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    Globe unveils MyAppsMall, allows subscribers to pay for app downloads via pre-paid load

    Gadgets Team
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    Globe unveils MyAppsMall, allows subscribers to pay for app downloads via pre-paid load

    While there certainly is no shortage of smartphones in the country, a lot of peeps are missing out on large amount of the experience by not being able to buy and download paid apps. There’s a multitude of reasons for this, but the most apparent is the lack of a viable payment gateway – while the penetration rate of mobile devices in the Philippines is almost close to 90%, only a couple of million actually own credit cards which is the preferred payment method of a number of app stores (BlackBerry, Android). That’s probably the reason why Globe saw the need for their MyAppsMall service that was unveiled last night at an event in Makati.

    The  MyAppsMall is a collaboration between Globe and Singtel, and is basically an app store of sorts for Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Java. The site allows people to pay for apps via their credit cards, post paid accounts and through their pre-paid load. At first we thought it was just a payment portal that goes in between the app stores that facilitates payment, but apparently it’s like a whole new app store which houses a number of apps from all the ecosystems that we mentioned earlier. Naturally we asked Globe if they were shooting for a 1:1 presence of apps on the different app stores on their service and while that would be the ideal set-up, space and licensing constraints prevent that from happening. Instead, Globe is collaborating and picking apps to put in the store, which users can then download as APKs (if you’re on Android) to their device. Sorry Apple fans, due to the way iOS is set-up (walled garden and all that jazz) iOS devices are out of luck.

    If you’re keen on trying it out, you can head over to their site at apps.globe.com.ph or if you’re reading this on your mobile device, you can point your wee little browser over to m.apps.globe.com.ph.

    ICS update coming for HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation 4G and HTC Sensation XE by the end of March

    Gadgets Team
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    ICS update coming for HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation 4G and HTC Sensation XE by the end of March

    We’ve been waiting patiently for HTC to disclose when they’d be rolling out ICS updates for their devices, and though the Taiwanese phone giant has given us a vague “early Q2 2012” date, we never really knew when in Q2. Well, you can start ticking off the dates in your calendar, as the firm has said through their US and UK Facebook pages that the update will be coming at the end of March with three devices in the spearhead of the ICS party – the HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation 4G and HTC Sensation XE, with the HTC Sensation XL following soon after. The firm also added that they’ll also be pushing out ICS updates for the HTC Rezound, HTC Vivid, HTC Amaze 4G, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G, HTC Incredible S, HTC Desire S and HTC Desire HD later this year.

    Source: HTC Facebook

    The Human Body: The Next Battery

    Gadgets Team
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    The Human Body: The Next Battery

    It was probably only after my 6th time of watching The Matrix Trilogy did I finally realize that machines were using babies as fuel and those who had sockets in their bodies (like Neo and Trinity) were once babies “grown” to become fuel rather than being naturally born.

    Yes it took me that long, probably because the idea at the time seemed so far-fetched it was beyond my immediate comprehension.

    But now it seems there is a way to harness human byproducts to create biofuel. A research team, lead by Dr. Serge Cosner, from Joseph Fourier University of Grenoble has created a Biofuel cell technology that receives its power by converting glucose and oxygen found in the human body into a viable and continuous energy source. The ‘bionic engine’ will make it possible to extend the functional lifetimes of a range of implants and biomedical devices from sensors and drug delivery devices to entire artificial organs.

    Because devices often only last 5 years, some patients have to undergo 2-3 risky surgeries during their lifetimes to ensure they have a fully-functioning implant. Along with improving patients lives, these developments in sustainable Biofuels enable researchers to focus on developing the next evolution in life extending surgeries, organ replacement and bionic limbs. Dr. Cosner’s team isn’t the only one looking to alleviate patient’s risk and open the door to new possibilities.

    Prof. Itamar Willner, of the Univeristy of Jerusalem, claims that this novel use of glucose oxidase enzymes has allowed research groups to create internal electrical systems. Wilner explains the future possibilities, “Today we can generate enough power to supply an artificial urinary sphincter, or pacemaker. We are already working on a system that can produce 50 times that amount of power, then we will have enough to supply much more demanding devices.”

     

    Source: BBC

    Norton offers free app to monitor your kid’s smartphone use

    Gadgets Team
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    Norton offers free app to monitor your kid’s smartphone use

    Here’s a nice gesture by Norton – the company has just released a free Android app that’ll help parents keep tabs on their young’uns internet use on their smartphones. Dubbed Norton Safety Minder: Mobile Edition, the app allows parents to keep a sharp eye on their children’s browsing habits, and has the capability to block out websites that parents feel are inappropriate for their’ kids. The app requires parents to have a Norton Online Family account (you can create one from within the app if you don’t have it) and is available free from the Android marketplace. There’s also additional functionality and features that can be unlocked which include SMS text monitoring. You can grab the Android app from here.

     

    Samsung NX200 now out in the Philippines, priced

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung NX200 now out in the Philippines, priced

    We’ve had the good fortune of testing Samsung’s NX series of interchangeable lens offerings before, and we’ve always come out of the experience wanting our own. So you can forgive us a bit if we’re excited at Samsung’s announcement that their newest NX200 interchangeable lens camera can now be had locally. Specs-wise the NX200 doesn’t dissapoint, as it packs a 20.3 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor this time round. The NX200 also uses a large, 3-inch VGA AMOLED display, and has an extremely high ISO range of 100-12800. The NX200 is also fully capable of 1920×1080/30p (H.264) Full HD movie recording which adds to the camera’s versatility. Like the previous NX series cameras, the NX200 is compatible with Samsung’s nine other  i-Function lenses, giving photographers a whole range of tools to choose from. The NX200 retails for Php 39,990.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/Samsung NX200/]

    Supposed iPad 3 back housing surfaces, has space for bigger battery, better camera?

    Gadgets Team
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    Supposed iPad 3 back housing surfaces, has space for bigger battery, better camera?

    March has been agreed upon as the unofficial iPad 3 unveil month by most tech outfits, so as we approach that hallowed month, it’s only natural that iPad 3 rumors are now coming out en-masse. This time round, it’s because of a supposed back housing from the iPad 3 taken from the Repair Labs Blog. The new back housing has subtle differences from the iPad 2, namely a narrower logic board which will allow the iPad 3 to have a bigger, beefier battery. Other major differences is the camera port and the LCD housing, which means that the iPad 3 will use a different kind of display from the iPad 2. The source of the pictures also said that there did not seem to be much of a difference thickness-wise between the two back housings, which would mean that thickness-wise, the iPad 3 will be near identical to the iPad 2. As with most rumors, take this with a grain of salt – only when the iPad 3 is officially unveiled that we can actually be sure of what its specs are and what it’s packing.

    Source: Mac Rumors, Repair Labs Blog

    3DeeScreen turns your regular notebook to a glasses free, 3D notebook

    Gadgets Team
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    3DeeScreen turns your regular notebook to a glasses free, 3D notebook

    While there have been 3D notebooks in the past, they weren’t exactly flying off the shelves. They were big, bulky and expensive, and a fair number of them required you to wear dorky looking active shutter 3D glasses for  them to work. But what if we said there was a way for you to get that 3D effect on your plain ol’ notebook without the need for bulky glasses?

    That’s what company Spatial View was aiming for when they made their 3DeeScreen 3D filter. It’s basically a lenticular screen filter that snaps on to the lid of your notebook that allows it to display glasses-free, auto-stereo 3D. Spatial View says that the device has a built-in eye-tracking system that automatically adjusts the 3D image depending on the position of your eyes which translates into more realistic 3D images on the screen. The screen is about $129.99 bucks before shipping, which means it won’t really make that much of a dent on your wallet if you decide to get one.

    Source: Spatial View

    New technology can record thousands of Gigabytes per second

    Gadgets Team
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    New technology can record thousands of Gigabytes per second

     

    Our hard drives as we know them use a magnetic field to record information onto the drive platter. In a recent study, an international team of scientists discovered that heat can actually be used in place of this magnetic field, which was found to be more energy efficient and would allow ten times the storage capacity and 300 times the speed and performance of today’s hard drives. The way this new discovered method would work is through applying ultra-short pulses of heat in the form of laser light onto a field of densely-packed miniscule magnetic grains. With this, the recording of information was about 200 gigabytes per second. However, project-leader and physicist Thomas Ostler from the University of New York stated that it can go even higher up to terabytes per second, while consuming less energy than it would with a magnetic field.

    Although it is still being experimented on, this new discovery could lead to much more efficient hard drives (and electronic storage in general) and better overall computer performance. At the same time, waste heat that is generated by computers can now actually be used for this purpose.

     

    LG Optimus Vu teased, 4:3 aspect ratio, 5-inch display

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    LG Optimus Vu teased, 4:3 aspect ratio, 5-inch display

    Seems like Samsung’s 5-inch smartphone size strategy has just been picked up by one of its main competitors, namely their Korean rival LG. A teaser video that has just been released shows their new Optimus Vu, which, from the few tidbits that we could gather from the end of the video, will sport a 5-inch screen and a rather unique 4:3 aspect ratio. Why the Korean company picked a 4:3 aspect ratio we have no idea. The video also shows some Prada-esque design touches like circular power buttons that are present on the LG Prada 3.0, though there’s no solid word on the device’s internals. You can expect the mystery to be solved during MWC, where the Vu and several other new smartphones are scheduled to be announced.

    Gameloft unveils improved social gaming hub, Gameloft LIVE!

    Gadgets Team
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    Gameloft unveils improved social gaming hub, Gameloft LIVE!

    Gameloft, one of the most prolific mobile gaming publishers in the planet has just released an updated version of their Gameloft LIVE! social gaming app. The app basically allows you to connect with other Gameloft gamers, schedule games, chat and stay connected with the publisher as they release new games for mobile devices. You’ll also be able to create and customize your own avatar, along with new backgrounds to keep your profile fresh. The app also allows you to track your achievements and scores across multiple Gameloft games, which you can compare with your friends and the world leader boards. You can also share your score via Twitter and Facebook, so your friends know exactly where you stand with them, gaming wise. You can download the free app from the Android marketplace here.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/Gameloft Screens/]

    Condura Skyway Marathon 2012: Run for the Mangroves

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Condura Skyway Marathon 2012: Run for the Mangroves

    A record 13 thousand runners participated in the Premier running event of the Philippines, the Condura Skyway Marathon held last Sunday, February 5, 2012 at Filinvest, Alabang. Now on its 5th year, this is the only marathon that goes through the elevated Skyway system and advocates the protection of the marine environment.

    This year, in partnership with the Philippine Tropical Forest Corporation, 3 mangroves per runner translating to 39,000 seedlings will be planted to build a mangrove forest in Zamboaga de Sibugay. Mangroves serve as a breeding ground of life, protect coastal communities and generate livelihood opportunities for generations to come. As a testament to this commitment, runners painted on a 100-foot mangrove wall installed in the Condura Skyway Village.

    “My vision is to put the Philippines on the map as a sports tourism destination. What better way to spend a vacation than to run a World Class marathon and then go to the place that you ran for like Bohol. Our vision is to grow the race to 30 thousand runners in 5 years time and establish the Condura Skyway Marathon as the Premier Running event in the Asia Pacific Region”, enthuses Mr. Ton Concepcion, Condura President.

    Indeed this vision is fast becoming reality. From 2,000 runners in 2008 the race has grown almost 7 fold with runners flying in from difference parts of the Philippines and 18 different countries around the world to join the marathon. The Condura Skyway Marathon is the biggest full marathon and half marathon event in the country today. The race was made even more exciting this year with the introduction of the first Midnight marathon in the country and the 3k and 5k race categories running up the Skyway for the first time.

    “We would not be able to mount this race without the Skyway and Operations Management Corporation headed by its President Mr. Ramon Borromeo and it Head of Operations Mr. Ed Nepomuceno, our Venue Host, Filinvest and our presenting sponsors, Summit Water and Asics. This is the team that has the vision to put the Philippines on the map!” shares Mr. Concepcion.

    The Condura Skyway marathon is an annual event that is held every first Sunday of February.

    Sony PS Vita is the handheld for hard-core gamers

    Gadgets Team
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    4
    Sony PS Vita is the handheld for hard-core gamers

     

    Sony has not yet released a new PlayStation console as a successor to the PS3, but they have another addition to their PlayStation Portable legacy with the PS Vita. The original PSP has evolved over the years with revamped versions mostly focusing on size updates including the PSP-1000, 2000, and 3000, as well as the PSP Go, which added a sliding-case design further shrinking the device. The Sony PS Vita adds a bunch of new features that will surely be loved by all kinds of gamers.

    The PS Vita was released in Japan and parts of Asia (including the Philippines) last December 2011, but it will not reach Europe and North America until later this month. Firstly, let’s take a quick look at its specs. The new handheld runs on an ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor with 512 MB of system memory and a 4 core SGX543MP4+ graphics processing unit with LiveArea software for its main user interface. It includes a 5-inch OLED multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, two analog sticks, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support. In addition to this, it also features a rear touch pad, two cameras (front and rear), stereo speakers, a microphone, a Sixaxis motion sensing system, a three-axis electronic compass, and built-in GPS only for the 3G version.

    The PS Vita is truly the handheld for hard-core gamers. It finally comes with a second analog stick, which I think is long overdue, and it also supports all previous PSP games so compatibility is not an issue. Supposedly, the graphics on this thing are also even better than before with HD resolution, while its faster processor gives gamers the ability to play PS2 titles on-the-go. Unlike its predecessors, the PS Vita will also support both digital download games and physical media ones, while its new touch screen, Sixaxis motion sensor, and microphone will allow support for more types of games and programs.

    Sony has announced that the PS Vita will sell for USD$ 249 (approximately Php 10,500) for the Wi-Fi model and USD $299 (approximately Php 12,600) for the 3G version.

    Canon updates underwater camera lineup with PowerShot D20

    Gadgets Team
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    Canon updates underwater camera lineup with PowerShot D20

    We’ve always liked cameras that had the chops to go underwater without fail, so naturally we were enamored with Canon’s first waterproof offering, the D10. Now we’ve received word that the firm has a new flagship everything-proof camera to replace the D10 – the aptly named PowerShot D20. The new model sports a sleeker look, as well as an improved 12.1 megapixel HS sensor and a new water macro image mode that allows users to take shots of Nemo when you go skinny diving. Other features include a DIGIC 4 image processor, 1080p Full HD video and a 5x optical zoom lens. The PowerShot D10 also sports a GPS functionality, a large 3-inch display and will ship in May of 2012 for $349.99 which is about Php 14,900.

    Crytek powered social gaming network Gface goes on beta, potential OnLive challenger

    Gadgets Team
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    Crytek powered social gaming network Gface goes on beta, potential OnLive challenger

    Crytek, our favorite creator of games that make rigs puke blood, has just made public it’s intentions: social gaming. In cooperation with affiliate Gface, the company is set to revolutionize the way we game socially with its new Gface gaming service, which takes a page out of both Facebook’s and OnLive’s playbook by combining social gaming with OnLive’s cloud gaming approach. The new service will feature a variety of social and casual games, as well as FPS and other games, which you can play on the browser without additional hardware. The only downside here is that this service will necessitate a beefy internet connection, something that makes it far out of the reach of typical gamers here in the Philippines. The service is now in closed beta, though the site says they are still looking for people to test it. Want to sign-up? Check out their link below.

    Source: Gface

    LG offering exclusive access to KPOP content with every purchase of Cinema 3D and Smart TV

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    LG offering exclusive access to KPOP content with every purchase of Cinema 3D and Smart TV

    Here’s an interesting promotion by done by Korean electronics giant LG – if you buy an LG Cinema 3D and Smart TV anytime from now till March 1, you’ll be able to enjoy about a month’s worth of free KPOP Zone access through the KPOP App on the LG Cinema 3D and Smart TV. If you buy an  HX906 or HB806 LG 3D Home Theater System along with the TVs, LG will also throw in a 3D KPOP Blu-ray disc with the deal. While we’re sure that there’d be people who’d be swayed to buy a new HD TV set for a chance to see Girls Generation on their big-ass TV screen at home, it would have been better if the Korean giant offered a range of exclusive channels to choose from, and not just KPOP.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/LG KPOP/]

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