Octagon Computer Store Review and another iPhone Portable Charger

Last Wednesday, I was in Megamall and saw yet another charger in Octagon Computer Store.

It's a Connectland portable charger with model number "CHG-USB-DX-P112". (Priced at Php 395.00)
Click here for the Specifications (PDF file) of the Connectland USB Battery Box

Anyway, if this is the first time you've read my blog review about portable iPhone chargers, you might want to check out what other iPhone portable chargers that DO NOT actually work.

Here is a list of iPhone portable chargers that do not work:
1. iPhone Emergency Charger Using 2 AA Batteries
2. Clik brand - Square iPhone Emergency Charger using 2 AAA Batteries
3. iPhone portable battery pack - Mobile Power Station emergency iPhone battery


You might ask me why I still bought it after previously buying and returning similar products that didn't work. Well, this one utilizes 4 AA batteries! Four! That is why I had my hopes up and kept my fingers-crossed, hoping this would finally work.

Some more photos of the said Connectland USB Battery Box:






Connectland's Website - http://connectland.com.hk/

FYI to all, I used 2 kinds of batteries to try this gadget out. For my first try, I used 4 freshly charged rechargeable Sanyo eneloop batteries. Nada! Then, I tried using it with a newly purchased set of 4, Energizer batteries. (The expensive kind) and yet, it didn't work.

I also tried using 3 different iPhone cables to charge it:
1. Original iPhone charging cable
2. Belkin retractable USB iPhone cable
3. 3rd party iPhone usb cable

So, using all those above methods (mixed combinations) and given the following circumstances, it still didn't work.

Final verdict?
This would be now added to my list of not working iPhone portable battery charger! Yes, the connectland usb battery box do not work on iPhones!

Again, as with my previous products, this is a two-birds-in-one-stone review. I have the right to return the product so, I also am writing about my experiences relating to non-working products.

Before I purchased it in Octagon, I already asked about the return policy. 7-days, they said. Well, today is just the 3rd day and I returned the product. Everything went well until they delayed me for around 45 minutes.



First, they were finding the manager to sign the form. Then, they searched for AA batteries they could use so they could test the product if it actually wasn't working. I already told them that it wasn't working and I wouldn't return it if it actually would work. I know that this is SOP but, please be considerate of your customers time and move double-time as if you are making a sale.

First of all, you should be responsible for the products you carry, therefore, your customers do not deserve the punishment of waiting for you to check on the products you sell that do not actually work.

Of all so far, Infomax has the best after-sales customer service yet. Again, they are a bit more pricey but with that kind of customer service, there is no doubt customers would keep coming back to them.

*by the way, I exchanged my non-working Connectland USB iPhone portable charger to an iMobile wireless mouse (IM-M58). I added 400 pesos. Wait for the review :)

Smart's Unlimited Call Service: Smart Talk (Part 2)

After making a short review for Smart's unlimited call service called Smart Talk, this is now a follow-up review on the service itself.

As I have previously mentioned in other post, it's very hard to get through and register for this service. An average of ten attempts would be needed for you to be able to register and avail of this promo.

After registering for my 3rd week right now, problems keep getting worst. It was Deja vu all over again! The service is comparable to Sun Celluar's unlimited call service when they were just starting!

For example, last night, I kept a log on how many call would go through over how many calls. From 9:00pm (+8gmt) to around 9:45pm, only 3 out of 70 calls went through! Frustrating, right? After 9:45pm, it improved a bit as 1 out of 10 calls went through.

So Smart, what's the big deal of offering such services when your network can't handle the heavy load?

Worst Service of the month goes to... Active Travel and Tours Megamall

Last Saturday, after talking with several people inside the Megatrade Center (Philippine Business and Entrepreneur Expo 2009), me and my siblings were walking around and I remembered that my mom asked me to canvass for our December 2009 trip.

The first agency we noticed was Active Travel and Tours in SM Megamall. At first, we looked around their office and checked out the posters. After a while, I stood by their counter and waited for one of the 3 female employees of the said travel agency. Unfortunately, we looked like commoners and this made us invincible to them.

I really hate it when stores act this way. Very unprofessional. So what if we were not dressed with coat and tie and we look young? We are also customers! Now, we should have been customers of Active Travel and Tours in Megamall. Never will I recommend it to any of our relatives.

We travel twice a year with unc's and aunt's and my cousins and I was looking for an alternative travel agency. Looks like they have a lot of customers already and I think should take my business elsewhere.

For the owner's reference, we were there around August 1, 2009 around 11:00am.

Bye-bye Globe Visibility - Good Riddance!

Finally! I had my line cut earlier!

I was using my Globe Visibility unlimited line for more than 2 years. As I've said in my other blogs, it was okay until February 2009 came. I wasn't able to use it for 3 months (Feb to May) because of the wonky signal.

Maybe you are thinking of arguing with me that "it depends on the location." I will tell you now that I know what I am talking about! As I've said, I've been using it for 2 years and constantly using it at the same location.

I got it March 2007. May 2007 was a bad month. After that, everything was fine and I can browse at almost 1mbps surfing speeds. February 2009 came and the signal from my usual location went kaput! (let me stop ranting because this blog is beginning to sound like a Globe ranting place blogsite"

So, I was informed that it was a waste because only 100 people got this special postpaid visibility unlimited line. "Duh! if you can't even use it, what's the use of the exclusivity?"

Besides, why would I be a loyal customer who pays Globe a lot when Globe owes me 10 times more!

Good riddance to my Globe Visibility! I feel so relieved. As Aileen of Google told me, "Ang tiyaga mo pa rin gamitin". Well, it's bye-bye now for that line. no regrets. period.