Posted on Thursday, 7th September 2006 by Auw Jimmy

Well, a friend of mine, Donovan told me about AutoStitch software few weeks ago (thanks Don!). I gave it a try and got very satisfactory result. The original photo was taken with Canon EOS 350D, 1/30s, f/6.3, and ISO800. Few adjustment done with Photoshop (some sharpening, level adjustment, and cropping).

I recommended the AutoStitch for all of you who want to create a panoramic photos. Quite comprehensive and professional features included, but also worked fine for newbie like me . Choose the input file, make some noise sample, then let AutoStitch works for you.

A suggestion from me. Take as many photos as you can. Don’t have to think about how to stitch it, because it will be done automatically. I took only 3 photos for the sample below (I should take more to create wider panorama). More photos means more (wider) photo could be created. Don’t have to worry about overlapped sample because AutoStitch knows how to handle it.
Click the image to get the original size. My WordPress forces the image to be resized. So, if you want to see the bigger size, just click on the the image.

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Posted on Thursday, 31st August 2006 by Auw Jimmy

I’ve heard about Toshiba SD-3950/3960 DVD Player from many modders on the web. Sadly, the SD-3950/3960 is only available on the US. For sure, the voltage is going to be 110 Volt. Here, in my country (Indonesia), we use 220 Volt. So, I can’t use that player without a step down transformer. And for your information, a step down transformer will reduce the sonic quality. That’s why, I always avoid the usage of step up/down transformer.

About last year, I saw the SD-2960 on local electronic store. I didn’t have any intention to buy that at that moment. Few weeks ago, I read again about this Toshiba on the web (the SD-3950/3960, not the SD-2960 that I saw at local store). Didn’t know why, but I asked my friend who worked near the store to check the availability on SD-2960. My phone rang and he told me that he found it. I didn’t have to think twice, then I asked him to buy it and sent it to me.

Here’s my SD-2960 picture below:

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Posted on Tuesday, 29th August 2006 by Auw Jimmy

Have you ever checked the capacitors on your motherboard? If not, then check it now. You might see some “overweight” or “fat” capacitors. They seem want to blow up (eat too much hey Miss Capacitor?;)). Prepare to get new motherboard if you see such capacitors on your motherboard. Or if you have some soldering skill, you might be able to fix it a relatively low cost.

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Posted on Monday, 28th August 2006 by Auw Jimmy

I visited the monthly audio blind test held by DIY community in my country last Saturday. The topic was interconnect cable. Very interesting Why? Because, not many people believe and put a lot of interest in cable. They think that as long as your cable is not broken, then you don’t have to consider to get another one. This is a mistake, a very BIG mistake.

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Posted on Monday, 21st August 2006 by Auw Jimmy

Well, nothing special here Just upload the photo of my fishes and plants. I think we are all busy with our daily life. Work problem, social problem, traffic jam problem, friendship problem, love problem, economic problem, and etc etc.

There’s no better thing than seeing the fishes swimming nicely and asking for food from you (the owner) or spraying water to your thirsty plants. Actually, I don’t do such things before. I prefer to sleep or listen music. But after few days, I start to enjoy this. You can try this kind of hobbies to. They can relax your stiff nerves and maybe can longer your life (due to less stress).

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Posted on Sunday, 20th August 2006 by Auw Jimmy

Every relationship needs a good contact. This happens not in personal love life, but also in elcctronics. So bad contact may screw you

I just charged my Ni-MH rechargeable batteries yesterday. After over 2 hours charging time, I tried the batteries. But my batteries were still empty. How come? I was so sure that my charger was ok (and I was so sure that my batteries were ok to). Then I decided to check my batteries condition. The temperature was cool enough (should be warm to hot after they were charged). Then I checked the batteries contacts. Well, I found dust and rust there. I see the problem

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Posted on Monday, 14th August 2006 by Auw Jimmy

After spending over 8 months on research, finally I finished my first complete speakers project. I chose Vifa XT25 for tweeter and PL18 for woofer. I think they both are perfectly matched each others. Sadly the XT25 is 4 Ohm only, so I need to spend more money on crossover

The crossover was designed from an intensive research. All components are premium audio grade class, like Auricap, Wondercap, Alpha Core inductor, Dale wire wound resistor, WBT silver solder, high quality 18 AWG copper internal cable, and Shark rhodium binding post terminal. If you are a DIYer, I think you should know about the quality (and price) of those brand. As additional, the input also support bi-wire and bi-amping capability.

Red with gloss surface is choosen as finishing color. I will upgrade the box with better materials from specific wood soon (currently, the materials is 25mm MDF).

Overall, I’m quite pleased with her performance. The low is very extend, tight, and full of definition. The mid is very warm with excellent detail (I have no doubt that this speakers have outstanding mid vocal). The high is also warm, soft, and quite extend.

After hours of listening test, the high-end response has not reached my expectation (I expect more or maybe I’m not used with Ring Radiator’s characteristic? I also have some problem with my room’s acoustic, I will try to add some treatment in the near future). I think I need to experiment with her high pass filter. With the help of spectrum analyzer (soon will come), I think I can do the experiment faster and more efficient, especially to tune up the crossover and my room’s acoustic. Will update here soon.

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Posted on Saturday, 12th August 2006 by Auw Jimmy

This post isn’t intended to someone or some organization. Just a piece of my analysis. So take it or leave it.

Before we discuss the main idea, there’s no mistake to give some introduction. Just like in any business, media business needs money. But in media, you just can’t rely on customers (or readers, precisely) who read/buy your media (either printed or online media). Yes there are some media who can live themself from readers only, but simply there’s no much of such case. Media should have more income, and the advertisers shall be the answer.

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Posted on Tuesday, 8th August 2006 by Auw Jimmy

I’ve just finished building my new interconnect cable. Just want to share the photo here.

Here’s the specs:
- Based on CAT 6 twisted cables with unique structure
- Aluminium shielded
- Braid coated finish
- Rhodium plated high quality RCA
- Extra treatment (50% broken-in)
- Optimized for Solid State equipment
- I have marked the side for input (source) and output (next device on the chain) to ensure optimal audio performance
- Length: 1 metre

For question, price inquiry, or audition, please feel free to email me.

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Posted on Monday, 31st July 2006 by Auw Jimmy

This picture was taken from 101 Towers at Taipei (about 382 metre height – on my current floor).
The equipment was Canon EOS 350D with f/8, 4 secs exposure, and ISO 400.

Sadly, I didn’t bring my tripod, so a tons of brochures was used as a stand The actual file resolution is 3456×2304 pixels (8 MP) and hardly resized to 590×800 pixels to fit this page.

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Posted on Friday, 28th July 2006 by Auw Jimmy

I have read a lot of blogs in my life. From my good friends to nobody. I’ve seen a lot of you use blog as an online diary. You write about your dog, your cat, you brother, or even about yourself and your activities.

Nothing’s wrong with that and I don’t mind reading that. It’s totally your rights to write anything that you like on your blog. But hey, why don’t you write something useful inside your blog? I see that some people have done that, but most bloggers dont.

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Posted on Wednesday, 19th July 2006 by Auw Jimmy

I chat with my colleague yesterday. I didn’t mean to ask him, but suddenly (I didn’t know why) I asked him to check about Toshiba DVD Player SD-2960. His office is located near electronics store, so that’s why I asked him.

Few hours after the chat, he called me. He said that he’s seeing a SD-2960, the one and only, at a shop located somewhere around Glodok (this is the most popular electronic area in town). He asked me whether I wanted to buy it. I answer, “Yes of course!”. I had to pay Rp 650.000 for the unit.

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