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    Hands-on: LG Optimus Vu [Updated: we have video!]

    Gadgets Team
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    Hands-on: LG Optimus Vu [Updated: we have video!]

    At long last, LG’s own interpretation of the phablet has reached our shores. The Korean company has sent us a demo unit of the Optimus Vu to play with, and although we’ve only spent a short time with it, we can talk about some of its features and the things we like and don’t like about it.

    Even among the phablet crowd, LG’s Optimus Vu is an odd device. Unlike most other smartphones, the Optimus Vu uses a 4:3 aspect ratio instead of 16:9 or 16:10. That means that the Optimus Vu is much wider and has a more square-ish shape than other phablets out in the market, most notably the Galaxy Note II. Because of this odd shape, some people may not be able to hold the device correctly. You’ll have a hard time trying to grip the Optimus Vu correctly because of how wide it is, though it has to be said that one of our staff writers, Racine said that she did not have issues holding the phone even though she had small hands.

    The Optimus Vu is not a new unit – it was announced earlier this year in Korea where it sported a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and LTE. LG has since announced an upgraded international version that now carries a 1.5GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, which was the one sent to our office. That processor is paired with 1GB of RAM, and users are given 32GB of non-expandable storage space. The Optimus Vu is completely self-contained, which means that you cannot change out the battery if you have a problem with it. Imaging-wsie, the Optimus Vu packs an 8-megapixel camera on the back.

    The display on the Optimus Vu is a 5-inch, 768 x 1024 resolution HD-IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen. LG has always included decent displays in their smartphones, and the Vu is no different. You’re getting a pixel density of around 256 ppi, which is more than adequate for a device of this size.

    LG has also included a stylus with the Optimus Vu, but anyone looking for an experience that mirrors Samsung’s excellent S-Pen should look elsewhere. The stylus is relatively simpler than the one included with the Galaxy Note II, as is the accompanying software on the Optimus Vu.

    You write on whatever screen that you are currently looking at and send it off to different sites and your email or save it as an image, but that’s pretty much it. There’s not a lot of other things you can do with it, and because it doesn’t have a dedicated slot on the device where you can store it, there’s always a risk that you can lose it (especially if you’re as scatterbrained as we are).

    Performance-wise, the Optimus Vu can hold its own against other devices out in the market today, as shown in the benchmark above. As far as OS is concerned, the demo unit that we’re using is sporting Android 4.0.4. As far as upgrades are concerned, we’re not going to hold our breath, as the Optimus Vu has already been upgraded from Android 2.3 as evidenced by the four capacitive buttons on the bottom of the device, so we doubt if another upgrade is coming down the pipeline.

    As for price, we heard through Teklokal that the price for the Optimus Vu will be around Php 25,490, which is considerably cheaper than the Galaxy Note II’s Php 32,990 price tag.

    That’s pretty much it. Check back later for the video of our hands-on of the device, and the full review that will be posted at the end of this week.

     

     

    PlayStation 4 dev kits released along with spec rumors

    Gadgets Team
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    PlayStation 4 dev kits released along with spec rumors

    With the Wii U already signaling that the first wave of the next generation of consoles will be here on November 18, Sony has made their move—PlayStation 4 developer kits are being sent to developers worldwide. Although Sony has been very tight-lipped about its next-generation console, there are some rumors that have been leaked.

    PlayStation 4 (PS4), codenamed “Orbis” by Sony (Sony is going as far as to not even using the term “PlayStation 4” in meetings) is rumored to be using a variation of an AMD A10 accelerated processing unit (APU). An accelerated processing unit is a combination of both a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU). Other specs that were rumored for the PS4 is that it will have either 8 to 16 GB of RAM and a standard 256 GB hard drive, although it was not stated whether it would be a regular hard drive or a solid state drive (SSD).

    In addition, there will also be the standard connectivity options, such as HDMI, WiFi and Ethernet, but one of the more compelling statements was that the PS4’s “ultimate goal” is the ability to run in 1080p in 3D at 60 fps, which is a huge step forward for consoles considering that they have always been seen as inferior to their PC counterparts.

    According to VG247, “We were also told that the machine will be designed to accept system and product updates in the background, and that it’ll ‘always be in standby mode’. When you set the console up, we were told, you’ll be asked if you want to allow background downloads. You can, of course, disallow them.” This will be part of a revamped user interface (UI) that will make for a more pleasant gaming experience. “They’re trying to make it as fluid as possible.” An example that was given was buying downloadable content (DLC) from the PlayStation Store and then returning to the game without having to exit the game.

    Sony is expected to announce the PS4, or “Orbis”, closer to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next year.

    Because Whoovians are techies too.

    Ren Alcantara
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    0
    Because Whoovians are techies too.

    There is an 83% chance that if you are reading this, you are a techie that is into the BBC cult classic Doctor Who (true story). If that is indeed the case, you’re in for a little treat. We’d tell you what it is, but… spoilers. Just hit this LINK and enjoy!

    Apple’s iPad Mini costs at least $188 to build

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Apple’s iPad Mini costs at least $188 to build

    IHS iSuppli has torn down Apple’s latest tablet, the iPad Mini and has found that parts in it cost at least $188 to build and put together. That means for the base model of the iPad Mini, Apple is raking in around $141 in profit, which means Apple is making a tidy sum off of the sale of each tablet. In contrast, Google’s Nexus 7 cost $184 to build, which the company then sells for $199 – which means that the search giant is almost selling the device at cost to try and entice more people to buy content off of the Google Play store. The teardown also revealed a couple of interesting tidbits about the iPad Mini: the display of the device is made by LG, and even though Apple is currently embroiled in a bitter legal battle with Samsung, the Korean company is still the chief supplier of the chips that go into an iPad Mini.

    Source: AllThingsD

    Samsung sells 30 million Galaxy S IIIs worldwide

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung sells 30 million Galaxy S IIIs worldwide

    Samsung is no stranger to sales milestones, and the Korean company has just managed to grab another record for their latest device, the Galaxy S III. The company is reporting that they have now sold 30 million Galaxy S III devices worldwide since the launch of the device around five months ago. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, as the company managed to sell 10 million Galaxy S III’s in a little over two months since the debut of the device, and has been reported to sell around 57 million smartphones last quarter, with many of them being the Galaxy S III. Have you gotten your Galaxy S III today?

    Source: GSM Arena

    Got a Nexus 7? Get the update!

    Ren Alcantara
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    2
    Got a Nexus 7? Get the update!

    Though we aren’t exactly part of the opening wave of Nexus 7 availability here in the Philippines, I know more than a few people who own one. If this is any indication of the number of Nexus 7 users in the rest of our country, then there are now quite a few, and not all may be hardcore enough to get the update. Google released the official 4.1.2 Jellybean update to Nexus 7 owners in other countries a few weeks back, but for the rest of us, there is still the option of installing it yourself. Why put yourself through the hassle? Well, aside from general updates to help with system stability and speed, you will now be able to use your 7 in landscape mode. That alone is reason enough to make the jump. If you want to do it yourself, androidpolice.com has a quick guide HERE. Remember, back everything up, and if things go south, let this be the warning: you are on your own. That being said, if you follow the instructions, you should be just fine. Good luck, and happy updating!

    Rumored Facebook phone is real, and there are benchmarks to prove it

    Gadgets Team
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    Rumored Facebook phone is real, and there are benchmarks to prove it

    Rumors about Facebook making their own phone has been around for a long time, and it’s never really gone away. Even Zuckerburg himself has rebuffed the idea of the Facebook made phone, saying that it doesn’t make sense for the social network to make their own device. Well, PocketLint has found out through a trusted source that the company IS making their own phone, and has partnered up with Taiwanese phone maker HTC to make it. The device is dubbed as the HTC Opera UL, and there’s a benchmark in NenaMark2 that proves it is real. PocketLint’s source has confirmed that the new phone has been developed in close cooperation with the social network, saying that “It is the Facebook phone, made for Facebook.”

    The NenaMark2 benchmark also provides a glimpse into the phone’s supposed specs – a 1.4GHz processor (not sure though if it’s dual-core or quad-core), a Qualcomm Adreno 305 GPU, 1280 x 720 display and will run Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean).

    The iPad 4: Just as stunning; not very different?

    Ren Alcantara
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    0
    The iPad 4: Just as stunning; not very different?

    New technology is inevitable, and that’s what makes tech so great. As the processes and materials get more sophisticated, we get better and better products. The fourth generation iPad is certainly no exception. This latest update gives us a faster processor, a gorgeous screen with superb resolution and the new lightning connector, but what else did the mad scientists at the Apple labs change? As it happens, the boffins at ifixit.com tore one open, and the surprising answer is: Not much. There really wasn’t any big change inside; even the lightning connector was in a tray the size of the old 30-pin plug. Apple has not lately been a company to stray from a working formula, but could this be a sign of their complete lack of innovation? Head over HERE to see for yourself. It’s a bit hardcore, but any tech reader should get the gist of it.

    Hands-on part deux: Windows Phone 8X by HTC [VIDEO]

    Gadgets Team
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    Hands-on part deux: Windows Phone 8X by HTC [VIDEO]

    We know we already did a brief hands-on of the Phone 8X by HTC a couple of days ago, but we felt that a deeper dive into HTC’s newest Windows powered phone was in order. It’s only fitting actually – as the new device sets the stage for a new era in both HTC and Microsoft’s history. That’s because this is the first ever Windows phone that holds the distinction as being called a Windows Phone. Yes, HTC made it, but the Taiwanese company created it under the guidance of the Redmond company, as it serves as a showcase of what the new OS is capable of.

    The first thing that hits you when you see it is how it looks a lot like Nokia’s Lumia’s range of Windows devices. That feeling quickly dissappears when you pick it up though – the firm from Espoo may have started the unibody polycarbonate body craze, but HTC perfected it. The Windows Phone 8X is simply beautiful to look at and feels fantastic in the hand. You know that this particular device is solid and sturdy. HTC has managed to create this particular device in a body that’s only 10mm thin. While there are thinner devices out there, the Phone 8X doesn’t feel very thick at all, and that’s surprising especially when you consider the hardware running it. There’s a Qualcomm dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor with 1GB of RAM inside it, and the 4.3-inch display is a 4.3-inch Super LCD 2 that has a resolution of 1280×720.

    Windows Phone 8 is an elegant OS, and that’s made abundantly clear by the Windows Phone 8X by HTC. The metro tiles display more information this time around, and are now more customizable. There’s also a few key features included in the new OS, which includes the ability to make private rooms and child-safe settings. We’ll get a more in-depth look at the device as soon as HTC sends their review unit to us.

     

    HTC launches Desire SV, dual-core, dual-SIM Android smartphone

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    HTC launches Desire SV, dual-core, dual-SIM Android smartphone

    Aside from officially launching the One X+, Phone 8X and Phone 8S today, HTC also launched the newest member of the Desire family, the HTC Desire SV. The Desire SV is aimed at people looking for a premium, dual-SIM device that looks good and performs well. The Desire SV has a 4.3-inch Super LCD2 with a resolution of 800×480. A dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor lies under the hood, along with 768MB RAM and 4GB of internal memory. The Desire SV has strong imaging qualites, as it sports an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, BSI sensor, f/2.2 aperture and 28mm lens. It’s going to sell for around $420 or around Php 17,500 without taxes, and will hit India first, before cascading other markets.

    Hands-on: HTC One X+ [VIDEO]

    Gadgets Team
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    Hands-on: HTC One X+ [VIDEO]

    HTC’s One X was an excellent of example of what the Taiwanese manufacturer could do in terms of manufacturing prowess. It was boldly designed, tough, and most of all, fast. It was the fastest Android smartphone at the time it was launched; unfortunately devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Note II have taken that particular honor away from HTC. HTC’s solution? Make the One X faster, better and stronger, while retaining all the external design qualities that made the One X shine. The result is the One X+.

    Externally, you’re going to have a hard time determining which device is which when looking at it from the front. The One X+ retains the screen size and display from the original, as well as the unibody polycarbonate body. To say that from the outside the One X+ looks identical to the previous device in the family is not an exaggeration – possibly the only way you’re going to be able to tell the two apart is if you look at the camera module on the back. The One X+ has an additional red ring on the camera on the back of the device.

    Most of the improvement on the One X+ is in the internals. The One X+ has a faster version of NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 processor, the AP37 which puts out 1.7GHz of processing power. That’s paired with 1GB of RAM and HTC says that the One X+ comes with 64GB of flash storage as standard, which should be welcome news to people looking to upgrade. The One X+ will come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the gate, and has a bigger, Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery. From our brief time with it, the One X+ felt extremely fast, though without a One X beside it to compare, we had no idea just how much faster it is compared to the old device. Still, the 1.7GHz Tegra 3 processor should make short work of any and all tasks you throw at it, as its sheer computing power is pretty much on par (if not better) than most other quad-core processors out in the market today.

    HTC Windows Phone 8S in the flesh, hands-on and first impressions [Update: we have video!]

    Gadgets Team
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    HTC Windows Phone 8S in the flesh, hands-on and first impressions [Update: we have video!]

    One of the devices that piqued our interest these past few months was the Windows Phone 8S by HTC. While the Windows Phone 8S is relatively slower than it’s bigger brother, the Window Phone 8X, it took our fancy because it had all the right things going for it as a mid-tier Windows 8 device. Naturally, we went straight to the Phone 8S when we saw it on display at the ION Sky in Singapore. As expected, the device looked fantastic in person. Like the Phone 8X, the Phone 8S has a polycarbonate exterior that has been treated with HTC’s special manufacturing process which gives it this nice, premium feel.

    While the 8S has a smaller, 4-inch WVGA display, that didn’t mean that device couldn’t deliver a solid user experience much like its big brother. The 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor did a fine job keeping up with all of our swipes and prods as we fussed over it. The Phone 8S has a 5-megapixel camera, which should be enough for any and all imaging duties you may have planned for it. We haven’t really had enough time to poke around in the Windows Phone 8 OS, though from what we could see, it’s pretty easy to use and all the necessary smartphone apps were present in the device. The Windows Phone 8S will come in different colors – there’s an orange example floating around the event as well as the blue one you see here.

    HTC announces One SV pegged as affordable LTE device: dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 4.3-inch WVGA super LCD 2 touchscreen

    Gadgets Team
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    HTC announces One SV pegged as affordable LTE device: dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 4.3-inch WVGA super LCD 2 touchscreen

    We’re live at HTC’s event in Singapore today, where the Taiwanese company has unveiled their newest LTE device, the HTC One SV. The One SV is being positioned by HTC as an affordable LTE alternative to other expensive devices. The One SV sports a 1.2GHz dual-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM. The display is a 4.3-inch WVGA super LCD 2 touchscreen with 480 x 800 resolution. On the wireless side of things, you’re looking at HSPA/UMTS (quad-band), GSM?GPRS/EDGE Quad Band and LTE dual band (1800/2600 MHz). You’re also looking at a 5-megapixel camera with HTC’s ImageChip with a f2.0 BSI 28mm lens. You’re also looking at WiFi (obviously), DLNA and NFC. As far as battery is concerned, the One SV has a 1800mAh battery.

    Externally, the One SV looks great. It doesn’t sport the same unibody polycarbonate design as their previous higher-end models, but HTC’s focus on build quality is present on the unit. The unit was pretty snappy during our (brief) hands-on, unfortunately we weren’t able to get much time with it as far as benchmarks are concerned. No word on pricing has been set, nor availability.

    Google Play reaches 700,000 apps; ties Apple App Store

    Gadgets Team
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    Google Play reaches 700,000 apps; ties Apple App Store

    Google Play has reached a total of 700,000 apps available for Android devices.

    Google announced just last month that they have reached 675,000 apps, and it seems that they were able to quickly catch up with Apple’s App Store, which was reported to also have 700,000 apps during the launch of the iPad Mini. Apple has made their abundance in apps for iOS a selling point against Android devices, but this milestone for Google evens out the playing field.

    Microsoft has yet to catch up, with only 120,000 apps available for Windows Phone.

    Sources: Bloomberg, Yahoo! News, CNET

    Samsung outs Galaxy Premier, 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.5 GHz TI OMAP 4470 processor, 1GB of RAM

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung outs Galaxy Premier, 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.5 GHz TI OMAP 4470 processor, 1GB of RAM

    Samsung has outed the Galaxy Premier, a 4.65-inch Android smartphone that bears some resemblance to their bigger, higher end Galaxy S III. The Galaxy Premier’s 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display has a display resolution of 720 x 1,280, though Samsung has put a lower speed dual-core 1.5 GHz TI OMAP 4470 processor in it to distinguish it from their higher end Galaxy S III. There’s 1GB of RAM on tap, as well as an 8-megapixel camera and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This particular device has only been launched in the Ukraine, and has a list price of roughly $680.

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