Review: Smart Bro Plan 499 (6GB monthly + FREE LTE pocket wifi)

Curious about this offering? Here's my take on it. Who knows I might save you from a useless subscription, or not. We'll see!

Promo valid until December 31, 2016

When I heard about this promo I knew I had to get it. In this country where we're so deprived of internet speed, a slight raise in data cap or a promise of increased minimum speed will make us scramble to our feet for an upgrade. Most of the time it only serves to strengthen the chains keeping us enslaved to these telcos, but there are times it makes being their cows much bearable. Enough metaphors lol.

So this Saturday I went to Smart SM Fairview to inquire, bringing along with me 2 valid IDs, a billing statement, and cash amounting to the monthly service fee just in case I jump in with the subscription. Those are the usual requirements, and it still holds.

According to Smart's website, here's what's new:

• Bigger data for all plans  - ₱299 for 3.5GB, ₱499 for 6GB, ₱799 for 10GB, ₱999 for 15GB
• Faster Speed - 48 to 256kbps minimum speed with 80% reliability. This minimum speed achuchuchu has been largely misused lately, I remember seeing a SkyMobi commercial saying they offer 12kbps minimum speed with 80% reliability, I was like wtf are we still living in a 2G world, surfing over WAP? Or did they want us to read that off as 12mbps? At least they're honest haha.
• Free device on all plans - No cash out needed for the free pocket wifi. For plan 299 you get a 3G pocket wifi, for the rest, you get an LTE pocket wifi. Uhm, yey.

That's definitely worth checking out don't you think? I don't know how much Smart has improved its infrastructure, but to be able to promise these "much" to its subscribers (see, I have higher internet standards but where I live that's already a stretch offer lol), I'm about to cry here guys. Srsly. Joke lang anuba.

Anywaaaay,

Before signing anything I made sure the following was clear to me:

• The free pocket wifi is an LTE one and not the older 4G units they have. Customer rep assured me they're giving an LTE unit, provided by Evoluzn (not Huawei or ZTE).
• I can pay my bills online.
• The 6GB monthly cap is a continuous one and doesn't have a daily limit.
• If I consume my allocation before the next monthly cycle, I can opt to buy additional data packages and it will be added to my bill. Fair enough.

I have to wait for my application to be approved before I can pick up my unit. So I did. The next day (Sunday) I received a call from them telling me that the unit is ready for pickup. Earlier today (Monday), I drove to the mall to get the unit after paying the ₱499 down payment.

It was nice that the customer rep setup my username/password for me. Saved me the hassle of fumbling through the admin page. I mean, if you're not too arte about giving your password, why not diba haha.

Unboxing

Do you even need this? But anyway,

I personally don't like pocket wifis with screens like that cos it's ugly. I don't like how it lights up and I don't like the fonts. I prefer those with little icons lighting up cos it's cuter but that's just my kaartehan.

Off the box you get your unit w/ battery, a charger, a charging cable, and a bunch of manuals nobody really reads. This unit is an Evoluzn model FXPR2L, and it has a microSD card slot. It's good to note the battery has 2050mAH capacity, for a small device I'm assuming it'll last long. The front is still printed with their old logo, so obviously it's an old stock but whatever, it still works; and I prefer the old logo anyway.

Okay, this review will consist mainly of speed tests. I will update this regularly, whenever I get into a new area, and check over time if the quality of my connection will be consistently strong (cos right now it frkn is and I'm impressed). I'm trying to manage my expectations seeing that my plan just got activated haha. But we'll see.

Dashboard

You can access the router admin panel by going to 192.168.1.1. From there you can login using the default username and password (make sure to change it), update your wifi SSID and password, and check messages. I have yet to find an android app that makes the admin panel easier to navigate, as in like a mobile app where I can easily check messages and even text.

To manage your acount, pay bills, and update your profile info, login to your My Smart dashboard by heading over to www.smartbrosettings.net (always access with a www), or my.smart.com.ph (works better). Sign up for an account, and everything will be pretty straightforward from there.

Speed Tests

I'll try to keep the tests regular, but maybe monthly only 'cos the test itself is consuming a lot of data lol. But so far, so good! Since we already have DSL at home, it's a good thing to have when you're outside or travelling. :)

Date	Time	Location	Download (mbps)	Upload (mpbs)	Ping (ms)
Oct 26 2016	1:10 AM	UP AyalaLand Technohub (LTE covered)	26.14	11.85	19
Oct 26 2016	1:11 AM	UP AyalaLand Technohub (LTE covered)	23.61	12.57	19
Oct 26 2016	1:12 AM	UP AyalaLand Technohub (LTE covered)	25.79	9.75	19
Oct 26 2016	1:13 AM	UP AyalaLand Technohub (LTE covered)	32.66	16.79	20
Oct 26 2016	1:15 AM	UP AyalaLand Technohub (LTE covered)	27.40	10.71	20
Nov 20 2016	3:28 AM	UP AyalaLand Technohub (LTE covered)	23.76	17.00	17
Nov 20 2016	3:29 AM	UP AyalaLand Technohub (LTE covered)	18.87	15.45	20
Jan 4 2017	3.32 AM	UP AyalaLand Technohub (LTE covered)	31.27	15.89	16

Update

I think my speed tests are enough proof that it's really fast especially in LTE covered areas.
I tried using it in Batangas City and it's pretty weak there. Signal at our place in Fairview used to be soooo bad but now it's pretty good. I can connect in my room now! Hehe

So, should you get it?

If you need something fast and reliable while on the go - go get this plan.
If you need something to use at home regularly - get yourself a DSL connection instead. Capped services like this isn't good for home use, specially one that involves a lot of video streaming. :)

Hope this guide helped you somehow!

Fitbit Alta unboxing and review

So I bought a fitness tracker (my first) in response to my rotting motivation to live actively and limit my attachment to my office chair. And so far, here's what I have to say with my first two weeks with the Alta...

Previously, I shared about how to setup your Fitbit Alta for the first time. In this post, I'm sharing an unboxing (of sorts) and a review (kindof) having been using the fancy bracelet for two weeks (and counting).

UNBOXING

The box contains four major items:

1. Fitbit Alta fitness tracker (small)
2. Rubber strap (attached to the tracker) -- or is it silicone?
3. Charging cable
4. USB wireless dongle

Detachable straps

Back view lol

Just another shot haha

Other items include paper stuff and warranty notes in multiple languages that nobody really reads. Instead of a comprehensive setup guide, a note in the box suggests you go to ww.fitbit.com/setup to get your gadget up and running. I did just that and had quite a few hiccups but I eventually got over the initial setup hullabaloo. So don't follow the note, read my setup guide instead haha.

Related: Setting up Fitbit Alta for the first time

REVIEW (pros and cons)

Pros (you know, features I like):

Aaaah love the size

1. The form - It's functional and stylish at the same time. I got the small black version which I found perfect for my wrists. There's also a larger version available. The main reason I decided to go for the Alta is the form factor. The band isn't too wide and the straps can be swapped, though for now only Fitbit sells them and they're horribly expensive. Don't worry, I'm sure eventually 3rd party sellers will come out with better bands and more colors to choose from.

10k steps orayt + my sensored belly lol

2. It tracks steps quite accurately - I tried walking 10 steps while watching the step counter on the Fitbit app and holey moley it's perfect haha. I'm thinking it has something to do with the observer effect (naks very quantum physics) which changes the behavior of the activity being observed (in this case, the tracking) just by the mere act of observation. Don't we all try to act perfectly under close watch? Joke lang lol. It tracks well enough for me not to doubt my activity for the day.

3. Silent alarm - before you call it stupid, here's the magic word: vibration!

4. Move reminders - 10 mins before every hour (within your designated time range) it reminds you to walk 250 steps para cool. On the first day of using my Fitbit, I was so amused by this feature that I really took it to heart to walk 250 steps every time it reminds me to. Anyway, it will only remind you to walk if you haven't met the 250 steps/hour goal.

5. Call and text alerts -  as long as my bluetooth is on, the phone with push call and text alerts to my fitbit. It shows the sender name and message in a marquee which I find very useful specially when I'm out on commute and my phone is buried in my bag.

6. Good battery life - I was able to use it for a good 4 days before I received a notification (vibe and email) that my Alta's running low on juice. At my current settings (no silent alarms, no all-day sync), I only need to charge once a week.

7. Auto sleep tracking - which is super cool. Fitbit logs your 'restless' and 'awake' minutes and takes all that into account to calculate your sleep quality based on your #sleepgoals lol. I set mine at 7hrs a day and so far I'm averaging at 8. It's not really something I would check myself so it's good know a gadget is tracking all this for me.

9. Clock faces - with various display options

10. Water resistant - it doesn't mind me washing the dishes with it, but I take it off in the shower to be sure.

Cons:

1. Short charging cable - it's awkwardly short and a hassle to use. I hope the cable can be detached from the cradle. Good thing I only have to charge the Alta every 4 days or so. yey for long battery life.

2. No HR monitor - This doesn't monitor your heart rate. No biggie cos I'm not particularly looking for this feature, but I thought I'd tag it as a con so you'd know. I'm thinking Fitbit has plans to release a HR version of the Alta sometime in the future I'M NOT SURE. But given that it could compromise the size, who knows.

3. Move reminder - the move reminder is limited to 5-14 consecutive hours WITHIN THE SAME DAY. Working the graveyard, I wanted to be reminded from 9pm to 5am, but it won't let me cos it's crossing the next day and I figured it'd mess Fitbit's daily reporting chorvabels. I wish they'd enhance this feature to allow adding multiple move reminders instead.

4. Screen isn't scratch proof - I plan to buy screen protectors but I'm not sure if it will affect the tap efficiency haha. The face of my Alta has a tiny hairline already huhu.

5. Limited 3rd party app integration - Fitbit has partnered with quite a number of health monitoring apps (see here) but I don't see Nike+ Running yet which is weird cos it's too popular haha. It's where all my runs are logged and I would love to be able to integrate that with my fitbit data. Counts for better estimate of calories burned.

6. No GPS - I would love the Alta to have GPS without sacrificing its already perfect form factor. I've read about super small GPS modules, I hope they could find a way to get a small receiver that wouldn't compromise Alta's size.

7. I developed rashes - Taray! And it's not because I have sensitive dugong bughaw skin, but because I'm dugyot most of the time and the strap has turned into a cozy abode for bacteria. Now, I keep it a point to clean the watch every once in a while specially when I sweat a lot haha. It's really just a matter of sanitizing haha.

8. Hard to put on - Amazon reviews contain a lot of griping about how hard it is to put on. If you see the image on Con #1 you'll see how it's supposed to be strapped on. Unlike the Charge HR or the Blaze, it doesn't have a buckle strap, you have to push the two pins to the holes to set it in place. I have to agree that it's hard to put on, but that's only at the beginning. Eventually the holes will loosen up and make it easier to lock in the pins.

In summary:

This Fitbit is really not for the active type, if you're already familiar with the range of Fitbit trackers, the Alta offers literally nothing new except for the form factor. The older Fitbits have sported the same set of features, step counter, silent alarm, sleep tracking, fitness goals, etc. so if you're looking for something new minus the form factor, you can check out other trackers instead. Seriously though, this is (IMO) the best looking and most functional fitness tracker there is for people like me who is mostly sedentary.

Has it helped me in my seemingly eternal weight loss journey? As with any tracker, like a fitness trainer, it's a good motivator. Looking at my wrist sporting a fitness tracker kindof pushes me to live up to my fitbit goals naaaaks. But of course, a gadget can only be as effective as the one who wears it. I really need to be more disciplined haha.

:)

Pricing and availability

I bought the Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker, Silver/Black, Small at Amazon for $129 when I was still in the US. I'm not sure if it will be available locally.

Setting up Fitbit Alta for the first time

Got a new Alta? Here's how to set it up the first time :D

My Fitbit Alta just arrived in the mail yesterday and I was super excited to try it but I got so frustrated setting it up the first time! It just won't sync on my phone! But after a bunch of googling and almost hitting that 'refund' button on Amazon, I was able to solve my initial setup problem, thank you Lord!

So here's how to setup your Fitbit Alta for the first time :)

Short answer: 

Sync it using your PC and wireless dongle FIRST. Then it would be easier to pair it with your mobile next.

Short (story) answer:

I turned on the tracker by hooking it to the charging cable. It started alright: Fitbit logo, version number, and a message that says 'fitbit.com/setup'. Okay, so I came to the link, and followed the setup instructions for Android. I downloaded the Fitbit app, registered a new account, and went on to add the device.

As per instructions, I kept the tracker plugged, charging, and nearby while the app tries to search for my Alta. Unfortunately, it just won't pickup. I restarted my bluetooth, restarted my phone, tried to setup using my tablet, to no avail.

My heart was getting heavy cos I just recorded an unboxing video haha and was excited to shoot a 'hands on' one next. Clearly, not much hands are needed on a defective product so that's frkn saaad.  Anyway, what's extra saddening is having to comb through this difficulty knowing that I can only have it refunded. I can't wait any more days to get a replacement since I'm leaving the US this weekend. I really want this thing to work.

Google eventually led me to a solution, which is to sync using the PC instead. The Fitbit Alta came with a wireless USB dongle you can use to sync your tracker to your PC, you just have to download an app. Apparently, while the OP was able to sync on her PC, it still wouldn't sync with her phone. Much to her dismay, it looks like she can only sync all her Fitbit data on a PC. That makes her Alta a defective one.

And so I tried. I installed Fitbit Connect on my PC, plugged in the wireless dongle, and prayed hard for this solution to work. 

And it did! My Alta finally appeared on the list of devices on my dashboard! Yayyy!

But that doesn't end my problem, the real moment of truth is validating whether it would sync via Bluetooth, otherwise I would have to return the item. I unplugged the dongle and refreshed the Fitbit app on my phone to see if it has listed the Alta as well. It did! And after a couple of clicks, MY ALTA FINALLY SYNCED! Thank God!

That's pretty much it, if you're having trouble setting up your Alta for the first time, use your PC instead. I'm thinking it's the real proper way of setting up your Fitbit.

Hope this helps and sorry for the excessive blabber!

Next up: Fitbit Alta Unboxing and Review

[Windows 10] How to remove live tiles from the start menu

A lot of people griped about how drastically the start menu changed on Windows 8 with the introduction of live tiles. Thankfully, Microsoft listened and tried to improve user experience by bringing back the old Windows7-esque start menu on Windows 10, but not without sitting out live tiles completely.

As you may have noticed, the start menu still has live tiles integrated on to it, with two subsections "Play and Explore" and "Life at a Glance". Now if you want to remove those, plus all of the tiles entirely... here's how:

1. Right-click on the tile and select 'Unpin from Start'.
2. Do the same for all the tiles you want removed. It will take time, but that's about the easiest way to do it haha!

3. Re-size your start menu by hovering on the sides and adjusting the width or height. 

And voila! Here's a view of my totally clean and tile-free start menu! :D

Hope this helps! :)

Urbanista: A Tribute to Urban Lifestyle

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Urbanista came out of a vision to glorify the urban lifestyle and create products that make life better for modern people in urban developments. We design for life in motion. Every product in the Urbanista portfolio is developed to serve a need for the target group - the Urbanistas. Within the tight portfolio, the offering is wide. The retail environment shall clearly show the most relevant product for each consumer. The Urbanista products are meant to be life companions. Therefore they are developed with design and colors in focus. The products should not only enhance the life of the Urbanistas with the functions, but also the looks.

Urbanista is launching in the Philippines, really soon! Familiarize yourself with the different Urbanista earphones:

SAN FRANCISCO

Balanced for music and talk Why compromise? If you’re looking for earphones for both music and phone calls, you’ve finally found them. For the everyday use for, suitable for anyone.

Features: Ergonomic design | Suitable for music and talk | Handsfree with mic | Value for money

OSLO

For simplicity seekers Made in a classic but revamped earphone design. Soft rubber ring around the earbud to create comfort and good fit.

Features: Recognized design | Fits most people | Handsfree with mic

RIO

For the urban athlete With Rio, we´re raising the bar for how really good sport earphones should sound, feel and cost. The GoFit silicone wing guarantees an ergonomic and secure fit even in the most challenging and wet circumstances. The sound is optimized with clear sound and strong bass to boost your performance with your favorite beats.

Features: GoFit silicone wing which fits securely in your ears | Water resistant (IPX5) | Handsfree with mic | Light construction

BOSTON

For freedom seeking athlete. At the gym or in the street. Every beat, clarity without compromise. Urbanista Boston sport earphones with Bluetooth gives you the freedom to really move

Features: Wireless Bluetooth connection | GoFit silicone wing fits securely in ears | Water resistant (IPX5) | Light ear buds | Handsfree with mic.

IBIZA 

For uncompromising music lovers In the studio. At the concert or club. Urbanista Ibiza high performance earphones make you feel as if you were really there. Every note, precision without compromise.

Features: Heavy bass with uncompromising clarity | Ergonomic design with GoFit for secure fit | Handsfree with volume control and mic.

MIAMI 

For the expressive music lovers Miami is a classic foldable mid-size headphone that comes in several vibrant colours. The frame’s flexibility, the soft headband and ear pads allow the headphones to rest comfortably on your ears. The Urbanista logo, carved from aluminum,

Features: Comfortable, foldable & affordable | Strong bass and clear sound | Handsfree with mic

COPENHAGEN 

For the design devotees The Urbanista crown jewel. Made in brushed aluminum in a style as sharp and fresh as your own. These premium mid-size headphones carry music with dashing clarity and tonal accuracy that’ll make your listening experience a treasure trove of musical enjoyment.

Features: Unique and exclusive aluminum design | Supreme audio clarity with dynamic bass | Soft headband with enclosed adjustability | Handsfree with mic

-----

I'm really looking forward to trying these out, hope they roll out demo units soon! There aren't a lot of earphone brand catering to an assortment of fits. I usually have a preference for the traditional kind of earphones or the ones similar to iPhone earbuds cos they don't fall off my ear easily and doesn't feel weird. Oh well, welcome to the Philippines Urbanista! Hope they could do a Philippine version too! Why not! Totally digging Oslo and SanFran!

How to use UBER on a desktop

No smartphone, no problem! You can still book a ride by using Uber's mobile site:  http://m.uber.com. It also works on your mobile browser in case you don't have the app. Yep! That's all you need. Just go to the site, log in, and book a ride!

How to use UBER on a desktop:

If you find yourself without a smartphone and need to book a ride, no worries cos you can actually access Uber using your desktop (with internet shempre).

• If you don't have an Uber account yet and want to try this piece of genius, sign up with your credit card at http://uber.com
• But if you don't have a credit card, you can still sign up using a Visa/Mastercard prepaid card, here's how I did it

Don't forget to sign up using promo codes to get free rides!

Here they are, take your pick!

• For new users, you can sign up with this promo code UBERNATICS to get free Uber credits.

• If you're registering using a BPI card, use promo code BPIRIDE to get 2 free rides worth Php 500 each (until October 17 only).

• If you're a Smart subscriber, go here to get vouchers that will give you 2 free rides worth Php 300 each! :D


Login, book, and enjoy your ride!

Open http://m.uber.com and allow location service
When your browser prompts you to enable location tracking, click Allow or Ok. This will make it easier for you select a location.

Now you may login and get a ride!
Login, select your pick-up and drop-off locations, and request for a ride! It's that easy. The interface is pretty much the same as the app so you won't get lost if you're already familiar with it. :)

[Review + Unboxing] RoyQueen H3500 Bluetooth Speaker

Ah, remember how I griped so much that the Sony BSP10 went out of stock at Lazada and that they couldn't even get me in touch with the merchant so that I could inquire if it's ever going to be available again?

Looks like I was meant for something better.

I chanced upon the RoyQueen H3500 Bluetooth Speaker on CCP and (as usual) checked it out on other sites to see who sells the cheapest and voila, Lazada wins with a 50 pesos difference haha

TIP: Usually if it's on CCP, it's also on MetroDeal and other group buying sites, and if it's an actual item (not a voucher) it's most likely in Lazada too

So I ordered last Sunday (August 9), got the item this afternoon (August 14), and played a while with it before heading to work.

I WAS IMPRESSED

With such an affordable price of Php 1,720, it's surprisingly feature-packed!

Features

1. Bluetooth and hands-free
2. NFC (Near Fields Communications)
3. SD card playback
4. FM radio (semi-auto scanning: 87.5MHz - 108MHz)
5. Voice guide
6. LED digital display
7. USB soundcard and card reader
8. AUX In

Unboxing

Here's the box:

Apparently I got the 'Upgrade' edition. Well, a box featuring this boy band called 'Upgrade' daw. haynakonamano

Here are the contents:

Just the bare essentials: unit, USB charging cable, and a pretty useless Chinese user manual. I was hoping for an audio cable but it has none but it's okay! :D

Parts and ports

top

The top part contains six buttons with pretty obvious functions.
- Upper: Volume -, Mode, Volume +
- Lower: Previous Track, Pause-Play / On-Off, Next Track

back

The back part has the following:
- AUX In
- MicroSD card slot
- USB charging port
- Light indicator - it blinks blue when it's charging
- Battery slot

bottom

The bottom part has nothing much. Just the "feet" and... ano ba to, vent? XD Nothing going on on the sides as well, so I'll spare ya the pics (as if meron). lol

Experience

Pull the plastic strip before using

Before turning it on, remember to pull out the plastic strip at the battery slot that's tucked between the battery and the flat tab, it says PULL haha. It's gonna keep you from charging the battery. Might I say, I was surprised to see a dry cell batt instead of a Li-Ion block, but no biggie, as long as it's rechargeable! :D

Note that you can also use the speakers without batteries as long as it's hooked to a power source via the USB cable. But this is very limited, I noticed it shuts down when I turn up the volume too much.

Press and hold on the on/off button to power it up. You will be greeted by an audio notification of your current mode, by default: you're on bluetooth mode (the LED screen will read 'bL'). Thank God the audio guide is in english!

Device Pairing

1) Bluetooth

Easy peasy. Just turn on your bluetooth, search for 'H3500' and wait for it to be connected. Audio notif will say, 'Device paired'. :D

2) NFC

Much easier, just turn on your NFC, tap it on the device, specifically near the volume+ button and wait for your device to be paired. I'm such a dummy for thinking NFC is actually capable of delivering audio like bluetooth but it's not. What it does when you tap your phone is call the bluetooth function on. It's not essentially an audio hardware. it just gives you the convenience of not having to fiddle through your bluetooth settings to manually pair your device -- in real life, you only have to do this once (unless you clear your bluetooth cache), so there's not much difference in terms of effort between bluetooth and NFC pairing. Still, NFC rocks okay? :D

When your device is already paired via NFC, you can turn it off already and keep your phone away.

Modes

The M button lets you toggle between different modes. It goes from bluetooth, FM, and Line (Audio In).

1) Bluetooth/Hands free

You can go hands-free from the bluetooth mode. Go call someone and hear their voice loud and clear on your speaker! I was impressed by the quality. One letdown would be the mic, I don't think it has a mic. You'd have to rely on your phone for that, but the audio is a big plus! :D

2) FM

I thoroughly enjoyed this one as I get to easily skim through the channels! It's a great feature, Sony BSP10 doesn't have this and it's a whopping Php 3,500! I feel like such a winner.

3) Line

I tested out a couple of cheap audio cables from CD-R king and true enough, it works. Unfortunately the sound is a bit lower compared to when you pair via bluetooth. If this isn't an issue for you, then good! Otherwise, you're probably better off with wired speakers. I came to the mall earlier to get a cable and sadly every one of those I've tried produced lower volume. Even the branded ones. Even those with three lines on the jack. :(

Battery

I was able to use the gadget for a good 6-8 hours under normal volume before it started crying for juice (sound is becoming grainy). The problem is, I wouldn't know if it's already lowbatt haha. I think the light turns solid blue (not blinking) when it's fully charged. OKAY I WILL CONFIRM haha. Also, I tried searching for the same battery at a hardware store but they have none! This is bigger than AA, which is bigger that AAA, so meron bang A? Batts me. Chos.

That's a rechargeable 2000mAH 3.7V dry cell battery for you. I don't know where to buy spares for this aside from ordering from RoyQueen itself, so if you know a place, ping me!

Verdict

For a cheap bluetooth speaker, it surprisingly delivers well! haha. The design looks elegant, albeit generic for BT speakers. Anyway, I wouldn't care if this was a knockoff of something else, I like how it looks. It also comes in red and blue, but really, black is good. Sound quality is nice, volume is great, it's packed with a lot of features that could ramp up the price but it stayed grounded and affordable! Even the regular price of Php 2,150 doesn't seem much!

Wait, hindi ako masyado maarte sa sound quality. I just want it to be loud enough pero hindi grainy cos mejo bingi na tita nyo. And in that regard, havey sakin to. :)

The RoyQueen H3500 bluetooth speaker is definitely a bang for the buck and is perfect for your regular music needs! It sells at Php 1,720 at Lazada, some 50 pesos cheaper than MetroDeal and CashCashPinoy haha.

Oh, I only noticed now that RoyQueen pretty much has kiosks at most SM Cyberzones. I was surprised to find one at SM Fairview earlier, they said they also have outlets at SM North Edsa and SM Megamall. Yeyy. They sell it at regular price there, Php 2,150. :D Pwede na rin!

Get yours from Lazada to get more discounts :)

From BPI: Register at UBER Manila without a credit card!

Because of Uber, I almost wanted to get a credit card. Two months ago, I inquired about why they haven't implemented non-credit card payment options in the Philippines yet, and they said they're looking into it... so I waited! After all, other countries have it, so i thought it's only a matter of time before it gets rolled out in our country.

@yanbirog Hi Yan! I’m sorry, but currently we only accept credit cards. We’re hoping to expand further in the future though!

— Uber Manila (@Uber_Manila) May 14, 2015

That was last May, and true enough, they've explored that option! Now we can register at Uber using Visa or Mastercard debit/prepaid cards! Yahoooo!

Most Visa or Mastercard debit/prepaid cards are allowed now, but it's still a matter of trying it out!
You may check this site for more insights about allowable cards to use! :)

If you're a BPI card holder though, more treats are in for you! This promo is the reason I remembered to sign up for Uber :

Sign up to UBER using your BPI Card and your first 2 rides are FREE!

Each free ride is worth up to P500.

Promo is valid from July 17, 2015 - October 17, 2015 (promo code: BPIRIDE)

2 FREE RIDES UP TO 500 EACH?! Oh come on. Get that card and REGISTER NOW. You wouldn't want to pass up on this! So yeah, I registered using my BPI More Fun Visa prepaid card and it was successful!

If you don't have a card yet just apply for a BPI prepaid card and sign up to Uber using it! Here are your options:

1. Apply for BPI My E-prepaid Mastercard
Php 500 valid for 2 years.
2. Apply for BPI More Fun Visa Prepaid Card
Php 350 valid for 18 months. Personalized card design.

Both of these prepaid cards can be used to register with Uber, and it's really easy to apply for them. Just go to the nearest BPI, fill out a form, present a valid ID, pay the processing fee, and wait for the card to be available for pickup. It's that easy!

But you know, when I registered my card at Uber, I encountered a lot of errors! It was frustrating. AND MY CARD WAS BLOCKED TOO. HAHAHA nakakainis lang. So, if you don't want the same to happen to you, heed the following tips:

• Type your card number accurately. Every card detail you supply in the sign-up form must be typed with utmost care and certainty. Card verification goes through a super secure process, you wouldn't wanna mess your chances with erroneous inputs. This could lead to your card getting blocked, so be very careful!
• Load your card beforehand. I don't know what the required minimum amount is, but at least put 500 pesos in it. I was charged 10 pesos for card verification.
• In case you get this error message, "It looks like your bank is having trouble processing this card. Please check with your bank and try again. If this continues to happen. Please try a different card." DON'T FRET. It means your card was blocked due to invalid sign-up attempts. But it will be lifted in 24-hours so don't worry. Note that it's the bank who does this and not Uber, so that means you won't be able to use your card for 24 hours. :) I ran through this problem and called BPI customer service cos I was freaking out that I can't use my card to pay for food, right when I've already transferred money to it. Sobrang hassle, you know you can't withdraw money from it so I have to spend it elsewhere. huhu

As far as registering at Uber using a BPI prepaid card, I guess that's it! :D Excited to try Uber!

By the way, don't just play around with your UBER app, cancellation of booked rides costs 100 pesos!

Additional tip when you're using a prepaid card to book for an Uber ride:

Before requesting, make sure you load your card with an amount greater than on equal to the maximum fare estimate of your ride, otherwise your request will be invalidated. But don't worry, just load it up and you can request again. :) Apparently, Uber does a balance check for prepaid card holders before hooking you up with your ride. :)

---

FREEBIE (for non-BPI card holders): Use this promo code, UBERNATICS to get FREE UBER credits when you register! :) Click on the image below to sign up :)

[Windows] How to open specific folders using the Run dialog

Here's a pretty neat trick I always do whenever I setup my desktop ANYWHERE. Like what I'm doing now since I just got a new PC at the office hehe.

I find it easier to just hit Win + R then type 'Yan' to access my personal folder located at 'My Documents'. Like so:

This

Opens my folder at My Documents:

So how do you do that? 

Simple! Create of shortcut of whatever folder you want at your personal Users directory

Where is that? Key in Win + R >> type '.' (a dot)
Usually it will take you 'C:\Users\<your username>'. If it doesn't, just navigate to where 'C:\Users\<your username>' is.

You know you're at the right place as the directory will contain your usual user folders like My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, etc.

Place your shortcut there! Just like what I did (right click >> new >> shortcut >> add your folder path) :D

The name of the shortcut link will be the name you have to type on the Run dialog. :D

And that's it! :) Anything you put in that directory can be opened directly on the Run dialog. And it's not case sensitive! Try 'My Documents'. :D

Hope this helps! I find this extremely useful as I didn't have to put desktop shortcuts anymore. I do the same for apps, I prefer opening them via run dialog cos it's faster and prevents me from cluttering my desktop or flooding my taskbar with pinned programs! hehe

This entry is for opening specific folders using the run dialog, if you want to open specific applications/programs, i have another tutorial for that here. :)

[Review] OMI RV1 Robot Vacuum Cleaner (Black)

Source

Here's a review of my very first Lazada purchase, a robotic vacuum cleaner. i consider this one a tita purchase because really, when did i ever care about cleaning the house (on top of eating out)? apparently, when our helper left us! haha

i paid for the item via paypal and waited around 2-3 days for the item to arrive at home. i was out when the delivery guy came so our neighbor received the item for me. when i got back i was so excited to try this piece of genius and maaaaan was it so easy to figure out (sarcasm aside)!

after charging the battery for a good 4 hours (as prescribed), i attached the microfiber sheet, plugged in the scrubbers, laid it on the floor, took a deep breath and pressed the friggin' ON button.

IT WAS SO COOL

i tested it in my room, which has wood parquet flooring, there's also a bed, a table and a few chairs as obstacles. chos. it roamed smoothly for a awhile, until i got puzzled by how it's going around on the floor. i was trying to figure out if the thing has any direction at all, but it has none. it was sooo random. it'll sweep a few feet to the left, then turn right, then go back, then... whatever!

IT BECAME SO FRUSTRATING TO WATCH

when it bumps on something it will turn clockwise until its sensor confirms a passable area, which is btw A LIGHT SENSOR. so this thing is really bad in DARK places, especially DARK flooring, which i realized only when i read the manual. why was that frkn information held from the product page at Lazada! aaaaaaargh. and my floor is dark brown you know. hi wood. -_-

I WISH IT HAS A REMOTE CONTROL

i was hoping that its random roaming will eventually cover the entire floor area of my room but then i can't help watching how sad the thing looked, sweeping in all directions, lost, confused, and in need of a frkn remote control. i had to literally guide it with my feet just so i could get it to sweep the places i want cleaned.

it also came to a point where i'm the one picking up the dust already and throwing it in front of the thing so it could suck in all the dirt that's been ignored in a shy corner. talk about SPOON FEEDING! i literally felt like i just left a hyperactive toddler to play by himself.

I WANT TO SELL THIS OUT ALREADY

what's worse is that as it wandered under the bed, the poor thing got scared and decided to stop moving and disturb me with its mad whirring. again, NOT FOR DARK PLACES. i had to scoop it out with a mop (which is probably laughing at me already in a || universe), and reposition it to a brighter place.

BUT FOR ALL ITS WORTH

look at all that dust!

and all that filtered stuff!

it actually cleans! look at this all the dust it has vacuumed (with my help grr), and all the dirt it has swept. for its price i still think it's worth it but WORD OF CAUTION if you have a semi-dark flooring, use it under a lot of light. or just don't buy it at all haha.

I STILL WANT TO SELL IT

but i'm thinking if i just don't know how to control it. like maybe there's actually a function that decides its sweeping pattern. haha OR maybe i was given a defective product? lol. i don't know. it's past replacement period already. T___T i'll probably have it checked at the service center haha

oh wait it says i can choose a cleaning pattern. so, how?

OK, I'M NOT GIVING UP

now that i learned that i can actually choose how i want it to clean. haha. will ask the people from the service center lol.

DO I RECOMMEND IT?

Not until i've learned how i can get it to stick to a specific cleaning pattern. haha but for its price i definitely think it's good buy. oh it's listed at Php 3,299.00 at Lazada, it was only Php 2,999.00 before and i used a Php200 welcome-voucher so i paid Php 2,799.00 lang. i think it's a good sign na nagmahal sya? makes me believe it actually works and i'm just having trouble with this particular unit. haha

[Quick Test] Sony DSC-QX10

i came to Sony earlier to try out their DSC-QX10, an attachable lens-style camera that you can pair with your smartphone via wifi or NFC.

i've always wanted to try my hands on photography but didn't want to indulge on another gadget since my Z1 Compact pretty much has the aptitude for quality photographs. however, i wanted something that could come at par with entry-level DSLR's, which is compact and affordable at the very least. so when i learned about this attachable lens thing, i promised to test it out one day (after downloading Sony PlayMemories)... and today is that day!

anyway, here's a list of features (complete specs here), followed by my non-technical quick-test experience... cos i really just want to try it hahaha:

• Sony G Lens with 10x optical zoom
• 18.2MP EXMOR R CMOS image sensor
• BIONZ image processing engine
• Optical steadyshot
• NFC and Wi-Fi
• Bundled smartphone attachment

What i liked:

it's compact and semi-affordable if you didn't want to buy an actual DSLR. it retails at Php 10,999.00 and could be cheaper in online stores hehe. now, i wouldn't really say it's that affordable because i haven't any basis on how much normal DSLRs are haha

it has a rechargeable and removeable battery. you can hook it to a usb plug, or to a powerbank. :) it also has a microSD slot for storage. photos may be saved on the phone or on the lens' memory card, wherever you want. useful if you're just borrowing a phone and didn't want to eat its memory. hehe

the pictures are nice, sharp, and has excellent zoom quality. it also has a better auto-focus. here are samples i took from the miniature village at the showroom:

i'm really no photographer so i appreciate how it came out nicely, and better than what i took from my own smartphone which sports a 20MP camera: 

i find that my phone's captures are more exposed, and badly angled (but that's on me lololol)

What I didn't like

On speed

IT LAGS and that's a major major concern. it can become very frustrating specially when you're up for some candid shots. it lags when you zoom hard, and when you pan it across the room. THAT SUCKS RIGHT? the sales attendant told me it's due to wifi interference from the many PlayMemories-managed devices in the room. but i was skeptic. what if i wanted to buy everything in the room? or i'm in some PlayMemories club and we decided to shoot together? then we'll blow each other's receptions then? it can't. it can't be just that. haha 

On device pairing

pairing to a device over wifi is easy, you just have to supply a password (stickered on the battery flap) when your device detects it, then you're good to go.

pairing over NFC though, is easier! you just have to turn on the NFC on your phone and touch it with the lens, and voila! PlayMemories will launch and you're ready to go! near fields communication babyyyy! <3

but of course, i put this under the "What i didn't like" section, so here's the sad thing. I HAD TO REMOVE MY PHONE CASE for the NFC pairing to work. and that sucks. T___T; apparently, the case hinders my phone's NFC-ness huhu. i failed to validate if that was just a pairing issue though, i mean if i removed the case, pair it, then put it back again. that scenario. hehe

So, will I buy it?

Uhm nope. i was sold with the quality of photos but the lags are a huge letdown. :(