Tethering might be supported by iPhone

An internal AT&T document reveals that tethering might be allowed on an iPhone, meaning the use of the iPhone as a modem. It is unknown whether this is a flaw in design or it was left there for a specific reason.

This document comes from Boy Genius Report's informants, and is targeting customer service staff of Apple. it mentions the concept of teathering quite a few times.

The paper alleges that customers who try to tether the device to a computer are asked to accept a new-year cntract regardless of any pre-exsiting agreements. This problem has been known long by AT&T and they will reset the contract's start date for the customers affected by this problem.

"Please advise all customers that to complete the tethering process of their new iPhone they will be required to accept a new two-year agreement including the [Terms and Conditions]." the message reads. "However, their agreement will not be extended from their original iPhone activation or upgrade date."

AT&T meaning is unclear since reference to tethering might mean some stage in iTunes activation, or users upgrading to 16GB iPhone. However the way tethering is used is quite unusual. Tethering essentially means, that you can use cell phone as a modem for you laptop or PDA through cabels or wirelessly.

Apples has not announced any plans to offer data tethering for the iPhone. Such feature would be useful by frequent without reliable sources of Internet access, and it was requsted fron Apple by some of its current and future customers.

Apple said that is aware of the issue regardless of its exact nature

Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi-Land of The Heavenly Kings

The road from Makassar or Ujunga Pandang to Toraja runs along the coast for about 130 Km's and then hits the mountains. After the entreance to Tana Toraja you enter a majestic landscape with giant gray, granites and stones and blue mountains at a disatance after passing the market village of Mebali. They form a sharp contrast with the lively green of the fertile, rain-fed terraces and the rusty read of the tropical laterite soil. This is Tana Toraja, one of the most splendid areas in Indonesia.

Tana Toraja has a specific and unique funeral ceremony which is called Rambu Solo. In Tana Toraja, dead body is not buried, but it is put in Tongkonan for several times, even can be more than ten years until the family have enough money to held the ceremony. After ceremony, the dead body is brought to the cave or to the wall of the mountain. The skulls show us that the dead body is not buried but just put on stone or ground, or put in the hole. The funeral festival season begins when the last rice has been harvested, usually in late June or July, and laste through to September.

• By Air

Directly from Hasanuddin airport, Makassar or Ujung Pandang, proceed to TANA TORAJA through the airport of Rantetayo, near Makle, 24 KM south of Rantepao and there is a bus service to town.

• By Land

Buses to RAntepao from Ujung Pandang leave daily from Ujung Pandang. The journey takes 8 hours and includes a meal stop. Tickets should be bought in town but coaches actually leave from Panaikan bus terminal, 20 minutes out of town by bemo. Coaches typically leave in the morning ( 7 am ) , noon (1 pm ) and at night ( 7 pm ). Several companies in Rantepao run buses back to Ujung Pandang with the depature time and prices. The number o f buses each day depends on the number of passengers.
Tourist who wants to stay in the heart of the city has many choices since there is lot of hotels available. Or if you had an adventurous soul, yaou can sleep in vilages on the way.

Bemo is the best way to get to know the locals, besides cahrtered vehicles (minibuses and Jeeps) with or without driver. While you are in the village you can take a walk to move around.

• Exploring the market; you should not be missed going to the traditional market. Here you can get the topof Toraja coffee beans [like Robusta and Arabica]. And several local veggies, fruits Tamarella or Terong Belanda and gold fish [ikan mas].
• Visit Batu Tumonga Plateu; It means stone that facing to the sky. From here can be seen many volcanic stones comes up in between padi fields. And, several giant stones became cave graveyard. The views is pretty awesome. The huge of Tana Toraja [Toraja land] looks so lush and greenery. Like a patchwork in gradtion hue of green color.
• Palawa is an excellent village to visit a Tongkonan, or a burial place swarming with celebrations and festival.
• Take a side trif froom Rantepao to Kete, a tarditional village with excellent handicraft shops. Behind the village on a hillside is a grave site with lifesize statues guarding over old coffins.

Most of times, you can't eat at thees locations; however more warung and restaurants appear along the road. You can also bring yuor own foods and drinks.

There is a souvenirs shop where you can buy everything specific from Tana Toraja. There are clothes, bags, wallets and other handicrafts.

• Visitor are expected to adhere to local dress customs and to bring a token present, such s cigarettes or coffee whenever entered Tonhkonan.
• As roads are not always paved, it is necessary to use a jeep or walk, even when the weather is good (between May and October).
• Beware with your head whenever going inside to Tongkonan. The Torajan traditional house.
• Enrekang, Makale and Toraja Higland are surrounded by astonishing volcanic rocky cliffs. Do not miss it, just stop and take picture for awhile and will not regret.

West Java

Of the 17,000 islands that make up the archipelago of the Republic of Indonesia, Java has historicall been considered the heartland, Where Java has led-culturally, economicall and politically down through the centuries, other regions have followed. On java, still the most densely populated isaland of Indonesia, there are five Provinces. West Java is the largest, with the greatest population, and some would claim, with the most pride.

West Java Province is located at part of western Java Island. The enchanting of Sunda land stretches from Sunda Strait in the west to the borders of Central Java in the east. The local's people know West Java Province as the Land of Sunda. The region is primarily mountainous, with rich green valleys hugging lofty volcanic peaks, many of which surround the capital of West Java province. The history of West Java is a story of trade, spices, and the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms. In the late 1500's the region was ruled from migthy Cirebon, which still survives as a sultanate today, although a shadow of its former glory. West Java was of the first contact points in Indonesia for Indian traders and their cultural influences, and it was here that the Dutch and British first set foot in the archipelago.

This province has it own unique culture and language, both called Sundanese that is also used to call its people. The ancient kingdoms of Tarumanegara, Pajajaran, Banten and Cirebon would make interesting studies for the student of archaeology. Cirebon is located on the border between West and Central Java, having a mixed culture originating from the ancient Cirebon and Banten kingdoms, resulting in similar customs and dialects of the two people, although Banten is located at the extreme western part of the province.



West Java province its self, is formed based on the Constitution number 11/1950 on the establishment of West Java. With the issueance of Constitution number 23/2000 on Banten Province, West Java Governor Assisting Territory I Bnaten was inaugurated as Banten Province with its territories comprising Serang Regency, Pandegelang Regency, Lebak Regency, Tangerang Regency and Mayoralty, and Cilegon Mayoralty. After the change, at present West JAva consist of 18 regencies, nine mayoralties, 584 districts, 5,201 villages and 609 sub districts.

The capital city of West Java province is Bandung city. Bandung is situated 180 Km southeast of Jakarta. The city gamed fame in 1955 as the venue for the first Afro-Asian Conference, which brought together the leaders of 29 Asian, and African nations wuth the aim to promote economic and culture relations and take a coomon stand againts coloialism.

The road from Jakarta to BAndung passes through a beautiful panorama of mountains, paddy fields and small holiday resort. An expressway connects the crowded capital city with Bogor and the mountain areas, and onward to Bandung. It has number of sea resort on its western and southern coast, which have modern hotels and are popular during the weekends.

Bali

Bali island, the perfect holiday destination for all ages offers something for everyone. Bali offers not just various customs but also various "adrenalin pump" parks. Many exciting amusements are available in Bali, with something new opening all the time. The number of offshore and inland attraction are on the rise because many tourist want them. this tropical paradies has unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping and rich past and heritage. After ehite water rafting. The more adventure sort of amusement has now become an alternative sport for tourist. Meanwhile white water rafting is still a popular activity with trips on Ayung, Telaga Waja, Unda Rivers, etc. The tourists can refresh their mind by watching beautiful scenery along the route. Those are not enough, some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island whilst conversely the eastern side a wonderful heaven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.



Bali is small island, just 140 Km by 180 Km and lies between Java, the most higly populated and influential of all isaland. and Lombok, one of the quieter and moderately slower paced islands. Like many isalnds, Bali has developed a world of its own. It not only captures what is special about Indonesia but also has uniqueness of its own.

The culture of Bali is unique. People say that the Balinese people have reached self-content. The Balinese people are proud of having preserved their uniqeu Hindu culture againts the advance of Islam, the domainant religion throughout Indonesia. This is still reflected in days to day life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies, Balinese festivals and magnificent temples and palaces. The Balinese are skilled artisans, particularly in woodcarving and in fashioning objects of tortoiseshell and of gold, silver and others metals. The Balinese are noted for their traditionl dance, the distinctive music of the gamelan and for their skills in weaving cloth of gold and silver threads, Songket, as well as for embroidering silk and cotton clothing. Stone and woodcravings, traditional and modern paintings and intricately designed jewelry in gold and silver are readily available in shop and galleries throughout the island.

As for recreation, ther is no shortage of options. Nature walks, horseback riding, diving, surfing-even bungy jumping and white water rafting-await the adventurous here.

iPhone users might benefit from Starbucks and AT&T deal

This Monday Starbucks said  that it will changes its Wi-Fi network provider from T-Mobile to AT&T. Over 7000 stores all around US will have free internet for 12 million U-Verse DSL subcribers, 100,000 Strabucks employes, business remote access subribers and T-Mobile HotSpot subcriers.

If you have Starbucks card you will get two hours of free service each day. You can buy the card the store with, minimal value of $5.

Now if don't have any cards or subscriptions and just walked in randomly for a cup of coffee and check your emails, you will have to pay $3.95 for two hour access. You also cant get monthly unlimited usage plan from AT&T for $19.95.

This is much cheaper then what T-Mobile was charging. It was $6 per hour or $10 a day for walk-up service; $20 per month to its voice subcribers as an add-on plan; and $30 to $ 40 per month for others, depending on therm of commitment.

Operator change will start during second quarter of this year, and last untill the end of the year.

So far it is not know whether iPhone users will get free access to the network. All AT&T spokesman said was, "We don't have any announcement to make on this at this time. I think you can expect us to continue to evaluate all the options to bring greater access and value to our customers. "But given that many of AT&T Wi-Fi users get it for free, it i safe to believe that iPhone users will benefit as weel.

Sagem So Ice my721x Mobile Phone

Sagem Mobiles revealed afresh cellular phone my721x on WMC 2008, which is dubbed as Sagem so ice boasting a design inspired from greatest trends of 2008.



The SAGEM my 721x reflects the life-style of consumers who care to surroundings themselves with top-grade aims chose for both their aesthetics and their utility-grade. Established from fleecy aluminium and enhanced with a soft-touch fabric finish, the So Ice mobile phone is plainly ooze inwards elegance, because emphasised in 2-inch TFT screens with 262.000 colors.

This fine-looking phone is unlike not only in his conception but as well in the technologies utilized: 3.2 megapikxel camera with 6x digital zoom desirable for some photographs and videos, plus music player, MMS, WAp 2.0, FM radio with RDS, Bluetooth, micro SD TM card reader.

Applying tri-band technology, it can travelling anyplace.It also has a very amazing battery life: 3 hours of talk-time, 6 hours of music playback, and 200 hours on standby.

Penryn Inside: Toshiba Satellite X250-SLi4 Mini Review

Toshiba's Satellite X205-Sli4 ($2,499) may look like your grandfather's red marbleized bowling ball on the outside, but inside it packs some serious gaming muscle.

It's one of first notebooks tp offer Intel's Penryn pocessor, the Core 2 Duo T8100. In comparison to the four other Penryn processor curently on the market, the T8100 falls at the bottom of the barrel--evven clocked at 2.1GHz with an 800MHz front side bus speed. But this system also boasts Nvidia SLI GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 512 MB of dedicated video RAM.

Let's take a look at how this baby handled our first round of gaming test.

Display

Off the bat, we're a big fan the 17-inch glossy screen, which has a native resolution of 1680 x 1050. It's not quite a full 1080p screen for HD viewing, but there's plenty of eye candy here for the latest games.

Spacious Keyboard, Plentiful Ports

As we set it up, we added our prized litte; gaming mouse to one of the six USB ports that are speaced comfortably on both sides of the laptop: two on the left, and four on the right. The keys on the keyboard are spaced appropriately for easy WSAD navigation without feeling too cramped, which is helpful for any gaming laptop that tries to squeeze in a full number pad.

Performance of the Satellite X205-Sli4

The X205-Sli4 dished out a good average of 44 frames per second in F.E.A.R when set to the maximum resolution settings. The system averaged 24 fps when we played Call of Duty 4 whit the resolution set to 1280 x 1024 and the graphics set to high. It was an enjoyable experience, but we saw some small slowdomns and jittering. While we imagine this system will struggle a bit with Crysis, it will probably play decently on medium settings.

The Satellite X205-SLi4 scored 3,120 in PCMark Vantage, which is above average for dekstop replacements but well below the 4,045 score the Gateway P-171Xl turned in. Then again, that system packs a 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme X7900 processor and cost $500 more.

Stay tuned for our full review, but the X205-SLi4 looks like it's a solid gaming ring for the price.