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Tokyo Sky Tree

2011-08-26T23:32:00.001+08:00

"Tokyo Sky Tree" will be seen in the Narihirabashi/Oshiage area of Sumida Ward, Tokyo in 2012. Boasting a height of 634m, the tower will be one of the world's tallest.

Photos by Tristan Gomez

13th Domanaka Festival (Nagoya, Japan)

2011-08-26T23:13:00.001+08:00

The Domanaka Matsuri is the largest dance festival in the Chuba region, with 210 dance teams and 23,000 performers taking part yearly. It will be held from August 26-28, 2011.

Here are some pictures taken by a friend of mine.

Photos by Jon Nuza

Game Review #4: Finger Slayer (Android/iOS)

2011-08-17T00:01:00.000+08:00

Finger Slayer has one of the simplest gameplay - put your finger under something dangerous and remove it before something bad happens.

I showed the game to some friends and I realized something: for the first few tries, the game will definitely make anyone chuckle.

It's a fun, heart-racing game that can make you sweat with excitement. But is there more to it?

Gadget Review #5: Nintendo 3DS

2011-08-15T11:42:00.001+08:00

Note: this review was written before the 3DS price drop. After the 50% mark down, I'd say the final ratings should be affected and it should rise a couple of notches. But I left it as it is just to give you a glimpse of my first impressions on this gadget. I don't have a 3DS anymore, I sold it, so I can't review it again.

Admit it, the fact that the Nintendo 3DS has a glasses-free 3D screen piques your curiousity.

In my case, it certainly did.

I mean, imagine playing all those classic Nintendo games, but this time, in 3D! How cool is that?

Unfortunately, this time, Nintendo failed on many levels, and while the Nintendo 3DS is still a fun, fun, fun gadget to have, it failed to live up to its enormous potential.

More details after the jump.

Failure #1: Release Games

Consoles, much like operating systems, must have the so-called killer games. For example, the PSone had Final Fantasy 7, the PS2 had God of War, the NES or Family Computer had Mario and Zelda, and even the Gameboy had Pokemon. For the 3DS, such game is yet to be seen or even planned.

Of course, it only just launched recenlty. Which brings us to my point.The killer game may not come at launch, it could come months or years later, but a console's launch lineup usually includes classics or games that's guaranteed to be a hit.

For example, the upcoming PlayStation Vita will have the critically acclaimefd Uncharted to boost its sales.

Not only does the 3DS have a very limited set of titles at launch, none of them would attract buyers to try out this new technology.

The most attractive and best reviewed game at launch, the latest installment of Street Fighter, is hardly attractive even to some regular gamers like myself (I don't like fighting games).

Promised big-name games such as Metal Gear later turned out to be poorly reviewed busts.

Failure #2: Unfinished Gadget

As one writer puts it, the gadget seemed unfinished, or at least, rushed. Why? It lacked many things.

The best example would be the browser. There's a button for the browser on the upper right side of the home screen. You see this button almost everytime. But once you click it, it will tell you that the browser will be available in a future update.

There are other missing things, like the eShop and stock games (real games).

So not only do you have limited options when it comes to games you can purchase in stores, you can't buy online or play built-in games as well!

By the way, I'm writing this after the first major update, so I know the browser and eShop is available already and that a free game, Excite Bike 3D has been released. I am making a point that because these weren't available at launch, some buyers were discouraged. Plus, the eShop is available only to a VERY limited number of countries, not including the Philippines.

Failure #3: Technical Failures

Like I said, it's not that the 3DS is a bad gadget. It does have huge potential to make it big. Only the lack of support via games and software brings it down.

Oh, and a bit of technical glitches as well. The biggest of which being its battery life. Being a gaming device, it is expected to be able to run on batteries for several hours. Sadly, it only runs for 2-3.

The 3D screen is pretty when viewed correctly. When not, it makes the viewer dizzy. Friends watching by your side will only see blurred images as the viewing angle is narrow. This device seems to be designed for personal use only.

And since the battery life is short, you won't dare use it as a music player or as a browser (once it becomes available).

The 3D camera, which records in 3D, is very attractive at first. But trust me on this, forget about the said camera. Think as if it doesn't exist because it is completely useless outside of gaming,

It's still fun, fun, fun!

Now to the good points.

If this is going to be your first DS, it's NOT such a bad idea. Other than the higher price and shorter battery life, it's basically a DS and more.

In short, it can play all DS games. Though not in 3D, at least it gives you something to enjoy. And Nintendo games are never short on enjoyment factor.

Trust me, there's a reason why the DS is the best-selling handheld worldwide and not the PSP. And you'll understand why if you get to play any DS variation, including this one.

The free AR games (which I don't consider to be games) are good in showing what the 3DS is capable of.

Again, the potential is there, so when the support comes, the 3DS could make it bigtime someday. So investing this early might make sense, if you have the money.

Again, unless more games come out, or unless you don't have a DS yet, it would be better to wait for the PS Vita.

Who will like it:

People who never owned a DS.
People who absolutely love Nintendo and 3D.

Who won't:

People who want to play on the go for long periods of time.
People who want different kinds of games.
People who want to have choices in the games they're going to buy.
People who like graphically beautiful (i.e. Not cartoonish) games.

Japan Stuff: Aibon Eye Wash

2011-08-13T23:14:00.001+08:00

Aibon is an eye wash used after removing contact lenses. I highly recommend this product to all contact lens users. It helps refresh your eyes after so many hours of wearing lenses.

Here is the one I use:

Japan Stuff: かき氷 (kakigoori)

2011-08-13T15:23:00.001+08:00

Kakigoori is a famous Japanese dessert especially during summer. It is made of shaved ice and topped with flavored syrup. You can often see it at omatsuri (summer festivals) and even on convenient stores.

Today, on our way home, I saw a kakigoori stall. And since it was very hot, I decided to buy for me and my son. It costs ¥100 (about 50 php). Eventhough it was self-service, the staff was very nice to assist me on how to make it since I have no idea how to do it haha.

Here's the shaver:

After shaving the ice, you can choose what flavor you want.
My strawberry flavored kakigoori and the flavored syrup in the background. There was strawberry, peach, mango, melon, cola, grapes and a lot more!

And lastly, here's my model. Cute eh?

Gadget Review #4: iPad 2

2011-08-12T00:01:00.000+08:00

I have a confession to make. When the first iPad came out, I thought it was Apple's most useless product (now I think it's the Nano 6).

Just over a year later, I'm enjoying my own iPad, and more.

So what finally convinced me?

What's the use of a tablet?

And why the expensive Apple, and not a cheaper Android tablet?

My story after the jump.

Apple iOS vs Android

Everyone agrees that Apple products are more expensive than their competitors. iPods cost almost twice more than the average music player, so do macbooks versus other laptops. On the tablet scene, yes Apple's iPad is still more expensive, but this time the difference isn't that great.

Still, Android's honeycomb is just as pretty as the iOS and it can do so much more. Why choose a more expensive, less useful tablet then?

Thinking about this, I realized one thing: Apple's products are usually as-is products, meaning, you take them as they are. Others, Android for example, are the flexible ones, where you have to specifically tailor the product - add the right widgets, hack and delete useless system apps, etc, etc, to fit your needs.

If you mismanage an Android device, you get a slow, or worse, defective, gadget.

One can't have this problem with Apple gadgets because Apple is so strict in so many things. Heck, they don't even allow end-users to change the devices' batteries!

As a result, no matter what you do or what you install, you will get the same iPad experience.

By the way, you can also use this argument to go against jailbreaking. While friends' experiences say otherwise, jailbreaking an iPad does open the door to device manipulations not approved by Apple, therefore, possibly a slower or problematic device.

And FYI, I love modding, but I spared this iPad and left it genuine.

An oversized iPod?

The first reason I had against the iPad is that its just an oversized iPod, and it's true.

So why buy something that's just an oversized version of another?

Because it is oversized!

The extra screen space not only magnifies your games, videos and photos, it also gives more space for productivity apps. For instance, Money tracking apps aren't limited to one screen at a time. You can see your balances, budgets, expenses, and bills, all in one screen.

The same is true in social networking. IM+, my preferred chatting client, allows the user to receive twitter feeds and browse the internet in the same screen. You can't possibly acheive this in a smaller sized gadget!

Book lovers would especially appreciate the bigger screen and I don't even have to explain why. In fact, one of the first reasons I had to wanting to buy a tablet (at that time not necessarily an iPad) was so that I could read a tutorial to app development while actually trying the steps on my laptop.

Lastly, the bigger resolution also translates to better gaming graphics.

The bigger screen doesn't only mean bigger pictures, it also means more items in one screen.

Summary

A tablet can display media prettier than gadgets with smaller things.

Because of this tablets show you more things at once, making it a better planning and/or gaming tool.

Lastly, Apple doesn't always mean eye candies only, Apple also means consistency and app development support. So while it is hard to choose between an iPad or an Android device, know that the iPad has its good points also. In short, they're both good and it's up to you to select which one is right for you.

Who will like it:

Apple fanatics
People who value reliability and consistency more than flexibility.
People willing to give up some capabilities for aesthetics and stability.
People who prefer as-is gadgets and are afraid to mess things by installing incompatible apps. Apps from the App store are never incompatible (unless they're for smaller screens only, of course) while Android apps may not work on some Android devices.
Bottomline: you need to do something, you pull out your tablet, everything is ready and available for you. The iPad is what you need.

Who won't:

Apple haters
People who value flexibility hate it when their gadget is being "regulated".
Risk takers. Those who overhaul and overclock their gadgets to get what they want.
People who want gadgets they can always play around with and modify.
People who want to be able to install anything they want to install, even those not approved by the authorities.
Bottomline: you want your phone to sing a song while you sleep then wake you up and show you your agenda for the day, which starts with you reflashing the said phone and installing a new custom rom, then Android, not the iPad, is for you.

Luckily, I have an Android phone for all the modifications and experimentations I want. My iPad is here for other purposes.

App Review #2: MyPad+ (iPad)

2011-08-10T00:01:00.000+08:00

The lack of an official facebook app for the iPad is supposed to weaken the sales of iPad units to heavy facebook users, but it hasn't. And a big part of the reason this is so is the abundance of third-party apps designed to allow users to easily browse and communicate via facebook.

Among this bunch, one app stands out - MyPad+.

This review is also applicable to the Twitter app for iPad. Read more to see why.

Design

The app looks like a much-improved version of the Twitter for iPad app. In fact, they look so similar that you would think they're designed by the same company. The fact is, they're not, as Twitter is officially released by Twitter inc, while MyPad is a product of relatively unknown Loytr inc,

The interface is best viewed in landscape mode. Your main dashboard is divided into up to three columns, the left-most is a menu, then a middle pane where you can view details depending on the option selected on the menu, and a third pane for more details on a selected option from the second pane.

Confusing? Not exactly. Here's a screenshot of my MyPad+.

As you can see, when I select News Feed from the left pane, the middle pane shows my facebook news feed. Once I select, say, a friend's name in the middle pane, the right pane shows up with that friend's page.

Each pane can be dragged freely, and a person's profile page is shown as a nice eye candy with some animation to spice things up.

Clicking on a link brings up a built-in browser. Clicking on photos and videos, as well as album, also brings up an internal media viewer. Good job!

Obviously, most facebook tasks can be performed within the application. You can chat with friends, exchange messages, view and upload photos and videos. In addition, you can also play one of five built-in games with friends and configure your app to access your twitter account.

Speaking of twitter, as I've said earlier, the twitter apps looks the same way, with the panes and all, but with less eye candy, so this should be an improvement of sorts.

Wishlist

I obviously love this app, but even great apps can be improved.

For this one, I wish there was a way to upload multiple photos at the same time. I know for some people, this is going to be a deal breaker. (Disclaimer: there is a chance that this is possible and it should be easy to implement. But, sadly, as of the current version I couldn't find a way to upload multiple images.)

A chat client for facebook is avaiable, which is great and good enough, but if it had the option to add other services, like YM, the app would be worth ten times its price.

Pricing

MyPad is free and ad-supported. The ad-free version, MyPad+, costs only $0.99 right now as it is on a 50% off sale.

While the ads aren't too big to distract anyone, for daily and frequent viewing, I would highly recomment paying for the plus version. Not only will it help and encourage the developer to make more apps, it will also give you the ultimate (for now) facebook experience on the iPad.

If you love facebook, it would be a mortal sin not to buy this app. Seriously.

Who will like this:

iPad owners who has a facebook account.

Who won't:

People who don't have an iPad
People who don't have a facebook account. >_<

Nintendo 3DS: Price down

2011-08-09T14:10:00.001+08:00

After half a year of its release, Nintendo announced that they will be selling 3DS almost half the original price starting August 11, 2011. They call it the Ambassador Program. From ¥25,000 they will lower the price to ¥15,000. Isn't that great? I'm actually planning to buy it on the 11th hehe. And since the price dropped dramatically, gamers who bought 3DS in its original price will be able to download ten games for free. One game software ranges from (4,000-6,000¥).

Here's the original link of the announcement made by Nintendo (in japanese)
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/ambassador/index.html

K-ON Second Live Concert Out Now!

2011-08-09T00:01:00.000+08:00

To all the K-On! fans out there, the DVD and Blu-ray of their second live concert, "Come with Me", was officially released in Japan last Friday.

I've watched some parts of the video and one thing I can easily say is that Aki Toyosaki can definitely sing live and emcee!

I'm also glad that they san both opening songs (as I find them both to be both fun and hard to sing), as well as their goodbye song, Tenshi ni Fureta Yo!

I won't write a comprehensive review, not until I've watched the entire concert and understood it anyway. But after scanning some parts of it, it was evident that they followed the same format as the successful first concert, combining voice acting showcase with lots (more than the first concert) singing.

All songs were sung live (looks like) but only some where played live, which is okay considering the seiyuus aren't musicians to begin with.

I'll post more about this concert and maybe include the setlist as they become available to me.

But I'll leave it like this for now, if you're a K-On! or an Aki Toyosaki fan, missing this video would be a sin.

Ciao!

World Cosplay Summit Parade 2011

2011-08-08T13:37:00.001+08:00

I was browsing my news feed in facebook when I saw pictures of this event, World Cosplay Summit Parade 2011. The pictures were so nice and uhm, pretty? haha.I wanted to blog about it but I needed to ask the owner of the pictures if I could use it. And luckily, he agreed! Yay. I have asked 2 friend photographers if I could use their pictures, taken of course, here in Japan for our blog. They both said yes! That’s good news right?

To start of, I know nothing about this event. I had to look it up over the internet!

Here’s what I got from http://www.tv-aichi.co.jp/wcs/e/what/index.html

The "World Cosplay Summit" was created to promote international exchange through the Japanese youth culture of manga and anime.
The free and dynamic nature of manga was instrumental in the birth of cosplay. Nowadays youth from around the world find this as a common language and a dynamic new form of global interaction. The World Cosplay Summit began in Osu, Nagoya and has grown to include 15 countries from around the world. If you count audience and participants at each preliminary event, the number of people involved is now in the 100s of thousands.

For youth who have discovered Japan through manga and experienced Japanese culture through the medium of the World Cosplay Summit, we endeavor to continue the development of this new form of international exchange.

I won’t be writing much about the event. I just wanted to share the pictures. And oh, this year, it was held at Nagoya, Japan.

(Photos by Jon Nuza)

Game Review #3: Cut the Rope Experiments HD (iOS)

2011-08-08T00:01:00.000+08:00

The sequel to the award-winning and much talked about Cut the Rope by ZeptoLab has finally been released after the original version's porting to other OSs.

In this new iteration, the cuddly little monster we got to know as Om Nom, is shipped (in its box) to a professor who decides to perform experiments on the little fella.

In this new environment, naturally, new elements come into play.

But will the sequel, at the very least, meet the high standards and expectations set by the first game?

Find out more after the jump.

Gameplay

For those who haven't played the Cut the Rope yet, the object of the game is to, well, cut ropes in order to deliver a piece of candy hanging somewhere, to Om Nom.

There are obstacles along the way: spikes, spiders, and worst of all, gravity.

Fortunately, with the help of some tools, like bubbles and instant rope-makers, all levels can be solved.

Limited level packs... for now.

The first version of the game contains three level packs, each with 25 stages.

As anyone who has knowledge of the game would think, this is just too few. In fact, I finished the entire game in one sitting (it took me more than an hour, though).

Fortunately, ZeptoLab promises to release more levels in upcoming updates, so this shouldn't discourage anyone from buying this game.

The first level pack is designed to train newbie players. It introduces the mechanics of the game: how to cut ropes, pop bubbles, and understand timed stars and ropes (ropes with spiders). In effect, the first level pack is just an extension of the first game. It's as if the first game just received new levels.

On the other hand, the next two packs each introduce new aspects of the game: what Wikipedia calls the sucker and the shooter.

If you liked the first game, the sucker and the shooter makes it three times more enjoyable.

The Shooter

The shooter looks like the original "blower". It always and automatically faces the candy. As soon as you tap the shooter, it shoots a plunger which sticks into the candy, thereby creating a rope from the shooter to the candy.

Think of it in a similar manner as the "instant rope-maker" in the original game, except this time, you control when and where (if the candy is moving) the rope is going to be created, as well as (and take note of this important fact), the length of the created rope.

This makes the game so much more exciting and fast paced, as some levels require you to hurl the candy then correctly time the shooter to create the correct rope length at the right momentum, creating the perfect swing. One miss and the candy falls, or the rope created is too long/short, and therefore, useless.

If the shooter adds excitement to the game, the Sucker adds even more brain-tickling puzzle elements to it.

The Sucker

The sucker is like a normal pole (the point where the rope is attached to the background). The only difference is that this pole can be detached and reattached at the user's tap.

In short, tap a sucker and it detaches from the background, free falling (or floating, depending on the candy) with the candy in tow. Another tap reattaches the sucker to the background.

Some levels use two suckers, with the candy swinging in between them. It requires you to detach one sucker, let it swing to the other side, then attach it, then do the same for the other one. Yes, it does remind one of how Tarzan swings from one vine to another.

Hard Levels

In the original game, "hard" levels are levels that involve a great deal of luck.

In Experiments, while luck is still in play, a lot of the harder levels involve timing. No timing, no stars.

One level in particular (2-8) involves a great, GREAT deal of common sense. Seriously. It's probably the easiest level in the game but it took me (maybe) half an hour to solve it.

Excellent Physics Engine

I just had to say it as I said it before in the first game, the physics in this game is just superb. Each element plays a role in how the candy falls or swings. A free flowing candy swings smoothly.

A candy with a sucker not attached to the background but attached to the candy affects its swing.

A falling candy shot with the shooter creates a swing - sometimes smoothly, sometimes bouncy.

Price: $1.99

The price seems expensive for an iPhone or iPod Touch game, but cheap for an iPad game.

Considering the limited number of levels available, I'd say it's a fair price (since it's a universal app which can be installed to all of your iOS gadgets).

Once the promised levels come in, it's definitely a bargain.

Summary

+ Excellent Physics
+ Intuitive new gadgets/elements, also making the game more fast-paced and
+ more exciting gameplay
+ more levels to come
+ relatively cheap
+ not as repetitive as the first game

- too few levels. I hope the promised levels turn out to be a LOT of promised levels!

See, the only negative comment is that it doesn't have enough.

Anime Review #9: Fate/Stay Night

2011-08-05T00:01:00.000+08:00

Here's another outdated review. :)

I watched this 2006 Anime about three years ago, so I had to watch it again just to make a review.

While it's not the best Anime in my opinion, it does present some unforgettable scenes, concept, and especially, characters.

This won't be a long review so please read more after the jump.

The Setting

Fate/Stay Night is set in a unique and unfamiliar premise. Every several decades, seven magi are chosen to become Masters. Each Master is given a Servant belonging to one of seven classes: Saber, Archer, Lancer, Caster, Rider, Berserker, and Assassin.

The seven magi must kill each other, or kill the other Master's Servant. When only one Master-Servant pair remains, they are each given a wish by the Holy Grail.

In addition, the Servants are actual heroes or villians in world history and literature. I can't give an example since it would definitely be a spoiler. These past or present characters are reincarnated and given bodies so they could redeem themselves by having their wish granted.

The Anime's plot focuses around the main character, Shirou Emiya, who is a regular schoolboy thrust amidst this war after awakening his Magi powers.

While Shirou is an amateur, erratic, and knows no spells, he is kindhearted. With the help of an unlikely ally, can he beat the other Masters to become the owner of the Holy Grail? Watch it to find out. :)

Memorable Characters

As I've said, this Anime, though old, features two very popular and memorable characters: tsundere Rin Tohsaka, and Servant Saber.

I'm not sure how Rin (top right) got her popularity, but she is very likeable. Focused on her mission, she initially comes out as a coldheartes girl, only to show her soft side later on. Plus, she's very pretty.

Saber (left) is probably the coolest female Anime character, bar none. You have to see her in action to understand what I mean, though.

Tens of Animes later, I still remember these two characters probably because I see them everywhere.

Who will like it and who won't

If you like an action-packed, dark, Anime with a serious premise, let this Anime take you to an interesting fantasy world.

If, on the other hand, you're looking for feel-good, slice-of-life Anime, you might not like this.

(photo credits: AniDB, sankakucomplex, and google image search >_<)

Food Trip #2: Costco Pizza

2011-08-04T20:27:00.001+08:00

Aside from cheap wholesale/retail items, another thing that I love about Costco is the food court. We went to Costco Kawasaki last Sunday and I was able to grab my favortie pizza! I bought one slice and a whole combo pizza (16 or 18 inches, I'm not really sure hehe). The price? 1,500 yen! So cheap and yummy.

Better not miss the pizza if you visit Costco.

Game Review # 2: M.A.G. (Miko Action Game) I & II

2011-08-04T00:00:00.000+08:00

In today's mobile app markets, the dominating games are usually made to be eye candies and simple to play. This is admittedly the simplest formula to a successful game (being free is also a plus). Most of these developers are Americans or European-based companies and they know their audiences are easily swayed with good visuals.

For my reviews, I'd like to focus on the relatively unknown apps and games made by developers from Japan and other Asian countries. I'd like to start with a game that I've recently started playing: MAG or Miko Action Game I & 2 by West Hill. The first is free and has only one character while the second is paid, has four characters and a bonus.

MAG is basically a running and jumping game. Your character, which you can choose from four whose names are based on the general color of their outfit and hair (my favorite is Red), is continuously running forward while you try to jump (with the left-side screen tap) to avoid (or stomp at) enemies and escape pitfalls. The right-side screen tap is the command to fire (or attack) your obstacles which are usually blobs and birds.

There are three difficulties: easy, medium and hard but generally your goal is to run as far as possible and kill as many as possible. Easy caps the distance at 300mm, medium at 500m and hard has nobe. Your score will depend on how far you've gotten before dying (by falling or depleting your HP) and how many enemies you've killed. When you reach the cap, you get a nice surprise.

Simple right? Wrong! The game play is easy to learn but the game is pretty difficult to perfect. The enemies (especially in Hard difficulty) are well placed that when you jump with a wrong timing, you will most likely hit them or fall off.

The easy to learn gameplay is what I really like about purchasing this game. There are no missions, no quests, no stories. Just a girl with powers running to who knows where firing at blobs and birds and flying gargoyles. Even if you stop playing for a while, you won't get confused when you get back at it and you'll still enjoy it!

The game is also very responsive and you can't give the "the freaking controls are clumsy" excuse when you die. It's all boils down to your skill and judgement.

The one drawback of this game, probably for others, is that the game is not as much an eye-candy as those made by their American/European competition. The drawing itself was good but the sprites are pixelated, the drawings are flat (no shading) and it looks like it was made for PS1.

Overall though, this game is an excellent game to pass the time.

Android Market

Gadget Review #3: iPod Nano 6th Generation

2011-08-03T00:01:00.000+08:00

The iPod Nano had always been described as such: a cool gadget which doesn't really do much.

But with the release of the 5th generation Nano, Apple seriously threatened to break this bad reputation.

Owning a 5th Gen for over a year and enjoying its small size but many features, I was a bit excited to see what Apple had in store for the next version.

Unfortunately, the 6th generation Nano has even less features than the first!

Read on if you're still not convinced.

The 5th generation Nano features a collection of new features: from a brand new video camera to a loudspeaker. Needless to say, the 6th has none of these. Worse, it has even less features than the first generation Nano released five years ago!

The 6th generation Nano plays music and displays pictures. It also records the number of steps you take over a period of time (pedometer) and features a multi-touch capacitive screen. But it's ends there.Unlike the previous generation, it does not have a camera, a built-in microphone, a loudspeaker, support for games, support for videos, or even a bloody calendar!!

Yes it looks very pretty. It can even double as a wristwatch (see picture), but it's totally not worth its price.

If you are into regular workouts or jogging sessions, and you have lots and lots of extra money, then this eye candy might be good enough to show off to your friends.

But for other people planning on buying this gadget, I recommend adding a few more bucks to purchase an iPod Touch (4th generation) instead. It features a bigger, better touch screen with retina display, plus access to all apps in Apple's App Store.

It can also play music, show pictures, and count your steps. -_-'

Who will like it:

People who regulary jog. Those who are serious in their workouts might even prefer this over other generation Nanos.
Someone who likes a watch that can do more than tell time.
Someone who likes eye candies for gadgets.
Apple fanatics and loyalists.

Who won't:

People who like gadgets that can do many things.
People who don't want to spend a lot for a music player.
People who want their music player to be able to play videos or remind them of an event.
People who don't jog.
Gamers.

Applegirl: The "Genius" Musician

2011-08-01T00:01:00.000+08:00

This is a special re-launching day article brought to you by fudepen.

Did you know that the word "otaku" isn't just a Japanese word? That's right, the Korean language also has the word "otaku". Both "otaku" carry the same meaning, and sadly, they both carry the same negative connotations as well.

But the word "otaku" is only one of three things this post is about, and I'd like to end with that concept. Before that, I'll show you what's in store for you in this re-launched blog. But first and foremost, I am going to introduce the subject of my first review in this new blog, a Korean musician.

Why her? By talking about her, I can show all readers the power and diversity of this blog. By making her the center of our attention, I get to talk about things that this blog will soon feature - gadgets, apps, music, and even foreign language!

So without further ado, let me introduce our guest of honor. Ladies and gentlemen (but probably mostly gentlemen), meet Applegirl, the "genius" musician.

Know more about her after the jump.

(photo credits: popseoul)

Who is she?

Her real name is Kim Yeo Hee. She is more popularly known as Applegirl, a name she uses while performing in YouTube (handle: applegirl002).

I first learned about her while looking for demos of the popular Apple app, Garage Band, where you get to compose or play your own music using virtual instruments.

Applegirl performs songs on YouTube using Apple gadgets, notably the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4, both of which are going to be reviewed soon. In one performance, she uses Garage Band on the iPad, plus a little guitar strumming, to create her own rendition of Ke$ha's "Tik Tok". Not that she's going to win a Grammy anytime soon, but one just has to admire the way she was able to utilize a single gadget to create beautiful music.

Don't take my word for it, listen for yourself:

Of course, aside from her excellent use of the Garage Band app, she was also able to utilize a lot of the iPad's potential. And from a gadget-lover's point of view, that's brilliant!

And she can do more than that. If you liked the first video, you'll love the next one. Here, she uses FOUR iPhones to perform Lady Gaga's Pokerface.

Note also that in the second video, she spoke in Korean, Japanese, and English, which is both fun, and one of the topics in this blog. :)

I'm no musician, and I haven't watched all of Applegirl's videos, so if you're interested in her and her skills, please visit her YouTube profile.

However, if you're interested in her gadgets, her apps, and different cultures, languages, food, and pretty much anything anyone can find anywhere, then this blog is the place to go.

Welcome

On behalf of all otaku.ph contributors, I would like to welcome you to otaku.ph version 2.0.

In this re-imagining of this blog, you can expect our classics (anime reviews, japanese lessons), energized by a batch of new topics such as games and gadgets, and even food!

We know that the word otaku in Japan and Korea carries only negative meanings: fanatics, nerds, couch potatos, even disgusting people that should be avoided. These are connotations brought about by two powerful cultures, and we're not about to change that.

We're here only to start a brand new chapter of otaku, to bring out its positives: being inquisitve, having a comment, and liking and appreciating the good things in life.

Unlike the traditional otaku, our version is an explorer, a risk-taker, and an adventure lover.

In short, expect us to write about anything we like - anything we are fans of - because we're not the traditional Japanese or Korean otaku, we are genuine critics.

So join us in building this new otaku - the .PH kind.

Come and join us in enjoying what this world has to offer.

Thank you for your time in reading this post.

Japan Stuff #9: Obon Festival

2011-07-31T19:06:00.001+08:00

Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.

This is similar to All Soul's day in the Philippines.

This year, 2011, Obon yasumi will fall on August 13-15. It is one of the major holidays in Japan. Vacation sometimes extends up to one week depending on the company.

(Credits: Wikipedia)

Food Trip #1: Arashi Ramen (らあめん花月嵐)

2011-07-31T15:31:00.001+08:00

It is summer here in Japan but it has been raining for a week. That is why the weather is kinda good. Not so hot, not so cold especially at night. Today, I went out with my son to eat ramen for lunch. Ramen is a japanese word but I believe everyone is familiar with it.

The first time I ate at Arashi Ramen was at 白楽駅 (Hakuraku Station), two stations away from the nearest station in my place. But today, we ate at 大倉山駅 (Ookurayama Station), one station away. I am not sure how many branch they have but I believe they are kind of famous.

I wasn't able to take a picture of the store so I had to google it.

Most ramen stores have 券売機 (kenbaiki, which means ticket machine). First, of course, you have to insert money. Tticket machines usually accepts 1,000 yen only so be sure you have 1,000 yen bill or coins. But if you really don't have it, you can always ask the staff to change your 5,000 or 10,000 bill. Next, choose the ramen you want to eat, there are also options for side dishes and toppings like gyoza, eggs and onions. And hey, don't ever forget your change. Just press the おつり button. Get your change together with the tickets and hand it over to the staff. And speaking of tickets, I forgot to take a picture of it as well, haha!

The table.

What I like with this store is that they have lots of condiments. Soy sauce, vinegars, spices and other stuff which I don't know hehe. There's also tissue and a pitcher of water.

The Food.

I forgot the name of the ramen (820 yen) I ordered, haha. Anyway, I also ordered a plate of gyoza (5 pieces for 300 yen).

The ramen was great! The included toppings are nori (seaweed), half egg, chashuu (meat), onions and menma.
One of the best ramen I've eaten here so far. Just one thing I don't like is that, for me, i'ts too oily. That is why everytime I eat at this store, I make sure I also order a bottle of cola (100 yen). Gyoza was good as well, hmmm it was yasai (vegetable) gyoza, i guess.

Overall, the place is nice and clean, the food was great but a little pricey and the staffs are great. You should try eating at Arashi Ramen if you come visit Japan and tell us what you think about it.

Cars 2 now showing in Japan

2011-07-30T07:19:00.001+08:00

Cars 2 will be shown in cinemas starting today. We'll be watching it tomorrow though. Not only my son is excited about it but also me! It'll be my first time to watch a movie in a cinema here.

Opening of a movie here is called ロードショー (roadshow).

Trailer (Japan)

Game Review #1: Battleheart (Android/iOS)

2011-07-30T03:53:00.000+08:00

Mika Mobile’s Battleheart isn’t only a must-have mobile game, it’s a classic in every right.

In Battleheart, you comand a group of four characters with specific classes (read: jobs) as they battle through hordes of slimes, skeletons, orcs, and golems.

The concept may be simple and even repetitive, but the strategy is endless. In fact, the game ‘only’ has 30 levels and 3 bosses, but you would need no less than 7 hours to complete the game, and much more to level up all available characters.

Find out about Battleheart’s gameplay and what makes it such a hit after the break.

(photo credits: http://www.mikamobile.com/)

To succeed in Battleheart you will need at least two things: Strategy and Reflex. You can’t send a team without a healer, or a team with only mages. And if the evil horde starts targeting your cleric, you should immediately order her to run!

A little bit of strategy is also involved in equipping your characters with the right items, and in choosing which characters to level up and which ones to forget. Basically, a damage dealer, a healer, and a tank form the core of any team, but freedom is given to anyone who would like to experiment.

The player will have to choose four characters among the following lineup to bring to each mission: Two knights, two wizards, two rogues, two barbarians, a cleric, a monk, and a bard.

As of today, iOS players get two additional character classes, the healer/tanker Paladin and the bow-weilding Ranger which surprisingly has a higher base damage than the mages.

On both Android and iOS, the player would need to micromanage each character. This means the characters won’t move unless they are ordered to move, attack, heal, or cast a spell. Movement and attacks are done by clicking (the character) and dragging towards the target, while spells are available via buttons on the upper part of the screen.

Normally AI monsters are dumb enough to attack the character with the highest armor (usually the Knights), and the exciting (and ironically most strategic) part of the game comes when enemies start disregarding this rule. Some enemies (hello, slimes) choose a target and stick to it, while some attack randomly all the time.

The levels are divided into three worlds, each with its own boss, which could be a handful to beat. Really, if you think 30 levels ain’t enough, know that you’d probably be playing some of them 5 or 10 times.

If there was something I wish the game did have, it would be Multiplayer capabilities (cross-platforming would probably make it the best game in the entire mobile universe), a connection to OpenFeint or Game Center, and even more levels!

Seriously, if there was one game that’s worth your money in the Android Market or App Store, it’s this one. Hands down.

And yes, it’s better than Angry Birds.

Gadget Review #2: Samsung Galaxy S2 (SKT Version)

2011-07-30T00:27:00.025+08:00

The Samsung Galaxy S II (a.k.a. SGS2) has been lauded as the best smartphone to date. It may as well be with its mind-boggling super high-end specs. This lovely piece of hardware does come with a drawback, a very steep price -- PhP 29,990 contract-free. This is even more expensive than some of the iPad 2 models.

Of course, being a fan and frequenter of bargains, grey markets and cheap places, I was able to score a Samsumg Galaxy S II SWH-M250S model (unlike the international, GT-I9100) for a not-so-cheap-but-not-so-expensive PhP 21,000! This is one of the three Korean versions for Galaxy S II (two of which should work in our country). This variant is specifically for the SK Telecom mobile service provider.

How do I know I got a genuine unit? I tested it, of course, and, let me tell you, it is hella fast! The bootup time itself is amazing. I was already impressed (and bragging) about how fast my Nexus S boots up in just a few seconds but even that was slow compared to the Galaxy S II.

I had a bit of a problem at the start though. I was able to use the internet, use WiFi, make a call, receive a call and receive an SMS but I can't send any SMS! Not even to inquire for balance! After a few days of googling(it's a word) and browsing thru XDA Forums, I was able to find out that your SIM needs to have an entry for "My Phone Number" to be able to send an SMS. I used my CM7-powered Nexus S to change that detail and, voila, it was working! Almost, at least. I just can't send long messages since it's being sent as MMS but still I got a working SGS2 for 70% of the usual price.

Update: I installed the Infusion ROM (a blatant rip-off of Cognition S2 only w/ Stock Gingerbread launcher) and now it displays GT-I9100 as the MODEL number instead of SWH-M250S! I can now send long message and MMS. It's 100% working and it can pass off as the International Version if not for the SK Telecom logo at the back! Sweeeet!

The SGS2 is performing quite well. There is no lag in the UI and the responsiveness of the screen is perfect. All of the non-gaming apps work perfectly except those that are just really buggy on their own.

I love playing resource-intensive games that can potentially lower down my FPS (frames per second). On the Nexus S, I get some occasional slowdowns when playing Deathworm and FPSe (a playstation emulator) but I've never experienced those on the SGS2!

Deathworm feels really smooth and it becomes easier to kill-off those helicopters and tanks trying to destroy me. I easily beat my score on my Nexus S. The bigger screen may have also helped in that department.

Same thing with the FPSe (playing Vagrant Story). The animation runs very well. I'm just amazed that it took a dual core to emulate what was done by the old PSX several years before. I know it is emulators are generally slower because they are run indirectly blah blah blah but still, pretty cool. Although it's fast, the graphics is still PSX so the pixelations are obvious and annoying in today's standards.

The battery life of this device is still a mystery to me. There was a day when I continually used the phone (for gaming) and it only lasted for around 8 hours before totally draining but later I was able to conserve 15% of battery for a whopping 12 hours of very light usage.

Some people are fuming about how Samsung builds its device with plastic. They're calling it "cheap" but I think that using plastic is a brilliant idea. This translates to a lighter phone despite its size. The components are small which results in a very thin phone. Even with your tight pants, you can just slide it in there without a problem.

To recap:

+ speed

+ screen size

+ slim and sexy

+ raw power

- price (unless you got the Korean version)

Sprite

2011-07-29T18:49:00.001+08:00

First time I've seen Sprite here in Japan! The bottle is like old-fashion though.

Just an update, sprite is being sold in it's original early 80's retro packaging.

Ikemen #1: Tamura Atsushi (田村淳)

2011-07-28T23:49:00.001+08:00

Ikemen (イケメン) is a japanese term which means good-looking man.

I would probably write reviews about Japanese ikemen but for now, I'm just going to introduce talents which I think falls in this category.

Atsushi is one of my favorites! He is cute and funny. (ﾟ∇^*) ﾃﾍ♪
Can you believe he's already 38?

He is the host of the famous tv show "London Hearts". You should try watching this show.
I will be posting links where you could watch it and tell us what you think about it.

(★_★)ｷﾗ～～～～ﾝ

Japan Stuff #8: Japanese Flower - Ajisai

2011-07-28T22:37:00.003+08:00

紫陽花 (Ajisai) is a Japanese flower which blooms during the rainy season. This is around July, where spring is about to end and summer's about to begin. My japanese teacher introduced this flower. She told me that it likes rain (雨が大好きだって).

Here are some pictures I took last month.

They are just starting to bloom.

My favorite picture.

Pictures were taken using my iPhone.