Phone Upgrades, Downer (but OK) TV shows

So…

Upgraded phone from XA1 to XZ1. XA1 in need of fixing now with Mhae.

Got 2 Nokia 2’s for Mama and Papa (like Ate and Buds’ phone for their PLDT Landline+) but have yet to get the phones in regular use. Sim upgrades/cuts left to do. Custom screen protector—OK. Matching casing—OK.

Jessica Jones Season 2 is very depressing, you'll need to see the next episode to possibly take that depression away...and fail...until the last episode. still not bad, though.

Haven’t seen the last episode of Supergirl Season 3, by the way.

Skipped Deadpool 2 and Jurassic World 2 but just had to see Solo.

Ryzen Threadripper with 32 cores, Intel 8086, OK. Nothing much there. Facebook and MS Office machine here.

And back regarding phones, realized recently (or probably din before, just forgot about it) that since it’s difficult to improve battery life for phones, what they’re doing now is ease charging. And it looks to be easier. That’s why there are continuing significant developments in fast and wireless charging. Also, powerbanks.

Post-Infinity War Summer Geek and Tech Stuff

I’m doing display shelves updates although I’m evaluating how much will I keep displayed in the coming months. And although I say updates, it’s more like utilizing the old illustration board one. And speaking of illustraion boards, I finally built a photobooth. Now, when to do the proper toy photoshoots.

I’m not a Marvel Legends guy but the release of the Marvel Legends MCU The First 10 Years figures/sets got me interested (again). There are 4 sets-to-get though technically the Iron Man Mk.VII is a singe-figure box.

On the achieved and missed figures, ironically got the DC Collectibles Supergirl but probably missed out on the Green Arrow and Flash 2-pack forever. What’s holding me back from getting the S03 Flash single-figure release is the chance that there won’t be a S05 Green Arrow release. I’m 51% going for the Flash S03 figure and hope for DC Collectibles to still release DCTV action figures.

And speaking of DCTV, season finales happened. Arrow was great, The Flash was OK. Still haven’t seen Black Lightning. On the Marvel side, Agents of SHEILD was awesome, almost perfect. Supergirl’s still ongoing and I’m hopeful that it will get exciting in the remaining episodes—it is as much a drama as it is a superhero show. Oh, Big Bang Theory ended with and awesome wedding and Young Sheldon had a chill ending, too. Cute. Finally started with Jessica Jones S02 and back at seeing South Park from time to time.

No movies seen this month, probably due to the heat, the tasks, and/or the post-infinity war movie unexcitement. Been wanting to see Solo over Deadpool 2 but ratings suggest the other way around. Saw “Under the Red Hood” yesterday, though and I think I’ll be finally downloading the rest or most of the other DC animated movies especially the DC Animated Movie Universe ones. DCAMU doesn’t really sound cool so I’ll probably type/say the whole thing everytime.

Phone upgrade is still delayed. I’m just hoping I get he one I want. Mama’s phone is quite broken but useable and after evaluating possible LG and Samsung replacements, realized with the help of ate and buds’ Nokia 2 that the answer is a Nokia afterall. But since mama got used to reorienting the phone while typing, the upgrade is also postponed.

And on more upgrades, worthy(?) pc upgrades are now available(?) from AMD and Intel. Not worthy enough for one after a year, though.

On Youtube, TechLinked is on and it was quite an emotional spiritual return of NetLinked Daily. And I got hooked on Pitch Meetings by Screenrant. Didn’t think that would be so easy, barely an inconvenience.

Action!

Laptop Fix

First up, laptop’s screen is fixed just quite a week after being brought in for repair. And I found the receipt earlier today after quite—but just quite—the hassle last month). It’s also a bit snappier now that I’ve uninstalled the preinstalled antivirus. Yeah, it took me to come across a Linus Tech Tips video saying that Windows Defender or whatever it’s called now is good enough. That also means I still have the freebie Trendmicro installs available. Will be holding off longer for the ram or ssd upgrade.

Phones

In “need” of a top-tier phone, and giving up on official availability of Xperia Compacts, my choices are down to the Xperia XZ1, LG G6, and Nokia 8. I even made a rating system. It was quite a battle, but alas, I’m going for the one that scored lowest. Win for brand affinity. I kinda sealed the decision by ordering an Xperia casing hope holding off until the local release of the XZ2 would bring a good price drop.

And speaking of the XZ2, props again to Sony for completing their small-medium-large lineup for this year.

On other phone stuff, Mama’s phone got a touch screen problem and I’m not really sure if 2,000 pesos to have it repaired is ok with me. it certainly isn’t ok with her, but the need for fixed stuff makes it difficult for me. haha.

Autodesk Updates

Yep, work stuff. Autodesk released this year’s software versions (2019). We’ve also started migration to the subscription model with my AutoCAD license/subscription and 4 of our Building Design Suite licenses—now AEC Collection Subscriptions. Kinda sucks how it’s changed to that, however, I guess it sucks because it’s pricier. If you think about it, it’s not so different from the Office 365 model I’m quite happy about.

Action Figures

MAFEX JL Superman arrived aroung the time of Superman’s 80^th anniversary. It’s actually more of a proper BvS Superman. I can now do that Dawn of Justice display. Kinda off, though, that the Wonder Woman figure, especially because of the face sculpt, becomes the least pleasing figure of the three. I found its better angle, though—focus on the left (her left) side of her face.

And about displays, Thad's youtube channel concept diorama suggestion is pending implementation. Yeah, I’ll have to get back to him on that soon. I also have to do that illustration board photoshoot backdrop idea soon. Good thing I got some space cleared on the drafting/hobby table.

Superhero Stuff

DCTV shows, Legends of Tomorrow is done for the season, the others are ending soon, and Supergirl returns. i got quite busy halfway through the month so episodes to watch have piled up. Oh, and Agents of SHIELD’s also probably coming to a series finale.

New Deadpool and Venom trailers are out but it’s really all about Infiniy War these days. And so, Infinity War. Wow. That was heavy, and it was oddly good despite its weight. Yeah, another MCU win.

Super Quick Notes

Agents of SHIELD, Flash, and Legends catchup as well as Arrow.

Considering LG G6 and Sony Mobile Center in Glorietta is no more.Oh, and I got my Oreo update for my XA1.

ASUS laptop is for repair under warranty and we got to ask (at metropoint) regarding T100 repair.

Major Windows update soon and got Office 365 renewed.

Toys R Us US is closing but asian leg isn’t affected. Still sad.

And MAFEX Superman hasn’t arrived.

Unity and Completion

I don’t think and can’t really check if I’ll cover all geekery stuff I encountered this month. These turned out quite a lot, though.

Computing

AMD Ryzen with Vega graphics reviews are up and they’re positive. I can’t wait for the mobile parts to see how they match Intel Core with Vega graphics. Wow, nVidia’s kinda left out here, but I’m sure they’ll be back in the game soon, hopefully also to work with AMD and Intel in dropping prices and reviving the PC industry.

In relation to mobile computing, Yonni's Youtube channel is up and his interest in getting a new laptop soon triggered excitement in me. purchase consultation. Bwahahaha. What kinda sucks is how Mhae and my laptop still has that horizontal line across it’s screen.

Superhero Universes

Quickly, Black Panther was much better than I feared. No overanticipation there.

My interest in Marvel Legends X-Men 90's/cartoon costume (mostly Jim Lee) versions was triggered. Good thing, the cost and difficulty in getting started (Jean Grey is now quite rare) has stopped me already.

As for the better DC live action universe/s, shows are on hiatus I think due to the superbowl. Legends of Tomorrow is back, though.

And in DC toys, an occasion of getting to see JLU on tv when I had difficulty falling asleep got me thinking of making a hybrid Justice League set with DC Collectibles CW Green Arrow, Flash, Martian Manhunter, and Hawkgirl, in addition to my already acquired/pre-ordered MAFEX Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman. Not in scale, though, so that would make it even more of hybrid. Green Arrow of course replaces Green Lantern to get something quite close to the Justice League Cartoon lineup. Holding off decision until after Superman arrives and putting chance of availability in play.

Cellphones

A quick side-shift to phones, MWC 2018 happened and the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ were introduced as well as the Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact. Still think Sony’s Compact line is great with everyone else giving just a Plus flagship “variant”. Or maybe the vanilla flagships are actually their “compacts”? Eitherway, hope this year’s Xperia Compact becomes officially available here this time.

Transformers

Probably the biggest Hascon and Toyfair news is the end of the Bayverse / impending movie series reboot and Hasbro taking over the Power Rangers toy license except for Japan and some countries.

But that’s not the most important Transformers thing to happen. Springer took long, and after a trip to the post office without the claim card, I finally got him! I put him on the display first because the picture taking will take a lot of time.

Turtles

Oh, I almost got to finally get the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reissues, but I arrived (once again, and more by circumstance than choice) with the decision to not get them. I discovered availability in MOA but (a week) later found out they only had Leonardo and Donatello. In a way, getting Leonardo and Donatello now means I got all 4 turtles at different points in my life—got Michaelangelo and that spinning Raphael as a kid. I guess I’m a completionist, and although it would be quite true eitherway, I’m sticking (for now) with my decision. Haha.

New Versions

Hobby Stuff and Transformers

In addition to ebay, o found Facebook pages to be pretty good sites for hobby stuff. I found the JL Movie Superman still available for preorder in one Facebook page. Also, i finally decided to get the Generations Arcee since the facebook page and contact was accomodating and still had the former ebay posting still available. And with that, I decided to get the rest of “Team Ultra Magnus” / complete the Generations version of the ’86 movie poster…at least the 5 in the foreground.

I’ve ordered Springer (ebay) and am expecting shipment arrival mid-February. I got Blurr at toy kingdom, and Kup, I got at Greattoysonline Pasay branch. In about 2 weeks, I’ll resume the many toy photoshoots I’ve been having a lot of recently. Good thing I got to pause that.

The Titans Return CG cartoon was made available in Youtube and I got through watching it. It’s really the nostalgia of seeing SOME of the classic characters in official animation and in a different story loosely(?) related to the ongoing toyline.

On the Gundam side of things, RG Tallgeese has been announced and HGAW Leo. Ack. Too bad I’m not into that scale and unlike the Transformers collection above, I don’t think I’ll be getting into it anymore.

Harddrives and Backups

In the spirit of keeping old things new, I’m going on with my quite ellaborate schem of backups and archives at work. It was nerdtasting to receive the 4GB drives and even more when the 6GB drives arrived.

There was quite a day spent in trying to fix Fed’s PC after a boot fail (probably caused by but I’m guessing coincidentally with) the attempted partition resizing. Image backups and not getting bcd system partitions stuff was a confusing experience until I tapped out and let IT reformat and reinstall Windows. At least I’ve been having better luck with mhae and my laptop’s partition resize. (Although it now has a screen problem that’s still under warranty.)

Gadgets

I finally got a good casing for my XA1. It’s quite a shame that I didn’t get this as soon as I got the phone. Now, it’s really to hide the scratches and not to preserve the phone from getting any scratch on the backside. I still can't get a rubber screen protector, but I’m pleasantly satisfied with the good results in my second try in cutting a "classic" matte screen protector. Of course, the included screen protector with the casing was a big help along with a more focused mind when cutting.

LTE sim upgrades from Smart and Sun finally had me using the 3310 3G mhae and I got before Christmas. The hipster feel is great. Haha. I’ll be missing the C2-00, though, especially it’s PC connectivity—something that’s really a shame not to have in the new 3310.

And on the available model updates to my current phones, the Xperia XA2 has been announced and reviewed and it looks like an upgrade candidate should I decide to not get a warranty-less XZ1 Compact. Also, the 3310 4G was unveiled (without my USB Type C prediction, though) but is still currently just for the Chinese market.

“TV” and Movies

After returning from the midseason breaks, I actually had to catchup with Arrowverse and Agents of SHIELD episodes. Still hooked, so that’s good. I kinda lost the pace with South Park. Big Bang Theory episodes are getting more meh, but the Sheldon series has a hearty feeling so those offerings (going hand-in-hand) are still much appreciated.

I don’t think I’ll do the MCU marathon and just watch black panther when it comes out. Mhae and I missed Pitch Perfect 3 and we both didn’t really anticipate Jumanji, so our first movie this year will be in February.