Upgrading My Huawei Honor Non Camera

The Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update for Singapore's Huawei Honor Non Camera is finally out!

Download it here from Huawei's official website!

I am going to go through step by step on how to proceed with the upgrade.


Prerequisites:

• Huawei Honor Non Camera phone


• MicroSDHC memory card slotted into your Huawei Honor


• A Mac or a PC that can access the root directory of the memory card through your Huawei Honor


• Ability to follow simple instructions

Instructions:

1. Backing up your system data and applications

• Navigate your way to "All backup" and backup your desired system settings and applications.


• Use "Backup to SD" to backup your system settings


• Use "Applications" to backup your applications

2. Downloading the required files for the update

• Either download the required files from the official Huawei website or download it from the dropbox link Huawei provided


• Extract the content using a file archiver

3. Placing the correct files in the correct place (Part 1)

• Copy the "dload - Part 1 (Main package)" folder onto the root directory of your memory card


• Rename "dload - Part 1 (Main package)" to "dload"

4. Running the update on your phone (Part 1)

• Note: DO NOT INTERRUPT THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE AT ANY POINT OF TIME


• Navigate to "System Settings" > "Storage" > "Software Upgrade"  > "SD card Upgrade" > "Confirm"


• The phone will reboot itself once the update is completed

5. Placing the correct files in the correct place (Part 2)

• Delete the existing "dload" folder in your memory card


• Copy the "dload - Part 2 (Vendor Package)" folder onto the root directory of your memory card


• Rename "dload - Part 2 (Vendor Package)" to "dload"

6. Running the update on your phone (Part 2)

• Note: DO NOT INTERRUPT THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE AT ANY POINT OF TIME


• Navigate to "System Settings" > "Storage" > "Software Upgrade"  > "SD card Upgrade" > "Confirm"


• You will see a "OK!" once the update is completed


• Remove the battery from the phone


• Place it back in and boot it up

7. Restoring your system data and applications

• Navigate your way to "All backup" and restore your desired system settings and applications

Congratulations! You have completed upgrading your Huawei Honor to Android 4.0!

Before:

After:

Tired of Maintaining My Music Library

I am sure there is a point in time where one is just too sick and tired of maintaining their own digital music library collection. It could be due to limitations such as storage space and many others.

For my case, it is mainly due to the lack of time. I am serving NS, WHERE GOT TIME?

The solution to the problem? Simply listen to what everyone else is listening to by tuning to the local radio station! The thing is, Singapore's local radio stations are horrible. I am sure fellow Singaporeans will agree to this statement. They loop their playlist for like a whole month. I still remember listening to The Boys by SNSD every morning on 98.7FM during my internship period.

In order to find a playlist which I liked and allowed me to have some sort of control over, I turned to internet radio. Some popular internet radio websites includes shoutcast, jango and radio tuna. My internet radio of choice? 8tracks.

Here are a few of my favourite playlists:

Billboard goes Acoustic. from IanCarlo on 8tracks Radio.

mochimochi's oldschool CPop mix from MochiMochi on 8tracks Radio.

A Sword Girl, A Rock City Boy and A Basketball from The Sword Library on 8tracks Radio.

Best part of 8tracks? It has a android application which I can use on my Huawei Honor while I am in camp!

Smartphone users will be able to enjoy 8track's service on the go using 8tracks's mobile application which includes Android, iOS and Windows Phone support. Please do take note that the service uses mobile data. Since most of the new mobile subscription plans' data bundle by Singapore's service providers are limited to 2 GB per month, I do recommend keeping track of your own data usage to make sure that you do not exceed the amount of data entitled for your monthly subscription to avoid extra charges.

5570.4 MB out of the 12 GB data bundle used

RecordTV.com - Singapore's own Hulu?

Earlier back in August, I read on the Digital Life section of The Straits Time that RecordTV allow users to record Singapore local free to air television programmes.

I have started using the website since then and am very pleased with it. It is not hard to notice that the service provided by RecordTV is very similar to the XinMSN catchup TV.

So why bother using RecordTV when you can use the matured XinMSN catchup TV?

1. A larger variety of TV programmes can be recorded and watched online, these programmes includes overseas TV series such as Alcatraz, Vampire Dairies, Survivor and even movies such as The Game Plan.


2. A better web user interface that shows the TV listing that can be recorded for the day, sorted by channels.


3. Ability to record from Channel News Asia and also various news broadcast from other available channels.


4. Ability to stream recorded programmes from mobile devices running on Android or iOS.


5. Shorter waiting time for the availability of the recording.

The Game Plan

Channels available to record from

Nonetheless, there are some drawbacks.

TV programmes recorded will only be available for a period of 9 days, the video quality of the recordings are inferior compared to those offered by XinMSN and could cause eye cancer if you attempt to view it full screen on a 23" LCD!

This service is highly recommended for those who wish to watch the programmes that they have missed on their mobile devices while commuting.