The Things Dropbox Can Do...

Ever since I started using Dropbox about a year ago, it has continued to prove highly useful in various ways, from work to play and other areas as well. The best part is that the basic service is free, which allows you to store up to 2GB of files. This is more than sufficient for my usage, which is primarily text documents, or as of late, address book and game databases, which are also primarily text-based.

When I first started using Dropbox, it was because I had seen many users on the MyDellMini forums rave about it. Since I had just started using a Dell Mini 10V to supplement my desktop at the time, this made perfect sense. It allowed me to keep selected files synchronized across both machines without the need for constant file transfers or emailed files.

In addition, I had just started taking part-time classes, so this was especially helpful for keeping my assignments and class-related documents synchronized. I would use the Mini 10V for taking notes during classes, and when I got home and turned on my desktop, the files were already there and ready to be used. At other times, I would complete assignments on my desktop, and when I got to class, I could review them on my Mini 10V. The web interface is also very easy to use, and can be particularly useful for accessing your Dropbox files on a friend's or school computer. I also used this option when I was traveling by saving my certain documents in the Dropbox folder, then accessing it from the hotel's business center for printing as needed.

A few weeks ago, some friends came to visit me, and I took them around town to show them the sights in town. After compiling a list of places to go, along with some interesting facts about each location, I chose not to print out the list. Instead, I saved it to my Dropbox folder, and then used the iPhone Dropbox app to view the file. There is even an option to save certain files within the app for offline use, so you don't need to have a constant data connection.

Another option allows you to create shared folders between users. This can be very convenient for people who need to collaborate on shared files, or with whom you would like to share certain files. In that sense, it can function as a online photo storage system, although there are many other services that provide similar functionality, such as Picasa or Mediafire.

When I recently installed Plants vs. Zombies on my desktop machine, I wondered if there was a way I could keep my saved game synchronized across both machines, since I figured I would occasionally be away from my desktop and want to play it on my Mini 10V as well. The idea of having to start a new game from scratch and have 2 versions of my saved game didn't appeal to me, so I looked around online. Sure enough, there were others who were in the same situation, and used Dropbox to solve this problem. By moving the saved game to the Dropbox folder, and then creating a symbolic link of that folder and placing it in the file's original location, the application was then able to save the game data to the Dropbox folder. All it then took was to do the same thing on the second machine, and both machines were able to use the same game data.

It turns out that others were also using this functionality for their contacts and calendars, maintaining a single copy of their database in the Dropbox folder. I've since added my address book to Dropbox, which allows me to have my contacts synced across both machines. I no longer have to make changes to both address books, since they are now effectively saving all the data to one location. This allows for consistency of information, and is also useful when I travel for extended periods and either need more information than I would normally carry on my Mini 10V, or allow me to make multiple changes or additions with no need to worry about updating my desktop upon my return.

The great thing about this system is that if anything should happen to either of my computers, the data is saved in the cloud so I can always access it from another machine. Of course, there is the possibility that the Dropbox service may be unavailable or the files may be lost, although since I have the folder synchronized on both my machines, and backed up on Time Machine, I think I should be fairly safe for now.

How do you use Dropbox?

No iPhone 4 reception issues in Singapore

The people I know who have iPhone 4's do not have the Antennagate issues. As a matter of fact, I tried a couple of demo units in Hong Kong and in Singapore and, even with my sweaty palms, was not able to bring the bars down at all.

Perhaps it is true that Antennagate exists only when signal is poor.

Location:Airport Rd,,Singapore

Shopping on the other side

A friend of mine was recently telling me about her vacation in Japan, and one of the things she saw was a game for the Wii called Taiko no Tatsujin. It's basically a rhythm game similar to many others which are popular these days such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Tap Tap Revenge, and so on. What makes this one unique is that the instrument used is the traditional Japanese drum called the Taiko, so it combines popular culture with a traditional instrument.

After some research, I found out that the wii version is exclusive to Japan, and there are currently no plans for an American release. There is also a version for iOS, but this is also restricted to the Japanese iTunes store. I really wanted to try this game on iOS, and it turns out that there are many others outside Japan in the same situation. In fact, there is even a website, jbox.com, that sells Japanese iTunes gift cards to those who want to download music and apps from outside Japan. The product listing even includes instructions on how to set up and activate a Japanese iTunes account with the gift card.

The iTunes store has localized versions for many countries, but I always thought that the American store was the one with the largest selection of music, movies, TV shows, apps and podcasts. In stark contrast, the Singapore iTunes store only has iOS apps and podcasts; no music, videos, TV shows or movies. However, in the case of the Japanese store, there is a large variety of music, videos and apps unique to that store. This time, the tables had been turned: instead of the American iTunes store being the place to be, it was instead the Japanese version!

I followed the instructions for setting up a Japanese iTunes account, which basically involves entering user information, including an address and phone number in Japan. For the payment method option, I selected the “none” option. This limits you to free content, but for the purpose of trying out the app, this was sufficient. After the download is complete, you can log of out the account, and then sync your iOS device. I was then able to install the game on my iPhone. Score!

Although the instructions are all in Japanese, I was able to figure out how to adjust the settings and some of the basic options.The game itself is very straightforward: you follow the music and tap on either the drum or rim depending on the color of the cue. At the same time, there are characters on either side of the screen dancing to the music, and as your score increases, more and more dancing characters appear. It's silly and whimsical, but it's funny and entertaining. At the higher levels, the game gets really challenging, and you really need to have a good sense of rhythm to be able to keep up.

The game has been pretty fun, and I will probably get tired of playing the same demo songs over and over. I may eventually be sufficiently tempted to actually buy the Japanese iTunes gift card, or perhaps see if I can pick one up at the Tokyo airport the next time I transit there. We'll see...

Buy a MiFi and maximize your mobile data plan

Starhub recently revamped their broadband plans such that everyone gets faster download speeds. I was on their MaxOnline Premium Plus plan which originally gave me up to 12Mbps download speeds as well as a 1Mbps mobile broadband subscription. Since June, for the same price, I now get 30Mbps download speeds at home whereas the mobile portion remains status quo.

Still, I felt that the mobile broadband plan wasn’t fully utilized. I used to have an iPad Wifi (before I traded it up for an iPad with Wifi + 3G) and I wasn’t able to plug the USB Mobile Broadband stick to the iPad because, well, the silly thing doesn’t have a USB port. This made me heavily reliant on Wireless@SG hotspots and some places like the National Library HQ at Bugis has spotty connection at best.

At this point in time, I recalled an episode at Macbreak Weekly hosted by the legendary Leo Laporte (pardon the alliteration) wherein Andy Ihnatko had a friend who had sewn a DIY case for his iPad with a pocket for this thing called a MiFi by Novatel. It’s a device that generates a bubble of mobile hotspot for up to 5 devices - on demand. It’s how Andy avoids the need to get a 3G iPad and consequently relieves himself of an additional monthly data plan with AT&T.

This is something Singaporeans are mostly oblivious to. A trip to Sim Lim Square reveals this. No one carries this device. Not even its Huawei counterpart . This post is definitely not a review of the two devices. It’s about how to make full use of that data plan you have with the telco, be it a mobile broadband subscription that came with your primary home broadband plan, or a data plan that comes with your mobile phone.

Here’s the plan: get the MiFi (I got mine from Amazon) and then insert a SIM card into the device and that’s it. (The setup is pretty straightforward).

Where does one get the SIM card? For those with the USB sticks, you just need to strip it of their SIM card and insert it into the MiFi. Or, do you feel that the 12GB data that comes with your iPhone subscription is underutilized? Pay an additional $5 per month and subscribe to a MultiSIM, and then use that with the MiFi.

Immediately, when you’re out and about, you get about 4hours of internet connectivity through the mobile hotspot. You can hook up your netbook, iPad, iPod Touch, whatever. Heck, for a time I even thought of just using the MiFi as an alternative to home broadband. (I gave up after 3 days. I’m too hooked on fast connection speeds.)

Well then, that’s how I thought I put my mobile data plan to way better use. Of course, the MiFi 2352 (this is the model that works with GSM networks in Europe and Asia) will set you back by about US$280 including shipping but for the advantages it brings, I think it’s totally worth it.

Fun with iPhone photography!

Following my previous post, I thought I would write about something a little lighter this week. Ever since I started using the iPhone 3G, it has been a great addition to my daily routine: checking emails, reading news articles or Twitter updates, etc. While it was possible to do all these on my previous smartphone, the experience on the iPhone has just been much easier and more integrated. I can easily copy and paste links across apps; my contacts, calendar and music are seamlessly synced and updated each time I connect my iPhone to my computer; and I recently discovered the joy of using the iPhone as a casual camera. Even thought my iPhone 3G is two generations behind the latest model, it's still my first iPhone, and many features are new and exciting for me.

When I first bought it, I didn’t think that the iPhone camera would be much to write about since I knew it was a 2.0 megapixel camera. However, in my experience so far, I’ve found that photos taken using it turned out to be pretty good, especially with sufficient lighting. In fact, the team at Fstoppers recently used an iPhone 3GS, with its 3.2 mega-pixel camera, for a professional fashion shoot. The point of this was to prove how it is not always about pixel count or camera quality. With plenty of good lighting, they showed how it was possible to take some really stunning photos, and no one could tell that they were taken with an iPhone camera.

I downloaded some filters and lens effects, and have been having great fun taking photos with them. These include a series of Vintage iPhone filters, as well as Classic Toy Camera. Both were free apps, although the additional lens pack for the Classic Toy Camera was $0.99. What truly makes the experience so unique is how well the apps work with the iPhone camera to create a variety of effects. There is no need for a computer for post-editing, or any fancy equipment, and I can create various types of film and lens effects on the go. These apps are much easier and cheaper to use than a conventional camera, and have the added benefit of being integrated with the iPhone so it's always with me.

The iPhone camera is not a serious photographer's camera, but that's not what this is about. Many of these effects are intended to create a vintage or slightly imperfect look, so they work really well this way. With these apps, everything happens instantly, and within a single device. How's that for convergence?

Here are some samples of photos I have taken so far. The first was taken with the Vint Shift filter, which blurs the surrounding area around the middle.

This creates a somewhat dreamy effect, and is great for bringing attention to the main subject.

In this second picture, I used the vintage film effect from Classic Toy Camera, which incorporates a slightly grainy, scratched look to the picture.

Instant time travel!

With the “Sabinne Edition” quad-lens effects of the Classic Toy Camera, I can create photos similar to those of an Lomographic Action Sampler camera. I remember seeing these cameras many years ago, and was always curious to try one out. These pictures are similar to a storyboard and convey more movement and action than a standard single frame.

I've been having a lot of fun with this lens, and this can also be combined with film effects, such as vintage or black and white.

Although the camera on the iPhone 3G is not one of its highlights, it has proven to be very competent for casual photos, especially if they are intended for viewing on the iPhone or computer screens. In fact, the quality of some of these photos are quite comparable with those taken with my dedicated Olympus 3-megapixel camera! With the addition of various special effects, the iPhone camera has taken on the functionality of a more specialized camera, all within a single device, and for a fraction of the price.