P2P Torrent on Mobile

New services had sprung out from the high speed internet bandwidth services... allowing people to do more things and share bigger files over the web. Previously high speed bandwidth had been limited to just the fixed PC environment, but as the wireless mobile technologies are now high speed capable, its only natural to have the services to spill-over or migrating to the mobile devices.

Two new applications I have discovered recently and would like to share with all.

a) SymTorrent - the symbian based Torrent application



The application can be downloaded here.

It is a freeware that allows users to download files and documents from the Peer-to-Peer network using your mobile.

Here are some images that I captured from my usage :






I have managed to download 2 albums with this application so far using my 3G access. The download bandwidth went up as much as 14 Kbps while I was using it.

b) Symella - a symbian based application that access to the Gnutella file sharing networks. It allows for the multi-threaded download of files that are hosted by peers within the P2P network.

This application can be downloaded from this link.



Prior to using any of these applications, please be advised that it could be costly if you are not on the proper data package from your mobile operator.

These applications are power hungry, it consumes the battery life REALLY, REALLY fast as the processors are running at all time to download the data and search for the peers within the network.

My biggest concern now, will Mobile Operators be forced to go down the path undertaken by Internet Access Providers in shaping the bandwidth to ensure that the network capacity is not over-utilized? Will the network be congested by the usage of P2P clients?

Well, we shall soon see.

In the meantime, have fun downloading.... :-D

Guarding your Mobile - Symbian Toy Guardian

There has been a great dependence that we have nurtured towards our telecommunication devices that has made mobile phones, pager, computers and home telephony into vital elements of our daily lives. A research was done and the findings highlighted that many of us have developed the fear of losing these devices - especially our mobile phones. In fact, many do not fear losing the devices but its the information contained within the devices that we fear to loose such as our contact book and e-mail addresses.

There are many solution to safeguarding these information. Telecommunication operators like Maxis has provided services like Phone book backup and messages back up to provide the ease of mind against the fear of loss. Apart from the operator services, synchronization softwares and applications are available to sync the contents of the phone with the Personal Computer to enable a symmetric image of your device into another repository. Web services such as Plaxo provides the similar function as well, with the added feature of periodic update with all your contact list.

A free option for Symbian phones (mainly the Nokias) can be obtained from Symbian Toys with its third party application called the Guardian.



This application provides the service of authenticating the SIM card placed within a particular mobile phone. When a phone is lost or stolen, it can be traced to the next user who removes the SIM card from the phone and replaces it with his or her own. Once the authentication of the SIM fails, it will push an SMS out to your configured mobile number to alert you of the person's mobile number and which mobile cell area the phone is activated. With these details, you will be able to contact the person or lodge a report to recover your mobile phone.

The interesting thing about this application is that, it has further plugins above the basic function. This plugins can be obtained through a donation for the development of this application. The plugins will extend the basic function of the application such as deleting all information from the mobile phone through a set sms command to the phone.

Now, we can have more security and comfort with our mobile devices - if its lost, we will know to whom it goes to and if we cannot do anything on retrieving the mobile phone, we can wipe the data clean remotely.

This is definitely a worthy application to be tried out. And to those who have additional money, please direct your contribution to support further development of this application.

The limited unlimited Maxis broadband access service

We have cried foul over the poor quality of service by our operators and still, we have no positive effect. Its just like crying foul over the toll rate increase, no one listens and people involve do not care because at the end of the day, their bank balance will increase... so what's the harm of playing "deaf", "dumb" and "stupid"?

I have earlier blogged about the HSPDA service by Maxis, I have had the perception that finally a service operator is here to challenge the pride and insolence of Telekom Malaysia, but... it seems that my perception is to be corrected.

The "unlimited" package offered on the website is not as it claims to be, Jeff Ooi was alerted by a fellow blogger on some interesting items stipulated in the terms and condition of the service subscription. Details can be read here.

To summarize the salient points :

a) The unlimited package is only limited to 3GB (upload and download) per month
b) Connection to the internet will be automatically disconnected following and idle time of 20 to 30 minutes
c) If more data transfers needed beyond the 3GB limit, a subscriber can write in to request for it
d) Maxis have the right to reject (c)
e) The justification of the limited unlimited package is available under the Fair Usage Policy (Yes, I am aware that there are repeated juxtapositions in this sentence... its designed by Maxis - its just like saying " I am a skinny fat person that eats non-stop very little at every hour - get it? - I think Maxis should also consider expanding their writing skills and publish them on a monthly basis... or maybe get into the insurance business)

In Redesign Malaysia, when someone complaint about the service quality by TM Net... I wrote in a feedback that is also applicable to this particular blog thread.

An excerpt from my response :

"In the Spirit of “Malaysia boleh!”, I believe that the tribunals, consumer forums, consumer protection and consumer rights are available for the false sentiment of comfort but not bearing any functional purpose… I believe all Malaysians have had that experience with “rights” in this country.

I am not sure if its the legal foundation or just pure ignorance by us consumers to battle for our statutory rights.

Anyhow, we can shout all we want… unless there is a massive termination of broadband subscriptions all across the country, everyone boycotting the internet related services… no operators will do anything to enhance our “experience”… they know that it cannot and will not happen…. I applaud the effort of Redesign Malaysia to do something about it.. but do the operators take notice or tremble with fear? No… they are just laughing.. "

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2007

Every year tech enthusiasts and vendors would flock to Vegas to witness the annual International Electronics Show or the CES. The CES is reputed as the largest tradeshow in the U.S and its the event that showcases latest digital and electronics innovations that are up-coming for the year. The event kicked-off this year on the 8th of January and will end on the 11th.

CES provides the opportunity for PC vendors, software developers, gadgets and mobile phone manufacturers to showcase their range of products soon to launch or their proto-types. At this event, great minds gather to explore potential ventures and collaborations.

So, what do we have in store for us this year? (well... in the US at least...).

Check these links out.(Here) and (Here)

My personal favourites :

a) WidgetStation

c) Nokia's N800 Tablet PC

d) the new OQO ultra-portable notebook (I really want one of this)

e) Nokia's launch of N93i and N95

f) Slingbox's latest

g) The iPhone. (here) and (here)

Now.. having fantasies of meddling with those above, I need to get back to reality and off to bed...

Alternatives to mobile Instant Messaging (IM)

Following my earlier blog on the IM applications available from mobile, here are two more that I discovered while surfing the web.

I have not gotten the chance to test them out yet but the reviews on the service seems good.

The first is called Nimbuzz and the other is called NootMobile.

For the moment, Nimbuzz is not available for new registrants as they are coming up with a newer application version that integrates Voice function, the release is scheduled on the coming 15th January 2007.

Noot is a webbased service that requires you to visit a link to access your registered services.

Well, have fun....