Demonstrating Spectograph: Sony VAIO Z series
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 6th, 2010
Sony VAIO Z Series (VPCZ116GG/B) Specs
Last week I attended Sony’s VAIO launch and they revealed the availability of the new VAIO Z series. Sure, it’s great that we have product specs in press releases but it is double awesome that Rico is launching what I predict to be a valuable resource for tech bloggers. In the same way that we can embed YouTube videos, Spectograph allows you to embed product specs. That means you won’t need to copy + paste specs ever again!
Spectograph is the product of Rico Mossesgeld, founder and sole proprietor of Technogra.PH and Kiven Codamon.
Spectograph is still in beta.
Unpacking iPod Compatible JBL Radial speakers
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 4th, 2010
Hello again. Part of my work salary is given in gift checks so what I end up doing is collect one year’s worth of GC’s every end of the year. So this is what I got from the list of things available. It’s way better than the ColorTunes speaker set I bought for PHP 2,000, obviously. The Radial is a monster, packing a great balance for low, mid and high frequencies. In fact the only bad thing I can say about it is that it’s expensive at about PHP 11,xxx.00. Yay for GC’s!
The Radial comes with 3 sets of input for 3.5mm, USB and the default iPod dock. It also comes with a remote.
Catching my attention with the Sony VAIO F series
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 4th, 2010
Apparently there were three sets of launches yesterday — one for the morning shows, a mid-day “lunch launch” for the media and an evening with the online community. I made like a BLT and sandwiched myself into the noon event.
Great event. Sony launched the new VAIO line, which was shown in CES last year. Although the Z line is their highest tier unit that was showin on a rotating pedestal (main feature is the “speed” vs “stamina” switch turning your VAIO into a Crysis suit), the price point for me was too high at PHP 150,000.00 I’m currently running a VAIO CW prototype (that’s the sexy part — no serial number) which is stock fit for gaming. So the laptop that wow-ed me during the launch was their multimedia VAIO, the F series. The “F” stands for “F*ck you, I have a numerical keypad!” It’s bad ass.
8GB of stock RAM. Just look at it! Just look at it! And a GT330 video card to boot. It is very hard to find a laptop that is stock full of features that allows you to play games. At one point there’s always a compromise. Also, “gaming rigs” sold by most companies come in cheesy packaging. At least this F series is silent about it, preferring the elegant finish of Sony. Also … I cannot reiterate more how it has a numerical keypad!! It’s again, a silent way of saying this monster has a big screen.
I guess Sony’s biggest problem is the import taxation that makes their products more expensive in the Philippines. During the launch, “buying from Hong Kong” was brought up as the price differences are huge. The fact that most of these devices have international warranty also brings about a conundrum. Hm.
On a lighter note, the new Sony netbooks are now more eco-friendly as they don’t come shipped in a box. When you buy one, you get your VAIO in this cute eco-friendly bag.
The Epic Espresso Dessert
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 2nd, 2010OK let’s take a break from tech. Here’s an epic dessert idea I came up with which I shared with Paolo Manzano of HWM during the Samsung OMNIA II seminar. This is a variation of a dessert idea where you drown a serving of ice cream with a shot of espresso. Paging Lori!
So the first thing you need to do is grind fresh coffee beans enough for one shot of espresso. Remember, just grind, but don’t press yet.
You can use ice cream for this, but in my case I made it more interesting and bought one of these from the Korean grocery store near my house. I don’t even know what these are called, but they’re yummy. Open the pack and cut it up into two pieces so that it fits into the bowl. Cut however you like. Stacking them together is fine too.
EDIT: The ice cream dessert bar is called PPANG TTO AH. Thanks to Min Kim for translating!
Next, make the espresso. The trick is to dump the espresso into the bowl, fresh from machine so that it stays hot. Prepare the bowl first and then make the shot. Then finally, pour the espresso into the bowl, spreading the heart around your ice cream.
Add some whipped cream and there you have it, “ice cream something something drowned in espresso!”
TADAH!
Samsung’s Corby Pro and showing off the rest of the family
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 1st, 2010
Hi folks. Here it is. QWERTY is sexx-y! At least that’s what Samsung thinks, and they’re pushing this line, with the Corby Pro as their ace. Here’s a brief rundown + pricing of all of these units.
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The End of an Era, or maybe we’ve just set the bar too high
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at January 28th, 2010
This is a piece I wrote for AppleGazette, waking up to the alarm clock that timed the launch of the Keynote presentation. I was groggy – that was almost three in the morning. But I figured my eyes will be widened by Steve’s amazing performance on stage. Sadly, the Keynote didn’t do as well as the coffee.
I’m sorry, Conan but despite my promise to you to stop being cynical, I can’t help it. And in this one case, I wish I was not. After watching the Internet show Steve present the iPad to the public, I froze and was taken to a temporary time warp to the day when Steve announced the iPod nano and the shuffle. Then it fast forward to the day he announced the iPhone. And when my quasi-Ebenezer moment was done, I came back to blog comments, analyses, and photos of the iPad and I realized one thing: all we are is dust in the wind and I’m getting old.
For the complete article, proceed here.
Battlefield Bad Company 2 BETA begins this week
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at January 25th, 2010
In retaliation to Modern Warfare 2′s shortcomings. The game is out this March but beta for the Limited Edition begins this week! See you there!
How to refund your Killers concert tickets
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at January 25th, 2010
If you still don’t know, The Killers aren’t coming. Here’s the official statement.
Dear Partners,
As unfortunate as it is, the management of The Killers has just released the official announcement. The ASIAN Tour is canceled and awaiting new dates. We hope you can help us disseminate the information to the public. In the meantime, here is the refund schedule
THE KILLERS REFUND SCHEDULE
Please refund at the seller where you purchased your tickets.
For Ticketnet buyers, you may refund at the Ticketnet in Araneta Coliseum starting JAN 29 FRIDAY. Call 9115555.
For Ticketworld buyers, you may refund at the Ticketworld Head Office in Makati (7/F Vicente Madrigal Bldg, Ayala, Makati) starting JAN 25 MONDAY. Call 8919999.
For Odyssey & O Music buyers, you should refund at the branch where you purchased your tickets. Refunding begins on JAN 29 FRIDAY.
For purchases made in our Jupiter Makati and Shaw Mandaluyong offices, refunding begins on JAN 29 FRIDAY.
For purchases made through our authorized individual/corporate resellers, please contact your resellers for refund information.
Thank you very much for your support and appreciate your understanding.
Sincerely,
WWW & Saga Events
THE KILLERS OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
January 21, 2010
The Killers have been forced to cancel their appearances in Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Tokyo and Seoul due to unforeseen circumstances. The band deeply apologizes to their fans and hope to reschedule their shows in these cities soon. At this time the bands Australian appearances remain scheduled as planned. Here is the link of the official announcement on their website.
LEGO Universe is coming this year!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at January 25th, 2010Wow, I’d play this. Finally, after 2 years of delay, LEGO’s first massive multiplayer game is set to come out this 2010.
The Best Press Conference I Have Ever Attended
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at January 21st, 2010
I have never been so enthralled to sit among scientists from CERN. Likewise I have never seen Powerpoint slides that discussed matters of importance, turning all other worldly man-made events into trivial things. The Powerpoint presentation I witnessed was showing the history of the universe, the concept of the time-space continuum, and folding space.
It seems that the Department of Science and Technology has finally made contact with CERN, the center of all scientific research in the world. CERN. What’s that?
In layman terms, CERN is the brothel of physics, where you will find a lot of banging.
Particle banging to be exact. In Geneva.
CERN houses the Large Hadron Collider, the biggest particle accelerator known to man. If the world comes to an end, it won’t be surprising that the source of destruction will have to do with the LHC.
CERN is the source of all evil, as Dan Brown writes in Angels and Demons. When asked to comment, the two physicists nonchalantly answered that CERN is seen as evil because of its production of anti-matter. The collision of matter with anti-matter is often used as a dump explanation for the powering of Star ships, as is seen in the Star Trek series. However, a CERN scientist was actually quoted to say that if we were to combine all the anti-matter we’ve ever produced and inject it with matter, the total output energy would only equal enough to power a light bulb (source). Dan Brown is wrong.
CERN is the Mecca of Physics. More than half of the world’s physicists have made a pilgrimage to Geneva to conduct experiments. The LHC’s purpose is to prove the existence of the Higgs Boson.
In truth, I prepared all night to ask one question alone. My question was “the LHC was built for the discovery of the Higgs Boson. What is the progress of this discovery and what are the implications to mankind?”
I got an (paraphrased) answer. “You are correct. The LHC’s primary reason for existence is for the Higgs Boson particle. It has not yet been discovered. The discovery of the Higgs doesn’t have one true value but its implications are great. It is like how the electron was discovered about 100 years ago — the advances that were made to society were immense.”
The Higgs Boson’s discovery will help explain the origins of mass.
CERN is here to work together with the DOST to find opportunities where synergies can be made. Finally.
Anilao: Bahura, Beatrice Rock, Sepok Wall, Mainit Point and Toro Point
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at January 12th, 2010
Above, another video I made of my latest underwater sojourn. We were extremely lucky as we saw so many things: several octopus, white and black tip sharks, eels, flamboyant cuttlefish, crabs, a puffed up blowfish and lots of nudibranchs. No mantas though but still! (Watch the video!)
Below, some stills I took from Bahura, Beatrice Rock, Mainit Point and Toro Point. I did an overnight trip with three friends — Kara was home for the holidays so what better way to enjoy the countryside than diving and camping out right beside the ocean in Anilao, Batangas.
Essentially, dives #44 – 47. I’ll be celebrating my 50th dive next!
