Welcoming iPhone 3G S and Digi, Farewell to Nokia 5800 and Maxis!

With iPhone 4 expected to be reaching Malaysia sooner than later, telecommunications company have been slashing their iphone 3gs package price making it very affordable for people to have one.I'm still very comfortable with my Nokia 5800 Express Music handset. However, with my Maxis bills ballooning due to my heavy usage, I was considering to change my service provider to Digi because Digi offered me more discounts on my heavy usage.

After looking out at the available plans, I signed up the iPhone plan i138 which gives me a free 3gb bandwidth, 450 minutes of talk time and 400 sms. I am being locked in for 24 months with a monthly commitment of RM 179.58 that includes the price of the iPhone, but the amount is still way below the average phone bill of RM 250 that I forked out on Maxis each month.

Digi Specialized Store

With Mobile Number Portability (MNP), it reduces the hassle of changing telecommunications provider. We still can keep our existing number with the new service provider provided the previous service provider give it all clear.

Farewell Maxis and Hello Digi!

When the switch is successful, you should return to the same Digi specialized centre to get your iPhone and plan activated.

My Digi privilege card

Here it is, the box of iphone 3g S. I watched it as the sales assistant unwrapped it and helping me to setup and register it to the system. All in, it took me a whopping 1 hour of wait.

A new box containing the new iPhone 3Gs

Guess the colour of my iPhone 3G s?

You should always check the content inside the box. It is true that Apple is a reputable company but humans are still prone to error. So a box of iPhone would contain such kit:

1 iPhone 3Gs handset

1 3-pin plug, 1 usb-phone connector and 1 earphone cum hands free kit

Attach the usb-phone connector to the 3-pin plug and you will be able to charge your iPhone. Just like iPod, iPhone will be charged automatically when you connect it to your Mac or PC.

Plug that now work as iPhone battery charger

Sharp Pin
This stainless steel pin serve as a tool to push the hidden button that will eject the sim card compartment.

Black is my colour, iPhone 3G s Black

Silent and Volume button

It's time for me to move to Digi and get the iPhone working. Just use the pin to eject out the sim compartment and insert your new Digi sim card.

Moving on to Digi

Next, switch on your iPhone 3G s and you should the home screen. Slide to unlock and your iPhone is ready to be used. For the new iPhone 3Gs, I was advised to charge the battery for 6-8 hours to prolong the battery life. I was warned not to over charge the battery for more than 8 hours!

Slide to unlock

Upon unlocking, your virgin iPhone 3G s home screen should look like this with the some basic default application installed such as Compass, You Tube and iTunes.

Basic applications installed

Next you should have iTunes installed to your Mac or PC. Upon finished installing, connect your iPhone 3G s to the PC or Mac via the usb connector. Here you can import or sync your iPhone with contacts, songs or even videos from your PC or Mac. Having done that, next you can access to iTunes store to acquire some applications for your iPhone. However, you will need to setup an iTunes account first with an attached credit card information before you can start downloading any applications from the iTunes store, even for free application!

Some of the initial free application that I downloaded

iPhone applications are really wonderful and some application work even better than my PC. For example, I find my iPhone Twitter application is so much better than my browsed thru Twitter on my PC.

I called it a genius phone!

Remember to get your screen laminated with anti-glare protector and another cover for your new iPhone 3G s. After all, this genius phone should last you a few good year.

My cover for my iPhone 3G s

I'm not a fan of carrying two phone at one go. I find it a little bit troublesome and my pockets is just not enough to fit in 2 phone at the same time. As such, it is time to bid farewell to my Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

My Nokia XpressMusic home screen

Thank you for serving me 17 months!

Some little comparison between iPhone 3G s and Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

iPhone 3G S vs Nokia 5800

Nokia 5800 does look smaller but it is bulkier than iPhone 3G s. iPhone 3G s meanwhile has a bigger dimension especially on the screen making it more enjoyable when watching a video.

The bulkier Nokia 5800 and slimmer iPhone 3G s

In term of operating system, Nokia is running on Symbian OS 50.0.005 while iPhone 3G s is running on the just updated IOS 4. iPhone 3G s clearly have the edge by offering a very smooth screen animation changes and lag free! As for Nokia Symbian, it hang way too often even by accessing some mini application. So far my iPhone 3Gs has never lagged, what's more about hang? In term of application, needless to stay iTune Store clearly have the upper hand by offering 100k+ application compared to Nokia Ovi Store.

IOS 4 is so much better than Symbian 50.0.005 OS
It is as good as comparing Intel i7 and Pentium 3 processor.

Next comes another equally important element, the battery life of a fully charged battery. A fully charged Nokia 5800 XpressMusic lasts way longer than a fully charged iPhone 3Gs. Charging the iPhone is one of my daily routine and if you play with it more, prepared to charge it more often. Just make sure your battery bar of iPhone is above 90% before you head out home. Do bring the connector or purchase some car charger to get your iPhone 3G s charged whenever you need. After all, how genius a phone is will be dumb without sufficient power.

Only weakness of iPhone 3G s, the battery life of a fully charged battery!
Tips to have the battery lasted longer will be to reduce the brightness of the screen, turn off the 3G and Wi-Fi connection when not in use.

Thank you Maxis for serving me excellently for 6 years!

And as for now, I'm a iPhone 3G S user with i138 plan from Digi! I supposed it's a smarter choice and with my genius phone running on a smarter plan, I get to exploit more. With Digi and iPhone 3G s, I'm always connected whenever and wherever! =)

Like a mini Mac on my hand

Obviously I have friends which owned the iPhone 3G S way before me. Namely Phui Shan, Pei Shan, Chee, Guek Theeng, Mei Kheng, Isky and my Becky sis. Now will you guys welcome me to gang of iPhone 3G S? Till we cross path again for iPhone 4 or perhaps Android phone, lets enjoy the iPhone 3G S=)

Restoran Kar Cheong Chicken Rice @ SS 14, Subang Jaya

When one mentioned about bean sprout chicken rice, one will automatically think of Ipoh. Honestly, I think that Ipoh bean sprout chicken rice is over rated and one need not to travel all the way to Ipoh just for bean sprout chicken rice.

There is this stall that serves very good bean sprout chicken rice, if not better than those of at Ipoh. Named as Restoran Kar Heong, it is situated at Section 14 of Subang Jaya and this is where I satisfied my craving for bean sprout chicken rice ever since I knew their existence.

Restoran Kar Heong Chicken Rice

One thing I like about here is that you can actually choose your type chicken, the commercialized chicken or kampung chicken. Kampung chicken meat is more tender and cost slightly more expensive.

Steamed Chicken (RM 5 per plate)
Smooth, tender and juicy chicken meat drizzled with the perfectly flavoured soya sauce. Pure bliss and it went so well with their chicken rice.

Bean Sprout (RM 2)
Thick, fat and short are the attributes of Ipoh bean sprout. Not only that they uses genuine Ipoh bean sprout, it was very fresh as well, making it my must-order dish whenever I visited this place.

Pork Ball and Prawn Wan Tan (RM 3.50 per bowl of 5)
Another signature dish that should not be missed. The pork ball were very meaty and full with porky aroma while the prawn wan tan were just simply succulent and sweet.

Ipoh Hor Fun with Prawn Wan Tan (RM 5)
I'm not really a fan of Hor Fun soup, but I must admit that the Ipoh Hor Fun here really caught my attention. The soup was very flavourful and comes together with the smooth Hor Fun. Together with the generous serving of vegetables, it has what it take to be my favourite Ipoh Hor Fun.

The next time you heard people telling you how good the Ipoh bean sprout chicken rice was, do share with them about this stall. Perhaps they will have second thought after trying the food here.

Atmosphere: 5/10
Food: 7.5/10 (non-halal)
Price: 6/10
Verdict: Steamed chicken is simply awesome! Do not missed out the prawn Wan Tan as well.

Restoran Kar Heong Chicken Rice SS 14
60, Jalan 14/2
Subang Jaya
47500, Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 012 - 605 6696
Business hours: 9 am - 9pm

GPS Coordinates: N3 04.366' E101 35.432'

Nyonya Colors @ One Utama Old Wing

There was this little kiosk named Nyonya Colors which serves Nyonya food and other local delicacies. Situated at the old wing of One Utama, this kiosk has been here for quite some time and each time I passed by it, I could see a sizeable crowd enjoying their food here.

It was on the Labour Day where we (Michael, Iris, Benny and I) just finished watching Ip Man 2 at GSC Cinemas One Utama. Then as we walked around, we passed by Nyonya Colors and just as sudden, Iris suggested to have a little refreshment here.

Nyonya Colors

Dining by the walkway

As this would be my first visit here, I was clueless on their signature food. Hence, simple job was to ask Iris to recommend and take care of the orders. And the food that she ordered were

Cucur Udang (RM 2 per stick)
A local delicacy where flavoured flour were fried together with some vegetables and shrimps. The cucur udang served here were just alright and I could get better from the roadside stall anytime. It could have been better should it served hot fried from the wok.

Onde-onde (RM 1.90 per box)
Another local delicacy that is made from rice flour and filled with sweetened coconut pulp within. Come in a box of six, the onde-onde served here was full with pandan fragrant that blends so well with the coconut fragrant.

Yellow Laksa (RM 8.90)
A type of Nyonya laksa base that is prepare with the heavy aroma of turmeric (kunyit). I reckoned the soup tasted very flat apart from the heavy aroma of turmeric. I'd still prefer the typical curry laksa over this.

Penang Asam Laksa (RM 8.90)
Obviously still asam laksa from Penang tasted better, but at least this asam laksa tasted better than a lot of other self pro-claimed Penang Asam Laksa. The soup although was not as thick, it however consisted adequate spices of asam laksa, making it a real decent one.

Nasi Lemak Pandan Special (RM 8.90)
The rendang chicken was a real let down as it was lacking in flavour. At least the sambal served tasted decent. However, I must admit that the pandan coconut flavoured rice was so fragrant and deserved some mentioning!

3 Musketeers on Ip Man 2 @ 1 Utama, Labour Day 2010

Overall, I find the food served here was only so so and nothing really to shout about. It's not a stall that I will particularly visit for the food unless to accompany my friends.

Atmosphere: 5/10
Food: 5/10
Price: 4.5/10
Verdict: I find the price slightly pricey for the very average food that they served.

Nyonya Colors 1 Utama
F65, First Floor
1 Utama Shopping Centre (Old Wing)
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Malaysia

Movida Grand Opening Party @ Sunway Giza, Kota Damansara [23rd April 2010]

There was this new club cum pub that just opened not too long ago at the happening hub of Sunway Giza. Named as the Movida, the grand lauch of the club was held in last April.

I received an invitation from my friend to join the grand launch of the club. I was a little reluctant since I toned down on alcohol a lot but in the end decided to join at the last minute to see what the launch had to offer. Since I already visited this place with my cousins weeks ago before the grand launch, it is good to check out how much they've improved.

Movida Club at Sunway Giza

I reached the place at 8.45 pm and it was so darn crowded! I had a hard time trying enter the premise what's more to grab some of the food offered.

Crowds busy getting the food

Dance or band performance are typical show during a launch, but it was my really first time seeing a lion dance performance at a club.

Lion dance performance

After the lion dance performance ended, I was greeted by those models of the launch to drop some words for Movida.

Themed models of Movida Club

Dropping a signature!

My signature of congratulatory!

Grand launch is always accompanied by free flow of alcoholic drinks. Thirsty I was, I headed to the station which was serving free beers. As usual, beer always had a good reception amongst the crowd, so I know I need to be a little patience to queue up for my beer.

I was being hopeful at first, but after some 15 minutes of queuing, I still did not get my share of beer. The queue was moving extremely slow. A check at the station showed that the bar tender sometimes passed those free beers to other people who did not queue. What pissed me off even more was that he passed them in jugs rather than mug! Ultimate frustration on such a crappy system!

Crappy serving time of beer!

After more than 20 minutes of queuing up, I still yet to get a mug of beer. I gave up and proceeded to the inner premise of Movida! Since the span area were not huge, it required some task to get to the back of the bar which serves free cocktails. I'd managed to sneak my way through and I was thankful that I did get my cocktail after just minutes of wait.

A full house Movida

Later on, I was invited to the VIP area which was on the upper floor of the club. It was way a lot better, as it was less packed and I get my free beer in jugs rather than mug. Now this is what I call free flow!

Dance area on the ground floor

View from the upper floor as crowd getting the free drinks

With the themed models!

On that night, it was just too packed for even some movement what's more for dancing. The free flow ended at 10.30pm and whilst I did bumped into some old friends of mine, I did not stayed up there long. Overall, I wouldn't say the grand launch was that grand. Only if they'd monitored the free flow station a little better to reduce the frustration among the crowd..

Movida Kitchen. Bar. Club Lounge
Unit C.03 & C.03A, Block C
Sunway Giza Mall
N0 2, Jalan PJU 5/14
PJU 5, Kota Damansara
47810, Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: 03 - 6141 8022