My New Advocacy: eBooks for Pinoy

I just started a new eBook-centric blog: eBookster.

I am moving!

After a long hiatus, I lost the momentum in posting to this blog.  So effective immediately, the new home of Talkin’ Tech will be Talkin’ Tech [re-plugged].

Hope to see you all there (yes, all three of you) :D

Posting Through Windows Live Writer

…and shuddering at the thought of using a Microsoft product full time should this turn out to be a good way to update my blog.

Keep It Coming! [SMS SPAM]

...and I'll keep posting your "helpful" messages here!

Well, since no one can Google the content of the message, here it is:

From: +639162307682
Gud news! NO COLLATERAL CASH LOAN, LOW nterest RATE!! NO HIDDEN CHARGES!! Borrow 30K-1M, 4 more nfo U kud also tx me at 09286112530, GODBLESS U-KRIS2PHER

Oh, and did I mention that I received this fricking message while I was DRIVING HOME?

Globe's "myServices" Portal for the iPhone is Up!

And it looks GREAT!

Tapping on the "myAccount" link will bring a subscriber to a page that shows the amount due, total roaming charges and the total unbilled charges! A real convenient way to check if a cellphone user is already going beyond his cellphone budget. Tapping on the "myGlobe" link will bring a subscriber to Globe's eCommerce site where a subscriber can buy ringback tones.

A real promising start for those who will be getting the iPhone come August 22, 2008 and a good way to maximize the use of current Globe subscribers who already own a 1st-generation iPhone.

iPhone 3G Plans -- The Official Philippine Rates

Well, it took long enough but it came anyway... the eagerly awaited iPhone 3G will be available in a few week's time and the verdict is out: Local Apple enthusiasts have mixed reaction to the news. Some breathed a sigh of relief because they can no get their grubby little hands on a legitimate iPhone 3G, some are ranting to high heavens, dismayed at the cost of owning one. As for me, I think I'll hold on to my 1st-get iPhone for at least one year more simply because it still works and I feel that despite its lack of GPS and 3G, it is still quite a capable piece if technology.

Globe's iPhone plans, the lowest is Php 1,599/mo + 16,800 for the Gb unit and the highest plan is Php 4,999 with a free 8Gb unit, may seem a bit expensive considering that the iPhone can also be had for 41,889(8Gb) or 48,899 (16Gb). A quick calculation will show that it might be cheaper to get the unit outright than be locked in to the telco for 2-years and paying more over the period of the lock-in.

I'm sure that a lot of people will "bite" into this despite the price because, let's face it, the iPhone is one cool gadget.



Disclaimer: I am not selling the iPhone 3g not any of the gadgets I write about in this blog. An ignorant f@cktard (you know who you are) has been spamming this blog claiming that I am making money selling stuff here. FYI, the adsense check I received from ads in my blogs is not nearly enough to pay for a week's worth of gasoline -- which means I can definitely live without it and not receiving any checks from adsense will not make me a pauper nor will it drive me to send out SPAM to make "extra money". So there!
In the vernacular: hindi ako itinitinda ang mga bagay na isinusulat ko dito, BOBO!

More SPAM!

ARGH! After a few day's worth of peace and quiet, here comes another SPAM!

switchAbit Test

I just discovered a new web service called switchAbit. If I was able to set up the service correctly, this post should appear both my wordpress blog and my jaiku page.

**fingers crossed**

The Aiptek DV Z200 PRO: A Bullet-point Review

I got this Aiptek DV Z200 PRO as a birthday gift. It also replaces my trusty point-and-shoot Kodak digital camera which got sort of broken when it fell during our summer outing :(

Here are my thoughts so far:

• It is quite handy.
• The 1000 mAh battery looks like something you see on cellphones.
• Videos taken are quite decent but I have yet to those videos on TV.
• Its 5 megapixel camera takes good pictures but the shutter lag is a bit annoying.
• Connecting the DV Z200 to a computer is a breeze, no drivers required.
• Charges if connected to a computer via USB.
• The size makes it easy to lug around and capture still images and videos at a moment's notice.
• If I'm to use this "seriously", I'll probably need a full-sized tripod (or at least a monopod).

I may still need to get a decent point-and-shoot camera so I can get better pictures. But for taking short video clips and home movies, this little gadget should work really well with me.

Drowning in SMS SPAM!

It looks like SMS Spammers are working overtime!

In the past few days, I have been receiving these unwanted messages and I wonder if there is anything a cellphone subscriber can do to stop it...

Here are some of the SMS SPAMs I have received so far:

From: +639162643641
CASHLOAN from BDO with an interest rate of as low as .98% per month (we also offer other loans.)
CARLOAN financing BRANDNEW or 2ND HAND UNIT, "CAR MORTGAGE" OR/CR only PAYOFF BANK BALANCE
with an interest rate of 1% per month, lower interest for brandnew.. INTERESTED, u may kol our ofc nos.2122405,2973741,2973432,2971670,2980646,2980645 luk for MS. JINKY.. Thank you!

From: +639202890488
greetings! chinatrust loan offer prequalified client 2 loan 100K-1M @ lower interest 1.39%-1.49%, 4more dtails pls call Ela Relano 02-7503998, thank you po

From +639158874208
1/2 LAST RUN for 2008 of d seminar ALL ABOUT VAT July 15-17 Crowne Plaza 1-5pm. Everything u need t know abt VAT n how it affects ur business. Discover how to

From +639158874212
2/2 legally reduce ur VAT due. Pls call Leni of POWERMAX 687-9014/ 986-3630 / 710-7604 or visit www.powermaxconsultinggroup.com

All the above messages were received by my cellphone within a span of one week! Some even came at the most inopportuned time (while driving, on a meeting, etc.). I have to consult some of my lawyer friends and ask them if there are any legal recourse to stop this recent avalance of unwanted TXT messages.

Oh, and it just struck me that these SMS SPAMMERS are getting crafty... the last two messages are part of a single marketing blurb but they came from two different numbers... a way to circumvent any blacklisting application that some cellphone/smartphone have... crafty in an evil kind of way..,