Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Cheer Up Your Day and Learn Chinese

I studied in Chinese School before. After PMR, I decided to drop Mandarin subject. The single most regretful thing I've done in my life. I am thinking of reviving my Mandarin skill whenever time permits me, which evidently doubtful with the fact that I'm in medical line, now about to enter clinical years. My friend showed me this but stupidly I thought it was a quick way to re-spawn a bit of my Mandarin. You'll be surprised at how good you are at Mandarin. hehe..





127.0.0.1 Hacker! Lol!

I originally found this on Lowyat.net and it was awfully rolling-on-the-floor-shedding-tears funny. Poor hacker (or was he?). I managed to find the full post from electric-escape.net
I can't post it here as blogger is unable to load words inside '<' and '>'.

Post link:
Shut Up I Hack You

The comments/discussion on slashdot

Sunday, July 27, 2008

A Very Lengthy Complaint (About AP Phone)

I got this one from Lowyat.net. Reading the complaint was like a journey but it was an eye opener.


I would like to express my own experience in this forum to enlighten users of lowyat.net of unfair practices by certain phone dealer and service company.

I've heard stories of AP and original Nokia phones but i was caught by surprise regarding what happened to me.I bought a phone from Mobiland Trading, lowyat plaza from a person named SKY.The shop is located beside the kingston booth on third floor.I am not able to obtain a proper address of the shop location because, at first the chop they gave me on my receipt states that the shop location is at Tesco Mutiara Damansara, but the namecard of the person who sold me states that the shop location is in Carrefour,Subang.

This is what happened,
I went to look for a Nokia E65 from a few places, so i finally survey through lowyat and ended up in Mobiland Trading, at the shop, i was offered an AP E65 for Rm1060.But i enquired about the original phone that i was intending to buy which is Rm1200.After much discussion, the salesperson convinced me that buying the AP phone is actually the same and he gave me the assurance that the service will be okay without problem at all.Anything regarding service, all i need to do is to return the phone to the shop/him.He was convincing me, and he did say that among the sellers, they regard people who buy original phone as sohai jokingly.But i did make a mistake, i succumbed and bought the AP phone from him, the company of the phone is COMSAT.

I do not know much regarding AP and original phone, since the last tiem i bought a phone was more than 4 years ago which is a nokia 6510 which is still used until today.I was happy with my new phone and i took care of it really well.Never dropped, always placed in the softcase, no scratches and etc..

But my ordeal came about when, one day i realised that my keypad backlight wasnt working which is in end of FEB.I googled and discovered that this particular model has a problem with the keypad backlight.I'm currently staying in Malacca, but i used to be in kl quite often few months back.I took a day trip to lowyat to send it back to the shop i purchased it from.

The person who sold me te phone was there, and i asked if the phone can be warrantied.He said can but takes quite awhile before it gets fixed which is around a month or so.I was wondering why does it take so long because at the beginning he told me that the serice centre is in lowyat itself.So he said that i should take it to the service centre itself(he said it will be faster and i can get my phone back within days because i'm a customer), but to my surprise, the service centre is not in lowyat but in Taman Maluri instead.The one in lowyat is the dealer who only pass the phone to the service centre.

So with his advice i went to Taman Maluri the same day, send in my phone the person who collected it said that it takes 30 minutes.But later he came out an said that one of the components burned.So i have to leave it in until it is fixed.I spoke to the manager to ask for a favour to courier it down to me since i'm not from KL, but they didn't want to.Im oky with it because i dont' mind making another trip up.I said if it can be fixed faster and i asked if i could get a replacement since the phone is in mint condition, no scratches and etc.He said i can't.He said that the cause of the damaged is charging problem, my fault.Which i said that it's not my fault for goodness sake.I only have the charger supplied by the company.What is there to say?

He said ok, the technician agreed to repair it for you....But isn't he suppose to repair it for me?That's my right.
So i put my phone in and i took the jobsheet.After that i noticed that in the jobsheet they wrote everything of my phone to be NOT IN GOOD CONDITION/BROKEN.I asked the lady who wrote it, named "IFFAH".The technician named 'AH YAN' interrupted and said what's the problem rudely, he said i was being to meticulous/fussy/mafan.He said all this is management work, you think i want to scratch your phone is it?? Because i said that if i get back my phone in bad condition i can't say anything.I just siad that, please write and evaluate my phone properly.The rude technician challenged me and said, if i don't want to give you warranty now how??He said how?I dont' want to give you warranty, you take your phone back and go make complain if you like.I was kind enough to say, ok, if you say that u will do it properly, i hope that when i get it back my phone will be in the same condition.He just walked away, rudely saying that i am fussy and etc..not understanding and etc...But i felt something fishy going on...

So i went home, after 5 days i called back, they said it's okay although they didn't give me a call at all.I went back on a saturday morning.I couldn't find my receipt because it went into the washing machine.The manager was kind enough to return my phone when i showed my ic and purchase receipt.But the front lady named "IFFAH" was rude, she said i am very troublsome and "buat saya susah".When she took my phone, she just dropped it on the service counter table, my heart sank man but i kept quiet.I collected my phone, to my surprise, my whole front faceplate has been change to some damn old one.So old that the whole colour of the face plate missing(the rubber like material 100% peel off) i was so shocked.I told the lady in her face that it's not my phone, she cheked and said it's mine.I said NO..She called the technician, and he came out with his sour face and said why not my phone.Same IMEI number,but i told him, my phone cover not like that, it came in brand new like.The back adhesive covering the screw hole also missing.He said, he go and find...after less than 2 minutes he came out and say, he can't find.. I was like !#@$#@%@#%@#...Wat the hell...He forced me to take it back to use..I said no i am not going to take it.I called the manager inside, he came out and said.It's my phone, maybe something happened and they lost my cover.He gave me the assurance that he will fix it.I said ok..I wil come back again.

After nearly 5 days, no news..I got angry and i consulted my lawyers.My lawyer gave the service centre a call, the malay girl picked up.BTW, there's two malay girls there named "IFFAH" and the other named "WAHNA".the malay girl said it's fixed.And then my lawyer requested for the manager.The malay girl put my lawyer on hold for quite long..At the same time, i got a call from their service centre right in front of my lawyer..I couldn't pick up because i was in a conversation.Then the manager answered and told my lawyer he's been trying to contact me. The deal was settled, when the manager said he will call me.He said he want to ask the technician to pay.So when i called the manager an hour later.I said, am i goign to get a new replacement or another substitute.The manager raised his voice and said " Don't talk to me like that".I said i am just asking because i should know.All the time i spoke to them, i dont' raise my voice because i'm educated.No point shouting.The manager said he will fix it, give him a few days....

After a few days, i called back the service centre, the manager resigned............

Then my lawyer adviced me to called the service centre for the last time before making various reports and proceeding with the case.I even have photos of my phone before i sent it in as evidence(i wanted to sell it to upgrade so i took a few high resolution photos of it).

I called the service centre, this time "WAHNA" picked up the call.I asked how is the phone now since the manager has resigned.
She pass the call to the technician" AH YAN".He came and abruptly say that it's hard for him to find a replacement, and all those excuse, he said i should take it home and use first until he finds one and he will call me..Which i felt is nonsence.I said, no i am not going to take it home.I just want my original cover back.He said i am too troublseome again and a problem causer.I said i have evidence regarding my phone, i have photos of it.I said this looks like a cheating case already ok.He got angry and said, "I challenge you now".I said no problem..I wil just make the reports and proceed with the case.He said, "You like la, you take all your photos all your stuffs come.I went back to my lawyers office and within half an hour.The malay girl called me and said that the technician changing it for me, he went to buy it.

After that i asked and said that is the cover going to be original.The tchnician said yes.

Then 5 days, i went back on a wednesday.I collected my phone.They change it to some pasar malam cover..I wasn't happy.And the sticked that covers the screw hole is missing..The technician asked another technician to take a blacktape but it and paste over..What kinda service is this.The technician(AH YAN) didn't want to deal with me, he asked someone from the shop to deal with me.The boy said, u want you follow me to our spare part warehouse, you choose until you happy and u take, i change for you one..I went there, i saw them writing original accessories.But when i opened up, i knew it wasn't original because i could see glue signs on the cover and the metal coating is not as shiny.He said, i didn't have a choice.It's either i take it or leave it.I just took whether feeling very sick of the whole situation.And the worst thing is, the original keypad problem is not fixed, i told him and showed him.He said, you bring back to the service centre again.I got so angry i left the place with the phone.On top of that, they created a new problem, when i slide my phone open, there's no more backlight turning on at all even on the screen..

I went back to lowyat to find the guy who sold me, I said, why you ask me to send there and now become like that.Can i send it back to you.I bought it from you and i expect that you will be able to service me.He said, he can 'help' to send but if it comes back like that again he can't do anything.I said you tell me that u can service, then u ask me to send there because it's faster.And now you come and say that u can't do anything.I asked for his shop's office, he didn't want to give me any information and he said, you complain to us no use, u now dealing with the service centre already.We only sell you the item, service centre you went there yourself so now you dealing with them now not us.I left the place feeling cheated like never before.Unitl today, they've got away with what they've done.

I could take further actions regarding this matter but i felt that i wanted to take a break from all this nonsence.I've learnt my lesson and i will not trust AP companies anymore.I hope this would serve as a reminder to all handphoner purchasers out there.

Out of all the time i'v been at the service centre.I've heard so many complains.And the same technician has always been there tell the customer."If i dont' want to give you warranty how.""I don't want to gie you warranty la.."One customer came in because his phone software got problem, the technician said, "I test many times already, you want u come in and fix yourself la."
Since when service centres do business like that..

If you buy a phone and everything works well it's okay.But when something goes wrong, that's when the ordeal starts.

I change my lowyat.net account to protect myself.This post is just to serve as an explaination to my experience with them.
My phone is only 2+ months old when it all started. Now i'm left with no phone at all, and i lost a big amount of money when i sold it away later.I hope none of you will be in my position.



Full discussion can be reached below:
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/684700

Monday, July 7, 2008

The All New Starcraft 2

I have been a Blizzard fan since I knew the game Starcraft. I have since became an avid follower of Blizzard's other games line namely Diablo and Warcraft. I am more into real time strategy games rather than other types. The introduction of Starcraft 2 is a godsend after a very long hiatus of the arguably the best strategy game in history. Below are the 2 best clips I found in youtube on the 3 races skirmishes.





'Pukau' By Phone

I don't usually talk about this sort of things but for sure I heard about them. Few days back, at around 2am. I was already in my deep sleep when I heard my phone started to ring. I picked it up about to answer the call, drowsy. Before I even pressed the answer button, it struck me in the face to realize, only 5 digit popped up. Didn't think twice, rejected the call. Turned off the cell. Back to sleep.

When I woke up, I recalled my friend was telling me about some 'pukau' via phone stuff. 'Pukau' is crudely synonymous to hypnotize. The number was long in her claim, and was thought as coming from Indonesia. Victims were hypnotized into giving their full name. I guess their number were dialed up randomly. After the name were given, the damage began.

I goggled up to get some sense. The tags: pukai, phone, indonesia hit multiple similar stories on a lady called fiza. Here's the essential translation:


Fiza, was at Shell in Sri Petaling when a number conjured up on her mobile phone screen. The party claimed they were calling for Maxis Hotlink and that fiza apparently, won a Hotlink contest. She did realized, tho, the number was actually long and possibly from Indonesia. Unfortunately that didn't stop her from giving her full name upon the request. It was directly after giving her name, she lost her consciousness. Walked to a nearby ATM, and as directed by the guy, transferred RM2'600 to an account (which was actually an oversea account). To cap it up, she later on was told to buy a credit reload to an Indonesian no.

She gained her consciousness only when she got back home. Feeling something was not right, proceeded to ATM again just to find out all the money she was saving was all gone save for some mere cents.


The trueness of the story certainly remains to be questioned but it's always best to be vigilant. When by any chance you were asked about your full name, think deep, for that's where the charm fill its effects. No matter how mad you are at receiving repetitious random msgs from unknown no, the worse thing to do is to reply.

Below story took another twist but with specified phone no of 006285880386856. The victim was told their SIM card won a draw by Petronas, winning RM10K. I don't translate the story this time.



Pagi hari Jumaat, 4 Mei 2007. Saya menerima satu SMS berbunyi:- . Setelah bertanya pendapat beberapa orang rakan, saya mengambil keputusan tidak melayan SMS tersebut kerana percaya itu adalah satu penipuan. Bagaimanapun, selang beberapa minit kemudian, saya terima satu lagi SMS sama yang dihantar dari nombor yang sama. Saya percaya pengirim SMS tersebut datangnya dari Indonesia berdasarkan nombor yang tertera.

Menyedari saya telah diganggu, saya menghantar satu SMS balasan berbunyi:- Minta maaf. saya tidak kenal siapa kamu dan tidak percaya dengan apa yang kamu katakan. Kira-kira pukul 11.30 pagi, saya terima panggilan telefon dari nombor 006285880386856. Ketika itu, pemanggil tersebut yang memperkenalkan dirinya sebagai pegawai dari Petronas Malaysia memaklumkan SMS yang saya terima bukan satu penipuan. Katanya, hadiah wang tunai yang bakal saya terima akan dimasukkan ke dalam akaun Maybank. Serentak dengan itu, dia meminta Nama Penuh, No. Kad Pengenalan, No. Akaun Maybank dan bertanyakan jumlah simpanan saya dalam akaun tersebut.

Kerana tidak percaya dengan apa yang dia katakan, saya berkeras tidak mahu memberitahu semua perkara yang diminta. Bagaimanapun, dia meyakinkan saya bahawa No. Kad ATM Maybank milik saya telah pun dia ketahui. Serentak dengan itu, dia membacakan 8 digit pertama nombor tersebut. Menurutnya, dia memerlukan semua perkara yang diminta tadi untuk pengesahan supaya hadiah RM10,000 boleh dimasukkan ke dalam akaun saya secepat mungkin.

Saya yang tidak sempat berfikir panjang segera memberikan semua perkara yang diminta. Bagaimanapun, saya mula berasa cemas selepas itu lalu segera ke cawangan Maybank terdekat dan sempat mengeluarkan sebahagian besar wang simpanan saya sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga. Selepas pengeluaran itu, saya masih mempunyai simpanan sebanyak RM1,202

Kira-kira jam 2.30 petang, saya kembali ke cawangan Maybank yang sama. Setelah diperiksa, saya dapati baki simpanan saya bukan bertambah sebanyak RM10,000 seperti yang dijanjikan, sebaliknya hanya tinggal RM2.00 sahaja. Ketika itu saya sedar bahawa saya telah tertipu. Wang simpanan saya sebanyak RM1,200 telah dikeluarkan tanpa pengetahuan.

Satu laporan polis telah dibuat dan pihak polis memaklumkan, kes seperti ini sering berlaku dan mangsanya akan dipukau terlebih dahulu sehingga memberikan apa saja yang diminta. Menurut polis lagi, sindiket yang berpangkalan di Indonesia ini telah menyamar sebagai badan-badan dari Malaysia. Mereka juga bertutur dalam bahasa Malaysia untuk memperdayakan mangsanya.

Kepada kawan-kawan yang mungkin menerima SMS serupa, saya nasihatkan supaya abaikan sahaja. Jangan sesekali membalas atau menelefon kembali nombor yang tertera biarpun untuk memaklumkan yang anda tidak percaya dengan SMS yang dihantar kerana anda akan segera dipukau melalui cara itu.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Dedicated to my friends who are off to IMU Seremban

This is my 1st full length video making. Got too much free time during the short-break before the final exam result come out. I was 1st inspired by the good music by French singer, Alizee. The song entitled 'Par Les Paupieres' (roughly means
'by the eyelids') taken from the album 'Psychedelices'. It's a beautiful melody.

I used Windows Movie Maker for the movie and some of the pics edition. Most of the pics were edited with Photoshop Elements and can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alimus/sets/72157606023233615/