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    HTC outs Sensation XE, comes with Beats audio

    Gadgets Team
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    HTC outs Sensation XE, comes with Beats audio

    Well that didn’t take too long, did it? The “strategic partnership” between HTC and Beats Electronics has resulted in the Sensation XE with Beats Audio, a monster of a smartphone that packs powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor and audio by Beats. It’s a veritable multimedia machine, evidenced by its large 4.3-inch qHD display and optimized audio experience.

    HTC says that once the device detects a Beats headset it’ll automatically optimizes the output to make your experience extraordinary. The included Beats headset has a remote control built-in so you can control the flow of your music your way. HTC plans to make this device available in SEA later this month, though there’s no word when it’ll hit our shores. You can hit up the source link below to know more about the device.

    Source: HTC

    Hands On: Windows 8 Developer Build

    Gadgets Team
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    4
    Hands On: Windows 8 Developer Build

    Right after Microsoft announced that people could grab their development build for Windows 8, we got to cracking and downloaded a copy for ourselves. For anyone who wants to try it out, keep in mind that it’s a huge download (4.8GB for the complete download, Windows 8 + apps) and you’ll want to install it in a fresh partition because it WILL overwrite your old Windows OS (something that we learned the hard way, doh!). Since we didn’t have a touch-capable PC on hand, we installed it in one of our old, middlin’ machines (a desktop rig powered by a previous gen Intel Core i3 with 4GB of memory). Please click on the pictures to expand.

    After installation, you’ll be asked to create an account that will be used with the device. There’s two routes you can take with this – you can choose to create a local account as usual, or you could log-in using your Windows Live ID, which essentially allows you to sync your account to different devices using Windows 8. You’ll also be prompted to secure your account using passwords, and if you’ve managed to install Windows 8 on a tablet, you’ll be able to create a pictorial lock.

    Right off the bat you’re assaulted with the Metro UI interface, and to be honest, we liked it a lot. It’s as if Microsoft decided to super-size the Windows Phone 7 interface. Every program here gets a metro tile, and the whole look is clean, organized and is extremely elegant.

    Just like in Phone 7, the tiles get updated even if you’re not in the app itself, which is a nice touch.

    There are a couple of trial apps included in the build, including third party Twitter and Facebook apps in the form of Tweet@rama and Socialite, respectively.

    Naturally, you’ll be browsing the net using Internet Explorer. The screen defaults to full screen when browsing, with the URL bar disappearing once the page is fully loaded.

    You’ll still be able to get your old desktop interface back via the desktop tile, though there will be a few differences. Like we reported before, the ribbon interface that’s present in Microsoft’s Office suite of products is making its way into Windows Explorer.

    The start button now switches you back and forth from the home screen and whatever application you’re using at the time. It’s a little jarring, and though we never really got used to it we did manage to get by.

    There’s also a location aware app included in the build called Near Me, which possibly is related to the location aware app that’s slated to hit the Mango update for Phone 7.

    You’d think there’d be a huge disconnect from the overall user experience when it comes to the desktop version of Windows 8 since the Metro UI favors touchscreens, but you’d be wrong. Aside from the normal issues with coming to grips with a new UI, the build didn’t feel limiting to desktop users.

    That’s pretty much it. We’re sure we missed a couple of things, but considering that we only got this code today, it’s safe to assume that we’ve only scratched the surface of Windows 8. If you want to download the development code and want to muck around the OS yourself, you can grab it here.

    Tablet keyboard with elevating keys called Levitatr

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Tablet keyboard with elevating keys called Levitatr

    For someone who can’t quite justify the need for a tablet (nor reconcile the tedium of a touchscreen), I’ve learned that perhaps the one thing that would make it enticing for a person like me to purchase one would be a keyboard. And I think I’ve found just the keyboard with James Stumpf’s Levitatr iPad Keyboard.

    The Levitatr iPad Keyboard is an aluminum Bluetooth keyboard accessory for iPads, iPhones, iPods and (hopefully) other devices once it is fully developed. It measures in at 12.5mm thick and has elevating keys that elevate and light up when in use and retract and turn off when they’re not. An aluminum precision-machined kickstand (aka ALUMNM) folds out to hold the tablet/device between a 20 and 30° angle.

     

    Source: Kickstarter

    NVIDIA pledges support for Windows 8, hints at Kal-El powered Windows 8 tablets

    Gadgets Team
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    NVIDIA pledges support for Windows 8, hints at Kal-El powered Windows 8 tablets

    After its unveiling at the developer BUILD conference in LA, different chip makers are now pledging to support Microsoft’s upcoming OS, especially since this is the first time that Microsoft’s flagship OS is able to run on ARM based devices. NVIDIA has pledged their support, and promises that “all four NVIDIA processor brands will support Windows 8. NVIDIA’s next-generation, quad-core Tegra processor, code-named Project Kal-El, is an ARM-based system on a chip that will power lightweight,energy-efficient tablets and notebooks.”

    “With its elegant user interface and support for tablets and notebooks using ARM-based processors,Windows 8 will bring a seismic shift to the industry,” said Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the PCBusiness Unit at NVIDIA. “Our expertise in both ARM and x86 environments, and our intimate familiaritywith the Windows code base, makes us uniquely qualified to support Windows 8 developers.”

    If you remember, we saw NVIDIA’s Kal-El powered device back in COMPUTEX, and we were impressed by what we saw. If NVIDIA successfully integrates that kind of performance with Microsoft’s latest offering, it’s probably safe to say that they’d have a potential hit on their hands.

     

    Windows 8: A Preview of the Reimagined OS

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Windows 8: A Preview of the Reimagined OS

    Windows 8 has been unveiled in a developer’s conference called BUILD held in L.A. and we must say that it’s looking pretty good. It now features a “touch-first” “Metro style” interface, and the revamped OS can be installed on tablets, laptops and computers alike.

    The first photo is a screencap of the “lock” screen, which appears when your computer is idle, and it intuitively displays relevant information such as unread email count, battery life etc. Once you wake up Windows, it will come to life and display the completely reimagined Start Screen, shown above.

    The new layout is noticeably optimized for touch interfaces, and you’ll notice how the apps dominate the desktop (can we still call it that?). In building Windows 8, there has been considerable focus on apps, namely their cooperation and integration with one another. SkyDrive is also offered, in order to sync content across all Windows 8 devices you might own.

    For more info and screenshots, go HERE

    Zombie-themed running app for iOS prepares you for the zombie apocalypse, needs your help to get off the ground

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Zombie-themed running app for iOS prepares you for the zombie apocalypse, needs your help to get off the ground

    Running to stay fit is hard. It pays to actually have a goal in mind (other than keeping fit) to distract you from the burning pain that you feel in your legs after impersonating a human couch for so long. That’s why we were instantly drawn to Zombies! Run!, a game being made by indie developers Six to start. The premise is simple: the game takes data from your daily runs and integrates them into the game. By running in the real world, your in-game character collects valuable resources like batteries, medicine and ammo to help build and expand your base to help you repel the zombie horde.

    The premise sounds like a lot of fun, and is definitely more interesting than your standard “start-running-to-melt-fat-off-your-ass” reason that most folks use to start running. Unfortunately, the team at Six to start has run into a snag – being indie devs, they don’t have unlimited resources (they fund the development of the game out of their own money) and need a cash infusion to make the app into a reality.

    Here’s where you come in – you can help the team make their app real by donating through their Kickstarter page. As of writing, they are $4822 short of their $12,500 goal so you best start donating if you want the app to become real. Any donations over $10 automatically makes you eligible to receive the app for free once it’s done. The team will be making an iOS version for now, but they’ve pledged to make an Android version of the app once they release the initial app.

    Source: Zombies! Run! Kickstarter Page

    Cornell lab starts printing food, poised to change the way you eat

    Gadgets Team
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    Cornell lab starts printing food, poised to change the way you eat

    Imagine if you could eat a cake shaped like a building. No, we don’t mean roughly shaped like a rectangle that rises a few inches off the ground – we mean shaped exactly like a building, complete with windows, doors and interior details. Now, imagine that building is made not out of cake, but nearly anything edible you could think of.

    That’s the future that the folks at Cornell Creative Machines Lab is striving for using 3D printers that are capable of using edible inks made out of juiced meats and liquid. And they’ve already made the necessary steps to creating works of art/gourmet dishes – they’ve managed to create a scallop nugget shaped like a miniature space shuttle. The ramifications are far reaching, and could change the way you eat in restaurants. A thoughtful fiance could theoretically order a cake that spells “will you marry me” inside when cut, for example. Or like our example above, incredibly intricate themed cakes to commemorate a special occasion (christenings, birthdays, etc.). And maybe one day, we’ll be able to get food replicators ala Star Trek. One can dream, right?

    Source: LA Times

    Review: Smart Netphone 701

    Gadgets Team
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    34
    Review: Smart Netphone 701
    Smartphones are everywhere nowadays. What once was a gadget reserved for the wealthy and the elite is now firmly within reach of the masses, with some models breaching the Php 10,000 barrier. Unfortunately, data plans are still a bit pricey for the normal pinoy, and while both telcos have outed relatively affordable internet plans for the prepaid market, data is still seen by many as a stumbling block to smartphone adoption. Smart’s recently unveiled Netphone 701 aims to solve this little quandary while providing consumers with a decently priced smartphone.
    The Netphone 701 is your typical mid-market, Android powered smartphone. The 701 is actually a re-branded ZTE Blade that first shipped in November of 2010. The overall build quality and feature set isn’t bad: it sports a 3.5-inch LCD capacitive screen, 600 MHz ARM 11 processor, 3 megapixel camera and is powered by Android 2.2 (aka Froyo). While the choice of OS seems dated, keep in mind that this particular device is aimed at new smartphone users that usually don’t notice details like that anyway. Unlike phones made by HTC and Samsung, the Netphone sports only 3 physical buttons on its face – home, menu and back.
    The right side of the device holds the volume rocker, while the right side houses the USB port. The top of the device sports a 3.5mm jack and the power button.
    What really sets the Netphone 701 apart from other devices is the addition of SmartNet, which is Smart’s ecosystem of apps built for the Netphone family of devices (yes, there will be other Netphone branded devices coming soon). The SmarNet app is featured prominently on the home page of the device, and includes widgets like the Social stream (a social network aggregator for SmartNet, Facebook and Twitter), chat and messaging.
    One nice feature about the SmarNet app that prepaid users will like is that it shows you your current prepaid load (while it updates automatically, it’s not real-time).
    One issue that most new users have with smartphones is the bill shock that’s associated with enabling data all day. Once again, Smart has you covered with their patented Safe Browse button in the Netphone. One push of the Safe Browse button and it turns off all active internet connections save for the whitelisted apps (which includes the SmartNet app) in the device. Smart makes you register into their SmartNet Global directory when you first use the device, with no option to opt out.

    While users don’t incur data charges with the Safe Browsing feature on, you’re pretty much limited to checking your Facebook and Twitter feeds. While technically it does give you free internet access as long as you have the Safe Browse feature on (I never added to my Php 1 load during the time I had the device), you won’t see tagged or embedded pictures nor be able to go to external links.
    Smart has also simplified the way you send load to other prepaid customers. Just click on Pasaload on a person’s contact page and load away.
    And though it may seem like SmartNet doesn’t give users a lot of value, keep in mind that we’re just in the the ecosystem’s infancy. The idea of providing white listed apps constant internet access without charging users means that Smart can probably monetize SmartNet in a way that hasn’t been done before. For instance, imagine a TV5 app that automatically updates in real-time, delivering headlines straight to your phone, or being able to order food through a Jollibee app (which consequently I found on the device lent to me while rooting around). Yes, some of you will point out that there are already apps that allow you to do this on the Android market, but Smart’s approach is the first time you’re able to actually use those apps WITHOUT being charged for data. The possibilites are endless and to be honest, I’m genuinely excited to see how the SmartNet will turn out. 

    Of course, the big question is this: should you buy the NetPhone 701 now? Well, if you’re the sort of person that likes to keep on top of everything your friends do and are absolutely addicted to both Twitter and Facebook, I say go. The Netphone 701 is a nice, solid mix of innovative software and dependable hardware that’s priced pretty decently (it’s available for Php 9,900 for prepaid subscribers and is available in a number of plans for post-paid users, go here for more details) that has a lot of appeal to first-time smartphone owners.

    What’s Hot:
    Affordable
    SmartNet ecosystem
    Free internet access as long as you have Php 1 in your account
    Safe Browsing mode saves you from unintended data charges

     

    What’s Not:
    SmartNet still in its infancy, not a lot of SmartNet apps available
    Facebook and Twitter feeds are limited on Safe Browsing mode
    OS is limited to Android 2.2

     

    Bottomline:
    Smart’s NetPhone 701 is a good starting point for users new to smartphones, and while still in it’s infancy, the SmartNet ecosystem holds a lot of promise.

     

    Buymeter: 8.6

    TECH SPECS
    • Operating System: Android 2.2 (Froyo)
    • CPU: 600 MHz ARM 11 processor
    • LCD size: 3.5-inch capacitive LCD
    • Physical Dimensions: 116 x 56.5 x 11.8 mm
    • Weight: 110 g
    • Band:  GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 2100

     

     

     

    Less is more – Average Ovi app downloaded 160% more compared to iOS

    Gadgets Team
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    Less is more – Average Ovi app downloaded 160% more compared to iOS
    via BGR

    Both Google and Apple like to parade the number of apps in their respective app stores as a yardstick on how popular their ecosystems are. In reality though, not all of those apps are good – in fact it takes so much effort to sift through the crappy ones to find one good app that most people don’t really bother. It’s no surprise then, that research2guidance, a German market research firm has found that apps made for the niche mobile ecosystems made by the likes of Nokia, Microsoft and BlackBerry have a higher chance of being downloaded compared to iOS and Android. According to their press release, research2guidance said that “the average app has a better chance to generate downloads on “non-hyped” platforms”. Nokia’s Ovi store is the clear winner in this particular study, with their apps being downloaded 160% than apps in Apple’s App Store.

    Source: BGR

    Cloud Computing: What it Is, Etc.

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Cloud Computing: What it Is, Etc.

    There has been some buzz about cloud computing for some time, and while it can benefit businesses the most, perhaps us regular folk can benefit from it too, whether its for our personal use, or in the grander scheme of things.

    We come in contact with the essence of this system everyday, from storing our photos on Facebook and using online currency converters, to uploading videos on YouTube and opening documents on Google Docs. Cloud computing basically refers to system of dedicated servers which provide us a set of services (i.e. applications, storage) online or in the “cloud”. It is touted as effective and more energy efficient because they use both software and hardware that is specifically made for the task.

    The photo above is from an interesting article by Google discussing the environmental benefits of cloud computing. Breaking it down to simpler terms, the company says that “It takes more energy to send a message in a bottle than it does to use Gmail for a year” and that “you’d have to watch YouTube for three straight days…to consume the amount of energy required to manufacture, package and ship a single DVD.”

    However, let’s get the obvious out of the way – without Internet you can’t access your media and data on the cloud, even though it offers a way to access your files anywhere without lugging around a physical storage device. Moreover, online apps such as Google Docs still doesn’t compare to the flexibility and power that word processing programs such as Microsoft Word have, but they can be prove to be very convenient.

    While the cloud does offer us a great way to backup our precious data and personal media, I will personally always have doubts about not having a tangible copy of my files and relying on unseen servers. However, it does have great potential and its eco-friendly benefits is a great advantage. If this system gets developed well, in a few years, we might all just end up in the clouds.

     

    Photo Credits: Net-Security, The Official Google Blog

    Jelly batteries – a safer and more efficient alternative to lithium batteries

    Gadgets Team
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    Jelly batteries – a safer and more efficient alternative to lithium batteries

    You may not realize it, but the battery that powers most of your gadgets are dangerous things. If handled incorrectly, Lithium-ion batteries can be health hazards, and if conditions are right, they even explode and catch fire. Enter a new breed of batteries based on a material that’s more likely to be found in desserts than in batteries. Polymer jelly is now being used to replace the volatile and hazardous liquid electrolyte currently used in most lithium batteries. Developed by researchers from the University of Leeds, these Jelly-based batteries would one day lead to cheaper, lighter and more efficient gadgets and may be the power source of the next generation of electric cars. The researchers claim that the new batteries are as efficient (if not more so) than the current batch of batteries sold today but cost only 10-20% to manufacture when compared to traditional lithium batteries.

    “The polymer gel looks like a solid film, but it actually contains about 70% liquid electrolyte,” explained the study’s lead author, Professor Ian Ward from the University of Leeds. “Safety is of paramount importance in lithium batteries. Conventional lithium batteries use electrolytes based on organic liquids; this is what you see burning in pictures of lithium batteries that catch fire. Replacing liquid electrolytes by a polymer or gel electrolyte should improve safety and lead to an all-solid-state cell,” said Professor Peter Bruce from the University of St Andrews, who was not involved in the study.

    Source: BBC

     

    Get a chance to win a MeeGo powered Asus X101H at the Asus-Intel Sing to Win booth

    Gadgets Team
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    Get a chance to win a MeeGo powered Asus X101H at the Asus-Intel Sing to Win booth

    Fancy yourself a MeeGo powered Asus X101H? Don’t have the cash but have a lovely signing voice? Then you should mosey on over to the various Asus-Intel Sing to Win singing booths to win yourself a brand spanking new Asus X101H by signing your heart out  at different malls in the metro (September 16-18 at Market! Market! Taguig City, September 23-29 at SM Cubao, September 29-October  at SM Fairview).

    Billed by Asus as the world’ s thinnest and lightest netbook, the Asus X101H has a thin 22mm profile that makes it the netbook of choice for mobile users. Using Intel’s MeeGo platform, the X101H makes it easy to stay in touch with your friends through different social networks, including Twitter and Facebook. Still want the X101H and are willing to drop cash on it? No problem – the X101H can be yours for a measly Php 10,995.

    PressReader is Available For BlackBerry Playbook

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    PressReader is Available For BlackBerry Playbook

    If you’ve got a BlackBerry Playbook and are looking for a news app, then you’ll be glad to know that PressReader is now available for BlackBerry Tablet OS.

    You can initially download it for free on BlackBerry App World, and simply pick your preferred individual subscription(s), most of which costs around $0.99 (Php 42). So whether you’re a mobile professional, or just can’t get away from the feel of leafing through paper in this digital realm, then your BlackBerry Playbook needs this app.

    Not sure what PressReader is? You can either visit the official page to find out more, and you can also read our review.

    Synology DSM 3.2 Available for Download

    Gadgets Team
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    Synology DSM 3.2 Available for Download

    If you own one of Synology’s DiskStation x08 series, then you might want to grab Disk Station Manager 3.2, which is available as a free download.

    The new version of the software helps make managing your servers even easier, including an improved user interface for more flexibile multi-tasking, enhanced LDAP services, and with Synology’s Hybrid RAID now able to create volumes 95% faster.

    If you’re using a network for home use, the new Photo Station 5 also has a theme designer, allowing you to separate locations for sharing on the web and those that remain private. Mac users will be glad to know that DSM 3.2 now supports Lion, and its mobile counterpart (DSM mobile) supports iOs and Android, providing a vast array of methods to manage your DiskStations.

    Synology DSM 3.2 is free to download for users who own a DiskStation x08 series and onward.

    For more information, click HERE

    If you already know what’s up and want to download DSM 3.2, click HERE

    Infrared cloaking device hides modern fighting vehicles from enemies

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Infrared cloaking device hides modern fighting vehicles from enemies

    Most modern vehicles today use IR technology to track everything from hostile personnel to rolling armor, especially once the sun sets. Since almost all modern vehicles nowadays exude at least some sort of IR signature, this type of tracking is extremely commonplace and can be found on everything from armored personnel carriers, tanks to unmanned aerial vehicles. To become invisible in today’s battlefield, you don’t have to be invisible to the naked eye – you just need to be invisible to the sensors that employ IR.

    That’s where BAE Systems’ Adaptiv technology comes in. The whole thing works by using hexagonal “pixels” that are about as large as your fist that are cooled or heated depending on what effect the operator wants to achieve. With Adaptiv, you can make a tank look like something else on IR and even make it disappear entirely, which make it ideal for covert operation applications.

    Source: BAE Systems

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