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Windows DreamScene is an extra feature in Windows Vista Ultimate that allows you to use animated wallpaper over a high definition video file. Being a Home Premium user myself, of course I’m not entitled to use this utility. But somehow, after some quick googling, I managed to find a way to make my version of Windows support DreamScene (sheesh, don’t ask me how - but there’s a legit alternative whereby you can use VLC Player to set video file as your wallpaper though)

So after running the script and restarting my computer, I wasted no time immediately changed my desktop background setting to the animated wallpaper which looks like this:

It looks cool and special, but this is the price I’ve to pay for - higher memory consumption and relatively slower Windows Start up. So whether it is worth the price, is totally your call :-)

What can I do in a date-less Saturday?

• Watch HK series… typical auntie activity XD
• Play CnC3 Tiberium War… typical geek activity ^^
• Instant Messenging… have been doing this all week long anyway <_<
• Go shopping? No!!!! Gonna save money already!
• Clean my house - did that in the morning :D
• Sleep and relax -_-
• Blog - what I’m currently doing  :-)
• Blow water in LYN  ;-)
• Call my friends and disturb ‘em :-p
• Call it a day by reading all my unread RDs

Interesting? I can survive without dates too. Can you?

Windows Live Messenger, the most popular instant messenger in the world, has just released its beta version of 8.5, which is going to succeed the current version 8.1 (thanks dualshock for the news).

You may download it here.

According to wiki, here are the significant improvements:

The new version features a new and improved UI (User Interface) that also combines Windows Aero, and minor fixes to the user interface. The setup program has also received a new look, along with the setup programs for Windows Live Mail and Writer. It will also for the first time install in a Windows Live Messenger folder, compared to previous versions installing in a MSN Messenger folder, and the shortcut will be placed in a new ‘Windows Live’ folder in the Start menu. A new “Bunny” emoticon has also been added. It will also have improved security, integrating itself with Windows Live OneCare. ^[1][2][3] It is unsure if this is version 8.5 as its menu bar and About box describe it as ‘Windows Live Messenger 8.1 BETA’

Here’s the screenshot

And A-patch for 8.5 beta has also been released. Grab it here.

Enjoy!

I’ve actually got myself a Winfast 8500GT 256MB DDR2 last weekend for the price of RM340. Initially I wanted to get 8600GT but it’s slightly over-budget considering the fact the I’m just a casual gamer. It’s good enough for games like NFS Carbon and CnC3 under normal settings, I haven’t had the chance to get my hand dirty on a real DirectX 10 game though.

And this is my new Experience Index score, a decent 5.0 that has nothing to brag about, but nevertheless better than my previous 3.4 under 7300GS -_-

Microsoft has announced a coffee-table-shaped “surface computer” on Wednesday in a major step towards co-founder Bill Gates’s view of a future where the mouse and keyboard are replaced by more natural interaction using voice, pen and touch.

Microsoft Surface, which has a 30-inch display under a hard-plastic tabletop, allows people to touch and move objects on screen for everything from digital finger painting and jigsaw puzzles to ordering off a virtual menu in a restaurant.

It also recognizes and interacts with devices placed on its surface, so cell phone users can easily buy ringtones or change payment plans by placing their handsets on in-store displays, or a group of people gathered round the table can check out the photos on a digital camera placed on top.

Source: Reuters

Take a look at the DEMO here, it does look impressive and innovative to me. But whether or not it is worth the price tag between USD5k - 10k, is another story altogether :-)

Anyways, If you’re interested to know how it works, read here.

Just notice that I got quite a number of gadgets with me. It’s not another bragging attempt but rather I just want to remind myself not to spend more, I’ve indeed spent a lot of money and it’s time to cut down already -_-” What’s more, the amount of chargers and cables I’ve to bring along is enormous!

Anyway, here’s my list of gadgets, hope they will keep me happy for at least another year:

• USB Drive: Kingston Data Traveler II (1GB)

• Portable HDD: 120GB Western Digital 2.5″ (Vizo Paragon casing)

• Mobile Phone (main): Sony Ericsson W880i (Silver)
  • Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Wireless Stereo Bluetooth
  • 1GB Sony Memory Stick Micro (M2)

• Mobile Phone (secondary): Nokia 1110i

• Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-T20 (White)
  • Sony LCS-TWB Soft Leather case (Brown)
  • 2GB Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo

• Card Reader: 35-in-1 USB 2.0 High Speed Card Reader

• Stereo Headset: Altec Lansing AHP212i

Still haven’t fully tested my new camera yet because of my rather busy life lately. But I’ve managed to take a few indoor shots and I’m posting the resized version here.

There’s some visible noise in indoor shot (I used auto mode) but it’s still acceptable. Overall the pictures look quite sharp and I’m happy with it so far ^_^

See ya, Will be posting more in the future.

Two months ago, I stated my intention to get a compact digital camera and DSC-T100 was apparently my first choice. However, because it’s slightly over budget, I got myself a white DSC-T20 instead (almost the same as T100 except lower optical zoom, smaller screen and different design). Together with a genuine leather soft case and 2GB Memory Stick, I got it for RM1350. Guess it’s not a bad price afterall for its specs.

I haven’t had much time testing this baby yet, I may be writing more about T20 in the future. But one thing for sure, you’re going to see photos with much better quality in my blog (compare to those taken with my camera phone W880i) ^^

My schedule had been extremely hectic and I rarely got time to blog. Now, finally, I manage to allocate myself some time to do so… LeetleKid.com is still alive! Anyway I’m just writing to update you guys that I’m going back tonight.

Let me start with sharing my experience and thought for my 25 days in Mumbai. Working with people here is never an easy task, as there’s a big difference in term of culture. I never feel comfortable with the massive traffic and I feel bad for the amount of people living in poverty in the city. I don’t enjoy the hot weather and terrible air quality in some areas in the city (especially where there’s ongoing construction work), neither do I enjoy the feeling of staying in hotel and being so miserable alone. However, I shouldn’t ignore the good side also - the experience I’ve gained from working with people here is invaluable, the mangoes here are excellent, the books I got nearby the CST are really cheap, I’m able to save some money from my allowance, and most important is, I’ve really learned to appreciate what I have now after seeing the poor people living in slum area.

For my last lunch in this Mumbai trip, I rewarded myself with a lobster lunch (around RM80 after conversion) for all my hard work here. It doesn’t taste all that great but still I enjoyed it a lot ^^ Simply because I’m in a fantastic mood I guess.

Of course, that’s mainly because I’m really looking forward to be back to KL again. As usual, after a long trip abroad, I miss my friends, family and the foods badly. Definitely I’ll try my best to take the initiative to ask my friends out, because otherwise it will be extremely hard for me to do so when I’m in a project. I’m also planning to do some crazy shopping in the town (looking for a camera, graphic card upgrade and some new clothes) but I hope I won’t overspend.

Argghhh, there are too many things for me to do, but I feel really happy now! Not everyone can understand the feeling of a poor guy who has spent 50 days in Mumbai since early March 2007. But heck, I guess I gonna stop it here as my laptop is sort of running out of battery.

Bye tuan-tuan dan puan-puan. Sekian, terima kasih and see ya in Kuala Lumpur.

Chowpatty Beach is one of the two beaches in Mumbai, located at Marine Drive, and facing the Arabian Sea.

It was so crowded that I purposely requested my driver to stop there yesterday evening, so that I could take a photo of it. The beach was surprisingly clean, the wind was chilly (in contrast to the hot sun in the afternoon) and it’s not at all a bad place to hang out during a boring weekend.