For the Love of Accessories

Just sharing with you my various cheap finds when it comes to accessories. I found them on my photos app in iTouch so i decided to blog about it. I have more accessories than those posted here. Maybe I'll start updating this and blogging about it the next time I had a new purchase. Apologies on the pictures by the way as these were all taken from my iTouch.

crochet collar necklace from Landmark

another collar necklace from Landmark

Top: faux leather strap/bracelet from Strings Fashion Manila 
Bottom: scarf bracelet from Carrie's Closet

collar necklace from Carrie's Closet

black and gold bracelet (and shades) from SM Accessories

various bracelets: the black and gold from SM accessories (same as previous pic), blue and brown braided bracelet from Therapy Bags store in Glorietta, orange with charms bracelet from Tomato

multi function accessory from Therapy Bags store in Glorietta

Top: 2-in-1 pearl necklace (i thought) from Landmark
Bottom: 2-in-1 chain necklace from Therapy Bags store in Glorietta

My Pocket WiFi

Eversince I had my iTouch last year, I've been eyeing of having a pocket wifi. Although it's not really my priority but it would somehow be an exciting device to have.

About a 3 weeks ago when I started playing Draw Something, an Apple game application, I got so addicted that I wanted to play and compete with my friends from the game. And so, just last week, I decided to get myself a pocket wifi device.

Here, in the Philippines, the 3 large network providers offers pocket wifi for both prepaid and postpaid.

Smart Communications
Postpaid:
Get the Smart Bro pocket WiFi unit on a monthly amortization of Php 150 for 24 months. Postpaid fee of only Php 495 per month, you'll get 50 hours free browsing time per month. In excess of 50 hours, you will be charged 10 pesos for every 30 minutes.

Prepaid:
Get the unit at a one time fee of Php 3,895. It is preloaded with 1 hour free browsing time. Charge for every usage is Php 10 for every 30 minutes. The load can be bought at any loading station.

Sun Cellular
Postpaid:
Sun MyFi can be bundled with your existing postpaid line. For bundled to plan 649 loyalty, the unit is free but with holding period of 24 months. Other plan 649 have one time charge for the unit of Php 2,299 if lock in at 12 months or Php 549 if lock in at 24 months. Browsing time is unlimited.

Prepaid:
The cost of the unit is Php 5,100. There are various load denominations that you can buy to better suit your brwsing needs. There's P10 for 30 minutes valid for 2 hours, P25 for 3 hours valid for 1 day, P50 for unlimited use valid for 1 day, P100 for unlimited use valid for 3 days and P250 for unlimited use valid for 7 days.

Globe Telecom
Postpaid:
Enjoy Globe Tattoo Superstick for just Php 999 per month for unlimited browsing time. Cost of the unit is additional 100 pesos to your monthly bill.  There is also a monthly plan of only Php 499 for 50 hours free browsing time.  Just the same, cost of unit will be an additional P 100 to your monthly bill.

Prepaid:
Cost of the unit is Php 3,995.  Rate of browsing time is Php 2.50 for every 15 minutes.  There are also available promos upon loading which can enable you to surf unlimited.

I'm choosing between Smart and Sun since Globe signal is sometimes weak in our area.  I already have Sun broadband and so I wanted to try Smart's services.  I plan to buy only the prepaid kit because I don't want another monthly billing in my expenses.  I've been to several Smart wireless centers but unfortunately, the unit is out of stock from their warehouse.  That's when I resort to open line units offered at various selling sites such as sulit.com.ph.

It was kinda confusing at first which unit is the best.  There are a lot of brands and models available for pocket WiFi, specifically Huawei and ZTE.  My Sun broadband unit is from Huawei.  One friend also told me that it is a better brand.  The other brand is ZTE.  I learned that Smart Bro pocket WiFi is using the same brand.  Most of the unit costs the same as the 3 networks.  Huawei is a bit expensive at Php 3,880 (cheapest model), while ZTE only costs Php 3,700 (cheapest model).  I opted for ZTE since I thought the signal will depend not on the brand of the unit but will depend from the signal of the network.

And so I bought ZTE MF30 from a reliable seller in sulit.com.ph.  I chose this over Huawei because aside from its cheaper, the pick up location is very convenient for me.  I thought I could test the unit upon pick up but it was sealed.  I just then tested it at home.

I'm not a techie person that's why I wasn't able to configure the unit at an instant.  I had to make a call to the seller the next day just to teach me how to configure it.  Good thing the seller is very accommodating.  He must have taught a lot of buyers in configuring the unit using various network sim.  I placed my Sun Broadband postpaid sim in the unit.  After a few instructions from the seller, VIOLA! I am already connected.  I can already use my pocket WiFi with my iPod touch and Blackberry all at the same time!  I am so enjoying it!

FURTHER REVIEWS:
The unit gets a bit hot after several minutes of us.  From charging time, I was able to use the unit at about 5 hours.  That's quite long hours.  I'm sure I won't be able to consume that long when I'm on the go.  I noticed though that when it's time to charge, it took forever for the unit to stop blinking the battery icon which means that it is charging.  So I'm not sure whether it is already fully charged or not.  I have also experienced an immediate red color battery icon which means that the unit is nearing draining of its battery when in fact it has been just several minutes when I unplugged the unit from its charging mode.  What I do is I just turned off the unit (its always open even when its charging) and open it again after a few minutes.  The coverage of the signal is quite huge.  When I left the unit in my room, I can still catch the signal up to our dirty kitchen.  The connectivity is quite fast, just like my sun broadband (well, after all, I'm still using the same network), even if 3 gadgets were connected in the unit.  The unit is lightweight and very portable.  I think it has the same size as Huawei.  Overall, I'm still liking my ZTE pocket WiFi.  I'm still gonna test it in the coming weeks especially its battery reliability.  After all, it's a pocket WiFi.  Therefore, it should offer great mobility.

Please read my updated review here on this pocket wifi after using it for almost a year.

More Apple Apps

In relation to my previous blog, here's an addition to my favorite apps with my iPod Touch.

Karaoke Anywhere
Since I'm a frustrated singer, I find this app fun!  The only down side is that I need to be online via wifi so I could access and sing to there songs.  And oh, by the way, some songs are quite old.  I can't relate! Haha!  Screenshot below shows the karaoke screen and some songs.

Night Cam
Remember the Night Cam app I've mentioned last time?  Well, below are just some sample pictures taken at night.  It really is a night camera!  It can take nice shot at night with very minimal light.

TipidTXT
I am proud of this app as it is made by a Filipino!  As what the name implies, you can send text messages to any mobile number.  In case you run out of load, you can utilize this app to send text messages to your loved ones.  However, this only works with a wifi connection.  Also, in case you haven't updated your iOS to its latest version (iOS 5) which has iMessage, then this can be an alternative.  Although iMessage works like Facetime where you can text or chat with anyone using their email address.

I've tried this app and sent text messages to myself and to my sister.  It is real time and messages are sent instantly.  Although the sender that will appear in your recipient's mobile will be coming from various numbers.  They cannot reply to it, nor you will not receive any text messages from then with your iPod with this app.  They can just reply to your ordinary mobile number.

Pocket Monet
For the love of photography, I've downloaded this app which depicts any photo into a painting art work.  Below is a sample picture.

Wow Camera
This is another photography app that I like.  It has a lot of available effects just like the one below.  Picture below is under Sketch effect.  What i love about it is that it still captures a color in the sketch drawing.  Unlike in the Sketch app, the sketches are all black.  You will need to add other effects to have a color.  But here, the drawing itself has a color.

A+ Signature Lite
I am enjoying this app!  You can write notes, watermark, labels and many more in your picture.  It is like personalizing your own picture and copy writing it.  It also recognizes your own handwriting, similar to the upper left write up written in the picture below.  It was written using just fingers, not stylus.  Another wonderful thing about this app is that you can also edit your pictures.

That's all for now.  I hope you, readers, can also share your favorite apps in your Apple device.

My Favorite Apps

Here are just some of the Apps I downloaded for my iPod touch.

My Secret Diary

I so love this app! It's a walking diary which I can carry anytime, anywhere. In case I have new ideas or I am furious about something or someone or if I just wanted to write about what's on my mind, this comes in handy.  I now have an available writing tool in an instant. You can even include pictures and emoticons.

Expense Log

This app is very useful in tracking my expenses.  You can check how much spending you have every pay day, write down all the dues you need to pay (and how much money left you will have), monitor the money given to you, monitor the money people owe from you, etc.  Anything related to money and your finances can be written here.  This will help you manage your spendings and savings.

Photography Apps

I've downloaded A LOT of photography apps.  As I have mentioned in my previous blog, these apps made me vain in taking pictures of myself.  I enjoy experimenting with pictures using various background, lights, lens, film, color, etc.  It also has editing pictures which can change your background, color effect, scene inclusions and even removing your acne (i so love that!).  With lots of photo apps I've downloaded, I already have 2 folders for it.

My personal favorites are Leme Cam (which imitates an actual camera) where you can change the camera type, lens and frame (this is ideal if you want lomo type of pictures); Picture Magic, where you can edit pictures using lots of available background and effects; Fotolor PS and Fotolor Camera FX, where you can edit pictures including removing acne; Pici booth, I like this better than Pop Booth since you can save pictures in your photo library; Night Cam, for great pictures at low light or at night; Click, where you can zoom your shots including micro shots.

Game Apps

I have various game apps installed including Plants vs. Zombies and Angry Birds.  Below are my recent favorites.

Cut the Rope - even adults can enjoy this too!

Where's My Water - a true mind exercise game

I've got more apps installed though I haven't tested all of it.  Of course I have those common apps like Facebook, Twitter, iLoader and Blogger.  Because of the various applications available and can be downloaded for free, you will really fully utilize your iPod touch.  I do.  It's not only fun and games.  Its also a great companion for your everyday activities.  I'm so lovin' my touch!

What's your apps?  Care to share?

Another New Toy

You may find it weird but I never got attracted to any apple product.  Not really never.  My first apple product was the iPod shuffle, the clip type (square size, I forgot what generation was it).  I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it because its small and handy.  Then when iPhone 3G S was release, I was amazed at its wonderful features but still I didn't bother to buy it.  Then came the iPod Nano clip type.  As soon as I saw it in Apple Store, I told myself I will get one.  I bought mine in the US, a little cheap compared to the price here.  I let go of my shuffle in replacement of my nano, since they're both of the same function and physical attribute.  When I bought that nano, my sister is pursuing me to buy Mac Book Air since I'm also thinking about buying a laptop.  It's very thin feature attracts me however the capacity was not enough for what I'm looking for.  Those were the only Apple products I laid my eyes onto.

These are exactly the Apple Products I own, then and now.

When my sister had her iPad 2 then later my other sister abroad had her iPod Touch 4th Generation, it wonders me again whether or not to buy one, even just the Touch.  My main reason was so I can better communicate with my siblings all over the world through Apple's technology: the Facetime.  I was jealous with my sisters as they often chat through Facetime.  It took me months before I bought my iPod Touch 4th Generation and it was even by accident.  My brother bought it abroad and told me he'll sell it to my sister.  I told him that they already have one so I'll buy it instead.  Finally this is it. I already have my iPod Touch.  After a few weeks, he send it over here in the Philippines.

At first, I thought, I won't be able to utilize it much because I know its mostly used for games.  While browsing the Apps Store, I was amazed at the many applications I can download for free and that's not only games.  I got addicted to various photography apps.  I'm not so into photography but I enjoy playing with pictures.  With these photography apps, it already made me vain in taking pictures of myself.  There are also some writing apps which I also love since I am fond of writing.  There's this Secret Diary apps which I can write anything I want in an instant.  And of course there are the various game apps.  Its really enjoyable and helps kill time.

I'm not giving up my nano yet even if I had my touch.  All my music are still stored in my nano, while the movies and other stuff are in my touch.  I'm loving it so far :)

Posting via mobile

This is just a test :) I'm using my ipod touch 4th gen...