Galaxy Nexus

Upgrading from Nexus One to Galaxy Nexus, it feels like a reborn with super power. After using for about a month, here is my take:

1) “It’s the screen, stupid.” I cannot agree more, and once you taste the full screen 720p video, you don’t care about the lack of physical button (actually you prefer that) or how big the phone is. 4.65″ is a comfortable size between the iPhone and the Galaxy Note, not to mention the phone is pretty light.

2) Two must buy accessories: MHL cable and the 2000mah battery. The cable links the mobile with any HDMI enabled TV or screen for video/audio output. After pairing it with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse you have a desktop computer running on Android 4.0. Another moment to appreciate the lack of physical button because those soft button can be triggered by the keyboard and mouse. The stock battery is just not good enough, so it is mandatory to get the 2000mah battery comes with another back cover from Samsung. But don’t buy 3rd party ones otherwise you lose NFC for good.

3) For HD audio fans, It is great news that the stock music player in ICS plays FLAC directly. However I can’t get it to play 24/96 with the Galaxy Nexus. Since the iPhone does not work with 24/96 ALC as well I shouldn’t be too surprised there. But I am a bit annoyed when I try 24/48, it plays with terrible jittering, so bad that I am not even sure if they are jitters. Then I try it with 16/48 and the same thing happens. Finally after converting music files back and forth like crazy, I can confirm that Galaxy Nexus can play up to 24/44.1 without issue.

4) I don’t think screen protector or case is necessary; I take them off after the first day and I don’t need them at all. But this may not be applicable to everyone.

5) The camera is not a deal breaker but it does make you wonder why …maybe they like to get rid of those extra 5mp camera units that no other manufacturers want? It feels like having a great 6-course dinner so far, until for dessert the waiter just hands you over a banana. It’s okay, but you wonder why.

The one thing I really wish for is a version of Google TV which can do the mirroring function. Yes we have the MHL cable but it is not the same. For now the iOS combo (Apple TV + iDevice) really kicks ass and this become the only reason I cannot be fully androidized.

Fairy

I just met one today, pretty amazing!

Crystal, Welcome!

Hi. I am your Uncle, who may look a bit alike your father and grandpa on the outside. Well but it could take a while before we meet, since I am living thousand miles away from Hong Kong in the southern hemisphere. I know your father for too long since he was a baby, and because of his existence I had a fairly interesting childhood to remember by. I never thank him for that, maybe because I have too much pride; however I know he is going to be a great father and he will always take good care of you.

If one day you see me making fun of your father, no need to get too upset because it is how we interact since we were kids. In fact, you can join me and grandma in ‘team smart’ against your father and grandpa’s ‘team heart’ (which is a polite way of saying the opposite of smart). Your mum tends to stay in the middle, and that’s good for her. But we have high hopes on you in choosing the right path. Listen to your father of course, but just don’t listen to everything he says.

By now it must be a stressful time for your parents in the hospital; I wish for nothing else but the best and safest delivery. From now on the 5th of Feb is the birthday of my niece: welcome to the world my dear and I hope you are always surrounded by people who loves you.

P.S. Just saw your photo from Whatsapp … we will tell you about Whatsapp later when your parents buy you the iPhone 15S on your 10th birthday

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

It sounds pathetic but I don’t care: I have finally found what I want to do!

Perhaps it is a bit late for someone at their mid-thirties to realize their purpose. But before you judge me, let’s be clear that I am happy with my life living in one of best cities together with the people I love. I work as a lecturer in the University of Auckland for more than 10 years and I enjoy teaching both inside and outside classrooms. I know I am not a very good listener, but maybe that is an additional reason why I like to teach so much. I have worked on my PhD research on open source innovation for the last 4.5 years, and it changes my thinking towards the world more than I could imagine.

One of such side effects is the decrease of affinity towards my institution. I am grateful to many people here but most colleagues are afraid of change. Maybe that is just human nature and so if they could teach a course the same way for a decade they would just do that. In comparison I look like a troublemaker all the time, but at last I compromise. Only I find out later that my heart has never given in: I still want to do something different or I am meant to be.

Then I read about open education and also Udacity by chance: two Stanford professors give up their jobs and dedicate themselves to democratize education to the world. That is the most perfect marriage between open source and teaching that I can ever dream of. Finally, I feel I am at the right place; finally I feel everything make sense by connecting the dots backward.

So, I need a plan.

Of course I also need to finish my study first, but I have to think really hard how to approach this. What are the major qualities that organizations like Udacity are looking for besides from passion? Would it be even possible for my institution to consider something like that? What are the chances for me to start my own organization to do that? What impact would this have to my future research focus?

No matter what, I know very certain this is my purpose. I need to get ready!