Day 0: Peek into Google’s Booth and launch of “Androidify Yourself” personalized avatars
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 14th, 2011
EDIT: Found the app! Courtesy of Miss Google Earth Philippines, Aileen Apolo-De Jesus
I was able to get a sneak peek into the Google Android booth before the conference. I must say, this is THE booth to visit for MWC 2011. They’ve practically got everything ‘Android’ here including schwag, phones, tablets (yes they have the Motorola Xoom but I wasn’t allowed to touch it just yet since the conference hasn’t officially started). So for your entertainment, here are photos of their kick ass booth (that lets you slide down from the second floor)!
(more…)
Smart Communications announces the Netphone at Mobile World Congress 2011
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 14th, 2011
EDIT: A more accurate post about the Netphone Project
Today, SMART Communications launches the Netphone at Mobile World Congress 2011. It is an Android 2.2 device with SMART branding and features that are exclusive for SMART subscribers.
With the phone being announced, Filipinos are definitely excited about the unit’s hardware (see press release below). However, on a more global scale, the Netphone from SMART is more than just a phone. It is a proof of an actual WAC enabled device.
Day 0: The story thus far
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 13th, 2011Left Manila yesterday at 8PM. Arrived in Barcelona via Zurich about two hours ago. I’m at Catalonia Avinyo for the night. We change hotels tomorrow as the city of Barcelona is fully booked. While we were claiming our tickets from Zurich, the counter girl asked us “Why is everyone going to Barcelona?!”
We’re here for Mobile World Congress 2011. Anyone that matters in the industry of cellphones, tablets and wireless connectivity are here. Except Apple. ‘Coz they’re smug like that.
My mobiles for this trip include a BlackBerry Torch from RIM and my HTC Mozart. The latter has really bad battery so I brought along my portable charger and the extra phone as reinforcements. On the camera end, I’m taking along Chie’s G11 and a S95 which was lent to me by Canon.
Oh, did I mention we flew business class? Business class! Big thanks to SMART for flying us over to cover MWC 2011.
That’s me and Andi Manzano on the plane to Zurich from our Hong Kong stopover.
Everything is a bit taller in Zurich.
Flying Swiss implies an overload of Swiss Chocolate.
And a magnificent view of the Swiss Alps.
From Manila to Hong Kong. From Hong Kong to Zurich. From Zurich to Barcelona. We’re here! And behind us, our cabs.
And this is the view from my hotel room. Presenting the lazy Sunday streets of Barcelona.
Lunch in a bit and then we’re going to check out the conference venue find something to do!!!
Later!
Nem0ry has spoken…
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 12th, 2011First of all this is really cool. I’m blogging from my HTC Mozart.
I’m currently in line waiting for check in. Business class, I can’t believe it! What a nice surprise.
OK guys, Nem0ry has spoken and the winner of the MyFi unit goes to Sanctuarian!
Jayvee, out!
Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone
Dear Nem0ry, as the winner of the Globe Tattoo contest, you get to pick a second winner!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 12th, 2011Hi guys! OK I looked through all the entries (sayang there were other good entries but were already online before this contest) and among all of them I was most entertained by the guy behind the name Nem0ry. I was seriously entertained by the two videos he sent over (i didn’t include the previous 2009 video he made, but he still won based on the criteria).
Hey Nem0ry, congratulations! You just won yourself a Galaxy Tab from Globe Tattoo. Now, all you need to do is pick a winner for the MyFi Prepaid kit. You can take your time with this — no rush. Just shoot me an email when you have finally decided. Remember that you can only choose from the participants of the contest who submitted entries before the 12 noon deadline. Good luck! 
FYI I’ll only be able to process most of this late next week as I am leaving in a few hours for the airport. Congratulations once again!
Hot Air Balloon Series IV: SMART Communications and Inquirer.net
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 11th, 2011
Nuff said!
For best of show, it’s Darth Vader.
Off to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2011
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 11th, 2011
Dear readers,
I leave tomorrow night for Barcelona, Spain to attend Mobile World Congress 2011. For the unfamiliar and non-geeks, let’s just say that if the fashion industry has Fashion Week, us nerds have Mobile World Congress (formerly known as GSM Conference).
In the same way that fashion week is a gathering of designers and brands to dictate what’s in and what’s not, MWC ’11 is a gathering of all the telcos and phone manufacturers around the world to unveil everything that will be launched in 2011. If it’s got a SIM card or a data plan, it’s in MWC.
Conferences and product launches in the morning, cocktails and parties in the evening. I’ll be covering the floor together with Andi Manzano of Magic 89.9. So apart from daily summaries which you can read here, I’ll also be Tweeting (follow @jayvee on Twitter) and updating Facebook from the floor. You can also view global updates using the hashtag #MWC2011
On Wednesday late afternoon (exact time to be confirmed) I will also be on live video via Flippish to do a mid-week wrap up of the events thus far. Since it will be live, feel free to join the Flippish chatroom so we can discuss the new products and services that are being unveiled.
Wish me luck! In my next post, I’m going to show you the gadgets I’m packing to cover the floor live.
Hot Air Balloon Series III: Snowman, Flying Barn and Pirate in a Barrel
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 11th, 2011
Here’s a fun sight. Three of the more “cartoony” balloons include the Snowman, the Flying Barn and what can only be described as a Pirate in a Barrel. The latter is attractive to look at because of the attention to detail — check out the “front” and “back” photos.
Best of show: Darth Vader.
Hot Air Balloon Series II: FESTO’s Upside Down Twin Balloon
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 10th, 2011
If you’ve been a regular at the festival, you may have noticed the FESTO balloon + blimp staples in the launches. Now I’m not sure if it was around last year (I didn’t go) but this year, it has an upside down twin. From the looks of it, the balloon is unmanned!
Up in the air, you’ll really need to have a second look.
Check out the Darth Vader Balloon!
Darth Vader Balloon: Hands down, the geekiest balloon at the 2011 Hot Air Balloon Festival
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 10th, 2011
Just came from Clark, Pampanga to witness the early morning balloon lift off. The 16th Hot Air Balloon Festival opens today and lasts till Sunday, the 13th of February 2011. Vader has a website!
More Lord Vader after the jump.
Anilao in 2:06 and BIG things
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 9th, 2011It’s been ages since I made a new dive video. Here’s everything we did in December ’10 – January ’11 compressed into 2 minutes and 6 seconds. These were dives done from Anilao Beach Club and Dive 7000. It’s also the first time I’m actually in the videos while shooting with ‘Bruno’! Thanks to Chie Clemente for filming everything.
——————
My college friend Ivanna helps run a foundation with a BIG idea. If you were given USD $20,000 to fund an idea that could change lives, what would you do? This is mine:
I’m not sure about the math, but you can probably buy a lot of concrete with USD $20,000.00. I’d move into the business of creating artificial coral reefs as tourist attractions. I’d probably go further than this and move for the creation of underwater art. Like this.
Get a celebrity altruist-artist involved. You can build these artificial reefs in sandy bottoms where no corals exist. Nothing to lose, really. If coral life starts, then all is well and good. If not, then you still have a great tourist attraction that can spur the SCUBA industry further. Get the diving community involved to help seed these underwater. They’d be more than willing to help. At 40ft depth with relatively strong currents, you can probably mix these designs with giant clams to help accelerate the growth of the reef as a whole. Get the locals to protect the area. Educate. It’s pretty much like establishing more protected marine zones but you have more control over the results because the stuff you seed is man-made. It goes further than just dumping concrete into the water.
To make the project sustainable, get corporations to sponsor reefs of their own. Imagine an artificial reef sculpted to look like a Coca-Cola vendo machine with tables and chairs and people — all made of concrete. The selling proposition would be simple: not only do you directly help the environment, you also create new and enduring tourism properties with your corporate branding.
