FREE: SIM card backup kit

This is a SIM card backup kit that takes normal sized SIM cards. I've not tested it with micro or nano SIMs, but they should also work with a SIM adapter. 

Good for storing and/or transferring contacts from 1 SIM to another, w/o the need of a computer or an internet server.

Brand new (except for 1st time testing), comes with the box and a brand new battery.

Grab it now; it's FREE! :)

WTS: Silver Creative ZEN Micro 4Gb

The Aiwa CD player was predecessor to the MP3 player you see here: the Creative ZEN Micro in silver / grey (4 Gb version). It was made to compete with the monochrome iPod some time around '03, and came with a choice of 10 colors, as well as FM radio, FM recorder and voice recorder. Organization of songs (MP3 and WMA) is as simple as drag-and-drop a la flash drive - you won't need to install a thing from the included CD.

If you were one of those who wondered if Creative products were durable, here's my experience: my iPod Video from '07 now suffers from a fuzzy screen, but this ZEN Micro from '03 has had no issues whatsoever. That being said, though, the earphones were the complete opposite...anyway. Maybe I was lucky to get a really sturdy device.

Condition of the player is great - all buttons are working well (sensitivity can be adjusted onscreen), and the front panel and screen are pristine. I'd bought an extra batt with the player; 1 is slightly bloated but the other is not, and both have long batt life (few days ~ 1 week or so, if used mainly during journeys to/from home). The back cover has many tiny hairline scratches that are obvious only when under direct lighting, and the paint on the switch and ports are very slightly faded, but these cosmetic faults don't affect the internal functions at all.

Comes in the box set (w/o the earphones) + an unused black ZEN Micro pouch (not shown here) + 1 extra batt. Use your favourite headphones or subwoofers, and you're good to go.

Interested? For enquiries and purchasing: contact me

Internal: 9.5/10

External: 9/10

$20

WTS: O2 XDA II

Here's a PDA phone with a resistive touchscreen that used to cost as much as (if not more than) a laptop these days. The O2 XDA II (code named "Himalayas") went for some $1000 back in '03, ran on Windows Mobile 2003 and could connect to the internet via WAP, GPRS and optional WiFi, act as a phone / WMA & MP3 player / camera / voice recorder. The combo of functions haven't changed very much these days, mostly improvements, so this was one of the earlier smartphones that managed to pack all these functions for a hefty sum.

The PDA phone shows its age on the outside: faded wording and silver coat on the front casing, a chip off the corner of the black plastic frame, and the ABS rubber stopper for the earphones jack is gone. The SD card slot doesn't seem to work, although I suspect it's due to the custom OS - tweaking with SD-WiFi settings / flashing to OS 6.5 (the highest OS supported) might do the trick and revive it, but I have not tried it. 

Buttons are responsive, the screen is fine (screen protector has hairline scratches), and no battery bloat. A full charge takes about 3+ hours, and can last about a day if the phone (SIM) function is disabled. Runs very stably on Windows Mobile OS 6.1, even if you hard-reset it. Also, all standard earphones / headphones (w/o mic) are accepted.

Comes in the complete box set (manual, charger, sync cradle, battery, pouch, stylus, CD, stereo earpiece) and an additional SanDisk WiFi card (SD slot). Good for hobbyists, collectors, or anyone who wants the feel of a large screen phone at a fraction of the cost.

Interested? For enquiries and purchasing: do drop me a note.

Internal: 8.5/10

External: 6.5/10

$20

WTS: NDS game - Away Shuffle Dungeon

Selling an authentic Nintendo DS game called "Away Shuffle Dungeon". It's a dungeon crawler with cute blockish graphics, and feels somewhat reminiscent of the good old Legend of Zelda gameplay, but with an additional time limit for the adrenaline rush.

Besides the usual roaming of the village to speak to villagers, the dungeon part of the gameplay is the "unique" part of the game. The aerial 3rd person dungeon view is split into the 2 screens of the console, and you navigate the hero, alternating between the screens that "shuffle" after a certain time limit is up, such that he doesn't get caught in the "shuffling" while trying to rescue the villagers and his fair maiden. Trust me, the shuffling dungeons will awaken the "kancheong spider" in you.

Completing this should require at least 12 hours or more for the average gamer. It is neither a kid's game (don't let the graphics fool you, really!) nor daunting for most gamers. You can view a more detailed review of the game here, and the official Japanese trailer here.

The game cartridge, game guide and box, as you can see from the photo, is spanking new. And don't worry, this is the US version.

Interested? For enquiries and purchasing: contact me

$5

WTS: Aiwa XP-ZV1 portable CD player

This is my other portable CD player, the Aiwa XP-ZV1, which I'd bought about 10 years ago just so I could play my own custom-compiled (i.e. ripped) CDs. Used it for about a year, until I got the Zen Micro. Aiwa was acquired by Sony in late '02, about a year before this purchase, and parts of the design are reminiscent of Sony's, like the remote control with jog dial and greenish-blue backlit screen (similar to Sony's MD players' remote controls and portable MP3 players in USB sticks). Aiwa has apparently ceased production and operation since a few years ago ('06? '08?), so this item is part of the surviving remnant.

The main body of this CD player is gorgeous - a slim, sleek profile with buttons and ports nicely tapered along the rim. There is no screen on the player itself, it's on the remote control, so you have the choice of using the remote for navigating among the tracks, or set the player on Shuffle mode. It plays CD-R and songs in MP3 format, so you can pack up to 700 Mb worth of your favourite MP3 tracks in 1 disc. This is really the CD equivalent of portable MP3 players. And of course, it plays full carbon copies of CDs too, but who still does that these days?

Comes in the box set, which includes the spoilt rechargeable batteries (if you wish) and external AA battery case (black tube at the extreme left of the photo), but not the battery recharging stand. I have a semi-hardcase pouch which fits snugly over the CD player, to be included for free if you purchase it. 

It's such a shame that portable MP3 players dominated the market too soon, because the whole package is almost brand new.

Interested? For enquiries and purchasing: find me here

Internal: 9.5/10
External: 9.5/10

$15

WTS: Panasonic SL-SX510 portable CD player

Portable CD players are so extinct by now, that some kids have never seen them. Before burning and ripping became rampant, and even before mobile phones supported MP3 ringtones, this was the must-have for listening to your favourite music on the go.

What you see here was my faithful companion from slightly more than a decade ago. The Panasonic SL-SX510 portable CD player was made in Japan, runs on AA batteries, has an on-board screen, and a nice remote control with its own blue backlit screen (compatible with any standard headphones with a 3.5 mm jack). I was using this on a daily basis during my journeys on the train back in '03.

This CD player comes in the box set (box, manual, remote, earphones, external AA battery compartment). No rechargeable batteries included, since the ones that came in the box obviously don't work anymore. The external condition is pristine, with no scratches or dents. It plays all original CDs perfectly well, but will not play ripped CDs. There is an internal compartment for AAA batteries which doesn't work - only AA batteries will do.

Interested? For enquiries and purchasing: drop me a note

Internal: 8/10
External: 9.5/10

$10

Charity drive: Remo coated Ambassador + Thomas Lang's signature

Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2013 kicked off to a great start for you.

Let's start off by doing something good. Charity.

Thomas Lang was in town a few years ago, and I got his signature after attending his drum clinic then. He's a great guy with neat techniques, check out his profile and vids if you haven't. Unfortunately, shortly after, I had to downgrade my Pearl export to a digital drumset due to space constraints, and this gem had been stored in a cool, dry place ever since. You're looking at the 16" Remo coated Ambassador drum head, signed by Thomas Lang, as well as the signed clinic pass which I've laminated. Very cool collector's gems!

Both the clinic pass and the Remo are up for grabs, separately. Name your price, tell me which one you want, and you'll get it - regardless of the amount, all of it will go to my school's fund for needy students. If you wish, I can show you the proof after the donation has been processed.

Interested in either / both of them? First come first served. Let me know! :)