Facebook Out to make mobile phones more social

September 23, 2010, 3:45pm

"Our goal is to have Facebook be everywhere and everything be social rather than a specific device," founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, pictured in August 2010, was quoted as saying. (AFP)

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Facebook sees a promising future in mobile phones but the online social networking star is not building its own handset, the founder said in a TechCrunch interview posted online Wednesday.

"Our goal is to have Facebook be everywhere and everything be social rather than a specific device," founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg was quoted as saying.

"We're not trying to compete with Apple or the Droid (mobile phone from Motorola) or any other hardware manufacturer for that matter."

Facebook arranged for the interview to dispel speculation that the Palo Alto, California, company was working on a mobile phone.

Zuckerberg told TechCrunch that rumors may have resulted from mistaken interpretation of Facebook's efforts to infuse its services and features in the gamut of mobile devices.

"Our goal is to make it so that we can design the best integrations in the widest variety of phones," Zuckerberg said, stressing that Facebook was not building a mobile operating system or hardware "from scratch."

Software can make mobile phones more personalized and social by letting people sign in the way they do to customized home pages at Google, Yahoo! or elsewhere on the Internet, according to Zuckerberg.

"Just make it so that you log into your phone once, and then everything that you do on your phone is social," he said.

"I guess maybe Google or Microsoft could log you into the browser, but we can't because we don't build a browser," Zuckerberg continued. "But, that is the basic strategy."

Facebook is trying to be the platform for a "social layer" in all Internet-linked devices, according to the founder.

Facebook is investing heavily in weaving its software into iPhones since the Apple smartphones have a commanding presence in the market and has been increasing focus on handsets powered by Google-backed Android software.

"If Windows Phone 7 takes off, I'm sure we'll put resources into that," Zuckerberg said.

Microsoft's latest-generation mobile software platform is to be released next month.

Published in Manila Bulletin Sept. 23, 2010.

Facebook Out to make social phones mobile

September 23, 2010, 3:45pm

"Our goal is to have Facebook be everywhere and everything be social rather than a specific device," founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, pictured in August 2010, was quoted as saying. (AFP)

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Facebook sees a promising future in mobile phones but the online social networking star is not building its own handset, the founder said in a TechCrunch interview posted online Wednesday.

"Our goal is to have Facebook be everywhere and everything be social rather than a specific device," founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg was quoted as saying.

"We're not trying to compete with Apple or the Droid (mobile phone from Motorola) or any other hardware manufacturer for that matter."

Facebook arranged for the interview to dispel speculation that the Palo Alto, California, company was working on a mobile phone.

Zuckerberg told TechCrunch that rumors may have resulted from mistaken interpretation of Facebook's efforts to infuse its services and features in the gamut of mobile devices.

"Our goal is to make it so that we can design the best integrations in the widest variety of phones," Zuckerberg said, stressing that Facebook was not building a mobile operating system or hardware "from scratch."

Software can make mobile phones more personalized and social by letting people sign in the way they do to customized home pages at Google, Yahoo! or elsewhere on the Internet, according to Zuckerberg.

"Just make it so that you log into your phone once, and then everything that you do on your phone is social," he said.

"I guess maybe Google or Microsoft could log you into the browser, but we can't because we don't build a browser," Zuckerberg continued. "But, that is the basic strategy."

Facebook is trying to be the platform for a "social layer" in all Internet-linked devices, according to the founder.

Facebook is investing heavily in weaving its software into iPhones since the Apple smartphones have a commanding presence in the market and has been increasing focus on handsets powered by Google-backed Android software.

"If Windows Phone 7 takes off, I'm sure we'll put resources into that," Zuckerberg said.

Microsoft's latest-generation mobile software platform is to be released next month.

Published in Manila Bulletin Sept. 23, 2010.

Facebook

September 23, 2010, 3:45pm

"Our goal is to have Facebook be everywhere and everything be social rather than a specific device," founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, pictured in August 2010, was quoted as saying. (AFP)

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Facebook sees a promising future in mobile phones but the online social networking star is not building its own handset, the founder said in a TechCrunch interview posted online Wednesday.

"Our goal is to have Facebook be everywhere and everything be social rather than a specific device," founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg was quoted as saying.

"We're not trying to compete with Apple or the Droid (mobile phone from Motorola) or any other hardware manufacturer for that matter."

Facebook arranged for the interview to dispel speculation that the Palo Alto, California, company was working on a mobile phone.

Zuckerberg told TechCrunch that rumors may have resulted from mistaken interpretation of Facebook's efforts to infuse its services and features in the gamut of mobile devices.

"Our goal is to make it so that we can design the best integrations in the widest variety of phones," Zuckerberg said, stressing that Facebook was not building a mobile operating system or hardware "from scratch."

Software can make mobile phones more personalized and social by letting people sign in the way they do to customized home pages at Google, Yahoo! or elsewhere on the Internet, according to Zuckerberg.

"Just make it so that you log into your phone once, and then everything that you do on your phone is social," he said.

"I guess maybe Google or Microsoft could log you into the browser, but we can't because we don't build a browser," Zuckerberg continued. "But, that is the basic strategy."

Facebook is trying to be the platform for a "social layer" in all Internet-linked devices, according to the founder.

Facebook is investing heavily in weaving its software into iPhones since the Apple smartphones have a commanding presence in the market and has been increasing focus on handsets powered by Google-backed Android software.

"If Windows Phone 7 takes off, I'm sure we'll put resources into that," Zuckerberg said.

Microsoft's latest-generation mobile software platform is to be released next month.

Published in Manila Bulletin Sept. 23, 2010.

PLDT Offers More Affordable Internet Service

By Paolo Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOMINANT CARRIER Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) launched a mobile Internet service that makes it more affordable for budget-conscious subscribers to go online using their mobile phones.

In a statement on Wednesday, PLDT said “Koneknet” would be offered by Talk N’ Text.

“Koneknet” will allow Talk N’ Text subscribers to access the Net using their handsets for five hours for only P30.

Other networks charge about P10 for every 30 minutes of mobile Internet use. Users can also opt to be charged based on per kilobyte of information transmitted.

“Koneknet enables Talk ‘N Text subscribers to use their cell phones to go and stay online, update their blogs, chat or send e-mails, browse through their favorite social networking sites at a fixed and low cost,” PLDT said in a statement.

“Our subscribers have benefited from the nationwide network coverage of Talk ‘N Text, its affordable offers, and the convenience of finding prepaid load wherever they are. Koneknet expands this host of benefits, and is a natural progression of our strategy of providing basic yet advanced services to our subscribers, at least cost,” said Perry Bayani, head of marketing at Talk ‘N Text, a unit of PLDT subsidiary Smart Communications.

The Talk N’ Text brand used to be operated by Smart subsidiary Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel). Talk N’ Text’s assets were transferred to Smart earlier this year after Piltel was converted into a holding firm for the phone group’s energy assets.

“Koneknet also helps advance Smart’s ‘Internet for All’ agenda—or to bring the benefits of the Internet more quickly to more people in more places,” Bayani added.

To experience mobile Internet, Talk ‘N Text subscribers must first set the 3G/MMS/GPRS features of their cell phone, and they may do this by sending the text SET to 211.

The 30-peso charge will be deducted from the subscriber’s prepaid credit at registration. A prepaid balance of P1 must be maintained while subscribed to the Koneknet package.

Any amount of time exceeding the registered 5-hour period will be charged the existing flat rate of P10 for every 30 minutes, which is the same rate charged on Smart subscribers.

As of end-June 2010, the subscriber base of Talk ‘N Text reached 18 million, or more than 40 percent of the PLDT group’s current base.

Mobile broadband is seen as the next growth area for local telecommunications firms, with the market for traditional voice call and text messaging servicesnearing its saturation point

Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer Sept. 22, 2010.

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PLDT Launched Mobile Internet Service

By Paolo Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOMINANT CARRIER Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) launched a mobile Internet service that makes it more affordable for budget-conscious subscribers to go online using their mobile phones.

In a statement on Wednesday, PLDT said “Koneknet” would be offered by Talk N’ Text.

“Koneknet” will allow Talk N’ Text subscribers to access the Net using their handsets for five hours for only P30.

Other networks charge about P10 for every 30 minutes of mobile Internet use. Users can also opt to be charged based on per kilobyte of information transmitted.

“Koneknet enables Talk ‘N Text subscribers to use their cell phones to go and stay online, update their blogs, chat or send e-mails, browse through their favorite social networking sites at a fixed and low cost,” PLDT said in a statement.

“Our subscribers have benefited from the nationwide network coverage of Talk ‘N Text, its affordable offers, and the convenience of finding prepaid load wherever they are. Koneknet expands this host of benefits, and is a natural progression of our strategy of providing basic yet advanced services to our subscribers, at least cost,” said Perry Bayani, head of marketing at Talk ‘N Text, a unit of PLDT subsidiary Smart Communications.

The Talk N’ Text brand used to be operated by Smart subsidiary Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel). Talk N’ Text’s assets were transferred to Smart earlier this year after Piltel was converted into a holding firm for the phone group’s energy assets.

“Koneknet also helps advance Smart’s ‘Internet for All’ agenda—or to bring the benefits of the Internet more quickly to more people in more places,” Bayani added.

To experience mobile Internet, Talk ‘N Text subscribers must first set the 3G/MMS/GPRS features of their cell phone, and they may do this by sending the text SET to 211.

The 30-peso charge will be deducted from the subscriber’s prepaid credit at registration. A prepaid balance of P1 must be maintained while subscribed to the Koneknet package.

Any amount of time exceeding the registered 5-hour period will be charged the existing flat rate of P10 for every 30 minutes, which is the same rate charged on Smart subscribers.

As of end-June 2010, the subscriber base of Talk ‘N Text reached 18 million, or more than 40 percent of the PLDT group’s current base.

Mobile broadband is seen as the next growth area for local telecommunications firms, with the market for traditional voice call and text messaging servicesnearing its saturation point

Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer Sept. 22, 2010.

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Learning tool of the future

By Raquel P. Gomez
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines--In the near future, when this projector technology becomes cheap, teachers will be using pens with virtual ink to write on any wall—in lieu of the lowly blackboard and chalk—to teach lessons in hi-tech classrooms.

Epson, a top projector maker, recently introduced the EB-450Wi, an intelligent and interactive ultra short throw projector (mounted on the ceiling) that allows teachers or people who do presentations to conveniently turn a white board, a wall, or practically any smooth surface into an interactive presentation area.

The technology isn’t new as projector combined with an interactive white board is already in use.

But the EB-450Wi went beyond this technology by featuring the ability to project onto any wall or surface, and the use of a digital infrared pen allows a presenter to manipulate interactive objects and features onscreen—similar to using a mouse to move and point objects on the PC screen.

In addition, the EB-450Wi, which can be mounted on the ceiling of a classroom, features a short throw technology that already eliminates glare and shadows from the projected light, resulting in seamless presentations with sharper colors and images.

“We believe that the Epson EB-450Wi ultra short throw interactive projector is the ultimate learning tool of the future,” said Epson senior general manager Ed Bonoan.

Apart from the revolutionary EB-450Wi, Epson also introduced its latest projectors equipped with the dynamic 3LCD technology—a new projector technology that offers dedicated color projection by using three separate LCD panels for red, green and blue (RGB) projections.

This ensures smooth projection of image without color breakup (or rainbow effect), distorted image patterns and visual fatigue.

Intended for large venue screenings, the EB-Z8050W is Epson’s brightest projector boasting of a rating of 7,000 lumens.

The EH-TW4500 home theater, on the other hand, features the highest contrast ratio of 200,000:1 (highest in the world for a projector) and capability of doing full HD 1080p, a feature that can already make a living room like a real cinema room when viewing movies using this projector.

For business use, the low power consuming EB-8 series features cable-free projections, network control, and the ability to project JPG image files stored in flash drives or PCs via USB ports.

Suggested retail price for the classroom interactive projector EB-450Wi is P106,900, while the EH-TW4500 home theater projector carries an SRP P156,000.

The consumer is king, thanks to competition

Consumer Post

By SOL JOSE VANZI

August 21, 2010, 3:46pm

Competition is one of the best things about democratic capitalism. In the Philippines, nothing illustrates this better than the benefits enjoyed by consumers as a result of liberalization in the field of telecommunications.

There are many of us still around who remember the bad old days when owning a telephone was a status symbol. It was very difficult to get a phone line; applications were known to take six to eight years before approval, if one was lucky.

The most numerous ads in the newspapers’ classified section were those that offered “telephone lines for sale” and the price varied depending on location. Some telephone lines had been known to have sold for P10,000 in hard-to-reach areas. So valuable were phones that heirs had been known to quarrel over telephone lines left unassigned by their departed parents.

The scarcity of telephones was worse outside Manila. Journalists covering events in the provinces had to go to telecom company offices, such as the private PT&T and the government BUTEL (Bureau of Telecommunications) at the post office to send telegrams or make long distance calls to Manila.

By the late 1980s, new telephone companies were allowed to operate, and the entire country was partitioned into franchise areas assigned to be serviced by different telecom outfits. Telephone poles were set up and landlines were strung throughout the archipelago. Immediately, the advertisements for telephone lines disappeared.

By the year 2000, telephone company agents were knocking on everyone’s doors offering telephone lines for extremely low monthly rates. Tents bloomed at parks and special events, all offering instant telephone connections, later even throwing in wireless telephone instruments.

All hail the consumer

At last, the consumer is treated properly. No more waking up in the morning to find the phone disconnected with not a single warning. These days, real human beings call telephone subscribers to inquire and remind about outstanding phone bill balances. The telephone company reps I have encountered have been polite and well-spoken. I ask for their names and call them back after I pay my phone bill and I get the feeling they do manually see to it my phone does not get disconnected.

Telephone linemen, who used to take days to respond to cable problems, now show up almost instantly. And they even phone again the next day to check if the problem has not recurred.

The most recent pleasant change was when a PLDT lady phoned me to acknowledge that their records reflect a payment I made at an SM Bayad Center two days before. At the same time, she reminded me of the balance remaining and the deadline for settling it.

More services and bargains

Competition has also forced the telephone company to offer better, cheaper services. For a minimum flat fee, I get 30 minutes free long distance calls, via IDD (International Direct Dial) to many countries, saving me thousands of pesos a month. I get the same deal for domestic NDD (National Direct Dial) calls to provinces and cities serviced by PLDT. The third service I am subscribed to allows me to call any Smart cellphone, and talk for as long as I want, for R9.90 per call.

Landline cellphones

I carry a second cellphone that has a landline SIM. It costs me a couple of hundred pesos per month, billed with my home landline. My family and friends can call that phone from their landline and reach me wherever I am, and it is not going to cost them anything. And I can phone their landline from anywhere for nothing. Since many of my friends also have landline cellphones, we’re really beating the system and have cut our cellphone bills in half.

Here comes cable TV rate war

In the beginning, there were two: HOME and SKY cable TV companies. When they merged, I sensed doom and higher monthly fees. I was right. From an initial P300, we are now paying close to P800 monthly for the basic subscription.

My neighbors are looking into the offerings of the latest players, who are not literally cable, but offering the same services. They are not cable because they are wireless, and claim that their services will not be disrupted by typhoons and brownouts. Their rates? P250-P450 per month.

Unfortunately, I have no choice but to stick to SKY, which is the only company that telecasts ANC and DZMM Teleradyo,  stations that are vital for us journalists in monitoring breaking news and special events. Sayang!

Published in Manila Bulletin August 21, 2010.

You don't have to be smart to use a smartphone

NOKIA C5-00

By JULIE ANN GATBONTON

August 23, 2010, 9:02am

For years, Nokia has kept us on the edge of our seats with their extravagant line up of mobile phones. Their phones have evolved from four-digit models to the “high-end” N series; then came the X series which focused on social entertainment and the E series, which were designed for business and productivity.

Now, the Finnish mobile phone giant has unveiled their latest addition, the C series, which are designed to embody, in Nokia’s words, the "core range of products". Along with this was the introduction of a new naming convention, which can definitely give consumers an idea about a certain phone’s functionality and price. In this new scheme, phones are numbered from 1 to 9.

The lower the number, the lesser are its features, hence, the cheaper.

The first phone in the C series category is the Nokia C5. Applying the new name policy, the Nokia C5 can be classified as a mid-range phone.

With its classic design, the phone looks very simple yet pleasingly attractive. Its boxy appearance that houses a 2.2-inch TFT screen and numeric keypad offers nothing new, but its slim profile, fairly large keypad and the addition of the Symbian S60 OS make it extra special.

Without a doubt, the phone is robust with its surprisingly lightweight stainless steel body. I’ve got to say I’m a big fan of its numeric keypad because the buttons are large enough to fit even the largest thumb (I mean, how large can a thumb can get, right?). The smoothness of the keypad makes it easy to glide your fingers as you navigate around the screen. Moreover, each key gives just the right amount of feedback.

The phone’s command buttons are just as responsive as the numeric keypad. However, it would have been perfect if the “C” button or the clear key had been slightly bigger. Aside from just having 1/3 the size of the rest of the command buttons (except for the home key), it is positioned between the application and call end key. So, when you type too fast and you suddenly want to erase a word or two, you need to be careful not to press the application or call end key. If you have long nails, it’s something that may take quite a while to get used to.

Now let’s get down to the feature that most people consider nowadays in buying a new phone – web browsing. Sad to say, the Nokia C5 is not equipped with WiFi, but is 3G HSDPA compatible with maximum speed up to 10.2 Mbps. Good thing network providers are on the verge of coming up with the best deals in mobile internet browsing.

To be honest, I used to have deeper appreciation on Android phones because of their pre-installed social media applications such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I’ve always thought that a Nokia phone that would offer the same convenience would be the best because, needless to say, nothing beats Nokia when it comes to manufacturing user-friendly phones. The release of Nokia C5 certainly marks the beginning of easy-to-use smartphones.

Once logged in to Facebook, you don’t have to open the Facebook application each time you want to look at your friend’s updates. Your friend’s profile will be automatically linked to his contact details in your phonebook if his number is posted on Facebook. Otherwise, you’ll have to do it manually. Once linked, you’ll see your friend’s updates whenever you search his name in your Contacts list.

From your friend’s contact details, you can go directly to his Facebook page, write on his wall, send him a message, poke him or view his photos. You just have to be patient while the page is loading because pressing other keys can exit you from the page and put the phone on standby mode. When this happens, you have no other choice, but to press the Home key, repeat the process, blame yourself for being impatient and blame your network provider for the slow service.

It’s easy to enjoy a life of connectivity with Nokia C5 as it can facilitate access not just to Ovi Mail, but to Yahoo and Gmail as well. It also comes with Nokia Messaging and lets you chat using Google Talk or Windows Live Messenger.

As for image quality of photos and videos, the 3.2 megapixel camera may seem a bit entry-level compared to most Nokia phones with higher resolutions, but can produce results that are good enough to post on your favorite social networking sites.

The availability of Nokia’s wide range of attractive phones allows us to choose a handset that best fits our changing lifestyles. In this period of “less is more”, I can see the Nokia C5 making it to the young market.

Nokia C5-00 Specifications

General 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100
Size Dimensions 112 x 46 x 12.3 mm, 56 cc
Weight 89.3 g
Display TFT, 16M colors
240 x 320 pixels, 2.2 inches
Memory Internal 50 MB storage, 128 MB RAM , Card slot microSD, up to 16GB, 2GB included
Data GPRS Class 32
EDGE Class 32
3G HSDPA, 10.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2 Mbps
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Camera 3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, LED flash
Video VGA@15fps
Features OS Symbian OS v9.3, Series 60 rel. 3.2
CPU ARM 11 600 MHz processor
Messaging SMS, AMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM, RSS
Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML

Published in Manila Bulletin August 23, 2010.

Apple Unveils iPod Upgrades

By EDGARD HILARIO

September 2, 2010, 5:17pm

Apple CEO Steve Jobs walks onstage as he reveals onscreen exciting upgrades in the (from left) iPod Shuffle, Nano, and Touch gadgets on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 (Thursday in Manila), in San Francisco, USA. (AP)

Following the successful release of the iPad and iPhone 4, Apple is forging on with a trailblazing 2010 by announcing upgrades of its iPod Touch, Nano, and Shuffle gadgets for millions of tech-crazy consumers globally.

First up is the new iPod Touch, said to be packed with incredible new features including Apple’s stunning Retina display, FaceTime video calling, HD video recording, Apple’s A4 chip, 3-axis gyro, iOS 4.1, and Game Center – all combined in the thinnest and lightest iPod Touch ever.

The new iPod Touch features up to 40 hours of music playback and seven hours of video playback on a single battery charge. Filed under: iPod+iTunes. Read more: apple.com/ipodtouch Next is the iPod Nano, which has been completely redesigned with Multi-Touch, allowing you navigate your music collection by simply tapping or swiping a finger on the display.

Nearly half the size and weight of the previous generation, the new iPod nano features a polished aluminum and glass enclosure with a built-in clip, making it instantly wearable.

Apple also announced the redesigned iPod Shuffle that features both clickable buttons and Apple’s innovative VoiceOver technology, enabling you to easily navigate your music and playlists without ever looking at your iPod shuffle.

The wearable iPod shuffle has an all-aluminum enclosure with a built-in clip and comes in five brilliant colors – silver, blue, green, orange, and pink.

From apple.com came these “major” upgrades to some of its “minor” products that are expected to sustain the excitement generated by the iPhone 4 and iPad releases early this year.

Also new but already available for download is iTunes 10 that features Ping, a new social network for music that lets you follow your favorite artists and friends to discover what music they’re talking about, listening to, and downloading.

With Ping you can post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, and the music you’ve downloaded from iTunes – plus view concert listings and tell your friends which concerts you plan to attend.

From mobile gadgets to home entertainment, Apple also introduces the new Apple TV. It offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99.

With Apple TV, you can choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first-run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent – from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel, and BBC America – for just 99 cents. With its cash register still playing happy tunes with the relentless orders for the iPhone 4 and the iPad globally, Apple is expected to report a banner year in revenues.

Published in Manila Bulletin Septemb er 3, 2010.