Fanpic with iOS TeachMate App Developer

The best thing about my new work is being surrounded with 'cool' people -- people who design and build stuff. They can already be more than enough subjects for my (make-believe) start-up stories.

So below's a pic with Lord Norlan Mumar, who co-founded ui + code with his programmer wife -- geek couple huh! Being Mac geeks, ui + code will be about fun iPhone / iPod Touch utility applications. 

Their first iOS application released is Teach Mate. It's for teachers. So for those looking what to gift their teachers, you must get them this app. You can find more details about TeachMate at my phmobileapps blog (girls can not have too many shoes, and so is I with blogs).

with Lord Norlan Mumar & TeachMate

Why an iPhone / iPod touch application for teachers? That is probably for another post. But I'm guessing is that because they, Norlan and his wife, had and have been in the academia. 

Kuyi Mobile Infographic -- It's iOS Apps Downloads & Revenues

Infographic showing iOS apps downloads and sales statistics is nothing new but viewing an infographic of a Filipino mobile developer is very interesting because it is something close to us, and in a way inspiring. And, the more interesting thing about is that it is a one-man team, Erick Garayblas.

via digitalsinigang.blogspot.com

From the infographic, something I learned:
* You can not put ads on free iOS applications
* So a good way to market your other apps via free apps is to create your own free apps -- make sense?

PH Start-up is a Fairy Tale

I have to put this quick update after I got the following mention on an article of Piclyf/Eric Su on the The Next Web Asia. This place has been quiet for some time, not that any one cares. But I got busy with a start-up whirlwind romance, then moved on and get busy starting on a new 'day job.'

The Filipino startup community

I first asked Eric about the startup community in the Philippines, which he told me is very fragmented. There are a bunch of folks in Manila who are trying to sustain one with regular meetups like Roofcamp, and blogs like StartupPhilippines.com. The city of Cebu is also undergoing a fantastic birth of one, mainly through the efforts of Caresharing co-founder, Marc Buenconsejo, and his wife Rose, who is also the editor of Techboba.com. There are actually some fantastic startups like InSync, Infinite.ly and Cashcashpinoy but the problem is that most of these Filipino founders aren’t actively helping foster a community.

via thenextweb.com

Since I'm mentioned in an article about 'The Filipino Start-up Community' so I though of putting down my thoughts about start-up in the Philippines.


* All I can say is that start-up in Philippines is like a FAIRY TALE -- happy endings only happen in the book. In start-up case, happy endings only happen in Silicon Valley... And, just like in fairy tales, they key to success in PH startup is to foolishly believe in it (my best shot at trying to be poetic about it=)).


* I'm really sick and tired listening of comparing the start-up in Philippines to Silicon Valley. I guess aside from the programming language, there is no eeny weeny comparison between the two. So let's stop the disillusion of having the Silicon Valley start-up culture/environment here. My point is that it's like planting an apple tree in the dessert, I no longer know how to finish this line. But I don't mean to discourage us from creating start-ups, it's just let's not get frustrate of why we cannot have the Silicon Valley because we're not Silicon Valley. New York even wonder why they cannot get the Silicon Valley style of start-up so how much is the Philippines which is like 360 degrees away from the Valley.


* If Filipinos can unite for Edsa 1 to x, there's no reason why we cannot rally for a start-up effort. It's just a matter of pushing the right button in us but that's the big question -- what is the right button.


This is getting boring so I'll end here.

Anyhoo, I hope I'll be able to make some noise again here the soonest (until I get a grip of all the changes and such) to make up start-up fairytale stories, create my own imaginary start-up world, until the right buttons will be discovered.