Selected Samsung Mobile accessories now 50% off

Samsung Mobile users, heads up! If you’re after some accessories for your smartphone (Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, etc.) or tablet (Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, etc.), then you should take a look at this.

Samsung US is offering a 50% discount on all Samsung Mobile accessories on their online store for a limited time. Everything that you can see here (smartphone accessories), here, and here (tablet accessories) that are currently in stock can be yours for half the price.

Some of the accessories worth mentioning include the 9,000 mAh Samsung Battery Pack which now goes for $50 (from $100) and the Galaxy Note II Protective Cover which is just $15 right now (from $30).

Of course, as stated above, this offer is only for US customers. However, fortunately, if you’re a GCash-AMEX user, you can just use that in order to buy those accessories at their discounted rates.

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Twitter says up to 250,000 accounts may have been hacked

Twitter recently announced that it has been hacked. In a post on their blog, the company has detailed that it has detected unusual activity patterns this last week which ultimately led them to identify the unauthorized access of Twitter’s user data.

Twitter even spotted one ongoing attack and was able to stop it mere moments later. However, they say the investigation has revealed that some 250,000 user accounts may have been affected by the attack. User information such as usernames, email address, session tokens (which is used to store log-ins), and salted or encrypted versions of passwords may have had been accessed.

As a result, Twitter has reset the passwords of those accounts. If you’re one of the victims, you should have or will receive an email notifying you that you need to create a new password on your next log-in. You will have to enter your new password on every app or browser you use as Twitter has cleared the log-in sessions for the affected accounts.

Source: Twitter

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Apple adds 128GB iPad in its lineup

Apple recently announced that it will start offering the 4th generation iPad with a 128GB storage capacity.

Currently, the iPad is available on 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB variants. But with the increasing app sizes due to the high resolution graphics required on apps targeted for the Retina display, a 64GB storage is not enough for some users, especially those who deal with lots of music, videos, and photos on their iPad. And with over 800,000 applications (over 300,000 designed for iPad) available on the App Store, I think it’s just right to have a larger storage option.

The 128GB iPad is going to be available on February 5 and will be priced $799 or P38,990 for the Wi-Fi model and $929 or P44,990 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.

Source: Apple

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Review: Google Nexus 4 by LG

The Nexus 4 is Google's fourth smartphone under their Nexus lineup, and this time it’s courtesy of LG. As a refresher, devices launched under that brand comes with stock version of Android. It doesn't come with any manufacturer or carrier customizations. In fact, Google dubs Nexus devices as 'Pure Google' devices.

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iOS 6.1 also brings LTE on iPad, only Globe users need apply

With the release of iOS 6.1, Apple did not only add LTE support on the iPhone 5, they also enabled it on the 4th-generation iPad and iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular models.

As of now, LTE is only available on Globe. You should also make sure you have the iPad with model number A1460 or the iPad mini with model number A1455 lest you will not see the LTE option on your iPad.

Source: Apple

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Apple enables LTE on iPhone 5 on Globe and SMART

 

Apple has officially enabled the LTE functionality on the iPhone 5 both on Globe and SMART. As we have reported last week, Apple is set to unlock the previously restricted feature of the iPhone 5 on 36 more carriers this week.

Now that it’s here, all it takes for you to see that ‘Enable LTE’ toggle (which replaces the 3G toggle) on your iPhone 5 is to update it to iOS 6.1.

Up until now, though, both Globe and SMART are yet to detail out the processes their subscribers should do to be able to get LTE service on their phones. But since it has been officially announced by Apple, they should be on that matter anytime now.

Source: Apple

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Nokia announces $3.99 Music+ subscription service

Nokia recently announced their new Music+ premium subscription. The Nokia Music+ is an upgrade over the existing Mix Radio service which is currently available for free to the Lumia Windows Phone users.

The premium subscription, which will set you back $3.99/€3.99 a month, adds unlimited skipping, higher quality streams, lyrics support which can be displayed in s scrolling list, in a karaoke-style format, or in a static display you can manually scroll.

As with any other premium music subscription service available, the Nokia Music+ also allows unlimited downloads of music which you can play not just on your phone but also on your desktop, TV, and other ‘connected screens’, even when offline.

Nokia says the service will be available starting sometime in the next few weeks.

Source: Nokia

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SMART updates SmartNet, brings free access to Yahoo!

SMART today announced that it has updated the SmartNet application for Android. The app, which allows users to access their Facebook and Twitter accounts for free, now also supports some Yahoo! services.

The latest version of SmartNet now has support for Yahoo! Search, Yahoo! Mail, and Yahoo! OMG. This should be useful for those who want to occasionally check their emails, or the latest news even without prepaid load or racking up huge bill charges.

The app also includes Headlines, an aggregator of the latest news from blogs and websites. Access to it is also free of charge. “SmartNet enables users to maximize their phones’ capabilities as they experience using mobile Internet on the Philippines’ first and only super-charged mobile network—all without fear of racking up unexpected data charges or ‘bill shock,” Smart Head for Product Development for Internet Services Mitch Padua said.

SmartNet is also available for Nokia S40 users. They should just visit m.smartnet.ph to access the service. The update is now available for Android at Google Play Store will also be made available for iOS and Windows Phone devices soon.

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Samsung GALAXY S III mini swings by Globe, available starting at P999 per month

Samsung recently launched the GALAXY S III mini, the miniature version of the GALAXY S III.

The Samsung GALAXY S III mini has a slightly smaller 4-inch screen with 800x480 resolution and a Super AMOLED panel. It has a 5 Megapixels main camera with auto-focus and LED flash, and a VGA one on the front.

Despite running on a dual-core processor, Samsung has stuffed the GALAXY S III mini with the same features people has become familiar with the likes of the GALAXY S III and Note II, such as the Pop-up Play which allows you to watch video over apps, Smart Stay which tracks your eye to prevent the screen from going off, Smart Alert which gives a brief vibration for missed calls and texts when you pick up your phone, and Direct Call which lets you call instantly just by putting your phone on your ear.

The GALAXY S III mini does not sacrifice features and power despite being small.

Samsung GALAXY S III mini Specifications and Features
4-inch Super AMOLED display with 800x480 (WVGA) resolution
5 Megapixels autofocus camera with LED flash
VGA front camera
8/16GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB using microSD card
1 GB RAM
1GHz dual-core CPU
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
NFC
GPS / GLONASS
Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Gyroscope
GSM/EDGE/GPRS (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
3G/HSPA (900, 1900, 2100 MHz) 
1,500mAh battery capacity
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS

The Samsung GALAXY S III mini retails at P14,990 and is available in Marble White, Pebble Blue, Garnet Red and Titanium Gray. It is also available on Globe My Super Plan 999 which comes with P900 Consumable, 50MB data and two call and text freebies. Subscribers may also opt for My Super Plan Unli Surf Combo 999 which comes with unlimited data and one call and text freebie which you can also change every month.

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Temple Run 2 available now for Android

Following the release on iOS last week, Imangi Studios has released the Temple Run 2 today on Android at the Google Play Store.

Temple Run 2 launched on iOS last week and had over 20 million downloads just in the first 4 days after the release. The sequel brings in new features like the entirely different environment wherein you can ride mine carts and cling through zip lines. There’s also new obstacles, more powerups, more achievements, and special powers for each character.

You can get Temple Run 2 now at the Google Play Store.

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iPhone 5 to finally get LTE in the Philippines next week

Heads up, iPhone 5 users! Your phones are finally set to get LTE service beginning next week, says Tim Cook at their quarterly conference call.

The iPhone 5 was released in the Philippines last December 14 and it didn’t come with LTE at the time, as expected. But next week, you should see a small carrier bundle update to at least version 13.1. The iPhone 5 on Globe and Smart currently has the version 13.0. To install the update when it’s released, go to Settings > General > About and a prompt will pop up instructing you to update.

Until now, Apple has only enabled LTE on the iPhone 5 in the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The Philippines, along with Switzerland, Finland, and 33 other countries will join the mostly first world countries in the LTE iPhone bandwagon.

Now let’s just wait for the local carriers to flip their LTE networks in more markets so you can really benefit from it. As of now, LTE is currently limited to select cities in the National Capital Region.

Oh, by the way! 4th generation iPad and iPad mini users who own a Wi-Fi + Cellular model should also be able to use LTE next week!

Source: iMore

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Nokia Drive+ brings turn-by-turn navigation to all Windows Phone devices

Microsoft and Nokia today released the Nokia Drive+ app for all Windows Phone devices.

The Nokia Drive+, which is still in beta, provides  turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance, offline maps (which is also available in the built-in Maps app), speed limit warnings, day and night modes for maximum visibility, and also 2D and 3D landmarks.

The app is now available for download for all Windows Phone devices from all OEMs. For now, though, it only works In United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.

I tried to install it on my HTC 8X using from the US Windows Phone Store and it didn’t work. It needs a SIM card from the supported countries. Hopefully it will be available for all countries when it graduates from beta.

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Sony announces the 10.1-inch Xperia Tablet Z

Coming up right after the Xperia Z announcement at CES, Sony has just announced its bigger brother, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z.

The Xperia Tablet Z flaunts a 10.1-inch screen with a 1920x1200 resolution with Reality Display. It is powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and has an 8 Megapixels camera with Exmor R sensor which Sony has always touted for low-light capturing of photos.

With its side measuring only 6.9mm, the Xperia Tablet Z is thinner by a bit than the iPad mini. And, as it has always been with Sony’s devices, it is also water and dust resistant, just like the Xperia Z. It also includes NFC and LTE connectivity which is not that usual on tablets, but its still welcome nonetheless.

Sony has not yet announced on when will the Xperia Tablet Z become available.

Via: The Verge
Source: Sony

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Sun Cellular introduces Name Ur Number SIM, lets you pick your own phone number

Here’s a rather new and unique offering from Sun Cellular, the Name Ur Number SIM card.

The Sun Cellular Name Ur Number SIM card is the first of its kind in the country. It is basically just an ordinary prepaid SIM card which does not come with a predefined phone number. Instead, you will get to choose your own phone number when you activate it.

Details are scarce at the moment as the release has been put on hold by the carrier but an initial batch of SIMs is already available at the Sun Shops and other stores. Sun Cellular says customers will be able to choose their own 3 to 6 digit phone number, provided that it is still available. The phone numbers will start with 0942-8XX-XXXX, 0943-8XX-XXXX, or 0943-9XX-XXXX.

The Sun Cellular Name Ur Number SIM card retails for P59 and it comes with the usual free SMS and minutes.

I personally think this should become the standard for all SIM cards on all carriers. Instead of producing SIM cards with predefined phone numbers, users should just be able to choose from a series or by their own when they activate it. How about you? What do you think about this new offering by Sun Cellular?

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SMART unveils 5GB LTE data plan for P1,299

SMART today announced the new 5GB LTE data plan for P1,299 that will be joining their 10GB and 21GB data plans currently available. The 5GB plan is made available for those who want to occasionally ride on the LTE network, supposedly for those who already have Internet at home.

SMART says the 5GB plan can take advantage of the maximum LTE speeds unlike what its competitor offers. You can also use it without any limits until January 31, after which the 5GB allocation will be imposed. Read the full press release below for the details.

Smart unveils most affordable LTE Broadband Plan
[20 January 2013] Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) the country’s pioneer in LTE networks, makes the Philippines’ fastest wireless broadband service more affordable than ever as it unveils the new Smart LTE Broadband Plan 1299.

“Designed for netizens who want their occasional LTE fix, Smart LTE Broadband Plan 1299 gives even more Filipinos the opportunity to Live Faster and Live More,” said Smart Broadband Internet and Data Services Head Lloyd Manaloto.

“Similar to LTE Broadband Plans 3500 and 1749, Smart LTE Broadband Plan 1299 is capable of speeds of up to 42Mbps so you get the full LTE experience,” he added.

Backed by the country’s first and only 100% super-charged network, Smart’s LTE services can be enjoyed in more than 500 establishments in 10 cities across Metro Manila—many of which feature Smart LTE “sticker pins” in their respective storefronts.

The list of LTE hotspots includes popular public places such as malls, restaurants bars, clinics, salons, and other recreational areas. Smart LTE is also present in certain residential areas and in select areas in Boracay, Cebu, and Davao.

As a special treat for early adopters, Smart LTE Broadband Plan 1299 can be used on an unlimited basis until January 31, 2013*. Subscribers also have the option to avail of a Pocket Wi-Fi device for a one-time fee of just P2,000.

“With the Smart LTE Pocket Wi-Fi, all of your devices can now run on the power of LTE,” said Manaloto.

“This gives you the chance to get the most out of our world-class LTE service and to experience what it’s like to truly Live More,” he added.

For more information on other Smart LTE Broadband plans and devices and to view the complete list of Smart LTE hotspots, visit www.smart.com.ph/lte.

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