Yoo minna. It’s been a long 3 weeks hiatus. Life has been busy for me, although I have to stress that getting caught up with real life issues is definitely not fun at all, so I’m sorry for the lack of updates. Rest assured that there will be some slow but steady updates coming right back soon within the next few days, as I have finally found the time to blog again. Got myself hooked up with some freelance projs recently, and also currently struggling with my on-going japanese classes, which explained why I was missing from this space for pretty awhile.

Anyway, I got myself a new phone earlier on this month again (sigh what to do, a gadget freak I am) and it’s another one of those Vodafone models again. May I introduce you guys to the limelight of today’s blog entry, the Toshiba 803T by Vodafone Japan (now officially known as Softbank Mobile Corp).

View Full Specifications: here.

View Product Features: here.

Now we shall move on to the pictures. : )

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I don’t know whether I should be happy or angry with Canon when I saw this press announcement last night. This news was been released earlier on this month and has been circulating around most major forums regarding photography for awhile, so I guess I’m pretty late on this. If you have no idea what it’s all about, you can read it all here.

Apparently it wasn’t only Canon that was affected by this CCD problem issue, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Fujifilm and Sony were all affected as well. Mainly those lower-end models of digital cameras by these manufacturers were hugely affected by the CCD malfunction. Only certain affected models are been mentioned, so check your respective manufacturer’s website for your digital camera if it has broke down or spoiled recently and has the anomalies or symptoms mentioned on the website of the manufacturer.

Thank you for using Canon products.

A problem has been discovered in some of the CCDs used in Canon digital camera and digital video camera products that causes images to appear distorted or not to appear at all. We apologize for the considerable inconvenience this represents for our customers. Along with our respectful apology, we would like to advise our customers of the details of this issue and our policy for handling it, which are as follows.

Affected Models
The CCDs in question are used in the following models.

Digital Cameras
PowerShot A60, PowerShot A70, PowerShot A75, PowerShot A300, PowerShot A310, Digital IXUS V3, Digital IXUS II, Digital IXUS IIs

Digital Video Cameras
MV600i, MV630i, MV650i, MV700i, MV730i, MV750i, MV5i, MV5i MC, MV6i MC
ZR60, ZR65 MC, ZR70 MC, ZR80, ZR85, ZR90, Elura 40 MC, Elura 50

The Malfunction
Among the CCDs used in the affected products listed above, it has been confirmed that, especially under high-temperature/high-humidity environments, the internal wiring may come undone in some places.

If this defect occurs, the signal is not output from the CCD correctly when in shooting mode, which results in symptoms like the following in captured images. These symptoms can be confirmed on the LCD monitor. The same symptoms may also occur in recorded images.

• Images do not appear
• Images appear distorted

Canon’s Response
With apologies for the inconvenience involved, we ask that users who have confirmed these symptoms contact the nearest Canon Service Center. Free repairs will be made for affected products in cases where it has been confirmed that the internal CCD wiring has come undone in some places.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by this issue. We strive to make even greater efforts in our quality control to provide products that our customers can use with confidence. We hope that these efforts will earn your continued patronage.

I’m glad to say now, that I finally found out what’s wrong with my camera. My 3 years old IXUS V3 was exhibiting the distorted images anomaly a few months ago when I switched it on one day, and I was puzzled by it and wondering why did it break down on me suddenly under normal usage circumstances. I only dropped it once but that’s about it, even then it was in my leather pouch too. Will be taking it down to Canon’s service centre one day to let them check it out and repair it, since it will be free of charge.

And on a side note, 2 more days to the big day. And I think I’m still unprepared for it. Die lah. _|￣|O

Ohayo minna-san! Woke up early as usual today to study even though I reached home pretty late close to 4am last night due to the KTV session I had with my clique. Yesterday was also Timothy’s farewell dinner, we had zi char at somewhere near Boon Keng, it was pretty oishii man. So after dinner, we headed to Boat Quay’s Partyworld for KTV with the guys, had a pretty good singing session with them. Really enjoyed myself, and I think Timothy enjoyed himself too. Oh and he’s finally an owner of a Pink Nintendo DS, thanks to Deli and Jac as well as the rest of them who chipped in for his present. As for me and the rest of the guys, we will be presenting our present (still a secret lol) to him on the 27th which will also be the day when he’s flying off to Perth, to re-unite with his family and also part of his migration and study plans. (sob sob) Anyway good things will always come to an end, so let’s cherish the memories we all had together all these while, and may our friendship last forever. Here’s to our friendship; May it be reckoned long as a lifetime, close as a second.

Anyway, I had some spare time to do up the review for my new phone this morning, so I decided to get on with it and present to you guys some pictures of my new toy as well as a mini-review of the phone. First and foremost, may I present to you the official press release and full specifications of the Sharp 903SH, by Vodafone Japan (now officially known as Softbank Mobile Corp).

Official Press Release on 11th of August, 2005.
Vodafone K.K. today announced that, as part of its new 3G lineup, from mid August 2005 it will offer the Vodafone 903SH handset by Sharp, it features the industry’s first 3.2 megapixel auto focus mobile camera with 2X optical zoom.

The 903SH’s best-in-class*1 3.20 megapixel mobile CCD camera can bring both the foreground and background clearly into focus with its 5 high-performance aspheric glass lenses. The camera also uses the Frame Interline Transfer process, the same type used in professional-quality broadcast video cameras, to prevent the “smear”*2 phenomenon. Vodafone 903SH customers can also enjoy advanced photography with picture sizes of up to QXGA sizes (1,536 x 2,048 pixel).

*1: As of 28 July 2005 in the Japanese market (according to Vodafone K.K.).

*2: Smear phenomenon: phenomenon typical of CCDs, for example, when headlights or light from the sun causes vertical streaks of light to appear on the image.

3D Surround Stereo Side Speakers for realistic sound enjoyment
The Vodafone 903SH comes equipped with 3D Surround Stereo Side Speakers on the left and right of the handset display panel so customers can experience unprecedented audio realism. The 903SH has pre-installed ringtones and games that support 3D sound.

2.4-inch Mobile ASV LCD for superior display and wide-angle viewing
The Vodafone 903SH’s 180 degree reversible Swivel Style 2.4-inch giant LCD display uses Mobile ASV, which is based on ASV (Advanced Super View) liquid crystal display technology found in Sharp’s AQUOS line of LCD TVs. The handset offers remarkably clear viewing in bright locations outside and in dark spots indoors, as well as wide views of 160 degrees* from all angles without any colour distortion. As a result customers can freely enjoy photography or image viewing at a variety of angles.
*In conformance with JEITA standards (5:1 contrast ratio)

Fully supports Vodafone K.K. 3G services
The Vodafone 903SH fully supports Vodafone K.K. 3G services such as Vodafone live! BB, which lets customers enjoy rich music and video content by downloading large files via their PCs, video calls, international roaming and Chaku-Uta Full® full track music downloads.

View Full Specifications: here.

View Product Features: here.

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