Facebook video chat launched

Facebook now has a video chat feature. Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg announced on Wednesday a partnership with Skype to integrate video calling function in the popular social networking site.

Facebook partners with Skype to provide video chat service

Through the new feature, Facebook users will be able to perform a video call with someone on their "friends list". To do this, a user only need to download a small plugin which is accessible through the chat tab and ta-da — instant video messaging.

In addition to Video Calling, there is also an update to Group Chat that allows for ad-hoc group messaging with a brand new look that would ease finding buddies that are online.

The new Facebook chat features reportedly will begin rolling out to millions of users today.

For more info, please proceed HERE.

iPad 2 arrives in the Philippines | iPad 2 Prices in the Philippines

Today, April 29, 2011 is the launch in the Philippines of the Apple iPad 2 - which said to be a must-have gadget for 2011. If you have an "Apple Store" account, you probably have received an email saying that you can order the iPad2 online with Free Shipping!

I read Apple's email to me a while ago and tried how to order the iPad 2 online. It's pretty much efficient, eh. You can select which color (either black or white) and type (memory capacity) of iPad 2 you want. You can also also order additional accessories. What's nice is that there is a "free engraving" of words you want to see at the back of your iPad 2. I tried to write my name and address to personalize it and it looked good! Lol. I am not (yet) buying, though. The last part would be adding you card details (Visa or Mastercard) to finally process your order. And I guess, all you need to do afterward is to wait for your iPad to arrive at your doorsteps.

Here are the iPad 2 Prices in the Philippines:

iPad 16 GB WiFi = Php 23,990
iPad 32 GB WiFi = Php 28,990
iPad 64 GB WiFi = Php 33,990
iPad 16 GB WiFi 3G = Php 30,990
iPad 32 GB WiFi 3G = Php 35,990
iPad 64 GB WiFi 3G = Php 40,990

iPad Smart Cover (Polyurethane) = Php 2,290
iPad Smart Cover (Leather) = Php 3,990
Digital AV Adapter = Php 1,890Here

Below are the authorized premium resellers of iPad2 in the Philippines:

Manila:

Digital Hub Robinsons Galleria
Digital Hub Robinsons Place Manila
Digital Hub Market Market
Power Mac Center Greenbelt 3
Power Mac Center Trinoma
Power Mac Center Megamall
Power Mac Center SM North Edsa
Power Mac Center Mall of Asia
A Shop Podium
A Shop Eastwood Mall
iStudio Shangrila Mall
iStudio Bonifacio High Street
iStudio ADMU Campus Store
Switch Alabang Town Center
Switch Marquee Mall
Switch Ayala TechnoHub

Provinces:
PowerHub Chimes Mall Davao
iStore Ayala Cebu
iStore SM Cebu
iStore SM Bacolod
iStore SM Dumaguete
iStore SM Bacolod

General Electronics Retail Outlets:
Accent Micro Festival Mall
Accent Micro Alabang Town Center
Electroworld Park Square
Silicon Valley SM Megamall
Silicon Valley SM North Edsa

Samsung Galaxy Tab, a copy of the Ipad?

Apple sues Samsung over Galaxy Tab
Agence France-Presse

Apple iPad (Left) vs Samsung Galaxy Pad (Right) | Photo courtesy of FoneArena.com

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple has filed a lawsuit against Samsung claiming that the South Korean electronic giant's mobile phones and tablet computer, the Galaxy Tab, copy the iPhone and the iPad.

The website of the US District Court for the Northern District of California shows that Apple filed the case against Samsung in San Francisco on Friday but the complaint itself has not yet been entered in the electronic data base.

The Wall Street Journal obtained a copy of the 38-page document that said Apple is accusing Samsung of copying the look, product design, packaging and the user interface of its products.

Apple is claiming Samsung has violated various Apple patents and trademarks.

"Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smartphone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple's technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products," the Journal quoted Apple's complaint as saying.

Samsung's tablet computer, the Galaxy Tab, has been the best-selling rival to Apple's iPad, which has dominated the growing market for the touchscreen devices.

There was no immediate reply from Samsung for a request for comment from AFP about the Apple lawsuit.

Patent lawsuits are a regular occurrence among technology giants in the United States and Apple is currently embroiled in disputes with Finland's Nokia, Taiwan's HTC and US handset maker Motorola among others.

iPhones Suck!

Or at least their replacement policies do. Forgive me techno-savvy friends, but I believe is true (at least partly). While I myself do not own an iPhone, my man does so I do feel I have some experience to draw from . Of course, having speedy Internet access, being able to take high quality photos, video and audio clips and upload your entire music collection are big pluses. But the minuses are a bitch (pardon my french, but I've been on the phone all day with Apple and AT&T reps who keep contradicting each other and in general have no idea what the hell they're talking about).

In the past year since he's had his iPhone, it has: had trouble syncing(and when it does it takes at least 4 to 5 hours) has frozen up for no apparent reason, which almost required us to send it off in the mail for repairs which could've taken up to three weeks, bought applications that he never ordered (and showed up on the bill) and just last night it decided to die for no apparent reason. Not to mention the phone's always one drop away from a cracked screen and is hella hard to type on. Seriously, I've never seen a device that's so fragile and high maintenance--hell even CDs/DVDs/video games can survive a few scratches.

Normally this wouldn't have been too bad of a situation, but customer service informed me that the warranty had expired four days ago. Never mind that he told the people at AT&T the phone was on its last legs and asked if he could get another phone, to which they responded by incorrectly informing him that he'd have to pay around $300 to $400 for a replacement(even though he wouldn't have had to pay jack since the phone was still under the warranty at the time).

Of course having an extended warranty/insurance (which runs an extra 69.99) would've been helpful, and I realize it's our own fault for not having it. But what's really pissing me off is the crap you have to go through to get it replaced/fixed. During one of the many calls I made to Apple technical support, I was told I could send in the phone to get it fixed for $199 (which contradicted what another rep said earlier). However, I'd also have to pay $29 if I wanted an alternate phone sent, plus have the company place a $200(the price of the new iPhone) hold on my account for a few days. All told I'd pay around $400. And that's whether or not the company can fix the phone. Or I could've just sent the phone through the mail for $199 and be shit out of luck if they couldn't fix it, which could take up at least three weeks for them to determine. Life's full of tough choices now itn' it?

Not wanting to spend what would almost be a month's rent, I asked if I could send the phone to an Apple store in Baton Rouge to get a replacement, to which I was told no. I'd have to drive two and half hours to come in person to pay $199 for another phone, or as the employee at the Apple Store told me, the price they determined at their discretion.

What the f*ck! What's so hard about exchanging my account info over the phone or online, getting my bank card information and sending the new phone through the mail while I send the old one. They damn sure don't hesitate to suck the money out of my account the times I've paid the bill online. What's the problem now? It's not like it'd be hard to track me down. You have my Social Security number, which is pretty much the digital equivalent of a toe tag. *Takes deep breath and counts to ten* We'll probably end up going to the AT&T store and shelling out an extra hundred to replace a phone that could've been replaced for free a week earlier if the salespeople knew their contract plans. Oh well at least I got to vent at little. I guess the key words for this life lesson are: phone insurance.