Western Digital TV

How can I play my movie files on a TV without burning them on a disc? I have been asking myself this question for quite some time now. I tried buying a SAMSUNG DVD player with a USB slot but this did not work. It can read my DivX files!

So I searched and searched and then found this:

Western Digital's take on a multimedia player. It does not have networking though, unlike popcorn hour, but I don't really need that. I just need to play the stuff I have on my external USB disk on my TV set. It's really easy to use! Just connect it to a TV via RCA or HDMI then connect your disk to the device. It plays tons of codecs too! The best part is that you can select the subtitle track, no need to embed it to the video before watching. This is really a plus point to me since I like watching Asian dramas and movies. Another plus point is that it is so small. It's really portable! I can bring it whenever I travel. The best part about the WD TV is its price. It's the cheapest branded multimedia player that I have seen in the market. It's really a great buy!

If you are the type of person who has a lot of video files in your HDD and you want to watch it on TV just like me then I would really recommend getting the WD TV.

To see the specs, click here.

photo from: http://www.wdc.com

Internet Connection

I decided to setup my P1i as a bluetooth modem for my MacBook so that if ever I need to surf the web and there is no wifi connection available, I could surf via Smart 3G for only P10 for every 30mins. Cheap and convenient. This is the speed that I got:

I think this is pretty fast.

Now I want to compare it to my wifi connection at home.

Bayantel DSL's speed is:

I was impressed when I saw the results of my Bayantel connection.

I think that Smart's 3G connection is pretty decent for its price.

Thin is in the Air

Steve Jobs had another Keynote address last night and he unveiled Apple's new eye candy, MacBook Air.

It's a super thin MacBook, barely an inch. It costs approximately Php 80,000. Pretty expensive for its specs but I think it's the design that is being paid for.


Photos from www.apple.com

More about the product here.

Splurge Week

From September 17-22, I have been “enjoying” my hard earned moola.


Monday: I treated my friend in Bacolod Chicken and I also got to buy the Korean movies and series that I wanted.


Wednesday: I went to the derma with my mom and my aunts. I had my usual treatment. I also bought my meds.
Side story: We passed by Rajo Laurel’s store before going to the derma. While my mom and I were reading magazines in the waiting area, the owner passed by us. He gave a second look then said “pretty.” Oooh… flattering! Sharing! Hahaha…


Thursday: I bought a pair of crocs mary janes in grape. I fell in love with the color plus I really wanted to get that style. I’m loving them! No actual photo though coz they are quite dirty at the moment since it has been raining lately.





Friday: After having lunch in Bubble Tea with my officemates, I passed by Adidas to check on the Ateneo Apparel. I was able to get a jacket that fit perfectly!

Official Ateneo Adidas Jacket

Saturday: I went to Greenhills with my mom. She decided to buy my iPod from me so I bought a new one. I got an 8gb iPod nano in blue. I decided to purchase a small one coz I realized I won’t be needing an iPod with a huge capacity since I am going to get a laptop anyway. I am currently putting my songs and videos in it. I can now easily share the videos that I have edited. The cover flow feature is really cool! I am now organizing all the songs that I put so that it would look good in cover flow.

Mama's 60gb iPod Photo & my new 8gb iPod Nano

Now I’m back to stingy Phoebe, my old self, coz I need to save up for that laptop!

K850 cybershot phone

I have been a fan of SonyEricsson for... well... since they merged i guess...

I love taking pictures and their camera phones really impress me. The quality of the pictures is really high. Just like Sony cams i guess.. hehehe

I am pretty content with my K800i. It has a 3.2mp camera with xenon flash and is 3g capable. Nokia has released n95 which has a 5mp cam. With that, I have waited for sonyericsson to make a 5mp cybershot phone. Well the long wait is over...

I just checked sonyericsson's site a few minutes ago and a certain phone design intrigued me. It was the K850. So I clicked on it. I read the description and saw that it had a 5mp camera. And then read on. And then went back up and saw it again "5mp" since it did not seem to register the 1st time. 5mp sonyericsson phone?! great!!!


It comes in 2 colors! Luminous Green and Velvet Blue.
It is HSDPA capable and supports both m2 and micro sd cards!!!

more info here

I can't wait for it to come out... Hopefully, i'll have money by that time ;p

source: sonyericsson.com

The NEW iPod Family

I waited for Apple's September keynote address and this is what Mr. Jobs presented

The NEW iPod family. The only iPod that did not have a facelift is the shuffle. There is also a new member of the family, iPod Touch.

Personally, I am attracted to the iPod nano (now with video) and the iPod touch.

I love the nano's size and the fact that it now has the capability to play videos. It comes in 4gb and 8gb.What I like about the iPod touch is its design. It's an iPhone without the cellular phone capability and the camera. This iPod can surf the net. It has a built-in wifi and it has safari installed in it. It comes in 8gb and 16gb.

These are the new colors of shuffle.


The regular iPod now known as the iPod "Classic." It still comes in black and white. It has a full metal design and can now store as much as 160gb!
Apple's (product) red line now includes shuffle. It not bloody red anymore. It sorta looks maroonish. Every purchase of a (product) red item would give a donation to the global fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Watch the Keynote Address.

Apple also lowered the iPhone's price. It is now $200 cheaper than its first release. A lot of people with iPhones complained so Steve Jobs is giving those who already have an iPhone a $100 rebate. Read his open letter.

Another eye candy in the new all-in-wonderful iMac. It is thinner than the old one. Even the keyboard lost weight! Minimal wires. No clutter.


Now this is something I have been waiting for for the longest time. No announcement yet on the exact date of the release of OS X Leopard. It has a lot of promising features. The dock has been redesigned. The finder is easier to use since it is similar to iTunes. It is also easier to preview files with the addition of Quicklook. Can't wait for its release. Hopefully Apple would have this out by October, just in time for my birthday. :)


Yeah I know, how geeky...

*source: apple.com*

doing nothing makes you think

It's quite hard to do nothing. You can say you are not doing anything, but really, are you not doing anything? I say it a lot of times but i am actually reading a book or a magazine, watching tv or dvds, surfing the internet etc. Doing nothing can also make you do some thinking. And I have been thinking a lot these past few days. My mind goes places while I'm walking on the treadmill.

What have I been thinking of?

I'm going out of my comfort zone: School
Most of us, if not all, are excited at the idea of graduating. We celebrate when we graduate from kindergarten, elementary, high school, college, and if we are that hard working, graduate studies. It so easy to celebrate ones graduation if there was a next step. But right now, there is no "next step" for me. I am not pursuing graduate studies. I am tired of studying for now. It's not that I am not happy about finishing college, I am, believe me. It's just that I am so damn scared because I don't know what's next. Will I get a job? Will I think of a bizaare business plan? Will I be an entrepreneur? I have not idea! There are so many options after college but there is no definite thing for me. Everything is in my hands now. After studying for almost 19 years, my home-school-home routine has ended. My lifestyle will be changed forever. No more teachers to tell you what to do. No more advanced reading (as if i do this) to prepare for the next lesson. Nada! Ok. I am being sentimental again.


Will i get a job that will suit me?
ve been pondering on this for a long time. I have had my first official job interview an a magazine company. That has been my first and last for now because I haven't been applying to companies yet. I only gave my resume to that magazine company and a television station. That's it. After experiencing that interview, I realized that the task I had to do there did not suit me and the working environment didn't either. But am I to choose only the ones where I WANT to work? Who am I to choose? I think that competition out there is really tough. I am not used to competing with other people. My grades would tell you that. Right now, I am kind of regretting that. I should have done more. Maybe I should have lessened watching Koreanovelas and Reality shows and going out. If only I have done major studying and researching maybe my grades would not be as mediocre. I won't be stepped on by those who performed well. But then, I had fun and im happy. hehehe


When will I start looking for a job?


As I mentioned, I haven't been looking for one. Why? Well, I want to enjoy the summer. I want to go to the beaches in the Philippines. I want to go to Asian countries. I want to explore. I'd start looking for one after a month. I want to cherish my freedom 1st. A month of having fun would do. Who knows? I might find mister right in that month of bumming around.

What I've been doing

I finished watching Great Expectations

I liked it. I loved the colorful Nursery School. If there is such a preschool in the Philippines, I would enroll my children there. The story was ok. The thug got the nursery school from his mom who passed away. He had to teach in the school to get his inheritance. He then falls in love with the teacher. The teacher has an ex who was the enemy of the thug. Of course it has a happy ending. The kids were cute. They kept me watching the series. It was a bit dragging towards the end though. Or maybe I was getting sleepy already.

Right now I am watching Super Rookie

The first few episodes were ok. I like the characters. There was a scene in the start where-in the guy was singing his heart out in the bridge. He was in major emo mode but it was hilarious!

The lead actress, Han Ga In, looks like Son Ye Jin. At first, I though that it was her. Don't you think they look the same? creepy...

I was cooking tikoy a while ago since I wanted to eat something while watching. Unfortunately, there was a black out because of the rainshower. So I continued reading Meg Cabot's "How to be Popular." It was a Christmas gift but then I had no time to read it. I'm only on the 7th chapter if I am not mistaken. It is a light read. Fun though. You get to realize why some people are popular and some are not (including yours truly. haha! and I don't think I would ever be one)

Tech Alert

I've been using vista for a few weeks now. i switched because of the "TAGA LIPA ARE" and "Viva Termex" viruses. It does not really prevent them from entering the computer I think but Windows Vista is more cautious than XP. It keeps on asking you stuff when you want to do something. Better safe than sorry. It has major compatibilityissues though. I have installed it thrice. now itis working well. I did not attemptto install programs that are incompatible anymore.

I'll continue my marathon now...

I HATE BILL GATES

Bought a Windows XP home OEM. Lost the product key. Called Microsoft. Asked if we can get one. I know OEMs can only be installed in one machine but just once? If it crashes, it's your problem. Ok. that was Php 5,000.00 down the drain. Thanx Bill! Thanx a lot!!!

Apple is a Genius

Steve Jobs is my idol.. haha.. actually the Apple team is.. where do they get these ideas? iMac? iBook? Powerbook? Macbook? Macbook Pro? iPod? and now Apple TV and iPhone? that's so great. if i only had spare money id buy everything Apple. that's my short term goal. after i graduate i have to get the perfect job that will enable me to get a MacBook for myself and an iPhone. just hope it has 3G and a cam flash. but i can use it as a second phone. why not? i want one!!! aint it pretty? *droooool*looks great! i want to try it. hahaha.. anyway. about the iPhone name issue. i think cisco does have the right to sue but then why did they use the name in the first place? i think that they were just trying to ride the Apple iName thing. anyway, if Apple loses they could just use the name MacPhone. sounds ok to me!

by the way. i find the keynote presentation of steve jobs awesome. check it our at apple.com.

layout

at last i finished it.. my gosh.. this new blogger thing is cool but i had no idea how to make a layout.. after 7 hours i finally made one.. i just do not know how to make the page title vanish.. grrrrrrrrr..

anyway.. my eyes really hurt now.. so this is the end of my post.. *sigh*

random thoughts

My mom's brown cybershot phone. I like the color. And the features are awesome. the 3.2 megapixel camera and the xenon flash makes the phone a must buy for photo lovers like me. I took these shots with my cybershot phone. It's my photo buddy!!!


Our 4:30am mcdo breakfast...
mia: sausage mcmuffin with egg, milo, hashbrown
joy: sausage mcmuffin, milo, hashbrown, fries
phoebe: egg mcmuffin, hot choco
we ordered each mcmuffin variant!!! coolness.. hahaha




christmas ice cream
i can sooo feel Christmas now.. hehehe.. i like the pistachio ice cream inside.. i did finish eating the choco coating coz i personally do not like choco coatings.. hehehe..


saw this in the korean supermart near filinvest 1.. it tasted good but it was spicy.. i let my younger brother, poj, finish it.. he liked eating the noodles.. but when he tried to drink the soup he gave up.. he started drinking juice and water.. it was too spicy.. hahaha..


the best medicine.. it's super sour but it really works.. i recommend it!!! hahaha.. once i feel a bit sick i drink it.. its super magical i swear

;-)

sem break

yeah it's "sem break" but well i have to do some org work.. and thesis stuff.. so.. yeah.. i cant really feel the sem break.. anyway..

i celebrated my birthday last october 10 by editing the whole day and crying by night time coz the audio was not rendered with the video.. oh well.. my favorite teacher in college, ms chichi robles, dint give us a minus.. we just submitted our pretty documentary in her house.. at past 11pm.. hehe..

my mom didn't know what to give me so she gave me cash instead.. my aunt also gave me cash.. so i bought an lcd, speakers, and a keyboard.. now my pc is black and silver.. i love it.. the best gifts ever!!!

traded in my nokia3250 yesterday since it had no flash and the 2mp cam wasnt that nice.. i got myself a k800i with 3.2mp.. it rocks!!! now i have no money.. though i still have savings.. hehehe.. my mom got a little pissed coz i copied her phone.. she sez i dint really like the phone.. umm.. correction.. ever since i saw the phone in the sonyericcson site i fell in love with it.. so.. it was a dream come true.. i just need to save up for a 512mb m2.. but im happy since i dont have to bring a separate cam whenever i go out.. coolness!!!

oh well.. gtg!!!