Simon Vin's Blog

New blog coming soon

2007-12-08T16:28:00.001+08:00

I've got to admit it. This blog sucks! I'm making a new site. Stay tuned.

New Ajikan song

2007-10-15T14:34:00.000+08:00

Asian Kung-Fu Generation's new song has just been released on japanese radio!!!
The song is so cool!!!!!! I made a forum signiture of the song:

Daxter

2007-10-05T21:40:00.000+08:00

Playing Daxter on my PSP...
Now I'm stuck around halfway.. Up to the lumber mill place or whatever.

Meh, it's an alright game though.

Winter Sleepout Photos

2007-09-25T19:16:00.000+08:00

I've finally gotten a hold of the pics from the Winter Sleepout this year and have uploaded it to my Bebo profile.
Check it out!

PSP.. Today!?

2007-09-12T16:56:00.000+08:00

This is a surprise.. The PSP was released today!!!

I got it a day early!! Now for some games..

Seems so far away...

2007-09-09T14:03:00.000+08:00

There's only 4 days(!!) to go but Thursday seems like its in another month.

Come On!!!

Can't help but countdown

2007-09-07T17:30:00.000+08:00

Still can't wait!

Less than 6 days (if you count with hours) till i get one, though its gonna take like 2 hours to charge...

Too bad I have school on Thursday.

I'm getting a PSP!

2007-09-06T17:06:00.000+08:00

The PSP comes out next Thursday (13th sept), and I'm glad to say I'm getting one.

I've already preordered one at EB Games here in Morley for $50, but I can't pock it up until after school. :( oh well.
I'll be running from my science class at the end of the day. Can't wait.

Oh yeah, I'm getting a black one for $279; PSP, charger and a battery.

Winter Sleepout

2007-08-27T15:32:00.000+08:00

The winter sleepout was held over the weekend and I attended...
It was so windy and cold during the sleepout. We played card games during the night, and went to sleep at around 12:30am!

We raised over $2,000(est) in sponorship and donation for Mission Australia.

EDIT: Around $2,800 was actually raised.

How to tell a fake Memory Stick Pro Duo to a genuine Memory Stick.

2007-08-15T20:06:00.000+08:00

My first guide!

----

Have you got a fake memory stick? Or are you planning to buy, but aren’t sure about its quality? Read on.

----

I quote from eBay:

“Millions of eBayers have been deceived by inferior quality, unpopular cheap MS disguised as Sony Memory Stick PRO DUO as more than 98% of ALL 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB MSPD listed on eBay are counterfeit items and many have FAKE & OVERSTATED capacities (some even call it COMPRESSED). Genuine buyers got scammed by fraudulent eBay sellers everyday and this process keep on repeating.”

Even if a seller has tons of positive feedback, and lots of buyers, it doesn’t mean a product is genuine.

----

The Clues:

1. A fake SONY part number and MagicGate incompatibility.

Genuine memory sticks have proper part numbers. These are:

· PRO series: 1gb (MSX-1GS), 2gb (MSX-2GS).

· PRO Duo Hi-Speed series: 1gb (MSX-M1GN), 2gb (MSX-M2GN), 4gb (MSX-M4GN).

· PRO Duo series (previous): 1gb (MSX-M1GST), 2gb (MSX-M2GS), 4gb (MSX-M4GS), 8gb (MSX-M8GS).

· PRO Duo series (current): 2gb (MSX-M2GS/X), 4gb (MSX-M4GS/X), 8gb (MSX-M8GS/X).

Fake memory sticks have a different number. They have an extra T.

If you have a PSP then you can check the MagicGate status of the Memory Stick. Navigate to your Memory Stick on your PSP and press triangle. Go to information and check if it says MagicGate Supported. If it is unknown or unsupported then you have a fake Memory Stick.

2. The packaging

Genuine packaging has heat seals around the edges. They look like long rectangles. Fakes have round glue seals and can be opened too easily.

Genuine packaging also has 9-6-9 (some has 3-2-3) rectangular heat seals along the Left, Top and Right edges of the pack while fake always only has 3-3 round glue seals along the Left and Right edges with NO seal at the Top edge. This applies to all 1gb/2gb/4gb/8gb retail packaging products.

The size label (the round one) is colour coded. 1gb is Light Blue, 2gb is Light Green, 4gb is Purple Blue, 8gb is Red. The 1gb-4gb may be hard to spot out but the fake 8gb will be Light Blue.

Genuine packaging will have a golden 3D 'SONY holographic sticker' at the front. Newer fakes now also have similar identical holographic sticker. Bring the packaging to your nearest SONY retail outlet and ask for a SONY Anti-counterfeit Handy Viewer to see if your item is genuine. The viewer has 2 see through Lens. A genuine hologram will appear as complete BLACK when seen through the Left lens and Normal on the Right lens. A counterfeit hologram will appear as Normal through both Left and Right lens.

Notice the different colour code and the extra T. [left=genuine, right=fake]

3. The front

[left=genuine, right=fake]

A genuine Memory Stick uses print ready/control vector art technique to print all the letterings. Fakes use inferior hi-res bitmap to copy the genuine, so there is a printing flaw. The font on the fake usually is bolder, messy, out of focus and rubs off easily. Newer fakes may have the exact print.

Fakes are usually thicker. Try fitting the card into an adapter. It may seem like it’s squeezed in. Newer 2gb fakes (1959mb version) even has problems fitting into a PSP.

4. The back

The font type, size and printing style may differ between fakes and genuines. Real Memory Sticks have the letter S in 'MSX-4GS' as italic but the S used in other writings such as 'BBSC1000000' won't be. The genuine cards have text laser-etched onto the plastic and can be felt with your finger. Fakes use the hi-res technique and will be smooth and can rub off.

Take note of the gold contacts. If the plastic covering or the actual stripe looks deficient then it may be fake.

A genuine 2gb stick.

5. The inside

I’m not going to go into detail here (its not like you're gonna open up your memory stick). Sony uses a marked PCB board that usually uses a Samsung chip. Fakes have an unknown and an unmarked flash chip.

6. Capacity and speed

A genuine 4gb displays the default capacity as 3839mb and a genuine 2gb displays the default capacity as 1909mb (some devices will show 1910mb). Some older fake 2gb sticks shows 1948mb and 1959mb of memory space when being tested. Newer fake 2gb sticks may now show any of these figures including the 1910mb of a genuine. However some 2GB fakes only have a true capacity of only 512mb/1gb. Try transferring as much data as possible to your card and also read data from the card to see if it will actually hold the stated capacity with no sign of data corruption.

The genuine hi-speed card (with the red-stripe) has a transfer speed of about 80mbps. Fakes have a slower transfer speed with a 1948mb fake only doing about 65mbps to 70mbps and a 1959mb fake only doing at the most, 60mbps.

----

Fake sticks don’t usually last that long and files stored can become corrupt after reading them.

If you’re buying a stick online, beware. Sellers can also mislead you by posting genuine photos and not ones of the actual product they are selling. Remember to check the packaging and maybe sometimes things can be ‘to good to be true’.

Simon Vin

Images grabbed off eBay.

More info and references:

http://www.videogames.net.au/how-to-spot-a-fake-sony-memory-stick/
http://reviews.ebay.com.au/FAKE-Sony-Memory-Stick-Pro-Duo-MagicGate-Cards-Exposed_W0QQugidZ10000000001535703

New PSP!?!

2007-08-09T18:08:00.000+08:00

There is new PSP coming out, and hopefully I will get one lol.
The new PSP or PSP Slim is meant to be 33% smaller and 19% lighter...

Smaller.. a bit..., design's still the same.

I want one!!!111!!one!

Content Management

2007-08-04T20:34:00.000+08:00

http://sv.66ghz.com/fusion/news.php

Above is the link to my *experimental* website. I am testing more web-stuff out and I want to see what is good. So please visit, comment, and then maybe I will update it.

Edit: I stuffed it!!! oh well the page is still there...

Asian Kung-Fu Generation - Rewrite

2007-07-17T15:39:00.001+08:00

This is one of my favourite Ajikan songs.... lol.

Nagareboshi Higher Quality subbed

2007-07-14T21:06:00.000+08:00

I have realeased a better clip of the below video.... My name isn't advertised in it :)
Link: http://mihd.net/yjc36x
Enjoy..?!

New YouTube videos

2007-07-10T15:47:00.000+08:00

I have uploaded more videos from my collection to YouTube. If you are are fan of J-Music then head over to http://youtube.com/thesd16.

One particular video, Nagareboshi by Home Made Kazoku already has about 70 views and 7 favourites (and counting), and it has only been up for a couple of days... Seems a lot of people like subbed vids - espeacially this one.

Sample: Nagareboshi ~Shooting Star~

.. :(

2007-06-25T19:17:00.000+08:00

Haven't posted in ages...

Well I've been sick for the past weekend (you don't want to know anymore).
I was gonna go to the movies [to watch Fantastic 4] yesterday but I couldn't, my mum wouldn't let me fo the above reason.

CRAP homework.

Sketches

2007-06-11T17:43:00.000+08:00

I drew up some sketches for all you to look at :)

^^ Naruto ^^

^^ Sasuke ^^

Note: These aren't the final version.

Work Experience

2007-05-25T19:57:00.000+08:00

I got work experience starting on monday. I had a little bi of a dilemma for transport to get home though, but everything's alright.

Aaaarrrggh!!! Assignments-Homework

2007-05-12T18:30:00.000+08:00

Nooo.... I got homework for almost ever subject to do over the weekend. Well at least I just finished my english but I still need to so my S+E, Maths and chinese school (can you believe it?).

It's just too much! lol

Lightning Carnival.. aftermath??...

2007-05-03T20:18:00.000+08:00

Well, to make a long story short (what story..?), WE SUCKED!!!

We lost all our matches and not one goal was scored for our team!
Oh well... lol

EDIT: Looky here

Lightning Carnival

2007-05-02T20:58:00.000+08:00

Long time no post...

Well tomorrow is the lightning carnival (interschool), and i'm doing soccer [football].
Better not rain tomorrow, but its forecast to.
..no wonder they call it the lightning carnival.

ANZAC Day

2007-04-25T11:13:00.000+08:00

Its anzac day today, which means no school (YAY!!!) and time to write a new blog post.

Not going to be doing much today, but stay home on the computer all day.

Random Firefox Screenshot

2007-04-21T18:54:00.000+08:00

I thought I would show you how good Firefox is, by showing you mine... [the_sd16]'s Firefox.
Click.

Post Calendar

2007-04-19T11:51:00.000+08:00

I have added a Calendar towards the right as you can see. It is there to make browsing my posts easier, and if you don't like the arrow thingy.
How to use:
By default, the calendar shows the ~~most recent~~ posts ~~(probably~~ for this month). When you roll over a date, the links will change to show only the posts for the day. When you change months, the links will update to posts for the whole month.

PS Day numbers are "striked-out" because there aren't any posts for that day. It may also look like 4 isn't crossed out because the stike-out line is over the already horizontal line of the 4.

Survey - How many things have you lived through?

2007-04-17T15:27:00.000+08:00

I was bored so I thought I would do this survey

How Many Things Have You Lived Through?

I have read a lot of books.

I have been on some sort of varsity team.

I have run more than 2 miles without stopping.

I have been to Canada.

I have been to Europe.

I have watched cartoons for hours.

I have tripped UP the stairs.

I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs.

I have been snowboarding/skiing.

I have played ping pong.

I swam in the ocean.

I have been on a whale watch.

I have seen fireworks.

I have seen a shooting star.

I have seen a meteor shower.

I have almost drowned.

I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.

I have listened to one CD over & over & over again.

I have had stitches.

I have had frostbite.

I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there.

I have stayed up til 2 doing homework/projects.

I currently have a job.

I have been ice skating.

I have been rollerblading

I have fallen flat on my face.

I have tripped over my own two feet.

I have been in a fist fight.

I have played videogames for more than 3 hours straight.

I have watched the power rangers.

I attend Church regularly.

I have played truth or dare.

I have already had my 16th birthday.

I have already had my 17th birthday.

I've called someone stupid.

I've been in a verbal argument.

I've cried in school.

I've played basketball on a team.

I've played baseball on a team.

I've played football on a team.

I've played soccer on a team.

I've done cheerleading on a team.

I've played softball on a team.

I've played volleyball on a team.

I've played tennis on a team.

I've been on a track or cross country team.

I've been swimming more than 20 times in my life.

I've bungee jumped.

I've climbed a rock wall.

I've lost more than $20.

I've called myself an idiot.

I've called someone else an idiot.

I've cried myself to sleep.

I've had (or have) pets.

I've owned a spice girls CD.

I've owned a britney spears CD.

I've owned an N*Sync CD.

I've owned a backstreet boys CD.

I've mooned someone.

I have sworn at someone of authority before.

I've been in the newspaper.

I've been on TV.

I've been to Hawaii.

I've eaten sushi.

I've been on the other side of a waterfall.

I've watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies.

I've watched all the Harry Potter movies.

I've watched all of the Rocky movies.

I've watched the 3 stooges.

I've watched "Newlyweds" Nick & Jessica.

I've watched Looney Tunes.

I've been stuffed into a locker/I have stuffed others into lockers.

I've been called a geek.

I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade.

I've not studied at all for a test and aced it.

I've hugged my mom within the past 24 hrs.

I've hugged my dad within the past 24 hours.

I've met a celebrity/music artist.

I've written poetry.

I've been arrested.

I've been attracted to someone much older than me.

I've been tickled till I've cried.

I've tickled someone else until they cried.

I've had/have siblings.

I've been to a rock concert.

I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it.

I've been in a play.

I've been picked last in gym class.

I've been picked first in gym class.

I've been picked in that middle-range in gym class.

I've cried in front of my friends.

I've read a book longer than 1,000 pages.

I've played Halo 2.

I've freaked out over a sports game.

I've been to Alaska.

I've been to China.

I've been to Spain.

I've been to Japan. [note - hoping to go next year]

I've had a fight with someone on AIM.

I've had a fight with someone face-to-face.

I've had serious conversations using IM.

I've forgiven someone who has done something wrong to me.

I've been forgiven.

I've screamed at a scary movie.

I've cried at a chick flick.

I've watched a lot of action movies.

I've screamed at the top of my lungs.

I've been to a rap concert.

I've been to a hip hop concert.

I've lived in more than 2 houses.

I've driven on the highway/been on the highway.

I've driven more than 400 miles in a day/been in a car that went more than 400 miles in a day.

I've been in a car accident.

I've done drugs.

I've been homesick.

I've thrown up.

I've puked on someone.

I've been horseback riding.

I've filled out more than 10 myspace surveys.

I've spoken my mind in public.

I've proved someone wrong.

I've been proven wrong by someone.

I've broken a leg.

I've broken an arm.

I've fallen off a swing.

I've swung on a swing for more than 30 mins straight.

I've watched Winnie the Pooh movies.

I've forgotten my backpack when I've gone to school.

I've lost my backpack.

I've come close to dying.

I've seen someone die.

I've known someone who has died.

I've wanted to be an actor/actress at some point.

I've done modeling.

I've forgotten to brush my teeth some mornings.

I've taken something/someone for granted.

I've realized how good my life is.

I've counted my blessings.

I've made fun of a classmate. [note - he's not even a mate, don't like him]

I've been asked out by someone and I said no.

I've slapped someone in the face.

I've been skateboarding.

I've been backstabbed by someone I thought was a friend.

I've lied to someone to their face.

I've told a little white lie.

I've taken a day off from school just so I don't go insane.

I've fainted.

I've had an argument with someone about whether cheerleading is a sport or not.

I've pushed someone into a pool.

I've been pushed into a pool.

I've been/are in love.

I have lived through 46 things. Find out how many things you have lived through by taking the survey at TheTopTens

Naruto Shippūden 8-9

2007-04-17T14:55:00.000+08:00

I was watching episode 8-9 on Saturday, and what I was expecting to be a good episode with lots of action turned out to be a waste of time. I accidently downloaded 6-7 again before this one by mistake (just thought I would mention my stupidity).

Sorry for all those people that thought I was normal (define normal), Naruto is an alright show, it is just the english dub that makes it seem stupid.

EDIT(21/8): Even episode 10 is not that good. Well I always got the manga.

Template

2007-04-17T12:41:00.000+08:00

As you may have noticed, I changed the template to a dark red one, because the green one wasn't modern enough.

EDIT: I have changed it again to make it a bit lighter and easier to edit.
EDIT: Changed to three column

Photos of fireworks

2007-04-16T19:15:00.000+08:00

These are pics from the Satuday night fireworks at the Supreme Court Gardens, for Buddha's Birthday Festival.

Taken by me, from my phone (click on the photos for full size).

Buddha's Birthday

2007-04-16T18:21:00.000+08:00

The buddha's birthday festival was held in Perth over the weekend (I had to volunteer for it). It was raining on Sunday and everybody left early, but other than that it was alright.

I will post photos of the fireworks soon.

A new blog

2007-04-16T17:49:00.000+08:00

Yes, I have created a blog. If you want to know why, don't ask.
Almost everybody has a blog so I thought I would create one.

This blog is just like an extra section to my website.
Don't be surprised if a post is different the next day.