Whatsapp for Androids!

Those on of you thinking of switching over from the veggiephone but worried about missing your Whatsapp, fret not there’s a Beta now.

Register it through the app and you get 3 months trial.

Tried on my Milestone Android 2.1 and its working fine.

http://www.mediafire.com/?1p8xw6gtwsqy6bn

After installing, you’ll be brought to a page, asking you to register your phone number.

Shortly after, you’ll receive a SMS with a verification code.

Next, they’ll ask you to key in a name to display you on Whatsapp.

If, on first try you are unable to get registered, try a half an hour or a couple of hours later.

*Please note Whatsapp and Advance Task Killer are not compatible. Run either one of them only.

But if you are adamant in using both, you can try uninstalling both apps first. Then install Whatsapp, then install ATK later.

Remember to put Whatsapp into ATK’s ignore list too. This method may not work for all.

For Android 2.2, visit the link below via your android device.

http://www.whatsapp.com/android/

LG’s new Android phone spotted in Drama show

By now, LG’s Ally advert would be all over the net.

On the other hand, the shiny LG LU 2300 seems more elusive, with just a couple of pictures.

But I just spotted the LG LU2300 on a TV show in Korea. It’s branded as Cyon there and it made an appearance for a mere few seconds. (5 seconds to be exact)

Even the video also didn’t show much… there was no sliding open the phone, just a frontal shot for 5 seconds.

South Korean Subway guide and T-Card Purchase Guide for Non-Koreans

Haven’t been updating my blog. Something light to restart my entries.

Here’s some info for anyone who wants to travel on South Korea’s subway system.

Below are the links for instructions to buy the transportation card and general instructions to the subway system.

I provided 2 links for the same files each, so that if one is down, the other is still available. Let me know if all links are down.

1. How to Use the Subway
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PZMRWQH7
http://www.mediafire.com/file/jr1zmimkwt0/How to Use the Subway.doc

2.How to Purchase Transportation Card
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GF4ZLZ29
http://www.mediafire.com/file/kzmhoetmn3j/How to Purchase Transportation Card.doc

Removing Camera Sound for some Nokia phones

1. Found some workaround removing camera sounds.

2. First download this file CenRep101F8809.sis.

3. Go to Symbian Signed to get the file downloaded above to sign it with your IMEI number.
(Follow the instructions there, should not be a problem)

4. Install it and restart the phone.

5. Turn off the “Warning tone” in Profile.

That’s it.

Worked on my N97 flawlessly. (Should work with 5800XM, E71, E51, N79…)

My Seoul Travel – Jan 2009 Part 4

Hi All, this is the last part of the pictures, basically its pics of my climb up Buk Han San, Dong Dae Mun and Yong San area.

I’ll be going again later this year, but to different locations.

Its early, about 8+ in the morning. My climb up is gonna take me 4hrs plus. Blame it on my poor physical condition haha… Those elderly Koreans really put me to shame.

Towards 용암사 (Dragon Cliff/Rock Temple)

The bottom of the mountain. Leaving the roads soon.

There seems to be lots of buddhist temples. As the directional sign on the tree points to 1 temple and the stone is for another.

What used to be a stream after being frozen over.

Ah… One of the wonderful springwater well. Time to refill my bottle too.

Hahaha… 1 of the reasons why I took so long to reach the top. I had to stop to read the signs before going… Because following the wrong sign could lead me back down and that would take me even longer. And I had chosen the most difficult route too (a little too confident of myself).

One of the locations where I can rest and have a bite. Luckily I had brought a sandwich.

You can see from the sign that my final destination is 3.1KM away. Which is the BaegunDae Peak.

Another 1.7KM and the climb up is getting tricky too. I couldn’t take as many pictures as I wanted to, basically too out of breath already.

Almost there.

Ha! The peak! And the view from up there. Although I was totally dead tired, the view from up here is exhilarating. I can’t put those into words. I made up mind to go up HallaSan in Jeju on my next trip.

Don’t worry, the chopper is not here to heli-evac me down the mountain… (Though I wouldn’t reject a lift down, heeheehee)

And now… Back down where I came up from! Damn! My legs are so numb now.

Second last day of my trip. Dong Dae Mun area. I didn’t go the previous night as I was tired out from the climb. So here I am. And this is the first time I really see so much shoes! OMG! the whole street and that building is full of SHOES! Men’s, women’s and kids’ shoes.

Now, this whole side of the street is all pet shops.

Really cute bunnies and puppies.

Hahaha! I just couldn’t resist it. Got one of each of these buns/sandwich. Its cheap too. Between 1000W to 2000W.

While making my way to Yong San. The Dong Dae Mun underground shopping center. Quite a number of their subway stations have these.

Now at Yong San Sunin Plaza. The electronics goods and PC area.

Definitely, not gonna buy their hardisks. Its expensive! I ended buying a 1TB the second day I reached home. And it just slightly more expensive than the price in the picture below.

Was so tempted to get this NC-10 as Singapore didn’t have this. But held of my urges as I had my trusty little EeePC900 with me. Kinda calmed me down hahaha.

I forgot what building this was. But seems to be like the Electroland.

I Park mall which is linked to the station.

And finally back to Myeong Dong area. My late late lunch cum dinner at Yoo Ga Ne restaurant.

Ordered the Spicy chicken fried rice and pancakes. Lol, I Couldn’t finish the pancakes. (And I’m not the usual small eater)

Okay, that’s all folks. The last day was spent revisting In Sa Dong, Co-Ex Mall and packing my bags.

My Seoul Travel – Jan 2009 Part 3

Having an early lunch at Coex Mall. (Lucky as the office crowd started streaming in)

Jja Jang Myun and Dang Su Yuk. I underestimated the serving size… Almost couldn’t finish.

Heehee, the noodles before mixing.

Very big bookstore here, although KyoBoMunKo is of course bigger and has more varities.

But nevertheless, still bought a ton of study materials and dictionary…

The movies.

They even have an aquarium in the mall.

HanGang Park on a Monday afternoon. Its quiet and peaceful…

Haha, this is what you get, when the pool is outdoor in the winter. But nice idea…

Its still only about 4pm and the sun’s setting…

Walking towards the ferry terminal. Gonna get on the ferry for a ride round the river.

Day 4 and my journey to Suwaon Folk Village, Haeng Gung and Hwa Seong Fortress.

Just reached the Suwon station.

Kinda thirsty…. And this is my faviourite milk! Been drinking it almost every night I’ve been here.

This shuttle is free when you buy the ticket to the folk village from the Suwon Tourist center. The coach is just beside the center.

After the main entrance… the gates to the village.

For writing your wishes and praying for them to come true… Write them on little pieces of paper and tie them on the strings.

The different types of housing in olden South Korea, different classes live in different types. As you can see, the quality is apparent if the classes are different.

This stream runs across the village right in the middle and I’m crossing to the other side. To watch some performances.

This is the other end of the river where it frozen solid here. Mostly kids and 1 or 2 adults…

My bus ride to Haeng Gung from Suwon station.

This palace looks considerably smaller than the previous 2. Haha… and you can see from the poster in one corner, this was the site used for filming “Jewel in The Palace”…

The view from behind the palace.

Making my way to the fortress walls. Was planning to go round the fortress… Not simple… I only went round half of it…

This again… Lots of slopes… Up and down, up and down…

Waiting for my bus to come. Going back to Suwon station.

Reached MyeongDong, the roadside shops/stalls are out in full force now. Getting hungry. Grabbed lots of junk food along the foodstalls too.

I was so full, just trying 1 each only. Some of it I’ve forgotten what they were called already. Just point and asked how much and went munching away lol!

Luckily its winter time. Hate to imagine when the weather turns warm.

End of part 3! Last part will be my climb up Buk Han San and around Dong Daemun…

My Seoul Travel – Jan 2009 Part 2

Woke up early and hit the road towards Nam San Han Ok Village.

Gonna walk there too. Its around 8am. So I grabbed a couple of bread from “Paris Baguette Cafe” for breakfast.

Ah… reached after walking for 30 plus minutes. The place is free entry.

You can see the N Seoul Tower (엔 서울타워) from here too. That’s my next destination later.

It’s a Sunday here, so there’s a number of young families with their kids. The kids are standing over a frozen stream actually.

The place of the “Thousand Year Time Capsule”. The path beside, leads to the time capsule. It was buried in 1994 during Seoul’s 600th anniversaty celebration. They are gonna open it 400 years after 1994 (2394).

Some of the traditional houses.

The doorways are really low. And from the warning pasted there, I guess quite a number of visitors must had some experience with it, haha.

Some of the traditional games.

At Chung Mu Ro station and making my way to Nam San Park. And don’t worry about the language, the stations and trains have enough English. Even in the carriages, the LED flashes in Hangeul and English as well.

I’m walking up towards N Seoul Tower via the park instead of the cable car. On hindsight, I should have taken the cable car. You’ll see why later.

(This station is Myeong Dong, Exit door is on the left)

Now, here’s my regret for not taking the cable car.

Stairs 2!!!

Had to take a rest here, after that climb.

Stairs 3!!! Gonna make my way up that flight of stairs across the road. Its good exercise…

My thighs were burning after reaching the top.

Some high school students doing some training. Feeling a bit out of breath!!! So I did some re-fueling myself.

Some breaded hotdogs selling for W1000 each. (I’m not sure what its called in Korean, but the Ahjuma told me it was 홋도그-hotdog basically.)

Just 1 quarter way up.

Stairs 4! One of the easier ones, but very very long.

After this, its the tower. Finally -_-

Stairs 5! After this, its the tower. Finally.

This shot is so over used lol. Always see it dramas and movies.

Okay… This one is for those couples to buy locks and “lock” their love together and throw away the keys.

They now have a branch of Teddy Bear Museum at the tower too.

Hahaha, can’t help remembering the drama “Painter of the Wind”. The animations behind are the reenactments of Shin Yun Bok’s paintings.

View from the observatory.

My bus ride to the subway. Going to In Sa Dong next.

The buses and subways are great, they announces each stop. And also available in English.

In Sa Dong

More in Part 3, coming soon.

My Seoul Travel – Jan 2009 Part 1

Finally got down to write these. Haha, took me a couple of months eh?

Travelled to Seoul at the start of the new year, for 8 days 7 nights.

Took the flight SQ602 on Friday night 2 Jan ’09 (Singapore time) and returned on SQ609 Saturday night 10 Jan ’09 (Singapore time).

Day 1

Upon arrival

I had planned to take the half day DMZ or Pan Mun Jeom tour upon arrival or the 2nd day. (You have to book at least a day in advance)

However, at the tourism counter (Incheon International Airport) I was told the price for a single adult was USD $200. So I decided to forgo the trip. Maybe I’ll go when I visit with friends/family next time round. (It’s much cheaper if you join the local tours in the city and you need to book at least 1-2 days in advance. Should be around 70,000 won.)

On the Airport Limousine bus 6015 to Seoul

Getting to Nam San Guest House

If you are on a budget like me, you can try Myeong Dong Guest House or Seoul Backpackers.

The rates ranges from 30,000 won to 50,000 won.

After getting off the bus at Sejong Hotel, made my way opposite Myeong Dong shopping.

And this is just one of the many slopes and stairs I’m going to encounter in Seoul.

Here’s my accommodation, Nam San Guest House. Further up will be the Nam San Cable car to Seoul Tower.

Couldn’t check-in yet since its only around 8am. So I just dropped my bag there and made my way to Chang Deok Gung (Chang Deok Palace).

Chung Mu Ro Underground Shopping Arcade.

Basically small shop spaces leading to the subway stations.

Myeong Dong Station

Took the train to Anguk Station and walked to Chang Deok Gung.

Was never really interested in history and stuffs. But visiting these palaces kinda impresses me in a way. Maybe it’s their generations of stories and culture behind it. Makes me wishes Singapore can make more effort to preserve out local heritage (yah right… tearing down everything and rebuilding every few years is the way to go.) Sorry, sidetracked. (That’s for another story and another day)

See? Another flight of stairs and slopes, even within palace grounds.

Next stop is to walk towards Gyeong Bok Gung (Gyeong Bok Palace).

But first, found this roadside stall outside Chang Deok Gung and I couldn’t resist the nice smell of these:

6 for a 1,000 won

That’s the presidential compound near Gyeong Bok Gung.

Walked through In Sa Dong briefly while on my way to Anguk Station.

Lots of stuffs, performance, food and souveniers. I came back another 2 times over the span of my trip.

After checking in and having a rest, headed out again for dinner.

Ate at a small eatery near the main road.

순두부찌개 Soon Du Bu Jji Gae. 3,900. Very yummy and very hot. Just nice for the weather.

That’s Myeong Dong shopping. Didn’t go there, but instead I decided to make my way to City Hall, Cheong Gye Cheon and Gwang Hwa Mun. And I also decided to walk too. (Actually quite far away.)

Found Roti-Boy along the street.

Initially was tempted to enter the skating rink at City Hall. But looking at the crowd… I wasn’t really keen… Hate crowds.

Anyway, there’s not much at City Hall unless you wanna skate. So I proceeded to Cheong Gye Cheon after lingering for around 15mins.

The start of the stream, you get this huge light display. Very nice and with music. There’s also some laser display near the end too.

After going to Kyo Bo Mun Go at Gwang Hwa Mun, I headed back to rest. But not before I grabed something to eat at Nam Dae Mun eatery street. Tried the fried squids and ttok pok gi.

Lots of little accessories and clothings too.

Okay, that’s all for part 1. Will update again asap for the rest.

My first “Beats”

Haha, my very first amateurish attempt in music.

Created this simple beat from FL Studios’ demo.
Very nifty and feature packed studio package.

Gonna try more of what it can do and see how it goes.

first_try_4sec.mp3

Turning my E71 into a Wireless Hotspot

Was searching for a solution to connect my Eee to the net when there isn’t any wifi hotspot around.

Look no further, the free application JoikuSpot Light coupled with E71 solves it.

To download, just click on devices and select your phone model.

What it basically does is that, Joiku will make use your 3G/HSDPA access and broaadcast as a WLAN hotspot. (Note: Data charges applies)

So, depending on the 3G/HSDPA network speed, your wifi devices can have internet access without any USB dongles or plugging in the E71 cable to connect as a modem. You just connect as you would on any wifi networks. You can even share the connection with friends.

Security wise, JoikuSpot Light does allow you to set WEP.