Singapore Do Not Call registry - Effectively became another beaurocratic process.

You guys may have seen this yesterday.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-exemption-order-under/934376.html

There are now exemptions to a law that allows consumers to bar unsolicited calls, text messages and faxes from telemarketers. Organisations that have an "ongoing relationship" with customers will be allowed to send out marketing messages without having to check the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry.

I was quite happy when I saw the DNC registry news in October but now it's just another framework thanks to this last min news. 

So now Singtel, SH or M1 or Credit card companies can still FLOOD my inbox with SPAM mails and messages wherever I am and whatever I am doing. Some relief is this is not applicable to Calls. 

I wished Singapore to show the world in terms of privacy but it seems the folks drafting the new rule are convinced by companies and accepted that we the subscribers are 'owned' by service providers.

Disappointed.. !!!

Google location history "dashboard" gone

Not sure if it's worldwide, but I can confirm my account and my friends.. This is gone. No more dashboard but people can still see individual history..

**SAD**.. The whole point of history is to check it in the dashboard (beta and i was expecting more updates and improvements) to get a easy summary.

Google, I thought killing latitude was a bad idea but now even this is gone...

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos - S6102: 3G or UMTS not working

I've blogged about a new Dual-SIM phone an year and half ago (here). It served me well, and saved from roaming costs as I tend to buy local SIM when I travel and use this as a hotspot + voice device.

But recently I've updated the firmware (Samsung pushed a new one) and that's where the problems started.  Now the phone couldnt stay on 3G network for a min. It connects when it starts afresh but immediately goes in to "no network". I've tried by resetting it and at first thought SIM card issue so changed the SIM but finally realized it's something to do with the phone itself. Irony is it works great on GSM :(

Currently the updated version is DDMF4. Old one was DDLJ1. I tried to fallback (odin+stock firmware from XDA) but somehow both my laptops couldn't detect it in recovery mode. Unfortunately there is no heimdall version. Seems like I need to cook my own.

Android Version: 2.3.6
Baseband Version: S6102DDMF4
Kernel Version: 2.6.35.7
Version: DDMF4 (auto update from samsung)

Finding a good in ear earphones with mic for mobile phone and VoIP calls

I am really frustrated after my 6 months old Skullcandy earphone stopped working (only left side) and this is probably my 8th one the last two years. Most of the times, I end up buying through Amazon or online, so I could  count the number and amount of money wasted on ear phones. On the other hand, my trusted Creative Noise Cancelling headset  HN-900 is working flawlessly over three years. 

I do good care for headset and earphones and some hoe the earphones are always end up with faulty mic or failure on one side. 

So far I've used following and among them the best would be perhaps the Puregear. So here goes the list from Amazon

• Puregear Purebeats
• Noisehush NX80
• Puregear Purebeats
• Puregear Pureboom
• JVC-HA-FX3X
• Jbuds OEM
• Some cheap one for emergency
• Skullcandy

So the damage of over 200 for earphones..:( 

I am wondering if I could just buy some cheap ones as the lifetime seems to be the same but again, I use earphones for hours. So need comfortable ones.. Sad but no choice..