About two weeks ago, I went to a mall-based service center of a leading mobile phone maker to have my handset, which is a semi-smart phone and not exactly new, diagnosed and repaired if possible. The staff was accommodating, and was pleasant enough to attend to my and my phone’s needs.

I needed to find out whether the phone was still serviceable or not. The phone needed to either have a new lease on life, or a signed clearance paving the way for its appointment with the landfill, or the recycling center.

The technician on duty promptly informed me that my phone’s predicament was not beyond resolution. And for a fee, which I found reasonable, he would look deeply into the phone’s innards and find out whether the problem was software or hardware in nature.

He told me to telephone him the following day. And when I did, he told me some parts of the phone needed to be replaced with healthier ones. He asked me whether I would want to proceed with the surgery, I mean, repair process; and gave me a quotation of how much it would cost me.

I said, “Fine, go ahead.”

A couple of weeks later, he and I are still waiting for one part more to complete the process.

Moral of the story? Sometimes, it’s better to buy a new handset. Service centers are for servicing mobile phones having some hiccups. They are not, however, designed to revive “antique” handsets. Besides, buying new handsets is good for the economy.

Nevertheless, I must commend the LG Lounge in SM Megamall and its staff for being so nice and accommodating.

Give me ring when that phone part arrives finally.

Singing Robot
Scientists from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology made a singing humanoid robot. The researchers, apparently driven by their karaoke-loving ways, used VocalListener technology to observe an actual singer in action. They then synthesized the singing voice using Yamaha’s Vocaloid voice synthesizing software.

The result? A singing robot that would do wonders as a guest relations officer, if not for its voice quality, then at least for its ability to moonlight as an unflinching bouncer of the karaoke joint.

iPhone 4 Cracks

Gadget-warranty vendor SquareTrade said that a study it recently conducted revealed that the iPhone 4 is nearly twice prone as the previous smartphone model to crack in an accident. The company maintains, however, that the iPhone 4 is “still a very well constructed device,” as long as it is not dropped.

This sounds silly. But don’t all of the iPhone 4’s problems have something to do with “dropping?” First, there were dropped calls courtesy of its antenna design. Now, we have this “drop it; you break it" issue.

Nevertheless, it will always be the coolest smartphone around.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.