I have followed the technology news site The Verge for quite
some time now. Apart from the gadget reviews and the current news on
technology, I am also enamored by the feature “What’s In Your Bag?” which
features the things that editors brought along with them on a daily basis. I
also found a tumblr that features something along the lines of what someone
brings on a daily basis. Those two websites have inspired me to make a “What’s
In Your Bag?” for myself.
The Bag
My bag is
kind of a parting gift from my friend from university, Juju. I had borrowed it
since our sophomore year in university and when I finally returned it on our
last day in university he said that he’d give it to me and that (to paraphrase
him) “it didn’t fit his current style palette”. It’s made of tough canvas and
has many pockets and compartments in it. It’s large enough for my iPad plus some
paperbacks or magazines I’d have with me The compartments come in handy to
separate my electronics from the other stuff; the outer pockets are handy for
the little things that I need to access quickly (my phone, for example.)
Electronics
iPad 2 16GB Wifi Only
Despite
having received comments such as “your iPad is boring”, my iPad is my
entertainment center as well as my work station: I have many half-read ebooks
in it, as well as Engadget Distro, e-magazines from the Engadget website. I don’t
put music in it because I have music on both my phones and I need the space for
apps. When I’m not typing out my thoughts in Pages, I’d be sketching and
designing in my favorite app, Autodesk Sketchbook. I don’t normally play games
except for Monster Pet Shop; what little games I have in here are mostly for
others who would like to play with my iPad.
Nokia 500
I reverted
back to my 500 after my Lumia 800 was stolen. I don’t know about you out there
but I do consider this a smartphone; Belle is a pleasure to use and the OS is
simple enough for me to use. The 5MP shooters excellent for landscapes, I
updated the font to Nokia Pure by myself, and the apps that I need are all in
this simple but brilliant phone. I can surf the web, listen to music all day
long, and at the end of the day there’s still battery life to spare for a one
hour call.
Sony Xperia X10
What made
me attracted to the X10 was its design aesthetics, its angular build and sturdy
construction (the same reason I am having a renewed love for the current lineup
of Sony phones). This is my cameraphone: I used to lug around my Canon EOS 1000D
but after purchasing the X10 I can leave the DSLR at home and shoot with the
8.1MP shooter.
I don’t
mind the sluggishness but what I do mind is when I exit from an app it doesn’t
seem to be fully off. It is still running in the background. This is what I don’t
like with the X10. I have experienced Belle OS, iOS, and also Windows Phone 7.5
and neither of those OSes have this problem.
Lady Gaga Heartbeats
These are
the first edition on the Heartbeats earbuds by Lady Gaga; I prefer this to the
newer, more S&M themed pair. I bought it dirt-cheap because it was already
a year after this pair of earbuds was launched; the new edition put up right
beside this pair further pushed down the price. I don’t see the problem that
reviews have written about the fit of the earbuds; they fit nicely into my
ears. Being a Gaga fan myself, I guess those who complained about them don’t
have ears of a Monster. One fact that I have been able to verify is that these
buds were designed with Gaga’s songs in mind; other songs sound nice with them
but Gaga’s own songs are noticeably “enhanced” by these earbuds.
Accessories
Wayfarers
These days
the Sun seems to be intensifying in light and heat. A good pair of shades keeps
the UV arrows away from my corneas. I “inherited” my dad’s all-black wayfarers when
I was 10 and have been in love with them ever since. I have cycled through
quite a few pairs of wayfarers because of my tendency to sit on them and snap
them in half. I keep my dad’s wayfarers at home as it’s a vintage and a
keepsake. Who knows I’d pass it down to my own stylish kids down the road?
Garnier Light Oil Control Moisturizer
This is a
recent purchase and a pleasant departure from the other moisturizers that I
have used. This moisturizer is for quick touchups on sweaty days. It has a light
texture and it works REALLY well to control oil secretions, a problem that has
plagued me since puberty.
Hairbrush
My hair has
always been rough and unruly and now that I have long hair it is more so. A hairbrush
a day keeps the tangles away :D
Life
Vogue September 2012
It’s still
September, right? I haven’t quite finished reading this 916-page behemoth,
because I keep getting distracted by the advertisements. Vogue (and any other fashion
magazines, for the matter) is a great source for excellent photography via the
ads; Vogue itself is also a good source of great writings (which I myself am
quite surprised). The people pieces are a delight to read and a magazine like
this is also a way for me to brush up on my language.
Paperback Novels
I have
borrowed books from the library since I was a little boy; I find no reason to
buy them because I don’t tend to re-read the books after all (with exceptions,
of course). I keep these books close by as a great way to pass the time while
commuting and also for toilet breaks. I keep two in case I get bored with the
other.
Notebook and Pen
Face it,
who likes it when our electronics fail to help us in times of need? A notebook
and pen always serve as a trusty backup plan when it’s not practical and/or convenient
to whip out the iPad to jot something down. It also serves as a great place to
doodle when I’m bored with both of my paperbacks.
There it is, what is in my bag. What’s in YOUR bag? J
