VOIP

For the past few days, the topic "VOIP" keep appearing on my mind. I was exploring the benefits, advantages, disadvantages, substantiality and whether it is realizable or not.

VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. Basically, it means you can make and receive voice calls through the Internet protocol. The same protocol which you use to browse the Internet.

Since I'm free, let me blog my opinions on VOIP in Singapore.

Starting from the very basic, an account. Signing up for a VOIP account is free. I use Gizmo as my VOIP provider because it's reliable and working closely with Nokia.

VOIP phone. Some mobile phones in the market already have the capability to support VOIP calls. Alternatively, purchasing a VOIP phone that connects to the computer works fine and cheap too. Actually you can just use your computer's speaker and microphone to make phone call too!

Settings. This can get a little tricky if you are a little dumb. For my Gizmo on N80, all I need to do is to key in my username and password. The configuration is done automatically. The list of supported hardware and its settings can also be found on the website. Follow through and you won't go wrong.

Cost. According to Gizmo's price list, making calls to Singapore number is priced at 2 US cents per minute (3 SG cents). Logically, it's cheaper than what M1, SingTel or StarHub can offer now. 10 Euro dollars give you 500 minuter of talktime.

If you want people to call/contact you via your Internet number, you got to apply for it. Gizmo is charging 35 US dollars for a 12 months subscription (53.80 SG dollars). With this, anyone (with or without VOIP service) can call you with the Internet number.

While the number may look expensively high. Let me do the analysis.

Say, you buy 500 minutes of talktime a month. (Unused talktime doesn't expire every month) That's SGD 15.40. The Internet number is about SGD 4.50 a month. This is only SGD 19.90 (or round of to SGD 20) a month. Is this amount lower than your current handphone bill?

Sounds good? Time to cancel your mobile line and throw away the SIM card? Not really.

SMS? Sadly, VOIP is only for... voice. There's no option of you being able to send/receive SMS through VOIP. This is perhaps why SIM card is still a must.

Another problem is Internet availability. The whole Singapore is still not yet covered with wireless Internet. This means you cannot make/receive calls when there's no WIFI signal.

I suggest that the 3 mobile providers should start wiring Singapore with wireless Internet. This is the number 1 step that makes VOIP a success.

Next, providing cheaper and more competive cost for the VOIP services. This should of course include a wide range of value added services too.

Phone manufacturers (eg Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Panasonic, Motorola) should also launch more of VOIP mobile phones.

I believe that VOIP is the future of mobile communications.

I am Chinese

Yes, I'm a Chinese and I'm not afraid to let you know. I have absolutely no intention on hiding my race.

Some people I came across in life are ashamed of their Chinese roots. They feel that being a Chinese is a disgrace. They then began to watch lots of English show and try to immitate their speaking style and slang. "Yo bro, wassup!"

The improve of a nation marks the degrading of the people.

Now in Singapore, if you don't know English, you will be laughed at. But if you don't know Chinese, it's perfectly alright. In fact, if you know too much of Chinese, people would start to wonder if you are from China.

I admit that I'm not good in writing Chinese words but at least I learn and I didn't complain. There are many Chinese who don't want to learn Chinese.

Student. They always complain that Chinese words are too diffcult to write and remember because it's too complicated. Although most are comfortable in speaking Chinese, they are having lots of problem writing it. If you can spell "hippopotamus", how hard can the Chinese word "he ma" be? It's just the learning mindset.

Adult. The mindset of "Chinese not important" leads to the downfall of Chinese. True. In company, all documents are in English and even this blog is written in English. What's the point of Chinese? The point of learning Chinese is... you are Chinese!

I actually typed out two looong paragraphs on Chinese music and English music but you are not going to read it because I removed it. It seems so useless and off-topic.

I believe that all Chinese should at least be able to read, write and communicate in Chinese. Do you share my belief?

Donate blood

Donated blood the 5th ime last Sunday (24 Jun 07) at Tampines East CC. This is my first time visiting the donation center so early. Donation is from 9am to 3pm and I reached at 9.10am. The queue is longer than expected.

This time, I dragged and convinced Teck Thong along to join me in donating blood. Shamefully sad, Teck Thong's vein is too small for blood donation. The nurse explained that the vein would "collapse" if the thick needle is forced into the small vein. Collapsed? I don't know what it means but it certainly sounds scary.

My mum told me that someone wrote to the newspaper applauding the effort of blood donor. Despite this, my parents still don't want to donate blood. Either they are scared of needle or blood. Well, shaldn't force anyone to donate blood as it is suppose to be voluntary.

Why do most Singaporeans fear the idea of donating blood? Are they afraid of saving people's life or are they plain selfish? I wouldn't blame you if you fall under the "thin vein", "unhealthy" or "AIDS" category. But if your body is perfectly fine and healthy, go donate blood. Please.

If not for Joy who ask me to join her in donating blood in our school last year, I wouldn't be doing something this meaningful. It's a good feeling to know that your healthy red blood can actually save a life. Not many people in our class responded to the blood drive at TP last year. Other than me and Joy, Xin Fu is another good samaritan. Since then, I have been donating blood every 12 weeks.

At the beginning of 2007, a local news report reported that the blood in blood bank is low. Maybe it's due to the fact that more people are loosing more blood in accidents.

Don't wait till you are a receiver then you decide to be a donator. It's not too late to be a donor now.

My N80 is now IE

Nokia N80 comes in 2 version; the normal version and the Internet Edition (IE) version.

About one year ago, I received my N80 from my father. Back then, the IE version is not available yet. One month later, Nokia announces the IE version of N80. Selling away my N80 for N80-IE is a foolish idea. So I got to live with the "oldest" version of N80.

Few months ago, Nokia announces "Nokia Software Updater". It allows N-series user to upgrade their phone's software (firmware) version manually. No need to go down Nokia Care and wait for days for them to do it for you.

All you need to do is just go to this website: http://www.nokia.com/A4176089, select your mobile phone model and download the installer. Install the installer and run the programe. Plug in your data cable and follow the instructions on screen.

It will show your current firmware version and the latest available firmware. Continue through to download the firmware and install it.

IMPORTANT: NEVER DISCONNECT THE CABLES WHEN YOU ARE INSALLING THE FIRMWARE OR YOUR PHONE WILL SPOIL (BRICK). Good luck.

Now my N80 is officially N80-IE! The WLAN scanning on active standby simplifies the WLAN connection. It also comes with lots of new option to set up VOIP calls. It's working great! Finally, they also remove the shutter sound when taking pictures from the camera. Lots of new update and some minor tweaks. Ask me personally or if you want to know more.

Go a N-series phone? Update now.

Going for NS... soon

Soon, very soon, I will be doing my part as a Singapore male citizen. Serving the army and training to protect the nation along with many other heros.

In another exactly 90 days, my life will be restricted to serving the nation. No more long hours of Internet access, no more camera phone to capture beautiful moments around me, no more queen size bed to sleep on, no more delicious meals to satisfy my huger.

All I get is training after training with lots of males around me. That's so pitiful.

We the citizen of Singapore, pledge to serve our nation with pride, regardless of whether you like it or not, based on justice and equality. No, I'm not mocking at our pledge. It's just my view on NS that just happen to sound like our pledge.

Some people ask me "you scared or not". Honestly, nothing to be afraid or "scared" of. Every heroic man in Singapore got to play his part in protecting the civillian. Well, unless you are physically handicapped or mentally ill-ed. Quite glad that I finally got my enlistment letter. Most of my friends are enlisted in June, meaning they are in the camp already. Wonder how are they doing now. Some of my friends will be ending the torture in 1 year time. A small portion of my friends have done their NS.

Suddenly I remember I owe many people "some" thing. Owe Hui Ting an entry on "When Joy comes", owe Shawn lots of birthday presents, owe Sophia a testimonial on Laydio T-shirt. Not forgetting the entry I promised on my 6 years of primary school life. I can easily write up something on the entries I owe but it wouldn't be nice. I don't like to rush through writing blog entries. Writing an entry must be well planned and researched. Most importantly, I must have the "feel" (mood). As for Shawn's birthday present, wait I earn money first.

I will try my best to predict and prevent the most unpredictable accidents. Example, getting shot accidentally by camp mates, getting heat stroke after running, grenade exploding at me, lost in the jungle, falling down on the slippery shower floor, choking on food, urine on bed, freaked out by ghost. The list goes on and on. Yes, don't worry, I will be careful.

My mum is worried on the thing that is the most unexpected. She's worried that I might kill someone (or more than one). When I was younger, I had bad temper. Really bad. When things don't go the way I want, I would just wreak havoc. Of course, I am better now. If not you will see me in Boy's home or jail now.

The dark side of me. I might forgive but never forget. If someone seriously irritates me, I will sabotage him in the dark and make sure he suffers. Guess not many know that I belong to the revengeful type. Don't worry, not many people are worth my time planning the attack. If there's really bastards in my camp, I will not hestitate to give them some "happy hour".

2 years should be fast. 3 long years of life in Temasek Polytechnic seem so short. After deducting the holidays, weekends, sick leave and other off, 2 years of army life should be actually 1.5 years.

I didn't pass my NAPFA so I got to undergo a 4 week of hell training. It's not bad actually because you get to go in first then those who are fitter. You get to know the places well and see people "sua gu" their way. Being better familiar with the place gives you more advantage.

Lastly, hope there's more people with the same interest as me. It will be a nightmare if everyone is discussing on a topic that I have no idea about. Doesn't want to feel alienated.

15 September 2007.
BMTC School 1.
9.30 am.

Time control

Have you ever wished that you can control the time?

While on the voyage on bus to work yesterday, a primary school came into the frame of my eye. I then tell my friend, "nowadays primary school is so different from last time". He agree.

Do you still remember how your primary school look like? Well, I do. Taking a look at my primary school now, it's hard to imagine how much had changed. Things around us in our life are constantly changing. Some changes are too fast for us to accept, comprehend and decipher.

Sometimes I wish that I can have the supernatural power of time control. Pause the time and take a walk around the globe. Check out what everyone is doing at the time I paused the time. Slowly appreciate the things around me hoping to discover something different.

Even better if I can go back in time. I'm just like any other human being out there. We don't always cherish, appreciate and enjoy what we have now. What we have now is always been taken for granted for.

Don't you wish to go back in time secretly to witness your parents marriage, witness your own birth, see the childish you when you enter kindergarten, rediscover everything again.

Going further back in time, experience the World War 2 on the scene with 3^rd person view. Celebrate together with fellow Singaporeans on 9 August 1965. See Yusof Ishak in the flesh instead of on paper.

Of course I know it's impossible to go back in time or stop time. At least the current technology doesn't allow this to happen. Maybe 10 centuries later or 20 centuries later, it will be possible.

What will you do if you have the power to control time?

How to teach children?

I KNOW, I know, I know. I'm definitely not in such a position to discuss about how to teach children. I know, I am still not a parent yet but I have something I want to share.

Why do some parents like to punish and shame their kids in the public? Last week, I was at Simei (outside Eastpoint Mall) after doing my check-up at Changi General Hospital. While waiting for the lift to bring me up to the entry area, a mother was asking his son to give her his EZ-link card. The boy say that it's not with him. The mother panicked. Seeing that his mother is panic, the boy then surrender his EZ-link card to his mother. I don't know why the mother was so angry that she slapped her son real hard in the face on the right cheek.

Is it really a must to get so angry so small thing? Yea, the boy is mischievous. But don't need slap so hard on the face in public area right? After slapping the boy, the mother left angrily with the EZ-link card, leaving the boy crying alone. WHAT A MOTHER!

Well, the remaining of the story is not important so it will not be included in this entry. If you still want to know, just ask me.

I know it's hard to raise a child but at least don't treat your child like an animal. Teach, not reprimand. Give love, don't wait until it's too late.

At the very same place of the incident mentioned above; a week before it, an accident took place.

An 8 year old school boy is knocked down by a reversing truck, dying on the spot. Family grieving.

Refer to the screenshot of the news here:
- link 1
- link 2

People are crying over their dead child while you are making your child cry.

Not forgetting those physically/mentally disabled children. They are born handicapped yet most parents didn't abandon them. With efforts so hard, they still give the best to their child, hoping that they will be happy. Yet some parents are out to make their child unhappy.

DON'T SCOLD ME.

I'm not saying that it's wrong to scold or punish children. Of course, when kid is naughty, we should discipline them. If we don't discipline the kid when they are young, what will they become of if they grow up? Discipline them, teach them and educate them. A little louder voice is okay to make yourself look stricter. Some parents just scold, beat, slap, cane, punish, torture, mutiliate their children when they did something wrong.

Back in my old house, my neighbour (2 years younger than me) always get whipped by his father's belt when he did something wrong. Eh, come on man, you are killing your son here, not a wild boar in the jungle.

I understand that some people are saddist. They enjoy seeing people getting tortured or in pain. But parents? If you don't like children, just don't give birth to one. Lots of contraception techniques out there, just choose one or two.

A child is a gift of love.

Maybe it's not so easy to teach children. Maybe one day when I have my own kids, then I will understand the toughness. Maybe my thinking is too childish. Maybe, I'm right.

This entry doesn't fit the title but can't think of a suitable title.

How to teach children? Maybe someone should teach me.