To all readers of UIQBlog.com
Some of you might be thinking where did I go? I have not written anything on this blog for a long time… There are a few things that I think I want to share with you guys…
1. The year 2008 is a tough year for me. I quit my job in a Production House and resigned all my duties as the Head of Mobile Telecommunications Department. And I had to return all stuff that belong to them, including the trusty Sony Ericsson P1i.
2. With no dayjob, I push my limits. I wrote in this blog, contributed articles to AAS and at the same time, I start my own company.
3. In August this year, my small start-up was entrusted with a project involving the mobile telecommunications industry in my country. From August untill today, I slept for only 3 hours daily, sometimes less, or no sleep at all.
4. My blood, sweat and tears all went to this project. This is make or break. If I dont deliver, I wont deliver anything… Myself and my business partner work hard on it. Only 2 of us doing everything. And if everything goes as planned, the project will be rolled on the first week of January 2009. But I prepare for the worst…
5. Now I have no steady income. With a wife (working), and 3 sons (6 years, 4 years & 3 months old), my monthly overhead is something I need to fork out by all means and so far, it is still manageable.
6. To survive, I sold my stuff… I sold my Apple iBook, I sold my old Nokias, I sold my SEIKO F1 (Limited Edition) Honda Racing Team wrist watch. I sold my DVD collection… all that are still valuable… Why?… to survive…
7. The fall of UIQ is another thing that hit me hard. There’s no point in arguing on whose faults it was. But as a fan/lover of UIQ, I was really dumbfounded. Back to my trusty old Psion Series 5mx…
8. The money that you guys donated is in my bank. I never use it. I only use a small amount of it to pay for this blog’s annual fee. I belief even if I buy a UIQ smartphone, I wont have time to write anything about it. I will keep the money to maintain this blog and if one day… some day… I have time, I will buy a UIQ smartphone to write about it and to bring all the nostalgic feelins about UIQ.
9. With my condition, it is impossible for me to update this blog anymore and sometimes, I felt I want to sell this blog…
10. Wish me all the best…
Asri al-Baker - December 29th 2008
37 Comments Received
December 29th, 2008 @4:03 pm
Asri, I’ll be honest with you. I’ve never posted a comment ever before on your blog. I’ve always been one of those silent surfers or seekers of information, if you may. But after reading this, I must say that I felt really sad. So therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the tremendous amount of effort and time you’ve put in.
The UIQ community could have certainly used a few brilliant and amazingly dedicated people such as yourself.
It will be safe to say that things will never be the same without you and your spectacular blog.
I wish you all the very best in life.
December 29th, 2008 @6:29 pm
Thanks for the interesting update. If your startup is still up and running it is probably too early to tell whether this will be a sad story or maybe a very happy one (if your startup will be successful).
Anyway, all the best!
December 29th, 2008 @6:47 pm
Thank you for your effort in keeping this blog up and running smoothly.
I know it takes a lot of time to make it perfect, as I have a blog of my own (not about UIQ unfortunately)
Anyway, don’t be sad. This is the way of things.
You have taken a place in UIQ3 history with this blog, so you accomplished a lot!
For a few months I have foreseen the end of UIQ3 this Christmas.
As I foretold, a good percentage of my friends got new phones this season, mostly S60’s and a couple iPhones. No one ever considered Sony Ericsson.
My trustworthy P1 is in good health and it will keep running smoothly for a while. But this will be my last UIQ.
The lack of interface speed and slow launching applications are the most annoying factors.
Good luck with your project. Godspeed.
December 29th, 2008 @7:29 pm
Asri, my thoughts are with you my friend…you should do with the blog what´s best for you
Has some people already know, my P1 his being sold…i got an iphone on a contest, and i did the rational thing, because the P1, although i absolutely LOVE it, is loosing value quickly…i will be able to sell the iphone later, and get a symbian device again if i wish…righ now there´s nothing i wish..
My last post on UIQblog will be a comparation of my p1 experience with my iphone experience…and i can tell you, that although i am being pleased surprised with the iphone, the P1 still holds its own strengh, even today
December 29th, 2008 @8:53 pm
Hi Asri,
Despite jumping ship to a Nokia E71 when UIQ died I have continued to visit your blog.
SO just a few words to say thankyou for all the work and help you gave me and everyone throught he UIQ years and wish you all the best with your business venture this comiing year.
Good luck and a Happy New Year,
Jejoma
December 29th, 2008 @9:35 pm
Asri,
All the best from my side.
I also had to plan my future and although still using P1, which I love,
I got Xperia and looks I’ll be happy with it…
Good luck with your business!!!
December 29th, 2008 @9:38 pm
ares,
Did you really got an iPhone?
December 29th, 2008 @9:47 pm
Asri, I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors.
December 29th, 2008 @10:00 pm
Ok, sad news but all the best to you SIR and hope it works out for you!!!
Also hope my posts was of little bit of use/liking even only for a short time.
Bye bye…..
PS. Mr. Ares is a traitor (iPhone)
Hi hi hi…
December 29th, 2008 @10:37 pm
datagubben
will you still write here???
December 29th, 2008 @11:33 pm
@doministry
I don´t know, cause its not my blog. I am only a guest writer.
December 30th, 2008 @12:40 am
@ARES :
you sold your P1i?
@Datagubben :
I hope you write more articles.
@ASRI :
Good luck with your startup projects, Thank you for your contribution on this blog; best wishes of good years in 2009
And me , i keep my P1i , and i wait the new Symbian Foundation OS = S60 V5 + UIQ .
December 30th, 2008 @1:08 am
Wishing you nothing but the best for you, your family and your start-up.
December 30th, 2008 @2:18 am
I love my p990 and proud of UIQ as a technology… hope someone revives it…
Asri your blog is liked by all UIQ lovers and i think that itself is an acheivement.
Best wishes for your new project and keep us informed in Jan. We wish you all the luck with that one.
May New year bring cheer and happiness and here wishing you all the luck.
Pixine.
UIQ Lover
December 30th, 2008 @2:37 am
Oeil, yes…if i want to gave money to invest in a new symbian next year, i need something to seel and get more value than the p1 then
And i was somewhat attracted for the iphone for some parts of it…but there is some annoying stuff to…i will explain
And this way i will avoid having to buy a Nokia - that would be the REAL betrayal
I do hope symbian foundation OS that will be used by SE, or the next version of s60 v5, will be better than what appears on the 5800 (the n97 already shows some progress, but…)
December 30th, 2008 @2:43 am
Wishing nothing but the best for you, your family and your start-up!
December 30th, 2008 @5:27 am
It is understandable from your post that keeping your blog updated will be nearly impossible with all you responsibilities, but I plead you to at least keep this blog up for as much as you can–many people have yet to explore the infinite possibilities that can be done with many UIQ phones, and there are few sites like yours that can give such a comprehensive look at the number of apps and tips of the UIQ platform.
I must give you enormous credit for what you have done so far, and I wish you well in your future endeavors, but please don’t close your resourceful blog; the UIQ community depends on this blog, and we can keep a piece of UIQ history right on this blog for many years to come.
December 30th, 2008 @10:51 am
It’s very sad indeed. I’m speechless. I could only give thanks for all you’ve did guys.
December 30th, 2008 @5:59 pm
Well, if Asri keeps the blog on, i might do a post here and there, and for sure DG will keep feeding it with great content like he his doing
December 31st, 2008 @2:59 am
dear asri, i salute your spirit and thank you for your attitude and hard-work. being an entrpenur myself, i imagine well the hard-sweat you put, specially when the results are far and uncertain.
I wish you and your family all the best and wish your projects are much successful and you find success and prosperity.
best regards,
ashutosh
December 31st, 2008 @3:53 am
Please do not sell this blog, you may be down but not out, you can use your site/blog for your future endeavours.
Best of Luck!
December 31st, 2008 @1:08 pm
Hi!
Everyone has a tough time once in his life.! Your blog is 1 of my fav. Learned many things about UIQ from this blog long before i’ve bought my 1st UIQ, SE G700.
I wish u & your family the best of luck in the years to come. Never give up your faith. & Please take great care of your health.
December 31st, 2008 @10:17 pm
Asri,
don’t worry, the most important things in life you already have, love of your family, and your health–> the rest will follow.
all good things come to those who wait.
ive been with SE since my first mobile
388->688->t28->t39->p800->p900->p990->p1i
i never waited for new news and updates the way i refreshed your site every chance i got.
all the best, aim to the stars, were you belong.
January 3rd, 2009 @6:02 am
thx asri for all your eforts to the uiq scene. please try to maintain this domain it would be a pity if all this is lost.
perhaps some more ghostwriters could be found.
January 3rd, 2009 @7:40 pm
@Asri
I’d just like to wish you all the best! 2009 is a fresh start so lets hope it brings a lot of positives
January 4th, 2009 @2:20 am
Asri the comments above really say it all.
You did the UIQ community a big service with this blog - please keep it open, it is a superb resource !
Wish you all the best in your endeavours, and best wishes to you and your family this New Year.
Good luck !
January 6th, 2009 @3:33 am
I have been a silent visitor as well but just as the first comment on this entry, I would like to thank you for all the efforts you have put into this great blog.
I wish you all the very best for all your goals in the future.
~P1i owner
January 6th, 2009 @6:37 pm
Sadness, regarding UIQ.
Let’s hope people will still communicate even if we don’t share the same platform anymore…
January 6th, 2009 @8:01 pm
Thanks for the words guys… I am touched…
Peace!
January 6th, 2009 @9:38 pm
Asri,
As a silent surfer on your blog I like to thanks you for all you did over here.
Best of luck to you and your family.
January 7th, 2009 @2:07 am
Asri,
Despite not updating my blog anymore due to a lack of time I still read your blog occasionally. I wish you luck in the future, hopefully we may cross paths again.
Xtream (SE P1i Blog)
January 7th, 2009 @2:20 pm
good luck ! I love to go here to read your updates start from the beginning !!!
January 9th, 2009 @8:18 pm
Dear Asri,
Hear THIS: Since graduated, I NEVER worked in Government sector NOR the Private Sector (Swasta - In Malaysia).
I started my company (Jumbochip Alliance Sdn. Bhd.) ALL by myself. With no knowledge in business what so ever! All I have in my BRAIN is knowledge about computers, networking, OS, multimedia, graphics and HTML.
I started young (age 23) back to the year 2000, and what I can say is… business makes a GREAT man! Please don’t worry about NO MONEY, high overhead, marketing problems and so on. It’s a valuable lesson for life! you’ll never get THAT in college!
After 5 years struggling, here I am, one of the (so-called) top ‘IT-Consultant’ in our nation. Besides, I always traveling East and West (Malaysia have 2 sides) although I live in Sabah. You know something… my office is at Bandar Sri Putra, Bangi and I live in Semporna, Sabah.
Please be tough, be strong and struggle hard. JK Rowling was unemployed with a baby to feed when she started writing the Harry Potter books. Think about it!
Come to http://sallehkalbi188.wordpress.com and BELIVE me… you will become somebody (worth) in our country!
January 9th, 2009 @11:19 pm
you would do well to sell this site, i am a web developer so i know what it means to own a site, and hearing about your struggle i would seriously consider selling the site because it is defiantly worth a fortune and can help your family live a better life.
good luck
January 12th, 2009 @3:34 pm
Hello
I wish you all the best.
( I have got a E66 from my company, so I sold my P1i. To my surprize, I am missing the touchscreen very little only, but there are a lot of new things I have got: Navi with GPS working very fine, a good working podcast, Avantgo (finaly, I was missing this on my P1i, Ipass, a good “mail for exchange” (perfect replacement for my Blackberry, but cheaper),…)
Gerhard
January 22nd, 2009 @1:56 pm
Dear Asri,
This has been one of the best blogs. The simplicity & to-the-point approach were brilliant.
I sincerely hope your new venture is a great success. Throughout the year you have regularly update your blog. I speak for all those who visited your blog: We are all truly grateful.
You are absolutely right that a great technology (UIQ) is being mercilessly slaughtered for no fault of it. This held a lot of promise.
Just a question: Is SE going to continue manufacturing the phones or Completely bury the technology & the phones?
OR
Though the development on updatea has been stopped will SE continue to roll out P1i, W950, P990i etc?
February 17th, 2009 @2:39 pm
Your dedication will surely works according to your plan.Don’t give up hope.Wish you all the best.
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