To charge or not to charge
May/100
Worry about whether or not to charge your iPhone/iPod Touch/Mac when there is still battery? Read this article on litium ion based battery by batteryuniversity.com
Battery research is focusing heavily on lithium chemistries, so much so that one could presume that all portable devices will be powered with lithium-ion batteries in the future. In many ways, lithium-ion is superior to nickel and lead-based chemistries and the applications for lithium-ion batteries are growing as a result.
Lithium-ion has not yet fully matured and is being improved continuously. New metal and chemical combinations are being tried every six months to increase energy density and prolong service life. The improvements in longevity after each change will not be known for a few years.
A lithium-ion battery provides 300-500 discharge/charge cycles. The battery prefers a partial rather than a full discharge.
Frequent full discharges should be avoided when possible. Instead, charge the battery more often or use a larger battery. There is no concern of memory when applying unscheduled charges.
Sooo… Charge your iPod now! You need the extra juice to last you the train ride 
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5 Myths About Jailbreaking
May/100
Came across this article. Thought I would share it with everyone.
When talking to prospective jailbreakers, I am both shocked and outraged by the lies and myths that they swallow. They will believe almost anything, simply because it is said by men in suits from apple.
1. Jailbreaking is illegal.
This is the argument that I hear most often, and the one apple fan-boys (and girls!) defend resiliently. The simple truth is, it’s not. The law states that “reverse-engineering of hardware is acceptable in order to add functionality”. Jailbreaking certainly adds functionality, so there should be no leg for apple to stand on, yet they resort to these scare tactics.
2. Jailbreaking voids the warranty.
This is not true. Because the restore process unmounts the drives (according to ih8sn0w- a prominent member of the jailbreaking community) there is *no* possibility of apple finding out that it was previously jailbroken. All of the software is wiped, including the products of the jailbreak. A friend of mine had jailbroken his ipod touch when the screen started to come loose at the edges. He restored it and took it back to apple. They issued a replacement; no questions asked.
3. Jailbreaking damages your iDevice.
I cannot stress enough how useful the restore option in iTunes is. *Whatever* happens, you can always restore. Since DFU mode is built into hardware, there is no way that you can modify it. As a result, there will be no situation in which your iDevice won’t restore. Seriously, try it out. SSH in as root and delete everything. That’s right; everthing. A restore will still work. I know, it sounds crazy! I didn’t believe too so I tried it. Needless to say, I was shocked and overjoyed when iTunes fixed it.
4. Jailbreaking leaves your device open to hacks.
I must admit, this is based partly in truth. However, it was the users’ fault, not the jailbreak’s. They installed openSSH, yet didn’t change the password. This is downright idiotic. Imagine creating an email adress and leaving the password as “password” then complaining about getting hacked into. You’d get laughed at. It’s the same principle here. There are some easy to follow guides on the internet of how to change your root password, something highly recommended.
5. Jailbreaking doesn’t add functionality; it is only used to get cracked apps.
Is being able to background apps not adding functionality? Is theming not adding functionality? Is being able to circumvent pointless “protections” by apple (such as apps not being able to change screen brightness) not adding functionality? Is instant access toggles from anywhere (sbsettings-check it out!) not adding funcionality? Suddenly this argument seems petty doesn’t it? I’ll admit it, a high proportion of users jailbreak for the abilty to get cracked apps. I do not condone this at all. However, anti-jailbreakers need to realise that we’re not all criminals. A lot of us jailbreak for one simple reason; it allows our devices to reach their full potential.
In order for the jailbreak community to flourish we need to better educate possible jailbreakers of the misinformation they are being fed by so called “impartial” bloggers.
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A half-dead Blog collecting Digital Dust
May/100
A lot has change since I last post. Obviously NS is sapping away all the time I usually spend doing practically-nothing-and-update-the-blog-once-in-a-while. I just came back from Taiwan for “holiday” and can you believe I spend only 10,000NT (S$450) 1 month in Taiwan. Unbelievable!? Taiwan holiday? Ha-ha
A little update about what I went through so far. It seemed that the last post I was talking about Armor Live Firing. Those were during the early stages of my Armor Conversion Course. Then we had the CAT (Combine Armed Term) where we (those who went through SISPEC) gathered together for a Passing-Out-Parade.
CAT period was really the best time we had in NS. We wake up late. Walk (not march) lazily to the cookhouse for our breakfast. Return to bunk. Continue sleeping… The following week, we returned to Armor and prepare for (gulp*) field camp. Right after field camp is… Taiwan “holiday”… OMGosh. 1 month “holiday”!?!? I sure missed home and Sandra (^-^)
The grand finale of Armor Conversion Course is our other POP, codename: Open House (Don’t be so formal, come and chill and hang around and look see look see).
“Don’t bring too many people,” and so they said.
“If everyone bring more than 2 people, there will not be enough seats…blah blah blah…”
“I will do random check to see if YOU GUYS bring more than 2 parents/gf/bf. No choice, we have to control the crowd… oink* oink* oink*…”
Let’s work out the formula of the turnout :- (Total number of parent expected to come)*2 – [Unforeseen circumstances + Not compulsory + Early saturday morning + YAAE (Yet-Another-Army-Event) + Can't decide who to bring (might as well don't bring any)] = FULL HOUSE!!! = Those who bring any more than 2 person will BE PUNISHED!!!
They are RIGHT! Oh man! Some of parents will not have seats and have to stand outside =(
Don’t messed with the Inciks. Confinement comes easy, and go… minus 1 weekend.
“We the soldier… marching in… lalalala… Eh wait! Why are there so many empty seats? Wait! The auditorium is half-filled only!? Must be my eyes playing trick on me. The Inciks are never wrong.”
Well… It’s good. At least no marching under the hot sun and turn ‘chao tar’.
And my blog always ends with a Bang, don’t they?
Boo! We are the Retards!
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Heavy Firepower!
Feb/100
Even though I can smell burning (weekends) during my Live Firing of our armoured vehicle, it’s a pretty good experience.
I was appointed the ammo ic we had less than 5 hours of sleep for the past 3 days.
The only thing I’m worried during this live fire is that if I misfired, I might get confinement this saturday (my birthday celebration). So thanks god, everything went well
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A rare update
Jan/100
Being in army, really deprived me from the outside world. I can’t surf net like I used to or chat with my friends thru msn.
Blogging content is also very limited as everything that happen here is considered classified.
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A-I-S-L Armor!
Nov/090
My blog has being inactive since I passed out from BMT (Basic Military Training). I’ve spent 2 months in SISPEC (School of Infantry Specialist) and now I’ve being posted to AISL (Armor Infantry Section Leader).
Armor vocation is the 2nd toughest (Infantry being the 1st). Of course I am jealous of friends who has being posted to SIGNAL and MP (Military Police), but I believe God has His plan and reason to put me in Armor.
Ever though I am reluctant to go through the tough period of being an Armor Infantry, since I have no choice, I might as well do a good job.
Samuel standing tall and proud with his black beret
I also appreciate the constant support from friends, family and especially my darling, 5and. Without you guys, I might not be able to go through this phase of life.
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My POP day 090909
Sep/090
It has being eons since I last updated my blog. I was away serving the army in BMTC (Basic Military Training Centre), Pulau Tekong, and schedule was hectic! Book out at Friday evening, Book back in at Sunday late afternoon. Weekends are mostly reserved to accompany my dear which leave just a few hours to sleep and do my own stuff, much less to even blog.
So, on 9th of September, 090909, I was promoted from a recruit to a private (= more pay)
Call me Private JY (Jia You) Chan
So much had happened while in this chalet-liked island. We trained to together, played together and suffered together. I will never forget my BMT’s friends…
The sergeant in the middle has the same initial as I am. 3rd Sergeant J Y Ong (Ben)
To be continued… (when I got the time)
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National Service (NS)…
Jul/090
… is the name given to the compulsory conscription in Singapore of all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents upon reaching the age of 18. They serve a two-year period as Full Time National Servicemen (NSFs) in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF), or the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
This is it guys. I am going to be enlist this thursday. Going to Pulau Tekong Camp for my BMT (Basic Military Training). Went out with dear today to get my army supplies but we end up spending most of my money on r_ _ _s (but its nice, and worth it =D).
People have being asking me what I am feeling going to be enlist soon, so I shall answer it here, once and for all (or for those who had no chance to ask). The past few days, I would have probably answer people that I 过一天，算一天 (live one day, count one day). I have nothing positive to look forward to. Only set short goals for that day, like probably I would go out with dear, or do some reading or learning.
Now as the time of enlistment draws near, I find myself thinking more. BMT will definitely be draining me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. What if my body can’t take the intense training? What if my mind is not strong enough to endure? What if I start thinking of friends, families and dear? Would I still stay close to God?
I am also worried now about my dear. I am not someone who had much worries. But after what she told me yesterday, I kinda got drown in EMOness again(ok, for a short moment only =P). We will pull through =D
To switch my mood back, need to find some happy song to listen to. Search thru the list in iTune. A-ha!
And what nice way to end a post then a happy song, “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz.
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Time pass by very slowly…
Jul/090
Morning… it always pass by very slowly. By once it past 12pm, time seem to speed up. Or was it because of the coffee I habitually drank every afternoon? Time is relative. Time is how our mind perceive it… Einstein is indeed the smartest person alive to invent the Theory of Relativity. (Either that, or he must have a heavy dose of caffeine that day)
Yesterday, I went out with Edmund and Lim Han. Took Bus 135 to AMK Hub and I really want to mention a very friendly bus driver. When we are waiting for the bus to come to a halt, Mr Driver signal to us to stop walking to catch with the bus. He stopped right in front of us for our convenience. When we boarded the bus, Mr Driver greeted us and waited till we sat down before giving a hand signal indicating he’s leaving the bus stop. Mr Driver waved at fellow bus drivers along the way.
His hand signs is so much that I can feel that some people sitting at my side is noising their irritation. It goes to show that in this world, its hard to please everyone. When a bus driver is rude, people complain. When Mr Driver of Bus 135 shows abit of friendliness, people get uncomfortable and talk behind his back (literally, its behind his back right?).
That’s why I really want to take this chance to compliment Mr Driver of Bus 135. That’s also why I recorded down the event on my iTouch just in case I forget. For those who can’t read chinese (like my dear), it say, ‘I met a very friendly bus driver today. Was almost shocked by his friendliness’ and I also recorded down the Bus license plate in case there is a chance I can vote for the ‘Most Friendly Bus Driver’. Forward this the SBS or something. Mr Driver deserve an award or something =)
After meeting Lim Han and Edmund, we had lunch and went ‘guy shopping’. Can really see the difference when guys shop and when gals shop. We are very specific. We just go straight to the store we want. Never walk around just to look, see, look, see…
Edmund wanted to buy a new phone. How can a Apple Fanboy not pushed the iPhone to him? Eventually, I convinced Edmund, iPhone is a good buy. Value for money, app-based and will not go out of date so fast (unlike other phone whereby you are tempted to buy a new one when a new model came out). An older model of iPhone will work the same as the new model when you update the software. The only difference is that newer model will have better spec (more memory, faster processor). Don’t think an iPhone as a phone. Think it as a miniature computer (I wasn’t the only person saying that, fyi).
It can do anything a computer can do, if you seriously think about it. There are more than 30k apps (last checked) and growing… There are apps for ‘Working Out’, apps for ‘Managing Money’, apps for ‘Getting Things Done’… and more.
Yeap. I’m also brainwashing my fellow blog reader. At $199 with plan, you can’t go wrong. No plan? Use a friend’s Singtel plan to buy
We went to play L4D afterwards. As you can see, there’s only 3 of us. In the campaign, Dead Air, we barely survived to the last stage if not for a stranger playing as the 4th player. We were killed 2 time in the last stage before… we win and escaped. He escaped. The stranger managed to survive while me, Edmund and Lim Han die.
Yes… all 3 of us noob die in the end even if we completed the game.
Ciao.
P.S. love my dear, 5andra, very much XD
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What 5AM being up to recently…
Jun/090
Alot happen since I last updated, like I joined Lifegame Camp, I fell sick for a week, went grass-boarding, watched lottas movies, King of Pop, MJ, died (could have blog about that) and most importantly I changed my SPEC. Isn’t that cool. Huh? Rite? Nice rite? Err… okay I guess that wasn’t the most important thing.
And if you still don’t think its cool… look! There’s even a robbery case on the camp itself. We organized it… Errmmm I meant someone organized it. I’m not involved =P I am a law abiding policeman in the camp…
and I got married to a fellow female policewomen and led a wonderful life… and having 3 kids.
Tell me. How many camp allow you to get married and have kids?
Oh yah. Notice the new spec on that previous picture? =D Need to change one coz army dun allow colourful spec =( I also had new phone (w/ torchlight) and a new LED torchlight and a new alarm clock that can never wake me up (tried it this morning. End up. Waking up the whole family except me).
I’m still having serious sore throat and cough now =( (pls don’t let 5and noes about it).
Watch up for the Twitter update status. I will try to Tweet often while Im confined in camp to update you guys =D
Btw, Transformer 2 kick ass XD !!!
Ciao.
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