Apple vs. Samsung, anyone?

Everyone’s talking about the newly released iPhone 5 of Apple, which I also plan to get when it comes to Philippine shores, but checking into its systems, I found out that the new iPhone 5 uses a “Nano Sim” which is a departure from the previous “Micro Sim” that Apple used in their previous iPhone 4S model. So getting one from the US isn’t going to work even if you have it jailbroken here. This means, we will just have to wait until our telecom service providers, Globe Telecom or Smart Communications bring the iPhone 5 here.

Meanwhile, Samsung is trying to outdo the iPhone 5 by coming up with the Samsung Galaxy Note II and their Galaxy SIII. I would like to believe that these are great smartphones, except that my Samsung Galaxy Note, which I got a few months back is still languishing in a Samsung Service Center for more than a month already because of a rusty plug for recharging the phone. Samsung insists that this got wet… but in truth, I never got that phone wet. Samsung should use better material that won’t rust. 

I submit that I am an Apple guy, who found my Samsung Galaxy Note to be a better product… until it hit a snag in Samsung’s Service Center. Mind you, I recently downloaded my new operating system called Mountain Lion, but had some difficulty in downloading it in my MacAir. I emailed my complaints to Apple and their service people replied instantly to address my problem. Although it took me 20 hours to download it (thanks to our slow Internet speeds) I was able to finally download my new system.

I still believe that Samsung has a better chance in slugging it out with Apple, but their technicians must learn to fix their products with dispatch and stop giving excuses like the wrong part arrived. Samsung executives must learn from the mistakes of Nokia, (I was a Nokia user for more than 10 years but the problem is their fonts are just too small for my eyes) once the world leader when it comes to cellphones, that if they become as arrogant as what Sony used to be, Samsung may just follow their footsteps going downhill!

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I don’t know why Mayor Michael Rama is still waiting for the nomination from the Liberal Party (LP). Doesn’t he know that the LP, through their gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide, III did not even recognize their LP Chairman Don Durano in Danao City? Davide dumped Don Durano in favor of his brother Vice-Mayor Ramonito Durano. That’s not all, I learned during the 888 Forum last Tuesday that their LP Chair in the 2nd District was also unceremoniously replaced by Provincial Board member Willie Caminero to the consternation of Dr. Coralou Kintanar. Hmmm!

This only tells you that being a loyal member or even a LP chairman in your district is no guarantee that you will be chosen by the LP party. So if party loyalty is not a criterion for being chosen as an LP standard bearer, how can LP expect their old friends to support them in the 2013 elections?

In Cebu City, there is no question that Mayor Mike Rama has what is called the “equity of the incumbent” but clearly the LP has not given him any go-signal that he is going to be the standard bearer because of the presence of Rep. Tomas Osmeña. Tom O., a close friend of Mar Roxas, has not been attending the LP meetings but he really doesn’t care if the LP doesn’t choose him because he believes that his BO-PK is invincible in Cebu City.However, if you looked at the line up of councilors from both the Osmeña and Rama camps, they are what we call “halo-halo” of old BO-PK supporters. A case in point is Mayor Rama’s Vice-Mayoralty candidate Edgardo Labella and their councilors Jack Jakosalem, Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta, Yodie Sanchez, Procopio “Coping Fernandez, James Cuenco, or Dave Tumulak, who were all BO-PK leaders.

If there is anything ugly with the BO-PK for the 2013 elections, it is that there are now three not one, but three Osmeñas in their line up. Aside from Rep. Tomas running for Mayor, there’s Councilor Margot seeking reelection and nephew Councilor Richie Osmeña. This was something that then Mayor Osmeña tried to prevent in the past. But now, it doesn’t matter anymore if the Rama camp chastises the Osmeña dynasty in Cebu City. So the 2013 elections will certainly be an interesting one.

As for our good friend, Rep. Eddiegul Gullas, who has kept his power in the 1st District, many of my friends have asked me to warn him of that old phrase, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.” This is in response to his accepting the P400 million funds from Cebu City into his district. While Rep. Tomas is no Greek, but Eddiegul is smart and wily enough to know that his present friendship with Rep. Tomas could break anytime.

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