Product Review

South Sea Pearls Palawan: My Experience Ordering from an Online Seller

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NOTE: BTW, for those wondering why I keep writing my shopping experiences, I don’t do this to gloat. I noticed that one of my most popular posts is the Lux Online PH review, so I know there is a clamor for information about local online sellers. The problem is, there is limited information about these sellers online. There’s really not much of a choice but to take a leap of faith. I’m quite happy that my review has been helping other customers!

I have a love-hate relationship with Instagram. I love the app because it allows me to showcase my life in pictures. I hate the app because it makes cash-burning so much easier thanks to Insta-sellers, hahaha!

The hubs and I decided to get my mother a pearl necklace for Christmas. I know four different vendors that sell freshwater and South Sea pearls online and it was hard to choose just one. I chose South Sea Pearls Palawan because it was the first seller that I added on Facebook. This was around the time I was obsessing over SSP studs, heh.

I didn’t order anything until recently because I’m wary of ordering jewelry online. There’s always the danger of getting fakes, being scammed, or getting your stuff stolen when you buy jewelry over the net. I’ve heard the horror stories! But you know what, fuck it. Christmas is coming and this needs to be ticked off my list.

South Sea Pearls Palawan: Ordering Online

First off, the seller was really nice. I was working on a limited budget and was vocal about it. She was quite understanding about the whole thing and gave me a great price. I ordered an 18″ necklace comprised of 8 mm top-quality freshwater pearls. Yes, I wish I got the SSPs but for a Christmas gift, that was pushing it.

I paid via bank deposit but I think the seller accepts PayPal payments too! I love sellers that accept PP payments because there are lots of scammers out there. With PP payments, the seller receives the money right away + I get a receipt in case things go south. After paying for the necklace, I got regular updates from the seller. She gave me updates on the shipping infos, delivery process + provided the shipping receipt so I can track the parcel while in transit.

Not sure if this is how she operates but as a customer, I appreciate all these things. The updates gave me the peace of mind knowing that I’m dealing with a legitimate business.

Overall, the ordering process was pretty straightforward and hassle-free. One thing though, if you can’t tell a real pearl from a fake one, I don’t recommend buying something like this online. Unless of course, you have an online alahera you can trust. Just sayin’.

The Product

The necklace arrived a day after it’s been shipped, which was impressive, to say the least. It was wrapped in a cardboard box. Inside the cardboard box is a red cardboard box. Here’s what the necklace looks like:

Isn’t she pretty? I love the quality of the pearls, especially the satiny luster! My husband gifted me a similar necklace and side by side, I can see the difference between the pearls. These pearls have a beautiful glow!

Before finalizing the order, I had a few requests, customization for the product. True to her word, the seller customized the necklace accordingly. I loved the results.

Final Thoughts

Quite happy with my new purchase and I’m pretty sure my mother will be pleased with this gift too! I highly recommend South Sea Pearls Palawan and would definitely repurchase. The seller is nice, the prices are fair, the product is high quality and more importantly, the biz is legit. Delivery was exceptional too! To know more about this seller, click here.

Since this deal was quite successful, I became more confident in terms of buying jewelry online. I’ve already ordered a little Christmas treat for myself (through a different seller) and I’m chronicling the experience as I write this. So those of you who are looking for similar items online but are wary of the sellers’ legitimacy, know that I’m taking one for the team!

Review: Tribord Easybreath Full-Face Snorkeling Mask + Overcoming (ish) My Fear of Deep Water

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Remember when I said I shopped for simple snorkel gears to prepare for our Davao trip? Total lie, I actually picked up a couple of full-face snorkel masks at Decathlon PH. And these masks, there’s nothing simple about them at all. They’re definitely not your ordinary swimming goggles.

I am petrified of deep waters. My husband is a confident swimmer while I’m an anxious floater. This is ironic considering my love for the beach.

During our last beach trip, I learned how to surface snorkel.  I mean, sort of. Wasn’t really good at it but it’s a start. I was hoping that the Tribord Easy Breath Full-Face snorkeling mask would help build my confidence so I’d become more comfortable in deeper water. And you know what? It did!

Tribord Easybreath Full-Face Snorkel Mask

What is it: Tribord EasyBreath Full-Face Snorkeling Mask

Meet the Tribord Easy Breath Full-Face snorkeling mask! This mask allows users to breathe underwater while surface snorkeling. How awesome is this?

I found out about this product while casually surfing the net. This happened about four days before our Davao trip. If there’s one thing you need to know about me, I can be pretty persistent and obsessive when I want something. I pored over reviews, compared rates, and learned how to use the mask in like an hour. I convinced myself that the masks will be critical to the success of the trip. I needed to get my hands on these.

I could’ve ordered the masks at Lazada but from my experience, delivery could take two weeks. I need this shit before the trip and I’ve only three days to spare. Also, I wanted the original snorkel mask, no copycat nonsense, the one by Tribord. Luckily, Decathlon just arrived in the PH and the brand has an online store.

Even better, the delivery service (Ninja Van) is extremely fast (still based on experience) and offers cash on delivery. So I was able to order the masks online easily enough. The only downside is that you have to create an account via the Decathlon website to finalize the order. You can’t seal the deal as a guest, which I thought was ridiculous but did it anyway. I received the package the day before the trip, how awesome was that?

Packaging

So the parcel arrived in a sizable brown box. I got a pink one for moi and a blue one for the hubs. Each mask is packed neatly in its own mesh bag but I noticed that the products were not bubble-wrapped. I thought was a little careless. The box is quite big so there’s a lot of free space. There was enough room for the masks to move around, which means they could’ve sustained scratches during shipping. I wish Decathlon would pack their products well to protect them from damages while in transit.

Performance

To know your size, get a measuring tape. Measure the space between the spot where the nose bridge starts and the chin. My size is S/M while the hubs is M/L.

tribord easybreath snorkel mask
Photo Credit: tribord.co.uk

It works, by the way! The mask provided a clear view of the surroundings. It didn’t distort my perspective at all! Breathing while snorkeling was easy although it can get a little stuffy at some point. We noticed, though, that using the mask for some time left us huffing and puffing after snorkeling. Like we just ran a marathon or something, hahaha! The key is to relax and breathe normally while surface snorkeling so the lungs won’t work too hard.

As long as the antenna thing isn’t submerged in water, you can breathe underwater. If the antenna thing is submerged in water, the little ball inside it seals the opening so air supply will be cut off. That’s a good feature because I can only imagine the panic that will set in if the mask fills with water! The mask is not meant to be used in deeper waters for snorkeling. It is only meant for surface snorkeling.

The mask gave me the confidence to surface snorkel in deeper waters too, about 10 to 15 feet in depth. Usually, I refuse to venture to water deeper than 5 feet. Although I was able to snorkel in deeper waters, my husband had to hold my hand while doing it. Otherwise, I freak the fuck out man. This, even when I’m wearing a freaking life vest.

I dunno man, the sensation of my feet floating into nothingness scares me to the core. If I can’t feel the ground while swimming, I freak out, that’s just how it is. Bless my husband for patiently holding my hand and steering this deadweight to the best spots while I happily look at fishies. This dude.

The mouthpiece gets a little hazy when in use but the mask doesn’t fog up at all. I thought that was awesome because my old snorkeling gears kept fogging up, it was annoying!

Quality

I was expecting a little flimsiness because the masks were pretty affordable at PhP 1,200 a pop. I was pleasantly surprised, the masks looked and felt durable. Each one has a nice heft to it. They’re not a pain to use, but there’s substantial weight to them that gives the impression of durability.

My husband’s mask was a perfect fit. The silicone flap creates a tight seal that prevents water from seeping inside the mask. Mine’s a great fit although the seal on the upper part of the mask isn’t as tight so water seeps in a little. That’s okay because the water drains to the bottom of the mask, seen below:

My only gripe is the elastic band that secures the mask on the head when worn. The sewn areas are prone to tearing. You have to be careful when wearing or removing the mask. I was careful with mine but the elastic band of my hub’s mask had signs of tearing.

The antenna tube-thing can be bought separately BTW. In case you lose it, you can order another antenna for PhP300+++ I think.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Tribord Easy Breath Full-Face snorkeling mask lives up to its promise. It is a well-designed product and the performance blew me away. I’m so impressed with this product that I’m planning to buy another one for my baby brother for our upcoming Caramoan adventure next summer! I cannot recommend this enough, especially for peeps like me who are not confident swimmers!

Which is Better: HTC 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Face-Off

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NOTE: This article was part of the content stolen (and published without consent under a different author) from yours truly by an ex-client: Steven J. Hammond or Steve Hammond (profile here) of sylo.eu. Stealing is not cool, yo.

HTC is back and the Taiwanese phone maker comes out swinging with a new flagship smartphone, the HTC 10. It is good to see that HTC finally addressing some of the most persistent weaknesses of its older sibling but is the HTC 10 better than Samsung’s flagship phone, the Galaxy S7 Edge? Let’s find out:

Photo Credit: androidcentral.com

Design

HTC 10 features a 2.5D glass and an all-metal unibody. The edges of the glass curve ever so slightly for a more rounded aesthetic. HTC’s flagship phone is about 3mm at the thinnest point and 9mm at the thickest point and weighs about 161 grams. There are no visible logos on the front of the HTC 10, making for a simple, refined design.

HTC 10’s design is not unique, thin, or light. But it is definitely sturdy. The size is perfect for one-hand operation that the larger, more slippery S7. Holding the HTC 10 feels very luxe because of the nice heft. The S7 feels almost fragile compared to the more robust HTC 10.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S7 features a metal alloy body and glass front and back. Featuring a rounded aesthetic, the S7 sports a shiny, contemporary design. It is thin, lightweight, and very sleek all around. The S7’s rear glass allows for wireless charging capabilities, something that’s we are extremely excited about.

The S7 offers support for the Qi and PMA standards. Of course, the S7 also offers traditional cable charging via a micro-USB port down at the bottom paired with support for Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charging.

The S7 weighs about 152 grams and is about 7.9 mm thick. This handset has a UP rating of 68, making it waterproof when submerged in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. Finally, you don’t have to worry about your phone getting drenched during a rain shower! Of course, this technology is not cutting edge but it’s nice to see Samsung offering something new on the table.

Both handsets come with a fingerprint scanner. The only difference is that HTC 10’s home button is capacitive, whereas S7 is clickable.

Photo Credit: phonearena.com

Display

The HTC 10 features a 5.2 super LCD 5 display with 565ppi density. On the other hand, the S7 comes with 5.2 super AMOLED display with 577ppi density. Playing with the HTC 10, the photos are very clear, very brilliant. It helps that the HTC 10 has LCD backlight to enhance the quality of the images.

However, S7 is hard to beat in this category because it has the nicest display on the market. There’s just no doubt about that. Side-by-side, you can see the difference between two handsets in terms of display quality. This one is a given, Super AMOLED display is the best display in the business so we’ll give this round to Samsung.

Performance

Samsung’s flagship handset comes with different processors, depending on the territory. The US version of the S7 features Snapdragon 820 while other territories come with Exynos 8890 chip. Although there are differences in performance between these processors, both offers snappy processing.

On the other hand, the HTC 10 comes with Snapdragon 820, the same processor that S7 US version comes with. The handset also offers 4GB of RAM, same as the S7 and S7 Edge. As such, you can expect the same processing speed from HTC 10 and S7 US version. Both handsets can handle multiple apps running at the same time without major issues but we do detect a slight lag.

As for storage, both flagship handsets offer the same 32 or 64 GB options. But in the UK, the S7 model only comes in 32 GB. Both handsets offer expandable memory for up to 128GB.

Battery

The S7 comes with a non-removable 3,000-mAh battery, which packs enough juice for a whole day’s worth of heavy usage. The HTC 10 also comes with the same non-removable 3,000 mAh battery, so in terms of performance, you can expect the same battery life from both handsets. However, the HTC 10 is being marketed for its two-day battery life but it is unlikely that the battery will last two days in normal, day-to-day usage. It will, however, last through a day of heavy usage.

The Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 comes with Quick Charge technology, allowing both handsets to charge up to four times faster than a conventional charger. However, S7 only comes with Quick Charge 2.0 while the HTC comes with the latest 3.0 tech. This means HTC charges faster compared to the S7.

Photo Credit: phonearena.com

Software

The HTC and S7 run on Android Marshmallow but the latter comes with its own Android skin, which is overlaid, on the standard interface. As such, most icons look different on the S7. If you hate the TouchWiz, Samsung managed to tone down its intrusiveness.

On the other hand, the HTC offers a much closer user experience as Google intended, which gets plus points. HTC also noted that it is working with Google to eliminate duplicate apps to organize the interface. The HTC 10 features a freestyle layout, allowing users to place the apps anywhere on the screen as opposed to being limited to a pre-set grid. As far as customization goes, HTC trumps the S7 simply because the handset leaves more room for personalization.

Price

The HTC 10 will set you back £569.99 while the S7 costs £569. Both are very pricey but given the impressive specs and design, both flagship phones are definitely worth the money! Both handsets pack an impressive selection of high-end components including the latest processors from Qualcomm, excellent cameras, and expandable storage!

The only difference between the two is the way each company played their respective handsets’ strengths. Samsung really set the bar high in terms of display quality, performance, and battery life. On the other hand, HTC focused on enhancing the user experience, audio quality, durable form factor, and a cleaner interface.

SECCED Fluid Head Review

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Known for its high performance Fluid Head line, SECCED promises unparalleled head movement smoothness and faster change of tilt, and pan drag with its latest and greatest Fluid head yet, the SC-V25/150AH. The SC-V25/150AH, which is the premium Fluid Head unit from SECCED introduces a compact shape as well as revolutionary design that improves performance while reducing weight for optimum portability.

Features

  • Compact, Ergonomic Design
  • 21 to 35KG payload Range
  • Step-type Counterbalance System
  • Improved Drag System
  • Lightweight Plastic Construction
  • Quick Release Mechanism for Smooth Camera Dismounting
  • Main Fluid Head parts made with high quality C&C machine
  • 150mm Tripods Compatible

While the SC-V25/150AH is compact in design, it’s actually a hardworking piece of equipment which delivers 21 up to 35KG payload range, making it perfect for EFP, OB, and Studio application. This particular model boasts of an improved drag system for smoother head movement and graded drag adjustment to ensure the camera can tilt and pan with minimal drag.

The fluid head is one of SECCED’s bestselling lines and the SC-V25/150AH shows us why. The enhanced rigidity of the control elements made the SC-V25/150AH a great fluid line for prolonged shoots. The modernized shape and the well-balanced design of the SC-V25/150AH makes it a great tool of choice for professionals as well as recreational photographers.

Conclusion

The SC-V25/150AH delivers stability and balance thanks to the SECCED’s state of the art professional features. With the head’s ability to support up to 21 up to 35KG, the SC-V25/150AH is by no means a lightweight when it comes to heavy duty shooting. The updated counterbalance system of SC-V25/150AH enables it to find the right balance no matter what the camera’s size or weight is.

Whether you’re using a pro camcorder or a highly accessorized video DSLR on a rod/rail system, the SC-V25/150AH takes some of the strain off your support rig. If you are looking for a hard-working fluid head with vibration-free movements and smooth as butter tilts and pans, the SC-V25/150AH is your fluid head of choice.

Affilojetpack Review: Will It Fastrack Your Business To Success?

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Introduction

Mark Ling, who gained popularity online for creating acclaimed affiliate marketing courses and high quality products that covers everything from the basics to advanced marketing strategies, promises increased targeted traffic, and more profits in his newest offering, Affilojetpack. Affilojetpack is geared towards newbie marketers who want to fast track their business without being stuck with the usual pitfalls that often come establishing an online business from scratch as well as advanced marketers who want to get more out of their existing campaigns.

Review

Affilojetpack is widely regarded as the perfect marketing product for newbie marketers who want to avoid the usual hurdles that come with building a successful online business from nothing. What’s great about this product is that it offers a systematic approach to making it big in various niche markets.

But don’t think this course is made specifically for newbies alone because this product offer an amazing collection of content that can easily be integrated into existing skills that seasoned marketers have. Essentially, Affilojetpack is made for newbies and seasoned online marketers as well.

Affilojetpack System

Below is a breakdown of the things you get from the Affilojetpack System:

  • Customizable WordPress themes for your website
  • Easy, “one-click” WordPress theme installation
  • Free one year web hosting
  • 30 high quality articles you can spin for your website
  • 90 high quality newsletter for list building (auto responder)
  • Free high quality eBooks you can turn to bonuses to get people to join your email list
  • Traffic generation strategies
  • Free professionally designed header graphics for your website
  • Choice of five out of ten high revenue niche markets to go into

Marketing Strategies To Expect

Niche Researching: There’s no need to promote products in saturated markets. Mark has taken out the guesswork and shares some of the best niches to go into to help you earn more.

Keyword Researching: Finding the most relevant keywords is the best way to be on top of the searches. Through Mark’s tried and tested techniques, you will find the best keywords that increased traffic, faster search rankings and of course, higher revenues.

Content Creation: Mark shows you how to create high quality content that will catch the attention of potential customers and encourages them to get to know more about your business.

Traffic Generation: Learn how to generate targeted traffic with loads of helpful content, including videos, live bootcamp training class to whip your website into shape for better business.

Conclusion

Affilojetpack is great because it has something for newbies and advanced marketers alike. In the marketing industry, many are dependent on sites like Squidoo or Hub pages where admins can remove content at any given time, flushing hard work and money down the drain. By having your own optimized website, you’re not at the mercy of content site admins.

Affilojetpack offers useful strategies and loads of nuggets of wisdom from Ling himself. What’s more, the product come with a 60 day money back guarantee so those who want to purchase the products have peace of mind knowing they can return Affilojetpack if they did not get the kind of result they were expecting.

Book Review: The Laptop Millionaire by Mark Anastasi

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Introduction:

Mark Anastasi is a millionaire online marketer, a public speaker and an author of The Laptop Millionaire, a book where he shares the secrets that led to his mega million online business. The book, which teaches readers how to be financially free online, feature nifty marketing tricks and tips to achieve optimum online profits.

Review

With the economic climate being gloomier than ever, thousands of Americans are either losing their jobs or are no longer earning enough to make ends meet. It’s quite a remarkable feat how online marketing remained stable, and even flourished, despite many industries being hit by the unpredictable economy. Mark Anastasi knows all too well the pains of living everyday in total financial uncertainty which is why he authored the book, The Laptop Millionaire, to share the techniques he used to make his millions online.

Anastasi believes that with the right strategies, one can achieve financial freedom and the book, which promises to help marketers earn as much as $10,000 a month in as little as 28 days. The Laptop Millionaire is a simplified, step by step guide on how to make real money using the power of the internet. His straightforward, no-nonsense approach to making money online offer a blueprint to achieving success and allow ordinary folks to learn how to adapt the laptop entrepreneur lifestyle.

Table of Content

Chapter 1: eBooks

Chapter 2: Listbuilding and Email Marketing

Chapter 3: Search Engine Optimization

Chapter 4: YouTube

Chapter 5: Facebook

Chapter 6: Twitter

Chapter 7: Fiverr

Chapter 8: Outsourcing

Chapter 9: Local Business Marketing

Chapter 10: Membership Sites

Chapter 11: Webinars

Chapter 12: Online Advertising

As you can see from the table of content, The Laptop Millionaire covers everything from product creation to effective online marketing. From the book, you will discover how to:

  • How to make thousands of dollars using social media sites like YouTube, Faceook and Twitter
  • How to make as much as $20,000 via joint venture webinars
  • How to make as much as $10,000 creating your own eBooks
  • Achieve financial freedom with just 400 clicks per day
  • How to work anywhere in the world using your laptop

Bottom Line

Apart from the usual marketing strategies, Anastasi was able to offer fresh ideas on how one can earn real money online. His delivery and easy to follow guidelines are perfect even for online marketing newbies. The book is also perfect for marketers who have dabbled in many money making business ventures but are not able to be as successful.

Overall, it’s a pretty solid book with loads of relevant information many marketers seasoned and new will love.