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    Review: BlackBerry Bold 9780

    By Roni Callanta

    Gone are the days when the cellphone was just some gadget you use to call or text somebody. Now it can be considered as an accessory—a wedding band of sorts that you can never part with.

    One of the newest additions to the BlackBerry family is the Bold 9780. If you thought the Curve was sleek, wait till you get your hands on this sexy handheld.

    The 9780’s external design is essentially identical to the phone’s predecessor, the Bold 9700, with a landscape-oriented screen just above the navigation controls and track pad, as well as its QWERTY keyboard. The 2.44-inch screen does, however, pale in comparison to the large displays most touchscreen smartphones have nowadays. Browsing the web or watching a video does feel a bit cramped but it is still efficient enough to get by.

    The keys are a wee bit bigger than the Curve while the design is definitely much sleeker and professional-looking with a small patch of faux leather adorning the back providing a nice, soft, tactile feel.

    General typing on the keyboard is made much more comfortably and convenient. The keys are individually mounted making typing secure and responsive. Although, unlike the much more advanced BlackBerry model such as the Torch, having the option to also type on an onscreen keyboard produces much faster results. The 9780 does provide a backlight as a bonus.

    For someone who takes massive amounts of photos anywhere at any given time, the best news is that the 9780’s camera has been bumped to 5 megapixels from 3.2MP found in the 9700, and now with its own built-in flash. With autofocus and an LED on board, one can generally take photos that are nice enough. That also goes for its non-HD (640×480) video, though the limit of only 24fps does make the movement a little jerky and inconvenient.

    When it comes to viewing videos and browsing the web, the 480×360 pixels is superbly sharp enough to enhance strong colors and produce deep blacks.

    No matter how enjoyable most of the features of the 9780 are, there were times when it would get a little frustrating. It is no surprise to the BlackBerry user that the trackpad can get temperamental when overwhelmed with navigation—stalling one minute then jumping to a completely different spot the next. That is something RIM should look into because this is a problem that frustrates most BlackBerry users, especially for Facebook and Twitter junkies like myself.

    Despite its glitches, the BlackBerry 9780 is an ideal smartphone for those who like to remain anti-social among groups. I must admit, already having a habit of using BlackBerry Messenger, “Tweeting” and “Facebook-ing” a little too much, this smartphone made my habit even worse—it really did feel like I’ve upgraded to a much better one, with its built-in flash. Not only was I glued to the social networking sites 24/7, but I was compelled to take photos and videos.

    Specifications
    FORM FACTOR: QWERTY Candybar
    DISPLAY: 480×360 pixels
    PHYSICAL DEMENSION: 109 x 60 x 14 mm
    WEIGHT (with battery): 122kg
    INTERNAL MEMORY: 0.256GB; MicroSD Memory card slot up to 8GB
    OPERATING SYSTEM: BlackBerry OS 6.0

    What’s Hot:
     • Sleeker and sexier design
    • Sharper resolution
    • 5-megapixel camera with built-in flash
    • Bluetooth, 3G and Wi-Fi capable
    • Push Email
    • BlackBerry Messenger and GPS
    • One-click access to features and apps
    • Excellent call quality and battery life
    • Class leading messaging interface
    • Enhanced web browsing

    What’s Not:
     • Small screen
    • Would be further enhanced with a touchscreen
    • Temperamental trackpad
    • Small keys
    • No front-facing camera
    • App store is limited

     

    Bottomline:
    It’s a great smartphone from one of the leading smartphone makers that covers almost everything one needs when one is on-the-go.

    Buy Meter: 8.5

    [This review originally appeared in the August 2011 issue of Gadgets Magazine]

    New Android malware can hack your smartphone via text

    Here’s another good reason to install only trusted apps and games in your Android device obtained through the Google Play Store: NQ Mobile reports that they have managed to track and isolate a new Android malware that’s able to hack your smartphone via text. Dubbed TigerBot, this new breed of Android Malware is able to control your smartphone via text, which can trigger a number of behaviors in your device that ranges from recording your voice messages and surroundings to uploading your current GPS location to god knows who.

    NQ Mobile says that the new malware was found through non-official Android channels and hides in your device by masquerading as legitimate applications. The security firm says that the malware listens for a specific kind of SMS that has encoded instructions in it. When the SMS has the code that the malware is looking for, it then hides the message so the user does not see it, then executes whatever command is contained in the said SMS that include the following:

    • Record the sounds in the phone, including the phone calls, the surrounding sounds and etc.
    • Change the network setting.
    • Upload the current GPS location.
    • Capture and upload the image.
    • Send SMS to a particular number.
    • Reboot the phone.
    • Kill other running processes.
    NQ Mobile says that to avoid being a victim of said malware, it’s important to follow several simple security steps. One is only download applications from trusted sources, reputable application stores, and markets, and be sure to check reviews, ratings and developer information before downloading, and never accept application requests from unknown sources. Also, closely monitoring permissions requested by any application is also a good idea, and any application that request permission to do more than what it offers in its official list of features should automatically raise a red flag when you’re about to install it.
    Source: NQ Mobile

    Google launching its own cloud storage service, will compete with Dropbox

    The Next Web is reporting that search giant Google is on the cusp of unveiling it’s own cloud storage service, dubbed Google Drive, that’s aimed at competing against competing solutions – namely Dropbox. The service is reportedly scheduled to launch next week, and will offer users 5 GB worth of free space with an option to buy more if needed. Google’s offering beats the current 2 GB offer of Dropbox for free accounts (though you stand to get 23 GB more if you buy an HTC One device) and will be made available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

    Source: The Next Web, Talk Android

    Manila International Auto Show 2012

    The Manila International Auto Show 2012, now in its 8th year, was held last March 29 to April 1 at the World Trade Center and was undoubtedly the biggest and most anticipated event for car enthusiasts. 400 cars on display including the newest sports cars from different brands, the best concept cars, hybrid cars, and a lot more were showcased to the over 88,600 people who attended.

    The massive show area of 30,000 sqm was where they held the Russ Swift Precision Driving Stunt Show, the motorsports exhibits, the special demonstrations, and the Top Gear exhibit, among others. Car launches from Ford, BMW, Chrysler, Subaru, Hyundai, Mini, Vespa, Piaggio, and APE took place as well, and a Gala Night for the Car of the Year Awards Philippines 2012 competition transpired, hosted by the Car Awards Group, Inc., giving the title of Car of the Year to the Hyundai Elantra.

    Photos are here => http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.344766322237124.70665.168628753184216&type=3

    Tupac comes alive in Coachella via Holograms and visual effects

    Concert goers to California’s annual Coachella music festival were in for a surprise on Sunday, as the show was stolen by an artist that has been dead for more than 15 years. A performance of Tupac Shakur, a rapper who died in 1995, stole the show at the annual music festival which was attended by more than 100,000 music fans. He was joined by other rap heavy-hitters like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre who performed and interacted along with the ghostly projection of the long dead rapper.

    The feat was made possible by AV Concepts, a production company that specializes in creating such lifelike projections of deceased icons. According to an interview with MTV, AV Concepts president Nick Smith said that they worked closely with Dr. Dre, and the performance of Tupac during the music festival was recreated and was not made from archival footage.

    The technology used to present Tupac uses a AV Concepts’ proprietary Liquid Scenic server to deliver uncompressed HD video which can be projected as holograms in an entertainment setting or as 3D imagery on building exteriors, interior walls, stage sets and other structures.

    We’ve embedded a video of the performance below, but please be guided that it’s for mature audiences only because of the use of excessive profanity (this is Tupac, after all).

    Source: Huffington Post

    Xtec’s My Tablet costs $150 and runs on Android 4.0.3

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    If you’re looking for a tablet that runs on the Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3 operating system, you’re probably expecting to have a hard time finding one that’s affordable. Well, here’s one called My Tablet from Xtec that goes for US $150 (approximately Php 6,300) and measures 7-inches. It’s powered by a 1.5 GHz processor and has 1GB of RAM, a 16GB hard-disk drive that’s expandable to 48GB, an HDMI port and standard USB ports. The reason it’s not as expensive as other tablets is because of its screen resolution of 800 x 480 and the fact that it only has Wi-Fi connectivity. Also, its front-facing camera is only 2-megapixels. Still, you’ll be able to surf the net, watch movies, listen to music, and avail of the nearly countless number of apps on the Android market. The My Tablet comes in black, white, and pink variants.

    Source: www.engadget.com

    Blackmagic Design’s Cinema Camera

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    Canon and Sony have their super high-end cameras, and Blackmagic Design has been trying to get more attention for their own. It’s called Cinema Camera and it’s different from the competition not just because of its unique design, but also due to its ability to capture film quality video on its 2.5k sensor and output it to CinemaDNG RAW, ProRes, and DNxHD file formats. Canon or Zeiss lenses can be attached on the front, and it’s equipped with a built-in SSD recorder and a capacitive touch-screen display. It has an included copy of DaVinci Resolve that will handle all of the color correction needs after the video is captured. Those videos can then be pulled from the SSD over a selection of high speed ports such as Thunderbolt and BNC SDI. Since it features built-in metadata entry, your files will include information compatible with the most well-known editing software—dramatically speeding up the post production process.

     

    The Cinema Camera is priced at about US $2,995 (approximately Php 126,000) and you can visit http://www.blackmagic-design.com for more information on the company’s products.

    A fully-charged summer with Spyder

    SPYDER, the brand that brought top-quality and high-performance multisport and motorcycling gears in the country, launched its summer season campaign for an more exciting, super active, and healthier summer activities with Spyder-Charge Your Summer 2012.

    Spyder hosted the week-long Spyder-Charge Your Summer 2012 mall event where newbies are introduced to the discipline of multisport by offering the highest quality of products – helmets, shades, eyewear, and other protective gears, accessories and products to enable a fun-filled engagement.

    The event featured a series of activities to invite the interest of mall-goers. A range of activities including hourly raffles, photo-ops on standees and photowalls, and trivia games were held throughout the whole week to spice up the event. Spyder-charge was conducted against a stage resembling a mountain beach resort to capture that summer ambience.

    Aside from the Spyder products on sale from March 26 to April 1, enthusiasts were also introduced to motorcycling, cycling, and running clinics. The clinics were held in partnership with Safety Riders, Team Manager of the Philippine Cycling team for SEA Games Edmund Mangaser, and three-time ultramarathon champion and Best Female Triathlete nominee Michelle Estuar, respectively.

    Winners of Spyder-Charge Your Summer Blogging Contest were also awarded with cash prizes and premium items from Spyder and sponsors. Top blogs were featured on the Team Spyder website, with the grand winner winning P50,000 cash prize and an all-expenses paid beach vacation for two courtesy of Spyder.

    Spyder-Charge Your Summer is an event of Spyder Helmets and Optics and sponsored by Skechers Go run, No Fear, Gatorade, Sun Cellular, Kawasaki, All Terra Cyclery, and supported by Total Fitness, Multisport, One Sport, Inside Racing, and Weekend Warrior Magazines, takbo.ph, swimbikerun.ph, motorcyclephilippines.com, clickthecity.com, and juice.ph.

    Spyder Helmets & Optics is distributed in the Philippines by Roshan Commercial Corporation.

    Microsoft announces 3 variants of Windows 8 – Windows RT, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro

    We had an inkling that Microsoft would at least offer two versions of their next operating system (one for ARM devices and one for x86), Windows 8 when it finally launches in the middle of this year. The Redmond firm has officially announced three – Windows RT for ARM devices, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Like previous SKUs before it, Windows 8 is the basic package for the next-generation system, with add-ons provided for Windows 8 Pro users like Microsoft’s Media Center and the like. Windows RT meanwhile, will include touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

    Source: Microsoft

    Hands-on: Nokia Lumia 800

    Nokia’s first Windows Phone 7 device have been out for a few months now in other countries, but it’s only now that we’ve managed to grab a demo unit from the Finnish manufacturer. Dubbed (somewhat truthfully) as the Windows Phone 7 version of the N9, the Lumia 800 is the company’s first foray into creating Windows Phone 7 smartphones and is a benchmark of users can expect from the partnership between the firms from Redmond and Espoo.

    Like the N9, the Lumia 800 is made from a single block of polycarbonate plastic.

    The display is a 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen that’s still able to hold its own even in the face of competitors that sport Super AMOLED+ and Super IPS screens. The overall size of the device is similar to the N9, and is a pleasure to hold.

    Nokia cleverly hid the USB and SIM ports on the top of the device, which can be accessed by simply pressing the top and moving the SIM  tray slightly forward. Like the N9, the Lumia 800 uses micro SIM cards, which could be a bit of an issue if you’re a prepaid subscriber.

    The Lumia 800 is powered by a single core Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon processor running at 1.4 GHz. As we mentioned earlier, this phone runs on Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango).

    That’s it for now. We’ll let you guys know what we think once we finish the review.

     

    Hands-on: LG 55LM9600 Smart TV and LG 3D Cinema BH9520

    It takes a lot to impress us when it comes to HD TVs. We’ve seen quite a few of them in our years in the industry, featuring everything from local dimming to active 3D. So trust us when we say that the 55-inch LM9600 that was delivered to our office the other day is one of the prettiest and full featured TV of it’s class we’ve seen in awhile.

    For starters, the LM9600 had an amazingly thin bezel. And when we say thin, we don’t mean it only has an inch worth of screen bezel – if you look at the LM9600 head-on, it actually looks like the HD TV has no bezel. Of course, it still has one but because it’s extremely thin (less than 5mm) it doesn’t seem that the device has one when you look at it from the recommended viewing distance.

    The LM9600 uses a full-array, local dimming LED backlight, which means that the entire LED panel (not just the edges) are illuminated by LED backlights. Additionally, the entire panel has several zones that can be dimmed independently of each other, which translates to better black levels and color uniformity compared to other HD TVs.

    The LM9600 also comes with a traditional remote control and a motion sensitive “magic remote”. The magic remote basically works like a giant Nintendo Wii controller, and allows you to control the TV via gestures and through your voice. Nifty.

    LG’s probably one of the few companies that uses passive 3D technology in their TVs. Other companies, most notably Korean rival Samsung, uses active shutter technology in their glasses which require batteries and constant trips to the charger. Since their TV use passive 3D, LG’s able to create cheap, light 3D glasses that isn’t bulky or inconvenient. The LM9600 came with six pairs of passive 3D glasses.

    Along with the LM9600, LG also sent over the 3D Cinema BH9520 home entertainment system. Part Bluray player, part network device, this particular device includes 5 speakers that forms the backbone of a decent 5.1 entertainment system (front speakers, center speaker, subwoofer and rear speakers) which almost any idiot could put together.

    The BH9520 was ridiculously easy to put together, and included a wireless transmitter for the rear speakers, which means that you don’t need to practice creative wiring to hide all the wires that go from your rear speakers to the home entertainment system, reducing overall wire clutter.

    Both the BH9520 and the LM9600 can be connected to the internet via an Ethernet cable, though you can also connect the BH9520 via WiFi. Once connected, both devices can download apps from LG to enhance their functionality. The BH9520 can also stream content via DLNA from your home network to whatever TV it’s attached to.

    That’s it for now. We’ll be laying down a better review of both the devices once we are done with it.

     

    Game of Thrones: Second season to begin April 21, 9PM on HBO

    The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning fantasy series GAME OF THRONES returns to Asia for a second season on Saturday, April 21, at 9pm exclusively on HBO / 8pm HBO HD.

    War is coming to Westeros. As the cold winds rise and five kings vie for power, bonds are forged and broken, identities are challenged and romance blossoms. With the stakes higher than ever before, who will survive the chaos to claim the Iron Throne?

    Based on the bestselling fantasy book series by George R.R. Martin, HBO’s GAME OF THRONES is an epic drama set in the world of Westeros, where ambitious men and women of both honor and ill-repute live in a land whose summers and winters can last years. Created and executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, this new ten-episode second season plays out against the backdrop of a fast-approaching winter – the season of the white raven.

    In King’s Landing, the coveted Iron Throne is occupied by cruel young Joffrey, counseled by his conniving mother, Cersei Lannister, and his uncle Tyrion, who has been appointed Hand of the King. But the Lannisters’ hold on the Throne is under assault on many fronts. Robb Stark, son of Ned Stark, the slain Lord of Winterfell, seeks autonomy in the North and has taken Cersei’s brother, Jaime, prisoner in battle. Daenerys Targaryen looks to shore up her depleted power in the East with her three newborn dragons. Stannis Baratheon, brother of the late King Robert, rejects Joffrey’s legitimacy and aligns with a powerful priestess to raise a naval attack. And Renly, Stannis’ charismatic brother, has maintained his own claim since fleeing King’s Landing.

    In the meantime, a new leader is rising among the wildlings North of the Wall, adding fresh perils for Jon Snow and the order of the Night’s Watch. With tensions and treaties, animosity and alliances, the second season of GAME OF THRONES will be a thrilling journey through an unforgettable landscape.

    Returning cast members include: Emmy and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Aidan Gillen (Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish), Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Richard Madden (Robb Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon), Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) and Rory McCann (Sandor “The Hound” Clegane). Also returning for the second season are: Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Conleth Hill (Varys), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), James Cosmo (Commander Mormont), Sibel Kekilli (Shae), Donald Sumpter (Maester Luwin), Ron Donachie (Rodrik Cassel) and Gethin Anthony (Renly Baratheon).

    New cast members in the second season include: Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne), Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) and Rose Leslie (Ygritte).

     

    Review: Samsung SH100

    By M.R. Gavin

    Samsung continues to live up to its promise of innovation and uniqueness. Its Samsung SH100 sets new standards in the digital camera industry as it is the first one to be WiFi-enabled. Through this advancement, users can easily share photos directly on their favorite social networking sites, just as soon as they’re taken.

    The SH100 can be connected to your smartphone with the use of WiFi to enable geo-tagging, control the camera remotely or preview the scene. This way, you can pose with the group while looking at the shot on your phone in real time. When you’re ready to shoot, you can also activate the shutter from the phone.

    I tried connecting through the wireless Internet, took shots of kids swimming and uploaded these on Facebook. It failed the first time but when I tried it again it went through. Checking the photo later on my notebook, I found photo quality was simply amazing.

    I am always afraid of losing my files, so uploading photos right away is one thing but automatically backing up your shots is another. The SH100’s built-in WiFi can back-up photos to your PC just by pressing several buttons. I tried uploading photos on my Facebook, it took about 20-30 seconds to upload and is in a separate folder with all the photos from the SH100. Photos are not instantly shrunk for fast uploading; it stays on the same quality. Zooming in on the photos 10 times wouldn’t hurt quality.

    There are tons of effects, settings and programs to choose from. There is even a smart auto, program auto, smart movie, scene, vignetting, beauty shot, movie, magic frame, movie filter, night, palette effect, close up, simple shot and object highlight features. There is also a voice recorder, photo editor, magazine layout, slide show and 3D album. Whichever way you want to use your camera, the Samsung SH100 can do it for you.

    WiFi enabled devices can eat up your battery life, but I found that you can put it in energy-saving mode or adjust the brightness, which will help save on battery juice.

    The exterior of this camera is just like any other Samsung Cameras. It has a metal finish and is big and thin enough to fit into a pocket. The 3.0-inch LCD full-touchscreen is just enough to navigate through all the photos and features of the camera. There’s also a stylus included in the bundle if ever your hands are too big for the buttons. To avoid pushing the wrong buttons, you can also adjust the sensitivity with the touch calibration.

    Specifications:

    • Dimensions (WxHxD): 3.66 x 2.12 x 0.74 inches
    • Weight: 110.2g
    • Resolution: 14 megapixels
    • LCD Type: 3” LCD Touch Screen
    • Optical Zoom: 5x Optical Zoom
    • Storage: MicroSD, MicroSDHC

    What’s Hot:
     • WiFi enabled
    • Easy sharing of photos and videos
    • Social network-friendly
    • Range of effects on offer
    • Programmed photo editor

    What’s Not:
    • Unresponsive touchscreen

    Bottomline:
    If you like uploading photos on your social networking site, you can never go wrong with the Samsung SH100.

    Buy Meter: 8.7

    [This review originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of Gadgets Magazine]

    Hands-on: LG Optimus L3 E400

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    We were sent LG’s entry level Optimus L3 a few days ago, and now that we’ve had a few days to tinker with it, we’re doing a short hands-on feature of the device. The Optimus L3 is a device aimed at users who are looking for an inexpensive yet stylish Android phone, and has the specs that reflect that particular mindset.

    The overall size of the Optimus L3 is a bit small, but since we’ve been used to toting 4.3 and 4.7-inch smartphones in the past, it might just be us. The Optimus L3 uses a 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen running a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. The overall design of the Optimus L3 is a departure for the firm, and features a more angular design than their previous devices. Powering everything is an 800 MHz processor, along with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).

    The Optimus L3 also has a 3-megapixel camera on the back, as well as a textured back cover, which the firm promises to give you a more stable gripping surface.

    Like it’s other offerings, the Optimus L3 is skinned in the firm’s proprietary UI overlay which gives you additional homescreens and functionality.

    Though the screen isn’t as good as other devices out there, it’s at least responsive – which we can’t say for other budget Android smartphones in the market. Another thing that surprised us is the device’s battery endurance – we only charged this thing up when we got it last Thursday, and it’s still alive – that’s almost 4 days of battery right there. It’s a breath of fresh air, especially since other, higher end devices don’t even last a single day on one charge.

    LG did not mention a price when they let us review this unit, but from some estimates online, we gather that they’ll probably price it along the 8-9 thousand peso range. We’ll know more on the 21st, when the device officially launches in the Philippines. Of course we’ll be there to cover it so watch out for it.

    That’s it for now. Watch out for our review of this unit when we finish it.

     

    Entry level HTC Golf leaked, takes design cues from One X

    We’ve been talking non-stop about the release of the HTC One X in the Philippines earlier this week, but unbeknownst to us, there’s apparently another HTC device that’s apparently infused with the same design sensibilities as the Taiwanese firm’s current flagship model. PocketNow has leaked a shot of the HTC Golf, rumored to be eventually be called the Wildfire C. The device will supposedly come with ICS, a “sub-gigahertz” processor and a 5-megapixel camera and will be priced lower than the current entry level HTC device, the One V. The Golf is also rumored to come with the same 25GB Dropbox cloud storage gratis as the other members of the One family, as well as Beats Audio enhancements. PocketNow says that the device will land sometime at the end of this quarter.

    Source: PocketNow