Christmas With Great Connections

Not a grinch!

It's Christmas and there are parties left and right. My last count is around 15 just this month and that doesn't even include the ones that I attended outside my family. That means I have a LOT to be thankful for and that includes YOU reading this stuff. Don't even think you're not important. Now I received 2 gifts this month that surprised me because honestly, I didn't know I would need it at an opportune time. At home, I do have a PLDT line that I use for my gadgets and other internet enabled devices. I need some of them online 24/7 for security and remote management because it's just not a good thing if I don't keep watch of people at home, including the guests we have who also use our home network.

I think the luck gods and goddesses heard me when I pleaded for solutions. You see, my connection is just enough for the devices that I have at home. When a guest requests for connections and other things that they may do for their internet needs, I give them access to a separate network but it still uses the bandwidth I have at home. I still need to function and the other devices to work but I received 2 gifts just the other week. A friend gave us a brand new Smart Bro Prepaid LTE Home Wifi device, then in a Christmas party I attended, I won another one from a raffle (Thank you LionheartTV and Smart!). So now I have two of these.

You see, this device isn't just a thing that I'd be able to install at home. It's also a router which means I could use it for multiple devices if I needed to. So I took some of my devices from my existing network and used this instead. What does that mean? My guests would be able to use my network with ease, while I use this one to get me faster download and upload speeds because it's on Smart's LTE network. This thing is 700MHz LTE ready which means I'll be enjoying the connection even indoors. Now what do I do to set it up? NOTHING, because all you need to do is just plug it in and connect. Here's what it looks like inside the box.

So you have the box, the unit, the manual, the quick install guide, the warranty pamphlet, the ethernet cable, power cable and the two plastic stands (if you prefer your device standing up).

I took it out, it's quite small so you can actually take this on your luggage when you travel.

Plugged it in and turned on the ON switch on the side. You can access it two ways, one is wired (with the ethernet cable provided) or connect to the wireless network (commonly labeled properly with Smart Bro prefix).

Go to your WIFI settings on your phone and connect to the network, use the default wifi password smartbro on lowercase letters.

This device looks for he best signal, so make sure you place it on a location where the signal turns BLUE. If it turns RED, then you're getting very minimal signal (when it blinks check if the SIM card is there!). As for the speed, it's completely lovely where I am. I could upload videos at my home usually an hour for a few minutes worth on Youtube, but when I used the Smart Bro Prepaid LTE Home Wifi, it took me even shorter minutes than the actual video (a mere 2-3 minutes for a 5 minute worth video). If that doesn't impress you and your friends, I don't know what will. Oh and the whole thing can be customized just by logging in on www.smartbrosettings.net on your browser. That's also where you will load it up, receive texts and modify the network name and WIFI password. It's easy to save that in a different one for more security.

The good news is that Smart Bro Prepaid also has a new promo called Home Boost 15. It's the value-packed add-on to Smart's existing Giga Surf 50 promo. It's the BEST DEAL especially for heavy data users like me. If you're into downloading apps, movies, music, video or are content creators, I suggest you get this on top of the Giga Surf 50 you always subscribe to. Now there's no more worries if you're watching iFlix on cold nights like today. What's even better is that this already comes with free 10GB of data valid for 7 days. You'll also save a lot too because apart from those promos, you'll only be spending around P15 for 1GB, have it monitored like a hawk on the device interface too. You'll be in control and avoid bill shock where that happens.

Now you don't have to hog on your own bandwidth and internet connection because once you get it fast like mine, you'll have MORE time to use for celebrations, reunions and talk with your family. It's these connections that count the most, because as far as I'm concerned THIS IS PRICELESS. Now go out and make memories out there, have a happy Christmas!

For those who would like to know more about the Smart Bro Prepaid LTE Home Wifi, visit www.smart.com.ph/homehelp or call 8881111 or dial *888 on your Smart mobile phones. This only costs Php 1995.00 (available via store.smart.com.ph), you can also go to Smart centers nationwide!

Now that you've got this on your list of gifts to families, let's all connect like never before this Christmas! How about that?!

Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice

If you're still asking yourself about watching or not watching Batman vs Superman, then you're crazy. This installment has been ridiculed and battered in reviews, but I beg to disagree. For me, it's quite good. There are some flaws, but it's negligible considering how big this undertaking is. I mean, if you're going to tell a story about the two biggest heroes in DC Universe. I'm a big fan of the bat, but it doesn't cloud my judgement on how a movie is. It was good, if you don't trust the ratings, you should take it from the fans and how it's doing well in the movie houses. Just take a look at the advanced screening I attended courtesy of Smart. They even asked us to choose sides.

I'd stick with my alter ego. There were a few lapses in the fight scenes, but I assure you Henry Cavill was a good Superman. Ben Affleck isn't my first choice for the bat, but he's quite charming. Gal Gadot is flawless and I can't wait to see her own movie. Jesse Eisenberg is another flaw, you can't really detach him from his other roles in the past, that's why he's hated by most of the people who watched it. Other stars like Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Callan Mulvey, Tao Okamoto, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane are integral parts of the story. It's good. This is Directed by Zack Snyder, who apparently didn't get the nod on story telling. A fan should have done this I suppose. It's showing now on theaters and YOU should never miss it for the world or the reviews.

Thanks to Smart who got is to watch it last week! It was AWESOME!

For more information about their promos:

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Connected and Happy with Smart Big Bytes 50

Looking at the vast Manila bay a couple of days ago felt so good while I was covering some events down south. It felt like there was always good news after this majestic view of the surrounding waters in Mall of Asia. I wasn't feeling alone at that time because I was still connected to the Internet as I was updating my blog and uploading Youtube  videos since the LTE signal was quite strong there. 

Good thing Smart just came out with a great BIG BYTES 50 offer where they just doubled the data allowance up to 700 MB plus 600 MB MORE for Youtube, tons of movies and shows from iFlix and your network and internet mobile connection. This is only going to be on for a few days as it's very limited, so if you're not yet subscribed, go text BIG50 to 9999. Take advantage of it if you're in a Smart Prepaid line. I mean, we're given all these promos and we just have to make sure we're subscribed to the ones that can make us save money. That simple.

As for me, I'll enjoy this view, my cake and coffee, and still connect to the internet when I need it, wherever that may be. 

KUMAGCOW

Fresh Blogs Fast!

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New Year, New Smartphone: The MyPhone My28 from Smart!

Starting the year with a crazy offer is our lovely friends from SMART. What do I mean?

It's a really good smartphone, a MyPhone My28 that they're offering for only Php 888.00. Nope they're not joking and it's only a one time fee! They're also throwing in a Smart Prepaid SIM bundled with a one year free data up to a 100MB per month. If that ain't cool, they're also giving you 7 days of FREE Facebook, Twitter, Viber and a rebate of P30 if you load up P100 minimum. Isn't that crazy?

More crazy because in the MyPhone website it actually costs almost Php 2K, Smart is offering this though for only Php 888.00 and is only exclusive on this awesome network. If you think about it, the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS, the Spreadtrum SC7731 chipset, the 1.2GHz Quad-Core Processor, 8GB internal storage and Dual SIM capability can't be matched hardware wise at this price point. You also have iFlix and Spinnr pre loaded so you don't have to waste your precious MB's for downloading them. It's super affordable, then you have all the perks that comes with the Smart Prepaid connection, how can you beat that?

You just can't, you just can't *SMH in disbelief*. All you need to do now is hurry and go to http://smart.com.ph/smartphonekit and get one now! It's like a late Christmas gift waiting to happen OMG! This is the real #SmartPhoneForAll!

For more information about their latest offer:

Smart Communications

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Smart Jump In Dance Off 3 Winners and James Reid

Pasil Elementary School, CSA Makati and PUP are the CHAMPIONS of #SmartJumpInDanceOff3 congratulations!

It was fun, it was exciting and it was grand. I couldn't even accurately describe what I saw earlier at the Smart Jump In Dance Off 3 held in Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

This year, they've got about 25 teams who came from different parts of the country to vie for the finals round of the Grade School, High School and College divisions. I had my bets, especially the regional ones which had really good production value. I also was expecting some of them to have placed higher but I also agree in the judges decision. They might have some technical things looked at which is probably different from an ordinary spectators point of view. These guys, gals and everything in between are very skilled. I could tell some of them probably didn't have any sleep and perhaps some of them also chose to practice outside the Araneta Coliseum lobby instead of just relaxing in the bleachers before the show.

They traveled far just to make it to this round and it would be disappointing if they didn't give their best. Though from what we saw that evening, they had fun, they gave it their all, and it would already be an honor to be with the best mega crews in the country. Thanks to Smart for getting these teams a venue to show what they've got. Now the Philippines, soon the world!

The Smart Jump In Dance Off 3
Posted by Kumagcow on Saturday, October 31, 2015

This was the introduction of the schools, it was a grand number and I didn't get to take videos of the Grade School and High School anymore because of storage in my phone. But you can tell how excited we were seeing these schools work together in one number. 

Grabe tong GFORCE! #SmartJumpInDanceOff3
Posted by Kumagcow on Saturday, October 31, 2015

I like the rest of the people in Smart Araneta Coliseum just totally lost it when GFORCE did their thing on the dance floor. They're definitely world class! How I wish I saw their gig with Yanis Marshall when he was here.

SMART Jump In Dance Off 3 Grade School Finals
Posted by Kumagcow on Saturday, October 31, 2015

During the Grade School Finals, Pasil Elementary School took the championship with their spectacular Ninja inspired hiphop, crumping and acrobatics concept. Skill wise, you could see the difference of their performance compared with the other schools. I even forgot they were just in Elementary because from where we were sitting, they looked like veterans.

SMART Jump In Dance Off 3 High School Finals
Posted by Kumagcow on Saturday, October 31, 2015

The Highschool Finals was equally exciting. This time, CSA Makati took home the Championship in this category. They invested heavily in precise moves, cohesiveness and doing it like they've done it a hundred times on stage. I was rooting for La Salle Greenhills though which got First Runner Up.

SMART Jump In Dance Off 3 College Finals
Posted by Kumagcow on Saturday, October 31, 2015

The college finals was equally competitive. I think UPLB expected to win but the last performer PUP did a spectacular job to take the crown. They all did good, but dance is a judged sport so aside from the text votes which comprise 10% of the votes, it's up to the judges to see who's going to win.

Meanwhile for those waiting for James Reid, they went ballistic when he came out of the backstage. Here's his performance of What Do You Mean and his dance of Sweet Love by Chris Brown. I think he did his best here because his audience were mostly dancers. He was super cool, and super hot at the same time! Ladies were screaming, I couldn't even get the audio right because of that.

The Smart and UBER Partnership

Everybody was all smiles when this happened a few days ago. Imagine, two giants, one from the Telecom industry and the other from transport. It's a synergy bound to change the landscape of ride sharing in the whole Asian region as they start a groundbreaking partnership that will ultimately benefit thousands of Filipino riders and give them convenience where they need it, when they need it. This is the work of Smart, the country's biggest network and UBER, the ride sharing app that's connecting riders and drivers around the world!

Smart, PLDT and UBER's executives now plan to roll out the first ever FREE WIFI service in all UBER cars, a feat that hasn't been done in UBER rides anywhere else in Asia. Now, you can have your favorite streaming services like iFLIX and Viewstream, Facebook, Instagram and internet services  right in the comforts of your own UBER ride starting with the UBER Black Cars. They're still rolling it out right now and pretty soon all your UBER rides will have this on board. 

Aside from that, Smart and UBER is giving away voucher codes to all first time UBER riders that's got SMART Postpaid, SMART Prepaid and SMART BRO Postpaid accounts. You need to be a smartphone user, be in NCR, a credit card holder and a first time UBER user to take advantage of this great promo. Just download the UBER app on the App Store or Google Play store, use the voucher code SMARTUBER as part of the registration or after it. This means you'll get 2 UBER rides worth Php 300 each for FREE. You may click here and register your number for convenience.