Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by shahz

Samsung Note 9 (128GB/6GB) SME with Mobile Outfitt

shahz — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 18:19:39 +0800

Item(s):
Samsung Note 9 (128GB/6GB) SME with Mobile Outfitters protection

Package includes:
One year old Samsung Note 9 for sale.
6GB RAM + 128GB Storage.
Protected with Mobile Outfitters protection. RM250 value.
Phone was always used with original tough case (as displayed in picture).
Phone has ZERO scratches on display or body. See it to believe it.
Only a small ding on the S Pen.

Accessories:
Earphones, earbuds, Type-C cable, SPen tips and tip remover ALL untouched and included together.
Original charger used and working perfectly, also included.

OTG plug and MicroUSB-TypeC converter missing, not included.

Price:
RM2,000

Warranty:
none

Dealing method:
COD/Shipping add RM10

Location:
Subang Jaya / Shah Alam

Contact method/details:
Whatsapp 018-6687226
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Item(s) conditions:
Protected with Mobile Outfitters + Samsung original tough case. The device literally has no scratches. Only the S Pen has a little ding at the back tip.

Picture:

Reason for sale:
Upgraded to Note 10 Plus

[SOLD] Oppo F1S Rose Gold 32GB

shahz — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 16:38:28 +0800

Item(s): Oppo F1S 32GB Rose Gold

Package includes: Full set in box. Box still sealed, untouched.

Price: RM 1050

Warranty: 1 year warranty direct with Oppo.

Dealing method: COD / Postage risk born by you + RM10

Location of seller: Shah Alam

Contact method/details: PM me

Age of item: Won the item on 5th January 2017

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Item(s) conditions: Brand New

Picture:

Reason for sale: I already have one Oppo F1S.

[SOLD] Samsung Galaxy Note Edge 32GB Black

shahz — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 15:25:47 +0800

Item(s): Samsung Galaxy Note Edge 32GB Black

Package includes: Device + Charger + Original Flip Case + Full screen protector (applied since day 1) I will also give you the original back case which was removed on day one itself to apply the flip cover. Back case totally brand new!

Price: PM/MSG ME...SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY PLEASE!

Warranty: 7 months more from Samsung SME

Dealing method: COD Subang Jaya / Shah Alam

Location of seller: Subang Jaya / Shah Alam

Contact method/details: WhatsApp - 012-6103332

Age of item: 5 months old (bought 2nd April 2015)

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Item(s) conditions: (9.8/10) - 100% working! Never dropped before!

Picture:
[attachmentid=4911359]

Reason for sale: Upgraded!

[WTS] Corsair Vengeance LPX 4 x 4GB DDR4 2800MHz

shahz — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 14:45:48 +0800

Item: Corsair Vengeance LPX 4 x 4GB DDR4 2800MHz RAM

Age: 2¼ months old (Bought on 27 March 2015)

Price: I bought it for RM1400+ from Viewnet, selling for RM850

Warranty: Corsair Lifetime Warranty

Dealing Method: Preferably COD but postage can be arranged.

Location of seller: Subang Jaya + Shah Alam

Contact Method: PM or Whatsapp 012-6103332

[attachmentid=4553630]

Reason:

I have 32GB RAMS:

4 x 4GB 2800MHz Corsair as above
4 x 4GB Avexir 3000MHz

When using both, the Avexir will be clocked down to 2800MHz, kinda waste of performance. Selling this off to get another set of 3000MHz instead

[WTS] Nexus 5 32GB

shahz — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 23:39:42 +0800

Item(s): Nexus 5 - 32GB

Package includes: Phone + Charger

Price: RM900 firm

Warranty: I'll give personal 3 days. Device should be under warranty but I lost the receipt and can't remember the exact date of purchase

Dealing method: COD

Location of seller: Putra Heights, Subang Jaya

Contact method/details: PM me here

Age of item: Roughly 10 months iianm

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Item(s) conditions: Super mint. Very careful user. You can see it before you buy. Not a single scratch. Tempered glass included.

Picture:
[attachmentid=4398636]

Reason for sale:
Got too many phones ady. Time to off load.

[WTS] Alienware M17xR3

shahz — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 19:29:10 +0800

Item(s):
Alienware M17xR3 laptop

Package includes:
The laptop, its soft cloth, adapter and nVidia Vision glasses

Specs:
- Nebula Red Shell (Body shell very well maintained, ALWAYS stored back in soft cloth)
- 17.3" FHD (1920 x 1080) 3D LCD Panel (3D Vision glasses included)
- Intel Core i7 2720QM 2.20GHZ
- 4 x 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz
- 1.5GB nVidia GTX460M
- 120GB Kingston HyperX SSD
- 750GB 7200rpm HDD
- Dual Wireless Receiver (5GHZ + 2.4GHz)
- Double Layer DVD+/-RW drive
- Windows 8 Pro 64-bit (Upgradeable to Windows 8.1 Pro Free)
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Price:
PM me your best offer!

Warranty:
8th February 2016 (Dell's On-Site Warranty)

Dealing method:
COD Subang Jaya or nearby. Postage can but borne by the user. This item is pretty heavy.

Location of seller:
Subang Jaya / Shah Alam

Contact method/details:
PM me here

Age of item:
3 yrs+

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Item(s) conditions:
Can come and view. I've never transported it without putting it in its soft cloth first. The body shell has no scratches, looks very good!

Picture:
Will upload if there are interested buyers.

Reason for sale:
Dah tua, tak larat nak angkat laptop berat-berat. Gonna buy a lightweight ultrabook or something for work purposes. I really love this machine. Sentimental value sangat. It served me awesomely throughout the years. I hope it finds another loving owner. Note: I'm giving two OSes with the machine.

Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB 1600MHz

shahz — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 14:48:11 +0800

ITEM SOLD!

Item(s): 2 pieces of Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB 1600MHz

Package includes: The 2 pieces of RAMs of course

Price: I bought this on 7th December 2013 at RM275 per piece so that sums up to RM550 for both pieces. Now, I let you offer me your price. I'm NOT selling them separately. They are a sweet couple and some say that they have been spotted cuddling at night too.

Warranty: As per Kingston's policies. This item is not even 2 months old yet.

Dealing method: COD or Postage. Add RM5 for postage.

Location of seller: Subang Jaya

Contact method/details: PM or WhatsApp me (Shahz - 012-6103332)

Age of item: less than 2 months

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Item(s) conditions: Excellent! No dust also!

Picture:
The beasts:
[attachmentid=3837667]
The proof of purchase:
[attachmentid=3837676]

Reason for sale:
I got a gift of another pair of HyperX rams, so these became extras.

[SOLD] Roland TD-11K electronic drums

shahz — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 16:07:32 +0800

Dear LYN-ers,

I'm letting go my Roland TD-11K electronic drumset. I've only used it twice and it looks like brand new! See it to believe it! These drums sound very close to originals and can be used for in-house personal recordings!

Bought it a few months ago, never got the chance to play much. Still under warranty.

Comes with original Roland drum stool as well!

[attachmentid=3559181]

Enhanced with SuperNATURAL power, the TD-11K V-Drums V-Compact Series brings a more natural and realistic playing experience to drummers of any skill level and budget. Affordable and easy to use, this new electronic kit is perfect for a variety of applications, including practice, teaching, recording, live performance, and more.

Product Details and Sound Sample = http://www.roland.com/products/en/TD-11K/

Item(s): Roland TD-11K Electronic V-Drums
Price: I bought it for RM4500, Selling it for RM3800 firm!
Item(s) conditions: Excellent (10/10)
Warranty: 8 months
Dealing method: COD in Subang Jaya
Location of seller: Subang Jaya
Contact method/details: PM or contact me (012-6103332)

[WTS] Spear Neo R1

shahz — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:55:49 +0800

If you are a true metal head, and you want to do a little eye catching showmanship, this guitar is perfect for you!

[attachmentid=3559156][attachmentid=3559158]

Those are REAL carvings! Not sticker or paintbrush.

To those who do not know, Spear are well known to make outstanding looking guitars. The Neo R1 is no longer in production.

Item(s): Spear Neo R1
Price: RM700
Item(s) conditions: Excellent
Warranty: None
Dealing method: COD in Subang Jaya
Location of seller: Subang Jaya
Contact method/details: PM or contact me (012-6103332)

[WTS] BOSS ME-70 Guitar Multi-Effects

shahz — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:50:25 +0800

Hello Musicians,

I'm selling off my BOSS ME-70 guitar multi-effects pedal. Its an awesome piece of gadget and I've had lots of fun making tones on it. I'm only selling it because I'm upgrading to BOSS GT-100.
Product specification can be found here: http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails....01&ParentId=248

Condition: 9/10 (Very little wear and tear blemishes. No major damage. I took very good care of this gadget)
Age: 6 months old (still a baby)
Drop: You kidding me?
Bents & Dents: Not a single!
Adapter: Included (It never came with one, but I'm selling it with my original Roland adapter made to be use with it).
Price: You make the call. Current brand new RRP is RM1290.
Contact: Drop me a PM or SMS/Whatsapp me at 0126103332

Pictures shall follow later...

Thanks for viewing my thread

Shahz

Keyless Entry

shahz — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:43:41 +0800

Hey guys,

Check this video out:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150679819989000

what happens in the case of a keyless car?

Scenario:
You have the keyless fob in your pocket. You start the car and the engine runs. After a while, you exit the car and someone drives off with your car.

I drive a Pug 508 and it has this keyless entry, but I've never really tested this (don't dare to really). But I know for the fact that when I leave the car, the moment I exit the door, the car will warn that there is no key in the car. But if this is ignored and continue driving, does the engine continue to look for the key and eventually shut down or something?

Logically, if the engine continues searching for the key (even after a few seconds interval), that would perhaps hog the fob's battery and you would be changing it every couple of months or so. But I think, if it does have this feature, car thefts can be minimized, no?

[WTS] Brand New ASUS Padfone2

shahz — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:34:33 +0800

Item(s): ASUS Padfone 2 (Both Phone + Tablet)

Package includes: Full brand new sealed set. Phone + Tablet + Charger + Manual + Earphones

Price: RM2500 (RRP = RM2799) Fixed price. No nego. Low ballers will NOT be entertained.

Warranty: 2 years for the phone, 1 year for the tablet with ASUS Royal Service Centre

Dealing method: COD Only

Location of seller: Ampang / Subang Jaya

Contact method/details: PM me

Age of item: Brand New, Sealed box!

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Item(s) conditions: Perfect.

Picture: Read next line.

Reason for sale: I did a pre-order for these devices. Refer to this thread. Happy buyers also gave feedback. So it proves that I'm a legit seller.

I am not going to deal this over postage. I don't trust our Pos Malaysia. If you can't COD at the locations above, then I'm sorry.

ASUS Padfone 2 Usage Experience

shahz — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:45:58 +0800

Dear Android friends, myself and some of my Android fanatic friends (all of us met here in LYN 3 years ago in this board) have just launched a new Android blog called DroidSage (www.droidsage.com). Unlike most other blogs, we post more of educational stuff, informative licks, hardware and software reviews, and some fun mocking with a little twist of humor. This hands-on article is on the ASUS Padfone2 which was done by three of the writers and below is extraction of my part. You can read the rest on the blog.

All new Pre-Orders CLOSED! Thank you for your overwhelming interest! The ASUS Padfone2 is coming to Malaysia in December 2012. If you pre-order your device with me BEFORE the launch date, I am offering a special discounted price. Limited units, only 15 units for pre-order! Note: Had to remove the date and price due to P&C. PM me for details.

Some Images

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ASUS recently launched the ASUS Padfone2 and the specs were so intriguing, we had to be the early adopters of the gadget. Knowing our different natures, we may have our own perception on the device. Hence, I decided to take the device for a spin and write my thoughts on it. I decided to take it head-to-head with the HTC One X – which is my current device. Note that, I will not be covering everything on the hardware. There are too many reviews on the internet for that. I’m writing this based on pure experience and real-world touch after using the device for a week. I will only highlight the stuff that really matters before you consider it. As always, I will be unbiased like I have always been on my reviews so you can get the best of it.

My Initial Thoughts
When it comes to mobile phones, HTC quenches my fanboy thirst at its best. But if its anything other than mobile phones, I always look through the plethora list of products that ASUS has to offer. My typical setup is channelled through my custom built ASUS power desktop, which is connected to my ASUS RT-N56U router; which also connects my home ASUS media box to deliver stunning hi-def content through my ASUS Cine5 speakers; and the list goes on. Point to mention is, that if its not a mobile phone, it is going to be an ASUS hardware most probably. But to replace my mobile phone brand, holding a 4 year streak with 6 different devices, this gadget must be so enticing, it should make me speechless. The Samsung Galaxy S3 didnt make it to the notch. Neither did the Note 2.

So I got myself the ASUS Padfone2. This is going to be an interesting war. And I decided to take it personal with the HTC One X – which happens to be my current mobile phone without a doubt. I promised myself, the winner takes the primary throne of my gadgets while the loser becomes my secondary phone. Bearing the mobile phone crown in my context is like winning the actual WWE belt and not the tag team or lightweight championship belt; or winning the best actor award in a Grammy and not the supporting actor award. This winner is going to be spending the most time with me – which I think, if gadgets had feelings, would be a dream of each and every of them!

Unboxing
The Padfone2 unboxing feels like a birthday cum X-mas combo where you get to unbox two items together – the docking station and the phone itself. The docking station is called as such and not a tablet because it is not a functional tablet without the phone. The phone itself comes with standard accessories – charger, earphones, manual, yada yada. Nothing different than most of the gadgets. Been there, done that. I was aware of the first Padfone but the first impression failed to create the need for me to get my hands dirty, given the already available more exciting phones out there, leave alone the long wait for ASUS to bring it to Malaysia.

The Hardware
Talking about build quality, ASUS is very well known to present its products beautifully without compromising the rigidity. Which explains why most of my hardware revolve around this brand. It was no surprise that the padfone2 finishing would wow me. The rounded corners of the phone, the perfect fitting into the dock, and the attention to detail that ASUS put in making this device will amaze you. The blend of shining silver with the plastic is so impressive, it made several people obliged into asking what device it was – for the added fact that its still not launched in Malaysia (official launching will be on 4th or 5th December). The phone fits sweetly in palms. And when docked, the combination doesnt feel heavy at all – still lighter than the iPad3! In simpler words, the hardware is beautiful and very light!

Performance
I started loving Qualcomm processors since I got my HTC Google Nexus One, which was a 1GHz, single core, Snapdragon processor. Its reliability is unquestionable as we were fond of overclocking our phones. Gene even uses it until today! Since then, the Snapdragon has leaped progressively and today we have a Coretx-A15 class, S4 Pro Krait clocking 1.5GHz on four-cores with Adreno 320 GPU. I have to say, nVidia better be worried and hope they have something in the inventory to go head-to-head with the S4 Pro Krait. Their Tegra 3 on the HTC One X scored 12161 in benchmarking, while the Padfone2 scored a whopping 13292. Personally, I was really impressed with the output churned by the Padfone2. Then again, its no surprise if you have to think that this device has to run the function of both a phone and a tablet – and be able to switch them seamlessly.

What I want to emphasize here is the battery life. I got the shock of my life when I started using this device. As my daily routine goes, I would put my phone on charging every night before i go to bed. But this device changed it all! The first night, I looked at the battery and thought, “This looks like its gonna last pretty long”. So I didn’t charge it. The next night, I started wondering if the battery indicator is inaccurate. The third night, the word “charging” was explicitly removed from my dictionary. The secret? See, the phone itself comes with a 2140mAh battery – which already is awesome for a phone! The Pad, on the other hand, comes with a 5000mAh battery! Apart from that, ASUS has integrate the “energy saver” mode which does wonders! In energy saver mode, the memory management becomes more aggressive, and applications that use bandwidth will only be activated when the phone wakes up. This even compliments the moments when you are in a meeting, whereby your phone will not only not interrupt you, but also save your battery and bandwidth! And all this with just a single button press! If you disable the energy saver, you will still get excellent battery life. The image that I included below in the spoiler was the battery chart after 2½ days of usage. And I still had 40% battery on the phone and 50% on the Pad. Those little spikes occur when you dock the phone into the pad. The pad actually charges the phone, so its like carrying a 5000mAh battery bank with you. Nifty huh? The battery beats my HTC One X hands-down!

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Camera
While I really enjoy photography, I prefer to put my skills on the lenses rather than mobile phones. However, once in a while, these phone cameras do come in handy when you would like to capture a moment and you do not have your DSLR with you. On my HTC One X, after about half a year, I have taken roughly 150 photos with the camera. Mostly because of the auto-sync to cloud that I have setup on the device so i can snap and retrieve the image from my laptop wirelessly. The Padfone2 WOWed me with the specs when it was revealed, announcing a 13MP camera! I found another part that could take my One X flat – until I tested it. The 13MP doesn’t work in wide mode for starters. When you set it to wide mode, the maximum allowed resolution is 5.5MP. That itself is already a downer. When you snap a picture, you can literally start doubting your photography skills and wonder if you got up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning. In this segment, the HTC One X wins flat out! So, if camera is a big concern for you, then you may want to reconsider the Padfone2. I will let Gene (on Droidsage.com) do the extensive coverage on this since he is the expert when it comes to cameras – be it DSLRs or Mobile cameras!

Storage
Storage is usually a huge concern of most of the people that talk to me about new devices. Padfone 2 in Malaysia will be announced with the 32GB version as for now. The 64GB is not scheduled yet, but there is rumor that it will be brought in several months later. The lack of microSD card slot might bother some users, but to me, its more than enough. Living in the current technology era, storage management is vital and I separate my files in various ways, making 32GB more than enough for me. Of course, more is better. But knowing the price tag that ASUS is putting on this device, the 64GB might not make the cut for some.

What I Love
The Padfone 2′s concept of combining both the tablet and phone experience into one is really astounding! That itself makes this phone both unique and practical at the same time. Not only it saves your money on the long run in terms of having single data plan, it’s also portable to carry and maintain one gadget combo rather than having two. The most interesting part of the device really is the battery life. If you have been frustrated over battery life of your device, and want to eliminate that problem once and for all, this is your device! The combo delivers different end-user experience although it is performed by the same device. Its surprising to see how the phone has the capabilities of running both the table and phone interfaces and is able to switch them seamlessly. Carrying the pad is literally like having a 5000mAh power bank. The performance is already excellent, and with ASUS promising to push Jelly Bean very soon, this is about to get even more interesting. Another thing that really impressed me was the build quality of this device. The blend of black piano surface with the silver lining fused with teflon-like base makes it look elegant and professional, yet fun at at the same time. Of course the price is another plus for this gadget. RM2,799 might seem expensive, but having a separate phone AND tablet, and having to maintain both separately can be pretty tedious. I can talk a million more positives about this device, but we at DroidSage do not think of this post as a review, but rather a “noticeable experience”, so I will let you guys be the next judges.

Nothing is Perfect
While this device has yet to fail on me, there are parts which ASUS can really improve. Top of the list is the camera. If this is your first high-end Android device, then you will not really feel the pain. But having tested most of the high-end Android devices, and especially owning a HTC One X, this camera has a lot to improve. Its fine for quick shots but not something I’d use for personal memories compiler. Secondly, the audio has nothing to complement the vivid display it projects. I own a Samsung Note 10.1 tablet and its sound was way better than the Padfone2. Let alone the Beats audio on my HTC One X – which of course has an upper hand. Then again, the difference is minor. Fussy audiophiles may want to take this point into consideration. To me, I can live with it. Finally, the lack of microSD might be disturbing to some. I had to stress this point because a very big number of my friends take this part very seriously. Some don’t even buy devices if they don’t come with SD card slots, regardless of how good the gadget may be. If 32GB is not enough for you, and cloud management is not yet your cup of coffee, you may want to reconsider this device.

Verdicts?
Personally, this phone has won its place and deserve my gadget throne. My One X will now be residing as my secondary device. The padfone2 feels powerful, is compact, and has excellent battery life – All components that I dream for my primary gadget. If you are planning to buy a tablet, or a new high-end Android device, I would highly recommend you to get the Padfone2. If you are a photography freak and have an eye for high quality pictures (I’m not talking about Instagrammers. The padfone2 pics actually look nicer on Instagram!), then you may want to hunt further for other devices. Me, I’m giving this device 9.1 out of 10.

ASUS eeePad Slider tablet

shahz — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:09:28 +0800

Note: Due to LYN restrictions, kindly visit my blog for more pictures. Click here.

About two months ago, I posted about the ASUS Slider being officially announced to the public. Since then, things have been pretty silent in the ASUS world. This week, it finally landed on my desk for review. Yes Malaysians, those of you who have been waiting for it, the time has finally come! As always, I am here again to review the gadget for all you ASUSthiasts out there. To spice things up a bit, I have done a head to head comparison with the ASUS Transformer (B70 generation). I have to say, it is a really tough pick for those who are waiting for the comparison. Lets not waste any time.

The "Slider"
Out of the box, the slider looks just like the transformer if you just look at its screen. The significant difference starts to flow in when you actually take it out of the box. The sleek hardware feels really light compared to its predecessor. Not only that, it looks sexier too. So lift the back a bit and push the front edge, and the screen just slides open. Out comes a full QWERTY keyboard but this time, without a touchpad!

The Hardware
I've got to say, ASUS really is good when it comes to build quality. As much as I'm disgusted with Samsung's cheap plastic hardware, that's as much as I get wowed by ASUS' build quality. However, this time, its a trade! Unlike the transformer that has a scratch-resistant back, the Slider will be prone to scratches. But it has better looks! The maroon and silver really blends nicely. Material is a soft matte rubberish kind of texture. Nexus One users will know what I mean. It grips better than the Transformer too but I still think trading off the scratch resistant is a bit on the downside for me as I'm a rugged user. One thing that I would like to stress here though, is that the slider feels very fragile in the hands. Especially when you slide it out. Somehow it doesn't tightly latch to the keyboard once it pops out. It feels a little "breakable". Kinda like the Slider was made for chics while the Transformer for the dudes. The slider's hardware gets a score of (7.8/10).

The Display
Once again, ASUS has included their legendary 10.1" IPS into the slider. I still am amazed with the IPS really. Oh, and its a gorilla glass too just like the transformer. I really don't see any difference in the screen between the transformer and the slider at all. The glossy finishing looks elegant too. The resolution stays the same too at 1280 x 800 making no difference with the Transformer at all. 10 fingers support is still there too. Personally, I don't see a reason to do an upgrade to the screen for the slider too since it was announced together with Transformer in CES. Unlike Transformer, the Slider can't tilt itself, so you have to position yourself according to it instead of positioning it according to you. Bummer! Display gets a score of (9.5/10).

Storage
The Slider comes in 16GB and 32GB variants from what I was told by ASUS. I got the 16GB version for review, making it equivalent to my Transformer. Now some people are not going to happy with storage on Slider. First, they removed one USB from the bottom dock - compared to two of Transformer's. They also removed the MMC/SD storage slot, leaving only the micro SD slot. The Transformer had one slot for MMC/SD and another for micro SD. But still, ASUS gives unlimited storage for one year so it might still be a catch for some of you. If you add a 16GB SD card to it, that gives yo a total of 32GB of storage - which is actually pretty decent. Storage gets a score of (5.5/10).

Performance
Some, if not most of you must be eager to know this. The processor in the slider is exactly the same one that you will find in the Transformer. Its the same nVidia Tegra 2 clocked at 1.0GHz. The performance feels the same with the Transformer too, but when I ran a benchmark score, surprisingly, the Transformer had a slightly higher benchmark score. RAM is also the same = 1GB. The fun part of the Tegra is when you start playing games. Especially Tegra-tailored games. I don't know how to explain the feeling of playing "Riptide GP" on the tablet! performance score is (7.6/10).

Camera
The Slider's rear camera is a 5MPx camera and the front camera is a 1.2MPx. Again, ASUS did not include flash into this camera just like the Transformer. But it does take good pictures even in decently dark places. The front camera is great when it comes to video chats! I tried video skype with my overseas relatives and the experience is one in a million - a lot better than phones really! Oh, did I mention, that the rear camera takes 720p video recordings too? Camera score is (<strong>5.2/10</strong>)

User Interface
Sadly enough, there was one thing biased on this Slider compared to my Transformer. It came with Android Honeycomb 3.1 instead of 3.2. But don't jump to conclusions, this is just an engineering unit. The actual unit will come pre-laoded with the Honeycomb 3.2. I will not be explaining about the Honeycomb experience here as I have already briefed it in my Transformer review in the past. DLNA is in both tablets too. Since there is no touchpad in the Slider's dock, you will not get the mouse cursor and no multi-touch experience on the Slider. Score (8.0/10)

The Verdict?
All in all, the slider is a great device. However, if you own a Transformer already, the only possible reason I can see you changing to the Slider is either to reduce the weight of your pocket (cash), or reduce the weight of your luggage (mobility). Its an ideal device for your girlfriend while you use the Transformer. It has a chic persona and its built for those who are very careful with their gadgets. If you drop your phone within the first month of purchasing it, you may want to consider the transformer instead

Nothing is perfect
As much as I like the Slider, Transformer will be moving a lot more with me. Like I said, I'm really a rugged person, always on the move and my hardware has to be robust. The Slider doesn't have anything that protects the front side of the tablet. Since the screen doesn't face towards the keyboard like the Transformer, there's higher chances of it getting scratched. Yes, the screen is Gorilla screen, but that doesn't mean you can't tamper with it. Also, the bezel is exposed making it bare to scratches. Another major downside for me was the unadjustable screen level. Maybe I'm too conditioned to the Transformer though coz it still is an IPS screen, viewable at any angle. By any chance, if you are planning to get one, I suggest you try both devices first. The winner will be clear within minutes really.

Overall ASUS eeePad Slider Satisfaction Score = (7.3/10)

ASUS eeePad Transformer Hands-On Review by Shahz

shahz — Mon, 23 May 2011 02:46:41 +0800

Reference : http://www.shahz.net/android/asus-eeepad-t...-on-review.html

Note: Please dont send me PMs unless I ask you to. This thread is my personal initiative to support ASUS devices like I have done on the previous Garmin-ASUS A10 and A50 as well. Please feel free to ask any questions related to the device. Thank you.

Updates:

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I don't know what my readers really feel about my writings, but I'm really glad that there is huge number of people who really appreciate my work here. I have been receiving plenty e-mails, buzzes and comments looking forward to read the review on the Transformer. To all you "ASUSthiasts" out there, once again, I'm here to review on of the most legendary products of ASUS - which has already claimed the best selling tablet in US e-tailers including Amazon.com and BestBuy apart from reaping 5-stars award winner by Stuff Magazine in UK - The ASUS eeePad Transformer. Then again, this will be an unbiased review like what I have done for the previous devices already.

The "Transformer"
We are talking about a device that can be transformed from a tablet into a notebook and vice versa by just docking it on a full-featugray QWERTY Keyboard Docking Station (KDC - sold separately). The device itself is monstrous enough without the KDC, and once it is docked, it delivers a totally new experience. During lengthy reading hours or gaming time, you can use it as a tablet and when you have plenty of emails to respond - where typing is a concern, dock it and suddenly the environment becomes much more productive.

The External Hardware
When I had my first look of the Transformer, I was immediately reminded of my Bronze HTC Hero. The finishing of the hardware signifies the quality that ASUS has been delivering in their computers and laptops - stunning. But looks are not just what the Transformer has. The flowery mesh at back does not leave any fingerprints unlike the Motorola Xoom and apart from that, it is scratchproof too. It feels rigid - somewhere in the middle of business-ready and adventurous at the same time. The tablet itself has a power button, volume buttons, HDMI port, external MicroSD slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and external stereo speakers. At the back is a 5-MPx camera with autofocus and 720p video recording and the front has an IPS LCD screen, a 1.2-MPx front facing camera and ambient light sensor. The Pad weights at 680g and has a dimension of 171 x 276.8 x 12.98mm. I can't make this sound so perfect, so I had to come out with a negative point. While most of the hardware is scratch-proof, the metallic sides are still prone to scratches and dents. In fact, the engineering unit that I received, had slight blemishes on the metallic part which made me wonder why did ASUS left the edges scratchable. All in all, the hardware is excellent and I will not shy to give it a score of (8.8/10)

The Keyboard Docking Station (KDS)
Since the KDS is much more of an "accessory" and has to be purchased separately, I was supposed to put its section at the end of the review. However, the dock just seems so important that without it, I would assume it like buying a convertible car that doesn't retract its roof - pointless, but it will get the things done nevertheless. In fact, the name itself is Transformer for the fact that it can be transformed between a tablet and a laptop. If you are buying just the tablet, you are only buying a form without the trans.

The first row of the keyboard keys are merely shortcuts. I thought for a long time why did these keys had to be here at all. After using the device for a few days, I finally realized that when I was using the Transformer with the KDS, the screen had lesser fingerprints because literally EVERYTHING can be done on the keyboard without touching the screen at all. I'm serious. You might be thinking about the scrolling? Worry not, the touchpad has multi-touch feature which allows you to scroll using both fingers - flawlessly. I tried using the device for 2 hours without touching the screen at all and I succeeded. It also has four-ways arrow keys with PgUp, PgDn, Home and End functions. If there is something that you will miss on this keyboard, it might be the Function keys (F1 - F12). I'm not sure about you guys, but since I use a MacOSX as my work and personal laptop, those keys are rare sight to me. To me, the KDS completed the transformer and since the rivals do not have it, I will not give it any rating. If you are going to buy the Transformer, buy the KDS as well. Seriously!

The Display
This is the part that I'm most excited to talk about. Its gotta be the reason why I ditched the Motorola Xoom (I'll explain the story at the end of the review). When I got my hands on the Garmin-Asus A10, I was not really happy with the screen. The A50 changed things a bit by improving the screen, but I was still not happy enough with it. I was really sceptical about the screen of this device especially since I had seen the screen of the Motorola Xoom earlier on. When I turned on the device, I got the shock of my life. The IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology is what I would call the breakthrough of LCD market and THE technology of touchscreens. It delivers a stunning 178° viewing angle. Note that 180° is practically impossible because you would be lying on the same level as the panel and will not even see the screen. This means, the Transformer's 10.1" screen delivers a MAXIMUM viewing angle possibilities. But that's just the beginning. The display panel is scratch-proof too and I personally tried scratching it with a pen - only to be frustrated (pun intended). The colors are extremely vivid and just stunning - even under the sun. I read a whole The Star's subscription of 223 pages under the sun, by the pool without any problems. The display has a full HD resolution of 1280x800 which was plugged to the cinema's display to wow us during the launch. The 10 fingers multi-touch means you can finally start typing faster on the touchscreen. The display is just the reason to fall in love with the device and honestly, seeing is believing. I give it a score of (9.5/10).

The Storage
Here is one reason why I reviewed the KDS upfront. It unlocks one very huge feature on the Transformer - the USB gateway. This means, storage is no longer an issue! The device boasts a built-in flash ROM of 16GB and a MicroSD slot which was successfully tested with a 16GB SD card (I believe it can support 32GB too of course). With the USB, you can connect your external hard disk drives and choose the storage of your choice. Still need a reason for not buying an iPad? Lol! Still not enough? Fine! ASUS threw in unlimited online cloud storage for you to store your files and access them from anywhere. Now you have so much space, even your typical laptop doesn't deliver this much.

The Performance
The Transformer comes with a Cortex-A9 nVidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor clocked at 1GHz. I would love to venture more on the processor, but since this is an engineering unit and I have to return it soon, I did not root it. Of course, the rooting part will be following soon when I get my own device this week . The Transformer also carries a 1GB LPDDR2 RAM which is powerful enough to perform all the multi-tasking that you need on this device. This device packs enough juice to deliver non-stop action and fun and it deserves a score of (7.9/10).

The Camera
The Transformer has dual cameras. The rear camera bears a 5-Megapixels hardware while the front camera has 1.2-Megapixels. Sadly, there is no flash for the rear camera. To be honest, the camera is not something to be looked forward to. I have mobile gadgets that take better pictures, but nevertheless, you never know when you have to capture that special moment, so its not bad to have it on the device. Besides, the front-end camera is a lot better than other front-facing cameras that I have seen so far. I know I will be using that more than the one in the rear so its fine for me. Then again, my judgement on the camera is not to be taken seriously because this is an engineering unit. If ASUS drops the source code to github (which the chances are VERY slim since Honeycomb is closed source), its definite that the hackers will soon be fiddling with the code to get the best result from the camera. 720p video recording is yummy to have on a big screen too. Although it looks awkward recording a video using a tablet, but hey, it might just turn into a trend. For now, the camera gets a score of (5.2/10).

The Navigation
I'm really looking forward to get my hands on my own device soon so I can root it and install Brut Maps on it to test the GPS and navigation. I really dislike Google for the fact that they lock the navigation for a huge number of countries. So far, I have tested the GPS with geo-tagging and Maps. It works like a charm. There were minor glitches for example, the weather widget on the homescreen wouldn't update the location but then again, this is an engineering unit and things are definitely expected to be better on the actual devices soon. As much as I want to write about the navigation, I really don't have much to test until I have my own rooted device. We can save this for our conversation in the future most probably. I can't give a valid score for this yet.

User Interface
The Transformer that we Malaysians will receive is pre-loaded with Android Honeycomb 3.0. Yes, it will get the 3.1 update soon and the engineers have started working on it. No date has been published, but if I have something worth sharing, I will definitely do so. If you have played with the mobile Android OS (Cupcake/Donut/Eclair/Froyo/Gingerbread), you will still find Honeycomb in a totally new experience. At first, the interface looks a bit difficult if you are conditioned to the previous OSes, but after sometime, it starts to feel very comfortable indeed. In fact, after using the Transformer for a few days now, I feel like I can perform tasks faster on the Honeycomb than the Gingerbread of my Nexus One. There are icons that need some proper labelling which at the end of the day, you will end up guessing and doing trial and errors - especially on the GMail application. There was one thing that captugray my attention though. The keyboard has a "swype-like" feature by default. If you have used swype before, you will be glad to find this feature included. Although the accuracy is not as perfect as the Swype (95% I would say), it is pretty cool to have - especially since we have the KDS anyway to speed things up. Overall the user interface is neat and structugray, giving it a comfortable score of (8.0/10).

The Extras
The Transformer comes with DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) which enables you to share content of your Transformer across other devices. This makes media management very flexible especially when you are particular about the files that reside on your device. The Transformer also has a "MyCloud" application which has three sub-applications within - MyContent, MyDesktop and @Vibe. MyContent allows you to manage the contents on ASUS' Cloud storage which comes with 1 year of unlimited storage. MyDesktop allows you to control your devices remotely. Think of "TeamViewer" or "VNC" if you must. Its kinda cool to see your Transformer taking control over your home computer - useful when you have a powerful media setup and like to enjoy it from the couch without touching the peripheral devices . Finally, @Vibe includes a radio station and music player for the audio lovers. For this, the Transformer deserves a score of (8.5/10)

The Verdict?
So, I had my hands on the Motorola Xoom before I did on the Transformer. I was pretty impressed with it. I knew I was going to be getting the Transformer too. I was thinking of purchasing the Motorola Xoom for myself and the Transformer for my wife. After getting my hands on the Transformer, I changed my mind. My wife is taking the Xoom and I'm keeping the Transformer. Hey, I do love my wife. She's getting the more expensive deal so its all fair . Why I loved the Transformer? First, scratchproof and tough built hardware. Second, super awesome IPS display. Third, its an ASUS dude! I've been an ASUSthiast long before Android even existed while Motorola Xoom will be the first hardware I ever buy from Motorola. In other words, I personally loved the device so much that I'd rather give the more expensive gadget to my wife although she will not be fully utilizing it.

Nothing is perfect
Like always, this becomes the most important part of my reviews. What are the facts that pull down the fame? First of all, the KDS has a bulky docking part which lifts the gadget a bit from the back. This folding latch is pretty tight too and sometimes Im scagray that I might bend the metal instead. Also, the metal portion of the hardware is not scratchproof. Watch out for that too. On the KDS, the USB ports have nice dust protectors but they didn't provide the protectors for the HDMI port, headphone socket, SD and MicroSD slots. Not to mention the market apps that are not downloadable but we blame Google for that rather than the Transformer hardware. Those are the only "imprefections" that I was able to identify really.

Overall ASUS eeePad Transformer Satisfaction Score = 9.2/10

Shahz

Nexus S case

shahz — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:48:16 +0800

Hey guys,

A friend of mine bought a Nexus S from me, and he's looking for a good protective case. Anyone knows a reliable seller around?
Appreciate your feedback ツ

Cheers,
Shahz

NetBuilder Payment Gateway

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 07:30:00 +0800

Garmin-Asus A50 official thread

shahz — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:44:11 +0800

Now, this might explain the one week gap that has been on my blog. Thanks to the guys at ASUS, I have had an A50 in the house over the past two weeks. After using it, here is my very bullish review on it. Bear in mind, this is also a head-to-head competition with the previous Garmin-Asus A10. Without wasting time, lets begin with the reviews.

Please use this thread for all A50 discussions. There is an official thread for A10. Do not mix them up.

External Hardware
To be honest, the hardware of the A50 looks very sleek. In fact, I like the design better than the A10. While the A10 was much driven towards its 'chic' look, the A50 is bold and possesses a business profile. Its slimmer, yet taller and wider than the A10 too and fits excellently in your palm. Unlike the A10, the A50 has four soft keys adding a "call" soft key on the front panel. Not only that, it also has a 5-way scroll keys which was missing in the A10. While the scrolls are a bit sluggish for my big thumb, it helps a lot some ways (like browsing the website when you don't want to use multi-touch). A50 score (6/10)

Screen
Now, I would've discussed the screen in the hardware part, but I can talk a lot about this screen so I just have to make it a section of its own. The technology used in the A50 is the same as that of A10. Its a TFT capacitive touchscreen with 256K colors and 320 x 480 resolution. The A50 helds a 3.5" screen compared to the 3.2" of the A10. With this little change, the difference is pretty huge. The brightness and the colors of the A50 screen are much more vivid too compared to the A10. While its frustrating not to have AMOLED in either phone, it doesn't let you down in its TFT category though. A50 score (5/10)

Storage
The storage of the A50 is ample, but not as much as that of the A10. The A50 has 4GB internal SD memory with 256MB RAM and 256MB ROM. While these specs are enough to run the phone comfortably, I was hoping at least it would bare the same specs as that of the A10 which are 4GB internal SD memory with 512MB RAM and 512MB ROM. As we know, Android is all about performance and not candy-eye. A50 score (4/10)

Processor
A big factor that is often identified first in a particular Android phone is the processor. The A50 is bearing the same processor that was in the A10 which is the Qualcomm MSM 7227 which clocks at 600MHz. It is also the same processor that you will find in your HTC Legend. While most hardware manufacturers are looking forward to dual-cores, Asus has not yet even ventured with the Snapdragon yet. I hope Asus' next Android phone will at least bear a 1GHz processor if not a dual core beast. For the A50, the 600MHz was not a letdown though. Considering the A50 is a mid-range Android phone, it ranks pretty well among most of its competitors. A50 score (5/10)

Camera
I really don't know why, but Asus decided to fit in the 3.2MPx camera into this sexy machine instead of the 5MPx found in its predecessor. With a much awesomer screen, I didn't expect to get a lower resolution camera really. However, Asus did chuck in the autofocus and geo-tagging to compensate. The video recording is not as good as the A10, but for the price that you pay for the A50, you get VGA@24fps - which actually is not bad at all. A50 score (4/10)

Navigation
The navigation has to be an awesome catch on the A50. The Garmin navigation gets sexier and robust. You can even use 3D maps on the A50 this time. To put it in simple words, Garmin application was already awesome, A10 made it awesomer, and the A50 made it a pleasure. With a wider screen, the navigation looks more spacious and neat. The GPS connectivity is still similar to that of the A10 and connects very quickly - one of the best feature Garmin-Asus phones have had so far. Within less than a minute; in fact within half a minute, your GPS is already synced to the satellites and you are ready to navigate. Not to forget, since Garmin has the widest variety of available third party maps, the Garmin-Asus phones are not left out. You can use the third-party maps that have the .img extensions as described in my tutorial here. A50 score (8/10)

User Interface
To all asians, we actually got these Garmin-Asus phones way late. But we are lucky enough. Previous batches of both A10 and A50 came with Android 1.6. We got our cut of Eclair on both phones. However, I have confirmed this with the ASUS boys, and according to them, the A10 will be getting Froyo somewhere in January, but the A50 so far has not received any news about Froyo yet. Its undecided whether it will get or not. But I wouldn't whine about it. Eclair is already a very good update. Anything after 1.6 works just fine for me.

One thing that I really was taken aback on the A50 was the number of homescreen available for widgets. It was reduced compared to the A10. Maybe there was supposed to be an option where you could add / remove the number of homescreen, but no. They removed some of the screens. Now this is one reason I want to root these phones - use a custom Launcher like ADW or LauncherPro. So that I can have as many screens as I want.

Not to forget, there is still the ASUS' own simpler launcher if you wish to use that. Personally, I just view it once on both phones and then used the Android Launcher all the way. I don't think that needs an explanation right? ☺ A50 score (6/10).

The Verdict?
Okay, first of all, this review was a comparison of A50 with the A10. Bear in mind, the A10 is 50% more expensive than the A50 so it is expected to be a very tough competition for the A50. All in all, the A50 is actually a great device. I tried to use it as my secondary phone to replace my A10 (My primary phone is my Nexus One). I have to say, I was able to use it on my daily basis for the purpose. In fact, I didn't even think much about the A10. Most of the time when I had to use the A10 was when I had to compare "Does A10 have this?".

Nothing is perfect
Once again, many people thanked the most for this part on the A10 review previously. I know most of us who are considering a phone and looking for reviews are indeed looking for these pointers. I would honestly say, the little RAM and ROM is a let down for me. I was expecting at least 512MB of ROM and 512MB of RAM. Apart from that, once again, fastboot is not included in the A50 just like the A10. Then again, considering the Garmin and ASUS partnership split, I suppose things will change in the future. Nevertheless, the A50 can be rooted. We just need a platform to flash custom ROMs and get some activity among the developers. On Android, its these developments that make the phone famous. Its just the hard truth

Overall Garmin-Asus A50 score = 5/10

Shahz

Garmin-Asus A50 unboxing pics:

LegenDroid Community Android Contest

shahz — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:34:03 +0800

Hello friends,

LegenDroid Community is organizing a contest called "LegenDroid Pimpers Paradise" where you can post your screenshots and win RM50 every month! All you need to do is just spice up your homescreen and lockscreen, and post it up in its thread and you might be the winner. All Android users are welcome to participate. The contest information, guidelines and all the necessary information can be found on the forum itself.

Here is the link: http://is.gd/i2hGl

See you there!

Shahz

Nexus One Official Thread v3

shahz — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:05:13 +0800

This thread is a continuation of Nexus One v1 and v2. To find the old archives, you can look at them here:
v1 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1294834
v2 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1393679/

After such a long wait, watching other mouth-watering and hand-itchying beta testing on the Google Nexus One mobile phone, finally we have obtained our own unit (codenamed "Guinea") to satisfy our own beliefs, clear our own doubts and of course, help Androiders to make their mind before purchasing the Nexus One..

Before we begin our extensive discussion, I would like to remark here that this review is NOT in comparison to Apple iPhone particularly. What I will be sharing with you guys is as unbiased personal opinions as possible which may not be in sync with everyone's thoughts. So lets keep this discussion clean and beneficial to us.

The first part that you guys may want to know about the Nexus One is the packaging. Its a neatly done white box with 4 google colors along the sides. A clear "Nexus One" with Google's logo is clearly written on the box itself. Once again, its a Google's product, so it has to be simple just as simple as their home page is. Upon opening up the White box, you will be presented with your Nexus One phone followed by a pouch, quickstart quide, warranty disclaimer, charger, USB cable and earphones. Clearing doubts: The charger supports 110V - 240V within one adapter. The USB cable and the socket charger are separate although the USB cable can also be used for charging purposes. One thing I was disappointed with was the SDcard shipped with it. First its only 4GB (when it can support up to 32GB), secondly its only class 2! That means, I still will have to go out and get a better SD card soon..

In a Nutshell
Upon holding Nexus One in your palms, the first thing that captures your attention is the back cover. This really is very hard to explain. It has a "smooth", "rubbery", yet "solid" touch which I have not experienced on other gadgets I have owned so far..For HTC Hero owners, if you can immagin, the feeling is somewhere in between the mixture of the metal and the plastic cover of your Hero..The color of Nexus One is very similar to HTC Hero bronze. The curves and size will make you feel the weight of the money you spent on this phone..If you could bend your HTC hero like a plasticine, you can actually get a mold of Nexus One from the Hero itself..Under the hood, lies a 1500mAh battery ready to juice the 1Ghz Snapdragon, all set to take on any mobile applications with intense requirements..However, unlike HTC Hero which has a chin bend at the bottom, I personally think that Nexus One's protection will be lesser than that of Hero..If you put the set upside down, the touching surface is the trackball and the earpiece speaker..With a little pressure, the screen can come into contact with the surface, so I will give Hero a plus for this..

Boot and Homescreen
I tested my first run of Boot which took roughly 18 seconds to reach the PIN input page and about 35 seconds in total boot time..It still is slow for a 1GHz processor but then again, this is stock unrooted ROM so I don't really mind this yet..Once the homescreen appears, you are in full control..The swiping effect is smooth..So far I have not felt any lags at all..When I say "lag", I mean a few milisecond lag..The transition is so smooth, you can even "grab" it half way like as if it was expecting you to do that..Whats best about the homescreen, like most of us know already is the dynamic background..I have to say, apart from the Nexus One, Grass, Smoke and Water Ripple, the other backgrounds are really not that appealing..While the good news is that you can develop your own dynamic backgrounds and use them on your homescreen..

3G and Wifi connectivity
This is one of the features you guys have been waiting for me to write about. I don't know who was complaining about the 3G, but here is my own experience..I went into the internet settings, there were no APNs setup for Maxis (expected). I made a new APN, defined the fields as I remembered them (I am used to setting up Maxis 3G APNs so I actually memorize all the fields)..Without having to redo this, I was already connected to the 3G connection in not more than 7 minutes. Then I said, this couldn't be just it. I have to find the flaw. I visited this forum (as recorded in YouTube) and you can judge it yourself already. I was connected for about 30 minutes. Browsed my emails, surfed some pages, checked facebook, wasted time on the browser and I had no connection timeout AT ALL! So much that my battery warned about having another 15 minutes. As for the Wifi, I don't want to talk about home Wifi..I tested PUBLIC Wifi! And it was also seemless! To be honest, I really didnt face any browsing issues AT ALL! Even on multiple open windows..I do agree that flash sites will load slower compared to static sites..As you can see in the video, LYN site was taking hardly 3 - 5 seconds to transit to the next page :)

Multitasking
The multitasking is good. Switching apps is fast. But thats about it. I have not tested with multiple background processes testing yet. But switching applications is really neat!

GMail
GMail on Nexus one has a slight difference from that on the HTC Hero. Not that much though. So far, I have noticed the nice way of notifying the process done. Still, I think this application can be improved a lot. Personally, I use GMail rather than POP3, and being a Google Phone, I expected much changes on the GMail client. Just one cool feature for example would have been HTML input support. Also, I haven't finalized this, but when forwarding an email, you can't edit the text that you are forwarding..I will have to verify this once again though.

POP3 E-mail
This feature will be tested soon as the phone is still charging.

Voice Cancellation
As you may have realized already, there are two microphones on the Nexus One. One at the bottom and one at the back near the camera. When talking on the phone, the second camera microphone captures the noise and cancels it out from the output. I did try this by the roadside and compared it with my Hero. While the noise really was reduced, the resulting sound was not that loud though. This means, if your friend is also in a noisy place, then he will have problems listening to you (unless you scream or shout of course..lol..)..One of the forum members also called me when I was playing with my Nexus One and at that time I was by the roadside..He didn't even realize it..Let him post a testimonial for this part :)

Camera & Camcorder
Have you ever used a camera that is ready to snap the next picture in less than 1 sec? Well, this is what I experienced as I was playing with the camera. The camera snaps focuses, snaps, and gets ready for the next image..All this in about 3 seconds only :) The camcorder reocorded video like a snap and also didnt have any noticable lags yet. SO far, its the best camera app on any mobile phone's I've seen.

GMaps
This feature is yet to be tested soon :)

Keyboard
This one is a great discussion! The keyboard sensitivity is remarkably improved! I almost didnt had any typos at all today! HOWEVER, the layout somehow has changed a bit and I prefer the HTC Hero's keyboard layout. Example, for a comma, you have to go into the special chars mode whereas in Hero, it was available in normal keyboard too. When you type long emails, you find this really annoying!

Rotation
If you have seen rotation on HTC Hero, Nexus One's rotation is going to surprise you ;) I want to keep the rest for your surprise! haha!

Functional Buttons
Okay guys, some of you read from other blogs about the functional buttons being hard to press? The answer is.....Right...and wrong :) Actually, the "area" covered for each button is rather small..I already set my mind as "Opps, too hard to press..They were right about this!" when I started using the Nexus One..But after a while, I got used to pressing it accurately, so now my answer is "Nope, it just needs a little practise ;)"

Voice to Text
To be honest, it sucks! No joke! LOL! I've never been a fond of VTT actually..In fact, after I root my N1, I will just unmount it maybe..lol..depends though..We are asians la..our accent is totally different..I tried "FM radio" on the VTT and it googled "F review" for me..After that I didnt bother to test further..LOL

Bluetooth File Transfer
Bluetooth was tested between the Nexus One and the macbook. I paired the device. A pairing I have never done before. Both macbook and Nexus One displayed the same pairing code (without my input!). I dont know how it happens. Unlike other bluetooths where I have to enter the pairing code, this didnt have to. After the auto-pairing, I transferred a few files at an average transfer speed of 130Kbps..It started off at 172Kbps then slowed down to 130Kbps thus maintaining the speed around that point..Not bad..Although I'm much of an SSH / FTP over Wifi fan since you can get speeds like 1 - 3 Mbps :P

AMOLED Screen
The amoled..Another MUST addition on the review..How can I miss that? This is very important!
The screen, really is SUPERB! There is a power controller widget which has these buttons:
1. Wifi
2. Bluetooth
3. GPS
4. Sync
5. Screen Brightness <-- This button is my favorite!

The screen brightness button dynamically changes the screen brightness..There are 3 levels..
First level is very dark..Excellent in uses when you are in a dark room (I used this in my bedroom yesterday and it was very relaxing to my eyes)..
Second level increases the brightness for normal brightness usage like indoor daytime usage..
Third level increases it even more..Thats for your outdoor usage..This brightness can actually be used in all conditions as its just makes the colors vivid!

Now, u must be wondering "where the hell did the auto-dim feature go?"..Its still there..Under those three levels, it does vary the brightness in those three levels too depending on the amount of light available..The button is for your own usage..For your own relaxation..Especially if you're a heavy user like me and will be using it over long hours :)

Under the sunlight, there is one drawback undeniably which is the sun glare on the screen..It was still useable though..
Comparing to Hero, Hero had less glare, but screen less bright compared to Nexus One..

Marketplace
I dont want the current Android users to be jealous, but the marketplace for Android 2.1 is seriously AWESOME! It is very well organized compared to the older market. Will start purchasing and downloading soon to see how efficient it is :)

Now, here are the answers for our personal testing list:

• Will get hot from extensive use with charger on and battery removed (If possible)
Updated: Guys, I have started to believe that the Nexus One does heat up over prolonged usage. I am not talking about plugging in the charger. I'm talking about normal usage on battery! Its not "HOT"..Its just "warm"..I used to have these heat ups on Hero as well, but Nexus One has slightly a little bit more than Hero..Perhaps due to its 1GHz processor vs 527MHz of Hero?

• Touchscreen malfunction while touching metal ring at back of phone
I have tried this. I didnt experience it at all. I even tried this while typing SMS or scrolling around. Nope, I didnt see anything of this sort at all.

• SatNav navigation in Malaysia (supposedly theres a work around)
Not yet tested

• Trackball sensitivity
Honestly, its quite similar if not same to HTC Hero. However, somehow when I'm typing a text, I can't use the trackball to place the cursor around where I want. I will re-confirm this with you guys though, but I experienced this the whole day!

• VOIP calls quality (3G and wifi)
Not tested yet. Got any solid aplication for testing? I believe there is no Skype app yet..?

• Quality and sound volume of speakers on handsfree calls and music (apparently too much treble and very soft)
I confirm this fact. Its not that huge of a matter yet, but I am believing under very noisy conditions, this will be heavily affected at that stage.

• Quality of Bluetooth connectivity
Yet to be tested :)

• 3G speed and quality (apparently likes to get out of 3G and switch to EDGE)
I saw this reported by several people too. So far I have not experienced this in 30 minutes usage. On the long run, we will have more results :)

Here is a set I made on Flickr. It has images of unboxing and a video of the 3G internet experience:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shahz/sets/72157623209412486/

Maxis APN for Nexus One
You just need only ONE APN. Fill only the fields specified here. Leave others as they are!
1) Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Points Name
2) Menu -> New APN
Name = Maxis(3G)
APN = unet
Username = maxis
MMSC = http://172.16.74.100:10021/mmsc
MMS proxy = 202.75.133.49
MMS port = 80
APN type = default,mms

Thats all you have to do..It will automatically know which APN to use for what purposes :) Smart eh?

DiGi APN setting
1) Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Points Name
2) Menu -> New APN
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
DIGI Data - Internet
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
APN: diginet
MCC: 502
MNC: 16
APN Type: default

The rest of the field is blank.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

=========
DIGI MMS (WAP 2.0)
=========
APN: digimms
username: mms
password: mms
Proxy: 203.092.128.160
Port: 80
MMSC: http://mms.digi.com.my/servlets/mms
MMS Proxy: 203.092.128.160
MMS Port: 80
MCC: 502
MNC: 16
APN Type: mms
=========

Celcom APN setting
1) Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Points Name
2) Menu -> New APN
Enter this
Name : Celcom 3G
APN : celcom3g
MMSC: http://mms.celcom.net.my
MMS Proxy : 10.128.1.242
MMS Port : 8080

Thanks to Bahathir for the heads up on Celcom..

Nexus One Review by Bahathir

Ok, after several hours of uage, here is my initial first impression.

1) Look nice, and seem solidly build.
2) The texture of the N1's back, is about similar to my GPS, Garmin Nuvi 755T.
3) Aha, I got the engraved N1. It is a real engrave and it is not a paint coat.
4) I got Celcom 3G (voice+data plan), and with proper APN setting I got a 3G connection.
5) Connection wise, in my house@Balakong, seem to be similar what my Nokia E52. Yeah, I can get good 3G coverage, but, sometime it down to E or GPRS.Actually similar to my E52 and my wife's SE K770i. I'll try again if I going out later.
6) Yeah, the signal bar dropped 1 bar if I hold it.
7) The firmware/software version IS SAME AS the shahz's.
8) Since this is my first SMARTPHONE, I have to get used to it first ...
9) My first apps is... the 'Terminal Emulator'
10) I changed the scaling_governor for cpufreq from the ondemant to conservative. This make the N1 to set the cpu speed lean towards to much lower speed. I hope I can save a bit more of power.
11) Yeah it is 'warm' when, I do intensive browsing and settings.
12) I charged my N1 with my Nokia E52's charger ... Yes, it warm during the charging. It is warm, NOT the hot sizzling hot.. The warmess is about similar as my RAZR V3xx and E52.
13) Yeah, the 'hard buttons' on the bottom is not responsive as other places in the middle of the screen. BUT, I still use it comfortably as I get used to it.
14) N1 is running cool with USB charging. So the heat source is most probably from the high currnet (1A) battery charging from wall charger. IMHO... this is normal.

Ok, I already test the audio SQ very very briefly....
1) With my custom IEMs, UM Mages, the sound is ... flat, with no bump at any frequency spectrum,
2) To my ears, the bass and treble extension is not as wide as other high quality audio devices. BUT, still listenable
3) The audio ouput is just OK, and not as loud as my E52 and Sony Walkman X1000. This is might be the reason the sound is not as dynamic and extended as my Sony Walkman x1000.

I'll update this later.

As a person who just get to know Android and smartphone. My intial verdict : NICE. Actually it is about the same feeling when I use my friend's iPhone 3Gs.
As a hardcore GNU/Linux user : EXCELLENT!!!, excellent computing platform.

Ok... going back to Market

Thanks to shahz, irwan, ... that make this possible.
Thank you

LYN N1 Users' Hardcore complaints (Our very own UHC)
By shahz:
1. The ring speaker really needs improvement. Sound is not loud enough.

By redzanime:
1. The alarm sound is too soft, resulting me wake up by myself finding out its alreeady the time I start to work.

2. The battery drains too quickly. A single charge can last for about 14 hours.
Suggestion: Turn off the "GPS" and use a static wallpaper. You can earily regain about 40% of the battery ;)

3. Bad integration between phone contact, gmail and facebook. I like the Hero integration better.

4. Slow 3g connection for my Celcom postpaid+data service. Even the 512kbps wireless streamyx is much faster at my house.

How to ROOT your N1
As always, I will not be held responsible if your phone turns into a frying pan or a world war III executes.
And don't ask again WHY do you need to ROOT your phone because I am goin to explain here once and for all.

Root itself is the top most location of a folder structure. If you realize, without root, whenever you go into a filemanager, you can only access the sdcard. You cannot modify the system files or folders. So, to gain access to this, you need root access. Root allows super user access and this way, you will get unlimited posibilities of what you can do. Just immagine things this way, if I gave you a terminal computer which you can't change the program files or registry, there would be several things you may want to do but will not be able to do..so the concept is pretty much the same..

So, your phone has a locked bootloader built in it by Google. Actually, Google made this because they want you to unlock the phone and use it as you want. But they also want you to learn the consequences of what can happen if you flash it with a wrong OS. To root your phone, you can use fastboot or superboot (by Paul from Modaco)

I will be using the superboot method here and the resources are on Modaco so I will paste links here. You need to have an account at Modaco.com which is of course free :) I will not upload files here because:
1. Modaco rights have to be protected
2. You will need to determine the version that you can run

First, flash the phone with the superboot image file. Get it from here (if the link breaks, let me know):
http://android.modaco.com/content/google-n...-the-nexus-one/
You must also determine which version of superboot you need to execute. The instructions are crystal clear in that thread. At this point, you already have root. The next steps are optional.

Next, flash the Amon-Ra recovery image:
http://android.modaco.com/content/google-n...recovery-image/

Finally, install the cyanogen mod and see your Nexus one FLYINGGGGG!
http://android.modaco.com/content/google-n...online-kitchen/

And..if you are sooooo noob that you don't even bother to adventure a bit and/or are super lazy to read, here is a spoonfeeding tutorial for you..But seriously, use the above steps and do your homework..We want you to LEARN..not just get what you could..

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Have fun :)