Nokia has just announced the Lumia 1520, the first Windows Phone to have a full HD 1080p display. It is also the first Windows Phone device to cross the 6-inch screen size mark. It features a 20-megaixel PureView camera in what looks to be a very slim body.
Developing…
Three new Nokia Asha phones has just been announced at the Nokia World in Abu Dhabi today. They are the Nokia Asha 500, 502, and 503.
All three sport a new design with bold dual-shot colors enclosed in a transparent shell. Both the Asha 502 and 503 has a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash. The Asha 503 supports 3G networks.
Developing…
If the new banners within the Facebook app for Android are of any indication, then we might see free access to the social networking site in the near future.
Earlier, while I was using the Facebook app just how I normally would on my phone, a splash screen asked me if I want to use Facebook without data charges (read: free) on Globe. I accepted it out of curiosity and lo and behold, a banner below the main action buttons on the app (see screenshot above) is now stating that “(I am) using Facebook for free with Globe and TM." I checked my balance and I indeed didn't get charged for the usage.
Moreover, this free Facebook offering from Globe seems to be more integrated with the app than I expected. Clicking on links to other websites outside of Facebook (e.g. Instagram, YouTube, etc) warns me that standard data charges would now apply. In the same screen, there are options to proceed normally (and get charged at P5/15 minutes) or to buy a 10MB data for P10. I tried the latter and I received an SMS that says I now have 10MB of data. It worked.
Could this be a new unannounced offering from Globe which just slipped into the app? For the record, I’m using a beta version of the Facebook app from the Google Play Store. It is possible that this is indeed the case. Have you seen this on the app on your phone, too? If you did, sound off in the comments section below.
We’re getting more info from the folks at Facebook and Globe Telecom and will post updates if we hear back from them.
The long-rumored HTC One max has been finally unveiled this week. Essentially a bigger ‘One’, the One max features a large 5.9-inch of full HD 1080 display, the infamous Ultrapixel camera which HTC says is a good-performer in low light conditions, the BoomSound speakers on the front (sans the Beats Audio integration this time), and a juicy 3300mAh battery.
Not wanting to get left behind (no pun intended!), HTC also added a fingerprint sensor on the back of One max. It can be used to unlock the screen as well as for launching up to three apps directly using different fingers. It also runs on the new Sense 5.5 UI on top of Android Jelly Bean, providing improved user experience across the board. BlinkFeed has been updated to include Google+ and RSS support, and there is now a Dual Shot feature where you can take photos using both front and back cameras at the same time. The HTC Scribble feature lets you draw on photos — though it doesn’t come with a pen — and Photo Editor lets you create GIFs.
Aside from those, not much else is new, unfortunately. There is a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage — though with microSD card slot this time — and 4G LTE support.
HTC One max Specifications and Features
5.9-inch Super LCD 3 full HD 1080p (1920x1080) display
1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad=core processor
2GB RAM
16GB storage
microSD card slot up to 64GB
4G LTE - 900/1800/2100/2600Mhz
4-megapixel 'Ultrapixel' camera
2.1-megapixel front-facing camera
1080p full HD recording
Dual Shot
3300mAh battery
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS
HTC says the One max is coming to retail stores in the Philippines on November 15, which is less than a month away, for P37,790. It is also slated to launch across all carriers in the country — Smart, Globe, and Sun Cellular.
Got one of those new attachable Sony QX10/QX100 camera lens? If you think that the first-party Play Memories app is a little lacking in features, well check this out. The makers of Camera360 recently added support for the QX10 and QX100 in their newest update last October 15.
With the new update, QX10 and QX100 users can now take advantage of Camera360’s live imaging filters such as Magic Skin, Enhance, Lomo, HDR, Retro, Black and White, Ghost and more. It also adds fill-in light feature to self-shoot mode to enhance portrait photos. Pairing Camera360 with Sony QX10 and QX100 only takes a couple of taps within the app.
You can get the updated Camera360 app on the Google Play Store. As of now, there is no support just yet for the iOS and Windows Phone versions of the app.
I called the HTC One the ‘best Android phone yet’ — it has a pretty good hardware, one of the best I’ve seen on an Android phone, a gorgeous display, and a well-performing loudspeakers. But it was not without any shortcomings. One of those was the small screen size (for some), the non-removable battery, and the lack of an microSD slot for expansion of the internal storage.
And then the HTC Butterfly S arrived. It has the looks of the last-year’s Butterfly and the brains of the One with a few improvements — which are bigger screen, longer battery life, microSD slot, and improved support for LTE networks. In this review, we’ll focus on the said improvements and see if they’re worth the upgrade, either if you’re coming from the HTC One or the Butterfly.
To start off, the Butterfly S sports an identical look as the Butterfly from 2012 with some minor differences. It’s a little fatter due to the larger battery inside, there’s an added loudspeaker on the bottom, and it’s lost the water-resistant ability I found on its predecessor.
Display
The display of the HTC Butterfly S doesn’t stray too far from its roots. It’s actually a mix of the ones found on the One and the Butterfly. On one part, it is a bright, vivid, and crisp Super LCD 3 display which, again, is one of the best displays among the Android army (only to be matched or topped by the G2). On the other, it is now a 5-inch screen which is slightly bigger than the 4.7-inch on the One. As such, this is a little more perfect for playing games, watching movies, and similar chores than the smaller screen.
As with the Butterfly, the bigger display does not mean that it is uncomfortably hard to hold in your hand. In fact, I can still type with single-handedly with my not-quite-so-big hands. It’s definitely not huge like the Galaxy Notes out there.
Battery Life
When it comes to the battery life, the Butterfly S beats most of the Android smartphones in its class. It has a 3200mAh battery, so far the most in an HTC phone. The battery is so huge that you’ll really notice the ‘thickness’ and the heft of the body.
On an average usage cycle, I can easily last more than a day, heck even two days, on the Butterfly S. That includes using apps like the browser, Twitter, Facebook, playing games like Plants vs. Zombies 2 for hours (and I really mean houuurs!!!) and streaming 3 movies from ClickPlay using Wi-Fi, the rest are standby times. Network setting is set to automatically switch between 3G/LTE.
Storage
The internal storage on the Butterfly S is only 16GB, compared to 32GB on the One. The main kicker here is that they have included a microSD card slot so you can just tuck in a 64GB card and place all your movies, photos, music, and whatnot in there.
Moreover, you can also connect a USB drive using an OTG cable — that’s if you have one lying around.
I really wish HTC would make 16 or 32GB of storage AND a microSD card slot a standard on their devices, either because people do really want a microSD slot on their phones or just for the hell of it. That will probably make them buy an HTC again, yes?
LTE, not just on Globe
Smart LTE users should find this a relief should they want to get a Butterfly S. As you may know (or not), the HTC One only had LTE on bands 3 (1800MHz), 7 (2600MHz), and 20 (800MHz). Just for your information, those are the most widely-used LTE frequencies in Asia and Europe. Globe, for instance, operates its LTE network on 1800MHz. But for an odd reason, Smart decided to use band 1 (2100MHz) for their LTE network.
That’s where the problem arises. Much of the 2012 and some of 2013 smartphones — the HTC One is, well, one of them — do not normally come with 2100MHz LTE, unless they are destined for Japan or South Korea.
Well thank God HTC finally included that particular band on their latest devices like the One mini and the Butterfly S. I was able to try and use Smart LTE on this phone. On average, I get around 4Mbps down and 10Mbps up in our place. Your results may vary, of course, but it just goes to show that you can really use it on both Smart and Globe now.
Performance
Overall, the Butterfly S performed and worked pretty well, as expected, in my time with it. That’s due to the zippy Snapdragon 600 CPU which is clocked at 1.9GHz (vs. 1.7GHz on the One) and 2GB of RAM. The UI and apps are very fluid and I barely encountered any slowdowns.
Its camera still has the Ultrapixel tech found on the One, though it doesn’t have OIS. Camera performance is about the same as the One.
Verdict
So, let’s go back to my original question, is the HTC Butterfly S worth it as an upgrade from the Butterfly and even from the One? Well, if money isn’t a problem, I’ll say yes. If you want a phone that’s not as big as the other 2013 flagships while still having a long battery life, the flexibility of having a microSD card slot, and improved LTE compatibility with local networks, then you may take a look at the Butterfly S.
The only problem that I see here is that you can get other smartphones with better hardware at the almost the same or even lower price.
The HTC Butterfly S retails for P37,590.
Our busy and hectic lifestyle has created a need for a private space in the midst of all the din. A good pair of earphones is usually enough to provide this personal bubble for most people. But with the gamut of earphones in the market, finding quality earphones worth your hard earned money may prove to be more difficult.
Enter the new M Series high-end earphones from Maxell Ltd, a marketing leader in digital media products for consumers and professionals. The “M” series’ excellent sound quality, superior comfort and great durability is the answer to every fanatic’s search for the best earphones in the market. Based on new acoustic theory and technology, the MXH-BDA700, MXH-DD600, and MXH-CA200 earphones offer more than just music to the ears.
The M series earphones are uniquely shaped to allow its dynamic driver units to reach maximum performance. These driver units are installed strategically in the earphones to create a superb sound field that produce rich and high clarity sound. With a high modulus aluminum case as its body to reduce acoustic vibration, the M series provide exceptional and uncompromising sound quality.
The “M” series is designed to sit comfortably in the ear. Tiny enclosures and silicon tips make them almost unnoticeable with nothing to cause any discomfort. The MXH-CA200, particularly, is designed to curve along the line of ears to give a comfortable wear.
Aside from giving the ultimate audio experience, Maxell adds a touch of style to the flagship models with a distinctive “M” mark engraved on its body that signifies “music” and the brand name.
The M series is an excellent after-market earphone for the Philippines’ growing number of smartphone users. According to IDC, a leading market research firm, the Philippines has 3.6M smartphone users which is expected to grow by 1M every year.
The launch of the new earphone range indicates an exciting time for Maxell. Mr. Yuji Kano, Marketing Manager of Maxell Singapore, anticipates a huge area of growth for the company. He added, “Since the era of audio tapes, Maxell has strictly adhered to its philosophy of fundamental sound. Under a system integrated from product planning to design, quality assurance and sales, we are confident that these three flagship models will be most popular items in Maxell Earphones Range.”
Renowned for making the classic open reel audio tapes in the 60’s, the first cassette tapes in the 70’s, digital audio cassettes in the 80’s and the CDs in the 90’s, Maxell expanded its line of products by adding earphones in 2006.
The MXH-BDA700, MXH-DD600, and MXH-CA200 will be available in the Philippines in November through Maxell’s authorized resellers and different kiosk location, with a suggested retail price of P6,299, P4,499, and P1,099 respectively.
If you’ve been holding off from getting the LG G2 until now, well, LG’s got a good news for you. Come October 20 — that’s a Sunday, so work shouldn’t be a reason to miss this one — the Korean company will throw two accessories along with every purchase of an LG G2. Sounds like a good deal, yes?
So what are those accessories? Well, it’s the QuickWindow Case — worth P1,500 — which features a small cut-out on the front so you can check your missed notifications, control music playback, check who’s calling, and check new text messages at one glance without flipping the case.
The other is the LG Pocket Photo Printer, a very mobile and handy printer which was only recently launched. It connects to your Android or iOS devices using Bluetooth or NFC and prints high-quality photos on the go. This alone is already worth P7,999, so go grab it for free while you still can.
The best part? You can get all these at the normal SRP of P27,990.
The LG G2 features top-tier hardware and some unique software features. Humming inside it is a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor along with 2GB of RAM and 4G LTE connectivity. It also packs a 13 megapixel camera with sapphire crystal lens, 9-point autofocus, 60fps 1080p full HD recording, and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) which should prevent you from taking blurry shots. It is also available on Globe at Plan 1799.
The LG G2 Day "Your Dream Sale" is available on a limited one-day offer. Hurry and grab one now at participating stores in SM North Edsa (LG Concept Store, E-phone, Fonestyle, Megacell, Memo Xpress and Wellcom), SM Megamall (LG Concept Store, E-phone, Memo Xpress and Wellcom), Robinson’s Place Manila (E-phone, Memo Xpress, Megacell), SM Calamba (Fonestyle, Megaone, Memo Xpress and Wellcom), SM Cebu (LG Concept Store, Aerophone, Junrex, Memo Xpress, RC Goldline and Wellcom), J Centre Mall Cebu (LG Concept Store and RC Goldline), LG Concept Store at SM Bacolod, Gaisano Mall Davao (LG Concept Store and Wiltelcom), and the LG Concept Store at Limketkai Mall Cagayan De Oro.
Getting a new tablet or laptop doesn’t have to be hard and expensive. With Smart’s new Gadget Plus Plans, they are making that true and available to everybody. So if you’re in for a new tablet or laptop with bundled internet connection for your on-the-go moments, check this one out.
Starting at just P499 a month, you can already get a 7-inch Acer Iconia B1 tablet running on Android Jelly Bean and a mobile Wi-Fi with 30 hours of internet.
For P200 more, you can either have an Alcatel T7HD, an HP Slate 7, a Starmobile Engage 7 HD, or a Huawei Media Pad Youth 7-inch Android tablet, plus a mobile Wi-Fi with 50 hours of internet for just P699 a month.
If you want a more capable device bring with you, check out the devices on Plan 999. Available in this plan is the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 with P2,000 upfront payment, the Samsung ATIV Book 2 for P1,500, the Acer Aspire V5 122P Touch for P2,500, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 for P2,000, or the iPad mini 16GB for P1,500. These also come with 50 hours of internet hours per month.
If you want to get a trio bundle, look for these devices on Plan 1299. One bundle includes the Samsung ATIV Book 2, a Samsung wireless printer, and a mobile Wi-Fi device. The other bundle is the Acer Aspire V5 122P Touch, an Acer Iconia B1, and a mobile Wi-Fi. The two bundles come with a P1,000 upfront payment each and also have 50 internet hours per month.
If you’re worried about exceeding your allotted internet hours, well, fret not. Once you consume a certain number of hours on your plan, it will automatically switch to unlimited data. You can check out the table below for more info.
If you want to know more about the Smart Bro Gadget Plus Plans, visit their website.
The HTC One mini — the miniature version of the HTC One — is set to hit the shelves in the Philippines this mid-October, according to the local arm of the Taiwanese company.
Packing the same aluminum body found on its bigger brother, the HTC One mini features a smaller 4.3-inch 720p HD display in a smaller footprint, a pair of BoomSound stereo speakers on the front, the Ultrapixel camera with incredible low-light capability and live gallery with Zoe, and the HTC BlinkFeed homescreen, which pulls all the content from the sources you pick in one place.
It sports a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a 1800mAh battery. It is also capable of operating on the local carriers’ 4G LTE networks. The One mini runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box and there’s no word yet if it’ll get an update to 4.3 or 4.4 KitKat, though there’s no reason it shouldn’t.
The HTC One mini will retail for P25,390, a price that’s not so ‘mini’. The company did not state if it will be offered on Globe and Smart.
Globe Telecom’s parent company, SingTel, announced that it will enter into a partnership with Samsung to drive next-generation mobile communication, infotainment and technology services in Asia. While specific details about the partnership are scarce, the Singapore-based company said that it will offer applications and digital services to its customers including those of in other countries which includes Globe here in the Philippines, Advanced Info Service (Thailand), Airtel, Optus (Australia), SingTel (Singapore) and Telkomsel (Indonesia).
Applications and digital services may just mean Samsung’s digital hub for its mobile devices which include the Samsung Apps and Samsung Hub (music, video, books, and games) stores. Globe, for instance, already offers carrier billing for Samsung Apps.
In addition, the SingTel Group will work with Samsung to identify opportunities for joint launches and marketing campaigns of key Samsung device announcements. The companies will also be able to leverage each others’ distribution channels to extend their retail reach to more customers.
Mr. Mark Chong, CEO International, SingTel Group Consumer said, “SingTel Group and Samsung will deliver an exciting mobile experience for customers, through brilliant mobile and innovative devices.”
Join projects among the two firms will begin this Q4 2013.
SingTel Group to drive joint communication, infotainment and technology services with Samsung’s innovative products
SingTel Group to drive joint communication, infotainment and technology services with Samsung’s innovative productsSingapore, 27 September 2013 – The SingTel Group today announced a strategic partnership with Samsung focused on driving next-generation mobile communication, infotainment and technology services in Asia. The new collaboration takes advantage of the scale of the SingTel Group and Samsung’s innovative products and services.
Under this partnership, both parties will offer applications and digital services to customers of SingTel Group companies, including Advanced Info Service (Thailand), Airtel, Globe Telecom (Philippines), Optus (Australia), SingTel (Singapore) and Telkomsel (Indonesia).
In addition, the SingTel Group will work with Samsung to identify opportunities for joint launches and marketing campaigns of key Samsung device announcements. The companies will also be able to leverage each others’ distribution channels to extend their retail reach to more customers.
SingTel Group’s leading mobile brands combined with Samsung’s mobile device ingenuity will grow the 3G and 4G customer base in each market and also enhance the experience of mobile customers and broaden their access to intelligent networks.
Mr. Mark Chong, CEO International, SingTel Group Consumer said, “SingTel Group and Samsung will deliver an exciting mobile experience for customers, through brilliant mobile and innovative devices.
“Not only will our companies mutually benefit, but our combined 400 million mobile customers will be able to take advantage of the unique offerings that will be provided in the future.”
Mr. DJ Lee, President and Head of Sales & Marketing, at Samsung Electronics, said, “We are honored by this opportunity to provide our customers with advanced mobile experiences. In order to introduce Samsung’s next generation mobile communications, we continue to fully support and work closely with leading mobile operators.”
The SingTel Group and Samsung partnership will commence this month with joint projects beginning from the fourth quarter this year.
For the Google’s next Nexus smartphone, when it leaks, it floods. In a very apparent leak, an ‘internal-only’ service manual gives us a peek on what’s the successor to the Nexus 4 going to be like.
First off, it is confirmed to be sporting a 4.95-inch 1080p full HD display, an IPS one at that, 16 or 32GB storage variants, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 chipset clocked at 2.3GHz, and 2GB of RAM. Its camera also gets an upgrade — though not in the megapixel number — and is said to have an OIS (optical image stabilization). The battery is rated at 2300mAh with wireless charging support. The upcoming Nexus phone finally comes with 4G LTE support (finally).
4.95" 1080p display (IPS TFT for those interested)
32GB internal storage (other capacities not specified)
2GB RAM
MSM8974 aka Snapdragon 800 at 2.3GHz
8MP OIS rear camera, 1.3MP front camera
2300mAh battery
Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Proximity/Ambient Light, Pressure
Slimport compatibility
Micro SIM slot
Notification light
Wireless charging
NFC
Bluetooth 3.0 (assumed to be an error)
UMTS/GSM/CDMA/LTE compatibility
The next Nexus smartphone from Google is expected to debut this Q4 along with Android 4.4 KitKat. Check out Android Police on the source link below for more coverage.
Source: Android Police
Globe Telecom has announced that they are now offering unlimited calls and texts to all networks, a first in the country.
The new offering, however, is initially available for Globe Platinum subscribers only — specifically, those who subscribe to the new All-Net Plan 5000 and All-Net Plan 10000. Those subscribers get unlimited data and unlimited calls and texts to all networks (Smart, Sun Cellular, Globe).
Aside from those unlimited services, Plan 5000 customers get P1,000 monthly consumable which they can use for other services like roaming, international calls, landline calls, etc., a 1-month subscription for Gadget Care insurance, an LTE smartphone (iPhone 5 16GB, Samsung Galaxy S4, or BlackBerry Q10), and a Platinum Elite membership.
Plan 10000 customers, on the other hand, get to have a P5,500 monthly consumable which can be shared with up to 2 extension lines, DUO and Gadget Care subscription for the length of the contract, an LTE smartphone (Samsung Galaxy Note 3 + Galaxy Tab 3 Wi-Fi, Samsung Galaxy S4 + Galaxy Tab 3 Wi-Fi, iPhone 5 32GB, or BlackBerry Q10 + BlackBerry 9320), and a Platinum Elite membership.
The rich really get to enjoy great services, no? Let’s hope Globe brings this to their other postpaid plans too, heck, even on prepaid!
If you’re in the market for an affordable yet still capable tablet in terms of performance, look no further other than the ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7.
The MeMO Pad HD 7 was announced in June and is now only arriving in the Philippines at very affordable prices. The 8GB model is being priced at just P6,995 while the 16GB model is at P8,995. The 8GB model is particularly attractive on that price point, just pair it with a 32GB microSD card which you can get for less than P2,000. It is available in variety of colors like blue, white, pink, green and gray
The Android 4.2 Jelly Bean-touting tablet sports a 7-inch IPS display with a 1280x800 HD resolution, a huge improvement over the display of the first-generation MeMO Pad. Powering the MeMO Pad HD 7 is a 1.2GHz MediaTek 8125 quad-core processor along with 1GB of RAM. It packs two cameras — a 1.2-megapixel on the front and a 5-megapixel main shooter on the rear. ASUS says it can last up to 10 hours of 720p HD video playback.
They are also offering official accessories for the MeMO Pad HD 7 such as the TransCover which folds into a leveled stand so you can type on the screen at comfort. It comes in blue, pink, white and black at P1,295.
The Persona Cover is also available, which is a snug-fit case that protects the tablet from everyday bumps and scrapes. It is available in available in black, pink and green, though no pricing has been provided.
After several months of waiting, the Nokia Lumia 1020 has finally arrived in the Philippines.
The Lumia 1020, which is the first Windows Phone to pack a 41-megapixel camera, will be available in Nokia Stores as well as other retail stores on October 11 for P35,650. A Nokia Camera Grip worth P4,000 comes free with the package.
The Nokia Lumia 1020 features 4.5-inch 720p HD AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM — the highest among any Windows Phone device yet, 4G LTE, 32GB of internal storage, 2000mAh battery, and the 41-megapixel Pureview camera.
Nokia Lumia 1020 Specifications and Features
4.5-inch AMOLED display with WXGA (1280x768) resolution
Corning Gorilla® Glass 3
Super Sensitive touch
41-megapixels PureView camera (7712 x 5360) with optical image stabilization (OIS)
1.2MP front-facing camera with wide-angle lens
Full 1080p HD video capture at 30fps
Xenon and LED flash
32GB mass memory
2GB RAM
2000mAh battery
GSM / HSPA+ / LTE (Compatible with Smart and Globe)
1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 dual-core processor
Gyroscope
Compass
Accelerometer
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Windows Phone 8 OS
It will be available in Yellow and Black. There will be accessories available too such as the Camera Grip, which as its name suggests, provides a better grip of the device. It also adds another 1020mAh of juice and lets you connect the Lumia 1020 to a standard camera tripod for better stills. The Camera Grip retails for P4,000.
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