Mellisa Tolentino

Mellisa Tolentino started at SiliconANGLE covering the mobile and social scene. Over the years, her scope expanded to Bitcoin as well as the Internet of Things. SiliconANGLE gave Mellisa her break in writing and it has been an adventure ever since. She’s from the sunny country of Philippines where people always greet you with the warmest smile. If she’s not busy writing, she loves reading, watching TV series and movies, but what she enjoys the most is playing or just chilling on the couch with with her three dogs Ceecee, Ginger, and Rocky.

Latest from Mellisa Tolentino

TXTPay to revolutionize Bitcoin payments in the Philippines

Because Bitcoin is a digital currency one could be mistaken for assuming it’s only useful in technologically advanced countries. But if anything, it could be that third-world countries which rely on remittances from migrant workers will be among the first to see widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies. Take for instance the Philippines, a country plagued with ...

Swiss spooks consider using Bitcoin to pay informants

Informants play a critical part in criminal investigations, and so law enforcement officers are often willing to pay other criminals for information. But while being an informant does have its perks, it can also be very dangerous – thus, few will talk unless they’re getting something out of it. And in many cases, that’s money. ...

IoT gets new platform for developers, funding and more

This week’s Smart DevOps roundup features a fresh round of seed funding to create an Internet of Things (IoT) application ecosystem, an advanced software platform for the global distribution of IoT deployments, and a new IoT developer platform.  . relayr gets $2.3M funding   relayr has secured a $2.3 million round of funding from unnamed ...

The best of #bendgate: iPhone 6’s weakest link

Steve Jobs must be rolling over his grave right now over #bendgate, the hashtag assigned to the new iPhone 6’s easily bending aluminum frame. The Apple, Inc. founder was known for his poor handling of iPhone launch issues, throwing fuel on a social media fire that merely amplified the original problem. In a press conference back ...

How Big Data will drive smart building adoption

This week’s Smart City roundup features some fresh ways in which Big Data is becoming the driving force behind smart building adoption, Cisco’s blueprint plans for smart cities, and a dedicated platform for enterprise apps and devices.  . Big Data will drive smart building adoption   Frost & Sullivan Inc. released a new report entitled “Big Data ...

A modular TV that tracks your health

This week’s Smart Health roundup features a healthy round of funding for iHealth Lab, a television that does more than entertain you, and a fresh effort to help people with food allergies better enjoy their dining experiences.  . iHealth Lab’s healthy round of funding   iHealth Lab Inc. has secured a healthy amount of funding from ...

BlackBerry Passport vs. iPhone 6, Galaxy S5 and others

BlackBerry Ltd. is not out of the mobile race. In an effort to prove its relevance, the Canadian company has unveiled the BlackBerry Passport, its latest smartphone. BlackBerry will be hosting a series launch events today in London, Dubai and Toronto. The device is set to be available immediately, within one or two weeks after the launch ...

Butterfly Labs shut down for scamming Bitcoin miners

The Federal Trade Commission has taken Butterfly Labs, Inc. to court, accusing it of scamming would be Bitcoin miners over the sale of mining equipment. Butterfly Labs has been in the hot seat since last year when it was revealed those who bought its ASIC Bitcoin mining gear either received their merchandise extremely late (costing ...

IoT gets battery-free chips, smarter cars and tags

This week’s Smart Living roundup features a rechargeable item tracking device, a battery-free chip, and cars that adjust to your personal preferences.  . Tintag   A great day can easily turn sour when you can’t find the keys to your car or house, just as you’re headed out the door. The advent of the Internet of ...

What you missed in the Smart World: Siri clones for a myriad of devices, and more

This past week’s Smart World Series features a GPS tracker in your home, a pain-free way to monitor blood glucose levels, how the Internet of Things (IoT) is drastically shaking up today’s reality, and a platform that allows developers to put Siri clones in apps and devices. For those who missed last week’s Smart World ...