Windows Vista Beta 2 is looking good

After using Windows Vista Beta 2 (Build 5384.4) for about one whole day, I find that this is the most polish Windows Vista OS ever since Microsoft releases CTP build at the PDC 05.  It seems that Microsoft has gotten their act together to deliver a much better experience.  The look and feel are all iron out nicely with more consistency.

Performance is also much better.  It used to be that after you login, you’ve got to wait a while before you can get hold of the command to order the computer around.  This time round a fade out and fade in, then you can straight make use of the quick launch bar, the start menu or even right click to personalize your computer.  Even the installation take shorter time than last build.

Its getting better and better; I am looking forward for the actual release so that I can use it daily for all my regular business.

Office 2007 Beta 2 is out for the public

Yes it is finally out.  Click on the link below and try it out.  Go ahead, its a good software, worth the time you spend on it to try (or should I say test?).

I am definitely going to check this new release of Office 2007 out.  New usability idea, can I use that “Ribbon” in my application development?

http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/

Windows Vista Beta 2 is out – But its not for public yet

So Windows Vista Beta 2 (Build 5384.4) is out for Connect (those who are in the Beta program) and MSDN Subscribers.  I am currently downloading the iso and hopefully will be able to install it come tomorrow.  During the keynotes for WinHEC, I think it is also mentioned that public will be able to get their hands on Windows Vista Beta 2 by this coming few weeks.  So anyone who is not on the above 2 programs will need to be patience and wait for it to go public.

I believe a bunch of bugs has been solved for this Beta 2 and hopefully there will also be some performance boost from the last CTP.

Windows SDK, WinFX and Expression suite latest Beta are all out

In fact it seems that Microsoft has made all new developing tools compatible for Windows Vista Beta 2 available all at the same time after the OS itself is released.  You can get these software by following these links:

• Windows Vista, Windows SDK and WinFX Beta
• Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer May CTP
• Microsfot Expression Graphic Designer May CTP

FIFA Worldcup 2006

Its another 18 days before the actual kick off of the year’s hottest soccer event, the FIFA Worldcup 2006.  18 days seems to be very long, especially when the media has been hyping up the event to get it to become hotter and hotter.  Electronic Arts come to the rescue; It has launched a new game call 2006 FIFA Worldcup.  The game promises to quench your thirst before the real thing come this 9th June.

I was playing this game at my brother-in-law house.  The music, the atmosphere, the experience are all the closest you can get to experience the real thing; Especially when the graphic is so stunning.  Except for the occasional slow down, which can be tolerated, this game can definitely quench that thirst before the coming of the event.  My Brazil team has reached the knock out round with perfect score, I am now aiming for that coveted cup.

What does AD and BC means?

A lot of people will know or at least remember that BC means “Before Christ” but few will know or remember what AD means.  AD actually stands for “Anno Domini” and it is actually Latin for “in the year of Our Lord” which to Christian refers to Jesus Christ.

There is now a new trend to use CE to replace AD and BCE to replace BC.  CE stands for “Common Era” and BCE stands for “Before Common Era”.  This is so as to be sensitive to non-Christian.  The usage of CE and BCE is also more accurate than AD and BC.  Today technology reveals that Jesus Christ was not born in the year AD 1, but actually in the year 4 BC.  So to say that 1 BC is “Before Christ” is actually not very accurate.

Some people are saying that using CE and BCE is just trying to be “politically correct” but let’s forget about whether we are trying to be “politically correct” just remember that using CE and BCE is more for politeness, consideration and accuracy.

Capable or Premium Ready?

Microsoft has officially announce the actual system requirement to run Windows Vista when its launch in Jan 2007.  A logo system will also be implemented so that consumer will know whether the system they buy now will be able to run Windows Vista or not.  A system that has a logo of Windows Vista Capable can run Windows Vista’s core experiences at a minimum.  Core experiences of Windows Vista include things such as innovations in organizing and finding information, security, and reliability.  Some features like the Windows Aero Glass effect will need additional hardware upgrade.

Premium Ready PC will give you even better Windows Vista experience like the Windows Aero user experience (actually currently other than the Windows Aero glass effect, I don’t know what “even better experience” gives).  Below is a summary of the requirements.

A Windows Vista Capable PC includes at least:

• A modern processor (at least 800MHz).
• 512 MB of system memory.
• A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.

A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
• 1 GB of system memory.
• A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero.
• 128 MB of graphics memory.
• 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
• DVD-ROM Drive.
• Audio output capability.
• Internet access capability.

How to use that Aero Glass API?

I have a comment asking me “how do i add instal the shell api on my xp machine”.  The answer to this question is actually quite simple; Just install the latest Windows SDK onto your XP machine and you will get the header file to those Aero API.

However, you can’t test your program under Windows XP; Those API will simply fail.  Desktop Window Manager’s API will only function under Windows Vista.  So you will need the latest compatible Windows Vista CTP build to verify your program.  Have fun!

Mission Impossible?

To uphold the image of the Shanghai city, China Censorship Board has asked M:I III producer and director to delete certain scenes that are deemed “harmful” to the image of Shanghai.

The dirty laundry shown are the problem here.  In one scene laundry is shown hanging from balconies.  In another there are bamboo poles all over the rooftop with underwears hanging.

So will M:I III be a mission impossible in China?

How serious is Singapore Government on payment of TV License?

They are dead serious; They will haul you to courts if you ignore all their 3 reminders, including one that is sent by registered mail.  And if you still ignore the court order, a warrant of arrest will be issued against you.

I was unlucky enough to face the music, but it is not a warrant of arrest yet.  It was a court order.  TV licensing is under Media Development Authority (MDA).  Every property that has a TV must apply for a TV license.  The court order was sent by MDA through registered mail.  Since the letter just bear the logo of MDA, I thought it was some advertisement and didn’t open it straight away.  When I finally found a chance to open the letter, it was a court order from the Subordinate Court.  To my horror as well, I have missed the time frame to pay a compound fine so that I won’t need to appear in court.

Thinking that I will need to go to court (my very first time if I did and I was thinking that at least it will be an unforgettable experience), I just called MDA today to make sure that there was no other way out, that I must face the Magistrate and give some explanation.  Surprisingly the MDA officer told me that I was still in time for the compounded fine if I go down to their office today to pay the fine.  So I did, and I got myself onto their automatic deduction system, so that I won’t forget again.

Windows Live

Anyone trying out Windows Live?  I was giving it another try (the previous time my setting was not saved and things were quite messy, but its beta software, what do you expect?) and surprisingly this time round it is quite a satisfying experience.

According to Microsoft, Windows Live or Live.com is about 3 things:

1. The best place to search on the web
2. A personalized portal
3. Get the benefits of Windows and Windows Live services

It is a place where you can host all these cool gadgets like weather forecast, hotmail notification, image search, safety center, word of the day, story of the day and so on.  You can even host your favourite RSS feed on this page.  The best thing is though the RSS feed appear in headline form, if you hover your mouse over the “more” text beside each headline, you will be able to read the full post.  That to me is so cool.

Rice Dumpling

It going to be Dragon Boat Festival real soon; In fact it is just 2 week away on 31st of May.  The most interesting for me during Dragon Boat Festival is not the dragon boat racing but the rice dumpling, the food we chinese eat to celebrate this festival.  Rice dumpling is actually glutinous rice with meat wrap in bamboo leaves.

This year my mother-in-law seems to be celebrating this festival a bit earlier.  We are suppose to go and collect the rice dumplings that she did for us today!  Thanks mum!

If you choose to accept this mission…

I have watched Mission: Impossible III last last Friday.  It is a nice movie, better than the last 2 in my opinion.  The plot might not be much but the show is jam pack with action.

No matter what Channel News Asia film critic said (2 popcorn out of 5), this is still THE film to watch!  This post will self terminate in 5 sec…

Do not put this on

An old lady in China found a stainless steel ring and decided to try it on.  To her horror, she can’t take it off.  No matter how hard she tried, the ring stay on.  No its not because the ring is a “cursed” ring, so it has no magical power to prevent someone from removing it.  Its just that the ring was too small for the old lady’s finger.  She must have forced it on.

The next day, her finger became swollen and it became very painful for her.  She decided to seek help at the hospital.  However the hospital did not has the necessary equipment to help her.  Instead the hospital staff brought her to a workshop that specialize in precision cutting and it took about 20 odd minutes for the ring to be freed from the old lady’s finger.  The old lady was thankful and vows not to repeat the mistake again.

Would you put a ring on if you found it?

Microsoft is Gearing Up to Release Public Beta 2?

C|Net news has reported that a top engineer at Microsoft has issued a challenge over the weekend to his Windows Vista team: Find and fix a bug in the current code and earn US$100.  The one who fixed the most bugs before Monday will also get an extra US$500.

Will we see a much stable OS in the upcoming public beta 2 release because of this?  Hmmm…. I hope so, though the current build is already quite stable.

Coconut milk is good

For decades, people have believed that coconut oil (and thus coconut milk) is bad for health.  Several reasons for this belief; First is that coconut oil is high in saturated fat, and saturated fat is suppose to be harmful.  This is wrong as leading scientist now recognized that as there are good cholesterol, there are also good saturated fats.  These special kind of saturated fats (as coconut has several) that coconut oil has is easily digestible and converted into quick energy, thus it is less likely to cause obesity.

The second reason is due to a flawed study on hydrogenated coconut oil.  It is now known that the process of hydrogenation creates trans fatty acids(TFAs), which are toxic entities that enter cell membranes, block utilization of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and impede cell functionality. TFAs also cause a rise in blood cholesterol. These substances are not present in natural coconut oil.

The third (and possibly the major) reason is due to economics.  Beginning with a flawed study four decades ago, continuing through the 1950s, intensifying in the 1980s, and again in the 1990s, the misinformation about coconut oil has been promulgated by several economically motivated organizations in the US.

The benefit of coconut oil can be summarized as below:

• In animal studies, feeding unprocessed coconut and coconut oils prevented tumor development, both malignant or benign.
• It lowers cholesterol if it is high and raises it if it is too low.
• Coconut oil is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal in the originating plant, in our gut and in our blood. Reducing seed oil consumption and using coconut milk or coconut oil as the dietary staple is reversing viral loads in HIV, eliminating all types of herpes virus and reducing or preventing other viral diseases including the yearly ‘flus’ and measles. The antiviral effect seems to be against lipid-enveloped viruses and is due to the presence of lauric acid in coconut oil.
• Coconut oil is unique in its ability to prevent weight-gain or cure obesity, by stimulating the metabolism. It is quickly metabolized, and functions in some ways as an antioxidant.
• Every study using natural, unprocessed coconut oil found a normalizing of cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. This is also true of extra virgin olive oil, peanut oil and avocado oil.
• Within a week, abnormal cortisol levels show improvement indicating adrenal restoration using vitamin B1, B complex and coconut milk. Patients seem more awake, their mood, energy and memory improves, and sleep becomes more normal.

References:

1. Mary Enig, Ph.D. On Cholesterol, HIV, and Coconut Oil
2. The Oiling of America, Parts 1 and 2
3. Center for Research on Lauric Oils, Inc
4. Interview of Mary Enig
5. Interesting facts about coconut

Office 2007 will be bundled

It seems like Microsoft is giving away Office 2007 to those who buy Windows Vista Home edition.

According to C|Net News, Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, said that Windows Vista Home edition (he did not say whether it is the Home Basic or the Home Premium, but I believe both will get it) will come bundle with Office 2007 Student/Home edition.

This will be so coolz if the price stay at the same.

For details, take a look at this article.  The title is of a different topic but the 2nd last paragraph (in point form) talks about this bundle thingy.

So PAP won 82 seats out of a possible 84 (Delayed news)

So PAP has won 82 seats again, the same number they won for 1997 and 2001 GE.  However, the 2 oppositions has increased their share of votes in their 2 wards.  The WP managed to get about 62% in Hougang and the SDA managed to get about 55% in Potong Pasir.  A closely watch GRC turn out to be a strong win for PAP.  In Aljunied GRC, the PAP won with about 55% of total vote cast.

Overall, PAP won with an average of 66.6% of the total vote cast nation wide.  Some people find that this is not consider a strong mandate for the ruling party but I find that PAP is being modest.  This result can already be considered as a land slide victory.

Typical Singaporean attitude?

I’ve read with interest about an article that was submitted to the Straits Times forum.  This writer’s friend who is an Australian told someone who was washing his little girl’s bottom in the public basin, that it is not polite to do this as it will soil the basin as well as expose his little girl’s modesty to all the men in the toilet.  That Singaporean instead of getting embarrass, threaten the Australian and ask him whether he is trying to pick a fight.  Even though the writer and the Australian tried to defuse the situation, that Singaporean continued to threaten the writer’s friend and the commotion subside only when that Singaporean’s parent pulled him away.  The writer goes on to tell his shocked Australian friend that this is a typical Singaporean attitude.

This is far from the truth.  After staying here for so long, I haven’t met anyone who wash his little girl’s bottom in the basin.  And most Singaporean will not challenge someone to a fight just because that person told him off.  Thus I find that tagging this as a typical Singaporean attitude is so unfair to most Singaporean.

I am most puzzled by why a single bad behaviour by a fellow Singaporean and someone will label it as typical Singaporean attitude.  What happens to those who lend a helping hand when someone get into an accident which happen so frequently?  Doesn’t this shows that Singapore is also a civic-minded society?  Did the government impose a “if you don’t help someone who is involve in an accident, fine $5,000″?  I don’t think so.

Labour Day

It was Labour day yesterday and same as the rest of the world, Singapore’s Labour day is a public holiday.

But how different that similarity ends.  In several countries, there were protests everywhere, even in US.  Singapore is a rather quiet place, people all around enjoying the public holiday.

Whatever human rights group want to say, Singapore is a fine place to be.  What does all these protests get for the people in all these countries?  Blood shed but the economy stay the same.  Human rights the same as these western countries?  No thanks, I would rather the same kind of human rights rule stay in Singapore.  It is not as powerful as those in western countries, but we have a more organize and safer society.