Lean and mean.

Aside from aiming to lose a few baby fats, I also started trimming the things I bring daily. Am stationing my out of warranty iBook at home for the moment and converted one of the machines at work as my workstation. Was pleasantly surprised how polished the default GNOME environment is on ubuntu. I still hasn't tried making the dual core work on the Pentium D workstation, cat /proc/cpuinfo only shows one processor. More on this later. I would miss the iBook, but since its out of warranty and we don't have a budget for an upgrade, it would be safer it stays home.

For now, am limiting my gear to my trusted Treo and its gullible infra-red keyboard. Might bring my kid's PSP from time to time since it has wi-fi and the built in web browser is quite usable. Besides am enjoying PQ, quite addicting 3D puzzle game. Other than that, I might also take a stab at street photography and do a photo-a-day sort of thing.

This would also force me to setup system to seamlessly pass/share data around my home and work computer. For now, there is no denying how useful the aging CVS is. I haven't tried Sub-version, since work is piled up and that would mean configuration changes and finding out if Eclipse supports it.

It was weird traveling light on my way to the office this morning. Using the regular keyboard brings nostalgic feelings, likewise using a regular mouse as opposed to a laptop's touch pad.

My journey into digital photography

Tribu in the sand


I had always been fascinated by photography but never had a chance to try it till last year when I got the 350D. I percieved film back then to be costly, unlike today's digital. My goal for now is to be the best photographer there is for my wife and kids (FHM models would also be nice). I think my field would be "home photography", people who loves to errr, take pictures of everyday things found in his home. Still lots to learn tho, much of it is understanding the light, if dancing is making love with the dance floor, photography is also making love with the light.

But still, the process of capturing those priceless moments in time is such a great stress reliever after long hours in front of the computer.



Waiter, got milk?


In a way, am also trying to cultivate the creative part in me (more like trying to discover if I had it). Although I have read somewhere that photography is for people who aren't very good at creating art, and if you can't create art, it might be easier just to capture it. But others will surely disagree, as they say that what would separate a photographer from a snap shooter? the photographer composes/creates, the snap shooter simply takes a picture.



The umbrella pose


At the end of the day, I like photography because it forces me to try to find beauty in everyday things.


shutter nox
-- if a picture paints a thousand words...

Today's musings

In no particular order:
• Just watched a CNN clip early this morning regarding the iPhone's appeal on the asian market. Interesting in a way that the it focused on Japan, where the mobile technology is more advanced than any other country in the world. Thanks to its broadband speed mobile data infrastructure, in Japan, the phone not only plays TV, you can use it literally for a train ride, email, IM, browse the internet, GPS your way into Tokyo, buy something from the fruitstand, remotely control your coffee machine, etc., and last but not the least, make a phone call.
• So how does the iPhone stack up to a market like this? With mobile data infrastructure a generation ahead than its GSM/Edge/Wi-fi/Bluetooth combo? The answer is simple, as one japanese in the interview puts it: "its stylish, and I'm curious." And quite frankly, that is just what the iPhone needs to make a dent in the asian market.
• On the other hand, am continously fascinated how advanced mobile technology is in Japan. The degree it becomes an extension of an individual there. From an architect carrying his digital blueprints there, teenagers watching TV, a father paying for his groceries just by placing the phone on top of conduit point of sale device, an old man using the phone's mapping application to navigate downtown tokyo, to a commuter tapping his phone to an train turns-style entrance (drastically minimizes lines), an so much more!
• What makes it so successfull in Japan? Why isn't it yet that wide spread in a flat world? Can the Philippines, the texting capital of the world, also do it? What would it take?

nox
-- Japan is a MobileIndie's wet dream come true.

My manly hands

My manly hands
Originally uploaded by nocs.

In another futile attemp to have a body of decent shape, am determined to conquer the threadmill. This time, am adding a cheap 18lbs dumb bell to the mix.

The strategy is to walk/run at least 15-30 minutes every other day. Shoot! thats already a conservative estimate. Am also determined to finally get rid of still lingering baby fats around my cute belly. I don't care if I lose a pretty functional stabilizer (prop your elbows on your tummy for added instability when taking a picture, you get the drift).

Lets see again where this goes...

athletic nox
-- by all means, wish me luck...

OS X PostgreSQL binary

Since I reformatted my iBook over the weekend (on a very slow DSL connection, go figure.), am still in the process of getting the apps I NEED one by one. I had always loved PostgreSQL (and it has alwasy loved me back), even back in the day, MySQL just doesn't appeal to me. Anyway, I searched the lazy web for a lean and mean binary installer instead of going thru the usual process of installing the OS X dev kit, installing fink, and manually compiling postgres. Turns out, as expected that somebody has done just that. From somebody with a domain ending in .ch, my oh my, the world is now flat indeed!


dev nox
-- Postgres rocks!

He was selling us the future -- mobile, broadband-connected and ubiquitous.

This wired magazine post nailed it squarely on the head. Am a bit amused why some people whine regarding the lack of 3G, among other things, they just don't get it. Steve is selling us the future of mobility. And damn! I like the direction he is going.

Same goes for the Apple computer, it isn't just the hardware, its the combination of all the technologies that makes your computer a tool, rather than a state of the art computing machine. It allows you to think more of the problems you are trying to solve, rather than the computer be a problem in itself. In short, it makes a pretty good effort to get technology out of your way, and that separates it from the rest.


mac nox
-- i love my mac...

Oddities of my digital life.

Shoot, its my 900th post to blogger! :) probably more than a thousand if it included my .plan whinings since circa '96.

Also, here I am, contemplating of formatting my iBook. Everything is backed up and ready to go. Except for one thing, i forgot my yahoo messenger password. And since I only use my my yahoo account for messenger, that means I didn't bother to change it for the past 3 years. Didn't change, also means I don't have clue as to what password I used then. Recover tools doesn't work since I also don't remember data I entered back then. Oh well.

My gulay! I should just frackin' create a new yahoo id and be done with it.


odd nox
-- pondering my digital life...

Welcome to the "Age of Mobility"!

My excitement over the iPhone lies deeper actually. Its the thought that this device could actually trigger the "Age of Mobility". The hype will fuel other phone manufacturers to innovate. Or pressure those other phone companies to "REALLY" innovate. Because from this moment on, every frackin new phone will be judged against the iPhone. That excites me more!

Mark my word. The "Age of Mobility" has began.

mobilenox
- "mobile indie! independently mobile!"

You would never look at other phones the same way again.

Yes, thats right. Just watched the iPhone keynote intro. Man, you really won't look at other phones the same way again. Every other phone model out there looks obsolete compared to the iPhone. It has OS X running on it for starters. The interface is so damn shiny! The connectivity, the audio/video integration, iPhoto managegment, the sweet, sweet little touches that makes your digital life easier, am gonna love a phone like that.

Apple's new iPhone!!!

WOWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Apple Rocks!!!

Hello 2007!

Ah life...

Stereotypical faster than the blink of an eye, its 2007!

And all we want is world peace!


Later...

Test 1, 2, tres...

Blogger beta test (post via email)

Its the season for being happy! Because the reason is not dead nor gone!

My first take on shooting behind the window pane.


Janro fiddling with the Christmas ball.


Rojan doing the mannequin pose.


My all time favorite models. Oskosh, just in case you need one. :D




Merry Christmas everybody! Happy new year too!



daddy nox
- i love my kids!

YoSpace Smartphone WAP emulator

shiny piece of software! i love the emulation mode. you get to really see how your wappy looks like on pop phones.

runs fine on the bookah. albeit slow. oh well...

Firefox Vi-ish find keybinding

Woot!

Just discovered using "/" would bring up the search box on firefox.

Shiny!

Hawak kamay...

Loving the 50mm!


shutternox
- be true to the 50, and the 50 will be true to you...

Girl succeeds having people buy her a macbook pro!

Lucky!

I remember Sacha Chua also did something similar (Ad Space) on her laptop. Only this time the idea was taken further. :)

Now, should I post my bank details for "Buy Nox a Canon 5D with a 24-105L lens" campaign. I'll advertise the sponsors name on the 5D, my blog, my ibook, and if the fund is big enough to buy a macbook pro, I'll find a way to laser etch em' too.

Too bad Paypal PH doesn't offer local bank withdrawals yet, that would make things like this a tad easier for international donors.

On the other hand, funding for a Tamron 17-50mm would suffice.


dreamy nox
- Canon are you listening...

50mm Fun!

Really loving the nifty fifty! Way sharper than the kit lens. Now if only they make something as optically as good as this, with a focal range of 17-200 with IS priced not more than $200! Then more people (consumers) can concentrate more on the art and not the tool. Wishful thinking...

Anyway, more shots of my two little kittens:

My volunteer assistant little boss/cameraman/director.


Tag team. Yey! Rojan won and bagged a medal.



daddy nox
- i love my kids!

My daughter rocks! and my cam is back!

Yesterday was good timing as Canon called to inform us that the 350D was fixed and ready for pickup. It took them 1 month to replace the sensor and a few other things. Here is to hoping that problem won't go back anytime soon. :)

Anyway, Rojan presented the "Three Litte Kittens" this at her school this morning. Wifey and I were so proud. Also got a chance to use the nifty fifty (Canon 50mm lens) and take my shot at family candids/events photography. Its a bit weird using a fixed focal length lens for this type of shoot. Quite challenging! The 50mm prime was awesome but I think I need to add one more walk-around lens with enough reach for cases where you can't go beyond set boundaries, like a school stage for example. But for portraits and low lights (school gym) wide apertures really helps. Also 50mm on a cropped sensor like the 350D is a bit short on the wide end on a crowded gym.

Time to make excuses to get the Tamron 17-50 or the Sigma 17-70. Am torn between the two. If money is not an object, the Canon 17-40L would be nice or the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS, but those are way too much for this hobby. Unless if Canon would be nice to give me one for Christmas of course. Thats shooting for the moon, hehehe, as most reviewers on the net mention that they rarely even lend one for review.


daddy nox
-proud/happy dad!

Shiny! Open source Java Rocks!

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!!
For now you have a choice,
yer FREE!!!

Like a bird on a tree...
Are you happy of me?



devnox
- Sun, you rock!