Epixels, a company I had no idea it ever exists in Penang, which has been there for quite sometime, I got to know it when I decided to get a nice Kata camera backpack which can fit all my gadgets (my 350D, 18200 lens, 1022 UWA, 430EX flash, my netbook, batteries, chargers and my lx3). After consultation, advices and googling, I decided to get Kata DR-467i which can fit my Acer 15inch laptop as well (If I choose to bring it along, which most probably not since it weight more than 2kg).
With recommendation by my boss, I decided to go to this the suppose distributor of Kata in Penang (epixels) to get the bag. While we reach there, it is a bit disappointed since there is really not much of the choices left, while I expecting the whole range of Kata's bag there...
So, maybe they had decide to not distribute Kata bags anymore as I didn't see Kata as one of the brand at their website anymore. So, I try to ask for the DR-467i and they don't have it. Sigh, so I look around and voila! there are 3 DR-467 left, a black-green, a pink and a beige version. So, I take a look at the price tag, wow....RM359.00....pretty steep. So, I ask for the price, and they directly take 30% off the price tag, nice......but, I wish to get a black-red (since I'm a canon fans. If I'm Nikon fans, I'll try to get a black-yellow version). When I ask for it, the shopkeeper told me that those are the only one left. So, it really sounds like they are really pulling out from Kata distribution. :P
As I wish to get a nice hard casing for my LX3 as well, I went on and ask for the EC-01 and still the same answer......those are the only one left. So, no luck for my LX3.
With limited choice, I pick the black-green eventhough mutombo (not the one in NBA) keep asking me to get the pink, there is no way I'm gonna get a pink bag to bring along with my pro looking black 350D!!!! But I'll get a pink bag if I have a pink color Panasonic Lumix GF1. :P
Before I pay, the shopkeeper pass me the namecard. I flip to the back, wow, I saw "Canon EOS Academy"!!!!! WooHoo!!!!! Finally, it is in Penang!!!!!! Starting from May!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!!! With a further asking, they actually say that we can test any Canon equipments there until you satisfied before you bought it. Hopefully got 30% discount for the equipment they are selling as well. Kekekeke.......
So, as I grab one of the last 3 bags, there is only the pink and the beige color left. If you want to get a Kata DR-467 and want to get it cheap? Grab it!!!!!!!
epixels:
website: www.epixels.biz
Add: 28, Nagore Road, 10050 Penang, Malaysia
Phone: 604-2277486
e-mail: arden@epixels.biz
P/S: If you are canon fans, after May, lets go there test out all the Canon lenses and dslr there!!!! It has been my dream to test a 7D with an L-lens!!!!!! kekekeke.......
Oh ya, one last thing, check out their website, they offer quite some interesting workshop, especially the one for Mom and for kids, really nice that they actually do that. :)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Almost a nightmare to me!!!! Nearly lost photos......Picasa, foolproof your program
It gave me a fright when I opening up my Picasa today, suddenly one of my folder is gone! I manage to catch a glimpse of it before it is gone, which make me wondering, what happen?
The only thing I remember is that the folder was importing when the Picasa update pop up and ask "There is a new update, do you want to update now?". As a programmer myself, I know that it is no good to do it during an operation, so I try to click "No". Now, the problem with netbook is that, the keyboard and touchpad is smaller size, hence, I accidentally click "Yes". So, the next thing I know is the "update" hang, the Picasa also hang, which leave me with the only option.....yes, I kill both processes.
Then, I reopen the Picasa, and it seems like the folder was imported successfully, which leave me happy and praise the programmer of Picasa for 24 hours (Yes, I praise them until now. :P). And now, it is gone!!!!!!! How can it be? It is in Picasa yesterday, it is in the HDD folder yesterday (Yes, I always check the physical copy is exists everytime after import), and now, it is gone!!!!! Don't know that Picasa actually apply Chipsmore concept (Now you see it, now you don't).
So, it left me with only 1 choice - file recovery from the SD card (Yes, I know I shouldn't select the delete file after import option, but I'm a lazy programmer. :P). First, I try to recover using the SanDisk Recovery Pro. It is very pro indeed, it turns my .raw2 (LX3) into JPG/PNG/TIFF and my recorded .mov into thoussands of JPG. So Pro.......and it takes 20mins to scan through my 8GB SD card.
So, I got no choice but to use Google (Damn, I realized that I can't live without Google. :P) to search for a better file recovery program, and most importantly.....it must be free. So, I saw another one which is called "PhotoRec" (sounds pro right?), so I downloaded it and give it a try. The program file is small, around 1.5MB only, which make me so excited since the software size is so small. When I fire it up, I was stunned.........a software without GUI in year 2010 is so wrong.......
Next, try to search for another one again......and I found GlarySoft Undelete, the name, so so only, but the file name is nice, it is called "gunsetup.exe". I fire it up, the interface looks clean and simple, press search on my SD card.......Whoaaaa........10 seconds, it shows all my lost file in its explorer!!!!!!!! Press on "restore", 2 mins......done!
So, lesson learned:
1. Don't ever update your Picasa while importing photo.
2. Don't use the option "Delete after import" in Picasa.
3. Always have a file restore software ready (Just in case anything happens, except if your card is burned)
4. Google is human after all, they do make mistake. :P
Lastly, if you interested with the free software, here is the link: http://www.glarysoft.com/gun.html
The only thing I remember is that the folder was importing when the Picasa update pop up and ask "There is a new update, do you want to update now?". As a programmer myself, I know that it is no good to do it during an operation, so I try to click "No". Now, the problem with netbook is that, the keyboard and touchpad is smaller size, hence, I accidentally click "Yes". So, the next thing I know is the "update" hang, the Picasa also hang, which leave me with the only option.....yes, I kill both processes.
Then, I reopen the Picasa, and it seems like the folder was imported successfully, which leave me happy and praise the programmer of Picasa for 24 hours (Yes, I praise them until now. :P). And now, it is gone!!!!!!! How can it be? It is in Picasa yesterday, it is in the HDD folder yesterday (Yes, I always check the physical copy is exists everytime after import), and now, it is gone!!!!! Don't know that Picasa actually apply Chipsmore concept (Now you see it, now you don't).
So, it left me with only 1 choice - file recovery from the SD card (Yes, I know I shouldn't select the delete file after import option, but I'm a lazy programmer. :P). First, I try to recover using the SanDisk Recovery Pro. It is very pro indeed, it turns my .raw2 (LX3) into JPG/PNG/TIFF and my recorded .mov into thoussands of JPG. So Pro.......and it takes 20mins to scan through my 8GB SD card.
So, I got no choice but to use Google (Damn, I realized that I can't live without Google. :P) to search for a better file recovery program, and most importantly.....it must be free. So, I saw another one which is called "PhotoRec" (sounds pro right?), so I downloaded it and give it a try. The program file is small, around 1.5MB only, which make me so excited since the software size is so small. When I fire it up, I was stunned.........a software without GUI in year 2010 is so wrong.......
Next, try to search for another one again......and I found GlarySoft Undelete, the name, so so only, but the file name is nice, it is called "gunsetup.exe". I fire it up, the interface looks clean and simple, press search on my SD card.......Whoaaaa........10 seconds, it shows all my lost file in its explorer!!!!!!!! Press on "restore", 2 mins......done!
So, lesson learned:
1. Don't ever update your Picasa while importing photo.
2. Don't use the option "Delete after import" in Picasa.
3. Always have a file restore software ready (Just in case anything happens, except if your card is burned)
4. Google is human after all, they do make mistake. :P
Lastly, if you interested with the free software, here is the link: http://www.glarysoft.com/gun.html
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Teluk Bahang - Penang Tropical Fruit Farm
Penang Tropical Fruit Farm, located at the north of the Penang Island, in the area of Teluk Bahang, it takes around 1 hour drive from the Penang bridge. I had never have interest to visit to the place since tropical fruits is easily accessible from the local wet market or roadside fruit stalls. Well, since it is my boss treat, why not give it a try? :P
So, first thing first, to get to the place, you'll really need to make sure your car is in good condition to concur the winding and up/down hill access road. You should prepare some car sick bag so that your passenger have some place to vomit (if you drive like Jay Chow in Initial-D movie). There are 2 route to get to the farm, first is through Batu Ferringhi -> Teluk Bahang (For those who stay in the area of Tanjung Bunga, Tanjung Tokong, Pulau Tikus, Gurney Drive), second is through Bayan Lepas -> Batu Maung -> Teluk Kumbar -> Balik Pualu -> Teluk Bahang (For those who stay in the area of Bayan Baru, Relau, Sg. Nibong).
The last hairpin turn (please don't try the drifting act here) before reaching the fruit farm. The photo is taken inside the fruit farm. :P There are not really a lots of car park at the farm, so be early especially on the school holiday season. The farm open from 9.00am to 6.00pm daily and the entrance fee is RM25 for adult and RM17 for children age from 6 to 12 years old. If you wish, there is package for bbq lunch (RM35 - RM45) as well. For any packages, there will be a fruit farm tour which takes around 45 - 60 mins.
The farm has more than 250 types of tropical and sub-tropical fruits planted on the 25 acres land. Some of the fruit are seasonal, so you might miss those fruits which are not in season when you are there.
The bbq lunch, which have bbq chicken, lamb, beef, fish, sotong, hot dog and pineapple fried rice.
The "chef" at work.
The communication tower near the farm
Fruits served at the bbq lunch as well, yellow watermelon......there are other type of fruits served as well. Also, there are free flow of fresh fruit juice served as well, you can even customized your fruit juice by mixing different combination of fruits.
Butterfly enjoying lunch as well......
After the lunch, the fruit farm tour get started, there will be a dedicated tour guide for each visiting group.
First to introduce, the highlight of the farm......Sky Fruit. According to the guide, it is called "sky fruit" due to the fruit is actually growing up (towards the sky), it has lots of medical value, and the farm actually selling "sky fruit" coffee (3 in 1).
The guide with one type of the fruit, forgot the name but it sounds something like "banana apple"? Later we went lots of kind of apple, which none of them looks like the apple we always see on the market or the fruit stall.
Papaya leaves, photo taken from a young papaya which is still short.
Banana.......
Dragon fruit, with ants......
A bigger dragon fruit...
An even bigger dragon fruit...
These are the roots of the dragon fruit. They actually plant it on a round shape concrete, and you can see the roots going round the structure.
Star fruit, taken in the hut where they selling tropical fruits produced from the farm.
If you are interested to pay a visit, below are the infos:
Add: Batu 18, Jalan Teluk Bahang, Penang
Tel: 604-8665168
Fax: 604-8665170
GPS coordinate: +5° 24' 52.62", +100° 13' 1.00"
So, first thing first, to get to the place, you'll really need to make sure your car is in good condition to concur the winding and up/down hill access road. You should prepare some car sick bag so that your passenger have some place to vomit (if you drive like Jay Chow in Initial-D movie). There are 2 route to get to the farm, first is through Batu Ferringhi -> Teluk Bahang (For those who stay in the area of Tanjung Bunga, Tanjung Tokong, Pulau Tikus, Gurney Drive), second is through Bayan Lepas -> Batu Maung -> Teluk Kumbar -> Balik Pualu -> Teluk Bahang (For those who stay in the area of Bayan Baru, Relau, Sg. Nibong).
The last hairpin turn (please don't try the drifting act here) before reaching the fruit farm. The photo is taken inside the fruit farm. :P There are not really a lots of car park at the farm, so be early especially on the school holiday season. The farm open from 9.00am to 6.00pm daily and the entrance fee is RM25 for adult and RM17 for children age from 6 to 12 years old. If you wish, there is package for bbq lunch (RM35 - RM45) as well. For any packages, there will be a fruit farm tour which takes around 45 - 60 mins.
The farm has more than 250 types of tropical and sub-tropical fruits planted on the 25 acres land. Some of the fruit are seasonal, so you might miss those fruits which are not in season when you are there.
The bbq lunch, which have bbq chicken, lamb, beef, fish, sotong, hot dog and pineapple fried rice.
The "chef" at work.
The communication tower near the farm
Fruits served at the bbq lunch as well, yellow watermelon......there are other type of fruits served as well. Also, there are free flow of fresh fruit juice served as well, you can even customized your fruit juice by mixing different combination of fruits.
Butterfly enjoying lunch as well......
After the lunch, the fruit farm tour get started, there will be a dedicated tour guide for each visiting group.
First to introduce, the highlight of the farm......Sky Fruit. According to the guide, it is called "sky fruit" due to the fruit is actually growing up (towards the sky), it has lots of medical value, and the farm actually selling "sky fruit" coffee (3 in 1).
The guide with one type of the fruit, forgot the name but it sounds something like "banana apple"? Later we went lots of kind of apple, which none of them looks like the apple we always see on the market or the fruit stall.
Papaya leaves, photo taken from a young papaya which is still short.
Banana.......
Dragon fruit, with ants......
A bigger dragon fruit...
An even bigger dragon fruit...
These are the roots of the dragon fruit. They actually plant it on a round shape concrete, and you can see the roots going round the structure.
Star fruit, taken in the hut where they selling tropical fruits produced from the farm.
If you are interested to pay a visit, below are the infos:
Add: Batu 18, Jalan Teluk Bahang, Penang
Tel: 604-8665168
Fax: 604-8665170
GPS coordinate: +5° 24' 52.62", +100° 13' 1.00"
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