Tech Speak: Google New

Google launches so many new products all the time. Many of them are free too. Even a Google freak like me has a hard time catching up. Thankfully Google has created a new product to introduce its new products! Wonderful.

http://www.google.com/newproducts/Google New



Do you know that Google has a social networking web called Orkut that nobody uses? Do you know Google has a product called Sketchup meant for architects to design buildings? Interesting?

TechieEat: Crème Brûlée Macchiato

This is the new drink at Starbucks called the Crème Brûlée Macchiato.

I tried it out at Vivo City Starbucks Level 1. Macchiato is a drink made from a shot of espresso and milk. Caramel Macchiato is a regular drink on Starbucks' menu and its a mix of bitter and sweet taste with caramel added. Just when I thought that was the perfect balance, they introduced this new drink. Crème Brûlée means burnt cream in French and Crème Brûlée Macchiato is Macchiato with Crème Brûlée syrup and dark caramel. The result is a Macchiato with rich espresso taste and a slight hint of sweetness. This is even better than the original version!

Crème Brûlée Macchiato on a Friday night, in my favourite Starbucks at Vivo City, alone, life's never better.

Crème Brûlée Macchiato - 4.5/5

Oh Yeah It's Uni Life! - Need For Breather

I hereby appeal to all seniors who told me previously that "university life is easier compared to junior college" to step forward and let me give them a punch or two.

It has been 6 weeks since university lessons started. It feels like I have been sitting on the bullet train. No, actually it feels like I have been running after the bullet train. It was insane, everything felt like a flash. Though the process was quite fun, making new friends, learning interesting concepts, but I would still say that I need a breather.

Recess week is finally here. It's like term break for the secondary schools and junior colleges. But heck, you think anyone'll get a breather? I think not. Mid term tests are coming soon. Far too soon.

Oh Yeah It's Uni Life! - It's Okay To Be Busy

I have 3 CCAs and 6 modules in semester one right now. My friends all say the same things to me. "Are you crazy? Isn't that taking up a lot of your time? You can cope?"

My answers are always the same. "No I am not crazy. Yes that is taking up a lot of my time but better lots of time taken up than none. I can barely cope but it just takes a ton of discipline."

I always squirm when I hear people say that they don't have any CCAs or they are reluctant to join this and that. University is full of life, full of activities. It is filled with lots of opportunities. However there is one downside. Compared to secondary school and junior college, we have to seek them out. These chances to learn, to have fun and to widen our social circle don't come to us, we have to find and go to them. If the university offers so much, why will you want to take up only so little? I understand the fact that people say its "very sian to try new things". Simply put, human beings have a great deal of reluctance to step out of their comfort zone. But I will say this to these people, take one small step at a time. You don't have to rush. Some people are concerned with their academic results. Concerning that, let me ask you, are you studying a lot nowadays? Really really really studying and focusing all your time on your academia just to keep up? The answer more often than not, is no. Most of the time, people choose to procrastinate, people choose to slack. There is no wrong in that. It's just that those activities can be put to better use. You can always make your CCAs become leisure activity, and just extend your real resting hours so that you can convince yourself to put away all that procrastination. Though I say this, people whose answer is yes to my previous question should perhaps relook at whether CCAs are viable activities or not.

Frankly many a times, we will be struggling with our academia with or without CCAs anyway. So why not just enrich your university life with a little variety? It is okay to be busy. Do not afraid to be busy. Do not feel pressured when your entire week is occupied. With time, you will get used to it. I heard this excellent quote from my discipline master in Temasek Junior College. What are the ten most important two-letter words in English? "If it is to be, it is up to me". Nothing is quite impossible, if only you try. So while you are here in university, take part, don't lose time, don't miss out on your youth. Put away your excuses. Step up on your self discipline.

A busy life is a life worth living. Take that first step.

PS. When I say CCAs here, I also refer to out-of-curriculum activities such as workshops, talks etc.

Tech Speak: Comex 2010

Comex 2010 is here again. This time I had to buy supplies for school so I zoomed in and buy without hesitation. I was looking around with a friend for his laptop and voila! We spotted the MSI FX400 which is essentially my laptop but with an Nvidia Card with Optimus, with 14inch screen instead of 16inch, having a better pair of speakers, and non glossy. Okay I guess that makes it far apart from my laptop but if only I had waited. I'll take a couple of photos and post them here when I have the chance. Oh and it is only $1400! Gosh...

On the side note, here's a few things to take note when one goes for an IT fair such as this.

1) Always wear covered shoes. It's usually very crowded so people tend to step on one another.

2) Try not to bring a bag. If you must, bring a small one as the bulk can make the crowd pushing worse.

3) Leave your kid at home. Seriously your kids won't know tech. Prams and wondering children are the most annoying things to find at an IT show.

4) Take steps to the side if you want to browse a shop. Do not block the pathway.

5) Always take your discussions to the corners. Do not block the entrance or exit.

6) Make a point to wonder around to look for your wants for lower prices.

7) If your item is an expensive buy, try to examine it when you are outside the fair location. If it is faulty or lacks warranty card, you can still go back to get it exchanged or get the warranty card.

1 pair of Cruzer 8GB thumbdrives for my sister and brother. 21 bucks each

i got this for myself. 16GB Sandisk Ultra Backup. 56 bucks

my printer Fuji Xerox Phaser 3124. small and fast. no auto duplex though. but as many people say, convenience comes at a high price. so i'll stick to manual duplex. the printer cost 109 bucks (from 159) with starter toner of 1000 pages. the extra toner cost $105 bucks (from 123) and can print 3000 pages.

there was a sure win lucky draw from Fuji Xerox and my luck has never been this good. i won this 7inch digital frame that though cannot be used to watch movies, but is generally good enough. the price of this should be around 50 bucks.

helped my sister buy her printer ink. 55 bucks down from 60+ and comes with 5 bucks NTUC voucher and a few photo paper.

Total damage: $367