The iPad 2 is coming next week!

I woke up yesterday with the news the Apple has finally announced the new iPad.  No less than Steve Jobs who is on medical leave,  introduced the second generation of their wonder tablet.

photo from apple.com

So what's new with this baby?  Cameras! Two of them, one each in the front and back of the device.  This only means one thing: Face Time!  But aside from Face Time, the front camera can also be used for Photo Booth, the fun way to take a snapshot of yourself and be playful with it.

iPad 2 is also thinner and lighter and comes in two colors - black and white!  However, if you think that the changes are all cosmetic, Apple made sure that the inside of this tablet is also ground breaking.  It comes with Dual Core A5 chip that will make multi-tasking smoother and the apps load faster.

Apple also gave it a more powerful video chip to accomodate a new app for the iPad, iMovie (to be sold on the app store at US$4.95).  A separate accessory for this new device is a cable that connects to a TV or a projector.  They call it video mirroring because the image on the iPad screen will be magnified on an HDTV as seen on the tablet.  This will be great for presentations, watching videos created with the iMovie App and even playing games.

Apple also created a great looking cover for this iPad.  It's a magnetic cover for the front of the device.  When this cover is pulled off , the unit automatically wakes up from sleep and when it is reattached, it puts the iPad to sleep.  It can also be folded so that it becomes a stand when you're typing or surfing the Internet.

photo from apple.com

Faster, lighter and thinner.  The updates are so substantial that reportedly, some of Apple's competitors are rethinking their tablets.  Will I buy the new iPad?  Well my iPad will be one year old in May.  Admittedly, the updates on the iPad 2 will help me a lot especially at work, especially that video mirroring and airplay printing.  I love FaceTime but I already have an iPod Touch for that.  So may be I will pass on this one for now.  If the rumors were true that an iPad 3 is coming later this year, then I'll just wait for that.   My options are still open though.  Besides, the iPad 2 is coming out on March 11 in the U.S.  If past experience is a gauge, then I expect it will come to our shore after 3 to 4 months like its older sibling.  Still plenty of time to think about it.

I Don't Get It

A friend showed me this picture recently.  He was laughing so hard like it's the funniest photo he's seen. I looked at the photo intently and all I could see were cans of NAN milk and a big BATMAAAN at the bottom.

I asked my friend what's the connection between the cans of milk and Batman. I also asked him what's so funny about the picture.

"Don't you see?" He asked. "What am I supposed to see that's really funny about the picture." I answered.

At this point, my friend stopped laughing and a look of bewilderment was on his face.

"I really don't get it." I said with finality.

He pointed out how the cans were arranged with only the "NA" part of the brand visible.  "So?" I told him. "Wow" he said while he shook his head.  Then he asked me to sing the theme song of the old Batman TV series.

"Nananananananaa... Batmaaan..." I finally got it.

It scared that I am getting old and I couldn't understand these things anymore, the way people the generation before ours couldn't understand what makes us tick.  Now I can relate to them and maybe I should be more patient with them when they just couldn't understand.  I can't imagine myself getting confused at something that I just couldn't catch.

Shopping for Cars Online @ AyosDito.ph

More and more Filipinos are going online to their shopping.  Nothing can be easier than going online and with just a few clicks of your mouse button purchase what you want.  Then just wait for your items to be delivered to your doorstep.  You can get almost anything from the Internet nowadays; books, electronic equipment, gadgets, etc.  

I recently helped a friend to find car on the Internet.  Though I wasn't sure if we could find one online, we managed to find a site with a good list of several second hand cars for sale.  

The site we entered was AyosDito. an online buy and sell Philippines site who want to buy or sell something online.  We used the search function and we were given a list of units of the brand and type of car we were looking for.  The listing was in order of the date the seller posted his item.  What is good with this site is we were able to limit the search to easily find items in the region where we live.  My friend a fairly good deal and would contact the seller soon.

While on the subject of used cars, there's a post on the web that's worth checking out when you're planning to get a used car.  The site gives a list of used cars to buy and why they offer the best bang for the buck.  The writer also says that selecting from the best used cars to buy will help you save money and may even make you drive the car you've always wanted to have.  Hopefully someone can come up with a similar list for us Filipino used car buyers.

Why I've Been Away

Whew... It's already February and I still have only one post for the year.  So many things have happened already and I've been silent.  Let's see why.

My sister gave me a Magnavox Blu Ray player last Christmas and I've been very busy with it.  The first Blu Ray Disc I bought was the Disney Pixar movie UP (4 disc set) and can't get over it.  I love this movie and all those added features.  The first disc contained the movie and some bonus features, including two short features.  The second contained documentaries about the making of the film.  The third is a DVD version of the film.  The fourth disc enabled me to download a digital copy of the movie through the iTunes store so now I have the movie in my iPod Touch and iPad.  Blu Ray is a thingamagig! The clarity of the image and the sound are superb that you wonder what you've been missing all these years.  By the way, to get the maximum effect, you must also have a good HD TV and of course, a HDMI cable.

Another gadget I've been busy with the last two months is my iPod Touch 4th generation.  Although I already have an iPad, I was enticed to get this baby because of FaceTime! I can't get over this app because now, not only can I talk with my sisters, I can even see them. One time, I was even speaking to my sister and her kids while they were having dinner.  It as almost like being there with them.  I am really excited what technology will come out this year.  There are already talks about the second generation iPad which will also have both front and back facing cameras.  Does this mean that we'll be able to do FaceTime on the iPad soon? I can't wait!

Healthy Thirst-Quenchers at SM City Baliwag

Make an effort to shed those extra pounds from all the holiday binge eating. Opt to get fit with refreshing beverage choices at SM City Baliwag.

SUPER FRESH Shakes & Desserts

The newly opened cart offers a wide selection of delicious power drinks for on-the-go health buffs. Take a sip from their Super Shake, Super Blend Smoothie or Super Fit Juice drinks and feed your body with essential vitamins and nutrients. A choice of Super Veg drink in cucumber, celery or carrot paired with low-fat milk or coconut milk is also perfect for a high-fiber diet.  

For dessert-lovers, get an order of yummy sweetness from their Super Dessert menu to cap off a hearty meal. Enjoy every bite of the Super Jumble, a mix of shake, pearls and fruit toppings or the Super Mango Pudding minus the guilt.

DR. PEARL COOLER

For foodies who wish to reduce their calorie intake but still crave for their usual whip cream on top, Dr. Pearl Cooler drinks offer a pearl-fect choice for a nutritious drink.

Enjoy a glass of your favorite fruit shake and your own choice of flavored jellies with an order of Chantilly Blended Shake. Likewise, a ‘dairy dose’ of their Yogurt Shakes in blueberry, green tea, grape, mango and strawberry flavors will surely boost your protein and calcium needs.