Merchandise, Hotel, Resorts, Airfare Deals at The Big Outlet and Travel Sale 2011

Everyone's favorite The Big Outlet and Travel Sale 2011 is back once again this year with bigger and better deals! Aside from the usual merchandise (clothes, shoes, accessories, apparels) being on sale in the past TBOS outlet sales, Malibu Enterprise has added discounted deals for traveling, which include Hotel, Resorts, and Airfares.

Hep hep hurray! And we're giving away 40 FREE tickets for you and your family/friends! Details on how to join below.

Where: The Megatent, 30 Meralco Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City (between DepEd and Renaissance)

When: October 14-16, 2011 (Friday-Sunday), from 10am to 9pm

What: Up to 90% off on Select Merchandise + Book and Buy Promos from Resorts and Hotels

• FREE entrance to BPI Cardholders (ATM or Credit Card) with valid ID
• Additional perks for BPI Express Credit Edge and Petron Mastercard holders (including additional discounts and bigger parking space)
• Hourly Raffle Draws for BPI Edge and Petron Mastercard holders
• Chance to win Sun Cellular post-paid line + Mobile Phones

Who: There will be a lot of booths and stores that will be participating!

• Travel Merchants: AirPhil Express, Microtel Philippines, The Tides Hotel Boracay, Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Las Casas Filipinas, One Tagaytay Place, Hotel Elizabeth, Fersal Hotel, and more! 
• Brands: PowerMac Center, Ipanema, Levi's, Nike Golf, Dupe', Rudy Project, Crumpler, Cushe, Hush Puppies, Melissa, Adidas, Puma, Devant, Nike, Accel, Rustan Marketing Corp. Cutting Edge, JA Henckels, Manny O Wines, Canopy Homes, Parker, Chocolate Clothing, Dockers, R.A.F., Plains & Prints, Guerlain, Grendha, Giordano Ladies, Pac Sports, Sebago, Targus, Switch, Digital Walker, Audio Technica, Ideal Vision, Speck, Slazenger, Maldita, and many many more!

For inquiries, email [email protected]

It's Giveaway Time!

For non-BPI cardholders, you can pay Php50.00 for entrance fee or join my giveaway of 40 tickets to get you in for free! Here's how to join - you can choose to do EITHER of the two options below:

1. Get TWO tickets >> On the top-right side of my site, enter your email address to receive free updates, then click Subscribe. Comment below by leaving your Full Name and the E-mail Address you used to subscribe for free updates. Make sure you activate the subscription.
2. Get TWO tickets >> 'Like' GLICH'S LIFE on Facebook and post this on YOUROWN Facebook Wall: "I just joined the @Glich's Life FREE tickets giveaway to The Big Outlet and Travel Sale 2011! Click here to join too -- http://www.glennong.com/2011/09/merchandise-hotel-resorts-airfare-deals.html" Make sure that your wall post is visible to Everyone. Please ensure Glich's Life should link to the Facebook page. After posting, comment below with the link of your Facebook Wall Post, Full Name, and Email Address.

This giveaway is open until all 40 tickets have been consumed or until 12NN of October 13, 2011. The names of successful commenters will be posted here on the same day as the deadline.

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BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry 7 OS Now in the Philippines

The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry 7 OS have finally arrived in the Philippines.

Research in Motion’s Hastings Singh, South Asia Vice President, and Ray Gillenwater, Philippines Country Manager, were present at the launch held at the Ayala Museum, Makati last September 26, 2011. The event was hosted by the astonishing Bianca Valerio.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the thinnest BlackBerry Bold smartphone as of yet at only 10.5mm. RIM is really pushing this particular model, since it offers the perfect union of a high performance keyboard and touch display, coupled with a fast 1.2GHz processor and huge 8GB internal memory.

Located at the back part of the Bold 9900 is the NFC technology that allows the pairing of this device to other NFC-enabled accessories or the reading of SmartPoster tags.

In addition, the new Bold 9900 is capable of recording HD videos and running the new Augmented Reality (AR) applications such as Wikitude. From how Gillenwater describes it, Wikitude will allow us to discover our surroundings in a completely new way. By using the camera, we can simply hold up our BlackBerry and be able to see places, points of interests and even our BBM contacts through our camera’s field of vision.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is set to be available on October 7, 2011 in authorized resellers at the price of Php31,960. It comes in complete standard package (unit, battery, charger, USB cable, pouch, guides) coupled with a 24-months warranty.

Meanwhile, the BlackBerry OS 7 has really some exciting new enhancements to tell.

• The smartphones will sport a next generation BlackBerry browser where users can get a faster and more fluid webs browsing experience. In fact, the difference of BlackBerry 7 to BlackBerry 6 is up to 40% faster, while 100% when compared to BlackBerry 5.
• It has the Liquid Graphics technology that combines a dedicated high-performance graphics processor with a blazingly fast CPU and stunning high resolution display. This then results to a highly responsive touch interface with incredibly fast and smooth graphics.
• It comes with an updated Blackberry Messenger that interconnects with other applications to improve the overall BBM experience.
• The usual pay-to-use Premium version of Documents to Go is now included free of charge, so users can also edit documents apart from just viewing them.
• The popular universal search capability has been enhanced with support for voice-activated search, so users can simply speak to search anything on their device or on the web.

I myself am very excited for the BlackBerry Bold 9900. I believe that the new functionality and features will bring the already awesome mobile communications experience to an even higher level.

It’s not the first time I saw or held the new Bold 9900. What makes it exciting for me is its perfect-sized keypads, the very fluid swiping, zooming and panning, as well as its fast camera aperture, bigger storage capacity, and better processor. Too bad they removed the auto focus feature due to size constraint.

The launch also featured the BlackBerry Curve 9360 and BlackBerry Torch 9860, but didn’t give any word on availability and price. They only said it’s “coming soon” and will definitely be this 2011.

I was quite shocked that the BlackBerry 9810 (the one with touchscreen and sliding keyboard) was not included in the launch. But talking to their distribution manager gave me information that they will eventually bring it to the Philippines, probably in 2012.

The BlackBerry world is getting more exciting! For more information, don't forget to 'Like' the BlackBerry Pilipinas Facebook Page or visit the BlackBerry Bold 9900 website.

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Nokia Highlights NFC Technology on New Symbian Belle

We've had a look on Nokia's Symbian Belle a month ago, where three handsets were announced to be getting the new OS - Nokia 600, Nokia 700, and Nokia 701. Last September 23, Nokia invited us to get a hands on the new devices and to try the NFC technology on several Nokia accessories.

Although the Philippines will not see light on Nokia's loudest smartphone (Nokia 600), the shipping of Nokia's smallest (Nokia 700) and brightest (Nokia 701) smartphone will start this October 2011.

These devices have the Near-Field Communications Technology or popularly known as the NFC, which is located on the top-back portion of the Nokia smartphones. It is very useful in sharing contents between a smartphone to another by simply tapping the devices near each other in order to pair them. Once the tapping is done, the phone's Bluetooth functionality will still be utilized for the actual file transfer.

We can also use the NFC technology for other purposes. In a Q&A game about James Bond, we used the Nokia smartphone's NFC technology to tap on an illustration board with pictures and NFC chips underneath it. The question will appear on the phone, then you need to tap the picture to answer.

You can also store text information on an NFC chip and edit it using the Nokia smartphone, as long as it's not saved as "read only" - I'm just not so sure if the software for editing that was shown to us is already built in. They showed us a sticker that has an NFC chip inside. It was programmed to automatically dial a number once the phone is tapped to it. Another is a calling card that can show and allow others to save your mobile number once tapped.

Pairing the smartphone to Nokia accessories like speakers and headsets can also be done by simply tapping the Nokia smartphone with the specific device's NFC location. It will automatically pair and play your audio without any hassle. Tapping it again will disconnect the connection.

Pictured above is the Nokia 700. It comes colors Cool Grey, Silver/White, Coral Red, Peacock Blue, and Purple. From the size of it, this Nokia handset is a great device for women. It's really small and very much handy. More specifications here.

And this is the Nokia 701 with the Gorilla Glass Display. It comes in colors Steel Dark, Silver Light, Amethyst Violet, and White. More specifications here. 

Both of these devices have pull down options (below the "Nokia" brand), where you can toggle the on and off of Mobile Network, Bluetooth and WiFi to save battery, when necessary.

One of the great-looking speakers ever, the Nokia Play 360 is very loud and clear. It plays audio with deep bass and crisp details, which is compatible with any device with Bluetooth or NFC. This speaker can play up to 20 hours over fully charged battery.

When you have two pieces of the Nokia Play 360, you can pair them both with your smartphone and hear a surround sound. It's great for bedrooms, small party places, and the living room. It comes in colors Grey, Cyan, and Silver.

This portable Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-505 allows pairing via NFC technology. It is suitable for people who are always on the go and are always in for quick access to calls and music. It is very easy to use and very comfortable to the ears. The controls are located on the right places, so you won't really have a hard time with it. This headset is soon to be available in our country.

I wonder if the NFC technology can be the next thing we can look forward to, aside from the widely used QR codes nowadays. Nokia reps said the NFC technology has actually been there on old devices like the Nokia C7, but the software development has just been completed.

To people saying Nokia is dying, I'm not here to judge. I still think they are trying their best to win customers by introducing diversified handsets for different markets and users. I believe in the principle that "as long as there's life, there's a chance to make it or break it."

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Fine Dining at Jasmine Restaurant in New World Hotel

The New World Hotel in Makati cordially invites everyone to taste its fine Cantonese cuisine at its homegrown Jasmine Restaurant located at the 2nd floor of the hotel.

They are cooking something special, touted as Shanghai Surprise, prepared especially by Chef Wong Kam Chung (pictured below, right), the executive chef of the famous YUE 1525 in Shanghai. This special menu is available from September 19 to October 1, 2011 only.

In an intimate dinner together with select bloggers (thanks to Jean), we got to taste the menu filled with exquisite claypot cuisine and authentic, delicious Cantonese dishes. I'm sharing with you some photos and my thoughts on each of them.

Appetizers

This red-orange colored appetizer is the Lotus Roots stuffed with Glutinous Rice. At one bite, you'd notice that each piece has a mixture of textures - smooth, thick, sticky, etc. It isn't the usual appetizer we eat, because it tasted sweet rather than the usual savory, salty or neutral taste. Nevertheless, it's unique.

The Radish and Carrot in Sour Sauce appetizer came in quite looking like crab sticks. Since I am not a huge fan of carrots, I just ate one piece. Surprisingly, it tasted almost like our home-made shredded pickles in vinegar, but with a controlled balance of sweetness and sourness.

Dimsum

My first favorite of the night is the Wagyu Beef with Mango Roll. This dimsum has a thin slice of wagyu beef and mango inside, which are rolled together into a crispy cover. I wasn't expecting that it would be that good! I would highly recommend ordering this one.

Another dimsum favorite is the Steamed Scallops on Bean Curd. The usual tasteless tofu has been upgraded to a savory, tasteful one with the combination of steamed scallops and some veggies on this dish. Eating this with the right temperature would make it even more delicious.

At first look, I thought that the Steamed Shanghainese Pork Dumpling with Goose Liver is just a normal dumpling. However, when I transferred it to my plate, I saw that there was a small part of liquid flowing inside. Hence, I knew that it was their version of the Xiao Long Pao, which I'm not fond of. All I can say is - the goose liver gave a difference in taste.

The Steamed Lobster and Vegetable Dumplings were wrapped inside a translucent cover, which is quite sticky on the palette. Good thing that the vegetables still remained crunchy, even if it was mixed with several other ingredients.

Main Dish

I love chicken, which is why I really got excited upon seeing the Shanghainese Chicken Curry in Clay Pot. The meat was very tender, juicy, and is so good! Although, they can add a bit more curry taste to improve the whole dish.

Doesn't the Wok Fried Fillet of Beef with Wasabi Sauce picture look so delicious? It is! The meat tenderness is cooked to perfection. I really wanted to get a taste of having wasabi on beef, but it was a let down that it didn't have any single hint of wasabi. Nevertheless, I still give it a two thumbs up.

I consider the Assorted Seafood, Rice and Soup a rich balancer of all the main dishes. It was neither too bland nor too salty, which is a great partner for any rice-viand combo. I find it very healthy due to the greens and shrimps on it. I knew it was freshly cooked, because the rice is still very much formed and very much chewy.

Another evening favorite of mine is the Pan Fried Razor Clams. Since these clams come from France, they really look different - bigger and longer than usual. Basically, the clam meat is coated with batter and seasoned with a sauce that makes it saltier. My other friends find it too salty, but I really like this dish.

If you think that those are crab shells and meet, you're wrong. This is the Steamed Mantis with Egg White. The head and tail shells on the sides are just for "display" since the meat are all positioned at the center, while bathing in steamed egg whites. I didn't find enjoyment in this dish, but it was worth trying.

And here's the Steamed Sea Garoupa with Soya Bean in Lotus Leaf. Coming from France, this dish scared me a bit. I was thinking that it might be bitter or too salty, because of its dark color, but I was wrong. It tasted very fresh and I like how the soya beans added a different flavor to the normal-looking fish.

Dessert

On to the desserts, we were treated with the Oolong Tea Creme Brulee. The name "tea" didn't sound good to me, because I am not fond of tea per se (except milk tea). But the person beside me said she loves it, so I got curious. Eating spoon after spoon, I eventually ate the whole cup clean. Good thing it wasn't too sweet, unlike the usual creme brulee's elsewhere.

The small piece of Coconut Pudding, Osmanthus and Bird's Nest capped the night off. The four-layer dessert is just okay. I wasn't able to taste much of the coconut flavor. I also don't know if the osmanthus inside the clear jelly did any help at all in enriching the flavor. At least there's real bird's nest on top, which makes it healthy (and expensive).

Jasmine Restaurant has a great ambiance. Several parts of the restaurant are suited for families, small group of friends, and a romantic date for two. The food prices may not be too friendly for average diners, but trying the restaurant on some special occasions wouldn't hurt.

Don't just look at those pictures. Visit Jasmine Restaurant and try their special menu until October 1, 2011. They are open everyday for lunch and dinner. Call 8116888 for reservations.


Jasmine Restaurant
2/F New World Makati
Esperanza Street corner Makati Avenue,
Ayala Center, Makati City

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Download the WWF Philippines App, Donate Php10 to Save Environment

Have we done something to help conserve the environment and its endangered species? Since most of us do not have enough resources to bring significant efforts to fruition, why don't we just join the efforts of Nokia, since most of us own a Nokia handset anyway?

Nokia recently partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines (WWF-Philippines) by launching a WWF-Philippines application for Nokia phones. The app aims to raise public awareness on various efforts towards conservation, environmental education and climate change action in the Philippines.

So how do we actually help?

• Just download the WWF-Philippines app from the Nokia Ovi Store on your Nokia handsets. You may go to www.store.ovi.com and search for "WWF Philippines" or go directly to http://store.mobi.com/content/137635 using your mobile phone.
• For every download of the WWF-Philippines app, Nokia will be donating Php10.00 to WWF-Philippines to support its local programmes.

The app is actually not just a regular app. It's an educational tool that contains information on environment awareness and species conservation among others. 

Here's the full press release from Nokia:

Now more than ever, the call to conserve the environment and its endangered species has never been more strongly amplified and seriously pursued. People and organizations around the world are pooling their efforts and resources to bring these significant endeavors to fruition so that future generations might still enjoy a green and habitable planet. Nokia, the world’s No. 1 mobile phone brand, drives environmental and social responsibility initiatives across all areas of its operations.

Its most recent effort is a partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines (WWF-Philippines), the local office of the world’s largest conservation organization. WWF-Philippines was founded in 1997 to spearhead efforts in the conservation of endangered species and threatened habitats throughout the country. Nokia and WWF-Philippines collaborated to launch the WWF-Philippines app for Nokia phones – aimed at raising public awareness on various efforts towards conservation, environmental education and climate change action in the Philippines.

“Nokia’s partnership with WWF-Philippines signifies the company’s unwavering commitment to this important advocacy. With this educational app, Nokia will help spread the word on environment awareness and species conservation to its growing number of users here and around the world,” said Rhomel Marcojos, senior services marketing manager of Nokia Philippines.

The partnership is likewise a vital effort for WWF-Philippines in its pursuit to reach out to more people. “WWF-Philippines is constantly looking for new ways to help Filipinos understand how crucial it is to conserve the range of species and ecosystems here in our country,“ explained Lory Tan, chief executive officer and vice chairman of the board of trustees of WWF-Philippines. “Apart from maintaining our incomparably rich biodiversity, conservation allows us to work with communities to sustain the productive areas that we depend on for our basic needs.”

“Our partnership with Nokia has made it possible for us to reach millions of mobile phone users across the Philippines, and for those users to help WWF in its work here simply by downloading the app,” he added.

The WWF-Philippines app comes with a fun yet educational game to entertain mobile phone users while helping them learn more about local endangered species. Expect local species like the butanding (whale shark), pawikan (sea turtle), dugong (sea cow), Calamian deer, mouse deer, Philippine crocodile, Philippine eagle, tarsier, true giant clam, and warty pig to engage you in an exciting game that will keep you entertained and enlightened at the same time.

With this partnership as well, Nokia is extending financial assistance to WWF-Philippines. For every download of the WWF-Philippines app, Nokia will be donating P10 to WWF-Philippines to support its local programmes.

Let your Nokia phones be a valuable tool in helping save the environment and protect our local endangered species. The free app is now available for download from the Nokia Ovi Store on the following Nokia handsets: Nokia 5230, Nokia 5233, Nokia 5250, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia C5-03, Nokia C6, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7, Nokia E63, Nokia E7, Nokia E71, Nokia E72, Nokia N8, Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, and Nokia X7.

Download the WWF-Philippines app now by going to www.store.ovi.com and searching for WWF Philippines or go directly to http://store.mobi.com/content/137635 using your mobile phone.

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MMDA's Hi-Tech Public Service

Here in the Philippines, many government offices are still a bit conservative in utilizing technology to provide efficient, helpful public service. Maybe it comes with the age of officials, or perhaps the lack of budget to hire the right people and purchase the appropriate equipment in order to operate new services.

While some are just starting to engage us Filipinos through Internet tools, it is good to recognize the efforts of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which has made use of technology to really make our lives better, at least in Metro Manila.

How did I say that MMDA provides good public service with the use of technology?

 Because of their Website

The rise of mobile users subscribed to data plans makes it very convenient to surf the web and gather information on a day to day basis, if needed and when needed.

Having this in perspective, MMDA’s website (mmda.gov.ph) is a good tool for information dissemination.

They make sure that news items are always timely and updated.

Information on new regulations, messages from the head of office, list and photos of violators, and applications forms for different purposes are easily accessible through their website.

Because of their Social Media efforts

People are hungry for information. Whether in transit, at home or at work, we always make it a point to check Twitter or Facebook for updates from friends and helpful entities. In this way, we get acquainted to what’s happening and what to expect out there.

As such, the MMDA’s fast, reliable responses and updates on Twitter (twitter.com/MMDA) and Facebook (facebook.com/MMDAPH) only signify their good intention of providing the Filipinos the best possible kind of help they can extend.

Because of their Traffic Navigator and iPad/iPhone App

Obviously, not everyone has gone with the flow of Twitter and Facebook. So when we want to pull information about the traffic situation in several parts of Metro Manila, there’s the MMDA Traffic Navigator (mmdatraffic.interaksyon.com) that provides helpful tips on which roads to spare and what streets to drive through instead.

For the people who are always mobile, we may opt to download the MMDA iOS app for free via the App Store. The app does not only provide updates on traffic situation, but also a guide on different laws and policies of MMDA (UVVRP, violations/penalties, smoking, etc.) Currently, they are already working on creating the same portable app for other operating systems.

Accessible in any computer or tablet, traffic monitoring has never been this hi-tech, especially that the application is color-coded, easy to navigate, and updated once in every few minutes.

The MMDA’s effective use of technology has definitely helped a lot of people lessen the problems on traffic and accident tracking day in and day out. Matched with their efficient public service, the MMDA has surely set a positive tone for other government offices to follow.

What other government offices have provided good public service with the help of technology? Share your thoughts via email at [email protected] or Twitter @GlennOng.

This article is my 33^rd contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on September 19, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.


Photo Source: MMDA Website/FB/Twitter, MMDA Traffic Navigator

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SoundFreaq Sound Platform SFQ-01 Rocks!

It's the SoundFreaq Sound Platform SFQ-01 and I'm in love! Starting up this small but powerful single-piece speaker system in the morning got me to continuously use it for the rest of the day. It's that good and convenient!

I was able to use the Sound Platform to play audio for music, video, games and apps wirelessly, docked or through line in connection. Since it is compatible to most mobile devices with AD2P Bluetooth capability, I was able test it using my HP Laptop, BlackBerry, Nokia, iPad, and iPod Classic.

Unboxing the SoundFreaq Sound Platform, there's the main unit, small remote control loaded with lithium coin battery, switch power adapter, adapter cable, two dock adapters, and the SoundFreaq quick-guide. 

The front panel is where the main controls of the Sound Platform are located. Pictured above, the left-most part has the switches or knobs for U-Cubed, Bass, and Treble, which I'll talk about below. The center part has the dock for the different generations of iPod Classic, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, and iPhone. Meanwhile, the right-most section has the capacitive touch keys of play, pause, mute, power, volume, pair, and source.

Turning the SoundFreaq Sound Platform to the right side will reveal a push-to-open compartment, where the remote control can be secured by a magnet for quick and convenient use.

I have tested the remote control by pointing it towards the front, side, and back of the speaker, and it still worked! It has the same keys (but not touch) as to the one in the front panel, and can be pressed without much efforts.  

Flipping the speaker to the back will reveal the ports for the switch power adapter (lower-left), Aux In for connecting of external equipment (lower-center), and FM.ANT for plugging of FM antenna to use it as digital radio (beside Aux In, too small to be seen in the picture).

Reasons why SoundFreaq Sound Platform rocks:

1. It has a U-Cubed (U-Q3) that produces clear, crisp sound
SoundFreaq features a "U-Cubed" sound effect that is a proprietary technology designed to create an ultra wide stereo sound field in digital music systems. With exceptional natural sound reproduction of high definition and fidelity, the speaker creates a listening experience where I felt like the speakers are separated much more than they are.

When U-Cubed is turned on, the Bass and Treble knobs will automatically be deactivated, since the sound quality is optimized and adjusted accordingly to make it produce an amazing sound. On the contrary, if the U-Cubed feature is off, both the Bass and Treble can be adjusted up to +3 or -3.

I love speakers with strong bass, so I can surely feel the beat of dance music. The Sound Platform did not only gave me that, but so much more! Whether it is on U-Cubed or not, the sound comes out excellently.

I didn't hear any noise or distortions in sound quality for the long duration that I used it. Both the audio's instruments and the voices are clearly heard too.

2. It's wireless capability allows multitasking
Most of the devices today are designed for multi-tasking. SoundFreaq knows about this, so they gave the option to have our gadgets sit in a dock or be connected wirelessly.

Today, I was able to enjoy the freedom of wireless listening. I got to stream audio directly from my smart devices while writing e-mails, browsing the web, listening to music, watching movies, playing games, and using countless apps without ever missing a beat.

SoundFreaq allowed me to keep my devices exactly where I wanted and needed it -- in my hand. That's convenience over there.

3. It is very easy to setup, pair, and navigate
Simply pulling it out from the box and plugging in the switch power adapter will instantly allow the use of the SoundFreaq speakers. In addition, even after using the Sound Platform for several hours, the switch power adapter wasn't warm at all, which means that it uses little electricity.

Since it can be used with iPod, Bluetooth or Aux In, simply tapping the "Source" key will allow the change in audio source. When wanting to use with any device with AD2P Bluetooth capability, just tap the "Pair" and it's good to go. No passwords, no hassle in pairing devices.

When used with an iPad or iPhone, there's a full remote control app available at the App Store for free. Although I was able to play audio from several apps (GoodReader, E-Mail and iFiles) via Bluetooth, specifically using the SoundFreaq app will only show the song playlist from the native player of the iPad.

4. Sound Platform is not too heavy and not too big
With its size and weight, I can simply transfer it around the house for whatever purpose it may serve. The SoundFreaq speaker is stylish and doesn't take too much space wherever I place it. It's really great to bring to friends' house parties too!

To add, I was also happy to see that my iPod Classic got fully charged after using it for a few hours. Look, it doubles as a charger too! Yay!

5. It is compatible today and tomorrow
AD2P Bluetooth is supported by all of today's most popular device manufacturers and operating systems for mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, laptops and computers.

Because of this wireless standard for mobile devices, I am confident that SoundFreaq Sound Platform will work not only with the gadgets I own today, but with any future mobile devices I plan to buy. As I upgrade to tomorrow's smart phones, laptops, tablets and other devices, I will definitely still be able to enjoy them with Sound Platform.

Suggested Retail Price: Php9,950.00

Available at the following stores:

• Beyond The Box
• Digital Hub
• Digital Walker
• Gadgets In Style
• Gui - Davao
• Heima
• iCenter - Davao
• iStudio
• Mobile 1
• Power Hub – Davao
• Power Mac Center
• Switch
• Technoholics
• Xsite Mobile

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World Wide Web Gets Chaotic

Social buttons, mobile applications, and cross-platform integration of social networks are the main culprits why it has become easier and faster to share contents day after day. The frequency of sharing has rapidly increased overtime, leaving us with the question – how do we manage all of the information in the long run?

Social networking site Facebook alone is able to generate four billion items out of all the status updates, images, videos, and links that users share every single day. What more if we add all the Twitter updates, news articles and personal stories shared by everyone else?

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained that the growth of social sharing behaves exponentially. This means that users share twice as much today as they did one year ago. It could then be assumed that the amount of contents shared now will double and so forth throughout the coming years. Not only do we consider adults using the Internet today, but also the upcoming teens who grow older every day. If you think about it, the number will really be huge!

Are we about to face what some people have termed as the “Sharepocalypse,” an era of constant digital chaos characterized by tremendous information overload? Not only will it give us a hard time looking for credible facts, but also make our Internet referencing efforts unproductive.

What can we do about it? For now, there’s nothing really out there to stop the sharepocalypse from happening. Filtering can be done, but it will be very hard to choose among the many factors that and venues where people share things.

But I do hope there will come a time when innovators can think of a way on how this can be addressed. This issue of excess in shared contents will definitely open opportunities for companies to step up and create a startup. Perhaps Google, being the world’s best search engine, would play an important role in coming up with a solution that would address the issue.

In everything, there are pros and cons. While the Internet has greatly helped all of us in providing helpful information, sooner or later, we would eventually have to face the consequences of over sharing things.

Do you have any ideas on how we can regulate the sharing of contents, so that we can preserve the effectiveness of the Internet? Or, to put it bluntly, is there really a solution anyway?

Email me your thoughts at [email protected] or Tweet @GlennOng.

This article is my 32^nd contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on September 12, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.

Photo Source: Manila Bulletin

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So, do you Google Sync?

Are you switching phones or computers any time soon and having a dilemma of how to transfer your data from one device to another? You don’t have to worry, because there’s Google Sync ready to serve.

Google Sync has in fact been around for quite some time now, but still many people are clueless of this service. Thanks to our best friend Google, they have not settled only to be the best search engine there is, but also innovators of useful services that help us live a better life, technologically speaking.

So what is Google Sync? It’s basically a two-way service using over-the-air synchronization of Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar with our computer or mobile device. It works with PC, Mac, Linux, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian S60, iPhone, iPad, Windows Mobile, and other devices.

What do you get when you use the Google Sync service?

Synchronize one and all. By simply following the instructions for your specific device at google.com/sync, you get to add, delete or change your data in Google and make it available to be synchronized to your mobile device (and vice versa). Any changes made to one device will be wirelessly synchronized to all other devices using the same Google account.

Hassle-free data transfer. Whether you purchase a new phone or switch between two different mobile phone brands, your address book and calendar items are always ready to be viewed after a few minutes of synching. All you need is a working internet connection.

Automatic synchronization. Never miss a calendar appointment ever again, because you can opt to either put the synching automatically or manually. Selecting ‘Automatic’ will sync Google Calendar approximately every two hours or whenever you make any changes on your mobile handheld, while selecting ‘Manual’ will only sync updates when you want it.

Minimal data usage. The Google Sync service is very helpful and yet syncing wirelessly over mobile connection utilizes minimal data usage only. As an example, you can already sync a total of 145 calendar updates and 30 address book updates using only 133 kilobytes.

Runs on the background. Working on a document in your iPad? You won’t even notice that synchronization is happening. Depending on which device you are using, the Google Sync app runs on the background, taking only a minimal portion of the RAM. That is how efficient it is.

The next time your friend asks you how he can transfer data seamlessly in a quick, easy way, tell him to sign up for a Google account and make use of Google Sync.

This article is my thirty-first contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on September 05, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.

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Question is, will TouchPads be alive had it been cheaper?

Tech junkies got the shock of their life when Hewlett-Packard dropped the bombshell by announcing the demise of the HP TouchPad and also the WebOS platform.

Only a few weeks after the announcement of the WebOS-based tablet, HP immediately killed the fire and announced that they will no longer manufacture the HP TouchPad in the 4th quarter, since it still couldn’t drive demand even after the tablet’s price was cut three times in the course of a week.

Admittedly, people today are still looking for less expensive tablet computers. In fact, there is a huge demand for it even on this era when Apple’s iPad reigns supreme.

Case in point is the fire sale of HP, Amazon, and Best Buy where TouchPad’s price was lowered from $399 to $99. Surprisingly, stocks ran out fast even if there will no longer be full support on the said tablet and its OS.

The question now lingers – Had HP put the price lower, will the TouchPad still be around?

HP certainly cannot spend $306 (bill of materials and manufacturing costs combined for the 16GB variant) and then sell it for only $100. But they can definitely build a great tablet computer with capacitive touch screen running on a decent hardware for less than $200.

How? Perhaps by getting half the price of touch screens they currently use. In addition, HP can also spend less on memory since there’s already the Cloud storage technology, which they widely use on their printer fleet.

At present, there are already a number of developers programming useful applications for WebOS. If HP had made the prices significantly lower than what they used to sell it, I’m definite that they can sell millions of tablets. As such, a very robust developer network would prosper around WebOS.

The WebOS had a lot of potential and could have been a major player in the mobile field. However, HP seemed to have pulled the plug very early and gave up the game without putting much effort on the fight.

Now that it’s the end for the HP TouchPad, the tablet market is really just the iPad market. Android, Windows, and BlackBerry may seem to still run the race, but no one has come close to what Apple has achieved.

Will it forever be Apple’s kingship over all tablet computers? Which brand will take its place as number one? The future begins today.

This article is my thirtieth contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on August 29, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.

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Remake the Nokia Tune, Win Up to $10,000

The Philippines has since been a Nokia country, so everyone definitely knows how the classic Nokia tune sounds like. As popular as it is, the tune has had several remakes to adopt to the changing music taste of people over time.

Today, Nokia launches a brand new contest that challenges musicians and sound developers alike. The participant with the most creative composition and the most 'like' will win a huge amount of $10,000, while the five other runner-ups will get $1,000 each.

What are you waiting for? Give the Nokia tune some new twist, do a remix and get a chance to win major prizes!

Nokia Tune Remake Press Release below:

Nokia launched a global crowdsourcing campaign to challenge people to get creative and compose their own versions of the iconic Nokia Tune.Entries can be heard, voted on and submitted at http://nokiatune.audiodraft.com.

The Nokia Tune originates from the composition ‘Grand Vals’ by Spaniard Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909) and was first introduced as a ringtone in 1994 with the Nokia 2100 series. Since its inception, the Nokia Tune has become one of the world’s most frequently played pieces of music and has been the default melody in hundreds of millions of Nokia handsets. The Nokia Tune is estimated to be heard over one billion times a day.

Get in tune with your inner musician

Nokia, together with AudioDraft, world experts in crowdsourcing audio creation,are looking for a tune that is fresh, expressive, original and creative, yet distinctively Nokia. Entrants are encouraged to experiment with both old and new Nokia Tunes and can also create their own musical parts, sounds and arrangements.The tune should be a maximum of 30 seconds in length and the deadline for submission is October 2, 2011.

The finale

The five most voted or 'liked' entries will qualify as finalists. A further five finalists will be selected by the jury who will then ultimately select one winning entry from the ten finalists.The jury comprises some of the most respected names in the audio branding industry including: Kai Bronner, one of the founders of Audio Branding Academy; Julian Treasure, known for his TED talks and author of ‘Sound Business’; and Mark Dewings, head of Brand & Marketing Communications at SoundCloud. Nokia’s own SVP of Design, Marko Ahtisaari, is also on the seven member jury.

The prizes

The winning tune will be included in select models within the company’s 2012 product portfolio,an estimated 100 million devices. In addition, the winning tune will be made available on Ovi Store and featured in Nokia’s Brand Book. The winner will also be awarded a prize of 10,000 USD. The five runner-ups will have their versions of the Nokia Tune available in Ovi Store and will be awarded 1000 USD each.

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Some Cool I.T. Finds

Fun time with Reflow

Reflow is a fun solo or group game that you can play using any iOS device with a camera – that is, iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS or 4th generation iPod Touch. It uses the real-time camera images (front or back) of you and your friends, which then turns them into a black and white spectrum.

The main goal of the game is to let the virtual fluids flow on everything that is seen by your camera’s eye. You can use humans, objects, animals or whatever you may have in order to solve the given challenges in the most unique way.

Reflow can be downloaded from iTunes at $1.99 a pop.

UV-C Keeps the Doctor Away

Strolling in a store one day, I found two devices that promise to kill germs and bacteria with the use of ultraviolet (UV) lights. One of the devices is a small cylindrical-shaped bin that can be used to sanitize gadgets such as iPods and mobile phones, while the other one is a rectangular case that holds and cleans a toothbrush.

After some thinking, it came to a realization that a certain range of ultraviolet light is actually beneficial in preventing the spread of diseases. It’s amazing how manufacturers thought of using the UV light technology to aid us in having more sanitized things.

It’s called the Germicidal Ultraviolet or UV-C light that helps deactivate the DNA of bacteria, viruses, germs and other harmful micro-organisms. It basically helps to form certain bonds that eventually disable the DNA to replicate or reproduce.

Although UV light disinfecting methodology is a simple process and has low maintenance, one can expect to shell out Php1,500 or more in order to purchase devices with germicidal ultraviolet capabilities.

Other applications that UV-C can be used for (aside from the gadgets and toothbrush) are in drinking water, pharmaceutical production and medical areas, food processing, as well as in industries like cosmetics and electronic production.

Twitter bird officially named

The white Twitter bird has been all around the Internet these days. Most of us probably think that it does not need a name anymore, because it’s just the identity of a social media tool.

The Twitter gods beg to disagree. Finally, after so much rumors (as if the bird is a celebrity), the Twitter bird has finally been named. Apparently, the bird is not classified as “it,” rather a “he.”

His name is Larry. Yes, Larry the bird or simply Larry Bird. Sounds familiar? Definitely. Larry Bird is the living legend in Boston sports. The name sounds perfect, because Twitter co-founder Biz Stone was born and raised in Boston anyway. That must be the reason why.

This article is my twenty-ninth contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on August 22, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.

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