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    Gameloft gives you the chance to win a brand new LG Optimus 3D

    Gadgets Team
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    Gameloft gives you the chance to win a brand new LG Optimus 3D

    Can’t wait for LG’s Optimus 3D? Neither can we, but alas, it’s still not here. But if you’re the type who likes to go against impossible odds and doesn’t take no for an answer, you can try your luck and join Gameloft’s Facebook contest, where they’ll be giving away three Optimus 3D phones to lucky fans. The contest started September 7 and goes on through till September 28, so there’s still a chance to win. The mechanics are ridiculously easy, and involves watching a nifty trailer that LG made for the Optimus 3D. Want in? Go here and like Gameloft’s page and join now!

    Déjà vu: is RIM ramping up for a fire sale of their own?

    Gadgets Team
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    Déjà vu: is RIM ramping up for a fire sale of their own?

    There’s been grumblings and rumors on the web recently that RIM is gearing up for their own HP-esque fire sale of their Blackberry Playbooks. According to Boy Genius Report, Rogers Communications have launched an internal sale (meaning the sale is available to Rogers employees only) of RIM’s three Playbook models, with discounts up to 50% off of the price of the device. This comes after RIM’s dismal earnings call in which they admitted that the Playbook failed to live up to expectations, shipping only 200,000 units from the expected 400,000 to 600,000 that they were projecting (take note, shipping is not the same as selling). If the fire sale does materialize, it’ll create a unique issue for RIM locally, as the Playbook is currently being sold by two telcos: Globe and Smart, unlike HP’s massive sell-off of the TouchPad (wherein no units were officially sold locally). It’d be interesting to see how both telcos would handle a refund, if ever the rumors are true.

    Source: Arstechnica, Boy Genius Report, Business Insider

     

    Lenovo officially launches IdeaPad K1 tablet locally

    Gadgets Team
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    Lenovo officially launches IdeaPad K1 tablet locally

    First it was Asus, then Acer, Samsung and now Lenovo. Seems that the local tablet market is getting kinda crowded, yeah? Lenovo’s entry into the local Honeycomb tablet scene is a nice breath of fresh air, even though it doesn’t bring anything new hardware-wise that we haven’t seen before.

    The IdeaPad K1 is your typical Honeycomb tablet – dual-core Tegra 2 1GHz processor, 10-inch capacitive multitouch screen, etc., though Lenovo has crammed a couple of software goodies into the K1 to try and set it apart from the crowd. This includes their own take on the social network aggregator which they’ve dubbed SocialTouch, their own take on the Android market called Lenovo App Shop and a slew of productivity tools and games that come pre-installed with the device.

    One thing we did like was the fact that the K1 had a hardware orientation lock on the side of the device, which we imagine would help immensely when you started reading with it. The IdeaPad K1 is now available locally and will retail for Php 24,900, which we assume is for the 32GB 16GB version. We’ll have our review up next week so keep watching this space.

    Edit: We stand corrected. The price posted is for the 32GB version which makes the Lenovo K1 all the more enticing.

    Canon treats 300 loyal EOS users to free advanced photography lessons

    Gadgets Team
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    Canon treats 300 loyal EOS users to free advanced photography lessons

    It’s nice to see that Canon always keeps its loyal user base near to its heart, as evidenced by the recently concluded PhotoSkwela Pro at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong. 300 loyal EOS users were given advanced workshops on different aspects of photography, including sports, food, travel, landscape, bird, wedding photography, portraiture, photojournalism and even lectures on the business side of photography.

    “This event is an advanced version of PhotoSkwela designed to further improve the skills of our loyal Canon EOS users,” said Bong Serevo, Vice-President and Director of the Image Communications Products division of Canon Marketing Philippines, Inc. (CMPI).

    Various sessions were conducted by Canon brand ambassadors. Among them were veteran advertising photographer John Chua with wife Harvey, photojournalists Ernie Sarmiento and Val Rodriguez, landscape photographers Jay Jallorina and Edwin Martinez, wedding photographers Dino Lara and Pilar Tuason, travel photographer Per Andre Hoffman, food photographer Mark Floro, bird photographer Ely Teehankee and photography lecturer Jo Avila.

    Want to know when Canon does events like these in the future? Well, you can point your browsers to www.canon.com.ph/imagenation and sign up to get updates.

    Review: HTC Wildfire S

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Review: HTC Wildfire S

    The first Wildfire was HTC’s first, real attempt to bring their Android sensibilities to the mid-market. Up until then, the company was creating high-spec Android devices that were firmly out of reach of most consumers (locally anyway). The Wildfire was their answer to the demands of the middle market, and while it was a good showpiece of what the company could do in that particular segment, the device was a bit under-powered for some. Today we’ll be taking a look at its direct successor, the Wildfire S, to see if the line has improved after its first outing.

    One of the first things you’ll notice about the Wildfire S is that it’s absolutely tiny, especially when compared to its other siblings. It sports a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen and has an overall size of 101.3 x 59.4 x 12.4 mm. When you put it beside its bigger and badder siblings, like the 4.3-inch HTC Sensation it looks positively dainty. The Wildfire S packs a 600MHz Snapdragon MSM7227 CPU with 512 MB ROM and 512 MB RAM, which, in our opinion, is a bit lacking. Other hardware specs include a 5-megapixel camera (with geo-tagging and face detection) and a FM radio. Like many new Android devices, the Wildfire S comes with Gingerbread and naturally, the Sense UI layer that HTC’s famous for.

    The overall build quality of the Wildfire S is good. Its very solidly made, with no creaks whatsoever on the body. Like its bigger brothers, there are four capacitive keys on the lower part of the phone’s bezel to facilitate navigation.

    Navigating the Wildfire S was a breeze, thanks mainly to the Sense UI overlay on top of Gingerbread.

    You get 7 customizable screens right off the bat, FriendStream (a social network aggregator) and other widgets and tweaks that can only be had with HTC devices.

    Using the device wasn’t quite a chore as I originally imagined it was, but if you have big digits take heed: this device will punish you for your genetic predispositions. I have bigger than normal digits, which means I’m most at home with smartphones that have screens of 4-inches or more. Using the 3.2-inch screen of the Wildfire S was, frankly, a battle of wits, especially when trying to text with the cramped on-screen keyboard. Of course, your mileage will vary and if you’re a woman or have dainty fingers you won’t have issues with the screen or the keyboard.

    Battery life is good. In a media loop test (where we basically just ran a looped video until the batteries gave out) the Wildfire S managed to stay on for about five hours before the battery gave up the ghost. The Wildfire S uses a 1230 mAh battery (more mAh = longer battery life) and with standard use (meaning a few texts, calls, and browsing) the device lasted through a whole workday with a little bit of charge left when we found it the next morning.

    Like we mentioned earlier, the Wildfire S doesn’t have the speediest of processors. It gets by with a  600MHz Snapdragon MSM7227 CPU, so it was interesting to see where the Wildfire S landed when we ran it through our benchmarks. The Wildfire S managed to bag a score of 764 in the Quadrant benchmark that we ran, which is admittedly pretty good, just slightly behind the first Samsung Galaxy S. Unfortunately, that doesn’t translate completely to real time performance, and we did experience a bit of slowdown when visiting media-rich websites with a lot of flash content.

    Is the Wildfire S worth it? With a price tag of Php 15,500, the Wildfire S is ione of HTC’s most affordable phones. If you don’t mind the small-ish screen, and aren’t much of a power user, then the Wildfire S might be your next Android device. If you are, then it’d be best if you look at its bigger brothers and other devices along those lines.

    What’s Hot:

    Relatively affordable

    Easy to use

    Great build quality

     

    What’s Not:

    Small screen is hard to type on, especially if you have big hands

    A tad underpowered

     

    Bottomline:

    If you’re the sort that just needs a stylish, Android powered smartphone, then the Wildfire S is something you might want to consider.

     

    Buymeter: 7.8

     

    TECH SPECS

    • Operating System: Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Sense UI 2.1 Overlay
    • CPU: 600MHz Snapdragon MSM7227 CPU
    • LCD size: 3.2-inch capacitive screen
    • Physical Dimensions: 101.3 x 59.4 x 12.4 mm
    • Weight: 105 g
    • Band: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 900 / 2100

     

     


    Get your fitness on with the UltraFit3000

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Get your fitness on with the UltraFit3000

    I recently purchased a 1-year gym membership (for the first time in my life) in hopes of achieving the ultimate bridal body come my wedding next year (and hopefully fitting into that tinny tiny little wedding dress I plan on wearing.) Of course, for something as utterly tedious as exercise, I enjoy the accompaniment of my “workout” tunes, especially when I’m on the treadmill. But alas, my iPod earphones tend to fall right out in the middle of my run and it can be so distracting, I end up almost tripping right off the machine.

    But with Polk UltraFit3000 Headphones, you’re sure it stays secure and snug right where it belongs. The over-ear hook design keeps it attached to your ears while the in-ear canal design cancels out background noise so you can keep out all the painful grunting and groaning of your fellow gym-goers. Three different cable lengths options are available with volume control and a built-in mic compatible with smartphones.

     

    Source: Polkaudio

     

    Samsung unleashes Mirror Pop MV800, makes self-portrait shots a no brainer

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung unleashes Mirror Pop MV800, makes self-portrait shots a no brainer

    We’re not a big fan of self shot, duckface shots, but we know some of you are. That’s the main point behind Samsung’s 2View series of cameras which featured a small, secondary LCD screen in the front of the device. Now the Korean manufacturer has taken the idea to the next logical step and just made the primary LCD swivel 180 degrees in the newly announced Mirror Pop MV800.  Self-shooting connoisseurs will also appreciate the myriad of enhancement modes built into the camera, which includes their Smart Filter 3.0 software suite. Spec-wise, the Mirror Pop MV800 hits the sweet spot: it  features a 16.2-megapixel CCD, a 26mm Schneider 5x optical zoom lens, and an ISO 3200 light sensitivity range.
    The Mirror Pop MV800 will hit our shores this October and will retail for Php 14,990 this October.

    Qualcomm collaborates with Microsoft to deliver prototype Windows 8 devices at BUILD

    Gadgets Team
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    Qualcomm collaborates with Microsoft to deliver prototype Windows 8 devices at BUILD

    It stands to reason that Microsoft has already forged partnerships and alliances with different chip manufacturers for Windows 8. So it’s not really surprising that Qualcomm has partnered up with the Redmond firm to deliver their famed Gobi solution that powered 3G/4G LTE connectivity for prototype Windows 8 devices during the unveiling of the OS at the BUILD conference earlier this week.

    “We are excited to be at BUILD to show the Windows ecosystem and how we are working together towards commercialization of apps and hardware that will run Windows 8,” said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of product management, computing and consumer products at Qualcomm. “It is a priority for Qualcomm to work with the developer community to optimize the Snapdragon and Gobi-powered platform for Windows 8 to provide an unparalleled mobile user experience.”

    This also means that there’ll be two ARM-based chipmakers that will power Windows 8 machines in the future: NVIDIA and Qualcomm.

    Source: Qualcomm

    Intel goes full speed ahead with Ultrabooks, wants to re-invent personal computing

    Gadgets Team
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    Intel goes full speed ahead with Ultrabooks, wants to re-invent personal computing

    With all the talk about entering the post-PC world, it’s not surprising that Intel, one of the biggest chip manufacturers in the world, disagrees with the whole concept. Speaking today at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager of the PC Client Group, said the personal computing experience is undergoing another fundamental transformation as the company leads the creation of Ultrabook, a new category of mobile devices.

    “Not since the introduction of Intel Centrino technology more than 8 years ago have we witnessed such a fundamental transformation of personal computing,” said Eden. “Today’s devices powered by our 2nd generation Intel Core processors are giving people a personal computing experience that they’ve never had before and we won’t stop there. We know people desire and demand more from their computers — to create, consume and share — which is why we have challenged ourselves and the industry to make Ultrabook the most adaptable, complete and satisfying device.”

    Intel has high hopes and big plans for the platform, as evidenced by the preview of their 3rd generation Intel Core processor (codenamed “Ivy Bridge”) during IDF. Expected to be available in systems in the first half of 2012, it will deliver greater performance and energy efficiency. Intel also redesigned the processor graphics to provide better video and gaming experiences.

     

    Razer wants you to help in building their XBOX 360 arcade stick, deets inside

    Gadgets Team
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    Razer wants you to help in building their XBOX 360 arcade stick, deets inside

    Razer’s always taken feedback from the gaming community in designing their products, but this time the prolific peripheral maker is taking it a step beyond by announcing a new initiative to directly get feedback from arcade stick enthusiasts. Razer’s opening up their doors and will be giving away 200+ prototype arcade sticks to members of the community to test and get feedback to help refine the design. If you’re someone who loves the community and goes toe-to-toe with other players on a regular basis and have what it takes to win, you can sign up at www.razerzone.com/bredtofight to participate.

     

    Save time, money, and energy by driving smoothly

    Gadgets Team
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    Save time, money, and energy by driving smoothly

    Gary Lauder, managing partner of Lauder Partners and the co-creator of the Socrates at the Aspen Institute gives a talk on how road design can make a difference in saving us both time and money while saving the planet. He rethinks the need for standard signalized and un-signalized traffic intersections, particularly the roundabout as opposed to stoplights and four-way stop signs. Less braking and acceleration means more time, money, and fuel saved by the drivers as well as more safety. And as Gary Lauder points out, “They’re expensive to install, but more expensive not to.”

     

    Source: TED

    HTC outs Sensation XE, comes with Beats audio

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    HTC outs Sensation XE, comes with Beats audio

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

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

    Source: HTC

    Hands On: Windows 8 Developer Build

    Gadgets Team
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    4
    Hands On: Windows 8 Developer Build

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Tablet keyboard with elevating keys called Levitatr

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Tablet keyboard with elevating keys called Levitatr

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

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

     

    Source: Kickstarter

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