The main news I'd like to take up in this post is that while looking for support info for my iTouch, I noticed that the Apple Online Store for Singapore already sells Iphone 3GS directly and at a very cheap price, 748 SGD(around 24.6k PHP)! it comes unlocked(as all phones sold in SG are) and delivery is free. I had a hunch this would happen after the launch, just like the hunch I had that Macbooks of the previous generation would be sold at a good price to clear the stocks and I was right, I got might for 1288 SGD. Beside the 3GS is the new Iphone 4, the way it is presented seemingly shows that the latest Iphone might also be sold directly on the Apple Online Store? another great news if that ever happens.

Although we would still need a data plan to fully utilized these magnificent marvels of technology, having a choice of going pre-paid or sign-up with any carrier is freedom we should treasure. It's gonna be sometime till the next update of this wonder will come so bargain hunters should grab this opportunity now!

The last IT show of the year will be on November and I'm betting on a good price for the recently upgrade Macbook Pro's, if not, good deals on iPad's. Anybody have plans of shopping for Christmas, schedule a trip to SG late November, the IT Show will be at the Expo. I was also eying the Thinkpad X100e solde for around 700+ SGD last PC Show but what would I do with another notebook

It's still a busy week leading to more busy weeks which we hope to be able to normalize by mid July. Everyone in the team is working hard and hopefully things will settle down by middle of July. I previously mentioned about how great Qlock has been in helping with multiple time zone management, especially in setting up schedules. A similarly good product which comes really handy for mobile warriors on Blackberry is Worldmate. Also has a similarly good time feature and even has a day and night world map, very handy for quick glances to check if you should say good morning or good evening. Not to mention it's a great travel itinerary and scheduler.

Livemeeting or Vshare and worldwide teleconferencing are also great for gathering people from multiple locations. I used to think that it would be really hard to do things over the phone, mail and such. But after doing it I now believe the only hindrance is the participants willingness. It is no-doubt doubly effective to do things face-to-face but for regular daily engagements, surely, web meetings and phone conferencing is more than sufficient. For our needs particularly. I also thought it would be hard for technical support but I have since engaged phone support a couple of times and it worked out pretty well. Again, I guess only willingness might be the hindrance in these factors.

I've already shared about Tian Tian chicken rice, Good Day beef hor fun and now I'll share the indian food on Amara. Still in the vicinity of Tanjong Pagar, behind International Plaza is Amara, a good hotel to stay when in Singapore and especially if you are visiting locations in the Tanjong Pagar, Raffles Place area. Anyway, I digress, the Fourth floor of the mall inside the hotel is full of food stalls, one of which is a indian stall which has very tasty biryani set. I always take mutton biryani and it is delicious, it comes with 2 vegetable dishes and small sweet delictable. A complete set for around 5 or 6 bucks. You should try it sometime if your in the area.

The new iphone is out and everyone is salivating and already dreaming of getting one. I'm still trying to figure out when the thing will be available here in Singapore. I'm sure it's gonna cost and arm and a leg again, as expected of apple products. I was kind of expecting for a refresh on the Macbook and Mac mini lines but the first day so far has not included them in the announcements. Let's see if it will popup in the next couple of days.

I ran 8km last weekend and I think it was a little bit too much and I had to rest for 2 days instead of the usual 1 day. I should have sticked to not increasing distance more than 10% per week. I also changed from heel stricker to mid footer. The change seemed to have helped coz I don't feel as much force on some parts of my legs. I'm still looking for good shorts for my build and I think my current running shoe is not for runs more than 5 or 6 km. Time to save up for a lunarglide.

Although being busy might be a burden for some, to me, I enjoy it, I get to learn and harness my capabilities. With moer projects on the pipeline, I'm sure to evolve into someone with more experience, capabilities and maximize my capacities. I always learn something new or get to a chance to correct myself or get corrected which leads to me being sharper and knowledgeable. To add, I have very understanding, patient and knowledgeable colleagues who helps me through our work cycles.

I have learned so many and I hope I have also been able to the same to all I have come in contact to.

My friend Jeff has lent me the book Results Management by Ong Teong Wan, one of his Professor friends at the Singapore Institute of Management. I'm already at chapter 2 and it informative, not groundbreaking but insightful. I'm noting down a couple of questions for the author which I hope to send to him after I have read and digested concepts of the book. One such is how can the concepts be applied to outsourced/non-organic personnel and how do can it be applied vertically upwards on the heirarchy.

I have also been running for a couple of months now, it started with walking 5km everyday and now I run atleast 2km daily with long runs on the weekend. I had to start this after my doctor advised me to loose weight and since I already eat the right foods with no correlated effect on reducing my weight, I had to run. I get sporadic new from Cebu but it would seem that running has become somewhat of a fad out there, with events almost everyweekend. I even heard about 2 events on the same day. I joined the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge 5k run early May and I enjoyed it. It helps me reduce weight and gives me a good feeling and starts my day right. My friend Jeff and I are joining this years Standard Charter Marathon Singapore, will start with the kiddy category of 10k, I'm aiming for the half-marathon by next year.  Best of luck to all runners in Cebu and here in SG.

Universal Studios Singapore has already opened but the flagship Battlestar Gallactica attraction is still closed. The family and I have just been roaming outside the park and plan to go in once the missing attaction opens. Chillis, Hershey and Hard Rock are just outside and are good places to hang-out. Chocolates at Hersheys are expensive, Fairprice is way cheaper, but it does have some products not available at other local stores such are reeses.

An additional River park is planned to be developed at the Mandai reserve, it compliments the already world famous Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. I'm eagerly awaiting this one, it's close to where I stay and the family enjoys a nature respite every now and then.

The 2nd IT Show of the year is due in a 3 weeks time and I'm setting my eyes on a couple of items which I hope to get at a good bargain. Last year, I got a netbook with external DVD for 520, the external drive already is around 90. A lot of bargain on mobile phones are also usually around but I'm really looking forward to the macbook pro, iphone and ipad. The macbook pros recently released upgraded models and I hope to find the previous generation on sale, just like last year when brand new macbooks of the previous generation could be had for 1.1k. The iphone is also expected to release a new generation this June and I hope to find a bargain on the 3GS as well. If I don't find any for both, maybe the ipad will already be available officially be then.