Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor

Posted by jepoyzter under Music

Hi Katie! Thank you so much for the comment you posted. Yeah Yael Naim’s song “New Soul” is really cute. Have you seen the video as well? You should check it out too.

Also thanks for introducing Regina Spektor and Fiona Apple. I didn’t know them at all. But I recognize their songs. Thanks for Google and YouTube for enlightening me more.Hahahhaa! 

Anyway for some who doesn’t know them (like me). Here are some video grab from YouTube.

Regina Spektor’s - Fidelity

Fiona Apple’s - Across The Universe

Yael Naim’s - New Soul

Posted at dawn.

Posted by jepoyzter under Random Post

Hi, it’s been quite a while since my really last blog post. Blog post, meaning me really talking.

It’s dawn around 5:15 AM and I just woke up 2 hours ago. I was trying to go back to sleep, but I can’t. It’s been like my sleep trend over the past 3 weeks or I rather say since the year started. I also lose weight over the span of a month. I just checked and I am 10 pounds lighter. I don’t know if its good news or bad, but I am a little bit concerned with myself over these past few months. I am concerned with health (which is I always neglect), career, and my well-being.

Eversince last year, I quite felt a little bit lost. Work is really starting to bore me. I know lots of us feel this way. Sick and tired of the usual routine, and looking for more adventurous experience to improve ourself. Not just being tied on your desk, stare at your monitor and just wait for something pop-up on your email asking for request jobs. So I started to be more busy when work at the office is starting to slow down. Took some freelance jobs. Which is I thought is really exciting. Though I really enjoyed doing freelance it at some point coz I make money out of it than what I earn from my real work. Now I am having problem dealing with the pile of work from office and at the same time my part-time job (which is really I consider as my prime job). Sometimes my mind just wanna throw up.

Another thing I am dealing with is depression. I know I don’t look like depressed. But I feel it always, specially when I am alone in my room (like now). When I wake up in the middle of the night just trying to get back to sleep and mind started to wander off. I kinda felt all alone. I starting to doubt people around me, are they really friends or not? And I know it’s not a good attitude. But thats how I feel much lately. My social life is at the edge. Most of my friends here in Taiwan already left and some are leaving soon. I am now learning to be a man in an island and trying to survive. How long can I last?

I am quite having hard time dealing with all of this lately. I might be needing a psychiatrist.

I have so many plans for this year. Theres this one that I am really trying to accomplish for the longest time, and could be a turning point for me. A rest period to take myself out of this stressful and depressing environment. A time to explore what I do best and what more is in-store for me. I am optimistic about it. I know that I can do it.

At last a piece is already out of my chest. I was trying to blog about it way back in December when I started being serious with writing and posting on this site. But there is something that is holding me back. If you can just look at my Wordpress CMS. I have tons of articles in drafts. Most are about my experiences that I didn’t started of finished writing. I had this trouble of expressing myself in writings and I am not confident with my writing skills. I have to work it out. But thanks for reading and the comments. I think I can now start writing like this. Thanks.

There could be life on Mars!

Posted by jepoyzter under Space

Someone forward me this article: Life on Mars? Amazing photos from Nasa probe reveal mystery figure on Red Planet

Perched on a rock, she could be waiting for a bus.

But if so, she could be in for an awfully long wait.

This photo of what looks remarkably like a female figure with her arm outstretched, was taken on Mars.

Read More about this article.

Loving Colbie Caillat

Posted by jepoyzter under Music

I know you heard of Colbie Caillat. Whoever doesn’t know about her must be persecuted. Hahahaha… Really she’s HOT! HOT! HOT!

Ok, for those who don’t know her. Let turn over to our ever reliable source of info Mr. Wiki. According to Mr. Wiki.

Colbie Marie Caillat (born May 28, 1985 in Newbury Park, California) is an American pop singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Malibu, California. Her father, Ken Caillat, co-produced Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and Tusk albums; Caillat recalls being around the likes of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie as a child.

Caillat is noted for her MySpace profile which led her to become the number-one unsigned singer in her genre for four months. Her popularity on the social network was partially due to her song “Bubbly”. Her profile has garnered over thirty-one million plays. For the week of July 17, 2007, “Bubbly” was featured on the iTunes Store as the free “Single of the Week”. The promotion coincided with the release of Coco, her debut studio album. Caillat was also spotlighted by Rhapsody during the 2007 Black Friday Sale at Best Buy.

According to her MySpace profile, Caillat was first inspired to start singing at age eleven when she first heard the Fugees’ 1996 version of the song “Killing Me Softly”, made famous by Roberta Flack in 1973. Her MySpace profile also cites that, though trained at piano from an early age, Caillat didn’t begin playing guitar until age nineteen.

I just watched her newly released video “Realize”. It’s quite a low budget production. But who cares? Just watch her video I grabbed from Youtube below. Enjoy!

Yael Naim

Posted by jepoyzter under Music

I think you already heard of her. No? Oh come on… you’ve been humming to her song since you watch the Macbook Air ad. Yeah! It’s her song called “New Soul”.

According to Wiki:
Yael Naïm is a French-Israeli singer who is most well-known for the song New Soul, which was featured in the debut commercial for Apple Inc’s brand new MacBook Air presented at Macworld 2008.

She was born in Paris in 1978 to Jewish Tunisian parents. At the age of four, she moved with her family to Ramat HaSharon, Israel. She released her second album, Yael Naïm, in the fall of 2007.

Her song “New Soul” is really catchy and really suites for the new Macbook Air. Sigh I like her voice even though I only hear one song from her.

Just listen to this song “New Soul”, mapapaLSS ka!

Lyrics:

I’m a new soul I came to this strange world,
Hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take.
But since I came here felt the joy and the fear,
Finding myself making every possible mistake

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

I’m a young soul in this very strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake.
But why don’t please trying to communicate
Finding just that love is not always easy to make.

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

This is a happy end
Cause’ you don’t understand
Everything you have done
Why’s everything so wrong

This is a happy end
Come and give me your hand
I’ll take your far away.

[Refrain]:
I’m a new soul I came to this strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take
But since I came here felt the joy and the fear
Finding myself making every possible mistake

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la….

A Day of OFF!

Posted by jepoyzter under Random Post

This post is quite written randomly. So sorry if its quite a mess. Thanks for reading.

Today, I took a day off from work. Quite feeling lazy and dizzy when I woke up. So I took a few more hours of sleep and get up around 9 o’clock in the morning. I can still make it to office even I wake up that time. So took me 30 minutes before I come to a decision that I’ll take a day off.
So my morning is not that quite good. Felt dizziness, and my eyes are quite dry and its irritating. So I send an email to my manager that I’ll not be able to come. I need to relax.

Eversince the release of the new apps for iPod Touch, I just cant help it that I can’t upgrade mine. I talked to Bro. Larry and Allan, if they can find a way for me upgrade my iPod since iTunes Music Store is not available in most Asian countries. Grrrrr… So looked and looked for ways to get rid of my excitement. So I came up with an idea, why not use a iTunes Gift card to upgrade? Hmmmm… I’m quite clever. Now the problem is how can I buy one? I can’t buy online using my credit card, because you must have a US issued card before you can purchase anything from Apple store or iTunes music store. So thatsmy problem… Now, I turn my hope on eBay. Maybe someone is selling gift card. At last, I found someone selling $25 worth of iTunes Gift card. But it is my first time to try buying stuff on ebay, and I am quite nervous to do some transactions online. Even purchasing item from well known OS commerce sites like Amazon or Yahoo. So, I said what the hell. I bid and send the money online. But I didn’t use any credit card. I use my ATM. Here in Taiwan you can use your computer as ATM machine. You just buy a card reader from a bank, or sometimes banks make it as give-away items. So I send the money through Online Banking. Isn’t that cool? Hehehee

I was quite excited about my iTunes card. I thought I’ll be able upgrade last night. But the seller says that she doesn’t have any cards right now and I should wait till morning to receive it. I kinda get furious and I text her back and ask if she has anything with her right now. I mean I would buy $50 if she has one that time. But she didn’t reply. GRRRRR…

The next day, YESTERDAY MORNING. I got an email and she send me the code. Now I have to upgrade my iPod NOW! NOW! NOW! Then seems like iTunes all of a sudden having this connection time-out problem. I am afraid that I already enter the code then says connection time out. So is it just a waste of $25? So I tried for so many times, and then at last. But wait, I have to review my .Mac account. Crap, I don’t have any US address. I can’t use my friend’s address in California and I can’t find my aunt’s home address in Florida. Now I am panicking. Last resort, I have call my grandma and ask my aunt’s address. Too 10 minutes long distance call to Manila before I got the address. So much work…. hassle….

My dilemma didn’t stop there. Now I already top-up my card to iTunes music store and bought the January upgrade for iPod Touch. But I didnt see the new apps on my iPod. Where is it? Where is it? Told myself, I didnt just waste money and time for this. Where the hell is it? I am really furious. So I look for way to sort the problem out. In the end, after 2 and half freaking hours. I had my iPod updated. GRRRRR…

Oh well the only thing that not working with the January Update for iPod Touch is the map. SIGH… everything else is working perfectly.

The next thing I did. Worked on some of my freelance projects. Which took me so long because of my busy sched, and I promised that I’ll deliver it on Monday. SO MONDAY it is.

Yesterday, I also forgot to have lunch. I didn’t even felt hungry till 5:00 PM, when I accompanied Jernie to change his Windows recovery disc from chinese to english at ASUS service center.

Went around Taipei Main Station to look for bluetooth headsets and my next phone.

Since I am already in Taipei and Jernie already wet back to his dorm. I called Francis to watch “Sweenie Todd” hehehehe… Actually the movie is so so… I just loved the music… story is not that bad.

Heres another OFF I wanna share. Francis told me that GIGABYTE lay-offed some employees yesterday. He’s quite shocked about it, and asked me lots of question. SIGH, I think I should really get out of here. Here, I mean Taiwan. GOOD LUCK!

Thats WOW! Steve Jobs 2008 Macworld Keynote

Posted by jepoyzter under Tech & Gadgets

Macbook Air leaked out! No! hahahaha…. spend sometime to catch up with Steve Jobs keynote 1:00 am Taiwan Time. Chatted with my online owl friends Allan and Larry. The anticipation is finally over. And here whats in stored by Apple minutes ago.

Of course it wouldnt be an ordinary keynote without updates on sales record for its products over the last quarter. The fascinating blah blahs.

1. Time Capsule - Back up on the go! Yeah thats really revolutionary. But too late for me I just purchased a 500Gig hard drive last November. But this is quite cool, coz it wireless. Time Capsule for Time Machine. Hehehehe

• Availabe in 500 Gig and 1 TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA server-grade hard disk drive
• Length: 7.7 inches (197 mm); Width: 7.7 inches (197 mm); Height: 1.4 inches (36.3 mm); Weight: 3.5 pounds (1587 grams)
• 802.11n Enabler for Mac
• Mac and Windows Compatible

SRP in Taiwan: 1TB for NT $17,900 , 500 GB for $10,900

More: http://www.apple.com/timecapsule/

2. iPhone - sad to say no 3G iPhone yet, but current iPhone owners will be feasting on some new apps. For those who had there iPhones cracked maybe you want to wait for the next crack.

New Features: Location based Wi-Fi Maps, Web Clips, Multiple SMS, Rearrange Home Screen, plus more.

More: http://www.apple.com/iphone/gettingstarted/guidedtourupdate2/large.html

3. iPod Touch January Update - Good news and bad news. Good news is there are additional apps for Touch devices. Bad new have to pay $20 USD for the upgrade. Crap. The question, how do people outside US or countries who can access iTunes store? I am in-deed needed this update.

New Features: Mail, Maps, Weather, Notes, and Stocks.

More: http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/

Lastly….. drum rolls.

4. Macbook Air - the latest addition to Macbook Family. This is really the WOW part. As in! I can’t believe when I saw how it looked like. Very schick and oh so thin. Steve Jobs even compare it to the Sony VAIO TZ series. Thats really “Thinnovative” hahahaha…

Key Features:

• Avalable in 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 80GB 4200-rpm PATA hard drive or 64GB solid-state hard drive
• 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM onboard
• Full-size notebook encased in the 0.16 to 0.76 inch of sleek.
• Sturdy anodized aluminum
• 3.0 pounds
• Glossy 13.3-inch, widescreen LED backlit display
• 1280×800 screen resolution
• Full size keyboard with backlit key illumination
• OS X Leopard and iLife included
• 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 headphone jack, and 1 micro-DVI port
• Battery stands for 5 hours wireless productivity

SRP in Taiwan: 1.6 Ghz, 80 GB for NT $64,890 / 1.8 Ghz, 64 GB SSD for NT $111,900

More: http://www.apple.com/macbookair/

Pricey!!! Pricey!!!

So, thats it… will be waiting for reviews now.

It’s so….. tempting…

Posted by jepoyzter under Tech & Gadgets

Quite looking for my next gadget, but not that too pricey. Since, I am quite saving for a trip this year. Hopefully.

Thus, this is what I am looking for, for a very long time. A bluetooth dongle I can attached on my iPod or any PMD (portable music device) for wireless audio streaming. Now that they are already available and waiting for me to snag one. Should I buy it or not?

Concept is quite simple have your bluetooth dongle capable of audio streaming connected to your iPod and have your bluetooth headphones and presto. Music on the move.

Quite pricey though for my budget. I was expecting around $3000 NT is enough budget for both the dongle and the bluetooth earphones. Though my current Sony in-ear headphones are still working. But having a bluetooth headphones are much more convenient specially when you don’t like having wires all over your body.

So here are my selections:

Let start with the headphones:

1. Sony DR-BT30Q Stereo Bluetooth Headset

This clip-on style headset also features an integrated microphone for hands-free mobile phone use and a remote that controls all the basic functions of your Bluetooth device. The built-in rechargeable batteries provide up to 11 hours of music listening and talk time, plus up to 100 hours of standby on a full charge. The DR-BT30Q/S is compact, lightweight and comes with a retractable cord for optimal convenience and portability.

It is quite like my Panasonic heads I bought 2 years ago, and now laid rest in peace. I love retractable cords easy to organize. No need for wrapping it over your device, or no need for wire organizer coz it already came with it. Plus a microphone col. This means I can also use it on my phone.

2. Sony DR-BT10CX Stereo Bluetooth Headset

These earbud style headphones also allow you to stream music with Bluetooth-enabled A2DP devices. Enjoy up to 11 hours of music listening and talk time, plus up to 100 hours of standby on a full charge¹. The DR-BT10CX is compact, lightweight and comes with a clip-on transmitter for hands-free communication.

This one is much more fancy that the first one. Same capabilities, but lacks something to organize the strings that you put on your neck. Hmmm…. but this one is cheaper.

3. Sony TMR-BT10 Bluetooth® Adaptor/Portable Transmitter

Listen to your MP3 player and other non-Bluetooth-enabled gear wirelessly with the TMR-BT10 portable transmitter. This universal adaptor can add stereo Bluetooth streaming functionality to any music device with a stereo mini plug input. The TMR-BT10 has a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery that lets you listen to wireless music entertainment for up to 11 hours on a single charge.

Yeah, thats it portability. Now they are speaking my language. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. That facts that it only transmit audio, but still it will work for me. I am just worried about the battery. Like most battery even though they are rechargeable, how long will it last? Are the batteries replaceable? hmmmm.

4. Sony TMR-BT8IP Wireless Transmitter for iPod

This convenient transmitter lets you enjoy your iPod® music wirelessly on a compatible Bluetooth® sound system. It doesn’t use a battery, and draws minimal power from the iPod. Basic functions can be controlled from a compatible Bluetooth headset with AVRCP compatibility. The compact size and simple operation make the TMR-BT8IP transmitter a must-have accessory for true music lovers.

This one is for iPod use only. Now thats one problem. But what I like about it is it doesn’t need any battery to be used. Like plug and play bluetooth dongle for computer. It draws its power from your device it self, and note with minimal power consumption.

So guys help me out here…. Though I already have very own selection. Maybe you can change my mind. Thanks in advance.

There’s something in the air.

Posted by jepoyzter under Random Post, Tech & Gadgets

Hmmmm something cold is coming.

Just a day more for the much awaited Macworld Expo.

Macworld Conference & Expo is a trade show dedicated to the Apple Macintosh platform with conference tracks held annually in the United States, usually during the second week of January.

Ever since the existent of the iPod, the iBook, the Powerbook, the now the Intel Macs. Macworld Expo is one of the most anticipated event of the year. Giving excitement to Mac fanatics all over the world.

This year there have been speculations about some new and exciting products. Some says, its a new portable Macbook Pro, other says its a new 3G iPhone, or a bigger capacity iPhone. And I am here hoping they wont release a higher capacity iPod Touch for now, coz I just got mine months ago.

But this year its quite different. This year’s Macworld doesn’t just talk about what latest product will Apple Inc. be releasing this year. But there are also rumors about Steve Jobs stepping down as CEO. Say what? Actually I first heard about it this morning when I was talking with my colleague about the upcoming expo. I said, “Will you watch live feed Wednesday morning?”. He says, “No”. Then followed by “Steve Jobs is resigning”. HUH? What the hell. He says, “Let see Apple’s stocks fall.” Then he told me its just a joke but there are rumors. So I visit some famous community sites and blogs about Apple and read some articles.

According to a post from Dan of uneasysilence.com.

“We know that Apple has been secretly working to find a suitable replacement for Steve Jobs ever since he underwent a successful cancer operation in 2004.

…..

As you can see, the simple fact that the FONT is different on the banner - it indicates that Apple is changing.

Our official prediction for Macworld 2008: Steve Jobs will announce a phased retirement passing the reins of Apple to Phil Schiller or Jonathan Ive.“

Read the whole article here.

This is really unexpected. But who knows rumors are just rumors. I hope its not true. But if its true good luck to Apple. Hope it would not drive them to the stone age.

By the way I saw this cool form on the net via  www.bureauofcommunication.com. They are conducting this contest by filling up the form you see below. Quite cool eh. Its my prediction for the upcoming Macworld. Hahaha

The Classic Games…

Posted by jepoyzter under Random Post

Isn’t it fun to reminisce those childhood memories?I grew up with my cousins all my childhood days. With my 3 aunt’s children in a 3 townhouse apartment, all in all there were 10 of us. My sister and I lived my grandma and together with my aunt and her 3 daughters before we moved to the next door. It quite fun living with relatives, specially you have lots of cousins to play with. My Lola is quite strict with us, we are not allowed to go outside to play. Whenever she caught us playing outside, she would count to ten and everyone must be inside the house. Or else, she’ll catch you with her long thin bamboo stick that really stings if it hits you. So we more like play in doors. My cousins have several different board games we usually play, and we really did have lots of fun with it. And sometimes, end up fighting when someone cheated or doesn’t agree with the rules of the game.So here are some games we play those days:

1.		Scrabblea word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. More…
2.		MonopolyA board game published by Parker Brothers, an imprint of Hasbro. Players compete to acquire wealth through stylized economic activity involving the buying, rental and trading of properties using play money, as players take turns moving around the board according to the roll of the dice. More…
3.		PictionaryA guessing word game published in 1985. The game is played with teams with players trying to identify specific words from their teammates’ drawings.Each team moves an object along a track formed by a sequence of squares. Each square has a letter on it. The objective is to reach the end of the track first. More…
4.		CluedoA crime fiction board game originally published by Waddingtons in the United Kingdom in 1948. It was devised by Anthony E. Pratt, a solicitor’s clerk and part-time clown from Birmingham, England. It is now published by the United States game and toy company Hasbro, which acquired its U.S. publisher Parker Brothers as well as Waddingtons.The game is set in a mansion, with the board divided into different rooms. The players each represent a character who is a guest staying at this house, whose owner, Dr. Black (Mr. Boddy in the North American version), has been found murdered. Players attempt to solve the murder. The solution to the murder requires the three components of Suspect, Weapon, and Room. More…
5.		BoggleThe game begins by shaking a covered tray of sixteen cubic dice. Each dice has a different letter printed on each of its sides. The dice settle into a four by four tray such that only the top letter of each cube is visible. After they have settled into the grid, a three-minute timer is started and all players simultaneously begin the main phase of play.Each player searches for words that can be constructed from the letters of sequentially adjacent cubes, where “adjacent” cubes are those horizontally, vertically or diagonally neighboring. Words must be at least three letters long, may include singular and plural (or other derived forms) separately, but may not use the same letter cube more than once per word. Each player records all the words he or she finds by writing on a private sheet of paper. After three minutes have elapsed, all players must stop writing and the game enters the scoring phase. More…
6.		Uno CardsA card game played with a specially printed deck (see Mau Mau for an almost identical game played with normal playing cards). The game was originally developed in 1971 by Merle Robbins. It is now a Mattel product. The game’s general principles put it into the Crazy Eights family of card games. More… Uno StackoOne of the many variations of the card game Uno. This game is a block-stacking tower game which combines the gameplay of Uno and that of Jenga. There are two versions of the game: the earlier version requires the use of a die, while later versions eliminated the die, making the game play closer to Jenga. More…

How about you? What games you like to play?