almost a month since...

it's almost a month since i last update anything here. i am always online, but as posted earlier - i have moved on to my own domain name. so i hope visitors can hop on to my new sites. thank you! ;)

i will still make occasional posting here, but due to the time taken for the other 2 sites - it will be limited posting. having said that, please hop on for gadgets, tech & lifestyle news @ tech@mikeshouts aka tech.get and for downloads and arts/designs hop on to mikeSHOUTS blog.

doodles: tink redbot-one and "arigato" with tinker apps

more doodles with Tinker apps on iPad. i can't stop doodling. if only i can make a living out of it hehehe. "redbot-one" was recent work while "arigato" was done a while back. i have always love the idea of retro-style robot as inspired by early days of western cartoons and Japanese anime. so here's my rendition. "arigato" was done as part of the artwork for...

download: replacement icons for iTunes 10

iTunes 10 has been out for a while now and frankly speaking, i don’t like the new icon to came with iTunes 10, so i came up with my own. this custom icon pays tribute the classic iPod & the iconic ‘click wheel’ (which will likely to be missed in coming future) and ‘X’ representing iTunes 10. i used simple color scheme, running along the line of ‘classical’ mood (but, i don’t wish to use black – which is norm for anything ‘classical’) and the last version is a ‘doodle’ version which i thought looks fun you will notice i don’t anything fancy such as relief to make them feel ’3D’, but hey, that’s why it is called simpleiTUNESicons

go ahead and down it. do comment, alright? check out more downloads on the sidebar too.

imaginary real estate ad*

being quite an organization addict, i love playing with simulation games, not those car or flight simulation but more of 'management' games. posted here is something that struck me while i was playing City Story for iPhone. i thought why not i come up with an imaginary 'real estate' ad (advertisement) for one of the property in the game? so here it is. aside from the in-game screenshots, all other graphic and layout is my work. the logo is up for sale too. contact me for details :)

doodles: anime, sci-fi and expressions

again, here's more of what i love to do (besides photoshopping away) :)

Poddities iPhone 4 accessories

before iPhone, we called our trusty mobile communication device, smartphone and mobile phone (or cell phone, depending where you are from). before iPhone, it is a norm to have a strap looped to our smartphone or mobile phone through the provided tiny little hole. i had one these 'hand strap' on almost all my previous mobile phone, including my last ever windows phone, the samsung i780. ever since iPhone, hand straps (or decorative straps in some cases) has been missed, although not sorely missed. well, fret not. a Japanese company has a solution for it - a bracket screwed to the base of your iPhone 4 and it's available for both 3G & 3GS as well. when every company is rushing to design & manufacture cases/covers for iPhone 4, these guys at Poddities chose a different path and came up with a contraption to enable you to relive your...

ultra-lightweight Lamborghini super car

the Italian super car maker unveiled it's concept lightweight super car in the 2010 Paris motor show, weighting in at just 997.9kg (overall curb weight) - all thanks to the advance carbon-fiber technology. while other super car maker are pursuing the hybrid technology, Lamborghini chose the path of exploring efficiency through lighter weight and lower emissions. known as the sesto elemento Lamborghini, this Lamborghini will be powered by 570hp V-10 power plant and has a claimed acceleration from 0-62mph in just 2.5sec. this proves that you can be a heavy weight car maker without being actually being a heavy weight :)

read more HERE.

visit Paris Motor Show.

doodles: portraits, still life, cartoon and anime

again, here's more of what i love to do (besides photoshopping away) :)

news: doodle with tinker app used by developer as sample!

it's probably nothing but still i am glad that Kun Kun, the developer for the tinker apps for iPad, chose to use one of my doodle done with tinker apps as part the apps screenshot. sweet. check it out, ya? :) check out my previous posting of the 'tink woman 2' here.



check out the tinker apps on appstore.

the glif iphone 4 tripod mount & stand

this is interesting. a dedicated tripod mount & kick stand for your beloved iPhone 4. i would love to have one but then i have to do without an iPhone case, don't i? or maybe switch to slip on case instead. nevertheless, this is really an interesting project and an attractive product name. very well made video too. now, how about an iPhone hard case incorporating the glif? :) the glif is the brainchild of Thomas Gerhardt and Dan Provost. the glif was posted in kickstarter - a fund seeking website for creative projects. as at now, Tom and Dan has achieved more than what they have asked for but i think innovative ideas deserve continual support.

show your support for the glif here.

visit the glif website.

LaCie 324i LCD monitor

when it comes to LCD display, consumers are spoilt for choice. here's another one (professional-grade) display for you to consider. spotting a 24", 10-bit P-IPS (professional In-Plane switching) LCD panel which is capable of dispersing 1.07 billion colors, color accuracy of 102% NTSC and 98% AdobeRGB, anti-glare panel with 178DEG viewing angle and 1000:1 contrast ratio. display specs aside, the monitor comes with a multi-functional stand which enables it to tilt, turn, adjust the display's height, turn it into portrait mode and did i mention that it has a cable manager as well? these days, what is a display monitor if doesn't comes with a department called 'connectivity'? even LCD TV are getting connectivity today. the 324i certainly has this department well stocked: connectivity 3-port USB 2.0 hub, 3.5mm mini-jack, component A/V (RCA), HDMI, display port, DVI-D. if you have $1,249.99 to spare and has a discerning eye (or eyes) for color, this might be the display for you. my only question is, why USB 2.0?

visit LaCie website.

doodles: portraits and sketches

more of what i did on paper. the good'ol pencil and paper combination :)

why iPhone vs. the world you may ask. the reason being, the smartphone segment can't help but to compare themselves to an iPhone whenever a smartphone is being launched. never mind the fact that iPhone could be already been a year in the market (e.g. 3G & 3GS), they will still be making the comparison anyway - both critics and manufacturers alike. to the smartphone market, iPhone seems to be the benchmark. i know you critics would fervently deny this, but let's face it - this is the fact. let's talked about the anti-iPhone sentiment first. so why the hatred, so to speak, about Apple's smartphone? ok, maybe 'hatred' is a bit of a strong word to use, but it certainly sounded that way. in fact, it is not just about...

doodles: crazy panda & more

something that i doodled last year. last year was the year when picked up doodling again. seriously miss the 'bliss' when i was drawing. i doodles on anything, envelope, scrap paper et cetera. got'em scanned and did some cleaning up on CS4. check'em out below :)

how to pair Playstation bluetooth headset with iPhone

 in case you have forgotten or not sure how to pair your Official Sony Playstation bluetooth headset with your iPhone (3G & above), here's a little guide for it. the Playstation bluetooth headset quite versatile, it can be used for online gaming, skype and of course, as a headset for your mobile phone. in this case, i'm going to pair it with...

tips: use your PS3 dualshock sixaxis controller on your Mac

i was looking for a decent game pad to play some Mac games. to be exact, i wanted to play the action/puzzle game LEGO Indiana Jones. my requirements was simple, it must be functional and it must be stylish. before i could find my ideal game pad, i stumbled upon something more interesting: using your PS3 dualshock sixaxis controller on your Mac. i am currently on Snow Leopard, and all i have to do...

tips: Safari 5 fails to open GMAIL login page?

i can't access GMAIL the whole of yesterday. i am using Safari 5.0.2, it just stop working yesterday. i was stumped. i tried accessing GMAIL by taking off my bookmark and entering the URL (i.e. www.gmail.com) directly into the URL bar a.k.a the address bar of my Safari, but nothing works. i tried googling for a solution but my search came up empty. the problem was Safari detected multiple redirection by the website that i was trying to access, and stop loading the website. that was the notice that Safari gave me. i am not sure why this occurs. if you have the same problem as me, there are 2 ways which you can go about searching for a solution (other than googling): you can either head down to the Apple Support forums (or any Mac forums) or try figuring it yourself. i did the latter...

update: new template for mikeshouts.

i am working on a new template for my new WordPress blog. it is still in the design phase so i expects a little change here and there, but it should look something like this :)

lol: the most stupid goalkeeper?

this hilarious! the goalkeeper walked away thinking that he saved the penalty kick, while the still spinning soccer ball rolls right into the goal! man, what are the chances of this happening? lesson: don't be too confident! or please check your work! :D this one is going to be engraved in our memories.

product: simplism silicon iphone 4 case

(photo source: mikeshouts.com)

a design in Japan iPhone 4 case. this is a silicon case which has anti-dust coating, which is important because typical silicon cases tend to be a dust magnet. the package comes with the silicon case, screen protector (with leveler), microfiber cleaning cloth and a dock cover. the dock cover lets you cover the dock of your iPhone to keep out the dust - a rather nice touch, actually. there's a little loop with the dock cover which allows user to loop through a twin hole at the back of the silicon case. in this way, you wouldn't loose your tiny dock cover. sweet :)

quality is good but it's not the kind of tight fit you expect of a silicon cover/case. when fitted, the phone still has a tiny bit of space. just a little, which i think shouldn't be a cause for alarm. you can feel it (the space) when u press lightly on the sides of the phone fitted with the silicon case. despite this, the phone doesn't move around when in the case. there are cut-outs for the control buttons but not for the volume rocker and the power button, which are in the form of raised silicon buttons indicating their presence. even without the cut-out for those 2 sets of buttons, their usability isn't compromised in anyway. the simplism silicon case is available in 5 colors.

visit simplism

product: convert plastic to oil

(photo source: OurWorld 2.0)



this isn't exactly the newest news but it is definitely worth mentioning again, this time by yours truly :) Blest Corporation in Japan came up with the technology to convert your every day plastic waste back into useable oil. this oil can further be refined to petrol, diesel and kerosene. well, some may thing this may not be a solution to the world's problem but it is definitely a good start and it is going to make a difference - in term of world's waste problem and resource awareness. the world needs to be educated. check out the video :)

read more @ OurWorld 2.0 | United Nations University.

product: LEGO motorized iPad stand

if you a LEGO fan + iPad user or a 'LEGPLE' fan (aka LEGO + APPLE fan), then you will be just about as excited as me about this custom LEGO motorized iPad stand. how cool is that? and it is stepless meaning it can be at any position you want. want one? if you are adventurous enough, you can build one yourself using parts from the '8052 LEGO container truck' set, else you have to wait for the instruction to be made available. i chose the latter ;)

visit www.legostand.com for more information.

update: mikeshouts is moving!

it is time. the time is ripe to move on. i need more flexibility for this blog. i felt constantly 'tied' using the blogger service. don't get me wrong, blogger.com is no doubt a great service (it's free!), but it is as good as it can gets. i acquired the domain name (mikeshouts.com) some months ago, and today i found a great web host, BlueHost.com and BlueHost will be my new home to mikeshouts. it feels good to have my own domain again. the migration will take time but it won't be too long. you folks will be kept posted. i assure you this! :)

Cheers!
Mike

update: arts+designs page is up!

as promised, the arts+designs page is up. basically it is a summary page leading to all the current and previous original arts+designs post by yours truly. now, doesn't this makes searching for my arts+designs post easier? check it out, ya? cheers! ;)

new art: digital sketches (with Adobe Ideas) redux

more doodling with Adobe Ideas app on iPad. images resolution has been reduced for this posting. please note all these are original artworks by mike chua. if you like my artwork(s), and wish to use them, please do contact me. and guess what? i have contact form now. so just fill it out and we will be in touch :)

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product: Apple iPod Touch & Nano

(photo source: apple.com)

just when the world is still gasping over the new iPhone (both the good and bad), Apple introduces the new generation iPod touch (read touch, not itouch) and the iPod nano (i lost counting which generation of nano is this). the new iPod touch now comes with the goodness carried over from the new iPhone 4, i.e. Retina display, HD video recording, FaceTime et cetera and there's a new thing called Game Center. the Game Center. oh, it also runs on the A4 processor. nice. good news to iPod touch gamers :)

it seems to me that there's a new design for the nano. was i wrong? there are so many generations that i thought i lost count. anyway, there's a new update for the nano, again. this time with Multi-Touch. you know Multi-Touch? the usual swipe to browse, touch to play stuff and now there's a home screen with icons in it, which like the Touch and iPhone, you can rearrange them. it is even smaller (width 40.9mm; height 37.5mm; depth 8.78mm) & lighter now, as if it wasn't already small & light enough, and guess what? you can clip it to your belt now, as in directly with the nano, not with any other add-on or cases. oh, there's accelerometer in it too. sweet.

visit Apple website

update: learning XCODE

currently i am in the process of learning the XCODE. so i guess i will have to put my future vintage design on pause right now. for those who has checked frequently. please accept most sincere apologies.

accessories: finally DODOcase has arrived!

finally got my made-by-hand DODOcase for my ipad. there's not much packaging to talk about but the highlight is the product itself. the quality of the case is impeccable. i like the idea of bamboo material for the frame where the ipad seats. of course the foam pieces securing the ipad seems a little risky but i just couldn't get over how cool this ipad case looks. it is hard to make justification over a pic, you got to see it for yourself. i also like the idea of 'cut-out' portions for access to the volume rocker, power button et cetera, which allow easy access. when i say easy, i really mean EASY. previously, with my apple ipad case, it is rather awkward trying to adjust the volume cos' the case makes the volume rocker become 'recessed'. this can be rather irritating sometime. the ipad is held in place by the foam pieces at the four corners, which allow easy maintenance of the screen. i am not sure about other user, but having the ipad slides into a 'pocket-like' case, means having a border around the ipad which dust tends to accumulate within. i hate the dust trapping function so i am relieve to be using the DODOcase right now. overall i am really satisfied with the DODOcase. at least, until a better case comes up ;)

updates: contact forms + others

finally got the contact form up. now it you can send me enquiries using this simple form. i avoid putting up email on this blog as they (the email) often ended up in the spammers' list. as you have probably noticed, i have also added a blog navigation tabs above to individual pages. the process is not completed yet, but it will be up and running pretty soon. so stay tune, yah? :)

new art: digital sketches (with Adobe Ideas)

something that i doodled with Adobe Ideas app on iPad. images resolution has been reduced for this posting. please note all these are original artworks by mike chua. if you like my artwork(s), and wish to use them, please do contact me. no forms as yet, you will need to post at the comments. i will be working on a form system for the ease of communication ;)

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video: iPad + Velcro

i have seen countless homemade videos on youtube and the likes. but i got to say this one is climbing the chart. the music compliments the video and the editing sure beats the hell out of The Last Air Bender hands down. i kid you not. not that i supports what Jesse did but the key is the video. it's fun, it's light hearted. check it out.

new art: tink woman 2

finally back. i was out for a short trip last week. can't hardly wait to create something so here's my very own digital finger painting. this is created with Tinker app on iPad. i thought it looks pretty cool, especially now that i can doodle digitally. sweet :)

coming soon: new future vintage series poster art!

i am working on a new future vintage series poster art, i called it 'police drones'. stay tune folks! it should be done by early next week. cheers! :)

product: Apple Magic Trackpad

(photo source: apple.com)

love your multitouch trackpad on your unibody macbook? now you can do just that with your iMac with this huge magic trackpad. the magic trackpad enables you to scroll, click, swipe and rotate with your fingers, just like what you will do on your macbook. all this while i have been thinking 'why no one come with trackpad for desktop?'. looks like it's a dream come true. along with the magic trackpad, Apple also announced the new line of iMac running on i3, i5 and i7 processors. screen sizes are still 27 inches and 21.5 inches.

visit Apple website.

tech: martin jetpack

(photo source: martinjetpack.com)

frankly, this isn't exactly the newest news but i'm still awe by the reality of human flight - that is with a human jetpack. with the jetpack, you can make your james bond dream come true. capable of ceiling of 8000 feet (2438 meters) and a range of 31.5 miles (approximately 50 kilometers) at a top speed of 63 miles an hour (101 km/h), it will get you to work minus the traffic jam. this provides a true meaning to taking short-cuts. that is if you can find a place to land & park this thing. make sure you get crease-free shirt to go with it. now, where do i store my brief case...

visit Martin Jetpack official website.

updates: search by labels

added a 'search by labels' gadget to facilitate easier navigation on my blog. check it out on the right hand side of this blog :)

product: LaCie XtremKey all-terrain USB Flash drive

(photo source: Lacie.com)

i want one! i am just such a big-time sucker for well-design stuff, especially tech-related items. this futuristic (& minimalist) looking flash drive definitely had me in a sec. for those who are constantly paranoid about crushing your flash drive, this could just end your problem. tech spec aside, which will pretty much the same for most flash drive, the XtremeKey will withstand the pressure of a 10-ton truck, resistance to 5 meter drops, watertight up to 100 meters and withstand extreme temperatures. so no more worry of important blueprints getting crush by your construction trucks or accidentally dropping your key into the deep blue sea while doing your important marine life research.

visit LaCie website.

product: hardcandy chrome bubble for iPhone4

(photo source: hardcandy.com)

iPhone4 has yet to hit Singapore's shore until this weekend but stores are already selling their cases. this one is a pretty new item from hardcandy. pretty sleek looking but no doubt it is going to be a finger print magnet. i saw the actual item, pretty cool indeed.

visit hardcandy website.

product: iLuv foldable leather case for iPad

(photo source: mikeshouts)

this is really worthly of a mention. the foldable leather case for iPad by iLuv. i haven't been bringing my iPad out more than a few steps out of my room, because i felt 'exposed' with any protection. while waiting patiently for DODOcase to arrive, this iLuv product will have to do for the next 5-6 weeks. and it cost only S$57.90 (approx. US$42.40).

check out the iLuv website.

product: DODOcase Made by Hand iPad case

(photo source: DODOcase.com)

searching the net for a cool looking iPad case lands me at DODOcase. the case, known as the limited first edition DODOcase, is made by hand in San Francisco, California. being a big-time sucker for style + design, i know i gotta have one of this for my iPad.

with the influx of iPad cases in the market, this definitely stands out among the crowd. google around or pop-by any of your local stores, and you will know what i mean. after dizzying yourself out with the endless choices (of cases) in the market, you will begin to think that majority of them looks the same. DODOcase cost US$59.90 plus shipping and it takes 5-6 weeks for delivery. quite a wait but hey, it is afterall hand-made and we certainly don't want to compromise the quality by rushing the craftsman.

visit DODOcase website.

poster art: space medic calvary recruitment

another one for my 'future vintage' series. another imagination from some nooks in my brain :) a recruitment poster for a 'inter-galaxy space medic calvary'. the 'space ambulance' was an improved version based of what i drew some years back. like i said, it's an a fantasy. as with before, please don't still my fantasy and my imagination. alright? cool. cheers! ;)



like what you see? you can order your print HERE.

medium size poster. size 24 by 36 inches.

poster art: mikolov personal spacecraft!

check out my poster design based a fantasy sci-fi spacecraft that i drew some years ago. managed to digitize it today and make it into a 'vintage retro poster'. this is another stuff that i plucked out of my head.  it's kind of like "i dig this poster out from my grandpa's attic - the year was 3500." enjoy! please, do not steal my work. especially the mikolov spacecraft. that's my fantasy, don't take it alway from me alright? cheers! ; )

like what you see? you can order your print HERE.

project D.I.Y. light tent

haven't been doing much lately, been busy formulating for my 'official' website. however, i managed to get a D.I.Y. light tent done (which is something i have always wanted to do) based on the guide in Digital Photography School. disclaimer: i don't have a SLR, plus i am not good with camera but i must say the light tent saves me plenty of time from editing on photoshop. for the interior, instead of using strips of blister board as recommended, i am being more 'extravagant' by cutting out a windows on a piece of vanguard sheet so that the side is now in one piece without any seams. however, my stock vanguard isn't long enough for this big box. this resulted in a seam at the photography area. check out my version of the light tent below with the photo samples. pardon me for it's filmsy look - it is filmsy - the carton box suffered quite an ordeal while in the process of being converted into a light tent :D

        

the sample of the photos were taken for a LED lights blogsite, which is being maintained by me :) you can check out the blogsite HERE or by clicking on the photos.

and here are a couple more of the 'results' with a little cropping and exposure adjustment with photoshop:



pretty neat huh? no more using the lasso tool or pen tool and painstaking cropping the unwanted background out. that's good news. info: that's my lovely iPod classic with my all time favorite Gelaskins. photos taken with Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28.