A Wi-Fi Enabled Camera? Meet the Samsung WB150F Long Zoom Camera

Samsung Philippines announced the launch of the Wi-Fi enabled long zoom camera, the WB150F, which was just announced last January at CES 2012. The Samsung WB150F enhances the advanced optical zoom and image quality that the WB range is known for, with Wi-Fi capability to facilitate sharing and saving of images – wherever you are in the world. Housed in a compact, light and durable body, the new zoom camera from Samsung makes the perfect travel companion.

Featuring the Smart Wi-Fi technology, users won't have to look for confusing cables just to transfer their photos. Imagine taking a photo at a local Starbucks shop and uploading it easily to your Facebook and account without even having to open your computer!

This camera also have 18x optical super zoom that will make capturing small objects super easy, without sacrificing the very good details that usually happens on cameras which uses digital zoom. Plus, the WB150F is equipped with a 14.2 Megapixels resolution that in turn, you may view on it's 3-inch LCD display.

“Sharing photographs taken with friends and family is one of the most enjoyable aspects of travelling. It’s about more than simply capturing memories – it’s an integral part of the experience itself. Listening to our customers, we understood that being able to conserve memory by sharing images instantly was what was missing from the high-quality cameras that they trust. With this in mind, we added ground-breaking Wi-Fi functions to our travel zoom camera, building on the brilliant image quality that high-quality sensors and zoom lenses provide - now with the ability to store and share like never before.”, Mr. Ariel T. Arias, Business Unit Head of the Audio-Visual Group said.

Shoot Unforgettable Moments in HD
The WB150F is also capable of shooting 720p HD video in 30 frames per second. You can always capture the great moments happening and share them with other people, for example, on YouTube.

Make Everyone Else Freeze While You Dance
This is possible with the help of Samsung's Motion Photo. With Motion Photo, you can make one element of your photograph move while leaving the rest still. Sounds like you're in a Hollywood movie? Yes?

Create a Triplets of Yourself
The Samsung WB150F also features Split Shot. The Split Shot simply slits the viewfinder into 3 shots, which you can then combine later. Imagine taking a photo of yourself or anyone 3 times, the result? An instant triplets.

Don't Leave Others in the Photo
With the Live Panorama feature, you can take wide panoramic photos, be it your large group of friends or an amazing landscape view. Simply hold down the shutter button and sweep the camera sideways, you may then view the result in it's 3-inch screen.

Take Advantage of Your Skills
Take it to the next level! The WB150F allows you to experiment with the settings with the Full Manual Control, also taking advantage of the OIS (whatever that means, just kidding).

Click the photos to view in full resolution.

That's a lot of features, right? But hey, you don't need to shell out a huge pile of money to get the Samsung WB150F. This only costs P11,990! How amazing!

Read More

Samsung Launches the NX200 Compact System Camera in the Philippines: Specs, Price, Release Date

Samsung Philippines just announced their new NX200 for the local launch in the country. The NX200 is a new compact system camera that can deliver professional standard photography. Equipped with a 20.3 Megapixels APS-C CMOS sensor, a 3.0-inch AMOLED display with 640x480 resolution, and Samsung's unique i-Function lens, the NX200 will let you easily capture high quality images without the need to carry huge equipment. It is also capable of capturing full HD videos (1920x1080) at 30 frames per second.

The NX200 also features the Smart Panel, which will make taking perfect pictures simple and fuss-free, even for first-time users. An intuitive control comes from the camera’s Smart Panel featuring a Hot Key, enabling users to jump easily to key functions without the need to scroll through confusing menus to get to their desired shot.

The Samsung NX200 is now available in the Philippines for P39,990.

Premium Style Meets Professional Performance with the Samsung NX200

Capture your memorable images in the best picture quality, with the Samsung NX200

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation, one of the country’s leaders in digital media and digital convergence technology, finally announces the launch of the Samsung NX200, a new compact system camera that delivers professional standard photography.

The Samsung NX200 guarantees an easy experience that lets you unleash your creativity to the fullest. It features premium functions such as a 20.3 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with 3.0” VGA AMOLED Display, High Speed Capture, Wide Range ISO (100-12800), Full HD movie recording and Samsung’s unique i-Function Lens. With NX200’s high-performance features built into a compact premium metallic design, you no longer have to compromise style with high quality images.

The NX200 is the perfect combination of design and professional performance, delivering DSLR quality imaging in a camera that is compact and easy to use. The camera’s 20.3 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor developed in-house by Samsung ensures high quality imaging and places high performance at the fingertips of all photographers. To allow for high speed capture, the NX200 achieves 100ms Advanced AF speed. With its Fast Boot and seven frames per second continuous shooting, the NX200 is the perfect tool to capture that split-second action in an instant.

In addition, the camera’s Wide Range ISO (100-12800, covering seven steps) gives life-like color and sharp details even in dark environments. To capture movement on video, the NX200 also features 1920x1080/30p (H.264) Full HD movie recording. All these are incorporated into a compact and sleek body with premium metal design, light enough to be carried anywhere. Also, the high quality images you captured can be viewed instantly in brilliant quality with its 3.0” VGA AMOLED display.

The NX200 also enables state-of-the-art usability through Samsung’s i-Function 2.0 lenses which allow the users to control a range of parameters from the lens without having to take their eyes off the shot. The NX200 is fully compatible with the wide range of nine different i-Function lenses allowing quick and easy toggling of shutter speed, aperture, EV, WB, and ISO through the ring and button on the lens. With the upgraded i-Function 2.0 on the NX200, users can also control six different Smart Filters and the intelli-Zoom function from the lens while in Lens Priority Mode. New lenses for the i-Function system include 18-200mm, 16mm, 60mm and 85mm focal lengths.

Mr. Ariel T. Arias commented: “With the NX range we have pioneered the compact system camera that allows any user to get the results that they’ve always wanted from their pictures without having to manage complicated controls or carry heavy, clunky equipment. The NX200 is the next step in providing the ambitious amateur with first-class picture quality through the combination of professional-standard features. With technology like this built into a stylish and compact body, the NX200 is the ultimate tool for achieving professional quality in a compact camera.”

He added: “The NX200 represents Samsung’s continued commitment to leading the way in making cutting-edge technology fit to the needs and knowledge of the consumer – proving technology does not need to be complicated to deliver great results, every time.”  

Effortless creativity

One of the key ways in which Samsung’s NX200 stands out is by making it easy for users to realize their own creativity through a range of fun and easy-to-use features and settings. The camera features ten different Smart Filter effects, six of which can be easily accessed through the i-Function lens, allowing the user to capture a uniquely creative image of their object without having to take their eyes off it in order to change the filter. The new NX200 also includes Magic Frame technology, which enables the user to encapsulate their pictures with thirteen different frames, from magazine covers to holiday themes for fun sharing of images with family and friends.

Professional standards made simple

With its Smart Panel, the NX200 makes taking perfect pictures simple and fuss-free, even for first-time users. An intuitive control comes from the camera’s Smart Panel featuring a Hot Key, enabling users to jump easily to key functions without the need to scroll through confusing menus to get to their desired shot.

Expanding horizons

The NX200 enables users to capture even more from their experiences by using exciting new features and cutting-edge Samsung technology. The new Panorama function means that users can take lengthened shots of large or wide objects or turn the image into a 3D scene, bringing the object to life. To capture even more of the moment for posterity, Samsung has also added the Sound Picture function to the NX200, so that a snippet of sound can be recorded to accompany a still image to add even more memories to a photograph.

Read More

Smart Launches the Bro Rocket Chic Wireless Dongle

Smart Communications launched a Twitter campaign just earlier today, using the hashtag #RocketHigh. And then a few hours later, they have finally unveiled the Smart Bro Rocket Chic, a new device that belongs to the Rocket line-up that is designed for the women. And just as the other Rocket devices from Smart, this one also runs on their HSPA+ network and is capable of achieving speeds of up to 12 Mbps.

The device itself is coated in a pink acrylic finish, which is a very good gift idea this Valentine's Day. The Smart Bro Rocket Chic is priced at P2,345, and is now available at Smart Online Store and Smart Stores nationwide.

Smart is actively deploying more and more HSPA+ cellsites around the country. As of now, they have a total of 1,501 HSPA+ cellsites in the country, with more to be added soon.

Surf in Style with Smart Bro Rocket Chic
[03 February 2012] Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has officially launched the first 4G Internet dongle designed for women – Smart Bro’s Rocket Chic.

Featuring a glossy pink acrylic finish, the Rocket Chic is a class of its own. The sliding USB plug allows the device to disguise itself as a regular cosmetic product or even a piece of jewelry.

And like the modern Filipina, the Rocket Chic is more than meets the eye. Inside the sleek shell is the bona fide brains and brawn of a true 4G device. Powered by Smart’s unparalleled High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) network, the Rocket Chic can blast off into the Internet at speeds of up to 12 Mbps.

“This is a limited time offer and the timing is just right because the Rocket Chic is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift,” said Smart Broadband Internet and Data Services Manager Anne Binuya. “Guys, here’s your chance to prove just how serious you are—is your love for your lady as strong and resilient as Smart’s network?”

The Rocket Chic is priced at P2,345 bundled with a Smart Bro prepaid SIM and is available in select Smart Stores nationwide.

Also available are the 12Mbps Smart Bro Rocket Plug-It, the first prepaid 4G dongle in the Philippines which is now more affordable at P2,345 and the 20Mbps Smart Bro Rocket WiFi, the country’s fastest pocket WiFi router, for only P6,495.

The Best Network
Backing up Smart’s stellar lineup of broadband offerings is the widest 4G network in the Philippines.

Together with parent company, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Smart is committed to making its wireless access infrastructure completely future-proofed by mid-2012 under the group’s P67.1 billion network transformation program.

According to PLDT and Smart Technology Group Head Rolando G. Peña, the conglomerate is investing heavily on installing fiber optic cables which will link its base stations to the core network, international gateways, and Single Radio Access Network (Single RAN) antennas for its cellsites.

“Single RAN antennas enable us to make available 4G services such as HSPA+ and LTE (Long Term Evolution) with a simple software upgrade,” said Peña. “Expanding our coverage will literally be as easy as flicking a light switch,” he said.

To purchase your very own Smart Bro Rocket Chic go to http://store.smart.com.ph or visit www.smart.com.ph/bro for more information.

About Smart
Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is the Philippines' leading wireless services provider with 47.7 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-September 2011. Smart has built a reputation for innovation, having introduced world-first wireless data services, such as Smart Money, Smart Load, Smart Padala and the Netphone. Smart also offers 3G and HSPA services. Its Smart Link service provides communications to the global maritime industry. Smart Broadband, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, offers a wireless broadband service, Smart BRO, with over 1.5 million subscribers as of end-September 2011. Smart is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippines' leading telecommunications carrier, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. For more information, visit http://www.smart.com.ph.

Read More

Smart LTE to be Ready By Mid-2012

Smart Communications is fast-tracking it's network upgrade to 4G LTE. In a press release, Smart said that their network will be "LTE-ready" by as early as mid-2012. That means we can expect the network to go live in some key cities in the country as early as June or July.

To do this, they are installing Single RAN (Radio Access Network) base stations in all of their 13,000 cell sites nationwide. More than 5,000 base stations of Smart are now 4G ready, with almost 3,000 - on the other hand - are now 4G enabled. I'm not sure if that means they now have about 3,000 4G enabled base stations and another 5,000 which can be shortly upgraded to 4G, because 4G ready basically means "ready for 4G upgrade". If my instinct is correct, then we can soon expect about 8,000 4G base stations from Smart! Wow!

Smart LTE-ready by mid-2012

Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will upgrade its entire mobile phone network to “LTE-ready” status by as early as mid-2012, company officials said Friday.

“That means we will be able to activate LTE or HSPA+ services at any of our base stations, depending what the market in that area requires,” said PLDT and Smart Technology Group Head Rolando G. Peña

“This is a major component of the P67.1 billion network modernization of PLDT and Smart which we have accelerated and intend to complete within the year,” he added.

LTE is shorthand for the most advanced fourth generation (4G) wireless technology called Long Term Evolution which is capable of speeds of 100 Mbps and above. High Speed Access Plus (HSPA+) is a 4G technology that can deliver speeds of up to 80 Mbps.

To make its network of over 13,000 base stations 4G-ready, Smart is installing Single Radio Access Network (Single RAN) base stations in all of its cell sites. Single RAN facilities can be easily upgraded to offer either HSPA+ or LTE services through software upgrades and some additional hardware equipment.

PLDT and Smart are also rolling more fiber optic cables (FOCs) to connect its base stations to the rest of the network. FOCs enable the network to carry data traffic in greater volumes and faster speeds with greater resiliency.

As of end-2011, over 5,000 Smart base stations were already 4G-ready—close to 3,000 of which are already 4G-equipped (with LTE, HSPA+ and Wi-Max facilities) —backed by more than 45,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables arranged in “loops”.

“Looping” allows data to be redirected to other avenues or channels, should one channel of connectivity be cut thus making the PLDT group’s network the most comprehensive and the most resilient in the Philippines.

“We have fast-tracked this program because consumer and business demand for mobile broadband services is growing rapidly. At the same time, more LTE and HSPA+ devices are being brought into the market,” Peña said.

Market analytics firm Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) cites in its latest report that increased demand for mobile video is one of the main factors for the tenfold increase in the number of commercially-available LTE devices last year.

Pyramid Research goes as far as to predict that smartphones will surpass personal computers (PCs) as the largest market segment which uses LTE by as early as 2014.

In the recently-concluded Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, USA, several LTE-capable phones have been unveiled.

These include the HTC Titan II, the Nokia Lumia 900, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, and the Sony Xperia ion.

Rumors of the third Apple iPad sporting 4G LTE connectivity have also been a hot topic in blogs, social media, and technology news sites.

Leading in 4G
Smart was the first Philippine mobile operator to start deploying LTE facilities last year in strategic areas of the country. In November 2011, Smart made “Smart Evolution LTE” available to select members of the media via a closed beta test.

Using LTE-capable USB dongles, test participants have experienced speeds of up to 80Mbps—faster than most commercially-available wired and wireless Internet services in the market today.

Smart has also installed the largest network of HSPA+ base stations which supports Smart Bro Rocket Plug-It and Smart Bro Rocket WiFi Plus, the fastest portable Internet devices in the country.

Dual-band advantage
Smart is also the only company in the Philippines which carries HSPA+ in two frequency bands.

“Our HSPA+ service which runs in both 850MHz and 2100MHz allows our subscribers to get stable signal reception, faster download speeds, and better battery life wherever they may be in the country,” said Peña. “This is especially useful for subscribers who use smartphones and tablets, as these devices consume large amounts of data and battery power,” he said.

For more information about Smart’s 4G products and services, visit www.smart.com.ph or follow the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications.

About Smart
Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is the Philippines' leading wireless services provider with 47.7 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-September 2011. Smart has built a reputation for innovation, having introduced world-first wireless data services, such as Smart Money, Smart Load, Smart Padala and the Netphone. Smart also offers 3G and HSPA services. Its Smart Link service provides communications to the global maritime industry. Smart Broadband, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, offers a wireless broadband service, Smart BRO, with over 1.5 million subscribers as of end-September 2011. Smart is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippines' leading telecommunications carrier, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. For more information, visit http://www.smart.com.ph.

Read More

Nokia Philippines Starts the New Year With a New General Manager

Dharmesh Goshalia, General Manager and Head of Sales Nokia Philippines

Nokia Philippines started the 2012 with a thanksgiving party for media members and bloggers and other people last Thursday. Aside from the lunch, some fun games, talks about the Nokia Store and the other recently launched devices such as the Nokia Asha 200 and Asha 303, they also announced the new General Manager for the company, Dharmesh Goshalia, which really is the main highlight of the event.

They also discussed the recent change to the Nokia Store here in the Philippines, in which mobile phone users can now access and purchase premium contents, for the first time since the store opened in 2009. The Nokia Store is now seeing about 11 million global downloads daily. Price points in Nokia Store are in Philippine Peso (PHP), from P20, P30, P50, P75, P100, P150 to as much as P600 and P750! You can purchase apps hassle free thanks to Nokia's carrier billing that is available in many countries around the world now. At the moment Globe is the only network supporting the payment processing at Nokia Store, although Smart should be supported soon.

You can read the full press release below.

Nokia Philippines welcomes new General Manager

Nokia recently announced the appointment of Dharmesh Goshalia as General Manager of its Philippine office.  He will also handle the position of Head of Sales at the company.

As the new General Manager of Nokia Philippines, Goshalia or Gosh to colleagues brings with him formidable experience in business development, management and marketing across retail distribution and operator business from diverse markets.  Under his management, Nokia Philippines is looking at maintaining its market leadership in the country while continuing to innovate and keep pace with the needs of the market.

With his appointment, Gosh sets his sights on bringing his strong leadership and strategic decision-making skills to continue to drive Nokia’s success in the country.  “The mobile phone landscape in the Philippines is very dynamic and exciting, and we look forward to maintaining Nokia’s leadership position in the country.  Nokia has a long-running relationship with Filipino mobile users, and enjoys a huge gap over competitors in terms of preference, driven by its strong image as a trustworthy brand, meeting customer needs and being easy to use,” said Gosh.

According to Gosh, 2012 is another exciting year for Nokia as it delivers aspirational products that offer choice for consumers, with differentiation on quality and value for money.  “I’m excited to be at the center of all these amazing developments and look forward to further strengthening Nokia’s relationship with Filipino consumers and steer the company to achieve further success here,” added Gosh.

To date, Nokia continues to change the game in the smartphone business as it gears up to build a winning ecosystem with Microsoft.  The Nokia Lumia 800, Nokia Lumia 710 and Nokia Lumia 900 – all Windows Phone devices, have had good reception in the select markets that they’ve been introduced to.  Not to be left behind are the Symbian Belle devices like the Nokia 700 and Nokia 701 and the uniquely designed Nokia N9. 

In mobile phones, Nokia continues its drive to connect the next billion people to the Internet, introducing last year great devices and rich services to fulfill this commitment.  Among these devices are four Dual SIM handsets – the Nokia 101, Nokia X1-01, Nokia C2-00 and Nokia C2-03 and the more recent Asha range of QWERTY mobile phones, the Nokia Asha 303 and Nokia Asha 200 (also a Dual SIM phone), which blur the line between smartphones and feature phones.  Connecting to the Web and sharing with contacts has been made easier and more fun.  This will be backed up by more efficient services, like the Nokia Browser and Nokia Maps for Series 40, which both have been earning raves since last year.

With a very busy year ahead, Gosh is all geared up to face the challenges of his new position.  Gosh has been in the telecom industry for over 16 years – six of which has been spent with Nokia.  During those years, he has achieved building and reinforcing teams regardless of race and culture with his strong management skills and affinity for business cultures.  His experiences across Europe, Middle East and Africa have now led him to Asia, where he will easily adapt into diversity and cultural differences.      

Prior to his assignment to Nokia Philippines, Gosh was General Manager of Nokia Greece and Cyprus.  Coming onboard Nokia in 2006, Gosh has significantly contributed to the success in markets such as Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and other countries while heading the multimedia business unit for North and West Africa. 

Gosh has worked with Ericsson South Africa and Sweden, Protek Flagship South Africa and India and Smartcom Mobile Communication, among others where he has left a trail of success with people and business.

The Johannesburg-raised Gosh went to Rand Afrikaans University, where he finished Psychology in 1989. 

About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world.  Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another.  Nokia’s technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world.  For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com.ph.

Read More

Get the Samsung Galaxy Note for FREE Today Only!

Just got this info from Smart. They will be having a one-day promo on January 19, 2012 (today!) at the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell where you will be able to get the Samsung Galaxy Note for FREE on Unlimited Data Plan 2000. That's not really the good news on this promo, did I say that people who will be approved will not have to pay for their first monthly service fee? Yes, if you rush to Rockwell later and signed-up for a contract, you'll get the first month for free, plus, the phone-tablet hybrid device is yours!

Samsung Galaxy Note Specifications and Features
5.3-inch Super AMOLED screen display with 1280x800 screen resolution
8 Megapixels camera with LED flash
16/32 GB internal memory
1 GB of RAM
2500mAh of battery
HSPA+
GSM / EDGE - 850/900/1800/1900
WCDMA - 850/900/1900
1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 dual core processor
Gyroscope
WiFi b/g/n
Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS

The Unlimited Data Plan 2000 comes with 200 SMS and 150 minutes of calls. Full press release below.

Get the Galaxy Note FREE with Smart unli data

[13 January 2012] Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) gives subscribers a great new reason to get on the smartphone bandwagon. The popular Samsung Galaxy Note is now free at Unli Data Plan 2000 for both new and existing Smart subscribers. Smart’s Unli Data plans all come with unlimited mobile Internet, plus free SMS and call minutes.

Dubbed the ‘do-in-one phone’, the Samsung Galaxy Note is set apart by its unique combination of a smartphone’s 24/7 connectivity and portability, and the pleasures offered by the screen real estate of a tablet – its 5.3-inch WXGA (1280 x 800 pixels) HD Super AMOLEDdisplay offers crisp and vivid viewing.

True to its name, the Samsung Galaxy Note also boasts of specs that make input, capture, and creation a sophisticated and free-flowing affair – but with the ease and simplicity of jotting down notes with pen and paper.

With the jury still out on whether it’s a phone or a tablet, what’s clear is the superiority of the technology behind the Samsung Galaxy Note. It is powered by a snappy 1.4GHz Dual Core Processor, it runs on Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread), and is capable of delivering HSPA+ speeds of up to 21Mbps for data.

The best network

To truly enjoy the extraordinary features of the Samsung Galaxy Note, it is best used on the Smart network, which provides only the best connectivity to the most advanced devices.

Smart has the widest HSPA+ network in the country, ensuring coverage in most places, and is the only telco in the Philippines with a dual band 4G HSPA+ network – which gives mobile devices better signal reception, faster connection speeds, and better battery life.

“We are passionately focused on providing superior customer experience, by offering the best choices of devices, worry-free affordable plans, on top of making available a vastly superior network,” said Gio Bacareza, head of Smart’s Broadband Internet and Data Services team. Together with its parent company PLDT, Smart has embarked on a P67.1-billion network transformation program, geared at ensuring the highest possible quality of service.

With an unlimited data plan from Smart, and a network that assures 24/7 data connectivity, there are no limits to what one can do with a mobile device as powerful as the Samsung Galaxy Note.

On January 19, 2012, more people will be able to grab their very own Samsung Galaxy Note as Smart holds a one-day-only promo at the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, where approved postpaid applications will get the first Monthly Service Fee (MSF) free.

The best packages

Also available from Smart’s Unli Data Plans are the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc (free at Unli Data Plan 3000), the HTC Sensation™ XE with Beats Audio (free at Unli Data Plan 2000), and the Nokia N9 (free at Unli Data Plan 2000). All three phones come with free SMS and call minutes along with unlimited data service.

For prepaid subscribers, Smart also offers “Always On” volume-based packages for as low as P300 for 250MB (valid for 30 days) and “Unlisurf” time-based packages for as low as P50 for 1 day. For those who prefer bite-sized access to the Web, there is the regular bucket pricing of P10 for every 30 minutes of use.

For more information about Smart’s Unlimited Data Plans, log on to www.smart.com.ph/postpaid or visit the nearest Smart Store.

Read More

Nokia Philippines to Finally Announce the Lumia 710 and 800?

Nokia Philippines has sent us last Thursday an invitation on a thanksgiving event this coming January 19th. Something came in my mind. Aside from the usual thanksgiving part, they might also announce the Nokia Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 at that event. This coincides with TechPinas' source that the company will launch the Lumia 710 this month.

The invitation does not imply any Windows Phone related design, but it promises that they "have so much more in store for you this year".

Read More

Calling All Student Mobile App Developers

It's now early in the morning and I'm just writing this post about Nokia's Xtreme Java: National Inter-School Mobile App Development Challenge as I won't have any more time tomorrow to get this published.

Anyways, De La Salle University has collaborated with Nokia Philippines to organize this competition for the college students out there that will compete in this challenge. They need to form a team with 2-3 members each, along with their mentor. They should develop a game or location-based application and get that published on Nokia Store.


One winner for each Xtreme Java App Category will receive a Nokia Asha 303 plus P20,000 cash. Nokia will be also giving away special prices for the participants of this great app competition. The first 10 apps to be published will receive a Nokia C3-00 each! And the first five (5) individuals with minimum 3 apps published will each win a Nokia 500, P10,000 cash, and a Nokia Achiever Certification.

For more information about the Xtreme Java challenge, please visit http://netcentric.dlsu.edu.ph/xtremejava or read the full press release below.

Nokia challenges student mobile app developers

Do you have a unique app idea waiting to be developed? Join the Xtreme Java: National Inter-School Mobile App Development Challenge and have your creations published on Nokia mobile phones and win your share of cash and prizes worth P150,000!

Xtreme Java is a mobile app development competition among universities and colleges in the Philippines organized by De La Salle University, in collaboration with Nokia. It allows college-level students, in teams of 2-3 members with 1 mentor, to develop and publish their own utility game and location-based applications and receive great prizes.

Join the Xtreme Java Training and Kick-Off on January 14, 2011 from 9am – 5pm at Room 1103, Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Ave., Manila.  Get an overview on Java ME, Game API, performance guidelines and Java security, learn how to develop and deploy Java ME applications and get an introduction on the Touch & Type UI.

If you miss the Kick-Off, you can still register at http://netcentric.dlsu.edu.ph/xtremejava until February 15, 2012.  Each college/university represented by mentors will be given a Nokia Store publisher account FREE of charge. You can choose to develop different applications following these 3 categories: Utility / Productivity Applications, Games, and Location-Based Applications.

To complete your registration, publish your Java app to Nokia Store and then submit the content ID until April 11, 2012. Apps submitted must be published on or before April 30, 2012.

One (1) winner for each Xtreme Java App Category will receive a Nokia Asha 303 plus P 20,000 cash!

What’s more, Nokia will be giving away special prices for the participants of this great app competition. The first ten (10) apps to be published will receive a Nokia C3-00 each! And the first five (5) individuals with minimum 3 apps published will each win a Nokia 500, P10,000 cash, and a Nokia Achiever Certification.

Participants should use the Nokia SDK for Java for the app development. It must support and successfully run on at least one Nokia Touch and Type and/or QWERTY device: Nokia X3-02, Nokia C3-01, Nokia C2-02, Nokia C2-03, Nokia Asha 303, Nokia C3-00 and Nokia X2-01.

Contestants can visit the Nokia Mobile Lab at Nokia Philippines office or NetCentric Laboratory at De La Salle University, College of Computer Studies to test their application. For more information about the Xtreme Java challenge, check out http://netcentric.dlsu.edu.ph/xtremejava.
   
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world.  Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another.  Nokia’s technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world.  For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com.ph.

Read More

HTC Launches 16 Megapixels Titan II: Specs, Price, Release Date

HTC has announce the HTC Titan II, it's first 4G LTE Windows Phone at CES, just almost 4 months after the original Titan was released. It will be coming to AT&T's 4G LTE network in a few months. The HTC Titan II has a 4.7-inch Super LCD touchscreen, a 16 Megapixels camera with wide angle lens, a 1.3 Megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting, a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S2 processor, and a 1730 mAh of battery capacity. The HTC Titan II runs on Windows Phone 7.5.

HTC Titan II Specifications and Features

4.7-inch Super LCD screen display with 800x480 screen resolution

16 Megapixels camera with dual-LED flash

1730mAh of battery

GSM / EDGE - 850/900/1800/1900

HSPA+

LTE

1.5 GHz Snapdragon S2 processor

WiFi b/g/n 

Windows Phone 7.5 Mango OS

As with the Nokia Lumia 900, the release date is still unknown. I think this will be price at around $199 with a 2-year contract. Available here in the Philippines as well as other countries outside the US is still unknown too, with I guess this will be price at around P30,000.

Full press release is available to be read at HTC and AT&T.

Read More

Nokia Lumia 900: Specs, Price, Release Date

Nokia has finally announced the much anticipated Nokia Lumia 900 in their re-entry in the North American market. This beast sports a 4.3-inch AMOLED ClearBlack Display, faster connections with 4G LTE on AT&T, and a whooping 1830 mAh battery for a longer lasting operating times. The camera is still an 8 Megapixels shooter with Carl Zeiss optics with large aperture (f2.2) and a wide angle focal length (28mm) that will save the day when shooting high-quality and uncropped images even in low-light conditions, and, a front-facing camera. Besides that, the body is still a unibody design inspired from the Lumia 800 and N9. The Nokia Lumia 800 runs on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5. You can read my review of the Windows Phone 7.5 here.

Nokia Lumia 900 Specifications and Features

4.3-inch AMOLED ClearBlack screen display with 800x480 screen resolution

8 Megapixels camera with Carl Zeiss optics, f2.2 aperture, 28mm focal length

16 GB internal memory

512 MB of RAM

Generous 1830mAh of battery - BP-6EW

7 hrs of talk time, 60 hrs of music playback time

GSM / EDGE - 850/900/1800/1900

WCDMA - 850/900/1900

LTE

1.4 GHz APQ8055 Snapdragon S2

Gyroscope

MicroSIM

WiFi b/g/n 

Windows Phone 7.5 Mango OS

Release date is still unknown, but this should hit the US shelves soon. I think this will be price at around $199 with a 2-year contract. Available here in the Philippines as well as other countries outside the US is still unknown too, with I guess this will be price at around P27,000.

However, it is likely that Nokia will announce a different variant of the Lumia 900 for the international markets on February at MWC 2012.

Full technical specifications and press release. To know more about the Nokia Lumia 900, please click here.

Read More

First Smart-Sun-TNT Call and Text Offer is Here!

How does a 15 minutes of calls & 200 texts to Smart, Sun Cellular, and Talk 'n Text sound for P20? That surely sounds good! Yes, because Sun Cellular is now under Smart and PLDT, they can start making these kinds of call and text promos. Smart and Sun Cellular has already started offering the Dual Plan P549, and they have come with yet another promo, introducing... the TRIO 20!

TRIO 20 is now available for the 65 million subscribers of Smart, Sun, and TNT! To register, just text TRIO20 and send it to 2477. And what's more, even if you're on Smart, Sun, or TNT you can register on this promo. :)

Full press release below.

First Smart-Sun-TNT call and text offer bared

Capitalizing on PLDT’s partnership with ‘unli’ services leader Sun Cellular (Sun), wholly-owned subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) recently launched Trio 20—the first value for money call and text package available to Smart, Sun and TNT subscribers.

For only P20, Smart, Sun, and TNT prepaid subscribers can send 200 texts and make 15 minutes of calls to over 65 million mobile users in the country for an entire day simply by texting “Trio20” to 2477.

According to Smart Mobile Marketing Head Guido Zaballero, Trio 20 is the only prepaid offer of its kind in the Philippines.

“Nobody has ever done this before because there has never been a network like ours before,” said Zaballero. “Couple this with our nationwidest coverage and we have a service that simply cannot be matched,” he added.

True pioneers
Trio 20 is the second service which has been introduced following the PLDT-Sun merger.
In December 2011, the conglomerate introduced the SmartSun Dual Plan 549 postpaid offering which comes with unlimited Smart-to-Smart and Sun-to-Sun text messaging, 6 hours* of free voice calls, and a Nokia C2-03 dual SIM smartphone.
“Compared to similar offers by the competition, both Trio 20 and SmartSun Dual Plan 549 give Filipinos the best value for their hard earned money,” said Zaballero. “If our combined subscriber bases already like what we’re offering, they’re going to love the other services we have in store for the future,” he added.

65 million strong and growing
The combined infrastructure of Smart and Sun allows even more Filipinos to benefit from the P67.1 billion network modernization program of the PLDT group. With Phases 1 and 2 completed, improvements in call quality, signal reliability, and data speeds are already being felt nationwide.

“With base stations already in place, we no longer have to lease additional areas and build more cell sites just to improve our coverage,” said PLDT Technology Group Head Rolando G. Peña. “This allows us to deliver nothing but the best products and services to all of our customers,” he ended.

For more information about Trio 20 and other Smart and Sun services, visit www.smart.com.ph or www.suncellular.com.ph
*2 hours Smart-to-Smart, 4 hours Sun-to-Sun

About Smart
Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is the Philippines' leading wireless services provider with 47.7 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-September 2011. Smart has built a reputation for innovation, having introduced world-first wireless data services, such as Smart Money, Smart Load, Smart Padala and the Netphone . Smart also offers 3G and HSPA services. Its Smart Link service provides communications to the global maritime industry. Smart Broadband, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, offers a wireless broadband service, Smart BRO, with over 1.5 million subscribers as of end-September 2011. Smart is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippines' leading telecommunications carrier, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. For more information, visit http://www.smart.com.ph.

Read More

Nokia Philippines Launches Dual-SIM Asha 200

Following the recently launched Nokia Asha 303 comes the Asha 200. Nokia Philippines has already confirmed on it's Facebook page that the Nokia Asha 200 is already out and now selling at Nokia Stores natiowide! The suggested retail price (SRP) for the dual SIM Nokia Asha 200 is P3,500.

Nokia Asha 200 Specifications and Features

Dual SIM

2.4-inch screen display with 320x240 screen resolution

2 Megapixels camera

64 MB internal memory which is expandable up to 32GB thru micro-SD

QWERTY keyboard

Generous 1430mAh of battery - BL-5J

7 hrs of talk time, 52 hrs of music playback time

GSM / EDGE - 900/1800

If you want to know more about the Nokia Asha 200, please click here.

UPDATE: We just got the full press release which can be read below.

Nokia ushers in the New Year with Dual SIM Nokia Asha 200

Easy Swap Dual SIM, Nokia Messaging and Communities bring richest multiple SIM device

Nokia today announced the availability of the Nokia Asha 200 in the Philippines – a colorful Dual SIM phone with a full QWERTY keypad for fast messaging.

The Nokia Asha 200 offers Nokia’s Easy Swap feature for convenient changing of SIM cards without the need to turn off the phone or remove the battery. The phone allows up to five SIM cards to be personalized and managed, so that calls, texts or web browsing can be enjoyed with minimized costs and maximum network coverage.

Available in a wide range of vibrant colours – including Graphite, Pink, Aqua and Pearl White – the Nokia Asha 200 is the perfect phone for staying connected. It includes a dedicated key for immediate access to favorite email and chat services through Nokia Messaging, and features an SMS view that shows an entire text message chain on the screen, to make chatting with friends easier than ever.

The pre-installed Nokia’s Communities application allows one-click sign-in to multiple social networks, letting users view, post, comment and update their status as well as share photos from networks such as Facebook and Twitter directly from the homescreen.

With support for up to 32 GB of additional memory, music lovers can take their entire collections with them, enjoying favorite tunes through high-performance 106 phon loudspeakers and enhanced stereo FM radio, as well as an FM recording feature that allows users to record songs directly off the radio.

“Consumers are calling out for the right mix of style and substance – phones that look great, but also give the richest possible experience in calling, texting or browsing the web,” said Mike Smith, Device Portfolio Manager, Nokia Philippines. “The new Nokia Asha 200 with Easy Swap Dual SIM helps people enjoy more affordable and connected chat, while new features like Nokia Messaging and Communities place social right on the phone’s homesecreen.”

Pricing and availability
The Nokia Asha 200 is available in Nokia Stores nationwide with a suggested retail price of PhP3,500.

About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another. Nokia’s technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world. For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com.ph.

Read More

Get a ZTE V9 Tablet With Smart Bro

After getting your aguinaldo last Christmas, maybe you're wondering what to do, and what to get. If you want an affordable tablet for the new coming year, then you may want to check out Smart's best offering for now. You can get a ZTE V9 tablet for only P200 per month! Yes, what you only have to do is subscribe to Smart Bro Plan 999 and the ZTE V9 is yours!

The ZTE V9 is an 7-inch tablet that runs on Android 2.2, it has a 3 Megapixels camera, WiFi b/g, a 2GB microSD card preloaded that is expandable up to 32GB in case you need more space, and a 3400 mAh battery capacity.

Technical Specifications:

3G UMTS - 900/1900/2100 MHz

GSM - 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Battery Capacity - 3400mAh

Talk Time - 1200 minutes

Standby time - 500 hours

Weight - 403g

Size - 192mm x 110mm x 12.6mm

Internal Storage - 110MB user space

Expandable Memory-  up to 32GB microSD

Display - 7", 800 x 480 pixels, resistive touch.

Plan and Pricing Details
Monthly fee: P999 for the postpaid plan and P200/month for the device
Inclusive internet hours: Unlimited
Connection: Smart Bro SIM Card
Speed: Up to 5 Mbps
Lock-in period: 24 months
Application requirements: Subscriber application form, Proof of identification, Proof of address, Proof of income

To know more about the ZTE V9 tablet on Smart, please click here. Full press release below.

Get a ZTE V9 Tablet with Smart Bro 

Can’t decide what to buy with your Christmas Aguinaldo? Then check out Smart Bro’s best bundle yet. For only P200 a month, you can now get your very own ZTE V9 Android tablet when you avail of a Smart Bro postpaid Plan 999.

Tip-top tablet
The ZTE V9 Tablet is easily the most feature-packed tablet in its class. Powered by Google’s Android mobile operating system (version 2.2 “FroYo”), this affordable slate is a great mobile Internet device that lets you view full versions of websites on its 7-inch screen. And with full WiFi and 3G connectivity plus a Smart Bro SIM, you can stream high quality videos much like you would on a laptop or your home PC.
The ZTE V9 is also a great multimedia tablet thanks to its zippy processor and its capacitive multi-touch 480x800-pixel display. With it, you can swipe across your photo album, play games and navigate with ease.

App the ante!
With nearly 400,000 mobile applications or “apps” available in the Android Market, the ZTE V9 is one portable that will never get old. Choose from a variety of programs and software that will let you keep your tablet updated, such as Smart’s very own Smart Services app which includes all of Smart’s prepaid and postpaid packages.

If you want to avail of more goodies and freebies, you can also install the “Games for Smart”, “Movies for Smart”, and “Music for Smart” apps for free. Choose from thousands of soundtracks, video clips, and online games all available on demand.

Get the ZTE V9 today on Smart Bro Plan 999 with unlimited surfing at any Smart Store or visit www.smart.com.ph/bro for more information.
Smart Broadband, Inc. (Smart Bro) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).

About Smart
Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is the Philippines' leading wireless services provider with 47.7 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-September 2011. Smart has built a reputation for innovation, having introduced world-first wireless data services, such as Smart Money, Smart Load, Smart Padala and the Netphone . Smart also offers 3G and HSPA services. Its Smart Link service provides communications to the global maritime industry. Smart Broadband, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, offers a wireless broadband service, Smart BRO, with over 1.5 million subscribers as of end-September 2011. Smart is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippines' leading telecommunications carrier, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. For more information, visit http://www.smart.com.ph.

Read More

Modern Combat 3 and 2 Other Gameloft Games Now Out!

Are you an iOS gamer? Hungry for more games? Then check out Gameloft's latest releases.

Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation

MC3 is a fps (first-person shooter) game which features 13 intense mission campaign, a multiplayer which can support up to 12 person, a ranking system with up to 90 experience marks, high-tech modern weaponry, and a next generation high quality visuals that can compete with those of Rage and Unreal.

You can get the game on iTunes and to say, this is a universal app so if you have both an iPhone and iPad, you can buy this once and install on your both device.

Price: $6.99

Brothers In Arms 2: Global Front Free+

Another fps game, Brothers In Arms 2 features a multiplayer of up to 5 over WiFi or Bluetooth, and has war battles across 5 locations and 13 levels. And as the name goes, it's free, or freemium at least as there's in-app items over there.

Again, this one is a universal app. Get it at iTunes.

Price: FREE

Gangstar Rio: City of Saints

Last but not the least, the Gangstar Rio: City of Saints. This one weighs in at 818 MB, so you better hook up on a fast WiFi connection to download. Features below.

·         An immersive tale: Infiltrate your former gang and find out who tried to kill you and get even

·         Over 60 missions and plenty of random events to play in 5 different neighborhoods

·         Enjoy a wide range of vehicles and weapons, including a new tank and explosive footballs

·         Customize your character with plenty of items you can unlock as you progress

·         A true Brazilian atmosphere thanks to a great soundtrack, including famous artists like M.I.A.

Get it at iTunes. Also a universal app.

Price: $6.99

Oh and an extra one for Mac OS users. Dungeon Hunter: Alliance, popular RPG on PSN is now available for Mac!

Get this on iTunes.

Price: $14.99

Don't forget to follow Gameloft on Twitter and their Facebook page!

Read More

HTC Sensation XE and Sensation XL Launched Here In the Philippines

HTC Philippines recently launched the HTC Sensation XE and Sensation XL last Friday at Republiq @ Resorts World Manila.

The HTC Sensation XE is just an upgraded Sensation, with 4.3 inch touchscreen with qHD (540x960) screen resolution, 1.5GHz dual-core processsor, 768Mb of RAM, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 8 Megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash capable of 1080p video recording and playback, and of course, it is equipped with Beats Audio. The battery is rated at 1730 mAh.

On the other hand, the HTC Sensation XL is, as it goes by the name, an XL-sized phone with 4.7 inch touchscreen with WVGA (480x800) screen resolution. It's processor is clocked at 1.5GHz too, but it's only a single-core one. For the memory, it's got 16GB of internal storage and 768Mb RAM, it has an 8 Megapixel camera with wide-angle lens, and a 1600 mAh battery.

Both smartphones will come with a Beats headset or heaphones - quite not sure what the package includes - and the software needed to take advantage of it.

The HTC Sensation XE and Sensation XL will come free on Smart's Unlimited Data Plan 2000. If you want to get it off-contract, you will have to shed P31,500 for the XE and P32,500 for the XL. Not much difference in price but I suggest that you go for the Sensation XE as it has a dual-core processor which will make things a lot faster, and of course a better looking phone in red. :D

Read More

Nokia N9 Press Release

We just got the official press release for the N9 launch here in the Philippines and it is really going to be available soon!!!


"Since we announced the Nokia N9 in June this year, the feedback that it has gotten from discerning and avid smartphone users across the world has been nothing short of fantastic," said Nikka Abes, Corporate Communications Manager, Nokia Philippines.


N9 Features:

• 3.9 inch AMOLED screen with scratch-resistant curved glass
• NFC Technology
• 8 Megapixel Camera with Carl Zeiss lens, autofocus with dual-LED flash
• Dolby Digital Plus decoding and Dolby Headphone post-processing technology
• Free turn-by-turn drive and walk navigation with voice-guided maps for more than 100 countries and in more than 50 languages
• Social networking apps preloaded on the device

The N9 will be available in three colors - black, cyan, and magenta - and will come in 16GB and 64GB variants. Suggested retail price for the N9 16GB is P24,990 while the 64GB variant will retail for P29,450. Unlocked units will be available starting November 19.

Meanwhile, you can also sign-up for a Smart contract and get the device subsidized. The N9 16GB will come free on Unlimited Data Plan 2000 and/or All-in Plan 3500. The 64GB variant will come free on Unlimited Data Plan 3000 and on All-in Plan 3500 with a P1,200 cash-out fee. You can pre-order now on Smart by visiting http://smart.com.ph/nokia-n9, pre-order is going on until November 18.

You can learn more about the Nokia N9 at swipe.nokia.com.

Read More