The Lonely Vampire Chronicles

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

The month of October 2009 is the month of bloggers around the country. And it comes in three. The Third Philippine Blog Awards will be held at three different venues in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Bloggers will be congregating on October 9, 18, and 24 to celebrate the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards.

THE 2009 PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS: ONE BLOGGING NATION
________________________________________

The Philippine Blog Awards is a yearly event that aims to give recognition to outstanding blogs in but not limited to the Filipino Blogging Community.

The 1st Philippine Blog Awards was held March 31, 2007 at the RCBC Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati City with over 200 bloggers and participants attending the awards night. The event was a success because of the volunteers and the support from the Philippine blogging community.

The 2nd Philippine Blog Awards was held on the 21st of September 2008 at One Esplanade. Around thirty awards were given out during the night.

WHAT IS NEW?
________________________________________

1. 3 for 3 the 2003 Awards in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao:

The 3rd Philippine Blog Awards will be on the 9th of 2009 at PETA-PHINMA Theatre; on 18th of October at 2F Ayala City Sports, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City; and on the 24th of October at Pearlmont Hotel, Cagayan De Oro City.

The Awards Night at Cagayan De Oro coincides with the annual Mindanao Bloggers Summit which is also on its third year.

2. The Awards Night: One Blogging Nation

It is often said that the Internet breaks down boundaries and leaps oceans to connect people. And it is true. Lost friends, old loves and distant family members become connected in the virtual world. But like the infomercial says, “Wait there is more!”

Due to this virtual network of among Filipinos – to be specific among Filipino bloggers – relationships develop and communities spring about. In recent years, the numbers of bloggers have increased and it is not limited to one area alone. From Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao: bloggers have increased in numbers. And it is not only in our shores. Filipino bloggers can be found almost everywhere in the world.

It is a diverse and vibrant mix of personalities and individuals. Bloggers of different tastes. Bloggers of different views. Bloggers of different ages. Bloggers of different persuasion. Bloggers of different forms, shape and purpose. All Filipinos in spirit.

And this is as it should be. Whatever is said about the Filipino blogging community, it is an exciting and dynamic universe.

A universe populated by Filipinos by birth; Filipinos by choice; and Filipinos by Spirit.

It is truly One Blogging Nation.

3. AWARDS

The Main Categories

1. Technology
2. Travel
3. Entertainment
4. Personal(Diarist/JournaL)
5. Food & Beverage
6. Family & Living
7. News & Media
8. Business
9. Sports
10. Hobby & Recreation
11. Fashion*
12. Photoblog
13. Culture and Arts
14. Commentary
15. Videocast*
16. Podcast*
17. Humor*
18. Gaming*
19. Advocacy*
20. Beauty*

(* new categories)

The Special Awards Division

1. Design
2. Free Custom Theme
3. Filipino Abroad
4. Foreign Blog
5. Bloggers’ Choice
6. Filipiniana Blog
7. Blog Application
8. Ten Best Posts of the Year
9. Best Visayan Blog
10. Visayas Bloggers’ Choice
11. Best Visayas Locale Blog
12. Best Visayas Nature Blogger
13. Mindanao Advocacy Blog
14. Mindanao PhotoBlog
15. Uniquely Mindanao Blog
16. Mindanao Destination Blog

4. A Brand New Experience

Aside from being held in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippine Blog Award Night at the PETA-PHINMA Theatre can be viewed on-line through Flippish.com and will also be covered by other video bloggers and also in Twitter and in Plurk.

ORGANIZERS AND SPONSORS
________________________________________

The Philippine Blog Awards is organized by the Philippine Blogger Awards Inc. – a non-stock and non-profit corporation composed of members coming from the Philippine blogging community. This year’s event would not have been possible without the help of our Institutional Partner RockEd and Major Sponsors/Co-Presentors Nokia, Globe Telecommunications Inc, Mozilla and Josiah’s Catering; our Media Partners Flippish.com, Chikka Media, Uno Magazine, Splash Press, Sheero Media, and GMCI; sponsors Level Up, Ipanema, Mimi and Karl Wedding Photographers, Buddy Gancenia and Taal View Heights.

Last but not the least the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards would not even be here without the support of bloggers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and of course from bloggers abroad who continue to keep an interest in the Philippines and its blogging community.

CONTACT DETAILS:
The 2009 Philippine Blog Awards Blog
http://www.philippineblogawards.com.ph/

Email: philippineblogawards[at]gmail.com
Mail: 33 Homer Street, Filinvest East, Cainta, Rizal
cellphone: 0917-829-8090

Related Links:
3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2009
http://www.mbscdo.com/2009/06/05/3rd-mindanao-blogger-summit-2009/

Finalists

Best Technology Blog
JaypeeOnline // Blogging News & Reviews
MMO GrindHouse- fueling your daily grind on MMO Games
My Asus Eee PC
Orangeinks
sasa java
Software Critics
TechPinas : The Philippine Technology Blog
The Mike Abundo Effect
The Rookie Blogger
trashman

Best Travel Blog
A Pinay in Europe
BYAHILO: Ito ang Trip Ko!
eskapo
Explore Iloilo
Just Wandering
lagal[og]
Langyaw – Sojourns and Off-the-Beaten Path Travels
Making Things Happen
Nomadic Experiences
sagada tourism guide

Best Entertainment Blog
CONUNDRUM
Film-Otaku
Lessons From the School of Inattention
Music Picks
PH Stars
Pop Reviews Now
Reel Advice Movie Reviews
SHELU89
SHOWBIZCHISMAX
Starmometer
SUGARFREE

Best Personal Blog
ai’s cracker
Baddieverse
bikoy.net
Brief Stories
Cerebral Insights
citybuoy
Excuse My French
fritzified.com
Funny is the New Sexy
Life with Ria
Nursecissism
Platonic Trip
RALPHGUZMAN.ORG
room for squares
Succulence Unleashed
The Casual Observer
The Digitizer
The Free Lancer
writing on air
xtnpl.blog.friendster.com

Best Food & Beverage Blog
A Scientist in the Kitchen
Cebu Restaurants
Flipflopping my way around Town
hungrynez
Kitchen Cow
Our Daily Blog
Overseas Pinoy Cooking
Table for Three, Please
The Thirsty Blogger
Yedylicious: In Between Bites

Best Family & Living Blog
Absolute Cousins
Animetric’s World
BEYOND TOXICITY
Make or Break
MommyCow
occupation: SAHM
Viva La Vida Mama
What is a Progressive School?

Best News & Media Blog
Cagayan de Oro News Online
Daily Contributor
iNews Philippines
Paulnatic
PINOYWORLD
RePress
Virtual Journals

Best Business Blog
BusinessAccent.com
Millionaire Acts
MisOrJobs
Negosyo Ideas
Owning a Café
Pinoy Money Talk
Ready To Be Rich
The Sagada Lemon Pie House

Best Sports Blog
Buhay Basketball
Fire Quinito
i2runner
Lakers Today
Philippine Basketball Blog
Philippine Boxing
Sports and Tech sa Pilipinas
The Duffer

Best Hobby & Recreation Blog
Bearbrick Love
Bored & Crafty
Comicgasm
Comicology: The Study of Awesome
Dance Manila
Flying in Crosswinds
Mad Labs and Hug Dogs
Pinoy Experience Mountain Biking and Outdoor Philippines
Pinoy Mountaineer
The Singing Blogger

Best Fashion Blog
I LVOE LV
My Fashion Juice
Runway2Reality
Style and Relax
StyleAnywhere
THE UKAY QUEEN:Ukayshopping101
Ukay-ukay Escapades
who is elyoo?

Best Photo Blog
Asin at Paminta
dennisvillegas.blogspot.com
Didang Alvarez
Distilling Thoughts
I Am a Documentary Photographer
Lantaw
lawstude.blogspot.com
Lino Photography
My Manila
www.derpinsel.com/noone

Best Culture & Arts Blog
Art in Action
Bookmarked!
Coffeespoons
magnetic-rose.net: Japanese Pop Culture for Filipino Fans
Perlas Design Studio
PinoyTattoos.com – Filipino Tattoo Source
SA GUBAT NG NAMIMINTOG NA PATALIM
Sari-Saring Sineng Pinoy
The Spy in the Sandwich
Views from the Pampang

Best Commentary Blog
ad maiorem Dei gloriam
Alleba Politics
J. R. Ramos Go
Matinong Ehemplo Ng Youth Ehemplo ng Kabataan
Me and My Big Mouth
myepinOy’s bLOG
Pencil Pusher/Number Cruncher
pinoybuzz
riknakem
Splice and Dice
Staedtler
The Marocharim Experiment
Third Wave
Zzaragoza’s Weblog

Best Videocast
Digiputz.com
DoctorDude – Fun Vlogs on Health and Wellness
Entrepbuff.com
Komikero BIDJO

Best Podcast
Brink Notes Entertainment Daily
PINOY POPCAST PODCAST
World 3

Best Humor Blog
Basta…
Chiksilog
Good Times Manila
Hay!Men!
Indolent Indio
Kwentong Barbero
manik makina
Noisy, Noisy Man
Oi! Greenpinoy!
The Professional Heckler
tuyong tinta ng bolpen

Best Gaming Blog
ExcEsc
gameshogun
Mike Got Game!
Pinoy Gaming Network

Best Advocacy Blog
Autism Society Philippines
CyberRon
discourses of a free mind
Fide Quarens Intellectum
Filipino Deaf from the Eyes of a Hearing Person
Filipino Freethinkers
Foreclosure Philippines
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo RESIGN!
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
Nurses Notes

Best Beauty Blog
Candy Blush Beauty Blog
Shen’s Addiction
The Doctor Is vaIN

Below are the finalists for the Special Awards. The finalists of the Regional Awards will be announced soon.

Special Award: Best Blog Design
Design was here
DigDesignz: Blog of a young Filipino Web and Graphic Designer
GraphiCult
Loy Meets World
Pink is Fab!
Pink Notes Diary
Simon Ong | Personal Blog and Portfolio
The Rookie Blogger
The Site Guy
The Vignette

Special Award: Best Foreign Blog
BakitWhy.com | Filipino American Lifestyle
koji ryan
My Sarisari Store

Special Award: Best Filipino Abroad Blog
AS IS
Baul ni Noel
Digifotoblog
Funny Side Up
IsladeNebz
Lilypad
myepinoy’s blog
Palipasan
PinoyBro
THE MONOLOGUES OF A DESERT DUDE
The Warped Zone

Special Award: Best Filipiniana Blog
Filipino Librarian
pamatay homesik
pilipinokomiks.blogspot.com
Simbahan – Philippine Heritage Churches and Related Structures
The Philippines and Beyond

Congratulations to the finalists and goodluck!

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

The second teaser from Flippish for the Philippine Blog Awards 2009. Music and lyrics by Coy Caballes; Markku Seguerra on guitar.

Binuksan ko ang laptop
Homepage ko ay Technograph
Ako’y Pinoy Blogero
Sa WordPress ay adik ako

Let’s Go Sago, Lakwatsero
Coron hanggang Batangas sobrang Byahilo
Kahit ako’y mag-Visit Sagada
Basta may WiFi ay solved ka na

Laging Good Times Manila
Basta naka-online enjoy tropang Foodista
Alam mo lahat Da Who sa showbiz landia
Talo mo pa si BryanBoy Abunda

Over the top sa page views
kahit Patay Gutom busog ka sa news
Dumating si Mommy galing Project Manila
Nahuli niya si daddy nasa Facebuko niya

Let’s go, c’mon! Kung gustong sumikat
Just wear your Happyslip at sa Merryland umakyat
FunnySexy man o Komikero ang drama
Sa Radio Cubao natin wala nang panama

Okay lang ang maging Misteryosa
Basta Awesome Planet ating ipakita
Kahit sino ka pa, Batang Yagit o Tanggera
Basta Pinoy at Blogger… Tayo ay iisa

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

First teaser by Flippish.com for their coverage of this year’s Philippine Blog Awards. I know where they shot this teaser. No, I won’t tell, sorry.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

The nominations for the best blog posts of the year is extended (the new deadline is not specified at the moment). Go here to nominate your blog post.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

The Web 2.0 sphere is very competitive, and it is hard to introduce a product that will shine among the sea of thousands of startups. If you cannot introduce a service that is different from the others, success will be hard to achieve.

Sandbox is a social network site from Smart. At first glance, it can be unclear what Smart wants to accomplish with this endevour. Why build another social network?

Basing on the home page of Sandbox, the aspects of the social network part of the site are found as one button in the main menu bar at the top (My Group), a login form at the right (though it serves a purpose aside from the social network aspect of the site, more on this later), and a View your friends link at the right if you are logged on. Below that link, there are boxes for My friends (which shows what your friends have been doing), Photo uploads, and Video uploads. That’s, what, 2% of the entire home page. The rest: 2% coming soon, 96% on downloadable content.

See where this line of thinking is going?

Anyway, clicking on My Groups will bring you to the social network aspect of Sandbox. It is just a white-labeled implementation of mobile social network platform provided by Mostyle. BTW, you can’t access the mobile Sandbox version (m.mysandbox.com) at the moment, so as a workaround (if you don’t like to load the main Sandbox page), log on at mostyle.mobi. Everything’s Web based (mobile Web-based), so adding content to your Sandbox means firing up your mobile browser, logging on, and uploading content. That’s well and fine if you can use WiFi. Tough luck if (1) there is no WiFi coverage or (2) your phone is not WiFi capable. See where this is going?

They have implemented another way of sending content, and that is via email through MMS. You can also send content using ordinary email. You cannot blog via SMS or email, though. I think this is the better way to implement content uploads - simpler, efficient, and requires no additional tool (since everything you’ll need is on the phone already). This is what Smart should have done.

I think the proper framework for a good social mobile network (or the content aspect of a social network) was best spelled out by Edwin Soriano during his talk at iBlog5. Basically, his framework is similar to what Tumblr does (though Tumblr’s post pictures via MMS email did not work for me). I am surprised till now that Smart has not done this, to think that Ka Edong works for Smart. They have the infrastructure to implement that framework, and they could have improved on the Tumblr system.

There was one sentence that I had said before, during a meeting. I said that Sandbox looks like a Frankenstein’s monster, with several components mashed together to make a social network site. I am glad to report that it is no longer so. Some components are still there, but it’s not no longer a monster. I am witholding the kudos since some components are still coming soon. I still don’t believe that white labeling will work. If Smart wants to make this Sandbox work, it should invest more than it has done. They have a content delivery system done in-house (unless I am mistaken), why can’t they do it for the social network side of the site? Afterall, if the goal is to drive content consumption, make the social network experience work well for potential content consumer. If the experience doesn’t go well, consumer will just go elsewhere.

It is imperative for Smart to present a social network that is different from the existing ones. Otherwise, people will say Sandbox is just another social network site. Some ascerbic people would add the phrase “that failed.”

Give Sandbox a try, and tell me your experience.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Thanks to Jayvee Fernandez, I got a very brief hands-on with the Samsung Omnia HD (which Samsung will release in some markets as i8910 HD). It shares the same OS as that of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The one that I held was not the final product, and it showed. The response to the touch input was sluggish.

The screen, however, was a big wow. The AMOLED screen was a joy to look at. The image above (sorry, I used an Olympus E-420 DSLR in taking that picture - you don’t take a picture using a DSLR one-handed) does not do justice to the impressive screen.

If you have used a Nokia 5800, the interface of this Samsung phone is the same. For the home screen, Samsung plastered its TouchWiz UI, so that you can add widgets to your home screen. Also, to go to the main menu, you can slide the home screen to the left.

I tried composing a text message using the fullscreen QWERTY input, and the characters have small spaces in between, unlike in Nokia 5800. The text entry experience is the same, though. At least there was no lag.

The unit is definitely larger and wider than Nokia 5800, but thinner. It was nice in the hands, not too heavy, and the built is solid (no creaking parts).

I think this is a nice phone, and I am sure it will be priced at the Php40k-upwards range when it is released here.

(Some more pictures here.)

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Do you know what type of photographer you are? Read on!

(Taken from BNCXE.)

Anung uri ng manunyut ka???

1. MAKALIKOT

Ito ang uri ng photographer na naka-pose na ang modelo pero bago pindutin ang shutter button ay kung anu-anong settings pa ang pinaglalalagay sa camera n’ya: mula shutter speed hanggang sa lens length, kahit prime na ‘yung lens n’ya at sakto na, papalitan n’ya pa rin kasi pakiramdam n’ya parang may mali. Nagbo-bokeh pa para lang makuha ‘yung gustong effect! Ang resulta? Hayun, ngawit ang model.
Kalupitan level: 1/5

2. MAUTOS

Madalas ito sa mga may model shoot. Uutusan nila ang model: nguso, liyad, tuwad, higa, hubad - makuha lang yung perfect angle. Ang resulta? Ang model ay parang clay - kung anu-anong posture ang gagawin. Kaso ‘di puedeng umangal ‘yung model. Papasikatan s’ya nung photographer tapos ‘pag tinanong ng model kung tapos na ba yung pose, hindi pa. Makikita mong gumugulong-gulong din ‘yung photographer para daw perfect lighting ‘yung kuha n’ya.
Kalupitan level: 3/5

3. HUMAN GORILLAPOD

Uncommon ito pero ‘pag naka-encounter ka, luluwa mata mo! Opposite ito ni MAUTOS. Imbes na utusan ang model, ang photographer mismo ang nagbe-bend, lumiliyad, humihiga, tumutuwad. Kulang na lang maging gorillapod dahil sa pagiging flexible sa pagkuha. Ayaw n’yang utusan ang model dahil baka tumanggi na ‘yun sa next photoshoot eh. Makikita mo lahat ng kasama n’ya imbes na sa model na maganda nakatingin, sa photographer. Biruin mo, human gorillapod flexibility eh. ‘di mo s’ya masisisi: perfect lighting ang habol n’ya. It’s all about the lighting ‘ika nga ‘di ba? And, his/her shots will justify it. Pero pagkatapos ng shoot at nakauwi na ang lahat, dederetso ‘yan sa botika para bumili ng pain reliever.
Kalupitan Level: 6/5

4. MAPINDOT

Makita lang ‘yung shutter button - ‘yung bilog na kulay abo na makintab - talagang naglalaway na, at gagawin ang lahat para lang mapindot. Nanghihina s’ya sa tuwing maririnig ang tunog ng shutter release. “chukah chukah chukah” Kung maaari lang na gawing ringtone sa cellphone, ginawa na n’ya.
Kalupitan level: 2/5

5. MAPILI

Marami nito sa event shoots lalo sa cosplay shoots. Basta makita n’yang maganda, shoot! pero ‘pag nakita n’yang parang di pasok sa panlasa n’ya, di n’ya kukunan kahit marami na’ng photographer ang kumukuha. Kapag sinabi n’yang ayaw, kahit umiyak ka ng dugo para kunan n’ya, ayaw talaga.
Kalupitan level: 3/5

6. AUTISTIC/TUOD

Oo meron n’yan! Yung tipong kailangan mo i-reboot yung tao. Aakalain mong di gumagalaw, pero pag nakapose na ang model, parang robot yang itataas nya ang kamay na may camera papunta sa kanyang mata. Alam nyo yung pag-arte ni Arnold Schwarzenegger sa Terminator? Ganon sya: cold. Makikita mo yan nakatayo lang sa isang tabi tapos hindi kikibo. Kapag lalapitan mo, blank. Magugulat ka na lang may reset button na umiilaw. Pentium Poor ang processor nya. Pero wag mo s’yang pagtawanan, magaganda ang mga shots nya. Kelangan lang nya mag-upgrade ng processor.
Kalupitan level: 7/5

7. MA-ZOOM

Ito yung mga may paparazzi tendencies. Makikita mo sa lens lineup nya: may wide, tele, hanggang dun sa mga naglalakihang zoom lens gaya ng 70-200mm, 80-400mm, etc… merun sya! Iyan yung mga tatawagan mo sa gabi, sasabihin nagna-night shoot daw. Night shoot nga kaso ang kapitbahay na nagbibihis ang subject.
Kalupitan level: 4/5

8. MA-MACRO

Kabaliktaran ito ni MA-ZOOM. Lahat ng maliliit na bagay, gustong up-close at malaki: magmula sa langaw, bangaw, tipaklong, gagamba, langgam, sperm cell at kung anu-ano pang gumagapang at gumagalaw. Lens lineup? Ayaw bitiwan ang kit lens nya kase may macro capabilities yun. Madali mo silang mapupuna kasi kahit walang camera, makikita mong uupo, dadapa, tutuwad o gagapang ng malapitan sa isang subject at iisipin “ima-macro kitaaahhh… hintayin mo, mamamacro din kitaaahhh… bwahahaha…”
Kalupitan level: 3/5

9. TRIGGER-HAPPY

Pagsamahin mo yung characteristics nila MAPINDOT at MA-ZOOM para maabot ang status na to. Lahat kinukunan. Lahat at kahit anong bagay: electric fan, bumbilya, lababo, agiw, o alikabok; pati pulubi, taxi driver, katrabaho, kapitbahay, tindera, bata, matanda o tulog, gising, patay, gumagalaw o hindi. Basta parang lulong na palaging may bumubulong na “ito, kunan mo, kunan mooohhh!!!”
Kalupitan level: 5/5

10. MAGALA / PALABOY / LAGALAG

Ito yung photographer na gala. May hampered characteristics ito ni TRIGGER-HAPPY. Lalabas ito ng bahay sa umaga, bitbit ang camera. Mula Manila City Hall, mapapadpad yan ng Caloocan. Uuwi ng hapon na punong-puno ng RAW at JPEG files ang memory cards nya. Wag nyo syang sisihin, marami syang pera!!!
Kalupitan level: 4/5

11. TAMAD

Ito yung mga taong may characteristics ni TRIGGER-HAPPY pero tinatamad pagdating sa post-processing. Bihira mag-shoot sa RAW, JPEG na lang. Makikita mong nabubulok na ng isang dekada yung mga kuha nya. Di nya pino-post process. Yung multiply nya? Di updated kahit online sya. Dahilan nya? Katamad eh…
Kalupitan level: 6/5

12. POST-PROCESSING BUFF

Ito ang pinakametikuloso pagdating sa post-processing. Lahat ng options kinakalikot: white balance, tone, color, contrast, dimension at file format. Lahat. Basta makuha nya yung pinakamagandang kuha. Wag ka, Lahat ng post-processing tools, apps at plugins meron sa PC nya - the ultimate darkroom man. Pero pag nakita mo pics nya, mapapakamot ka ng singit sa ganda!
Kalupitan level: 5/5

13. MA-WATERMARK

Ito ang mga photographers na sobrang laki ng watermark. Parang watermark ang tinubuan ng picture. Tipong minumura ka sa laki! Pero magtataka ka, elaborate yung design ng watermark: maraming burloloy gaya ng dahon, kahoy, kamay, paa, at ilong. Di lang yan, mayroon ding tatadtarin ng iba’t ibang styles ng watermark yung picture: paiba-ibang kulay, paiba-iba ng fonts at fontsize, di lang isa minsan parang mga kabute kapag malakas ang kidlat! Masyado nilang pinagmamalaki ang kanilang watermark este, pictures pala.
Kalupitan level: 4/5

14. MODEL+PHOTOGRAPHER COMBINATION

Gulat ka ano? Uso yan ngayon! Yan yung mga magagandang babae at lalaking photographers…. yung tipong pag may shoot kayo at walang model, magpopose yan sa isang tabi tapos kunwari hindi wari na kinukunan sya ng iba. Makikita mo na lang yan mamaya na nakasandal sa pader, nakahiga sa damuhan, nakaupo sa sahig, tumatawa, umiiyak, gumagawa ng sariling moment. Pero, pero dead-ma pa rin! Yung iba talagang ka-career-in tong status na to… ayos eh! Malalaman mo na lang na gina-grab nya ang mga kuha mo sa kanya tapos sasabihin nya “Sh*t kailan to? Hindi ko to alam ah! Ikaw talaga? Guapo/ganda ko pala!”
Kalupitan level: 4/5

15. BOYSCOUT

Alam nyo naman siguro ang motto ng isang boyscout: laging handa! Yan yung makikita mo na may dalang malaking backpack. Yung tipong dala nya yung studio nya sa bag. Pag binuksan mo, (kumikinang pa) at biglang magtratransform khokhokhokhokhok! pooft! instant studio! Lahat ng kakailanganin mo nanduon: softbox, umbrella, tripod, costumes at makeup. Ito na siguro yung magaling magsiksik ng gamit sa bag… yan yung biglang sasabihan ka “Tara shoot tayo, dala ko studio ko sa bag.” Mapapaisip ka sa una at pag nakita mo laman ng bag nya, mapapanganga ka at tutulo pa laway mo!
Kalupitan level: 7/5

16. STALKER

Ito na siguro ang ultimate mamaw photographer. Ito ang supling nila MAPINDOT MAPILI, MA-ZOOM at TRIGGER HAPPY. Karamihan ng mga ganitong photographers ay nagsisimula sa mga events na may makikitang magagandang babae at lalaki, tapos babanatan sya ng zoom range nya mula sa kanyang lens lineup. Makikita mong naka-mount sa camera nya yung mga mahahabang range ang zoom. Dadasalan nyang kuhanan yung natipuhan nyang subject habang bumubulong ng “maging akin kaaahhh. maging akin kaaahhh…” habang hanggang tainga ang ngiti. Mapapansin mo na kapag nakatingin sa kanya ang subject, biglang itututok nya sa iba ang camera para hindi mahalata nung subject na sya talaga ang kinukuhaan nya. Makikita mo sya sa susunod na event shoot na kinukuhanan pa rin ang subject na trip nya pero kit lens na ima-mount nya para malapitan nyang kukunan yung subject… style lang nya yun. Malalaman mo na lang na hiningi na nya yung YM, Multiply, Deviantart, cellphone number, email address, birthday at first love ng subject nya.

—

I think I’m number 11 he he. :-p What are you?

(Image by Ice Basit)

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Nikon has just announced the D5000, an entry-level DSLR camera with an articulated (ie, swivel) display.

Main features include:
* 12.3-megapixel DX-format sensor, the same sensor in D90
* maximum ISO speed at 3200, can be expanded to Hi 1 setting of ISO 6400
* 11-point auto focus with 3D focus tracking
* 4 Live View autofocus modes
* 19 scene modes
* D-movie mode - shoot 1280×720 video at 24 frames per second
* 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD monitor

The suggested retail price for body + AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization kit lens is US$849; US$729 for body only.

Read the Nikon press release here.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

My philosophy regarding technology is simple: technology should help us solve problems. If that technology is applied to a non-problem, then that is a waste of resources that should have been instead directed on real issues.

The MRT has three modes of entry-exit payment mechanisms. The first one, used since it started operating, uses magnetic cards/tickets. You can buy a single-journey ticket, or if you take the MRT regularly, you can get the stored-value ticket at one hundred pesos. During rush hours, the queue for purchase of tickets can get long. Also, these cards are technically not reloadable, and the maximum amount for the stored-value is one hundred pesos. Because of these issues, the MRT opened the possibility of using third-party payment mechanisms.

The second one, which is a third-party provided service, is the so-called Globe G-Pass, an implementation of RFID technology. You are given a chip enclosed in a circular case, and you tap the chip into a sensor attached to a turnstile (see how it works here). You can reload value via the reloading booths at MRT stations, or via Globe’s G-Cash mobile money solution.

There are inherent issues with this solution. First, not all turnstiles in all MRT stations have G-Pass sensors installed. On a rush hour, you need to know first what turnstile to queue up - it should have a sensor installed. You should know this beforehand. Second, the sensor must be online. Usually when it is offline, MRT personnel just tapes a sign to the sensor stating that it is offline. On a rush hour, you queue up to a turnstile with a G-Pass sensor, and it will be too late before you find out that the sensor is offline - you might have wasted around a minute or two on that. What if all sensors for that station are offline? Third, this solution would be more efficient if you are a Globe subscriber. While you can check your balance and reload at reloading stations, that would mean lining up (if there’s a line); it would be faster if you check your balance via text message, or reload via G-Cash. So if you are not a Globe subscriber - tough luck. Also, they should have instead employed the technology that the Japanese use - tap the phone! If you are careless, you might lose the chip.

The third solution (still experimental at the moment) employs m-codes (or 2-D barcodes). The service is called Juan Card, another prepaid solution. Here, you are sent an m-code, and to enter, you must point the m-code in your mobile phone screen to a sensor attached to the turnstile. As the use of this technology is not yet widespread, I cannot evaluate this solution completely, but some of the problems with G-Pass apply to Juan Card as well - limited sensor installs, long queues during rush hours, and unnecessarily complex loading solution per trip.

(There is another, low-tech solution called the Flash Pass, but I suggest you click on the link and read. It is relatively simple, low-tech, and prone to falsification, so there’s no need to discuss it.)

Again, technology should help us solve problems. In this case, what have we solved? It seems all the solutions are defeated by the fact that the wrong problem is addressed. The problem is that the MRT can no longer efficiently and sufficiently serve the volume of passengers during rush hours, and RFIDs and m-codes will not solve that. Unless they can improve on that area, these technologies are basically useless.

—

Do you like math? If so, let me give you a problem.

Here are some data to use:
* Car/Train capacity
* Train availability requirement - how many trainsets operate at given time
* Ridership data - most recent is for last year

Do the math. Like how much people are they packing for each train set, etc.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Just a reminder: the Conficker/Downadup worm has a payload that will activate on April 1 (which is tomorrow here in Manila). Mainly, it will contact several domains, for what analysts can only speculate. For all we know, it could be this year’s biggest April Fool’s joke. While most antivirus companies downplay the danger (since Microsoft has since patched the vulnerability being exploited by this worm), it pays to be careful.

Most antivirus can detect and delete/quarantine most variants, so make sure your antivirus software is updated. Perform a full scan. Be careful when going online.

Read the Trend Micro Q&A here more more information.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

My philosophy regarding technology is simple: technology should help us solve problems. If that technology is applied to a non-problem, then that is a waste of resources that should have been instead directed on real issues.

The MRT has three modes of entry-exit payment mechanisms. The first one, used since it started operating, uses magnetic cards/tickets. You can buy a single-journey ticket, or if you take the MRT regularly, you can get the stored-value ticket at one hundred pesos. During rush hours, the queue for purchase of tickets can get long. Also, these cards are technically not reloadable, and the maximum amount for the stored-value is one hundred pesos. Because of these issues, the MRT opened the possibility of using third-party payment mechanisms.

The second one, which is a third-party provided service, is the so-called Globe G-Pass, an implementation of RFID technology. You are given a chip enclosed in a circular case, and you tap the chip into a sensor attached to a turnstile (see how it works here). You can reload value via the reloading booths at MRT stations, or via Globe’s G-Cash mobile money solution.

There are inherent issues with this solution. First, not all turnstiles in all MRT stations have G-Pass sensors installed. On a rush hour, you need to know first what turnstile to queue up – it should have a sensor installed. You should know this beforehand. Second, the sensor must be online. Usually when it is offline, MRT personnel just tapes a sign to the sensor stating that it is offline. On a rush hour, you queue up to a turnstile with a G-Pass sensor, and it will be too late before you find out that the sensor is offline – you might have wasted around a minute or two on that. What if all sensors for that station are offline? Third, this solution would be more efficient if you are a Globe subscriber. While you can check your balance and reload at reloading stations, that would mean lining up (if there’s a line); it would be faster if you check your balance via text message, or reload via G-Cash. So if you are not a Globe subscriber – tough luck. Also, they should have instead employed the technology that the Japanese use – tap the phone! If you are careless, you might lose the chip.

The third solution (still experimental at the moment) employs m-codes (or 2-D barcodes). The service is called Juan Card, another prepaid solution. Here, you are sent an m-code, and to enter, you must point the m-code in your mobile phone screen to a sensor attached to the turnstile. As the use of this technology is not yet widespread, I cannot evaluate this solution completely, but some of the problems with G-Pass apply to Juan Card as well – limited sensor installs, long queues during rush hours, and unnecessarily complex loading solution per trip.

(There is another, low-tech solution called the Flash Pass, but I suggest you click on the link and read. It is relatively simple, low-tech, and prone to falsification, so there’s no need to discuss it.)

Again, technology should help us solve problems. In this case, what have we solved? It seems all the solutions are defeated by the fact that the wrong problem is addressed. The problem is that the MRT can no longer efficiently and sufficiently serve the volume of passengers during rush hours, and RFIDs and m-codes will not solve that. Unless they can improve on that area, these technologies are basically useless.

—

Do you like math? If so, let me give you a problem.

Here are some data to use:
* Car/Train capacity
* Train availability requirement – how many trainsets operate at given time
* Ridership data – most recent is for last year

Do the math. Like how much people are they packing for each train set, etc.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Wow. My Olympus E-420 camera is getting more antiquated than ever. First, there’s Olympus E-620, and now this.

The Lumix DMC-GH1 is the second camera to support the Micro Four Thirds (Micro 4/3) standard that Panasonic and Olympus are championing. And this camera is the first Micro Four Thirds camera to shoot 1080p video. The difference with Nikon D90 is that the audio for GH1 is stereo. You can record 1080p video at 24 frames per second (fps), or 720p at 60 fps. And the good thing here is that, since this camera supports Micro Four Thirds, I can do an upgrade without ditching my current Four Thirds lenses, though I have to invest in an adapter.

No release date nor introductory price were announced, though.

Panasonic press release | Hands-on by Digital Photography Review

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

I have to save this for posterity hihihi. Get the plugin here.

Thanks to dementia for the heads up.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

WORKAROUND

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CAUTION: This fix will erase everything in your phone memory – messages, contacts, settings. Back up your data before proceeding.</p>

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Do a software reset. From the Dialer, enter *#7370#. You can now install apps again. Crude, but it works.</p>

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Ok, so I got this phone last Saturday. Sunday, downloaded some odd number of themes, put them on the phone’s memory card, and installed 3 of them. Installation went fine, and the phone is currently sporting a non-Nokia theme.

So, Monday night (last night, dummy), I tried installing the other themes, but I got the “Expired certificate” error message. Thinking that it was a problem with the theme installers, I moved on. Checked the Nokia Download! app on the phone, and tried installing IM+. After downloading (weird, on first download, after reaching 93%, it went back to 0% and started downloading again), the phone displayed its “Preparing installation”, and after a few seconds, “Expired certificate” appeared.

Nokia is in for painful headaches. Look at this thread and see some problems being experienced by other owners of this phone. I wish Nokia luck.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

When you try the Nokia Download! service using your Nokia 5800, you will be shown folders where you can find apps and ring tones and graphics. So I was curious enough to check the Apps folder, and whoah! Several applications, all marked as free!

So I tried downloading IM+ (which led me to that expired certificate error last night) earlier via Smart 3G (Smart’s HSDPA at Makati is good). Too bad it’s not really free.

After downloading, the phone began installing the app, then I was prompted to select what license to PURCHASE. Yes, you have to purchase a license to use the app. Yes, it is free to download. No, it is not free to use.

Nokia Download! ain’t Apple App Store. Try harder, Nokia.

And no, Nokia Download Store is not available here in the Philippines. Yet.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Just tried the Nokia Barcode Scanner app. It works as advertised. The app is not included in the package, so you’ll have to download it here.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Yesterday, the charger for my Nokia 5800 XpressMusic broke down. I was able to use it yesterday, and several hours later, I checked on the unit. The phone battery meter was full and was not moving, indicating that the charging was complete. So to verify, I had unplugged the charger and then plugged it back. Nothing.

Tried charging at home – nada. Tried charging an officemate’s phone earlier – nada.

Time to visit Nokia Care. Almost a month after I bought the phone.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

What can I say about Dynasty Warriors 6 (for PS2)?

This is not your mother’s Dynasty Warriors. Gone are the days of mindless hacking and slashing. Gone are the days of collecting fourth weapons. Koei has finally managed to inject fresh air into an otherwise aging game series. Do I like the changes, though?

First, the changes:

1. Gameplay – Still hack and slash, but with major changes. Basically, it just got harder to beat this game. Even in easy mode, the generic enemy generals (including the lieutenants) will give a good fight – they will defend more often. The horses are slower this time, so rushing when needed becomes frustrating. And the terrain – oh boy. The overhead map is not enough; it is easy to get lost, specially on mountainous terrains (hello, Mt. Ding Jun). There are places where you have to climb stairs – annoying if you don’t want to leave your horse.

2. Graphics – Problematic on PS2. There are points where the game shows serious slowdown, especially on two-player mode. And on two-player mode, the look of the game is almost similar to DW4. The character design is awesome, except on some characters. Dong Zhuo is scary, Lu Bu is so-so, Sima Yi is diabolical.

3. Music – DW5 is better. Just listen to the music at the end credits section.

4. Re-play factor – A new skill upgrade system, several musou characters to play. Gone are the fourth weapons.

Should you get it? If you are a big DW fan, you should not be asking that question. If you think you can stand the lag, and like a challenging hack-and-slash game, then I suggest you try this game.

Originally published at The BLIPS Network. Please leave any comments there.

Enjoy the amazing world of Blu-ray with Samsung

Everything about it whispers gently of elegance, from its sleek, sophisticated style and beautiful black design theme, to its state of the art, groundbreaking technology. Once again Samsung’s innovative development of leading next generation technology ensures that the world’s most exceptional visual clarity and richest sound quality are delivered, allowing the deepest range of emotions to be embraced, experienced, and enjoyed. Enjoy the very best that the 21st century has to offer; premium, precision technology and timeless style.

Full HD 1080p images of perfection

With the BD-P1500, Samsung have created a powerful Blu-ray player that delivers the highest quality images imaginable. With Full HD 1080p, the most inspirational home viewing experience is made available. 1080p/24Hz video out signaling mirrors that of the Blu-ray disc’s original content, delivering picture perfect images. The BD-P1500 even up-scales conventional DVD content to 1080p through the single cable HDMI 1.3 interface; noticeably enhancing the picture quality of the DVD movie so that it appears more detailed, more vivid, and more real. By performing at a level that outperforms theater quality, the BD-P1500 unlocks a deeper range of emotions, and delivers the most richly rewarding viewing ever to be experienced.

Theater quality sound in your home

Samsung are known for their innovative development and use of leading technologies to further their explorations in AV excellence. With the BD-P1500, every effort has been made to make the consumers’ experience as inspirational as possible. The desire to create a sonic environment which rivals, or surpasses the theater has led to the creation of the most vivid, rich, and deeply emotional sound environment. Supporting Dolby Digital+, Dolby True HD, and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio decoding, superlative sound are made available. The most powerful surround sound environment will leave a more lasting impact upon the listener, allowing for a truer sense of interactive entertainment.

Premium style, precision design

Samsung are synonymous with sophisticated, superior product design. Their use of high glossy black design with soft blue lighting has seen Samsung establish themselves as a design innovator over the past 2 years. With a soft minimal design, organic curves, and elegance, the BD-P1500 continues this legacy. Its contemporary black design theme is an irresistible statement of excellence, passion, and precision that enhances each and every aspect of a home or lifestyle. Sensuously simple, yet premium, the BD-P1500 offers design matching that helps create the ultimate modern living room environment.

Anynet+, Ethernet, and backwards compatibility: complete comfort

For the lifestyle that is always on the go, Samsung appreciate the importance of leisure time. In order to facilitate maximum relaxation and unsurpassed comfort, the BD-P1500 is packed with convenient functions. Samsung’s own Anynet + technology allows the Blu-ray player to be connected to all Samsung AV products, enabling one remote control device to control the entire home entertainment environment. A new level of comfort, control, and convenience is born, leaving more time to appreciate the finer points of relaxation. Easy upgrade options are made available via the Ethernet port. This innovative facility enables new firmware to be downloaded, ensuring the very best in entertainment. While the BD-P1500 is at the forefront of Blu-ray technology, it is also fully backwards compatible, meaning that old favorites can be enjoyed time and time again. DVD and CD playback is enhanced to near HD quality; enjoy the past, experience the present, and embrace the future.

Enjoy the ultimate home theater environment

Take the step into the future of digital entertainment with Samsung. BD-P1450 is a revolutionary BD player with the most advanced, consumer driven features currently available. Experience a new world of wonder, a world in which digital dreams become digital delight. With unsurpassed image and sound, movies become more than mere entertainment; they become as lifelike and real as you could ever imagine. Share the delight with family and friends; the crisp clarity of sound, the perfect image integrity, the total immersion in a phenomenal home theater experience.

BD-P1500
>>1080p Full HD
>>HDMI version 1.3
>>BD/DVD/CD Playback >>Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
>>DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby True HD, Bitstream out support
>>Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio decoding
>>Ethernet for Firmware Upgrade