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Smart Big Bytes 50 just got an upgrade with a bigger allocated data volume

Jam Ancheta
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2
Smart Big Bytes 50 just got an upgrade with a bigger allocated data volume

Smart Prepaid’s Big Bytes 50 just got even better because Smart Prepaid has upgraded their offer and it offers an increase allocated data volume and also a bigger and better value-added services that you would truly enjoy. With the new Big Bytes 50 of Smart, you can now have a total of 950MB of access!

 

I know,  you would prefer Wi-Fi over this one for watching movies on IFlix and Fox or listening to Spinnr but c’mon guys, can you imagine the convenience of watching the latest episodes of Conan or watching the latest flicks at FOX  everywhere?   The enhanced Smart Big Bytes 50 now offers 350MB of data access which is an upgrade from 300MB from the former promo and this time the new Big Bytes 50 will have a FREE 600 MB data for iFlix, FOX, and Spinnr. Not just that, you’ll also enjoy 3 days subscription to FOX (via Viewstream).

 

This promo just shows that Smart wants you to live the Smart Life by having entertainment everywhere you go. If you want to know more about it, head over to http://smart.com.ph/bigbytes.

ASUS Zenpad 7.0 Review

Jam Ancheta
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ASUS Zenpad 7.0 Review

The ASUS Zenpad tablet series was recently launched in the Philippines and it set to replace the ASUS MeMopad and Fonepad series of tablets. Compared to their previous tablets, the ASUS Zenpad series not only focus on the hardware inside but they also give importance to the design of the tablet. If you’re interested with this tablet, just read on and check out my review of the ASUS Zenpad 7.0

 

Design

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The ASUS Zenpad 7.0 is affordable but that doesn’t mean that the tablet should have a cheap design. This tablet looks fashionable with its inspiration from fashion items such as the clutch bag. At the back, you’ll see the textured back cover that looks like leather in a form that looks like a bag. The back cover is also replaceable with other colored back covers and there are also some accessories that are compatible on the ASUS Zenpad 7.0 like the Audio Cover which will give you 5.1 channel surround sound with just a cover.

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The tablet is made up of plastic but it doesn’t feel cheap and I really like the feel of the tablet and it is very handy too thanks to its thin bezels and a more curvy back. Actually, holding this tablet in your hand still feels comfortable and it can even fit on my side pockets.

 

Removing the back cover will also reveal the sim card slots and the microSD card slot if you feel that the tablet needs more storage. Again, the back is really sexy and I’m pretty sure that a lot of people especially women, would love the design of the ASUS Zenpad 7.0

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Since there’s phone functionality on this tablet, you can also enjoy texting and calling on this one. This one also comes with HSPA+ and unfortunately, its chipset doesn’t support LTE yet. But if this tablet would support LTE, I’m pretty sure that this tablet would have a more expensive price tag.

 

Compared to its bigger brother, the ASUS Zenpad S 8.0 that packs a USB Type-C (Yes it does come with the latest USB Type-C) , the ASUS Zenpad 7.0 only supports MicroUSB and unfortunately, this one doesn’t support fast charging. But don’t worry, filling the juice of this tablet is still pretty fast.

 

Display

 

The ASUS Zenpad 7.0 obviously got a responsive 7-inch display with a resolution of 1280×800. A size that works perfectly well for an Android tablet and a resolution that’s satisfying and acceptable for me.

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Actually, the display is bright and the colors are really vivid however I noticed that the contrasts doesn’t look right sometimes. It isn’t the best display for a 7-inch but for a tablet with an affordable price and hardware like this, I wouldn’t complain.

 

Software and performance

 

The ASUS Zenpad 7.0 got a new Intel Atom X3-C3230 processor with 2GB of RAM. There’s a big chance that you haven’t heard this processor yet. It’s part of the SoFIA mobile chips of Intel, the SoFIA chips like this one are the affordable processors that aims to bring affordable devices with Intel processors inside.

 

Compared to its predecessors, there’s a decent 2GB of RAM inside it and you can open more apps simultaneously on this one compared to the Fonepad 7. After the first update of the ASUS Zenpad 7.0, I notice a performance upgrade and it is now smoother than expected.

 

The tablet is a breeze to use and the ZenUI is really fast and smooth despite having an entry-level processor from Intel. The UI is very similar to the one on the ASUS Zenfone 2 that’s why if you already used that phone, you won’t probably have a hard time using this one. Oh and there’s the very useful double tap to wake on this tablet too.

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ZenUI uses a vivid set of colors and you could customize its homescreen such as its fonts, icons, and scroll effects. There are also some bloatwares that are included in the Zenpad 7.0 but some of them are really such as PC Link that lets you view your display on your computer, Share Link that lets you transfer files to another device using Wi-Fi, Power Saver, and Photocollage. The rest? I think ASUS should remove those applications.

 

There might be a new processor and a bigger 2GB of RAM inside it but it doesn’t mean that you can run all of the games that you wanted on this tablet. Yes, it is more powerful than the previous Intel processors running on the Fonepad but it isn’t powerful as the one on the Zenfone 2 ZE551ML which is a 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 Quad-Core processor.

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I’ve tried some light games such as Clash of Clans and they were smooth, responsive and I had no problems with it while UFC is playable but it is not so smooth and you can clearly see the drop in frame rates. In Asphalt 8, I was able to play it nicely but I notice that there were some drop in framerates. Most of the games would run on this game but don’t expect smooth framerates on heavy games. On Antutu, I was able to get a score of 19928.

 

Camera

 

The ASUS Zenpad 7.0 got an 8-Megapixel Rear camera and there’s no LED flash. This isn’t really made for shooting but there’s the lowlight mode that you can see on the Zenfone 2. Even at well-lit conditions, I could notice some grainy shots and darker colors. But hey, c’mon guys. This is a tablet not a smartphone.

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Battery

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Before the first update of this tablet, the battery life was terrible and sometimes, it really drains out fast. But after that, I was able to use this tablet for a whole day. An 8 hour of continuous use of this tablet would drain this tablet from 100 to 0.

 

 

Verdict

 

The ASUS Zenpad 7.0 not only features an upgrade in performance but also in aesthetics. The design is something to flaunt about but you can also do more with its faster Intel Atom X3-C3230 processor with 2GB of RAM but mobile gamers should wary that not all heavy games could run smoothly on this tablet. The tablet is now available for an affordable price of P7,995.

LG G4 Stylus arrives in the Philippines

Jam Ancheta
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0
LG G4 Stylus arrives in the Philippines

If you love the design of the LG G4 but you want a bigger display with stylus and a more affordable price then you might be interested with LG’s newest offering here in the Philippines, the LG G4 Stylus. This smartphone features a mid-range specs and it doesn’t directly compete with the latest Note devices out there.

 

There’s a 5.7-inch HD IPS display too in where you could scribble and doodle on the phone with the built-in Quick Memo+ application. With the Stylus pen, you could write notes, draw, and of course, edit photos.

 

LG G4 Stylus

  • 5.7-inch HD IPS Display
  • 1.4GHz Octa-Core processor
  • 1GB LPDDR3 RAM
  • 8GB eMMC Internal Storage with MicroSD card slot
  • 13-Megapixel Rear Camera with Laser Autofocus
  • 5-Megapixel Front Camera
  • Dual SIM
  • 3000mAh Removable Battery
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop

 

Other cool features on the LG G4 are also present in the LG G4 Stylus including Knock Code, Gesture Shot, and Glance View. The LG G4 Stylus retails at P10,990 and it comes in Titan Black and White

HyperX Cloud Core Gaming Headset Review

Jam Ancheta
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HyperX Cloud Core Gaming Headset Review

When you want to experience an awesome gaming experience, of course, a good audio experience is needed. Why? Because how would you even enjoy a game if you cannot feel the experience and its surroundings. But of course, not only you need an awesome audio experience but also a headphone with the gaming feel and really catered for gamers. So today, we’ll review the latest headphones from Kingston, the HyperX Cloud Core.

 

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The first time you laid eyes on this baby, you could easily feel the gaming aura inside this headphone. The design of the HyperX Cloud Core got a gamer feel and aura in it. The headphone got a large earpads with the HyperX logo in it and you can immediately feel that it’s not a cheapo one because of its premium materials.

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The frame and the earpads is made up of aluminum which makes it more durable and the feel that this wont broke easily. However, despite having a metal build, the HyperX Cloud Core is light.

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The headband also features a stitched with a soft cushion that feels very comfortable to the head. However, I feel that this kind of  material will wear and tear as you’ll use this headphones everytime. The earpads is very comfortable and I didn’t experience any ear fatigues when I’m using this headphone for 4 hours.

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Again, the Hyper X Cloud Core is really made for gaming and yes, it works on different gaming consoles such as PS4 and Xbox One but you’ll have the adapter for your Xbox One controller. If you’re using it on your PC and you need a longer cable, there’s an extension cable in the box and the cable has two different ends, one for microphone and the other one for the audio input.

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If you don’t need the microphone and you found it annoying on the Cloud Core, you could remove it and just cover it. This mostly happens when you play offline games and you just need to experience and feel the audio of the game.

 

The Microphone that is attached on the headphones is flexible and it can be bent depending on your needs. It performs well when communicating and it produce less hisses and works great on online games. However, I think the microphone needed a deeper and more bass in recording but still, the headphones performed pretty good.

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When it comes to audio quality, the HyperX Cloud Core didn’t disappoint. I played different games such as Metal Gear:  Ground Zeroes and you could clearly feel and hear the environment and everything in the game. There were no missing elements and everything and anything is just clear.

 

The HyperX Cloud Core doesn’t just work great on games but it works pretty well on watching movies too. I’ve watched the first Transformers movie on my laptop using this headphones and I can immediately conclude after watching that Michael Bay would be very happy to hear the explosions and details of his movie using this headphones.

 

Verdict

 

The HyperX Cloud Core is an awesome gaming headphones. The design is durable and premium but this one is still comfortable to use. The gaming headphones also works well on different platforms such as Playstation, PC and Xbox but it isn’t recommended for mobile use due to its large design.

 

This HyperX Cloud Core is an awesome headphone and yes, I would recommend this one especially to gamers.

6 Cool things you didn’t know about WeChat

Jam Ancheta
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0
6 Cool things you didn’t know about WeChat

WeChat isn’t new to us and we know that this messaging app is one of the best in the market and this messaging app is available in different devices such as Android, iOS, Windows and even Mac OS X. I’ve been using WeChat for a while now and I really love its features. Speaking of features, did you know that WeChat has some features that you probably didn’t know?

 

1. Use your voice as a password

Do you think those patterned passwords are cool? Well, here’s a better one because you can now use your voice to log-in to WeChat. With WeChat’s Voiceprint, you’ll now be able to login with your voice once you input it as your password. And yes, WeChat will recognize the voice through intonations to verify the user’s identity. How to set it up? It’s easy! Just log-in to WeChat and go to Me > Settings > My Account > Voiceprint and just follow the instructions!

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2. Translate friend’s post into your language

Got a friend from other country but you don’t understand the language that he used in his post? Worry no more because you can now translate those posts in to your home language. All you need to do is to long-press the moments post you would like to translate and select translate and there we go!

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3. Keep your chat even after switching devices

If you’re like me who’s always switching devices then you probably would want this feature. You can now migrate your chat logs in WeChat! Yes! How? Be sure that both your devices are on the same Wi-Fi Network then go to Me > Settings > General > Chat Log Migration and just follow the on-screen instructions and there we go! Your chat logs are now transferred!

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4. You can now upload multiple photos in one post

Yes folks! WeChat had an update in where you could upload multiple photos with bigger thumbnails and just share it with your friends!

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5. Your wearable devices works well with WeChat

Wearables are starting to become popular with the introduction of different smartwatches. But did you know that with WeChat, you could  start a new chat, send text messages, reply to messages, and even share heart rate information with other users right from your wrist? Yes, you can do that on your wearable devices.

 

6. Login to WeChat on your desktops

Like what I’ve said earlier, you can now login your WeChat accounts on your Windows and Mac devices.  You could also share files or even take a screenshot! It’s easy and awesome. WeChat for Mac is available for Mac OS X 10.7 and while Windows users won’t have too much a compatibility problems.WeChat-Windows-File-Sharing

OnePlus 2 now available in the Philippines!

Jam Ancheta
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0
OnePlus 2 now available in the Philippines!

The hottest smartphones these days are the ones that has a powerful hardware and specifications but still sports an incredible low price. Just like the Oneplus 2. The company called it as the flagship killer due to its powerful hardware but amazing low price. The Oneplus 2 64GB is priced at $389 which is around Php18,219 in our currency. For a smartphone with 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 810 processor, 64GB Storage and 4GB of RAM, this smartphone is too freakin good for its price.

 

This smartphone might be too affordable but it isn’t easy to get one because you need invites to buy this smartphone. Fortunately here in the Philippines, you don’t need an invite system anymore because Widget City is now selling this smartphone for P20,990. Yes guys, no need to look for invites and a flight to Hong Kong just to buy this smartphone because the OnePlus 2 64GB is now available at Widget City without the invite system. If you’re interested, head over to OnePlus 2 page of Widget City.

 

OnePlus Two Specifications

  • 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa-Core processor
  • 5.5-inch LTPS LCD with Corning Gorilla Glass 4
  • 64GB Internal Storage
  • 4GB RAM
  • 13-Megapixel Rear Camera with Dual LED Flash
  • 5-Megapixel Front Camera
  • Dual SIM
  • Bluetooth
  • Wi-Fi
  • GPS
  • Fingerprint Sensor
  • LTE
  • 3300mAh battery
  • Android 5.1 with Oxygen UI

 

Pre-order a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S6 Edge Plus Right Now!

Jam Ancheta
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1
Pre-order a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S6 Edge Plus Right Now!

Yes folks, you can now pre-order the next big thing at Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. These are the newest smartphones from Samsung and they feature some awesome hardware like the premium design, larger and better display, powerful processor and 4GB of RAM. Not only that, both smartphones has an improved camera and a longer battery life which is what the most people wanted.

 

Well, if you’re interested, you can now pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus right from August 17 up to 30. You can pre-order at any Samsung Experience Store nationwide by paying a down-payment of P2,000 which can be cash or credit card.

 

Not only that, they also get a freeFast Wireless Charging Pad (worth PHP2,299), a free Clear View Cover (worth PHP2,299), freeOne-year Accidental Damage and Theft Insurance with Malayan Insurance, a FREE Micro USB Connector to easily transfer content from your old device (worth PHP599), free P500 Uber Black ride for new Uber users, and free Extended Warranty for two (2) years.

 

However, If you want to get a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or a Galaxy S6 Edge Plus from Smart, head over to this link but if you’re on Smart Infinity and you want to get more perks, head over to Smart Infinity’s Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus page

ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe Special edition pack a whooping 256 GB Internal Storage

Jam Ancheta
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4
ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe Special edition pack a whooping 256 GB Internal Storage

Damn. ASUS really answered the prayers of those people who felt that their 64GB ASUS Zenfone 2 isn’t enough. Well guys, ASUS has just announced a ridiculously special edition of the ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe with a freaking 256GB amount of Internal storage. Yes guys. This isn’t a joke, the ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe Special Edition has a 256GB of Internal storage and it is probably bigger than the storage on your laptop today.

 

Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe Special EditionSpecs

  • 5.5-inch 1920×1080 FHD display with Gorilla Glass 3
  • Intel Atom Z3580 2.5Ghz with Hyper Thread Technology
  • 4 GB LPDDR3 RAM
  • 256GB storage with MicroSD card slot
  • 13 Megapixel Rear Pixelmaster Camera
  • 5 Megapixel Front wide-angle Camera
  • Bluetooth
  • WiFi
  • LTE Cat 6
  • Dual-Sim
  • 3000mAh battery
  • Polygonal design back cover
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop

The specs of the ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe is almost the same and the most notable one is the smartphone has a bigger 256GB of Internal storage. Oh and yeah, there’s an expandable storage too if you feel that 256GB isn’t enough for you. You know what, that storage is really great for some of your favorite “artsy films”. Unfortunately, the price of this smartphone wasn’t revealed.

ASUS S1 Projector Review

Jam Ancheta
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0
ASUS S1 Projector Review

Before, most projectors are gigantic and they’re not so portable and they’re mostly stuck in meeting rooms or living rooms because they’re heavy and big. But today, there are a lot of pico projectors that are now available to consumers. Yep, these projectors that are so small that you can bring them anywhere. Today, we’ll review the ASUS S1 Projector, a small-size projector that you can bring everywhere.

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The ASUS S1 Projector is small. If you haven’t seen any pico projectors before, you might be amazed with it and especially if you’ve seen that this projector can operate on its own without the need of a power outlet. Yes, this projector works even without the need of power outlet thanks to the 6000mAh battery inside it. Not just that, the ASUS S1 Projector also works as a powerbank for your mobile devices.

Again, this projector is very portable due to its small and lightweight design. It also comes with a pouch that protects your projector and when it comes to battery life, the ASUS S1 projector does a pretty job of staying for up to more than 3 hours of presenting at battery mode which is pretty good.

The build of the ASUS S1 Projector is made up of metal and you could easily recognize that it’s an ASUS product due to its iconic concentric circle design with chamfered edges that is also present on different ASUS products. At the top, you could see the four buttons which you can use as the controls.

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At the back, you could see the different ports and buttons such as the HDMI/MHL, audio, DC Power and the Power button and unfortunately, you cannot connect your devices to the projector wirelessly. You’ll have to buy a Chromecast or any wireless mirroring dongles for that.

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The ASUS S1 Projector might be small but the viewing experience was big pretty amazing. I was surprised that this projector was able to project a very large display (More than 42-inch diagonal display) even at approximately 1 meter and this works perfectly great whether you’re outside or at the office.

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The ASUS S1 Projector has a 200-lumens which is pretty good for a projector this small. However, compared to other projectors, you probably need to buy a small tripod for this one because there’s no stand included for the ASUS S1 Projector.

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The native resolution of the projector is only at 854×480. That might be a problem to some people because texts and other elements might be unreadable to you but c’mon guys, this is a projector not a monitor that you use everyday. One of the features that this projector lacks is the Zoom feature. You can’t zoom in or zoom out the projected display, instead, you’ll have to adjust the projector for that.

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Overall, the ASUS S1 Projector is a great companion especially if you’re an office guy or you always do presentations to your clients. It’s very handy and the battery life was pretty good. Not just that, this projector also works pretty well at home when you’re watching a movie and just connect your audio system at the audio jack. If you want this projector, you could get it for P18,990. Not bad for its hardware.

More than 25 ASUS monitors received TÜV Rheinland certifications

Jam Ancheta
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0
More than 25 ASUS monitors received TÜV Rheinland certifications

ASUS has announced that 26 of their monitors has been certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue light which is more than any other monitor brand. These latest ultra-low blue light monitors from ASUS that features four filter settings to reduce blue light emissions by up to 70%. Aside from that, 28 monitors have also been certified flicker-free by TÜV Rheinland. These range of monitors from ASUS ensure that you’ll have a comfortable viewing experience.

 

There are 28 monitors that received the TÜV Rheinland flicker-free certifications. The ASUS Flicker-Free technology uses Smart Dynamic Backlight adjustment to reduce flicker by avoiding low brightness levels that lead to high-speed LED backlight cycling. Monitors with ASUS Flicker-Free technology lets you do more productivity and prevents eye fatigue, irritation, and eye-strains.

 

These ultra-low blue light range of monitors of ASUS protects the users from harmful blue light emissions. These monitors that features ultra-low blue light are the PG and MG series for gaming, Designo Series for home entertainment and PA and PB series for graphics professionals and the essential series.

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