Its key features include an automatic display of daily tasks, programmed custom reports, real-time case tracking, and an audit log that captures case history.

The new system, which also aims to improve data systems across localities and regions, is expected to save staff time, streamline the reporting process, reduce human errors, and increase the judiciary’s accountability.

The launch, held at the Hall of Justice of Valenzuela City, was attended by Chief justice Renato C. Corona, Associate justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro, PhilJa chancellor Adolfo S. Azcuna, court administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, US Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines democracy and governance officer Catherine Hamlin, and USAID senior program manager Gerry Porta.

The computerization project was initiated by the SC and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) and funded by the USAID.

The pilot small claims project was launched in 44 trial courts in selected urban areas of the Philippines in October 2008. As a result, around 6,000 small claims cases have been filed during the project’s first nine months, of which 3,547 cases have been decided.

On average, cases are heard four months after a litigant files a small claims case while the hearing and the decision itself takes only one day. In comparison, traditional courts normally need three to four years to resolve incoming civil cases.

Smart’s FB Java app works on over 2,500 low-cost phone models {see list here}.

To download, just text FB to 211. You will get a confirmation SMS with the link to the download page.

The service is free until October 14, 2011. Smart did not indicate how much they will charge after that but it’s possible the Php20 FB-all-you-want can be used here.

Globe also announced a similar Java app yesterday. To download their app, just text FB to 2910 to get the link.

You will need to use the MyGlobe Connect APN settings in order to use it for free (else you get charged the normal rates). The service is also free until October 31, 2011.

The Smart Bro Rocket uses a Huawei E353 HSPA+ USB dongle.

The new dongle is available for prepaid users with a retail price of Php3,995 (will be available by Friday next week).

The same Smart Bro loading system works and the same rates apply (Php10 per 30 minutes). Smart currently has 154 base stations capable of delivering HSPA+ speeds so it’s still limited to Metro Manila and key provincial cities like Cebu and Davao.

The tests were conducted from July 4 to 6, 2011 in 100 test locations nationwide.

The tool used to measure the data was Speedtest.net and the text server is located in San Francisco, USA (SF Monkey Brains server). Average speed test is taken from a sample of 5 tests.

Here’s the summary of the test done by NESIC:

- Smart is faster in 99 of the 100 test locations.

- 2.66Mbps highest peak speed for SmartBro (tested in Plantation Bay Resort)

- 1.23Mbps peak speed average for Smart Bro vs. 0.23Mbps of Globe Tattoo

- Average of 1Mbps faster in 47 of 100 locations.

- Average of 1.5Mbps faster in locations.

- Cebu has highest average speed difference of 1.38Mbps vs. Globe Tattoo

- Tondo, Manila has highest average speed difference of 2.29Mbps vs. Globe Tattoo.

Globe actually beat Smart Bro in only 1 of the 100 test locations (that’s at the Matutina Restaurant in Dagupan).

Smart’s network has been upgraded to HSPA+ as well with 3,116 base stations on HSPA 7.2Mbps and 154 base stations on HSPA+ 21Mbps.

It is interesting to note that NESIC was also used by Globe Telecom to do a similar test last year.

“We are very excited to be launching SMS capabilities in Gmail Chat today,” said Myriam Boublil, Head of Communications and Public Affairs of Google Southeast Asia.

“SMS in Gmail Chat will bring a new level of flexibility and mobility to Gmail users in the Philippines. With more than 70 million mobile subscribers in the Philippines and the country being the SMS capital of the world, we think this service will allow for seamless integration between mobile and PC communication and make it more convenient for Pinoys to send each other messages,” he said.

Gmail users need only to send an instant message from the new SMS box in Gmail’s chat window. Recipients can reply with a text message from their mobile phone (standard network charges will apply), which will appear on the sender’s Gmail interface.

The text messages may also be archived like chat messages.

Initially, a user can send up to 50 messages continuously.

Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular welcomed the new service.

“We are constantly innovating and exploring new avenues of communication as part of our mission to put the power of the Internet into the hands of every Filipino. Our partnership with Google is proof of Smart’s commitment to continuously provide relevant services to Filipinos here and abroad,” said Orlando Vea, Chief Wireless Advisor for Smart.

“Globe Telecom has always pursued new ways to delight our customers. With our partnership with Google, our subscribers can now enjoy sending text messages on their computers and laptops through their Gmail accounts,” said Glenn Estrella, Head for Digital Media of Globe.

“Not only will it add to our robust suite of digital applications that allow our customers to communicate from PC to mobile phone, it will also make messaging from the computer more convenient with the accessibility of Gmail and without the need to install additional software.”

Francisco L. Arana III, Vice President of Product Development, International Services, VAS & Innovations of Sun Cellular, said, “We are pleased to be part of this partnership with Google for Gmail-to-SMS, which can help us provide our customers more ways to communicate and reach their families and contacts anywhere in the world. With Gmail-to-SMS, we can give our customers an innovative way to communicate by only using the Gmail account.”

The memorandum order, which the powerful regulatory body formally issued on Monday, compels broadband service providers to specify the minimum Internet connection speed and service reliability, as well as service rates in their advertisements and service level agreements.

The circular said that the acceptable minimum service reliability is 80 percent.

“The service offers shall specify the service rates for a minimum broadband/Internet connection speed and the service reliability. For example: a broadband service provider can offer P900.00/month for 512Kbps minimum connection speed and 80 percent service reliability, or P1,000.00/month for 512Kbps minimum connection speed and 85 percent service reliability, or P1,000/month for 1Mbps minimum connection speed and 80 percent reliability, etc.” the circular explained.

The NTC said it issued the circular to correct the practice of service providers who are specifying only the maximum speed in their broadband offerings.

The agency also said a minimum speed was necessary since various broadband wireless technologies differ in transmission characteristics, with mobile Internet access being the most vulnerable in signal fading more than fixed and fixed wireless Internet access.

The NTC order warned that failure on the part of a broadband service provider to comply is a ground for the filing of an administrative case.

The circular is expected to take effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

You see, our ability to work around the problem is impressive. So in honor of the ingenious Pinoys, we introduce you to some of the world’s best breakthrough inventions and innovations that are 100% made by our very own kababayans. Thumbs up to you, chong!

1.The water car

“Nothing is impossible” might be Filipino inventor Daniel Dingel’s motto while he is creating his water-powered car back in 1969. How it works seems technical yet reading this might give you a pinch of idea. The vehicle uses regular fuel to start its engine. Afterwards, regular water will come rushing to the reactor which is split into two compartments. The mix will then result into combustion, propelling the car.
The invention was initially suspected to be a hoax. However, Mr. Dingle proved its capability as he drove from Manila to Cavite with 15 liters of water and only half a liter of gasoline. Officials of Department of Science and Technology later on dismissed accusations against Dingel’s water-powered car. We bet Metro Manila the whole country will have much cleaner air once everyone hits this kind of car!

2. Lighting system that revives busted lamps

Got busted lamps? Don’t throw it away yet! New World Technology, Inc. developed a system called Nutec Lighting System that can revive and prolong the life of busted fluorescent lamps for up to seven years. Filipino inventor and the company’s President Eric Ngo and his partner invented a high-tech starter that can revive the busted lamps. The invention lets you save money and results in less waste since you don’t have to replace your bulbs that often.

3. Videophone

We can’t totally say but Skype might have a run for its money if it started in the 50s. A Batangueño and renowned Filipino engineer named Gregorio Zara actually invented the first-ever videophone or the two-way television telephone that he called the “photo phone signal separator network”. This lets its users transmit video and audio between conversations real-time through a telephone back in 1955. We bet you didn’t know that.

4. The artificial womb

Back when caesarian and painless deliveries aren’t that prominent yet, an alumnae of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine and Harvard University School of Medicine’s first Asian female student, Dr. Fe del Mundo, made remarkable studies that soon led to the invention of the incubator.

The incubator works by maintaining an environment like a mother’s womb with the right temperature and comfort suitable for newborns. Other functions include oxygenation, protection, observation, nutrition, medication and maintenance. Think of it as an artificial womb, outside of mothers.

5. Antibiotic for penicillin allergies

No doubt, antibiotics make us feel better but what if you have an allergy to it? Good thing Filipino scientist Dr. Abelardo Aguilar was able to discover erythromycin, an antibiotic from the Aspergillus species of fungi in 1949. Erythromycin is used for patients who are allergic to penicillin and became its alternative. It was allegedly registered under the name of Iloson in honor of Iloilo where it was discovered and said to be the first successful macrolide antibiotic introduced in America.

6. The mole/wart remover

You know you will look more gwapo without that mole or wart yet you’re low on cash for a surgery. No need to worry, dude! Filipino scientist Rolando dela Cruz’s discovery will surely boost your pogi points. He formulated and enhanced a natural solution from the humble cashew nut (which is, by the way, abundant in our country) in 2000. This formula can eliminate deeply grown moles or warts leaving no marks and is said to be painless to the patients. Nice!

7. Vazbuilt’s instant abode

Want a house built in less than a month? Then better contact Edgardo “Kabahay” Vasquez! The World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Inventor of the Year in 1995 developed Vazbuilt, a modular housing system that makes building a house possible in lesser time and for a cheaper price. Its reported that this system uses prefabricated materials strong enough to endure storms, earthquakes, fire and even termites! And what’s cooler is that it’s made with lighter materials which means you can dismantle and reassemble your house if you want to redesign.

8. Single-chip graphical user interface accelerator

Pinoy engineer Diosdado Banatao introduced the first single-chip graphical user interface accelerator in the planet. His concept is responsible for bringing better speeds to our PCs. He also is instrumental in developing the Ethernet controller chip which made the Internet possible. Now we know why he’s called the Bill Gates of the Philippines.

9. Wonder water

If there will be a liquid that can actually help students prep for an exam, it will definitely be sold out in an instant! And that can happen for the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) “Tubig Talino”. The special water is said to help cure goiter, mental and physical abnormalities and inborn illnesses. The wonder liquid is also rich in iodine. In fact, daily consumption will give an adult enough iodine for his/her daily needs. That definitely gets a thumbs up from us!

For just P25, you’ll get Unlimited SMS to any network (Globe, TM, Smart, Talk ‘n Text, Sun and Red Mobile) plus 1 hour of mobile internet valid for 1 day.

Check Globe’s website for complete details and FAQs.

Text UALL25 to 8888

P1 maintaining balance is required to continue using the service.

Smart LAHATxt Unli 25

For only P25, Smart Buddy subscribers can text as much as you want to any network (Smart, Talk ‘n Text, Red, Globe, Touch Mobile, Sun).

Text LTU25 to 2266

The subscriber needs to maintain at least P1.00 airtime in order to enjoy using the package.

Check Smart’s website for complete details.

So there you have it. Globe users has the advantage here with the 1-hour free internet but Smart is having the promo for a longer time. Now if only they can also offer this on a per-week basis. Then maybe call to all networks next time.

P5 nalang ang unlitxt kada araw! Sa P150 mo, mayroon kang 30 days na unlimited text sa TNT/SMART/red! Para magregister sa UNLITXT150, i-text ang U150 sa 4545. Magmaintain ng P1 load. Available din sa eload.