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    Hands on: Archos 101 Tablet

    Gadgets Team
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    Hands on: Archos 101 Tablet

    While there certainly is no shortage of choice when it comes to tablets, the price of some models are way out of the reach of the practical consumer. Like it or not, price will always be major factor when it comes to purchase decisions for a majority of consumers, which is something that tablet manufacturer Archos wants to exploit. The Archos 101 isn’t the fastest nor the best looking of the bunch, but it’s capable of fulfilling most of the functions a tablet performs and for a lot of people, that’s what counts.

    Like we said, the Archos 101 isn’t the fastest tablet in block – it has a single core 1.0GHz ARM processor with 16GB of internal memory and sports a 10.1-inch capacitive screen capable of 1024×600 pixel resolution. You can connect to the internet via the built-in WiFi, and it’s able to accept USB sticks through the USB Slave/USB Host connection on the device.

    It’s able to handle a wide range of multimedia formats, and is fully capable of playing back 720p content. It’s pretty light, and only tips the scales at 480 g. Sadly, it’s only powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo) but to be honest, I don’t think that’s a big issue anymore. Sure, you miss out on excellent user experience that Honeycomb puts out but the tradeoff is that you get access to a bigger app library. Hopefully the Archos 101 will be able to take the Ice Cream Sandwich update when it’s ready.

    There’s a deploy-able stand on the back that allows the Archos 101 to tilt all the way down and any position in between, allowing you to watch your content and type on the device comfortably.

    As we mentioned earlier, the Archos 101 is a device that’s aimed for the practical consumer. It doesn’t have the fastest processor or the latest OS, but with a sticker price of Php 15,999, it’s hard to ignore.

     

    Lenovo announces $199 IdeaPad A1 tablet, rocks tablet pricing to the core

    Gadgets Team
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    Lenovo announces $199 IdeaPad A1 tablet, rocks tablet pricing to the core

    Looks like Lenovo’s doing some major arm flexing at IFA. The company has just announced their IdeaPad A1 tablet at a price point many won’t be able to resist – $199 (about Php 8500), undercutting many of its competitors by at least half. The diminutive tablet is understandably not the fastest or the biggest of the bunch as it only packs a 7-inch 1024×600 IPS touchscreen display, 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, 3MP rear camera but it’s undeniably hard to resist at that price point. It will initially launch with Gingerbread on board, but with Ice Cream Sandwich coming soon (which promises to merge both smartphone and tablet UI into one coherent experience) that complaint is a minor one.

    Source: Geek

     

    Apps that help maintain our national pride

    Gadgets Team
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    Apps that help maintain our national pride

    Everyone might have enjoyed all the long weekends August had to offer but let’s not forget why those extra holidays were important as it allows us to relive our national pride (if not everyday). And even though many Filipinos look up to today’s personalities who carry the national flag, such as Manny Pacquiao, the Philippine Azkals, and the Philippine Dragon Boat team, among others, we should also look back to their cultural and historical roots by searching for our national heroes in Google.com.ph. Below are the top five most-searched national heroes in 2010, according to Google:

    1. Andres Bonifacio
    2. Emilio Aguinaldo
    3. Jose Rizal
    4. Emilio Jacinto
    5. Juan Luna

    Pinoy pride can also be seen in the applications that local developers have made available in the global marketplace of Android and Chrome.

    Android apps

    • Ang Mahiwagang Kamiseta Lite:The first Filipino storybook app, “Ang Mahiwagang Kamiseta” relates the story of Juancho and his magical shirt, which makes him popular to everyone he encounters. The storybook app is based on the storybook of the same title.
    • KKB: This Android app helps the Pinoy group in going dutch – which is termed as “KKB” or “kanya-kanyang bayad” in Filipino. The app splits the bill effectively and even adds individuals to groups, adding a personal touch to each bill split.
    • Pinoy Radio: Music is embedded in the Filipino culture and this app, Pinoy Radio, can help Pinoys to listen to Filipino AM and FM radio stations from anywhere in the globe.
    • True Filipino Theme: Show your nationalism with your Android phone theme by integrating icons designed with the national flag.
    • Learn Filipino Free Wordpower: This Android app allows the user to learn Filipino in their own pace, even including the audio version of the words.

     

    Chrome themes/extension


    • Rizal theme: Show your appreciation for the national hero with the Rizal theme by Team Manila for Google Chrome.
    • Makiling by Arnold Arre: Appreciate Filipino artists by making this art of Mount Makiling by well-known graphic novel artist Arnold Arre as your Google Chrome theme.
    • Chikka: The Philippines is the text messaging capital of the world and this Chikka Chrome extension can feed the nation’s love for texting.

    Samsung introduces the NX200

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung introduces the NX200

    Say hello to the newest member of Samsung’s NX series, the NX200, which features a 20.3 -megapixel APS-C sensor housed within a “Retro Modern” body.

    Samsung’s latest interchangeable lens mirrorless system certainly looks the part, and taking a glance at its specifications could make this one of the company’s most desired cameras to date. It has the ability to record 1080p HD video at 30fps, has an ISO of 100-12800 and can shoot at a staggering 7fps in burst/continuous shot mode.

    While I would have liked to see Sammy add a viewfinder to the NX200, they did keep the brilliant 3-inch 614k AMOLED display. There is no built-in flash. Purchasing the NX200 kit however includes a hotshoe flash, as well as the 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 OIS i-Function lens.

    The Samsung NX200 kit (lens + flash) has a reported retail price of $900 (Php 38,454).

    Et tu, Microsoft? Microsoft being sued for collecting location data without consent

    Gadgets Team
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    Et tu, Microsoft? Microsoft being sued for collecting location data without consent

    Apple has been the public whipping boy for location concerns a few months ago, but it seems that even Microsoft is guilty of the same thing. A class action lawsuit filed against the software giant in Seattle alleges that their mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7, collects users location data even after you opt out or say no. The piece of code (pictured above) was found by Samy Kamkar in the camera’s application. Once you fire it up, it users if they want to allow the app to use their location. Kamkar found out that even if you say no, the device still proceeds to gather location information anyway.

    “The Windows Mobile operating system is clearly sending information that can lead to accurate location information of the mobile device regardless of whether the user allowed it,” said Kamkar. Kamkar started poking around the code at the behest of Seattle-based law firm Tousley Brain Stephens, which filed the suit saying, “Microsoft surreptitiously forces even unwilling users into its non-stop geo-tracking program in the interest of developing its digital marketing grid.”

    If the allegations do turn out to be true, then Microsoft is in a perilous position – during the heady days of Apple’s locationgate scandal, the firm sent a letter to congress saying that Windows Phone 7 will not store any location data unless a user has “expressly allowed an application to collect” it.

    Source: CNET, Tech Crunch

    HTC drops Mango equipped Titan and Radar

    Gadgets Team
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    HTC drops Mango equipped Titan and Radar
    Pictures via Engadget

    HTC’s Windows Phone 7 offerings have been slim pickings, and aside from the three devices unveiled when the OS launched last year (Trophy, HD7 and Mozart) the company has more or less concentrated on strengthening their Android lineup. So it came as a bit of a surprise to see Engadget handling two newly announced Mango equipped HTC devices – the Titan and Radar – being handled on their site. The HTC Titan definitely lived up to its name – it sports an absolutely huge 4.7-inch SLCD display, 1.5GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 16GB of flash storage. The Radar meanwhile packs a smaller 3.8-inch screen, 1GHz processor and 8GB of storage and is probably aimed at the mid-market sensibilities. The crew at Engadget says that the new devices will be made available (in the States, we suppose) come October, while the rest of HTC’s Phone 7 lineup will be Mango-fied in September. Check out the link for more images.

    Source: Engadget

    Panasonic Releases World’s First Digital Interchangeable Power Zoom Lens

    Gadgets Team
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    Panasonic Releases World’s First Digital Interchangeable Power Zoom Lens

    For those of you that have read my Panasonic Lumix GF3 review, you’ll be ecstatic to know that a new lens has been announced by the company, and will be made as an alternate kit lens option for the GF3X micro four-thirds camera.

    Meet the brilliant LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm POWER O.I.S., which has an aperture of f3.5-5.6, touted as the world’s first digital interchangeable power zoom lens. Now don’t be fooled by this product’s mouthful of a name, for it’s physical size is more of a nibble than a bite.

    It has an electric-powered retractable zoom, and measures 26.8mm in length and weighs around 94 grams. According to Panasonic, the Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm is capable of extremely quick AF speeds at around 1/10 of a second. There are now individual zoom and focus switches on the lens barrel as well, which are much awaited additions to their lenses, and should make shooting much easier.

    With the official release date at October 2011, the Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm is reported at a suggested retail price of $399.99 (approx. Php 17,090), and is compatible with any Lumix G series camera.

     

    Review: Samsung SyncMaster TA350

    Gadgets Team
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    Review: Samsung SyncMaster TA350
    Monitors, especially big ones, usually pulls double duty as TV screens for tech-savvy users. PCI TV tuners are inexpensive, and are easily obtainable through various resellers in the country. So it’s only fitting then that Samsung releases a monitor that’s able to do that out of the box while delivering excellent color reproduction and performance.
    The 24-inch, LED TA350 looks good, but is a tad too generic looking for my tastes. All the standard Samsung styling cues is present – rounded corners, crystal-like bezel edges, touch-sensitive controls on the front. It’s not the thinnest monitor around mind you (having an overall depth of about 33mm without the stand), but it’s not a chunky monkey either. The TA350 has done away with the gigantic powerbrick, which to be honest is one of my pet peeves when it comes to monitors, and instead connects directly to the socket with a single wire.
    There’s a variety of connectors on the back of the device, which include both digital connections (HDMI) and analog ones (D-sub, Composite, RF, etc.).
    The TA350 includes a nice, big remote to help you navigate TV channels when you’re not using it as a monitor.
    It’s a decent TV tuner too, and managed to grab most of the cable channels I enjoyed from my local cable provider. There wasn’t much noise in the signal, and the TA350 did a good job overall with what it was presented with.
    As with most modern TVs nowadays, it’s able to accept USB sticks that have music, photo or videos in them and is able to play them without being attached to a PC. It’s also able to be mounted on a wall using standard VESA mounting solutions. Another nice feature is the picture-in-picture (PIP) system that works even if you’re using the TA350 as a monitor.
    Resolution-wise, the TA350 is able to go as high as 1080p (1920×1080), which is a bit disappointing, since my older Acer monitor is able to go as high as 1920×1200. Still it’s not a deal-breaker for me, and it’s safe to assume that it’s not going to be a problem with prospective buyers.
    Once you have everything hooked up, you’ll begin to appreciate how good the picture quality is. The colors are nice and crisp, and the blacks are well defined. I plugged in my 1080p copy of Inception and my jaw dropped, literally, from the amazing picture quality that this little 24-inch monitor put out.
    It was a similar story once I got my gaming groove on. Using an HDMI connection from my PC, I was happily fragging my friends online on max graphical settings without ghosting or video latency. Sure I couldn’t go up to 1920×1200 because of the 1080p resolution limit, but it was a minor thing. Point is, the TA350 was able to keep up, and that’s all that matters.
    The only issue I had with the device was that it made me go through a lot of hoops before I was able to use it with my PC properly using HDMI. The first time I plugged it in, it had very poor resolution and my desktop didn’t even fit in the screen properly even when I set the resolution down to (an inferior) 1680 x 1050. It turned out that you first had to go Source, then rename the HDMI selection to PC before it would display properly. After I did that, everything was hunky-dory. But here’s the thing – there was no mention of this particular process in the manual, and I had to root around in different forums before I found a fix for it. It was extremely annoying, to say the least.
    As it stands, the SyncMaster TA350 is an excellent monitor/TV – once you get it configured properly, that is.
    What’s Hot:
    Excellent picture quality
    PIP
    Takes standard VESA mounting solutions
    Can play content without a PC plugged in
    What’s Not:
    Makes you go through hoops before you’re able to use a PC HDMI connection on it.
    Bottomline:
    The SyncMaster TA350 is a good monitor and a good TV, provided you’re able to configure it correctly.
    Buymeter: 8.5

    Facebook Music Service Coming Soon?

    Gadgets Team
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    Facebook Music Service Coming Soon?

     

     

    A few months ago, we caught wind of a Facebook and Spotify tie-up which might turn out to be true and may involve other third-party providers.

    There are now rumors floating about that Facebook will launch a music service this month (September 2011), but instead of providing an actual marketplace for users to purchase songs, the social networking site will serve as a venue for third-party vendors (i.e. Spotify, Pandora, MOG, etc.) to provide users access to their services.

    The same sharing and tracking capabilities are still rumored to be true – you will most likely be able to let your friends know what song you are currently listening to and vice versa. If this does push through, Facebook is expected to announce it on f8 conference on September 22.

     

    Source: CNBC

    Apple loses another iPhone prototype, scrambles to search for it in the wild

    Gadgets Team
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    Apple loses another iPhone prototype, scrambles to search for it in the wild

    Seems like Apple is making a habit of losing prototype devices before they’re launched. According to a report in CNET, the electronics giant has lost another unreleased iPhone model in a bar, mirroring the loss of the iPhone 4 prototype last year that caused a lot of headaches for Apple and media network Gawker when one of their blogs bought the errant device for about $5000. The latest iPhone prototype was lost in a Mexican restaurant and bar back in July, and according to the report, may have been sold on Craigslist for a measly $200 bucks. Judging from the price it went for, there may be a chance that the person who took the device might not even know that it’s an unreleased prototype – the device lost last year was encased in a body of an iPhone 3GS, so it stands to reason that this latest prototype might be similarly encased in a body of an iPhone 4.

    Apple is notoriously protective when it comes to their prototypes, and after last year’s fiasco, they’ve upgraded their security when it comes to testing and lending unreleased products to their partners and the different carriers. Apple did manage to electronically track the prototype to a two-floor, single-family home in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood according to CNET, but so far has failed to locate the device. Here’s an idea Apple, maybe you guys shouldn’t allow your employees to go out drinking with unreleased devices?

    Source: CNET

    Apple store that takes you “Beyond the Box”

    Gadgets Team
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    Apple store that takes you “Beyond the Box”

    Owners Of Beyond the Box Charles and Ana Paw, Tessa Prieto Valdes, Kelly Misa, PR Partner Toni Abad, Division Head Gerald Senolos, and Marketing Officer Linus Paterno

    …..

    Experience Apple’s innovative products and solutions at Beyond the Box, a new Apple Premium Reseller store at the Newport Mall, Resorts World. The new store offers a complete range of Macbook Pro, iMac, Macbook Air, Mac mini, Mac Pro, iPad, iPod, iPhone along with a wide range of accessories

    At the grand launch held last August 26, the event showcased not only Apple products but also offered service and advice from experts for both consumer and professional customers as well as regular in-store demonstrations and training to help customers get the most out of their purchases.

    “We’re very excited to open a new Apple Premium Reseller store,” said Gerald C. Senolos, General Manager for Sales, Marketing and Services of Beyond the Box. “Customers can now visit one store to try and purchase the full range of Apple products and accessories.  We offer amazing personal service for home and business users that includes installation and training.”

    The event was hosted by Lifestyle Channel’s VJ Janeena Chan and Philmug chairman Elbert Cuenca and entertainment was provided by a band that uses the “Cajon” which is a box of wood with strings inside as an instrument. Guests won instant prizes such as headphones, hard drives, USB thumb drives and many more while the food was catered by CafféFirenzo.

     

    Beyond the Box

    3rd floor shop 6, Resorts World Manila, Andrews Ave. Newport Mall, Pasay City 1309

    Tel. no.: 846-2390

    Email: www.beyondthebox.ph

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondthebox.ph

    Twitter: beyondtheboxRP

    Razer outs Blackwidow Stealth Edition mechanical keyboard

    Gadgets Team
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    Razer outs Blackwidow Stealth Edition mechanical keyboard

    We love mechanical keyboards. The tactile feedback that mechanical keys give you is just something that feels natural, especially to old hands in the computing world. Not everyone likes the noise they make though – the clickety-clack noise that they make is annoying enough to warrant a new version of the keyboard. The Blackwidow Stealth Edition has all the same features of the previous version without the obnoxious noise – 45g actuation force, extreme anti-ghosting tech, 1000Hz Ultrapolling/1ms response time, programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording and individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting. Like most of Razer’s recent offerings, this little gem will be initially be available in the company’s own store, with a price tag of $139.99.

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

    Download and Print Lens Hoods for Free

    Gadgets Team
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    Download and Print Lens Hoods for Free

     

    The lens hood is a highly valued accessory because it helps reduce the flares produced by the sun or other bright light sources. The only problem is that not only do they shade your lens, but they create a shade in your wallet as well.

    For those of us on a budget, Lenshoods.co.uk offers FREE lens hoods, with a variety of manufacturers and lens sizes available. Most of the popular optics and brands are all covered, and you can request the site to create one for you if it’s not listed. The photo above is a sample of the diagram for an A4 Petal hood for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II.

    How does it work? You simply download the PDF file, print the diagram, cut and assemble the lens hood and connect it to your camera. You might want to print it on rigid material such as cardboard, and you may also want to secure it with some tape. Nevertheless, you get a lens hood that is portable, and best of all, free. It might not be the real thing, but it’s both nifty and thrifty.

     

    For DSLRs and 35mm SLRs, visit Lenshoods.co.uk

    For DSLRs with 1.5x and 1.6x crop sensors, go to Lenshoods.net

    Smart’s changing the game with their Netphone 701

    Gadgets Team
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    Smart’s changing the game with their Netphone 701
    While smartphones are amazing machines on their own right, the smart in its name is usually taken out of the equation when you try to use them without data. Mobile data is what makes the smartphone world go round, whether you’re a minion of the fruity one or a passionate supporter of the green droid, your smartphone isn’t much use if it doesn’t have a good data plan attached to it. Here’s the thing though: while always-on internet plans are available for both networks, few people avail of them because of the costs involved. Filipinos are notoriously price sensitive, and would rather pay for data that they use. While tech-savvy users know that mobile data is the oil that makes smartphones go, paying for data is usually an insurmountable wall that masses can’t get over.
    Enter Smart’s Netphone, a game changing device that brings the smartphone experience to the masses. As far as smartphone specs go, it’s not ground breaking – 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600MHz processor on board, 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash. What makes the Netphone stand out from the slew of other similarly specced devices out there is through SmartNet, an app portal created by Smart that allows users to access the net for free. And when we say free, we mean without consuming a single cent.

    Remember when we talked about mobile data, or specifically, paying for data is an insurmountable wall that the masses can’t get over? Well, the Netphone 701 has a patented “Safe Browse” feature – which is a button you can press that stops all net traffic from third-party applications from going out. Smart-branded apps meanwhile, will still go through and grab data from the net, but without consuming a single cent. Initially the apps that will be available will be the Smart’s own social aggregator Social Stream and the Netphone messenger (think a multi-client messenger) but that’s set to grow exponentially in time. Smart also gave us a little demo of a Jollibee app that would allow you to order online and though the app was incomplete during launch, it showed the enormous potential of the device.

    Another nice thing about the NetPhone is that it’s basically a cloud smartphone – all your contacts, media, apps, and SMS are backed up in a central server somewhere, and if you lose it and get a new one, you can just grab your data from the server and you’re back online.

    So the big question is how does Smart make money out of this? Well, aside from the obvious (postpaid plans and prepaid use) we think that a big chunk of their profit will come from devs and app creators – think about it. Being put in the whitelist of apps that’s able to access the internet is huge, as you can bet a large part of the Netphone install base would keep that Safe Browse feature on most of the time.

    And Smart’s plan for SmartNet doesn’t stop with the Netphone 701. Smart execs hinted that we would see SmartNet being available on the Android market “soon”, with a version of the app for other OSes in the works (including one for the PC).

    The Netphone 701 will be available for Php 9,990 for prepaid users. For postpaid users, they’ll be able to pick up the device for free at plan 1200. To know more about the device and other postpaid plans, you can go to www.smart.com.ph/netphone.

    VMV VH-Rating system validates hypoallergenic claims

    Gadgets Team
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    VMV VH-Rating system validates hypoallergenic claims

    For a lot of women, anything that says “hypoallergenic” and “dermatologist-tested” is immediately a good thing and you’re sure you won’t break into some sort of rash or turn orange after using it.  But apparently, there’s no real way for any of us to truly validate this. Luckily, VMV Hypoallergenics has its own VH-Rating System (its study recently published in the March/April 2011 issue of Dermatitis, the journal of the American Contact Dermatitis Society)  so if you’re not sure about anything, you can be sure that VMV’s products won’t just say “skin-safe,” it’ll mean it. And the best part? It’s a proudly Pinoy brand.

    Now one of their latest products for the sunkissed, tropical Filipina is the Tarte-à-Tan which is an antioxidant bronzing “Coco” Powder. Made with USDA-certified organic virgin coconut oil, it also has reparative antioxidants like green tea and rice phytic acid, plus coconut-derived monolaurin for anti-acne disinfection while making your skin softer and moisturized. The Tarte-à-Tan is priced at Php 1,490. So don’t be afraid to step away from your computer and get a little sun.

     

    Source: VMV

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