The Chromebook for Grown-ups: Lenovo Thinkpad Chromebook C13 Yoga

I've always been game to try new devices. I was given a Chromebook a few years ago and started using it like fish in water. At that time most of my activities were browser based. I had a Windows OS laptop at that time which I mainly used to transfer photos from my camera to an external hard drive. 

To successfully enjoy using a Chromebook, you need to understand how you use a computer. Here are the reasons why I love using Chromebooks:

(1) You'll be online at a snap of a finger. Boot up time is negligible. 

(2) Long battery life. I could go for days without charging. 

(3) There's an app for everything and Google provides a wide library of Chrome apps and you can use Android apps too on Chromebooks. I edit videos and photos using apps.

(4) No maintenance needed. Chromebooks take care of updating and it just prompts you to restart when needed. It also happens sparingly. 

(5) It lasts for many, many years. I'm writing this post using my son's 2015 Toshiba Chromebook. It's so far still good and strong and the battery is still great. 

I decided to get what is touted as the "Chromebook for grown-ups", the Lenovo Thinkpad Chromebook C13 Yoga. My original choice was either the Chromebook Pixel or new Samsung Chromebook (the red one!). After reading a lot of reviews I almost got the Chromebook Pixel, but a friend recommended the Thinkpad Chromebook. After another week of research I decided to get the Thinkpad Chromebook since the hardware specs were competitive with the Chromebook Pixel and it was cheaper. It also had more ports than the Pixel. Here's my unboxing video -

Here are the specs of the Lenovo Thinkpad Chromebook C13 Yoga:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500C

Graphics: Integrated AMD Radeon

RAM: 8GB

Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS LED

Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe

Ports: 2 x USB Type-A Gen 1, 2 x USB Type-C Gen 1, 1 x MicroSD Card Reader, 1 x HDMI 2.0, Microphone/Headphone: 3.5mm Jack

Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200, Bluetooth 5.0, LTE (optional)

Camera: 720p front-facing webcam with physical shutter, world-facing 5MP, autofocus with single microphone

Weight: 3.3 pounds (1.497 kilos)

Size: (W x D x H): 12.09 x 8.35 x 0.61 inches (307 x 212.1 x 15.5 millimeters)

Battery: 51 WHr Li-ion with Rapid Charge

I'll give myself time for now to use my new Thinkpad Chromebook before I share my usage experience. So far I've used it for three days to blog and edit videos. It's so far been seamless!

Edu App: Padlet

Remember the days when your teacher would ask people to contribute to a list as a means to get students to recite? I absolutely hated that. I don't like reciting in class and don't like being called by my teacher to recite. It's not because I didn't know the answer, I just don't like calling attention to myself (introvert alert!). I was lucky though because when I was taking my MBA my professor started to integrate the use of technology in the classroom. We used Yahoo Groups to bring discussions online (circa year 2000) and my professor told me that I was the biggest beneficiary. I thrived because I managed to contribute a lot to the discussions.

A few weeks back we were visiting a school and part of the exercise was done online. We had to contribute to a "list". This time though we did it silently using our devices. The teacher set up a Google Sites page and embedded a Padlet wall. So what it does is it allows students to collaborate on a "wall". They can post answers/messages/lists etc. onto the wall either anonymously or they can opt to include their name. The teacher then is allowed to organize the notes and move it around if he/she wishes to categorize answers. Aside from saving a lot of time, Padlet allows a whole class to contribute and collaborate on an assigned task.  Check out this sample class wall from Padlet. The only drawback though is it's a paid service, but they have a free trial for 30 days.

And Padlet is coming soon to Google Apps, Edmodo and other LMS integration! =)

Edu App: Jooma Jam!

It's been awhile since I posted on this blog. I don't really see myself as entirely techy like my cohorts in this blog. My work focus has shifted as well so I don't do dev related stuff anymore. And then I realized there is something techy I could blog about -- apps for educators! Aha!

I wanted to kick off this series of posts by featuring an app that's made locally in the Philippines by Ritmo Learning Lab Inc. Together with rockstar, Vin Dancel, Jooma Jam is an educational app that combines multi-lingual music, videos and games for progressive learning. The app includes music videos, camera based activities that get kids to play and interact with their environment, and other educational videos for added learning.

The Jooma Jam team was recently in Singapore for a 2-day mentorship program with Samsung. It is one of the prizes they won from Kickstart. They also received funding and will present at the Singtel-Samsung Innovation Challenge in Jakarta in December (good luck guys!). I had the chance to sit down with Vin last week during their visit and he showed me the updated app.

The Jooma Jam team visiting Google.

Photo courtesy of Erika Gatmaitan.

Vin mentioned that the app is good for use by parents and their children since they can use this for bonding activities. I tried out the interactive game where you have to take photos based on the instructions (i.e. take photos of anything in red) and it was a fun activity. There were also videos that kids can sing along with. Vin said that schools can reach out to them to learn more about using music for learning since they offer trainings for schools as well.

To try out Jooma Jam, please go to Jooma Jam or Google Play.

Android One Launched in the Philippines

Android One was launched in the Philippines today with Caesar Sengupta, VP for Product Management of Google. The phone carries the Android OS and was built with the best ingredients according to Caesar and is offered at PhP5,000 below SRP. Cherry Mobile and MyPhone are the first movers in the country to offer the phone.

Asked why the Philippines was not launched together with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, Caesar said that they decided to wait for Android Lollipop to be available so that the phone can have the latest Android OS and apps.

Pre-loaded apps on the phone include: Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Search and Google Translate. During the launch event local apps that were featured include the Balikbayan Box, Sipa and JoomaJam. Other apps can be added easily using Google Play.

More photos.

Typewriter

I'm posting this photo of an Olympia typewriter for the benefit of my son who's never experienced using one.  My Mom taught me how to type using this typewriter (I took the photo though in a museum) when I was just 8 years old. I was really fascinated and always volunteered to type my Dad's documents even though my fingers would always fall through the keys (it was pretty painful!). I was also an expert at changing the ribbon! 

I have so many fond memories with my Mom's Olympia typewriter. I used to lug it around the house whenever I wanted to write, type docs for my Dad or simply type song lyrics (yeah I used to do that haha). And because I used to sleep on the floor in my parents' room the typewriter was always beside my 3-inch foam bed (I'm sure my parents were really annoyed I'd still be typing while they were watching TV). I also remember we had to make funny-looking paper bag masks for exams during typing class. When I reached college... well... I was lucky because they've just gotten rid of the typewriters and got computers to teach us... WORDSTAR! 

Ahh, the typewriter, one of the things kids nowadays would probably not experience.

Nexus 7 Case

Day after I got my Nexus 7 I did some research on where I could buy a case/cover for it. I had a feeling it would get scratched in my bag since I just usually dump my stuff in it. It's quite hard to find accessories for Android devices so I was happy to see that there was an original inexpensive Asus-case made available near my apartment in Singapore. The others I found online were overpriced IMHO. Anyway, I found this at Newstead at NEX Mall and got it for just $30 (it was on sale then). 

 

 

Unboxing the Nexus 7

My constant companion the last 2 months has been my Nexus 7. It's a 7-inch Android tablet recommended by one of my friends. I was thinking about either getting a netbook or a tablet, but my friend said that he was sure I was going to enjoy playing games on the Nexus 7. 

I unboxed my new toy last January 5 and proceeded to set-up my Google Account and app I frequently use. I've been stuck at home in the last 2 months so I've certainly been using the tablet more than my laptop (my friend was correct!). I held off on getting a tablet because (1) I'm a cheapskate (haha), (2) I was really happy with my Android phone, and (3) it takes me ages to decide on getting a new gadget (I haven't replaced my 4-year old netbook, nor my 6-year old iPod and my TV is 15 years old!).

My Nexus 7 is wifi-enabled but not 3G-enabled, but I haven't felt restricted with my usage since my movement in the last 2 months has been pretty limited. I've been using it to blog, email, work on documents/spreadsheets, watch YouTube, be on social media, take photos, upload content and of course play games. It's my new all-around-favorite-gadget. It would be great though if it had longer battery life. 

And I was surprised to find out last night that my housemate got the same tablet! He's been using an iPhone so I was really surprised he decided to get a Nexus 7. Yay!

 

 

 

 

 

Globe Launches 4G Tattoo Stick

As announced a few weeks ago during the Globe 4G launch, Globe now has a new Tattoo stick (USB modem).

As advised during the 4G launch users must have a device that has the capacity to handle HSPA (4G), so if you want to experience this on Globe you either have to get this Tattoo stick or a 4G capable phone/tablet/newer laptop.

The Tattoo stick is available at Surf-All-You-Want Plan 2,199. More info available at http://tattoo.globe.com.ph

We got the chance to experience the super speed Globe was claiming during the event and here's what we got when we did a speedtest on Internet Explorer (right) and Google Chrome (left).

The new Globe Tattoo endorser for the Globe Tattoo stick, Marlon Stockinger.

And the rest of the Globe Tattoo endorsers -

During the launch, Globe mentioned their new Video Messaging Service (VMS). This is something I can try using my Nexus S. Just need to find out if my video messages can be access by anyone with/without a smartphone.

Philippine Android Apps

Thought I'd do a little research to find out what kind of local Android apps we have from the Philippines. Here are some:

News

Philippine Daily Inquirer
GMA News Online
Philippine News by Danigo
Philippine News by Levitan Software (company based in Aklan)
Kabayan News by Harold Mondonedo

Mobile/SMS

Chikka
Globe Muzta
Vo-Fone

Entertainment

Movies for Smart
Games for Smart
Music for Smart
Flames by Jerome Locson
Life Stories by Marc Tan
FML Widget by Marc Tan
Manila: Open City Movie

Sports

PBA Official
Cebu Running Events by Max Limpag

Travel

Philippines Travel Options
General Douglas MacArthur
NDrive Indonesia & Philippines
MRT-LRT Station Guide
Manila Manual
Taxi Mate (Manila)
Manila City App
Manila Street Map
The Last Jeep to Baclaran
Cebu City App
Travel Guide - PH - Cebu City
Davao Manual
Baguio City App

Stories


Magical Shirt
Ang Mahiwagang Kamisetang Lite
D Source Boxing

Info

Click the City
Philippines Quick Facts
Flashcards - Tagalog
Conversational Tagalog
Moon Phase Widget by Marc Tan
125+Venture Capitalists by Marc Tan
Order ni Mrs. (recipes)
FilAssist

Real Estate

It's My Pad

Business/Discounts


Enjoy PH
Tapa Boy
SM Malls Map and Directory
Jobstreet
FullPage for Ebay PH

Others

Philippines ADW Theme
Mercedes Benz PH
APKoptic by Marc Tan
Handy Poll by Marc Tan
Clickr by Marc Tan
Piclyf
Shake2Random by Jerome Locson

Language/Translation


Learn Filipino Free Wordpower
Tagalog Slang
English to Filipino Flash Cards
My Words Learn Filipino
Tagalog Verbs
Tagalog FilipinoTranslator
Tagalog Basics
Flashcards - Tagalog
Learn Tagalog
123s sa Tagalog
Lingopal Tagalog (Filipino)
Filipino English Jibbigo
Tagalog Daily 10
Tagalog Vocabulary Quiz
Plugin Filipino Tagalog
Tagalog Tutor
(and there's a lot more in this category)

I just found these by doing a search for "Philippines" on the Android Market. Please let me know if you know of any Philippine-made Android apps.

The Chromebook

You've probably heard the announcement about Google's Chromebook which is coming out on June 15. The video above describes perfectly what the Chromebook is. When you turn on the Chromebook you are immediately brought to the internet without having to open a browser. This is definitely a new idea and would work perfectly for people like me who have everything (if not most) on the cloud.

I've been waiting for this to come out for a long time now and hope to experience working on it soon.

Paid Android Apps Now in the Philippines

Google announced last Thursday that Android users in the Philippines can now buy paid Apps on the Android Market - that means we can buy more games, social apps and work (productivity) type of apps. There are over 200,000 free and paid apps today on the Android market. Price of apps though are in US dollars, but you can buy it through Google Checkout which supports both Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

Hoping to see more locally made Android apps!

Globe 4G

Last week, my vlogging partner, Coy, invited me to attend Globe's 4G presscon. Since I was in the area I said I'd go. It took me awhile to make my post coz I had to digest all the nosebleed, techie stuff that was discussed there.

So... I will not attempt to explain the technical discussion since I honestly did not understand any of it. What I understood though is the following:

1. Globe's 4G is still on its way. They just have a handful of sites that are up (one is near Heritage Hotel in Pasay).

2. 4G technology isn't really here yet. They mentioned that their 4G mobile technology utilizes the global standard HSPA+. In lay-man's term, basta di hamak mas mabilis!

3. You need a new device so you can enjoy the new network. If you don't have one, the new network is going to help improve connectivity for 3G users.

4. Globe is aggressively expanding availability and here's the map (unfortunately no roll out where I live). They have deployed it in 19 areas, namely Marikina, QC, Makati, Pasay, Las Pinas, Taguig and Manila.

5. Watch out for handsets, devices and apps that Globe's launching this May. I spotted a nice and shiny Android phone during the event :)

So, what do you think?

Smart Bro APN Settings

I had a problem getting my Cherry Mobile Android tablet to go online using 3G. I wanted to use a Smart SIM on it , but wasn't sure whether it was okay to use a Smart Buddy SIM or if I needed a Smart Bro SIM so I could go online. With Globe they don't have that differentiation. I tried to ask advise from Smart's customer care on Twitter, they acknowledged my query, but they never gave me an answer. I got advise from some friends in Smart and they said it's best to use a Smart Bro SIM on my tablet if I was just going to use it mostly for connecting to the internet.

So I did. The next question was about the APN settings. I did some Google searches, but nothing really helped. The Smart website didn't have any updated info on APN settings for a Smart Bro SIM. So I went to a Smart Wireless Center and showed the customer service person my settings and he said said they were fine. I wanted to check whether it would work, but he said I needed to wait an hour. I felt that he really didn't know and wanted me far away before I got the chance to check whether the settings I tweaked last night was indeed correct.

It didn't! So essentially I just wanted 30 minutes of my time waiting at the Smart Wireless Center and what "expert help" I was supposed to get wasn't there. That guy made me believe that my settings were correct and that it would already work. Argh.

So back to square one. I searched again on Google and chanced upon a comment in one of the forums. I tried several suggestions, but this one finally worked (I use an Android tablet):

APN Name: smartbro
APN: smartbro
MCC: 515
MNC: 03
Authentication type: PAP

I simply added an APN and inputted "smartbro" as the APN Name and APN, saved it, and finally managed to go online.

And to that customer care guy, well, gee, you should have just been upfront and said you were not sure.

Pasyonistas on Twitter and Tumblr

What would Arnold Schwarzenegger and Stephen Fry be related to tweeter? And no it is not because they are twitter users. Or that both are actors and celebrities. What seem to be the common thread between the Austrian actor and the British comedian-actor and writer is technology.

The first starred in a movie that pumped his career in Hollywood and the second spoke at one time about technology. In the movie Conan the riddle of steel could be related to technology. The answer to the riddle of steel was that it was dependent on the flesh, ie the hand that wielded it. In the film, even a broken sword could be used to behead the main villain in the hands of Conan – Schwarzenegger.

The second spoke and his speech was recorded in a podcast. It was a witty and splendid speech that talked of several things from copyright to Apple. What is important to us though was something said during the open forum. Technology, new technology does not make one an instant Picasso, Oscar Wilde, Bill Joel or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. You have to have skill, talent and ideas to begin with. Technology amplifies these things. It is the means ny which creativity, skill and guts are whispered, sang and shouted out to the wide world via the world wide web.

An example of this is this latest endeavor done on twitter and tumbler – Pasyonistas.

Pasyon of the Passion is a lenten practice a form of story telling of the last days of Jesus Christ om the world. In art this has largely been depicted in paintings and sculpture – I believe Michaelangelo's Pieta is an example of this. It is a popular subject across the arts and the performing arts from Webbers and Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell and Mel Gibson's the Passion. Personally, I like watching Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. Somehow I find them more light and at the same time deep – if you get what I mean.

Every year at the end of our street during Holy Week they close the street, erect a tent, set up a karaoke machine and people take turns reading aloud through the microphone accounts of the last days of Jesus Christ in a lyricak verse. You can hear it from one of the street to the other, flooding the street.

Across the country the Passion of Christ is re-enacted. And now you can also read the Passion before your very eyes in twitter and tumbler.

It is an interesting take on the practice of the Passion or Pasyon. Hence the name Pasyonistas.

I wonder how it will turn out in Twitter and Tumbler. Most of us will know how it will end but how this cultural and artistic online collaboration will end we shall have to see.

Pasyonistas on twitter

Pasyonistas on tumblr

Aldo posted here.

Smart TV Now and In the Future

The film Rio was being shown on the big screen. And the scene shifted to the slums of Rio de Jainero and people were shown watching television. I am not quite sure what the statistics are but I have a hunch there are probably more television sets than refrigerators in the world. Or perhaps the television hs become as ubiquitous as the radio and still more commonly used than the computer.

It may not be as widely used like the cellphone but you can find it in nearly every family house or in the room of a salaried worker. In the Philippines solar or battery powered tv sets are used to watch a boxing fight or it doubles as a mini theatre from which one will eventually screen films like Rio.

It is everywhere.

And television sets are getting to be smarter.

Samsung recently launched its new set of television sets. And aside from how eco-friendly the tv set was Samsung trumpeted that the Smart TVs – LEDs 8000. 7000. 6600. 6400 and 5500 would not only connect the family to TV broadcasts and cables but also connect it to the Web , of course viewing of web video is still dependent on the speed of one's connection.

At present of course such television sets can only be bought by people with means and a large wallet – very large wallet. But let us see in a few years the cost of set may go down and with that it may be a indespinsible gadget that can be used by the family to be online. Of course there are other factors that will determine other than cost Ease of use and overcoming the language barrier.

When that happens we may have an online community more representative of our society. Are we ready for that?

Also published at baratillo.net

Facebook Picasa Uploader

A lot of my friends probably noticed that I have been uploading a lot of pictures on my Facebook account. I used to abhor uploading photos on Facebook because it was tedious. I have had to use the "simple uploader" because the other uploader wouldn't work.

It was Winston who made my life easier when he tweeted about the Facebook Picasa Uploader. I immediately downloaded the app and I was uploading photos to my FB account in no time. Of course, you'd have to install Picasa first if you haven't done so yet.

Here's how it looks on Picasa -

Transferring Photos from Your Android Phone

For some strange reason I've been having difficulty transferring photos from my Nexus One via Bluetooth lately. I used to transfer it through Bluetooth without any problem before, but I have been experiencing problems pairing my Bluetooth devices to it. And it has been a cause of delay for making some blog posts (eyeroll).

Anyway, so sending the photos via email was a huge pain. I don't know why I only tried this now, but the easiest way to transfer your photos from your Android phone is by sending it to your Picasa account!

It's easy!

1. Just go to your photo gallery.
2. Select photos you want to share.
3. Share via Picasa! And viola the photos would be transferred to your account and saved in the "Dropbox" album.

Geez... why did I only do this now? Oh well, you learn something everyday :)

Unboxing the iPed, the Android Tablet from Divisoria

So Jay took the risk and got himself the iPed last weekend in Divisoria. It cost PhP4,300 including the keyboard with case. 

Included in the box were the following: Android 7" tablet, charger, USB connection. 

Here's how it looks with the keyboard (includes case and stylus*):

Here are specs based on the available info (no info on processor etc.): 

Memory: 256 MB

Model number: Generic

Firmware version: 1.6

Kernel version: 2.6.29-00236-g4f8dbbb-dirty

Build number: WMT2.0

The applications included are as follows: chat tool, e-mail, file explore, my photo, my video, Youtube, magic album, my music, camera.

Settings that can be personalized: wireless controls (wifi/3G), sound and display, apps, SD cards and devices (you can add a micro-SD for added storage space), date and time, locale and text (it was actually defaulted in Chinese!), about device, touchpanel calibration. 

What we've so far used it for:

1. Browsing

2. Watching Youtube videos

3. Typing/checking docs/spreadsheet

4. Listening to music

5. Watching videos (through a file)

6.  Easy games -- Angry Birds doesn't work on it

What we need to check on:

1. Battery life

2. Upgrade firmware

3. If it would work on Globe Tattoo/Smart Bro. Saleslady said it wouldn't work if you use the Sun Cellular dongle. 

The saleslady wasn't really helpful when another customer asked questions about what apps would work on the tablet. She just kept saying "Go to the Android site". It was her standard answer for questions she didn't understand.

If you intend to purchase an Android tablet, be forthright with your purpose for getting one. Jay got it because he wanted to have a handy gadget to browse the internet anywhere around our home. If your objective is to use it like a laptop then it would probably be better for you to a purchase a high-end tablet. 

You'll get what you pay for :)

*Do not use the stylus. It scratches the surface easily. 

More pics!

The Cherry Mobile Android Phones

A few months ago I excitedly shared my experience about getting my first Android phone, the Nexus One. Last night I had the privilege of attending Cherry Mobile's launch of its line of Android phones. Of all the phones showcased I only got the chance to check out the Cherry Mobile Superion (tablet). Here's a demo by Cherry Mobile's head for product development, Reggie Ramos.



Superion

The Superion is a pad that's also a phone which runs on Froyo (2.2) which is the latest version of Android. Here are its features:

Android OS 2.2
Quadband GSM, 850/900/1900/2100
Triband UMTS 900/1900/2100
7” WVGA Capacitive Touchscreen
Qualcomm MSM 7227 600 MHz Processor
512 MB ROM, 512 MB RAM
Expandable memory up to 32GB
3G/HSDPA Connectivity
WiFi
Bluetooth
GPS/AGPS
Standard Mini USB 2.0
3.5mm headphone jack
G-Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
Google Mobile Services (Gmail, Maps, Marketplace)
3 mega pixels with Auto-Focus (back)
VGA Camera (front)
Price: PhP19,900

Nova

For those who'd like to try out using an Android phone this is Cherry Mobile's most affordable smart phone. Here are the features:

OS: Android OS, v2.1 (Eclair)
Size: 114.9mm (H) x 56.8mm (W) x 12.6mm (T)
CPU: Qualcomm MSM 7227 600 MHz processor
Screen: 320 x 480 pixels, 3.2 inches
Type: Capacitive touch screen
Memory: 256 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
Card Slot: microSD, up to 32 GB
3G: HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
WLAN: 802.11 b/g
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS support
Bluetooth: Yes
Camera: 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Batter: standard battery, Li-Po 1270 mAh
Price: PhP11,490

Magnum HD

This is Cherry Mobile's high-end Android phone. Here are the features:

OS: Android OS v2.2 (Froyo)
Size: 120 x 63 x 9.9 mm
CPU Qualcomm MSM8225-1 (App: Scorpion 1GHZ)
Screen: 480 x 800 pixels, 4.1 inches
Memory: 512 MB RAM, 2GB ROM
Card Slot: microSD, up to 32GB
3G: HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps
WLAN 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth: Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
GPS: Yes, v2.0 microUSB
Camera: 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus
Video: Yes, 720p@30fps
Front camera: Yes, VGA
GPS: yes, with A-GPS support
Battery: standard battery, Li-Po 1500 mAh
Price: PhP18,990.00

For more information please visit the Cherry Mobile Android page at http://www.cherrymobile.com.ph/products.php?cat_id=28.

Google: the Science of Search

I have been doing searches on Google for 12 years now and I learned how to be a better searcher by trial and error and with some help from the Google Cheat Sheet.

A few days ago Jay Trinidad, Google Asia Pacific's product marketing manager for consumer products, gave some tips on how to become a super Google searcher. Here's some of them:

1. Keep it short and simple - don't use too many words in a query.

2. Eliminate unwanted results - sometimes we search for words that have multiple meanings. To eliminate some unwanted results just put a minus sign ("-") and the redundant keyword after the query (i.e. [java -coffee]). This is also quite useful for searching for recipes (i.e. [adobo -toyo]).

3. Use contextual words to indicate the kind of result you want - include words that would put your query in the proper context. For example you'd like to learn gardening, as a beginner you essentially want to read on the basics. So you can try [gardening tutorial]. Other contextual terms are DIY or how to, guideline, curriculum, lesson plans and summary.

4. Find a word on the page - oftentimes when doing research you'd end up in web pages that have very long text and that results. To find the word your searched for within the page just type "Ctrl+F" on your keyboard.

5. Search operators - refine your searches by telling Google to perform a particular kind of search. Here's a few search operators you can use -

Define: - use Google as a dictionary. For example, define:ROTL.

Filetype: - find documents of a particular kind. For example, gardening filetype:pdf.

Site: - search within a single domain. For example, android site:inquirer.net.

6. Advanced Search options for Google Web Search - or "masusing paghahanap" in Filipino. You need not memorize these search operators. All of these are available on Google Advanced Search.

7. Simple queries for simple answers - try using the following keywords to find some queries that we do often -

Weather - i.e. [weather davao]

Local - for local business hunting. i.e. [pizza Makati]

Public Data - i.e. [population Philippines], [gdp Philippines]

Currency and unit conversion - i.e. [2,000 php to usd]

Time - i.e. [time italy]

Translate - i.e. [translate ______ in Filipino], [translate glass in Filipino]

Other Google search properties you can use:

1. Google Translate - translate websites or words instantly by using Google Translate (translate.google.com).

2. Google Maps - find places easily by searching on Google Maps (maps.google.com). You can find local hot spots (i.e. "pizza in Makati"), read and share local business reviews and save items to My Maps.