'Three Kingdoms. Resurrection of the Dragon' - in cinemas April 3

2008 is a great year to be a Romance of Three Kingdoms fan. Two big screen movies are being released this year. The first is Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.

CAST:
* Andy Lau - Zhao Yun
* Maggie Q - Cao Ying
* Sammo Hung - Luo Ping-An
* Vanness Wu - Zhao Bao or Guan Xing
* Andy On - Deng Zhi
* Ti Lung - Guan Yu
* Damian Lau - Cao Cao

PLOT: Zhao Yun, the last of the 5 Tiger Generals of Liu Bei's Shu takes a last desperate stand against the invading forces from Wei, led by Cao Ying, the grand daughter of warlord Cao Cao.

Some background on the movie here, including interesting insights on the fictional Cao Ying (ie. not found in the novel) and just who the fark is Luo Ping-An. Another insightful article here.

The second ROTK movie will be 'Battle of Red Cliff' later this year.

Btw, if anyone wants to pick up a free pdf copy of the Romance of the Kingdoms novel, go here. DW has the original and a 're-translated & updated' illustrated version.

Movie trailers and promo posters below:

Evo X whups the WRX STi

Road and Track does a one on one shootout between the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X and it's competitive doppelganger, the 2007 Subaru WRX STi.

This time it seems, the Evo wins hands down, despite being bigger, fatter and less powerful. I reckon that speaks volumes just how good the all new Evo is, and speaks even more, just how much the all new STi isn't.

Other blogposts on the Mitsubishi Lancer: search?q=lancer

Lancer Evolution X (Singaporean review)

It is S$138,000 (equivalent to RM317,000) in Singapore. That's about 15K more than the Subaru WRX STi S204.

But then, Subaru farked up real bad with the aesthetics of the new WRX.

The 5-speed manual was reviewed. The 6-speed DSG will only reach Singapore next year. But next year's only 2 weeks away.

Fifth Gear shootout - JDM vs Euro Civic Type R

Not sure if Fifth Gear read my earlier post (Euro vs JDM - Civic Type R specifications only review), but they decided to do a track shootout in episode 3 of the current season. The conclusion... was I right or WAS I RIGHT?

Anyway, Fifth Gear provided some performance figures for the JDM CTR that I was not able to find. A sub-6 second century dash [vs the Euro's 7.0s (Honda Sg website) or 6.6s (Fifth Gear)] and a top speed of 160mph / 256kmh [vs the Euro's 231kmh (Honda Sg website) / 140mph (Fifth Gear)].

HTC Touch: Review... If I had to do it again, I wouldn't buy it.

It's been nearly 2 months since my previous pre-purchase review of the HTC Touch (see: HTC Touch - A touch of heaven in 112gms) and here's a quick follow-up hands on review.

Firstly, as a Windows Mobile 6 PDA - it's excellent for a low-end user like me.

True, the built-in memory's rather dimunitive and yada-yada-yada... But if you bought the Touch, I'm willing to bet that you did so because of the looks and the touch interface - not so much for the computing power and functionality.

Having said that, it's quite usable. Although I must say I don't use the productivity software as much as I thought I would. I'm very much old-school in that I still use a big, paper desktop diary/planner where I can scribble notes, appointments etc into individual boxes for each day. And notes... well, I have plenty of post-it notes in my wallet to remind me what to buy at the supermarket.

And I don't use the Outlook email or any email of the PDA because I'm too cheap to pay for one of those exhorbitant data plans from the telcos.

I have used the supplied MS Office Mobile... maybe once... since I bought this, and only to test out how it looks.

So, I'm strictly wifi and games only. And in this regard, the Touch fares no worse than other PDAs. It probably is better in real life, because I bring the Touch with me everywhere since it's so light. I'm not one to lug a regular fat, ass-sagging PDA around.

I've installed 2 Opera browsers - the Java-based ultra-lite one as well as Opera Mini. I actually find the simple Java one faster and easier to use.

As for games, I'm into strategy games. I don't mind a game of Minesweeper, but for the fact that it's awfully hard to get a good time using the stylus only (the stylus move that replicates the left+right mouse click to expose surrounding squares is very hard to get right consistently and I keep blowing up mines because of it). I'm finding that a lot of simple games that we take for granted on PC eg. Tetris, are a pain in the ass when it's stylus-only play. And many games are still made for the older Windows Mobile platforms, with their obsolete versions of vb and runtime files etc, which makes installation and operation in WM6 a bit tricky if you're not a geek.

So, right now, my main game is Pocket UFO. It's a Russian port of the hugely popular XCOM game for Windows. And I have to say that they were able to fit nearly the ENTIRE game (with the complete tech tree, turn-based combat, maps, sound and music - albeit a much smaller library) into around 10MBs. And it can be installed into the memory card which is great since the Touch has so little built-in memory to spare.

So, that's the PDA part. Now for the phone.

As a phone... the Touch SUCKS! 3 things...

1. Contacts.

WM6 uses Outlook for the contacts and calls lists. And it's okay... although it takes some getting used to if you've always been using regular handphones. But being able to separate or specify whether to use phone and/or SIM contacts would have been nice. So, if you're like me and like to keep a complete list of contacts in your SIM-card (simply because you switch SIM cards a lot... duh), you're farked. Each contact's doubled up. And the nifty Touch-Flo contacts cube... well, you can only use the contacts in the phone, but not the SIM. So to use SIM contacts only (ie. leave the phone contacts empty) will preclude the use of the Touch-Flo contacts cube.

2. SMS / Messaging

Here, it uses Outlook as well. That's fine as it's actually a pretty good text editor. However, the standard WM6 keyboard is atrocious as the individual keys are half the size of a pea and is virtually useless if you don't use the stylus - which in turn makes one-handed messaging impossible. That's why I installed a copy of HTC Phonepad which is an on-screen T9 phone keypad for touch screens. And voila, one handed messaging is possible again. Albeit, it's fairly uncomfortable to do stuff one handed on the Touch because it's so wide. Unless of course, you happen to have hands large enough to handle at least D-cups single-handedly.

3. Voice calls

This is where it really, really sucks.

Call quality is good. Calls are clear and crisp, and the speaker phone is actually better than most regular phones because the speaker is very loud.

Where the Touch drops the ball, and drops it very badly - is in the transceiver itself. Mine kept losing the telco signal (3 or 4 times a day, I guess) but I don't know about it because the signal strength indicator is showing full strength. You don't know the signal's dropped until someone calls in (and immediately gets routed to your voicemail) or you try to call / sms out (that's when you see the signal strength indicator suddenly change from full to searching).

So, 2 issues here:

a. The hardware or software (I don't know which) is incapable of sustaining a consistent signal.

b. The firmware is incapable of updating the signal strength indicator automatically when the signal has dropped. Either it's not programmed to update or it simply can't detect that the signal has dropped when the phone is idle / standby.

It's is so bad that I have to make missed calls every couple of hours... just to kick the transceiver in the pants and prompt it to (re)connect to the network (if the line has indeed dropped). Sometimes when I have a particularly busy day, a slew of SMS and missed call notifications will flood in after I make a missed call. Seriously, it's that bad. And it's pretty damn frustrating when you're waiting for important calls / messages or simply have to be contactable at all times.

And as a result of putting my thoughts into words here, I have just now decided to switch back to my trusty old Sony Ericsson K800i as my primary phone. As for the Touch, I'll use it for the prepaid Malaysian SIM card that I usually use when I'm home (to avoid roaming charges). At the very least, I don't receive life & death calls on the prepaid line.

In conclusion, if I knew what I know now about the Touch... I wouldn't buy it. The phone bug is a definite dealbreaker... unless HTC acknowledges the problem and updates the firmware.

UPDATE: I've just reflashed the ROM (ie. system) to a newer version from the recently launched Wasabi Green edition of the Touch (to version 1.17.707.2G WWE dated 23/7/07 from the older 1.11.707.1B WWE dated 24/5/07 in the Soft Black edition). It also includes a new radio version 02.097.90 (up from the older 02.093.90). According to internet forums, I read that GSM reception is perceptibly improved. Let's hope that it also fixes the line drop bug.

Unverified!... 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (JDM) brochure

These are supposed to be pages (some pages are missing) from the JDM brochure of the upcoming Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (2008 Lancer review here). They are said to have been leaked out to the net. Have not verified the authenticity although it looks genuine enough. For the source, refer to the watermark on the top left of each page.

"276"hp @ 6500rpm and 422NM @ 3500rpm. It tops the performance of not only the IX, but also the tuned FQ300. With peak power unchanged at 6500rpm like its predecessors, it seems that my prediction of a higher power band due to the square 4B11 engine has not panned out. But let's wait to see the definite specs when it's finally launched.

Personally, I like the black 'Top of Evo' on page 25.

Lancer 2.0GT (Malaysia) - First Looks

Visited the local Mitsubishi dealer over the weekend, and took some photos of the just-launched Lancer 2.0GT.


Here's the price list.

It is indeed RM 116K on the road with insurance. Comes with Nappa leather seats, 18" alloy wheels, Yokohama A010 tyres, 6-CD player, full bodykit & spoiler, dual airbags and 3 years free maintenance warranty.


Like I said, I like that nose. And I'd paint the entire central part (grill, bumper and lip) black like the upcoming Evo X. There are even lines on the bumper telling you which parts to paint.


Nice sporty silhouette. Side skirts are not too overstated with holes and rice boy shit.


I'd rather not have the old-fashioned silver finish on the grill. Nothing a little black paint won't take care of. See the downward lines from the lower edges of the grill? The Evo X has that part in black.



The butt of an Alfa 156. None too original, but not a deal breaker for me. I'm feeling so-so about the spoiler.


Note the 2.0GT badge on the lower right side of the boot lid. The boot lid feels super, super solid. The doors however still shut with the typical Japanese characteristic of having to slam it to close properly.


Front twin pot calipers and rotor. The rotor is huge, trust me... but the 18" wheel is even bigger. Previous Evos used to come with 17" wheels standard. These wheels will probably fit the Evo X's four pots and super-supreme pan pizza brake rotors.


Rear single pot calipers and rotor looking diminutive in those 18" wheels despite breaching 300mm diameter.

I would have preferred 17" wheels, instead of 18". Lighter and cheaper tyres. 18" tyres are RM400 ppc for the 'not very performance' models. Be prepared to pay ~RM800 ppc for good, grippy tyres.


Engine bay looks exactly the same as the US spec Lancer GTS. Comes standard with the strut bar.


Engine bay again. Note the regular, old design wiper stalks instead of the bigger, flatter ones that supposedly resist lifting during high speeds.


Back facing exhaust manifold. Notice the ample space to tuck in a turbine, wastegate and a proper extractor.


Nice, sporty deep sunken dials. 234km on the odometer. 24 miles to get onto the ship in Japan, off the ship at Port Klang and 210km to Ipoh.


Typical plasticky Lancer dash. Forgettable.


Leather bound gear knob without sequential shift gates (that's what the paddles are for). I noticed the beautiful stitching on the leather bits.


Chunky, beefy steering wheel. Like a Momo, beautiful to the touch.

I like the magnesium paddle shifters too.


Closer look at the paddle shifters.


View from the back seat. My pals remarked that the back is not as spacious as the new Civic, mainly because the rear wheel wells still intrude significantly into the cabin.

And if you look at the big overhangs in front and behind the wheelbase, you'd conclude that the Lancer is not as efficient as the Civic in turning its bulk into cabin space.


Very comfy and reasonably huggy leather seats. NOT to be used without airconditioning, or I'll guarantee that you'll soak your underwear.


Boot space is so-so only. I'd judge it to be the same as the Wira. The opening is lower and larger though, so you'll have an easier time putting bulky stuff in.


Regular halogen bulbs. No HID for the 2.0GT.

Other posts about the new 2008 Lancer:

Lancer 2.0GT (ie. GTS) launched in Malaysia

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer - Specifications-only Review and Launch Videos

Euro vs JDM - Civic Type R specifications only review

There are 2 versions of the 2007 Civic Type R (CTR).

One is of course the much vaunted EURO version which will be available in Europe (of course), the US, Australia and all other Type R approved countries outside Japan (there aren't that many). Singapore is bringing in this EURO 3-door hot-hatch that has virtually taken the world by storm due to it's aero-turd styling and Citroen-esque touches of inspirational quirkiness.



All countries outside Japan will be importing the 2-door EURO FN2 CTR hatch... well, all except one. First time Type R approved Malaysia will be bringing in the other version... the JDM (Japan Domestic Market) 4-door FD2 CTR based on the existing 2006 Civic sedan being sold in Asia, which we are already very familiar with.



So, Honda Singapore sells the Euro CTR and Honda Malaysia sells the JDM CTR. This presents some unique opportunities for Honda enthusiasts in both countries to compare the performance of the 2 different versions. And the fact that the 2 countries are connected by 2 bridges (making cross border driving commonplace), both of which in turn connect to a 700km long, 'lightly monitored' expressway - virtually guarantees upcoming traffic light drags, top speed and power shootouts.

But since the Singapore launch was only back in May and the Malaysia launch was a scant few days ago, it'll be weeks before real life shootouts occur and get posted in the car forums. [Update 29/9/07: here's a shootout from Fifth Gear]

However, we can always draw a pretty accurate conclusion by comparing the specifications of the 2 cars. Specs never lie and the laws of physics are never wrong.

So let's compare the specifications posted on the websites of Honda Singapore and Honda Malaysia in order to see which version of the CTR will come out tops in the performance stakes.


Both cars are packed with the potent and perfectly square K20A i-Vtec engine (86mm x 86mm resulting in 1998cc, exactly the same dimensions as the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer's 4B11 - which will power the upcoming Evo X as well).

Have a look at Temple of Vtec Asia (TOVA... one of the best Vtec websites known to man, imho) for a detailed analysis of the K20A i-Vtec spec R in the FD2 JDM version CTR.

A quick look of the specs shows that the JDM version outputs nearly 10% more power than the Euro (225ps vs 201ps). That's a big difference from what are essentially identical factory stock engines.

The JDM gets all this extra power by having vastly different engine management mapping compared to the Euro. The former's 11.7 compression is considerably higher than the Euro's 11.0. Peak power also comes higher up in the rpm range (8,000rpm vs 7,800rpm). Same with peak torque (6,100rpm vs 5,600rpm). All this indicates much edgier and balls-out performance mapping for the JDM. I'm not sure if the 97 RON petrol in Malaysia will dampen power output though.

The other major determinant of a car's performance is its weight. Even with 2 extra doors and a boot, JDM again pips Euro by weighing 75kgs less (1270kg vs 1345kg). That's about equivalent to a pretty large, hairy adult male sitting in your car all day, everyday.

Therefore, based on these 2 basic (but undeniable) factors of power and weight - it is my reckoning that the JDM CTR - with 10% more power and 6% less weight - will outrun the Euro CTR everytime and anytime. And with proper double wishbone rear suspension versus a reincarnation of antiquated torsion beam technology, I think the JDM will out-handle the Euro as well [Update 29/9/07: The Fifth Gear shootout reckons a 3s gap over a 100s lap].

Hmmm... looks like this shootout is a no-brainer. Hands down walkover for the Malaysian JDM CTR over the Singaporean Euro CTR. And Malaysians get their Type R cheaper as well.

Additional reading:
- Yes, it’s a radical new concept... the boneshaker - Jeremy Clarkson on the Euro CTR.