Meal Snap

There's this app that I really like, Meal Snap. I've started counting calories few years back after having successfully lost close to 20 kilos and was determined not to gain any of it back. Its more of a guesswork than exact science...having to look at a dish and 'oh 200 kcals maybe?' So I read about this app, downloaded it and highly recommend it if you're looking to keep a tab on your daily caloric intake.

The first time I tried it, I was quite impressed. The values are more or less in the range of what was on the label/what I guessed.

I was more impressed that they described the 'Lurve' as multigrain chips. Its as if there's some human operator going through all the snapshots, googling the product and then sending them back to the app.

Hmm...so what if I...

Not bad. How about...

 And this one?

All in all, a pretty fun app to use. However, the app lags quite a bit. One search can take anywhere from 15mins to an hour (maybe needing a referral to a human to determine what that thing is). Sometimes longer. I had a couple of searches that were 'lost' - as in totally no results at all. It will just show you a blank snapshot instead of the one you submitted.

Still, its a new app and I hope they do improve with subsequent updates.

Film is Forever

Call it fate. I don't really know how else to describe it. Its like the stars magically align themselves in pushing me to a certain direction. I've been toying with the idea of getting a lomo camera for some time, but never really acted upon that desire. The idea of sending film to the photo lab to develop and print never really appealed to me. The last time I shot with a film camera (my dad's Minolta SLR) was when I climbed Mount Kinabalu in 2007. I never got around to finishing that roll of film and even if I did... sending it to process was a hassle for me. My nearest photo lab doesn't deal with film anymore so I have to drive further to find one that is willing to develop.

Recently this idiot (sorry but there's no other way of calling him...believe me, I've tried to think of some) started posting on my facebook wall about scanning film with the DSLR in addition to sending me messages on MSN asking me to google the topic. I did. There were some interesting techniques and the results they got weren't too shabby.

In addition to that, another friend visited me in Kota Kinabalu a few days ago after he climbed Mount Kinabalu. That reminded me of my roll of film still sitting in my camera. I knew I had to finish it off quickly so I can try the above technique.

I downloaded a flashlight app for the iPhone recently - didn't know it will come in handy this soon. What I did was unroll the film, place it over the screen with the flashlight on and the took a picture with the DSLR.

After that, it was just the routine photoshop work.

It may not look great, but suddenly having a lomo camera made sense. Heheh.

This is from the Blackbird, Fly camera. Still getting to grips with using it, but will do a full review on it soon.

3G-Sutra

Ever since I've gotten my hands on the iPhone, it has allowed me to access the web in many locations that I wouldn't normally be able to. And I mean it. I do not have to be stuck at a desk but I can take advantage of the gadget's size and bring it with me during my morning routine on the throne.

However the more I use it, the more I realize that the internet speeds differ at different locations of the house. Naturally, since this uses the phone provider's 3G services, it is akin to getting better phone reception at certain places. Surfing on Safari is a joy because of its almost instantaneous loading times... but if the 3G services are not living up to their billing it can be equally as frustrating as using dial-up.

This led me to do a test to find out the best spot for internet surfing. I had a stopwatch and used Safari to load 3 pages one after another at different locations - Facebook, Soccernet and my blog.

The first most obvious location was the couch on the living room. It took just under 2 minutes to fully load those 3 pages. Not too bad actually. I then moved a few steps away to the dining area and got half that time.

The toilet got a similar time to the living room but the bedroom was the worst with 3min and 20s. There is one thing I observed when I did this test - that in all those areas, 3G services were very intermittent. If it kicked in, the page loaded very fast - and if it didn't then tough luck. When I did the toilet times again I found that it varies quite substantially.

There is one place in the house which excels at this test and posts consistent times of under 1 minute every single time. It is also a place in which there is uninterrupted 3G coverage. I must say I discovered it by accident...

The best spot! - On the railing at the top of the staircase

I don't really know how it started, but it must have been a time when I was waiting for the page to load while I was shuttling between rooms or the toilet and just left it on the railing. Whatever it was, I definitely struck gold!

Well, I've stopped looking for better locations now because it seems that even if the results can beat the 50+ seconds benchmark it would mean having to sacrifice my comfort. What if I get a 30+ second result for this test under the fridge? Or beside the water tank in the roof? Nah... I don't want to find out and then go through settling for second best.

Pano for iPhone

I'm pretty sure that I'll be bored with the iPhone one day. Its always the case with technology, something will render it obsolete sooner or later. Not now though, I'm still having loads of fun with it. Got myself the Pano app over the weekend. (Please click on the pics for a larger view)

Putting the app through its paces

Sundays at the gym, that's one of the reason why I like to go at that time. You can set all the treadmills at the same speed then run all the way from the first one on the left to the last one on the right by treadmill-hopping.

Mixing Pano and Macro - Pacro!

This app makes me taller too!

Macro Photography on iPhone

The iPhone 3GS has a pretty decent camera. Given the fact that is is also a phone means that more often than not whenever I want to snap a picture, this is the only camera that I have on me.

If you are into macro photography, there is a very cheap solution for you to get the most out of your iPhone (or any other phones too). All you need to get is a pocket magnifier/jeweler's loupe.

Jeweler's Loupe 30x21mm

The normal rules for taking macro photography will apply here as well. That is :

1) Keep your hands steady. Any movement you make will be multiplied many times over through the lens. Hold your breath before you take the shot.

Mealybugs

2) Make sure you are in a well lit area. Usually taking macro photographs with your phone will involve you (and your phone) to be very close with the subject you are taking. This will sometimes block the light source and make the picture either very dark or grainy. Try to move around a bit and let the light shine favorably on your subject if you want to shoot without lighting aids.

3) Holding a magnifier before the camera lens is similar to manual focusing on a macro lens mounted on a DSLR. There is a sweet spot you have to be on the lookout for. It is a very thin margin between the subject being in focus and total blurring. Be patient and perservere. It gets easier with practice.

Lastly, remember to have fun! You can take a macro of almost anything you want! Even if they are not safe for public viewing...

iPhone Comes To Digi

Digi has caused lots of speculation and anticipation since it first announced that it will be selling the iPhone quite a while back.

Digi announced its packages two days ago and those who were hoping for an iPhone price war have been greatly disappointed. If you had been following the local iPhone forums, you would have known that Apple strictly controls the pricing of the phone itself and the only thing left for the telcos to fight over will be over their subscription plans. In fact the only way to reduce the price of the iPhone - and we have to do this together - is to convince Encik Leher-Penyu that we don't want what he's selling.

Encik Leher-Penyu explaining how all our wallets are belong to him

Think about it. That's the reason why there are clearance sales. It's not that nobody wants the products but rather not many people are willing to fork out the cash for the retail price, but if it were sold for less...they may just be convinced to get it. So even though we cry and have vivid wet dreams at night over the iPhone, when Encik L-P with his Levi501 blue jeans walks up on stage and shows us his latest gimmick, we look him in the eyes and say 'Hah! We're not buying one.' Encik L-P will be negatively affected by this given his health considerations and will decide to relent and sell the iPhone cheap cheap till they are as worthless as Po Chai Pills.

Ok so that will not work. In a stare out game with Apple, I blinked first and bought myself the iPhone. I am at your mercy, master...I'm not worthy... Yes master? The iPad? Ok I'll order three now...