Tech Review – CD-R King 10” Fastpad (FP-004-SEC)

I believe that the form factor of the future for portable computers is the tablet.  The tablet form factor began with the Tablet PC of Microsoft in 2001, but it did not really catch on. The tablet became popular with the advent of Apple’s iPad in 2010.

The concept may have begun with the PADD, a portable computing device used in the Star Trek series and movies.

But the ancient Sumerians were the first to use the tablet—the clay tablet, that is. They use a steel stylus (yup, that pointer thingy that you have in some of the earlier touchscreen phones) to imprint cuneiform characters on clay—literally a “soft copy”. In order to make a “hard copy”, these tablets were baked in ovens. Some of these clay tablets still survive today!

I already own a notebook computer (see the tech review of my first laptop), but I decided to get a tablet also. Tablets are lighter than laptops so they are easier to carry around (for example, from classroom to classroom). I decided to get an Android tablet instead of an iPad (with Apple’s iOS). Android tablets are way more affordable than iPads and there are plenty of exciting (and free!) applications coming out that are written for this open-source operating system (God bless Google!). Despite the proliferation of 7- and 8-inch tablets, I decided to get a good, big, 10-inch screen for ease of use and viewing (especially when I have to show pictures in class).
 

My aunt (left) showing my mother (right) how to use an iPad.

I immediately vetoed buying the iPad because of the hefty price; likewise the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which runs on Android 2.3. (I managed to get my hands on one and I’m not impressed: basically it’s a Gingerbread tablet with call and text features—but a bit sluggish.) After extensively canvassing (both in stores and in reading online reviews) for a tablet which is a balance between quality and affordability, I finally settled on CD-R King’s 10” Fastpad.

Specifications (from CD-R King):

·         CPU:1.2Ghz Cortex A8

·         Operation System: Android 4.0

·         Screen:

LCD: 10 inch,1024 x 768 WVGA

Touch panel: Capacitive

·         Memory: 1G DDR3

·         Storage: 8GB NAND flash

·         External Storage: Support Micro SD card (up to 32GB)

·         WIFI: 802.11 b/g/n supported

·         Power:

Battery Capacity: 6600mAh

AC/DC: input 100~240V, 50/60Hz Output 5V/2A

·         Supports: 3.5mm Audio jack

·         Supports: Flash 10.3 & HTML 5

·         G-Sensor: Supported

·         With Multi touch

·         Audio Devices: Built-in Speaker & Microphone

·         Camera: Built-in Front VGA camera up to 1.3MP / 2MP up to 5MP Rear Camera

·         HDMI: Support 2160P HDMI Output

·         USB Host: USB Keyboard, USB Mouse & USB Flash Drive supported

·         I/O Port: HDMI port x1, Micro SD reader x1, Audio port x1, MIni USB x1,DC in x1

·         Actual usage time: up to 7hrs

·         Standby time: up to 100hrs

·         Weight: 540g

·         Dimensions: 242mm x 189mm x 9mm

I initially had apprehensions on purchasing a tablet from CD-R King. The blogosphere is replete of deprecations of its cheap affordable products which are either defective or easily broken. It is one thing to buy rewritable CD’s and USB flashdisks; it’s quite another thing to spend thousands of pesos on something that could potentially fail on you.

But I guess being a cheapskate got the better of me so I headed over to the friendly neighborhood CD-R King. There were two models available and I asked if I could test handle those. The other one was the FP-005-XON (I later accompanied a co-worker to buy one of these) which was a bit more expensive than the SEC. The saleslady said that the XON had better graphics but what won out the SEC for me was its larger internal memory. (See a comparison of these two tablets on Ilonggo Tech Blog here.)

To my surprise, the FP-004-SEN did not feel like the cheap “APad” which I bought sometime before. The unit felt heavy (more than half a kilo according to the specs) and sturdy. It sported the latest flavor the Android operating system: Version 4.0, nicknamed Ice Cream Sandwich (or ICS). Scrolling through the graphics was smooth because of its capacitive touchscreen and 1.2 gigahertz of CPU. It also supports high-definition games and ten points multi-touch ability with pinch zoom.

Whenever I bring my tablet to meetings, I am besieged with “May I look?” and questions about my tablet. Here are a few frequently asked questions (FAQ’s):

“What’s its brand?” I show then the back of the tablet. It never fails to elicit shock.

“Does it have games?” Yes. The tablet comes bundled with Angry Birds Space, Fruit Ninja and Temple Run. The huge display and smooth graphics make playing Angry Birds in space enjoyable. (There’s something extra geeky launching fowl and having to account for gravitational fields.) Because of multi-touch, you can actually play Fruit Ninja with more than one finger (which my brother calls “Fruit Wolverine”). Temple Run on a huge tablet was totally different from playing it on a relatively smaller iPhone. You have to make really make big movements to make the Explorer jump and turn. (My young godson once racked half a million points on it.)

Playing Fruit Ninja--Wolverine style.

My two other favorite games, both downloaded from Google Play, are Raging Thunder II and F18 Carrier Landing. Both games use the tablet’s responsive accelerometer to make high-performance race cars turn and jet fighters bank.

“Can you create documents on it?” Yes, using Documents To Go, which is bundled with the tablet. (The key for the full version is downloadable from Google Play.) DTG supports reading and writing Word files, Excel files, PowerPoint files, and even PDF files. Yes, you can read and create documents, spreadsheets, and multimedia presentations on this tablet. Of course, there are certain functions (like making columns in Word) that cannot be done considering that this is only a mobile app. But for basic reading and typing, DTG is a useful tool.

One of my favorite uses of this tablet is using it as an e-book reader. As I mentioned earlier, DTG can be used to view PDF files. Another app is Aldiko, which displays my favorite e-books (ranging from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica to John Wesley’s Notes Upon the New Testament) in a virtual bookshelf. Reading using Aldiko is like using the Amazon Kindle—flipping a page is like flipping a page. Some of my reference books in class are e-books so I bring my tablet in class in lieu of a traditional paper textbook.

Have tablet, will WiFi.

“Does it support Globe Tattoo?” Yes; and Smart Bro as well (I have not tested it with Sun Broadband Wireless). Unlike the earlier Apad where you need to input the values, you just have to insert the 3G USB modem. However, unlike a regular computer, don’t expect a dashboard to appear. (Hence, you have insert the USB modem’s SIM card into a cell phone and register to whatever data plan you want.) To enable Internet connection, go to Settings>More…>Mobile Networks and click Data Enabled. (In my experience, the connection could be spotty at times and you could not download using a USB modem. It’s better to use WiFi.)

My tablet recharging on my Powerbank (inside leather pouch). Attached to the Powerbank is a USB hub so that I could use my USB WiFi router.

“Is the camera good?” The only down side I guess is the camera. The back camera claims to take pictures up to five megapixels but the pictures come out a tad blurred. The app Camera 360 did not help much. And the front camera is something I don’t even want to think about. Maybe it’s just useful for videochat like Skype but definitely not for snapping pictures for your summer vacation.

“How long does the battery last?” In my experience, it takes a whole night to fully charge the battery. I plug it before bedtime and I wake up with a fully charged tablet. In standby mode, a charge lasts for about four or five days. In active use, like reading e-books, playing some games, and surfing on WiFi, the batteries last up to three hours. That’s comparable to a three-celled laptop.

“Have you ever dropped it?” There was only time I dropped it. I was attending a seminar when a woman who wanted to ask a question sat down beside me because it was near the microphone. As she stood up, she accidentally knocked the tablet off my armchair to the floor with a resounding clatter. To my astonishment, the tablet had an uncontrolled contact to the ground at the constant rate of 9.8 meters per second squared and survived!

* * *

Overall, I highly recommend this tablet for all those gadget-hungry but budget-conscious people out there. This goes out especially to those who think that all CD-R King products are easily breakable. Of course, it can never hold a candle beside the iPad. But if you want a tablet that is functional, durable, and affordable, this one is for you.

* * *

Another downside of buying "non-standard" gadgets is the lack of aftermarket accessories. It is difficult if not impossible to  appropriate accessories from other gadgets because even a few millimeters makes a difference. So I made myself a tablet case from a hardbound book (bought from a secondhand bookstore and has a geeky topic: Repairing Appliances), a piece of plastic board, elastics, adhesive velcro, and duct tape. Tools include scissors, a knife, and a needle and thread. Too bad I did not document the step-by-step procedure so I could post it on Instructables. It's a freshman effort, but I think it went well. I can't wait to go to Burger King or Starbucks and watch as people look at my tablet case made from a hardcover book.

Mystery and Truth

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, C

May 26, 2013

John 16:12-15

An Orthodox icon of the Most Holy Trinity at Mount Athos, Greece.

 Introduction

Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinity Sunday). All other feasts of the Church--Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost--celebrate various events in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Trinity Sunday is the only feast day which celebrates a biblical doctrine.

As Christians, we believe in only one true God in three Persons or manifestations: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit. And yet the Father, the Son,and the Holy Spirit is one God. How could this be? Now I am tempted of just teaching today instead of preaching--by giving a dry, theological lecture on the Holy Trinity. Teaching and preaching are like the persons of the Holy Trinity: partaking in the same substance but having different manifestations!

I. "I have yet many things to say to you; but ye cannot bear them now." (v. 12)

Jesus said that there are many things he has yet to tell his disciples "but ye cannot bear them now"; i.e., they cannot possibly understand them at the moment. There are certain things that are beyond our human understanding.

At least twice before his death, Jesus foretold to his disciples about his impending Passion, Death, and Resurrection (see Matthew 16:21; and 20:17-19), the disciples did not understand it--it has yet to happen and it is inconceivable to the human mind. Perhaps we cannot understand the dimness in the minds of the disciples because we have two thousand years of hindsight behind us. But before Calvary, the disciples simply cannot comprehend of Jesus' talk of death and resurrection.

So it is with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. We believe in only one God; and yet believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is God. How did one become three and three become one? People have tried to understand the Trinity by using illustrations. But illustrations can be downright wrong ("an egg is composed of a shell, a white, and a yolk"--which are simply three different substances) or even heretical ("I am a husband to my wife, a father to my children, and a pastor to my congregation"--which is the heresy of modalism).

In the end, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is a mystery--beyond human understanding. Any attempt to understand absolutely everything about God is an attempt to trivialize God. But if we reduce God to the extent that he is completely understandable, we have reduced him to a level that he no longer worth believing in.

II.  "But when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, he will speak; and he will shew you things to come." (v. 13)

A. One of the names of the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. We may not be able to understand everything, but it can be revealed to us by the Spirit of Truth. For example, the Bible is like a book just like any other human book: it is published using paper and ink and bound in the form of a book. Any book in the world can be read in an ordinary human way: just read it to be able to understand it; if you cannot understand some of the words, consult a dictionary. But the Bible is not just an ordinary book. It can be read just like any other ordinary book, but one needs the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man which is in him? So the things of God also knoweth no one, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things which are freely given to us of God. Which also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Holy Spirit, explaining spiritual things by spiritual words. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit; for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But the spiritual man discerneth all things, while he himself is discerned by no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:10-16)

B. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth because "he will not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, he will speak". The Holy Spirit will illuminate the truth that the Father has already revealed. He willnot invent any "new" truths, especially those which are not revealed in the Scriptures. It is unfortunate and sad that there are those who, claiming the power of the Spirit, who preach strange doctrines and practice spurious acts, which have no ground in Holy Writ. 

III. "He will glorify me; for he will take of mine, and shew it you. All things that the Father hath, are mine: therefore I said, He will take of mine, and shew it you." (vv.14-15)

The work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Father and the Son. He does not give glory to himself. In the Apostle's Creed, something is said of the Father ("I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth.") and much of the Son ("I believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord..."). But of the Holy Spirit it simply states, "I believe in the Holy Spirit". However, the Nicene Creed states more:

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

According to this Creed, we believe that the Holy Spirit, like the Father and the Son, is the Lord. (There is controversy with the words, "who proceeds the Father and the Son", called the Filioque clause--the Eastern Orthodox object that the Holy Spirit also proceeds from the Son.) He is Vivifier, the Giver of life. Because the Holy Spirit is God, he is also to be worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the Prophets can say, "Thus says the LORD". We pray to the Father and to the Son. But can we pray to the Holy Spirit? The Bible dos not record anyone praying to the Holy Spirit. But since the Holy Spirit is God,we can rightly pray to him. There is an ancient prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.”

But the work of the Holy Spirit is to give glory to the Father and the Son. It is his work to lead people to God. Again, it is unfortunate and sad that there are those who overly obsessed with the Holy Spirit, even to the neglect of the Father and the Son. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity teaches us that we have one God in three persons, who are equal in kingdom, power, and glory. Amen.

The Promise of Pentecost

The Day of Pentecost, C

John 14:8-17 ; Acts 2:1-21

May 19, 2013

  

Introduction

Last Sunday we celebrated Ascension Sunday, the fortieth day of the Resurrection. We remember that before he ascended, Jesus commanded his disciples, "but tarry ye in the city Jerusalem..." and gave them a promise: "...till ye be clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). Ten days later, on the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came descended upon his disciples sas tongues of fire and they were able to speak in various tongues (Acts 2:1-4).

The Day of Pentecost marks the birthday of Christ's holy Church. By the power of th Holy Spirit, the Church was born and was empowered to bring the Gospel to the whole world.  Today, the Church still needs the power of the Spirit for renewal and to continue bringing the Gospel to the whole world. In all ages, the Church continues to need the power of the Holy Spirit.

I.    The Feast of Pentecost was originally a harvest festival in the Torah, called the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Weeks (in Hebrew, Shavuot, 'sevens').

      "And when the day of Pentecost was come, they were all with one accord in one place."

(Acts 2:1)

A. The Feast of Pentecost is called the Feast of Firstfruits because the LORD commanded the children of Israel to bring to him the first portion of their harvest: "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest..." (Leviticus 23:10). Pentecost is traditionally a harvest festival celebrating the barley harvest. Hence, it is a tradition among the Jews to read the book of Ruth (Megillah Ruth), which is set during the time of the barley harvest, on this day.

It is wholly appropriate that the birthday of the Church be on the Day of Pentecost. The disciples were gathered in one place. Not just the twelve Apostles (the eleven original disciples plus the newly elected Apostle Matthias) but also "the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren" and as much as 120 disciples (Acts 1:14-15). When the Holy Spirit descended upon these people, they were, so to speak, the 'firstfruits' of the Church!

B. The Feast of Pentecost is called the Feast of Weeks because according to Leviticus 23, it is to be celebrated fifty days after the Passover, that is, seven weeks plus one day; that a 'week' of weeks. (The Jews mark this time as "the Counting of the Omer".) We remember that Jesus celebrated a Passover Supper with his disciples "on the night before he offered himself". (If we look closer at the Torah, the count begins beginning on the Sabbath after the Passover and ends on the day after the seventh Sabbath [Leviticus 23:15-16]; that is, a Sunday.) In the Christian calendar, the Feast of Pentecost is counted beginning Easter Sunday, which is traditionally seen as the Christian Passover (in the Orthodox Church, Easter is called Pascha, Passover.)

      C. In the Jewish tradition, Passover is seen as the time of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20). Just as fire came down on Mount Sinai at the giving of the Law, tongues of fire came down on the disciples and gave birth to the Church.

II. On the Day of Pentecost, there are various manifestations of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit manifests himself to different people in different times in various manners. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit manifested himself in various ways.

A. "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting" (v. 2). In both Hebrew (ruach) and Greek (pneuma), the word for 'Spirit' is also the word translated as 'breath' and 'wind'. Wind is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit: "The wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou hearest the found thereof, but canst not tell, whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).

B. "And there appeared to them distinct tongues, as of fire; and it sat upon each of them." (v. 3). Another manifestation of the Spirit is tongues of fire, which apears to be unique manifestation only on the Day of Pentecost--the sign is never repeated in the Bible.

C. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (v. 4).

1.   There are those who mistakenly believe that the only manifestation of being Spirit-filled is speaking in tongues. Conversely, if a person does not speak in tongues, that person is not filled with the Spirit. But we read in the Scriptures that John the Baptizer, who was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb (Luke 1:15) but he did not speak in tongues. The Lord Jesus Christ, who himself is conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) but it is ever recorded that he ever spoke in tongues.

2.   Furthermore, there are other manifestations or 'gifts of the Holy Spirit':

For to one is given by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another by the same Spirit, the word of knowledge; to another faith by the same Spirit to another the gift of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. (I Corinthians 12:8-10)

However, the problem lies when we are obsessed with the gift of speaking in tongues and not that of the interpretation of tongues. One can claim to speak in tongues as speaking in the "tongue of angels" (I Corinthians 13:1) but if there be no one to interpret, the claim cannot be clarified and others will not profit from the (so-called) message from God (see I Corinthians 14:26-40).

III. The manifestations of the Spirit is given for the glory of God.

When the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were able to speak in tongues. This attracted the attention of the Jews, "devout men, out of every nation under heaven" (v. 6) living in Jerusalem at that time. Pentecost is one of the three "pilgrim festivals" (the two others being Passover and Tabernacles) when Jewish men are required to go to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16), which explain why there are plenty of people in Jerusalem at that time (and during the crucifixion of Jesus, which happened after the Passover).

Jews of the Diaspora ('Dispersion', or "scattered abroad", James1:1) generally retain their Jewish religion, language, and culture while adopting the language and culture of the country they are residing in. Jews in the United States, for example, retain their Jewish customs while also adopting the American language (i.e., English) and customs.

So on the Day of Pentecost, Jews (and proselytes, i.e., Gentile converts to Judaism) coming from "every nation under heaven" living in Jerusalem wondered on how these "Galileans" were able to speak in their language. (Since these Jews already speak these languages, they understood what the disciples were saying; hence there is no need for the gift of interpretation.) And now having their attention, St. Peter is now able to preach unto them (presumably in Aramaic, the language of the Jews at that time; called "Hebrew" in Greek, cf. St. Paul in Acts 21:40 and 22:2).

If St. Peter spoke to the Jews in their own language (i.e., Aramaic), the purpose of speaking in tongues is not for evangelistic preaching. We cannot find in Holy Scripture that the Gospel was preached to people of other languages through the speaking of tongues. The gift of speaking in tongues, however, is given not for the glory of the speaker, as if he has some special gift. Rather, it is given as a manifestation of God's power, which here is the ability to speak in a language not previously known or studied. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to give glory to God alone.