We are not out of the wood, yet

One year and 4 months on. News scattering  all around the world is just about Covid-19.Remember last year the very first case announce in Indonesia. 

This year we see little light at the end of the tunnel. We all think it's soon gonna left behind us, as the case stabilize. We are then introduce to new normal and embrace for start our normal daily life once again. Offices even prepare for the new normal work arrangement.We hopes soon all activity can be resume, be it dining out, sport events, and entertainment.

Dining, hanging out, sports image can only be retrieved from our old photos collection

Here we are now. At the time I write this, we are mid of climbing to new record high both new cases and death rate. New varian are being detected spread among these original ones and claimed to be more infectious. Oxygen we breath has become a rare commodity. Can you name which fiction movie has become true ?

There is not all negativity. Vaccines comes to save the day and bring little bit hope to us all. Luckily the vaccine rollout is very fast (even compare to more develop nations), despite the case are soaring community here are calmer, more prepared and most importantly still able to earn for live.

 Maybe this is is just new way of life. Just like the companion on the PI's boat, the tiger is the reminder for us to stay alert, stay safe, and stay healthy. Those peaceful and mask-less day is thing in the past. And we're not expect to do the same, at least in the near future.  

COVID-19, a reset button to the world

As older millennial, I have enjoy decades of peace and prosperity. In old days villager boy grow up by the river in remote area of Sumatera did not have luxury of electricity, cars of any big city would enjoy. 
But we never called ourselves as poor, under-developed, and we never self-pity. Grew up strong and happy, and against all odd found out able to survive and thrive.

Over the years I started to understand, the economic growth is not as smooth as childhood dreams.
Expert of the world has predicted every 10 years there would be economic downturn, and every 20 or so years there would be major changes of world political direction. There was global economic crisis around 1990s which I'm still too you to understand. Then the hard-hit economic crisis 1997-1998 across Asia, including Indonesia which causing the country major political turmoils. 2007-2008 also US debt crisis impact to most country across Asia and Europe.

Since then, we all who have invested in bonds, stock, forex, should have enjoyed proper (read: exponential) yield. Ten years has passed since last crisis. Experts predicted there would be recession in next few months. Economic downturn signal has shown in several sectors in US and EU. That was before the new corona virus COVID-19 comes into picture.

A CDC computer rendering of the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the virus strain that causes COVID-19.

Now the bigger cycle called centennial plague, happen every 100 years or so. Through out the history, mankind challenged by diseases causing mass casualties.
The year 2020 is just like perfect storm. We already worried about recession, adding COVID-19 strikes right at he heart of world manufacturing sites (China).

We still at the early stage of the storm. SARS last for 9 months - 1 years. MERS 6 months. COVID-19 has only started 3 months since outbreak. This time nothing like past times. The global scales and the economy impact of the event still unaccounted. 

Just like a reset button, it sets new baseline for sectors of our life. Supply chain interrupted with city lock downs and decreases of demand. Suddenly everything need to be slowed down. Government postpone development plans and instead, assign the budget more to COVID relieve efforts. Factory and offices are closed. People had to work from and forced stay at home. Activity that supposed lift up community spirit such as music and sport events also being cancelled.

It bring huge impact to our earth, to climate and pollution, since less cars on the road, less tree to be chop down, and less mine pit to be dig.
To remind us what is matter us the most. To remind us what is sufficient. 
Because we simply cannot grow forever, sometimes need take a break. 
As it only a break, NOT A STOP, we all will bounce back, grow stronger with new paradigm, using new and more disruptive way on marketing, channel and technology.  



Reference.

Ray Dalio - Big Debt Crises (2018)

Indonesia ecommerce rank - a dumb review

Ecommerce is not new thing. Back in dawn of this century ( or millenium) early 2000s, internet get strong momentum due to increases of PC user along with improve of hardware and software - mainly user friendliness of Microsoft Windows. Manual office and school works are being converted using so called 'information system'. Webmail and internet portals are the king of internet. Name one. Yahoooooo, you're right.

Some creative people came up idea to bring shopping experience into electronic, so then we were introduce to Ebay, Alibaba (1999) which still big player after almost 15 years later. But more names we only know them as legend and only found in history books. la to name some. And one the Indonesia legend is "www.precision.co.id", first Indonesia professional ecommerce selling IT related stuff. Hello there? Are you still there?

They did not succeed, at least most of it did not made until age 10. Died young. People found they are as not free as go to shopping malls to shop. They have to sit tight on a predifined station which connect to internet to shop. I need to setup modem dial up baut rare to 56.6 kbps in order to just open one page in one minute. Let alone shopping, news reading is still a hassle. After several pages opened, telephone bills start to cause headache. Lot more people cant afford the luxury.

Thanks to mobile telecommunication, the second wave of internet started to pulse.
It bring fresh blood to online activity, especially after mobile technology are become faster and affordable. Second wave of ecommerce is on the raise above horizon. They are actually not born yesterday.  Their seed is in ground awaiting right moment to grow and flourish. Tokopedia founded on 2009. Bukalapak founded on 2010. Lazada founded on 2012. You name it, google will tell you.

Just until recent years, together with improvement of infrastructure from telecommunication, roads and electricity, ecommerce can ride the wave of success. Yes, very basic factor - INFRASTRUCTURE. With good transportation, we can estimate when our package will arrive. With good telecomunication, buyers are keen to check back every few minutes whether any ongoing flash sale. Just ensure to recharge your device when it is low batt, thanks to electricity.

Different class different style
I often make jokes about how ecommerce is being classified. The lowest class is 'Bukalapak'. As a 'lapak' (non-permanent street kiosk) they are often become victim of Satpol PP, civil security force. Middle class we have 'Tokopedia', as they now a Toko, permanent shop or building. At top class we have : Jakmall. Full air-con, nice aisle, luxury shops and fancy restaurant is what we associated with mall. The lesson is : name is very important.

Key to sucess gain customer loyalty  check out decision.
Aggressive promotion accros peer is just to keep up each other, so one doesn't follow will left behind. Next is upgrade site to living platform, which may starts with selling goods now also serving : air ticketing, top up, pay bills, pay anything-you-name-it, hotel, investment, property, used-car, tax, order pizza, complaint about public service, traffic jam, upload video, look for a long lost friend, review a space trip, watch bactery plays. Although some service sound ridiculous for now, but with proper business plan, it can be cash in. But not now.

For now, please focus on : expand seller base to get best price, more product variety, and local shop (and warehouse) to cuts shipping time and cost.
One I need to underline is have a internal police to fight fake seller, good/picture/description doesnt match actual product, crazy cheap laptops, or simply take down those selling iPhone running latest Android.

Be a smart shopper and dont get caught for seller.

Manage Files Older than certain days

Today, I found a quite useful trick to list, delete or manage file that is older than certain days
This trick is simple to housekeep and simply check if archiving process is running well day on day basis.

The basic is

find /path/to/files* -mtime +5 -exec command {} \;

You may easily change the command to :

ls -- to list files
rm -- delete
tar -czf -- to create a tar.gz archive

or anything you may try, and let me know the result.

Change the /path/to/files* to exact path you want to check
+5 means older than 5 days. Simply change to let say +30 for files older than 30 days

This should work on any linux. Tested on Ubuntu, CentOS, and RedHat.
Hope this small trick could save your precious working time, and let more time for having fun :)

Cheers

Operator silently discarded unlimited plan, why subsriber still love it ?

It's no doubt mobile operator has become nation's internet access for most people. From lite user to heavy user, all rely on this wireless channel. Few years ago, all operator are competing to lure new subscriber by offering unlimited data package. Back in that time, data consumption are still low if to be consumed alone by the phone. But for some heavy user geek, those packages are really being push to limit, by hacking parameter, proxy, VPN etc. Although it's limited by FUP (Fair usage policy), the truncated bandwidth still pretty interesting, if a 700MB movie is downloaded overnight (or two days, or 3 days, no matter). Operator feels being robbed by these users.

Nowadays, operator become smarter. Beside reducing cost of data, by advancing PS (packed core) infrastructure, wifi offload, cheaper internet backbone, (some) operator silently discarded those unlimited package. Some with similar wording but lack of the * star sign for term and condition of FUP. The package I'm currently using, even disallow connection to the APN once limit has crossed.

But subscriber more concern of quality instead of quantity. Every device has subscribed to a plan. Relatively enough, even for data-hungry gadget. Package price already included along purchasing the device. For existing gadget, simply activate new starter pack. Customer satisfaction achieved. Simply throw and buy new package. More reasonable.

 What about quality subscriber ? I'll tell you what I think on next post.

How Nokia faded in the industry (and in my family)

I've been traditional Nokia fans for more than one decade. Every cell phone I bought since 1998 was Nokia. (my first phone is given actually). Not only me, but family and friends who seek my advise, I always recommend Nokia.Those days, if you want most advanced and most interesting phone, prime option is only Nokia. It has games like no other, user friendly menu display, and good shape.

Then new technology being adopted, and Nokia stays ahead from others. During the time Nokia enjoyed best portion of mobile communication profits.
Namely, the first camera phone, first color screen, first internal antenna, phone with install able games and apps. Never did the research, whether or not those 'first' adopter I said, but surely the first when it came to consideration.

Now, a bit sad and excited. New kind of gadget starting to brighten our days, ex Nokia fans. Gadget from green droid robot, one bite fruit, and another berry fruits starting become joins me family. However, my phone still has not changed, still a Nokia (I mean Symbian).

What's Nokia lacking is the user 'experience'. It can claim the features of other vendor/OS having, but not user experience. Number of apps in Nokia store, functionality, social connectivity and hardware specifications. Same Facebook apps, you may notice the different between Nokia (Symbian belle) and let say iPhone. The 3Mpx camera doesn't seems better then less than 1Mpx camera on iPad2. Nokia phones has offered video call years back, but never get traction until Facetime come in picture. Same Angry birds, but different feeling when it plays.

Its fate still haven't concluded, as Nokia still hoping to turn the situation with Lumia. I personally hope for the best.

Why a three-partied world is so important

Recently we've seen to heat up of mobile operating system competition, involving big names from Google with Android as rising star, Apple iOS with certain fanatic users, and several other with smaller user base, such as RIM's Blackberry, Microsoft Windows Mobile and the blast from the past, Symbian. As market share for those smaller OS is (claimed) declining, perhaps we can say only two OS rule the mobile world now : Android and iOS. These two combined believed have market share up to 80% per 2011, is not a good situation for surround industry, such as wireless provider, application/game developer, and content provider. With big market share, they two can command the direction they wanted. Luckily they seems not get along well, but if they do, mobile world could be theirs with other only supporting role. 

In the past, we've seen  how Zuge Liang with his intelligent insisted a world (although that time only China) with three main ruler. And seems the setting could balanced the ambition and power to rule over other country. And then during cold war, there's initiative to setup new forces to balance it. 

And in Indonesian history, there a three-partied policy proven lasted 3 decades, although it crashed as it actually only one dominant player.

Now, in mobile world, the third player still vacant. No one could claim it now, because of their user base is not significant compared to the two ruler. It's not only Operating system matters, but ecosystem. How surrounding industry supports and user willing to give it a try at the new challenger. In my opinion, the surrounding industry must involve to ensure the third-ecosystem could grow as the other two

For challenger ecosystem, I hope they can, finally, found a way how to synergy and team up as an important third-ecosystem to balance the mobile world. And for kick start, maybe you can create universal messaging system across platform to "steal" some user.

Update : Found this video shows how "tripoly" instead of duopoly :)

Instant Messaging of future

As technology becomes main agent for human interaction nowadays, more and more people connecting to each other indirectly, could via voice, text and video. The  way is texting via instant messaging (IM).

When SMS and voice communication is so yesterday, im offer more attractive and add value to the communication. The killer features is group messaging and ability to attach rich media file into the chat. Other high demanded feature such as share location, virtual activity also available depend on protocol and device.

There are so many IM protocol currently available. From the legendaries ICQ, IRC from the first dot-com booming during new millennia. Then internet giant enters the competition for their users such as Yahoo with Y!msgr, Google with Gtalk, Microsoft/Hotmail with Live (recently acquired Skype), Facebook Chat, AOL and many more that has no significant user. The most recent is smartphone/service vendor to push their own protocol. There are RIM with Blackberry Messenger, Nokia with Ovi chat,  Whatsapp, some local brand like Nexian Messenger and Esia Messenger. 

Remember old day where we can only send SMS within same operator/network, operator never thought the SMS could be one of their revenue machine. But when SMS inter-operator is available, instantly SMS become ultimate revenue generator.  Imagine internet with no inter-networking capability, telephone with no inter-operator switching,  email can only send to same domain user, closed group IM has no future, unless it can communicate thru all protocols/provider.

So IM service provider should start collaborate the chatting inter-operates across protocol. Some already started with limited partners, like Ovi can talk to Gtalk, Y!msgr to MSN (maybe with Skype too?), but still not as one global inter-protocol IM. Only by all-connected protocol, IM will be considered important way to socialize at least for years to come. No more one ID for every protocol if we want to chat with people in the group.

Be a wise social networker

Seems like social network has bring new wave of how human interact in virtual way. The good things is, why we all like it very much, it connect to old friends to a level of we could never imagine before. Of course this bring new value for humanity as well as human-and-human interaction. When Facebook surpasses it half billionth member registrations, in urban city it's hard to find someone who still dont have a Facebook account. From student, unemployment, and professional worker, all have their account.

Not only facebook, there are also Twitter, four-square, and some giant-backed service like Yahoo's 360, and koprol, Google's buzz which try to get user's trust to publish their social-personal voices. Fact I found, not all of us can measure the risk of posting personal information (including status, photograph, and video) to a service.

From my personal observation and experience, I'd like to share some tips to be a wise user, as well as protect our privacy :

1. Create account for intended use only.
If you just want to be a normal person, then just add your real world friend as your connection. If you're a really famous public figure (at least you thought of), then best advise is create a separate account just for it, where you can add whoever as your friend. I'm not a close person, but doubt the meaning of a friend for those who have thousands of "friends". Friend is supposed both way, isnt it ?

2. Don't say things you might regret it.
Never post or stand on an opinion that you think you might regret it in the future or blocking your professional way. Quoted from some reading that Internet never forget things, thanks to web crawlers and archive capability.

3. Never over-post your family
People just like to share, but never share or post photo, video and status about your children in your public account. If you just cant help yourself of posting it, create a dedicate account from them. Add only some close friend. No point to show of to your friend where or what you and your family is doing to anonymous.

4. Check it out as you are a stranger
Check privacy setting regularly and check your "wall" and posted item as anonymous. If still accessible, change setting or instead remove it immediately. Sometime I feel like people are more open even to their virtual stranger friend than to real world friend instead. Next time, when going to post a bit, hope you can be wiser to think of the risk.

PHP Multithreading for beginner

This entry is inspired by Iman "Sapi". Thank you sapi.

PHP has become not just web scripting language. Now PHP also widely use for simple server side shell scripting. PHP is proven a strong platform do perform database and www operation, such as querying, CURL-ing, http tunnelling and API's function.

The differences is at output and how long the script allowed to runs. Output of web-based PHP mostly markup languages bounded with fancy images and media files. But shell scripting only output only-God-knows log messages, and has no time limit.

Supported by enormous of active developer, PHP server scripting are very easy to those actively build applications under web. PHP also powerful to build heavy-duty task, such as file backup, backend server-to-server processes. Like Java, PHP5 now has the capability for multithreading, to increase processing speed. The only limit is memory and processor. But I found for doing certain task (my case) it's much lighter than using Java.

To enable, first make sure you've installed pcntl extension. On Ubuntu machine, install the extension files :
$ sudo apt-get install php5-dev
$ cd ~
$ mkdir php-temp
$ cd php-temp
$ sudo apt-get source php5
$ cd php5-xx.xx/ext/pcntl (xx.xx is your PHP5 subversion, pressing tab would reveal it)
$ sudo phpize
$ sudo ./configure
$ sudo make

Copy the compiled extension into modules library.
$ cp modules/* /usr/lib/php5/xxxxxx/ (xxxxx is php library date)

Restart apache
$ sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart


Next is, try copy and paste this simple script simulate the multithreading.
Further reading, please visit PHP official manual page. Happy multi-threading.


$children = 5;

for ($i=1; $i<=$children; $i++) {
$pid = pcntl_fork();
if ($pid == -1) {
SaveLog("THREADING","could not fork thread $i");
die("could not fork\n");
}
else if ($pid) {
# If we are the parent, we did our job of giving birth,
# now lets finish our job and die!
SaveLog("THREADING","Parent thread exiting..");
exit(0);
}
else {
# Since we are the child, fork so that init will become our parent. Init
# is good at wait()ing on children - ie: reaping.
$cpid = pcntl_fork();
if ($cpid == -1) {
SaveLog("THREADING","could not fork in child process $i");
die("could not fork in child process\n");
}
if (!$cpid) {
# Put your real task here, dont forget they're run as separate process, make sure no dependency each thread
SaveLog("THREADING","Thread $i started");
$result = StupidTask(10000000);
SaveLog("TASK","Result on thread $i : $result");
SaveLog("THREADING","Thread $i finished");
# Don't forget to exit after the child processing is done. Certainly
# change this exit code if you need to however.
exit(0);
}
}
}

function StupidTask($count) {
for ($i=1;$i<$count;$i++) {
}
return "I'm done doing stupid thing for $count times";
}

function SaveLog($type,$msg) {
global $logfile;
file_put_contents($logfile,date('Y-m-d H:i:s') . ' ' . $type . ' ' . $msg . "\n",FILE_APPEND);
return true;
}

Install fancy fonts for your Ubuntu Java apps

Java is well-known development platform, not for enterprise system, but also to small application like rendering picture and processing video. One of the application I involve it, requires so many fancy fonts to make the output more beautiful.

It's not common that Java requires such fonts, but this really matters as it related to graphic and colour. Under Ubuntu box, Font that Java loads different from the system has. So we might need to copy all needed fonts into folder that reads by JRE.

For Ubuntu, Java fonts is available under folder /usr/lib/jvm/{your-java-version-folder}/jre/libs/fonts/. To find out what java version your working, see configuration of your Java apps. Refer to it, browse into /usr/lib/jvm, and match any possible version that's closest match.

By default no configuration file needed to edit if all your required fonts is satisfied. Once copied, reload your Java Application.

The longest "BETA" products

In software development cycle, we oftenly use the term ALPHA and BETA term to indicate a progressing software, but somehow ready to make a test hit. In my own experience, we usually use BETA only for stating a software meet its basic function but yet to test througly. There's no exact rule on how long a software should be put on beta before its final release.

For a software company, when it meet all initial designed functionality and performance, then it's OK to be released and leave the beta stage. I'm not sure what are GMAIL guys think of, but the product never officially release.

When it first announce on April fool's day 2004, this phenomenal free mail really changes the paradigm of free mail services. Yahoo previously only provide max 10MB of mailbox, now even no limit. Others are previously closed the pop access now consider to reenable. And the Ajax-interface inspire other web application to follow so.

What's now ?
It's been BETA for more than 5 years. It doesn't make any sense that a product still in beta for such long time, even I start to think maybe "beta" is the product name. I'm not really sure what is their initial design and plan, but for me, it's surpased any free mail service that makes Gmail more ready than any other similar service to get out of the Beta stage.

Do you know any software that labeled Beta longer than Gmail does ?

Manage MySQL datadir folder

Mysql no-doubtly is the most popular database server among web user for it available on most hosting and SMEs. It's distribution also available on most linux distro, including the popular Ubuntu.

Mysql data file is the base of mysql database storage. Relocating folder usually for harddrive partition storage management issue. Managing MySQL data file is kinda tricky, because since Ubuntu 8.04, MySQL data file is protected by apparmor by default. Meaning, we cant simply move around files related to MySQL, as all location need to be registered.

Basic step is to edit mysql config file, in /etc/mysql/my.cnf.
Make sure the service is stopped.

$ sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop
$ sudo vi /etc/mysql/my.cnf

Look for datadir directive, change it to your new location. Datadir location has to be actual location, not a symbolic link. Save and quit the editor. Dont forget to move old database location into the new folder, most importantly "mysql", as the folder contains user authentication info. Otherwise you'll find unable to log in to the database.

Apparmor Part
Apparmor is a security software for Linux. Apparmor protects unauthorised changes to system critical files. To open apparmor protection for MySQL, open a shell terminal, and type :

$ sudo vi /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.mysqld

Add the new location:

/var/www/mysql_datadir/ r,
/var/www/mysql_datadir/** rwk,

Restart apparmor by :

$ sudo /etc/init.d/apparmor restart

If everything went right, mysql start status should showing [ok], otherwise, consulting syslog somehow could help. Type this before restarting mysql service

$ tail -f /var/log/syslog

In other terminal,

$ sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start

Now your database is located in folder you prefer to.

Affordable internet but with fair usage policy

Affordable internet finally available !

With a series of new regulation from Ministry of Communication and Information (Menkominfo), now internet subcription is getting affordable. Compare to my last two (article 1 & article 2) article related to internet rates, currently unlimited internet is available with cheaper monthly fee.

Started of by Indosat with its Broom Prabayar Unlimited, price start from Rp. 100.000 (US$ 9) per month, you can enjoy unlimited internet. Even nothing much to be proud of beside the cheap price, but after launched several months, Indosat is overwhelming with increasing of subscriber, exceed their capasity. As demand increases, it's getting hard to the get the Broom's starter pack.

Then followed by XL with XL internet unlimited prabayar, at approximately same rates, XL plot the service with only 250K subscriber. Not really sure if the quota has been surpased, but same thing happen, no where we can get the starter pack. Telkomsel recently lauched their first unlimited prepaid internet. As they claim have suprerior QoS, monthly fee slightly higher than other competitor.

All these service above carying same one term : Fair Usage Policy. As now limiting access no longer acceptable for subcriber, Fair Usage policy seems to be best fit for current situation. Fair usage policy is limiting connection speed when a sucbriber reach certain quota. Most GSM internet provider lock the speed at 64kbps when quota reach 2-3GB. This is quite tricky because they mostly use term of Broadband 3.5G speed in their promotion, although the maximum speed only at 256kbps.

My personal choice for home internet is Firstmedia. Although some said the customer service isnt nice (in solving problem) but as long as you have no problem with your access, I almost can say its beyond expectation. With Rp. 135.000 (+tax) (US$ 12), speed we can get up to 384kpbs flat no fair usage policy. A real download could reach almost 50KBps from Rapidshare.
So far, I'm quite happy with this service. Hope this can help you decide what the personal internet connection that suits you.

Setting up gammu with smsd

Gammu is the most popular program to build customized sms  server. It can connect to various of handset, from the oldest model until recently launched model.  Also it support populars os(es) such as Microsoft Windows and Linux Ubuntu. 


To setup gammu under windows simply download win32 binary from gammu site. For Ubuntu, even easier. 

$ sudo apt-install gammu

That's all.

Once installed try edit gammurc (gammu config files). Windows version, config file will be in same folder as gammu.exe. For Ubuntu version, the config file is in /etc. Edit where needed. 
My working setting is :


[gammu]

port = /dev/ttyS1
;model = 6110
connection = at19200
;synchronizetime = yes
logfile = /home/says/gammulog
logformat = textall
;use_locking = yes
;gammuloc = locfile
;startinfo = yes
;gammucoding = utf8
;rsslevel = teststable
;usephonedb = yes


To test out :

$ gammu --identify

On success connection it should display our gsm modem properties.

Manufacturer         : Nokia
Model                : 6150 (NSM-1)
Firmware             : 4.12 E (02-12-98)
Hardware             : 2320
IMEI                 : 493002107068660
Original IMEI        : 493002107068660
Manufactured         : 1298
Product code         : 0502690
Simlock 1     : MCC+MNC      00101, opened, factory, counter 0
Simlock 2     : GID1          0000, opened, factory, counter 0
Simlock 3     : GID2          0000, opened, factory, counter 0
Simlock 4     : MSIN    0000000001, opened, factory, counter 0
MSID          : 823c21bb67cc5d6aab0f3caae6
MCU checksum  : 4057
DSP ROM       : 4


Next is configure smsd engine. Create a smsd config file. Ussually named smsdrc. Edit where needed. Put the file in same folder as we running Gammu. I strongly recommend using files style, as you can easily to customize the system.

[smsd]
PIN = 327426
logfile = /home/says/sms/logs/smsdlog
commtimeout = 10
sendtimeout = 20
#receivefrequency = 0
#resetfrequency = 0
deliveryreport = log
phoneid = mdsms

inboxpath = /home/says/sms/inbox/
outboxpath = /home/says/sms/outbox/
sentsmspath = /home/says/sms/sent/
errorsmspath = /home/says/sms/error/
inboxformat = standard
transmitformat = auto

The main part of the system just to read incoming sms save it to /inbox, send any message that we put in /outbox. Next gammu smsd able to do the rest.

Next, create an agent just to read message source to be send out, and retrieve incoming msg in inbox to store in your database. last thing is create nice fancy interface, of course dont forget the user authentication. Then hola, your own sms server is ready to serve.

Download : php agent to read & delete files

Looks profesional, write profesional email too

Email is must have communication for today business activity. Some people may not aware of that email have ethics code, so your email looks profesional and not just email. I write this because I've seen a lot of people just doesn't know (or doesn't care) about this.

I just encourage people to pay more attention on good email manner

1. Use company domain for business purposes. This rule is very simple, never join a mass mail mailing list using your company email, simply signup a free mail service. And oppositely, never response to a company project using free mail.

2. Dont forget to include nice signature in every mail you sent.
It could be your contact detail, such as full name, position, company  address, company phone, and company website. It's a very simple, as so many people might forget to set it. For me, receiving email without signature like the person trying to hide these detail, that not good.

3. Do not reply when you're not in the mood..
We seen one-word, one-liner reply like 'ok', 'me too','i agree'. For me it represent the sender not in mood to response. delete unused thread below.

4. Write what you mean, mean what you write
Don't compose an email in hurry, especially that's a weekly report. We can easily knows if an email is composed to catch up the target or it really composed from getting data from lot of sources.
In slank Jakarta word, "gak niat". No, never sent that kind of weekly report, better wait until you really have enough useful data and information.


Happy email-ing !

SMS spam, regulate it or block it?

First of all, I need to declare, SMS Spam here is refer to those free promotional message, not those unethical premium SMS(es) services, that charge user per receive. Also, as long as the content does not violate ethical and law regulation, e.g terorrist, race issues, raise conflict, etc.

Flashing back in time,where sms just a new-comer service, sending an sms cost about one meal, people found it very effective way to communicate. As it getting popular, telco company along with some creative people start to making business based on this.

And anomaly, the more telco lower the sms cost the more telco got it revenue from. And now, it like almost email, we can send an sms at almost zero cost.

GSM network design to interconnected each other. Like mail server to deliver email, sms delivered by an alien called SMSC. So far, only telco have the SMSC. The best part for spammer is, due to the regulation, sender keep all the revenue, while by right, destination network has to deliver the message due to the regulation.

The world is too big to implement single anti spam policy. So some country start regulate kind of sms. Some even with government law that could bring spammer to court.

But is the regulation effective to combat spam, especially by those well-organized company? Company may change its name. As long as it has the benefit to its marketing, there will always people to send these message in any way. Some company might tear to ground, some can flee away, but sure they will find a way to survive...

So is it effective to set punishment ? I said NO!!
The most effetive way is just block message that telco 'thinks' a spam. Same as my opinion for site blocking. There could by several way of detection like blaclisted Smsc (learning the lesson from email's anti spam softwares). So then just let user to choose which are the best telco for them, especially some country has implemented MNP. Let user decide, whether they prefer protective telco, or they would rather loyal to "more liberal" telco.

Somehow we might found some promo are quite informative. For me, as long as it not costing us, why bother! Just delete the message. Case close and thank you!

Unleash your E71

Nokia E71 is the most complete and most premium E series to date ever produce by Nokia. As the highest rating (and one of the most expensive), user like me will always seek for any possible feature has is not published by Nokia.

Thanks to its stable and secure platform of S60, now installing application can not just simply send the SIS / SISX file to the device then install it. S60 require developer signature and valid certificate for the device can accept the application.

But it will not stops creative people to pass thru it. First, download HelloOX.Unsigned.sis and MapDrives.Unsigned.sis. Sign the application. To sign an application, go to a unofficial signature site at http://s60.vgooo.com/. Symbian signing site is closing down due to law suit from symbiansigned. Last time I found the only valid site is OPDA. Using google translate tool will help you to understand these chinese words. But the point is, first register your account (email, user name, and password) and your device IMEI. It take 24 hours for approval. Visit the site following day and login. Upload the HelloOX.Unsigned.sis and MapDrives.Unsigned.sis to be signed.

After signed, download the application and send to your E71. Make sure your device is accept all application before installing. Set it at Menu -> Installation -> App Manager -> Option -> Setting Set "Software Installation" -> All. Online certificate check -> Off Install MapDrives before HelloOx. Right after HelloOx installed, go to Menu -> Installation -> HelloOX. Just confirm several simple question, then after everything is set, you can uninstall the HelloOx.

Now, your device is ready to accept any application, no more restriction. Just make sure play safe, beware of virus. And one last word as a software developer : IF YOU LIKE THE APPLICATION, PLEASE CONSIDER TO BUY IT.

Note. If you just desperate cannot found the HeeloOX and MapDrives, drop me an comment. I'll send you these apps.

Referrence. KasKus

Download KOMPAS Daily to your own server

Kompas starts today 2 July 2009, implements Microsoft's Silver Light framework, this download script temporary unable to fetch any edition

As most popular daily newspaper in indonesia, KOMPAS's content always been a compass most people to look to, from marketing to adv publisher, formal and informmal worker. As the biggest newspaper in country, everything in it counts, the news and advertorial. Some people may need it to be archived at their own for future reference.

As now, KOMPAS has their edition published online, you read it via internet browser. It uses djvu format, small image as thumbnail, combination of png (for text layer) and jpeg (for color photos layer). To download it, kind of hassle, because you might need to combine these two layers to get complete paper layout. Also, they just implement a sign up system to gather user information. Though it's free for now, but sure will consider a paid-scheme in the future.

If you want to keep ones as your archive, you install this script to your server, or you can try the working demo version. The interface isn't beautiful tough, but it's functional. Enjoy.

Demo version
Facebook version of KOMPAS 
KOMPAS Script

Non-CP are taking role of a VAS, so what do "conventional CP" can do?

CP term is quite popular recent years as enabler to work with telco to provide value added services (VAS). As enabler, it provide channel to deliver content or services from other entity, such as news sources, music labels, games developers and marketing companies, as mobile-fit service. So we seen lots of service allied to certain artist, TV broadcaster, even daily product brand. It could be video on demand service, song downloads, games for mobile phone, phone enhancement or sms text news alert. But lately, the term "CP" quite allergic to some correspond to unethical service way.

As now, so many services are product and sells as their internal service. These provider affiliate with handset manufacturer so that ever since the first time we unwrap a new handset, we've forced to review so many services. They are trying to create a shortcut of CP's value chain. Broadcast companies are having their own shortcode, games companies also have their own connection to telco. So what does "conventional CP" can do as their role are no longer needed ?

To answer the economic challenges, there are several suggestion that a CP can evolve to :

1. Be a media company
As media industry expanded, cp could also become as media sources, that specialized for mobile user. Of course kind of hard to beat CNN that has correspondent all over the world, but world now evolve to personal reporting, where everyone could submit their own news. sure this is a very potential business in the future. And I'm glad to say that my company I work now is evolving to this direction too, although the idea is not quite the same. It's more to music-related broadcast channel.

2. Be an IT backend company
This idea is not new. There are used-to conventional companies now are strong player provide back end services for mobile banking, mobile airline service and even telco intern system like billing and RBT platform.

3. Affiliate with music industry
The third way is, become strategic partner with certain music labels. As now, copyright is the main issue where CP no longer can create and sell music product they used to sell, all product variant is binded with string of copyrights. Only product under Cc can be modified and sold freely.
To overcome this matter, either cp be the stratigic partner of music company or have own artists. there are advantages of having own artist, as cp will have unlimited idea to explore an artist could be, beside conventional artist has, like publishing songs, concert, promotion on radio/tv/online.


These are options for a "conventional" CP have, where a company could evolve as one type or all of them if they capable to.  Happy new year 2009 ! May coming year bring properity to us all.

Reference
1. CNBC Mobile
2. Universal Malaysia
3. Metamobile Jusradio