It has been a great revelation using cellphone technologies in Japan. I got a N703iD from Docomo last week and have been playing with it ever since. Japan probably has the most commercially advanced and successful mobile platform in the world. At the moment, Japanese cellphones can be used for mobile banking, transportation ticket, payment medium and many things more. However, such a great technology does have its pitfalls...
Because my internship is related to mobile IC applications, I feel obligated to try as many mobile applications as possible. So far I have downloaded and installed: Edy: A new e-money service that is very popular in Japan. It serves both brick-and-mortar shops, as well as the internet companies (in fact, I think it just started a partnership with Amazon Japan). Suica : A rechargeable e-ticket for the Japanese railway system. Besides e-ticket, it also provide some cash card services for its shop in and around railway stations. Mobile Banking (Mitsui Sumitomo): a mobile application from Mitsui Sumitomo bank that allows you to manage your bank account from the phone, and transfer money to other account and/or services such as Edy and Suica. And finally, how can I be serious all the time and not try downloading mobile games such as MomotaroDentetsu
Unfortunately, all the downloading comes with a hefty cost, literally.
It seems that for each packet transmitted (I think each packet is 1kb), I am paying 0.2 yen. It might not seem much but it adds up, fast, especially when I am not only surfing and instead i am downloading all these applications. It has not been a week, and my mobile internet charge has run up to 6000 yen already. That doesn't include my monthly fee, which I figure to be around 4000 yen. So I am already 10000 yen in debt before I know it...
2007-06-25
2007-06-22
A Good Read
From Marc Andreessen. For those who don't know, he was one of the founding member of Netscape. Found his new blog: blog.pmarca.com. It talks about technology and business stuff. If you are interested in any kind of entrepreneurial ventures, it's a must read. He has some very interesting insights to these areas.
2007-06-20
3 days of Sony
After 3 days of leaving the office at 8pm....
I am impressed with Sony so far, or more specifically this particular department...
1. Everyone is very intelligent. Especially my supervisor. Even though he is handling multiple projects at the same time, he is very good at following the progress and coordinating with in the different departments
2. The degree of coordination is incredible, both within Sony and with other partners. I didn't really get a chance working in a big, international company before, or my position was not high enough to be involved in such meetings, but I think having a chance at these meetings alone is worth the internship experience
3. This department really has a entrepreneurial feel to it. Maybe it's more culturally related, but everyone is taking their own project and responsibility seriously.
Can't wait for my first weekend of break....
I am impressed with Sony so far, or more specifically this particular department...
1. Everyone is very intelligent. Especially my supervisor. Even though he is handling multiple projects at the same time, he is very good at following the progress and coordinating with in the different departments
2. The degree of coordination is incredible, both within Sony and with other partners. I didn't really get a chance working in a big, international company before, or my position was not high enough to be involved in such meetings, but I think having a chance at these meetings alone is worth the internship experience
3. This department really has a entrepreneurial feel to it. Maybe it's more culturally related, but everyone is taking their own project and responsibility seriously.
Can't wait for my first weekend of break....
2007-06-18
First Day
What a day....
Woke up at 4 am. It wasn't completely unexpected, since I still have a bit of jetlag, but I think every first day i arrive in a new country, my nose starts to run and my eyes start to water... so I got woken up because of my running nose mostly...
My actual day started at 9, took a tour around Shinagawa with my HR contact. Went to my apartment for this 2 months, registered my foreigner card and bank account. The most interesting... culture shock... would probably be that I had to re-write my bank application because my name wasn't completely the same with my foreigner registration... And that's because my registration card has all capitalized letters =.=
Got those done by 1pm, and then finally went to the office. Had an overview of the business. I finally knew that I am in the business strategy department, and my summer project is going to be dealing with some strategic planning for felica services. Looking forward to it, but I need to start practicing my Japanese and networking skills...
Woke up at 4 am. It wasn't completely unexpected, since I still have a bit of jetlag, but I think every first day i arrive in a new country, my nose starts to run and my eyes start to water... so I got woken up because of my running nose mostly...
My actual day started at 9, took a tour around Shinagawa with my HR contact. Went to my apartment for this 2 months, registered my foreigner card and bank account. The most interesting... culture shock... would probably be that I had to re-write my bank application because my name wasn't completely the same with my foreigner registration... And that's because my registration card has all capitalized letters =.=
Got those done by 1pm, and then finally went to the office. Had an overview of the business. I finally knew that I am in the business strategy department, and my summer project is going to be dealing with some strategic planning for felica services. Looking forward to it, but I need to start practicing my Japanese and networking skills...
2007-06-17
Arriving in Japan
After 9 hour 30 minutes of plane ride, I am back in Japan
The ride wasn't that bad, except I got the aisle seat, right beside the food preparation room. Couldn't sleep for more than 30 minutes on the plane... ended up watching 3 movies:
Music and Lyrics 4/5: Good romantic comedy, Hugh Grant is always good in this kind of role; "Pop goes my heart" is catchy...
Ghost Rider 2/5: I have no idea what the plot is... the CG for the rider is pretty cool, but that's about it
Zodiac 3/5: Ok suspense movie. I heard it's from a real story. Has a pretty weak ending though
Got out of Narita and rode on the bus to Shinagawa Prince Hotel uneventfully. Took a while to confirm my reservation, and it turned out it's scheduled on July 17 =.=
Anyhow, got into my room, spent 1500 yen for a 3-prong-to-2-prong converter (damn!) and went out looking for dinner. Found this interesting place near JR Shinagawa Station:
It's a small plaza that has 7 raman shops. When I got there at 7pm, there were already lineups in some of the shops. I ended up eating at 熊本ラーメン「ひごもんず」.I like pork-bone based ramen, and it's really a good one, especially with fatty pork... yum...
So right now I am just fighting the jetlag... Tomorrow will be my first day of intern... yipee...
P.S. When I arrived in Narita, I saw a person holding up "Harvard Internship 2007." I would be very curious if someone can find out which internship is that...
The ride wasn't that bad, except I got the aisle seat, right beside the food preparation room. Couldn't sleep for more than 30 minutes on the plane... ended up watching 3 movies:
Music and Lyrics 4/5: Good romantic comedy, Hugh Grant is always good in this kind of role; "Pop goes my heart" is catchy...
Ghost Rider 2/5: I have no idea what the plot is... the CG for the rider is pretty cool, but that's about it
Zodiac 3/5: Ok suspense movie. I heard it's from a real story. Has a pretty weak ending though
Got out of Narita and rode on the bus to Shinagawa Prince Hotel uneventfully. Took a while to confirm my reservation, and it turned out it's scheduled on July 17 =.=
Anyhow, got into my room, spent 1500 yen for a 3-prong-to-2-prong converter (damn!) and went out looking for dinner. Found this interesting place near JR Shinagawa Station:
It's a small plaza that has 7 raman shops. When I got there at 7pm, there were already lineups in some of the shops. I ended up eating at 熊本ラーメン「ひごもんず」.I like pork-bone based ramen, and it's really a good one, especially with fatty pork... yum...
So right now I am just fighting the jetlag... Tomorrow will be my first day of intern... yipee...
P.S. When I arrived in Narita, I saw a person holding up "Harvard Internship 2007." I would be very curious if someone can find out which internship is that...
2007-06-16
Great Blogger Hack Site
For people who are using Blogger: I came across this great hacking blog
hackosphere
I was looking for hacks that display summary of the blog on the title page, and found this nifty trick:
Selective Expandable Post
If you are comfortable with editing a little bit of html, this is a great blog to dig around
hackosphere
I was looking for hacks that display summary of the blog on the title page, and found this nifty trick:
Selective Expandable Post
If you are comfortable with editing a little bit of html, this is a great blog to dig around
2007-06-14
2007-06-13
mayonnaise jar and the coffee
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
2007-06-12
Recent Tech News
Asus annoucing $200 notebook
It's not a $100-or-less computer, but it's close enough. It's got wired/wireless lan connectivity (plus data modem), good weight (under 1kg), built-in mic and speaker. What are left to be desirable are the average battery life (3hrs) and built-in RAM (only 512mb; barely acceptable for XP). What's most interesting is that this particular model uses Flash RAM as the main storage instead of traditional hard drives. It may look like a notebook with minimal specs that target disadvantaged consumers who are very price sensitive, but I can definitely see technophiles wanting one to play with for its mobility and simplicity (After all, it's only $200!)
Apple Safari 3 Public Beta for Windows
Amid the hooplas for the latest Apple OS and iphone news is this particular gem. I think it's another briliant move by Apple trying to chip away Windows dominance. What's already conceded is that Apple will never replace Windows OS, but Apple is trying the next best thing: compete in the web browser market. Apple can safely leverage its advantages in technology and brand image on the windows platform without much fear of retaliation from Microsoft. Much like its Bootcamp emulator, Apple is forming an interesting co-opetition relationship with Microsoft. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft will react, but my bet is on Apple to successfully increase its market share
2007-06-09
蘇格拉底談失戀
蘇格拉底：孩子，為什麼悲傷？
失戀者：我失戀了。
蘇格拉底：哦，這很正常。如果失戀了沒有悲傷，戀愛大概也就沒有什麼味道。可是，
年輕人，我怎麼發現你對失戀的投入甚至比對戀愛的投入還要傾心呢？
失戀者：到手的葡萄給丟了，這份遺憾，這份失落，您非個中人，怎知其中的酸楚啊。
蘇格拉底：丟了就是丟了，何不繼續向前走去，鮮美的葡萄還有很多。
失戀者：等待，等到海枯石爛，直到她回心轉意向我走來。
蘇格拉底：但這一天也許永遠不會到來。你最後會眼睜睜地看著她和另一個人走了。
失戀者：那我就用自殺來表示我的誠心。
蘇格拉底：但如果這樣，你不但失去了你的戀人，同時還失去了你自己，你會蒙受雙倍的損失。
失戀者：狠狠地傷害她，我得不到的別人也別想得到。
蘇格拉底：可這只能使你離她更遠，而你本來是想與她更接近的。
失戀者：您說我該怎麼辦？我可真的很愛她。
蘇格拉底：真的很愛？
失戀者：是的。
蘇格拉底：那你當然希望你所愛的人幸福？
失戀者：那是自然。
蘇格拉底：如果她認為離開你是一種幸福呢？
失戀者：不會的！她曾經跟我說，只有跟我在一起的時候她才感到幸福！
蘇格拉底：那是曾經，是過去，可她現在並不這麼認為。
失戀者：這就是說，她一直在騙我？
蘇格拉底：不，她一直對你很忠誠。當她愛你的時候，她和你在一起，現在她不愛你，她
就離去了，世界上再沒有比這更大的忠誠。如果她不再愛你，卻還裝得對你很有
情誼，甚至跟你結婚，生子，那才是真正的欺騙呢。
失戀者：可我為她所投入的感情不是白白浪費了嗎？誰來補償我？
蘇格拉底：不，你的感情從來沒有浪費，根本不存在補償的問題，因為在你付出感情的同
時，她也對你付出了感情，在你給她快樂的時候，她也給了你快樂。
失戀者：可是，她現在不愛我了，我卻還苦苦地愛著她，這多不公平啊！
蘇格拉底：的確不公平，我是說你對所愛的那個人不公平。本來，愛她是你的權利，但愛
不愛你則是她的權利，而你卻想在自己行使權利的時候剝奪別人行使權利的自由。這是何等的不公平！
失戀者：可是您看得明明白白，現在痛苦的是我而不是她，是我在為她痛苦。
蘇格拉底：為她而痛苦？她的日子可能過得很好，不如說是你為自己而痛苦吧。明明是為
自己，卻還打著別人的旗號。年輕人，德行可不能丟喲。
失戀者：依您的說法，這一切倒成了我的錯？
蘇格拉底：是的，從一開始你就犯了錯。如果你能給她帶來幸福，她是不會從你的生活中
離開的，要知道，沒有人會逃避幸福。
失戀者：什麼是幸福？難道我把我的整個身心都給了她還不夠嗎？您知道她為什麼離開我嗎？僅僅因為我沒有錢！
蘇格拉底：你也有健全的雙手，為什麼不去掙錢呢？
失戀者：可她連機會都不給我，您說可惡不可惡？
蘇格拉底：當然可惡。好在你現在已經擺脫了這個可惡的人，你應該感到高興，孩子。
失戀者：高興？怎麼可能呢，不管怎麼說，我是被人給拋棄了，這總是叫人感到自卑的。
蘇格拉底：不，年輕人的身上只能有自豪，不可自卑。要記住，被拋棄的並非是不好的。
失戀者：此話怎講？
蘇格拉底：有一次，我在商店看中一套高貴的西服，可謂愛不釋手，營業員問我要不要。你猜我怎麼說，我說質地太差，不要！其實，我口袋裏沒有錢。年輕人，也許你就是這件被遺棄的西服。
失戀者：您真會安慰人，可惜您還是不能把我從失戀的痛苦中引出。
蘇格拉底：是的，我很遺憾自己沒有這個能力。但，可以向你推薦一位有能力的友。
失戀者：誰？
蘇格拉底：時間，時間是人最偉大的導師，我見過無數被失戀折磨得死去活來的人，是時間幫助他們撫平了心靈的創傷，並重新為他們選擇了夢中情人，最後他們都
享受到了本該屬於自己的那份人間之樂。
失戀者：但願我也有這一天，可我的第一步該從哪裡做起呢？
蘇格拉底：去感謝那個拋棄你的人，為她祝福。
失戀者：為什麼？
蘇格拉底：因為她給了你份忠誠，給了你尋找幸福的新的機會。
失戀者：我失戀了。
蘇格拉底：哦，這很正常。如果失戀了沒有悲傷，戀愛大概也就沒有什麼味道。可是，
年輕人，我怎麼發現你對失戀的投入甚至比對戀愛的投入還要傾心呢？
失戀者：到手的葡萄給丟了，這份遺憾，這份失落，您非個中人，怎知其中的酸楚啊。
蘇格拉底：丟了就是丟了，何不繼續向前走去，鮮美的葡萄還有很多。
失戀者：等待，等到海枯石爛，直到她回心轉意向我走來。
蘇格拉底：但這一天也許永遠不會到來。你最後會眼睜睜地看著她和另一個人走了。
失戀者：那我就用自殺來表示我的誠心。
蘇格拉底：但如果這樣，你不但失去了你的戀人，同時還失去了你自己，你會蒙受雙倍的損失。
失戀者：狠狠地傷害她，我得不到的別人也別想得到。
蘇格拉底：可這只能使你離她更遠，而你本來是想與她更接近的。
失戀者：您說我該怎麼辦？我可真的很愛她。
蘇格拉底：真的很愛？
失戀者：是的。
蘇格拉底：那你當然希望你所愛的人幸福？
失戀者：那是自然。
蘇格拉底：如果她認為離開你是一種幸福呢？
失戀者：不會的！她曾經跟我說，只有跟我在一起的時候她才感到幸福！
蘇格拉底：那是曾經，是過去，可她現在並不這麼認為。
失戀者：這就是說，她一直在騙我？
蘇格拉底：不，她一直對你很忠誠。當她愛你的時候，她和你在一起，現在她不愛你，她
就離去了，世界上再沒有比這更大的忠誠。如果她不再愛你，卻還裝得對你很有
情誼，甚至跟你結婚，生子，那才是真正的欺騙呢。
失戀者：可我為她所投入的感情不是白白浪費了嗎？誰來補償我？
蘇格拉底：不，你的感情從來沒有浪費，根本不存在補償的問題，因為在你付出感情的同
時，她也對你付出了感情，在你給她快樂的時候，她也給了你快樂。
失戀者：可是，她現在不愛我了，我卻還苦苦地愛著她，這多不公平啊！
蘇格拉底：的確不公平，我是說你對所愛的那個人不公平。本來，愛她是你的權利，但愛
不愛你則是她的權利，而你卻想在自己行使權利的時候剝奪別人行使權利的自由。這是何等的不公平！
失戀者：可是您看得明明白白，現在痛苦的是我而不是她，是我在為她痛苦。
蘇格拉底：為她而痛苦？她的日子可能過得很好，不如說是你為自己而痛苦吧。明明是為
自己，卻還打著別人的旗號。年輕人，德行可不能丟喲。
失戀者：依您的說法，這一切倒成了我的錯？
蘇格拉底：是的，從一開始你就犯了錯。如果你能給她帶來幸福，她是不會從你的生活中
離開的，要知道，沒有人會逃避幸福。
失戀者：什麼是幸福？難道我把我的整個身心都給了她還不夠嗎？您知道她為什麼離開我嗎？僅僅因為我沒有錢！
蘇格拉底：你也有健全的雙手，為什麼不去掙錢呢？
失戀者：可她連機會都不給我，您說可惡不可惡？
蘇格拉底：當然可惡。好在你現在已經擺脫了這個可惡的人，你應該感到高興，孩子。
失戀者：高興？怎麼可能呢，不管怎麼說，我是被人給拋棄了，這總是叫人感到自卑的。
蘇格拉底：不，年輕人的身上只能有自豪，不可自卑。要記住，被拋棄的並非是不好的。
失戀者：此話怎講？
蘇格拉底：有一次，我在商店看中一套高貴的西服，可謂愛不釋手，營業員問我要不要。你猜我怎麼說，我說質地太差，不要！其實，我口袋裏沒有錢。年輕人，也許你就是這件被遺棄的西服。
失戀者：您真會安慰人，可惜您還是不能把我從失戀的痛苦中引出。
蘇格拉底：是的，我很遺憾自己沒有這個能力。但，可以向你推薦一位有能力的友。
失戀者：誰？
蘇格拉底：時間，時間是人最偉大的導師，我見過無數被失戀折磨得死去活來的人，是時間幫助他們撫平了心靈的創傷，並重新為他們選擇了夢中情人，最後他們都
享受到了本該屬於自己的那份人間之樂。
失戀者：但願我也有這一天，可我的第一步該從哪裡做起呢？
蘇格拉底：去感謝那個拋棄你的人，為她祝福。
失戀者：為什麼？
蘇格拉底：因為她給了你份忠誠，給了你尋找幸福的新的機會。
2007-06-08
2007-06-07
My Summer Internship
Just received an email from Sony. It has finally received the working visa application and is sending it to me. In a week or so I should be heading to Tokyo to start my internship.
Got this offer through USC's Career Resource Center. Sony was coming on campus to recruit for internship. Basically there were 2 positions: a marketing position for VAIO, and a biz dev position for Felica (contactless IC). Most of other MBA's probably like the sexier sounding position of VAIO marketing, but I chose to apply for the biz dev one, since I like new technology and want to experience what a biz dev position is like. Fortunately I passed 2 rounds of interview and was chosen to intern in Tokyo this summer. Paid air transportation + board, and good salary too. There's probably a good chance that Sony would offer me a full-time position if I don't screw up too much. I am hopeful for that too...
Got this offer through USC's Career Resource Center. Sony was coming on campus to recruit for internship. Basically there were 2 positions: a marketing position for VAIO, and a biz dev position for Felica (contactless IC). Most of other MBA's probably like the sexier sounding position of VAIO marketing, but I chose to apply for the biz dev one, since I like new technology and want to experience what a biz dev position is like. Fortunately I passed 2 rounds of interview and was chosen to intern in Tokyo this summer. Paid air transportation + board, and good salary too. There's probably a good chance that Sony would offer me a full-time position if I don't screw up too much. I am hopeful for that too...
2007-06-05
My Poor Driver License
Ugh... got wakened by alarm clock.. who would set it at 4:30am....?
Anyways, having traveled across Pacific Ocean for the 2nd time in 20 days, I am not exactly having the normal hours. Couldn't stop thinking about my driver license debacle though:
For the uninformed: Apparently to renew your BC driver license, you can''t have another valid driver license from another country. Being the honest person that I always am, I said "yes" when the clerk asked me if I have a driver license from another country. The result was that my BC license got taken away, and I would need to hand in my California license if I need to renew my BC license next time.
Fear not, though, for I have had a solution to resolve this situation... We can find out if it would work today...
Anyways, having traveled across Pacific Ocean for the 2nd time in 20 days, I am not exactly having the normal hours. Couldn't stop thinking about my driver license debacle though:
For the uninformed: Apparently to renew your BC driver license, you can''t have another valid driver license from another country. Being the honest person that I always am, I said "yes" when the clerk asked me if I have a driver license from another country. The result was that my BC license got taken away, and I would need to hand in my California license if I need to renew my BC license next time.
Fear not, though, for I have had a solution to resolve this situation... We can find out if it would work today...
2007-06-04
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