If it is too good to be true, then it most probably is

Earning a 5% to 10% monthly on your investment amount. Real or scam? 100% scam. Imagine, if you can do that, basically you would become millionaire very soon. If become millionaire is not easy, so is earning a 5% monthly return.

It was in the news that about 100 people has been cheated by this investment company who promise such return. Of course at the initial period, you can get the return. Most likely the company would disappear after a few months of operation.

Greedy, beware.

Maybe someday iPhone would take over the mobile phone market

The iPhone 3G is the one of the hottest topic in town. After one year of the original version, Apple has renewed itself by launching a new model which is highly anticipated. It is poised to take over the world by storm, because of the new feature and price. Who was pissed off by the price would now seriously consider it.

What has other manufacturer done to counter this? Little actually. 1 year since the original iPhone. Nothing has surfaced that could give Apple a run for its money. We actually didn't even see a close imitation of Apple unique interface. The multi touch screen is still sort of Apple only feature. Other brand still stop at the single touch and stylus base interaction.

Usability to them is still a "I give you" affair. They haven't really think how to make the user interface more intuitive. Although I would say the touch screen keypad isn't really so user friendly either. Well, we shall see, another year down the road and what would happen to the mobile market.

Get ready for firefox 3

The firefox 3 would be released officially tomorrow. Should be tomorrow night I think, because it is US time.

I have been using the firefox 3 release candidate 1 for quite a few weeks. It was pretty stable and fast. So, the official version 3 should be good for everyone. For those that has never tried before, give it a try, you would ditch the IE afterwards.

Some new features include speed improvement, new download manager, smart bookmark and address bar, searchable bookmark etc. There is even a detailed guide for it : http://www.dria.org/wordpress/archives/2008/06/12/655/

Give it a try.

True number portability is finally here

After a long wait, should be more than 1 year, the wall has fallen for the handphone number restriction. From now on, your number would follow you every where. Meaning that you can change the service provider as you wish, without having to bother about informing your friends.

This is a good news to consumer as we finally have full freedom to choose. You can argued that we can still change service company last time, but that was not without the hassle.

The competition is intense, but the new price plans do not seems to really match the hype surrounded by the event. I tend to agree to analyst command, change would be slow and sure to happen.

I am actually waiting for the iPhone 3G to arrive, before ditching my current phone. It is appealing that a convergence device that can do all the things you want. However, since it is heavily subsidized, we have to see the service plan cost first. I hope it would be something affordable. Just a few months more, we shall see more changes.

Expensive driving, would you cut it down?

It strike me that US petrol price is only 1.44 SGD per liter. Compare to Singapore market price, it is cheap. I am not able to find the answer. Is that because of economy of scale? bulk discount? subsidy? Ok, never mind, don't bother.

Does driving do you good in the high oil price era? I know you always have the dream to drive around. Money can't buy dream, but dream cost money.

The cost of driving

• COE, insurance, maintenance fee
  
• Monthly installment
• Carpark fee
• Petrol
• ERP

What else? Sorry I don't drive. So, I don't really know the full list. But, driving in Singapore is really a losing game for me. My monthly transport cost won't go beyond $100. But the car installment is most likely way above this amount.

This really make no sense in financial sense to drive, except it is a choice of lifestyle.

Malaysia steep oil price increase

This was a remarkable week. Malaysia government decided to increase the oil price suddenly. We all know at some point, the price increase is inevitable. But, clearly, the timing of the event, disappoint everyone.

From the discussion of banning foreign vehicle for the cheap petrol to the methodology of imposing the ban, it shows again people talk loud without thinking. I think that's the culture embedded in the Malaysia administrative people now. When they see or thought something, they quickly shout it out, without careful thinking process.

First, the ban of foreign vehicle for the cheap petrol is difficult to execute. That brings a few round of hu ha. Then, out of sudden, the petrol price is to increase overnight. The outrage and the disbelief on the ground is high. The increase should be done gradually for people to at least plan for it. We have more to see in the August when further measure would be announced. Not sure what are they going to come up with.

For now, everyone should start to change their driving pattern. At the land of poor public transport system, driving is not really an option, it is a must. That's why everybody owns a car. To cope with the high oil price, people should start thinking of car sharing or downsize the car. Radical approach has to be taken to save the pocket. Or tighten the belt.

Southern Ridges continued, Forest Walk, Henderson Wave etc

Continue from my previous post, we left the HortPark and set off towards the direction of Habour Front. Initially, I only want to stop at the Henderson Wave bridge, but at the end we actually finish the remaining journey and end up at Vivo city.

Left the Alexandra Arch, we walked towards the Telok Blangah Park.


This is the bridge that we used in the Forest Walk. Underneath is the forest. Maybe this is something like the Tree top walk and it is very high.


I think this is the signboard at the park which introduce the whole track. Notice there is a monkey on the signboard.



After pass through the park, we reach Henderson Wave. The bridge is quite high and very special. Just look at the picture, the design and the wooden floor.


You can see quite far from here.


Inside the wave, there are even seats for you to stop and rest.


After that, we reach the Mount Faber and Jewel box. This is the stair case leading to the Marang Trail which would bring us to the Harbour Front station.

It was a tiring journey but full of surprise and enjoyment. Try it yourself!