a box of N95

My wife’s postpaid plan has just expired requiring us to follow up on the retention of the line but for a lower plan limit.

Of the various phone units available, we went crazy in choosing between the mobile tv feature and the gps capable mobile phone.  After considering all circumstances, and upon knowing the limited availability of the mobile tv and the value-for-money of the mobile phone unit vis-a-vis the plan limit, we opted to have the Nokia N95 and its GPS capability.

Among it’s various features, only the GPS capability was the center of interest as it will be very useful in dad’s work.  We have tried the 5 MP camera and video calling features, though, and find it fairly better against other phones I’ve used (I have no other comparable phones to test it against).  We have tried a number of features to test the GPS navigation yesterday night but only this morning when we were able to really try the phone’s feature.

I’ve accessed the GPS data application from the Menu> Tools> GPS data and discovered the GPS functions of the N95 (I have not yet read the manual because I’m not in the mood for it).  The GPS does not work inside our house nor outside the terrace.  The application worked only when we tried it outside Chico Street.

Although the margin of error is slightly high (with location accuracy measured in a radius of 15 to around 100 meters), the GPS feature may still be helpful  by carefuly considering the coordinates (especially if you have one identified coordinate to look for).  On my trial run, I obtained the initial location just outside the gate and saved it as the starting point.  I browsed through the navigation and other modules of the GPS data application and was able to record my test navigation from our house to the nearest basketball court where I saved my end location.

It’s also nice to know that there are a number of reviews on the web about the phone’s GPS navigation capability.  There is also NaviGadget, a blog dedicated on collating the GPS navigation function of Nokia N95 from various locations in the net.

Dad, or better yet Jun-Jun, might be happy to know that the N95’s GPS capablity may be compatible with Google Earth just by installing the free Sports Tracker software from Nokia.  Thanks to Digital Urban for this information.

As we discover the GPS navigation features of this mobile phone, more updates will be included here.  For now, we’ll settle with what we already know and apply these during one of dad’s fieldworks.

information security

We have finished our IT controls testing last last last week and were able to discuss them with our “process owners” last week only to receive their action plans yesterday.

It’s funny how these process owners react to the observations made by their auditors.  They would dearly accept those observations which they are aware of even before the audit and tell you to include them in your report for them to act on it. Can’t they just do what they are supposed to do without being told?

Sometimes you’d just wonder if we, human, are generally “lazy” beings.  I seldom know people doing things they know they should do… like me. I’m supposed to prepare the test scripts (some sort of like a script for those in theatres/ plays) where the reviews will be based… but I’m sick… I got caught by Friday sickness and am very eager at the moment… eager to go home..

*****

Nevertheless, I don’t want to end my week wasted so I’ll try to share something to all my colleagues and give me even a little personal satisfaction (sort of being sorry for my wasted working hours ).

When our IT controls were audited last year, they were found to be very satisfactory with only a single minor deficiency passed on to us from Paris.  We don’t know what the auditors did but during our independent review this year, we noted several issues, most of which relate to IT security (physical and logical security).  I believe having Somarsoft’s DumpSec as our audit tool made a big difference between our independent reviews and the prior year’s reviews.

Unlike in the previous year when the review was done only on the Active Directory System (ADS) security policy level, we were able to do detailed review of the logical security (at least for the OS access) detailed on a user level using the tool.  We were able to identify, at individual user level, those accounts which poses increased vulnerability to attacks due to control overrides in the password policies (no passwords, passwords not changed, passwords do not expire, etc.).

The tool does not only provide information on password policies on user account level but also information regarding group membership of every user account within the network.  This information is helpful in identifying segregation issues by matching the access/ group membership granted to the individual’s function/ job description.

When remote access is used, the tool can also identify the users accessing the network though this medium.  You can then match the users with remote access against those included in the authorized list of remote access users.

*****

Seems like the IT audit training provided to us by P&A were very useful, at one point, but the experiences gained while working with them was far more useful and fully complimented the knowledge gained from the training.

*****

The stock market is back to where it was 8 weeks ago… and it’s starting to rise again.  It’s also good to note that my small investment is now on the recovery room and will be back to work in a short period of time… i’ll keep my fingers crossed..

*****

graphics by inkytwist of deviantart

realization

I’ve been very lazy at work since Monday such that I have accomplished nothing but my personal blog and some image deviations into either cartoon effect or digital lomo effect.

I’ve been casually looking into my stock investments and am happy that they are slowly getting back to the “gains” side.  I have started online stock investing last May, 2007 and had some 2,000 realized gains and a lot of unrealized losses afterwards due to the market breakdown resulting from our dear US sub-prime mortgage issues.  Apparently, the Philippine stock market and other Asian markets (except China) plays follow the leader as US problems gain worldwide recognition.

In the past few days, the Philippine stock market is slowly recovering despite news on government scandals such as the NBN-ZTE deal.  For me, its a good news because Filipinos, or business people, are not anymore affected by the rotten government system and are just there to do what they are supposed to do – work well and make their businesses grow.

With my very minimal investment, I am not really worried of the results of any of these problems.  I am just playing on the sidelines looking at possible opportunities for financial growth.

I am fortunate enough to be able to wake up from the nightmare of being an “employment minded” person.  At least now I am aware of the realities of this world that we will not be financially stable merely by our salaries and bank interest income.  We need more than that, more on those income generated while we are asleep – those that are referred to as passive income – like rentals and royalties.  Who knows, in a year or two, I may have my own corporation, a family corporation to start with…

Who knows…

mama’s garden

this is one of my mother’s new baby.. she finds time taking good care of her flowering plants at home in bicol watering them every morning.. something like a “daily ritual”..

i was fortunate enough to have a picture of the flower at its most beautiful stage.. the day after i took this picture, some of the petals started to wither.. but i think that’s the purpose of its existence… to give happiness to its owner even in the shortest period of time… and i know it will bloom again… someday..

san francisco church

i got this when we visited naga last december, 2006.  construction is still in progress. i wasn’t able to get its picture, though, last september due to the massive devotees around downtown naga.