Fast Charger for Android Smartphones

I have noticed that not all chargers are made the same. Some charge phones quickly; some do not. There was even one time when my friend's battery drained while charging (funny, huh). So I was wondering, what makes a charger good and reliable? I asked around and have learned that there are two parts to this matter.

First is the adapter. I was told that an adapter with an output of 2A charges faster than one with 1A (or 1000mA). I have found this to be true, based on experience. Here are some photos of adapters with 2A output:

Second is the cable, cord or connector. A thicker cord charges faster due to bigger gauge/size of the wire inside. Typical size is 28 gauge, but a better choice would be 24 gauge (the smaller the gauge, the bigger the size). A lot of cords do not usually indicate the size, but there are some that do, like this:

The combination of 2A adapter and 24 gauge cable for me charges a gadget at the rate of 1% per minute.

You can also just buy a ready-made fast charger set if you don't have the time/energy to create your own. Samsung is the brand that I commonly see being sold. You can get this online from OLX or Lazada at around P600-P800.

On a side note, take care of your battery by avoiding overcharging/overdraining. I have read that it is better to keep your battery at the 20%-80% range. Charge once it reaches 20%; stop charging once it reaches 80%. This would prolong battery life (unless you plan to change phones every two years, in which case, go ahead and do whatever you want with your battery).

Hope this info helps. Feel free to share your experience.

What to Check When Buying a Laptop

Since the laptop that I am using has been performing poorly (laggy processes and poor battery life), I have been dying to get a new one. I had to some research as to what type of computer I wanted to buy since there are too many models available out in the market. I would like to share what I have learned.

These are the things that I would consider:

1) Budget
This is probably the most significant consideration of them all. After all, if the sky's the limit, then why don't you just buy the model with the latest specs, right? Ha. I was honestly surprised to learn that there are actually laptops that cost more than P100,000! So, set your budget range. Then, from there, consider what specs are truly important to you, and what specs you are willing to compromise. Obviously, the better the specs, the higher the price.

2) Purpose
What do you need the laptop for? Is it for basic web browsing and document creation? Or do you plan to do use it for gaming? How about some heavy video editing?

2A) Processor
For me, this determines the kind of processor that your computer would need. For just basic computer functions, then perhaps AMD or Celeron would be sufficient. Though I honestly think that Core i3 should be the minimum standard for this. For gaming or heavy usage, perhaps Core i5 or i7 would be the processor of choice. I imagine that the more advanced the processor, the faster it can complete tasks.

2B) RAM
The higher the RAM, the better a computer's multitasking functions can be (alongside the processor). 2-4 GB is pretty decent already.

2C) Mobility
If you need to be able to bring the computer anywhere you go, then a laptop would be more suitable than a desktop. If you don't, then try considering a desktop instead. (But most of what I would be referring to in this post would be about a laptop.)

3) Screen size and weight
A bigger screen size usually equates to a heavier weight, but a more pleasant/readable visual. Look for the perfect balance for your needs. For me, a laptop weighing more than 2.1 kg is already too heavy since I have a small upper body. 13"-14" is the perfect screen size that is not too straining to the eyes, but with an equivalent weight that is not too heavy for the body to carry. On a side note, it seems like anything smaller than 14" contains AMD or Celeron processor. Core i3 typically begins at 14".

4) Graphics card
Intel's integrated graphics would usually suffice for the typical user. But for gamers, a dedicated graphics card (like NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon) would make for smoother gameplay.

5) Battery life
The higher the mAh, the longer the battery life. You may also want to consider if you want a battery that can be removed (easily replaceable) or one that is internal (less bulky).

6) Others

6A) Hard disk memory
Typically ranging from 500 GB - 1 TB, this is honestly not as a big deal as the other specs. You can easily buy an external hard disk for additional memory. A bigger factor might be if you want to get an solid-state drive (SSD) type, which costs more but functions faster than the typical hard disk drive (HDD).

6B) Optical disk drive (ODD)
Similar to the hard disk, this is not that big of a deal. If you get a laptop without an ODD, you can easily buy an external one. Besides, I honestly think that CDs are no longer a necessity in today's technology. Usually, flash disks are more convenient to use.

6C) Extras
If the laptop is just for the average Joe's use, then I would consider things like a good camera, USB 3.0 ports and multi-card reader as mere bonuses.

So far, that makes up most of my list to consider when buying a laptop. Of course, there's no such thing as the ultimate perfect laptop for all. Each person has a unique need, which is probably why there's a gazillion models out there, just waiting to be bought and used.

As to where to buy, there are plenty of sellers (both legit and not-so-legit) everywhere. The safest bet would be to buy in stores (like Silicon Valley, Octagon, Asianic, Electroworld, etc.) at the malls. (Sadly, I've noticed that these shops only display the laptops, but they do not allow customers to turn on and get a feel of how fast the laptop would run.) Most of these stores offer installment plans for credit card payments, or a P1,000-P2,000 discount for outright cash payments.

There are also shops in Gilmore that offer the same models for a slightly cheaper price. Just make sure that the shop is not too shady. Otherwise, you might be getting a refurbished/reconditioned laptop (without knowing it) instead of a brand new one. Perhaps, a clue would be the warranty included in the deal. Make sure that it is manufacturer's warranty, not just the shop's.

Or if the prices are still too high for your budget, you might want to consider getting a second-hand laptop on sites like OLX. But make sure to transact in a safe place and test the unit before paying for it.

Disclaimer: I am no computer expert. Just wanted to share what I have researched.

Hope my info helps. Feel free to share you experience.

Renewing Driver's License (5-year Validity) at SM Manila

I would like to share my experience about renewing driver's license at SM Manila's DLRC (Driver's License Renewal Center), which is located at the 5th floor, last October 17, 2016. Sorry, no photos, though.

I arrived at SM Manila at around 9:45am since I wanted to get ahead of the long line and finish early. Unfortunately, the mall opens at exactly 10am and by the time I got to the entrance, there was already a long line outside the building. There is a separate line for males and females, while there is a special line for senior citizens.

After the mall opened, I immediately went to the DLRC. Since it was still early, the number of other applicants was tolerable (there were probably around 10-20 people already ahead of me). The office is not so big and the number of chairs were limited, so a lot of the applicants had to remain standing. Make sure to bring a pen since you will be filling out some forms. These are the steps that I undertook in order to renew my non-professional license: (Note that these steps may vary, depending on the branch.)

1) Surrender the old license to the front/receiving desk and get a copy of the ADL (Application for Driver's License) form.
2) Fill out the ADL form or you can also download and print from LTO's website) and submit to Evaluator Window.
3) Wait for your name to be called for the medical exam (vision test) in one corner of the office. You would just be required to read a bunch of letters from a certain distance. This cost P200.
4) Wait for your name to be called again for your photo and signature to be taken.
5) Wait for your name to be called again to pay at the Cashier. Since the day of my renewal was the start of the 5-year validity period, the cost was P652 (P585 license fee + P67 computer fee) instead of the usual P417 (3-year validity). I didn't mind the additional payment in exchange for the extra two years.
6) Wait for your name to be called again. Since there were no available ID cards, I only got my official receipt, which would serve as my proof of license. It would also be what I would present to claim my ID card when they become available.

In total, I spent around an hour to finish the process. The later you arrive, the longer the line ahead of you, and the more time it would take to complete your renewal, so my advice would be to go there early (unless you're a senior citizen, in which case you might get special treatment, hehe).

For inquiries, you may contact SM Manila's DLRC at (02) 525-2646.

Hope my info helps. Feel free to share your experience.

Using the new LRT/MRT Card System

I'm writing this to amend my previous post about maximizing LRT's Stored Value card since the system has been totally revamped, making the contents of that post pretty much useless *sigh*.

Note (for clarity's sake):
Stored Value - SV
Single Journey - SJ

The new card system was finally implemented in 2016 after months of painful waiting (SV cards could not be used during the waiting period, so everybody HAD to wait in line to get a ticket). The change also brought about replacement of the old turnstiles. The new ones can read cards in two ways: 1) by tapping (for SV cards), and 2) by inserting (for SJ cards).

Cards can be bought from the staff inside the ticket booth or a self-service machine. Take note that self-service machines are located in selected stations only, which means that not all stations have them. On a side note, I personally feel that these are NOT user-friendly because they lack instructions on how to be used. There was one time when I had merely wanted to reload my SV card but had ended up paying for a new SV card (which costs an extra P20). Yup, so now I have two SV cards. What the heck am I supposed to do with two cards? (-__-)

Anyway, there are three types of cards that can be bought:
1) SV card - This costs an initial P20, on top of the amount you want to load in it, but is valid for around 4 years.

 This is what the front of the new SV card looks like.

This is what the back of the new SV card looks like. Notice the validity date at the top right corner.

2) Senior citizen's SV card - This discounted card is for the use of senior citizens only. All contents can be bought with 20% discount. This looks similar to the SV card, except it is color white (instead of blue).

3) SJ card - This costs the amount of the journey and is valid for 1 day. Please note that, unlike the old system, where you can buy round-trip tickets in one station, you can only use the ticket at the station from where you bought it. Confused? Example: Going from Pedro Gil to Bambang station costs P15. The trip back from Bambang to Pedro Gil also costs P15. In the past, you could just buy two tickets at Pedro Gil station (to save time) and use the second ticket on the way home. In the new system, this is not allowed. If you buy the ticket at Pedro Gil, you can only use it in this station (entry point). This card has a white body and a colored top part (green for LRT1, blue for LRT2, and yellow for MRT).

Just like before, using the SV card gives the rider more value for their money compared to the SJ card. Here are the adjusted fare matrices for the train lines (taken from LRT/MRT websites):

LRT1 SJ Fare Matrix.

LRT1 SV Fare Matrix.

LRT2 SJ Fare Matrix.

 LRT2 SV Fare Matrix.

 MRT Fare Matrix. (I'm not sure if SJ and SV have the same cost since I don't ride this line often.)

The best thing about the new SV card system is that you only need one card to ride any of the three trains (as long as you have adequate load). The bad thing is that they no longer allow you to skip the long entry line during rush hour, even if you already have a card (-__-).

So far, I have been satisfied with the new card system.

Hope my info helps. Feel free to share you experience.

I'm back!

I'm back!

I can't believe it's been more than a year since my last post here. It's probably because I've been too busy with my newly-acquired hobby of reading fiction. I know, typical procrastinator, right?

Anyway, while ironing clothes (very random, huh) earlier this afternoon, I was suddenly struck by the urge to continue this blog. I was thinking, "Well, I have learned a few new things during the past months, so why not share?" And so, here I go once again!

At the moment, my goals are the following:

1. The new LRT/MRT card system
2. Driver's license renewal (5-year validity)
3. Tips when buying a laptop
4. My dream smartphone
5. My favorite books

I can't wait to finish these write-ups.