Heimdall package for Samsung Galaxy Anycall S [SHW-m110s] - Korean handset firmware/android upgrade

Ok guys. If you are one of those folks who purchased a Korean Anycall due to any reason and stuck with its old Android version then this post is for you.

First refer to this post from XDA

If your phone is not detected by ODIN or if you 'bricked' your phone then Heimdall is for you. You can find more info from XDA post here about Heimdall. A word of caution,

DO NOT TRY TO USE ANY OF I9000 FIRMWARE ON M110S.

M110S is not i9000 and if you try then you've a 'semi bricked' phone. You'll end up with a phone that doesnt start or recognize the SIM card.

To recover you can use this package for M110S. I've installed on my Anycall a week ago and it's working fine. Here goes the mediafire links.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dkb1v53q6g54b58
http://www.mediafire.com/?208p10tkbki6w40

Download both files and merge with HJSPLIT.

Airtel prepaid validity - An intriguing question

More than 90% of Indians use Prepaid mobile phones. So it is very common for people to simply purchase a SIM card with INR 100 (~ $ 2) and throw it off after a week. (By the way on a separate note these kinda experiences and unmatching financials shows why I don't believe the 100 mil subscriber numbers by Bharti, RIL etc)

The problem I am having is keeping a number permanently (or atleast for few years) so my banking systems, train reservation systems & other online systems doesn't have to be updated every few months. I've tried all the options other than subscribing to a post paid (which is not very cheap or 'doesnt offer value to me')

1. Airtel Customer care told me that the "sim" validity is typically 35 or 40 years (?) and you can check with *123# USSD code. However the 'main' account has a validity period of 2 months so if you don't use or make any calls within the 2 months your number with remaining balance is gone
2. Online forums says one year validity; 45 days validity; 
3. The salesman at Airtel store told me that it's 90 days. So every 3 months I've to recharge with minimum RC card 

My experiences're quite diff. 

1. I've a SIM card with "0" balance which is not dead even it's 2 years old.
2. I've a new SIM card with 300 balance (supposed to be) but dead within 1 month
3. I've a 3G data card which is dead within one week after I utilized the complete data.

Conclusion: Anything can happen in India. So go for a post-paid if you want to avoid the hassle. If not follow the crowd. Don't expect Airtel (or other telecom) to offer 'service'. It sucks and they charge per minute basis :)

Oops SingTel did it again.. MIO TV glitches during EPL season finale

Source: CNA

SingTel did it again with its MIO TV. I'm sure the exec, engineers will kill who ever with the name Murphy.

During the most critical moment the system failed again. As usual, SingTel issued a statement that

This was due to an unprecedented number of viewers tuning in for the season finale. 


So now, we've

• Expensive HDB's/Condo because 'unprecedented number of people migrated to Singapore'
• Trains failing because of 'more than anticipated people riding public transport'
• Slow/poor mobile networks because people are using mobiles
• TV/Cable systems failing because people are watching programs.

The root cause is clear. It's the people

We should schedule it in a way, like in a HDB block, all the even number units should watch first half. Odd number units should watch for the remaining half. Then they can share between themselves.

Remember, you shouldn't sms or call each other. It could congest the mobile network.

User Privacy - iToday app from Singapore

I've joined the bandwagon on Android recently and while trying to download few apps I realized some strange thing in "permissions".
Below is a screen shot of iToday - the app from Todayonline, a popular newspaper/tabloid in Singapore. 

I've put the text in the rectangle box. Basically the app & today wants to read the user phone number, serial number of the phone & whether a call is active, the number of call that is connected & the like


Not sure what is included in "& the like" but even without that it is very disturbing to see that they Today wants to know the phone number & call history/logs.

Why a newspaper wants to know the mobile phone number & call status? All they need is the internet access and nothing else. I can only conclude one thing which is "advertisements" or "selling the phone numbers".

I am not very comfortable with sharing my phone number without knowing how this would end up. So opted for "SG News" which simply needs "internet access".

This shows again the level of awareness & respect is given to "privacy" in singapore.

Hyderabad Airport - Skyhigh User Charges, Terrible service/Experience. Top of it the "manual check-in with hand written boarding pass"

I saw in a news (Not sure if it's Hindu) that Hyderabad Airport is the 4th most expensive airport to fly & Delhi is the most expensive airport to fly in the world. Incidentally both are operated by the same company.

The sad part is the "Value" offered by these airports. I just returned from a short trip from Hyderabad and the experience is as frustrating as one would expect in Indian airports. But paying exorbitant charges and getting ridiculous experience is what makes me pissed off and decided not to fly to Hyd again.

I don't think I can write it here but want to share a "real surprise". Have you ever told that the "check-in" computers are failed and passengers need to do a "manual checkin" by writing their names, details, flight info and passport stuff on a piece of white paper?

It happened and yes, it's in Hyderabad. This exercise alone caused a havoc at the check-in counter as many passengers were searching for pens and writing in queue. As usual the service staff are sitting at their seats & talking over their cellular phones. Result: 30 min delay to the flight and a mad rush of people running to the security area.

Atleast the Singapore Air (I've purchased the ticket through SQ) could have taken control of the situation but they seems to be missing.

Hyderabad Airport Taxi to City & Call Taxi booking.

After 8 years (and first time) I've landed at NTR International Airport (aka RG Airport which is the Official name) in Hyderabad.

The first surprise is at the baggage handling. Cases are dropped from 3-4 ft slanted belt and I pity those folks whose nice briefcases ended up with broken wheels or handles.

Second is the transport from Airport to City. The worst part is the website itself which promotes only the two cab operators. They promote Meru & Sky Cabs which must be metered. That's where the real problem is. metered taxis are not cheap and I ended up paying INR 930 (~SGD25).

While chatting with friends I realized it is always better to book a taxi in advance rather than taking the cabs at Airport. If you book in advance you can get it one way for INR 400 & twoways for 800-900. Which is almost half the price.

You can give a try @ below links or just do a google. I myself tried Orange cabs (Innova) for Drop off & Return. I've received an SMS on the day with taxi driver name, contact no & details. Timing is not very punctual (30 min late) so plz make sure you tell the driver/taxi company some what earlier pickup time. Have buffer is always good in India(Sad enough..)

http://www.yellowcabshyd.com/tariff.html
http://www.orangecabs.com/?page=tariff
http://www.celcabs.com/hyd-fares.html

Culturelle probiotics - Singapore

If you are using Culturelle or similar probiotics for Kids, I guess the wait is over. Amazon started shipping to Singapore (though at hefty postage charges) and I am glad I don't have to wait for the shops to deliver.

I used to purchase it in Singapore from Telok Blangah (Back to Basics Alternative Diet) & NTUC Unity store some times.

Both charged me from SGD 38 to 55 depending on time & my luck I guess. The challenge is the availability of products and at times I couldn't get them when I visit the store to purchase.

Seems Amazon started offering it sometime early this year (my last order was through Globeshopper in late Jan' 12) and the charges for "Express delivery" is US 74 for 10 packs. So in total I paid $263. In Singapore $ terms it's SGD 33 to my home..Wish the delivery charges are less..

closure of mocca (group purchase) service

Just received this mail. Seems the 'hype' is over or short lived for ST..Wonder how long the rest of the sites can survive. Be it Groupon or Deal.com.sg. I recall seeing more than a dozen few months back...not sure how many of them still running..

Hello

Thank you for registering as a perks.mocca.com member. We regret that the Perks site will be taking a break from 16 April 2012 as it makes way for a new e-commerce initiative.

As our valued member, you’ll be among the first to be kept updated about this new initiative. So, look out for our e-newsletter coming your way soon.

In the meantime, do drop us an email at perks@mocca.com if you have any queries.

With best regards
The perks.mocca.com team                                                                                                                    

Singapore Average Salary - Check where do you stand @ world

Source: BBC

According to BBC this is where Singapore stands with it's "average" salary of $ 2,616. Ok, now before we jump to conclusions and start saying that it's 'average' and not 'median' let me point some facts.

According to recent graduate employment survey results, it's 2,700 - 3,500 (NTU) & 2,700 - 5000(NUS). This is excluding Employer CPF contributions & bonus/etc. If I take the lower value + 15% CPF and convert to US it stands at $ 2,464 which is still not far behind the BBC number.

Looks like we are doing a wonderful job here..

India Budget 2012 - NRI / Overseas Indians Concerns

Like many millions I was eager to hear some good news so I don't have to "BRIBE" the babu's to carry my laptop+ipad+iphone through Customs in India.

Based on law, any passenger with min 3 days overseas stay can carry a laptop, mobile phone + 25,000 goods without paying duty. But the tricky part is "based on law" and it doesn't work in India. The Customs officer simply asked me that iPad costs more than 50,000 based on price in India so I have to pay the penalty @ 35%.

I refused but as many of you know there is no way you can get over them without 'paying'. I tried my best before I gave up. 

There are many such similar cases experienced by my friends, business travelers to India. No wonder people prefer to travel to Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia or even African nations but when you say India you can see the raised eye brows, unspoken "No, No, Nah, Nah's...

Anyway, this budget I was hoping that the Government can make it legalize to bring electronic devices for personal usage & increase the duty free limit to 50,000 or 100,000 which is not really a lot of money if you are a business man flying overseas.

The outcome is increase to 35,000. This is worse compared to past based on recent downfall of "INR". Rupee lost it's value by more than 15%. So if we see in USD terms, in the past you could bring approx USD 555 worth goods. Now it's only USD 490. :(

There was a new "tax law" proposed which gives the power to Tax his/her overseas income if the NRI/OCI stays in India for more than 60 days in an year. Imagine what would have happened if this becomes a law.

In a way India is trying to push it's own citizens not to visit their own home country for business or family visits. 

So imagine you are making 100,000/year and paying your taxes in your host country. For business reasons you traveled to India & stayed for 30 days; and for family visits another 30 days. That's it. The proposed law wants you to pay tax for 100,000 in India @ 35% rates.

Fortunately this was mooted for now but we won't be that lucky in near future. So my dear fellow country man. Prepare for this...