Gadgets Magazine | The Philippines' First Tech-Lifestyle Magazine

Globe offers weekend freebies for prepaid subscribers

-

17 Jan 2011

Image Credit: Globe Press Release

If you’re a Globe prepaid user who loads on a weekly basis, then this latest promo from Globe will definitely excite you.

If you accumulate at least P199 worth of load during Monday to Friday, you’ll get 200 FREE texts to all networks plus 1 hour of FREE mobile surfing on your Globe handset. All you have to do is upon reaching the target amount (P199), simply text SUPERFREE to 8888 and enjoy the perks instantly. I’m actually surprised that they extended their free texts to cater to other networks. Definitely gets a thumbs up.

We’re going to ask Globe if there are postpaid counterparts to this promotion but so far, it’s only for prepaid subscribers.

[Update]

We just confirmed that this promo is only available for prepaid. No word yet for postpaid.

Also, just to clarify the mechanics:

Subscribers need to wait until 12:00AM of Saturday before they can register. The P199 load accumulated during the week does not carry over whether or not you avail of the promo during the weekend. Each week starts with 0.

Better take advantage of this quick. It only runs until February 17.

[Apple] 10 billionth app downloader wins $10,000

Gadgets Team

-

15 Jan 2011

0

[Apple] 10 billionth app downloader wins $10,000

Apple’s App Store is about to hit 10 billion downloads worldwide. They actually put up a live counter of the iTunes downloads on their website and I’m telling you, it’s going pretty fast. One lucky soul, the 10 billionth downloader to be exact, will be going home with a $10,000 iTunes gift card, which will not only be valid for iTunes purchases but for retail items as well. Lucky for us Filipinos, the Philippines App Store is included in the list of eligible countries for the promo.

Each download is automatically counted as an entry. However, if you want to enter without downloading, you may head over to their website and fill out a form for the contest. There’s a limit of 25 entries per person per day for whichever mode of entry.

Keep downloading! The clock is ticking. How fast? By the time I finished writing this entry the counter just increased by more than 30,000.

Marriott Hotel Manila launches new buffet line up

Gadgets Team

-

14 Jan 2011

2

Marriott Hotel Manila launches new buffet line up

Set in the world-class entertainment complex of Resorts World Manila, Marriott Hotel Manila promises 24/7 genuine hospitality. Whether for business or leisure, it is the place for work and play. 342 exquisite guestrooms and suites offer the ultimate in luxury, from spacious work desk, free-standing deep soaking baths and the finest of beddings to the latest in technology including 40” flat-panel IPTVs with remote Jack Pack plug-and-play systems and videos on demand.

They’re not lacking in food choices either, their most recent addition being Ocean’s Surf at the Marriott Café. By combining the finest of seafood and meat choices, it will surely stimulate another exciting weekend of gastronomic dinner with the whole family.

Loaded with irresistible line up of fresh starters on ice such as rock lobster, oysters, clams, shrimps, and seafood salad, it is bound to be a thrilling weekend feast. Move to the hot section and explore seafood selections in all forms and sizes, blanched in sumptuous shell fish broth complemented with delectable dips and sauces. For pasta lovers, let the expert chefs whip up a tasty seafood pasta dish or satiate the palate with certified pasta recipes such as the stuffed ravioli with shrimps or homemade tortellini with tuna mousse.

Pump up the feastful indulgence with big slabs of beef and lamb slices from the carving station and other delicious options from the rotisserie. Swing by the Chinese Station for authentic dimsum, pork barbeque, marinated chicken and Beijing style duck.

All these and more are rounded off with decadent desserts, fruits in season, a gushing chocolate fountain, and meticulously mixed Italian ice cream flavors.

Ocean’s Surf will be available every Friday and Saturday dinner at PHP 1,750nett for adults and PHP 875nett for children. Children below 12 get in for half the price while children below 6 get in for free!

Marriott Cafe is located at the lobby of Marriott Hotel Manila. Open daily from 6:30am to 11:00pm, it offers a sumptuous local and international breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner buffet and irresistible a la carte menu. For more information and reservations, please call (632)988-9999, find them on Facebook or visit www.marriott.com/mnlap.

Get a chance to win a Sony Vaio E from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

Gadgets Team

-

14 Jan 2011

2

Get a chance to win a Sony Vaio E from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

VAIO E (18) — image source: coffee bean PR

Sony Philippines partnered with Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) for an exciting promo for all CBTL enthusiasts this January. Simply sign up for a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Holiday Design Swirl Card and you’ll go home with an all-purpose VAIO eco bag. What’s more is that they also get a chance to win a brand new unit of the Sony VAIO E – Sony’s line of sylish, full-featured laptops. If you’re feeling lucky, you have until January 31, 2011 to sign up and qualify for the promotion.

For more details about this promotion, simply log on to www.swirlrewards.com.ph.

My breakup letter to the iPhone.

Gadgets Team

-

12 Jan 2011

6

A couple of months back, after a tremendously long wait, I got my iPhone 4 and fell in love with it in an instant. It was the most beautiful looking phone I have ever seen. Carrying it around felt like having the hottest date on prom night. Naturally, I spent on it. A lot, actually – the case, the accessories, the apps – but it was all worth it.

3 months into the relationship with my phone, that’s when I started realizing the iPhone’s shortcomings. To add to that, I got to test the HTC Desire Z, one of the high end Android smartphones so I couldn’t help but compare. I mean sure, the iPhone can do a lot of things but there were 3 main reasons why I feel like I just have to break up with it.

1. High maintenance

The iPhone 4 is a pretty expensive device, especially here in the Philippines. The sad part is your spending won’t end there. If you’re one of those who opt not to jailbreak your device, you’re gonna find yourself spending a lot more. Why? Because the App Store makes it easy to spend with a click of a button. If you could totally afford it, it’s actually pretty convenient, I just think it sucks to see that apps you pay for in iOS are free on Android.

2. Lack of customization

Having an iPhone is like having an overly insecure girlfriend/boyfriend who doesn’t even allow you to have friends. Where do I even start? Not being able to transfer your sim card to another phone because no other phone uses microsim, no home screen customizations, no wi-fi tethering (yet), no drag and drop of files… you get the picture. Compare that to the easy breezy experience Android gives – everything is just flexible and it works!

3. Android just keeps getting better.

Meanwhile, there’s this other awesome OS with an ugly duckling story. It may have started as an okay operating system that runs on mediocre devices but with constant updates on both the software and the hardware, it really came a long way. Not too long ago there was Froyo. Then a couple of months back, Gingerbread. Now were hearing about this new treat – Ice Cream. There’s just no stopping Android at the rate they’re going right now. And seeing how awesome Honeycomb looked, we can expect updates to be more than just a couple of big fixes here and there.

Now don’t get me wrong – the iPhone is a wonderful device for a lot of people. Sadly, it’s just not the right one for me. I guess I’m one you could call a geek, if you may. I love being in control of my device, customizing it to my every need. The beauty of the iPhone is in the simplicity and user-friendliness of the OS, and of course the hardware.

End of the day, if i wanted a media/gaming device, I could just get an iPod touch which I think is totally awesome. Even if it lacks 3G, you could always use your Android’s Wi-Fi tethering to go online on your iPod touch. But with all the cross-platform apps that are getting released for Android, I doubt that’s necessary.

LG Intros Optimus Black

Archives

Gadgets Team

-

11 Jan 2011

0

CES 2011 – LG announced their latest addition to their Android smartphone line-up – the LG Optimus Black. This one is no pushover as it claims to be the world’s slimmest mobile device at 9.2mm with a 4-inch NOVA display to boot.

The NOVA display is said to be designed to be the brightest, clearest and most readable among mobile screens today at 700 nits of brightness. This aims to maintain visibility whether indoors or outdoors under strong sunlight. Not only that, the NOVA display claims to reduce power consumption by up to 50% compared to conventional LED and AMOLED.

The LG Optimus Black will be running on Froyo 2.2 on release but will also be upgradeable to Gingerbread 2.3. It will be using LG’s very own Optimus UI 2.0 which features the Gesture UI that offers intuitive commands such as lifting, shaking, and tapping. It will also be the first smartphone that uses LG’s groundbreaking Wi-Fi Direct technology for quick, hassle free data transfer between mobile devices.

Surely, this won’t be just any other Android phone and we’re definitely excited to get our hands on it when it comes out in the first half of 2011.

LG reveals glasses-free 3D technology for mobile devices

Archives

Gadgets Team

-

11 Jan 2011

1

CES 2011 – LG reveals their latest in mobile technology and 3d innovation – mobile phones with glasses-free 3D displays. LG takes the bar a notch higher with hopes of revolutionizing they way people watch movies or games on their mobile phones.

The new mobiles phones will be equipped with a 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen at 480×800 pixel resolution. They applied what they call a parallax barrier technology, which delivers “a series of light-blocking slits attached to the front of the LCD panel to create an illusion of depth and a thoroughly convincing 3D effect.”

This will let users watch videos or play games without straining their eyes with the display’s immersive 3D technology.

Does a 3D smartphone sound appealing to you? We’d like to hear your comments.

Mac App Store is out.

Archives

Gadgets Team

-

9 Jan 2011

2

The latest genius from the minds of Jobs and company has just recently been released – Mac user, meet the Mac App Store. On release it has over a thousand apps of different categories both paid for and free.

I would actually go as far as saying that this handy app revolutionizes the app discovery and purchasing for Macs. Why is it so awesome? Because it simply works. You get access to customer reviews and ratings, screenshots, and it also keeps your apps updated. I’m not sure if it’s going to be available but I can’t find a list of “similar apps” in the individual app page. I’m almost certain it will be available in the future though.

It definitely makes everything more convenient. Look for an app, hit download, wait for it to finish with a progress bar displayed on your dock – and that’s it. Completely simple and no-nonsense. For developers, the entire ecosystem of the App Store definitely is a great platform to make money with Apps. This implies that we could expect Apps with better quality and possibly even cheaper (look at all those $.99 apps for your Mac!)

Another interesting, yet easily overlooked feature of the new Mac App Store is its ability to search the app store for an app for files you can’t open on your mac. While not entirely new, it’s a handy feature to have just in case.

Bottom line is – it worked for the iPhone, it worked for the iPad, it will definitely work for the Mac. The only thing I’m curious about right now is how they’ll deal with app piracy but that’s an entirely different topic.

If you don’t have the new Mac App Store in your Mac yet, just click on the apple button and hit Software Update. It will update your OSX to 10.6.6 and after you reboot, it should appear on your dock, right beside the Finder. You can actually head over to the Apple website to see the key features of the new App Store for mac as well as a list of great mac apps to download while you’re waiting for your update to finish downloading.

Rockmelt updated to Chromium 8.

Archives

Gadgets Team

-

9 Jan 2011

0

Users of the social-networking centered browser, Rockmelt just got a great 2011 kickoff gift – a massive update. The most note-worthy among all is the upgrade to Chromium 8. Why? Because it now supports the latest Google Chrome Web Store Apps. There are also other great improvements such as faster, more reliable feeds, new keyboard shortcuts, spell checking and tons of bug fixes.

But seriously, if you haven’t tried the Chrome Web Apps yet, you definitely should. This may actually be a preview of the much anticipated Chrome OS. My personal favorite is Tweetdeck for Chrome. I mean, sure there’s a built-in Twitter app in Rockmelt but I guess it’s just not as robust as the tweetdeck version. I still use the app edge for RSS to Seth Godin’s blog, Gmail, Calendar and Facebook updates and notifications and they all work wonderfully. No more clutter of running apps on my desktop now that everything I need for the web is in Rockmelt.

AMD outs newest Fusion APUs via the Acer Aspire One 522 and eMachine eMD644

Archives

Gadgets Team

-

7 Jan 2011

0

AMD outs newest Fusion APUs via the Acer Aspire One 522 and eMachine eMD644

We’ve heard about AMD’s Fusion technology when the company unveiled the tech at last year’s CES, but it’s only now that we’re seeing full fledged, live units trickling into stores. During an event held at today at Contis in Makati, AMD, together with Acer has unveiled the newest Fusion APUs via the Acer Aspire One 522 and eMachine eMD644.

So what makes the Fusion APU special? Well, basically what AMD has done is eliminate the bottleneck between the processor and the videocard by placing both the CPU (processor) and the GPU (videocard) into a single die. This theoretically speeds up the response time of the whole kit and kaboodle, resulting in better performance and longer battery life.

This was pretty evident in the Acer Aspire One 522, as it was obvious from the demo that it’s not your typical netbook. Armed with the AMD C-series processor (1GHz, 1MB, L2 Cache, DDR3 106MHz with AMD Radeon HD 6250 graphics), it was able to handle full HD video content that was provided without any issues. Other notable features include a 250 HDD,10.1-inch HD panel, Wireless N capability and 5 hour endurance. The Aspire One 552 will retail for Php 17,900.

The eMachines eMD644 provides the full size experience, packing a 14.1-inch high res screen, HDMI port, Wireless connectivity and an AMD Dual-Core E-350 (1.60GHz, 1MB, L2 Cache, DDR3 1066MHz). The eMD644 ships with a Linux OS, though it probably won’t be an issue to just fit your favorite flavor of Windows 7 once you get it in your hands. Sadly, the eMD644 wasn’t present during the proceedings nor could we get a solid SRP from Acer, but we did get plenty of nice pics of the Aspire One 522.

[album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/Acer Aspire One 552/]

Google Reveals Android Honeycomb 3.0 Teaser Video

Archives

Gadgets Team

-

6 Jan 2011

0

Google Reveals Android Honeycomb 3.0 Teaser Video

We’ve seen Android tablets running on Froyo and it’s alright. I mean, it works and all, but it feels more like a port of the smartphone version on a bigger screen rather than an optimized tablet OS. Google however, recently released a sneak peak on what their contender to the iPad really is – the next generation Android OS specifically designed for tablets. Feast your eyes on Android’s latest treat: the Android 3.0 Honeycomb.

As you can see from the video, it has a completely revamped user interface that is really optimized for tablet use. It has a more organized screen layout which really makes maximum utility of the home screen space. It also provides a better web browsing experience with an app that looks like the Google Chrome we use on our PCs and Macs, an optimized mail client for tablet, a sleeker looking YouTube app, video chat capability via Google talk, and 3D maps. Take note that this is only a teaser, I’m sure we can expect more features for Android’s next generation OS when it comes out later this year.

Honeycomb is exactly what Android needed – an OS that can fully utilize the potential of a tablet. We’re surely can’t wait to get our hands on it.

ASUS unveils a lineup of tablet computers for 2011

Gadgets Team

-

5 Jan 2011

1

ASUS unveils a lineup of tablet computers for 2011

ASUS today announced four new tablet computers designed for just about everyone — from the productivity intensive business user to the entertainment savvy consumer. These new tablets will come in various screen sizes, and a choice of either Windows 7 or Android. Let’s meet the family, shall we?

ASUS Eee Pad Slider

The ASUS Eee Pad Slider features a 10.1″ IPS touchscreen but also has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for those who are more comfortable with physical keys. It is powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core CPU and the NVIDIA GeForce GPU so it’ll surely pack a punch. It has a built-in 5 MP camera and also a 1.2MP front facing camera. It will be running on the yet-to-be-released Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system which is really designed to bring out the true potential of the tablet. 3G is optional for those who want internet access on the go.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer

The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is another 10.1” capacitive touch-screen tablet. It has similar specs to the ASUS Eee Pad Slider but instead of having a slide-out keyboard, this one has an optional docking station that extends its battery life to up to 16 hours and has a built in QWERTY keyboard. As with the Slider, there are also 2 built-in cameras with the Transformer. There’s also a mini-HDMI port for full 1080p HD video playback on external displays.

ASUS Eee Pad MeMO

The Eee Pad MeMO is the little brother in the family with its 7.1” capacitive touch-screen. It comes with a compatible stylus pen for those who want to jot down notes or to navigate the device easier. It also comes with the Android 3.0 operating system and 1080p HD video playback – a good combo for media playback and productivity.

ASUS Eee Slate EP121

The ASUS Eee Slate EP121 is the largest among the group with a 12.1″ LED-backlit display. It is powered with an Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, which makes it on par with full-fledged notebooks today. It runs on Windows 7 Home Premium for an unparalleled software compatibility. It can be configured to up to 64GB of SSD storage, and up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM. It also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera, plus two USB 2.0 ports, along with a mini-HDMI port.

Unboxing: Blackberry Torch

Archives

Gadgets Team

-

4 Jan 2011

0

Thinking of getting a Blackberry Torch? You might want to check out Danee’s unboxing and first impression on RIM’s touchscreen smartphone first.

Petron Lubricants Offer 2011 Calendar Collection

Mika Fernandez-David

-

3 Jan 2011

1

Ringing in the New Year, the country’s leading oil company offers its 2011 Petron Calendar Collection featuring hot cars and hot babes. Buyers of Petron lubricant products can avail of these collectible calendars at selected Petron sales center outlets and Petron car care centers. The 2011 Petron Calendar Collection is available in three different versions, featuring Petron Ultron, Petron Rev X, and Petron Sprint 4T lubricants.

Petron offers a full range of lubricant products for various vehicle requirements. For gasoline engines, the Petron Ultron range of multi-grade oils are specially formulated to ensure anti-wear protection and thermal stability. Petron Rev X is the brand of premium engine oils designed for diesel engines, and is available in several variants to meet diverse operating conditions. For the fast-growing motorcycle market, Petron Sprint 4T motorcycle oils contain an essential thermal control system specially designed to meet the requirements of four-stroke motorcycles.

Petron operates a world-class lube oil blending plant at its Pandacan Terminal, where it manufactures a wide range of lubricant products. This blending facility is recognized as one of the best in the region, producing consistently high-quality products designed to meet international specifications.

Petron Corporation is the largest oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines.

First impressions: Samsung SCX-3200

Archives

Gadgets Team

-

22 Dec 2010

1

There’s a printer suited for almost any home/office setup but quite frankly, the Samsung SCX-3200 is not one of them. It does however shine in what it’s designed for – the economic office environment. The printer itself is super compact. It prints an approximate 16 pages per minute which has a yield of up to 1,500 standard pages.

The Samsung SCX-3200 is a multifunction laser printer that also lets you scan and copy documents. It is however, important to remember that this is a monochrome printer, meaning it only prints in black and white so printing images and colored letterheads is not an option. No need to worry about scanning – it does it with full color.

There are some noteworthy one-touch keys on the front panel of the Samsung SCX-3200. First is the Eco Print which lets you save both on toner and energy by printing 2 pages in one paper which is ideal for quick drafts. Next is the Print Screen button which practically lets you print whatever is on your screen. Hold it for 2 seconds and it only prints the active window. Talk about convenience.

In Ready Mode, the SCX-3200 features a First Page Output Time (FPOT) of just 8.5 seconds with a 1200 x 1200dpi print resolution. With a primary focus on productivity and efficiency, the Samsung SCX-3200 is truly ideal for the budget-conscious office setup.

Read more about it on our upcoming issue.