HOOQ, iFlix or Netflix?

Netflix recently launched its Philippine division. Netflix is very popular in the US and we’ve handle quite a number of calls from customers that streams movies and TV shows via Netflix. Prior to the launch of Netflix Philippines, two other companies launched their online streaming service – iFlix and HOOQ.

All three companies offered a month of free trial so that we could experience watching TV shows and movies the legal way. So I did try all these streaming services and I believe iFlix is the best of the 3.

The picture gets pixilated at higher window size on HOOQ. Another problem with HOOQ is that, it’s only offered to new subscribers of Globelines. Grandfathered customer like me (who still has the old plan of 7GB/month) must update to their new plan in order to get HOOQ. It’s also not offered as a stand-alone package, unlike iFlix.

HOOQ uses Silverlight, which is a Microsoft product that works on Internet Explorer. HOOQ is not yet compatible with Chrome.

The video quality of iFlix is better than HOOQ (that goes pixilated when viewed in higher window size.

iFlix offer more TV shows and films than HOOQ or Netflix.

iFlix is available for P129 pesos a month.

Netflix requires a credit card so that you could enjoy the free trial, unlike iFlix and HOOQ. The titles that I like are fewer on Netflix than iFlix.

Netflix shows are not yet personalized to the Philippine market. Also, it’s selection (the ones I like) are fewer than iFlix. Lastly, the subscription per month is more expensive than iFlix.

The lowest Netflix subscription is at P370 pesos, followed by P450 and P550 per month, depending on the number of devices and HD availability.

Technorati Tags: Netflix,iFlix,HOOQ

How To Do An IP Release and Renew

Sometimes, if you have multiple devices at home, you’ll encounter ip address conflict. This is when releasing and renewing an ip address comes in handy. This is also helpful in reconnecting your computer to your local network (modem or router). It’s similar to rebooting your computer to gain a new ip address from the router without the boot time.

Sometimes, you also need to do a manual ip address release and renew like if there’s a power interruption, you moved your desktop computer to a new location, you have a new router or you you just need to reconfigure you home network.*

On your Windows computer, you can search for CMD (the shortcut for Command Prompt) and when you open it, you’ll get a black window that is similar to DOS (of the past).

Do an ipconfig or ipconfig/all on command prompt first. You can also type ipconfig(space)/all which also works but of course, you want to give the simplest instruction to your customers.

Type ipconfig/release on command prompt. Again, it works even with a space between ipconfig and / but again, simplest instruction works best. You can advise customer that it’s just one word – ipconfig/release.

Finally, type ipconfig/renew to gain a new ip address from the router.

Would you believe that this Windows command has a Macintosh equivalent?

Mac OS X Yosemite, Mac OS X Mavericks and Mac OS X Mountain Lion*

1. Close any open Internet applications (web browsers, email, etc.).
2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Network.
3. Select your service that uses DHCP (such as Ethernet or WiFi) in the network connection services list.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Click TCP/IP.
6. Click Renew DHCP Lease.
7. Open a web browser and attempt to connect to the Internet.

*Source

Technorati Tags: Command Prompt,ipconfig