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    Get eye surgery without going “under the knife”

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Get eye surgery without going “under the knife”

    For someone who’s been wearing glasses since she was in 4th grade, I’ve always been interested in what the LASIK procedure could do to cure my worsening near-sightedness. Of course, after watching a demonstration on youtube where a blade scrapes off a bit of cornea, I became discouraged and just downright scared. But as I witnessed earlier today, any anxiety with blades going anywhere near your eye will soon vanish once you see the latest technology offered by AEC.

    American Eye Center unveiled the most advanced technology for the treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism―all Laser or bladeless LASIK surgery via the WaveLight Refractive Suite.

    The first of its kind in the Philippines, this new equipment is very much in demand in all premier eye centers around the world. Its acquisition by American Eye Center reinforces the latter’s commitment to be at par with global standards of quality and excellence in ophthalmic laser treatment.

    The WaveLight Refractive Suite is known as the world’s fastest refractive platform. It combines two of the most advanced lasers currently available for performing LASIK surgery—the  WaveLight EX500, a 500 Hz repetition excimer laser; and the WaveLight FS200, a 200 kHz Femtosecond laser.

    The FS200 femtosecond laser is impressive because of its speed and ability to make the flap that is needed for LASIK surgery. There is no need for blades. The surgeon is given the freedom of choice with regard to diameter, shape, thickness, depth, angle and location of the flap according to the individual needs of the patient. Integrating seamlessly with the FS200 is the EX500, the fastest excimer laser in the market operating at 1.4 seconds per diopter of treatment. It can perform a wide range of customized treatments.

    A very distinct advantage of this system over other available systems is that the Excimer laser is networked with the Femtosecond laser. With this system, All Laser LASIK becomes very convenient for the patient. The entire procedure is done in less than 20 minutes and costs about Php 77,000 for both eyes.

    The WaveLight Refractive Suite brings an unprecedented level of safety and precision, allowing surgeons to provide consistently excellent refractive and visual results when performing laser vision correction.

    Sony Launches 1st Walkman Android phone with GLEE promo

    Gadgets Team
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    4
    Sony Launches 1st Walkman Android phone with GLEE promo

    QUEZON CITY  – Sony Ericsson today launched the first Walkman Android phone, the Sony Ericsson W8 Walkman, at Johnny Rockets’  Tomas Morato branch.

    The W8 Walkman is a gorgeous mobile phone, featuring a brilliant 3-inch full touch screen (320×420 resolution). It runs on Android Gingerbread 2.1 2.3,  has a 600GHz Snapdragon processor and utilizes Sony Ericsson’s Timescape user interface.

    One of it’s unique features is the 4 customizable homescreen corners, which provide quick access to your preferred applications, which you can see on the photo above. The phone is also equipped with 3G and WiFi, allowing you to access the multitude of apps that can be availed of in the Android Market.

    It has a 3.2 megapixel camera and comes with a 4GB microSD card (expandable). It also features a 3.5mm jack which guarantees premium audio output that Sony Walkman’s are known for.

    Furthermore, if you’re an avid GLEE fan and are interested in grabbing the sleek and feature rich Sony Ericsson W8 Walkman, it will come with a featured song from the hit TV series.

    In addition to the W8 promo, Sony Ericsson is also holding an online GLEE music video contest on Facebook, spanning from July 26 until September 30, 2011. All you have to do is take a video of yourself covering any song from the GLEE: The Music soundtrack albums, and submit it for entry. The winners will have an opportunity to win the W8 Walman, GLEE t-shirts and a Boracay package for two from South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and Boracay Garden Resort.

    For more details on the contest, visit Sony Ericsson PH on Facebook.

     

    Sony Ericsson W8 Walkman SRP: Php 7,990.00

    08/25/2011:
    Correction/Update:
    The Sony Ericsson W8 Walkman is running Android Gingerbread 2.3 and not 2.1 as previously stated on this blog post, and in our August print issue . We would like to offer our sincere apology to Sony-Ericsson for the mistake, and we have now updated the information accordingly.

     

    Event outtakes:

     

     

    4ThirdsImages.com – a site for the MFT fanatic

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    4ThirdsImages.com – a site for the MFT fanatic

    If you’re an avid micro four-thirds fan, then you might want to register at 4THIRDSIMAGES.com

    Signing up is free to this online database, which caters exclusively to photos that have been shot with 4/3, Micro 4/3 or APSC cameras. What makes this site unique is the ability to search for images captured with a certain lens and those who register can also indicate this specific info when uploading their photos for sharing.

    As you can see in the screenshot below, there are various search options.

     

    Once registered, users have a number of features they can avail of at 4THIRDSIMAGES.com, such as being able to keep track of photos, searching by EXIF data, creating lists of personally owned lenses, etc. When browsing the photo database, users also have the option of changing the site’s color theme.

    It’s still a relatively new site, so expect the database to be somewhat limited for now. However, as time wanes on, it will be an extremely useful site for those that  are looking to purchase a new lens and want to view sample images of MFT systems.

    http://4thirdsimages.com

     

    Source: PhotoRumors

    Daily Log books for the runner and triathlete

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Daily Log books for the runner and triathlete

    With new studies showing that sitting at your desk all day (and probably in front of the computer) may cause heart problems in the future, getting up and out your seat is starting to look more and more inviting (and necessary). But don’t just take that 50-meter walk to go on that cigarette break. Give that old heart a workout with the help of these two books that will not only get you moving, but motivate you to go further and farther.

    The I’m a Runner Daily Log and iTRI Triathlon Daily Log books are 16-week daily logbooks for runners and triathletes (respectively) that do more than just let you write down what you’re feeling or how your session went. Aside from having “goal notes,” the books provide pages complete with daily charts from the workout title to daily nutrition to the number of glasses of water you drank within the day. It also has motivational quotes, a directory of coaches, and exercise instructions. The author, Andrea P. Lagman, is an active runner and multi-sport so you’re sure the logbook has all that a runner and triathlete might need to accomplish his/her goals, be it a beginner or a pro.

    It comes in 6 amazing colors: Black,blue,red,purple,fuchsia and apple green and costs Php 380.

     

    Available at:

    FULLY BOOKED

    BHS Fort, Rockwell, Greenbelt 5, MOA, Promenade Greenhills,

    Eastwood mall and The Block SM North Edsa.

    RUNNR Store – BHS & Trinoma

    RUNNR Store – Cebu & Davao in June 2011

    The Brick Multisport Store, McKinley

    The Secondwind Running Store –  Ortigas & QC Branch

    Bike King – BHS Fort

    The Starting line – Westgate Alabang

    Velo City – Cartimar

    Cycling Zone – Shell Pacific Gas Station Alabang-Zapote Rd.

     

    Now if only someone would come up with the “I’m a Power Walker Daily Log” then I’d have something to log.

    Internet Explorer 9 is the best browser for blocking socially engineered malware

    Gadgets Team
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    4
    Internet Explorer 9 is the best browser for blocking socially engineered malware

    Well, seems like Microsoft should be pretty proud of itself – NSS Labs, a security research and testing firm has proclaimed Internet Explorer 9 as the best browser for blocking socially engineered malware. Traditionally, malware writers were able to rely on users’ lax browser security and exploits to execute drive-by attacks to infect computers. With browsers now actively pestering users into updating possible security holes in their browsers, ne’er-do-wells have resorted into crafting socially engineered malware which trick you into downloading them into your PC. Internet Explorer 9 blocks these kinds of attacks by utilizing URL Reputation feature and the App Rep service. The other browsers didn’t fare so well though, and looking at the scores in the image above paints a pretty clear picture that the other browsers have some catching up to do.

    Via: Geek

    Source: NSS Labs (PDF)

    Globe powers 2011 SME Summit

    Press Release
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    0
    Globe powers 2011 SME Summit

    Globe Telecom partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry to help promote growth and development for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs). Initially, Globe, through Globe Business, the company’s enterprise, corporate and SME unit, joined forces with the DTI’s Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (DTI-BSMED) for the 2011 SME Summit.

    The 2011 SME Summit was the highlight of 2011 SME Week, spearheaded by the DTI and the MSMED Council, which ran until July 9, 2011. Through the partnership between Globe Business and the DTI-BMSMED, DTI regional and field offices, local government units, entrepreneurs and the general public across the country were able to watch the summit live via the web (http://justin.tv/smesummit) with the use of Globe broadband. Participants at the summit were also able to interact via web conference with entrepreneurs who attended the Globe Negostar forum in Cauayan City, Isabela, held simultaneously with the 2011 SME Summit.

    During the summit, government presented the 2011-2016 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Plan, which contains action plans that foster a more enabling business environment, give increased access to affordable financing as well as expanded markets, and improves productivity and efficiency.

    “We at Globe Business are one with the DTI in our desire to help entrepreneurs grow by helping make their businesses more efficient. The SME sector is the workhorse of our country’s economy, hence it augurs well for everyone to support the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises,” said Manny Aligada, Head of the Corporate and SME Segments at Globe Business.

    Only Globe Negostar is the one-stop shop for all communication needs of an entrepreneur. Globe Negostar has packages bring down the price of mobile service and introduce affordable mobile and broadband solutions for entrepreneurs. These services can be customized to suit each entrepreneur’s unique needs and requirements.

    Experience the benefits of having customized solutions to support your business. Consult our Globe Business Account Managers, visit the Globe Stores, call the Globe Business Hotline +632 730-1288 or log on to www.globe.com.ph/negostar today to find out more.

     

    iPhone 4 survives after being accidentally dropped from 13,500 feet

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    iPhone 4 survives after being accidentally dropped from 13,500 feet

    The iPhone 4 is a lot of things, but it’s not a ruggerized smartphone. Logic dictates that dropping this fragile, glass backed wonder of human engineering from a height of 13,500 feet would shatter it into a million, tiny, Apple branded pieces. Apparently, Jarrod McKinney’s iPhone 4 doesn’t subscribe to logic, and instead kicks it in its balls and laughs in its face. Jarrod’s a skydiver you see, and during one of his jumps he forgot to zip the pocket of his pants which was precisely the moment when his iPhone 4 decided to try the sport sans the parachute. Jarrod found his iPhone 4 on a top of a building about 1.5 miles away from where he landed via GPS tracking. His skydiving instructor then tried calling the phone as a joke, but the joke was on him – the phone started vibrating, much to Jarrod’s disbelief. We’re not saying this particular iPhone has zombie blood in it, but if Jarrod turns out to be patient zero, you all know who called it first.

    Source: CNN

    Review: Sony Vaio F

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Review: Sony Vaio F

    Sony was not kidding when it set off to give its consumers a “life without walls.” Bringing the 3D experience to more than just your television set, the Sony Vaio F Series is testament to this evolution, after which anything more real, and you’d have actual physical presence.

    This particular model sports a 16-inch premium black block that is not for the faint-hearted (in this case, meaning, not for the average user). Just looking at its depth and breadth of 398.5 x 35-45 x 271.5 mm, you know you’re not looking to find anything “cute” about this machine.

    You’ll also know this once you carry all 3.2 kilograms of it that’s it’s something you’d want resting snugly on your desk or any other designated work (or play) station. Its black glossy finish is also a bit of a smudge magnet so it would be best if you kept it pristine in one place. But from just basically looking at it, you’re almost assured of ease of use as it has a full-on spacious keyboard and ample room for your wrists to rest as well as a large dotted trackpad. Just above the keyboard are three circular buttons: Assist, 3D and Vaio. Assist takes you to VAIO Care, in case you have any problems with your computer. The 3D button allows you to switch to 3D display when watching HD content. Vaio takes you to its control center from system information right down to the 3D function where you can adjust the 3D settings.

    Now I may not know exactly what makes a laptop as great as it is in a more technical sense but I do know what’s cool and this Vaio knows how to amaze its user. Turn it on and the keyboard lights up underneath, as if it were ushering you to experience something incredible (at least, that’s how I felt when I turned it on). Then it immediately sets everything up for you. Once it does, you’re ready to start doing what you normally do on a laptop. I immediately go online and saw that the screen was incredibly crisp and bright, thanks to the 240 fps high frame rate of the LCD and because it also has Intel’s second-generation processor inside, which simply means (for all of the technical jargon the explanation of the processor came with) that your computer assures you a better visual experience, sound quality, and energy efficiency. The sound is incredible with Intel High-Definition Audio and Dolby Home Theater technology, so you’d probably rather watch movies on this thing than on your own TV. The Vaio also goes on standby when not in use in order to conserve energy and can last about three hours on full charge with average use.

    But the highlight of this PC is its 3D capabilities. This laptop is the first one to use Nvidia’s 3D Vision technology and comes with its own Sony glasses—the same glasses that go with Sony Bravia 3D HDTVs, which use a built-in IR emitter. The glasses look very high-end and durable, with a nice curve that fits the face snugly. I could even wear them comfortably on top of my own thick, librarian-looking frames. When you first turn on the Sony Vaio, it helps you start up the whole 3D experience so you can see if your glasses are working properly or if you’re seeing in 3D properly. After seeing a few sample videos in 3D, I realized how our own 2D experience was no comparison and how we could’ve lived so long without it. It was crisp and incredibly clear with such depth and realism. Although after a while, my eyes did begin to hurt somewhat.

    Perhaps these poor eyes need a bit more getting used to, seeing things in 3D.

    Aside from watching 3D videos and 3D movies, it has a Blu-ray drive, so you can also watch Blu-ray 3D movies with it on the full HD screen. Gaming is supported by the 3D Vision technology, so you can play games on the laptop’s display in stereo 3D mode, but you can also connect the laptop trough the HDMI 1.4 video output to a 3D-capable HDTV and use the bigger screen in 3D as well. You also get the ability to watch 2D videos and movies with a simulated 3D effect.

     

    What’s hot:

    Great 3D technology

    Intel second-generation processor

     

    What’s not:

    Smudges easily

    Bulky

    3D may not be good with prolonged use

     

    Buy meter:

    8.8

     

    Bottomline:

    If money weren’t an issue and you want to be truly entertained, the Sony Vaio VPCF217HG is definitely one PC you should own.

     

    TECH SPECS:

    • Screen Size
    • 16 inch wide (Full HD: 1920×1080) TFT color display (VAIO Display Premium, 3D Supported, LED backlight)
    • Memory
    • 8 GB (4 GB x 2) DDR3 SDRAM*2 (Max)
    • CPU and chipset
    • Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.40 GHz*1, Intel HM65 Express Chipset
    • Wireless used
    • IEEE 802.11b/g/n*6, Bluetooth standard Ver. 3.0 + HS
    • Physical Dimension
    • 398.5 x 35-45 x 271.5 mm
    • Warranty
    • 1 year Warranty
    • Price Php 149,999

     

    Mozilla wants to make passwords obsolete

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Mozilla wants to make passwords obsolete

    If you’re anything like us, chances are you have a bunch of different usernames and passwords for the different sites you frequent on the web. Aside from the hassle of memorizing them all, multiple passwords and usernames encourage password recycling – the practice of using the same username and password across different sites. Needless to say, this kind of behavior opens you up to a world of hurt if your account is ever compromised. It’s comforting to see that companies are trying to come up with ways to help you manage all those online accounts. Meet BrowserID, an experimental way of logging in to websites. You only have to verify your email once (to make sure you are the legitimate owner of the address) and after that, BrowserID logs you into website using only your email address. No more passwords to remember. It’s still pretty experimental, but you can see a demo of it in action below.

    Source: BrowserID

    Unboxing: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

    Gadgets Team
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    4
    Unboxing: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

    We here at Gadgets Magazine are always excited when a new toy arrives at the office. So let’s start a budding friendship with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, one of Samsung’s highly anticipated and sought after products.

    Upon opening the box, we are greeted with a beautiful view of the tablet’s glossy white rear, with the company’s logo elegantly etched in grey.

    tablet + accessories

    Gently taking the tablet off its cardboard resting place reveals the bundled accessories, which is wonderfully minimal. All that comes with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (at least in our review unit), is the charger/plug, USB cable (which connects to the charger as well) and a pair of Samsung in-ear earbuds.

    The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is relatively light, and it’s overall size is quite appealing, and seems suitable to be carried around with you everywhere you go. Although its build feels sturdy, it is also quite delicate at the same time.

    Placed on top of Gadgets Magazine’s July issue (which is out in stores now), the Galaxy Tab is approximately the same in thickness, as seen in the photo above.

    The port you see in the center is for the USB/charger cable. In the photo below, you can see the discrete 3megapixel rear camera which can record at 720p.

    After briefly admiring it’s sleek casing, it was finally time to turn on this pretty little thing, which only took a few seconds.

    Below is a photo of the Galaxy Tab’s main app window. The screen is luminous with very vivid colors, icons pop out against the background, which makes it both pleasing to the eye and to use.

    Overall at first glance, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is thoroughly impressive. It looks suave, has portable dimensions and has a clear and bright display. But only time will tell during our in-depth review if Samsung’s coveted tablet lives up to its hype.

    Stay tuned.

     

    For a complete list of features/specs: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

    From hearing aids to “walking” aids

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    From hearing aids to “walking” aids

    There are many physical liberties one gives up as they age; one in particular is the simple joy of walking to and from anywhere. Now unless you’re one of those super health-conscious buffs who drink nothing but wheatgrass, high-calcium milk, and do yoga every day, you probably may have trouble getting around on foot and by yourself. Since majority of the population is your average cheeseburger-eating, soda-drinking couch potato, it’s important to have something that will assist you on your way as you age.

    With the brand promise “shaping tomorrow with you,” Fujitsu held the FUJITSU Design Award 2011: A LIFE with Future Computing, the full-scale international design competition, open to designers around the world, aimed at the development of PC-related designs bringing innovation to people’s daily lives.

    The grand prize winner was designed by Lithuanian designer Egle Ugintaite. The Aid is a cane that provides mobile navigation and health management services so that users who have difficulty travelling can remain active and mobile. It monitors the users’ pulse, blood pressure and body temperature which is displayed on the LCD screen. The cane also comes with a built-in navigator along with directions to a location of their choice which you can hear through headphones.

    Source: Springwise

    LEGO computer case shows man’s inner geek, looks simple to build

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    LEGO computer case shows man’s inner geek, looks simple to build

    There’s a lot of LEGO casemods floating on the net, but this one caught our eye because of its simplicity and the ease of which an average nerd can replicate it. Mike Schropp made the lego case to house three complete systems (that’s 3 motherboards plus CPUs, coolers, GPUs and other assorted doodads) but it’s totally feasible for anyone else to make it for one system.

    Mike documented his build thoroughly, so if you have a bit of spare time, a CPU that needs to get geekified and a metric ton of LEGO pieces, it’s time to get building.

    (Thanks Anj!)

    Via: Makezine

    Source: Total Geekdom

    Qualcomm doesn’t think dual-core processors are being used properly

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Qualcomm doesn’t think dual-core processors are being used properly

    With all the dual-core powered processors floating around in smartphones and tablets, you’d think that apps would be lighting fast by now.  But Liat Ben-Zur, Senior Director, Software Strategy and Business Development, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies doesn’t think that’s true and recently published a blog post asking if anyone is actually using dual-core processors’ full potential. “The reality is that this technology trend of multi-cores can be somewhat confusing for most developers. Most are writing downloadable applications, which are only able to take advantage of the HLOS APIs exposed by the platform provider. Most developers are just not exposed to multiple core technology via the standard HLOS API sets that they use every day to build their applications.” What that basically boils down to is that if the developer doesn’t specifically code their application for dual-core processors, then you’re not getting dual core performance. While this may or may not be a jab at current dual-core superstar NVIDIA and their dual-core Tegra chip that’s currently in most dual-core devices, she does make a good point. The challenge now for developers is to code their apps in such a way that it’ll be able to take advantage of the performance gained from dual core processors.

    Source: Qualcomm

    Coke supports Pinoy_Blogfest 2.0

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Coke supports Pinoy_Blogfest 2.0

    The Coca-Cola Export Company has signed on to support Pinoy_Blogfest 2.0, Gadgets Magazine‘s annual social media event.  Now on its second year, Pinoy_Blogfest 2.0 is scheduled to happen on 5 August 2011 at the TriNoma Activity Center in Quezon City.

    In its first run in 2010, Pinoy_Blogfest 1.0 attempted to start the dialogue on ethical issues confronting social media, with the theme Opportunity & Responsibility.  Attended by some 80 bloggers, the conference addressed questions such as: “Should bloggers observe journalistic ethics?” and “Can bloggers make money from their web presence?”

    Continuing the discourse on the role of social media in Philippine society, this year’s Pinoy_Blogfest 2.0 is themed Social Media as a Change Agent.

    With the increasing ubiquity of Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, Filipinos have once again made the Philippines the world’s social networking capital.  Theoretically, therefore, everyone on Facebook or Twitter, and eventually the new Google+, has the potential to influence his “friends” or “followers” through his posts and status updates.  This democratizes social media and empowers each one with the opportunity to be a force for good.

    Pinoy_Blogfest is open to the public, offering a program of social activities targeted at various audiences.   Interested participants may opt to attend any one or all of the public social activities, namely The New Workplace, Its a Digital Life, Healthy Living and Photography.

    Interested bloggers are requested to send their name, blog URL, and contact details to [email protected] for invites to the by-invitation-only evening program by July 31, Sunday.

    Review: HTC ChaCha

    Gadgets Team
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    4
    Review: HTC ChaCha

    Relentless rumors about Facebook coming out with its own mobile device had the internet a flutter earlier this year. With a userbase of about 700 million, it only seemed natural that the current king of Social networking would want to expand their horizons. The rumor proved false, but it highlighted a need for a device that had Facebook at its core, something not completely lost on HTC. Thus, the HTC ChaCha was born, a device that puts the Facebook experience front and center and gives users the ability to share absolutely everything from the palm of their hands.

    If you’ve been following HTC’s recent smartphone releases, the ChaCha is a departure of sorts. It doesn’t have a gigantic capacitive screen dominating the face of the device as its own touchscreen is a diminutive, 2.6-inch deal that has a screen resolution of 480 x 320 pixels. It’s also one of the few HTC devices that has a full QWERTY keyboard.

    The ChaCha’s 114.4×64.6×10.7mm frame is comfortable to hold, and its 124g weight feels just right. The overall construction of the phone is solid and topnotch, with nary a creak to be had anywhere. Aside from the QWERTY keyboard, there’s a call and end button on the face of the ChaCha, as well as a volume rocker, 3.5mm jack and power button in the usual places. There’s a 5-megapixel camera on the back, as well as a secondary camera on the front for video calls.

    The ChaCha is powered by an 800MHz CPU and the latest build of Android, 2.3 Gingerbread.

    The Sense UI that’s on the ChaCha was especially modified for the device. The same pull ring to unlock mechanism that was in place in the HTC Sensation is present in the ChaCha.

    The home screen of the device is well laid out, if a little cramped – with the most recent Facebook update clearly visible in the middle. You get four home screens initially, though you can have a total of seven. Each one is totally customizable.

    The Facebook experience begins with the dedicated Facebook button on the lower right of the device. The Facebook button as the HTC execs called it is contextual button which does a couple of different things depending on where you are in the device.

    Pressing it directly from the home screen allows you to post a status message to your wall. Pressing it while listening to music posts track information to your wall, while doing the same while in Web page shares that particular page directly to your wall.

    It’s a fantastic shortcut key that simplifies sharing content immensely. The button also starts to throb when there’s something that’s potentially worth sharing, like the photo you’re about to take.

    Typing on the QWERTY keyboard is pretty nice and the buttons, although small, have good separation. It’s been so long since I’ve used a QWERTY keyboard on a smartphone, but once I got into the unique idiosyncrasies of the keyboard, I was happily typing away long text messages that I shied away from when I was using a touch-only smartphone.

    Call quality was great, and battery life was fantastic – the ChaCha managed to last for almost 2 ½ days on a single charge, with moderate use. With most smartphones dying if not plugged in at the end of the day, the ChaCha’s resiliency is a breath of fresh air.

    The obvious Achilles heel of the ChaCha is the small screen. At 2.6-inches, it’s probably one of the smallest screens that’s on an Android device. While it’s perfectly usable when checking your Facebook account, typing SMS and using Twitter, it’s not the best size for reading web pages and viewing video. Also if it wasn’t painfully obvious by now, let me spell it out for you: the ChaCha is useless without a good data connection. If you’re seriously looking at it, you’ll need a good data plan to go with it. Thankfully, Smart is offering two data plans for it – Php 1000 per month (with a monthly 100MB data cap) and Php 1500 per month with unlimited data.

    It’s obvious that the HTC ChaCha is aimed at a younger demographic that likes to keep connected with their friends. But make no mistake – it’s not a one trick pony, and once you strip the deep Facebook integration from it, it’s a pretty solid smartphone by itself.

     

    What’s Hot:

    Deep Facebook integration

    Easy to use QWERTY keyboard

    Long battery life

     

    What’s Not:

    Screen is a little small

    Useless without a good data plan

     

    Bottomline:

    The HTC ChaCha is the perfect phone for people who are constantly on Facebook.

     

    Buymeter: 8.4

     

    Tech Specs:

    • Operating System
    • Android 2.3 Gingerbread With Sense
    • CPU
    • 800MHz
    • LCD size
    • 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen
    • Physical Dimensions
    • 114.4 x 64.6 x 10.7 mm
    • Weight
    • 120g
    • Band
    • 2G – GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G – HSDPA 900 / 2100

     

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