Yummy Chocnut Cheesecake from Indulgence by Irene

From the maker of the delicious Quezo De Bola Cheesecake, Indulgence by Irene is offering yet another yummy dessert item that will surely make you crave for more... well, at least for me and my officemates. This one is called the Chocnut Cheesecake.

Based from my previous dessert experience from Indulgence by Irene, I was expecting a lot from this one. I kept on thinking what it would taste like, since it's quite a unique combination as compared to the usual cheesecakes we see in commercial establishments.

Pictured above, we see three different layers -- all vital to the incredible taste this cheesecake gives. Crushed Chocnut is on top, creamy cheesecake at the center, and melts-in-your-mouth graham base at the bottom.

Basically, it has the same composition as with the Quezo De Bola Cheesecake (QDB), but without the quezo de bola and with the chocnut on top. Like the QDB cheesecake, Irene's concoction uses a lot of cream cheese, without extenders. The sweetness and moistness are just perfect, a perfect dessert to cap off a complete meal.

A couple of officemates got the chance to take a bite of this Chocnut Cheesecake, and not one of them said they didn't like it. Everyone of us gave it a two thumbs up. The Filipino favorite Chocnut on top of a creamy cheesecake is just so hard to resist! Seriously.

I highly recommend the Chocnut Cheesecake from Indulgence by Irene as a gift item this holiday season. It will surely leave a good impression on you, since this dessert item cannot be found just anywhere. A 4.5-inch cheesecake is priced at Php200, while a bigger one at 9-inch is at Php900. Each order comes in a red box, which is ready to be given as a gift right away.

If you're planning to order, please allow 1-2 days lead time for the 9-inch size. While there is no minimum number of orders for the 4.5-inch cheesecake, you can coordinate with Irene as she collates 5 small-sized orders per batch, so you might have to wait. The QDB Cheesecake will last for two weeks as long as it is refrigerated.

Contacting Indulgence by Irene at 0922-8303900 / 0917-6225800 or by 'liking' Indulgence by Irene Facebook Page. She does meet-ups at Magallanes on weekday mornings and afternoons or you can simply pick it up at Ortigas.

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How to Get Out More (and win free flights) with BPI

I've been an avid fan and loyal customer of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) since I opened a new account back in college. It's because they haven't given me any headache or whatsoever when it comes to my account opening, requests, and concerns. 

Throughout the years, my relationship with BPI has gotten more intimate, especially because I have been using it almost every day for my financial management. It has allowed me to get out more with their very easy-to-use 24/7 banking channels via internet, telephone and mobile phone.

Want get out more also? BPI has come up with an exciting travel and rewards campaign called Get Out More. This program is a joint partnership of BPI with Zest Airways and Philippine Hotel Reservations Service (PHRS).

With the BPI Get Out More campaign, clients like me get a chance to win an all-expense paid trip for four to seven top destinations (Bohol, Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Legazpi, Iloilo, and Puerto Princesa) in the country, 3D/2N accommodations, and pocket money worth Php24,700.00 -- all these just by paying bills online, over the phone, or through the mobile phones.

Everything's possible online now. I've been paying all my bills mostly through their online banking website or my smartphone app. It's more fun to do it that way since I can simply do it even when sitting, walking or driving (shhhh) whether at home, at work or at any vacation destination. It definitely minimizes the time and effort to walk towards a bank branch just to pay bills. 

So how can we Get Out More with BPI?

1. Enroll any BPI, BPI Family or BPI Direct account to BPI's 24/7 banking channels (Express Online, Express Mobile or Express Phone).
2. Pay monthly bills through any of these channels. Every Php50.00 bill successfully paid is equivalent to a raffle ticket.
3. Two raffle entries will be awarded to the first qualified payment made to a unique merchant reference/account number during the promo period. Succeeding qualified payments will earn one raffle entry each (in the succeeding calendar month).
   
4. Promo period is September 17 to December 31, 2012.

To make it more fun, I encourage you to go to www.getoutmore.ph to check out further information about this campaign and to make your very own Get Out More video. Here's a sample video made by yours truly.

Disclaimer: While this is a sponsored post courtesy of BPI, all facts written on this post are true and personally practiced in real life.

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Crumpler Skivvy for 13-, 15-, 17-inch Laptops

Purchasing a laptop can be very costly as it is usually priced thousands upon thousands. Naturally, we'd like to protect it as much as we can, especially when on-the-go. It's a big no-no to use a simple bag without padding nor is it a good idea to just hold it while crossing the street. That's where Crumpler Skivvy can be best used.

I have known Crumpler for its outstanding quality - good manufacturing, thick material and sturdy construction. Although many get turned off for its expensive price, I say it's actually worth it. The designs of Crumpler bags are also top notch, as it is not limited to plain, boring colors.

Crumpler Skivvy carries the design principles and quality manufacturing that we have long known Crumpler for. It's padded protection is suitable for a 15-inch laptop on the main compartment, and tons more things on the other pockets. From my experience, I was able to put in a laptop, an ipad, a camera, an iPod, a couple of notebooks, several pieces of bond papers, ballpens, and more.

It actually has seven storage zones, namely the following:

• Easy access front zippered pocket with 5-way organiser
• Large velcro-fastened internal stuff pocket
• Two small internal stuff pockets
• General cargo compartment
• Padded 15-inch laptop sleeve with velcro fastener
• Shoulder pad with accessory loop

The Crumpler Skivvy also sports dual quick release compression straps to keep everything securely in place.  In addition, it has a 50mm wide, adjustable length strap with shoulder pad to distribute weight evenly depending on the adjustments set. 

To add flexibility, the Skivvy has a Dink Me Padded Grab Handle that cleverly acts as the bag’s briefcase style grip. As such, it will slide over the handle of a wheelie luggage, therefore giving hassle-free carrying of the bag as I pull a luggage.

Its thick material serves its purpose of being water resistant, especially with its oversize flap in front that acts as rain guards for the things that matter inside the bag.

This particular entry pictures the Crumpler Skivvy (Medium). However, if you've got either a 13-inch or 17-inch laptops, there's a suitable Crumpler Skivvy corresponding to that - Skivvy (Small) for the former and Skivvy (Large), respectively.

Crumpler Skivvy comes in three colors: Black/Gunmetal, Beech/Black/Orange (pictured above), and Navy Blue. For further information, you can visit any of the Crumpler stores listed below.

Standard Retail Price: Php4,250

Available from the following stores: 

• Crumpler Bonifacio Highstreet
• Crumpler Trinoma
• Crumpler Megamall
• Crumpler Robinsons Ermita

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Why Apple is becoming a Technology Villain

Apple has come a long way from a company that was struggling to even think of competing with software giant Microsoft in the early days of computers to a global brand worshipped by its fans. It has undoubtedly introduced some of the most memorable gadgets and technology in recent memory: the iMac G4 (one of the very first computers I’ve used); the first generation iPod which blew away music lovers; and the iPhone, a legend in itself. Despite (and perhaps because of) all its virtues, Apple has been showing more callousness than compassion with recent ruthless lawsuits. Apple, simply put, is becoming a technology villain.

Multi-front Legal Wars

Apple has several legal wars on-going now. From their current attempt to block more than twenty HTC phone models in the US to their seemingly never-ending conflict with Asian tiger Samsung, Apple isn’t exactly making friends around the world. Perhaps, this wouldn’t be such an issue if Apple wasn’t such a big company. In fact, it’s one of the biggest and most effective American companies around right now – and their strategy of ‘wage war on anyone anywhere’ is quite the disliked policy in more than one country around the globe.

Patents or Lawsuits

A quick Google search would reveal hundreds if not thousands of patents filed daily. Patents are tricky things; even sticks (“entertaining toys for dogs which can be thrown”) have received an attempt at patenting. My point is that patents on virtually anything – from a shape to a certain angle of a logo – can be filed. With this kind of universal vagueness, it’s not so much the patent that’s important, but the lawsuits which it can cause – and the money and control it gives the winner – that is Apple’s main battle strategy, in my opinion. It’s brilliantly devious.

Fear to Innovate

The risk, therefore, of creating something ‘new’ that has already been patented is simply not worth it for a company/start-up that does not have the resources Apple can muster. If I were a technologist, the risk of having my career end and research funding thrown into the money pit of litigations is far too much. Apple has sued for the system of unlocking a device via swiping an image; it has sued over i-anything; it has even sued on shape. Intellectual property is one thing, but going overboard is another.

What makes the recent Apple cases and issues ironic is that the company is not the ‘clean cut good boy’ it dresses itself up to be. I’m no Apple-hater; my favorite running buddy is my iPod Touch – but its ruthless policy is just bad for the tech industry.

Apple copies too (hint: the Mac system and Xerox… the iPhone design and Sony… the iOS 4’s notification system and Android…) but what makes it a technological villain is the fact that instead of promoting its well-made and classy products, it concentrates on trying to kill whichever competitor can give it a run for its money.

What are your thoughts?

Editor's Note: This article was written by Jason Cruz ("jsncruz"), a special writer and contributor of Glich's Life. He is a social media specialist at one of the biggest ad agencies in Asia. He blogs about social media, positive thinking, and running. He's also proud to be a wine geek and a marathoner when not in front of his computer. Revisions to this article were done by yours truly prior to posting. You can follow jsncruz on Twitter (@jsncruz).

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Five Cameras of the Future

Technology is evolving so quickly. As such, it is not a surprise that there will be amazing new camera tricks and innovations that might be coming our way soon. Here are five of them, which you might probably enjoy, or maybe not, in the near future.

Compact Transformation

Did you know that compact camera sales dropped hugely at 30% in 2011? This is definitely a direct result of increasingly smarter smartphones available in the market. Today, smartphone cameras are considered as an alternative to point-and-shoots, because aside from being handy and convenient, the features and picture quality are getting better. From touch screen controls, built-in WiFi, direct and quick uploads to social media to slow-motion movie functions, automatic color fixes, timers triggered by smiling or winking, and other more interesting enhancements – all of these just makes it even easier to leave the compact point-and-shoot at home. The challenge though for smartphone camera manufacturers is to keep on adding more tricks over the years.

Three-Dimensional Photos

While 3D cinemas and television screens are so popular these days, 3D cameras are also slowly making a notable impression to the photographer’s eyes. Staggeringly, three-dimensional photos are becoming wanted, since it is cool and unique. As a matter of fact, some applications today are capable of converting a normal photo into a 3D copy. After various developments over the years, like most technologies, having a 3D picture has gone from cumbersome and expensive to the more affordable and convenient as they are today.

Siri Technology on DSLR

If you think about it, putting Apple’s Siri technology into a DSLR is very much possible and, if successful, will quite be useful. Imagine having a camera with Siri on it, where it is capable of communicating with humans and responding to commands from the simple shutter release to menu configurations. With WiFi on cameras starting to be a norm these days, putting on a voice-command feature will not be far from reality.

Shoot Now, Tweak Later

Photography becomes even better with the innovation of the US company Lytro, which makes use of the “light field” technology. Unlike traditional cameras that capture limited scope of light, these unusual-looking devices are capable of capturing all of the elements. As such, a photographer can capture both 3D and 2D images, as well as shift the perspective of a picture already taken. More amazingly, similar cameras would be able to focus and re-focus the pictures after shooting them. Tweaking then becomes easier, because photos become movable and adaptable depending on what the viewer wants to see. The Lytro camera’s initial reviews haven’t been 100% convincing, but the technology is expected to definitely improve over time.

Instant Photoshop

Some of the cameras these days have the capability to beautify the portraits of people with undesirable elements. However, we haven’t heard of cameras that can instantly remove photo bombers. Perhaps soon, cloning out these photo-trashers maybe done on the spot, within the camera itself. By automatically shooting extra images, the camera will allow the blending of desired parts of each photo into one composite image, therefore eliminating the ‘bad’ parts.

These and other more changes will surely shift the concept of photography over time. While lots of developments are about to happen, which do you think will have the biggest impact in the field of photography? Tweet me @GlennOng.

This article is my 69^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on May 28, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower left portion).

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+Simplism Smart Leather Shell for iPad 2 Review

I have always been on the lookout for the perfect iPad 2 case, since I want to protect this precious gadget and make it last for a long time. So when I was asked to review one, I immediately agreed to do it. This is a tale of my iPad 2 with the +Simplism Smart Leather Shell. 

+Simplism is a brand from Japan that develops accessories and peripherals specifically for Apple products. True to its brand, the Smart Leather Shell is simple yet stylish, and doesn't sacrifice functionality. All the buttons are exposed and accessible making the iPad still easy to use.

You won't have to worry about forgetting to lock your iPad because the magnet in the Smart Leather Shell easily activates the auto locking feature of your device.

The +Simplism Smart Leather Shell is also a good business companion, since it has a couple of pockets where you can put calling cards. These pockets have dual functionality since it also acts as a stopper when you want to adjust the angle of your iPad. You can set it on any flat surface, adjust the level of inclination you prefer, and it will hold its position firmly.

It doesn't weigh much and it's not very bulky either. It's perfect for those who want to keep the slim look of their iPad device. Its faux leather exterior also gives it a sleek and sexy look. There's also no shortage of colors for you guys to choose from.

However, the +Simplism Smart Leather Shell does not allow you to change the orientation of your iPad. If you like iPad cases that swivel, this probably isn't the one for you.

Of all the iPad cases that I’ve seen and tried, I think this one doesn't add anything exciting in particular. The calling card pockets are something useful, but I was probably looking for something that will kind of stand out like a keyboard extension or stylus added to it. Just like the brand, the case is very simple. However, isn't that what most of you are looking for anyway?

It does do one thing principally well and that is to protect the your iPad. It is waterproof – it can handle an accidental spill of your favourite iced latte. It’s not shock proof but I think it can handle a short fall. Just don't drop your iPad on purpose.

All-in-all, I think it's a good buy for the price and the protection it gives. So next time you’re out looking for that perfect iPad case, don't forget the +Simplism Smart Leather Shell – Simple. Stylish. Functional.

Suggested Retail Price: Php1,799

Available at the following stores:

• Switch 
• Digital Hub
• iStudio 
• Digital Walker 
• Beyond the Box
• Power Mac Center
• iCenter
• E-Central
• Power Hub 
• Sidrah
• 8Telcom
• Gui
• The Inbox Store
• Technoholics
  
  

Editor's Note: This article was written by Sabrina Dar Santos, a special writer and contributor of Glich's Life. Revisions were done by yours truly prior to posting. You can follow her on Twitter (@mimsicle) - Glenn / Glich

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My account has been compromised, I've changed my passwords

Hi guys! If you're subscribed to the Glich's Life email notifications, please do not click the link about porn, lesbian, etc., which have been delivered to you today. Below is a screenshot of the email my friend forwarded me.

Obviously, my account has been compromised. Certainly, I did not go to any porn site at all, which makes me wonder how and where did it all happen. I'm not saying this to be defensive, but it's the truth.

My Twitter also got automatic tweets about the same contents. Image below c/o @doblezeta. I'm sorry about it. Again, please don't click the links. It's a virus. 

Rest assured I have changed my passwords, which should put a stop to the virus. My apologies. Thanks!

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Japanese Craving Satisfied at Kokoro Ramenya

If you haven't tried Kokoro Ramenya, you must! Located in Roxas Boulevard, across the US Embassy, this Japanese restaurant opened in April 2012 and has since drawn a lot of loyal customers for its outstanding food quality and taste.

The facade of Kokoro Ramenya looks really fresh and inviting. It is at the 2nd floor of the Avenue of the Arts Building, where CBTL and Army Navy sits below the Japanese restaurant. You won't miss it. There are a few parking slots at the foot of the building as pictured, and there are also several other more slots across the building (a few steps away only).

Upon entrance of the restaurant, we saw a few decorations as characterized by the usual Japanese interiors, which are always plain, clean, and refreshing. The colors of the tables and chairs are actually matched to Kokoro Ramenya's brand colors. In front of all the tables and chairs is the kitchen, where the customers can freely see through the cooking process via the half-frosted glass window. 

Kokoro Ramenya boasts of its in-house, freshly made noodles prepared by Japanese head chef and ramen connoisseur Susumo Murata. They not only serve ramen, but also a wide range of other Japanese food items as well. 

I went there with my friend Ria on a Monday holiday and was lucky to not be bumping to a crowded place. However, the waitress said they're usually full on normal days, as foreigners/guests/employees from the US Embassy and nearby office buildings would flock over their restaurant.

Now, on with the food.

My Japanese craving wouldn't be satisfied without my favorite Salmon Sashimi (Php295 for 8 pieces). I must say, it's oh-so-good! The salmon were nicely cut with the right thickness, and each piece really melts in the mouth as characterized by its freshness. Their salmon sashimi is the best I've ever tasted as of yet.

Their Beef Teppanyaki (Php445) may be quite pricey, but definitely worth it. It comes with bean sprouts (which is my favorite vegetable) and corn on the side. We saw that the beef cubes were sizzling and the butter on top of it slowly melting away. Because it is very tender and flavorful, I highly recommend to pair  it with rice (or you can simply eat it as is). 

Ria and I would normally order Gyoza (Php155 for 4 pieces) when we eat at ramen places. What I like about Kokoro Ramenya's version is the way they prepared and cooked it. As you can see in the picture above, it was burnt to perfection, so eating it gives a crispy texture. Also, I love that they didn't use too thick of a wrapper and the meat inside still remained intact and juicy even after taking a bite.

On to the ramen, I ordered the house special Hakata Classic (Php325). It is characterized by its rich and creamy tonkotsu (pork bone) noodle soup boiled for 18 hours, with toppings of kikurage (mushroom/wood ear), chashu (pork), and eggs. I liked the blending of taste with its ingredients altogether, but it could use a bit more flavor and taste, since I like eating salty food. 

Ria's order of the Hakata Karaka (Php345) is the same with Hakata Classic, but spiked with hot spices. Mind you, it's very spicy. She loved how the egg was cooked with its sunny yolk being not too dry. By the time Ria finished her meal, she told me that she loved her bowl of creamy ramen.

We capped off the sumptuous lunch with the Black Sesame Ice Cream (Php85 pictured left) and the Japanese Coffee Jelly (Php85 pictured right). The black sesame is just vanilla ice cream with brushes of black sesame, while the coffee jelly is vanilla ice cream sitting on top of coffee jelly chunks, mixed with condensed milk. Both are plain and simple, but can really be refreshing.

Kokoro Ramenya's servings can actually be shared when in group. However, if you decide to visit solo or with a partner, you can try their lunch menu served from 11AM to 2PM daily, priced from Php275 to Php325. With it, you get lunch-sized ramen and rice meal, served with iced tea.

I highly recommend Kokoro Ramenya, given the food that we've tried. We left the restaurant very happy and full. I am definitely looking forward to my next visit, so I can order the sashimi and teppanyaki again, plus also try the other ramen on their menu.

Please refer below for all other menu items of Kokoro Ramenya as your reference:
Kokoro Ramenya Menu

For more information, visit their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.


Kokoro Ramenya
2nd floor, Avenue of the Arts Building, 1388 Roxas Boulevard corner Sta. Monica and LM Guerrero St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines.
Tel: (02) 254-9716 / (02) 254-9438
Open Mondays-Sundays, 11AM to 11PM

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First Urbanears Concept Store in PH Now Open

The popular music brand Urbanears has just opened its first ever concept store in the Philippines today. Located at the 3rd floor of the Podium in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, the Urbanears concept store was brought into our shores by our friends at Digits Trading Corporation.

Urbanears is known not only for the functionality it brings to music enthusiasts, but also its stylish colors combined together. As such, the Urbanears concept store has a very neat structure with white on the walls, mirrors as accents, and the very colorful Urbanears headphone collections as main highlights.

Urbanears was graced by the presence of former Pinoy Big Brother housemate turned actor Robi Domingo, who hosted the concept store's opening. Similarly, the franchisees -- Charlie, Howard, Hans -- were also there to officially welcome the people to the first Urbanears concept store in the Philippines. They even took the time to introduce the different collections that are under Urbanears' belt.

Urbanears is a Swedish brand. Its products are named after places and districts in its hometown, Stockholm.  As a matter of fact, the coordinates on its packaging actually refer to the location of the places. These towns have been considered by the makers as important building blocks of what an urban environment is made up of.

As color is a major part of the identity of Urbanears, they have given consumers a number of options to choose from. For example, pictured above are the Urbanears Plattan headphones and below are the Urbanears Medis earphones. 

What they actually do is produce ten colors in each collection -- five of which are permanent and the rest of the colors are interchangeable depending on the season. Aside from that, Urbanears also produces the editions line, which features the use of different fabrics and textile, and released only twice a year.

Look, here are all the colors of the Urbanears Tanto headphones, which we actually reviewed and gave away a couple of months ago.

If you're interested to try out the Urbanears headphones and earphones, head on to the Podium mall and be drawn to all the color options that will suit your personality and fashion philosophy.

For more information about the product, visit www.facebook.com/digitstrading or follow them at @digitstrading.

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BlackBerry Curve 9220 Review

RIM's BlackBerry is still standing firm amidst all the negative reports coming out of media channels. This, for me, is testified by their continuous release of budget-friendly smartphones for consumers to enjoy. After the highly successful BlackBerry Curve 8520 comes the BlackBerry Curve 9220, an extremely light and handy smartphone.

Running on BlackBerry OS 7.1, the Curve 9220 offers most of the features that more expensive BlackBerry models have, but with a more conservative set of specifications.

Hardware and Design

The body of the BlackBerry Curve 9220 has a glossy, all-black finish that surely looks sleek and classy. Because the housing is made of plastic, the phone is prone to scratches and therefore must be protected with a third-party case. 

On the front's top right is an LED notification light, and below it is the phone's 2.44-inch display. I highly suggest that you get a screen protector as soon as you get hold of the phone, since the screen is not scratch-resistant. Though the screen size is good for normal use overall, reading e-book or surfing might be a disappointment to some.

The phone's 35-keys look like that of the Curve 8520. It is easy to press and use. Typing on a great set of QWERTY keypads is surely one of the things I like about the BlackBerry phones.

At first, the trackpad below the screen was quite hard to control, but when I managed to change the sensitivity from 60 to 80, navigation across the phone has become so much easier.

The sides of the Curve 9220 draw the difference from the look of the entire phone by having a black rubber texture. It makes the pressing of the side keys and the grip of the phone better.

One thing that RIM changed on the Curve 9220 is the addition of the BBM key on the left side, below the charging port. Technically, it's just the Convenience Key available in other BlackBerry models, but the change is definitely good. In fact, RIM's addition of the etched "BBM" looks great.

The right side of the phone has the volume keys and the camera button. Meanwhile, the top part has the unlock key and the 3.5mm jack used for listening to the radio and call hands-free. The bottom portion both contains the microphone and the speaker.

On to the rear side, it basically has the 2-megapixel camera without a flash. Along with the battery section is the microSD card slot and the SIM card slot.

User Interface and Experience

With the phone running on BlackBerry's latest software, it gave me a relatively smooth and fast experience. Similar to the first time I used a BlackBerry phone, the user interface is easy to adapt and therefore will not incur so much of a learning curve to other new users.

The Curve 9220 comes with pre-installed apps like Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry Messenger, Maps, Yahoo Messenger, etc. More apps can be downloaded from the BlackBerry App World. It has a good multitasking feature that allows the switching from one app to another by simply doing a long press of the BB logo. 

Owning a BlackBerry 9700 without the FM Radio app, it is worth to mention that this phone actually has one for convenience of listening to favorite local stations. On the contrary, the Curve 9220 only allows connectivity using Wi-Fi and 2G. Its lack of 3G feature is still acceptable for me, since BlackBerry compresses the data well and therefore gives a decent experience even when connecting on EDGE.  

Camera (Photo and Video)

As a normal user who takes picture of random stuff without having to get super good quality photos, the Curve 9220's 2MP camera with 5x digital zoom actually serves its purpose. Taking pictures on a brightly lit surrounding results to decent set of pictures, while doing it indoors or with a low-light environment results to an "uhh-okay" photo.

The absence of the an autofocus feature makes photo capturing quick, but of course lacks the luster of pictures that use such function. Toggling between just Auto or Night scene modes may leave some users a bit of disappointment with the lack of options. Obviously, this phone is not for the shutterbugs.

Same case goes as for the video recording, which results to good on highly-lit scenarios and poor on low-lighting conditions.

Battery, Memory, Etcetera

The BlackBerry Curve 9220 packs a 1450mAh removable lithium-ion battery. Using it for one week always gave a good battery life to me, lasting for at least a whole day with normal usage of texting, calling, tweeting, video streaming and surfing. 

Call quality is also clear and good. In addition, the speaker is moderately loud and produces clear sound overall. Listening to music over the loud speaker lacks a bass, though, but acceptable.

One of the lowlights of the BlackBerry Curve 9220 is its internal memory of only 512MB. Although it may be expandable to at most addition of 32GB via microSD, having a huge built-in memory is always preferred. For people who doesn't want to install so much apps, the 512MB will suffice. The phone also comes with a 512MB RAM.

Both push email and BBM - BlackBerry's most loved features - are still available in the BlackBerry Curve 9220 and works greatly for those into checking emails on-the-go and conversing with family and friends here or abroad.

Conclusion

It is known that RIM is struggling to keep its market share in today's smartphone competition. But one thing's for sure - it has captured the hearts of many Filipinos with its pocket-friendly devices and great communication functionality. 

Following the BlackBerry Curve 8520's tremendous success, RIM has gone with the same principle to offer consumers the BlackBerry Curve 9220, an affordable phone with more than the basic capabilities of a feature phone. Although there may be some glitches that RIM needs to improve on, the Curve smartphone is still one of the phones I'd gladly purchase anytime.

The BlackBerry Curve 9220 is available with an SRP of Php9,990 in three colors - Black, Pure White, and Teal Blue. While all colors can be purchased from retailers nationwide without any lock-in, it is good to note that getting bundled unlimited data plans from our telcos can surely give us a couple of bucks of savings. Black can be purchased from Globe, Smart and Sun, while the other two colors are exclusively available from Globe.

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Tech Wishes for the Philippines

In this day and age, almost everything can be found in the realm of the Internet and done through the aid of technology. Sadly, the Philippines is not one of the technological leaders in terms of usage, implementation, and innovation.

There a lot of things to improve in our country, tech-wise, before we will be able to be at par with some of the foreign countries. For this article, let me enumerate some of my observations and thoughts on a couple of basic tech upgrades I wish our country to have.

Online Check-In in All Local Airlines

Online check-in and itinerary retrieval are very important features of airline websites. This airline company is known to be one of the firsts in Asia, and one of the major airlines with the biggest number of aircrafts. However, it is disappointing that until today, they still haven’t completed their online check-in facility. There’s no way to print itineraries or e-tickets too. To think, their affiliate – a budget airline – already has this capability on their website. What’s taking them so long?

One Card Pays All

Paying for buses, trains, taxi rides, convenience store purchases, etc. is such an easy task in countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore, thanks to their one-card-pays-all innovation. Whenever abroad, I am able to save a lot of time by loading just one card, which then can be used in stores apart from the different transportation means. If they can do it, why can’t our country implement it too?

Virtual Convenience Store

Traffic is a big issue in the Philippines, especially in Manila. Korea has already rolled out their virtual convenience store, where train passengers use their smartphones to scan the picture of the items they want to purchase. This virtual store is posted on the walls of their train stations, which allows consumers to choose what to buy as they wait for the train to arrive. Once paid using their phone, it will be delivered to their houses. Isn’t it cool and convenient?

Better Telco Signal

Telecom institutions in our country have a lot of improvement and upgrades to do. Other countries are able to provide good signal strength and data connection to users even when underground. Here in the Philippines, simply going through a tunnel will already show “SOS” and zero reception on phones. How frustrating can that be?

Universal Identification Card

This may seem to be a problem with the government, but I really wish our country could implement a universal ID for all of our government mandated memberships. If not, then I hope most offices can upgrade their websites to allow Filipinos to file new memberships and search for membership numbers within the confines of their home. And maybe utilize email to notify that the cards are ready for pickup. Don’t you think it’s already time?

I can go on and on in listing down my wishes for our country in terms of technological advancements, but one thing I would like to encourage everyone to do is – to be in the know and learn as much as you can with the Internet. Don’t go online simply to dwell on Facebook and Twitter; make it more worthwhile by reading, connecting with people, and getting ideas to help the Philippines be a more hi-tech country

This article is my 68^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on May 14, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower left portion).

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Consume and Create Contents on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Samsung Philippines launches the newest phablet (phone + tablet) in town called the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with a powerful processor and memory. It is packed with a 1.4GHz Quad Core processor combined with 2GB RAM, and 16GB internal memory (capable of expanding up to 32GB via microSD card).

Samsung's newest phablet is portable and light, thin and fast. It is equipped with a 10.1" screen with 1080p Full HD Playback. It comes in Ice Cream Sandwich OS giving a similar feel as to that of other ICS tablets and smartphones. It has a 5MP rear camera with flash and a 1.9MP front camera for video calling. Connectivity wise, it features both Wi-Fi and 3G/HSPA+.

To date, only the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is truly a multi-tasking device. It has a Multi-Screen capability that allows the user to split the screen between different apps and programs at the same time.  In addition, it also has the Pop Up Play and Smart Stay features like the one on Samsung Galaxy S3. Note: only a couple of built-in software are capable of multi-screen (e.g. video, browser, S Note among others).

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is a great tool for creative people who likes to express themselves via illustration or writing. The accompanying S-Pen, a light and thin, pressure sensitive and pinpoint accurate pen, is a great tool to draw or write whatever you can think about anywhere and anytime.

Fond of doodling, writing or illustrating? The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1's S Note integrates three awesome features: Shape Match, Word Match, and Formula Match. With these capabilities, your writing or drawing will automatically be corrected, thus eliminating squiggly lines and appearing clearly, precisely as if it was done on paper.

What's more? The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is equipped with Adobe Photoshop Touch for free, which is really a useful app for digital artists. During the launch, designer Veejay Floresca showed how he can freely sketch on the phablet and immediately send it to his clients.

Knowing Samsung already has the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, you might be wondering why they came up with the Galaxy Note 10.1. Well, the former is mostly for consuming of content (reading, surfing, playing), while the latter is great for both consuming and creating contents. For me, it makes sense, because the Galaxy Note 10.1 offers the power and portability of a notebook PC.

For the price similar to that of a Samsung Galaxy S3, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is available in colors Pearl White and Pearl Black for Php32,990.

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