EARLY GIFT FROM MY FAVE AUNT

I actually was able to get this gift over the weekend during our last family get-together at Oakwood hotel but then I forgot to post pictures. The gift itself was left by my aunt since last month pa, before she left for Cebu. It wasn’t really new since she bought it for her Samsung tab, figured she didn’t like it and decided to give it to me. Well, lucky for me that she didn’t like it since I had been looking for a tab cover for ages...I had initially wanted something like Papa’s tab cover (that he was able to buy from a mall in Makati) but when I saw an Ipad with a folding cover that can be used as a stand, I figured I wanted something like that too...and guess what, this was the cover that my aunt didn’t want...woot! woot! So now I have one for myself! Thanks Auntie!

FINALLY…TEMPLE RUN 2 FOR ANDROID!

At long last…the wait is over…Temple Run 2 comes to Android! For about a week now, I have been hearing (from Apple users, of course!) their excitement about this new update and I was curious to know what the hullaballoo is all about…basically, the concept of the game is still the same…it still involves endless running! But what’s exciting about it is the addition of new obstacles like ziplines, riding a mine cart that seems more like a roller-coaster as it twists, turns and almost falls off, and flames of fire that shoot off in unexpected places, among others. Then, there are also new prizes that one must seek to attain – like green gems that can give you much-needed life! Further, the three monkeys that are running after the main character have disappeared but instead a humongous creature had taken its place…creepy! The track too is more difficult…whereas before, you can just let the character run by itself and just wait until it needs to turn left or right but this time around, the road suddenly narrows so that one must always be on guard to watch the track. Still it is a totally exciting game! Just wish I could get the hang of it soon…I just envy my kids and cousins playing and proudly displaying the ‘millions’ they were able to score…while I am still endlessly struggling and forever running, hoping to outsmart my pursuer…but to no avail!

A NEW SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB!

At long last after quite a long wait I finally did it! I finally went out and bought myself a new SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 7.0 PLUS. You see I have had the money since November last year but I refrained from buying one at once because I have read in blog posts that a new 7-inch tablet will be coming out by December and so I waited until the last day of December but still no Samsung Galaxy 7.0 plus hit the stores. Finally, I heard of its arrival over at Yugatech’s blog at around the first week of January but I didn’t rush out to go and buy a new unit just yet. I waited a few more days to browse through reviews and restrained myself just a little bit more. You know just in case something better comes up and indeed something better did come up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 with an Amoled screen that has infinitely much brighter and crisper resolution display. But alas it is way beyond my budget already! In fact, I only just initially planned about 20 – 22K as my budget for the tablet but the 7.7 is already at 30K while the 7.0 plus is around 24K. But still I persisted and bought the 7.0 plus. Anyway, it had dual core processor already and never mind the not so clear screen resolution.

But you may wonder, if I would be spending around 24K, why not buy an Ipad? Well, my main consideration was that I didn’t have wifi connection at home and so I needed a gadget that had 3G and would allow me internet access using just my sim card. And since the Galaxy Tab at 24K already provides that, I just knew it would be the one for me. IPad’s 3G version cost something like 30K also! So it’s definitely a no-no. The 7-inch tab is just right because aside from having the feel and weight of a pocket diary/notebook, it’s just the right price! I just hope I would definitely be able to use it for blogging! Here’s hoping I could do real time blogging soon!!!

[photo grabbed from the internet]

ANOTHER NEW SAMSUNG GALAXY Y PHONE!

After eight days of letting him stew without a phone, I finally decided to go ahead and get a new plan from Globe for only 500 which had a free Samsung Galaxy Y handset. I didn't have the cash to buy him a new phone so I got him one that is offered for free, although I would have to shell out a monthly 500 at least I can use said amount for texting and calling Globe and TM subscribers in my phonebook. It was amazing that Globe was able to grant this application of mine quickly. On Monday (21 November), after the weekend that Kuya lost his phone, I browsed Globe plans and saw one that advertised an online application. The next day I filled up an application form online and the day after I submitted the requirements thru fax. Then today, Monday I got the phone already! Hurrah! However, I decided not to give it to him just yet and instead I would take the gadget for a road test and use it myself for a few days...

A LOST PHONE...AFTER JUST TWO WEEKS!

Two weeks ago, around November 5, my son was the proud owner of a brand new Samsung Galaxy Y phone. But then yesterday after eating lunch and as the rest of us were busy doing our regular tasks – Ditse with her laundry, the hubby with his smaller TV rack, K and I fixing toys and books to determine which ones to clear out and give away – bad news came. We learned that my son’s phone was missing. He was at the internet shop at around 12 noon and there were just a few of them there at the time. He stood up for a bit to borrow a card reader from the pc shop helper and when he remembered his phone, it was not there beside him.

In truth, I do not know what to feel. The hubby was obviously angry and took it out on the aluminium screen door, kicking it thus creating a dent. He talked to the two guys who were with my son at the PC shop and he deduced that my son’s friend was not lying when he said he did not see it but the helper obviously was. But then, there was nothing we could do much about it. I guess it was ultimately my son’s fault that his phone got lost. Though I wanted to comfort him and let him know it was OK, I knew he had to learn his lesson. He had to continue paying for his half of the phone with his allowance money, even if the phone is no longer present. Oh well, even if I had wanted to buy him a new one, I don’t have the extra money to pay for it. He would just need to be more responsible with his possessions and so I would let him stew without a phone for now.

NEW SAMSUNG CORBY PHONE FROM SUN!

Today, I got my new Samsung Corby phone from Sun. Well, actually they got it from SM last night since they availed the extension promo that comes with a new phone if we renew our Group Plan 999 with Sun. And since the hubby and I were on leave, they still went ahead and got it. I actually, would’ve wanted them to wait a bit until I could go with them and help in choosing a good phone but it seems they were in a bit of a hurry because one of my boss' kids insisted on a new phone ASAP! And so we had no choice but to go along since the plan is in her name after all. Anyway, I went up to the SUN shop yesterday after Ditse and I bought a cake for the hubby at Goldilocks and I saw that only the Samsung Corby II phone looked better in the SUN’s line-up of free phones in the Plan 350. It’s not yet Android but it’s the next best thing available. I only told them that I wanted white – not yellow or hot pink, just plain white! And thank God they have it in the color I wanted.

P.S. The only problem was that I got a text from SUN on Saturday, November 12, just 3 days after they got the Corby phone from SUN informing me that they are now offering the Samsung Galaxy Y at Plan 350 - oh no! I just knew we should have waited! My original plan kasi was to get a new phone when we pay on the 15th but they were in such a hurry! Now I won’t have the phone of my dreams just because they couldn’t wait. Now I guess the old adage is true - good things come to those who wait. Just too bad for me huhuhu!

A NEW SAMSUNG GALAXY Y FOR MY SON

The hubby and I decided to give our son an advanced graduation gift – his very own Samsung Galaxy Y phone! Actually, he had long been hankering me to buy him a new phone but aside from not having the budget for it, we didn’t think he was already responsible enough to take care of it well. This time, though, since he’s already in fourth year, we figured he may be old enough to take care of his things. What’s more the hubby and I decided that we would not be paying for the entire thing, we’ll just give a down payment for half of it while he pays for the other half with his allowance. That way, he may be more mindful of where he places the phone knowing that he’s paying for it with his own pocket money. Anyway, he never had a new phone yet. Ever since he has learned to text and go UNLI his phones are usually hand-me-downs from me or the hubby. In fact, his last phone is the free one I got when I availed a SUN plan last year.

And so after our short visit with Mama, off we went to SM Fairview to finally buy the phone of Keith’s dreams. Actually it took us awhile to browse for phones that he wanted – at first he said he wanted the Samsung Champ or the Corby but thankfully we waited a bit and this month, Samsung introduced a new Android phone that particularly targets the young – Samsung Galaxy Young! It’s not exactly at the price range of the regular smartphones but it has already a Gingerbread OS so it’s actually a very good buy indeed! The suggested retail price is PhP 5,850 but since we’re gonna buy this with a credit card it has a different price tag at Php 6,200. Of course, they keep saying that it has absolutely zero interest but not really if you consider the different price if you pay for it in cash or with a card. And so after a bit of browsing in the numerous shops at the Cyberzone, we finally settled on buying at BSD, the same shop the hubby bought his X2 because it offered the least interest. We then made our purchase and went home with one very happy child in tow!

P.S. Just too bad though coz after just 15 days, he lost his new phone to a heartless thief. Well, not really all his fault because the thief took advantage of his preoccupation with something (borrowing a card-reader) while at the internet shop. Turns out that my son is just too trusting and that the people whom he consider his friends may not really be his friends, after all…

GALAXY TAB OR LENOVO NETBOOK???

I joined some officemates today who went to SM North Edsa to buy a laptop. I went with them during lunch hour so I could also browse and see if there’s anything I want for Christmas. Well, I saw not one but two that I liked and since I can’t afford both of them, I have to decide what I really want to buy. I first saw the HP 110 netbook on sale at a newspaper ad they put out about a month ago. It was priced at only 17K and at the time, I figured it was already a reasonable buy. But when my officemate changed his mind and decided to buy a Lenovo laptop instead of a netbook, I saw this stylish red Lenovo netbook priced at just 19K but had definitely higher specs than the HP and so I changed my mind too! Here’s a quick look at their specs:

Lenovo Ideapad S100 106722U Specifications

Operating System: Windows 7 Starter
Processor: Intel Atom N455 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB)
Chipset: Mobile Intel NM10 Express
Memory: 1GB DDR3 RAM (1 slot, SODIMM 204-pin, Max 2GB)
Storage: 250GB HDD (5400 rpm)
Display: 10.1 inch WSVGA VibrantView LED-backlit (glossy screen)
Display Resolution: 1024 x 600
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 (integrated graphics)
Audio: Integrated Sound Card
Built-in digital microphone
Speaker 1.5W x 2 speakers
Webcam: 0.3 megapixel
Ethernet LAN: 10/100 Fast Ethernet
Wireless LAN: Wireless-N (802.11b/g/n)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Memory Card Reader: MultiMedia Card (MMC)
Secure Digital (SD)
Ports: VGA for connecting to an external monitor
3 USB 2.0 ports
RJ45 LAN port
1 x 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo jack
Keyboard and Touchpad: 98% full-size AccuType keyboard with individual rounded keys
for comfortable and accurate typing and touchpad
Dimensions (W x D x H): 10.6″ x 6.6″ x 0.6~1.1″
Weight: 2.7 lbs. (1.22 kg)
Power/Battery: 6-cell 48Wh Lithium-Ion Battery, up to 5 hours

HP MINI NOTEBOOK 110

Processor - 1.66 GHz Intel Atom Processor N280
Cache - 512 KB Level 2 cache
Memory - 1024MB (1 x 1024MB)
Memory Max - Up to 2GB
Video Graphics - Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Hard Drive - 160 GB (4200 rpm) 1.8"
Display - 10.2” Diagonal WSVGA HP Brightview Infinity Display w/ Built-in Camera and
Microphone
Fax/ Model Network Card - High speed 56K modem 10/100 LAN
Wireless Connectivity - 802.11b/g WLAN
Bluetooth
Audio - Integrated Intel High Definition Audio
External Ports:
• 3 USB 2.0
• RJ-45
• Headphone-out/Microphone in combo jack
• Expansion Port
• AC adapter
Weight - 1.11 kg (2.89 lbs)
Operating System - Genuine Windows XP home

My REAL PROBLEM came when I saw the 7-inch Galaxy tab and boy, oh boy! There was a product on display at the Samsung center and I just enjoyed fiddling with it and playing Angry Birds. I also saw that it had an e-book reader and word apps like word, excel and powerpoint – just what I need! But the problem is the price – it costs a whopping 25K coz I wanted the 3g version not just the wifi! Oh dear, I’m gonna have to save up some more so I would be able to buy this on December, otherwise this is a gonna be a real problem for me! I hope the office gives us a hefty bonus or else all my dreams would be --- pfft!

MY BROTHER’S HOME

After a year of slaving away like a dog in UAE (that’s what he says!), my brother is back home for a three-week vacation this year. Last year he was here for a month, but he says he found it difficult going back to work at once upon returning to UAE after his vacation so now he gave himself one week to readjust his body clock before going back to work. Hence, the cut in his time here in the country but that’s OK as he just needs to just make sulit every moment he spends here. His flight home was scheduled at 12 midnight and so we picked him up at the airport (with Myk and Kaye) and brought him home to Mama at Project 4.

Why was Kaye with us at so late an hour??? Well, of course she’s excited to see her new PSP. You see, I asked my brother to buy her a PSP because he says it’s cheaper there by half. Imagine what we could buy here for around 10 or 12K he could get for just 5 or 6K so I told him to buy us one before he arrives and that is why Kaye couldn’t wait since he said he bought her a white PSP 3006 version and he even had about 20 or so games installed. It was priced at 500 dirhams, so that makes it around PhP 6500, but he made us pay for only PhP 5000 only. So, thank you dear bro! You made my little girl so happy! For me and Mama he brought Nine West wallets (big brown for Ma and a small black one for me), for Marn and Anna - Victoria Secret’s Body Mist perfume, for Jun, Myk and Keith some shirts/polo shirts and of course – chocolates galore! We all went home quite satisfied with our pasalubongs and so happy that my brother is home.

A not-so-new Yashica camera

I am just disappointed, not truly mad because I guess he was just a victim as I was. You see the hubby recently ‘bought’ a camera from a ‘friend’ - a friend whom he says is soon going abroad which is why he needed the money. But, in truth, we do not really need a camera, because we are still able to use the Kodak camera from the office. However, I thought that the ‘friend’ was truly ‘in need’ so I relented and let him use ‘our money’. But what was disappointing was that we were led to believe that the camera was a Canon, so even if it was already used, I agreed to let the ‘friend’ pawn it for 3K. Turns out that the camera was actually a Yashica camera – Japan-made but not of the caliber of Nikon - and what’s worse, there was no charging cable, no USB cable to transfer the files, nothing at all! Which leads one to wonder if indeed the camera was his friend’s in the first place??? Very, very disappointing indeed!










P.S. This is not a photo of the actual camera, this is just the file photo I got from the net. It seems Yashica is known for its DSLR line a long, long, long time ago (judging from the looks of this file photo) but not really for its point and shoot cams.

New Phone from SUN

Today, I and a few officemates decided to take out a SUN Group plan for PhP999 that we could share among ourselves and pay the cost depending on our consumption. It was actually quite a good deal / promo from SUN since we are given unlimited calls and texts to other SUN numbers plus 250 free combined texts to other networks - all that we get for our monthly service fee of PhP333 per month. The ones we had to pay for are the calls we make to other networks and also the PASA load to SUN plus international and other system texts we make. The only problem was that the units that they give out for free are not very good ones; in fact, they are just the typical phone with the basic features like call and text messaging capabilities, camera, FM radio, MP3 player, etc. And so since we didn’t have much choice, I opted to go with the one with dual sim capabilities na lang so I can do away with my other phone na. It was just a simple MyPhone unit, nothing spectacular although it did have interchangeable back covers so you can change the phone’s colors with just one snap. The one other benefit of having a group plan is that it would save me much time and effort in getting the needed credentials because in this case, only the principal member (in this case Ate Ne) would provide her billing statement, proof of income (payslip or certificate of compensation) and all we had to do was pay the advance fee of PhP333 each and voila! We have a new phone with our own 333 SUN plans! Hurrah for SUN!

PHONE AND IPOD FOR SALE

I guess I have to do the inevitable…after two years, I am being forced to sell my well-loved Nokia 6288 cellphone. Actually, I have two reasons – the first is financial. Well, this is understandable after going to Palawan twice this year (first in Puerto Princesa with my kids and then to Coron with the hubby’s office outing) I guess I’m gonna have to make some sacrifices just to make ends meet again. And with enrolment just around the corner, I know I need to make some difficult adjustments just to ensure I would have some money to pay their tuition and provide for their other schooling needs. Selling my phone is the first option since I could very well live naman with just one phone. I can make do with my Nokia 3100 (even if it’s GSM!). The second reason, is that I needed to let go of the phone even if I had it for just two years because the battery life is getting a bit short and I find myself charging it more often…so rather than spending money (which I do not have!) for a new battery, I’d just sell it na lang.

I decided to post an ad for the Nokia 6288 in Sulit and soon enough I received some texts since I priced it so low at only PhP3,500.00, so that it would sell quickly. I finally settled on one buyer who agreed to meet up with me at Chowking near LTO. Reluctantly, I gave him (or maybe it was her because the buyer seemed like an old gay benefactor to me and he brought along with him a young papa!) the phone with its box and all its accessories. Afterwards, I took down the Phone for Sale ad and posted another ad in Sulit – this time for an ipod shuffle (that the hubby received as a gift). We already have an Ipod Nano (from Papa’s gift/pa-raffle last Christmas) and two Creative music players so we don’t really need it na…and so I decided to sell it for just PhP1,500.00. After a few days, a male student texted asking for a meet-up and since he didn’t know the Chowking at LTO and would be coming from Makati area pa, I agreed to meet-up at CHowking near Kamias naman. So, now I have 5K from the sale of my phone and Ipod shuffle…it would be a great help for my expenses this coming school year…thank you Sulit!

NEW CELLPHONE FROM GSM



I guess his funds got depleted yesterday, when we went out for an outing…so Jun’s pamangkin, the birthday boy, needed some replenishment and decided to sell this cellphone to me. He says they got it from someone who’s a known pickpocket in their area…well, at first I had my doubts in buying the unit knowing the pain the previous owner may have felt when he or she lost it…but it still is just an object and it does not truly maintain the vibes and feelings of its previous owners diba??? And besides, it was just such a sweet deal for only PhP1500 so I went ahead and bought it…I intend to use it for my Smart or Sun SIM. Maybe someday when my daughter has grown enough to be responsible…I’d give her the phone…but for home use only…definitely not one she can bring to school…