The Great Inquirer.net Transition!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 30th, 2006

There have been several speculations about the movement of INQ7.net to the new Inquirer.net site, and fancy that – this blog was mentioned to have unveiled the scoop about the partnership between the Inquirer group of companies:

Now we can concentrate on INQUIRER.net, on developing new content and services and integrating the online properties of the other members of the Inquirer group of companies, which has grown over the years. As you can see from the example of this Mobile Philippines beta site that Jayvee Fernandez has previewed on his blog. – Joey Alarilla

Though I’m no longer a “full time consultant” for HIP, I want to see myself as still actively involved in the creation process of the technology magazine titles I have come to love.

2007 will be an exciting year for online media, especially for the Inquirer group. I’m in no position to talk about the what could have beens or the lost opportunities with GMA 7 but I honestly feel that Inquirer was left with a better deal with the new solo mode for both companies. Here’s to a fruitful 2007!

Ornusa Cadness Photo Shows Why You Should Have Girls on the Front Cover of Tech Magazines

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 23rd, 2006

Several months ago I wrote a post that explored the statement “sex sells” in commercial print publications. Though it may be true that “sex does sell” I also clarified that “so does other things.” Here is an excerpt:

So when is it okay to put a “sexy” lady on the front cover? The guideline we live by, at least here where I work, is that everything should be in context. Phoem is wearing a sexy (but elegant) swimsuit because it’s summer. She’s holding an Olympus mju series camera, known to be an all-weather resistant model. Hence, she took it out to the beach.

I will now add that a Google-friendly babe on the front cover will no doubt increase your traffic by a lot. People searching for her over the Internet will no doubt be led towards your site at one point in their search results.

Ala Paredes on Blogging and Technology

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 21st, 2006

Several months ago I interviewed Ala Paredes for the Mobile Philippines‘ “Fashionably Geek” section. Here is an excerpt from this article which was written by our assistant editor Eva Gubat (link withheld!) as I interviewed her at the Hotel Philippine Plaza. Note that this article was written a few days before she migrated to Australia, so this was one of the last interviews she did for local media before leaving. Take it away, Eva:

Ala shares that she might rename her blog to “Island Girl in Narnia,” or something of that sort. She religiously updates her blog every four or five days, and thinks that the frequency will be higher once she’s in Sydney. “I’ll probably be updating it more since I’ll be so lonely and depressed.” That’s why her theme for her blog is the jeepney with the tag, Manila-Sydney. Very apt for her sojourn in Australia with her family, a sort of crazy-slash-sensible family adventure. “Isang huling sakay,” she muses.

It’s her musing, raves and rants that keep the readers of her blog coming back for more trips on her jeepney blog. Sometimes, she’s top 2, sometimes 4. “I used to think it was such a loser thing to do. Like, ‘Yuck. Why would you want to post your thoughts online?’ And then I stumbled upon this one blog by two American girls and their blog was just funny and entertaining. Maybe I’ll try this kind of blog, I thought.”
(more…)

Angel Locsin is Mobile’s Gadget Babe for Nov-Dec ’06

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at November 22nd, 2006

So guys, what do you think of the purple and white cover? For this month we gave Angel Locsin a call to grace the cover of this fabulous issue.

In this issue I reviewed the Nokia 6233, the cheapest 3G phone available in the market. I also believe that two bloggers made their debut reviews here. Markku reviews a Creative MuVo flash player while Abraham reviews the Oakley thump.

This is also the first magazine to feature a TMS tag prominently on the front cover. Is this the advent of physical world connectivity in the Philippines? The era of the QR code has begun!

The good old days of MPH TV

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at November 9th, 2006

Not a lot of you may know this but MPH, the magazine that is now known as Mobile Philippines used to have a television show many many months ago. We had a couple of episodes that were produced by Poch, Ideal Minds and the staff of Hinge Media Inc (now known as Hinge-Inquirer Publications). We went off the air after a few episodes because we needed to find a better time slot. The show aired (let’s see if I remember this right) on channel 5 at 1PM every Saturday. This was a little scary too, since that time slot was dominated by the variety shows.

In any case, the show was hosted by the trio composed of Jaymee Joaquin, Franco Mabanta and Paolo Soler. There were times when some of the editors would guest appear to talk about some of the latest gadgets out in the market and we would do this in Digital Walker in Parksquare 1.

So, for your enjoyment, the staff of Mobile Philippines has uploaded the first three episodes of MPH TV. Download and enjoy!

PC Magazine is the #1 Tech Mag in the Philippines

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at October 28th, 2006

Hinge-Inquirer Publications has just posted a press release on the recent Synovate Consumer Survey for the months of June to August 2006.

Here is a snippet of the PR:

According to the Synovate survey PC Magazine Philippines reaches 157,703 readers, making it number one in the technology category. Following closely in second place is the three-issue-old Game! Magazine, the Philippines’ first online gaming magazine, with 148,873 readers. Both titles are published by Hinge Inquirer Publications (HIP), an Inquirer Group company.

The local version of PC Magazine is the recognized bible and reference publication of the computer industry here and abroad. PC Magazine Philippines incorporates the latest and most locally relevant material from its foreign counterparts, but also focuses on subject matter made by and for the Filipino PC aficionado, a combination appreciated by its readers, according to the Synovate results. Game!, on the other hand, focuses on the fastest-growing tech lifestyle category today – online gaming, particularly on locally available games. (source)

Okay, just to disclose, I have been a contributor for PC Magazine Philippines and I also do miscellaneous editorial work for GAME! Magazine. It is rewarding to belong to a technology editorial team where all three titles made it to the TOP 10.

I mentioned three magazines right? What’s the third, then? Well, Mobile Philippines of course, that ranked number 10 in the top tech magazines for the said period of June – August 2006. This is also considering that this was the time when the magazine had undergone a transition in title from “MPH” to “Mobile Philippines.”

Now how about that …

Anne Curtis up front and center

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 15th, 2006

I write for a magazine called Mobile Philippines, formerly known as m|PH. I’ve been doing so for the past three years. On the cover of our nth issue (I’ve actually lost count) is Anne Curtis, who is in my humble opinion the most gorgeous cover girl we’ve had so far.

For posterity’s sake:

What’s gorgeous for me? Well, its the type of beauty that’s stunning and at the same time the type that you can take home to your mom.

Expect the issue to be out next week. Ever since Steve Jobs announced products six months early, it has now officially been deemed cool to pre-announce stuff.

Mobile Philippines August 2006 with Bubbles Paraiso

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at August 6th, 2006

Yay, it’s out! Check out our website for more details.

Gracing the cover of Mobile Philippines is fast rising show host and model Bubbles Paraiso. We take a look inside her not-so-hidden geek tendencies and what its like to be the only girl among the male hosts of It’s a Guy Thing.

On the gadget end, the editors and writers have hands on reviews of the Nokia N91 and Sony Ericsson W900i phones. Other hot devices reviewed are the Creative Zen Vision:M, iRiver U10, the Apple MacBook, Nintendo DS Lite, Jabra BT 330 headset, the Olympus mju 720 digital camera and many more!

For this issue, Mobile Philippines also has a feature on Mobile Security, wireless presentation techniques and a look into the gadget bag of INQ7.net’s editor in Chief, JV Rufino.

Mobile Philippines is the country’s authority on portable technology. it is available for only P80.00 in your nearest newsstand.

Bubbles Paraiso

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at June 28th, 2006

Today we shot the cover for the next ish of Mobile Philippines. On the cover is Bubbles Paraiso.

What makes this particular shoot a little special for me is that Bubbles used to be my student when I taught NSTP for one semester back in UA&P.

Here’s a little teacher-student moment behind the scenes.

The finished product can be viewed over here. MPH, now known as Mobile Philippines is part of the Top 10 Technology Magazines in the Philippines according to a recent Synovate Survey.