Just upgraded to Wordpress 2.6 (huh? So soon? Yes I had the same reaction). Hit the jump for a video done by the official team on the new features etc.

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At long last my site got approved. The screenshots they provided were awesome. The features they promise sound fantastic. Finally, I got to try it for myself. Just a brief introduction what Woopra is. Woopra is a traffic statistic tool used by webmasters to record down traffic details etc. Just take for example google analytics. It is somewhat like that but more of a desktop application. In addition, it uses beautiful and detailed graphs to display information, adds more features such as chatting with the users that is currently online etc. A small but great little tool for webmasters to use.

The information Woopra provides is detailed and well displayed. Using a world map to display where the users come from, a line graph to show the number of visits per hour for the day, the ability to switch between bar or pie charts for displaying of most of the information etc. Whatever you need, Woopra actually provides it. However, what makes Woopra something more special is its ability to show the current users that are browsing the page in real time. Meaning every time a user enters the site, it will immediately show it on its screen. Therefore, you get live statistics and is extremely useful for example when a sudden surge of traffic comes in, you know how to react or what measures to take.

One feature that actually makes me even more excited and pleased about Woopra, is the fact that it has the ability to link the current visitor with the webmaster. Woopra is empowered by a simple yet powerful chat tool that enables to create a bridge that connects the visitor with the webmaster by allowing them to chat over the net. It is that simple! Just talk about the importance of feedback and the need of communication, it is simply magnificent! Community is current discussed as one of the most important aspects of websites besides content and with such a function, it will definitely boosts the visitors’ impressions as well as the webmaster’s relationship with them.

So far I’ve been talking about how perfect and sleek Woopra is but haven’t touched on the disadvantages etc. The fact that Woopra is so cool and smart is undeniable. However, some minor bugs are present and that the server sometimes is unstable is kind of a problem. Since it is still in its beta stages and free for the moment, I am sure that in future all the problems would be resolved in due time.

For now here is a little video of the application I made and showing some of its functions and information is provides. (P.S Of course the chatting as well)

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June 08 has been a month that is extremely packed and fulfilling. As most of you know, June has always been a month that students loved. The month of the semester break which means a wholesome 30 days of rest, fun and whatever. I have always had the same semester break for the all the past years. However, 2008 had been totally different. 2008 semester break has been nothing but chaotic, hectic and tiring. Rest? Nah, spent my days and time running around, flying and crossing islands. You can actually read it here at this article: http://www.swiftworld.net/2008/06/17/back-from-nco-camp-and-taiwan-trip/

With that I’ll just shift the focus to what had recently taken place. An NPCC event, yes again. This time it just happen a few hours ago so I can still remember whatever that have had happen vividly. I just participated in a NPCC Monopoly game competition. Monopoly? The board game? Well you can say so, but instead, it is somewhat a life-sized version of the game. Alright, I know all of you will go rolling your eyes already, me too when I first heard it was the monopoly, I was like hell yeah, slack and fun. However, to my surprise, it was a LIFE-SIZED monopoly. My immediate reaction? For heavens’ sake, no way! Still, I went and must say it was alright, not too boring or retarded as I thought it might be.

The monopoly game was held at NYGH (Nangyang Girls High), and obvious the NYGH NPCC was the unit in-charge of the game. We arrived somewhat late for some reasonable reasons and started the game early in the morning. We had to choose a group name and basically write in some crap in a neatly done handbook (our so called passport). The game then started with us throwing puny board sized dices to determine where, we, the life sized players had to go. We then started running around and around passing go around 4 consecutive times for the first few 10 minutes of the game. I seriously felt that it was like Physical Training or even perhaps some fitness re-test.

There were different stations and instead of properties, we had stocks. Stations were stops where we had to stop and complete some kind of task usually related to stuff we do in NPCC. Nothing too fantastic or disgusting etc, just plain everyday expected activities and tasks. Campcraft, brain teasers, drills and of course their favourite physical activities. After playing for around 2 hours we had some boring finale which I would love not to talk about. Got 3^rd and here is a picture of me and the trophy:

Some boring statistics about the site and the month of June:

Traffic Statistics

That’s all from me, for now just enjoy the medal and the bear =)

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They contacted those who got through the first selection process by phone. I, being either lucky or a person that is worthy of being selected, had been called up by one of their staff (I think) to inform me about my acceptance into the top, well 10. I guess I felt happy, and excited at the same time upon receiving their call. It was kind of unexpected for them to call. I did not know how the selection process was like, or what or how they chose the top 10 of each category. But nevertheless I am hopeful and anxious to know what the results will be like and for the next few days I’ll be trying to pull votes in.

I hate my icon given to tag on my blog. Just take a look:

Why can’t I have stuff like:

or

Vote me or whatever. My bear wants the phone (Excuses. Heh)

Youth Category Link (I Play fair. You don’t have to vote me. Choose the best for yourself. May the best win I guess. *Shrugs*)

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Taiwan Trip

The trip was okay, average to be exact. Nothing too special to set it apart from my other tours I had before. I was there on tour, which means the time spent on moving is much more then the time spent on sightseeing, shopping or simply exploring the different places. We had the usual buffet breakfast, four to three star hotels, bus rides, history lessons, and some tourists trap spots. However, all those are really nothing much to remember. What was most significant in my memory, was two events that took place. Both happened on the same day, and it had to do with some Chinese stuff. Please do not quote me or anything, I am just recalling from what I heard and saw and if I remembered incorrectly, spare me.

You see, the tour group was brought into this Chinese herb shop that sells herbs that are extremely beneficial to us humans. Basically it sells Lingzhi (very healthy and helps prevent cancer etc) and LuTai (some part of the deer baby or something. I think it is the fetus if I am not wrong) and it states that its products are 100% genuine and helpful. Okay, whatever, companies self-praising and making lots of promises are always common. However, the professor there indicated something that seems rather, well not too appropriate. Yes indicated, he did not speak about it directly, instead indirectly through experiment and the choice of words, he brought down the local hong ri pai ling zhi saying that it is not 100% real and that taking one year of their would be equal to the sum of six years of eating the hong ri pai ling zhi. So basically for whomever out there who is a regular buying hong ri pai ling zhi, please do not feel pissed off or anything, that is just what the professor there states. He also says that ling zhi in tablet for is rather hard to believe and that if best, choose the latter (the whole lingzhi instead of tablet form). 1 year is to 6 years. Wow.

Another thing was the funny fengshui masters and their so called apprentices’ words. I went to China before, went to their fengshui tourist spots as well. What was so different was the words from both sides of the fengshui masters. The China said that you should never let people touch your erm that lion thing, as it would mean that all your wealth would go that person who touches. However, for the Taiwan master, he told us ALL to touch his lions so as to get wealth and healthy bodies. Weird. So the next thing was the gender of the lions (not sure but it looks like lions anyways). For the China side, they had different names and if I remembered correctly, the China master’s male was the Taiwan master’s female. Who should I believe? Then followed the incident when the assistants were persuading us to buy their amulets or necklaces. We seriously had them already, so we truthfully and politely told them we had already purchased them before from China. Guess what their reply was? “Na Li Zhong Guo? Ta Men De Shi Jia De, Pian Ren De” (Which part of China? Theirs are all fakes, you got cheated”. And all the faces looked rather pissed and pulled. Kind of weird eh? Isn’t Feng Shui, Feng Shui? I don’t remember having Taiwan Feng Shui and China Feng Shui. Oh oh, perhaps there is also Singapore Feng Shui?

That is basically all of my Taiwan trip that was interesting. Now on to the exhausting NCO Camp.

NCO Camp

The NCO camp was basically created to train and prepare the next batch of officers who are about to take charge of the unit (NPCC in my case). Be it training them on how to teach or spread the joy of being a NPCC Cadet, the different cheers and methods of commanding etc. It is simply everything to make sure that the unit does not fall after you take over. Therefore, it will have to be tough, and not fun. Drills drills, tying of knots and more tying of knots. Some lectures and that is everything. What was most memorable are the hours long of drills with just minutes of short breaks for consumption of water. Of course the day where we are let off from the camp was fun as well. Usually on the last day of the camp, everything will go so smoothly such that you think the camp was awesomely fun and exciting. No seriously the officers will forgive and forget whatever wrong you have committed so on and so forth. Nothing much to talk about just that the camp sure have worn me out and made me drained of energy.

However, if I were to rest and recuperate, what about my homework? Argh, will someone please give me directions. Holidays are about to end.

P.S A new addition to the family, the white tiger. (As Above)

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March

Attended a Mega Camp hosted by my Uniform Group during the March Holidays. The whole week was pretty much the camp itself and school practically follows after it. Did not have much time at all but managed still to upgrade my wordpress version to 2.5 without much errors etc.

April

Busy preparing for examinations but still managed to cook up a few reviews (2 to be exact) during the first few weeks of April. After that was mainly studying, revising and sleeping. Of course I took a few short breaks here and there (too many actually) to spend quality time with my PS3. I reviewed the Singapore hosted MMO dancing game, High Street 5 as well as a Anti-Theft Software that received quite a few comments from different users. Learnt a few important lessons that when people pay you to do a review, the review must be positive and not talk about the bad points of their product. Well, not really completely ignoring the bad points, instead the bad points must be brought out in a way that it does not actually matter. Heh, so that is basically my April for you.

May

May has been a month of happiness and grieves. Mixed emotions filled me as the days of the month of May progresses. At first, I felt relived and happy as my examinations are finally over (for now). Played hard but at the same time worrying as the days of releasing of results draw nearer. As I got my results, I felt sad and regretted not spending more time with my text books. No use crying over spilled milk now though, just have to work harder in the future and of course the final term which carries the most marks. Feeling sad is not enough, I had to feel tired and exhausted as well. Following the start of the mid-year holidays, I had a camp at Pulau Ubin; the survivor camp. Yes it is based off the reality show Survivor and we all know whatever happened in the show sure was hellish and tiring. May passed quickly as it was filled with many key events. (Time sure go faster when doing stuff you enjoy etc)

Swift World Traffic Statistics

Earnings and Revenue

Google Adsense: $1.97 (March) $2.93 (April) $2.29 (May)

That’s all. No more Advertlets, instead I tried giving Nuffnang a chance again. Have yet to receive any advertisement at all thus no income from them. Perhaps I might get one or two in June.

Off for Taiwan

I am going to fly to Taiwan tomorrow for around a week. Not going there for business or school related stuff but instead just holidaying there with my parents and grandmother. I will try to blog about some of the interesting happenings or events that might happen throughout the tour when I come back. Till then, adios and have fun if you are currently having your term break or holidays like me!

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As usual and expected, we were suppose to sleep in tents, slug our guts out running here and there, calming and tolerating all the scolding and complaints by the officers in-charge and enjoying the last day of the camp as officers then were suddenly holy and nice. It is so cliché; everything was as if it was replayed from the previous camp. Same old words, same old scolding, same old everything. It was like watching the same video twice (but an exception of some other EXTRA bonus features).

P.S The following might bore you to death. Good for bed night stories.

Day 1, I dragged my pair of legs consoling myself constantly that it was only 3 days and just 2 nights of hell to school. I went late and I still do not give a damn about it. My school teachers and student officers checked the belongings etc and asked us to surrender our handphones and wallets. We then boarded the bus for a half an hour trip to Changi Jetty. Those 30 minutes felt as if they were just a matter of seconds. On the bus, I caught a cat nap hoping to console myself in my dreams that everything will be alright. Sat a boat then and travelled to Pulau Ubin where we had the first activity immediately carried out once all schools were present. The first activity *drum rolls* TREASURE HUNT. Great. We went around Pulau Ubin (not the whole place though, just a portion of it) searching for places using clues the instructors gave us. It was more like a history lesson or some sort of tour around the island just that it was without the tour guide. Learnt more about some of the places in Ubin but seriously, I have forgotten whatever that had been said currently. Oh I seem to have forgotten to mention that once we reached Ubin, we were separated into different groups (with members from all the different schools).

Day 1.5, we reached camp site and settled down a little. Taking a break from all the physical activities we had experienced so far (walking, jogging, running, erm listening?). We have to complete some administrative matters and the assigning of group names etc. If I remembered correctly, after all that was done, it was time to pitch the tents. We pitched the tent together with other school mates realizing that some of the other school cadets were hell of a gem. They tied the knots as if it was drinking water (what a shit analogy, but who cares) and the ropes were tight to the core that the tents were erected like it never did before. Well, I am not saying my school was bad, just that we were a little below their average. Tents were done, then came dinner I suppose. Ate noodles and what not (all the usual stuff. Canned food etc) before actually bringing all of our belongings to the tents they assigned us to. Glad to have a same school mate to sleep in one of the tent with me.

Day 1.75, the day was not over yet and the night was always young. We had some cheering session and had learnt of the different components that were about to take place during campfire night. After that, we had some kind of games and team building activities. Things such as passing a rubberband using straws from one person to another, tying each other legs and ankles up and walking to a certain point blah blah blah.

Day 1.9, there was luckily no fire drills etc. Thank god.

Day 2, the day which usually is the busiest of them all. The rather interesting start to the day was the punishment. One camper did not tuck in his shirt as he walked to the toilet and that angered the almighty instructors. They then ordered us as if they were commandments to strip and wear all of our shirts and trackpants inside out. The almighty instructors then ask us to take a jog (for Physical Training) around the campsite towards the secondary 2 campers to of course humiliate us all. Oh well, who cares anyways. I will skip on all the boring aspects and jump to the main activities of the day. Firstly, were the high rope challenges. There were 3 different routes each of the campers could take. They differ from their difficulties; Hardest, easy and easy. I, of course, took the easier one of the easies and cleared it with not much of a problem. After that was the learning of SURVIVOR skills such as primitive fire starting and temporary shelter building. The primitive fire starting was kind of stupid, as they gave us MATCHES to start a fire. All we had to do was a little treasure hunt finding the match box and a spot to start a fire as well as gathering resources to burn. It was as if we were lost and we had matches to help us. It would be a whole lot fun if we had to use like wood and wood or whatever to create sparks and so on. Temporary shelter building was poorly done by my group. We actually had not shelter at all. Instead we just used our ponchos to cover our top as the instructors summoned “rain” on us. We did not get really wet but even if we did, it was refreshing. Cool WATER running down our body was simply sensational (at least for me).

Day 2.5, was the water confidence activity. It was actually a jetty jump. God damn it I did not bring an extra pair of shoes. Begged the instructors to let me off and they said “Just go, It’ll be dried by the next activity” LIES ALL LIES! Almighty instructors why do you treat me like a 3 year old? But it is my fault partially for being retarded knowing beforehand that there would be such an activity and allowing my lazy self to overtake and not bring an extra pair of shoes. OF WE GO, I jump and well, got wet and had soggy legs for the rest of the 1.5 days or 1 day at least. Got dried changed etc before proceeding for dinner and the other games etc.

Day 2.8, campfire night was as usual, happy and gay. We cheered we laughed we did whatever they asked us to. Well it was fun, I suppose as the next day is where I kiss goodbye to bloody hell (for me only). Good night brothers, Good night sisters, good night whatever I don’t give a damn.

Day 3; the day that was supposedly slackest day of all. We just had to clean up the areas and then have some fun and friendly talk with the almightiness as if they were mortals once. And after that home sweet home. Thanks for reading the boring stuff of my life. Good night readers, Good night viewers, good night whatever, and whatever and whatever whatever. (I forgotten that erm song? Cheer? Whatever)

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During the examination period I had no self discipline. I played for an hour before starting to mug and I only started revising (or actually studying in my case) around a week before the examinations are about to begin. Some subjects I had only a day to actually learn the new concepts due to the fact that I care less about me not fully understanding the topic taught in school and not bothering to ask. However, regretting is of no use. I ought to pull up my socks and start preparing for the later examinations.

Here are my marks for you to look down on, oh well. (I totally deserve it)

Total: 532/800
Avgr: 66.50

It was thanks to my term 1 results that help pulled my overall semester’s average up by around 10%. Without considering the term 1 results, my average would have been well below 60%, and that is actually extremely horrible for my standard. That is it for today, loads of reflecting need to be done, loads of work to catch up to.

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I will go straight to the point. “No”, it does not help much in preventing your laptop being stolen nor does it help you in retrieving back the laptop. All it does is ask for a password (which adds on to your worries and clogs your brain memory space trying to remember one more password) and if the person gets it wrong, it sends an email with all the useless details (mostly) into your email address. I know within those few sentences above I might seem extremely hostile and harsh towards the software. However, whatever I speak of it is actually true (for me).

Alright, how about me going constructive like how my Literature teacher always teaches me, whenever you state a point, there must be an evidence to support it. If not it is just a useless statement with no substance or potential at all. In other words bullshit. Verey I, is made for the Macintosh first before finally porting over to the Windows operating systems. Whatever it is, I find it not much of a use and not worth the price tag that carries with it.

P.S All pictures are taken from the manual itself.

I quote

“How it works?

Upon connecting to a wireless or wired internet network, an authentication dialog will pop up requesting the user to enter a password.

If the user fails to enter the correct password within the pre-defined timing, hidden alerts and information* (see Technical) will be sent out to any pre-defined email address(es)!

Repetitive alerts can also be set according to the number of times and number of minutes to unlimited number of email alerts!” - http://www.bak2u.com/vereypc.php

Okay, so now let’s analyze how it works. Alright, so if your computer is stolen and the user does not connect to the internet at all, the software is practically useless. If the user connects and fails to enter the password, information that saddens you even further is sent into your email. Hmm, I quote again:

“Verey I will send out alerts together with other important information; IP addresses, machine serial number, MAC Hardware Address and even details of nearby wireless networks out immediately!

The alert message(s) is send out silently in the background with no indication that the software is sending information when connected to the internet. It is also difficult to remove the program from the system as protection are in placed to ensure that only the administrator will know how to do that.” - http://www.bak2u.com/vereypc.php

IP Address does nothing in helping you find where your Laptop is (yourself that is), machine serial number and mac hardware address just helps you fill in a form at the police center and lastly the details of nearby wireless networks are just gimmicks to fill out the email that is sent to you. It is like, okay I know the person taking my laptop is connected to a wireless network called “SwiftWorld”, now where on earth (alright let say Singapore), is there a wireless network SwiftWorld? Bugis, Hougang? Changi? Jurong? Practically information that is not needed.

About the IP Address, well perhaps if you file in a report to the police with the IP address, mac hardware address etc the police might be able to find it. Just MIGHT. However, I believe that the chances of your laptop being returned or found are still extremely slim whether you have or not the software. Of course verey increases the percentage of success but just a little.

Enough of words, some screenies I took from the manual:

Conclusion

Verey’s most important information it gives is the IP Address. The rest are actually not much of a use at all. Because of that, carrying a price tag of $39.90 USD is extremely costly and heavy. Of course if your laptop is worth thousands of dollars or carries information if missing gets your head beheaded, the price is worth it (to make sure the percentage of retrieving back is higher). However, that is just basically the whole thing. Verey I gets IP Address and some information you would never write down unless in emergency to your email address. Still it is considered not too bad as current technology does not allow much stolen laptops to be returned (GPS tracking looks awesome. Not sure if its used here in Singapore)

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