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PAL (Philippine Airlines) Uses Twitter For Airline Requests

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:01:00 +0000

A traveler flies Philippine Airlines and lands in Manila, his stopover on his way to Bangkok. He wanted to spend the few hours he had at his pit stop to revisit the famed sites flanking Manila Bay. But alas! Would he have to be hauling his luggage around the whole time?

Yes, these are actual events that happened one late evening three months ago. Would this story have a happy ending? Let’s see.

So he takes out his iPhone, logs on to his Twitter account, and begins sending messages about his dilemma. To whom? To @flyPAL — Philippine Airline's official Twitter handle.

@flyPAL was established in September last year. Here, PAL team members from corporate
communications, system management and planning attend to passengers' unique, sometimes quirky, Twitter-based concerns, queries and requests.

For everything from lost luggage and checking seat pitch, to legroom concerns and asking about three- pronged power outlets on the plane, the PAL team is able to give quick and specific replies either publicly or privately on Twitter, depending on whether an answer would be beneficial to everyone or to the sender alone.

For general matters, bookings, and the rest of the 80% of what passengers normally need from Philippine Airlines, they encourage people to browse through their website as most of the information can be found there. But for other concerns, there’s PAL’s official e-mail address, and @flyPAL on Twitter.

Okay, wait. Back to our story.

Tweet sent, the airline responded quickly. In just four exchanges of less than 140 characters each, @flyPAL provided him step-by-step directions, leading him to the baggage storage near the terminal's transfer desk at the arrivals hall in Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

And in less than 30 minutes — probably less time than one would normally spend just getting off the plane, clearing immigration and passing through customs — the passenger was able to store his luggage for a minimal fee. Our Bangkok-bound traveler is left impressed, thankful that he chose to fly with the Philippines' flag carrier.

So for PAL’s Twitter team, they remain optimistic about increasing their Twitter followers and furthering their vow of customer service. And for those of us who plan to cruise the clouds anytime soon, we can rest assured that with @flyPAL, our very own Philippine Airlines will always be just a tweet away.

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 http://www.hotboxcreations.com and start your own personal or corporate website today.

Gmail’s Latest Feature: The "Priority Inbox"

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:01:00 +0000

E-mail is great… unless there’s too much of it.

With the advent of e-mail accounts providing almost limitless storage capacities, an unlimited stash of patience to deal with all that mail doesn’t come attached, unfortunately.

Spam guards that have been developed have helped… somewhat. But for some of us, even sans the spam, e-mail is still overwhelming. If only the e-mails you receive would become more proactive, grow legs, pick themselves up, and line up according to importance, right? If only.

Google may just have come up with the next best thing.

Introducing the Gmail’s Priority Inbox! This new feature is said to be Google’s attempt to appease the woes of Gmail users who manage to amass huge amounts of e-mail. The Priority Inbox helps by segregating e-mail by importance, putting them into categories like “Important and Unread,” “Starred,” and “Everything Else.”

The Priority Inbox marks as “Important and Unread” what is just that, mail that it feels is important to you and needs your utmost attention, that is still unread. “Starred” stars e-mail that was previously “Importand and Unread,” but is marked by the user for further attention after being read. And of course, “Everything Else” is everything else that is not up to priority par, which ends up as typical inbox items.

The Priority Inbox feature works with an intelligent algorithm at its core, a virtual intuition that classifies your mail based on the people you e-mail the most, the type of mail you reply to, the keywords that apply, and other e-mail habits that it can observe from you.

While the Priority Inbox doesn’t declare that its deductive prowess is perfect, it does claim to learn from any corrections you point out. But perfect or not, either way, the Priority Inbox feature of Gmail hopes to get you on the path towards an inbox that’s anarchy-free

Hotbox Creations is a web development and design studio which helps individuals and companies big and small put their ideas and their businesses online. By integrating business functions into websites, we allow you to use technology as a tool to support your business. Visit our site at www.hotboxcreations.com.

Philippine Government Needs To Tighten Website Security

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Following last week's hostage incident in Manila, security breaches continued to haunt the Philippines, even in the virtual world.

The Philippine National Police website, www.pnp.gov.ph, was down for several hours due to attacks from alleged "hacktivists." The official website of Bulacan, www.bulacan.gov.ph, was hacked by a group claiming to be from China and Malaysia, a page inserted demanding an apology from the Philippines for the August 23 hostage crisis. The Philippine Information Agency website, www.pia.gov.ph, was also defaced over the weekend, its homepage bearing the words "Hacked by 7z1" and signature "Black Matrix Team | 0x.oday@Gmail.com". The Hagonoy, Bulacan homepage, www.hagonoybulacan.gov.ph, showed the Chinese flag and Chinese characters that translated to "Do not underestimate our pain ... Hackers from China by custom group F.M.T.”, with a dialog box saying, "You make me angry."

Government officials have yet to confirm if the hackers who defaced the websites of government
agencies were indeed from Hong Kong and China, or if the hacking was done locally and merely takingadvantage of the situation.

Fortunately, the hacking incidents did not affect any vital government services as all the sites that were attacked were merely “brochure” sites with no interaction or database-building required between the particular government websites and the users. The hacking incidents only underlined the lack of security of government websites.

Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said Malacañang has alerted all government agencies to review and improve security of their websites. "We are adopting best practices to lessen the vulnerability of our websites to hacking and other cyber crimes," he said.

Carlo Ople, the country’s first Certified E-Marketing Consultant says, "It's more of a PR thing especially now that the temperature is a bit high." He added that hackers can compromise a website by exploiting various weaknesses such as outdated scripts, third-party plug-ins or outdated software on the site, or even using programs to get a lot of computers to access a site to consume all the bandwidth and cause it to crash.

Ople adds that the Philippine government should tap reputable hosting companies to secure high-profile government websites. He also recommended employing the top IT professionals, a lot of whom are Filipinos, to help make government websites more secure.

All of the four government websites that were attacked have since been restored.

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.hotboxcreations.com and start your own personal or corporate website today.

Hacked Philippine Websites.

How To Know If Google Is Reading Your Website Or Not

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:01:00 +0000

You may not be aware of it, but Google may not be able to crawl your website. Watch this video to find out if Google is unable to crawl and list your website, and what you can do about it.

Know if Google is Reading Your Pages

With this, you can Analyze your website and check it's online presence with search engines, you can check broken pages using this technique and save the trouble of consulting others.

For Professional SEO Services. Hotbox Creations Offers Web Design and SEO Packages. Contact us Today and start your own Personal Website for your own business needs. http://www.hotboxcreations.com

How to Undo "Wrong Sent E-mails" in Gmail.

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Have you ever regretted e-mailing a message right after clicking the “Send” button? Have you ever addressed an e-mail to the wrong person? Have you ever spotted those typos just seconds too late? If you have, then you must be one of the many who’ve been dreaming of ways to right a wrong send.

Well, time to wake up. No need to dream anymore. Thanks to the people at Google, the feature to undo a sent e-mail now does exist… in Gmail, at least.

Admittedly, it’s still not a well-known feature just yet, especially with most users not knowing where to look. So here’s a quick guide to avoid that impending blunder with just the click of a button.

Go to Gmail Labs

Since the “Undo Send” feature is part of Gmail Labs, you’ll have to activate it via the Gmail Labs page. Access your Gmail account and look at the top-right corner of the page. Between your e-mail address and the Settings link, you’ll see the Green Labs icon. Click it.

Enable “Undo Send” and Save

Once in Green Labs, you’ll find a list of Google features currently being tested for Gmail. You’ll usually find the “Undo Send” feature close to the bottom of the list. Just select “Enable” it, then scroll down and save your changes.

Customize Undo Send’s Duration

Go to “Settings” in the top right corner of your main Gmail page (right next to the Green Labs icon) and find the “Undo Send” section under the “General” tab. There you can enable or disable Undo Send and change the duration with a drop-down selection box as pictured below. By default, you’re given 10 seconds within which you may undo a sent e-mail, but you can change that to 5, 20 or 30 seconds.

Write and Send Your E-mail

Now that it’s enabled, “Undo Send” should work each time you send a new e-mail. No need to do anything unusual beforehand to make it possible to use Undo Send with an e-mail.

Click the “Undo” Button After You Send

As soon as you hit Send, text saying “Your message has been sent” will appear above your Inbox. Beside that, you’ll find a few extra options. Among them is “Undo.”

Now should the need arise, you have either 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds to “Undo” your sent e-mail, depending on what you selected under Settings. You can also hit “Z” on your keyboard, which is the Gmail shortcut for “Undo”.

Just make sure not to navigate away from or close this page, because once you do, you’ll lose the opportunity to undo your sent message… forever.

Undo is done!

If done successfully, text saying “Sending Has Been Undone” will appear above your inbox. You’ll then be taken back to the e-mail composition page, with your e-mail in draft form, unsent and ready for further editing — or deletion, should that be the drastic need necessary.

Voila! You now know how to right that wrong send! Be aware though, that the “Undo Send” feature is still part of Gmail Labs. That means it’s still in testing and it might not always work as intended. But, promising, it is! It is!

Images courtesy of iStockphoto, budgetstockphoto

Hotbox Creations - A Web Development and Design Studio

Tips to Get Your Website Noticed

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Having a website is great, but without the traffic, it's not going to do a heck of a lot for your small business or startup. We’re talking about website visibility here. And when thinking website visibility, simply ask yourself, “Why create a website if people can’t search it!?”

Surprisingly, the secret to website visibility is no secret at all: search engines. Millions of people, yourself probably included, use search engines on a daily basis to scour the net for what they want and need. Search engines are also your allies to internet success.

Just having your name as a staple in the results list of relevant searches on Google, Yahoo!, MSN or any other search engines is an achievement in itself. And if you’re on the first page of the search results, consider yourself a winner.

Here are some tips to boost your website visibility:

1. Use descriptive and informative words on each page of your website, focusing on words that relate directly to your product, service or industry.

2. Highlight and feature your most important content first. Remember, organization is key. Be clear, and keep things uncluttered.

3. Link to other relevant sites. The quality and volume of outside sites that link to your own can affect how search engines measure your site’s importance.

4. Create distinct titles for each page of your website. Use these titles as opportunities to reiterate your keywords.

5. Write descriptions that are clear, factual and free of excessive superlatives (i.e. best, cheapest, biggest). Sites that are more fact and less sales talk leave more of a mark.

6. Use your geographic location in your site and make it part of your list of keywords. This is particularly beneficial for products or services that target a certain geographic market.

7. Don’t expect all search engines and online directories to instantly find you. Some directories offer paid submissions that you can benefit from.

This art of making the most ripples on search engines is called search engine optimization or SEO. SEO is all about increasing your online visibility by connecting yourself to the exact keywords to describe what you offer. It is also about organizing your site properly to get the most search engine attention, and building a reputation by getting yourself linked to other reputable sites.

While you can do much of this yourself, why reinvent the wheel? Seek the assistance of companies that specialize in Search Engine Optimization. What are you waiting for? Take the initial steps to boost your visibility with search engines, and watch your traffic and sales grow now!

Hotbox offers the web design and SEO services you need! Hotbox Creations is a web development and design studio that helps individuals and businesses put their ideas online. Hotbox also provides clients with elegant and sensible solutions for branding, print, web and motion. Get on the web and make the world your market! Start your own online business now ! Visit our website at
http://www.hotboxcreations.com

Bebo Me! – Are You Already in Bebo?

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:01:00 +0000

So What is Bebo?

Bebo is a popular social networking website which connects you to everyone and everything you care about. It prides itself with being your life online – a social experience that helps you discover what's going on with the world and helps the world discover what's going on with you. Bebo successfully blends together community, self-expression and entertainment, enabling you to consume, create, discover, curate and share digital content in entirely new ways.

Bebo was Founded in January 2005 by Michael Birch and his wife, Xochi, in San Francisco, California, Bebo is actually an acronym for Blog Early, Blog Often. It was acquired by AOL in 2008 for a whopping US$ 850 million. In April 2010, AOL announced it was planning to sell or shut down Bebo. By June of 2010, the deal was sealed and the company was sold to Criterion Capital Partners.

How does Bebo work?

Users receive a personal profile page where they can post blogs, polls, photographs, music and videos for other users enjoy. And to insert the social network aspect, users may add others as friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves.

Bebo’s Latest Features

Social Inbox

Bebo's Social Inbox is the perfect way for you to organize all your messages in one easy-to-use inbox. The Social Inbox now features updates from Gmail, Yahoo! and AOL, and media recommendations that deliver you the most relevant online entertainment in one place.

Lifestream Platform

The Lifestream platform delivers real-time, chronological updates from all of your friends from various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and others. Striking but easy-to-use, the timeline format updates instantly each time you add a post, from photos and videos to stories and events. What’s more, with Bebo accessible even through your mobile phone, you can stay connected even when on the move!

Bebo Music

Launched originally as Bebo Bands in 2006, Bebo Music allows bands or solo artists to create a profile to showcase their music. The band profiles include a band member list, a list of fans, an area for tour dates, a blog, and a list of songs which have been uploaded for playing through Bebo's media player. These songs can even be grouped into albums, along with each album’s cover-art.

Bebo Authors

Also known as Bebo Books, Bebo Authors was first launched in 2007. While currently there is no way to display books on a profile page like there is for Bebo Music, in this section, authors can upload chapters of their books, and also get them reviewed by the community of Bebo users.

Bebo Groups

The "Group" module was added to Bebo in 2007. This enabled people to form and join groups such as schools, organizations, advocacies, and the like, the pages of which are only viewable to the members of the group. While primarily educational, the Group pages also gave users the chance to join groups they found interesting, as well as to connect with others who shared the same interests.

So it sounds like Bebo has got the components to make the best social networking site, eh? Create your own Bebo account now! Register for free and start networking and sharing your thoughts through Bebo.

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 http://www.hotbox.ph/ and start your own personal or corporate website today.

By: Hotbox Creations

Source: Wikipedia

Creativity that Pays… and Pays Well

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:50:00 +0000

You're a creative person. Not exactly an artisan, but somehow an artist in your right. But then, the phrase “starving artist” comes to your mind. Bummer. Not to fret. These days, there are ways of being with the creative that earn you a living as well. Check out these jobs that let you delve in the creative world, but earn a pretty decent salary as well.

Creative Job #1

Marketing and Business

I know marketing and business doesn’t immediately ring a creative bell. But think about it. An artist can create the best masterpieces in the world, but without the right marketing, how would they sell anything? Someone who has the business and marketing senses can ensure that every artist finds an audience.

A bachelor's degree in business administration or marketing will prepare you for this job. And some on the job experience coupled with a master's degree could position yourself for career advancement. The average wage for marketing managers with experience is PhP 35,000. Remember though, that marketing salaries can vary greatly depending on responsibilities, experience, education, and other factors.

Creative Job #2

Education

Do you think you have what it takes to inspire the next Manansala or Cayabyab? As an art/music teacher or an education specialist for an arts organization, you'll be able to live your love for the arts, as well as spread that love to others.

To teach, you'll need a bachelor's degree in education or a specific subject area like science or music, plus a PRC license in education. This can also prepare you to be an educational specialist. The average wage for graphic arts, multimedia arts and interior design teachers ranges from PhP 800 to 2,500 per hour, depending on which universities and which modules they teach. Those who teach the latest design software can earn even more.

Creative Job #3

Web Design and Development

A well-designed website is an important tool these days for promotion in the arts. Whether you're keeping fans up to date, raising money, or selling your works online, the job of web designer is an indispensible component of many arts organizations. It takes a fair amount of creativity to build websites, too!

Get the skills you need to create and maintain websites with a bachelor's degree in information technology or graphic or web design. An average salary for an experienced web designer is PhP 25,000 per month. Or on a project basis, making PhP 60,000 per website is common.

Creative Job #4

Technology

Theaters, museums, art schools, concert venues, and camps all have technology infrastructure. And just like any other organization, they’ll need to maintain their networks, manage databases, and troubleshoot systems. You'll find that database administrators and technical support specialists are as much in the art world as anywhere else.

Some jobs are available with just an associate's degree, but most require a bachelor's degree in database technology, computer science, or information. An experienced database administrator earns an average salary of PhP 35,000 to 65,000 per month. Both local and International companies who outsource these types of jobs to Filipinos apply this industry rate.

Creative Job #5

Paralegal Studies

Yes, even the legal field offers opportunities to work with creative people as well! With music and media becoming more easily available online and new delivery systems like e-readers and mobile devices, the issues of copyrights and intellectual property rights are never far behind. As a paralegal, you could help lawyers as they protect artists and their works.

An associate's degree in paralegal studies or a paralegal certificate program will prepare you for this job. You'll need to look for opportunities with law firms or larger arts organizations focused on this type of work. The average monthly salary for paralegals who work in the industry, some of whom are even outsourced from international countries as legal transcriptionists, earn an average of up to PhP 22,000 per month.

Start your own online business now! Get on the web and sell your ideas to the whole world. Hotbox Creations is a web development and design studio which helps individuals and businesses get online. Either for personal or corporate design concepts and website development, Hotbox is one of the best and most highly-recommended companies in the creative design and web development industry. Visit our website at www.hotbox.ph.

By: Hotbox Creations
Source: Yahoo Education Articles

PLURK - A Social Journal For Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:01:00 +0000

verb. plurk (plüer-kh) - To chronicle the events of your always on, action-packed, storybook, semi-charmed kinda life.

noun. plurk (plüer-kh) - A free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send updates through short messages or links, which can be up to 140 text characters in length.

So what exactly is Plurk?

Put simply, Plurk is a really snazzy site that allows you to showcase the events that happen in your life, and follow the events of the people that matter to you, in deliciously digestible chunks, called plurks. If it were food, plurks would be guaranteed low in fat, 5 calories per serving, yet chock full of goodness.

When compared to other micro-blogging sites, the unique feature of Plurk is that updates are shown on the user's home page using a timeline, which lists all the updates received in chronological order. Users who have signed up to receive your plurks can then respond from their own timeline on Plurk.com by instant messaging, or by text messaging.

Plurk was developed and envisioned as a communication medium to balance between blogs and social networks, and between e-mail and instant messaging. Since Plurk was launched in May of 2008, it has become very popular in Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and the United States.

How does Plurk work?

It's easy. First, you’ll need to sign up. It takes… oh, about 10 seconds. Then, you can begin posting your plurks to tell the world what you're doing, how you feel, what you're thinking or anything else for that matter. And instantly, it'll appear on your timeline. You can post updates through the Plurk website, through instant messaging like MSN or AIM, or even by text messaging.

Plurk's interface shows updates in a scrollable horizontal timeline form. There are also advanced features such as sending updates only to a subset of your friends, posting updates on events earlier in the day, having group conversations between friends, using of emoticons, and sharing images, videos, and other media. Plurks can also be "liked", as in other social networking sites.

Due to messages being sent between users almost in real-time, Plurk is now touted as the alternative to chat, as well as “the next Twitter”.

Don’t get left behind on the latest trend in social networking. Create your own Plurk account for free, and start creating the timeline of your life. And be sure to invite all your friends to Plurk along too, so it becomes that much more fun for you.

So what are you waiting for? Register now and start Plurking today!

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

Adapted From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plurk / Plurk.com

Philippines is #1 In Using Social Networking Sites

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:01:00 +0000

ComScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, recently released a report on the social networking activity in a significant part of the Asia-Pacific region.

Based on the data collected covering the month of February 2010, Internet users in the Asia-Pacific region spent an average of 2.5 hours on social networking sites during the month. “While social networking continues to be one of the most popular and fastest growing web activities in the world, its dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region exhibit significantly more individual market differentiation than in other global regions,” says Will Hodgman, comScore executive vice president for Asia Pacific.

The report also revealed that Facebook.com was the social networking leader in eight of the markets – the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Vietnam – while in other countries competing brands captured the top position.

And how did the Philippines fare against its neighboring netizens?

More than 90% of Filipino web users visited a social networking site during the month, the highest of any country in the study. Compare that with the Asia Pacific average of just over 50%.

Social networkers in the Philippines also showed the highest level of engagement on social networking sites, averaging 5.5 hours per visitor in February, with visitors frequenting the social networking category an average of 26 times during the month.

With that, the Philippines has once again made its mark… if not on the map of the world, at least on the map of social networking.

Social Networking Reach and Engagement in Asia Pacific Markets February 2010 Total Internet Audience*, Age 15+ - Home & Work Locations, Source: comScore
Country	Social Networking			Top Social Network in Market	% Reach of Web Population
Country	% Reach	Average Minutes per Visitor	Average Visits per Visitor	Top Social Network in Market	% Reach of Web Population
Asia Pacific	50.8	148.9	15.1	Facebook.com	14.9%
Philippines	90.3	332.2	26.3	Facebook.com	84.5%
Australia	89.6	228.0	20.9	Facebook.com	69.4%
Indonesia	88.6	324.4	22.6	Facebook.com	84.9%
Malaysia	84.7	226.0	22.3	Facebook.com	77.5%
Singapore	83.7	220.9	22.1	Facebook.com	72.1%
New Zealand	81.2	217.5	20.3	Facebook.com	63.6%
Taiwan	75.9	131.3	18.3	Wretch.cc	62.5%
Hong Kong	75.4	223.3	25.4	Facebook.com	62.6%
India	68.5	130.1	13.0	Orkut	46.8%
South Korea	63.5	131.4	16.0	CyWorld	54.2%
Vietnam	46.1	49.5	7.2	Facebook.com	18.4%
Japan	42.3	120.5	14.0	Mixi.jp	18.9%

*Excludes visitation from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.

Hotbox Creations is a web development and design studio which helps individuals and businesses put their ideas online. Hotbox keeps abreast with the social networking trend, allowing its clients to make the most out of an online presence. 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.

Brought to you by: Hotbox Creations

New Features Revealed - The Latest Photoshop "CS5"

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Top 10 Filipino Online Fashion Shops

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:40:00 +0000

Filipinos foraging for fabulous fashion finds? We’ve got you covered. Here we’ve listed the top online fashion stores created by modern Filipinos. The list contains the most trusted online businesses in the country, each priding itself with over a year of experience running the online business. And with earning a steady 5-figure monthly income to boot, they’re all proving that good business earnings can only come with good business reviews, making them worthy of being among our Top 10 Filipino Online Fashion Shops.

1. Tsoknat Bags
This is the only place where you’ll find these unique and vintage-looking bags. Browsing through Tsoknat's albums, you'll immediately notice the large number of comments left on each album, from people who want to reserve the one-stock-per-style items that Toni, the owner, sells. Amazingly, some bags are reserved just minutes after photos have been uploaded. Well, this is just one indication that Tsoknat Bags is one of the hottest picks in town. Go check it out for yourself!

2. What To Wear
This online boutique has always been known to be up-to-date with the latest trends in clothes and accessories. Buying items from this shop will give you that Hollywood look in an instant. And with unique hair accessories, fab clothes, and all that bling, What To Wear is definitely drool-worthy!

3.Fashion Galore
If you want chic accessories to jazz up your simple outfit, then Fashion Galore is the online shop to click. The shop has items inspired by posh brands like Gucci, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel and many others. And mind you, mere inspirations as they are, they don’t look cheap at all. Aside from selling their fab fashion items, Fashion Galore has also managed to gain a loyal following because of the contests they hold on certain occasions. Certainly, they put more than just the “galore” into fashion!

4. Baubles, Bangles N' Beads

This is one heaven-sent online shop for people who love to accentuate their hands. Baubles, Bangles N' Beads sells wooden bangles… but take note, these are not just your ordinary bangles, but customized ones! Hand them a picture, give them instructions or just spill what visions are running through your head, and they can easily bring any design idea into bangle-reality. Now, is that cool or what?!

5. Stellar

The online shop, Stellar, is owned by young actress Chynna Ortaleza. Being a fan of accessories herself, she turned her love for trinkets and bling into a money-making business venture. Her shop follows the latest trends in accessories, earrings, necklaces, rings, and every other type of bling. Stellar usually follows certain themes, which is, more often that not, inspired by the movies.

6. Axxes

Befitting of its name, Axxes gives you full access to a virtual closet of fabulous shirts, blouses, skirts and dresses. And they’re out to prove that fabulosity doesn’t need to be pricey. So if you’re someone who loves dressing up, then Axxes will totally bring out the girly girl in you.

7. The Reading Room

If you love big bags – as in BIG – then The Reading Room's M Barretto Bag Collection is definitely for you. If you are fond of going on long trips or sleepovers, the M Barretto Bag will surely become your best travel buddy. But while the bags go big in terms of space and dimensions, they always make it a point to also go big in sophistication. The Reading Room also has closet and bag organizers to hang all your precious bags so you can marvel at their sight.

8. AnneVida

Customized cuffs, radical rings, perfect pendants, elegant earrings, and charming charms? These are just some of AnneVida's specialties. So if you’ve been looking for that look that's totally you, click on AnneVida and start conceptualizing your own signature style.

9. City Glamour

Haven't gotten over your Hello Kitty madness yet? Then visiting this shop is just like flying to Hong Kong to visit the Hello Kitty Secret House. This cute site has almost everything from our pink and white furry friend, from a mini sewing machine and a cell phone, to a steering wheel cover and all the kitchen essentials you’ll need. With all the bare essential HK items from City Glamour, you'll definitely be prettier than pink.

10. The Closet Queen

Are you afraid of bumping into other people with the same outfit as yours? Then The Closet Queen is definitely the online shop for you. Most items are imported from Bangkok, which almost ensures their uniqueness in the Philippine setting. Always up to date with the season's latest trends, it offers a wide variety of products not common to other online shops. So if ever you get the chance to visit The Closet Queen and see an item you like, don't think twice. Most of the items are just one-stock-per-style, so grab it before it’s gone!

Hotbox Creations is one of the top web development and creative design studios in the Philippines. Located in Makati City in Metro Manila, Hotbox offers elegant and sensible solutions for branding, print, web and motion. Hotbox helps individuals and businesses put their ideas online. Visit Hotbox Creations’ website at http://www.hotbox.ph and start your own personal or corporate website today.

By Hotbox

The Most Fantastic of the Latest Free WordPress Themes

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:14:00 +0000

Together, We Create Strategic Content and Meaningful Designs,
Where Our Passion is Made Visible.

1. Selecta

A very visually-oriented theme, Selecta is great for videoblogs and similar sites, where videos need to be prominent. Aside from a “featured post” slider carousel up top to promote your best content, Selecta also features threaded comments and interesting jQuery effects, and comes in six different color schemes to choose from.

2. BlackPower

A widget-ready theme by the folks at SkinPress, the BlackPower theme features prominent Twitter integration, with your latest tweet appearing in the header. The two column theme also features typography that is easy on the eyes, and a pastel color scheme with black wood effect on a translucent background.

3. Scarlett

Scarlett is another great theme that features a “featured content” carousel area up top, and a real-time scrolling update area in the right-hand sidebar. It also includes a built-in javascript navigation menu, Adsense-ready units, a threaded comment display, and more.

4. Freemium

The Freemium theme is a slickly-designed premium theme being given away for FREE, thanks to the folks at FreebiesDock. Featuring two widget-ready sidebars, a jQuery-based menu, a 125×125 ad-ready area, and more, Freemium is a compelling design at a great “price”!

5. iBusiness

A great theme or starting point for a more professional business presence, iBusiness is a modern theme designed to showcase the “About” section right up front with a prominent image and company blurb or motto. This two column layout is also widget-ready, SEO optimized, and 125×125 banner-ready.

6. Meganews

Another great option for a magazine or news site, Meganews features a clean story-lead display in four columns plus a right-hand sidebar. It also supports an animated tag cloud and featured content slideshow.

7. Snapshot

A great theme for shutterbugs and photoblogs, Snapshot from Woo Themes can also be applied as a portfolio or design gallery. It also comes with three unique color schemes to choose from, as well as options for switching between photoblog and portfolio use.

Hotbox Creations is a Web 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

Our Favorites of the Latest Free Blogger Templates

noreply@blogger.com (Hotbox Creations) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 06:35:00 +0000

1. Indicator

Apparently, you can get a little darker without going all mysterious. The Indicator theme has a serious tone, but maintains its design chops. A bit of grain textures the dark background, while nice wide columns make it ideal for posting YouTube videos and larger images. We especially love the arrow tabs that break out from the main column and divvy up the side bar with attitude. This theme is bold, sharp, and functional… Grab it now, before your friends do.

Live Demo

2. Vio

If you’ve been wanting to go a bit more feminine without totally pinking it out, take a peek at the Vio theme. It offers a smooth purple header, lots of open white space, and some unique layout elements. It’s essentially a two-column blog, with the side bar cut in half to make a third column. While they are narrow, these columns are great for keeping extra content and ads right up near the top where visitors can see them. Other nice touches include the dark gradient comment bubbles on each post, matching search button, and purple blockquote formatting.

Live Demo

3. Colorbold

Colorbold is, well, bold… but not too over-the-top. The header is dark and metallic, and each blog element is striped by a strong blue banner. Beyond that, your wide white columns are open for business, and content can sit comfortably within those bold ramparts. This template might work nicely for an edgier corporate blog or as a home for photos of your personal hands-on projects.

Live Demo

4. Arclite

Arclite is warm and inviting. The rich brown header gives way to some wide open spaces below. A rounded blue top menu lifts from the page just a bit, and the pink gadget bars add a surprising dash of color. This template could go in any direction and still look great, so go ahead and make it work with your own content.

Live Demo

5. DailyNotes

If you’re old enough to remember pin feed printer paper, you’ll probably get a kick out of this clever design. If you don’t, it’s probably past your bed time anyway. This template deviates a bit from our hunt for clean, versatile layouts, but the design is really functional and well implemented. It’s a standard two-column with a nice “paper layers” effect that’s not overdone. The theme is perfect for your next retro-tech blog, or your diatribe against new-fangled laser printers. Note however that because of the textured background, a custom logo graphic in the header may create some design dissonance up top. It may be best to stick with the included white text.

Live Demo

You too can create a blog account for yourself for free, and write articles on 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 http://www.hotbox.ph and start your own personal or corporate website today.

By Hotbox Creations

Sources: Mashable.com and RackSpace.com

7 New Fantastic Free WordPress Themes

noreply@blogger.com (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 http://www.hotboxcreations.com/ 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

noreply@blogger.com (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 http://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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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.
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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

noreply@blogger.com (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.

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Surprising Top 10 Websites Pinoys Visit

noreply@blogger.com (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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From: Hotbox Creative
Domain Ranking by www.topphilippinewebsites.com