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    First look at the HTC ChaCha

    Gadgets Team
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    First look at the HTC ChaCha

    We’ve finally managed to grab some hands on time with the HTC ChaCha, and we’re pretty impressed at what we’ve seen. We initially had fears that the dedicated Facebook button was a just a gimmick, like a shortcut to the app or something, and we were wrong. Dead wrong. The FB button is central to the entire ChaCha experience, and will definitely make sharing content and keeping up with your friends easier.

    Darren Sng, Senior Director, Asia Product Marketing gave us a few figures that pushed them to create the ChaCha. There’s currently 700 million FB users in the world, 300 million of which access their account through a mobile device.  People who access their FB account through their mobile phones are twice as active, and half of FB users between ages of 15-24 access their accounts before they get out of bed.

    The phone itself is a QWERTY deal, with a dedicated FB button located near the bottom. The FB button is integral to the experience, and throbs slowly when you’re in a place where you can share stuff to your FB account. Depending on the context on the screen, the FB button does a couple of things. On the main menu, pressing the FB button allows you to go directly to a screen that allows you to post directly onto your wall. A long press allows you to use the Facebook check-in at your current location. You can cut down the steps to posting pictures to your account directly from the camera – you just need to press the FB button before taking the picture and the picture goes directly to your wall. You can even share what you’re currently listening to – pressing the FB button while listening to music on the ChaCha will pull track information from the internet and posts what you’re currently listening to.

    We’ve only managed to get a glimpse of the extent of the integration of Facebook in the ChaCha, but from what we’ve seen, it’s pretty substantial. So the only question here is, where do you get the data to power the experience? Well, HTC is partnering with Smart to deliver the Facebook experience to consumers – Luis Ang Jr., Senior Marketing Manager for Broadband Internet and Data Services for Smart was present during the briefing, and he tells us that Smart is coming up with Php 1500 unlimited data plan for the ChaCha. Users can also select the Php 1000 data plan for the ChaCha, though users will have to settle with a 100MB data cap. The ChaCha will be free for both plans. If you want to buy it via retail, you can expect to shell out Php 15,500. We’ll get a more proper review once we get our demo units.

     

     

    Canon is finally exploring the mirrorless system

    Gadgets Team
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    Canon is finally exploring the mirrorless system

    In a surprising turn, Canon has announced that they are now exploring the concept of releasing a mirrorless system.

    Yesterday, Masaya Maeda, head of Canon’s camera division, announced the prospect of a new compact model set to retain the functions and quality of a high-end DSLR. Canon is supposedly “considering the technical aspects”, and will launch “an interesting product next year”. There is no confirmed specifics on whether it will be a mirrorless model, or an extremely compact DSLR, but the company has apparently filed a patent for the former.

    This is surprising news because last March, Rainer Fuehres, head of consumer imaging in Europe, mentioned that Canon had no need to create a mirrorless camera due to their successful DSLR sales.  He also added that if ever Canon were to join the fray, they would try to introduce a revolutionary mirrorless sytem as opposed to simply adding another product to an already saturated market.

    On a personal note, perhaps loyal Canon users would greatly appreciate a mirrorless sytem as well as an SLR-inspired design such as a digital version of the classic Canon AE-1 Program (pictured above), similar to the mod created by Diego Monge?

    I guess we will all simply have to wait for a year to see what Canon’s “interesting product” will be.

     

    Source: Reuters, Amateur Photographer,

    Get productive with Google Chrome

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Get productive with Google Chrome

    Google Insights for Search shows that the Philippines is the top country in terms of ‘gadgets’ searches from 2004 to present.

    According to Google Insights for Search, many working professionals have more than one gadget aside from their desktop to manage their busy lifestyle. This unique interest in technology is likely what makes the country stand out from the world in terms of Web interest for the key word “gadgets.” These gadgets allow people to become productive in all aspects of their lives, from work to home, hence the importance and emergence of cloud computing. This allows information to be accessible anywhere, anytime, and with whatever device. And the primary way to do that effectively is to have a web browser capable of handling rich media.

    Google Chrome, Google’s web browser, was fundamentally designed for the cloud computing experience. No matter what and how many gadgets you’re using, Google Chrome can ensure that you always have access to your content. Here are some ways in which you can boost your productivity, even while on the go, on Google Chrome:

    Sync bookmarks across computers.

    Send links, phone numbers, maps to your phone.

    Print easily using your phone or any computer.

    Store your passwords safely with Chrome.

    Take notes and access on the web and phone.

    Store website references and read them later.

    Make a website feel like part of your computer with application shortcuts.

    Compose and receive messages on your computer.

    View recipes and shopping lists on your phone.

    Call through your browser.

    New use of facial recognition tech tells you the ratio of guys to girls before entering a bar

    Gadgets Team
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    New use of facial recognition tech tells you the ratio of guys to girls before entering a bar

    For guys, there’s nothing more disappointing than going to a bar expecting to meet a member of the fairer sex only to find out that the sausage to melon ratio is skewed against them. Enter SceneTap, a new app that tells guys and ladies the ratio of dudes and babes at a bar they want to visit via facial recognition tech. Here’s how it works: cameras are positioned in the entrance and exit of the bar in question, and the app keeps a running tally of how many guys and girls are currently inside. Sounds simple right? Well, it’s anything but, as installing facial recognition devices and software usually run a gauntlet of privacy concerns whenever they’re implemented. SceneTap CEO Cole Harper stresses that the cameras can only detect gender, and are not refined enough to be able to link a person’s face to their Facebook account or determine how much they’ve had to drink. Harper is pretty confident about SceneTap, saying that “this is going to change the way the bar industry runs.” And the bars agree with him, as currently there’s 200 bars in the US that has signed up for SceneTap. Here’s to hoping something like this rolls down our way – it’ll make life easier for singles to meet new people.

    Via: Forbes

    Source: SceneTap

    TrendLabs cautions Android users on malware

    Gadgets Team
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    TrendLabs cautions Android users on malware

    Trend Micro, a reputable anti-threat developer, warns Android users to be extra vigilant when operating their smartphones, especially when purchasing apps in the Marketplace.

    Since the first recorded Android malware surfaced last year, cybercriminals have been developing and evolving more sophisticated manners of infiltration and infection. In fact, June of this year saw the release of a new malware called DroidDreamLight, a Trojan that attaches itself to genuine applications that have been modified by cybercriminals. These legitimate apps were downloaded from the Marketplace, “Trojanized” and then re-uploaded for unsuspecting users to download.

    120,000 innocent users were victimized by DroidDreamLight, as their smartphone’s information was stolen, which included their International Mobile Subscriber (IMSI) number, International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and much more.

    Mark Balanza, TrendLabs’ Senior Threat Analyst, suggests that this illegally acquired data will be used for “social engineering schemes” to trick users into unwittingly downloading more malicious apps that are capable of stealing additional vital information.

    So what can Android users do? According to Balanza:

    – assign a pattern, PIN or password on your smartphone
    – install a fingerprint lock
    – stay vigilant when downloading from the Android Market
    – do not grant apps any unnecessary access which seems unrelated to its function
    – third-party app stores are advised to be blocked altogether
    – disable Wi-Fi auto connect

     

    Lastly, and most importantly, Android users must consider investing in a security app for their mobile device. Trend Micro’s Mobile Security is made specifically for Android, and can provide the necessary protection and security.

    For more information:

    Trend Micro Mobile Security for Android

    Review: HTC Sensation

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Review: HTC Sensation

    HTC has long been one of the most desirable smartphones brands in the market, and their flagship mobile devices have had a reputation of combining the latest tech in form factors that are prime examples of understated elegance. The Sensation continues this proud tradition, while it’s a bit late to the dual-core smartphone party, it still manages to impress with its solid features and innovations.

    I’m a dude with big hands and usually I don’t complain too much when a 4.3-inch smartphone rolls my way, but I’ve gotten feedback from other people that devices that big feel awkward to hold. It came as a surprise then that people found that the Sensation just right for their hands, especially considering it has the same 4.3-inch screen that they’ve complained about in the past. HTC has managed to shrink the phone’s dimensions without sacrificing the size of the screen by shrinking the bezel around the display, which contributes to the Sensation’s 126.1×65.4×11.3mm frame.

    The Sensation still retains much of the design cues of HTC’s previous efforts, which include unibody construction and shyness from physical keys (save for the volume rocker and power button). The overall design of the Sensation will be familiar to anyone who has ever used a HTC device, yet doesn’t alienate anyone from jumping from other brands. There’s a dual LED flash, 8 megapixel camera on the back with another, smaller front facing camera on the front. Imaging wise, the Sensation is able to take full HD videos (1080p) without issues. The device feels comfortable to hold in the hands, and the rounded corners give you a positive grip without making you uncomfortable.

    Of course, the Sensation has the hardware front covered well – it sports a 1.2 GHz dual-core, Adreno 220 GPU, Qualcomm MSM 8260 Snapdragon processor for number crunching and graphics work. Android 2.3 Gingerbread is the OS of choice here (naturally) topped off with HTC’s Sense overlay. The device is easy to navigate for the most part, and like the HTC Desire S, the Sense overlay gives users a couple of extra features that’s not available on regular Android devices.

    One slightly new addition is the way you unlock the screen – instead of swiping your fingers across the screen, you now have to pull a ring towards the center to unlock it. You can also pull down a widget to go to an app directly. For example, if someone messages you via SMS, you can drag the SMS widget to the ring directly so you can jump directly to it.

    To accurately gauge the performance of the Sensation, we downloaded two benchmarking tools – AnTuTu and Quadrant Standard – to get two different performance viewpoints on the Sensation.

    For AnTuTu, the Sensation managed to bag 4501 points which is pretty good, but was about 1,000 points short of its dual-core contemporaries like the Optimus 2X and the Galaxy S II.

    It scored high marks with Quadrant Standard, scoring 2212 points.

    One issue I had with the Sensation was the mediocre battery life – though I wasn’t expecting much given the amount of power and features on tap, I was still expecting to at least be able to finish a day without being charged. Alas, I was barely able to get through a single day of moderate use before it died on me. Clearly, the Sensation won’t survive long without a trip to the charger.

    Probably the biggest deal breaker for most for the Sensation is the price. HTC pegged the price for the Sensation at Php 31,990, which is a bit more than its primary competitor, the Galaxy S II which retails for Php 29,990.

    Ultimately it all boils down to brand preference. While a bit pricier, the Sensation has a couple of unique features that in my opinion makes the slightly higher price worth it. It may seem formulaic, especially when compared to other devices in the market, but there’s a reason why HTC is sticking to their established formula: it works.

     

    What’s Hot:

    Doesn’t feel as bulky as other 4.3-inch equipped smartphones

    Fast processor, extremely responsive

    Elegant design

     

    What’s Not:

    Mediocre battery life

    Pricey

     

    Bottomline:

    While a bit more expensive than other Android superphones out today, the HTC Sensation brings its fair share of features to the table that warrants a closer look, if not a flat out purchase.

     

    Buymeter: 8.6

     

    TECH SPECS:
    Operating System

    Android 2.3 with HTC Sense 3.0

    CPU

    1.2 GHz dual-core processor, Adreno 220 GPU, Qualcomm MSM 8260 Snapdragon

    LCD size

    4.3 inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 540 x 960 pixels

    Physical Dimensions

    126.1×65.4×11.3mm

    Weight

    148 g

    Band

    GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 2100

    KitchenAid brings you a condo-friendly dishwasher

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    KitchenAid brings you a condo-friendly dishwasher

    Just because you can’t afford a spacious kitchen stadium, doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to maximize your space to avoid kitchen clutter. For those young urbanites who are also mostly condo/apartment dwellers, the kitchen is usually the part most sacrificed to make room for the more important living spaces in compact-sized homes. But with the KitchenAid Briva Dishwasher, you’re at least sure that all of your dishes don’t pile up into an awful mess and you’re saved of time, space, and perhaps even cockroaches.

     

    Some features include:

    FlashDry(R) technology: the lid automatically pops open at the end of the cycle, allowing steam to escape to facilitate fast, efficient drying.

    Provides overflow capacity to hold large service pieces or pots and pans.

    Features an extra-large silverware basket.

    Requires up to 50% less water than full-sized dishwashers.

    Can easily accommodate up to five place settings, including dinner plates up to 11 inches.

    Depth 22 in. Height 21 in. Width 34 1/2 in.

     

    Source: Trendhunter

    Hands on with Google+

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Hands on with Google+

    Google’s initial attempts at the social networking game weren’t what you’d call a stellar success, which pales in comparison to the tech giant’s other accomplishments in the world of mobile and search. Still, they keep on trying, and in spite of the underwhelming performance and privacy issues with Buzz, Google’s going full speed ahead into social networking via Google+. Will they score it big this time?

    Google+ is Google’s newest stab into social networking. One of main appeals of + to longtime social network users is its innate understanding of complex, real-life relationships – you have different sets of friends (work, gym, etc.) and sometimes you want to share tidbits about your life you’re not comfortable sharing with friends from work. Google+ Circles allows you to mix both of your real friends with acquaintances from work and business without worrying about your worlds colliding.

    The main dashboard of Google+ closely resembles Facebook’s, with a main feed viewer in the middle for all the updates. You can filter the streams via your circles by selecting it on the left side, while the right side of the dash shows you the people in your circles, friend suggestions, and a button that initiates the hangout feature.

    Which segues nicely into the next standout feature of Google+ – Hangouts. Hangouts allow you and your friends to have a video chat when the mood strikes you, and while there are multiple clients and programs that allowed you to do this before, the convenience of having it paired up with your social network provides a convenient portal to do it from. Another nice feature of Hangouts is that it allows co-viewing of content, like a YouTube video, for example. Now you don’t have to imagine your friends’ bewildered reaction to being linked to Nyancat or any other pointless meme that you come across – you can see the annoyance in their face in real time.

    And since + is just one of the many other services Google has, they’re able to integrate + into Google search, mail, calendar, docs and YouTube – as long it’s Google, it’s on there. And to be perfectly honest, aside from the privacy concerns with Buzz that were quickly rectified, Google has a better track record when it comes to privacy and content when compared to Facebook.

    Finally, Google has managed to learn from its mistakes with Buzz, and has made Google+ the hottest nightclub in the social space. Instead of making everyone with a Google account a member (like what happened with Buzz), you now have to be invited by someone who has a Google+ account before you can get in. Google says this is because + is at a limited trial period for now, but it makes perfect marketing sense – make something exclusive (or have it put an air of exclusivity) and people will line up to have a taste. Facebook better watch out – Google’s out to win this time around.

     

    FabFi makes DIY hi-speed internet possible

    Gadgets Team
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    5
    FabFi makes DIY hi-speed internet possible

    Its hard to believe but there are still places in the world without access to basic broadband services. War-torn and poverty stricken countries don’t have the infrastructure in place to enjoy the broadband speeds that we enjoy. Enter FabFi, an open source project that allows hi-speed networks to be made from commercial routers and about $60 worth of materials. Here’s how it works: a commercial router is mounted on a home-made RF reflector with an identical one setup a distance away. The two routers then establish an ad-hoc network that anyone with similar reflectors can access.

    The reflectors that people use to access the network can be built from a variety of materials, including wood, stone, clay – basically any local material that the metallic mesh can be attached to. The device can also run on car batteries so power interruptions can be kept at a minimum. The system is already providing internet to a large portion of Jalalabad in Afghanistan and three other sites in Kenya. Just think of the possibilities of this kind of system if implemented in far flung provinces in the country, especially in rural areas that desperately need internet access to improve the quality of their lives.

    Via: Fast Company

    Source: FabFi

    Samsung’s Galaxy S2 sets a record of 3 million sold in 55 days

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Samsung’s Galaxy S2 sets a record of 3 million sold in 55 days

    Samsung’s gotta mighty pleased with itself, as the Korean powerhouse has managed to sell 3 million of it’s current flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S2, in just 55 days. This works out to about a unit sold per 1.5 seconds – to say that the S2 is selling briskly is a massive understatement. The original Galaxy only managed to sell 3 million units after 85 days, and managed to nab 10 million sales a few months later. It’s probably safe to say that the Galaxy S2 is poised to overtake that particular record.

    Via: Engadget

    Source: Samsung Tomorrow

    Will Facebook have Skype-powered video chat soon?

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Will Facebook have Skype-powered video chat soon?

     

    Last week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg leaked to press in the United States that a new “awesome” feature would be added to the popular social networking site. Following up on that announcement, a mysterious invitation was sent to press in the United States today only with the words “Please join us for an event at Facebook”.

    Rumors have been circulating that this might be the official announcement of a Skype-powered video chat service that will appear on Facebook. It will supposedly work within the web browser itself, but there is no confirmation whether users will need to download new software or if having Skype already installed will suffice.

    While adding video capabilities to a social networking site seems to be the logical step to expand its methods of communication, there are certain implications to ponder. Is video chat an essential add-on to Facebook, and will it affect the site’s performance in any way? Another point in question is if Facebook will be able to implement some form of “censorship”, or a NSFW disclaimer?

    The press event is set to occur this week, July 6, so we should expect updates by then.

     

    Source: TechCrunch

    ARM predicts chips that will be on par with the XBOX 360 and PS3 in 18 months

    Gadgets Team
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    ARM predicts chips that will be on par with the XBOX 360 and PS3 in 18 months

    If you’re using a smartphone, chances are it’s using a chip that’s based on an ARM architecture, and if chip manufacturer ARM is to be believed, the chips they’ll be pushing out in 18 months time will be able to power smartphones that have the same computational power as a XBOX 360 or PS3 console. The chip manufacturer is hedging their bets on their upcoming Mali GPU, which takes after rival AMD’s philosophy of combining both the CPU and GPU into one chip. In an article published in the Inquirer, ARM said that in order to make this happen it needs to “put huge amounts of computational power in the hands of developers”. Of course, that sort of power output presents its own set of problems, including efficient power and thermal management, something that the chip manufacturer is working feverishly to produce.

    Source: The Inquirer

    Review: Alice: Madness Returns

    Gadgets Team
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    Review: Alice: Madness Returns

     

    Looking at the title it may seem that Alice: Madness Returns is a game fit for children – after all, who doesn’t remember the story of Alice who chased after a white rabbit only to find herself in Wonderland. But American McGee’s version of Alice is very different – here Alice is a destitute wreck, plagued by the machinations of her mind that’s tearing up her psyche and in turn, Wonderland. The game follows her struggle to reclaim the glory of Wonderland and her quest to find out the truth about the events that managed to land her a padded cell in the Rutledge asylum.

    The game is set in a twisted version of Wonderland, where towering spires of teakettles and cups loom over desolate factories where dodos are put to work in grotesque hamster wheels. Each level in Wonderland takes you to different locales that have matching enemies, themes and costumes for Alice. Everything is a twisted, caricatured version of the environs depicted in Lewis Carroll’s book and the art direction pulls off the feel beautifully.

    After each level, Alice is transported back into Victorian London, where the damp, depressing grey of the city provides a stark contrast to the colorful and twisted world of Wonderland.

    Stripping away all of the colorful art and levels, you’ll see that Alice: Madness Returns is a traditional platformer at heart. There are traditional platforming elements with switches that need to be thrown and floating islands that need to be navigated. Alice has the ability to shrink herself to gain access to secret levels and other places, and there are steam vents (and their equivalents) on levels that help you access hard to reach places. The platforming sections aren’t what you’d call inspired, and it gets tiring after awhile, especially after jumping on another steam vent for the umpteenth time.

    Alice has access to four weapons – the Vorpal blade, which in this case is a wicked large kitchen knife, the Gatling-gun like pepper grinder, the clockwork bomb and the hobby horse. Each weapon is useful against a certain type of enemy (the Vorpal blade makes quick work of weak enemies while the hobby horse is used against heavy hitters) and has their use outside of combat.

    Combat is pretty straightforward, and the game allows you to lock on a particular enemy when dishing out melee attacks by pushing capslock, and you can switch targets by pressing tab when you start getting mobbed. Sometimes the target cycling is weird, especially when you’re trying to tag the biggest threat first. Weapons can be upgraded depending on your playstyle with in-game currency, namely teeth.

    There are also mini-games thrown in to break up the monotony of pure platforming, including one where you stomp around as a giant in castle squishing everything in your way. Some of the mini-games are a bit annoying though, like the one where you’re required to complete a certain puzzle in a limited amount of moves but thankfully, you have the option of skipping it if you chose.

    The visuals are pretty good, especially with a top of the line gaming rig – Alice’s hair floats and gets caught up in the wind convincingly; especially dark and gloomy levels like when you go inside a tomb underwater are exquisitely rendered complete with floating debris.

    The game does suffer from some inconsistent voice work; there were times where the character’s delivery was spot on in one segment, and unbelievably boring in another. Overlapping dialogue is also a bit of a problem in some of the sections of the game.

    Overall, Alice: Madness Returns is a great game for someone who is looking for a different gaming experience, especially when you’ve grown tired from flood of FPS games. It has its faults, but it doesn’t fail to deliver.

     

    More attacks on Philippine government websites possible, says Kaspersky Lab

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    More attacks on Philippine government websites possible, says Kaspersky Lab

    If you’ve seen the movie “Hackers” (remember “Crash Override” and “Acid Burn” – that movie where Angelina Jolie met her first husband), you know that hacking is not something to take lightly. And in this day and age where most of our information (personal and professional) is stored online, hackers are having a field day scheming up ways to use all of this information against us. And who more to protect than our own government, as is with all matters of “national security.”

    Costin Raiu, Kaspersky Lab Global Research and Analysis Team Director, says the government must put in place their own defense strategies against attacks on government websites. They must also conduct security audits of their servers as soon as possible to identify potential vulnerabilities. “First of all, it’s important to have an anti-DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) plan – be it from increasing the internet bandwidth to purchasing a specific anti-DDoS service plan,” Raiu says. “Given the past incidents of this kind, it is expected that the attack will consist of a DDoS flood designed to bring down the server and make it unreachable. It’s possible the confidential information will be sought after, so the defense strategies would be multiple,” Raiu warns.

    According to the Kaspersky expert, even with the best ways to protect websites, there could still be attacks that might get through. As such, Raiu says governments must have contingency plans in place to ensure continued operations of the websites.

     

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