Pictures from our Wedding day – 28th December 2011 – just a candid preview

Created with SunDor’s Sidorthy.

Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

The time has come for an official announcement. A very special day – the 17th of December 2011 (Tomorrow 11am IST) for Dorthy Florance and I, Sonny Siddhartha Kanchinatham. Please pray that our engagement be the beginning of a lifetime filled with special love and happiness in all of body, spirit and soul – I humbly seek your blessings, love and wishes on this important occasion of my life.

Love and Regards,
Sonny

Update

Thank you all, the engagement was grand and God’s gift couldn’t be anymore satisfying. Love, sid. Please check the ‘engagement pictures’ to be shared on a public domain or check them on my profile Sonny Kanchinatham
The Engagement pics
sidfire.com/photos
Engagement pics, II and III

A montage of travelling experience from down under to the Deccan plateau – Sydney to Hyderabad part 1 (December 2011)

Featuring: Best Friends, Family and love.

Credits:
All images by me. Sidfire Photography 2011 (further note: www.sidfire.com/photos)
Music credits to Artist: Quantic – In the Key of Blue (copyright owners)

check out the inserts…

Sid's 07 planner Pg1-2

Sid's 07 planner Pg3

Sid's 07 planner Pg4

I am easily amused with nostalgia.. That’s something I hadn’t planned to look up on this Sunday night..

This day, I’m certified by Apple ( – arranged by the Organisation I work for). And yes, Thunder’s happy.

Growing up as a child, there was never any doubt in my mind that God existed. Nor was there any doubt that he said he was a loving Father. I knew this as much as I was alive. But knowing these things was far different from actually relating to God. I had no idea what that looked like. To me, the idea of God as Father was a nice Sunday school idea that had little effect on the way I actually lived. God was a compartment in my life that I opened and closed for two hours every Sunday morning. I had reduced God to a safe and impersonal idea that I could keep at a distance. I was a Christian in theory but an atheist in practice. I grew up in fear, terrified of being damned in this burning place called Hell..and knowing God as above would keep me away from it.

I am 26 now, my relationship with God grew into something more than that of above which my little mind back then thought had kept me from burning. Looking back, It has taken me some time to trust that God will not one day walk out of the door of my life. It has taken time to believe that he will never leave me or forsake me.

I am learning that God loves me and gave the life of his Son for me that I might become his. It’s all about belonging to Him the Heavenly Father. This is how I am learning to deal with my earthly issues of Fatherlessness today. And I’m still learning.

In his words at the back of this photo he had written: "They make a Happy Family - "GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY" , - Dad, Mom with Sheila and Sonny. 4th Aug, '91

And to this day, I’m missing him. < — (click to read)

With love.

Sonny.

Abandoned - from a No Standing Zone

Apart from becoming cynical at first and battling ‘Why?’. I am ‘slowly’ coming to realise, everyone goes through that at their own pace. And I am starting to see how I can learn from it all.

I went to church yesterday evening, the Word spoke to me. I could not control myself and could not hold myself being heart-broken..

I tried to compose myself but it was so hard.. I had images replaying again and again bringing back memories of regret I sincerely wished I never had. For the first time I realised the wound was so deep and that it had never showed up like this, these moving pictures hurt so bad and the pain couldn’t have been anymore than this – they played in my head, the experience, the conviction and haunting in parallel – was too much to handle. I covered my face with my hands and wept it out, crying like a baby. If I could change, I would. I felt so alone just being there – people next to me were complete strangers realising something was wrong, held onto my hands. I looked at the word that was spoken:

[ Mark 14:38
38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Micah 7:8
8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;

when I fall, I shall rise;

when I sit in darkness,

the Lord will be a light to me.

Proverbs 18:1
Chapter 18

1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;

he breaks out against all sound judgment. ]

-
And then I looked at my notes..

[ Temptation ....a NO STaNding Zone.
A test of your faith not necessarily self-control

Temptation becomes sin if we give in to it. Luke 4 , Proverbs 18:1 temptations come when you are lonely

2. When you have physical weakness , or mentally , in a desert place etc. Never trade the immediate for the important, HIT the Pause button! Before i meet this physical or emotional need...After falling..What will people think about me? - all in the mind (fantasy)

Micah 7:8 !! ]

Desperate and feeling isolated. I reached out to my closest friends – Enoch through a text message ‘bro, I’m broken’ – in came the response immediately -

and asked Josh to be there where I was, holding onto a tree, clinging to it..like a dead leaf about to fall, but his words watered me down..and  Josh was at the same place, searching for me, finding me, holding me and being there for me all the while comforting, encouraging, praying, listening until I left him for the night, with him praying over me.

It is horrible when you feel like you’ve been looking for that person your whole life and they just walk away.  Still counting the days, the ways..  Lord, give me strength to cling onto this life you paid for and freely give, like the leaf that holds onto its tree, and for me onto this Life…

It’s 12:06am Saturday morning. Just sitting in the car in front of a moon lit river, looking out onto the busy waters as I drift along with this heavy mind of mine pressed hard yet floating against these painful currents of memories …and .. drops falling from sleepless eyes….. … Read on:

This piece of writing from a ‘friend’ has touched me with pretty much everything I can relate to right now! Just sharing across….

In our darkest hours, fear tends creep into our hearts and takes root. It convinces us to give up all hope and abandon all thoughts of what used to be. Happiness becomes a thing of the past and our hearts begin to turn cold but not by our own choice. The world as we know it becomes a different place. The love we thought would be ours forever is over. Fate, as it seems, dealt you a bad hand and you are left with the emptiness and sadness that was once filled with the love that was once yours. Was it all a dream? No, you tell yourself, I just wasn’t strong enough for love to stay.

No matter your current situation, things will always get better. Who wants to hear after a breakup that there are other fish in the sea? No one wants to believe that true love is really dead and that there isn’t a hope of reconciliation. The princess and prince of all fairy tales live happily ever after.

-True love never dies-

How many times have you sat and blamed yourself over circumstances beyond your control? Did you ever purposely sabotage your relationship in order to feel the way you do now? I think not. Words cannot express the emptiness a broken heart brings but we have all felt it. We have all felt that hollow in our chests. The world suddenly becomes a cloudy and dismal place. Memories become your solace and your heart aches because the love you had is over. Will they dream of me? Will they ever understand how much I love and need them? If they only knew what it is I feel inside, they would have never stopped loving me. They broken-hearted rational is only there to attempt to convince yourself that they will come back. They loved you once and soon they will realize what they are missing. The reality is that you hope underneath all the fear and tears that they are thinking exactly the way you are.

No one can ever give you advice on how to feel after a breakup. No matter if they have the best intent, only you can feel the way you do. The real question is how long are you going to choose to feel the way you do?

**Read that last part again**

Listen to my words, you have control over you. If you want to get lost and caught up in your own sadness and think you are not worth loving then I hope you can find solace in knowing you are not alone and nor is the world out to prove you’ re the only person in existence that cannot find or feel love in its truest form.

In my opinion, people have forgotten how to interact with one another. We text, email, rely on social networking in order to communicate yet we forgot what it is to be interpersonal. Our coping skills are less than they ever were. Take a pill for your ill instead of coping with the very thing you possibly could control if you just tried. We all want our problems to just go away. No one wants to suffer from heartache any more than they want to suffer from any horrific disease or genetic condition. To learn how to ground yourself is to open your eyes to what it is that living is about. You may have lost love (for now) but you are loved. You have the audacity not to look at what love you do have in order to suffer with the love you don’t. From the day you were conceived, someone has loved you. Chances are, over the years, that love has grown through family and friends. We all have our support systems. Just because we are from different backgrounds, geographical locations, religions and race doesn’t mean we all want what every wants…and that is to be loved and appreciated for who we are.

No one says it’s easy to suffer a broken heart but it gets easier when you put your life into perspective. I know it hurts right now. Remember that just because the day is cloudy doesn’t mean the sun isn’t there. We have to look beyond our boundaries. To deal with grief and heartache is merely a stepping stone in handling what it is to be alive. Sure it hurts for now but like death we will all have to go down the same road someday. You are no different. Life is what you make of it. Use the time you have wisely. No one in the world is to blame but you. If you believe in a higher power, take comfort in knowing God created millions of people for you to learn from. Take the time to love yourself and learn from others. Stop trying to convince yourself that your life is over because someone chose to leave. Chances are you had no say so in their decision but you do have 100% say in what it is YOU do and feel.

There is no magical formula in getting someone to come back. What I can tell you is so simple you probably won’t believe it at first but I know that those that respond to this post can attest. What brings someone back is love. Not the love you have for them now because they left but the love you showed them because you did love them with all your heart. No one on earth can take away true love. Looks fade and people change but truelove has NO boundaries. Even death cannot change what it is to be loved. Take my advice and learn that though these are just words, that I love you all. If I didn’t care, though I am your friend, I wouldn’t continue to post my thoughts to you and lessons I have been blessed to share.

If your heart is broken, I will pray for you. I have been there. I have been on my knees and didn’t know how to get up because the loss of love took the life right out of me. I was given the strength to rise above my heartache. It wasn’t easy but I am proof you can do it. All you have to do is start believing in yourself. No one says you have to stop hoping love will return. You have to make that change in order for someone to WANT to come back. The secret is to do it for you and not for someone else. Why you ask? Because if you change for someone and they leave once again, they take what you changed for in the first place. If you change for you, they can NEVER take that away.

We all need improvement. Love isn’t perfect but it takes practice. Take the focus off of what you don’t have and pace it on what it is you DO have. When you ground yourself, you will start to open your eyes to the bigger picture. To put it into perspective, chances are you will live to see tomorrow regardless if you have a broken heart or not. There are those out in the world who are not worried about a broken heart but are wondering if they will see tomorrow. You will love and live to see another day. You may not see it in front of you but understand that things do not happen because you want them to; you have to make them happen. How is this possible? Plain and simple, you can’t make people love you but you can surely make them NOT love you. To work on your confidence, positive attitude and self-worth are all you need in order to make love find you once again. The key is to understand that love has standards. Love is attracted to confidence, not arrogance. Love is attracted to those that are motivated in attaining a goal but understand where they came from. Love is attracted to those that show compassion rather than empathy. Love is attracted to love. If you don’t love yourself, then love will be deterred.

Putting a band-aid on fixing yourself is like flying a kite in a tornado…it will be very short lived and other will see right through you. Self-improvement takes time. NOT other people’s time but your own. Quit putting a time table on love. If you are still trying to convince yourself that you have to get someone back quickly because someone else is in the shadows, then you have already lost. You are trying to get back a possession rather than love itself. Love is not a possession but a positive feeling between two or more people. If love cannot be reciprocated between BOTH parties, then it will never work. Take the time limitations off of your goal and you will be freed mind, body and soul to deal 100% with you rather than someone else. Lift the burden of changing you in order to be loved by someone else. Ask yourself ONE VERY IMPORTANT question.

**Would they do the same for me?**

If you answer no, then let go and learn from your time together. Close the chapter in order to write a new one. Life is nothing more than a series of lessons. If we don’t learn from those lessons, what have we truly learned? Stand up tall because today is a new day. The sun still shines despite your heart and head trying to convince you otherwise. Just because you can’t see tomorrow doesn’t mean you can’t change it or make it better than today. Learn that every day you choose to grow in a positive direction, even without the one you love, doesn’t mean you are not making progress.

Do they still dream about you? With all that I am, I hope that they do.

Let go of doubt, fear and hopelessness in order to let your light shine through.
I believe in you. It’s about time you believed in yourself.

Your Friend~

These tears dried away unseen,

So many static memories in scream,

The history your life brought to screen.

So many words that not-one mean,

in all these stories of faith, hope, love lessons and mistakes..

–

Mornings of depression getting you down,

Every time the Sun woke in town,

Trying to break this emotional wall you formed..,

it was easy to get carried away in this romance,
to step not and control against a diminishing godly fence,

them emotions strayed in a mess of guilty conscience I lay,

to think Oh this glimmer of hope you brought my way.

yeah, this and I will never feel that love today.

–

 

That’s what I failed to understand,

How could I had taken this like a man.

With all the things you would rather say and do,

When you knew that I was hurting for you.

And all of these things I failed to see,

I got caught up in a lair of mystery,

All I can say this much is true,

That night, I was lost searching for you.

–

 

We had a fever that’s never felt there,

times when I was burning my mind in solitude,

With all the things you would rather want me do,

to be busy when among friends,

and to act normal in ignorance…

It was so much easier watching you through the lens.

–

 

That’s what I failed to understand,

How could I had taken this like a man.

With all the things you would rather say and do ,

When you knew that I was hurting for you.

And all of these things I failed to see,

.. maybe I got caught up in this evil lair of mystery,

..and to say this much is true,

That night, you knew that I was hurting for you,

..and to say this much is true,
you knew that I was waiting for you,

..and to say this much is true,

That night, I was lost searching for you.

 

The tears wiped away now unseen,

So many static memories in scream,

The history your life brought to screen.

So many words that not-one mean,

in all those stories of faith, hope, love lessons and mistakes,

Oh Never a heart that never breaks.

Blast from the past

Matthew, Ezekiel and Sidfire in 2009 at Echo Point, Blue Mountains, NSW

 How are you keeping? Didn’t hear from you yesterday?

In Christ,

 

Unanswered yet the prayer your lips have pleaded

In agony of heart these many years?

Does faith begin to fail? is hope departing?

And think you all in vain those falling tears?

Say not the father hath not heard your prayer;

You shall have your desire sometime, somewhere.

 

Unanswered yet? Nay do not say ungranted;

Perhaps your work is not yet wholly done.

The work began when first your prayer was uttered,

And God will finish what He has begun.

If you will keep the incense burning there,

His glory you shall see sometime, somewhere.

 

Unanswered yet? Faith cannot be unanswered,

Her feet are firmly planted on the Rock;

Amid the wildest storms she stands undaunted,

Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.

She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,

And cries, “It shall be done”-sometime, somewhere.

               

Miss Ophelia G. Browning.

 

 

 

The iPhone 4S comes with a faster processor, a better camera, a smarter virtual assistant and twice the storage of its predecessor — if you don’t mind paying for it. Like the iPhone 3GS did before to the 3G, the 4S bumps the iPhone 4 down to second-class status, leaving those Apple fans who must have the best aspiring to own its decidedly familiar exterior. Apple says this is the most amazing iPhone ever. Is it? Yes, of course it is, but read on to see whether it’s really worth an upgrade.

via iPhone 4S review — Engadget.

This was a time when… I was amongst my well wishers, in love, in faith and having a good time at a camp outing – somewhere in the beautiful shire of North East New South Wales – where they all broke into a moment of joy with fire that lit woods, moving up towards the moon lit sky that marked its presence so surreal, and I holding my camera and a tripod, took a long exposure shot that gave this moment a recording which you see. A beautiful night, a lovely memory.

Chrome: The newest version of the Google Chrome beta introduces multiple account syncing, a feature many users have been requesting for a while.The primary use for the feature is to let multiple users who share a computer easily swap out accounts, but Google notes in its post that the new feature doesn’t have any security options, so it’s meant primarily as a tool to quickly swap interfaces for people who already share a computer. Of course, it will also be handy for those who use multiple accounts for work or personal use. You can download the beta from the official blog post below. To try it out for yourself, you’ll need to enable it under Options (or Preferences) >Personal Stuff > Add new user.

via Google Chrome’s Newest Beta Enables Multiple Accounts | Lifehacker Australia.

Your mind resonates a fall of silence,

to read this may sound mindless,

the cries of letters rhymed out of my wholeness,

and to imagine a meaning with
thoughts of you that are timeless.

I may not be able to bear it in reality
at all,

it’s just hard to blink and breathe to cope and

not fall .

I shall
only dream to hold you from this fall,

a night to wish and pray you stay
beautiful is to God I call.

This mindless man needs to stay away in thoughts
of these,

just mindful of a lil smile is what I ask of

you please.

All these groans and moans I hear,

of a singing love in times with you very
dear ,

of hope and dream falling in place of doubts

and fear

…that once I
was loved too in place of despair, by you.

Oh by you , so true ,

it would only be a lie to run away,

from me and to you.

To look at these dreams of you from afar,
a fountain of flowing water ,
Up above and down below in this picture so beautiful and meant,
To show thoughts of you are ever so iridescent !

Photography to me

Making a living as a photographic “artist” is difficult. My definition of an artist is someone who produces images to please himself, not a client. My ideal photographic job would be where my photographic art is so much in demand that I don’t need to spend any time marketing it, people come to me wanting my work.

The photographic businesses where you are hired to please a client are easier. Weddings, portraiture, commercial photography, etc, however I am aware that with this type of career, your non-photographic business skills are just as important as your photographic skills.

Best way to gain skills and experience without spending on formal Photography education courses is to be involved in a workshop, make friends you can meet and plan, publish (like on my Flickr) and also why not become an informal apprentice working for a professional.

Most professional photographers that I know are not formally educated. They learn by reading, practicing, and from clubs and associations.

Photography to me:

"I like to paint Light to reveal an image out of imagination".
 I like to reflect on and produce my imagination in ways that are creative and pleasing
with every image set to inspire a vivid sense of awe at the beauty of creation
and the wonderful sacredness of life |

check out my pictures - www.flickr.com/photos/sidfire

- sidfire.

Some background info:

First of all, Apple really pissed off many people out there including developers and RIM. Reason? Shortly put – most of the new features in the iOS5 are borrowed from third party apps currently in the App Store. This means, less frequent use of third-party apps. You might figure out these stuff yourselves.

Let’s move into nice little features of iOS 5.

Changelog

1. Updated Lockscreen
2. New Welcome Screen when you start using the phone for first time.
3. PC Free Activation.
4. Notifications Center
5. Quick Camera launch from Lockscreen
6. Stocks and weather built into Notifications Center
7. iPod app is renamed to Music with new icon.
8. New Videos.app
9. iMessage
10. SMS bubbles are green in color and iMessage appears baby blue.
11. Newsstand for Magazines and Newspapers
12. Ability to Create and Delete Photo albums.
13. System wide Twitter Integration.
14. New Twitter keyboard with # and @ buttons.
15. Ability to edit photos
16. Grid System in Camera
17. New rounded buttons
18. Notification Center has ability to sort notifications by “Manually” or By Time.
19. You can choose what applications to be included in Notifications Center
20. Ability to rename your device within the settings.
21. Over the Air Delta Software updates
22. The Usage screen now shows how much of the memory is consumed by each app.
23. Wireless iTunes Sync
24. You can enable or disable Voice Dial while the phone is locked in Security Settings
25. Ability to add keyboard shortcuts. Default one included “omw” which expands to “On my way!” when you type it anywhere.
26. New Speak Selection option in Accessibility Settings
27. Ability to add custom vibrations
28. New Assistive Touch Settings
29. LED Flash for Alerts
30. Ability to Set Left or Right for Mono Audio
31. New iCloud options in Settings app
32. You can create additional @me.com email address within the Mail settings
33. Ability to Increase Quote Level in Mail Settings
34. Twitter integration on contacts
35. You can edit your number in Settings.
36. New Facetime option in Settings window. You can also set your facetime caller ID to be your email or your phone number
37. New Private Browsing option in Safari
38. Ability to remove custom Website Data
39. Ability to toggle iMessage ON or OFF in settings.
40. Ability to enable Read Receipts
41. iMessage sent as SMS when iMessage is unavailable
42. You can now set how much time a message alert has to be shown again if you don’t respond to the phone when it notifies of a new message.
43. Separate settings for Music and Videos
44. Photo Stream
45. You can set the default account for notes to be synced to in Notes options
46. Toggle ON or OFF for Automatic Downloads.
47. Setting to use Automatic Downloads only when the device is connected to WiFi
48. Alternate Routes in Maps
49. Purchase History in App Store.
50. Individually delete entries from the call history.
51. iCloud Backups
52. Take pictures using Volume button
53. If you tap and hold on a song name in Music.app, a popup shows all the details.

    

54. Ability to drag email address’ between fields while sending a mail in Mail.app
55. Mail notifies you before sending a mail if you’ve forgotten to put a subject line.
56. New and updated tiny icons on Mail for Windows Live Mail, Gmail, Exchange etc.
57. Rich Text Editing in mail
58. System Wide Dictionary
59. Printing Support in Maps
60. Ability to Hide Traffic in Maps
61. You can set custom vibration tones for each contact, so when it vibrates in a specific pattern you know who’s calling.
62. The notes.app shows the number of notes made on the header
63. New Learn More Links across the settings app for further help
64. Photos in Game Center
65. Ability to make your Profile public and private on Game Center
66. Points in Game Center, shows you how many points you have on the home screen of Game center
67. Sort and View friends on the basis of Points.
68. Friend Recommendations in Game Center
69. New Games are now downloaded through Game Center
70. Game Recommendations in Game Center
71. New Friend requests screen
72. Voice Memos app rotates in all direction, including upside down.
73. Set custom text tone for each contact.
74. Local Weather in Weather app
75. Hourly weather updates
76. Reading list in Safari
77. Tabbed browsing in Safari on iPad
78. Reader view which removes all clutter from web pages on iPad
79. Split Keyboard on iPad
80. AirPlay Mirroring
81. You can use your phone while its being synced with iTunes.
82. Emoji Support
83. Tweet photos and links from iOS
84. When you landscape your phone in iCal, it gives you a week view. (Thanks @Scott)
85. New Music App in iPad
86. iCloud Document Sync and Backup
87. Slight fadeout on the right of the Safari Address Bar.
88. Reading list support on Safari
89. Location Based Reminders
90. Calendar now lets you navigate from day to day by swiping. (Thanks @Garner)
91. When you’re in camera mode, swipe left to reveal most recent photo. Swipe right to go back to the camera.
92. Watermark in text entry box says “iMessage” or “Text Message” accordingly
93. ‘Unsecured Calls’ warning lets users know if they are talking on unencrypted networks
94. Group Messaging in iMessage.
95. Send photos, videos using iMessage.
96. Ability to use multiple Apple IDs for different purposes. (This has been one of the widely asked questions)
97. When a notification is on the lockscreen, swipe it to open the specific app.
98. Swipe on the weather to the left or right on the Notification Center drop down to view five day forecast.
99. Multitasking Gestures in iPad. Use four or five fingers, swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen, and swipe left or right to switch between apps.
100. S/MIME Support in Mail.app
101. Facetime works without having a SIM card on your phone. Works with your email alone.
102. When you receive a non-contacts phone call, the main display also shows the city name (or area/county if identifiable), not just the phone number. (Thanks @Alan)
103. Camera, tap and hold to lock/unlock AE/AF (Thanks @Alan)
104. Camera, use two-finger spread/pinch gesture to zoom in/out accordingly (Thanks @Alan)
105. In Calendar month view, besides tapping on the ‘+’ button to add an event, you can also tap and hold on any day. (Thanks @Alan)
106. When receiving a call from a number not in your phonebook, the phone will display the location of the phone area code under the number… i.e. + 1 (514) 321 2345 will display Quebec, Canada in a smaller font under the number and not just in the call history. (Thanks @Kubus)
107. Use current location in Weather.app. (Thanks @Andy)
108. Flagging Support in Mails. app
109. In settings you can switch what option you get when you tap and hold on links in Safari: either open in background or in a new page. (Thanks @Andy)
110. Swipe left and right to change months in calendar on iPad (Thanks @Shaun)
111. Swipe to delete songs (Thanks @Derek)
112. Buy More Storage option for iCloud
113. Ability to set custom sound for alerts (New Message, New Voicemail, News Mail, Sent Mail etc.)
114. Define your own words in Offline Dictionary
115. Apps fades to homescreen when crashes, rather than flicking off.
116. Ability to Enable/Disable Badges on Apps
117. When you download an app on the iTunes on your PC, the app is automatically pushed to your iDevice and installed.
118. Streaming Song details such as Track and Artist info to Bluetooth audio devices. (Thanks @Roy)
119. When your alarm goes off you can snooze it from lockscreen or slide to turn off. (Note: This is an updated style, you slide on the notifications area, just below the clock, rather than the previous “Slide to Unlock” location. ) (Thanks @Terry)
120. You can add multiple twitter accounts and choose what account to send a tweet from.
121. Delete each app’s data
122. iTunes Tune Store
123. Real-time stock quotes
124. VoiceOver item chooser
125. Option to speak text selection
126. When your phone is locked and you switch to Ringing from Silent, the Ringing indicator also shows the volume level bar.
127. You can choose multiple Emails and mark them as read
128. Download more than one app simultaneously. No waiting for the previous app to be completed
129. You can choose if to display Weather and Stock Widges on Notification Center.
130. New Voice in Voice Control
131. You can re arrange the preference of apps in Notification Center. (Eg: You can set the Weather widget to be always on top, Messages next etc..)
132. Ability to set maximum messages downloaded through email to 1000 instead of 250
133. Sponsored links in Google Maps
134. Double-tap the home button while watching a YouTube video to display who uploaded the video
135. Scrolling titles for YouTube videos
136. Time mid-call invitation alerts
137. Set up Airport / Time Capsule on your iOS device
138. Invitation alerts to FaceTime while taking a call
139. Arabic Language Support in VoiceOver
140. Links can be opened in the background
141. Integrate Twitter user pictures to Contacts. Sync them
142. Native 1080p video playback in iPad 2
143. Japanese or Buddhist calendars support
144. Year View in iPad cal
145. Native Support for turn based games in Game Center
146. Search Within the contents of an email
147. Indentation Control in Mails.app
148. Individual Site Data can be deleted from Safari
149. iOS 5 address book has a field for Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn and Myspace. (iOS 5 to integrate more social networks?
150. Specific ‘search on page’ area integrated in the ipad keyboard (hit google when in safari) (Thanks @Michael)
151. Have one app updating while others say “waiting…,” then you pause the app updating. You then immediately put the iDevice on sleep. Next, when you wake up your iDevice, all of them will be paused. You can tap more than one app to have more than one downloading. (thanks @Michael)
152. Personal Hotspot settings are now found under ‘Network’ settings.
153. GIFs are animated when sent through iMessages. It’s not animated in Photos.app. (Thanks @Sam)
154. New and Updated VoiceOver voices for some regions. (Thanks @Peter)
155. Double tap to add an event in day view in Calendar.app (Thanks @Collinz)
156. Tap and drag to move an event (different day or different time) in Calendar app (Thanks @Collinz)
157. Tap and hold in “all-day events” to create a new all-day event in Calender app (Thanks @Collinz)
158. Twitter installs directly from the settings page if it’s not installed directly, you aren’t even taken to the App Store. (Thanks @Yiannis)
159. Hotmail integration in the mail app. (Thanks @Erik)
160. iPod touches have never been able to automatically set time. This is now possible in iOS 5. (thanks @Gordon)
161. If you tap hand hold the back button in safari (ipad) you get a list of all you previous sites. (Thanks @Cenny)
162. Turning on private browsing changes Safari’s color from blue to black. (Thanks @eric)
163. Auto-correct can be turned off independently of spell check (Thanks @sam)
164. Add “Related People” to a contact (mother, father, brother, sister, child…) (Thanks @Srikanth)
165. Calendar has a ‘current time’ indicator line while in Landscape Mode (Thanks @Paul)
166. Swipe to Next Song in Music app for iPad (Thanks @Phil)
167. The Volume button in Camera can also be used to Start and Stop Recording videos (Thanks @Srikanth)
168. In the Restrictions, there is a new option which is “Require Password” for purchases. (Thanks @7abibo)
169. AppStore apps lists show ‘INSTALL’ instead of prices if you’ve already purchased the app previously, but is not installed on your phone.
170. Additional “iForgot” button on AppStore if you’ve forgotten your Apple ID password.

and watch this space as the list continues to grow….

(Work in Progress)

Sources: Currently being established.

Life’s a race from dawn to dusk –  to win is how I wanted to.

This race I am in, on a endless road – left to fate,

With pride and lost faith – cutting the apex in a heavy state.

I fell asleep in this moment’s relapse, griplessness jolting my synapse,

In vain, I spin out  -loosing this race in a moments trail.

- Life has crashed, Oh how I wail-

I am Awake. These thoughts I now hold onto.

Nightmares once on this lonely road- no more waking up to.

Your Love to feel and your Grace to hold me onto,

this  road of faith filled with a clear horizon you drive me through,

Oh no more on my own – these moments that I cherish

- I am Awake in You-

- Peace!

-sid (2011)

More click here: http://sidfire.com/poems

Sidfire Studio - ft. Steel Series Siberia V2 Headset, Acer Firewire, Thunder (Macbook Pro MY'11 series), PS3 +GT5

:-Roll in the edits…

Everyday as I open my eyes..
After a dream that binds us together,
I feel like forever glad to arise.

This love I have for you,
might feel like a mystery..
but this feeling I want to share with you,
feels like reality.

The answers you ever wanted might seem still untold,
but I shall love you with all my presence..
I promise to unfold.

The winter doesn’t seem any more cold.

Burning within my mind,
is your memory I wanna unwind,
growing throughout my soul,
trying to seep out through my mind’s hole..

This winter doesn’t seem any more Cold.

Now)))

The sound of night, the sound of breath..
The sound of life flourishing in rest..

Your beauty that exists in these thoughts of mine
may seem surreal..
but anything’s possible tomorrow my dear,
to me it’s just enough that you are here.

My face glows bright to show you forever
how blessed I feel.
In the bliss that I am for real,
still I blink very slowly..
as my eye..
sparkles to you..
as my eyes..
sparkle with you..
as my eyes..
sparkle for you.

It’s not just for the moment
since my heart goes on
and there are moments that come and go
these moments shall come again
for I am in belief.. that
my heart only beats for you..

The Winter doesn’t seem any more Cold..
Oh The Winter doesn’t seem any more Cold.

—–

A way to Cheer – Premieres 24/09/2010

written and composed by Sid.
Music by Richard and Mikey.

Iridescent

Remembering Love, like I ought to.. for like a friend, it brings peace. Where am I lost? in the place of despair, where my spirit breaks.

Remembering Love, always want to..for like a melody , it brings light. Where am I blinded? in darkness where thoughts exist, where moments drown at times.

For When life leaves us blind, Love keeps us Kind….

love, bliss, peace

-Sonny / Sid / Sidfire

Click – Abstract, macro, plain, classic.. you name it. Me and my new camera (deserves a mention: The Canon Ixus 100 IS ) is stepping into the light.

Sidfire’s iPhone4 Log: {updated: 10/08/2010}

History/Timeline/changelog:

Contd..from (click here for the outright purchase experience here in Sydney)

Unboxed: 30/07/2010

Free Case program;case chosen from apple store: SNAP INCASE – clear (expected shipping date: September)

Apps installed |Use links to redirect to corresponding app’s store in iTunes|

Social/Location-based:
Facebook Facebook – Facebook,
Twitter Twitter – Twitter, Inc.,
Flickr Flickr – Yahoo!,
iLoader iLoader for Facebook – Ky Vu,
MyPhone+ MyPhone+ (Sync with Facebook) – Ultimake Ltd,
foursquare foursquare – foursquare,
OutFront OutFront: all sport GPS computer – perform, analyse & share rides, runs and other outdoor activities – Tinderhouse,
Glympse Glympse – Location Sharing Made Simple – Glympse Inc.,
Trapster Trapster speed trap alerts (now with Caravan and Patrol) – Trapster.com,
Geocaching Intro Geocaching Intro – Groundspeak Inc.,
fring fring – fringland Ltd. .

Spiritual: Olivetree Bible Reader BibleReader – Free – Olive Tree Bible Software, INc,
AskGod Ask God Bible Verses – Snark Software.

Banking: CommBank CommBank – Commonwealth Bank of Australia,
Prop. Guide CommBank Property Guide – RP Data Ltd.

Gmail Web app (+ http://gmail.com from iPhone safari browser)

Reference:
Dictionary! Dictionary! – Catlin Software, LLC,
Wikipanion Wikipanion – Robert Chin.

Utilities: MusicID MusicID – Gravity Mobile .

Movies/showtimes: pktCinema Pocket Cinema – Standing Dog, LLC,
Airvideo Air Video – Watch your videos anywhere! – InMethod s.r.o.,

Gaming:
Angry BirdsAngry Birds – Clickgamer.com,
Real Racing GTI Real Racing GTI – Firemint
FS5 Air Hockey Touch Hockey: FS5 (FREE) – FlipSide5, Inc.,
iBall 3D iBall3D – StoneTrip,
MazeFinger+ MazeFinger Plus – ngmoco, Inc.,
iGunLite iGun Pro LITE – The Original Gun Application – Crimson Moon Entertainment LLC,
FingerPiano FingerPiano – Junpei Wada .

Misc.: iBooks iBooks – Apple Inc.,
IMDb IMDb Movies & TV – IMDb,
XE Currency XE Currency – XE.com Inc.,
Aljazeera English Live newsAl Jazeera English Live – Livestation,
WordPress WordPress – Automattic,
See This! You Gotta See This! – Boinx Software ,
ForzaTune ForzaTune – FlameFront Studios .

Paid Subscriptions: MobileMe service / find my phone feature to locate lost iphone.($120/year – me.com/find)

Jailbreak Status

Jailbroken status: Yes (click here for how-to in 5 minutes!)

Reason for Jailbreaking: Feature enhancements: [Custom SBSsettings, SMS app, SSH access]

Installed apps via Cydia: SBSettings, Remove recents, BiteSMS, Rename, ABGrouper,

Tips/Suggestions:

Current Settings:

Suggestions for Battery life:
1. Turn of Wifi when not needed
2. Brightness setting to around 20-30% with Auto bright.
3. Activate Potrait lock setting
4. Turn of Mail accounts including push notification features (exception: MobileMe account’s ‘find me’ feature)
5. Be sure to remove/uninstall OpenSSH app from Cydia after using it.
- my average battery life when in moderate to above average use: 12-16hours! *

*subject to further test conditions.

Other Jailbreak (purpose) tips:

1.Use Open SSH to change BiteSMS logo and Renamer app to change any app icon name
2. Use SBSsettings app from hide unwanted apps from HomeScreen.

[To be updated...]

Contd..from (click here for the outright purchase experience here in Sydney)

I was the 17th in queue at the Apple Store launch day in Sydney

My first Apple experience. Read on..

Ok, got the new iphone4. one word; Fantastic! and got to work in time and oh wait: Here’s coming my iPhone/iOS4 journal for your own benefit huzaaar! >>| Sidfire’s iPhone 4 log

mind you the above journal is constantly being updated as we read!.

end.

 "Bro, its just that it feels like I have been failing all my life.

“The lessons we learn from our failures
Are lessons that help us succeed,
And if we are wise and we heed them,
Then failure is just what we need. —D. De Haan

What Does It Take To Perform The “Waldstein” Piano Sonata??

The “Waldstein” is one of the masterpieces among Beethoven’s Sonatas and in the piano repertoire in general.

a few things about the challenges of performing this piece:

“This is a work that is intended for the accomplished pianist and musician. It requires, overall a complete mastery of the piano, and a high level of musicianship, and a comprehensive knowledge of Beethoven’s music and style. In order to analyze and attempt to explain this music in detail requires a very long essay if not a whole book.”
- Alexander Panku (performing Ludwig van Beethoven’, Sonata op. 53 in C major “Waldstein.)

The jaw dropping Ku-ring-gai / Newport trip- click here for more detail!

Widget powered by EveryTrail: Share and Plan your Trips

Life and Fatherlessness -Why Fathers Matter.

A little bit of personal and vastly theoretical perspective about father involvement and its potentially positive consequences for child development

“Fathers should neither be seen nor heard and that is the only proper basis for family life” Oscar Wilde had once written. But over the years the world has time and again tested this proposition drawing on a wide range of social science evidence only to realise its not all true. In view of the module:

Influences on Development (WK 2), this article reviews the absence of fatherhood and its consequences brought about in many different ways. I shall also opine personally in view of being fatherless / losing my father to death as a young boy aged 7 years old, placing myself on the ecological model derived by Bronfenbrenner (1979, 1986) and also relate to the significant influences of being fatherless throughout the course of my teenage years.

Bronfenbrenner’s model of the ecology of human development acknowledges that humans don’t develop in isolation, but in relation to their family and home, school, community and society. According to him, each of these ever-changing and multilevel environments, as well as interactions among these environments, are key to development and I strongly agree as I see the idea of Fathers as the protectors, the providers, the role models of both sons and relationship-models of daughters.

Consequences of fatherlessness include a highly likely case of being exposed to emotional, physical, behavioural problems than those of intact families. The absence or loss of a father in studies conducted over the years has yielded extraordinary negative outcomes. I shall put forth some of these key factors below.

Economic loss

One of the immediate consequences of fatherlessness is loss of economic resources. The child comes to rely on mother’s earnings who earns less than the father in general. There are studies on child poverty with loss of father’s income being stated as one of the many profound reasons.

(Garfinel & McLanahan, 1986)

Life in a single-parent family

Disadvantages in terms of social and behavioral factors have come under extensive research over the years concluding children who grow up with a single parent being the mother are three times

more likely to become wedlock and teen mothers, to drop out of school and two times more likely to be completely idle (McLanahan & Sandefur). Another research ( Maccoby & Jacklin, 1974) concludes that the absence of father is a major mental health risk factor for children. Living in a single-parent family certainly has a negative impact on a child’s upbringing. The child is apt to have more problems involving emotional, behavioral and physical problems and the research studies as mentioned above do not say otherwise.

Children of divorce

Today, there is a lot of evidence on the negative outcomes of divorce-effect children. The effects of divorce and living in a single-parent family as described above are very closely intertwined indeed. (Durkheim & Simpson, 1952). Much damage is caused by fatherlessness and this is fair to add as suggested by the research.

Losing a father through death

According to David Popenoe in his book “Life without father”, the consequence of losing a father through death is totally different to that of losing a father through divorce. The dead father is sometimes a more effective father than the one who is missing – this is where my understanding has shifted to over the years. In all forms of positivity, I carry an idealized image of my my father which might be quite the opposite to the case of resentment, conflict and guilt found in children who lost their fathers to either separation or divorce.

Applying Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory:

The dynamics of fathers’ specific influence can be formulated in two ways. Firstly, fathers function

as microsystem partners with whom children can experience good core developmental interactions. The more microsystem partners the child has with whom he/she has good core developmental interactions, the better it is for the child’s development-as long as the child is not

”overloaded” cognitively or socio emotionally, and the child’s microsystem partners are not in conflict with each other (i.e., the child’s mesosystem relationships are good). In this first approach,

fathers are viewed simply as important additional microsystem partners for the children, but not necessarily as distinctive or unique ones.

The second view is that fathers are a unique kind of micro system partner. Because fathers’ personalities differ from mothers’, children’s proximal process interactions with fathers differ those with mothers in ways that are potentially important for development. Parke, R. D. (2002)

Concluding:

Fathers are more than just another adult at home. Responsible fathers bring forth positive outcomes to their children unlike any other person. Their style of parenting significantly varies from that of mothers and as discussed above as per evidence and cited research studies. Fathers make important contributions to intellectual, social, emotional, and psychological well-being of their children. It is equally intriguing to understand the psychological maturity or shifting of my own understanding of losing a father to death versus losing a father to divorce or similar factors.

Reflection in modern society and education

Today, the need for fathers to love and care for their children has become increasingly greater. It is important to understand that children must be highly educated in order to succeed socially and Psychologically and to do so, strong attachments with fathers who love them is essential. There certainly exists a future window of hope with continued research on fatherhood with its results leveraged in ongoing government reforms to support a better fatherhood society and local communities alike with this sort of knowledge. After all, this reflection might ensure future fathers don’t succumb to modern trends instead enlighten parenthood in light of its true historical significance. I look forward to this as I now understand fatherhood and marriage are indeed indespensable for the good of my future children and society.

References:
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development : Experiments by nature and design.
Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.
Durkheim, É., & Simpson, G. (1952). Suicide : A study in sociology [Suicide.]. London: Routledge & Kegan
Paul.
Popenoe, D. (1996). Life Without Father: Compelling new evidence that fatherhood and marriage are
indispensable for the good of children and society.
Garfinkel, I., & McLanahan, S. (1986). Single mothers and their children : A new american dilemma.
Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute Press.
Garfinkel, I., & McLanahan, S. (1986). Single mothers and their children : A new american dilemma.
Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute Press.
Maccoby, E. E., & Jacklin, C. N. (1974). The psychology of sex differences. Stanford, Calif: Stanford
University Press.
McLanahan, S., & Sandefur, G. D. (1994). Growing up with a single parent : What hurts, what helps.
Cambridge, Mass ; London: Harvard University Press.

]]> http://sidfire.com/fatherlessness/feed/ 1 http://sidfire.com/i-am-tweeting/ http://sidfire.com/i-am-tweeting/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:50:52 +0000 Sidfire http://sidfire.com/i-am-tweeting/ Get on the fly updates of what I am doing.. here (requires flash):

to be updated soon..

Omnia 101

 * Win Mobile 6.1 Starter edition ** ( testing post)

Warning note: this is still a alpha draft .. dont use as yet!! Just posted to test.

Presenting the Omnia 101,,

***If you just want a simple list of links to apps, tips and tricks with minimal comments, scroll to the bottom of this post for “THE Sidfire List.”

Tired of trying to cull through thousands of pages of thread posts to figure out how to simply do stuff with your Omnia (or perhaps another Windows Mobile based device)? Well look no further. I will be posting any information I can glean about my Omnia i910 here.

Just Out of box? No frustrations.. Read on.

====================

SOME BASICS

Use the Start menu! I didn’t realize until a day or so in that you can click on the “Start” just like in WinXP or Vista (and I felt really stupid when finally I realized). When you click on Start, there is a drop down with many options (that you can customize).

Installing apps involves placing .cab files on your phone. Don’t fret. This is very easy. Simply place the .cab file on your phone, either by downloading it directly with your phone from the app’s website, or by downloading it to your computer and then moving the file to your phone via Windows Explorer and ActiveSync. I’ve been placing all my .cab files in the My Storage root folder (just inside “My Storage” without any extra folder).

Now just use the Omnia’s “File Explorer” (or other file program like Total Commander) to find the “My Storage” folder, open it, and click on the .cab file. The phone knows what to do from there. It will ask you where you want the program installed (device or My Storage). I suggest installing your apps on the device so they run faster, but if you start installing a LOT of apps, you’ll need to use the extra space on your “My Storage.”

If you decide you don’t like a program/app, uninstalling is very easy. Go to Start > Settings > System (it’s a TAB at the bottom of that page)> Remove Programs. Select the program you no longer want and remove it!

====================

I quickly became frustrated trying to do lots of things via my Omnia’s tiny touch screen interface. Why, oh why don’t they have a program to control my phone via my PC?! Well “they” do! MyMobiler rules! It is a simple program that connects your PC to your phone via WiFi or USB and then opens a window on your PC that allows you to control your phone in real time (there is a tiny lag). Finally I can edit my contacts on my phone with my PC keyboard! This is also a great way to learn the ins and outs of your phone via a more friendly input device (your real keyboard and mouse).

====================
SYNCING YOUR CALENDAR AND CONTACTS

Microsoft’s Active Sync will only sync your contacts utilizing Outlook. Since that’s bulls**t, here are a couple of other options:

• Sync to Thunderbird via Birdie Sync or FinchSync (WinXP only for now)
  
• (Not so much a sync, but at least a back up) Back up contacts with PIM Back up application
• iContacts (I haven’t tried this yet, but people seem to like it as an alternative to Windows Contacts –apparently it works well with iDialer and thumbCal, but I haven’t tried these yet) [update... I wouldn't really consider this a syncing option... it's just a different contact manager for your phone]
• To sync your Windows Contacts with your Mobile Device WITHOUT using Outlook (apparently the only way Microsoft wants you to sync contacts), I’ve created a How To post here.

====================
MAPS and GPS

GPS for the i900 is a breeze! Below Apps will help you out:

Google Maps… just plug in your number and Google sends you a link that you click. A .cab file downloads to your phone and Google Maps is installed automatically. Currently, Verizon has GPS locked up so you can only use it with VZNavigator. Supposedly that will be changing in the first half of this year.

However, after doing some more searching, I found that Windows Live Search Mobile is pretty much the same thing as Mobile Google Maps… except Gizmodo says that it’s much better. You be the judge.

[update] After using it, Windows Live Search is clearly superior for the Omnia (and I assume all other Windows Mobile based phones). It makes sense that an app created by the maker of the entire OS would work better… and it does. For the Omnia, I highly recommend Windows Live Search over Google Maps. It spawns faster, and the tools are more useful. You can even speak locations and Live Search will find them for you. I really look forward to the day that Verizon unlocks the GPS and you can use the “find me” link.

[another update] After a month of actually using Live Search, I’m not so sold. The “traffic” option is often waaaaaay off (it will tell you that your road is free and clear, when in fact things are at a dead stop). The restaurant search doesn’t have a LOT of restaurants listed. And the “search for specific locations” function is often extremely frustrating in that you have to manually update what you are searching “near” every time. Very bothersome. I think this would be much better if you could utilize GPS for the “find me” feature (still disabled by Verizon on the i910). So I reinstalled Google Maps and I use that for traffic and maps. I still use Live Search to find movie showtimes and theaters.

Also,

Garmin Mobile XT

IGO 8

====================
HARD RESET

1. Press the soft reset hole beside your power button (it’s very tiny)
2. Press the CALL and CANCEL buttons at the same time when you see the Samsung Omnia on the screen
3. The reset screen will appear (yes will hard reset, no will soft reset)

Supposedly, this method does not format your 8GB/16GB hard drive memory (only the system memory). To wipe everything, use the hard reset from the SETTINGS menu as follows (from the Omnia manual):

1. From the Today screen, tap the right soft key function: Main Menu > Settings > System tab > Hard Reset
2. The Hard Reset screen displays with the Memory tab open. To reset your phone, tap the Clear all data button.
3. At the Clear all data prompt, tap Yes.
4. Tap the QWERTY keyboard icon at the bottom bar on the main LCD screen to open the virtual QWERTY keyboard and enter the Device Lock Code (last 4-digits of your phone number) and tap “yes” in the box.

====================
RINGTONES/NOTIFICATION SOUNDS

Creating New Notification Tones for SMS Messaging

Copy and paste your SMS tones or music to the main WINDOWS folder. The music or tones must be stored in the WINDOWS folder and not any sub folder within it. Go to your sound settings and the new tones should appear in the drop-down for easy selection.

For the following changes, make sure you have enabled viewing of hidden files on your phone.

It seems odd, but WinMo doesn’t seem to have an interface to change specific notifications, so you have to actually change the file that is used for the tone you want changed. In other words, to change the sound for when you turn the phone on, simply change the file called “pwr_on.wav”. Create or find a sound you like, remove the original “pwr_on.wav” from the Windows directory. (I like to just rename the file as “pwr_on_old.wav” so I can go back to it if need be), and then add the sound you like… but rename the file “pwr_on.wav”. I’m also not sure why the phone uses .wav files (larger) instead of .mp3 files (smaller).

EXAMPLE (change Ringer Off sound) : For some reason, the sound the phone makes when you turn off the ringer is INCREDIBLY loud. When you’re turning off your ringer, isn’t it because you don’t want to make a lot of noise? WTF? This problem is easily remedied by changing the “PhoneOff.wav” file in your main Windows directory. You can replace the tone with a sound of your choice or replace it with a silent .wav file for no sound at all.

IMPORTANT NOTE (how to move sounds): When you drag and drop a .wav file to your phone, it will most likely be placed in the My Documents folder. You will then need to find the file in My Documents, click and hold on the file and then choose “copy/move.” Select “tree” to see the folder view and then select “Windows.” If you named the file correctly, your file should overwrite whatever sound you are replacing (you may need to uncheck “read only” and/or “archive” in the properties of the file you are replacing).

This all seems like a major pain in the butt to just change a sound, but I think this is how you have to do it until Microsoft implements a real sound panel.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE (where to put your ringtones): If you don’t want your ringtones gobbling up your system memory, create a file in “My Storage” named “My Ringtones”. You can place mp3′s and wav’s in this folder and they will show up in the Sounds and Notification settings. They will also show up in your Windows Contact editor (but they didn’t seem to show up in the PocketCM contact editor –I assume this could be fixed with a reg. hack).

As I understand it, you can also change where your Omnia looks for the ringtones by editing the Registury thus:
1) Navigate to HKey_Current_User > ControlPanel > Sounds > RingTone0
2) Change “SavedSound” value to your desired directory.
3) Exit registry editor and soft-reset. You are done

====================
EDITING YOUR REGISTRY
(It’s often a good idea to soft reset your phone after making registry changes; just use a paper clip to press the teenie-tiny button next to the power button – this is also called Soft-reset)

First, BE CAREFUL. You can really screw things up in here. I take no responsibility for you hosing your phone, and I WILL NOT help you get things back to where they belong. That said, you’ll need a program to edit your registry. I’m using Total Commander. Open Total Commander. At the root, click on “plug-ins.” This takes you to three backslashes in the address bar (“\\\”). You should see three directories: ftp, LAN, and registry. Click on “registry,” and you’ll see HKCR, HKCU and HKLM. These are what you’ll be editing.

Some tweaks.. Like I said, ‘some’ tweaks…

Change Dialer Screen to original default (this hack will save you around 6-10MB of system memory and I think the interface is better)
HKLM/Security/Phone/Skin
Enabled: 1 : change 1 to 0

After a soft reset, your screen should look like this.

Disable Auto Keyboard Pop-up in E-mail or SMS/MMS (man, that gets annoying):
HKCU\ControlPanel\Sip
Change TurnOffAutoDeploy from a 0 to a 1.

Delete Shozu (free up 400k of running RAM plus extra space for program files)
HKLM\init\
Look for Launcher140, containing the string “\Windows\shozurcp.exe”
Delete Launch140.
Delete additional space by removing files:
Delete the ShoZu shortcut file from “\windows\start menu\programs\”
Delete the entire ShoZu folder and everything in it from “\program files\cognima\Shozu”

Record Video in 400×240
HKCU\Software\Samsung\Camera\VideoSize
Change VideoSize to 1653
Available settings: 1652=640×480 1653=400×240 1654=320×240 1655=176×144
Note: you cannot achieve this size setting from within the camera; you can only set the video to this size by editing the registry (until I find a way to add a link) I’m not sure why they didn’t include a 400×240 icon on the video size screen, if it’s obviously available on the phone.

Change Directory Path for Ringtones
(I actually haven’t tried this, so lemme know if it works.)
Navigate to HKey_Current_User > ControlPanel > Sounds > RingTone0
Change “SavedSound” value to your desired directory.

Move Opera cache to “My Storage”
Here’s a great little trick to free up some device storage from xsrx over on the Modaco forums.

Something not mentioned, but that I assume is a good idea: clear your old cache first. Open Opera, click the little arrow in the bottom right, go to History, click the trash can and affirm that you want to delete all. If you don’t do this first, you’ll need to delete stuff from your old cache folder at Application Data\Opera9\cache. Now…

• Close Opera.
• Create a folder on your storage card where the cache files will go. I chose \Storage Card\Program Files\Opera\cache4, but I don’t think the folder structure or folder name matter.
• Open \Application Data\Opera\opera.ini in a text editor. [note: this directory was "opera9" not "opera" on my phone; "opera" is just help and skins]
• In the [User Prefs] section, add the following line: Cache Directory4=[full path to folder on storage card].
• Save and close opera.ini.
• Restart Opera. Your cache is now being written to your storage card.

More useful space saving techniques (move your default download directory, move your help files, etc…) for Opera Mobile can be found at this post from Download Squad.

Back Up and Sync

• Birdie Sync (for Thunderbird – WinXP only)
• Finch Sync (for Thunderbird – Windows, Mac, Linux –it’s Java!)
• Gsync (sync your Google Calendar with your phone)
• Sprite Backup *or Spb Backup
• NuevaSync.com (sync your Google Calendars with your phone calendar -no software to install, works with ActiveSync and your NuevaSync.com online account)
• OutSync (sync your Facebook friends’ profile pics with your contacts)
• Windows Live (like a second Exchange Server that only works with Windows Live, should be included with WinMo, but can be downloaded to phone if not)
• Windows Live Mail (Microsoft mail program that installs on your computer to syncs with Hotmail, Windows Live (on your phone), etc…)

Control Your Phone With Your PC

• My Mobiler (this can be used over USB or WiFi)
  

Maps and GeoSearch

• Google Maps
• Windows Live Search (preferred)
  

Other Utilities

• PocketRAR (official WinRAR for mobiles)
• Softkey Manager from Fantastic Bytes (change your softkeys to whatever you like)
• Softkey Control Panel applet (reassign softkeys)
• Audio Notes Touch * (mp3 recorder with touch friendly interface)
• Total Commander (the registry editor and file explorer I use)
• A List of Various other registry editors
• Total Commander (the registry editor I use)
• Update .Net Framework from 2.0 to 3.5
• iDialer (a full screen dial pad that makes it easier to actually dial a phone number; will work in conjunction with iContacts and I believe thumbCal… I don’t use it much now that I’ve got PocketCM, but I’ve left it installed [update: I now use Green Button to map to iDialer, so when I just want to dial a number it’s easy)
• PocketShield (screen lock)
• CeRegEditor (reg editor that functions from your computer so it’s easier than trying to use on your device… ONLY functions as a RegEdit prog, as opposed to something like Total Commander which can edit and move ANY type of file)

Shell Replacement, Skins and Interfaces (get a whole new look, feel and functionality)

• SPB Mobile Shell * (unless you snag it via Torrent, you’ll be paying for the shell, apps and plugins)
• iFonz (download from softpedia)
• configure iFonz theme (an easy way to switch icons and background without having to use the program interface)
• Throttle Launcher *
• Winterface *
• Manila 2D (TouchFlo)
• Manila 3D (TouchFlo 3D)
• iLauncher *

Media Players

• S2p

Misc. Fun Stuff

• Remove/Replace Verizon Boot Video, Image and Sound
  

Forums

• XDA Developers
• Howard Forums
• PPC Geeks
• PPCSG
• The Modaco “Favorite Hacks” thread (registry edits in a cab file –great idea)

Download Sites (apps)

• Softpedia
• Freeware for Pocket PC

Other Links

• Samsung SCH-i910 official support and download page
• Make your phone more like the iPhone (from Lifehacker)
• Lifehacker’s “best” free mobile apps list
• Knguyentu (probably the most comprehensive Omnia blogpost I’ve seen to date)
• MySamsungOmnia (another blog)
  

ALL ABOUT CUSTOME ROM:

MY PHONE:

CURRENT ROM: CUSTOM TARIL’S DXIA5

*denotes pay (not free) app/service

Now Playing: This Month’s Song , copyright of sidfire.com

Refresh – written by Sid in 2006. (*sorry about the quality, initially recorded in available ‘.amr’ format on a mobile device of those times)
Song on: Eternal perspective (significance of faith, hope and love)

vocals : Nahum and Sid
Keyboard : Nahum (UK)
Scratch: Sid

Play:

———————————

Lines:

Opening*
NAHUM: I gotta keep goin coz my heart will not go wrong,
I gotta keep from falling coz i know i will remain strong,
And if i reach the END…
…I know that i will be Refreshed!
Yeah (echo)..I will be refreshed!
SID: ..it beats in every heart….;
my energy for the thought .
..its like an agressive storm,
like a blanket keeping you warm…
[ -*nahum: I gotta keep goin coz my heart will not go wrong*-]
SID: Its so steady like a river,
like a sickness, a fever…..
[nahum: I gotta keep from falling coz i know i will remain strong]
SID:Its TOXIC like at Once..
that may last in IGNORANCE *ECHO* ignorance
Nahum: And if i dont reach the end… [riff-raff]
*NAHUM–RAP*
SID:Its both heaven and hell…
is what you may tell.
n middle of hurting and healing…
Its everything…x2
*NAHUM-RAP-

A special update on “there is a thing in my Pocket”  …. Guessing?  No need. Its my brand new OMNIA (aka Samsung SGH i900) .

tAdA!!!… Sid’s New Omnia in His Pocket!!

So the eminent subscribers of my Photosets would love to ask.. What about my Nokia N82?

Well its still there.. not quite right to say that its in my other pocket.. but as a spare.. I still love its VGA @ 30fps video capturing quality.. apart from that and its awesome photo taking armour.. I prefer the Omnia , Really.

Lighten up: Consider this: Why be an Omnia Man? : Watch below video.

————

Coming up , The Omnia from the ground up, yes, it’s 101 time folks…..

—- Previous—–

Catch the Sid/sunny/sidfire.com Video premiere here.

Got yourself a brand new Nokia n-series smartphone?

Here’s a list of third party application i recommend you might want to try  (in addition to already existing phone software): I am tested them on my N82 and hope my choices will help you get the most out of  your Smartphone good luck!

Navigation (GPS Related)
———–

Google Maps – This application uses the internal GPS, as well as mobile phone tower triangulation to determine your position (accurate to about 1km at the most, though when internal gps has a fix its accurate to only a few metres). I find it really useful if you want something as simple as internet based google maps on your phone (when ofcourse you cant use the Gps in areas where maps are not detailed etc) (www.google.com/gmm)

Garmin Mobile 10 XT (My favourite)- Becoming also one of my best favourites, and at least this uses the Internal GPS on the phone, its got the most up-to-date Australian maps of the lot. It works quite well and looks the nicest, and definetly worth having installed. (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/downloadsDetails.jsp?id=3939&product=010-00579-00&cID=139&pID=420)

3D tracking – Can be used for recording your GPS position as you travel, and your routes, sending information to the 3dtracking site where you can export or view your position in either google earth or google maps, with details of speed for each point recorded (www.free.3dtracking.net)

Symarctic ExtGPS – Allows you to use your internal gps as a bluetooth gps for a pc/mac or pda, quite handy if you want to use your gps on your laptop. (www.symarctic.com/beta/s…=extgps_download)

Music
——–

ALON MP3 Dictaphone – Plays OGG (which i use quite a lot on my collection)/WMA/MP4/AAC/MP3, online streaming radio. Has an equalizer, playlist editing, sleep mode etc. Records phone calls as well as acts as a voice recorder and it has gain controls to boost the audio. Good program. (www.alonsoftware.com/pro…hone_s60_3rd.htm)

Nokia Internet Radio – Can’t stress enough, kick ass program, quite well polished, looks very nice. Uses your wireless or 3G/HSDPA connection (wouldn’t recommend it unless you have data plan on your mobile though), works brilliantly excellent quality. (www.nokia.com/internetradio)

FIVN Player – Plays most music formats (including ogg), has bass booster, an equalizer and stereo widening (like in the nokia music app), its fairly good though the interface isnt exactly brilliant, but its simple and works quite well. (www.fivn.com/software/player.html)

Filter: The Filter for mobile phones is a clever application that makes navigating the music on your mobile phone quick and easy. Once you have loaded the application onto your phone, simply pick an artist you want to listen to, hit the select icon and in seconds The Filter will create a great playlist for you.Create instant playlists on your mobile phone-Enjoy smart- music navigation-Free download for Nokia (http://www.thefilter.com/mobile.aspx)

Connectivity
———–

Jaikuspot! : Turn your mobile into a WIFI-hotspot!! -JoikuSpot enables S60 Smartphone to share it’s 3G internet connection wirelessly over WLAN with any compatible WLAN device such as laptop, other Smartphone or e.g. Apple iPod touch. Now this is seriously cool! and free!! – (www.jaikuspot.com)

SymSMB – Brilliant program by Telexy. Allows you to browser your computer folders on your computer over wireless using SMB (windows network sharing protocol). So all you do is share your folders the way you normally do on the network, and open them up on this program. You can also share folders on your phone, or the entire memory card/phone memory on the network and access it on your PC over wirelss. Works brilliantly, highly recommended purchase. (www.telexy.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx)

SIC! FTP – Great FTP program, the site is in german though the program is in english. (www.sic-software.com/mod…=showpage&pid=57) – you might want to run it by a translator if you dont understand german though).

Putty S60 – If you use SSH you most likely know putty, it needs no real introduction. (s2putty.sourceforge.net)

HandyWi – Nice program if you are looking for an alternative WIFI manager. It’ll alert you when there’s nearby wireless networks that are free to access or when you’re in range of your own wireless networks. It will also pick the best network to use if you’re near a couple of them automatically without you needing to choose one for yourself. It creates an access point on the phone that will automatically choose this for you. It’ll also manage your wireless passwords and automatically connect to networks if you want. It can also autostart on boot if you wish. (www.handywi.com)

File Managers
———–

X-plore: X-plore is my favorite file manager for mobile devices, with wide range of functions on phone’s file system.This software is shareware, with friendly price and relaxed registration option. (www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=xplore)

Best Taskman: Running applications and tasks control, ability to substitute built-in system task manager or work along with it, ‘Windows Alt-Tab’ style task switcher, a unique way to access favorite applications (Quickstart), running processes control, and many more advanced functions to explore. (http://www.smartphoneware.com/taskman-for-s60-3rd-edition-product.php)

PhoNetInfo – general utility to give you details about the phone, imei, battery level, current open tasks, phone capabilities, network signal strength, cell id etc. (www.patrickfrei.ch/phonetinfo)

SMS Export – Allows you to export all your sms’s as individual text files, which could come in handy at times (www.m-internet.com )

CoolSMS+ – Allows you to send Flash SMS (automatically opens on any mobile phone). And wap push sms (if you want to push symbian or java apps to someone). Can be cool, as well as rather annoying… for the receiver, especially if they’re avoiding you or someone who has no idea how to read sms’s [read parents!] (www.ehandysoft.com/coolsmsplus3.htm)

Call Filter – Allows you to set up call receiving rules (if you want to reject calls from certain people or private numbers etc.). Quite handy. (www.m-internet.com)

Y-Tasks – Lets you view supported file types, apps and tasks running, processes, memory usage, fonts etc. Also lets you kill applications that have hung/crashed. (www.drjukka.com/YTasks.html)

Y-Browser – Great general purpose file browser/copy etc. Lets you explore folders that you cannot usually view with the nokia file manager. Lets you browse mail/sms/mms folders too which is really handy. (www.drjukka.com/YBrowser.html)

FExplorer – similar to Y-Browser, i find its a bit friendlier to use. (www.gosymbian.com/FE_beta_download_3ed.html)

Nokia Energy Profiler – tells you how much power your phone is using … mostly so you can tell which programs are sapping your battery dead. (www.forum.nokia.com/main…_energy_profiler)

Misc Utilities (accelerometer apps, etc)

——————————-

Note: Its always fun to use any of the accelerometer apps, there are many upcoming brialliant programmers who are developing exciting applications based motion input which our smartphones support. Check out and try  some of them now

RotateMe (not needed for n82 with auto rotate feature already built in)- Seriously Cool. Uses the phone’s accelerometer to rotate the phone’s view into landscape mode by just tilting the phone, with sensitivity and reactivity settings, and autostart on boot option. (www.bysamir.fr/rotateme)

Nokmote – Another seriously kick ass tool by the crazy frenchman Samir, allows you to play games by tiling the phone to control your arrow keys. Really really cool. (www.bysamir.fr/nokmote)

ps: and more accelerometer apps by samir go to www.bysamir.fr

Flip Silent – A small software which makes you use your phone in a more natural way: When you are in a meeting or dating, and a call is coming in, you can flipover your phone to make it go into the silent profile and hang up the phone call or mute the ringer – without touching anything on the phone, just flip it over, your phone will go into silence! (http://symbianblog.com/flipsilent/)

cClock – Lets you replace your screensaver clock with something more readable and useful, and it allows you to see the battery level and network strength from the screensaver. Fully configurable. Has built in stopwatch as well. (home.pacific.net.sg/~welic/cClock.html)

Massage Vibra – well.. besides the fact that it has a lot of different vibration settings… its something that you could probably use with someone else… or for your aching muscles…. (www.shapeservices.com/en…uct=massagevibra)

Media (Video playback, Flash, photo edit tools etc)

—–

Locr – Highly recommended. Allows you to automatically GPS tag every photo you take, and upload them to the web automatically if you set it to, has various gps idle times so you dont wear your battery out if you aren’t tagging photos. Also lets you view photos from nearby locations taken by other people (if they set them to public viewing of course). (www.locr.com)

Screenshot – Allows you to take screenshots of your phone’s screen. Pretty simple. Saves them as jpg/png/bmp with user settable shortcuts. (www.antonypranata.com/screenshot)

Mobiola Webcam – Allows you to use your phone as a USB or Bluetooth wireless webcam. Seriously cool and worth while if you do not have one already. Besides your mobile has a better camera than most webcams. Works with just about all video conferencing programs on the PC. [Now if only it worked on wifi!] (www.warelex.com/products/webcam/index.php)

or there’s another good option for phone as webcam; WWIGO

wwigo (pronounced ‘vigo’) stands for Webcam Wherever I Go. With wwigo, a camera phone can be used as a webcam with PC or Laptop using bluetooth as the transmission medium.It consists of two software components:mobile component that resides on phone and streams video to PC.PC component that recieves video. And best of all its free! (www.motvik.com)

Panoman – If you’re an avid fan of mobile phone photography, this program is really worth getting. It automatically stitches and normalises 360 degree panorama shots and helps you line them up correctly to get the best shots possible. Really really kick arse and you can get some really amazing scenery shots this way. (www.panoman.net)

DivX player – not that this needs much introduction, but it lets you play DivX and XviD movies on your mobile phone without conversion (usually). (www.divx.com/mobile)

Smart Movie – By lonelycatgames this is a great xvid/divx player, but will also play MJPEG videos (from canon cameras etc). Very good, and very easy to use. Also comes with a mobile phone video converter to watch movies/videos on the phone at a smaller size without losing much quality. (www.lonelycatgames.com/?app=smartmovie)

Core Player – Great user interface, supports just about every audio format under the sun (MP3, MP2, AAC, MKA, WMA, Midi, WAV, OGG, Speex, WAVPACK, TTA, FLAC, MPC, AMR, ADPCM, ALaw, MuLaw, G.729) and just about every Video format under the sun (H.264 (AVC), MKV, MPEG-1, MPEG-4 part 2 (ASP), DivX, XviD, Theora, MJPEG, NRE, MSVIDEO1 with WMV soon to be added). Allows adjustment of aspect ratio/cropping to fit in the screen better as well. Allows video streaming as well over HTTP and UDP [apparently RDP/RTP/RTSP/MMS/MTP are being added soon]. (www.coreplayer.com)

also;

Qik – Qik is a little piece of software that enables you to stream videos directly from your phone to the Web. Use it to stream engaging videos to your friends in Facebook, Twitter, etc. or as your camcorder to capture entertaining and special moments. (www.qik.com)

Movino -Movino is a collection of open source applications for streaming and broadcasting live video from smartphones. The main applications are the following: A client for Symbian Series 60 smartphones 2.A client for J2ME camera phones 3.A GUI application and a QuickTime component for OS X 4.A video server for Linux 5.A web interface based on the Drupal CMS -(www.movino.org)

more Media – Youtube

———————-

emTube – Seriously freaking cool program. Allows you to search, stream, and save youtube videos on your phone. Yes, all of them. Uses the accelerometer if you want to view them in landscape by just tilting the phone [and now its even compatible with rotateme too!]. It allows you to have a list of favourites and most viewed video list. (www.emtube.yoyo.pl)

Mobitubia – Another cool youtube player with nice GUI and smooth performance , worth checking it out! (www.mobitubia.com)

Office Applications

—————

Quickoffice Premier – Quickoffice basic comes with all nokias, but the premier version lets you edit ms office excel, word and powerpoint files too. Supports the latest microsoft formats too. (www.quickoffice.com/s60/index.asp)

Papyrus – Alternative calender to the nokia default one, very neat and useful. Allows you to choose colours for different event types, display lists in different ways, import birthday lists etc. Really useful and it does integrate with the nokia calendar, so it can be synced to outlook too! (www.sbsh.net/products/pa…php?page=summary)

Active Notes – This cool app from the E90 lets you add images/sounds/videos/business cards/internet bookmarks/files to notes as well as write notes, you can also take photos and record audio from teh application and insert it into the note. Then you can email it or sms it or mms it or just keep it there for later viewing. Very useful, and quite a lot better than the standard notes app. (news.mobile9.com/s60apps…-the-e90-anymore)

Games
—–

Seriously im not going over this lol. I have too big a list. (but i will update this section soon)

Check out N-GAGE if you havent already .. http://play.n-gage.com/

Though i heavily recommend Lament Island by Simlife Science (a chinese game developer). Its a really nice 3d RPG game, with very nice graphics and special effects on a phone. If you can ignore engrish that is:). (www.clickgamer.com/morei…48§ion=S60V3) – includes a youtube preview of the game. Here’s a better one though www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S2HZgqvAHw (though it is the chinese version instead).

Messaging:

Fring: fring^TM is a free mobile VoIP application that enables free mobile internet calls and live chat (IM) to other ‘fringsters’ and PC-based services including Skype®, Google Talk^TM, ICQ, MSN® Messenger and Twitter, using free Wi-Fi or your 3G or GPRS internet data plan instead of costly mobile airtime minutes ! ; furthermore fring mobile VoIP client gets an updated and brings file transfer capability! (www.fring.com)

WirelessIRC – If you use IRC, this is a great program, in addition to the fact it the only decent irc program for the s60. (www.handango.com/Platfor…productId=211930)

Palringo – Supports MSN, Yahoo, Aim, Gadu-Gadu (asian users would know this one:)), ICQ and Jabber [Google Talk included]. Great multi-IM program, and best of all its free. (www.palringo.com)

Windows Live Messenger – Pretty much the only official MSN client for symbian. It supports profile images, voice messages, emoticons and file transfers along normal chat, group chats and more. Really easy to use. You’re best to get this one from the Download! application on your nokia from the WinLive Folder (europe.nokia.com/A4491268)

Nokia Conversation – Allows threaded SMS chat. Pretty neat, currently in beta though, so its a wee bit slow at times but works really nicely and has inline sms chat. (www.nokia.com/betalabs/conversation)

Other General Apps

——————>>
Nokia Channels – Quite a nice news reading tool, and supports accelerometer to read articles in landscape. Another Nokia beta labs program, allows you to read newspapers from across many countries. (www.nokia.com/betalabs/channels)

Nokia Widsets – Allows you to use all sorts of widgets (you can even make your own), that are updatable over the internet. More details at the site. (www.widsets.com)

Nokia Sports tracker – Seriously really kick arse program, incredibly well polished. If you do work outs, this program is really really good. It tracks your work out via gps and allows you to export it to google earth. It acts as your training diary, and can also use the accelerometer as a pedometer to count your steps as you work out. Creates really great graphs for your work out and allows you to share it on their online community as well with all sorts of statistics [Altitude vs speed, speed vs distance, speed vs time etc]. (sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/main/index.do)

Nokia Activity Monitor – This kinda should be integrated with sports tracker (wouldnt be surprised if it will in the future), but its a Nokia research project to use the accelerometer in the N95 as a pedometer to count your energy usage throughout the day, providing more stats than nokia sports tracker based on your actual step count. Like the nokia sports tracker it has a training diary and progress/trend charts. (research.nokia.com/proje…activity_monitor)

More Fun:

——————-

Niime 2008 : Asier Arranz developer of the famous NiiMe has finished exams and is rolling again, that is totally awesome, congratulations my friend, I am so happy for you.

Actually we all should be happy, it is extremely good news because it means that Asier has more time for developing and that we can expect more cool soft to come soon.

Also I’m pleased to announce that NiiMe Fusion 1.0b is available for donators and exclusively for the Symbian Freaks in a special package. There is also a new video that shows the projects that he is working on and that we can expect to come during this year.There are few interesting concepts like NiiMe Drums for musicians or quite cool NiiMe Play that allows controlling simpler game like Super Mario with the body movement while the phone is the pocket.

check the youtube video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00PKV5xCL24

Download Niime package for PC and Phone: Niime Alpha Fusion 0.1b

I hope this incredibly exhaustive list of my recommended apps is of help to you all:)

note: i will update this post periodically as and when possible with new applications.
(Last update: May 5th 2008)

ciao,

Sid