Month: October 2012

I had done another desktop PC upgrade in which belong to my sister. Her motherboard is gigabyte Z68 chipset ATX casing, 8GB RAM total with 4X2GB, but CPU is Intel Core I5 2500 model. I swop her graphic card of ATI Radeon HD 4670 1GB as thinking there is no driver support in AMD web site currently with my ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB but still got blue screen when shutdown or restart even after update drivers from AMD web site so swop back. Her PC need to update all the motherboard driver from currently Gigabyte web sites for USB 3.0, Audio, Lan, Intel chipset as there is blue screen happen in windows 8 when it shutdown or restart. After that there is no more blue screen.

My PC finally got sound from line in. I do not know what happen to solve it but maybe I do complete shut down to power off the PC to start up try to plug in. Lastly, Windows 8 now start up more faster than Windows 7 as compare to fresh Windows 8 after setup.

Now as I start writing it is past midnight. I received the e-mail for offer of Windows 8 pro upgrade. I started to apply coupon to purchase the Windows 8 pro using my credit card and download immediately. If you did not use the coupon for new PC purchase offer the upgrade offer to Windows 8 pro will cost you SGD$50 instead of SGD$17.99. The CD Key was issue immediately and send to your e-mail address after you purchase online using PayPal or credit or debit card.

I started my download to upgrade in noon which is 12 hours ago. I had a Sony Laptop SVS15116GGB which I buy it from Best Denki at about SGD$1899 in Sep 2012 with free 4GB RAM upgrade and free Logitech wireless mouse. It does come with a standard laptop bag. I use my OCBC credit card which just got approved by submit 6 month CPF contribution and latest month pay slip income document to bank for 24 months installment. I think the price right now if you see it at www.sony.com.sg should have drop a bit like SGD$1799 at retail price.

I run the setup program and was prompted to enter the valid cd key which is a must to continue. So the windows 8 pro 64bit upgrade setup need me to remove the Intel drivers USB 3.0, Intel Management Engine Driver, Intel Wifi Bluetooth driver. So I have to go to sony web site to download drivers which is available in driver download in support section for this laptop model. After these three drivers is removed the setup is able to continue which I did not even restart the windows 7 pro sp1. I choose to keep my documents, apps and settings option. The setup restarted and I see the windows 8 blue logo. The setup install devices driver as the status shown in how many percentage completed follow by preparing as similar how many percentage completed. It will restart to complete the installation and it shows the percentage to move user data. After that you will prompted the option to choose a color, I choose express setup instead of custom setup, choose a wireless access point to key in password to connected to Internet and I lastly choose local account did not setup any online Microsoft account I think so. I log on and check the system properties and the windows is already activated. I install back the three Intel drivers downloaded from Sony web sites.

But I use Internet explorer 10 it keep crashing. I go to Windows updates to download and install the 5 updates which is default I did not select which to install, restarted the windows and the Internet Explorer so far working well no crashing. I tested office application like Microsoft Word 2010 it worked well, Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Professional is able to compile and run ASPX wed pages and basic function work well, Able to resume play Blu-ray disc on PowerDVD 12 with external portable USB Blu-ray writer as this laptop come only with internal DVD writer drive only. But my VPN client like AT&T not able to work well need to repair and key in the login information again. I need to disable AVG Internet Security 2013 temporary as the firewall is blocking not able to connect to company network in VPN. After that the antivirus is enabled running I connect to VPN no issue at all. All the program settings, documents are there, shortcuts, Internet favourites is there at orginal location no changes at all. But before you do upgrade windows if there is any important data it is still recommend to back it up such as image the whole drives to external driver for example.

Right now I started to upgrade my desktop computer. This sony laptop which is running in Ivy Bridge which consist of an Ivy bridge chipset motherboard and Intel core I7 3rd generation CPU. My desktop is just build as DIY in Sandy Bridge chipset motherboard Biostar TH67XE model, 2nd generation CPU Intel core I7 2600 model, 2 X 4GB RAM total of 8GB, running Hard disk SATA 7200RPM Seagate hard disk 7200.12 500GB, ATI graphic card Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB memory from MSI hawk, add in PCIE sound card Creative X-FI Titanium, with a very old external sound card USB Creative Audigy 2 ZS video editor using RM1800 creative remote control as the original remote control broken.

I run the setup, no need to remove any program or drivers as prompted. Similar to laptop setup. After the setup is completed, my sound card is having problem which I do not know if there is any problem if few sound card are installed even onboard and graphic card also. I go to creative web site to download the beta Windows 8 driver for X-FI titanium so the sound is there even restart or shut down PC instead of no sound from speaker. I using 5.1 speaker creative brand. But still got problem, the back of the line in where I connect to my TV tuner from my monitor which is also Full HD TV headphone port is also no sound even I unmute the sound in the sound properties. I just unplug the headphone port and let the sound come out from the build in monitor speaker instead which is Samsung LCD 27 inch model. The remote control RM1800 of creative sound card is working showing display status on screen as I enabled the remote control function in creative entertainment center program like surround and volume control.

This is quite long post. Windows 8 compare to Windows 7 the advantage is for laptop, the battery life increase. For example if the laptop can use up to 4 hours from a full charge in normal usage like web surfing and word processing as I write this post to test using stamina mode not speed mode, it will last from 30% to 50% which I can happy say like easily over 5 to 6 hours no problem from a full charge. The sound for both desktop and laptop is much louder about 30% and more surround to have better quality sound as notice by hearing especially my laptop built in speaker like many sources in You Tube even. The graphic user interface is much better. Most Program loaded more faster to launch.

Disappointment is I find that Windows 8 start up since power on a bit slower than Windows 7 which I thinking if I do not know as I just started using fresh windows 8 need to run and restart a few times to get it boot up faster. I do not know if it worth the investment to change my laptop hard disk 750GB 5400rpm SATA to solid state hard disk 512GB SATA 2.5 inch as right now cost over SGD$500 which SGD$1 over a 1GB of space to get it boot up faster and longer battery life to squeeze even 6 hours of usage from a full charge in stamina mode like surfing web page and word processing to make laptop a bit lighter. You can leave any comment in my contact me page at top.

Last Sunday on 14 Oct 2012 I went for 5.30pm services in Suntec City Rock auditorum. Before that I saw on their web site at www.newcreation.org.sg looking for classically trained singer and orchestra. I asked the information counter at 7.40pm after the services on how to sign up, she said need to sign up online as there is no forms to fill up. So I sign up online through the church web sites and I was surprise that they send an e-mail which I received and read on tuesday night that they had arrange an audition on Saturday afternoon 20 Oct 2012 2.15pm to 3.30pm which they need to receive the confirmation by Wed 3pm 17 Oct 2012. In this e-mail they send me an link to sing the verse one of the hymns which they selected and I need to prepare to choose one songs as I cannot choose any praise and worship songs as they are looking for classically trained singers.

So I approach my vocal teacher as she is free on Thu night 18 Oct 2012 for a session of vocal lesson and forward her the e-mail that the church send me to prepare for audition. So I went for her lesson and she prepared me Classical Opera Aria songs in Italian which is Caro mio ben that is the only classical songs which I well known of and sing for years. So she also prepare for me the hymn which the church ask me to prepare compulsory. So I let her know that Caro Mio Ben in italian the church might have problem understanding it but she said that the church said want to look for classical singers so this will be the proper songs to prepare and sing rather than English old love songs.

So I did not practise much as Friday 19 Oct 2012 I did go for the care group of this church and I let them know that I not suppose to come as I need to practise but I already come so anyway let it be. Tomorrow Afternoon I went for the church audition. They use a laptop put in my CD and I sing Caro Mio Ben. The studio was too small to sing using projection voice as I was too close to the keyboard and they were seating. I started to sing and the music was too soft playback from their laptop internal speaker so I was loss in the spirit cannot follow the music accompliment to sing properly. If you want to hear me sing Caro Mio Ben can visit my youtube channel at www.youtube.com/kokwee81 but I feel the church audition that I just attended I sing a bit soft so a bit worse than my youtube channel. She stop me after I sing one minute and said that classical singing not easy as I need to find the correct teacher. I was quite piss off so I left. I did let her know that I currently attending vocal lesson with a teacher. I do not think my vocal teacher got any problem so not a need to find a correct teacher as what she said which I was not happy about church audition. Luckily I be like a Jesus that many churches have many lukewarm Christian caused her to said I need to find a correct teacher that I just dust off my feet and walk away rather than create more problem to point middle finger at her and spit at her to make myself more happy.

For this issue which had happened, I decided to leave this church care group by letting the leader know and also ask the church admin to remove my church membership from the database by submitting enquiry form online at the church web page and reply me once it been done. Actually it is very crazy to prepare for audition just three and a half days to be effective as my vocal teacher knows as she try to teach me and I try to attend the church audition that all. I will send this church worship ministry an e-mail to withdraw my audition application even after I had attended. Even I was selected after the audition due to this issue I am not interested to join too. Anyway if the church find this post want to remove it they will require to hire a civil lawyer which result in the court order in order to do it. This is my blog and is my freedom to blog about it as I not commiting any criminal charges as doing this.

You may google about what is classical singing standard like most common ABRSM vocal exam or trinity. I think it may be an mistake for church to look out for classical singer as mostly services they can have praise and worship like hymns or solo like contemporary style.

By Leong Wai Kit | Posted: 04 October 2012 1539 hrs

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1229523/1/.html

Tan Ye Peng (Photo: Tan Ye Peng Twitter @tanyepeng)

SINGAPORE: An accused in the City Harvest Church misuse of funds saga has been permitted to travel temporarily.

Tan Ye Peng, 39, applied for permission at the subordinate courts on Thursday, saying he plans to go to Indonesia for a four-day mission this month.

Tan, who is the vice-chairman of City Harvest Church, faces six counts of conspiring to commit criminal breach of trust by an agent and four counts of conspiring to falsify accounts.

Tan is among six senior church leaders, including the church’s founding pastor Kong Hee, charged with varying counts of criminal breach of trust and falsifying accounts.

Their passports have been impounded.

The case involved millions of dollars in City Harvest Church funds, which were allegedly siphoned off to further the music career of Kong Hee’s wife, Ho Yeow Sun.

Two other accused church leaders, Kong Hee and investment manager Chew Eng Han, had applied in July and August respectively for permission to travel, and were allowed to go out of Singapore.

The countries listed in their submissions include the United States, Indonesia and South Korea.

All three accused have been allowed to travel until November 22 — the date for their third pre-trial conference.

The pre-trial session, which will be held at noon, will be conducted behind closed doors.

Lawyers said no trial date has been set.

– CNA/lp