Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Microsoft Lync, OneNote, and Other Apps Now Available for Belle

Good news to all Nokia (Symbian) Belle users! Nokia has just released the first set of the Microsoft apps for the Belle. This was meant to be released last Q4 2011 if I remember it right, but it has been delayed to Q1 and Q2 2012.

Available today is the Microsoft Lync, OneNote, Broadcast, and Doc Connect. What's not yet here is the native Word, Excel, and Powerpoint applications. That will come in Q2 2012 I think.

The update is only available to Nokia (Symbian) Belle devices like 701, 700, and 603. I hope this will be also available on the Belle update for existing Anna devices. Nokia should just bundle them in the firmware instead, just to avoid failed updates, right?



Source: MyNokiaBlog

UPDATED! Something's Wrong With Blogger!

Yesterday just before I sleep, I opened MisterJonjon.com on my phone and I noticed some weird triangles on the timestamps. I became worried by that time and I tried opening my blog on PC, thank God it's fine. I thought it might just be my phone acting up.

Fast forward to this morning, all I can see are black triangles all over my blog! Something's really wrong with Blogger. I browsed Google forums and found out that it's not only me. A few users are also seeing the weird black triangle on their blogs too.

Care to help, Google? Anyone else experiencing this weird issue?

UPDATE: I figured out that the images that was used in the template of my blog is not working anymore. To fix this, all you have to do is download the template from where you originally got it, browse through the images in that archive or folder, and upload them to a reliable image hosting. I think the author of the template accidentally deleted the images on his/her account. After you have uploaded the images, go edit your layout and find all '.png' texts there and replace it with your own. FIXED! :)




Monday, January 30, 2012

Nokia Belle Update Will be Available Starting February 8!


Hola! The much, much, much anticipated Nokia Belle (previously Symbian Belle) update will officially start to roll-out on February 8! That is according to Nokia Vietnam, who made a special page about the update.

The page states that the update will be available for Nokia N8, E7, X7, E6, and C6-01. You may notice that the Nokia 500 is mysteriously not present in the list and on the poster. I'll blame that for the different hardware configuration of the Nokia 500, just as what I've said in my review.


UPDATE: Nokia Philippines seems to add credibility for the February 8 release date. Check the photo below folks! :)


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Smart Drops the Price of Netphone 701, Now Only P4,999!





Just in case you're looking for a new smartphone this time, and also on a tight budget, I introduce you the Smart Netphone 701! The Netphone 701 used to have a price tag of P9,900 last year. It features a 3.5-inch screen, Android 2.2 Froyo OS, and a 3.2 Megapixels camera.

What are you waiting for? Go get one now until Smart still have stocks! You can purchase a Netphone 701 at Smart Online Store or at Smart Stores nationwide.

Smart Netphone 701 Specifications and Features3.5-inch screen display with 800x480 screen resolution
600 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7227 processor
3.2 Megapixels camera, 30 fps video recording
512 MB RAM
2 GB memory card included which is expandable up to 16GB
1250mAh of battery
WiFi
GSM / EDGE - 900/1800/1900
UMTS - 900/2100
Android 2.2 Froyo OS

I'll tell my sister to get one too!

Download fMobi and Get a Chance to Win a Nokia X7!


If you are looking for a new phone for this new year, then look no more! Juuso Kosonen, the developer of the very popular fMobi application for Symbian and N9, will be giving away a brand new Nokia X7!

All you have to do is purchase the full version of fMobi on Nokia Store, check the about section of the app, and tap "Click to participate". That's it! Follow the next instructions that will be displayed on the screen.

Take note, only legally purchased copies of fMobi are eligible in this giveaway. Don't ever dare to try to enter using a pirated copy of the app, because the entries will be verified from the logs on Nokia Store.

Download now and get chance to win Nokia X7!

The best Facebook client for your phone.
Chat or share status. Checkin. Upload photos. Comment and like your friends' posts. Look at your friends photos & albums and much much more!
More than 25 languages included!
User feedback:
5/5 " I love this app. It's made me enjoy using Facebook through a mobile phone again. "
Video preview: http://youtu.be/qvsdLgp5LfQ
Trial version: http://store.ovi.com/content/200535

Nokia Store Link: http://store.nokia.com/content/167633
Price: P30.00

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Official! Premium Contents Now Available on Nokia Store in the Philippines


We just received the official press release regarding the paid (premium) contents availability on Nokia Store here in the Philippines.

You may now buy premium apps just by using your prepaid credits or be charged on your phone bill. For now, the operator billing is only available for Globe subscribers, but it should be available for Smart users soon. The Nokia Store currently racks up to 11 million downloads daily. Some of the most downloaded apps and games in the Philippines are Facebook Chat, Skype, Adventure of Ted, and eBuddy. There are also 3 publishers from the Philippines who already have more than 1 million downloads at the store. Those are Y&R Philippines, MRM Studios, and Octacore Games.

EXCLUSIVE! Nokia Lumia 710 and 800 to be Launched in the Philippines This April?


While I was browsing an article regarding the new General Manager of Nokia Philippines at Pinoy Tech Blog, I stumbled upon a comment which seems to be from the new GM itself, Mr. Gosh. He said the the Nokia Lumia 710 and/or Lumia 800 will be officially launched here in the Philippines in April, which falls within Q2 2012.

The Nokia Lumia 800 is a Windows Phone with a 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, an 8 Megapixels camera, and a 1.4 GHz processor. My price estimate for the Lumia 800 is P23,699.

On the other hand, the Nokia Lumia 710 is a mid-tier Windows Phone with the same 3.7-inch LCD screen, a 5 Megapixels camera, and features interchangeable back covers. My price estimate for this one is around P16,990.

Nokia Lumia 900 for $99? Yessss Please!


BGR claims that they just received AT&T's 2012 roadmap from a trusted source, and among the things that are present on that roadmap is the Nokia Lumia 900, obviously. It is expected to be released on March 18th at a mind boggling price of $99.99 on a 2-year contract! Who would resist a very sleek phone for that price? Not me, not everyone. Hopefully.

Anyway, what are you seeing above is the photo of the Nokia Lumia 900 sans the AT&T branding. As we all know, it is still expected to be released globally this year.

Smart Communications recently announced that their network will be "LTE-ready" by mid-2012. So hopefully, they will begin to offer some LTE devices by that time.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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!



Review: Nokia Lumia 800

Just October last year, Nokia finally announced their offspring with their partnership with Microsoft to bring Windows Phone devices to the market. Along with the Nokia Lumia 710, they also announced the Lumia 800.

PART 1: Hardware and Design

The design of the Nokia Lumia 800 is pretty much the same with the Nokia N9. It has a very sleek polycarbonate plastic unibody that covers all over the phone. On the front, there is the curved Gorilla Glass display. The Lumia 800 has a 3.7-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display, slightly smaller than of the N9's.


Just as what I've said, the phone is made up of polycarbonate plastic, which feels great in your hands. It doesn't have the cold feel of the anodized aluminum bodies. You will find a metal strip on the back of the phone, which has the 8-Megapixels camera. The dual-LED flash is placed just on top of that metal strip, which makes the look of the phone very symmetrical. The metal strip is very prone to scratches unless you're using the soft case that's included in the package, mind you.


The camera of the Nokia Lumia 800 is a 8-Megapixel one, with a Carl Zeiss optics. It takes decent photos, but I can't say it takes very good photos like the N8. I'm always having a hard time focusing close-up subjects. You can check out my sample photos on this Flickr set.


The right side of the Lumia 800 houses the volume rocker, the lock/power button, and the 2-stage camera button, which is oddly missing on the N9.


On the top is the 3.5 millimeter port, the USB port, and the SIM card slot. What I don't like here is that you have to open up the cover of the USB port every time you charge, connect your phone to the PC, or even open up the SIM card slot!



The SIM card slot requires you to open the cover of the USB port before you can use this one.
On the bottom of the phone is the speaker grille. I wonder where did Nokia put the main microphone, maybe inside the grille? Just to add, the bottom part of the Lumia 800 is flat, that it can even stand on its own.


And, just below the screen is the three required buttons for Windows Phones. The back, Start, and search buttons. All of them are capacitive, which means it is prone to accidental taps when using it.


PART 2: Software

Before you proceed, I would like to invite you to read my full review for the Windows Phone OS itself here. This part will only focus on the things that I forgot to include there, and the things that are specific to Nokia.


As we all know, or in case you didn't, the Nokia Lumia 800 runs on the Windows Phone OS. This is the first time Nokia used an OS aside from the old Symbian OS. With Samsung, HTC, LG, and some other manufacturers using it, Nokia clearly should find ways to differentiate with the others.


Nokia did differentiate, by adding Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive, which is really know for its excellent turn-by-turn navigation that's available on many countries. Plus,  it is really free to use. It even includes offline navigation which is very useful if you're on areas without network coverage. Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive are both separate apps, downloading of maps data is not available on Nokia Maps.

Nokia also included the Nokia Music app, which includes Mix Radio which finds recommended tracks for you that you can stream online. You can also download them on your phone for offline playing, but you may not copy it to your computer.

Internet Explorer 9 showing MisterJonjon.com


Another thing to add is that the Windows Phone keyboard is really really good! I missed this part on my Windows Phone review so I will add it here.

The text prediction and correction is surprisingly very accurate. This is the first keyboard that I am comfortable to type on beside iPhone's keyboard.

PART 3: Conclusion


Overall, I really like the Nokia Lumia 800. I managed to live with just it for more than 1 month. It's just the Windows Phone that really needs many improvements. It's missing quite a lot of small features, like disabling auto-rotate of the screen, no 3G/2G switch, any many more. I'm not adding the feature of sending out files over bluetooth, let's accept it. You may only sync files using Zune.

The camera also turned out to be not too good. Just as what I've said earlier, it can't focus on close-up subjects properly. The audio quality when using headphones is horrible, or is it just me?

I'll try to give a score on the Nokia Lumia 800.
Hardware and Design - 9/10
Software - 7/10

Thanks to Nokia Connects for providing us this review unit!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

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.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Nokia Lumia 900 Not Exclusive to AT&T on US After All?


A lot of buzz has been going around the blogosphere and almost everywhere on whether the Nokia Lumia 900 will be going outside the US soil. And then just 8 hours ago, Nokia Portugal has replied to a user on this Facebook thread whether it's going to be available at their country.

WMPowerUser also notes that the person who posted the info seems to be quite sure, quoting that "All pages are to be rigorously validated and corrected where necessary, to make sure that we give all the information and complete form".

So, will it really come to other countries soon with Lumia 900 moniker still on or will it come in another variant and with the 12 Megapixels camera aboard as rumoured?

MWC is just 3 weeks away, that shouldn't be a long wait from now.

Jailbreak for iPhone 4S and iPad 2 Now Available (GUIDE)

Image via TheVerge.com

After a more than 3 months of wait, the jailbreak for the A5 devices iPhone 4S and iPad 2 has finally come. For the time being, go to greenpois0n.com to know more on how the thing works. Just a warning to people who wants their iDevice getting out of Apple's prickly limitations, update now to 5.0.1 before they patches the exploit on another update. Unlockers should take note though, stay away from 5.0.1.

UPDATE 2: Absinthe is now available for both Mac OS and Windows! Check the guide below for the Windows version. Credits to iPhoneFAQ.org for the guide.

Make sure you backup your iPhone or iPad on iTunes before doing the jailbreak! We will not be responsible for any damage that may occur on your device!

1. Update your iPhone 4S to either iOS 5 or iOS 5.0.1 (the iPad 2 must be updated to iOS 5.0.1). iPhone users waiting for an unlock should stay at iOS 5 for now.
2. Download the Absinthe software by click here.
3. Unzip the Absinthe archive.

Image via iPhoneFAQ.com
4. Right-click the absinthe.exe application and select Run as administrator. If your computer asks whether or not to run Absinthe click Allow to proceed.
5. Connect the iPhone 4S or iPad 2 to the computer via USB cable.

Image via iPhoneFAQ.org

6. Click the Jailbreak button in the lower right of the Absinthe application window.
7. The iPhone screen will display Restore in Progress. Do not touch the iPhone until Absinthe completes the restore process!
8. When Absinthe finishes, unlock the iPhone and find the Absinthe icon on one of your home screens. Tap the Absinthe icon to run the next step of the jailbreak.
9. The greenpois0n site will load briefly in mobile Safari then the iPhone 4S reboots.
10. The Absinthe icon automatically gets replaced by a Cydia icon after reboot. Your device is now jailbroken!
11. When running Cydia (the jailbreak app store) for the first time the program will take a few minutes to initialize. After this completes, navigate to the Changes menu and touch Refresh in the upper left hand corner to update the list of current software.

UPDATE: Greenpois0n.com is down at the moment. I've also included the steps for Windows and Mac OS users below. Credits to CydiaHelp.com for the guide.


1. Download CLI Absinthe by clicking here. Connect your device to your computer.
2. Extract the folder named cinject_0.4.3 into the system folder, i.e. C:\.
3. Now go to the start menu, type cmd.exe and hit enter.
4. In the command window, type: CD C:\cinject_0.4.3 as shown to get into the required folder.
5. Type: cinject.exe -i payloads/jailbreak.mobileconfig.


Image via CydiaHelp.com
6. Type cinject.exe -j payloads, hit enter and wait for the backup.
7. Type the command cinject.exe -w.
8. Get in your device and tap on Absinthe icon to get your jailbreak done in few minutes.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Nokia Lumia 800 Getting 8107 Windows Phone Update Starting Today

Image via @markguim

Nokia has now started to roll-out the Windows Phone 7.10.8107.79 update which fixes few bugs, and is also said to bring better battery life. To get this update, connect your phone to PC and launch Zune. You can try checking there if the update is now available for your phone. Don't get mad if you don't see the update, Nokia is rolling it out just now.

Windows Phone 7.10.8107.79 Changelog
On-screen keyboard. Fixes an issue to prevent the keyboard from disappearing during typing.
Email. Fixes a Google mail syncing issue.
Location. Fixes a location access issue. With this fix, the Me feature in the People Hub sends anonymous information about nearby Wi-Fi access points and cell towers to Microsoft only if you agree to allow the Check In function to access and use location information.
Security. Revokes digital certificates from DigiCert Sdn Bhd to address an encryption issue.
Email threads. Fixes an email issue related to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. With this fix, when you reply to or forward a message, the original message is now included in your response.
Voicemail. Fixes a voicemail notification display issue that occurs on some European and Asian networks under certain conditions.

Oh by the way, just saw this on my Twitter timeline. If you're eager on getting the update now, check my tip below.

TIP: To force Zune on getting and downloading the update, do the following. Turn of WiFi and cellular data on your phone. Connect it to PC. Launch Zune, go to Options, then click Updates. Now this is the important step, after 2-3 seconds, disconnect your PC from the Internet. (via Camb078)

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.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

This is final, I swear! Nokia (Symbian) Belle Coming Next Week!


Without any ado, the Nokia (Symbian) Belle update will start rolling-out next week! Nokia has just made the announcement on Twitter. The new update will be (or is supposed to be) available for Nokia N8, E7, X7, C7, C6-01, E6, and 500.

Here are Some Nice Timeline Covers for Nokia Fans


If you're rocking the new Facebook Timeline now and looking for some nice cover photos, well, search-no-more as Nokia has uploaded a couple cover photos for your use. Just click here to browse the photos available for downloading and go to your profile page to update your timeline cover photo.

Look at mine! Isn't it awesome? :D

More cover photos Nokia please.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

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".

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Smart to Launch Samsung Galaxy Nexus This January: Specs, Price, Plans, Release Date


According to unbox.ph, Smart will launch the much waited Samsung Galaxy Nexus here in the Philippines on January 28th. As usual with Smart's traditions when launching high-end devices, they will also start to accept pre-orders on January 21st until the 27th. Smart will offer the Galaxy Nexus for FREE on their Unlimited Data Plan 2000 that will also include 200 SMS and 150 minutes of calls.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Specifications and Features
  • 4.65-inch Super AMOLED screen display with 1280x720 (HD) screen resolution
  • 5 Megapixels main camera with LED flash, 1.3 Megapixel front-facing camera
  • 16/32 GB internal memory
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • Generous 1850mAh of battery
  • GSM / WCDMA / LTE
  • 1.2 GHz TI OMAP 4460 dual core processor
  • Gyroscope
  • WiFi b/g/n
  • NFC
  • Barometer
  • Compass
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwhich OS

  • Take a look at the Plan and Pricing details below.

    Image via unbox.ph
    Looking at the cash-out fee on Plan 500, my estimate on the prepaid price on this is something at the P29,990 - P31,990 level.

    UPDATE: The pre-order page is now up on Smart's website, though you still have to wait until January 21st.


    Wednesday, January 11, 2012

    Get Your Free Facebook Business Cards From Moo


    Okay, so here's a sweet stuff from Facebook. Have you upgraded your profile to the new Facebook Timeline yet? If not, then click here and follow the instructions there to get Timeline because I will show you how to get your Facebook business cards, for free!

    Got timeline now? Okay. Here's how to get those cards. Enter http://facebook.com/yourfacebookusernamehere/info on your browser. If your username is neilrossgoco, then you should enter http://facebook.com/neilrossgoco/info. Now click the little tiny icon on the Contact Info box.


    Now you will be taken to Moo to design and submit your order for free. Only the first box with 50 cards is free.

    UPDATE: This is completely free, provided that you will choose the standard shipping option. I just ordered mine today and the shipping estimates is on February 14. Quite a long wait but hey, this is free! You can also choose the express shipping via DHL with a tracking for an additional £30 or something.

    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.

    Tuesday, January 10, 2012

    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.

    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.

    Intel Shows Nikiski Laptop Prototype with See-through Touchpad and Palmrest


    Intel recently revealed their plans for their ultrabooks lineup just a couple of minutes ago at CES, and look at their star of the night! You are looking at the Intel Nikiski prototype which has a transparent touchpad and palmrest that transforms into a small touchscreen when it is closed. I never expected that Windows 8 could work this way. That surely looks sweeeeeet!

    More photos for the pleasure of your eyes below!




    UPDATE: A hands-on video is now available! Oooooooooh!




    Source: The Verge