Friday, March 19, 2010

iPad: Screenwriter's best friend?

Maricris V. Faderugao
BJ 3-1D


From Kindle to Nook and now, ipod to ipad, these days, you need not to buy a book, smell the ink and spines to read. The necessity for information is growing fast in today's fast-paced way of living and we cannot let mother nature to suffer. Still, we have to keep up with the demand.

If you think carrying your library+pen and paper is impossible, I'm going to break it to you, you've got it all wrong.

Scott Stein on CNET news wrote: iPad: Screenwriter's best friend?

The idea of an e-reader actually being used to create notes as well as display text is, at least to me, the real holy grail of all e-reading. The original purpose of e-readers (and the e-ink displays of readers like the Kindle) was to replace the printed page, and most of the paper I waste goes into creating copies of scripts or rough drafts that I then read and make notes on before re-entering edits later on. I do this because, though I love using a laptop to write, I absolutely hate using a laptop to read. Hundreds of old stories and drafts sit in a folder, largely untouched, because they're not easily readable or sharable on a laptop, and I'd rather not waste the paper to print them. Having a diverse e-reader that can not only read e-books but also allow easy note-taking and edits is the desire that turned me off to limited-use devices such as the Kindle, and I'm not the only one.

3 Facebook Setting Every User Must Know


Maricris V. Faderugao BJ 3-1D

Facebook is relatively known to my generation as the
"I've graduated from friendster account". With it's addictive features like games, live update and chat, presto! You are connected with the world! Not so fast missus. Because facebook has made some changes that you might want to rethink last December about its user's privacy.

Sarah Perez writes..
Check link: The 3 Facebook Settings Every User Should Check Now

In December, Facebook made a series of bold and controversial changes regarding the nature of its users' privacy on the social networking site. The company once known for protecting privacy to the point of exclusivity (it began its days as a network for college kids only - no one else even had access), now seemingly wants to compete with more open social networks like the microblogging media darling Twitter.

Those of you who edited your privacy settings prior to December's change have nothing to worry about - that is, assuming you elected to keep your personalized settings when prompted by Facebook's "transition tool." The tool, a dialog box explaining the changes, appeared at the top of Facebook homepages this past month with its own selection of recommended settings. Unfortunately, most Facebook users likely opted for the recommended settings without really understanding what they were agreeing to. If you did so, you may now be surprised to find that you inadvertently gave Facebook the right to publicize your private information including status updates, photos, and shared links.

Want to change things back? Read on to find out how.



Friday, March 12, 2010

Doom or Boom?


Internet provides us every pleasure we wanted. We ask; Google, Yahoo, Bing and alike sites provides us answers. We want to get connected with our friends; Friendster, Facebook, YM and alike sites connect us. We wish for online games, there’s Ran Online, Hero Online, World of Warcraft and a lot more. We love writing, there’s Blog Spot, Multiply or we could even create our own site.

Now internet not only provides us with those, we get a hang of it then we earn some bucks. It’s not new that through internet lots and lots of entrepreneurs gain profit.

From advertisements, sites like Yahoo make money to improve their sites far better. Just like hundreds of growing commercial sites.

But not only commercial sites like Yahoo get to gross big bucks. There are online stores which caters every online visitors and buyers.

There’s online store for almost everything. For gadgets, food, CD, books, magazine and a lot more list. There’s also online site which promotes their services like wedding arrangements, and birthday party.

What’s amazing is you don’t need to go outside the comfort of your home. It’s just a click away. And for the bills, it’s all in the credit card; of course you need to have one to be able to purchase.

It is very evident how online business boom. It’s not a question anymore. Everything could be accessed. Easy, faster and convenient.

It is also one big factor why there has been increase of people promoting their boutiques, stores and a lot more stuffs online. There’s less hassle selling online one just need to be computer literate, or very technical. But of course, a person trying to be successful on an online business, there’s a lot of patience and hard work on promoting his/her site.

Some peek on advantages of building business in an online world; minimal investment or none at all, yourself is your boss, there is no need to travel to go to the office, and like what every business minded people wanted there is a big possibility of fast growth if the site has proper promotion.

However, if we say online we can’t remove some scam sites which are created by cons. But it’s easier to track them out now. Buyers have been keener on choosing sites they ought to buy their stuffs.

Unmistakably, the fast paced world dictates what should be the trend. And it follows. Just like how it turned up online business go boom due to the era we are in, the computer era.

by: Ella May Galindez

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Electronics Growth Upward

2010 exports forecast for electronics industry has been revised from simply making up for last year’s global downturn-caused plunge to higher level of expected growth.

Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI) Chairman Arthur J. Young claimed that from a 10-15% growth outlook, Philippines’ sale of top export could increase by over 20% from year-ago levels based on a surge orders recorded to date.He also added that he think electronics industry could beat 22.2% loss due to decline last year.

Information Technology predicted that there will be growth on worldwide semiconductor revenue due to demand for personal computers and storage devices. On the other hand, here in the Philippines, the demands are strong for components used in solar devices and solar power gadgets. The buyers are mostly from China, Asia Pacific, India and South America.

On the latter part, the forecast is threatened by the country’s power supply problem and unproven talks of increase in minimum wages.

by:Ella May Galindez

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

Monday, March 8, 2010

The new rebel

By: Maricris V. Faderugao
BJ 3-1D


Canon unveiled it's new offspring off the EOS digital SLR camera family------Digital Rebel T2i or the EOS 550d in Asia.

This new rebel boasts an 18.7 megapixel DIGIC IV processor, 1080p & 720p HD video recording, external Microphone socket, movie crop function, eye-Fi connected functions compatibility, iFCL metering system with 63-zone dual-layer metering sensor and a groundbreaking customizable ISO sensitivity up to 12800.

This toy is a real treat for photography enthusiasts. With the growing tough competition on the market for DSLRs, Canon raised the bar yet again providing more features and choices with the EOS 1000d and 500d selling alongside with the new 550d.

Below is the world's first hands-on review and field test of this new rebel conducted by DigitalRev TV.

Reformatting brains?

Our brain can store lots of information more than we can possibly imagine. It's like there are millions of high memory flash disks inside it. Say, you were given the chance to select a certain memory that you would like to permanently erase. Would you do it?



In Paycheck, Ben Affleck's character is a reverse engineer who does technical jobs for companies and as soon as he finishes his task, his memory of the work he has done is removed. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, two unhappy lovers decided to have each of their memories erased so that they can only see each other as strangers again. Seems impossible? YES.. but that was then..

The scientists in Brooklyn have discovered a single dose of drug that can manipulate certain areas in the human brain. The substance apparently plays with a molecule that is responsible for memory storage and which in turn, can lead to solutions on various memory problems.

Read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/health/research/06brain.html?_r=1&ref=science

Maricris V. Faderugao
BJ 3-1D

Sunday, March 7, 2010

6-core Gaming Chip


Weeks from now, Intel is expected to introduce a 6-core processor designed to crunch through the most 3D-intensive games.

Napoleon: Total War and alike 3-D-intensive games could be first seen this year’s Developer’s Conference a week from now. While the official Intel’s 6-core “Westmere” processors can be expected later this March.

Primarily, Core i7-980X is Intel’s first 6-core “Extreme Edition” processor based on the chipmakers cutting0edge 32 nanometer process technology. Its performance depends on how small the manufacturing process. The smaller, the more circuitry can be packed onto the chip making it better.

Core i series processors features hyper-threading. Hyper-threading can double the number of task or threads a processor can execute. This enables 6-core processor to be able to handle 12 threads. However this technology is not offered to Core 2 chips.

by: Ella May Galindez
Source:http://news.cnet.com

New and Improved Facebook Pictures


Photo’s that brings more people on using facebook has now improved.

Facebook has improved their photo storage which has started just three days ago and is now well operating. From 604 pixels that can be uploaded, it has now improved to 720.

It is good news for facebook users. They can now view their friends and fb friends clearer and even larger. They could also upload bigger photos. And larger number of pictures coukd be added in their albums.

by: Ella MAy Galindez

Source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com

Rootkit: New Threat

Smart phones are now becoming regular PC with further development and changes on its features. Recently, new models of cellular phones offer internet accessibility just like e-mails and other variety of programs or applications commonly known as “apps”. This makes cell phone susceptible of malware.

Rootkit attacks the heart of a computer’s software. It could cause a smart phone to eaves drop, track the owner, and drain the battery which makes the phone of no use. This happens without the owner‘s knowledge.

Rootkit can only be detected from outside a corrupted operating system or through its external. Virtual machine monitor is the specialized tool that examines every system operation and data structure.

Its effect could be very harsh. Smart phone users tend to carry their phones most of the time or almost all the time for personal and business use. This gives the attacker great chance to eaves drop, or on worst case, extract personal info from phone directories or even know the exact location of the owner through querying the phones Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver then finally drains the battery leaving it dead.

by:Ella May Galindez
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/

New Code: Algorithm


Computers have been vexed by computer worms for so many years now. Worms are malicious computer programs which if it infected the computer, can spread throughout the network without human control. Once the worms have penetrated in the system, it then pest the computer by stealing or erasing hard drive data, interfering with pre-installed programs causing it to become slow, and it even crash home and work computers.
A new code has been developed just as to solve the problem on these computer worms. Yoon-Ho Choi, a postdoctoral researcher in information sciences and technology together with his colleagues created the new code or commonly known as algorithm which helps protect computers from malicious worms.
Algorithm works by estimating the size of the suggestive host population. From there, it monitors the occurrence of infections within the area. Then, it sets a threshold value just enough the average numbers of scan necessary to infect a host by an infected host.
by: Ella May Galindez
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/

Making “SMART” Technology

For years now SMART Communications Inc. has served us with good technology to get in touch with our loved ones. They have not stopped and developed furthermore for our benefits. And their hard works have not failed them for bragging 3 out of 11 awards during the Mobile Asia Congress held in Hongkong by the GSM association (GSMA) – the global trade group for the mobile industry.
“Being recognized for our efforts to bring the benefits of mobile- based financial services to the grassroots through Smart Money as well as Smart’s Island Activation Program and make a difference in people’s lives is as much challenge as it is an honor.” Smart chief wireless advisor Orlando B. Vea said dedicating the awards to the Filipino people.
SMART MONEY
Through Smart money, the world has first benefited from cash payment card linked to a mobile phone. It has now reached the Philippines and launched the countries first mobile- based internet security lock feature that enables Smart subscribers to make more secure online purchases with the help of mobile phones.
Online fraud and other potential abusers are not to be frightened of. It is prevented by the new security feature that unlocks the Smart money account prior to a purchase and then automatically locks it after the transaction.
Input of Personal Identification Number (PIN) via mobile phones are required to all card holders that purchases online via Smart Money to signify that an online transaction has been sanctioned.
Another good feature of Smart Money is that it gives the Smart subscribers the opportunity to manage their money from their mobile phones whenever they want, wherever they maybe as Smart Money insure to notify account holders via SMS whenever transactions are made on their account.

by: Ella May Galindez

Friday, March 5, 2010

Eco-friendly gadgets: Features of 2010

What are prominent and amazing to the consumers’ choice this year, is not only cool gadgets doing cool stuffs making our daily life not so miserable. Eco-friendly gadgets are most likely their choice because of the ever growing crisis of global warming and its effects to nature and mankind.

Besides of several devices with 3D technology that were introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show 2010, the “green” products were also prominently featured in this edition of the trade show.

The gadgets that were showcased in the said show ranged from basic solar chargers to computers to even a bike. These products also have a participation in The Greener Gadgets Conference that took place last February 25, 2010 in New York

Products didn’t only bear green colors to represent their commitment in loving our nature; they showcased products that are energy-saving which allow a decrease in the rate of greenhouse gases and gas emissions. Some of the gadgets have less concentration of mercury, less emission of carbon-dioxide (CO2), and a decreased used of toxic substances.

Some participants also presented hydrogen-based products where water vapor is produced in order to operate, so the air pollution is minimal. For example: A car with an electric engine and a hydrogen fuel battery that would release zero pollution into the air.

However, in spite of the efforts to produce these devices and products, some companies need to have a stronger commitment to help protect our planet. According to the last Greenpeace report about electronic industry, some companies like Toshiba, Sony Ericsson and Nokia are the most ecological firms (report of January 2010). But other companies like Nintendo, Lenovo, Microsoft and Fujitsu are not having good positions in the “greener electronics ranking”.

Even though eco-friendly products haven’t been tested regarding their durability and capability from those of other non-eco-friendly technologies, it is still a trend that people would follow; and a supporting campaign to save and preserve earth and nature.

A Technological Way of Feeding your Baby


Feeding a baby is an enjoyable activity, right?

Well, maybe not always, especially if some spoonfuls of food are not reaching their final destination: Your baby’s mouth. Instead, they end up on the floor or your baby’s clothes.

The ThinkGeek JetBib could be a really useful gadget, especially if you want to feed your little baby without having pieces of food everywhere. It includes a bib with a printed landing strip and a plane-shaped spoon (an airliner).

Both the plane-shaped spoon and the bib (that is to say, the landing strip) come with luminous LEDs that serve two purposes: On one hand, flashing red lights on the plane’s wings will spark your baby’s curiosity; on the other hand, as the gaping baby is making some delicate moves, the motion-activated LED lights in bib will illuminate to guide the plane toward a safe landing without unexpected deviations of the flight. Of course, the final destination is your baby’s mouth.

JetBib is recommended for children age 12 months and older. Maybe is not a very sophisticated gadget, but it can catch your baby’s attention and, at the same time, your child will have a lot of fun with this. Of course, it will also save your time and effort if you don’t have to clean the whole surrounding area after feeding your child.

As mentioned before, the Leds on the bib are motion activated and they are placed on the sides of the landing strip. The red lights on the plane can be controlled by using an on/off button and each set comes with three removable spoons that can be cleaned up in a very easy way.

This completely shows that technologies are for all sort of ages, and even babies could get a handful of them.


Kit Bernal

BJ 3-1D

Touch and Go


These days, or should I say “techno-days”, wiser and amazing technology have completely absorbed people along with their daily activities. “Instant” is the right word for our technological needs. And these instants include electronic notebooks, laptops, and netbooks.

Touch screen-gadgets has defined the beginning of wiser and exceptional technology. And HP, one of the first companies to design their products with touch technology, introduced a new netbook that allows users to use online resources in a fresh way when they need to access and use web sites, e-mail, social networks, instant messaging, photos, music and more.

The Compaq AirLife 100 includes a 10.1-inch bright screen, Android operating system (full multitasking support), and a customized touch interface.

Definitely, HP is taking advantage of its legacy and innovation in the touch technology. This way, the customized touch interface offers a new touch navigation experience, an easy system to make zoom in and out on web pages in the browser and a set of additional touch resources and shortcuts menu.

This new netbook also reinforces the strategic agreement signed on November 2009 between HP and the European telecommunications company Telefonica to define a partnership that provides mobile broadband services to markets located in Europe and Latin America.

According to the companies, HP and Telefonica have created this association in order to offer an unsurpassable online experience for customers. These would definitely make online sourcing easier

Kit Bernal
BJ 3-1D

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

"Sikat si Sikat"

Sikat, the country's second solar car was about to end its roadshow across the Philippines.

Sikat, a second generation Filipino product of a dedicated group of faculty and students from the Mechanical Engineering and the Electronics and Communications Engineering department of De La Salle University in Manila, in partnership with the Philippine Solar Car Society was about to end their National tour that aimed to raise awareness on solar energy, its potentials and teh possibilities it offers.

Morever, it seeks to challenge and inspire Filipinos in the field of Science and Technology.

"although the car is designed only for racing, but we want to encourage the youth to enhance their creativity and innovativeness," said Jonathan Go, a member of the Solar car team.

The tour started at the DLSU campus last January 12 and off it went to major cities in the country like Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu city.

Siang, the first Filipino Solar car to enter the World Solar Challenge in Australia garnered 12th place last October21 to 28, 2007 and Sikat is an improved version of Siang with better design features like new generation sun power cells and more maneuverable and aerodynamic design is set to compete the same competition this year.

it features solar cells provided by sunpower, a company that provides teh highest efficiency solar cells in the world.

it boasts its lightweight carbon fiber body which can only be found in the latest F1 car models.

The team expects a better ranking in the competition this year with Sikat lighter by 100kg. experts claimed that it can outrun Sinag with top speed capacity of 112kph.###


By: Shelemiah Rose Bolon
Bj3-1d