Worm in the Apple iPad

Despite the iPad not yet being officially released in our little ‘pore yet, apparently Singaporeans are one of the most iPad-crazy countries in the world, judging by data from auction website eBay. (see here)

Image via CrunchBase

Apple said that it will release the iPad in July for another nine markets, including Singapore, however, after much fanfare, to tell you the truth (though I still love the iPhone) Im getting sick of the whole Apple = gawd routine.

Lets check in on the grass roots indicator on iPad:

Technometry friend who has played with the Ipad says: no expandable storage, no go.
Work colleague who has also got her hands on them says; just like a big iphone, – can play Angry Birds on bigger screen, but thats about it

Did a search on features that suck on the iphone, and all that came up were marketing articles that touted that the iphone was actually the best thing since sliced bread.

Till I play with one, I gonna be very skeptical, just like I am about the whole Apple 4g lost phone scenario.

Online Legal Research Resources – Part 2

This is part 2 (of 4) of a informal article written for the LAWASIA conference in Kuala Lumpur, 2008 (amended for context). Its a quick snapshot of the different types of Online Legal Research resources that are available in the Malaysian and Singaporean legal landscape.

Free Online Resources

Search Engines

The ubiquitous search engine is the first choice in any basic trawl for information. Search engines are able to give a snapshot of relevant sites, news, general details and principles. However, to get effective results, the technical limits of the search engine that is being used must be understood, as well as the context of the terms that are being searched for and also how the ranking and grouping of results takes place. For example, a search engine may not compile information or types of content from relevant jurisdictions or key sources, or may incorrectly give a low relevancy rank to a relevant website thereby relegating it to the third or fourth page. The user may never have the opportunity to access a relevant site, unless they are doggedly determined. Google has become synonymous with search engines, and with good reason. Its complicated algorithms and page rank analysis allow it to consistently display relevant and real results. Google was an internet leader in identifying the different silos and types of information online and making it easy for the user to sift through the type of content they wished to find. As such, Google has fostered a growing suite of specific services.One service is Google Books, which is a tool that searches the full text of books that have been scanned and stored in its digital database. A preview or snippet of the book is displayed based on the keywords the user has searched.

Besides Google, there are many other types of search engines which can cater more specifically to a user’s needs. Rednano.sg is a good case study. Red Nano searches over web content, and also the archives of The Straits Times (a leading Singapore newspaper) which are not accessible to other search engines. Immediately, the Singapore user is privy to search results that are more likely to be relevant. In addition, the results that are displayed are grouped firstly into findings from Singapore sources, and then into results gathered from the rest of the world. Another type of search is provided by Technorati.com which searches blogs and the other forms of independent, user-generated content (videos, photos etc) known as “citizen media”.

Article to be continued

Social Media Changing Lives

Image via CrunchBase

I found a good article on how social media is here to stay at mashable.com, a website dedicated to the latest trends in social media.

For those of you with less time on your hands, due to making alot of toast for guests, a very quick precis:

1) Social media such as Twitter et al  is becoming an increasing source of trusted information.

Image via CrunchBase

2) Is a new avenue to market for business and start ups with little budget – eg Facebook groups

3) Social media has created a new platform for creating and refining new and old friendships.

4) Tweets and status posts create greater opportunity to view personal feeling and “greater transparency to human nature”

5) The ability of the individual to influence the public has increased.

Image by NASchmidt via Flickr

Check out the article, indepth, below:

http://mashable.com/2009/10/16/social-media-changing-lives/

Thoughts on Singapore Property Websites – Pt II

The  next and final sponsored result was:

Image via Wikipedia

iProperty.Com.Sg Over 35,000 Properties For Rent With Maps & Photos! Sign-Up Now

Seemed immediately more relevant as its a site oriented towards rental searches only and the additional search criteria was more intuitive as the district number was also accompanied by the areas that the number covered. I knew then, that the areas selected were either somerset or orchard in central singapore rather than just  District 9. Interestingly, another added criteria was the number of bathrooms. I hoped for at least one.  Website was also clean and looked professional. Annoying bit, had to type in the criteria for the price, size of place, rooms and baths.

Now, on to the results which werent paid to appear at the top of the results page…

1.www.singaporepropertyexchange.com Properties for Sale – Properties for Rent – Foreign Listings

This website gave an immediate poor impression, with strangely selected font and placement of information. Left it straight away. .5 out of 5!

2. www.singaporeexpats.com Singapore Expats – Expat relocation, Singapore property, housing …

Funny Internet Behavior Update 2

Image via Wikipedia

The latest update on  categorising some silly sociological and behavioral reactions that the Internet has on us

humans….

POPUP INERTIA

Frequently going to a website that always spawns a popup which slightly annoys you every time. Being too apathetic to go to the tools to change your security settings to stop the popup from appearing EVERY TIME. Its the modern day equivalent of not wanting to fix the leaky tap or mow the lawn- you just cant be bothered, despite the fact that its easy to do.

HOMEPAGE HATE

Opening up the browser multiple times over the course of a day and having a gut reaction of loathing and revulsion for the homepage because it still hasnt updated with any new information. Then hating yourself for setting such a unhappening homepage.

STATUS GAUGING

Meeting a friend of a friend for the first time and finding them cute. Instead of asking your friend whether that person is single, you find yourself asking them what their status is (ala Facebook). The answer is nearly always “its complicated”.

Image by robleto via Flickr

SELF PROFILING

Making your Facebook profile as appealing as possible to attract a possible gf/bf e.g. culling your Facebook photos and other peoples photos of you with the specific purpose of keeping the photos appealing. Taking a profile picture specifically for the purpose of looking hot. Trawling and removing any comments which could scare away “prospects”. The modern day equivalent of cleaning your house for the wrong reasons and despite the fact that you really are a slob!