Home Blog Page 645

Nokia Asha 501 Review

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Nokia Asha 501 Review

Smartphones might be getting cheaper and growing but the featurephones aren’t going away yet. One of the featurephones that is still available in the market is the Nokia Asha 501. Nokia replaced the aging S40 with Asha OS. And yes, this proprietary operating system blurs the line between smartphone and featurephone even further. Why don’t you check out my review of the Nokia Asha 501 after the break.


If you’ve been following the Lumia models of Nokia, they’ve been using the same design philosophy for years. And no, the Asha OS doesn’t came from the genes of the Windows Phone. Asha OS is Nokia’s operating system for the low-end devices.

The build of the phone feels very solid and it doesn’t feel cheap compared to other phones at that price range. The Nokia Asha 501 is very cute, the small size and the vivid colors makes it lively and young. Like what I’ve said earlier, the Nokia Asha 501 has the genes of the Nokia Lumia family and the Nokia N9. The first time you held the Nokia Asha 501, you’ll immediately feel that it is made by Nokia. Why? You’ll feel its sturdiness despite having a plastic body.

The design of the Nokia Asha 501 is very simplistic and easy to understand especially when you used a Nokia N9 before. The Asha OS has the genes of Meego and Windows Phone. The phone has a small screen too, It’s very annoying and very hard to get used to especially when you’re coming from a cellphone with a large screen. The Nokia Asha 501 might have a small screen but it doesn’t sacrifice accuracy and precision even when typing on a QWERTY keyboard.

The back cover of the phone was easy to remove and replace, it reminds me of the colorful Nokia phones during the Nokia 5110 era. The audio quality isn’t the best but it was acceptable. The battery life was pretty amazing, I already expected that since this phone isn’t running on Android or Windows Phone. It took me 5 days before it ran out of juice. And no, the Nokia Asha 501 doesn’t have 3G inside so you’re stuck with EDGE on both Sim card.

The Asha OS is Nokia’s offering to blur the lines between smartphone and a featurephone. I notice that there are a lot of improvements from S40 and it shared a lot of features from Meego and a little bit of Windows Phone. The Nokia Asha 501 only have 1 hardware back button which kinda odd. Apps can be close by the button or by swiping from the edge of the screen. It’s actually pretty easy to navigate the Nokia Asha 501. The Asha OS is a featurephone but the UI and transitions looks like it was a smartphone. One unique feature of the Nokia Asha 501 is Fastlane. Basically, that app lets you see the past things that you’ve done before. For example, you’ve texted someone and then you visited a website. It will automatially be listed in the fastlane. Not only that, Fastlane also lists your appointments and other infos from your social networking accounts.

Just like the Nokia N9, they focused on swipe, it was fun and it was easy to use. Closing apps or if you just want to go to the homescreen, well, all you need is swipe. The Nokia Asha 501 was responsive but I notice some lags and slowdowns sometimes when closing an app. I hope Nokia can fix that on the next Asha OS phones.

Facebook and Twitter apps are built in the phone. The Facebook app was very similar to the Facebook java app. I didn’t got a chance to log-in to the twitter app, I don’t know why but I keep on getting error messages. If you want some apps, there’s the Nokia but there are only a very few apps that are available compared to the Windows Phone store. Nonetheless, I’m still very happy to see an app store on a featurephone.

If you feel that the Nokia Asha 501 isn’t that good in terms of internet browsing. You’re wrong. The Nokia Xpress browser was good despite the lack of 3G but of course, it would be better if you’re connected to the internet. I’m just annoyed that I have to type the password of our access point every time I connect.

There’s a 3.2 MP fixed focus camera on the back but there’s no front camera (Sorry! No perfect selfie pictures here!). I wish Nokia could have put in a 5 MP sensor on the back and a VGA camera on the front. You know, if we have a front camera on the Asha 501, people who love selfie would love to have this phone. The Nokia Asha 501’s camera failed to reach my expectations. So yeah, I don’t really recommend the phone’s camera

Overall I like the Nokia Asha 501 construction and design. The long battery life is one of the features that I really like on the phone. It’s very rare to see a pocket-friendly touchscreen smartphone with that battery life. Another thing you need to consider when buying this device is the Asha OS. If you are really into apps then better stay away from this phone but if you want a long-lasting phone that is very solid and cute then better check this phone at the nearest stores.

Nokia Asha 501 Total Score: 6.5 | Infographics

The Nokia Asha 501 review unit was lent to me by Nokia Philippines

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition Launched

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition Launched

The bigger brother of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is here. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is now here to satisfy your hunger for Note features on a tablet. So what’s inside? You got a high res WQXGA Super LCD. That’s even better than the resolution of the Retina iPad and just like its smartphone brothers, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 would run on an Octa-core processor which is one of the most powerful processors out in the market right now. Why don’t you check it out after the break

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 has the best display on a Samsung tablet. The Exynos (1.9GHz A15 Quad Core ＋ 1.3GHz A7 Quad Core Processor) Octa-Core processor is partnered with a 3 GB RAM which makes the Samsung Galaxy Note 2014 one of the most powerful Android tablet in the market. 

One of the features that you’ll love on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 is the Multi Window and with the help of S pen, you’ll be able to drag and drop content from one window to another. Just like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, it will also have the Air command.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 comes with premium applications like Bloomberg, Autodesk Sketchbook and an optimized version of Twitter for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014.

I actually like the build of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014. It’s like a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 that became bigger. Compared to its predecessor, this one is much more comfortable to hold and the display was really amazing. If I’m getting a 10” Android tablet, I would definitely get the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition will only come in 16 GB WiFi version in two color options — Jet Black and Classic White. It will have a SRP of 25,990 and it will be available starting November 8 2013.

How important is your mobile device?

Jam Ancheta
-
0
How important is your mobile device?

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

If you want to know more how you can protect your device you can check out this link: http://www.globe.com.ph/gadgetcare

The Nexus 5 now up for Pre-order, Starts at P21,900

Jam Ancheta
-
0
The Nexus 5 now up for Pre-order, Starts at P21,900

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.

Samsung NX2000 Review

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Samsung NX2000 Review

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:

UntitledUntitledUntitledUntitledUntitledUntitledUntitledUntitledUntitled

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.

Nokia World: Lumia 2520 tablet, Lumia 1320 and Lumia 1520 revealed!

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Nokia World: Lumia 2520 tablet, Lumia 1320 and Lumia 1520 revealed!

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.

Clickplay PH launched: A new Movie-On-Demand service in the Philippines

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Clickplay PH launched: A new Movie-On-Demand service in the Philippines

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!

Is Globe offering Free Access to Facebook app? 

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Is Globe offering Free Access to Facebook app? 

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.

Cherry Mobile Superion Voyager and Superion Discover: Two new 3G tablets from Cherry Mobile

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Cherry Mobile Superion Voyager and Superion Discover: Two new 3G tablets from Cherry Mobile

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!.

Cherry Mobile Life: Best smartphone at P3,000?

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Cherry Mobile Life: Best smartphone at P3,000?

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.
1...644645646...771Page 645 of 771