Carlo Borja: Products

Showing posts with label Products. Show all posts

Apple introduced the "Lightning Connector" along with the iPhone 5 last 2012. It replaced the old 30 pin connector we used to have for the last 10 years.

It is small and efficient. But, it is not free of any drawbacks and disadvantages.

What people commonly complain about is the fact that it breaks so easily. I will try to explain here why it does. This is by the way just my own personal observation.

I actually noticed that the Lightning Connectors differ depending on which country they are distributed.

Take a look at this comparison:

The cables that came from the US have this slight bulge before the connector itself while those that were from Hong Kong and Singapore don't.

That is actually the culprit.

That part makes the whole cable less durable. The more this bulge gets bent or stressed over time, the more chances you have of breaking it.

In the Philippines, the Apple devices that Globe and Smart (our local carriers) distribute come from the US. If you bought an iPhone or iPad from these stores, you are definitely getting that less durable cable.

However, if you are buying your Apple device from stores that offer them factory unlocked (e.g. gui), there's a good chance that the device you're getting came from Hong Kong or Singapore and your lightning connector won't have that 'bulge.'

One last thing. You will also know where your device came from by looking at its wall charger:

USA has a different wall socket from Hong Kong. That is why they differ in wall chargers too.

I hope this clears up why your lightning connector breaks so easily.

We can also take into consideration how you take care of these cables. But, I hope this gives you an idea of which Apple cables are more durable.

Will this in any way affect your next purchase of an Apple device?

It has been a week since Apple announced not just one but two new iPhones: the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s. This is a major shift in their product strategy as this was the first time Apple introduced two new iPhones in one year.

Apple's flagship phone at the moment is the iPhone 5s. It is a wonderful piece of technology. But, for this post we are not going to focus on that device.

The other device that was announced, the iPhone 5c is the one that is getting a lot of mixed reviews and mostly negative buzz. So, in defense of the iPhone 5c, here are some of the reasons why I think it is still a smart move for Apple to release it.

Kids are converting to smartphones

The iPod touch was once the king of Apple's iOS devices. But, the market for it is steadily declining. The reason? The kids that prefer having them are switching to smartphones.

Study shows kids are switching to smartphones

Releasing a phone that is screaming a youthful and colorful design might just absorb that market and channel them to the iPhone. These young people who are already familiar with the iOS ecosystem will definitely prefer iPhones. After all, the starting price of $99 for the iPhone 5c is similar to the iPod touch except you get to pay the monthly contract on the iPhone.

You can also think of it this way. The iPhone 5s is the high end model, a pro model for those who care about the recent and most powerful technology. This not for everyone. The iPhone 5c, on the other hand is for the casual smartphone users who prefer a more fun and diverse option.

Apple is after all a company that is making money

Apple cares about margins. All the other companies that directly compete with them care about the market share. You may or may not like it but that is what separates them from the competition.

It could be very much easy for them to throw out a super cheap iPhone to compete with the low cost handset market (this is what the media expected). But, it is very obvious that they intend to maintain the 'luxury' brand they have built over the years.

A luxury brand with products that deliver excellent quality would definitely mean profit. People do not mind paying a premium for these products. In fact, as of this writing the iPhone 5c is getting sold out in China (which is quite ironic because the media was also expecting this market to demand for a 'cheap' iPhone).

Another thing to consider here is how the iPhone 5c entered the market. For 5 years, there has only been one new iPhone that people will rave about. All the other people who find the 'new' iPhone too expensive (or extravagant) for their needs will settle with the 'old' iPhone released a year ago which will be repriced for a hundred dollars less. The latter, being 'old' is obviously not that attractive.

Right now, that strategy has changed. The iPhone 5c is technically (in almost all aspects) just the iPhone 5 from a year ago repackaged in colorful cases. And, from a marketing perspective "if it looks new, it's new."

Majority of the people who are not tech nerds (that care about specs) will obviously rave about it. The manufacturing cost was also cheaper for Apple because of the hard-coated polycarbonate material it was built with. The iPhone 5 was made from iodized aluminum which was a more expensive option. See why the iPhone 5 was discontinued? High margins obviously.

All those reasons show why Apple after all is a company that is concerned about making money.

Apple cares about the user experience

I have been closely following Apple as a company since 2008 (the year I became an Apple fanboy). That means I look not at the technical specifications of each of their products. I am more concerned of their marketing strategies, their competitive edge and their vision. And yes, I am a Steve Jobs fan too. All these things made me understand why Apple is such a valuable company.

Here is the part that most critics miss: Apple is a 'user experience' company. It's not about the tech specs anymore. You just can't judge this company by looking at how the other companies' hardware have more numbers. Apple is concerned of how you will be using each of the tiny little details they pack into the phone by presenting how each of them would solve a common user problem.

Let us jump to the iPhone 5s a bit to give you an example of what I mean. When they introduced the new 64-bit A7 chip, they demoed it with Infinity Blade III to show how the users would exactly benefit from a fast processing power. The M7 Motion Co-processor (which opens up a new world of possibilities) was demoed with the Nike + Move app to show how it intelligently calculates movements without sacrificing battery life. The Touch ID has carefully thought out how we could solve the hassles of the 'PIN code age' while emphasizing security. Apple never spends too much time detailing on hardware specs that most users won't care about (or maybe even understand). Again, only the tech nerds will ask about RAM, battery size, chips and all that stuff.

That means, having said all that, the iPhone 5c was obviously released after having carefully considered the user experience people will get from it. This brings me to the last point.

"It is beautifully, unapologetically plastic"

Those are the words of Sir Jony Ive, the design genius himself. I must admit. I cringed the first time I read the rumor of a 'plastic' iPhone. This is probably the biggest drawback of the iPhone 5c. But, taking into consideration how Apple is a 'user experience' company, I do not think Apple will sacrifice the build quality of such a beautiful piece of hardware. In its video ad, it says the iPhone 5c is "plastic, perfected."

I've read tons of blogs and first impressions of tech bloggers who were there at the September 10 event. I have never read a single one that said it felt like a cheap plastic iPhone (the iPhone 3G and 3GS were plastic but never felt cheap by the way). All of them were saying how surprisingly good, solid and dense of a plastic it was.

For now, I just do not want to get my hopes up. I just think it's not worth criticizing such great marketing strategy from a very smart and valuable company. It takes a different kind of understanding to see the whole marketing picture of how Apple is trying to position itself in the competition.

I personally cannot wait to see it and hold it with my hands. It is the only way I can confirm what these tech bloggers have been saying about the device. I am most likely getting the blue one for Christmas.

How about you? What do you think of the new iPhone 5c?

Months ago, I posted a tutorial on how to create an iTunes Store account without a credit card. That post helped a lot of people who are new to iOS and Apple devices.

Having that kind of account has 2 benefits:
1. You have an account on the US iTunes Store (which has the widest selection of apps and media than any other country)
2. You have an account that is not linked to any credit card (Credit cards are mandatory in other countries)

Though that may sound like an awesome account, the issue with having it is the fact that you only get to download free apps on the store. That may be a limitation that is okay for some. But, some users (like me) would still want to download paid apps even without a credit card.

There are a number of solutions for this. However, the most common solution would have to be to purchase a US iTunes Gift Card.

The US iTunes Gift Cards come with a code that you can redeem at the App Store or iTunes Store so you will have the corresponding credit to purchase apps and media.

These cards can be bought online or in any Apple store.

However, for the benefit of my readers who are not from the US and want a convenient way to purchase these cards online, I suggest you check out TunesBud.

They have every iTunes gift card available online and you can pay them via PayPal (the most convenient and most preferred payment online). That sounds pretty convenient right?

If you want to check out their service, check them out here (click on the image):

They only charge a small percent to keep their service up and running. But, I can guarantee you that they deliver well. The code will then be emailed to you as soon as the payment is confirmed. Once you have the code, you can redeem it on your US iTunes Store account. You will then have the credits you need to buy those paid apps that you want.

Enjoy your paid apps and happy downloading!

If this post helped you or if you have questions, just leave them out on the comments section below.

This MCSaite Mini Bluetooth Keyboard boasts the full keyboard in such a small package. It has 80 keys in it with 15 function keys. It works only on Windows computers, iPhones and iPads. And, it is powered by 2 AAA batteries with an intelligent power saving feature.

For Writing

I got this keyboard because I think it would complement my iPad mini. I do a bit of writing and I need to get away from the on screen keyboard since it could be really incovenient typing long paragraphs on the screen.

I went to Sulit and found a really accomodating seller that sells this really cheap bluetooth keyboard. This is only PHP950 by the way. I think it was a sweet deal so I immediately went for it.

My mobile office setup

The Good

First of all, I like its look. It is slim and it does not look cheap. Its keys are comfortable to type on. Its function keys work well and you get extra keys that function well with the iPad mini. Brightness controls, volume controls, home button, sleep button, even a 'picture frame' button!

The Not So Good

However, it actually took some time for me to get comfortable with its size. It is such a small keyboard that is almost similar to the length of the iPad mini in landscape orientation. I have slightly huge fingers. So, it took a lot of getting used to. But, after typing a few paragraphs I was able to slowly catch up and type normally without any problems.

Another issue I encountered was the fact that some keys are messed up. By that I mean the icons are different from what it could actually do. For example, a certain function key shows a music control button when in fact it does not. I actually spent some time figuring out what each keys (along with the combination of function keys) do.

I Still Like It Though

Overall, I think I could say I really like this keyboard. In fact, I've been typing on it the whole day without any problems. I already got used to it and I even typed this whole review on the keyboard itself.

If you are looking for a budget bluetooth keyboard that complements with the iPad mini's size, I think this is perfect. But, if you are looking for a more comfortable typing experience (especially hardcore writers), then I think you are better off with a full size keyboard. They are pretty expensive though.

Last week, I finally bought an iPad mini.

There already are a lot of reviews on the internet about this device. So, I will not go into detail in reviewing all the specs. Here are just some of the notable things that left an impression on me after having used the device for one week.

Size Matters

I never really liked the 9.7 inch size of the regular iPad. I don't think it is that portable. This is one of those reasons that made me hold off going in for a tablet. Enter the iPad mini in 2012. It is only 7.9 inch but is definitely perfect. It fits well in my hand (or hands) and since it is very very light, it is so much portable. It is definitely my ideal size. I felt like it was meant for me.

Camera

The camera is of similar quality to that of the iPhone 4S. It is definitely good. I took a number of pictures using the front and back camera and they all ended up in good resolution. The 1080p video I recorded was amazing too. However, using a 7.9 inch camera in public does not seem to be a good idea for me. So, I always end up picking up my iPhone for taking pictures instead.

Battery Life

This is where the iPad mini stands out. It has a really amazing battery. I have reached way more than 10 hours of usage. And, for my regular use it can go on standby for like 2 or 3 days max. It charges fast too.

Sound

The sound of the device coming from the stereo speakers on the bottom surprised me. It was loud and clear enough. I can hear the audio well without having the need to plug it to an external speaker or earphones. It is that audible.

Screen

This is probably the biggest drawback to the iPad mini. People are always complaining about the fact that this device does not have a retina display.

I must admit it. It took a bit of getting used to. Coming from a device with retina display for the past 2 plus years, I immediately noticed the difference in screen quality. It was very noticeable. But, after around 3 days of using it I totally did not mind anymore. I already got used to it. The screen is still amazing even though it is not retina. If this is the tradeoff for having a really good battery, then I certainly would not mind. I am happy with this already.

Overall, there are a number of reasons to not like the iPad mini. It's not the size for everyone, it has outdated internals and it does not have the retina display. However, if you start to play with it you will forget all those reasons. I myself can't seem to stop using it. I'm loving it the more I use it. Having that said, this is definitely one of those products I would highly recommend.

It was a hardware bomb at the October 23 Apple event held at the California Theatre in San Jose. Aside from introducing a new 13 inch Retina Macbook Pro, Mac Mini and a super thin iMac, everyone's attention was focused on the introduction of a new iPad. In fact, two new iPads were announced!

The first one is the 4th generation iPad.

Apple could not wait for the next year to introduce the next generation. This is the first time 2 generations were introduced in just one year. In effect, they just updated the new iPad (which was released months ago so it's not really new now) to catch up with the technology incorporated in the recently announced iPhone 5. (You might want to check on these iPhone 5 features because I won't go into much detail on some of the same ones on this new iPad)

The most notable differences would be the new A6X chip that would make it twice faster than the previous generation and the new dock for the Lightning connector. 30 pin connectors are now really old technology. Other than that, the other key features (Facetime HD, iSight Camera, Retina Display, Siri, etc) remain exactly the same. That includes the battery life. It still gives you the same 10-hour battery life it promises despite having twice the power.

In addition to that, the iPad mini was also announced. This was what everyone was waiting for.

Though it looks exactly the same as that of the rumors, it still is a pretty exciting new Apple product!

It has some key differences with the other iPad. Aside from the fact that you can hold it in one hand, it is just 7.2 mm (23% thinner than the other iPad) thin and weighs only 0.68 lb (53% lighter). The screen size is 7.9 inch. It's not Retina display though. It's technically just the iPad 2 screen (1024x768 in resolution) scaled down. So, all the current iPad apps will still run perfectly on the device with no major configuration. It was also brilliantly designed so as not to lose functionality while browsing the web and doing everything you can on an iPad. Hence the tag "every inch an iPad."

Aside from that, it only uses the A5 chip (the one inside the iPad 2). That's just enough power for this iPad to also have a good iSight Camera and an LTE connectivity. I would think of it as just an iPad 2 shrunk down to 7.9 inch. It still has that 10 hour battery life by the way.

This sweet new iPad mini is available in black and white and starts at $329 (for the 16GB Wi-Fi model). That is a pretty competitive price. This will be a sure hit during the holiday season.

Bonus:

Here's the first ever ad for the iPad mini entitled "Piano." It's one of my favorite Apple ads to date.

One month after we got back to Balulang, we finally got our internet connection back. PLDT offered us a free re-installation because we were Sendong victims.

I was actually surprised that PLDT is now offering Wi-Fi modems. No need to buy a router. Yay! These modems are 802.11n, come with 4 ethernet ports and do not require any additional configuration. You just plug it directly on your PLDT line and it will work right out of the box. If that doesn't sound awesome for you, I don't know how you would call it.

You can slightly configure the router but you don't have total control over it. For example, by default the SSID is 'PLDTMyDSL' and you cannot change that. You can just add a suffix. In our case, I made it 'PLDTMyDSL-Borja'. On the other hand, you can change the passkey and the authentication type. The normal users won't be bothered by these downsides I guess. So, I would say that should be fine.

Overall, I'm really happy with this internet connection. PLDT is probably one of the best (if not the best) internet service providers here in CDO. It just got better with these Wi-Fi modems. I can now go back to being online 24/7. :)

I have an HP Pavilion notebook that runs on an AMD A8 processor. I use it as my main work machine. That means it is turned on and running for an average of around 15 hours a day.

The thing about AMD processors is that it gets pretty hot after prolonged use. It doesn't affect the functionality though. I just don't like it when notebooks get hot.

The only way to solve my problem was to buy a notebook cooler. So, here comes Deep Cool. I bought it at just 599 PHP. It comes in different colors (white was my personal preference). It's really silent as advertised and was cool enough to prevent my HP notebook from getting that disturbingly hot.

I think it's a must buy for people like me who use their notebooks longer than the usual... and maybe for those who have bought laptops that unfortunately burn their laps. lol

Acer Aspire One D257 Netbook Specifications:

Intel Atom 570 (1.66 GHz dual core)

2GB Memory

500 GB Hard Disk

Intel GMA 3150 Graphic Chip

6 Cell Battery

10.1 inch monitor size (1024x768 resolution)

Great netbook for regular office and everyday use. Elegant design and really portable. It's also incredibly fast compared to the other netbooks available in the market (thanks to the fast Atom processor coupled with the 2GB RAM). It took me no significant time to boot it up which I think is really sweet.

It's also a good buy. Here in Cagayan de Oro City, I bought it at AcroTech in Limketkai Mall for only Php18,500. That came with a free Acer external Optical Drive, a genuine Windows 7 Starter and a 1 year warranty.

Been testing it out and I think it's really worth buying. I recommend this to those who are seeking for an ultra portable and not so expensive netbook that is good for traveling and the usual office use. This maroon model looks really classy too.

As a musician, sound matters so much to me. I always play music on my iPhone and iPod and I hate it when the audio becomes crappy or terribly low in quality because of some bad earphones.

That is the reason I bought these Beats by Dr. Dre - Tour in-ear high resolution headphones. It goes really well with playing music on my iPhone. It can play really good bass with clear mids and highs too. Plus, I love the non-tangle design of the red cable. I just can pull it off anytime without the hassle of untangling it like all the other earphones.

So far, so good. I can enjoy really good and high quality music anytime and anywhere i want to. I have never been much happier listening to music on any earphones. It's really awesome.

Everyone knows I am an avid coffee drinker. It's part of my every day life. It's been more like a routine than an addiction.

Just recently though, I came across a very interesting and fancy looking mug. It was this 24-70 mm Nikon lens mug.

I bought this one off eBay from a very reliable seller at a fair price. I finally have one now. It really looks great. It even has this travel bag that will make me bring my coffee anywhere! How awesome it that?

This will sure make my coffee experiences more interesting!

Cheers!

Last week, I was looking at some of my old stuffs and I found an old Minolta Maxxum 5 SLR Camera.

I was never able to use it that much before. It was kind of like a waste since I was never that interested in photography during that time.This was like 8 or 9 years ago by the way.

However, times have changed. In fact, I badly want to have a DSLR camera now. I can't afford to have one as of the moment so I decided to make use of this old stuff.

I bought films and batteries to check if it still would work. The last time I used this was approximately five years ago. Just when I thought it wouldn't do any good now, to my surprise, these were the pictures I was able to take.

That's my grandfather on Emo/Muscleman mode. LOL

My dog, Philip, who reminds me of the movie Marley and Me.

Having breakfast with my mother dear. I don't know why she's wearing that hat. :D

Tried to do a macro shot, but this one is off focus. I should have used a tripod.

I tried to take some landscape photos too.

Overall, this camera still rocks. I could still put it to great use. I could practice photography the hard way. The hard way meaning using Film and not going Digital yet. Not to mention, using this camera would entail extra expenses for developing the film, etc etc. Whatever. As long as it still takes good pictures then I'm willing to invest. :)

Someday, I will own a DSLR and probably become a good photographer. :)

As far as my title goes, am I really workaholic? Well, I really could not tell myself. You be the judge. :)

Anyways, I just got into that thought because I realized that I stay in front of the computer, either the desktop PC or the laptop for an average of around 15 to 16 hours a day. Quite a lot, and majority of that time is spent on work.

In fact, I recently bought this one.

They call it the 'wristmate.' I think the name describes the product well and all of you who use the desktop computer would know how much it would really be helpful especially if you stay on the computer for super long hours like me.

I've been actually using that one for over a week now. Pretty good so far. It's got this sandy feeling that takes stress away. I even play with it sometimes. It's like a mini hotdog pillow if you come to think of it (LOL)... except for the different texture.

So yeah. That actually proves how I spend a lot of time sitting, eating, singing, etc, in front of the computer. haha.

Now, going back to the real question.

If you are asking for my thoughts on it then I think I partly am workaholic and partly not. There are just some times I really need to work but I really don't give up my social life for that. That's why I go out that often even for no reason at all.. haha. - yeah, and that involves going out alone sometimes just chilling out.

And yeah, I actually enjoy my work that's why most of the time I feel like I am not working at all. haha. Yeah. You get what I mean right?

How bout what you think? Am I really that workaholic?

On the 27th of March falls the birthday of the woman I truly adore, the woman I first loved, my inspiration and the reason why I am here. She is none other than my mother - Elena Borja. Yeah. Enough said. I love her so much.

Anyway, since last year I have already been thinking of what to give her on her birthday. I wanted it to be something special as my way of saying thank you for everything. I'm not really good at giving gifts (yeah. it sucks). I was already close to asking her what she would want for her birthday. haha. Good thing earlier this year, she was like complaining of her old laptop which has been like fully depreciated over time already. haha.

So there. To make the long story short, I could not wait for her actual birthday and gave her my present in advance. It was this one.

It's actually an ASUS EEE-PC Netbook. 1GB of RAM, Intel Atom N450 Processor, 250 GB HDD and a Windows 7 Starter OS. She would just be using the netbook for documents and Facebook games. She's a Farmville and Cafe World addict by the way. haha. So, that netbook would be just fine for her usage and needs. I'm kind of envious because its battery would last for 11 hours maximum. Oh well.... I'm happy with mine anyway. hehe

The moment I gave it to her, she was absolutely happy and that's all that matters. :)

Happy Birthday Mom.

One of the gifts I bought myself this Christmas was a Creative SBS A300 2.1 speakers. I recently just bought a PC and for someone who uses audio that much for movies, gaming and more importantly music, these kind of speakers are a great need.

I was looking for something affordable yet with good quality. This was certainly it. It's got great sound quality with a great pounding subwoofer of which you could control the bass volume. It's also very easy to setup and definitely looks good on any current desktop out there like mine.

It lacks some minor features (like no headphone jack) and might not be the perfect and most outstanding 2.1 speakers out in the market, but for 1,350 pesos it sure is a good buy.

It has significantly changed the way I listened to music in my PC now... been playing Christmas songs over and over again by the way. :)

9 days to go before Christmas. Merry Christmas everybody.

I'm Carlo Borja

Education

Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan

Experience

Head of Online Marketing

Marketing Staff

Youth Pastor

SEO and Online Marketing Consultant

Community Manager

My Skills

SEO

Content Marketing

Leadership

Organization and Management

THE WORK I DO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Outreach and Link Building

Content Marketing

General Virtual Assistance

Pastoral Work

Leadership and Management

Is Time Management Taking Too Much Time To Manage?

7 Tools for Managing Remote Teams

The Art of Managing Remote Teams and Working Remotely as an Individual

JOURNAL

Kids are converting to smartphones

Apple is after all a company that is making money

Apple cares about the user experience

"It is beautifully, unapologetically plastic"

Popular Posts

Need help with SEO for your website?

Contact Details