Hi Laine, may I know how many percent your employer contribute from your basic salary? Thanks.

I do agreed that Apple is far from perfect, in fact nothing will be prefect. That's why Apple never do market research, you'll go nowhere asking every tom, d|ck and harry what they wants. The good thing that is coming from Apple 'monopoly' is the ease of synchronisation.

Ditto, that's why I said if things are perfect, there won't be any room left for improvement.
I don't mind paying for Apps as I've few devices to "share the cost" Will probably switch to an iMac once my current laptop goes kaput. Not being an iFag, just that they complement each other wtf.

2 points.

My meaning of perfect is not that it caters for every need and desire. It means it needs to work as it should / as advertised, for the premium price you paid for it. You pay that price, you want something that works out of the box, not be drafted into Apple's beta testing team.

And that brings me to my second point, if you happen to be like me where I have different needs and wants compared to what Apple is willing to offer, then I am entitled to buy something else like Android. If Apple wants my money, do that market research and give me a device I want. If not let me buy Android in peace. But when Apple starts using litigation instead of competition against Android and Android customers - then that sets off all sorts of alarm bells for us.

This post has been edited by seantang: Sep 25 2012, 02:59 PM

Point #1 - Fair enough, I agreed it should work as advertised. However, I believe everyone has different level of acceptance. For example, the map is crap, but it doesn't bother me as much as those who rely alot on a map. You would feel being ripped off if you buy the phone for its map. There will be improvement/changes for each and every product over a time. Did you feel like being drafted into messenger's beta testing team years ago?

Point #2 - Heh, it's free trade, you're allowed to buy anything. I have nothing against Android, when I said I am not smart enough to use an Android device, trust me it's true. As for the 2-ways ongoing lawsuits, it doesn't interest me greatly afterall I am still allowed to buy whatever I want (except in Australia where certain models are barred). I could be mistaken, but there were lawsuits against Apple from HTC?! Motorola?! And, Apple are paying certain amount to Nokia?! for whatever reason (my apologies as my attention span is really short-lived). Like I said before, I do not know what is the true intention behind all these lawsuits.

for EP online application,
do I have to sign the offer letter first or go to their office and sign the hard copy of the paperwork (later they will scan?)?

Or i just have to say yes i wanna join your company and they can proceed with the application?

Doesn't recall that i sign any document for online application. Even the offer letter is signed after i say yes to the company.

Actually it's not free trade. It hinders free trade. Consumer choice is being gamed by Apple, a ridiculous US patent process that cannot define the line between trade dress vs natural functionality and a partisan US jury system.

Pardon me if I don't see a full framed picture as you do. I am not well-versed in USA jury system or patent process but some of the Samsung models bear a close resemblance to iPhone.
At the moment, I don't see how it has hindered free trade since every models are on the market despite the court case. I can still walk into any telcos and buy an android phone without much hassle. There are going to be many more impending lawsuits amongst these players, but rest assure when the dust has settled, they have all already sold millions of phone.

It seems like Apple is throwing punches just to dominate the market but then again if you've spent alot of effort on doing something and then along it comes this copycat wanted to share pieces of your pie you'd be pissed.

Forgive me if I sounded ignorant or stubborn because these are only my personal views (as I do not have any credible qualification).

Not all models. There are some models where the court has stopped Samsung from selling. What's happening in most cases, is that the appeal is pending. But the are some models which have injunctions against them.

More importantly, it's not hard to imagine that Samsung will scale back their efforts in the US, minimise inventories... so that they don't get caught out with an appeal being lost and they have millions of phones in inventory they can't sell.

The threat of litigation is an impediment to free trade as it is an artificial barrier to entry. It is very telling that courts in the rest of the world did not agree with the US.

It's not their pie.

Apple does not have a monopoly on touch screens, rectangle candy bar phones or icons etc. Smartphones already evolved there much earlier. Palm had it, even my old HTC Touch had it earlier. Symbian had icons way before Apple did. Microsoft Windows perfected screen navigation via icons, buttons and menus. Apple copied these concepts and improved upon it. Google etc copied the concept after Apple copied it, and improved it even further. Windows 8 is doing it now.

The market for candy bar phones with touch screens and icons may have taken off after Apple's iPhone. They really expanded the pie. But does that mean that the pie/market/consumers got candy bar phones with touch screens and icons are now owned by Apple and anybody who wants a candy bar phone with touch screen and icons must buy it from them?

If that were the case, Henry Ford would be able to patent motorised cars that are rectangular with a wheel at each corner. Rectangular with a wheel at each corner is the natural form for a car. Or else the car will fall over. If one day, GM decides to use magnetic levitation in cars. Are all other car manufacturers not allowed to use magnetic levitation in cars? Cars are not new. Maglev is not new. But maglev in cars, is that a concept you can own and nobody else can use?

The way of the world has always been that once the first mover introduces a market concept that successfully creates a market, other entrants will follow and capitalise on that market. Apple is trying to change the game... in that the first mover also owns the market. The market is not allowed to source from anybody else besides the first mover. We see this with inventions, scientific research like pharmaceuticals etc... but this is the first with a marketing concept.

This post has been edited by seantang: Sep 25 2012, 07:18 PM

Yes its an app I'm currently using

http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/singapore-m...d388128906?mt=8

Thanks, I installed and try using it. It seems more like "green book" added on GPS.

Both have it's own advantage. I tested with my usual route, gothere give a shorter route with maps detail for driver such as individual house number, car park and bus stop info on the same page. The other apps has a lot more business info, pic etc but too much transition to a new page.

I will use both, gothere while I drive, SG street for business info and traffic cam.

Good morning.
At this rate, this discussion is never going to end, we are just going around in circle. I am aware Apple is not the first one that come out with Touch Screen, Icons and everything else. I clearly do not know on what ground Apple is suing Samsung for and on what ground Samsung is countersuing Apple. Bear in mind, this is not just Party A suing Party B. So, if one day the court rule in favor of Samsung, does that justified FREE TRADE? Samsung is doing what Apple is doing exactly (trying to stop their model going on sales- whether the court is being impartial is another issue here).

I see your point of view, people should just focus on being competitive to enhance their products instead of trying to monopolize and have sole authorisation on particular technology they allegedly owned. This is on a bigger picture.
If you read my posts again, I am not siding any party, maybe I just didn't make myself clear enough that those court cases do not interest me at all. I am just buying the products because I like the experience.

We are really OUT-TOPIC, I am afraid both of us will get the boot. If you wish to continue further, I suggest we take it elsewhere.

It is not free right? SG street good to find route?
i heard that there is some sort of livecam can show you the condition of woodlands checkpoint, any idea?

The SG street apps is free.

Before this, I always have a page in safari on the causeway traffic camera from onemotoring.com. With this SG street, you touch on the camera icon and it shows all major road pic.

Google my friend...
SOS here anyway
SG traffic cam

WhatsApp was free at certain period.. i got it free...

Oo...i thought there have the mobile version for it.

btw, thanks anyway

This post has been edited by yhoong12: Sep 26 2012, 02:15 PM

Yes...android platform

Traffic Cam SG

ELIGIBILITY
You can sign up for a mobile service if you have one of the following identity pass:

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You will be required to submit a scanned copy of your identity pass for verification during the checkout process.
To sign up for a 2 years mobile contract, your identity pass must have a validity of at least 1 year from the date of purchase. If your identity pass has a validity of less than 1 year but at least 6 months, you can sign up for a 1 year mobile contract at our retail shops.


DEPOSITS
A minimum deposit of $200 to $800 per mobile line (payable upon application and/or mobile phone upgrade) is required for foreigners holding a Work Permit, Social, Student or Dependent Pass.

$200 for mobile line only application
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