Spigen: The Best Accessories Shop For your SmartPhone/Tablet

If you are like many that really want to make sure that you're smartphone gadgets are well protected yet still remain stylish and yet still not be too costly finding that certain accessory brand that can do it all for your devices whether it be an Android Device like the HTC One X or your scratch prone iPhone 5, then I would strongly recommend to check out the company that has been taking care of my SmartPhone babies for quite awhile now and has been doing it quite well - Spigen.

Here is What one should Know about Spigen:

"Since its launch in 2004 in South Korea, SGP has earned recognition from publishers in the industry as a premier designer of mobile accessories. SGP's venture into the field of screen protection films was met with acclaim from consumers and publishers alike. This paved a way for SGP to expand its range of products which eventually led to a United States division in 2007. Now in 2012, SGP has solidified its reputation as a designer of innovative screen protectors, cases, and utility bags for a variety of phones, tablets, and laptops under its new name, SPIGEN SGP (SPIGEN, Inc).

Their design philosophy can be explained in three words: smart, simple, and sleek. We understand that consumers purchase their mobile device with careful consideration. As an accessory company, we want to create products that will protect and highlight the original design of the device without covering up the device with layers of material. It is our goal to create the perfect balance of form, functionality, and protection through innovative details in the design and material. This minimalistic and sleek style has led to SPIGEN being the chosen brand for gadgetlovers around the world."

Now with that out of the way let me show you some of the favorite accessories that I am personally using or what I would most likely recommend. Though it would be best to check out their website, which I shall be sharing with you later through a link. 

HTC One X

HTC One X Ultra Thin Air Series

This is one of my favorites because most of the cases I have seen in the past have not been designed to compliment the curves of the HTC One X's design. The HTC One X Ultra Thin Air Series is made of the same polycarbonate plastic used in the design concept of the HTC One X giving it a sleek and yet sturdy protection for the HTC One X. The three colors here also were picked to compliment the colors of any variant of the HTC One X. This is also compatible with the new HTC One X+ as the physical specs of the HTC One X+ is the same as the One X. Another thing that I loved about this particular product line is the fact that it cradles and protects the camera that normally is protruding with the HTC One X. 

Here are more:

SPIGEN SGP HTC One X [INTERNATIONAL] Ultra Thin Air Series

• UV Crystal coated
• Protects your mobile from scratches, damages, and dust
• Compatible with your device
• Slim fit and light weight
• Easy access to all controls and ports
• Designed by SPIGEN SGP in California, USA
• Ultra Oleophobic screen protector included (1 pc)
• Made in Korea

iPhone 5
Screen Protector Tempered Glass Series

This one is something you might really want to consider getting for that New iPhone 5 as this is something that not only protects your iPhone 5 from scratches but it also protects it from unwanted moisture and with a silicon adhesion technology ensures that it wont loose it's grip from the phone. Plus it's really made of durable tempered glass making it absolutely scratch proof. 

Here is more about the iPhone 5 Tempered Glass Screen Protector:

Steinheil GLAS.t is made to protect the LCD from damage and scratches with specially processed glass that has been reinforced to increase shock absorbency.The entire surface of the GLAS.t is transparent and the back side is covered with a strong silicon adhesive for easy installation. When installed, there are no gaps between the LCD and the GLAS.t which means the touch screen's sensitivity is unaffected. To prevent any excess force from coming in contact with the edges of the screen protector we highly recommend that a case is used with the GLAS.t.

• Whole Transparency : GLAS.t is 0.4mm thick and made with chemically treated, transparent tempered glass.
• Surface hardness : 8~9H : The surface of the GLAS.t has a hardness of 8-9H, three times stronger than regular PET film. Even shard objects such as knives and keys will not scratch the GLAS.t.
• Oleophobic Coating : The GLAS.t has an oleophobic coating that prevents fingerprints and other contaminants and makes the film easy to clean.
• Delicate Touch : The GLAS.t is coated on the back with a strong silicon adhesive that makes installation easy and attaches the film firmly so as to not affect the touch screen's sensitivity.
• Anti-Shatter Film : If broken, the GLAS.t breaks into small pieces that are not sharp, making it safer than other glass products.

CAUTION

* As this is a glass product, please note that the edges of the glass are the most vulnerable areas. We highly recommend that you use case along with your GLAS.t to avoid chipping or cracking the edges of your GLAS.t
* When removing for re-use, the adhesive properties might wear off to an extent where the screen protector will not adhere to the device. It is not recommended to reuse the GLAS.t once it's been applied. * Using excessive force when installing or removing the screen protector may damage the product.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Screen Protector Steinheil Series

Product Details

• Sized to specifically fit the mobile device
• Easy to install / remove
• Non-tacky adhesive : Removed easily without leaving residue
• Premium silicone adhesive : Bubble free application
• Easily wipes away marks and fingerprints.
• Anti-UV ray coated
• No interference with touch-screen responsiveness
• Base film made in Japan
• Finished in Korea
• Designed by SPIGEN SGP in California, USA.

Ultra Crystal : Ultimate Clarity
Ultra Crystal film is a high quality film with a hard surface. It protects the LCD screen from scratches and is crystal clear for absolutely no interference in display clarity.

• High grade clear hard coated film
• 25% thicker than previous model
• No rainbow effect

Ultra Fine : Anti-Fingerprint
Ultra Fine film is a high quality film with a slightly textured film with 30% increased light transmittance. The Ultra Fine is effective in preventing glare, smudges and fingerprints

• High grade anti-glare hard coated film
• Premium matte surface
• Good surface hardness : 3H ~ 4H
• No rainbow effect

Ultra Oleopobic : Oil Resistant
Ultra Oleopobic film features an oil-resistant coating  to prevent smudges resulting from oil, cosmetics, and other contaminants. Any marks and fingerprints can be wiped away easily.

• Oleophobic coating : Oil resistant coating
• No rainbow effect
• Good surface hardness : 3H ~ 4H

Ultra Optics : Anti-Fingerprint with Clarity
Ultra Optics film is premium grade screen protector that features a microlens array surface layer. The microlens array on the surface of this matte anti-fingerprint film dramatically increases the light transmittance while offering an excellent, smooth surface texture with smudge resistant property.

• Optical Microlense Array Matte film : Anti-fingerprint
• Light transmittance increased by 50% from previous model
• Premium matte surface
• Good surface hardness : 2H ~ 3H

Samsung Galaxy S3

This is practically the same as that which is offered by Spigen for the Tempered Glass Series of the iPhone 5.  But unlike the iPhone 5 the Samsung Spigen Tempered Glass has been specifically designed to follow the curvature of the Samsung Galaxy S3's screen giving it a better grip. 

Samusng Galaxy S3 Steinheil GLAS Screen Protector is made to protect the LCD from damage and scratches with a specially processed glass that has been reinforced to increase shock absorbency. The GLAS is transparent with a colored frame and the back side is covered with a strong silicone adhesive for easy installation. When installed, the touch screen's sensitivity is unaffected.

• Transparency with a colored frame in either white or blue
• Highly responsive with the touchscreen
• Surface hardness : 8~9H : The surface of the GLAS has a hardness of 8-9H, three times stronger than regular PET film. Even shard objects such as knives and keys will not scratch the GLAS.
• Oleophobic Coating : A.F (Anti-fingerprint) coated layer for resistance against smudges and fingerprints.
• Anti-Shatter Film : If broken, the GLAS breaks into small pieces that are not sharp, making it safer than other glass products.
• Double side adhesive tape
• Cut slightly smaller to work with all case types

CAUTION

Due to the curved screen of the Galaxy S3, we've made the edges of the GLAS thicker to prevent lifting. Please note that this makes installation for the GLAS different from our GLAS.t screen protectors for the iPhone or Galaxy Note. 

That's basically just a taste of what one can find with Spigen's accessories. Just as promised if you want to check out more of what they offer, which ranges from smartphones to tablets, simply point your browser to the following link:

SPIGEN

They accept orders on their websites which makes it quite convenient but for those that are in the Philippines you can check out some of their stuff in their retailer shop here under Digital Walker

Spigen also has a blog that is quite informative and fun to read as well. You can Check it out here: Spigen Blog

Happy Shopping...

Till the Next Time...

-Metz-

When In China: Airport Regulations plus Do's and Don'ts

We'll be traveling to China in a few days and one of the things that our friends have told us is that China is an amazing and beautiful place to visit, but be wary of the rules and regulations that one shall encounter from the moment you land. Since I had to study more or less the things that we should be mindful of as we visit China, I have decided to share what I have found out through friends that have already been there. I know that some of these things may be a bit strange but remember, China is a totally different country compared to many of the other asian nations that most tourist would be used. If you take note of the following information here I am sure that you would find that despite the cultural shock you might experience, China is going to be a definite favorite place to add to your roster of places that you have visited. 

Before you leave for China, here are some of the things that you must take note off as they are quite strict in the Chinese airports.

Latest Regulations of Civil Aviation Administration of China

Lithium battery cannot be taken as checked luggage (Aug. 26, 2008)

According to the latest news from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), lithium batteries that are usually used in notebook PCs, cell phones and digital cameras cannot be consigned as checked luggage. However, air passengers are allowed to take them in their hand luggage.

This new regulation is released on the basis of OACI (Organization de l'Aviation Civile Internationale)'s prohibitions on dangerous items, to guarantee the safety of air passengers taking China flights. The regulations state that passengers can take electronic products, those using lithium batteries such as watches, calculators, cameras, cell phones, portable computers and DVs in their hand luggage. At most two spare batteries are allowed to be carried as hand luggage and they should be well preserved to avoid short-circuit; but no lithium batteries can be consigned in the checked luggage.

As for some other electric compact appliances, like electric tools or toys that use lithium batteries, passengers should prevent any unexpected startup. Still these appliances cannot be consigned.

 Prohibition of the carrying of lighters or matches (Apr. 7, 2008)

On April 7, 2008, the carrying of lighters or matches by air passengers in China is prohibited by the CAAC, as a security measure. 

 Prohibition of the carrying of liquids by China domestic air passengers (Mar. 14, 2008)

On March 14, 2008, the CAAC announced the prohibition of the carriage of liquids by passengers boarding China domestic flights. The specific regulations are as follows: 

a.  Passengers taking domestic flights are prohibited from carrying liquids in hand luggage; such items can be shipped subject to packing being consistent with the relevant civil aviation transport provisions.   

b. Passengers may take small quantities of cosmetics, with a limit of one item of each type; each container shall be no more than 100 ml in volume. All cosmetics must be placed in a separate bag ready for inspection. 

c.  Passengers from outside China transferring to China domestic flights may carry unopened duty-free liquid items, in properly sealed transparent plastic bags; relative receipts must be produced. 

d.  When purchasing tickets, passengers accompanying infants may apply for free liquid dairy products, provided by the airlines. Liquid medicines necessary for diabetic or other patients will be subject to safety inspection and will be kept by the flight crew.

For passengers taking international and regional flights, their carrying of liquids should still accord with the restriction on the carrying of liquids by air passengers in China.

Security Check

Security check at an airport in China

A. Who cannot pass the security check?

Before the departure, passengers along with their luggage must receive the security check. For special passengers such as unaccompanied children, invalids, pregnant women, the blind and deaf as well as criminals, only should they meet the airlines' regulations or be approved by the airlines can they pass the security check. Patients with infectious diseases, psychopaths or individuals whose physical condition may do harm to other passengers cannot pass the security check.

B. What are hazardous materials by CAAC?
The carrying of hazardous materials can be very dangerous. The CAAC states that hazardous materials mainly include the following categories: aerated solids like polishes, paraffin wax or detergents; corrosive substances like acids, cleaning agents or wet button batteries; combustible materials like paint, thinners, flammable liquids, lighter, adhesion and portable stoves; explosive materials like fireworks, flare bombs, announciators, loaded firearms and gunpowder; radioactive substances like β-ray telescope, radioactive Pharmacy or to-be-transplanted pacemaker; compressed gases like tear gas, protected pressurized spray, air tank or gasoline tank (unless it is empty); infectious materials like vaccines or animal viruses; toxic substances like rat poison.

If passengers have to take those articles with them, they may confer with the airline's freight department.

C. Specific provisions for hand luggage
The following are articles that cannot be taken with passengers as hand luggage.
A. firearms and equipments for military or police use
a. military or police guns: pistols, rifles, submachine guns, machine guns and baton guns
b. civilian guns: air guns, shotguns, sporting guns, anesthetic injection guns and starting guns
c. Other military or police weapons: batons, daggers and bayonets
d. State prohibited guns or weapons: steel ball guns, tear gas guns and electric guns
e. Imitation of firearms mentioned above: gun samples or guns used as properties
B. Explosives
a. ammunition: bombs, grenades, flare bombs, fire bombs, smoke shells, tear bombs, gas bombs and bullets including blank cartridges, testing missiles and practice ammunition
b. blasting equipment: blasting explosive, blasting fuse, detonating cords, non-electric detonating system and blasting agents
c. Pyrotechnic products: fireworks and firecrackers
d. Imitation of explosives mentioned above
C. State controlled cutting tools: daggers, three-square tools, backsword or double-edged sword that longer than dagger
D. Explosive and Flammable materials: cylinders containing liquefied or compressed gases such as hydrogen, oxygen and butane; white phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, nitrocellulose (including film), oilpaper and their products which may cause spontaneous combustion; potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium carbide, Mg-Al powder that will react with water; Gasoline, kerosene, diesel, benzene, ethanol (alcohol), paint, thinner, retinol and other flammable liquids; flashlight powder, solid alcohol, celluloid and other flammable solids; sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide, lead peroxide, acetyhydroperoxide and other organic oxides
E. Toxic materials: Cyanide, highly toxic pesticides and other toxic materials
F. Corrosive substances: sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, electrolytic batteries, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide
G. Radioactive substances like radioisotopes
H. Other materials that may harm the flight's safety, such as materials with strong irritating smell and strong magnetic articles that may interfere the normal working of aircraft's instruments.

Once you are in China there are still many more things that you should be mindful about. Compiled here are but a few of the things that one should consider. 

Do…

• remove your shoes when entering a Chinese home or temple
• greet the eldest person in a Chinese family first, as a sign of respect (you'd really have to be quite observant on this one. Best to watch who people greet first)
• Call someone by waving them over to you with your palm down. Don’t point or use your finger (this gesture is used for dogs).
• present things to people with both hands, to show that what you’re offering is the fullest extent of yourself
• be very thankful if someone gives you a gift, then set it aside to open later, to avoid appearing greedy
• be prepared for random people to approach you and asking to practice their English
• keep calm when dealing with officials, especially if tense situations arise. Getting angry or raising your voice will create only an ugly, face-losing situation for all.
• eat what your host offers and orders, including alcohol; it’s rude to refuse (this worries me a bit as I'm vegetarian, guess I'll have to work hard to avoid this situation)
• touch your glass below that of the eldest person in the group when toasting – the eldest (aka wise one) holds his/her glass highest
• fill your companion’s tea cup when it’s empty, especially if your companion is older than you
• eat all of the rice in your bowl – some Chinese believe it’s bad luck to leave even a single grain behind
• say how much you love watching Yao Ming play in the NBA(got to check on his current news)
• prepare yourself to see animals treated very differently than you’re used to back home
• be punctual. Being on time shows respect for others.

Don’t…

• write anything in red ink unless you’re correcting an exam. Red ink is used for letters of protest.
• leave your chopsticks upright in your bowl or tap your bowl with them
• point the bottom of your shoes/feet at someone
• shake your feet, lest you shake away all of your luck.
• touch someone’s head (it’s sacred)
• give clocks or books as gifts. The phrase ‘to give a clock’ in Mandarin sounds too much like ‘attend a funeral’ and ‘giving a book’ sounds like ‘delivering defeat.’
• make political comments especially about MAO. Many Chinese remain huge Mao fans, as proven daily by the lines at his mausoleum.
• make out with your beau – limit your public display of affection. 
• be offended when asked if you’re married – and if you’re over 30 and single, say yes, lest you be pitied
• give too much attention to an object someone else has; they may feel obligated to give it to you
• Use those pretty gold/silver papers for western décor. It’s for spiritual/cultural Chinese rituals.
• freak out if you don’t know what to do. When in doubt, simply watch what the Chinese people do and follow suit.

I do hope that you guys find this useful. Many thanks to some of my FB friends that have shared these infos to help me prepare, and hopefully for you too, as I count down to my China Trip. 

If you need to know more here is a wiki article for tourists heading to China:

China Travel Guide

This would include tips on modes of transportation, useful websites, history and even useful websites that you can use as other resources to help you prepare for your trip to China.

Till Next Time...

-Metz- 

Best Street Markets to Visit in Southeast Asia

When one is visiting the Southeast Asian regions, one of the most recommended things to try is the various street markets. It is here that you'll get to see the different elements and characters of people, culture, food and of course merchandise that is hard to find elsewhere. The markets of Southeast Asia all have such unique offerings that can vary in quality and type depending on the region you are visiting. The toughest choices one would most likely have to make is to pick which of these places to visit. From massive warehouse like markets selling wholesale "genuine" knock offs to smaller traditional markets located in regional villages and tourist spots that offer everything from asian spices to ethnic goods. Here in today's travel article I would like to highlight the most highly recommended markets in the Southeast Asian regions that offer a rich cultural experience and also give you something worthy to spend your travel money on.

Luang Prabang Street, Laos

As the sun starts to sen on the main street of Luang Prabang, it is hard to miss the night market that gets magically set up with hardly any effort. Here you'd get to see the red and blue tents envelope the street as the indigenous Hmong women flock to the town to sell their locally crafted wares. The setting around Luang Prabang is also quite picturesque as it is surrounded by Wats and several other temples. I particularly enjoyed the antique snuff bottles, hand made jewelry, and colorful paper umbrellas that you can find in ever direction you would look. It is also recommended to get to buy their Hmong pants as a souvenir but the first couple of washes would make the color fade out a bit.

The vibe that one gets here is not what one would normally encounter in a hawker market. There is no hard selling, no worry some crowd, it is basically just chill and relaxed all throughout. It is also notable to see that the sellers are quite good conversationalist and shall give you tidbits about their way of living. A few walks away from the main street and you'll find a market of food that is prepared from freshly caught fish and bamboo rice which is just amazingly fragrant and very deliciously sweet to taste.

Malacca Night Market, Malaysia

This Malaysian-Protuguese market is quite one of the most amazing market places in the Southeast Asia as it offers the widest range of souvenir items, local produce, cheap but very stylish fashion items, and so much more. This would mean that you might have to purchase extra luggage space or get some these items shipped back home, but as you contemplate on all that, it is going to be easy to simply take a bit of a breather and sit back and relax as you sample the Malaysian Street Food as you plan and look out for other items that you might want to add to that already growing list.

It would also be good to take a bit of stroll around the Jalan Hang Jebat(Jonker Street) which is just a short walk from the central square. It is surrounded by numerous World Heritage Buildings and is definitely a feast for culture hungry tourists as one gets to delve into the rich chinese-portuguese history. You shall also get to see a variety of oriental products, and even chinese medicines artworks and house hold items. There are even a variety of electronic gadgetry that one can check out for fun. The Jonker Street Night Market is only open Friday, Sat and Sun.

Bugis Street, Singapore

Bugis street is definitely one of my most favorite places to shop in Singapore. It was once a hotspot for Transgender culture but has now become a very colorful and sleek shopping street. Here you shall find the most youthful designs made locally by young Singaporean designers and offers an amazing array of great bargain buys and not to mention food. Best time to visit Bugis would be at night.

Lantern Market in Hoi An, Vietnam

If you are the type who just loves exquisite Asian themes especially in terms of lighting fixtures, and most especially if lanterns are you thing than the Lantern Market in Hoi An is definitely going to have you drooling and reaching deep in your pockets.

The Lantern Market of Hoi An is popular to both tourist and locals as this is a place that just comes to life at night as paper lanterns of all shapes, sizes and designs begin to light up the night sky. The River become something of a romantic setting and gives that mystical magical feeling that brings two lovers much closer together.

The Hoi An Market is a mix of many street hawkers and historical shops selling local artworks, house ware,  and much much more. If you get tired, simply look around and you might find pretty amazing local desserts that a definite must try.

Divisoria Street Market, Manila Philippines

Lastly of course is a street market that is a bit closer to home and is a very famous shopping destination for both local and tourists. Once you walk into the streets of Divisoria, one will immediately be overwhelmed with just the massiveness of the place. If you aren't used to chaotic shopping I would recommend to travel light and only bring the necessary cash you think you might use for shopping. Once you get there, you'd see though that hardly any place can match Divisoria's price and variety of goods. Name it and there is a high chance that it would most likely be there. Divisoria is however more well known originally for its textiles and that many of the items that one would find there are in wholesale prices. Cool thing about it is that you can still haggle for a bit more in terms of discounts depending on the bulk of what you are buying. If ever you do decide to come to Divisoria, best to go as a group or better yet with a local that can speak the language and have them do that haggling, a plus factor of having a local guide or friend to take you around Divisoria is that you'd be less likely to get lost.

To wrap everything up, I guess what I want to convey is that if you really want to get a feel of what the locals love and in essence get to see the core of their culture it is best to look for places like this. In each one of these street markets you'll find a unique story that each one has to tell and yet everything is all bound up together in a collective that if only one would find time to explore can see that there is so much beauty in each and every one of them. Plus you get to shop like a madman and eat the best tasting food this side of the continent. If you have other market places you have experienced in your travels here in Southeast Asia do share them here? I am sure that many including myself would love to hear about it as well as the adventures you have had in them.

The world is such a big and wonderful place - Just take time to see through curious eyes.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Mango Tree Restaurant @ The Fort - Thai Cuisine at its Best

I have been a fan of Thai Cuisine ever since I got my first hand experience of it when we last paid a visit to Bangkok at the early part of this year. Now that I am back home in Manila, there would be times when I would find myself craving for that gourmet type of experience that I have had in my trip to Thailand. There are very few notable Thai restaurants that can be found in Metro Manila and of those Mango Tree Restaurant is the one that stands out amongst all of them.

Mango Tree Restaurant is now fast becoming the most visited Thai restaurant in the Metro Manila area for many reasons, but it is the quality of their service coupled with that of their scrumptious and delectable dishes that keeps people coming back for more. The ambiance of the location also speaks much of what one would be expecting of their cuisine. Once you walk in one can immediately notice the Thai ambiance of elegance that they have sought to deliver its guests. The service is quite fast and very personalized and the food choices is something to be admired as it presented in such an artful display considering that they would only take but a few minutes to prepare your lunch/dinner choices from scratch.

Here is what Mango Tree has to say about their history and how they got started in the Philippines.

Thai cuisine is certainly one of the favorite cuisines of the world and world-renowned Thai restaurant Mango Tree has recently landed in Bonifacio High Street Central, Taguig. Mango Tree, being a casual fine dining restaurant, ensures every guest has their memorable experience with its Thai lifestyle cooking and warm hospitality. 

After the tremendous success of 2 previous outlets of Mango Tree Bistro in Quezon City and Makati City, Mother Spice Food Corp. unfurls the new Mango Tree with the memorable tagline, “Thai Cuisine at Its Best”, serving as the city’s new dining beacon subsequent to its popular outlets in Bangkok, Dubai, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Doha. 

Mango Tree ranks as a world-class restaurant with dedicated Thai traditions and hospitality and is ready to open its doors to welcoming guests with the freshest ingredients and incredible flavors. Headed by seasoned Chef Siwat Korsem with experience in Thai cuisine for over 27 years, Chef Korsem will continue Mango Tree’s vision of ensuring that every customer is satisfied with the complexity of tastes by using only the best and freshest ingredients, an array of nutritious Thai organic herb and spices and the cooking lifestyle that would spell an impeccable experience always. 

Mango Tree’s menu brings together the best of all four regions of Thailand. Its signature dishes include Miang Kham, Yum Pla Duk Fu, Gai Hor Bai Toey, Goong Mare Nam Pow, Kae Yang, Khor Moo Yang, Tom Yum Goong, Gaeng Phed Ped Yang, Panang Kae, Poo Phad Phong Ka Ree, Pla Krapong Neung Ma Now, Phad Phak Bung Fai Daeng, Phad Thai Goong, Khao Niew Ma Muang – all to challenge the customers’ taste buds. They are all destined to bring a true and unforgettable Thai cuisine experience. 

Mango Tree… Thai cuisine at its best.

Here are some of the notable dishes that I consider as my favorite arranged from Appetizers to Dessert:

Miam Khang

Crispy coconut, savoury herbs with green bitter leaves and tamarind sauce

Tod Mun Goong

Deep fried shrimp cakes served with sweet chili sauce

Pla Muek Yang

Grilled squid served with spicy lime, garlic and chili dipping sauce

Kaeng Liang Goong Sod

Grilled squid served with spicy lime, garlic and chili dipping sauce

Poo Phad Phong Ka Ree

Stir-fried fresh mud crab with onion and yellow curry powder (whole or meat only)

Tow Hoo Phad Med Ma-Maung

Stir-fried tofu with cashew nuts, capsicum and onion

Khao Kloo Kapi

Stir-fried rice with shrimp paste

Khao Niew Ma Muang

Ripe fresh mango served with sticky rice

All of those would usually be on my order list once me, my family and friends would visit the Mango Tree Restaurant at the Fort. For those that are worried about allergies or are vegans, I am pleased to mention that their menu has a label for each menu where "s" indicates shellfish is present, "v" indicates its good for vegans, "n" means food has nuts, "w" means that the food has wheat. That is something that is lacking in many or the other restaurants and is particularly important when you are in a resto where the names of the food may seem rather strange at times.

I really enjoy getting to eat here quite often, price range is a little above average but one can see that the food and service is well worth the price. I would probably say you'd be spending about Php 300++ per meal and for a group of 6 people it'll be like Php 600++ per head to keep everyone full and satisfied since most of the serving sizes are for sharing(though if you have a huge appetite I guess Php 1K per head might be a better budget).

If you want to know more, or make a reservation with Mango Tree Restaurant click the following link:
Mango Tree Restaurant

Happy Dining.... Till the Next Time

iPad Mini - Apple's Entry to the 7" Tablet War

It has been talked about, rumored, and now it has finally been revealed. Apple has officially entered the 7" tablet market. The question that most people are asking now is if it is really worth checking out and what does it have to offer that is new versus that of what is already being offered by the larger iPad models that they have just released?

The iPad Mini is something of a technological marvel, at least that is how Apple people would put it. To begin with the iPad Mini in terms of pricing is placed at the upper end of the 7" tablet spectrum where the cheapest is at $329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and $459 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular(which is LTE capable) model. This is quite pricey compared to the Nexus 7 and other Kindle Fire models so how this will be received by the general public is going to be an interesting outcome.

In terms of the size factor the iPad Mini is in the larger size of the 7" tablet types as it sports a 7.9" screen. Apple claims that with this size you hold the iPad Mini with one hand(i wonder how big were the hands they tested this claim on) and that it is considerably lighter than its bigger brother(i would be surprised if it did weigh more considering it is much smaller). It also is quite thinner and has been compared to the thickness of that of a pencil. What Apple is expecting is that people who had avoided buying an iPad before due to its size now has no excuse to buy one especially that now it is easily handled in the palm of your hand.

Another thing that is different with the iPad Mini is that bezel isn't the same size all the way around like the previous iPad models. If held in portrait orientation, the left and right bezel is substantially thinner much like the iPhone. So if ever you place your thumb on the side you'd be touching the screen. The iPad Mini is also narrow enough to allow for thumb typing on the portrait mode(you'd most likely be using both thumbs) making it seem like a Giant iPhone.

Color options for the iPad Mini is going to be the classic Apple white or black, but it matches the iPhone 5 in terms of styling so the white version has a silver trim and the black has a slate trim.

The screen of the iPad Mini is not something one would have expected as it doesn't have the Retina Display that the big brother iPad 3 has. It uses the 1-24x768 resolution which is similar to the iPad 2. This entails that its aspect ratio is at 4:3 ensuring that apps and other contents should fit correctly. But unlike the iPad 2 where pixel quality can be quite noticeable because of the decrease in size, images and videos look a lot better.

Beneath the facade of the iPad Mini is the same tech that was used on the iPad 2. Which means that the iPad mini is running on the A5 chip processor that is a dual core chip and is still quite capable of running the latest IOS 6. Storage options are pretty much standard where one can choose between 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models. There is no microSD card as usual. In the rear the iPad Mini has a 5MP isight Camera and the front facing 1.2MP Facetime HD Webcam camera. It also has Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11 a/b/g/n with 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz band for Wifi. Lastly for those sporting the Wi-Fi + Cellular data models will have access to 4G LTE. Like the iPhone 5 the iPad mini will be using the lightning connector.  Battery life is claimed to last upto 10 hours which is still something that would need to be tested.

Accessories were also added in the design of the iPad Mini. They have included the iPad Mini Smart Cover, which was originally designed for the iPad 2 and 3. It is metal hinge has been replaced by one that's covered in the same material as the cover, so the design is a bit more cohesive and is quite easy to snap on and off. It is small and light adding very little to the bulk and weight of the iPad Mini. It basically gives one a feeling of carrying a small paper notebook when it is used.

Overall, If you consider the spec sheets of what the iPad Mini brings to the table and feel that the iPad Mini is just your basic average iPad 2, then you are most likely correct. What it does bring that is different is the size and form factor. Is it worth spending on? that is something only can answer and will definitely have to try it on for size. I myself still prefer the Android 7" models over the iPad Mini mainly because of the Eco System and overall feature functionality that they have, but that is based on my own opinion. Quality of the build is something that Apple has proven to be consistent about and I would guess that is what kept people coming back for more.

If you want to get to see a comparison fo the iPad Mini with its bigger brothers click the following link:
iPad Mini Compared

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Phablet Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - Is it Too BIG to Manage?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has been out now in the market for quite some time. It has followed the enigmatic Smartphone craze that it's original predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Note, has created. Why is it such an enigmatic market? The reason being that upon first glance at it, one would immediately say that its size is gargantuan to be a regular smartphone but a tad smaller than a 7"tablet. It is due to this that people have coined the term Phablet. But with the success of the Samsung Galaxy Note, having sold 10Million units in less than a year of it's launch people are now raving and wanting for something much more which Samsung has answered with this latest version of the Galaxy Note line.

Talking about form factor, one would can really see what I mean when we discuss about size difference. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 sports a 5.5" screen size as opposed to the original 5.3" screen size of the Samsung Galaxy Note. They made a notable change though as to how this screen size has been layed out, they made it longer rather than going square. This works well on the fact that they maintain the nature shape of the pebble which is what their Samsung Galaxy S3 line is following plus it makes it easier to hold with one hand(well at least for those that have above average sized hands). This design form also allows for another improvement of what was popular for the Samsung Galaxy Note - The S Pen. The new elongated shape of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 allows the S Pen to be much longer and a lot easier to handle, which was my initial issue with my Samsung Galaxy Note(I was able to get used to it though somehow). Generally the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is pretty much a big improvement to the Samsung Galaxy Note and as you read further below you'll see even more reason as to why people are starting to radiate towards it - aside from the fact of it being massive of course :)

Design - Who could possibly ignore the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Just like it's older brother, when you see someone using it you'd be caught off guard and sometimes if you are a curious gadget lover like me would wonder if I just saw a Tablet or a Smartphone. But with it's size you'd be pleasantly surprised to notice that once you lift the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, It wouldn't be any different from the Samsung Galaxy S3. Buttons are kept to a bare minimum - Volume Rocker, power/sleep button on the sides, 3.5mm headphone jack on top, microUSB port and a dock for the S-Pen Stylus. If you've got small hands you'd be able to manage texting by using both your hands or simply activate the one handed typing feature which can be oriented for both left and right handed users. 

Performance - 1.6Ghz Quad Core processor supported by a 2GB RAM is more than enough to make any hardcore gadget and tech enthusiast drool. For those that aren't techy that way the best way to think about it is that if it were a car this would be a race car in terms of speed and anything else that you are holding right now that you use as a phone will pale in comparison at least in terms of speed and performance on the benchmark tests. But if you think of the user experience you basically wont see or experience any lag - just fast and responsive navigation and of course full multi-tasking capabilities such as pop up play for videos while you text and browse away. On the network side it has 4G LTE capabilities making it a multimedia and office power house when needed. Software side, it ships out with the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and with all its upgraded features, both hardware and software ensure a very healthy relationship making the users a happy camper.  

Screen - 5.5" screen real estate and full utilization of it makes it quite pleasurable to use for impromptu coffee presentations, note taking, e-book reading, and full website browsing. With a full 1280x720pixel resolution Super Amoled Display, what you see is going to be crisp and packed with so much detail. HD videos will most likely be more utilized on the go with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

Stylus(S Pen) -  This is what makes it stand out amongst its competition. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 may be in many aspects like its Flagship Samsung Galaxy S3 brother but the S Pen allows its users the type of technology that drawing and writing on a touch pad brings. It like its older predecessor the Samsung Galaxy Note allows you to doodle and draw with a series of pens and colours while bringing in a new flavor by showing how it can translate handwriting to text messaging fast enough to show that it isn't just a toy. It also allows for the note page to pop up as soon as you remove the S Pen from the dock and you can now add captions and annotations to documents and pictures and website pages.

The Handwriting recognition is an amazing development as it can quickly recognize most doodles and even offers a selection of similar words if it isn't sure about what you have written. There are also several handy drawing tools too which it took from the older Samsung Galaxy Note Premium such as Shape Match which auto corrects the shape you drew, record how you sketched a drawing and search for items you have written. 

Air view is the latest feature of the S Pen which allows you to preview emails, appointments, gallery pictures and videos by just hovering the S Pen over the item with out having to open them. 

Multi Window - Just like what everyone saw with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 allows you to have two windows open on the screen at once. This allows users for example to view emails while watching a video or keeping a webpage open as you draw a picture or take down notes. The screen allows this to be completely viable and because of its hardware, you will notice no difficulty in doing this. 

Camera - Packed with an 8MP camera and equipped with the same accoutrements like autofocus and LED flash, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2's camera is still markedly better than its older predecessor the Samsung Galaxy Note. It also is equipped with BSI(Back Side Illumination) providing improved picture quality in low light conditions. This plus a ton of other features like tilt to zoom, best photos, Best group pose, burst shot and face detection make the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 a Camera Phone powerhouse. Overall quality of the pictures especially in ample lighting conditions are quite excellent. Recording of 1080p HD videos is pretty good and the 2MP front camera for video calls are at par with its other Flagship counterpart the Samsung Galaxy S3. 

Battery - This is what usually makes or breaks buyers from purchasing a product. With all the features that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 offers at the table it is also packed with a pretty massive battery to match. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with a 3100mAh battery keeping the Samsung Galaxy Note charged for over a full day with heavy usage such as gaming, navigation, and web-browsing. More than that if you are an average user, and some have even reported that they have gone 4 days without having to plug to an outlet. 

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 offers a pretty amazing range of improvements from the old Samsung Galaxy Note(Still can't believe and saying this one is old considering it was just last year and is still pretty good). Its bigger, bader and beefed up both feature-wise and software-wise. You can say that if you were considering to buy a tablet and a smartphone, this would be your natural choice to get for the price of one. A virtually a Go to Device for pretty much anything you would need from a smartphone and a tablet. If you think size is going to be an issue, I'd strongly recommend to try it on for size at your favorite retail outlets and I can assure you that you'd be walking out with one if not wishing that you could. 

Want to see more of the specs to help you with your purchasing choice check out the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 here: Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Till Next Time...

-Metz-

Budget Tablet Review: Coby Kyros MID7048-3G Connect even without WIFI

Of most of the budget tablets that I have been able to review for the past couple of months, there have only been but a few that were notable ones that I feel would be worthy to be written about. One of these is the Coby Kyros MID7048-3G. The Coby Kyros Mid 7048 is a 7 inch tablet that is powered by a single core 1Ghz A5 Cortex chip coupled with a 1 GB ram allowing it to support running Android's Ice Cream Sandwich software also known as 4.0. It has a front facing VGA camera, multi-touch capable screen, microSD card slot capable of handling upto 32Gb, Wifi and is capable of delivering a 16:9 aspect ratio viewing angle to its users.

Now looking at those specs, the Coby Kyros MID7048-3G brings something of what most budget tablets would normally offer their clients. However, the Coby Kyros MID7048-3G as its name indicates, this Coby Kyros is equipped with 3G technology meaning that you have an option to insert a sim-card giving its users the power to browse the internet without having to use wifi. This is something that many of the budget tablets that I have seen thus far have lacked. This means that if you have an internet plan attached to your simcard, you can now use your Coby Kyros MID7048-3G on the go as long as of course you have signal.

In terms of how it feels to be using a Corby Kyros MID7048-3G. The specs will pretty much give you hint on its performance. It is like the Kata T1 Tablet as it tends to be slow to start up but once it has fully loaded it runs pretty smoothly and since it runs the basic stock 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software, navigation is pretty smooth and pleasant. Battery life is pretty good too since it only runs on a single core. Being at 1Ghz it is capable of running games such as temple run and Contract Killer Zombies, but dont expect it to run full on 3D games. Camera is basically for skype calling and isn't of the best quality but still does the job. GPS isn't part of the package either but with 3G you can use the assisted GPS navigation by google to help you get to places.

Is it worth the price tag though? That is still up for debate but being at the less than Php5k range it is quite cheap. It has good trade-offs such as the inclusion of 3G technology allowing users to gain access of the internet using the mobile networks but then again that depends on the carrier of choice for internet and connectivity performance. Personally I would recommend buying this for your kids as it is an awesome e-book reader and is a pretty good alternative to the models being dished out by kindle fire and kids don't really need high powered tablets to get to do most of their school works. For the none discerning adults, especially those that just want something they can carry on the go to read emails and browse the web, this is a pretty good alternative pair to carrying around your bulky laptop while not costing just as much as that lappy.

Overall, I think it is quite a buy but if you value full on functionality for your tablet and 3G is something you can sacrifice then I'd steer you to the earlier budget tablet reviews I have made for the models of the CDRKing FastPad 10" and Kata T1 Tablet.

For those considering the Coby Kyros MID7048-3G, Check out its specs below:

Coby Kyros MID 7048 7.0'',LCD, WVGA, Capacitive Multi-Touchscreen OS - Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Cortex - A5 (Telechips) 1.0 GHz Processor Internal Memory : 4 GB Flash + 1 GB RAM Front Camera 0.3 Mega Pixels, VGA Standard battery, Rechargeable Li-Poly Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7 or higher and Mac OS or Linux in mass storage mode Multi Languages Release Date : In December 2012

Size & Weight Height 7.5 Inch Width 4.4 Inch Depth 0.5 Inch Weight 0.65 lbs

Display Srceen Type LCD,WVGA, Capacitive Multi-Touchscreen Srceen Size 7.0 Resolution 480 X 800 Srceen Size 7.0 PPI 117 Multi touch Yes Aspect Ratio - 16;9, Digital Zoom

Camera Main Camera - Type Main Camera - Mega Pixel Main Camera - HD Recording No Main Camera - Recording resolution Front Camera - Type VGA camera Front Camera - Mega Pixel 0.3 MP Front Camera - HD Recording Yes Front Camera - Recording resolution 640 x 480 Pixels Supports 1080P and 720P

Battery Built-In Standard battery, Li-Po Video Audio Power Input/Output AC 100-240VAC INPUT, DC 5V output

Storage RAM 1 GB RAM Internal 4 GB Internal Flash Memory Card Slots MicroSDHC External Memory - Up to 32 GB

Processor Processor Cortex - A5 (Telechips)      - Type Single core      - Frequency 1.0 GHz High-speed 1 GHz processor

Connectivity GPRS - EDGE - WLAN WiFi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth - Infrared port - USB USB 2.0 High Speed Full Size and USB 2.0 Mini-USB Connector Input / Output 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Built-in Speaker, Built-in Microphone, High Speed HDMI,

Multimedia Video - Formats Multi Format Video Player      - HD Supports 1080P HD Playback Photo Format Support - Displays common internet formats Audio - Formats Multi Format Music Player Microphone Yes, 3.5mm Headphone Jack Radio - Speakers Yes HDMI Yes

Other Features OS Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Sensors Accelerometer Messaging Email, Push Email, IM GPS - Java Yes Softwares E-book reader, popular games and apps , Browsers HTML Colors Black Compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7 or higher and Mac OS or Linux in mass storage mode

Till the Next Time...

-Metz-