Google+, an alternative to Facebook?

Lately I have upgraded my mobile phone to an Android phone. My friend introduced the Google+ to me, another social community network like Facebook but work well with the Android phone.

As a supporter of Facebook user, though got some problem here and there especially not satisfy with the speed in mobile Facebook and not quite users friendly, overall, I am happy with it. Last thing in my mind is to join another network to start all over again. Nevertheless, out of curiosity, I decided to accept the invitation from my friend to join the Google+.

The first impression is the clean and simple design of the menu screen, bigger icon with larger font that makes old people like me easily to read. The Google+ separates into Circle, Photo, Huddle and Profile and the common platform is called Stream. I found it is easy to manage it. Using the mobile Google+ application made it easier and the response time increased almost instantly. Surely is faster than the Mobile Facebook.

The Circle is allowing you to set up various circle of friends; the best part is allowing you to refrain from sharing certain information and photos to your entire friend list. You can easily decide which circle(s) of friends that you want to share with. Especially when your bosses or colleagues are in your friends list, you may get “penalize” for sharing some wrong information and to un-friend your boss is the last thing to do because it is equal as suicide. Ha! Ha! Ha! But Google+ Circle has resolved this issue.

The Photo, photo sharing is easier and instantly upload. You can take a photo directly from the Google+ camera icon which immediate upload to the site. Or you can easily share photos using your Android photo album. If you want to host your photo in web album, you may sign up with the Google Picasa Web Album which link to Google+. All you need to do is just click “share” in photo album, select your photos and type the comment, the photo will be easily uploaded and share with your circle of friends.

The Huddle, it's private chat group. You can set up private chat with your friend(s). The messages in the chat are instantly update. Notification to your phone is instantly sent to you when your friend add a message. It is like SMS except you can add friends into the group. History of Chat can be maintained. It's fun and can connect your “loved ones” 24/7. i.e, 24 hours 7 days .. walau!!

There are other functions which I have not tested, the Sparks and Hangout. Sparks is allowing users to watch video or read articles that share in Google+. Whereas the Hangout which more interesting, you can activate it and your friend can just drop by to “see” you. Ha! Ha!, it allows cam to cam chat that you can see each other face to face. Isn’t that nice. This is especially useful for parents who have children study overseas.

Wow, I am getting to like Google+, presently I think it is in testing stage. You can not join on your own. You need friend to invite you. So, if any of my friends wish to test Google+, please PM me in my Facebook. If you are in Google+, just search my name, I think you can find me easily.

Hoh! almost forget to mention this point ... Google+ allow users to edit their passed comments which is very good to me as I used to have many typo or grammer mistake in my comments. It save me from embarrassment.

Now, I am busy with Facebook and Google + and also busy in Blogging… am I living my life to the fullness or What!!? Wakakaka !!

The End.

Review of Olympus Pen E-P3

I have a friend who I called himself as photography enthusiast. Olympus Pen is his favorite toy. He even started up a PEN LOVERS group in facebook, his name is Koon Yik.

It was an excitement time for Koon Yik during the recent launch of the new generation of Olympus Pen E-P3. It was a privilege for him to be selected to do an product review on the new camera. He was given an E-P3 earlier to test before the launch of the product. Below is the link of his e-book about the review. I believe the review will help you to have better understand the camera.

Click below download icon for access the review report. 

OLYMPUS PEN E-P3 - Boat Version

Olympus Users' Gathering for PEN EP3

Olympus launched their new product PEN EP3 on 30 June 2011 last month. I was invited by Olympus to attend their Users’ Gathering at Fullhouse, Sunway Giza on 16 July 2011. It was a great gathering whereby I have a chance to meet up many PEN USERS who used to chat or communicate in facebook but now we are actually meeting face to face and acknowledge each other physical appearance as human and not something digital in facebook…. Hee hee!!

Before the gathering, some of us even took the opportunity to have breakfast together at Paparich …

At Fullhouse, we were greeted by friendly Olympus staff, look how warm and friendly Phoebe (right) welcoming us!! Off course the K-poh Jamieh (left) was given us a bigger huge !! Ha Ha!!~

Taken with EPL2 with Art Filter - Soft Focus

After registration, we were given a piece of paper which printed, “It’s Love, it’s Pen”

This is too much, Pen camera has built in SKII, it made my skin so damn smooth ... walaueh!~

Wow, that piece of paper was a door gift coupon and can be exchanged for a special gift from Olympus ... See !!

It is a miniature pen camera with two exchangeable lenses …. Isn’t that cool!

The objective of Pen Users Gathering is to brief us the features of the newly launched Pen EP3. The presentation started by the Olympus General Manager, Mr Kee Nyap, a young and energetic guy who is also very friendly to all of us. The presentation was simple but very informative. It was presented in point form which straight to the point. Later followed by Robin Wong who claimed as non-professional photographer but no one is agreeing with him … hahahah, he was just too humble, this is because the photos that he had taken (www.robinwong.blogspot.com) are much better than many so called professional. Last but not least, the Pen Lovers founder, Koon Yik who has shared some of his experiences of using the new EP3. All of them had given a great and wonderful sharing and advise to us.

I called this type of sharing as poisonous sharing because they are very contagious, the feeling of "buy buy buy" are so strong. The EP3 is a fantastic product; the fast auto focus is unbelievable fast, we have tested onsite and no one had disputed about it. Robin did say it is real good for street shooting because even the subject matters notice you are taking their photo, but they couldn’t even reacted, you have finished taken their photo. “Wow!!” is the only word I can think off.

Robin Wong

Koon Yik Chin

The 12mm lens with f2 also another poisonous lens, deep inside me wanted so much. … Ah yai, expensive hor!! So, control control control … nice to see, nice to try, nice to hold, once you are not careful, you will be ended one at home …….hahaha, LOLs!!~ and Olympus will be laughing all the way to the bank with your money !!

I purposely don't want to post the photo of the 12 mm lens here, so that "see no evil, think no evil" LOLs ...

But for those who are looking for a good camera with good lens, but thinking other brands are better, you better give a look at the EP3, because you don’t know what you have missed!!

It was a fun session; beside listening to the sharing, we have the opportunity to meet up and chit chat with some old friends, some are “long time no see”, and also meeting some new friends ……

A long time no see friend :)

It's like a big family …. Especially when you join the famous PEN LOVERS in facebook, you started to be able to know friends who have the common interest and you also have the opportunity to share your photo with them and learn from other sifu around in the group.


The end.

What is the True Direction?

What you think may not be the same of what you do.

What you do may not be the same of what you said.

What you said may not be the same of what you think.

Walau .... this is damn complicated.

Lately, a friend showing me something that I never thought off, it is just a simple wine cork, and by placing it on top of a table with various light sources ... can you see what I mean?

Look at the photo, the direction of the shadow arrow is pointed differently comparing to the small arrow on the cork. It is against each other directions. Just like a person telling you he is going east but his actual intention is to go west, the shadow arrow is just like a hidden agenda ....  Sometime we need to be careful, thing can be different from what you see, our eye can be deceived easily, use your heart to see.


I have another photo of the two corks, but they gave a different feel. The little arrows pointing each other is just like husband and wife chat with one another. The best part of the photo is their shadows. Both shadow arrows are pointing to the same direction, it gives me strong sense that the husband and wife are thinking alike and at the same directions. The two small arrows facing each other is just like they are communicating.

It is hard in today's life, many failed married is that the husband and wife are no longer communicating, they are not thinking to the same directions. I guess communication is the key of the married. So, to all husband or wife, don't neglect your spouse, do more chating with one another. Let share a common interest or direction.

The End.

A Non-Stop Masquerade Party

I’m working in a workplace that is stressful but bearable, sometime works  can be difficult but not that bad because 17 years of experiences in the industry are sufficient for me to pull through. Although salary is not high but slightly better than many people.  Living in a steady working life which many would dream of … 

Life just continuing passing-by ….

But ….

Something had happen in my work place and it turned my world upside down.

I have the desire to share what happen to you, or rather the burning feeling to rant about it, however, due to the sensitivity of the issue .... I guess the time is not ready. I think better for me to keep it deep into my heart.

I just want to share a photo in my facebook and quoted my feeling :

Wow, Masquerade is my favorite party theme. But I didn't expect everyone loves it so much and enjoying it days and nights. The party is so much fun until nobody is interested to take it down ..... party all the way (>o^) ......... hahahaha ...

Someone did said, if you can't bet them, join them …….. is it !?

Suddenly, I heard a song circulating in my mind and I would like to share with you.

Tear coming down from my face when I keep playing the song. I am touch by the song because He had made a way for me. Yes, Jesus had made a way for me.. Praise Him.

The end.

Olympus EP3, EPL3 & EPM3 - More toys for people like me!!!!

If you have been visiting my blog, you would know I am crazy about photography!

Yes, I used the word - Crazy … hee hee hee. 

Why I said so? I can wake up as early as 6 am to go out for photo shooting with my photography buddies …. We can walk and walk a few kilometers without feeling tired and still excited to talk about photography and cameras …. We love photo shooting and we share our photos in facebook and give each other a “pat at the back” and made one another siok sendiri (self entertaining)…

All these were possible because of one word, ie, PEN

YES, PEN! It is not the pen that you use to write your secret love letter to your darling, but it is a super brand of OLYMPUS camera series. Do you know the FIRST PEN camera from Olympus was born in 1959, man, I am not even born yet, the brand is one of the oldest brand and now, still around in the market but move on from film camera to digital camera.

You may check with this link to know more http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Olympus_Pen.

Because I have purchased a PEN camera EPL2, I got the opportunity to know other Pen users through some workshops. Through their recommendation, I have joined a facebook group called the PEN LOVERS.

And this is their tag line,

“PEN LOVERS, WE CAPTURE AND SHARE LIFE IN A MIGHTIER WAY”

This group was established by Koon Yik in 2010, he has great passion about the PEN Camera. He has taken initiative to pool all the "Penian" together to sign a "big big big" poster and gave it to the Olympus and the poster now is hanging in the training/conference room in Olympus office at Kuala Lumpur.

If you happen to own an Olympus PEN camera, I would like to invite you to join this group.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_172539382761934

It is a close group but you can email the founder (remember to quote me lah) and I believe he will be glad to add you in. You may share your photos taken by Pen with us. If you are staying in Kuala Lumpur, we welcome you to join us on the TT (photowalk) in future.

By the way, Today, it is a GREAT NEWS as Olympus is launching a few new Pen Products …. ie, E-P3, E-PL3 and E-PM3. Yeah!!~ many of my buddies shouted with joy because they have been waited for this model for a long long time.

I check out the write up and I think the new models are so-so-so cool!!

I love the Pen Mini E-PM3… it is so CUTE !!!

I bet it is going to be number one choice for the ladies. It is not only cute but easily place in their handbag. Can easily take out to shot and forever ready to take picture!!

For me, it is a torture for a lady to carry a huge DSLR camera, even men had found difficulty to carry a huge DSLR camera around. Huge camera destroys the lady-like of a lady.

Come on, imagine in a photo, a lady with smaller hands with polished and beautiful nails, well dressed but holding an ultra large DSLR camera, what a “sinful” looked and destroy the beautiful image of the lady and even the whole photo.

That why, I am predicting the Pen Mini E-PM3 is going to be super “LIKE” by most ladies. 

For those who are looking for compact size camera with DSLR photo quality and allow changeable of lenses, EPM3 is going to be the BEST CHOICE ….

(Suddenly, feel like buying one for my wife …..OPS! Choi choi … no no … got to save money for other thing (like new lenses) … wakakaka… forget forget FORGET ABOUT IT ….. hehehehehe … for those who have $$$ and looking for a camera, please do consider getting one… hahahaha)

Another new model is EPL3, which is one step higher than my EPL2. I am not sure about other enhanced feature but I notice one big change is the flip out widescreen LCD … WALAU-EH …. How come my EPL2 doesn't have this feature? My saliva is flowing out liao :) It is so useful with a flip out LCD screen, any angle can be taken easily, especially those shot require low angle shot ...I am so envious-lah.

Last but not least, is the EP3, I think this is the taikoh (highes range), one obvious hhighlighted in Olympus website, it is proclaimed “World Fastest Auto Focus” … Hey, No joke!? … Is world hor !? …. True or not!? Is that means no other brands, not even the C and N can bet it Hor? …. I have no idea, but you can obviously walk into Olympus office to challenge them loh ….. 

Anyway, I am not expert in camera review. My “broken Malaysian English” with half cooked standard, I am not writing any review like my friends did. If you want to know more about the PEN camera, you may click my friend links … 

You may amaze what stunning quality of photos taken with these cameras. They are really beautiful. No wonder many experts told me, Olympus photos do not need much touch up because when the photo is taken, it is almost 90 over percent cooked … you do not need to enhance the photo quality from photoshop or others photo editing tool.

I was told that there is an enhancement of 12.3 MP sensor, it has improves further the dynamic range of the photo and now, I believe it stopped other N or C users to condemn  sensor of Olympus is small.

Review by Koon Yik

Review by Robin Wong

Furthermore, the camera came out with new art filter effects … I especially like the starlight effect, I have obtained permission from my friend Koon Yik to share his photo taken by EP3… You can see how beautiful the effect of starlight appearing in the photo, straight from camera!! … It is really stunning, isn’t it?

Photo taken with Pop Art with Starlight effect, Using EP3 (Credit to Koon Yik)

Oh, Men, make me feel like upgrading my camera ........ hahahaha...

The End.