Categories
Mostly Everything

New iPad 3 Price Guide for Philippines

Big green light for the new iPad. This is the price list from the fine folks over at Technoodling. Do note that all cellular iPads being sold are not SIM-locked so you can readily add a local microSIM from any network for data.

On another note, Microwarehouse is set to open their annual MICROWAREHOUSE SALE next month. We are not completely sure if the new iPad will be offered, but it might be worth the wait as well, right?

PRICE:
iPad 16 GB WiFi = Php 23,990 (iPad 2 was priced at Php 23,990 at launch roughly a year ago)
iPad 32 GB WiFi = Php 28,990 (iPad 2 was priced at Php 28,990at launch roughly a year ago)
iPad 64 GB WiFi = Php 33,990 (iPad 2 was priced at Php 33,990 at launch roughly a year ago)
iPad 16 GB WiFi with Cellular = Php 29,990 (iPad 2 was priced atPhp 30,990 at launch roughly a year ago)
iPad 32 GB WiFi with Cellular = Php 34,990 (iPad 2 was priced atPhp 35,990 at launch roughly a year ago)
iPad 64 GB WiFi with Cellular = Php 39,990 (iPad 2 was priced atPhp 40,990 at launch roughly a year ago)

AVAILABILITY:
Metro Manila Apple Authorized Premium Resellers:
Beyond the Box One Rockwell
Beyond the Box Lucky China Town
Beyond the Box Resorts World
Digital Hub Robinsons Galleria
Digital Hub Robinsons Place Manila
Digital Hub Market Market
Digital Hub Virra Mall Greenhills
Power Mac Center Greenbelt 3
Power Mac Center Trinoma
Power Mac Center Megamall
Power Mac Center SM North Edsa
Power Mac Center Mall of Asia
A Shop Podium
A Shop Eastwood Mall
iStudio Shangrila Mall
iStudio Bonifacio High Street
iStudio ADMU Campus Store
Switch Alabang Town Center
Switch Marquee Mall
Switch Ayala TechnoHub

Categories
Mostly Everything

The First Official Foursquare Badge in the Philippines

EDIT: Jim Ayson from SMART noted that the USD $25k cost for a badge is not accurate. Post edited to reflect this. Quoting Jim from G+ “Well let’s just say that Foursquare is a very close partner, we worked it out! We also worked with them very collaboratively on this project and the mechanics of the Smart badge and the campaign. Foursquare peeps were great, they were very creative, they rock!”

In a country where #trending on Twitter has turned into a questionable measurable goal of success, SMART Communications has launched the country’s first official Foursquare swarm badge which unlocks during the two-day Lady Gaga concert at the Mall of Asia Arena. This is, in my opinion, a fresh and more than welcome spectacle vs. trending.

The badge will unlock after a swarm of 250 check ins are recorded between 6PM to 2AM on the 21st and 22nd of May 2012. The badge is not geo-tagged which means that you can check in and claim it even if you are nowhere near the Mall of Asia. Those who check in and receive the badges are automatically enrolled in a smartphone giveaway – two Samsung Galaxy Nexus units will be given away each night.

On a personal note, after this stunt, several brands will definitely want to have their own Foursquare badges but the enrollment and maintenance comes at a heavy price tag: USD $25,000 per month for three months minimum. If you have that kind money, submit your proposal here.

Categories
Mostly Everything

Silent LED Mutewatch sells for PHP 12,950

It’s called the Mutewatch because it’s silent. No moving parts, everything digital. The Mutewatch reminds me of the Nike+ bands that got all-too popular because of the running craze back in 2008. I finally got my hands on one, thanks to the fine folks of Digits Trading and I’ve never been so excited to wear a watch. Because, well, I hate watches. This one is geeky, so it’s a different story.

Categories
Mostly Everything

Stay a while and listen: The Diablo III Launch

EDIT: In the finishing stretch of the installer, the devs change the color of the progress bar and go into minute details of how much longer it’s going to take. Brilliant. The anticipation!!!

—————–

At 8:01AM PDT servers around the world opened for the launch of Diablo III. But Blizzard really knows how to tease and the servers only unlock the installer, in time for the actual launch of the game which is sometime on the 15th of May PDT.

You know what’s better than trending on Twitter? Crashing a server. After the game unlocked, everyone got this error:

“ERROR: Unable to initialize streaming. Please check
your Internet connection. If this problem persists,
please contact Blizzard Techinical Support.
(CreateStreamingManifest::GetStreamingManifestContents)”

Looks like the seed hasn’t been uploaded yet. Or something. Or really there are just too many people.

This is the most in(tense) product launch ever. A launch I’ve been waiting for over a decade. Exciting!

Categories
Mostly Everything

One day till Diablo III. Retail Version vs Digital Download

Don’t be surprised if a lot of people call in sick tomorrow. Starting 3AM, Tuesday, May 15 the servers for Diablo III are going live. Fans have been waiting a decade for the triumvirate to be completed. I still remember my days in college, cutting a few classes just to join in on the LAN sessions at the gaming cafe beside school.

For the record I didn’t buy the collector’s edition as I’ve learned the hard way that these things take up a lot of space (case in point: Warhammer Online Collector’s Ed) and despite the fact that the box comes with cool add ons to your character, the real-money auction house system will definitely spark a number of doodads that will make the Collector’s Ed exclusives cry manly tears.

On the D3 Facebook group, Joseph Datu has unboxed his PHP 11,000 Collectors Edition with the Diablo Skull + 4GB USB Soulstone. It’s huge!

D3 Collector’s Ed photo by Joseph Datu. Congratulations! If I had more space in my place, I’d definitely get this.

Instead of the retail box — Collector’s Edition counted, I really just wanted to download the game way ahead of time so it would be a breeze installing. No box. No lines. I still own the game. Not sure if this is symptoms of getting old, but at this point in my life, 10 years after Diablo II, I prefer foregoing the formalities and getting it on. Save paper.

So that’s it. Looks like a long evening. 3AM guys. See ya in New Tristam.