demonick.tv™

I was given the privilege by my client to actually use this phone as I was planning an upcoming campaign for them. I needed some inspiration and by that, I needed to know how this phone works and also experience using the phone…but actually…those are just excuses…hehe.

Anyway, I’m not going to write an in depth phone review, but instead just tell you how is it like using the phone after a full week.

First Impression:
At first glance, the phone looks like the white Blackberry. Take a closer look and it’s more like a cross between a Blackberry Torch and a Blackberry Bold where the screen is actually a touch screen (without a slider) that comes with a QWERTY keypad. It’s slightly curved and very slim, and if you put it into your jeans pocket, you hardly can tell it’s there.

HTC ChaCha

Back and side views

At first, I thought the phone seemed like another chic phone, you know…like the type of phone Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf would be using. But after using it for a week, I must say, it’s a pretty darn good device. It’s the sort of device you want to have if you absolutely have to stay connected at all times (like me!).

The main feature of the phone is the Facebook button found on the bottom of the phone. This button allows you to share anything from photos, music and links as well as update your Facebook wall all with a single push. You only have to configure your Facebook account once, and you’re set to go. You don’t need to download an application, open and re-login to Facebook to update and share. So far, I have not come across a phone which does the same in the market, and I must say, it’s a pretty darn good feature to have on any phone.

Just the other day, as I was browsing the web using the phone, I came across an interesting article which I wanted to share on Facebook. All I did was just pressed the Facebook button and ..presto..the link of that website is copied straight to my wall ready to be posted.

The magic Facebook button

Functionality:
As I highlighted, this is the sort of phone you would want if you want to stay connected at all times. By that, I mean they have a whole bunch of pre-installed apps like Twitter, Facebook, Plurk and Google just to name a few. It runs on Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread), meaning you can download a whole bunch of apps via the Android Market.

Twitter and Facebook on the HTC ChaCha

Another good thing on the phone is that it comes with a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash accompanied by VGA front-facing camera. Meaning you can make video calls with the front-facing camera. Oh…there is an application call “Mirror” on the phone…it basically makes your screen become….well..a mirror by using the front-facing camera. Let me be the first to tell you that although it’s only 5MP, the pictures that the camera produces are very crisp and clear.

Using the camera

These 2 pictures below were taken using the HTC ChaCha. Notice the sharpness and clarity..

Dislikes:
Well, like with everything else, there are also stuff that I don’t like about the phone. Mainly is the size of the touch screen. Having larger fingers as compared to a lady, I sometimes have the tendency to accidentally click on links or icons which are not intended.

Another thing that is bad is the ringer volume. Even at maximum level, the notifications for messages and even ringtones to some extend seems too soft to be heard even in normal room conditions where the television is on.

Another warning is do make sure that you’re on a data plan with your service provider as this phone is constantly downloading data from the likes of Twitter and Facebook. I’m not currently on a data plan, so I normally switch off data services when not in use.

Overall:
Apart from the “dislikes” above, I think the phone is absolutely great. Remember, it’s not the sort of phone you want to get if you’re a serious business user who needs serious stuff like word processing and spreadsheet kind of applications. This is a phone for fun, for the light-hearted and those who are socially active on the internet space. Would I get it?…well honestly? I’m seriously considering one.

More information and specifications:
Product Overview
Specifications

Well, all I got to say is…finally, we are one! A new chapter, a new milestone, a new life ;)

I was in Singapore last week for Ad:Tech, a digital marketing conference. The event was on Thursday and Friday, but I decided to extend it over the weekend. So as you can tell, the trip was a mixture of business and pleasure. I took the time to also meet up with my brother, cousins and aunts plus also to go shopping since it was the Great Singapore Sale happening when I’m there.

The first 2 nights, I stayed at the Carlton Hotel which is just within walking distance to Suntec Convention Centre where Ad:Tech was held. The hotel was excellent and situated in a very strategic location where SMRT (City Hall and Esplanade) stations are accessible just within walking distance.

My room @ The Carlton Hotel, Singapore

The 2 days I was there was spent attending the conference of course. But the first 2 nights were spent together with the media owners who sponsored my trip there. I tell you, they are one bunch of party animals. Or maybe because I haven’t been partying as much as I used to, so seeing how they do it 3 straight nights in a row is really something even too much for me. I joined them only on the first 2 nights where on the first night we went to a bar in Chijmes which is just across the street from our where my hotel is. Not going into details, but lets just say there was a bottle of single malt + 6-7 rounds of Jägerbomb involved.

The second night, I met up with a friend in Orchard for dinner and then went to Jolene’s “house warming” party at LeVel33 @ Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1. The concept was the World’s Highest Urban Craft-brewery with a unique dining experience complete with one of the best views of Singapore’s Marina Bay and city skyline. I must say, while the view was nice, I didn’t really enjoy the outdoor dining area as it can get a little hot and stuffy if there isn’t any breeze, especially on a warm night. Didn’t try the food though, but I heard it’s decent but rather pricey, so maybe next time.

View of Marina Bay Sands from LeVel33

After the “pre-party” drinks, I met back up with my fellow sponsors to a club called Stereo Lounge in Pan Pacific hotel. Apparently, the place is newly renovated so everything looked kinda new. It had 2 rooms with one playing R&B and the other playing House music. One thing I like about the clubs in Singapore is that all clubs are “smoke free”…meaning, you cannot smoke in the club while you’re inside, instead you either have to go outside or go to a designated smoker’s area if you want to light up. Good way to avoid breathing second hand smoke and you don’t have to worry about going back home smelling like burnt rubbish.

Alice, Shi Yin, Eileen, Jaclyn and Ivy @ Stereo Lounge

The next day, I checked out the hotel to spend the night at my brother’s place. I had an early check out from the hotel and then left my luggage at my brother’s place before meeting up with my aunts, uncle and cousins for lunch at VivoCity. It was really nice meeting up with them again. I guess I will make an attempt to visit them more since I technically have “free accommodation” each time I’m down in Singapore :)

After lunch, we shopped around VivoCity a bit before heading to Queensway Shopping Centre where it’s a shoe collector’s paradise. If you’re a shoe lover/collector, this is the place to be. It consists of rows after rows of shoe shops which also includes a few shops that carry limited edition shoes. I was actually looking for a new pair of shoe for awhile back in KL, but I thought I would check the prices and variety in Singapore since I’m there.

A limited edition shop at Queensway Shopping Centre

In the end, my brother bought me this pair as an upcoming birthday present! :) Thanks bro!

My new kicks! Puma Faas-300…endorsed by Usain Bolt, world’s fastest man!

Later on that night, we headed to NEX Serangoon to meet up my aunt for dinner who flew in from KL to spend the weekend. After dinner, my bro, sis-in-law and I decided to try our luck at the casino tables at Marina Bay Sands Casino. Well, luck wasn’t on our side that night as all 3 of us lost…and it’s even more painful to the person earning Malaysian Ringgits instead of Singaporean Dollars..oh well.

The next morning, the 3 of us went for brunch at Jones The Grocer @ Dempsey Hill. It is really something you should try on a Sunday morning. The place serves premium Australian gourmet foods as well as premium off the shelve products like roasted coffee beans, chocolates, cookies, home made sauces, just to name a few. The food was really good, but the place comes with a warning….go there early as there is always a long queue for breakfast especially on Sundays.

Coconut pancakes with mangoes topped with ice cream

Black Forest Coffee…nice but a tad too sweet

Jones’ Breakfast – meat and eggs..can’t really go wrong here

After a hearty brunch, we went over to 313@Somerset for some last minute shopping. Initially, I was suppose to meet up with Sonia, Reyhan and Yi Lane over lunch, but seeing how full I was after brunch, I just had soup while we caught up. I must say, time really flies when you’re with good company. Before you know it, we spent about 3 hours just sitting and talking. Nevertheless, it was really great seeing my ex-colleagues and drinking buddies again. Hey you guys, if you’re reading this, I will be down in Singapore more often now…so be prepared! Haha!

Reyhan, Sonia and Yi Lane

After saying our goodbyes, I headed back to my brother’s place to pack up and head to the airport for my evening flight back to KL. The trip overall was great, as it had a little something of everything…work, party, catching up with family and friends, shopping and of course relaxation to certain extend. What a great way to spend the weekend. Looking forward to another weekend like that down in Singapore for sure.

Last month, I was nominated to participate in my company’s regional conference called ConFest, which is a festival of conferences over the course of 2 weeks. It was held in Shangri-la’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The place was simply awesome. Imagine attending this event, held at a seaside resort for a couple of days, and working not from your office work desk but on the deck chairs by the pool or by the sea. My colleagues and I wished it was like this everyday at the office and didn’t want to work anywhere else!

GroupM Interaction ConFest 2011

So anyway, I’m not going to be focusing much about the conference itself as I thought that it would be too long and too many things to cover (and not like everyone will be interested to know anyways), so instead, I’m just gonna show you on how the place looks like.

And you know what??..I got a junior suite all to myself! It had a living room and a king size bed. I’m not complaining, but I did think the room was a bit large just for myself so it became the envy and the chill out spot of my colleagues.

The living room area

Can you see 2 LCD TVs?

The view from my balcony…

Oh, did I tell you..my company also rebranded and took over their resort bar! We had free flow of booze (from Heineken and Corona to self branded cocktails) from 6-11PM daily. I must say, if you were there for 2 weeks…it could really do some serious damage to your liver and your health.

We “rebranded” it the mbar

We even have our very own customized cocktails

Of course after the happy hours ended, we went into KK town to check out the local night life. A colleague had a friend to take us around town for seafood as well as a taste of the clubbing scene in KK. We were at KK Times Square where we bar hopped. We went for a live band performance and then ended the night in this place called The White Room. I must say, I have totally underestimated KK’s night life. The bands and music were better than I expected and the crowd is pretty decent too. Hey, it’s my first time clubbing in KK and clubs in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore have become sort of a benchmark. Nevertheless, we all had a great time.

The following day, before we left for home, we went to the Sunset Bar at the resort. They have this elevated bar facing the sea. Really nice place to chill and to watch the sunset (hence the name of the bar).

Imagine chilling and doing your work right here!

Sunset @ Sunset Bar

All in all, it was a really good conference. Learnt a whole lot, networked a lot and most importantly had a really great time. Up next in my company travel itinerary..Singapore in June and Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in July…until then.. :)