Our mobile phones are very important to us. More than a decade ago, our phones can only do calls but today, it has become our personal assistant, portable game console and sometimes, we rely our everyday routine on our smartphones. Personally, I used my smartphone for E-Books, calendar and even note-taking. For some people, Losing a smartphone is comparable to losing a body organ. Before, these mobile phones are more of a luxury. I remember having a phone when I was a kid. It was useless for me because there are only a few of us who has a mobile phone and has a prepaid load. But today, almost every Filipinos has their own mobile phones because these mobile phones are becoming cheaper and cheaper everyday.
Today, some people used their smartphones to type documents and even create powerpoint presentations (I’m one of them!). So why is your mobile phone so important? It’s simple. Because without mobile phones we would have less productivity. Our social networking sites, e-mail and SMS can be accessed thru our mobile phones. It’s really hard to communicate with someone without our mobile phones. In short, losing or damaging your smartphone was like losing half of your life that’s why we need to protect our gadgets.
If you really care about your gadgets then better check out Globe’s Gadget Care. If you’ll get a plan from Globe, Gadget Care is free on the 1st month but you can extend it every month by paying depending on what category your device belongs.
For the full press release of Gadget Care, check out the document below
Looks like you can get a taste Kitkat soon at Widget City. No, it’s not the Kitkat chocolate bar that you’ve been craving for days! It’s the Android 4.4 Kitkat inside the Nexus 5. The LG made Nexus 5 is the first Android smartphone to be powered by Android 4.4 Kitkat. So what’s inside the Nexus 5? You got a blazing 2.26 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 4.95″ FHD IPS display, 2 GB of RAM, 16/32 storage, Android 4.4 Kitkat and LTE. All of that for P21,900. And yes, the Nexus 5 is one of the most affordable smartphones with Snapdragon 800 processor inside. If you’re planning to get one now then better check out Widget City’s Facebook page.
I’m a big fan of mirrorless cameras. I’ve always prefer mirrorless cameras than the DSLRs because they are more portable, thinner and small but it can shoot DSLR-quality images. But of course it has its disadvantages too like the lack of viewfinder on some mirrorless cameras, a few lenses and accessories are available and the lens are much expensive than the DSLR cameras. But the Samsung NX2000 Smart Camera is different. Why? Because it has the features that you can’t see on other cameras.Want to know more about it? Check it out after the break. The Samsung NX2000 doesn’t have too much complicated buttons because of the touch-screen display. At the top of the camera, there’s the direct link button, the control wheel, the power switch. while on the rear LCD, you’ll find the record, home and playback button. The camera looks clean and the textures of the body and buttons of the camera were really great.
At the bottom you can find the battery compartment along with the microSD card slot. I was kinda disappointed with that because I always prefer an SD card for a camera because I don’t need to find my adapter just to plug it on my laptop. It’s not really a dealbreaker but hey, at least you could use your microSD cards on your smartphone on this one.
For those people who love touch screen devices, I’m pretty sure that you’ll love this one. The Samsung NX2000 ditched most of the hardware buttons in favor of the large 3.7” touch screen display. Yes, you can control most of the settings on the touch screen display. I find it unwieldly at first but after using it for a few weeks, I already got used to it.
The Samsung NX2000 might be made up of plastic but it doesn’t feel cheap. Like what I’ve said earlier, the textures are great, the camera is very comfortable to hold and the camera is very compact. The thumbpad was a nice addition for the grip too. Actually, I didn’t used the camera strap because it was already comfortable to hold
I found the Samsung NX2000’s touch to focus feasible. Touch to focus makes it easier for me to focus on objects, you’ll surely miss the viewfinder here because it doesn’t come in the box. Anyway, looking at the LCD isn’t that bad unless if you’re outside on a bright sunlight. And the flash? you’ll have to attach it on the the top.
One of the unique features that I really like on the Samsung NX2000 smart camera is Direct Link. So what does it do? Basically it transfers the photos that you took in your camera directly to your smartphone or tablet as long as you have the Samsung Smart Camera app in it. How does it connect to you device? It transfers full-resolution images to your device via Wi-Fi. Oh and speaking of that, you could also connect your Samsung NX2000 to your device using NFC but my Nexus 7 wasn’t able to do so. I have to connect my Nexus 7 manually. I think only Samsung Galaxy devices could connect to the smart camera using NFC. It is really a great feature for those people who are covering live events and then they immediately upload it to Instagram or Twitter.
Not only you can transfer files using Direct link, you can also upload your images directly to Facebook, Skydrive and even Picasa. This is really a nice addition for those people who wants to back up or upload their images immediately to the web. I didn’t had too much problems uploading pictures to Facebook or transferring files to my tablet, I just find it too hard for me to type in my account details on the camera.
I tried the camera for a few weeks and of course, I test its responsiveness and I’m happy with the quick shutter response but focusing is a bit slow especially on low light. So why don’t you just check out the sample photos that I took using the Samsung NX2000:
I know, I know. I don’t really have a keen eye for some good shots heehee. The lens that’s included in the box is a 20-50mm kit which performs really well during our review. The details were very good and it provides a very sharp and detailed photos especially when in a decent lighting condition. The macro shot performance performed well too.
The ISO starts at ISO100 and it is up to ISO25600 but of course, the higher the ISO, the more noise you’ll see in your shots. I notice that the details were lost at around ISO 6400. I really don’t recommend you guys to go at ISO25600. The images would probably suck and it’ll probably have a high level of noise.
The Samsung NX2000 also has a built-in Digital filter but I barely used that. Well, almost all digital cameras have that feature already. You could also alter the hue, sharpness, contrast and saturation. It’s a nice feature but I don’t really love using it. But yeah, it’s a nice addition to a smart camera.
I’ve been using the Samsung NX2000 Smart Camera on some of my hands-on videos but most of them were recorded at 720p. Here’s a sample video that was recorded in Full HD:
There’s wind cut if I want to and I noticed that the audio recording was pretty good. There’s no OIS which was kinda disappointing. The focusing wasn’t that bad too.
Another thing that you’ll love when you buy the Samsung NX2000 is that it comes with Adobe Lightroom 4 in the box. It’s the full version so yeah, you could enjoy editing your images. Verdict
The Samsung NX2000 Smart Camera is the entry level smart camera of Samsung. It is a smart camera that is not running on Android but still, it has some cool features like direct link which is great especially for those people who are live tweeting on their Android or iOS devices.
I like the large 3.7” display but It took me sometime before I got used to adjusting the settings using the touch display. As for the lens, there are already a variety of NX lens that are available in the market but if you’re not really into serious photography then the 20-50mm kit is already good.
I was only disappointed with the lack of OIS, the use of MicroSD instead of SD and the screen’s sunlight legibility. The Samsung NX2000 is priced at P30,000. I know, there are a lot of mirrorless cameras out there in the market which are cheaper than the Samsung NX2000, but remember, this is not just a mirrorless camera. This is a Smart Camera and it has a touch screen display.
Looks like Nokia is catching up with the tablet and phablet race with the announcement of Nokia Lumia 2520, Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320. And yes, they still choose Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 for it. Both the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 packs 6-inch screen but the 1520 has a much better screen and better specifications. Actually, I’m more interested with the Nokia Lumia 1320 which has a midrange specs but it is pegged at $339 which is a very reasonable price. Why don’t you we check out the new devices of the Nokia after the break. New Apps Windows Phone users have been asking for an Instagram app a long time ago and it seems that their prayers have been answered because Instagram will be coming to the Windows Phone in the coming weeks. And no, it’s not the 3rd party app but the real and official app of Instagram. Other apps that would be arriving on the Windows Phone are Flipboard and Vine. Looks like Windows Phone is catching up in the race
Nokia Lumia 2520
Finally, Nokia has announced a new 10.1″ FHD tablet in their lineup. The Nokia Lumia 2520 runs on a Snapdragon 800 processor which is one of the fastest processor in the market right now. It also means that it will be running on Windows RT. Yep, no legacy apps for you guys. The Lumia 2520 will be using 6.7 MP Zeiss camera so you’ll have a better shots at low light. I guess they used the same camera on the Nokia Lumia 720. There’s a Nokia Power Keyboard as an additional accessory which adds up five more hours of battery life. Oh and of course, you’ll still have some of the Nokia Services like Here maps and the tablet would have LTE inside. The Nokia Lumia 2520 starts at $499.
Nokia Lumia 1320
The Nokia Lumia 1320 is one of first phablets of Windows Phone. It doesn’t have the fastest or the meanest hardware but it does have an interesting price. The Nokia Lumia 1320 has a large 6″ HD IPS Clearblack display, 1.7 GHz Dual-Core processor, LTE and 5 MP camera with LED flash. You could also experience Nokia Camera with this phablet. The Nokia Lumia 1320 start at $339. Actually, this is the phone that I’m eyeing right now.
Nokia Lumia 1520
This the newest flagship phone of Nokia, The Nokia Lumia 1520. This is the first Windows Phone to pack a Full HD display and Snapdragon 800 processor. There’s a 20 MP Pureview camera too which is already good enough but still not on par with the Nokia Lumia 1020 in terms of Megapixels. Now, if you’re complaining that Windows Phone specs sucks then better check out the Nokia Lumia 1520. The Nokia Lumia 1520 starts at $749. Hmm. Quite expensive.
Who doesn’t love watching movies on their phones, tablets or even at their computers right? Well, the only thing that I really hate about it is that I have to download it before watching it. Well, if you really love watching movies wherever you are then better check out Clickplay. So what does this service do? Basically, it allows you to rent a movie that you can watch and play for unlimited times in 48 hours. And no, you don’t need to download anything just to watch the movie, all you need is a Wi-Fi or a 3G. Why don’t you check it out after the break.
The Clickplay app is now available on Android, Mac and Samsung Smart TVs while the iOS app is scheduled to be released next month. There are already a lot of movies that are available like The Hangover 3, After Earth, The Great Gatsby, Evil Dead, Incredible Burt Wonderstone and Jack the Giant Slayer.
Hi there, Spidey!
You might wonder why they choose to opt for streaming rather than download. Don’t worry guys, the Philippines might have a very very verryyyy slow internet but Clickplay has this feature called adaptive streaming which lets you watch a movie flawlessly without hiccups. They showed us a demo of the Clickplay PH app playing a movie on 3G at 1 Mbps and it was pretty good. No stuttering or buffering.
And yes, the movies are very cheap and it won’t hurt your pocket that much. If you’re interested then better visit www.clickplay.ph or download the app now!
When I opened my Facebook app, I noticed something earlier today at the top most portion of my phone’s screen.
Globe is apparently offering free access to the Facebook app. Well, out of my curiosity – I click start now and tried the “free” Facebook. Well, there’s a black bar on the top-most that says free data. So far I only tried it on the Facebook app on my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and all of the pictures, videos and files that are uploaded on Facebook could be accessed for free.
When I started Facebook, there was a start screen which prompts me that I’ll be able to have a free access to Facebook. TM subscribers are also eligible in the promo too. I explore further and tried clicking one post from a friend – and I saw this page
Did you see that black bar saying FREE DATA? Yeah, I know. I have free access to Facebook app. Probably anything that are not uploaded on Facebook may deduct your load. For example, when I tapped onto a Youtube video or a link that is outside Facebook.com, it prompts me that a they’ll charge me with their regular browsing rates. But when I watch a video that is uploaded to Facebook.com, it didn’t prompt me anything and it didn’t deduct my load.
I’m very interested with this new promo from Globe. It’s a very unique and cool promo. I don’t know if it is already available to all subscribers of Globe. Well, I’m hoping that it’ll be available on all Globe and TM Subscribers soon. Oh! and by the way, my load wasn’t deducted after browsing Facebook.
A new 3G tablets has emerged from Cherry Mobile — The Cherry Mobile Superion Voyager and Cherry Mobile Superion Discover. I know, it sounds like a project from NASA. It may not run on a very powerful processor and a great display but both of these tablets would pack a 3G inside which can’t be seen on the Cherry Mobile Fusion family of tablets. Oh and another thing, both of these Superion tablets would have a very affordable price. Why don’t you check out the Cherry Mobile Superion Voyager and Cherry Mobile Superion Discover after the break
Cherry Mobile Superion Discover Specifications
7-inch Multi-Touch Display
1GHz Dual Core Processor
4GB ROM (Micro SD up to 32GB)
512MB RAMWi-Fi b/g/n
3G
Bluetooth
G-Sensor
2MP Main Camera | 0.3MP Front Camera
3000mAh Battery Capacity
Android Jelly Bean 4.2
Dual SIM
SRP: P3,999
Cherry Mobile Superion Voyager Specifications
8-inch XGA Multi-Touch Display
1GHz Dual Core Processor
4GB ROM (Micro SD up to 32GB)
512MB RAM
2MP Main Camera | 0.3MP Front Camera
Wi-Fi b/g/n
3G
Bluetooth
G-Sensor
3500mAh Battery Capacity
Dual SIM
Android Jelly Bean 4.2
SRP: P4,999
According to Cherry Mobile, both tablets will run on a Broadcom processor. I’m not sure how well it can perform but at least, we’re happy to see that Cherry Mobile is really pushing into bringing 3G into their tablet line specifically, the Cherry Mobile Superion family. Oh and the SRP of these tablets are very attractive too. Both of these tablets will be available next week so watch out!.
Do you think the Quad-Core processor is too much for you? Don’t worry guys, there are still Dual-Core smartphones around in the market. If you also think that the original Cherry Mobile Flare is too old then you should better check out the Cherry Mobile Life. So what’s up with the Cherry Mobile Life? Well, it has a dual-core processor just like the original Cherry Mobile Flare but this one doesn’t use Qualcomm, instead it’ll use MediaTek with a Mali-400 GPU. You’ll still have that 4″ WVGA display, 512 MB of RAM which is still quite decent for a smartphone at this price range. Why don’t you check out the Cherry Mobile Life after the break.
Cherry Mobile Life Specifications
1.3GHz dual-core MT6572 processor with Mali-400 GPU
4-inch WVGA display
512 MB RAM
4 GB Internal Storage
MicroSD storage up to 32 GB
HSPA+
5 MP AF Rear Camera w/ LED Flash and VGA Front Camera
Dual Sim
Android 4.2
I’m curious with the combination of the MediaTek and Mali-400. I think it might be able to run the latest games on the smartphone. Imagine that, for P3,000 you could now play most of your favorite heavy graphic-intensive Android games. Grab it now at the nearest Cherry Mobile stores for P3,000.
Another smartphone with a big juice has been unveiled today. It’s the CloudFone Thrill 400qx. So what’s inside? it has a 3000 mAh battery inside with an extra 1450 mAh battery. I know I know, you read that right. There are 2 batteries inside the box. Obviously, the 3000 mAh battery would require more space that’s why there are 2 back covers inside. So yeah, you could choose whether you want it to be slim or fat but with more juice. The CloudFone Thrill 400qx has a 4″ screen with a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Quad-Core Snapdragon processor. Why don’t you just check out what’s inside the phone after the break.
CloudFone Thrill 400qx Specifications
1.2 GHz Qualcomm Quad-Core Snapdragon
4.0″ IPS OGS WVGA Scratch resistant display
512 MB RAM
4 GB Internal Storage with MicroSD Card slot
HSDPA
8 MP Rear AF Camera w/ LED flash and VGA front camera
Dual Sim
3000 mAh & 1450 mAh battery
Android 4.1
1450 mAh versus 3000 mAh
I’m very happy that CloudFone released another Android smartphone that packs a big battery life. It’s a rare sight to see smartphone with a long battery life. The CloudFone Thrill 400qx is very affordable too at P5,999. But if you’re into a larger screen then feast your eyes on the CloudFone Thrill 530qx.
If you’re planning on getting a tablet for the next semester or you just want a powerful tablet that doesn’t cost that much. It’s a great tablet for those people who are really looking into browsing the web using the tablet and a few casual gaming. The ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 starts at P6,995 but it still got some guts and power to run most of the demanding apps that you can see on the Google Play. Why don’t you check out the the ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 after the break.
The ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 has a 7″ 1280 x 800 HD IPS panel which is quite good for its price. It also packs a MediaTek 1.2 GHz Quad-Core processor which is already enough for your basic needs on a tablet like web browsing, office applications and some casual gaming. Along with that is a 1 GB of RAM which is kinda reasonable for that price.
It comes in two variants 8 and 16 GB. The latter has a 5 megapixel camera while the 8 GB version has only 2 MP camera. I think that’s reasonable because it’ll lower down the price even more. This thing runs on Android Jelly Bean with some cool new features like floating apps which lets you open a selected app and let it float on the screen. Great for people who are into multi-tasking.
Another thing to like about the ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 are the colorful back covers. It comes in White, Blue, Pink, Green and Gray. The blue and the gray are matte finish while the rest are glossy. I like the matte finish than the glossy one. There are two optional accessories for the ASUS Memopad HD 7 — The Trans Cover which also doubles as a stand and the Persona cover. They are pegged at P1,295 and P795 respectively.
The ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 is priced at P6,995 for the 8 GB and P8,995 for the 16 GB variant.
