When I was in Jakarta, my littlest sister one day threw tantrums to her boyfriend because he had not replied her text messages for several hours. Or not @-replying her on Twitter. Whichever it was.
I was like, “Seriously, sis? Maybe he’s just busy doing something else?”. And my sister shot me a blank look, depicting something like “Even if he’s busy he should be able to reply me”.
Isn’t that the bane of today’s world? It’s unbearably instant (borrowing phrase from my friend Putu). Decades ago, lovers will send each other love letters and wait weeks, even months, for a reply. To even receive a reply is a lovely surprise.
Right now we have text messages, IMs, Twitter, and many other applications that claim to bring people closer together, but create attention-deficit impatient people instead. We don’t even send long e-mails anymore (except perhaps when your groupmate is acting really obnoxious. SMU joke – if you don’t get it never mind). When was the last time you sent an e-mail like a real mail? Something like how are you, how is it like at your place, what has been going on, and yadda yadda yadda. Never? I am not surprised. Too often the longest emails I received are from my aunt who just caught the e-mail forwarding virus (yes, in 2010!).
Do we not have enough time to stop and wait? Or are we expected NOT to have time? Because everything is unbearably instant…
Here’s a suggestion. You don’t even need to send a real hand-written letter via post (do people even know that postal service still exists?). Try sending long e-mails. Write to a friend. Tell him/her how you are doing, what have you been up to. Ask him/her about what he/she has been planning to do, or even about his/her quirky hobbies.
CommunicAsia2010 and BroadcastAsia2010 is Asia’s premier business event for the global infocomm technology (ICT), broadcasting and media industries. It’s held at Singapore Expo from 15 – 18 June 2010.
The exhibitions feature almost 2,000 exhibiting companies from 57 countries and regions, keen on unveiling their latest offerings.
(info from CommunicAsia’s press release)
On June 16 I had the privilege of attending the blogger’s session from Skype at CommunicAsia 2010. I have Daphne from XPR to thank for that.
I was so in love with the Skype booth. It’s so cheery, with sky blue and rainbows all around!
Isn’t that just pretty?
We were guided around the booth by Peter Parkes, social media lead of Skype, who explained to us the new features/functionalities of Skype.
Yes that’s me listening. Hehe.
Basically what Peter informed us is the availability on Skype on other platforms other than the more traditional computer (PC/Mac alike). Skype is now available for mobile devices (Symbian phones, iPhone), and even TV!
Yes, TV!
It actually supports HD video, and the camera/microphone combo has 4 microphones and is able to pick up sound from 45 metres.
Example of the video:
There was very little grain/noise. It was quite impressive.
However the Skype on TV is only available as embedded software within select TVs. Currently Panasonic Viera HDTV supports it, with the requirement of a communication camera (sold separately). Not sure whether it’s required to use Panasonic’s own communication camera or it’s possible to use other compatible cameras. Peter also mentioned Samsung and some other brand of TV to embed the Skype software. Not sure about the details.
And then of course there was Skype for iPhone and Symbian phones. Skype in the Nokia N900 is not even a separate application, it’s actually seamlessly embedded in the phone. When you scroll through your contact list, for example, you can see the option “Call using Skype” appear. Interesting! After the event, I just had to download Skype to my Nokia E72 and it’s pretty easy to use! It can also merge the Skype contacts and the phone contacts together, but it’s not yet seamless like N900′s.
Screenshot:
Peter also talked about Business usage for Skype. Basically Skype will help businesses (Peter mentioned especially small and medium businesses) save costs on communications. Makes sense, because Skype can enable people to call, chat, send files, and even do conferences/group callings at the same time! The new feature available at Skype Business is Skype Manager, which is a web application you can use to manage the usage of Skype inside your organization. For example – if you want to manage how much Skype credits to give to your employees. You may go to Skype for Business website for more details.
Oh, and I think the Skype Manager ad is so cute!
By now you might be wondering – even if it’s on mobile phones, how exactly can I call people without Skype? Understandably, Skype has traditionally been used for free Skype-to-Skype calls but apparently it can also be used to call landlines/mobiles. You can purchase Skype credits to do so, or even better, you can use Skype subscriptions for unlimited calls to countries/Europe/World. Pretty good deal I think! Sadly, the Skype subscription worldwide that I got excluded Indonesia (my home country), so I said good bye to my unlimited calls to home. Sigh.
Giveaway! (updated!!)
Yeay! Now it’s time for the giveaway!
I have 2 Skype iPhone covers to give away!
(They both have the same design, only different colours – white/black)
To enter the giveaway contest is simple!
Leave a comment at this post with your name and (valid!) email, stating what you use/you can use/you plan to use Skype for.
And that’s it! Yes, it’s that easy.
You can also have another chance by tweeting about this giveaway. Please see the directions at the first comment below!
Some T&Cs:
The last entry of the contest will be accepted at 23 June 2010 23.59 PM25 June 2010 23.59 PM. Winners will be announced at latest by 30 June 2010.
This contest is open to people who reside at Singapore or have a Singapore mailing address.
Postage fee will be borne by me a.k.a postage is freeeeee
One person (with one e-mail) is allowed one entry via comment on blog post and two entries via Twitter (directions at the first comment below!).
There will be 2 winners. Winners will be chosen by random numbers (Random.org)
Colours will be determined by random too.
Looking forward for your entries!
Note: A number of other blogs will be having the same giveaway, I’ll post links to their giveaway’s so you can have more chances of winning one!
I think it’s particularly bad because this happened after years of peace and great economy growth for Indonesia. And of course it’s bad because it happened just right after elections. Some people say it’s a rage from those defeated president hopefuls but hey.. Don’t point your fingers just yet.
So screw you, whoever planted that bomb and thought it was a great thing that you’re destined to do (I’ve received reports that they were suicide bombers but I can’t confirm just yet – please read the news). Because you know what? Indonesia unites and we will seriously screw you.
I am angered and full of hate, but I remember that hate was the thing that started it all in the first place. So come, let’s not scoop down to their level. Resist and they’ll be gone. Hopefully forever.
Stay away from my Jakarta, my Indonesia, because it rocks and it can be better again. We’ve come out stronger and stronger after a series of unfortunate events and there’s no reason that we can’t come out stronger again.
Oh and to you Jakarta citizens who only lamented that Manchester United cancelled their plan for a friendly match in Jakarta because of the bombings, screw you too. People died and some are badly injured and you only care for that? Just how egoistic can you be? Look I know it was a hard hard effort to even get the tickets but hello! People died! Can you imagine if that happened to your family? A person’s life wasted makes all your reasons for lamenting of cancelled MU match void.
In case you’re so ignorant, my dear fellow Indonesian readers, Indonesian presidential election is being held right now as I speak (type).
I should have written this piece long ago, I know. But what do you expect of me? Thank you 20 visitors who came yesterday
As I’m now over 17 (and subsequently have left the teen years. Nooooooo ), I’m eligible to vote and I WILL vote.
The golput (golongan putih – white party, the people who did not vote despite being eligible) was a shocking 29.1 percent of the eligible voters list. I do not know why. Perhaps some couldn’t do it because they live in a remote area where travel to the nearest ballot box is hard. Perhaps they have some disabilities hindering them from voting. Physical and mental alike. These are perhaps-es. But I do know some people chose not to vote.
Because (they said) one vote will not make a change. Because one vote doesn’t matter. I tell you what, my friend. Maybe it doesn’t. But 29.1 percent of 171,265,442 (that’s the total number of eligible voters) means 49,677,776 so a big HELLO! It matters! (statistics from kompas, btw)
So I don’t understand, my friend. And yes this is especially directed to you guys who call yourself my friends. If you are my friends at this stage, most of you should at least be in a university. So I have a right to call you educated. You’re educated, so I don’t understand why you will let the so-called uneducated people whose votes are dependent on how much money the campaigners give them decide your country’s president.
I know one thing for sure. I don’t want to be a part of approximately 40 million people (after substracting people who might have valid reasons – in my own opinion) who are ignorant and do not want to be a part of making a better country to live in.
Perhaps it’s not time for CHANGE yet. However I believe in hope of a BETTER place.
I’m getting off my chair now to go to the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore to register my vote.
I think no other expression can express my feeling better than “What the hell?????”.
My heart aches for you, Mumbai. Especially your people who are hurt, saddened, and brought down. This is just too familiar to me. Some unknown people just came, hurting everybody, with unknown reasons.
They might think they’re doing something great. They might think they’re contributing to something big.
Big stream of pain, I see. Big cloud of terror that just hurt everybody.
I cry for you, Mumbai.
I pray for your peace. I pray for safety, and mercy.
This is not a pun. I WANT SAMSUNG INNOV8 RIGHT FREAKING NOW. NOW!!
Ahem.
Ok, so I was invited to the Samsung’s first blogger night (after shamelessly e-mailing Daniel from Samsung to be included. WAHAHAHA. Srsly!)
I arrived late because I had class until 7 PM. After class I hurriedly checked gothere.sg for directions hahaha!
Apparently Vivocity is quite big I spent quite some time trying to find the Samsung Flagship store.
I finally found it and quickly sat on a sofa beside Rinaz and listening to the presentation. Was quickly impressed by the specifications.
Photo courtesy of Nicole.
I mean, seriously, 8 megapixels? With smile shutter and blink shutter? I WANT. My current camera Sony DSC T70 has it, but then it will be great if my phone has it so I don’t need to bring 2 gadgets (heavy!).
And the great news is.. It uses Symbian S60! Woohoo! If there’s one thing that always makes me hesitant to “jump ship” from my current phone manufacturer, it’s the operating system. I’m so used to Symbian and I think it rocks. Plus, using Symbian means opportunity to add applications developed for Symbian. Yeay to Symbian!
So after the presentation, came the most exciting part : The Game! (and when you remember about it, you lose)
Photo courtesy of Nicole.
Anyway, we were supposed to take 3 pictures with our cameras (remember they asked us to bring camera in the invitation?) about the things that inspire us about Samsung Innov8.
The entries were then pasted together on this board..
Photo courtesy of Nadnut
Ok I forgot to take a picture of my own submission Nevertheless here it is, created by ScrapBlog. Haha. I RULZ.
And.. And…
I didn’t win. Sighness.
Anyway, it was a fun night. It has a relaxed atmosphere and I enjoyed myself. It was my first blogger event ever and well, what an event! It’s not big or extravagant and stuff but it was fun, to the point, and no fluff.
Probably it’s the timing that makes it inevitable that people think it is, and I have to admit that in some way or other the post has triggered me to write “Dear Bloggers”. In any case you still think I’m lying or sort, I actually wrote about my concern of writing something “meaningful” and “valuable” almost 2 years ago in The Burden to Write.
My intended message in “Dear Bloggers” was actually this : Don’t be afraid to blog, don’t stop blogging.
Blogging is good, and it’s not discouraged to start young. Sure, your writing won’t be too good, but at least you try. Ever heard the cliche “You’ll never know until you try”? There’s a reason why it became a cliche : it’s true.
Doing writing constantly and practicing to express your thoughts will only do you good. Nothing bad will come out of that, really. If you don’t believe me, you can just browse my archives from years ago and compare it to now. You might see that my writing has improved.
And I think that I missed a point in Dear Bloggers. Being a blogger is one thing, but being a likable/popular blogger is another thing. “Blog what you want, blog responsibly” is just the basic of being a blogger.
So, you want to be a popular blogger? Or at least recognizable blogger? Well make your blog interesting, and take care of your readers. The first thing of all is to know your readers. Position yourself as the reader, and ask yourself, what do I want to see? What will interest me? If you’re not planning to make a niche blog to attract certain groups, the least you can do is to add some flair in every posts and always remember to give sincere effort to each of them.
My friend Isaiah just posted a comprehensive summary about how to be an interesting blogger (or at least be a person who has an interesting blog). Do read up, since it’s one opinion from a reader (hell yes there are bloggers who are not blog readers. Selfish.). Alternatively, I urge you to read up Problogger. This is THE ultimate resource of how to make your blog interesting. Visit there, and read the archives. No need to swallow it all in one day. Blogging in an interesting way takes time, as it’s a habit. Habit takes time to form.
So all in all, my message is simple, really. Don’t stop blogging. Don’t be afraid to blog. And remember the two things each time you’re going to update your blog : Blog what you want, but blog responsibly.
), I’m eligible to vote and I WILL vote.
I spent quite some time trying to find the Samsung Flagship store.
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