A few weeks ago, Sandbox officially went to public beta. I would like to explain what it is and what it is good for, but Jayvee of A Bugged Life has beaten me to the punch and has put it more eloquently, as quoted below.

What is Sandbox?
Sandbox is an online platform that allows anyone to connect with friends and share blog posts, photos and videos. Apart from this, Sandbox is also an online content store where you can buy music and games. So what sets it apart from other social networks? Sandbox is also locally developed and thus there is a continuous stream of offline fulfillment through giveaways, raffles and prizes.

In other words, Sandbox is in the business of building communities because not only is there interaction between your friends, there is also conversation between the developers and the users. In marketing terms, it isn’t just horizontal exchanges between consumers, but also vertically, where the product talks back and gives value to insights and suggestions from the community — alongside promotions and giveaways! – SOURCE

I was given the chance of participating in the private beta testing phase of Sandbox, and I have seen its growth and changes, from the very minute detail of a typo to the addition of a major feature. I wasn’t all impressed with it at first, but I can’t really blame the developers. It is, after all, in the very early stages of development.

Now, I’m the type of geek that gets his hands dirty without reading the manual first, so when I check the manual is when I find a bug. I look for answers first, and upon finding no documentation whatsoever, inform and suggest solution/s to the developers. After all, that’s what a beta tester is supposed to do.

Sandbox has two interfaces: web and mobile. Sandbox Web caters to the user that prefers accessing a site via a proper web browser (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, etc.), while Sandbox Mobile, also accessible via a computer’s web browser, is designed with the mobile-toting geek in mind. Sandbox Web is where most of the promotions and giveaways are found. From here, you can get free games, music, photos, etc. To get the free items, Sandbox will send a link to the mobile number you subscribed with upon joining. Unfortunately, you will need to be a Smart subscriber to be able to get those free items. Being Smart-powered, it wasn’t a surprise. Also, these free items aren’t available internationally.

Sandbox Mobile, when accessed using a web browser, displays three columns, but only displays the center column when accessed using a mobile phone. However, this interface is basically a skinned Mostyle interface, and the backend is also a customized Mostyle engine. Mostyle is a mobile site generation engine that simply asks for some information, and with a few clicks of the mouse, a mobile site is born. At least, that’s what I think it is. Currently, users are allowed to create up to two mobile sites.

In summary, Sandbox is a mega mashup of services and web apps. It tries to put together a number of social network sites into one big portal that is designed to be accessed on a mobile phone. It allows users to post status updates and blog entries, share videos and photos, and provide a markteplace of sorts for selling and buying stuff. It is still in beta, and a lot of features are being added as of this writing. Hopefully, all pending issues and bugs will be fixed when it goes gold. User adoption rates will basically dictate if this service, developed by Pinoys for Pinoys, will sink or swim.

Further reading:

• Smart Sandbox for Mobile Blogging by Juned Sonido
• Playing in the Sandbox by Ria Tirazona
• SMART’s Attempt At Social Networking by Ely Apao

Tax season is over. A few late filers may still be straggling behind, but the general consensus is that the public, the law-abiding citizens, have paid their dues. Although the public is entitled, they do not ask, so I think it is within my legal right to ask, “Where did my taxes go?”

Before I dive in, let me just reiterate that this is just pure speculation. In simpler words, this is a rant, in which I am legally allowed to express. Wait. Do we still have that right? No, don’t answer that. Anyway.

The Police
Not the band, but the ones hiding behind trees or lamp posts waiting for their victims traffic violators. I applaud them for being ever-vigilant in the fight against beating-the-red-light and no-right-turn-when-red-light. It is a most noble thing, what they are doing. But may I suggest one thing? Instead of waiting for someone to violate traffic rules and regulations, wouldn’t it be better to make sure that those violations are prevented? Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to suggest something that would cut back on your – *cough* allowance *cough*. Forget what I said. Please, do carry on.

The Anti-Smoke Belching Unit
This unit is pro-environment, which is a good thing. What they do is flag down vehicles that belches a lot of smoke, except that they don’t flag down public utility vehicles that do. I get what they want to do: extort money by inventing fictional ordinances and procedures so they can suck more money from vehicle owners clean up the environment. But isn’t that the reason there’s an emission test conducted before the vehicles get registered year after year? Oh wait, would that cut back on your – *cough* allowances *cough* – again? I’m sorry. Carry on.

Politicians
It doesn’t matter which level of government you’re in. As long as you are affiliated with the government, I loath applaud you. It is by you that the public is enlightened by the evils of sex videos and how much of a saint the participants are. It is also through you that the public may never set its eyes on written masterpieces subversive documents as you brilliantly killed the written word’s terrorist’s plans’ freedom to exist. I’m not going to suggest anything. You’re screwing up doing well enough as it is.

I think I’ve mentioned enough people where my taxes go. I wish I could give more money to them. It’s only fitting for all the hard work they do. If only they could imagine the one finger I’m holding up for all of them.