It was Valentine’s Day and my dearest wife had been hinting to me the whole month that Valentine’s Day would be so lovely with an iPod. (Actually, I have been observing how she usually hogs either her mom’s Samsung Galaxy or her sister’s phone playing those crazy game apps which are certainly addictive during dinner time.)

iPod Touch 4G

The newest generation by Apple. The iPod Touch 4G is just exactly like iPhone. I was mistaken with it and looked exactly like a mini-me iPad (to be honest an iPad sounds wrong. If you know what i mean.)

Well, I have to admit that the iPod Touch is kinda cool. It has all the usual iPhone applications like email, flawlessly smooth internet, a camera which allows two way video call (observe the small camera at the top), calendar, iTunes and all its fun apps.

Below are the cool new things that Apple has done to reinvent the iPod Touch 4G.

I really like the video calling although to be frank I have not tried it out as the people around me do not have and iPod. I tried using Viber to call fellow iPhone users but the application is not yet compatible for iPod Touch.

But I’m now super hooked on all the applications.  My app of the day is The Smurfs Village. Reconnecting my childhood, I am able to run a whole village of Smurfs with the guidance of Papa Smurf! My city continues to grow but I have to be careful of Gargamel that threatens to sanctity of my village.

Well I know my wife Nur is loving her iPod (or rather Me. But shhh….. Don’t tell my wife I’m an iPod addict.)

You can get the iPod Touch 4G 32Gb retailing at $428. The best offer I got was from Challenger where they gave free casing and a screen protector.

On a sidenote, I hope that Steve Jobs will be in great spirits and health and continue creating amazing inventions.

Do visit Apple’s website here to get your iPod Touch 4G.

]]> http://www.ilovelookinggood.com/2011/02/19/ipod-touch-4g-a-new-convert/feed/ 0 http://www.ilovelookinggood.com/2009/09/15/blackberry-curve-8900/ http://www.ilovelookinggood.com/2009/09/15/blackberry-curve-8900/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:52:39 +0000 FaiNur http://www.ilovelookinggood.com/?p=1434

BlackBerry Curve (8900)

Nurul and I certainly are handphone freaks. We jump from phone to phone following the latest gizmos and technology that’s ever changing in our society. After our foray into the Samsung G400, we decided to move on to a different phone altogether. Frankly, we have to thank the famous Singapore blogger Xiaxue! Her post on the Blackberry certainly piqued Nurul’s curiosity! Thus, we finally attain the BLACKBERRY CURVE!

For starters, we weren’t looking for a new phone. In actual fact, we loved our Samsung G400. It was just that we wanted to change our network from Starhub to M1. Why? Well, it’s thanks to M1′s special Free Calls to 3 M1 numbers (I have to commend M1 for their brilliant and attractive phone plans that’s really customer friendly) - You just have to pick the plan that fits you. And this Free Calls to 3 M1 numbers is brilliant for me especially with Nurul in the group. All I have to do is just pick up the phone and call Nurul for FREE! One month into the plan has definitely saved me a fortune on phone bills. And it frees up time to call other people and clients.

So why did we get the Blackberry Curve? Well, firstly it was free under that SunSaver Plus Take 3 package. However, the drawback of the Take3 package is that you have to return the phone at the end of your contract or else incur charges. Thus, the phone was going for $298 under a normal 2 year contract. However, with M1′s promotion of changing from a different subscriber we get $100 discount and on top of that another $100 discount for new contract promotion. Thus, we finally got our Blackberry for only $98 under a two-year contract plan.

Blackberry Curve (8900)

As they say, once you have a Blackberry, you will never switch back. I am a Blackberry Convert! I love my Blackberry! I never knew how I could have lived my life without a Blackberry (other than Nurul! hehe!) In the beginning, I disliked the QWERTY keyboard. After seeing Nabihah (Nurul’s second sister) using her Nokia with QWERTY ketboard, I was vehemently adamant into believing that it is far more troublesome and a pain in the ass. I thought my fingers were too fat and big, thus typing would have been hard. But after using it, I realised just how easy and fun it is to use a QWERTY keyboard. Not to mention, the many wonderful applications in the Blackberry.

Pros

• QWERTY KEYBOARD (A breeze once you get used to it. Easier than all the touch screen or typing styles)
• The keyboard is very responsive and sensitive to a fingers pressure.
• Brilliant Applications! Like the Blackberry Messenger (BB to BB free!)
• I love the integrated Google Maps (Never get lost ever even while am driving!), Documents Spreadsheets Applications, Instant Email Notifications, Twitter and Standard Chartered Internet Banking! Also GOOGLE to help me discover anything that i need on the go.
• Simple to Use with an in-built guide to show the magic of BB!
• Processor is very fast
• Slim & Stylish

Cons

• Battery life is a killer usually lasting me at the most 1 & half days
• Loading up is a pain taking at least 2 mins for start up
• Average Camera: Only 3.2 MP
• Messages are messily arranged following days. Not under names.
• No 3G application

Overall

I give the Blackberry 4/5 for its ingenuity, its usability, its black sexiness, its brilliant applications and its ability to be the number ONE contender to the iPhone! A must try, trust me that you will end up as BlackBerry Converts in no time. Although, I certainly do hope though that they increase the battery life, camera megapixels and upload timing.

So, thinking of switching yet?

Fai @ ilovelookinggood

I know, I know some of you might think that I am nuts. But I can’t help it. I loved my previous Canon. It was pretty with crystals all over it. However, I need something which can fit into most of my bags just like the above Canon IXUS 100 IS. I can’t bear to sacrifice a couple of makeup space just to include my slightly bulky camera but with the above Canon IXUS 100 IS I sure can now. Not it fits into my little dinner purses very nicely.

When it comes to specs, of course this camera lacks the hardware of my previous camera. But I can assure you that this beauty works as well.

Check it out (credit: Canon website) -

Nur @ ilovelookinggood

Who has the money or the time to head to the spa or beauty salon these days? Not us. That’s why we searched around for gadgets and products that would give us spa-worthy results at home. Check them out and be on your way to better skin and hair, without making a huge dent in your bank account.

See gadgets ]]> http://www.ilovelookinggood.com/2009/05/03/alternatives-to-beauty-salon-and-spa-treatments/feed/ 0 http://www.ilovelookinggood.com/2008/11/21/schick-quattro-titanium-trimmer-shaver/ http://www.ilovelookinggood.com/2008/11/21/schick-quattro-titanium-trimmer-shaver/#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:18:41 +0000 FaiNur http://www.ilovelookinggood.com/?p=840

I have seen the dawn of the God of all SHAVERS!

And it’s name is Schick Quattro Titanium!

As you all should know by now, I am a hairy man. And i require shaving. Many times a week. I have always been a Gillette man with the Mach 3 as my most preferred shaver. However, things changed. People change, economies change and certainly preferences to shavers change. To begin with I have never been a brand loyal person.  I am one that is practical especially with efficiency and price.

So what led to my betrayal? So audacious to leave my lovable Mach 3?

Well, it’s because Schick Quattro Titanium has a unique trimmer. The trimmer fits nicely in the shaver & that it’s battery operated. So there’s no need for wires for charging and stuff. Haha. Brilliant for my sideburns. Nurul just hate my sideburns so I am pretty happy to continuously trim it nice, neat & tidy. The shaving head is frankly not up to mark with Mach 3 but it still does a pretty good job. It was so difficult to attain this wonderful shaver. I went to NTUC, Shop & Save, Guardian, Watsons & Mustafa Centre. All didn’t had it! IT was SOLD OUT! I had totally given up on getting it when I was on a hunger trail to Carrefour for our Sushi Hunt that i had finally got it! IT was the last one of the rack. I thought i was simply dreaming, some mirage or sick psychological sensory displaced to portray my dying wish. Haha! I really wanted it. And am glad i have gotten it. It’s once again available at all stores (Just checked it the other day!) going for just $17. Do try it & trust me, you will fall in love with the trimmer. Simply amazing in doing many styles with your beard, goatee & sideburns.

Fai & ilovelookinggood.com

Here’s my other post – Hair Styling’s Easy with Brylcreem

Why were discussing mobile phones on a regular basis you ask? Well, firstly Fai’s Motorola Razr V3xx is falling apart while my HTC Touch Dual keeps shutting down on me during calls (the downside of touchscreen phones). So, while window shopping for mobile phones, Fai fell in love with the sleek Samsung G400.

Now, what is so special about the Samsung G400? The first thing I look for in phones are these basic features (which I’ve already mentioned in My Razr V3xx  post)

The Samsung G400 has all the above. In fact, the Samsung G400 boasts a 5 megapixel camera (better than my current 2 megapixel HTC Touch Dual camera). Also, it doesn’t function on the annoying Windows Mobile like most touchscreen phone does. The Samsung G400 also has a touchscreen outerface adding more coolness to the already sleek and gorgeous phone. Furthermore, besides having only an MP3 Player, the Samsung G400 comes along with FM radio (great for when you’re bored of the same ol’ songs playing on your MP3).

Now, that you’ve read about the basic specifications the phone has, you must be wondering if this phone is too good to be true. To satisfy our hunger for more information about the phone, we head down to Samsung VivoCity to give the phone a dry run. The touchscreen outerface is easy to use and when not in used, we’re able to lock the phone so that we won’t be accidentally calling someone we’re not supposed to. For the sake of vanity, the 5 megapixel camera allows us to take pictures of ourselves when the camera is flipped open. You can also change the theme of your mobile wallpaper according to your own personality and moods.

So far so cool right? I can’t wait to get my hands on the phone. I need to start saving.

Nur @ ilovelookinggood

P.S. I’m no techie. So I hope this short review does it for you.

Ever since Apple‘s new fashionable must-get gadget iPhone came out on this Earth, it has radiaclly numbed and hypnotised millions of people around the world that a touch-screen phone is the only way to go for handphones. Since it’s ascendacy to Gadget Heaven, it has urged other phone companies to make copies of it (Unlike LG; thanks to Athalar for pointing out that it came up with the KE850 before the conception of the iPhone)

However, i begin to wonder what’s the hype really about touch screen phones. Is it more of a modern ingenuity or just a brilliant marketing ploy? Nurul has gotten two touch screen phones. Yes! Two within a space of 2 months. Hehe. BUT, i don’t blame her. If it was me, i would have done the same thing. She began with the LG KS20 and then moved on to the HTC Touch Dual.

Why?

Nurul and I both prefered the LG KS20. It was way more stylish, sleek and oozed sexiness. It was a phone to die for. Unfortunately, quirks began popping up. Things which we have taken for granted (Ever being spoilt by Nokia’s innovations) left us wanting for more. The LG KS20 wasn’t able to count the outgoing talk time (vital for users under a fixed outgoing talk time plan) and you have to count your outgoing messages manually. A major flaw is the alluring part of the phone itself. No KEYPAD!

Don’t get me wrong, i know you will go like Duhhh! Of course there’s no keypad, it’s a touch screen…. We thought that we can adjust easily to it. However, we were dead wrong! Nurul was finding difficulty in messaging and she still wasn’t used to the either the touch screen typing with her stylus or the usage of the hand writing recognition. I was starting to get annoyed as she messaged me coded gibberish messages (thanks to the hand writing recognition) or she was taking some time to reply even till the point of not replying them due to the difficulty in messaging. Indeed, it came to an extent whereby i kept calling her as i wanted to get an answer immediately.

After some time of deliberation, we decided that it’s about time to change the KS20. It’s perfect for users which are accustomed to the touch screen typing (especially O2 and PDA users). However, Nurul and I needed to get one which enable us to type normally with a Keypad. We were looking at numerous phones (I didn’t like those Blueberry or O2 phones as it lacked style and looked more like a business man phone) However, the answer was right under our noses. Or rather, it was with Nurul’s father.

HTC TOUCH DUAL

Specifications

Network   3G HSDPA 2100 
Size           107 x 55 x 15.8 mm 
Weight      120 g
Display     TFT touchscreen, 65K colors
                   240 x 320 pixels, 2.6 inches 
                   TouchFLO finger swipe navigation
                   16-key standard keypad
                   Handwriting recognition
Ringtones Polyphonic (40 channels), MP3
Vibration  Yes
Memory     Card slot microSD (TransFlash)
Bluetooth  Yes, v2.0
Infrared     No
USB            Yes
Camera     2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video; secondary CIF video call camera
Features   OS Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional
                  Pocket Office(Word, Excel, Outlook, PDF viewer)
                  Java MIDP 2.0
                  MP3/AAC player
                  Built-in handsfree
Battery     Standard battery, Li-Ion 1120 mAh
                  Stand-by Up to 250 h
                  Talk time Up to 5 h

The HTC Touch Dual is indeed a charmer with its 2 MP Camera (an ease for us to take pictures for our blog), easy to use Windows software, 3G Video Call (A vital tool for Nurul & I to contact each other) & especially still having the style & allure of a stylus-touch screen phone. Its sleek black and fits comfortably in your hand. I know Nurul is certainly happy with it.

Fai @ ilovelookinggood

The hype of the iPhone by Apple has already reached to it’s frenzy peak. Singaporean can’t wait for the phone to be released and i have already seen a few out there on the streets. Certainly being bought online or from helpful friends living overseas. I caught a glimpse of the iPhone (or rather I was peeping over this woman’s shoulder while eating dinner with Nurul at Eastpoint Banquet recently. Hehe! If the woman whom I peeped over is reading this, am sorry but you do have a nice phone. I saw nothing else. )

What can I say, but the iPhone really caught my eye. Ever since it’s launch in the US, it’s rival companies are making tonnes of copycats or “me too” phones. It seems the current in thing is to have a touch screen phone with a stylus. Am never one to easily buy into gimmicks but I do kinda like the style. However, practicality is more important to me than style.

Well recently Nurul went crazy over this new phone. She said why wait for the iPhone when you can have it now. We have been looking around for touch screen phones but the prices were either too high or it was inflexible or it had no stylus. However, she messaged me eagerly recently and went like “I FOUND THE PHONE I WANT!”

LG KS20

The LG KS20 is a small, lightweight, easy to use, fits snuggly in your hand and is pump packed with the essential hardware to make it to die for. Built in with a stylus that hides nicely in the phone, the look is essentially about class and style. The only drawback for the phone is that it leaves marks when u touch it’s screen with your fingers. Not to worry though, that can be easily solved by buying a matt protector cover. Doesn’t make it oily and certainly no fingerprints.

Specifications

Dimensions : 99.8 x 58 x 12.8 mm

Weight : 92.5 g

Display : 240 x 320 pixels, 2.8 inches TFT TouchScreen

Memory : 128 MB internal memory; MicroSD Slot available
400 MHz Qualcomm processor

3G(HSDPA 3.6Mbps), GPRS, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Enabled with USB slot

Operating System : Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional

Camera : 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, autofocus, video, flash; secondary VGA videocall camera

Batter : 270h (Standby) 3h(Talktime)

- Java MIDP 2.0
- MP3/MPEG4/WMV/AAC/DivX player
- FM radio with RDS
- Document editor (MS Office)
- Organiser
- Voice memo
- Built-in handsfree

It’s going for $298 under Starhub PowerValue 300 for a two year contract.

iPhone next to LG KS20

Hmm, now am wondering when’s my contract gonna end?! Hehe!

Fai @ ilovelookinggood

(UPDATE) Nur: I just bought the phone!! Loving it so far but the LG KS20 doesn’t have outgoing call history. How am I going to keep my track of my outgoing calls now… ARGH!!

OH well. Back to the matter at hand. Indeed, the offers never fail to disappoint as prices were slashed and many free goodies were thrown into the package. Indeed, our shopping list this time concerned mainly on phones for Nurul and our glittering prize; a Sony PSP! HAha.

Well after settling down with a Motorola V3 phone for the past 2 years, its about time we set our sights on another brand with another style. We have in our minds a touch screen phone with a stylus and yet a trendy stylish look.

The choices came down to 4.

1) LG KU990 VIEWTY

Specifications:

- 3G Network

- 112 grams

- 103.5 x 54.4 x 14.8 mm

- 100m shared memory, Micro SD

- 5 megapixel Camera

- MP3/MPEG4/WMV/AAC/DivX player
- FM radio with RDS
- Organiser
- Document viewer (DOC, XLS, PDF)
- Built-in handsfree

- Battery: Standby 430hr, Talktime 4hr

Cons : No stylus!

Going at $188 with 2 year plan under Powervalue 300 with StarHub. $288 with other plans.

2) HTC TOUCH

Specifications

- 2.3 in x 0.5 in x 3.9 in

- 1 GB microSD memory card

- Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0

- Battery 5hr talk time

- flexible touch screen with stylus

Its going for $98 for Starhub Powervalue 300. $198 for others.

3) Sony Ericsson P1i

Specifications

- 3G, Bluetooth, A2DP, Infrared, USB, WLAN

- 124 g

- Touch screen, QWERTY

Its going for $288 for Starhub Powervalue 300. $ 388 for other contracts.

4) Sony Ericsson G700 (To be launched in June)

Specifications

106 x 49 x 13 mm

99 g

TFT touchscreen, 256K colors 240 x 320 pixels, 2.4 inches

160 MB internal memory

Symbian OS, UIQ

3.15 MP secondary videocall cameraJava MIDP 2.0
- FM radio with RDS
- MP3/AAC/MPEG4 player
- Handwriting recognition
- StickyNotes
- TrackID music recognition
- Picture editor/blogging
- Document reader/editor
- Organiser
- Stopwatch
- Built-in handsfree
- Voice memo/dial

Battery: Standby 330hrs, Talktime 12hrs

SONY PSP LIGHT

Well, its going around $340 with 2 games. I am still pondering of getting it. HEHE!

If anyone’s interested in either getting the Sony Ericsson P1i or Sony PSP Slim, please contact me at ilovelookinggood@gmail.com

I can get the Sony Ericsson P1i at $650 without contract. Also Sony PSP Slim at $310.

Fai @ ilovelookinggood

• UltraSlim/Slim
• Lightweight
• Stylish
• 3G
• Bluetooth
• Atleast a 1.3 megapixel camera
• Video Call
• MP3 Player (or one that supports MP3 audio formats)
• MicroSD Card Slot

My Motorola Razr V3xx has the above basic functions and on top of that, it supports imode. Having to pay that extra S$10/month to Starhub is worth it I guess. I get to check movie timings from GV for free (my imode subscription is unlimited). But recently, I just discovered another function which I know I will use frequently. The calendar function. Slightly abit outdated and slow don’t you think? I know, I sound like a tech bimbo right now. The thing is, I’ve always relied on my trusty organizer diary to record down dates and appointments. However, when I carry a small bag, my organizer (which includes important dates) will get left behind. Having pursued a career in Public Relations, I have appointments and events to attend to. Dates and plans to remember. Deadline for proposals and reports to meet. I do not like my appointments for both personal and work to clash. Its been so much of a hassle writing down on my organizer and trying to remember it all when I leave my organizer behind.

Since I found out that the calendar function helps me save important dates and plans, I now need no reason to purchase a refill for my organizer or carry it around with me. I am also able to send appointment dates to Fai via MMS (he has the same phone). My phone, my mp3, my camera (though its only pathetically 1.3MB), my organizer all travel with me in the all-in-one package – MY RAZR V3XX. 

My lack of knowledge about technology however doesn’t prevent me from wanting a more tech savvy and sophisticated phone. Once my contract ends with Starhub and I’ve saved enough money for 2 phones (one for my jaan) I will replace my trusty Razr V3xx for one of these [Nokia E61i, Samsung i780, Motorola Q9h or the Sony Ericsson P1 (in random order)].

For now, I am just relieved that I am able to check appointment dates on my Razr V3xx. And oh, having an organizer diary function now is must have in my list of mobile phone features and functions.

Nur @ ilovelookinggood