Hate Apple Maps? Here’s how you can replace it with Google or Nokia Maps with the original icon!

Did you update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to iOS 6 and regret doing so? Because, you know, Apple’s own mapping solution (for the record: provided by TomTom) is not any better than Google Maps which was bundled on the previous versions of iOS.

Fret not! You can have the web-version of Google Maps with the original iOS icon by installing the configuration profiles Twitter user @benguild created. and run in it full-screen without the Mobile Safari URL and navigation bars. Just visit his blog for the complete steps which are very easy to do.

And, inspired by that nifty workaround, I present my own one – the full-screen Nokia Maps web app. Read on for more.

Nokia has their own mobile web version of their mapping solution, but they don’t have a native app for iOS yet. So I tried doing what @benguild did and voila, a native Nokia Maps web app!

Just install the web profile on your iOS device and if you have a password set, enter it, and done. Check your home screen for your new web app!
Click this link on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: https://sites.google.com/a/misterjonjon.com/internal/NokiaMaps.mobileconfig (short link - http://mrjongo.co/QC1e15)

 

Read More

Shocker: Apple issues a letter of apology, mentions Google and Nokia Maps on their website

BREAKING!

Apple just posted an apology letter right on the website today. The move was very unexpected. But what’s even more surprising is that they actually mentioned Google and Nokia Maps on their website and even included links to the two services! Check it out.

To our customers,
At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.

We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.

There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.

While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.

Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.

Tim Cook
Apple’s CEO

Read More

Globe reveals the Tattoo Black LTE plans (update)

Globe Telecom yesterday revealed their own plans for their LTE network which is under the brand Tattoo Black.

Globe’s LTE network can go up to 42Mbps, but theoretically, an LTE network can go up to 100Mbps which is evident on the speed tests.

Globe will have two plan tiers for Tattoo Black, a Plan 1799 and a Plan 2499.

Subscribers who will avail of the Plan 1799 will get limited speeds of up to 28Mbps, a free USB dongle (looks to be the Huawei E392), discounts at partner establishments, and nationwide concierge assistance. They can opt for a pocket Wi-Fi (which looks like the Huawei E589) for an additional monthly fee of P150. It comes with unlimited data until January 31, 2013 wherein after that date, you will only have 12GB of data every month.

On the other hand, subscribers on the higher Plan 2499 will get access to the network without any speed limits at all. It will also reportedly come with a free pocket Wi-Fi as a secondary device to the main USB dongle – I am still trying to verify this info with Globe as it is not included in the press release they sent out earlier. Aside from that, they will also get a dedicated hotline, priority handling in stores and a personal relationship manager, access to Tattoo events, priority reservation on Globe handset and tablet devices, and 24/7 personal concierge service. This one comes with unlimited data too until the same date, and will have 15GB monthly data after that.

Globe’s LTE coverage is still limited to Makati for now although they said that they are aggressively deploying LTE in more areas in the country. By the end of October, Globe will have around 50 LTE cell towers activated, and 100 by the year’s end.

The Globe Tattoo Black LTE service will be available starting October 28, 2012 at selected Globe Stores.

Read More

Smart hosting Switch Madness Sale, iPhone 4S yours for Plan 1500

Smart will be hosting a Switch Madness sale on Friday until Saturday, September 29.

If you are still contemplating on signing-up for a new contract and get an iPhone 4S, now is probably the time to do so. Head on to Smart Store at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall and get the iPhone of the yesteryear for free at Plan 1500. If the iPhone is not your thing, then you will still be happy because they will be offering truckloads of other devices too.

Wireless Broadband devices such as the Power Plug-It will sell for only P625, the Rocket Plug-It Chic for only P1,175, the Pocket Wi-Fi for only P1,945. All you have to do is show your existing broadband device form the other carriers, that is to say, devices from Globe. I’m not sure if they will accept devices from Sun Cellular.

They will be also giving away free Smart Bro SIM cards there, just show your 3G or 4G enabled tablets (i.e. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G, Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 Wi-Fi + 3G, etc.), Plug-Its, and Pocket Wi-Fi’s.

You can also get prepaid phone kits at discounted prices, with the likes of Sony Xperia Ray selling for only P7,700, Nokia E5 for only P6,500, and HTC ChaCha for only P6,600. I can’t really list down all the offers that are available, so just check them out on Smart’s website.

Read More

Google Play Store surpasses 25 billion downloads, celebrates with P10 app sale

Google just announced that the Google Play Store just breached the 25 billion downloads mark, and they are celebrating it by offering a few apps and games on sale.

14 out of the 675,000 apps are currently on sale right now at only P10.44 ($0.25). Check out the list below.

Angry Birds Space Premium
The Cat in the Hat – Dr. Seuss
Office Suite Pro 6 + (PDF & HD)
Granny Smith
runtastic PRO
Asphalt 7: Heat
Ocean HD
Draw Something
Clouds & Sheep Premium
Let’s Create! Pottery
Tasks
Sudoku
NFL Kicker 13
Symphony of Eternity

You should act fast though as the promotion will only last for allegedly 24 hours.

UPDATE: The sale will happen for 5 days and there will be new set of apps on sale every day. You may want to bookmark this Google Play Store link.

Read More

Lazada is giving away an iPhone 5

Want to be one of the firsts to own to highly coveted iPhone 5? For free? Then read on as Lazada Philippines will give away one!

If you are a regular customer of Lazada, just do your normal habit – that is to shop. Have a single-purchase receipt worth P2,000 or more and you’re in on the raffle. You can get as many raffle tickets as you can. You will receive an e-mail notification if ever you are qualified for an entry. The promo starts today, September 26 and will end on October 26, 2012. One unit of iPhone 5 is up for grabs.

Full legal mechanics below.

Name of Promotion: Be the First to own iPhone 5
Promotion duration: September 28, 2012 to October 5, 2012, raffle draw on October 6, 2012

Eligibility:
-Open to all registered users of Lazada of legal age, who are residing in the Philippines.  They must also have a Lazada account and corresponding account information such as the user’s first name, surname, e-mail address, gender and date of birth, his/her mailing address and his/her billing address.

How to Join:
-For a minimum single purchase P 2,000 of the products available starting 12pm, September 28, 2012 to 11:59pm, October 5, 2012 entitles a customer to one (1) raffle stub.
-A customer can qualify and get as many raffle tickets as he or she can provide single purchase of any of the items be done.  One (1) raffle ticket is equivalent to minimum purchase of P 2,000.

Prize:
1 iPhone 5 will be given away

Mechanics:
-A qualifying customer gets a confirmation email that he or she is eligible for the raffle draw. The email shall also contain the raffle ticket number and the terms and conditions of the raffle draw.
-The winners will be selected at random on October 6, 2012, 4PM, at the main office of Lazada Philippines.  The names of the entrants will be printed and folded, placed in a box, and a Lazada representative will pick the 2 winners, witnessed by a DTI representative.
-The winners will be informed through phone call and registered mail. The prize will be delivered to the preferred address, or collected at the Lazada office.  If it’s the latter, the winner has 90 days from receipt of the registered mail to pick up the winning prize from Lazada.
-Lazada employees and their relatives up to the 3rd degree consanguinity or affinity are excluded from participating in this promotion.

Terms and Conditions:
-By joining this promo, a customer confirms that he or she has read and understood, and agree to the promo mechanics, including but not limited to its terms and conditions.
-Cancelled orders before October 6, 2012 will automatically be disqualified from the raffle draw.
-Prizes are not convertible to cash and non-transferrable.
-In claiming the prize, the winner needs to present at least one valid ID and the receipt of the original purchased item. Lazada has the right to ask for another ID if deemed necessary.
-In case of a winner’s representative claiming the prize, an authorization letter coming from the winner must be presented together with the winner’s valid ID and the receipt of the original purchased of the item and the representative’s valid ID. The winner’s signature in the ID and the authorization letter presented must be the same. The authorization letter must state the full name of the representative claiming the prize on his or her behalf.
-Number of times a person may win:  A person can win only once.

Read More

Epson Philippines taps group-buying site Ensogo

Epson Philippines tapped group-buying site Ensogo to offer products at much affordable prices.

The move to offer products online will give Epson customers benefits like convenience by  shopping right from their home and the fact that they will save huge amounts. ““Epson products are well known for high-quality, precision engineering. However, we are also highlighting the amazing affordability of our products by making them available in non-traditional channels such as online shopping sites” Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) Head of Sales & Marketing Support Jino N. Alvarez explains.

Right now they are offering the Epson Aculaser C1600 Color Laser Printer for P5497, which is originally valued at P10,995 and the Aculaser CX16 3-in-1 Laser Printer for P8497, which is valued at P16,995 originally – which saves you 51%.

There’s a caveat though, you will have to pick-up your order at the place specified when it becomes available – which defeats the purpose of online shopping. They should offer shipping in the future.

They also encourage people to always visit their website and their Facebook page for the latest deals on their products.

Read More

Smart LTE Pocket Wi-Fi coming soon, will bring LTE for all

Smart Communications, Inc. announced today that it will soon add a new device to its LTE lineup, the Smart LTE Pocket Wi-Fi.

The arrival of Smart’s LTE Pocket Wi-Fi means anyone can connect their Wi-Fi devices to it and have fast LTE speeds. The most important thing about this device is that it actually allows you to share your LTE connection to anyone near you even they don’t have an LTE-capable device or even they don’t have an LTE data plan.

What are the advantages of the LTE Pocket Wi-Fi? For one, you can save money. You don’t have to settle for just an LTE dongle which will only work with one device at a time, unless you connect it to a router with a USB slot, or use internet connection sharing on your computer, which is hassle. Second is portability. The problem with a dongle is that you have to connect it to a computer or a laptop for you to use it. The LTE Pocket WI-Fi does the opposite. Just press the power button and you have a Wi-Fi network with LTE speeds. You can take this thing in your car when on a long road trip, try doing that with the other one.

“LTE for All, that’s what the Smart LTE Pocket Wi-Fi brings to the table,” according to Smart Broadband Internet and Data Services Head Lloyd Manaloto. “Even if you don’t have a Smart LTE Plan or the latest LTE-enabled gadgets, you can already experience the power of Smart LTE,” he added.

The specific device being used by Smart is the Huawei E589. It supports downlink of up to 100Mbps and uplink of up to 50Mbps. It supports multiple LTE frequencies, five in fact, which are 2100 (Band 1), 1800 (Band 3), 2600 (Band 7, 900 (Band 8), and 800 (Band 20) MHz. Dual-band 3G (UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSPA) are also there, supporting 900 and 2100 MHz. Quad-band 2G is supported, of course, supporting 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz. Lastly, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n is here to do all the sharing. The battery is rated at 3,000 mAh.

Smart has not yet announced the plans and pricing details for the LTE Pocket Wi-Fi although I wouldn’t be surprised if it will be offered at the same Plan 3500 with 10 GB of data. This is intended for sharing and multiple users at all.

Read More

Western Digital shows 5mm thin hybrid hard drive sampling

Western Digital showcased their new 5mm hybrid hard drive samples during their Investor Day last September 13.

The drive is 2mm slimmer than the hard drives included in the ultrabooks released earlier before, which measure 7mm. It will be available in 500GB and 1TB (plus a separate 8-32GB of NAND storage) configurations , though the latter will still be 7mm thick. As these hard drives are just sample versions, we may not see them shipped with new ultrabooks soon. Asus and Acer both signed up for the waiting list however, so in case you’re eyeing on getting one new Zenbook or Aspire ultrabook in the future, you don’t need to worry.

Photo credit: AnandTech

WD® CREATES WORLD’S THINNEST 2.5-INCH HYBRID HARD DRIVE
New 5 mm Standard Slashes Storage Footprint by Almost 50% Compared to Traditional 2.5-inch Hard Drives

MANILA, PHILIPPINES. – September 10, 2012 – WD®, a subsidiary of Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC), today announced it is sampling a 5mm-thin hard disk drive featuring hybrid technology. WD has developed hard drives slim enough for integration into today’s thinnest notebook PCs, which provide high-capacity storage and robustness while featuring instant-on and application performance similar to today’s client solid state drives (SSDs). The new technologies will be showcased during WD’s Investor Day, Sept. 13, 2012.

“Mobile devices are becoming smaller, thinner, lighter and more responsive,” said Matt Rutledge, vice president of client storage solutions at WD. “Working with our technology partners, WD has developed new 5 mm hard drives that enable high capacity storage along with excellent performance and superior economics to allow our customers to expand their thin offerings.”

With device volumetric efficiency is a key concern for system makers, WD began shipping 7 mm height hard drives for thin-profile notebooks earlier this year (historically, standard notebook hard drives have been 9.5 mm). WD 5 mm hybrid hard drives will enable the market’s thinnest computers to offer 500 GB of capacity, utilizing almost 50% less volume compared to current 9.5 mm hard drives and at one tenth the cost of similar capacity SSDs.

“Acer is partnering with WD to bring advanced notebook performance and capacity in the smallest form factor,” said David Lee, associate vice president of Mobile Computing Product business unit at Acer. “It’s a part of our ongoing commitment to present leading technology that ultimately improves the total user experience of our customers.”

“We are seeing a shift in the computing world to more powerful mobile computing solutions,” said SY Shain, senior vice president of ASUS’ notebook business unit. “With this in mind, ASUS and WD are collaborating to create slimmer and more mobile notebook solutions — without sacrificing capacity or performance — to deliver smaller form-factor to consumers.”

Hybrid Technology and Client Tiered Storage

WD’s innovative hybrid technology pairs MLC NAND flash storage for fast SSD-like data throughput and instant-on responsiveness with magnetic disks for efficient, high-capacity storage. Similar to the practice of multi-million dollar enterprise systems, WD’s hybrid technology utilizes the concept of tiered storage. Data accessed most frequently (often referred to as ‘hot’ data) is managed using speedy NAND flash to ensure fast response times, while data accessed less often (‘cold’ data) resides on the robust magnetic disks. The tiered design of hybrid hard drives, compared to current dual-drive solutions, also provides a redundancy benefit for users. The magnetic disk backs up all files residing in the NAND, protecting the user from inevitable NAND wear and preserving it for the more hot data handling. WD’s hybrid technology works in conjunction with the PC operating system to deliver higher performance than current hybrid offerings while minimizing NAND wear to allow the use of less expensive MLC NAND.   

Hybrid hard drives combine NAND flash and magnetic disks, simplifying storage-element integration for OEM customers and providing a host of end user benefits: superior performance, responsiveness, lower power consumption, greater operating shock tolerance, and data protection. And unlike dual-drive designs, WD’s hybrid technology provides single-unit design homogeneity that OEM system manufacturers have long sought from the storage industry.

Read More

J.P. Morgan invests in LAZADA

Lazada, the online department store which launched in spring 2012 in Southeast Asia, has announced that J.P. Morgan Asset Management invested by taking a stake thru their German holding,

Lazada is the newest e-commerce sites that ventured in the Philippines, backed by Rocket Internet. They have received a mixed reactions in the past though as I can see on Twitter, with alleged delays in some shipments. Hopefully the recent transaction means that the future will be all well.

“We feel very honored to welcome J.P. Morgan to our investor group and are particularly excited to be joined by an investor that shares our vision and belief in the huge potential of this populous region replicating online shopping behaviors in developed countries”, regional CEO Maximilian Bittner commented. “This will further support our growth as we strive to offer all of our customers fast, convenient and secure online shopping experiences”.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management invests in LAZADA to fuel continued growth in Southeast Asia

LAZADA, the leading online department store in Southeast Asia, has confirmed an investment by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, which will take a stake in LAZADA through its German holding.

Following its parallel launch in five Southeast Asian countries during the spring of 2012, LAZADA has become the fastest growing online department store in the region. Since then, LAZADA has surpassed most established local and international competitors and according to web ranking site Alexa.com it is already ranking among the top local B2C eCommerce sites in all of its markets. This growth is a testament to the huge potential of this region with a population of more than 600 million people and a growing young middle-­‐class which are embracing new online experiences – ranging from eCommerce to social media – at an ever increasing pace through their mobile phones or other connected devices.

With the support of Rocket Internet, the leading global online venture incubator (e.g. Zalando, Dafiti), LAZADA has already established itself as a household name in the region by providing a one-­‐stop shopping experience online. With an unrivalled brand and product selection available online, LAZADA has developed a wide offering ranging from consumer electronics to household goods, toys and sports equipment. Today, approximately 1,000 employees are operating streamlined businesses with own logistics and distribution centers in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.

“We feel very honored to welcome J.P. Morgan to our investor group and are particularly excited to be joined by an investor that shares our vision and belief in the huge potential of this populous region replicating online shopping behaviors in developed countries”, regional CEO Maximilian Bittner commented. “This will further support our growth as we strive to offer all of our customers fast, convenient and secure online shopping experiences”.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management Portfolio Manager Robert Cousin, who worked on the deal from New York, confirmed the transaction, saying, “We are excited to partner with LAZADA as it continues to expand its eCommerce presence in Southeast Asia."

About Lazada (lazada.co.id, lazada.vn, lazada.com.my, lazada.com.ph, lazada.co.th)
LAZADA is Southeast Asia’s fastest growing online department store, with operations in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. LAZADA is pioneering eCommerce across some of the fastest growing countries in the world by offering a fast, secure and convenient online shopping experience with a broad product offering in categories ranging from consumer electronics to household goods, toys and sports equipment. LAZADA is always striving to offer its customers the best possible offering – including multiple payment options, free returns and extensive customer service and warranty commitments.

About J.P. Morgan Asset Management
J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under supervision of approximately $2.0 trillion and assets under management of $1.3 trillion (as of June 30, 2012), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s clients include institutions, retail investors and high-­‐net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), the parent company of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, is a leading global asset management firm with assets of approximately $2.1 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

Read More

Get a chance to win a Nokia N9 or 808 PureView with Nokia and Gameloft’s promo

The best things on earth normally does not come for free. But with Nokia and Gameloft Philippines’ promo, you can have one of the best Nokia smartphones for free! Scroll down for more details.

To get started, just like Nokia Philippines and Gameloft’s Facebook page. After that, just download any demo Gameloft game at the Nokia Store, either on the web or on your mobile. Of course, you can use the Nokia Store app if you have it on your phone, it’s much easier. Once you’re done installing demo games on your phone, register them one by one on Gameloft’s Facebook app, right here.

You will have to enter the usual, your name, email address, phone number, the phone model you used to download the game, the phone IMEI (dial *#06# for that), and the title of the demo game. Very easy. The best part of this is that you also get to discover new Gameloft games that you might have not yet heard of and they’re free (with paid upgrade for full version of course)!

So what are you still doing here? Start downloading now! You better hurry, the only prizes remaining is the Nokia N9 and the Nokia 808 PureView.

Read More

Apple also unveiled the iPod touch 5th generation, pre-order now

Just in case you didn’t know, Apple also updated their iPod lineup, and the iPod touch 5th generation is part of that.

The iPod touch is probably the product who received the biggest upgrades among all that Apple announced last September 12. It got a new, bigger (taller) 4-inch screen which has the same 1136x640 resolution. The display is now an IPS one, and Apple also added the oleophobic coating the iPhone has always enjoyed. It got a new body as well, this time even thinner than its predecessor.just 6.1mm thin. The tapered edges are gone, it now have a more flat and blocky looks. And finally, the chrome back is goooone! It is now replaced by an anodized aluminum case. No more million-scratches-after-one-week-of-use rants!

The iPod touch 5th generation is now powered by the A5 chip, the same one as on the iPhone 4S. For connectivity, Apple added Bluetooth 4.0 and updated the Wi-Fi chip, which now supports 802.11 a/b/g/n – 2.4GHz and 5GHz which will work with the new dual-band routers. As expected, it also uses the new Lightning™ connector. Every new iPod touch now also comes with the loop – which is, well, a loop, or a lanyard in other terms. It attaches to the small silver circle that you see at the lower left corner of the iPod touch’s back side. Just press that thing and it will pop-out, letting you attach the loop. It now also supports AirPlay Mirroring.

What probably the biggest upgrade it received is the new iSight camera. Apple slapped a 5 Megapixels one on it’s back. Yes it is autofocus. Yes it have an LED flash. Yes it can record 1080p videos. Yes it has the same sapphire crystal lens cover. And yes, it can do panoramas. Well, Apple brags about the last.

So where and when can you get one? At the Apple Online Store Philippines for now. You can pre-order yours for P16,490 for the 32GB variant and P21,990 for the 64GB one. It now comes in more colors, you can pick from slate, silver, blue, yellow, pink and the Product (RED) one. First batch of orders will ship on October.

Oh I forgot, Siri is included.

Read More

The iPhone 5 is now finally… official

The iPhone 5 moniker started to surface almost two years ago and now, Apple has officially acknowledged and announced it. The iPhone 5.

Apple claims the iPhone 5 to be the thinnest smartphone on Earth – packing only a 7.6mm thin body. They made the screen a 4-inch one, while still having the same width for better grip they say. The screen resolution has been vertically bumped to 1136x640. Apps that has not been updated yet will run in letterboxed mode with black bars at the top and bottom. A 5th row of icons can now be accommodated at the home screen.

The iPhone 5 now also supports 4G connectivity and it comes in three flavors – HSPA+ (up to 21Mbps), DC-HSDPA (up to 42Mbps), and yes, LTE (up to 100Mbps). It now also have dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n support.

For the internals, the iPhone 5 is powered by the Apple-designed A6 processor, a dual-core one, which Apple say will give you twice as fast performance and graphics. The battery life is better on this too, you can surf at LTE speeds for 8 hours, or talk for 8 hours, or watch a video for 10 hours continuously.

The camera department has not received a major upgrade. It is still an 8 Megapixels shooter, but the camera module is smaller. Apple also replaced the glass lens with a sapphire crystal one that Apple say is more durable and thinner. Apple also added a new feature, the panorama mode. You can take 28 Megapixels stitched photos using that. It also include improved video stabilization, video face detection for up to 10 faces and the ability to take still photos as you record, which is as we all know, not new. The front facing camera has been upgraded to 1.2 Megapixels. You can now record HD videos using the front camera too!

The iPhone 5 has a new dock connector, called the Lightning™. Alright, Apple had Thunderbolt before, and now they have Lightning™. Sh*t just got real. The new dock connector is much much smaller and it is reversible that there is no wrong way of plugging in the cable. It is grandma-proof.

I think you’ve noticed that I’m sort of bored now. Let’s move on to the more exciting stuffs – the pricing and release dates.

The iPhone 5 will be available for pre-order starting on September 14, for $199 for the 16GB variant, $299 for the 32GB variant, and $399 for the 64GB variant. Take note that those pricing are for the US and it is a carrier-subsidized pricing, meaning you will have to get it with a contract. It will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK September 21. Standard unlocked and no-contract pricing is $649 for the 16GB, $749 for the 32GB, and $849 for the 64GB variant.

It will roll-out to 22 more countries on September 28, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The Philippines not yet included. We just have to wait for Smart and Globe to announce the launch of the iPhone 5. And, the waiting game for some starts now.

Will the iPhone 5 work with Smart and Globe’s LTE networks?
Short answer is yes. The A1429 (GSM) model of the iPhone 5 will support the LTE bands 1 (2100MHz), 3 (1800MHz), and 5 (850MHz). For reference, Smart uses the LTE bands 1 and 3, while Globe only uses band 3.

If I purchase an unlocked iPhone at Hong Kong or Singapore, will it still work with Smart or Globe’s LTE networks?
As stated by Apple, unlocked iPhone 5 models may support LTE networks outside the country of purchase when using a valid SIM from a supported carrier. So yes, it will work as long as you purchased the right model – the A1429 (GSM) iPhone 5. Take note on that. The other two iPhone 5 models, the A1429 (CDMA, used by Sprint and Verizon in the US and KDDI at Japan) and A1428 (GSM, used by AT&T in the US and Bell, Virgin, Rogers, Fido, Telus, & Koodo in Canada) may not work.

Read More

Viber for Windows and Mac in the works

EXCLUSIVE!

Viber is planning a version of the software for Windows and Mac and I got hold of screenshots for that.

The user interface of the Viber for Windows and Mac looks to be reminiscent of that of Skype’s, with a handy toolbar available at the bottom when using the full-screen video calling mode. The interface for the messaging view, however, looks similar to that of iMessage with two panes available for easy navigation.

It is unclear as to when will Viber release both version of the software. But given that they have already finished the development of the apps for Bada, S40, and Symbian, it is more likely coming in the next few months.

Read More

Viber announces app for Bada, S40, and Symbian; adds HD calling to Windows Phone

Viber officially announced that it will be releasing an app for Bada, S40, and Symbian devices. They will also add the much waited HD calling feature to the Windows Phone app.

“We are committed to our users and to our mission – to let people all over the world connect freely,” said Talmon Marco, CEO of Viber Media. “By adding the S40, Symbian and Bada platforms to our list of supported mobile OSs, we are expanding the community of individuals who can communicate for free, no matter what platform they use.” The company has released some screenshots for the new app for Bada, S40, and Symbian devices, which should be available anytime soon.

Now, get calling anyone for free. :)

 

 

Read More

Smart is testing the Samsung GALAXY S II LTE (i9210)

We just got these photos of a Samsung GALAXY S II LTE (i9210) model riding on Smart’s 4G LTE network. Take a look.

Smart is apparently testing the said device on their newly launched 4G LTE network. This might mean that the carrier might soon offer the device on their smartphone lineup with a more affordable LTE data plan.

According to Samsung’s website, the GALAXY S II LTE (i9210) is a tri-band LTE device which can work with LTE networks on the 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3 – the one used by Smart), and 2600 MHz (Band 38) frequencies. The device did not fail Smart as it gave a speed of about 16Mbps up and 10Mbps down. Not bad.

 

The Samsung GALAXY S II LTE (i9210) is a smartphone with a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen with 800x480 (WVGA) resolution, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of internal storage, 8 Megapixels camera, and of course, LTE connectivity which can have speeds of up to 100Mbps. It is also HSPA+ enabled. Only time and Smart can tell if they will indeed offer this device on their lineup.

Read More

Globe partially gives out details of their LTE plan (update)

Globe Telecom unveiled their new brand for their LTE services earlier, named the Tattoo Black.

The starting plan will be priced P1,799 monthly and can go up to 42Mbps. Unfortunately though, Globe has not disclosed the allotted data for the plan as well as the device/s that will be bundled. But the new iPhone is just around the corner, so there’s a chance that the plan will go along with it.

UPDATE: Globe just posted on their blog that there will be two LTE plans. The Plan 1799 will be unlimited but you can only have speeds of up to 28 Mbps and will come with a free USB dongle. The other one is the Plan 2499 which you can maximize fully up to 42Mbps and with unlimited data. That’s not really bad if you ask me. But I am sure that once the coverage expands and more people jump in the LTE bandwagon, it might just get congested due to some abusive users (they will be always there) downloading tons of big files. Ahem.

Read More

Smart joins in hyping up the new iPhone launch

Smart, who can’t afford to be left up in the new iPhone launch bandwagon, has also started to tease its subscribers by the means of a tweet.

Instructing its subscribers to call their hotline to “be the first at having one of the most anticipated smartphones ever” is just adding another credence that the new iPhone, whatever it will be called, will be indeed coming to the country as soon as this month.

Be the first at having one of the most anticipated smartphones ever. Call *887 or 848-8877 now! http://twitpic.com/asc59b

— Smart Communications (@SMARTCares) September 8, 2012

Globe recently sent out a teaser too as a blast SMS to its postpaid customers yesterday.

Read More

More details point to a September iPhone 5 release in the Philippines

Just as if the new Globe nano-SIM cards are not enough for us to speculate that the new iPhone are coming here in the country soon, the carrier has gone further and sent out text blasts to some of its postpaid subscribers.

I got that screenshot from a Globe employee who wants to remain anonymous. I received that message from Globe. Globe Postpaid subscribers out there, have you received the same message as well? Fire up in the comments section below.
Oh and just to add, a Smart Communications, Inc. exec has also teased its subscribers that the Philippines may indeed be one of the firsts in Asia to get the new device. Will you buy the new iPhone when it comes out or will you just wait for the features to be revealed and then decide? If you will get it, from which telco?

Read More

Globe’s new nano-SIM cards are here, and they are arriving at stores this month

Look what we have here!

That is Globe Telecom’s new nano-SIM card. It is supposedly coming this month. Yes, this September, the nano-SIMs will be available at Globe Stores.

The nano-SIM are the next generation of SIM (subscriber identity module) cards that follows the not-so-old micro-SIM that was first used by the iPad. According to ETSI, the nano-SIM is 40% smaller than the already-small micro-SIM. Imagine, it’s just 12.3 millimeters wide, 8.8 millimeters high, and 0.67 millimeters thick. it’s more easier than ever to misplace your precious SIM card.

Globe said it will stock as much as 5x more nano-SIMs than the standard mini SIMs soon. “Once again, Globe pioneers in bringing the latest technologies to Filipino mobile phone users as we offer the revolutionary Nano-SIMs in our Globe Stores with the availability of newer smartphone models using this type of SIM very soon,[…]” said Martha Sazon, Head of Globe Postpaid.

Is the Globe exec talking about the upcoming iPhone? The phrase ‘very soon’ and the fact the new nano-SIMs will be in stock as soon as this month makes me think that the Philippines will be one of the first countries to get the new iPhone. You know, what’s the point to release nano-SIMs when there’s no device that people can use it for yet? What a very exciting September.

Read More

Samsung tops 20 million GALAXY S III units sold

Samsung just announced that it has already sold 20 million units of its flagship smartphone, the Samsung GALAXY S III.

The Korean giant said that in just 100 days, the GALAXY S III sold 20 million – three times faster than it’s predecessor and 6 times faster than the first GALAXY S.

Most of the GALAXY S III’s were sold at Europe which accounts for 6 million. 4.5 million were sold at Asia, 4 million at North America, and 2.5 million at its home turf. The GALAXY S III sold 10 million after being out on the market for 50 days. 200,000 GALAXY S III’s are being sold everyday.

Read More

Nokia Lumia 920 unveiled, 4.5-inch HD screen and wireless charging in tow

The day has come. Nokia announced their new flagship smartphone yesterday, the Nokia Lumia 920.

The Nokia Lumia 920 comes with awesome features. First, Nokia put their own PureView imaging technology on this smartphone. An 8.7 Megapixels shooter is on the back. It comes with what they call the floating lens technology which allows the camera to capture 5 times more light than the top competitor smartphones. "Nokia PureView continues to deliver cutting-edge technology to make it possible for a smartphone camera to take the kind of images usually only seen on a standalone SLR camera," said Jo Harlow, executive vice president of Nokia Smart Devices. "With the Nokia Lumia 920 we have made it possible to shoot pictures and video at home, outdoors, in a restaurant or even at night, and come out with professional-looking results."

Another feature is the City Lens. It is an augmented reality feature that gives you an overlay information about points of interests that surrounds you when you hold the phone in a street. Nokia says that is the most intuitive way to explore a city.

The Lumia 920 comes with a huge battery, rated at 2,000 mAh. It is the largest battery ever put in a Nokia phone. Don’t take it too small though, Windows Phone is known to be a power efficient OS. The Lumia 920 also comes with built-in wireless charging. Welcome to the future.

Availability
This is where Nokia disappointed many people. No pricing and release dates has been ever mentioned aside from that it is “expected to start shipping in select markets later in the year.” The Lumia 920 will come in yellow, red, cyan, purple, white, grey, and black. No worries though, it’s coming soon in the Philippines. The Lumia 920 will work with Smart (bands 1 and 3) and Globe (band 3) LTE networks. That’s a fact.

Nokia Lumia 920 Specifications and Features
4.5 inch Nokia PureMotion HD+ WXGA IPS LCD
Corning® Gorilla® Glass
Super Sensitive touch
Nokia ClearBlack with high brightness mode and Sunlight Readability Enhancements
8.7MP with Nokia PureView advanced optical imaging stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics
Full 1080p HD video capture at 30fps
32GB mass memory with 7GB free SkyDrive storage
1GB RAM
2000mAh with integrated Qi wireless charging
GSM / HSPA+ / LTE (Compatible with Smart and Globe)
1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor
Gyroscope
Compass
Accelerometer
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Windows Phone 8 OS

Read More

Smart fires up LTE on the 1800MHz band

Smart Communications, Inc. just fired up it’s LTE network on the 1800MHz band, making them the first to have multi-band LTE in the country.

“Offering LTE in multiple frequencies will give us and out subscribers greater flexibility,” said Rolando G. Peña, PLDT-Smart Technology Group Head. As you may remember, Smart recently launched the first commercial LTE network just last August 25, but that is riding on the 2100MHz band, the same one used by NTT DoCoMo on Japan. Having LTE on multiple frequency will help people who have devices acquired from the other countries, as many countries have LTE on the 1800MHz band.

Smart also have multi-band configurations of its GSM network, which runs on the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands. It’s 3G and HSPA+ networks, on the other hand, operates on 850MHz and 2100MHz.

Smart is offering LTE for P3,500 a month which gives users unlimited data, until October 25, wherein after that, customers will only get 10GB of data allowance.

Smart launches multi-band LTE

[04 Sept 2012] Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) today scored another first in network and customer experience superiority as it extended its pioneering LTE commercial service into a multi-frequency offering.

Recognized worldwide as a leader in innovation, Smart has fired up LTE in the 2100MHz and 1800Mhz bands officially making it the first multi-frequency service provider of mobile LTE in the country and one of the first in the world according to PLDT-Smart Technology Group Head Rolando G. Peña.

“Offering LTE in multiple frequencies will give us and our subscribers greater flexibility,” said Pena. “Multi-band LTE means better coverage whether in densely- or sparsely-populated areas and a wider range of compatible devices,” he added.

Smart’s LTE service which was launched last August 25 initially ran only on 2100Mhz similar to that being used by Japanese telco and LTE pioneer NTT DoCoMo.

Pena explains that multi-band LTE will also allow for the seamless international interoperability of LTE devices which will be offered by Smart in the near future.

“Smart has a history of offering its mobile services in multi-band configurations,” said Pena. “Our GSM connection runs on 900Mhz and 1800MHz bands, and our 3G, HSPA, and HSPA+ connections run on both 850MHz and 2100MHz. These combinations give our service superior reach, flexibility, and resiliency,” he added.

Smart LTE is available at Plan 3500 on unlimited until October 25, 2012. A 10GB monthly data allowance will take effect after the said date. The package includes a multi-band capable USB dongle which can be used for both Windows and Mac computers.

The fastest 4G

Also known as the fastest fourth generation (4G) wireless technology in existence, LTE is capable of delivering speeds of up to 100Mbps. It enables users to download HD movies in minutes, stream HD videos with no buffering, and play online games with no lag.

Complementing the commercial launch of Smart LTE is the installation of more than 54,000 kilometers of Fiber Optic Cabling (FOC) which connects Smart’s cellsites to its core network.

The upgraded FOC system, which is scheduled to be completed by end-2012 under the P67.1 billion “technology refresh” with parent company, PLDT, also makes possible Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) fixed broadband services with speeds of up to 100Mbps.

“This combination of LTE and FTTH gives the PLDT group unmatched capabilities to serve the requirements of its customers for mobile and fixed broadband services,” said PLDT and Smart President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno.

For more information on Smart LTE, visit www.smart.com.ph [END]

About Smart

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is the Philippines' leading wireless services provider with 50.9 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-June 2012. 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, and the country’s first and only LTE network. Its Smart Link service provides communications to the global maritime industry. Smart Broadband, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, offers a wireless broadband service, Smart Broadband, with over 1.63 million subscribers as of end-June 2012. 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 tests NFC payments system

Smart Communications, Inc. is currently testing NFC payments, dubbed as the first in the country.

The carrier has deployed initial machines that can handle NFC-based payments at it’s head office at Makati City. Special Smart Money cards with NFC chips were handed out to the company employees for use with the machine for checking out at the canteen. Employees currently can use it to purchase snacks and even full meals using the Smart Money card. That makes it a totally cashless transaction as users just need to ensure they have sufficient balance on their account. It seems Smart is on track on making it available on mobile devices as well. I expect that a similar app to Google Wallet would be coming out in the near future. If that is the case, it would be easy for Smart’s part as they could just integrate the users’ Smart Money account with the app, similar to the card concept.

[03 September 2012] Wireless leader and pioneer Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is investing on Near Field Communications (NFC), a technology which allows for contactless data exchange between two devices in close proximity to each other, as the future of mobile transactions in the Philippines.

Initial trials which were conducted in the telco’s head office in Makati City enabled employees to use the technology to purchase items in the canteen.

From simple snack items to full meals, select users of a special Smart Money card with an embedded NFC chip have the option of paying on a “cashless” basis by simply tapping on a nearby terminal.

“The response to the project has been great,” said Smart Head of Financial Services Tricia Dizon. “The concessionaries are saving a lot of time because of the quick checkout and some of the customers don’t even take the card out of their wallets or bags,” she said.

Dizon adds that the success of the program can easily be applied in public citing that there is genuine need for better and faster means of conducting transactions.

“NFC is already being used in other Asian countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong,” Dizon said. “Millions of OFWs and Filipino tourists abroad have already used it first-hand so understanding how it works isn’t really an issue,” she explained.

First with NFC

In October 2011, Smart introduced “Tap Share” a service that lets Smart subscribers download content by tapping on a poster.

Through the use of an NFC-enabled smartphone, users can inquire about their prepaid balance or download mobile content such as news, music, and games using specially-marked posters in selected Smart Stores nationwide.

“Tap Share offers our subscribers a hassle-free and safe means of availing of products,” said Smart Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando B. Vea. “They no longer need to memorize lengthy keywords, codes, and URLs to enjoy a service,” he said.

Smart is the first and only telco in the Philippines to utilize NFC technology through the use of smartphones and cards.

Read More

Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 will be also available on Smart, Globe, and Sun Cellular

EXCLUSIVE!

A little birdie told me that the freshly launched Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 will also make its way to the country’s three carriers aside from being sold unlocked and contract-free.

That’s right. Smart, Globe, and Sun Cellular will launch Samsung’s latest flagship tablet and phone hybrid in the country, and for sure, they will bundle it with their respective plans. This makes sense as the three already offer the Samsung GALAXY S III. All we can do is to wait but hopefully they will reveal more info not too long from now. The Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 retails for P32,990.

Read More

Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 first look, available today

I went to the launch of the Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 yesterday and I got a chance to finally try it. If you do not know yet, Samsung announced the GALAXY Note 10.1 back in February but only launched it this August as they have to revise the tablet’s specifications a little bit.

First Impressions
The GALAXY Note 10.1 is a huge device for me, since I was always accustomed to the iPad’s 9.7-inch screen with 4:3 aspect ration. However, this tablet comes with a 10.1-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ration and it is really wider or longer than the iPad when held in landscape mode. Using the S-pen to jot down notes or to draw doodles feels like you’re using a real pen. Of course the friction a real paper provides is not there. The whole package is generally made of plastic and as such, it is very prone to fingerprints and smudges. The back plate of it has a pearlescent sort of color. It is white but when you look at it at a different angle, it gives a slightly pearly violet color. I guess that’s a feature eh? :D

Package Contents
The box includes the GALAXY Note 10.1 itself of course, a proprietary Samsung cable connector and power plug, a pair of headset, a couple of extra stylus tips, the manuals, and not to forget, the S-pen.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (GT-N8000) Specifications and Features
10.1-inch LCD screen display with 1280x800 screen resolution, Digitizer
5 Megapixels main autofocus camera with LED flash, 1.9 Megapixel front-facing camera
16/32/64 GB internal memory
2 GB of RAM
7,000mAh of battery capacity
GSM / HSPA+
1.4 GHz quad-core Exynos 4412 processor
Gyroscope
Digital Compass
Accelerometer
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4 and 5 GHz
Wi-Fi Direct
mHL
Infrared
S-pen
Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich OS

The Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 available now for P32,990 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi + 3G (HSPA+) model. There’s no word yet if Samsung will bring in the other variants with more storage.

I think that’s it for now. This is my first ever Android device, so give me time while I get familiar with Android and the Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1. Stay tuned for our full review soon. Meanwhile, enjoy more photos below.

   

Disclosure: I won a Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 from the raffle at the launch.

Read More