Toral Family enters Granado Espada

Finally, I got the chance to pick up the CD yesterday and join the close beta of Granado Espada. There's at least five of us in the family who agreed playing alternately with the intent of fully exploiting the game.

When preparing for this game, one of the concerns that we had is our Internet connection. Good thing I'm testing Globe 3G at this time using the Huawei E220 USB modem. So far, we've been playing well using this as our primary Internet connection.

As far as Granado Espada is concern, day 1, we've learned the following:

• It is a challenge to play with it due to numerous controls.


• As we're just starting, it will take some time to master what each character is capable of. So far we're playing elementalist, wizard, and fighter.


• The fun thing about it is that it is easy to move or level up.


• There are also items that can be found to heal yourself while playing.


• On some dungeons, it is best to partner with other players as the opponents are very strong.

More updates on this one next time. The kids are playing! We're now level 15!

To go 3G/HSDPA or wait longer?

Last month, my quest in evaluating the ideal 3G mobile broadband started and even took the testing further in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, and Manila. The whole experience even got several of my friends getting their own subscription, like Abby.

Before I finished my testing, I still have a desire to do two more test. One for the Flybook V33i 3G HSDPA / Mobile Broadband and the Samsung SGH-Z560.

Since last week, I'm back to my old PLDT WeRoam 2G. Surprisingly, all the connection problems and slowness that I've encountered in the last two months are gone and surfing has been a breeze.

Related reading:
Wireless Internet Revolution in the Philippines
3G in the Philippines

Globe 3G Mobile Broadband vs. PLDT WeRoam 3G

I'm currently doing an evaluation on Globe 3G Mobile Broadband HSDPA and PLDTWeRoam's 3G service. What triggered this is my anxious need to upgrade my current PLDTWeRoam 2G (GPRS/EDGE).

Like most wireless services, there are areas where one has better connection over the other. However, as the service is pretty much new, Globe's 3G Mobile Broadband HSDPA is seen to be performing better and much reliable in terms of connectivity.

Although PLDT WeRoam's 3G service is fast, I still get more instance of hiccups in terms of connection. At times, this makes me really wonder on the difference between my PLDT WeRoam 2G and this new 3G model.

What I am excited about this new services is that uploading of files is pretty much faster. As I am into podcasting, transmitting audio files can be quite a pain should you have slow connection. If you have the resources, it is only practical to get both cards. Perhaps sign up the first as an unlimited Internet use card while the other can be on a pay-per-use subscription. With both cards, the flexibility to switch between one connection to another is very valuable. No productive time is lost. No time to waste in complaining either.

Globe Blues: G-Blog Spam, Forgotten Username, Missing eLoad

For the past few weeks, I've been getting a message from 281510 in my Globe prepaid phone notifying me of an anonymous message that I can download.

Yesterday, this entered my phone no less than 20 times. Worst, it violated NTC anti-text spam order that all message notifications should have an opt-out option.

Good thing a lady from Globe called me about Visibility and can't help but brought up this predicament. She advised me call 211. I did call but the person on the other line does not seem to recognize this 281510 service. I read through the message that gave instruction on how to access the message and instructed to be send to 2815.

Via Google, I found out that this is the G-Blog service. It seems this blog I created back in 2004 had 1 message in it offering phone sex. I can't login as the mobile number is no longer the user name for it in that site and in MyGlobe. Called 211 again and was advised to send an ALERT Off message to 2815. So far, it stopped.

Now, I have to call back again after 5 days to find out how can I deactivate my or reset my password in MyGlobe and G-Blog as I can't recall both username and password that I used there. This is in addition to my Missing eLoad predicament that not only happened once, but TWICE! (October 2 and 23)

I'm blue... :'(