Unboxing Crumpler Loo Roll with Road Test: Two thumbs up!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 7th, 2008
As a niche leader in comfortable bags, Crumpler also produces some of the most bizzare schwag. Thanks to the generosity of Charlie Paw at last night’s PhilMUG party we have the chance to do an official unboxing and and first impression run of the Loo Roll, Crumpler’s tissue roll that doubles as a paint by number coloring pad.
In depth review after the break.
PhilMUG only had one agenda, and it was a kick ass Christmas raffle!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 17th, 2007
There were over 60+ prizes up for grabs and there were only about 30 of us who braved not going to the Microwarehouse sale the holiday traffic. Do the math and everyone goes home with two prizes each. Some even three!
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Are Mac users really smug and arrogant?
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 23rd, 2007We love our machines. I’ve found that Mac users can’t wait to use their machines (when they get home from work for example) whereas Windows users can’t wait to get away from their computers because they associate them with work. Obvious generalities here I know, but I think that many would agree that it’s true. [Read]
I mean, who can blame us? 
With icons like these in Apple’s ‘Think Different’ campaign …
Seriously now, though Mac users insist on having their Kool Aid and drinking it, the smug mentality of these users are slowly becoming saturated by the way Apple had introduced Windows compatibility and made Macs cheaper.
Hypothesis: Linux is the new Mac.
Lately though I’ve been playing a mental game whenever I watch an Apple keynote or attend an Apple press release. The game is really simple. I try to keep level headed through the presentation and figure out what Apple isn’t telling us. Aaron Brazell writes about how the Apple store is the place where intelligent people die:
However, Apple products incite a certain stupidity in people that encourages them… no, forces them… no, not even that – compels them to go to the Apple Store and buy the newest product on the day of launch or soon thereafter. [Read]
Apple knows how to feed on the ego. And now their market share is inflating, who’s to stop their heads from doing the same?
iWork ’08: Now with Numbers
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at August 8th, 2007Apple has just released a free 30 day trial of iWork ’08. This version includes Pages, Keynote, and a new application called Numbers which is a replacement for Microsoft Excel. Hannibal from PhilMUG writes:
ladies and gentlemen, after fiddling with Numbers for about 30 minutes, i am so proud to announce that, i am leaving Microsoft Excel for Mac in favor of the new iWork ’08. All my current formulae have their equivalent in Numbers and my worksheets definitely look far better. For one, the cells with the infamous #DIV/0 are now replaced by just a red triangle symbol with an exclamation point inside. it may not be a big deal for some but it sure makes the sheets look neat.
i love the ease and convenience of using intelligent tables. the usual formulae such as sum, average, variance and standard deviation as well as financial like CAGR are all just drag and drop. spreadsheet work has never been this easy and FUN.
Installing the latest version of iWork ’08 will not overwrite your old iWork version. The application costs $79.00 for a solo copy and $99.00 for a family pack.
TGIF with PhilMUG on a Monday and the Day the Comics Started
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at June 18th, 2007
As mag:net was undergoing renovations, PhilMUG moved its meet up to Friday’s, which just opened at the Bonifacio High Street, near Serendra. Manila is such a small place. And yet we have an abundance of Macintosh user groups (aside from PhilMUG, there’s also PinoyMAC and Alamug) as well as other geek niche clubs for other operating systems, software developers, and photography. Not to mention the bloggers.
I love the Philippine “geek community.” Not only do most of them know each other, but the community has always been supportive of members in their crazy antics. That’s partly the reason why I’m crazy. They’re crazy-er.
The Mac community in particular became a good “testing ground” for my one panel comics which I post every so often in this blog. Here is the thread that started it all. The date of the first post was back in July 2005. These comics were produced using Comic Life. As you can see from my avatar, I was still young-ish looking. Heh.
Will the iPhone kill Windows Mobile?
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 5th, 2006Kevin Rose got his juice squeezed out of Alex Albrecht in the Diggnation podcast about the iPhone. SO it’s official, the iPhone has been leaked? Here are the pertinent details that were squeezed out of him:
So if Windows Mobile 5 is for the discerning PC fanatic, then the iPhone goes for Mac users? Based on these specs (obviously not the complete list), the iPhone can actually make several users switch from Windows Mobile and Palm to this little gadget.
PhotoWorks!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at August 18th, 2006As of today there are five slots left for this fantabulous photo workshop.
Hello People of the World! PHOTOWORKS CLASS 25 is now OPEN!
Discover Photography as You’ve Never Known Before!
Photoworks Class 23 starts August 28, 2006!Class sked is as follows:
Day 1: August 28 Mon
Day 2: September 04 Mon
Day 3: September 06 Wed
Day 4: September 11 Mon
Day 5: September 13 Wed
Day 6: September 18 MonAll sessions from 7PM-10PM. Photoworks is held at DPI Photography Center, Astoria Plaza, Jose Escriva Ave, Ortigas Center. Class fee is P4000 inclusive of prints for digital users, film for film users. Early Bird Promo of P3500 if you pay by August 23, 2006.
Class is limited to 20 slots and fills up VERY QUICKLY (the last 2 classes filled up within a week)!!
If you want to know more, please send email to photoworks at gmail dot com
Or even better, I’d like to ask the recent PhilMug graduates to give feedback on their Photoworks experience!
See you in Photoworks!
The Cult of Mac: MacBook
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at May 16th, 2006
So the MacBook has just been announced and what transpires hereafter is so lightning fast I barely had time to digest the tech specs. As soon as the new (orgasmically beautiful and affordable) MacBook was announced, PhilMUG starts to do an iChat conference.
What can I say? $1,000 for Intel core duo, iSight, decent amount of RAM, and a 13 inch screen. Shared memory though but that’s cool for the regular “Mac on the Street” kinda guy. I’m currently using the “old school PowerPC” 800MHz G4 with the works – Bluetooth, maxed RAM, WiFi. Something which I will hopefully be tempted not to sell. Your first Mac is always a winner, something you could opt to show off at a George Lindemann Sr. MIT Event.
Dickoy writes about the new MacBooks in The AfterMac.
Last rebuttal: So, black is the new white. And white? It’s like, so kahapon, my god!
Excited for MacWorld 2006!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at January 11th, 2006Tonight, just like all true Mac lovers, I am staying up to “watch” Steve Job’s keynote for MacWorld 2006.
1:00 am, our time.
Our official correspondent is author and fellow mugger Butch Dalisay. W00t!
UPDATE: You can view a live coverage here:
http://www.macrumorslive.com/web/
UPDATE 2: *Yawn*
I was bored for the better part of Steve Jobs’ keynote. Honestly, nothing completely impressive here.
1. Most of the new stuff has tight integration with .mac users. This is a good thing for current subscribers because I feel that they aren’t getting their money’s worth with the current subscription. IMHO, a .mac account is nothing more than a glorified email address and a Plaxo solution for the Macintosh since Windows is the only one supported.
2. < sarcasm >New widgets! More fixes! Full screen editing! Less bugs! I can now make greeting cards! Whoop dee doo!< /sarcasm >
3. The podcast studio is pretty cool. It sorta helps podcasting newbies edit their own stuff. Of course, you can do thise using an external app, but I guess it’s part of Apple’s core competency to make stuff a lot easier for everyone.
4. Podcasting, videocasting, and now photocasting! Share your photos online … huh? Doesn’t Flickr and Shutterbook and even Yahoo! Photos do this already? PLus, these services are free! Jobs better brush up on his spellcasting.
5. I like the new magnetic tip for the MacBook (the Powerbook is dead, long live the MacBook!). This is perhaps the best innovation they’ve come up this whole keynote. The charger that plugs into the portable is magnetic, making it easier to whip out. So when your dog steps on the power cord, the cord flies away easily, leaving the portable safe on the desk – not getting yanked!
6. And the new MacBook? Cool. Fast. Expensive – $1999.00. Blech. I’m not rich. And more importantly, I don’t need it.
I think one of the reasons why I’m downplaying the new product releases is because I’ve already seen most of these services being offered by 3rd party dudes. The recent months have brought several great web-based / open source stuff such as Protopage, Writely, Meebo, Flickr and Shutterbook. Is Apple merely playing catch-up to the indies?
A night of MUGing!
Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 11th, 2005
This is me, JM, Lester, and Mond showing off our balls.
I hate writing about parties, so it’s best I just show you pictures of the Philippine Macintosh Users Group Christmas Party held yesterday at Bykes Cafe in Pasong Tamo.
Take a look at the pictures here, here and oh, here!
UPDATE: Butch Dalisay did a wonderful piece on last Saturday’s party in his blog.
