There is a plethora of glossy magazines being churned out in the country today, from the pithy to the pitiable, covering topics of interest to the general public or to a specific interest group. In my opinion, those publications that have made it a point to focus on a niche are the ones that will find loyal readers.

One such magazine that was launched last 10 October 2008 is iCreate. It’s a publication that’s very narrow in focus, but wide in possibilities. To begin with, iCreate targets Mac enthusiasts and users of other Apple technologies. However, it also styles itself as a rich resource for those who are seriously considering a switch to the world of the Mac.

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Microsoft Corp. has released a very attractive financing plan for small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines. For a minimum purchase of P250,000 (VAT inclusive), any Filipino company is eligible to apply for this financing program from Microsoft Philippines.

It wasn’t mentioned in the official announcement, but this generous offer could most certainly be a response to SMEs’ clamor for more affordable business software applications.

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Google, ever attuned to the meanderings of the Web, has improved upon their already awesome Google Earth and Google Maps products. Last 7 October 2008, the Internet’s most influential organization launched MapMaker for the Philippines. As Jason Chuck, Google’s APAC Product Marketing Manager, put it during the product demo in Shangri-la Makati, MapMaker is a rich platform for user-generated content.

Hurray! At last, there’s now a way for Filipinos to create maps for their localities. I remember there was one time when I had to publish a locator map for an event, I had to take a snapshot of the area on Google Earth, then draw in the roads and landmarks using a 3rd-party graphics software. Now, by way of MapMaker, anyone with a Gmail account can freely attach various geographical data onto Google’s maps — and share this information with the world!

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