Power Mac Center offers free training on Mac App Store applications

Power Mac Center (PMC) is known to be one of the most reliable retails shops of Apple products and accessories in the country. This 2011, PMC invites everyone -- PC and Mac users alike -- to sign up for FREE training sessions called Mac App Store Training Program in selected stores.

The said program aims to increase familiarity, knowledge on the use of Mac App Store and the available apps designed for Apple products. Aside from learning more about the new applications, PC users will be able to see and appreciate the power of Mac. Meanwhile, avid Mac enthusiasts will get to know more on how they can increase productivity by using the apps from the online store.

The free training sessions will be conducted in the following PMC branches:

• PMC Greenbelt 3 - February 25
• PMC Annex at SM North EDSA - March 4
• PMC TriNoma - March 11 and 17

Each session will be divided into the following 30-minute lectures: iMovie and Final Cut Pro; iPhoto 11 and Aperture 3; App Store and Apps; and Keynote. iMovie and Final Cut Pro are Apple’s powerful movie-making package; iPhoto 11 and Aperture 3 are for editing and managing photos; while Keynote is Apple’s presentation software.

To sign up for free, visit http://powermaccenter.com/services/training/learning_series or email [email protected].

For more details on their latest offers and other Power Mac Center services and promos, as well as updates on the latest Apple products, visit their website at www.powermaccenter.com.

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Change Our Ways, Improve the Environment via Alter Space

In this fast-changing world, nothing is certain except for our discipline and commitment to do and change things. We live, we laugh, we experience, but many times we have been so careless in taking the right stewardship of what has been entrusted to us by the One above.

Until one day, we decide to take on that leap of faith to start a change we want to see in this world. Change, yes, change. We have been dreaming of a better Philippines, a better environment, but have we actually done something to start it? It's really simple. With discipline and commitment, we can start the change within us.

Let's take for example the Carbon Footprints (CF). This covers everything we do (from using the air conditioner even when it's cold, washing dishes too often, using excess number of papers, etcetera). The higher our CF, the more hazardous our atmosphere and environment become. It's not a single effort to lessen this; in fact, it is a conscious, cumulative effort. We can lessen this by using renewable energy.

Here are 5 points we must do to make an impact in this world:

1. Change the Habits. Our habits speak a lot about us and how we take care of the environment. In as much as we want to create a better environment, we should learn how to change our bad habits and make an improvement that will definitely help the environment.
2. Be Willing. When we choose to deviate from the usual "standards" of people, our willingness to sacrifice things most probably be tested. This is so we can validate our stand and be sure that the change we want to see has our firm commitment on it. At times, we should also be willing to spend a little more to opt for a more environmental friendly choice.

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Grab the Smart Gold Double Deal promo before it runs out!

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) brings back their 'Double Deal' promo available at Smart Wireless Centers nationwide until February 28, 2011. Sorry for posting this just now, but you still have 4 full days to go and get yourself a a brand new Smart Gold postpaid plan.

What exactly is with Smart Gold’s ‘Double Deal’ offer? In a nutshell, all approved postpaid subscribers will receive an extra mobile phone or a netbook with their postpaid plan, absolutely free – on top of the free handset which already comes with the plan.

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Refurbished Items Are Good, Too

Buying gadgets is never cheap. In an instance or two, we have had experiences of purchasing our most wanted electronics only to find out that something is not right. Our excitement dies down when we get home upon seeing that our new gadget has dents on the side, maybe a scratch on the screen or there is just a feature that does not function properly. Naturally, we go back to the shop and get a replacement.

Have you ever wondered what happens to returned items then?

Unless technology products like printers, phones, computers and others are already beyond repair, the items that we return will ultimately be found in the shelves again. Companies tag these gadgets as refurbished/refurb, remanufactured, reconditioned or pre-owned products; thus selling it at a much better price. And, better means cheaper.

Such products are not necessarily out of shape. In the case of most manufacturers, returned items undergo thorough testing and re-imaging to make sure that they work like new, even if they are not. Of course, being careful is still a must. But with common-sense in shopping for gadgets, you will surely find an awesome “like-new” item that will save you hundreds to thousands of money.

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Asian Food Fever Lands at Coco Asian Kitchen

February 7, 2011 saw me together with The Foodie Club at one of the food chains located inside Promenade, Greenhills. Thanks to my friend Chris and the owners of Coco Asian Kitchen for generously welcoming us that night.

Two of the four owners - Steve (L) and Andrew (R)

You might have remembered Coco Asian Kitchen a few years back when it was still in Banawe, Quezon City. In December 2009, the four owners (former Xavierians and Lasallian) decided to transfer the restaurant to a better location, so they can cater to a bigger and better crowd.

At first glance, I thought it's a franchise from the different Asian countries listed on its sign board. Mind you, it's homegrown. The countries printed there are their inspiration of their food.

Their menu covers an array of food choices from appetizers, entrees, breakfast food to set menu, desserts, and drinks -- some available in both Solo and for Sharing, while others are only for Solo orders. Enough of the talking, let the taste test begin!

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A Geeky Valentine

First of all, let me greet you dear readers a Happy Valentine’s Day. Saint Valentine’s Day, commonly shortened to Valentine’s Day is just a mark in the calendar when lovers, partners, and suitors show love and affection to crushes and partners. But hey, it shouldn’t only be celebrated annually right? Every day is Valentine’s Day.

You say, “Yeah, right.” Ok, here is the thing – people have branded you as a geek, which is why you have grown to hate this day of days. You might have experienced lonely nights in restaurants where you and your geeky friends watched couples enter and leave with their dates, while you fellows spent the night playing games or reading comics.

Fret not. Here’s a list of things you can consider trying.

Finding a Girl Online
Starting to chat with girls after joining social networking or dating sites can be very exciting for geeks. However, first make sure they are indeed girls. It is quite possible that the girl you have been wooing online may not actually be one. It’s so easy to pretend online – one of the disadvantages of technology.

How do you do it? Open up your instant messenger and do the following: (1) Talk about the movies Mean Girls or the Sweetest Thing. If she is unable to name at least three characters from those very girly movies, it should be a red flag. (2) Question her with 'arlogh Qoylu'pu?' Most real girls cannot speak Klingon and therefore will not be able to answer this. (3) Trick her by inquiring about a certain part of your car that broke down and how you can fix it. Majority of the girls do not really know much about cars and ways on how to fix it. If they are able to answer you, then that is another red flag.

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Nokia and Microsoft Announce Plans for Strategic Partnership

Nokia and Microsoft announced a strategic partnership that will allow them to use their complementary strengths and expertise to create a new global mobile ecosystem.

So as not to miss the pertinent details of this announced partnership, allow me to make quote the information below, coming from the Nokia Press Release sent to me:

Nokia and Microsoft intend to jointly create market-leading mobile products and services designed to offer consumers, operators and developers unrivalled choice and opportunity. As each company would focus on its core competencies, the partnership would create the opportunity for rapid time to market execution. Additionally, Nokia and Microsoft plan to work together to integrate key assets and create completely new service offerings, while extending established products and services to new markets.

Under the proposed partnership:

• Nokia would adopt Windows Phone as its principal smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.
• Nokia would help drive the future of Windows Phone. Nokia would contribute its expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies.
• Nokia and Microsoft would closely collaborate on joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.
• Bing would power Nokia’s search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing’s next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter would provide search advertising services on Nokia’s line of devices and services.
• Nokia Maps would be a core part of Microsoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising experience
• Nokia’s extensive operator billing agreements would make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.
• Microsoft development tools would be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.
• Nokia’s content and application store would be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.

I am excited for this partnership, because I have never thought there is a possibility for these two organizations to have joint hands in order to create something bigger and better for us consumers.

What are your thoughts on this?

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Of Blogging and Switching

What would the world do if there were no writers, whether on newspapers or online journals? What would you do if everything had a fixed state and no amount of efforts or decisions can change the current situation, well, except natural disasters?

Fortunately, what we actually have in real life are the opposites of these questions.


Blogging – Writing speaks louder than thoughts
Yours truly was not born a writer. With persistent reading and writing, I was able to hone my skills in coming up with outputs I can call as masterpiece. Gone are the days when manual typewriters would cause calluses and make a writer waste liquid erasers plus papers due to trial and error. Thanks to technology such as computers and tablets, where we can just press Shift+Arrow+Backspace or go to File-New to start all over again. As a matter of fact, this article had its share of highlights and deletes too!

Imagine back in the 17th century when journalists had to write all their contents by hand. How tiring can that get! But they still did it, because they have the passion for writing. Just the same, bloggers with passion have completely improved the meaning of blogging, as it has shifted from only being a person’s online journal of day-to-day activities into a very useful medium for information dissemination; thus calling it as one of the new media avenues.

From travel and food raves to gym and surgery experiences, intelligent thinkers nowadays do not just keep their thoughts to themselves, but rather write them down online to serve as documentation, cook book or proof for anyone who has access to the Internet to read.

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