTC Sensation now.

You can view a video sample of it here(youtube link), Amazing quality for a phone.


Every purchase of this phone comes with a free 8GB Class 4 Sandisk microSD memory card, which is pretty decent, a class 4 memory card's transfer rate would probably mean 15minutes of uninterrupted Full HD video recordings.


Currently I'm using doubleTwist to synchronize music from my iTunes, available for both Mac and PCs free of charge, another reason why Open-source rocks.


Syncing everything, just like how you would sync an iOS device.


Unlike the HTC Wildfire, the dedicated search button is further away from my fatty thumbs, Now I can press the letter Q without accidentally pressing "Search".


Overall, I have nothing against this phone, really.

• Android market remembers my past purchases, somehow Apple's App Store for iOS doesn't.
• The camera supports Full HD video recording, that's some ass-kicking feature.
• My overall hours of using this phone, didn't lagged at all.
• The 1.2ghz processor speed, really ensures everything runs smoothly
• RUNS FLASH!
  

I'll be playing and buying more tech-toys to equip my HTC Sensation, indeed, Quietly Brilliant. Watch out for videos I'll be making in the next coming weeks.

On the other hand.....a free plug for my favorite telecom provider in Singapore!
STARHUB!

They are currently running an Android contest(Link)


Simply check-in to the outlets in the following date and times, got sure-win prizes leh! I'll be going down to the Bugis outlet these few days to get freebies!

TWISTED (撞鬼) + Swordsmen(武俠) Movie review

Over the weekend I had a chance to catch 2 chinese movies, Twisted being the premiere where I had a screen preview with the directors and cast on saturday, and Swordsmen with Mint on last sunday.

First. TWISTED (撞鬼), Courtesy of Omy.sg and Shaw

Synopsis:

The story of TWISTED revolves around a drug dealer who impregnated a girl, a pair of conmen who wants to turn over a new leaf and 4 cabin crews whose lives were turned upside down over a fateful night of drugs and booze:

Guan (starring Mark Lee) is a flashy, womanizing drug dealer. It was during one of his many flings that he’d knocked up Mimi (starring Candy Lim), who turned obsessive in getting his attention which led to a fatal end. Guan’s ruthless way unknowingly unleashed the devil in Mimi…

Through Guan, two horny cabin crew, Cavin and Randall (starring Cavin Soh, Randall Tan) got their hands on some drugs. Their game plan was to spike the drinks of their colleagues, Linda and Tracy (starring Linda Liao, Tracy Lee) during a night out at the club. Anxious to get fresh of the girls, the eager duo stumbled upon a freak accident. The incident soon snowballed and led to a series of unfortunate happenings, bringing about a display of animalistic survival instinct.

Fa (starring Zhu Mimi) and her daughter, Yi Ning (starring Joey Leong) were victims of her abusive husband. Unable to tolerate the abuse and traumas, Fa killed her husband. The vengeful spirit of her husband swiftly possessed Yi Ning to create harvoc. To save her daughter, she seeks the help of two mediums, who further complicate the issue.

Among these seemingly unrelated characters, their paths crossed and intertwined… Somehow, ill-luck seems to transcend the characters.

This is a story of individuals with fates intertwined and their paths collided. A series of twisted events that is a study on cause and effect and how our actions affect the people around us.

Watching with the cast and director, Chai Yee Wai, at the theater.


The good stuff I liked about this film, is that they chose to use mainly cantonese and a little Hokkien dialect throughout the whole movie, it's been awhile since I've watch a local film that presented such language, It's particularly good in a sense that, most films lately had been using PERFECT mandarin, it makes their film, "un-localized", you know we Singaporeans, mostly don't speak english or mandarin language perfectly.

the film's title in chinese "撞鬼" literally means, "Crashing into ghost". the film rolls around a 3part story, Particularly a drug-dealer(Mark Lee) impregnating a girl, a cabin crew getting into serious shit with drugs and booze, and a pair of con men(chinese exorcists) turning over a new leaf.

Since the title says that it should have something to do with ghost, it's sad to say that, the part regarding the cabin crews, seemed to have nothing to do with anything paranormal, thumbs down on this part.

Overall,

• Language(+1), for showing the true local languages
• Casting(+1), these actors are pretty darn good, glad they didn't reuse actors.
• Plot(-1), the story just doesn't seem, well fitted entirely, and I didn't get what's in the ending.

And now, let me review Swordsmen(武俠)

Ticket courtesy of Mint.


Directed by Peter Chan, starring Donnie Yen and Takeshi Kaneshiro, this is another film featuring Donnie Yen that I've enjoyed watching.

Best part of the entire film, actor Takeshi Kaneshiro managed to get a strong chinese accent out, I didn't realised he's Japanese till I saw the credits, He acted as Xu Baijiu, a detective.

Donnie Yen, being one of the actors I admire, I've noticed him since Shanghai Knights, which starred Jackie Chan(my number 1 favorite), He acts as a "repented" evil martial arts warrior who's trying to turn a new leaf, but the darn detective just wouldn't let him go, desperately trying to find out if he was responsible for mass murders years ago.

I know I can't reveal too much, and I know I can't be a spoiler, this movie to me, seems more like an ancient CSI-movie, instead of using weapons that shoots a projectile, such as a gun or an arrow, the entire movie sits around punches, yes, only punches, and occasionally some kicks.

In the end, the duo whom hasn't been in good terms, became a team to help Liu Jinxi(Donnie Yen) to fight off his past allies, whom are fishing Liu Jinxi out for quitting the evil gang.

Just another typical baddies-turned-good to fight off more baddies film, Meh.

But the fights, the twists, the plot and the charm of Donnie Yen, made the entire film exciting, Even though I was just reading through the subtitles due to the strong chinese accents in the film.

Overall

• Plot(good, but typical story found anywhere else)
• Language(though I've spent the entire time reading subtitles, I do enjoy the strong chinese accents)
• Actions(YES, the fights, the techniques, just watch it!)

So, now you guys have 2 good chinese movies to catch, why not both? Just like how I did over the weekend.

My adventures with Crizal + FREE SPECTACLES GIVEAWAY

No no no .....Crizal isn't a girl, but she has been my favorite companion over the year, Ever since she was given to me....Click here to read about it.

I've been looking through my Crizal for over a year now, yeah, always looking through her outlines....



A little 2 or 3 weeks ago, I was invited to "test-out" my Crizal at Universal Studios Singapore along with other Crizal users(yeah yeah, what a slut right?)

Courtesy of Vibes Communications and Essilor International

The other guy, Ben, who's Crizal onto as well.


Ok ok, Crizal is one of the most amazing spectacle lenses I've ever used, imagine a lens that repels water, dust, resists smudges, glare and scratches.

I've been an abusive user always, till this date, with minimal damage over the year.


While my normal lenses are....pretty damaged.


Crizal allowed me to .....appreciate HollyJean better.


Shoot shoot.


Oh yeah, eventually HollyJean gave in to my charm....


As well as to notice a platform that has no flooring at the end, and to notice that there isn't a door as well at one of Sci-Fi city's area in Universal Studios Singapore.




It was like 9:40am on that faithful saturday morning, the crowd wasn't here yet, so, a few of us, who had the guts to ride the scariest roller coaster in Singapore took the Battlestar Galactica ride, Cylon side. Ben, HollyJean, Rynaque, SzePing and I took the ride.

No cameras or loose objects were allowed, hence I couldn't take much photos, but hey,
someone took a video of the ride some time back!
(Video by yonkiedoodle)


THE RIDE WAS AMAZING, but wasn't as scary as I thought it would be though. (acting tough).


The damage done to my Crizal was pretty minimal, the hot and dusty morning, the man-made mist from the ride.


After riding the Battlestar over and over till the few of us with guts got bored, we decided to have a little.....extra fun.


WE WENT TO TAKE A FRIGGING MERRY-GO-ROUND, with tiny seats meant for little kids.


Small ride seats.....



I ended up getting my pants ripped after that.



Everybody couldn't help but to notice that I need a tan....badly.


So I went tanning.....(yeah, who goes to USS to get a tan?)


Showing off our Crizal lens equipped spectacles with the rest of the ambassadors.


By now, we had rode like a dozen of the rides, we got hungry, and the crowd came.


We managed to get an outdoor seat.



I've gotten myself a Crispy burger set that cost me 3 times of what I can get out of USS.


The chicken wasn't crispy, it was soggy, disappointed, but I gotta make the best out of it.


Stuffing shoelaced fries into my burger, SMART!


I pretty much hanged around Ben the whole day, we were bored of the rest of the rides, we should had saved the best for last, shouldn't had rode Battlestar Galatica as the first...


Good thing there's a show to catch while we rest, the Water World, based on the movie with the same title.


At the end of the day, with a wipe off my old and rough T-shirt, Crizal is so easy to clean and maintain.


And on the side, How can I not live with VitaminWater? They taste light and great, I even filled it up with some water to get the little of what's left inside out.


At the end of the day, my spectacles would usually be blurry, with smudges all over, without Crizal, I might had just missed this. I couldn't help but to notice how much pubic hair there is at a toilet near the Battlestar Galactica ride, maybe they all dropped their balls? (Whooops, inappropriate).


In the end, we all had fun, haven't we?


Whether I'm enjoying views on a mountain top in Malaysia,


Meeting new tiny friends,


Or getting caught in the wrong moments,


Or forcing down my Crizal spectacles to keep somewhere,


Nothing much goes wrong with it at the end of the day.



All it takes is a once a day quick wipe around my sweaty shirt, and it gets cleaned up.
Of course it won't get scratches, it's scratch-resistant!


Ah, life is so much better with Crizal, if you want a pair of free Crizal glasses(up to s$150) as well, Simply just leave a comment in this blog article and tell me why you want one.

Conditions

• You are in Singapore
• You require spectacles to see properly
• You cannot comment only 2 words "I want"

*only 1 winner unless otherwise stated*

Hurry up! And comment as much as you like! Or else Ben will be sad forever.

HTC Touch 2 - The latter years

Almost 2years ago, this was the first smartphone I've ever had, courtesy of HTC, now all my friends are using super-smartphones, while I'm still stuck with probably the worst mobile OS ever made, Windows mobile 6.5, I need a new phone....be it an Android or iPhone.....

Everybody around me is using Whatsapp while I'm left behind as technology improves.


*cough cough* Sponsors please? Just saying.....

Sharing the Happiness with Coca Cola

Photos: Mint Leong, Angele, Yong Wei(me)

2 months ago, I attended a private event held by Coca-Cola Singapore, on the 8th of May, to celebrate Coca Cola's 125th anniversary.

I wanted to blog about it, but I couldn't find anything solid to blog about, I knew I could do something more, especially with the gift pack I've received(below).

With some close blogger buddies.


Of course I had lots of fun at the party.


The fun includes writing junk post cards to friends at workplaces.


Also, I received a VIP-gift package, filled with some limited edition stuff for collection.


But, I'm not a collector, I don't have the space in my room or anywhere in the house to display it, if I kept it, I would just be collecting more dust on it, but I really appreciate the fact I got a hold on some of the.....historic artifacts given by Coca Cola.


And through Facebook, a guy named Joe, an avid collector of Coca Cola stuffs, got in contact with me after finding out that I have one of the few rarest collectibles in the world.

Problem is, Joe is...

1. Living in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, And I'm in Singapore.
2. Sending via mail/courier will be expensive, and some items in the collectibles contains liquid, Which I think is not allowed for air freight.
3. interested in buying it from me, but I do not like selling away things I've gotten for free.
   

On the other hand... I...

1. Do not want these items to just collect dust in my house.
2. I don't wanna sell it.
3. I love doing charity.
4. And I haven't really traveled much in a long time.

So, I organised an overseas trip with some of my closest friends, to Malaysia! particularly a trip to Genting Highlands and Kuala Lumpur!

On the bus we go! (2 more fellow behind the camera, 8 of us in total)


Of course, I decided to do something really special, instead of selling, I've requested Joe to make a donation instead, to any charitable organisations in Malaysia.

A few of my friends(including Joe), commented the same phrase "I think what you're doing is really unique and special, I've never seen someone doing that before!".

the receipt, an amount of RM125(quite a big sum in Malaysia's currency), 125 symbolizing Coca Cola's 125th anniversary.


Here's the happy and excited Joe, Whom I met at One Utama. The gift pack came with limited edition Hutchinson Bottle & Aluminum Bottle, Coca Cola's limited edition Singapore postage stamps and a book of Coca Cola's history.



Some of his other collections, amazing, I've never seen so much different coke anniversary bottles all together before.



Of course, Joe, knowing the fact that I've traveled over 350kilometres to reach him, gave me a quick tour around.

Ah yes, WTF car registration plates are common around Kuala Lumpur.


First stop, Batu Caves!


Qian Ying, Angele and I took a ride in Joe's car, while the rest of the group hanged out at One Utama.


The stairs up to the caves, GOODNESS, around 300 steps up!




Halfway through, panting......erm....yes that's a monkey behind me.


I was really afraid of falling backwards, the stairs were really steep, and my footing wasn't getting a good grip either.


All of us held onto the parapets as we climbed.


A little more than half the steps, leads us to this conversation area, the Dark Cave.


really dark...Due to time constrains, I didn't get to tour the dark cave, visitors must register and pay, I can't exactly how much, but it's around RM80 for a 3hour hike into the dark, a few kilometers deep. According to reviews online, other travelers said it's worth the tour, I'm definitely coming back to tour it soon!


No lights, no electricity inside.



We continued climbing, and finally reached the top, which is the entrance for the Hindu temple.


View of the temple side of the caves, Oh yes, free entrance to go into the cave's temple.



Another flight of stairs to reach the "top"!


A victory pose before reaching the top! I haven't had this much exercise in quite a while.


Chasing the pigeons, headed back down after a quick tour.


Fresh coconut juice to cool off and rehydrate!






We went to this area.(I don't know why I didn't take any photos....), Heavily forested area.


In front of FRIM(Forest Research Institute Malaysia), the gallery was closed for the day, we were too late, couldn't get to tour inside, so Joe drove us around to look into the forests.


Emphasizing on the time constrains I had We had to catch a bus back to our hotel at Genting Highlands, the last bus that departs from One Utama was at 7pm, it was already 6pm while we went around FRIM area.

That pretty much concludes the time I had with Joe in Malaysia, without Coca Cola, my trip wouldn't had been possible, thanks and kudos to Coca Cola, I've also made a good friend overseas!

Share the happiness!


Erm.....here's a shocking photo of Estelle! HAHAHAHAH =P Love you babe!