TOP 15 Mobiles today!

d3xlabs is back. In the country that is.

My apologies for the lack of updates everyone. I still can't believe the last time I posted was during Chinese New Year! That's a whole month ago! I've been so busy with work, flying in and out of the country that I've not had the time to update my blog as much as I'd like to. The good thing is, I'm back again so I can settle back into life in Beautiful Brunei (and focus a bit on my phone reviews!)

BUT, just to share with you (or satisfy you), I've recently been asked to write brief reviews about the latest phones in the market in a local magazine. It was an honour to been asked to do so. So I've been spending a good amount of time with each of these mobiles, which you'll soon see. But in light of the many models requested for, and the limited space on the magazine, the reviews I've done are short and sweet.

And so I decided, for my blog readers, why not post up the same reviews (with some more added juicy info) onto my blog tonight (!) so that d3xlabs readers can be the first to read it before the magazine is released!

As the Title suggests, let me first begin by adding that these models are the TOP 15 mobiles that are out in the market today. I will begin with Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson and lastly, Nokia. They are not in any order in terms of which are the best, but I will try add some recommendations on whether I think they are worth parting your hard earned cash with.

MOTOROLA
Motorola RAZR V9

Motorola has been synonymous with classic models like StarTac of the 90's and RAZR. Its also been 3 years of touting the RAZR brand. You could say people are getting a bit bored of it. Until now. Motorola has finally introduced the RAZR2. Having big shoes to fill, the RAZR2 V9 is now 1mm thinner than the original RAZR, made of stainless steel and apparently, up to 120 pounds of pressure can be placed on the V9’s hinges. This means that, unlike other fashion wannabe phones out there, you know the V9 is built to last. Stacked with a number of cool features like HSDPA capabilities, a 2-megapixel camera and full Bluetooth support, the Razr2 sets itself apart from the rest with a very eye-catching design. It also sports a 2.2" QVGA resolution display on the inside and a suprisingly large 2" external TFT display on the outside – perhaps the largest found on any clamshell handset on the market. Also on the external screen, touch sensitive music keys with tactile feedback is found. Overall, the RAZR2 V9 is a very impressive successor to the original RAZR.

The Motorola V9 is ideal for: Those who appreciate solid stylish flip phones and have remained loyal to the Motorola brand. Remains true to its RAZR style.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND668-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.


SAMSUNG
Samsung D880

Dual sim phones have so far been present in mostly China made brands, and its popularity in this side of South East Asia have been less than promising. However, now with the introduction of the D880 from giant Samsung, this trend could very well be headed towards a more widely accepted norm in the region. The D880 is now able to hold two sim cards simultaneously and users will also enjoy the 2.3” QVGA display, a 3 megapixels autofocus camera, a document viewer, an increased capacity battery and also a business card recognition feature, all packed into this slider form factor that is synonymous with the brand. Only time will tell if the other mobile giants will be heading in this direction, but for now, at least we know that there is such a model out there in the market should we have the need for one.

The Samsung D880 is ideal for those who travel and dislike carrying 2 mobile phones with 2 different lines wherever they go. "Finally", as some people have expressed.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - TBC.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.


LG - LIFE's GOOD
LG KU380

Perhaps little is known about LG and their presence in the market share, but they are no doubt seen as aggressive in developing their product ranges and listening to the needs of the mobile community. The LG KU380 is yet another addition to the pack and is a 3G enabled slider form factor offering which sports a TFT 22k colour screen, 60MB onboard memory, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera with 15 fps video capturing abilities and an FM radio.
The LG KU380 is ideal for those who want a slider no-nonsense mobile that just does the job and does it well, without all the fancy bells and whistles.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND258-00,
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

LG KU990 Viewty

Comparing to previous models of old, LG really shows that they take into account user feedback, and are always aiming to develop their product line, both in terms of design and features, from the LG Chocolate to the LG Prada, and now, the LG KU990 Viewty. Under the hood of this feature packed arsenal lies an impressive 3" touchscreen display with 240 x 400 pixels resolution, HSDPA 3.6 Mbps capability, stereo Bluetooth and the most hyped up weapon of choice, the highly intriguing 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, which is also capable of capturing video at 120 fps. The LG KU990 definitely looks set to be a sweeping success. Perhaps a first ever feature, is the ability to edit an image after snapping it, with the gorgeous touchscreen. This will surely be attractive especially for those photo aficionados out there.
The LG KU990 Viewty is ideal for those keen photographers who want that little something extra from their camera phone. K850i and N82 had better keep a watch on their heels, this underdog will be one to watch out for.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND898-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

SONY ERICSSON
Sony Ericsson W890i

We all remember the introduction of the slim and sexy W880i (my old review here) when it was first launched. However, slim as it was, many could not handle the noticeable letdowns; the tiny keys and lack of FM radio. In comes the W890i. It now addresses the minor flaws of the W880i, with added support for HSDPA, quad-band GSM, the new Sony ericsson SensMe tempo, mood detector, 3.2 megapixel Cyber-shot camera, fast photo browser, finger print resistant body panels AND all this in a still-slim body. This worthy upgrade from Sony Ericsson indeed places it in a position above its predecessor and is set to be a huge seller.
The Sony Ericsson W890i is ideal for those music buffs who like to mix fashion with a bit of fun. Better keypad, better overall experience. Definitely worth the upgrade.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND668-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Sony Ericsson W960i

The Sony Ericsson W950i, which was released last year, was considered revolutionary with its 4GB of integrated memory especially in the line up as a Walkman phone. However, its shortcomings with regards to the lack of a camera and Wifi capabilities left users wanting. With that, Sony Ericsson introduced the W960i as a replacement. They have now brought out their big guns with this model, fielding a scorching 8GB of storage space, a large touchscreen 262K color TFT display, a 3 megapixel camera, 3G/Wifi capabilities AND all this in an oh-so-sexy-slim-and-nice-to-touch-body. You just have to hold one to know how it feels. Feature-wise, it resembles more to its smartphone brother, the Sony Ericsson P1 but with the addition of a dedicated Walkman key and 3-touch sensitive keys for controlling the music player. This model is a great choice and will certainly leave music fans drooling and feeling tingly all over.
The Sony Ericsson W960i is ideal for the hardcore music buff that loves having entire music collections on the go.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND888-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts

Sony Ericsson W910i

The addition of the Sony Ericsson W910 into their Walkman range has only strengthened their position in the music market. This solid performer sports a slim slider form factor, a high quality 2.4” display, supports 3G/HSDPA, improved Walkman 3.0 features (with SensMe and a first ever Shake control feature), FM radio, a 2 megapixel camera, fast photo browser and a decent loudspeaker. To balance it out, the W910i will also garner a lot of lovers as its looks place it in the market as a fashion-savvy phone. However, those expecting to use the W910i as a camera should take note, it does not have autofocus or flash. But at least you’ll look good with the W910 by your side.
The Sony Ericsson W910i is ideal for those who want to look good while enjoying listening to their favourite tunes. Shaking the phone to skip to the next track is definitely fun too, espcially for others to watch.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND628-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts

Sony Ericsson K850i

With the Cyber-shot name and reputation to uphold, Sony Ericsson called on reinforcements and launched its newest member and big-daddy of the Cyber-shot range, the K850i. Aside from the obvious addition of the Xenon flash and Cyber shot first-ever ISO settings to adapt under different lighting conditions, you’ll also find the standard autofocus, Macro focus, Best Pic technology, new 3 touch soft keys, an experimental tiny square keypad layout and a rather unusual navigation rail. Another worthwhile mention is the inclusion of a dual purpose memory slot; you can use either a Memory Stick Micro or a microSD. This means you will never need to worry about not having enough memory for those special moments. All in all, in such a small and compact size, these features alone make the K850i the closest ANY phone has ever come to matching the standalone digital camera experience.
The Sony Ericsson K850i is ideal for both the snap happy amateurs as well as the serious photographer who don’t want to miss any special moments with their loved ones. Picture quality is unmatched so far!

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND698-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.


NOKIA
NOKIA Nokia 2600 Classic

Nokia has been long renowned for meeting the needs of the market with models that are simple and easy for users of all ages. Sporting a TFT 65K colour screen, phonebook capabilities of up to 1000 entries, GPRS/EDGE capabilities, Bluetooth, a VGA camera/video capabilities and colour choices of Blue, Black, Orange and Beige, the 2600 classic is armed with enough features to please those out there with the most basic needs; phone calls and SMS’s, and then some. Most value-for-money model out there.

The Nokia 2600 classic is ideal for those who appreciate the simple things in life; basic phone calls and SMS’s.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND138-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia N95 8GB

When the Nokia N95 was first released, it was considered as the ultimate smartphone in the market. Packed with a feature list comprising of; Symbian Series 60 v3, HSDPA capabilities, built-in GPS, a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, DVD quality video, easy to reach music controls in a very neat 2-way slider form factor, it was set to remain on its throne for a long time coming. But, it was all too good to be true. The N95’s power greedy features sucked the soul off the battery life and this was the most major downfall for the N95. Until that is, Nokia decided to reach back into their armoury and pull out yet another trick out of its hat; the introduction of the Nokia N95 8Gb. This new release has now turned evil with its new reincarnation of black styling, a beautiful 2.8” screen, a whopping 8Gb of internal memory and most important of all, the battery life now has soul. The Nokia N95 8Gb will satisfy the needs of all who expect much from it, and best of all, the same features we all remember from the old N95 still remain.
(My review here)
The Nokia N95 8Gb is ideal for those who want their mobiles to be able to keep up with them in their fast paced lives or even slow down with them in life to appreciate the little things around. The king of smartphones is back in the building.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND1,038-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia N81 8GB

The launch of the Nokia N81 proved to be a milestone first as it is one of the first handsets to support its re-launched N-Gage gaming platform. Aimed solely at the niche youth market, the N81 8Gb is meant to be the most affordable multimedia device marring music, gaming and imaging all under its hood. Sporting features such as Symbian S60 v3.1, wifi support, dedicated gaming keys, a brilliant 2.4” 16M display, a 2 megapixel camera, dedicated multimedia/music keys (with standard 3.5mm audio jack and over the roof stereo speakers!), a whopping 8Gb internal memory and a touch sensitive Navi wheel all in a compact slider form factor, the Nokia N81 8Gb is all set to thrill. However, it is worth mentioning that those interested in buying this gaming device will need to get used to its newly positioned key layout but all will be quickly forgotten as the N81 truly is an excellent pick-me-up for those moments of sheer boredom.

The Nokia N81 8Gb is ideal for those who are addicted to gaming but refuse to admit it. And the speakers, it just blows your ears away.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND718-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.


Nokia N82

The Nokia N82, a direct competitor to the Sony Ericsson K850i, is the latest of releases to the N-series range under the Nokia brand. The N82 has all the features that promises to make it a truly best seller, combining smartphone functionality with one of the best camera phones in the market today. Sporting a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash with active lens cover, a 2.4” 16M color display, Symbian S60 v3 OS, wifi/3G/HSDPA functionalities, auto UI rotation, stereo speakers, built-in GPS, TV-out capabilities, standard 3.5mm audio jack, support up to 8Gb microSD memory and a commendable battery performance, the N82 is a buy that you will hardly ever regret. Perfect especially for those who want to capture those truly special moments without carrying another device, the decision is so simple, N82.
The Nokia N82 is ideal for those who want to capture the shots of their children growing up or special moments with their friends by their sides. And it does a real neat job in keeping your schedules and giving you directions on maps too!

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND798-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.


Nokia E51

Nokia is renowned for churning out reliable and outstanding business phones, which also cater towards those who would like to mix business with a bit of pleasure. The conservative wolf in sheeps clothing Nokia E51 is one such device. Replacing its predecessor, the E50, the E51 brings functionality to a higher level with the inclusion of Symbian S60 v3.1 OS, 3G/HSDPA/WIFI capabilities, 130MB onboard memory, very comfortable keypad/D-pad, new symbian key icons, a 2 megapixel camera and all this packed into a very very slim 12mm body, making it the thinnest Eseries squad member in the ranks. The also-very stylish Nokia E51 proves to be quite a well-balanced performer that will certainly become an instant bestseller not only for business users, but for regular users too.
The Nokia E51 is ideal for those who want a reasonably priced business phone that can do it all, and look good at the same time.

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND478-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia N800

Perhaps of all the models from Nokia, the one that has not made any huge headlines is the tablet series. From the Nokia 7700 and 7710, demand has not quite been anything to shout about. But this has not stopped Nokia from improving on the series, with the launch of the Nokia N800 internet tablet. It is stacked with features such as a large 4.1” 800x480 touchscreen display, displaying both text and pictures very clearly, WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth, a mini-USB port, and a 3.5mm headphones jack. It runs off a 320Mhz TI CPU, and 128MB RAM, and includes 256MB of flash storage and two SD slots. The most outstanding feature of the N800 is the use of the WiFi capability that makes surfing an extreme joy for those not wanting to carry around a laptop or be restricted to desktop bound PC’s.
The Nokia N800 is ideal for those internet junkies and with the 4.1” screen, need I say more?

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND468-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Nokia 8800 Arte

Nokia has always maintained a stronghold on their flagship 8-series models, focusing more on the essence of premium lifestyles with exclusive and highest quality materials used on each improved model. The Nokia 8800 Arte is a 150 grams of solid steel piece of art and its exclusiveness is good enough reason for people who favour style over function. Some may argue that features such as a 2” 16M colour display, S40 OS with 3G functionality, 3 megapixel camera with autofocus, evolutionary Turn-to-mute technology and a large internal memory is rather basic compared to other similarly priced models from Nokia, but it is easy to forget, comparing the Arte to other handsets will be missing the point. It's just how things are in the small niche of mobile high fashion where Arte’s rub shoulders with the likes of Armani and Prada.
The Nokia 8800 Arte is ideal for those who prefer style over function, and for those who appreciate owning such exclusive and exquisitely made mobiles.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND1,688-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Kung Hee Fatt Choy to one and all!

Apologies for the lack of updates, I'm in the process of revamping my blog. One year past, and it still looks the same. What better time than this festive season to make changes. Watch this space in the next post!

Last night, after a family gathering to celebrate Chinese New year eve, I went to visit another friend's place to wind down and watch some fireworks as the countdown began for midnight. Tying up the firecrackers at strategic places was important, because obviously, we didn't want anything to happen to our cars. As midnight struck, going through some 4000 sticks of firecrackers was sure an earful! We weren't the only ones doing it either. Throughout the area and beyond, fireworks were lighting up the sky. Its been quite a while since we've experienced this in Brunei I have to say. I felt like a kid again!

Then, we decided to move on to the hardcore stuff, the fireworks.  After a couple of beautiful mid air explosions, the unexpected happened, the tube flew of out its enclosure and fell to the ground, shooting "missiles" around, hitting walls, astro antennas and even missing one of the guys feet by inches! We were running around everywhere! Thankfully, it ended after a few more "shots", no one was injured and we managed to have a laugh about it. 

(Amidst all the excitement, needless to say, taking snaps with my phone wasn't the first thing on my mind, so I won't be including any shots in this post.)

So, a very important note to all celebrating Chinese New year, no matter what the age, please PLEASE be careful with fireworks as you celebrate this festive season.

Wishing you all a prosperous new year!

Rumours: E71

Courtesy of dailynokia.com, look what could possibly be the new phone for this year!

Looks like a combination of E51, E61i and E90 all rolled into one.
Ok, I know its only January 2008, but I know what I want this Christmas. (Only another 11 months to go)

A Happy New Year 2008 with Nokia N95 8Gb

First of all, let me wish everyone a very Happy New Year 2008.

Reading a few local blogs, there were a numerous "happening" events going on throughout the country, as it should on new year's eve. But for me, it was a quiet one. Just me and my buddy, the Nokia N95 8Gb right beside me. (Hey, this IS a mobile blog right?)

I started last year with a new year's resolution of sticking to one phone for the whole year. I did quite well half way through, then the madness began. I broke my goals, amidst the mockery of those who know d3xlabs. Closer to Christmas time, I had already gone through quite a few phones, and to be honest, at one point, I was just stumped. I just did NOT know what to get. Having reviewed and played with so many new phones in the market, I was like a master of all models, but owner of none.

It was during my period of silence in December (sorry everyone, but coupled with moving house, delayed espeed access and festive hols around, it was difficult to update my reviews), I decided to get myself this, the new champion of all Nokia's, the new improved version of the Nokia N95 8Gb.

Reading reviews from GSMArena, Mobile88, Mobile-Review and Allaboutsymbian, (all GREAT and EXTENSIVE reviews) I knew this would be the right choice. In fact, compared to my Nokia E90 review, the King of Nokia's, I would dare say that this new N95 8Gb is REAL close to dethroning the mighty E90.

On a side note, having read all those reviews (and MANY more, believe me), I started thinking, hey, how can I make my blog more interesting to read this year. 2007 was a good learning point for my blog. I always thought that readers like reading my blog because of the "hands on feel" of the phones that I review, compared to the hundreds of close-up's, spec filled, stating-the-obvious type of reviews that anyone can find out there (like the 4 review sites I mentioned above, no offence to them of course. To me these sites are like "my point of references" if you like). So, true to my goal, I think this year, I will try to include more of these "hands on feely" type reviews. So far I haven't received any negative feedback from you, my kind readers. And even from the handful of faithful ones I have who have kept my tag board active. (Thanks guys).

With this, starting 2008, my goals are:

• To be more consistent in my reviews and blog posts
• To be more subjective in brands (I know, I know, I seem to favour more Nokia's, SE's or Treo's)
• Include more pictures because we all know, pictures speak a thousand words.
  

Armed with the new iMac which I hope to purchase soon enough, I think this will be a great year for d3xlabs.

Anyway, personal sentiments aside, back to the Nokia N95 8Gb. Let me try to give different perspective from the 4 reviews above. And this will be my first straight-to-the-point type review for 2008.

First Impressions

• Using it for a month now, I have to say, I enjoy every moment of using this phone. From the moment I opened the inbox, with the black beauty peering at me from its transparent enclosure, it made my heart skip a beat. Taking it out, I just had a feeling that this was one precious device. Those of you out there who REALLY take care of your phones will know what I mean. (It also meant that I would inevitably have to buy a screen protector, a leather case or at least SOMETHING to protect this new baby!)(Note: I have done all three)
• Switching it on, I'm faced with the super familiar S60 3rd edition OS on the beautiful 2.8inch screen.(A MAJOR improvement from the previous N95. And yes, the 0.2" difference sounds small on paper, but it really is a thoroughly enjoyable experience using it in real life)
• The two way slider worked great, with a nice click on both ends.
  
• Of course, one of the main features I used immediately was the camera and video. More on this shortly.

In short, I knew immediately, this was one impressive device.

What I loved about the N95 8Gb

• The layout of the keypad is very ergonomically friendly. Big hands / fingers like mine have no issues problems whatsoever.
  
• The weight and material used is "just nice" in my opinion. Doesn't feel like it will slip off your hands in use.
  
• The performance of this beauty is F-A-S-T. With the improved processor included, I would expect this really. Gone are the days of hanging, or slow laggy activation of applications. (This is becoming a norm for the newer Nokia's. Thanks for listening Nokia)
• The battery life. It has been tremendously refreshing to use! I have gone 3 days without charging even! Compared to my previous N95 review, this is a BIG PLUS. And this is after making calls, tons of SMS-ing, camera usage, music/radio activation and MSN chatting on wifi!
  
• Sending SMS's, MMS's and emails have never been easier! With the Nokia trade marked T9 dictionary and the great keypad layout, I found myself just finding reasons to sms people. (Yea, I'm sad)
• 8Gb of internal memory?! Need I say more!? To date, I have about 200+ photos and 217 songs stored in my N95 8Gb, and so far, not even close to 2Gb used. Its great not to have to worry about finding back-up storage for additional stuff.
  
• Did I fail to mention the N-Gage gaming features were also included in the N95 8Gb, like the sibling N81? The included games, FIFA and Racing STREET RULES are nothing short of amazing. I'm not a gamer myself, but just to see the graphics and speed of the games is quite something.
  
• The camera, the camera, the camera. Yes, that's right, leave your dedicated digi camera's at home. For everyday snapping and capturing-those-special-moments, the N95 8Gb will be more than enough. I'm afraid, since using this, my Canon G7 has been sitting on a shelf just collecting dust. I'm so heartless. And can you blame me? Look at some of my sample photos below. There are tons more I have to admit, but alot of them have me, my family, friends and my car inside. Now you wouldn't want to know the identity of d3xlabs now would you?
  

My Christmas tree. Not my best attempt but hey, I just bought it a few days before Christmas.

The view from outside my window. Night mode.

What I enjoyed on New Year's Eve lunch with friends at a local restaurant in town. Macro mode.

The buddies I sleep next to every night. I'm serious.

• Camera - Video mode. On a phone, this has GOT to be one of the best I've ever seen. DVD quality, Nokia claims. They're right. Those of you with kids, or not, this comes in really handy. And the inbox comes with AV cables which you can watch on your compatible TV's too. How amazing is that?! And what's more, these videos are also YOUTUBE friendly. I even have a friend who's posted all his videos on youtube taken by his N95.
  

What I didn't like about the N95 8Gb
(But-is-not-enough-not-to-make-me-not-want-to-buy-one)

• Glossy black surface = fingerprint magnet. Enough said.
• Yes the 8Gb is iPhone-beating but it can also be a worry. I've read in other reviews that if anyone ever, EVER drops the N95 8Gb, it could cause harm to the flash memory, meaning... you could lose everything. Of course, if you're like me, backing up the phone every night, then you'll have nothing to worry about. And again, if you're like me, you'll probably also make sure that you'll never ever drop your phone. Just guard it with your life ok? That's my rule.
  
• Why oh why didn't Nokia include at least a leather case in the package like they did with the previous N95. Not a problem I guess for some as you can probably find other alternatives elsewhere. (I even contemplated getting a Vaja leather case for this baby would you believe). But here's what you can get separately from Nokia, the CP 235. Its not the best around I have to admit, but, it'll do its job in protecting your black beauty.
  

• The two-way slider (again this won't be a problem is a case was included) tends to slide in your pockets (for guys). For the ladies, this may not apply to you as phones have become accessories in your handbags anyway right?
  
• If you have as many photos as I do (so far) saving / sync-ing them through your pc (or mac in my case) can be a bit of a patience-builder. I suppose I COULD delete everything after saving it to speed up the process next time, but where's the fun in that?
  

My take on the N95 8Gb? I have to at least give it the same rating as I did with my E90 review.
5 stars.
It is the ultimate Nokia phone in the market today, next to the E90 dare I say.
So, after you read this, switch off your pc, hop into your car, drive straight to any Incomm branch and get one! From what I hear, stocks have been lapped up quite fast. That alone if proof that I'm not the only one who feels this way about the N95 8Gb isn't it?

Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND1,168
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.

PS: If you have any feedback for me, I would be more than happy to accomodate your ideas. Please email me at d3xlabs@gmail.com

PPS: I won't dare say I will stick to one phone again. That was 2007. I've learnt my lesson for 2008.

Season's greetings

I'd just like to wish all friends and readers a very Blessed Christmas 2007 and happy holidays. The end of year is fast approaching. What better time to spend with family and close friends, and reflect on the year that has passed.

I'd like to share this with you all.

Photo taken with my new Nokia N95 8Gb. A photo of a cake tastefully made / created at a local bakery in Kiulap.

And the N95 8Gb? I bought it about a week ago, as a Birthday/Christmas gift to myself (I had to. No one else would risk buying me a phone. Can you blame them?) Been snapping away at anything and everything. Certainly living up to its title as the best phone in the market today. Read here at AAS for an in-depth review.

Anyway, I've decided, for my new year resolution, this N95 8Gb has to last me till my next birthday. (Next December obviously). I've already got bets against me on this, and even friends lining up to buy it off me should I ever decide to sell. But, I have to be focused. One y-e-a-r. Yup, only 357 days to go...

Blessed Christmas to everyone!

d3xlabs is back online!

I'm back. Back online. Someone must have read my previous post. Today is the 11th Dec 2007. I applied for my espeed on 1st Dec 2007. Not bad, a full 10 days to do it. So they DID mean it when they said two weeks. What's with the two month crap then? The vendor came this afternoon to set it all up, and once I plugged in my new Apple Airport extreme, I was ready to roll! C'mon Telbru! Service, SERVICE!...

I have so many phones to update here. Since I've been MIA, so many new phones have popped up too! Nokia with their Eseries E51's, Nseries N95 8 Gb's, N82's, N81 8Gb's.... Sony Ericsson with their w910's and slew of other similar product line ups, Motorola with the new V8 Razr 2, which I MUST say looks absolutely stunning and even my personal favourite brand, Palm with the Centro, which isn't rumoured to be a GSM version yet.

Nevertheless, first up, business first.... should you get a Nokia 6500 Classic or Slide? Find out in my next review!

Withdrawal symptoms

My apologies for the seemingly long silence. Its been a hectic past few weeks. Flying to Hong Kong twice within three weeks for work, then preparing for a big wedding within my family ... and at the same time, juggle a house move. Yup, a house move.... I've just moved into a new place but the problem is, i haven't got my broadband set up yet!

I do have a bone to pick though. Telbru's just launched a new promotion on the new espeed package which I thought would be an opportune time to apply for my new place. But what happens? I submit my application, then I'm told because of the area I'm staying in, they will "try" to set up "within two weeks", otherwise, it will be in February to March.

Did you read that?

FLIPPING FEBRUARY to MURDEROUS MARCH!!!! That totally got me quite ruffled. C'mon, if you say all your "lines" are fully booked, then why the heck did you advertise this fancy smancy promotion then!?!?!

Ridiculous.... thats all I gotta say. And so, my waiting journey begins. Even as I type this, its 1.00am and I have to come to a cafe to surf. How sad.

BUT, to keep me occupied, I've got two friends keeping me busy... let me introduce you. The pictures aren't fantastic, but in such a dimly lit cafe, their respective camera flashes were blinding.


A Sony Ericsson P1 and a Nokia N95 8Gb.

Ahhh, with friends like these, my wait for espeed won't feel that bad... I hope.