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Review: LG Optimus L7 P705 (P700)

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23 May 2012

LG has set its sights on the mid- and low- end market with their L series of phones. We’ve reviewed the budget friendly L3 a few weeks back and now it’s time to set our sights on the biggest and baddest in the line – the Optimus L7 P705 (P700).

When we first laid eyes on the Optimus L7, we couldn’t shake that feeling of déjà vu. The overall design of the device isn’t striking nor ugly. Think of it as the Will Smith of smartphones – dark and acceptable to all palates. The L7 measures in at around 125.5 x 67 x 8.7mm and weighs in at 122 grams. The Optimus L7 uses a large, 4.3-inch IPS LCD screen that has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. There’s not much in the way of manual controls – there’s a volume rocker on the left side and a large home button in the bottom of the screen (which is flanked by two capacitive keys for navigation). The back panel of the Optimus L7 features a textured finish to help you grip the phone better.

There’s a 5-megapixel camera on the back with LED flash, as well as a secondary, VGA camera on the front.

Internally, the Optimus L7 uses a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon processor that’s mated with 512MB of RAM. The Optimus L7 uses Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) as its OS with LG’s UI enhancements layered on top. There’s 4GB of internal storage on tap, which is expandable via the microSD slot integrated in the Optimus L7. A large, 1700mAh li-ion battery provides the juice to keep everything running.

We had initial fears that the Optimus L7’s processor wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demands that are expected of a device in its class. While the Optimus L7 performed well most of the time, there was several times where the unit became sluggish and a bit unresponsive, usually when we tried to unlock the device to use it. The L7 struggles somewhat with some apps and games (especially ones with a lot of animations and 3D graphics), which is a direct result of using a slower, single core processor.

AnTuTu paints a pretty bleak picture performance-wise, as the Optimus L7 only scores about 2787 points, which puts it below the Samsung Galaxy S.

Quadrant Standard is a little bit better, and gives the Optimus L7 1996 points, which puts it below the LG Optimus 2X but above the HTC Desire HD.

One upside of the single-core 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon processor is that battery life is significantly better than comparable dual-core devices. Combine that with the relatively large 1700mAh battery, and the Optimus L7 is capable of delivering battery endurance that other phones only dream of. We managed to log almost two and a half days of useful battery life with moderate use, and we’re sure some of you out there may be able to log three. In today’s world of perpetually discharged gadgets, battery endurance like the Optimus L7’s is in short supply.

Another thing that we liked with the Optimus L7 is the incredibly bright screen. We’re not sure if the L7 is imbued with the same extremely bright Nova display that was in LG’s previous Optimus Black, but we’re sure that the L7’s display is close to the Optimus Black’s nit rating.

Ultimately, the Optimus L7 is an exercise in compromise. You’re not getting a dual-core processor and you’ll definitely feel the performance hit once you start using the device, but the tradeoffs is that you get much better battery endurance that allows you to use the device longer. The LG Optimus L7 retails for Php 15,990.

What’s Hot:

Bright, clear display
Long battery life
Uses Android 4.0

What’s Not:

Sluggish
Screen is sometimes unresponsive

Bottomline:
While the Optimus L7 suffers from the use of a single-core processor, it’s one of those phones that can last for more than two days on a single charge with moderate use.

Buymeter: 3.5/5

Tech Specs:

Operating System: Android 4.0
CPU: 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon
LCD size: 4.3-inch IPS LCD screen, 480 x 800 pixel resolution
Physical Dimensions: 125.5 x 67 x 8.7 mm, 122 grams
Band: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

Vergence Labs to release its own electric sunglasses

Gadgets Team

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23 May 2012

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Vergence Labs to release its own electric sunglasses

This year, we heard a lot about video-capable and augmented reality glasses, especially those being made by Google and Oakley. ZionEyez and Pivothead are two companies that already offer sunglasses with built-in video cameras. Now we learn that Vergence Labs is also working on something similar, which they call Social Video Electric Eyewear, and the company is looking to raise US $50,000 for the project via the funding site, Kickstarter.

Although Google and Oakley are planning to make glasses that can perform smartphone-like tasks, Vergence Labs is content with just two key innovations built in. Firstly, they’re a pair of electric-powered sunglasses that use chromatic shifting conductive glass to enable the lenses to be lightened or darkened by pressing a button. Secondly, they contain a small camera in a pinhole set between the two lenses that can record video at 720p, allowing users to capture video from a first-person perspective. The video is then saved to a microSD card. Supposedly, battery life is only two hours, though.

The company also plans to add Wi-Fi capability to the glasses to allow live streaming to a phone or tablet. A so-called “reality visor” is also in the works, which allows users to be fully immersed in a 3D environment when watching a video recorded on the first-person camera.

Use your smartphone to detect bombs

Apps

Gadgets Team

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23 May 2012

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You can turn your smartphone into an explosives detection device. Some students at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw have developed an app called Saper that will enable your smartphone to do just that.

Saper, which is also the Polish term for “minesweeper”, is an acronym for Sensor Amplified Perception for Explosives Recognition. The app makes use of your smartphone’s magnetometer, which is usually responsible for compass-like functions, in order to detect small disturbances in the magnetic field around an explosive substance. The app is able to sniff out 40 different kinds of explosive materials from 30 cm away.

To use it, you have to first let the app calibrate to the environment. Then you wave your smartphone as if painting a grid measuring a maximum of 30 x 30 cm no further than 30 cm away from the potential threat source. The app then connects to a cloud-based server and compares the recorded magnetic disturbance signature with those found in the database. If a threat is detected, a warning message returns with a possible identification of the certain type of explosive in the sampled area.

The app has been developed exclusively for the Windows Phone operating system, but it will be made available on other platforms soon. The team is also exploring other things such as using the magnetometer to detect wires within a wall or foreign objects in the human body.

Review: ASUS XONAR U3

GadgetsLab

Gadgets Team

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23 May 2012

1

By Steven Vea

One of the most common frustrations that many users face with their laptops is the inadequate built-in sound cards that don’t have the capacity to satisfy the needs of audiophiles. The ASUS Xonar U3 just might change all that, by providing the necessary bridge to enjoy premium sound options while remaining portable at the same time.

The whole concept of having a laptop or netbook is mobility. Therefore, it seems intuitive that any external accessories or enhancements should be equally convenient to transport as well.

This is where the Xonar U3 really shines. It is an external USB soundcard, and what makes it appealing is its small size—it is only a little wider than the average thumb drive. Don’t be fooled by its dimensions however, for it provides a worthy upgrade to your pre-installed soundcard.

Setting it up is a breeze, but it is not as simple as plug-and-play. After inserting the Xonar U3 into an available USB port (which fits in nice and secure), you will have to install the driver from the included CD-ROM and then reboot for the changes to take effect. Nevertheless, installation is fairly quick, and once it’s up and running, clicking on the volume icon in the Windows task bar reveals an additional mixer to independently control the Xonar U3. All your audio is now routed through the USB sound card, although you may change your settings to allow both soundcards to function at the same time, and you may specify which applications access either device.

To further fine-tune your audio settings, you must launch the Xonar U3 Audio Center, which can be done through the Windows notification tray or Start Menu. The initial “compact” user interface is simple and well-designed—it consists of a graphic EQ that doubles up as VU meters. It provides a wonderful visual representation of your audio and it is fairly accurate with its real-time readings. This compact GUI mode also shows which other settings are active, namely DSP Mode, EQ Mode, and Output Device.

The Xonar U3’s expanded GUI reveals all its options and is easy to navigate, regardless of whether you’re completely brand new to setting up sound cards or have some previous experience. The learning curve is minimal, and you will have no problem customizing your preferences. The usual standard preset EQ modes are available, such as Rock and Jazz, but you will probably dabble with the 10-band equalizer in order to achieve your preferred frequency balance. You can then save your own presets as UserDef files for quick access later on, which is useful for instantly applying your personal settings for different output systems.

There are also several DSP effects available, although I usually consider this as a novelty rather than a necessity. There are two interesting add-ons however, the Karaoke and VocalFX modes. As the first implies, it gives several creative options such as Key Shifting, Vocal Cancellation and Mic Echo. Out of the three, only Key Shifting presents any real viable use—it is able to effectively alter the pitch of your audio while preserving the tempo, but some users might experience stuttering and clicks in their audio because this can be a hardware demanding process.

The VocalFX mode on the other hand, lets you add some nice effects (i.e. delay, reverb) to audio from the X3’s microphone input, which can be fun to use during VOIP or gaming. An additional feature under the VocalFX mode is Magic Voice, which allows you to alter and modify your own voice, which can be fun for multiplayer gaming or just for messing around.

With regards to the Xonar U3’s sonic quality, this will mostly depend on the superiority of your headphones and/or speaker system. However, what this little pocket-sized device offers is a significant amount of amplification compared with your laptop’s built-in soundcard, which is perfect for headphones. This boost in overall volume provides a greater amount of headroom for increasing the volume later on, which helps in audio that have low volumes to begin with. Moreover, the Xonar U3 also adds a tiny amount of audio clarity, opening up a little bit more detail to high frequencies at lower listening volumes.

This little external soundcard also gives you the ability to enjoy 7.1 surround sound, providing you have the necessary speaker setup. It supports various Dolby technologies, so it is highly unlikely for you to run into any compatibility issues. Having full-fledged surround sound definitely amps up your laptop’s multimedia capabilities, and once you see how small the Xonar U3 is you will find it hard to believe how such a small device can be a bridge for such enormous sound.

The Xonar U3 is perhaps one of the most useful products that ASUS has come out with. It is small, convenient and does everything it offers to provide. It’s well designed, and is unobtrusive to your existing setup, unlike other soundcards in the market. It delivers, and it does so with flying colors.

Specifications
Dimensions: 19.6 x 9.7 x 19.6cm
Weight: 340g

What’s Hot:
• Pocket size
• 7.1 surround sound

What’s Not:
• Not plug-and-play

Bottomline:
The ASUS Xonar U3 is on the cusp of perfection – it provides the ability to enjoy high-quality audio on your laptop, in a device that can literally fit inside your pocket.

Buy Meter: 9.5

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

Pentax K-30 isn’t afraid of the rain, dust or cold

Gadgets Team

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22 May 2012

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Pentax K-30 isn’t afraid of the rain, dust or cold

It doesn’t take much to take out a DSLR – add some rain, heavy dust and if you live in places where the temperature drops routinely below zero, cold. Those three things don’t faze the Pentax K-30 though – this particularly rugged DSLR is said to be weather sealed and can probably take a nice trip in the rain without breaking down. Of course that doesn’t mean that this thing is completely waterproof – it’ll still break if you submerge it in water – but you can be sure that it’ll handle a summer drizzle just fine. Pentax also says that this particular shooter is able to withstand temperatures as low as -10 Celsius, so if you’re ever stuck in a photshoot in Siberia, you can be sure that this thing will soldier on no matter what. Sensor-wise, you’re looking at a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, and the Pentax K-30 is able to shoot in ISO 100 all the way up to 25600. The Pentax K-30 is slated to retail for $850 for just the body and $900 with an 18-55mm kit lens. No word on local availability as of yet.

[album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/Pentax K30/]

Diablo 3 accounts hacked a week after release

Technology

Gadgets Team

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22 May 2012

0

Diablo 3 accounts hacked a week after release

If your character in Diablo 3 just happens to lose all of its fantastic armor and/or gold, then you might have been a victim of a hack. Eurogamer is reporting that one of its own, writer Christian Donlan, had his account hacked and then hijacked by someone else. The rash of account hacking is apparently spreading, with multiple sources and players reporting that their gold and items are being taken from their accounts. Blizzard has taken note of the issue, and have been rolling back accounts to recover some of the items and gold taken from players, but the issue still persists.

One probable cause of all the determined hacking is the real-money auction house feature of Diablo 3, where players can buy and sell equipment with real life money. Hackers have apparently seen the possible benefits of compromising other people’s accounts with the lure of creating real cash from virtual items.

Eurogamer gives potential reasons how the accounts may have been hacked. “The reports coincided with the EU Diablo 3 servers going offline on Sunday afternoon for around four hours, preventing players from logging in (error 33). It has been suggested that the EU servers were taken offline following a SQL injection attack, but this remains unconfirmed,” they said. “One theory suggested by players on the Battle.net forum revolves around hijacking session identifiers, which would allow hackers to take over accounts without alerting Blizzard’s authentication server. Again, this remains unconfirmed.”

We advise players to be extremely vigilant when playing. Standard account protection rules apply if you don’t want your stuff to get stolen.

Source: Eurogamer

Asus introduces first Intel Thunderbolt certified motherboard

Gadgets Team

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22 May 2012

0

Asus introduces first Intel Thunderbolt certified motherboard

Envious of the lighting fast transfer speeds of the Thunderbolt packing Macbooks that’s been floating around? Well, you’re in luck. Asus has just introduced the first Intel Thunderbolt certified motherboard in the form of the P8Z77-V PREMIUM. Thunderbolt is a new high speed, I/O technology that promises speeds that is twice as fast as USB 3.0 and twenty times as fast as USB 2.0. Asus also announced that they are closely working with three brands that have been creating Thunderbolt products – Elgato, LaCie, and PROMISE.

The P8Z77-V PREMIUM also has a couple of features that rig builders will enjoy. True 4-way NVIDIA SLI and 4-way AMD CrossFireX on the latest PCIe Gen 3.0 slots for maximum graphics performance, as well as SSD Caching II. A 32GB mSATA based SSD is also onboard, enabling Intel Smart Response and Rapid Start Technology for super-fast boot up and resume times.

Available Models

Models	P8Z77-V PREMIUM	P8Z77-V PRO/THUNDERBOLT
CPU Socket	Intel® Socket 1155 for 3rd/2nd Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors
Chipset	Intel® Z77 Express Chipset
Memory	DDR3 2800(O.C.) MHz	DDR3 2600(O.C.) MHz
Digital CPU Power Design	Dual Intelligent Processors 3 – SMART DIGI+ Power Control
Digital CPU Power Design	Digital 20-Phase Power (16-Phase for CPU & 4-Phase for iGPU)	Digital 12-Phase Power (8-Phase for CPU & 4-Phase for iGPU)
Digital DRAM Power Design	V	V
PCIex16 Slots	4*PCIe 3.0 x16	3*PCIe 3.0 x16;
Multi-GPU	4-Way CrossFireX™/SLI	CrossFireX™/SLI
Graphics	Thunderbolt/DisplayPort/HDMI	Thunderbolt/HDMI/DVI-D/RGB
Gb LAN	2 (Intel)	1 (Intel)
Wireless Connection	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Dual band 2.4/5GHz & Bluetooth v4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Audio	8-ch HD, DTS	8-ch HD, DTS
Storage	1mSATA 3.0 Gb/s with 32GB SSD onboard 6SATA 6Gb/s 3SATA 3Gb/s 2eSATA 6Gb/s	4SATA 6Gb/s 4SATA 3Gb/s 1*eSATA (with bracket support)
USB 3.0	6*USB 3.0 (4 ports at back panel, 2 ports at mid-board)	6*USB 3.0 (4 ports at back panel, 2 ports at mid-board)
TPU/EPU (with onboard switch)	V	V
ASUS SSD Caching II	V
ASUS Wi-Fi GO!	V	V
ASUS Fan Xpert 2	V	V
USB BIOS Flashback	V	V
USB 3.0 Boost	V	V
Network iControl	V	V
LucidLogix Virtu MVP	V	V

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

Android malware Android.Opfake uses dummy sites for games to infect smartphones

Technology

Gadgets Team

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21 May 2012

0

Android malware Android.Opfake uses dummy sites for games to infect smartphones

We’ve spoken about the merits of only downloading apps and games from official sources before, but it’s something that bears repeating, especially since there are a lot of folks out there that prey on unwitting and uninformed. Symantec is reporting that the creators of the Android.Opfake, a particularly nasty type of malware created for Android, has just changed their tactics for the worse. Symantec recently discovered several dummy sites being used to peddle the malware, which is being disguised as games such as Temple Run and Cut the Rope. The attackers have even gone so far as to include imagesof actual devices playing the games in an attempt to convince unsuspecting users that the malicious versions are actually legitimate.

The creators of Android.Opfake have even gone to the trouble of creating dummy sites that act as a distribution points for dummy games. Symantec says that all of the front-end sites connect back to a central back-endsite that acts as a file generator or repository. The games that are included in the dummy sites include Fruit Ninja, Cut the Rope, Temple Run and Angry Birds.

The best defence against being infected? Only download Android games and apps through the Google Play store, and always keep an eye on the permissions a certain app asks from you when being installed in your device. And as always, keep a healthy dose of common sense when downloading anything from the internet.

Review: ASUS RoG Vulcan ANC

GadgetsLab

Gadgets Team

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21 May 2012

0

By Steven Vea

It’s not hard to be impressed with the Vulcan ANC (Active-Noise-Canceling) once it’s out of the box, but this isn’t a surprise since products from ASUS’ Republic of Gamers (RoG) line always have that swagger. These gaming headphones fit the bill—it has the distinct design of stealth and suave that grabs your attention.

The first thing you’ll notice when unpacking the Vulcan is the uniquely shaped travel case. Although you may associate it with an oversized guitar pick, make no mistake—the case is well designed and will protect the headset. Once you unzip it open, you will see that it snugly holds the headphones in its folded fetal-like position, ready to be uncoupled for your pleasure.

Once it was out of its travel case, I was pretty amazed at the Vulcan’s light weight. Floating in at only 325g, this is by far one of the lightest headphones (of similar size) that I’ve ever picked up. Once I unfolded the headphones, I was initially alarmed at how the collapsible hinges snapped in, which caused a fleeting doubt in its durability. After several times of locking and unlocking the hinges in place, I was thoroughly assured that they were strong and firm, despite the loud click it makes.

Taking a look at the Vulcan’s aesthetic quality, the black headband is excellently complemented by the “carbon fiber” ear cups, which is partnered with a crimson trim. The design gives the headphones an imbued sense of authority and strength, which is perfect for raising your confidence before an intense clash on the virtual battlefield.

Once I finally adorned the Vulcan, I was completely captivated by how comfortable it was. The cushioned pads felt like pillows on my ears, so rest assured that you will be able to wear these headphones for an extremely long time. I had the Vulcan ANC on for eight hours straight and did not experience the slightest hint of listener’s fatigue. ASUS definitely did their homework on this area, ensuring that you can allow yourself to be completely immersed in your experience. As a matter of fact, the only reason I took off the Vulcan was to replace the battery, which is cleverly located behind a concealed slot in the right ear cup.

The battery is required for activating the ANC mode, which as the name implies, reduces ambient noise. This is done by identifying the noise’s frequency, and then replicating it with an out of phase sound wave, thereby cancelling it. ANC was originally conceived to block out the rumble of jet engines on planes while traveling, but it’s also invaluable for gamers with tricked out desktops that emit quite a bit of electric hum. It’s also useful for blocking out ambient noise such as crowd murmurs and cooling fans.

Since ANC affects the muddy end of the lower frequencies, switching it on produces a noticeable result. The lessened bass will result in increased perception of high frequencies, which will slightly affect vocal tracks. This however, is a fair tradeoff to subscribe for a reduction in background noise. In the end, ANC is an indispensable tool once you have access to it, and it will prove its value down the road. One useful application would be to enjoy silence in a chaotic atmosphere, since just putting the Vulcan’s on without listening to anything proves its capability to filter out higher ambient frequencies.

For multiplayer games or simple video chat, the Vulcan’s microphone performed quite well. The resulting vocals are clear and crisp, even when used in an environment with background noise. Making the microphone detachable was one of ASUS’ best choices regarding the design of this headset, allowing you to use the Vulcan strictly as a pair of headphones. I personally did find the main detachable cord to be quite long, which might be cumbersome if you’re out and about with your MP3 player. However, the cord’s length is extremely useful when the Vulcan is used with a desktop computer.

One slight issue I had with the Vulcan is that when not fastened securely, the earc ups tend to squeak whenever you move your head. Moreover, the main cable that connects to the computer also picks up vibrations whenever it is touched or tapped, resulting in a hollow echoed sound emanating in the left earcup. These are simply my personal preferences though, and it does not degrade the Vulcan’s performance in any way.

Under normal listening conditions (ANC off), I was extremely impressed at the sonic quality of the Vulcan. All frequencies sound clean and clear, stereo imaging is very distinct, and the illusionary depth of field is achieved quite well. The Vulcan will have no problem standing up to the critiques of any audiophile, and should satisfy the sound demands of just about everybody.

In short, for an early entry in this genre, ASUS comes close to achieving pristine sound, considering the Vulcan is marketed as a gaming headset and not as headphones. As its first Active-Noise-Canceling unit, it did an impressive job and offered it at a rather fair price. It is a solid product, and should find a good response among ASUS’ loyal and strong following.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Dimensions: 8.1” x 7.7” (HxW)
Weight: 320g
Drivers Diameter: 40mm
Impedance: 48 Ohms
Frequency Response: 10 – 20 kHz
ANC (noise cancelling) Performance: Maximum > 15 dB, Effective Bandwidth > 600 Hz
PNC (noise isolation) Performance: Maximum > 15 dB
Battery Life: Up to 40 hours (with one AAA battery)

What’s Hot:
• Stealthy design
• Lightweight
• Extremely comfortable
• Great sound
• Detachable cord and mic

What’s Not:
• Loud sound when snapped into place
• Long cord

Bottomline:
The ASUS RoG Vulcan ANC looks remarkable and sounds even better. Whether you’re a gamer or just looking for a great pair of cans, you should definitely put these headphones on your list.

Buy Meter: 9.0

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

Samsung Galaxy S III launching on May 28 in the Philippines

Technology

Gadgets Team

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21 May 2012

0

Samsung Galaxy S III launching on May 28 in the Philippines

We just got word from Samsung’s PR that they’ll be hosting the official Philippine launch of the Galaxy S III on May 28 (Monday). This might mean that the newest flagship device from the electronics giant might go on sale around the beginning of June, which ties in nicely with the pre-order period of both Smart and Globe come May 23. So like always, you can expect us to be there with bells on (or failing that, live-tweeting the entire event on our Twitter account, right here, and publishing on-site photos of the festivities on our Facebook.

WP7 has bigger market share than iOS in China

Technology

Gadgets Team

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20 May 2012

0

WP7 has bigger market share than iOS in China

In the world’s most populous country, it’s not surprising that Android is no. 1. What is surprising however, is that the second place goes to Microsoft and their WP7, with Apple trailing closely behind. Michel van der Bel, COO Greater China Region at Microsoft broke the news himself, saying that after only a mere 2 months after launch, Windows Phone 7 handsets already has 7% of the market, compared to Apple’s 6%.

“We have only just begun,”, he said. “Our smartphone and tablet-pc are hybrid, making them suitable for the consumer, but also easy to insert within an existing company infrastructure. This will allow us to better anticipate the consumerization of IT than many competitors. ” The biggest share of the OS pie belonged to Android, accounting for about 69% of the market.

Source: WM Power User

HTC Desire C revealed, classy budget Android phone

Technology

Gadgets Team

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20 May 2012

2

HTC Desire C revealed, classy budget Android phone

Remember that HTC Golf that was leaked by Pocket Now? Well, turns out that particularly gorgeous piece of budget Android has been officially dubbed as the HTC Desire C. The folks at Engadget managed to score some hands-time with it recently, and have detailed the specs of the device that was previously unknown. The Desire C will come with a 600MHz processor paired with 512MB of RAM, 3.5-inch 320 x 480 resolution touchscreen and a 5-megapixel camera. The tech outfit says that the 12mm thickness of the device was a “very comfortable fit” in the hands, and that the Desire C will come with Android 4.0 out of the gate, along with some sort of Sense UI treatment. Engadget says that the Desire C will fall into the sub-$300 smartphone category, though we think that’s a bit too much to ask for a smartphone that’s only running packing a 600MHz processor.

Source: Engadget

New iPad officially coming to the Philippines on May 29

Technology

Gadgets Team

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20 May 2012

0

New iPad officially coming to the Philippines on May 29

While there are some folks out there that managed to grab the new iPad through, uh, “creative” channels, Apple has not yet made the newest iteration of their tablet officially available to the Philippines. Well, the wait is almost over – according to the official site of Apple, the revolutionary device will hit our shores come May 29, giving people roughly a week and a half to try and scrounge up enough cash to get it. Like the previous iPads before it, the new iPad will be made available through partner stores and telecoms like Globe and Smart come May 29. While the price for the new iPad starts at $499 for the base, 16GB WiFi only model, it’s not guaranteed that local retailers will stick to that price as there will be different factors affecting the final, landed cost of the tablet, with taxes being a major one.

Source: Apple

Nokia’s Lumia smartphones invade the Philippines, bring crazy PAL promo

Gadgets Team

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19 May 2012

1

Nokia’s Lumia smartphones invade the Philippines, bring crazy PAL promo

Nokia has officially launched their Lumia line last night at the Lumination party held at the Amphitheater at Bonifacio High Street yesterday. Owners of Lumia phones were in for a treat as Nokia Philippines allowed them to party with free flowing booze and food during the entire launch. International DJs Jumpsmokers were present at the event, as well as numerous personalities and power users. The event marked the official launch of the Nokia Lumia family of phones into the country – the Lumia 610, Lumia 710, Lumia 800 and Lumia 900 – and the start of a new chapter in Nokia’s smartphone strategy locally. We also managed to get confirmation that the highest end device on the Lumia lineup, the Lumia 900, will be exclusive to Smart for one month, before being offered by Globe.

Nokia also took the opportunity to announce a new promo for the new series of phones. They have teamed up with local carrier Philippine Airlines to offer unlimited roundtrip PAL flights all over the country. The promo is open to all Lumia owners in the Philippines and runs from May 18 to June 15, 2012. To join, users need to retrieve their IMEI number by typing #*06# on the homescreen and then text I CAN LUMIA <IMEI>/<Full Name>/<Address> and send to 2960 for Globe and Smart subscribers.

You can read up on our review of Nokia’s Lumia 710 here: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/gadgets/review-nokia-lumia-710.html

New miniature thumb-drive-sized computer sells for $74

Gadgets Team

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18 May 2012

0

New miniature thumb-drive-sized computer sells for $74

It’s in the news again—another miniature computer about the size of a USB thumb drive is out in the market.

Last year we wrote about something similar called Raspberry Pi, which was running on Linux and packing a 700MHz ARM11 processor, 128 MB of ram, and 1080p output capability while including a USB 2.0 hub and 10/100 Ethernet controller. The device was designed to run educational apps but we found out that it was powerful enough to run the video game, Quake 3.

Later on, we were introduced to another miniature fully fledged PC called Cotton Candy, which weighed a mere 21 g and was equipped with a dual-core 1.2 GHz Samsung Exynos ARM CPU, Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth, 1080p video capability, an HDMI-out, and a microSD card slot for storage—all while running on Android Gingerbread 2.3.

This new one that we speak of is currently being sold by Chinese retailers online and is housed in a 3.5-inch plastic case. We don’t know the exact name of this mini PC, but we can call it the AllWinner mini PC due to its AllWinner A10 single-core 1.5GHz ARM CPU. It’s also fitted with a Mali 400 GPU, 512 MB of RAM, an HDMI port for plugging into a screen, a microSD slot, Wi-Fi capability, and Android 4.0 as its operating system.

At $74, it’s less expensive than the Cotton Candy ($199), but more pricey than the Raspberry Pi ($35).