The nominations for the best blog posts of the year is extended (the new deadline is not specified at the moment). Go here to nominate your blog post.
Category Archives: Byte
Technology as a way of life
23
May
Sandbox what?
The Web 2.0 sphere is very competitive, and it is hard to introduce a product that will shine among the sea of thousands of startups. If you cannot introduce a service that is different from the others, success will be hard to achieve.
Sandbox is a social network site from Smart. At first glance, it can be unclear what Smart wants to accomplish with this endevour. Why build another social network?
Basing on the home page of Sandbox, the aspects of the social network part of the site are found as one button in the main menu bar at the top (My Group), a login form at the right (though it serves a purpose aside from the social network aspect of the site, more on this later), and a View your friends link at the right if you are logged on. Below that link, there are boxes for My friends (which shows what your friends have been doing), Photo uploads, and Video uploads. That’s, what, 2% of the entire home page. The rest: 2% coming soon, 96% on downloadable content.
See where this line of thinking is going?
Anyway, clicking on My Groups will bring you to the social network aspect of Sandbox. It is just a white-labeled implementation of mobile social network platform provided by Mostyle. BTW, you can’t access the mobile Sandbox version (m.mysandbox.com) at the moment, so as a workaround (if you don’t like to load the main Sandbox page), log on at mostyle.mobi. Everything’s Web based (mobile Web-based), so adding content to your Sandbox means firing up your mobile browser, logging on, and uploading content. That’s well and fine if you can use WiFi. Tough luck if (1) there is no WiFi coverage or (2) your phone is not WiFi capable. See where this is going?
They have implemented another way of sending content, and that is via email through MMS. You can also send content using ordinary email. You cannot blog via SMS or email, though. I think this is the better way to implement content uploads – simpler, efficient, and requires no additional tool (since everything you’ll need is on the phone already). This is what Smart should have done.
I think the proper framework for a good social mobile network (or the content aspect of a social network) was best spelled out by Edwin Soriano during his talk at iBlog5. Basically, his framework is similar to what Tumblr does (though Tumblr’s post pictures via MMS email did not work for me). I am surprised till now that Smart has not done this, to think that Ka Edong works for Smart. They have the infrastructure to implement that framework, and they could have improved on the Tumblr system.
There was one sentence that I had said before, during a meeting. I said that Sandbox looks like a Frankenstein’s monster, with several components mashed together to make a social network site. I am glad to report that it is no longer so. Some components are still there, but it’s not no longer a monster. I am witholding the kudos since some components are still coming soon. I still don’t believe that white labeling will work. If Smart wants to make this Sandbox work, it should invest more than it has done. They have a content delivery system done in-house (unless I am mistaken), why can’t they do it for the social network side of the site? Afterall, if the goal is to drive content consumption, make the social network experience work well for potential content consumer. If the experience doesn’t go well, consumer will just go elsewhere.
It is imperative for Smart to present a social network that is different from the existing ones. Otherwise, people will say Sandbox is just another social network site. Some ascerbic people would add the phrase “that failed.”
Give Sandbox a try, and tell me your experience.
12
May
A very brief hands-on with Samsung Omnia HD
Thanks to Jayvee Fernandez, I got a very brief hands-on with the Samsung Omnia HD (which Samsung will release in some markets as i8910 HD). It shares the same OS as that of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The one that I held was not the final product, and it showed. The response to the touch input was sluggish.
The screen, however, was a big wow. The AMOLED screen was a joy to look at. The image above (sorry, I used an Olympus E-420 DSLR in taking that picture – you don’t take a picture using a DSLR one-handed) does not do justice to the impressive screen.
If you have used a Nokia 5800, the interface of this Samsung phone is the same. For the home screen, Samsung plastered its TouchWiz UI, so that you can add widgets to your home screen. Also, to go to the main menu, you can slide the home screen to the left.
I tried composing a text message using the fullscreen QWERTY input, and the characters have small spaces in between, unlike in Nokia 5800. The text entry experience is the same, though. At least there was no lag.
The unit is definitely larger and wider than Nokia 5800, but thinner. It was nice in the hands, not too heavy, and the built is solid (no creaking parts).
I think this is a nice phone, and I am sure it will be priced at the Php40k-upwards range when it is released here.
(Some more pictures here.)
10
May
Anung uri ng manunyut ka?
Do you know what type of photographer you are? Read on!
(Taken from BNCXE.)
Anung uri ng manunyut ka???
1. MAKALIKOT
Ito ang uri ng photographer na naka-pose na ang modelo pero bago pindutin ang shutter button ay kung anu-anong settings pa ang pinaglalalagay sa camera n’ya: mula shutter speed hanggang sa lens length, kahit prime na ‘yung lens n’ya at sakto na, papalitan n’ya pa rin kasi pakiramdam n’ya parang may mali. Nagbo-bokeh pa para lang makuha ‘yung gustong effect! Ang resulta? Hayun, ngawit ang model.
Kalupitan level: 1/5
2. MAUTOS
Madalas ito sa mga may model shoot. Uutusan nila ang model: nguso, liyad, tuwad, higa, hubad – makuha lang yung perfect angle. Ang resulta? Ang model ay parang clay – kung anu-anong posture ang gagawin. Kaso ‘di puedeng umangal ‘yung model. Papasikatan s’ya nung photographer tapos ‘pag tinanong ng model kung tapos na ba yung pose, hindi pa. Makikita mong gumugulong-gulong din ‘yung photographer para daw perfect lighting ‘yung kuha n’ya.
Kalupitan level: 3/5
3. HUMAN GORILLAPOD
Uncommon ito pero ‘pag naka-encounter ka, luluwa mata mo! Opposite ito ni MAUTOS. Imbes na utusan ang model, ang photographer mismo ang nagbe-bend, lumiliyad, humihiga, tumutuwad. Kulang na lang maging gorillapod dahil sa pagiging flexible sa pagkuha. Ayaw n’yang utusan ang model dahil baka tumanggi na ‘yun sa next photoshoot eh. Makikita mo lahat ng kasama n’ya imbes na sa model na maganda nakatingin, sa photographer. Biruin mo, human gorillapod flexibility eh. ‘di mo s’ya masisisi: perfect lighting ang habol n’ya. It’s all about the lighting ‘ika nga ‘di ba? And, his/her shots will justify it. Pero pagkatapos ng shoot at nakauwi na ang lahat, dederetso ‘yan sa botika para bumili ng pain reliever.
Kalupitan Level: 6/5
4. MAPINDOT
Makita lang ‘yung shutter button – ‘yung bilog na kulay abo na makintab – talagang naglalaway na, at gagawin ang lahat para lang mapindot. Nanghihina s’ya sa tuwing maririnig ang tunog ng shutter release. “chukah chukah chukah” Kung maaari lang na gawing ringtone sa cellphone, ginawa na n’ya.
Kalupitan level: 2/5
5. MAPILI
Marami nito sa event shoots lalo sa cosplay shoots. Basta makita n’yang maganda, shoot! pero ‘pag nakita n’yang parang di pasok sa panlasa n’ya, di n’ya kukunan kahit marami na’ng photographer ang kumukuha. Kapag sinabi n’yang ayaw, kahit umiyak ka ng dugo para kunan n’ya, ayaw talaga.
Kalupitan level: 3/5
6. AUTISTIC/TUOD
Oo meron n’yan! Yung tipong kailangan mo i-reboot yung tao. Aakalain mong di gumagalaw, pero pag nakapose na ang model, parang robot yang itataas nya ang kamay na may camera papunta sa kanyang mata. Alam nyo yung pag-arte ni Arnold Schwarzenegger sa Terminator? Ganon sya: cold. Makikita mo yan nakatayo lang sa isang tabi tapos hindi kikibo. Kapag lalapitan mo, blank. Magugulat ka na lang may reset button na umiilaw. Pentium Poor ang processor nya. Pero wag mo s’yang pagtawanan, magaganda ang mga shots nya. Kelangan lang nya mag-upgrade ng processor.
Kalupitan level: 7/5
7. MA-ZOOM
Ito yung mga may paparazzi tendencies. Makikita mo sa lens lineup nya: may wide, tele, hanggang dun sa mga naglalakihang zoom lens gaya ng 70-200mm, 80-400mm, etc… merun sya! Iyan yung mga tatawagan mo sa gabi, sasabihin nagna-night shoot daw. Night shoot nga kaso ang kapitbahay na nagbibihis ang subject.
Kalupitan level: 4/5
8. MA-MACRO
Kabaliktaran ito ni MA-ZOOM. Lahat ng maliliit na bagay, gustong up-close at malaki: magmula sa langaw, bangaw, tipaklong, gagamba, langgam, sperm cell at kung anu-ano pang gumagapang at gumagalaw. Lens lineup? Ayaw bitiwan ang kit lens nya kase may macro capabilities yun. Madali mo silang mapupuna kasi kahit walang camera, makikita mong uupo, dadapa, tutuwad o gagapang ng malapitan sa isang subject at iisipin “ima-macro kitaaahhh… hintayin mo, mamamacro din kitaaahhh… bwahahaha…”
Kalupitan level: 3/5
9. TRIGGER-HAPPY
Pagsamahin mo yung characteristics nila MAPINDOT at MA-ZOOM para maabot ang status na to. Lahat kinukunan. Lahat at kahit anong bagay: electric fan, bumbilya, lababo, agiw, o alikabok; pati pulubi, taxi driver, katrabaho, kapitbahay, tindera, bata, matanda o tulog, gising, patay, gumagalaw o hindi. Basta parang lulong na palaging may bumubulong na “ito, kunan mo, kunan mooohhh!!!”
Kalupitan level: 5/5
10. MAGALA / PALABOY / LAGALAG
Ito yung photographer na gala. May hampered characteristics ito ni TRIGGER-HAPPY. Lalabas ito ng bahay sa umaga, bitbit ang camera. Mula Manila City Hall, mapapadpad yan ng Caloocan. Uuwi ng hapon na punong-puno ng RAW at JPEG files ang memory cards nya. Wag nyo syang sisihin, marami syang pera!!!
Kalupitan level: 4/5
11. TAMAD
Ito yung mga taong may characteristics ni TRIGGER-HAPPY pero tinatamad pagdating sa post-processing. Bihira mag-shoot sa RAW, JPEG na lang. Makikita mong nabubulok na ng isang dekada yung mga kuha nya. Di nya pino-post process. Yung multiply nya? Di updated kahit online sya. Dahilan nya? Katamad eh…
Kalupitan level: 6/5
12. POST-PROCESSING BUFF
Ito ang pinakametikuloso pagdating sa post-processing. Lahat ng options kinakalikot: white balance, tone, color, contrast, dimension at file format. Lahat. Basta makuha nya yung pinakamagandang kuha. Wag ka, Lahat ng post-processing tools, apps at plugins meron sa PC nya – the ultimate darkroom man. Pero pag nakita mo pics nya, mapapakamot ka ng singit sa ganda!
Kalupitan level: 5/5
13. MA-WATERMARK
Ito ang mga photographers na sobrang laki ng watermark. Parang watermark ang tinubuan ng picture. Tipong minumura ka sa laki! Pero magtataka ka, elaborate yung design ng watermark: maraming burloloy gaya ng dahon, kahoy, kamay, paa, at ilong. Di lang yan, mayroon ding tatadtarin ng iba’t ibang styles ng watermark yung picture: paiba-ibang kulay, paiba-iba ng fonts at fontsize, di lang isa minsan parang mga kabute kapag malakas ang kidlat! Masyado nilang pinagmamalaki ang kanilang watermark este, pictures pala.
Kalupitan level: 4/5
14. MODEL+PHOTOGRAPHER COMBINATION
Gulat ka ano? Uso yan ngayon! Yan yung mga magagandang babae at lalaking photographers…. yung tipong pag may shoot kayo at walang model, magpopose yan sa isang tabi tapos kunwari hindi wari na kinukunan sya ng iba. Makikita mo na lang yan mamaya na nakasandal sa pader, nakahiga sa damuhan, nakaupo sa sahig, tumatawa, umiiyak, gumagawa ng sariling moment. Pero, pero dead-ma pa rin! Yung iba talagang ka-career-in tong status na to… ayos eh! Malalaman mo na lang na gina-grab nya ang mga kuha mo sa kanya tapos sasabihin nya “Sh*t kailan to? Hindi ko to alam ah! Ikaw talaga? Guapo/ganda ko pala!”
Kalupitan level: 4/5
15. BOYSCOUT
Alam nyo naman siguro ang motto ng isang boyscout: laging handa! Yan yung makikita mo na may dalang malaking backpack. Yung tipong dala nya yung studio nya sa bag. Pag binuksan mo, (kumikinang pa) at biglang magtratransform khokhokhokhokhok! pooft! instant studio! Lahat ng kakailanganin mo nanduon: softbox, umbrella, tripod, costumes at makeup. Ito na siguro yung magaling magsiksik ng gamit sa bag… yan yung biglang sasabihan ka “Tara shoot tayo, dala ko studio ko sa bag.” Mapapaisip ka sa una at pag nakita mo laman ng bag nya, mapapanganga ka at tutulo pa laway mo!
Kalupitan level: 7/5
16. STALKER
Ito na siguro ang ultimate mamaw photographer. Ito ang supling nila MAPINDOT MAPILI, MA-ZOOM at TRIGGER HAPPY. Karamihan ng mga ganitong photographers ay nagsisimula sa mga events na may makikitang magagandang babae at lalaki, tapos babanatan sya ng zoom range nya mula sa kanyang lens lineup. Makikita mong naka-mount sa camera nya yung mga mahahabang range ang zoom. Dadasalan nyang kuhanan yung natipuhan nyang subject habang bumubulong ng “maging akin kaaahhh. maging akin kaaahhh…” habang hanggang tainga ang ngiti. Mapapansin mo na kapag nakatingin sa kanya ang subject, biglang itututok nya sa iba ang camera para hindi mahalata nung subject na sya talaga ang kinukuhaan nya. Makikita mo sya sa susunod na event shoot na kinukuhanan pa rin ang subject na trip nya pero kit lens na ima-mount nya para malapitan nyang kukunan yung subject… style lang nya yun. Malalaman mo na lang na hiningi na nya yung YM, Multiply, Deviantart, cellphone number, email address, birthday at first love ng subject nya.
—
I think I’m number 11 he he. :-p What are you?
(Image by Ice Basit)
14
Apr
Nikon D5000 DSLR now official
Nikon has just announced the D5000, an entry-level DSLR camera with an articulated (ie, swivel) display.
Main features include:
* 12.3-megapixel DX-format sensor, the same sensor in D90
* maximum ISO speed at 3200, can be expanded to Hi 1 setting of ISO 6400
* 11-point auto focus with 3D focus tracking
* 4 Live View autofocus modes
* 19 scene modes
* D-movie mode – shoot 1280×720 video at 24 frames per second
* 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD monitor
The suggested retail price for body + AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization kit lens is US$849; US$729 for body only.
Read the Nikon press release here.
13
Apr
Technology and the MRT
My philosophy regarding technology is simple: technology should help us solve problems. If that technology is applied to a non-problem, then that is a waste of resources that should have been instead directed on real issues.
The MRT has three modes of entry-exit payment mechanisms. The first one, used since it started operating, uses magnetic cards/tickets. You can buy a single-journey ticket, or if you take the MRT regularly, you can get the stored-value ticket at one hundred pesos. During rush hours, the queue for purchase of tickets can get long. Also, these cards are technically not reloadable, and the maximum amount for the stored-value is one hundred pesos. Because of these issues, the MRT opened the possibility of using third-party payment mechanisms.
The second one, which is a third-party provided service, is the so-called Globe G-Pass, an implementation of RFID technology. You are given a chip enclosed in a circular case, and you tap the chip into a sensor attached to a turnstile (see how it works here). You can reload value via the reloading booths at MRT stations, or via Globe’s G-Cash mobile money solution.
There are inherent issues with this solution. First, not all turnstiles in all MRT stations have G-Pass sensors installed. On a rush hour, you need to know first what turnstile to queue up – it should have a sensor installed. You should know this beforehand. Second, the sensor must be online. Usually when it is offline, MRT personnel just tapes a sign to the sensor stating that it is offline. On a rush hour, you queue up to a turnstile with a G-Pass sensor, and it will be too late before you find out that the sensor is offline – you might have wasted around a minute or two on that. What if all sensors for that station are offline? Third, this solution would be more efficient if you are a Globe subscriber. While you can check your balance and reload at reloading stations, that would mean lining up (if there’s a line); it would be faster if you check your balance via text message, or reload via G-Cash. So if you are not a Globe subscriber – tough luck. Also, they should have instead employed the technology that the Japanese use – tap the phone! If you are careless, you might lose the chip.
The third solution (still experimental at the moment) employs m-codes (or 2-D barcodes). The service is called Juan Card, another prepaid solution. Here, you are sent an m-code, and to enter, you must point the m-code in your mobile phone screen to a sensor attached to the turnstile. As the use of this technology is not yet widespread, I cannot evaluate this solution completely, but some of the problems with G-Pass apply to Juan Card as well – limited sensor installs, long queues during rush hours, and unnecessarily complex loading solution per trip.
(There is another, low-tech solution called the Flash Pass, but I suggest you click on the link and read. It is relatively simple, low-tech, and prone to falsification, so there’s no need to discuss it.)
Again, technology should help us solve problems. In this case, what have we solved? It seems all the solutions are defeated by the fact that the wrong problem is addressed. The problem is that the MRT can no longer efficiently and sufficiently serve the volume of passengers during rush hours, and RFIDs and m-codes will not solve that. Unless they can improve on that area, these technologies are basically useless.
—
Do you like math? If so, let me give you a problem.
Here are some data to use:
* Car/Train capacity
* Train availability requirement – how many trainsets operate at given time
* Ridership data – most recent is for last year
Do the math. Like how much people are they packing for each train set, etc.
31
Mar
Beware/be aware Conficker/Downadup on April 1
Just a reminder: the Conficker/Downadup worm has a payload that will activate on April 1 (which is tomorrow here in Manila). Mainly, it will contact several domains, for what analysts can only speculate. For all we know, it could be this year’s biggest April Fool’s joke. While most antivirus companies downplay the danger (since Microsoft has since patched the vulnerability being exploited by this worm), it pays to be careful.
Most antivirus can detect and delete/quarantine most variants, so make sure your antivirus software is updated. Perform a full scan. Be careful when going online.
Read the Trend Micro Q&A here more more information.
27
Mar
Technology and the MRT
My philosophy regarding technology is simple: technology should help us solve problems. If that technology is applied to a non-problem, then that is a waste of resources that should have been instead directed on real issues.
The MRT has three modes of entry-exit payment mechanisms. The first one, used since it started operating, uses magnetic cards/tickets. You can buy a single-journey ticket, or if you take the MRT regularly, you can get the stored-value ticket at one hundred pesos. During rush hours, the queue for purchase of tickets can get long. Also, these cards are technically not reloadable, and the maximum amount for the stored-value is one hundred pesos. Because of these issues, the MRT opened the possibility of using third-party payment mechanisms.
The second one, which is a third-party provided service, is the so-called Globe G-Pass, an implementation of RFID technology. You are given a chip enclosed in a circular case, and you tap the chip into a sensor attached to a turnstile (see how it works here). You can reload value via the reloading booths at MRT stations, or via Globe’s G-Cash mobile money solution.
There are inherent issues with this solution. First, not all turnstiles in all MRT stations have G-Pass sensors installed. On a rush hour, you need to know first what turnstile to queue up – it should have a sensor installed. You should know this beforehand. Second, the sensor must be online. Usually when it is offline, MRT personnel just tapes a sign to the sensor stating that it is offline. On a rush hour, you queue up to a turnstile with a G-Pass sensor, and it will be too late before you find out that the sensor is offline – you might have wasted around a minute or two on that. What if all sensors for that station are offline? Third, this solution would be more efficient if you are a Globe subscriber. While you can check your balance and reload at reloading stations, that would mean lining up (if there’s a line); it would be faster if you check your balance via text message, or reload via G-Cash. So if you are not a Globe subscriber – tough luck. Also, they should have instead employed the technology that the Japanese use – tap the phone! If you are careless, you might lose the chip.
The third solution (still experimental at the moment) employs m-codes (or 2-D barcodes). The service is called Juan Card, another prepaid solution. Here, you are sent an m-code, and to enter, you must point the m-code in your mobile phone screen to a sensor attached to the turnstile. As the use of this technology is not yet widespread, I cannot evaluate this solution completely, but some of the problems with G-Pass apply to Juan Card as well – limited sensor installs, long queues during rush hours, and unnecessarily complex loading solution per trip.
(There is another, low-tech solution called the Flash Pass, but I suggest you click on the link and read. It is relatively simple, low-tech, and prone to falsification, so there’s no need to discuss it.)
Again, technology should help us solve problems. In this case, what have we solved? It seems all the solutions are defeated by the fact that the wrong problem is addressed. The problem is that the MRT can no longer efficiently and sufficiently serve the volume of passengers during rush hours, and RFIDs and m-codes will not solve that. Unless they can improve on that area, these technologies are basically useless.
—
Do you like math? If so, let me give you a problem.
Here are some data to use:
* Car/Train capacity
* Train availability requirement – how many trainsets operate at given time
* Ridership data – most recent is for last year
Do the math. Like how much people are they packing for each train set, etc.
4
Mar
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Micro 4/3 shoots HD video
Wow. My Olympus E-420 camera is getting more antiquated than ever. First, there’s Olympus E-620, and now this.
The Lumix DMC-GH1 is the second camera to support the Micro Four Thirds (Micro 4/3) standard that Panasonic and Olympus are championing. And this camera is the first Micro Four Thirds camera to shoot 1080p video. The difference with Nikon D90 is that the audio for GH1 is stereo. You can record 1080p video at 24 frames per second (fps), or 720p at 60 fps. And the good thing here is that, since this camera supports Micro Four Thirds, I can do an upgrade without ditching my current Four Thirds lenses, though I have to invest in an adapter.
No release date nor introductory price were announced, though.
Panasonic press release | Hands-on by Digital Photography Review
