Where we are first:
And last:
Which are related. We're text crazy, so data makes up the bulk of mobile operators' revenue. And because we'd rather text, we call less, which makes us dead last in the MOU (minutes of use) per capita.
Source: Merrill Lynch's Global Wireless Matrix report, 2007
I just returned from Beijing, my third time there. But unlike previous trips--which were spent entirely in airports, meetings, working meals, transit, and sleep shorter than a power nap--this trip afforded me a day to spare. So my colleagues/friends spent one morning in the Forbidden City, before spending the afternoon being assaulted by the Forbidden Vendors hawking the Forbidden Products. Pirated everything--branded bags, clothes, cameras, gadget accessories and the subject of this post, the iClone.
Or iPhoney for the more condescending, pronounced derisively as, "Aaaay, phoney!"
My friend, Jim, a proud owner of half a dozen Macs, including the drool-inducing Mac Air, bought an iClone. He says he bought it as a toy, which I believe since, well, he already owns two legitimate iPhones, and is toying with the 3G model (yeah, he has access, even to Steve Jobs himself).
We saw several iClones; some were noticeably narrower; others had more keys/buttons. Jim bought the one that most closely resembled the real thing.
900 renminbi. Or about 120 US dollars.
So I took some shots of the iClone, shown below, and tinkered with it briefly.
Similar up front
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Apple logo reversed!
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Power button and volume controls up top
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 "No headphone jack |
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 Similar slimness |
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 No side buttons |
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 Similar wallpaper, even the slide bar |
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 Similar menu |
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 Similar dial pad |
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 Different SMS menu, which looks more like Symbian or Windows! |
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 Not a multi-touch screen |
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 No accelerometer |
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Short tale of the tape
iClone only looks like the iPhone. Functionally, it is not; it is just a regular multimedia phone, with Symbian-like usability.
iPhone outside, kinda Symbian inside.
No multi-touch functionality. No accelerometer. None of the iPhone's bells and whistles.
For iPhone bigots, it's "Inutile Inside".
iPhone for the masses
But for a little over $100, throngs can look like iPhone owners. The masses would be hard-pressed to find a touch-multimedia phone for less, let alone look like an iPhone.
Still, iClone won't fly for a great majority (I sense legions of iPhone snobs collectively sighing in relief), and here's why: the iClone, or the iPhone for that matter, is not the ideal device for heavy texters. iPhone took off in the US because first world markets are callers first, texters a distant second--diametrically opposite emerging markets, and its predominantly prepaid base. That said, I too will only get an iPhone as a second phone. I am a Mac user first, texter second, caller a distant third.
Thankfully, I have no iPhone envy. I have enough gadgets to fill any iPhone freak's mobile gadget appetite. But I will get one someday, well, because admittedly it is a great piece of art and engineering. But I'll wait till the price drops enough, or when the 3G version comes out.
Unless the Mac Air gets me first!
And since my blog is about the mobile industry, let me tell you now: Globe Telecom has decided NOT to distribute and/or subsidize iPhones. That's the word in the mobile circles, anyway. I suppose Apple's requirements were too prohibitive--ludicrous upfront investment, debilitating volume commitment, oppressive revenue share, or worse, all these. In other words, whatever Apple put on the table does not seem viable for mobile operators in low ARPU prepaid markets. Operators from larger markets, like India or China, may be able to afford it, as they may have enough high ARPU subscribers. That said, I don't expect Smart to do otherwise, but one can continue to hope. (I will ping my Smart contacts and see what their iPhone inclinations are, and maybe even fish for Apple's terms.)
Bottomline
Pinoys in the Philippines may have to live with cracked iPhones.
Maybe forever.
Thanks to an off-topic post about Shawn Yao, traffic on my month-old blog about the mobile industry has surged.
On a different blog, I lamented the fact that while the February issue of Rogue Magazine has sold out, very few people have actually seen or read the issue--which is a shame because Rogue is more read-worthy than FHM, Maxim, or Uno magazine. In my book anyway, Rogue is better written, not to mention better laid out.
Fortunately, Rogue's Creative/Art Director, Miguel Mari, perhaps scouring the Net for Shawn-related buzz, read my comment and replied:
While verifying the identity of the respondent--that it was indeed Rogue's Art Director--is not straightforward (I would have to contact the blog owner or ask a friend of a friend of Miguel), this is just a blog; my blog, not NY Times, where facts must be validated.
So without further ado--and thanks to OCR (optical character recognition, which saved me the trouble of retyping the article) software ReadIris 11--I now repost the article that sold out Rogue Magazine's February 2008 issue.
On Your Knees
We open the Year of the Rat with an official coming-out party for Shawn Yao, who, for years, has merely flitted in and out of our awareness as a reluctant model, cult TV personality, and idealistic photographer. After her Rogue debut, as QUARK HENARES will attest, it may just be impossible to expunge her from your consciousness now.
Shawn Yao starts fights.
It was one of the first things she did this year, actually. At Cuisine, in the Fort. Someone grabbed her ass. And it wasn't a brush against the ass, mind you. It was a full on grab + squeeze. This I know because she demonstrated it using my own ass as we spoke. I tried to keep a straight face the whole time, I really did. So she turns around and the guy says, "So I grabbed your ass, so fucking what?" An acquaintance, with neither signal nor warning, then full-on pounces on the guy, clocking repeatedly. Shawn walks out on the pandemonium as someone screams after her, "Thank you! He did that to me too!"Shawn Yao used to shoot children.
This was her first job: a photographer at a children's photo studio which will remain unnamed, because neither I nor she likes mentioning it. She started when she was in college. "I did that because--honestly, honestly, honestly--it was the only place that offered a part time job aside from Seattle's Best and Starbucks. I wanted to try to be a working student. I wanted to try to be more 'Western.' Thought it would be character building, and it really was." She had her dad cut her allowance, which he partially did, to half the original amount. "I've never been so rich in my entire life," she says with an ironic smile that also manages to display pride in her own resourcefulness. These days, Shawn runs her own photography studio, Triptych, along with two other partners. "We put up a studio of our own, so we force ourselves to get our asses to work. It's like a forced commitment," she explains. Before that, she was living a hand-to-mouth existence, only taking on jobs when she needed the money. "Late last year, we decided to just stand up, go and get it, and it was good-one step towards maturity and a sense of responsibility."Shawn Yao doesn't care if you look like shit as long as it's the truth.
Shawn adopts the purist's philosophy of photography. She prefers reallocations, natural lighting, and no post· production manipulation whatsoever. "I'm a realist. I don't like altering pictures. You kind of just lose a huge essence. You see a billboard, and there're absolutely no lines in a smiling face. I want to preserve a memory or scene forever, and if you have a zit that day then malas ka na lang. My favorite subjects are real people and random inanimate objects." As opposed to product shots and modeling shoots? "Yeah, I do that too. Oh, fuck. I'm a sellout."Shawn Yao is now a cosplayer fantasy girl.
Especially since she took on her role as "Fun Press" correspondent in the Animax program Mad Mad Fun, where she has garnered nearly as much attention as its main host. "Before that, I never talked on cam, ever," she shares even though she has played various filmic roles such as a kidnapped schoolgirl for a short film, a frustrated writer for a Sugarfree music video, and a haunted pet owner for The Spaceflower Show's "Salawikain" music video. "The experience was mortifying, but humiliating yourself gets easier every single time. I was so proud because, in one of our last shoots, two hours lang, tapos na kami." One of her most memorable experiences was discovering what cosplay was all about for a Gaming conference she covered. "It was the most amazing thing. They never broke character. If you made them laugh, they had to be like their characters. It's method acting at its best, man," These days, cosplayers ask for her autograph all the time. The picture of her in Kinbaku, a Japanese-style bondage characterized by intricately patterned binding, is Rogue's personal gift to them.
Shawn Yao is a guy.
"I really, really am," she says, trying her best to convince me as she espies her reflection in a glass window and primps. She doesn't need to.
"I'm terrified of commitment. I have a very short attention span. I wear white five out of seven days a week, and the other days I wear black ... because it's easy to match. I refuse to spend more than fifteen minutes deciding on an outfit. Such a waste of time."
"Oh. And I like checking out hot girls. I can't help it." Still not convinced.Shawn Yao is eating her own foot.
"What was the photo shoot like?" I ask.
"It was-basta it was weird." "Wait. Let me download it."
As I open my laptop, Shawn gets a call from a guy named Alexis,
a film critic who sleeps watching blockbusters like Troy but watches Lav Diaz's l0-hour opuses repeatedly. This particular superhuman ability has allowed him to fly off to different parts of the world (albeit on commercial flights). He is apparently one of her biggest fans.
I open the e-mail and see the first picture; the one with a transparent skeleton over her half-naked body. My jaw drops, and I press my hand against my chest.
"One second, Alexis. I think Quark is having a heart attack."Shawn Yao is the worst model ever.
At least she thinks she is. She professes, "I can't do a half-smile and a smile with no teeth." I ask her to try. She'd rather not, she says. "I especially hate it when they expect you to just do your thing. This Rogue shoot super-worked out for me because Juan [Caguic1a, the photographer] told me to do very specific things."
Of course, Juan Caguicla would do that. His reputation as an exacting craftsman is veritably fascist; his attention to certain nuances almost fetishistic.
But it worked. The images show Shawn at her most vulnerable and most powerful. Caguicla says it best: "I liked the fact that she was open enough to ideas that would otherwise fall on dead ears or elicit a slap in the face."
It had been in the works for some time now-Shawn and Juan had intermittently discussed the shoot for around a year. The two photographers eventually became close enough friends to brainstorm for real. "We were talking for hours about random stuff, and I decided to lie on my knee. Juan asked what the hell I was doing, and I said my back hurt-and to alleviate the pain-I like to lie on my knee. That started it all. We shot right after."
Shawn Yao takes pleasure in your pain.
"I like things that make me feel depressed because they somehow make me feel better about life," she shares, rather confusingly. Apparently, the more disturbing, depressing, and morbid things are-the happier she is. She talks about how much she loves Mark Romanek's video for Nine Inch Nails's "Closer," how she absolutely adores Johnny Cash, and how Fight Club left a lasting impression on her. During the interview, she clutches a copy of F. Sionil Jose's Dusk. "He's the only Filipino writer I follow. He captures the Filipino diaspora so well," she says. "Naks, diaspora," she chuckles derisively, with a-wait a minute-was that a half-smile with no teeth?Shawn Yao is Shawn Yao.
And she is famous for being so. The name is one I always used
to hear for no apparent reason. She's not a model, she's not an actress, and, until recently, she wasn't even a demi-celebrity. People just like tossing her name around, and it always has to be the full name, like "Rico Blanco" or "Anne Curtis." It's almost like a badge of honor to know her or know ofher.
Google her and the first result that pops up is a website called Crush ng Bayan. It's as good a description of her as you'll find, actually. Graduates (and current students) of UA&P still mention her name in hushed tones-and fathers still clamor for her services to photograph their children even if she hasn't worked in the aforementioned children's portrait studio for nearly a year.
She excuses herself from the interview. It's her turn to sing New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle"-at the live-band karaoke joint we're in. Everyone stops whatever they're doing, transfixed by Shawn Yao. It seems like it's a performance that will leave her with a fresh batch of fans who will, soon enough, drop her name like a badge of honor.
Oh, yeah. You were only interested in the pictures. Typical. Here.
Friday, 7 March 2008
Sharon Cuneta
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My girls are not allowd to have mga playstation at home. They aren't allowed to watch TV (kahit Disney ch. or playhouse disney) on schooldays. After school lang, Fri, Sat and early Sun. Si KC lumaki wala rin Playstation. Ayaw namin sobrang daming distractions sa kanila! Kaya we love being in Laguna. Walang malls na malapit. Nature ang pinag-aabalahan sila.
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Ogie Diaz
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Nalokah ako kay Tita Annabelle. Tinalakan ako sa phone kanina. Pinagmumura ako at sinabihan pa ng ‘hi--ot.’ hinahamon pa ako ng away. Ang sabi niya, ba't ko daw tinitira ang pamilya niya? Ano raw ang kasalanan nila sa akin. Kasi raw, ba't daw sinulat ko pa na ‘kabit’ ni Bong si Ruffa eh hindi naman niya pala napanood ang umagang kay ganda. Puro narinig lang ng mga friends niya. Ang hirap talaga pag nakikinig ka lang sa ibang tao at hindi ikaw mismo
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
John Lapus
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Pumunta ako sa bahay ng socialite at fashionistang si Tessa Prieto Valdez. Morocan inspired ang bahay ng Celebrity Duet winer. Ang taray! Ininterview ko sya sa pagiging Ambasadress of baby skin. Wow!
Monday, 3 March 2008
Joyce Jimenez
For more of Joyce's text diary, text JOYCE to Smart 326.
Let me tell you something about my name, my real name is Joyce Herrin Reintegrado. My first name was either supposed to be Jennifer or Joy, if you notice all the names start with J, my dad believed that if your name starts with J, you’ll be lucky. My parents decided to scratch out Jennifer because it was too long, they liked Joy because of the song ‘Joy to the World’. They decided to name me Joyce so I wouldn’t be associated with the song too much. So, that’s the history behind my name.:) If you’re wondering where I got Jimenez, well the story is quite funny. My manager wanted a double J so my name would be catchy and my initials would be JJ. What she did was ask a phone book opened it up to J and there you have it, Joyce Jimenez.
Saturday, 1 March 2008
Kristine Hermosa
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Guys,eto na yung promise ko sa inyo na tips for a perfect dress on ur prom night. Classic n retro prom dresses ang pinakamaganda. Sana makahanap kayo na babagay sa inyo :) Second hand shop or vintage shop is more affordable. This is so because a second hand prom dresses would be always cheaper than going in for a brand new one, isn't it? Mas makakatipid pa kayo, diba? Try visiting as many vintage and second hand stores as possible. You should not end your search till such time you find the perfect prom dress and are more than satisfied with it.
I blogged about when we text and even what we download on Valentine's day. But surely, the world must wonder what SMS-crazy Filipinos text about. After all, we are still the world's text messaging capital.
Source: ICTYBTIHTKY
What does this say about us?
Friday - 29 February 2008
Naloka ba kayo sa mga tsismis lately? Anong pinaka nakakuha ng attention mo? Naku ha, mga friends ko ang mga kontobersyal ngayon. Between Gretchen and Nadia, ayokong mamagitan, they’re both my friends kasi.
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Anything that will make Heart happy, I will give it to her. I really love her and I will do anything for her. Hindi naman kami tatagal ng ganito kung hindi ko siya mahal, diba?
For Jericho's text blog, send ECHO to Smart 326.
I'm looking forward in opening again a resto, pero pagaaralan ko muna. I had an experience na naman in handling a resto so it will be easier for me para pag aralang mabuti ang pagbubukas ulit. Wish me luck guys! Bye.
For Ara's text blog, send ARA to Smart 326, Globe 2978, or Sun 2929.
Thursday - 28 February 2008
Hey guys! Were you able to watch ASAP 2 weeks ago? Anne celebrated her 23rd birthday, nandon kami ni Loydie, may hawak ng banner while she was singing, hehe!
For Anne's text diary, subscribe by sending ANNECURTIS to Smart 326 or Globe 2978.
Hello! Don’t worry guys kasi I will let you know kung kelan ipapalabas ang Utoy, nagsisimula na kami mag taping kaya asahan ninyo na konting panahon na lang ang hihintayin ninyong lahat. Sana suportahan nyo ang show namin ha?:)
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Haaay good day sa iyo! Haaay! ano ba itong napasukan ko? Hindi na tumigil ang masamang press tungkol sa akin. Kung wala siguro ako e wala siguro silang ganito karaming publicity. Gusto ko pa lang magpasalamat kay Tita Swarding.
To subscribe to Patrick's text blog, send PATRICK to Smart 326, Globe 2978, or Sun 2929.
Hello sweets!:) Until now, marami pa rin akong nare-receive na feedback about my acting in Lobo. Actually, I’m overwhelmed sa mga good praises na sinasabi ninyo. Thank you so much sweets!mwah:)
For more of Diether, send DIETHER to Smart 326, Globe 2978, or Sun 2929.
Wednesday - 27 February 2008
Frankie and Miel are naninibago to my being out of the house often nowadays. :-( Si KC lang nga naman ang lumaki na nakita akong todo working! The two little ones don't know na buhay ko for 30 years ang work sa labas lagi. Dun lang ako nahihirapan 'cause I miss them (my family) whenever I'm out! But I need to do this. For myself, for u! :-) It's gonna be a great movie. Am excited to finish it so you can watch na!
To subscribe to Sharon's text blog, send SHARON to Smart 326 or Globe 2978.
Nku,alm mo ba nung Sat sa E-live.Dpt sna,lst guest c Gretchen Barretto.Nkaupo na c Gretch hbng pnn0n0od nya ang vtr.E nairta na c Gretch dhl puro Nadia ang lman ng vtr,kya ng wlkout ang lola nyo!Akla dw nya,mgpo-pr0mte lng cya ng cd,pro un ang lumbs.
Hurt c Gretch.Nabastos dw sya nung Sat.Ang taray!Only Gretchen tlga cn get away wd it!...Eto pala. official n final STATEMENT from NADIA MONTENEGRO.Feb 24,’08. ‘MARAMI NA PONG KWENTO ANG LUMABAS.MARAMI NA RING TAO ANG NASAKTAN…’
…’KUNG ANO MAN PO ANG MGA NASABI KO NUNG ARAW NA YUN,YUN PO ANG NAGING OPINYON KO DALA NG GALIT.KAYA SA MGA NASAKTAN,PASNSYA NA PO.MAINAM NA RIN SIGURONG MANAHIMIK PARA HNDI NA LUMAKI O LUMALA PA ANG MGA USAPIN.MARAMING SALAMAT’.-Nadia Montenegro
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Tuesday - 26 February 2008
I have to accept the fact na kapag sexy actress ka madami ka talagang taga hanga na males lalo na kung nag-pose ka sa isang men’s magazine pero lahat yun parte ng pagiging artista kaya dapat kayanin lahat, positive or negative man ang feedback.
For Aubrey's text diary, send AUBREY to Smart 326, Globe 2978, or Sun 2929.
I’ve been so busy these past months, after the holiday I’m back again in preparing the things that Doug and I need to accomplish for the wedding. The wedding date is set and it will be on October 9, our anniversary date.
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Present sa party ni Jinggoy si Gretchen and Tony Boy, kaya nagkaroon din ng chance na masagot na ni Gretchen ang lahat ng intriga sa kanila. Obviously, they are both happy in each other’s company, so lahat talaga eh tsismis lang.
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Monday - 25 Febuary 2008
In my album, there's Paglisan which was originally done by Color It Red, Sharon Cuneta's Pangarap na Bituin, Tito Mina's Ikaw Pa Rin, and Joshua Kadison's Beautiful In My Eyes. It’s really nice guys, so please do check it out. Thanks!:)
For more of Jericho, send ECHO to Smart 326.
Tinanong ko si Tin kung ano na ang lagay nila ni Diet. Wala na daw, single sya, pero andun pa rin ang love. Ke Oyo, ayaw daw muna niyang magpaligaw. Ganun?
Send OGIE to Smart 326, or Globe 2978 for Ogie's juicy tsismis.
Sunday - 24 February 2008
About 80 percent (!!!) of my new movie-my first with Direk Chito Rono an my first in more than 4 yrs, entitled 'CAREGIVER,' is set in London (!!!).
Dapat punta pa kmi sa Prague ksi mas mura dun, dadayain dapat namin some scenes pero all of the 80 percent of our scenes are talagang set in London lang.
Now may problema pa pag nag-Prague kami, so outskirts of London n lang. Sayang din 'cause I wanted to see Prague talaga since I've never been there!
For a regular dose of Sharon, send SHARON to Smart 326 or Globe 2978.
I’ve been doing my album for a couple of months na din and we are putting so many things in it to make it more beautiful. I also took voice lessons just for the album. So watch out for that guys ha?
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Saturday - 23 February 2008
As of now I’m doing an Indie film. The film is entitled Tingala Sa Pugad and I’ve been shooting since January. I hope you can watch out for that and still support me pa din ha?
For more of Heart, send HEART to Smart 326.
I’m happy dat with my latest soap,maka2pareho ko ulit si Diet.He is such a gentleman n so nice 2 work with.Ang tagal na nming magkakila2 n mgksma pa s industry kya sbrang tiwala na ko s knya.I hpe dat d viewers wud lyk us here in dis scary project.
For Claudine's text blog, send CLAUDINE to Smart 326 or Globe 2978.
A lot of people who are sincerely concerned with the me have been texting and calling and I really appreciate the effort of everyone who didn't leave me at this point in time. I know that this is a very unpopular decision but I'll make this work.
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Friday - 22 February 2008
Nakakalokah ang magkaibigan Nadia at Gretchen. Nakakalungkot dahil nagsusumbatan na sila. Nagmeeting sina Gretch, Tanya Montenegro, Dodie Puno at Tonyboy Cojuangco. Wala sina Nadia at jowang si Boy Asistio. Bale si Tanya ang representative ni Nadia. Sana nga magkaayos na ang magkaibigang ito. Ikaw, me opinion ka ba dito?
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Thursday - 21 February 2008
Hi again! Please don't forget to watch 'Kamandag' after Joaquin B. and 'ESP' after Coffee Prince mamayang gabi yan sa GMA 7. Thanks for the support!
To subscribe to Francine's text blog, send FRANCINE to Smart 326 or Globe 2978.
Sey mo, kausap ko si Erap. Tuloy na raw ang movie nila ni AiAi under star cinema. Handa na rin daw sya sa kissing scene, kaya nagpapapayat sya ngayun.At alam mo ba,yung talent fee daw nya dito ay hindi nya kukunin. Sa halip, ido-donate daw nya ito sa bantay bata 163.
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Wednesday - 20 Feburary 2008
Hi :) Im at my hunny's house in Baguio. Hindi pa daw ako magsisimulang magtaping this week kaya vacation muna kami :)
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My new album is already out in the market! It's entitled JERICHO. I'm so happy! Ang galing ni Lord! The best! This is already my second album!
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Tuesday - 19 February 2008
It's a date on February 27 ha? Ngayon pa lang sinasabihan ko na kayo, if ever may plans man kayo that day eh, isama ninyo na sa mga plano ninyo ang panonood ng My Big Love. Thank you so much guys! Mwah:)
To subscribe to Kristine's text blog, send KRISTINE to Smart 326, Sun 2929, or KRISTINEHERMOSA to Globe 2978.
Hi! It's me again, guys! Don't forget to watch Maging Sino Ka Man later. Sobrang kaabang-abang na talagang mga eksena mamyang gabi. So don't miss it, okay? Thanks guys!:)
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Huwag ninyo pong kakalimutang manood ng Maging Sino Ka Man later. Siguradong aabangan ninyo ang tonightâs episode, kaya donât fail to watch it ha? Keep your texts coming! Ingat po!:)
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Word has it that Filipino-Chinese tycoons Henry Sy and John Gokongwei, Jr. have demanded the pull-out of Rogue's February 2008 issue off the racks of their malls.
When I heard that, I immediately thought: Shawn Yao.
So I googled "Rogue Shawn Yao" and found a different speculation; that the Yao family, presumably to keep the issue from further embarrassing their family, bought every single copy of the issue.
Rogue Pinack Yao.
I don't think so. It would've been much easier for one wealthy Chinese to oblige another, than to sweep the malls.
For Rogue's sake, I hope the issue was, indeed, sold out. Good thing I am subscribed to Rogue (you should too), so I get my copy delivered to my house--before the moral cops keep it for themselves.
A sampling of what got them all worked up:
[Update: As a courtesy to Shawn, who emailed me and requested nicely, I have taken her photos down.]
Now I hear that Shawn has apologized to her family, and presumably to the Chinese community.
Too bad. She wasn't rogue enough, after all.
Rogue's Feb issue sold out. But so did she.
UPDATE:
I reposted the article that sold all February 2008 issue of Rogue magazine, here.
When the original Apple TV was released last year, it piqued my interest. But with an Archos 704 WiFi, video Nano, and SanDisk TakeTV already in my video arsenal, not to mention three Macs and a Wii, why else would I want an Apple TV?
Two weeks ago, Apple finally gave me a reason: high definition.
So last week, I birthday gifted myself with an Apple TV.
Reviews of Apple's "Take Two" version already abound, from MacWorld, Gizmodo, Apple Insider, and others. So I won't belabor their points. Instead, I want to highlight Apple TV's relevance to users living outside the U.S., like me.
Some critics argue for what they deem as better alternatives--Blockbuster, Netflix's LG player, VuDu, et al. But many of these naysayers also live in the U.S.--where their preferences are available. For the rest of us, especially those living in emerging markets, the practical options are fewer. Blu-ray disc selection is limited at best, and there are no neighborhood Blockbusters to rent from. Even if you manage to find and purchase LG, TiVo or VuDu set-top boxes, good luck with repairs should they conk out. At least Apple has authorized service centers in many more countries.
Then there's the issue of cost. How many of us are rarin' to fork over $30 for a high-def movie that we'll only watch once, maybe twice? Apple's $4+ rental make better cents.
Sure, you can argue for Bit Torrent freebies. But IPR aside, not all of us have the time to scour for great seeds, let alone have the patience for a high definition download, which could take days or even weeks! Downloading HD movies on Apple TV is simpler, easier, and faster.
Although Apple TV's HD capabilities won't wow hardcore HD afficionados (I rented Pirates of the Caribbean in HD) , the quality is noticeably better than DVD. HD video podcasts are increasing by the day too. And since my photo galleries are already on .Mac, Apple TV seamlessly embraced those too, not to mention the different audio, video, and photo libraries residing on three Macs in my household.
Overall, I am very pleased with my Apple TV purchase. It is "the best HD media center", given my "busy professional living outside the U.S." context. The only downside to Apple TV--which will be a deal breaker for many--is that iTunes Store accounts are still limited to users living in the U.S., or Apple's other "trusted markets". I have one because of a meager, but serviceable U.S. bank account. But if you do not have an iTunes account, Apple TV's HD rental capability is rendered useless. This limited iTunes Store coverage is what Apple and its licensing partners need to extend, if iTunes and Apple TV are to capture the long tail markets.
