Welcome to the HOTBOX

7 New Fantastic Free WordPress Themes

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:11:00 +0000

Whether you’re a web developer who needs a great look and feel for a client’s blog, or just someone ready for a fresh new look for your own site, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of free WordPress themes available out there. Whether they were designed by professionals or talented amateurs, there is a lot of great stuff out there that are as easy on the eyes, as they are on the wallet.

Whether yours is a photoblog, a personal lifestream, or a more business-oriented site, there’s surely a design out there worth checking out for your next blog upgrade. And if you’re already a developer, or if you’re at least open to learning a bit of template editing, you will have the luxury of modifying and tweaking an existing theme to your taste.
So have a look at some of our picks for great themes, to either apply as is or use as a starting point for your own design.

1. Irresistible
For a unique personal blog look and feel, check out the free Irresistible theme from the folks at Woo Themes. It features dedicated spots for photos, videos, and events lifestream, along with a space for your typical blog content. Featuring a nice, clean layout, this theme offers something a bit different from your typical 3-column blog design.

2. Demet
For a more magazine-style theme, check out the free premium Demet theme. This 3-column layout is fixed-width, as well as banner-ready for 125×125 and 468×60 pixel ad units.

3. P2
Inspired by Twitter, the P2 theme was designed for bloggers who like to post short updates. It’s great for a group blogs, as well as for sites that do frequent liveblogging. Dynamic page updates, threaded comment display, live tag suggestion, real-time notifications, and in-line editing for posts and comments, makes P2 a powerhouse for blogs where real-time updates are critical.

4. WPESP Portfolio
WPESP Portfolio is a minimalist theme designed primarily for artists, photographers, designers, and others who need more of a portfolio to showcase their work. It combines the benefits of easy and frequent updates with the layout and user interface conducive to browsing visual works.

5. DarkHive
For an alternative magazine-esque style in two columns, have a look at DarkHive from the folks at MagPress. It sports a featured content slider for upfront promotion of hot stories, auto-generated thumbnails for front page display, an Adsense-ready loop between posts and on individual post pages, 125×125-ready blocks in the sidebar and more.

6. Google Chrome

Here’s an interesting lightweight theme great for a geek-oriented blog or a site that just wants a nice and clean two-column look and feel. Inspired by the browser of the same name, Google Chrome is widget and gravatar ready plus XHTML and CSS validated.

7. Gallery
The showcase-style WordPress theme, Gallery, is built on the Thematic framework and was designed specifically for Smashing Magazine readers. Another great theme for a portfolio or other visual showcase, Gallery is a highly flexible and customizable theme that supports widescreen video embedding with the installation of a free plug-in.

Keep in mind that these featured themes are only the tip of the iceberg! Be sure to let us know about your other favorite themes in the comments!
You too can create a blog account for yourself for free, and write articles just about anything. You can share your ideas, convey your beliefs, express your feelings, or even promote your business, or do whatever else you want.

Hotbox Creations is a web development and design studio which helps individuals and businesses put their ideas online. Hotbox also provides clients with elegant and sensible solutions for branding, print, web and motion. Visit Hotbox Creations’ website at www.hotbox.ph and start your own personal or corporate website today.

By: Hotbox Creations
Sourced from : Mashable.com
authored by: Barb Dybwad

5 Blogger Templates: All New, All Beautiful, All Free

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 02:36:00 +0000

Let’s face it: The default themes that come with a Blogger account aren’t going to win any design awards. They’re plain, fussy, and lack that hint of the snazz you’re probably accustomed to during your daily online reading.

Fortunately for us, the Blogger community is full of great designers and template adapters who have shared a bit of their XML magic. Below, we’re highlighting 5 Blogger templates that are clean, highly adaptable, and would look great for any personal, business, or professionally-minded blog.

All the templates below are free to download and use (with their proper attribution included), and you can see them in action by clicking the “Live Demo” links.

1. Aparatus

Aparatus has a clean, professional look without being too stodgy. The rich red bars and headers make the page pop, and the dashed border gives it a touch of texture, but there’s still plenty of easy-breathing white space. Header bar pages are enabled, and the Twitter ( ) update icon at the top displays your latest tweet. A nice open title space at the top means there’s plenty of room for a logo image, and no worries about crowding the design. Just be sure to grab a swatch of that lovely red if you plan to add your own graphic elements.
Live Demo

2. Notepad

We’ve certainly seen paper and handwriting-themed blog templates before, but this notepad layout is really fresh, with smooth graphic elements and subtle textures. Social media links are built-in right at the top (which we dig, of course), and your pages and search bar sit snugly in the binding of this yellow legal-style pad. The dates of your post hang neatly in the margin, which is a nice touch, and the mellow-yellow of the pad itself is no distraction from your text.
The design does get a little flowery toward the bottom, and there’s no amount of CSS magic that will ever set your text properly on the lined paper (OCD bloggers, beware!), but all in all, this theme is clean enough for serious content, and cute enough for more personal musings.
Live Demo

3. Clean Type

If you’re a modern minimalist, Clean Type may be the look you’re after. You’d get lost in all the empty white space if it wasn’t for the punchy orange accents on links and menu items. The orange is also a refreshing departure from some more common color schemes. The template keeps elements spaced nicely, with left-hand navigation and a nice empty title space where you can pop in your brand or personal logo. Keep it in the orange family and you’ve got one sharp looking header.
Live Demo

4. Twitter

We think you’ll dig this one — a near replica of the Twitter homepage for Blogger. The layout is right on the money, complete with the soft blue clouds wafting in the background. Each blog post resembles a tweet, and the fonts in the side bar line up nicely with the space for profile info. With some well-placed widgets, you might really be able to fool some people — which could be good or bad, depending on your intentions.
Live Demo

5. Tune Up

If blue is your color, look no further than this theme, which serves up some cool hues without over-complicating things. A header stripe brings your home page into the third dimension, and all your widgets and boxes live on smooth aqua gradients. The rest of the space is white, so in-post graphics stow safely away from potential color clashes.
Live Demo

These are just five of all the great new stuff that’s out there. If there’s a sharp looking Blogger template you absolutely love, share it our way in the comments below.
You too can create a blog account for yourself for free, and write articles just about anything. You can share your ideas, convey your beliefs, express your feelings, or even promote your business, or do whatever else you want.

Hotbox Creations is a web development and design studio which helps individuals and businesses put their ideas online. Hotbox also provides clients with elegant and sensible solutions for branding, print, web and motion. Visit Hotbox Creations’ website at www.hotbox.ph and start your own personal or corporate website today.

By Hotbox Creations
Sources from: Mashable.com and rackspace.com

Cabs; Just a Phone Call Away

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:57:00 +0000

Early in the morning, very late at night, during the rush hours, during storms, or just any time you need to get from one place to another… Finding a cab can be the most difficult thing, especially during the times when you need one the most.

Stranded? a taxi is actually just a phone call away. We've compiled all the taxi operators we can find so you can have your own personal taxi service at your doorstep whenever you'll need their service in a zap! Below is a list of taxi operators that ply Metro Manila.

Keep in mind that picking a cab company whose garage is closest in proximity to where you are may be a better choice. You may also want to discuss the additional fees during the initial phone call, so any fare concerns are settled beforehand. And in cases other than emergencies, it will always be less stressful if you arrange for a pick-up as much in advance as possible.

We wish that this information will be useful to you, and hope that your days of getting left stranded will be a thing of the past!

by: Hotbox Creations
thanks to - taxidirectory.wraithstrider.com

Hotbox Creations is a Web Development and Design Studio Which helps Big and Small business put their ideas and their businesses online. we also help business integrate their business functions with their websites to use technology as a tool to support their business. Visit our site here!

Surprising Top 10 Philippines Attractions the World Googles

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:21:00 +0000

Google is a search engine. We know that. But Google also provides tools that can track the number of people who visit a site, and show us exactly what people are searching for. The Philippines is certainly searchable. So we’ve compiled the top 10 places in the Philippines that Google users around the world have been typing in and searching. Here are some of the surprising things we learned from Google.

10. MegaMall – Surprisingly, MegaMall lands the number 10 spot. But considering the Philippine mall culture, turns out not surprising at all. While MegaMall left its reputation as the largest mall in Asia back in the 90s, today it still is able to hold its own, even just as the third largest shopping mall in the country and seventh largest shopping mall in the world. No wonder it landed as the number 10 attraction searched about in the Philippines.

9. Mall of Asia – Another member of the SM chain of malls, Mall of Asia is the second largest mall in the country, and fourth largest in the world. Its main attractions include the very first IMAX theatre in the Philippines, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, bowling alleys, and movie theaters, and even office spaces and a panoramic bay side view. The mall attracts 200,000 people every day, and still has plans for future expansion.

8. Rizal Park – This park in Manila is shaped like a small moon or a lunette, and was thus named Luneta. Luneta has been the site of some significant moments in Philippine history, among which are political rallies of Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino in 1986, the Declaration of Philippine Independence from American rule in 1946, and most importantly, the execution of José Rizal in 1896 which made him a hero of the Philippine Revolution. Luneta was officially renamed Rizal Park in his honor.

7. Intramuros – Located along the southern bank of the Pasig River, Intramuros was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century and is the oldest district in the city of Manila. Its name literally means "within the walls" in Latin, which describes its structure accurately, as it is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats. During the Spanish colonial period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself, so a tour around present day Intramuros gives you an idea of how Manila looked in the 1800s.

6. Boracay – Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region. The top tourist destination in the Philippines, Boracay boasts of a beach unlike any other. Its white, powdery sands and warm, tropical weather remind you that there is a God, and you’re sure to experience the beauty of the environment from this wonderful, natural setting.

5. Quiapo - Quiapo is a district of Manila also referred to as the "old downtown." It is known for its cheap shopping, with items ranging from electronics and bicycles to native Philippine handicrafts. Quiapo is also famous for the Black Nazarene, the feast of which involves thousands of people parading through the streets to touch the image, which is supposed to produce miraculous effects. The Feast Day of the Black Nazarene, which is also known as Quiapo Day, is celebrated every January 9th.

4. Makati – Makati is a city in the Philippines and is known for being home to the central business district in the Philippines. The Makati CBD is the Philippine equivalent of the American “Wall Street”. Buildings started developing in Makati especially after the Philippine Stocks and Exchange Commission was established and situated in the area. Today, Makati City holds the most number of companies situated in a city within the Philippines.

3. Manila Bay – Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila. The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia, and one of the finest in the world. Although rapid urban growth and industrialization have been contributing to a decline in its water quality, Manila Bay still remains important for commerce and industry, and also serves as a locale for recreation for Metro Manila and is a popular destination for walks and for viewing the sunset.

2. Greenhills – The Greenhills Shopping Center is a shopping hub in the city of San Juan in Metro Manila. Distinct from the usual Philippine mall, Greenhills espouses an 'indoor-outdoor' theme, with the shopping center having the appearance of several distinct buildings that are interconnected through pathways. It has over 2,000 stores, and is a must-go-to place for tourist to the Philippines, where one can get the best deals on the best items of any other place in Metro Manila.

1. Palawan - Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MiMaRoPa region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. Palawan is actually 1,780 islands and islets combined, where you can go island hopping to experience different islands, from those which have been commercialized and developed for a pleasurable stay, to the most private, but still habitable, virgin abodes.

By: Hotbox Creations

Sources: Wikipedia

The Pinoy PayPal Guide

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:40:00 +0000

In the Philippines today, shopping online has become the trend. The ease with which small businesses can set up shop online on even the simplest of Multiply or Facebook pages gives them the flexibility to reach more people more efficiently. And what that means for us, in return, is that they can drop prices. And so, for us consumers, shopping has never been made more of a breeze.

But with the simplicity of shopping online, come the difficulties of paying online. Not all Filipinos are exactly comfortable with giving out tons of confidential information on each shopping site in order to purchase stuff online using a credit card. That’s where PayPal comes in.

PayPal is one of the most widely accepted payment processors online. The one probable reason for this would be that, compared to credit cards, PayPal is more secure. With PayPal you’ll only have to reveal your credit card and personal information to PayPal, after which you can pay on other sites using just your e-mail address. Plus, you keep maximum control by verifying every transaction made. Neat, huh?

So you’ve found the best stuff online and now know how to pay for it safely. But how exactly does one get and use a PayPal account? Good question. So we’ve taken the liberty to study PayPal and try it out for ourselves, from registering and monitoring, to purchasing and withdrawing. Here’s the inside scoop.

1. Go to the UnionBank of the Philippines website, and check for the branch nearest you. You can also find information about their EON Card and its uses there.

2. Apply in person at a UnionBank branch for an EON Account. You will need the following:

2 Valid IDs (government or premium)
A photocopy of each ID.
Also be ready with personal information such as your TIN, SSS and others for your application and identification requirements.

3. Your card should be released within 5 working days. Get the phone number of the bank branch so you can call first to verify that your card is already available.

4. Pick up your card and deposit at least PhP200.00 in your account. You’ll need US$1.95 to activate your PayPal account. PayPal will return the US$1.95 once your account has been verified by depositing it to your account.

5. Also, bring another PhP350.00 for the card’s annual activation fee. This will be enough to keep the card active for a whole year, even if you don’t use it.

6. Log on to the UnionBank of the Philippines website. Sign up online for an EON CyberAccount. You should be able to log into your account in 2-3 days. Expect the bank to contact your home or mobile phone to verify your first online access to your account.

7. Go to your existing PayPal account, or sign up for a new one. Add your EON Card as your account. Use the big, 16-digit number on your card as your credit card number.

8. Within 48 hours, check your EON account transaction history. PayPal should have sent you your “EXPUSE Number”. It’s usually in this format: VISA####PAYPAL. The digits in between VISA and PAYPAL comprise your EXPUSE Number.

9. Go to your PayPal account and click Get Verified. Choose your EON Card account and use your EXPUSE Number as your PayPal code. This should verify your card.

10. You may now use your PayPal account to shop online!

11. To withdraw your PayPal funds, just go to your PayPal account and choose Withdraw Funds. Withdraw your money in US$ and transfer to your EON Account. The currency will auto-convert and will show up in Pesos on your EON Online Account within 2-3 days. The money will then be ready to be withdrawn thru ATM machines, or may be used to pay in retail stores by swiping as a debit card.

Notes:
• Not all credit or debit cards from the Philippines can be used, so contact your bank first and find out if they can be linked to your PayPal account.

• The EON Card is a Visa Electron Card, a type of card for online purchasing. You can use this card for online payments, or as a local debit card, and even access it thru ATM machines.

• You can apply for as many EON Cards as you want, but you can’t have multiple PayPal accounts.

• PayPal has no sending and receiving limits as long as the account is already verified, no matter what type of PayPal account.

• The EON Card has a PhP20,000.00 daily maximum limit for withdrawals at ATM machines.

• Transferring money from an EON Account is free of charge. Transferring PhP7,000.00 and above from PayPal to EON is also free of charge. But transfers of smaller amounts from PayPal to EON will have a corresponding charge of PhP50.00.

Start your online Business Today! Visit Hotbox Creations - A Web Development and Design Studio Which helps Big and Small Business Put Their Business and Ideas Online. Start Earning From your home thru your own business website.

For More support, Watch this Helpful Video about setting up your PayPal and eon account in the Philippines.

Posted By: HotBox Creations

The iPhone 4: Problems You Should Know Before Buying

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:23:00 +0000

Apple’s recent release of its latest phone model, the iPhone 4, has easily whipped the market into a frenzy, as everyone anticipated its arrival in their respective local stores. The iPhone 4 boasts of a number of features that includes WiFi capability, two 5-megapixel cameras with LED flash, video conferencing and video call functions, HD video recording and editing, the sharpest resolution of any phone screen, and the ability to multitask, running several applications at the same time.

But before going out and buying your own unit of that new iPhone, a couple of red flags have been raised by people who have already purchased the phone for themselves.

Poor Reception
Users from all over have noticed that the phone has poor reception and is unstable to use for phone calls. Some have encountered the need to go outdoors just to make phone calls, which, as you can imagine, can be quite inconvenient. In response to these complaints, Apple CEO Steve Jobs says that the phone should be held vertically when being used in order to get a better signal.

Can’t Touch This
Consumers have observed that the phone’s network coverage and signal decrease whenever the phone is held. Steve Jobs again defended the iPhone, using a video presentation that showed how handheld phones created by the other big industry phone brands such as Motorola, Samsung, Motion and HTC also react similarly. He attributes the problem to the fact that the antenna is built into the phone’s structure, instead of being an external part. He advises users to avoid holding the iPhone at the lower left side, which is where the antenna is located, in order to maximize the phone’s signal.

Despite the perceived problems with the phone’s signal, sales of the new iPhone 4 have been consistently increasing, and the company reports that the customer complaints and return requests they’ve received only account for 1% of its total units sold.

So as it seems, while the phone may be proving not to be too reliable for calling, all the other functions and features of the iPhone 4 seem to make up for that particular shortcomings.

For complete specs and features, go to www.apple.com.

By: HotBox Creations

Brought to you by HotBox.ph a Web Development and Design Studio, which Helps Big and Small Business put their business functions online. visit the site here .

5 Profitable Online Businesses Anyone Can Do

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:17:00 +0000

It’s not difficult to realize that the emerging trends in commerce today have been leaning towards online-based businesses. I guess the most obvious reason for this is that it’s cheaper. You do your business online, in the comfort of your own home, cutting overhead spending to just what’s needed to maintain a website, which is a fraction of what actual office space would cost.

Business on the internet has come very naturally and become very profitable these days for the tech-savvy Filipino. We’ve found retailers who earn a minimum of 10,000 pesos a month from stores housed in Multiply pages. And some who have set up official websites and use social networking sites to their advantage earn a minimum of 50,000 pesos a month.

With the web giving you access to the whole world, the market potential is actually limitless. And because the opportunity to start is cheap or in some cases free, anyone can do it. And you don’t even need to be an IT expert or something, as we discovered ordinary people who just love the net among those who actually do well with these types of business.

So in case we’ve tickled your fancy enough for an online business, here are the types of online businesses we’ve found to be most popular and most profitable for Filipinos:

Selling and Auctioning – Most dedicated selling and auctioning sites are actually free. Otherwise, you may even post your items on social networking sites. But be warned that some people are skeptical about buying items off the internet. You have to be at your most professional, be prepared to answer all concerns and work hard for a good reputation, in order to convince everyone that you’re running a legitimate business on the web.
2. Blogging – Creating your own website could also be done for free. But having your blog page ending in a .com or a .ph is certainly a level up, as it helps make your blog more searchable on the net. You can make money from your blog by allotting specific locations on your blog where advertisers can post ads. Advertisers then pay you for the clicks on their ads. The more hits their ads get from your visitors, the higher you earn.
Network Marketing and/or Direct Marketing – Have you’ve ever registered on a site and referred a friend to join as well? A practice commonly encouraged by social networking sites, other online businesses encourage referrals as well. And when sites earn from new members who register on the site, rewards may be cascaded accordingly to members who refer new ones to the sites.
Virtual Assistant – Surf the net, research related sites, write reports, or do almost anything for someone. A personal assistant in the U.S. would cost someone about US$ 4,000 a month in salaries, while a virtual assistant remotely outsourced in the Philippines may be willing to do the same job for US$ 400 a month. Not bad for both ends. Filipinos could just work from their homes and take advantage of the demand of today’s current global financial crunch.
Marketing Services – Telemarketing, selling online or just promoting your business, products and services can also increase your revenues. Not only can you personally market your business, you can also make money promoting other people’s businesses. Offering the service of online marketing to other people could mean good business for them, and great business for you as well.

With all these opportunities, doesn’t earning a monthly five- to six-figure income sound easier than it used to? Put your ideas online and start making money. When? Now is as good a time as any to start your own online business!

It’s time to design and develop your website! Go to www.hotbox.ph and start your own personal and business website today!

By: Hotbox Creations

Find out the latest modern-living gizmos for a modern lifestyle

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:11:00 +0000

Looking for some cool and practical accessories to help you organize and decorate today’s digital lifestyle?
Here’s some fun organizational products that would perfectly complement the digital home you’ve been dreaming of.

Moshi: Voice Control Digital Clock Radio

A compact ‘listening clock’ that allows you set the time, alarm and play the radio by your voice alone. It activates by the user saying “Hello Moshi,” and the voice control works right out of the box with no programming or buttons needed. This device responds to 12-voice activated commands including setting dual alarms, play radio, set alarm, today’s date and snooze. It also features high quality stereo sound, six station presets, three alarm and three sleep sounds and AUX-IN to play any MP3 player such as iPod.

Withings: Wi-Fi connected body scale

World’s first Wi-Fi connected bathroom scale with web and iPhone compatibility. It automatically records user’s body weight, lean and fat mass and calculated body mass index (BMI). The data are instantly transmitted over Wi-Fi to his/her private webpage or free iPhone application. It’s multi-user function automatically recognizes up to eight users the moment they step on the scale. The scale itself measures 1” high, weighs 5lb, and has a large backlit display, which can also be set to Tweet the users weight on Twitter daily, weekly or monthly or even automatic information upload to DailyBurn.com, RunKeeper, Google Health, Microsoft HealthVault, GymTechnik for RIM and more.

IDAPT i4 universal desktop charger

Simultaneously charge four different devices and clear cord clutter with one system. Featuring three tip ports and one USB, port and LED light indicating charge status. The interchangeable “quick release” tip system allows for easy, customizable charging system, which is compatible with over 3,500 brands of mobile devices, including Apple, Nintendo, PSP, Blackberry, Garmin, among others. The complete IDAPT i4 package includes six of the most popularly used interchangeable tips.

Hundreds of people are now earning five-figures a day from starting their own businesses online! Starting from social networking sites or thru their own websites , its fun, trendy, and cost less than setting up a whole corporate business. Planning to start? Get your business ideas on the web, and sell your ideas to the whole world. Visit Hotbox Creations at www.hotbox.ph a Web Development and Design Studio which helps businesses big or small to go online. Either for personal or corporate Design concepts and Web Programs Development, it is one of the best companies highly recommended by the Media Industry today. Visit site here.

Written By: Hotbox Creations
Sources from Techtime.com

Researches shows why Asians are the most prolific online shoppers

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:08:00 +0000

Asia-Pacific consumers are the world's most prolific online shoppers and many rely on Internet reviews when making purchases, research firm Nielsen said Tuesday. The firm said 35 percent of consumers in the region used over 11 percent of their monthly spending to make online purchases, compared to a global average of 27 percent of consumers.

South Koreans were the heaviest online buyers in Asia, with 59 percent directing more than 11 percent of their monthly spending to online purchases, followed by 41 percent in China, Nielsen said in a report.

A further 31 percent of Asian consumers use between six and 10 percent of their monthly shopping spend to buy items online.

"Consumers in the Asia-Pacific region are the world's most prolific online shoppers," Nielsen said.

More Asia-Pacific consumers also intend to buy online in the next six months than those from other regions, with South Koreans and Chinese the most likely to make such purchases.

Among the purchases consumers in the region are likely to make in the next six months are books, clothing, accessories and shoes, airline tickets, electronic equipment and hotel reservations.

"Technology and the Internet will very likely fundamentally change how and where shoppers spend their money and interact with retailers," said Pete Gale, a managing director at Nielsen's Retailer Services.

"We are seeing a strong trend in markets like Korea, where a significant population of online shoppers buy essentials such as groceries, cosmetics and nutrition supplies over the Internet."

Nielsen said opinions posted online were important in customers' decisions to buy products such as electronics, cosmetics, cars, software and food.

Asia-Pacific consumers were also the most likely to share dissatisfaction at a product on the Internet compared with consumers elsewhere.

"The increasing accessibility of the Internet and the incredible popularity of social media and online discussion forums mean today's brands have nowhere to hide," said Megan Clarken, Asia-Pacific managing director at Nielsen's online division.

Nielsen said in June that social media such as Facebook and Twitter or blogging sites had become powerful tools influencing what people buy and urged businesses to embrace the trend.

Start your own online business right now! Get your business ideas on the web, and sell your ideas to the whole world. Visit Hotbox Creations at www.hotbox.ph a Web Development and Design Studio which helps businesses big or small go online. Either for Personal or Corporate Design concepts and Web Programs Development, it is one of the best companies highly recommended in the Media Industry. Visit site here.

Created by: Hotbox Creations
Manila Times .net
Adapted From - AFP

Where to find free WiFi access hotspots in Metro Manila

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:02:00 +0000

When you’re out roaming Metro Manila on a busy day, checking your e-mail regularly when passing through hotspots could be an astonishing feat of utilizing your personal gadgets. You might want to know where you can use your laptop or your phone to access the internet, so we scoured reviews and experiences of different people who have accessed a wireless connection outside their home.

Aside from school or work institutions that commonly provide internet access wirelessly, these are some of the hotspots available in the Metro that have free WiFi access and use.

Burgerking, Welcome Rotonda
Burgerking, Timog Avenue
Burgerking, Trinoma Mall
Baywalk (fronting Max’s)
Shell Magallanes
South Super Highway (street before Pan de Manila)
Remedios Circle, Mabini corner R. Salas
Mobile 1, Park Square
Palm Store, 4th Floor, Glorietta
Starbucks, Greenbelt 3 (near the lagoon)
The Podium, Ortigas
Ferguson Plaza, Ermita, Manila
Robinsons Galleria, East Wing
Holiday Inn Galleria
Starbucks, Glorietta 4
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Tomas Morato
Rufino corner Ayala Avenue, near Villman Computers
Greenhills Theater Mall
McDonalds, Edsa corner Quezon Avenue
SM Megamall (on weekdays_
Trinoma Mall

You can access these wireless internet connections for free, but make sure you are at the provider’s closest range for faster internet browsing. So tweet away with your mobile phones, or log in for a minute to harvest your FarmTown accounts. Enjoy these wireless connections, 100% free!

Great for a lot of business owners and businesses with websites, they can find these hotspots very useful as their meeting venues. Business owners can regularly track their businesses online using a computer, laptop, Blackberry or other gadget while at these places.

While the most exciting business trend nowadays is taking your business ideas onto social networking sites, where people can view your products and buy from you, ultimately having a website is still the best business practice online.

Make your own website for your personal and business needs. Make your business idea look more professional and trustworthy. Visit Hotbox Creations and make your ideal website now!

Surprising Top 10 Websites Pinoys Visit

blogger@hotbox.ph (Hotbox Creations) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:57:00 +0000

Having more accounts in 2004 than any other nationality, Filipinos may have had the right to earn the title for discovering the social networking site, Friendster. And when Facebook came out in 2007, everyone around every corner was just harvesting along on their laptops and their computers every chance they could get. But social networking sites such as Friendster and Facebook aren’t the only sites that Filipinos know about and spend a lot of time in.

As the number of internet users increased throughout the years, so did the number of Filipinos venturing into putting their businesses online. This opened up a lot of opportunities for companies to broaden their reach by connecting to the web. There were even a lot of new companies who ran 100% of their businesses online. These businesses saved a lot running their business virtually from home, and earned a ton in profits having the whole world as their market.

With that, featured below are the top 10 websites that are 100% Filipino-made and are now the most regularly visited by Filipinos.

10. Mp3-Codes.com – Download songs and ringtones, most of which are uploaded by individuals, some of whom even create their own ringtones. Also, easily stumble onto your favorite OPM hits which are harder to find on most online music sites.

9. PinoyExchange.com - Speak your mind about anything and everything on this virtual message board where the biggest online Filipino community comes together from around the world to make their voices heard.

8. Ebay.ph – Sell and let other people bid for your old things on this online auction site. And for very rare items, buyers just may be prepared to bid as high a price as they can pay. You can also buy items using Paypal or any local cards compatible with the sellers.

7. Pep.ph – Stay updated on the breaking news, the most shocking scandals, and the biggest revelations of your most favorite local celebrities on this virtual Filipino gossip magazine.

6. ABS-CBNNews.com – Keep abreast on current events and find all the latest news updates daily, from politics to sports, from business to entertainment, and even your daily horoscope.

5. PinoyChannel.tv – Find clips and episodes of your favorite noontime shows shown on local channels, and never again miss a single episode of the shows you love.

4. Philstar.com – Browse daily updated news and current events on daily newspaper, The Philippine Star’s website. They also feature archives of articles from previous editions you may have missed.

3. GMANews.tv – Live stream segments and full episodes of local TV news programs, such as 24 Oras, Chikka Minute and other clips that GMA 7 offers.

2. Inquirer.net – Read the daily news and classified ads sections here on the site of the number one, most complete newspapers in the Philippines, The Philippine Daily Inquirer. They may just have the most comprehensive array of articles and columns of all the local newspapers.

1. Sulit.com.ph – The number one and most visited Filipino website for Filipinos today, people can post all the ads they want, find the rarest items at the lowest prices, land their dream jobs and connect with people on this site, all at no cost and in a very Filipino-friendly environment.
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Posted by: Marc Raymond Co
From: Hotbox Creative
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