iBooks 1.3 (enhanced iBooks in shaping its potential as a supplemental gateway to learning)

If you own an iDevice especially the iPad2 or the iPhone4 whilst iBooks app isn't installed, then you're losing a lot from your kewl gizmo. iBooks is awesomely created for those who, in their entire existence couldn't live a single day without reading and munching words directly from their "shiny smart toy".

It's imperative really to install the iBooks app in your iDevice either you are a bookie bookworm or not. Consider the possibilities of an infinite learning system through books and .pdf manuals. iBooks has been one of my top 10 fave apps that i blogged last year. To intensify the need for this app, i heard that it will be an integral part of the upcoming iOS5 just like Twitter as the social networking app for all iDevices.

In the meantime, let's take a look at this latest update from iBooks 1.3. Believe it or not! it will support audio this time. Ain't that sweet? The future of digital books is actually coming into a full 3D mode, at first it was all pure text, now, as per Apple per se, some books will have their own narrator, so it would be ala podcast style or audiobook style.

Go and grab your updated version from the app store now.

How to Create a US iTunes account? (part 2 - credit card not required)

If you're new to the iOS ecosystem, what is the first and foremost element that you're going to set-up? Whether your iDevice is an iPhone, iPod Touch or the iPad, your apple ID is your watershed and gateway to a plethora of iOS applications. Technoklutz and smartphone enthusiasts have long been agreed that one major edge for the iOS platform compared to the Android Market is the gazillion choices for apps.

There is a part 1 of this article which i've posted here on my blog, but that was applicable when you're setting up via iTunes on a PC. Now, we're going to show how much more comfortable in setting up a new iTunes account using your, say, iPhone...

1. If your Apple ID is currently signed in, Go to
           SETTINGS > STORE > and then sign out from there.

2. Once you've signed out. Launch your APP STORE application and choose to download a free application. (eg) Demotivation Pics

3. It will then prompt you to Create a New Apple ID (see image)

4. Hit the Create a New Apple ID and you're on your way in creating a new account. The default would be United States. DO NOT change this.

5. After you hit next, you will get enthralled by the Terms and Conditions

6. Make sure to  hit "Agree" otherwise...

7. Then it will prompt you now to enter your email address, your desired password, and the security question. I would suggest for you to use Gmail.

8. Up next would be your mode of payment.  The default is VISA but make sure to tap it so that you could change it to NONE.

9. Now, this is the tricky part - Your Billing Information and Billing Address. Given that you've selected NONE as your mode of payment, and remember that your store location was set to United States (remember step 4?), you must then provide a valid US address.

10. This is just an expanded fill in the blanks continuation part of step 9. Please make sure that the address is for real and existing in the US. The City, State, and the Zip code should all be matching.
ps: if you don't have a relative in the US, try asking el Goog

11. Another tricky part is the telephone number. This must be matching also with the United States City and State you've entered previously.

12. The rest is pretty self-explanatory. Just hit on next, and next and next until you get to the page where an email has been sent to your email address, please check your email and verify it.

After completing the process, go check your inputted email and verify your account by clicking the link. Once verification is completed. Relaunch your APP STORE and get wild in installing free applications without spending a cent.

Inevitably, you would still want to buy those paid applications such as the iDisk or your favorite Angry Birds full version, if this is the case, then please go back to SETTINGS > APP STORE and update your Billing Info by inputting your credit card details and the matching address where it was registered.

My deepest thanks to Froilan for shedding the light here, cuz all i thought was, you could not create a US Apple ID account using the iPhone alone. Now it was even easier.

Symmtime: A wonderful timezone, clock tool for call center people

I'm a sucker for clocks when I was working in a call center. It was a requisite tool for me in order to quickly tell what is the current time in a specific time zone in the United States.  This would make life easier for me to synch to my customers whenever we talk about weather and state conditions of the present situation.

In lieu to this, it would be embarrassing when you blurted out that it's 2am at the moment (because your mind dictates the real time you're currently in, +8GMT) where in fact, it's actually 2PM Eastern Standard Time, in Albany, New York.  That is just one of the drawbacks when it comes to assisting customers who are coming from different time zones. You must be adept in identifying which state belongs to the correct time zone such as PST, MST, CST and EST. This way, you will at least have an idea on how to inject rapport   at a given time of the day where the customer is currently at. (you wouldn't want to ask for an exercise regimen in an after lunch break).

To solve these rising consequences of time zone differences, I would advise for you to download the Symmetricom Windows application. (normally versed as Symmtime)

These are some of the obvious benefits (that you can use while working or will serve as your Clock app for your personal computer)

·         Easy Customization, you could line up as many time zones as you wish

·         A full plate of Time Faces and Fonts, you may want to choose a digital clock or an analog looking clock

·         No internet required, this is a major plus point. Some websites hosts free time zone and clock checking, but renders useless when there is no net available.

·         Free, this app is absolutely free and doesn't include hidden/malicious sw content that could ruin your operating system

I have been contemplating how this simple and innovative app has been with me over time, and i must say that 

it was pretty utile, functional and downright had the touch of being a minimalist.

You may download the app here.

Why speaking your acquired languages is important?

"A language not spoken is a language forgotten" , that was the quote i read on one of the posters at a BookSale Branch in SM Manila wayback 2008-2009. I wonder if the sign bill was still there, clipped and untouched. Now it's dawning on me how the quote has clearly lived up to its expectations, for the fact that my skills in speaking the Iloco language is immensely deteriorating which i've noticed when i talked to my mother over the phone last week.

 I must say that she spoke to me in a clear-cut crisp Iloco, and definitely i could comprehend what she was talking. Surprises of all surprises, i tried matching her pace in talking Ilocano but i could barely form my words in speaking it out. It was like, i'm trying to think first of how i'd translate my english/taglish thoughts to convey in to a real time spoken Ilocano language. And say what! i found so much difficulty in uttering the simplest of a direct complete sentence in Ilocano. And so my mother said "apay agut-ut tatel ka nga agasarita ti Ilocano?" (read: why are you so hard-up in speaking ilokano?)

 It was awkward and kind of foolish a feeling, i really wanted to say it on my native tongue but my conveyance of thoughts including my resonance are clearly failing me. So i got no choice but to answer in English and Filipino.

During an introspect after i ended the call, i tried deviating my thoughts by reminiscing memories through an Ilocano fashion way of imagination (just like meditating the past but in an Ilocano-way-like version, cuz most of the time, when i meditate, the language is either in English or Tagalog), it's fairly easy! I never falter to construct and follow my train of thoughts via the Ilocano version. It wasn't at all difficult, juggling and imagining things in the back of my head.

The discovery of the difference between spoken language built-in to your nature versus the unspoken & unpracticed language for a period of time clearly defines the thin border that no matter how ingrained a skill is, it will fade away through time especially if you're not practicing it.

Learning a language is best instilled during the toddler years, according to research. That's the reason why some wealthy families would hire their yayas who could speak fluently in foreign languages such as Spanish or Latin. This way, a bilingual nanny would indirectly amplify the instilling of new language to the toddler.

On the lighter side, having a knowledge with multiple languages can lessen the chances of getting an Alzheimer's disease, so long that you are practicing each of those acquired means of communication.

I'd definitely want to speak Ilocano nowadays but seldom i meet a pure one who could ignite once again the tongue that was once been so fluent in delivering communication without an utter misplay of words.

mac

Photosynth iOS app

If you're damn inlove with the iPhone app Instagram, the hell i do too. :)
I'm not sure though how i discovered this another awesome application, but, tell you what? Prolly one heck of digging and collaboration from the outer space on one of those lonely nights.

I'm talking about the squeaky and freshly pressed app from Microsoft, PhotoSynth for the iPhone. There is one great edge of this app from all the other photo apps out there, to stitch a 360 degree panorama of your pictures in one slide of a photo.

Your iPhone/iPod Touch has even made it easier and snnazier, true!, once the first image is captured, it will auto frame on the next suitable frame to continue shooting until you've got a 360 output or at least a panoramic view on your subject.

Photography has been one of my luscious aspirations but i never really ventured into it much, yet, the discovery of this easy-to-use app brings my dormant feeling of cravings of photo art erupting into such a volcanic precipice.

I wouldn't post my takes for now. But i guarantee you that once you've downloaded the app. You'll fall in love in to it.

The last time I checked in the APP STORE's review, it was less than a hundred reviewers but the ratings are quite high - almost five stars.

To ignore it is such a bad move, it's for Free and you've got nothing to lose. The social capabilities of the app is readily available so that your photos and shots can be posted on your FB wall. (there's no Twitter linkage though)

You may check out the site here.