Last year, I wrote something about how Bayan Telecommunications made a big comeback as a key service provider. Their two main thrusts were transparency as well as bringing forth the wireless landline concept. Today, PLDT has something similar. I’m still in no position to comment on quality of service for these products as I have never used a wireless landline.
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This came in the mail a few days ago. The Verzio Duplii is one of two dual SIM phones manufactured by a SIngaporean company and distributed here. The phone will be out very soon. If you have extra 13th month pay to spare and have been wanting a phone that basically holds two cell signals simultaneously, then read on.
The two SIM slots are labeled as SIM 1 and SIM 2 with the primary SIM card being chosen through the Settings menu. This is usually the default number that will be used to send messages. Although when sending messages, the phone allows you to select which SIM to use to send out your SMS. Thus, let’s say you’re using a prepaid line on one end and a post paid on the other, you can use your prepaid line to receive SMS and reply using the other line seamlessly.
Here’s an application pick recommended by Amber MacArthur - Disk Inventory X presents a visual way of looking at the contents of your hard drive. The benefit of installing this free application is it divides your hard disk into colored cubes, showing you which types of applications take up the most space.
As I rarely look through my applications folder (I use keyboard shortcuts with Quicksilver), I forgot that World of Warcraft (grenish-blue rectangle on the upper right) was taking up almost 7GB of space - a game which I no longer have time to play on the road, and best reserved for my PC desktop. It also shows me that photos (huge blue block) are the real killer in disk space, and that I should get an external HD to store all of my DSLR photos. I also forgot about how Parallels and Windows XP (the purble block at the bottom) is taking up so much space as well. In theory I thought I’d find a use for it but the practice didn’t.
You can download Disk Inventory X. The best thing about it — it’s completely free!
it seems like everybody is launching their own WiMax network. Abe mentioned Globe launching one in 2008, but assuming this is true, they are going to have a hard time justifying the price as HSDPA currently costs P3,000.00 a month. What more for a 4G WiMax dongle + service fees? You can’t just implement a WiMax network and expect peoples’ laptops to be compatible.
WiFi runs on a 2.4GHz frequency but WiMax runs on something completely different. Another dongle for us consumers to purchase then - or buy a new laptop in 2008 with Intel’s new certified WiMax doodie built in. Consumers who are currently paying P3,000.00 for Globe Visibility may want to rethink their options if Globe is really going to go WiMax in 2008.
Anyway.
Met with the Happy Internet marketing head, Marvin Cruz (he’s Microsoft PH engineer #001) over coffee. Happy Internet has been around for the past five years, albeit in a different form. Marvin and the rest of the 40 strong individuals of Happy Communications are supposedly here to make a difference. But yeah, we’ve heard that before. So let’s see what exactly Happy Internet has to offer.
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I spent the long weekend with the EPSON Philippines team for a regional business conference. As an observer, I was witness to the launching of EPSON’s new solutions business unit that basically consisted of POS solutions, small to medium business projectors, and of course, their printers.
Amidst the array of hardware solutions, one particular product caught my eye - the EPSON 30s Home Theater Projector, which is targeted towards consumers who want to set up an affordable home theater system in their living room. The 30s is very affordable for what it is, at a mere P36,000 to P40,000.00. Standard projectors usually set you back by around P60,000.00 and above. As a plus - this model comes with a built in DVD/CD player!
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Oh my, I’ve never been this excited to unpack a point and shoot camera. Kodak recently launched their new line of V-series cameras. A little bit of history: the V-series leads the point and shoot camera industry by introducing new features that you wouldn’t usually find in point and shoot cameras. The V570 for instance had a dual lens that supported wide angles. The V610 introduced Bluetooth connectivity to casual cameras. And now, the V1253 HD camera introduces HD-quality photos and video recording. Yup, HD video recording on a point and shoot camera.
As a general rule, buy a bag that’s 10% the cost of what’s inside
Have you ever wondered how much a bag should cost? Well, take the total cost of the gear you plan to put inside and get 10% of that. The formula works for most (read: not all!) cases: my Crumpler Whickey and Cox costs close to P10,000.00 and holds about P100,000 worth of gadgets including my MacBook and camera. A hefty bag price should only mean that your gear fits comfortably inside, likewise both your hands are still free.
In the case of laptop sleeves, a good sleeve should not cost you more than P2,000.00 or $40.00. In fact, one of the best laptop sleeves ever invented retails for only P1,500.00: this is the Zero Shock Laptop Sleeve. You can literally drop a bowling ball on top of the memory foam and your notebook will still function afterwards. *
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“Touch me not!” said the iPod touch, as the mad crowd made their way to the front, manhandling Apple’s wafer thin iPod.
The official prices of the new Apple iPod line was announced today for the Philippine market. Though the iPod shuffle, iPod nano and iPod classic have been spotted in several Apple retailers, there is still no suggested retail price for consumers to use to compare across stores. The photo above illustrates the SRP for the new line of iPods:
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Are you planning on buying a RAZR next month? I suggest you hold on to your money and wait. The Motorola “RAZR squared” is the second coming of Motorola’s most iconic cellphone. Dubbed as the RAZR V8, this phone is faster, thinner and houses more memory and a higher megapixel count camera. No 3G for this unit though. Boo.
The unit will retail at a suggested price of P19,990.00, a tad shy of twenty thousand pesos. It will be available this September.
I was flipping through a popular technology magazine with local content recently and I couldn’t believe my eyes as I almost skipped through one of the gadget review pages. I had to double check the product review written by “writer x” because from what I know about this person’s professional background, he (or she) is currently affiliated with the same company that produces that particular device. The person in question also happens to be a writer as I’ve seen the name frequent technology publications.
But a line has to be drawn somewhere - and this is what you get when the editorial staff of the said publication is not very critical about who writes the review. The review was fair - but I do have to admit, would you, as an editor allow a product manager (or someone in a similar status) write a product review of devices manufactured by the company he or she works for?
The answer is obviously … Nope. This is a sad day in the local tech media.
I’m not sure if the editorial staff knows about this current affiliation. I obviously withheld names out of prudence to this particular magazine, the writer and staff because I don’t want this to become a huge controversy. It’s just … sad.
I don’t have a problem with the writer contributing for a technology magazine. I take issue on the position this person is in to write such a review. There are just certain rights you have to give up. Be careful next time 
