Updated Visibility ZTE Modem Firmware

I just update the firmware of my ZTE Globe Visibility USB modem, the only visible change were the "Visibility" Icon instead of the "3G" icon before and the SMS capability for the Mac.

Unfortunately though, the SMS function for Mac seems a bit buggy, I inquired about the remaining balance of the device, it received a message but nothing was in it.

The unit is functioning properly, in fact, I'm using it now to post this.

Globe DUO part 2

Globe Telecom - Home

Finally took the dive! I activated my DUO line, that means for 3 months I'll be paying for the P399 extra on my mobile phone bill and another P599 on my Globelines Wireless Landline.

Calling from my DUO activated phone to a landline gave good reception and worked flawlessly. But I can't say the same for incoming calls.

The first problem I encountered was the landline number that the system gave me, well, it's a bit long. So, when I dial that number from a regular landline, I get a busy or error tone after the 8th number. But after calling a phone with Caller ID display, I was able to retrieve my "true" landline number (but later this night, a system text was sent to me and gave me the same corrected landline number.

2nd problem was that, when I try calling the landline number of my DUO, 3 out of 4 will give me a busy number. I just hope Globe can correct this problem immediately.

And the 3rd (it's actually not a problem), well, the system knows when I am outside the area code subscribed and prompts the caller (landline) to call my mobile number instead.

The End of Point and Shoot Cameras

Engadget

Nikon is gearing up to release this "entry-level" DSLR, if it's true and this will eat up the market for point-and-shoot buyers. Though I must admit that not all will be enticed to get a DSLR, maybe because of the bulk of it. But for conscious shoppers, if the price difference will be very small, then I would definitely suggest getting one of these than a point-and-shoot.

Just now, many "capable" people are getting themselves a DSLR, even if they already own a point-and-shoot and most of these people use their DSLR as point-and-shoot cameras, tsk what a waste of features. Just to be seen holding a DSLR can perhaps boost one's ego.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Globe Telecom - Duo

Globe Telecom - Duo

Here's new Globe's offering, it's a mobile phone and wireless landline in one. It's P399/mo on top of your monthly fee. The subscriber will be given a landline number while retaining his/her old mobile number, it's on a monthly basis, and can opt out anytime.

I would get one but I'm still tied with Globe's Globelines Wireless Landline, perhaps when this line expires, I'm going to get this, more convenient, using only one handset and perhaps, no limitations on areas that are not very well covered.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

SMART Bro Powered EeePC

SMART launches BRO-powered netbooks for mobile broadband fans

[March 18, 2009/ Manila] - From the company which offered SMART Bro Prepaid, the country's first prepaid wireless broadband service, comes a new product designed to be the perfect companion for highly mobile and increasingly tech-savvy individuals.

Leading wireless services operator Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART), through its wholly-owned subsidiary SMART Broadband, Inc. (SBI), just launched the country's first netbook with built-in, high-speed broadband connectivity, powered by SMART Bro.

SMART Bro wireless broadband modems now come embedded on units of the Asus Eee PC™ 904 GO, one of the newest models from the Taiwanese PC maker's trend-setting line of 'netbooks' – or small but full-featured laptops that are built primarily for computing on-the-go.

The built-in SMART Bro modem and the SMART Bro data SIM that comes with the bundle allow the Asus Eee PC™ 904 GO to connect wirelessly to SMART's nationwide HSPA network, offering fans of mobile broadband a complete, ready-to-run Internet experience in an all-in-one device, right out of the box.

HSPA is the latest evolution of the GSM technology, and is likened to having the high-speed, cable broadband experience delivered right to a mobile device.

The SMART Bro-powered Asus Eee PC™ 904 GO is available via the Plan 799 monthly subscription, which comes with up to 60 hours of Internet access, at speeds of up to 2 mbps in key cities in the country. Usage in excess of 60 hours will be charged P10 for every 30 minutes.

Initial cash-out for the 24-month subscription is P1,000 for the laptop plus P799 for the first monthly service fee, for a total of P1,799. The same amount goes for the monthly fee for the package. Interested subscribers may apply for the plan at selected SMART Wireless Centers in Metro Manila.

"As we innovate and offer more and more services under our mobile broadband portfolio, we hope to advance our 'Internet for All' agenda, to bring the benefits of broadband Internet to the grassroots," said Orlando B. Vea, Chief Wireless Advisor of SMART.

Progress Notes: STABLE program part I

These were during the very 1st S.T.A.B.L.E. Program at FDMMC. Slots were full at 40 individuals from Consultants, to Residents to Nurses.

The New Globe Broadband Tattoo

Globe Broadband Tattoo, formerly known as Globe Visibility, uses a USB stick that works as a modem. Users simply plug the stick into their PCs or laptops to surf the Web anytime, anywhere. 3G and High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology enables high-speed connectivity and fast downloads. With Globe Broadband Tattoo, users can experience speeds of up to 2 Mbps. That makes activities like social networking, chatting, blogging, emailing and even streaming music and movies much more enjoyable yet still affordable.

Globe redesigned Globe Broadband Tattoo not just as a connectivity tool for its users, but a lifestyle tool as well. Users can now choose from a range of three hip and trendy Globe Broadband Tattoo USB designs, featuring artwork in black, orange, or blue. Depending on the user's personal style, they can choose the skin that reflects their personalities and lifestyles the most.

The Globe Broadband Tattoo Prepaid Kit comes with a free P100 load that is equivalent to five hours of free Internet time. On top of that, users pay only P5 per fifteen minutes on the Internet.

And once users have consumed their free load, reloading the Globe Broadband Tattoo Prepaid SIM is easy because it can be loaded like a regular prepaid SIM, whether through Share-A-Load, Globe Load or prepaid call cards

Users may also opt for a postpaid plan for Globe Broadband Tattoo; there is a range of plans for as low as P 799/month with 60 free mobile internet hours each month.

Aside from using Globe Broadband Tattoo as a mobile Internet modem, the SIM card inside the USB can also be used for calls and sending text messages at regular cellphone rates. The USB also comes with a built-in expansion slot where users can insert their own Micro SD card for additional file storage.

With a funkier look and free Internet time, the new Globe Broadband Tattoo Prepaid Kit is a steal for only P1895.

--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

Sony to introduce 'pocket-style' netbook this month

Article posted February 03, 2009 - 04:23 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Sony will soon introduce a "pocket-style" laptop that will be small enough to be held by one hand and as thin as a cellphone. 

The VAIO P will weigh 594g to 620 grams, depending on the model. 

However, unlike the netbooks, the new notebook has discarded the mousepad and will use a pointing stick, the Philippine office of Sony said. 

The laptop, which already made its worldwide debut at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will become commercially available in Manila on February 25.

The laptop will have two models, a 60-gigabyte HDD-based VGN-P13H priced at P49,999 and a 64-gigabyte SSD-based VGN-P15G which is being retailed at P69,999, the Philippine office of Sony said. 

The unit has a 1600 x 768, LED backlit 8-inch display and also incorporates LCD technology with anti-reflection coating. It is available in four colors: red, green, black, and white.

Based on Windows Vista, the VAIO P has Instant Mode that directly launches into Sony's Xross Media Bar interface for quick boot up and access to music, video, photos, and the Web.

Other specs include a built-in webcam, noise-canceling technology/headphones (only VGN-P15G), built-in wireless LAN 802.11b/g/Draft n, and Bluetooth.

The VAIO P marks Sony's entry into "unchartered" territory, boldly proclaiming that it is the first to put out a pocket-size full-featured notebook that is small enough to grip with one hand.

The new product "will cultivate a new category that will bring expansion to the VAIO business," Komei Nosaka, senior sales manager at Sony Philippines, said in a press statement. 

"We believe that there is demand and we can create the demand for taking out the usability of PC outdoors," stated Nosaka, adding that the product development for VAIO P started 18 months ago. - GMANews.TV

G.I. Joe Super Bowl Trailer

Oooh! I can't wait for this to come out, first in the Movie Theaters then on DVD then on Blue-Ray. It will sit beside the Transformers on my shelf hehehe.

CD-R King HDMI Cables

Today, I bought two (2) 3 meter HDMI cables from CD-R King for only P300 each. And not like the 10 ft VGA cable I bought from them before, these two worked!

Now the two cables are connecting my HDTV to my DVD player and Popcorn Hour A-110

It's Popcorn Hour part 2

I was so eager to post about my Popcorn Hour unit that I forgot to explain what it is. It's basically a Media Player. So what does it do? Well, if you have media in your PC (e.g. videos, music, pictures, etc.) then this baby can play it and display it on your TV. So what? you might ask. Well, the advantage of having one is, you don't have to turn your computer on just to look at your pictures, your videos and listen to your music, this is a small device and has a very small power consumption, unlike most CPUs.

This is recommended to those individuals that has an HDTV in the house. Just imagine viewing your vacation pictures and watching your home videos in Hi-Def on your HDTV! Wonderful isn't it? Definitely! But videos are not limited to the ones made by you, you can also rip your DVDs and either stream it from your PC or store it in the Popcorn Hour itself. This way, you don't have to stand up and look for the physical disc everytime you feel like watching a movie from your collection. All you have to do is turn the Popcorn Hour on and watch until your eye pop out!

Then there's the add-on. A very big add-on at that! It is a stand-alone torrent downloader. If you're the type who loves to watch shows from the Internet (DLTV, Diggnation, Tekzilla) then this one is for you (and did I mention that you can watch these shows in HD?). Again, you don't have to boot up your PC just to watch these shows, just leave the Popcorn Hour do it's job and you'll have tons of fun and excitement everytime.

It's Popcorn Hour part 1

When my Ubuntu box finally died last week, I wasn't able to watch my favorite "tv series" at my own time. I was thinking of a solution to watch all those "tv shows" saved in my hard drive.

One solution is to plug it into my desktop PC and watch it from there. But the experience is different from watching it in a small screen monitor as compared to watching it on a widescreen HDTV. Then came the Popcorn Hour to mind.

I have been thinking of getting one of these before Christmas, but there was no compelling reason at the time to get one. But yesterday was a different day, I finally decided to get one.

I got the bare A-110T, no HDD installed. I was surprised when I opened the box and found an HDMI cable with it. Most hardware I bought almost always, didn't come with a cable with it. I have to buy one. But this time, the only thing missing in the box was the HDD, which I got from a PC Express near our place. I got myself a SEAGATE 500GB SATA HD. The capacity is a test one, to see if I will be able to fill it up with media content.

The Popcorn Hour is a very simple device. Inside, there's a small board, it's so small that it didn't even occupy the whole area of the unit. Made me wonder how it can process the upscaling of the videos/media that is thrown it's way. When I got home, I plugged in the HDD in the unit, screw the cover back, plugged in the HDMI cable (from the HDTV), and plugged it into the power socket.

Then there it was, the home screen, giving me options on the media in the unit, web services and settings. I reformatted the HDD, downloaded the NMT apps, and I started to fiddle around the functions on the remote control. The fist badside I noticed was the lack of a User Manual. Good thing I am technologically inclined, but how about those who's going to get one that is on the late side of the techie world?

In short, I was able to figure out how to directly download to the internal HDD, locate the Popcorn Hour in my network and transferred files to it.

I haven't put it in it's paces but hopefully in the coming days, I can spend more time with it and perhaps this site will be able to help those that are looking for knowledge about the device as well.

What to do if you have a new (Windows) computer?

It's just after Christmas, there are some folks that either have enough money for a new computer (notebook, netbook, or desktop) or was given a new PC as a gift. Either way, before anything else, here are some "important" things to do:

1. Install an Anti-Virus and an anti-Spyware program - most Windows PC comes with either a trial version of an anti-virus or a year's subscription to one. But for those who does not, then get/download one. There are lots of FREE anti-virus softwares out there. I recommend the AVG Free. For casual users this will suffice. Another free anti-virus software is AVAST.

Then go to Google Pack, there's SpywareDoctor included in the pack, download it. But most computers now, be it Windows XP or Vista has it's own anti-Spyware program so no need for this, but check anyways.

2. Download and Install Firefox - again, most Windows PC's will come with Internet Explorer. The security in IE has improved but still, most websites and hackers will target IE because, yes, it still has it's vulnerabilities and simply because it's a Microsoft product.

If you're the social networking type, then Flock is an ideal browser for you. It's got Mozilla deep under it so, it's basically a socially active Firefox.

3. Fire up Windows Update - this will keep your system up to date on the latest fixes from Microsoft.

4. Install an Office Suite - you can get a discounted price of MS Office in your nearest computer store. Or if your skimping on shelling out money, you can always opt for the open source type but as functional as it's Microsoft counterpart. Download Open Office. It has (almost) the same functionalities as that of MS Office for free. But the current version does not support the XML files of the new MS Office Suite. But hey, you're just going to type letters on it.

5. Now that you've optimized your system, let's have fun! Download your favorite Instant Messenger - Most will use Yahoo! Messenger even if these Windows PCs come with it's own Messenger.

6. Install iTunes - even if it's an Apple product, and even if you don't have an iPod yet, and even if your new computer have Windows Media Player already installed, still for me, iTunes is one of the best MP3 applications out there.

7. Then for your pictures I recommend Picasa 3 - it organizes and let's you touch up and share your pictures easily. It even integrates itself to an online version seamlessly.

There you go, these are the "essentials" for a new computer. Other applications will depend on what you're going to use the PC for. Enjoy!

HP Mini 1000

Now I am very jealous of my Mom. I gave her an HP Mini 1000 for Christmas. This is one beautiful netbook. The glossy exterior commands respect. The wide screen is stunning, the keyboard is to die for. Not all netbooks offer this kind of comfort for typing. Even if I praised the ASUS EeePC (which commands some aknowledgement for starting all these), the HP among the ATOM netbooks, has the prettiest and the most functional keyboard.

The size is just right and is very sleek, though the Mini Note 2133 looks sleeker, I don't mind the plastic casing, still beats the MSI Wind and the Acer Aspire One with the design.

The speed is acceptable as this is not going to be used as a powerhouse machine. As with connectivity, pretty good, with WLAN and Bluetooth. The hard drive capacity is fair with 60GB on-board. RAM is ok as well with 1GB power. Two USB slots available as the 3rd one is for the HP proprietary flash dirve. Unfortunately on the downside, the VGA out is non-standard, just like a Mac, one will need an adapter, but you have to buy it, doesn't come with the device.

The trackpad is bigger (my basis is the tiny trackpad of the EeePC), but the trackpad buttons are placed on both sides, unusual for a notebook since most are at the bottom of the trackpad.

The screen (as compared to the 4G EeePC), is, again, bigger but I noticed that the colors are a bit pale. Nonetheless, for the few hours I've used this machine, it's one great deal. I still can't say anything about the battery life, since I've plugged this baby ever since. No benchmark on it.

Will be updating the review as I get used to it. I will be installing MS Office tomorrow. Hope it will work.

SMART's Updated Website

Smart has updated their website. Pretty nice. I always want to see an updated website, especially the contents. It eventually becomes boring when the contents remain the same all the time. I guess, Globe has to follow suit!

Santa's Gone Centro

I saw this in one of the local Palm forums and it's very funny and interesting. Giving an old concept a new twist. Some might find it weird, but some might get entertained. Me, well, I like change. Or new concepts of old stuff.

To Eee or not to Eee

I like the ASUS Eee Box. I like it because simply because of it's size and it's capabilities. What am I going to use it for? I will use it to replace my Ubuntu box which acts as my media server at home.

I have an old WinBox that acted on me last year when I upgraded the HDD and Win XP doesn't want to install on it. Hopeless, I got myself a new WinBox with a Core 2 Duo processor. So what did I do with the old box? Since I cannot install Windows on it, and I am such a cheapskate to throw it away, I tried installing Ubuntu, and what do you know, it worked.

Now what to do with an extra CPU? Simple! Use it as a server, a Media server at that! I hooked it up to my HDTV, and it is now the center of my, ehem, "media" downloads. That's direct watching on the HDTV.

Anyways, let's go back to the EeeBox. Well, the Ubuntu Box uses a full-sized power supply, meaning, it eats a lot of energy, from in-use to standby. If I will replace it with the EeeBox, it will greatly decrease my carbon footprint, decreases the heat it produces, indirectly lessening the load on the airconditioning unit, cooling the basement faster.

But I'm hesitant to get one now. Though dirt-cheap at less than P15T, I am hopefull that a newer model will (more powerful) will come out in the following months as parts will come in cheaper.

The Vista View: Rated Average

I've finally dove into the Vista realm. Though technically I've used Vista since it's Beta and RC days. 

I think I caught a Blaster worm thru my USB flash drive from that printing shop who claimed that the .exe program in my flash drive was a virus/trojan horse. 

Ok, so after inserting the flash drive in my system, suddenly, I got that dreaded 60 secs shut down prompt. I tried playing around, you know, troubleshooting, but I guess my patience got to me and was not in the mood to play around. I decided to sacrifice the few photos and files I have in my un-partitioned hard drive. So the only solution I have at that moment was, to reformat. So, I popped out my XP CD and did a clean install. But after the whole process, I found out that I didn't have the drivers of my motherboard, thus I can't connect to the internet because I'm missing the Ethernet drivers. SHIT! I'm getting impatient.

I changed, walked all the way to the nearest SM (didn't bother to bring the car because it will just add time when I look for a parking space), and went straight to the Tech Shops. I went to Silicon Valley, asked how much Vista is, P4500 for the Home Basic and P7000 for the Home Premium (didn't bother to ask for the Ultimate version). Went to Octagon, but all they had was the Vista Starter Pack P2200. So I went back to Silicon Valley and asked for the Vista Home Premium (of course this is the OEM version), and the lady told me that there's a discount and I'm getting it at P6700 (hmmmm though I think even if there's no discount I'm still decided on getting one). 

At home, I inserted it into the DVD drive, restarted the PC, but no "press any key to boot from CD/DVD". WHAT? Perhaps I got a fake DVD? Yeah right! Ok, tried it a couple more times but still no progress. Ok, what to do now? I remembered that I have a downloaded Vista iso disk. Got it, and inserted it. THERE! Booted from that DVD and was able to get into the install part. Ok, here I am, holding a genuine Vista Install Disk but I'm using a bootlegged copy to install Vista. Yeah, confusing! Now, it's asking me for a product key. I entered the product key that came with my sparkling new DVD install disk and prayed profusely that the series of number would work. And it did! 

The installation was smooth and I was able to set up the OS in no time. I installed Vista drivers for my motherboard, soundcard and videocard. Installed drivers for my Samsung Laser Printer and Brother all-in-one printer, my wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse. Went into the web, downloaded and installed Firefox, Chrome, iTunes, Picasa 3. Installed Microsoft Office 2007 suite. Re-installed Palm Desktop and Hotsync Manager, all my Palm Centro apps including ePocrates, Merck Mobile Medicus, and Documents-to-Go.

In other words, I have revived the persona of my "old" PC, but renovated it into a new system. So why is it a big deal? Well, I am still convinced that Vista is a raw operating system and comparable to Windows XP, it's fairly a half-baked OS. I still consider XP as the more "stable" sibling. A friend of mine has been convincing me to "upgrade" to Vista, to be honest, one of the reasons why I don't is that, I find it expensive to spend on something that will be "obsolete" in a couple of years. Another thing that prevents me from using Vista is the availability of the drivers for my peripherals. Good thing, before I really decided to get the original software (up to now, it's hard to find a "reliable" bootlegged Vista), I looked for drivers for my peripherals, and Vista drivers were already available. So here I am, using a PC with Vista Home Premium available. 

One Interesting Device (Toshiba G450)

This is one interesting device. It's a mobile phone, a USB Modem, and an MP3 player all in one. Yeah, I know, all other cellphones can do the same but then again, it's not as cute and perhaps functional as this. Just look at how sexy it looks. I just don't think it's going to be SMS friendly.

From U to RED

Yesterday I got a phone call from someone, she told me that I will be receiving a new SIM to replace my current uMobile SIM. They are changing names, from uMobile to RED Mobile. They are now finishing the transition towards full integration with SMART network.

uMobile is the mobile phone division of one of the telecom companies that was granted 3G license by the NTC. But a few months in their launching, they were acquired by SMART.

Their marketing strategy was to give out free SIM cards and free loads in return for allowing advertisement on the subscriber's mobile phone. Meaning, the more ads you click the more load you get. uMobile's initial promotion was an invite-only SIM which comes with P100 load/month. Midway on this promo, they will now change callsigns from uMobile to RED mobile.

I wonder what "unlimited" means in their teaser commercials?