You Got Tech

Typewriter

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:30:00 +0000

I'm posting this photo of an Olympia typewriter for the benefit of my son who's never experienced using one. My Mom taught me how to type using this typewriter (I took the photo though in a museum) when I was just 8 years old. I was really fascinated and always volunteered to type my Dad's documents even though my fingers would always fall through the keys (it was pretty painful!). I was also an expert at changing the ribbon!

I have so many fond memories with my Mom's Olympia typewriter. I used to lug it around the house whenever I wanted to write, type docs for my Dad or simply type song lyrics (yeah I used to do that haha). And because I used to sleep on the floor in my parents' room the typewriter was always beside my 3-inch foam bed (I'm sure my parents were really annoyed I'd still be typing while they were watching TV). I also remember we had to make funny-looking paper bag masks for exams during typing class. When I reached college... well... I was lucky because they've just gotten rid of the typewriters and got computers to teach us... WORDSTAR!

Ahh, the typewriter, one of the things kids nowadays would probably not experience.

Nexus 7 Case

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Day after I got my Nexus 7 I did some research on where I could buy a case/cover for it. I had a feeling it would get scratched in my bag since I just usually dump my stuff in it. It's quite hard to find accessories for Android devices so I was happy to see that there was an original inexpensive Asus-case made available near my apartment in Singapore. The others I found online were overpriced IMHO. Anyway, I found this at Newstead at NEX Mall and got it for just $30 (it was on sale then).

Unboxing the Nexus 7

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:49:00 +0000

My constant companion the last 2 months has been my Nexus 7. It's a 7-inch Android tablet recommended by one of my friends. I was thinking about either getting a netbook or a tablet, but my friend said that he was sure I was going to enjoy playing games on the Nexus 7.

I unboxed my new toy last January 5 and proceeded to set-up my Google Account and app I frequently use. I've been stuck at home in the last 2 months so I've certainly been using the tablet more than my laptop (my friend was correct!). I held off on getting a tablet because (1) I'm a cheapskate (haha), (2) I was really happy with my Android phone, and (3) it takes me ages to decide on getting a new gadget (I haven't replaced my 4-year old netbook, nor my 6-year old iPod and my TV is 15 years old!).

My Nexus 7 is wifi-enabled but not 3G-enabled, but I haven't felt restricted with my usage since my movement in the last 2 months has been pretty limited. I've been using it to blog, email, work on documents/spreadsheets, watch YouTube, be on social media, take photos, upload content and of course play games. It's my new all-around-favorite-gadget. It would be great though if it had longer battery life.

And I was surprised to find out last night that my housemate got the same tablet! He's been using an iPhone so I was really surprised he decided to get a Nexus 7. Yay!

Globe Launches 4G Tattoo Stick

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 05:03:00 +0000

As announced a few weeks ago during the Globe 4G launch, Globe now has a new Tattoo stick (USB modem).

As advised during the 4G launch users must have a device that has the capacity to handle HSPA (4G), so if you want to experience this on Globe you either have to get this Tattoo stick or a 4G capable phone/tablet/newer laptop.

The Tattoo stick is available at Surf-All-You-Want Plan 2,199. More info available at http://tattoo.globe.com.ph

We got the chance to experience the super speed Globe was claiming during the event and here's what we got when we did a speedtest on Internet Explorer (right) and Google Chrome (left).

The new Globe Tattoo endorser for the Globe Tattoo stick, Marlon Stockinger.

And the rest of the Globe Tattoo endorsers -

During the launch, Globe mentioned their new Video Messaging Service (VMS). This is something I can try using my Nexus S. Just need to find out if my video messages can be access by anyone with/without a smartphone.

Philippine Android Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:28:00 +0000

Thought I'd do a little research to find out what kind of local Android apps we have from the Philippines. Here are some:

News

Philippine Daily Inquirer
GMA News Online
Philippine News by Danigo
Philippine News by Levitan Software (company based in Aklan)
Kabayan News by Harold Mondonedo

Mobile/SMS

Chikka
Globe Muzta
Vo-Fone

Entertainment

Movies for Smart
Games for Smart
Music for Smart
Flames by Jerome Locson
Life Stories by Marc Tan
FML Widget by Marc Tan
Manila: Open City Movie

Sports

PBA Official
Cebu Running Events by Max Limpag

Travel

Philippines Travel Options
General Douglas MacArthur
NDrive Indonesia & Philippines
MRT-LRT Station Guide
Manila Manual
Taxi Mate (Manila)
Manila City App
Manila Street Map
The Last Jeep to Baclaran
Cebu City App
Travel Guide - PH - Cebu City
Davao Manual
Baguio City App

Stories

Magical Shirt
Ang Mahiwagang Kamisetang Lite
D Source Boxing

Info

Click the City
Philippines Quick Facts
Flashcards - Tagalog
Conversational Tagalog
Moon Phase Widget by Marc Tan
125+Venture Capitalists by Marc Tan
Order ni Mrs. (recipes)
FilAssist

Real Estate

It's My Pad

Business/Discounts

Enjoy PH
Tapa Boy
SM Malls Map and Directory
Jobstreet
FullPage for Ebay PH

Others

Philippines ADW Theme
Mercedes Benz PH
APKoptic by Marc Tan
Handy Poll by Marc Tan
Clickr by Marc Tan
Piclyf
Shake2Random by Jerome Locson

Language/Translation

Learn Filipino Free Wordpower
Tagalog Slang
English to Filipino Flash Cards
My Words Learn Filipino
Tagalog Verbs
Tagalog FilipinoTranslator
Tagalog Basics
Flashcards - Tagalog
Learn Tagalog
123s sa Tagalog
Lingopal Tagalog (Filipino)
Filipino English Jibbigo
Tagalog Daily 10
Tagalog Vocabulary Quiz
Plugin Filipino Tagalog
Tagalog Tutor
(and there's a lot more in this category)

I just found these by doing a search for "Philippines" on the Android Market. Please let me know if you know of any Philippine-made Android apps.

The Chromebook

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Mon, 16 May 2011 02:58:00 +0000

You've probably heard the announcement about Google's Chromebook which is coming out on June 15. The video above describes perfectly what the Chromebook is. When you turn on the Chromebook you are immediately brought to the internet without having to open a browser. This is definitely a new idea and would work perfectly for people like me who have everything (if not most) on the cloud.

I've been waiting for this to come out for a long time now and hope to experience working on it soon.

Paid Android Apps Now in the Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Sat, 14 May 2011 03:37:00 +0000

Google announced last Thursday that Android users in the Philippines can now buy paid Apps on the Android Market - that means we can buy more games, social apps and work (productivity) type of apps. There are over 200,000 free and paid apps today on the Android market. Price of apps though are in US dollars, but you can buy it through Google Checkout which supports both Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

Hoping to see more locally made Android apps!

Globe 4G

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:11:00 +0000

Last week, my vlogging partner, Coy, invited me to attend Globe's 4G presscon. Since I was in the area I said I'd go. It took me awhile to make my post coz I had to digest all the nosebleed, techie stuff that was discussed there.

So... I will not attempt to explain the technical discussion since I honestly did not understand any of it. What I understood though is the following:

1. Globe's 4G is still on its way. They just have a handful of sites that are up (one is near Heritage Hotel in Pasay).

2. 4G technology isn't really here yet. They mentioned that their 4G mobile technology utilizes the global standard HSPA+. In lay-man's term, basta di hamak mas mabilis!

3. You need a new device so you can enjoy the new network. If you don't have one, the new network is going to help improve connectivity for 3G users.

4. Globe is aggressively expanding availability and here's the map (unfortunately no roll out where I live). They have deployed it in 19 areas, namely Marikina, QC, Makati, Pasay, Las Pinas, Taguig and Manila.

5. Watch out for handsets, devices and apps that Globe's launching this May. I spotted a nice and shiny Android phone during the event :)

So, what do you think?

Smart Bro APN Settings

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Thu, 05 May 2011 08:11:00 +0000

I had a problem getting my Cherry Mobile Android tablet to go online using 3G. I wanted to use a Smart SIM on it , but wasn't sure whether it was okay to use a Smart Buddy SIM or if I needed a Smart Bro SIM so I could go online. With Globe they don't have that differentiation. I tried to ask advise from Smart's customer care on Twitter, they acknowledged my query, but they never gave me an answer. I got advise from some friends in Smart and they said it's best to use a Smart Bro SIM on my tablet if I was just going to use it mostly for connecting to the internet.

So I did. The next question was about the APN settings. I did some Google searches, but nothing really helped. The Smart website didn't have any updated info on APN settings for a Smart Bro SIM. So I went to a Smart Wireless Center and showed the customer service person my settings and he said said they were fine. I wanted to check whether it would work, but he said I needed to wait an hour. I felt that he really didn't know and wanted me far away before I got the chance to check whether the settings I tweaked last night was indeed correct.

It didn't! So essentially I just wanted 30 minutes of my time waiting at the Smart Wireless Center and what "expert help" I was supposed to get wasn't there. That guy made me believe that my settings were correct and that it would already work. Argh.

So back to square one. I searched again on Google and chanced upon a comment in one of the forums. I tried several suggestions, but this one finally worked (I use an Android tablet):

APN Name: smartbro
APN: smartbro
MCC: 515
MNC: 03
Authentication type: PAP

I simply added an APN and inputted "smartbro" as the APN Name and APN, saved it, and finally managed to go online.

And to that customer care guy, well, gee, you should have just been upfront and said you were not sure.

Pasyonistas on Twitter and Tumblr

noreply@blogger.com (Juned) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:39:00 +0000

What would Arnold Schwarzenegger and Stephen Fry be related to tweeter? And no it is not because they are twitter users. Or that both are actors and celebrities. What seem to be the common thread between the Austrian actor and the British comedian-actor and writer is technology.

The first starred in a movie that pumped his career in Hollywood and the second spoke at one time about technology. In the movie Conan the riddle of steel could be related to technology. The answer to the riddle of steel was that it was dependent on the flesh, ie the hand that wielded it. In the film, even a broken sword could be used to behead the main villain in the hands of Conan – Schwarzenegger.

The second spoke and his speech was recorded in a podcast. It was a witty and splendid speech that talked of several things from copyright to Apple. What is important to us though was something said during the open forum. Technology, new technology does not make one an instant Picasso, Oscar Wilde, Bill Joel or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. You have to have skill, talent and ideas to begin with. Technology amplifies these things. It is the means ny which creativity, skill and guts are whispered, sang and shouted out to the wide world via the world wide web.

An example of this is this latest endeavor done on twitter and tumbler – Pasyonistas.

Pasyon of the Passion is a lenten practice a form of story telling of the last days of Jesus Christ om the world. In art this has largely been depicted in paintings and sculpture – I believe Michaelangelo's Pieta is an example of this. It is a popular subject across the arts and the performing arts from Webbers and Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell and Mel Gibson's the Passion. Personally, I like watching Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. Somehow I find them more light and at the same time deep – if you get what I mean.

Every year at the end of our street during Holy Week they close the street, erect a tent, set up a karaoke machine and people take turns reading aloud through the microphone accounts of the last days of Jesus Christ in a lyricak verse. You can hear it from one of the street to the other, flooding the street.

Across the country the Passion of Christ is re-enacted. And now you can also read the Passion before your very eyes in twitter and tumbler.

It is an interesting take on the practice of the Passion or Pasyon. Hence the name Pasyonistas.

I wonder how it will turn out in Twitter and Tumbler. Most of us will know how it will end but how this cultural and artistic online collaboration will end we shall have to see.

Pasyonistas on twitter

Pasyonistas on tumblr

Aldo posted here.

Smart TV Now and In the Future

noreply@blogger.com (Juned) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:49:00 +0000

The film Rio was being shown on the big screen. And the scene shifted to the slums of Rio de Jainero and people were shown watching television. I am not quite sure what the statistics are but I have a hunch there are probably more television sets than refrigerators in the world. Or perhaps the television hs become as ubiquitous as the radio and still more commonly used than the computer.

It may not be as widely used like the cellphone but you can find it in nearly every family house or in the room of a salaried worker. In the Philippines solar or battery powered tv sets are used to watch a boxing fight or it doubles as a mini theatre from which one will eventually screen films like Rio.

It is everywhere.

And television sets are getting to be smarter.

Samsung recently launched its new set of television sets. And aside from how eco-friendly the tv set was Samsung trumpeted that the Smart TVs – LEDs 8000. 7000. 6600. 6400 and 5500 would not only connect the family to TV broadcasts and cables but also connect it to the Web , of course viewing of web video is still dependent on the speed of one's connection.

At present of course such television sets can only be bought by people with means and a large wallet – very large wallet. But let us see in a few years the cost of set may go down and with that it may be a indespinsible gadget that can be used by the family to be online. Of course there are other factors that will determine other than cost Ease of use and overcoming the language barrier.

When that happens we may have an online community more representative of our society. Are we ready for that?

Also published at baratillo.net

Facebook Picasa Uploader

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:30:00 +0000

A lot of my friends probably noticed that I have been uploading a lot of pictures on my Facebook account. I used to abhor uploading photos on Facebook because it was tedious. I have had to use the "simple uploader" because the other uploader wouldn't work.

It was Winston who made my life easier when he tweeted about the Facebook Picasa Uploader. I immediately downloaded the app and I was uploading photos to my FB account in no time. Of course, you'd have to install Picasa first if you haven't done so yet.

Here's how it looks on Picasa -

Transferring Photos from Your Android Phone

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:45:00 +0000

For some strange reason I've been having difficulty transferring photos from my Nexus One via Bluetooth lately. I used to transfer it through Bluetooth without any problem before, but I have been experiencing problems pairing my Bluetooth devices to it. And it has been a cause of delay for making some blog posts (eyeroll).

Anyway, so sending the photos via email was a huge pain. I don't know why I only tried this now, but the easiest way to transfer your photos from your Android phone is by sending it to your Picasa account!

It's easy!

1. Just go to your photo gallery.
2. Select photos you want to share.
3. Share via Picasa! And viola the photos would be transferred to your account and saved in the "Dropbox" album.

Geez... why did I only do this now? Oh well, you learn something everyday :)

Unboxing the iPed, the Android Tablet from Divisoria

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 04:25:00 +0000

So Jay took the risk and got himself the iPed last weekend in Divisoria. It cost PhP4,300 including the keyboard with case.

Included in the box were the following: Android 7" tablet, charger, USB connection.

Here's how it looks with the keyboard (includes case and stylus*):

Here are specs based on the available info (no info on processor etc.):

Memory: 256 MB

Model number: Generic

Firmware version: 1.6

Kernel version: 2.6.29-00236-g4f8dbbb-dirty

Build number: WMT2.0

The applications included are as follows: chat tool, e-mail, file explore, my photo, my video, Youtube, magic album, my music, camera.

Settings that can be personalized: wireless controls (wifi/3G), sound and display, apps, SD cards and devices (you can add a micro-SD for added storage space), date and time, locale and text (it was actually defaulted in Chinese!), about device, touchpanel calibration.

What we've so far used it for:

1. Browsing

2. Watching Youtube videos

3. Typing/checking docs/spreadsheet

4. Listening to music

5. Watching videos (through a file)

6. Easy games -- Angry Birds doesn't work on it

What we need to check on:

1. Battery life

2. Upgrade firmware

3. If it would work on Globe Tattoo/Smart Bro. Saleslady said it wouldn't work if you use the Sun Cellular dongle.

The saleslady wasn't really helpful when another customer asked questions about what apps would work on the tablet. She just kept saying "Go to the Android site". It was her standard answer for questions she didn't understand.

If you intend to purchase an Android tablet, be forthright with your purpose for getting one. Jay got it because he wanted to have a handy gadget to browse the internet anywhere around our home. If your objective is to use it like a laptop then it would probably be better for you to a purchase a high-end tablet.

You'll get what you pay for :)

*Do not use the stylus. It scratches the surface easily.

More pics!

The Cherry Mobile Android Phones

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 02:50:00 +0000

A few months ago I excitedly shared my experience about getting my first Android phone, the Nexus One. Last night I had the privilege of attending Cherry Mobile's launch of its line of Android phones. Of all the phones showcased I only got the chance to check out the Cherry Mobile Superion (tablet). Here's a demo by Cherry Mobile's head for product development, Reggie Ramos.

Superion

The Superion is a pad that's also a phone which runs on Froyo (2.2) which is the latest version of Android. Here are its features:

Android OS 2.2
Quadband GSM, 850/900/1900/2100
Triband UMTS 900/1900/2100
7” WVGA Capacitive Touchscreen
Qualcomm MSM 7227 600 MHz Processor
512 MB ROM, 512 MB RAM
Expandable memory up to 32GB
3G/HSDPA Connectivity
WiFi
Bluetooth
GPS/AGPS
Standard Mini USB 2.0
3.5mm headphone jack
G-Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
Google Mobile Services (Gmail, Maps, Marketplace)
3 mega pixels with Auto-Focus (back)
VGA Camera (front)
Price: PhP19,900

Nova

For those who'd like to try out using an Android phone this is Cherry Mobile's most affordable smart phone. Here are the features:

OS: Android OS, v2.1 (Eclair)
Size: 114.9mm (H) x 56.8mm (W) x 12.6mm (T)
CPU: Qualcomm MSM 7227 600 MHz processor
Screen: 320 x 480 pixels, 3.2 inches
Type: Capacitive touch screen
Memory: 256 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
Card Slot: microSD, up to 32 GB
3G: HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
WLAN: 802.11 b/g
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS support
Bluetooth: Yes
Camera: 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Batter: standard battery, Li-Po 1270 mAh
Price: PhP11,490

Magnum HD

This is Cherry Mobile's high-end Android phone. Here are the features:

OS: Android OS v2.2 (Froyo)
Size: 120 x 63 x 9.9 mm
CPU Qualcomm MSM8225-1 (App: Scorpion 1GHZ)
Screen: 480 x 800 pixels, 4.1 inches
Memory: 512 MB RAM, 2GB ROM
Card Slot: microSD, up to 32GB
3G: HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps
WLAN 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth: Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
GPS: Yes, v2.0 microUSB
Camera: 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus
Video: Yes, 720p@30fps
Front camera: Yes, VGA
GPS: yes, with A-GPS support
Battery: standard battery, Li-Po 1500 mAh
Price: PhP18,990.00

For more information please visit the Cherry Mobile Android page at http://www.cherrymobile.com.ph/products.php?cat_id=28.

Google: the Science of Search

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:06:00 +0000

I have been doing searches on Google for 12 years now and I learned how to be a better searcher by trial and error and with some help from the Google Cheat Sheet.

A few days ago Jay Trinidad, Google Asia Pacific's product marketing manager for consumer products, gave some tips on how to become a super Google searcher. Here's some of them:

1. Keep it short and simple - don't use too many words in a query.

2. Eliminate unwanted results - sometimes we search for words that have multiple meanings. To eliminate some unwanted results just put a minus sign ("-") and the redundant keyword after the query (i.e. [java -coffee]). This is also quite useful for searching for recipes (i.e. [adobo -toyo]).

3. Use contextual words to indicate the kind of result you want - include words that would put your query in the proper context. For example you'd like to learn gardening, as a beginner you essentially want to read on the basics. So you can try [gardening tutorial]. Other contextual terms are DIY or how to, guideline, curriculum, lesson plans and summary.

4. Find a word on the page - oftentimes when doing research you'd end up in web pages that have very long text and that results. To find the word your searched for within the page just type "Ctrl+F" on your keyboard.

5. Search operators - refine your searches by telling Google to perform a particular kind of search. Here's a few search operators you can use -

Define: - use Google as a dictionary. For example, define:ROTL.

Filetype: - find documents of a particular kind. For example, gardening filetype:pdf.

Site: - search within a single domain. For example, android site:inquirer.net.

6. Advanced Search options for Google Web Search - or "masusing paghahanap" in Filipino. You need not memorize these search operators. All of these are available on Google Advanced Search.

7. Simple queries for simple answers - try using the following keywords to find some queries that we do often -

Weather - i.e. [weather davao]

Local - for local business hunting. i.e. [pizza Makati]

Public Data - i.e. [population Philippines], [gdp Philippines]

Currency and unit conversion - i.e. [2,000 php to usd]

Time - i.e. [time italy]

Translate - i.e. [translate ______ in Filipino], [translate glass in Filipino]

Other Google search properties you can use:

1. Google Translate - translate websites or words instantly by using Google Translate (translate.google.com).

2. Google Maps - find places easily by searching on Google Maps (maps.google.com). You can find local hot spots (i.e. "pizza in Makati"), read and share local business reviews and save items to My Maps.

A Handset for Calling and Texting, the Cherry Mobile 1800

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:30:00 +0000

Cherry Mobile is a locally branded handset provider that offers affordable phones - from basic call/text phones to smart phones with triple-SIM capability. Amazing isn't it? And I was truly awed to witness people flock in their booths whenever they do mall events. They're selling phones like pancakes (well more like burgers)!

I won this Cherry Mobile 1800 single SIM phone during the raffle when they introduced their newest endorser, Kim Chiu, a few weeks ago. I rarely win in raffle draws so I was really happy I won a phone because it gave me a chance to have a photo-opp with John Lloyd Cruz and Kim Chiu.

The Cherry Mobile 1800 single SIM handset provides basic phone necessities, calls and for texting. It also has a FM radio and flashlight feature. I didn't get the chance to use the phone because I gave the phone to my Mom since the phone I got for her for Mother's Day conked out. She didn't have any difficulty adjusting to the handset and has been using the phone quite a bit (I know coz I pay for her phone bills haha). My Mom's almost 75 years old so ease of use is important to her and she's been telling her friends that the phone is from John Lloyd. LOL.

Neo's 3D Gaming Laptop

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:23:00 +0000

This laptop is for those who are into 3D gaming.

Neo last week launched its newest laptop. The "Elan L4300-3D" was developed for gamers. It's packed with the following:

CPU: Intel Core i7-740QM

CPU Details: Quad-Core, 6 MB Smart Cache, 1.73 GHz

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Memory: 4GB DDR3

Screen: nVidia GTX 285M (1 GB DDR3 VRAM)

Display: 15.6" HD 3D Panel

Features: Bluetooth 2.1, 1.3 MP Webcam

Accessories: nVidia 3D Vision Kit --> check out the "shades" on the keyboard

ODD: BluRay Combo Drive

USB: USB 3.0

Weight: 3.3 kg

Here's my friend, Rico of Technogra.ph taking the laptop for a spin:

Of course the laptop isn't only for gaming. It's good as well for users who need a faster processor.

You may also want to read on "How to Choose the Right PC".

7 Months on Android

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:50:00 +0000

It's been seven months since I got my Nexus One. It took me about two weeks to fully transfer all the conveniences I had in my Nokia E71 to the Nexus One. The issues I encountered were the following: (1) exporting contacts, (2) setting up wifi, and (3) setting up 3g. It was hard to figure out since I couldn't find any localized info about it, but I eventually figured it out and posted about it here at You Got Tech. It was my friend Markku who reset the security settings of my router to get my home wifi working on the phone.

After 7 months I can say that I can't live without my Nexus One and here's why:

1. Rooster Alarm - my phone wakes me up twice a day. One before 5 in the morning and the second one at around 8. The alarm feature also allows me to set different alarm modes. Now I just use one phone to wake me up and I tell you it won't let up until you are awake!

2. Email Heaven - I actually check my mail before I get out of bed. This helps me adjust my day depending on any new priority that comes in via email.

3. Social Networking - And before I go to the bathroom I usually say, "Good morning" on Plurk and check for messages from Twitter and Facebook. I usually also try to "Check-in" via Foursquare whenever I'm out (Foursquare though doesn't work well with 3G connections).

4. Apps - I enjoy the camera apps the most especially that of "Camera360" and "Camera FX". The flashlight app was also very useful when Typhoon Basyang hit. Also have a piano app and lots of games from Lab Pixies (addicting grrrrr!). I'm still waiting though for a Plants vs. Zombies Android app.

5. Google Maps and Latitude - with more and more info being tagged locally by mappers I can proudly say I haven't gotten lost for sometime now. Also discovered that it's easier to check-in on Foursquare if you do a sync first on Google Latitude.

6. Google - when it doubt you can easily search for stuff on Google. Also love the search function for the contacts list since my list is all messed up.

I haven't been lugging around my laptop because of my phone. My Android experience though would probably level-up with better 3G/HSDPA service. What about you, how is your Android experience going?

Vlogging with the Samsung SMX-F400

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 01:07:00 +0000

Thanks to Samsung I got the chance to visit my Dad's hometown, Lucban, last month during the Pahiyas Festival. I've been going back and forth to Lucban since I was a kid and have many happy (and embarrassing) memories.

In my point of view Lucban hasn't changed drastically in the last 3 decades. There are more conveniences available nowadays like a hotel, more restos and pasalubong places, but it's charm and heritage has stayed. And being my Dad's hometown that's exactly what I wanted to capture and show my vlog audience.

Samsung brought us to Lucban, Quezon last May 15, 2010 and lent us cameras and camcorders to try out. I have been video blogging using a digital camera so it was my first time to shoot using a camcorder. I was lent the new SMX-F400 and here's what I thought about the camcorder:

1. Size and Weight - I have small hands and an awful grip. The Samsung SMX-F400 was just the right size for my tiny hands and it easy to handle. It was fairly easy to manage because of it's size and I managed to use just one hand to shoot easily despite the crowded town. My digital camera is certainly heavier than the camcorder. It's light weight made it a comfortable experience to shoot footages around the town.

2. Ease of Use - Note that it was my first time use a camcorder to vlog and we weren't give any manual to read when the camcorder was lent to us. The button though were very easy to figure out and I was shooting in no time while we were inside the bus. As an amateur I think this is very important since you basically just want to take videos and photos.

3. Features - There are two things I love about this camera: (1) the 65x Intelli-Zoom lens; (2) Smart Auto feature. I really liked the zoom feature of the camcorder especially when we were taking shots of the mystical Mount Banahaw and this feature is quite important especially when taking videos of the landscape. The Smart Auto feature also helped me a lot with lighting and focus. I just pointed the camera wherever and it took care of adjusting the lighting and focus (perfect cheat camera!). Another noteworthy feature is the animated thumbnail feature where you can easily review vids/photos you took on the LCD.

4. File Type - The videos you take are saved as an MP4 file so it doesn't take up a lot of space. The SMX-F400 uses a SD card so it's quite easy to transfer your vids to your PC (either plug-in the camcorder via USB or just plug-in the SD card if you have a reader on your PC). Don't expect though the videos to be hi-res since your shots are compressed into a MP4 file.

The SMX-F400 was made available to market by Samsung last May 2010 and SRP is PhP14,990.

Here's the video blog I made about Pahiyas Lucban:

How to Choose the Right PC

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 04:30:00 +0000

I never really chose my own PC. I always enlisted the help of my techie friends and I remember brining along one engineer, one computer scientist and my best friend when I decided to get George (my PC circa 2005). They ended up debating on what to get for me since they each had their opinion on my PC use. It was stressful (haha), so after that incident I decided to just go for the branded desktops/laptops.

I oftentimes experienced outgrowing my new toy only after a year since I'd always experience the "Hourglass Syndrome" (the hourglass icon comes out everytime your PC works on processing the latest command you input). It's oftentimes frustrating especially when I work on several things at the same time.

I was glad I attended the Intel workshop on "How to Choose the Right PC". I finally understood how to translate the capacity of the PC to my needs. Here's some basic things you need to understand about your PC:

1. Processor/CPU (central processing unit) is the most important part of any computer since it controls everything your computer does. At this day and age we need our CPUs to think faster because we multi-task a lot. If you do heavy stuff like video editing and playing extreme games it would be better to get a processor with higher capacity.

2. Gigahertz (or clock speed) is the rate or speed the processor executes a task. Processors nowadays though are more efficient so Intel said not to compare computers based on clock speeds.

3. RAM is your computer's short term memory. Your computer uses RAM to process what you are doing real-time (i.e. writing an email, editing a photo or browsing a website). Intel says that 2GB RAM is ideal for everyday users. This can be easily upgraded later on.

4. Graphics is the component in your computer that allows you to view images on your screen. Remember that you should get the right balance between your processor, the graphics requirements and your needs.

5. Hard Drive is the easiest component to understand. It's where you store all your apps and data in your computer. Most of my documents and spreadsheets are on the cloud, but I use up a lot of space for my images and videos. Having 160 gigabytes capacity is a good starting point and you can always purchase an external USB 2.0 hard drive.

Based on the workshop I realized that the most important aspect in choosing the right PC for you is to choose the right processor. Intel has a couple of new processors out and here's how they segmented them:

1. Intel Core i3 is for "The Dabbler". The Dabbler is someone who watches videos, listens to music and play games (Plants vs. Zombies!) at the highest possible quality, but he/she wouldn't do any video editing. I think this is the processor best matched for my Mom, non-tech bloggers and those who don't plan on doing video blogging, and for those who would just use their PC essentially to surf the net and do occasional voice chat sessions.

2. Intel Core i5 is for "The Gadgeteer". This processor is for people who have other gadgets that they sync to their PC/laptop and who multi-task a lot. I think I can live with this processor since I do some video editing and lay-outs as well. I don't do hard core coding or CAD editing, but I do multi-task a lot so I guess this would suffice.

3. Intel Core i7 (plus plus) is for "The Tech Whisperer". Users at this level wouldn't need to read this post. `Nuff said (LOL).

If you are still confused you can go to the Intel site that would help you choose the right processor. Go here.

Thanks Intel and Strategic Edge! I had a lovely time.

=============

Update: I took the Intel online exam after I published this post and based on my answers the site suggested I get a PC with an Intel Core i7. See? That's why I need help!

Surf Using Your TV

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:01:00 +0000

A few weeks ago Smart announced their newest product, SurfTV. I got curious about how it works and finally got some info from some people working for Smart.

The unit costs about PhP4,500 and includes the following: SurfTV box, Smart Bro dongle and SIM, keyboard, mouse and cables. You can use it on your TV or a VGA monitor. Just plug it all in and you can surf or watch TV and when you do you are charged PhP10 for every 30 minutes (for prepaid) or you can get the unlimited monthly plan.

Haven't tried it out though, but I'm quite curious whether this is something that would finally get my Dad online.

Protecting Your Wifi Connection from Being Leeched

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:09:00 +0000

I am writing this post to remind myself that I should monitor our wifi closely at home. We use different devices at home and have had difficulty getting every single one connect to wifi when it had a security password. The solution? Network Magic.

Network Magic is an app you will be prompted to install when you connect a new Linksys router. The app serves as an easy way to monitor who connects to your wifi. You will be alerted whenever somebody connects to your network and you can track this through a map. The feature though that allows you to block devices from connecting to your network works only in the paid edition.

It was either I put in a security password to keep other devices out or pay for the Network Magic feature I needed. If I chose to put in a password I would've not been able to use my other gadgets, so I paid $40 to activate the feature that would allow me to block intruders. It has so far worked for me especially since I moved to a new place and my nosy neighbors have been taking advantage of the open wifi connection. I just need to make sure that I check my network map once in awhile.

Anyway, also make sure that your router has a security password. Last week the hotel I stayed in at Cebu had problems with their wifi because a guest placed a password in their router. They could have prevented this if they had a router password. To put a password in your Linksys router just access it by going to http://192.168.1.1 using a browser. (And make sure your remember your username and password!).

Here's a great vid I found that will guide you on setting up a password for your Linksys router:

Nexus One, a Review

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:30:00 +0000

I'd like to say that this is a review of the Nexus One from a consumer's point of view, so don't expect any nosebleed tech terms in this post. I'm going to focus on how I've been using the phone.

Calling

One of my friends asked if the reception of the phone was good, "Can you hear well?" I don't have any problems calling and hearing the person at the other end of the line, in Manila and Davao. I noticed though that Globe's signal have been spotty the past few weeks. Calling "#" to get signal doesn't work (I learned that trick when I was working for a telco). Because I have small hands the phone prevents me from dialing while driving and I think that is a good thing.

Texting

I must admit it took me a couple of days to adjust to the QWERTY touch screen phone, but I eventually got the hang of it and I'm pretty pleased with my texting speed (thanks to my small fingers). I also like the fact that the messages are threaded, just like Gmail. Messages are also searchable! That function is quite useful for me since I usually refer back to messages especially when I need to check meeting details. I'm a smiley person so I've been enjoying the smileys (best used too when you're texting someone with a N1).

Internet

By wifi. I had a hard time connecting my Nexus One to my home router. My friend in Malaysia also had the same problem. I tried tweaking my router to no avail. Eventually one of my techie friends visited and reset the security settings of my router and that did the trick. Now there are days that I just go online using my phone.

By 3G. Unfortunately when I called Globe customer service they said the didn't have the settings yet for Nexus One. I figured it out so just visit this previous post on how to set it up. I find local data plans expensive so I just manually turn off 3G connection by tweaking the APN settings.

Mail. Checking mail on the Nexus One is definitely an enjoyable experience. I sync'd two accounts on the phone and easily switch from one account to the other depending on what I want to check. I was also pleasantly surprised that I could actually approve blog comments easily when I get email notification, a feat I couldn't do with my old phone. Writing emails is also not a pain especially since I also sync'd my email contacts on the phone (just needs some cleaning up though).

Watching Youtube. I was connected to mall wifi when I tried out watching Youtube videos and I was quite surprised that it streamed well and the audio volume was enough to watch the vid with two other people. The large screen didn't require me to squint to see what was ongoing in the vid. Of course, watching vids via 3G would require you to wait a bit, but it ain't that bad.

Browsing. In my old phone I was stuck to checking mail (when it worked) and checking Plurk. With the Nexus One I can easily visit links I find interesting on Twitter and I even do searches on Google for stuff I want to read about. The Facebook App has also spurred a number of photo uploads from me in real time (especially when I attend events or when I'm travelling). I need to find a solution though for posting on Blogger (haven't explored it yet).

Taking Photos and Videos

Took me awhile to get a hang of the camera. It took me awhile to figure out how to use it in camwhore mode (haha) and how to take videos. The 5MP resolution isn't so bad and lately I've been using it more than my camera. The audio for the video isn't so bad too, I'm quite particular about that since I make vlogs. I'll probably post some samples soon. Downloading the photos/vids is easy, I just usually use bluetooth to transfer it to my PC/laptop.

Battery Life

Since I use the phone often for browsing I use up the battery in the just 24 hours. I thought though that connecting to the internet was the culprit for the fast battery drain. It isn't since you can check battery usage when you go to Settings>About Phone>Battery Use. It's the display that drains most of your battery life, so if you're on your phone most of the day (online or offline) then expect your battery to drain out quickly.

Apps and Games

Been checking out the Android Market every few days for new apps I can download. I got a couple of games and absolutely love "Bubble Popper" (a no-brainer game). I'm still on the look-out for other apps I can use and would most certainly download stuff that would help my blogging hobby.

All in All

I was quite surprised that the Nexus One didn't have a manual! The only tutorial it has in the phone is how to scroll and click on stuff on the phone. Have no fear though since there's a lot of stuff online you can read about using your phone. The help forum is also filled with tips and tricks on how you can use it. I didn't expect to like the phone since I've been used to using Nokia phones for more than a decade now. It took me a couple of days though to adjust and read up stuff online to understand the phone better and now it's practically part of my hand (LOL). My most favorite feature though is... the alarm clock... the rooster really wakes me up!

*Second photo, Andrew uses his Nexus One to take a photo of Lachi's yummy apple pie. I took this photo using my Nexus One.

Setting Up Globe 3G on Your Nexus One

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen Apolo) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:31:00 +0000

Finally found the time to make Globe 3G work on my Nexus One. This is what I did:

1. Go to Settings, choose Wireless & networks
2. Go to Mobile networks, choose Network operators. Let let search for available networks and choose Globe. It will then tell you that you are registered.
3. Go back to Mobile network settings, choose Access Point Names. Press on settings and then do this -

Name: MyGlobe INTERNET
APN: internet.globe.com.ph
Proxy: 203.177.042.214
Port: 8080
Username:
Password:
Server:
MMSC: MyGlobe MMS
MMS Proxy: 203.177.042.214
MMS Port: 8080
MCC: 515
MNC: 02
Authentication type: none
APN Type:

I haven't tried sending a MMS yet, but I was able to connect to the internet right after I saved the setting. Remember though that you'll always be connected to the internet when you do this. I couldn't find a way to disconnect, so I just made the APN complete (left it at "i"). I'll just change it back to internet.globe.com.ph when I need to go online.