Archives for 04/2009:

So will you buy Crocs after they’ve reinvented themselves?

About three years ago I bought my first pair of Crocs. It’s akin to the first time you experience anything in your pubescent life — and then grow up to realize that what you did was a bit overrated.

So despite being comfortable, the lot were in agreement that the “awkward” fashion sense outweighed the actual comfort. So what did Crocs do? They removed the holes and kept the sole. Capitalize on what makes your product good, and mitigate the weakness — holes. Note that they also kept the bright colors, at least in most designs that made Crocs stand out as well.

One thing regarding brand authenticity though — check out the Tideline Canvas: Real Crocs, or fake Sanuks?

Here are some of the new pairs of Crocs available TODAY in the Philippines:
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Wowed by these James Zabiela Promo Material

I like ‘em because they’re are geeky. Especially the first peg, with the Bender action figure and the army of Daleks. YEP, James Zabiela is doing a big room at the A Venue this coming May 9 2009. Details below!

It’s not often you see promotional material like this for a big room event. You’ve probably seen the invite on Facebook and Multiply but I’m certain that these pegs aren’t as widespread. Heck, it isn’t even on the Driven Manila site. But hey, thanks to May Legaspi for sending these over (we can’t wait for Warehouse 135′s reopening!).

Aaaand tadah, here’s the copy:

RENAISSANCE MASTERS: DJ JAMES ZABIELA @ THE A – VENUE ON MAY 9, 2009.

Hailed the Best International DJ at Australia’s Dance Music Awards in 2006.
The Best British DJ by the DJ Mag Awards in 2007.
With more than one hundred DJ performances across different countries in 2008.

THIS IS CLUBBING ON FORWARD MOVING MUSIC AT ITS FINEST.

Regular Pre-selling – P500
Regular On-site – P700
VIP ticket – P1,000
VIP tables – P10K, P12K, P15K

For ticket inquiries and table reservations, call 8972472 OR 8957471.

Windows 7 RC1 wallpapers are made of amazing!

With the first release candidate for Windows 7 due on the 5th of May, the community (yes, even Apple community folks) are impressed with new features such as Windows XP virtualization and play list streaming over the Internet from any computer (it’s like last.fm for Windows Live). To add to the flair, RC1 comes bundled with these awesome default wallpapers to visually reflect the new face of Windows. Click on the photos to scale bigger versions.

Click on for more samples and the download zip link!

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Limited Edition Manny Pacquiao Nike Apparel

EDIT: Here’s an updated release of the Pacquiao vs Cotto Trainer 1 shoes!

Wow! I’d like to thank Miles for sending these photos over — the new Manny Pacquiao apparel look really remarkable! The Nike Trainer 1 shoes above will be sold in limited stock with only 49 pairs at P5,209.00. If you’re around town for the long weekend, Nike will be selling these limited edition shoes and tops in their flagship store at Bonifacio High Street on May 2 and 3 starting 12 noon. Party at mag:net after.

If you wish to receive more updates on stuff that I fancy (Nike usually sends me their new product releases ahead of schedule), click on the link below to enter your email address:

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Not sure if I’d go for the shoes — too expensive, plus I already have two pairs of Nike+ running shoes (the ones that have a slot for a Built for iPod accelerometer). The shirt and windrunner trainers look fantastic though. Cool.

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Geek Lust Summarized in Paper

This is the summation of all my fetishes, rolled neatly into several signatures of paper.

J.J. Abrams is guest editor for WIRED Magazine for May ’09. Abrams, famed for Lost and Fringe and the upcoming Star Trek reboot brings in the theme of MYSTERY:

Think back, for example, to how we used to buy music. You would have to leave your apartment or house and actually move your ass to another location. You’d get to the store, where music would be playing on the stereo. Music you may not have heard before. Perhaps you’d ask the clerk what it was and she’d send you to a bin—those wooden containers holding actual albums or CDs—and you’d look through it, seeing other album covers that might catch your eye. You’d have a chance to discover something.

But wait, you say, iTunes gives you the chance to browse! To that I nod, concede the point, and say, “Bullshit.” Those little icons you scroll past mean almost nothing to most of us. Why? Because we didn’t get on the train, brave the weather, bump into strangers, and hear music we didn’t choose. In other words, we didn’t earn the right to casually scan those wooden bins. Lately I go to Amoeba Music in Hollywood just to watch people flip through albums. It’s a lost art. [source]

Can’t wait to grab a copy off the shelves.

[Huge credit for big cover photo]

5 good reasons to join Sandbox

I’ve written about it before, but here’s a more itemized post what I found most interesting with the Sandbox project. These are ultimately the reasons why I immediately signed up for the project when it was presented as a mere concept just a few months ago.

1. Your friends are most probably already there
When Sandbox launched in April it had a few hundred beta testers who were members of mainstream and online publications. Communities have been growing at a steady rate across all spectra — video gaming, anime, tech, love, blogging advice, photography, food and dining .. the list goes on. And, if you can’t find a group that fits you, why not create your own?

2. It is built as a one stop shop
There are two components to Sandbox – the user generated features that’s composed of the social network aspect, blogging platform, and photo / video uploads and an online content store where you can download games and music (P30.00 per song, cheaper than iTunes). Sandbox integrates what’s on your web browser with your mobile in your account creation page thus when you order items from your desktop or laptop, the information is pushed to your phone.

3. It has tangible benefits
Not that I have anything against other social networks, but this is the first locally developed one that actively gives out rewards and benefits to its members. So apart from the fulfillment you get with connecting with your friends, there are true offline benefits for participating in promotions and campaigns.

4. You can make money
Because Sandbox is locally developed, there are more interesting opportunities for you to make money through the system. Apart from an advertising platform within Sandbox that is currently being developed, there are going to be other engagements that will allow Sandbox netizens to build their online real estate such as the mobile site development. During the beta brief, Anton discussed the feasibility of growing your community. Just like with blogs, your real estate inside Sandbox values over time, especially when you grab potentially high ranking keywords.

5. It is continuously being improved
So really, the most exciting thing about Sandbox is that it is continuously being improved based on the feedback from the community. I’ll be the first to say that what you’re currently seeing is still the tip of the iceberg and the team led by Rezza Custodio has been actively looking into feedback. Of course, change doesn’t happen overnight but the plans for the future of Sandbox will take a stronger stance on Web 2.0. So yeah, tell your friends!

Three Thoughts on Personal Branding Online

I’d like to share three short pieces I wrote as a regular contributor for Performancing. What ties the three together are really just my thoughts on personal branding online and marketing yourself.

The first is a short brain fart on determining what type of blogger you are based on how much information you are willing to share online. Question: Is your life an open book? How open? Who do you drag with you online?

The second is more or less an exploratory post on how much below the line budget you’ve allocated with your blog. Have you built your blog into a strong brand to the point that it can be ubiquitous?

The third post is about authenticity. I wrote this after we wrapped up a session in AIM where Professor Cruz talked about authenticity and branding. It’s like asking: Is your travel blog real? Or is it a fake Ironwulf?

Enjoy!

Sandbox: The Social that’s Local

Back in January I worked on a project to pre-launch a rather ubiquitous idea called Sandbox. Well I wasn’t alone. There were hundreds of other Internet personalities, influencers and media practitioners in the Philippines involved in the beta testing phase, which is, to my knowledge the biggest crowd sourced activity ever orchestrated in the local online community.

Read on for more of my personal insights with the launch.
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Open Water Dive Certification Week I: Dive and Trek, Anilao

Henderson Gold Core

What a weekend! I’m in the process of completing my open water diving certification under PADI (yay a blog!). I’ve always wanted to launch into the deep, so now that I have the time and a little more savings, I decided to invest slowly in dives. I dragged Juned into taking lessons under Jan Acosta thanks to MJ, a friend I’ve known since college. Here are three reasons why I made the choice to go dive:
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Lakawon Island Photos with the Lumix LX3

We spent most of Black Saturday in Lakawon Island. I was so glad to finally have a huge burden off my shoulder — literally — as I would usually take my SLR for field trips. I recently caved in and acquired a Panasonic Lumix LX3. The Summicron Leica lens is amazing: it’s quite hard to find a true 24mm wide angle point and shoot camera with very good 720p HD recording. And my golly, f/2.0 on a point and shoot is also a boon.

The Talisay Ruins: My Ancestral Home

Finding the words to describe a piece of history that defines your roots isn’t an easy thing to write about. Believe me, I’ve slaved over a blank screen with my cursor blinking impatiently, urging me to write down words. And I guess there really is no better way to talk about the Talisay Ruins in a more intimate fashion than to tell a story.
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