Testing my Digi Broadband Connection (Updated)

I went over to Times Square Digi Center last night to activate my free 3 months broadband promotion. I arrived around 8.15pm, took number and was attended to briefly. However, when i left at around 8.30pm, the center had more than 5 people waiting on the prepared couches and all 5 counters there are open. Talk about busy.

The connection started to work around noon today. I managed to get Digi signal on my mobile but the internet won't work through my phone browser, must be something wrong with the setting. I popped the simcard into the modem and it works fine though.

How's the speed? This is what Digi advertised on their site:

And this is what i got:


Not bad eh? The download speed is almost to what they say it would be. Not the fastest around but it works as advertised and it's good enough for casual serving, blogging, etc.

Updated:

I managed to get a 1Mbps download speed when downloading from a file from a file sharing site. See snapshot:

I won a pimped broadband package from Digi

Few weeks ago, i put up a broadband related post here. It was for Digi's Pimp My Broadband contest where users can show their creativity through pictures and/or videos related to broadband services. I posted up my link thru Twitter, Facebook and IM to pull in votes. I won a consolation price (First prize being a MacBook, huhuhu) but it was kinda exciting as well. I don't know how many votes were there overall, but i thank everyone who voted for me :)


My package arrived today. In it comes a very special modem which has been skinned by Digi (see the rocket flying modem design?), and 3 months free subscription of their Explore Package (RM108/month). This is so great. The modem looks very nice indeed. I was told that the skin design is a limited edition so you wouldn't see much modems with the designs around. Just proud to show how Digi has helped 'pimped' my broadband. See original modem here.

I would be soon testing out the broadband connection. My only woe is that i have to personally go down to any Digi service center to activate the service. Initially I thought i could just plug the modem in for the first time, look for a signal and connect to the service, thus automatically activating the sim, just like a normal simpack would but nope. Anyway, thanks Digi for the prize and also thanks to all my voters. Cheers!

HTC HD2 price in Malaysia

The HTC HD2 was launched in Malaysia last Thursday (19th Nov) at Hartamas with a RRP of RM2899. That's lower than the expected price of around RM3k which is even lower than the price of the HTC Touch Pro 2 launch of RM3.2k. Source

It's expected to reach the stores in end of November, which is the right timing because the PC Fair would be organized around Malaysia during the end of Nov and early December depending on locations.

HTC HD2 is a so called breakthrough in technology on the Windows Mobile field because it's the first phone to include a capacitive screen, the same kind on the Iphone which enable users to use two fingers for navigation, like the 'pinch to zoom' action. It's also one of the phones to have a super fast 1ghz snapdragon processor. That's faster than processors which we use to have years ago.

However, as good as the HD2 sounds, Western countries have been using the phone since late October and there has been many software and hardware problems found and reported:

1) camera hardware problem : This problem would cause the camera to have a pink shadow on the middle of the photo. Obviously it spoils the natural colour of nature photos taken, or it's just an eye sore. It's most obvious when taking photos of white objects. Link.

2) SMS sending and receiving problems : As the title implies, people have been having problems using their sms. It has happened with different carriers, different countries, original software and different sim cars. No explanation as of why it's happening, HTC support just keeps telling everyone to reset the units but the problem isn't going away. LINK.

3) Volume rocker problem: There are two kind of problems with the volume rocker: the first is a hardware fault where the volume rockers just does not respond to any presses, next is a software bug here the volume rocker changes between change the volume or skipping tracks. Considering this phone as a video media device, it can be very frustrating if the volume rockers do not work. LINK1 LINK2.

That are some of the major problems holding me back from marching down to Lowyat and getting myself one unit soon. Safest bet would be waiting till early 2010 to see if the problem have been resolved, else just look at the other new avaiable or upcoming units such as the Omnia 2 i8000, the Acer NeoTouch s200 F1, etc.

mail in credit card forms = JUNK

Got mail today, from my insurance company, Great Eastern. I wouldn't say that i'm greatly insured by them, since i only have a small savings plan with payout upon PTD (permanent total disability) or death. Personally, i prefer Prudential. I'm on PruMed and i think the current PruHealth is really not that bad a deal. No further comments because i haven't actually used my Prudential Medical Card yet and i don't hope to, so soon.

The only reason i signed up for GE in the first place was due to heavy pressure from one of their agents. Ya, i must sound pretty dumb for saying that. But i was young; fresh graduate which just started work with no form of savings or protections whatsoever. The agent also kept calling me to the point which i almost consider it annoying. She would still keep calling me, persuading me to buy her GE medical cards, but i've blocked numbers coming from her to my handphone and i do not answer any external calls on my office phone.

Anyways, Great Eastern has teamed up with OCBC bank to launch another one of those 'merchant' cards. I would have to sign up with OCBC and i would get a lot or rebates when i pay for insurance with GE. They even sent me a form with my name and IC already printed on it just to make things convenient for me, how thoughtful. Well, here is my reply:

Thanks for the offer anyway.

I won a Terminator Figurine from Domino's Pizza

Domino's Pizza is one of our main choices for office deliveries especially during the weekend when all the nearby shops are closed. In conjunction with the "Terminator Salvation" movie which was released a few months back, Dominos had a competition called Terminate Your Hunger. Details at this site: http://www.terminateyourhunger.com/

For order, one is entitled to an entry where one has to answer a series of questions in the fastest time. It just so happened that one of those times, i was lucky and i was the bi-weekly winner. The prize is a Terminator Salvation Figurine worth RM550. This figurine is the 1/6th scale Terminator Factory - T 700 Diorama from Hot Toys.

I was supposed to collect the prize sometimes back in September during Hari Raya but i was kinda busy. Besides, the Dominos office in Shah Alam opens during normal office hours only. It was only this week that i decided to travel all the way to collect it.

From the packaging itself, it already looks very impressive with the special black styrofoam box. I haven't gone through the whole figure but from my early observation, it is amazingly nice with because it was very detail to the point that the eyes would even lit up. Such a great toy, although i'm not really much of a collector. Thanks Dominos.

Missed opportunity, not happy

I was thinking about MNP-ing to DiGi this weekend to get their Digi Internet Unlimited 58 plan which offers payment of only RM48 for the first year (RM48 offer valid till end of this year only) when i saw this on their website:


There was an event at 1U to promote their mobile internet subscription and they were giving away very good deals. I can't believe i missed this opportunity, now i'm pissed. Why?

First, N97 mini is really a good deal at RM499 and i let it slipped. I wonder if majority of those who bought are really gonna use it or just resale it a higher value to earn some money.

Second, this deal is far better than anyone could ever get when walking into any of their service centers, the one nearest to me being the one in Times Square. Now i wonder why i should even bother.

Arghh. Later lar then i MNP. Bloody hell..

Acer NeoTouch S200

I was listening to a podcast by Mobile Tech Addicts the other night and this episode was mostly about the HD2. They've got a guest that night, Matt from Tracy and Matt's Blog, whose video review of the HD2 and other phones i've watched online before on their site. Apart from video reviews, they also have some written review. So, everyone was going on and on about the HD2 when someone mentioned the Acer NeoTouch S200 which has the same processor as the HD2 and has outperformed the HD2 in a some benchmarks.source


As shown above, the neotouch is certainly not a pushover compared to the HD2. The price is even cheaper. It's priced at around 350quid whilst the HD2 would be going for 500quid. 150quid difference is a lot, especially after you times it with 5.5. Brits themselves would say that 500quid is a lot of money, about the equivalent to two netbooks. Well, they haven't heard an Asean's complain about the fact that a 500quid handphone is much more expensive than a fresh engineer's pay.

The budget brother of the HD2 is indeed cheaper, but there are a few drawbacks:
i) built quality - more plastic components compared to the HD2, which makes it look a bit less elegant and less tougher.
ii) software and interface - Without the HTC sense, it's back to the Winmo 6.5 Titanium with lesser customizations from Acer.
Well, you get what you pay. The question is, is it worth trading off a few quids for the differences?
I''d like to say let's wait an see but i doubt the Neotouch getting as much attention as the HD2. Oh please, someone do a FULL comparison.