looloo

Discover places you'll love!

Rating: ★★★★☆

looloo is a must-have app for anyone who wants to explore Metro Manila and visit all of its best places! It's the best app for foodies, spa junkies, nightlife lovers - anyone who loves going out!  When this was announced some time last year by the same guys that brought you TrafficDito (I think), my interest died down when I read the line "who wants to explore Metro Manila".  Why?  Because I am not based in Makati anymore and I thought I could not use it.  I told myself though maybe I should try it but never really came to the point of tapping the FREE button to install the app.

6tagram

6tagram is a full Instagram client for Windows Phone developed by Windows Phone addict Rudy Huyn.  Rudy also the same developer who brought 6sec, also a full client Vine app for Windows Phone.  Windows Phone users have been clamoring for an official app from Instagram for quite some time now.

Lumia

In two weeks time I'm officially weened off from iOS for two months.  It was a hard decision on jumping to the Windows Phone bandwagon but Nokia's beautiful and quality design and Microsoft's Windows Phone UI was so irresistible that I had to abandon my plans on going all-in with Apple.

1Q84

1Q84, Haruki Murakami

Rating: ★★★★☆

1Q84 is my first Murakami book.  I saw it first in the stands of National Bookstore and it generated quite a buzz on Twitter.  Some people even asked me if I have read the book, I said no.  It was three weeks ago when I started to review for the IELTS that I muster myself to get back into reading.  I already have a digital copy of 1Q84 since last year but I never moved a chapter, always staring into chapter one and procrastinated ever since.  Then Readmill came and I finished the book in three weeks.  Again it's my first Murakami book and also my very first reading in a very long time.

Readmill

Readmill

Rating: ★★★★☆

Do we really need another book reader with all the various apps like iBooks, Stanza, Kindle and Nook available in the iOS platform?  Apparently yes.  Readmill is probably the best designed ebook reader app to date.  The app uses proper typography with no clutter whatsoever.  It's so clean you just want to gobble up those text one page at a time.

Batman

Dark Knight Rises

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆

Of all the superhero movies of late, I say the Dark Knight Trilogy stands far above the rest.  Yes, even the recently big hit "The Avengers".  I think the Batman concept will always be unique compared to other superheroes with their super powers and their superhuman ability.  Batman has only his skills, his gadgets and his wealth.  But come to think of it, it is near impossible to maintain such balance or even to achieve this kind mastery in these areas.  Martial arts mastery alone will require a significant amount of years to master.  Let alone building and developing his own technology while maintaining Wayne Enterprise.  Not to mention also his playboy billionaire status.  Such feat is impossible to attain and that's the illusion of the Batman concept. And oh, don't forget the utility belt.

Awakening

Underworld:  Awakening

Selene is back with a vengeance and Kate Beckinsale is beautifully awesome, as usual.  Underworld trumps Twilight in every angle, hands down.  Though, the entire movie itself won't give you a "woohoo let's watch it again moment" it does leave you a "wanting for more" feeling at the end.  Like every other Underworld installments the story line pace was fast, no dull moment.  The twist also was very unexpected.  The action sequences as always delivers a lot of punch but I do regret watching this on 3D.  I mean, you pay extra bucks for 3D and all I get is a couple of scenes that really brings out the 3D experience.  Anyway, this one is worth watching for an another addition to my Underworld movie collection.

This is the best Underworld yet!

Spoiler plot alert after the jump!  You've been warned!

Lumianized

First off, a massive thank you to Nokia Connects especially to Paul for this two-week trial of the new and lovely Nokia Lumia 800.  On the 19th of December, the Lumia 800 arrived on my desk and well, let's just say I was "Lumianized".  For those who still didn't know, the Nokia Lumia 800 runs the latest Windows Phone code name Mango.  More on that later but let me just say it's a different experience compared to iOS and Android.  The OS is much younger compared to its rivals but it surely have a great potential if Microsoft and Nokia will join forces to improve the OS.  I love its simplicity and elegance.

Hello Lumia!

There are already tons of unboxing videos and reviews of this device so in this review I'll focus more on the experience.  For full phone specifications, click here.

TrafficDito

TrafficDito is a Metro Manila traffic updates from people stuck in it.  The concept is pretty simple:  use Twitter to share traffic updates within the metro and let TrafficDito filter these tweets and place them in one beautiful stream.  TrafficDito is designed by, um, who knows?  Anyway, I get to play with their  iPhone app currently in Beta, thanks to some Peanut who gave me the invite.  Some of you have heard or who even read my review of the MMDA iPhone app might say, "oh another traffic app like the MMDA iOS app."  Well, yes and no.

[UPDATE] TrafficDito is now available in the app store!

TrafficDito Website

There are already 3 Metro Manila traffic iOS apps and they are free.  You have the MMDA, Metro Traffic Live! and StreetSmart and they are pretty much redundant in terms of features with some minor differences.  So how does TrafficDito differ from these apps?  Yes, this is an another Metro Manila traffic app and no, it's not an MMDA copycat.  It's a totally different spin that will appeal much to Twitter power users.  Non-Twitter-ers are still lost in translation when  it comes to a "tweet", "Twitter" and "to tweet".

Word

The WORD is the Official Student Publication of Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Volume XXV Issue I was released last Monday so I thought I'd give some of my thoughts on this first issue. Before we jump into all the brouhaha, let me just say I'm in no position an expert when it comes to school publication. I'm good at procrastinating though. This review will be based on my own meandering experience as a reader, as a designer wanna-be and the web. The purpose of this review is not to downgrade the publication but it is my hope that this will serve as a help for improvement on the next issue. By the power of grayskull, kudos to all who are involved in this issue to infinity and beyond!

The Word Cover

Before diving into all the details let me give the issue my overall rating - 6! It's not bad but it's not mind-blowing either. More like mediocre. Don't know what mediocre means? Look it up in a dictionary. Don't have one? Google it! You lazy bum! It's like the iPhone 4s. Everyone is expecting a new ground breaking phone but do their dismay it's just an upgrade to the current iPhone 4, no new design and all that. Still don't get it huh? It's like the movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon. It has still the awesome CG animation but the story fails to deliver fans expected. Nuh uh? You're hopeless man, hopeless!

mediocre [mee-dee-oh-ker]

of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate: The car gets only mediocre mileage, but it's fun to drive. Synonyms: undistinguished, commonplace, pedestrian, everyday; run-of-the-mill. Antonyms: extraordinary, superior, uncommon, incomparable.

Layout

I think the layout is great.  If you're like me who don't read first, well, then you are like me.  People don't jump into the contents.  We scan.  It's automatic, we're born with that reflex whenever we have something in print in our hands.  I think the layout gives value and perspective as a whole.

I think it would be best to use more white space.  Remember, less is more.

MMDA

A couple of days ago the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) released the MMDA iOS app.  The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later and is iOS 4.0 tested.  Currently, it has a rating of ★★★★ 53 ratings in the app store.  For this post, we'll try to breeze through the features of MMDA's iOS app.  This is my first app review, by the way.

Icon and Splash Page

I think that this is a very good move for the MMDA to finally give smartphone users an official application when it comes to traffic.  Before the release of this app, Manila Traffic Live! was the alternative for smartphone users to get traffic information.  MMDA already has launched the Metro Manila Traffic Navigator earlier this year but the web application is not suitable for people who are on the go. Don't raise your hands up Android, Blackberry and Nokia fanboys and girls. iOS is just the beginning. They said the app will be coming to every smartphone platform. It's just that the iOS is the best among the rest - ra! ra! ra!

So let's take a look at the app, shall we?

Sections

The app has 5 sections and we'll go through the sections one by one and showcase it's designated features.  The sections are:  System View, Map View, Line View, FAQs and the About Section.  These sections are located at the bottom part of the app and you will be automatically taken to the system view section if you used it for the first time.  The app has a pretty easy navigation design and has a metro-ish feel with the towers at the background.

System View

System View

The System View gives you the traffic of the whole system in a larger picture of the system by comparing the color codes. Tap on the "i" button and a panel will show on the right side of the screen with the legends that you need to know.  This is a good view to map out your direction for your final destination.  The "Legends" have two sections:  one for traffic marked with colors and the other for lines marked with numbers.