Hands-on Lotus iNotes UltraLite in iPod Touch – a little review

Posted on October 26, 2008 by Alist

I rarely post articles about Lotus Notes despite I am a certified for IBM Lotus Notes software. Well, my blog is more about technology and lifestyle. So I spend this little time to make a quick review of using iNotes UltraLite, a web-based email solution from IBM Lotus Domino 8.0.2, specially designed for iPhone 3G and iPod Touch 2nd generation users.

First thing, I really don’t want to mess up my laptop configuration just for this trial. I have Domino 7 running well and don’t want to install Domino 8 until ‘the day’ is coming. Company’s infra also should not be changed. Yepp, I think we’re not ready for Domino 8 yet until end of this year. Fortunately, IBM Lotus gives us opportunity to test iNotes Ultralite using IBM’s infrastructure, by signing up to a project called Lotus Greenhouse.

Basically we just need to sign-up to this project and create a mailbox with a valid email address, then we’ll have a new mailbox at lotus (something like Alisanta.Tjia@greenhouse.lotus.com). After all is set, then open Safari Browser from iPhone or iPod to open Lotus Greenhouse project url : https://greenhouse.lotus.com/home.

So, more detail steps :

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Cheap Mobile Internet Solutions in Indonesia

Posted on September 12, 2008 by Alist

After 2 years we’ve been seeing GSM Operator battle for 3G Internet solution, let me conclude what options we have currently (data gathered as per Sept 12th, 2008).

The hot offers for this time being is : Indosat 3G Unlimited, Telkomsel Flash Unlimited, and Indosat M2 new package. Read each provider’s summary in my article below.

Indosat M2

Indosat M2 (IM2) is a subsidiary of PT Indosat Tbk. Their business is mainly in providing pay TV and Internet services. Mobile Internet services comes with providing a USIM Card with prefix 0814, it can be used for data only, voice call is not available.

IM2 offices are separated from Indosat Galeri, but you can find them operating together in some places, such as at Galeri Indosat Artha Graha, Roxy, Pondok Indah. Or you can go to their new store at Plasa Semanggi.

Currently they offer 2 options for mobile Internet

Pre-paid option.
Package name is called IM2 Broom. Similar to prepaid GSM, you have to buy voucher to top-up your account. Vouchers can be purchased from BNI and Permata Bank ATM. The good thing is if you don’t fully use up your quota then it can be used for following month depending of expiration of the voucher. This is a cheap Internet solution for light users. Voucher prices are vary:

IDR 50,000.- for 100MB, expired in 30 days after first use
IDR 100,000.- for 200 MB, expired in 45 days.
IDR 150,000.- for 300 MB, expired in 60 days.

A new promo package with 3G/HSDPA Model is also available. By paying approx. IDR 125,000 for 6 months contract (by charging to Mandiri or BCA Credit Card) you will get ZTE MF620 HSDPA modem plus Voucher for 200MB data.
You can purchase this starter pack on their reseller outlets (see the list here).
Post-paid option.
For quite heavy users, you need a bigger Internet quota. You will be billed on monthly basis, separated from Indosat GSM Matrix billing (if you also have it). Here I only list cheap packages

Indosat

Indosat as a 3G Player is often not too aggresively pursuing customer by not offering cheap mobile Internet. They have IM3 and Mentari for GSM Prepaid, Matrix for post-paid, and Indosat 3G / 3.5G Broadband for Internet-only users.

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Wave of Netbook: Axioo Pico

Posted on September 9, 2008 by Alist

Before we start, to be honest that I don’t have Axioo Pico, but I’d like to post a Axioo Pico netbook review.

Netbook term means sub-notebook, mainly be used only for light-working and Internet browsing activities. You might be already noticed some PC manufacturers trying to deliver this kind of small laptop to market. Currently in Indonesia, netbook is still a new term with small market, that will be booming in few years ahead.

The first and successful one is Asus Eee PC. Long queue on its first launching means that people really needs affordable laptop. Another Taiwan company, MSI also launched MSI Wind Netbook on May 2008. And in this post I’d like to talk about relatively new Singapore-based PC manufacturer Axioo with its latest product: Axioo Pico.

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Telkomsel Babycam

Posted on August 23, 2008 by Alist

If you are a working parent, then everyday you want to monitor your children activities in your house. How to monitor your loved ones? Sure you’ll call them. But if you leave them with a nanny then you might need a spy webcam just to make sure that your nanny does her work.

Telkomsel offers a new solution for this by launching Telkomsel Babycam. It’s a small 3G mobile device with built-in camera, packed like a MotorGP helmet miniatur, using GSM 3G network and Video Call feature (in which is actually not a new technology in Indonesia), all you need is to use your 3G mobile phone to video call that device, then your mobile phone will be live streaming what happens in your house, same like CCTV camera. Video Call rate will be charged same as voice call, so it is about Rp 13/second, CMIIW.
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Is Apple killing itself using iPhone 3G?

Posted on June 10, 2008 by Alist

During WWDC 2008 Keynote on June 9th, Steve Jobs announced new iPhone 3G handset. All the specs were already known by some rumours, so no surprise for me. But unveiling a US$199 3G device with built in GPS capability, not to mention it is a complete head-to-head positioning to iPod Nano, makes me wonder: Why do we need to buy iPod Nano anymore?

iPod Nano comes in 16GB and 32GB, offering to play music and movie only in a small dimension of LCD. The main feature of the hardware is its scroll-wheel. 8GB model price for iPod Nano is also US$199. Now let’s compare it to iPhone 3G. It has multi-touch LCD display, GSM Mobile Device, includes all iPod capabilities, plus Safari Browser, 2 MP Camera, GPS, and can host lots of custom applications, all in US$199 in US market. What will you choose?

Yes, Apple is killing itself by selling iPhone 3G in a price that competes with iPod Nano, even cheaper than iPod Touch. The only reason one will buy an iPod Touch is because his country is not listed in iPhone worldwide selling. Even I live in Indonesia will wait for iPhone 3G availability instead of buying iPod Nano now. Someone out there surely will sell unlocked iPhone 3G to Indonesia, same as previous iPhone 1.0.

Manufacturing cost of an iPhone 3G is definitely higher than its selling price. This mobile phone is highly subsidize by GSM operators who make exclusive deal with Apple. Actual price of this device might be above US$300 for initial built. But using mass-product manufacturing, with only 2 models of device (8GB and 16GB), low price is imaginable. Let’s assume that Apple orders a factory in Taiwan or China to manufacture 8 million pcs of iPhone 3G, with same LCD and mainboard specs, Apple will have great bargaining power for this to its counterparts.

Telkomsel Flash Unlimited

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Alist

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Yes, finally Telkomsel launches new package for its 3G Internet service: Telkomsel 3G Flash Unlimited. Previously in my post, Telkomsel Flash was charging on time-based or usage-based, but in unlimited package: no usage quota anymore, but now bandwidth speed is chopped.

Telkomsel Flash Unlimited can only be applied by kartoHalo subscribers, which means you have to be existing Telkomsel Halo GSM postpaid customer to enjoy this package. You have to be existing customer to apply this offering, at least 3 months. There are 2 offerings, one with free USB HSDPA Modem (I believe the model is Huawei E220, let me know okay?) and the other one is data subscribing only. To apply for free modem, you have to subscribe 1-year-contract package.
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Esia changes SMS Plan, now Rp 1/character

Posted on May 15, 2008 by Alist

Starting today (15-May-08) CDMA Celullar provider Esia launches new campaign for its SMS Plan. This is the first in Indonesia, and I believe also the first at least in South East Asia.

Usually SMS or text message tariff is charged per message sending, but now Esia charges you in character basis, which is Rp 1/character, no matter recipient’s operator. Let’s say you sms friend ‘r u bz?’, then this 7 characters sending will cost only Rp 7,-. Very cheap right?

For those who love abbreviation, this is a saving. But when sending a full sms (an sms can contain max. 160character), it is quite expensive since overall sms sending cost in other GSM/CDMA operators now only Rp 100/sms. But I can tell that most of people’s sms only contain less than 50 characters, based on my experience when receive other’s sms.

At last, as most Esia users know, failure rate in sending sms using Esia is a bit high. So this time Esia has to convince users: is it reliable?