Posted in January 2009 …

Jan 27 2009
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Tech

Deskstandz: Is it worth the price for more space?

I was browsing one of the tech sites I usually go to when an ad for this accessory piqued my curiosity. Imagine, for only $39.95, you get to display/place your laptop in an upright position! The Deskstanz is definitely one of a kind.

Need more desk space? Now you can stand your Apple notebook vertically to free up valuable desk space when working with an external monitor. This effectively turns your Apple notebook into a sleek space saving desktop setup.

It’s just amazing what you can do with an idea, the right resources, and some marketing buck. I know it looks like it was built using good materials but c’mon, $40?! Even if I love my Macbook to bits, there’s just no friggin’ way.

If you’ve bought one of these things, I salute you.

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Jan 26 2009
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Media, Publishing

Is Inquirer.net closing?

If you’re a Filipino and have spent s lot of time abroad (or has more or less made the choice to not watch TV anymore), you probably pay Inquirer.net a visit more than once or twice per day. I’m talking about the most visited Filipino-run news site in the world here fellas. That’s how popular this site is.

But for rumors of the site to halt operations permanently? If there is some truth to this particular news item, I’m sure it’s going to be a huge blow to not only the manpower they currently have, but more importantly and on a wider perspective, makes you ask if there’s currently a viable online content business that will survive these hard times in the Philippines.

Here’s a link to the article Inquirer gobbles its future.

As things are shaping up within the Prieto-Rufino media empire, not only would the dinosaur Inquirer save the money-losing Web operations, the Inquirer.net as a corporate entity would be collapsed and be folded into the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which, despite the similar names, has a different shareholding structure altogether.

If anything, I  think operating independently from the country’s most widely read newspaper was not a good decision. Why? Because the newspaper and website are catering to two entirely different markets. The print version caters to the ordinary Juan who rides the bus or MRT on his way to work. Inquirer.net on the other hand, is targeted towards people abroad (or people like me who don’t need to read about their daily news on paper).

It wouldn’t matter if both mediums contained the same content, don’t you think? What a price to pay for “creative space to innovate”.

Jan 21 2009
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Marketing

Thoughts on the closing of Circuit City

I’m a Best Buy guy, but Circuit City was also a top of mind brand when it came to electronics, DVDs, or gaming purchases. Only last week, we were looking at their site as a benchmark for one of our ongoing projects. Check out their official announcement here.

Circuit City would like to thank all of the customers who have shopped with us over the past 60 years. Unfortunately, we announced on January 16, 2009, that we are going out of business.

Please check back later for updates about the status of our website. In the meantime, we hope the information below will help answer most of your questions.

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Jan 19 2009
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Others

How long is the drive from Baguio to Manila?

DISCLAIMER:Anything written here should not be repeated or challenged. Just so you know, I will never ever do anything like this again.

Life is a videogame. From the very start, that’s the message this blog is trying to send. Or at least until Gran Turismo HD for the PS3 comes out

Every December 25th, I usually take a breather from the city by going on a trip to Baguio. This year however, I ended up following on the 27th because I still had to report for work that same morning. Total trip time was about 5 hours, not bad considering we had two stop overs going there — one to feed my dog who was occupying the whole back seat (he’s spoiled that way), and another to eat at the Mc Donalds in Urdaneta. So no, the trip going to Baguio doesn’t take 6, 7, or anything above 8 hours.

Think about it, if the distance from Manila to Baguio is 250 kms, then driving at a moderate, safe, and acceptable speed of 70 kph is fine. This should get you there in about less than 5 hours. Of course, traffic considerations aside, this is how it should be.

Going back? Well, that’s an entirely different story.

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Jan 14 2009
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Self Improvement

Go get that damn monitor

Ah yes, another year of resolutions. I’ll quit smoking, eat healthier, and stop drinking. I’ve heard all of this before. Sadly (more often than not), after forcing yourself to start the year right, there comes a point when your willpower starts to break down at the scent of nicotine, the sight of sisig, or a newly opened ice cold bottle of San Miguel Beer. Before you know it, all those promises are broken faster than it took to make them. If you haven’t made any resolutions this 2009, I can give you one that won’t entail having to give up all the “good stuff” I enumerated above.

Increased productivity.

This brings me to a post that Ely made a few months ago when we were transferred to another part of the office. I know not everyone can ask to be transferred to a quieter area in the workplace, but I also speak of productivity in the confines of your own home.

Early last December, I acquired a 22″ Samsung monitor from an officemate who was getting rid of most of his stuff. I know people will be quick to label this as a simple form of justification (since I also plan on using it for my PS3), but I really sincerely believe that the size of one’s computer monitor is directly proportional to the amount of output he or she can churn out.

If you still have some spare cash and don’t have anything to spend it on, please… go out and buy a kickass monitor. You’ll understand what I mean when you can freely have Photoshop, Yahoo Messenger, plus a Firefox and a Safari browser window open, all at the same time.

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Jan 12 2009
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Media, Publishing, Self Improvement

A little perspective

If you’re one of the few who keep on returning to this blog for updates and can’t find any it’s because I’ve been trying to put together another blog for the past two months (to my friends who I’ve flaked on in the past few, now you know what I was doing). When I started Justanothergame, I had planned on making this an online resource for everything I learned in the print industry.

After having spent almost two years in the field of Internet marketing, I realized one thing — even if print and online are two entirely different worlds, there’s not much difference between the two. I guess you could say that little button on the right leading to my other blog will be an ongoing project to see if print and online can coexist. While I will still continue to blog on Justanothergame, this blog will focus more on my learnings as an Internet marketer.

I’m not good at online launches, but please pay a visit Printrospective. Here’s an open call for some link love!

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Jan 02 2009
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Others

Thankful

I was supposed to post this before the clock struck twelve on the eve of the 31st, but couldn’t find the right words or pictures to show what a great year it has been. Since the year has already started, I just settled on the title above. After the year that has passed, how could I not be?

When 2008 started, I admit still being somehow “lost” after taking a jump from publishing to the entirely different and yet more diverse world of Internet marketing. Until now, I still continue to be a fan of my former industry and how it has started to evolve. This is how this blog (and another one I shall announce in a later post) came into fruition.  For this, I am thankful.

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