Some people will actually go crazy for an iPhone 3G S

I would have to say that people like me who got the new iPhone 3G S within the first two days would consider ourselves to be really lucky people. There’s the clean market, the Apple Store or ordered from Apple.com with activation availability. Then there’s the dirty market, the deep and dark tricks that people will do just to get more bang for the buck that the sucker is supposed to pay.

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t use eBay once in a while? I don’t like eBay because “what you get is what you get” and what you get just might be a rip-off. You don’t know what you’re going to get. Since I got my iPhone 3G S, I thought it might be funny to see how much I would have paid if I turned towards the eBay path. Don’t tell me this isn’t ridiculous:

 
Click on the image to enlarge it!

This is what people would pay JUST to get a $199 iPhone. Let alone $99 for the original iPhone 3G. So why are they doing this? Because America and the world is a sucker for all of these new stuff. I know Hong Kong “wants and willing-to-buys” and believe me, of the Hongkongers I know, they’ll spend HK$6,000 if they want to on an iPhone 3G S that costs USD$199 (HK$1,542.27). Just going to a market there in an area like the Wan Chai Computer Centre (Wan Chai, Hong Kong) or even Shenzhen’s most commercialized area (Luohu, Shenzhen, Southern People’s Republic of China) will rip you off. I am not saying that they’re bad, but really, just get one from the appropriate seller… get it from Apple, AT&T, 3HK, O₂, or some other network provider that actually sells the iPhone 3G S for an actual lower rate than sellers in unofficial markets like eBay. It’s worth it and unless you want to see the prices you’re seeing above on the screenshot, you’ll really want to shop at the carrier’s store or wherever it is authorized to be sold!

Oh, and best of all, enjoy the iPhone 3G S! It has lots to offer like it does to me!

Blast some kitties with KittyKannon!

Kitty Kannon - iPhone/iPod Touch App Review

If you don’t know the game already, KittyKannon (called “Kitty Cannon” online) started off as an online flash game, well known on Addicting Games. The objective of the game is to aim the cannon and shoot the kitty as far as possible while avoiding harmful obstacles, such as spikes and hungry plants and landing on mines, explosives, and trampolines. The game has been ported to the iPhone & iPod Touch by a developer called Stix&Stones. Since Adobe Flash SWF files cannot be run on the devices, it has been well ported into the iPhone OS native code. There are a few differences between the two versions:

• The kitty has to face different obstacles, such as a dog, a spiky… and a spiky… animal… thing…
• The high-score boards are based on local or worldwide rankings, not a one-server ranking. It has local hi-score support.
• The explosives are different.
• Flicking on the screen FASTER means MORE STRENGTH, while on the flash version, there is a strength bar that alters automatically.
• Aiming requires tilting of the device.

The game costs $0.99 and is worth it since it’s addicting! I highly recommend it to the fans of the original Kitty Cannon game online! Buy it now from iTunes!

Albatross18 comes to an end… 3/10/09

On February 10th, 2009 at 2:27PM Pacific Time, OGPlanet, the operator of Albatross18, the North American Version of the massively player online game “PangYa”, announced their commenced date of shutdown for the servers of the game. As recession and financial crises grew, who knows what really caused them to shut down. However, it’s best we let this go. People of this earth who play Pangya (except for those with a licensed version of PangYa that’s not in the United States) will remember the good times that had come and went by through the server. Let’s reminisce through the good times, shall we?

During Season 1, America met PangYa, an online golf game with cute female characters and awesome guy characters. Remember meeting Scout or Hana the first time you logged in? Ah, that was great. It felt like you were ready, right? Hey, remember the updates? OGPlanet (known as GameFactory back then) made the updates look so much fun, you wouldn’t be able to stay in your seat until the update was 100% downloaded into the system? Those banners were good, weren’t they? They had the movie-style posters, that Uncle Bob one during his official release, and all that other good stuff? Ah, those were very glorious times, weren’t they?

Then Season 2 came, the crowd cheered with excitement to see many new features and new stuff that flew to them! Not only was the system interface changed a few times, but there were so many other things that gave all players a smile on their face! There was the sudden boom in players! Papel Shop came out and people got more addicted to that rather than the lottery (because it uses the virtual currency: Pang! :3 Yay pang!) There were so many events at that time too! Arin, many other caddies… wow, it was better than awesome… IT WUZ UB3R PWN4G3 & T3H AWSOM:3 xD WEWwT!!!11!OneOneELeVEn!1!!!!

… ahem… then came Season 3, the most anticipated version! There are so many features that Season 3 came with, as well as that new course and that guy who often got gender-confused (Kaz LMFAO). There was that new mode that let people do what they wanted: Sell stuff and walk around! There were so many new courses, items, Mr. eCard, and all that other good stuff! (BTW: Mr. eCards… their chances were getting less. I knew it!) There were a couple of events then. Of course, by the end of the year, everyone wanted to see what Albatross18 would do for Season 4… or so they did.

Under no circumstance does OGPlanet want to make a player really upset, but “when the getting gets tough… like a level 1000 monster vs. a level 676 paladin… it’s best you return home before it’s just over.” Nobody said Albatross18 would live forever, just like (mortal) human life. We all have to let go. It’s just the way it is. I mean, read paragraphs 2, 3, and 3/4 of 4; we had good times, right? It’s not like “Oh what a waste of time, the piece of crap.” Everyone had so much fun, no wonder everyone played!

You had fun, right?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Open Letter to OGPlanet / GameMasters of Albatross18, current and past:

Dear OGPlanet, its staff members, administrators, developers, and everyone who made Albatross18 Possible:

Me & everyone who reads this entire message want to thank you for every single second of effort put into this game. It’s been filled with many wonderful years, unforgettable moments, and priceless joys! It is quite a bit sad to say bye to this game, since tons of people, alongside with me, have enjoyed this game that it’s a place that really escapes the realities of golf and other games that are repeated “RPG” stuff.  I think I can speak for everyone who supported and enjoyed this game that there is a minimum of 5 memorable moments that happened because of your countless efforts! Everyone in the server enjoys being there, anyone who leave the server wants to come back (and yet, they do!)

I cannot decide whether or not Albatross18 stays, and I cannot force any of you to extend its lifetime, but I do not want to say that I'll be instantly upset and shove my anger towards you because of this decision, but simply, I want to say that it’s been the best years of my life (and I think many fans believe that the same way.) However, I look forward to many new things from you and amongst every one of you at OGPlanet and the players of Albatross18, we won’t forget one moment of Albatross18, from start to finish. Thank you so much for providing the pride & joy to many gaming lives and I hope to see many new things come out of the OGPlanet box!

Sincerely,
Alex Tsui, AThepro (Bless) – Guild Owner, Junior D, Scout/Uncle Bob/Cecilia/Hana Owner, fan of Albatross18 & PangYa forever

And if people come and comment on this particular post, please do so on the comments section.
GM & Staff Replies are very welcome!

__________________________________________________________
UPDATE!!!

NTreev USA, another Game Publishing Company, has agreed to take in Albatross18 to their account and are willing to continue with the game services of Albatross18. Later March 2009, it’s like an “inauguration” to pass the seat of the office of Albatross18. So let’s not discriminate or flame the new management. It’s probably better than losing it forever. However, let’s continually praise OGPlanet for their years of excellent work on Albatross18 and let’s count on a new holder to excite us once again.

Which one sounds more appealing? Hmm…

Yeah… I’m hungry. Who wants to go on a “restaurant tour” or something? Haha!

Do you need an External HDD that is Large (in capacity), Tough (in endurance), and Indestructible (in most cases)?

Review for the FREECOM ToughDrive 160GB Custom

The FREECOM ToughDrive 160GB Customizable External Hard Disk Drive is the answer to the question. Its tough exterior makes it indestructible when dropped from about 2 meters in the air. Dropped it from your desk? Yeah, it’s still going to work. It’s large, you have to admit, but actually, the space makes up for it. 160GB is just about enough to back up your music, photos, movies, documents, and make a good system recovery disk! Data transfers, of the most so far, has gone up to 27.5MBPS. That’s amazing for a USB Flash Drive connected to a 2GB-RAM Notebook PC.

What I really like about this device is the connectivity; it is built with a USB wire so that you don’t have to have one plug connected to the computer and then have another end of the plug connected to the device itself. I know, some people will worry that if they lift their computer, they may have the potential risk of having the cable ripped. Yeah, rubber is sorta durable, but that’s why, to prevent this all from happening, the box comes included with a USB extension cable (ideal for Notebook PC’s for those who may want to put it in their pocket while in use.)

Customization is made easy with the ToughDrive 160GB Custom. The drive fits in a “glove” and inside the glove is the space where you can insert your logo or design. In the box, there is a template that gives you the ability to trace, design, and cut out the area to give it the perfect fit to the device’s inside! Customizing it to putting a company logo, personal logo or tag, or some really amazing design seriously makes this External HDD a unique one (you don’t see THOSE kinds of External HDD’s every day, do you?)

I know you’re asking about the cost. Well, I bought this in the Wan Chai Computer Center in Hong Kong (there’s a merchant inside the shopping center… the name starts with the word “Golden”, I’ll have to look into the receipt when I find it again… I know the store is near the escalators main entrance, though.) The price was HK$320, as I sorta remember it. (Which is US$41.26.) According to the merchant, “because the 160GB model is being manufactured less, this costs a bit more here. It’s a bargain, though.” Yeah, I didn’t even find it on the site, I just saw other ToughDrive models. It’s probably not even out there in the market anymore! I wouldn’t give up into finding it if I were you. I’d look and when you’ve looked everywhere, then you can give up.

Oh, and finally, for you total geeks out there, the device inside behind it all is the Samsung HM160HI USB Device.

Now, for you people that are sorta skeptical about this drive’s “Toughness”, you’ve read the right section… or are viewing the right section! Here’s the “Part 2” video that will (sorta) prove it to you that this device can survive an approximate 2-meter drop from mid-air:

This isn't fake, it really happened

I’m In Like With You! o.o

I’m in Like With You (Abbreviated: “IILWY”, or on the website name, shown as “ImInLikeWithYou”) is a free multiplayer game site that requires absolutely no downloads (unless you don’t have the latest Adobe Flash Player) and provides fun & addicting multiplayer games you’ll get hooked on to and never leave for endless hours!

I was bored one day. Then, this Geek & Tech Enthusiast Chris Pirillo was explaining this site. I looked into it and it looked so interesting, who knew it could be fun! So I took a look into it and I went “OMG I DUN WANNA LEAVE X3”. So I signed up and got hooked onto these wonderful games! (Nice job, Chris, now you got me occupied for many hours a day!)

I play it on my spare time now, but in the weekend, I play with my friends who are interstate, near & far from where I live (As close as Richmond Hill, NY to Del Valle, TX!) We’re so addicted, we’re so in like with I’m In Like With You! Join today! It’s free, that’s the best part!

Join at: http://www.ImInLikeWithYou.com/
In the future, you can type in http://www.IILWY.com/ instead of that long address!

Review of: Tokyo Japanese Hibachi & Sushi Buffet of Freehold Twp., NJ

Of all the buffets I have been to, this one has some great food, decent to today’s “fast & everyday Chinese/Japanese cuisines". I had a few good things to say about it, but I had a few things that I witnessed it as a “Beta flaw”. I ate the buffet portion of the restaurant. I will be sure to try out the Hibachi portion of the restaurant next time. It’s either-or, so you can’t have both meals… unless you have the stomach and money for it. Here’s my review:

Name: Tokyo Japanese Hibachi & Sushi Buffet
Location: 4345 Route 9 North, Freehold, NJ 07728
View Larger Map

Date of Visit: December 13, 2008 6:52PM~8:12PM
Business Cards:

Front of the Card

Back of the Card

Inside of the Card

 
Positives:
The food was decent, but the striking point of this Japanese Sushi buffet was the fact that there are made-to-order Hand Rolls and great Sushi choices (even if some were the same as the others.) The one other thing that I was very excited to eat was the Shanghai Style Pork Buns (Xialongbao, "小籠包".) Believe me, that’s my all-time favorite!

     

Negatives:
I can’t write this in a messy paragraph, so I’m going to bullet it:

• Cleanup of tables is slow (Took about 10+ minutes for one table to get clean due to ignorance by waiters/waitresses)
• Small location, can expand, should expand, can’t expand, they won’t expand.
• Pricey: $19.99 per adult for dinner!? Dang!
• Cannot handle nights with many people, the staff can use training for “full house nights.”
• Needs a paging system rather than “calling out the name”.
• Needs a bit “more” food choices.
• Insufficient dessert bar. Just Ice cream doesn’t cover it.
• Siu Mei (or Shumai) meat looked uncooked for a second… close call.

Negatives (For that particular night):
It was only tonight that my father’s bill was way past incorrect. In fact, the waiter gave the wrong Guest Check and my father always uses his credit card without seeing the bill. Thus it got charged… but he didn’t sign it and got the right receipt. They need to use their eyes and LOOK at the receipt before letting someone who just whips out their credit card pay immediately.

Overall Score (From 1~100): 76%
Remarks: Out of that, I just didn’t like the service that much. Otherwise, it’s fine. I’d like to see more “evolving” with that restaurant. It might get a lot better and become my frequent dining spot!