Perhaps an early Christmas treat, Pinoy Apple fanatics can now buy services, downloadable products, Mac, iPod, Apple gears thru Philippines’ Apple Online Store.

Apple Online Store services the following:
Custom-build your Mac - configure your Mac
Mac Experts - Speak with Apple-trained experts
Student and teacher discounts - Shop the education store and save on Mac and iPod
iPod Personalisation - laser engraving for iPod
Bonus Shipping - free delivery for orders over 3,000 pesos
T-shirt - to commemorate the grand opening of the online store

The low down? No more Mac Geniuses.

Anyway here is their URL: http://store.apple.com/ph

If you’ve heard of the robot MAC, the anti-terrorism robot made by Mapua that is currently owned (being used?) by Makati PNP, then here’s an update about that high-tech bomb squad member. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shows interests on the project and is willing to fund it P1.7M.

The budget of course will be used to make the Philippine robot advanced. Based on Inquirer’s report, the developer John Judilla from Mapua said that upgrades on the robot will be made. The MAC robot will soon use lighter Lithium polymer batteries and fiber glass for body frame to make it lighter. They will also make adjustment to the robot to make it work underwater (in case some terrorist plants a bomb one of the yachts docked in Manila Bay).

The MAC anti-terrorism robot recently won the First World Cup of Computer-Implemented Inventions in Shanghai, China.

Looks like the government is finally realizing that the country needs to be high-tech.

If you’re already pissed with PLDT, Globe Visibility and other expensive internet provider in the Philippines, then maybe you can try Smart Bro Unlimited 3G. It’s internet anywhere and anytime (that’s if you have a signal).

Anyway, they have the Plan 1,500 where you can surf all you want using the Smart BRO USB modem. This works like the smart Bro plug-it.

Smart Bro Plan 1500
Unlimited
Initial Payment: Php1,500 (includes USB modem dongle)
MSF: Php1,500

Smart Bro Plan 799
60 hours free (Php13.3/hour and Php10 per 30 minutes in excess of 60 hours)
Initial Payment: Php799 (includes USB modem dongle)
MSF: Php799

Smart Bro Prepaid
Php10 per 30 minutes
Php2,500 one-time fee for the USB modem dongle
If the feedback on this service will be, I might change my subscription plan.

Boracay Island Gets Hi-Tech with e-Cars

We recently saw Makati City’s anti-terrorism robot and now its Boracay Island’s turn to tell the whole country that an island getaway needs not to be low-tech.

The tourist destination Boracay Island acquired two e-cars and six e-bikes. Needless to say since these e-cars run on electricity, they will help minimize pollution (at least in the island).

I’ve had my personal experience with these e-vehicles when I did a story on gas prices and green energy for The BEAT. Makati City currently has an e-jeep. An important thing to note is that these e-vehicles generally lack the horsepower needed to make them work on rough terrain. E-vehicles in general can only be used in smooth roads, so if you think you can use them on a rough urban road, you are dead wrong.
Continued

RP’s Very Own MAC, First Anti-Terror Robot

The name might not exactly scare criminals away but Philippine’s first anti-terror robot dubbed as MAC is serious and very much equipped in foiling bomb attacks in the metro (or at least that’s what Makati City’s press release say).

MAC or short for Mechanical Anti-terrorist Concept is the first Pinoy-made bomb disposal robot. It was developed by students and engineering professors and of the Mapua Institute of Technology or MIT (glad they came up with something even they’re not among the top universities in the Philippines). MAC is two feet tall and he is basically made of aluminium and fiberglass.

MAC can examine and recover a suspected explosive away from the public, a necessary step in bomb disposal and disarmament.

The robot can be controlled thru a wireless interface. It has standard robot movements and capabilities. It is also backed by night vision cameras.

Details and photos courtesy of Inquirer.

I am currently in Pan Pacific Hotel here in Manila and I’m using their P22 per minute Internet. Yeah this is a 5-star hotel and their internet rate is the most expensive that I’ve seen and used so far (I bet 5-star hotels abroad would be more expensive). You don’t believe me? Try checking in here. Good thing I’m not the one going to pay for it lol. I’m not a rich Filipino and I’m not crazy to pay P22 per minute for an internet. Even with a relatively good download and upload speed, I still think their rate is still too much. I guess I’d stick with SmartBro.

Smart and Globe subscriber have something to celebrate (sorry Sun losers, perhaps you provider didn’t think you want this smart phone). The two big network providers are set to give Apple’s iPhone some serious competition.

Smart will release the new Blackberry Bold phone this week. Globe which already released iPhone 3G will follow very soon.

There is not much difference between the two smart phones (except of course for the almost exclusive Apple logo that comes with iPhone). All the basics are there: camera, 3G, Bluetooth, quad-band, GPS, WiFi and USB connection. Tests from those who already laid their hands on the new phone revealed that web browsing is much faster in iPhone. This is not a surprise as Apple’s systems are really like that. According to sources, iPhone also has an extended battery life, enabling it to operate up to 8 hours. Blackberry Bold on the other hand allows only up to 5-hours talk time.

The new BlackBerry Bold!

Why would you choose Blackberry Bold over the iPhone? The only reason (aside from the fact that you want to be different) probably will be the MS Office application extensions found in the Blackberry.

It all boils down on which of the two gadgets you will bite. What will you choose the apple or the berry?

Via: PopuTech