Mailbird is Sparrow for Windows

Sparrow is a sleek Email desktop client for Mac. I’ve raved about how awesome it was and how it made a Mac a Mac. That, of course, is besides the fact that Google recently acquired the Sparrow team, which puts the project’s future in question.

I was one of those who wished Sparrow Mail was available in PC as well. Fortunately, Mailbird is here to come.

Currently, it’s not yet available for download and/or testing, but the concept looks promising. It”s going to have the same clean and sleek interface, the things we used to love in Sparrow. On top of that, there will be, according to their website, an open source app community to let app developers develop their own cool apps and/or improve on existing apps.

Personally, I can’t wait for the release of this email client as I use Windows everyday in the office.

When Apple Fanboys Play the Stock Market

When you’re ready to defend Apple even on a field you’re not particularly familiar with, then that what makes you a fanboy.

So, then, why don’t we just keep buying and enjoying Apple products that we learned to love and leave Apple shareholders’ wealth to the Wall Street analysts?

Smart Freedom Plan Updated

Plans and/or promos that you can subscribe to under the Smart Freedom Plan has been updated as of October 21, 2012, particularly Data plans. Now it includes various Always On denominations. Check out their webpage for more info.

Would have subscribed to one of the Always On options, but my Freedom Plan SIM was installed in my iPad, which since it’s not yet jailbroken, it can’t send SMS to complete the subscription. Another way could have been through the Account Management page in the Smart Communications website, but there was no option there for Data Packages, unlike when you’re using a Smart Bro prepaid SIM.

So there, another potential revenue gone for Smart.

Tweetbot for Mac

I am a big fan of Tweetbot for iPhone. There’s no denying I would recommend this app to any iPhone user who wants a more robust Twitter client for their smartphone. A price tag is attached to the app in the iTunes App Store, but the price is well worth it. This app is probably the best Twitter client-app out there available to any platform. Unfortunately, Tweetbot is an iOS-only app, which makes it one of the selling points why I choose the iPhone. Continue reading Tweetbot for Mac

Hiarcs Chess Explorer Video Quick Tour

The Hiarcs team recently posted two videos (one for Mac and another for Windows) to give a quick tour of their products. The Hiarcs Chess Explorer applications for both platforms virtually look the same and share the same functionalities.

I have a Mac and purchased the Mac version, and here’s the quick tour:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtBdRjtrBDU&w=480]

Yet, I have to reiterate my feature requests I hope we get in the next version:

  • Engine match and engine tournaments;
  • Ability to publish PGN games to be replayable in HTML through javascript;

See also Hiarcs Chess Explorer for PC video tour.

USSD Hack that Reset Samsung Touchwiz Devices

Yugatech:

The web hack is actually a malicious code that is hiding inside a web page and gets triggered when visited using the stock browser (except Google Chrome) of a TouchWiz-based phone. The malicious code then spawns the dialer and enters a bad USSD code with the sole purpose of nuking your device back to its factory default.

Now, if you fell victim to this hack, how you’d probably wish you had iTunes that have your data and media files intact, in this case that you have to restore your phone.

And don’t even get me started with Samsung Kies — one word, UNRELIABLE. In my experience, Samsung Kies did not work half of the time because of drivers not found. This happened to me both in Mac and PC.

A FIDE Master Title for Elite GM’s

William of OnlineChessLessons.net offered a strong argument why FIDE should introduce an official Super-GM title for 2700+ rated chess players.

In 1972 there were 88 GMs and in 2012 there are now over 1200 GMs! However the vast majority (around 95%) of Grandmasters are rated between 2400 and 2699 FIDE. After the recent Chess Olympiad 2012 in Istanbul, there are now a total of 50 Super-GMs rated over 2700 FIDE.

Read more about Should FIDE have a Super-GM title for 2700+ GMs?

Personally, I’m in favor of his proposal of an official distinct FIDE title awarded to “elite” GM’s in order to separate them from, well, the not-so-elite ones. FIDE may not necessarily use a 2700 ELO rating cut-off, but they could devise certain criteria for eligibility.

However, I advise against the use of the “Super-GM” name. Why? Keep on reading »

Now, Who’s Playing Catch Up? — Twitter for Android!

Last month, August 26, 2012 to be exact, I uploaded a video at my Youtube channel (and posted at my Tumblr blog) comparing the experience of using the official Twitter apps for Android and iOS:

Continue reading Now, Who’s Playing Catch Up? — Twitter for Android!