What a Difference a Year Makes August 13, 2008
Posted by tonyulo in : HDTV, Technology , add a commentJust a quick post. It’s been over a year since I last posted, and there have been significant changes in the HDTV market that it’s worth mentioning here.
Here are the most interesting tidbits:
- 32-inch LCD screens are almost the same price as the US. (Average price is PhP30,000 = $800; though if you factor in shipping and taxes, it comes out the same, I think)
- Blu-ray won. Though Blu-ray content is still not available in your average music/video store. And those fake ones from your suking tiangge don’t count.
- If you do want Blu-ray, the PS3 is still the cheapest Blu-ray player around. The problem is, you still have to deal with region coding for your movie content.
- 1080p upscaling DVD players are available, average price PhP5,500. And you can choose either branded players (like Philips and the like), or the China-made players (like Next Base).
- HDMI cables are available at CDR King for about PhP300 for 2 meters. (On a side note, I don’t know how CDR King gets such cheap prices!)
So keep these things in mind when buying stuff for your home theater system. That’s assuming that you still have disposable income for luxuries because of the oil crisis, of course. 
Hong Kong Musings June 12, 2007
Posted by tonyulo in : Technology, Video Games , add a comment
On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I went about my usual agenda — namely, eating and gadget shopping.
One of my regular stops in Hong Kong is the Golden Computer Centre in the Sham Shui Po area. For the uninitiated, this is one of the meccas for anyone who is into computers, gadgets, cameras, and video games. It can be a daunting place for first-time shoppers, because not only does the place feel like a larger, more-cramped Greenhills/MCS, but you’re never certain the shopkeeper you talk to can speak English!
It helps a lot if you’re an experienced technology shopper, and you’ve done your homework. You can recognize the different gadgets strewn about, despite the Chinese-only descriptions. You’ll find deals that will save you hundreds or thousands of pesos, or gadgets that are very hard to find in the Philippine market. (more…)
I want my HDTV!: a primer on HD flat-panel TVs April 27, 2007
Posted by tonyulo in : HDTV, Technology , 3comments
I’ve been visiting a bunch of appliance & electronic stores, drooling over flat-panel TVs. Aside from my retail visits, I’ve also been doing my research online, gathering as much information as possible about HDTV — after all, I want to be prepared, as this will be a significant investment! Is it time to buy one now? (more…)
Change is Good March 12, 2007
Posted by tonyulo in : General , add a commentThe next year is sure to have a ton of changes for me, both personally and professionally. So it seems only apt that Yuloland goes through some changes, too! Check back to see the changes I’ll make.