Features

This is how you survive a Comic Con

A survival guide

Published

November 3, 2022

Luigi Leonardo

NYCC 2022 on a Friday

Going to a Comic Con is the pinnacle of a geek’s fandom. More than a simple gateway for all things comic books, conventions are now bastions for everything you can find in pop culture including anime, gaming, television, and film. Surrounded by a throng of cosplayers, celebrities, exhibitors, and geeks, it’s a paradise, a surreal experience.

Back in 2018, I attended my first New York Comic Con. Having just moved into the city, I was little more than a tourist, gleefully taking in the sights and sounds. There’s nothing brighter than a geek’s grin. It was the first time I felt one with a larger community who understood my quirky tastes.

Now, five years and three conventions later, I’ve grown a tiny bit wiser. Though the touristy sparkle has since left my eyes, I still approach each show with the same level of excitement while navigating the labyrinth of a show floor perhaps more adeptly than when I first started.

I am, of course, not an expert at everything at Comic Con. However, while other people might tell you the best way to haggle down a price for an extremely rare comic book or charm exhibitors into bringing out some secret stock, I can tell you how to make the most of your experience, especially if it’s your first time.

Never go over your budget.

This is one of the first lessons I’ve learned even before going to a single Con. While I was in line for a ticket to my first event, a more seasoned goer shared a tip with me, in hopes of saving me a lot of hassle going into my first time. “Set a budget, and never go over it,” he said. I never got his name, but his tip is one that I always hold close to my heart (and my wallet) before every major event. So, thank you, kind stranger!

A Comic Con, particularly the show floor, has dozens of exhibitors ready to peddle their wares. Most are definitely worth pulling your wallet out for. However, it’s exceedingly easy to lose track of your expenses amid all the sweet loot you’ve already bagged. Before entering those hallowed halls, set a budget that works with what you’re willing to part with.

Also, keep browsing. While one booth might offer a 20 percent discount for a sweet book, another might offer you 30 percent off. Unless it’s an item that’s flying off the shelves, there’s no harm in coming back once you’ve looked around more.

NYCC 2022 on a Sunday

Plan and pick the best day to go.

Most Cons happen across multiple days leading to a weekend. Not every Con offers all days with every pass. Some, like the New York Comic Con, has tickets that correspond to each day. Regardless of whether you have a four-day pass or only for a single one, it’s important to know which days are the best to go to.

Obviously, if you’re looking for the most excitement, the first day — which, in the New York Comic Con’s case, is Thursday — is always the best day. A lot of the more hardcore fans take the time off just to go to the Con. On a similar note, other goers can’t skip work, so you’re looking at a relatively smaller crowd. Also, nothing has sold out yet. At the very least, you’ll only hit daily caps, and you’ll have to go back another day.

The in-between days, Friday and Saturday, offer a different type of excitement. In my experience, most of the big panels and signings happen on either day. A lot of people are off work, so the crowd is identifiably larger. You’ll likely find yourself standing in line a lot more. It’s a trade-off, but it’s likely worth it if you want to experience the most that the Con has to offer.

Finally, Sunday, the most underrated day for goers. Because a lot of people go on either Friday or Saturday, most are way too tired to go on Sunday. It’s also historically called family day because families take their kids on this day. It’s a more laidback experience with smaller crowds. Also, because this is the last day, exhibitors usually want to get rid of their stock a lot more quickly. Expect bigger discounts and easier negotiating. This year, I even nabbed a new mechanical keyboard for 50 percent off 20 minutes before the Con ended.

Bring your own food.

After walking around the floor for half a day, the last thing you want to do is stand in line for another hour for a bite to eat. Besides saving your wallet from more expenses, you’re also saving your feet from the pain by bringing your own food to a Con.

Get something easy to eat, too. Free benches are scarce with everyone else resting their feet. An easy bite, like a sandwich, means you can easily eat while sitting on the floor or standing up.

Similarly, bring your own bottle of water. Walking around all day, especially when it’s hot, can dehydrate you.

Take photos but ask respectfully first.

Another constant of a Con is the huge crowd of cosplayers. From easy, ready-to-wear suits to impressive builds, it’s always a sight to see while walking through the show floor. Don’t worry; they appreciate the attention. If you find a costume or character that you’re particularly enamored with, you can stop them and ask for a photo. You might even get a chance to talk to them about how they made their cosplay.

Of course, ask for a photo respectfully. There will be particularly revealing costumes out and about. While they appreciate the attention, a cosplayer with a skimpy outfit isn’t a goer’s permission to be weird.

Also, you might bump into famous personalities on the floor. Again, approach them respectfully if you want a photo.

Buy more than just collectibles.

While this connects to the first tip, the absurd variety of goodies at a Comic Con needs its own bullet point. The main show floor is filled with the standard fare of geeky delights like Funko Pops, posters, and — of course — comic books. As tempting as they all are, there’s more to love at the Con.

For example, the New York Comic Con has an Artist’s Alley, another hall dedicated to acclaimed and independent comic writers and artists. Signatures are naturally on the table. However, it’s a lot more memorable to grab remarques (custom sketches on a comic book’s cover) or even commissioned art from your favorite artists. I even got a mini portrait of my cat from webcomic creator Hannah Hillam!

Another interesting purchase is a ticket to an external show outside of Comic Con. Not every event can happen inside the halls of the convention center. Some special events, like parties and bigger exhibitions, can happen outside both the venue and the usual times allotted for the Con.

It’s cliché to say this, but the best way to enjoy a Con is to just have fun. Outside of the event’s schedule, no one can really anticipate how much fun they can get out of a multiple-day convention. If you find yourself wandering on a show floor, just take in the sights, and revel in the fact that you’re with people who understand.

Related Topics:New York Comic Con 2022 NYCC 2022

Tutorials

How to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone

It’s as easy as a single tap.

Published

August 4, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Apple Pay is officially in the Philippines!

Pushing the country forward into a cashless and cardless future, Apple has now brought its contactless payment system to the Philippines. As with other countries, Apply Pay will work seamlessly and easily even for those who have problems with technology.

Now, despite how easy it is, sometimes we need to be pointed in the right direction. Here’s how you can set up Apple Pay on your iPhone:

Everything starts with the Wallet app. First, open your Wallet app. Tap the “+” button on the top and select “Debit or Credit Card.”

Normally, this is where you can input your card details (which you can still do, by the way), but the default method now is to just tap your card on the back of your iPhone. Your phone does the rest. You might need to confirm with your bank, but it’s as easy as a single tap.

Pick which cards to use. Once you have your cards online, you might need to change which one is the default card. Again, it’s easy. Just drag your preferred card to the front.

Afterwards, you can tap to pay in supported stores by priming the Wallet app for use. Tapping to pay is also available for Apple Watch. Meanwhile, online transactions can also work on MacBook.

Secure, all the time. If you’re worried about your security especially with online transactions, Apple keeps your information only between you and the seller. They don’t store your data.

Also, it’s not easy to make a transaction without your consent. You need Face ID, Touch ID, or your password. If you lose your phone, you can easily shut your phone down with the Find My app to prevent malicious parties from making transactions.

Accessories

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: From a videographer’s perspective

Better tracking, fewer buttons

Published

August 4, 2026

Deric Claveria

DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.

The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.

Freedom behind the lens

The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.

On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.

FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.

ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.

It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.

None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.

And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.

The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.

The trade-offs in touch

The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.

DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.

You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.

Finding your ideal workflow

The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.

If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.

Price, availability

DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.

Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.

Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.

If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.

Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.

Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.

And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.

Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.

Features

GadgetSnaps: Westminster Abbey

A thousand years of history, unfolded with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

Published

August 4, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Westminster Abbey isn’t just another stop on the London tourist trail.

It’s the stage for coronations, royal weddings, and burials that span nearly a thousand years, all still playing out under the same vaulted ceilings that have been standing since before most countries had names.

Once you get past the crowds and the audio guides, a quieter version of the abbey starts to show itself: worn stone steps, poets resting a few feet from kings, light that shifts across the nave like it’s in on the performance too.

While losing track of time in Poets’ Corner (yes, me, playing amateur historian for an afternoon), I unfolded the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and decided the abbey deserved more than a quick tourist snap.