Gulp...gulp....gulp: A CamelBak Review

Do you like running?  Hiking?  Biking?  Or any kind of outdoor activity that lasts more than an hour away from fresh drinking water?  You may want to invest in a good hydration pack.

My hydration pack of choice is the CamelBak Pakteen. Why invest in a hydration bladder?  Why not just recycle your bottled water bottle?

First of all, the material is different.  They may both be plastic, but disposable water bottles are not made from the same high grade plastic used for hydration packs and reusable water bottles.  Most disposable water bottles contain toxic materials that leak into your water.  Although deemed 'insignificant amounts' by the FDA, I'd rather not risk it.

Second, hydration packs save space.  They store flat when empty and conform to your body when filled.

And third, hydration packs usually have drinking tubes that make it more accessible than a water bottle.

What I like about the Pakteen is that even the drinking tube is insulated.  In the summer, this means that first sip isn't hot water!  It's also just a hydration pack, not a backpack.  That means I can throw it into any bag I'm bringing.  The quick release connector, bite valve cover and flow control also make it more rugged and dirt free when using it in the beach or hiking.

Although it's one of the smallest hydration packs out there, holding only 1.5L (50 oz) of water, it's more than enough for a day hike or an average run.  Find out more about proper hydration here.







**Unfortunately, the Pakteen is not available here in the Philippines.  I already asked Camelbak if they have it here, and I think it's not allowed for sale outside the U.S.

The irony...

A Little Tech Art: Art In The Park 2011

A break from all the iPad 2 hype and tech reviews...

I went to the 2011 Art In The Park exhibit last February

came across some really funky tech-based artwork by artist Tara Soriano.

Art In The Park is organized by Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.

It's That Time Of The Month: iPad2, For Lighter Days

Now that Apple has announced the new iPad 2, everyone is on the fence on whether or not it lives up to it's original sibling.  Yes and no.  An Apple representative casually mentioned that the iPad 2 is just a minor update to the original iPad, and that the iPad 3 will be the real upgrade.

But is the iPad 2 worth getting?  Yes it is.  Considering there is no price increase from the original iPad, that alone is a great deal.  And for those that don't need FaceTime, or the fancy new magnetic smart cover, the original iPad is now $399 brand new from Apple.

Other updates include a slimmer and lighter profile, although I'm really not fond of the new back design...I don't like it on my iPod Touch 4G, and I don't like it on the iPad.  Does it really matter?  From a design preference, to me, yes.  Now, the new iPad 2 I'd get for it's features alone, not the design.  But considering that it is still the best looking tablet out there, still says a lot for it.  Seeing as how technology is evolving, we may soon just be buying a transparent piece of glass with a little logo on the corner anyway.  And since most people buy a case for their iPad anyway, the back design is an extremely minor gripe, and a personal one at that.

I would've opted for the same design as the original iPad with a 20 hour battery instead.  But that's just me.  I feel that the slight weight reduction isn't enough to be that big a deal, but a 20-hour charge is significant on a long haul flight or weekend getaway.  Again, this is just my take on the new design.

Reasons to buy the new iPad 2:

• FaceTime
• HD Video recording
• Updated processor (although since no apps maximize this, real world improvements will be incremental at best)
• Smart Cover
• HDMI output (via optional dongle)
• and of course... it comes in WHITE. (For some, this alone is worth the update...hehehe)

Reasons to buy the original iPad:

• $100 cheaper
• Still comparable to the iPad 2 in terms of functionality and practicality
• Milled aluminum design (This is only my personal preference in design, and I still say it's the best look iOS device ever.  I wish they patterned all the other iOS devices after the original iPad)

The screen on both the iPad and iPad 2 are the same, so no Retina upgrade there.  For photographers and videographers, either one will serve your purposes just fine, although editing on the new iPad 2 with the updated iMovie app will be faster.

If you're on the market for an iPad, now is the best time to choose.  For the same amount of money, you get the newer one... and if you aren't really keen on the added features, you can have the original iPad for $100 less.

For those with the original iPad, is it worth the update?  Well, that would depend on the health of your gadget budget.  I'm skipping this update to get the new MacBook Pro instead.

Wake Up! Some Coffee Tech

Just wanted to show the cool origami packaging from Starbucks Japan.

Simply open the pack and pull the tabs apart, and it forms a coffee filter holder over your cup. Pour hot water and enjoy.

And if you like the smell of coffee, you can also just leave the used filter in a corner of your room (I left mine in my kitchen) to make your place smell like a café. Hehehehe!

A little coffee tech, only from Japan.

Splish-splash: A DesignGo case review

Summer is here, and that means beach trips are coming up.  But what about your music player or smartphone?  If you've got an Android, iPod Touch, or iPhone, you may want to invest in a waterproof pouch.

There are a lot of pouches out there that offer protection, but I like DesignGO for the price that they offer.  At P500 (or approx US$12) at R.O.X. in Fort Bonifacio, it's as good as any of the other plastic-pouch solutions out there.  Plus it has a small headphone extension so you can plug in your headphones while keeping the pouch completely sealed.

The clear side also allows full use of your touchscreen so all functions can easily be accessed.  Unfortunately, the extension jack only supports stereo out, no mic connection so making calls while your phone is in the case is a no-go.

Although not IP rated, I wouldn't really do anything extreme with ANY soft case.  If you need it to be submersible however, you may want to look at the hard cases from H2O Audio instead.  But I'd pick DesignGO's water pack over any of the other soft cases that sell for 3x more.  Pelican cases offer additional shock protection aside from mild water resistance, while Otterbox only offers shock protection, not water resistance.