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    Samsung Home Appliances: Beautiful form, smart functionality

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Samsung Home Appliances: Beautiful form, smart functionality

    Now, your home appliances can blend beautifully into the luxurious aesthetic of your home. With premium products from Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO), you get both high-quality function and form and perhaps, even a smart piece of art.

    The Samsung Scout Washing Machine brings more power and greater washing performance with its energy-saving Eco Bubble Technology. The Eco Bubble Technology allows consumers to save up to 70% on energy. Its sleek and classy diamond drum provides greater fabric care as smaller water exit holes lessen the chance of delicate clothing snagging into them. The Samsung Scout Washing Machine is truly an amazing and durable washer-dryer combo as it comes with a Quiet Drive Motor that greatly reduces vibrations and noise.

    Carefully balancing beauty and utility value, the Samsung Rose Air Conditioner takes its inspiration from the elegance of a rose. With its exclusive design, this air conditioner comes with Twin Cooling Fans and Virus Doctor Technology, making for perfect air filtration that will cool an entire house quickly with purified breezes. The Samsung Rose Air Conditioner works wonders for the environment as its Inverter Technology allows it to save more energy.

    Designed and crafted by Italian jewelry designer Massimo Zucchi, the premium edition Samsung Jewel Refrigerator brings out the ultimate luxury in digital home appliances. Eye-catching and dazzling with its elegant Champagne Handle, Bid Printing, and Jewel Lightning effects, this side-by-side refrigerator is equipped with a Digital Inverter Compressor and a Twin Cooling system, keeping food inside fresh far longer while saving energy costs at the same time.

    Razer outs Battlefield 3 skinned BlackWidow Ultimate, Imperator, Scarab and Onza peripherals

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Razer outs Battlefield 3 skinned BlackWidow Ultimate, Imperator, Scarab and Onza peripherals

    With the amount of news and teasers for DICE’s upcoming multiplayer bonanza/relationship ender Battlefield 3, we’re honestly getting sick and tired of the game . We’re only joking of course, and to whet your appetite (and make you want the game more) Razer is releasing their Blackwidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard, Imperator gaming mouse, Scarab gaming mat and Onza Tournament Edition Xbox 360 controller in Battlefield 3 livery.

    The prolific peripheral manufacturer is also coming out with a Battlefield 3 silicone protection case for the iPhone 4, and a Battlefield 3 Razer Messenger Bag to stuff all your gear in. While we’re all waiting for October 25 to roll on through, you can check this drool inducing, YouTube clip of vehicle combat in the game. You can visit Razer’s page here to know more.

    HP selling off PC business, going the way of IBM

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    HP selling off PC business, going the way of IBM

    After dropping webOS like a hot potato, it seems that  HP is selling off its PC division. According to the report from Yahoo Finance, HP has now put up its personal computer division up for sale, and has all the intentions of trying to be like IBM – which similarly got rid of its PC division six years ago, and was then gobbled up by Lenovo. A lot of people are shocked, since HP is currently the world leader in PC sales.

    There will be three parts to HP’s PC exit according to Yahoo. These are:

    • HP will stop making tablet computers and smartphones by October.
    • It will try to spin off or sell its PC business, the world’s largest. By the end of next year, HP computers could be sold under another company’s name.
    • The company plans to buy business software maker Autonomy Corp. for about $10 billion in one of the biggest takeovers in HP’s 72-year history.

    While the PC business has been making money for HP, it’s apparently not enough – according to a report in Arstechnica, HP CEO Leo Apotheker said “continuing to execute in this market is no longer in the interest of HP and its shareholders.” The next obvious question is: who has enough cash to pony up for HP’s computer division?

    Source: Arstechnica, Yahoo Finance

    RIP, webOS – we hardly knew you

    Gadgets Team
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    7
    RIP, webOS – we hardly knew you

    Like a bolt in the blue, HP has announced that it’s killing its webOS powered devices, including the yet locally unreleased TouchPad and webOS powered smartphones. There has been a few rumblings that the devices weren’t selling well in the states and there wasn’t enough apps, and it seems that HP has had enough. This means the smartphone market is now a four way race between Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7, and the tablet market is now down to three serious players: Android, iOS and Blackberry. But there might still be hope for webOS – Gizmodo reports that HP CEO Léo Apotheker said that “We are looking at all of our strategic options concerning the software… we will be looking at all of the options from our devices, to third devices, to other manufacturers… We will be looking at all possible business models from licensing to other possibilities…,” which means there still might be a possibility that we’ll see webOS running on someone else’s hardware.

    Via: Gizmodo

    Source: Businesswire

    Digital donations to give desks and chairs to students

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Digital donations to give desks and chairs to students

    Imagine your kids going to a school in a neatly-pressed uniform, new school books and notebooks inside their new bookbag, only to have to sit uncomfortably on the floor and find a way to concentrate more on their lessons than on their crouching and squatting. For most of us, this can only be imagined. But for more than 5 million Filipino students, it’s as real as life can get.

    Thankfully, donations are becoming easier and easier to do. And with the launch of iGiveBackNow to be held on August 23 at the Dusit Thani in Makati, the school chairs donation project in honor of former President and global democracy icon Cory Aquino can now continue on in hopes of helping our young students have a chair and desk of their own. With Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a non-profit organization for social development, in partnership with UnionBank, the President Corazon C. Aquino School Desk Project will become the primary beneficiary.

    So what are you waiting for? Get on your computer, tablet, or smartphone and go to igivebacknow and give back… to our future.

    Globe unveils customizable broadband plan, Tattoo@Home

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Globe unveils customizable broadband plan, Tattoo@Home

    In an effort to draw more subscribers, Globe has announced their new, customizable broadband plan, Tattoo@Home. The service allows subscribers to customize their plan according to their needs, and add additional speeds to their plans depending on when they need it. For example, you only want Globe’s DSL service without a phone (Plans 995 and 1295) with a speed boost of 1Mbps per night (10 PM to 1 AM) or the insomniac speed boost (2 AM to 6 AM) for an additional Php 150 to 250 per month. The customizable plans are available for their Tattoo Wimax and DSL services. Best part is you can add and remove the speed boost depending on your needs – there’s no lock-in period for them.

    Tattoo is first in the industry to introduce customizable broadband service that provides the subscribers with what they need at any time of the day. Globe knows that customers have unique internet needs for the home and a one-size-fits-all approach is just not good enough for our customers,“ explains Jurist Gamban, head for Globe Tattoo’s At-Home Broadband.

    So, will you make the change to Tattoo@Home?

    Globe Business expands M2M solutions for enterprise

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Globe Business expands M2M solutions for enterprise

    Making a business profitable is all about getting the right information when you need it the most. That’s the whole premise behind Globe Business’ expansion of their M2M (machine to machine) solutions for enterprise, which was officially launched last August 16 at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Makati.

    M2M allows businesses, CTOs and decision makers to effectively monitor and oversee their fixed or moving assets, allowing them to make on the fly decisions more accurately if need be. For example, the Fleet Management solution allows businesses to track where their logistical assets are (trucks, delivery vans) in real time, while Fixed Asset management allows managers to track certain values of their assets (temperatures of freezers for example) and send alerts whenever a certain threshold is reached.

    The Security and Surveillance solution does exactly that. Motion and door sensors placed around sensitive assets guard them from pilferage and theft, while panic buttons allow quick response to dangerous situations. What’s nice about the solutions is that they are totally customizable depending on the business that requires it. For example, a business that hauls important cargo can opt to have the Fleet Management solution which keeps track of where their trucks are plus Security and Surveillance solutions to alert the dispatcher if the doors on the cargo trucks are opened ahead of schedule. As Globe Business Head Jesus C. Romero said during the event, “the only limit to what we can do is the imagination of the client.”

     

     

    Razer unveils first discrete 7.1 surround sound headset

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Razer unveils first discrete 7.1 surround sound headset

    Razer’s at it again. After releasing their Electra headphones for the more budget minded gamer, they’ve now unleashed their more enthusiast minded Tiamat. Billed as the first, discrete 7.1 surround headset for truly serious gamers, the Tiamat packs a total of 10 discrete drivers, 5 in each circumaural ear cup to give you true pinpoint positional surround sound. As gamers ourselves, we can tell you that having a good headset is usually what separates you from being a good player to being on top of the leaderboard. There’s also going to be a 2.2 stereo surround sound version of the Tiamat, which we gather will have a lower price point. Speaking of price, it’s retailing overseas for about $179 (about Php 7900) a pop, though there’s no word on local pricing yet.

    The EDGR808 for iOS Emulates Roland’s Iconic Drum Machine

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    The EDGR808 for iOS Emulates Roland’s Iconic Drum Machine

    After finding out about the flash drive that pays tribute to the classic Roland TR808, I was excited to discover a new app that emulates the classic vintage drum machine.

    Meet the EGDR808, developed by Elliott Garage for iOs devices. This new app has a 16-step sequencer, 12 programmable rhythm patterns,  and 4 fill presets with the ability to trigger auto-fills during playback. Users can also save their own patterns as well.

    Based on the screencaps and demo video, the interface looks amazingly realistic. However, what really matters most is the sonic quality, which initially sounds promising. We’ll have to see how it fares in a live performance or in-studio setting though.

    It looks like the EGDR808 has a lot of people excited though, since it’s already made it to iTunes’ top 10 musical apps after being released for only a week. After all, you can’t go wrong with trying out this app on your iPad or iPhone, since it only retails for $0.99 (approx. Php 42).


     

    Transcend outs shock resistant USB 3.0 portable HDD, hard drive abusers rejoice

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Transcend outs shock resistant USB 3.0 portable HDD, hard drive abusers rejoice

    It doesn’t have to be said that you need to treat your portable hard drives like babies, if those babies were made of glass and contained important information that you could potentially lose your job over. But apparently there are still people who abuse their portable storage devices to the point of failure – at least there’s enough of a market for Transcend to release the Storejet 25A. Capable of holding a terabyte of data and protected by Transcend’s exclusive shock-absorbing suspension damper system, the Storejet 25A keeps your drive safe from accidental drops and impacts. Transcend’s offering two versions of the robust drive – one with USB 2.0 and one with the speedier, USB 3.0 standard.

     

    Optimus 3D teased, coming “soon”

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Optimus 3D teased, coming “soon”


    We got another press release about LG’s upcoming Optimus 3D, which promises glasses free 3D, smartphone style. The release highlighted a few of the unique features of the 3D smartphone, including LG’s unique tri-dual configuration — dual-core, dual-channel and dual-memory (the Optimus 3D runs on a 1GHz Dual-Core Dual-Channel processor, Texas Instruments OMAP4) and 3D recording and playback at 720p (non-3D playback is possible on 1080p). It’ll also ship with some 3D games to scratch your mobile gaming itch. Again, still no word on when this 3D smartphone will hit, nor a hint on how much damage it’ll do to your wallets once it gets here.

     

    Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 GT-P7500

    Gadgets Team
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    7
    Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 GT-P7500

    As I sat down on my bed the other day, holding the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in my hands, flipping through the news, it suddenly dawned on me – the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the closest anyone could get, device-wise, to matching the Apple iPad 2. I know, I know – I also said that for the Asus Eee Pad Transformer when I reviewed it a couple of months back, but that was before I was able to spend time with Galaxy Tab 10.1. The Transformer is an excellent piece, don’t get me wrong, but the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is something else. Its aesthetics, ease of use and anorexic dimensions place it at a unique position to raise Honeycomb’s flag against iOS.

    So why now? Why didn’t Honeycomb debut in this slice of silicon heaven instead of the Xoom, which was plagued with bugs on day one? Well, that’s because the Galaxy Tab 10.1 that we’re reviewing now is a new and improved version of the original one unveiled back in February in the Mobile World Congress. A few weeks after that unveiling, the iPad 2 was announced, and Samsung announced in CTIA that the 10.1 went back to the drawing board, with the unit I’m reviewing now as the end result.

    Was the redesign worth it? Definitely – the original Galaxy Tab 10.1 (which was renamed Galaxy Tab 10.1v) had an overall thickness of 10.9mm. The one that I’m reviewing now is almost impossibly thin at 8.9mm, and more importantly, is thinner than the iPad 2 by 0.2mm and its 42 grams lighter. While those dimension and weight differences are somewhat negligible, it’s still a win over the iPad 2 and more importantly, Apple, something that few companies can claim to do. Like all other high profile devices that Samsung outs, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is pretty solid – no creaks or flexing anywhere.

    Of course comparisons with the iPad 2 is unavoidable, so it’s best to get that out of the way right now.

    As you can see here, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is slightly thinner than Apple’s offering.

    The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is also narrower than the iPad 2, but is a bit taller.

    The overall design aesthetic is simple, yet pleasing. Like most Honeycomb tablets, physical keys are scarce, save for the power and volume keys on the side of the device.

    You get a 10.1-inch PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1280×800. Its hardware isn’t anything we’ve seen before – dual-core Tegra 2 processor running at 1 GHz, 16GB of storage, 3 megapixel camera – though I have to admit this is the first tablet I’ve reviewed with 3G capability.

    It’s also one of the first Honeycomb tablets I’ve seen running a customized version of the UI (courtesy of the TouchWiz interface) instead of just plain Honeycomb.

    Just like TouchWiz on Samsung’s other Android offerings, you can expect a number of widgets and slight improvements to your tablet experience, including Samsung’s Social Hub – a social network aggregator of sorts.

    Especially useful are the widgets that can be accessed on the bottom of the screen at anytime. The review unit I tested was running Honeycomb 3.1.

    The whole user experience is nothing short of fantastic, and using the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was a joy. Jumping from app to app was seamless, and the tablet didn’t bog down even when I had multiple windows running in the background. The device also had haptic feedback – the tablet vibrated ever so slightly with each press on the virtual keyboard, which made typing on the touchscreen heaps better. The 3G functionality lent itself well during the review, with the device running off my Globe line without issues. Unlike the first Galaxy Tab, the 10.1 version delivers data and SMS only, so no calls.

    Samsung is also bringing out the big guns when it comes to competing with the iPad 2 via accessories. I’ve already seen a few of the planned add-ons during the official launch of the Galaxy S II a couple of weeks back which includes different keyboard docks and protectors.

    Performance numbers for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was encouraging, to say the least. I ran the device through Quadrant Standard, a standard benchmark tool I’ve used on several other Android devices to get performance figures of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The device managed to wrangle a 1528 score.

    Battery life was good, with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 managing a nice, solid 10 hours of run time with heavy use.

    Judging from what I’ve written so far, you’re probably thinking “what’s the catch?” Well, catch is that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is going to be expensive – it’s going to retail at Php 29900. There’s no word on the eventual availability of the WiFi version (at least, none so far) so it’s probably safe to say that if you want a slice of Sammy’s Honeycomb action, you’ll have to pony up the cash for the 3G version for now. Also, my standard complaint against Honeycomb concerning apps still apply here – the platform needs a lot more apps, fast. And sharp-eyed readers may also have noticed that there’s no place to put in your microSD cards, so you won’t be expanding storage anytime soon. A hardware orientation lock would have been nice, though you can still lock your screen’s orientation using the UI.

    Personally, I feel the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has the best chance against Apple when it comes to design, form factor and usability. The only thing holding it back is it’s relatively steep price compared to its competitors (which is always a huge factor when it comes to this price sensitive country of ours), but hopefully Samsung will release a cheaper, non-3G version for people on a budget.

     

    What’s Hot:

    Thinner and lighter than the iPad 2

    TouchWiz UI

    Excellent performance

    Solid battery life

     

    What’s Not:

    Expensive

    No hardware orientation lock

    Cannot use microSD cards to increase capacity

     

    Bottomline:

    It might be a bit expensive, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the epitome of Honeycomb tablet design – get one if you can.

     

    Buymeter: 9.4

     

    Tech Specs:

    • Display
    • 10.1-inch, PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen
    • Operating System
    • Android Honeycomb, 3.1
    • Processor
    • 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core processor
    • Physical Dimensions
    • 256.7 x 175.3 x 8.6 mm 256.7 x 175.3 x 8.6 mm
    • Weight
    • 565 g

    If you like what you’ve seen, you can preorder yours at a discounted price. Check here for more details.

    Telebabad Retro: Moshi Moshi POP Phone

    Belle Alba
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    6
    Telebabad Retro: Moshi Moshi POP Phone

    For those who miss talking on a “real” telephone, Moshi Moshi recaptures telebabad nostalgia with the POP Phone handset.  Created by French designer David Turpin, the POP handset is not only a novelty item but actually addresses an important health issue by eliminating up to 99% of absorbed phone radiation.

    On top of improved call comfort, there is also the added convenience of being able to access phone functions while you’re on a call.  A 3.5mm plug fits into most audio jacks, making the POP Phone compatible with virtually all types of mobile devices, including computers and tablets, and can be used for VOIP calls.  USB adaptors, splitter cables, and other mobile phone adaptors are available as accessories.

    The POP Phone features a high-quality speaker and microphone for excellent call clarity.  It is finished in a soft-touch texture and comes in a variety of fun colors — red, blue, yellow, pink, green, and purple.

    Tech fashionistas can grab the Moshi Moshi POP Phone for P 1,875  at Dimensione stores or by direct order (Email: [email protected]).

    “Get inside the Ferrari” with Kaspersky

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    “Get inside the Ferrari” with Kaspersky

    If you like fast cars, then here’s a fast and easy way to get your wish to watch one of the most luxurious cars in the world in arguably, one of the most luxurious places on earth.

    Kaspersky Lab invites all Ferrari fans to join in its global contest, “Get Inside the Ferrari Grand Prix” in partnership with Scuderia Ferrari where two lucky winners get an all-expenses-paid trip and a VIP Grandstand Pass to the Formula One Grand Prix in Monza, Italy which takes place in September 2011 and runs from August 7 through 28 on the Kaspersky Motorsport page (https://www.facebook.com/KasperskyMotorsport). To participate, individuals should register at  http://www.insideferrarigp.com/en/register.php and upload an unaltered original photograph expressing their passion for Ferrari and Kaspersky Lab.

    The package includes access to the Ferrari Formula 1 Club for the race weekend (4 days, 3 nights) and a series of initiatives organized by the Scuderia Ferrari such as pit walk where the winners can get up close and personal with the famous drivers and their cars, assisted by Ferrari staff.

    Candidates must be 18 years old and above, and fluent in written and spoken English.

    Review: Panasonic Lumix GF3

    Gadgets Team
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    5
    Review: Panasonic Lumix GF3

    Great things come in small packages.

    It’s quite impossible not to start with the GF3’s miniscule dimensions, for after all, this is its primary selling point. Roughly the size of an iPod and weighing about the same as an average point-and-shoot camera, Panasonic has somehow managed to squeeze in a 12-megapixel sensor into its tiny body.

    Just by looking at the GF3, you will immediately notice that the GF3 is more similar to a point-and-shoot then a DSLR.  Panasonic opts for the use of the push-button + jog dial combo as the main method of navigating instead of a click dial. The design is wonderfully simple, and the thumb grip on the upper right corner is a great addition as well. The only other controls are the buttons for Menu/Set, play/preview, Quick Fn/Return and one to pop open the built-in flash.

    The 460k pixel display is a thing of beauty – it’s well illuminated and previews both stills and movies excellently. It can get quite difficult to use though when under direct sunlight, but this is to be expected. The touchscreen is very responsive, and it’s easy to select which mode you want to shoot in (i.e. Program AE, Manual, Creative Control, etc.). You simply touch the upper left corner of the screen and you can quickly select the mode of your choice.

    Other controls on the touchscreen are very useful as well, especially the iA+ options which give you the ability to pinpoint the AF by touching an area on the display to have the camera automatically focus and take the shot instantly. This is especially handy when you want to capture several subjects in a short amount of time.

    Using the iA and iA+ modes does make it easy to take photos quickly and effectively, although when the mode is active, most menu functions to adjust the camera settings aren’t available, so it was quite counter-intuitive to have to switch off iA just to make menu adjustments. However, if you customize your menu/system settings beforehand, this shouldn’t be a problem at all.

    The GF3 I received came with the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens , although the GF3’s can also arrive with the 14mm f2.5 pancake prime. However, regardless of which kit lens you choose, you will only really be able to use the white balance and exposure sliders in iA/iA+ mode because in order to effectively make the most out of the GF3’s “Defocus” slider, you will need to have a lens with a wider opening.

    The 14-42mm kit lens is not entirely efficient in producing blurred backgrounds or bokeh, since its aperture only reaches up to f3.5, but it is pretty sharp. Although it might not be a spectacular piece of glass, it still shoots clean and does provide a good focal range for you to work with, allowing you to quickly power on the camera and shoot.

    You can still achieve some great blur by using the Miniature mode in the Creative Control filter, which is one of the GF3’s greatest features. As the name of the effect implies, it applies a synthesized tilt-shift effect, simulating a shallow depth-of-field. It’s definitely an entertaining feature, but you might want to use an SD card with a high class rating, as images shot in Miniature mode requires some intense in-camera processing. What makes this particular effect great is that you can specify which areas of the image to blur, either horizontally and vertically.

    Even though Panasonic managed to squeeze in a built-in flash, I would have preferred a hot shoe instead. When the 14-42mm is equipped with the lens hood, the flash isn’t high enough to go past it, resulting in the lens hood’s shadow rudely appearing in the photos.

    The image below is shot a downward angle in a dark room.

    The photo below was shot perpendicular to a white wall, and you can see the shadow that the lens hood creates.

    If you don’t use the flash, the GF3 does fairly well for a micro four-thirds camera at high ISO’s, but don’t expect it to rival DSLR’s, even though the maximum ISO reaches 6400. I would suggest pairing it with the 14mm pancake or the new 25mm f1.4 to get the most out of low light situations.

    Shooting video with the GF3 is probably one of its stronger traits as well, shooting Full HD 1920 x 1080, 60i (30p sensor output, AVCHD). It’s light weight makes it easy to shoot for an extended period of time and is small enough to not attract a whole lot of attention. Furthermore, its compatibility with Pansonic’s 3D lenses can open up a treasure trove of creativity with this small compact system.

    Click HERE for a sample video

    In the end, if you’re looking for an extremely portable interchangeable lens camera, then the Panasonic GF3 is the one to get. Once you get past all the little hurdles in learning its interface and workflow, it’s an excellent camera that can satisfy the stern expectations of just about anyone. It’s small, compact, works like a point-and-shoot but captures almost like an entry-level DSLR.

    What’s Hot:

    Extremely compact

    Responsive touchscreen

      Full HD video

      Creative Control, especially Miniature mode

      Pinpoint autofocus and shoot

       

      What’s Not:

      Initially difficult to navigate

      Built-in flash not high enough

      No hot-shoe

       

      Buy Meter: 9.0

      Conclusion:

      The Panasonic Lumix GF3 is a great camera for those who are coming from a point-and-shoot and want to have  interchangeable lenses. This camera might be lightweight, but its definitely heavy on features.

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