will be back!

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UNKNOWN is the Top 3 Mobile OS in Philippines

Based on the data StatCounter Global Stats, UNKNOWN is the 3rd most-used mobile OS Filipinos use. This makes me wonder if 'unknown' refers to the celphones we call 'China phones.' If yes, then I guess it shows how big a market the 'China phones' are, and somehow, in a way proves that China phones work.

Top 8 Mobile OSs in Philippines 2008-2011

What does the stat say?
* There is 'money' in unsexy stuff like 'unknown.' Willie Revillame probably knows this that's why he has 'Wil Phone' (by Cherry Mobile) coming.

* It seems Android has still a lot of catching up to do in also in Philippines.
* If we make a story out of the graph, it can be that a typical Pinoy like me wants an iPhone, but since it's too expensive, the Pinoy will just pick what is very familiar to him like a Nokia phone or go to the least expensive one (China phones) in the hope that soon he can save up for an iPhone.
* Android, if you want to get a foothold of the Philippines, you know who to get.

Tumbly - Tumblr Client for Symbian (Nokia) Touch Mobile Phones Made Possible by a Filipino

And, it is brought to you by a Filipino from down south Davao, Philippines -- Loell Anthony Erecre. Tumbly is  not Loell's first applications but those will be for other posts.

Tumbly - a native symbian client for Tumblr

I really have not much to say about the application since I do not have a Nokia touch. I got an old boring E71. But nevertheless, I'm excited that tumblr in Nokia is created by a Pinoy. Tumblr is like facebook and twitter, which are available in all mobile OS except Symbian. And, now it's on Nokia, and it's made possible by a Filipino. Delightcious!

You can find a 'more detailed' post about Tumbly at my yet another blog -- phmobileapps.com. Tumbly is free for download at the Nokia Ovi Store (which will be renamed soon?) - http://store.ovi.com/content/119525.

FanPic with Jojo Flores - Co-founder & VP Operation of Plug and Play Tech Center

As always, I am late in posting. Last March 23, 2011, Jojo Flores, who co-founded Plug and Play Tech Center which is a California-based incubator, presented 'Start up, Take a Pitch.' In the beginning, before they become Plug and Play Tech, they their business was more of a realty business. It was started by Saeed Amidi who is more in the merchandising industry. They have a garage-kind of building in the Silicon Valley where they had and have it rented out. It just happens that most of the people who came and come to rent their places where doing tech and web products. As such, the place somehow became a mecca of people building mostly web-based products / services. 

With a roster of successful (and not able to make it) start up teams starting from Plug and Play incubator, aside from getting space from them, start up teams can also get mentorship from the other existing and alumni incubators, and networking among others. PayPal and eBay were among the popular web companies that stayed there when they started (these are just what I can remember from the companies mentioned by Jojo Flores). They also have a roster of products that started from them which are then acquired by bigger companies like Google, and such.

For a more detailed story about Plug and Play Tech Center, and their start-up story, you can check this Mixergy interview of Saeed Amidi from CastRoller -- click here.

My fanpic with Jojo Flores.

This Friday (May 13, 2011), there will be a meetup, Learn about setting up a company, which will be held at CEDF-IT place. The talk will be given by Atty. Janjan Perez, IT Law Specialist. Please join us, and let me have a fanpic with you. =)

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.

PicLyf #478 - The VERSION 1.0

My First Pic via Piclyf ver 1.0. Reminiscing my First Post of it,Twidl.it times, http://bit.ly/hogxHy. =)

My Comments: Philippine Web Awards Finalist - ARTS AND PORTFOLIO Category

This is the world wide web, and not just any world wide web, it is the PHILIPPINE web, so let's have some LOLZ.

Arts and Portfolio
* http://www.metromaniladirectory.com/ -- Why would a directory be part of this category?

* http://www.philippineartawards.org/ -- Typical of an 'artist' website, it uses dark tones. Why do most artists like dark colors?

* http://www.bridalbook.ph/ -- so so... It looks like since there is no wedding / bridal category, they thought of just placing it here.

* http://www.dottystylecreative.com/ -- Their home page clearly indicates their agency is located in Sydney, Australia. Duh, it's Philippine Web Awards.

* http://www.jeffsimonsdesign.com/ -- My 2nd bet.

* http://www.projectskyrocket.com/ -- Their website looks like it came out from one of Smashing Magazine's featured site. And, they have a tagline that sounds like Carsonified.

* http://www.manilafinancialcenter.com/ -- What does a financial website got to do with 'Arts & Portfolio'? Worse, it has this 'running' text at the very top of the page.

* http://www.manilasky.com/ -- It looks like this service provider created the other 2 nominees in this category. The best feature of their site is the rotating globe / earth at the top left -- it reminds me of the old Internet Explorer. And, yes, their home page has literally a sky, not only a sky but a moving sky.

From the looks of it, even this poopoo-looking site techboba can be a nominee of this category. There are still a lot of categories that needs my commentary, but they will to follow, if I have nothing better to do and if I need some comedy.

NowShowing.ph is Now Showing

After one week of announcement of NowShowing.ph's beta launch, it is now live according to Jason Torres' facebook status.

Their search shows Cebu cinemas right away, that's sweet.

I like that you can find quick links to most important details about the movie by hovering on it.

Then, details open on the same page.

If you're a movie buff, I know you would love NowShowing.ph -- better bookmark it now.

Piclyf: Our Story by Eric Su

I've known Piclyf way back Twidl.it times. A few would ask why I keep on using Piclyf when there are other picture-sharing tools. The thing is I'm not really much into the product, but of the Piclyf team, the people behind the product. It's rare that you can find people here that are courageous enough to go against all odds.

So it was nice to see one of the co-founders, Eric Su, in live talking about Piclyf -- the product, their team, and their story. I'd done a short rough interview of him some time ago, which you can find here.

Most of us only know about start-ups when they're no longer start-ups, which, for me, is just the tip/ending of the story. The real story is when they're still yet to be discovered. So below, you can view the video of Eric Su talking about Piclyf's story, taken during the last meetup, and find out how they were able to survive with only one-week worth of cash for the their start-up team.



I'm sorry for the crappy quality, and I was not able to finish the whole talk since I ran out of batt. You can also find below a (incomplete) video of Eric Su's The Startup Game.



You can check the following links for Eric's slide presentation used during the meetup.
* The Startup Game
* Startup Tips

NowShowing.ph -- Upcoming Web and iPhone App

Based on the blurb on their beta launching site, NowShowing.ph is a way for you to discover new movies, get the perfect schedule, and stay updated with upcoming titles. I'm thinking it's kind of ClicktheCity and SureSeats.

NowShowing.ph is a ProudCloud product according to Jason Torres' tweets, which then I assumed that Jason is one of the developers of it.

Haybol.ph -- an interactive Philippine Real Estate Listing

Haybol.ph is a Philippine real estate search tool. Or, if you have a property for leasing or selling, then you can post it on Haybol.ph for free. It's a web-based application so you can do all the listing online by yourself.

It has a ready set of forms online so you will be guided when making your listing.

If you are looking for a real estate properties -- house, building, lots, etc -- to buy or rent, Haybol.ph can help you with that. You might ask, "so what, I can do it in other classified ads sites or listing sites?" It integrates Google maps. What I like with Haybol.ph is that it gives me the different listings in an area in one view. This can free the buyers / renters from the hassle of having to scour the whole area just to find different available properties.

Haybol.ph is free for both seller / leaser and buyer / looker of properties so go and register for an account, and start checking in your property listings.

It is co-founded by Edge Dalmacio. And, it's incubated by Orange & Bronze, a Filipino-owned software development firm.

Photo shows CEO and co-founder of Orange & Bronze Software Labs (O&B) Calen Martin Legaspi (3rd from left), gesturing as he fields a question from the media during the company’s formal launch at the O&B headquarters in Makati City. Looking on are (from left): O&B developer and online search site haybol.ph co-founder Edge Dalmacio, O&B chief technology officer and co-founder Butch Landingin and O&B head of consulting services Mike Mallete.

via newsbytes.ph

This Shirt Will Soon Be Inked By the Piclyf Founder

See you later at Exist Techbar for the meetup, details here.

by Eric Su of Piclyf

Meetup: Web designers & developers meet & greet!

Before another meetup, The Startup Game by Eric Su, will take event this Wednesday (Feb. 23, 2010), here are some pics of the previous meetup, Web designers & developers meet & greet by Albert Balbutin Jr.

with Albert

with Mark Yap and his team working on money remittance platform

finly got to have a pic with Vernon Go, president of Cebu Bloggers Society

Cebu's Startup Community Getting Hotter

Before the 3rd meetup will happen, I just have to do a quick post about the first of the meet-up series this year 2011 in Cebu, Business of Software Startup and Challenges of Building One Locally. This first meet-up of 2011 was headed by Mark, who is my husband, so I'm not going to talk much about that part.

Instead, I'll talk and show you a few of the interesting people I met on that event, who, I bet, will have a big role in shaping up the Startup community culture here in Cebu. I missed on a lot of the other people who were there -- will make up on the next meet-ups.

Ms. Pauline Wade
She heads the newly opened incubator (co-working space) facility here in Cebu, UP Cebu DOST-TBI. The incubator facility in UP Cebu is all set-up, the only piece missing is you -- the rockstars, your idea, and your passion.

Jun Saa
He is the Executive Director of Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology.

Marvis Sanchez
There's a long personal story behind that, but I will not bore you with that. But he and Mark had been working for different software projects before -- Cleverlearn/Bigfoot, LearningToGo, and there were more I can no longer recall the names.

Marvis, Mark, Harm

Carebears - the instant crow

Paolo, Engwan, Jean, Poy (half)

Harm Rietjens

Harm shared his view about Cebu / Philippines, how he came here, and founded Caresharing here in Cebu.

Jesslee Cuizon
The fresh-from-Japan programmer I met via twitter. Thank you for coming.

Albert Padin & Spelldial Team
Spelldial is a new way of dialing a call. It's a Cebu-based start-up team.

Albert Padin

Me & Albert

Spelldial girl, Nicole, Albert, Me, Honee (of Etroduce)

Ademar Tutor & Odina Abellana

The hunk and chick hackers of Etroduce. I'm part of this team. I will invite you soon, you know who you are. =)

Dave Overton & Kevin Leversee

They are the people behind Sym.ph -- solutions provider built on trust. Dave is also involve with Glory Reborn Organization -- an NGO that provides maternity care.

Dave and Kevin gave a talk

Dave

Kevin

Paolo Lim & Jimbo Cortes

Paolo and Jimbo founded codecampr. And, wheedly is their first web application built.

with Jimbo

Paolo's presentation

Ian Bert Tusil & Stephen Paul Suarez

Both founded Next Sparks Studios, Co. They're currently working on iTropa (formerly GroupsMe) -- a web and SMS-based group-collaboration tool.  

Ian

Ian and Paul

Ian Zafra

We all probably know him best with his band, Sheila and the Insects. But little did I know that he also create music for mobile apps.

Lia Doria

The wedding coordinator turned start-up meetup organizer.

Ademar and Leah

You can check few more pictures here. There were a lot of people I totally missed out on documenting. I totally felt bad about it. But anyhoo, I will try to do my best of documenting each one for the upcoming meet-ups. This series of meetups was started by Tina Amper, who is remotely organizing meet-ups here in Cebu. 

To be updated with Cebu start-up meetups, you can check Tech Talks from Cebu and Beyond meetup group. I'd love to see you in one of the meetups.