Goodbye, Globe UNLITXT
December is the busiest month in the Philippines. Communicating with our loved ones during Christmas season is common since almost all Filipinos had mobile phones. Many Filipinos were using the UNLITXT service because it was easy on the budget. The service was available for prepaid subscribers and avail it for as low as php20 a day, php40 for 2 days and php80 for 5 days.
As far as I remember, it was used to be php15 a day, php25 for 2 days and 50 for 5 days last year. The said telecoms had increased their rate without notice to prepaid subscribers last year. Many subscribers complained to National Telecommunication Commission for the said telecoms actions, changing their rates without notice to subscribers. Many had petitioned to rollback their rates. So bad that whatever petition we made, nothing happened. They’ve even released TV and print advertisement to announced that UNLIMITXT (the old name service) announcing that UNLITXT service will remain for life? for good.
What happened now to their promise? Nothing happened to the petition because all along we thought the service will remain for good. The Globe Telecoms is a big fish in the telecommunication business, they can do whatever they want, whenever they want. Did they forgot the word “consideration”… considering it is Christmas season.
I was on my way to Christmas party of my clanmates last Saturday (my mobile co-bloggers) and tried registering for the service. And I’ve received this:
Sorry the UNLITXT ALL DAY txt promo ended. Try SULITXT 15! P15 for 100 Globe-to-Globe txts. Txt SULITXT 15 to 2868. DTI #3634’07.TilJan31. Valid for 1 day. Also for P15 enjoy Unlitxt Day txting bet. 8am-4:59PM for P15 by texting UNLITXTD15 to 2870.DTI#4899’07.Til Jan14. Both services require MinP1balance to register. Sulitxt 15 open to pre-paid subscribers only while Unlitxt Day is open to both pre and post-paid subs.
My clanmates were thinking of buying another competitor’s prepaid sim. We’re not happy with them anymore. The said company had a very good timing of doing this.
UPDATE 12.20.07: Globe Telecoms brought back UNLITXT20. The promo is until January 20 next year. My friend ito54joni confirmed this to me.
Why Moblog?
In the Philippines, moblog or moblogging are provided by the leading mobile network providers such as Globe and Smart Telecoms. There is an estimated of 40 million mobile phone users to date out of estimated population of 80 million Filipinos.
As of this time, there are 41,144 moblogs registered to G-blogs. I doubt if all of them are active in mobile blogging since there are many bloggers stopped updating their blogs, including me and some bloggers I know. Why?
There are many reasons why people blog, there are many kinds of bloggers as well. I blog because it was sort of my daily diary, rambling about anything I observed and experienced from my daily life. It was sort of an outlet from my stressful life. Until I got interested on mobile ebooks. I’ve learned, shared and moblog about mobile ebooks. There were times that I became feature blogger. Traffic! That time, I don’t care about traffic simply because I don’t want to get noticed by moblog hackers. My moblog had been hacked many times by hackers who wanted to be popular. I’ve emailed my network provider, requested not to feature my blog anymore citing my reasons.
After three years of regular moblogging, I woke up one morning feeling tired and exhausted of moblog. What do I get from moblog? Lots of friends and the good feeling that I’ve helped unselfishly. But I’m not contented with my network provider’s services. There are still many rooms for their improvement and I can’t stay waiting for such.
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Photo eBook by mjBook
mjBook is a freeware software intended for java eBook conversion, another feature of this software is the digital photo eBook java conversion which I’ve tried now. The output digital album is also in jar or java format just like the ebook converted by mjBook. Again, java files are standalone files, meaning that you don’t need extra application to view it on your mobile device. Just transfer the file to your mobile phone and install it.
- Open mjBook software, click “Photo Book Gallery”
- Input your book name, the phone screen resolution ( I use 176*208 for my Nokia 6630)
- Add images, change the photo sequence by clicking up or down
- Add the png format image for your splash screen and icon (optional)
- Click start
So far, the problem I’ve encountered is the preview for phone screen resolution. The added image doesn’t show there. Also, I don’t think that a background color option is important because it doesn’t show on the converted file.
I’ve used different image resolution on my first try, I don’t like the result. Small resolution images resulted to white background color, that’s why I’ve mentioned above that the background color setting is not important. Different resolution images on your photo book will make other images too small or too big for your screen. Lets consider also the file size of the output photo album, it will end up too large.
Here’s the two-in-one solution for image resolution and large file size. I’ve used Alon Screencapture application to have the screenshots of the images on full screen. You can also use FExplorer or any mobile application that serves the same purpose. Screenshots will give you the exact resolution of your phone with a smaller file size. It is recommended especially if you want to add many images on your Photo eBook. After gathering the screenshots, transfer the files to your computer and you’re ready to convert your Photo eBook.
How to exit Photo eBook on 6630? Press 1 or 3 0r 7 or 9 — click option then exit.
Make Your Dictionary Handy
A dictionary is almost the same with the bible that comes with many pages. I’m talking about the real dictionary, smaller dictionary means lesser word files. Would a student bring a dictionary at school nowadays? I guess not! So lets make it handy then.
Featuring the latest version of MobiSystem MSDict v4.1, I’ve been using the older version MSDict v4.0 for quite sometime. I’ve just installed the latest version now. Actually, as of the moment, using the latest version, I can’t find what’s new with the new version. Anyway, I’ve never tried using any other mobile Dictionary before but the feature I like with MSDict is you can send the word meaning via SMS/MMS to your contacts. On my 6630, click 0 or “zero key”, click “pen key” then navigate your cursor, then click “copy”. Open messaging, paste it to SMS/MMS, then send. Voila!
For First Time Users:
The MSDict 4.1 application was included with MSDict Professional Dictionary Bundle, together with pdb installer files such as Synonymous, Irregular Verbs, English Pro, English Phrases, Acronymic and a pdf help file. You can download the trial version here.
- After downloading the file, read the MSDictViewer_Series60.pdf first or proceed to next step
- Transfer the sis files to your phone
- Install first the MSDict.sis, then the other sis files
Note: The dictionary files are installer files or sis files, it will automatically made the correct destination/folder of files on your memory card. When transferring these files via bluetooth, make sure that you have set your messaging memory in use to your memory card. The complete bundle is 6.4mb+.
For those who already have the older version, you can click here for version upgrade.
For those who already have the pdb dictionary files for some reason. The right destination of these pdb files is E:\Documents\MSdict , if you don’t have it, make a subfolder of Documents and name it as MSdict. You can use FExplorer v1.17 for doing this or your built in file manager. The MSDict will then recognize the pdb files as dictionary files and you will see it already upon opening the MSDict application.
Compatible Devices:
Nokia 3230, N6260, N6600, N6620, N6630, N6670, N6680, N6681, N6682, N7610, N70, N72, N90, Panasonic X700, Panasonic X800, Samsung SGH-D720, Samsung SGH-D730
Online Mobile eBook Reading
Speaking of online eBook reading, first you should have a proper connection settings. Options to have a proper configurations:
- Go to your phone’s manufacturer’s website
- Call your network provider and request for “over the air” configuration
- Install an application that automatically configures your settings
I’m using Settings Wizard for my configurations. In my country, GPRS connection is common to prepaid and postpaid subcribers but not the internet connection to prepaid subscribers. It depends if you’re using an old sim card, this is a gossip from my mobile blog friends that new simcards available now are not internet capable. I guess its true, its really hard to find one nowadays. It doesn’t matter if you have the right configurations, its with your network provider’s simcard. I am among the lucky ones, I still prefer to used a prepaid simcard to control my connection cost. Anyway, why am I talking about mobile internet connections here?
I’ve tried wattpad mobile application last week on my 6630. The application doesn’t work on my 6630, I always have the “Error, Invalid GZIP format” or sometimes “error” prompt. I’ve tried it on GPRS and inet connection, both with same results. I’ve used Opera browser instead using internet connection and access their website, it works fine except for the connection charges. I do not prefer to read my ebooks online whether on mobile or on the net.
Wattpad do have a list of eBooks submitted by members. There are 3 ways to read their eBooks:
- Go to their site using the wattpad reader on your phone and read it online (If their application is Ok with your phone’s connection) or download it for offline reading.
- Go to their website using a computer, register and download jar or jad file, then install it to your mobile phone.
- Go to their website, copy the text file, paste it to notepad (its in txt format, convert it to whatever format you want), then transfer it to your phone.
Note: The wattpad application is for online mobile ebook reading. You don’t need it anymore if you prefer to download their java eBook files.
