Gmail Rolls Out Google Buzz; Check Out What’s in Store For Everyone

Here’s another great reason why you should love and totally switch (if you haven’t yet) to Gmail. They’ve recently rolled out their newest service, the Google Buzz. (By the way, Google is gradually rolling out Buzz to everyone, so if you don’t see it in your Gmail account yet, check back soon.)

Google Buzz Landing Preview

It’s basically like Twitter, but actually better. It allows comments, likes, email. It resides right within your Gmail web interface. All you need is a Gmail account. Of course, your friends should be using Gmail the same in order for you to share thoughts, quotes, links, photos, and videos with each other.

Photos and videos are displayed inline, so you don’t have to open another window or tab. Sharing can be done publicly (and displayed to your Google profile page) or privately to a group of people or close friends only.

Comments get sent right to your inbox so it’s easy to keep up with the conversation. Of course, you can mute a certain thread in case you find your inbox full of non-sense.

Continue reading Gmail Rolls Out Google Buzz; Check Out What’s in Store For Everyone

Luminotes is Closing; Download the Windows Stand-Alone Application

It’s a sad moment for the techie world and wiki fans. The hosted service of Luminotes is closing, and you can access, export, and backup your notes from their servers until March 1, 2010 only.

According to their blog:

Luminotes.com will shut down on March 1, 2010. At that time, you will no longer be able to view or edit any notes hosted at Luminotes.com, and no further releases nor support for any Luminotes products will be available.

But of course their Windows Stand-Alone Applications — Luminotes Desktop — is out in the wild. In case the website totally shuts down after the time (March 1) and you missed to save yourself a copy of the exe file, I have a backup copy: Luminotes.exe (download). Readme file is available upon install.

Wesley So Drew a Winning Position Vs. Akobian

Indeed, Philippines’ pride GM Wesley So spoiled the fun for his Filipino chess fans when he drew a winning position against Varuzhan Akobian in the Corus Chess 2010 Group B in Wijk aan Zee, in Netherlands.

In this particular game, Wesley might have overlooked a better play on the 25th move with (25. Rxc4) instead of his conservative (25. Re3). This could have led to an endgame where he’s up by one pawn plus a solid pawn structure on the King side.

Continue reading Wesley So Drew a Winning Position Vs. Akobian

POP3 Access for Yahoo! Mail Free Accounts

A POP3 access allows you to send and receive your email messages from a desktop email client like Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, Entourage, etc. A user need not login to the web interface and face hundreds of banner ads everyday, but just wait till the program fetches the mails from the background.

POP3 access (and even IMAP) has always been free when you’re using a GMail account. However, by default, for Yahoo! Mail, you will need to upgrade to at least the Yahoo! Mail Plus account (yes, you have to pay in this case) in order to avail of the POP3 access.

Fortunately, there is a workaround for this: YPOPs! Continue reading POP3 Access for Yahoo! Mail Free Accounts

Fritz12 Licensing: Activating and Deactivating the Software

fritz-12-2Recently, I got Chessbase’ Fritz12 that I ordered online. Before I installed it, I was looking for any mention in the Terms and Conditions in the usage of the software regarding multiple installation. I’m particularly interested if I am allowed to install the same in multiple computers, and what happens if I reinstall the OS or change computers.

Unfortunately, there were no written Terms and Conditions in the booklets or manual that came with the DVD disk, nor in the actual contents of the disk. I scrounged the internet about it to no avail. I even emailed their helpdesk, and this is what they have to reply:

Yes, you are welcome to install and to activate the program on both of your computers.

Nothing helpful at all. Continue reading Fritz12 Licensing: Activating and Deactivating the Software

Deco’s Original La Paz Batchoy at Alphaland Southgate Mall

The first, and so far the only, branch in Metro Manila of the Ilonggo’s favorite ‘Deco’s Original La Paz Batchoy‘ opened last August 14, 2009, concurrent to the opening of the Alphaland Southgate Mall, at the corner of Pasong Tamo (Chino Roces Avenue) and EDSA, Makati City.

decos1

Continue reading Deco’s Original La Paz Batchoy at Alphaland Southgate Mall

Obeertym: a Yahoo! Basketball Fantasy League, Season 2

Locked and loaded! The league is ready for kick-off. 15 teams are in for the battle for their right to the crown. 15 teams, out of which 9 were carried over from the premiere season, while 5 dropped out of the race. 6 new franchises in second season.

Let’s take a look at the progress of the league from the last season. The teams below are ranked according to the standings of the 2008 season. Continue reading Obeertym: a Yahoo! Basketball Fantasy League, Season 2

2 Nikon and a Sigma (Nikon Mount) Lenses for Sale

More photography stuffs for sale. If you are on the Nikon line, you’d better check out these deals:

AF Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 D Nikon ED SOLD

AF Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 D Nikon ED

In mint condition, the asking price for this lens is P3,000. Check out Ken Rockwell’s review about this lens. Continue reading 2 Nikon and a Sigma (Nikon Mount) Lenses for Sale