Blog IT

Mini HD Camera (MINI DV-006H) Review

2014-04-03T20:26:00.002-07:00

I got this unit as a freebie when I had purchased an LED TV from Lazada (see my last post regarding MyView 24PX100 TV Review). Even up to this moment I still don't know what to do with this mini camera, maybe it was given to me for a purpose which still I have no idea yet.

It's just like a keychain, very small that it could be used for spying. The one you're seeing above is it's actual size - it's just 43 x 24 x 10mm (LWD). It has the ability to capture 5megapixel photos and take videos of 1280 x 960 resolution. The camera's actually just 2megapixel, just upscaled to 5mp, doesn't have autofocus so don't expect digicam / smartphone quality photos. For video quality, it's good. It saves videos in .avi video format (quite, but not that heavy for storage). Anyway, this camera is compatible with up to 32gb microsd card.
You can even use the unit as a micro-sd card reader when you have the cable with you.

See below video review courtesy of YouTube:

There's no viewfinder. The red and blue micro-LED indicator will inform what the camera is currently doing.

For what can you use it for?
video recorder (manual and automatic motion detection)
camera
spy / surveillance camera
sound recorder
web camera
card reader
keychain???

What's with the package?
-Mini Camera
-Mini USB cable
-Mini CD (which contains the user manual). View it here.
-AA battery supply adaptor (use a single AA battery as an extended /emergency power)
-tin can casing

Here's some of the specifications according to Metrodeal:
Image sensor: CMOS image sensor
Lens angle: 60 degrees
Video resolution: VGA 1280 x 960 @ 30fps
Picture resolution: 5 mega pixel (interpolated by software), 3 mega pixel (recommended)
Webcam resolution: 320 x 240
Format: AVI (video), JPG (picture), WAV (sound)
Video compression: M-JPEG
Charging time: About 3 hours
Play time per charge: About 85 mins (video recording), About 3 hours (sound recording)
Memory: Micro SD (TF)
Battery: Built-in 220mA rechargeable battery
Input: DC-5V
Charged by: USB port or 1x external AA battery
Color: Black
Camera weight: 15g
Camera size: 45mm x 29mm x 10mm
Package weight: 158g

Package size: 110mm x 73mm x 46mm

The unit is just easy to use if you have fully read and understand the user manual

Unit is still priced Php 799 at Metrodeal.

MyView 24PX100 Review

2014-04-02T21:28:00.001-07:00

It was last month when I tried to visit lazada.ph website, and among all the products I had browsed on the website, this TV caught my attention. 24 inches Full HD LED TV with USB media playback. Asking Price? P6,500. Below are the product's main specifications you need to know, for the rest of the specs sheet, visit MyView website.

SERIES	PIXSMART
Model	24PX100
Size	24" 580X377X43
Design	Fine Polished Blac
Panel Maker	BOE/IPS/Sharp
Resolution	1920x1080
Brightness	400 cd/m2
Contrast	3000:1
Viewing Angle	176 (H) X 176 (V)
Dot Pitch	0.1615, X 0.4845mm
Maximum colors	16.7M
Response time	6.5ms
Backlight life	>100000 hrs
Colour system	PAL/SECAM

In their website, there's in the list that states that the product runs on Android 2.3, Cortex A9 CPU, Mali 400 graphics... no no no. There's no single trace of Android in this product. I don't know why they're not removing that.

I bought this product from lazada.ph, Sunday Morning and it was delivered to our house the day after, as early as 8:30 am. A text from the delivery team made me woke up and immediately go outside and excited. It's Cash-on-Delivery by the way. It's Php 6,499 on lazada, whereas it' P6,999 on myview website. I also got a P200 voucher upon signing up to their newsletter, so it's just 6,299 for the final price (no delivery charge as it's priced more than 1k)... and the bonus isn't over, it comes with a free Mini HD camera.

And now let's do the unboxing.
The box comes with a very simple packaging. It comes with the main unit, TV remote, the base stand, wall bracket, warranty card, the product camera and also the mini camera fitted inside the package. We find it hard looking for the support connector of the main unit to the base stand. It took us more than 30 minutes looking for it, and then finally decided to use the wall mount instead. We didn't have the driller to attach it on our walls and I stopped for a minute and concentrate to look for that missing part. There were some comments in lazada that it doesn't have that part... but I'm not believing... I'm seeing ad pictures it has a stand. Luckily, after taking some time, I finally found it! It's just inside a hole in the styro support..gotcha!... We've finally set-it up. It finally took out the place of our 2-year old 19" Coby LCD TV.

The ports at the back of the television includes a standart AV connector, TV antenna, Component input YPbPr/YCbCr, earphone plug, PC audio in, VGA , HDMI and USB inputs.

The Experience.
Image quality is excellent. It's on the same level of picture quality of the branded TV's like Samsung, Sony etc. LED TVs. In their spec sheet, they have stated that the panel is from BOE/IPS/Sharp, so I'm thinking that the panel is from Sharp. IPS? maybe yes. The color doesn't invert when you look at the screen from an almost 180 degrees. Screen is not glossy, it's matte. The TV's frame is in glossy deep black making it attractive to the eyes, even if it's powered off. Here are some of the testings done based on the input that I've used:
1. USB Media Playback.
I've tried playing Iron Man 3 on 1080p full HD resolution. I am greatly amazed on the outputs and the color reproduction. On some forums, some were telling that the playback automatically stops after an hour of continous USB media playback, which I still didn't experience with the unit. We even watched Con Air also on 1080p the next day. Still haven't encountered it yet.

2. HDMI
Tried connecting my Fusion Bolt tablet with HDMI port. Good playback, but it isn't that clear as playing a movie directly from a USB drive, maybe because of the screen resolution adjustments. My tablet is in 1280 x 800 resolution where as the TV is in 1920 x 1080 resolution.
3. VGA connector.
Also tried to use it as an extended monitor for my Samsung RV415 laptop just using a spare VGA (d-sub) cable. I didn't expect that the result would be better than that of the HDMI connection through the tablet. No image noise will be noticeable. Very clear, that I haven't noticed that I took more than an hour browsing the internet and enjoying facebook on the big screen... Full HD PC, wahaha.
My laptop also has an HDMI connector, but I don't have a standard HDMI connector, that I may put into the test. (My tablet uses an HDMI to mini HDMI cable), so trashing out the theory in number 2, it's not with the resolution incompatibility, it's with the graphics performance of the input device.
4. AV Connection
Nice output still. Noticed a great improvement compared with my previous LCD TV. I'm feeling that the resolution is being upscaled.
5. Television Signal Reception
Below is an actual over-the-air TV signal reception of the TV. There's significantly no problem with the TV, you can get a paid-cable like subscription quality reception if you have a good TV antenna.

Sound Quality:
This is only the product's performance that I didn't like. What will you expect with a slim TV, off course slim speakers tightly fit inside. Small speakers doesn't produce the bass that you're looking for. Sound output is loud, just lacking of some bass. What I did is since it has a USB input (which theoretically produces power) and it has an earphone jack - I attached a USB powered PC speaker in to it... there you go, I now have the bass. wohooo!

Another Drawback:
TV's base stand is just too light to support the weight of the television. If you have a toddler or small children in the family that always play around, I'm not advising to put it in a divider, or on a TV rack. The TV will fall surely with moderate to strong movements of the TV rack / divider.
The TV, base stand and the TV to base stand connector were all made of plastic (too light, not the high grade ones).
-Base stand isn't swivel (can't be rotated); fixed.
Use the wall mount instead which is given for free in the package.

Warranty:
The unit comes with a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer - myView. A warranty card, which elegantly looks like a credit card was inside the packaging which you have to present in their nearest service center.
Looking forward to have this unit be still up and running even in the time that I have bought another larger TV to replace this one... after 2 years? (just like the dethroned Coby... almost 3 years). It would be a great hassle bringing the unit to Makati (nearest service center from Alabang)

Verdict:
It's still a very very very nice buy. For nearly P6,500, it's just almost a price of a 24" LCD PC monitor with low 1366 x 760 resolution. Too far with what this unit could give you.

But how about the Mini HD Camera?... review will be in the next post

Antutu, Vellamo and Quadrant Standard Benchmark of Cherry Mobile Flare

2013-07-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

To my fellow Flare users, or for those who are thinking of buying one, below are the results of the 3 benchmark tests that I conducted on my phone.

1. Antutu Benchmark.
AnTuTu Benchmark is a comprehensive Android Benchmarking application. It includes "Memory Performance", "CPU Integer Performance", "CPU Floating Point Performance", "2D 3D Graphics Performance", "SD card read-write speed", "Database IO" performance testing. Application can be downloaded here.

Antutu Benchmark: whooping 6912

2. Quadrant Standard Benchmark.

Also the same as what Antutu does, just from the other company.

Quadrant Standad: 2898 points

3. Vellamo. Again, also a benchmarking tool,but is exclusively made to Qualcomm processors. Cherry Mobile Flare uses Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor (MSM8225). Vellamo is designed to be an accurate, easy to use suite of system-level benchmarks for devices based on Android 2.3 forward. Vellamo began as a mobile web benchmarking tool that today has expanded to include two primary chapters. The HTML5 Chapter evaluates mobile web browser performance and the Metal Chapter measures the CPU subsystem performance of mobile processors.

Vellamo: 368points

Cherry Mobile Flare Quick Specs:

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Dual-SIM / Dual-Standby
4.0″ IPS capacitive touch panel with 480×800 pixel resolution
Qualcomm MSM8225 Snapdragon S4 1.2GHz dual-core processor
Adreno 203 GPU
512MB RAM
4GB internal storage (expandable up to 32GB via microSD)
5-megapixel rear camera with flash, VGA front-facing camera
EDGE / 3G / HSDPA
Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth v2.1, microUSB v2.0
GPS, A-GPS support
1600mAh battery
Dimensions: 123mm x 62.5mm x 11.8mm
Weight: 152 grams

Gadgets That I Decided to Bring Far Above

2013-07-22T06:54:00.002-07:00

As stated on my latest blog post, I'll be listing those geek stuffs that I brought on top of the mountain - Tarak Ridge. Among them were the following:
1. Solar Charger / Power Bank (CD-R King)

Loaded with 2500 mAh power to recharge your devices. It can be charged though a standard Micro USB port on computers / normal cellphone chargers for estimated 3 hours or 25 hours through direct sunlight. 25 hours? ow ow, better buy a power bank with a higher capacity for the same price, but still a good option for emergencies or when on you are on a remote area at which there's no other option to recharge. Other things I like about the product is that it has some interchangeable charging tips which you can use on your other devices (even just with the wire - PC connection). It had ran out of batteries on our Day 2 when we're already on the bus returning home.
Price: P380
http://www.cdrking.com/?mod=products&type=view&sid=15283&main=157

2. Cherry Mobile Flare Spare Battery (Modified Samsung Galaxy S3 Battery)

Cherry Mobile Flare's battery is only rated 1400 mAh, which is quite inappropriate to its specifications - dual core processor, high screen resolution, dual SIM, etc. Some of the CM Flare users had made a way to resolve their number 1 problem, which is to find a compatible battery with a higher capacity to power up their phones. The one shown above is a Samsung Galaxy S3 compatible battery which has been modified (observe the pin out / connector parts). Compared with the standard battery supplied with CM Flare, I have noticed that my battery life has been doubled - now having an average of 24+ hours per full charge in contrast with 14+ hour usage on the standard supplied one. Anyway, I bought this at sulit.com for 500 pesos.

3. Portable Radio and Spare Batteries

Just some portable music player to keep the break the silence while on trip. I got some spare batteries to keep it running for 2 days... yeah, 2 days. For those asking if there's a signal on top of the mountain - cellphone signals? no, but radio signals, yes. Very clear. We're actually tuned in to 99.5 RT / Play FM on top.
The FM radio shown above is just an ordinary FM radio which can be typically purchased on a novelty shop. It is powered by Nokia BL-4C / BL-5C batteries which we have spare units in the house. It also has a micro-SD slot to have an option to listen to your saved music on your card.
Price (FM radio): 380 pesos.

4. Sony DSC W320 Cybershot

This 14 megapixel sharp-shooter really offers great and very crisp photos (just see the samples from my previous post about our mountain hiking to Tarak Ridge). It's been almost 2 years since I have this camera and still I still haven't think about the idea to replace it with a new one. In addition, this camera is very small and compact making it ideal to take into places specially during outdoor adventures. Compared with larger SLRs, compact digicams are very comfortable to use as it fits your palm. You will be mostly using both of your hands grasping through the vines and rocks with the climbing, so during situations like this, you can still take great photos. I have 1 officemate who also participated on the climb that had decided to just keep the camera on the bag while on trail to avoid any damage to the unit, compared with my Cybershot which had took almost almost 400 images and videos.

...but still, a compact digicam can't beat the image quality of those SLRs...

Battery life is also great on this unit. I still have 1 out of 4 bars left when I went home.

Tarak Ridge Adventure - Mariveles, Bataan

2013-04-29T23:51:00.001-07:00

Reliving my blog, but this time I'm posting a topic not that related with IT... Well, this is mine's blog, I can post here any topic that interests me...

It’s been almost a year since the last entry here in my blog – just all about technology and geek stuffs. It is because I’ve been busy with my job as an IT consultant / helpdesk in a BPO company in Alabang – making rapid and efficient solutions to everyday technology users (intense job experience for a fresh grad me... nice one).

Maybe we need some time have some escape among these everyday problems and stress – and our plan – to go out of town and have some fun. I waited too long until April 20, 2013, the day I’ve been waiting for. I’ve never been into outdoor trips in my entire life – even in paid school field trips, I didn’t join any single event because of our family’s financial problems that time. I may say that I’m a “special project kid” when I was in school – but they can’t still beat my grades though… LOLS…

April 20, 2013, I may say the Outing Day for everyone. This was the day where in we have our company outing at Sariayaya, Quezon for swimming at a private resort there. My classmates in college also have thier own -- also swimming at Laiya, Batangas. Too far from each other.

Well, it's not that hard for me choosing. I've been wishing to go mountain hiking ever since.

Back to the topic…
My officemates have planned for hiking among some popular mountain hiking sites – and until we came up into a very nice location – in Tarak Ridge Mountains, in Mariveles, Bataan.

HOW TO GET THERE…

There’s a bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City named Five Star bus terminal where in there are hourly trips going to Bataan. We started our trip in Bataan Transit at 10am. Free wifi on board… so what do you’re gonna do first? I opened my wifi and gps, launched Google Latitude (maps) and took a screenshot, share to Facebook through my android phone. We’ll be on an outdoor trip for 2 days, still no worries with batteries because I have my “IT survival tools” with me.

We’ve been into a long bus trip. It took 4 hours from Cubao to Barangay Alasasin, Mariveles, Bataan. According to Kuya Arnold, it only takes an average of 3 hours travelling, but there are some roadworks during the time we came in.

Already mentioned, you have to stop at Alasasin Barangay Hall (Bus Fare: P267.00,as of writing)

PREPARING FOR THE HIKE
You need to register first at Alasasin Barangay Hall before you go up climbing. There you have to register your names and pay P40.00 (per head). You can also use the barangay hall’s facilities before and after your climb – specially the comfort room. They will give your group a receipt, also containing some contact numbers in case of emergency.

After registration, you can also take your lunch at the roadside carinderias… sulit sarap…
After fueling up and taking some enough warm-ups… then you can now start the adventure… trekking.. yoo-hoo..

START OF UPHILL TREKKING

Our group: Rey, Michael, Ate Mitchy and Kuya Arnold (not shown: Kuya Jhef, the one taking the picture) -- took at the Tarak Ridge signage (just across the road from the Barangay Hall)

We started trekking almost before 3 pm (around 2:40pm). While walking I’m trying to talk with Kuya Arnold, but he’s not talkative type. One question, a few answers. Tried asking him to point in through his fingers our destination, and I did not receive a direct answer, hence changed the topic. But later during the trek… I’ve discovered why.

It was the first day I met Kuya Arnold, and I was amazed with the size of his bag – a child could be fit inside. I also asked him about his past climbs, he had mentioned the several mountains he had climbed before. It’s really his hobby. He’s climbing almost twice a week and joining with other groups just to fill the thirst from thrill and adventure. And – he already can’t count how many times he had climbed the Tarak…

(When we arrived in Manila the next day (afternoon), he had a shift later at night…Salute to you Idol!!!)

After a kilometer of walk, we have stopped in what Kuya Arnold refer to as “kubo ni lola”. That is a small house (a typical province house, or hut) where in climbers can take some few rests while on the trek. They will be asking you for a donation – in an envelope handwritten with “Para sa Kalinisan, para sa kaayusan”, just any amount you’re willing to give. In front of their house is a wide area for posting the tarps of the previous groups who had climbed before (common poster area?). Sadly, we didn’t have any tarps to post, because we have no idea about it.

It was really a long and hard trekking – walk – climb – rest. The first kilometers of the trek are just flat grounds, until the way is getting more elevated, steeper and narrower.

The 3 of us (Rey, Kuya Jhef and Ate Mitchy) have been into some climbing last year – Mt. Batulao, Pico de Loro and Maculot and they have admitted that Tarak was the toughest so far. I didn’t expect anything because that was just my first climb, I didn’t have any experience to compare with.

Source: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/11/pinoymountaineer-difficulty-scale-2009.html
I'm a beginner, but have already skipped those lower levels...

We have finally reached a point where in there’s a quite large flat area… as usual a deadly steep raven around. We’re already at the point where in we could literally squeeze our shirts with sweat. The boys in the group already undressed their shirts because the heat (from climbing, not from the outside temperature) is really suffocating. I just changed the towel at my back… it’s because I didn’t use to exposed my sexy bony slim body to anyone, and I really have a high resistance against heat.

I took the opportunity to explore the area around, and I was really astonished with the view. The beautiful and historic island of Corregidor can be clearly seen, as well as the land beyond the Manila Bay – Metro Manila, where all of us came from. We have stopped in the area for 20 minutes because if we’ll be staying longer, we’ll be meeting the night at the middle of the trek – Kuya Arnold. So we continued trekking.

We’re almost on our third hour of hour of trekking. I asked Kuya Arnold about the water, because I have the empty bottles with me. He said we’ll get the water from Papaya River, and well get the water from a natural spring from that river.

It was 5:30pm when we have finally reached the Papaya River. We stopped there to get some water – water to cook our foods and also for drinking. I made it sure that I have enough drinking water for the entire trip, and that I would not drink that water that didn’t came from a bottle or a container. I also took the opportunity to change my shirt because it’s really wet and sweat could be extracted when it’ll be squeezed.

Fresh natural drinking water from Papaya River

I was amazed by the water because it’s really cold that it came from a water dispenser. It’s misting.
It was very obvious that the night is already approaching very fast, so we really have to hurry to get into our destination. I already expected that we’ll be arriving there late at night. The further steps became extremely tougher, I think about 4 to six times tougher because an additional 3+ liters was added on my/our burden; it was already dark that we have to depend on our flashlights; the path became extremely steep and sometimes you only have to hold through the vines and roots around just to make it; and because it is already night, it became a challenge for us to find the correct way. At this moment, it was me who is taking the lead. I use to be a couple of meters away from my group, looking for the path. Kuya Arnold was at the last steps, guiding the members in front.

I managed to set my phone to airplane mode. Your phone eats up a lot of battery on a place with weak signals as it tries hardly to search for signals.

"You're approaching the right path..."

I have to be on the frontline. I have the camera...

During daytime, it is quite easy for us to locate the correct path because of the layered stones shown above. Those stone markings serves as our clue to which path will we proceed to. It’s a real challenge to see those stones at night.

Already 7:00pm, and we’re still on the trek. Some of our members (Ate Mitchy, the only girl in the group) is already questioning Kuya Arnold why did he decided for us to go there, also said to his husband Kuya Jhef “sige, organize pa!”. At that point, everybody’s already feeling intense tiredness – even me. It’s really hard to do the night trekking. Most people are deciding to stay and camp at the Papaya River when they feel that it’s already dark – but don’t compare them with our group… LOLs! I know it because we haven’t noticed any mountaineer going / meeting us halfway after we’ve been at the Papaya River.
I am already feeling the intense pressure, tiredness and heat so I decided to move forward several meters away from them, come what may.

Where were they? I really pursue to go further away, higher and higher so that everyone will be motivated to go faster, and also for me to take enough time of rest above... alone.

I have to reach the campsite… I need some rest. I already took my shirt off because if I won’t, I feel that I could die… and no one will see my bony body structure … I’ll just take the picture myself… it’s really a shame.

There’s a point in the trek that I was got injured by a plant. I feel that there’s a force at my back that doesn’t let me move forward, and so I tried to remove that something that was sticked on my bag behind, without seeing it… and until I feel that my finger was cut by this bird’s-claw-like structure from a plant. I have removed that plant’s part from the middle of the way so that my team so that it will not cause harm to them.

I’m the “photographer” in our group as you’ll notice. I always have that mini Sony Cybershot Digicam (DSC-W320) in my hand. I advise future adventurers to carry just a small camera if they want to get enough pictures. It may be hard if you’ll carry a bulky DSLR camera. And also, compact-type digicams are battery efficient (I already took 280+ pictures plus 5 videos, but the battery’s still on half when I came home the next day.)

I remember Kuya Arnold told me earlier that if I already saw some tall grass above (talahiban), then it’s already the campsite, and that’s what I saw afar using the lamp on my head, so I really struggle to go up as fast as I could. But as I’m approaching further above, my knees are already shaking with fear. I confess with myself that I’m quite afraid of heights. It’s the point where there’s no trees to block your view (city lights far below) around. And if there’s no tree then you have nothing to grab with your hands to go up, but the rocks and dry grasses along the path. It’s the hardest path I guess with some areas nearly 90 degrees of steepness, so you really need to do rock climbing.

Finally, around almost 8pm (exactly 5 hours based on the stopwatch I’ve set) I have reached the campsite – meeting people already camped in. A few seconds later, Kuya Arnold came in, and asked me to look for a place that we could camp, but I refused and decided to stay on my position. I just secured our bags on that place. I was really tired that time that I don’t want to go away anymore. While he’s looking for our campsite, I took a picture of the city lights around. Later, I stand in an area where my group can see me, I tried to point them with my headlight. After less than 20 minutes, we’re all at the campsite.

AT THE CAMPSITE

Here we go, finally. Earlier, I have refused to go with Kuya Arnold to look for a good camping site, well, I just prefer to camp on the place I had first landed to rest, and so as the rest of the group when they came in. So majority wins. We started building our tents. Credits to Rey for accommodating me to his tent (I’m just the one who had carried it along the way as a gratitude).

Kuya Arnold’s tent. Again, I was amazed about the things inside his bag – the tent, inflatable bed, butane-fuelled lamps and stoves etc.

Camp foods – adobo (courtesy of Ate Mitchy), rice (cooked with the use of kuya Arnold’s butane stove)

After eating, Ate Mitchy already decided to sleep at their tent, while us guys decided to have some drinks (MP Light) and some snacks. We just had that drinking session for almost an hour because they’re already feeling drunk… and me, just nothing. We have the same dose but I can’t feel any drunkenness maybe because of my tiredness.
Time to sleep. We kept all our trashes inside a single plastic bag and should take it away from the mountain and must leave no single garbage there. I was thankful that I didn’t saw any garbage all over the mountain – mountaineers are that disciplined.

It's cold outside. The fogs are misting inside our tent.

All of us have set an alarm at 5am, but we can feel inside the tent the angry winds outside. Those winds woke me up even before the alarm time. At some point I thought it’s raining because of the wind’s sound. The fogs outside are already misting inside our tent. This made me to went out of the tent and enjoy the scenery outside. It was my childhood dream to be with the clouds and feel them – and that was accomplished during that time – after my 22 years of existence here on Earth. They were just moving around, carrying some mist when they pass by.

Clouds just passing by... Childhood dream accomplished -- to touch the clouds.

Me, pointing the Tarak Ridge peak which we'll go to and explore when the sun rises.

Most of the campers spent their night downside.

We waited until sunrise before Kuya Arnold heated some water to cook our cup noodles and for our coffee. The wind is also stronger earlier so it will be hard. Me and Rey were the 2 early birds from the group because we managed to take some pictures outside while it’s still dim. We’re meeting mountaineers passing by and greeting each other “Good morning Sir!” with a morning smile. Those mountaineers are about to go to Tarak’s peak, which is also our target that morning.

Breakfast, I have turned on my portable radio and listen to an FM radio on a loudspeaker. FM radio stations were on the same frequencies as here in the Metro. We tuned in to 99.5 Play FM. I've got 2 batteries for that radio, and that’s turned on even when we’re still on the track upwards, still playing during dinner and drunk session, and until we’re going down the mountain.
Only me and Rey have decided to go up to the peak. Kuya Jhef and his wife ate Mitchy decided to stay at the camp, and Kuya Arnold have been into the peak for already several times before and decided to stay at the camp.
So time for another climbing. Time to reach the summit.

THE SUMMIT

While approaching the summit, we have met some other mountaineers who have already reached the summit, and some of them were foreigners, from Europe I guess. The path to the summit still doesn’t have any trees or tall plants to hold upon. I am very thankful that the wind isn’t that strong that time, else I might be carried away because of my weight (I am 5ft 11inches weighing only 53.5 kilograms… extremely underweight). But I think that became an advantage because all of them noticed that it seems that I’m still on full energy despite the challenges we have been before. I can also carry my weight with very ease.

The first few tracks were just stones and dust. You can only trust the rocks and some few grasses around. Just be careful which rock to step on, else you already know.
The situation will we be different when you’ll be just a few steps to the summit. The path will be full of trees and plants – a typical forest.
At last! Success! Finally on the summit. All of your tiredness will be swept away when you have reached the summit. A breath-taking view of Bataan will welcome you – and it will came into your mind how did you get that far. We have met some other youth groups at the top. In fact, they have asked us all at the peak to gather and have a picture. We don’t know them and I haven’t talked with the girl who have took the picture – she’s good-looking, as well as the other girls in the group. Hope that I’ll see those pictures someday, and meet those people again.
There’s a tree on the peak they call the Bonsai (small tree). It has no leaves (because it’s dry season they say). It blooms during rainy seasons according to Kuya Arnold. The tree is located just at the edge of the peak. You really have to depend your weight on the tree, or else if the tree falls, both of you will be falling down a hundred of feet below.

Rey and some other tried to have that life-risking pose with the tree, but I didn’t dare myself. It’s just my first climb. I can do it next time, but I still don’t have the guts that time. (I have seen some videos on youtube that they had even climbed on that tree!) We have stayed on the summit for around 30 minutes.

THE STEEP ROAD DOWNWARDS

It’s difficult to reach the peak from our base camp, but going down back to the campsite is much difficult. It’s steep downwards. There’s a gravity pulling you down. You must be very careful with the small rocks you’re stepping into, because some are being detached and pulled out from the soil / larger rocks. You have to hold on those grasses above (just be careful not to hold those Makahiya around).

You should have a couple of meters away from each other if you don’t literally want to eat the dust coming from the path’s dry ground.

When we have reached the campsite, we then folded our tents and packed up our tents. Time to go down. How I wish to stay longer above. I packed up all my things, turned on the radio inside my bag for us to enjoy music while going down. I also attached my solar charger on my bag to have it charged along the way (but no use, it will take 25 hours of sunlight to get it fully charged…), but at least gave it a try. I’m already thirsty going down. All my bottled drinking waters were gone. I have no choice but to drink the remaining water I have fetched in the Papaya River. I have enjoyed the taste, just like a normal drinking water. I enjoyed drinking those that even it got emptied along the way. How I wish to get into the Papaya River soon to get some water. Rey offered me water to drink, but I want some more. I want to drink a lot.

While going down and waiting for us to pass by the Papaya River, all I can say is “Ah, eto pala yon”, observing the path we have been the last night. We haven’t clearly seen those on our night trekking. Even at daytime, it’s still difficult, hard to imagine how we made it last night.

Finally, after 2 hours from the campsite, we have reached Papaya River again. I was the only one from our group who get some water because all of them still has. Water is really my fuel and I used to drink a lot of it every day. You have to get the drinking water from the furthest distance away from the campers to ensure it is potable. You should also get your drinking water from an actively flowing part to avoid the water insects which usually stays on a stagnant water. I refilled every bottle I saw on my bag.

Water coming from a real "Nature's Spring"

The path going to the source of drinking water.

After I have got enough water, I saw my group taking pictures at the Papaya River, so did I. The water is very clear. I took the opportunity to wash my face and feet.

Mike, Rey and Ate Mitch

Still a long track ahead. Everybody’s again feeling that ache in our knees. Those aches in our knees also served as our souvenir when we left the Tarak. The pain lasted for days for some of my group mates (specially when walking upstairs). I feel just a little pain, and a day after next was completely lost.., not being too boastful, but is real. My body’s lower extremities are really tough (I’m just not sure with my body’s upper muscles… do I have those muscles by the way?).

"Pusong Bato", only in Tarak.

the dirty socks..

going down... the tree branch (used as a walking stick) Ate Mithy used in going down was the same branch that I have used when I went up. I've lost it when my fingers got injured.

the steep path going down.

missing my childhood friends in the province, sliding down on these dry soil.

We have went down the campsite at 7:40am and finally reached Lola’s kubo at 11:30am. There she welcomes us with a fresh buko juice. We all thought its free (because we gave a donation the last time… 50 pesos from me). We knew that we need to pay when the man beside me gave pesos to lola and gave him a change of 20 pesos for 2 cups of the buko juice. So it’s 15 pesos, I asked another 1 cup so I drank 2 cups total and paid 30. Ate Mitchy also paid 150 pesos for the bottle of pure honey she had order the day before.

Who went to Tarak Ridge from April 19-21, 2013?

After staying at lola’s house, we proceed with our way to the main road.
Along the way, always take a glance at the Tarak’s peak, trying to estimate how far and how many kilometers we had walked. A few meters away from lola’s kubo are residential areas. A tricycle driver had offered us to pay just 100 pesos (5 persons) to take us to the main road, but we refused and silently told ourselves, what’s the purpose of the hike if we’ll just ride. We continued walking. The sun’s heat is almost burning us (because it’s just a long pathway, no trees, and it’s exactly 12 in the afternoon. We later realized that... “oo nga, sulit na sulit na yung 100, ang layo pala…”. The path to the main road is more than a kilometer ahead, and the heat’s suffocating.

Rey on full sun protection.

Me: wala lang, tamang T-shirt lang... tiis tiis na lang.

After almost 5 hours of walking, we have finally reached the road. Kuya Arnold went to Barangay Hall to re-register, for an OUT, a proof that we came back ALIVE. We headed to the carinderia (eatery). Drank a lot of cold water, ate a lot of food. We also bought a halo-halo for 25 pesos… sulit na sulit sa 25 pesos, sarap… ang dami pa, apaw na apaw. We also asked ate (owner of the eatery) to use their comfort room to change our dirty and wet clothes.

After eating, it’s time to say goodbye. We waited at the roadside for a bus going to the metro to came in. And after a few minutes, Genesis Transit bus heading to Pasay pass by and we ride on it. The bus fare (still aircon) is P277, (Mariveles to Ayala Makati).

Next topic:
Let's connect this topic to Information Technology. I'll discuss the geek gadgets that I've brought far above.

Software Review: FastStone Image Resizer

2012-06-06T04:51:00.003-07:00

New job, new life, new adventures. I can now now buy the things that I usually crave for when I was still a student... (of course just few of them...How I wish I could buy them all...). This time, a digital camera. I have a purchased a Sony Cybershot DSC W-320 which have an oozing 14.1 megapixel resolution. Higher resolution, better pictures, and of course huge file sizes. More time to wait to upload your photos on your social media.

Of course if you want to avoid the hassle about the time uploading your photos on the web, you will opt to do these measures:

Reduce the pixel size of the camera when taking pictures; or
Use Microsoft Picture Manager to reduce the size of your photos.

Isn't it?

We'll I don't prefer both solutions, so I decided to search for a software which could solve my problem, and also the problem of my co-photo enthusiasts, bloggers and social media fanatics.

Let's try this software that I have just recently discovered (although it already exists for more than a year). It's a freeware. Yes! FREEware, meaning it can be freely downloaded over the internet.

Why do I keep on liking this software, let's enumerate:

1. Ease of Use

The user interface is very easy to understand, no too much advanced features and terms, just purely the things that you need. Just locate the source (original) files, then click add. Change some few settings, browse for the output folder, then convert! that's simply it.

2. Superb File Size Reduction... not on the image quality!!!

You can adjust the output quality of the pictures you will convert. There's a scale that ranges from 1 to 10 which pertains to the quality of the converted file. Usually, I set the scale to 8.5 (85%). This setting converts the image' file size to roughly 50%. Also, uncheck the "Use JPEG quality from the original file if possible" in order." Having this option disabled has a big factor in the reduction of the file size. For example, the image below (the building) has an original size of 4.15 MB and was reduced to just 1.88MB, reduced to more than 50%.

3. Absolutely no change on the image quality and resolution.

The image below was took using my camera on its maximum resolution, 14 megapixel. Seen on the left side is the raw image taken by the camera (4.15MB), on the right side is the converted picture done with FastStone (1.88MB). Both pictures was screenshot at its original file size of 14 megapixel. The image in the mid-lower portion is the same actual image.

See any difference?

4. Fast Response / Conversion
I'm using a 3GHz Dual Core processor running on Windows 7 with 2GB of RAM. The average conversion of each file is just not more than two seconds... just around 1.20 to 1.80 seconds.

5. It's completely FREE !!!
You can legally download the software here.

Time Stopper 2

2011-12-27T23:38:00.001-08:00

Software recommendation:
TIME STOPPER 2

I highly recommend this software to those people who are tired enough of looking for crack versions of their favorite software. You can now use the original version of the software (usually a trial version when it's freely downloadable on the cloud).

Before proceeding, be sure that the software has at least a day remaining before the trial ends, it must still be working.

The software is very easy to use. All you have to do is to install the software, run it. The interface is shown above. Just click the [Browse...] button and locate the main .exe file of the trial version program. If you don't like to browse the EXE file manually, go to desktop and right-click the program icon of the trial version software. Copy all the texts EXCEPT for the QUOTATIONS. Paste it on the first textbox of the Time Stopper software(Select the main EXE...)

Then choose a date within the trial period of the software. Also, enter a name of the new icon that Time Stopper will create.
Click [Create Desktop Shortcut]

DONE

Go to your Desktop and delete the old desktop icon, otherwise if you click the wrong one (the old), the Time Stopper software will not work, the trial version will still continue running using the system time.

In my case, I have used Visual Studio 2008 Professional. Until now, it is still on its "90 Days Remaining" even if I have it installed on my computer for almost half a year.

For a copy of this software, just click here.

Managing Stress

2011-12-12T17:07:00.000-08:00

Each individual has their own problem -- that's the reality! you are not a normal person if you don't have even a single one. Some of these problems are just easy to solve, while some others are very difficult to solve, pulling us down and let us to give up. these problems give us a lot of burden and pressure -- something we call as stress.

I am encountering problems in each every single day (just like what you do) -- study, family, money and some other personal propblems. Some of them gives a lot of stress. The most recent problem that almost devastated me was the death of my 'best friend', and that's my laptop. It's video card, which is very essetial, yet one of the costliest part of a computer gave up. Having it replaced will cost around two to three thousand Philippine Peso (or approxiamately 5 US dollars). Oh my! What will i do with our thesis now? My e-mail inbox? my Facebook? my blog? Goodbye online buddies! ... and my printer, what ami i be doing with it now? My school projects?

By that moment, when the strategy's still fresh, i used to think deep a lot. I use to stare in nowhere. It gave me a lot of depression.

I just have to think of ways to continue life normally, even without it. The first thing I did was, i bought a hard disk enclosure, so that I could still have access with my files. i used to read books, magazines (specially IT related one), almanacs, or anything I'm interested with. Reading those things just reminds me that I really need my laptop back! I use to listen to muisic, which leads me into a nap. Sleeping somehow help sweep away my problems away, but just temporarily. Ouch! The problem will still be there. My grief is one of the reasons why I enrolled a Call Center training class (that's well a free training). I took it to improve my English skills, although I don't have plans being a call center agent (just making sure about my future, better have plan B).Having some activities to do, talking with other people somehow eliminate the melancholy and be filled in with fun, joy and learning.

Having a positive mindset is very important to reduce stress. I just have these thoughts in mind: "What is that grieving for? You need tro move on, proceed, learn so that when yoou're prepared enough, you'll be having a good job, and that job will bring your bestfriend back."

No More Windows Seven Posts by Now

2011-12-12T17:02:00.000-08:00

Whooah!
My laptop's video card gave up! I'm now back to the oldies, desktop days...
No tutorials by now. It will take a couple of months to have repaired.

Ouch!

Reusing Your Burned CD-R and DVD-Rs

2011-11-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

This is the second part of my post about Rewriting on a write-once discs. The first article is a vital one so that this second part be easier to understand, and also you can get and formulate some ideas and concepts about this burning hot thing.

If you have a lot of CD-Rs and DVD-Rs stocked on your room and is needed to be disposed of because you no longer need and use it, then just read this post. You may use that burned CD again.
Yes! I repeat you can still use it again,,, again and again.

Again, this tutorial is only meant for Windows 7 operating system only.

Before you start:
Just make sure that you no longer use the files on the disc because this tutorial will format the whole disc, meaning all the files in it will be permanently erased.
As discussed on the first part, formatting or deleting files on a read-only / recordable disc does not provide you an additional free space on your disc. The memory allocation for the deleted file will still be counted as used space, although you have deleted and cannot see the erased file. So logically, ONLY FORMAT DISCS THAT HAS ENOUGH FREE DISK SPACE.

First, insert the burned +/-R disc in the DVD burner., after it has been loaded, right click the drive and choose format. The format window will appear:

Click start. It will show you a warning... just proceed (by clicking YES). Wait for the format to complete as shown.

And you're done. You can now drag and drop the files on the drive to store files AGAIN and AGAIN, just like a normal USB flash drive.

So next time you are required to submit a project in your school that is needed to be stored in a CD... you already know what to do... Why do I need to buy huh?

How to Rewrite on a DVD-R and a CD-R Without any Burning Software

2011-10-28T03:52:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Yes! you heard it right! You can now make your CD+/-R or DVD+/-R act like a rewritable one. During the Windows XP days, this is impossible. Once you have written something on a recordable disc, then you can't save a file on it anymore. Rewriting on a discs can only be done through CD+/-RW or DVD+/-RW type of discs. These rewritable type of discs costs as much as two to five times compared with the write-once or recordable discs.

As I have upgraded my operating system from Windows XP into Windows 7, I have discovered several exciting things about it. I first thought that this feature is only designed for RW discs, but I have once experimented it on a write-once disc and it worked! This discovery is among the most important feature of Windows 7 that I am using until now. I've researched on it and found out that this is possible through the Windows 7's UDF file system
To do this, you need the following:

A blank CD-R, CD+R, DVD-R or a DVD+R
An optical burner (make sure there's an RW mark on your DVD or CD drives.
Windows Seven Operating System

Just follow these User-Friendly Steps:
Insert your blank media on the optical drive. After a few Seconds, Autoplay will appear on the screen as follows:

Choose the "Burn files to disc" option. Upon clicking, this window will appear:

Enter the name of the disc. Be sure about the Disc name, after this process, you can't rename it anymore. Click on the first option, then NEXT.

Windows will now format your Disc. This will only take a few seconds. After the disc has been formatted, the disc will be automatically played and the AUTORUN window will be displayed. As you will notice, the options in the autorun is the same as your USB flash drives.
That's it!
You're done!
You can now reuse the disc again and again. You can now copy, move, paste, rename, delete or drag files on the disc just like a normal USB flash drive.

NOTES:

Copying, moving, renaming and deleting files on the formatted disc takes more time (about 5 to ten times slower compared with the normal file execution on USB flash drives or hard discs)... Of Course!
Never force eject the discs after using(I mean piercing the small hole in the disc drive by a paper clip to remove the disc) Just right click on the drive and then click eject or just push the eject button on the drive. After doing this, Windows will prompt you to wait for a few seconds so that you can use the disc on some other devices.
Avoid deleting too much files on the disc. Once you have deleted a file on a disc, the amount of memory consumed by the file will still be counted as used space on the drive.

Here are some other screenshots:

UDF File system.

Thanks for reading my post. Watch out for the upcoming tips that I will be sharing...

Browser Comparison - Internet Explorer 9 vs other Browsers

2011-10-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

Since I learned how to surf the internet, I never used Internet Explorer (versions 8 and below). The interface is very dull and the browsing speed is very slow.

But since I had switched to a newer version of the Internet Explore, IE9, everything has changed. Before I came up with IE9, I had tested several web browsers before - Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Rockmelt.
If I were to rate these browsers according to their performance (up to scale of 5), it will be:

Mozilla Firefox:
I had once used this browser before I met Google Chrome. That's it.

Google Chrome:

I had used this browser for a very long time. The interface is very good, very easy to understand. The browsing speed is amazingly fast.
But...
It consumes memory and CPU Usage a lot. I am currently using a laptop with an Intel Centrino 1.4GHz processor, 512MB DDR RAM and a 32MB ATI Radeon Video Card. That means running a massive program causes crashes on the system. This is the main reason why I always look at my task manager and observe the graphs pertaining to mu CPU and memory usage. When I watch videos on te internet, Google Chrome's plug-in, particularly the Shockwave plug-in usually crashes and I reallt hate this part. I need to close all the tabs and restart the browser again. When I use Google Chrome, I usually dont open another programs to avoid system crashes.
And another..
When it prompts you to save your password, anyone can see it. So saving passwords with this browser is strictly not preffered, even if you own your own PC or laptop.

Opera:

Although this has a very nice interface, I've just used this browser for only a few days (3 days to be exact) just for testing purposes. Memory and CPU consumption is less than Google Chrome but the browsing speed is slower than Chrome (even if you use it's 'turbo speed' option). I didn't like this browser.

Rockmelt:

This was my last browser before I had switched to Internet Explorer 9 (Windows 7 too). EXCELLENT interface. This is just like google chrome enhanced with social media capabilities. At this browser, you can easily see the live updates from Facebook / Twitter and it also has realtime update of the sites you have listed here via the RSS feeds. Of course, having too much features requires more memory usage.

Internet Explorer (IE9 to be exact):

When I switched to a new operating system, the Windows Seven Ultimate....
oopsss... it ran on a 512 RAM? (that's another topic... secret!!!!)
This browser was the built-in browser on the operating system I have installed on my laptop. I tried to use it because I searched the internet to download Google Chrome (There's no built-in Chrome on OS right?). I was amazed about the speed, as well as the interface, until I have explored all of the features and find all of them great. IE9 now also have a download manager, which it haven't before. Downloading is faster at this browser. So, why do I have to use Google Chrome that I have downloaded?,,, I did not use it anymore.
About Memory Usage:
Amazingly it was really great. It consumes LESS MEMORY AND CPU USAGE THAN CHROME. Also the FLASHPLAYER PLUG-IN doesn't crash anymore.
Everything's FINE now.

THIS IS THE BEST BROWSER I HAVE EVER USED.

DON'T COMPARE INTERNET EXPLORER 9 WITH ITS PREVIOUS VERSIONS.This is very different. As I have said earlier, it is the first time that I "USED" the Internet Explorer.

Hey Microsoft, can you pay me for this review?
ha haha ha ha, laughs!

Optimize Your PC, Security Apps 101, Find Folders Fast

2011-08-30T19:19:00.003-07:00

CCleaner got a must-have update; a reader wants to know if two security apps are better than one; Windows 7's Recent Places feature can save you time.

By Rick Broida, PCWorld Nov 3, 2010 7:00 am

Want to clean and optimize your PC? You've probably heard of CCleaner, arguably the world's most popular tool for doing the job. Developer Piriform just released CCleaner 3.0. The big news in this update? A native 64-bit version for use with like editions of Windows.

Like the last release, CCleaner clears out temporary files, cleans the Windows Registry, erases browser histories, and so on. Version 3.0 also sports new icons, various interface improvements, better support for Google Chrome and Internet Explorer 9, and newly added support for programs like AVG AntiVirus 10.0, Audacity, LogMeIn Hamachi, BitTorrent, and Windows Game Explorer. I particularly like the way it intelligently scans for cookies you'd want to keep, like those for Google and Yahoo.

In short, the ultimate system-cleaning tool just got better. It's still free, thankfully, though you can purchase a priority-support license for $25.

As with any tool of this kind, I strongly recommend making a full system backup and creating a new system-restore point before using it. Better safe than sorry!

Avoid Security Software Overlap

Reader LK wants to know if Microsoft Security Essentials (which I've championed in these pages many times) can be installed alongside other anti-virus and/or anti-malware programs.

Short answer: no.

Longer answer: Definitely, definitely, definitely no.

You might think that where security software is concerned, more is better. But you'd be wrong--especially if you're talking about programs that do the same thing, like fight viruses or spyware.

For example, if you were to install MSE on a system that already had Norton Internet Security, the latter might think the former was a kind of spyware--or vice-versa. What's more, one security might not slow down your system that much, but two almost certainly will.

My advice: if you're planning to switch security tools, do exactly that. Uninstall one, reboot, and then install the other.

Use 'Recent Places' to Find Frequently Used Folders Faster

In my line of work, I'm constantly opening and saving files in myriad folders scattered across my hard drive. It seems like every time I face an Open or Save As dialog box, it means I have to spend considerable time navigating between folders.

That's why I'm a big fan of Windows 7's Recent Places feature, which appears under the Favorites heading when you open an Explorer window. Take a look:

Recent Places is not quite the same thing as the Recent Documents option you may have seen in the Windows Start menu. When you click the former, it shows you a list of the folders you've accessed recently. Click into the one you want, choose the file you need, and presto, you're done. No need to waste time navigating various drives and subfolders.

If you don't see the Recent Places option (or any kind of lefthand pane in your Explorer window), you'll need to make it visible. You can do so by selecting Organize, Layout, Navigation pane.

Source: PCWorld

15 Things Every PC User Should Know

2011-08-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

Whether you're a grizzled tech veteran or an uninitiated newbie, here are 15 essential facts and tricks that you ought to know.

By Patrick Miller, PCWorld Aug 17, 2010 10:00 am

Think you know tech? If you don't have a handle on every single one of these 15 tech facts, habits, and efficiency tricks, you're not living up to your potential.

1. Don't double-click everything. Windows 101: Double-clicking is how you open items in Windows. It's not how you open links in your Web browser, click buttons in dialog boxes, or do pretty much anything else--and if you reflexively double-click, you might accidentally zip right past something important or submit a form twice. If you don't need this reminder yourself, chances are you know someone who does.

2. Use slashes and backslashes in the appropriate situations. Let's get it straight: / is a slash (or forward slash, if you must), and \ is a backslash. Backslashes are conventionally used for Windows file paths (C:\Program Files\Whatever), while slashes are used for Internet addresses (http://www.pcworld.com/howto.html).

3. Record the exact error message. When your PC crashes, it'll usually try to tell you why it is doing so--albeit with a string of numbers and letters that you won't understand. Write the message down in its entirety (or take a screenshot, if possible) so you can later plug it into Google or give it to your tech support agent. If your PC didn't provide an error message, go to Action Center (in the Control Panel) and see if it shows up under 'View archived messages' or 'View problems to report'.

4. Bring deleted files back from the dead. When you delete a file from your PC or memory card, you're not wiping it off the actual hard drive. Instead, you're simply removing the index information that tells your PC where the file is, at which point the PC is free to treat the part of your disk that contain that file as empty space that it can write something else to. If you've accidentally deleted something, undelete utilities such as Recuva can help you find those files again as long as you haven't already written over that file with something new.

Don't leave your personal data on your old PC's hard drive. Nuke it completely with Darik's Boot and Nuke.5. Wipe your hard drive before getting rid of it. Because your PC doesn't immediately get rid of the files you delete, you can't just reformat your hard drive before recycling or selling your old computer--because someone might be able to use an undelete app to recover your sensitive data. We have all kinds of tips for completely erasing an old drive, but the short version is: grab Darik's Boot and Nuke.

Want a totally worthless toolbar added to your browser? No? Then uncheck the box for that option before you install updates.6. Uncheck the boxes before you install. Lots of helpful apps out there give you the option of installing search toolbars and other add-ons--and some of them are so pushy about being helpful that their installers are configured to install the uninvited extras unless you check a box saying you don't want them. Not only is each add-on another thing that your PC needs to load, but you have no idea what kind of data it could be sending out. They come bundled with the app because they make money for the app developer, not because they're particularly useful. So take a close look at what you're installing before you click Install--and in return, the installer won't change your search engine or install apps you don't need.

7. Beware of viruses living in Office docs. Experienced Microsoft Office users can take advantage of its built-in Visual Basic for Applications support to automate complex tasks with macros. However, malicious coders can use those same tools to design viruses that may interfere with your work and that of your colleagues. By default, Office is set to disable all macros and notify you when a doc you're reading contains them (to toggle this setting, in Word, select Word Options, Trust Center, Trust Center Settings, Macro Settings), so you should already be safe on this score.

8. Be skeptical of "cleaning" apps. Apps that make vague claims about improving your PC's performance and clearing out its clutter (Registry cleaners, I'm looking at you) will generally do more harm than good (if they do anything at all). To clean up your system, simply run Disk Cleanup (to reach it, select Start Menu, All programs, Accessories, System Tools); it comes with every Windows installation and it won't mess up your PC.

9. Uninstall your old apps. If you regularly download and install new apps from the Internet, you should get in the habit of pruning your collection every now and then. To do so, open the Programs and Features control panel, scroll through the list, and click Uninstall to ditch items you no longer want. You may need to take a trip into your C:/Program Files/ folder to hunt down a few additional unused apps. The less stuff you have on your PC, the less things are to go wrong.

10. Don't let a spilled drink ruin your laptop. If you keep your cool when a spill occurs, you may be able to prevent your data from disappearing and your motherboard from frying. Instead of panicking, quickly but methodically unplug the power cord and yank out the battery--don't wait for Windows to power off. Next, detach anything connected to the PC (network cables, USB devices) and pull out any readily removable components such as an optical drive. Tilt the laptop to try to drain the liquid in the direction that it spilled onto your PC, but be careful--you don't want to tilt the laptop in a direction that would allow the liquid to seep even deeper in. If you see liquid on the surface of the laptop, dab it off with a towel. At this point, unless you're comfortable disassembling your PC and cleaning it with electronics cleaner, you'll probably want to take it to a tech.

11. Turn down UAC. Both Windows 7 and Windows Vista include a security function called User Account Control, which dims the screen and flashes a dialog box whenever you install an app or change your system settings. Though this arrangement can be useful for catching sneaky apps that are trying to install or change things without your knowledge, it can also be annoying. If you use Vista, grab TweakUAC to make it less annoying without turning it off. If you use Windows 7, the default settings aren't too bad, but I recommend that you go into the User Accounts control panel, click User Account Control settings, and change the setting to the third notch down, so UAC will still warn you but it won't dim the screen.

12. Don't work in your admin account. Many PC users are accustomed to doing their everyday work while logged in to their PC's administrator account--especially in Windows XP. Doing so can save you the hassle of having to log in and out when you want to install apps or make changes, but it also leaves you much more vulnerable to viruses and malware--so don't do it.

The Control Panel is far easier to navigate when you can see all the icons at a glance.13. Keep your Control Panel in Icon View. The Control Panel's Categories view can be useful if you're intimidated by the many different options available, but it can also make finding what you're looking for more difficult (especially if you're following detailed instructions that refer to the control panels by name). Click Classic view on the left (in Vista) or choose Large Icons from the View by dropdown menu in the upper right (in Windows 7), and you'll have ready access to all of the control panels.

Limit the clutter in your system tray by paring down the list of icons that occupy it.14. Clear your system tray. Apps often park themselves in the system tray (the row of icons on the right side of your taskbar) and stay open without your realizing it. Take the time to clear it out occasionally. Open the Notification Area Icons control panel, and check the box on the bottom that says Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar to get a sense of how cluttered your system tray is; then right-click each one you don't need and choose Close. Your RAM will thank you.

15. Manage your power settings. If you're using a laptop, you'll want to know how to change your power settings so your PC doesn't waste battery when you need to conserve it, doesn't slow down when you need to go fast, and doesn't go to sleep at an inopportune moment. Open the Power Options control panel, and choose from among several presets containing different configurations for when you're plugged in and when you're mobile--or feel free to create your own. To access the advanced settings, click Change plan settings, Change advanced settings; there you'll find detailed options related to your battery, Wi-Fi radio, graphics card, and more.

Reposted Article, Source:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/203395-2/15_things_every_pc_user_should_know.html

Google+ adds 'Ignore' option for users

2011-08-27T20:45:00.001-07:00

Users of Google's upcoming social network Google+ may soon get a middle ground of sorts between seeing less of what a person is doing and blocking them outright by clicking on the "Ignore" option.

Google's Olga Wichrowska said the "Ignore" option can spare a Google+ member from seeing what an "ignored" person is sharing.

"Ignoring someone is basically saying you’re just not interested – maybe you don’t know them, or maybe you don’t want to see what they’re sharing," she said in a Google+ post.

She said that when a Google+ member ignores someone, they won't:

see any of ignored person's posts in the Incoming stream
get notifications about their activities
see them on your Circles page

People who had been ignored in Google+ will not be notified, Wichrowska said.

She said the Ignore option can be accessed from Notifications in the Google+ bar, or the Notifications stream; or from Incoming.

It can also be accessed from a Google+ member's Circles page. "Just highlight them, and click ignore," she said.

"If you change your mind you can always find the list of people you’ve ignored under More Actions on the Circles page. You can un-ignore directly from here, or by adding people back to a circle," she said.

Ignoring vs blocking

Wichrowska said blocking someone is much stronger than Ignoring them. "It’s basically saying you don’t want anything to do with them on Google+," she said.

Blocking someone on Google+ will lead to a number of things, including:

The blocked person is removed from your circles and your extended circles
You won’t see any of their new posts in the Stream
They won’t see anything you share with your circles
They can’t comment on your posts

Wichrowska said they are working to improve both Ignore and Block in the next few weeks. — LBG, GMA News

Source:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/230636/technology/google-adds-ignore-option-for-users

Social media, tweet, crowdsourcing now in Merriam-Webster's 2011

2011-08-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

One week after tech and social media-related terms retweet, sexting, cyberbullying, and woot made it to the Oxford English Dictionary’s 100th edition, another batch of such terms have been included in this year’s update of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

Merriam-Webster said the inclusion of words like social media, tweet and crowdsourcing is “yet another sign of our era's communications revolution."

"From the dramatic events of the Arab Spring to the scandal that brought down Congressman Anthony Weiner, tweet is a word that has been part of the story. We've been tracking words like social media and tweet for years, of course, and now we feel their meanings have stabilized enough to include them in the dictionary," said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's Editor at Large.

According to Merriam-Webster's social media and tweet are just two of over 150 new words and definitions that have been added to this year’s edition of its dictionary.

It noted tweet and social media join other technology-related terms including crowdsourcing and m-commerce ("a business transaction conducted using a mobile electronic device").

Crowdsourcing is defined in the dictionary as “the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community rather than from traditional employees or suppliers," with its first known use in 2006.

Social media is defined in this year’s edition of the dictionary as “forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos)," with its first known use noted in 2004.

A tweet is defined as either “a chirping note," or a “post made on the Twitter online message service," with the first known use in 1768.

Other new terms included in this year’s edition border on pop culture such as bromance (a close nonsexual friendship between men, first known use in 2004) and cougar (a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man).

Sports terms include come duathlon ("a three-part long-distance race with a running phase, a bicycling phase, and a final running phase"), walk-off ("ending a baseball game immediately by causing the winning run to score for the home team in the bottom of the last inning"), and the new sport parkour, which involves rapid and efficient running, climbing, or leaping over environmental obstacles.

"Many people saw parkour in the James Bond film Casino Royale, but they may not have known that this daring sport had a name," said Sokolowski.Still other new terms include helicopter parent ("a parent who is overly involved in the life of his or her child") and boomerang child ("a young adult who returns to live at his or her family home especially for financial reasons"). — LBG, GMA News

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/230615/technology/social-media-tweet-crowdsourcing-now-in-merriam-websters-2011-edition

Microsoft enhances file manager in Windows 8 - GMANews

2011-08-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

Microsoft enhances file manager in Windows 8

08/25/2011 | 06:15 PM

Windows Explorer, the venerable default file manager in the upcoming latest version of Microsoft’s Windows flagship operating system, will be getting enhancements starting with its copy dialog, PC World reported.

PC World said the new feature appears to promise benefits for multitaskers who copy, move, rename and delete a large amount of files in Windows.

“Microsoft’s copying overhaul doesn’t really improve much for people who typically move around one file or folder at a time or are used to handling small text files. But if you find yourself moving around large amounts of data such as photos and videos, then Windows 8 aims to make your copying experience easier," it said.

It quoted Microsoft as saying copying, moving, renaming and deleting files are the most often-used functions in Windows Explorer – accounting for half of Explorer usage in Windows 7.

The PC World article said Microsoft’s copy dialog for Windows 8 will:
move all copy jobs into one window

simplify the user interface (UI)

give users more control over any operations in progress.

Instead of having multiple windows open for each file, Windows 8 will automatically merge all copy jobs into one central window, with basic and “More details" views.

The basic view shows how many items are being copied in each job, their source and destination folders, and a progress bar, with pause and cancel buttons.

Source and destination folders will be clickable so one can open up those folders directly from the copy dialog.

Clicking on the “More details" button will show a real-time throughput graph, speed of data transfer, time remaining and how much data is left to transfer.

Copying files with same names

Windows 8 has a new way to handle a “filename collision," a situation where one is about to copy a file with the same name as another file in the destination folder.

Before Windows 8 overwrites an old file, it will give three choices similar to those in Windows 7: replace all the old files in the destination folder, skip copying the new files or choose the files to keep in the destination folder.

Choosing the files to keep in the destination folder will bring up a new dialog box showing the files one wants to copy in the left column and the files with the same name in the destination folder on the right.

One can also hover over each file to see its location or can double-click on a file to open it.

“If you don’t click a check box next to one of your two colliding files, Windows 8 errs on the side of caution and keeps your old version intact," it said. — TJD, GMA News

Configure your Gmail account on Outlook Express

2011-08-01T21:01:00.000-07:00

This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to configure your Gmail account on Outlook Express so that you access it using POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3); Or in layman's terms, how you can receive your Gmail emails and store them on your system.

Credits to the original page source

The POP access was allowed on Gmail accounts almost from the start of the service... and the best thing... it's free!

Step 1 - Enable the POP option at your Gmail account

Now click on the Forwarding and POP tab.

In the POP Download section, you can enable POP for all email messages or only for mail that you will receive henceforth.

From a drop down menu, you can select what you want to do with the message once it is downloaded to Outlook Express on your system. I suggest that you let it lie on your Gmail account or archive it since there is so much of space available on Gmail.

Click on the Save Changes button when you are done.

Step 2 - Configuring the Outlook Express Email client

Start Outlook Express. Go to Tool -> Accounts.

In the Internet Accounts pop-up window, click on Add -> Mail

You now need to give a name to this account. I'm going to put WebDevelopersNotes as the name (my email address is webdevelopersnotes[at]gmail.com). Click on the Next button.

You will now be asked your Gmail email address. Be sure to enter this correctly and then click on the Next button.

The next step is to provide the Outlook Express email client the incoming and outgoing email server details for Gmail. These are:
Incoming Email Server: pop.gmail.com
Outgoing Email Server: smtp.gmail.com

Make sure that you have selected the POP3 option in the My incoming email server is. Click on the Next button when done.

We will now enter the username and password of your Gmail account in Outlook Express. Click on the Remember password checkbox if it's not already checked. Click on the Next button when done.

By this time you have given all the information to Outlook Express to set up your Gmail account on the program and so you get a congratulatory message. Click on the Finish button.

However, we are not done yet and need to configure a few more things.

Double-click on the Gmail email account you have just configured in Outlook Express. You can also select it and click on the "Properties" button. Refer image below.

The "Properties window" is now displayed. Go to the Advanced tab and check the checkbox in front of This server requires a secure connection (SSL). The Incoming mail (POP3): field automatically changes to a value of 995. Click on the Apply button when done. Refer image below esp. the portion marked in the red box.

It is now time for you to test the Gmail account configured in Outlook Express. If you had selected the option of enabling POP at Gmail for only new messages, send a test message to your Gmail account from another email address.

Problems with Gmail configuration on Outlook Express

The above procedure works beautifully for most people. However, some are just not able to send email from the newly configured Gmail account on Outlook Express; they have no problem in receiving messages.

This issue can quickly be ironed out by changing the Outgoing (SMTP) settings. Under the "Advanced" tab, put 465 as the server port number and check "This server requires a secure connection (SSL)" - please refer image below.

Lastly, move to the "Servers" tab and check "My server requires authentication".

Page contents: Clearn-cut instructions for configuring your Gmail account on Outlook Express so that you can access it using the POP3 protocol.

How to Connect Facebook Mail into your Microsoft Outlook (2007 and 2010)

2011-08-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

Email Configuration in Microsoft Outlook (2007 + 2010)

by OH! Media on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 1:53am

Original post can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150387541235635

Microsoft Outlook 2007/2010

Go to Tools –> Account Settings. (In Outlook 2010 this can be found by going to File –> Account Settings.)
Dialog box pops up and opens to “Email” tab by default. At the top left of the dialog box hit “New…”.
Check off “Manually configure server settings or additional server types” and hit “Next”.
Select the “Internet Email” option.
Input requested info (Name, Email). If you will be configuring your email account on a smart phone as well as Outlook choose the “IMAP” option under Server Information –> Account Type. If you will only be using your email through Outlook choose “POP3″ under the Server Information –> Account Type setting. Incoming mail server/Outgoing Mail Server should be set to “mail.ohmedia.ca”.
Logon Information.. Username should be your email, Password should be your email password.
After entering the details, press “More Settings …” In the “Outgoing Server” tab, check the checkbox labelled “My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication”. There should also already be a mark beside “Use same settings as my incoming mail server”.
In the “Advanced” tab, immediately beneath the “Incoming server (IMAP):” or “Incoming server (POP3):” line, find the box labelled “Use the following type of encrypted connection:” and select “SSL” from the dropdown.
Click OK.
When all info is input and correct hit “Test Account Settings”.
You will be prompted to login using the Username/Password you just set up. (Remember: Username is your email, Password is your email password.)
Outlook will run a test login and email, if configuration is set up correctly you will see two green check marks beside each task. Hit close on the test account settings.
Click “Finish” in the main dialog box and you’re done!

Audio Technica ATH-SJ1

2011-04-22T03:45:00.000-07:00

Review:

Audio Technica ATH-SJ1 Headphone

Features

Audio-Technica's ATH-SJ1 is the new casual headphone with a DJ style. Not only it is light and comfortable on the head, the ear-pads are smooth and soft. Featuring rotatable parts, and it allows the user to fold the headphone into a small and compact carrying size. Comes in black and white, easy to mix and match with any portable audio players.

Specifications

Type: Airtightness dynamic type
Driver: 36mm
Impedance: 32 ohms
Output overpressure value: 104dB/mW
Largest input: 500mW
Playback frequency zone: 15 - 22,000Hz
Mass: 90g
Cord/code length: 1.2m
Plug: 3.5 gold plated stereos mini-plug (Largest diameter 5.9 mm)

How to Openline your Globe/Smart Broadband

2011-03-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

Eto na oh, wag na kayo magsearch ng mga site to unlock your plug-its.

Iba-iba kasi ang signal ng mga network sa iba't ibang lugar, just like my case, Smart ang gamit ko sa bahay, then Globe sa school kasi malakas yung signal.

Reminder po ha, di po lahat ng broadband ay pwedeng iunlock using UNLOCK CODES, just read the notes below.

Thank you.

Huawei broadbands lang po (models starting with E) yung pwede ko iunlock...

Thank you

Just put these details on your comment:
IMEI of your broadband
Model number

Example:
Huawei E1552
IMEI: 352226022889781

Here's the list of the broadband models that I can unlock by this time.

E156
E155
E1550
E1552
E156G
E160
E160G
E161
E166
E169
E169G
E170
E172
E176
E1762
E180
E182E
E196
E226
E270
E271
E272
E510
E612
E618
E620
E630
E630+
E660
E660A
E800
E870
E880
EG162
E880
EG162
EG162G
EG602
EG602G

NOTE:
NOT ALL PLUG-IT BROADBAND CAN BE UNLOCKED using the codes.
To test, just put a different SIM card to your plug it. If a screen prompt asked you to ENTER UNLOCKING CODE, then I can unlock it,
but if it says:
Please insert a specified SIM card or something similar, then I cannot, use an unlocking software rather, such as DCCrap or DC Unlocker

HOW TO UNLOCK YOUR BROADBAND STICK:
1. Insert a non-compatible SIM to your broadband stick.
2. Plug it into your PC and run the broadband software.
3. A message prompt will display, either:
   a. "Please insert a specified SIM card...." or
   b. "Enter unlocking code:_________"
4. If you've encountered message "a", then hindi po pwede ma-unlock si broadband,
   but if you're that lucky na message "b" yung nagdisplay sa screen, then itype nyo dun yung numbers
   na nireply ko.

Ayun lang po, wait na lang po ninyo yung reply ko sa mga comment nyo.

Thank you for visiting.