Thanks to numerous dissatisfied Kindle Fire users, and numerous hours of reading android forums including that of Amazon, I managed to stumble on this article.  Installing getjar was not hard.  It does not require alot of ninja moves (side loading).  All you have to do is navigate to: http://m.getjar.com/ and download the application itself.   You will find the application by checking the download area of your Kindle Fire’s Silk browser.  Install this– oh, you will need to allow 3rd party installations first.  Navigate through the settings of your Kindle and allow.

Once you have installed GetJar, you can install whatever application is available on GetJar.

Here’s a list of my favorite apps via GetJar:

1- Angry Birds Seasons

2- Angry Birds Rio

3- Angry Birds

4- Classic Notes

5- Spring Pad

6- Fruit Ninja

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After days of reviving a bricked BlackBerry, I am on the verge of tossing this expensive smartphone in the bin… what’s stopping me then?  Well, if this bricked phone works again, I can pass this to my daughter and BBM with her instead of SMS.  That would be ideal.  Needless to say, my damn BB has just become an expensive paperweight.

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If for some reason your BlackBerry is lagging too slow or loads too slow after you have installed several applications, and deletion of that application did not fix the problem, I usually would just go and reset my BlackBerry to factory default.  This is not really hard and RIM makes it easier for you to reset and reinstall your desired applications easily.  To do a reset, simply go to Options> Security> Security Wipe.  You will be asked to type blackberry to confirm.  No sweat.

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Unboxing. The Amazon Kindle Fire comes in a nice looking easy to open box.  It did not come with any manual apart from a small cardboard that tells you how to turn on your Kindle Fire.  Once turned on, it walks you through the settings etc.  Nothing complicated.

Weight and Size.  The Kindle Fire is a 7 incher tablet.  It is considerably smaller than my Kindle 2, however it is heavier.  The back is rubberized which makes holding your Kindle Fire easier grip-wise.  The screen rotates as well, which is pretty cool.  The screen is responsive to touch and scrolling is fast.  Not bad.

Wifi and Syncing.  The Kindle Fire comes with 8GB internal storage, of which 2GB is allocated to the OS and 6GB is usable. However, if you run of out of local space then no worries. Amazon offers you free cloud storage for all Amazon digital content in the Amazon Cloud. This allows you store Apps, books, movies, and music which will be available instantly to stream or download for free, at a touch of a finger.  Once you have set up your wifi connection, you will be asked to register your Kindle Fire.  Syncing is swift and I was happy to see all my ebooks purchased months ago.

Browser.  The browser is fast although I have read about some people complaining that their Silk Browser is slow, mine was fast and navigation is pretty easy to follow.

The Downside

My only complaint about the Kindle is its inability to connect to the Amazon App Store.  Why the heck not when I have an active account in Amazon?  I asked.  Well, apparently, the Amazon App Store in not available in my region.  There were some applications pre-installed in my Kindle Fire like, Amazon’s Email App, Pulse, The Weather Channel and Audible.  It sucks not being able to download even premium applications.  I have scoured the Amazon Forum and found people from Canada, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia even Ireland, complaining about the Amazon App Store restrictions.

I have read about other Kindle Fire owners “jailbreaking” their Kindle Fires and by installing the Android sdk and rooting their Kindle Fire. The process is not easy and alot of modifications have to be made.  I am still trying to find out more information about this, but so far, I have read that the most recent Amazon update has removed the rooting functionality although the applications downloaded were said to continue to work.

It looked like we just have to wait until the Philippines is fully supported by Amazon.  Might take a year or another– who knows?  But so far, as e-reading goes, the Kindle Fire is a winner.  I am still able to connect to Twitter, Facebook and all websites using the browser anyway.

Me with my Kindle Fire

Kindle 2 vs Kindle Fire

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Enter A.Plus, another Twitter desktop application recently launched by movie star-producer-Twitter-icon Ashton Kutcher with Ubermedia. Kutcher is already one of the more popular celebrities on Twitter — beating out CNN as the first to reach 1 million followers on the service — and a high-profile investor in the California tech industry. The app is free and currently available only on PCs, not tablets or smartphones. Pasadena-based UberMedia, which is known which making UberSocial, Twiddroyd and Echofon, built the app to Kutcher’s specifications.

So how do I like A.Plus? If you want preview the websites, images and videos within one application, this is the way to go.  Its like Rockmelt, but with access to your Twitter timeline and whatever list you want to track.  Not bad.  But I want to be able to login to multiple Twitter accounts.  I tried using A.Plus for one day, doing some work on the side using Live Preview.  Not bad.  You can collapse the columns so it’ll be less obtrusive.  Not bad.

So will I stick to A.Plus?  For now, yes.  I use Co-Tweet to manage my multiple Twitter accounts anyway.  But for my own Twitter pleasure on my desktop, A.Plus is great for now since I believe that Tweetdeck will have more features coming up eversince Tweetdeck was acquired by Twitter.

To download A.Plus:  http://www.aplus-app.com/

To get Tweetdeck:  http://www.tweetdeck.com

Live, Life and Live Well! Read and follow my frugality and finance related tips! Pinoy Frugal Living

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So being an online worker the need to be connected is more than necessity.  Here are my top BlackBerry Applications on my BlackBerry Torch.

1.  WordPress on BlackBerry-  if you have some websites to keep tabs on, then thank God that WordPress has a BlackBerry app.  I have tried posting a test post days ago, and it went without a hitch.  You can post articles, pictures and even video straight from your BlackBerry to your WordPress Blog.  Cost:  FREE

2.  Kompass-  if you use Basecamp to collaborate with your team members, you can use Kompass to access your Basecamp account.  Although you can access Basecamp via mobile browser, Kompass has better interface in my opinion.  You can assign tasks, check milestones, and add comments easily.  Cost:  FREE

3.  Evernote for BlackBerry- from notes to ideas to snapshots to recordings, put it all into Evernote and watch as everything instantly synchronizes from your BlackBerry to the Web to your Mac or Windows desktop.  Nifty!  Cost:  FREE

4.  Paypal for BlackBerry-  access, receive Paypal payments quickly.  You can easily send Paypal to Paypal payments to friends, or relatives.  Cost:  FREE

5.  Lister-  if you need a quick and simple list manager for your BlackBerry, then Lister would be more than ok.   You can tick items, add more categories and even tag items.  Cost:  FREE

6.  Dropbox for BlackBerry-  send and access your files on dropbox from your BlackBerry!  Although I do not use this application since the ability to access my dropbox files via mobile browser is available.  Sending files to my public folder via email is also possible.  Cost:  FREE

7.  Yousendit Tracker for BlackBerry-  if you are a huge Yousendit user, then you can track your files and send files from your BlackBerry to anyone via Yousendit.  Cost: FREE

8.  Expensify for BlackBerry- keep track of credit card expenses via Expensify.com.  Be able to Add expense using your BlackBerry or even upload a receipt by taking an image of your receipt.    Your receipt will be uploaded to your online expensify account!  You can send your receipts via email as well.  Cost:  FREE

There are more than 4,000 of both free and paid applications in the BlackBerry App World.  Make sure you read the reviews before installing any application. I would suggest using RIM-native applications on your BlackBerry.

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I have used several smartphones from Nokia and Sony Ericsson before, including PDAs like Palm Treo and one by O2.   I have always admired the iPhone and I consider its exorbitant  price silly and it made me reconsider getting another Nokia or a BlackBerry.

Being on Twitter everyday, I noticed that  alot of the hardcore Twitter people are using BlackBerry.  I checked and found out that the Blackberry has a robust system and has integrated email and social media function in one phone which comes in handy for people like me who works online and needs to be online all the time.   I have read several complaints about the BlackBerry Torch — touch screen glitches, etc.  But I believe that the strength of the Blackberry is its hardware and the push email feature which was a breeze to set up.  Not only that, the BlackBerry OS 6 is spankier and truly made for the best touch screen phone from RIM.

The Apps that kicks ass on the BlackBerry:

1.  Twitter for BlackBerry- comes preinstalled.  It is fast and easy to use.  Coming from a Nokia User and who loves Gravity– a Twitter, Facebook paid application for Nokia, the Twitter app for Blackberry comes a tad short.  I miss Gravity’s Google Reader integration, but heck, the BlackBerry 6 comes with

2. Social Feeds-  brings together Facebook, Twitter, and BBM into a single feed and lets you post to as many of them at once as you like.

3. Kickass BBM- one of the best way to communicate! Better than text messaging and since its powered by BIS, it is efficient and fast. Share pictures, send messages IM-like.

4.  App World- this is by far spiffier than Nokia’s silly Ovi Store. Everything is fast via the app world, paid and free app in one place. Payment facility included! I have added my Paypal account here so I can easily buy applications that I liked. So far I have bought PatternLock and Extra Smiley.

5.  Foursquare for BlackBerry- rocks.  Easy check-in and fast location search.  Simply marvelous.

6.  Facebook for BlackBerry- easy photo upload and notifications integrated via Social Feeds.

7. Pattern Lock-  cost $2.99 from App World.  The application provides you with a new and wonderful way of locking your device. Once the screen is locked, your screen is going to show shows 9 dots in 3 x 3 grids.

8.  My PIN Barcode for BBM- now no need to memorize that nasty BBM PIN.  Download this free app and flash your BBM PIN by scanning it using your BB Torch.  Sweet!

I got my Blackberry  Torch from EbuyStore.com.ph.  Ordering online was quick.  I made the order online, paid the device through bank deposit and it was delivered the next day via Air 21/Fedex.  Lovely!  Talk about great and fast service.

So I now do everything with my BlackBerry.  I even listen to my favorite podcast via my Podcast application.  Taking shots, making calls and making notes, receiving and sending emails is a breeze.  Calls are crystal clear.  With the Pattern Lock installed, there is no danger of butt calling.  With Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and GetGlue, I am so into my BB!  Add me on BBM!

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Having Twitter friends who are Ubuntu users made the installation of Ubuntu using Sun Virtual Box easier than ever.  Having  heard Malloy rave on the advantages of running Linux, I became more interested and convinced to try out Ubuntu by installing Sun Virtual Box on my Windows 7.

So this is very easy:

1) Download the latest Ubuntu here.

2) Download and install Sun Virtual box.

3) Run Sun Virtual Box and load Ubuntu and install.

Easy as 1-2-3 believe me!

Enjoy the same applications you love with lesser pain, more speed and more secure than virus-plagued Windows.  Ubuntu comes pre-installed with great applications for music and video streaming.  It comes with GIMP, Open Office and so much more!  Try it out and see for yourself!

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I heard about Piclyf at the Wordcamp Philippines 2010.   Eric Clark Su gave a wonderful presentation, detailing the ongoing development of a local start-up– PicLyf.  Proud to say that this start-up is based in Davao no less.  :)  Go, go, go Mindanao!

So PicLyf is basically another social media portal wherein a registered user can upload their images via webcam, smartphones and even email.  Through live stream, you could visualize the stream of images coming on real-time.  Since I am not new to image streaming (meaning DailyBooth), using PicLyf was easy for me.  Its not exactly rocket science and I am happy to say that uploading images through your iPhone and Blackberry is simple than uploading images on Facebook!

Listen, most the people I am following are from Mindanao, and most I have met and seen during Wordcamp.  It is nice to keep tabs of them however way they wanted to share their day with me.  I love the fact that my friends on PicLyf took the time to snap a quick photo for me to see and comment on.

So you might want to know why you should join another social media portal… well, if you are a virtual maven like myself, one can use PicLyf to meet new people as well as maintain connection with acquaintances.  I have also integrated my Piclyf account with Twitter and Facebook.  Its nice to be able to post images in one place and be able to share them with friends who have yet to join Piclyf.

If you register today, you will notice that most of the people you would see are from Mindanao!  Yey!  I love the fact that you are not just following strangers, but these are people you most likely bump into one day!

You can find me on Piclyf  by searching for @lifediscourse.

@lifediscourse on PicLyf

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Having started with Moveable Type, the move to WordPress was refreshing.  Easy installation via cPanel and config wise– one cannot go wrong.

I attended the Wordcamp Philippines 2010 because I wanted to learn more about WordPress as well as meet local bloggers.  It was sad that most of my veteran friends opted not to attend, but irregardless, I have met some of the biggest bloggers today like Winston Almendras of http://www.batangyagit.com, Maro of http://www.marocharim.com, Andrew dela Serna of http://www.alleba.com and fellow Odesk wonder, Gemma Baltazar of http://www.ladyprogrammer.com.

The trip to Manila was sponsored by clients so I had no trouble making the necessary arrangements to get there.  With the hopes of learning more on SEO, web optimization and Semantics on WordPress, I flew to Manila with high expectations.  I stayed at Kabayan Hotel as recommended by Irene the lady behind http://www.mindanaoan.com. The stay was not so bad and I was happy I decided to stay there since its so near the place of venue.

It was my first time to set foot on the College of St. Benilde.  The day of the Wordcamp started early for us since registration was scheduled at 8am.

Meeting Matt Mullenweg

The CDO group and I rode the LRT to get to College of St. Benilde.  It was early so the train was not packed unlike last night when I went to Kamuning to Bar 77 to meet my friends from UP.  When we got to the auditorium, everyone was a buzz since the man himself, Matt Mullenweg came in early to talk and mingle.  It was a delight to see this young boy from Texas.  I have been a huge admirer eversince I started using WordPress.

Approaching him for a quick chat and request for a snapshot was not very hard although Matt was clearly working on his Macbook almost the entire time he was there.

Breakaway Talk:  Advanced SEO, Optimizing Ads and Blog Flipping

Me during the SEO Session with Winston Almendras

Sad to say, the speaker slated for SEO never showed up.  To make it worse, he did not give the organizers enough time to find a replacement.  Fortunately, Winston Almendras of highly acclaimed Batang Yagit stepped in.  The discussion during the session was ok.  I was able to contribute my thoughts on SEO as a budding SEO Developer.  The interaction was great especially when people like Fracis Arbes of Kuaderdno ni Kiko was there to help out and share his own knowledge on SEO.  It was during this session when I met the youngest writer, and link builder I know– Kim Selorio.  Kim raised alot of questions during the session, which made the discussion livelier and interesting.

I honestly did not learn anything new during the session, but I was more than happier to share my SEO experience with the beginners. The Wordcamp is afterall about sharing experiences as WP users.

Breakaway Talk:  Semantics, Hits and Likes:  Semantics and Sentiment in WordPress

Kim- a 14 year old link builder, article writer and web designer

This session was interesting enough as Sylvan and I has always been into trends, statistics and yes, Google ranking.  As we continue to thrive and dominate our niche, tracking our web statistics has been one of the foreground of our success when it comes to link building and keeping our sites on the top 3.

This breakaway session was conducted by Marck Ronald Rimorin aka as Marocharim by the blogging community. He swore by WP-Stats– a plugin that spits out daily traffic reports on one’s WP site.  As a dedicated user of Google Analytics, Marck insisted that WP-Stats is enough to give its user an accurate report.  I highly doubt that, but he did challenge my belief and I have already instructed our Web Developer to install WP-Stats on our niche sites to enable us to compare our reports from Google Analytics.

For beginners, Maro taught us briefly how to analyze page popularity as well as how to be able to compare results in order to be able to find indications to improve one’s site.

Breakaway Talk: Optimizing WordPress Webserver Performance

This session was great because web performance backend wise is important to us.  Downtime is a lowdown, that’s why this session made more impression ton me than others.  I have been following Eric Malloy on Twitter and knew of him as an expat who runs a business in Manila.  What made his presentation compelling to me were his recommendations on how to optimize webservers for PHP. Basing his argument on how Apache is and how bad bounce rates are because of “bloated” WordPress because of the PHP and other factors like the CSS not to mention the scripts.  He showed us some samples and made recommendations.  Sliders on websites, including videos, huge image files are some of the cause of the slow loading sites.  Remember, page load is one of the factors when determining Google ranking.  Being a non-web developer or programmer, all these information were too much for me to grasp since I hardly to any PHP or MYSQL work on my WordPress sites.  Malloy recommended the use of NGINX (refer to slide #7)– a lighter, high performance web reverse proxy load balancer.  He recommended the use of Virtual Box, something I have never heard of til Wordcamp.

Malloy’s presentation was very interesting indeed, and I happily referred his recommendations to my Boss.

Matt Mullenweg-- the man behind WordPress and Automattic

Bottomline

The Wordcamp I finally understood was more like a networking event.  With huge sponsors like Woo Themes and Smart Telecoms, the Wordcamp was a huge success mainly because it continues to preserve that aim:  to promote WordPress not just for blogs but as a powerful CMS.

In the end, Matt Mullenweg took center stage to respond to questions about WordPress and Automattic.  I wished more people asked more technical questions other than “If you were given the chance to make a film about your life and WordPress, would you agree and why?”  His response was apt, “well, if there will be a film about me, I wouldn’t want it done while I am alive.”  Something like that…

Truth be told, I am happy to see and catch a glimpse of the man behind WordPress and Automattic.  Being a professional, I would have wanted more in depth presentations, but I guess that’s what webinars and other more focused seminars are for. Heck, I went to the Wordcamp to meet Matt!

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