Month: March 2016

The Pre-Retina Display MacBook Pro

Marco Arment enumerates the reasons, “Why the 2012 non-Retina MacBook Pro still sells.”

As we’ve progressed toward thinner, lighter, more integrated Macs, we’ve paid dearly in upgradeability, versatility, and value. There are many Macs to choose from today, but in some ways, we have less choice than ever.

When Apple introduced the 3rd generation MacBook Pro (MBP) back in the middle of 2012, it then came with the Retina Display and solid-state drives (SSDs) in lieu of the hard-disk drives (HDDs), but dismissed the optical drive altogether. Moreover, you cannot upgrade the memory (RAM) by yourself, it has to be pre-packaged when you buy it.

I own an Early 2011 13-inch Macbook Pro, and I’ll probably hold back from upgrading to the latest MBP in the near future. Why? Here are my reasons:  Continue reading

This motorcycle rider thinks he’s Superman

Have you ever wondered how come a lot of motorcycle riders figure in tragic accidents? For driving like this one in this video:

So, for motorcycle riders out there, please remember these things the next time you hit the road with your two-wheel vehicles:

  1. Wear your helmet/s;
  2. Make sure that all your lights (headlight, taillight, brake lights, and turn lights) are working especially at night;
  3. Do not counterflow, and if you do–don’t expect the oncoming car to yield in your favor;
  4. When you overtake and eventually change lanes ahead of the vehicle you’re overtaking, do it like a responsible four-wheeled vehicle would do, i.e., provide enough space and use your left/right turn signal lights (make sure those signal lights are visible to the driver behind). Anticipate that the vehicle behind might accelerate even before you make your turn for not seeing you ahead of time.

How would you like to be an ACPA?

If you are a Philippine CPA, did you know that you may now apply for the ACPA (Asean Chartered Professional Accountant) title? Jun Cuaresma writes, in The Manila Times article, “And the Asean CPA is born . . .

To get the ACPA title, the provisions of the recognition agreement state that Filipino CPAs have to undergo initial qualification and eligibility screenings through the local Board of Accountancy (BoA) and/or the Philippine Institute of CPAs and then the ACPA Coordinating Committee would make the final approval.

Upon successful approval, the Filipino CPA will acquire the ACPA title and be accorded as a Registered Foreign Professional Accountant (RFPA) who then can, in all other nine Asean member states: (1) work as consultant or employee of commercial, industrial or educational entities, or (2) work as external auditor but in collaboration with designated external auditing firms in the host country.

Currently, Filipino CPAs can already work as accountants, auditors, consultants, etc., in countries among the Asean member countries and beyond, even without the ACPA title. Thus, I can’t imagine how this title can enhance one’s résumé.

So, unless a new and separate governing body is tasked to conduct qualifying exams (board exams) in lieu of the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission), I can’t see how else Filipino accountants will flock to acquire this title.

Waze vs. Google Maps vs. Apple Maps

Thrillist enumerates their reasons ‘Why You Should Ditch Google Maps for Apple Maps‘.

The points mentioned in the article may perhaps be valid if you’re living in U.S. But here in the Philippines, your best bet would be Waze. Why?

  • It offers important data like traffic, accidents, the police, etc. and those are actually crowd-sourced. Google Maps and Apple Maps have no traffic data in the Philippines;
  • Public transportation data is basically non-existent for Google Maps and Apple Maps in the Philippines;
  • Don’t get me started with 3D and/or satellite view of Google Maps and Apple Maps, when they still show our 30-storey office building as plain earth.

Nevertheless, I wish you could use Siri to search for locations via the Waze app.

Subaru XV Concept Car

Subaru revealed the Subaru XV Concept car in the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show. Watch the video that follows:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqkcpZk3_pU

What, basically is a concept car? Wikipedia defines it as:

A concept car (also known as concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not be mass-produced.

Continue reading