This one might annoy Apple a little, but the hacking community has supposedly been able to create an untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.1 on the iPhone 4. It’s been a while since the release of iOS 5.1 and a jailbreak for it has not existed until now. The jailbreaking software isn’t out for public download yet but a lot of the more recent iPhone 4 users are hoping for it to be available soon. We did hear about a possible untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.1 on the latest iPad, but that one is nowhere to be found either.
An iPhone 4 unthethered iOS 5.1 jailbreak?
Asiasoft launches LEGENDS in the Philippines
Asiasoft Online (“Asiasoft”), the videogame publishing company that brought the successful 2D side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) to the Philippines, has officially launched the MapleSEA LEGENDS patch.
The LEGENDS patch is divided into four parts: the prelude, released on April 5, 2012; Cannon Shooter on May 16; Mercedes on May 30, and Demon Slayer in July. The interface changes, classes, and feature updates were formally announced this week.
According to the game’s developers, the updates to the game include the launch of three new exciting classes, new 4th potential legendary tier items, quick move system, item re-purchase system and radical skills system. All of the above will also be accompanied by a faster and more intuitive user interface (UI).
“The online videogame community constantly changes, but we aim to give our MapleSEA gamers consistency in quality.
MapleSEA LEGENDS will cater to the clamor for new challenges in this hugely popular MMORPG. We will continuously strive to give only the best for the Singaporean, Malaysian, and Filipino MapleSEA gamers,” said Sherman Tan, chairman of Asiasoft Online.
MapleSEA: LEGENDS is the first patch released in the Philippines. It contains three new classes that gamers can choose from, namely the Canon Shooter, Mercedes and Demon Slayer, among others.
MapleSEA was first introduced to the Singaporean and Malaysian online videogame market six years ago from Korea. To date, there are over 4 million MapleSEA gamers in Singapore and Malaysia, making it the most popular 2D MMORPG in Southeast Asia.
Review: HTC ChaCha
By MR Gavin
When the blog-o-sphere was buzzing about a Facebook phone, I really thought it was a phone made by the social network giant until the HTC ChaCha was presented being the Facebook phone.
With more than 750 million Facebook subscribers, it is no wonder why a phone wholly dedicated to the social network will be a hit in the market. With everyone wanting to be connected 24/7, the HTC ChaCha might just be the answer.
HTC always churns out amazingly designed phones, and the HTC ChaCha is no exception. Its angular design made it easier to hold and navigate through the pages and apps. The phone is made with metal and plastic, making its design distinct and hip. It sports a candy-bar form factor with a full QWERTY running on Android and HTC sense.
It has a very spacious QWERTY keyboard that made it easier to compose messages without accidentally pressing other buttons. The downside with the keyboard is that it has the “FN + @” bug. Apparently, the letter “Y “has an alternate function of the symbol “@,” but when you try to use the function the # sign or “£” appears. This would have passed my attention if the “@” sign is not often used, but as this is a Facebook phone, it will be often used to sign in and out of the social network. You can still find the “@” button as the alternate function of “P”, leaving out the labeled “~”. Just below the display are the touch controls for home, menu, back and search. The volume control is on the right side, and lock on the top right. Though there is no shortcut for the camera, there are two calling buttons just above the QWERTY pad so you can answer calls even without navigating through your screen.
There are two cameras, a 5-megapixel at the back with an LED flash and a VGA front camera which you can also use as a mirror. The 2.6-inch screen is just right for composing messages and updating your social network but not enough for other applications. It is pinch to zoom, making it easier to see clearly on its small screen. But with this small screen, it’s a bit of pain for the internet. You may need to zoom in and out for you to get a better view of sites. But you will be able to enjoy graphics crisp and clear because they are cramped into a small screen.
The main attraction of the HTC ChaCha is the Facebook button, wholly dedicated to your Facebook account. With one click, you will be directed to your Facebook page, saving you a second or two than looking for an app. While browsing through music, photos or video, you can click the button and you can easily share it on your page. While using the camera, you can also click the Facebook button to instantly upload your photo.
The ChaCha is very social, it has Friend Stream where you can see Facebook, Flickr and tweet updates all in one screen. If you want to organize communication not by application, you can view from the people button so all your calls, messages and updates will be organized by contact. It also has an integrated Facebook chat, making it easier to catch up with friends online.
It runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, making it work smoother and faster for your social networking demands. There are seven home screens which you can customize however you want. From your Facebook and Twitter updates to people you often call or send messages to.
What’s best with HTC phones is that you get access to HTC Sense.com where you can backup your files, contacts and messages through HTC’s cloud server. It can also help you track and lock your phone if ever you lose them.
Battery life can be dreadful, when you are connected through WiFi all day and updating your Facebook here and there, your battery will be drained by the end of the day. But with it on standby and with average usage, it can last up to 2 days.
HTC ChaCha could be your ultimate social networking phone, though you need a decent internet plan for you to stay connected all the time. It is exclusively distributed by Smart with a retail price of Php 15,500 or for a consumable plan
Php 1,800 or unlimited plan Php 1,500.
Specifications
Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense
CPU: 800MHz
LCD size: 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen
Physical Dimensions: 114.4mm x 64.6mm x 10.7 mm
Weight: 120g
Band: 2G – GSM 850/900/1800/1900, 3G – HSDPA 900/2100
What’s Hot:
• Curved design
• Facebook button for easy share
• Spacious keypad
• Reasonably priced
What’s Not:
• Small screen
• Keypad bug
Bottomline:
Being connected is the ultimate reason to own the HTC ChaCha, and if you are the ultimate Facebook fan, this is definitely on top of your list.
Buy Meter: 8.2
[This review originally appeared in the September 2011 issue of Gadgets Magazine]
Samsung’s Series 9 makes an appearance, Ivy Bridge in tow
Just like clockwork, Ivy Bridge equipped notebooks are now popping up in manufacturer’s sites. The latest product to proudly wear the Ivy Bridge badge is Samsung’s Series 9 ultrabook. Like a lot of other products in its class, this particular ultrabook uses an aluminum chassis to protect its innards and features a 15-inch display with a native resolution of 1600 x 900.
Under the hood runs an Intel Core i5-3317U (1.7GHz), 128GB SSD and about 8GB of DDR3 memory. The whole thing is only 14.9mm thick, and only weighs in at around 1.65 kilos. No price or availability has been set by Samsung.
Ubuntu for Android makes your smartphone into a PC
We’ve always observed that at the rate most Android smartphones are evolving nowadays, they’d probably surpass most low-end notebooks and PCs when it comes to computing power. Linux OS maker Ubuntu also made that particular observation, only they decided to do something to utilize the inherent processing capabilities that are locked in our smartphones. Ubuntu for Android is just an idea for now, but if it’s implemented by Android manufacturers and other peripheral makers, it’s set to change the way we look at our Android phones as just a method to communicate. Ubuntu says that with Ubuntu for Android users can enjoy a full desktop experience by just using their multi-core Android device, a keyboard, mouse and monitor.
Source: Ubuntu
ABS-CBN news app now available in more devices
ABS-CBN pioneers yet another first in Philippine mobile technology as abs-cbnnews.com becomes the first Philippine TV network to release its mobile application for Windows Phone – including Lumia of Nokia, and phones with Symbian, Java, and Qt Meego operating systems. This app not only gives users instant access to the latest news but also empowers them to become vigilant citizen journalists.
The latest innovation comes after the launch of abs-cbnnews.com‘s applications for Android phones and tablets, as well as for iOS devices iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch last year that enabled Filipinos on the go a new and faster way of getting news and information from the country’s most trusted news organization.
The free downloadable app is also the first among local news apps to introduce a citizen journalism feature with its “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo” (BMPM) ticker. Through this feature – available in Android, iOS and Qt Meego devices – users are able to send reports directly to ABS-CBN News.
The app also has a customizable feature that lets users choose which particular section — Recommended, Latest, Nation, Metro, Business, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Sports, Global Filipino — they want to subscribe to. It also has a breaking news ticker and a Philippine Peso-US Dollar exchange rate.
Users can access and download the application directly from the app stores and markets in their mobile devices.
ABS-CBN’s move to expand its mobile news offering to more operating systems is yet part of its continuing effort to be in the service of the Filipino anywhere in the world.
Research delves into robots that decompose
The world we live in is getting more and more futuristic. It’s nowhere near The Jetsons yet, but our human race has already managed to create and use robots to manage some tasks that we would rather not do ourselves. This includes menial tasks related to manufacturing, dangerous ones such as bomb-disposal and ocean exploration, and even some to keep our cities clean.
Speaking of keeping our cities clean, we realize that these robots are made primarily from metal and plastic—meaning they’re non-biodegradable and thus harmful to our environment once they meet their end. Dr. Jonathan Rossiter from the University of Bristol and Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulous from the University of the West of England have begun a two-year research mission to find a robot that decomposes.
Both researchers are from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) that focuses on creating robots that can intelligently act by themselves without human assistance. These robots still need to be recovered and dismantled eventually, though, lest they pollute the earth. By constructing robots from biodegradable materials, they can simply decompose into the earth after their tasks are done.
Research into color-changing smart material is inspired by fish
Imagine if your shirt had the ability to camouflage you by instantly changing its color. You could literally wear the same shirt with different color designs on separate occasions. Or, what if your gadgets could do the same? Researchers at the University of Bristol have been inspired by underwater creatures such as cephalopods and zebrafish to develop man-made versions of the organisms’ color-changing abilities.
Cephalopods are able to manipulate the pigmentation of their skin, creating pulsating bands of color that travel across it, through their specialized cells known as chromatophores that each contain a sac filled with particles of pigment. These sacs expand when its surrounding muscles contract, causing the sacs to appear larger. In Zebrafish, the chromatophores contain liquid pigmentation that gets pumped through the skin to spread out the ink.
The researchers used silicone material and dielectric elastomers or electrically-activated polymers that are activated with an electric current to create an artificial version of what’s found on the fish. These synthetic chromatophores are adaptable and can be stretched and deformed while still operating properly. This means that if the research continues, we might see this new technology of “smart material” implemented in our clothing, gadgets, or anywhere else you could imagine.
Microsoft plans to create HomeOS, an operating system that automates your house
Microsoft has decided to create an operating system for your home. Not for the computer in your home, but for your appliances, security systems, and what not. In fact, the research arm of the gigantic corporation has already started testing its home automation software that they’ve dubbed HomeOS in twelve residences over the past couple of months. So far, the current prototype of the system provides support for a range of applications and devices such as switches, printers, air conditioners, TVs, and cameras. The system views all of these as network peripherals controlled by a gateway computer that enables users to manage and automate them. There are even a number of apps already that perform functions like remote surveillance, face-recognition, and energy monitoring. These applications are growing in number and can be found through a portal called “HomeStore” that allows users to expand their system’s capabilities.
Nokia 808 Pureview heading to Russia and India
We’ve talked about Nokia’s 41-megapixel 808 Pureview before, and even showed you a commercial shot entirely using the 41-megapixel sensor in it. The question in most people’s mind is when the device is going to be available? Well, the wait is over, at least for folks in India and Russia. The Verge is reporting that the fine citizens of these two countries will be able to enjoy their own slice of 41-megapixel heaven come May, with Italian vendors already taking preorders for the device (which is apparently good enough to warrant a $785 price tag).
Source: The Verge
Meet Sony’s first ultrabook: the VAIO T
Sony has just announced it’s own entry to the ultrabook bandwagon category: the VAIO T series. The VAIO T comes in two versions: a 11.6-inch version (the T11) and a larger, 13.3-inch variant (the T13). Both variants use an aluminum-magnesium chassis, and will sport an Intel Core i3-2367M processor (sorry kids, no Ivy Bridge yet). The device uses a 320GB HDD paired with 32GB of SSD, which we imagine will use Intel’s patented SMT allowing the device to have a roomy drive and have fast start-up times. That’s topped off with about 4GB of DDR3 memory and xLOUD and Clear Phase audio technologies. No word on pricing or local availability yet.
[album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/VAIO T/]
Source: Sony
Research in Motion gives devs a preview of BlackBerry 10 OS
RIM has unveiled the evolution of its BlackBerry OS – BlackBerry 10. The new platform leverages on several new technologies and is a step forward for the company as it tries to re-invigorate its brand as the smartphone of choice for connected people. The company has demoed some of the upcoming features of the new OS in its BlackBerry conference in the US earlier this week.
From what we could see and read (we weren’t present during the event) BlackBerry 10 is RIM’s attempt into making an ecosystem that could realistically go up against Android. And while the company will never give up on physical screens, from what we’ve seen in videos and in the leaked (and now confirmed) BlackBerry 10 Developer device, the company is looking to release a full-touchscreen device that delivers a seamless user experience, unlike their previous, disappointing efforts.
Gesture controls seem to be at the heart of BlackBerry 10, which is a bit of a throwback to the BlackBerry Playbook. Indeed, people who have managed to get their hands on the BlackBerry 10 Developer device has said that the OS running on it is the PlayBook 2.0, with some extra features plugged in that will eventually end up in the final version of BlackBerry 10. Swiping from the corners seems to be the norm on BlackBerry OS 10, which is actually pretty pleasant based on our experience on the PlayBook.
Imaging will also be one of the biggest features of upcoming BlackBerry 10 powered devices. RIM CEO Thorsten Heins unveiled a new feature that allows you to get a second chance when taking pictures. Basically, the app allows you to go back a couple of seconds on a picture you’re not happy via the images captured on the camera’s cache the second you open the camera app.
The company is also serious about attracting talent and devs to the platform, and has announced a major campaign that’s aimed at ensuring developers make money on the platform. Basically the company is saying that developers are guaranteed in making $10,000 in their certified BlackBerry 10 apps in the first year. If the devs don’t make $10,000 on their BlackBerry 10 certified apps, the company will spring for the difference. This move gives developers a huge incentive in creating apps for the platform, though certain caveats apply.
So, is the future looking bright for BlackBerry or is BlackBerry 10 too little too late? At this point, there’s no way to tell for sure – BlackBery 10 holds a lot of promise, but the company has it’s work cut out for it. And for people who say that the company is heading down the crapper, I’d like to remind them that people said the exact same thing about Apple way back then, and look at where they are right now.
Source: RIM, Engadget, The Verge, Slashgear, CrackBerry
Samsung releases gaming oriented Series 7 Gamer notebook
The notebook gaming space has long been dominated by industry heavyweights like Alienware, XPS and Asus. Samsung’s looking to make their mark on the gaming PC market through their newly released Series 7 Gamer. Utilizing the recently released Ivy Bridge Core i7-3610QM processor (2.30 GHz), the Series 7 Gamer is a formidable gaming notebook that’s able to frag with the best of them. Just take a look at the specs: 17.3-inch, 400 nit screen, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M graphics, 1.5TB HDD and 16GB(!) of DDR3 memory.
If those specs don’t catch your gaming eye, you might be a bit dead inside. Unfortunately, there’s no word on when this monstrous notebook will reach our stores, but Samsung US has already pegged the cost of owning such a behemoth at around $1899, which should come out at around Php 80,000 (without taxes and shipping of course).
Source: Samsung
Photojeepney.com: Picture perfection in one click
Photojeepney (www.photojeepney.com) is a one-stop online photo studio/imaging center that can take your favorite photos and turn them into priceless pieces. It is also one of the few online services in the country that offers photo switching and retouching, which means goodbye to those undesirable imperfections on your pictures. All you need to do is upload the unedited photo to the website and Photojeepney will take care of the rest. Photo switch (optional) is bundled when you are availing the ID service of Photojeepney. It is a process of transferring your photo digitally in a formal/ business attire with a variety of photo switching templates for males and females. With Photojeepney services you can perfect your images which can be used for your resume, and for US and other country’s Visa, which can help you land your dream jobs abroad.
Photojeepney also offers photo graphic arts and other services and products. Those who want to give their loved ones a memorable gift might want to give them an oil painting in canvas portrait “hand printed” and rendered from an original photograph. All you need to do is send the photo online to Photojeepney and it will be evaluated for image size, resolution and other details. If the photo passes the standards, Photojeepney will render it into a valuable work of art that will surely captivate the person you are giving it to, for a reasonable price of only Php 6,800. The size of the oil painting is 18 x 24-inch canvas portrait in a 25 x 31-inch classic brown frame with expander.
Those who want to bring back the glory and color of their old photos can avail of Photojeepney’s photo restoration and reconstruction which can restore the value of photos from teared, damaged, or partially burned photo prints. Unlike other service providers who would ask you to upload your photo first before pricing, Photojeepney offers simple and flat service rates.
Since Photojeepney is easily accessible on the Internet (www.photojeepney.com), you can browse for the services you want to avail online and check how much affordable the services are. You can also pay through various means, through major credit cards, PayPal, Cebuana Lhuillier and BPI bank deposits. They also ship nationwide, which means they can send your photos anywhere on the archipelago.
So if you want that picture-perfect photo that will give you that edge or bring smiles to the faces of your loved ones, go to www.photojeepney.com for those images to come to life! For more information, call 661-4108 (look for Michael), SMS: 0927-8103469 or 0923-6576946, e-mail: [email protected].
Review: Western Digital TV Live Hub
By M.R. Gavin
Transferring files from the computer to the media center was a tedious process with the first-generation media players sold in the market a few years ago. We barely touched the media player my dad brought home because it was such a hassle to transfer files. We were all too contented with watching directly from the internet. But all that has changed with my encounter with the Western Digital TV Live hub.
I love the minimal design of the Western Digital TV Live Hub. Its rounded edges made it distinctly classy and masculine at the same time. Situated in the device’s front fascia are the on/off button and one USB port. The back is packed with all kinds of ports to answer your media connection needs. There are 3 ports for component and another 3 for composite A/V, an HDMI 1.4 port and a backup USB port.
Setting it up is as easy as 1-2-3. It’s just a matter of connecting it to the television and the Ethernet. Immediately after connecting it, I got access to the hub’s applications such as NetFlix, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Pandora, Live35, Mediafly, Blockbuster on demand and Accuweather. You really don’t need a manual to set this up. It is definitely user friendly that you can work your way through the whole entire setup process with nary a sweat.
Memory space won’t be a problem here as the WD TV Live hub can support 1TB of files. That is worth 200,000 photos or 76 hours of videos or even 250,000 songs!
You can transfer files from a USB, hard drive or directly through your home network. I downloaded an application from Western Digital to be able to connect my home network with the media center. I linked this via Ethernet because WiFi here remains slow and lagging, especially when transferring huge and multiple files. After having the application ready, it’s as easy as dragging and dropping the files from the home network to the Live hub.
The media player helps you categorize your files—whether it’s a movie, music or photo. When you connect a storage device to the Live Hub, it will ven automatically prompt you to sync the files. No worries about file format because the Live Hub supports almost all kinds of formats possible.
You can also connect your video or digital camera to transfer the files directly to the media center without having to install any driver. Connectivity is not a problem—you can connect the Live Hub to other devices such as your smartphone or tablet by downloading an app that can enable you to transfer files.
What I love most about this media player is that it has access to my favorite social networking sites. For those who just can’t get away from their Facebook friends, it’s nice to be able to access your account right in the comfort of your living room. Facebook lurking just got bigger, literally.
The WD TV Live hub should be your go-to media player. It can answer all your needs when it comes to media demands and the once crazy dream of having internet-enabled television just became a reality.
Specifications
Video Support: AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), MPG/MPEG, VOB, MKV (h.264, x.264, AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC-1), TS/TP/M2T (MPEG1/2/4, AVC, VC-1), MP4/MOV (MPEG4, h.264), M2TS, WMV9, FLV (h.264)
Image Support: JPEG, GIF, TIF/TIFF, BMP, PNG
Audio Support: MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM, WMA, AAC, FLAC, MKA, AIF/AIFF, OGG, Dolby Digital, DTS
Playlist Support: PLS, M3U, WPL
Subtitle Support: SRT, ASS, SSA, SUB, SMI
Interface: Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, HDMI, Composite A/V, Component video, Optical audio
Memory: 1TB
Dimensions: 32mm x 198mm x 154mm
What’s Hot:
• 1TB memory
• Supports almost all audio and video formats
• Internet enabled
What’s Not:
• Slow transfer of files
• No built in WiFi
Bottomline:
The WD Live hub is the ultimate media player for movie buffs. You won’t miss another show ever again.
Buy Meter: 9.2
[This review originally appeared in the August 2011 issue of Gadgets Magazine]