HP Stream Notebooks and Tablets Announced at an Affordable Price

We don't commonly see HP products priced for the budget-conscious consumers here in our country. But today, HP launched two new laptops and two new tablets that would cater your basic needs without shedding too much.

Xiaomi Piston 2 Review: Great Quality In-Ear Earphones For All

It's just a couple of months ago since Xiaomi has arrived on our land and introduced bang-for-the-buck smartphones started by Mi 3 and followed by the Redmi 1s. But not only those, the company also brought high quality accessories including the in-ear earphones, Piston 2. In this post, we will review the golden Piston rescuing the audiophiles out there without wrecking their pockets.

Smart Gives Free Internet For Prepaid Subscribers

Free internet for you mobile phone? Then here's a great news, Smart Communications, Inc. launches free mobile internet for Smart, Talk 'N Text and Sun Cellular prepaid subscribers! Over 66 million Filipinos can enjoy and be connected to the world wide web.

BlackBerry Passport: Flagship in Square, Specs and Price

It's a rare occasion wherein we see a new smartphone and get star-strucked the moment we land our sight on it without knowing the specs. But that's what many felt upon seeing the new phone by a world-renowned mobile communications company, BlackBerry.

Change Your Sun Pocket WiFi Password With These Easy Steps

Got your new pocket wifi? Here's how to change your password and WiFi SSID (name of your WiFi connection) in few easy steps:

How To Stop Third-Party Advisories From Eating Your Load (Globe)

It's been several months of  mystery with my prepaid load vanishing on my Globe sim. It's like what they say, being 'eaten' or in Filipino, 'kinakain ang load' putting your hard earned money to waste. Don't change your number at once, 'cause this may work for you.

Cosmic Rays From Mars: Fake or True?

Last night, my girlfriend asked me if the news about 'cosmic rays coming from mars' are true, and if she needed to turn her cellphone off to avoid very strong radiations. Asking for Google's help to check things out, I discovered that this buzz are circulating not just in the Philippines, but all around the world.

Don't have enough space for iOS 8 update? Try This Instead.

It's not an ordinary smartphone day for iOS users as Apple releases their newest software update, iOS 8, for selected iPhone, iPad and iPod devices starting today. The operating system contains nifty updates and couple of new features for every user to enjoy.

Google Android One Coming Soon to the Philippines

A brand new android smartphone for you this coming holiday season is possible, thanks to Google's initiative - the Android One - on bridging the gap between high quality smartphones and more than five billion people in the world yet to experience them.

Android one was launched last June in Google's I/O annual developer conference. It addresses the three main concerns on why many people can't get their hands on high-quality smartphones: the software, hardware and connectivity. It's a great news for people who still don't know what's beyond their feature phones and also those suffering with laggy and outdated android phones.

SKK V2: Flagship Looking Phone For P4999

SKK has been introducing new phones recently that made some netizens buzzing. A while ago, they introduced another incoming phone that packs promising features for just a price tag of almost P5000 - the SKK V2.

The announcement on their fb page made positive comments with its great features and affordable price but some are not impressed with its resemblance with the flagship phone, G3. However, still, the smartphone poses well on its price range. Let's see the specs below:

SKK Mobile V2 Specs:

• 5-inch qHD (540x960) IPS Display
• 1.3GHz quad-core MT6582 processor, Mali-400MP GPU
• 8GB internal phone storage
• 1GB RAM
• Dual-sim, dual standby
• 3G, HSPA+
• Bluetooth 4.0, FM Radio, GPS, A-GPS
• Android 4.4 Kitkat
• 8MP Main and 5MP Front camera
• 2500mAh battery
• Gestures, heart rate monitor sensor
• Price 4,999
• Availability TBA

It's a budget phone but armed with capable hardware that can accommodate your light to medium use of a smartphone. The gestures, heart rate sensor, and premium looks are strong points at this price range. It's good to know that innovation has come for those with tight budget.



{via: skk fb}

Cherry Mobile Alpha Style and Alpha Lux: Windows Phone Experience For All

Cherry Mobile has brought two new smartphones for Filipinos to enjoy. This time, they are not Android-based, but a phone running under the Operating System by Microsoft - Windows Phone.

Aside from running a Windows Phone OS, another feature that may catch the interest of many are the price tags of these two. First, let's take a look at their specs:

Cherry Mobile Alpha Style Specs:

• 1.2Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor
• Adreno 302 GPU
• 4-inch WVGA IPS Display
• 4GB internal phone storage
• MicroSD card slot up to 32GB
• 512MB RAM
• Dual-sim, dual standby
• VGA Front and 5MP w/ LED Flash Main camera
• 1500mAh
• 3G, HSPA+, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS
• Windows 8.1
• Colors: Black, Red
• Price (SRP) : P2,999

Cherry Mobile Alpha Luxe Specs:

• 1.2Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor
• Adreno 302 GPU
• 5-inch HD IPS Display w/ Dragontrail Glass
• 8GB internal phone storage
• MicroSD card slot up to 32GB
• 1GB RAM
• Dual-sim, dual standby
• 8MP Main camera w/ LED flash, 2MP Front camera
• 2000mAh
• 3G, HSPA+, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, GPS
• Windows 8.1
• Price: P4,999

With a glance at the above specs, we can say that the Alpha Style suits less demanding smartphone users and those with very tight budget that wants to explore the features of a Windows Phone. The Alpha Luxe on the other hand, packs much better specs that may suit a wider range of expectations.

This is a great opportunity for those wanting to try the Windows Phone world without breaking the bank.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Unveiled: Bigger and Better

One of the most anticipated and craved smartphone, the Apple iPhone, was finally unveiled in California last night. In line with the rumors circulating the web these past few months, two bigger iPhones was announced – the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus.

The vast majority of people do wished for a bigger smartphone, and Apple has answered with a bigger screen and even ventured on the phablet category pioneered by top tier Android flagships such as the Galaxy Note 4 and LG G Pro 2. But aside from its size what has changed? Let’s look at the major ones.

Their screens now sport the “Retina HD display.” So how does their resolution compare to the new and eyebrow-raising Quad HD screen of LG G3 and the new Note? The answer is that they are miles apart. But what Apple did was improve the viewing angles, contrast and other screen elements for great viewing pleasures. The iPhone 6 has a 1334 x 750 resolution resulting in 326ppi and its larger brother has a sharper one at 1920 x 1080 pixels with 401ppi. 

Both models have faster A8 processors. They are also equipped with Near Field Communications (NFC) that was skipped by the previous iPhones even though it existed few years back. But this time, the NFC was used effectively with Apple Pay, a new payment feature that was introduced on these devices.

On the aspect of mobile photography, both iPhones have the 8MP rear camera and F2.2 aperture. Yes, it’s the same resolution as the former iPhone but a new sensor was adapted for greater focus and image quality. They can take 1080p video at 60fps and slow motion ones at 240fps. The FaceTime HD camera or commonly called the front camera, also, has a new sensor allowing 80% more light. A difference seen in this aspect is that the iPhone 6 has digital image stabilization while the iPhone 6 Plus has an optical image stabilization which is better than its smaller brother.

The two models also differ in terms of battery life. The bigger one of course provides more juice as it can hold bigger battery. There’s no specific battery capacity mentioned commonly measured in mAh but the estimates said that the iPhone 6 can last up to 11 hours on WiFi browsing and up to 10 days standby time, while the iPhone 6 Plus can do up to 12 hours WiFi browsing and up to 16 days standby time.

Another cool feature these iPhones have is that they will have the new iOS 8 out-of-the-box, so you won’t wait for the OTA upgrade to enjoy the fresh features like the better messaging app, new smart keyboard, notifications, etc. 

For its price, the iPhone 6 would cost $199 dollar for 16GB in a two-year contract for carriers abroad. In the Philippines, we have seen the iPhone 5s launched at the same price and our telcos priced them when it came at approximately P2500 per month (16GB) without cash out in a two-year contract.  We don’t know when will Smart and Globe lower the prices of their iPhone 5s plans like what other carriers abroad just did and place the new iPhone 6 in the former's price range. But many hope to see these new iPhones on those reachable prices so many can experience them and enjoy. 

{source}

McDo Philippines Launches App

Innovation and keeping updated with the modern technology is a trend for international and local businesses abroad. With this, one of the Philippines favorite fast food restaurant, McDonald's, has launched a new app putting their whole menu in your pocket.

*now at version 1.3.2

The new McDo Philippines app is now on android and iOS. Fans out there like me would find this a big help on getting our favorite french fries and sundae at our bellies with less hassle and long lines.

Main Menu

Party Options

On the main menu, you can find all the features: McDelivery, Coupons, Store Locator, What's New and McCelebrations. In the McCelebration, you can browse themes and party packages if you'll be throwing an event. The Coupons option is still empty but we hope there will be freebies soon. 

The Store Locator is a nifty tool for travelers. Type in the city and it will show you the nearest branches available. Be sure to turn on your GPS on your mobile to find more accurate results.

No need to memorize the McDo Delivery numbers as this app will get your orders at your doorstep within 30 minutes. The menu is complete as well so you can choose with ease without the hassle of searching for menus online. By looking at the check out page, you can see that the delivery fee is still at P40.

The What's New option features the latest news and exclusive promos for the ones who installed this app. This is a great tool for smartphone users out there isn't it? I hope other companies and industries will follow soon. 

You can download the McDo PH app via:

Google Play
Appstore

{via @McDo_PH}

Sony Xperia Z3, Specs vs Xperia Z2: And the Difference?

A new Sony flagship phone, the Xperia Z3, has been announced at the IFA recently. It does have the flagship attributes on it, but will the current Xperia Z2 owners feel the need to upgrade? Let's take a look at their key specs.

Xperia Z3 White

Display:
Xperia Z3 - 5.2 inches Full HD (1080 x 1920 pixels), ~424ppi, Triluminous Display
Xperia Z2 - 5.2 inches Full HD (1080 x 1920 pixels), ~424ppi, Triluminous Display

The Xperia Z3 didn't get the bump on its screen size and stayed at 5.2 inches. The screen resolution also stayed the same at Full HD, 1080 x 1920 pixels. It's quite a puzzle why it didn't get the QHD screen, but FHD does look good and sharp, anyway.

Processor:
Xperia Z3 - 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, Adreno 330
Xperia Z2 - 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, Adreno 330

The same chipset, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, as the Z2 was used. Although, by looking closely, the clock speed was bumped by a small amount. It won't give significant boost, but may help still on doing heavy tasks.

Physical Attributes:
Xperia Z3 - 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm, 152g, IP68 certified
Xperia Z2 - 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm, 163g, IP58 certified

The Xperia Z3 has explicit revisions in its design, including its rounded edges and buttons. By looking at the dimensions above, the Z3 is thinner and lighter compared to its predecessor. It's now IP68 certified from IP58 meaning it can go a little further under the water.

Memory:
Xperia Z3 - 16GB internal phone storage, expandable up to 128GB via microSD, 3GB RAM
Xperia Z2 - 16GB internal phone storage, expandable up to 128GB via microSD, 3GB RAM

The Z3 also retained its internal phone storage. The RAM also stayed at 3GB.

Camera:
Xperia Z3 - 20.7MP main camera and 2.2MP front camera
Xperia Z2 - 20.7MP main camera and 2.2MP front camera

The camera is also at 20.7MP, same as the Xperia Z2. Although in the new flagship, the light sensitivity was boosted and the highest in a smartphone so far at ISO 3200. It means better photos even in low light conditions.

Battery:
Xperia Z3 - 3100mAh
Xperia Z2 - 3200mAh

The battery was reduced by 100mAh compared to the last gen Xperia. But this time, they emphasized a two-day battery life on average use. It can even extend the juices further using the ultra stamina mode limiting to the phone's basic call and text functions.

Overall, the changes are not that head-turning when compared to its former flagship. You may not feel the urge to upgrade if you already have the Z2 which still looks gorgeous and premium even though it aged a bit.



{sources 1, 2, 3}

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 & Note Edge: Powerful and Innovative Smartphone

Samsung has finally unpacked its latest flagship in this year's IFA, the Galaxy Note 4, plus a big surprise to all with the announcement of the Galaxy Note Edge. The pioneer phablet packs a big bump of specs upgrade and new cool innovations.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

The Galaxy Note Series is prominent for its unique feature like the S-Pen for taking your notes and a top-notch hardware for demanding and heavy users. In this fourth generation of note, the display stayed in its comfort zone at 5.7 inches. The Galaxy Note 4 has still one of the most gorgeous screen in the market with its Quad-HD (2560x1440 pixels) Super AMOLED display. 

The Galaxy Note Edge on the other hand has slight difference from the Note 4. It has an extra 160 x 1440 pixels curved screen on its right. This display on the edge is a remarkable innovation providing added functionality and ease of use. It is like an extra notification bar on the side which gives you the shortcuts to favorite apps and notifications even if you're playing a whole-screen game or watching a video.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

The imaging department has been also upgraded with its 16MP Main camera with Optical Image Stabilization as an aid for your shaky hands for a sharper image. The front camera is a 3.7MP with f1.9 and wide angle lens for better selfie and group shots.

Of course, these note devices are powered by one of the newest and fastest processors around. Depending on location or market, a 2.7GHz Krait 450 Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Processor with Adreno 420 or an Exynos 5433 with four 1.3GHz Cortex A-53 and four 1.9GHz Cortex A-57 coupled with Mali-T760 will be available.

The Galaxy Note 4 will be available starting October globally and the Note Edge in select markets later this year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Specs:

• 5.7 inch Quad-HD Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440 pixels), ~515ppi, GG3
• 2.7GHz Krait 450 Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Processor or Exynos 5433 ( quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex A-53 and quad-core 1.9GHz Cortex A-57)
• 16MP Main camera with Optical Image Stabilization & 3.7MP with f1.9 front camera
• 32GB internal phone storage expandable up to 64GB
• 3GB RAM
• LTE, HSPA+
• Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, Infrared
• Android Kitkat 4.4.4
• GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
• Accelerometer, Gyro, Heart-rate sensor, Promixity, Gesture, UV, Finger scanner
• 3,220mAh, with fast charging
• S-Pen Optimized Features
• 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5mm, 176g (Note 4)

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Specs:

• 5.6-inch Quad-HD Super AMOLED (2560x1600 pixels), ~524ppi, GG3
• 2.7GHz Krait 450 Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Processor or Exynos 5433 ( quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex A-53 and quad-core 1.9GHz Cortex A-57)
• 16MP Main camera with Optical Image Stabilization & 3.7MP with f1.9 front camera
• 32/64GB internal phone storage expandable up to 64GB
• 3GB RAM
• LTE, HSPA+
• Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, Infrared
• GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
• Accelerometer, Gyro, Heart-rate sensor, Promixity, Gesture, UV, Finger scanner
• 3,000mAh battery
• 151.3x82.4x8.3mm, 174g

{source 1, 2, 3}

THL T6S, Another Affordable 5-inch Smartphone

Novo7 Tech will be bringing the THL T6s on September 5 at their selected branches. It's another interesting smartphone with a large 5-inch screen and suits the common needs of a budget-conscious consumers out there.

The T6S can be seen on online stores already but at a higher price compared to this upcoming offer. It will be priced at P3,999 battling closely with SKK Phoenix G1 and Cherry Mobile Flare 3.

It packs a 5-inch screen with 854x480 pixels. Despite its low resolution at this large screen size, the JDI screen with IPS technology might be there to compensate it. JDI stands for Japan Display Inc., which is a joint venture by companies Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi. With this we can expect a great viewing experience.

A 1.3GHz MTK6582m quad-core processor was used. It is paired with Mali-400MP, a pretty combination for medium to slightly heavy-demanding games. The internal phone storage is at 8GB with microSD slot up to 32GB, and a 1GB RAM for multitasking.

The T6S is powered by 1900mAh battery which is just good with moderate usage. A 5MP main camera and 0.3MP Front camera are also provided.  Other features are dual-sim, dual standby, bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and Android 4.4.2 Kitkat.

For more info, head to Novo7 Tech fb.