Hyper-Connected.

First thing to do in the morning: Turn on the computer and open Facebook.

Last thing to do at night: Read Facebook and Twitter updates on my iPhone.

People these days are becoming what we call "hyper-connected", where they live and breathe through the internet and social networking. I've been thinking about the long-term effects of this and why they can't seem to let go even for just an hour. Before I go on with this, I would like to say that I myself am hyper-connected so I could be guilty with some of these situations. I am not a hypocrite, but I only want to point out things I've observed from people. Let's get this ra

There was one time when I went to church and I saw people texting DURING the homily. I really think this is disrespectful to a lot of people who are attending the mass, and most especially to God, who is the reason we celebrate it. It's not like the person who you're texting would just suddenly disappear. You can just text that person AFTER the mass. God is way more important than that.

Another instance of the effects of hyper-connectivity is when you're in a dinner with family or relatives. Instead of talking a lot with your relatives, you stare at your phone for a long time and sometimes, you don't even mind the people with you at that moment. Again, we still have time for that after we have talked with family.

One last instance that this is evident is in shopping malls. (I am certainly guilty for this one!) We ALWAYS use our phones around the mall. I can't really blame them though, if you can't really buy anything you see around the mall then might as well find something else to do. Food's not included, of course.

No matter what situation you are in, the modern smartphone or tablet has now invaded your life. It's just up to you if you control it or let it control you. Stay safe in cyberspace!

Sinulog 2013: The Greatest Story Ever Told

Churchgoers attending the Novena Mass in the Basilica del Santo Niño.

Sinulog's just gonna get hotter as time passes by. Every third Sunday of January, we celebrate the feast of Santo Niño. He is the reason why the Philippines became the cradle of Christianity in Asia. When we celebrate it though, we do it over the course of 2 weeks! The Novena Masses are attended by a lot of people and the procession last Saturday was attended by 2.7M (according to Sun Star). I'm sure that the numbers for the Grand Parade are much much more. 

And yes, with the Grand Parade comes VARIOUS street parties around the Metro despite the fact that there's a ban being implemented for those. Too bad there were more party people than even the police! Walking around the streets already counts as a genuine Sinulog experience simply because of the sights you see and the sounds you hear around you. Giant floats from companies were there, including the ABS-CBN float which for me feels like the best float in terms of crowd insanity because of the people shouting and taking their pictures.

Grand Parade from up above. :)

The contingents who join the parade every year are not there to win, but to show their utmost devotion to the Señor Sto. Niño. I really applaud them for doing this. I also appreciate the people who are out there and joining in the celebration. Even though there are times when we get perked up because of the tightness of the crowds trying to walk through the route, it was really nice looking at the contingents giving their all. I think that the street party ban is stupid. We all know what the real meaning of the festival is, but a street party is also a way for people to be happy in the celebration! I'm sure even the police looking at the party people understand that (and the fact that they're outnumbered HAHA) despite their orders.

Even though I didn't get to party much at Baseline (the most trending place during Sinulog, best known for getting yourself dirty and smelling like beer), I enjoyed even the insane walking I did with friends. YES, I was with friends for the whole afternoon though I was with family during the morning and evening. We walked trying to find a place to stay after partying in the night. From Fuente to Mango to Sanciangko then back to Mango again to AllSon's Inn to Ayala (because we were getting our stuff) to Fuente again (because my stuff was there). I really found the experience very amazing, to say the least. I thank God for letting me experience how Sinulog really is. Indeed, it is the GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD.

'Till next year, Sinulog! Pit Senyor!

By the way, here's a picture of my friends making random shiznit. HAHA:

January's about to end. Midterms a'coming. Gotta go.

Temple Run 2 is Here! First Impressions

I was completely letting my guard down when I found out that Temple Run 2 was coming today! I've seen countless games that have similar gameplay as this over the months that the original was out and they were equally addictive. The first thing I did when I got home today was try out Temple Run 2 as it already released on the App Store for the Philippines. It already surpassed my expectations of a true sequel while still keeping the simplicity and fun of the original.

It may look the same but you can see here that they've changed the visuals and it really looks better. You may also notice that the bonus points bar has been replaced with the Power Meter where you double tap to activate the power on the top left (the default is Shield, which protects you from anything but falling) which is harder to fill up this time around because it needs around 200 coins for the meter to be full. I also found the game generally harder compared to the original because it now lets you rely more on your skill in this game rather than gathering more coins (although you still have that strategy present here).

Overall, I loved this game just as much, maybe even more than the original. I will update this for new developments with Temple Run 2 and I hope those who loved the original will love this too!

Here's the link to download (iOS only, Android coming next week): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/temple-run-2/id572395608

ENJOY!

Path To Five: Why I'm Doing This

There's more or less 2 months left, and my college life will come to a close. It's an insane 4-year ride of self-improvement, learning, and reflection as to what's in store for me in the outside world. Since I'm no ordinary person, I wanna graduate from college by doing random stuff. This is one of those.

Path To Five will be a post series about experiences that I will have over the course of my last two months in college which may vary from hardships in projects to a spiritual retreat to insane outings! I will be posting one every week because I still have school work to do with this. I won't promise on which day of the week I would post since I blog when I have the mood to do so. Remember that iTunes / Google Play gift card I said  from this post? It will be given away during this series! Hope you read this as much as the other posts!

For your reading pleasure, I'll put a link up in the menu just so that you can check the latest updates on Path to Five right under one page. :) By the way, I reached 7000 views here so thank you all for the support and here's to another 7000! :)

Selfless Plugs: Let's Do iOS Programming For Beginners

Mobile development is in the boom right now and one of the biggest platforms to create apps for is iOS. It's the operating system created by Apple that powers the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. With the App Store, developers can now earn money (given that the app conforms with Apple's guidelines). But how can you get started without having to read too much stuff? Look no further than this blog which teaches you how to do certain user interface and logic coding in iOS. 

For me, this blog is credible because the author is my teacher for iOS last semester and I have learned a lot from her class. You should check this out if you're invested in programming for iOS.

Here's the link to her blog: http://iosmadesimple.blogspot.com/

Hope you guys make good apps! :)

The Verge @ CES 2013

theverge.com/ces-2013

The 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is still ongoing in the Las Vegas Convention Center (when it's open) and out of all the coverage I've seen, it's The Verge that has an INSANE amount of content during the event. They have a giant compound outside the venue in order to bring you news, interviews, and hands-on videos of the gadgets and companies in CES. They even put a video panel JUST BECAUSE of their insane video content.

To find out more about their coverage, go to theverge.com/ces! Thanks for the coverage!

Check them out on:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Let's Make A Deal: iTunes and Google Play Gift Cards

Guys! I need your help! Remember that How-To for getting paid iOS and Android apps? (Link: http://bit.ly/bulletproof_freeapps) I want to get iTunes and Google Play gift cards for you guys! I'll give them away when I get enough credits and points to do so. Follow the steps in the How-To in order to help me get them, and maybe get some for you too!

Is it a deal, guys? It's all I'm asking for. You can spread this to your friends who have iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and Android devices. I will put up a tweet if I reached enough points and credits to get them at twitter.com/iamlianixx.

The sooner you do this, the better! Thanks for reading this blog, guys! Till the next one :)

How To: Get Paid iOS and Android Apps for Free!

(Welcome to a new post series called How To where I'll show you useful tips for anything technology-related or sometimes even outside. Let me know what you think about this in the comments below.)

I wanna share this with you guys because I want you to experience getting paid apps for free! I've done this for a long while now and I'm here to show you how to get them. Here are two of the best ways:

FreeMyApps (iOS & Android)

This service is one that I use most of the time. What you do here is you download Sponsor Apps (in my case, I have to wait since there aren't any sponsor apps that I haven't downloaded yet), try them for 30 seconds each, and get credits! It's that simple, really.

The first thing you need to do is click on this link (http://bit.ly/geekfreeapps) on your device and it will prompt you to install a profile (for iOS only) OR download the application (for Android only). After that, you can start downloading Sponsor Apps!

After accumulating points, you can claim gift cards from Amazon, iTunes, Hulu Plus, Google Play (newly added), and even Fandango! Unfortunately, you need a US iTunes account to earn credits and redeem the iTunes gift cards. Don't you worry, Apple's got you covered in this link (http://bit.ly/bpusitunes) in order to create one. Once you are able to use FreeMyApps, you can also share a link that they provide you in order to earn 200 credits.

FeaturePoints (iOS and Android)

At first, it may seem similar to FreeMyApps. Like it, you need to click on this link (http://bit.ly/geekfreepoints) on your iOS or Android device to start using this. It will also ask you to install a profile. Then, you download apps to earn points similar to earning credits on the first one. When you earn enough points, you claim gift cards too. 

Here's the difference: you can claim apps (like the Angry Birds Star Wars game), Paypal funds (AKA MONEY), and even REAL gadgets like the iPad mini! Another one is that for every friend you refer through your link that they provide, they earn a 50-point sign-in bonus and you earn half of the points they earned!

Free App Slots (iOS only)

Unlike the two I mentioned before this, this lets you earn credits simply by playing SLOTS! Click on this link (http://bit.ly/bpfreeappslots) to start. You just have to spin the wheel, and you get credits depending on the combination you got. You get 2 free spins a day and you can get more by sharing your link to friends. When you earn enough credits, you can get apps (which change weekly) and real iOS products (such as the iPad mini)! Like the previous two solutions, it will ask you to install a profile on your device.

There you go! THREE ways for you to get paid apps for free! Share this with your friends so that they too can harness the power of FREE and LEGAL paid apps!



UPDATE: I included Free App Slots as a solution. :)

UPDATE 2: I updated the links for sharing. Try these services now! :) Post now reflects that FeaturePoints is now available for Android.

From Random: 2013

As you may not notice, I have another blog. It's a blog that doesn't really have a direction though, which is exactly why I named it "Random".

The reason why I'm talking about it is because I have a post there about what I can say about 2013.

It's about what I always do when a new year shows up.

Here's the link if you wanna read it: http://tmblr.co/Z80WsuasDmJe

Thank you for even caring to read this blog, so hopefully you would read my other one! :)

New Year, New Name

We're on the third day of 2013 and I thought of the blog. I think I should change the name not because it's bad but because I want the blog to reflect more of myself.

So, I changed it to this: BULLETPROOF GEEK. Bulletproof because starting this year, I don't wanna change myself just so that people would like. I have always been a Geek (as you have seen in my tech posts) and I will continue to be that way.

There we go, for 2013, I'm going for Bulletproof Geek. Sounds nice. Do you think it's nice? Shout out below! Thanks for reading this, guys. :)

I'm Grateful for 2012!

We're here again. It's the end of the year. Before I leave 2012 with the hopes of a better me in 2013, I wanna look back and see what has transpired throughout the year in my life. This year has been my most challenging one yet and 2013 would only get more challenging. Here we go:

OJT Experiences - This was the year when I had my OJT since this was a requirement for me to graduate next year (which I have successfully completed) and it was nothing short of amazing. I learned a lot of things while being on the job and had fun with my co-workers during and after office hours. It was an experience that I could never forget. Thanks for everything, RTS!

Final Days of Summer - Yes, this was also the year I posted this post series which was done on the last days before my last year in college began. They mostly consist of random stuff I did from parts of my OJT to just products of pure boredom. I may do another post series when I can. I'm just happy I was able to get this out of the door. (Click this to read the whole series!)

20th Birthday - I think I didn't put out a blog post for this one (I did on the day before) but this one's a significant moment for me simply because I've been here in this world for 2 decades! I'm happy to be one of those people who still know what a VHS or a cassette tape is, even though it's old school. Thank you to everyone who celebrated it with me and greeted me throughout that day. It was one of the happiest days of my entire life. Most of all, thank you to the Lord our God for giving me the chance to praise Your name and serve You!

To note, this is my favorite birthday picture without me EVER! I like my mom's ingenuity of getting the 19 and 1 candles for the two cakes to symbolize my 20th birthday. LOVE YOU MOM!

Thesis Completion - The reason why I couldn't post a lot is because of the research that Charles and I are doing. Thankfully, we finished our defense in October and submitted the hard copies just a few weeks back. Despite all the hardships we faced throughout this whole experience, I am grateful that this happened to me because it taught me that life isn't easy and this is a testament to everything I have done until now. Thank you to our thesis adviser, to my thesis partner, and our defense panel for making this possible. THANK YOU LORD!

Christmas 2012 - Even though this just happened last week, this Christmas was one of the most memorable ones ever! From the trip to Simala to the Christmas party to simply having dinner at the mall, it was very very memorable.

The reason why I said that it is one of the most memorable is because I barely hang out with my cousins due to our age and lifestyle differences, (no offense to my older cousins) especially this year when the only time I really communicated with them before Christmas was during my busy times and for me, it really sucked. I'm happy that I get to spend time with them during the Christmas season knowing that we still have these bonds we need to cherish.

Words and pictures could not truly express how grateful I am that 2012 is a year I will forever remember as a highlight in my life and I thank the Lord for giving me the chance to live through this year and for many more years to come!

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, 2012. :)

The Beauty of the Devotion to Mama Mary: A Trip to Simala

What a beautiful place. It seems like a nice haven to reflect on what's happened.

It was the day after Christmas. I've heard that there were plans to go to Simala but I never knew when. Good thing I didn't bring much when we went there though because there was no reason to. While heading there, we had lunch in Jollibee Carcar. Also, we were all eating and using our gadgets to listen to music.

When we arrived, I was stunned by how beautiful the place was. I couldn't describe how I was feeling at the time. Just the outside of it seems like a piece of artwork that was permanently installed. There I first realized just how devoted the people here are to Mama Mary and the miracle that she brought to this place.

When we went in the church, it looks like more artwork has been placed here and they all look AMAZING. The ceiling (shown in the picture on the left) tells a lot about how Mama Mary and Jesus played a vital role in what Catholics are today. I know you might think that this is like any other church you might have seen in other parts of the Philippines and the world, but this one gives a different feel than most of them.

While I was inside the church, I prayed and thanked God for what has happened to me over the past few months because honestly, those were my most challenging months so far. Maybe that's because the final stretch has yet to arrive. HAHA.

What I noticed after was this line of people that were going to see the Miraculous Mama Mary that was said to heal a lot of people. I was curious how it was like to be there, so I went in line. The line was really long, so I can tell that the miracle is true. As I was on my way, I read countless letters from people who have been healed after praying to the Miraculous Mama Mary and I was really astounded as to how our faith manifests into our lives. When I was there, I prayed to Mama Mary for everything that has happened and will happen in the future. After those moments, we went out and saw a beautiful museum full of the images of Mama Mary.

It's so nice to see people looking at these images and see how various people adore the presence of Mama Mary through them. I jokingly said when we were already outside that my aunt that was still inside was taking a hundred pictures of these. After this part, I went to the place where you could write a petition for Mama Mary and that's what I did. Shortly after, I went outside and explored the rest of the place.

People should come here, especially those who are devoted to Mama Mary because this is a result of our devotion to her. Thank you Lord for giving us this Earth to explore all Your wonderful creations. :)

How We Spent Christmas Day :)

(In case you noticed, I MAY be posting a lot lately to catch up because I had the Christmas hangover. HAHA. And New Year's coming up.)

Christmas Day started later for us since we all woke up later than usual, from breakfast to bath to lunch. Since that happened, we decided to go the 2:30pm mass. The homily of the priest reminded us of what Christmas is really about. We should not forget that Jesus Christ is the center of the celebration. Also, we should always count on him not only on special occasions but in our everyday lives when problems can arise.

After the mass, the whole Maluya family gathered for a while and decided where to eat for snacks. After more talking and head-scratching, we went to Army Navy in the eBloc 2 building in IT Park.

I almost thought that one of the cars that were heading there got lost because they didn't know where eBloc 2 is. My worries were useless and everyone's there. What we did in Army Navy while waiting for food? THIS:

Cousins smiling! :)

AND THIS:

Mothers SMILING! :D

YES, vanity actually runs in the family and NO, I'm not posting ANY of their names in here for their privacy. :D When the food arrived though, it was hunger pounding time! I got a Longganisa Breakfast Burrito and a Vanilla Shake. The shake was okay although the burrito really tasted great. Actually, it was better than what I was expecting from a burrito. It had a lot of oil to go along with it though, but who cares? IT'S CHRISTMAS! HAHA.

The plain ol' shake and the great-tasting burrito! Woohoo!

After the snacks we ate, we went directly to Ayala where one of my aunts and one of my uncles were drinking coffee in McDonald's! In what seemed to be an almost boring time, we the cousins decided to go to Timezone and have fun! We were playing random games from guitar games to racing games to drum games and even the Super Trivia game there. After which, we had dinner in Food Choices where Karlo and I ate Dimsum! Too bad I don't have a picture of it, though.:(

Even though it seemed like an ordinary family reunion, that to me is the true spirit of Christmas. Spending time with the family is the most important thing to do in this season and I appreciated it even more this year because of what I've been through. 

Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord!

Merry Christmas!

 

(Sorry if this was a SUPER LATE post. I really got tired of using the computer that I mostly used my phone to check stuff online. More is yet to come though so watch out for it!)

I just woke up from a short-lived sleep due to that very fun Christmas party with relatives from the mother's side. Unlike the past years though, it was in this year that I realized that Christmas is really best spent with family and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We have this yearly cycle of where the party is held, and it depends on who has something new happening in their lives whether it's physical, mental, or spiritual. This year, it was decided that we would spend it here in our place in Cebu.

The party started with everyone's favorite part, FOOD! I really don't mind how much food there is on the table as long as it can be shared with family. But as they say, "The more, the merrier!" Of course it wouldn't be complete without one of the signature foods in the Philippines, the Lechon Baboy! It's just a whole pig being fried to a crisp and boy it tastes GREAT!

It always reminds me of the times when I watch the news about Christmas that no matter how many hardships that people face, there is always a way for them to celebrate Christmas.

After which, we had fun games! I actually missed these since we didn't have them last year due to the space we had (fortunately AND unfortunately, I was sick) but at least there was karaoke. 

There were two games that I really liked a lot. First, was the Gift-Wrapping Contest. It may sound like a normal contest but there were twists. It involved 3 people per team, and we were only given 2 minutes, BUT WE WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO USE ONE HAND EACH! I actually joined this game and wow it was hard! Good thing our gift won (it's the one on the left) and got P50 for this. Woohoo!

Another game only involved the dads. It was called "Shoot Your Balls". I will stab you if you thought wrong. It's basically what you see there. It's like basketball, only the basket that acts as the "ring" is on your head and you have to shoot it yourself. Laughter spread out the whole house as the dads tried their best to shoot the balls to the baskets. It really was a great game to play and to look at!

Then comes the time for gifts! First was our Manito Manita (the Filipino version of Secret Santa) with the cousins. Everyone was ecstatic with their gifts. One cousin of mine got a ballpen and was sarcastically happy with it (even though he is, a bit) and the others were happy. What's important is the thought that is put into it. I got a nice sports jacket. Hehe.

After which, we had random karaoke because we needed to pass the time before it struck at 12 midnight. After that, it was gift-giving time! Again, it's the thought that counts because it takes effort to actually think of what to buy for every relative that you can think of. I am happy that this tradition still lives on, it's amazing! It's never been about the gifts you receive, but those that you give and the bonds that we share that really matters on Christmas.

Hope you guys had a Merry Christmas! I'm really looking forward to the new year because of the things that are yet to come. :)

iOS Needs A Visual Refresh

iOS 6 launched in September 2012, but still has the same user interface as when the iPhone was first introduced in 2007.

In 2007, Apple launched the iPhone in a world where RIM reigned supreme with their line of Blackberry smartphones. It ushered in a new way of using a phone, with its Capacitive Multi-Touch display and its revolutionary user inteface. It was indeed a great innovation because even though there were touch screen devices before, never has it gone mainstream like the iPhone.

Fast forward to 2012, where Android has now reigned supreme over the iPhone in terms of market share and most high-end Android phones are now on par (if not, better) than the iPhone. Android's UI has dramatically changed since its launch with the T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) in 2009. iOS hasn't changed much and still looks the same. It's been increasingly noticeable that iOS is getting STALE. 

For that reason, iOS NEEDS a visual refresh. Apple needs to prove that they can still innovate on the software side. Whether you love them or hate them, you cannot deny the triumph of industrial design that Apple bestows upon the world. The software isn't really telling of what Apple can really do in software right now, especially with Google pulling all the stops in their iOS apps (the UI in the Google Maps iOS app is waaaaay better than the Apple Maps app).

There is a glimmer of hope though, as Jony Ive is now responsible for "Human Interface". That role, along with his current role in Industrial Design means that he could now focus the hardware and the software as a whole and how they could interact to give a great impact to the consumers. Also, they did a major shakeup which resulted in Scott Forstall and John Browett leaving, and many other Apple higher-ups getting the jobs that they left behind.

Apple, you've made the changes you need. Now show us what the "increased collaboration" can do.

iPhone 5 is Officially HERE! First Impressions From A Current iPhone User

An iPhone 5 display unit in a Globe Store in Ayala Center Cebu.

Months after it was released in the US, the iPhone 5 will be available to customers in the Philippines, as well as more than 50 other countries on December 14. 

GLOBE and SMART are currently duking it out for the attention of the customers so that they would buy iPhone 5s from them. Tweets from news sites and telco representatives are reporting on their respective launch parties:

The stage is all set for the #GlobeiPhone5 launch event at new Glorietta. twitter.com/rapplerdotcom/…
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) December 13, 2012

At Dillingers with @smart_kimberly :-) Visit us here! We're really excited for the #SmartiPhone5 launch!! twitter.com/SMART_Tob/stat…
— SMART Tob (@SMART_Tob) December 13, 2012

Here in Cebu City, where I live, I managed to get first-hand experience with the iPhone 5 since it was on display at the Globe Store in Ayala Center Cebu today. I was so ecstatic that I had to try it as soon as I saw it! Remember, these are just first impressions. This means that I only had a few minutes with the phone since it was a display unit in the store. Here we go..

Thin and Light? CERTAINLY.

The first thing I noticed when trying out the iPhone 5 is that it is really lighter! According to Apple, it only weighs 112g. It really feels very light in the hand, that if it wasn't for the thing that holds it to the podium, I might have dropped it. Good thing they went for an aluminum back this time in order for it to be more durable than the 4 and 4S.

 

It is thinner as well, I tried comparing it to my iPhone 4 and there is a noticeable difference at 7.6 mm. I could easily clamp more of the iPhone 5's screen with my hand. The industrial design is simply unmatched by any other manufacturer out there. I was truly amazed by the weight and thinness of this phone.

The 4-Inch Screen

When I saw that the iPhone 5 had a larger screen, it was a mixed bag for me. Although it would be a good thing, I wasn't so sure how the apps that are not updated would work. Good thing Apple decided to put black bars on the sides so that apps would not look weird. On the black model, it isn't obvious as the black bars match very well with the phone so it seems that the phone got taller without the increase in screen size. 

Of course, the apps that take advantage of the new 4-inch screen look amazing. Watching video and listening to music while looking at full album art is nice. While reading articles from tech sites like The Verge, I could read a lot more than I could on the iPhone 4 I have now. It's amazing how even a half-inch screen bump matters. No wonder Android's been doing it ever since.

A6 Processor = (A5 Processor x 2) = (A4 Processor x 4)

It wouldn't be a new iPhone without a speed bump. The iPhone 5 now has a dual-core A6 processor that is clocked at 1GHz (although there are times that it would clock up to 1.3GHz). This equates to more power and better performance and I have to say, it's VERY NOTICEABLE, especially when using it against the iPhone 4. Despite the larger screen, apps web pages load quicker, and Siri responds faster.

LTE is nonexistent (YET)

Unfortunately, the LTE component of the iPhone 5 is inactive here. This is a bit disappointing even though Apple has to test the LTE networks of both Globe and Smart here in the Philippines before activating this. Besides, they haven't launched their LTE networks for smartphones so it doesn't make sense to promote this with LTE unless Globe or Smart surprises us.


Those are my first impressions on the iPhone 5. As an iPhone 4 user, I REALLY WANT THIS PHONE because it makes the one I have really slow. HAHA. This phone is really worth the time and money that it is spent on being made. 

Comment below for suggestions on what I should do with an iPhone 5 OR maybe find me a sponsor for one? :) Just comment below for your opinions. Til then, guys!

Giving Android a Chance For Me

I think people are really seeing me as an Android hater because I love Apple. Don't get me wrong, I have this weird bias towards Apple maybe because I love the hardware, the software and stuff, but it really doesn't mean I have to hate competitors (maybe except Samsung).

So in order for me to give fair and unbiased thoughts about Android moving forward, I want to try it out. There are conditions I want to have though because I don't wanna have bad impressions on stuff that are not supposed to be looked upon in the first place:

1) I am going to get an Android smartphone. This is simply because Android has progressed very well in the smartphone game despite Apple's effort to hinder its growth. Although the tablets are getting better, I don't think that Android can dominate as much simply because Apple has this tried-and-true tablet ecosystem that is second to none.

2) I'm going to get a phone with the LATEST version of Android. This means getting a phone with Version 4.2 (still called Jelly Bean). I don't see the purpose of getting a phone with an older version since I would not feel the full experience that Android can offer at present. This limits my choice to the Nexus 4 so I probably would consider getting a device with Version 4.1, which leads to my next condition:

3) There will be NO BIAS in what device I pick. Yes, this means that I might get a Samsung Android device but there is no certainty to my choice. I may want to get it in 2013, so the choice of devices may change over time.

Basically, that's it. I also need help from the readers of this blog who are well-versed in the Android ecosystem. Any suggestions on what I should get? And when I get the phone, what should I do first and what apps should I get? Leave them in the comments in order for me to put them into consideration. Hoping my experience will be great!

The Conquest is Finally Over.

After all those sleepless nights, stressful discussions, and an obstacle-filled defense, the thing in the picture above is finally finished!

I can't really say much about what happened in between since it may reveal what's inside the document, but I'm so happy that this part of my life has past and I have people to thank for making this possible. (Note: I'm keeping their identities private because I value their privacy very much.)

Thesis Adviser - She is the one responsible for pushing us to finish this successfully. I thank her for all the good advice she gave us during the whole process. I really felt lucky and grateful that she became our adviser. ^_^

Thesis Partner - It became obvious that we would be partners after finding out that the top of our class picked his cousin as his partner. My thesis partner and I got along well and agreed on everything about the thesis. I'm grateful that we became partners. No regrets at all here.

Family and Friends - Without these people, I wouldn't even be pushing myself to do this. I love these people with all my heart and I'll never let go of them.

IT'S FINALLY DONE! THANK YOU LORD ALMIGHTY! FOR WITHOUT YOU, I WILL NEVER BE.

How an Irrational Apple-Hater Turned Into an Apple Enthusiast

A lot has changed, but my view for technology has remained the same.

It's been a while since I posted something on this blog. My seemingly never-ending busy schedule has finally ended (at least for now), and I am on my way to finishing college. There are two things that I have to be grateful about: the fact that God, family, and friends have helped me reach where I am now, and the fact that technology is the reason why I'm even posting this.

As you may have noticed about my last few posts, I kept writing about Apple-related stuff. If the Internet actually hit on this, they would do so because they're Apple-haters (or at the very least, people who respect Apple but just doesn't like them). Unless you've been stalking me my whole life, (which I assume no one does because I'm boring when I'm alone) you would not know that I was one of those people.

Before "mobile" was even a thing, I already hated Apple. I hated their closed-system approach and their conceptual philosophy. I even hated the iPhone 3GS! (It was the first iPhone that I was actually aware of at the time.) The reasons as to why I hated them were too shallow. I was an avid Windows user, thus what it meant for me was to hate the other side. (I never really knew Linux at the time. Haha.) Maybe at that time, I forgot that I was able to use an Apple computer before. It was the first iMac, the one with the colors. The one in the house before was a green one. I was still very young at that time and I didn't really know how to use it.

Then in 2010, the iPhone 4 came out, and it arrived sometime in the September-October time frame in Cebu. Globe Telecom was still the only one selling the iPhone officially and they had a booth set up in a shopping mall here. I tried it out, and it was nice. I pondered for a moment after that, and realized as to why I was hating Apple in the first place. I never had a reason to. 

This was the turning point. I wasn't a convert yet, but I was sure I liked the iPhone 4. In the  observation of my surroundings, it was the iPhone that many Filipinos bought at the time. I was completely surprised. I now know that Apple was already at the forefront of mobile devices. 

A proof of my hatred still lingering was my hatred for the iPad. I unabashedly said that it's just "a bigger iPhone". Again, I didn't know why I hated it as long as I did.

Then 2011 came. My mom got an iPhone 4, a WHITE one. It took Apple a long time to produce the white model, which they fixed when they launched the 4S. By that time, I was already engrossed with what Apple's doing. When the 4S came out, I was a bit disappointed and thought about why Apple did such a strategy knowing people expected a new design? I found out about the 2-year cycle when they release a new design then the one after that is just upgraded internals plus new features. I found it interesting as to how it would play out. 37 MILLION iPhones in one quarter. INSANE.

Ever since that day, I became an Apple follower and enthusiast. I now wanted the Apple equivalent of what device I need in my lifestyle (except my laptop though; I like the Mac now, but Windows is still my preference) and it feels different. Right now, not much has changed. I want the iPhone 5 right now simply because I feel that the 4 is slow for me after updating to iOS 6, and that larger screen helps a lot.

Being an Apple enthusiast doesn't mean I agree in everything that Apple does. To those haters who think that iOS is getting old, CONGRATULATIONS! I agree with them because I feel that the more I use it, the more I feel that more of the UI elements are getting old. And the Settings would feel confusing if you weren't used to it already. There are things in Android I want in iOS  like quick settings, or more interaction with notifications. It's the smoothness of the operating system that keeps me from switching until now even though the performance was slower.

There, I said all I can say about my long journey. And to those who'll ask, "Do you hate Android?", I say:

"NO, I JUST DON'T LIKE SAMSUNG."

Keep an eye out for an explanation on why I just don't like Samsung. (I'll get hate just for this last part. I'm sure of it. HAHA.)

Dear Philippines: Do Not Buy an iPhone 4S (Yet)!

Source: technobuffalo.com

As you may have heard and seen now, the iPhone 5 has been released in the US and 30 more countries, with 22 of them just released today. This means that the 2 previous generations of the iPhone has their prices cut off, with the 4S now costs $99 and the 4 is now FREE (based on US prices, on a 2-year contract with a wireless carrier).

It also means that the price of the 4S that the local telcos are pretty inconsistent with the ones in the US. There are even tech-savvy Filipinos who realize this and either shell out tons of cash to get the latest right away or wait for it to arrive here.

It has come to my attention that the telcos are still pushing to sell the 4S at the same price as it was before the iPhone 5 came out and there are people who actually buy it. Sure there are promos to lower that price but not everyone can avail such.

From a fellow Filipino, I advise you to NOT get the 4S until the telcos announce the iPhone 5. If you feel that there isn't much difference, you can just get the 4S at a cheaper price (depends if the telco will still offer it). I sincerely don't want anyone to regret their purchase.