iPhone 2.1

So I finally took the plunge and installed firmware 2.1 on my 1st-gen iPhone. The update's been out for a few months now, but I wanted to wait until a stable and reliable "hack" becomes available. And also an easy and foolproof installation method. I did ask around at Low Yat Plaza though for fees charged for them to do the upgrading - RM200 is the common quote. So I did some research on the net, found in QuickPWN a simple GUI based installation "program", and a really helpful step-by-step guide (with screenshots!), and went ahead. It was a smooth process alright, and apart from a small problem where the iPhone did not recognise my DiGi simcard after the process was complete - solved after doing some Googling on the problem - it was perfect!

The result? Well, I now have an iPhone 3G!! Apart from actually having 3G and GPS of course. But then, the reason why the iPhone 3G is such a hit is not the 3G capability itself (no significant increase in speeds), nor GPS (at least until applications from Garmin, TomTom and the like make it to the iPhone). The single reason why iPhone 3G is such a huge improvement over the previous version is the opening up of the iPhone platform to thousands of 3rd-party programs via the iTunes AppStore. Yeah, people have been installing programs onto jailbroken iPhones before. However, this "legal" method of installing means that big corporations with huge budgets, experience and resources are now developing iPhone-specific programs.

There are a MULTITUDE of apps available on the App Store - free and paid - but here are a few of my favourites so far:

• PocketMoney - The application I use most. I'm one of those who records EVERY single transaction I make, and PocketMoney lets me do this, separating the entries for the various bank accounts and credit cards that I have.
• EPL Live! - A must-have for all English Premiership football fans! Latest standings, fixtures, results. The killer feature - LIVE text commentary and match stats!
• Remote - Free app from Apple that lets you use the iPhone as a remote control for the iTunes library on your iMac or MacBook!
• midomi - Ever wondered what song is on the radio, but missed what the DJ said? Or have that tune in your head that you just can't remember who sang it? Well fret no more. With midomi, either put the iPhone to the radio speaker, or SING/HUM the tune into the iPhone, and within seconds midomi will give you the name and artiste of the song! Seriously, it works! Try it yourself at the website.
• Facebook - An iPhone app with virtually all the features of the FB website - including FB chat, and the ability to snap photos using the iPhone camera, tag your friends and upload it straight to FB - closest thing to a fully-dedicated FB camera! A must-have for those who don't have access to FB in the office (me!).
  

Anyway, I've literally got a brand new phone with the 2.1 update. Am still browsing the web for recommendations on which apps to install (especially those worth paying for!). I'll hope to rave about more apps I've found in a future post.

Apple Malaysia Online Store is open for business!!

Apple have FINALLY launched an online store for Malaysia! No big deal for many, as almost every major shopping mall in the Klang Valley has at least one Apple reseller. But it's significant to me, for various reasons:

• We can now browse the latest Apple products and accessories online, with actual prices in RM. Prices would include for various customisations - additional RAM, HDD, etc.
  
• It's another "player" in the local Apple market, and there could be good deals to be enjoyed. At the very least, the brick-and-mortar resellers are now encouraged to come up with good deals of their own to counter the perception of the advantages of purchasing from the "official" store.
• This is THE most important reason - could this be the precursor for the official launch of the iPhone in Malaysia? Fingers crossed!!
  

Top 10!

Ladies and gentlemen, Team Teh Tarik has arrived! In only our 3rd ever hunt, and with our 3rd pair of teammates, we have managed to finish a very respectable 9th out of 50 teams.

The Top Gear Malaysia Motor Hunt 2008 was the least stressful and, dare I say, easiest so far. Well, for the latter I guess our experience in the past two hunts have helped us tremendously in knowing how to solve the clues and what to look out for in the answers.

The hunt took us via the North-South Expressway to Hulu Bernam, Tanjung Malim, Ipoh, Butterworth and to the final station just before the Penang Bridge. As there were only 50 teams and the hunting areas were well spread out, we didn't have to battle for room and space with other teams and the morning breakfast crowd. Busy Puchong on a Sunday morning this certainly is not. Most of the clues were found without stopping and searching on foot. Which is just as well, as some of the hunt sectors were along the main road. And the distance between sectors - more than an hour at one point, provided ample time to recharge our batteries and wring our brains to solve the treasure clues.

I did my homework on the hunt sponsors the night before, and boy was I glad I did! Quite a few of the clues (including the treasures) assumed knowledge of the sponsors - nothing too detailed, basically just based on stuff in the goody bags. In the end, we got 30 out of 35 answers right, but only got 1 treasure right. Must work harder on the treasure clues!

During the prize-giving ceremony, each team's points total was not mentioned, so we really didn't know what to expect. As other teams' numbers were called out as the finishing positions got higher and higher, we honestly didn't know what to expect - on one hand it is a good sign that we have a better chance of finishing higher, but on the other hand, maybe we did so bad that we weren't even classified! 20, 19, 18... the positions got higher and higher, and still no mention of our team. 13, 12, 11... then we got to the magic number of 10th position, STILL our team wasn't called out. And then for position number 9, FINALLY we were called to the stage! 9th! And all we wanted at the start of the day was to finish in the top 20! Only bummer though was that our reward were these steam facial sauna thingamajigs. Yeah, I hear you laughing. And to think that teams BELOW us won cufflinks and Ray-Bans!

All in all, a great weekend in Penang. And we even brought back RM200 worth of DVDs back as souvenirs! Our next proposed hunt would be the MENSA Hunt on 14th December - apparently one of the Grand Slams of Malaysian treasure hunting. Now, getting Top 10 in that hunt would be REALLY special.

Treasure Hunting for Dummies

After joining my first two treasure hunts, I've learnt a lot of tips on getting the answers and treasures right from my experience. I'll write them down as a Treasure Hunt 101 for other newbies and potential hunters.

1) Look out for the indicator word

Most of the clues you need to solve are cryptic clues, where a lot of time and skill is required to decipher the clues before you even start looking for the answers! The first step to solving these cryptic clues is to look out for the indicator. The main ones are:

• anagram indicators (Change, mix, sort, could be, perhaps, awkwardly, perm, chaos etc)
• backwards indicators (returns, recall, etc)
• rhyme indicators (sounds like, I hear, etc)
• initial indicators (Firstly, initially, etc)

Once you've figured out the indicator, then you're already halfway there. Most are obvious, but the hardest to spot are the anagram ones, as they can be ANY word that can carry the meaning "to change" or "mixed up". But usually when the clue doesn't make sense grammatically, then it can either mean two things - (a) it's a cryptic clue and you need to play around with the words/letters to find the answer, or (b) the clue-setter just has a poor grasp of the English language!

2) Know the sponsors

Well the sponsors did not pour in so much of their money for nothing - they do want some publicity in exchange. I have found that for some of the clues, really knowing about your sponsors (or at least being aware of them!) would really help. The name of the sponsor itself could be the answer, or you may need to know the business or motto of the sponsor. Even the treasures themselves could be one of the sponsor's products (it may even have been included in the goody-bag all along!).

3) Know your Roman numerals

This is really important. There would be clues which may contain the words "hundred" or "five" or even "a number" where you're actually needed to substitute these words with the corresponding Roman numerals. So do look out for any reference to numbers, especially if they're specific single digit Roman numerals such as below:

I - One
V - Five
X - Ten
L - Fifty
C - One Hundred
D - Five Hundred
M - One Thousand

4) Every. Word. Counts.

Yup, do not dismiss or overlook ANY word. And this goes for both the answer as well as the clue. If you think you get an answer, try see if it can somehow fit in with the clue. If only part of the clue describes the answer, then chances are the answer is wrong. If only part of the answer fits in with the clue, then chances are that answer is wrong too.

5) Mind your language

Having a decent command of the English Language is imperative! You no speaking England, you no win Treasure Hunt.


So that's all the beginner tips I can think of for now. I'll add more in the future as I gain more experience in this new hobby/sport of mine.

Top half!

Yup, after a TIRING day spent hunting, we managed to finish in 100th place out of 240 teams. Top half, which is a marked improvement over our bottom half finish in the Lexis Nexis hunt, and especially as it was only our SECOND EVER hunt! But to be fair, we did get 12 questions out of 35 wrong, and the fact that most of the other teams were newbies did contribute to our position. Encouraging achievement, anyway, and keeps our hopes up for the Top Gear Motor Hunt this coming weekend - only 50 or so teams, so we have an excellent chance of finishing in the top 10!

Anyway, Philips were the prize sponsors and the winners won a 37" LCD TV - for EACH team member! Our prize for coming in 100th? A Philips steam iron each. Well, it is something, and is waaaay much better than going back empty handed! Onwards to Penang and the Top Gear Hunt!