PLDT MyDSL fails… again

PLDT MyDSL has failed me in the past, but nothing as long a time as the last one which started a day or two before New Year’s Eve.

Webpages would fail to load, or stop while trying to reach googleapis.com. Publishing blog posts through Windows Live Writer was next to impossible; not even through the Blogger-droid app on my Android phone.

After a few days of that, I found a way around to somehow get to the websites I was trying to visit. Once the status bar of my browser takes at least 5 seconds saying it’s connecting to googleapis.com, google fonts, or anything that says google, I would press the escape key or click the stop icon. The page would then skip that google thing and continue loading the website.

I initially thought it was my router because one night (after several days of turmoil), I decided to do a stand-alone connection. I disconnected the modem from the router and connected it directly to my netbook. The connection went smoothly so I immediately scouted for a new router, blaming my current one.

I almost bought one, but the night before my planned trip to my suki sales rep in SM Bicutan, I decided to do a stand-alone connection again. Lo and behold, I had the same slow connection as when I was using the router!

Good thing there are forums, though. And I learned that I wasn’t the only one experiencing the same troubles. And if the problem is on PLDT’s end, there’s no use wasting my time waiting for a customer service representative to answer my 172 call.

My connection, however, is already stable for two days now. But it’s just so irritating that PLDT has never learned to give advisories to their customers about their network troubles. Haven’t it occurred to them that giving out advisories would lessen the callers complaining on their hotlines?

Anyway, yes, I’m still on the old modem. I’m even using a very old Xyzel modem when almost all of the PLDT MyDSL subscribers in my area already have the modem+wifi router unit.

Been a subscriber for 11 years now. And I’m even willing to keep on using the old modem if PLDT would transfer my connection to their new platform. I’m still on their very first platform (Legacy) that’s why my speed cap is still 2.5mbps despite paying P4k (Small Biz Lite) for the DSL service alone.

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Virus?

I wonder what awaits me if I click on the link given.

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Goodbye, Google Reader

This was what welcomed me when I decided to read some feeds from Google Reader just now:

Bakit kaya? Baka next thing we know, Blogger na ang mawawala.

Now the big question is, what can I use in replacement for the Google Reader that I have used for almost five years now?

Wikipedia on a Black Out

And I thought Wikipedia's black out will affect me not.

Until I Googled something, clicked a link that brought me to a Wikipedia page, and while reading the article, the page shifted into that picture above.

Let's admit it, Wikipedia is currently the largest source of information on the web. It's accessible wherever there's internet.

The US Congress is considering an anti-piracy legislation "that could fatally damage the free and open Internet." That's the reason why Wikipedia will black out their site. To protest. To raise awareness.

My stand on this one: everyone's entitled to free information.

Free Facebook Access for Globe and Smart Subscribers

Good news to Globe and Smart users. The two giant mobile networks have decided it's time to give their subscribers free access to Facebook. (Why not include Twitter? But no, I'm not complaining.)

Yes! We can now surf Facebook for free!

Just go to http://facebook.com/mobile to install the Facebook app on your phone. Alternatively, you can text FB to 2910 for Globe and 211 for Smart. No need to worry because with the 2,500 supported phone models, I'm sure your phone is included.

Globe subscribers can surf Facebook for free until October 31, 2011, while Smart subscribers can enjoy the privilege only until October 14, 2011.

Google Unveils Google+ (Google Plus)

Google unveils their latest networking site - Google+ (Google Plus) – perhaps hoping to penetrate the social networking market.

They failed with Orkut. Not even made it with Google Buzz. (Okay, I signed up for both.) But would they make it this time with Google Plus?

Google aims to give us a better-than-Facebook experience by breaking down Google Plus into several hubs like:

+Circles – your contacts
+Sparks – online sharing (perhaps much like the "share" option in Google Reader)
+Hangout – where you can, well, hangout LoL! like share your location or have multi-person video conference. Yay! Cam to cam anyone? Haha!
+Mobile – send messages, pics, and videos using your Android (as the app is only limited to Android, but an iPhone App is said to be coming soon.)

But anyway, don't get too excited yet because (1) Google Plus sign-ups, as of the moment, are limited to invite only; and (2) it is currently limited to US residents only.

You can read more about Google+ (Google Plus) by clicking here.

Don't forget to follow Profound Bliss on Facebook and Twitter :)

The New Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini Makes Me Drool

I'm on PLDT MyDSL, but I keep a Globe Tattoo prepaid and a Sun Broadband dongle that I've flashed so I can use it with Globe or Smart. I go out a lot and most of time, the places I go to don't have wi-fi so I always bring along my dongles.

But watching the new Globe Tattoo TVC makes me wanna acquire the new Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini Stick. It boasts of speed of up to 10 MBPS and if it's true, it would make a lot of difference on accessing the internet on my laptop in areas without wi-fi.

Moreover, the Filipino-Swiss car racing champion Marlon Stockinger is the Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini's image model.

Marlon is currently racing for Atech GP in the 2010 Formula Renault UK season, and he is the first Filipino to win a formula race in Europe. With his speed, he is the perfect image model for Globe Tattoo's fastest broadband (that is, again, if the speed they claim is true).

Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini is available through Globe Postpaid that costs 2,199 pesos a month.

Now, should I? Or should I not? But then perhaps I'll just wait for more netizens to give their reviews first before getting one.

To know more about the product, visit http://tattoo.globe.com.ph or visit a Globe store.

Watch Marlon Stockinger's Globe Tattoo TVC after the jump.

Defriended

An old friend of mine deleted her Facebook account and made a new one… and hasn’t added me since.

I wouldn’t know she deleted her previous account if I hadn’t noticed I was commenting with myself in one of my wall posts. She deleted her account, hence, her comments on her friends’ posts/pictures were also deleted.

Okay, perhaps she has just overlooked me when she was adding friends in her new account, but the incident – of when I wasn’t informed when she deleted her account (OC much?) – made me curious to find out who deletes me on Facebook.

Haven’t you ever wondered why at one point you have 980 friends, then all of a sudden it becomes 979? You can’t possibly go through all of your remaining 979 friends to see who’s missing, no?

I checked G about applications that tell who deleted me on Facebook, but everything seems to have already been disabled by FB.

And since I can’t find any app for that purpose, I’ll just say “WHO CARES IF YOU DELETED ME ON FACEBOOK?” LoL!

Okay I like being friends with everyone, it’s just that if you don’t wanna be my friend, so be it. But still, I wanna know who doesn’t wanna be my friend. Haha!

PLDT MyDSL Restored After Three Days

Without warning, I lost my internet connection last Thursday afternoon, around 2 PM. I thought it was just a minor trouble like what always happens with PLDT MyDSL. But just the same, I called their technical hotline (172) to report the trouble. I was told by the tech support representative that he would forward it to their technical team immediately.

Around 4 PM, I still didn't have internet connection. I called the hotline again only to be told that the trouble was traced from a "network trouble" in Pasig and majority of the south area accounts were affected.

I asked around the neighborhood but it seemed that I was the only one without internet connection. I know for a fact, though, that in my area, my PLDT MyDSL connection is the only one in the Legacy platform since I subscribed for the service way back 2004 pa. I actually started being on IP-DSLAM then was moved to the Legacy platform when I requested. They eventually created another platform, NGN, where new accounts are accommodated.

So that's why all my neighbors are on the NGN platform and they had internet connection while I was suffering and constantly calling 172 for follow-ups.

The following day (Friday), I searched the net for postpaid plans of Wi-Tribe and Smart Broadband using my Globe Tattoo prepaid (how ironic). I actually sent an application form online to the two said net providers and a pop-up promised that an agent will call me within 24 hours (unfortunately, none among the two has contacted me yet).

While waiting for the call, my itchy feet brought me to SM Bicutan, and my curiosity brought me inside The Sunshop. Since they require nothing but an ID and a payment, I immediately subscribed to their 799 unlimited broadband internet plan, shelling out an initial payment of PHP1,687.00 for the modem and bond of a month's fee.

It was funny, though, that before I paid for it, the customer rep told me it has an activation period of 24 hours. Then after I paid and while the rep was installing the software on my netbook, he changed that statement to 24-48 hours.

It was okay, though, since I was positive that my PLDT connection would be restored that night or Saturday morning.

But of course, knowing PLDT and their "network troubles," I woke up the following day still with no internet. So I inserted Sun's dongle (or modem as they call it) in my laptop but actually not hoping that it's already activated. And, of course, it still wasn't.

Purchased the package 6:05 PM Friday. Come 6:10 PM Saturday, I was already talking to a CSR on their hotline. According to the CSR, I already have a profile in their system but activation request was still not sent by the Bicutan branch. So she made an e-mail to the branch while all I had to do was (helplessly) wait. And I was feeling really helpless and kawawa because I still had no PLDT connection by that time.

Sunday, I had to go to the cemetery and stuff, afterwhich, I headed to SM Bicutan to notify The Sunshop that my subscription was still not activated. I dropped by Prestige first to have a watch battery replaced, and while waiting, I turned on my netbook and inserted the Sun dongle. Lo and behold! It's already activated! So I didn't go to The Sunshop anymore.

I arrived home hoping PLDT was already restored. But it still wasn't.

I normally attend the 8-9 PM mass but since I wasn't busy, I decided to attend the 5-6 PM mass, actually hoping that the Lord only wanted me to go to church first before restoring my PLDT connection.

It was actually a very enlightening mass cuz the priest's voice was clear and malumanay and his homily was heartfelt (I just knew). Then after the mass I did what I had been planning to do for the longest time. I went to the choir side and asked if they're still open for members.

A young man with longish hair gave me the number of a certain Ate Shirley who wasn't around at that time. Imma call her soon.

And then I really felt so blessed when I arrived home and turned on the PLDT modem. Internet connection was restored! See? The Lord just wanted me to seek Him first.

So now I have two internet subscriptions, make that three if you'll count the Globe Tattoo prepaid in. I just wish they wouldn't fail me all at once. My prayer is that they get into a "network trouble" alternately.

Smart Micro-SIM for iPad 3G

Smart has come up with a micro-SIM that is compatible with the Apple iPad 3G. It's available on postpaid Plan 999 Unlimited and is said to also work with an open line iPhone 4.

 

 

Initial cash out for Plan 999 is only Php999. Lock-in period is 6 months.

Connect Me, Please

It’s such a headache when PLDT’s MyDSL service is down.

 

First, I can’t blog. Blogging has been one of my favorite past times as of late (read: the past three years). It’s through this that I can express myself in such ways that I can’t in other medium.

 

Second, I can’t access my feeds and alerts. I can’t stay up-to-date on current events and on topics that interest me most.

 

Third, I can’t connect with my Facebook friends; can’t even tell them that I don’t have internet connection because I don’t have internet connection (redundundant?).

 

Fourth, and most importantly, I have lesser income. My gaming shop can’t have that much clients if I have no internet connection.

 

Wish I could afford to have a spare connection.

 

Word of the day: connection

 

As I write this, I am already 27 minutes on the phone, waiting for a 172 operator to take my call. I’m typing this in an offline blog editor and will publish as soon as the internet connection gets back.

 

“Your call is important to us. Our representatives are assisting other calls at the moment. Please stay on the line until a representative becomes available to take your call.”

 

P.S.

Operator Allan answered my call after a little more waiting. He says PLDT is having a nationwide network problem.

 

So I’m not alone. Hurray! I hate it more when I’m the only one who doesn’t have internet connection.

So Cheap to Connect

I didn't realize Globe Tattoo is so matipid to use. I was waiting in line at the doctor this afternoon and decided to while away the time by Facebook-ing. I have used my Tattoo before but only once and for 4 minutes only. Besides, I didn't check how much that 4 minutes cost me. I mainly use the Globe dongle to text because texting on a computer is way easier than on a cellphone.

That's my cheap but powerful Lenovo S10-2, the main computer I use for blogging.


Anyway, so I checked my balance before I connected to the service and it said Php 220.

The connection was kinda fast I was actually able to tweet and check/update my 2 Facebook accounts all in 11 minutes.


And after 11 minutes of surfing, I checked my balance again and it said Php 215.

5 pesos was all I needed to get connected! Nice, no?

Globe Tattooo

Bought a Globe Tattoo Prepaid Kit last Saturday. Wala lang. I just wanna be connected wherever I am. I hate feeling helpless especially when I'm in SM and the wi-fi indicator says I'm connected but I can't even browse Google.

What I like about this Tattoo is that I can call and text thru my netbook! Ang sarap magtext using a computer.

I removed the sticker. Ampanget e.

FaceBuko!

I only became aware of this humor site a while ago while browsing the forums - http://facebuko.com. Really funny. And I guess this was where that Pinoy Glee stuff came from.

Ang Pinoy talaga!

Net Problem (Again)

I’ve had a very slow internet over the weekend that I decided to call PLDT technical hotline (again) last Saturday. But of course I still have to wait for them to remote test my connection which takes 24-48 hours (in my cases it’s always a little more than 24 hours before they remote test). If they couldn’t fix the problem remotely, that’s when they’d hand over the ticket to the technical team to have the site visited.

Funny thing was, when I turned on the modem yesterday morning, it’s miraculously performing at its normal speed. But then again, I didn’t wanna call off the tech visit because I wanted to make sure everything’s fine.

So the tech came yesterday, and his solution: replace all the phone wires starting from the box outside the house up to the shortest wire connected to the dsl splitter. The tech was fast to finish the job. 30 minutes at the most. He even removed the old wires and gave them to me saying, “pwedeng sampayan.” He’s so kind that even if it was so hot during that time of day, he didn’t utter a word of complaint. He’s the same tech who visited last Wednesday and I think I’d be requesting for him whenever I’d have net troubles. Not that I’m wishing for another net problem anytime soon.

What Happens When There’s No Internet

I couldn’t blog the past few days. Not anymore because of the Playfish games, but because my PLDT MyDSL f*cked up. I had no internet for a few days due to a burned out modular box. Oh lo! Had I known it was the problem, I would have easily bought a modular box at ACE Hardware, the shop I love most. LOL!

A tech dropped by Wednesday to fix it, though. He was so kind it took away my quirky mood. It’s so hard to make taray to a very kind person. The tech also replaced my modem cuz it was so 2004 pa. He told me that model was phased out years ago and even called it primitive.

Anyway, I’ve just caught up with my Survivor Palau viewing. My mom uses the television every night to watch teleseryes on ABS-CBN and I use the internet to watch GMA (yes, we only have one tv). So no internet means no GMA, and I only got to see the past episodes on YouTube yesterday.

Shaun Rodriguez is so yummy in that red swimming trunks. And the bulge is so prominent I can’t stop looking (and rewinding and pausing, LOL!) Hot dad, indeed!

----------

I spent my Monday at the sunset strip of MOA. An old friend (who’s spending the day off) went with me, as well as my Princess.


Tuesday, despite still having no internet connection, was spent at home organizing my filing cabinet which had long been left unattended. I was thinking of finishing the cross-stitch project I had long ago started but organizing the filing cabinet took all of my Tuesday. And I was kinda sure I’d be “connected” na Wednesday even if PLDT 173 there’s still no tech assigned for me. I just knew Wednesday would be it. And so it was.

Get a Life

I haven’t been blogging lately. Got hooked with Playfish games on Facebook. Hooked to the truest essence of the word. I can sit in front of my PC from morning till night, just playing and chatting on Facebook.

But I got disappointed lately upon finding out about the Cheat Engine. Geez! You can reach the highest level in just a few seconds. What’s the sense of playing, then?

But still, I couldn’t refrain myself from playing. I don’t compete on level anymore cuz for all I know, everyone aside from me is using Cheat Engine. But what the heck, I’m playing just for the fun of it.

----------

Since I’m so addicted to Facebook, I watch television on the computer na rin. LOL! PinoyTube. Thank you.

And being a member of the third sex, it’s so surprising that I didn’t notice Justin to be gay. ‘Yon nga lang, it’s sad that he’s the first to be voted off.

Pero may chance pa daw? Sana.