Saturday 26 November 2005

Finally, The Sony has arrived

Finally, I got the TV. The delivery lorry came at 6:30pm and they finished doing some technical stuffs at 7pm.

Now I got the HDTV :) what's next?

I found that the TV picture's quality is so so, may be because the tv signal's reception in my area is not good. But some channel, especialy from Singapore's TCS 8, the picture is a very good. Yeah, much better from my old TV. Tried my PS2 to play DVD (I do not have DVD player, remember?), playing Spiderman 2. Oh my God! The picture quality is superb. Oh, I only use the ordinary RGB cable. Planning to buy component cable to connect PS2 to the HDTV as soon as possible.

Also played some VCD from my old Samsung VCD player. Off course, the picture's quality is much better from my old TV.

Try different display setting which is DRC1250, DRC100 and Progressive. Surfed some website about those names because I do not have any idea at all and found this:


DRC1250:Sony's unique signal processing algorithm improves picture density by doubling both the horizontal and vertical pixels in real-time. With the double-interlaced scanning lines and horizontal pixels, picture density improves tremendously. DRC1250 is optimal for viewing general broadcasting and prerecorded movies on digital media. Perfect technology that reaps multiple benefits for those who demand clarity of image and sharp detail. The benefits of DRC1250 is more obvious with digital broadcasting where picture quality depends on the quality of the TV receiving the signals.

DRC Progressive: A normal TV uses interlaced scanning to scan TV signals first in odd, then even fields (or lines). This mean it takes two fields for a TV to complete a scan of one frame of broadcast image at 25 frames a second. DRC Progressive scans the lines all at once to give you 50 frames a second. So what you get is the upper super-still text so necessary for the interactive content and richer text that digital broadcasting will bring - like electronic programming guides (EPGs) and digital Teletext. And with 2x picture density, you'll also get superior picture that will add to your TV enjoyment.

WEGA Engine By integrating Sony's exclusive and advanced digital technologies within one powerful processor, the new WEGA Engine ensures 'Full Digital Processing' to deliver superior image quality with less noise, better resolution, superb contrast and greater reality.

From Sony Support:

When should the DRC1250 feature be selected?

Solution/Answer:
It is ideal to select the DRC1250 feature when viewing general broadcast programmes and pre-recorded movies on digital media like DVDs and digital videos.
The DRC1250 feature is Sony's original and unique advantage of digital-signal processing doubles both the horizontal and vertical density in real-time. There are two times as many interlaced scanning lines and horizontal pixels, which minimises visible scanning lines. All these result in superior picture quality.

However, I always choose DRC Progressive! :)

The Sony DB29M61 only 3 choice of display setting which is Vivid, Standard and custom, and you could create ONE custom display setting. The vivid setting is so sharp. I think it's only suitable for the showroom.

It also got 3 choice of equillizer sound selection. Dynamic, standard and custom. And you may create one custom sound setting. Other than that, there is surround sound to select. The surround sound, however, is not good enough. The treble is so high, but the bass is also high. I cannot found any balance with those setting. So, I just turn the Surround to Off and select the equilizer to Dynamic.

By the way, I still hunting for a new DVD player. Two models in my head are Pioneer 383/686 and Samsung HD850.

Thursday 24 November 2005

Ordered the Sony WEGA!


I have ordered a Sony WEGA DB29M61 Television yesterday. DB29M61 is a replacement model of DA29M61.

After viewed the Sony DB29M61 (RM1880) and Panasonic Tau Giga 100 (RM1580), I decide to buy the Sony. Even at SENQ, Giant Plentong Johor Bahru got Panasonic promotion where if bought Panasonic Giga 100 for RM1800 will get a Panasonic DVD player as a free gift. Yes, the TVs there are more expensive. The Sony is marked with RM2099 price!

The shop will deliver it tomorrow, Friday. The price is RM1850 after RM30 discount. Very hard bargaining, but only get RM30! discount. No free gift at all.

Already bought the new larger TV rack. My old tv rack is too small for 29". It is just a simple rack, got it for RM76 at Carrefour, Johor Bahru.

Very happy to get the TV, cannot wait!

Tuesday 22 November 2005

Want to by a New TV

I am planning to buy a new television. My 22" 8 years old Samsung have shows so much problem. The picture is so yellow. When started, the image is blur. Have to wait for a couples of minutes before the image become shape again. But still yellowish. And the speaker is also gone crazy. Sometime have voice sometime not. I have to knock it several times to make the voice heard.
So, decided to buy a new set. In my head:

  • 29" Panasonic 100Mhz
  • 29" Samsung 100Mhz
  • 29" Sony Wega DA29M61/DB29M61

Yes, I only considering 29" because I have a small house. No need extra inches. 29" is already too large. Price will be under RM2000. If got RM1600, I will buy a new DVD player also. From their web site state it's price is RM1999..

But I am already biased to the Sony because the features are so interesting:

  • HD Ready TV
  • Wega Engine
  • Intelligent Picture
  • Wega Theatre Mode
  • Wega Gate

The specification:

Picture

  • WEGA ENGINE
  • DRC-MF
  • PAL: DRC 1250/100 Progressive
  • NTSC: DRC 1050/120 Progressive
  • Multi Image Driver (MID)
  • Multi HD-Ready (1080i/720p/625p/576p/525p/480p/480i capable)
  • Intelligent Picture
  • Intelligent Signal Booster
  • AI Comb Filter (PAL & NTSC)
  • Noise Reduction (NR)
  • Cinema Drive Mode
  • Velocity Modulation (VM)
  • Color Temperature
  • Wide Mode (V Compression)
  • Auto Wide (ID-1 & WSS Detection)
  • Picture Mode

Sound

  • Stereo System: Nicam A2
  • Surround Sound
  • BBE
  • Speaker System: 1 Way
  • No. of speakers: 2 speakers
  • Audio Output: 10W + 10W
  • 5-Band Graphic Equalizer
  • Intelligent Volume

Other Feautres

  • WEGA GATE Navigator
  • WEGA Theatre Mode
  • Initial Setup Menu
  • Program Sorting
  • Program Edit
  • Picture Rotation
  • Picture V-Position
  • ECO Mode
  • Teletext (Language)

Terminals

  • AV In (Line) x 3
  • S Video In x 2
  • HD DVD In (YPBPR) x 2

Another choice is the Panasonic GIGA 100. Price is RM1749.

Specification:

  • Type 29 Flat Colour TV
  • Full 100Hz Digital Scan/Progressive Scan
  • Digital AI Naturalizer
  • DPNR (Digital Picture Noise Reduction)
  • Twin Digital Comb Filter (PAL/NTSC)
  • Digital VM Circuit
  • Wing-Type Stereo 2-Speakers
  • Audio Output: 20W (max.)
  • 5-Band Equalizer
  • Two Component Video (DVD) Inputs
  • Universal Remote Control

Sunday 20 November 2005

Playing With My New Camera

Trying to take some good pictures with my new camera. I am very new in photography and have almost zero knowledge in this hobby, but I really appreciate scenery photography and wil very happy if I could make one beautiful photo. Yes, I know, most of them are using the expensive camera to get the excellent pictures.

I just trying and these are some night and low light pictures I took using Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9.

More pictures




This picture was taken when it is near to dusk. But not dark yet. By focusing on the tree before the sun, I took this nice picture.. well, at least for me.





Night shot with slow shutter, starry sky mode 15 seconds shutter. Taken at midnight.

The second picture took on the same night with 15 seconds shutter speed, starry sky mode.

Another picture that night with 60 seconds shutter speed, starry sky mode.

This is a picture of the night sky with the moon. Taken on another night with 60 seconds shutter speed, starry sky mode.

As you can see, I really like to take picture with starry sky mode to take night scenery picture because the image is glarring and clear and beautiful. There is also night scenery mode in this camera but I not using it much unless I want to take picture in below 8 seconds shutter speed.

Saturday 19 November 2005

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9


Introducing.... my new digital camera.. the 6 Megapixels Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 with Mega OIS!! clap! clap! clap!

I bought it several weeks ago replacing my aged Olympus mju Zoom 105 film camera. Although the Olympus is still good but it is the time to change.

This is my first digital camera. I have read so many reviews about digital camera around the internet before I make some choices. Some of great sites about digital camera are:

And then I surfed www.flickr.com and www.fotopages.com to see some sample shots taken by any digital camera.

At last, here are my choices:

  1. Fujifilm FinePix F10
  2. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9
  3. Canon Ixus 750

Yes, my first choice was the Fujifilm FinePix F10 because of it's excellent pictures quality, but I cannot find it so I bought the FX9 instead. And I find that FX9 is also very good in picture quality, got OIS and many excellent functions.

FX9 got large 2.5in LCD screen with 207,000 pixels!! It is really fun to shot and see the picture immediately on the large screen.

The picture quality is excellent. The Mega OIS (Mega Optical Image Stabilizer) really helping the image shot. Even my 4 years old son can take a good picture with it! Another extra is the FX9 have 16:9 image ratio option where it is good for scenery photo.

The quality of video is also very good, even in low-light! The video taken in .mov format, so it will take so much space in the memory card. Fortunately, when I bought this camera I also bought 1GB SD Card so I have no problem in taking video.

At first I have some problem in converting mov to vcd (I have no DVD player). Include in the package is ArcSoft software where you could convert JPEG or MOV to vcd. Even it is very convenient but using this software, conversion form MOV to VCD will decrease the video quality tremendously! So I not using it. I use TMPGEnc to convert from MOV to MPG and then burn it to VCD by Nero. The vcd quality is as good as the original MOV. Visit http://www.videohelp.com/tmpgenc.htm for more help.

Here is a link to Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 manual.

As a conclusion, I am very happy with Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9!! In this blog I use FX9 to take all photos except in this title where I use my wife's LG C3300 camera phone.

Here is the new and the old items of mine. The Nokia 8250, have served me well in these 3 years and still good but I am planning to get Sony Ericsson W800 or Nokia 6680/1, what say u?

Friday 18 November 2005

A Visit to Batu Layar, Pengerang, Johor

A few days ago I went to Batu Layar. This is a small nice calm beach. No so many people there. Got one shop, some chalets. It is really a great place to relax. Nice, quiet but not so clean.

Located about 15km from Desaru, so it is not a problem to visit there if you go to Desaru. The road also suitable for bicycling because there is not many car on the road from Desaru to Batu Layar.



It is believed this place name is because of the shape of this rock. "Batu" is rock and "Layar" is sail. The rock shape is like the sail.



Very near to Batu Layar is Desaru where have some nice hotels and resorts, Tanjung Balau, Sebana Resort, a very small town Sungai Rengit and a ferry terminal Terminal Feri Tanjung Belungkor.

Ok, how to go to Batu Layar from Johor Bahru?

By Public Transport
From Larkin Bus Terminal, take a bus to Kota Tinggi about 1 hour. Than from Kota Tinggi Bus Stand, take another bus (MARA Liner) to Bandar Penawar. It will take about 1 hour very smooth journey from Kota Tinggi to Bandar Penawar. At Bandar Penawar Bus Stand, you may ask any taxi driver to send you to Batu Layar. The journey will take about 10 minutes. You may also go to Tanjung Balau (about 20 minutes) or Desaru (5 minutes) from Bandar Penawar.

By Own Transport
If you have your own transport, you may go to Batu Layar by using Lebuh Raya Tebrau-Kota Tinggi ( about 1 hour) than, Kota Tinggi-Desaru (40 minutes). Turn left when you see a Petronas petrol station at Bandar Penawar. At the Desaru round-about after the Petronas Bandar Penawar (about 2Km), take the right road. In 10 minutes journey, you will see a small signboard - Batu Layar Resort, turn to left and you are there.

At the Desaru round-about, to the left is to Tanjung Balau, front is to Desaru.

Wednesday 16 November 2005

Teluk Sengat, Johor




Up above is a scenery at Teluk Sengat a.k.a Johor Lama, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia. I just visit there last month where I have my personal tailor there to make my 'baju melayu' for 2005 Aidilfitri.






Haha.. actually, not my personal tailor. I just like his handwork and I make my 'baju Melayu' every year there.

Here is another view at Teluk Sengat.



Teluk sengat is located about 27km from Kota Tinggi and about 30km from Desaru. This place is really important in Johor history where Kota Johor Lama (now is a kampung near Teluk Sengat)was a capital of Johor 400 years ago.

Johor Lama first arose under the rule of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah circa 1540. Its strategic location right by Johor river, the clever use of the natural terrain and the construction of fort walls, enabled Johor Lama to become a secure trading post for the region. Its elevated location allowed for a strategic view of the river estuary. But around 1587, the settlement was attacked and destroyed by the Portuguese invaders.

If you happen to visit Johor Lama today, you will still be able to see remnants of the historical settlement, though not as impressive as it once must have been. Surrounded by earthen walls, some 10 to 25 feet high, the fort managed to fend of marauding enemies until the defeat to the Portuguese. Two tombs can be found near the fort, which are believed to be of Sultan Alauddin and his warriors'.
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