HTC 8S - What's in the box?

Here's an unboxing video of HTC 8S which runs on Windows Phone 8 and the only Windows Phone to have the in-built in-built Beats Audio™ technology.

Google Maps Indoor maps of selected shopping malls

Google maps recently got updated with indoor maps of some shopping malls in Singapore (for Android only). Here's a quick guide on how to use it and troubleshoot if it doesn't work on your Android device.

How to use the indoor maps feature?

1.) Zoom into the shopping mall, you will see the indoor map appearing if the shopping mall has  the feature enabled in Goolge Maps

2.) A straight tap listing the floors of the shopping mall will appear on the right side of the screen

3.) Tap on the different floors to see the locations of the shops on  the selected floor

Level 1 Indoor Map for Ion Orchard

Level 3 Indoor Map for Ion Orchard

If you can’t see the indoor maps, take the following steps:

1.)    Go to settings> Applications

2.)    Look for “Maps”

3.)    Click “Clear Data”

4.)    Then click “Force Stop”

5.)    Launch Google Maps

6.)    Go to one of the malls listed below and check if you can see the indoor layout of the malls.

For Singapore, the list of 22 shopping malls with indoor maps are:

• 313@somerset
• Century Square
• Hougang Mall
• ION Orchard
• Liang Court
• Mandarin Gallery
• Marina Bay Sands
• Metro (Department store in Paragon)
• Ngee Ann City
• Orchard Central
• Paragon
• Parkway Parade
• Scotts Square
• Suntec City
• Takashimaya (Department store in Ngee Ann)
• Tampines 1
• The Centrepoint
• Tiong Bahru Plaza
• Triple one
• Wheelock Place
• White Sands
• Wisma Atria

Singapore and Sweden has highest home internet access. Home Internet Access Still Out of Reach for Many Worldwide

According to Gallup latest surveys, Singapore and Sweden has highest home internet access. Home internet access is still out of reach for many worldwide.
Worldwide, 32% of adults in 2011 reported having home Internet access, according to Gallup surveys conducted in 148 countries. Up from 29% in 2010 and 25% in 2009, marking the continuation of a steady uptick each year that Gallup has conducted surveys worldwide.

Read full report from Gallup here: Home Internet Access Still Out of Reach for Many Worldwide

Bring your Google Maps for overseas travel- without incurring overseas data charges

Wonder how to use Google Maps offline while overseas without incurring overseas data charges? Watch this brief walk-through showing how it could be done.

Surface Pre-order gone live!

I just received the email notification from Microsoft that pre-order for Surface starts at 9am, Pacific Time!

Screenshot of the email. Are you pre-ordering?

pre-order link: http://www.microsoft.com/Surface (it has gone live!)

Wise words from a Wise Man

Wise words from a wise man.

Image Source: FaceBook pages


Perhaps compassion is the most crucial part in
sustainability. Compassion that embraces all living things, be it man or animals, and love the whole of nature for its beauty. A non-judgmental love of all beings. One without the need to label and tag values. We love our family without any need for reasons, don't we?

A Man built his own mechanical hands

A chinese man built his own mechanical hands by himself. And he's not an engineer. It's not just a shape of a hand but a hand with design and mechanics which he developed himself. His self-made mechanical hands' fingers could even automatically open up to grasp things such as holding a cup. It's a remarkable feat that he could create the hand on his own.









Bionic vs Mechanics

I have a bit of debate here. The YouTube video mentioned "bionic" hands. What's the definition of bionic?

Merriam Webster's Definition:

Definition of BIONIC

1

: of or relating to bionics

2

a : having normal biological capability or performance enhanced by or as if by electronic or electromechanical devicesb : comprising or made up of artificial body parts that enhance or substitute for a natural biological capability<a bionic heart>

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/bionic

Well... It doesn't help right? So which is the key word? in 2a, it seems to be normal biological capability/performance plus electronic/electromechanical. So without both, a creation is not considered "bionic".

But looking at 2, the key words seem to be "artificial body parts", "enhance", "substitute" and "natural biological capability". So an artificial body part is bionic need not be electronic/electromechanical in nature, as long as it can enhance or substitute the natural biological capability?

But what constitutes enhance/substitute "natural biological capability" is debatable... Does anyone has a clear definition of the term?