With the holidays just looming around the corner, a lot of us are already looking for nice gifts to get for ourselves or for our loved ones. With technology playing a huge part in our lives these, tech products such as mobile phone and tablet accessories are an easy and convenient choice especially if you’re planning to do your shopping online.

For instance, American consumer electronics manufacturer Belkin has a wide selection of mobile device accessories that are offered on Lazada, making them readily accessible and easy to order in case you don’t have the time to go to malls to hunt for the products you want to purchase.

Here are our top picks from Belkin’s roster in Lazada, which we think you’ll really like as well:

5. Belkin Mixit 4 Feet 90 Degrees Lightning to USB cable

One of the most common complaints about Apple products is that their cables are not that built well. In fact, the cable has a rating of just 1.5 stars on the Apple store and there are a bunch of discussions regarding the product (mostly complaints) on the company’s website.

The usual issue with Apple’s own cable is that it can easily break near the connectors causing the wires to fray. The Belkin Mixit cable avoids this dilemma by using a 90-degree angle for the lightning connector, protecting the tip and lessening the stress on the cable.

The cable is also four times longer than the standard lightning to USB cable and yet it offers the same fast charging and data transfer rates as the one made by Apple and comes in 7 different colors. Belkin is also offering a 2-year limited warranty for this cable ensuring that you’ll be able to use it for a long time.

Price: Php 1,190 (Get it here)

4. Belkin Micro USB Cable with Lightning Connector adapter

Another nifty accessory you might want to consider is the Micro USB cable with lightning connector. The product extends the functionality of the Mixit cable but adds a micro USB cable adaptor so you can charge other devices.

The cable is perfect as a travel companion as it eliminates the need to bring multiple cables to charge different devices. The adapter is connected to the cable via a durable yet flexible rubber strip so you don’t have to worry of losing it when it’s not in use.

Just like the Mixit version, this cable is also 4ft long, comes in a slew of colors and if offered with 2 years limited warranty.

Price: Php 1,490 (Get it here)

3. Belkin Family RockStar 4-port USB Charger

Another handy accessory for people who own multiple devices is the Belkin Family RockStar 4-port USB charger. The device features four USB ports that delivers a total of 5.4 Amp of power allowing users to charge multiple devices at the same time.

The charger also comes with an intelligent smart chip that regulates the flow of electricity to each port depending on how many devices are being charged. The charger is also wall-mountable and sports a 10-foot cable for convenient placement.

Price: Php 3,290 (Get it here)

2. Belkin Stylus for Tablets

For those looking to do some productive work during the holidays or those who delve in the field of arts and design, a great gift idea would be this Belkin Stylus for tablets.

The stylus features a rubber tip that glides smoothly over any tablet screen allowing users to easily jot down notes or sketch illustrations. The stylus looks very much like a standard pen and even comes with a clip so you can attach it easily and securely to a folio.

Price: Php 325 (discounted by 50% - Get it here)

1. Belkin QODE Thin Type Keyboard case for iPad Air

If you’re looking to do more work on your iPad, the Belkin QODE Thin Type keyboard case for the iPad Air is the perfect product for you.

Despite its slim 4mm profile, the keyboard case’s aluminum construction gives a feeling of durability and strength to the user. The case features well-spaced TruType keys that are designed for accurate typing as well as tactile response thanks to the spring mechanism placed underneath each key.

The Thin Type cover uses Bluetooth technology to connect to the iPad and uses Smart Sensing technology that automatically turns the keyboard on or off when the tablet is placed on the slot. The keyboard also boasts function-specific keys that provides shortcuts for different functions.

Price: Php 4,990 (Get it here)

This holidays, give yourself or your loved ones, one of the most awesome gift they can get with these great finds from Belkin. You can get all these stuff by ordering online from Lazada. 

You can also create your own wish list on Lazada and ask your friends and family to give these items (or other products from Belkin) to you as a gift this Christmas.

With thousands of applications already available on the mobile market, it is high time that we Filipinos start raving about all the little app development companies that have started sprouting all over the country like mushrooms. And like the fungi, these companies are just as resilient and proud to be producing apps that actually matter.

Jeprok Applications, LLC

“Be Cool … Be Smart … So Jeprok!” With a motto that just oozes of 80s Manila nostalgia and laid-back coolness, JeprokApplications, LLC, is an app development company that is clearly all about the Philippines. The startup has already slowly churned out two free applications for Filipinos around the world.

Countrok, Jeprok's first ever educational application, teaches Filipinos around the world how to count in the country's national language, Tagalog. A play button teaches the correct pronunciation of the words in Tagalog and English. It's like the aspiring multilingual's best friend!

VeggieRok, meanwhile, was made to help Filipinos around the world learn the names of the common vegetables in a language none other than–you guessed it– Tagalog. The second educational app from Jeprok nurtures a child's love for the Philippines' national language and commonly available vegetables!

Kuyi Mobile

An independent game development company in the Philippines, Kuyi Mobile regularly releases fun and interesting games with very modern graphics. Its most recent app, Streetfood Tycoon, has already caught the attention of plenty of people around the world. Even their flagship game, Card Drop, has already garnered awards the first year it was released!

Card Drop is marketed as the Solitaire game on steroids, but it's a simple stacking game that gets you hooked for hours. The best part about this addicting game? It's free!

Streetfood Tycoon, meanwhile, is a more complicated game that's also free on iTunes. Inspired by the common food cart businesses here in the Philippines, the game promises countless hours of entertainment while remaining patriotic. Hot tip: Look for all the things that clue you in that the game is set in Manila, Philippines.

AppLabs Digital Studios Inc.

A slightly younger company from the bunch, AppLabs Digital Studios has already released several free educational applications for children around the world. Their flagship app, Maddie & Matt's A to Z's of Good Manners & Values aims to influence children to take the right path when dealing with the elderly and their peers. The Tagalog version of this application includes Filipino values like pagmamahal and respeto, so the Filipino children all over the Philippines can have an enjoyable learning experience.

The newer educational application, Maddie & Matt's Happy Earth, encourages kids to do their part in helping Mother Earth. The app is apt in this generation of global warming.

Final Words

So there you have it. Three noble app developers that are proudly Filipino and worthy to be chronicled online. All their applications are available on iTunes for free, so download them now!

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Guest Author : Ethel Kay Merioles.
A dreamer, Ethel likes to put words in a string and turn them into a beatiful poem, short story or blog post. A scribbler, she turns hastily drawn lines into realistic copies of the people that interest her. She's currently writing for WheninManila.com and Applatter.com, but she would like to reach a bigger audience soon.

For mobile device gamers who are fans of the car racing game genre, French mobile game developer Gameloft and its Asphalt racing game series whose origin stretches back to the time of the feature phones has long offered an enjoyable line of racing games that provide quality gaming experience for a wide range of devices including iOS and Android.

Around 5 to 6 months ago, Gameloft updated its Asphalt mobile racing game series with the Asphalt 7: Heat. Just like its predecessors, the game follows the same (almost identical) gameplay with minor tweaks and revisions. But are the new additions to the game enough to make it a winner? I know it’s quite late but here’s my review of Asphalt 7 Heat for the iOS.

THE BASICS

Asphalt 7 features predominantly the same gameplay as Asphalt 6: Adrenaline. There are several gameplay categories you can compete in like DRIFT COMPETITION where the player is required to collect a specific amount of points by drifting, NORMAL RACE where users win by finishing in the top 3 for each race, ELIMINATION where users are required to race under an elimination process and the TIME TRIALS wherein users need to race before the timer runs out.

Game controls are also identical, with players having an option to change the accelerometer-based controls to touch-based controls. Controls for nitro or turbo are still present in Asphalt 7. The adrenaline mode, a legacy of Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, is also still found in the game. In terms of the tracks available for use, Asphalt 7 features relatively the same tracks with only a few additions and a few modifications to existing tracks.

Cars on the other hand are a different story. Yes, the number of cars that users can use for races have grown in number but they are now categorized into different categories. Bike lovers will also be disappointed as Gameloft has decided to remove all bikes and trikes in the game.

Lastly, power-ups such as nitro boosts and cash pick-ups are still present in Asphalt 7 and are placed in different locations in each race track.

THE GOOD

One of the best aspects of the game is its familiar gameplay. For those who have played any of the previous versions of the Asphalt racing games, Asphalt 7 would be a piece of cake when it comes to the controls and racing tracks. The game also showcases a more diverse car collection that players can choose from and just like the previous version; each car can be customized in terms of paint, decals, window tint (new), and performance parts such as suspension, handling and speed.

Another welcome addition to the game are “goals”. All throughout the game, three goals are set that gives bonus EXP to a player whenever he achieves any one or more of these goals. These extra tasks may range from buying an upgrade for your car, performing a specific set of skills in a race or joining a multiplayer game.

Gameloft also added the rent and preview feature in this edition of Asphalt. The rent feature allows you to pay a specific sum of money in order to use a locked car for a race. With these feature, players can use more powerful cars on specific races that they are having a hard time completing. On the other hand, free previews are work very much like renting but without the player spending money to use a higher level car. The only downside to these features is that users will only be able to play the stock version of a car without the possibility of tuning.

THE NOT SO GOOD

Asphalt 7 of course isn’t exempted from any shortcomings. For starters, the tiered categorization of the cars in the game (although one of its selling points) poses a small concern for games. This is because this arrangement makes it impossible to use powerful cars in a race even if you have already won them in the past especially if the event you're playing is at a lower tier.

It is also sometimes very difficult cars because they are either quite unresponsive especially on beginner cars but super responsive on the supercar level. This can take some adjustment time and it’s a bit harder when you take into account that users may have to switch between different car types.

Also, there are cases wherein a specific car cannot be purchased unless you finish a specific event. In fact, there are even models that you can only purchase once you finish all the racing events in the entire game. Having said this, one can easily deduce that in order for a user to drive all the cars in the game, a player must play the game again several times before unlocking ALL cars.

THE VERDICT

Asphalt 7 is your typical racing game from Gameloft. Its main selling point is the familiar interface and gameplay mixed with minor tweaks and additions in order to maintain its existing fan base and at the same time to hook users who are new to the franchise.

However, there are some changes in the game that can be considered quite a gamble for Gameloft as it can either make or break the game in terms of customer experience. Nevertheless, Asphalt 7 remains one of the best games of the racing franchise as it manages to maintain the flair and appeal of its predecessor but at time provide an enjoyable overall experience to mobile gamers.

And with a current price of $0.99 on Apple’s iTunes, I’m guessing Asphalt 7: Heat will be a very “hot” offer even for the most thrift consumer.

So there you have it guys. What are your thoughts about Asphalt 7: Heat? Tell us be leaving a comment below. Also, please do add us up on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus. You may also subscribe to our RSS feeds for more Filipino lifestyle stories about technology, gadgets, fashion, food, travel and beauty.

Apple has once again basked in the world spotlight when it announced yesterday not one, not two, but five new products. Apple’s much anticipated October 22 event in San Jose, California was supposed to be the venue where the well-leaked iPad mini and the 13-inch MacBook Pro were to be announced.

So it came as a surprise to the attendees of the event as well as to all the people watching the coverage in different parts of the world the announcement of three more products. The Mac Mini, the new iMac and the fourth generation iPad were also announced during the event. Yes, we understand that knowing the features and specs of 5 products in one event can be a little overwhelming. So the help you guys out, here’s a summary in case you’re planning to get one or more of these products these coming holiday season.

iMAC
Display	21.5-inch or 27-inch
Price	$1299-$1999
Processor	2.7GHz to 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 or i7 processor
Memory	8GB (two 4GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 memory
Storage	1TB
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce  GT 640M - GT 675MX graphics processor
Video and Camera	FaceTime HD camera
	Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to a 30-inch display (2560 by 1600 pixels) on an external display
	Support for extended desktop and video mirroring modes
Audio	Stereo speakers
	Dual microphones
	Headphone port
Ports	SDXC card slot
	Four USB 3 ports
	Two Thunderbolt ports
	Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (adapters sold separately)
	10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
Input	Apple Wireless Keyboard
	Magic Mouse
	Magic Trackpad
Connectivity	802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking, IEEE 802.11a/b/g
	Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
Operating System	Mac OS X Mountain Lion

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4th GENERATION IPAD
Model	Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular
Dimensions	Height: 9.50 inches (241.2 mm)
	Width: 7.31 inches (185.7 mm)
	Depth: 0.37 inch (9.4 mm)
	Weight: 1.44 pounds (652 g)
Storage	16GB / 32GB / 64GB
Display	Retina Display
	9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
	2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi)
	Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Chip	Dual-core A6X with quad-core graphics
FaceTime HD Camera	1.2MP photos
	720p HD video
	FaceTime video calling over Wi-Fi or cellular
	Face detection
	Backside illumination
	Tap to control exposure for video or still images
	Photo and video geotagging
iSight Camera	5MP photos
	Autofocus
	Face detection
	Backside illumination
	Five-element lens
	Hybrid IR filter
	ƒ/2.4 aperture
	Tap to focus video or still images
	Tap to control exposure for video or still images
	Photo and video geotagging
Video Recording	1080p HD video recording
	Video stabilization
	Face detection
	Tap to focus while recording
	Backside illumination
Battery	Built-in 42.5-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
	Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
	Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network (3G Model only)
	Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
I/O	Lightning connector
	3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack
	Built-in speaker
	Microphone
	Micro-SIM card tray (3G model only)
Sensors	Three-axis gyro
	Accelerometer
	Ambient light sensor

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IPAD MINI
Model	Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular
Dimensions	Height: 7.87 inches (200 mm)
	Width: 5.3 inches (134.7 mm)
	Depth: 0.28 inch (7.2 mm)
	Weight: 0.68 pound (308 g)
Storage	16GB / 32GB / 64GB
Display	7.9-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
	1024-by-768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi)
	Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Chip	Dual-core A5
FaceTime HD Camera	Same as Ipad 4th Gen
iSight Camera	Same as Ipad 4th Gen
Video Recording	Same as Ipad 4th Gen
Battery	Built-in 16.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
	Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
	Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network (3G Model only)
	Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
I/O	Lightning connector
	3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack
	Built-in speaker
	Microphone
	Nano-SIM card tray (3G model only)
Sensors	Three-axis gyro
	Accelerometer
	Ambient light sensor

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MAC MINI
Dimensions	Height: 1.4 inches (3.6 cm)
	Width: 7.7 inches (19.7 cm)
	Depth: 7.7 inches (19.7 cm)
	Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg)
Price	$599	$799
Processor	2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 processor	2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 processor
Storage	500 GB Hard Drive	256 GB SSD or 1 TB Fusion Drive
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4000
Memory	4GB (1600 MHz DDR3)
Video Support	Thunderbolt digital video output
	Native Mini DisplayPort output
	DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (sold separately)
	VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
	Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)
Audio	Audio line in minijack (digital/analog)
	Audio line out/headphone minijack (digital/analog)
	HDMI port supports multichannel audio output
	Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone
	Built-in speaker
Ports	Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps)
	FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
	Four USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
	HDMI port
	SDXC card slot
	Gigabit Ethernet port
	Audio in/out
	IR receiver
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
	Bluetooth 4.0
	Ethernet 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
Operating System	OS X Mountain Lion

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13- INCH MACBOOK PRO with RETINA DISPLAY
Display	Retina display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
	2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
	Scaled resolutions: 1680 by 1050, 1440 by 900, and 1024 by 640 pixels
Price	$1,699	$1,999
Processor	2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache	2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache
Memory	8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L onboard memory
Storage	128 GB (Configurable to 256GB, 512GB, or 768GB flash storage)	256GB (Configurable to 512GB or 768GB flash storage)
Dimensions	Height: 0.75 inch (1.9 cm)
	Width: 12.35 inches (31.4 cm)
	Depth: 8.62 inches (21.9 cm)
	Weight: 3.57 pounds (1.62 kg)
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4000
Video Connections	Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on up to two external displays, at millions of colors
	Native Mini DisplayPort output
	DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (sold separately)
	VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
	Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)
Camera	720p FaceTime HD camera
Ports	MagSafe 2 power port
	Two Thunderbolt ports (up to 10 Gbps)
	Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
	HDMI port
	Headphone port
	SDXC card slot
	Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter (sold separately)
	Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (sold separately)
Wireless	802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking, IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
	Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
Audio	Stereo speakers
	Dual microphones
	Headphone port
Battery	Up to 7 hours wireless web
	Up to 30 days standby time
	Built-in 74-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
	60W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter with cable management system; MagSafe 2 power port

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So which Apple product are you eyeing for Christmas? Tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also find TFL on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus or if you're feeling patriotic, subscribe to The Filipino Lifestyle Blog for other Filipino lifestyle related stories.

Hello everyone. The tech world is once again buzzing with news tidbits, rumours and leakages especially now that the big three are preparing their respective events for this month to announce their latest goodies just in time for thanksgiving and of course cyber Monday. So in this week’s edition of Tech Tuesdays on TFL, we’ll be talking about the big three – Apple, Microsoft and Google and the events that they will be hosting in the coming days.

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HOST: Apple

DATE: October 23, 2012

VENUE: California Theatre, San Jose, California

What to Expect: Apple’s event tomorrow will likely feature the announcement of either the 13-inch MacBook Pro with retina display or the iPad mini which most people would probably expect. For several weeks now, numerous rumours and leaked images of parts and components of the alleged iPad mini has surfaced on the Internet which made the announcement of the device even more sensational.

Based on reports, the iPad mini will have a 7.85-inch screen, 3G and 4G cellular connectivity, at least 8GB of internal storage, a lightning connector, a battery rated at 4490mAh and will run iOS6. Prices are expected to start at $320.

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HOST: Microsoft

DATE: October 26, 2012

VENUE: New York City

What to Expect: Microsoft has sent out invites for its October 26 event in NYC where it will be officially announcing the launch of Windows 8 and probably Windows RT. The launch was already announced back in September by Microsoft’s Head of Windows Steven Sinofsky.

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HOST: Google

DATE: October 29, 2012

VENUE: New York City

What to Expect: Google is expected to announce the much anticipated next generation Nexus phone created by LG. Dubbed as the Nexus 4, the device is based on LG’s Optimus G and will feature a 4.75-inch IPS+ panel, a 1.5GHz quadcore processor – Qualcomm’s APQ8064 Snapdragon chip with at least 2GB of RAM. It will also most likely run on Android 4.2 which was first believed to be called Key Lime Pie.

Aside from the Nexus 4, Google is also expected to announce two new version of the Nexus 7, including the previously leaked 32GB version with 3G HSPA+.

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So are you excited with these events? If you are, then you’re definitely not alone. Which device are you most excited about? Tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus or better yet, subscribe to our blog for more Filipino Lifestyle stories.

If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, then you’ve probably heard or played one or two games from Tapulous. The company’s highly successful Tap Tap series of music games has long been a staple of any iOS device due to its entertaining gameplay paired with a wide variety of music choices.

And to cater to users with specific preferences when it comes to music, Tapulous has created several artist oriented versions from the likes of Nine inch nails, Dave Matthews Band, Metallica, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga to name a few. And recently, the game developer has added a new title in its collection.

Fox’s hit musical TV series Glee is the newest member of the Tap Tap family. Tap Tap Glee makes use of the same tap-the-button-when-the-dots-hit-the-mark gameplay but with music from the series as the background. It’s currently available on the Apple App store for free, so we decided to take it for a spin to see if it has what it takes to take on the Tap Tap name.

WHAT’s FAMILIAR?

In true Tapulous fashion, Tap Tap Glee utilizes the same mechanics as other games that have come before it. That is, you tap a set of three buttons at the lower portion of the screen at exactly the same time a dot/ball hits it. The dots fall on the screen in a rhythmic patter that follows the melody of the song that is currently playing.

There are four difficulty levels available for each game (easy, average, hard and extreme). And you’re score is measured in terms of accuracy and the number of dots you were able to hit. It can also be synced with your game center account and post your scores online.

Bonus balls can also be collected, which can later be used to enter a special mode wherein you can gain more points per tapped ball.

WHAT’s NEW and DIFFERENT?

Unlike other Tap Tap games in the past, Tap Tap Glee adds more features into the franchise making use of Glee’s massive multimedia content which include not only songs, but videos, character bios and news articles.

There’s even a social network dedicated for the app which lets users choose if they want to be a jock or gleek. Those who chose to be a gleek or a jock can then connect with other users of the app who chose the same group. The app also features a video aggregator that shows users a collection of the newest and featured videos about the series.

And on top of that, Tap Tap Glee features a yearbook section that details the character biography of the cast. There’s also a news section you can visit to get the freshest dibs and announcements from the show’s creators and cast.

WHAT’s GOOD AND BAD?

The one thing that we like about this game is that it remained true to the Tap Tap game tradition. It’s simple to use and its packs a small footprint in your device’s resources. The gameplay is practically identical with past versions and most importantly, it’s free.

The downside is that you’re left with a limited amount of songs to play upon download. You can increase this number by waiting for a song to be offered in the store for free, or buy songs from the store which you can purchase using your itunes account or by exchanging credits, which you can earn by signing up for special offers and subscriptions.

WHAT’s THE VERDICT?

Tap Tap Glee is not your typical music game from Tapulous. Although its gameplay is exactly the same as other versions of the game in the franchise, the game doesn’t feel as if it was created because Tapulous needed a new game to sell, but rather, it feels like the game was commissioned by FOX themselves to add to the Glee franchise.

Having said this, we feel that the app would appeal more to fans of GLEE than fans of the Tap Tap Game franchise. So if you’re fans of Lea Michelle, Cory Monteith and the rest of the cast of the show, Tap Tap Glee will really be a good addition to your collection of GLEE memorabilia, otherwise, the app would pass for a great way to kill the time and be entertained.

The first part of the year is now over and gadget manufacturers have already hinted if not already released to the public their new products and technologies. And as we usher in the second half of the year, let’s take note of a few things that will probably be the trend in the IT world in the months to come.

TABLETS

Tablets have obviously swept the market by storm, especially now that other players and platforms have entered the battle field. Apple, with its iPad, is no longer the lone player in the tablet industry. Android OS has made it possible for other manufacturers to join the race in producing the best tablet for consumers. So far, Asus, with its Transformer Prime line and the recently announced Google Nexus 7 brought us the best droid tablets in this market segment.

Microsoft’s hand is also already in the ring. Their upcoming Windows Surface tablet which will run the latest version of Windows will ship before this year ends. Amazon is also rumoured to announce a new Kindle Fire, while an iPad mini is reportedly in the works.

ULTRABOOKS

Intel’s Ivy bridge processors have made it possible to cram incredible amounts of computing power in small form factor devices. Ultrabooks are probably the best example of the application of this technology.

As of now, almost every known PC manufacturer has announced or released an ultrabook. Prices have also been observed to slowly drop as more and more ultrabooks are made.

ILC (INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERAS)

The little but not necessarily less powerful brother of the DSLR camera is slowly gaining popularity among professional and sub-professional photographers. Their less bulky bodies make ILC units make them handier and easier to handle compared to the beefier DSRLs.

Sony and Olympus were the pioneers in this market, but other brands, such as Canon, Nikon and Panasonic have their own offerings as well.

SMARTPHONES

Smartphone use and ownership will probably increase even further this year as consumers are treated with more price flexible array of smartphones. Android phones for example have now entry-level units that can fit people with tight budgets.

Hardware specifications are also likely to improve in the future. Entry level phones nowadays, have specs that are worthy for a mid-range phone from last year. Multi-core phones will also likely become a norm in smart phones especially with SoC manufacturers like Intel, Qualcomm and Nvidia are working hard to bring to consumers the best mobile experience.

Battery capacity for smartphones is also looking good in the future. Higher capacity batteries like that of the 2500mAh battery of the Lenovo P700 and that of the Philips W732 smartphone are leading the way for phones with longer battery life.

CLOUD SERVICES

Cloud services are not something new, but it was only late last year that the technology has been commercialized. The convenience of having your data available on any device at any time has made the technology really popular especially in this age of seamless data transfer.

Cloud services like Apple’s iCloud, Asus’s WebStorage, Google’s Google Drive, Microsoft’s Sky Drive and Drop Box are all readily available on smartphones and computers. And this year, we’re also seeing that their capacity is slowly increasing and their features improving.

And these are the things that we should look forward to in the months to come. Whether or not they become a hit to people, is still a question if something new and better will come our way. But for now, all the signs are pointing to a bright future. J

Tablets such as those from Apple, RIM and Google have slowly but surely become a household item these days. Although faced with scepticism at first, sales of these tablets are now on its all-time high. Directly proportional to this sales stats are the number of apps that are available for download for these devices.

However, a lot of people don’t know that there are apps and games readily available for download that are made by Filipinos. And even less people know that some of these games were designed to reflect the culture and lifestyle found in the Philippines. A good example of such game is Grillin’ Pablo.

Fortunately, Icannhas, the developer of Grillin’ Pablo, was generous enough to give me a copy of the game. So, After a few days of fiddling with the game, here’s what I have to say about it.

THE STORY BEHIND THE GAME

The opening credits of the game reveal the storyline that the game follows. That is, you play the role of Pablo’s childhood friend who vows to take revenge on him for humiliating you when you were still young. 

A few years later, Pablo is now a street food vendor and you plan to settle your score with him by building your own food cart business and giving him a run for his money. Set on Sunnyvale – a fictional neighbourhood, your goal is to cook an array of street foods, from fish balls to isaw, in order to “Grill” Pablo and (possibly) push him to bankruptcy.

GAMEPLAY

Grillin’ Pablo is your typical management game but with a Filipino flavour. Players start off with the basic cooking equipment (a grill) and one food item (isaw). The goal is to serve as many customers as possible within a given time frame without disappointing them. Each customer then pays you coins of a specific amount based on what kind and how many items they received. These coins in return are used to purchase items and allow you to cook more items for incoming buyers.

As you progress along the game and as you amass more coins, you will be able to buy upgrades to your food cart and additional food items that have higher coin return values. Just like any other time management games, there is a goal in terms of the number of coins you have to collect for each round in order to proceed to the next level. If you exceed this goal, you get bonus points for that round, while failure to meet the goal would mean that you have to redo that level.

WHAT’S NICE

As I said earlier, Grillin’ Pablo is a time management game with a Filipino twist, and as such, it features a lot of things related to Filipino culture. For starters, you get to sell your favourite street foods, like isaw, fish balls and gulaman.

Furthermore, the customers featured in the game reflect a lot of Pinoy traits and characteristics. There’s a boy next door student, a serious professor that makes the students anxious, a jogger who just wants to quench his thirst and a social climber female student are some of the characters one will meet while playing the game.

And if that’s not enough, there’s even a robber if you take too much time before collecting the customer’s payments. In terms of visuals and sound, the game offers average to above average graphics, which is to be expected in this game genre.  Music and sound are average, with the polyphonic background music providing that much needed accompaniment tune.

WHAT NEEDS SOME WORK

There are actually only two things that I didn’t quite like about Grillin’ Pablo. First is that the game seems to be suffering from a mild case of identity crisis. The indeed has major Filipino influences, but the stages in the game, like Sunnyville and Schmell Academy sounds a little bit foreign. Malls and movie houses like the Tyna Malls and DreamBig Cinemas stages also aren’t really places where you’d find a roving food cart that sells isaw and fish balls right?

I’d probably understand the foreign influence in the game if they are also targeting non-Filipino iPad users, but  if that’s the case, then I don’t know why the developers decided to put that weird voice-over before each level that says: “Hoy! Magluto ka na”. I mean, if they’re targeting a more diverse audience, wouldn’t English be a better choice?

The second thing that I think needs some work in the game is the controls. For a time management game, dragging items around the screen isn’t really a time saving way of playing the game. It also makes it difficult to see incoming customers especially if your hand is blocking the view while you’re putting sauce in an isaw you just cooked. Maybe future updates can make use of tapping rather than dragging items across the screen.

FINAL WORDS

The world of app development is indeed very competitive. With lots of players in the market and various game genres to choose from it’s very easy to get lost in the mix. However, it’s very nice to know that there are still Filipino players in the brutal battlefield of apps.

Icannhas’s Grillin’ Pablo might not be the perfect app but it sure does what it’s supposed to do. Yes, there are some things that its developers may need to improve in future updates of the game, but all in all, it is quite an enjoyable experience playing the game.

For players who want that action-packed scenes and gameplay, visually stunning graphics  and deep storylines in their games, this app might not be for you. But if you’re the kind of casual gamer who just wants to kill some time, or if you’ve been a big fan of games like Cake Mania and Dinner Dash, or better yet, if you’re feeling patriotic and wants to try out some proudly Pinoy-made apps, then Grillin’ Pablo would be perfect. And at $0.99 in the Apple Appstore, it's one sweet deal for a great app.

GAME RATING: 4 out of 5