[Review] Xiaomi MIIIW Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Xiaomi MIIIW Wireless Keybaord and Mouse Combo is a full wireless keyboard that's great for everyday use. It's simple and elegant, works with both PC and Mac, water resistant, and also very affordable. 

Here's a quick review of the . As usual, we'll go with the following order:

✓ Specs and features

✓ Price and availability

✓ What I like

✓ What I didn't like

But before that, here's an unboxing and first impressions video I uploaded on Youtube.

Alright. I chanced upon the Xiaomi Wireless Combo while browsing for wireless keyboards on Shopee and Lazada. I wanted a full and wireless keyboard to improve my work from home setup and I think I scored a good product with Xiaomi.

Specs and features

Mouse:

• 1000dpi optical sensor
• 2.4GHz wireless receiver
• Anti-slip texture
• Plug and use, no additional drivers needed

Keyboard:

• IPX4 waterproof
• Sensitive button for PC/Mac switching
• 4° or 8° keyboard typing angle
• Full sized keyboard layout (104 keys + PC/Mac switch key)

Price and availability

Got this one from Shopee for ₱1,250 (discounts and vouchers included) so if you're interested, here's the link: https://shopee.ph/product/133211801/6533975360

What I like

There's really not much to say about keyboards in general. My requirements are simple: full sized, wireless, and affordable and this product is just about perfect. It's simple and elegant, I like how the edges are tapered round and that there's not a lot of empty space around it. It's not thin but it doesn't look bulky, and it looks really neat and it looks great on my desk.

What I didn't like

The mouse. It's good enough, it clicks and scrolls well but for some it could be hard to click. That said, it could be better. It's also too big for me. Well, I have small hands and I have my own Logitech mini-mouse that I intend to continue using simply because it's smaller.

Also, the sound of the keyboard. I sounds click-clacky and like a plastic mechanical keyboard, you know? I mean it's no big deal but I just noticed how it sounds different from the usual keyboards. You may hear the typing sounds on the Youtube video above, towards the end. On second thought, I actually thought it sounds cool hehe.

Overall I really like this product. I may even bring this with me once I go back to the office. 

OC with my PC

Photo from Unsplash

Whenever I get a new desktop, whether at work or at home, I always make it a point to setup my computer according to my specifications. This includes installing 3rd party productivity tools, tinkering my start bar, creating keyboard shortcuts, and keeping the desktop clean at all times. I try not to keep stuff on the desktop, whatever's originally there can stay (My Computer, Recycle Bin, and other proprietary company software that persists upon restart that there's no point in removing them) and I'm not adding to it. I hate stickies and basically anything that clutters the wallpaper haha. Organizing my computer helps me work faster and more importantly, keeps my PC performance optimized. I'm a big keyboard user and as much as possible I try to use shortcuts for everything. Clicking on Start, typing Calculator, then clicking on the Calculator to launch it is a pain for me. I'd rather type Win+R, Calc, then Enter to launch the damned calcu.

So here's what I do when I get a fresh PC:

1. Request for admin rights (if it's a company PC). Easy for us in the tech team to get clearance for this. Important for installing software.
2. Setup my Taskbar. Small buttons, enable labels, never combine. Classic.
3. Cleanup Start Menu by removing the live tiles. They're annoying. Here's how.
4. Create a personal folder inside my user profile, like this: C:\Users\username\Personal
   Because items directly under your user directory can be run automatically from the Run dialog.
5. Create a Notes file. Basically an Excel file where I jot down my work notes.
   In my line of work, notes aren't really necessary but I like to keep em for future reference.
   I usually create a new tab per project, then add 3 columns namely Date, Item, and Description. Every tab is color coded according to Pantone's Color of the Year hahaha. This helps me keep track of the projects I've worked on per year, which is crucial when it's time to work on our annual performance report. Every time I work on a project, I add notes to it.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Install productivity tools
• Notepad++ because it's the best code editor, supports several languages, has session backup, and pretty themes.
• Screenhunter because I don't like the Snipping Tool lol
• WordWeb because I need a dictionary hehe
• WinRar because it's more reliable than Window's default compression software
• WinMerge for diff-ing code changes
• Google Chrome because duh
• Adobe Photoshop Portable for fun hehe sssshhh
7. Create shortcuts for my most used apps. Shortcuts are run dialog keywords I use to launch a certain app. Because it's easier for me to type Win+R, ie, then enter to launch Internet Explorer instead of navigating using the frkn mouse. Here's how. I create new shortcuts for the apps I installed, and also edit those I think are hard to remember
   
   
   
   
   
• sh for ScreenHunter
• sb for Secured Browser
• winmerge for WinMerge
• npp for Notepad++ (originally: notepad++)
• ie for Internet Explorer (originally: iexplore)
• excel for MS Excel
• word for MS Word (originally: winword)
• ppt for MS Powerpoint (oringally: powerpnt)
• remote for Remote Desktop Connection (originally: mstsc.exe)
• chrome for Google Chrome
• notes for my excel Notes file
• ps for Photoshop
• ai for Illustrator
8. Create a todo.txt and open it in Notepad++ so it stays in the current session
   It's a habit of mine to launch npp every time I start my machine. I use Monokai theme and lay out my text files these way, To-do on the left, and random notes on the right
   
   
   
   
   

Yeah, so that's pretty much how I setup my PC for maximum utility. How about you, how OC are you with PC? :D

[Review] Xiaomi Yi Compact Dashcam

Finally got a dashcam! Tbh I don't know if Yi is made by Xiaomi, but whatever. Let's continue with the article. This review will cover the following and also some tips here and there:

• Specifications
• Where to get one
• What's in the box
• Requirements
• Installation (non-hardwired)
• Sample footage (day and night)

Specifications

I believe I got the Yi Compact Dash Camera 'cos that's what the Shopee store says haha, I know there's like a Yi Smart Dash Camera too with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) and 60fps recording, but I didn't get the Smart one so don't get confused! Here are the specs:

• 130° ultra wide-angle lens
• 1080p 30fps high speed recording
• Emergency Recording
• 2.7" LCD screen
• Built-in wifi
• Built-in microphone
• Dimensions: L-74mm, W-19.4mm/32mm, H-52.4mm

That's it! It's a basic dashcam that's perfect for my basic needs lol.

Where to get one?

I got mine from this store at Shopee. Wait for a SALE. It usually costs ₱2,500 to ₱2,999 but during the time I bought it, it was down to ₱1,799 so I took it right away. It comes with free shipping and some more discounts pa so I got 100 off on my final bill. SULIT!

I was actually looking for sellers who could install na rin cos girl I'm too dumb to install this on my own. I want it hardwired but seeing that my car's electronic warranty is still active, I can't afford to touch the fusebox. Given that, I decided to just get a bare unit and get a stab and installing this on my own. #StrongIndependentLadyDriver

What's in the box?

There's the unit, a long ass USB cord, adhesive 3m mount, a USB car charger, and the manual. Basic. Would've bought a suction cup mount instead but according to the reviews, if you're not gonna move the thing frequently you could just settle for the permanent adhesive mount.

Requirements

Nothing much, just a Class 10 microSD card with FAT32 format that's at least 16GB. In the official Yi website, recommended storage is 8GB to 64GB. But in my experience, 1 minute of footage is already around 100MB so 8GB is only good for some 80mins of driving. Not a lot, unless you constantly backup. 

Installation (non-hardwire)

I watched countless Youtube videos to get this thing right and thankfully, I got it faaam! The wires are hidden, but I'm still not completely satisfied. For now I got the wire routed into the headliner, passing by the edge of the pillar, into the weatherstrip, underneath the floor matting, and finally up on the USB charging port.

In pictures I'll try to show you a step by step of how I did it.

Step one: Position your dashcam  

To help you find the right spot, connect it to your phone so you get a live view of the peripheral of the dashcam. I stuck mine next to the base of the rearview mirror. I'm aware it's sticking right on the tint so I'm never changing that lol. I also don't know what the ideal view is for a dashcam but for some reason I don't like footages that show the hood of the car, for uhm, aesthetic purposes. You know, I'm kinda in it for the view so I don't want any obstructive thing in my dashcam's peripheral. I feel silly but hahaha please let me be.

Step two: Tuck the wire in

And to help you with pushing the wires in place, use a plastic card.

The headliner is where the windshield meets the roof of your car. If you push it with your fingers you'll feel there's a space inside where you can tuck the wires in.

Follow the white line

After passing by the headliner, you gotta push the wire into the edge of the pillar. In other methods, they remove the pillar and hide the wire inside, but I got no tools for that and I'm afraid I might break something so I just hid it on the top edge, and tuck the rest of the wire into the weatherstrip.

The weatherstrip is this long strip of black rubber attached on the edges of the vehicle's frame. Using a plastic card, help yourself tuck the wires in. Gosh we're so near the charging port!

The floor area is where it got a bit challenging for me. I wanted to get the wire inside the compartment but I don't know where to pass it so for now I settled with hiding the wire underneath the floor matting.

Then it's just a matter of reaching the charging port and powering it on.

Aaaand success! Since the dashcam is plugged in the power outlet, the gadget will start when the key is in the ACC or ON position.

Sample footage

Here's a sample footage during the day.

Screenshot along the way

And here's a sample footage during the night

Here's a screenshot at night at a very dark place with just my headlights on (low beam). If you look closely, you'll see an ominous figure somewhere. CHAROT.

Aaaaand that's it!

Finally

This is a really good buy for me. It's affordable, reliable, and somehow I can't get enough of watching our footage! I'm bored like that. I highly recommend this product!

A couple of cons:
- Mic isn't that clear
- Dashcam gets in the way of the front sunshade
- Uhh that's it

The mic isn't super duper clear. But it's okay, we can hear our conversations properly naman hehe. It looks elegant too. I never looked at other dashcams because this one's too pretty. The lines are sleek and minimal. Love it.

Unleash your inner champ with Taiwan Excellence gaming rigs

If you have ever imagined a gamer's dream room, it would possibly look like a hub full of enormous action figures, dramatic led lights, and multiple wide gaming monitors. There are no rules on how cyber athletes should decorate their corner, but setting up a comfortable and modern playground helps you sharpen your competitive edge further. If you haven't had the chance to remodel your gaming space into its best version, Taiwan Excellence brings the most advanced devices that can help you unleash your inner champion within.

Take gaming experience to the extreme. The Acer Predator X27 monitor is equipped with HDR ultra technology, which gives the darkest blacks and brightest lights for a more realistic game. Whether you are inside a cave or atop a mountain, the monitor’s stunning pictures help you clearly see the gaming terrains for a more immersive battlestation.

Couple your premium monitor with Gigabyte's TOP Gaming Motherboard. With Smart Fan 5, you can seamlessly juggle three games at a time, or play while listening to the music without overheating the processor. 

Bring the adventure outside. MSI introduces its GE63VR Raider, a high performance gaming notebook you can use anywhere. It has 120Hz panel with ultra-fast 3ms response time that allows the device to keep up with rapid movements. Moreover, it has enormous surround sound speakers that provide a wraparound feel as the action starts.

On top of these, MSI also crafted the VR One - the Virtual Reality (VR) backpack PC. This helps gamers avoid tangled cables, and distract them for their battles. 

Approved by NVIDIA, a market leader in the design of graphics processing units, this equipment is exceptionally suitable for gaming scenarios such as theme parks, cockpit simulations, and military trainings. Due to its unmatched performance, it has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a training equipment for astronauts, and by Sony and Bandai as the go-to option for their VR projects.

Redesign your gaming station with Thermaltake's View 31 Tempered Glass Edition Mid Tower Chassis. This processor house features a dual durable 4 mm thick tempered glass window with colorful led lights to set your mood. Aside from its stylish front, it has a powerful dual graphics processing unit (GPU) that ensures crisp visuals.

Channel your inner beast and conquer your enemies with these Taiwan Excellence-approved gadgets. These innovations are carefully evaluated and sealed by TAITRA with the guidance from the Bureau of Foreign Trade to promote Taiwan's revolutionary products.

For more information about its accredited products, visit taiwanexcellence.org, or like Taiwan Excellence on Facebook. 

The Right way to play with Converge!

Metro Manila, May 22, 2018 – Mark your calendars as Pinoy Gamers converge for the most glorious gaming event of the summer through the Righteous Glory Summer Spirit Bomb!

This 72-hour Streaming Marathon for Charity will be powered by the Pure Fiber Internet of CONVERGE - in cooperation with Rumble Royale Events Production, together with AORUS, GIGABYTE, Corsair, Dreamlords Digital, and the Streamers Philippines community. Filipino live streaming fans will be treated to three days of non-stop video game fun for the benefit of the partner charity, Save the Children Philippines. Join the likes of Suzzysaur, Eri Neeman, Riku, GLOCO, and Sh1n Boo, together with other important Filipino streamers as they unite to embark on various video game adventures. All for the awesome cause of a better life for children.

While the Righteous Glory Summer Spirit Bomb promotes #PositivityThroughGaming, it also guarantees 3 days of frantic fun and exhilarating excitement for the attendees and viewers. Everyone will be given chances to win exclusive freebies and prizes! Want more reason to get more pumped up for this event? Jiggernut’s paper craft models (inspired by popular characters from League of Legends, Halo) and an Infinity Gauntlet-style statue crafted by the one-and-only Carlo “Dragonkid” De Laza are all up for grabs!

Can it get any better? It can as Converge is having its own raffle for the event and these prizes await the lucky winners!

Grand Prize: One winner of 100Mbps – six (6) months’ worth Php27, 000.00
First Prize: One winner of 50Mbps – six (6) months’ worth Php20, 000.00
Consolation Prizes: Three exclusive Converge Watches
Loot Bags: 50 sets of giveaways

See you on May 25, 26, and 27 at Game Over PH, located at Xavierville Avenue, Quezon City for the 72-hour Streaming Marathon. And, yes, this event is FREE for anyone who wishes to be part of the action in the venue while others can experience the excitement wherever they are by watching the live broadcast online at twitch.tv.rumbleroyale.

Experience better. Play harder.
This is how you play, the Converge way.

#ThePowerofFiber
#RIGHTEOUSGLORYSummerSpiritBomb
#ConvergeFiberInternet
#StreamersPH
#SupportPinoyStreams
#SupportFilipinoStreaming
#SaveTheChildren

###

Make life easier and travel with an always charged phone

Photo from Tylt

From little toddlers to elderlies, almost everyone is using some kind of electronic devices such as a tablet, a mobile phone, a laptop, etc. The thing that keeps the devices working and alive is the battery. The phone needs a charged battery for us to use e.g. making and receiving calls, texting messages, going online, downloading and watching movie on youtube, etc. We sometimes forget that battery’s life is so precious and we take it for granted until it goes totally flat or died on us when we are in the middle of something important or exciting! In the old days, mobile phones were non-existent. But in our modern age, once a person started using a mobile phone and finds it so useful, that person could not do without the phone. Some public places made charging stations available to anyone who needs to charge their phone’s battery. But what happens if we need to use the phone with very low battery urgently and we find that there is no where we can charge the battery? It can be very frustrating if we need to reach out to someone urgently or for someone trying to reach us in times of emergency.

 

Photo from Tylt

Fortunately, there are now portable power banks, portable chargers, wireless chargers, and power bags available in the market to make our life easier. For those who are always on the move, living an active life, or spending time away from home or the office, getting a backpack with power bank is the best thing that can happen to you.

Photo from Tylt

Let us say that you are travelling and before you reach the hotel, a warning tone came through the phone to warn of a low battery. You are waiting for an important call from your client and you can’t afford to miss that call. Your stress level went up worrying whether the battery will last in case the call comes in. Other stressful incidents such as having a low battery just before a phone interview, watching and waiting for the final goal of your favourite game, in the middle of a computer game when you are expected to win, etc.

A power bag is a bag which doubles as a mobile charging stations or is a backpack that charges phone and other electronic devices at the same time. We can use it to carry our laptop, tablet, mobile phone, cables and accessories, etc. and at the same time use it to charge our electronic devices anytime, and anywhere. With a power bag, our phone and devices stay fully charged!

[Review] Converge FiberX Plan 1500

JANUARY 2021 UPDATE - OUR BANDWIDTH INCREASED!

Okay I think I've forgiven Converge ever since the October downtime. They were reliable naman for the most part but when they go down, ang tagal ng downtime so it's very difficult to trust them completely. Better have a backup plan, in our case a GOMO sim. Anyway, they promised to increase everyone's speed last year and I only got to confirm it early January. I don't know if it's their way of making up to us or whatever but here's our current speed tests. From 25Mbps we now average 40-50Mbps, sometimes it'll even burst to 70Mbps.

Yun nga lang I noticed how big the gap is between Download and Upload speeds. Fiber is known for having the same, if not almost the same, up and down speeds so I wonder what they did that made the gap this big. Did they secretly downgrade our lines to DSL during that long downtime, and pretended to offer free upgrade so we wouldn't notice or even care? LOL I'm just speculating here feel free to correct me. Though personally I couldn't care less about fiber or DSL as long as I'm getting fast and stable internet connection for the same price. But still, they'd be lying to us if this isn't real fiber.

OCTOBER 2020 UPDATE - 24HRS++ DOWNTIME!!!

And I thought they're doing okay this quarantine but the unexpected outage on OCTOBER 29 which lasted MORE THAN 24HOURS is terribly unacceptable for an ISP and also deeply traumatizing as a for people working from home. The dropped meetings, wasted leaves, and completely unresponsive support team leave no second chances for this damned company.

WARNING if ever you're considering getting them, DO NOT PROCEED, it's a damn waste of time and money. Considering we live so near their headquarters, it's horrifying how slow they responded to the incident and how long it took them to fix OUR ENTIRE AREA'S CONNECTION. Yup, our entire condo and a big round of Pasig neighborhoods got affected. Now that almost everyone is working from home it's a grave disservice to even get an hour of LOS. Imagine the amount of business lost in an hour, multiply that by 24hours and you get a massive outrage at how horrendously incompetent Converge is becoming day after day.

Your clients don't deserve this, Converge. How do you plan to compensate for the lost hours?

-----

ORIGINAL POST - APRIL 2018

 This review will cover our experience in getting Converge FiberX installed at our place in Mandaluyong. From initial inquiry to installation and finally to some speed tests, I'll be documenting them all here. Gist: it took 2 months and it's worth it.

I've been collecting updates and updating this post every now and then whenever I hear back from Converge. It's a good thing the wait is finally over!

We applied for FiberX 1500 which boasts of real unlimited data (no capping) with up to 25Mbps burst speed, for only ₱1,500 per month. It's their cheapest fiber plan. Additional claims: 30% minimum speed and 80% reliability. So if that's correct we should be getting no less than 6Mbps for this service. I hope so! February 19, 2018 - Initial inquiry
Called their hotline at (02) 667-0848. Waited 3 minutes in queue. Talked to the sales rep for about a minute regarding the requirements and installation fee and if our condo is truly fiber equipped. I gave my email address and she immediately sent the list of requirements and the application form.

If you're inquiring for the first time here's a list of important questions you should ask. It pays to list down all your concerns cos it's a pain to wait in queue again!

1. Is my area fiber equipped?
2. How much is the installation fee?
3. How much is the initial cash out?
4. Is the modem/router included?
5. Is there a lock-in period?
6. Is there a pre-termination fee?
7. How long does it take to get approved?

Thankfully, most of the information you need is already on their website, so there's really not much to ask on the phone unless you can't read didn't do your research. It's also important to have your email address ready and learn to spell it out using the NATO phonetic alphabet (oscar kilo?). As in. Learning to spell in phonetics can save you from frustration especially when giving out information through phone hahaha.

If possible, get the rep's local number so you can skip the queue if you need to call again.

Here's what I got. There's a fixed rate of ₱2,500 per installation regardless of our unit's distance from the fiber box. There's also 1 month security deposit equivalent to your MSF (monthly service fee). All those to be paid in full upon approval of our application, which could take 2-3 days. So basically we have to cash out ₱4,000 before installation.

Since we're renting a condo unit we were required to submit a Certificate of Residency in lieu of Proof of Billing. The CoR can be acquired from the condo admin. In my case, it only took less than 10mins, so no biggie.

February 21, 2018 - Submitted requirements
Here's everything I sent through email:
1. Filled out and signed application form (front and back)
2. 1 valid government ID with 3 specimen signatures (I used my UMID)
3. Scanned copy of our Certificate of Residency
4. First page of our Lease Agreement (un-notarized draft copy 'cos we couldn't find the original lol)
5. Screenshot of our exact location via Google Earth

February 22, 2018 - Application routed
Received email confirmation that my application has been forwarded to concerned departments for port reservation and validation of documents.

February 23, 2018 - No available facility
Received an email from our sales rep that the nearest facility to our area is not available and that they're waiting for an additional facility to be installed.

I called to clarify what it meant and here's what I learned from the agent who got my call. Their fiber box is only limited to 8-12 ports, once it's full and a new application from the same area is received, that's the time they arrange for a new facility to be installed. Sad part is, it could take 3-5 months to get notified of a new facility, and that's a painfully agonizing wait for us. At least I'm assured that they'll really get into installing a new fiber box. And that there's only 8-12 of us sharing a box.

For now I bought Globe at Home Prepaid Wifi huhu.

So yeah, this entry is not yet finished. Unless we give up waiting for them hehe, which is very likely. I mean, I just thought about it. I don't think it's practical to get Fiber when you're just renting. You have a 24-month contract with them and if ever you move out during contract period you have to re-install your fiber connection (+₱2,500) to your new place and make sure the fiber box on your new location isn't full. Haaaaaassle! For now we got Globe at Home Prepaid Wifi. It sucks.

March 26, 2018 - Kept following up
A month after I was informed that there's no available slot, I emailed the sales agent assigned to me if there's any news so far. I could be rushing a bit but I still wanted to take my chances hehe. She didn't reply. I followed up again after 2 weeks. And again, she didn't reply. So I did the next best thing I could think of that doesn't involve calling their hotline, I re-applied online.

April 11, 2018 - Applied again urgh
Funny how I didn't think of just applying online in the first place, their website already has an application form. If you go to their self service site here you can apply for a connection online. I submitted a valid ID, a selfie of me holding it, and a Certificate of Residency (in lieu of Proof of Billing). At this point I just wanted to push my application up, in case they forgot about it.

Looks like they did, because the following day, a sales agent reach out to me to confirm whether our unit is at the left or right wing. I already answered this in my previous application so I'm thinking they didn't backtrack and thought I was a new applicant. Argh. Either way, I wasn't sure which wing we're on. Our building layout doesn't indicate a left/right wing, and when we asked PMO, they confirmed that there's no left/right wing in our tower, and that it doesn't matter which wing we're on because all the wiring will come from one place. I replied to the agent and said that we're probably on the right wing because when I come out of the elevator, I turn to the right LOL.

And then they said to wait 2-3 days to validate my application.

April 15, 2018 - Finally received a payment notification
This is it! We finally have a slot! I received an email containing my account number and instructions for initial payment. I'm worried if being on the left or right wing matters, because what if we're actually on the left wing? Can't we be accommodated anymore? Anyway I don't care.

They gave me an account number and a deadline of 7 days to pay the initial cash-out worth ₱4,000, otherwise our slot may be forfeited, malas naman na I have no 4k to spare at the moment huhu. Hay jusko. So yun lang, we'll see. Really hope we'll get connected asap. Worst case scenario is that we push with Converge but our landlord refuses to extend our lease. Homaygas.

April 17, 2018 - Paid the initial fee
I used my credit card to pay for the connection fee and security deposit worth 4k. In fairness, Converge offers really convenient payment channels. For the initial payment, you have to access their e-billing portal and select your payment method from there. For the monthly recurring fee you can use any of these methods:

April 21, 2018 - Installation day

I thought I'd give it a week to follow up on my payment, but surprisingly, this morning I received a text message from one of their crew asking if it's okay to install today. Like right now. My husband and I had plans for the day but in our excitement to get connected, of course what's a few hours of delay?! And so I rushed to our admin to get a work permit for them. They got here around 10am and finished installing in 2 hours.

I can't believe it!!! They're finally heeere! They attached a small square panel (ano bang tawag don) beside the outlet that connects the telephone line to the router. 

Fortunately, the electrical room is right outside our unit so I guess that helped speed up their communication? The crew who came to our place were very nice as well, and the kuya said if we ever run into any problems we can contact him directly. They capped off the installation by activating our line by calling their office. The entire process took roughly 2 hours.

Aaaaand we're done! WAAAAH!!!

Speed Tests (via Speedtest.net)

Date	Time	Location	Download (Mbps)	Upload (Mbps)	Ping (ms)
04/22/2018	1:00 AM	Mandaluyong	25.37	18.96	3
04/23/2018	3:11 PM	Mandaluyong	24.7	23.8	3
05/14/2018	11:18 PM	Mandaluyong	20.78	23.48	2
05/31/2018	3:47 AM	Mandaluyong	24.00	24.00	2
06/06/2018	2:14 AM	Mandaluyong	19.90	24.20	2
07/11/2018	3:00 PM	Mandaluyong	Unexpected Down Time	Up by 6:00pm	N/A
07/23/2018	4:45 PM	Mandaluyong	23.7	12.8	3
08/03/2018	2:00 AM	Mandaluyong	Network Maintenance	Up by 4:00am	N/A
12/12/2018	4:00 PM	Mandaluyong	24.0	24.0	4
05/03/2019	6:59 AM	Mandaluyong	24.8	24.2	2
10/29/2020	6:59 AM	Mandaluyong	Unexpected Down Time	Up after more than 24hrs	2
11/17/2020	10:00 AM	Mandaluyong	Unexpected Down Time	Up after more than 12hrs	2

We've been exploiting the thing ever since we got connected. It's really freaking fast. We can finally binge on Netflix and get ourselves a Smart TV! Note that we're not gamers okay, so understand that my experience does not speak for the lot. I've heard and read complaints about lagging during playing and I can't vouch for that really 'cos like I said, we're not gamers hehe. At the very least we watch tons of Netflix and Youtube, browse social media, play Clash Royale, download movies via torrent, and occasionally work from home using remote desktop/citrix applications --- with our current online needs Converge is definitely reliable. :)

[Review] Globe at Home Prepaid Wifi (w/ Homesurf599 promo)

While waiting for slots at Converge, we decided to use a prepaid wifi unit for the meantime. Globe offers this Prepaid Home Wifi Unit for ₱1,999, equipped with an LTE simcard. It boasts of 50% stronger wifi coverage and cheaper LTE promos (₱599 for 15GB good for 30days). During that time I was subscribed to Smart Bro Plan 499 (6GB monthly + FREE LTE pocket wifi), so I felt like I needed to switch immediately because the price difference is so huge! Alright, here's a rundown on important things you need to know before you fully decide on (not) getting this unit.

Where do I get one?

I bought mine at a Globe kiosk at Greenbelt, Makati. You don't have to pre-order this or line up at customer service, just go to any Globe kiosk or any prepaid load station and they pretty much have it. It's quite abundant out there! Again, this one's priced at ₱1,999 and comes with free 10GB data (valid for 7 days) upon activation.

What's in the box?

At the kiosk display, the router box looks pretty small and cute, so I was surprised when they took out a box that's 50% bigger than the one on display haha. Here's what's inside:

Prepaid wifi router
LAN cable
Charger
User manual
Instruction card (for activating)
LTE sim card (already inserted)

Globe at Home App

You'll be advised to download the Globe at Home mobile application to activate your unit. It's available for both Android and iOS users. To be honest, their app sucks big time. Aside from activating your unit, the only other purpose of the app is to give you info about your data usage - and it's not even working properly. The usage is not accurate and refreshing the app doesn't update your data in real-time uuurgh. Plus you'll keep getting this 'Request Error' bullshit that doesn't make sense. This app is sooo crappy I want it to die, I'm so angry just typing all this. It's just cute but doesn't really offer valuable functionalities. How the heck did this even get deployed.

It doesn't even show a graph of your daily usage so you wouldn't know why you're suddenly out of data (happened a lot of times to me).

And then you know, there's an option there that allows you to subscribe to surf promos, but it's freaking useless if you're not a Globe user. Clicking subscribe to any of the promos on the app will launch the native messenger of your phone, populate the message field with the promo code, and the recipient field with a Globe access code (2+10-digit Globe at Home number). So naturally, you can't reload it using a Smart/Sun/TnT number (see above photo). I'm frkn rolling my eyes at the lack of insight the developers put into this. Is it so hard to turn it into a web service instead? After all, you're already have to be online to open the app. Aaaaargh.

Anyway.

How to reload?

You can reload using the good ol' AutoloadMax. That's how I do it. 7-11 Cliq booths doesn't work. Suuuucks.

Surf promos

The major selling point of this unit is really the HomeSurf Promos which are exclusive to Globe at Home Prepaid Wifi users. Here they are:

GoSurf 50 - 1GB for ₱50 (valid for 3 days)
HomeSurf 15 - 1GB for ₱50 (add-on to GoSurf 50)
HomeSurf 349 - 10GB for ₱349 (valid for 10 days)
HomeSurf 599 - 15GB for ₱599 (valid for 30 days)

If you're a Globe user, you can register your prepaid wifi to any promos by texting the keyword and sending it to 2 + your 10-digit Globe at Home number. Note that there's 1 pesos service charge for every text.

For example, to register to Homesurf 599: text Homesurf 599 and send to 29171234567.

Alternatively, for non-Globe users, you can borrow a Globe phone from one of your friends and register using their phone lol. If you're not a fan of that (like I am), then you have to login directly into the admin panel of your wifi router and use the SMS messaging system of your unit.

Turn on your wifi, and go to http://192.168.254.254 on your browser (you can do this even without internet access). Login then open the SMS feature of the panel. Create a new message and send your desired keyword to 8080.

Speed tests

Alright, here are random speed tests conducted from our place in Mandaluyong. It was never blazing fast, and there were times it's utterly slow. Grr

Date	Time	Location	Download (Mbps)	Upload (Mbps)	Ping
Feb 27 2018	1:09 PM	Mandaluyong	0.73	11.85	22
Apr 6 2018	5:07 AM	Mandaluyong	1.33	4.01	35
Apr 12 2018	2:57 AM	Mandaluyong	3.26	2.32	23

Finally

This certain product isn't for heavy users who do a lot of streaming and downloading. It's good for casual browsing, and the performance still depends on where you are located. It does its job well supporting me on my late night surfing activities though, so I'm still a bit thankful for it. As long as I don't stream videos haphazardly, 15GB could last me 20 days.

Why the Sony α5000 is the perfect blogging companion

I didn't think I'd be interested in investing in blogging tools but here I am, marveling at the specs of one such camera that wasn't even my dream cam... at least before I found out about it. Actually, my dream camera was the Fuji X70. For one, David Guison uses it ♥ But when I was out researching about it, I found two things that disappointed me: 1) It's too expensive, and 2) it's not available anymore LOL.

Thus followed the search for an alternative. My requirements are simple. I just want something similar to the X70; small and compact, mirrorless (I don't even know what that means, but it sounds hip), and has flip screen (because selfies).

I was amused to find there are so many out there at a much affordable price range. And the winner?

The Sony α5000

(Sony ILCE-5000)

Mirrorless? Check
Flip screen? Check
Compact? Check!
Price? ₱13k less than the X70, are you kidding me? Triple check that!

Now let's delve in further at what makes this camera arguably the best blogging companion you could ever have! It doesn't matter what niche you're in, whether you're a vlogger or a food, fashion, lifestyle, or travel blogger, the Sony α5000 covers all your photography needs in one handy and powerful gadget.

Key Features

★ 20.1MP Exmor® APS HD CMOS sensor
This hardware is one of the reasons Sony has earned the world's approval as being the #1 manufacturer of image sensors for digital cameras and recorders. This sensor is responsible for capturing world-class photos rich in detail and sporting a dynamic range of colors.

★ BIONZ X™ image processing engine
Another piece of hardware that lends itself to Sony's long time legacy of producing photos with lifelike detail and superior quality. Together with the Exmor®, Sony cameras equipped with these hardware have better noise reduction capabilities, and produce very realistic images.

★ 180° tiltable LCD screen
Need I say more? Perfect for self portraits!

★ Full HD shooting and recording
Shoot movies in 1080p resolution and don't worry a bit about noise and grain. Rest assured that all frames are captured beautifully and expertly processed.

★ Wi-Fi® and NFC One-touch
Easily transfer your photos from your camera to your phone by turning on the Wi-Fi or NFC feature of your cam. Also, Sony's One-touch remote enables you to control your camera straight from your phone! All of these features make the Sony α5000 a formidable player in the world of mirrorless DSLRs, and for bloggers out there still looking to fortify their tools of trade, this makes for a very sound investment. With a price point of roughly ₱22,999.00? Shut up and take my money please put it on sale, Sony!

For Food Bloggers

Despite its size, you'd be surprised to find this cutie has interchangeable lens! Yup, something missing from the X70 lol (I'm picking on the Fuji 'cos I can't afford it okay). So if you're savvy enough, get a Sony E-mount lens kit fit for such macro food shots. Otherwise, the α5000's superior auto function has macro settings perfect for close up shots.

For Fashion Bloggers

Grab a tripod, mount the α5000, and flip the screen up. Yep, you don't need to get your boyfriend to do your OOTD shots anymore haha. If you feel like you're gonna be posing too far from the camera for a full body shot, here's a good news: The Sony α5000 has one-touch remote technology, so you can take the shot from your phone! How awesome is that. Uhm, you can tell your boyfriend to watch the camera na lang hehe.

For Beauty Bloggers

Guys you can flip the LCD of this camera! It's actually one of my favorite features, also a non-negotiable for me 'cos it's really one of the major things I'm looking for in a camera. I super love this feature because it lets you take accurate self-portraits (aka selfies) because duh you can adjust live haha. No more taking a test pic and checking the gallery if you've properly positioned yourself on the right grid. Its 180° tiltable LCD screen makes shooting yourself and your squad much easier!

Also, Sony α5000's Soft Skin Effect ensures your skin is smoothened and relieved of wrinkes and dullness, leaving you with perfectly composed and beautiful shots. :)

For Lifestyle Bloggers

For lifestyle bloggers who are always out and about hopping from one event to another, it may be a struggle for some to keep all their socials updated with exceptional photos to boot. Good thing the Sony α5000 has built-in WiFi with NFC so you can seamlessly connect your camera to your phone, copy the photos you want, and update your social media accounts live, wherever you are.

For Travel Bloggers

Equipped with award winning and consumer preferred hardware, it's no doubt you'll be able to capture all your travel photos perfectly. Its high sensitivity lets you shoot in any type of environment, whether at night or in a sunny field (just not underwater, okay?). Never miss a memory with the α5000.

And might I add, I love the size of this one because it's not bulky at all, so it feels much safer to carry around when you're out travelling. :)

For Vloggers

Need I say more? Get a mini tripod, mount the powerful α5000, flip the screen, and shoot your next YouTube content in full HD. Get your channel up and running with high quality videos and have fun editing it on iMovie or Final Cut Pro! :D

BONUS: Free DSLR Training!

Yes there's more! Of course you didn't get a DSLR to shoot in mighty superior auto right? That would be unspeakable (joooooke). If you want to learn more about how to fully utilize your Sony camera and explore all the possibilities you can do with it, join Sony's Basic Digital Photography Class for free! Just register your serial on sdw.sony.com.ph and reserve a slot on your preferred schedule. They hold regular classes every Saturday at select Sony Centres nationwide (SM Megamall and Glorietta to name a few!). :)

For more details about this awesome camera, head on to the official Sony Philippines website here.

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Disclaimer: This blog post is an entry to Yugatech's giveaway contest. All product photos are taken from Sony Philippines website. Stock photos are from Unsplash.com. 

5 Family-friendly Features of the Sony Bravia X8000D

It is no doubt that technology keeps getting better and better, what with a ton of products constantly vying for space in our homes. A lot of people may argue that technology's efforts in bringing people together has only driven us apart, but that's not always the case! For instance, I believe that televisions will never fail to bring the family together. However big or small your TV may be, the sound of a primetime bida will always draw people to the screen.

So what's stopping you from getting the best for your family?

Thankfully, Sony got us covered. Having been at the forefront of manufacturing high quality home entertainment systems for decades, you can only expect the best.

The Sony Bravia X8000D is the perfect home entertainment companion for the modern family. It's packed with all the right features that everyone with definitely enjoy.

Let's take a look,

For Daddy - Sports nights made better in full HD Clarity

Who says having a big TV means you can't enjoy normal HD channels because it'll look stretched and blurred? Well, say no more to grainy and blurry pictures. Sony gives you the perfect HD experience with the X8000D which is supercharged with the following picture enhancing technologies (to name a few!):

• X-Reality Pro - Responsible for converting images to become full HD. It sharpens, refines, and smoothens every pixel so you're left with scenes that flow smoothly and look super real!
• 4K HDR - You think 4K resolution is already ultra clear? Now it's made even better with Sony's 4K HDR. The marriage of 4K's Ultra HD clarity and HDR's brightness, color, and detail gives birth to the ultimate viewing experience.

Who's excited for the next game night?

For Mommy - Slim and Sophisticated Design

For mothers who are very particular with how appliances and electronics sit with the house's interior, they'll surely love the Bravia X8000D's appeal. It's super slim, sophisticated, and was created to really match your living room. The borders are super thin you'd think it's an oversized frame or a window! And for the really OC ones, it has cable management features so you won't have to worry about dangling wires that are always an eyesore. :)

Sony's design ethos ensures its products are made with style by employing art directors who work hand in hand with their engineers in designing items that are rich in form and function. With this great looking TV in your living room, you'll always want to spend your time in front of it!

For Kuya - Optimized graphics perfect for gaming

With Sony's enhanced picture technology, games are rendered in perfect quality. Expect clearer lines, smoother actions, and sharper details with the help of Sony's X1 4K Processor and Triluminous Display.

Hook it with your favorite PlayStation or download games and apps from Google Play Games and discover a whole new range of activities you can do!

For Ate - Netflix Recommended TV

With all the cutting edge technology deployed in this entertainment system, it's no wonder it earned Netflix's thumbs up! Enjoy a much better streaming experience as the Bravia X8000D enriches all the frames and sequences you're watching to deliver lifelike details and a truly cinematic look.

Don't have Netflix? They're giving out a month of free trial for first time users so make sure to grab that chance. They're even set to roll out 4K HDR versions of select original series in the coming months so you really don't want to miss that one of a kind experience!

For Bunso - Endless entertainment

Enter a world of endless possibilities with an Android TV. The Sony Bravia X8000D is a smartphone friendly TV that lets you cast everything on your screen, onto the bigger screen. Play across devices, download games and apps, watch videos on Youtube, etc. There's no dull moment with this TV on.

This has got to be my favorite feature yet. Not because I'm the bunso of the house, but because I've always wanted an internet enabled TV! One where I can watch Youtube all day and follow my favorite vloggers and one where I can launch a browser and stream my favorite KDramas! Just thinking about it makes me super giddy!

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Sony never fails to raise the bar when it comes to home entertainment systems. This TV is so amazing and feature-packed you'll never run out of things to do with it! My family will definitely be thrilled to experience the Bravia X8000D, and I'm sure yours too!

For more details about this kickass television, head on to the official Sony Philippines website here.


Disclaimer: This blog post is an entry to Yugatech's giveaway contest. All product photos are taken from Sony Philippines website.