2017-01-31

communicating LOVE

For❤ Love, which do you prefer to give & receive?

1, language, words, encouragement, etc.
2, non-verbal & physical
 3, gifts
 4, exclusive quality time
 5, acts of service


That is from the 5 Languages of Love
 by Dr. Gary Chapmen

I realise I have been using the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th
but rarely the 1st one.
When I go shopping, I often think what I can get for who & who, what I can do for who. I long for having 1 to 1 quality time together, hugs & more.

(My puppy love uses mainly the 1st one.
There were  lots of disappointment & frustration so it did not work.)

To make relationship work,
know the different styles & different expectations!

Seeing nice stuff  or when I create nice
art & designs, I think of them
 as gifts to express loves.
 links to special designs gift items by uksteffie1


2017-01-09

Audio...Headphones...

A post-Christmas impulsive shopping,
between two portable foldable on-ear headphones, I chose...

A little bit of www search after my purchase...

JVC
(JVC Kenwood)
SONY REF: Average
Ear-bud types
&
head phones.
REF:
Better ones
Model HS-A180 MDR-ZX310  ..  ..
Frequency
Response upper
22000 Hz24000 Hz 20000 Hz 45000 Hz
(Denon AH-D600)

40000 Hz
(Sennheiser HD700)

25000 Hz
(HA-SR50x) 
Frequency
Response lower
10 Hz10 Hz 20 Hz 8 Hz
(HA-SR525)
5 Hz
(Denon AH-D600)
3 Hz
(Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signature)
Imedance
at 1 kHZ
32 ohm 24 ohm 2834 ohm
(BOSE QuietComfort 20)
488 ohm
(BOSE QuietComfort 35)

150 ohm
(Sennheiser HD700)
Sensitivity 103 dB 98 dB 111 dB
(Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signature)
Driver
unit
size
30 mm30 mm  
Dome type
50mm
(Denon AH-D600)

40 mm
colour availability Black, White, Blue, RedBlack, White,
Blue, Red
FeaturesDeep Bass

1.2m cord

Plug:
gold-plated iPhone compatible slim plug
Plug:
gold-plated 4-conductor L-shape stereo mini
Remote control, Mic,
noise-reduction

1.4m cord

volumn control

some may have protective  carrying pouch or case. 

Adaptor.

Detachable cable
Info on Packaging Some
specifications
No specification
of Frequency Response range or Impedance, etc !! 😧
Reiews seen on wwwPositive.

Bought for teenagers.  (T.T)
OK. cheap. comfortable. For short commute. Sound not good.
Other Info







Magent type: Neodymium

Maximum Input:
500mW (IEC)




Maximum
Capacity:
1000 mW

Available as standard type or Android type.



1000 mW

Distortion <0.2% (1KHz/10mW) (Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signature)

Distortion <0.4% (1KHz/10mW)  (Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2)


operate with battery (BOSE Quiet Comfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling)
Dimension
(cm)
L21, W17, D5.5
Weight260 g
108 g

125 g
without cord

365 g
(Denon AHD600) ,
413 g (B&W P9)
Price
RPP
USD 25.00 USD 39.99
GBP 25.00
Company HQ Japan  Japan
Made in PRC  PRC mostly PRC
Materials??

I took the JVC one
though I do not norally like get black ones.

I like wider range of frequence response.
Higher impedance is good.

  
Many people said average range for human is 20-20kHz.
But "average" is meaningless.
People
with good hearing,
especially young people and some sensitve people,
the range is more than that.

Why would people be misled to buy average products
sacrificing the enjoyment / capability to hear full range of music/sounds?

Maybe I shall look for something like 8-25kHz or 6 - 30kHz.

Sometimes there are test on www.
Touch wood that I can still hear higher notes.
  
Other notes.
more wireless and or bluetooth headphones are in the market,
the specifications are slightly weaker than the one with wire/cable.



It is strange that in some countries,
manufacturers & retailers withhold specifications
on products.
To me, that is a humiliation of our intellectual capacity.

Oh, is it due to the complains or feedbacks from
those who cannot comprehend data well?

Pity. That drags down the standard of our civilization.
  
p.s.
Originally I plan to get a pair of shoes.
After trying 4, I found the heals, er,
2 too high, 2 too low/flat,
I walked into a supermarket
for retail therapy.

Given you had read
how I evaluate and choose pocket diary,
you won't expect me to just buy a headphone that quick.
    ; )

The previous headphones I have are mostly just the earbud type
which came with either my walkman, discman, mobile phones, etc.

Except one shocking pink one. 😊

Consumers are often not given all the facts
to help make informed decisions.
Some locations of shops do no have data signal to go on line.
Many reviews in the media are not fully neutral.
Consumer magazines reviews are not professional enough, either.


2017-01-07

ladies, choosing pocket diary ?

This year I have several. Some were gifts.
How do you choose yours?

I have been using one design from the same design team for most of the years.

When you choose computers, camera, mobile phone/cell phone, etc,
would you use some professional websites'
interactive side-by-side comparision of product features/specifications
to narrow down your choices?

I had used Fancl's HanaNoTeChou Flower Diary in 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012.

In some years, I have also used MassMutual Insurance Company Hong Kong pocket diary,

Sun Life Financial (Hong Kong) pocket diary. They are more for business persons. Lots of pages & informations. A bit on the heavy side. 


!!     To designers & publishers,
please notice the hand sizes of females
if you want to steer your products towards female consumer market..
Ergonomics. Body measurement.
Please also note the size difference in
Oriental females &  Western white females.
 say... the  UK size 10 vs UK size 16 ?!


After much comparison...
here I share a big wide table ...



TYPE
of Diary
Pocket Diary / Briefcase Pocket
Diary
Pocket
Diary
Pocket Diary Pocket
Diary
Pocket
Diary
Pocket Diary Pocket Diary / Briefcase Home
Use
Student / academic Student / academic
Country UK Japan Japan Japan Japan UK Japan Japan UK UK UK
Organisations Gilt Edged Promotion Ltd, UK  FANCL
Japan
Daiso
Japan
Daiso Japan FANCL
Japan
Paper Rose
/  Robert Frederick Ltd.
Daiso Japan Midori Japan
/ DesignPhil Japan
National Trust The Works  ? Distributed by H&O in Birmingham, UK
Diary Gilt Edged Promotion  2017 diary Fancl -Hana No TeChou (Flower Diary )  Daiso Schedule Diary .  Daiso A6 Diary  Fancl -Hana No TeChou (Flower Diary)  Paper Rose Diary  Daiso Monthly Schedule Book Midori Diary - Professional National Trust Engagements Diary Academic Calendar Academic Diary  Mid- Year 
Series Senator
15 months
Monday version. There is also Sunday version. No.15. Japanese style pattern; floral. A6
Diary girl -no.21, Menina

Spirit -Fine Art Collection - Francesca Floral Business/ professional  /  /  /
version 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 2016 2015 2014 2017 2016
-2017
2015
-2016
Period 13
months
14
months
16
months
15
months
14
 months
12
months
18
months
14
months
12
months
12
months
12
months
Start 2016.10.03 2016.11.28 2016.10 2016.10 2015.11.29 2015.12.28 2014.10 2013.12 2016.12.26 2016.08.01 2015.07.27
End 2017.12.31 2017.02.04 2018.01 2017.12 2017.02.04 2017.01.01 2016.03 2014.12 2017.12.31 2017.07.31 2016.07.31
Dimension Type
Slim Slim A6 Slim Slim Slim

A5
Width,
w sleeve
10.3 cm 8.3 cm 10 cm 10.7 cm 8.3 cm 8.5 cm 9.7 cm 12.5 cm 13.5 cm 16.2 cm 15.2 cm
Length,
w sleeve
17.3 cm 15.3 cm 18.5 cm 14.9 cm 14.3 cm 16 cm 14.8 cm 21.3 cm 17.5 cm 21.5 cm 20.9 cm
Thickness total 1.5 cm 0.8 cm 0.4 cm 0.5 cm 0.8 cm 1.1 m 0.5 cm 0.8 cm 1 cm 1 cm 0.5 cm
WEIGHT 160 g 100 g 75 g 80 g 100 g 120 g 80 g 180 g 200 g 200 g 160 g
Bound Spirolux Section Sewn Saddle Saddle Section Sewn Section Sewn Saddle Section Sewn Spiral, coated metal Section Sewn Spiral, metal
Language Englsih Japanese English & Japanese English & Japanese English English English & Japanese English & Japanese English English English
Pages 180 160 64 64 160 156 80 100 110 132 128
Paper colour cream white white cream white white white cream white white white
Sleeve YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES


Sleeve feature card slots pen holder, pocket

pen holder, pocket





Sleeve material Synthetic material. Smooth. Thick. PVC - transparent, light weight PVC - transparent, light weight PVC - transparent, light weight PVC - transparent, light weight Hard cover PVC - transparent, light weight Synthetic Material


Cover Graphics Embossed with  a company name of Charcroft Electronics Photo image
of colourful Ranaculus flowers - double flower type in a glass vase.
Illustration of Chrysanthemum of 4 colours on white background Illustration in pastel colours:
girl with present and text: "The day when every day is new and fun" on white background
Photo
image of roses
on light blue background
Illustration
of
abstract floral 
Illustraton of abstract floral patter in pastal colours
and gold.

Title text
in metalic gold.
     / Close up colour photo image of Agapanthis flowers. mocking illustration of Scrabble. Illustration
of 24 colourful  watercolour circles on semi- transparent background
Cover Colour Dark blue  Multi-colour Multi-colour Multi-colour
Blue, dark blue, white,  purple
Almost black with leather texture Mainly green, purple, white Dusty colours Multi-colour
Cover Material




Cardboard. Hard cover.


Cardboard. Hard Cover.
Content: Number of ink colours for main body 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1
Year Planners Good Good Good  / Good  /  / Good  / Grey boxes Too small to write
Week start Monday Monday Monday Monday Sunday Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday
week view one week on two facing pages two weeks on two facing pages  /    / two weeks on two facing pages one week on two facing pages  /  / One week one week on two facing pages one week on two facing pages
Month view  as tiny inset on Sundays Month view on two facing pages; also as inset in weekly view. Month view on two facing pages Month view on two facing pages Month view on two facing pages; also as inset in weekly view.  / Month view on two facing pages. With next month calendar as small inset. Month view on two facing pages  /  /   /
Calendars 2016,
2017,
2018
2017,
2018
2017,
2018
2016,
2017,
2018
2016,
2017
2015, 2016, 2017 2015, 2016 2014, 2015 2017, 2018 2017 tiny on every facing pages. 2016 Jul to Dec, 2017
Space Daily thin ruled lines plain,
hint for 4 parts
plain box plain box plain,
hint for 4 parts



plain Plenty. Ruled lines.
Moon phases YES







NO YES
week number YES



YES
YES
YES YES
International Holidays table YES





YES


International Holidays some







some
Next Year
Planner
YES YES






YES YES
Personal info section Full page bottom corner near the end.

bottom corner near the end. 2 pages Last page Almost last page.


Note paper ruled different styles & sizes, included traditional, perforated, etc. 22 pages ruled  30 pages ruled. different styles & sizes, included traditional, perforated, etc. 5 pages 26 pages, checkered in fine light grey lines. 17 ruled pages at back, plus 2 ruled pages after each month.
1 page 6 ruled pages, 1 blank page.
Special Spirolux system: 1- users can remove
pages if needed to.
2- open flat.
 - Positive quotations on  week view pages.
 - Holidays
have pink background colours.
 - Birth stone info on month-  view pages.


Positive quotations
on
month-view
& week-view pages

Most spaces for writing are subtly checkered
Photos on the right hand side pages.

Holidays list YES YES

YES

YES
YES
Festivals list YES YES








Lunar Calendar 24 key dates
YES

YES





age/year list #
YES

YES





Useful Tel YES YES

YES

YES
YES YES
Emergency info
YES

YES





Conversions YES YES

YES YES
YES


world map Yes





Yes


National map UK.
colour.

Japan , with prefectures
 

Japan


Other maps YES









Capital map YES





 -


Rail map of Capital YES





YES


Rail maps of major cities
in that country
YES





YES


Capital Motorway/
Highway map
YES









Time zones Yes





Yes


International holidays Yes





Yes


IDD codes Yes





YES

YES
Contacts/
Phone book
4 pages optional booklet attachment   /   / optional booklet attachement 10 pages A-Z 6 pages 2 pages 2 pages 6 pages  /
Project
Planning







YES


To Do list / checklist
Spaces ruled spaces Monthly spaces
6 pages Various


Notable dates YES YES YES  / YES

YES
YES YES
manner/etiquette/social norm
YES some
YES





Health/ personal care
Food. Exercises. Grooming/style, etc. Health info of reflexology.
Recipes, exercises, etc.





Other pages / info Travel info,

Birth Stones,

Anniversaries,

Various
useful numbers
Emergency packing checklist, Birth Stones, Anniversaries. Fav shopping list…. Inland postage in Japan.
Fung Shui, anniversaries. Fav shopping list… Birth Signs horoscope info. Anniversaries. Geometric formular. International paper sizes, spaces of useful contacts next to personal info. Year Plan with different realms

Time-tables, Deadlines/ exams Time-tables, Deadlines/ exams. Travel Info. Funding organisations, etc.
Extras
Stickers & ruler bookmark

Stickers & ruler bookmark





Summary of product
features removable printed sheet


YES Yes


YES


Paper 
FSC paper

FSC paper


FSC MIX paper. one side matt one side slightly glossy reflective.

Page Edge
index
Tear-away type Print on margin bleeding

Print on margin bleeding





Bookmark Ribbon
YES

YES

YES


Usage of
colours
in dairy
gd gd reasonable ok gd  / reasonable gd
 /  /
Made in UK ? Japan Japan ? Japan no  data Japan Japan UK PRC  ?
Project Team
or Designers

Ref info credited to various sources


Ref info credited to various sources
Francesca // Robert Frederick Ltd. UK

photos are fully credited.

Target
Audience
 !!
Professionals who need to travel a lot.  Females in modern cities/towns from 20s to 40s. Females aged twenties upwords. Females aged twenties upwards Females in modern cities/towns from 20s to 40s. Females  Females Professionals in Japan & alike General public and senior citizens Students Students
Comment Professional to some extend. GOOD. Thoughtful. . Nice size. Feminine. Practical. Well-designed Lightweight. Simple. Casual Lightweight, thin, simple. Not too practical as too small for writing. GOOD. Thoughtful. Nice size. Feminine. Practical. Well-designed Hard cover a bit heavy. Lightweight. Simple. Casual Professional image. Metal spiral & heavy paper for home use. Nice photos. Hard cover is heavy. Economical. Metal sprial. Colourful. Economical.  
My
suggestions
Make a version for females. Reduce weight. Add icons for moon phases. Make the healthy lifestyle reference section be separated & detachable. Try not to use PVC. Try not to use PVC Try not to use PVC Add icons for moon phases. Make the healthy lifestyle reference section be separated & detachable. Try not to use PVC
Try not to use PVC Add icons for moon phases.


My usage TBC as
pocket diary
TBC TBC as pocket diary due to its weight, used as notebook at home for expenses & vocabulary. as pocket diary as diary mainly for work life. as notebook at home. As
notebook at home.
As
notebook for Bible verses at home.
Price range $$ ** $ $ ** $$ $ $$-$$$ $$ $ $
RRP GBP6.35  ? Present to customers HKD12 HKD12 Present to customers no data HKD 10 forgotten GBP 7 GBP 8 no data
Actual Price I paid  / JPY 1000 plus postage  /   / JPY 2000 plus postage  / HKD 10 forgotten  / GBP 1 GBP1
How I obtained Gift Bought Gift Gift Bought Gift Bought Bought Gift Bought Bought
Where from friend via an Japanese auction website sister sister via an Japanese auction website friend Aeon (Living Plaza) CitySuper or LogOn friend discount shop discount shop



* Most data refer to that country.
Most have smaller fonts. Over 50s may need reading glasses.



** Normally it is supposed to be a reward present for loyal customers
 free of charge in that country.

P.S.  I have also checked out other diaries in various shops;
 also bought Moleskins(returned). 
 Most Taiwan, Hong Kong & PRC designs are not my cup of tea.
 Too school-girly.



I apreciate international cosmopolitan functionality & also good tasteful design.