iOS6: A review of the latest iOS for Apple OS devices

After three days of renovations, my room is finally ready for me to work in (which explains my absence for the early part of the week). However, I won't be blogging about that now because I'll have to wait till the entire room is completely done (sometime next week).

Photos courtesy of Mac Rumors

While a beeline of people are queueing for the iPhone 5 (I'm still on the fence as to whether to buy the phone), I have decided to download the latest iOS 6 and see how it pans out in the Singapore context.

Here's a lowdown of the newest updates:

Maps

As mentioned in my previous post, the new native Maps app has replaced the usual Google Maps as the main navigation app in the new iOS. Besides the typical mapping devices, it features the new turn-by-turn (aided by Tom-Tom) with Fly-over Function.

Let's start with the Pros:

Firstly, the free rotation and smoother zoom interface really makes life easier. This is especially so if you are one that needs to rotate your map to the orientation you are comfortable with.

Secondly, the Turn-by-turn feature works seamlessly and would save a lot of money from downloading the Tom-tom app.

Other than these two features, the app generally gives more information both within the map and in-location. This would be really helpful. However, for places in Singapore, the information available is still considerably limited.

Now with the Cons:

Most importantly, there is NO transit direction function in the new native app.  Apple has decided not to add in transit directions, instead they have suggested (in-app) a list of 3rd party apps that would do the trick. Unfortunately, gothere.sg or street directory is not in that list (so you'll most likely get an error instead of a suggestion).

As expected, the Fly-by function doesn't work for most places in Singapore. All you get is the default 3-D satellite imaging.

To me, this new app is really disappointing. For someone who doesn't own a car, but instead relies on public transport, the lack of transit directions is really a deal breaker. Although there are good 3rd party apps that will do the job, this would greatly handicap the reliability for the new Map App. Interestingly, this new feature is the feature that has taken the most flak from reviewers around the world.

Mail

Apple has certainly delivered on this one. The additional VIP function allows for automated sorting for important recipients (not that I have any now). The improved Flag function makes sorting of mail easier and ensures that you don't miss out on important messages.

Passbook

This app is basically useless for now. Most of the companies that jumped on the passbook bandwagon are US-based. So unless I want to buy a ticket to Los Angeles or New York, passbook is next to useless in Singapore.

If you want to play with Passbook, you can go to http://www.passsource.com.

Siri

Siri really DID get smarter. In fact, I'm actually impressed.

As promised, Siri was able to tell me about the English Premier League scores, standings and help me look for nearby food and amenities. Also, (if opentable allows) Siri can make reservations. Siri gave me quite a bit on what movies to watch too.

However, don't expect too much. As for sports, Siri doesn't know anything about Champions League and I'm not too sure about the other leagues (pretty sure nothing will come up for Malaysian cup or S League). The food and amenities information is still very limited, so don't expect to be able to find your favorite Laksa or Char kuay teow. Hungry.sg might be a better app for that.

Safari

The iCloud Tab is pretty awesome in integrating all my iDevices together. It is a really good move to make, allowing me to seamlessly switch between the devices. For me, this is easy to use and I'm pretty sure it will be helpful for most people.

Other Additions

Other addition includes the Facebook/Twitter Integration, Reply with message, Facetime over cellular, Privacy Settings and Photo Stream. Except for the Facebook/Twitter integration, I didn't really get to try out the other new features as I wasn't able to get hold of another person to test it with at 3 am in the morning. For Facebook/Twitter, it works perfectly so for those social media junkies, updating is just as easy as it can ever get.

All in all, this new iOS system isn't the big jump that I have expected (as seen from previous iOS jumps). I would agree that the integration of the different iDevices and with Social Media is the right way to go, but the major changes made to the iOS has served to do more bad than good.

The Passbook app is touted to be Apple's answer to the growing NFC technology. However, in Singapore, does that really hold up? The banks are coming up with NFC enabled credit cards and many other companies are following suit. I'm still unsure as to whether passbook will be more prominent than NFC in Singapore in a few months time.

The deal breaker for me is the native Map app. With the transit directions gone and the highly anticipated fly-over function crippled, this new app seems to have taken a step back. Personally, I can't wrap my head around the new changes and am uncomfortable having to use TWO apps just to obain directions (or simply just get rid of the new Map app). I admit that I am too reliable on the Google Map but like a common saying, "why fix the wheel when it is not spoilt".

For me, the lack of transit directions has led me to uninstall the iOS 6 and switched back to the iOS 5.1.1 (which explains the lack in screenshots). For now, I'll accustom myself (to see if I can really live without my precious google map) to using 3rd party apps for directions first before switching over to iOS 6. When I do switch over (probably in a week or so), I'll re-review the new OS and post it here. Hopefully, I was too quick to judge and the new iOS will prove me wrong.

Dunman Food Center: Dragon City Claypot Frog Porridge & Lau Hong Ser Rojak

Every time someone asks for a recommendation for Frog Leg Porridge, the first thing that comes to mind is Geylang. The only variation is about which Lorong to go where the actual stall is. Now, thanks to the recommendation by my friend Cecilia, I have a alternative - in fact, it's a better alternative.

Dunman Food Center

 The one bad thing about this place is the accessibility of the food center (or rather the lack thereof). The nearest MRT station from here is Eunos Station and for those who drive, parking is a nightmare.  Nevertheless, we made it there after parking further down Joo Chiat Road.

DragonCity Claypot Frog

The place is pretty small so it isn't really hard to find the stall. For those who still need directions - just head up to the second level and its the stall at the corner near the railings. As there were only two of us, we ordered 3 Frogs and 1 pot of porridge.

Porridge

First up - the Porridge. Served in a claypot, the porridge was smooth and the portions were pretty generous. Some might find that the porridge is a little too blend but I think it's just right when combined with the salty black sauce from the frog leg pot. I'm not a fan of porridge but this is one pot that I'll come back for more.

Dried Chilli Frog Legs

Next came the frog legs. First thing that hit me - the pot is really huge! The ones in Geylang usually comes in much smaller (but slightly deeper) pots that makes it harder to "navigate around". Another major difference from some of the stalls in Geylang (the not-so-good-ones), the frogs inside are big and very fleshy. This frogs are definitely bigger than usual, making them more value for money.

Tender meat

Even though the meat on these frogs are much more chunky, they are cooked perfectly to become soft and tender - which basically differentiates frog meat from any other meat. Even the harder-to-eat parts like the ribs is easy to eat as it comes of the bone easily. Kudos to the chef!

Porridge and Frog

The last element for this entire dish is the sauce for the frogs. Most places would go heavy on either the saltiness or spiciness but here, there is a good blend of spice and salt. So basically you won't go away with extreme thirst or with a numb tongue and burning lips. The sauce is still too salty to be eaten on its own but when put together with the porridge, it pretty much evens everything out, giving you a good blend of taste. 

Enjoying the pot

Besides the Frog Leg Porridge, we ordered some sides to go along. This included the Popiah and the Rojak (which was reviewed by ieatishootipost)

Popiah

The $1.30 Popiah was so-so. There was a generous serving of Bangkuang. However, that made the skin really wet and the entire thing fell apart when we tried to "kiap" it with our chopsticks. 

Termed as "The Undisputed Champion?" by Mr Leslie Tay of ieatishootipost blog, this Rojak is definitely one of the best Rojak that I have eaten in Singapore. So what makes it so good?

Lau Hong Ser Rojak

Firstly, the entire plate is NOT drenched in sauce. I admit I love the rojak peanut sauce but more often than not, some stalls simply spam the sauce and drowns all the taste and texture of the ingredients. The sauce was perfect as it wasn't too wet yet it managed to cover all the ingredients.

Next, the You Tiaos were crispy when the food came to us. The sauce did nothing to dampen the texture so you get a crispy texture together with the tasty peanut sauce. I can't ask for a more perfect combination.

Lastly, the ingredients tasted fresh (despite it being late at night) and the portion was pretty generous. The plate you see above is $3 and took more than 20 minutes to come. So be prepared to wait for a bit especially during busier periods.

All in all, this place is (IMO) a better alternative to similar selections found in Geylang. Did I mention that its $18 for 3 frogs? I'll definitely will be back here for more.

Dunman Food Center
271 Onan Road 
Open till late

New iOS 6 - The new program to complement the iPhone 5

With a new hardware comes a new software to complement it. Right after the introduction of the iPhone 5, Apple wasted no time in presenting the new features of the latest iOS 6. Here are the features that was mentioned at a glance:

The new iOS

Maps

Flyover feature - photo courtesy of businessinsider.com

With Apple trying to completely divorce itself from Google, it has taken out the native Google Maps app from the previous OS and replace it with their own native app Maps. Here are the features of this new app:

Smooth zoom and rotation - From the demonstration, zooming in and out seemed a lot smoother and the app has the new ability to rotate 360 degrees and works in both landscape and potrait mode.

More detailed information for specific locations - Apple has collaborated with Yelp and more information will be provided which includes detailed description, more reviews and even more pictures.

Turn-by-turn 3D directions - Just think of Tom-Tom, the popular GPS guiding system. So basically a Siri-like voice telling you where to turn with the buildings in 3D view.

Flyover (Satellite View) - In Flyover mode, it allows you "fly over" the satellite (or realistic) images of the location. Probably something like Superman meets Google map Street View.

To sum it up, Maps app has managed to marry Tom-tom with Google Maps, drawing on the popular turn-by-turn directions and street view. Though all these features seemed really awesome during the demonstration, I'm still holding my praises due to some concerns.

Firstly, apple is collaborating with Yelp. And we all know how Yelp is next to useless in Singapore. So will we get another Siri-like problem with locations when searching for more information using Maps? Secondly, with our Telco cashing in on LTE and cutting our data limit, will all these additional features just put us closer to exploding our data limit? Lastly, without the A6 chip, I'm afraid the older iPhones is going to have trouble keeping up.

Notification Center

A simple addition - You are now able to Tweet or Update your Facebook Status from Notification Center.

Safari

iCloud Tab - photos courtesy of Apple.com

Two additional features.

Full Screen Mode - This is one of the ideas that have migrated from the MacBook to their mobile. devices. Now you can "use every pixel" on your mobile device when browsing your favorite sites.

iCloud Tab - This ties in nicely with Apple's strategy of integrating all three devices. iCloud Tab would allow you to push the tabs that you have opened on your MacBook to your mobile devices. Simply go under a special tab named "iCloud Tab" and you can continue reading what you have left off on your laptop.

Mail

VIP - photos courtesy of hongkiat.com

It will be now easier to flag your mail (direct access from your bottom toolbar) and a special folder is created just for your flagged mail.

On top of that, there is now a new VIP Section where all your contacts that is put under "VIP" will have their mail directed to this dedicated folder.

Passbook

photos courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

Another new native app by Apple. This app is for you to store all your tickets (e.g concert tickets, sports tickets), boarding passes, discount coupons and loyalty cards. On top of that, it is integrated with your lock screen and alerts you whenever you are near the location to use your passes/tickets/coupons.

As with the Maps app, my main concern is that how effective will this App be in Singapore. What will the take-up rate be like for companies in Singapore? (The Starbuck Card app can't even be used inSingapore) On top of that, will this be overrun by the new NFC technology which is provided by Samsung Galaxy SIII and other mobile devices? I seriously have my doubts.

Shared Photo Stream

Fundamentally its your Instagram/Pinterest/Whatever photo sharing platform integrated into the native Photo app. You can even comment and like the photos (not sure if you can re-share though) that is being pushed to you.

Once again, another Apple's attempt to use the features of 3rd-party app and integrate it with their native app (Remember iMessage vs Whatsapp). Probably a method to get more people onto the iDevice band wagon to enjoy these "exclusivity". Oh well,  I still use Whatsapp a lot more than iMessage, so I don't see how this will break my habitual platforms for photo sharing.

Siri

Well, Siri just got smarter. She can now:

Tell you more about Sports (the demo was ALL about NFL football)
Give you movie reviews & recommendations (based on Rotten Tomatoes)
Recommend you a restaurant and book a table for you (through opentable)

Seems really smart eh? But up till now, my dearest assistant is still unable to give me location-based service in Singapore. So whats the point of being smarter when you can't use it in your home country? Oh and better sports knowledge? Try asking Siri who is at the top of S-League table or how did our Young Lions did against Kelantan. I can totally imagine Siri's quizzical looks.

Photos courtesy of Apple.com

Well, there you have it - some of the features highlighted in the Apple keynote event. Some of the features that have been left out or only briefly mentioned includes the ability to reply phone calls with iMessage/Message, guided access and Facetime over cellular network.

All in all, these features seemed pretty good but I'll hold any judgement till I try to use them in Singapore. Most of these new features seemed to be very US-based and I have serious doubts about it being even half as effective here. I remember how Siri was a major disappointment when she became toothless when her location-based service was disabled. I really hope Apple will do something about that and ensure that these features maintain its effectiveness even after traveling halfway around the world.

Till then, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and wait till 19th September 2012 before we can get our phones on the new iOS6. Stay tuned to find out how these new features actually function in Singapore.

The new Iphone 5 in simple terms

Well, there we have it - the unveiling of the highly anticipated iPhone 5.

As anyone would know, I'm definitely not famous or popular enough for them to send me a free iPhone to try, so whatever information I have here is courtesy of the two live blog that I followed throughout the event - Engadget and App Advice. 

Here is the new iPhone 5 at a glance (no pictures though):

Physical Specifications

Weight: 112g (20% lighter)

4” Display

326 Retina ppi with 1136x640 Resolution

Apps are centered and to be designed to show more instead of merely stretching or expanding the app. (Example: Calendar to show more information at a time and homescreen has 5 rows of apps)

Basically what you have here is a lighter, taller and thinner phone as compared to the iPhone 4S. With a taller phone comes a longer screen (but not wider), According to Apple, with all these changes, the phone will still fit nicely in your hands.

Connectivity

LTE Connection

"Ultrafast" Wireless

Bottom line: Assuming if all goes well (and you are willing to pay your telco), your internet speed on your phone just got way better.

Processer Chip

New A6 Chip (luckily, the chip number doesn't follow the iPhone number)

The A6 Chip is basically two times faster in terms of the processing speed and graphics. Though this mean speed for new phones, this might be bad news for older phones as they try to keep up with the new programs built for the A6 chip.

Battery Life

3G Talk Time / 3G Browsing / LTE Browsing - 8 Hours

Wi-fi Browsing - 10 hours

Video - 10 hours

Music - 40 Hours

Standby - 225 hours

Uh-huh! The bane of all iPhones - the Battery Life. Obviously they have made improvements (or maintained for some) and made the machine more energy efficient. However, all these are based on the  assumptions of the phone being in next-to-perfect conditions. So, things might not be so rosy after a certain time. Question here is - how long will this "honeymoon period" last?

Camera

8 Megapixel sensor

3264 x 2448

Backside illumination

Hybrid IR Filter

Five-elment lens

f/2.4 aperture

Dynamic low light mode

Precision lens alignment

Sapphire Crystal (For durability)

Looks like they are giving all point-and-shoot camera (or even semi-pro camera) a run for their money. They practically made an already awesome camera into an even more fantastic one. What I like about the camera improvements is that they don't merely pump the Mega Pixels but developed the camera in a more holistic approach. With backside illumination and a f/2.4 aperture, I'm pretty sure my foodie pictures will turn out to be much better.

Oh I forgot to mention - they added Panorama into the camera app!

Dock

Yeap, the rumors were absolutely spot on. They have done away with the old iPhone connector and introduced the new iPhone lightning connector. Unfortunately, this means that ALL your old devices CANNOT be used directly with new iPhone 5. 

Fortunately (which means more $$$ for Apple), they have offered a one-stop solution in the form of a connector adapter. Make sure you budget that in when you are purchasing your new iPhone (unless you intend to throw out all your iDevices). Btw, there is no mention of the price for the adapter.

Here are the specs of the new connector (and here lies their justifications for the change):

All-digital, 8-signal design

Adaptive Interface

Improved durability

Reversible, easier to use 

80% smaller

So there you have it - the main changes made to the iPhone to warrant a jump from iPhone 4 to iPhone 5. A few other changes which I didn't mention above include improvement made to Video Recording, the microphones and speakers, and Photo Sharing. 

Price

The price will be the same as when iPhone 4S was released

$199 for 16GB 

$299 for 32GB

$399 for 64GB

(All prices in USD for contracted purchase)

Here's a breakdown of the prices in USD

Photos courtesy of Engadget

This new machine is obviously Apple's answer to the Samsung Galaxy SIII (and of course the lawsuits too). They have managed to give the consumers the highly sought after "bigger screen" which the Galaxy has kindly provided without compromising their trademark "iPhone look". As expected, the device is built to be faster and battery designed to last longer. My favorite part is the improvements made to the camera.

Unfortunately, there was no mention of the NFC (Near-field-communication) or 4.0 Blue tooth (which are both offered by the Galaxy). With all the ruckus about the NFC coming to Singapore, it will be really disappointing to get left out because I'm sticking to Apple. Somehow I got this feeling the iPhone 5S will feature this new technology (please don't quote me on this).

All in all, the iPhone 5 is certainly a powerful machine that will tempt many. However, the lack of surprises in the event (no more "one more thing") has somehow eroded the magic that these events usually bring. Hopefully Apple can pick themselves up from all these controversy and continue to surprise us with revolutions for many more years.

So will I be getting the New iPhone 5? Well, I'm still pretty much on the fence about it. The lack of NFC is quite unsettling but the other features are just too tempting. Regardless, if I do get the phone, I'll definitely give my full review on this blog.

Stay tuned as I'll give me reviews on the new iOS6 after I get a chance to download and fiddle with it.

Living it up in the Sin City: Paid Exhibitions & Shows in Las Vegas

In my previous post, I blogged about the stuff that you can do while on a budget in Las Vegas. Now, I'll talk about the shows and exhibitions that we went for which were pretty much worth every penny!

Peering through the glass of Vegas

Night shows

There are over 100 shows available in Las Vegas, hence choosing one or two for your stay can be quite daunting. To make things simpler, these shows can be broken down into a few main categories:

1) Cirque Du Soleil
2) Burlesque Shows
3) Magic and Illusions
4) Musicals and Concerts

Unless you are staying in Vegas for a month or so, I'm quite sure picking one or two from each category would be more than enough to fill your nightly itinerary for paid shows in Vegas.

Read on to find out what we chose to watch in the end and other shows in Vegas

Viva Las Vegas: No money, no worries

After an arduous long 5 hours drive from LA, we reached the city with all the secrets - Las Vegas. The sheer number of things that you can do in Las Vegas is overwhelming, where anytime of the day (0000 - 2359hr) there is always something to do. On top of that, irregardless of one's age, there is something for everyone.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

To prove my point, here's how a typical day would work.

1000h - Wake up for breakfast and go Shopping (e.g Outlet Shopping, Ross, many many boutiques down the strip including the Palazzo and Caesars)

1300h - Lunch and more shopping or hop down to any attractions (e.g Shark Reef Aquarium, or Body works in various hotels) along the strip

1800h - Dinner. You can either go for their dirt cheap buffet or try something upscale like Gordan Ramsay's steakhouse at Paris.

2000h - Here's where the fun begin. Go for a show (ranging from a musical to burlesque dancing, the circus, magic shows to outdoor special effect shows) or simply chill out at one of the pubs/lounges to here top notched singers (e.g Celine Dion at Caesars) perform.

2000h - Its PARTY TIME or You can just hit the casinos. This would probably end only when you are a) Too tired -- therefore calling it a night or b) Penniless out of your freaking mind, which in fact, would end your day too.

Most importantly - the cycle repeats itself, with each day going to a new outlet/hotel/show/casinos enjoying yourselves.

Vegas From the Top

The number of attractions on the strip itself is enough to fill up your entertainment calendar for a month, so with only 4 nights, I could not enjoy ALL of them. So I'll just stick to what I went through and give a feel of what to expect and my reviews of entertainments I visited.

Read on to check out the activities you can do without any $$$

Best of LA II: Fun day at the Beaches topped with a BBQ Ribs special

The LA leg to our US tour ended as soon as it started and we were left with half a day before heading for our 4 hour long drive to Las Vegas (Exciting!!!).

Our last destination was the famous Santa Monica Pier and for lunch (after days of Amusement park food and In-and-out Burgers), we decided to have a go at the famous Californian Ribs.

Santa Monica Pier

This 100-year old landmark is one of the most iconic (other than the Hollywood Sign) symbols of Californian beaches. This place is built for families and youths, with (even more) amusement park rides and a huge load of beach activities happening around. 

View from Atop

Unfortunately, this place is a nightmare to drive into during the weekends. The jam that led to the pier effectively cut our time there into half. All we could do (to make it before sunset into Las Vegas) was to get to the end of the pier, take a few photographs, chill for a while before the ribs called out for us (our lunch).

Family-Themed Pacific Park

Despite the short time, this place still left a pretty deep impression on me. I can't exactly put my finger to why, but I simply feel that this is how all beaches should be like. The clean sandy beach, the beautiful sea view of the pacific, the nicely filled pier and the absence of irritating tourist touters made this one of the best beaches I have been too. Obviously, the hollywood movies made this place even more glamourous, adding more glitter to an already beautiful place.

Simple Nice Beach Fun

Boardwalk to the Santa Monica Pier

Read on to check out our fantastic meaty lunch...