Buying a new TV for Beginners

NOTE: you can skip to the bottom part for the actual tips that I enumerated

A LITTLE BACKSTORY

I had zero idea about modern TVs when I bought my first ever TV back in 2012 from Sights and Sounds (SnS) Shangri-La. It was the 40" Samsung EH5300. I just wanted a big screen TV for movies and gaming. It was a blind-buy without proper research. A feature that I was really looking for in at that time was the life-like motion that make videos seem like it's on live broadcast. So I asked the salesmen if the Samsung EH5300 had that feature and they all said yes. Trusting their words, I bought the TV without further questions.

LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE

I excitedly set up my new TV. In my head, I was thinking "Finally! I can experience what I've seen from display TVs in malls!"

But to my disappointment, all the videos I played on the TV did not give me that fluid, life-like motion. I found out later on that the feature I was looking for was called MOTION INTERPOLATION or what purists(a.k.a. haters) call SOAP OPERA EFFECT (SOE).

WHAT IS SOAP OPERA EFFECT

In simple terms, its an effect that makes movements in videos buttery smooth. In Filipino "para bang nanonood ka ng live". A lot of people hate SOE because they claim that it makes everything look cheap, especially movies because it's as if you're watching a b-roll or behind the scenes. In a way, it does take away some of the cinematic effect from movies. But it's a feature that can be toggled on or off.

BACK TO MY TV JOURNEY

I decided to take the Samsung EH5300 back to SnS and have it replaced with a TV that had Motion Interpolation. SnS allowed customers to return their TV sets and replace it with a different one if it did not satisfy them. This return/exchange policy is a rarity in the Philippines!

I exchanged the Samsung EH5300 for the LG LS5700.

The LG LS5700 from 2012 is still alive and kicking in my living room!

Finally, this was a TV that had Motion Interpolation. However, I quickly realized that it was lacking another feature that was a hot commodity at that time - 3D!

While I was happy with the LG LS5700, I couldn't stop thinking how immersive the movie experience would be with 3D. So I saved up, and this time, I finally planned to do research.

RESEARCH? THAT'S BORING, RIGHT?

Researching may be boring and cumbersome but it was an eye-opener for someone like me who had little knowledge about modern TVs. I watched several Youtube videos, read different TV reviews, and went through forums of TV enthusiasts just to find the right TV for my need and my budget.

We all want the facts to be fed to us in this era of "give it to me right away". However, there is a sense of fulfillment when you do your own research and actually learn and grasp ideas fully.

THE FINAL AND MOST IMPORTANT PART

It's time for you to go to a store and test the TVs yourself! At the end of the day, it is your personal preference that matters the most when making the decision.

When I did my TV testing, I made sure to bring media that would really highlight features I was looking for. In my case, back in 2013, in order to appreciate the quality of a 3D TV, a 3D Blu-Ray was necessary. So I brought some 3D Disney Blu-rays and the Life of Pi 3D Blu-ray to use for my tests.

My main TV from 2013 until now in 2018. Used as my PC Monitor as well.

Even though Sony and Samsung were at the top of the reviews during that year, I opted for the LG LA6900 because it was the best TV I tested with the budget that I had.

THINGS THAT I LEARNED (Too long;Didn't Read)

1. Do your own research. Keep reading reviews and watch Youtube videos about the different TV models from different brands.

2. Once you've done your research, never trust a salesman ever again. Be confident in what you know. Most salesmen will only tell you what they have been told in their product orientation seminars. They usually don't research more about their products. I guarantee - if you've done research, you know more than most of them.

3. Know your needs. Know the features that are necessary for your use case. These should be non-negotiable. If the TV you're considering doesn't have that feature, don't settle.

4. Demand to test the TVs. It is your right as a consumer to test the TVs to your satisfaction. Wag kang mahihiya lalo kung bibili ka naman talaga. Additionally, when you do test it, bring your best quality videos in your Portable External HDD. Bring different kinds of video formats to find out which TV can play the most kind of videos.

5. Learn about diminishing returns. This is a point where you see very little gain in features but the price is unreasonably higher. Ask yourself, is it worth it to add this big of an amount for so little gain?

6. Practice patience. DO NOT RUSH INTO BUYING A TV. Lalo dito sa Pilipinas na mahirap magpapalit ng mga produkto. Take your time, and use that time to save up even more for you to be able to afford a better TV than what you initially considered.

7. Search OLX for the TV model you are considering. Sellers there are legit and have the lowest prices you will find if you are paying with cash. They are usually connected with Anson's at Cash n' Carry.

Bonus:

The bigger the screen, the better. Yung akala mo na "masiyado na malaki 'to" ay hindi pala talaga malaki kapag nasa bahay na. Trust me.

A Shower Curtain Fit for a Techie

Shower curtains are basic. It does a simple job - to keep the other part of your bathroom dry. And then there's bath time. It's a part of the day when you are temporarily disconnected from the world. You can't reply to messages nor answer calls even if it's urgent or an emergency.

Well, not anymore!

As I was browsing Amazon for shower curtains, the LAPIK Phone and Tablet Holder Shower Curtain popped up in the suggestions. I was intrigued by the possibilities of a shower curtain that would hold a phone on its outside pocket.

I immediately ordered one and I was not disappointed. As you can see below, it is now installed in my bathroom. 

I tried to fit an 13-inch Macbook Air just to test the size. And it fits!

It can fit any portable media device! Here, an iPad Mini fits in one of its big pockets.

So now you can get squeaky clean while being entertained by a movie or a Youtube video. Also, the material allows you to use the touchscreen of your phone or tab. Messaging while taking a bath is now possible.

I highly recommend this shower curtain for people who want to make mundane bath time more fun.

I got this product for $18.85 but as of this posting, it's down to $15.95. 

Below is the Amazon link for the same shower curtain I bought. 

LAPIK Shower Curtain

Other features:

There are three magnets at the bottom of the shower curtain to help keep it in a fixed position

These metal hooks are included

Google Wifi in the Philippines!

Recently, PLDT has advertised the Google Wifi mesh router as an add-on to their service. The deal is available for existing PLDT Home Fibr subscribers for an additional 299/month fee for the 1-pack Google Wifi and Php799/month for the 3-pack set.

WHAT IS GOOGLE WIFI?

Google Wifi is actually just a router. It basically does the same job that your existing router does but in a better way. I won't be going into the technical nitty-gritty of this device. Instead, in the simplest terms, the Google Wifi basically does all the adjustments needed for you to have the most efficient wifi signal in your home. It ensures that you are using the best wifi channel that is less congested and has less traffic.

What does that mean? Imagine living in an apartment where there are several routers from the different residents of the building. Without proper optimization, those signals from the different wifi routers might be sent to the same channel causing a theoretical traffic. Kinda like a narrow road filled with several cars.

The Google Wifi adjusts your system. Think of it as a Wayze app for your router. Instead of directing your signal to the same congested road full of cars (wifi signals on the same channel), Google Wifi finds a channel that has little to no traffic for your signal to traverse. This way, you get the best wifi signal without any interference from other devices.

Another wonderful feature of the Google Wifi is its simplicity. You basically just plug it, download the app and you are all set! It is so simple, your non-techie lolo or lola would probably be able to set it up themselves.

Lastly, the signal coverage is wonderful BUT you need to place it at the center of your home to be able to fully utilize its coverage if you are only going to use one.

IS IT WORTH IT?

It really depends. For me, it was worth it. I was able to get mine from Amazon USA for $123 +tax so it was way cheaper than getting it here in the Philippines through PLDT or through resellers. Prior to the Google Wifi, I was using a Tenda AC1200 router and the signal from that was actually very decent. I live in a 75sqm. condominium and my old router was located near our doorway. My wife had issues with its signal going to our bedroom when she was using her phone and it was especially problematic inside the bathroom.

But why would wifi signal matter inside the bathroom, you ask? Well, I'm sure some of you play music while taking a bath and using Spotify will require a decent wifi signal.

Anyway, after switching to the Google Wifi, our bedroom wifi signal woes are finally gone. And the signal penetrates through our thick walls. Our old router gave us one to two signals max in our bedroom. Now we get a full signal and the full 25mbps of our internet speed. Before that, we used to have only half of that speed.

I really like how Google Wifi improved our signal at home and I am impressed with its coverage. For me, it was a good purchase. I won't go into all the other features of the Google Wifi coz that is easily available online.

What I will tell you though is that don't let Google Wifi's simple looks fool you into thinking that it can't stand up to the best routers out there.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but only if you want  simple wifi features and if you can get it for a lower price than what PLDT or local resellers are selling it for.

If you have questions regarding Google Wifi, feel free to ask me in the comments.

Rise of the PinoyTechDad

Welcome to my blog! First off, I'm from the Philippines. I came up with the name PinoyTechDad because that's who I am - a Filipino dad who loves technology. I consider myself as an average techie guy whom most people can probably relate to. This blog will showcase products that I actually use. I will not focus too much on the technicalities of the technology stuff because there are many experts out there who would do a better job at that than I would.  Instead, I will share more about my actual experiences with the products that I use regardless if it's good or bad.

Think of it as an honest review from your average joe.

Lastly, I purchase my items from different places. It could be from local online retailer Lazada or it could be from Amazon USA.