RicPac's Blog

Nikon D90

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Sun, 31 May 2009 05:09:00 +0000

May 13th was the day I got my D90 at Digital Walker, V-Mall, Greenhills. I got the body only as it was already too late for me to change my earlier request (yeah I know I should've gone for the kit). But anyhow, this was a major purchase for me for the year, given its pricetag. No regrets here though. I sold my D60 for the D90. As for the lens, I just got the nifty fifty--the cheaper variant only. Overall, I can say that the 50mm f1.8 and the D90 are made for each other--you'll just love the sound coming from the motor!

2 days after securing the D90, I tested it out in the "Island of Imagination"--Camiguin. Sample below:

Find more on my online gallery via http://gallery.mac.com/ricpacs

Nikon Speedlight

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:45:00 +0000

The last time I wrote about a speedlight was when I was deciding which one to get--between the Nikon SB-600 or the Nissin Di622. I ended up getting the Nikon speedlight in Manila last month (now you know this is such a late update!). I was satisfied with this purchase--until I found out that it can only be set as a remote. In addition, I wasn't too sure about the D60 anymore at that time since its flash can't even wirelessly command the SB-600, much less all other speedlights.

So I was looking to either push it up to the D90 or just invest in some good lenses--decisions, decisions. But since the D60 (like the D40/x) doesn't have any built-in motor, buying cheaper not-so-new lenses would be useless unless of course if I had already mastered the art of MF-ing (no, it's not what you're thinking). I can learn MF-ing, but I don't think I have much time. The newer lenses with motors would work perfectly with AF on the D60 but are more expensive. So I had to decide.

Take screenshots off the BlackBerry with it unhooked

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:34:00 +0000

I love this nifty little priceless app called CaptureIt. You can take screenshots off your BlackBerry with it unhooked. For those who are just new into the BlackBerry world, taking screenshots before CaptureIt arrived require BlackBerrys to be hooked up to the PC (yes, not on Macs!). But all that has changed--thanks to the TheTechMogul. For the latest version (v1.4) here's the OTA download link--just point your BlackBerry's browser to http://www.thetechmogul.com/CaptureIt/CaptureIt.jad

The above screenshot is the latest off my homescreen with RyleePac as the wallpaper subject.

NEW BlackBerry 8900

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:44:00 +0000

I forgot to update my blog that I had gotten my new BlackBerry 8900 in the afternoon of February 18th, that's 4 long days after my birthday. I had planned on getting a new one--first choice was a Bold due to its availability locally--in time for my birthday but failed. I tried to ask Globe for one even if I'd pay for it upfront but they never gave me due to some technicalities--one of which is the fact that they only offer it to corporate subscribers and I'm just on an individual (or regular) subscription, you know--but religiously paying my monthly dues... oh well.

Anyhow, thanks to another BlackBerry addict from PhilMUG (member amf), and because he posted that he got his 8900 from ebuystore.com.ph (MNL-based ebay powerseller), now you know what happened next (yup, I'm so predictable at times). So I sought the help of yet another BlackBerry addict from PhilMUG, world-renowned writer Butch Dalisay (click it for his Wiki spot)--asked him to get it for me so he can inspect before shipping it over to Cagayan de Oro (just to be sure everything's accounted for) and so he did (thank you Sir!). I just wired him the money via bank deposit. And that was it, after a day-full of waiting, the beauty of a gadget finally arrived and knocked on the door!

For more information about the BlackBerry 8900, check out its official page. Finally, I now have GPS and Wi-Fi in one device! Now, if you'd ask me where my BlackBerry 8320 went, I had it sold to a friend--after I replaced the trackball and the faceplate so it'd look new and feel new.

Which Flash Gun?

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:23:00 +0000

For weeks now, I've been contemplating on getting a flash gun for my Nikon D60 that I bought, I think (if my memory serves me right), last month. I still have not decided between these two, the Nikon SB-600 or the Nissin Di622. The former has more features and can seamlessly be integrated with the camera--of course, that's how it should be as they both carry the same brand anyway. Problem is, there's not even a single unit here in Cagayan de Oro.

Meanwhile, the Nissin Di622's specs look promising as well. All over the web, people who have used one claim that it's better than the SB-600, except that people haven't really answered the "can it command?" question. I guess that's up for me to find out. Here's the deal though, there's like over 7 units available locally, unit costs about PhP 9,500 but there's no warranty, not even 24-HRS! How wicked can that get!? Uh, decisions... I'm running out of time as I need to practice flash photography before I actually get my hands dirty in the real world of photography...

If you were in my shoes, which would you get? SB-600? Di622? BTW, I forgot to note that the SB-600 is about PhP 12,000 and up.

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:55:00 +0000

I know I've been out of my blog for too long and it's not even funny--such a shame. But I'll try to get back to regular programming--or blogging--real soon. I know I ain't no writer but that doesn't discount the possibility that I *might have* (or may have) suffered from the so-called writer's block.

Anyway, just dropping by, real quick, to greet everyone a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous '09! I'll be working on both Christmas eve and day but I'll be off on New Year's eve and enjoy the countdown. Enjoy the long holiday week everyone!

Be sure to take out some cash from the bank as ATMs easily run out bills...

To Blog Again

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:28:00 +0000

I've been busy, busy, busy. But I'm back and I'll be working on a major make-over... I hope to get that done by next week. So many things have gone on while I was off-camera and etc. And yeah, I want to take photos now (I'll blog about that later on too!). The NEW MacBooks are out and they look so kewl and everything. The new iPods have gone out too. Basically a lot of stuff have come out and I wasn't able to talk about them. Too much work for me at work (where else?)!

PS. I just got that photo off the web and I found it to be pretty amazing and very, very creative. It's called "hands with a face."

Yikes! iPhone 2.0.2 is not secure.

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:38:00 +0000

Password-protect your iPhone 2.0.2... and you end up exposing information coming from your Mail, SMS, and Contacts. Plus a web-browsing freebie via Safari. It turns out sliding the unlock key, even if you password protect it, will really "unlock" the iPhone.

I am just not sure if the engineers at Cupertino missed this or this was according to the phone's design (?). I don't know. Who knows? One thing I'm sure of, 2.0.3's coming will arrive ahead of schedule. Read the full story over at Gizmodo.

Nuffnang. Weird sound of money.

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:19:00 +0000

Nuffnang, Asia's First Blog Advertising Community, is already here! I heard about this from a blogger friend so I immediately signed up just so I could read more about it. And here's what I found out from their website:

After its massive success in Malaysia and Singapore with over 45,000 bloggers signing up in which most of them are enjoying the perks of serving ads to multinational companies like Nike, Citibank, Honda, Nokia, F&N, AirAsia and many more, Nuffnang.com.ph is officially online!

I think Nuffnang's kewl! Don't you think so? I guess I would need to up my posts a bit so I can get me some Nike ads. That's just my favorite brand of shoes, and always has been synonymous with first-choice... can't wait!

So what has sounded weird just lately? I think it's money and you get to hear the words blog, entre, adsense and (now) nuffnang. And you know what, when I ran a Google search for Nuffnang, I just find it more weird to have even seen a blog with this address: why-nuffnang-will-fail dot blogspot dot com. Weird day for me I guess.

Nuff said, nang it!

US Basketball: Worth A Pair Of Olympic Golds

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:05:00 +0000

Spain put on an a good show. But out in the Olympics, good just isn't good enough. Having said that, the US Men's Basketball team dubbed The Redeem Team closed out the 2008 Olympics Basketball tourney with a perfect 8-0 record and held off the Gasol brothers with a 118-107 victory to clinch the gold.

The US Women's Basketball team had also won the gold via a 92-65 beating over Australia yesterday. It's been said, and I'll say it again, the US Basketball Team is worth a pair of golds.

For the full stories, you can head on over to NBA.com.

Know When Your Time Is Up

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:20:00 +0000

While scour-ing today for some random things, I came across this sort of calculator (or meter) that measures the approximate date when the Grim Reaper would have to ask you out. All you've got to do is head over to this site, provide answers to a few personal questions. When you're done, the table gets turned, and the answer to your question (take note: you must ask yourself first before you ever try this!) will be provided.

If you want to know when my time is up, this was what I got:

6/22/2053. On a Sunday? Yikes! I'd die unhappy if I ever live long enough to reach that. I would be over 70 by then. I would never wanna see me with my skin all loosed up. I don't know. Well at least the link made me wonder... and laugh.

How about you? When do you think the guy with the scythe would come to see you?

US vs. Spain and Australia

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:58:00 +0000

Two countries would have to bring their A+ games to beat the US basketball teams. It all begins tonight at 10:00PM (GMT +8:00) when the 2008 Olympics Women's Basketball gold medal will be settled by a game between Australia and the US. Since I don't pay attention to anything WNBA, I have no idea who the other stars are on the US Women's Basketball team other than Lisa Leslie. I'm not even sure if she's on the team this time. Well I just hope they win to hype up the men's team.

Tomorrow afternoon, 2:30PM (GMT +8:00), the US Men's Basketball team will play Spain. Again. This time, and as hinted, it will be about nothing else but for the gold medal. Spain lost to the US when they first met during group elimination play. I think it was a blow out.

Having said that, I think it's going to be easy for Lebron, Kobe and company--unless of course if Pau would prove me wrong. Tomorrow. I'll be glued to the tube by then as I'll be off work come jump-ball time.

New iPods. Soon.

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:14:00 +0000

I have no idea why I'm starting to title my posts like that. But anyway, that's not what this post is about. Ok so I just stumbled upon news about the next iPods that might come out of Cupertino. And this is how it might look like:

Any comments? Personally, I think it looks more like a cellphone than an iPod. Except for the click-wheel, of course. But I don't know. There's no confirmation yet. But I would think this would come out as close to the real deal as possible. The source of this tidbit? Kevin Rose. I'm guessing he's credible enough. Head on over to his blog for the full story.

Search. Earn. Scour.

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:54:00 +0000

I've heard about Scour a long time ago from a pro-blogger friend. It's only today that I decided I need to start working with Scour--dubbed "The Social Search Engine." It's easy. Just search, and you earn points. Earn 6500 of those and you get a $25 PayPal check. Now that's easy.

Now I'm not saying you don't have to use Google anymore, I am just letting you in on an option. It could be a better alternative. Who knows? So start scouring now! There's lots more you could do with Scour. Scour this, scour that. So click THIS and start earning extra dough!

Rogers BlackBerry Bold, Today

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:40:00 +0000

If you've been paying attention to the BlackBerry blogosphere, you should be pretty excited about today. It's August 21st, and it's been confirmed that the BlackBerry Bold will be coming out of Rogers... yes, today (am I even right?).

We'll see what we'll find out about the news today as the Canadians should be able to get their hands on a BlackBerry that has been through a lot of delays, after delays, after delays. Stay tuned...

Was Busy Last Week

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:08:00 +0000

The last time I made a post on this blog was about a week ago. And all I could say is: yeah, I was busy. Busy with work, busy with family... basically busy with life. I've been on the forums (BlackBerryForums, PhilMUG, MacRumors, CDOCentral) and what not but I've only been lurking mostly and reading some threads of attention without actually replying to any of them.

I guess I was just paying too much attention to the Olympics. But what do you expect? It's supposedly the greatest sporting event every four years. I think Olympics 2K8 will best be remembered for Michael Phelps and how he managed to bag 8 gold medals. That's quite a story right there. The last time 7 gold medals went to an individual was about 4 decades ago (or 36 years to be exact) when fellow American Mark Spitz swam for it at the '72 Munich Games. And here's what Mark had to say when Michael got gold #7 at Beijing:

Epic. It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he's maybe the greatest athlete of all time. He's the greatest racer who ever walked the planet.

For the latest news about the Beijing Olympics, head on over to official website > The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. I think China's going to run away with the most golds. But I am not saying anything beyond that though.

UPDATE: Globelines Issues, FIXED!

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:36:00 +0000

After calling Globelines' tech support every single day over the last 7 days or so due to my connection issue (read: slow), two guys finally dropped by today, along with their Asus EeePC, to check and validate how real slow my connection really is/was since the day it got installed. Right... they fixed it!

They didn't stay long though BUT they figured the issue was with the Sphairon Turbolink modem. They started their troubleshooting by running speedtests (off speedtest.net) on the small black ultraportable. After failing to at least complete a single speedtest result, they both agreed to try a different modem. Bingo! With the new shiny black Prolink ADSL2+ modem, I got these speeds and it's been pretty consistent eversince.

So thank you Globelines, especially to the two guys who came here earlier (sorry I didn't catch your names) You can now close the third trouble ticket numbered 919792. I can forget about the past, and move on as all I ever wanted to begin with was what had I signed up for and what I will be paying for--broadband Internet. Thanks Globelines. Case closed. More power!!!

A Kagayanon's Journey to Canada

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:11:00 +0000

While I was browsing the CDOCentral forums earlier today, I stumbled upon member name kicker and his blog about how he and his wife worked together to get to Canada, the legal way. The exodus story is just inspiring, at least for me. If you read it from the first post up, for sure you would re-realize (you already know this) that nothing in life ever comes easy.

You can go check out his blog at burlingtonjourney.blogspot.com. Learn more about migrating to Canada. And be inspired.

...AND it's ridiculously getting slower

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:38:00 +0000

It seems my ordeal with Globe Broadband a.k.a. Globelines isn't just about over yet. My Internet is getting slower each day (it's just been two days). Check the Speedtest result above, my connection is WAY SLOWER than dial-up. Believe it. I've been doing speedtests since I woke up today, hoping to get at least a different result. But they're all the same, the average speed didn't even come close to dial-up! WTF!

I did call the hotline yesterday AM, and two guys from Globelines (entirely different from the install crew who came here last Tuesday afternoon) came over to check the connection and speed later in the afternoon. Yes, all from yesterday Wednesday. And all they ever said was simple and quick: [translated] "Sir, this is r-e-a-l-l-y slow. We'll try to re-set the connection from the main center to fix this." Then they went off, speeding...

Now, a little over 20 hours past and there's no change whatsoever. I am going to give one final call shortly and if this doesn't get fixed at all, it's over. I can't go on being mocked like this at all, it's not funny...

*Photo courtesy of Speedtest.

Globe Telecom & iPhone 3G on August 22nd

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:10:00 +0000

So the news is out, Globe Telecom will be releasing the iPhone 3G on August 22nd. That's good news for iPhone fans all over the archipelago. Yup, the Philippines is finally part of something big at least in the tech world scene as the date also marks batch #2 of iPhone releases slated in other countries as well.

Head on over to the Globe iPhone 3G page for more info about the subscription plans and how much they cost. The one thing that I didn't like with all the pricing hoopla was the fact that there wasn't any unlimited data plan at all. Postpaid plans start at 1,599 with these allocations: 100 local minutes, 350 text messages, 20 Wiz Wi-Fi hours (available only in Metro Manila for now, I think) and a measly local mobile internet airtime of only 40 hours--don't forget: there's 720 hours in a month. With that plan, the 8GB variant would cost PhP 16,800 while the 16GB would be at PhP 22,300. You need to be on the 4,999 plan to get the iPhone 3G 8GB for free (PhP 5,500 for the 16GB) and you get 750 minutes, 650 SMS, unlimited Wiz Wi-Fi hours and 100 hours of internet data. The usual 24-month lock-in period applies.

If you find the subscription plans appallingly expensive, you can always get the prepaid kits on installment at 0% interest up to 12 months with most banks' credit cards. With PhP 41,889, you get the 8GB. PhP 48,899 would get you the 16GB model. Now the question is? Am I going to be getting one for myself? Answer: I will just pass for now. I am extremely satisfied with my BlackBerry 8320 along with my current Globe BlackBerry data plan, so that's why. 3G isn't even widespread where I'm at, much less EDGE.

But we'll see what happens as we move forward as the iPhone is a really great gadget to have. Read the ongoing discussion about this development over at PhilMUG, specifically in this thread. Be informed.

*Photo courtesy of myGlobe iPhone.

Online BUT Stuck!

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:54:00 +0000

If you examine the photo above, you should be able to tell that I'm online now. I've got my weather updates in (too bad there's none for CDO) along with my WAN IP as well. The Globelines folks have finally hooked me up at the new apartment late yesterday afternoon. But that's just the good news. News always comes in twos. Now the bad news is--the connection has been so slow ever since! To make matters worse, I only figured that out when the install crew had already left the area.

So did you want to know how slow this thing is? Well, it's way under the considerable speed even for dial-up! You may want to check the image ^^ again, click it. It's really ADSL eh? Take a closer look at the download versus upload speeds, there you go. Now I got those values from Speedtest and from my #1 widget, iStat Pro (get the latest version here). The download speed, the most important, is not even in 3 digits!

I guess it's just not my time these past few days BUT I've got to bounce back. With that said, I already gave the Globelines tech support guys a call early this morning and I got a reference number for the record. They said there could be something wrong with the facility or the main center where my line comes out from. At least he agreed there's something wrong! I just hope they would act on this no sooner than a month! Remember "the wait" I had to burn candles for just for the installation? It now appears the pain wasn't worth it at all.

Stay tuned...

BlackBerry Bold gets some serious competition?

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:55:00 +0000

I think I found this out too late: a new smartphone from the Nokia E-series, the E71, is already out in retail stores, at least locally. I was at the mall yesterday afternoon doing some window-shopping when I spotted a BlackBerry-Curve-looking phone in one of the Nokia business centers here. I thought it was one of those usual mess-ups with mobile display galleries but I was wrong. So I checked it out and recognized that it’s the real E71, the upgrade from the notorious E61, E61i and E90 E-Series variants. When I went out to check the web (yup, you guessed it: using my neighbor’s Wi-Fi, thanks to Globelines), this new addition to the business phones from Nokia came out so loud on the blogosphere and in many other forums. It seemed almost everyone over at PhilMUG who had an older E-Series phone wanted to take home an E71 soon after it hit the shelves, check out this thread. I think it hit the stores just last week, on a Friday perhaps? But please read on.

All the hype aside, let’s move on to its specifications. If you go and hit up this page from the Nokia-Asia site, you’ll find out that this phone has got every connectivity option available: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, AND Infrared (yes, Infrared!). It’s also got integrated and assisted GPS and a 3.2 megapixel camera. That’s quite a slew of features, I must admit.

I’ve only read two full reviews so far, one from the Boy Genius himself and from allaboutsymbian.com, and it’s clear that this smartphone has gotten nothing but praises due to its super-slim design and functionality. While I was able to play with a demo unit at the mall yesterday, one thing I could remember that I didn’t like though was that the keypads seem so tightly-squeezed into each other, there’s like no air in-between keys. It’s so different from the perfect keypad spacing I have on my BlackBerry Curve.

Right now, I am not sure if the E71 would come in as serious competition for the BlackBerry Bold. We know the BlackBerry’s forte is push-email and top-of-the-line security but if you’ve checked out the specs of the E71, it’s got the Nokia Intellisync feature and some security too. So I’m not sure if that could match up to what the BlackBerry has been doing (and doing perfectly good at that) since 2002. We’ll see for ourselves.

Now let’s all wait until the BlackBerry Bold comes out. It’s been delayed since forever! The latest feed from BlackBerryNews, hints that it may come out from Australia on July 29th and then UK, hopefully. Hopefully…

*Photo courtesy of AllAboutSymbian.com.

Globelines suck!

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:33:00 +0000

The story: I submitted my application to get hooked up via Globelines (or Globe Broadband) last June 27th, a Friday. And up until now (running 3++ weeks), I am still Internet-less at the new apartment. I moved in June 25th and, like many other professionals out there, I cannot live without the Internet. Without it, I don't think I feel confident enough to talk to people. I mean what would I talk to them about? News? Local news ain't enough. I need to know what's going on with the world! And I would need the Internet for that, don't you think?

I think I'm gonna have to give them yet another call today and complain this time around. You know I'm the type of person who rarely complains about stuff and services BUT I think this is way over ridiculous right now that it's not even funny. I will update you guys about this whole mess/ordeal. I NEED THE INTERNET!

I got mentioned in a newspaper...

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:34:00 +0000

I just found out I got mentioned in an article written by Jose "Butch" Dalisay on The Philippine Star. It came out last June 22nd in the Sunday Gadgets' Section. The online version of the full article can be found here.

Here's the paragraph where I was mentioned:

As a Web browser and mp3 player, the iPhone is “light years ahead” of the BlackBerry, as even local BB guru Ric Pacana acknowledges. The iPhone’s Safari browser is the only real usable phone browser out there that comes close to the desktop experience, and the iPhone’s ability to automatically reorient images (horizontal or vertical) and to resize them with a two-finger “curtain” effect is matchless. However, Ric prefers his BB for its strengths: push email, long battery life, better security, and multitasking.

Butch Dalisay's blog > http://penmanila.net/

Rylee's First Bday in 6hrs

noreply@blogger.com (RicPac) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:57:00 +0000

I'm still internet-less here at the new house I rented so I might need to up my blog's post count via BlackBerry for the time being. Nobody from Globelines dropped by today so that's disappointing. Hopefully, someone will be here tomorrow so they can start surveying and would probably get me hooked up in no time. I'm crossing my fingers. I can't wait until next week. I'd be losing a lot of time for sure...

Rylee's First Bday is almost here with just under six hours left. He's on a late afternoon powernap right beside me on the king-sized airbed I bought as our temporary bed. He's healthy, as always, and will transition to a "higher" formula beginning tomorrow. The milk brand or make is called Gain Plus. I just wonder why milk for 1 year olds are a lot cheaper than milk for 6-months and up. Any ideas?

Anyhow, as you can see on the right side, I haven't been updating my Twitter a lot lately. Twitter via GTalk still doesn't work for me. I think I really need to use the real GTalk client for it to sync. I should be able to use JiveTalk on my BlackBerry by then. We'll see what happens later this week.

One cool thing I found out today was plurk over at plurk.com. Some people said it's way better than Twitter so I gave it a shot... AND boy were they right! It just looks like fun over there! I will probably add a widget on here later so I could link my plurk updates. I love plurk's timeline feature and the karma system, too.

More updates later...