Buying Samsung 40" LCD TV

Have been eyeing a LCD TV since last year as I expect my 5 year old Samsung projection TV life to come to an end. My five year warranty had ended and I dont want to spend a cent to repair the TV for the fourth time. Its not worth it due to the cost of repair and new LCD TV is getting cheaper and better.

Didnt expect Samsung to have so many models of LCD TV for 40". From F, M, N and S series really blur what model to get. Pick up some tips from Hardwarezone about HD LCD TV and the expected damage to my pocket.

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/forumdisplay.php?f=226

I am not going into details of all those technical issue of HD TV because I also catch no ball but my experience in buying a Samsung 40" Full HD LCD TV model LA40M81 model. Some of you may be interested where and how to get a cheap LCD TV. 3 places where I enquired the price on the same model TV and heres the quote in sequence:

Ban Kim Chuan
Price: $2920
Installment: Yes- DBS credit card only
Freegift- Samsung Free gift - 19" LCD/Home threater System or 32" LCD
Warranty: 3 years
Delivery: Free + Wall bracket installation

Harvery Norman
Price: $2999(After negotiating)
Installment: Yes- Various credit card accepted
Freegift- Samsung Free gift - 19" LCD/Home threater System or 32" LCD
Warranty: 3 to 5 years (After negotiating)
Delivery: Chargable (Salesman cant even speak proper english not sure if he quote this right)

Best Denki
Price: $3099 to $2999(After negotiating)
Installment: Yes- Various credit card accepted (After negotiating)
Freegift- Samsung Free gift - 19" LCD/Home threater System or 32" LCD
Warranty: 3 to 5 years (After negotiating)
Delivery: Free + Wall bracket installation
Additonal: HDMI cable & Free delivery of 32" LCD TV

BKC would give the lowest quote in term of cost but the 5 year warranty offered by HN or BD is a better choice. I dont want end up with 4-5 repair like my Samsung Projection TV. BD gives the worst quote of the 3 shops but when I quote HN terms, the saleman offered to match HN offer. When I was firm in buying if he can give a better quote, he asked his Manager if he can lower the price further. The Manage doesnt approve but the salesman offered to give HDMI cable plus free deliver of the 32"LCD.

Not sure if I can get a better offer elsewhere but at least I know I got a good offer by comparing
the big and small shops. HDB shops doesnt alway give the best offer, you just need to source around. End of the day you can save few hundreds and spend on something else.

Heres my Samsung 40" LCD TV setup in my living room.

View Youtube from your PDA or Smart phones

This setup is really very easily for those who wanted to access Youtube or similar website to stream and view video directly from their PDA or Smartphones.

1) If you already have TCPMP installed, uninstall it now.
2) Install this version of TCPMP, linked below
http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=148801
3) Install FlashVideoBundle.CAB from the link above.
This MUST be installed in the same location as TCPMP (Device or Storage Card)
4) Soft-reset
5) Go to Start Menu->Programs->Video Sites and start streaming!

To make the viewing more enjoyable, you got have a good enough internet connection.
For my Singtel BBOM 512 kps plan, I would sometimes experience intermittent time off when streaming video. I would pause the playback and leave it to load before coming back for continous viewing when download is complete.

Another option is you can download the Youtube video in flv format on your device and view it any time you want. Remember to name your file with the .flv extension when saving.

For PDA user who have installed Micromedia Flash player, you may encounter problems. You need to uninstall the Flash player in order for the above software to work.

Enjoy and happy viewing.

Journey towards the PS3 & COD4

All the while I have being playing Real Time Strategy (RTS) games on my PC and laptop. Recently just finished playing through Company of Heros Opposing Fronts before deciding to buy a PS3 for my son as a video player. I bought my PS3 40gb early February at $545 together with Call of Duty 4 (COD) at $89.

Only disappontment I have is the PS3 cant play VCD which defeat the main intention that I want to use it initially. Troublesome it is to convert it to the acceptable
format for the PS3 using PS3 video 9 and then transfering it from laptop to PS3.

You may refer to the following link for the free download and guide.
http://www.redkawa.com/videoconverters/ps3video9/

Nearly wanted to vomit after 10-20 minutes of COD4 gameplay. Find the game graphics fantastic and realistic but struggling to use the controller. Its also my first time playing First-person shooter (FPS) game on a console. Getting used to it now and can manage 1-2 hr continous play.

Finish single player compaign and now playing multiplayer online "free for all". I just cant seem to play teammatch as I started slaughtering my teammates and alway end up in a cross fire. Initially I have really no idea how to aim, run, and hide and alway end up being knifed or shoot in the head. And you realise you have to stick with the default weapons until you have reach certain level to create your own class, perks and weapons.

Below is a very useful link on the ranks, perks and weapons for COD4.
http://www.cod4central.com/cod4-ranks.php

Singtel BroadBand on Mobile and PS3 Internet Connection

The information below will be useful to Singtel BBOM(Broadband on Mobile) and PS3 user.

I will mention two setup below with and without wireless router.

1) USB E220 Huawei Modem / Vista Laptop / PS3.
a) Make sure your E220 Huawei is working properly with your Vista laptop before trying Internet Sharing Connection. I have experienced problem with M1 service on my Vista Laptop before. I am much happy with Singtel service now with the more consistant connection.

b) Connect using ethernet cable from your Laptop to your PS3. Enable Internet Connection Sharing on your Vista Laptop through the Network and Sharing Center. You should see the check box to enable that option.

c) Lastly the most important step is to have the same IP address and DNS primary & seconday is setted according to the BBOM connection on the PS3. You can check these parameters on your laptop by running "cmd" and then type "ipconfig" on the dos screen.

Singtel BBOM DNS server 165.21.100.88
165.21.83.88

2) USB E220 Huawei Modem / Vista Laptop / Router/ PS3.
a) If you have a wireless router which you want to setup all your laptops, PSP, PS3 to share the internet connection from your laptop then you can follow this setup.

b) Firstly Create a wireless network connection on your Vista laptop and use the following setting on your TCP/IP4 properties. I connect my ethernet cable from laptop to the router WAN input.Make sure you can connect on your IE using 192.168.1.1. Dont do any change to the router setting except your WEP, SSID and router password. You will need the WEP password when logging in PS3 and remember your SSID.

IP address 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway 192.168.0.1
DNS server 165.21.100.88
165.21.83.88

c) Then you got to setup internet connection sharing on your Huawei E220 for your wireless network to share. Select wireless network connection in the drop down.When both the above is setup, you should see "Local and internet" access on you network and sharing center for the wireless network connection & Hauwei.

d) As for the PS3, go network setting, select wireless, key in your SSID, WEP and test connection. I am not sure what is Nat3 connection as what was shown after the test but it shows PSN & internet connection successful.

Recommended Game Shops in Singapore

Some reputable and reliable game shops in Singapore which you would like to patronise.

GAMESCORE
109 North Bridge Road#05-05
Funan DigitaLife Mall
Singapore 179097
Tel: 68373248
http://www.gamescore.com.sg/

FUNZCENTRE
53 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3
AMK Hub, #02-08
Singapore 569933
Tel: 64566672
http://www.funzcentre.com/


SEOW CHOON
13, 15, Jalan Besar
Singapore 208790
Tel: (65) 6292 4400
http://www.seowchoon.com/main/


FUNZ SQUARE
14, Far East Plaza#02-53,
Scotts Road
Singapore 228213
Tel: 68874802
http://www.funzsquare.com/


PLAYBOXX
Blk 505 Tampines Central 1
#01-329
Singapore 520505
Tel:6783 3757
http://www.playboxx-games.com.sg/