Inspiration is Free

Womi: Graduation Day by Kanye West

2007-10-08T22:28:00.001-07:00

This is the very first entry in an endless series of posts that I will make on this blog. I'm calling this section "Womi" or more specifically, "What's on my iPod". I will be uploading random songs from my Music player each day to give you an idea about what kind of music I'm currently listening to. I'm also doing this to let you keep up with the latest song releases in the music industry and point you to a few great songs that you might never have heard of if not for this blog.

Today's Womi song: Graduation Day by Kanye West.

If I dedicated the very first photo of the day to the Apple iPhone, I'm dedicating the special Womi song section's first entry to Kanye West. Graduation Day is the third song on his first album College Dropout. I feel a connection between me and Kanye West, and can almost certainly relate to what he talks about (or raps about) in his songs. Graduation Day is the perfect song to keep in mind when a lot of people are looking down on you for being a failure and trying to push you to be what you're not. The song doesn't even last for more than 2 minutes but the lyrics will move you to think twice about dropouts and unsuccessful people in general. Graduation Day is a good song to listen to in times of tribulation, especially for kids who have just dropped out of school (and you know there are a lot of them). Hit the jump for a full track sample of Graduation Day by Kanye West.

Lyrics:

I'm no longer confused but don't tell anybody
I'm about to break the rules but don't tell anybody
I've got something better than school but don't tell anybody
My momma would kill me so don't tell anybody
She wants me to get a good ass job just like everybody
She ain't walked in my shoes
I'm
just
not
everybody...

Photo of the Day: First iPhone sighting in local mall

2007-10-08T01:05:00.000-07:00

Denying familiarity with the now world famous consumer electronics device pictured here is akin to trying to scratch a diamond. As for me, I won't even try to hide the fact that I'm a die-hard Apple fanboy. Just let me dedicate my very first Photo of the Day to the one and only JesusPhone -- the Apple iPhone.

I was walking innocently across "another cellphone store" in a local mall two days ago when I saw this beauty lying alongside Nokias, Motorolas, and Sony Ericssons. I couldn't believe what I was seeing at first - I know iPhones won't come to the Philippines (Asia, actually) until 2008 - so it wasn't until 5 seconds later that I realized it was possible to have iPhones here already, as early as now. And these would be the hacked, unlocked versions of the unit. Sure enough, I was right. Boy, you'll believe when you see.

This thing is such a beauty I returned to the store twice just to get a chance to hold it. Go on and call me desperate, but this is the best-looking piece of gadgetry modern technology has ever provided: sleek and stylish design, exceptional and intuitive UI, it's incredibly smart and sexy, and it's the most-advanced media player in the world.

Now can any one of you direct me to Santa? I need to talk to him ASAP...

Breaking: iPhone has landed in the Philippines

2007-10-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Attention, ladies and germs, this is breaking news: the iPhone has finally landed in the Philippines (Or am I the last to know??)! Recently spotted in 2 (not one! but TWO!) local malls, the iPhone is now for sale here in the Philippines for a suggested retail price that will cost as much as a semester in de La Salle University (there goes college). Details and more photos after the click-through.

One sad Saturday morning I decided to go to SM City Manila and knock myself out playing Drum Mania at Quantum (It's my second home). After about five hours of exhaustive "drumming", I thought I'd pay a visit to the cellphone shops on the next floor up, also to see how much the Nokia E50 would cost me when I finally buy it next payday. As usual I visited each cellphone shop one by one and to my surprise, I saw an iPhone look-a-like. I thought to myself how sickening China is becoming when it comes to piracy. That somebody ought to teach those pirates a lesson, not only for stealing original ideas of other people, but for making the whole industry (music, movies, consumer electronics and all) look downright ugly. But upon closer inspection (or about 5 seconds later) it occured to me that I was looking at the real thing: the iPhone, in the flesh! Of course I couldn't resist asking for a chance to paw at it, so I did. And it was great. And now I'm here wishing I could afford one when it finally hits our country with official specs (not to mention 3G). Or at least I hope I can buy an iPod Touch for Christmas. By the way if there are any generous souls reading this right now, please feel free to donate. God bless you. ^^

The name of the store I found selling the fully unlocked iPhones is Mega One and you can find it in SM City Manila and Robinson's Place Ermita. I'm guessing other Mega One branches in other malls are offering it too.

The picture here says it, bro. The price is more than a lot to ask for. But a store clerk told me that they have an ongoing promo for the iPhone. She said that anyone who buys a minimum of 3 iPhones will get them for P39,000 instead of the advertised P46,000. But I'm thinking, who in the heck would do that, 3 rich best-friends? Hmm... maybe.

These iPhones (for sale in Mega One) are fully unlocked iPhones that will work with any SIM card from any local network. That means you can experience the same old Smart, Sun, and Globe experience in a brand new way, which is - touchy-feely courtesy of the Apple iPhone. It will work with all hacks, too. But be warned that this phone is not under the International Apple Care warranty since it is a hacked iPhone, and its Firmware is not updated to the latest version to avoid being bricked (and non-functional as a phone). If you know a good hacker, buy this phone and let him do the magic in updating it. Don't say I didn't warn you though. Caveat Emptor.

Philippines: Nokia phones prices and specs (Round up)

2007-10-04T19:01:00.001-07:00

Dear readers, here's an initial episode of local cellphone prices and specs round-up. All featured phones here are available at the Greenhills Shopping Center and SM malls nationwide.

Click on the photos to see and read the reviews at the bottom of this blog post. I hope this is helpful. Enjoy!

Nokia 6233

2007-10-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

Nokia 6233
This should've been in the Nseries
P10,000

PHONE Quadband/3G phone. Nokia Series 40 graphical user interface (GUI) with M-Java 2 CLDC support. Flight-mode for offline use.
CAM 2.0 megapixel camera with flash and 8x zoom. Landscape viewfinder and pocket camcorder(MP4/3GP).
MUSIC Digital music player for all music file formats. 5-band graphic equalizer. FM radio with 20 presets.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS & E-mail support. Mobile surfing via xHTML, WWW or SIM toolkits. Pop-port connector to PC via USB. Infrared and Bluetooth 1.2.
MEMORY 10 mb dynamic device memory. 64 mb microSD card included in box (supports up to 2GB).
MISC ITU-T keymat + 5-way navigation key & 2 (L & R) selection keys. Monoblock intenna with real metal cover details. 2.4-inch QVGA screen with 320 x 240 pixels and 262K colors. Built-in stereo speakers with audio widening. Dedicate shutter and volume keys. Video ring tones.

Cellular czar Nokia adds another feather to its cap with the launch of Nokia 6233. It’s Nokia’s smallest 3G phone till date, with sophisticated and sleek stainless steel finish and a soft-matte backing. However, Nokia describes the design of the phone to be in sync with the corporate life, yet its outstanding multimedia features make it an eye candy for all. The phone weighs 110g and is slightly heavier than most other phones. But for a 3G phone, it’s a chinless wonder!

The phone has an inbuilt 2 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom. In terms of connectivity, Bluetooth and infrared adorn this sleek gadget to make it compatible with wireless headsets, Bluetooth car-kits, and other phones as well. But sadly, it doesn’t fit into old hardwired car-kit cradle and so it’s recommended to get the new CR-56 mobile holder.

To ask for more, the phone is adorned by latest messaging, browsing, music and video standards. The Nokia 6233 has a brilliant 320 x 240 QVGA display, 262k colour TFT LCD, WCDMA 2100 MHz, GSM 900/1800/1900, downloadable games, videos, MP3 or AAC ringtones and microSD memory card support of upto 2 GB. The advantage of 'Active Standby Mode' gives you quick access to the frequently used applications.

The phone shoots excellent quality VGA video and quality still pictures. The phone also has flight mode, a recent addition to Nokia mobile phones, which facilitates you to use all the non call-related features whilst on a flight. Keeping in mind the size, this phone offers excellent 3G compatibility. But sadly unlike all other 3G phones, it lacks video calling feature.

The phone is available in two colours, black and silver. Overall, the performance is good. You may get the best deals on Nokia 6233 from malls nationwide.

Nokia 5500 Sport

2007-10-04T18:32:00.000-07:00

Nokia 5500
A phone for Pacquiao
P13,000

PHONE Triband GSM phone. Enhanced Series 60 User Interface - phone, music & sport UI accessible via dedicated keys.
CAM 2.0 megapixel camera.
MUSIC Integrated digital music player for MP3, WAV, AAC, eAAC+ music formats. FM radio.
CONNECTIVITY Speaker-independent dialing. Bluetooth, Infrared and USB connectivity.
MEMORY Free 512 mb in-box memory.
MISC Large display with 208 x 208 pixels and 262K colors. One-key access to music/ phone/ sports modes. Durability and splash proofness thru added mechanical protection. Sports tracking with accelerometer. Activity trackin, exercise diary & fitness coach application for support in sports activities.

Latest mobile phones come in different forms and designs. From the exquisite L'Amour collection to business phones, users have different options to choose. To have a totally different experience, Nokia has introduced a sporty phone, the Nokia 5500, that brings the passion and the spirit of sports whenever you hold the phone in your hand. With a multitude of sports and multimedia features – the Nokia 5500 is a real pleasure.

The phone with dedicated buttons are used to activate three different modes, which include a phone mode, music mode and sports mode. So with the touch of a phone button, you can switch to different modes easily. Start talking with friends or family, play your favourite music tracks while jogging and your phone will keep track of the miles you cover. The Nokia 5500 also features text-to-speech technoogy – enabling you to simply tap the phone and the message is read out automatically.

In addition to such a unique sport and mesaging services – the phone is also loaded with music features. With an integrated music player that supports several music file formats such as MP3 and AAC – you can download your favourite songs either from the internet or a PC. And with an expandable memory support of up to 1GB – allows more rooms to save music tracks.

The Nokia 5500 is a complete phone and bears all the latest features that one can expect in a phone. The sporty phone also offers a 2.0 mega-pixel camera with a self timer – now you can include youself in a photo album while capturing the moment. You can also record video clips in different modes including H263 and MPEG4.

The sporty phone also comes with a an integrated pedometer – allows you to calculate the distance as well as the calories burnt during the work out. In addition, the stainless steel casing and the rubber grip of the phone provide extra durability. Revitalize your body and mind with the Nokia 5500.

Nokia 6280

2007-10-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

Nokia 6280
Slide into the 3G world
P11,000

PHONE UMTS/ Triband GSM phone. Nokia Series 40 User Interface. Active standby feature.
CAM 2.0 megapixel main camera with flash and 8x digital zoom. Second camera: VGA resolution.
MUSIC Stereo FM radio and MP3 player. Support for MP3, AAC, video ringing tones and 64-polyphonic ring tones.
CONNECTIVITY Bluetooth, Infrared and USB pop-port. Pictbridge compatible (for express photo printing). Push-to-talk technology.
MEMORY 10 mb built-in memory plus 64 mb miniSD card. Supports up to 2GB.
MISC Dedicated zoom/ volume and camera shutter keys for camera application. Big and bright 320 x 240 pixel resolution with up to 262K colors. Xpress Audio messaging features. 3G capability.

The Nokia 6280 is a joy to use and with a vivid, bright and clear display. The key features include a MP3 player, PTT (Push To Talk), dual integrated cameras with video calling and email with attachment support. The 6280 includes a 64MB miniSD card in the package and this should be enough storage. The phone provides an ideal platform for 3G services such as real time video sharing and two way video calling. The phone creates a natural, user friendly conventional camera experience by operating the photography function in a horizontal landscape mode.

Pictures and videos taken with Nokia 6280 can be viewed directly on the screen and then shared with others via MMS or email. The 2 megapixel camera of Nokia 6280 snaps stills of good quality in daylight and adequate quality in darker environments. More features are Bluetooth dial-up networking, MP3 ringtones, 6 MB of onboard memory, miniSD memory card expansion, 64 MB card bundled, headset and printing support, USB 2.0 connectivity with PictBridge support, Tri-band GSM with EDGE support, Stereo FM radio. When it comes to adding extra software, Java is supported and if you want to synchronise with a PC, you get both the software and a cable that allows you to get good sound output both from the radio and the music player.

The Nokia 6280 mobile phone has a classic feel to it. The solid built frame only weighs 115g, lighter than other 3G phones from Nokia. The phone runs on WCDMA and tri band GSM, supporting video calls at a high speed of 384kbps. The push to talk (PTT) technology allows you to instantly talk to other people owing a PTT phone on the same network just by the push of a button.

Nokia 5700

2007-10-04T18:28:00.002-07:00

Nokia 5300
Little party in your pocket
P7,000 up - GSC

PHONE HSCSD/ CSD, GPRS, EGPRS support. Enhanced Nokia Series 40 UI. Offline use. Compact slider.
CAM 1.3-megapixel camera with up to 8x digital zoom. Landscape camcorder and video player. Dedicated camera keys with preloaded fun frames and programmable white balance.
MUSIC Music player supporting all file formats. Dedicated music keys. High quality loudspeaker and in-box headset.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS 1.2, e-mail. Surf the web with EDGE/ GPRS. MiniUSB interface with USB 2.0. Infrared and Bluetooth.
MEMORY Up to 7 MB user data expandable with MicroSD card up to 2GB.
MISC Rubber grip for better ergonomics. Large 320 x 240 pixel, 262K color QVGA TFT display. 256 MB memory in-box.

The Nokia 5300 belongs to the Xpress Music line and is geared towards being a mobile music player. This is immediately noticed upon first glance at its form, with dedicated keys for the music application. It also has a 1.3-megapixel camera that shoots pretty decent pictures in well-lit conditions. Although the phone didn't quite become the hit that it should've been, you could still consider buying one even if just for the bright red highlights and hip form factor.

Obviously, it's a phone for the kids. Or the younger market, for that matter. But this may very well do for anyone who is young at heart. The Nokia 5300 runs with the Nokia Series 40 User Interface, which kills most of the possibilities for 3rd party applications. Still, you can stick with its built-in apps which aren't that bad anyway. For example, the music interface isn't exactly an enhanced one in the Nokia 5300, but it's a different thing from other phones. And sometimes, being different is all that matters.

It can be a bit hard to navigate through the phone for first-time users because the menu and selection keys don't require much pressing due to being touch-sensitive. Once you get over this, though it'll be smooth sailing ahead. If you want a loud-mouth music phone that will compliment you as you express yourself, the Nokia 5300 will not let down.
Overall, it's not the best phone out there, nor is it better than most of what's available in its price range. But if you're looking for something different, trying this one won't hurt you. Because in a world full of depressingly gray/ black monoblocks, a white sliding phone with an emphasis on being young and energetic isn't anything but sweet relief.

Nokia N70

2007-10-04T18:28:00.001-07:00

Nokia N70
No wonder it's a best-seller
from P 10,500 to 12,500 - GSC

PHONE Triband/ WCDMA/ Dual-mode/ 3G phone. Nokia Series 60 v 2.8 GUI, Symbian 8 OS with Java 2 Support. Offline mode and simless operation.
CAM 2.0 Megapixel camera with built-in flash. 20x digital zoom, advanced image settings and 5 shooting modes. Mp4 or 3gp video recording. Secondary VGA camera for video calls.
MUSIC Digital music player for MP3/ AAC/ WMA file formats. Album art display. Stereo with Visual Radio support.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS, E-mail support. Video calling/ video sharing. Mobile browsing via xHTML, WWW, & SIM toolkits. USB 2.0. Bluetooth 1.2.
MEMORY 20 MB on-device memory. Expandable with DV-RS-MMC(hot-swap).
MISC Active sliding main camera lens cover. 2.1-inch TFT screen(176x208 pixels, 262K colors). Pre-loaded print utilities and MS office document viewers. Built-in image and video editors. Memory support up to 2GB.

Premiered in silver, this dual-mode/ 3G handset from Nokia is easily the best-selling unit out of all the amazing Nseries phones. No matter where you are in the Philippines right now, you are sure to spot at least two or three people with an N70 in their hand. But this shouldn't make you wonder though. When compared with other Nseries phone models based on looks, you'd easily mistake the N70 for a higher-end one due to its flashy silver finish and fancy camera lens slider. Maybe that's the reason why this old mobile-wonder is still so "now" and has even outlived the higher-end N73 in terms of obsolescence (Nokia has already phased-out the N73 and now only the Music Edition of it is being mass-produced).

The N70 is just your average Nokia Nseries phone. Which means it has highly advanced multimedia and entertainment features (3gp/mp4 recording and playback on the 2.1-inch, 262K color screen; mp3/ aac/ eaac+ playback in the integrated music player; tons of multimedia and other useful software applications that are tailor-made for its Symbian OS; and high data transfer speeds with the use of the 3G network. But of course, it's stongest selling points are the dual cameras that are placed on it's front and back. The front VGA camera is useful for live video calls while the main 2-megapixel camera gives you print-worthy photos, even in low-light. In daylight or bright light, however, it can be a worthy replacement for smaller digital cameras. That, coupled with its nice music player makes it dangerously close to becoming an all-in-one. If only it had a better battery pack.

Overall, the N70 is a very reliable handset. Despite the mediocre battery life and slightly bulky feel when you hold it in one hand (especially if it has crystal casing), the N70 won't let you down features-wise. If you're looking for an upgrade to a 3G phone, look no further than this classic, living legend.

Nokia N73

2007-10-04T18:25:00.000-07:00

Nokia N73
The unofficial upgrade to the Nokia N70
P 15,800 (Classic)/ P 17,300 (Music Edition)

PHONE Quadband/ UMTS/ 3G phone. Nokia Series 60 v 3.0 GUI, Symbian 9 OS with M-Java CLDC support. Offline mode.
CAM 3.2 Megapixel Carl Zeiss-Vario Tessar auto-focus lens with flash. 20x digital zoom. MP4 video recording(15 frames-per-second). Secondary VGA camera for video calls.
MUSIC Digital music player for MP3, AAC, eAAC, AAC+, WMA or M4A files. Album art display, stereo speakers, and FM radio with Visual Radio support.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS, Email support. Video calling/ video sharing. Web browsing via xHTML, WWW, EDGE or 3G. Infrared, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 1.2.
MEMORY 40 MB on-device memory. Expandable with MiniSD card(hot-swappable).
MISC Active camera lens slider. Dedicated music access keys, shutter, zoom-volume, menu and gallery keys. 2.4-inch screen (320x240 pixels, 262K colors). Preloaded office and Adobe tools. Built-in image/video editors. Memory support up to 2GB. Nokia MiniMap Browser.

If you're looking for an upgrade to a 3G phone but something like a V3X or maybe even an N70 just won't do, then the Nokia N73 would be a sure hit for you. It's a Nokia smartphone and it belongs to the Nseries. Isn't that enough to convince you already?

Even if you're not such a big fan of all-in-one devices, you'll find that the N73 delivers quite well. Having this in your pocket negates the need for a few other gadgets, namely: (1) a camera (it's main attraction is a 3.2 megapixel Carl Zeiss auto-focus lens with flash. You can use the 20x digital zoom for taking stills and there's also up to 8x zoom video stabilization for video clips.), (2) a music player (the integrated digital music player will play all music file formats - mp3, aac, wma, & m4a - and the essential FM radio is present with Visual Radio support.), (3) a movie player (an integrated movie player is present to take care of 3gp/ mp4 movie playback and a 2.4-inch, 320x240 pixel, 262K color screen ensures your movie viewing satisfaction) and finally, (4) a smartphone - well, almost (preloaded PDA features, as well as Office and Adobe viewers, make up for your mobile office needs). It also supports email messaging and net surfing at the speed of 3G. So why think twice about buying an N73? Yes, there are trade-offs, and one is the weak battery unit. But considering the savings you get from the gadgets it replaces, an extra battery (or two) will seem very cheap.

Merely mentioning its key features make it seem like a multimedia powerhouse. And its looks don't deceive you. It's really a great phone. So don't hold your breath and just buy the N73. I'm sure you can afford it.

Nokia N80

2007-10-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

Nokia N80
Nokia's multimedia computer. Enough said.
P 16,000 - GSC

PHONE Quadband/ WCDMA/ 3G phone. Nokia Series 60 v 3.0 GUI, Symbian 9 OS.
CAM 3.0 Megapixel camera with flash and 20x zoom. Macro mode, landscape view and various shooting modes. Secondary VGA camera for video calls.
MUSIC Digital music player for MP3/ WMA/ AAC files. 5-band graphic equalizer. FM tuner with visual radio support.
CONNECTIVITY SMS, MMS, & E-mail support. Mobile surfing via EGPRS, 3G or Wi-Fi(802.11b/g). Universal Plug N Play support. USB 2.0 and Bluetooth.
MEMORY 40 MB device memory. Expandable via MiniSD memory card.
MISC SLide up display. 2.1-inch screen with 320x420 pixels and 262K colors. Preloaded office viewers and image editors. High-speed mobile broadband via 2.75G, 3G or Wi-Fi. Built-in handsfree loudspeaker & Vibra alert. Offline mode and simless operation.

Representing the mid of the highly rated Nseries family, the Nokia N80 is a master in everything it does. This multimedia powerhouse from Nokia is a stunner. Exceptional functionality is equally matched by its stunning looks. The slider designing is same as Nokia 6111 and Nokia 6280. Being a 3G smart phone, the Nokia N80 can easily be described as compact. At 134 grams, the Nokia N80 is on the lighter side of smart phones. The Nokia N80 is based on S60 (third edition) platform and works on Symbian Operating system. Therefore, other than the built in programs, you can even run third party softwares on the Nokia N80. UPnP technology, Push to Talk, PIM including calender, Java MIDP 2.0 are only a few from the vast feature list of the Nokia N80.

Perhaps the most popular feature of the Nokia N80 is its integrated camera. The primary camera module embedded in this smart phone from Nokia is 3.0 mega pixel. Armed with 20x digital zoom and Integrated LED flash with red eye correction, the Nokia is nothing less than a true camera completed with Landscape view and dedicated camera key. High quality video recording capabilities in MP4 and 3GP formats of the Nokia N80 will comes in very handy in immortalizing special moments and occasions. The Nokia N80 has pre-installed 'Nokia Lifeblog' – so that you can upload your pictures and videos to the web.

The Nokia N80 supports quad-band GSM networks across all continents. The handset can also take part in 3G video calls across WCDMA 2100 MHz. A secondary VGA camera is included over the TFT display solely for that purpose. The mobile phone supports GPRS, EDGE as well as WiFi. Searching for any web content on its built in web browser is very easy. The Handset also includes a media player and a FM radio so that you don't have to carry anything else for music on the go.

Nokia N91

2007-10-04T18:17:00.000-07:00

Nokia N91
Monster hard-drive multimedia computer
P xx,xxx

PHONE Triband/ 3G phone. Series 60 GUI, Symbian OS v 9.1. Offline mode. Simless operation.
CAM 2.0 Megapixels with 6x digital zoom.
MUSIC Dedicated music player keys. FM radio. Built-in 3.5mm audio jack compatible with any standard set of earphones.
CONNECTIVITY GPRS, EDGE, 3G, USB, Bluetooth. WLAN(Wi-Fi).
MEMORY 4GB(Microdrive). Additional 30MB for contacts, calendar, SMS. No memory expansion slots.
MISC 262K color TFT display with 176x208 pixel screen resolution. Up to 4 hours talk time, 6 days stand-by time.

Once upon a great hit in the market, the Nokia N91 has taken a little backseat off late. The handset is a little expensive as compared to its competitors and has been taken over by many other model. Yet, one things about Nokia N91 remains the same, that this handset still features some functionalities that makes it desired by the customers. Its highlights being integrated 4GB hard drive, a music player, a 2-mega pixel camera, and PIM capabilities. In terms of design, the Nokia N91 looks a little bulky and flashy. The sliver shine sure makes it eye catchy, but at 4.4 by 2.2 by 0.9 inches and 5.8 ounces, the slider phone is on the larger and heftier side.

Even if we were to gauge the slider as a music phone, our opinion would be still the same. But this solid construction also have a positive side. It enables the user to get a stronger grip of the device. The Nokia N91 features a 2.2-inch-diagonal screen that displays 262,000 colours. Below the display are two customizable soft keys, the Talk and End buttons, and a five-way navigation toggle. On closed position, the device also displays music control keys. To access the numeric keypad, the Nokia N91 needs to be slid. Though the keypad seems a little cramped. On the left spine are a volume rocker, a speaker, and a mini USB port, while on right spine are a menu shortcut key and a button to release the back cover.

The Nokia N series thrives on multimedia prowess. And while the N80 and N90 ensure photography fun, the Nokia N91 is all about music. It has a competent music player and can hold up to 3000 songs. Further , it also has the advantage of Windows Media DRM-protected files. To enhance the sound, there's an equalizer with seven options (default, acoustic, bass booster, hip-hop, pop, R&B, and rock) and an audio settings menu where you can tweak the balance, stereo widening, and loudness.Other features of Nokia N91 are triband (GSM 900/1800/1900; EDGE), integrated Bluetooth 1.2 and Wi-Fi, speakerphone, speed dial, voice dialing and commands, text and multimedia messaging, a vibrate mode, and many lifestyle features.

Nokia 6260

2007-10-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

Nokia 6260
Big-boned twisting clam

from P 5,000 up - 2nd hand

PHONE Triband GSM phone. Symbian 7 OS, Series 60 User Interface

CAM VGA resolution camera (480 x 640 pixels)

MUSIC Bundled Real Player for MP3, WAV, AAC, and Real Audio formats. FM radio. Video support for 3GPP, Mp4 and Real Video formats. FM radio with 20 presets.

CONNECTIVITY SMS and MMS messaging, support for POP3/ IMAP4 e-mail. Bluetooth, Infrared and USB connectivity.

MEMORY About 6 MB on-board memory. Expandable via Dual-Voltage Reduced-Size Memory Card (DV-RS-MMC)

MISC Color screen with 176 x 208 pixel resolution and 65K colors. Built-in handsfree speaker. Wallet application. Preloaded Office (Word and Powerpoint) viewers. IM.

The Nokia 6260 is a great phone in its own right, but it is easily overshadowed by more flashy and glittery mobile phones. One of the reasons for this could be its hefty clam-type form. It's too big for one-handed use and when open, it's almost as big as two phones put together. Also, the design is as plain as it can get. It's ugly and it's big on everything; except on features. But it garners extra points for style and innovation, though. Let me show you how the Nokia 6260 can potentially turn the tables and become the next item in your shopping list.

The form of the Nokia 6260 is that of a classic clamshell, but - you gotta hear this - there's a twist. Quite literally, you can twist the screen of the half-open clam to access the camera application and take pictures with its VGA camera. It has and MP3 player and FM radio, too. It's almost like a prototype for the future N90 and N93. But of course, it's not on the same level as those super phones. It runs with the same OS, though, and the Symbian platform does a pretty neat job at trying to save the Nokia 6260's sinking ship.

It has some pretty cool applications built-in, such as the chat application, position tracking system and it also supports Push-to-talk technology. Unfortunately, these features are not supported in most countries except in Europe. So what else can you do with a Nokia 6260? Well, a lot, actually, with the of the right applications for its OS.

One of the few major drawbacks, though, is its noticeable slugishness. Even just turning the unit on after it has been turned off will have you waiting for a while or for upwards of 1 minute. If you can overcome this, you won't be disappointed with the Nokia 6260. But if you still feel you're better off with something better, or something smarter, there are always other choices. I'm just saying this might be a good one.

Nokia N93

2007-10-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

Nokia N93

Movie-making rocket in your pocket

P27,800 - GSC

PHONE Triband, Dual-mode/ 3G handset. Nokia Series 60 v3.0 GUI, Symbian 9 OS with M-Java 2 CLDC support. Offline mode and simless operation.

CAM 3.2-megapixel Carl Zeiss auto-focus optics with 3x optical zoom and flash. 20x digital zoom for stills and 8x digital zoom for videos. Dedicated zoom ring, shutter, flash, and camera keys with on-screen active palette for dynamic scene, exposure and white balance. Video capture at 30 frames-per-second. Secondary camera with 2x step zoom for video calls.

MUSIC Digital music player supporting all music formats. FM stereo with Visual Radio support.

CONNECTIVITY USB 2.0, WLAN (wi-fi 802.11 b/g), Bluetooth 1.2 and Infrared.

MEMORY 40 mb on device memory with hot-swap MiniSD card slot for expansion (up to 2GB).

MISC 2.4-inch main display with 320 x 240 pixel resolution and 262K colors. Outer display screen with 128 x 36 pixels & 65K colors. Xpress sharing of photos/ movies with TV-out, DVD burning, e-mail or blogging. Preloaded Office and Adobe viewers, video and image editors, and integrated Series 60 web browser with MiniMap.

The Nokia N93 is a great convergent device. It is one of the very rare cellphone/ camera/ media player hybrids that does not compromise when it comes to features. It gives new meaning to the term 'jack of all trades' because it certainly is able to handle whatever is demanded from it. But one question always comes to the top of my head whenever I see one. Yes, it's a beautiful rendition of an all-in-one, but I always end up asking myself, 'Who would want one?' OK, maybe tech-heads and cam-geeks would want one. Big shot politicians or businessmen and anybody with a Swiss bank account might get a hold of it too. But just one look at the Nokia N93 tells you that it's just too big for its own damn good. Yes, it's just too big, but I figure they had to make room for its mammoth features. So, now that the only gripe has been mentioned, time to discuss this superphone's powers!

You can use the Nokia N93 for your regular mobile phone activities (SMS/ MMS messaging and making/ taking calls) and it also supports e-mail messaging. But if checking your e-mail fro Yahoo! or Google just isn't enough, you can also go online and surf the websites themselves via a 3G connection or a Wi-Fi hotspot. So what useful thing can you do exactly while surfing the web from your phone? You can check out the latest news, browse your favorite sites, or even upload your camera snaps directly to a blog. Speaking of the camera, the Nokia N93 has one of the best (and not to mention the biggest) imaging peripherals around and the Carl Zeiss lens assembly is actually what contributes the most to the phone's overall bulk. Like the previous N90, it seems they've built the phone around the 3.2-megapixel sensor. Dedicated zoom and camera keys partnered with a big and bright, flip-twist LCD screen make for easier camera operations. Preloaded smartphone features (Office/ Adobe viewers) and vast options for connectivity (Bluetooth, USB, and Infrared) try to persuade that it's the only gadget you'll ever need. It almost succeeds.

At the end of the day, it brings the best of worlds closer. Imaging, music, connectivity, what else could you need? What? Something much better? Well, you can always check out the N95, if that's your thing. Still, this phone is a worthy alternative.

Nokia N95

2007-10-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

Nokia N95
The King-and-Queen of the royal NSeries bloodline
from P 26,500 up - GSC

PHONE Quadband/ WCDMA/ HSDPA(3.5G) phone. Nokia Series 60 v 3.1, Symbian OS. Offline mode and simless operation.
CAM 5.0 Megapixel Carl Zeiss-Vario Tessar auto-focus lens with flash. Video stabilisation and VGA resolution up to 30 frames-per-second for DVD-grade video recording. Secondary camera for video calling.
MUSIC DIgital music player for all music file formats. Dedicated media access keys. FM radio with visual radio support.
CONNECTIVITY WLAN 802.11 b/g. USB 2.0. Infrared. Bluetooth with A2DP. 3.5mm stereo headphone plug and TV-out support(PAL/NTSC).
MEMORY Up to 160 MB internal memory. Expandable with MicroSD card(hot-swap).
MISC Dual slide motion. Dedicated music keys, shutter and lens cover mechanism. 2.6-inch QVGA display with 240x320 pixels and up to 16 million colors. Integrated Nokia MiniMap Web Browser. Built-in GPS maps.

Nokia N95. 2.6-inch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, built-in GPS mapping system, and a 5-MP camera sensor with a Carl Zeiss lens and flash mechanism. No, I'm not reading the future of mobile phones on a crystal ball. I'm describing the key features of the present-day N95.

One look at the Nokia N95 is all it takes to be impressed. And for its heavyweight feature set, it's surprisingly light on the hand. Suddenly the previously much-loved N93 with its very bulky frame seems like one great big mistake.

Actually there's nothing more to say but just BUY IT. If you have the cash, you won't be spending in vain with this one. Once you have this in your pocket, you will truly have it all.

Sports: A prayer for Pacquiao

2007-10-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Some people don't seem happy about my blog post. So for the sake of those who are questioning the logic behind my pushing everyone to pray for Pacman, let me say one thing: let's all pray for both Pacman and Barrera, and hope that the best man wins.

Manny Pacquiao has come a very long way since he started his journey on the road of professional boxing. He has faced a lot of foes, he has crossed a lot of roads, he has conquered a lot of mountains, yet he's still standing strong. In less than 3 days he will face an arch nemesis for the second, and hopefully last time inside the ring. It will be watched by millions across the world, and will be talked about by millions more. As loyal fans, we offer this simple prayer, that will help inspire Manny Pacquiao to put an end to all the disputes.

Manny Pacquiao, you are unstoppable, the destroyer. If you ever feel weak at any round during your fight, rest assured the Filipino people are right behind you. You're image is an endless inspiration to thousands of boxing fans from all over the world. We know you can overcome your upcoming battle, and we're here to show you that we support you 100%. We pray that you get what you rightfully deserve, which is: VICTORY! Go Manny, do it for the country!

Support this movement and add your own prayer for Manny Pacquiao so that we can reach ~~300~~ as many prayers ~~in total~~ as we can before the day of the fight. Who knows, we might even make more than ~~300~~ enough prayers. Do it for the PacMan! Post your prayer thru the comments form below.

Aussie directly insults Filipino who posted a comment on his site

2007-10-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

What something to really get pissed off about? Forget indirect insults from a TV sitcom script, here's a full-on blog entry where an Australian blogger hits on a Pinoy SEO who posted a comment on his blog.

Australian blogger Alister Cameron read this comment on his blog:

I am very amaze of what you post Alister. You explain everything clearly and full of informations of what people, especially marketers really need to know.

Thank you so much..

they guy immediately fired back with a blog entry entitled: Another stupid SEO strategy: the filipino link builder who can’t write, only to regret this action later.

Turns out, he only traced the IP address to the Philippines and held this as the sole basis for saying that the commenter was a Filipino link builder. Well, he was right about one thing, that it was the work of a Pinoy Link Builder, but the comment linked to a website called MyIdeaGuy Blog.

Good thing he apologized afterwards. [Read: Alister Cameron's apology]

Desperate Scriptwriter asks for trouble, screws Pinoy Doctors and nurses, dares bloggers

2007-10-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

what Teri Hatcher said was: “… before we go any further, can I check those diplomas because I just wanna make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”

Ouch. Yeah it hurts to be mentioned in a more than degrading way, on a very successful show on the other side of the world. But have any of you people ever given thought to one thing: Teri Hatcher didn't make that line, the scriptwriter did. So why are you all crappy about it? Give a scriptwriter a chance.

First thing you have to look for when a television show offends you are the scriptwriters, second the producers, and lastly, the actors themselves. Have you done this?

For all we know, the damned scriptwriter might even be a Filipino himself, who thought it would be fun to take a stab at our government, our system, and our people. You all know we're not exactly on top like we used to be. What with multi-million peso scams just around the corner and politicians who've made graft and corruption second nature, it's really easy to spit a racist joke about us or insert us in slapstick comedy whenever the opportunity arises. The nursing board exam was a controversy; most government projects are a controversy; hell even the President herself is a walking controversy. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the equivalent of Eminem if he ran for office here in the Philippines. Now are we really going to make such a controversy over a stupid television sitcom line?

The Philippines is a country of smiles. We thrive on comedy. Now I wonder what would've happened if the exact same line (that half the country is beefing about right now) was spoken on a local TV show like Bubble Gang or even Eat Bulaga. Would we have reacted the same way as we have? Would we seek the actors' apologies, and demand explanations? I don't think so.

Well, you get the point. All I know is if you guys continue this boycott and apology-seeking venture you've started, then you yourselves will be desperate And not only that, we'd be guilty of what Teri Hatcher was accusing us of in the show.

UPDATE If you want something else to get mad about, read: Aussie blogger directly insults Filipino SEO

Photography: Micrography Grand Prize Winner

2007-10-03T17:14:00.001-07:00

Now I'm not really sure what the heck this is supposed to be exactly, but this photo won the Grand Prize Micrograph on the "49th International Conference on Electron, Ion and Photon Beam Technology and Nanofabrication Bizarre/Beautiful Micrograph Contest", it says here. This photo was magnified 340x, and is supposed to be something of a Pico Predator. And if aliens are not your fancy, you can feast your eyes on something else: the world's smallest toilet.

[Gallery]

BS: Get and XBox 360, Playstation 3 for P100.00, no kidding

2007-10-03T01:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know what led me into reading the bulletins of my Friendsters today but I did, and I found something I know a lot of you will like. There's this game console convention that's going to happen at the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall where you can get a chance to play all your favorite gaming consoles, know a bit more about your favorite platforms, and oh, maybe get a brand new XBox 360 or Playstation 3. Did I mention the sticker price is just P100.00? Oh come on, you heard me.

The announcement I read claims that GX-Con (or Game-X Conference, I suppose) is the first gaming console convention in the Philippines and it will be held on October 7, 2007 at the Megatrade Hall 3 of the SM Megamall.

Get to play your favorite consoles,
compete with other gamers, and win
prizes. We have lots in store for you.
Various bands from the anime community
will be there to perform music from your
favorite games. Watch out for NeOtaku,
Do’ahou, Progeny, Trance, Armada, PPF
All Star, Ethereal Anthem, and Harap sa
Likod. Also we will be having contests
like: Name that Tune, Game Trivias,
Tourname nt Finals, Individual and Group
Cosplay, and many more.

It says here.

And as with all conventions they'll be giving away a lot of free stuff in the raffle, promising even an XBox 360 and a Playstation 3 in the list of prizes. Well in that case, gamers, I'll see you all there! Ticket prices are P100.00 each. Prepare to lose both consoles to me. *grin*

[Game Ex via Friendster]

Good news: Google Adsense 2.0 now Western Union compatible

2007-10-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know how long this news has been circulating around the blogosphere but now is the only time that I've been able to blog about it. I'll hold nothing back in this post: this is in fact very good news for us all.

Number 1) For the longest time now Filipino bloggers and Web masters have been petitioning Paypal to include the Philippines in their list of countries that allows members to withdraw funds to a local bank. Well, lo and behold, our country has been upgraded in Paypal. Not only can we send payments like we've all been used to since Paypal came to the country, now we can receive payments as well. We've been thrown on top of the game with the rest of the world.

Number 2) Google Adsense is now Western Union compatible, and set up is easy as pie.

Let me talk about the Western Union feature that's recently been included in Adsense first. Put simply, it's the best way to receive your monthly payments from Google Adsense, bypassing the precious time spent for waiting for the check to arrive plus it's more secure and less prone to postal theft.

What is payment by Western Union Quick Cash?

Western Union Quick Cash is a payment method that allows you to receive your AdSense payments in cash using the worldwide Western Union money transfer service. Payments will be available for pick up at your local Western Union Agent the day after they are sent according to our normal payment schedule.

Sorry but I'll have to cut my post short today, I have to learn more about this. I suggest you do too. See you all at Christmas shopping!

[Pinoy Money Talk via John Cuneta via Mike Abundo via Mark Verzo]

NetVision is pulled out of webcasting Pacquiao-Barrera fight

2007-10-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

"...contract conflicts on the international rights for the Internet webcast" have caused local online video streaming company to cancel their earlier offerings of live web casts for Manny Pacquiao's upcoming fight with Marco Antonio Barrera.

Just when you thought you could escape the haunting advertisements of conventional television (not to mention the frustratingly long commercial gaps), NetVision has to cancel their biggest draw despite the huge success in the Middle East. In a statement posted on their official blog they claim that "this unfortunate incident does not affect, in any way, [their] mission to provide Filipinos all around the world instant access to local video items." Still, things would've been better if the podcast just got through in the first place. HBO is to blame. NetVision is still a good thing, though.[NetVision via Inquirer]

New Sony Readers get attention, not customers

2007-10-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

Whoa, the new Sony Readers are now shipping. Unfortunately, nobody's buying!

I just made that up, of course. I believe Sony is always in style. But this Reader thing has got to stop. It doesn't have backlights, and I'd want to read with the lights off before I go to bed. It's just less functional for me without the backlights. A stripped down Symbian OS in it that could only run an E-book reader App would've done better, in my opinion. What's your take on the Sony Reader? Tell us how you want to change the Sony Reader here. Anywho, there's plenty of Sony PRS-505's now for everyone. $299.00 a pop for you, mister. [Engadget]

How would you change the Sony Reader?

2007-10-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

I’ve been dreaming this up since two months ago, but it seems somebody else has beaten me to the punch. OK, not quite. But Sony has come out with a new edition Reader which looks to me like they’re taking things one step at a time.

My idea of a reader has backlights in it, so that I’ll be able to read in the dark, at night before I sleep, during a black-out, or at any given time when I need a bright background on what I’m reading to make it clear. The Sony Readers don’t have any backlights, and their screens use a new technology called E-Ink that only uses power when the characters change, which is, when you turn to “another page”. It’s obviously for the purpose of conserving power but personally, I’d prefer something that I can take with me to bed and read while the lights are off. With the Sony Reader, it seems I’ll have to read with the lights on. If that’s so, then how is it different from ordinary books?

Also, I’d like something that can not only view documents, but edit them as well. I’m a fan of typing, writing, etcetera. And I’d like to incorporate the ability of viewing and editing word files, other documents, and web pages, if possible, all through a single simple handheld device that I can use on the fly. I believe there’s not been an invention for a dedicated word processing and e-book reading machine with backlights and a memory card slot. I might seem to be a bit sketchy in this post and citing points that have already been presented before, but I’d like a gadget with the above mentioned features and then some. Imagine a Symbian powered smartphone that’s not smart (without PDA functions) and not a phone (without phone functions) but retains its OS even if just for the sake of running third party Office viewers and editors, and such. I’ll be back with this idea when I think I have it straight. Any comments? How would you invent (or re-invent) the “E-Book Reader”? [Wired]

iPod rules the earth, whitens your teeth

2007-10-02T18:08:00.000-07:00

What's better than a new iPod? Why, one that cleans your teeth, of course! The maker of this technology calls it "Rock My Teeth". It works when you plug it into your iPod and you turn the volume up to the highest. It can't beat a dentist's cleaning but it's good enough to make your teeth whiter by at least one shade. I call it weird. Yes, it's creative, but weird.

When you turn a famous consumer electronics device into something else that's not a better consumer electronics device, you're almost asking for trouble. But Mike Williams, who has thought up this teeth-whitening iPod dependent system, feels confident about his new contraption and Yahoo! has already got a story on it. You stick a couple of teeth-whitening strips onto your teeth (top and bottom), stick the plug into your iPod the mouthpiece goes into your, uh, mouth. They've built earbuds into this thing too so you can all and listen to the music that simultaneously helps clean your teeth. How it works is not rocket science, but you'll get a better explanation from the man who made it himself. From what I know it works by vibrating the whitening strips into effect. Sort of. Well, so much for trying. There's a better explanation here: [Yahoo! via Rock My Teeth]