Memo Tube Makes Reminders Fun and Easy

A surprise delivery came to my office last Friday in the form of a colorful box containing the Memo Tube. 

The box description saying it's a handy electronic note taker that lets me record video messages and reminders got me really excited to open it. I never knew such device existed. And for me who always writes a note on the refrigerator's door for the house helper to see the next morning, this device is surely going to be useful!

The Memo Tube comes with the unit, a USB cable that acts as the charger, a photo tray, and a User Guide booklet. The gadget itself has a magnetic back cover, which can be very convenient to attach to the fridge. The photo tray can be used as an additional accessory - basically, I can insert photos to the tray, so that I can easily identify the person I am addressing the video message to. Cool!

Light and handy, this cool electronic memo recorder has five buttons in front for power on/off, playback and pause, start/stop recording, left and right arrows to browse through the video messages. On the top front of the 1.77 inch LCD screen is the built-in video camera. At the right portion is a speaker (vertical hole) and a microphone (small circular hole). 

The Memo Tube is charged (about 1.2 hours)  through its mini USB1.1 port at the bottom. On the right side is also a slot for an SD card up to 32GB, which allows me to store as many memos as I want. Without an SD card, though, I can still record one (1) 30-seconder video message. Not bad if I just leave one message a day.

Aside from the fact that I can directly record my messages from the Memo Tube, I can also grab an video in AVI format from my computer and transfer it through USB as well. Oh, the Memo Tube is supported in Windows and Mac operating systems, so it would definitely not be a problem.

Now that I have a Memo Tube, I'd get to save trees for the paper and writing efforts every night. I just have to record my reminder and the house help will just play it back the next morning. High tech!

Memo Tube is being sold for SRP Php1,700 at the following stores:

• A3 Ace Business
• ARX Computer Center
• AVX
• Earl Toy World
• Easy PC - multiple branches
• Ehome Trading
• Electronics Botique - multiple branches
• Microstation - multiple branches
• MLY Enterprises
• Softbox Solutions
• Spectra
• Watts Hi Fi
• Xsite Mobile

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Wanna Be A Recording Artist?

Once upon a time, a young lad came to life and got so independent that he wanted to learn many things on his own. When he was young, he did not enjoy playing toys or watching cartoons at all. His interests lie more on singing, speaking, leading, and performing. Who would have thought that this man would have a weekly space in TechNews later on? His name is Glenn Richmond Ong, yours truly.

I admit that I am a jack of many trades, but a master of none. Without bragging, I am an IT Professional, a writer, blogger, eventologist and voice-over talent all in one. In this week’s edition, I’d like to share one of my skills, which is voice acting.

For the past years, I have been recording my voice-over spiels at home using low-end devices. However, I decided to invest a bit and purchase a gadget that would greatly help me improve the quality of my recordings.

If you’re like me who wants to record spiels and songs for personal or commercial use, I would highly suggest one of my recent purchases called the M-Audio Fast Track Avid Recording Studio.

What is it all about?

Small as it may seem to be, the expertise of this audio interface is to empower us to easily record instruments and vocals just like a professional. It is able to transform our Mac or PC into a full-featured studio through the awesome combination of the M-Audio hardware and the Pro Tools SE recording software. Through this, it allows the capturing of guitars, vocals, and other instruments in pristine quality.

The M-Audio Fast Track has three controls and ports specifically for the microphone, guitar, and headphone. At the back are two line outputs, which we can connect to a speaker for voice preview sampling. What’s great about this device is that it is powered by USB, which means it no longer requires a power adapter on its own to boot up.

Why do I need it?

When recording straight to the laptop and connecting via the ‘line in’ port, the sound that comes in and out isn’t as good due to the low number bits processed by the computer’s sound card. On the contrary, an audio interface handles the inputs and outputs of the audio before it reaches the computer. This way, there is a separate “entity” that does the processing and no more conversion happens within the computer.

How do I choose what to buy?

With myriads of recording interfaces available in the market today, selecting one from the many options may be quite a challenge. These questions might help you decide: (1) Do you need Pro Tools compatibility? (2) How many Inputs and Outputs do you require? (3) Do you prefer Firewire or USB? Make sure to invest in a good microphone and its corresponding cable as well.

Are you also like me who’s into voice-over recording? What do you use?

This article is my 49^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on December 12, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (upper right portion).

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Steve Wozniak's Open-Mindedness on Android

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak proclaims his praises on Android, and wishes Apple could do what Android can do in features such as voice command and built-in navigation. This, however, does not mean he has turned his back on Apple. “Woz says he still thinks Apple’s iPhone is the best overall smartphone, but he says there are ways in which Android has leapt ahead of Apple,” reports Dan Lyons at www.thedailybeast.com.

"I used to ask Siri, 'What are the five biggest lakes in California?' and it would come back with the answer. Now it just misses. It gives me real estate listings. I used to ask, 'What are the prime numbers greater than 87?' and it would answer. Now instead of getting prime numbers, I get listings for prime rib, or prime real estate," said Wozniak.

In some ways, Wozniak and I have similar thoughts and opinions on Apple and Android. While Jobs’ Apple is easier to use, Android was able to build more capabilities and features due to its availability to many different hardware makers. Maybe we can call it selfish, but Apple has always created a wall that blocks other manufacturers or developers from gatecrashing into its hardware.

Similar to the Microsoft-Apple competition in the past where Microsoft clearly won over Mac, Wozniak notes that “Apple is using the same playbook, tying its software tightly to its own hardware. And with Android, Apple is facing the same kind of foe that it once faced in Windows.” He even added that Apple is up against a strong competitor, which might be a threat as “there’s not as big a difference – between iOS and Android – as there was between Mac and Windows.”

For consumers and mobile users, the perspective is placed on the quantity and variety of applications available, which is a huge number as compared to Android. However, when we put the light onto the application developers, most of them would comment that Apple’s bureaucratic approval process slows them down in one way or another.

On the contrary, Android developers get to create and release the programs in a shorter time. Once they do, feedback would come in and the live environment experience would tell them to immediately start working on the app’s improvements, tweaks, and updates. This might hugely be the reason why Android’s applications are quickly growing in number in such a short span of time.

Unlike Steve Jobs who hated Android operating system so much that he even vowed to destroy it until his last breath, I admire Steve Wozniak for having an open mind to use and give commendations to his first love’s competitor.

Strange as it may be that the major leader of the Mac followers has given adoration to Android, but it’s good for Apple to realize that Android can be a reason of their downfall, especially that the observations came from their own camp’s patron saint.

I do hope that Apple fans will be Wozniak’s who won’t always dismiss other operating systems and hardware as copycats or dying technologies. At the end of it all, we should get the phone and use the operating system that works for us – not what works for the majority of people around us.

This article is my 48^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on January 23, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower left portion).


Photo Credit: ABC Action News

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Indulgence by Irene Offers Delicious Quezo De Bola Cheesecake

It was late last year when The Food Club started mentioning our friend Irene's uber-delicious cheesecake. I was like, "is it really that good?" To be honest, I'm not really a cake type of person. I'd eat cake if there's one available, but I certainly won't look for it. And I'm choosy with cakes -- I don't like chiffon cakes that are dry or those non-chiffon cakes, but are just darn too sweet.

After a couple of months of hearing and reading about it...

A'las, I was able to taste Irene's specialty called the Quezo De Bola (QDB) Cheesecake last Thursday. Funny because I met up with her at the gym! So as I was working out, my mind and my tummy are so much looking forward to tasting that mouthwatering cheesecake. I know, you might be thinking that my work out was a joke. But who cares, it looks yummy!

My routine every morning is to work out at the gym and to eat my breakfast at the office workstation. But this time, it wasn't my baon that I opened first; it was the QDB Cheesecake by Indulgence by Irene! Since I couldn't control myself, I immediately took it out of the box and got a small portion for my initial taste (my first bite pictured above). Dessert first before my real breakfast.

IN ALL FAIRNESS, the cheesecake tasted DELICIOUS! There's no BS, even if Irene is my friend.

Initially inspecting the cheesecake, I see the moist layers of quezo de bola (yellow) and graham crackers (brown) - they're very much siksik in ingredients. I know Irene as the person who would always be willing to pay for a food item that is delicious and with quality. She brought this principle on her creation and makes it a point that the cheesecake has no fillers, but only with quality ingredients.

Far from the usual cheesecakes around, the QDB Cheesecake has a tiny bit of salty taste, but is still mostly on the sweet side. However, Irene surely knows how to balance the sweetness level. Within a few minutes, I was able to finish half of it already, because it's not too sweet.

Lucky for my officemate Richelle, I was able to offer her a small portion for tasting. And her comment? "It's the cheesiest cheesecake I've ever tasted." She's a satisfied taster! Woohoo!

Apparently, Irene started making this awesome cheesecake as part of her love for food, cooking, and baking. Eventually, more and more friends like me got to taste it and found it to be really palatable. And so she finally decided to name her brand as Indulgence by Irene, with Quezo De Bola Cheesecake as her initial product.

Pictured on this post is the 4.5-inch QDB Cheesecake at Php200.00, while the bigger one at 9-inch is available too for Php900.00. 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 2 weeks as long as it is refrigerated.

To date, Irene gets made-to-order cheesecakes almost everyday, but she's still happily welcoming new customers like you and me. We can order the QDB Cheesecake by contacting her 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 in Ortigas.

Indulge in Irene's QDB Cheesecake and tell me what you think. Happy dessert-eating, friends!

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Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at New World Hotel's Jasmine

I'm Chinese by birth, but not much by practice. Yes, we do speak the language, but we rarely follow the full Chinese traditions such as celebrating Chinese New Year by eating special food. Sometimes, we do get together, but at times we totally just don't care.

When I received an invite to try out the special Chinese New Year menu of Jasmine restaurant at the New World Hotel in Makati, I immediately confirmed my attendance. I really enjoyed my dining experience there before and would gladly be back to try out a new menu. 

Upon sitting down, I was told that Jasmine restaurant is having an extended, more than a week-long celebration of Chinese New Year. To welcome the year of the dragon, Jasmine offers special menus denoting affluence, prosperity and luck, for lunch (11:30AM-2:30PM) and dinner (6:00PM-10:30PM) from January 18 to 30, 2012.

11-Course Lauriat
One of the special set menu is an 11-course lauriat that includes dried oysters with sea moss, wok fried lobster fillet with Yu Ye fungus and celery, chicken and bamboo pith, prawns with broccoli, crispy scallop medallions and other mouth-watering dishes. The price of this is Php26,888 for a table of 12 persons or Php2,240++ per person.

Ultimate Treasures Feast
Apart from that, there's this special offering called the Ultimate Eighteen Treasures Feast, which is cooked and served in a wooden basin. It's my first time to see and try this type of Chinese cuisine, so upon seeing it, I immediately got curious as to what it contains and how it tastes like.

Look at the picture below, doesn't it look so delicious?

After scrutinizing it and asking my fellow blogger Richard, I learned that this whole dish contains very expensive ingredients.

The dish is popularly known as "Poon Choi" or "Big Bowl Feast" that originated from Hong Kong. It is made up of abalone, sea moss, sea cucumber, dried oyster, fish maw, prawns flower mushroom, eel fillet, roasted duck, chicken, pig knuckle, goose web, fish balls, dried squid, taro, radish, and bean curd skin, and other opulent ingredients that cannot be bought locally in the Philippines.

Poon Choi is presented in many layers of different ingredients, and is eaten layer by layer instead of stirring everything up. The basin that holds the meat and seafood remains to be warm due to the lighted candles that are situated below it.

I admit that most of the ingredients are new to me. As I was eating a piece of each ingredient, I got surprised that not all ingredients taste the same even if it is all mixed up together in one container. My favorites are the abalone, roasted duck, chicken, goose web, and fish balls, because it is so juicy and full of taste. In addition, the combined sauce coming out from all the ingredients is simply delicious! You'd be amazed how the chef managed to balance the saltiness level of all those.

Ordering Poon Choi plus a couple of deluxe appetizers, double boiled chicken soup, whelk, "Sun Moon Fish", Chinese herbs, special desserts and more will cost Php14,888 for a table of 6 persons or Php29,888 for a table of 12 persons.

I know the prices are a bit steep, but hey, it's Chinese New Year. Not only the ingredients are of good quality and some are imported, but also the food quality and taste are superb.

A La Carte Menu
If set menus are not your thing, there's always the good old favorite a la carte menu where you can select from a wide variety of choices - from dimsum, appetizers, soup, main courses, desserts, and drinks.

Wagyu Beef with Mango Roll

Steamed Gizzard

Shrimp Mousse with Vegetarian Sauce

Deep-Fried Oysters

Beef with XO Sauce

Steamed Live Garoupa with Soy Sauce

Visit Jasmine restaurant at the 2nd floor of New World Hotel, Makati anytime during lunch or dinner, but reservations are preferred especially on special occasions. To seal the lucky start of the year, a lion and dragon dance will take place on Chinese New Year's day, January 23, at 1:00PM.

Enjoy! Happy Year of the Dragon!!! 

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Nokia Philippines Names New GM, Intros Nokia Store Premium Contents

I'm used to being invited by Nokia Philippines for launches of their new phones and/or new products. However, their first event for 2012 was quite different. No, I'm not saying it became boring. There was the usual good food, great company and fun surprises. What's the difference, then?

New General Manager and Head of Sale
Instead of introducing just a technology or a gadget to the techie media and friends, they named the new Nokia Philippines General Manager and Head of Sales, Dharmesh Goshalia.

Called as Gosh by his colleagues, Dharmesh has had extensive experience in business development, management and marketing across retail distribution and operator business from diverse markets. With his new appointment, Nokia Philippines is looking at maintaining its market leadership in the country while continuing to innovate and keep pace with the needs of the market.

Prior to his assignment to Nokia Philippines, Gosh was General Manager of Nokia Greece and Cyprus. He has been with Nokia since 2006 and since then has significantly contributed to the success in markets such as Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and other countries while heading the multimedia business unit for North and West Africa.

Gosh remarks, “The mobile phone landscape in the Philippines is very dynamic and exciting, and we look forward to maintaining Nokia’s leadership position in the country. Nokia has a long-running relationship with Filipino mobile users, and enjoys a huge gap over competitors in terms of preference, driven by its strong image as a trustworthy brand, meeting customer needs and being easy to use.”

A change in leadership is always exciting. I myself am very interested as to how Gosh will be able to change the Nokia Philippines market into something bigger and better. I hope he surprises all of us through his great leadership skills. I heard he's more hands on and more fun as a boss.

Nokia Store's Premium Content
I've read through a couple of articles in the past saying the Ovi Store has been renamed to Nokia Store. However, I still see a lot of "Ovi" logos being used, especially on other blogs. During the thanksgiving lunch, though, they indeed confirmed that the name has been changed.

Aside from the name change, Nokia Philippines also revealed that they have recorded 11 million downloads per day globally. And this year, they're introducing the Nokia Store Premium contents.

Now, not only Free apps can be downloaded from Nokia Store, but Premium apps, too, with local currency prices in five denominations Php20, Php30, Php50, Php75, and Php100.

Unlike other competitors that use foreign currency and charge via credit card, Nokia Philippines has partnered with Globe Telecom by using its Automated Billing Solution to allow users to purchase an app from the store and have the amount added onto the next bill (for postpaid) or have it debited from the credits (for prepaid).

Apart from the Free and Premium apps available to both Symbian and Series 40 phones, Nokia Store also features Freemium apps that has an in-application purchase capability. By downloading these freemium apps, a user may opt to purchase the merchant's content (e.g. additional premium levels for a game) or services (e.g. magazine subscription).

Since the Premium content purchase is currently limited to Globe subscribers only, Nokia Philippines is working on having Smart jump onto the ship to offer the same service as well. Timelines are not yet clear on when Smart would be joining, but they said it's hopefully soon.

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Cebu City: Cook and Eat-All-You-Can at Wakamatsu Yakiniku Japanese Restaurant

Order, cook, and eat. This is what we always do when eating at Cebu's Wakamatsu Yakiniku Japanese Restaurant. It has been a couple of years since I have discovered this place, thanks to my Digicon friends who introduced me here. Since then, I always go back to this restaurant whenever I'm at Cebu City.

During my Cebu trip last November, I became the semi-tour guide of two friends who were first time visitors of the said province. Our flight was very early that day, so I thought maybe eating at a buffet restaurant would be a great idea to give us energy to last the whole day.

And so we did. Excited as we are, we were already there exactly 11:30AM, which is the time Wakamatsu Yakiniku opens for lunch. From the restaurant's name itself, we know that we're in for a Japanese style of grilling bite-sized meat and seafood over a flame of charcoals. Personally, I like restaurants with cook-your own food, because it gives a personal touch to the food that makes eating more worth it.

Upon entrance, we were asked to remove our footwear and be seated on an elevated wooden platform. We saw a lowered table with cushioned pillows surrounding it. We sat like it's just a normal table and chair, since our legs and feet had enough space to suspend it below the table. One by one, we saw thongs, aprons, and  chopsticks - our armor as we go into an eating battle.

I've always eaten at Wakamatsu Yakiniku on a lunch time. I suddenly asked myself why and thought about some reasons: (1) Food gets digested for the remaining parts of the day if buffet is eaten on a lunch time; (2) Rate is cheaper - about Php480 lunch rate as compared to Php540 dinner rate; (3) Fewer people, thus faster service; (4) It's coincidence. 

I'm not sure about Dinner, but they serve this menu (pictured above) during Lunch time. Basically, we can order anything from the menu as long as we make sure to finish them before we leave. Or else, the standard buffet rule follows -- we pay double.

We started out with the Short Ribs Soup (Karubi Soup). It's made of short ribs of beef slices and egg sans the bones. The taste was a bit spicy, but is absolutely delicious. In fact, my friend ordered two bowls, because she loved it that much! 

We then ordered one of their new offerings (those written in pen in the menu) - Mixed Sushi. It has about two pieces each of a variety of sushi. However, the sushi didn't seem to be fresh. It was okay, but not outstanding at all. Nevertheless, it was worth trying. 

Some of our favorites are the Marinated Chicken, Angus Beef (my favorite), Scallop with Butter (pictured above), and Pork Short Ribs. We weren't able to take pictures of the orders, but the quantity of each order varies on the item being ordered. For example, the Scallops is only 3-5 pieces per order, so we got 3 orders at a time.

The meat and seafood are already marinated and seasoned with basic spices. But there are sauces at the side of the table, which we used to mix and match to have our personalized dip. The sauces are universal, so dipping any of the grilled meat is alright.

There are also drinks available, such as Iced Tea (Php60), Green Tea (Php60), Oolong Tea (Php60), Mineral Water (Php40), and Calamansi Juice (Php60). We simply got the service water, since we'll already be eating lots of food.

Dining at Wakamatsu Yakiniku includes one round of dessert. There's a choice between Kakigori (pictured above) or Ice Cream Stick. We chose the former, obviously. Its description is "A Japanese dessert made of crushed ice flavored with Mango Syrup." It lived up to what was written! *laughs* It was just crushed ice mixed with those canned mango juices. But it's okay, since we were so full by then. 

As with other yakiniku restaurants, the orders might taste almost the same or similar to each other. However, it's up to you on how you'd cook it and season it with sauces.

We loved our Wakamatsu Yakiniku experience, because the food choices are delicious and the act of cooking is so much fun with friends! So much so that we were the last customers standing there. We entered 11:30 and exited 2:30. Talk about being "matakaw." Beat that!

Visit Wakamatsu Yakiniku when you're in Cebu and tell me how your experience goes. Of course, expect your face to be a bit oily, since the griller is just in front of you. Also, even if there's an exhaust sipping the smoke out of the griller, you'd still end up smelling like food.

Wakamatsu Yakiniku Japanese Restaurant

Address: 1-K Pacific Square Building, F. Cabahug St., Mabolo, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
Telephone Number: (032) 232-5897

Lunch Time: 11:30AM-2:30PM
Dinner Time: 5:30PM-10:30PM

Photo Credits: Annie Choi

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Globe's *143# Eliminates the Need to Remember Keywords and Access Numbers

First disclaimer, 143 is NOT a joke. These are digits we can easily remember, just like how we easily think of the words "I love you."

If you're like me who gets stressed at trying to remember a whole lot of keywords and service numbers before being able to transact with Globe (i.e. activation and deactivation of BBMAX, getting unbilled charges, etc.), then this *143# (read as star one four three pound) is for you, just as it is for me.

What is *143#?

Globe's *143# is a user-friendly and easy-to-use self-service menu, accessible in all generations of mobile phones (i.e. Nokia 1100 to BlackBerry 9780 to iPhone 4s, etc.). This will allow us to quickly get information on promos and offers. It will also help us with basic account management and subscription transactions without the need to remember complex keywords or varying access numbers.

How to access *143#?

Available to both Postpaid and Prepaid subscribers, using this all-new *143# is very easy. Follow the three steps below. Note that the screenshot might be different if you're a prepaid subscriber.

1. To access the menu, you just need to dial *143# and press the call button on your phone.
   
   
2. Using the services and making selections is simple as well. Just enter the corresponding number of your preferred option and follow the clear directions prompted on the screen.
   
   
3. Once a transaction is completed, the session will automatically end and you will receive a text message to confirm the transaction

In the example above, I wanted to know my unbilled charges, but have forgotten the access number to send it to. With *143#, all I had to do was follow the instructions. In less than 2 minutes, I have the information I need already.

What can you get?
Globe Postpaid Subscribers

• Retrieve information on Balances and Unbilled Charges
• Promo registration, deactivation and status checking for Call, Text, Data, and International Promos
• Other services like GCASH transactions, Downloads, and Share-A-Load

Globe Prepaid Subscribers

• Check balance and reload account via Call card (Enter 10 Digit Call Card Number)
• Promo registration, deactivation and status checking for Call, Text, Data, and Roaming Promos
  
• Other services like GCASH transactions, Downloads, and Share-A-Load

What else do you need to know?

• Accessing the menu is absolutely FREE of charge when in the Philippines.
• It does not require us any maintaining balance to use the menu.
• The menu is accessible even without load/credits. As long as you have signal (like doing a regular call) and using a Globe SIM card.
• Postpaid subscribers with temporarily disconnected lines will not be allowed to use the menu. As long as we can do outgoing calls, we can access the menu.
  
  
• For now, it is only available to Globe prepaid and postpaid subscribers. TM subscribers will also get the same feature sometime in 2012.
  
  
• When roaming, the menu is STILL accessible anywhere in the world as long as we're using Globe SIM and roaming with a Globe partner. In addition, take note of the following:
• Accessing the menu is FREE of charge even when roaming. However, prevailing roaming SMS rates may apply if we are roaming in countries that charge incoming messages.
  
  
• If we get disconnected at some point, we can call *143# again and resume where we left off within the three minutes grace period.
• A time-out duration has been set on the menu, where the session automatically closes after a set period of inactivity. This helps prevent incidences of anyone trying to hog the call/sms bandwidth over the menu.

Since I learned about *143#, it has been effortless for me to do simple inquiries and service modifications. I really love Globe, because they think of how to improve the experience of customers. They might not be  the best company, but they surely strive hard to provide what can better the experience of their subscribers.

Today, I know for sure that this tool might not be perfect, but I'm assured that they are continuously studying it and hopefully developing more modules for us.

Since dialing *143# works like a normal call, I was a bit worried that this might clog the network. I'm glad that Globe has thoroughly considered the capacity and will be ready to expand it, should the need arise. Also, since *143# operates under the same business rules as before, the same guidelines against spamming/abuse/fair-use will still apply.

I am very excited on what's more to come with *143# and Globe customer service per se. I will surely keep you guys updated on any word I get.

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Globe Intros Three New Customer Service Channels to Subscribers

I have been a Globe subscriber all my life, since SMS started more than a decade ago. Since then, it has always been the case that I dial their hotline 730-1000 in any landline or their 211 number via mobile before I am able to ask for help on my Globe concerns.

However, due to the changing times and the on-the-go lifestyle of consumers, Globe wanted to give its subscribers the flexibility of how to reach them for customer support. Currently, we can reach them thru Facebook, Twitter, Email, and Hotline. But just recently, they have introduced three more customer service options - Web Chat, Yahoo Messenger Chat, and SMS.

Through these multiple channels, we can now ask for help wherever we are, whether we have a phone or not, while we're online at home/office or on the road. Let me list them down:

Web Chat

Some of us might say, "oh this is not new!" Yes, you're right. I remember seeing this feature in Globe's website before, but they have previously pulled it out for enhancements.

Now that it's back, it's even better. It now has a more user-friendly interface and a self-help functionality. Add to that an improved system performance that gives better customer experience.

We just need to head on to Globe's website (www.globe.com.ph) and click on the Talk2GLOBE tab on the menu. From there, we can choose to chat with a support specialist where options will be available to us in an instant.

What's good about this feature is that we no longer have to sign in or have an account in order to get support. And even if we get disconnected, but gets reconnected within 2 minutes, the same agent will chat with us - as long as we don't close the window. 

If we're given a ticket number prior to disconnection, we can just enter it by clicking on Agent.

Yahoo Messenger (YM) Chat

This is really new! If you're like me who's always connected to Yahoo Messenger via mobile phone (thanks to BBMAX) or iPad (thanks to Tattoo MiFi), we don't have to go to Globe's website for support anymore. Globe has leveraged on this popular chat software to provide support to millions of subscribers.

Simply add Talk2GlobeChat as YM buddy, and we can get help there. Unlike Web Chat, though, where options will instantly be available upon opening of chat window, we need to type in any word for the menu to be presented to us. 

SMS Help

Undoubtedly, the Philippines is the text capital of Southeast Asia or even the world! With our mobile phones always at hand, we can request for and find self-help wherever we are - as long as there's signal, of course. 

Just text HELP to 1234 for FREE and a reply of the menu will be sent to us. Be patient in selecting the keywords one after another, as Globe has placed several category levels to assist us to the specific concern we are looking for.

The three new channels will cater to all after-sales concerns of Globe subscribers. Replies are real-time and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In my opinion, nothing beats talking to a customer service representative personally via phone. However, if we are asked to wait for several minutes already, using the Web Chat, YM Chat, and SMS Help can be faster, especially that Globe agents are assigned to a maximum of four customers each for chat and SMS. Don't worry, Globe did a study on the 4:1 ratio and found it to be ideal.

Other Customer Service Channels

1. Facebook
Go to the Globe Telecom Facebook Page and easily comment on any of the Wall Posts, since this is regularly monitored by the customer representatives.

We can also go directly to the Talk2GLOBE tab, so we can fill up a form, which goes directly to the support team for support fulfillment. Responses will be sent to the email address we have identified.


2. Twitter
Ask questions and tag @Talk2Globe on Twitter. Responses will be mentioned in Public, but will eventually be placed through Direct Message once confidential details are needed to continue support.

Don't be confused on what to Twitter ID to use. @Talk2Globe is for support and customer service purposes, while @enjoyGLOBE is for marketing-related purposes and concerns.


3. Email
Send an email to [email protected] and expect a response within 24-48 hours.


4. Talk2Globe Hotline
The good old hotline will always be there. From any landline, dial 730-1000 or hit 211 using a mobile phone subscribed to Globe.

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Five New BlackBerry 7 Smartphones Available in the Philippines on January 13

Research in Motion (RIM) has launched new BlackBerry 7 smartphones -- BlackBerry Bold 9790, BlackBerry Curve 9380, BlackBerry Torch 9810, BlackBerry Torch 9860, and Pure White BlackBerry Bold 9900 -- and is said to be available in authorized distributors by January 13, 2012.

Hosted by the bubbly Rovilson Fernandez, the launching was held at The Establishment, Fort today, January 10, 2012. People from traditional and digital media were present during the said launch.

For more details on the specs, prices, and descriptions, please see below.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 - Touch and Type

SRP: Php22,890.00

This model almost has the same power and features as that of a BlackBerry Bold 9900. The difference of this to the latter is that it  is cheaper, smaller, thinner, and lighter.

It has a Touch Display and a Keyboard, which gives users the combination of touch and type. What I like about this as compared to the 9900 is the camera's autofocus functionality, which is absent in the 9900.

Bold 9790 Specifications

• 110 x 60 x 11.4 mm
• 107g
• 480x360 capacitive touchscreen, 2.45 inches
• 8GB internal memory, expandable to 32GB via microSD
• 768MB RAM, Marvel Tavor MG1 1 GHz Processor
• WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC
• 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
• BlackBerry OS 7.0

BlackBerry Curve 9380 - All Touch

SRP: Php16,990.00

This is the first touch screen smartphone in the Curve family.

Still coming with the social-networking applications (Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, etc) alongside BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), this compact and stylish handset also features a 5MP camera with flash and video recording. If you've been eyeing for the Torch, now you have a cheaper alternative.

Curve 9380 Specifications

• 109 x 60 x 11.2 mm
• 98g
• 360x480 capacitive touchscreen, 3.2 inches
• 512MB internal memory, expandable to 32GB via microSD
• 512MB RAM, 806 MHz Processor
• WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC
• 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, LED flash
• BlackBerry OS 7.0

BlackBerry Torch 9810 - Touch with Slide-Out Keyboard

SRP: Php28,590.00

The Torch 9810 is the upgraded version of the Torch 9800.

It is faster and more fluid with high performance hardware features and of course carries the new BlackBerry OS 7.

With this new model, surfing the web and navigating the phone will be an ease because of its big screen. Sending an SMS can be done via on-screen keyboard or actual keypad for faster typing.

Torch 9810 Specifications

• 111 x 62 x 14.6 mm
• 161g
• 480x640 capacitive touchscreen, 3.2 inches
• 8GB internal memory, expandable to 32GB via microSD
• 768MB RAM, 1.2 GHz Processor
• WiFi, Bluetooth
• 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
• BlackBerry OS 7.0

BlackBerry Torch 9860 - All Touch

SRP: Php24,690.00

For the Torch series lovers who don't like the slide-out keyboard that the Torch 9800 has, RIM has launched Torch 9860 with an all touch interface.

It has a spectacular 3.7" display, the largest ever on a BlackBerry smartphone. This model delivers the highly refined, real-time communication and collaboration experience loved by millions of BlackBerry smartphone users around the world.

Torch 9860 Specifications

• 120 x 62 x 11.5 mm
• 135g
• 480x800 capacitive touchscreen, 3.7 inches
• 4GB internal memory, expandable to 32GB via microSD
• 768MB RAM, 1.2 GHz Processor
• WiFi, Bluetooth
• 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus
• BlackBerry OS 7.0

BlackBerry Bold 9900 (Pure White)

SRP: Php31,690.00

The Bold 9900 per se is not new, but its availability in Pure White color might be of interest to those wanting to be different from the rest of the Black Bold 9900 owners.

Just like other smartphones, Black and White are the staple colors that RIM is looking at, at least for the Bold 9900. Read through our BlackBerry 9900 article written previously.

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Tech Companies: Who's In and Who's Out this 2012?

Technology and the companies owning it are moving forward to make it better each year. For those who can’t go with the flow, they’re doomed to be forgotten; those who can, succeed and earn billions of bucks. Such is life – either you keep up with the changing times or be easily forgotten in a single failure even after being the leader for several years.

As we say hello to the big year 2012, join me as I look at some of the tech companies from a consumer’s perspective.

HP is once again in its stabilization state, especially with its new CEO Meg Whitman. Though the company is stable per se, its strategies for the technologies used are under transformation. I hope they don’t make mistakes anymore such as the introduction and immediate pull out of the Slate.

Google has an exciting year ahead as it continues to grow rapidly and transform the technological landscape. Over the last year, it has introduced Google Plus among others, which the public greatly embraced. This year, we look forward to what new things it will launch and how it will utilize Android and Motorola to bring continued growth towards the company.

RIM is really struggling to stay alive. The sales of BlackBerry smartphones may be high in Asian countries, but it is not the case in other regions. In 2011, its value as a company has reportedly gone very low – shockingly low, in fact. Will they do something “WOW” this year? I hope so.

Samsung has been successful so far in making a buzz from all its products, especially with its smartphones. Throughout 2011, it has launched several products to fit different market segments. It is still not par from Apple and Google, but we’ll see what happens.

Nokia is still in the game, but not as big time as it used to be. The Nokia brand continues to be strong in the Philippines as a cellphone brand, but not so much as a smartphone maker. But now that it has partnered with Microsoft and has recently launched new smartphone units, will their brand be able to keep up?

Apple has shown so much innovation throughout the past years, upping the smartphone leadership with an ease. Now that Steve Jobs has passed, the company is in a transitional state. It might be able to manage its spot on top, but will definitely face struggles and slowdowns at some points.

Globe must work on and prove what it has launched last November – to build a bigger, faster and modern network, which will ensure us Filipinos are connected all the time. Its network modernization program will hugely impact the mobile experience of its subscribers. Will they be able to attend to their promises?

Smart continues its battle with Globe by offering great deals and promos to maintain its leadership in the telco industry as the one with biggest subscriber base. Now that Smart and Sun are starting to offer plans as a result of its merger, it will be a defining year to see what may happen to the telco wars.

What may happen in 2012 is everybody’s ball game. The tech industry is generally strong and vibrant, but companies need to work hard to maintain its ball on the winning side of the fence; else, it might fall. This year will be exciting!

This article is my 47^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on January 09, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.

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What Globe Can Do to Make Anti-Bill Shock Really Anti-Shocking

Ever since the iPhone came out, there has been endless complaints and horror stories of subscribers getting shocked at their bills. It's not because of the calls and texts, but due to unknown data usage caused by wrong configuration and/or background applications using mobile data network.

Thank goodness the anti-bill shock is here! So Globe recently came out with a Php999 bill cap that aims to help users avoid bill shock. This is for postpaid subscribers registered to any of the PowerSurf plans, who doesn't need to worry about exceeding their allocated megabytes (MBs) by stopping succeeding charges when it reaches Php999.

Postpaid PowerSurf is a mobile internet plan that gives Globe Postpaid subscribers MBs of mobile data, consumable per kilobyte (kb) and valid for 30 days. The plan is available in three variants: PowerSurf 99 (50MB), PowerSurf 299 (300MB) and PowerSurf 499 (1 GB). With the P999 bill cap, subscribers will not be charged above P999 each month for excess usage regardless of their PowerSurf plan subscription.

This means that for as long as a postpaid subscriber is registered to any PowerSurf plan, they don’t need to monitor their usage strictly because they can be confident that they will never pay more than P999 for data use even if they exceed their respective plan’s MB limit.

Activate Globe Postpaid PowerSurf by visiting any Globe Store, calling the Globe Hotline at 730-1000 or texting POWERSURF 99 / POWERSURF 299 / POWERSURF 499 to 8888. For more information on Globe Mobile Internet, text SURF to 8888 or visit www.globe.com.ph/surf.

This may be beneficial for those who have the money to spend to pay Php999 a month on top of their SMS and call usage. However, what happens to those who are on a budget and would want to really just pay for what they have subscribed on to?

Can Globe do the bill cap as soon as the subscribed allocated megabytes have been used up by the subscriber? Can they send an SMS asking for a confirmation of the user to continue the data charges until it reaches the cap of Php999?

Example: I am subscribed to PowerSurf 499, which gives me an allocation of 1 GB for 30 days. Since I have been surfing continuously, my 1 GB has been fully used up on day 25. What happens? Globe should temporarily not allow me to surf anymore and instead would send me an SMS asking if I want to continue the usage of my data service. When I confirm 'YES' then my data charges continue until I reach Php999, before the bill is capped.

But you say, "It's a hassle. What if I'm surfing for an important thing and it suddenly stops loading?" Well, that's when you should know that you can't have it all. In every thing, there are pros and cons. At that point, maybe you can rethink of subscribing to unlimited data plan instead - say Php599 for unlimited BlackBerry surfing, BBM, Twitter, Facebook, and IM or other unlimited plans that Globe offers.

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Tips for the 19th Travel Tour Expo 2012

Even before the new year entered, our airlines have been offering seat sales here and there. However, I always want to get deals as a package, because it sometimes equates to cheaper rates even though I get additional miscellaneous expenses during the trip.

Last year was the first time I attended a travel expo. I have been told that travel packages are a steal there, so I was very excited to check it out. This year is a new story. I don't have any concrete plans of traveling to a specific country or local destination, but I'll be checking out the 19th Travel Tour Expo 2012 happening this February 17-19, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center Hall 1, 2, 3 and 4. 

With the theme "One Stop Shop to the World," here's what you need to know about the expo:

Opening Hours:

• February 17 & 18 (Friday & Saturday) - 10AM to 9PM
• February 19 (Sunday) - 10AM to 7PM

Note: Ticket booths close 30 minutes before end of show hours.

Entrance Fee:

• General Admission - Php50.00/day
• Senior Citizen - Php20.00/day

Accompanying Events:

• Entertainment and Presentations from exhibitors, such as dances, film showing, etc,
• Raffles and Games
• More surprises

Lessons I've learned from last year's visit to the expo:

1. Don't be late. Even though doors open at 10AM, people are already starting to line up as early as 9AM. By the time I arrived at 9:30AM, the lines are no longer that short. Factor in parking as well. If you want to park at the basement of SMX, you need to come early. 
2. Know the right line. Since I arrived seeing many lines already, I immediately went to fall in line. Later did I realize that the line I was following is already headed towards the entrance. And I don't have entrance tickets yet. Fortunately, the lady in front of me was kind enough to save me a space till I came back.
3. Bring a bag and pen. As with any fair, you'd be handed with lots of brochures and paraphernalia for you to have a reference. If you are not yet so sure on what to purchase, I suggest to get materials in the morning, take a break, then go back for the actual purchase. Besides, the entrance fee is valid for a day.
4. Tag a friend along. Once the door opens, people will be rushing to the different booths already. Expect to line up, even when you just want to inquire. I suggest to bring a friend or a family member with you. This allows one to line up at a booth, while the other one roams around for the next booth. Just SMS or call each other, so you won't have to be together when purchasing packages.
5. Ready the details. If you're like me who's very tensed especially when you know there are a lot of people lined up and waiting after me, I would highly encourage you to list down the full names, birthdays (for airfares) and contact numbers of your travel buddies, as well as dates of travel. This enables you to quickly copy them upon your purchase.
6. Be wary with belongings. Since this travel expo is expecting a lot of attendees, make sure you keep an eye on your belongings. Last year's data records 472 booths, 255 exhibitors, and a whopping 68,000 visitors. If we divide the number of visitors in 3 days, that would be about 22,660+ members per day.
7. Prepare cash or credit card. Not all exhibitors will accept credit cards, so might as well prepare cash too. There are numerous ATMs around SM MOA, so you don't have to worry.
8. Plan your destinations. Below is a list of exhibitors as of November 29. You can check it out and plan ahead on which booth and/or destination you plan to prioritize, so you can immediately head on to them once you enter the halls.

19TTE Exhibitors List_as of 29Nov2011_4pm

Remember that some of the airfare promos and tour packages are exclusively offered onsite for the duration of the travel expo. Good luck on your visit and I hope you get home with great travel packages to make your 2012 an exciting year. Don't forget to enjoy the experience as well!

For more information, visit the 19th Travel Tour Expo 2012 website.

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How to Make Your Cebu Pacific Air Booking Easier and Faster

Happy 2012, dear readers! Have you made your new year resolutions and plans yet? I bet some of you promised yourself to be a frequent traveler this year, because after all, traveling is so much fun! I myself would love to spend my hard-earned money on gaining new experiences and seeing awesome sites in and out of the country.

There are not much options for us Filipinos when we talk about budget airlines. For me, I'm more used to booking flights using Cebu Pacific Air. About late last year, Cebu Pacific introduced some great additional features to their website to make booking easier and faster.

Here's how you can do so. Just follow all the steps and you're good to go!

Step 1: Registration or Login

If you are not yet a member of Cebu Pacific, all you have to do is simply Register. Otherwise, you can go ahead and Login.

By having a Cebu Pacific account and logging in with your details, you will be able to do the following:

• View and print your Itinerary Receipt
• Change or cancel your booking
• Purchase prepaid baggage
• Redeem travel fund
• Avail Travel Insurance
• Check-in for flight
• Check flight status

You can of course do this even without an account, but it will take you more steps to locate your booked tickets as compared to if you already have an account.

Step 2: Add Guest List

To make booking faster, I suggest you add your frequent travel buddies in your account's guest list. This will give you the convenience of just selecting their names from the drop down list whenever you book flights.

Simply choose My Guest List from the menu and click on Add Guest Name to be able to fill up the profile of your frequent travel buddy. You can ignore the fields at the bottom and just completely fill in the First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name, as well as Birth Date. Click Save and you're done.

The next time you click on My Guest List, names that you have added will appear. You have the option to Edit profile or Delete it completely.

Step 3: Add Credit Card/s

Another feature that will help us book our flights faster is by linking our credit card/s to our Cebu Pacific account. By doing so, you just need to select the card you want to use whenever you book a flight.

Click on Add Card to be able to enter your Credit Card details. then Save. The next time you visit your cards section, you will see your card list with the details you've entered.

Once you have saved a single credit card, the Billing Address fields (pictured below) will then appear for you to fill up.

Choose My Cards from the menu and you will be redirected to another page, where you can input your Billing Address. This will lessen the duration of your booking, especially if you will be doing multiple bookings, since it will automatically be filled up every time you book.

Step 4: Book a Flight

Once you have done Steps1-3, you're now ready to book your flight in a breeze!

Simply click on Book Now from the menu and you will be asked to search for and select flights just like the usual requirement. When you get to the Guest Details and the Payment pages, all you have to do is select from the list, then *poof* you're done in an instant!

Step 5: Printing IR, Purchasing Bags and Add Ons, Change or Cancel Flights

When you have already book your flights and just want to do some more fixing, having an account makes it convenient. You no longer have to memorize your Confirmation Number and/or Email Address. Simply logon and view your bookings with an ease.

Upon logging in or selecting My Booking from the menu list, you'd see all your Current Bookings (trips not yet past travel date or trips yet to be taken), as well as your Completed Travels (trips that have already passed the travel date or trips that have been completed).

Select View Booking under the Current Bookings sections in order to do transactions such as printing the IR.

By selecting Purchase Bag, you will be asked to select which size would you like to get -- Small (up to 15kg) at Php350, Standard (up to 20kg) at Php500, Medium (up to 25kg) at Php750 or Large (up to 30kg) at Php1,000. Once you have selected the size, just follow the instructions on how to proceed.

Note: The rates stated above are for Regional flights only. Charges for Domestic flights are cheaper. 

If you want to Purchase Add Ons such as Travel Sure Insurance, Cebu Pacific merchandise, check-in sports equipment or support World Wide Fund for Nature, simply tick checkboxes and follow instructions, then you're done. 

Select Change Flights if you want to change the date of your already booked flight. By following instructions, you will be asked to select a different flight, finalize and pay for the difference of the amount of your originally booked flight.

Note: Rerouting can also be done under this option, ergo Current Booking fields are changeable. It only becomes unchangeable if the fares availed are under promo (such as the screenshot above).

Lastly, you can opt to Cancel Flights if necessary. However, take note that you can only cancel flights as a whole (meaning if your flight has 10 people, you may cancel the bookings for the flights of those 10 people). If you just want to cancel individual bookings within a flight, you need to contact Cebu Pacific directly.

Doing a Web Check-In is also possible in Cebu Pacific's website. You may check-in online for your flight 48 hours up to 4 hours before departure time. However, I cannot show you a screenshot at the moment, because I have no upcoming flights as of now. In order to do so, simply Login (Step 1) and click on the Manage Booking link, then choose the Web Check-In tab and start checking in for your flight! Make sure to read the Web Check-In FAQs in order to know the restrictions.

There you have it, folks! I do hope this step by step guide has been helpful to you in one way or another. If it did, I'd like to request you to Share it to your friends via the Share and Tweet buttons above. Cheers to a lot of travels this 2012. Happy travelling!

P.S. Images on this post are screenshots from Cebu Pacific Air's website, which I took and edited. Names, flight numbers, and dates of travels were deleted to protect the identities of those included in the sample.

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