2010/08/29

與Android同行

與Android同行




iPhone轉用了Android手機已有個多月, 最初還十分擔心有些在iPhone常用的Apps在Android找不到, 最後發現有競爭才有進步的道理, Android market已經有好多實用freeware, 前景令人期待!

雖然Android推出較iPhone遲, 但是反而因為編寫Android的程式沒有iPhone這麼多限制, Apps的功能更多樣化,這是換機前始料不及的。 

現在對Android的手機運用和Apps開始有所掌握,  希望能與大家分享...

Browser
-dolphin browser - with lots of add-on apps
  - add-on - bookmarks to SD (can also sync your google bookmarks stored in google toolbar);
News and weather
- 中文 News online - can read news from different Chinese, English and Japanese newspapers
- Newsbook - can read news from different Chinese, English and Japanese newspapers (incl. Apply daily, BBC news, etc)
- BeyondPod - can download different podcasts
- TuneIn Radio - can listen to local and overseas radio online (ie. on MTR)


Reader and dictionary
- FBReader - very good reader for epub ebooks and has free ebooks download (same format as iBooks in iPhone)

- Audible - can download and listen to purchased audible ebooks anywhere
- Audiobooks - can download free audiobooks on the web
- ColorDict - can import different dictionary for search of words (e.g. can include English-Chinese, English-English, Thesaurus, wikipedia and translation add on)
- Kindle - can read ebooks purchased from Amazon website
- PalmBookReader - can read txt and prc format ebooks
- iReader - can read pdb format ebooks
- cBook reader - can download and read www.hoodao.com chinese ebooks 
- Mango - Comic books reader (English subtitles) 
- ComicBricks - Comic books reader (Chinese subtitles)


Chinese apps
- Tang Poetry - display poetry with 'pinyin' and English translation.  You can also listen to the poetry reading in Putonghua
- cnCalendar - can show Lunar calendar, you can input Lunar birth date to the apps as annual event.
- FengShui compass - can show the fengshui direction and descriptions

- HKIME - chinese characters handwriting input method
- Hanwriting IME -  - chinese characters handwriting input method

Health and sports
- Exercise - shows some stretching exercise postures and exercise plans
- DroidFit - shows some weight training exercise and plans
- JogTracker - with GPS, it can track down your jogging track
- Pilates - shows some pilates postures
- Yoga exercise - shows some yoga postures (but very advance postures)
- Medicinal herbs - describes the nature and effects of different medicinal herbs
- 食物相克大全


Photo editing 
- PicsArt - good photo editing tool
- Quickpic - a very smooth photos viewer

- Photo slides - very smooth slideshow
- PicSay - adds dialogue bubble on photographs
- Photoshop express - edits and makes special effects on photos
- Vignette Demoe - edits and makes special effects on photos
- FxCamera - gives special effects when taking photographs
- Photofunia - sends your photo to the website and it will return a special poster like photo

-  CamScanner - convert photos to pdf format  
-  Scrap - can create a photo album

Multimedia and music  
- Mobo Player - rmvb and mp4 player
- Rock player - rmvb and mp4 player
- ArcMedia - rmvb and mp4 player, it also contains movie downloader
- gStrings - music tuner
- Mobile metronome
- Shazam - it can listen to the song and display the name to you
- Music wizard - can search and download mp3 songs!
- ringdroid - can edit mp3 to make ringtone
- Movie free - can use barcode scanner to scan DVD barcode to build your own movie database

- TTPod - can search and download mp3 songs!
- Imeem mobile - You can play music off your phone's SD card or stream music over the Internet with Imeem's mobile player.  Imeem offers several ways to listen once you've created a free user account: Upload tracks from your computer and listen to them under the "My Music" tab, create on-the-fly radio stations from music similar to your favorite artists using the "Search" function, or listen to featured stations put together by Imeem's staff and other us.
- 快手下載 - movie downloader  
- 千尋影視-movie downloader

Google and travel
- Google google - can scan the logo or barcode of an object, the phone will go to google to search the related information
- Google translate - can paste a sentence and translate it to different language
- Startranslate - can paste a sentence and translate it to different language, can even read the sentence to you - Google sky map - can show star map with proper orientation
- aCurrency - currency exchange


Utilities and tools:
- AVG antivirus
- CamCard - scan name card and OCR to store contacts
- App category (in Market - search by 'Gannicus' - to group apps in different categories for display
- HK-Util - show all useful informtion about Hong Kong e.g. bus route, mark six results
- Jorte - can sync Google calender and tasklist, also has wiget to show on screen
- Barcode scanner - can scan 2D barcode and directly link to the website
- Task manager - to kill active programmes at the background to save power and resources
- Note everything - can import Outlook notes to Android
- GDocs - viewing and editing documents and spreadsheets from Google Docs account
- WhatsApp - can send message and photos to iPhone, Android phone and blackberry
- Tango - can video call overseas friends through internet, similar to skype.


Bible:
- Bible - have different version of bible to select, e.g. niv, kj, chinese versions, etc; can also set reading plan
- Cross connect bible - can read the bible versus for you


Games:
Androidify - make your own andoid icon figures
Artiulbits aiminesweeper - mine sweeper
Asphalt5 - Samsung car racing game
Disney puzzle - puzzle game
Find difference
Jewels
Solitaire
AngryBird
FatBooth
Rip! Mostsu01
Traffic jam 
250 Solitaire

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2010/08/23

終於嫁得出!!?!!

終於嫁得出!!?!!





今期我們豎琴小孖寶準備了Wedding March.

這是寶莉孖寶特別喜愛的樂曲, 所以特意改編一起合奏.

可是七月太忙碌, 結果這首合奏留待到八月才"嫁得出"呢!



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2010/08/20

六萬年的一個機遇-親近火星

六萬年的一個機遇 - 親近火星




香港的夏夜是最迷人的, 晚上在海旁看港島的夜色特別清淅熣燦.  而今年的八月更加特別, 近日朋友傳來一份消息, 火星於八月將會非常接近地球.  它會像月球般大, 在夜空散著淡紅的光彩.

據天文學家的意見, 火星在之前五千年從沒有如此接近, 可能六萬年前才發生過, 大家不要錯過啊!

當大家加班工作完畢回家途中, 記著仰望夜空, 感受大自然的奇景!















Nessun dorma (Nobody shall sleep!)



Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Tu pure, o, Principessa,
nella tua fredda stanza,
guardi le stelle
che tremano d'amore
e di speranza.
Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me,
il nome mio nessun saprà!
No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò
quando la luce splenderà!
Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio
che ti fa mia!
(Il nome suo nessun saprà!...
e noi dovrem, ahime, morir!)

-------------------------------------

English Translation of "Nessun Dorma"
Nobody shall sleep!...
Nobody shall sleep!
Even you, o Princess,
in your cold room,
watch the stars,
that tremble with love and with hope.
But my secret is hidden within me,
my name no one shall know...
No!...No!...
On your mouth I will tell it when the light shines.
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!...
(No one will know his name and we must, alas, die.)
Vanish, o night!
Set, stars! Set, stars!
At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!
continue reading "六萬年的一個機遇-親近火星"

2010/08/14

黑白溢彩-荷洛維茲的藝術





'I must tell you I take terrible risks. Because my playing is very clear, when I make a mistake you hear it. If you want me to play only the notes without any specific dynamics, I will never make one mistake. Never be afraid to dare. '      Vladimir Horowitz

早前介紹過郎朗的自傳-郎朗千里之行, 而近日正在閱讀這本介紹荷洛維茲的鋼琴演奏的書籍, 看過它的楔子後, 讓我再次欣賞"Horowitz in Moscow"的CD時肅然起敬。   有趣的是兩位鋼琴家最初都是頂替病倒的鋼琴家而成名, 而演奏的剛巧也是柴可夫斯基的鋼琴協奏曲呢!

《黑白溢彩》是一本有誠意而又寫得好的書,難得的是作者邵頌雄懷對荷洛維茲的熱情,以紮紮實實的寫法來打動讀者,而讀者又的確被打動。更美好的,它不是追潮流,它是荷洛維茲的藝術。      ~【明報專訊】2010年03月14日

此書對荷洛維茲的鋼琴演奏作了全面詳盡的評介,資料豐富,趣味盎然。適值本年為鋼琴大師荷洛維茲逝世二十週年紀念,牛津大學出版社將推出此書向一代大師致敬。

鋼琴上的黑白琴鍵,在鋼琴大師出神入化的演奏下,賦予樂章不一樣的氛圍和感染力。不管你是否鋼琴音樂的愛好者,這本書都能帶你進入一個絕妙的生活境界
....



特別選來荷洛維茲獨持演譯的Chopin Polonaise in A-flat major與大家分享!

Vladimir Horowitz - Chopin Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53

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2010/08/08

舒曼的情書 - Twin spirits

舒曼的情書 - Twin spirits




適逢今年是舒曼生辰二百週年, Sting 與他太太 Trudie Styler 參與這個特別的製作.  他倆朗讀舒曼與他妻子Clara的情書, 中間點綴了舒曼和Clara的音樂作品, 令整個製作簡潔有力, 一面聽著舒曼的逝世, 一面細聽Traeumerei, 倍感淒美! 


"Twin Spirits' 選自舒曼其中一封情書約定與Clara在某日的同一時間一起彈奏同一樂曲, 讓他倆的精神連在一起!  真是多麼浪漫啊! 

Twin Spirits is a unique and intimate, live theatrical performance by a chamber ensemble of actors, singers and musicians, portraying the deep and ultimately tragic love between the composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck. In this intensely moving performance of words, song and music, the Schumanns long separation, so formative an influence on their lives, is reflected in the division of the ensemble into male and female groups. Roberts letters to Clara are read by Sting and his songs sung by Simon Keenlyside, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Iain Burnside and Sergej Krylov. Claras letters to Robert are read by Trudie Styler and her songs sung by Rebecca Evans, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Natalie Clein and Natasha Paremski. The narrator, Derek Jacobi, links together the letters and lyrics to complete the essential outline of the story. Conceived and directed by John Caird, Twin Spirits was first performed in June 2005 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London and has since been experienced only at private performances for charity by small audiences of all ages and interests, leaving them deeply touched and inspired.

http://www.twin-spirits.com/

Trailer











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2010/08/01

Vocal Master Class (Miss Jeffie Leung, Soprano)

Vocal Master Class (Miss Jeffie Leung, Soprano)


A music educational event which suitable for students and music lovers

Some of the participants will perform their Songs. Miss Jeffie Leung will teach the interpretation of songs and vocal technique.
......

Miss Leung was described "Noticable beautiful and sonorous voice, with highly musical interpretation" after her performance in the Vienna International Music Seminar.

She teaches vocal in the HKBU, CUHK, and HKIED.
She conducted voice master classes in HK and overseas





Date: 1 August 2010

Time: 3:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.

Venue: Agnes B hall, Hong Kong Art Center



The master class then followed by Vivian Yau's recital.  Miss Yau just won the first prize of Llangollen 2010, vocal solo for under 15. 



The winning performance of Mein Herr Marquis by Vivian in Llangollen 2010, vocal solo for under 15




continue reading "Vocal Master Class (Miss Jeffie Leung, Soprano)"